Ho chi minh city map

How optimistic can you be in evaluating the trends of building smarter cities during this turbulent time in the global economy? Governments around the world are tapping into an arsenal of policy interventions and financing measures to support the transformation of sectors, especially energy and industry, improving energy efficiency, and tackling environmental pollution. Many are adopting a stick-and-carrot approach, including green taxes on harmful environmental activities, tighter regulations, and new environmental standards and certifications for energy performance, emissions, and pollution. Subsidies and tax rebates are used to boost demand for green products and services like electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and renewable energy. Loans and grants are also provided to promote green investments in sustainable agriculture, renewable or low-carbon energy sources, energy-efficient buildings, transport, and public infrastructure. There is a robust and wide array of green … [Read more...] about A phased approach to smart cities

At the press conference The biennial contest opening for Vietnamese people at home and abroad has seven categories, including economic growth, national defense, state management, communications, culture and arts, science and technology, and innovative startup, Deputy Head of the municipal Reward and Emulation Board Nguyen Hoang Hung said. This year’s competition will focus on discovering measures for the city’s economic development, works and solutions in studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, mass mobilization activities, national defense and security tasks. The entries have been applied in practice from March 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023, and contributed to solving urgent issues in building and developing the city, or won awards in major competitions. The works must present their creativity, widespread application and immediate effect. An award-winning work reforming administrative procedures at the 2nd HCMC Creative Awards … [Read more...] about 3rd HCMC Creative Awards receives entries by the end of next March

Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee (right) hands over a souvenir to Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. (Photo: VNA) Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee Phan Van Mai hosted a reception for Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry on August 11. He affirmed that the cooperation between HCMC and Singapore not only brings benefits to the city but also is an important factor contributing to the common development of Vietnam-Singapore relations. At the event (Photo: VNA) Along with potential fields such as smart city building, urban management and green economy, the city expects to strengthen collaboration and share experience in startup development, helping the city become an innovative start-up center of the country and the region, the official said. He hoped that Singapore will share experience to improve the dialogue mechanism between the … [Read more...] about HCMC, Singapore enhance cooperation on human resources development

Many vehicles passing An Suong – An Lac Toll Plaza could not have their ETC card successfully read, so the staff had to manually scan the card. On average, every day, in the An Suong – An Lac Toll Plaza, 1,600 vehicles face such ETC-related errors as wrong card attachment location or ticket value, locked ETC card, vehicle with two cards attached and one having error, inactivated ETC account, empty ETC account, money in ETC account not being timely synchronized or not being accessible. The number of vehicles with an ETC card increased significantly compared to the first day launching the system These errors have led to failure in ETC card reading and unnecessary transaction prolonging, which ultimately creates traffic congestion. Also, there is only one lane saved for the mixed type of toll collection, while the quantity of vehicles without an ETC card is too high, and thus forming unwanted traffic congestion outside toll plazas as well. By Thanh Hai – Translated by … [Read more...] about 1,600 vehicles see ETC-related errors per day passing An Suong–An Lac toll plaza

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Samsung Electronics ’ plan to manufacture semiconductor products in Vietnam has sparked the hope that the Southeast Asian nation will be a new stop for the semiconductor industry . During his recent trip to Vietnam, CEO Roh Tae-Moon unveiled that Samsung will make an additional investment of 3.3 billion USD in the country this year, enabling the Korean technology giant to start producing semiconductor components in Vietnam by July 2023. In fact, part of the investment commitment has been materialised, with 841 million USD for Samsung Complex HCMC-SEHC in Ho Chi Minh City and 1.18 billion USD for Samsung Electro-Mechanics in the northern province of Thai Nguyen. Since 2019, the tech giant has announced that it will raise investment in the semiconductor industry to a whopping 151 billion USD. When Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited Vietnam in 2020, host leaders expressed their wish that Samsung will invest in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam – new stop for semiconductor producers

The Institute for Studies of Society, Economy, and Environment (iSEE), in collaboration with Vietnam-based LGBT+ rights group ICS Center, re-launched the LGBTI+ campaign Toi Dong Y (I Do) 2022 in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday in the hope of garnering social support for same-sex marriage in Vietnam. Under the theme Hon nhan khong khuon mau (Marriage without model), the campaign will host activities from August to September with the aim of boosting public support for same-sex marriage in Vietnam. The first iteration of the campaign was held in 2013 and was considered a resounding success, culminating in the abolishment of Vietnam’s ban on same-sex marriage in 2014 – a landmark event owed, in part, to a 12,000-signature petition submitted by Toi Dong Y to Vietnam’s National Assembly. Vietnam neither prohibits nor recognizes same-sex marriage now. In addition to hosting discussions at ten universities across the country about gender equality, publishing the first book … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s LGBTI+ campaign to support same-sex marriage reboots after nearly a decade

Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on August 11. - A Government to Business (G2B) conference was opened on August 11, providing a platform where the Government can explore the private sector’s opinions and proposals. Presided over by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the hybrid event brought together cabinet members, representatives from Party and National Assembly’s committees, local administrations, industry leaders, and businesses. Read full story - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has sent a congratulatory letter to the newly-elected Japanese President of the House of Councillors Hidehisa Otsuji. In the letter, the Vietnamese top legislator showed delight at the progress of the Japan-Vietnam Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia, including the ties between the two legislatures. Read full story - The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee looked into the … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on August 11

The music video, named Waiting for you-5000 years, aims to introduce beautiful images of Vietnamese people to international friends, including the RoK. The video was recorded from May 17 to July 12 in 19 provinces and cities of Vietnam such as Hanoi, Trang An (Ninh Binh), Tam Chuc (Ha Nam), Ba Be (Bac Kan), Ha Long (Quang Ninh), Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne (Binh Thuan), Sa Pa (Lao Cai), Da Nang, Hoi An (Quang Nam). In response to the 30th anniversary of Vietnam - RoK diplomatic ties, Joseph Kwon introduced two songs Butterfly flakes and Waiting for you-5000 years . Of which, Butterfly flakes will be released in Ho Chi Minh City in the near future. Joseph Kwon is a multi-talented artist. He works as a musician, composer, singer, and producer in the RoK and the K-pop market. He is also known as one of the music therapists of the Well Hospital Voice Center and SBS Choir Radio Conductor. Joseph Kwon said that his love for Vietnam is very natural. When he was still a child, he fell … [Read more...] about Vietnamese images shine in two international songs

Swift247, a subsidiary of low-cost airline Vietjet Air, has launched an international super-fast delivery service which will operate between the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Vietnam based on digital technology platforms. Swift247 service point in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Swift247 ) The debut of the express delivery service took place as part of ongoing co-operation programmes between Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company and numerous freight companies in the RoK, including Daejoo Air and Ilyang Logis. Through this service, customers will easily deliver goods from the RoK to Vietnam through the Swift247 application which boasts a modern and user-friendly application interface. In addition, the application is integrated with order tracking, enabling users to track the delivery of the parcels in a clear and coherent manner. Most notably, customers will be able to place orders via the app and utilise Vietjet Air's flight network in order to help shorten … [Read more...] about Swift247 launches super-fast delivery service between RoK and Vietnam

With the peak summer travel season drawing to a close, Vietnam’s international tourism segment still faces bottlenecks on its route to full recovery. Within the framework of a program early this week to discuss the current state of the Vietnamese tourism sector, representatives from businesses and organizations across the country voiced doubts that Vietnam will meet its goal of welcoming five million foreign tourists by the end of the year if regulations governing visa policies, infrastructure, and personnel are not relaxed. Incomplete recovery According to Cao Thi Tuyet Lan, sales manager at Viettours Incentives & Events Co. Ltd., foreign tourists still find it difficult to enter the country despite Vietnam having fully reopened its borders. “What's more, it is hard to apply for visas for business travelers who work with domestic enterprises," Lan said. “[The domestic partner] first has to register [the foreign partner] with the Immigration Department, then wait for a … [Read more...] about Vietnam still struggles to welcome back int’l tourists