Asda opening times at new year

Local authorities will maintain inspection works at key areas, including Noi Bai International Airport, Yen Vien train station, ports, wholesale markets and shopping malls. Hanoi’s Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods, known as Steering Committee 389, has announced its plan to intensify efforts to combat smuggling and trade frauds before, during and after the 2021 Lunar New Year holiday. Local authorities would maintain inspection works at key areas. Under the plan, the city’s Steering Committee 389 will enhance inspection works at key areas, including Noi Bai International Airport, Yen Vien train station, ports, wholesale markets, and shopping malls. The committee is set to mobilize personnel and resources to set up checkpoints at roads, railways, airports to prevent movement of smuggled, fake and low-quality products into the country. This is particularly important for the control of banned items or items that … [Read more...] about Hanoi intensifies efforts to combat smuggling and trade frauds ahead of Tet holiday

A durian farm in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau's Chau Duc District. — VNA/VNS Photo The export of Vietnamese durian to China through the official channel since September 2022 opened up new prospects for Viet Nam's fruit and vegetable industry. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Viet Nam has over 100,000 ha of durian with an annual output of about 1.3 million tonnes. However, only 3,000 ha (3 per cent) of the total meet standards for export to China. The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang and the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have the largest durian areas meeting export standards in the country. According to the Deputy General Director of Dung Thai Son Import-Export Company, Vu Ngoc Huy, China is a large market with a strong durian consumption capacity. The firm can export 500,000 tonnes of fresh durian per year, accounting for over one-third of the total durian output of the country, Huy said. La Tran … [Read more...] about Durian to make breakthrough for Viet Nam’s fruit exports

Although Vietnam reopened its door to international tourists over a year ago, small and medium lodging facilities in Ho Chi Minh City are still struggling to recover due to the small number of international visitors. Their largest source market is China while the number of guests from the northern neighbor remains modest, forcing many hotels to use their facilities for other purposes or stop leasing spaces. Shutdown, falling room occupancy In District 1, many hotels which used to be crowded with foreign travelers are now empty or have been replaced by other businesses. On Ly Tu Trong Street, a spacious hotel is being repurposed. The hotel is in a prime site, near Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, and Le Loi Boulevard, once favored by international tourists. Many 'House for Lease' signboards can also be seen along Bui Vien Walking Street and De Tham Street with many of them being hung in front of small, one- and two-star hotels. The director of a chain of … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City hotels waiting for int’l guests

The event will be co-organized by the Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development, the authorities of Da Nang, and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema. The festival will select and honor outstanding Asian and Vietnamese cinematographic works with humanistic values, new discoveries and unique artistic expression; encourage new talents of Vietnamese and Asian cinema; and widely introduce to the public new, high-value cinematographic works of Asian and Vietnamese cinemas and selected films of the world. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held on May 9 and May 13, respectively, with film screenings available at Le Do theater in Da Nang. Awards for DANAFF 2023 will also be presented during the closing ceremony. The festival will showcase more than 40 Vietnamese and international films, of which 14 movies will compete in the Asian film category, with grand prizes on offer for the best movie, the best director, the best actor, the best actress, and the best … [Read more...] about First Da Nang Asian Film Festival to take place in May

Tourists experience making clay arrows on the opening ceremony of  the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023 on March 24 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) themed “Cultural tourism” will take place on April 13-16 at the Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi, featuring 450 pavilions from over 50 localities nationwide, and 15 countries and territories aroundthe world. The event is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors, and representatives from 2,500 businesses, that are interested in seeking cooperation opportunities and partners. Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on March 28 to announce the event, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said this year’s event aims to encourage travel firms to invest in developing new tourism products through making the most of unique traditional culture and culture heritage values of Vietnam. The difference in culture, customs, production activities, and daily life of 54 ethnic groups … [Read more...] about Vietnam International Travel Mart 2023 to spotlight cultural tourism

In 2022, two-way trade between Yunnan (China) and the bordering provinces of Vietnam is expected to reach US$3.25 billion. The provincial authorities of Vietnam's Lao Cai and China's Yunnan agreed on March 28 to take necessary measures to lift their comprehensive ties, especially trade. A truck that links Lao Cai and Yunnan Province passes the Kim Thanh II International Border Gate. Photo: The Hanoi Times "The comprehensive partnership between Lao Cai and Yunnan has improved tremendously in recent years, but it has not reached its full potential," said Hoang Quoc Khanh, permanent vice chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee. Khanh suggested that Yunnan authorities further relax regulations and facilitate cross-border trade and travel between the two nations to improve bilateral relations. The Lao Cai official said Chinese authorities should restore trade and travel activities to pre-pandemic levels. He also urged the Chinese government to … [Read more...] about Lao Cai and Yunnan provinces agree to strengthen bilateral ties

Vietnam’s stock market system has been improved in recent times through more transparent management, Photo: Le Toan At a seminar in March on the strategy for development of Vietnam’s securities market for this decade, Shimizu Akira, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam said it is urgent to improve the fairness and transparency of the domestic market for Vietnam’s stock sector to become a more attractive and efficient capital mobilisation channel. “The Vietnamese government has made strides and implemented swift remedies to the issue, including on the revised Law on Securities and launching the Vietnam Stock Exchange,” Akira said. Based on the proposal of the Vietnamese government, JICA has implemented a technical cooperation project to strengthen the capacity of the State Securities Commission (SSC) and the three stock exchanges through providing practical knowledge and know-how on the regulatory activities in Japan and other … [Read more...] about Hurdles still to climb for stock market gain

A vehicle loaded with Vietnamese goods goes through the Ma Thu Lang Border Gate to enter China. — VNA/VNS Photo The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) is seeking public comments on a legal draft amending Decree No14 on cross-border commercial activities. The draft aims to plug some loopholes that have been exploited by traders to disguise their commercial activities as cross-border individual transactions (CITs). It is also part of the government's effort to promote the movement of goods via official channels, putting an end to trade bottlenecks at border gates. The draft stipulates that traders who engage in commercial activities at auxiliary border gates or border crossing points must do so at the gates or points approved by provincial authorities. The traders and their companies are also required to carry a valid passport or equivalent papers while doing the trade. Vehicle drivers, in addition to the papers, are required to have a valid driving licence as well. … [Read more...] about Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes draft on cross-border trade

Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City Enrico Padula realized that when Vietnamese people think about his country, all they know is the 3 Fs: food, fashion, and football. “Italian culture is surely more than that,” the diplomat said during an interview with Tuoi Tre News on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Italy. So what is 'Italy' in your mind? We are heading to a 'mixed' development. Culture, commerce, and sciences in Italy are indispensable. Because all are linked through time, that’s how our fashion segment has developed so successfully. And now, we have technology to join in the aggregate. For example, a car will have the mix of Italian technology and the Italian esthetics that we already have in our architecture and interior design. We are trying our best to introduce and promote the aggregate all together. I think this is one of the best ways to develop. I am sure that Vietnamese people highly appreciate this … [Read more...] about Italian culture more than just food, fashion, football: consul general

Vietnam is among the top five international destinations to visit this summer, along with Japan, New Zealand, Italy, and France, U.S. travel site Travel off Path cited data from travel website Expedia. According to Travel off Path, summer is time for travel and traveling to Europe or Asia is perfect in the summertime due to the many events in each destination. "Things are changing, and traveling is becoming more accessible," Travel off Path wrote on its website. As a result, summer vacation planning is heating up, with searches up 50 percent over last year. Vietnam is one of the most sought-after destinations on Expedia. Searches and bookings for Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City have soared 298, 439, and 219 percent, respectively. The rates prove there is more to the world than stereotypical destinations that people go to every year. Travel off Path added, “Hanoi is the country’s capital and is known as its art capital. You can find some of the city’s most exciting … [Read more...] about Vietnam ranked in world’s top 5 summer destinations for 2023