Saigon Times Podcasts

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has emphasized the especially important role of the southeastern part of Vietnam in the nation’s development, saying it is the growth engine of the national economy.

Thirty projects invested overseas by State-run enterprises racked up total losses of US$335.5 million in 2021, up 42% year-on-year.

The Ministries of Finance and Industry-Trade decided to revise up fuel prices from 3 p.m. on October 21, the second increase after four straight cuts.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told the Ministry of Industry and Trade to make stronger efforts to stabilize the fuel market and ensure the operation of fuel retailers and gas stations, according to a document issued by the Government Office on October 19.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested Vietnam and South Korea strive to raise two-way trade to US$100 billion by 2023 and US$150 billion by 2030.

Inadequate preparation, poor estimates in assessing total investments needed, and illogical surveys and approvals still exist in public investment projects, repeatedly causing cost overruns, the 15th National Assembly Supervisory Delegation said in a recent report.

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob has begun her State visit to Vietnam as the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 10th year of their strategic partnership in 2023.

The central bank decided this evening to put the Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) under special surveillance as the bank has been struggling with difficulties, particularly mass cash withdrawals by clients.

Given negative news about Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group Corporation, Tan Viet Securities JSC, and the Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), local stocks plunged in the final session of last week in the bearish market.

HCMC saw its industrial production index (IPI) in January-September increasing by 19.6% compared to the same period last year.

The Government has projected the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 6.5% in 2023, saying it is achievable despite challenges ahead.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) on October 12, held a news conference where the media mostly grilled the ministry over the temporary closures of many gas stations in southern Vietnam, especially HCMC, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc, Can Tho and An Giang.

After having dropped four times in a row, fuel prices in the local market rose yesterday amid a domestic supply shortfall in many parts of the nation.

As Vietnamese are worried about their savings at commercial banks following the arrest of Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group Corporation chairwoman Truong My Lan who is suspected of having connection with the Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB), the central bank has reaffirmed that all their savings are protected.

HCMC had seen 54 gas stations suspending operations by Sunday night, October 9, due to fuel supply shortfalls, according to a report by the HCMC market surveillance agency.

The Hochiminh Stock Exchange started this week in bearish mood as the VN-Index hit its 20-month low at below 1,100 points on strong sell-off force on October 3, leading to downbeat investor sentiment.

The Ministry of Transport has written to the prime minister proposing upgrading and expanding six airports under the public-private partnership (PPP) format.

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has suggested that the Ministry of Finance extend the pilot scheme that allow Vietnamese people to enter casinos on Phu Quoc Island until January 7, 2025.

Vietnam’s tourism industry has generated VND394.2 trillion in revenue in the year through September, equivalent to 78% of the same period of 2019 when the pre-Covid tourism sector was at its best, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reported.

Prices of Vietnamese rice surged in the global and domestic markets after India announced restrictions on broken rice exports and a 20% duty on exports of various other types.

HCMC confirmed its first monkeypox case today and reported it to the Health Ministry, said the HCMC Health Department at a briefing about the epidemic situation and key activities of the fourth quarter of 2022.

Work on the Nguyen Van Linh-Nguyen Huu Tho underpass project in District 7, HCMC has been temporarily suspended.

Super Typhoon Noru, one of the four strongest storms in 20 years, made landfall in the central region of Vietnam at daybreak on Wednesday, September 28, toppling trees, damaging houses and construction works, blowing away roofs and causing flooding.

Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the third quarter of the year is forecast to grow a staggering 13.67% versus the year-ago period, according to data of the General Statistics Office.

Vietnam’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the third quarter of this year inched up 3.32% against the same period last year, according to data released by the General Statistics Office (GSO) on September 29.