Things every urban explorer needs

In Vietnam, the urbanisation rate has reached nearly 40%, with over 860 urban areas. Many hold large potential for tourism development. Vung Tau city , for example, is rich in advantages such as convenient traffic locations, seaports, a large oil and gas centre, a four-season climate, and beautiful beaches. Phu Quoc , located on the southwest coast, is considered a centre of eco-tourism , and high-class beach resorts. In recent years, experts have warned that coastal cities are at risk of sea level rise, and unusual natural disasters due to climate change. Therefore, cities need strengthen measures to protect coastal lands, sea mouths, and estuaries. Experts also suggested reviewing and adjusting the planning of existing sea tourism urban areas, especially for coastal spaces./. VNA … [Read more...] about Urban tourism needs proper planning for growth

Effective planning and construction management are vital to minimizing the impact of natural disasters and reducing disaster risks. Hanoi should prioritize the climate resilience factor in its construction planning for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, according to Dao Ngoc Nghiem, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association for Urban Planning and Development. Climate change becomes an urgent matter A corner of Hanoi. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times Hanoi's residents have become familiar with climate change in recent years, as unusual weather patterns have greatly affected the city's environment and daily life. Even a little rain can cause flooding on many streets, while prolonged heat waves can seriously harm the elderly and children in hospitals. According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, a transition from La Nina (the cool phase) to El Nino (the warm phase) is expected in 2023. It means that the heat will become … [Read more...] about Hanoi should prioritize climate resilience in urban development: Experts

International tourists can have a better travel experience in the beautiful Asian country with warnings and advice from a British expat in Hanoi. Do not wear swimsuits in the city, be respectful around shrines and do not get upset if someone is late for an appointment... are some tips for international travelers visiting Vietnam for the first time. Foreign travelers may find various interesting things in Hanoi. Photo: Ka Long Having lived in Vietnam since 2010, Ian Paynton, founder of the Hanoi-based content agency We Create Content, has shared what he's learned about Hanoi with The Insider. There's so much to explore in Vietnam, from cities and villages to mountains, beaches, and grottos, according to www.insider.com . The country is also one of the most affordable places in Southeast Asia to visit. In 2019, the number of tourist arrivals in the country was around 18 million. In addition, more and more expats from around the world are choosing Vietnam … [Read more...] about Seven things international visitors to Vietnam should keep in mind

During the trip, the delegation held working sessions with the Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN), the management board of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal and the railway transport conglomerate Transnet. Loi informed TIKZN CEO Neville Matjie about plans for the upcoming visit by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, including a B2B matching event in the province. Both sides agreed to successfully hold activities during the visit. Matjie expressed his interest in learning from Vietnam’s experience in several sectors. He said KwaZulu-Natal province wants to draw more tourists from Vietnam and acquire its experience in developing tourism models based on business households and small enterprises which have been successful in tourism hubs like Hanoi, Hoi An and Ha Long bay. In apparel, he wished to study Vietnam’s ways in attracting foreign direct investment and outsourcing contracts with some of the world's largest fashion labels. The host also sought … [Read more...] about Vietnam, South Africa explore cooperation potential

Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son said Da Lat's infrastructure system is strained and it urgently needs to share the load with other urban centers. Da Lat should not be concretized further and should not add more high-rise buildings, said Son, who has spent years studying the city’s urban planning. The government should divert construction projects to satellite areas, he added. "Green spaces should be returned to the Da Lat center," said Son. Houses in the center of Da Lat, February 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan A plan approved recently by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh aims for Da Lat to encompass a total area of 335,000 hectares by 2045, from the current 39,400 hectares. Da Lat will soon encompass the Lac Duong, Don Duong, Duc Trong and Lam Ha districts to the north, south, east and west. All four districts are currently home to vast spaces of forest land. According to the plan, the existing town of Da Lat will be the center of six "satellite towns." Each … [Read more...] about Expansion plan should return green spaces to Da Lat: experts

After motorbike-taxi driver Nguyen Van Nam dropped off his passenger at No. 60 Truong Dinh, he received an angry call from the person for dropping them off "at the wrong address." There was another No. 60 on the same road. He says: "It is also on Truong Dinh Street, half of which is in District 1 and the other half in District 3. Numbers are duplicated, which led to the confusion." The 50-year-old has been driving his motorbike on the streets of Saigon for over a decade. Nam says he is familiar with the main streets in the downtown area but did not expect the bizarre numbering system. It took him half an hour to finally find the right place and drop off the passenger. Motorbike-taxi drivers are most wary about Phan Xich Long Street, which spans three wards in Phu Nhuan District, due to its chaotic numbering, he says. "Each house has at least two numbers assigned to it. Two houses can be right next to each other, but their numbers can be very far apart. There can be two … [Read more...] about Saigon’s addresses are a riddle wrapped in a mystery

A handicapped Vietnamese man has spent the last 10 years teaching other disadvantaged children art and music at a center for the disabled so as to improve their conditions and help them recognize the most basic objects around them. Truong Tan Dung, 37, is currently a teacher at a center for Agent Orange-infected and disadvantaged children in the central city of Da Nang. At the center, he is not only the teacher of a class with 15 most serious cases of the facility, but he is also in charge of maintaining and managing its equipment and computers. Crippled teacher of the disabled At the age of three, Dung suffered from polio causing paralysis in his lower body and sensory paralysis in both of his arms. The misfortune of his childhood continued as his mother soon passed away and his father left, so the disabled boy grew up with his grandmother. As Dung showed his painting talent quite early in his life, he was able to support himself through adolescence by selling … [Read more...] about In their shoes: Crippled Vietnamese teacher devotes life to disabled children

Hanoi's goal for 2023 is to secure the city's socio-economic performance and further develop a cultured, modern, and civilized society. Hanoi aims to constantly improve the leadership of the Party Committee and the sense of responsibility of government officials and Party members, especially the heads of government agencies, to fulfill all the socio-economic growth tasks set for 2023. Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, talks to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper about the plans and actions the city expects to carry out on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the Hanoi Party Committee. Dinh Tien Dung, Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee. Photo: The Hanoi Times As head of the Hanoi Party Committee, could you share some of Hanoi's achievements in the first half of 2020-2025? Hanoi has endured many international impacts in the past two and a half … [Read more...] about Innovation-centered approach boosts Hanoi’s performance in socio-economic growth

One of the highlights of Hanoi's friendliness is the shade provided by its many trees. Hanoi has made efforts to expand its green cover from the city center to its suburbs and ring roads, which has helped make the capital one of the most tree-covered cities in the world, according to a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). According to the US travel website Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guide platform, "Vietnam's charming capital has aged well, preserving ancient architecture amid modern development. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards, and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi." The website added that Hanoi is a welcoming and modern capital, yet retains ancient cultural values. One of the highlights of Hanoi's friendliness is the shade provided by its many trees. The city boasts old streets with typical trees, such as Phan Dinh Phung and Lo Duc streets, … [Read more...] about Hanoi among cities with most trees in the world

Advances in technology may be the key to solving the problems faced by local taxi companies. Hanoi-based taxi companies are seeking permission from the Government and the Hanoi authorities to allow the import and use of electric cars. G7 taxis stop at a local park in Hanoi. Photo: Tuan Anh/The Hanoi Times The electric car helps reduce environmental pollution by consuming clean energy, which is now the global vibe, said chairman of the Hanoi Taxi Association Nguyen Cong Hung. The Covid-19 pandemic, the growth of ride-hailing technology applications, and rising fuel prices are some of the factors impacting traditional cab firms, Hung said at a meeting on March 21. "Several taxi companies are being dissolved and their assets sold because they are operating at a loss," Hung said. "Domestic cab companies need a new form of business operation to adapt to the global development of technology and transportation," he added. "Modern technologies, especially … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s taxi companies seek permission to operate electric cars