Shadowing Practice: Procedure and cost reduction | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with Video

Vietnam's administrative reform is moving beyond procedural simplification towards deeper structural change.

As of May 2025, compliance with business-related administrative procedures was estimated to cost enterprises more than 120 trillion Vietnamese dong a year,

while the government has set a 2026 target of cutting both processing time and compliance costs by 50% compared with 2024.

The question now is whether these reforms can deliver more fundamental gains,

higher productivity, greater business dynamism and stronger economic competitiveness.

First, let's take a look at the figures that highlight Vietnam's impressive progress since the beginning of the year.

In 2026 alone, 184 administrative procedures and 890 business conditions have been abolished,

with further measures aimed at shifting from paperwork-based administration to data-driven digital services.

As of May 2026, Vietnam had already exceeded some of its key administrative reform targets.

The government reported that administrative processing times has been reduced by 53%, while compliant costs had fallen by 54.6%,

compared with 2024, surpassing the 50% target for both indicators.

As part of the reform drive, 11 new government resolutions have also been issued

and are expected to generate a further reduction of around $870 million in annual compliant costs.

And to explore the topic further, we invited to our program today Adam Aloma, CEO of Maloon Global.

Thank you for joining us.

Pleasure.

Now, Vietnam has made significant progress in simplifying administrative procedures and reducing compliance costs.

From your experience, which reforms have had the most visible impacts on businesses,

whether in investment, taxation, licensing or day-to-day operation?

First of all, thank you for having me.

Second, it's very important we have to understand why any government moves towards reform.

It's due many factors, but the most important one is to build the infrastructure to attract foreign direct investment.

and to utilize the endowments that the government has by providing investment opportunities

that needs badly for foreign direct investment and capital to be injected.

Now, the Vietnamese government did an excellent job in the process of digitalization,

where they moved forward in implementing debt and tax system.

They are shifting towards having the public services offered through digital windows.

Third and most important, and what they are doing is having the process of,

or the seeds of a process of one-stop shop services for business line, for foreign direct investment to be implemented.

So, what we can say about the process that has been taking place within these reforms since 2025,

I think, it's working into two different directions,

which is a smart reform structure that taking care within the,

what we call it, the internal or micro structure of the country

and looking after the externalities where we look for the FDI and provide them with the right platform.

And I can see that what has been done in terms of even eliminating extra administrative load,

which is not needed and minimizing the cost per hour for implementing the administration's procedures and processes,

it will have a big impact.

Beyond saving time and money,

how can simpler administrative procedures improve business efficiency from a project implementation to in recruitment to technology adaptation

and market expansion when you look at the structure of economy

and it's very clear we have public sector we have a private sector

and the private sector always concerned about efficient costing

and implementation of projects now with this reform we can see

there is a big harmony by sensing the needs of the private sector

and especially the private sector in privy in vietnam has a

special unique structure where smes very big in their contribution to the gdp

so this reform it's um i can say it's talking to the one the language of the domestic economy

which is extremely important because if you look to the experiences of any reforming programs taking place overseas or in other countries,

sometimes they ignore the local economy, which means the local players,

the local contribution, especially countries that have huge endowments with lacking resources for investing and utilizing these endowments.

But the reforms that are taking place in Vietnam is being done smartly in a way,

taking care of what's going on within the country with the domestic players in the private sector

and make sure everything will be adding efficiency to their performance,

minimizing the bottlenecks, if we can say,

which is based on the sometimes administrative procedures, licensing.

and other what we call data sharing between different ministries and departments.

So they are doing this extremely well for the local economy.

For foreign invested companies, administrative reform can have a direct impact on one of the most critical factors in investment decisions,

how quickly and efficiently capital can be deployed.

In the past, bringing capital into Vietnam and obtaining approvals for investment projects could be a lengthy process,

particularly when companies had to navigate different regulations and work with multiple agencies.

Bringing capital into Vietnam to expand our investments used to be a very time-consuming process,

while there were often situations where we needed funds quickly to implement projects.

On top of that, completing a single procedure could require cross-referencing multiple laws and consulting different government agencies.

Sometimes each agency or locality would interpret the regulations differently.

Now the process has become much more convenient.

The change is significant for FDI businesses.

Simplified procedures and greater consistencies in regulatory implementation can reduce uncertainty,

shorten project timeline and allow companies to respond more quickly to investment opportunities.

The next challenge is to ensure that these improvements are applied consistently across sectors and localities,

turning administrative reform into a lasting advantage for Vietnam's investment environment.

And now looking at the bigger picture, how does a more predictable and streamlined regulatory environment affect Vietnam's ability to attract investment

and help domestic companies compete in global markets?

This is a very important point.

When you bring FDI, one of the biggest risks that you create disturbance within the local market,

given if the local market doesn't have the capabilities to compete with the FDIs, because normally FDIs come not only with capital, they come with the know-how,

and especially now we are in the era of AI, ASGs, all these economic transformations that happening globally you have to make sure

that the newcomer will support and open the international market to the domestic players

because for example

if i'm coming as fdi the same technology of course i

will be relying heavily on the human talent in in vietnam but the fdi will open a market in the supply chain,

big supply chain for the local players or companies.

And, you know, governments, mostly in all the world, and I'm sure Vietnamese government, they are taking care a lot of this.

one of the prerequisites of the FDI, even the structural partnership that they offer,

they sometimes require a local partnership within the FDI, especially when it comes for certain endowments that what we can call it is a national interest.

Now, reducing procedures does not automatically mean better regulation.

In areas such as taxation, investment, construction and labour, However,

what should policymakers focus on to ensure that reform improves the quality of regulation itself?

This is a very, very interesting question because the reforming process is taking different aspects, taking consideration.

One, what we can call it,

the socio-economic allocation of all these benefits that are happening from the reform.

Second, the reform is going gradually in a way that doesn't create an economic shock, which is extremely important.

And you have to know any reform is associated with risk because reform requires what?

It requires awareness, culture to be embodied, because who's going to execute?

The public servant and the private sector sector.

And above all, that showing what the added value of such reform can add to private,

public and social benefit.

And what they are doing in this matrix, they are doing it in a smart way.

Even there are some indicators.

100

Vietnam from 2024 or 2025 until now achieving such a target, it's phenomenal.

101

Decentralization of decision making in different areas.

102

So, For example, if I'm in hospitality, I need to make a project in Da Nang.

103

I don't need to come and have permission in Hanoi from the officials, which is wonderful in a way to minimize the process of decision-making.

104

It shows that whatever is going on as a reform is moving towards the right direction.

105

JARED BOWEN, Director of Reform in Vietnam is increasingly being evaluated not by how Now many procedures are removed

106

but by whether peoples and businesses experience a more seamless and effective public service.

107

The shift is particularly relevant to sectors where business models and technologies evolve rapidly.

108

In fintech, for example, the ability to bring new services to market efficiently can determine how quickly companies respond to changing consumer demand.

109

Vietnam already has a very dynamic digital economy.

110

So simplifying administrative procedure can have a very direct impact on all industries and in particular fintech.

111

The logic is very simple.

112

Less administrative work means lower cost and faster time to market.

113

All this will make it easier to scale.

114

But as innovation accelerates, the regulatory challenge also becomes more sophisticated.

115

Instead of viewing compliance as their separate layer added after innovation, companies are increasingly looking to incorporate it into the product itself.

116

For sure, this can help companies to develop services such as payment, lending, and other digital financial services and make them accessible to more people.

117

But as digital services become more complex, we also need to think about compliance by design.

118

What does it mean? it means

119

that instead of checking compliance only after a product is built or a new services is sold,

120

we should build these rules and control directly into the technology and the service offering.

121

And for me, this is where administrative simplification and good technology governance come together.

122

We can make it easier to innovate, but at the same time, we will make sure we don't lose control as we move faster.

123

As Vietnam's moves deeper into its digital transformation, administrative reform is becoming more than a question of efficiency.

124

Its longer-term value will depend on whether a simpler, smarter regulatory environment can help businesses innovate faster,

125

expand access to new services, and contribute to stronger productivity across the country.

126

There is also a balance between making business easier and maintaining effective government oversight.

127

in sectors such as finance, healthcare, data and emerging technologies.

128

Where should this balance be drawn?

129

I do believe if you go to any country in the world, if they are doing reform or they are not doing reform,

130

attracting FDI or not attracting FDI,

131

they look what's called the national endowments that should be kept within the hands of the locals.

132

The line that any country in the world should draw is the line

133

that this reform should keep the sovereignty of the country,

134

the political decision and social stability untouched with any reform.

135

Beyond counting the number of procedures eliminated or the amount of cost reduced,

136

what indicators should we use to determine whether administrative reform is genuinely improving business efficiency and productivity?

137

Now, whenever you put a reform process in practice in any economy,

138

you have to set the matrix to measure the success and the failures and the bottlenecks,

139

how to solve it, and the effects within the economy in terms of economic indicators,

140

employment, GDP, productivity of the economy, even marginal productivity of the economy.

141

And from the other side, you have to put the tools that enforce the discipline or governance within this reform, which is very important.

142

And above that, that this reform itself has the mechanism for check and balance and adaptability to change.

143

Looking ahead, which areas of administrative reforms such as digital government,

144

data sharing, business licensing, taxation or investment procedures should Vietnam prioritize to turn reform into a long-term drive of economic growth?

145

You know, one of the major questions in economy always is how you can sustain the growth of any country.

146

If you look to the experiences that are happening in countries when they went to privatization or IMF, International Monetary Fund, reforming programs,

147

one aspect always been ignored, which is the culture of reform.

148

Because when you do reform, it's not just only a process.

149

Who's going to implement this process?

150

And you have to create the culture within the,

151

what we call it, the civil servants or the public sector that this there to be adopted,

152

to be enforced, to be leveraged by benefit to all economy,

153

and the private sector who gives the right feedback about what fits our needs, what will be the future needs.

154

And the private sector here, I'm not talking only the local private sector, even the FDI.

155

So all this process together,

156

I think it will create a successful implementation and integration within the whole matrix of economy.

157

Once again, thank you for your insights, Adam Alouma.

158

Thank you very much for having me.

📺 Same Channel

✨ Recommend Video

28 sentences

Vietnam targets high-value FDI | Vietnam Today

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

24 sentences

Poverty Reduction Achievements – The Right to a Life of Prosperity and Happiness - VNAMedia

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

17 sentences

Digital data tightens discipline in public service | Vietnam Today

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

14 sentences

11 October 2026

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

22 sentences

Dẫn tiếng Anh nghi thức Nâng Ly x Hội nghị Nhóm công tác vận tải hàng không ASEAN | MC Lâm Hường

Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students

106 sentences

Vietnam's Visa Problem Nobody Talks About

Business EnglishTravel EnglishUniversity Students

22 sentences

Phát âm chuẩn cùng VOA - Anh ngữ đặc biệt: Concerns for Chinese Development Bank (VOA)

IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepBusiness English

289 sentences

A Conversation with Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam | Davos 2025

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

108 sentences

Vietnam’s Insane Economic Boom Explained

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

31 sentences

Speaking sample _ Topic: Business

Business EnglishInterview EnglishUniversity Students

69 sentences

Bằng đại học đang “mất giá”, sao Việt Nam vẫn tăng đào tạo?

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

145 sentences

Tôi phân tích Vinamilk (VNM) để bạn không phải làm

Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Procedure and cost reduction”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: reform, administrative, sector, procedure, investment. This video has 158 sentences and 2162 words to shadow. The speech runs for 17:44. The speaker talks at a steady 122 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
compliance noun	/kəmˈplaɪ.əns/	An act of complying.
endowment noun	/ɛnˈdaʊmənt/	Something with which a person or thing is endowed.
productivity noun	/ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/	The state of being productive, fertile, or efficient.
implement verb	/ˈɪmpləmənt/	To bring about; to put into practice; to carry out.
indicator noun	/ˈɪn.dɪˌkeɪ.tə(ɹ)/	A pointer or index that indicates something.
simplify verb	/ˈsɪmplɪfaɪ/	To make simpler, either by reducing in complexity, reducing to component parts, or making easier to understand.
minimize verb	/ˈmɪn.ɪˌmaɪz/	To make (something) smaller or as small as possible; shrink; reduce.
taxation noun	/tækˈseɪ.ʃən/	The act of imposing taxes and the fact of being taxed.
matrix noun	/ˈmeɪ.tɹɪks/	The cavity or mold in which anything is formed.
bottleneck noun		The narrow portion that forms the pouring spout of a bottle; the neck of a bottle.
compliant adjective	/kəmˈplaɪənt/	Willing to comply; submissive; willing to do what someone wants.
fintech noun	/ˈfɪntɛk/	Financial technology, that is, technology (usually information technology) that is focused on finance.
innovate verb	/ˈɪn.ə.veɪt/	To introduce something new to a particular environment; to do something new.
simplification noun	/ˌsɪm.plɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/	The act of simplifying or something that has been simplified.
locality noun	/loʊˈkæl.ɪ.ti/	The fact or quality of having a position in space.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
come together verb	/ˈkʌm tʊˈɡɛðɚ/	To assemble; to congregate; to combine.
look ahead verb		To consider the future, to anticipate future events.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	was estimated · have been abolished · has been reduced
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	has set · have been abolished · has been reduced
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	economy, which means · shock, which is · officials, which is

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, doesn't, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: taxation /tækˈseɪ.ʃən/, simplification /ˌsɪm.plɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, structural /ˈstɹʌk(t͡)ʃəɹəl/, abolish /əˈbɑl.ɪʃ/, decentralization /diːˌsɛntɹəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: productivity /ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/, indicator /ˈɪn.dɪˌkeɪ.tə(ɹ)/, simplification /ˌsɪm.plɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/, locality /loʊˈkæl.ɪ.ti/, eliminate /ɪˈlɪm.ɪ.neɪt/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like compliance, endowment, productivity.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Procedure and cost reduction | Vietnam Today - Learn English Speaking with Video

Vietnamese rice favoured by Iraqi consumers | Vietnam Today

Vietnam national brand ranks among world’s top 32 | Vietnam Today

Danang through the eyes of urban sketchers | Vietnam Today

Call for AI to support inclusive education | Vietnam Today

Ninh Binh adds new national treasure | Vietnam Today

Vietnamese travellers seek top Asian cuisine | Vietnam Today

Steamed Bánh Mì - A new take on a classic | Vietnam Today

Flavours & Beyond: Tofu - The Taste of Timeless Tradition | Vietnam Today

US$7.15M supports nature-based tourism | Vietnam Today

Ban May: A touch of northwest essence | Hello Vietnam | Vietnam Today

Over 3,080 martyrs’ remains recovered | Vietnam Today

Mooncakes take inspiration from tò he | Vietnam Today

U.S. banks face rising funding cost pressures | Vietnam Today

3D mapping performance "Nurturing great minds" | Vietnam Today

The Point 2: Driving growth through institutional reform | Vietnam Today

VTV Special: Ho Chi Minh: Diplomatic resolve in 1946 | Vietnam Today

Phu Quoc: Taste of the sea | Vietnam Today

Underwater lion dance wows crowds | Vietnam Today

Metro reshaping Ho Chi Minh City landscape | Vietnam Today

Vietnam-Laos strengthen strategic ties | Vietnam Today

Vietnam targets high-value FDI | Vietnam Today

Poverty Reduction Achievements – The Right to a Life of Prosperity and Happiness - VNAMedia

Digital data tightens discipline in public service | Vietnam Today

11 October 2026

Dẫn tiếng Anh nghi thức Nâng Ly x Hội nghị Nhóm công tác vận tải hàng không ASEAN | MC Lâm Hường

Vietnam's Visa Problem Nobody Talks About

Phát âm chuẩn cùng VOA - Anh ngữ đặc biệt: Concerns for Chinese Development Bank (VOA)

A Conversation with Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Viet Nam | Davos 2025

Vietnam’s Insane Economic Boom Explained

Speaking sample _ Topic: Business

Bằng đại học đang “mất giá”, sao Việt Nam vẫn tăng đào tạo?

Tôi phân tích Vinamilk (VNM) để bạn không phải làm

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?