Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – August 12

Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on Tuesday sent condolences to President Abelardo de la Espriella, the government, and people of Colombia over the devastating earthquake that struck the country on Monday, leaving at least 224 people dead.

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held phone talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on Tuesday afternoon, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Society

-- Police in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam have busted a large-scale USDT trading ring that handled US$7-10 million in transactions each day. USDT is a stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to an asset such as the U.S. dollar. Each USDT is intended to be worth US$1.

-- Hue City in central Vietnam is calling for investment in a convention center featuring a meeting room with a capacity of more than 1,000 people to meet demand for large conferences, seminars, and events while better tapping into the MICE tourism segment.

-- Police in Hung Yen Province, northern Vietnam said on Tuesday that they had received a letter of appreciation from leaders of Process Lab.Micron Vietnam Co. Ltd., a Japanese-owned company based in Thang Long II Industrial Park, thanking the provincial police for their efforts in solving a fraud case involving the misappropriation of more than VND8.4 billion ($321,206) from the company, according to news site Vietnamplus.

Economy

-- Data from a website compiling trademark registration information in Vietnam shows that China’s Changan has filed applications for several trademarks and product names, notably Deepal, its new energy vehicle brand, signaling that Vietnam’s electric vehicle market is set to become more competitive with the arrival of new models.

-- International tourists can now use their familiar payment apps in their home countries to scan VNPAY-QR codes and make payments in Vietnam without installing additional apps or exchanging cash.

-- Vietnamese businesses are struggling with high borrowing costs and limited access to bank loans, prompting them to explore other funding channels, according to a program in Ho Chi Minh City last weekend.

Travel

-- The Bahamas-flagged Villa Vie Odyssey becomes the first cruise vessel to stay overnight in Nha Trang Bay during a visit to Khanh Hoa Province from August 12 to 15, allowing passengers to explore destinations across the province, a local official said on Tuesday.