Dear AmCham,

The AmCham HCMC & Danang team would like to wish all members and readers a Happy New Lunar Year! We look forward to continue to serve our members in the Year of the Dragon. Chuc Mung Nam Moi! Please note our offices will be closed from February 8 - February 14. We will resume activities on February 15.

Last week, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee hosted a Year-End event with key stakeholders from a variety of organizations including foreign business associations. Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairwoman of the municipal People's Council Nguyen Thi Le reiterated the importance of the city's partnerships with international organizations such as AmCham in its development journey. AmCham HCMC & Danang was represented by Vice Chair Michael Nguyen, Boeing Country Director in Vietnam.

AmCham HCMC & Danang Food & Beverage Committee members visit Vietnam Food Administration offices. Several members of the AmCham Food & Beverage Committee visited the Vietnam Food Administration (VFA) offices on January 30th. Representatives of member companies Abbott, Unilever, Nestlé, TH Group, Nu Skin and Friesland Campina expressed appreciation for their partnership in 2023 and expressed best wishes to VFA officials for the new year.

Implementation of the survey of Department and District Competitiveness Index (DDCI) of Ho Chi Minh City 2023

AmCham is proud to take part in the Department and District Competitiveness Index (DDCI) survey led by the Investment & Trade Promotion Center of Ho Chi Minh City for 2023. Members are encouraged to make their voices heard by taking the survey. 

City leaders in HCMC are keen on understanding the insights and recommendations from Foreign Business Associations to aid the municipal government in assessing the effectiveness of economic management within local departments. Your input is valuable for identifying and addressing obstacles, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of the city's business and investment environment.

We look forward to welcoming you to our events planned following the New Lunar Year holiday listed in the Events section below.

We welcome your feedback on how we can improve our services to support you better. Please email us at team@amchamvietnam.com.

Ramachandran A.S.

[S&P Global] Manufacturing production rises for first time in five months. Manufacturers in Vietnam recorded a return to growth at the start of 2024 as tentative signs of improving demand fed through to renewed increases in new orders and output. That said, employment and purchasing were fractionally lower and business confidence waned.

[VietnamNews] Việt Nam’s export revenue up 4.1% in first half of January. Vietnam had shipped US$15.08 billion worth of products overseas as of January 15, a year-on-year increase of 4.1 per cent, the General Statistics Office has announced.

[Reuters] Vietnam rare earths output drops as China's grows, US says. The U.S. geological agency has sharply revised down estimates on Vietnam's rare earths output and expects a further drop despite its rich resource base, according to an annual report, which showed a rise in dominant producer China's output.

[VietnamPlus] Increasing number of foreign arrivals in January creates impetus to fulfil yearly target. The number of foreign arrivals to Vietnam in the first month of 2024 reached over 1.5 million, the highest ever recorded for a month since the country fully reopened all tourism activities in March 2022, according to Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

[The Investor] Lifting of trade embargo paved way for ‘terrific advances’ in US-Vietnam ties: ambassador. The lifting of the trade embargo on Vietnam by President Clinton 30 years ago paved the way for all the terrific advances in the U.S.-Vietnam trade and economic relationship, said ambassador Marc Knapper.

[AP] AP PHOTOS: In Vietnam, vibrant Ho Chi Minh City is a magnet that pulls in millions. 

Have you renewed your AmCham Membership for 2024?

Please be on the lookout for 2024 Membership Renewal notices to renew promptly, and contact Membership Manager Sam Hoang if you don’t receive one. In the context of the recent U.S. and Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, your membership is more valuable as we have enhanced our Committees, Business Intelligence events, and Advocacy efforts, particularly for Premium members.

If you are not yet a member, we encourage you to become one and take advantage of our membership benefits! 

An AmCham Premium membership allows you to showcase your business as a leader in its field and strategically support AmCham Vietnam's mission and programs. With a Premium Membership, you gain access to a variety of benefits and exclusive VIP privileges. Tailored packages are also available to meet your specific needs. 

For further details, please visit the provided LINK or reach out to Office Manager Cindy Tran.

AmCham members are welcome to join, in-person or virtual

• Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Meeting, Tuesday, Feb 6 – 4:00pm

We would like to extend our warmest welcome to our newest members. Thank you for your support!