Talk Vietnam

Vietnam exported USD 656.4 million worth of goods to the neighboring country in 2022, up 10.4%, mainly oil and gas, fertilizers, steel, machinery and accessories, and means of transport. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s imports were valued at USD 1.04 billion, a year-on-year rise of 34.6%, with main items including wood and wood products, fertilizers, rubber and corn. According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Laos, the two countries’ industry and trade sectors coordinated in organizing a range of trade promotion activities during the year, including a business forum in April, a conference on trade connectivity in farm produce, food and consumer goods in May, a trade fair in Vientiane in August, and a trade forum in November, among others. In December alone, the two-way trade stood at USD 211 million, up 60% from the previous year. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Laos trade records impressive growth in 2022

Two homestay groups in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long and the Northwestern province of Lao Cai received the ASEAN Homestay Award. Meanwhile, four units won the ASEAN Community Tourism Award, namely the Quan Ba Community Tourism Service Cooperative in Ha Giang province, Sin Suoi Ho community tourism village in Lai Chau province, Tan Thanh fishing village in Quang Nam province, and Thai Hai Reserve Area of Ecological Houses-on-Stilts Village in Thai Nguyen province. The ASEAN Public Toilet Award was awarded to the toilets in Saigon Skydeck of Bitexco Financial Tower, Southern Women's Museum and Ben Xua Tourist Area in Ho Chi Minh City. The winners of ASEAN Spa Service Awards were Cham Spa & Massage in the Central city of Da Nang, Sen Tai Thu Vincom Mega Mall Smart City in Hanoi, Sol Spa of Minera Resort Hotel in the Southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Chi Spa of Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa - Lao Cai province, and Thala Spa of Best Western Premier Sonasea … [Read more...] about Vietnam wins numerous ASEAN tourism awards

The festival celebrates the full moon of the first lunar month of the year. The city’s Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation confirmed the certificate was handed over on February 5, marking the fifth national intangible heritage after Thanh Chau bird's nest, Thanh Ha pottery village, carpentry of Kim Bong village and Tra Que vegetable garden. The center said the festival was a major event in a series of cultural and ritual activities among local people held during the first lunar month. Local people often prepare for the festival from the seventh day of the month with ancestor worship and praying for peace at the communal houses of Cam Pho, Ong Voi, Japanese Bridge, Ong and Ba Pagoda and Minh Huong communal house, as well as the Fujian and Jiao Zhou clubs. A night parade will take place in the Old Quarter with lanterns and a poet recital at Cam Pho communal house as well as folk games at Kazik Park on February 4-6. Pagodas and communal houses will be open … [Read more...] about Hoi An’s full moon festival named intangible heritage

The festival is held annually to welcome the spring and to honor ethnic communities' identity, promote solidarity among them and offer a traditional festive atmosphere to tourists as well. Some 100 representatives of 15 ethnic groups from 13 localities throughout the country will host activities each day during the month. The festival climax will be on February 11 and 12 with the Kate Festival of the Cham group, tree planting, folk cham do ho singing and performing Xoe Thai - a UNESCO recognized intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The Kate Festival is one of the biggest and most unique cultural activities of the Cham. It features a host of activities and ceremonies at ancient towers, with traditions including offerings to ancestors, musical performances, and the signing of hymns praising kings who were prominent in the building and development of the Champa Kingdom and the Cham people. Tree planting has become an annual Vietnamese custom each lunar New Year since … [Read more...] about Spring festival to showcase cultural identities

New momentum For over one week now, more than 94% of businesses in the Southern economic hub has resumed their production with over 95% of workers being back to work after Tet holiday. Workers at Go Vap district-based Joint Stock Company 28.1 under the Corporation 28 of the General Department of Logistics, which specializes in garments making, are working with the highest capacity, focusing on orders from the U.S., Australia, and European countries. Working for the company for more than 21 years now, Nguyen Van Hong from Hai Duong province said that good income and policy offered by the company make him feel secure at work. Despite difficulties facing the garment sector due to COVID-19, his company has ensured orders uninterrupted, so workers have resumed work since the beginning of the lunar New Year. In addition, good Tet welfare policy has helped keep workers attached to the company. Senior Colonel Tran Doan Thoan, Director of Joint Stock Company 28.1 informed that the … [Read more...] about Businesses in Ho Chi Minh City speed up production to achieve set targets

In the first quarter, the figures will be 72,000-79,000 or 79,000-87,000, according to the Center for Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labor Market Information (FALMI). Recruitment demands focus on the service sector, with 57.69%, and industries, 20.31%. This year, the city’s labor force is more than 4.8 million people, accounting for more than half of its population. Of the total, more than 2.2 million are female, making up 46.17%. In terms of qualifications, the demand for laborers holding a bachelor’s degree or higher will account for 38%. The number of trained and skilled workers to be employed accounts for 85.78%, of whom 20.19% hold Bachelor's degrees. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City attracts workers in service, industrial sectors

The festival is held to thank the god for abundant crop and happy life in the past year and pray for peace and health in the new year. Long Tong Festival is annually held on the 14th and 15th day of the first lunar month. During the event, tourists to Bang Van listen to the story related to the origin of the festival. It is said that a long time ago, the country was in turmoil, so the king sent a general to this land to drive away the enemy. Thanks to the assistance of his talented wife, wherever the general went, the enemy troops were defeated. One day when the general was chasing the enemy’s troops, he was ambushed by them at Phja Den Mountain. His wife tried to hold back the enemy at Phja Cong Mountain. The general then blindfolded his horse and jumped off Phja Den Mountain. Having heard of the news about her husband’s death, the woman committed suicide at Phja Cong Mountain. Sympathizing with the fate of the general and his wife, local people set up a temple on Phja Den … [Read more...] about Long Tong Festival in Bang Van commune

The Government’s active stance to address macro challenges would fuel the stock market development in 2023. The benchmark Vn-Index is forecast to expand by 15% at the end of 2023 to hit 1,160 following a turbulent year for the stock market, according to SSI Securities Corporation (SSI). Investor at a securities company in Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung The Vn-Index from its peak of 1,530 in early 2022 plummeted to a low of 874 in mid-November, a downturn which experts attributed to major events, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, arrests of business executives for market manipulation, and the Government’s tightening credit into high-risk fields. As of late 2022, however, the market’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was considered quite attractive with an estimated 9.2x, 35% lower than the average rate of 14.16x during the 2009-2022 period. SSI’s latest report also pointed out another positive factor in the expectation of a more stable value of the Vietnamese Dong … [Read more...] about Vn-Index set for steady growth in 2023

Hanoi aims to maintain macroeconomic stability and control inflation while promoting new growth drivers and enhancing its economic resilience. Hanoi has set a target of 7% year-on-year gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth by 2023 as part of its action plan for socio-economic development this year. Production at Sunhouse Group in Ngoc Liep Industrial Park, Quoc Oai District. Photo: Thanh Hai This plan includes 22 objectives, such as a GRDP per capita of VND150 million (US$6,400), export growth of 6%, an inflation rate below 4.5%, and a 30% reduction in poverty. The global situation is expected to remain challenging in 2023, and Hanoi aims to maintain macroeconomic stability and control inflation while promoting new growth drivers and enhancing its economic resilience. The plan also emphasized the development of cultural and education fields, disease control, and improving people’s material and spiritual well-being, as well as promoting digital … [Read more...] about Hanoi eyes 7% GRDP growth in 2023

Vietnam's tourism suppliers have won top awards in the categories of unique homestay, community tourism associated with local economic development, qualified public toilets, and best ASEAN spa services. The ASEAN Tourism Awards 2023 ceremony was held on February 5 in Indonesia as part of the ongoing ASEAN Tourism Forum 2023 under the theme "ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations". A foreign traveler enjoys buying fruits in Cai Be Floating Market. Photo: Mekong Smiles As a result, two groups of host families, one in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long and the other in the northwestern province of Lao Cai, received the ASEAN Homestay Award. The first group consists of six establishments: Ut Thuy, Sau Thanh, Nam Thanh, Nam Thanh, Ba Linh, Ngoc Phuong, and Ngoc Sang, in An Binh District, Vinh Long Province, about 140 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The locality is famous for its islets of fruit orchards. The most prominent tourist attractions are the Cai Be … [Read more...] about ASEAN Tourism Awards 2023 honor 14 businesses of Vietnam