Chinese-driven banana boom has left few locals untouched, but not everyone is smiling. Kongkaew Vonusak smiles when he recalls the arrival of Chinese investors in his tranquil village in northern Laos in 2014. With them came easy money, he said. The Chinese offered villagers up to $720 per hectare to rent their land, much of it fallow for years, said Kongkaew, 59, the village chief. They wanted to grow bananas on it. In impoverished Laos, the offer was generous. "They told us the price and asked us if we were happy. We said okay." Elsewhere, riverside land with good access roads fetched at least double that sum. Three years later, the Chinese-driven banana boom has left few locals untouched, but not everyone is smiling. Experts say the Chinese have brought jobs and higher wages to northern Laos, but have also drenched plantations with pesticides and other chemicals. Last year, the Lao government banned the opening of new banana plantations after a state-backed institute … [Read more...] about Cash and chemicals: for Laos, Chinese banana boom a blessing and curse
Golden bridge investment
The owners of golden land in Saigon
VietNamNet Bridge – The plots of land at prime locations in HCM City, dubbed “golden land”, are owned by several big corporations gained through merger and acquisition (M&A) deals or land auctions held by HCM City authorities. The gravity from golden lands is very powerful. Some big corporations have focused on “collecting” these plots of land in recent years. Estate experts said that 2016 will be still a good year for the property sector. According to the HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the city will held auctions for 23 plot of golden land or two auctions/month on average. The familiar names One of the corporations holding valuable land areas in HCM City is Van Thinh Phat Group of businesswoman Truong My Lan. This group directly and indirectly owns many high-rise buildings located at prime locations such as the Times Square and some building along Nguyen Hue Road. The acquisition of Vincom Center A with the transfer … [Read more...] about The owners of golden land in Saigon
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/11
Palm oil holds potential for poor farmers Oil palm trees have the potential of raising the incomes of poor farmers in disadvantageous areas, according to a HCM City resident who has planted more than 10ha of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) trees. Le Thi Hong, a 62-year-old, grows oil palm trees for ornamental use, fruit, and seedlings. "The trees can grow well without fertiliser. There are no diseases," she said. "I think the trees should be piloted as a new tree to improve the livelihood of farmers." After visiting plantations where the trees are cultivated, she noticed that the trees could grow well if enough water was provided. "They can grow well in wetland areas with a pH content of 3.8, so I think farmers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta could grow them," she said. The trees are planted in a variety of areas, including wetland soil in the city's Hoc Mon District, soil with a high proportion of sand in Binh Duong Province, and soil with low water content in the Central … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/11
Long Bien Bridge may look like this
HA NOI — Vietnamese-French architect Nguyen Nga has designed a project that would transform the historic Long Bien Bridge over Hong (Red) River in Ha Noi from being a transport link to a cultural art space. Nga presented the project at a seminar on the Long Bien Bridge organised last week by the Viet Nam Urban Planning and Development Association. The Long Bien Bridge was built in 1889 and opened in 1902. It was first named Doumer after Paul Doumer, the then Governor of French Indochina. The old bridge is a respected witness of wars and the renewal process of the capital. It was restored after being heavily destroyed by the US airforce during the American war against the north of Viet Nam. "Long Bien Bridge is one among many examples of important architecture in the capital. When the bridge was restored and upgraded, it opened up a new potential space for culture and art, as well as another opportunity to develop tourism," she said. Golden dream: An artist's view of the … [Read more...] about Long Bien Bridge may look like this
Why invest in Danang?
Danang has been designated by the central government to be the core city of the Key Economic Zone in central Vietnam, the entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the terminal point of the East-West Corridor linking with Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. It is clear that Danang's location makes it a strategic location from which your business can access potentially rich Vietnamese and other Asian markets.I. STRATEGIC LOCATION The coastal city of Danang is situated at the very heart of Vietnam, 759km from Hanoi and 960km from Ho Chi Minh City. It lies on the north-south communications axis of land ( National Road 1A), rail, sea and air routes. Danang borders Thua Thien - HueProvince in the north, QuangNamProvince in the south and the west, and the EasternSea in the east. It is located in a typical tropical area influenced by monsoons with an annual average temperature of 25.7C. The city has a natural land area of 1,256km2 and a population of 887,069 as of 01 April 2009. … [Read more...] about Why invest in Danang?