Remittances contributed by migrants account for 5% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP). International migration and internal migration in Vietnam have long played a very important role in the country’s socioeconomic development and they will continue to do so. Park Mihyung, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vietnam, shared that view with The Hanoi Times . Park Mihyung, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Vietnam. Photos: IOM Vietnam “If you look at the GDP, up to 5% of the country’s GDP comes from remittances contributed by international migration and that’s only recorded remittances, so it should be a lot more,” she said. For that reason, when the migration governance is done right and well, there’s a lot of positive development and contributions to Vietnam when they return and with their remittances, Park added. In addition, there’s also a recognition that … [Read more...] about Migration significant to Vietnam’s socio-economic development: IOM
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Vietnam spends US$9 billion on oil imports in 2022
South Korea was the largest petroleum supplier of Vietnam, with 3.22 million tons, up 96% year on year. Vietnam imported nearly 8.9 million tons of oil and petroleum products in 2022 worth $9 billion, nearly double that of the previous year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC). Locals buying petrol products at a gas station in Hanoi. File photo In December 2022, the country imported nearly 950,000 tons of oil and petrol products worth $823 million, up 22% in quantity and 11% in value against November. Diesel made up a lion’s share of the imported volume with 4.74 million tons, accounting for 54% of the country's imported petroleum in 2022. In 2022, the country consumed 1.7 million tons of gasoline, 2.3 times more than in 2021; and 1.46 million tons of jet fuel, representing 2.2 times on-year, and 16% of imported oil. South Korea was the largest petroleum supplier of Vietnam, with 3.22 million tons, up more than 96% year on year; … [Read more...] about Vietnam spends US$9 billion on oil imports in 2022
Vietnam’s famous comedian apologizes to TV audiences
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Van Hoa newspaper published his apology on Friday, which said it was a personal story and not meant to offend anyone. The comedian and director of the Vietnam National Drama Theater had posted "Mother’s slap" three days earlier to seemingly take a potshot at people who criticized his TV show. In the story, a woman cooks "banh chung" (glutinous square rice cake) every year for Tet, but her son, who does not know how to make it himself, always criticizes it. It read: "This year is no exception. At 8pm on Lunar New Year’s Eve, I criticized the cake after the first bite. My mouth has two sides, one to chew on ‘banh chung’ and the other to criticize the cake. "Not really because the cake is not delicious, not necessarily because it is bad, but because it is not what I imagined, it is not what I wanted. I criticize it because I have the right to criticize, because it is my mother’s responsibility to cook cakes as I want them." In the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s famous comedian apologizes to TV audiences
Vietnam’s youth union to plant 20mn trees in 2023
The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the largest organization of young people in Vietnam, will plant 20 million trees this year, said first secretary of the Central Committee of the union Bui Quang Huy. The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on Saturday cooperated with the Party Committee and the People’s Committee of Hoa Binh Province in northern Vietnam to launch the Tet tree planting movement. At the launching ceremony, Huy informed that young people nationwide would plant 1.9 million trees on the day. In Hoa Binh alone, young people planted 30,000 trees. This is the first step to realize the target of planting 100 million trees in 2022 – 27, heading toward the prime minister’s plan to cultivate 100 million trees. Huy also asked each young person to plant, take care of, and protect at least a tree in their workplaces, schools, and residences. He required the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union at all levels to come up with solutions to apply … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s youth union to plant 20mn trees in 2023
Intertwined opportunities, challenges for Vietnam’s economy in 2023
Vietnam has to deal with one major external challenge and two internal ones, Dr Pham Sy Thanh, Director of the Chinese Economic Studies Program under the Vietnam Institute for Economics and Policy Research, told the Vietnam News Agency. The external challenge is a strong decline in demand for Vietnamese exports. Many export sectors with revenue of over 1 billion USD like wood and apparel recorded their earnings in October and November 2022 falling 30 - 40% year on year and month on month. This indicates that foreign markets are no longer open or attractive enough for exports in 2023. Export contraction will have a huge impact on many social issues, especially lay-offs, job shortages, and unemployment in industrial parks, he pointed out. Among internal challenges, the first is that the handling of wrongdoings in the bond market and the banking system has caused serious disruptions and congestion of the capital flow. Meanwhile, the cost of capital is one of tough barriers to … [Read more...] about Intertwined opportunities, challenges for Vietnam’s economy in 2023
Vietnam supports expansion of U.N. Security Council
Addressing the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform at the 77th U.N. General Assembly on January 26, Tra also emphasised improving the working method of the UNSC and limiting the use of veto power. She highlighted the importance of dialogues and discussions on the council reshuffle within the IGN framework, suggesting that this process be carried out in a transparent manner, with the participation of all members, and on the basis of respecting the interests of countries. The challenges facing the world are also a driving force for change, the Vietnamese representative said, proposing countries push for a comprehensive and profound reform of the council so that this body can fulfill its important responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. At this session, U.N. members all emphasised the need to reshuffle the UNSC to ensure the representation nature, democracy, transparency and efficiency; and reflect the reality of the … [Read more...] about Vietnam supports expansion of U.N. Security Council
3,500 hospitalized during Tet due to fighting
The number of cases reported during the holiday, from January 20 to the morning of January 27, was down 1.5% from the same period during last year's Tet holiday. Among the injured, 11 people died, according to the ministry. Cases of hospitalization due to traffic-related injuries rose from last year's holiday, but the number of deaths dropped. Among the 30,000 cases of hospitalization due to traffic-related injuries this year, 235 people died. Following the week-long Tet holiday, over 381,200 people have been hospitalized nationwide, a 38% increase from the same period last year. Vietnam's Tet holiday this year ran from January 20 to January 26. … [Read more...] about 3,500 hospitalized during Tet due to fighting
Salaries of mid- and senior-level employees to rise by 5-25%
According to the results of a recent salary survey conducted by Navigos, nearly 27% of respondents said salaries of middle- and senior-level employees will rise by from 5% to less than 10%, more than 23% said salaries will remain unchanged, more than 15% said salaries will increase by less than 5%, and nearly 12% said they will rise by 10% to 15%. Global Salary Survey 2023 conducted by Robert Walters in 31 countries, including Vietnam, said 88% of companies are willing to increase salaries by 15-25% this year. For employees in some sectors like the digital industry, salary hikes could be as high as 35% during the year. According to Navigos, many businesses are still in the post-pandemic recovery phase, and so have not been able to sharply increase salaries for their employees. However, over 50% of the surveyed firms said they will improve policies on salary, bonuses, allowances, and other benefits such as flexible working hours, educational opportunities, promotions, and … [Read more...] about Salaries of mid- and senior-level employees to rise by 5-25%
Hue preserves craft villages for socio-economic and tourism development
Foreign visitors enjoy Thanh Tien paper flower-making experience (Source: thuathienhue.gov.vn) Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) - The ancient capital of Hue in central Thua Thien-Hue province has for many years managed to preserve craft villages which have become destinations for tourists from both at home and abroad. Hue was the capital of Vietnamese monarchy dynasties for more than 300 years (1636-1945), including 13 dynasties of the Nguyen family, the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam. The city, therefore, became a gathering place of many traditional crafts, including unique crafts originating from the system of office crafts or ancient craft villages serving the royals and the elites exclusively. After hundreds of years, Hue today is still a palatial city with golden palaces, citadels, mausoleums, temples and countless treasures from feudal times, which makes the city a unique cultural heritage . Creating that unique and massive heritage complex was none other than the … [Read more...] about Hue preserves craft villages for socio-economic and tourism development
Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City among world’s top 25 trending destinations in 2023: TripAdvisor
Specifically, Hoi An in the Central province of Quang Nam occupied the second place on the list as part of the annual Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards, following Cuba, while the southern metropolis secured 11th place. The category reveals destinations with the greatest year-over-year growth in interest on Tripadvisor based on travelers' reviews over a 12-month period between November 1 and October 31. "Hoi An on the central Vietnamese coast is a well-preserved example of the important Southeast Asian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries," Tripadvisor commented. "Already a common stop for backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists." Meanwhile, Vietnam's bustling largest metropolis of Ho Chi Minh sets the cultural and economic pace for the country, Tripadvisor said, adding the former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards. The U.S.-based travel site advised tourists to visit the War Remnants Museum at 28 Vo Van Tan … [Read more...] about Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City among world’s top 25 trending destinations in 2023: TripAdvisor