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"Vietnamese authorities always closely follow situations on the East Sea and resolutely perform management measures and legal conducts in accordance with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Vietnamese law," said deputy spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang, according to the ministry’s official website. Vietnam calls the South China Sea the East Sea. Hang’s comment came after reporters last week requested an official reaction to the news of the Chinese ship Haiyang Dizhi 4 Hao operating within Vietnam’s EEZ. The survey vessel was built in 1980 and has a capacity of around 1,000 tons, according to vessel tracking website Marine Traffic. In accordance with UNCLOS, coastal states have full rights of sovereignty over their EEZ and continental shelf for the purposes of exploration and natural resources exploitation. Other UNCLOS member states can only perform marine scientific research within these regions with … [Read more...] about Vietnam reaffirms vigilance on East Sea situation

The fire broke out shortly before midnight at the National Migration Institute (INM) facility in Ciudad Juarez, prompting the mobilization of firefighters and dozens of ambulances. An AFP journalist saw forensic personnel remove a dozen bodies from the INM's parking lot, where several other bodies were laid and covered with blankets. "The National Migration Institute (INM) of the Interior Ministry regrets the deaths -- so far -- of 39 foreign migrants, caused by a fire," an INM statement said. A rescuer, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said there were about 70 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, at the center. Numerous migrants have been detained in the center in recent days after local authorities rounded up street vendors, some of whom were foreigners, from the area. A Venezuelan woman who gave her name as Viangly stood outside the immigration center, desperate for information about her 27-year-old husband who had been detained … [Read more...] about At least 39 killed in fire at Mexico-US border migrant center

The quake hit at 6:18 pm (0918 GMT) at a depth of 20 kilometres (12 miles), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Major Japanese media outlets carried no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 6.2. Earthquakes are common in Japan, which sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. The country has strict construction regulations intended to ensure buildings can withstand strong earthquakes, and emergency drills are routinely held to prepare for a major jolt. … [Read more...] about Magnitude 6.1 quake shakes northern Japan, no tsunami warning

The festival, succeeding its previous two editions in 2018 and 2020, will take place at the Ly Thai To Square and the pedestrian zone around the Hoan Kiem Lake, according to a press release from the Embassy. The event, part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations, will include the participation of restaurant owners, importers and other industry players. Hanoians will be invited to stroll through a French market where more than 40 stalls will invite them to discover the French agricultural and food heritage. Tasting activities will allow everyone to share a moment of conviviality around excellent products: dairy products, chocolates, bakery products, cheese, delicatessen products, fruits, wines and spirits. Refined, friendly, accessible and creative, French cuisine will be shown at its best, through recipe demonstration workshops led by chefs. Some products will also be available for sale. French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery … [Read more...] about French food festival to hit Hanoi

Luu Van Thuan, head of the faculty of aviation engineering, Vietnam Aviation Academy, said the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer worked with the academy to interview two of its alumni on March 27. Three students in Hanoi University of Science and Technology’s aviation engineering and mechanics training program, including one in just the second year, were interviewed. The universities said this is the first time Boeing executives have come from the U.S. to universities in Vietnam for hiring interns. The successful candidates will work for two months in Hanoi and one month in the U.S. this summer, participate in hardware and software designing and preparing technical documents for aircraft systems and read maintenance manuals for flight operations and aircraft maintenance. They may also be involved in solving problems related to aircraft structure. Nguyen Binh Thang, who graduated from the Vietnam Aviation Academy last January and then joined it, was one of its two alumni … [Read more...] about Boeing recruits interns in Vietnam

Property developers should focus on social housing and workers’ housing instead of high-end properties, according to the Prime Minister, who added that "real estate companies should restructure their products and market segments to lower housing and land prices." PM Chinh asked ministries to clear away legal obstacles facing property projects, especially those that issue corporate bonds, use bank loans, or mobilize capital from home buyers. He urged the State Bank of Vietnam to quickly implement an approved credit package of VND120 trillion (US$5.1 billion) for the development of social housing and housing projects for workers, and the renovation of old apartment blocks. Under the package, loan interest rates for buyers or developers of social housing projects and worker housing projects will be 1.5-2% lower than average bank lending rates. The central bank has also been tasked with lowering interest rates at commercial banks. The increasing costs of land, materials, labor, … [Read more...] about Prime Minister calls for more affordable housing

Hoai An from Hanoi planned to visit Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s biggest island in the south, with his family during the five-day holiday. However, she had to find another place closer to home like Sa Pa or Hoa Binh after realizing air tickets were too high. The cheapest price for round-trip flights between Hanoi and Phu Quoc was VND6.6 million ($280) per person. "The cost of transportation was over VND20 million for a family of three people," she said. "It was too expensive." This year, Vietnamese will enjoy a five-day break as the Hung Kings anniversary celebration falls on April 29, which is a Saturday, and people are entitled to take two extra days off the following week to compensate for that and Reunification Day on Sunday. Linh Nhi from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and her friends are also wondering whether to visit Da Nang or Thailand during the upcoming holiday. Currently, Vietjet Air's round-trip flight tickets between HCMC and Da Nang during the holiday cost about VND 4.5 … [Read more...] about Expensive air tickets discourage travel plans during Reunification Day holiday

To obtain more space and money for today’s most common and popular gasoline RON95, Vietnam needs to sell its reserves of the cheaper RON92 fuel, which were supposed to have been auctioned off last year. But Vietnamese ministries were unable to agree on a set starting price for the fuel so the auction never happened. RON 92 is a low-power fuel that is now mainly used to make biofuel. But the Ministry of Industry and Trade has reported that selling such a large volume of the gasoline is difficult because few local wholesalers need biofuel at the moment. Vietnam has not had to release fuels from the national reserve for emergencies in five years, but the Ministry of Industry has announced that bulking up the nation’s scant reserves is a must. According to the National Reserve Law, petroleum is a strategic reserve commodity. But the reality on the ground is that Vietnam’s average total reserves over the last five years has been just over 370,000 cubic meters a year, equivalent … [Read more...] about Vietnam struggles to auction outdated gasoline

"I've been traveling Vietnam since June of 2022 and never once had a problem with e-visa while using the national immigration portal. Always receive my new visa within 3 working days. Now, if only the government would go back to the 90-day multiple entry visa." fredtbach "I have used the e-visa about a dozen times. It's easy and clear. The longest I had to wait was 5 days as I submitted once on a Friday afternoon. So don't winge if you don't follow the photo requirements." chefross63 "The name should be more comprehensive and clearly reference the government background. Look at the Cambodia site as an example. The process itself works good, if you start on time (there you have it) there is no need for brokers or agents." Peppe "I never had a problem with the official e-visa web-site, and I've been using it for nine months now, and I get the new e-visa within 3 business days. Who cares how non-memorable the URL is. Just google "E Visa Vietnam" and you will find it." none of … [Read more...] about I’ve never had a problem applying for Vietnam e-visa

She had announced she would leave her post as Fulbright president this summer after an eight-year stint. Thuy, 62, has master’s degrees in management from Harvard University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. She has also been general director of ANZ Vietnam and the Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB). Tasco was known as a major toll booth operator with projects spread throughout the country. After its founder, Phan Quang Dung, quit as president, the firm restructured with three different businesses: infrastructure-car service, real estate and insurance. This year Tasco targets revenues of VND22.5 trillion (US$957.6 million) and a profit of VND600 billion. … [Read more...] about Fulbright University chief named to Tasco management board