For the first time, on March 19, a batch of nearly 20 tonnes of fresh sugarcane from the northern province of Hoa Binh left Vietnam heading to the US market, facilitated by the privately held Tien Ngan Trade Investment Co., Ltd. Despite the modest value, the move heralds strong prospects for sugarcane and other agricultural items from Hoa Binh province. Nguyen Le Diep, the company’s director, revealed that it took six months of negotiations to meet the partner’s strict technical standards. Amidst the huge supply, boosting exports has become a crucial task for cement producers Notably, accompanying the fresh sugarcane batch were 10 cane pressing machines, which hints at how the products will be consumed in the foreign market. With a wealth of experience exporting hundreds of tonnes of fresh sugarcane to the EU, South Korea, and lately the US market, Tien Ngan Co., Ltd. is set to export 300-500 tonnes of fresh sugarcane this year. The fresh export shipment came … [Read more...] about Firms gearing up to boost exports
Garment firms
Hanoi patriots recount memories of captivity
The sons of Hanoi held their heads high and persevered in the cause of national liberation in the face of brutality and harassment. The lethal and brutal treatment and torture in Phu Quoc jail could not weaken the determination of the sons of Hanoi to survive and fight for the freedom and independence of their homeland. Former Hanoi imprisoned veterans attend a ceremony on March 22 that honors their sacrifices for national unity and liberation. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times Phu Quoc Prison was built in 1949-1950 under French colonial rule to detain political dissidents and national patriots. From 1963 to 1973, more than 40,000 Vietnamese patriots, soldiers, and communist activists who fought for the liberation of their country were incarcerated in the prison, which was run by the South Vietnamese regime. Located some 90 kilometers from the Vietnamese mainland, Phu Quoc prison was the site of the deaths of some 4,000 people who gave their lives in the … [Read more...] about Hanoi patriots recount memories of captivity
N.A. Vice Chairman visits RoK, meets host leaders
At the meeting on March 21, the RoK N.A. speaker noted that the relations between Vietnam and the RoK have been developing strongly, highlighting the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022. He stressed that during his meetings with key leaders of the Vietnamese Party, Government and National Assembly during his visit to Vietnam last January, he noticed that both sides have been aware of the great potential of bilateral cooperation. Kim extended an invitation to N.A. Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and legislators of Vietnam to attend a forum for ASEAN and Korean leaders, slated for June in the RoK’s Jeju Island. For his part, Hai affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to the relations with the RoK and suggested the two sides maintain all-level delegation exchanges and meetings, saying coordination and sharing of views on the bilateral cooperation as well as the regional and international situation would help deepen relations between their … [Read more...] about N.A. Vice Chairman visits RoK, meets host leaders
Italy – Vietnam relationship “strongly rooted in history”: Ambassador
The following is the full text of the interview. Reporter: How do you evaluate the relations between Vietnam and Italy since the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties 50 years ago, especially since the upgrading of the relationship to a strategic partnership in January 2013? Ambassador Antonio Alessandro: I would use the words of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, who has just released a warm message of congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Italy - Vietnam diplomatic relations. President Mattarella congratulated the two countries for their relationship, “strongly rooted in history” and at the same time “directed with confidence towards the future.” These words express very well the idea that the 50th anniversary is not only a great achievement, considering the long journey that both countries have made since the seventies, but also a platform to let our friendship grow further and face together the great global challenges, like climate … [Read more...] about Italy – Vietnam relationship “strongly rooted in history”: Ambassador
HCM City’s tourism shows positive signs with return of Chinese visitors
Foreign tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City's Post Office. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Travel firms in Ho Chi Minh City have launched tours between Vietnam and China as soon as China decided to include Vietnam in the list of countries to which Chinese group tours can be conducted from March 15. According to the city’s businesses, more Chinese tourist groups will arrive in the city this month and April will be the peak time marking the return of Chinese tourists to Vietnam. On the contrary, the number of Vietnamese tourists booking tours to China will also increase, helping to stimulate demand in the tourism markets of the two countries in the coming time. The forecast is based on the huge tourism demand of Chinese tourists after about three years of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Vietnam being one of the Chinese tourists’ favourite destinations. In addition, Vietnamese businesses have developed high-quality and oriented products and services for specific tourist … [Read more...] about HCM City’s tourism shows positive signs with return of Chinese visitors
Vietnam a major destination for Cambodian tourists
The number of Cambodian travelers entering Vietnam is on the high rise, with the primary purpose of these visits quickly shifting from medical tourism to vacation tourism. Vietnam currently welcomes over one million Cambodian tourists each year – a figure which has surged since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, many local travel firms claim the number of Vietnamese companies offering tourism geared toward Cambodian tourists remains limited. Extended stays According to Pham Ngoc Ha, deputy general director of Saco Travel Company, her firm has been facilitating travel for scores of weekend travelers from the Cambodian provinces which border Tay Ninh Province in southern Vietnam. Popular tourism attractions for these visitors were local pagodas and Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these tours lasted just one day. Now more and more Cambodian tourists are opting for four-day, three-night tours to Ho Chi Minh City and other major … [Read more...] about Vietnam a major destination for Cambodian tourists
U.S. Fed delivers small rate hike amid global banking turmoil
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, but indicated it was on the verge of pausing further increases in borrowing costs after the recent collapse of two U.S. banks. Fed Chair Jerome Powell sought to reassure investors about the soundness of the banking system, saying that the management of Silicon Valley Bank "failed badly," but that the bank's collapse did not indicate wider weaknesses in the banking system. "These are not weaknesses that are running broadly through the banking system," he said, adding that the takeover of Credit Suisse seemed to have been a positive outcome. The Federal Open Market Committee policy statement also said the U.S. banking system is "sound and resilient." Even so, Wall Street ended sharply lower after Powell told a news conference that officials were still intent on fighting inflation while also eying the extent to which recent bank failures had cooled demand and slowed lending. The … [Read more...] about U.S. Fed delivers small rate hike amid global banking turmoil
Vietnam can enhance its role further within ASEAN
We are facing a challenging business environment on a global scale. How do you evaluate the support the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) has and the wider Vietnamese business community? Arsjad Rasjid, chairman of ASEAN BAC 2023 In our country we have something called Indonesia Incorporated, where the government and the private sector work together. This is very important and, at the ASEAN level, we should have an ASEAN Incorporated, where the governments and the business community work together. This is because there are multiple challenges. For instance, we have 280 million people in ASEAN. If we didn’t have the public and the private sectors working together, we would not have been able to solve issues like carrying out mass vaccinations during the pandemic. If we work together on ASEAN connectivity, on energy for example, we can maintain our security with this synergy. We are a $3.2 trillion economy. However, with more efforts towards ASEAN … [Read more...] about Vietnam can enhance its role further within ASEAN
Auto makers project bumpy years ahead
Some branches are taking care of the registration fee for car buyers, but sales are still not being boosted, photo Le Toan In a document sent to the prime minister last week, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) along with other associations asked the government to extend the payment of special consumption tax and reduce the registration fee of domestically manufactured and assembled cars by a half this year, in order to stimulate demand. A VAMA representative said that the domestic car sales market is in a gloomy situation, and has been struggling like many other industries since 2020. “In order to stimulate market demand, we need strong enough policies like extending the payment of excise tax in 2023 and taking 50 per cent off the registration fee. These should be applied as soon as possible,” emphasised the representative. To combat the effects of the pandemic, the government chopped the registration fee in half for domestically manufactured and assembled … [Read more...] about Auto makers project bumpy years ahead
Vietnamese model wears Filipino barong before Manila wedding
Linh uploaded photos of her wearing the Philippines’ beloved traditional garment during preparations for her wedding, which is set to take place later this month. The Barong is worn by Filipinos on special occasions such as ceremonies and weddings. "The traditional costume here is really lovely and suitable to my taste. The pearl and ivory colors compliment my skin tone, while the gold embroidery thread, metallic glitter, and other details are so meticulously made. Although it’s traditional, I feel good every time I wear it," Linh wrote on social media. Linh Rin wears Philippines’ barong. Photo courtesy of Linh Rin According to Business World , traditional barongs are made of a thin, light pina fabric embroidered with gold or metallic threads. Linh’s very feminine barong was crafted in what’s known as the baro't saya style. One outstanding feature of Linh’s outfit was its puffy sleeves. According to The Guardian , the puffy sleeves bring delicacy to … [Read more...] about Vietnamese model wears Filipino barong before Manila wedding