Vietnam’s U23 football team in a training session. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s U23 football team will meet Kyrgyzstan’s team at the third round of Doha Cup 2023 - a friendly tournament serving as a warm-up ahead of the 32nd SEA Games to be held in Cambodia. Vietnam’s last match at the ongoing tournament will be held at Al Gharafa Stadium at 0.30 am March 29 (Vietnam time). According to the coaching board of the Vietnamese team, competing with strong opponents at the Doha Cup 2023 brings a lot of benefits to the preparation of U23 Vietnam for the SEA Games and others in the future. “In terms of results, U23 Vietnam lost. But as I shared, when participating in the 2023 U23 Doha Cup in Qatar, U23 Vietnam’s aim is the step-by-step progress of its players. And with what happened in the match against U23 UAE, I can say satisfied,” U23 Vietnam coach Philippe Troussier said. “For me, U23 Vietnam is gradually improving." A 4-0 loss to the UAE in their second game … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s U23 football team to meet U23 Kyrgyzstan in Doha Cup 2023’s third round
Asean 2019 meeting
Visa upgrade at heart of fresh approach to tourism
Visas, service quality, and technology were all part of discussions on a better-performing tourism sector Photo: Cuong Minh May’s National Assembly session is likely to help push ahead a revamp of the country’s rules on entry and exit for foreign visitors, after the Ministry of Public Security crafts amendments to the current law. The development will be an important basis for the issuance of new regulations related to the visa policy, removing difficulties for the tourism industry, and creating conditions to attract more international visitors this year, according to most observers. Dang Tuan Viet, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Secrutity’s (MoPS) Vietnam Immigration Department, said that the proposal emphasised two major areas related to unilateral visa exemption and electronic visa policy. The MoPS also proposes to expand the number of countries that can issue e-visas from 80 countries to the maximum. The MoPS will also ask to increase the temporary stay … [Read more...] about Visa upgrade at heart of fresh approach to tourism
More welcoming policies will rejuvenate tourism chances
International visitors come to Vietnam for tourism purposes, market surveys, and investment. They not only bring about revenue and profit for the aviation and tourism industries, but also are an important factor for economic recovery and development across the country. Bui Doan Ne - Deputy chairman, Vietnam Aviation Business Association With over 70 per cent of international visitors to Vietnam arriving by air, resuming international flight routes promptly will support aviation and tourism, enabling them to recover soon and increase their competitiveness. These are dynamic industries that contribute significantly to the country’s GDP growth and economic development. International tourism to Vietnam has recovered slowly compared to other regional countries due to tight regulations in other countries, particularly China. The conflict in Ukraine has increased fuel costs and travel restrictions to European markets. Difficult economic conditions have also affected … [Read more...] about More welcoming policies will rejuvenate tourism chances
Cambodia, Malaysia foster cooperation in various fields
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (R) and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar bin Ibrahim (Photo: VNA) Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia n Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar bin Ibrahim held talks in Phnom Penh on March 27, during which they agreed to foster the bilateral cooperation across spheres, from trade and investment to education, tourism, energy and people-to-people exchange. Speaking at a joint press conference, Hun Sen said they discussed cooperation in various areas and encouraged both sides to continue exchanging high-level visits more often and at all levels to build closer friendship, to further increase mutual trust and to expand the broader scope of bilateral cooperation. The Cambodian PM said he proposed increasing the purchase of goods to meet each other’s demand, and encouraged Malaysian investors and companies to operate in Cambodia. According to the Cambodian leader, the trade volume between the two … [Read more...] about Cambodia, Malaysia foster cooperation in various fields
Private facilities urged to do more to boost healthcare sector
The minister made the call at the Vietnam Private Hospital Association’s fifth executive committee meeting for the 2019-2024 term on March 24. She said that in recent years, the National Assembly and the government had firmed up guidelines and policies, which were reflected in many different documents, creating a crucial legal basis for the development of non-public healthcare. Health Minister Dao Hong Lan made a speech at the meeting "Non-public healthcare and public healthcare have cooperated and gone hand in hand in taking care of people's health, contributing to reducing hospital overload, and giving people more choices of medical services," she noted. According to the minister, the National Assembly recently passed the amended Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. This was an important milestone, and a turning point of the health sector, serving as a legal basis to firming up the guiding content of a Central Resolution continuing the development of medicine … [Read more...] about Private facilities urged to do more to boost healthcare sector
Japan’s SMBC acquires 15% stake in VPBank for US$1.5 billion
The agreement surpasses the VND20 trillion ($850 million) acquisition of a 15% stake in BIDV from KEB Hana Bank (South Korea) in 2019, setting a new record in the banking industry. VPBank announced that it has completed the sale of a 15% equity interest to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. of Japan, a member of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, in a transaction valued at $1.5 billion. CEO of SMBC Masahiro Yoshimura and Chairman of the Board of Directors at VPBank Nguyen Chi Dung at the signing ceremony today. Photo: VPBank SMBC Group's latest deal with VPBank makes the former a new strategic investor in the latter. The agreement sets a new banking industry record, with a deal value of VND35.9 trillion ($1.5 billion), surpassing the VND20 trillion ($850 million) acquisition of a 15% stake in BIDV from South Korea's KEB Hana Bank in 2019. The investment is expected to increase VPBank's total capital from VND103.5 trillion ($4.4 billion) to around VND140 trillion … [Read more...] about Japan’s SMBC acquires 15% stake in VPBank for US$1.5 billion
UK-funded CFA to support nine low-carbon projects in Vietnam
The CFA is part of the UK Government's efforts to help Vietnam meet the commitments made by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. Nine low carbon projects from across Vietnam have been announced to be part of the first cohort of the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Vietnam. The selected projects come from diverse sectors including renewable energy, resource and energy efficiency, electromobility, AFOLUs (agriculture, forestry and other land uses), decarbonised construction, circular economy and waste management, and have the potential to benefit communities across Vietnam. Deep C Green is one of the first nine low-carbon projects in Vietnam to join the CFA. Photo: Deepc.vn Projects will receive tailored one-on-one and group support to improve project readiness and chances of attracting investment from Vietnamese and international investors. This will include advice on technical aspects, financial models, and pitch materials, as well as … [Read more...] about UK-funded CFA to support nine low-carbon projects in Vietnam
Hanoi to allow advertising rights in exchange for 600 bus stop shelters
Some 600 new European standard shelters will be built at public bus stops in Hanoi city. Hanoi will allow investors to build advertising boards in exchange for 600 modern bus stop shelters and shelter displays worth VND1 trillion (US$43 million) in 12 urban districts, Kinhtedothi.vn reported. The move is part of efforts to encourage Hanoi’s residents to turn to public transportation for mobility, thus easing the number of cars on road and improving air quality. Hanoi to have 600 new bus stop shelters Currently, there are 1,078 bus stops in Hanoi's downtown, but only 365 of them have shelters. The shelters are built by different investors, which make them apprear ununiform. According to the municipal People's Committee, 600 new European standard shelters will be built at public bus stops in the city under the PPP funding mechanism. Among them, 270 shelters will be newly installed and the other 330 will be replaced. In exchange, 1,200 advertising boards … [Read more...] about Hanoi to allow advertising rights in exchange for 600 bus stop shelters
UNESCO promises tight partnership with Hanoi in heritage and relic conservation
As home to nearly 300 national treasures, Hanoi has a valuable source of ritual and cultural traits that tell its history of thousands of years. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sees the partnership with Hanoi in heritage preservation as one of its key activities in the future, said Director of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Center Lazare Eloundou on March 27. Hanoi mayor Tran Sy Thanh (right) receives Lazare Eloundou, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Center, on March 27. Photo: The Hanoi Times The UNESCO expects to bolster the relationship with Vietnam’s capital city in preserving cultural traits and heritages, he told a meeting with Hanoi mayor Tran Sy Thanh. Lazare urged the municipal and local authorities of Hanoi to come up with solutions that bring balance between heritage preservation and socio-economic growth and lift the living conditions for local people. UNESCO will always partner with Vietnam to … [Read more...] about UNESCO promises tight partnership with Hanoi in heritage and relic conservation
50th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City
In his remarks, Chairman of the People’s Committee Phan Van Mai highlighted the increasingly close ties between the two countries, saying over the past 50 years, the bilateral relationship has grown actively across spheres, both bilaterally and multilaterally. The good traditional friendship has also been consolidated and enhanced, the official added. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam presented Italy with more than 300,000 masks, while Italy donated 2.8 million doses of vaccines to the Southeast Asian nation. This vividly demonstrates the intensive and effective strategic partnership and friendship between the two countries, he said. Ho Chi Minh City, for its part, has actively worked to promote cooperation with Italy, Mai noted, adding that the relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Italy have reaped achievements in trade, investment, education and training, culture, and tourism. According to the official, the two-way trade reached 591 million USD last year. For … [Read more...] about 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City