Car allowance versus company car

Cars driven by Chinese tourists enter Việt Nam through Móng Cái border gate. — Photo dantri.com.vn Viet Nam News QUẢNG NINH — The People’s Committee of northern Quảng Ninh Province has allowed cars driven by Chinese nationals to enter Hạ Long City through Móng Cái border gate for tourism purposes. The entry of Chinese cars will be allowed on a trial basis until December 31 this year, Vũ Văn Hợp, Chief of the Secretariat of the provincial People’s Committee, told the Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper. Since January 1, 2017, the province has only allowed cars with less than nine seats owned by Chinese nationals and enterprises to enter Móng Cái City and vice versa during a trial period of one year. Chinese tourists are not allowed to stay beyond three days per entrance. In case of accidents or broken-down cars, the stay is extended by another day. In 2017, there were 93 cars ferrying 256 Chinese tourists to Móng Cái City and 38 cars with 110 tourists from Việt Nam to … [Read more...] about Chinese tourist cars allowed in Hạ Long City

One of two Lexus cars given by a private company to Cà Mau provincial authorities, prompting public concerns and a Government promise to investigate. — Photo dantri.com.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The Government will direct authorities to investigate the controversial gifting of luxury cars by private companies to officials in the southern province of Cà Mau and the coastal city of Đà Nẵng. This was promised by Mai Tiến Dũng, head of the Government Office, at the monthly cabinet meeting held recently. The Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Finance, Government Inspectorate and Ministry of Justice, to look into the matter. The findings will then be made available to the media. According to media reports, two Lexus GX 460 currently in use by the Cà Mau People’s Committee – each costing about VNĐ3 billion (US$131,000) – were given as presents by Công Lý Ltd last March, ostensibly strictly for use in  “inspecting and directing climate change response activities.” … [Read more...] about Luxury car gifts to be probed

Under 12-seated cars are allowed to go back to Cát Bà Island. — Photo laodong.com.vn Viet Nam News HẢI PHÒNG — After a five-day ban, under 12-seater cars were allowed to go to Cát Bà Island via Gót-Cái Viềng Ferry in the northern city of Hải Phòng. This was announced by Hoàng Triệu Hùng, deputy director of Hải Phòng City’s Department of Transport. The decision came into effect from Tuesday midnight. Previously, the Hải Phòng People’s Committee had banned all cars to Cát Bà with the intention of building a smoke-free, ecological tourism island. Under the ban, the Gót-Cái Viềng ferry had refused to transport cars to the island. Meanwhile, cars from Quảng Ninh Province via Tuần Châu Ferry are allowed onto the island. Instead, the People’s Committee permitted Đất Cảng Trade and Transport Service Company to put into operation 40 buses transporting passengers from Cái Viềng Ferry to Cát Bà Township. The bus runs every 10 minutes, with a fare of VNĐ25,000 for a single … [Read more...] about Car ban in Cát Bà Island lifted

Police inspects a truck driving on the National Highway No.1A. - VNS Photo Đoàn Tùng Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI – Hà Nội officials want to make it compulsory to open a new bank account to register a car. The municipal People’s Committee recently proposed a draft regulation on the issue to the Ministry of Security. However, its feasibility has come under question. Explaining the regulation, city authorities said that these bank accounts will be used to fine car owners for traffic tickets. Hoàng Hà of Đại Nam Law Firm in Hà Nội told Vietnam News Agency that at present, there were no regulations asking a citizen to open a new bank account when buying and registering a car. Car purchases, according to him, are a civil transaction between sellers and buyers. Moreover, cars can be traded immediately after being purchased. Agreeing, Đinh Thị Hoà of DTH Law Firm, called the draft regulation unreasonable and unfeasible. Opening a bank account is a right, not a responsibility of … [Read more...] about Car owners asked to obtain new bank accounts

The southernmost province of Cà Mau has returned two Lexus cars presented by a local private company, the chief of the provincial People’s Committee office. — Photo tuoitre.vn CÀ MAU — The southernmost province of Cà Mau has returned two Lexus cars presented by a local private company, the chief of the provincial People’s Committee office, Nguyễn Đức Thánh, said yesterday. Thánh said that the move followed a regular meeting on Wednesday where Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asked localities not to receive cars presented by enterprises. The province also informed the PM about the return of the cars, Thanh said. Local media had earlier reported on the two luxury Lexus GX 460 cars that the Công Lý Construction, Trade and Tourism Company presented to the Cà Mau People’s Committee ostensibly to be of service in preventing and controlling disasters like floods and forest fires in the province. — VNS … [Read more...] about Cà Mau returns two Lexus gift cars

Workers set up a car ban pole on Giảng Võ Street, Hà Nội. - Photo zing.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội has decided to ban Uber and Grab cars on 13 streets during rush hours in an effort to tackle increasing traffic jams. The city’s Department of Transport has, so far, installed signs prohibiting taxis and nine-seater commercial cars and smaller ones, including those of popular transportation networks Uber and Grab, on nine out of 13 streets. The ban is due to go into effect from Thursday. Accordingly, commercial cars will not be allowed to run between 6 and 9am and from 4.30 to 7.30pm. The streets on which the cars are banned are Hoàng Hoa Thám, Mai Xuân Thưởng, Giảng Võ and Láng Hạ, as well as Lê Văn Lương, Trường Chinh, Khâm Thiên and Hàng Bài, in addition to Phủ Doãn, Xuân Thủy, Cầu Giấy, Giải Phóng and the Chương Dương Bridge on the lane from Long Biên District to the city centre. Department director Vũ Văn Viện said the ban was aimed at reducing the … [Read more...] about Uber, Grab cars banned on 13 streets

Cẩm Kim Bridge spans the Thu Bồn River to connect Hội An ancient town and Kim Bồng carpentry village. Hội An City rejected a proposal to build a cable car project in the area. — VNS Photo Công Thành Viet Nam News HỘI AN — The central city rejected a proposal to build a 7km cable car route spanning the Thu Bồn River and connecting Hội An and Duy Xuyên District. Chairman of the ancient city’s People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Dũng confirmed to the Việt Nam News that the Quảng Nam-based joint-stock NVN company proposed to construct a car cable to connect Thanh Hà pottery village and Cẩm Kim carpentry village – two favourite destinations in Hội An – and Duy Nghĩa Commune in Duy Xuyên District, and develop a new tour service. Dũng said the investor asked the city to allocate an area of 100ha of land in return for their car cable investment of VNĐ2.1 trillion (US$93 million). “We offered the most favourable conditions for investors, but Hội An could not allocate land for the … [Read more...] about Ancient city reject car cable project

A cable car system was proposed to span the Hồng (Red) River in the capital city. — Photo vietnamfinance.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội Department of Transport has rejected a proposal to build a five-kilometre cable system across the Hồng (Red) River to serve public transport needs. The plan was put forward by the Poma Group. Ngô Mạnh Tuấn, deputy director of the Hà Nội Department of Transport, said that the department reported the proposal to the municipal people’s committee. The department said that the proposal was not suitable with present conditions in the city. Specifically, the scheme to develop the capital city’s transport system by 2030, which was approved by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, did not mention any public means of transport like a cable car as proposed by the group. Earlier, the Poma Group, a French company which manufactures cable-driven lift systems, suggested setting up a cable car system starting at the Long Biên bus terminal on … [Read more...] about Hà Nội rejects cable car across Hồng River

Vietnam Register has proposed raising the emissions standards for cars to level 2 in order to minimise increasing environmental pollution. — Photo vov.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Vietnam Register, under the Ministry of Transport, has proposed raising the emission standards for cars to level 2 in order to minimise the increasing environmental pollution in the country. The department has completed and submitted a new vehicle emission control plan based on the current situation as instructed by the Ministry of Transport, vov.vn online newspaper reported. Specifically, the department has proposed reducing the CO (carbon monoxide) emissions ratio for vehicles using gasoline fuel from 4.5 (level 1) to 3.5 (level 2); and HC (hydrocarbon concentration) from 1,200 ppm to 800 ppm. Vehicles using diesel fuel will have to reduce their emissions from 72 per cent HSU to 60 per cent HSU. Nguyễn Hữu Trí, deputy director of Vietnam Register, said the emissions standards in Việt Nam have … [Read more...] about Proposal to raise emissions standards for cars

Car sales rise sharply By Hung Le Visitors inspect cars at an auto show. Sales of passenger cars rose sharply in the first half of 2019 – PHOTO: HUNG LE HCMC - Passenger car sales in the first half of the year rose 35% year-on-year to over 110,000 units, according to data from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA). Meanwhile, the local market recorded a slump in sales of commercial and specialized automobiles by 1.5% and 32% to some 38,000 and 3,000 units, respectively. However, the fruitful sales of passenger cars contributed greatly to the country’s total sales of automobiles, which totaled over 150,000 units, equivalent to a 21% year-on-year increase. The sales results show that there is significant room for the local automobile market to grow, especially for passenger cars since the number of people who own this kind of vehicle remains low. Based on the performance in the first half of the year, total sales by the end of the year is expected … [Read more...] about Car sales rise sharply