On its website, the World Travel Awards (WTA) describes HCM City as a metropolis of boundless energy which draws together both old and new Vietnam. “Wander through alleys and markets, explore the temples, and discover the designer malls beneath soaring skyscrapers in this fascinating fusion of different worlds," it said. This year, Vietnam has received a series of nominations for different categories at the WTA 2022. Specifically, Vietnam was nominated for awards in the Asian region for Leading Destination, Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, Leading Heritage Destination, Leading Cultural Destination, Leading Nature Destination, Leading Youth Travel Destination and Leading Beach Destination. The capital city of Hanoi was shortlisted as Asia’s Leading City Break Destination and Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination. Last year, Vietnam won the title of Asia’s Leading Destination at the World Travel Awards. It also honored Vietnam as Asia’s Leading Sustainable Tourism … [Read more...] about HCM City to host World Travel Awards 2022’s Gala Ceremony
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From coffee to toothpaste, Nigerians buy small as hardships bite
From five grams of toothpaste to 10 millilitres of cooking oil, many Nigerians struggling with soaring prices now buy their basic necessities in small quantities packed in tiny plastic bags to be consumed on the same day. Consumer brands behind this "sachetisation of the economy" see it as a creative innovation, allowing consumption for all Nigerians, the majority of whom live on less than $2 a day. But critics see the development as an economic and ecological aberration, even as Africa's largest economy struggles with the inflationary fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine. In the streets of Lagos, the vibrant economic capital of Africa's most populous country, small sachets are now part of the decor: they colour its streets, packing the wood and tin shops found on the corner of most streets. Sitting on a stool, Ibrahim Atahire has been running his small grocery store for 30 years in a busy area of Obalende, a popular district of the megalopolis. "At my place, you can buy … [Read more...] about From coffee to toothpaste, Nigerians buy small as hardships bite
[Quintessence of Hanoi’s cuisine] Quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine: Hanoi spring rolls
Hanoi’s typical dishes with many variants always cause nostalgia for children who live far from their homeland. As famous as pho (rice noodles soup with beef), spring rolls are also a dish imbued with the “Vietnamese national spirit”: if you see spring rolls somewhere, people from the S-shaped country must be around the corner. A familiar food on a Bangui Street The typical Hanoi's dishes are prepared by Helen Green, a housewife who lives in Ho Chi Minh City The fateful meeting happened when the soldiers realized that a dish they ate on the street was so similar to the Vietnamese fried spring rolls. They weren’t wrong: it was real fried spring rolls, made by an old woman who came from Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.Many years back in time, Vietnamese soldiers in the United Nations’ Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic happened to meet an old woman, she was the only one from Vietnam to live in the capital, Bangui. Seventy years before, she … [Read more...] about [Quintessence of Hanoi’s cuisine] Quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine: Hanoi spring rolls
Cambodia announces outcomes of AMM-55 and related meetings
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn (Photo: AP) Phnom Penh (VNA) - The 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting ( AMM-55 ) and related meetings have successfully concluded, with some 30 documents on regional cooperation adopted, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on August 6. "We have reviewed the progress made thus far to strengthen ASEAN's community building, advance regional integration, and enhance our cooperation with external partners," he told a press conference. The official said that over the course of three and a half days, 19 meetings were held back-to-back, with the participation of foreign ministers and representatives from 38 countries. On the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the ASEAN foreign ministers encouraged the effective operationalisation of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies. He added that the ministers also stressed the need to strengthen supply … [Read more...] about Cambodia announces outcomes of AMM-55 and related meetings
Thailand’s Kasikornbank opens first branch in HCM City
The bank has served Vietnamese customers via its two representative offices in Hanoi and HCM City since 2015. Speaking at the opening ceremony held on August 5, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura said that Thailand is currently the 9th largest foreign investor in Vietnam and also the largest trading partner of the country in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The opening of a branch by KBank in HCM City is an important milestone reflecting the bank’s strategic vision in strengthening economic ties between Thailand and Vietnam, he said. Nguyen Van Dung, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam, HCM City branch said putting into operation of KBank branch in the city will raise the number of foreign bank branches in the city to 32, contributing to diversifying the activities of the credit institutions in the locality. Sharing about the potential of the Vietnamese market, Kattiya Indaravijaya, CEO of KBank said that Vietnam is a rising star … [Read more...] about Thailand’s Kasikornbank opens first branch in HCM City
President requires greater efforts to promote value of Ngoc Linh ginseng
President Phuc spoke highly of efforts made by Quang Nam and Kon Tum provinces in preserving and developing Ngoc Linh ginseng and expanding the growing areas. However, he also pointed out several problems that need to be addressed in the development of Ngoc Linh ginseng such as climate change, counterfeit products, and the ineffective application of scientific and technological advances. Therefore, the State leader stressed the importance of the engagement of both producers and researchers to better develop the plant, as well as the need to diversify products, protect purebred genetic resources, and expand the application of technologies in growing and developing Ngoc Linh ginseng. At the workshop, representatives from some management agencies gave details on a project on Ngoc Linh ginseng development by 2030 with a vision to 2045, the current status and development orientations in Quang Nam province as well as potential and aspirations to develop this kind of ginseng in Kon Tum … [Read more...] about President requires greater efforts to promote value of Ngoc Linh ginseng
Demand for cotton forces adjustments
Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC exported over one-third of its products to the United States in 2021. However, the company started to face challenges following the US’ blanket ban on all Xinjiang cotton. Last year, President Joe Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Vietnam’s cotton imports reach up to one million tonnes each year, Photo: Shutterstock Tran Nhu Tung, chairman of the company, said that the company has adopted regulations this year related to this act. Accordingly, buyers have to be responsible for export orders to the US which source Chinese cotton materials. Thanh Cong secures many large orders from the US. In 2022, the company sets a target to generate $179 million in revenues and $10.87 million in profit, up 120 per cent and 188 per cent respectively against last year. Tung noted that yarn exports are the main driving force for Thanh Cong. “There is a rapidly growing demand for yarn imports in the global … [Read more...] about Demand for cotton forces adjustments
Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure
The Government Office last week issued Dispatch No.4648/VPCP-KTTH to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) requiring it to continue proposing a reduction of taxes and fees related to fuel and consumption, especially those that can cause an increase in input costs for production and business. Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure “This aims to help reduce costs and selling prices of products in service of exports, production, and business, contributing to controlling inflation and supporting the government’s monetary policy in the short and medium term,” the dispatch stated. The MoF has also proposed to the government a plan to halve the preferential import tax for petrol and oil from the existing 20 to 10 per cent, in order to help reduce the prices of these items in the local market. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese government has also submitted to the National Assembly a plan on reducing the special consumption tax and VAT for October. According to the General Statistics … [Read more...] about Rough waters remain in fuel price pressure
HCM City seeks to boost technology transfer from universities
Huynh Kim Tuoc, managing director of the Saigon Innovation Hub's (SiHub) Start-up Support Centre under the HCM City Department of Science and Technology, speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Huynh Kim Tuoc, managing director of the Saigon Innovation Hub's (SiHub) Start-up Support Centre under the HCM City Department of Science and Technology, affirmed Vietnam holds tremendous potential for technology development and transfer thanks to its highly qualified experts and intellectuals with rich experiences in this field, especially young and talented human resources at universities. Tuoc said that at a recent workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on promoting the establishment of technology transfer offices (TTOs) in universities, which was co-organised by SiHub, Australia's University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Singapore's leading incubator fund Expara. The workshop attracted a large number of domestic and foreign experts, and representatives of universities in … [Read more...] about HCM City seeks to boost technology transfer from universities
Philippines investigates Grab-Uber deal
The Philippines has announced that it will put the ride-sharing service provider Grab into the anti-competition watchlist after its acquisition of rival Uber’s Southeast Asia business (Photo: Channel NewsAsia) Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines has announced that it will put the ride-sharing service provider Grab into the anti-competition watchlist after its acquisition of rival Uber’s Southeast Asia business. In a statement, the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it will closely monitor the deal as the Grab-Uber acquisition is likely to have a far reaching impact on the public transport and transportation services. anti-competition watchlist while Singapore announced earlier that it is investigating the Grab-Uber deal. Grab ’s existing platform. Philippines , Thailand and Vietnam. VNA … [Read more...] about Philippines investigates Grab-Uber deal