Shadowing Practice: Hai Phong sets pace in FTA implementation | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Hai Phong is leading the way in putting Vietnam's free trade agreement to work for work in businesses
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and right in Vietnam's growing network of free trade agreements
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or more commonly known as FTAs is opening new opportunities for businesses to expand exports
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and attract investment and turning those opportunities into tangible gains however depends on effective implementation
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and support at the local level so our reporter Huynh Cho was in Hai Phong City with a story
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In the first half of this year, this company exported around US$250 million worth of goods,
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up about 6% year-on-year, with demand from FDA markets continuing to grow.
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Those opportunities are bringing in new orders and shaping where the company expands next.
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I'm at a production zone for networking equipment.
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Products made here are exporting to major markets such as India and the European Union.
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Vietnam's expanding network of free trade agreements is also helping attract new customers, especially from Japan and Australia,
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looking to tap into the opportunities offered by these agreements.
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Over the longer term, our overseas order has been growing by more than 30% a year.
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We have continued to expand and invest in our Phase III facilities.
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Through the FJR index, we can assess other localities,
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including Bungning, Nghie An, and Ho Chi Minh City for potential future investment." For businesses,
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the FDA index offers a way to compare how effectively different localities implement trade agreements, and support companies in taking advantage of them.
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Based on a nationwide survey of more than 4,000 import-export businesses,
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The 2025 index assesses local performance across 31 indicators.
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Hải Phong City topped the latest rankings with a very good rating.
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Hải Phong benefits from an exceptional policy framework approved by the National Assembly, including 41 special mechanisms and policies.
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More importantly, its implementation capacity at the local level, along with effective access to and provision of FTA-related information for businesses,
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has helped attract FTA-oriented enterprises to invest in Haiphong.
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We are building a three-pillar system to improve FTA utilization, better access to information through the FTA-V portal,
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identifying implementation bottlenecks to the FTA index and connecting businesses with logistics providers,
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financial institutions, consultants and central and local authorities across the FTA ecosystem.
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The aim is to turn these tools into more targeted support at the local level,
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helping businesses across Vietnam make fuller use of the opportunities offered by the country's trade agreements.

About This Lesson

Ready to boost your english speaking practice with real-world content? This lesson dives into a video about Hai Phong's success with free trade agreements (FTAs), giving you a chance to practice listening and speaking about business and economics. You'll work on understanding fast-paced, professional dialogue while improving your pronunciation and fluency—perfect for IELTS speaking practice or everyday confidence. Let's turn this informative video into a tool for your English growth!

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Free Trade Agreement (FTA): A deal between countries to reduce trade barriers. Example: "Vietnam's FTAs are opening new markets."
  • Tangible gains: Real, measurable benefits. Example: "Businesses saw tangible gains from FTA implementation."
  • Implementation capacity: The ability to put plans into action. Example: "Hai Phong's strong implementation capacity helped businesses thrive."
  • Bottlenecks: Problems that slow progress. Example: "Identifying bottlenecks is key to improving FTA use."
  • Ecosystem: A network of connected parts. Example: "The FTA ecosystem includes logistics and financial partners."

Practice Tips

This video has a moderate, conversational speed—ideal for shadowing practice! Here's how to make the most of it: Start by listening to 10-second clips, then repeat immediately, mimicking the tone and rhythm. Focus on words like "tangible" and "bottlenecks"—pay attention to how the speaker stresses the first syllable. For improve english pronunciation, record yourself and compare it to the video; notice if you're pausing in the right places (like after "however" or "more importantly"). Use this as a shadowspeak exercise: the clear, professional language will help you sound more confident in formal settings, whether for work or IELTS speaking practice. Don't worry about perfection—even 5 minutes a day will make a difference. You're not just learning English; you're mastering real-world communication. Let's get started!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.