Ethiopia as a tourist destination

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung speaks at the forum. (Photo: VNA) Rome (VNA) – Raffaele Cattaneo, deputy minister in charge of international relations of Italy ’s Lombardia region , called Vietnam a “diamond” of Asia and an attractive destination for Lombardia enterprises while speaking at a recent business and investment forum in Milan. Lombardia’s export revenue to the Southeast Asian nation last year reached 2.5 billion USD, accounting for nearly 40% of the total trade value between the two countries, Cattaneo told the forum. He noted that Vietnam’s renewable energy development strategy will offer golden opportunities to Lombardia firms. The forum on Vietnam- Lombardia business and investment cooperation was held on May 31 by the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy in coordination with the Italian region and the Italy-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (CCIV) as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, … [Read more...] about Vietnam – attractive destination for Italian firms: forum

Tourists visiting a grape orchard in Ninh Hai district’s Vinh Hai commune in Ninh Thuan province.  (Photo: VNA) Ninh Thuan (VNS/VNA) - The south-central province of Ninh Thuan has introduced new grape varieties and advanced farming techniques to improve farmers’ incomes. The country’s largest grape producing province has more than 1,000ha under the fruit and an annual output of 26,000-28,000 tonnes, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It grows mostly two table varieties, Red Cardinal and NH 01-48, and the wine grape Syrah. To add value, the province has developed models of growing high quality grape to Vietnamese and global good agricultural practices ( VietGAP and GlobalGAP), and organic standards, and used advanced farming techniques in recent years. Some 31 per cent of the grape growing area sees the use of advanced techniques such as automatic irrigation and polygreen houses, and quality standards like VietGAP and GlobalGAP, … [Read more...] about Ninh Thuan province develops grape eco-system

The performance of the Vietnamese team (Photo: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) - The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2023 officially kicked off in the central city of Da Nang on June 2 evening with performances by the Vietnamese and Finnish teams. After three years of hiatus, over 5,000 fireworks enthusiasts were once again able to witness the magnificent displays of light and sound along the Han River, creating a familiar and dazzling "feast" for the eyes. This year's festival features teams from the UK, Poland, Canada, France, Finland, Australia, Italy, and Vietnam, all of which have a long-standing tradition in the art of firework displays. These teams will come together to tell stories through light, music, and the soaring heights of artistic expression and emotions, promising to deliver unforgettable surprises and impressions. The host Vietnam took the stage with their presentation showcasing a story of peace and friendship under the theme "Da Nang – The Sound of … [Read more...] about Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2023 kicks off

Tourists at Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist area (Photo: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) – A series of international festival s have been being organised at Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist site in Da Nang to attract the attention of new holidaymakers visiting the central beach city in this summer. According to Deputy General Director of Sun World and Director of Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist site Nguyen Lam An, festivals of many countries such as Germany, the Republic of Korea, and France have brought new and impressive experiences for visitors of all ages. A food and beer festival named B'estival – a new brand name owned by Sun World Ba Na Hills, kicked off in May, offering a chance for visitors to taste the flavour of German beer and famous dishes from many countries around the world, immerse themselves in lively music melodies and enjoy entertainment activities. The festival will run until late August. Dance performance at the food and beer festival in Sun World Ba Na … [Read more...] about International summer festivals help Da Nang draw in tourism

Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam’s national flag carrier, was named one of the world’s top 25 airlines for 2023 by Australia-based AirlineRatings.com, an aviation safety and product review group. The carrier sits at number 20 in the rankings, above Turkish Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines. The first five positions on the list respectively went to Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, and Singapore Airlines. To prepare its annual round-up, AirlineRatings.com considered major safety and government audits, as well as looked at airline fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product and services, and staff relations. To make it to the top twenty-five, airlines must achieve a seven-star safety rating and demonstrate leadership in innovation for passenger comfort, according to AirlineRatings.com. “We are focused on leadership and airlines that innovate to make a real difference to the passenger … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines among world’s top carriers for 2023

Tourists in central Da Nang City can now easily find the locations of public toilets thanks to the Danang Smart City app on smartphones. The city has integrated the 'free public WC' feature with the addresses of public restrooms in the city into the Danang Smart City app to facilitate residents and tourists, Tran Ngoc Thach, deputy director of the municipal Department of Information and Communications, said on Friday. These free toilets are provided by local enterprises, restaurants, hotels, and eateries participating in the 'Comfort as Home' program. The locations of 294 toilets, including 228 in Hai Chau District and 66 in Son Tra District, have been featured in the app. The number of public toilets is expected to rise further in the coming time, Thach added. To find the locations of public toilets in the Danang Smart City app, users just need to choose the 'free public WC' tab in the app to be recommended public toilets near them. After choosing a toilet, the name of … [Read more...] about Da Nang integrates map of public toilets into app

Residents in many Hanoi’s outlying districts are struggling with long power cuts amid the scorching hot weather. Hanoi is experiencing temperatures of up to 37-38 degrees centigrade and the city has had to cut power in many areas. On Thursday, lots of areas in Son Tay Town and the districts of Thach That, Chuong My and Quoc Oai suffered from a power cut from 10 am until midnight. Nguyen Van Hai from Thach That District’s Thach Hoa Commune said that her family had to come to a tourist site in Ba Vi District to escape the heat. Chu Mui’s family in Phung Xa Commune went to a water park in Quoc Oai to avoid the heat, but it was too crowded. So they decided to go to a shopping mall in Hanoi. People flocked to some roads in Thach That, Quoc Oai and Chuong My to enjoy the breeze. People in Thach That had to wait for electricity until midnight Thursday. Children went outside to escape the heat indoors A person slept on a hammock placed … [Read more...] about Hanoi suburbs struggle with power cuts

The 4,000 m2 water park, situated at the Vo Van Kiet-Nguyen Tri Phuong intersection, opened in 1999, and used to be a popular destination. But in January 2020 it shut down after the lease expired and lies in an abandoned state. It has become decrepit over time. Locals said no one has cleaned the place since it shut down or even watches over it. Hoang Khanh of District 5 said: "A few years ago the park was bustling with all sorts of water games. It is located downtown, and so was always crowded during weekends and holidays." The pools inside are full of algae, weeds grow in every corner and everywhere paint has gradually been worn away by the elements. A kid's pool now full of mud. Mechanical systems and decorations have fallen apart after three years of not being maintained. Rubble can be seen all over the park. Training and massage rooms have also become … [Read more...] about Abandoned Saigon water park rusting away

A lotus farm in the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture has recently attracted lots of visitors thanks to the beauty of the flowers that are now blooming. Over the past two weeks, the lotus farm at the academy, which lies some 20 kilometres from the centre of Hanoi has become a favourite destination for young people to visit and take photos with the blooming flowers. The farm covers 7.5 hectares and gathers some 60 varieties of lotus flowers brought from many areas in the country. For many Vietnamese people, lotus is considered the national flower that represents strength and purity. When the lotus blooming season arrives between late May and August, many people would try to come and enjoy the time with the flowers. A visitor from Hanoi, Hoang Ha, said that she visited this farm every lotus season to enjoy its beauty and sweet fragrance. "I always feel very pleasant sitting near the lotus flower, watching them and … [Read more...] about Lotus farm attract visitors in Hanoi suburbs