On Thursday, Vietnam and the European Union will mark the fourth anniversary of the European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement or the EVFTA for short. This agreement has brought down tariff barriers and boosted trade but it hasn’t been without its challenges, some of which still persist. This article looks at how this landmark agreement has been implemented, the challenges it has faced, and the challenges it still faces…

Vietnam animal feed imports up 9.6 percent in first half 2024

the-shiv July 29, 2024

This is partly because corn and soya beans, common components in animal feed, are produced domestically but at low yields and subsequently a higher cost compared to global prices. Vietnam imports these commodities from countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and the United States. In the first half of 2024, Vietnam’s import value of corn and soya beans reached US$1.2 billion and US$561 million respectively…

Olympics kicks off but Vietnam won’t be watching with no broadcast rights

the-shiv July 29, 2024

Notably, Vietnam was relatively late securing the rights to the Tokyo Olympics with a deal only made two-days before the opening ceremony. A last minute deal this time around, however, seems unlikely–it would be very last minute. That said, it’s not clear there is a lot of interest in Vietnam in the Olympics anyway and it could be that cash strapped local media outlets are saving their money for sports, namely soccer, that are hugely popular in Vietnam and subsequently command much bigger audiences…

Vietnam land values set for big jump as new Law on Land takes effect

the-shiv July 29, 2024

Land values in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City could jump by up to 51 times their current values if new draft land prices for the city are approved next month, Tuoi Tre is reporting. Already pricey areas of HCMC would also jump by up to five times with high-end shopping strip Dong Khoi Street set to command up to VND 810 million, or US$32,000 per square metre. This is one outcome of the new Law on Land…