The People’s Committee of Binh Duong Province in southern Vietnam and the Vietnam Railways on Wednesday debuted an international multimodal train transporting cargo from Song Than Station to China. The train with 19 carriages carried nearly 500 metric tons of tapioca starch. The train departed from Song Than Station the same day, and is set to arrive in Putian, Zhengzhou in China’s Henan on October 5. Attending the inauguration ceremony, Le Manh Ha, CEO at T&T Trade and Service Company, said that the demand for freight transport to China is high. Firms can now conduct export procedures at Song Than Station, instead of any border station. The launch of the international multimodal transport train services has smoothed the path for local importers, exporters, and logistic service providers. Dang Sy Manh, chairman of the Vietnam Railways, said that Song Than Station is capable of handling 1.6 million metric tons of cargo, mainly consumer goods, garments and textiles, … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Binh Duong launches int’l multimodal freight train to China
Ttntag
Vietnam records no undesired incidents related to controversial cancer drug
The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) under the Ministry of Health on Wednesday said it has not received any reports indicating adverse effects of Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche’s Avastin cancer drug, a treatment associated with 12 Pakistani patients losing their vision. The DAV affirmed that Avastin’s four previously-granted registration certificates for circulation within Vietnam remain active. The agency made the announcement following the Roche representative office in Vietnam’s update on the ongoing investigation into the use of the drug Avastin in Pakistan. The probe was carried out after 12 diabetic patients in Pakistan who were injected with a drug labeled 'Inj. Avastin 1.25mg/0.05ml' went blind. The drug was distributed by unauthorized provider Genius Pharmaceutical Service, but its label led to the misunderstanding that it was an authentic product produced by Roche. In fact, Genius Pharmaceutical Service 'altered/dispensed/diluted' Roche’s original Avastin … [Read more...] about Vietnam records no undesired incidents related to controversial cancer drug
Shooter wins Vietnam’s first gold medal at Asian Games in China
Shooter Pham Quang Huy grabbed Vietnam’s first gold medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event on Thursday. Huy achieved an impressive score of 240.5 points in the final, securing the top position on the podium. Lee Wonho of South Korea took silver with 239.4 points, while Vladimir Svechnikov of Uzbekistan earned bronze with 219.9 points. The final started with two five-shot series, with a 250-second limit per series. After that, the contestants fired single shots, with a 50-second limit per shot. After every two shots, the lowest-ranked shooter was eliminated. Following the 12th shot and the 14th shot, the bottom two shooters were eliminated to take eighth and seventh place, respectively. The bronze medalist was determined by the 22nd shot, and the gold and silver medalists were decided by the final, 24th shot. Vietnamese shooter Pham Quang Huy competes in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event at the 19th Asian … [Read more...] about Shooter wins Vietnam’s first gold medal at Asian Games in China
Ho Chi Minh City couple bring traditional lantern to global audience
At Khoi Dang Tac Khi, a lantern workshop where old-fashioned Mid-Autumn festival lanterns are crafted for and promoted to customers from around the globe, Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, 31, and her husband are busy preparing for the upcoming holiday. When it all started Founded in 2022, Khoi Dang Tac Khi refers to the sound of a beating drum on a battlefield. Though the workshop was only launched last year, Thuy has been working with lanterns since 2018 when she came across photos of people hanging traditional lanterns on the streets of Hanoi in the 1920s to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated by many Asian countries including Vietnam, is due on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. It is a tradition for children to spend the holiday carrying lanterns, chanting traditional moon-welcoming songs, and playing traditional games. Seeing those pictures of the old days, Thuy was deeply impressed with the sophisticated and … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City couple bring traditional lantern to global audience
Lobster larvae increasingly smuggled into Vietnam
In Vietnam, the import of wild-caught lobster larvae is under strict control because of short supply, yet the smuggling of this in-demand shellfish remains rampant on social media, posing immeasurable risks. Many raft owners in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province find it difficult to import official lobster larva shipments, while some online sellers offer lobster larvae in great numbers and with plenty of pricing. When buying lobster larvae becomes a gamble Despite being aware of numerous risks in quality, many consumers still go for buying lobster larvae online. "Vendors vaguely claimed that these infant lobsters hailed either from Indonesia or the Philippines,” said Le Phuong Dung, a buyer in Cam Linh Ward, Cam Ranh City. The price per lobster larva peaked at VND60,000 (US$2.46) in July and August, while each cost about VND40,000 ($1.64) at the moment, said Dung. Besides purchasing from a regular contact, she usually orders lobster larvae online as this kind of trading … [Read more...] about Lobster larvae increasingly smuggled into Vietnam
Heavy rain hits north Vietnam, halting traffic in Hanoi
HANOI -- Heavy rain from a tropical depression hit northern and north-central Vietnam, causing flooding that halted traffic in the capital Hanoi and sparked warnings of landslides on Thursday. Some Hanoi districts recorded up to 250 mm (10 inches) of rain on Thursday morning, according to the national weather center. The premier's office directed provincial authorities to take action to protect residential areas that faced a high risk of landslides and flash floods. Downpours have pounded Hanoi since early Thursday morning, submerging streets, Reuters witnesses said, with traffic turning chaotic at intersections and floodwaters rising calf-high in some districts. Video on local media showed cars and motorcycles abandoned in Hanoi streets, while footage of northern provinces showed fast-flowing, mud-brown water, and schools and homes damaged and soaked in floodwaters. A conference on Thursday morning organized by Eurocham was delayed by about two hours because speakers, … [Read more...] about Heavy rain hits north Vietnam, halting traffic in Hanoi
EU to offer 5 support tools to Vietnam, address IUU fishing warning soon: new ambassador
The European Union (EU) will apply five assistance tools to Vietnam’s multifaceted development plan, as well as rapidly resolve its Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing ‘yellow card’ warning against the Southeast Asian country, the new EU ambassador to Vietnam recently announced. Ambassador Julien Guerrier was speaking at his first media meeting in Hanoi on Wednesday, one day after taking office and presenting his letter of credentials to Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong. Vietnam is an important EU partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy and the EU is one of Vietnam’s most reliable and long-standing friends and partners, Guerrier affirmed. The new ambassador pledged that during his four-year term, the EU will continue to help Vietnam realize its vision of becoming a developed economy by 2045 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To that effect, the EU will provide Vietnam with five support tools, the first of which is to continue promoting the … [Read more...] about EU to offer 5 support tools to Vietnam, address IUU fishing warning soon: new ambassador
Emerging trends expected to power Vietnam’s tourism boom: study
Several ongoing trends in the Vietnamese tourism sector have contributed to its strong recovery in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with the increasing travel demands of Gen Z and families with kids as significant contributors, according to the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study (GTI) 2023. Vietnam, with its stunning landscapes and diverse cultural heritage sites, has become a popular destination for travelers from around the world. According to the study, it is vital for both travelers and industry stakeholders to understand new trends in Vietnamese tourism following the pandemic. In terms of leisure trips, families with kids and 'Silvers' – individuals older than 60 – made an average of 2.4 trips over the past 12 months, more than any other market segments, according to the GTI 2023. Besides ticking visiting landmarks, Vietnamese tourists are now placing a strong emphasis on leisure-focused and experiential journeys. Relaxation was the main driver of travel, … [Read more...] about Emerging trends expected to power Vietnam’s tourism boom: study
Singapore’s GIC among bidders vying for stake in Vietnam’s third largest grocery chain
SINGAPORE/HANOI -- Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC is among investors vying to buy up to 20 percent stake in grocer Bach Hoa Xanh from Vietnam's retail giant Mobile World Investment, in a deal that could value the grocery chain at up to $1.7 billion, two sources said. GIC declined to comment. Other bidders include companies from Thailand, the sources added, declining to be named as the matter is private. The identity of the potential buyers has not been reported previously. "The deal is nearing to the finalising stage and expected to close soon," one of the sources with knowledge of the matter said, adding that a deal could be sealed as early as the first quarter of next year if negotiations are successful. In a statement to Reuters , Mobile World said it would announce the information once the deal was concluded. "We are still in a private placement and have signed an agreement not to disclose information with interested bidders," it said. The potential deal would … [Read more...] about Singapore’s GIC among bidders vying for stake in Vietnam’s third largest grocery chain
International packaging firms eye Vietnamese market
Over 400 exhibitors from 17 countries and territories are joining the 21st Vietnam International Printing and Packaging Industry Exhibition (VietnamPrintPack 2023), which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, in search of investment and cooperation opportunities. The participating printing and packaging enterprises come from Germany, China, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Britain, and the United States. According to insiders, Vietnam faces a shortage of providers of high-quality printing and packaging services and products. VietnamPrintPack plays a key role in helping foster the printing and packaging industry in Vietnam. It has also paved the way for domestic firms to seek appropriate solutions and technologies, and for foreigners to do business in the Southeast Asian nation. The exhibition covers an area of over 20,000 square meters and features 910 booths showcasing the latest products and services in the industry. China’s Masterwork Group, which has joined the … [Read more...] about International packaging firms eye Vietnamese market