Business

All foreign tourists entering Thailand from June will have to pay a fee of 300 baht (US$12), tourism minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has said. The money would be used to develop tourist attractions and pay for accident insurance for those unable to afford treatment, Bangkok Post reported. Foreigners with work permits …

Without any signs, chairs, or a fixed location, Lan has been serving satisfied customers banh mi with grilled beef rolled in betel leaves for over 30 years. Every day, Lan rolls her cart through the alleys and streets of Xom Chieu Ward in Saigon’s District 4. She often passes Ton …

Vietnam’s largest coal miner Vinacomin recorded its highest-ever revenues of VND165.9 trillion (over $7 billion) last year, up 20% from 2021 due to stronger production and higher prices. Of the total revenues, VND101.6 trillion, or over 61%, came from coal, Vinacomin directors said Wednesday at a review meeting. The revenues …

Diesel dropped 2.3% to VND21,630 ($0.92) per liter while gasoline prices remained unchanged Wednesday afternoon. Kerosene fell 4.2% to VND21,800 per liter. Mazut decreased by 2.8% to VND13,360 per kilogram. Global gasoline and oil prices gained 0.5-6.6% between the last and this adjustment. RON95 gasoline dropped 0.53% to over $92 …

Beijing said Wednesday it would scrap visa-free transit for South Korean and Japanese citizens, stepping up a diplomatic tit-for-tat after both countries placed travel curbs on visitors from China. South Korea and Japan have in recent weeks imposed fresh travel requirements on all visitors from China, as the world’s most …

The monthly income of people in jobs averaged VND6.7 million (US$283.8) last year, up 16%, from 2021, the General Statistics Office said Tuesday. Incomes rose in all sectors as growth was broad-based. The biggest rise, of 17.6% and equivalent to more than VND1.1 million, was in industry and construction. It …

Coca-Cola Vietnam set a world record for the largest Vietnamese Tet meal table with the participation of 1,000 multi-generation families in Ho Chi Minh City on January 8. The meal was recognized as a record-setting event by the World Records Union (Worldkings). This record honors the tradition of family reunions …

Malaysian immigration authorities will provide special lanes at its international entry points for arrivals from China in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19, according to The Star newspaper. Travelers from China who are symptomatic will be referred to health officials and must then undergo throat swabs as well …

The Vietnamese passport has jumped four places in this year’s global travel freedom index as Vietnamese citizens now enjoy visa-free access to 55 countries. In Southeast Asia, a Vietnamese passport (88th) is now more powerful than Cambodia (89th), Laos (93rd) and Myanmar (96th), according to the 2023 Henley Passport Index …

Auto imports rose by 8.4% last year to a record 173,467 units, which cost US$3.84 billion according to Vietnam Customs. The previous highest number was over 160,000 in 2021. Indonesia and Thailand were the biggest sources of the imports last year, accounting for 41.9% and 41.5%. China was third with …