AmCham Vietnam Weekly Update - 11th Week of 2020
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Stay Informed- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak
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Now classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly throughout the world, including in Vietnam.
Vietnam currently has 44 reported cases, with 29,274 individuals now in quarantine, 0 deaths.
Recommended precautions for most healthy individuals are careful hand washing, avoiding touching your face, disinfecting frequently-touched hard surfaces, and practicing social distancing, including avoiding large gatherings,
For the most accurate, up-to-date information, check:
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If you are a U.S. citizen, register for the STEP program at
travel.state.gov
to receive updates on health and security information from the U.S. Consulate.
Some additional tips below from Dr. Mason Cobb, Vice-Chair of AmCham Healthcare Committee’s Medical Providers Subcommittee.
- The best news for families is that COVID-19 is unusual in children and death is extremely rare (0.2% under age 19). However, it is not determined if children may be carriers while having minor or no symptoms.
- SARS-CoV-2 (the virus itself) is so contagious because 2 weeks before or after symptoms, it can still be transmitted to others. That is why doubling down on the precautions with good hand hygiene and social distance is so important.
- Information on a vaccine varies. However, it is likely to be nearly a year before it is widely available.
- Although there are several promising treatments being tried, there is no reliable treatment, at this time.
- Plenty of sleep, a healthy diet, regular exercise and clean living are the best immune boosters. Vitamin D supplement may also be helpful, specifically against the respiratory complications.
- COVID-19 symptoms are like those of seasonal flu, a real confounder. Fever is the most common symptom. Muscle aches, fatigue, dry cough, and sore throat are also quite common. However, a runny nose is unusual in COVID; some shortness of breath is common and the distinguishing feature of COVID-19.
- Significant shortness of breath may develop and may require hospitalization. However, 80% of cases are mild and another 14% may only need oxygen and hospital support but should have an uneventful recovery. Only about 6% will be critical and half of those will need mechanical ventilation, with a high mortality rate.
- Although we have not discouraged business travel, that decision is very individual. There are long lines for screening upon entering VN and a distinct chance that a visa would not be issued or that a 14-day quarantine would be enforced. This is also true of most destination countries. The restrictions and screening is literally changing daily all over the world.
- If you believe you may have COVID19, The Prime Minister and the MoH have sent recommendations. First, if not in need of urgent medical care, stay at home. If you must go out, wear a mask: keep it on but do not touch it. Practice frequent hand hygiene. There are 2 hotlines, but only accessible in Vietnamese: 19003228 and 19009095. Since shortness of breath is the symptom which might require hospitalization, there are some tests that you can do at home. If your respiratory rate is >30 per minute, your pulse ox (a feature on many wearable fitness trackers) is <93%, and you cannot hold your breath for at least 10 seconds, then you should urgently seek care. Call your doctor or clinic. Or go to the International Hospital for Tropical Diseases which is designated by MoH. Your care there should be world-class, although the room may not be as comfortable as you might like.
All considered in this global pandemic, Vietnam is handling this better than most countries. Wash your hands and be well!
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AmCham Vietnam Supports Local Business - AmCham 2020 Discount Partner Program
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We know many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and throughout Vietnam are struggling, due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak. And we know the impact of the outbreak has been particularly hard on small, local businesses.
We at AmCham want to support local businesses which contribute so much to our quality of life in Vietnam by inviting them to join our 2020 AmCham Discount Partnership Program. Please consider joining for your company or refer a favorite local business by sending their email address or a copy of their business card to Membership Manager Sam Hoang at
sam.hoang@amchamvietnam.com
Companies can choose what level discount or special offer they provide. We just ask that they follow "Most Favored Association" treatment and provide us at least the same percentage discount or special offer that they may already provide other local associations. In return, we will promote our AmCham Discount Partners businesses and encourage our members to become their regular customers as described below:
What is the 2020 AmCham Discount Partnership Program?
✓ A program in which partner businesses promote their business by offering a special discount to more than
1500 AmCham top-profile individuals
who are representatives of over
500 AmCham Company Members.
Why join?
✓ As part of our #AmChamVietnamHCMC #supportlocalbusiness campaign, we will feature select partner businesses on our Facebook page and website
✓ Your company will be promoted widely to all AmCham members, partners, and website subscribers.
✓ Discount offers are
free
to be listed in our AmCham Discount Partner Handbook on our website at
LINK
(our website has over 180,000 visitors/year and 500,000 views/year).
✓ Your special promotion programs can be published on AmCham's website
LINK
How to join?
✓ Fill in the
Participation Form
HERE
.
✓ Book an Advertisement on Discount ONLINE (
Optional
):
REGISTER HERE
We value and want to support our local businesses!
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At the request of HCMC authorities, we postponed two large gatherings scheduled to take place this week to support the Vietnamese government’s efforts to identify and quarantine individuals who may have been exposed to the new COVID-19 cases reported this weekend.
That includes our Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative town hall scheduled for Monday, March 9, which was expected to attract over 100 participants, and our Meet the Consulate and Board of Governors and Members Night event originally scheduled for Thursday, March 12. Both events have been rescheduled. See below.
Unless reported otherwise, our Board of Governors and committee meetings will take place as planned. We will seek to facilitate virtual participation via Zoom, or conference call as needed.
We appreciate your flexibility during this challenging time. Please contact Events and Committees Manager Lily Nguyen at
lily.nguyen@amchamvietnam.com
with any questions or concerns.
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2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, AmCham Office, Room 323, New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai Street, Dist. 1
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, we know many of you are facing legal issues with respect to force majeure clauses in contracts, and employment and labor obligations. Join this Business Intelligence Briefing with AmCham legal experts either in person or virtually to ensure you and your company are prepared.
Panel discussion with Co-Chair of AmCham Vietnam-HCMC Legal Committee and Managing Partner at Baker & McKenzie Fred Burke; Co-Chair of AmCham Vietnam-HCMC Legal Committee and Senior Associate at Mayer Brown (Vietnam) Orsolya Szotyory-Grove; and Hang Nguyen, Partner at Baker & McKenzie.
To get you started, a list of basic legal tips for preparing your company is
HERE
.
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6:00pm, The Reverie Saigon, 22-36 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 1
Come and join us at a special Connect & Cocktail outdoors with our Board Members and Committee Leaders at the Poolside of The Reverie Saigon. Don't forget to bring many of your business cards to network and mingle.
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4:00 pm - 5:00 pm,
AmCham Vietnam HCMC, Suite 323, New World Saigon Hotel, 76 Le Lai Street, District 1
At this new member event, you will learn more from our Executive Director, Mary Tarnowka, about AmCham Vietnam benefits, our mission, programs to help new members achieve success, and how to get involved in and maximize your investment in AmCham membership. It is also a way to meet other new AmCham Vietnam HCMC members. While this event is designed for new members, we welcome other members on a space available basis. Contact
Ms. Sam Hoang
for more information.
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9:00 am - 10:30 am,
AmCham Vietnam HCMC, Suite 323, New World Saigon Hotel, 76 Le Lai Street, District 1
Our discussion will be led by business guru and #1 best selling author Stephen Turban, whose writing and research on entrepreneurship, organization, and productivity has been published in Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, Washington Post, Bloomberg Press, PBS NewsHour, Inc, Quartz, Tech Republic, and the Times, among others.
Stephen will also be sharing insights about entrepreneurship in Vietnam… the challenges and the promise.
Virtual participation will be facilitated.
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8:30 am - 10:30 am, Caravelle Hotel, 19 Lam Son Square, Dist. 1
At Le & Tran, we strongly believe that all disputes must be resolved on the basis of the law, factual evidence and logical reasoning. The litigation and arbitration strategies and system of tactics and techniques we utilize are firmly grounded on this basis and always deliver a fair and equitable result which is reflective of the nature of the dispute. Le & Tran’s commitment to this philosophy has resulted in the establishment of a reputation for integrity and success.
With the assistance of AmCham Vietnam, Le & Tran has previously organized numerous seminars concerning litigation and arbitration which have been well-received by the business and legal community. For this event, we will not focus on any particular topic; instead, you are welcome to question or discuss (and even challenge) Mr. Stephen Le, our preeminent Trial Lawyer, regarding any legal question or solution you may have.
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5:45 pm - 8:30 pm, New World Saigon Hotel, 76 Le Lai Street, Dist. 1.
Join for AmCham Members Night with the U.S. Consulate General Team on Thursday, April 9 from 5:45-8:30PM at the newly-renovated New World Hotel Saigon.
This will be a special opportunity to meet your AmCham Vietnam-HCMC Board of Governors, welcome our new members, hear updates on AmCham Vietnam’s 2020 strategic goals and objectives from AmCham Chairwoman Amanda Rasmussen, and hear from U.S. Consul General Marie Damour and her Consulate General team about their 2020 priorities and events.
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ABS Institute would like to offer special deal of E-Learning / LMS service to all AMCHAM Members:
✧ E-Learning / LMS service - Moodle - Life time use - US$ 1,190 - Silver package
✧ 5 months free trial - cancel anytime - Additional 20% Off
Note: The price is US$ 1,190 for the whole system of E-Learning, NOT a host account
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The new Labor Code (effective from January 01, 2021) has significant changes such as simplifying types of labor contract, not allowing extending the term of labor contract by an annex, widening employees’ right of unilaterally terminating employment, allowing a 180-day probation for enterprise managers, increasing employees’ retirement age, and other changes concerning labor discipline, periodic dialogue at workplace and employees’ grassroots representative organizations. This insight presents some highlights of the new Labor Code to help you have a well-preparation. Should you have any question, please contact us at
www.letranlaw.com/contact
and follow us on
http://bit.ly/Letran-LinkedIn
.
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Business conventions, corporate retreats, personal events, team building and so much more.
VND 1,650,000/person for one-night stay in Grand Room with Half Day meeting, lunch or Gala dinner.
Additional benefits:
- Complimentary upgrade to Suite Room from daily 10 rooms.
- Complimentary room from daily 15 rooms.
- Coffee break, free flow (Heineken) and more.
Contact:
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The newly opened Café Central The Garden Mall in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 5 is located on the ground floor of The Garden Mall complex and designed as a typical Hong Kong café. The new all-day dining restaurant offers up satisfying Hong Kong, Chinese and Vietnamese favourites as well as Western comfort. Guests will receive 50% off selected items in the menu until 14 March and happy hour from 24 February, between 4pm and 7pm daily.
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Committee Meetings & Activities
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8:30 am - 9:30 am, Baker & McKenzie (Vietnam) Ltd, 12th Floor, Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan Street, District 1
Monthly meeting to select committee leadership and discuss 2020 priorities.
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9:00 am - 10:30 am, AmCham Office, Room 323, New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai Street, District 1
Agenda includes:
- Market update – Co-Chairs
- Renewable energy and rooftop solar in Vietnam for Logistics industry – Borriess Plass
- Networking event and company visit – Co-Chairs & Secretary
- Other business
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4:15 pm - 6:30 pm, KPMG Office, Galaxy Meeting Room, 10th Fl., Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue Blvd.,
District
1
Regular monthly meeting of the committee to review upcoming events, discuss and prepare positions on key issues, laws and regulations relating to trade and investment between Vietnam and the United States.
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8:00 am - 9:30 am, Mimosa 1, 19th Fl., Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon, 8-15 Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1
Monthly meeting to select committee leadership and discuss 2020 priorities.
n addition, our guest speaker, Ms. Hang Nguyen, Partner at Baker & McKenzie, will discuss changes in labor regulations impacting Work Permit applications.
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Friday, Mar 20
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, AmCham Office, Room 323, New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai Street, District 1
Committee meeting to select committee leadership and discuss 2020 priorities.
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AmCham Premium Membership 2020
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The AmCham Premium Membership 2020 is a leadership-level membership for companies contributing strategic support for AmCham's mission and programs.
Our Premium Membership comes with a range of exclusive benefits. One all-inclusive Premium Membership's annual billing simplifies your businesses' sponsorship efforts.
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Lana Learn; Ledup Enterprise Inc.; Lift-All Co.; Manpower; Mazars Vietnam; Poseidon Supply Company; Reliable English School (RES); UTS-US Vietnam Talent International School; YCH-Protrade Company Limited; WeWork Vietnam
Senior Professional Member: Mr. Kerry Kennedy
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We love our AmCham members! Do you know all the benefits you get with your membership? Maybe you only remember the ones you've used recently, but there are many ways even our basic level members benefit at AmCham.
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The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
New World Hotel Suite 323
76 Le Lai Street, District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Phone: +84 28 3824 3562
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