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Category: General

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest General Retail news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Vietnam inflation climbs to 7-year peak in January

    Vietnam inflation climbs to 7-year peak in January

    The consumer price index (CPI) in January jumped 6.43 percent year-on-year, the biggest increase seen in 7 years.

    It also rose 1.23 percent over last December, with the high increase this year attributed to the surge in eating out, shopping and travel demands of people during Tet or the Lunar New Year, Vietnam’s biggest national holiday.

    The General Statistics Office (GSO) said that in the CPI basket, 10 major groups of consumer goods and services saw their price indices rise in January, led by food and catering services with a 2.29 percent increase.

    It was followed by housing and construction materials costs, up 1.47 percent; transportation, 0.69 percent; beverages and tobacco 0.65 percent; and garments and footwear, 0.33 percent. Meanwhile, post and telecommunications decreased slightly by 0.03 percent.

    The government has targeted keeping CPI below 4 percent in 2020 this year, the same as the last three years, but GSO head Nguyen Bich Lam has warned that this may be difficult to achieve, given impacts of the African swine fever epidemic, which wiped out 6 million pigs last year, forecast to remain a major challenge.

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  • Deliveroo and Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service on Blood Drive

    Deliveroo and Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service on Blood Drive

    Hong Kong’s food delivery leader and committed corporate citizen, Deliveroo recently collaborated with the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service to organize a blood drive on Wednesday, 22 January. Through this event, Deliveroo mobilized its huge fleet of self-employed riders and walkers as well as employees to give back to the Hong Kong community by donating blood.

    40 Deliveroo employees and 14 Deliveroo riders volunteered to donate blood at the recent event. This follows on from the recent establishment of Deliveroo’s five-person Sustainability & CSR Team in 2019 – together they lead the development of programs around Responsible Consumption and Production, Zero Hunger, and Good Health and Well-being. This year the Deliveroo Sustainability & CSR Team will look to develop eco-friendly and socially conscious projects that give back to the Hong Kong community and the world at large.

    Building on from the great results of the recent blood drive Deliveroo will continue to provide other events and opportunities for riders and employees to give back every quarter. According to a survey conducted among Deliveroo riders, 70% of respondents said they have not volunteered in the past 12 months but are interested to volunteer if there are activities arranged.

    Brian Lo, General Manager, Deliveroo Hong Kong said, “At Deliveroo we are wholeheartedly committed to being a responsible corporate citizen. Last year we rolled out surveys for our riders to voice their ideas about CSR activities, and we appreciate the feedback we received from them. Thanks to their voice, we were able to organise this initiative and collaborate with the Hong Kong Red Cross to give back to some of Hong Kong’s most vulnerable populations. Research shows that giving back not only helps others but also enhances the self-esteem of the person giving back, and we are proud to spread the cycle of positivity amongst our riders and to the broader community of Hong Kong.”

    Yip, aged 31, a Deliveroo rider, said, “I just thought it was a great idea. I feel like every year you make New Year’s resolutions to yourself about being a more thoughtful or giving person, but sometimes you don’t actually know how to do it. I appreciate Deliveroo’s leadership in this area, and the company’s flexible working hours makes it convenient and easy to volunteer, especially with them organizing and facilitating it. It’s important to me that I work for a company that cares.”

    Other recent CSR activities orchestrated by Deliveroo include an organized centre visit to the Lifelong Animal Protection Charity. Upon their arrival, riders participated in a two-hour volunteer session at the charity’s dog centre. Throughout the course of the day, riders had the chance to learn more about animal welfare, basic training skills for dogs and lent a hand by doing simple cleaning chores around the centre. The event concluded with riders having free time to play with their newfound furry friends.

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  • Vietjet Commences First Ever Direct ServiceLinking Hanoi and Bali

    Vietjet Commences First Ever Direct ServiceLinking Hanoi and Bali

    In celebration of Lunar New Year 2020, new-age carrier Vietjetofficially commences its newest direct route linking Hanoi and Bali, Indonesia on the second day of Lunar New Year. This is Vietjet’s second service to the popular holiday destination, following the Ho Chi Minh City – Bali route that has been in operation from May 2019. It is also the first direct route departing from Vietnam’s capital city to Bali.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairwoman of Vietjet’s Board of Directors Nguyen Thanh Ha said, “Vietjet was founded with a pioneering mission to connect the skies. We are proud to be the first airline to operate direct flights between Hanoi and Bali. The new route, operated from the second day of the Lunar New Year, will meet the New Year’s travel demand of the locals and international travelers with less travel time and cost. Not only connecting the two most attractive cultural tourism destinations in Asia, the Hanoi – Bali route will also further promote cooperation between the countries in ASEAN.”

    The Hanoi – Bali route operates daily return flights from 26 January 2020. The flight departs from Hanoi at 10.00 am and arrives in Bali at 4.25 pm. The return flight takes off from Bali at 5.30 pm and lands in Hanoi at 9.55 pm. All are in local times.

    As Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi offers an unforgettable vacation with its rich history. Founded more than one thousand years ago, tourists will be astonished by Hanoi’s architecture and colonial facades. Bali, one the most popular island destinations in Indonesia and all of Asia, is often called “The Island of the Gods” and often described as a tropical paradise. Voted as one of the best islands in the world, Bali is a destination of pristine, beautiful landscapes and unique cultural charms.

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  • AirAsia extends suspension of Wuhan flights to Feb 15

    AirAsia extends suspension of Wuhan flights to Feb 15

    AirAsia has extended its suspension of all flights to Wuhan, China until Feb 15.

    On Thursday, the low-cost airline announced the suspension of its flights to Wuhan, the epicentre of a new coronavirus outbreak, until Jan 28.

    AirAsia’s flights to Wuhan depart from Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Phuket.

    AirAsia Bhd, in a statement today, said passengers affected by the move can obtain either a full refund or a credit account.

    It advised passengers to check with their respective governments or embassy offices prior to their traveling dates.

    “We are making provisions for guests with flight bookings to/from all destinations in mainland China to obtain credit account or full refund. Passengers can only choose one of the two options.

    “The provisions are for passengers who have purchased flight tickets to/from mainland China until Feb 15 and return flights from Feb 16 to 29, that were ticketed prior to Jan 24, 2020,” said the airline.

    Passengers who are affected by this change can obtain online credit to be credited into their AirAsia BIG Loyalty account, which can later be redeemed for ticketing within 90 days.

    The actual travel dates can be after the expiry dates of their cancelled ticket dates, as long as the flight schedule is out.

    The airline is also offering a full refund in the equivalent amount to their bookings as the other option.

    Refund requests can be made with AVA at support.airasia.com, which passengers can find under “AirAsia flights to/ from Wuhan” for flights to/from Wuhan or “China Voluntary Refund” for flights to/ from other mainland China destinations buttons at the website.

    “For bookings made through travel agents including online travel agents, refund requests are to be made via the respective travel agents,” said the airline.

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  • Singapore Helps Global Crypto Firms To Expand

    Singapore Helps Global Crypto Firms To Expand

    Singapore has introduced new payment legislation that offers global cryptocurrency firms a chance to expand their operations in the country. The Payment Services Act, which comes into force on Tuesday, is the first comprehensive regulation for companies handling activities ranging from digital payments to the trading of tokens such as Bitcoin and Ether.

    We welcome the Act with open arms, said Liquid’s CEO Mike Kayamori, who was quoted in a «Bloomberg» report. The firm will apply via its local Quoine Pte subsidiary. Tokyo-based crypto exchange operator Liquid Group Inc and London-based Luno, which already operate in Singapore, are among the firms planning to apply for the licenses.

    Increased investor interest in digital tokens has encouraged several regulators around the world to bring the venues under their scrutiny, especially for money laundering and other illicit activities.

    Besides bringing crypto firms into the regulatory fold, the law will hand the Monetary Authority of Singapore formal supervisory powers for cybersecurity risks and controls on money laundering and terrorism financing. The new measure narrows the gap with Japan, currently a major Asian centre for cryptocurrency trading after 22 exchanges received licenses there since 2017.

    The key advantage of Singapore’s new legislation is providing regulatory clarity on new types of payments activities such as e-wallets and cryptocurrency exchanges, according to Nizam Ismail, the founder, and chief executive officer of Ethikom Consultancy, which helps potential applicants with licensing and compliance issues.

    Twenty of the top 50 crypto exchanges are based in the Asia-Pacific region and accounted for about 40 percent of Bitcoin transactions in the first half of last year, according to data from Chainalysis.

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  • Airlines to refund Vietnam-China flight tickets

    Airlines to refund Vietnam-China flight tickets

    Vietnamese airlines have offered to refund customers who want to cancel their flights to and from China amid the coronavirus outbreak.

    Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and low-cost arm Jetstar Pacific stated Friday both would refund tickets and allow free schedule changes for passengers flying to and from Chinese cities starting Friday until further notice.

    The two airlines do not currently operate direct flights to Wuhan City in central China, the epicenter of the new deadly pneumonia virus outbreak.

    Both would provide masks and gloves to passengers on its flights to and from China if requested.

    Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) Thursday ordered all flight permits be canceled and the granting of new permits to all flights connected to Wuhan by both Vietnamese and foreign airlines be suspended.

    The Ministry of Health has ordered all tourists from China entering Vietnam complete health declaration forms as it combats the spread of the new coronavirus.

    Two Chinese nationals have been quarantined at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City since Thursday after testing positive for the pneumonia virus.

    China on Saturday said 41 people had died and 1,300 been infected globally due to the virus.

    World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new coronavirus an “emergency in China” this week but stopped short of branding it an international concern.

    Most fatalities have involved elderly patients, many with pre-existing conditions, WHO confirmed.

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  • AirAsia X Launches Kuala Lumpur – Taipei – Okinawa Flights

    AirAsia X Launches Kuala Lumpur – Taipei – Okinawa Flights

    AirAsia X has launched flights between Kuala Lumpur and Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan.

    AirAsia will operate the flights, which will fly via Taipei, four times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

    Flight D7 384 is scheduled to leave KL at 07:35 and land in Taipei at 12:20. The aircraft then departs Taipei at 13:20, landing in Okinawa at 16:00.

    The return flight, D7 385, is timed to leave Naha Airport at 17:30 and land in Taipei at 18:10 before departing for KL at 19:10. The aircraft is scheduled to land back in KL at 00:05 the following day.

    AirAsia X Chairman, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, said, “With the addition of Okinawa, AirAsia X now flies to 35 destinations. Together with AirAsia Group, our combined fleet of over 250 aircraft can now connect Okinawa with over 150 destinations across ASEAN, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the US.”

    Travelers from Kuala Lumpur to Okinawa Naha are not required to obtain a visa during their one-hour stopover in Taipei and may return to their seats after clearing a quick security check of their carry-on bags and inflight belongings.

    “As we begin to accept the delivery of the technologically-advanced Airbus A330neo aircraft later this year, the Group will continue to evaluate and consider launching exciting and viable new routes to destinations such as in Eastern Europe, within Asia and Australia. Such new routes, if viable, can accelerate domestic and regional tourism growth, especially in key markets with high demand,” added Tan Sri Rafidah.

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  • Masan chairman opens up on Vincommerce merger

    Masan chairman opens up on Vincommerce merger

    Masan’s acquisition of a majority stake in Vingroup’s minimart chain was a “big step” to break into consumer retail, the group’s chairman says.

    The food conglomerate chose Vincommerce as an acquisition target because it had the largest retail platform by a number of points of sale and accounted for 25 percent of the modern retail market, Nguyen Dang Quang, Masan Chairman, told shareholders in a report Thursday.

    Vincommerce’s network of 2,600 VinMart supermarkets and VinMart+ convenience stores nationwide is also well placed to bring added value to MEAT Deli, Masan’s clean meat brand, he said.

    “Although not everyone agreed with the merger deal, with many saying that retail is a completely different playing field, for us it all starts with putting consumers first, and this is our strength.”

    Quang said new shopping experiences and the ability to serve customers anytime, anywhere was a basic consumer need now. So combining Vincommerce’s modern network and Masan’s 300,000 traditional points of sale across the country will help build a modern and seamless retail system to serve consumers, he added.

    Thursday was the first time the Masan chairman has opened up about the group’s merger deal with Vietnam’s biggest private conglomerate Vingroup last December, which saw it acquire an 83.74 percent stake in Vincommerce.

    Masan will set up a new entity that holds the majority stake in Vincommerce, and an 85.7 percent stake in Masan Consumer, Masan’s subsidiary which produces consumer goods. Masan will hold 70 percent of this entity, while Vingroup and other investors that previously held stakes in Vincommerce but transferred them to Masan, will own the remaining 30 percent.

    Masan Group plans to have the new entity break even on an EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) basis in 2020, but said it could close between 150-300 stores that are unable to break even or fail to meet traffic targets.

    MSN shares of Masan Group on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange had plummeted to floor price upon news of the merger deal on December 3, and the stock had lost 22.6 percent at the time of writing.

    Several securities companies have said that although the merger deal is considered mutually beneficial to both parties in the long-run, investors are worried Masan’s short-term profitability will take a hit, as Vingroup’s retail business segment, mostly made up of Vinmart stores, has recorded losses for five consecutive years from 2014.

    The latest financial reports showed that the segment has gone on to lose VND2.52 trillion ($108.76 million) for Vingroup in the first six months of 2019.

    In a letter to Vincommerce employees in December, Vingroup had also said it will not hold a majority stake in the merged entity to focus resources on technology and industry.

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  • Lao Rugby Kicks of 2020 by Hosting the DHL Vientiane 10s

    Lao Rugby Kicks of 2020 by Hosting the DHL Vientiane 10s

    This story about the Vientiane 10s has been kindly provided by the Lao Rugby Federation Later this month rugby players and enthusiasts from Lao PDR, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, UK, and Australia will come together in Hanoi and Vientiane for the second consecutive DHL sponsored rugby 10s series.

    Formerly known as the Vientiane International Rugby Championship, the DHL Vientiane 10s is the LRF’s flagship competition. In 2019 the Lao Rugby Federation (LRF) partnered with neighboring Hanoi 10s to create a multi-tournament series spanning two weeks in January.4/

    The second year of the series will kick off in 2020 with a single-day tournament in Hanoi on 18 January and a multi-day tournament in Vientiane on 25-26 January. More than 20 local and international teams will compete in Men’s, Women’s, and U18 Girls and Boys contact competitions, as well as U13 tag rugby.

    In the largest year of the Hanoi 10s competition, 12 senior teams will participate in the men’s and women’s divisions joined by 8 U18s boys’ and girls’ teams from Vietnam’s newly-formed rugby clubs including Coui Ha Club, Hop Dong Club, Thong Tien Club, Nuong Dam Club, Kim Truy Club, and Du Sang Club. In the senior divisions, DAC Weredragons will be returning to the DHL Hanoi 10s to defend their Cup Championship.

    The Kim Boi Wild Cats, DAC Rejectors and Hanoi Dragons will also be returning in this year’s men’s division joined by tournament newcomers, Raw Dogs and Hanoi Ghost Dragons. In the women’s division, the Kim Boi Wild Cats will return for the second year of the tournament joined by five teams making their first appearance at the DHL Hanoi 10s including DAC Weredragons, Hanoi Barbarians, NUS Singapore and Alexandre Yersin.

    Three visiting international teams from DAC Weredragons will travel to Hanoi prior to the tournament in order to learn about and support the development of rugby in the country through participating in some activities with Vietnamese ChildFund Pass It Back teams.

    The ChildFund Pass It Back curriculum, which was piloted in rural Laos from 2012-2014, endeavors to help young people build knowledge and skills through rugby in topics like leadership, gender equity, future planning, safety and health.

    Today, more than 3,000 young players are registered and actively participating in the curriculum in Laos and over 1,000 in Vietnam.

    In addition to the action on the pitch, the Kim Boi Wild Cats from Hoa Binh Province in Northern Vietnam will be supporting most of the DHL Hanoi 10s tournament management.

    In the first year of the competition in Hanoi, the LRF was proud to send Lao staff to support in lead management roles for the largest 10s international competition held in Vietnam to date.

    This year, the LRF’s Vietnamese colleagues will be building on the skills they learned in 2019 and taking the reigns as match officials in the U18s competition and as senior first aid and technical leads in the senior competition.

    The LRF has been partnering with ChildFund Vietnam since 2015 to support rugby development in the country. Over the 5 years of the partnership, Lao Coaches have supported many exciting developments from the first international tag competition in 2017 through to the first women’s 15s match in 2019 where the Kim Boi Wild Cats faced off against the DAC Lao Nagas in a historic match in Hanoi.

    The Kim Boi Wild Cats are current or former ChildFund Pass It Back Coaches who have been developing their skills in rugby administration and leadership roles in their local community since 2015.

    This group of young Vietnamese leaders has recently registered their clubs with the Vietnamese government and now be applying their skills on the international stage as the DHL Hanoi 10s prepares for this record-breaking year.

    Following the excitement in Hanoi, the LRF will welcome 32 teams for the 14th year of the DHL Vientiane 10s on 25-26 January.

    Twelve men’s teams in the senior elite division will be bolstered by returning 2019 DHL Vientiane 10s Men’s Cup Champions, Royal Thai Police and include series competitors DAC Weredragons, Hanoi Dragons and Raw Dogs. The Lao Barbarians and Vientiane Buffalos will represent Laos in the men’s top division joined by the Royal Thai Navy, Bangkok Southerners, Bangkok Warriors, Changzhou Giants, DAC Rejectors and Regency.

    2019 DHL Vientiane 10s Women’s Cup Champions, the Vientiane Lions will return in the women’s senior division alongside the Vientiane Buffalettes and Xieng Khoung RFC from Laos.

    The returning Banger Belles will be joined by DAC Weredragons, Made in China and MSU Pretty Crabs, all of which will be competing in Vientiane for the first time in what promises to be an exciting women’s senior competition. Additionally, 8 U18s boys’ and girls’ teams will compete in the U18s division including Lao teams from the LRF’s newest clubs: the Vientiane Province Gold Crabs and the Kham District Golden Elephants.

    “Year after year the competition draws top University and Club teams from across the region for a weekend of rugby,” comments LRF President Mr. Virayouth Rathikoun. “This is set to be the biggest 10s series in the region to date and competition will be fierce.

    The LRF is proud to play a role in supporting not only a budding club scene in Laos, but also strong tournament administration and rugby development beyond our borders.”

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  • NokScoot soars to new heights for punctuality

    NokScoot soars to new heights for punctuality

    NokScoot, the joint venture low-cost carrier of Thailand’s Nok Air and Singapore’s Scoot, achieved its best-ever annual on-time performance (OTP) since the start of operation with an average of 86.55% in 2019.

    The airline’s 2019 punctuality report revealed that the airline obtained its highest OTP on record even though the flights flown increased by 30% or 1,162 flights. Last year alone, it operated 4,951 flights, an increased from 3,789 flights flown in 2018. During the busiest month of 2019 in December, it earned a perfect 100% OTP for both, Tokyo Narita International Airport in Japan and Qingdao International Airport in China.

    “At NokScoot, we always work hard in order to offer the best services and provide an enjoyable flying experience to our passengers.” said Yodchai Sudhidhanakul, CEO of NokScoot. “OTP is crucial and has always been one of our five core values, ‘Consistently Deliver’. We are committed to maintain and enhance the highest standard in every aspect, including punctuality, safety and convenience.”

    The carrier currently flies from Bangkok to nine destinations in East Asia and India, including Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenyang, Tianjin, Taipei, Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka, and New Delhi.

  • Nok Air suspends Guwahati-Bangkok flights from January 20

    Nok Air suspends Guwahati-Bangkok flights from January 20

    As per reports, Nok Air is expected to resume its operations from April 12, 2020.

    The airline has cited ‘operational reasons’ behind its decision to suspend the flights.

    Nok Air, which is a subsidiary of Thai Airways International, had operated its flights in the Guwahati-Bangkok route twice a week.

    It may be mentioned that Nok Air, which had started its flight operations from Guwahati to Bangkok in September last year, had suspended its operations just four months after airline SpiceJet has suspended the Guwahati-Dhaka direct flight service.

    The reason behind the suspension of the ambitious Guwahati-Dhaka flight service was due to not getting the desired number of passengers.

    Due to poor business operations of the flight service, SpiceJet had first reduced the frequency of the flight service from daily to twice a week.

    However, the new outcome of the flight service still being poor, SpiceJet had finally decided to suspend its operations.

    At present, only two international flights would remain operational from the Guwahati airport and that is Druk Airlines’ flights from Guwahati to Singapore and Guwahati to Paro.

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  • Tet shopping frenzy at Hanoi supermarkets

    Tet shopping frenzy at Hanoi supermarkets

    With a week to go before the Lunar New Year, or Tet, supermarkets in Hanoi are thronged with shoppers.

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  • Cebu Pacific Celebrates Dinagyang with Fiesta Fun Fest

    Cebu Pacific Celebrates Dinagyang with Fiesta Fun Fest

    Festivals are much a part of the Filipino culture as its distinct cuisines and hospitality. Filipino festivals across cities are vastly different; with different practices and tributes but still tied to an undeniable sense of Filipino community and camaraderie.

    For 2020, Cebu Pacific launches the Fiesta Fun Fest, a global campaign that will highlight the country’s top festivals that have marked the Philippines as a tourism destination among locals and foreigners alike.

    Iloilo’s Dinagyang Festival is the second stop of the Cebu Pacific Fiesta Fun Fest campaign, following the kickoff activity during the Sinulog Festival in Cebu early this year. In the true spirit of dagyang, Cebu Pacific will be having on-ground booths filled with fun games and prizes. Around 100 Grab cars will also bear the Cebu Pacific brand and its corresponding direct Iloilo routes to highlight the merits of travel, whether by land or air, especially during grand gatherings such as Dinagyang.

    To make this year’s Dinagyang Festival even more fun, Cebu Pacific will be holding a special sale for all routes in and out of its hub in Iloilo. For as low as PHP99, fly direct between Iloilo and Cebu, Clark, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, General Santos and Manila; from Iloilo to Singapore, and vice versa for as low as PHP2016; and Iloilo to Hong Kong for as low as PHP499.

    Iloilo serves as the primary hub of Cebu Pacific in Western Visayas, with nine direct domestic and international routes and 172 flights weekly, catering to a growing number of travelers in the region. Cebu Pacific has maintained its leadership in the Iloilo market, with 54% capacity share.

    Watch out for the next stop of the Cebu Pacific Fiesta Fun Fest! Visit the official Cebu Pacific social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more details.

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  • Taxis, ride-hailing apps hike Tet ride charges

    Taxis, ride-hailing apps hike Tet ride charges

    Taxis are refusing to charge by the meter and ride-hailing apps have doubled ‘peak hour’ prices and added surcharges as Tet draws close.

    Monday evening, five days before the Lunar New Year (Tet), Hoang Viet requested a car on ride-hailing app Grab. He was surprised to find that his 14-kilometer trip from an office block in Duy Tan street to the Gia Lam Bus Station cost VND280,000 ($12.11), more than double the usual price.

    When he tried to request rides on other apps like Be and Fastgo, he found that the prices were cheaper, but was unable to find a driver who would accept his request.

    Many others have reported running into similar situations since last week, especially during peak hours when travel demand is high as people rush to shop before Tet.

    Ngoc Mai, another resident, said it took her half an hour to call a taxi home after taking her child to a shopping center in downtown Hanoi.

    “Before opening the door, the driver asked me for VND120,000 ($5.2) for a 5-kilometer trip. This usually costs VND60,000-70,000 ($2.6-3) on regular days,” she said.

    Mai then asked three other taxis parked around the mall, but received similarly high quotes, with drivers saying they were charging more because of traffic jams around the city. Mai ended up requesting a ride on an app, but it took 20 minutes for the driver to come to pick her up.

    During the ride, Mai’s driver apologized and explained that the roads had become heavily congested over the last few days. Despite his company charging higher fees, he was making only VND1 million ($43) from less than 10 rides, while on normal days, his revenue could go up to VND1.5 million ($65), he said.

    “It’s not that we want to reject passengers, but roads are now very busy, especially in downtown streets, where it could take an hour to go just one kilometer. Yes, we have raised prices, but Grab has done so as well,” said the driver of a traditional taxi who did not wish to be named.

    Taxi prices are expected to go even higher, with most-ride hailing firms adding a surcharge to support drivers during the Tet holiday – from January 23-27.

    From Wednesday, passengers will have to pay an extra VND10,000 ($0.43) per trip on GrabBike and VND15,000 ($0.65) on GrabCar, the Singapore-based company has announced.

    Local ride-hailing firm Be also said it was adding a surcharge of VND20,000 ($0.86) per car ride during Tet peak times, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4 p.m.-11 p.m.

    Meanwhile, Indonesia-based Go-Viet has said it will charge an additional VND20,000 ($0.86) for GoBike rides for the first 2 kilometers, and an additional VND5,000 ($0.22) for every kilometer after. It will also charge an additional VND10,000 ($0.43) fee per trip during the night.

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  • AirAsia, Malindo cancel all flights bound to and from Wuhan, China

    AirAsia, Malindo cancel all flights bound to and from Wuhan, China

    AirAsia Group Bhd and Malindo Air have both halted all flights to and from Wuhan, China, in view of the coronavirus outbreak there.

    While Malindo did not specify how long the suspension will be in effect, AirAsia said the canceled flights affect all AirAsia flights bound to Wuhan from Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Phuket until Jan 28.

    Both airlines, in making the announcement in separate statements today, said they are closely monitoring the situation in Wuhan.

    “This is in response to the travel ban from the officials in Wuhan on the coronavirus outbreak to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of air travel to the flight crew and guests or passengers,” said Malindo.

    “Passengers who hold a valid booking for travel between Jan 23 and Feb 8 this year may contact our call center at +603-7841 5388 or walk into our ticketing office for further assistance,” it added.

    AirAsia, meanwhile, assures that the safety and wellbeing of its guests and Allstars is its top priority. AirAsia is complying with advice and regulations from global and local health authorities, including the World Health Organisation.

    “AirAsia guests who are in Wuhan are advised to abide by announcements made by the Government and health authorities, and to contact their respective diplomatic missions or embassies in China for assistance,” it said.

    It has also arranged the following alternatives for those who wish to alter their traveling plans to and from Wuhan:

    1. Reroute: Reroute to any other mainland China station for flights to Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok and Phuket without additional cost, subject to seat availability. Applicable for all flights until Feb 29, 2020, or

    2. Credit account: Retain the value of your fare in your AirAsia BIG Loyalty account for future travel with AirAsia. The online credit account is to be redeemed for booking within 90 calendar days from the issuance date for your travel with us. The actual travel dates can be after the expiry date as long as our flight schedule is out. Applicable for all flights until Feb 29, 2020, or

    3. Full refund: Obtain a full refund to your original payment method for the amount equivalent to your booking if flights are canceled. Applicable for all flights until Feb 15, 2020 and return flights from Feb 16-29, 2020.

    “Guests whose flights fall into the above date range can obtain a full refund in the amount equivalent to that booking in the form of original payment. Refund requests can be made with AVA at support.airasia.com. From the main menu categories available, click on ‘refund’ then ‘new refund request’ and finally ‘AirAsia flights to/from Wuhan’. From there, simply follow the instructions as directed by AVA.

    “For bookings made through travel agents including online travel agents, refund requests are to be made via the respective travel agents,” AirAsia added.