Focus: HCMC’s Digital Economy: “The high target for HCMC’s digital economy is a necessary lighthouse that guides all efforts. The path ahead requires a comprehensive strategy: accurate measurement, a strong ‘conductor,’ and breakthrough policies,” said Dr. Tran Quy, director of the Vietnam Institute for Digital Economy Development and chairman of the digital asset platform company MetaDAP, in an interview with The Saigon Times.
Inside Vietnam
Authority Over Conditional Businesses: In drafting the amendments to the Investment Law, the Ministry of Finance has proposed authorizing the Government to issue a list of conditional business lines, instead of having them stipulated directly in the law as is currently the case.
Beyond Buzzwords Of Digital Transformation: The concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is no longer sufficient to encompass the profound transformations of our time. Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and robotics are driving a comprehensive turning point that goes far beyond the boundaries of industry, reshaping how we work, do business, and govern society.
Reasonable Steps Needed For Gold Taxation: For nearly 30 years, Ai has sold sundries at a modest market in suburban Haiphong City, diligently saving every penny of her earnings to purchase gold as a means of safeguarding her wealth. After years of careful saving, she has accumulated three taels of gold, intended for repairing her ancestral home. Upon hearing that gold sales might now be subject to personal income tax, she expressed concern: “I bought gold to save, not to speculate. Why should selling it be taxed?”
Business
What’s Driving Exchange Switching: Amid the ongoing wave of IPOs, a growing number of listed companies are proactively seeking to switch to alternative stock exchanges. What is driving this trend? And what opportunities and challenges might accompany such a move?
A Gateway To Market Growth: Now in its 23rd edition, the Vietnam International Plastics & Rubber Industry Exhibition—widely known as VietnamPlas—was held from September 17 to 20 at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center. The event welcomed 650 exhibitors from 20 countries and territories, occupying two exhibition halls with a total area of 22,000 square meters.
Living
Building Wellness In Vietnam: Rosanne Lee arrived in Vietnam when HCMC’s streets were filled with bicycles and evening blackouts were a routine occurrence. Nearly three decades later, she has made the country her home, founding Mandala Wellness and weaving together global health practices with Vietnam’s own healing traditions.
Traveling To The Land Of Terraced Fields: The northern mountainous region of Vietnam offers a beautiful harmony between human life and wild nature. A journey from the vibrant terraced rice fields of Suoi Lin in the northwestern province of Son La to the majestic, misty Ban Giang Waterfall in the northeastern province of Cao Bang can be an ideal suggestion for late autumn wanderers.
Travel
Hon Nua: A Hidden Gem Off Central Coast: Located less than two kilometers from the mainland, Hon Nua Island has been attracting more visitors due to its pristine scenery and clear water. The island is visible when crossing Ca Pass, which links Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa provinces in central Vietnam.
Moc Chau’s Unique Buffalo Skin Salad: For food enthusiasts looking for regional flavors, buffalo skin salad, or nom da trau, is a signature dish of the Thai ethnic community in Moc Chau District, Son La Province.
