Sugarcane farmers in Mekong Delta suffer losses due to low pricesMany farmers in the Mekong Delta have suffered losses in the 2017-2018 sugarcane crop because of low prices. In Cu Lao Dung district, sugarcane on many fields has become over-mature but their owners cannot find buyers. However, in recent years farmers have been hit by low prices and lack of demand. Local processors blamed the low demand on the low prices of sugar. With the low sugarcane prices and demand, many farmers in the Mekong Delta region have begun to switch to other crops.

Vietnam LED market should focus on low-end segment: scientistsVietNamNet Bridge - The domestic LED (light-emitting diodes) market has been developing rapidly but chaotically in recent years. The LED market has been developing rapidlyNguyen Phan Kien from the Hanoi University of Science & Technology said that until 2014-2015, LED development in Vietnam had gone slowly. LED lamps are now made by Vietnamese companies Rang Dong Rang Dong Light Source & Vacuum Flask JSC and Dien Quang Lamp. However, Bac said that the LED market is now in chaos with uncontrolled product quality, origin and price. LED lamps are now made by Vietnamese companies Rang Dong Rang Dong Light Source & Vacuum Flask JSC and Dien Quang Lamp.

Uber sells stake to Grab after launching ‘e-hailing culture’ in VietnamVietNamNet Bridge - Competing with traditional taxis and avoiding tax, Uber gained ill fame during its operation in Vietnam. However, it helped energized the taxi market and create an ‘e-hailing’ culture. Uber launched e-hailing culture in VietnamIn June 2014 in HCM City, Uber joined the market. Its taxi fee was around half of traditional taxi firms. To compete with Uber and Grab, traditional taxi firms also began providing hi-tech services.

Vietnam loses to Japan at Asian CupVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s national women’s football team lost to reigning champions Japan 0-4 in the opening match of Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 on Saturday. Vietnam vs Japan in the opening match of Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 on Saturday. Vietnam lost to Japan 0-4. Japan continued to threaten, but Vietnam managed to stem the tide, somewhat, and survived until half-time without falling further behind. Two minutes later, Vietnam had a chance to have the opener, but midfielder Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung didn’t beat goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.

Balancing conservation, economic development in Hoi AnVietNamNet Bridge - Rapid tourism development has put pressure on local infrastructure and environment in the UNESCO-protected town of Hoi An. Tong Quoc Hung, deputy head of Hoi An Culture and Information Sub-department, said if the ancient town loses its soul, it would no longer be a heritage site. Now, residents stay up late at night to serve tourists and get up late the next morning. The Hoi An ancient and peaceful town is home to many temples, pagodas and the ancient homes that bear its very unique mark. RELATED NEWSAPEC finance and bank deputies meet in Hoi AnRain, waves and rising seas erode Hoi An beachesKim Chi

Excess loans to be permitted beginning May 1Credit institutions and foreign banks will be allowed to grant loans to some prioritised borrowers in excess of lending limits regulated by law beginning next month. Credit institutions and foreign banks will be allowed to grant loans to some prioritised borrowers in excess of lending limits regulated by law beginning next month. Credit institutions are requested to make excess loans in conformity with the law, in which the loans must not exceed four times the borrowers’ equity capital. According to the National Financial Supervisory Commission, outstanding loans in the banking system, as of the end of March, were estimated to have risen by 3.5 per cent against December last year, of which loans in Vietnamese dong increased by 3.3 per cent and accounted for 91.9 per cent of total outstanding loans. The rate applied for medium- and long-term loans was 9.3 per cent to 11 per cent.

Students’ award-winning ideas, creativity lauded by scientistsVietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have been surprised by students’ creativity and practical ideas, including a non-Braille book reader for the visually impaired and a smart garbage can. Scientists have been surprised by students’ creativity and practical ideasThe device includes a small camera mounted on a 3D box specifically designed to be wearable on the hand. Smart garbage canTran Gia Huy, a student in Da Nang, showed his smart garbage can at an event for high school students. The smart garbage can automatically move to dumping grounds after it becomes full. RELATED NEWSVN student wins US invention prizeHigh school students win top prizes at tech creativity competitionsMai Thanh

Saigon Heat lose to Alab PilipinasVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s Saigon Heat lost to San Miguel Alab Pilipinas 85-96 in the play-off round of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) at the CIS Arena in HCM City on Saturday. Saigon Heat vs San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the play-off round of the ABL at the CIS Arena in HCM City on Saturday. There was little to separate the two teams in the first quarter, with the visitors just edging it 27-28. In the next phase, the Heat fought back strongly with many three-point shots but Alab Pilipinas still finished the half four points ahead with the score at 42-46.. The Heat made every effort through Esho, captain Akeem Scott and David Arnold, but it wasn’t enough, and the match finished 85-96.

Farmers in Dong Thap province bet on tra fishDong Thap province, already the largest tra fish producer in the Mekong Delta, has further increased the breeding area this year because of the high prices the fish is fetching. A tra fish farm in Dong Thap province’s Thanh Binh district. So far this year nearly 300ha of tra ponds have been harvested, with output being more than 100,000 tonnes, up nearly 5 percent year-on-year, according to the Dong Thap Fisheries Sub-department. In more than 60 percent of the breeding areas farmers have adopted quality standards such as global GAP or VietGAP. With tra fetching high prices, many farmers in Dong Thap are digging ponds even in unzoned areas to breed the fish.

Investors, retailers squeeze into prepared food marketVietNamNet Bridge - VinaCapital has invested $32.5 million in Ba Huan, a poultry egg producer, while Kido plans to join forces with a Thai partner to make bottled milk tea and herbal drinks. Before VinaCapital poured VND760 billion into Ba Huan, Vinh Thanh Dat Food JSC, a rival of Ba Huan, launched a series of instant food with eggs. Ba Huan, established as a poultry egg supplier, has also joined the processed food market. However, it was Sai Gon Food which first exploited the fresh food market. RELATED NEWSVietnam concerned about big firms taking over retail chainsCan ‘underwear giant’ squeeze into the retail market?

Retailers flock to Vietnam as consumer spending soarsVietNamNet Bridge - In 2014, Vietnamese were the most economical consumers in South East Asia in a Nielsen survey. Vietnam is an attractive retail marketIn the 2014 survey, 74 percent of Vietnamese said they would save money after covering essential living expenses. Vietnam is considered an attractive market for retailers thanks to the low saturation level and the high growth potential. Vietnam is considered an attractive market for retailers thanks to the low saturation level and the high growth potential. RELATED NEWSLogistics FDI rises in the face of retail expansionVN retail forecast to grow steadilyMai Chi

Investment policy in agriculture needs to changeDinh Trong Thang, director of the Department of Investment, under the Central Institute of Economic Management – Ministry of Planning and Investment talks to the newspaper Customs on what the country should do to attract enterprises to invest in agriculture. To encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture and rural development, the Government has issued the Decree 210/2013 on agriculture policy to encourage enterprises to invest in agriculture development. However, that Decree was promulgated before the issuance of the Land Law, Public Investment Law, Investment Law and Law on Construction. However, what the enterprises need is the Government’s policy on land acquisition so they can have large field to cultivate rice and use mechanisation in production. When big enterprises decide to invest in agriculture, no doubt, they have adopted strategies and clear objectives before making their decisions.

Thanh Hoa’s festival recognised national intangible cultural heritageA ceremony was held in Ngu Loc commune, Hau Loc district, the central province of Thanh Hoa, on April 6 to kick off the Cau Ngu (Whale worshipping) festival and receive a certificate recognising it a national intangible cultural heritage. Procession of Long Chau boatCau Ngu festival is a unique cultural feature of coastal localities, which has been preserved and passed down through many generations. The festival in Ngu Loc commune is considered the largest of its kind not only in Thanh Hoa but also across north central localities, attracting thousands of visitors. The main ritual in the festival is a procession of Long Chau boat from Bac Tho village to a platform at the commune’s stadium, where praying will be conducted every day during the festival. On the last day of the festival, the Long Chau boat will be burned at the seaside.

Will cash continue to flow into banks? However, the recent incidents of depositors losing money at some banks, plus the rise of many attractive investment channels, will divert cash flow from banks. However, the recent incidents of depositors losing money at some banks, plus the rise of many attractive investment channels, will divert cash flow from banks. However, analysts warned that the favorable conditions that helped drive the capital flow into banks will not exist in the time to come. The US dollar prime interest rate is anticipated, which will cause the greenback to appreciate.

Private sector enters to deal with airport overloadThe overload at the country’s airports is expected to be reduced as a wave of large investors are seeking investment opportunities in the aviation infrastructure segment. The overload at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City remains a concern for the airport management board, especially during the Lunar New Year. Besides, the Hanoi People’s Committee has also grown concerned about the overload at Noi Bai International Airport. Accordingly, ACV will implement the VND680-billion ($30-million) first phase of upgrading Tan Son Nhat Airport’s runways and the VND1.23-trillion ($54.18-million) second phase’s escape lane. At Noi Bai Airport, ACV will upgrade runways and skidways during a 16-month project.