Vietnam - The Hidden Charm: New Tourism Symbol

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has introduced its new official logo and slogan for the 2006-2010 period. viewanh_n.gif

The new logo and slogan, Vietnam - The hidden charm, was created by the Dat Viet Advertising Company. It will replace the present slogan - Welcome to Vietnam - accompanied by a logo of a woman wearing a traditional ao dai (long dress) on the VNAT's publications, products and souvenirs.

Vietnam's Annual Inflation At 8.3 Pct In Oct

Vietnam's consumer price index (CPI) is estimated to have risen 8.3 percent in October from a year earlier, the General Statistics Office said on Monday.
That compares with an increase of 7.8 percent in September and 7.3 percent in August.

The government last week forecast that inflation would be around 8 percent in 2005, higher than its initial target of keeping it below 6.5 percent.

Vietnam, reliant on oil product imports and hard-hit by bird flu outbreaks that reduced food supplies, saw inflation reach 9.5 percent last year.

Vietnamese and American Photographers Show Vietnam Images

A photography exhibition, “Vietnam: A Decade in Images”, celebrating the beauty and vitality of the country will be held in Ho Chi Minh City November 1-15.
The show, consisting of 60 black and white photographs taken between 1993 and 2004 by Nguyen Hoai Linh and Peter Steinhauer, is part of a series of cultural events held this year to commemorate 10 years of normalization of diplomatic relations between the US and Vietnam.

An opening reception will take place November 1 at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum.

Vietnam Eases Foreign Currency Controls

Vietnam has decided to loosen restrictions on the use of foreign currencies in the country. ngoaite_199.gif

In a decree issued October 18, the government said Vietnamese and foreigners were now free to pay in foreign currencies and send foreign currencies within the country’s territory without permission.

Citigroup Vietnam Launches New Product

Citigroup Vietnam introduced a new product, Accounts Receivable Finance Program (ARFP), at a seminar last Friday.

Speaking at the seminar, attended by over 60 foreign and local companies, Charly Madan, Citigroup country officer in Vietnam, said with the country's integration into the world economy, ARFP could become one of the most effective instruments in a market that relied heavily on collateral.

Vietnam to start Building First Oil Refinery Next Month

The French group Technip is to inaugurate the construction Dzung Quat, Vietnam’s first oil refinery in central Quang Ngai province on November 21-25, an Asia Pacific representative of the group said.

The preparation for the construction had been carried out smoothly, Gerard de la Rosa, an official of Technip Asia Pacific told leaders of Quang Ngai, 850km (530 miles) south of Hanoi, during a meeting last Saturday.

The Dzung Quat plant included the refinery, a seaport, storage facilities and pipelines.

Vietnam to Start Marketing $500 Million Bond This Week

Vietnam will start marketing $500 million in bonds to international investors this week, marking its first sovereign debt issue after considering such a sale for more than a decade, a market source said Monday.

Vietnam will launch presentations on the January 2016 bonds on Thursday and they would continue next week, a market source said. The funds will be invested in a shipyard.

Analysts and fund managers said the issue should be met with favorable demand, despite a rising risk aversion in global markets.

Vietnam Job Website Enters Top 100 Asian Private Companies

www.VietnamWorks.com, a major job website in Vietnam has been selected as one of the Top 100 Private Companies in Asia, according to the US media company Red Herring.

The Red Herring magazine’s editors have selected 100 winners from 500 applications and nominations based on criteria including the quality of technology, the experience of management teams, the clout of customers and partners, and financing, according to the Red Herring website.

Vietnam’s State-owned Corp Hunts for Foreign CEO

Three candidates from Japan, Poland and South Korea have applied for the post of CEO of the Vietnamese state-owned shipbuilding corporation Vinashin, local Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper reported Wednesday.

The paper quoted an inside source as saying that all the candidates were well qualified and experienced for the job. They were all running shipbuilding enterprises of the same scope as Vinashin, the source said.

Vietnam Woodwork Makers Find Novel Ways to US Market

While many Vietnamese woodwork producers struggle to boost sales to the US, some are endeavoring to carve their own path to the lucrative market with innovative designs.

Currently, local companies mainly produce woodwork from imported materials custom designed by foreign buyers, thus making little profit.

Now, producers have turned to increasing the standard of carvings and design of wooden products to raise their value, and boost sales to the American market.

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