Local authorities will maintain inspection works at key areas, including Noi Bai International Airport, Yen Vien train station, ports, wholesale markets and shopping malls. Hanoi’s Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods, known as Steering Committee 389, has announced its plan to intensify efforts to combat smuggling and trade frauds before, during and after the 2021 Lunar New Year holiday. Local authorities would maintain inspection works at key areas. Under the plan, the city’s Steering Committee 389 will enhance inspection works at key areas, including Noi Bai International Airport, Yen Vien train station, ports, wholesale markets, and shopping malls. The committee is set to mobilize personnel and resources to set up checkpoints at roads, railways, airports to prevent movement of smuggled, fake and low-quality products into the country. This is particularly important for the control of banned items or items that … [Read more...] about Hanoi intensifies efforts to combat smuggling and trade frauds ahead of Tet holiday
Thailand for new years
Ho Chi Minh City hotels waiting for int’l guests
Although Vietnam reopened its door to international tourists over a year ago, small and medium lodging facilities in Ho Chi Minh City are still struggling to recover due to the small number of international visitors. Their largest source market is China while the number of guests from the northern neighbor remains modest, forcing many hotels to use their facilities for other purposes or stop leasing spaces. Shutdown, falling room occupancy In District 1, many hotels which used to be crowded with foreign travelers are now empty or have been replaced by other businesses. On Ly Tu Trong Street, a spacious hotel is being repurposed. The hotel is in a prime site, near Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, and Le Loi Boulevard, once favored by international tourists. Many 'House for Lease' signboards can also be seen along Bui Vien Walking Street and De Tham Street with many of them being hung in front of small, one- and two-star hotels. The director of a chain of … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City hotels waiting for int’l guests
Phu Quoc attracts international tourists thanks to superior visa policies
Phu Quoc Island is an ideal choice for travel and long-term relaxation, with a complete visa exemption policy for international visitors, a temporary stay of up to 30 days, a rich natural environment, and pleasant architecture. Phu Quoc is famous for its beautiful and dreamlike beaches. Foreigners and Vietnamese holding foreign passports benefited from a 30-day stay on Phu Quoc island exempt from requiring visas from July 1, 2020. Foreigners can enter Vietnam by air or sea and stay in transit and then transfer directly to Phu Quoc Island without requiring a visa. Hon Thom cable car, the longest of its kind in the world, is in the South of Phu Quoc island. As an isolated island located in the Gulf of Thailand, located off the southwest of mainland Vietnam, the means of transportation to Phu Quoc are very convenient with air, sea, and land routes. Tourists can use Phu Quoc International Airport Border Gate, Ha Tien International Border Gate, and … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc attracts international tourists thanks to superior visa policies
Expensive air tickets discourage travel plans during Reunification Day holiday
Hoai An from Hanoi planned to visit Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s biggest island in the south, with his family during the five-day holiday. However, she had to find another place closer to home like Sa Pa or Hoa Binh after realizing air tickets were too high. The cheapest price for round-trip flights between Hanoi and Phu Quoc was VND6.6 million ($280) per person. "The cost of transportation was over VND20 million for a family of three people," she said. "It was too expensive." This year, Vietnamese will enjoy a five-day break as the Hung Kings anniversary celebration falls on April 29, which is a Saturday, and people are entitled to take two extra days off the following week to compensate for that and Reunification Day on Sunday. Linh Nhi from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and her friends are also wondering whether to visit Da Nang or Thailand during the upcoming holiday. Currently, Vietjet Air's round-trip flight tickets between HCMC and Da Nang during the holiday cost about VND 4.5 … [Read more...] about Expensive air tickets discourage travel plans during Reunification Day holiday
‘Bread King’ turns his sights to gelato
For the last few weeks GoGelato in Binh Tan District has been offering ice cream for free to gather feedback for the new products. Luc, an ethnic Chinese entrepreneur who became famous in 2020 for introducing dragon fruit bread , wants to use domestic fruits as the main ingredients to make ice cream. "I started learning how to make fruit ice-cream two years ago when I saw lots of fruits remaining unsold due to oversupply." While people are tightening their purse strings now due to inflation, Luc said the food business is recession-proof and consumption would recover soon. Luc started doing business in Vietnam in 1979 and has won many international awards for his breads. His chain supplies to major brands such as Starbucks, KFC, Lotteria, Jollibee and Domino’s Pizza. The Vietnamese ice cream market grew by 7% last year to VND4.3 trillion (US$182.94 million), with the three top players, Kido Group, Unilever Vietnam and Vinamilk, dominating with a combined 64% market share, … [Read more...] about ‘Bread King’ turns his sights to gelato
Vietnam one of Malaysia’s closest partners: Ambassador
Then Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (R) receives Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Tan Yang Thai, who comes to present his credentials on February 22, 2023. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has emerged as one of Malaysia ’s closest partners over the years, both economically and socially, Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Tan Yang Thai has said. In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam - Malaysia diplomatic ties (March 30, 1973 - March 30, 2023), the diplomat also said the two countries entered into a strategic partnership in 2015, adding that implementing the Plan of Action (POA) for the 2021-2025 period, both countries are further strengthening bilateral relations and have reaped tremendous benefits. Two-way trade turnover reached some 19.4 billion USD in 2022, a 16% increase compared to 2021. Vietnam was Malaysia’s 12th-largest trading partner last year and fourth-largest in ASEAN, … [Read more...] about Vietnam one of Malaysia’s closest partners: Ambassador
UNESCO continues fund for gender equality project in Vietnam
The "We are ABLE" project aims to strengthen the ability of children from ethnic minorities, especially girls, to overcome the challenges they face. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on March 28 announced Phase II of the project "We are ABLE - Promoting Gender Equality and Girls' Education for Children in Ethnic Minority Areas of Viet Nam". The launching ceremony of UNESCO’s “We are ABLE” project occurred on March 28 in Hanoi. Photos: UNESCO Vietnam According to Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, the project is expected to contribute to the Vietnamese Government's new 10-year Strategic Plan for Education Development, the Strategy for Ethnic Minority Development, and the national commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 4 on education and Goal 5 on gender equality. In Vietnam, ethnic minorities are often disadvantaged compared to the majority population due to stereotypes and other cultural barriers. … [Read more...] about UNESCO continues fund for gender equality project in Vietnam
Vietnam International Travel Mart 2023 to spotlight cultural tourism
Tourists experience making clay arrows on the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023 on March 24 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) themed “Cultural tourism” will take place on April 13-16 at the Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi, featuring 450 pavilions from over 50 localities nationwide, and 15 countries and territories aroundthe world. The event is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors, and representatives from 2,500 businesses, that are interested in seeking cooperation opportunities and partners. Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on March 28 to announce the event, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said this year’s event aims to encourage travel firms to invest in developing new tourism products through making the most of unique traditional culture and culture heritage values of Vietnam. The difference in culture, customs, production activities, and daily life of 54 ethnic groups … [Read more...] about Vietnam International Travel Mart 2023 to spotlight cultural tourism
Vietnam International Travel Mart 2023 to spotlight culture tourism
The event is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors, and representatives from 2,500 businesses, that are interested in seeking cooperation opportunities and partners. Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on March 28 to announce the event, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said this year’s event aims to encourage travel firms to invest in developing new tourism products through making the most of unique traditional culture and culture heritage values of Vietnam. The difference in culture, customs, production activities, and daily life of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam is always attractive to domestic and international tourists, Binh stressed, expressing his hope that VITM 2023 will help bring tourism into an important part of the cultural industry, thus contributing to preserving the value of Vietnamese cultural heritage. Within the event's framework, a forum on Vietnamese cultural tourism development will be held on April 14, with the participation of … [Read more...] about Vietnam International Travel Mart 2023 to spotlight culture tourism
Durian to make breakthrough for Viet Nam’s fruit exports
A durian farm in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau's Chau Duc District. — VNA/VNS Photo The export of Vietnamese durian to China through the official channel since September 2022 opened up new prospects for Viet Nam's fruit and vegetable industry. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Viet Nam has over 100,000 ha of durian with an annual output of about 1.3 million tonnes. However, only 3,000 ha (3 per cent) of the total meet standards for export to China. The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang and the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have the largest durian areas meeting export standards in the country. According to the Deputy General Director of Dung Thai Son Import-Export Company, Vu Ngoc Huy, China is a large market with a strong durian consumption capacity. The firm can export 500,000 tonnes of fresh durian per year, accounting for over one-third of the total durian output of the country, Huy said. La Tran … [Read more...] about Durian to make breakthrough for Viet Nam’s fruit exports