Traditional lunar new year

A press conference was held by the General Statistics Office (GSO) on Wednesday. Viet Nam’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 3.32 per cent in the first quarter of 2023. — VNS Photo Linh Anh Viet Nam’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 3.32 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said yesterday. The expansion is nearly the lowest in 13 years, with Q1 of 2020, which recorded growth of 3.21 per cent. Speaking at a press conference, officials from the GSO said that the agro-forestry-fishery sector expanded by 2.52 per cent and contributed 8.85 per cent to the GDP growth. The industry and construction sector contracted by 0.4 per cent, leading to a 4.76 per cent decline in the growth, and the service sector increased by 6.79 per cent to contribute to 95.91 per cent of the overall expansion. In the agro-forestry-fishery sector, agriculture saw a year-on-year increase of 2.43 per cent in added value, forestry 3.66 per cent, and … [Read more...] about Viet Nam’s economy grew 3.32% in Q1, near the 13-year quarterly lowest

A bowl of daffodils displayed in a porcelain bowl. Photo: Nguyen Khac Tuong Daffodils often appear during the Lunar New Year and on the altars of many Hanoian families. Nguyen Trang, who loves and has extensive knowledge of the flowers, shared that every year since the 1990s, her mother has had to buy a bunch of beautiful daffodils and put them in an antique glass bowl to offer on her grandfather's altar. The hobby of displaying daffodils contributes to preserving traditional culture and bringing it closer to modern life. Today, the hobby has become more common in daily life. People prune flower bulbs from December to the end of April. Daffodil pruning has become popular on occasions such as New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Women's Day, and Reunification Day. Beautiful bowls of daffodils also appear at weddings, birthdays, and conferences throughout the spring. Currently, many groups have been created for people who are interested in the flowers and enthusiasts join to share … [Read more...] about Tending daffodils is an elegant aspect of Hanoian culture

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The consumer price index (CPI) in the first quarter of 2023 increased 4.18% year on year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. At a press conference on March 29, GSO Director Nguyen Thi Huong cited a number of major factors behind the rise, including the rising price of housing and construction materials (7.17%), which hiked the CPI in the period up by 1.35 percentage points. Meanwhile, a 4.41% increase in the price of food and foodstuff due to high demand during the Lunar New Year festival also caused a rise of 0.94 percentage point of the CPI. At the same time, education service prices surged 10.13% as some localities ended the tuition fee exemption and reduction scheme that aimed to ease people’s difficulties during COVID-19 pandemic. This also led to a 0.62-percentage-point rise in CPI in the period. price s of petrol, gas and post-telecom services. CPI … [Read more...] about CPI increases 4.18% in Q1

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is urging a project steering committee to accelerate the transition of traditional industrial parks (IPs) to an ecological model as part of a nationwide eco-IP intervention initiative. Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc said, “The project has contributed to the replication of the eco-IP model in Vietnam, in line with the National Green Growth Strategy for 2021-2030, Vietnam’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and the net-zero emissions commitment to 2050.” Private sector urged to enter eco-IP arena, illustration photo. Developing eco-IPs is inevitable as many countries are applying the carbon tax mechanism on imported goods, the deputy minister added. “Meanwhile, many tenants in IPs are manufacturers for export, and they need a green certificate to export products. Thus, relevant parties continue to spread technical and financial support to many IPs at different … [Read more...] about Private sector urged to enter eco-IP arena

Sakura trees and branches will be exhibited in downtown Hanoi at the Japanese Culture Exchange Festival. (vietnamplus.vn) The event, which will take place at Ly Thai To Garden byHoan Kiem lake, aims to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam–Japan diplomatic ties this year. The event also includes various cultural exchanges, such as the introduction of the Japanese tea culture, chess, Kendama folk games and Japanese cuisine at nearby Hanoi Children’s Palace, besides a Yosakoi dance performance by 15 teams on Dinh Tien Hoang and Ly Thai To streets. The event will also host various Vietnamese traditional arts such as ca tru (ceremonial singing), hat xam (blind busker’s singing) and folk dances. Further, the Hanoi authorities and Japanese partners will hold a meeting to discuss tourism, health, education and economic investment. More than 20 food stalls will be installed at nearby Hanoi Children’s Palace to introduce Vietnamese and Japanese food between March 23 and 25. … [Read more...] about Japanese cultural festival to open on March 23

Students of Hanoi Experimental High School perform a candle-lighting ceremony to commemorate the Holocaust victims , a Jewish tradition preserved around the world. (Photo: baoquocte.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Peace Committee, the United Nations, the Embassy of Israel, and the German Embassy in Vietnam jointly held a ceremony in Hanoi on March 29 to commemorate Holocaust victims with the message “Never forget and learn the lesson of peace.” Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee Tran Dac Loi said that human history went through very dark pages with terrible disasters caused by human-being. One of those dark pages was the genocide of European Jews committed by Nazi Germany which resulted in the murder of more than 6 million Jews in the world. The United Nations designated January 27 as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day because on January 27, 1945, Nazi’s Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army, he said. By … [Read more...] about Ceremony held to commemorate Holocaust victims

During the talk, the two sides expressed their delight at the fruitful development of the relations between the two parties and the countries over the past time, especially after the official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Both foreign ministers shared the view that the success of Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit gave a push for the traditional friendship between the two parties and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. According to FM Son, Vietnam treasures and gives top priority to the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China. He also emphasized that the two foreign ministries play an important role in urging agencies and sectors to realize the common perceptions of leaders of the two parties and countries. For his part, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang affirmed that China defines relations with Vietnam as an important priority in China’s … [Read more...] about China considers Vietnam a significant partner in various fields

The market in new urban areas is set to become more active Photo: Le Toan March has seen a flurry of activity in welcoming quality real estate products in Vietnam. Singaporean group CapitaLand Development, saw all of [email protected] West Lake booked up after being introduced to the market on March 19. The Elysian project developed by Gamuda Land is also reportedly being well observed by buyers due to the prestige of the developer, the good location, and high quality of the project. Domestic groups are also joining the rush. Nam Long Investment JSC said that the business is implementing a series of plans in 2023, in which priority is being given to ventures in large urban areas such as Waterpoint, Mizuki Park, Nam Long Can Tho, Nam Long Dai Phuoc, Akari City, and Izumi City. Meanwhile, Hung Thinh Land introduced the 9X An Suong project in the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. In the southern province of Binh Duong, Phu Dong Group is about to open for sale an apartment project … [Read more...] about Positive real estate signs march ahead

The phase will be implemented in Cao Bang, Kon Tum, and Ninh Thuan provinces, aiming to empower ethnic youth, especially girls and young women, in boarding secondary schools and neighboring communities to overcome stereotypes and to voice and act on their dreams, hopes, and aspirations in education. Speaking at the event, Justine Sass, Chief of the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality of UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, said that education can be a true source of empowerment when it addresses the gender-based barriers, stigma, and discrimination that hold learners back from fulfilling their right to education and future life, work and leadership opportunities. “We must harness education's power to unlock the potential of learners in all of their diversity and transform educational institutions to achieve just, equal, and inclusive societies,” she shared. UNESCO Representative to Vietnam Christian Manhart said that the project is expected to contribute to the … [Read more...] about UNESCO continues promoting education for ethnic girls

Nalin Wickramasingher, Powerledger's BD and Sales Executive, and Le Thi Phuong Cam (L), EVNCPC's Deputy General Director, announced the partnership. (Photo courtesy of Powerledger) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Australian energy trading technology company, Powerledger, on March 28 announced it’s partnering with Vietnam Electricity Central Power Corporation (EVNCPC) to launch Vietnam's first peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading project at the Australia-Vietnam Forum on Energy Transition. The initial 6-month trial will see Powerledger’s technology used by so-called “prosumers” with rooftop solar in central Da Nang city and Quang Nam province to sell electricity directly to consumers. “This project is a major step for Vietnam. It will showcase how, with the right technology, issues of intermittency and grid congestion can be overcome whilst still growing renewables. Everyone on both sides of the partnership is looking forward to the results,” said Powerledger Chairman Dr Jemma Green. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s first blockchain peer-to-peer energy trading project launched