MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES CONTINUE TO FALL FAR SHORT
Viet Nam has posted the highest regional increase in minimum wages over the last three years, more than Indonesia and China, but workers still struggle to make ends meet.
VN BANKS STRUGGLE TO KEEP INTEREST RATES STEADY
From mid-March, Sacombank has been offering certificates of deposit (CDs) denominated in dong to individuals and companies. A sum of at least VND10 million (US$441) for five years plus one day carries a coupon of 8.48 per cent per annum while a seven-year CDs get 8.88 per cent for the first year.
REAL ESTATE NUDGES UP IN MAY
Real estate sales in May rose slightly month-on-month, compared with the first quarter this year, according to the Ministry of Construction’s Management Agency for Housing and Real Estate Market.
GOV’T EXTENDS VISA-EXEMPTION POLICY FOR FIVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
The Government has agreed to extend visa exemption policy for citizens from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung released the news at the press conference on June 3.
FOREIGN FUNDS FLOW INTO REAL ESTATE MARKET
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the real estate sector have been very active in the past few years, despite positive macroeconomic impacts. According to real estate specialists, M&As will be still very vigorous in the coming time.
HAU GIANG TO BUILD VND1.5 TRILLION LOGISTICS CENTRE
The Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang plans to build a logistics centre at a cost of over VND1.5 trillion (US$66.03 million), aiming to reduce logistics cost in the region and improve competitiveness of regional products in both domestic and foreign markets.
CREDIT GROWTH SHOWS POSITIVE SIGNS
As of May 25, credit growth expanded 6.53%, higher than the rate of 5% in the same period in 2016 and 4% in 2015. The figure showed positive signs amidst unfavorable economic context and slow public investment disbursement, said a senior official.
HOUSING LAW AMBIGUITIES RANKLE FOREIGN INVESTORS
Experts claim that despite the 2014 policy permitting non-Vietnamese citizens to purchase houses in Vietnam, variations in the interpretations of the policy leave investors sceptical and unsure about how to calculate risk.
