[Member’s News] Ahlers Logistics expands global presence with a new office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ahlers Logistics is proud to announce the opening of its newest office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This strategic expansion is part of Ahlers’ growth strategy in Southeast Asia, aimed at enhancing its international forwarding and project logistics services for industries including consumer goods, technology, and chemicals.
Vietnam’s booming market and strategic location make it an ideal hub for Ahlers Logistics to strengthen its foothold in the region. Commenting on the expansion, CEO Roger Chantillon says, “We are excited to establish a presence in Ho Chi Minh City as part of our continued growth strategy in Southeast Asia. The new office underscores our commitment to providing tailor-made logistics solutions and high-quality service to our clients in the region. With our expertise in complex markets, we are well-positioned to support the growing industries in Vietnam.”

The grand opening ceremony scheduled for May 29th, 2024, represents a significant milestone for Ahlers Logistics, highlighting the company’s commitment for long-term growth.

For more information about Ahlers Logistics and its services, visit www.ahlers.com.

About Ahlers Logistics:
For more than 110 years Ahlers has been helping clients all over the world. Active in 3 regions (Europe, CIS, and Asia), we provide state-of-the-art logistics and tailor-made solutions. Our specific services are Supply Chain Solutions, Warehousing, Project and Machinery Logistics, Secured Transportation of High value and/or Theft Sensitive Goods, Trade Facilitation and After-Sales Services, Supply Chain Data Analytics.

#logistics #BeLuxCham #openceremony #newoffice #VietnamMarket

[News from Member] Vietnam Economic News Recap – January 2024

With the dawn of the new year, Grant Thornton Vietnam is excited to introduce the 2024 series of the “Economic News Recap” publication, covering the essential macro-economic headlines in Vietnam each month throughout the year, starting with the January report.

In this release, we summarized some of the most important news and stories in January 2024, including:

  1. Positive projections for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2024;
  2. Emerging challenges for Vietnam’s exports;
  3. Report on Vietnam’s industrial property market in 2023;

and more to be discovered in our publication.

Please kindly find the publication in the attachment. We hope our publication will be of good value to you.

Please find report here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n4jBgcD0LB5IlH_h7s-Igk7JIB5oH1LZ/view?usp=sharing

Recap Day 1 Breakout sessions “ESG: Evolving to the Next Level”

On the afternoon of November 30th, the conference continued with 4 breakout sessions going on simultaneously, and focusing on specific topics related to the E, the S and the G.

#sustainableagriculture brought together speakers of TDL Solutions, DRD Vietnam (Disability Research and Capacity Development Center), Ngồi Cafe Workspace, and Buy By Heart to discuss a complete integrated #ecosystem in #agriculture and share their #sustainable#partnership model in #impactfulbusiness, moderated by DEEP C Industrial Zones – Khu công nghiệp DEEP C‘s Head of Sustainability and Environment.

#labormanagement and #development presented by Ipsos, Raise Partners, and Pizza 4P’s ‘s discussed, together with the Country HR Manager of Pierre Fabre Group as moderator, how to improve #workforcedevelopment in the #supplychain through ESG, what are the Vietnamese sentiments and impacts on labor management, and Pizza 4P’s presented a case study on how they develop #modelleadership.

#Industry40 brought clear examples of #digitalization by FPT Digital which introduced the audience to #DESG, how #evcharger can accelerate the ESG journey by EBOOST, and clear examples of #digitalization and #sustainability through #façadeengineering were brought by Van Aelst – Nguyen & Partners Architecture Consulting, moderated by BeluxCham Vietnam’s board member.

#mentalhealthintheworkforce engaged their audience with #interactive#awareness exercises on #emotionalintelligene and providing clear #casestudies from ESI Institute, UNICEF Viet Nam – Quỹ Nhi Đồng Liên Hợp Quốc, @Viet Ideas and Care & Training Center, and Trạm tâm lý Tâm Nhung (Tam Nhung Social Enterprise).

#ESG#ESGconference#20yearsBeLuxCham#50yearsBelgiumVietnam#innovation#sustainability#childrenareourfuture #makingadifference #strongertogether

MINI PIT STOP SESSION:HOW TO PIT STOP EFFICIENTLY

June is an important time for the companies to “close the book” of the first half of the year & “open the new book” of the second half.

With many years of coaching experience, Mentally Fit Coaches believe that this is one of the “golden times” for the Teams/Organizations to “temporarily slow down to move faster” in the last 6 months of 2023.

To support the Leaders/ Managers in “slowing down to move faster”, Mentally Fit Vietnam will organize a 2-hour ONLINE session about the Pit Stop Technique:

  • Topic: “How to Pit Stop Efficiently”
  • Time: 15:30 – 17:30, Friday, 07/07/2023
  • Mode of Implementation: ONLINE coaching via Zoom
  • Mục tiêu buổi làm việc: The Pit Stop technique will help the Leaders know how to:
    • Create a big picture of the challenges that their Teams need to overcome from the perspective of each Member
    • Identify & eliminate the major bottlenecks to solve the current problems of their Teams
    • Build an action plan with a high approval rating from all Team Members
  • Head Coach: Performance Coach Tran Thuy Trang, HR & Learning Director, Deloitte Vietnam
  • Language: Vietnamese 
  • Participation fee (including 10% subsidy in 2023): EUR 36 EUR ~ VND 936,000/ participant
  • 20% discount for participants from members of BeluxCham
  • Or from 5% to a maximum of 30% discount on the standard fee for a group of 2 participants and above

Vietnam ESG Investor Conference 2023

During 31 May – 01 June, Vietnam ESG Investor Conference 2023 was successfully organized by the Vietcetera team in partnership with Raise Partners. This two-day event marked a significant milestone as the first of its kind in Vietnam.

🌍 Global Participation:
With great pride, they hosted over 350+ attendees, including esteemed ambassadors, distinguished overseas delegations, and passionate investors and SMEs from more than 20 countries. The event attracted participants from across Vietnam and around the world, making it a truly international gathering.

On the first day of the ESG conference (May 31) H.E. Karl Van den Bossche – Belgium’s Ambassador to Vietnam discussed “Securing development financing through an ESG lens” at the first panel discussion of the ESG conference. H.E. Karl Van den Bossche discussed the role of ESG in the EVFTA, the role of Belgian companies in Vietnam in ESG, the requirements that are being set, and BeLuxCham, who all contribute and put ESG as one of the priorities on their agenda to contribute together to reach the goals that Vietnam has set.

On the second day of the ESG conference, BeLuxCham’s member DEEP C Industrial Zones Vietnam, represented by Melissa Slabbaert, head of QHSE & Sustainability, participated in the panel discussion about “Case Studies in Responsible Manufacturing & Sourcing”. Melissa shared DEEP C Industrial Zones’ journey in sustainability, the growth it has established, its current drive, and goals in ESG, for both their industry park as its tenants.

Together with, Preben Elnef, Vice-President of Lego Manufacturing Vietnam, Giang Nguyễn, Sustainability & ESG Manager of BITI’s, Tran Phương Nga, CEO of Thien Long group, DEEP C Industrial Zones Vietnam showed the participants how to enable companies to apply ESG in all of their activities, how to ensure that ESG results are being analyzed and that companies can share their results to make ESG tangible and become the new normal in every company’s daily business.

BeLuxCham is honored to be partnering with its member Raise Partners to represent #teamBelgium.

#BeLuxChamVietnam #20yearsBeluxCham #50YearsBelgiumVietnam
#embassyofBelgiuminVietnam
#deepcindustrialzones #sustainability #esgtargets #morethananindustrialzone
#VietnamESGConference #InvestmentOpportunities #Vietnam #ESG #Networking #FutureofInvesting

The Belgian Embassy in Viet Nam held a ceremony to announce the official logo marking the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-Belgium diplomatic ties

On 22nd March 2023, the Belgian Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony in Hanoi to announce the official logo marking the 50th anniversary of Belgium-Vietnam diplomatic ties this year. Addressing the official launch of the logo, Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam Karl Van den Bossche said that “We are proud to be Belgians in Viet Nam” is our slogan for the 50 years.

Speaking at the event, Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van den Bossche said the logo design contest for the occasion was open for Vietnamese designers and young artists. Through various media channels, the organizing board received 130 entries.
The winning logo is designed by Ms. Lý Khánh Linh, a 22-year-old student from Graphic Design Faculty at FPT University. It was inspired by the famous cultural heritages of both countries with the hope of conveying the message of cultural exchange and friendship. It will be used in all activities of Belgium in Vietnam this year. 

On the occasion of the anniversary, the Ambassador announced that there will be many official visits with the engagement of businesses in the time ahead. 

Specifically, the Majesty the Queen of Belgium will visit Viet Nam in May in her capacity as Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. And in the third quarter of 2024, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are scheduled to pay a State visit to Viet Nam.

The Ambassador underlined the need to better optimize the country’s great potential towards the final goal of a linkage chain with high-added value.

Along with investing in maritime logistics like the DEEP C Service Complex in the northern port city of Hai Phong, Belgium’s biggest project in Viet Nam, Belgium plans to launch more projects in the connectivity chain in farming and husbandry, such as a cold storage chain in the Mekong Delta which is expected to greatly benefit the agricultural community.

Belgium’s agricultural technology would be useful in helping Viet Nam to raise productivity and profits.

Apart from agriculture, the Ambassador suggested the two countries step up cooperation in green energy and climate change response, pointing to advantages of the collaboration such as new technologies and the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative. 

Besides, Belgium is also a logistics hub and a maritime gateway to Europe, while its pharmaceutical industry supplies vaccines and essential medicines to the world

Belgium is now the sixth largest trade partner of Vietnam in the European Union (EU). With 82 projects worth nearly 1.1 billion USD, the European country ranks 23rd out of 139 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
Belgium has also been a donor of official development assistance for Vietnam since 1977, with a funding of 20-25 million EUR per year. The country continues supporting Vietnam through tertiary cooperation programs, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Nearly 5,000 Vietnamese students had and are studying in Belgium.

As multilateral cooperation, the two countries have been working closely together and offering mutual support at regional and global forums such as the United Nations, Francophonie, and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Both countries assumed the positions of non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure and members of the UN Human Rights Council for 2023-2024 and regularly exchanged information.

[BeluxCham News] We Are Hiring

𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:

– Responsible to implement a complete year-long 2023 activities calendar (with vision till end of 2024) to celebrate 20 Years BeluxCham. To agree which activities will be integrated into the 50 Years bilateral relations BE-VN program (led by the Belgian Embassy) and to implement those agreed activities.

– In order to fund the year-long activities calendar (with vision till end of 2024), responsible to establish structural partnerships. Alongside the above, mentor the BeluxCham Office Executive to grow further in his/her role and to take on additional responsibilities afterwards.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞:

– One year position starting as early as 2023 for 12 months

– Preferably Belgian or Luxembourg nationality

– Able to negotiate on CEO level

– Emphatic

– Creative

For more details please find the job description below:

– Open for applications from now till Monday 06 February

– Interviews from 07 till 13 February

– Starting date: As soon as possible after 13 February

Please send your CV to: info@beluxcham.com

KMSK Deinze enters into a partnership with PVF in Vietnam for youth players development

Deinze Football Club NV (KMSK Deinze), the group company of ACA Football Partners Pte Ltd (ACAFP), announced on 29 July 2022 that it has entered into a partnership with Vietnam Football Talents Promotion Company Ltd. (PVF) in Vietnam to work on the youth players development.

Since KMSK Deinze announced its new club structure in May, integration of the youth academy into the main club function is one of the key aspects for the club’s further growth. The owner of KMSK Deinze, ACA Football Partners, has a stable connection between Asian football industries, which has a huge potential, and this time we have reached an agreement with PVF Football Academy for our partnership.

PVF is one of the top-level football academies in Vietnam, based in Hung Yen Province, which was awarded AFC- 3 Star Elite Youth Academy by the Asian Football Confederation, and being amongst the 3 highest ranked Elite Youth Academies in Asia. PVF nurtures young Vietnamese Football Talents and trying to develop them into professional football players/goalkeepers to play in V-League 1 and 2 in Vietnam and/or going overseas. The

PVF-Academy also contributed players/goalkeepers and technical staff for VFF National Team and National Youth Teams, representing Vietnam in international football competitions. The football market itself is growing rapidly in Vietnam, and we believe that providing an opportunity for young potential talented players to go to Europe and especially Belgium will provide a mutual impact.

Within this partnership, KMSK Deinze holds a selection of 15-17 years old players in Vietnam, and selected players will get a chance to come to Deinze, Belgium to gain experience with the academy team from October, tentatively. The parties expect to record the process and to release the story in the near future. Also there will be an opportunity for Youth Academy of KMSK Deinze to collaborate with PVF academy, for instance short internships for youth players and coaches of KMSK Deinze in PVF.

The two parties will also explore the opportunity for youth and professional players developed by PVF to have trial period in Deinze club and play football in Europe in the future

Comment from Ms. Nguyen Thi My Dung, Deputy Director

Developing Vietnamese talented football players into professional players and contributing to the further development of football in Vietnam is our mission. Apart from the work in PVF, we wish that the players will have the chance to experience learning and playing in other football environment, especially in a country where football is well developed like Belgium. And the partnership with Deinze will help us to achieve this purpose. Besides, the partnership will create opportunity for youth players of Deinze to experience playing football in Vietnam and exchanging knowledge in football coaching between the technical staff of the two parties.

Mr. Eric Abrams, PVF Football Academy Technical Director

My expectations about this unique co-operation between PVF and the ACA-group with KSK Deinze, a Belgian ambitious second division team as the pinnacle are very high.

Firstly, it could open a gate for young potential talented Vietnamese players/goalkeepers to experience an elite youth environment in a very well developed football country, having produced dozens of world class players/goalkeepers as there are Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Romulu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld, Youri Tielemans, Dries Mertens and so many others. An experience, which could definitely impact their further football development (Core Skills and Tactical knowledge and experience) and also the maturation as a player/goalkeeper, by being exposed to new challenges on and off the field.

After a 3-months internship, they will return with a bag full of new learnings, which they can share with PVF-teammates and PVF Technical and Supporting staff and which will assist them to perform at a higher level when back in Vietnam. Most importantly, this co-operation could be a “WIN-WIN” for both parties as also the KSK Deinze Academy Staff, teams, players & goalkeepers would have the opportunity to experience an Asian Elite Youth experience in a country that has an abundant of potential football talents, who are looking to step-up and to comply with high level European football standards. If they succeed to comply with European player/goalkeeper football demands, there could be a great chance to pursue a football career in Europe, which then indirectly will benefit Vietnamese National Team Football, when being selected to represent the National Team of Vietnam.

Comment from Hiroyuki Ono, CEO of ACAFP and Vice Chairman, Board of Director, KMSK Deinze

First of all we would like to thank all the participants who contributed this partnership to happen. From my personal experience working for 10 years now in the South East Asia Market, I definitely get the impression that the enthusiasm towards football in Vietnam is huge. We believe in this power and ACA Football Partners is excited to work with PVF to release its true value and provide the opportunity for young talented players to take their chance in Belgium. We assume this could happen by relying on our global network, and I also would like to express my gratitude to KMSK Deinze and its local fans to understand the importance of this partnership for mutual future growth.

Comment from Adrián Espárraga, Sporting Director, KMSK Deinze

I am excited to be a part of this partnership as a Sporting Director of KMSK Deinze. I have experience of working in different countries and I understand the importance of expanding our football and business opportunities at global level. We are very welcome to host young players from Vietnam in Deinze, Belgium, and hope they could gain their experience both at pitch and off-the-pitch level.

About PVF Football Academy

PVF was founded in 2008 and since then it has developed itself into one of Top level football academies in Vietnam. Located in Hung Yen Province, PVF has the modernized infrastructure and facility with 6 training fields, one main stadium, gym, swimming pool and an 8 story dormitory building which is currently the home of about 160 football talented players from the age of 12 to 19 years old.

PVF youth teams are competitive in national youth football championships and have won many titles in their development process. Currently 29 out of 31 players registered for Pho Hien team in V_League 2 are players developed by PVF and this is the team which fielded in 2022 season the youngest players in the League (born 2005-2000), many of them who were born in 2003-2004 are regularly fielded. PVF developed players and coaches are often called to serve in national A and youth teams of Vietnam in international competitions. PVF is the host of many national youth football championships and PVF stadium is the home stadium for matches of Pho Hien Club in V_League 2.

For more information please visit Trang chủ (pvf.com.vn)

About KMSK Deinze

Founded in 1926, KMSK Deinze is a historic football club belonging to the second division of the Belgian Pro League/First Division B. The city of Deinze, the home town of KMSK, is located in the East Flanders region and is known as a place where many wealthy people live.

In the 2019-20 season, the club was promoted to the second division of the Belgian Pro League. In the 2020-21 season, their first year of promotion, they finished a respectable fourth (out of eight clubs). The club is growing rapidly and has announced plans to build a new stadium.

For more information about KMSK Deinze, please visit the official website.

About ACA Football Partners

ACAFP is a Singapore-based football business company that plans to create multi-club ownership from Asia, and is a member of the ACA Group, whose core business is the private equity fund management. Distinguished football industry experts active in Europe have joined the team as founding members in support of ACAFP’s mission to “Release the value of Sports & Evolve”. In the future, ACAFP will further expand its network by executing capital and business alliances with partner clubs that support this mission, and will play a role in accelerating the global development of European football.

For more information about ACAFP, please visit the official website: https://acafp.com/

Doing Business in Vietnam 2022

Grant Thornton Vietnam’s publication of the 2022 edition of “Doing Business in Vietnam” is out now. This publication will bring helpful information to foreign investors, particularly those who consider starting their business in Vietnam during this “New normal” era. Being one of the few nations to post GDP growth during the COVID -19 pandemic, Vietnam’s economy has proven itself to be resilient and stay as a desirable destination for many investors.

Our publication mainly consists of the latest insights on a brief overview of Vietnam’s economy, key sectors for investment, compliance matters in terms of entity formation, accounting, tax, and labour perspectives in Vietnam.

Link for download here: https://www.grantthornton.com.vn/…/doing-business-2022/

[Promotion for Members] Leader cum Pit stop Facilitator Program

To make “Pit stop” the daily habit of Top Team members, many Top Leaders/ Management Team Members of large corporations requested Global Performance Coach Alain Goudsmet to “transfer the Pit Stop Know-How” for them to grow the Dream Team with result-based mindset & “addicted to progress” spirit. 

Mentally Fit Global has just decided to launch a special program for the Top Leaders/ Management Team Members in Vietnam: Leader cum Pit stop Facilitator

  • Purpose of the program: Develop the Leaders cum Pit Stop Facilitators inside the corporations to grow the Dream Team with result-based mindset & “addicted to progress” spirit
  • Pit Stop, why? To ensure that the Team members are not exhausted of energy due to the non-stop “Active Inertia” of the business world, Leaders cum Pit Stop Facilitators need to decide when to PIT STOP & master the PIT STOP technique to make the most of the pit stop with the team members.
  • Structure of the program
Pit Stop Facilitator program (Please kindly see more details in the attachment named Mentally Fit Pit Stop Facilitator)Head Coach in-charge of the sessionMode of implementationDate & TimeVenue/ Platform
Module 1: Power of Team GlueGlobal Performance Coach Alain GoudsmetOn-site2.00 pm – 5.00 pm, 15/07 (Friday)L’Opera Hotel, 29 Trang Tien, Hanoi
Module 2: Power of Team StretchGlobal Performance Coach Alain GoudsmetOnline2.00 pm – 5.00 pm, 05/08 (Friday)via ZOOM
Module 3: Power of FeedbackGlobal Performance Coach Alain GoudsmetOn-site2.00 pm – 5.00 pm, 18/08 (Thursday)L’Opera Hotel, 29 Trang Tien, Hanoi 
  • Head Coach in charge of this Exclusive program: Global Performance Coach Alain Goudsmet (I have just got the updated info from our colleagues from the Headquarter, Executive Board Assistants, that they could support to successfully re-arrange the schedule of Head Coach Alain. Thus, Head Coach Alain could animate 100% of this Exclusive program for Vietnam market.)
  • Target audience: Exclusive program for Leaders/ Future Leaders only!
    • BOD/ BOM Members 
    • Key successors to the BOD/ BOM Members, especially the next Generation of Leaders of Business Families 
  • Budget: 
    • 972 EUR net (included the 10% subsidy for Viet Nam market in 2022)
    • Proudly the Member of Beluxcham, it is the pleasure of Mentally Fit Global to offer the Members of Beluxcham & Eurocham 5% discount when participating in this Exclusive program.
  • Deadline to register: 07/07/2022 

[Promotion for members] INVESTOR, LEGAL REP, CHIEF REP

Foreign investors, Legal representatives, Chief of representative offices shall be complied with the local laws and regulations to avoid and prevent violations in advance, keep their good standing in optimal manners whenever they are working and doing business in Vietnam.

oreign investors, Legal representatives, Chief of representative offices shall be complied with the local laws and regulations to avoid and prevent violations in advance, keep their good standing in optimal manners whenever they are working and doing business in Vietnam.

The typical required compliance procedures:

  • Professional employee profile – expat profile in Vietnam according to local regulations
  • Local employment relations and manage the implementation of labor contract.
  • Manage taxable incomes and personal income tax declaration
  • Manage compulsory insurances and declaration
  • Expat and Business records management to prove and protect any rights and obligations
  • Ready for any query or requirement from government officers

As we are members of BeluxCham, we would like to present special complementary offers as follows:

  • [01 Free] Temporary Residence Card for Investor, Chief Representative Office or Legal Representative; or
  • [20% discount] For any services related to Employment relations management, Payroll management; or
  • [15% discount] For any other required services in June 2022;

We would assist you to Review | Identify the risks | Offer fully complied – optimal solutions | Hand in hand to manage every single required paper, procedures | Create standard folders for keeping records and backup with scan files accordingly…

BeluxCham attended the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF)

On 21/06/2022, Mr. Guy Balza – Vice Chairman of BeluxCham Vietnam and BeluxCham’s members attended the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) with the topic “Post – Pandemic recovery, how digital innovation drives growth in our community”.

At the event, The ICF – a forum of nearly 200 prosperous smart cities in the world, officially honoured Binh Duong as one of the Top 7 communities with a typical Smart City Development Strategy in the world in 2022.

ICF has conducted research and evaluated hundreds of cities around the world, selecting the Top 21 (SMART 21). After that, continue to compare and evaluate thoroughly, directly and indirectly with 6 criteria, including: connection – broadband; workforce; innovation; equal access to digital; encouraging and sustainable support, thereby selecting the Top 7 cities with the smartest development strategies.

This is the second time in a row that Binh Duong province has been recognized by the World Smart Community Forum as one of the top 7 communities with smart development strategies in the world. Previously, this province also had 4 consecutive times in the Top 21 (Smart 21).

Since 2011, with the efforts and support from Becamex IDC Corporation, Binh Duong has started an impressive journey of socio-economic development, digital transformation application and innovation in specific projects.

Up to now, a digital and innovation ecosystem is being strongly developed, such as: Smart Operations Center, EIU Campus with Becamex Business Incubator, Fablab, Advanced Manufacturing Center; World Trade Center WTC…

Currently, Binh Duong province continues to develop Smart City projects through the development of specific projects for each field, in line with the national development strategy, directly solving existing challenges with 5 contents: Urban planning and public transport infrastructure; building a culture of innovation; balanced economic development; digital transformation and industrial development 4.0; human resource development.

We would like to congratulate Binh Duong province and Becamex IDC on the remarkable achievement.

25 years of Wallonia-Brussels cooperation with Vietnam

The Wallonia-Brussels General Delegation was set up in Vietnam in 1996. Six years later, bilateral ties continued growing well with the signing of an important agreement between the Vietnamese Government and the French Community of Belgium, the Wallonia region, and the French Community Commission of the Brussels-Capital Region (COCOF).

More than 30 high-ranking official visits have been made, helping to enhance their partnership, mutual trust, and experience sharing toward sustainable development, Dervaux noted.

So far, 783 joint projects approved by the Vietnam – Wallonia-Brussels General Delegation Joint Committee have gained encouraging results. The two sides have given special attention to cooperation in health care, environment, new technology, tertiary education, vocational training, scientific research, culture, and the French language.

Cooperation orientations for 2022 – 2024 will be identified basing on the Vietnamese Government’s priorities in the socio-economic development plan for 2021 – 2025 as well as the strengths of Wallonia-Brussels, Dervaux noted, adding that the level of traditional cooperation will be elevated and new cooperation fields created.

The two sides will focus their ties on social issues, health care, human resources development, culture, scientific research, industrial development, agriculture, and logistics, among others. Reed more here: https://en.nhandan.vn/politics/item/10525902-wallonia-brussels-to-keep-enhancing-ties-with-vietnam-representative.html

BeluxCham Vietnam signed a MOU with BLCC Collective in Asia

BeluxCham Vietnam entered a new partnership with Belgium – Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (BLCC) Collective in Asia through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

 

On the 1st of November 2021, Mr. Bart Verheyen – Chairman of BeluxCham Vietnam signed an MoU between BLCC in Asia including the BLCC of Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and The Belgian Vietnamese Alliance, The Benelux Chamber of Commerce in China (Shanghai Chapter), The Belgian-Filipino Business Club, The Belgian Korean Business Forum, The European Chambers of Cambodia, Myanmar, The Belgo-Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and The Indo-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

 

The purpose of this MOU is to increase services offered to all Chambers’ members and enhance cooperation between all Chambers. The MOU is also towards the common goal of supporting Belgians/Luxembourg enterprises who have interest in developing business activities in the Asia market.

 

Furthermore, As part of this new partnership, the BLCC Collective in Asia will be collaborating closely on a series of activities in the coming months for the interest of Belgians/Luxembourg enterprises. These activities will be published on our website and social media. Stay tuned!

Geuther Vietnam – how did we manage the Covid-19 lockdown

Geuther is a privately invested Belgian Company that started operations in early 2020, just before the Covid-19. Geuther designs, develops, and manufactures wooden and steel baby furniture for large brands in over 35 countries. Around 250 passionate wood experts produce everything from highchairs, stair gates, playpens, cribs, changing tables, …

Starting operations just before the pandemic was already a challenge but surviving without a single positive case during the complete lockdown was almost a miracle. How did we achieve this and what are the key learnings?

1. Navigate through the lack of information available from Authorities

We observed in May-June what was happening in the North and heard from AkzoNobel Commercial Director Maximilen Schréder that Authorities had asked them to stay inside the factory to avoid any virus spread. After exchanging with other factory owners, we decided to

  • increase our stock level of raw material and semi-finished products to have enough when suppliers would have to close
  • build showers, add toilets, buy tents and prepare the logistics to feed our staff
  • prepare all staff mentally for such a move

We locked 200 staff inside the factory starting 5. July at a time when Authorities In Binh Duong were not able to approve such a move. This was 2 weeks before the Authorities made such a move compulsory

2.  Team spirit and the role of managers

The first week was fun, everyone was positive. Some started building a table tennis table with spare material, others built a body-building station or for the less health-conscious a smoking relaxing area, some played badminton, went jogging around the factory, … As time passed, first workers started to complain about the food, about the temperature, … and some wanted to go home as well, especially when hearing from other factories where almost all had gotten the virus.

The role of managers was key in this situation, especially the HR and the team leaders in the factory. They spent hundreds of hours talking with the workers, explaining how lucky they were to be safe and have a job, added some changes to the menu, bought extra fans, arranged online doctor consultations … They organized every weekend special events, cooking classes, game competitions. I became a French teacher for a while!
We of course lost some workers but ended the stay-in on 23. October with 190 staff.

The whole management team also stayed in the factory, including 2 ex-pats, leading their team by showing the example


3. Contribute to the community

Geuther contributed to the Binh Duong Covid fund and had multiple contacts with Authorities and local hospitals to see how we could help. We donated cribs to one hospital where orphans were sleeping on the floor. Our staff produced changing mats in their free time and many workers offered to donate part of their salaries to help those in need. Amazing to see such a community spirit which at the same gave a purpose to their work

Last Saturday, everyone finally went back home and this Monday, 50 more workers who were not able to stay in will be back at work. A unique experience, sometimes misunderstood in the West, but an experience that has forged friendships, respect, and strong bonds among all.

Invitation To Participate In The EuroCham Business Awards 2021

Dear BeluxCham Member,

As an incredibly tough 2021 will come to an end soon, it seemed an appropriate moment to end the year on a positive note.  Therefore we invite you to participate in the EuroCham Business Awards 2021.

This year, the EuroCham Business Awards 2021 will be a hybrid event and held on 19th November 2021. We encourage you to nominate yourself for 01 (one) or more of the categories below:

  1. Best INITIATIVE to support Vietnam during the 4th wave of COVID-19: This award will recognize the member that has shown great initiative in implementing an efficient and meaningful action to support Vietnam during this crisis, been a model of empathetic business and made a significant contribution to Vietnam.

  2. Best MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE to support workers, staff & their families: This award will recognize the business that has shown great commitment to its workers,   staff and their families during this extremely difficult time, mostly during the total lockdown   (summertime 2021) – It can be anything from financial support to moral support, or essential goods support, or healthcare support, etc.

  3. Best GREEN & SUSTAINABLE INNOVATIVE Business: This award will recognize the     business that came up with environmentally friendly, green and/or sustainable action, or   improved its impact on the environment

Please submit your nominations (one or more) by fill-in BeluxCham_EuroCham Business Awards 2021_Nomination Form and sending it back to us via email: info@beluxcham.com before 5:00 PM (Vietnam Time) on Friday, 5th November 2021.

BeluxCham can submit 01 (one) nomination for each of the above categories to the EuroCham longlist. The EuroCham Judges Panel (which consists of independent persons and are non-related to EuroCham) will select out of that list a shortlist of candidates to go into the grand finale on 19th November 2021. In case we have several member candidates for 1 or more of the Award categories, the Board will consider and select for submission the final BeluxCham candidate for each category before 1St November 2021

[BeluxCham News] Delegate to the EuroCham Board on behalf of BeluxCham Vietnam.

Dear BeluxCham members & Friends,

We would like to give a quick update on a few highlights of last week.

On Thursday 9 September, the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) attended a high-level meeting with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Government Ministers, and the European diplomatic corps to discuss the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. The four-hour dialogue – held in Hanoi and online – was also attended by Mr. Paul Jansen, the Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam and Mr. Erwin Debaere, BeluxCham’s delegate to the EuroCham Board. Among European business leaders, Mr Erwin Debaere emphasized the impact on companies of the Covid-19 restrictions and recommendations for economic recovery.

The proposals and recommendations were responded supportively to by members of the Government and the Prime Minister at the meeting. Read more here: https://www.eurochamvn.org/node/18865.

Furthermore, at the same date, our sister organization Belgian Vietnamese Alliance welcomed the National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ’s visit to Belgium. On this occasion, The Federal Government of Belgium donated 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines and pledged to extend its support to help Vietnam get more doses from the COVAX Facility.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, BeluxCham also donated last week to the EuroCham Breathe Again`s campaign. This campaign initiated by our Honorary Consul, Mr Gricha Safarian, has so far collected over 1 million euros to buy medical equipment for hospitals in need. Read more on: https://breatheagain.fund/.

Proud to be part of Team Europe!

BeluxCham fundraising for `Breathe Again` project

Dear BeluxCham Member and Friends

As you might know, The European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) has launched the “Breathe Again” fund a new, ambitious fundraising campaign to support Vietnam during the fourth wave outbreak of COVID-19.

With cases continuing to rise and healthcare professionals working around the clock to treat patients, EuroCham is encouraging its members to donate to a new fund that will be used to procure much-needed medical equipment for Vietnam’s hard-pressed hospitals.

The initiative is the brainchild of Gricha Safarian, Founder of Puratos Grand-Place Vietnam. EuroCham has agreed to lead and manage the campaign, aiming to utilize its large and diverse membership – counting over one thousand enterprises and investors in all sectors and industries – to ensure the largest possible fundraising effort.

To support this program, Mr. Adam van Overwaele – BeluxCham Culinary Ambassador and BeluxCham decided to set up this culinary fundraising campaign. So, when you place an order with Mr. Adam, all profits will go to the EuroCham “Breathe Again” fund project.

Period of the campaign: until 15/10/2021

*Link to place your orderhttps://forms.gle/7dck57YJkpn1ejHM7

– After you fill out the order request, we will contact you to go over details and availability before the order is completed.

=> Due to the lockdown situation, for now, we will collect the order and will deliver when possible.

All profits will be collect and send to Eurocham ‘BREATHE AGAIN’ project every 7 days.

– Please note that the price does not include the delivery fee yet.

– The minimum per order is 250,000 VND

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Adam at +84834500106 or executivechef@belgo.com.vn

 

EuroCham Launches “Breathe Again” Campaign to Procure Essential Medical Equipment for Vietnam

The European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) has today (Tuesday 17 August) launched a new, ambitious fundraising campaign to support Vietnam during the fourth wave outbreak of COVID-19.

With cases continuing to rise and healthcare professionals working around the clock to treat patients, EuroCham is encouraging its members to donate to a new fund which will be used to procure much-needed medical equipment for Vietnam’s hard-pressed hospitals.

The initiative is the brainchild of Gricha Safarian, Founder of Puratos Grand-Place Vietnam. EuroCham has agreed to lead and manage the campaign, aiming to utilize its large and diverse membership – counting over one thousand enterprises and investors in all sectors and industries – to ensure the largest possible fundraising effort.

Companies or individuals wishing to donate to the fund can contact EuroCham on: breathe.again.fund@eurochamvn.org
Visit our funding website at https://breatheagain.fund/

 

All funds donated to the “Breathe Again” campaign will be used to purchase European medical devices and equipment for hospitals in Vietnam’s hardest-hit areas. EuroCham will work with the health authorities to make sure that the equipment goes to where it is needed and will have the greatest impact. The chamber will also be flexible, working with donors to ensure that wherever possible their donation goes to a particular province or community.

EuroCham will work with suppliers to procure the equipment and ensure their quick and transparent delivery to hospitals in these areas within a few days of sufficient donations being received.

Commenting on the campaign launch Alain Cany, Chairman of EuroCham, said:

“European business stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Vietnam during these difficult times. The current outbreak is putting unprecedented pressure on healthcare facilities and hardworking medical staff, and this new fundraising campaign is something practical that our members can do to support. I am confident that the government will repeat its success of previous waves and contain this new, more infectious strain. In the meantime, I hope this initiative will help to support the professionals working on the frontline and the patients most in need of care.”

H.E. Giorgio Aliberti, EU Ambassador to Vietnam, added:

“I am proud that European business is stepping up to support Vietnam during this fourth wave outbreak. Europe has a large and longstanding presence in Vietnam, so when our companies and citizens join together in this effort we have the size and scale to make a real difference. Therefore, I encourage European enterprises to contribute whatever they can to this important initiative.”

Everything you should know about forming an LLC in Vietnam as foreign investor

Limited Liability Company, is the best corporate structure to start your own business in Vietnam. It can be registered with minimum two members and unlimited maximum members.

 

The Limited Liability Company is juristic, and the liability of members is limited to their shares. The Limited Liability Company can be registered within 15 working days. Limited Liability Company has more credibility than a Subsidiary Company or General Partnership. Venture capitalist and Angel investor prefers to invest in a Limited Liability Company. Approximate every year, more than 200,000 companies registered in Vietnam.

 

Advantages of Private Limited Company Registration in Vietnam

Limited Liability: Liability of Members and Directors of the private limited company is limited to their shares. It means that if the company suffers from any loss and faces financial distress because of primary business activity, the personal assets of shareholders/Members/Directors will not be at risk of being seized by banks, creditors, and government.

Continuity of Existence: The life of a business is not affected by the status of shareholders and even after the death of the shareholder, the private limited company continues to exist.

Scope of Expansion: The Scope of expansion is higher because easy to raise capital from a venture capitalist, angel investor, financial institutions and the advantage of limited liability. The private limited offer more transparency in the company.

Brand Value: Liability of Members and Directors of the private limited company is limited to their shares. It means that if the company suffers from any loss and faces financial distress because of primary business activity, the personal assets of shareholders/Members/Directors will not be at risk of being seized by banks, creditors, and government.

 

Valuation and Customer: The valuation is an important aspect of the company and high valuation comes from loyal customers. You should work on a business model with a higher lifetime value of a customer; Entrepreneur should focus on higher assessment of the company by offering the unique value proposition to the customer’s life.

Company Registration Process

Pre-licensing

  • Meet Department of Planning and Investment (DPI): a law firm can help you to have a meeting with the DPI
  • Obtain certified copies of foreign documents: GBS helps to prepare a list of required legal documents
    Obtain consular legalized copies of foreign documents: Required legal documents will be legalized with simple process in your country
  • Obtain certified translation of documents: Required legal documents must be translated into Vietnamese
  • Obtain authenticated copies of passports or Vietnamese ID cards and Sign contract on office lease

Company incorporation

  • Obtain Investment Registration Certificate (IRC): GBS will draft the application form for the IRC; Charter of the Company; Outline of the Feasibility Study for the establishment of the Company and submit to the DPI, verify the status of the application and collect IRC the on your behalf
  • Obtain authenticated copies and Obtain Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC): GBS will draft the application form for the ERC and submit to the DPI and collect ERC the on your behalf
  • Make seal and notify seal specimen: GBS will support you to make to company seal and obtain notification of seal specimen publishing
  • Obtain certificate of tax registration

Post licensing

  • Open bank account
  • Publish in National Business Registration Portal

Documents Required

For corporate investors:

As an institutional investor, you have to provide

  • Certificate of incorporation (an authentic copy) or certificate of business registration or equivalent documents
  • Latest audited financial report (an authentic copy)
  • Legalized copies of Passport from Directors and Shareholders

For individual investors:

  • Latest Bank Statement (an authentic copy)
  • Legalized copies of Passport from Directors

For Proposed Registered Address (Residential/Commercial), you should prepare the Rent Agreement from Owner/Landlord.

 

Sourch: https://vietnaminsider.vn/everything-you-should-know-about-forming-an-llc-in-vietnam-as-foreign-investor/

Things you should know about 100% foreign invested business in Vietnam

A. Law on Investment

1. A better definition of a foreign investor:

The Law introduces a simpler and clearer definition of foreign investor and also clarifies the differences between “foreign investor” and “foreign-invested economic organization” which replaces the term “foreign-invested enterprise” in the 2005 Law.

A foreign investor is now defined as an individual holding a foreign nationality or an organization established under foreign laws and making business in Vietnam.

A foreign-invested economic organization (FIEO) is broadly defined as an economic entity that has any member or shareholder is a foreign investor.

Under the Law, an FIEO shall be subject to more stringent licensing requirements and other restrictions applicable to foreign investors if: (i) 51% or more of its charter capital (i.e. share capital) is held by foreign investors, or the majority of the general partners are foreigners if the business organization is a partnership; (ii) 51% or more of its charter capital is held by an economic organization under paragraph (i) above; or (iii) 51% or more of its charter capital is held by a foreign investor and an economic organization under paragraph (i) above.

2. New classification of investment types:

Investment in Vietnam is no longer classified into direct or indirect investment, but depends on either of the following forms: (i) Establishment of an economic organization for an investment project; (ii) Capital contribution, purchase of shares or contributed capital in an economic entity. (iii) Investment under cooperation contract (Public-Private Partnership; Business Cooperation Contract).

3. Relaxation of licensing requirements:

Under the Law, an Investment Certificate (IC) has been replaced by an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC), and an FIEO is only required to obtain an IRC if it falls into one of the three circumstances stated above.

The application process is now a two-stage process, with the time period to complete the licensing process reduced to 15 days: (i) Obtain IRC; (ii) Obtain Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC))

However, for M&A activities, unless the foreign investors invest in a conditional investment project, the M&A activity may be conducted solely under the Enterprise Law. As such, the requirement to obtain an IC to close an M&A deal, the most troublesome condition under the current law, is abolished.

4. Opening up of investment sectors:

The number of prohibited business activities is reduced from 51 to 6 activities, and the number of conditional business activities also decreases from 386 to 267 activities. Notably, the Investment Law takes an initiative approach that allows investors to do investment and business activities in fields not prohibited by the Investment Law.

5. Dispute settlement:

Under the new law, only foreign investors or FIEO with 51% or more of chartered capital can choose foreign arbitration and/or international arbitration to settle their dispute over business investment.

6. Transitional provision:

Any investor who was granted IC before July 1st 2015 may keep executing their investment project without the need of registering for a new IRC. However, a new IRC shall be granted if requested by the investor.

 

B. Law on Enterprises

  1. The new definition of foreign investors’ holding: the Law defines foreign investors’ holding as the total holding of voting capital of all foreign investors in a Vietnamese company, instead of total holding of charter capital specified under the 2005 law.
  2. Simplification of license requirements: The new law removes the scope of business activities of an enterprise and the list of founding shareholders of a joint stock company (JSC) from the ERC. The business activities of enterprises will be posted on the National Business Registration Portal. If an enterprise changes its business activities, founding shareholders or foreign shareholders, it must notify the corporate registration authority to update its corporate registration records, but does not need to register for an update of its ERC as required under current laws.
  3. Enterprise’s seal: Under the new law, an enterprise is entitled to decide the form, quantity and contents of its seal. The management, usage and retention of the seal must be stated in the company’s charter. Before using the seal, an enterprise must send the seal design to the business registration authority to be posted on the National Business Registration Portal.
  4. More than one legal representative permitted: The Law allows a JSC or limited liability company (LLC) to have more than one legal representative and only one of them is required to reside in Vietnam. If a JSC has more than one legal representative, the chairman and the general director must both be legal representatives.
  5. Change of requirements on charter capital of LLC: Under the Law on Enterprises, a one-member LLC is not permitted to reduce its charter capital. The New Law now permits a one-member LLC to reduce its charter capital in certain circumstances. Additionally, full payment of the registered charter capital of an LLC must be made within 90 days of the issuance of the ERC (in contrast to the 36 months period under the old Law on Enterprises) or the actually paid charter capital must be registered as adjusted charter capital.
  6. Lower quorum and voting thresholds: In multi-member LLCs, the quorum of the meeting of the Board of members and the voting threshold for circular resolutions are reduced to 65% of the charter capital from the current 75% requirement.
  7. In JSCs, the quorum of the general meeting of shareholders (GMS) and voting threshold for circular resolutions of shareholders is reduced to 51% of the voting shares from the current 65% and 75% requirement respectively. At a GMS, the voting threshold is reduced to 51% of the voting shares of attending shareholders from the current 65% for ordinary matters and to 65% of the voting shares from the current 75% for reserved matters.
  8. The new definition of State-owned Enterprises (SOE): The new Law defines an SOE to be an enterprise wholly owned by the State, thus, allowing former SOEs to operate as private or JSCs subject to new rights and obligations.

 

Source: https://vietnaminsider.vn/things-you-should-know-about-100-foreign-invested-business-in-vietnam/

Meeting between BeluxCham & Department of Foreign Affairs HCMC

On the afternoon of 16th April 2021, BeluxCham Chairman – Mr. Bart Verheyen has a meeting with Mr. Le Truong Duy – Director of Foreign Service Center (FSC), Department of External Relations HCMC. At the meeting, Mr. Duy has consulted with BeluxCham on organizing events in the European Village in HCMC towards the two-year anniversary of the conclusion of the New-Generation Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union – EVFTA. Besides, FSC also seek to strengthen cooperation and connection with BeluxCham. In response to the wishes of the Vietnamese side, BeluxCham proposed that both agencies can organize events/activities together to promote the relations and trade between Belgium – Luxembourg and Vietnam. Furthermore, BeluxCham will support and cooperate with FSC in organizing “European Village” events, which will be organized in October 2021.

 

 

 

Doing Business 2020 – Vietnam

 

Full Book: VNM

 

(Doing Business 2020, a World Bank Group flagship publication, is the 17th in a series of annual studies measuring the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 190 economies—from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe—and over time.)

Vietnam’s Entry Procedures for Foreign Experts

  1. Apply for Sponsor Letter and the List of experts on entry to Vietnam for the People’s Committee where the company’s head office is affiliated or where the expert is working (Submit to the Department of Invalids and Labor of the commune Association – 33 Street No. 13, Hiep Binh Chanh, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, for experts entering Ho Chi Minh City)

The application form is available at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1CX4dRUrs2iKD2m89j-M1TaIFJvEBEfmT

*The Provincial People’s Committee reviews the petition and forwards it to the Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security and notify the results to the company within 20-25 days.

  1. Submit the Sponsor Letter approved by the People’s Committee with the list of the experts to the Immigration Department – Ministry of Police after it has issued a decision on approval from the People’s Committee together with the Immigration Application (NA2)and the Sample Seal Registration Form at the Department of Immigration(Form NA16)

* In case the expert does not have a Visa / Work permit, then Submit the VISA Application (Form NA1) to the Department of Immigration

*The process of returning results at Immigration Department takes 5-7 working days

  1. Apply for Quarantine Accommodation According to Official Letter No. 1441 / BYT-MT dated 20/3/2020 of the Ministry of Health, medical isolation at hotels (with fee) is currently only applicable to foreigners such as experts, business managers, skilled workers, …

The application form is available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/175Tz1j9ZZdSEXs0fIRNqFV64_tiwB_Z2?usp=sharing

  1. The company prepares and submits the isolation plan to the local Department of Health for approval (1 day).

* In the Ho Chi Minh City area, there is no need to obtain confirmation from the Department of Health from February 1, 2021. However, the guaranteeing company still has to submit the quarantine plan to the airline

The required documents to send to the Department of Health / Center for Disease Control as following (Not applied for HCMC)

  • List of experts approved by the Provincial People’s Committee / Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs;
  • The Decision of the People’s Committee to propose to the Immigration Department to issue visas to experts. In case, the expert who working in another province desires to be isolated in Ho Chi Minh City, the Expert must have approval from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.
  • Letter of approval from Immigration Department for the experts;
  • Proposal for Quarantine location – Hotel selection;
  • Scan of confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 test by real-time PCR technique from 3- 7 days before the entry date. The SARS-CoV-2 test must be done at government-approved laboratories or at the World Health Organization (WHO) accredited laboratory system.
  • Having documents, certifying insurance, international insurance of the expert or the host organization inviting the expert to commit to paying treatment costs in case of Covid-19;
  • The Commitment from the Expert’s Organization/Company for ensuring and taking responsibilities to the public safety from the Covid-19 pandemic

5. When you have all the documents, please register to join the Flight to Vietnam

6. After buying the air ticket, please take the Covid-test by PCR system.

7. Please fill out the Medical Declaration / Vietnam Health Declaration form https://tokhaiyte.vn 24 hours before your departure.

[The 7-day Tet series] Day 7 – Vạn Sự Như Ý, An Khang Thịnh Vượng.

Vietnamese Lunar New Year is NOT Chinese Lunar New Year

It is absolutely mistaken to say that the Vietnamese are celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. Although both countries use the lunar calendar, Vietnamese people have different lunar new year customs, celebrations, and traditions from China.

The History of Lunar New Year in Vietnam

According to the historical documents, in the thirteenth century, Vietnamese people often celebrated the Tet holiday by painting tattoos on themselves, drinking traditional glutinous-rice liquor, using betel nuts to welcome guests, and eating Chung cakes, pickled onions. In the Ly dynasty (1009-1226), many important rituals were made on the Tet festival such as setting up a dome to pray for the rains or building communal houses to crave for a year of abundant harvests. In the period of King Le Thanh Tong (1442-1497), Tet was the most important festival and hundreds of mandarins had to gather at the royal court to celebrate this lunar new year festival with royal families.

How is Tet Holiday Celebrated?

Tet begins with officially starting on the day Mr. Tao (Kitchen God) go back to heaven. On the 23rd of the last month in the lunar calendar, Vietnamese people prepare traditional offerings to send the kitchen god back to heaven. Then A week before the Tet festival, all members of the family clean the house, the garden, the altars, do Tet holiday decorations. Broken things will be repaired, old things will be replaced. Clothes and decorations such as lanterns, distiches, led lights will be bought. All those preparations have the same purpose – to be the best to welcome the Lunar New Year festival and to receive luck as well as fortune.

The Last Day of the Year & Lunar New Year Eve

On the last day of the year, every member of different generations gathers around a grand banquet to enjoy the last meal of the year. The talk at that time is about things already happening in the year. The ambience of the reunion is always the most wonderful and happiest at all.

On Lunar New Year Eve, the young often go out to watch the Tet holiday firework performance while the elderly and adults stay at home making offerings of pig head, boiled chicken, rice, and salt for outdoor worshipping to the Gods and indoor one to the ancestors. They will pray for a new year of luck, health, and fortune to every family member.

After that, the young return home and become the first one to come to the house in the lunar new year. It is believed that the wishes of that person for the host will come true. Then everyone gathers again to drink some alcohol or juice. Then the wishes, as well as plans of every person for the new year, will be shared with others.

During Tet Holiday – Vietnamese Lunar New Year Traditions & Customs

On the New Year’s Day, the first ones who come to visit households—called first-foot—are very important and hence need to be well chosen, as they are believed to hold in their hands the entire luck of the family in New Year (Tan Nien). After that, till the third day or even the fourth day of Tet, individuals meet relatives, friends and colleagues, wishing them all kinds of good things like happiness, health and success. They give children lucky money covered in pretty little red envelopes also because of that reason, as red represents good lucks. Also, they visit pagodas to pray for a good start in the coming year. In addition, sweeping during Tet Holiday is taboo, since this action symbolizes sweeping the luck away. Anyone who experienced a recent loss of a close family member also shouldn’t visit anyone else during Tet Holiday.

There is a saying in Vietnam, (Mùng 1 Tết cha, mùng hai Tết mẹ, mùng ba Tết thầy” (Father’s Tet is on the First Day of New Year, Mother’s Tet is on the Second, and Teacher’s is on the Third). The best illustration of the quotation is that, on the first day, Vietnamese visit their parents on the husband’s side on; on the second day, they turn to parents on the wife’s side; and lastly, they spend their third day of Tet visiting their teachers. All in all, Tet is all about back to origins, wishing for the best, and joining in colourful parties.

During Tet holiday, Vietnamese people often use lucky money which they just received recently to play cards with relatives or friends. Those kinds of games such as blackjack, Lô tô (nearly the same with Bingo), cờ cá ngựa (petis chevaux), etc. are popular choices between family members during the Tết holiday.

After Tết, some will come back to work. But there are still many festivals occur around this month. Especially in the North, lots of festivals start from 6th January of Lunar Calendar until the end of January. Some festivals which attract thousands of locals to come are Hương Pagoda Festival, Khai Ấn Đền Trần in Nam Định Province, Tịch Điền Đọi Sơn Festival in Hà Giang, etc. Each of the festivals has a different meaning. But in general, they all celebrate for a successful year.

Vietnamese New Year Wishes & Greetings

The Tet festival is the main holiday in Vietnam. Therefore, Vietnamese people will give each other the best wishes for a lucky and successful Lunar New Year. Below are some of Tet holiday greetings and wishes with the meanings in English.

  • “Sống lâu trăm tuổi” (Live up to 100 years): used by children for elders. Traditionally, everyone is one year older on Tet, so children would wish their grandparents health and longevity in exchange for “mừng tuổi” or “lì xì”.
  • “An khang thịnh vượng”: Security, good health, and prosperity
  • “Vạn sự như ý”: May myriad things go according to your will
  • “Sức khoẻ dồi dào”: Plenty of health
  • “Cung hỉ phát tài”: from the Cantonese Gung hay fat Choy (Congratulations and be prosperous)
  • “Tiền vô như nước” (May money flow in like water): used informally.

With this last article, we hope that articles in this 7-day Tet series help you understand and have knowledge about the Vietnamese Tet Holiday. On this occasion, we also want to send all the best wishes to you and your family, with a new year filled with joy, full of health, prosperous and “Vạn sự như ý”.

 

[The 7-day Tet series] Day 6 – Don’ts and Do in Tet Holiday.

Each time the Tet holiday is drawing near, people start being in a rush to prepare lots of things for welcoming a new year, which makes up the most vibrant and emerging atmosphere any international tourist will find difficult to visualize if having not ever experienced before. It is extremely necessary to understand traditional customs and values of the festival while you join it for your Vietnam tour packages. To do that, let’s explore DOs and DON’Ts during Tet holiday in Vietnam here!

[The 7-day Tet series] Day 5 – The Meaning Of Vietnamese Traditional Dishes In Tet Holiday

Tet is a time for everyone in the family to reunite after a year of hard work. Therefore, the feast of the Tet Holiday also needs to be prepared very well. For Vietnamese people, meals on the first day of the year must be plentiful, not only expressing prosperity and happiness but also wishing for a full and prosperous New Year. Those foods were all prepared to be worshipped before on the ancestral altar on New Year’s Eve and on the first day of the new year.

Moreover, in the Vietnamese language, Tet is not literally celebrated, but “eaten” instead! In Vietnam, ăn Tết (eat Tet) is understood as to celebrate Tet. This shows how important food and cuisine is to Vietnamese New Year. On Tet days, Vietnamese people often prepare a lot of food because this is a time when they often have many guests/friends/family visiting and wish wishes for the new year, so they must always have food to treat the guests.

Vietnamese people have a very good habit of saving, which are reflected by the regular meals – rice with the main dishes (meat or fish/shrimp), a vegetable food and a bowl of soup. Vietnam food is thus often jokingly labelled “food for peasants”. However, this statement no longer holds water during Tet holiday, when Vietnamese let themselves taste more protein-rich and sophisticated made dishes.

Following are the most typical food found in Vietnamese’ Tet holiday:

  1. Banh Chung/ Banh Tet – pickled onions

    Thịt mỡ dưa hành câu đối đỏ.
    Cây nêu tràng pháo bánh chưng xanh.

    Fat meat, pickled onions, red parallel sentences.
    New Year pole, strings of firecrackers, green Banh Chung.


    Ask anybody in Vietnam which food comes to their mind first when talking about Tet. I’m sure that the answer is banh chung and banh tet (it’s tét, not Tết, the festival). While both of this banh is essentially rice, fatty pork and bean fillings packed neatly inside green banana leaves or dong leaves, there’s some obvious difference between them. In general, banh chung is an iconic Tet food in Northern Vietnam. Meanwhile, banh tet usually represents Southern Vietnam.


    This is the cake in Vietnam food culture since long time ago. According to the old legends, banh chung appeared on the Hung dynasty. This cake symbolizes the ground expressing gratitude to the ancestors and the earth, sky. Besides, it emphasizes the important role of rice and nature in water rice culture. In contrast to the fast food in modern life, the process of making banh chung is time-consuming and requires the contribution of several people. Family members often take turns to keep a watch on the fire overnight, telling each other stories about Tet of past years.
    Banh Chung is made of sticky rice, pork meat and green bean, every ingredient is wrapper inside a special leaf which calls Dong. Making the Banh Chung requires care and precision in every step. The rice and green bean have to be soaked in water for a day to make it stickier. The pork meat is usually soaked with pepper for several hours. Squaring off and tying the cakes with bamboo strings require skilful hands to make it a perfect square.
    To eat Banh Chung you should combine with pickled onions to add the sour taste of food and makes it more digestible. Banh Chung and pickled onions have become must-have dishes on the occasion of Tet.

  2. Gio/ Cha – Frozen meat
    Gio Cha (Vietnamese ham/sausage) is another traditional food in Tet holiday and usually served with Xoi (sticky rice) and Banh Chung. Gio is different from Cha since Gio is boiled and Cha is deep-fried. Vietnamese people make Gio from lean meat, added fish sauce and covered by leaves then boiled for hours. Cha is also made of lean pork and ingredients, but Cha is not wrapped by leaves and boiled but deep-fried in oil. Cha just survives for some days when Gio can last for a month due to its covers. There are many kinds of Gio, categorized by its origins: Gio Lua (made from pork), Gio Ga (made from chicken), Gio Bo (made from beef). All these types are used not only in Tet holidays but also over the year.

    In Lunar New Year, especially in the northern regions, Frozen meat is also an indispensable dish in Vietnamese trays. A piece of frozen meat like a transparent jelly symbolizes clarity, good luck all year. The blend and linkage between the components in frozen meat express harmony and be a blessing for those who loved, in love and will love.

  3. Ga Luoc
    Thit ga (boiled or steamed chicken) plays an important role in Tet holiday cuisine because all the tribute meals to the ancestors must contain a boiled chicken, whole or chopped. Besides, people believe that boiled chicken symbolizes prosperity, wellbeing. Therefore, Starting a new year with boiled chicken will be lucky all year. Chicken meat in Tet meals are various in forms: usually, chicken is boiled and sliced, but sometimes people can place the whole chicken in a plate, or nowadays some families use roasted or fired chicken to replace the original boiled ones. Chicken meat is served with Xoi (sticky rice) and Banh Chung, and become one of the most popular main dishes in Tet holidays. Boiled chicken always goes with sliced lemon leaves and salt-and-pepper sauce, as a tradition. Chicken (especially bones, legs and heads) can be used to prepare the broths for other soups.

  4. Mut Tet & other snacks
    Mut is an indispensable treat during the Lunar New Year Festival. Everyone prepares a box of colourful candied fruits at home to give visitors, the gift to friends and family, and offer to ancestors. Mut Tet (Tet jam) is not a food to serve in a meal during Tet holiday, but more like a snack to welcome guests in this special period. Mut is always kept in beautiful boxes and placed at the table in the living room, and it is the main food for the owners and guests to taste when they’re talking, enjoyed over a cup of tea. Unlike Western jam, which is usually in liquid form and served with bread, “Vietnamese jam” is mainly in dry form, usually dried fruits and some kind of seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds).

    It is a simple process and the ingredients are all readily available like coconut, ginger, sweet potato, kumquat, tamarind, and pineapple. They also have health benefits. For instance, having a few pieces of candied ginger will help digestion, while candied kumquat, which is often eaten with the peel helps relieve sore throats and ease hangovers. The candied lotus seeds are used for relieving stress and getting a good night’s sleep. Ever had roasted melon seeds? They go perfectly with a cup of tea. To eat them, you use your front teeth and dig out the tasty centre. It’s a bit of work, but you’re with friends, so there’s no hurry.

  5. Five-fruit tray (Mam Ngu Qua)

    The five-fruit tray is a must-have on the ancestral altar on New Year’s Eve and on the first day of the new year. The exact selection varies through time, region, and even the house owner’s preference. However, they must be of a different colour as the five-fruit tray also plays an important role in decoration for Tet.
    The number must be five (ngũ – năm) because of the concept of five fruits represents the five blessings: Phú – Quý – Thọ – Khang – Ninh ( Wealthy – luxurious – long-life – healthy – safe) and the five elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth).

    mâm ngũ quả daotaobeptruong

    Why is this five-fruit tray needed in Tết?
    The five-fruit tray of the New Year has a common meaning which is to show respect and to wish for good things in the new year. However, the way of presenting five fruits on the Tet holiday of three different regions is different. In the South, there are usually Custard (mãng cầu), Fig (sung), Coconut (dừa), Papaya (đu đủ) and Mango (xoài – xài). Watermelon, pineapple, tangerine, dragon fruit can also be added to the tray for more colours and more blessing (from the radiant colours). Normally, people will have 2 watermelons on the altar because of its lucky red colour. They believe that the red in watermelon will bring well-being throughout the year.
    Why these fruits?
    The names of these fruits can be put together into the phrase “Cầu sung vừa(dừa) đủ xài (xoài)”
    Cầu – pray for/ wish
    Sung/Sung túc – wealthy
    Vừa đủ – enough
    Xài – use/spend
    which means “(we) wish that the money in the new year will be enough for consumption and a fulfilled life.”.
  6. Thit Kho Trung (Vietnamese Braised Pork with Eggs)
    Among the familiar dishes on Tet holiday in Saigon, perhaps braised meat with coconut milk is the most familiar dish also known as raised meat with duck eggs (Thit Kho Trung) or braised meat (Thit Kho Tau). On the days of Tet, any family in the South will have a pot of meat and eggs. Bacon has only three layers of lean and fat is stored with eggs, coconut milk with attractive brown colour, beautiful. Can be eaten with pickles or Banh Chung/Banh Tet are very delicious.
    The reason for this is that Vietnamese celebrate TET for days on end and so during the first 3 TET days, there will be no market, no restaurant. The first TET days, people only rely on home-cooked dishes. This braised egg and pork belly dish can last a long time and since its taste is light and delicate in the beginning, after enduring being heated and reheated several times, the sauce will be reduced and the pork belly and eggs will become saltier over time.

 

[The 7-day Tet series] Day 4 – “Du Xuân” Let’s go spring travel!!

Spring is not only the most beautiful season but also the season of the festival, imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity. From past to present, Vietnamese New Year always has good customs on Tet such as picking fortune, travelling spring … Moreover, It is believed that the first director you go on the first day of the year is also very important, this direction will affect the person’s future in the coming year. People often look at books, learn folk experiences, and then look at calendar books to choose a departure direction for them to have the best luck and convenience in the new year.

These practices are very meaningful and bring peace, happiness and luck in the new year. Let’s find out where Vietnamese people usually go this time of the year.

1.Flower Market

As the cycle of creation, the spring begins a new year with these proliferating creatures… Ever since the spring flower market has become a familiar springtime destination for everyone at the end of the year. It seems that the flower market has become an indispensable tradition in the Tet holiday. People go to the flower market not only to choose a peach branch, apricot pot, but also a chance to find moments of relaxation in the soul, hoping for warm, happy spring and welcoming the new year together.

Here are addresses of some flower markets that you can visit now

Hanoi:

  • Van Phuc flower market: Van Phuc Street, Van Phuc, Ha Dong, Hanoi
  • Tay Tuu flower market: Tay Luu, Tu Liem, Hanoi
  • Quang An flower market: 236 Au Co, Quang An, Tay Ho, Hanoi

For more address of Flower market in Hanoi, click here

Ho Chi Minh:

  • Gia Dinh Park: Hoang Minh Giam, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City
  • 23/9 Park Flower Market: Le Lai Street, Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
  • Ben Binh Dong Flower Market: Ta Quang Buu Street, Ward 14, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City

For more address of Flower market in Ho Chi Minh, click here

2. “Đi chùa hái lộc” – Go to the temple to pick buds

In the mind of Vietnamese people for many generations now, Tet not only has the meaning of seeing off the old year, welcoming the new year but also bearing spiritual and religious features. In addition to the custom of worshipping the ancestors, people often look to temples and pagodas to pray for blessings and luck for their families with wishing for the best in the new year.

At the time of New Year’s Eve or the first day of the New Year, people go to the temple to pick up a branch of young buds to bring home, wishing to be blessed by the divine and holy Buddha with fortune and good luck throughout the year.

These are very small buds on the trunks with strong vitality such as si, fig, banyan … They bring them, hang them on the porch or plugin a vase, there are places still hanging in the middle of the door to eliminate the devil, or intended to announce that he had brought blessings home. According to researchers on national culture, Picking buds is a beautiful cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, in the moment of harmony between heaven and earth, picking the buds home is what many people like, it is the concept of wanting to bring good things, dispelling the unlucky things in the old year, hoping for good things to come in the new year …

Today, in the temples, to protect the trees in the temple and make it possible for everyone to pick the buds, people will replace the buds with small red envelope and hung on the branches.

Going to the temple ceremony at the beginning of the year is not simple to wish but it is also a time for people to find their spiritual place after hard-working days, looking for peace, getting rid of the sadness of the old year.

 

[The 7-day Tet series] Day 3 – What should I wear on Tet holiday?

Every Tet holiday comes when people and families are busy shopping for Tet, in which beautiful costumes are always the first priority items to buy. Everyone wants to have a beautiful outfit that stands out to go out on Tet. Not only that, On the first day of the year, wearing age-appropriate items according to old people’s conception makes a year more fortunate. So today we will help you choose the right clothes to wear on Tet Vietnam.

As well as the proverb “Pray for holiness. Be patient for good”. According to Vietnamese beliefs, on the first day of spring, we should wear clothes with colors that match our age. Choosing a color for a shirt/cloth to wear on the first day of the new year helps people avoid bad luck and get lucky for the new year. So to better suit feng shui (geomancy) as well as have luck for the whole year, it is also important to wear colors that match your age on the first day of the year. So, what color shirt/cloth should you wear on the 1st of the year 2024 so that can help 12 zodiacs can get lucky in business and life, let’s check the picture below.

As for costumes, Tet is a Vietnamese traditional holiday, so this is also an opportunity for people to wear traditional Vietnamese costumes, namely Ao Dai. Ao Dai is a kind of innovative outfit that was changed and stylized from the five-body shirt (Áo ngũ Thân) (with a stand-up shape, or standing neck) of the Westernization period, also known as the New period. Usually, the ao dai will be for both men and women, but it is more popular with women. With the development and changes, Vietnam Ao Dai also has many different shapes.

1. Traditional Ao Dai (Áo Dài truyền thống): Traditional ao dai usually has to be tailored to the size of each person, Vietnamese people will buy fabric and bring it to a professional Ao Dai tailor to sew according to their size.

However, Due to the growth and today’s demand, there are also many brands and shops that also have ready-to-wear Ao Dai.

2. Innovative Ao Dai (Áo Dài Cách Tân): Most women think that the traditional ao dai is too long and cumbersome to function every day, especially at work that has to move a lot and constantly. Along with that, the weather in Vietnam is quite hot, so the traditional ao dai costume is no longer suitable to become ordinary clothes like in the past. That is why the modern innovative ao dai came into existence.
In addition, for girls whose body is not very balanced, wearing traditional ao dai on important occasions is not easy. Others can always have difficulty, having problems with the design of the shoulder and waist buttons that are easy to open, which is inconvenient for the wearer.
Understanding these things, changing the ao dai to suit the new and modern lifestyle is extremely necessary. “Innovating” ao dai is also the goal of bringing attractive and beautiful outfits; while creating more convenience and comfort for the wearer. And of course, these factors have met the needs of Vietnamese women and have gradually become the Ao Dai designs of the new era, easy to buy, easy to wear, and easy to use.

Ao Dai Vietnam also has models for men and children

 

Here is some address that you can buy Áo Dài for you and your family:

1. PHƯƠNG NGUYỄN SILK
  • HANOI: Floor 3 – 172 Yen Lang, Dong Da, Hanoi
  • HO CHI MINH: 135/37 Tran Hung Dao, Cau Ong Lanh, District 1, HCMC – 147 De Tham, Co Giang, District 1, HCMC
  • DA NANG: 4th Floor, Building A, 72 Ham Nghi, Thanh Khe, Danang

2.  CEILIO

Website: https://ceilio.vn/collections/ao-dai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceilio.hn/

  • HANOI: 8 Ton Duc Thang – Hanoi
  • HAI PHONG: No. 1 Hang Kenh – Hai Phong City
  • HO CHI MINH: 1C P8 Q3 Ly Chinh Thang- HCMC

3. MAGONN DESIGN

Website: https://www.magonn.com/collections/ao-dai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagonnDesign 

  • HANOI:
    – 110 Thai Ha
    – 106B H3 Thanh Cong
    – 76 Ba Trieu
    – 15 Lot 11, Trung Hoa street, Cau Giay
  • HO CHI MINH:
    – 41 Hai Ba Trung, District 1
    – 240 Vo Van Tan, District 3
    – 105 Nguyen Trai, District 1

4. Tiem Huu la la

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiemhuulalaa

  • HANOI: 02 General House, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
  • HO CHI MINH: 185F Cong Quynh. Q1. Saigon.

5. Áo dài by Quyên Nguyễn_ Sài Gòn

Website: https://quyennguyen.vn

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AoDaiThietKeSaiGon/

  • HANOI: 84 Mai Hac De, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi.
  • HO CHI MINH: 115 Ho Van Hue, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City.

You can check more address for Ao Dai here

3. Besides Ao Dai, Vietnam also has renovated old costumes that you can wear in Tet holidays such as “Áo nhật bình” and “Áo Ngũ Thân” (Ancient Ao Dai)

[The 7-day Tet series] Day 2 – Pink or Yellow, which team are you in?

Tet decoration is one of the most important Vietnamese customs. Decorate homes on Tet holiday to dispel bad things and welcome new fortune into the house. Not only that, Tet is usually an occasion when many guests come to the house and give New Year wishes, the house cannot be messy to welcome guests. Being praised by the guests coming to the house on the occasion of the new year, those are also the “golden” words that help the homeowner believe that this year he will meet more joy and luck.

Vietnam people use to said, “Tết Đến Xuân Về” (Tết Come, Spring return), therefore, Tet is an occasion to mark the return of spring – the season of sprouting tree and blooming flowers. So that, during such happy days, everyone wants to decorate the house with all kinds of plants and flowers. Tet flowers are endless with all kinds of flowers such as Gladiolus, marigold, chrysanthemum, persimmon … but typical plants and flowers are only encapsulated in two things: Northern Peach and Southern Yellow Apricot. It is because the Peach blossom loves cold weather and can only live in the north and the apricot blossoms like the warm sun of the south.

For the Northern people, when referring to Tet, people will immediately think of peach blossoms – flowers only bloom in the spring, to serve the Lunar New Year. In the old days, in order to prevent the devil from disturbing life, people thought of a way to break peach branches and put them in jars. Accordingly, just seeing the peach branch, the demons will run away, not near the house anymore. In addition, peach blossoms are also a symbol of innovation, proliferation and strong development, it can bring a new source of vitality, helping everyone in the house to be healthy, peaceful and everything goes well in the New Year.

The North has peach blossoms, the South has apricot blossoms. The yellow colour of apricot blossom has long been considered a symbol of wealth. People display apricot flowers on the occasion of Tet with the wish of a new year of prosperity and wealth. According to the opinion of many people, the more petals blooming in a house, the luckier and more prosperous that the house is in the new year.  In the concept of the five elements, the yellow colour is Earth (earth), located in the centre, bringing together Kim, Moc, Thuy, Hoa (metal, wood, water, fire), representing the ability reproduction. The apricot blossom has 5 petals, representing 5 good things in life: happiness, luck, longevity, success and peace.

In addition to floral decorations, Vietnamese also decorate their homes for the New Year with fruits and other red and yellow decorations.

Therefore, in the house of Vietnamese people on Tet holidays, there is always an apricot tree or a peach tree and a Quat tree decorated with red envelopes as the belief and wish for a lucky, prosperous new year, happy, warm and full. In addition, the Vietnamese also decorate these flowers with red couplets, small lantern, New year greeting card or small fireworks to increase the red colour for the new year.

 

 

[The 7-day Tet series] Day 1 – Tet Tao Quan

Dear Beluxcham Members,

Lunar New Year or Tết Nguyên Đán, is Vietnam’s most significant celebration. Across Vietnam, during this time families reunite and honour their ancestors, while praying for luck, prosperity and health in the new year. If you have been in Vietnam and have experienced Tet in Vietnam,  you will find that before Tet and in the days of Tet, Vietnam people have a lot of traditions are preserved and handed down to the present day.

So why have these practices and what is the story behind these practices? To help our members understand more about Vietnamese “Tết” holidays, starting today, we will bring you the 7-day Tet series, every day we will introduce practice and story behind it

Today is the day Vietnamese people send Mr Tao back to heaven. According to Vietnamese’s folk beliefs, Mr Tao or “Tao Quan” is derived from three gods: the God of Soil, the God of House and the God of Kitchen.  However, instead of calling the name of 3 Gods, Vietnamese people generally call them as “Tao Quan” (understood commonly as The God of Kitchen).  And on the 23rd day of the lunar calendar, Mr. Tao drive Golden carp back to heaven to report everything in the house of the owner to the Jade Emperor (emperor of the heavens), the Jade Emperor either rewards or punishes a family based on Mr. Tao’s yearly report. Until noon on the 30th of December (Lunar Calendar) or the moment of New Year’s Eve, The Kitchen God returns every house to continue his job of looking after the stove in the kitchen.

Therefore, Mr. Cong – Mr Tao is the god that governs all activities of the owner, is the god that determines the luck and happiness of the whole family. Also, the God of Kitchen prevents the intrusion of ghosts and devils into residential land to keep the peace for everyone in the house.

The custom of worshipping Mr. Cong Mr. Tao is one of the cultural features of Tet holiday that has been preserved for many generations of the Vietnamese people. This is also the custom of expressing gratitude to the gods who have been taking care of the year-round to maintain family routines, and at the same time remind each person to be more responsible in caring for the family.

In these days, families in Vietnam will clean the kitchen, buy goldfish to worship and see Mr. Cong and Mr. Tao back to heaven.

It is believed that Mr. Cong – Mr. Tao represents three clay cubes used to place the pot on the old stove, two of which are smaller than the other. This is considered the influence of the custom of worshipping fire god, a long-standing custom.

Furthermore, In Vietnam, the legend of “The God of Kitchen” has been orally transmitted and recorded as follows:

Once for a while, there was a very poor family. The husband’s name was Trong Cao and the wife’s name was Thi Nhi. Despite getting married to each other for such a long time, they had no children, which led to their frequent quarrels every day.

One day, Trong Cao was so angry with his wife that he hit her. Being so angry, Thi Nhi left her house and met a man called “Pham Lang” who soon attracted Thi Nhi by his honeyed words. Then, Pham Lang and Thi Nhi set up house together. When Trong Cao was no longer angry with Thi Nhi, he immediately looked for his wife everywhere. However, his wife was found nowhere. Being so disappointed, he gave up his job and went everywhere as a mendicant to seek for his wife.

One day, Trong Cao went to a prosperous household and begged for foods, and the mistress of the house brought some cooked rice to the door to give him. Accidentally, two people recognized each other. Falling under Pham Lang’s suspicion, Thi Nhi was so ashamed that she rushed headlong into the burning fire to kill herself. Trong Cao was sympathetic towards his ex-wife, so he also rushed to the fire to die. Pham Lang also jumped into the fire to die together with his wife.

The God was so touched to see the love of Trong Cao, Thi Nhi and Pham Lang that he appointed three of them to be “Tao Quan” and assigned each person a job:

-Phạm Lang is “Tho Cong” (the God of Kitchen who looks after cooking job)

-Trọng Cao is “Tho Dia” (the God of Soil who takes care of family affairs)

-Thị Nhi is “Tho Ki” (the God who sees to the matters related to shopping in the market)