AmCham Vietnam Weekly Update - 12th Week of 2020
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Recommendations to VCCI and MPI on COVID-19 Response
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Both VCCI and MPI have requested suggestions from AmCham and other business associations in Vietnam on the recommended Government of Vietnam response to mitigate the pandemic's business and economic impact. The government has already put in place some flexibility on tax payments and has encouraged banks to offer low-interest loans.
Our Legal and VBF Committee will be compiling recommendations from our other committees and members for Board of Governors consideration and approval. Some ideas to date include requests for additional flexibility on overtime caps, and more ability to use e-filings and e-signatures to facilitate telecommuting and minimize the risks involved with paper documents.
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AmCham is Open for Business - Virtually
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Someday, we will reopen the AmCham office for business and we already have new artwork and signage outside to welcome you.
But for now, our AmCham team is hard at work, as are many of you, working from home.
In the interest of the health and well-being of our AmCham team and our members, and to contribute to the overall social distancing and management of the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam, all members of the AmCham team are following a Work From Home (wfh) policy. We will continue to hold all our regularly scheduled meetings as planned during this time, but with virtual participation only, at least through March 31.
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We will also seek to hold virtual events, based on member interest. Our first virtual-only event was held on Thursday, March 19 as a "Virtual Business Intelligence Briefing: Legal Aspects of the COVID-19 response." For those of you who participated, thank you for your patience and flexibility. Our expert speakers were appreciated, but let's just say we identified room for improvement in the technology. The virtual HR committee on Friday, with Chairwoman Truc Huynh from Coca Cola, and Events and Committee Manager Lily Nguyen as administrator, went smoothly, including with slides.
We remain open to additional virtual events on topics of interest. Our Digital Economy leadership team is working on one to help our SME members with rapid COVID-led digital transformation. Let us know what you would find useful; we even have received some suggestions of a Virtual Connect & Cocktails!
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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 87 reported cases, with 41,918 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 COVID-19 pandemic is increasing rapidly world-wide, with a few countries and economies doing commendable work in managing their response and mitigating the outbreak. Vietnam is among those countries.
However, the rate of positive cases has steeply increased. Many more cases are possible, and many more contacts are at risk, as the spread is exponential. You are at greater risk of exposure to a spreader.
Although the World Health Organization has not yet put out a general recommendation for healthy individuals to wear masks, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health now recommends that all individuals wear masks in public places, such as supermarkets, airports, and public transportation. Many additional areas, including office buildings and housing compounds require masks so having a mask with you and wearing it when in public will be welcomed.
In addition to hand hygiene, social distancing is critical. Stay home when you can, do as much as possible virtually, and avoid large gatherings. Be very selective about going out.
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Vietnam is still a relatively safe environment compared to many countries and the effort by the Vietnamese Government has been very effective to date. Full cooperation with control measures and personal risk avoidance is the best course.
Some of you may be asked to quarantine at home. For your safety and the health and well-being of others, including those with pre-existing conditions, please follow these instructions. Others may be asked to go to public quarantine areas. While these are not five-star hotels, colleagues now at the quarantine area in CuChi report excellent care and treatment by the dedicated medical teams and military personnel who have given up their own dormitories, and are caring full-time for those quarantined.
If you think you have COVID-19, stay at home, wear a mask, call your doctor or clinic, or contact the hotlines: 19003228 and 1009095.
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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.
Welcome to our new joined partners:
Dahi Handi Indian Restaurant
Aya Spa & Skincare; Mark&Vy Ao Dai; SDS Vietnam; Cincinnati Leather Boutique; Waterfit+; My Nature Beauty.
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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4:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Please register to get the link for virtual attendance
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. While this event is designed for new members, we welcome other members. 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.
Virtual participation will be facilitated.
Please join us for a collaborative, town hall style meeting aimed to identify what topics programming and initiatives we’ll focus on in 2020. Your participation will help ensure we pursue activities and produce events that our community needs.
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.
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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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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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In the employment relationship, there is always the potential for conflict between the employer and the employee, which may lead to a disruption to the company's business. Therefore, the company should not only be concerned as to whether its actions are in accordance with the law but also to the serious, non-apparent consequences of a labor dispute. In this insight, we would like to share (i) important legal provisions on the settlement of labor disputes and (ii) typical labor disputes and discussion on solutions and exchange of experiences.
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Turn your work trip into pleasure with the MICE exclusive offer at the Saigon’s best-connected MICE venue
From VND 1,770,000/room/night
Including 11 add-on benefits and choice of 02 exclusive perks:
- 5% off Event master bill (meeting / social packages)
- Complimentary 1-hour welcome or farewell reception by poolside or rooftop
- Complimentary secretariat room-only during event; or
- Complimentary return trip private bus to city-attractions
Applicable from now to 31 Aug 2020
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March 17, 2020:
Aetna International has announced it will provide all their members with free access to its virtual health offering, vHealth, to help ensure continuous access to health care during the COVID-19 outbreak.
vHealth will give members access to confidential medical consultations over the phone or via video link, without having to travel to a doctor’s surgery or hospital. Members will be able to speak with a doctor at any time, about any aspect of their health and well-being.
Additionally, any Aetna International member who undergoes diagnostic testing for COVID-19, as referred by a medical physician in an approved medical facility, will be reimbursed in full for the cost of the test and consultation.
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Host your next meeting at our venue perfectly located in the heart of Binh Duong Province with premier banqueting and modern facilities, accommodating up to 1,500 people. Once you make a reservation, you will be offered many exclusive privileges such as appetizing food-tasting, complimentary LCD screen & projector, backdrop, dinner buffet voucher, special discount vouchers for your next events, and so on.
For more information about Terms & Conditions Apply, please kindly click
HERE
.
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Committee Meetings & Activities
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Thursday, Mar 26
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Monthly meeting to select committee leadership and discuss 2020 priorities.
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8:30 am - 10:00 am
- Update on school closings
- Update on Skills Gap Workshop
- Update on Student Well-being plans
- Update on ideas to create “AmCham Education Development Initiative”
- Open discussion
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4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Sunwah Corner, 6th Floor, Sunwah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue, District 1
Monthly meeting to select committee leadership and discuss 2020 priorities.
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9:00 am - 10:30 am
AmCham Vietnam HCMC, Suite 323, New World Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City
Monthly meeting to select committee leadership and discuss 2020 priorities.
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5:00 pm - 6:15 pm
Baker & McKenzie (Vietnam) Ltd, 12th Floor, Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan Street, 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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4:15 pm - 6:30 pm
KPMG Office, Galaxy Meeting Room, 10th Fl., Sun Wah Tower, 115 Nguyen Hue Blvd., Dist. 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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9:00 am - 10:00 am
AmCham Vietnam HCMC, Suite 323, New World Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City
Monthly 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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Amann (Vietnam) Company; Baxter Healthcare; Dreamplex Investment Real Estate Corporation; MConsultant Service Management Company; R.C Real Estate Development and Finance Corporation (REFICO); Olympia Tools; Riverside Tower Commercial Center Ltd., Thanh Binh Phu My Joint Stock Company; The Nielsen Company
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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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