Vietnam disabilities

Vietnam's tourism suppliers have won top awards in the categories of unique homestay, community tourism associated with local economic development, qualified public toilets, and best ASEAN spa services. The ASEAN Tourism Awards 2023 ceremony was held on February 5 in Indonesia as part of the ongoing ASEAN Tourism Forum 2023 under the theme "ASEAN: A Journey to Wonderful Destinations". A foreign traveler enjoys buying fruits in Cai Be Floating Market. Photo: Mekong Smiles As a result, two groups of host families, one in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long and the other in the northwestern province of Lao Cai, received the ASEAN Homestay Award. The first group consists of six establishments: Ut Thuy, Sau Thanh, Nam Thanh, Nam Thanh, Ba Linh, Ngoc Phuong, and Ngoc Sang, in An Binh District, Vinh Long Province, about 140 km from Ho Chi Minh City. The locality is famous for its islets of fruit orchards. The most prominent tourist attractions are the Cai Be … [Read more...] about ASEAN Tourism Awards 2023 honor 14 businesses of Vietnam

Producing wooden furniture for export at Trieu Phu Loc Furniture Co., Ltd, Tan Uyen town, Binh Duong province (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Wooden furniture exports from Southeast Asian markets to Australia grew sharply in the past year, with Vietnam leading the way on 205.6 million USD, up 26.4% year-on-year. Vietnam is followed Malaysia with 101.9 million USD and Indonesia with 61.7 million USD. The proportion of wooden furniture imports from these three markets accounted for 22.9% of the total value of wooden furniture imports into Australia. The Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, quoted statistics from the General Department of Customs saying that the export value of wooden office furniture reached 28.4 million USD in December, a year-on-year decline of 28.6%. The export value of wooden office furniture reached 370.3 million USD last year, down 15.9% over the same period in 2021. In the structure of wooden furniture exports last year, … [Read more...] about Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in wooden furniture exports to Australia

Vietnam is enjoying global rice price rises as local exporters are receiving more orders. Vietnam's rice export prices hit two-year high. Illustrative photo The export price of Vietnamese rice on February 5 increased by USD15 per tonne compared to last month, with broken rice prices reaching USD453-473 per tonne, the highest level recorded over the past two years. However, prices were still lower by USD 20 and USD 10 compared to that of Thai and Pakistani rice, respectively. Last December, Vietnamese broken rice enjoyed the world's highest prices, ranging between USD 418-438 per tonne, about USD 20 higher than Thai rice. According to Do Ha Nam, vice chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, rice prices are rising in the first months of 2023 due to the prolonged Ukraine War and the world's fluctuating socio-economic situation. "Some of our big customers including China, the Philippines, and some African countries made larger orders," Nam said. "The … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s rice export prices hit two-year high

Images showing the e-wallet market by share of active users by Robocash Group. (Photo courtesy of Robocash Group) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The modern e-wallet market in Vietnam is surging and is expected to reach 50 million active users by July 2024, experts said. In a report, Robocash Group said: “the modern e-wallet market in Vietnam is booming with 90% of the market falling on three wallets: Momo, Moca and ZaloPay.” The country is seeing tough competition, given that there are 40 electronic wallets in operation, the report said. Robocash Group estimates that by July 2024, the e-wallet market will have 50 million active users, 100 million by May 2026, and 150 million by July 2030. In addition to the already mentioned wallets, there are three other major competitors including ShopeePay (AirPay), ViettelPay and VNPT Pay. The top six already account for 99% of the market. According to a Decision Lab study, at the end of 2021, 56% of the Vietnamese population … [Read more...] about E-wallet market in Vietnam estimated to reach 50 million users by 2024

Vietnam exported 656 million USD worth of goods to the neighboring country in 2022, up over 10%, mainly oil and gas, fertilizers, steel, machinery and accessories, and means of transport. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s imports were valued at over one billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 35%, with main items including wood and wood products, fertilizers, rubber and corn. In December alone, the two-way trade stood at 211 million USD, up 60% from the previous year. According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Laos , the two countries’ industry and trade sectors coordinated in organizing a range of trade promotion activities during the year, contributing to the rise of bilateral trade./. VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Laos trade records impressive growth in 2022

Three people were hospitalized for treatment for food poisoning after allegedly eating toxic mangrove horseshoe crab in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa on Saturday, the Khanh Hoa General Hospital said on Sunday. N.V.S., 35, is the worst case but was saved from a cardiac arrest, a respiratory arrest, and a deep coma by doctors at the Khanh Hoa General Hospital. His prognosis remains poor, and he still requires mechanical ventilation. The two other patients, N.G.H., 16, and N.P.Q., 19, are back in stable condition, with the latter recovering consciousness. S., H., and Q. were among six people that allegedly ate a mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda), which is known to contain lethal tetrodotoxin and is often misidentified as edible horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus), at a restaurant in Khanh Hoa’s Ninh Hoa Town at around 9:00 pm on Saturday. This supplied photo shows a sea species suspected to be a mangrove horseshoe crab … [Read more...] about 3 hospitalized after allegedly eating lethal horseshoe crab in south-central Vietnam

A man was fatally hit by a truck after riding his motorbike on an expressway meant only for four-wheel vehicles in southern Vietnam. Preliminary information showed that the truck was traveling along the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway at around 10:20 pm on Sunday. After reaching Thanh Duc Commune in Ben Luc District, Long An Province, the truck collided with a motorbike running in the opposite direction. The crash caused the motorcyclist to fall on the ground and die on the spot. Congestion followed the crash on the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, February 5, 2023. Photo: A.X. / Tuoi Tre A team of traffic police officers, in coordination with the expressway management unit, later arrived at the site to identify the victim, investigate the accident, and control the traffic. Stretching 62 kilometers, the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway connects the southern metropolis with Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta. The minimum … [Read more...] about Man fatally hit by truck after riding motorbike on expressway in southern Vietnam

The Vietnam Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Center under the Institute of Geophysics said on Sunday that four consecutive earthquakes measuring 2.7 to 3.1 on the Richter scale hit Kon Plong District in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum from Friday to Sunday. The two latest tremors, with magnitudes of 3.1 and 2.7, occurred at a depth of 8km at 8:29 am and 0:20 on Sunday, respectively. The other two quakes of magnitude-3 struck the district at a depth of 8.8km and 8.2km at 9:10 am on Saturday and 10:44 pm on Friday, respectively. The earthquakes did not pose any disaster risk, however. The People’s Committee of Kon Plong District said that they have not recorded any damage to people and property after the incidents. Since the end of 2022, they have coordinated with the Institute of Geophysics to organize training on how to respond to and overcome the possible consequences of earthquakes for residents of the district, which has recently been struck by several quakes. … [Read more...] about 4 consecutive earthquakes rock Vietnam’s Central Highlands

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports has approved the organization of the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, which is scheduled to take place until the end of the year. The organizer, Golden Lotus Advertising Commercial JSC, announced the inception of the annual contest at a press conference on Sunday evening. Luong Thuy Linh (L), Miss World Vietnam 2019, Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc (C), Miss Intercontinental 2022, and Nguyen Thu Thuy Tien, Miss Grand International 2021, are introduced as the ambassadors of the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, February 5, 2023. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre The preliminary round began last month and will last until August. The semifinal will take place in September while the finale is slated for November and December with the participation of 63 contestants. Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, Miss Grand International 2021, attends the press conference for the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, … [Read more...] about Vietnam introduces new beauty pageant

Foreign tourists visit Vietnam (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Despite near-term trade headwinds, tourism has emerged as a source of growth for Vietnam to mitigate the challenges ahead in 2023, according to the “Vietnam at a glance” report released by HSBC on February 6. The report stressed that January’s data showed Vietnam continues to face difficulties in trade and the inflationary pressure of increasing prices. However, in spite of slowing trade, there are still pockets of resilience in Vietnam’s economy, and tourism will be a key one in 2023. Following its re-opening last March, Vietnam’s domestic tourism has been soaring, easily surpassing its 2022 target of 60 million to over 100 million tourists. Meanwhile, international tourism, which previously accounted for 60% of tourism receipts, saw a tepid recovery post COVID-19, with tourist arrivals reaching 3.6 million, only 20% of 2019’s level. But there are good reasons to expect a more meaningful recovery, in … [Read more...] about Tourism – a source of growth in Vietnam for 2023: HSBC