As Vietnam's economy is rapidly expanding, outpacing their ASEAN peers, it presents a unique opportunity for investors, said an article published on the Israeli-based financial market news site seekingalpha.com.

The article said such growth is underpinned by diverse sectors, from high-tech manufacturing to natural resources, and bolstered by significant trade relationships, especially with the US and China.

“Vietnam's economic reforms have created a virtuous cycle: reforms spurred exports, which in turn drove economic growth, leading to increased domestic demand. This trajectory has positioned Vietnam as a dynamic and integral part of the global economy, with a domestic market that continues to show robust growth potential,” wrote the article.

It said Vietnam has grown into a well-diversified economy that strikes an attractive balance between export-led growth and growing domestic demand that enjoys robust exports in addition to a growing domestic consumer base.            
Vietnam's public equity opportunity set is heavily weighted towards financials, real estate and consumer staples. In the MarketVector Vietnam Local Index, the top 10 holdings are skewed towards these sectors, and are also heavily dependent on domestic revenues. This also lends credence to the argument that the Vietnamese economy enjoys robust domestic demand.

Local Vietnamese stocks, meanwhile, have outperformed broad emerging markets benchmarks since 2018. The article assessed that given Vietnam's economic and market-structure progress over the past decade, investors should look closely at this emerging opportunity.

Thanh Hoa boosts trade, investment connectivity with Italy

The central province of Thanh Hoa will accompany and create the most favourable conditions for Italian investors and businesses to seek cooperation activities and experience services in the locality, Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thi has said.

Speaking at a recent conference connecting investment and trade between Thanh Hoa and Italy – part of the “Italy Day in Thanh Hoa” event, Thi underlined the importance of European and Italian businesses in its development, and called for investment in the fields of manufacturing and processing, tourism, agriculture, health, urbanisation and infrastructure.

He affirmed that the province is willing to listen to proposals and petitions by investors and businesses to solve difficulties and barriers to make the two sides’ cooperation activities smooth.

Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco Della Seta said that the conference was an initiative to help his country’s enterprises gain access to such a dynamic and potential market like Thanh Hoa.

He expressed his hope that the activities of the “Italy Day in Thanh Hoa” and the recent working visit to Italy by provincial leaders will open up more cooperation and investment opportunities to bring into full play potential and advantages of each side, thus contributing to deepening the Italy-Vietnam comprehensive partnership.

In 2023, Thanh Hoa’s exports to Italy are estimated to reach 22.3 million USD.

Vietnam, China boast great potential for border economic cooperation: Minister

Sharing nearly 400km land border crossing seven northern localities of Vietnam, Vietnam and China has great advantages to promote partnership in economy, especially border economy, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

China has been the biggest trade partners of Vietnam for many years, with two-way trade accounting for one fourth of Vietnam's total import-export turnover with the world, while Vietnam is China’s sixth largest partner of China in the world and largest among ASEAN countries, noted Dien at a recent conference on boosting trade between northern localities and China.

At the conference, representatives from seven northern localities of Vietnam, namely Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Lang Son and Quang Ninh, highlighted achievements in trade and investment cooperation in the border areas, while pointing out shortcomings and proposing solutions to promote trade with China.

The minister underlined the need to upgrade the infrastructure system, including digital infrastructure, serving border economic development, asking localities to promptly review, adjust and completing their development masterplans, land use plan and border socio-economic investment plans.

He urged localities and sectors to speed up the regional planning, especially transport planning, with attention paid to international transportation between border provinces.

At the same time, he reminded localities nationwide, especially those along the border, to review and re-design their planning of farming areas as well as production and processing plans in alignment with the project on export via official channels.

The minister suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development speed up negotiations with the Chinese side for a protocol on animal and plant quarantine for agricultural products of Vietnam's strengths, as well as for new import codes for Vietnamese agricultural products.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs should coordinate with border localities to build smart border gates and strengthen technology application in import-export activities to improve customs clearance capacity.

Three concepts for developing a sustainable factory

While investing in sustainable factories requires significant capital, it is considered an irreversible journey that promises long-term benefits for both the economy and the environment.

Vietnam is set to reaffirm its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the upcoming COP28 conference. With less than three decades to meet the target, the government has taken decisive steps to accelerate the green transition, most notably through the issuance of a 2022 decree that aims to reduce 563.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030 and provides a clear roadmap for action for both governmental bodies and enterprises.

A recent report from PwC reveals that 80 per cent of enterprises in Vietnam have either already implemented or are planning to adopt sustainable practices in line with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. Despite this, the report highlights a notable gap between pledges and actual implementations, especially when it comes to the initial stages of sustainable manufacturing: investing and building a sustainable factory.

While substantial investment and careful planning are essential, even small steps can lead to significant changes. Drawing from the experience in partnering with businesses striving for green transitions, NS BlueScope Vietnam has outlined three concepts of building sustainable factories for businesses to consider.

The first concept is long-lasting factories. Sustainable factories aim to maintain consistent production performance for businesses pursuing long-term business strategies. A prime example is VinFast, which has built a cutting-edge factory on a 335-hectare plot near Haiphong Port in the north of the country. The facility aims to expand its production capacity to up to two million electric vehicles per year, serving its ambition to become a global brand.

Located just 400m away from the sea, the factory enjoys logistical advantages but also faces significant challenges related to corrosion from the harsh maritime environment. To address this, VinFast Haiphong has developed a sustainable factory using long-lasting materials and has prioritised the use of advanced construction materials that offer robust structure and longevity.

Notably, over 14,000 tonnes of BlueScope steel have been used for roofing and walling, covering an area of up to 1.5 million square metres. Its COLORBOND® steel is unique in featuring a four-phase Activate™ coating technology that offers high corrosion resistance and has proven durability over 20 years of exposure to harsh maritime conditions in Australia.

The second aspect is green factories that focus on reducing carbon emissions while optimising economic and environmental efficiency. These factories require a significant upfront investment, but they represent an irreversible journey that promises attractive long-term benefits.

Specifically, a factory meeting US LEED standards typically requires 1-8 per cent higher initial investment but can save 25-60 per cent in energy costs and reduce utility expenses by 7-14 US cents per sq.m. The payback period is estimated to be 3-10 years, according to consulting firm Enermodal Engineering.

LEED certification is currently the most prevalent green factory standard in Vietnam, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of such facilities. A common feature among these factories is the preference for green materials, including the exclusive use of COLORBOND® steel, certified Green Label by the Singapore Green Building Council.

This steel also features Thermatech® solar reflectance technology, which lowers the surface temperature of metals by absorbing less heat from the sun and helps the project owners earn additional points during LEED assessment.

Finally, the ultimate goal of sustainable factories is to achieve net-zero emissions, aligning with the country’s vision and businesses’ sustainable growth orientation. This model is particularly beneficial for companies exporting to the European Union and the United States, as it may help mitigate future carbon taxes.

Net-zero factories focus on neutralising carbon emissions from various operational aspects, including energy consumption, water usage, and employee transportation. The model emphasises the transition to renewable energy sources. To achieve this, significant investment in solar energy infrastructure is required to provide full self-sufficiency in energy production and consumption.

In addition to these concepts, businesses need to actively implement comprehensive ESG practices to maintain sustainable competitiveness. Being the first steel brand aiming to apply international Responsible Steel standards based on 13 ESG evaluation criteria, BlueScope commits to continue supporting businesses in greening factories, opening a new chapter for sustainable production.

Vietnam to increase imports of electricity and coal from Laos

Vietnam will buy more electricity and coal from Laos for production and national security, said Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

Speaking at the Conference to promote coal trading cooperation between Vietnam and Laos on December 9 in Hanoi, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines has signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the coal sector. Importing electricity and coal from Laos not only helps economic development between the two countries but also fulfills the dual goals of national security and defense and providing energy for the economy.

The Minister of Industry and Trade urges related agencies to speed up progress, ensure completion of formalities to import electricity and coal and promote the construction of new transmission lines from Laos to Vietnam.

Regarding the coal import plan, the Minister of Industry and Trade requested the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Corporation (TKV) and the Dong Bac Corporation to urgently negotiate to sign coal import and coal supply contracts for thermal power plants, coordinate with relevant units to propose specific mechanisms for coal import, especially coal import from Laos under the Intergovernmental Agreement to report to the Prime Minister or competent authorities.

To implement the policy of importing coal from Laos according to the agreements signed between competent agencies of the two countries, the Minister of Industry and Trade assigned TKV and Dong Bac Corporation to propose a mechanism of buying and selling coal price from Laos to Vietnam, and solutions to improve the capacity to receive coal to Vietnam, sign a principle contract with Lao partners specifically on output. After the agreements are approved, they will be carried out soon.

The Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam requested the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines, representatives of the Lao Embassy in Vietnam and Lao coal supply businesses to propose to the Lao Government to reduce coal export taxes and related fees to reduce costs when exporting coal to Vietnam. At the same time, these bodies should invest, upgrade, or support businesses in infrastructure systems, warehouses, and coal transportation to Vietnam.

Over US$719 mln to be invested in HCMC-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh expressway

The People's Council of Binh Duong Province yesterday passed a Resolution on investment policy for the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh expressway project.

The 45.7-kilometer-long expressway was designed to have speed of 100 kilometers per hour, divided into two phases with a preliminary total investment of more than VND17,408 billion (US$719 million) including loan interest.

The project will be invested in the form of public-private partnership (PPP), Build - Operate - Transfer (BOT) contract, expected to be implemented in the period 2023-2027.

According to Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh Duong Province Vo Van Minh, the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh expressway project is the North-South expressway axis of Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces and connects to Dak Nong province’s Gia Nghia expressway and Binh Phuoc province’s Chon Thanh expressway. The project plays a very important role in socio-economic development associated with strengthening national security and defense of the Southeastern and Central Highlands regions.

Fruit and vegetable exports to China forecasted to continue rising
 
Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports to China have been forecasted to continue sharply increasing in the coming time.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit), Vietnam posted USD5.2 billion in fruit and vegetable exports, up 70 percent on year between January and November this year. 

The value of Vietnam’s durian exports to China would reach roughly USD2.3 billion this year.

China was the biggest importer of Vietnam's fruits and vegetables, accounting for some 66 percent of the country’s fruit and vegetable export value in the first ten months of this year with USD3.2 billion. It was followed by the US, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

The value of Vietnam’s durian exports to China would reach roughly USD2.3 billion this year following China’s permission to import Vietnamese durians under an official quota since July last year. This is among the major factors helping Vietnam achieve USD5.2 billion in fruit and vegetable exports during the January-November period.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of Vinafruit, said China spends more than USD15 billion on importing fruits and vegetables, mostly from Thailand, Chile and Vietnam every year. Vietnam has a geographical advantage that can boost its fruit and vegetable export value to this market.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s coming visit to Vietnam on December 12-13 is expected to open more opportunities for the nation’s farm produce exports to China. If Vietnam and China soon sign protocols on exports of coconut products, frozen fruit, and watermelons, it would help Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export value to China to grow by at least USD1 billion.

Ngo Tuong Vi, general director of Chanh Thu Fruit Import-Export Group JSC, said that around 90 percent of Vietnam's durians is exported to China. However, China’s durian market is mostly dominated by products from Thailand and Malaysia. Vietnamese durian products hold only a 5 percent market share in China.

Vi’s company has received lots of interest from Chinese partners, but to date, the firm has only agreed a tenth of these.

Going green crucial for growing agricultural exports

Adopting high sustainability standards puts pressure on the agricultural sector but also creates opportunities to gain a competitive edge, experts have said.

While Việt Nam has admittedly gained momentum in agricultural exports in recent years, which rose to a record US$53.22 billion in 2022, many of its food processing companies have reportedly lost out to competitors due to their slow implementation of sustainability commitments.

According to the import-export department, the EU is the world's largest fruit and vegetable importer, but Việt Nam only has a market share of 0.18 per cent, partly due to its failure to comply with the bloc’s stringent norms.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan has highlighted the need for the country to transition to a green food system with low emissions in various forums and said greening agriculture is not a burden but an opportunity.

At a recent logistics and supply chain management forum held at RMIT University Vietnam, experts discussed how to start the greening process and shared findings from projects facilitating Vietnamese manufacturers and food producers in handling compliance with environmental regulations.

Nguyễn Thi Thanh An, country manager of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in Việt Nam, spoke about the experiences acquired while helping vegetable farmers in Mộc Châu get Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) certification.

The project provided technical and business training for farmers, enabling them to meet the high food quality standards expected by high-end retailers, resulting in a five-fold increase in incomes.

“The vision sharing among champion farmers, local authorities, private businesses, research institutions, and development partners have significantly benefited all stakeholders, especially smallholder farmers.”

Nguyễn Việt Dũng, country chief executive of Bureau Veritas Vietnam, a leading player in testing, inspection and certification, said the certification process would provide opportunities for learning from the best practices of supply chain partners and adapting to higher international standards.

This could help enhance and promote Vietnamese agricultural brands, he said.

He emphasised the role of supply chain leaders in motivating farmers and food processing companies in adapting to global certification, citing the success of the carbon neutral project implemented in Vinamilk's dairy farms. The company’s farm in Nghệ An is the first of its kind to receive a PAS 2060 carbon neutral certification.

A recent study published in the Journal of Supply Chain Management and Business Strategy and the Environment by RMIT University researchers found that exporting led to a proactive approach to handling customers’ green pressures and improving sustainable measures.

The findings highlight a practical approach for local firms to be exposed to more challenging markets and learn new standards, processes and schemes.

The research by Dr Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, Professor Robert McClelland, Professor Mathews Nkhoma, Associate Professor Phạm Công Hiệp, and their partners in Ireland and the UK surveyed 437 manufacturers in seven countries, including Việt Nam.

Hùng, senior programme manager for logistics and supply chain management at RMIT Vietnam said: “When all companies strive to compete on costs, quality and delivery, being green can help a company win sales orders and achieve a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

“Meeting environmental regulations and satisfying higher sustainable requirements are essential in business strategy development and an appropriate thing to do since they are often not a choice but are imposed by the realities of a circular economy.” 

Shrimp sector expected to grow sustainably

Participants at a conference in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau on December 11 looked into the development of the shrimp sector and solutions to ensure its sustainability.

The event took place within the framework of the Ca Mau Shrimp Festival and a forum on “One Commune-One Product” connectivity (OCOP) in the Mekong Delta.

According a report by the Global Seafood Alliance, Vietnam is one of the top five shrimp producers, apart from Ecuador, China, India, and Indonesia, which together make up about 74% of the global output.

Ca Mau province alone accounts for 40% of the total shrimp area in Vietnam, with its output expected to reach 233,000 tonnes at the end of this year, and export revenue, US$1.2 billion.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Van Su pointed to obstacles to the shrimp sector relating to planning, infrastructure, mechanisms, and policies, leading to its low competitiveness.

Given this, he suggested diversifying investment, attracting capital from different economic sectors, and optimising science-technology.

The Ca Mau Shrimp Festival, along with a forum to promote OCOP products in the Mekong Delta held on the occasion, aims to honour shrimp farmers and those who have joined in providing high-quality shrimp products to domestic and international consumers.

Bamboo Airways adds more aircraft to serve peak New Year holidays

Bamboo Airways has announced that it leased two more Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft for its fleet operating from January 1, 2024, increasing its capacity by over 20% to serve the peak season of the year's end and  traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) 2024 festival.

Bamboo Airways will concentrate on increasing the frequency on the main routes between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, between Hanoi/HCM City - Da Nang, and domestic routes with high demand such as HCM City - Vinh, Thanh Hoa, and Hai Phong. Other flights will include on HCM City - Hanoi, Vinh and Da Nang routes.

Apart from increasing operational activities, Bamboo Airways has also deployed synchronous solutions to promote technology application and ensure personnel work in order to guarantee flight safety and minimise flight delays and cancellations, thus maintaining its leading position in the industry in operating on-time flights.

The airline has also applied a flexible ticket price policy, suitable for the affordability of many passengers, and offered promotional fares starting from only 49,000 VND (2.02 USD) (excluding taxes and fees) for many air routes.

As planned, in 2024, Bamboo Airways will continue to lease more A320 and A321 aircraft, increasing its operating fleet to 15 - 18 aircraft. It will focus on strengthening the domestic flight network, combined with operating international charter flights to improve operational efficiency.

Vietnam Airlines Group adds over 100,000 seats for 2024 Lunar New Year

Vietnam Airlines Group, which comprises Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) has announced an additional capacity of over 100,000 seats, equivalent to nearly 550 flights, for the peak Lunar New Year (Tet) season from January 25 to February 24, 2024.

These figures bring its totals to 2.1 million seats and 10,700 flights during the period.

The additional flights will mostly be operated on routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Da Nang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Hue, Da Lat, Can Tho, Nha Trang, Phu Yen, and Phu Quoc.

Notably, passengers tend to book flights with earlier departure dates compared to previous years.

The Tet ticket prices are based on market conditions, with diverse pricing levels and compliance with domestic price ceiling regulations.

Trade, cooperation – bright spot in Vietnam-China relations

Economic cooperation and trade has been a bright spot in the overall relations between Vietnam and China over the past 15 years since the two countries set up their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China is currently Vietnam’s largest trade partner, while Vietnam is China’s biggest partner among the ASEAN countries and the fourth globally.

Statistics showed that since 2008, two-way trade has risen nine folds from 20 billion USD to nearly 180 billion USD in 2022, with Vietnam’s exports of about 58 billion USD and imports of nearly 120 billion USD.

As of October, the import-export turnover between the two countries had reached nearly 140 billion USD, with Vietnam’s exports of 50 billion USD, up 5.1%, accounting for 17% of Vietnam’s total exports.

Meanwhile, China has risen to the fourth position among the countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

According to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Vietnam and China share land, sea and waterway borderlines, with nearly 400km of land border crossing seven northern localities of Vietnam. This is an advantage for the two sides to promote cooperation in economy, especially border and border gate trade.

Nong Duc Lai, Trade Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in China, held the Vietnamese and Chinese economies have a highly supplementary level and great potential. The two sides are accelerating the opening of the market for many types of agricultural and aquatic products and food products of each other.

At the same time, they have also promoted the signing of a protocol on trade of agricultural products, while working closely together in making quarantine and customs clearance activities easier, thus opening up bright prospects for extensive cooperation in investment and trade, he said.

Hoang Minh Chien, Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, advised businesses to tap opportunities to strengthen partnership with China in a stable and sustainable manner.

However, Minister Dien held that trade between Vietnam and China has yet to match the potential of the two sides, stressing the need to upgrade the infrastructure system serving trade activities and the implementation of measures to promote economic and trade ties with China.

Meet Singapore 2023 held in Binh Duong

A dialogue with Singaporean firms and “Meet Singapore 2023” took place in the southern province of Binh Duong on December 11.

The event was co-chaired by Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Minh and Singaporean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Roy Kho.

So far this year, Binh Duong has attracted a total of 1.47 billion USD in foreign direct investment. To date, it has recorded 4,211 projects from 65 countries and territories, with a total investment capital of 40.3 billion USD. Singapore ranks fifth in terms of the number of projects, with 294 valued at 5.4 billion USD.

Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment Pham Trong Nhan updated firms about tax incentives and investment opportunities in the locality.

Representatives from departments and agencies answered questions regarding  solar power, issuance of labour permits, value-added tax, and other issues.

Minh committed to efforts to improve the business environment and create favourable and transparent conditions with the goal of simplifying administrative procedures to the maximum extent possible.

The province is giving priority to infrastructure, particularly in transportation, electricity, water and environment treatment, to facilitate sustainable development, he said, adding that local leaders always stand side by side with foreign investors.

On the occasion, he thanked foreign investors for accompanying the province during the past more than 26 years of development.

Hải Phòng plans to become international logistics centre by 2050

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has recently signed a decision approving the new master plan for Hải Phòng City, with the northeastern city evolving into a major seaport hub in the region and globally, anchored by three key pillars of development.

The Hải Phòng City’s master plan, spanning from 2021 to 2030 with a vision to 2050, outlines the city's development strategy based on three key pillars, including seaport and logistics services; a green, smart, and modern industrial sector; and the establishment of an international beach tourism centre.

With an anticipated population of approximately 4.5 million people, Hải Phòng aims to achieve a high level of development, positioning itself among the foremost cities in Asia and the world.

By 2030, the city sets the goal of becoming a leading seaport city in the country, taking the lead in industrialisation, modernisation, and digital transformation.

The average annual growth rate of the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) during the period 2021-2030 is targeted to be around 13.5 per cent.

In terms of economy, the contribution of Hải Phòng's GRDP to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to reach about 6.8 per cent by 2030. The average annual growth rate of the GRDP is projected to be around 13.5 per cent. The per capita GRDP is expected to reach around VNĐ558 million, equivalent to approximately US$21,700.

In terms of social and cultural aspects, Hải Phòng aims to maintain a Human Development Index (HDI) ranking among the top five cities and provinces in the country. The rate of trained labour with degrees or certificates is targeted at 52 per cent, the poverty rate is expected to be below 0.1 per cent, and urban unemployment is projected to be below 3 per cent.

Regarding the environment, Hải Phòng aims to achieve 100 per cent clean water supply for its population and 100 per cent collection and treatment of household solid waste.

In terms of spatial planning and infrastructure, the city’s urbanisation rate is targeted to be around 74-76 per cent, meeting the criteria of a special type of urban area.

The city is transitioning its growth model towards green growth, circular economy based on science and technology, digital and technological applications, and green and sustainable infrastructure development.

Citizens will enjoy high-quality social services, a sustainable social welfare system, diverse and professional social support services that promptly assist and protect vulnerable individuals.

In the new master plan, Hải Phòng prioritises key sectors playing a leading role in the city's economic growth, including electronics and information technology products; seaport and logistics services; and commerce. The goal is for these three sectors to account for approximately 55-60 per cent of the added value in the city by 2030.

The city encourages sectors with promising development prospects such as the digital economy, real estate business, financial services, healthcare services, and high-quality education and training while maintaining reasonable, efficient, and sustainable development in sectors that leverage the city's traditional strengths, such as machinery and equipment manufacturing, plastics and rubber processing, and shipbuilding.

Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu has advantages to forge ahead in premium, MICE tourism

The coastal province of Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu has great potential for premium and MICE tourism, thanks to its many high-class accommodation facilities and excellent tourism services.

In 2023 the province has hosted many national and international events such as the Tourism Promoting Organisation for Asia Pacific Cities (TPO) for Vietnamese members, the International Kite Festival, a Fitness Supermodel Vietnam competition, and a number of national sports competitions. 

Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu also received several domestic and foreign delegations coming on familiarisation trips to assess the province’s tourism facilities, including from such countries as Japan, South Korea and China.

It has attracted around 4.3 million overnight tourists so far this year, a 12.28 per cent increase year-on-year. International overnight tourists accounted for 200,000, a 28.5 per cent rise.

It has a lot of things going for it in terms of attracting foreign travellers, especially in the premium tourism and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions tourism (MICE) segments. Trịnh Hàng, director of its Department of Tourism, told Việt Nam News that the province has an advantageous location, good weather and a beautiful coastline with beaches, premium resorts and water sports.

“In the province, high-quality, international level tourism areas have been established. It has been focusing on building a safe, high-quality tourism environment. Vũng Tàu City has been honoured twice in a row as an ASEAN Clean Tourist City.”

Tourism facilities and infrastructure are being developed in both quality and quantity. The province has around 1,490 accommodation facilities (with over 30,600 rooms), including 10 five-star hotels and 17 four-star hotels, enabling it to serve a wide variety of demographics.

Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu is also home to many high-class resort and hotel brands such as The Grand Hồ Tràm Strip, Six Senses Côn Đảo, The Imperial, Pullman, and Marina Bay Resort, among others. 

It is home to 45 tour operators, including 23 international ones, and over 10 high- quality tourism projects are under construction. Transport infrastructure and connectivity to serve tourism are also seeing improvements.

According to analysts, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu has the potential to strongly develop MICE tourism. Since it is only around 120 kilometres from HCM City, roads have been upgraded and traffic flows are relatively smooth, visiting it is not difficult for most tourists.

Besides, Vũng Tàu City in particular has numerous excellent conference centres and hotels, enabling it to host major events and meetings, international-level competitions and cultural activities. 

T2 Terminal of Da Nang Airport awarded Welcome Chinese certification

The International passenger terminal (T2) of Da Nang International Airport was awarded the Welcome Chinese certification from the China Tourism Academy (CTA) on December 11 for the service quality received by Chinese tourists.

This comes following the T2 terminal being given the highest class of the certification. Furthermore, it also become the first place in Southeast Asia to receive the Welcome Chinese certification.

In order to receive the certification, the terminal had to meet a number of criteria, such as flight information in Chinese, free Wi-Fi, a website in Chinese, a free hot water dispenser, and menus in Chinese.

Most notably, all stores in the terminal must allow UnionPay and Wechat Pay payment method, as well as having tax refund counters.

Worldwide, there are currently four international airports in France, Russia, Spain, and Saudi Arabia which have been awarded the Welcome Chinese certification.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes