Xi will be the first national leader to shake Putin's hand since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him on Friday over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia since its invasion. Russia is presenting Xi's trip, his first since securing an unprecedented third term this month, as evidence that it has a powerful friend prepared to stand with it against a hostile West that it accuses of trying to isolate and defeat Moscow. "We can feel the geopolitical landscape in the outside world undergoing drastic changes," Putin said in an article in China's People's Daily published on the Kremlin website, adding that he had high hopes for the visit from his "good old friend." For Xi, the visit is a diplomatic tightrope. China has released a 12-point proposal to solve the Ukraine crisis, but at the same time strengthened ties with Moscow. China has repeatedly dismissed Western accusations that it is planning to arm Russia but says it wants a closer … [Read more...] about China’s Xi arrives in Russia to meet Putin over Ukraine war
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☕ Afternoon briefing on March 20
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. - Economic cooperation should continue to be the focus of bilateral ties between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea, National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai said at his talks with Deputy Assembly Speaker of the RoK Chung Woo-taik in Seoul on March 20. Read full story - Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh and Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long cleared up questions regarding asset recovery in corruption cases, at a Q&A session in Hanoi on March 20 as part of the 21st meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee. He admitted that the work has yet to be done strictly although 40% of the assets were recovered over the past decade. Read full story - Vietnam is striving to lure more Japanese investments to digital transformation and green growth, as recommended in the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative (VJI). Phase VIII of the … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on March 20
Vietnam Airlines restarts air services between Hanoi and Beijing
Vietnam’s national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has resumed its regular flights linking Hanoi and Beijing after a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline’s flight VN513 departed from Beijing at 3:30 pm and landed in Hanoi at 5.55 pm on Sunday. Before the resumption of the Beijing-Hanoi flight, Vietnam Airlines held a welcoming ceremony for the passengers on board at Beijing International Airport, with the participation of Vietnam and China's competent agencies and enterprises and over 100 passengers. The air carrier is operating the Hanoi-Beijing air route with a frequency of three round-trip flights a week. The airline will start increasing its frequency from mid-2023, while planning to open an air route connecting with Beijing’s Daxing International Airport. China is one of Vietnam Airlines’ biggest international source markets. The air carrier has reopened most of its air routes linking Vietnam to China, said a representative of the airline. The … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines restarts air services between Hanoi and Beijing
Travel demand to surge during coming holidays
Tourists at a beach in Da Nang City (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Outbound tours are preferred by Vietnamese travellers for the coming holidays starting on April 29, according to travel agents and tour operators. Working people will enjoy five consecutive days off from April 29 to May 3 to celebrate the commemoration of the Hung Kings (the nation legendary founders) that falls on April 29, the National Reunification Day on April 30 and International Labour Day on May 1, which has prompted a surge in tour bookings. Tran Phuong Linh, marketing and IT director of BenThanh Tourist, said some customers can arrange to extend their holiday to nine days for long-haul outbound destinations. BenThanh Tourist reported an increase of 30-40% in tour bookings for the coming holidays compared to last year. Tours to Hong Kong and Taiwan have been fully booked one and a half months ahead of the Reunification Day and International Labour Day holidays, Linh said. … [Read more...] about Travel demand to surge during coming holidays
Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange event organized in Bac Giang
Visitors to the event had a chance to experience an AR (augmented reality) technology cherry blossom (Sakura) garden, enjoy typical cuisine of Japan and Bac Giang, wear traditional Japanese and Vietnamese costumes, visit Tay Yen Tu spiritual - ecological tourism complex, and visit booths showcasing OCOP (One commune-one product) products of the province. On this occasion, the Japan - Vietnam Friendship Association in Chukyo region and Yokoi Mould Vietnam Co., Ltd. presented 120 sakura trees to the Vietnamese locality to be planted at the complex. Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Watanabe Shige showed his hope that these trees will grow up well and create beautiful landscapes to serve tourists. Since 2015, more than 700 sakura trees – a symbol of Japan – have been granted to Bac Giang. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange event organized in Bac Giang
Hoi An walls covered in graffiti
A group of tourists walks past a wall on Hai Ba Trung Street that has been vandalized by gray paint. Drawings on the wallboard of a house in an alley of Nguyen Minh Khai Street. Locals residents claim that these sketches have been painted at night by tourists. A wall spray-painted with pictures and letters on Hai Ba Trung Street. Local authorities have launched several campaigns to clear the walls, but have not been able to put an end to the vandalism once and for all. The wall of a house on Hoang Dieu Street painted with graffiti that remains even after the owner deep-cleaned the surface. A graffitied wall in an alley off Tran Phu Street. A wall on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street has become a hotspot for impromptu etchings. The An Hoi Bridge across the Hoai River has also been vandalized. … [Read more...] about Hoi An walls covered in graffiti
Various activities to be held in “Ca Mau – Destination 2023” Programme
Ca Mau Cape - a tourist attraction in Ca Mau (Photo: VNA) Ca Mau (VNA) – The People’s Committee of the southernmost province of Ca Mau is planning a wide range of activities within the framework of the “Ca Mau – Destination 2023” Programme to promote the locality’s tourism potential. Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Minh Luan said that the programme aims to create chances for businesses to meet, connect and cooperate in developing trade and tourism. The plan aims to help Ca Mau boost socio-economic growth, develop tourism associated with trade and services, and stimulate the sale of local products, particularly local specialties and OCOP (One commune-one product) products. Accordingly, the province will organise a ceremony to mark the death anniversary of Hung Kings, the legendary founders of Vietnam (the 10th day of the third lunar month), a Ca Mau Cape Marathon, and a southern traditional cake festival, and a Ca Mau shrimp festival. A … [Read more...] about Various activities to be held in “Ca Mau – Destination 2023” Programme
Northern region gets hotter this week
The first heatwave facing the north this year has arrived, affecting mostly the northwestern area, with the highest temperature on March 21 reaching 34-36 degrees Celsius, even higher in some other places. According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), it will be hottest on March 22 when the mercury in Hanoi will hit 36 degrees Celsius. Coupled with low humidity, the heat will remain until the end of March 24, possibly followed by thunderstorms and falling temperatures at weekend. At the same time, the southeastern region is forecast to continue experiencing hot weather for several days, with temperatures hovering around 35 – 36 degrees Celsius, even higher in specific places. The meteorological agency said in the second half of March and into April, the frequency of cold waves tends to gradually reduce and the heat will begin to appear, concentrating in the northwest and the central region’s western area. The intensity of the hot weather … [Read more...] about Northern region gets hotter this week
Breakthroughs expected for Binh Thuan tourism with Visit Vietnam Year 2023
Rang Beach, a popular destination in Binh Thuan province. (Photo: www.binhthuan.gov.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The opening ceremony of the Visit Vietnam Year 2023 with the theme “Binh Thuan - Green convergence” will be held at NovaWorld Phan Thiet in Phan Thiet city in the central province of Binh Thuan on March 25 evening, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Nearly 600 artists, actors, and actresses will perform in an artistic musical show at the ceremony with the script written by Meritorious Artist Tran Ly Ly, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, and writer Hoang Cong Cuong. The 85-minute show has three parts, namely the “Convergence of earth and sky”, the "Green Tour", and the "Green convergence - Binh Thuan destination of friendship". Mui Ne sand dune. (Photo: baobinhthuan.com.vn) According to VNAT, Visit Vietnam Year is a both a national and international cultural, economic, social, and tourist event. It is also the biggest … [Read more...] about Breakthroughs expected for Binh Thuan tourism with Visit Vietnam Year 2023
Public toilets cause for concern in Hanoi
The seriously-degraded, stinky state of public toilets has become an affliction for people in Hanoi, which has about 400 public bathrooms serving a population of more than 8.3 million. Using public toilets has become a nightmare for people and tourists in the Vietnamese capital city. At My Dinh Bus Station, one of the biggest bus depots in Hanoi handling thousands of passengers every day, many public toilets are overgrown with wild plants as observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters. A public toilet is overgrown with wild plants on Nguyen Hoang Street in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi. Photo: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre At the back of one of those bathrooms on Nguyen Hoang Street, a beverage stall has been established. Inside the bathroom, there are two toilet compartments for males and females, with one of them being closed, accompanied by an overpowering stench. In that sole operational toilet compartment, one broken urinal was unusable and sealed with a … [Read more...] about Public toilets cause for concern in Hanoi