Semi annual canton fair

Vietnam's tourism suppliers have won top awards in the categories of unique homestay, community tourism associated with local economic development, qualified public toilets, and best ASEAN spa services. The ASEAN Tourism Awards 2023 ceremony was held on February 5 in Indonesia as part of the ongoing ASEAN Tourism Forum 2023 under the theme "ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations". A foreign traveler enjoys buying fruits in Cai Be Floating Market. Photo: Mekong Smiles As a result, two groups of host families, one in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long and the other in the northwestern province of Lao Cai, received the ASEAN Homestay Award. The first group consists of six establishments: Ut Thuy, Sau Thanh, Nam Thanh, Nam Thanh, Ba Linh, Ngoc Phuong, and Ngoc Sang, in An Binh District, Vinh Long Province, about 140 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The locality is famous for its islets of fruit orchards. The most prominent tourist attractions are the Cai Be … [Read more...] about ASEAN Tourism Awards 2023 honor 14 businesses of Vietnam

Nguyen Hoang Trung, CEO of one of only two delivery startups in Vietnam, told VnExpress that Loship suffers "very little" loss. Last year its revenues increased by 500% thanks to business optimization with 250,000 locations and more than five million customers. It expects to turn profitable this year. Losing money is the norm in the food delivery and ride-hailing industry. As of 2021, Grab Vietnam had chalked up cumulative losses of VND4.365 trillion (US$186 million). Gojek is also VND4 trillion in the red. Both incur huge selling expenses running ino trillions of dong. Nguyen Hoang Trung, CEO of Loship. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Nhu This year the industry faces pressure from rising fuel prices. Trung said all other apps are also affected by Regarding the increase in gasoline price, this but "honestly not too much". When the Russia-Ukraine war took place, it was a nightmare in the beginning. But so far, the gas price has not changed too much and it’s … [Read more...] about Vietnamese delivery app on the brink of turning profitable

Two Thai protesters held under the kingdom's tough royal insult laws are growing extremely weak after nearly three weeks on hunger strike, a hospital statement said Monday. Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phupong have refused food and most liquids for the past 20 days to urge political parties to support the abolition of Thailand's lese majeste laws, as well as other justice reforms. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family are protected by some of the world's strictest royal defamation laws, with each charge carrying a possible 15-year jail term, but rights groups say they are misused to suppress public debate. Tantawan, 21, and Orawan, 23, were still conscious but weak, Thammasat University Hospital said in a statement posted on Facebook early on Monday. "Key organs such as the kidneys are starting to work more slowly," Paruhat Tor-udom, the hospital director, told reporters on Monday. "They can communicate with doctors and visitors, and while their condition is getting … [Read more...] about Thai protesters weak after three weeks on hunger strike

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports has approved the organization of the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, which is scheduled to take place until the end of the year. The organizer, Golden Lotus Advertising Commercial JSC, announced the inception of the annual contest at a press conference on Sunday evening. Luong Thuy Linh (L), Miss World Vietnam 2019, Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc (C), Miss Intercontinental 2022, and Nguyen Thu Thuy Tien, Miss Grand International 2021, are introduced as the ambassadors of the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, February 5, 2023. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre The preliminary round began last month and will last until August. The semifinal will take place in September while the finale is slated for November and December with the participation of 63 contestants. Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, Miss Grand International 2021, attends the press conference for the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, … [Read more...] about Vietnam introduces new beauty pageant

Businesses in Southeast Asia region outsource security functions to managed security service providers mainly to achieve efficiency in delivering security solutions, and address the shortage of IT employees. — Photo courtesy of Kaspersky The managed security service provider (MSSP) market in Southeast Asia is expected to enjoy steady growth in the coming years due to the region’s collective push towards countrywide digital transformation initiatives, according to experts. A managed security service provider provides outsourced monitoring and management of security devices and systems. Southeast Asia remains the fastest growing digital economy in the Asia Pacific region. Governments here have been taking bold steps to support local digitalisation efforts and to also beef up the country’s data protection and cybersecurity capabilities, said Kaspersky general manager for Southeast Asia Yeo Siang Tiong. “As local businesses here embrace digital transformation, it is parallel to … [Read more...] about Managed security provides efficiency, solutions for IT talent gap for businesses

Customers at a Vietbank transaction office in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of the bank The Viet Nam Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank has announced a VND7 billion (nearly US$297,000) promotion targeted at retail customers who have savings deposits, open payment accounts or buy insurance between February 2 and May 1 to mark its 16th founding anniversary. Those making savings deposits of VND25 million ($1,059) or more and meet certain other conditions will instantly get gifts including air fryers, electric grills, porcelain dish sets, bags, water bottles, and e-vouchers worth VND100,000 to VND1 million. Customers also have the chance to participate in a lucky spin on the Vietbank Digital app with thousands of cash prizes ranging from VND20,000 to VND2,222,222. They will then receive codes to participate in a lucky draw at the end of the programme that carries one special prize of a Honda City 1.5RS car, nine first prizes of Honda SH Mode scooters, 25 second prizes of 0.5 … [Read more...] about Vietbank unveils big anniversary promotion

The latest move from the Fed marked eight consecutive rate hikes since March 2022, with no signs that it has reached the peak of its hike journey. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Trong Thinh, a financial expert from the Vietnam Association of Financial Advisers, predicted that a rate hike of 25 percentage points was anticipated. Thinh stated that, in general, the pressure on the USD/VND exchange rate from the Fed’s interest rate hike is not significant. Pressure on to support new economic growth, photo Le Toan Dr. Le Dang Doanh, former head of the Central Institute for Economic Management, also believes that the Fed’s interest rate rise is targeted to contain inflation in the US, since inflation has begun to fall from the previous year’s low level. The USD price will adjust as a result. “A change in the price will influence the exchange rate between it and VND, impacting import-export businesses and foreign-invested enterprises,” said Doanh. On the other hand, deposit interest … [Read more...] about Pressure on to support new economic growth

The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) and Hanoi Youth Association for Blood Donation on February 6 kicked off the Xuan Hong (Red Spring) Festival – the biggest annual blood donation campaign of the season. People join the Xuan Hong (Red Spring) Festival – the biggest annual blood donation campaign of the season staring on February 6. (Photo: VNA) The one-week event themed “Donating blood in spring, multiplying happiness” expects to receive about 8,000 blood units. Donors can visit one of the seven venues in Hanoi, including the institute, Agricultural General Hospital, No26 Luong Ngoc Quyen in Hoan Kiem district, No10, Hamlet 122, Lang Street in Dong Da district, No78 Ngueyn Truong To in Ba Dinh district and No132 Quan Nhan district in Thanh Xuan district and People's Committee headquarter of Trau Quy Town in Gia Lam district. NIHBT Director Nguyen Thanh Ha said that this year, thanks to the community's efforts, … [Read more...] about Biggest spring blood donation festival kicks off

Two homestay groups in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long and the Northwestern province of Lao Cai received the ASEAN Homestay Award. Meanwhile, four units won the ASEAN Community Tourism Award, namely the Quan Ba Community Tourism Service Cooperative in Ha Giang province, Sin Suoi Ho community tourism village in Lai Chau province, Tan Thanh fishing village in Quang Nam province, and Thai Hai Reserve Area of Ecological Houses-on-Stilts Village in Thai Nguyen province. The ASEAN Public Toilet Award was awarded to the toilets in Saigon Skydeck of Bitexco Financial Tower, Southern Women's Museum and Ben Xua Tourist Area in Ho Chi Minh City. The winners of ASEAN Spa Service Awards were Cham Spa & Massage in the Central city of Da Nang, Sen Tai Thu Vincom Mega Mall Smart City in Hanoi, Sol Spa of Minera Resort Hotel in the Southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Chi Spa of Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa Sapa - Lao Cai province, and Thala Spa of Best Western Premier Sonasea … [Read more...] about Vietnam wins numerous ASEAN tourism awards

The festival celebrates the full moon of the first lunar month of the year. The city’s Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation confirmed the certificate was handed over on February 5, marking the fifth national intangible heritage after Thanh Chau bird's nest, Thanh Ha pottery village, carpentry of Kim Bong village and Tra Que vegetable garden. The center said the festival was a major event in a series of cultural and ritual activities among local people held during the first lunar month. Local people often prepare for the festival from the seventh day of the month with ancestor worship and praying for peace at the communal houses of Cam Pho, Ong Voi, Japanese Bridge, Ong and Ba Pagoda and Minh Huong communal house, as well as the Fujian and Jiao Zhou clubs. A night parade will take place in the Old Quarter with lanterns and a poet recital at Cam Pho communal house as well as folk games at Kazik Park on February 4-6. Pagodas and communal houses will be open … [Read more...] about Hoi An’s full moon festival named intangible heritage