Skyscrapers are popping up at a fast pace in major cities in Vietnam. Height records are constantly being set and broken. This is definitely a good sign for those in the real estate industry. What does it mean for everyone else in the country? Late last year, Saigon saw a major cityscape makeover with the opening of the Bitexco Financial Tower, the tallest building in the … [Read more...] about Tallest Skyscrapers in Vietnam: Race to the Sky Causes Traffic on the Ground
A Brief History of the Motorbike in Vietnam
The most common and well-documented street view of urban Vietnam is that of a crowded crossroad with tons of motorbikes. The overwhelming number of motorbikes in the country can be both a source of annoyance and excitement. The motorbike has been a staple of Vietnam as well as that of other Asian developing countries, such as Thailand or Indonesia. Have you ever wondered how … [Read more...] about A Brief History of the Motorbike in Vietnam
Vietnam: Inflation is back again, prices double in past 5 years
Last week, the Asian Development Bank released its widely-followed Asian Development Outlook 2011, in which it forecasts economic growth for Asian countries including Vietnam in 2011 and 2012. The main theme of the report for Vietnam is that the country badly needs to control inflation if it is to sustain growth. In 2010, average inflation reached 9.2%. This was the highest … [Read more...] about Vietnam: Inflation is back again, prices double in past 5 years
Fish sauce now a $159 mil ingredient in the financial market
The secret to great Vietnamese cooking is adding fish sauce to just about every dish. KKR, one of the world's largest US-based private equity firms, seems to have applied this to the context of investing when it decided to add a Vietnamese fish sauce company in its portfolio. The $159 million deal, announced on April 13th, was the largest private equity transaction in Vietnam. … [Read more...] about Fish sauce now a $159 mil ingredient in the financial market
How Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami Will Impact Vietnam’s Economy
As the dirt slowly begins to settle after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, the world is rushing to help and at the same time gauge how much of an impact the disaster will have on the rest of us. Japan and Vietnam have long been trading partners. Naturally, Vietnam’s economy will suffer. Just how much of a hit is an open question. A quick look at import export … [Read more...] about How Japan’s Earthquake and Tsunami Will Impact Vietnam’s Economy