VietNamNet Bridge – Living in a small alley with no name on Hang Chieu Street, one of Ha Noi’s old streets, Nguyen Thi Nga (not her real name) and 11 other people in her family share a nine-square-metre room and an attic. Nga, 78, must use every inch of the room so that her family can sleep, and her house does not have a toilet. Nga would be shocked if someone wanted to buy her house. “If anybody wants to buy houses in the area, they have to accept that the house does not have a toilet, family record book or house number,” she said. More than 10 other households also live in Nga’s small unnamed alley. All of the houses are small, no more than 10sq.m each. Several houses are several square metres only and were built as add-on structures on the wall of another building. Lan, a local resident, said that she could sell her house for VND5 million (US$220) per square metre, but if anyone bought it, they could not make a family record book because the … [Read more...]
Old Quarter land prices remain high
Old Quarter land prices remain high (24-06-2008) HA NOI — Prices of "golden" lands in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter remain exorbitant despite the recent freeze in the real estate market, said industry insiders. At a recent bid organised by the Ha Noi Natural Resources and Environment Department’s Ha Noi Housing Management and Development Company, a square metre of land of a house on 48 Hang Bong Street, Hoan Kiem District, was recorded at VND506 million (US$30,600). Similarly, a house on 120 Hang Bong Street is being advertised for sale for VND342 million ($20,700) per sq.m. A property broker in Ha Noi said that while real estate transactions nationwide were stagnant, investors are still interested in buying property in Old Quarter’s streets like Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, Hang Bong and Nha Tho or those along West Lake at prices of roughly VND450 million ($27,200). Land in streets like Ly Thuong Kiet, Tran Hung Dao and Phan Chu Trinh, known as "foreigners streets", were … [Read more...]
Honda Vietnam unveils lower-priced SH scooters
Honda Vietnam unveils lower-priced SH scooters By Quoc Hung - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Honda Vietnam on Tuesday introduced two new SH models on the Vietnamese market with their prices far lower than the previous models. SH 125i comes with a suggested retail price of VND66 million and SH150i with VND80 million, compared to the old models’ respective prices of VND109.9 million and VND133.9 million. Honda has made many design changes to the traditional SH scooter and uses the eSP (enhanced Smart Power) engine for the new SH 125i and 150i. The eSP engine can also help the scooter reduce the fuel consumption by 25%. This kind of engine is used on the PCX scooter with an Idling Stop system which will automatically stop the engine if the scooter stops for more than three seconds. Honda Vietnam expects to sell 40,000 SH scooters a year. Honda Vietnam’s sales of the previous models of SH scooter in 2009 were not as good as expected as their selling prices were a tad … [Read more...]
Land in Hanoi Old Quarter over VND1 billion per square metre
Many plots of land in Hanoi Old Quarter have been offered on the market at prices of up to VND1.1 billion (USD52,380) per square metre compared to price ceiling of VND162 (USD7,710) million proposed by authorities. Many plots of land in Hanoi Old Quarter have been offered on the market at prices of up to VND1.1 billion (USD52,380) per square metre The Hanoi People’s Committee is now seeking the municipal People’s Council’s approval for the land price frame for May 2015 through 2019. Under the proposed price frame, the highest price of land in Hoan Kiem District would be VND162 million (USD7,710) per square metre. Still, Chung, the owner of a 50-square metre plot, is asking a total of VND55 billion per square metre for his property, equal to VND1.1 billion per square metre. He said that he based the price on the opinions of real restate agents and other property transactions in the Old Quarter. Tuan is also asking VND100 … [Read more...]
Officials: Low electricity prices lead to waste
>> Power shortage hinders investment into Vietnam >> Power shortage may hurt industry and exports Electricity prices in Vietnam are very low in comparison with other countries in the region, which has been leading to squandering power, officials said. Low power prices blamed for inefficient energy use Hoang Thai An, Chairman of Vietnam Electrical Engineering Association (VEEA), said that businesses and their investors do not pay enough attention to energy efficiency. The low energy prices in Vietnam are accompanied by the worst efficiency rate in Southeast Asia, he said, adding that the amount of power that it takes to produce steel is one-fourth that of South Korea. "The inefficient use of energy in the industrial sector could lead to serious consequences to commerce, and the country as a whole. If drastic measures are not taken, the supply of electricity may not meet the demand," An said. According to An, industrial … [Read more...]
Prices rather stable in 2009
Dr Vu Dinh Anh, Vice Head of the Institute for Research on Markets and Prices, says rumours were often the main cause of fluctuations in prices. He recalls the story occurring in May 2008 when rumours about a shortage of rice pushed up the Consumer Price Index (CPI) by 3.91 percent. Similar rumours circulated in December this year but caused price rises only in some localities since consumers were more cautious than before. Prices likely to shoot up in January As a rule, Dr Anh argues, prices tend to go up from October to December but such a price hike is expected to occur in January 2010. Last year’s price changes were far beyond all expectations. At the end of 2008, the CPI was estimated at 15 percent, but in reality, this figure dropped to just 7 percent in June 2009. Other in price changes were lower than usual for months. One of the factors behind price rises is people’s expectations about the continuation of subsidized medium- and long-term loans and higher prices in … [Read more...]
The wise old keeper of the Co Tu ethnic soul
VietNamNet Bridge – In Quang Nam's mountainous Dong Giang District, a village elder of the Co Tu ethnic people is regarded as a piece of living cultural heritage thanks to his efforts in preserving and promoting the traditional values of the Co Tu. A village elder of the Co Tu ethnic people is known as a living heritage for his efforts to preserve and promote their traditional cultural values. Y Kong, 87, is a tall man with a grey beard and weathered face, the product of living in the Dong Giang mountainous district of Quang Nam Province. The Ba Commune elder still feels anxious about the cultural identity of the Co Tu ethnic people which he said was being eroded over time and at risk of being lost. He works tirelessly to collect and revive their traditional cultural values, both tangible and intangible. That's why his community treats him like the keeper of their ethnic soul. In fact, Y Kong has turned his own house into a miniature museum, containing hundreds of unique … [Read more...]
Milk-product prices may be added to control list
In a report to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance has suggested that the Ministry of Health should ask the Government to add milk products to a list of certified (price controlled) products for children under six years old. T.he Pricing Management Department of the Ministry of Finance said the ministry has investigated the price of products containing milk because the product was not under its control.— Photo phunuvietnam HA NOI (Biz Hub)— In a report to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance has suggested that the Ministry of Health should ask the Government to add milk products to a list of certified (price controlled) products for children under six years old. According to the report, the finance ministry has worked with the ministries of Health and Industry and Trade on managing the price of milk. The Ministry of Finance asked the Ministry of Health, as the State office responsible for managing milk quality and standards as well as milk products, … [Read more...]
Ministry requests lower milk prices
A worker operates a cow milking system at the TH True Milk Company in the central province of Nghe An. Domestic milk prices have been placed under tighter control to lower costs to consumers. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Finance has asked dairy producers and traders in Viet Nam to reduce production and trading costs to lower the retail price of milk products. That is one of the ministry's instructions in official letter 16665/BTC-QLG issued on Monday to promote management of retail milk prices in the local market. The ministry has asked finance departments in provinces and cities nationwide, along with taxation and customs offices, to inspect and control milk prices according to regulations on prices for milk products and nutritional products containing milk for children under six years old, under the Circular 30/2013/TT- BYT. The ministry also requested producers and distributors of milk products, and products containing milk, to not … [Read more...]
Ministry checks milk prices
The Ministry of Finance on Feb. 21 sent official letters to dairy firms registering price increases and relevant state offices in efforts to stabilise prices. According to letter 2078/BTC-QLG, since the start of the year, many milk firms have announced price hikes due to high production costs. While milk product price adjustments are not required to be registered, dairy products still play a vital part in maintaining price stability, according to the Price Management Department. To develop the socio-economy and control inflation, the Ministry of Finance asked dairy firms not to register price increases related to powder milk products for children under six years old when milk prices remain unchanged. Regarding ready-to-drink milk products that have experienced price increases since early this year, the ministry required firms to provide reasons for such hikes by March 15. The ministry additionally sent letter 2080/BTC-QLG to finance departments nation wide asking each to promote the … [Read more...]