Data given by online booking platform Agoda released on July 24 recorded a 33% increase in searches from foreign travelers planning a long holiday in the country compared to two weeks earlier.

The number of searches for accommodation in Vietnam from France skyrocketed by 72% after the country announced the new visa policy allowing foreign travelers to extend their e-visas to 90 days, as opposed to the figure of 30 days at present. The number of similar searches from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany, and the United States also edged up by 45%, 41%, 40%, and 38%, respectively.

Agoda’s data analysis shows that most of the visitors searching tourism information are long-haul travelers from North America, the EU, Australia, and New Zealand that face stricter visa policies when entering Vietnam compared with other Southeast Asian countries. These travelers often have to travel longer and on more expensive return flights, making them more inclined to plan long-term holidays than those from nearby areas.

Simplified visa procedures are also considered to be a useful tool for the tourism industry to welcome visitors from more potential markets such as India. After Vietnam introduced an e-visa policy for Indian citizens, India has leapt six notches, becoming the international tourist market with the second largest booking volume in Vietnam, behind only the Republic of Korea.

Currently, domestic travel firms have sent information regarding the changes of the new visa policy to travel partners in key markets such as Europe, the US, and Australia.

Tran Thi Bao Thu, marketing and communications director of Vietluxtour, told tuoitre.vn that Vietluxtour’s international tourist market tripled in terms of visitors and revenue in the first half of this year compared to the entirety of last year.

To encourage international visitors to Vietnam to stay longer, travel firms will focus on developing thematic tourism products, such as cultural and historical tours and other types of resort tours which are combined with medical tourism, said Thu.

Along with key markets such as Europe and the US, she added that businesses are also exploring new markets such as the Republic of Korea, India, Sri Lanka, and Australia.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the new visa policy will provide the tourism industry a strong boost when the peak international tourism season is coming. Vietnam welcomed about 5.57 million international visitors during the first six months of the year, and it is not difficult to meet the set target of receiving eight million foreign travelers by the end of the year.

Government convenes law-building session

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a Government session on law-building on July 26 to discuss three law proposals, two bills, two reports and one draft resolution of the National Assembly.

Opening the session, PM Chinh underlined that Vietnam is in the process of building a law-governed socialist State in which all citizens and members of the society act in line with the Constitution and law.

In order to build and complete the institution, one of the three strategic breakthroughs that the Party has set for the 2021-2026 tenure, the Government has exerted great efforts in the work, he said.

He clarified that since the beginning of this year, the Government has held five law-building sessions to deal with a large workload related to institution building and completion, showing its high determination and great efforts in realizing this breakthrough.

Meanwhile, many resolutions have been issued to cope with new and unprecedented developments, he noted. However, he pointed out that the legal system still has shortcomings that require revisions to smooth resources and promote development.

The Government leader asked ministers and heads of ministerial-level and Government agencies to continue to exert time, efforts and resources to law building, ensuring the progress and quality of this activity.

They were requested to direct the reviewing, examination and supervision of institution building activities, while gathering ideas from impacted groups, experts, the community and enterprises, and learning experience from other countries.

The session’s agenda included proposals on building the draft Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control (amended), the draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended), the draft Law on the amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Property Auction, and the draft Law on Social Insurance (revised); on applying the global minimum tax; and on non-tax incentives for investors.

Wildfire on Hai Van pass under control

Firefighters in Lien Chieu district in the central city of Da Nang said they have successfully contained a wildfire in the Nam Hai Van forest in Hoa Hiep Bac ward.

The wildfire, which swept through the area close to the North-South railway, mainly covered with reeds and wild grass, was detected on July 26 morning, said Nguyen Van Truyen, head of the Lien Chieu forest ranger station.   

About 150 people from various forces, including forest rangers, border guards, military soldiers, policemen, firefighters and local residents, joint efforts in battling the fire, he said.

The initial estimate indicated that the wildfire covered an area of about 0.7 hectares, Truyen said, adding that authorities are investigating the cause behind the incident and assessing its damage.

Incense offering ceremonies for Vietnamese martyrs held in Laos

Incense offering ceremonies in tribute to Vietnamese and Lao martyrs were organised at the the Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Monument in Thoulakhom district, and the monument dedicated to Vietnamese martyrs in Kasy district of Vientiane province on July 26.

Held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos in collaboration with the Lao Veterans Federation and related agencies on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - 2023), the events attracted crowds of overseas Vietnamese living and working in Laos.

Speaking at the ceremonies, Le Nho Thanh, Counselor, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee in Laos, reviewed the special solidarity tradition between the two countries.

The events offer a chance for generations of Vietnamese and Lao people, especially youths, to remember and honour heroic martyrs of the two sides who sacrificed their lives for the independence of each country, thus joining hands in preserving, protecting and promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, he said.

Delegates offered incense and flowers, showing their respect and deep gratitude for the contributions and sacrifice of Vietnamese and Laos martyrs during the struggle for independence, national defence and construction their respective countries.

Located about 70 km from the capital Vientiane, the Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Monument is the place to commemorate 28 Vietnamese and Lao martyrs who heroically laid down their lives in January 1946, when the Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance simultaneously attacked the Phone He stronghold, one of the strongest bases of the French colonialists here.

About 190 km from the capital Vientiane, the monument dedicated to Vietnamese martyrs in Kasy district is the resting place of nearly 500 Vietnamese martyrs who sacrificed their lives to help Laos fight crime and build the country in the late 1970s.

Job festival helps Japanese firms recruit labourers in Da Nang

A job festival was held on July 26 in the central city of Da Nang by Dong A University and other units to connect employers from Wakayama prefecture of Japan and local candidates and students.

The event was part of activities within the framework of the working trip to Vietnam by the Wakayama administration's delegation.

The festival introduced more than 200 job vacancies for labourers in Da Nang, focusing on the fields of nursing, business administration, e-commerce, construction, electrical engineering technology - electronics, control engineering technology and automation, automotive engineering technology and Japanese language.

The business delegation from Wakayama joining this recruitment programme included Jukeikai Social Welfare Corp, Intelix Company, Wakayama YMCA International Welfare College, City Computer Company, and Global Innovation Network Association (GINA).

The event not only helped connect Japanese businesses and human resources in Da Nang, but also offered a good chance for students who love the Japanese language and culture and want to work in the country, to meet employers and find out favourite jobs.

Speaking at the event, Keisuke Okamoto from Wakayama’s Department of Trade, Industry, Tourism and Labor, said the event aimd to introduce characteristics of the Japanese locality to Vietnamese young people, contributing to strengthening relations between Vietnam and Wakayama.

According to Luong Minh Sam, Chairman of the Dong A University Council, there are  about 200 Japanese enterprises investing in Da Nang.

Through the programme, the Dong A University hoped to connect more international cooperation relationships with associations, organisations, universities, businesses and researchers across Japan in general and in Wakayama prefecture in particular, in order to seek more opportunities of exchange, study, practice and working for Vietnamese students, he said.

Wakayama, the 30th largest prefecture of Japan, has received a large number of Vietnamese technical apprentices to work in agriculture, and food and aquatic product processing.

Vietnam hopes for Japan support in improving law enforcement capacity

Politburo member and Minister of Public Security General To Lam hosted a reception for visiting Managing Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Maeda Tadashi, in Hanoi on July 26.

The Vietnamese minister appreciated the working visit by Tadashi to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, expressing his belief that the trip will contribute to strengthening the Vietnam-Japan cooperation and improving social welfare for the two countries' people, especially in the field of ensuring a green environment towards a green life.

Lam suggested JBIC prioritise non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) capital for Vietnam, focusing on projects to ensure energy security, economic development and environmental protection, including providing modern equipment and technologies to help the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security's forces improve their quality supervision, inspection and assessment capacity and ensure security in the fields of environmental protection and green energy.

He expressed his hope that Tadashi, as Special Advisor to the Japanese Government, will advise the Japanese government to support the Vietnamese ministry in training projects to better law enforcement capacity and crime combat; and aid projects in the fields of fire prevention and fighting and rescue, cyber security, and terrorism prevention and control.

For his part, Tadashi affirmed that with high political determination and the support of the governments and people of the two countries, the Vietnam-Japan relations will become closer, with more practical cooperation activities in the future, contributing to shaping the bilateral relationship in the next 50 years on the basis of the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Minister hopes for stronger Vietnam-Japan cooperation

Minister of Public Security To Lam expressed his belief that relations between Vietnam and Japan will grow further in the time ahead while receiving Special Advisor of the Japan - Vietnam Friendship Alliance Takebe Tsutomu in Hanoi on July 26.

The minister attributed the intensive and extensive cooperation in various spheres to mutual trust and efforts by generations of leaders and people of the two countries.  

Lam expressed his impression on Japan’s performance in reducing traffic accidents, and suggested Takebe encourage relevant Japanese agencies to launch programmes helping raise capacity for Vietnamese traffic police officers.  

The minister also called on the special advisor to help boost cooperation between units under the Ministry of Public Security and the Vietnam-Japan University under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi).

For his part, Takebe pledged to make efforts in fostering collaboration between the two sides.

Vietnam, Japan step up cooperation in energy transition

Vietnam and Japan should continue their close cooperation in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), said Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on July 26.
 
Ha made the suggestion while receiving Special Advisor to the Cabinet of Japan, and Managing Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Maeda Tadashi in Hanoi.

Ha said he would like to listen to Maeda’s recommendations to materialise the target of net zero emissions, as well as the JETP roadmap, noting that as a developing nation, Vietnam has faced a range of difficulties in this field.

"The most important thing is that developed and developing countries need to work together to seek effective cooperation mechanisms," he continued.

The official told his guest that Vietnam has established a secretariat for the JETP implementation, along with working groups on investment policies, law perfection and energy transition in electricity, transport, industry and agriculture; and picked up some businesses to pilot major renewable energy projects.

Businesses need favourable access to funding sources to support the transition to green and renewable energy, he said, suggesting Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises establish close and comprehensive cooperation mechanisms to propose feasible projects and solutions that match the reality in Vietnam.  

For his part, Maeda reiterated the Japanese Government’s commitments to promoting the AZEC initiative, and its hope for close cooperation with Vietnam in implementing the JETP and net zero emission roadmaps.

Japanese firms stand ready to play an active role in energy transition in Vietnam, he affirmed.

Vietnam, Egypt celebrate 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties

The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt on July 26 held a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Egypt diplomatic ties (September 1, 1963 – September 1, 2023).

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the event as part of his official visit to Egypt.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Nguyen Huy Dung highlighted the development of the friendship and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Egypt over the past 60 years. 

Egypt was the first country in Africa-Middle East to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1963. The two nations have many similarities in history and share a common aspiration for freedom and independence, the diplomat said, stating that they are symbols of resilience and indomitability in the struggle for national liberation.

The ambassador emphasised that the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Egypt has constantly developed, especially after high-level visits by leaders of the two countries in 2017 and 2018. On the occasions of the Vietnam visit by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2017 and the visit to Egypt in 2018 by President Tran Dai Quang, the two countries signed nearly 20 bilateral cooperation documents.

The ambassador said that the two sides are actively and effectively implementing those agreements.

He affirmed that Egypt is one of the important trade partners and a potential market of Vietnam in the Africa-Middle East region with two-way trade turnover surpassing 600 million USD in 2022. The two countries aim to increase the trade turnover to 1 billion USD in the coming time.

Ambassador Dung emphasised that Vietnam and Egypt have great potential to strengthen cooperation in all fields, especially economy, trade, logistics, culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries have also promoted local cooperation in recent years.

Affirming the growing economic ties between the two countries despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Hazem El-Tahry said the two sides are also making efforts to strengthen the legal framework for bilateral cooperation by updating existing agreements and finalising new ones.

El Tahry said that cultural exchange is an important pillar of the Vietnam-Egypt relationship, and suggested that the two countries step up cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang met with officials and employees of the Vietnamese Embassy and the overseas Vietnamese community in Egypt.

Young OVs pay tribute to heroic martyrs at Dong Loc T-junction

Some 120 young overseas Vietnamese (OV) from 26 countries and territories, who are taking part in the Vietnam Summer Camp 2023, offered incense and flowers at the Dong Loc T-junction monument in the central province of Ha Tinh on July 26.

The activity aims to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27,1947-2023), and the 55th death anniversary of ten young female volunteers who sacrificed their lives at the Dong Loc T-junction to ensure the safe operation of the transport route linking to the southern battlefield.

At the memorial site, the young people expressed gratitude for the great merits of the previous generations who fought and sacrificed for the cause of national liberation and reunification. They also pledged to unite and make contributions to the development and prosperity of their homeland.

 Vu Thanh Huyen, deputy head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs’ department of information and culture offers incense at the memorial site (Photo: VNA)
Vu Thanh Huyen, deputy head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs’ department of information and culture, said that this year’s summer camp takes participating youngsters to 10 provinces and cities across Vietnam.

On the occasion, the delegation of young OVs presented 40 gift sets to local martyr families and over 20 million VND (around 1,000 USD) to the Ha Tinh Association of Agent Orange/dioxin Victims.

The Vietnam Summer Camp 2023, an annual event held by the committee, lasts from July 18 to August 2. During the course, participants have a chance to visit and learn about the culture, history, and traditions of the country; have exchanges with local youngsters; and take part in voluntary youth programmes and competitions, among others.

First held in 2004, the camp has brought thousands of outstanding OV youth from 16-24 years old to visit their motherland.

Vietnam supports building of global treaty on plastic pollution: official

As an active and responsible member of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), at the regional level, Vietnam strongly supports the negotiations on a global treaty on plastic pollution, an official said on July 26.

Addressing a Hanoi workshop to look into regional cooperation towards a global treaty on plastic pollution, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands (VASI) Truong Tri Duc also said the Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to the protection of maritime and insular environment, especially the issues related to marine biodiversity conservation, maritime and coastal environment, plastic waste, and marine plastic pollution.
 
This is also part of the efforts to promote sustainable development of sea-based economic activities, the official told the event that drew representatives of 11 PEMSEA members as well as non-member countries.

Stressing Vietnam’s support for the negotiations on a global treaty on plastic pollution, he added that once adopted, the deal will be a vivid demonstration of countries’ cooperation in dealing with pollution in general and plastic pollution in particular.

Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, emphasised the core role of cooperation in resolving the worsening plastic pollution.

Highlighting two important aspects of the fight against plastic pollution, she said the first is to recognise, support, and increase contributions by informal waste workers to waste management systems and consider how the global treaty could be built basing on these contributions, as informal workers in ASEAN countries have a crucial role to play in waste management.

And the second is that the realisation of the treaty’s ambitious goals will require sufficient financial sources, especially through innovative financing mechanisms, to ensure efforts are fully supported to make changes in reality, Khalidi went on.

Mette Moglestue, deputy head of Mission of the Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, said the Norwegian-funded Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge (EPPIC) project has created chances for PEMSEA members and non-member countries to discuss and contribute to the treaty negotiations.

The diplomat noted one important thing is that the parties concerned need to agree on different measures for handling the entire life cycle of plastics, from production, design to waste management. Another is that the treaty must include legally binding obligations to help effectively minimise plastic pollution.

The EPPIC, funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, has invited innovators from across ASEAN to share their breakthrough ideas to deal with plastic pollution. It was launched in Vietnam and Thailand in 2021 and then expanded to Indonesia and the Philippines in 2022, and Laos and Cambodia this year.

At the workshop, participants agreed on the importance of joint efforts to combat plastic pollution. A common document was also devised to draft a cooperation strategy for handling this problems, helping with the building of a global treaty on plastic pollution.

Women’s volleyball team cherished by Vietnamese community in France

The Vietnamese women’s volleyball team arrived in Paris on July 25 for the Challenger Cup 2023 and received warm welcome from the Vietnamese community in the European country.

This is the first time in history that Vietnam has advanced to a world-class volleyball tournament after becoming the champion of the Asian Challenger Volleyball Cup.

Speaking at a welcome ceremony for the team at the Vietnamese Embassy’s headquarters, Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, complemented their achievements.

In only nearly three years, the team has won the Asian championship twice at both club and national scales, and for the first time gained berths at prestigious world tournaments, contributing to putting Vietnam on the world women's volleyball map, she noted.

“You are the pride of Vietnamese and Asian sports, and the representatives of the Vietnamese youth and women who are confident to integrate into the world and reach global stature after six decades since Vietnam joined the first international tournament, the Games of the New Emerging Forces in Indonesia in 1963,” she stated.

She said she hopes that the team will show their best performance at the Challenger Cup 2023, which takes place from July 27-31.

The ambassador said that one month ago, at the seventh International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS) in Azerbaijan, participants committed to strengthening sports cooperation, investing more in the youth and promoting gender equality in sports for sustainable development. The participation of Vietnam at the tournament is a vivid manifestation of Vietnam’s implementation of the commitment, she said.

After the ceremony, the team left for Laval, the venue of the Challenger Cup 2023. They will play France at 22:30 on July 27. If winning this match, Vietnam will have a chance to advance to the semifinal round on July 30.

The Challenger Cup 2023 will see the competition of eight teams from different continents, namely Colombia, Mexico, France, Ukraine, Croatia, Sweden, Kenya and Vietnam. The final match of the tournament will take place on July 31.

Young weightlifters to vie for Asian medals in India

Vietnamese athletes departed for India on July 26 as they head to compete in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 which will be held from July 28 to August 5.

Two local athletes who have high hopes of winning medals are Tran Minh Tri competing in the men's 67kg category and K’Duong in the men's 55kg class.

Minh Tri was the champion of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) in the men’s 67kg category after recording a total lift of 306kg.

Furthermore, SEA Games 32 held in Cambodia this year also saw K’Duong bag a gold medal after lifting 114kg in the snatch, 144kg in the clean and jerk, and recording a total lift of 258kg in the men's 55kg class.

The Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships 2023 is scheduled to take place in New Delhi, India, from July 28 to August 5, with the event attracting the participation of around 200 weightlifters from across the world.

Vietnam will send a total of 19 athletes to the event, with the tournament being an important warm-up event for Vietnamese athletes ahead of the world championships in the future.

TasteAtlas picks out two VN dishes among world’s 100 best rated breakfasts

Two Vietnamese dishes - Bánh cuốn and bò kho - have been listed among the 100 best rated breakfasts in the world, according to international food website TasteAtlas.

Sixth position went to Bò kho (beef stew) which is a popular Vietnamese beef stew that can be consumed on its own or alternatively accompanied by a baguette on the side. It can also be served over noodles, whilst it is customary to serve a variety of fresh herbs on the side, said TasteAtlas.

The dish includes ingredients such as diced beef, carrots, lemongrass, cinnamon, chili, pepper, garlic, and shallots, with all of them being simmered in a spicy and aromatic broth.

The origins of bò kho remain a mystery, although it is believed that the dish has many influences, from both the East and the West. In rural areas of the country, the stew is usually much spicier compared to urban areas, the website wrote.

It is traditionally consumed for breakfast, garnished with chopped green onions, coriander, and onions, it added.

Bánh cuốn (Steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork and mushrooms) ranks 96th in the list.

The popular Vietnamese street food consists of steamed rice rolls which are stuffed with pork (bánh cuốn nhân thịt), mushrooms (bánh cuốn Thanh Trì), or both (bánh cuốn Hà Nội).

The dish is usually served with a fried shallot dip, sweet and sour fish sauce, a variety of fresh herbs, and lime-based sauce on the side, TasteAtlas shared.

It takes a special kind of skill to prepare these steamed rolls, which should always be extremely thin and translucent.

Bánh cuốn is mainly consumed for breakfast throughout Vietnam, while a similar version of the dish is also present in Thai cuisine, where it is known as khao phan.

Rounding off the list of TasteAtlas’s 10 best rated breakfasts were many representatives from across the world, namely Mercimek çorbası of Turkey, Syrniki of Russia, Croissant of France, Nan-e barbari of Iran, Chilaquiles of Mexico, Bougatsa of Greece, pão de queijo of Brazil, Komplet of Serbia, and Roti canai of Malaysia.

TasteAtlas is an encyclopedia of flavours, a world atlas showcasing traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants. The website has cataloged over 10,000 foods and drinks from across the world, with there being dozens of thousands yet to be researched and mapped. 

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the audience. For the 10 best rated breakfasts in the world list until July 24, 19,680 ratings were recorded, of which 13,039 were recognised by the system as legitimate.

UNESCO Centre for Conservation of Vietnam’s Fine Arts opens in HCM City

The UNESCO Centre for Conservation of Vietnam’s Fine Art and Cultural Heritage was opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 25.

The centre, an arm of the Vietnam Union of UNESCO Associations, has been designed to preserve and promote the value of Vietnamese cultural and artistic heritage in the past and at present, and to create new values in the future.

The facility will serve as a place to connect artists, collectors, researchers, art critics, as well as museums, cultural agencies and heritages both at home and abroad. It will also help promote cooperation in various fields with organisations and individuals involved in practical projects in the fields of fine arts, culture, and heritage conservation.

Nguyen Kim Phien, Director of the centre, said that it will deploy projects in many areas such as organising creation camps for young artists, and displaying paintings, creative art statues and cultural heritage in connection with heritage tourism, so as to bring benefits to the community, society as well as partners.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sport Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy said that the inauguration of the centre will contribute to creating more spaces for fine arts activities in the locality as well as in Vietnam at large.

She also expressed her hope that precious works will have more favourable conditions to be preserved and promoted in the social life.

Noi Bai International Airport to extend A-CDM model testing

Nội Bài International Airport has received written approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam under the Ministry of Transport to continue testing and implementing the second model of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) for an extended period of three months, starting from July 25.

The A-CDM testing will be conducted in two phases. In phase one, A-CDM will be applied continuously for eight hours per day, from 8am to 4pm, spanning from July 25 to August 31.

In phase two, A-CDM will be implemented 12 hours a day, from 8am to 8pm, covering the period from September 1 to October 31.

During the testing phase (from March 26 to April 30), more than 3,000 flights operated safely within the designated time frame. The leaders of Nội Bài International Airport reported that the system achieved an average compliance rate of 98 per cent with regard to the departure target position and the authorised start-up time according to the air traffic authority's departure sequence. The flight crew's clearance requests were also strictly and accurately followed.

In terms of specific measures to enhance efficiency, Nội Bài International Airport representatives emphasised that all involved parties must adhere strictly to the process, from the time the airport receives flight plans from airlines until the aircraft safely takes off.

Airlines are required to submit flight plans to the airport before 10am each day. If there are any changes, the updated plans must be sent back before 6pm on the same day. The window for determining flight delays has been tightened, allowing a maximum of 60 minutes, and airlines must promptly notify passengers of any delays through appropriate channels. If a delay exceeds 60 minutes, a new flight plan must be issued.

Furthermore, the A-CDM testing showed promising results in terms of reduced taxiing and turnaround times. The aircraft's roll-out time for take-off at the airport decreased to 13 minutes during the testing phase, which was three minutes less than the average in 2022 before the implementation of A-CDM.

The average taxi-in time from actual landing on the runway to reaching the stand was reduced to seven minutes, a one-minute improvement from the pre-test average.

The benefits of A-CDM extend to cost savings as well. Preliminary calculations by domestic airlines indicate that every minute saved in taxiing time translates to fuel savings and cost reduction. For example, for an A350, each minute of reduced taxiing time can save approximately 25kg of fuel, equivalent to about US$127. Similarly, for a B787 aircraft, a minute of reduced taxiing time can save around 20kg of fuel, amounting to about $122. The A321 and ATR72 aircraft can save about 13.5kg and $19 per minute of reduced taxiing time, respectively.

In conclusion, implementing A-CDM not only benefits passengers with improved travel experiences but also contributes to cost savings and more efficient flight operations, including the handling of luggage and cargo services.

The thorough testing and extended evaluation period at Nội Bài International Airport will help assess the system's effectiveness in various scenarios, leading to further refinements and enhancements for the benefit of all stakeholders. 

Korean media gives five reasons to enjoy Nha Trang

Located along the stunning Vietnamese coastline, Nha Trang has become a popular destination among travelers seeking a perfect blend of natural beauty and vibrant city life, according to information given by Haps travel magazine of the Republic of Korea (RoK).

A popular destination among Korean travelers, expats based in the country can also benefit from the amount of relatively inexpensive flights for the five-hour journey from the RoK. The magazine offers five compelling reasons why Nha Trang should be on the travel radar of tourists.

Nha Trang boasts several of the nation’s most breathtaking beaches, with soft white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Guests can take a leisurely stroll along the iconic Tran Phu Beach lined with palm trees and high-end resorts. For a more secluded experience, visitors can venture out to Bai Dai Beach, known as the “Long Beach” which offers tranquility with picturesque views, the article wrote.

Haps also suggests that travelers should dive into a vibrant underwater world teeming with colourful coral reefs and diverse marine life.

Nha Trang’s Hon Mun Marine Protected Area represents a paradise for both snorkelers and scuba diving enthusiasts.

Furthermore, the island’s rich cultural heritage is highlighted by visiting ancient landmarks and temples, with the Po Nagar Cham Towers dating back to the seventh century and standing as a testament to the region’s Cham civilization.

Visitors are also able to explore the Long Son Pagoda, which is adorned with intricate dragon mosaics and climb its 152 steps to reach a giant white Buddha statue offering panoramic views of the city.

For adrenaline junkies, Nha Trang offers an array of thrilling water activities, such as jet skiing, parasailing, or flyboarding.

Nha Trang’s favourable wind conditions and blue skies therefore make it an excellent destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing, the Korean magazine added.

The country is known around the planet for its unique cuisine, with Nha Trang’s delectable seafood and local cuisine being no different. From fresh seafood markets to charming street food stalls, the city offers a wide variety of culinary delights, according to Haps.

The Korean media suggests that travelers should sample the famous Nha Trang grilled fish noodles, known as “Bun Ca Sua”, savor succulent lobsters and prawns prepared in various styles, and sample local favourite “Nem Nuong,” a savory grilled pork sausage served with rice paper and fresh herbs.

“And whatever you do, don’t miss out on the Vietnam coffee,” the article concluded.

USAID projects help Kien Giang better control the HIV epidemic

Projects fighting the HIV epidemic in the Mekong Delta province of Kiên Giang have achieved significant results as the rate of HIV-infected people being diagnosed and treated on the same day has increased sharply.

The USAID-supported Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) provides strategic technical assistance and direct service delivery to achieve control of the HIV epidemic and promote self-reliant management of national HIV programmes by improving HIV case finding, prevention, treatment programming and viral-load suppression.

According to the report from the provincial Centre for Disease Control (CDC), this locality ranks fourth among the provinces in the Mekong Delta region and sixteenth nationwide in terms of the number of detected HIV-infected people. Annually, Kiên Giang identifies an additional 350-400 HIV infections. In 2022, 469 cases were detected.

Doctor Giang Văn Tiên from the CDC's HIV/AIDS department said the implementation of activities related to public health response and HIV case monitoring within the framework of the EpiC project has brought significant effectiveness to the province's epidemic prevention and control efforts, particularly focusing on the group of men who have sex with men (MSM).

The project is currently being implemented in Rạch Giá City, Châu Thành and Phú Quốc districts.

The establishment of HIV confirmatory testing centres at the locations where the project is being implemented has made a significant contribution to the timely detection and treatment of patients.

Over 50 per cent of patients receive treatment on the same day, and the success rate in HIV treatment exceeds 90 per cent, Tiên said.

According to Doctor Võ Thị Lợt, deputy director of the Kiên Giang CDC, the EpiC project has been implemented in Phú Quốc District since the beginning of this year.

Phú Quốc is considered a complex location with high rate of HIV infection because most of the HIV-infected patients in the MSM group come from other places, and healthcare workers face challenges in accessing them.

In the first six months of the year, Phú Quốc District detected 31 new infections out of a total of 300 cases in the entire province. Since January, 25 cases (accounting for 75 per cent) received HIV treatment on the same day as the confirmatory test results. Furthermore, the entire number of cases received HIV treatment within seven days after detection.

Among the newly recorded HIV cases in the province, approximately 50 per cent are attributed to the MSM group. The HIV cases in the MSM group are also getting younger.

Specifically, in three localities where the project is implemented, MSM cases account for 59 per cent of new HIV infections.

The province now has nine clinics that provide antiretroviral therapy (ARV) for HIV-infected people. Many people who have tested positive have received immediate treatment with ARV on the same day.

HCM City welcomes more MICE tourists
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HCM City received 2.30 million foreign visitors in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 208.30 percent compared to the same period last year with business travel numbers showing signs of improvement.

Nguyen Cam Tu, Director of the HCM City Tourism Promotion Centre said that the increase was contributed by the rise in the number of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourists.

"We've decided to include MICE in a list of seven most potential tourism products that will be invested in over the coming time," she said.

The official shared that since the beginning of this year, they have welcomed some 1,000 MICE tourists mostly from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and China.

"Most recently we received a delegation of nearly 500 MICE tourists from India from July 20-25," she said. "This is a positive sign for HCM City."

Speaking to the Lao Dong Newspaper, a representative of the Vietravel Company said that MICE was one of their strategic targets and it is bringing much higher profits compared to other tourism products.

"We're trying to diversify our products to suit more customers and improve our services to give them the best experiences in Vietnam," he said. "Vietnam is known as a safe country with friendly people and beautiful natural scenery. Some of the places being most chosen by MICE tourists in Vietnam include Phan Thiet, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, HCM City, Danang, Nha Trang, Hanoi, and Ha Long."

Lao Cai ready to welcome Indian investors: provincial official

Lao Cai has prepared the best conditions to welcome enterprises and investors, particularly those from India, the provincial Party Committee Secretary Dang Xuan Phong said at an investment, trade and tourism promotion conference between the province and India held in New Delhi on July 25.

Phong said that he expects Indian investors will soon come to Lao Cai and play a leading role in developing a herbal medicine processing industrial zone in the province.

Lao Cai is committed to always accompanying and creating favourable conditions for Indian businesses and investors to make successful, sustainable, and long-term investments there, the official said.

Giang Thi Dung, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People's Committee, briefed participants on the province's strengths including the famous resort town of Sapa, hundreds of mineral mines with large reserves, and about 850 species of medicinal plants.

In addition, the province is offering incentives and investment support mechanisms to attract foreign investment, she said.

Dung also proposed specific areas of cooperation and investment for Indian businesses including medicinal herb processing, tourism, high-tech agriculture, and high-tech industry.

Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and India is prosperous in all fields, particularly in economy, trade, investment, and tourism.

However, he said that the development is still not commensurate with the size of the political, cultural relationship and the high trust between the two countries.

According to him, connectivity is one of the most important drivers for the development of trade, tourism, and investment.

Indian delegates affirmed that Vietnam in general and Lao Cai in particular are top destinations for Indian investors and tourists thanks to the open business and investment environment, dynamic economy, friendly people, and outstanding natural beauty.

At the conference, six Memorandums of Understanding were signed by agencies and businesses from the two countries.

Tuyen Quang sees surge in tourists

More than 1.8 million tourists visited the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang in the first six months of 2023, meeting 72.9% of the province’s yearly plan and showing a 44.2% increase year on year. 

According to the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the most-visited tourism sites include the Tan Trao special national relic site (Son Duong district), Ho Chi Minh Temple (Tuyen Quang city), Na Hang – Lam Binh scenic site and community tourism sites in Lam Binh and Na Hang districts.

Tourism activities in the period generated nearly 2.1 trillion VND (88.1 million USD) in revenue, up 68.4% from the same period last year and equal to 69.5% of the yearly plan.

To appeal to tourists, Tuyen Quang has organised a series of events since the beginning of the year. Prominent among them are the opening programme for the Tuyen Quang Tourism Year 2023 along with a ceremony to receive the 2022 Asian Townscape Awards bestowed on the local Nguyen Tat Thanh Square, and the second international hot air balloon festival. The province also participated in a tourism promotion programme held by the eight northeastern provinces in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the same time, Tuyen Quang also invested in developing new tourism products with local characteristics such as rowing raft while listening to Then singing on Na Nua lake in Tan Trao special national relic site, adventure tours combined with riding hot air balloon, cave exploration, and seasonal events like pear flower or ripe rice festivals.

The province has defined tourism as an important economic sector, and will focus efforts on tourism types that it has strength in, such as cultural-festival-spiritual tourism, resort, health tourism, and sport-adventure tourism.

Tuyen Quang aims to attract at least 2.5 million visitors and earn 3 trillion VND in total tourism revenue this year. It hopes to welcome more than 3 million visitors and generate 4.8 trillion VND from tourism in 2025.    

Tuyen Quang province is home to a great number of historical and cultural relic sites, including Tan Trao historical site that was once the home of President Ho Chi Minh and the Party central agencies before the success of the August Revolution and in the resistance war against the French colonialists. Among the three national special relic sites is the Na Hang-Lam Binh Nature Reserve that is dubbed the on-land Ha Long Bay with green mountains, impressive caves and waterfalls and primitive forests. Both the Na Hang-Lam Binh and Tat Ke-Ban Bung Nature Reserves in the province are well-known for thousands of flora and fauna species.

As the home of 22 ethnic groups, the province is famous for two UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity, including Then - a type of performance combining literature, music and dance - of the Tay, Nung and Thai, and the festival honoring Mother Goddesses - the heaven, water and mountains and forests goddesses - at the Thuong, Ha and Y Lan temples in the province. The province is also rich in festivals such as the annual Tuyen Quang city festival (or Tuyen Quang Mid-Autumn Festival), Nhay lua (fire jumping), the crop-harvesting festival of the Pa Then, and Long tong (going to the fields) of the Tay.

Tuyen Quang has six traditional craft villages famous for tea, weaving, wine and bamboo and rattan products. The most prestigious are Minh Quang bamboo conical hat village, Lang Can brocade weaving village and Son Duong tea village. Shan Tuyet tea is also another specialty of the province.

Tourism is expected to become an important sector, according to the provincial plan on tourism development through 2025, with a vision toward 2030.

Potential locations proposed for multi-storey parking lots in HCMC

Relevant agencies have proposed building multi-storey parking lots at four locations covering a combined 1,500 square meters in HCMC.

The proposed sites include a section of Le Lai Street in District 1, an area in front of Le Van Tam Park, a part of Cho Lon Bus Station, and a pavement section of Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5.

According to the city’s Department of Transport, these lots will have a total capacity of 350 autos with nine seats and below, and over 200 motorbikes.

The project has been favored over the underground parking lot initiative in HCMC due to its cost-effectiveness and rapid construction.

The proposal is part of the city’s efforts to increase parking space, especially in the face of a shortage of parking spaces in the commercial business district.

This comes as HCMC authorities gear up to implement the National Assembly’s Resolution 98/2023, which approves dozens of special mechanisms and policies for the development of HCMC. This resolution will take effect from August 1, 2023, replacing Resolution 54 issued in 2017, which served the same purpose.

Vietnam Social Security warns fake public service portal

The Vietnam Social Security has recently detected a fake website of its public service portal through monitoring and inspection.

The Vietnam Social Security noticed that the fake website had its domain and interface closely similar to the public service portal of the social security sector via the website of “dichvucong.baohiemxahoi.gov.

Under inspection, the fake website is using an IP address overseas and self-acknowledged as Vietnam Social Security with its identifying characteristics as logo, interface and functions and so on being closely similar to the Vietnam Social Security’s official website.

In order to promptly prevent and strictly handle the fraudulent acts causing misunderstanding for people and enterprises as well as prevent the risk of fraud, the Vietnam Social Security reported the fake website to the Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications via the website of https://canhbao.ncsc.gov.vn.

The Vietnam Social Security confirmed that its public portal had a unique domain via the website https://dichvucong.baohiemxahoi.gov.vn/. Of which, the domain structure comprising.GOV.VN is dedicated to state agencies instead of.COM.VN or.COM which was confirmed to be a fraud.

Thua Thien-Hue rescue team memorial completed

A monument has just been built in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to commemorate 13 rescue members who died while searching for flood victims in Phong Dien District in October 2020. 

A monument has just been built in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to commemorate 13 rescue members who died while searching for flood victims in Phong Dien District in October 2020.

The VND6.50 billion monument covers 1.80 hectares in Phong Xuan Commune and was funded through the provincial budget.

According to local authorities, the deaths of 13 military rescue team members showed their determination and dedication to protect people in need. The monument will be a place for people to commemorate the dead. It will also help educate younger generations of the military and local people.

The 13 were part of a 21-member rescue team that was sent to verify reports of 17 workers buried by a landslide near the Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Plant deep in the jungle in Phong Dien District on October 13, 2020.

The 13, including Nguyen Van Man, Deputy Commander of the Vietnam People's Army Military Region 4, and several soldiers and officials, were buried by another landslide that struck at midnight that day while they were resting at a forest rangers station. Eight others managed to escape.

Among the 17 buried workers, six bodies were found while 11 others remain missing.

Monthly allowance for people with meritorious services raised

The Government has decreed that preferential allowance for people with meritorious services to the revolution in Viet Nam shall be increased to VND 2,055,000 (US$ 86) from VND 1,624,000 (US$ 69).

Up to now, the whole country has confirmed over 9.2 million people with meritorious services, of whom over 1.3 million people are entitled to receive monthly allowances.

The standard allowance level for people with meritorious services has been lifted in line with the base salary roadmap.

Vietnam, Israel urged to boost science-technology and high-tech agriculture links

Vietnam and Israel should consider science-technology and high-tech agriculture as priority areas for future co-operation, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said during talks held on July 25 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During the course of discussions taking place as part of Deputy PM Quang’s official visit to Israel from July 23 to July 25 he affirmed that the Vietnamese side encourages and will strive to create favourable conditions for Israeli businesses.

Israeli PM Netanyahu welcomed and underlined the significance of the Vietnamese PM’s visit, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

He went on to express his positive impression of Vietnamese socio-economic development achievements, affirming that the country represents an important partner of Israel.

He stated that through complementary advantages, the two sides boast great potential to strengthen co-operation across all fields, especially in science-technology and start-ups, innovation, high-tech agriculture, water treatment technology, and medicine.

Deputy PM Quang affirmed the country’s recognition of the great importance of the friendship and all-around co-operation with Israel, whilst conveying an invitation from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to PM Netanyahu to visit Vietnam soon.

For his part, PM Netanyahu accepted the invitation, expressed his hope to soon pay an official visit to Vietnam, whilst also inviting PM Chinh to pay an official visit to Israel in the future.

During the course of talks, both sides consented to jointly ramp up the friendship and co-operation through measures such as increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels, co-ordinating and support each other at international forums and organisations, and intensifying the exchange of business delegations. This is along with organising trade and investment promotion activities, effectively exploit the newly-signed Vietnam - Israel Free Trade Agreement, and considering the opening of direct flights between the two countries at an early date. 

Before the talks, the pair witnessed the signing ceremony of the Vietnam - Israel Free Trade Agreement. The same day, saw PM Quang meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and received Israeli business representatives.

On the evening of July 25, he left Israel and headed to Egypt as part of an official visit.

Autumn Festival set to enliven Bac Ha mountains

Bac Ha Autumn Festival 2023 is scheduled to take place in Bac Ha district of Lao Cai province from August to October, with the event featuring an array of fascinating cultural activities and sporting games.      

An opening ceremony will be held on August 25 at the 300-year-old Trung Do Temple, a national historic site.

Furthermore, local authorities will organise a ceremony aimed at announcing the Shan Tuyet tea tree as an ancient tree heritage of the nation in Hoang Thu Pho commune on September 2.

Plenty of sporting activities will get underway in September, including a mountain marathon, a triathlon consisting of three events, including running, cycling, and kayak sailing; and the Bac H’Adventure sports event.

Moreover, visitors will discover the traditional craft of making com or young rice at Bac Ha market between September 23 and September 24. A contest on creating dishes from Com will also take place.

A lantern parade, a beautiful tray contest, and a tea making contest which celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Tết Trung Thu, will be held in October.

Bac Ha district is expected to welcome 30,000 arrivals during this Autumn Festival.

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