Change for the gloomier
	Friday,  May 17,2013,10:39 (GMT+7) Warnings of the worsening economic situation of late have been repeated more than once by observers, experts, and economists, and have largely been played down by authorities who claim the recovery is on track with macroeconomic indicators pointing to stability. Strangely though, now comes the change of attitude.

Nowhere to flow

Sunday,  May 12,2013,22:02 (GMT+7) The cash flow is blocked in a situation alarming to all stakeholders, from depositors to banks and enterprises as well as the entire economy. It has been earlier lamented that the high interest rate has blocked enterprises’ access to bank loans, but fresh moves and outcries by bankers this week indicate another culprit: the capital absorptive ability of the economy. The blood vein – as the money circulation channel is likened to – is now clogged by the receptive organs, so to say.

The way of saying ‘sorry’

Sunday,  May 5,2013,20:31 (GMT+7) The reaction is so swift, when the top leader of the national tourism body conveys his apology to an Australian female tourist who was robbed of VND1.3 million by a rickshaw rider in Hanoi last week. In the encounter, head of Vietnam National Administration Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Van Tuan and Hanoi tourism officials return the sum to the woman and offer her a gift in a gesture of saying ‘sorry’ for the vexation she has endured, while tough-hand punishment has been imposed on the dishonest rider by police. Tuan’s response heaps praise in local media, not only because of his effort to mend the tainted image of the country’s hospitality industry but also because of his showing of accountability in a country where apologies from officials are rarely heard.

Deviation
	Saturday,  April 27,2013,08:05 (GMT+7) In an economy, it is rather dangerous for a State agency to run the market with misleading solutions, exposing people and enterprises to huge disadvantages. The local gold market has fallen into this situation given unpredictable management of the central bank.

Paradox of growth

Sunday,  April 14,2013,21:34 (GMT+7) Between a big allowance for unemployment and a well-paid job for the long term, it is apparently wiser to opt for the latter, and most people will not find the situation of these two options a paradox or a dilemma, except for those nearsighted minds. The situation when amplified to the national scale, however, has stirred up heated controversies these days when it comes to whether to slash the corporate income tax. As covered in local media, officials are at odds with economists.

The costly road
	Tuesday,  April 9,2013,20:11 (GMT+7) Work has just commenced on several sections of National Highway 1A in a costly project to upgrade the country’s north-south backbone road that has become increasingly overloaded and prone to fatal accidents. All agree that it is necessary and urgent to make the road facelift, but many frown at the scheme to finance the mammoth project.

Interest group

Sunday,  March 31,2013,21:10 (GMT+7) Maintaining monopoly is the easier way for certain enterprises to enjoy greater benefits, and as such there have been cases of industry players gathering together under the umbrella of an association to cling to their monopolistic positions. One such case is the Vietnam Pay Television Association (VNPayTV), whose existing members have clubbed together to bar new market entrants.

Feeble gesture
	Monday,  March 25,2013,20:04 (GMT+7) The fate of local enterprises was once again up for debate when the 16th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee earlier this week discussed whether to provide yet another round of corporate income tax reductions in the near future.

Finally comments are heard
	Sunday,  March 17,2013,19:47 (GMT+7) Protests to regulations on production, trading and use of crash helmets have been vigorous, as seen in local media, for the reason that punitive sanctions are specified in the new legislation against not only producers and traders of sub-quality helmets, but also motorcycle riders.

Warnings to the deaf ear

Tuesday,  March 12,2013,19:58 (GMT+7) It is reiterated that the highly-controversial plan to exploit bauxite in the Central Highlands will be moving ahead despite widespread protests from all walks of life. Changes, as announced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade this week, are only that between now and 2020 the two alumina plants of Tan Rai and Nhan Co will remain on the pilot basis until they are proven cost-effective, and their scales can be doubled after that. During the trial period, policies can be adjusted to lend a helping hand to the projects owner Vinacomin.