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The Vietnamese delegation at the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Tourism Ministers Meeting in Indonesia. (Photo: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) Jakarta (VNA) – Russia is an important tourism market of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and had always been a leading source of tourists of Vietnam before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet has said. He made the remarks at the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Tourism Ministers Meeting, which was held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, within the framework of the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2023). The upgrade of the meeting between ASEAN and Russia from the Tourism Consultation to the Ministers Meeting from 2022 is a solid foundation to further foster cooperation between the two sides in the coming time, Viet noted. The deputy minister said that the Tourism Work Plan for the 2022-2024 period, which was approved by the first ASEAN-Russia Tourism Ministers' Meeting, … [Read more...] about Russia is an important tourism market of ASEAN: official

Thuy is a third-year Ph.D student at Rutgers University where she is studying applied mathematics. Last October, she submitted her resume to Google in the hope of landing a research internship in the field of science and technology. However, that plan is currently on hold due to the recent layoffs in the sector. "I feel like I’m in limbo," she said. Thuy is disappointed because she put in a lot of work preparing for interviews with companies she had applied to, which have recently put these jobs on hold again due to the current job cuts. The Vietnamese student revealed that she had applied to be an intern at Amazon, but in November 2022, she received a notice saying that the interview had been postponed. And then she surprisingly heard nothing more about her application. It was also disconcerting for Huy Anh, a third-year computer science student at Texas A&M University, to see the social media app Snap Inc let go of 20% of its staff, including his mentor, during the final … [Read more...] about US big tech mass layoffs leave Vietnamese international students in limbo

Phan Thi Hue, head of the Legal Inspection Department under the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries, noted that the EC will not try to remove the ‘yellow card’ regarding the detection of fishing vessels encroaching in foreign waters. An EC report in May warned that it is likely to impose ‘a red card’ on Vietnamese seafood in the event that violations on fishing regulations are not handled in a quick manner. The EC has therefore highlighted Vietnamese determination and efforts to gradually reduce the number of fishing vessels violating regulations regarding IUU fishing in foreign waters located in the Pacific region. It also spoke highly of the country’s goodwill, co-operation, transparency, and honesty in providing information about the fishing vessel database, as well as issuing a legal framework in line with international standards towards sustainable and responsible fishery management and international integration. Despite this, IUU inspection missions to several localities … [Read more...] about Greater efforts aim to remove Vietnam from IUU fishing warning

Brent crude futures crawled up 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $80.10 a barrel at 0022 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 15 cents, also 0.2% higher, to $73.54 a barrel. Last Friday, WTI and Brent slid 3% after strong U.S. jobs data raised concerns that the Federal Reserve would keep raising interest rates, which in turn boosted the dollar. While recession fears dominated the market last week, on Sunday International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol highlighted that China's recovery remains a key driver for oil prices. The IEA expects half of global oil demand growth this year will come from China, where Birol said jet fuel demand was surging. He said depending on how strong that recovery is, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, together called OPEC+, may have to reassess their decision to cut output by 2 million barrels per day through 2023. "If demand goes up very strongly, if the Chinese economy … [Read more...] about Oil prices edge higher as IEA’s Birol talks up China demand outlook

Great chances for Vietnam to switch to Web 3.0 (Source: netweb.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – As more information technology businesses invest resources into Web 3.0, coupled with the large number of users and coders, Vietnam sees great opportunities in the blockchain market in the Southeast Asian region, say experts. Web 3.0 was born from the natural evolution of older generation Web tools combined with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the connection between users and the Internet. In other words, Web 3.0 is an upgrade to its predecessors: Web 1.0 and 2.0. In recent years, foreign investors have flocked to Vietnam and established investment funds specialising in blockchain. Capital inflows into non-fungible token (NFT) assets also skyrocketed from 37 million USD to 4.8 billion USD in 2021, Finder reported. Experts explained that Vietnam has about 5.9 million people, or 6.1% of the population, who have exposure to blockchain-enabled … [Read more...] about Great chance for Vietnam navigate to Web 3.0: Experts

A Vietjet aircraft. The company’s revenue in 2022 hit VND32.5 trillion, while profit was limited, reaching only VND215 billion. — VNA/VNS Photo Vietjet Air saw an impressive recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic as it recorded a year-on-year rise of 175 per cent in net revenue to VND7.35 trillion (US$313.4 million), and earned profit of VND902 billion in the last quarter of 2022. The company’s revenue in 2022 hit VND32.5 trillion, while profit was limited, reaching only VND215 billion. It also contributed over VND4.3 trillion worth of direct and indirect taxes, fees and charges to the State budget. Last year, the carrier transported 20.5 million passengers aboard 116,000 flights, in which domestic transport increased by 20 per cent compared to 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Vietjet opened more than 20 new routes in 2022, mainly to the Indian market. As of December 31, 2022, Vietjet had operated a total of 103 routes. In 2023, Vietjet expects high revenue … [Read more...] about Vietjet reports over VND900 billion in profit in Q4/2022

Industry players had lobbied for years for a prize celebrating the work behind video game soundtracks, an acknowledgment of the major impact gaming and its music have on pop culture. In her acceptance speech, Economou -- who composed the music for "Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok" -- praised those who had urged the Recording Academy to finally include the category. Backstage, she said the win felt "incredible." "I did not have high hopes for this category because... I am generally very green in the video game music space and up against such giants and veterans," she said. For the inaugural award, the other nominees were the composers behind "Aliens: Fireteam Elite," "Call Of Duty: Vanguard," "Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy" and "Old World." Economou noted that she was the only woman nominated in the category, saying: "I hope it sets precedent and I hope it's not just one woman in the category each year from here on out." Before this year, video games were … [Read more...] about Assassin’s Creed’ composer wins first ever video game music Grammy

Consumers in the UK have been increasingly keen on Vietnam’s rice, especially after ST25 was honored as the best rice variety in the world in 2019, Nguyen Canh Cuong, trade counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. UK companies have paid much attention to Vietnam’s rice due to a higher demand in their country and incentives in the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). In particular, the UK has waived the import tariff on Vietnam’s fragrant rice instead of imposing a 17.4-percent tax rate as earlier. Vietnam’s rice value on the rise According to statistics from the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK, the European country’s rice imports from Vietnam rose in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, before the UKVFTA took effect, Vietnam’s rice exports to the UK surged to some 3,400 metric tons worth US$2.67 million from nearly 1,300 metric tons in the previous year. Vietnam’s rice exports to the UK fell 20 percent in volume but inched up four percent … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s rice increasingly preferred in UK

Delegates at the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (Photo: VNA) Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet has called on other ASEAN member countries to support and cooperate with each other in tourism development. Speaking at a press conference on the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 in Indonesia on February 5, the official said apart from traditional markets that have experienced difficulties, ASEAN should seek new ones and adjust some policies relating to aviation connection and visas. He also suggested the bloc continue implementing tourism development strategies for 2016-2025 and adjust and update them after each meeting of ASEAN tourism ministers. Viet described culture as the core value of the regional tourism and a unique factor helping the countries attract tourists. Sharing Viet’s view, Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco also suggested the ASEAN countries come together to offer unified tourism packages. “We have … [Read more...] about Vietnam calls for ASEAN cooperation to spur tourism development

Foreigners visit Ho Chi Minh City during the Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration. (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet together with other tourism senior officials in ASEAN countries attended the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (M-ATM) that opened on February 4 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia . Participants in the event that is part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum( ATF) 2023 heard a report and gave comments on the results of the 57th meeting of the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations, considered the agenda of M-ATM 3 (ASEAN plus China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea); M-ATM-India and M-ATM -Russia; and attended consultations with international organisations. The meeting also reviewed and approved the Chairman's Statement and 26th meeting of M-ATM Minutes. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet said that 2022 witnessed a rapid recovery of the regional tourism industry. … [Read more...] about Vietnam attends 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers in Indonesia