Focus: Cash-strapped Lenders: The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on December 5 loosened its grip on credit limits, raising the credit cap by 1.5-2.0 percentage points on top of the 14% credit growth quota for this year. That means commercial banks can provide an additional VND240 trillion to borrowers, but a question arises over whether lenders can make use of this extra credit room.
Inside Vietnam
Reaching Out To Foreign Lenders: While access to capital remains a headache for local enterprises as they struggle to take out bank loans or get funding from the securities market, foreign capital has become a savior, helping cash-strapped companies maintain operations and recover in the coming years.
Landslides Worsen In Mekong Delta: Landslides are getting worse in the Mekong Delta in both scale and frequency. What do we need to do to minimize the negative impacts of landslides in the region?
Dealing With Brand Crisis: In a brand crisis, enterprises need to identify the root cause of the problem and handle it with integrity and sincerity. Integrity is one of the important factors for enterprises to build brand trust and longevity, it was said at a seminar themed “Strategies To Make A Brand Iconic” held by the Saigon Times Group on December 16.
Concern Heightens Amid Swift Interest Rate Hikes: Not only is an economy with escalating interest rates likely to slide into recession, but credit risk may surge as borrowers’ income cannot keep up with the interest rate rise.
Business
Opportunities In Volatile Market: In addition to a short-term swing trading strategy, investment funds and foreign investors have been building up their stakes in underrated companies while looking for opportunities to strike a deal on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with those businesses said to have high growth potentials.
Shipping Costs Remain Bittersweet: The costs of ocean freight transport slumping to pre-pandemic levels is good news for the market. But for many retailers and suppliers, shipping issues still linger.
Living
Symphony Of The Wind: As one of the two smallest provinces by area, population and labor force in the Mekong Delta region, Bac Lieu Province is currently on the way to becoming a clean energy center, a popular tourist destination and a hub of large investment projects.
Travel
Hunting Clouds On Cao Ly Mountain: Some places on Cao Ly Mountain are covered by clouds for half of the year, creating a diverse landscape with a cool climate, perfect for young travelers to hunt clouds.
Enjoying Danang’s Rustic Dish On Cold Days: Steamed mackerel scad (nuc fish) wrapped in rice paper with its simple and rustic flavor is a hit with diners right from the first bite.
