Australian prime ministers in order

Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, had proposed earlier this week that Vietnam expands visa exemption for tourists from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Europe, and the U.S. to boost tourism recovery after more than two years of pandemic restrictions. Michael Burger from the U.S., who visited Vietnam in May, said the proposal was definitely a positive step toward making travel to Vietnam easier. "As a regular visitor to Vietnam, I feel delighted to hear this news," Burger told VnExpress International. It would help increase Vietnam's tourism competitiveness among Southeast Asian nations that already exempt American passport holders from having to get a visa for stays of under 30 days. Ken Rafter from Australia said it would be "fantastic news" if Australians are exempted from obtaining a visa prior to visiting Vietnam. "When Vietnam reopened to international tourism in March, my family had a terrible time attempting to obtain visas before our … [Read more...] about Foreign tourists upbeat as minister seeks visa waiver expansion

PM Pham Minh Chinh (gray shirt) makes an inspection tour of the Ha Bac Fertiliser Plant (Photo: VNA) Bac Giang (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 13 asked relevant ministries and sectors to uphold their responsibilities in solving difficulties and problems arising at the Ha Bac Fertiliser Plant under the Vietnam National Chemical Group ( Vinachem ), whose expansion was completed seven years ago. During his inspection tour of the plant in the northern province of Bac Giang, PM Chinh requested greater efforts to complete the r estructuring of the plant in August this year under the instruction of the Government. He emphasised the need to closely following the direction of the Politburo in the process of restructuring  in order to ensure suitability, feasibility and effectiveness, thus serving the national agricultural development. The restructuring should be implemented in the direction of diversifying products; improving labour productivity; and … [Read more...] about PM urges speeding up restructuring of Ha Bac fertilizer plant

At the conference on August 11, MPI Minister Dung said that thanks to the control of the pandemic and the maintenance of macroeconomic stability, the business sector has reported a positive recovery recently. As of July, the whole country had about 871,000 operating enterprises with tax incurred, an increase of nearly 13 per cent compared to 2021. In the first seven months of 2022, the number of enterprises entering and returning to the market, as well as additionally registered capital into the economy, increased sharply. The number of enterprises entering and re-entering the market was over 130,000 enterprises, an increase of 26.8 per cent on-year, 1.4 times higher than the number of enterprises withdrawing from the market. The total registered capital added to the economy in the first seven months of 2022 reached over $143 billion, an increase of over 37 per cent on-year. According to reports from business associations, the market has recovered over 75-85 per cent compared … [Read more...] about Utilising every opportunity to grow and overcome challenges

According to the Ministry of Finance, the disbursement of the state budget capital as of the end of July stood at nearly $8.1 billion, accounting for 34.47 per cent of the yearly plan and a slight on-year reduction. Of this, one centrally-run agency and 11 localities reported disbursement at more than 50 per cent, 17 ministries and agencies have reported less than 10 per cent, and the remaining met the national average. Some major infrastructure projects are delayed and costs are only going to go up in that case, Le Toan Specifically, in Ho Chi Minh City, the disbursement of public investment in the first seven months accounted for about 15 per cent of the total allocated capital or almost $1.4 billion. This figure includes $108 million from the central budget and $1.28 billion from local funds. Many important works in the city have yet to expense anything, including one project for green traffic development, a water improvement initiative in the Tau Hu-Ben Nghe-Doi-Te … [Read more...] about Direction for disbursement tightened after mixed results

A strong business community will build an independent and highly resilient economy. Localities are expected to further create a favorable environment for business operation, especially in simplifying administrative formalities and avoiding petty corruption. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the conference. Photos: Nhat Bac Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the view during a conference between the Government’s leader and business community on August 11, which drew the participation of 1,200 delegates from a business association and local companies. According to Chinh, more than two years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam has now put the situation under control and maintained positive growth. Vietnam’s GDP  during the six months expanded by 6.42%, higher than the 5.74% rate in the same period last year, and equivalent to the growth rate recorded in the pre-pandemic period 2016-2019 (6.38%). In addition, Chinh also pointed out high … [Read more...] about PM urges favorable environment for businesses

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by Vietnam News Agency. – The 14th meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee wrapped up in Hanoi on August 11 after two and a half days of sitting. NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said the meeting had completed all tasks as scheduled. Read full story – Standing members of the steering committee in charge of a project to draft a strategy for building and completing a law-governed socialist state of Vietnam by 2030, with a vision to 2045, held a meeting with the Central Theoretical Council in Hanoi on August 11. Members of the council showed their support for the draft strategy, which they said has been prepared in a methodological, democratic and scientific manner that guarantees the Party’s comprehensive and absolute leadership, firmly maintains the socialist orientation, and doesn’t include loopholes for hostile forces to take advantage of to sabotage the Party, State or regime. Read full story … [Read more...] about ☀️ Morning digest August 12

The Ministry of Transport has announced a plan to strengthen inspection and crack down on taxi drivers' illegal practices, such as enticing passengers, overcharging or refusing to take passengers at the country's busiest airport, Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in HCM City. Taxis enter to pick up passengers at HCM City's Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport. Deputy Minister Lê Anh Tuấn has urged inspectors from the city's Department of Transport, in cooperation with leaders of the Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport and the Southern Airport Authority, to punish taxi drivers who refuse to take passengers, as well as those who impose unreasonably high extra charges. Tuấn has also asked units to arrange pick-up and drop-off areas, creating favourable conditions for buses, taxis, and app-based vehicles to park, pick up and drop off passengers. This is among measures taken to solve the recent overcrowding at the country's busiest airport, with … [Read more...] about Transport ministry clamps down on taxi drivers overcharging at Tân Sơn Nhất Airport

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the conference (Photo: VNA) Dam made the comment at a conference held by the Ministry of Education and Training in Hanoi on August 12 to review outcomes of the past academic year and deploy tasks for the coming one. The official requested that the sector continue with comprehensive reforms to enhance the quality of teaching and learning activities. He noted there is a need to review and proactively propose a mechanism on tuition fees, ensure an adequate number of teachers and school facilities, and promote digital learning materials and the online learning method. The spending on education must increase to ensure the quality of education, but the contribution of students' families should not increase, the Deputy PM said. At the event (Photo: VNA) According to Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, in the 2022-2023 academic year, the sector prioritises completing mechanisms and intuitions; improving the quality … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s education keeps international rankings despite Covid-19: Deputy PM

Hanoi, (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on August 12. – Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien received UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis in Hanoi on August 12, saying that Vietnam will take part in UN peacekeeping operations more extensively in the time ahead. Chien appreciated the cooperation and assistance from the UN and its agencies in Vietnam, especially the UN Resident Coordinator Office, when the country served as the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020 - 2021. Read full story – The National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba has received 750 tablets, two servers and two printers as gifts from the Vietnamese counterpart. Speaking at the handover ceremony held on August 11 in Havana, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung said the equipment is intended to help the Cuban legislature improve its operational … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on August 12

The CF for the 2022-2026 period was signed by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, as assigned by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Tamesis in Hanoi on August 11. According to Tamesis, there are four priority development outcomes that the two sides have identified - social services; economic transformation; climate change, resilience and sustainability; governance and access to justice. The purpose of the cooperation framework is for the U.N. to be ready to support all of the changing development needs and challenges of Vietnam, she stressed. The signing of the deal means the government of Vietnam and the U.N. are committed to strengthening their partnership together, she said, adding that this is just a starting point. “We have the full period of this year to work together but it's urgent that we all take action in this partnership together because there's so many challenges around the world. And we need to be able to show results for the government to feel … [Read more...] about U.N. ready to support Vietnam in responding to new challenges: Coordinator