Being one of the best-loved railways in Southeast Asia, Vietnam's North-South Railway, with two ends at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, attracts many travelers. Lonely Planet, the world-renowned travel guide, named Vietnam National Railway the most incredible rail trip in the world. The 1,730-kilometer journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City offers breathtaking views of the country's diverse landscapes, making it a must-see for foreigners coming to Vietnam, the magazine said. "Some railways rattle through historic cities; others swoosh beside spectacular coastlines. A few have an epic history, and one or two are remarkable for the colorful characters onboard. The Reunification Express line, known as the North–South Railway, fulfills all these criteria," it stated. The railway is one of Southeast Asia's best-loved railways and the world's most epic overnight train journeys. It's also one of Vietnam's tourism highlights that attracts many international visitors. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Reunification Express named world’s most incredible rail journey: Lonely Planet
Vietnam 7 days
Vietnam Airlines increases flight frequency to Singapore
Vietnam Airlines has announced that it will increase the frequency of flights between Hanoi and Singapore from one to two flights a day on all weekdays from June 15 to meet the travel demand between the two countries. Vietnam Airlines aircraft (Photo: VNA) At the same time, the flight frequency on the Ho Chi Minh City-Singapore route is kept at three flights a day for weekdays. On this occasion, the national flag carrier is offering a special incentive programme for passengers buying tickets on all of its sales channels from agents, websites, and mobile apps. Specifically, a round-trip ticket between Hanoi and Singapore is from 5.799 million VND (246.9 USD) (including taxes and fees); and that on the Ho Chi Minh City-Singapore route is from 4.971 trillion VND (including taxes and fees). The offer is applied to passengers who buy tickets from now until December 31, 2023, and depart from June 15 to December 31. In addition, Vietnam Airlines offers one free … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines increases flight frequency to Singapore
Vesak Day 2023: VFF leader visits Buddhist establishments
Vice Chairwoman of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha visits Office 2 of the VBS Central Committee (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Vice Chairwoman and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha visited and congratulated leaders of several Buddhist establishments in Ho Chi Minh City on May 26, on the occasion of Vesak Day, the 2567th birth anniversary of the Buddha. Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee in District 3, Ha hailed the VBS for always being an active member of the VFF, making significant and effective contributions to patriotic movements and campaigns launched by the VFF, building new-style rural areas, protecting the environment, coping with climate change, and joining social welfare and charitable endeavors, with noteworthy accomplishments. VNA … [Read more...] about Vesak Day 2023: VFF leader visits Buddhist establishments
A hot dog that isn’t a hot dog in Vietnam
Living in Vietnam can bring moments of total pleasure and those of total wonder. When is a hot dog not a hot dog? Well, that answer came to me through experience some 10 years ago when I began my teaching career here in Vietnam. It was only weeks after I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to start a new life journey and I had already experienced my first episode of 'Vietnam Belly.' I wasn’t feeling all that great and I found that the local food and cheap beer just weren’t what my body wanted. I met a fellow Australian expat who introduced me to his employer – a major name in Vietnam’s teaching industry. Despite my unreliable health, I interviewed with the company. I was just hoping things would hold themselves together long enough to get the job, and they did. When I found out I got the job, my only thoughts were about how much I hoped I would be able to recover by the time I started classes. Early the next morning, my phone rang. It was the school asking if I could cover a class … [Read more...] about A hot dog that isn’t a hot dog in Vietnam
India plans numerous activities to foster ties with Vietnam in 2023: Diplomat
Indian Consul General Madan Mohan Sethi addresses the press conference. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The Indian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City will hold a range of cultural exchange, and trade, investment and tourism promotion programmes in 2023, aiming to foster the ties between India and Vietnam, said Indian Consul General Madan Mohan Sethi at a press briefing in the city on May 30. The diplomat said that last year, the two sides jointly organised many activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. To further promote the India-Vietnam ties in general and the relations between India and southern localities of Vietnam in particular, the Indian Consulate General in HCM City has planned many other activities to strengthen connections between the two communities, he said. He noted that over the past year, the Indian Consulate General organised 20 trade promotion events with the participation of 600 Indian firms in … [Read more...] about India plans numerous activities to foster ties with Vietnam in 2023: Diplomat
Vietnam considers declaring end to COVID-19 pandemic
The Prime Minister is scheduled to chair a meeting of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control this week in order to examine if Vietnam should declare an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan. Lan told lawmakers at their ongoing National Assembly session in Hanoi on May 29 that the Ministry of Health, authorised by the Prime Minister, is collaborating with other ministries and agencies to review legal provisions, learn about COVID-19 control experiences from other countries, and evaluate practical prevention and control measures locally. The Ministry is now working on a document to downgrade COVID-19 from a Class A infectious disease, classified as ‘especially dangerous’ to Class B ‘common’. She recalled that the World Health Organisation announced in early May that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, although it warned that the disease is not over yet. According to Associate Professor Nguyen Lan Hieu, director … [Read more...] about Vietnam considers declaring end to COVID-19 pandemic
Trilingual book about friendship published on Children’s Day
The cover of 'Hip Hop and the Golden Forest', the latest story by Vietnamese-German writer Isabelle Müller. (Photo courtesy of HCM City General Publishing House) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - To mark Children’s Day on June 1, the Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House has released Hip Hop and the Golden Forest, the latest story by Vietnamese-German writer Isabelle Müller. The book, lovingly told by Muller and beautifully illustrated by her brother, Daniel Gaucher, is recommended for all those who believe in true friendship. In Việt Nam, it has been published in three languages – Vietnamese, English and German. The readers will follow Hip Hop, the little flea, and Little Leaf, on their journey to the Golden Forest. A terrible storm has uprooted the huge solitary ginkgo biloba in the botanical garden near the Green Valley Zoo. Among many others, Little Leaf hopes to find her original roots in order to complete the cycle of life. To succeed, she must find the Golden Forest that’s … [Read more...] about Trilingual book about friendship published on Children’s Day
Vietnamese, Cambodian front organisations forge cooperation
Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien (6th from right) receives the Cambodian delegation. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee held talks with representatives from the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland in Hanoi on May 29. At the talks, Vice President and Secretary General of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha affirmed the fruitful relations between the two sides, with the signing of cooperation documents. The two sides briefed each other on operations of their front organisations, and compared notes on cooperation orientations and contents in the time ahead. Nhem Valy, Permanent Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the National Council of the Solidarity for the Development of Cambodian Motherland, held that the talks will help the two front organisations better understand each other, thus helping … [Read more...] about Vietnamese, Cambodian front organisations forge cooperation
Binh Thuan province promotes awareness to fight illegal fishing
Fishing vessels are seen at Phu Quy Island in the south central province of Binh Thuan . (Photo: VNA) Binh Thuan (VNA) – The south central province of Binh Thuan is raising public awareness in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the implementation of the 2017 Fisheries Law. The moves come as part of the country's180-day action plan for IUU fishing prevention and control. Since the beginning of this year, the provincial Fisheries Sub-Department has coordinated with localities to organise six classes for 450 fishermen, especially those working on offshore fishing vessels and groups with a high risk of committing to IUU fishing. IUU fishing and illegal fishing in foreign waters. Local vessel owners and captains of offshore fishing ships signed commitments not to violate foreign waters. From July 2019 to June 2021, no fishing boats or fishermen violated foreign waters. However, from mid-2021 until now, there have been eight cases … [Read more...] about Binh Thuan province promotes awareness to fight illegal fishing
Prime Minister visits educational institutions for disadvantaged children
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presents gifts to teachers and students of SOS Hermann Gmeiner School. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 30 visited educational institutions for disadvantaged children in Hanoi on the occasion of International Children’s Day (June 1) and Action Month for Children. At the SOS Hermann Gmeiner School, established in 1994 with its construction funded by the SOS Children’s Village, Chinh presented gifts to the school and its outstanding students. The school was named after Austrian philanthropist Hermann Gmeiner – the founder of the SOS Children’s Village, which is home to underprivileged children. It provides primary and secondary education for children in the SOS Children’s Village Vietnam, those belonging to poor households and other vulnerable children. The government leader also made a field trip to a centre for integration education development under the National College for Education, which admits more … [Read more...] about Prime Minister visits educational institutions for disadvantaged children