Lotte Hotel in Hanoi was voted the best hotel in Vietnam, according to the annual 2022 ranking compiled by the U.S. online booking site Tripadvisor, based on millions of reviews and opinions collected. Situated on the upper part of a 65-floor building in the downtown area near Hanoi's iconic tourist destinations, the hotel has 235 standard rooms and 83 suites with each offering a panoramic view of the capital. It also has a fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, basketball court, kids play center, and 24-hour gym service. The lowest price for a night's stay is VND2.23 million ($96.45). Vinpearl Discovery Ha Tinh in Loc Ha District of north-central Ha Tinh Province came second in the list. This upscale resort along Xuan Hai Beach is 19 kilometers from Huong Tich Pagoda, a vast mountainside temple complex and popular spiritual site. It has 42 well-equipped rooms featuring private pools and offering views of long, … [Read more...] about Top 10 Vietnam hotels selected by Tripadvisor
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Hanoi focuses on high-tech agriculture production project
The Hanoi People’s Committee has issued Official Letter 4203/UBND-KT dated August 29, requesting Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to add high-tech agriculture production of Hanoi into the national planning. In an effort to realize Prime Minister conclusion at the meeting on building agriculture industry of Vietnam, the Municipal People’s Committee directs relevant agencies and sectors to review, sum up information and propose to the People’s Committee, so that the latter will report to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development according to the PM's instruction. According to PM Decision 575/QD-TTg dated May 4, 2015 on approving general planning of high-tech agriculture production zones to 2020, orientation to 2030, Ha Noi has one high-tech agriculture production zone in Dong Anh suburban district. After reviewing, the Municipal People’s Committee requests Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to consider and ask the Prime Minister to add … [Read more...] about Hanoi focuses on high-tech agriculture production project
Vietnamese tech retailers manage to survive Covid-19 pandemic
Many retailers in phone and electronics segments focus on developing online channels to survive during the coronavirus pandemic period. To survive adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic, many Vietnamese tech retailers have quickly boosted their sales on online platforms as their physical stores nationwide have to close until April 15 to comply with the prime ministerial directive stipulating measures to combat the pandemic. Photo: MWG Significant demand on tech products Mobile World Investment JSC (MWG), the largest tech retailer in Vietnam, saw a surge in demand in online shopping since the beginning of April as more than 10% of its 2,000 phone and electronics stores, mainly in Hanoi, have to close. Dang Thanh Phong, PR manager of MWG, told Hanoitimes that its revenue from online sales accounted for 13% of the total phone and electronics revenue in March, higher than that of the previous months. Due to the closure of its stores, sales in … [Read more...] about Vietnamese tech retailers manage to survive Covid-19 pandemic
Muoi Sau sweet soups- the quintessence of Hanoi’s nosh
Muoi Sau (Sixteen) Dessert Soup Stall in Hanoi’s downtown is a well-known place for those who love the sweetness of Hanoi desserts. Che or sweet soup is a Vietnamese dessert that originated in northern Vietnam a nearly century ago. This has long been a familiar nosh of Hanoians to cool off on hot summer afternoons. From the simple sweet porridge cooked from lotus, black or green mung beans, over time, it has become more diverse with different variants. A specialty of Hanoi The mixture of lotus and young rice sweet soup. Photo: Moc Van Interestingly, you can enjoy che in both Summer and Winter. There is no better way to refresh your body in the middle of a hot summer day than having a cool fresh glass of che , and warm your body up with a hot bowl of Vietnamese sweet soup on a freezing winter night. che may be served hot or cold, in bowls, glasses, or over ice. Unlike che from other provinces, Hanoians are very careful in the selection of … [Read more...] about Muoi Sau sweet soups- the quintessence of Hanoi’s nosh
Vietnam puts gasoline database system into operation to avoid violations
Illustrative photo:SGGP/ Viet Chung The Office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade this morning informed that gasoline, an essential goods, directly affecting the production activities of enterprises as well as people’s livelihoods. The gasoline price hugely affects the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which impacts the whole country’s macroeconomy. From the beginning of the year up to now, the local and international gasoline markets have been uncertain affecting the fuel supply and prices in the local market. Currently, the whole country has 38 wholesalers of gasoline, 329 gasoline distributors and nearly 17,000 retail gas stations. In order to strengthen state management in the field of gasoline business , prevent violations in petroleum business activities, and support the authorities in regulating the supply and demand of gasoline, it is necessary to apply information technology in updating data for petroleum trading enterprises across the country related to gasoline … [Read more...] about Vietnam puts gasoline database system into operation to avoid violations
Gov’t asks for extension to bad debt program
The program, issued under Government Decree 42 in 2017, was set to be extended until the end of 2023. The program, since its implementation five years ago, has contributed to the restructuring of numerous financial institutions and the collection of bad debt during the 2016-2020 period, according to Nguyen Thi Hong, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV). By the end of 2021, the program had helped handle over 380 trillion VND in bad debt, or 47.9 percent of the country's entire bad debt since August 15, 2017. On average, some 5.67 trillion VND in bad debt was processed each month during the period, significantly higher than the 3.25 trillion VND per month prior to the implementation of the program. The program had helped recover 148 trillion VND or 38.94 percent of all bad debt among financial institutions, a marked improvement over the yearly average of 22.8 percent during the 2012-2017 period. A recent SBV report said the bad debt ratio among financial institutions was … [Read more...] about Gov’t asks for extension to bad debt program
Carriers add flights to summer holiday roster
Vietnam Airlines Group said it plans to provide 32,400 domestic flights between June and August during the peak summer travel season, up 10 percent against the same period in 2019, the year before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. There would be 160 daily flights connecting Vietnam’s three biggest cities Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. It will also operate over 3,600 international flights during the period, 40 percent of pre-pandemic time. Vietravel Airlines said it will increase the frequency of flights from Hanoi to HCMC and Da Nang by two a day from June. Air tickets for domestic routes between June and August are nearly fully booked. The carrier also plans to launch charter flights from HCMC to Jakarta and Can Tho to Bangkok, but the schedule has not been determined. A representative of Vietravel Airlines, which was launched in December 2020 amid the turbulence created by the pandemic, said the carrier is facing many difficulties like personnel and aircraft … [Read more...] about Carriers add flights to summer holiday roster
Lawmakers call for nuclear energy revival, cite zero emissions target
Many countries have recognized nuclear power as a clean type of energy with low greenhouse gas emissions after the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), the National Assembly’s Economic Committee says in a report. Vietnam therefore should consider reviving its plans to develop nuclear energy to ensure energy security and independent economic development, it says. To make this happen, the Party should approve the move and the government should then consider restarting the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project at an appropriate time. The National Assembly had shut down Vietnam’s first nuclear power project in 2016, saying the nation could not afford it then. By that time seven sub-projects had begun implementation with a total investment of over VND2.3 trillion ($99.01 million), and nearly 450 students and engineers were being trained by Russian and Japanese experts. The original plan was to have two multi-billion-dollar nuclear power plants in the central province … [Read more...] about Lawmakers call for nuclear energy revival, cite zero emissions target
Vietnam expecting to spend even more on imports
Vietnam expecting to spend even more on imports - illustration photo Southeast Asia is facing rising inflation, a problem that is exacerbated by the failure of energy and food prices to fall. Last month, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) tightened monetary policy for the third time since October to deal with inflation that is expected to heat up. According to analysts, the MAS has redefined the midpoint of the popular exchange rate policy band and slightly increased the slope of currency appreciation to help the Singapore dollar strengthen against the currencies of other countries. However, the MAS did not change the width of its policy band – a move the institution usually would take when markets are volatile. As a result, the Singapore dollar rose about 0.5 per cent to $1.35 after the MAS’ move. The agency considered the possibility that core inflation would pick up sharply in the coming months, before being revised later this year, due to the sharp increase in … [Read more...] about Vietnam expecting to spend even more on imports
Global effects mar control of inflation
Global food prices are expected to keep on rising this year due to the Ukraine conflict and other factors, Photo: Thanh Tung China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on May 11 that the consumer price index (CPI), the main measure of inflation and retail sales, increased by 2.1 per cent on-year in 2021 due to the impact of the recession and skyrocketing energy costs and food prices. Data released by the General Administration of Customs of China on April 13 recorded a decrease in China’s imports for the first time since August 2020. In March, China’s imports fell 0.1 per cent on-year. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Sy Cuong from the Academy of Finance warned last week, “Along with the conflict in Ukraine, China’s economic difficulties could exacerbate inflationary pressures in Vietnam.” China’s slowing growth is clearly felt by many manufacturing and export industries of Vietnam. Pham Van Viet, president of garment firm VitaJean Co., Ltd., said, “Restrictions on raw materials … [Read more...] about Global effects mar control of inflation