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% AT A GLANCE Congratulations on National Liberation Day of Korea

INDUSTRY 4.0 TOP 10 PRESTIGIOUS TECH COMPANIES ANNOUNCED
The Vietnam Report JSC (Vietnam Report) announced on July 20 its companies and top 10 software
top 10 prestigious technology companies in Vietnam in 2021, with service and solution providers in
the Viettel Group ranking first followed by VNPT, the FPT Group, Vietnam in 2021. According to its
MobiFone, Vinaphone, CMC Corp., VNG, HANEL, Vietnam Tech- General Director Mr. Vu Dang Vinh,
nology & Telecommunication JSC (VNTT), and Hanoi Telecom. Covid-19 is driving businesses’
Evaluations were based on assessments of their financial condition needs and efforts in digital trans-
and reputation, using media coding methods and feedback from formation as well as investment in technology, thus creating oppor-
relevant parties. Vietnam Report also announced the top 10 ICT tunities for tech companies.

REVENUE UP 18% E-COMMERCE
According to the Vietnam E-com- and companies moving online. Another report from Google predicts
merce White Book 2021, released that e-commerce revenue in Vietnam will reach $29 billion by 2025,
by the Vietnam E-Commerce and up 34 per cent compared to the figure in 2020. The country has con-
Digital Economy Agency (IDEA), tinually posted strong growth in terms of internet users and online
e-commerce revenue in Vietnam shopping users and purchasing value. Figures from the E-commerce
hit $11.8 billion last year, for growth White Book show that the rate of new internet users shopping online
of 18 per cent. Revenue has surged in the last five years, from $5 has increased from 77 per cent in 2019 to 88 per cent in 2020. The
billion in 2016 to over $10 billion in 2019. Vietnam has seen positive value of goods purchased online per person rose from $229 in 2019
changes in online purchasing amid Covid-19, with both consumers to $240 in 2020.

VACCINE PASSPORTS PHU QUOC TO WELCOME FOREIGN VISITORS
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed opening Phu flights and can visit more places on
Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang to international the island. International visitors hop-
visitors with vaccine passports, after receiving advice from the Ministries ing to visit Phu Quoc must have had
of Health, Public Security, Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Transport, two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine rec-
and Information and Communications. Under the proposed scheme, ognized by Vietnamese authorities.
during the first phase of the pilot, which will last three months starting The second dose must have been
from October, Phu Quoc will welcome 2,000 to 3,000 visitors each injected between 14 days and 12 months prior to entry. Visitors with a
month via charter flights, who can visit a limited number of locations. certificate confirming they have recovered from Covid-19 and have been
The second phase, also lasting three months, will see 5,000 to 10,000 discharged for no more than 12 months are also allowed entry. All must
visitors arrive each month. Passengers will be ferried by commercial also test negative for Covid-19 via the PCR method.

NEW VIETNAM-BELGIUM FREIGHT LINE OPENS INTERNATIONAL RAIL LINKS
Vietnam Railways (VNR) added a line. According to VNR, this is the first container freight train
new rail freight link from Vietnam operated by the Rail Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company
to Belgium on July 20, with the (Ratraco) in conjunction with transport companies from other
first train carrying 23 containers countries. VNR is now providing freight train services between
of goods such as textiles, leather, Vietnam and China, with transits to Russia and European, ASEAN,
and footwear departing from and Central Asian countries. The company provides full logistics
Hanoi’s Yen Vien Station for Liege in Belgium, from where the services to customers. It is expected that a second train will depart
containers will be delivered to Rotterdam in the Netherlands by from Yen Vien on July 27 carrying electronic products, and a third
truck. During the journey, the train will stop at Zhenzhou city in on August 3, according to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thanh, Ratraco’s
China’s Henan province and then connect to the Asia-Europe train Deputy Director-General.

TOURISM APPEAL HOI AN AMONG MOST PICTURESQUE & VEHICLE-FREE
Australian travel website Traveller has listed Hoi An ancient town in for its architecture, colorful lanterns,
the central province of Quang Nam among the top 10 most picturesque and photo-worthy shophouses con-
destinations in the world that are free of motor cars and motorbikes, verted into coffee shops and bars.
the Vietnam News Agency reported on July 1. “Vietnam’s ubiquitous Other destinations on the list
mopeds get short shrift in Hoi An ancient town, so wanderers can included Rottnest Island in Western
amble around the cobblestoned streets and window shop for silk and Australia, the Medina of Fez in
tailoring services without being cleaned up by passing motorcyclists,” Morocco, Venice in Italy, Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates,
according to the website. Traveller also noted that Hoi An is a Dubrovnik Old Town in Croatia, the Princes Islands in Turkey, and
renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site greatly admired by visitors Fire Island in the US.

4 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | AUGUST 2021