(VEN) - The bilateral relationship between Vietnam and the UK has developed robustly since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973. The relationship has increased to new heights after the two countries signed a statement on the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership in September 2010 to create a comprehensive development framework and deepen the cooperation in major areas such as politics, diplomacy, global and regional issues, trade and investment, sustainable socioeconomic development cooperation, education and training, and science and technology. Vietnam sold US$1.68 billion worth of goods to the UK in 2010, a 26.53 percent increase from 2009. The two-way trade came to more than US$2 billion last year. Vietnam maintained and increased the export of footwear, textiles and garments, wood furniture, and farm and seafood to the UK. In the future the two countries will try to increase bilateral trade to US$4 billion in 2013. With strong support from the UK, the European … [Read more...] about Vietnam, UK Drive towards a Strategic Partnership
Visa for vietnam uk
Vietnam waives visas for 5 more European countries, including Germany, UK
Under a decision dated June 17, Vietnam will offer visa exemptions for single-entry visits of up to 15 days for visitors from Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain starting this July, Nguyen Van Tuan, general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said at an international tourism convention that opened Thursday in the central city of Da Nang. "This is certainly very good news for Vietnam’s tourism industry," Tuan said at the convention. "This is one of the new policies by the Vietnamese government aimed at creating an environment conducive to the development of the sector." At a recent meeting between PM Nguyen Tan Dung and the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) -- a consortium of international and local business associations and chambers of commerce -- members of the Tourism Working Group said issuing visas with a fee is a "short-sighted" policy that hinders tourism development. The warning came at a time the number of foreign tourists to Vietnam through May … [Read more...] about Vietnam waives visas for 5 more European countries, including Germany, UK
Vietnam, UK ink immigration cooperation deal
Vietnam and the United Kingdom inked a memorandum of understanding on immigration in Hanoi on Oct. 28, strengthening cooperative relations between the two countries. Signatories were the State Secretary for the UK Home Office Desmond Browne and Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung. Deputy PM Vu Khoan (R) and State Secretary for the UK Home Office Desmond Browne … [Read more...] about Vietnam, UK ink immigration cooperation deal
Vietnam-UK education cooperation strongly develops
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan (right) and UK Prince Andrew at the launch. Photo: VietNamNet Bridge Vietnam-UK education and training cooperation has seen strong development since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973. The opening of the United Kingdom University in Hanoi on Sept. 8 marked a milestone in the field when Prince Andrew, Duke of York and the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, is visiting Vietnam from Sept. 6-10. Vietnam and the UK have developed their education and training cooperation to various levels and in various forms, including associated training, university linkages, lecturer training, joint scientific research, English-language teacher training and improving the capacity of English language teaching in Vietnam. The UK is working closely with Vietnam to carry out a project to connect 47 primary schools in the country’s major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. A number of British … [Read more...] about Vietnam-UK education cooperation strongly develops
Vietnam drags feet on single visa for Mekong region
Higher fees, complicated procedures makes it easier for foreign tourists to choose other Southeast Asian nations A foreign tourist leaves a travel agency in the backpackers' area in Ho Chi Minh City. Experts say expensive visa fees and complicated procedures are among factors influencing the choice of foreign travelers to visit Vietnam. Photo by Tuan Anh Imagine being able to explore the extensive network of caves in Laos, visit ancient pagodas in Myanmar and eat spicy street food in Thailand before going into Cambodia and cruising the Mekong in Vietnam - all on a single tourist visa. The tourism windfall that would follow such facilitation has authorities and travel agencies in all countries all agog - with the exception of Vietnamese officialdom, that is. Travel agencies have been pushing for a one-visa policy that would enable tourists to travel freely across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. But for all the enthusiasm among its neighbors, Vietnam is likely to … [Read more...] about Vietnam drags feet on single visa for Mekong region