This document summarizes a conference held by EuroCham Vietnam to promote investment in tourism and hospitality projects in central Vietnam. EuroCham Vietnam is the European Business Association in Vietnam that lobbies on behalf of European businesses. The conference discussed the need to attract more foreign investment in Vietnam's tourism sector given declining FDI. Speakers recommended Vietnam improve its business environment through more transparent laws and procedures to attract investors who expect a level playing field and consistent rules. Vietnam must change its mindset and view tourism as a competitive industry requiring effective planning and private-sector engagement.

1. ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTORS
TO TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY
PROJECTS IN CENTRAL VIETNAM
Conference on Investment Promotion
for the Central Coastal Region of Vietnam
Danang, 21-22 March 2013

2. INTRODUCTION
EuroCham Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee
Chairman
Kenneth Atkinson
Managing Partner
Grant Thornton Vietnam
Vice Chairman
Kai Schröter
General Director
HTM Management Consultancy

3. INTRODUCTION
HTM Management Consultancy
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Feasibility Studies
Tourism Master Planning
Market Research and Analysis
Concept Development and Branding
Project Consultancy and Management
Architectural Planning and Design Review
Hotel Pre-Opening and Technical Assistance
Hotel Management and Operating Agreements
Strategic Management and Advisory Services
Hospitality Standard Operating Equipment
Training, Education and Capacity Building
Marketing, Sales and Public Relations
Executive Search and Recruitment
Standard Operating Procedures
Investor Introduction

4. INTRODUCTION
HTM Management Consultancy

5. INTRODUCTION
European Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Vietnam
• Established 1998
• European Business Membership Organization
• Non-political, independent, not-for-profit,
funding, no governmental ties
no
external
• Affiliate of 5 European National Business Associations and 2
European Country Committees
• Member of European Business Organizations (EBO) Network

6. ACTIVITIES
What does the EuroCham do?
• Helps European companies to invest and do business in
Vietnam
• Supports Vietnamese authorities to improve investment and
business environment in Vietnam
• Supports Vietnamese companies to invest, trade and do
business with European businesses
• Lobbies on members' behalf, advocates improvements in
business environment, raises awareness on key issues and
disseminates information on doing business in Vietnam

7. ACTIVITIES
• Recognized and highly respected by both foreign and local
authorities in Vietnam
• Received Prime Minister's Award in 05/2006

8. MEMBERSHIPS
By Numbers

9. MEMBERSHIPS
By Company Size

10. INTRODUCTION
5 National Business Associations
affiliated since 08/2003
affiliated since 10/2003
affiliated
affiliated since 11/2003
affiliated since 04/2006
2 Country Committees
joined
12/2005
joined
12/2005

11. MEMBERSHIPS
By Affiliation

12. MEMBERSHIPS
By Nationality

13. MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE
By Sector

14. ACTIVITIES
Overview
Capacity
Building
Services
Lobbying
IMPROVING
BUSINESS
CLIMATE
Trainings
Events

15. INVESTMENT
Does Vietnam need support (of the tourism sector)?

16. INVESTMENT
YES, IT DOES
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Declining FDI as the driver of
structural change and export
earnings
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Declining foreign business’
confidence in Vietnam
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Low value-added investment and
productivity levels
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Slow pace administrative reforms
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Unequal treatment, cumbersome
procedures, inconsistent
applications, corruption

17. INVESTMENT
What do (foreign) investors expect?
• Dynamic and attractive business environment
• Favorable investment conditions and treatment
• Level playing field
• Simple, transparent and consistent administrative procedures
• Reliable legal system, rule of law and enforcability
• Keeping commitments and stringent implementation

18. INVESTMENT
“VIETNAM TANGO”
Three Steps ForwardTwo Steps Back

19. INVESTMENT
What should Vietnam do (to attract foreign tourism investment)?
• Change its mindset – Vietnam is in heavy competition for FDI,
regionally as well as globally
• Only hardware - nice beaches, rich culture, history and
natural attractions - are not enough
• New policies and good intentions are not enough. Everybody
knows the problems – now it is time for action
• Effective planning, communication and management – from
central to provincial to local level and vice versa
• Constant public-private sector dialogue

20. INVESTMENT
What should Vietnam do (to attract foreign tourism investment)?
• Responsible and sustainable tourism development is key
• Professional nation branding and destination marketing

21. ACTIVITIES
White Book 2013
General information
• 5th edition with recommendations for 19
key policy areas
• 3,500 hardcopies, 100 CD’s printed
• Distributed to: key Government agencies,
departments;
European diplomatic
missions; business associations, industry
associations, private sector organizations;
EuroCham members
White Book 2013 - what are the changes?
• Content: two separate parts of crosssectoral and sector specific chapters
• Format: more friendly user layout, list of 10
issues/recommendations, EN and VN
versions

22. ACTIVITIES
White Book 2013
• White book contains Progress
Report, assessing the progress
made in the particular
industries
• Three different ratings, red,
blue and green
• Summary of the most
urgent/pressing issues at the
beginning of the White Book
• To be followed-up annually

23. ACTIVITIES
Sector Committees
1.
Institutional Support
Advocacy
Lobbying
White Book
Members
Sector
Committees
Financial
Resources
Authorities
Professional
Resources
Corporate Support
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Active
Food-, Agri- and Aquaculture
Business
Banking & Finance
CropLife Vietnam
Human Resources & Training
Intellectual Property Rights
Multinationals
Nutritional Foods Group
Pharmaceuticals
Taxation & Transfer Pricing
Information Technology
Tourism & Hospitality
Transportation & Logistics
Under Construction/ Restoration
13. Energy
14. Wines & Spirits
15. Medical Devices

24. ACTIVITIES
HR & Training Sector Committee
Dialogues with Vice Minister Pham Minh Huan on revised Labour Code;
Roundtable with MOLISA, ILO and VCCI on Sub-Leasing Decree;
Work permit survey and regional comparison;
Position papers on Work permit, Sub-leasing Decree, Labour Code,
Employment Law.
IPR Sector Committee
Dialogues with Custom Authority
Business luncheon on “IPR Protection at the Border”
Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee
Dialogue with the HCMC Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism on “Vietnam
Tourism-Opportunities and Challenges
Inter-ministerial meeting with VNAT, MOFA, MoPS on Tourism Advisory Board,
Visa-on-Arrival, Training Initiatives, Destination Marketing and Investment
CropLife Vietnam
Stewardship Day (1 Nov 2012) co-organised with sub-Plant Protection Departments
under MARD in Mekong Delta and Red River Delta, attracting 2,000 farmers, aiming
to raise awareness and strengthen farmers’ knowledge on the safe and responsible
use of crop protection products.

25. ACTIVITIES
Nutritional Food Groups: Position papers and regular dialogues with Government on Food Safety Law, Price Law,
Advertising Law, Decree 21.
Pharma Group:
Timely inputs for legislation: Pharmaceutical Law, Circular on Tendering, Manufacturing, Labeling, OTC list, etc.;
Support to DAV in training on “Manufacturing process validation and stability study evaluation in drug
registration”;
Regular dialogues with DAV, ASST, MoH, VIA.
IT Sector Committee:
Position papers and dialogues with MIC on Draft Decree on IT services, Draft Decree on Internet management;
Tax and Transfer Pricing:
Timely inputs for respective Laws on VAT, CIT, PIT;
Dialogue with MoF, GDT, GDC.
Ad-hoc Legal Sector Committee: letters to EU Delegation, MoIT on newly adopted Law on Lawyers

26. ACTIVITIES
Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee
Next Meeting (with registration):
Date and Time: 27 March 2013, 17.30 – 19.00
Venue: EuroCham Hanoi and HCMC Offices (video conference)
Contact:
EuroCham Office Ho Chi Minh City
Telephone: (84-8) 3827 2715
Email: sec.comms@eurochamvn.org

27. SERVICES
Events
Both with private and public sector:
• Round-table discussionss with ministries and
government agencies (e.g. MOIT, MOF, NOIP,
Customs)
• Business Briefings on current topics (e.g. market
outlooks, sector reviews)
• Executive meetings with ministries and
government agencies
• Special events like Forums, exhibitions (e.g.
GreenBiz 2013)
• Annual European Food Festival held in Hanoi
and HCMC.

28. SERVICES
Trainings
Together
with
our
members
training/consultancy sector:
in
the
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Trainings for member companies’ (Vietnamese)
staff, both in English and in Vietnamese
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Trainings on practical skills, such as “key account
management” or “customer-relations”
• Trainings on soft-skills, such as “organizing the
workplace”, “teamwork” and “communication
skills”
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High-quality trainings for members only, at
discounted price far below market average

29. SERVICES
Others
• Partner searches, investor introduction,
match-making, business appointments
• Organizing investor delegations and trade
missions to Vietnam
• Trade listings and corporate profiles
• Travel arrangements
• Event organization

30. SERVICES
Meeting Rooms/ Office
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Make best use of “EuroCentre” and Hanoi Office Facilities
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The EuroCentre with its extensive facilities and ideally setting is available to
EuroCham Members in both Hanoi & HCMC, for business functions as well as
social events at competitive member rate

31. SERVICES
Advertising
• Advertising in Membership Directory, Discount
Handbook, Newsletter and e-Bulletin
• Website: Hyperlinked news on website, rotating
banners
WITH US
• Dedicated e-mail blast to members
• Display of corporate literature and materials at
events and in EuroCentre

32. SERVICES
Capacity Building
1.
“MUTRAP” Multilateral Trade
Assistance Project
Capacity Building on Trade
Policy for Vietnamese Business
Associations
2.
UNIDO/ SWITCH
Improving CSR (Corporate
Social
Responsibility)
for
Vietnamese SME’s

33. SERVICES
Membership Card and Discounts
Stay enjoyed with EuroCham
Member Card
This entitles you privileged rates
at establishments, such as hotels,
restaurants and shops, air ticket,
with
etc throughout Vietnam.

34. MEMBERSHIP
Application
• Membership
Application
Form (please fill out and
submit to EuroCham offices
• Online
Registration
www.eurochamvn.org
at

35. MEMBERSHIP
Fees
Corporate Member
Large Corporations
Small-Medium Enterprise
27,000,000 VNĐ
13,500,000 VNĐ
Individual Members
Individual
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07,500,000 VNĐ
Direct members pay to EuroCham
Indirect members pay to the National Business Association
Double members are referred back to the relevant Business Association
EuroCham is proud to partner with 5 BA’s

36. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON!
EuroCham HCMC Office
EuroCentre, 5th Floor
49 Mac Dinh Chi Street
Da Kao Ward, District 1, HCMC, Vietnam
Tel: (84-8) 3827 2715
Fax: (84.8) 3827 2743
Website: www.eurochamvn.org
Contact person: Ms. Nguyen Hong Ngoc
membership@eurochamvn.org
EuroCham Hanoi Office
G/F, Sofitel Plaza Hanoi
1 Thanh Nien Road
Ba Dinh District, Hanoi., Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 3 715 2228
Fax: (84-4) 3 715 2218
Website: www.eurochamvn.org
Ms. Tran Thi Lien Phuong at
marketing@eurochamvn.org