VietRees_Newsletter_56_Week1_Month11_Year08

Weekly Newsletter Vietnam Real Estate A56

Week 1, Nov

The first weekly electronic newsletter issued to registered members, approximately 100,000 reads per month

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Market situation (p.2)

Real estate foreign investment (p.2)

Vietnam in the world (p.3)

Real estate agents (p.3)

Websites of real estate companies in Vietnam (p.4)

Real estate projects and prices (p.5)

Real estate supply for customer groups (p.7)

Real estate legislation (p.8)

Real estate market forecast (p.9)

Construction material market last week (p.9)

Stock market last week (p.9)

This weekly newsletter is shared with partners, clients, members (registered) and internal VietRees together with those who are concerning or interested in Vietnam real estate market changes. Although the information is selected, synthesized from all reliable sources, this newsletter is only for reference and VietRees is not responsible for the occurring damage. Please visit the website www.VietRees.com for further Vietnam Real Estate information. When individuals and organizations quote or publish the information from our newsletter, please cite the source VietRees. According to the statistics on registration for the newsletter, the subjects making reference to the newsletter includes real estate investors; companies or units of government performing management tasks, business marketing, consulting, broking, assessment, real estate finance, construction, banking, architecture, interior decoration; domestic and foreign press agencies; and full of professional investors or individuals who have demand for real estate throughout provinces and cities nationwide; typically Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Can Tho, Hue, Nha Trang, BRVT, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ha Tay… We would like to say thanks to the sponsors and all of the readers. We expect to continue to receive your support as well as your comments to improve our newsletter.

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VietRees – Vietnam Real Estate www.VietRees.com Viet Nam Real Estate Newsletter A56 Page 2

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MARKET SITUATION

Real estate prices continue to decline Thanh Nien – 04 Nov, 2008

The prices of apartments and ground base in Ho Chi Minh City have dropped by 40 - 60% compared to the beginning of 2008. However, according to many opinions, the prices will drop further because many investors cannot secure additional capital. In fact, there are many projects whose prices are assessed at the “hottest” period of the properties. As a result, the offered prices have been very high. The readjustment will create the liquidity for the market, stimulating the demands and creating a more reasonable price level for the market. According to an expert, the difficulties that the real estate market has suffered from the beginning of this year until now have still been inconsiderable as compared with the difficulties in the near future. The maturity of the loan contracts from the banks has been often at the end of the year, while the difficulties in capital rising and the frozen transactions still exist. This is the reason that pushes the real estate prices down to a new bottom in a few months. Many investors have volunteered to reduce the prices, the investors and speculators have sold off to regain the capital, a mortgage release from the banks, etc. These signs show that the new lower price levels will be established on the real estate market. This is also the hope of many people who have the real housing demands and are waiting for the opportunities to buy houses at the new bottom prices.

Open door for real estate loans Tien Phong – 04 Nov, 2008

In the context that a series of small and medium enterprises have been short of capital and the economy has seen the signs of deflation, the commercial bank system has had a surplus of 90,000 billion VND which has been “a very big waste”. This number is considered as "the dead capital" and the most effective way is to reduce the loan interests so that more enterprises can approach the capital sources. The State banks have cut the basic interest down to 12% per year and allowed the commercial banks to extend the lending in the fields that they have still hesitated for a long time, especially the property market and the medium and small enterprises, which is considered to be a positive signal. Because at the present, 80% of the enterprises are facing difficulties in capital raising and many enterprises may go bankrupt because they cannot borrow the money. According to the experts, it is advisable for the commercial banks to be cautious about real estate loans, but they should not equate all of the projects. Currently, about 95% of real estate enterprises have to ask for bank loans. If the banks refuse the loans, the enterprises will go broke. The banks should consider the priority for the good projects that have completed about 80 - 90%. Therefore, the whole Ho Chi Minh City real estate association and real estate enterprises have shown that the best way to save the market is by providing working capital. And if the commercial banks open door for real estate loans as the State banks require, the market will recover in a short time.

Real estate finds few buyers but prices still high SGGP – 05 Nov, 2008

According to experts, although the prices of most of the high-grade apartments have decreased as compared with 6 months ago, they are still higher than the middle of 2007. This has brought about the fact that a series of the middle class apartments, home and individual ground base have still not seen any price decrease. The property prices now are still at least 50% higher, even doubling and tripling. This is caused by the fact that the investors or speculators are keeping the prices to take profit. A paradox that anyone could see until this time is that although the real estate market is freezing, the prices have still not decreased significantly. There are 2 main reasons for this. Firstly, the speculators collected goods at the time when the prices are too high, so now they cannot reduce the prices. Secondly, many investors associate with each other or look at each other to offer no discount. Many speculators or investors are still hoping that after the Tet holidays, the market will definitely recover and the prices will be back to uptrend. However, they forget that with such sky-high prices, the majority of the people with housing demand really cannot afford it. The typical way that many speculators apply to keep the prices is to advertise that they buy a large number of their projects at the high prices in order to create "virtual demands".

REAL ESTATE FOREIGN INVETSMENT

50 million USD invested in Megastar Yen My II industrial zone Ha Noi Moi – 04 Nov, 2008

Megastar Land real estate joint stock company (Vina Megastar Group JSC) has signed a contract with Nikken Sekkei Group (Japan) to establish the project planning of Megastar Yen My II industrial zone (Hung Yen). The industrial zone is built on a site of 130 hectares with a total investment of 50 million USD. Theproject is close to Highway 39, Hung Yen town, including many industries: production, electrical installation, electronic, steel manufacture and steel products, etc.

Hue leading in attracting FDI Nguoi Lao Dong – 03 Nov, 2008

With 67 projects granted investment licenses and the total registered capital of over 2.3 billion USD, Thua Thien Hue province has climbed up to the leading position among the key economic zones of the central region in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). The foreign investment projects in Thua Thien Hue have mainly focused on the fields of producing cement, beer & wine, mine ores, transportation, garment, hotel, restaurant, resort, etc. Few projects have focused on the fields of agro-forestry production and processing agricultural – forestry – aquatic products. In which, tourism is always the strength of the province and also is the field attracting most investment.


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Countries/ territories leading in the list attracting FDI until October, 2008 Source: General Statistics Office

With nearly 15 billion USD, Malaysia has become the country topping the list of the countries investing most in Viet Nam until October 2008. Although Taiwan has just ranked the second in the total capital, it has been the country with the highest number of projects.

VIETNAM IN THE WORLD Vietnam ups 6 grades in the global business rankings Edited by VietRees

According to the board ranking business environments worldwide (including 82 countries) announced on 19th Nov, 2008 by a US-based branch of Economic Intelligence Unit, Vietnam has moved up 6 ranks from the rank 71st for the 2004 - 2008 to the rank 65th for the 2009 - 2013 periods. The main cause that has helped Vietnam’s ranking increase is that the business environment has been improved after Vietnam joins WTO. Additionally, the company writes that in 2009 - 2010, Vietnam will improve the operation environment for private enterprises in line with the implementation of new legislation and until the 2011 - 2013 period, many state-owned enterprises will be privatized. In the meantime, the reformed personal income tax system will come to effect in January, 2009. The company forecasts that the real GDP growth of Vietnam in 2009 will drop to 5.3%. However, according to the company, foreign investors are still confident about the business future in Vietnam.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Van Phat Hung invests in new projects Nguoi Lao Dong – 01 Nov, 2008

Van Phat Hung JSC has shown that Phu My apartment building (Dist.7, HCM City) has now completed the structure works and implemented over 50% of the finishes in order to hand over the houses in the early second quarter of 2009. In the near future, the company will invest more in the new projects in District 2, District 7, Binh Tan District, Nha Be suburban district, etc. The company plans to list its shares at HCMC stock transaction center in 2009.

Thu Duc House opens two more real estate transaction centers BDS & TS – 03 Nov, 2008

Thu Duc House JSC has just opened two real estate transaction centers at 74 Pham Ngoc Thach Street, District 3 and 6A Dinh Bo Linh Street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh city. According to the company, they would expand many more transaction centers in Da Nang, Hanoi, Binh Duong, etc. Meanwhile, the company will develop some projects to serve the average income people in the near future.

Tin Nghia buys back a tourism zone in Laos TheSaiGonTimes – 03 Nov, 2008

On the morning of November 3rd, 2008, Tin Nghia company - Dong Nai has signed a contract to buy the Oriental hotel - tourism zone worth over 4 million USD in Champasak province, Laos. Located on the Sa Rau mountain, 5-star Oriental is built on a site of approximately 23 hectares. Tin Nghia will continue to complete the first phase of the project, including 4 motels (112 rooms), 1 central building with the services of shopping, entertainment, spa, restaurant, etc, which are in the construction progress. In addition, Tin Nghia has also established Tin Nghia JSC – Laos to operate the investment and business activities here.

Dat Viet Group opens its real estate transaction center Kinh Te Do Thi – 03 Nov, 2008

Dat Viet Group officially opened its real estate transaction center at No.147 Hoang Van Thai street, Thanh Xuan district, Ha Noi on November 3rd, 2008 with a total area of 600 m2, specializing in the fields relevant to real estate such as brokerage business (sale - purchase transaction, transfer, lease & for lease); assessment (assessing projects, houses, works, etc); consulting (consulting on setting up the domestic and foreign projects, legal formalities, land prices, etc), advertising, auction, real estate management, training and offering refresher courses in terms of real estate field.

Opening Thanh Nien Detesco Building SJC Thanh Nien – 06 Nov, 2008

Thanh Nien Detesco Building SJC, with 2 shareholders - Thanh Nien Communication JSC and Detesco company – was officially opened in Hanoi on the morning of November 5th, 2008. The company will focus on the construction of office buildings for lease, entertainment-sport centers, high-grade trade centers, etc. The company has also begun to implement the construction of Thanh Nien - Detesco office building and trade center with 26 storeys on a site of 1,325 m2 at 125 Van Cao Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

Sacomreal opens a new branch VietRees – 06 Nov, 2008

On November 4th, Sacomreal company officially opened Dong Nam branch at No.170 Khanh Hoi Street, Ward 6, District 4, HCM City. The branch will trade in the products that are invested and distributed by Sacomreal. Meanwhile, it will promote the brokerage activities and property leasing in the city. The company has also shown that in early November 2008 the customers will be paid the original capital and bond-interest of Phu My project, District 7 that they bought in March 2008. Until now, the market has been sluggish, as a result, the company will recount the new selling prices expected to be from 18 to 24 million VND/m2.


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Websites of real estate companies in Vietnam

Property developers

Ho Chi Minh Company 585 - www.585.com.vn Company 584 - www.congty584.com.vn An Phu - www.anphugroup.vn BCCI - www.bcci.com.vn Daewon - www.daewon.vn Him Lam - www.himlam.com Hoang Anh Gia Lai - www.hagl.com.vn Linh Phong Conic - www.conic.com.vn Nam Long - www.namlongvn.com Phu Long - www.phu-long.com.vn Phu Quoc Land - www.phuquocland.net SacomReal - www.sacomreal.com Sadeco - www.sadeco.com.vn Resco - www.rescovn.com Thai Thinh Capital - www.richlandhill.com.vn Thu Duc House - www.thuduchouse.com Phu My Hưng - www.phumyhung.com.vn Van Phat Hưng - www.vanphathung.com.vn Vietnam Land SSG - www.saigonpearl.com.vn

Ha Noi FPT Land - www.fpt-land.com C.E.O - www.ceoholdings.com.vn Gia Tue - www.giatue.com.vn HUD - www.hud.com.vn HDB Viet Nam - www.hdbgroup.com.vn Keangnam - www.eng.kne.co.kr Nam Cuong - www.namcuong.com.vn Song Hong Land - www.songhongland.com.vn Vinaconex - www.vinaconex.com.vn Vincom - www.vincom.com.vn Viet Hung - www.ecopark.com.vn

Other cities Becamex IDC - www.becamex.com.vn Biconsi - www.biconsi.com.vn Tuan Chau - www.tuanchau-halong.com.vn GNSVINA - www.cozyvill.com Company 579 - www.cecico579.com.vn Duc Manh - www.ducmanhco.com

Brokerage

Ho Chi Minh An Gia - www.angia.com.vn ACBR - www.acbr.com.vn Dat Xanh - www.datxanh.com.vn Dia Loi - www.nhadatdialoi.com.vn Dat Cat - www.datcat.com.vn FICO - www.ficohome.com.vn Kim Son - www.kimson.com.vn Phuc Duc - www.phucduc.com Hung Phu - www.hungphunhadat.com Hung Thinh 2 - www.diaochungthinh.com.vn Hoang Quan - www.hoangquan.com.vn Intresco - www.intresco.com.vn Loc Dien - www.nhadatld.com Nova - www.novahomes.com.vn Phat Hung - www.phathung.com.vn SacomReal - www.sacomreal.com Tan Dien - www.tandien.com.vn

Ha Noi Cland - www.cland.com.vn Dong Do - www.dongdobds.com Phu Thai Group - www.phuthaigroup.com Petrowaco - www.petrowaco.vn Petrolimex – www.pland.com.vn

Other cities Dieu Hien - www.dieuhien.com.vn Thien Loc - www.thienlocnhadat.com.vn

Research CBRE - www.cbrevietnam.com Savills Viet Nam - www.savills.com.vn VietRees - www.VietRees.com

Consulting CBRE - www.cbrevietnam.com Dong Duong - www.indochina-consulting.com Eden Real - www.edenreal.com Hop Nhat - www.uniland.com.vn Indochina Land - www.indochinacapital.com Long Gia Khang - www.longgiakhang.com Savills Viet Nam - www.savills.com.vn Vina Capital - www.vinacapital.com

Evaluation AREV - www.arev.com.vn Hoang Quan - www.thamdinhgia.com Vietland - www.thamdinhgia.com.vn VVFC - www.valuation.vn

Construction Ho Chi Minh CIC8 - www.cic8.com Coteccons - www.coteccons.com.vn Cosaco - www.cosaco.com.vn Hoa Binh - www.hoabinhcorporation.com Hai Thanh - www.haithanh.com.vn Toan Thinh Phat - www.toanthinhphat.com.vn

Ha Noi Constrexim - www.constrexim.com.vn Cavico - www.cavicovn.com HANCIC - www.hancic.com.vn HUD - www.hud.com.vn Incomex - www.incomex.vn

Architect and Interior Decoration Ho Chi Minh A2 Visualization - www.a2viz.com.vn Cat Moc - www.catmoc.com.vn Nha Vui - www.nhavui.com Nha Viet - www.nhavietdecor.com Nha Dep - www.nhadep.com.vn Pho Xinh - www.phoxinh.com.vn

Ha Noi ACT - www.act.com.vn ADKientruc - www.adkientruc.com Ashui – www.ashui.com Kien Truc Ha Noi - www.kientruchn.com

Other Countries Architects 61, Sing - www.a61.com.sg DP Architects, Sing - www.dpa.com.sg SWA, USA - www.swavietnam.com Ong&Ong, Sing - www.ong-ong.com RSP Vietnam, Sing - www.resp.com.sg Surbana Vietnam, Sing - www.surbana.com


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REAL ESTATE PROJECT AND PRICES

Starting the construction of Danang Oil & Gas Finance Center TheSaiGonTimes – 05 Nov, 2008

On November 5th, 2008, PetroVietNam Finance Corporation (PVFC) started the construction of Danang Oil & Gas Finance Center at lot A2.1 + 300 on 30/4 Street, Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang city with a total investment of over 245 billion VND. The center is built on a site of approximately 1,260 m2 with 15-storeys and 2 basements. The project is expected to be put into operation in 2010. This will be the operation center for the finance/ banking, organizing the investment activities and bank-finance services of PVFC in the Central region.

Add over 1,000 billion VND to Mang Den tourism zone Vnagency – 06 Nov, 2008

The urban area project has consisted of about 150 high-grade villas in Mang Den national eco-tourism site invested by Gia Hung Real Estate JSC. Kon Tum provincial People's Committee has approved this project with a total investment of nearly 450 billion VND. In addition to the construction of a new urban area, Gia Hung has also been licensed to develop the eco-tourism services and resorts within the project scope. At the same time, Saigon - Tay Nguyen Investment JSC has also registered to invest 600 billion VND in the project of cultural – ecological – resort tourism zone at Mang Den tourism zone. The project includes 50 resort villas, wild animal areas and organizes the activities of hunting, elephant riding, mountain climbing, telpher, etc for tourists. The project is expected to be put into operation in 2011.

Ho Chi Minh City approves two new apartment building projects VietRees – 06 Nov, 2008

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has licensed Saigon Cosmetic JSC to be the investor of the project of the high-grade apartment building and office at No.762 B Binh Quoi (Xo Viet Nghe Tinh), Ward 28, Binh Thanh District. Previously, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has also licensed Vien Dong Land Investment JSC to invest in the construction of the high-rise apartment building project with an area of approximately 11,590 m2 at Phu Thuan Ward, District7.

High-grade apartment prices at HCMC are not changed compared with September, 2008 Edited by VietRees – Oct, 2008

Announced prominent real estate developments during the last 2 weeks*

Week 4+, October 2008 Week 1, November 2008

Ho Chi Minh City Khang Gia 3 Resettlement apartment building (Go Vap Dist.) Apartment building - offices at Binh Quoi (Binh Thanh) Apartment building at Phu Thuan Ward (Dist.7)

Other Areas Dien Phu urban area (Gia Lai) IGS Nam Son Hap Linh urban-industrial zone (Bac Ninh) Tau Voi tourism site (Ha Tinh)

Thanh Nien Detesco office building (Hanoi) The Oil & Gas - Finance Trade Center (Da Nang) The urban area of Gia Hung Company (KonTum) The tourism site of Sai Gon-Tay Nguyen Co. (KonTum)

Approved prominent real estate developments in HCM City*

October November

Housing, apartment, residential area Apartment building No.1 – No.31 Calmette Street (Dist.1) Resettlement area at Phu My Ward (Dist.7) An Phu Ward residential area (Dist.2) Housing area at Nhon Duc Province (Nha Be) Housing area at Dong Hung Thuan Ward (Dist.12)

Apartment building - offices at Binh Quoi (Binh Thanh) Apartment building at Phu Thuan Ward (Dist.7)

Office, commercial Complex of Vietnam – Japan cultural park (Dist.2)

* Note: RA=Residential Area, AP=Apartment Building, HA=Housing Area, RuA=Reurban Area, TA=Tourism Area, IA=Investment Area, UA=Urban Area, ReA=Resettlement area

Websites of properties in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Blooming Park - www.bloomingpark.com Saigon Paragon - www.saigonparagon.com Dragon City - www.dragonland.com.vn Preche - www.preche.com SaigonPearl - www.saigonpearl.com.vn V-Star - www.v-star.com.vn Time Square - www.timessquare.com.vn The Everrich - www.theeverrich.com Tan Da Court - www.tandacourt.com Lancaster - www.lancaster.com.vn The Vista - www.thevista.com.vn

Ha Noi Viglacera Tower - www.viglaceraland.vn My Dinh – Me Tri RA - www.sudicosd.com Bac An Khanh RA - www.vinaconex.com.vn Ha Noi Plaza Hotel - www.charmvit.co.kr Phap Van – Tu Hiep RA - www.hud.com.vn

Other cities

Furama Resort - www.furamavietnam.com Sai Gon – Mui Ne Resort - www.saigonmuineresort.com Sunspa ResortVietnam - www.sunsparesortvietnam.com

Other cities Cozyvill - www.cozyvill.com Flamingo Dai Lai - www.flamingodailai.com Van Phu township - www.dothivanphu.com Dam Vac Golf - www.damvacgolf.com Sanctuary - http://sanctuary.com.vn Ho Tram Strip - www.hotramstrip.com Sai Gon Sunbay - www.ctc-corp.vn Eden Lagi Resort - www.edenreal.com Van Quan – Yen Phuc township - www.hud.com.vn Quoc Te Do Son - www.vietlandgroup.com


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Property Retail Price Updated on information from ACBR, Van Phat Hung, Hung Thinh, Phuc Duc, Tuoi Tre Newspaper and developers (VietRees gathered by direct surveys), listed prices can be original prices or transfer prices at current or at one week prior from the date this newsletter is issued.

Typical apartments in HCM city Other apartments and land lots

Cantavil, Dist.2 * 112m2 – 2,500 USD/m2

V- star, Dist.7 * 97.56m2 – 15 million VND/m2

Sky Garden , Dist.7 * 71m2 – 29.7 million VND/m2

* 257m2 – 23.7 million VND/m2

Blooming Park, Dist.2 * 115m2 – 29 million VND/m2 * 135m2 – 31million VND/m2 Direct contact with the investor1

Phu My, Dist.7 * 83m2 – 19 million VND/m2

The Everich, Dist.11 * 112m2 – 1,650 USD/m2

* 150m2 – 1,750 USD/m2

Preche, Dist.2 * 154.56m2 – 2,430 USD/m2

Panorama, Dist.7 * 138m2 – 37.6million VND/m2


Saigon Pearl, B.Thanh * 135m2 – 2,250 USD/m2

* 141m2 – 2,300 USD/m2

The Vista, Dist.2 * 101m2 – 1,700 USD/m2

* 142.2m2 – 2,180 USD/m2

New SaiGon, Nha Be * 99m2 – 20.4 million VND/m2


The Manor, B.Thanh * 74m2 – 2,200 USD/m2

* 100m2 – 2,425 USD/m2

District

Area (m2)

Price (million VND/m2) +/-

Apartment building – HCMC International Plaza 1 95 48 The Lancaster 1 120 68.8 - An Thinh 2 140 24.5 + Binh Minh 2 126 15.5 - Orient Apartment 4 98.8 28.5 Hung Vương Plaza 5 132 26.5 - Noble Apartment 6 58 13 Phu Loi 1 8 68.82 12.6 Phu My Thuan NB 93 8.7 - Phuc Yen TB 91 14.5 Sunview TD 88.5 10.5 Fortuna TP 76 12.5 - Khang Phu TP 74 16.5 Development land lots – HCMC An Phu – An Khanh 2 200 23.5 An Phu Hung 7 72 29 Nam Long 9 90 11 + Bac Rach Chiec 9 140 11.2 Long Phuoc 9 278 3.6 13C BC 85 11.5 6B – Binh Hung BC 150 12.5 Trung Son BC 120 52

Phu Xuan – Van Phat Hung NB 126 9 - Apartment building - Ha Noi Dich Vong CG 93 13.7 -

Trung Hoa – Nhan Chinh CG 145.5 30 + Trung Yen CG 110 26 + Thai Thinh DD 68 25.5 Happy House Garden LB 74.54 11.5 + My Dinh 1 TL 127.5 17.5 -

Nang Huong TX 100 13.2 - Development land lots – Other provinces My Phuoc 3 BD 300 1.53 + Truong Son BD 85 3 Lan Anh 2 BR-VT 100 1.8 Thanh Binh BR-VT 330 9 Wind Hill BR-VT 180 4.2 HUD DNI 100 3.2 Licogi 16 DNI 174 2.3 -

1 Kien A Investment & Services Co., Ltd. - An Phu Ward, District 2, HCMC - Tel: (84.8) 740 6688, Fax: (84.8) 740 6949

Danang: 225 Huyen Tran Cong Chua - T: (84) 511 836 216 * HCMC: 390 Nguyen Cong Tru, D.1 - T: 8 821 7509 * Hanoi: No.6-1D Trung Yen New Town, Caugiay - T: 4 783 1598


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PROPERTY SUPPLY FOR DIFFERENT TARGETS OF CUSTOMERS

Social wefare houses for worker VietRees

* Saigon Construction Corporation investor two apartment blocks high 5-storey for workers in Quarter 1, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc Dist, HCMC. * Hung Vuong JSC has just put a 5-storey apartment building into use for cadres and workers. The company continues to petition Tien Giang Provincial People’s Committee to grant a 5.000m2 land area to construct more apartment buildings for workers with an investment of 100 billions VND. * Saigon Paper JSC has put an apartment building into use for workers at My Xuan Commune, Tan Thanh suburban district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. The stage 2 of the apartment building is about to be implemented with a scale of 8 storeys. * Morning of August 28th, 2008, the Ministry of Construction has signed a memorandum for the cooperation in the field of welfare housing with Korean Ministry of Land-Traffic and Marine. * Ha Noi Construction Investment JSC (Hancic) has finished 4/10 units of the 5-storey house which belongs to the housing project for workers at Kim Chung Commune (Dong Anh). * Construction and Import-Export JSC (Vinaconex) has transferred and put into use 4 blocks of houses among the total 16 blocks of the housing project for the workers at Thang Long industrial zone. * The housing area of 7,000 m2 (380 rooms) for 1,500 workers of Dong Quang Knit Limited Company at Hai Son industrial cluster (Duc Hoa Ha commune, Duc Hoa suburban dist., Long An province) has just been put into use. The total investment cost of this housing area is 20 billion VND. (02/10/2008) * The 4-storey apartment building at cluster 5, ward 8, Vinh Long town that serves the cadres, employees, professional serviceman and etc has been ratified by Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee with a total investment of over 37 billion VND. (03/10/2008)

Real estate for the low income VietRees

* Sai Gon – Gia Dinh Real Estate Company and Hoa Binh Phu Yen Company build Thoi An Apartment Building in District 12 with 1,000 apartments. * Construction Co. No.8 (CIC8) will invest in construction of 10,000 Keppel Land apartments & Tien Phuoc Co. will build a resettlement area including 1,900 apartments at An Phu, Binh Khanh, District 2. * HCM City People’s Committee will advance 50.5 billion to carry out the project of Vinh Loc B, Binh Chanh residential area for resettlement with hundreds of townhouses and 40 apartment blocks. * Construction Co. No.5 will invest in construction of 500 apartments at Ward 22, Binh Thanh District. * HCM City Cooperative Alliance has developed its construction investment project of housing area at Le Minh Xuan Commune, Binh Chanh Suburban District on a site of 67.49 hectares. * 50% of the house reserve at The Splendor apartment area (Go Vap Dist.) will be intended to serve resettlement demand in the district. * Dat Lanh Co. will offer 1,500 apartments to the market with the prices of 500 - 700 millions VND/unit. * People‘s Committee of HCMC has approved the project of the resettlement area on a site of 55.24 hectares at Dong Nam Cu Chi industrial - residential area in Cu Chi. * House management of Dist.1 is assigned to construct the resettlement area at 7/4ª Kha Van Can, Thu Duc district. * In early 2010, Hai Thanh company will complete 352 apartments of Hai Thanh 1 resettlement area project, Binh Tan District for the civil servants at Binh Tan District. * People’s Committee of Binh Chanh has just cooperated with Hung Vuong university Investment & Development JSC to construct resettlement area at Tan Kien commune, Binh Chanh suburban district. * People’s Committee of HCM City has just licensed Cho Lon Real Estate JSC to invest in the construction of the apartment buiding at No. 99 Ben Binh Dong, ward 11, district 8 in order to make the house reserve at the social welfare housing program. * People’s Committee of HCM City has promulgated the decision about reclaiming the land areas at Phuoc Kien, Nhon Duc and Phuoc Loc communes, Nha Be suburban district for the construction of the resettlement area in order to serve the project of Nhon Duc - Phuoc Kien new urban area. * The HCM City Union of Housing Co-operatives has prepared to commence the construction of Thanh Loc apartment building with 238 apartments on a site of 6.600 m2 in District 12. The Union intends to construct another apartment building with over 200 apartments at Truong Tho ward, Thu Duc district. * HCMC People’s Committee has ratified the planning of Binh Khanh residential area (Dist.2) which is built on a site of 384,019 m2 to serve the resettlement of the locals in Thu Thiem new urban area. * Dat Lanh has cooperated with Truong Son Vanguard Youth General Squad to build apartments for low-income people at Dist.12 * Go Vap People’s Committee and Go Vap Public Benefit Service Co. have bought back the house reserve belonging to Phu Gia Hung high-end apartments, Duong Quang Ham Street, Ward 15, Go Vap Dist. and Dong Hung Thuan 1, 2 apartment buildings, Dist. 12 to serve the resettlement of the locals at Tham Luong project - Ben Cat - Nuoc Len ditch. * Approximately 184,000 apartments belonging to the investment program in the construction of the social welfare houses in the stage of 2009 – 2015 with the total investment of about 49,000 billion VND have been submitted to the government for approval. (30/09/2008) * 800 social welfare houses for lease - lease to purchase will be built at 19A and 21A plots, Viet Hung urban area in 2009, which have been ratified by The People’s Committee of Ha Noi City. (16/10/2008) * 462 units of Khang Gia 3 apartment building (Go Vap Dist.) invested by Khang Gia Real Estate Investment – Development JSC will be used for the resettlement demands. (27/10/2008)

Dwellings for overseas Vietnamese and foreigners VietRees

The Committee for overseas Vietnamese in HCMC has showed that there have been 130 overseas Vietnamese buying houses, mainly in HCMC. Those who brought houses are those who come back to the country for their long term and direct investment, scientists, culture researchers invited to come back to the country to become experts and repatriating overseas Vietnamese. To buy houses, beside documents verifying priority subjects, the buyer must present their passport (issued in Vietnam). In the case that house buyers bring foreign passports, they must have certificates of Vietnamese nationality or documents confirming their losing Vietnamese nationality, or certificate of citizenship registration.


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REAL ESTATE LEGISLATION

New regulations on granting certificates of real estate brokerage and assessment Thanh Nien – 03 Nov, 2008

The HCM City Department of Construction has given detailed notice of the conditions/ procedures relevant to individuals submitting the registration forms for the granting of the certificates of real estate brokerage and assessment. The certificates of real estate brokerage and assessment are granted to the individuals doing business in terms of real estate services in Vietnam. The individuals granted the certificates have to meet the following conditions: (1) The individuals who are not civil servants. (2) Having enough civil capacity, not being in the situation of holding responsibility for criminal activity or imprisonment. (3) Having the certificates of finishing the refresher training courses on real estate brokerage and assessment. Only the individuals asking for the granting of the certificates of real estate assessment should have college or university degrees. (4) Having the documents asking for the granting of the certificates of real estate brokerage in accordance with the regulations. Those who ask to be granted or re-issued the certificates should have permanent residences or long-term temporary residences in HCMC or permanent residences outside the HCMC boundary; finish the training courses on real estate brokerage and assessment at the training centers (including branches) licensed to organize the training programs in HCMC by the Ministry of Construction. In the following cases, the certificates of real estate brokerage and assessment will be revoked and not re-issued within 5 years from the date of having the decision on revoking the certificates: (1) Those who are granted the certificates lose the civil capacity. (2) The statements in the documents asking for the granting of the certificates are not honest. (3) The certificates have been erased and changed. (4) Those who are granted the certificates let out the certificates to others for lease. (5) Those who are granted the certificates violate the regulated principles of practice. (6) Those who are granted the certificates violate the regulations and their certificates are revoked following the regulations of the law. The time of performing the registration for the granting of the certificates of real estate brokerage and assessment begins on November 10th, 2008. In the case that foreigners have had the valid certificates of real estate brokerage and assessment issued by foreign countries, they are eligible to use their certificates to practice in Viet Nam. However, the certificates must be translated into English and notarized or certified in accordance with the regulations of Vietnamese law. In addition, the certificates must be sent to the Department of Construction at the locality where they practice for its monitoring and managing.

Hanoi promulgates new regulations on land use rights Vneconomy – 06 Nov, 2008

According to the new regulations on acknowledging the land-use rights and granting the land use right certificates, (which have been promulgated by the People’s Committee of Hanoi city) there are 4 types of land in the city that are not acknowledged the land use rights and 8 types of land that are not granted the certificates of land-use rights. The cases that do not acknowledge the land-use rights include: the land that is not used or for borrow or used for the wrong purposes, etc; the land that does not continue to be used after being executed following Decision No. 09 of the government; the land that is used for business operation, production, or services yet is decided to be removed due to its unsuitability to the planning or due to the environmental pollution; the land that receives the decision of being taken back to carry out the projects. In addition, the city has also stipulated 8 types of land that will not be granted the certificates, including: the public land generally used in the residential areas; the land assigned for investment projects management (construction – transfer); the land used for public work management; the land used for the management of big rivers and lakes; the agricultural land belonging to the public land reserve; the leased land of other people except for the leased land of the state, industrial zones, hi-tech zones, economic zones; the land areas used for the management of the revoked land reserve. Within 15 - 30 days (from the date of receiving full valid documents), the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of the city will take responsibility for inspecting the reality of the land use to grant the certificate of land use rights and submitting it to the city People's Committee for their deciding of recognizing the land-use rights.


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REAL ESTATE MARKET FORECAST * Note: Information on market forecast is only updated every 4 periods (after one month) by VietRees General trends on HCM market The transaction situation of apartments, townhouses and project land in October has continued to go

down compared to September and the previous months, the offered prices for sale have fallen after leveling off in October. The decrease in the land prices (- 5%) is somewhat higher than that of apartment prices (-1%, -2%) compared to the previous month. Generally, regarding the market situation in the third quarter and the fourth quarter, the prices seem more stable but the rate of successful transactions has still not seen any sign of prosperity and appeared to be worse to some extent. The number of successful transactions has been on the downturn. According to the surveys of VietRees, in many trading floors (transformed from the previous center transaction) and the newly born trading floors, the transactions have almost mainly focused on properties with low values such as projects of apartments and ground bases in the areas around HCMC. The townhouse transactions in the existing urban area have also significantly decreased as compared to many previous months due to the difficult situation of the real estate field and the whole economy. According to the forecasts of VietRees, many transaction centers will close down from now until late 2008 and early 2009.

Apartment market The supply of apartments belonging to the average and low segment is quite limited, so the market of this segment has also not seen any movement compared to the previous month. The successful apartment transactions do mainly belong to this segment. The investors are beginning to implement the new apartment projects of the average low segment, but in at least 2 years, the new market will have more supplies of the new apartments of this type. According to VietRees, the construction material prices in the past 2 months have declined, which has created favorable conditions for the investors to implement or speed up the construction progress of the projects, especially for this segment. The high-grade apartment prices have slightly decreased in the past month. According to VietRees, the prices have fallen down by approximately 2% as compared with September 2008. The domestic customers of this segment are gradually scaling down. The investors are looking for the new directions aiming at the Vietnamese overseas who are in need of buying houses in Vietnam. However, according to VietRees, there are many difficulties in approaching as well as successfully trading with this group of customers in the short term (1 - 2 years).

The market of project land plots According to VietRees, the land market has continued to decline as compared with September, 2008 and the average decrease is recorded at -5%. The price fluctuations are explained that the project land has a special connection with the ups and downs of the stock market and the interest of the investors when most of the project land is being held by the investors and there are few of the people who have real demands. Similarly to September, the successful transactions of the project land are much lower than that of the apartments which is currently quite limited

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL MARKET

Construction material and construction prices go down Edited by VietRees

Currently, although the retail prices of the construction materials have continued to plummet by 10% to over 50%, the purchasing power has still been quite weak. The steel prices at the factories in the late October have gone down to 11.05 - 11.35 million VND/ton. On the market, the retail prices of rolled steel 6, 8 down to approximately 11 million VND/ton. The streaked steel of all types have slid down to 110,000 - 325,000 VND/bar. Cement Ha Tien 1 has been only approximately 70,000 VND/sack, the prices of other brand names have ranged from 64,000 - 68,000 VND/sack. The brick prices have also dropped by 800 - 1,200 VND/brick. Sand and stone prices have fallen by 10,000 - 30,000 VND/truck. According to a construction contractor, the raw construction prices has now declined from 2.7 - 3 million VND/m2 (in October, 2008) to 2.3 - 2.6 million VND/m2. The reduction in the construction prices has contributed to the reduction of other expenses, for example, the design expense has declined by 15 - 20% accordingly.According to the owners of the construction material stores, the reason that has made the steel price decrease is that the steel ingot prices in the world has dramatically dropped by nearly 70% as compared with July. In addition, the consumption has been slow while many producers have been trying to reduce the selling prices to take back the capital to pay the due loans. However, the total construction price is hard to go down more because according to the construction companies, the labor costs cannot decrease to keep the labor. According to the contractors, it is a suitable time for the investors to speed up the construction progress of the projects and this is an opportunity for those who have demands for constructing and renovating their houses at the end of the year.

STOCK MARKET

Two bourses flooded with red color, VN-Index loses over 13 points, HASTC-Index loses 5.76 points Edited by VietRees Chart Source: Vietstock Up to date: 30 Oct, 2008

With the psychology of predicting the downward adjustment of the market after many upward days, the purchase power today has been quite limited whereas a mass of selling orders are launched. Ending the first phase, the large supply has made VN-Index fall by 13.26 points (or 3.49%) down to 366.25 points. The trading volume has significantly decreased but it has still been standing at the rather high level with 4.48 million units worth 148.1 billion VND. Entering the consecutive order-matching, the purchase power has somewhat gone up, VN-Index has slowly decreased accordingly. However, the rising trend of selling out has plunged very current effort. Ending the second phase, VN-index has continued to drop by 14.02 points (or 3.69%) to close at 365.49 points. Closing the last session of the week, the whole market has lost 13.54 points (or 3.57%) to close at 365.97 points. The whole market has 17.34 transacted units worth 545.317 billion VND. This index has officially put an end to 7 consecutive upward sessions. After the first week of November, Ho Chi Minh bourse has seen 4 upward sessions and 1 downward session. Vn-Index has added 18.92 points (or 4.45%) as compared with the closing session of last week.At Ha Noi bourse, after 2 upward sessions and 3 downward sessions, HASTC-Index has closed the session on 7th Nov at 116.36 points, decreasing by 5.76 points (or 4.72%). The transaction value has reached 329.87 billion VND with 12.26 shares.

Business

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