Fuel costs trip

A Hong Kong lawmaker who met President Xi Jinping during a rare visit by the Chinese leader to the territory last week said he tested positive for COVID-19 two days after the meeting. Steven Ho, who is part of the city's largest pro-Beijing party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), tested positive for coronavirus on July 2 and has self isolated, according to an announcement on his Facebook page on Sunday. Ho said he tested negative for the virus on June 30, the day he was shown in a photo with Xi, displayed by local broadcaster RTHK . Xi was in Hong Kong to mark the 25th handover celebration of the territory to the mainland from Britain and swear in the city's new leader John Lee. It was his first public trip outside the Chinese mainland since the coronavirus pandemic began. Ahead of Xi's visit to Hong Kong, officials ramped up coronavirus testing and quarantine protocols along with a massive security force, blocking roads and the … [Read more...] about Hong Kong lawmaker who met China’s Xi tests positive for COVID

Steel roll production lines at Hoa Phat Steel Sheet Co., Ltd, located in the Pho Nui A Industrial Park in the northern province of Hung Yen. Steel is one of key export products from Viet Nam to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. — VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh Vietnamese businesses have many opportunities to increase export goods to Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, according to the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, deputy director of the Export Support Center, said that Viet Nam had many favourable conditions for exporting goods to Thailand and Laos because the three countries were close geographically, and members of various free trade agreements. To meet the demand of customers in Thailand and Laos, domestic enterprises are recommended to export goods reaching technical standards and to have import certificates from authorities. They also need to apply advanced technology in processing and preserving products to ensure the quality of … [Read more...] about VN Trade Promotion Department lauds ASEAN export opportunites

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines resumes services between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta (Indonesia) on July 2. (Photo: VNA) The first flight in months, coded VN631, departed from HCMC for Jakarta at around 9:40am, with 144 passengers on board; and the return flight took off from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 1:50pm carrying 171 passengers. There are now regular round trips on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is another international destination Vietnam Airlines has relaunched air route to after the Vietnam reopened its border and lifted travel restrictions. Nguyen Minh Toan, head of Vietnam Airline’s representative office in Indonesia, said there is high travel demand between Vietnam and Indonesia, and the resumption of an air route between the two countries, with three flights per week, marked a start for the carrier before it can recover the flight frequency to seven per week like pre-pandemic. Travellers can visit its official website at … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines relaunches services to Indonesia

The event was held by the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) to celebrate the two countries’ Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022. On behalf of the President of Vietnam, the VWU presented the third-class Independence Order to three individuals, the third-class Labor Order to one collective, the Friendship Order to 15 collectives and three individuals, and the Friendship Medal to two individuals of the LWU in recognition of their major contribution to the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties and states. On this occasion, the two unions signed a cooperation agreement for 2022 - 2027, showing their wish and determination to promote relations via more practical and effective activities in the next five years. So far, the VWU chapters in 15 Vietnamese localities have had cooperation deals and activities with 13 localities and partners of Laos. Their joint activities include sharing experience in women affairs, developing livelihoods … [Read more...] about Collectives, individuals of Lao Women’s Union honored with Vietnam’s orders, medals

Ngoc Thao from HCMC, 32, said that one kilogram of bacon now costs between VND150,000-180,000 ($6.43-7.72), depending on whether it is purchased at a traditional wet market or a supermarket. Cheaper cuts of pork, such as cutlet and thigh, range from VND100,000-130,000 per kilogram, which is twice or thrice the price of chicken. "The prices of vegetables, spices and many other things have skyrocketed, but my salary remains unchanged, so I must cut back on my spending on expensive stuff," she said, sighing. "Now our family has meat only for one or two meals per week." A VnExpress survey of livestock farms at the end of June found that the price of live pigs had crossed VND60,000 per kg, a slight increase from previous days. The majority of farmers said the price has increased because the cost of animal feed has increased. Prices of new born pigs have also increased by 20 percent compared to two months ago. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and … [Read more...] about As prices rise, Vietnamese fork out less for pork

Visitors take a boat tour around a nipa palm farm in Ben Tre province. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, renowned as the kingdom of coconut and for its large acreages of fruit farming , is striving to become a top destination for ecotourism and river-based tours. ecotourism projects in Ben Tre is Nghenh Xuan Farmstay in Thanh Trieu commune in the district of Chau Thanh, which lies on the banks of Thanh Trieu River. Visitors pick fruits in a farmstay in Ben Tre province. (Photo: VNA) Guests of the farmstay can take part in a wide range of adventures here, from river swimming, boat trips to fishing and cycling in the neighbouring countryside, he said, adding that the farmstay also cooperates with ten plantations to offer the guests sight-seeing and fruit-picking tours. VNA … [Read more...] about Ben Tre emerging destination of ecotourism, river-based tours

The route connecting Hanoi to Fukuoka is operated three return flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays every week, the Hanoi - Nagoya one is operated four return flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to serve people and tourists with almost 5 hours flying per leg. After the routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi to Tokyo and Osaka, new routes to Nagoya and Fukuoka have offered more options for passengers when flying with Vietjet between Vietnam and Japan with saving cost, flexible flight schedules. Japan is one of the favorite destinations for Vietnamese tourists with beautiful scenery and unique culture. Fukuoka, in particular, which sits on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island, is known for many great beaches, ancient temples, the variety of nature as well as the rich culture and historical legacy of Kyushu. Meanwhile, Nagoya is Japan’s third most populous urban area with developed industrial economy and is well-known for its signature … [Read more...] about Vietjet launched direct routes to Japan’s Fukuoka, Nagoya

Collectives and individuals of the Lao Women’s Union receive orders and medals from the State of Vietnam at the ceremony in Da Nang city on July 2. (Photo: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) – Orders and medals from the State of Vietnam were bestowed upon some collectives and individuals of the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) at a ceremony held in the central city of Da Nang on July 2. The event was held by the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) to celebrate the two countries’ Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022. On behalf of the President of Vietnam, the VWU presented the third-class Independence Order to three individuals, the third-class Labour Order to one collective, the Friendship Order to 15 collectives and three individuals, and the Friendship Medal to two individuals of the LWU in recognition of their major contributions to the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States. On this occasion, the two unions signed a … [Read more...] about Collectives, individuals of Lao Women’s Union honoured with Vietnam’s orders, medals

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan has asked the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to promptly tackle flight delays and cancellations after latest data shows that up to 5,602 flights by domestic carriers were delayed in June (May 19 – Jun 18), accounting for 18.2%. The figure was 15.9 percentage points higher than the same period last year and 9.4 percentage points higher than may, according to the report by CAAV. The report indicates that six domestic airlines – Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Pacific Airlines, Vasco, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines – operated total of 30,808 flights in June, up 528.7% compared to the same period last year and 18% against the previous month. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and low-cost airline Vietjet Air outperformed the others, running 11,106 and 12,008 flights, respectively. It showed that Vietjet Air was the least punctual with 2,885 flights delayed, equivalent to 24% of its total number of flights. Vietnam … [Read more...] about CAAV asked to tackle high rates in flight delays, cancellations

High prices High prices are making Vietnamese seafood products uncompetitive in the 15 member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), which came into effect this year. Tran Le Dung, First Secretary in charge of the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia, said that in Malaysia, Vietnamese seafood products are sold at prices higher than those of Chinese and Thai products of the same kind. The Vietnam Trade Office connected Vietnamese sellers of dried fish and tuna with Malaysian importers of these products but transactions between them failed due to price disagreement, Dung said. The trade office representative said that although it has a small population, Malaysia has a high demand for seafood, and is not only a member of the RCEP but also participates in many free trade agreements (FTAs). These factors mean that successful penetration of this market will enable Vietnamese seafood businesses to access many other markets in the bloc. Price has become … [Read more...] about High price hampers Vietnam’s seafood exports to Asia-Pacific markets