Car gifts

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

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

A car worth VNĐ2.7 billion (US$118,400) was recently given to the People’s Committee of central Nghệ An Province by a construction corporation. — Photo tuoitre.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has reiterated that all ministries and central authorities act to end the practice of State-owned agencies accepting luxury cars as gifts from private firms or individuals. This was one of the steps in fighting corruption and avoiding tax exemptions given to imported vehicles, he said at a regular Government meeting. He said the ministries, sectors and state-owned agencies should strictly follow the standards and mechanisms on the use of automobiles as contained in government Decision No. 32, that was issued in 2015. He asked the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to review the total number of spare cars and allocate them to sectors and localities with real needs. The MoF has also been asked to collaborate with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Government … [Read more...] about ‘Say no to cars as gifts’: PM

Saigontourist set to offer promo tours at travel fair By Minh Bao Breathtaking terraced paddy fields in northern Vietnam. Saigontourist will offer a host of promotional tours at VITM 2019 - PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAIGONTOURIST HCMC – Saigontourist Holding Company will take part in the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2019 in Hanoi from March 27 to 30, with a slew of promotional tours and services up for grabs. Saigontourist’s members joining the event at the Hanoi International Exhibition Center include Saigontourist Travel Service Company, Rex Hotel, Majestic Hotel, Grand Hotel, Continental Hotel, Kimdo Hotel, First Hotel, Saigon-Halong Hotel, Saigon-Phu Tho Hotel, Saigon-Phu Yen Hotel, and Saigon-Phu Quoc Resort & Spa. Saigontourist will provide VITM 2019 visitors with numerous attractive promotions for tours, room rates, food and beverage services, convention and entertainment services, and many gifts and vouchers. Guests can receive discounts of up to … [Read more...] about Saigontourist set to offer promo tours at travel fair

Over 300 businesspeople join charitable caravan By My Huyen The kick-off ceremony of the 2019 Charitable Caravan is held in Long An Province on April 27 - PHOTOS: MY HUYEN HCMC - More than 300 businesspeople, mainly from the 2030 Businessmen Club under the Saigon Times Club, set off their 830-kilometer 2019 Charitable Caravan journey on April 27. Until May 1, the group of 88 cars will be driving from HCMC through Long An, Ha Tien, Phu Quoc and Can Tho and donate gifts to local children during the journey. The event also attracts families and friends of the club members, giving them a chance to not only take part in charitable activities but also explore the country’s southern land. The participants donate bikes to students in Long An Speaking at the kick-off ceremony at Phuc An City Urban Area in Long An Province on April 27, Pham Tan Hoa, vice chairman of Long An Province, thanked the organizers and participants for supporting local students. … [Read more...] about Over 300 businesspeople join charitable caravan

Automobile sales tumble in April By Hung Le Cars are on display at an auto show in this file photo. The local car market saw sales plunging last month – PHOTO: HUNG LE HCMC – The local car market saw sales plunging last month after the upsurge in March. Some 21,000 vehicles found buyers in April, dropping 35% from a month earlier. More than 14,300 passenger vehicles, 6,070 commercial automobiles and 580 specialized ones were sold last month, with respective declines of 36%, 32% and 33% from March, according to statistics released by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association on May 13. The local market witnessed both locally assembled vehicles and imports suffering a sharp fall in sales in April. Some 14,047 domestic cars and over 6,940 imported completely-built-up units were purchased in April, down 29% and 44%, respectively, from the preceding month. Local automobile firm Truong Hai Auto, or Thaco, regained the top spot last month, selling 8,140 Kia, … [Read more...] about Automobile sales tumble in April

Money laundering more likely in banking, realty sectors The Saigon Times Daily A bank teller counts Vietnamese banknotes. Money laundering is more likely in the banking and realty sectors – PHOTO: THANH HOA HCMC – The banking and real estate sectors are where money can be easily laundered by those involved in criminal activities, according to a report released by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) at a teleconference in Hanoi on Friday. The central bank said in the report on the national risk assessment on money laundering and terrorism financing for 2012-2017 that the local banking sector plays a vital role in the financial system and the economy. Its total assets rose from VND4,993.9 trillion in 2011, equivalent to 180% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), to VND8,503.5 trillion, or 190% of GDP in 2016. With its extensive network and role as a financial intermediary providing a variety of financial products and services, such as lending, deposits, finance … [Read more...] about Money laundering more likely in banking, realty sectors

Saigontourist Travel Service launches biggest promotions of year By Thanh Nguyen A customer (L) is seen searching for information at a Saigontourist office - PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAIGONTOURIST HCMC - Saigontourist Travel Service Company, a member of Saigontourist Holding Company, has launched its biggest promotional program of the year in celebration of the 44th anniversary of the parent company. The promotions are available at the Saigontourist office at 102 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, District 1, HCMC, and 18 Saigontourist branches across the country on July 27 and 28. Customers will also have the opportunity to bring home attractive gifts from Saigontourist, the travel agencies of Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand, and Saigontourist partners such as Albion, Ego Gift, Perfume World, 1Life, PureBeans Coffee, and Aqua Spa, with the total value of gifts amounting to VND1 billion. Domestic tour prices start from VND500,000 and discounts for outbound tours amount … [Read more...] about Saigontourist Travel Service launches biggest promotions of year

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said he hopes Quảng Bình Province to bring a new strong wind of change for the tourism sector.– VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất QUẢNG BÌNH – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said he hopes Quảng Bình Province to bring a new strong wind of change for the tourism sector. Phúc shared his expectation at a working session with authorities of the central province yesterday. The PM said that with its advantage of natural conditions and cultural heritage, services and tourism should be the foundation and the road to prosperity for Quảng Bình. Discussing specific solutions for the province’s development, Phúc asked the province to improve its planning quality by seeking advice from foreign experts. Improving the business climate and capacity of human resources is also necessary, he added. PM Phúc wants Quảng Bình to focus local resources on developing a sustainable tourism management mechanism and building a professional strategy to promote the Phong Nha – … [Read more...] about Quảng Bình should strive to bolster tourism: PM

Minister of Transport, Trương Quang Nghĩa, was appointed as Secretary of Đà Nẵng City’s Party Committee. — VNS Photo Tấn Việt Viet Nam News ĐÀ NẴNG — The Party Central Committee named Minister of Transport, Trương Quang Nghĩa, as secretary of the Đà Nẵng City’s Party Committee to replace Nguyễn Xuân Anh whom it dismissed last week as part of its public campaign against corruption. Nghĩa, 59, who was born in Hội An City, Quảng Nam Province, held the post of deputy secretary of Đà Nẵng City’s Party Committee from 2008-10. Prior to that he served as general director of the Việt Nam Construction and Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation (VINACONEX). Nghĩa has also been Secretary of the Sơn La Province’s Party Committee, assuming the post of transport minister in 2016. Anh’s firing less than two years after he took office comes just one month prior to an international summit of 21 heads of economies scheduled to take place in the central coastal city starting November 5. … [Read more...] about Transport minister to head Đà Nẵng Party Committee