Vietnam news highlights for May 6, 2023
Check out the latest news on Vietnam for today.
Vietnam Airlines pilot suspended after positive drug test
A pilot contracted to the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has been suspended for positive tests with illegal drugs. In a press release late May 5, the airline said the drug test was a regular check on the pilots to assure their physical conditions and flight safety as regulated.
A few days ago, a report on the drug test of a Vietnam Airlines pilot was spread on social media. The pilot was reportedly tested positive for ketamine, an illicit drug in Vietnam. Local authorities are proceeding with the investigation and the pilot’s license may be revoked permanently.
TikTok Vietnam gets inspected in mid-May
| TikTok Vietnam will be investigated on May 15. Photo: AFP/VNA |
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Vietnamese authorities will probe TikTok Vietnam’s operations from May 15 until the end of the month. The social media platform has been accused of failing to control public content, allowing the publication of fake news, political opposition towards the Vietnamese Party and Government, harmful content for children and communities, counterfeit, harmful goods and products, and enabling the illegal exploration and use of personal information.
Since its debut on the Vietnamese market in 2019, TikTok has boomed as a user-friendly platform for showcasing both entertaining and harmful content. There are some 49.9 million Vietnamese users aged 18 and above, making Vietnam the sixth-largest market for TikTok.
Major cases to complete in Q2: Public security ministry
Le Thanh Than, chairman of property developer Muong Thanh Group, will be trialed in June 2023 following the completion of a four-year investigation, according to the Ministry of Public Security. The real estate tycoon was prosecuted in May 2019 for increasing the number of apartments without permission, thus earning an unofficial profit of VND500 billion (US$21.3 million).
Meanwhile, the investigations of medical device supplier Viet A’s executives and several government officials may be finalized at Q2-end. The defendants are prosecuted for bribery and corruption as they took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to earn some VND1.3 trillion (US$55.4 million) worth of illegal income from selling machines and medical equipment to hospitals and health facilities.
Vietnam among top three Asian chip exporters to the US
Vietnam is Asia’s third-largest chip exporter to the US after Malaysia and Taiwan (China). Vietnamese chip exports have accounted for 10% of the US market share in seven consecutive months.
According to the US authorities, chip and semiconductor imports in February 2023 increased by 17% on-year to US$4.86 billion. Exports from Asian nations accounted for 83% of the figure. In February, Vietnamese chip manufacturers dispatched US$562.5 million worth of products to the US, up nearly 75% on-year.
Seafood exporter Minh Phu reports first quarterly loss in seven years
| A production facility of Minh Phu Corporation in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times |
Minh Phu Seafood JSC on May 5 reported a post-tax loss of VND98.3 billion (US$4.2 million) in the first quarter of 2023, marking the first quarterly loss in seven years since the second quarter of 2016. In the previous quarter, the company earned a post-tax profit of VND264.7 billion (US$11.3 million). First-quarter revenue halved on an annual basis to VND2.12 trillion (US$90.4 million).
The company, among Vietnam’s top seafood exporters, blamed input costs, an increase in financial expenses, provisions for stockpiles and financial investments, sales return, and market uncertainties for its loss. Vietnam’s Jan-April seafood exports dipped 31% on-year to US$2.6 billion.
SPS Vietnam alerts local exporters about fake certificate
The Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point (SPS Vietnam) on May 5 announced that it had not received the sample of Certificate of GACC Registration from the Chinese General Customs Administration. The warning was made after an image of GACC certificate had been spread on social media attached with QR code to link to the website at www.aqsiq.net.
The SPS Vietnam said that the issuance of GACC certificates is subject to Regulation 248 of the Chinese general customs administration dated January 1, 2022. Producers and exporters to China must register their products at https://app.singlewindow.cn/ and receive the assessment results at https://ciferquery.singlewindow.cn/, http://dzs.customs.gov.cn/, and http://ire.customs.gov.cn/.
Cambodia appreciates Vietnam’s support for 32nd SEA Games
Cambodian Deputy PM Samdech Tea Banh, also President of the Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee, on May 5 highly valued Vietnam’s sharing of experiences to assist Cambodia to host the ongoing 32nd SEA Games at a discussion with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang. In his part, Vietnamese Deputy PM Quang believed the existing sports event and the upcoming 12th ASEAN Para Games, scheduled for June, will promote the status of Cambodia in the region and the world, thus contributing to the prosperous, peaceful and stable development of ASEAN.
The two deputy PMs agreed that the two nations will see stronger ties in the future through enhancement of political exchange, and further cooperation in economic and trade relations, people-to-people exchange, and travel.
