Demand for driver education in Ho Chi Minh City surged in 2017, mostly as a result of news that car prices would drop in 2018 following the scrapping of several import duties. The surge extended to both the number of people attending driving schools and those sitting driving tests, according to statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport. In 2017, over 141,000 driver’s licenses were issued in the southern hub, an 11-percent increase on 2016. There are currently 70 institutions across the city offering driver education, with two more approved for later this year. Vo Trong Nhan, head of the examination and licensing division under the municipal transport department, attributed the trend to the recent forecast that cars were to become significantly cheaper in Vietnam thanks to the lifting of several import duties. Local consumers have been eagerly awaiting cheaper cars after Vietnam confirmed that it would scrap taxes on several kinds of fully imported, or completely built up (CBU) cars with origins inside the ASEAN zone. Previously, a 30-percent tariff was imposed on these kinds of vehicles. The change took effect on January 1, 2018, following a government decree in December that made official the earlier agreement among ASEAN member states. ASEAN is a political and economic organization whose current members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. In 2009, its members signed the ASEAN Trade In Goods Agreement (ATIGA), which created a timeline for the gradual reduction of import… [Read full story]
Many people in Ho Chi Minh City have chosen to celebrate their Christmas on a street in District 8, famous for its churches and colorful decorations. Pham The Hien Street has become one of the favorite locations for the local citizens to enjoy the festive spirit. Stretching across Wards 6 and 7, the road consists of five parishes, namely Binh Thai, Binh An Thuong, Binh An Ha, Binh Thuan, and Binh Son, which have together turned into a well-known ‘Christian neighborhood.’ Local residents hang up lights for their Christmas cavern. It has become a tradition for the churches and local…... [read more]
Several streets, sidewalks and alleys are being excavated, blocking the entrances to multiple shops, restaurants, and diners as well as creating immense difficulties for people traveling on the roads, according to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters’ observation.A part of Nguyen Van Qua Street in District 12 has been subject to such renovation for a couple of months, with building equipment, materials and roadblocks being placed all over the area, preventing local businesses from operating and speeding up before the Lunar New Year holiday, Dung, the owner of a confectionary shop on the street, told Tuoi Tre.Vietnam’s Lunar New Year falls on February 8,…... [read more]
Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy director of the city’s Department of Health was quoted by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper as saying that the city had been selected by the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) as one of five pilot cities to reach the target by 2030. Counseling and monitoring are offered at the Preventive Health Center for people at risk of HIV infection in Ho Chi Minh City. The UN Joint Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has chosen the city as one of the largest fast-track cities in the world achieving its 90-90-90 targets set by the UN in 2014. The 90-90-90 goals…... [read more]
The road construction is going to start at the end of this year. As of now, the preparatory stages to linking Ring Road 3 to Nhon Trach Bridge have been taken.Dai Phuoc Bridge is one kilometre away from Nhon Trach Bridge and Dai Phuoc Lotus is located on Dai Phuoc Island, only half a kilometre away from Dai Phuoc Bridge. When the Tan Van-Nhon Trach section is finished, the drive time from the centre of Ho Chi Minh City to Dai Phuoc Lotus will be cut down to between 20 and 25 minutes. Dai Phuoc Lotus – Sentosa in VietnamDai…... [read more]
Unexpected heavy rain on Saturday afternoon has caught Ho Chi Minh City residents off guard, seriously flooding the city, including Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and paralyzing railroads in Thu Duc District. Pictures of planes parked in large pools of water went viral on social media and reminded the online community of a similar incident last summer which back then prompted the city to spend over $16 million to improve the airport's drainage system. The two hour rain washed away many motorbikes in Thu Duc and District 9. The flood level was as high as one meter in low lying…... [read more]
