Retail and e-commerce accounted for nearly a quarter of online marketing in Vietnam last year as players compete for more customers.

An underground shopping complex long in the works in downtown Saigon is likely to be delayed due to the failure to attract investors.

An energy strategy that focuses on renewables, natural gas, energy efficiency and battery storage will attract private sector investment, the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) said in a report.

The country’s two largest cities, HCMC and Hanoi, are still seeing a large number of customers using cash for food payments, with over 80% of customers making cash payments at restaurants and for takeaway food.

Ministries and agencies should create breakthroughs in reforming business conditions by enhancing post-inspections, stated experts at a seminar in Hanoi on February 27.

The accelerating spread of the novel coronavirus worldwide has wreaked havoc on local export activities, sharply reducing the January shipments of Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to China.

Vietnamese shipping firms are reporting falling revenues after the coronavirus outbreak brought trade-related activities to a standstill in China.

The novel coronavirus outbreak will cost Vietnamese airlines an estimated VND25 trillion ($1.08 billion) in revenue, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam estimates.

The Covid-19 outbreak has caused HCMC at least VND920.5 billion ($40 million) in tourism revenues with prospective visitors cancelling travel plans.

The inflow of foreign investment into Vietnam experienced a year-on-year drop of 23.6 percent in the first two months of the year to 6.47 billion USD, according to a report from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Foreign Trade Agency.