News

France’s Le Temps newspaper on July 19 ran an article describing Vietnam as a new factory of the world.

According to the article, low wages, tax incentives and free trade agreements have facilitated Vietnam’s exports to foreign markets.

It highlighted the spectacular growth of industrial parks in Vietnam, but noted that the dependence on export and foreign direct investment (FDI) would make the country vulnerable to trade disputes between the US and other trade partners such as China and the European Union.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Inquirer.net also reported that Vietnam has switched from being an agricultural economy to one of the brightest manufacturing hotspots in Southeast Asia, citing the latest report from Jones Lang LaSalle, one of the world’s leading real estate services firms.

It quoted the report as saying that “This phenomenal growth can be attributed to Vietnam establishing itself as an export-driven economy, dedicated industrial and economic zones, numerous free trade agreements, strong economic growth and a young, plentiful, low-cost workforce.”

All these initiatives have led to significant investment by large foreign companies.

The best case study is Samsung, which has reportedly invested over 17 billion USD in Vietnam.

This has provided confidence to many other foreign companies from around the globe to set up operations in the country.

According to Inquirer.net, one of the challenges for Vietnam over the next few years will be the ability to adapt and embrace the inevitable disruption and changes brought about by technology and automation, now commonly known as industry 4.0.

In order for Vietnam to enter the next phase of the industrial/logistics cycle and become more competitive than other countries in the neighborhood, it is critically important that significant expenditure continues on infrastructure, including highway networks, deep-sea ports and upgrade of utilities, including renewable energy

Source: Vietnam+

New York’s Travel + Leisure (T + L), one of the world’s leading travel magazine with over 4.8 million readers worldwide, has released their latest ‘World’s Best’ awards and article series, featuring the greatest hotels, cities, islands, tours and cruises, voted by readers and travelers around the globe.

T + L surveys a range of travelers and readers annually to share their experiences and opinions on the top cities and travel destinations around the world. The list of the World’s Best are rated based on each city’s landscapes, architecture, culture, cuisine, friendliness and overall value.

Topping this year’s ‘World’s Top 15 Cities’, is San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, but Hoi An – Vietnam, is listed in 8^th place with a score of 88.09 and Chiang Mai – Thailand, is ranked 9^th place with a score of 87.93.

Hoi An, is gaining its reputation as a beach-side retreat and a vibrant old-world Vietnamese charm. With dozens of historical landmarks and traditional cultures, the city is a colorful destination for some serious wanderlust. In its neighboring country, Northern Thailand has much to offer besides the bustling city of Bangkok. “Chiang Mai is a great city to visit if you’re looking for a more relaxed feel, but it’s still big enough to have plenty of shopping and restaurants,” one T+L reader said. “We visited an elephant sanctuary outside the city, which was something I’ve always wanted to check off my bucket list.”

Some cities never go out of style: Kyoto – Japan (No.5),Florence – Italy(No.6),  Charleston – USA(No.10), reappeared on the list this year. Oaxaca – Mexico(No.2), Udaipur – India(No.3),  Ubud – Indonesia(No.4), Luang Prabang – Laos(No.7), Mexico City – Mexico(No.11), Cape Town – South Africa(No.12), Istanbul – Turkey(No.12), Beirut – Lebanon(No.15)  are also the top destinations for world travelers.

The other highly anticipated T + L’s list of ‘Top 10 Cities in Asia’, features Hoi An – Vietnam, in 5^th place, Chiang Mai – Thailand, at 6th place and Bangkok – Thailand, at 8th place. Making this list are also Udaipur – India, Luang Prabang – Laos, Ubud – Indonesia, Kyoto – Japan, Tokyo – Japan, Siem Reap – Cambodia and Thimphu – Bhutan.

Topping the ‘Best Hotel Brands’ list, is Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, with a high score of 96.77. The branded hotelier is the unity of luxury and sustainability, providing some of the most luxurious homes for travelers with breathtaking scenery while contributing to sustainable development with properties across Vietnam and Thailand. Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand is voted the No.1 resort and hotel this year in T + L’s ‘World’s Top Southeast Asia Hotels’. “There isn’t anything else like Six Senses,” raved one fan. “I cannot even put it into words.”

The summit and expo was held with Vietnam’s renewed policies. The country strives for a breakthrough in its Industrial 4.0 Revolution on enhancing access to AI research that could soon place Vietnam onto the global platform. The expo attracted representatives from governments, corporate, embassies and overseas corporate associations. Over 1,800 delegates attended the expo.

Besides the welcome meeting led by Prime Minister Nguyen and Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee Nguyen Van Binh, the summit and expo also hosted a series of panel discussions and conferences related to the Industry 4.0 Revolution.

The World Cup Event was the hottest event in the past few weeks and Golden Emperor joined the football fever! We hosted a watch party on the day of the final game on July 15th with our prestigious clients at a popular bar in the city. It was a lively night with free-flow beers and snacks, along with a big screen TV to watch the game!

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City’s property market has soared high in previous years. The upcoming MRT network, a new international airport and the Thu Thiem redevelopment area will all stimulate HCMC’s rising property market even further. Properties sitting at HCMC’s prime locations are highly sought after by overseas investors. Golden Emperor Properties hosted a property investment seminar the past weekend and launched Vietnam’s acclaimed developer, TTC  Land’s latest residence, Jamona Heights. The property is comparable to Hong Kong’s ‘Taikoo Shing’ while it is nestled in the prime District 7, which is conveniently located by District 1, HCMC’s future ‘Pudong’. The residence was hugely popular among investors from Hong Kong in which many attended the seminar over the weekend.

Photo Above: Golden Emperor Managing Director, Mr. Terence Chan discusses and gives insights into the Bangkok property market.

Photo Above: Golden Emperor’s seminar the past weekend attracted a number of investors to attend.

Photo Above: The Jamona Heights launch, received wide support from investors in Hong Kong.