In da nang where u s troops first landed memories of war have faded

Tourists enjoy performance at Sun World Ba Na Hills - a tourist attraction in the central city of Da Nang. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A key for Vietnam to attract more foreign tourists at this time is to change its visa policy, said Chris Farewell, a member of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB). Chris told Dau tu ( Vietnam Investment Review) that expanding the list of eligible visa waivers with a maximum stay of up to 30-45 days will be a big drive for foreigners who are planning a trip to Vietnam. TAB also proposed that e-visa should be expanded to all countries and domain name changed so that foreigners can recognise and find more easily when surfing the internet, he said. While Thailand offers visa exemption to citizens from 65 countries and territories with a stay of 30-45 days or even up to 90 days in some cases, Vietnam has not introduced any travelling incentives for visitors after reopening its border in March last year. Resuming tourism activities earlier than … [Read more...] about Visa policy change needed to further attract foreign visitors: tourism authority

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. - Vietnam pledges to actively participate in and contribute to the building of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) to promote the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, a Vietnamese representative told the first Informal Consultations on GDC in New York on January 30. The building of the compact is necessary to promote a safer, fairer and more developed digital world for all. Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said at the event. Read full story - Vietnam will participate in ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 themed “ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations”, and the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from February 2 – 5, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). At the forum, Vietnam will introduce tourism development, mechanisms and policies, tourism products and … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on January 31

Despite the high demand for housing, the transaction volume stays low due to the high prices compared to people’s average income. The scarce supply of new projects remains a key factor keeping demand for housing high in Hanoi’s real estate market in 2023. Locals looking at a real estate project in Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times During the last months of 2022, transactions in the real estate market stayed in stark contrast to the previous boom period. Experts suggested that this was due to several laws regulating the market not being completed, coupled with a sharp decline in liquidity as a result of the government's direction to restrict credit flows in high-risk fields and tighter regulations on corporate bond issuance. The sharp drop in transaction volume and supply, coupled with the high demand for housing, means that prices continue to rise. Data from the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS) showed in the fourth quarter of 2022, Hanoi has … [Read more...] about Demand for housing in Hanoi forecast to rise in 2023

"We have to be determined to improve the traffic infrastructure in the region within this government term [2021-2026], especially the expressway system," the prime minister said when meeting with authorities in the Mekong Delta. Between now and 2026, the region should build an additional 463 kilometers of expressways, he said. As per a master plan for traffic infrastructure development, the region is set to have six expressways measuring 1,166 kilometers long in total. They are to be funded by either state funds or via the public-private partnership format. Until now, only four expressways have been completed, running a combined total of 171 kilometers in length. The delta now has eight expressway projects that are either under construction or still waiting for investment procedures to be completed. The eight projects will cost a total VND94.4 trillion (US$4 billion). PM Chinh ordered that related agencies and localities where the projects go through must speed up work so … [Read more...] about PM wants Mekong Delta expressways tripled in length by 2026

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The southeast region is preparing necessary conditions in infrastructure, administrative procedures and human resources to welcome a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI), as investors have flocked to the region right from the beginning of this year. The region, comprising Ho Chi Minh City and five provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria–Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, and Tay Ninh, has been attractive to investors. HCM City and Binh Duong were the leading localities in FDI attraction in 2022 with 3.94 billion USD and 3.14 billion USD, respectively. Right at the beginning of 2023, Binh Duong welcomed many large firms coming to explore the local investment opportunities, including Sembcorp and CapitaLand from Singapore, Nebraska from the US, and Tokyu from Japan. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)’s Foreign Investment Department, the southeast region will continue to be the major FDI magnet of the country … [Read more...] about Southeast region prepares for new FDI wave

Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand is set to open three new “smart” piers on the Chao Phraya River this year to help reduce traffic problems and offer improved transport links between road, rail, and river. The Rama VII Pier, Tha Tian Pier, and Kiakkai Pier will be upgraded to become smart piers this year, deputy spokeswoman of the Thai Government Tipanan Sirichana said on January 30. The government planned to upgrade 29 piers into smart ones by 2025, at a cost of about 942 million THB (28.77 million USD). They will be equipped with real-time displays to inform commuters of boat arrival times. The facilities will also have free WiFi and mobile-phone charging stations, with a design that offers support for wheelchair users. The smart piers will have a landmark-worthy aesthetic and will connect to other transport platforms, she said, adding that they will also accept digital payments, including prepaid cards and mobile payments. Six smart piers at Sathon, Memorial Bridge … [Read more...] about Thailand to open more smart piers

HANOI -- A pilot was killed when a Vietnamese air force fighter jet crashed during a training session on Tuesday in the north of the country, state media reported. The accident happened at noon in Yen Bai province and the 30-year-old pilot died while trying to land the Russian-made Su-22 jet at a local airport, the official Vietnam News Agency reported. Vietnam's defence ministry has launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, it added. Two pilots were killed in a similar exercise involving an Su-22 in central Vietnam in 2018, while two were forced to eject over the East Vietnam Sea in 2015 when their Su-22 jet went down. Vietnam relies heavily on Russia for its military procurements, although it is seeking to diversify its equipment and arms suppliers. HANOI -- A pilot was killed when a Vietnamese air force fighter jet crashed during a training session on Tuesday in the north of the country, state media reported. The accident happened at noon in Yen Bai … [Read more...] about Military jet crashes in northern Vietnam, 1 pilot killed

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested Tuyen Quang complete the provincial planning pertaining land and urban development in line with the National Master Plan which was approved by the legislature during the recent second extraordinary meeting. He noted that the province should review issues related to public investment, three national target programs and resources for socio-economic infrastructure development. In order to develop tourism, the province should improve livelihoods for residents in the immediate future, thus creating resources for consumption demand and socio-economic development, he said. As a revolutionary base with a number of well-known relic sites, he proposed further heed to cultural development to facilitate ecological and historical tourism such as Tan Trao special national relic site and Na Hang - Lam Binh national landmark. Further attention should be paid to social welfare, poverty reduction and new rural development as well as national … [Read more...] about National Assembly Chairman offers development suggestions to Tuyen Quang

Present at the event were Director of the General Department of Political Affairs General Luong Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Defense Ministers Senior Lieutenant Generals Hoang Xuan Chien, Vu Hai San, and Le Huy Vinh. The festival was part of the practical activities to mark the 64th anniversary of the day President Ho Chi Minh launched the lunar New Year (Tet) tree-planting festival (1959-2023) and 93rd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - 2023) and welcome the Year of the Cat. It also responded to the Prime Minister-launched program of planting 1 billion trees for a green Vietnam. Addressing the event, Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang said that in the 2015-2020 period, the whole military planted nearly 11 million trees of different kinds, importantly greening bare land, barren hills, helping regulate climate, and improving … [Read more...] about Defense ministry launches tree planting festival 2023

A pilot has been killed after a Su-22 fighter of the 921st Air Force Regiment crashed in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai on January 31. Captain Tran Ngoc Duy, 31, flying the aircraft died during a training session at noon on January 31, according to the State military media outlet. The aircraft was landing at an airbase in Yen Bai when it crashed, said the outlet, adding the pilot was ordered to parachute but he tried to save the plane and died afterwards. The Ministry of Defense has directed the Air Defense - Air Force Service and relevant agencies to launch an investigation into the cause of the accident and support the bereaved. … [Read more...] about Pilot dies in Su-22 fighter crash in northern Vietnam