CONs

• Still a baby:
  Is Online Banking Safe?
  Today, people are aware of the concept of online banking offered by several banks, of which some are newly opened banks and some are expansions of a well-established banking company. But one question remains to be answered, is Online Banking safe?Despite the cut-rate deals offered by most Online Banks, numero
  Vietnam has officially become a member of the WTO this week. Congratulations!

  Everyone knows Vietnam, in certain ways. But in terms of investment opportunities, it may give you a pleasant surprise:

  PROs

  • Strong economic growth: Since the country's gradual change from centrally-planned to market economy, GDP is zooming at 7.4% in the last 10 years (second only to China in Asia) and the Government has a 7.5-8% target until 2011.
  • Successful reform: the "Doi Moi" (modernization) program has been successfully privatizing 2,500 plus state owned enterprises (SOEs) and encouraging numerous business start-ups.
  • Brand new WTO membership: the entry is expected to pave way for strong, healthy long-term growth.
  • Excellent demographics: literacy rate is at a very impressive 90+% and half of the 84 million population is under the age of 25. The local culture also encourages strong work ethics.
  As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

  CONs

  • Still a baby: T
    Getting Out of Multiple Loans Quagmire With Debt Consolidation Loan
    Most of us are getting into debt quagmires nowadays because of our spending habits. There are people among us who take one loan for a car, another for their holidays, and yet another for changing the interior of their homes. The only option we have to get out of the multiple loan traps is to procure a debt consolida
    g economic growth: Since the country's gradual change from centrally-planned to market economy, GDP is zooming at 7.4% in the last 10 years (second only to China in Asia) and the Government has a 7.5-8% target until 2011.
  • Successful reform: the "Doi Moi" (modernization) program has been successfully privatizing 2,500 plus state owned enterprises (SOEs) and encouraging numerous business start-ups.
  • Brand new WTO membership: the entry is expected to pave way for strong, healthy long-term growth.
  • Excellent demographics: literacy rate is at a very impressive 90+% and half of the 84 million population is under the age of 25. The local culture also encourages strong work ethics.
  As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

  CONs

  • Still a baby:
    Why You Can't Afford Traditional Domain Parking
    Many people have heard the term domain parking, but aren’t all that sure what it is. The problem is, domain parking is an issue for a lot of web owners out there, and they just don’t realize how much it is affecting how much they could be profiting from their current and future websites. The thing is, once one knows
    trong>Successful reform: the "Doi Moi" (modernization) program has been successfully privatizing 2,500 plus state owned enterprises (SOEs) and encouraging numerous business start-ups.
  • Brand new WTO membership: the entry is expected to pave way for strong, healthy long-term growth.
  • Excellent demographics: literacy rate is at a very impressive 90+% and half of the 84 million population is under the age of 25. The local culture also encourages strong work ethics.
  As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

  CONs

  • Still a baby:
    My Favorite Ways to Invest in Asia
    Meanwhile, Asian economies show no sign of slowing down. And that’s why I advocate paying attention both to the companies that are based there and the American companies that are doing business there ... the right way. More on that in a moment.First, I want to tell you about ...Three Asian Industries T
    : the entry is expected to pave way for strong, healthy long-term growth.
  • Excellent demographics: literacy rate is at a very impressive 90+% and half of the 84 million population is under the age of 25. The local culture also encourages strong work ethics.
  As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

  CONs

  • Still a baby:
    The British Virgin Islands (BVI) as an Offshore Jurisdiction
    The British Virgin Islands, like other British so called 'dependent territories', was forced to apply the EU's Savings Tax Directive starting on 1st July, 2005, and chose to apply a withholding tax (initially of 15%) to the returns on savings paid to residents of EU Member States. The Directive does not apply to cor
    ture also encourages strong work ethics.
  As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

  CONs

  • Still a baby: The Vietnamese market is still at the early development stage and the illiquidity (low trade volume) may lead to high volatility. This is not a market for people with short-term investment horizon.
  • Single-country risk: Investing in one single (and emerging) country pose significant risks, e.g. from possible political turmoil, sudden changes in economic policies and a large withdrawal of foreign investment.

  Investment Products available

  There is a Vietnamese Fund listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: VOF.L) and new mutual funds for this exciting country is popping up week after week.

  Please note, however, that most funds demand a relatively high (1.7-2%) management fee, plus a hedge-fund like performance fee (20% of every dollar earned when the investment return is over 8% for the year). While the higher fee is somewhat understandable due to the higher trading cost in Vietnam, eme