Vientiane (VNA) - The Lao government has set a revenue target of over 3.8 billion USD for the tourism industry in the next five years, with about 15 million tourists visiting the Southeast Asian country after the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. According to its new socio-economic development plan report, the Lao government said if the country does not have enough COVID-19 vaccines, the target will be reduced to 1.5 billion USD in revenue, and around 6 million in arrivals. The Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Vientiane quoted the report, saying that the number of visitors to the country increased to 4.79 million in 2019 from 4.23 million in 2016. The figure was estimated to reach only 980,000 in 2020 due to travel restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. As part of efforts to revive the tourism sector, the Lao government launched an initiative to stimulate domestic tourism demand. The tourism industry will play a more important role in the Lao economy in the … [Read more...] about Laos targets 3.8 billion USD from tourism revenue in 2021
Lao cai agricultural and ocop products exhibition
Agricultural sector aims to increase domestic beef production
By November last year, the total output and value of live market cows and bulls imported to Vietnam were more than 500,000 heads (of which, 91 percent were cows), with a turnover of US$556 million; cool cattle meat reached 1.5 million kilograms; frozen meat reached 80 million kilograms. Amid the current situation, the State, as well as localities, has issued many policies to encourage and boost the development of livestock farming to increase domestic beef production. Especially, the livestock development strategy for the period from 2021 to 2030, with a vision for 2045 to develop livestock production, in general, and beef cattle, in particular, has been approved. Accordingly, the agricultural sector will maintain an average growth rate of 1 percent per year for the period from 2021 to 2030 and an average increase of 6 percent per year of beef production, and raise the proportion of large muscular breeds to above 70 percent of the total herd. Along with that, the strategy will … [Read more...] about Agricultural sector aims to increase domestic beef production
24 hours to capture Y Ty in snow
A rare homestay in Y Ty, covered with a snowflake shawl which makes everything glowing and glittering. VNS Photos Bui Dieu Minh ENCHANTING: The green icing of the grass and water-filled rice fields makes it looks like a glowing SNOWY SPLENDOUR: A homestay in Y Ty, covered with a snowflake shawl which makes everything glowing and glittering, lake preparing for hibernation. The next day all of this will be gone. I made up my mind in just a few minutes, cancelled some of my plans and I hopped on a coach heading to the mountains. … [Read more...] about 24 hours to capture Y Ty in snow
VIETNAM NEWS JANUARY 19
Presidents Ho Chi Minh (L) and Mao Zedong toast the sustainability of the Vietnam-China friendship in August 1957 (File photo: VNA) In his remarks, Chairman of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association in HCM City Duong Quan Ha said the two countries are neighbours with a time-tested friendship. Their relations, nurtured by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong and generations of leaders, were lifted to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and have been flourishing, bringing about common benefits for their people. … [Read more...] about VIETNAM NEWS JANUARY 19
Northern region faces continued cold weather
Hanoi (VNA) - The National Centre for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecast has reported that the temperature in the northern region will continue to decrease deeply over the coming days. Rain and cold air hit the northern region on January 18 with the lowest temperature of 8-10 degrees Celsius and 4-7 degrees Celsius in mountain areas. The lowest temperature was recorded early January 18 in Sa Pa, Lao Cai province, was 7 degrees Celsius and 9.2 degrees in Mau Son, Lang Sơn province, a slight increase from the previous day. Some other mountainous areas also experienced very low temperatures including Pha Din (Dien Bien) with 9.4 degrees Celsius, Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc) 12 degrees and Dong Van (Ha Giang) 7.3 degrees. The capital city to the north-central region faced temperatures of about 16 degrees Celsius. Meteorological experts have warned that snowfall is predicted to occur in the high mountain areas of Lao Cai and Lai Chau … [Read more...] about Northern region faces continued cold weather