Ukraine could well be Vladimir Putin’s Vietnam. Will Putin’s “special military operation” turn into a quagmire that disembowels the Russian army and ultimately leads to its defeat? Or will Putin continue that war no matter the cost, expecting Russia’s advantages in size and mass to overcome Ukraine’s heroic resistance? Many Americans may feel uncomfortable comparing Putin to any U.S. president, with the possible exception of Donald Trump. However, many of the mistakes Lyndon Johnson and his administration made in Vietnam have been repeated by Putin and Russia in Ukraine. Consider some of the similarities. South Vietnam emerged along with the…
Author: Kevin Le
The government’s landmark announcement in 2021 that Vietnam will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and phase out coal power plants by 2040 was both bold and visionary. It marks an important milestone in the country’s development trajectory. As a densely populated coastal country with large, low-lying delta areas, Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. By adhering to these ambitious goals, Vietnam has set an important example for other countries, especially developing and middle-income countries. If Vietnam – an exceptionally competitive, dynamic economy – can make this transition to net zero…
Sales of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are expected to grow 7-9 percent in Vietnam during the Lunar New Year 2023 compared to last year, Vietnam News Agency reported Tuesday. After two years of low sales due to COVID-19, the FMCG industry is expected to look better this time around as the Vietnamese economy recovers and consumers have a positive outlook on the economic outlook, according to a Kantar Worldpanel Vietnam report – the market research agency. The occurrence of two major holidays in one month (New Year and Chinese New Year) is expected to boost spending. However, with inflationary pressures…
Vietnam is an unlikely home of the next Elon Musk. That’s why Le Thi Thu Thuy is a person to watch in 2023. The 48-year-old is at the wheel of VinFast, a money-losing electric vehicle maker that races the American entrepreneur’s Tesla (TSLA.O) on western roads. It’s a complicated process. VinFast has made a name for itself selling gas guzzlers in the Southeast Asian nation, where parent company Vingroup (VIC.HM) is the largest conglomerate. Now, Thuy is going in a whole new direction by making the automaker fully electric and by taking its brand global. Within a year, she plans…
Online sex worker Martha blames Britain’s cost-of-living crisis for her dwindling earnings — in part due to increased competition, as rising household bills push more women to sell sex. “People are offering more for less because they are desperate for money,” 29-year-old Martha, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect her identity, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “I’m afraid this will get worse as the purse stretches further,” she said, adding that her daily income had fallen to around £150 (S$241.8) in recent months from £250 previously. Martha started online sex work last year after she was laid off.…
Rice exports to the Scandinavian market have reached an average growth rate of 73%/year in the period 2017-2021. In 2021, the Nordic countries will import nearly 5,700 tons of rice from Vietnam, worth more than USD 5.5 million. This result is partly due to the free trade agreement between the European Union and Vietnam (EVFTA). Branded rice from Vietnamese companies is exported to Europe. Photo: LTG According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, the Nordic countries imported 136,471 tons of rice in 2021, worth USD 169.75 million. In which the import turnover from Vietnam reached 5.52 million USD with…
The cyclos remains a popular tourist attraction not only in the capital of Hanoi, but also in other cities such as Hoi An city in Quang Nam province and Hue city in Thua Thien – Hue province. Cyclotouring is the best way to get up close and personal with the vibrant life in Vietnam’s major cities. According to Vietnam News Agency, cyclo is a three-wheeled pedicab that appeared in Vietnam in the early 20th century. A double seat is supported by the two front wheels with the driver behind it. You may be interested in Cyclotransport was very popular…
Police believe Amanda Dinges and her mother Amber Dinges kidnapped Amanda’s foster child and brought them to Vietnam. A 5-year-old Mount Vernon boy believed to have been kidnapped by his foster parent was found in Vietnam with the woman and her mother. The boy, identified as “ND,” arrived back in Seattle Friday morning, accompanied by FBI agents and victims’ advocates. The boy reunited with his biological mother after his arrival. “She said he’s fine, he was excited to see her,” said Brittany Tri, the birth mother’s attorney. “They’re both excited, so the excitement comes from both sides, but she did…
“Vietnam is an attractive market for foreign investment in 2023, despite the threat of a recession.” Dr. Daniel Borer, Lecturer in Economics, RMIT University Vietnam shares his positive prediction in the conversation with the author. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised its growth forecast for Vietnam for this year from 6.5% to 7.5%, despite several economic challenges. This puts behind fears of a recession in the country in recent months and the country can expect more foreign direct investment in the coming year and ex has agreedperts. Dr. Daniel Borer, Lecturer in Economics, RMIT University Vietnam However, foreign investors…
Mr. Christoph Grimm put on a yellow vest and walked out of the office. Outside, in front of the recently renovated train station of the Bremervörder-Osterholz railway line, a hydrogen workshop is being built. He was excited when his company recently gained fame as the world’s first company to use hydrogen ships. They now have six hydrogen-powered trains that run regularly between different cities in the region, instead of diesel trains. Thanks to hydrogen fuel cells, trains can run emission-free. “All relevant transmission components such as the tank and fuel cell are located on the roof of the hydrogen train,”…