Flexible about the time

According to the General Statistical Office, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in 2022 only reached 3.66 million, a decrease of 79.7 per cent compared to 2019's peak. This poses the pressing dilemma of how to promote tourism further to attract foreign tourists. The following are expert comments from the roundtable entitled Seeking a Boost for Inbound Tourism, hosted by VIR in Hanoi on March 22. Ha Van Sieu, deputy director general of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Vietnam is a stunning tourist destination, but there are still many limitations that need to be improved. We are proud that we have achieved so much and are on the way to transformation and perfection. There will be a resolution made at the National Assembly in May offering a series of both short- and long-term solutions. The current tourism development strategy for this decade, and the upcoming tourism system planning up to 2030, clearly describe the viewpoints, orientations, … [Read more...] about Expert opinions on prospects of luring more foreign visitors to Vietnam

Vietnam considers the US as one of its most important partners and welcomes the US to support a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam. Vietnam aims to enhance the Comprehensive Partnership with the US, focusing on mutually beneficial outcomes that generate employment opportunities and growth for both nations. Overview of the meeting. Photos: Nhat Bac “Such an effort would contribute to supporting global and regional stability, cooperation, and development while promoting peace and harmony.” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) today [March 22]. At the meeting, Chinh welcomed a delegation of over 50 large US enterprises to visit and work in Vietnam, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership (2013-2023). The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the US Government and businesses for their support in providing vaccines and … [Read more...] about Vietnam continues to push for stronger ties with US: PM

He made the remark at a meeting with a business delegation of the U.S. - ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Hanoi on March 21. Highlighting the two countries’ comprehensive and fruitful relations, Minister Dung said the U.S. is currently the second largest trading partner and one of the leading export markets of Vietnam. It is also an important ODA provider and the 11th biggest among the 142 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian nation. Vietnam highly values the fruitful investment and business activities of U.S. investors and hopes they will maintain their trust and expand investment, trade, and development cooperation in the country, he noted. The official was of the view that there is huge cooperation potential in the fields of green growth, digital economy, science - technology development, and innovation, adding that Vietnam encourages and prioritizes quality and focus-driven foreign direct investment. The country is also implementing policies to help … [Read more...] about Minister hopes U.S. becomes biggest investor in Vietnam

While in Argentina, the delegation had a meeting with Politburo member and Secretary in charge of External Relations of the Communist Party of Argentina (CPA) Jorge Kreyness. Hai thanked the CPA for its solidarity, support and sentiment for the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Vietnamese people in their past struggle for national liberation as well as the present cause of national reform and construction. The official affirmed the consistent stance of the Vietnamese Party, State and people on constantly consolidating and strengthening the friendship and solidarity between the CPV and the CPA and people of Argentina. Hai expressed his hope for enhanced solidarity and more efficient cooperation between the two parties for the common revolutionary cause. In reply, Kreyness lauded Vietnam’s achievements and experience, and noted his belief in the success of reforms and socialism building in Vietnam under the CPV’s leadership, calling Vietnam an example for Latin American … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City seeks ways to expand cooperation with Argentina

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob reviews the guard of honour (Photo: thestar.com.my) Singapore (VNA) – Singaporean President Halimah Yacob met with Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on March 21 within the framework of her state visit to Malaysia. President Yacob reaffirmed the two countries’ time-honoured relations built on the warm people-to-people ties at all levels. Talking to the host country's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the Singaporean leader expressed her belief that under the leadership of PM Anwar, bilateral cooperation will be enhanced across multiple domains and deliver concrete benefits to the two nations’ peoples and businesses. President Yacob paid a state visit to Singapore from March 20-22./. VNA … [Read more...] about Singapore, Malaysia boost bilateral cooperation

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The price of construction steel is on the rise despite the fact that the demand for this type of construction material remains weak, insiders have said. Nguyen Van Sua, a steel industry expert, said that this year the steel price may not reach its peak as in 2022, but it is on the rise because the actual demand is not high. Hoang Cuong, an iron and steel dealer on Tam Trinh Street, Hanoi’s Hoang Mai district, said since the beginning of this year, steel price s have increased 7 times, with a total increase of about 1.2 million VND per tonne. A representative of a steel firm said that the demand for real estate is low while the cost of input materials remains high, thus, the selling price is raised to reduce losses. VNA … [Read more...] about Steel price rises despite falling demand

Vietnamese boxer Nguyen Thi Tam beat Botswana athlete Modukanele Lethabo Bokamoso in the Round of 16 of the 2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championship in India on Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals. With a height advantage, Tam showed a preemptive strategy. She scored an almost absolute point in each of the first two rounds of Tuesday’s showdown. In the third round, Lethabo Bokamoso appeared to be physically weaker and even kissed the canvas once. In the end, Tam won 5-0, including four rounds with absolute points of 30. Her opponent in the quarterfinals is Spain’s Fuertes Fernandez Laura, who ranked ninth in Europe in 2022. The fight will take place at 7:30 pm on Wednesday (Vietnam time). Before Tuesday’s match, Tam had left a great impression on the audience and participants at the championship after her 5-0 victory over Kazakhstani opponent Kyzaibay Nazym, who won the world championship in 2014 and 2016 and was also crowned the Asian champion in 2021. … [Read more...] about Vietnamese female boxer through to world championship’s quarterfinals

A household in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City that breeds 82 dogs as pets in a 2.6m-wide house has been fined VND64 million (US$2,724) for causing environmental pollution. A representative of the People’s Committee of Ward 9 in District 4, where the family of Nguyen Thi My Thanh -- the owner of the dogs -- resides, confirmed the information to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday. In particular, Thanh’s family was fined VND40 million ($1,698) for discharging wastewater which exceeds the criteria by over 10 times and VND24 million ($1,019) for releasing wastewater with a pH level above the permitted. The household was also asked to take measures to deal with the environmental pollution and pay measurement and sample analysis fees. According to the representative of the People’s Committee of Ward 9, most of the 82 dogs are puppies and sick canines that other people brought to Thanh’s house. Local residents have repeatedly complained that Thanh dumped the dogs’ excrement … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City household raising 82 dogs fined for causing environmental pollution

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and delegates of the US-ASEAN Business Council in Ha Noi on Wednesday. —VNA/VNS Photo Duong Giang The Vietnamese Government will continue to create favourable conditions for US businesses to expand investment in Viet Nam and support Vietnamese enterprises participating deeply in the production value chain of US enterprises. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered this statement during a working session with the delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in Ha Noi yesterday. The PM said that Viet Nam considered the US one of its most important partners and wanted to deepen the comprehensive bilateral partnership. He also praised the US business community's production and investment activities in Viet Nam, saying that the Vietnamese Government was willing to listen to the US businesses' opinions. The PM noted that the Vietnamese Government would accompany US businesses to solve difficulties and successfully implement their investment … [Read more...] about Viet Nam promises optimal conditions for US enterprises: PM

Hanoi has recorded 70 chickenpox cases over the past week, raising the city’s total number of patients to 548 since early this year. According to the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control, children at nursery accounted for 36.5 percent of cases and primary school children 38 percent respectively. The disease has hit 18 among 30 local districts with Chuong My hardest hit with 230 patients, followed by Me Linh, Ba Vi, Nam Tu Liem and My Duc. But the city has seen no deaths related to chickenpox so far this year. More schools in Chuong My District have recorded cases of chickenpox, including Phu Nghia Nursery School and Van Vo Primary School. Chuong My District’s authorities have asked local communes to spray disinfectant and instructed teachers and parents on disease prevention and patient care. The Hanoi Preventive Medicine Department said that chickenpox is an acute and highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus transmitted from person to … [Read more...] about Hanoi sees rising chickenpox cases