The AFD and EU have been actively supporting Vietnam in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Vietnam will receive financial aid from the EU and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to reduce the vulnerability to climate hazards in several towns in four northern and central provinces. The project is jointly co-financed with a EUR5 million (US$5.36 million) grant from the EU, a EUR123 million ($132 million) ODA loan from the AFD, and EUR 28 million ($30 million) from provincial budgets. The principal goal is to help localities adapt to climate change and recover from natural disasters such as flooding, typhoons, and drought. Delegates attend the launching ceremony. Photo: the Embassy of France in Vietnam The regional towns include Phat Diem in the northern province of Ninh Binh, Ngoc Lac in the central province of Thanh Hoa, and Hoang Mai in the central province of Nghe An, Huong Khe, and Thach Ha in the central province of Ha Tinh. … [Read more...] about AFD, EU strengthen urban climate resilience in Vietnam
Vietnam equitization plan
Australia and Việt Nam work together on gender equality for stronger economies
HÀ NỘI — The Australian-funded Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) programme hosted a symposium, Engaging Women in Markets – Scaling up Local Successes Nationwide, in Hà Nội on Friday. Throughout the day, the GREAT programme team and Government of Việt Nam representatives discussed evidence and lessons learned from the GREAT Programme that can help inform Việt Nam’s National Target Programmes (NTPs) implementation. The NTPs and GREAT both aspire to stronger socio-economic opportunities in Việt Nam’s northwest region, particularly for the ethnic communities that call the region home. Australian Ambassador Robyn Mudie talks to a successful woman joining the project in Sơn La Province at the symposium. Photo Phạm Huy GREAT is Australia’s most significant gender investment in Việt Nam, totalling AU$33.7 million (US$24.1 million). The programme works with businesses, NGOs, government and civil society partners to build more inclusive business and market … [Read more...] about Australia and Việt Nam work together on gender equality for stronger economies
☕ Afternoon briefing on May 27
Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on May 27. – Deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) on May 27 discussed a report on the draft Law on Implementation of Democracy at Grassroots Level in their ongoing third session. According to Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the bill comprises seven chapters and 74 articles, adding many new contents to existing regulations in the field, including those on the implementation of democracy in agencies. Read full story – Upholding Vietnam’s peace-loving tradition and implementing the Party and State’s policy, over the past years, the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) has sent officers and soldiers to participate in the United Nations (UN)’ peacekeeping missions, which has been supported by local people and appreciated by the UN and the international community. The spirit of dedication and responsibility of Vietnamese soldiers has helped spread the image of the … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on May 27
☀ Morning digest on May 27
Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency. – Senior Party officials of Vietnam and Cuba have agreed that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, regular meetings and exchanges between the two Parties and countries vividly demonstrate their special friendship. Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee held online talks with Roberto Morales Ojeda, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee on May 26. Read full story - Asia needs to play a greater role in maintaining and fostering a peaceful and stable environment conducive to development and prosperity in the region and beyond, on the shared basis of cooperation, understanding, trust and responsibility, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has said. Minh made the suggestion while delivering his remarks at the 27th … [Read more...] about ☀ Morning digest on May 27
Millions of travelers book tours for summer vacation
People and tourists choose to buy tours at the Hong Ngoc Ha travel booth during Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2022 Specifically, national carriers Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and the Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) have prepared to supply more than 7.1 million seats during the peak summer season from June 1 to August 15, an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period before the Covid-19 epidemic. On average, during the peak summer season, these airlines will operate 430 domestic flights, especially those to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. With international routes, Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines provide over 852,000 seats, equivalent to more than 3,600 flights, only 40 percent of the number in 2019 because international travel demand has not recovered as before. Vietravel Airlines also said that the demand for travel and tourism will increase, so it has planned to increase the number of aircraft and frequency of flights to the Central … [Read more...] about Millions of travelers book tours for summer vacation
Bond issuance slows amid tightening controls
A bondholder shows her ABOND bonds. Photo mns.com HÀ NỘI — Bond issuers have become more cautious amid the authorities tightening control of the market, leading to issuance shrinkages. The Ministry of Finance reported that the total issuance volume of privately-placed bonds plunged to around VNĐ30 trillion (US$1.3 billion) in April, down 33 per cent year-on-year. In the first two weeks of May, the issuance figure reached VNĐ5.2 trillion, equaling one-third of the figure last year. Notably, realty bonds fell sharply to about VNĐ820 billion in April, far less than their average monthly volume of VNĐ26 trillion in 2021. The market experienced not only decreasing bond issuances but also a buyback spree. Specifically, premature bond buybacks in April alone stood at VNĐ11.9 trillion, comparable to the figure of VNĐ12.8 trillion in the previous three months combined. The securities firm SSI underlined the Tân Hoàng Minh Group's cancellation of issuance of nine … [Read more...] about Bond issuance slows amid tightening controls
Hanoi parents brace for tuition hikes
After a year of not raising tuition fees due to the impacts of Covid-19, the Hanoi people's council passed a resolution on May 20 to hike public preschool and high school tuition fees for the 2022-23 academic year. The fees would double at first and subsequently increase by 20-40 percent every year. Sen, 43, lives in Hanoi’s Ha Dong District with her husband and two daughters, the other in 10th grade. She cleans houses for hourly wages while her husband is a laborer. They pay the highest tuition rate since their household registration is in Region 1, which comprises the capital’s inner districts. In addition, she may be required to pay VND300,000 ($12.93) per child per month for the following academic year, which is 1.4-2 times the current fee. Tuition fees for middle and high schools in Region 1 will gradually rise over the next three years to VND410,000, VND530,000, and VND650,000, respectively. Meanwhile, Sen and her husband's incomes fluctuate every month: Sometimes … [Read more...] about Hanoi parents brace for tuition hikes
Việt Nam continues to strengthen cooperation to fight against LGBTQ+ discrimination
The workshop takes place on Friday at the Intercontinental Landmark 72 Hotel, Hà Nội. — Photo VNA/VNS Anh Đức HÀ NỘI — "Việt Nam is consistent in protecting and promoting human rights to meet the goal of 'human rights for all'," said a foreign affairs official. "At the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Việt Nam accepted and enacted many recommendations to protect vulnerable groups," Lê Thị Thu Hằng, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and spokesperson for the ministry, told an international workshop on Friday. The event titled "Protection against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: International and Việt Nam's Experiences" was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Hà Nội. "Legal frameworks and policies to counteract against violence and discrimination based on sexual … [Read more...] about Việt Nam continues to strengthen cooperation to fight against LGBTQ+ discrimination
Vietnamese airlines to serve high summer demand
Airlines in Vietnam are increasing the number of flights to serve high demand during the coming summer holiday. Vietnam Airlines Group, which operates Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO has said they will conduct some 36,000 flights with more than 7.1 million seats, including 32,400 flights and 6.3 million seats on domestic routes between June 1 and August 15. The figure showed an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic. Vietnam Airlines Group will operate approximately 430 domestic flights daily during the peak summer days. Some of the busiest flight routes include Hanoi-Danang/HCM City and HCM City-Danang with nearly 160 flights daily between these three cities. There will also be hundreds of flights conducted to other popular tourist destinations including Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh, Dalat, Hue, Quy Nhon, Dong Hoi, Tuy Hoa, and Con Dao. Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines Group is planning to operate over 3,600 international … [Read more...] about Vietnamese airlines to serve high summer demand
FDI grow strongly in the first five months
Both additionally-registered and share purchasing of FDI rose strongly in the first five months According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency, Vietnam counted newly-registed FDI inflows of about $11.7 billion in the first five months, equivalent to 83.7 per cent of the previous year's total. Of this, $4.12 billion was poured into 578 newly-licensed projects, a slight decrease of 5.7 per cent in the number of projects, and a sharp reduction of 53.4 per cent in value. $5.61 billion was added to 395 projects currently underway, a rise of 45.4 per cent in value and 15.5 per cent in number. Overseas investors also poured almost $2 billion into just over 1,300 share purchase deals, an increase of 51.6 per cent over the same period last year. FDI disbursement climbed slightly by 7.8 per cent on-year to $7.7 billion. Almost 35,000 valid foreign-invested projects were accumulated across the country with the total registered capital of $426 … [Read more...] about FDI grow strongly in the first five months