Vietnam is becoming a powerhouse for business and enterprise and this has led to huge demand for transportation services. From roads to rail to ships to aeroplanes there are a multitude of ways of moving people and products around Vietnam

This section covers: aviation, shipping, and road and rail transport and associated services.

Vietnam Airlines to follow Vietjet and fly direct to Perth

the-shiv December 11, 2023

Vietnam Airlines has announced it will fly direct to Perth, Australia, from Ho Chi Minh City three times a week, VN Express is reporting. The airline intends to extend the flight frequency to five flights a week by 2024. In September 2021, Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways began operating direct flights from

Intra-Asian shipping from Vietnam experiences boom on shift out of China

the-shiv December 5, 2023

Whereas the global shipping industry is facing a downturn there has been a marked increase in shipping between Asian states, QZ is reporting. This is being driven by the diversification of supply chains. Key data points: Vietnam has 13 direct shipping routes to the US in 2019, it now has

Bamboo Airways cuts key domestic routes from schedule

the-shiv November 23, 2023

Embattled Vietnam airline, Bamboo Airways, has cut domestic tourist hot-spots Dalat and Phu Quoc from its flight schedule in a bid to try and keep itself afloat, The Investor is reporting. These cuts are on the back of a series of international route cuts last month. See also: Vietnam’s Bamboo

Vietnam’s biggest budget airline lifts foreign investor cap to 30 percent

the-shiv November 17, 2023

Vietjet announced today that it would lift its foreign ownership cap to 30 percent, The Investor is reporting. Vietjet has been expanding aggressively in the last year or so and this move may be a means to attract more capital to expand even further. That said, by law a maximum

Concerns Chinese electric bike makers evading EU trade remedies via Vietnam

the-shiv November 16, 2023

The European Bicycle Manufacturers Association has raised concerns that Chinese electric bike makers are exporting their products through Vietnam to the EU to avoid antidumping duties, ASL is reporting. This could see the EU apply antidumping duties on electric bikes from Vietnam too. Using Vietnam to circumvent trade remedies has

Vietnam Airlines reschedules annual meeting for fourth time

the-shiv November 15, 2023

Vietnam Airlines has pushed back its annual shareholders meeting from November 22 to December 16, the fourth time it has rescheduled the event this year, Vietnam News is reporting. The airline recorded an a accumulated loss of US$1.35 billion last year, according to its unaudited financial statements. Why it matters:

Public-private partnerships well below target on missing ministerial guidance

the-shiv November 15, 2023

Just two public-private partnership (PPP) agreements have been signed in the last three years because of a lack of guiding documentation from relevant ministries, according to Vietnam Net. The publication says a new decree will soon be forthcoming to try and clear up some of the issues ministries are facing

People’s Committee personnel changes delay Saigon’s second airport

the-shiv November 10, 2023

Minister of Transport, Thang Van Nguyen, told the National Assembly yesterday that the Long Thanh airport, in Dong Nai, has been delayed because of personnel changes at the provincial People’s Committee, The Investor is reporting. There are no details as to how personnel changes have impacted the airport’s progress. Nguyen

Vietnam transport public private partnerships not worth it on high risk, low profits

the-shiv November 8, 2023

Minister of Transport Thang Van Nguyen told Vietnam’s parliament on Monday that investors were not interest in taking part in public private partnerships (PPPs) because the returns are low, and the came with high financial risks, The Investor is reporting. He also notes that: The 50 percent the state puts

Taiwanese auto-parts maker to build new factory in northern Vietnam

the-shiv October 26, 2023

Taiwan’s Waffer Technology wants to build a US$50.9 million plant in northern Vietnam’s Hai Duong province, The Investor is reporting. Wafer Technolgy intends to use the plant to make up to 10 million car parts and repair machines for export to the US and the EU.

Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways “a bizarre mess of an airline”

the-shiv October 23, 2023

In a frank assessment of Bamboo Airways, Ben Schlappig, the founder of the One Mile At A Time travel blog, dubbs the airline a “bizarre mess” after it ditched its long-haul flight roster. He goes on to say its growth plans ‘made no sense’ to begin with and raises concerns

Vietnam requests financing support for infrastructure projects from Saudi Arabia

the-shiv October 20, 2023

The Vietnamese PM, in Saudi Arabia for the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, has requested the wealthy middle east country lend Vietnam funds to build new infrastructure projects including railways and urban infrastructure, VN Express is reporting. Why it matters: This is inline with Vietnam earlier this week requesting funds from

🇻🇳 PM requests up to US$7 billion for infrastructure projects from World Bank

the-shiv October 17, 2023

The World Bank has agreed in principal to a request for between US$5-7 billion requested to build infrastructure projects including railways, roads, and urban infrastructure, but with caveats, Doang Nhan Viet is reporting. Specifically, the WB wants more details including specific details of the projects and deadlines for the projects

Vietnam new car sales down year-on-year

the-shiv October 14, 2023

A total of 23,993 new cars were sold in Vietnam in September, a 17 percent drop over the 28,757 new cars sold in September of last year, according to the Vietnam Automotive Manufacturers Association (VAMA), and reported by Just-Auto. This brings total new car sales for the year to the

Electric vehicle battery public relations blitz continues

the-shiv September 28, 2023

Vietnam News is carrying an article that breaks down how electric vehicle batteries are made and proselytises how safe they are. For context: It was widely reported, in the mainstream media, two weeks ago that the fire in Hanoi that killed 56 people started when the battery in an electric

Donation to Oxford college from Vietjet CEO falls through

the-shiv September 27, 2023

A US$188 million pledge to Oxford college from Vietjet’s CEO Thao Phuong Thi Nguyen has been put on ice due to legal constraints around moving the money out of Vietnam, The Telegraph is reporting. The donation would have seen Oxford’s Linacre College renamed Thao College after the donor. It’s not

Food company in northern Vietnam to branch out into electric vehicles

the-shiv September 27, 2023

The Cencon Vietnam Company, known for frozen foods and consumer goods, has announced it intends to branch out into electric vehicles, The Leader is reporting. A new company will be established–the Cencon Electric Car Company–with start-up capital of VND 80 billion (US$3.3 million). The article suggests this new company will

Vietnam Airlines’ Vietnamese pilots to receive a pay rise

the-shiv September 22, 2023

A ‘salary fund’ has been approved for Vietnam Airlines that will be used to close the gap between local pilots and foreign pilots working for the national carrier. Currently, Vietnamese pilots are paid less than half of their foreign counterparts, Vietnam News is reporting. It’s not clear from the article

China has expressed an interest in investing in more infrastructure in Vietnam

the-shiv September 20, 2023

The China Railway Group and Power Construction Corporation of China have said they are interested in investing in more railway infrastructure in Vietnam, according to VN Express. Specifically mentioned were the North-South and the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railways. Of note: China’s track record (excuse the pun) with infrastructure projects in

Proposed increase in Vietnam container handling fees falls short of industry demands

the-shiv September 19, 2023

Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has proposed a 10 percent increase in container handling fees at Vietnam’s ports, according to Vietnam News. Key industry groups, however, requested an increase of about 15 to 20 percent per year back in March. These groups claim that Vietnam’s seaports are running at a collective