y dollar earned when the investment return is over 8% for the year). While the higher fee is somewhat understandable due to the higher trading cost in Vietnam, emerging market funds/ETFs in other regions might be a better bargain at this stage.

Conclusion

Be careful but be open-minded! Track the funds' performance for a couple of months and get a feel of it... and why not book a ticket to Vietnam and have a first-hand observation before making a decision? Tourism is boom

Vietnam has officially become a member of the WTO this week. Congratulations!

Everyone knows Vietnam, in certain ways. But in terms of investment opportunities, it may give you a pleasant surprise:

PROs

• Strong economic growth: Since the country's gradual change from centrally-planned to market economy, GDP is zooming at 7.4% in the last 10 years (second only to China in Asia) and the Government has a 7.5-8% target until 2011.
• Successful reform: the "Doi Moi" (modernization) program has been successfully privatizing 2,500 plus state owned enterprises (SOEs) and encouraging numerous business start-ups.
• Brand new WTO membership: the entry is expected to pave way for strong, healthy long-term growth.
• Excellent demographics: literacy rate is at a very impressive 90+% and half of the 84 million population is under the age of 25. The local culture also encourages strong work ethics.

As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

CONs

• Still a baby: The Vietnamese market is still at the early development stage and the illiquidity (low trade volume) may lead to high volatility. This is not a market for people with short-term investment horizon.
• Single-country risk: Investing in one single (and emerging) country pose significant risks, e.g. from possible political turmoil, sudden changes in economic policies and a large withdrawal of foreign investment.

Investment Products available

There is a Vietnamese Fund listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: VOF.L) and new mutual funds for this exciting country is popping up week after week.

Please note, however, that most funds demand a relatively high (1.7-2%) management fee, plus a hedge-fund like performance fee (20% of every dollar earned when the investment return is over 8% for the year). While the higher fee is somewhat understandable due to the higher trading cost in Vietnam, emerging market funds/ETFs in other regions might be a better bargain at this stage.

Conclusion

Be careful but be open-minded! Track the funds' performance for a couple of months and get a feel of it... and why not book a ticket to Vietnam and have a first-hand observation before making a decision? Tourism is boomi

orm: the "Doi Moi" (modernization) program has been successfully privatizing 2,500 plus state owned enterprises (SOEs) and encouraging numerous business start-ups.

Brand new WTO membership: the entry is expected to pave way for strong, healthy long-term growth.

Excellent demographics: literacy rate is at a very impressive 90+% and half of the 84 million population is under the age of 25. The local culture also encourages strong work ethics.

As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

CONs

• Still a baby: The Vietnamese market is still at the early development stage and the illiquidity (low trade volume) may lead to high volatility. This is not a market for people with short-term investment horizon.
• Single-country risk: Investing in one single (and emerging) country pose significant risks, e.g. from possible political turmoil, sudden changes in economic policies and a large withdrawal of foreign investment.

Investment Products available

There is a Vietnamese Fund listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: VOF.L) and new mutual funds for this exciting country is popping up week after week.

Please note, however, that most funds demand a relatively high (1.7-2%) management fee, plus a hedge-fund like performance fee (20% of every dollar earned when the investment return is over 8% for the year). While the higher fee is somewhat understandable due to the higher trading cost in Vietnam, emerging market funds/ETFs in other regions might be a better bargain at this stage.

Conclusion

Be careful but be open-minded! Track the funds' performance for a couple of months and get a feel of it... and why not book a ticket to Vietnam and have a first-hand observation before making a decision? Tourism is boom

As a result, Vietnam has been attracting a lot of foreign investments, propelling the growth of both exports and domestic consumptions.

CONs

• Still a baby: The Vietnamese market is still at the early development stage and the illiquidity (low trade volume) may lead to high volatility. This is not a market for people with short-term investment horizon.
• Single-country risk: Investing in one single (and emerging) country pose significant risks, e.g. from possible political turmoil, sudden changes in economic policies and a large withdrawal of foreign investment.

Investment Products available

There is a Vietnamese Fund listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: VOF.L) and new mutual funds for this exciting country is popping up week after week.

Please note, however, that most funds demand a relatively high (1.7-2%) management fee, plus a hedge-fund like performance fee (20% of every dollar earned when the investment return is over 8% for the year). While the higher fee is somewhat understandable due to the higher trading cost in Vietnam, emerging market funds/ETFs in other regions might be a better bargain at this stage.

Conclusion

Be careful but be open-minded! Track the funds' performance for a couple of months and get a feel of it... and why not book a ticket to Vietnam and have a first-hand observation before making a decision? Tourism is boom

ficant risks, e.g. from possible political turmoil, sudden changes in economic policies and a large withdrawal of foreign investment.

Investment Products available

There is a Vietnamese Fund listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: VOF.L) and new mutual funds for this exciting country is popping up week after week.

Please note, however, that most funds demand a relatively high (1.7-2%) management fee, plus a hedge-fund like performance fee (20% of every dollar earned when the investment return is over 8% for the year). While the higher fee is somewhat understandable due to the higher trading cost in Vietnam, emerging market funds/ETFs in other regions might be a better bargain at this stage.

Conclusion

Be careful but be open-minded! Track the funds' performance for a couple of months and get a feel of it... and why not book a ticket to Vietnam and have a first-hand observation before making a decision? Tourism is boom

y dollar earned when the investment return is over 8% for the year). While the higher fee is somewhat understandable due to the higher trading cost in Vietnam, emerging market funds/ETFs in other regions might be a better bargain at this stage.

Conclusion

Be careful but be open-minded! Track the funds' performance for a couple of months and get a feel of it... and why not book a ticket to Vietnam and have a first-hand observation before making a decision? Tourism is booming over there!