Illustrative photo (Source: thoibaonganhang.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s e-commerce is projected to continue booming in 2023 and developing firmly in the following years, aided by a series of growth drivers such as the wave of digital transformation, consumers’ trust, technological infrastructure, and favourable mechanisms and policies issued by the Government. Boasting some 100 cross-border e-commerce platforms, Vietnam has been ranked among the top five nations with regard to the sector’s growth of 20% a year by eMarketer. Last year, the country’s top four platforms – Shopee , Lazada , Tiki , and Sendo – generated 135 trillion VND (5.73 billion USD) in revenues. Meanwhile, the scale of the country’s retail e-commerce market was estimated to reach 16.4 billion USD last year, accounting for 7.5% of the country’s goods and service revenues. There were approximately 57-60 million Vietnamese people shopping online, with their spending averaging 260-285 USD. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s e-commerce forecast to continue booming
Vietnam travel agency
Baby elephant Bao Ngoc – an icon of Vietnam-Germany friendship
Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh holds a board saying the name of the new born elephant at Germany's Leipzig Zoo. (Photo: VNA) Berlin (VNA) – An elephant named Voi Nam whose parents were born in Vietnam and gifted to Germany’s Leipzig Zoo in 1984 and 1985 by Ho Chi Minh City's authority has welcomed its second baby elephant in the zoo on December 20, 2022. A ceremony to name the new born elephant was held on February 2 with the name “Bao Ngoc” (valuable gem) was chosen. Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh said that the baby elephant is an icon of the Vietnam-Germany friendship. Elephant Voi Nam was born in 2002, marking a big event for the Leipzig Zoo as the zoo’s elephant herb had a new member after 66 years. Voi Nam and female elephants which are all from Asian countries last year gave births to two elephants and are expected to welcome two others in the next few weeks. Thomas Guenther, director in charge of Asian species at the zoo, said that … [Read more...] about Baby elephant Bao Ngoc – an icon of Vietnam-Germany friendship
South Korean court orders state to compensate Vietnamese woman for Vietnam War massacre
Nguyen Thi Thanh, who said that she was a survivor of the mass killing of about 70 people in Phong Nhat - Phong Nhi Village in the central province of Quang Nam in 1968 by South Korean marines, filed a damages suit against the South Korean government in 2020, seeking ₩30 million as compensation. Thanh said she lost her family members and received gunshot injuries during the incident, the Yonhap News Agency reported. The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of Thanh, ordering the state to compensate her the aforementioned amount of money, plus interests. While the South Korean government argued that it was immune to the damages suit filed by a Vietnamese due to an agreement signed between Vietnam, South Korea and the U.S., the court rejected the argument. It also rejected another claim that the South Korean marines’ involvement in the murder has not been clearly proven, or that it was justifiable in the context of the war. Thanh said she was "tremendously … [Read more...] about South Korean court orders state to compensate Vietnamese woman for Vietnam War massacre
Four athletes to represent Vietnam at Asian indoor tournament
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam will send its four best athletes to compete for medals at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2023 in Kazakhstan later this week. It is the first continental tournament in which Vietnamese competitors will participate after three years of the pandemic. All four have performed impressively in recent tournaments, including the 31st SEA Games and the ninth National Sports Games (NSG) in 2022. Multi-time SEA Games winner Nguyen Thi Huyen will compete in the women's 400m event. Huyen successfully defended her 400m and 4x400m titles at the regional sports event in May in Hanoi. Seven months later, her domination continued at the NSG in the capital city, setting her seasonal best of 53.37sec. The SEA Games record breaker Nguyen Thi Oanh will participate in the women's 1,500m and 3,000m events. While the 3,000m steeplechase is usually her preferred event, the 3,000m is held instead in the indoor tournament. Oanh had a … [Read more...] about Four athletes to represent Vietnam at Asian indoor tournament
Vietnam Airlines to fully restore flight network to China
In March, its flights between Hanoi and Beijing will resume with a frequency of three flights a week. Meanwhile, the carrier will increase the weekly frequency of flights linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam to Guangzhou and Shanghai of China to four from the current one to two flights. From April, Vietnam Airlines will reopen four routes between Da Nang and China’s Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu as well as between Hanoi and Chengdu. The routes will operate two flights a week to provide service between the two communities. In addition, from September, the airline plans to operate the wide-body aircraft Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 on its routes between Hanoi and Beijing; and between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai. With the optimistic scenario that China continues to ease related procedures and demand recovers well, Vietnam Airlines expects the number of passengers flying between the two countries this year to reach about 80% of the 8.1 million recorded in 2019, … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines to fully restore flight network to China
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to enhance Singapore-Vietnam relations: Singaporean Foreign Minister
The following is the full text of the interview. Reporter: This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between Singapore and Vietnam. How do you evaluate the Singapore-Vietnam relations in the past half century, especially in the last decade? What should the two countries do to further our bilateral cooperation and to advance the development of each country? Vivian Balakrishnan: The ties between Singapore and Vietnam have grown from strength to strength since we established diplomatic relations 50 years ago. We are longstanding friends and close partners that enjoy wide-ranging cooperation in many areas, both bilaterally and at multilateral fora. I am heartened that the bilateral relationship has continued to expand and evolve to tackle new challenges over the past decade. Our linkages are particularly strong in trade and investment. The 12 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) across Northern, Central, … [Read more...] about Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to enhance Singapore-Vietnam relations: Singaporean Foreign Minister
☕ Afternoon briefing on February 7
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue asked agencies of the NA and its Standing Committee to keep a close watch on the macro-economic situation, as well as financial, monetary, stock and real property markets, while meeting their standing members on February 7. For urgent issues, NA agencies should actively and promptly work with relevant ministers and heads of ministry-level agencies to seek solutions, instead of waiting for question and answer (Q&A) sessions held by the legislative body and its Standing Committee. Read full story - The coming visit to Singapore by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will be a key platform for both countries to reaffirm their excellent ties, said Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in his written interview with the Vietnam News Agency. Read full story - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s upcoming … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on February 7
☀️ Morning digest February 7
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency. - The Politburo on February 6 held a meeting with former senior leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lunar New Year. Participating former leaders all expressed their belief in and pride of positive outcomes that the country has achieved in the past time. Read full story - Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan has hailed outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Apparício da Silva’s contributions to consolidating the practical and effective development of Vietnam-Brazil comprehensive partnership during his tenure. During a reception for the diplomat in Hanoi on February 6, Xuan affirmed that Vietnam always wishes to further strengthen its ties with Brazil, one of the top important partners in Latin America. Read full story - On behalf of the Politburo, Party … [Read more...] about ☀️ Morning digest February 7
PM’s upcoming visits to Singapore, Brunei to consolidate ties
PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives President of Singapore Halimah Yacob in October 2022 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse will pay official visits to Singapore and Brunei from February 8-11 at the invitation of Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong and Sultan of Brunei Hasanal Bolkiah. It will be Chinh's first visits to the two countries in his new position, and the first to Singapore after five years and to Brunei after 15 years by a head of the Vietnamese Government, with a view to strengthening bilateral ties with the two nations. This year, Vietnam and Singapore will celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of bilateral comprehensive partnership. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Brunei marked the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year. Singapore is now Vietnam’s top important economic partner in the region, with two-way trade nearing 9 billion USD last year, up 10.1% annually. The island … [Read more...] about PM’s upcoming visits to Singapore, Brunei to consolidate ties
Three monkeys released to nature in Quang Ngai province
One of three northern pig-tailed macaques which are returned to the protection forest in Minh Long district, the central province of Quang Ngai on February 2. (Photo: VNA) Quang Ngai (VNA) – Three northern pig-tailed macaques were returned to the protection forest in Minh Long district, the central province of Quang Ngai on February 2. Earlier, the border station in the district received the primates from a company. The macaque, known as Macaca leonina, is of a vulnerable species in the subfamily Cercopithecidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. A northern pig-tailed macaque (Photo: VNA) The monkey belongs to a species listed in Group IIB of the Vietnam Red Book. On this occasion, Minh Long district authorities also called on local people to raise their awareness of protecting the biodiversity of the nature./. VNA … [Read more...] about Three monkeys released to nature in Quang Ngai province