The International Friendship Exchange – Spring 2023 held in Lao Cai. (Photo: VNA) Lao Cai (VNA) – The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in collaboration with Lao Cai province, held the International Friendship Exchange – Spring 2023 in the northern mountainous province on March 26-27. The event attracted the participation of 150 delegates from foreign embassies, and international organisations, and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Vietnam. This is an annual activity held by VUFO to create a chance for international friends to visit historical and cultural relic sites and landscapes, and exchange with local authorities and people to learn more about the land, people and culture of Vietnam as well as cooperation opportunities with its localities. Within the framework of this year’s event, delegates climbed up to the top of Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina. VUFO President Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, said that the union … [Read more...] about International Friendship Exchange – Spring 2023 held in Lao Cai
Ecb foreign exchange reference rates
Capital hosts nearly 1 million foreigners in three months
Foreign visitors at Hanoi 's Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature Complex) (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Some 978,700 foreigners landed in Hanoi in the first three months, 5.9 times higher than the same period last year, said the municipal Department of Tourism . The number was part of the 5.9 million visitors coming to the capital city between January and March, a two-fold increase year-on-year. Hanoi now houses 3,756 lodging facilities totaling 70,218 rooms. The average occupancy rate of the local 1-5 star hotels was estimated at 56.5% in the three months, up 37.2% year-on-year. A group of foreigners tours Hanoi's Old Quarter. (Photo: VNA) The city has 29 food and beverage, 35 shopping, six entertainment, and one healthcare businesses meeting the standards to serve tourists. Its tourism sector is making efforts to develop travelling routes, including those connecting the downtown area with the Bat Trang pottery craft village and the Huong pagoda in My Duc … [Read more...] about Capital hosts nearly 1 million foreigners in three months
International Friendship Exchange – Spring 2023 held in Lao Cai
The event attracted the participation of 150 delegates from foreign embassies, and international organizations, and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Vietnam. This is an annual activity held by VUFO to create a chance for international friends to visit historical and cultural relic sites and landscapes, and exchange with local authorities and people to learn more about the land, people and culture of Vietnam as well as cooperation opportunities with its localities. Within the framework of this year’s event, delegates climbed up to the top of Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina. VUFO President Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, said that the union has been providing support for around 400 foreign NGOs which are operating in Vietnam to carry out programs and projects for humanitarian and development purposes, with the aid budget disbursed in recent years reaching 220-280 million USD per year. In Lao Cai, there are currently 34 organizations which are … [Read more...] about International Friendship Exchange – Spring 2023 held in Lao Cai
Ho Chi Minh City leader visits Mexico to boost ties
Meeting Politburo member of the Mexican Labor Party (PT) and Chairman of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies’ Committee on Foreign Affairs Alfredo Femat Bañuelos during his ongoing working trip to the Latin American country from March 22-27, Hai said the Party organization of HCM City wishes to contribute to maintaining and bolstering fine relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the PT. He believed that following the visit, both sides will continue holding programs and events to promote cultural and tourism exchange between Ho Chi Minh City and Mexico. Bañuelos, for his part, said Mexico desires to step up cooperation programs between the two parties in general and with Ho Chi Minh City in particular, especially in acupuncture and personnel training. He said such programs not only popularize Vietnam's images in Mexico and Latin America but also enhance the PT’s reputation domestically and regionally. The host vowed to continue expanding the scope of cooperation to … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City leader visits Mexico to boost ties
VN-Index extends its long winning streak
Logo of Vietcombank on its trading office in Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi. The bank shares soared 2.25 per cent on Monday, led the market's bullish sentiment. — VNS Photo Ly Ly Cao Benchmark indices opened the week on a positive note, buoyed by the improvement of risk appetite. The VN-Index on the southern bourse Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) ended Monday at 1,052.25 points, a gain of 5.46 points, or 0.52 per cent. It logged a long rising streak of five days with the market's breadth inclining to the uptrend. Meanwhile, liquidity increased slightly, of which over VND9.7 trillion (US$413.2 million) worth, equivalent to nearly 557 million shares, was traded on HoSE. The VN30-Index also advanced 5.03 points, or 0.48 per cent, to close the trading day at 1,056.45 points. Twenty of the 30 biggest stocks in market capitalisation of the VN30 basket jumped, of which one hit the ceiling price. Eight stocks declined while two stayed flat. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the … [Read more...] about VN-Index extends its long winning streak
Guyana wishes to strengthen ties with Vietnam in various areas
At a reception for the diplomat, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said he hopes Vietnam will assist Guyana in agriculture, animal husbandry and cultivation. Hoa vowed to work to develop the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two governments and peoples in her position. On March 21, Hoa paid a courtesy call on Guyanese Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of Guyana Oneidge Walrond who pledged to offer all possible support to Vietnamese firms to access Guyana’s market and wished to learn from Vietnam’s experience in ecological tourism development. During a working session with the Vietnamese diplomat a day later, Guyanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hilton Todd promised to support Vietnam at multilateral forums and facilitate the exchange of all-level delegations in the near future. Elizabeth Harper, standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, announced that two countries will soon offer visa exemption to their diplomatic … [Read more...] about Guyana wishes to strengthen ties with Vietnam in various areas
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
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
52nd anniversary of Vietnam-Chile diplomatic ties marked in Hanoi
During her speech at the ceremony, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet affirmed that the cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Chile has been increasingly developed in various fields. The relationship has not only been fostered at the government-to-government level and between the two parliaments, but also between localities and people of the two countries. On her part, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga highlighted that the strong and long-standing traditional friendship between the two countries has been a solid foundation for the development of the relationship of solidarity, friendship, and reliable cooperation between Vietnam and Chile over the past half century, especially since the two countries established a comprehensive partnership in 2007. She also mentioned that with a total two-way trade turnover of more than USD 1 billion annually, Chile is currently Vietnam's fourth largest trading partner in Latin America. This significant trade exchange illustrates the … [Read more...] about 52nd anniversary of Vietnam-Chile diplomatic ties marked in Hanoi
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