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Vietnam’s services sector remains a bright spot, partially offsetting some external weakness, according to a report released by HSBC Vietnam on May 31. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The report, themed “Vietnam May data: Still a long way to go,” said while Vietnam’s May trade data points to no further deterioration, there is still a long way to see a meaningful rebound in its trade cycle. Exports slightly fall According to the report, exports fell 5.8% year on year in May, a slower pace than the market expected, but with lingering broad-based weakness. None of the major categories, including electronics, machinery, textiles/footwear and wooden furniture showed signs of a meaningful rebound. Data as of April 2023 suggests substantial falling shipments in Vietnam’s three largest exporting destinations - US, China and the EU. In particular, with a hefty share of 30%, Vietnam is particularly sensitive to a US economic slowdown. Despite exports falling by … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s services sector remains a bright spot: HSBC

General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang (R) hands over the prize to writer Tran Duc Tien at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Writer Tran Duc Tien was awarded the “Hiep si De Men” (Cricket Knight) Prize at the presentation ceremony for the fourth "De Men Award for Children" 2023 in Hanoi on May 31. De Men Award for Children ". The Cricket Desire Prize is presented to the winners. (Photo: VNA) Four winners of the "Khát vọng Dế Mèn" (Cricket Desire) Prize were also named, including a collection of paintings by 11-year-old Hoang Nhat Quang from Lang Son province; "Ông Ba Bị và những đứa trẻ trong mơ" (Mr. Ba Bi and the Children in Dreams, a long story by Lac An; "Ở một nơi có rất nhiều rồng" (In a Place with Many Dragons, a draft of a long story by Moc An; and "Vua ngan xóm hồ" (The King of the Duckweed Village, a draft of a long story by writer Uong Trieu. The prizes are granted to young artists (Photo: VNA) As scheduled, The … [Read more...] about Writer Tran Duc Tien wins “Cricket Knight” Prize 2023

Customs officials checks the transportation of goods at Huu Nghi International Border Gate via a digital border gate platform. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan Smart border gate control should be launched to prevent congestion and facilitate cross-border trade in farm products between Viet Nam and China. The proposal was raised at the working session between Viet Nam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and China’s Guangxi Province on Tuesday on measures to promote the trade exchange of farm produce between the two countries. Guangxi was the largest gateway for agricultural exports from Viet Nam to China. Statistics of the China Customs showed that around US$350.4 million worth of agricultural products was imported to China via border gates with Guangxi Province in the first four months of this year, accounting for 19.7 per cent of Viet Nam’s total agricultural exports to China. According to Nanning Customs, the peak harvest seasons for fruits such as durian and mango are … [Read more...] about Smart border gate control proposed to facilitate trade of farm produce with China

Farmer weaves lotus silk in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. — VNA/VNS Photo The International Union for Conservation of Nature Viet Nam (IUCN) in cooperation with An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta has launched a project on developing a sustainable value chain of products from lotus silk, with the financial support of The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF). The organisation has recently held a workshop to introduce the project to relevant stakeholders, focusing on the role of flood-based agriculture, the value chain for flood crops such as lotus and, in particular, the added value that can be developed from lotus silk. The project's goal is to promote flood-based livelihoods using lotus cultivation to support flood retention areas and restore some of the four billion cubic metres of water retention that was lost between 2000 and 2011 in the Mekong Delta. It will develop lotus silk making as a sustainable occupation for local communities, especially women. The project … [Read more...] about An Giang seeks to develop value chain of products from lotus silk

At the signing ceremony. — Photo hanoimoi.com.vn The Republic of Korea's conglomerate DB Group on Tuesday announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on business cooperation with Viet Nam's T&T Group. The two have agreed to share their infrastructure and know-how in Viet Nam, and to enhance mutual synergy through various collaborations. T&T Group, established in 1993, is a leading Vietnamese company engaged in various businesses, including financial services, energy, trade and real estate. It has over 200 subsidiaries and employs around 80,000 people. DB Group's Viet Nam business is led by DB Insurance. Its property and casualty insurance unit was established in 1984. DB Insurance made a leap forward in Viet Nam's market by acquiring PTI Insurance in 2015, becoming the third-largest insurance company in terms of market share in the Southeast Asian country. — VNS … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s T&T Group, RoK’s DB Group seal cooperation deal

Fruit and vegetable processors are urged to adopt advanced technologies to improve export value. Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export turnover has risen 29% year-on-year to US$1.9 billion in the first five months of this year, enabling the sector to reach US$4 billion in exports in 2023, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Fruit and vegetable exports grossed US$982 million in the first quarter of this year, up 16.2% compared to the same period in 2022, with sales to the Chinese market showing impressive growth. China imported $805 million worth of Vietnamese products, accounting for 80% of the market share. MARD stressed that in foreign markets, including China, Vietnamese fruits face stiff competition from rivals from Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. "Export prospects in the second half of the year will be better as many countries favor Vietnamese agricultural products," it added. Vietnamese durian for exporting. … [Read more...] about Vegetable and fruit exports expected to hit $4 billion this year

Hanoi will apply many solutions to improve the efficiency of enforcing food safety regulations in 2023 and the future. The Hanoi People's Committee has issued a plan to ensure food security for ten million people in the capital by 2030. The plan, signed by Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen, aims to strengthen the responsibilities of local governments and socio-political organizations to ensure food safety and security in Hanoi in all circumstances. The plan also aims to promote the resources of all economic sectors and support from the State to develop agriculture in a sustainable way. A farmer introduces a new rice variety in Hanoi’s outskirts. Photo: Lam Nguyen/The Hanoi Times According to the plan, by 2030, Hanoi will have approximately 55,000 hectares of rice production with an annual output of at least 660,000 tons of rice. In addition, the city has set targets to increase food consumption, reduce the rate of … [Read more...] about Hanoi to ensure food safety for ten million residents

Ninh Thuan to set off firework s to welcome grape – wine festival (Photo: VNA) Ninh Thuan (VNA) – The south central province of Ninh Thuan will hold a 15- minute firework display to welcome the Grape - Wine Festival 2023 and the ceremony to receive a certificate from UNESCO recognising the pottery-making art of the Cham ethnic minority people as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Long Bien said that the festival, running from June 13-18, are an important and meaningful event for Ninh Thuan to attract more tourists, thereby turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector with sustainable development in the coming years. Themed “Ninh Thuan – The land of convergence of different values”, spectators will have a chance to enjoy a low-range firework display in the opening night of the festival which is slated for June 16, 2023 at April 16 Square. According to Nguyen Van Hoa, Director … [Read more...] about Ninh Thuan to set off fireworks to welcome grape – wine festival

But that was 10 years ago, before she met Hoang Son in 2018. He helped her realize that "being oversized is a unique advantage," she said. "I had probably been hurt too much, and Son came to compensate," the 30-year-old woman said of her now-boyfriend. Quynh and Son at a cafe in Ho Chi Minh City in 2022. Photo courtesy of Quynh Before meeting Son, Quynh believed that she had an "overweight" body. Her height was 1.6 meters, while her weight was 58 kilograms, about 10 kilograms more than the average weight of her peers. She was turned down for jobs many times because companies said she had an "underqualified appearance." But what hurt Quynh most was when her boyfriend of eight years told her to lose weight. "Everyone around me made me feel like I’m ugly. I tried to lose weight like my ex wanted me too, and I didn’t dare wear things he didn’t find eye-catching," she recalled. She also skipped meals and over-exercised. "Still, after all the effort I put in, … [Read more...] about Love changes oversize model’s life

Ambassadors from ASEAN member states take a tour around the ASEAN Trade Fair as part of Seoul Food 2023, one of the largest food exhibitions in Asia, at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on May 30.(Photo courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre) Seoul – The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) on May 30 opened an ASEAN Trade Fair in the framework of the Seoul Food 2023 (SF2003) to showcase food and beverage products from ASEAN countries and create opportunities for ASEAN companies to connect and establish business partnerships with partners from the Republic of Korea (RoK). In his remarks at the opening ceremony, AKC Secretary General Kim Hae-yong said that since 2009, the centre has organised many trade fairs and seminars to assist ASEAN's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in finding their way into the Korean market, contributing to promoting vibrant trade activities between the two regions. A seminar on capacity building and enhancing value of ASEAN-Korea food was also held within the … [Read more...] about ASEAN, RoK boost business ties in food, beverage