Nike Contract Plant In Vietnam Remains Closed For Fear Strike To Continue

[Inthai]

To everybody based in VN:

Found this piece of news on Bkk post and CNN reports this story over news ticker.

Is this any news over in Vietnam, do papers report, as I cant find anything on Than Nien or VN News online.

http://www.axilltv.com/bkpost-2.php?newsid=316021

[PhilHarries]

Seen nothing yet about this but not surprised. Inflation, driven to a large part by greed, is around 20% especially in the south. I don't know how costs of basics are faring but with fuel costs increased the knock on effect is an upward pressure on other goods.

We are noticing it here in central Viet Nam where rents are going up to Ha Noi levels and above if the greedy landlords can get anyone to pay them. Unfortunately due to the amount of development and numbers of foriegn specialists, like me, in the vicinity the locals are adopting the Thai vision of us as walking ATM's.

A 450ml bottle of Bia Saigon was 6000VND until recently, now it's 7000. That's a 17% increase in less than a year and that is serious especially as the dollar has fallen from 16000 to 15000 over the same period.

[Inthai]

I am also not surprised that VN papers dont report about Nike factory "incident", however I guess with inflation as always, local labor are hit hardest, on the other hand, 6000VND is approx. 10Baht and 7000Baht are approx. 11,50baht, then for Viet Expats prices still remain fairly cheap compared to Thailand, where you wont find a local beer for this price.

Agree, housing is getting more expensive especially in Hanoi and HCMC.....

[SoCal]

I was talking to the manager of Metro the other day. He gave his workers across the board 18% increase at Tet. Now they are all complaining that it is not enough.

Personally, no huge effect, but my pay is around 30x my employees.

Vietnam certainly has a lot of issues. Don't know if it will be next year, or the year after, but wait for that bubble to pop.

As for the dollar, back up to 16,120.

[PhilHarries]

I am also not surprised that VN papers dont report about Nike factory "incident", however I guess with inflation as always, local labor are hit hardest, on the other hand, 6000VND is approx. 10Baht and 7000Baht are approx. 11,50baht, then for Viet Expats prices still remain fairly cheap compared to Thailand, where you wont find a local beer for this price.

Agree, housing is getting more expensive especially in Hanoi and HCMC.....

My last lines were self depreciating (hence the violin), of course for us expats Viet Nam, particularly central, is so cheap it is almost a joke. However a colleague who just came back from HCMC/Vung Tau says a small bottle of Tiger in a bar sets you back 35,000VND (around 12 - 15,000 here).

Back to topic, still seen nothing on either the TV or in the newspapers about the strike and wouldn't expect to. A minor labour dispute affecting a foriegn company is not very high on the ratings.