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Some images of Vietnam's shipbuilding industry:
(Despite Vinasin was sinking :angry:)

Floating Storage of Offloading Unit 5 (FSO5) 150,000 tons.
Built by "Nam Triệu Shipbuilding industry Corporation", Vietnam
Used by Bạch Hổ oilfield.

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How rich are you?
Last update 14/08/2012 8:00:00 SA (GMT+7) - VietNamNet

VietNamNet Bridge – Having private aircraft, possessing islands, traveling in a Rolls & Royce, owning yachts and attracting the media like the portraits of the showbiz world – this is the common portrait of the Vietnamese millionaires.

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The villas in West Lake area

Hanoi is the city which has the highest land price in the world, comparable with that in Tokyo, Hong Kong or Paris. Meanwhile, the land price in the West Lake area is considered the most expensive in Hanoi, which is called the golden land.

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west lake - Hanoi

Leon Lai, a Hong Kong’s actor, could buy a villa with an area of 1000 square meters in Ruby Hill – San Francisco, with swimming pool and golf course, at five million US dollars.

However, he would not be able to buy a land plot with the same area in Hanoi with the same sum of money. A real estate expert said that the land plots in the area are priced at no less than 40,000 square meters. However, even if accepting the sky high prices, one would still not be able to buy a land plot here, because of no seller.

As such, if Leon Lai wants to live in the West Lake area in Vietnam, with five million dollars, he can only buy a house with the area of 125 square meters.

In the West Lake area, there are the villas with hundreds of square meters in area, which have the sky high and logically enigmatic prices.

There is also a golden land area in HCM City – the Dong Khoi area in district 1. However, the land plots here have been reserved to do business, not for accommodation. Therefore, the West Lake area is considered the most wonderful area for people to live.

Hollywood’s stars like Tom Cruise, Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey are living in the villas worth 2.6-30 million dollars. However, if they want to live on the golden land in Vietnam, they would have to pay much higher for the same area of accommodations.

Private aircraft, yachts and luxurious cars

Doan Nguyen Duc, Chair of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai was recognized as the first Vietnamese person who owns a private airline, after he bought a Beechcraft King Air 350 in 2008 at 7 million dollars.

In fact, in Vietnam, there are many people rich enough to buy private aircrafts. Just two years later, local newspapers reported that Tran Dinh Long, Chair of the Hoa Phat group bought an aircraft at 5 million dollars.

In 2009, Diem My, a well-known actress in Vietnam, said on local newspapers that her husband was possessing a 2 million dollar yacht.

In fact, a lot of businessmen have luxurious yachts, including Dao Hong Tuyen, who is called the “King of the Tuan Chau Island”.

Meanwhile, nearly all the most luxurious car models have been present in Vietnam, from Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari 599 Fiorano GTB to Lamborghini Aventador, from Rolls-Royce Phantom Year of the Dragon, Maybach 62S, Audi R8 to Aston Martin Vanquish.

The rich people whisper in each others’ ears that the remaining luxurious models with Koenigsegg or Pagani have not been present in Vietnam not because Vietnamese millionaires cannot afford them, but because they do not fit the taste of the rich people.

Only very rich people can possess luxurious cars in Vietnam. They not only have to pay high for the luxurious cars, which would be much more expensive in Vietnam than in the manufacturers’ countries because of the high tax, but also pay high to run the cars.

Analysts believe that in Vietnam, the expenses to run a car is triple that in other countries in the world. A Bugatti Vevron, which is sold at one million dollars in the US, would be priced at 3 million dollars in Vietnam, or 60 billion dong.
 
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Another heavy industry company of Viet Nam is Xí Nghiệp Cơ Khí Quang Trung . They build heavy lift equipment including that 1200-ton crane that helps reduce the construction time of Son La hydroelectric dam to ...3 years:cool:
 
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Another heavy industry company of Viet Nam is Xí Nghiệp Cơ Khí Quang Trung . They build heavy lift equipment including that 1200-ton crane that helps reduce the construction time of Son La hydroelectric dam to ...3 years:cool:

Yes, I know this enterprise, the man who owner the enterprise, labor-hero Nguyễn Tăng Cường.
This is a private enterprise with a lot of success in the field of designing and manufacturing bridge crane and cranes in Vietnam.

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A bridge-crane of Quang Trung Mechanical Enterprise was used in the Sơn La Hydropower
A turbine was being installed by LILAMA.
 
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Phu Quoc International Airport to open in December
Vietnam News - Updated August, 24 2012 13:46:04

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island of Phu Quoc

KIEN GIANG – The southern province of Kien Giang will inaugurate the first phase of Phu Quoc International Airport in December this year, said the provincial People's Committee recently.

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The 900 ha airport was built in Duong To Commune in the island district of Phu Quoc in 2008 with a total investment of VND16.2 trillion (US$771million). It will serve domestic flights between Phu Quoc and Ha Noi, HCM City and other destinations. It will also connect the district with the region and the world to help develop the island's economy, investment and especially its eco-tourism sector.

The airport, which is expected to be completed by 2020, has been built with 50% of the total investment coming from the Southern Airports Corporation.

Up to now, the main components of the airport runway and taxiways, aircraft parking and passenger terminal have basically been completed and ready to put into operation on schedule.

According to the committee, the airport will play a vital role in Phu Quoc's economic development as well as development across Kien Giang Province and the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta. – VNS
 
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Another heavy industry company of Viet Nam is Xí Nghiệp Cơ Khí Quang Trung . They build heavy lift equipment including that 1200-ton crane that helps reduce the construction time of Son La hydroelectric dam to ...3 years:cool:

Some images of Quang Trung Mechanical Enterprise, one enterprises in the industry of Vietnamese machine building:

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Opinion

Glass is half full, not half empty
Ken Atkinson-Managing director Grant Thornton Vietnam | Apr 16, 2012 09:07 am

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We seem to be going through another one of those periods when almost everyone you meet, especially in the bars, is talking Vietnam down and being negative.

However, there is a difference this time. In my 20 plus years here, the Vietnamese have never been negative or pessimistic, but today they seem to be adopting the negative sentiment.

The economy is in far better shape than it was 12 months ago and the stock market has sprung back to life. Granted the property market has been flat, gold prices have lost their lustre and the local currency has been stable for 12 months, which generally means no easy money. But, there are still real opportunities.

Some good news is that Europe seems to have weathered the current storm, although it is not out of the woods, just yet. The US seems to be on the road to recovery which augers well for Vietnam’s overseas trade. Exports were up almost 24 per cent in the first quarter and we can expect that growth to continue albeit at lower rates than last year.

Think of it, 12 months ago we had just had a 10 per cent currency devaluation, inflation was heading to 20 per cent, banks were offering around 20 per cent for VND deposits and 6 per cent for USD deposits. Investors were sitting on the sidelines questioning Vietnam’s macroeconomic stability and policies.

The government moved quickly to address many of the fundamental issues causing these macroeconomic problems, yet there are still many sceptics who question whether the measures taken would work. For the more seasoned campaigners who have been through many crises in Vietnam going back to 1990 when the Soviet Union withdrew its financial support, the one thing we have learnt is, Vietnam does have the capacity to address and resolve economic problems even though it may be slow to react.

Inflation, which was one of the greatest causes for concern has moderated significantly with the current annual rate close to 16 per cent and the year to date rate of less than 2.5 per cent making the government’s target of 10 per cent for 2012 achievable.

The State Bank has successfully stabilised the currency, since the devaluation in February 2011, and although many experts were forecasting further pressure at the end of last year this did not materialise. The government’s target of keeping any exchange rate movement against the US dollar to less than 3 per cent in 2012 seems to be highly plausible. Another interesting fact is that the difference between the official rate and the “free market” or “unofficial” rate has all but disappeared. This is the best indication that the government is achieving success in its efforts to de-dollarise the economy.

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Gross domestic product (GDP) continues to grow at a healthy rate which many countries can only dream of and although last year and this year (forecast at 6 per cent), will be a little lower than the average rates seen over the last 10 years, a steady growth like this compounded over many years will be a satisfactory performance. According to a recent HSBC survey, Vietnam is listed as one of the 10 growth economies from now till 2050, with a projected long-term average growth of 5.5 per annum.

Another area to show improvement is the trade deficit. This, which has been a major concern together with the country’s foreign exchange reserves, has fallen dramatically and only registered a deficit of $250 million in the first quarter of 2012. Of course caution is needed here as this may reflect a slow down in orders, which may translate into a fall in exports. However, it appears the government is being successful in tackling the trade deficit to a much lower level than projected.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) continues to match the levels seen over the last three years, despite of increasing competition from Indonesia. The march of investors from China seems set to continue as does the increased interest from Japanese investors.

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A recent survey by the ASEAN Business Council ranked Vietnam as the second most attractive investment destination behind Indonesia and ahead of Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia,
There is also a significant volume, of what I would describe as FDI, being counted as indirect investment. That is investments by private equity funds and trade buyers who are investing directly into Vietnamese businesses through share acquisition. This is not really indirect investment as it is medium to long-term investment and not subject to stock market sentiment.

With the above trends and the continued high level of overseas remittances there is no pressure on Vietnam’s foreign exchange reserves. VinaCapital recently estimated that the State Bank had this year purchased $6 billion in foreign currency from the market to increase the foreign exchange reserves.

My own major concern was the state of the banking industry, but it also seems to be being addressed in a quiet, but firm way. The State Bank has started to classify banks into three groups and also to allocate credit growth ceilings on a selective basis recognising the well managed banks. The top tier banks are showing signs of improved liquidity and merging of the weaker banks with the stronger banks is actually starting to happen.

There is also no end of foreign banks looking to acquire significant and strategic stakes in Vietnamese banks, so this cloud seems to be slowly lifting and although this will be a long process, in my opinion, a significant bank failure is unlikely.

So why are we all so negative? My glass is certainly half full not half empty and we must remember the fundamentals which attracted us all in the first place are still there, although our game plans may need to be modified.

Vietnam Investment Review - Features - Glass is half full, not half empty
 
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Province seeks more incentives for Samsung

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HA NOI — Authorities in northern Bac Ninh Province have called on the Government to provide additional tax breaks and incentives to a Samsung factory based in the province.

The South Korean firm's plant in Yen Phong Industrial Zone produces mobile phones, tablets and electronics accessories, and there are plans to expand production from a capital registration of US$670 million to $1.5 billion.

But according to Truong Tien Yen, chief of the provincial Party Committee Office, Samsung Electronics Viet Nam (SEV) will face difficulties in carrying out its expansion plans if it didn't get more Government support, despite already enjoying corporate income tax incentives as a high-tech investor.

"SEV's electronics products already enjoy tax incentives including a preferential income tax rate of 10 per cent for 15 years, a tax exemption for four years after and a 50 per cent tax reduction for the following nine years," said Yen.

"However, the expansion of SEV's production may face difficulties if no assistance from the Government is provided," said Yen. "The same incentives should be considered for the expansion, even if recent regulations do not allow any investment incentives to expanded projects."

During a visit to Bac Ninh this month, Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh Hue said the ministry would submit a proposal on corporate income tax changes to the National Assembly next May.

He said the Ministry of Finance would create the most favourable conditions for business development, but on the other hand, enterprises must strictly comply with the laws of Viet Nam.

Last year, the firm submitted the same proposal to the government.

SEV plans to earn up to $10 billion this year, at the same time, the plan targets to create jobs for as many as 22,000 local workers. — VNS

http://www.vir.com.vn/news/business/samsung-concerned-over-tax-incentives.html
 
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Saigon Metro - Ben Thanh/ Suoi Tien urban railway construction to kicks off tomorrow
Updated August, 27 2012 12:09:10

HA NOI – Construction of the HCM City Urban Railway Construction Project Line 1 is scheduled to begin tomorrow in HCM City.
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Model of Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro route that is scheduled to begin construction on August 28 (Photo: SGGP)


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Model of the Saigon Opera House Station for the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro route (Photo: SGGP)

The 19.7km Line 1 has 2.6km of underground section (Ben Thanh-Ba Son) with three underground stations and the remainder elevated (Ba Son-Suoi Tien) with 11 stations.

The project is part of Package 2 (the first to be started of four packages for Line 1), comprising of all civil and structural works for the elevated section and the depot.

The construction work will be carried out by the Consortium of Sumitomo-Civil Engineering Construction Corporation No.6.

The other three packages are planned to start soon. Upon completion by the end of 2018, Line 1 is expected to contribute to economic development and mitigation of traffic congestion and pollution. – VNS

Ben Thanh Suoi Tien urban railway construction to kicks off tomorrow - Economy - VietNam News
 
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[Vietnam] Exports surge 17.8% in first eight months
Updated August, 27 2012

HA NOI — The country's exports in the first eight months of the year surged 17.8 per cent year-on-year to US$73.35 billion, while imports reached $73.41 billion, up 6.7 per cent, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
In August alone, the country earned $9.8 billion from exports, down 3.8 per cent from the July figure, with a trade deficit of $150 million after enjoying a trade surplus for the past two consecutive months.
Director of the GSO's Trade Department Le Thi Minh Thuy attributed the relatively positive trade balance to a decrease in imports.
She said after recording a 11.8 per cent increase in February, the rising rate of imports from March to August had slowed to around 6 per cent. Exports, meanwhile, rose 17.8 per cent and 19 per cent in July and August after hitting a 22-24 per cent rise during February and June.
According to the GSO, 15 out of 28 export staples gained high growth rates, with turnover of between $1 billion and $9 billion in the first eight months. Textiles and garments were the biggest earner with $9.72 billion, up 7 per cent. Mobile phones and parts ranked second with $7.35 billion, up 134.3 per cent. Crude oil, seafood, electronic products and computers, wooden products, and coffee followed with turnover ranging from $2.46 billion to $5.54 billion each.
However, several key export staples reported a decline in both quantity and value during the period. Coal export volume, for example, decreased 23.8 per cent to 8.74 million tonnes, and value was down 30.2 per cent at $769 million. Rice also fell 9.1 per cent to $2.46 billion in value.
Of the total export turnover in the first eight months, foreign-invested firms accounted for $45.63 billion, up 34.1 per cent, while State-owned enterprises reported a decrease of 1.85 per cent at $27.71 billion. — VNS

Exports surge 17.8% in first eight months - Economy - VietNam News
 
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Green lights to light up gaming
Nguyen Trang | vir.com.vn | Aug 27, 2012 15:23 pm

Unlimited electronic gaming facilities, in accordance with the latest Ministry of Finance’s decree draft, could open the door for more foreign-invested projects in Vietnam.


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Many resorts currently offer gaming, but Vietnamese are barred from entry

Under the decree draft regulating conditions for running electronic gaming services in Vietnam, an investor can gain a licence for running an electronic gaming facility as long as it satisfies some of conditions such as running a hotel or resort with at least five-star rate and the gaming facility is separated from other facilities of the hotel. The hotel or resort must be the one regularly receiving a “big amount” of foreign guests. However, there is no explanation on how the “big amount” is.

Otherwise, the investor must meet other criteria including business plan, security measure and “financial ability” instead of at least $4 billion under the existing Government Announcement 97/TB-VPCP issued in 2007.

More importantly, the decree draft which is now under the government’s consideration, does not limit the amount of electronic gaming facilities nationwide like Singapore, Malaysia and the UK.

“The draft is making it easy for casino business because all of these above conditions are not difficult to reach,” said Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises.

Since 1992 when electronic gaming services was first allowed in Vietnam, 50 electronic gaming facilities have been licenced nationwide with $4.2 billion Ho Tram Strip project in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province being the largest. The project is expected to open in February 2013.
Many foreign investors are trying to encourage the Vietnamese government to allow integrated casinos-and-convention resorts in the country.

Malaysia’s Genting Group, for instance, proposed to build an integrated casino and resort complex in northern Quang Ninh province’s Van Don Economic Zone. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Sands Corp is proposing to build integrated casino and resort complexes in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The Ministry of Finance, in its document sent to the government explaining the need of the new decree governing gaming services, said the development of electronic gaming services could spur the nation’s tourism industry, create jobs and contribute significantly to the state budget.

From 1992 till now, the total revenue from electronic gaming business is estimated to reach about $72 million per year and contribute to the state budget at the average level of $11.5 million per year, according to the ministry.

Even though Vietnamese nationals will remain banned from electronic gaming services, Mai said to allow integrated casinos and resorts nationwide could cause social instability.

Mai suggested Vietnam develop a centre like Macau or Las Vegas that would be convenient for the government to manage, and that Phu Quoc island would be an ideal place.
 
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Third refinery to step up
Ngoc Linh | vir.com.vn | Aug 27, 2012 07:52 am

Vung Ro Petroleum is ready to start hammering out Vietnam’s third oil refinery by the year’s end.

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Vung Ro Petroleum and Honeywell’s UOP inked the deal to develop Vietnam’s third refinery

The investor, Vung Ro Petroleum Ltd., last week reached managing licensor and technology transfer agreement with Honeywell’s UOP, a leading international licensor for the refining and petrochemical production, for the design and engineering of the refinery in central Phu Yen province.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by US’s commercial counselor in Vietnam Sarah Kemp and leaders of Phu Yen Provincial People’s Committee.

“This is a very important step to implement the project. UOP is a well-known licensor for refining and petrochemical technology in the world, which will provide us not only the technology but also solutions to build and operate the refinery,” said Korolev Kirill, general director of Vung Ro Petroleum Ltd.

Korolev said an engineering, procurement and construction contractor (EPC contractor) could be selected in the upcoming months. Last year, the investor and local authorities also completed siteclearance that had lasted for four years, a barrier coupled with the global financial crisis.

The investor plans to break ground by the year’s end and Korolev said all the needed preparation for the project’s construction had almost been completed, adding that the agreement with UOP LLC would ensure Vung Ro Petroleum Ltd.owns the latest refining technology.

When on streams by 2016, this refinery will produce a wide range of products including LPG, gasoline, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, fuel oil, polypropylene, benzene, toluene andmix-xylene meetingdemand of local market and export.

Vung Ro’s top management has also adopted “fast track” method for the project which will allow the combination of front-end engineering design and engineering procurement, construction into one contract to optimise costs and time schedule for the whole project.

According to experts in the field, by implementing “fast track” method, investor could reduce implementation time for the project from at least 18-24 months.

The refinery project will not only help in reducing Vietnam’s reliance on imported fuel, but also mark a milestone for improving investment climate in Phu Yen, a coastal central province located 400 kilometres north of Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Chi Hien, director of Phu Yen Provincial Department of Planning and Investment, said this project would be a magnet luring other industrial supporting projects to Phu Yen.
“Once Vung Ro refinery is constructed, we expect many investors will follow Vung Ro Petroleum Ltd. to invest in petrochemical industry here,” said Hien.

In 2007, a Singapore-based SP Chemicals proposed to build naphtha cracking Hoa Tam complex in Phu Yen. Nevertheless, the company canceled its plan in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.

Hien said the provincial committee still wanted to develop Hoa Tam petrochemical complex, especially now that Vung Ro refinery construction is about to start.


(Vung Ro Petroleum is a joint venture between UK’s Technostar Management Limited and Russian Telloil Group to develop a $1.7 billion oil refinery.)
 
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Vietnam branded mobile phones booming
| VIR/VNA | Sep 17, 2011 09:52 am

The debut of a series of mobile phones with Vietnamese brand names from late 2010 has led to fierce competition in the market.

After An Binh telecom company released Q-Mobile and FPT launched FPT-Mobile in 2008 and 2009, the market now has dozens of Vietnamese brand name mobile phones, including Avio by VNPT, Bluefone by CMC, Hanel Mobile by Hanel and Hi-Mobile by HiPT.

Made in Vietnam mobile phones feature low prices (400,000-VND500,000 or equal to 19-$24 ), and a host of extra functions like having between 2-4 sim cards, large capacity memory cards, a camera and guarantees and bonuses for users.

With these advantages, made in Vietnam mobile phones meet the demands of low-income earners, workers and students, which make a large proportion of the society.

According to statistics, Vietnamese brand name mobile phones make up 30 per cent of consumption volume and 15 per cent of the market’s value.

Q-Mobile mobile phones increased its sales by 175 per cent year-on-year in the first five months of this year. This product makes up nearly 30 per cent of the domestic market, after Nokia which has a 50 per cent market share.

General Director of An Binh telecom company Nguyen Quang Ninh said his company plans to develop Q-Mobile into a leading brand name of the domestic market by the end of this year and was preparing to export the product to countries at a similar stage of development to Vietnam , like Laos , Cambodia , Myanmar and African countries.

During this time, VNPT’s sales of its Avio increased by nearly 90 per cent over the same period last year.

Those above moves caused the world popular mobile phone producers operating in Vietnam , including Nokia, to change their focus from luxury products to lower priced deals such as five common two-sim card products with prices between 600,000-VND700,000 (28.5 - $35.7).

According to Director of Hi-Mobile Do Giang Vinh, Vietnamese producers now face big challenges. If they do not have products with the right designs and manage key production steps, they risk suffering losses.


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