Labour best start policy

Participants at the dialogue (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The 16th Vietnam-US labour dialogue took place in Hanoi on November 16, gathering representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the US Department of Labour, and the US Embassy in Vietnam. This marked the resumption of the annual labour dialogue between the two countries after being suspended since 2017. Addressing the event, MoLISA Deputy Minister Le Van Thanh said the dialogue’s resumption after years of hiatus has helped the two sides share information about labour as well as labour cooperation and propose solutions to promoting labour-employment and social security cooperation . Appreciating the technical and financial support with the US Department of Labour, Thanh said these activities have contributed to helping Vietnam to better its system of labour and social policies. It has also helped improve the effectiveness of their implementation, as well as … [Read more...] about Vietnam, US look to expand labour cooperation

Le Xuan Dinh-Deputy Minister of Science and Technology During 2022, the sci-tech sector focused on innovation and legal documents for socioeconomic development and international integration. In particular, the sector submitted documents related to the application of biotechnology and the amended intellectual property (IP) law, as well as a plethora of legal decrees, decisions, directives, and circulars. Last year, the ministry also submitted the sci-tech and innovation development strategy to 2030, which contributes to turning Vietnam into a developing country with modern industry and high average income, as well as developing society, ensuring national defence, and protecting the environment. The ministry also proposed amendments to the Law on Science and Technology, the Law on Product and Goods Quality, the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations, and the Law on Atomic Energy. Sci-tech has promoted the development of sectors and industries such as agriculture, … [Read more...] about Policies bringing new prospects for sci-tech market

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 2.9% in October-December from a year earlier, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Tuesday, slower than the third-quarter's 3.9% pace. The rate still exceeded the second quarter's 0.4% expansion and market expectations of a 1.8% gain. On a quarterly basis, GDP stalled, coming in at 0.0% in the fourth quarter, compared with growth of 3.9% in July-September. Beijing last month abruptly lifted its strict anti-virus measures that had severely restrained economic activity in 2022, but the relaxation has also led to a sharp rise in Covid cases that economists say might hamper near term growth. For 2022, GDP expanded 3.0%, badly missing the official target of "around 5.5%" and braking sharply from 8.4% growth in 2021. Other indicators for December such as retail sales and factory output, also released along with GDP data, beat expectations but were still weak. "Activity data in December surprised broadly to the upside, but … [Read more...] about China’s 2022 economic growth one of the worst on record, post-pandemic policy faces test

In addition to visa extension, Thai tourism officials plan to add more flights during the peak travel season and to attract high-spending tourists to Thailand to generate tourism revenues of 2.38 trillion baht ($72 billion), the Bangkok Post reported. Starting from October 1 last year, citizens from over 50 countries that are eligible for visa exemptions were allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 45 days. Currently, the policy will only be in effect until March 31. Thanks to the open visa policy, Southeast Asia's second largest economy received 11 million foreign visitors last year, making its tourism industry among the fastest to recover in the region following the pandemic. The Thai government is targeting 25 million foreign arrivals this year. … [Read more...] about Thailand plans to extend 45-day visa-free stay policy until year-end

Following their tenure as foreign ambassadors to Vietnam, two diplomats have chosen to launch businesses in Vietnam, taking advantage of the Southeast Asian country’s dynamic startup scene. Former French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noël Poirier and former New Zealand Ambassador Haike Manning both served in Vietnam from 2012 to 2016 – a tenure which left such an impression on each of them that they both chose to stay in the country following their ambassadorships. Ex-ambassador’s laundromat service Former French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noël Poirier left diplomatic service following his term in Vietnam, but he didn’t choose to leave the country. Instead, he opened three laundromats in Hanoi, one of which managed to stay open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while the other two only recently reopened following financial hardship brought about by the coronavirus. But laundromats are just a side hustle for Porier. When he’s not busy making sure Hanoians have clean clothes, … [Read more...] about Ex-diplomats start businesses in Vietnam

Hanoi ranked fourth in the annual Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards list for the Asia region while Da Nang, famous for its long, sandy beaches, secured eighth place. Phan Thiet, known for its sports adventure activities and ancient fishing villages, and Nha Trang, a beach paradise famous for scuba diving in south central Vietnam, broke into the Tripadvisor list for the first time, at 16th and 20th respectively. Mui Ne beach in Phan Thiet Town is seen from above. Photo by Shutterstock Bali, known for its friendly visa policy, was the most popular destination in the region, followed by New Delhi and Phuket. The rankings were based on the quality and quantity of ratings and reviews of accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in destinations by travelers on Tripadvisor over the 12-month period between November 1, 2021 and October 31, 2022. India, Thailand and Vietnam dominated the regional list, with each having four representatives. … [Read more...] about Four Vietnam tourist hotspots among Asia’s 25 best: Tripadvisor

LaunchZone is a Vietnamese incubator for innovative start-ups. It said some Vietnamese start-ups have positioned themselves among the top 200 blockchain firms in the world. — Photo vietnamnet.vn E-commerce start-ups are becoming more and more popular and are considered relatively safe in the fields of innovative start-ups in Viet Nam today. However, safety does not mean success because to succeed in a vibrant developing market requires effort and creative thinking. Viet Nam is considered to have a lot of potential for start-ups in the e-commerce sector, with 72.1 million internet users, accounting for 73.2 per cent of the population, ranking 12th in terms of internet users globally by September last year. Two years of the COVID-19 pandemic have changed the shopping habits of the majority of consumers, shifting from direct shopping to online shopping. This is one of the important levers that create the amazing development of Viet Nam's e-commerce industry. A report by the … [Read more...] about Innovative start-ups in the e-commerce sector

Thanh and her team of five people call themselves "Hanoi and around with Thanh." For eight years they've been gifting the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine to foreigners via fun and casual classes. Thanh said she wants her attendees to enjoy themselves to the fullest so she limits enrollment in each class to two-four people for quality control. Her team hold about five courses per month. It all started with a hobby when Thanh was in university. She used her free time to guide foreign tourists around the town so she could improve her English. But over time, she grew passionate about sharing Vietnamese culture with outsiders. "I have a dream of becoming a tourism ambassador for Vietnam, someone who can share meaningful experiences that are directly connected to local culture with visitors," said Thanh. "Moreover, I want to contribute to the development of sustainable tourism." "Hanoi and around with Thanh" participants accompany Thanh as she shops for ingredients at Vietnamese … [Read more...] about It started as a hobby: A cooking class for foreigners

The organizers of Miss Universe announced the result on social media five days after the contest ended. The voting for best swimsuit cape was opened after the semifinals on January 11. "This win is for all of you," said Chau. "I’m thankful and appreciate your support throughout my journey." Before the contest started, the organizers sent the contestants a blank silk cape and requested them to tell their stories and convey their personal or community messages by drawing on the blank cape. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau performs in swimsuit and cape in semifinal of Miss Universe on January 11, 2023. Photo by Pham Vinh Chinh Chau's cape is named Giac Mo Viet (Vietnam Dream). The drawings on the cape are supported by artists Trung Dinh, Chiec La and designer Thuy Nguyen. The crew tried to put the dreams and aspirations of Chau and poor children on the cape through hand-painting using water colors and traditional dyes. In the semifinal, Chau had a confident performance and … [Read more...] about Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau wins best swimsuit cape competition at 2023 Miss Universe

Apartment blocks in Ha Noi. Experts are concerned that affordable housing has been declined steadily in recent years. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam The government has taken timely measures to support the realty market during tough times, according to Vuong Duy Dung, deputy director of the Housing and Real Estate Market Management Agency. Dung was speaking at the workshop 'Measures to ease the difficulties facing the realty market and the market outlook in 2023' on January 13. The deputy director said the Prime Minister had issued various legal documents to lift the market out of difficulties, including Decision No.1435 and Official Dispatch No.1164. Under the decision, a team led by the Ministry of Construction has been established to report on obstacles holding back local realty projects. In two weeks, the team has travelled across five provinces and met 30 realty firms to take stock of their situation. After the team reported to the Prime Minister on the local situation, the … [Read more...] about Experts call for favourable policies to help real estate