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% CONTENTS | ISSUE 322, September 2021 Congratulations on Brazil National Day

COVER STORY (6-17)
For all the damage it has done and will
continue to do, Covid has focused minds
on the benefits that e-commerce presents
to all. While retailers and service
providers have the means to catch the
eye, customers are able to buy whatever
takes their fancy without venturing
outdoors. New and convenient payment
methods have also taken shape, moving
Vietnam away from its “Cash is King”
mentality, which the goverment has been
pushing for a decade or more.
And smoother delivery not only makes
purchases feel more immediate but also
keeps shippers in business.

DIGITAL BIZ
Editor’s letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Linking up Local meeting platforms finding favor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
AT A GLANCE
Differing days Startups dealing or not with pandemic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Leading news from the month at a glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
BANKING & FINANCE
LEADERS
Another new milestone Visit by US Vice President Kamala Ready credit Big push for “Buy now, Pay Later” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Harris confirms developing relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
PROPERTY
REPORT Bargain buys Many hotels up for sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Into a new era World Bank on digital transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 A move away Proptech the next big thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

BUSINESS REPORTS CORPORATE NEWS
On which to build; Capital on offer; Stuck on the ground;
What’s happening in the world of business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Electric dreams; Business about to boom; Stops & starts . . . . . . . . . . . .20
ANALYSIS
Appeal in place M&As likely to continue into future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
STARTUPS
The latest from the world of startups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Statistics Updated economic figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

P I C T U R E S B Y T R A N V I E T T U A N , D E S I G N B Y D U Z N G N G U Y E N

V I E T N A M E C O N O M I C T I M E S

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dr. Chu Van Lam COMMERCIAL OFFICES DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS • Embassies in Vietnam, cultural centers EMAIL
Managing Editor: Ta Thu Trang Vietnam: of countries, and representatives of
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Xuan Quynh, Prof. Nguyen Dinh Huong, Prof. Nguyen Cong INDONESIA, JAPAN, POLAND, SINGAPORE, THE
Nghiep,Associate Prof. Vu Cuong, Associate Prof.Vo Dai Luoc, HO CHI MINH CITY • Business Class lounges at airportsin HO CHI MINH CITY:
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDITORJohn Harding
We would like to sincerely thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all overseas embassies and representative offices of Vietnam for their support and cooperation in the worldwide circulation of our magazine.
ISSN 0868 - 3700 - LICENCE No. 272/GP-BTTTT ON JUNE 26, 2020, PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE VIETNAM ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION, PRODUCED IN VIETNAM AND PRINTED AT TIEN PHONG PRINTING AND COMMERCE JOINT STOCK COMPANY.© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

SEPTEMBER 2021 | VIETNAM ECONOMIC TIMES | 1