Focus: New Benchmarks for Factories: Vietnam’s manufacturing sector is no longer able to rely on low-cost labor and is entering a phase defined by far stricter requirements—from power stability, measured in seconds per year, to globally standardized data transparency.
Inside Vietnam
What Will Drive Growth: Fiscal Or Monetary Policy? Recent policy moves by regulators appear to prioritize exchange rate stability over interest rates. This may be a reasonable choice at the current stage, as maintaining exchange rate stability while accepting a higher interest rate environment can help contain inflation. However, an unintended consequence could be a negative impact on economic growth this year.
The Stars Align For VIFC-HCMC: “The orientation of Vietnam’s International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC- HCMC) is to create a new financial space that aligns with the shifting dynamics of global capital flows. The Special Urban Law, once introduced, could create a truly breakthrough impact,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, vice chairman of the executive board of VIFC-HCMC, told The Saigon Times.
Buffer Layers For Agriculture: When fertilizer prices react almost immediately to global fluctuations, while agricultural commodity prices tend to lag and do not always move in the same direction, most cost shocks are borne by downstream producers. The issue lies not only in the shocks themselves, but also in the system’s capacity to absorb increasingly frequent disruptions.
Business
Shaken Confidence In Supply Chains: Rising costs are only the surface of the problem. What troubles businesses more is the lack of predictability, the challenge of effective business planning, and the uncertainty surrounding the reliability of supply chains.
Awaiting Policy Signals: Despite last month’s sharp downturn in the stock market, the dreaded nightmare scenario has yet to materialize. Investor groups continue to respond in varied ways, each adopting different trading strategies. Looking ahead, what might the market outlook be in April, and which key factors should investors watch most closely?
Living
Breathing Life Into Bamboo: From microscopic insects to towering monumental models, the journey of artisan Vo Tan Tan at Taboo Workshop in Hoi An Dong Ward, Danang City is more than just a transition of raw bamboo into contemporary sculpture. It is a strategic endeavor to anchor the Vietnamese handicraft brand on the global tourism map.
Flying Over The Town: Paragliding is widely recognized as an exciting yet challenging adventure sport. Usually, it is divided into two disciplines: traditional paragliding, where pilots launch from high points like hillsides or skyscrapers, and paramotoring or powered paragliding (flying while wearing equipment that includes a motor connected to a parachute). The latter features a frame-mounted engine with one or two seats, enabling pilots to take off directly from flat ground after a brief taxiing run.
Travel
Crimson Dawn On Cua Sot Beach: Located just 20 kilometers northeast of downtown Ha Tinh Province, where the river mouth meets the expansive East Sea, Cua Sot Beach in Loc Ha Commune is becoming a popular spot for both nature lovers and photographers.
Five Must-Try Specialties For Travelers In Ha Tinh: After exploring the crimson dawn of Cua Sot Beach and Ha Tinh’s stunning landscapes, travelers can enjoy a culinary journey through five outstanding specialties that represent this resilient region.
