Urbanization usually results in an increase in flood frequency because

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

Urban planning is critical to Hanoi's socio-economic and urban development. Hanoi is aiming to achieve a target urbanization rate of approximately 60-62% by 2025, and a further increase to around 65-75% by 2030. The Red river delta. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times Hanoi aims to achieve a target urbanization rate of approximately 60-62% by 2025 and a further increase to around 65-75% by 2030. The objectives include an action program issued by the municipal Party Committee that outlines its efforts to implement the Politburo's Resolution No.06-NQ/TW on the planning, construction, management, and sustainable development of urban areas in Vietnam up to 2030 and beyond, with a vision for 2045. Other key objectives include expanding the urban construction area to about 30% of the total natural land area by 2025 and increasing it to 33-36% by 2030. The city intends to complete all district planning, satellite urban zoning plans, functional area … [Read more...] about Hanoi target urbanization rate of 75% by 2030

Responding to VTC News, a representative of the country's national airline, Vietnam Airlines, said that it has prepared resources to welcome visitors from China. "Early on, we prepared to welcome the recovery of Chinese tourism," a representative of Vietnam Airlines said. "As soon as China eased flight permits and isolation conditions in December last year, Vietnam Airlines reopened flights connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Guangzhou, Shanghai. "The airline has increased the frequency of flights connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City with Guangzhou and Shanghai, and at the same time resuming the Hanoi-Beijing route this month.” In the following months, the airline will reopen four routes, including Da Nang and Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu; and Hanoi and Chengdu. Vietnam Airlines is also considering a route connecting Hanoi with Daxing airport in Beijing. Vietnam Airlines served 8.1 million passengers between China and Vietnam in 2019, accounting for 19% of the total number of … [Read more...] about Aviation firms ready to welcome Chinese tourists

Visas, service quality, and technology were all part of discussions on a better-performing tourism sector Photo: Cuong Minh May’s National Assembly session is likely to help push ahead a revamp of the country’s rules on entry and exit for foreign visitors, after the Ministry of Public Security crafts amendments to the current law. The development will be an important basis for the issuance of new regulations related to the visa policy, removing difficulties for the tourism industry, and creating conditions to attract more international visitors this year, according to most observers. Dang Tuan Viet, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Secrutity’s (MoPS) Vietnam Immigration Department, said that the proposal emphasised two major areas related to unilateral visa exemption and electronic visa policy. The MoPS also proposes to expand the number of countries that can issue e-visas from 80 countries to the maximum. The MoPS will also ask to increase the temporary stay … [Read more...] about Visa upgrade at heart of fresh approach to tourism

Delegates to the workshop (Photo: VNA) Hoa Binh (VNA) – Impact-based forecasting and warning information plays a very important role, contributing to disaster damage reduction and socio-economic development, experts said at an international workshop in the northern province of Hoa Binh on March 22. Deputy head of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration (VNMHA) Hoang Duc Cuong said that the workshop, jointly held by the VNMHA and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) in response to the World Meteorological Day (March 23), will provide international experiences on forecasting and warning based on practical impacts in the world and Vietnam, contributing to forming processes and measures to effectively forecast disaster impacts in Vietnam at present and in future. At the workshop, the ADPC guided participants on how to build an impact matrix of storms and floods. Participants also discussed the role of disaster forecasting and warning, and … [Read more...] about Workshop highlights importance of impact-based disaster forecasting

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

How did a bank ranking on the list of American Best Banks for five straight years collapse in your viewpoint? Professor Andreas Stoffers, country director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Vietnam Just before March 10, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was the 16th largest in the US. It had taken four decades to build and its parent company SVB Financial Group. However, it took only 36 hours to completely dismantle. SVB was forced to sell assets at a loss to pay for withdrawals from venture capital funds and tech startups. However, this led to massive withdrawals, while SVB was facing many difficulties, which left it unable to pay its debts, leading to bankruptcy on March 10. Dark memories of the 2008 financial crisis returned and this crisis did reach other banks in the US as well. Many questions remain unanswered, such as why bonuses were still being paid to management shortly before the bank collapsed and why the CEO was still gold-plating his shares in January … [Read more...] about The potential ramifications of US banking collapse

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), sports tourism contributes up to 30 per cent of tourism's total revenue in some countries. Many countries have changed their tourism images through major sporting events that considerably leveraged tourism development and economic growth. The linkage of sport-based tourism products and sporting events contributes to stimulating local tourism or reducing seasonality by attracting many tourists in the low season. In addition to the economic boost, sports tourism brings cultural connection between the local community and international tourists. Leading international sporting event centre of Southeast Asia In the heart of Central Vietnam, Danang–Hue–Hoi An plays a significant role in the economy, and tourism development nationwide, which is an important connecting point and the motivation for regional linkage development. In addition to the economic boost, sports tourism brings cultural connection between the local … [Read more...] about VGS Group accompanies central region in journey as international sports destination

Stakeholders have much to say about the current state of the tourism industry, and what must be done Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a tourism recovery conference on March 15 and talked to management agencies and tourism businesses about removing obstacles for the industry to thrive once again. Despite being one of the first Southeast Asian countries to fully reopen to international tourism after the pandemic, Vietnam’s tourism industry still trails other countries in the region. The PM raised a series of questions about tourism promotion, competitive advantages, products, and visa policies – all factors that are considered to be subjective causes for Vietnam’s tourism to fail its foreign tourism targets thus far. “Tourism cannot develop alone, and tourism cannot develop if culture and the entertainment industry do not develop,” PM Chinh said. He directed the tourism industry to build green and sustainable tourism products, finance tourism activities, and develop … [Read more...] about Tourism breakthrough within reach

ROUNDTABLE: Seeking a boost for inbound tourism Speaking at the opening of the roundtable discussion, VIR's Editor-in-Chief Le Trong Minh shared, " Tourism is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing economic sectors in the world today. Its importance in creating jobs and promoting growth is addressed in some of the Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations Development programme." He cited statistics showing Vietnam's tourism created more than 1.3 million direct jobs in 2019, contributing 9.2 per cent of the country's total GDP (equivalent to $32.8 billion). This is a significant number, but it remains low compared to the global average. Vietnam has yet to unlock the full potential of its tourism industry. "Despite the economic volatility, the recovery of inbound tourism will bring many advantages, such as creating jobs and improving labour mobility. As the manufacturing industry is struggling due to a shrinking export market, tourism is a viable on-site … [Read more...] about VIR’s rountable discussion sheds lights on the recovery of inbound tourism