Dear ,

We hope all are being vigilant and staying safe, given the more than 1900 cases in the latest COVID outbreak. The Vietnamese Government is taking extra precautions throughout the country to control the outbreak while facilitating the General Elections on Sunday, May 23^rd. Let’s do our part! To support GVN efforts, AmCham will be conducting all of our Committee meetings and Events next week virtually. If you come to the AmCham office, please make an appointment in advance and be prepared to wear a facemask. We are still tentatively planning our U.S. Independence Day event for July 3^rd, but have also reserved August 28^th as back-up. Stay tuned!

We also wanted to make sure you are aware of our new Media Update and COVID Updates, where we will post the latest media updates generally – and COVID-related.

Upcoming events: I look forward to welcoming new or returning members who want a refresher at our AmCham 101 virtual orientation meeting on Monday, May 24^th at 4:30pm. 

We hope all who can will join our special multi-chamber virtual event on the COVID-19 Virus, Variants, and Vaccines, Wednesday, May 26^th at 4PM with an esteemed group of experts, including WHO Vietnam Country Representative Dr. Kidong Park and UNICEF/COVAX Country Representative Rana Flowers, together with other expert panelists. We are especially honored that they are making time now when they clearly have many pressing concerns dealing with the current outbreak. Other leading chambers are partnering with us for this event. We hope to have a strong turnout from AmCham. We also hope the event will help inform and build consensus for our next steps on advocacy on Enabling a Safe Reopening.

We also look forward to Tourism and Hospitality, Women in Leadership, and Logistics and Supply Chain Member-only Committee meetings next week, all featuring special guest speakers or programs. T&H Tuesday at 11AM will focus on follow-up advocacy by AmCham and the Tourism Advisory Board to Enable a Safe Reopening, as well as a presentation by McKinsey analysts, including insights on its recent report on Reimagining tourism: how Vietnam can accelerate travel recovery. Our Women in Leadership meeting Tuesday at 4:30PM will update on key initiatives and feature a discussion of takeaways from a recent virtual event featuring AmCham Board member and AREVO President and CFO Christy Le and Zuckerberg Communications CEO Randi Zuckerberg LINK. And our Logistics and Supply Chain meeting Wednesday at 9AM will feature Vietnam Logistics and Aviation School Co-Founder and Chairman Tran Chi Dung on talent training and incubation.

Thinking about traveling to Vietnam, bringing in new employees, or leaving the country and returning anytime soon? You aren’t alone. AmCham’s May 19th “Facilitating Foreign Expert Travel (and Return) to Vietnam – Business Intelligence Briefing (virtual) demonstrated the high level of interest - more than 100 participants with just a few days notice - and lots of questions. We plan to do a follow-on event mid-June. Meanwhile, key takeaways: Do careful research, seek references, and/or use a trusted advisor. Deals too good to be true usually are. Your time and peace of mind have value. Do not cut costs on your quarantine hotel. Make sure it meets your requirements - 22 nights is a long time. Try to maintain a daily routine of meals, exercise, work... And remember your nail clippers. Although my nail-biting daughter said not necessary... Many thanks to co-host chambers and Mazar’s Jack Nguyen, Industry Travel’s David Watson, Qatar Air’s Vu Thi Thanh Huong, Cathay Pacific’s Linh Dao, Holiday Inn’s Catherine Barbeoc’h, and Westcoast Healthcare Chairman/Frequent Traveler/ Administrator of private Facebook group “Post COVID return to Vietnam” Paul Hui fresh from part 1 of trip #5 in quarantine in Vancouver. More info at LINK. Video link sent to all event attendees with survey. Note this is not legal advice and procedures change regularly, so keep checking relevant government and airline information or use a trusted adviser. If you weren’t an attendee, video is free to AmCham members with a fee for non-members. Event recording LINK.

Our Digital Economy and Technology Committee meeting last Tuesday provided updates on pending regulation and plans for a Digital Transformation series, including an AmCham “tech makeover”. Our HR Committee has been busy on advocacy, but held its first regular well-attended virtual meeting with an excellent presentation on HR trends by Chair Coca-Cola HR Director Truc Huynh. The Healthcare Committee discussed next steps on advocacy to Enable a Safe Reopening, plans for finalizing text of its White Book, and plans for Wellness and Self-Care events in June and July, perhaps in partnership with AmCham’s Sports and Wellness and other interested committees. And our Agriculture Committee meeting discussed many advocacy issues (see Advocacy readout below) and welcomed USDA Cooperator and hopefully Francis soon-to-be-member Francis Lee.

Some of us also joined a U.S. Mission virtual event on Eco-Industrial Parks and an ICham virtual event on Vietnam’s New Securities Law. The U.S. Chamber held a virtual Global Forum on Economic Recovery May 18-19, including presentations by Bill Gates, Janet Yellen and others. Links at https://www.uschamber.com/on-demand/international?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=SFMC&utm_campaign=&utm_content=

We welcome your feedback at team@amchamvietnam.com to let us know how we can serve you better. We wish you a safe and restful weekend! Mary

The current outbreak has brought a sense of urgency for controlling the rapid spread and has highlighted the need for prompt, widespread vaccination. For the most authoritative up-to-date information, we encourage you to join a special multi-chamber virtual event on Wednesday, May 26^th from 4:00-5:30 PM with a panel of experts:

For more information, LINK (to COVID page).

Last week, we submitted two position papers representing concerns of our Food & Beverages Committee members on inspection and goods labeling to Vietnamese authorities. We also discussed the need for follow-up advocacy on Enabling a Safe Reopening at a Chairman’s Circle Dinner on May 18^th. And in our May 21^st Ag Committee meeting, we discussed interest in a number of additional advocacy issues. If you have interest in contributing to these initiatives or any other advocacy matters that require AmCham support, please contact relevant Committee leader and/or advocacyaction@amchamvietnam.com.  More information on AmCham advocacy at LINK.

May 25: Tourism and Hospitality Committee Meeting 

May 25: Women in Leadership Committee Meeting

May 26: Logistics & Supply Chain Committee Meeting

Jun 2: Education & Training Committee Meeting

Jun 4: Manufacturing Committee Meeting

Jun 7: Capital Markets and Financial Services Committee (CMFSC) Meeting

Jun 8: Energy Committee Meeting

Jun 9: Legal & VBF Liaison Committee Meeting

Jun 10: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee Meeting

LINK to our Key Media Updates. Stay informed about key developments affecting your business by checking regularly – updated regularly on weekdays.  On weekends, stay informed and connected through AmCham’s Facebook, Linked IN, and Instagram