Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui

HCMC - Vietnam is still a promising destination for foreign investment in 2013, but the Government needs to urgently create a business environment friendly to investors if the country is to continue attracting foreign direct investment.

HANOI—Vietnam said it plans to look into whether foreign companies have been artificially inflating the costs of their imported materials to avoid paying taxes.

Vietnam’s business environment has become less attractive in comparison to other regional countries such as Indonesia and Thailand, said Minister of Planning and Investment, Bui Quang Vinh.

HCMC – Visa fee hike for international visitors to Vietnam provoked fierce protests at a conference on tourism in the southern region held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in HCMC on Wednesday.

Vietnam delayed a deadline for implementing new regulations on foreign television channels for a second time, amid concerns the rules could raise costs and restrict access to information in the Communist nation.

Foreigners wishing to apply for visa to enter Vietnam will be charged with higher fees as of the beginning of next year, according to a new regulation issued by the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has been straining every nerve to find out the solutions to stop the decrease of the foreign direct investment (FDI) flow.

According to a recent HSBC survey, Vietnam stands 10th on the overall Expat Explorer Economics league table that ranks countries and territories based on a number of factors such as earning levels, disposable income and ability to accumulate luxuries. Singapore tops the list.

Vietnamese exporters now have golden opportunities to boost exports via online trading floors, since foreign importers now tend to make deals directly with prestigious producers, without intermediaries.

As of June 1, foreign travellers will receive VAT refunds for the goods they have purchased in Vietnam when leaving the country via Hanoi’s Noi Bai or HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat airports.

Even though Vietnam sees a significant growth in tourist numbers every year, the tourism sector has not yet made an effective breakthrough so as to bring about a strong growth and development to lure tourists back, according to travel companies and travellers.

Pretty young girls, mainly around 19-20 years old, play the role of hosts at the restaurants. They are hired to receive foreign men in secluded rooms for karaoke singing and then join the men in their homes after 23:30pm.

The State Bank of Vietnam ordered foreign banks in Vietnam to “intensify internal inspections” and “seriously comply” with currency trading rules, according to a statement posted on its website.

Nguyen Dang Hung has advertised his villa for rent for months but he's yet to catch a bite.

Vietnam's retail market will soon see the entry of at least three giant foreign retailers while some others already with a presence in the country will expand their operations, Saigon Times daily has reported.