While Vietnam’s economy is expected to become bigger than Singapore’s in the next decade based on both countries’ current rate of growth, there are several challenges that lie ahead for ASEAN’s rising star.In a report published by Singapore-based DBS Bank on Tuesday, senior economist Irvin Seah predicted that Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) will surpass that of Singapore’s by 2029 if Vietnam maintains its annual growth rate of about six to 6.5 percent and Singapore continues to grow at

From socks and sneakers to washing machines and watches, Asian countries are hoping the United States (US)-China trade war will permanently boost manufacturing as brands dodge the row by choosing cheaper locations to make their goods.Business has fanned out from China, often referred to as the 'Factory of the World', into Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Indonesia for years.But the shift has accelerated as the world's two biggest economies slap tit-for-tat tariffs on each other.&am

Singapore’s Education Minister Ong Ye Kung revealed last year that the government there intends to bring in foreign talent in areas critical to Industry 4.0. Ong said that meanwhile, the country will work on rebalancing its education system to meet future demand.

Few things are more anathema to communism than a superyacht, except perhaps taking a ride to the marina in a Bentley.In Nha Trang on Vietnam’s east coast, motorbikes still outnumber luxury cars but there are signs of flourishing wealth everywhere.The half-hour drive along the road to the country’s first deep water marina is filled with glimpses of plush resorts, some complete and others in various stages of development.

Under the theme, “ASEAN: Oneness to the world”, 2019 has been designated as the ASEAN Cultural Year to celebrate and promote the region’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. The promotion of cultural heritage and ethnic traditions drive the region’s tourism development, which is an integral part of the economic policies across ASEAN.

Vietnam may be one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, yet it’s still in the dark ages when it comes to joining the global trend toward cashless transactions. To understand why, look no further than to consumers like Tran Van Nhan, who recently bought his two-bedroom home in Hanoi with gold and a sack of cash.“We paid almost half in gold bars and the rest in cash,” Nhan, a 47-year-old shopkeeper, said of his new US$138,000 condo.

In early 2018, the government of Lao had targeted to attract around five million tourists and earn around US$900 million by the year’s end. Unfortunately, local reports quoted Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdala as telling a parliament session that the goal would not be realised.In the first half of the year, the figure seemed hopeful enough at 2.1 million.

Southeast Asia is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and industrialised regions in the world.Contributing to this rapid pace in development is a growing car market driven by an increase in demand for automobiles.

Market research firm Canalys has named Indonesia as the fastest growing market for smartphones in Southeast Asia.

In 2017, when speaking about the drop in his country’s tourism sector, an unnamed government official suggested that Lao PDR should put more effort into attracting tourists from Muslim countries in the region. He said that by providing prayer rooms in public places along with promoting halal (permissible or lawful in traditional Islamic law) restaurants, the country would be more welcoming to Muslim visitors.