Tourist arrivals plummet in Vietnam as global downturn bites

Expedited visa application process can boost tourism revenues by 10 percent, an expert says

Vietnam is set to miss its target of attracting five million international tourists this year as arrivals have dropped off sharply, industry officials say.

Hotels and tour operators are struggling and dropping their rates amid the steepest fall in arrivals [...]

Improve business environment to cope with global slump: meeting

The construction of the Nguyen Van Cu Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City was originally planned to finish in early 2007, but just 40-70 percent of the work packages have been completed so far.

Foreign and domestic businesses called on the government to boost exports, improve infrastructure and cut red tape.

Poor infrastructure, rising [...]

Global gloom darkens over Vietnam

Employees of Ladoda company’s leather factory, work on a production line in Van Lam District, northern province of Hung Yen on October 17.

The whirr of 200 sewing machines fills a Vietnamese factory hall, where workers and bosses hope desperately that the wheels will keep spinning once the global downturn hits home.

Row upon [...]

Global slowdown may have silver lining for Vietnam

People make transactions at a Vietcombank branch in Ho Chi Minh City.

A slowdown in global economic growth would have some benefits for Vietnam that may contribute to a stock-market rally, according to PXP Vietnam Asset Management Ltd.

The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange’s VN-Index Tuesday rebounded 17.66 points, or 4.75 percent, [...]