National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) receives Cambodian NA President Heng Samrin ahead of their talks (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan held talks with her Cambodian counterpart Heng Samrin in Hanoi on June 23 following an official welcome ceremony for her guest. President Heng Samrin has been a four-day official friendship visit to Vietnam, where he is scheduled to take part in activities marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties and participate in a meeting of the presidents of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Lao Front for National Construction and the Solidarity Front for Development of the Cambodian Motherland. Chairwoman Ngan spoke highly of the Cambodian delegation’s visit which takes place at a time when the people of the two nations are eagerly celebrating the 50th founding … [Read more...]

VGCL President Bui Van Cuong and VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi (L) sign the agreement (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) signed a cooperation agreement for 2017 – 2022 in Hanoi on June 23. Addressing the signing ceremony, VGCL President Bui Van Cuong said the collaboration programmes between the two sides have been implemented effectively, including the Vietnam Trade Union Programme on the VNA’s Vnews TV channel. Stories on the Vnews channel and other publications of the VNA have reflected the living and working conditions of Vietnamese labourers, particularly those working in industrial parks, export processing zones, as well as other issues like social insurance, health insurance, and housing, he said. He calls on the Vietnam News Agency to build more programmes to … [Read more...]

Phnom Penh (VNA) – The 2st ASEAN-the Republic of Korea (RoK) Dialogue took place in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province on June 22-23. The dialogue aimed to discuss cooperation between the two sides and prepare for the ASEAN-RoK Ministers Meeting slated for August and the 19th ASEAN-RoK Summit in November.  Delegates at the event affirmed the significance of the ASEAN-RoK strategic partnership to development of each side as well as peace, stability, prosperity and connectivity in East Asia.  With the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community at the end of 2015 and rapid economic growth rate in recent years, ASEAN has become the RoK’s second largest trade partner, they said.  Through such frameworks as the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement and the Action Plan during 2016-2020, the two sides set to raise their trade value to 200 billion USD by … [Read more...]

Enjoying the summer holiday at a beautiful beachfront resort nestled on a pristine blue beach is a deserving reward for family members following months of hard work and study. Just decide the time, choose your destination, make your budget and select the perfect package, and your dream vacation will be right at hand. 1. Choosing the right time The ideal time for families to travel is the summer, especially for families with children who attend school. During this peak season, most tour operators significantly increase prices; however, there are some large brands that consider this an opportunity to gratify customers by offering promotional programes. Notable among them in the travel market this year is the super attractive promotional offer from the five-star Vinpearl resort system. The offer price starting at VNĐ2 million (US$88) for a five-star standard room including breakfast buffet will help make the dream of staying at a … [Read more...]

(TITC) – At the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Tourism on 19 June, APEC Tourism Ministers and senior representatives adopted the 2017 APEC High Level Statement on “Promoting Sustainable Tourism for an Inclusive and Interconnected Asia-Pacific”. Accordingly, under the APEC Viet Nam 2017 theme “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”, the ministers and senior representatives focused on “Promoting Sustainable Tourism for an Inclusive and Interconnected Asia-Pacific” with a view to further enhancing APEC cooperation on sustainable and inclusive development in the region. The APEC member economies welcomed the implementation of APEC travel facilitation initiatives; emphasized the significant role of tourism, particularly in stimulating economic growth and fostering connectivity; agreed that the Asia-Pacific is at a crucial juncture of … [Read more...]

(TITC) – The international press conference on APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Tourism was held on 19 June under the chair of Mr. Huynh Vinh Ai - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam. The press conference was co-chaired by senior representative of Papua New Guinea (Host of the 10th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in 2018); and Dr. Alan Bollard - Executive Director, APEC Secretariat. According to Deputy Minister Huynh Vinh Ai, APEC member economies and international speakers emphasized the significant role of tourism, particularly in fostering inclusive growth, economic integration and connectivity, job creation. At the Dialogue, the speakers shared their experiences on sustainable tourism development including aspects of economy, society, environment, employment, human resource development, enterprises development, public-private partnership in … [Read more...]

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at a working session with HCM City’s key leaders on June 23 (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the southern largest economic of Ho Chi Minh City to create a favourable start-up environment for those with great willpower. At a working session with HCM City’s key leaders on June 23, PM Phuc said it is a must for the city to build an innovative economy, become a momentum for sustainable development and drive the country’s intensive international integration. He emphasised core values the southern hub should look towards, including smart urban infrastructure, smart management, technocracy, inclusive growth and equal development opportunities for all people. “HCM City’s key objective is to generate jobs with increasing incomes, create sustainable collection sources … [Read more...]

The film fest is scheduled to be held in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia from November 17 to December 3.   Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, or PÖFF ( Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival), is an annual film festival held since 1997 in Tallinn. The festival is one of the top 15 film festivals in the world , including Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Karlovy Vary, San Sebastian, Shanghai, Tokyo and others. The film Cha cong con has been honored with a number of awards at prestigious international film festivals around the world, including Best Foreign Feature and Special Jury Award for Outstanding Cinematography at the 26th Arizona International Film Festival in Tucson, Arizona of the United States; the award for the best storyline at the 15th Boston International Film Festival from April 13 – 17 in Massachusetts; Best Cinematography award at the 17th Milano International Film Festival of Italy, the Best Picture Award at the Los Angeles Asian … [Read more...]

Cambodia's economic growth is expected to hit 7 percent in 2017 (Source: adb.org)   Hanoi (VNA) - Cambodia's economic growth is expected to hit 7 percent in 2017 mainly driven by garment exports, construction, tourism and agriculture, said an official of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on June 23. With the expected growth, Cambodia’s gross domestic product (GDP) will reach about 22 billion USD, as the GDP per capita is forecast to hit 1,434 USD this year, said Duong Sophak, deputy chief of the NBC's Economic Research and International Cooperation Division. According to the official, industry (mainly garment and construction) and service sector (tourism, transport and telecom, trade and real estate) will significantly contribute to the country’s economic growth, as agriculture will see a marginal contribution to the growth. Sophak said … [Read more...]

Eldniz Nasabli on his bed at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - A Thursday morning at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) is just like every other weekday morning at a hospital: crowded, noisy with patients awaiting medical examinations. A group of four women standing by the reception desk near the hospital’s entrance, are busy writing wishes on a stack of envelopes. They are here to visit a 25-year-old Azerbaijani patient who came to Vietnam as a volunteer, fell sick while teaching English to children in the northern mountainous province of Son La, and discovered he had acute myeloid leukemia. Eldniz Nasabli was transferred from the Son La General Hospital to NIHBT on the morning of June 7 after a week of suffering from high fever and uncontrollable bleeding gums. Apart from leukemia, he … [Read more...]

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R) welcomes Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during the latter's visit to Vietnam in 2012 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Top leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia have exchanged letters of congratulations on the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (June 24) and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Dai Quang sent congratulatory letters to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a letter of congratulations to his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen. Meanwhile, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan extended congratulations to Senate President Samdech Say Chhum and National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin of Cambodia. The Vietnamese leaders expressed their delight at the continually sound development of … [Read more...]

Inspection group examines ship number BD 99018 TS (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - An inspection carried out by an independent team on the quality of steel fishing ships built under a Government decree revealed that ship-building companies used substandard components for a number of ships, resulting in frequent breakdowns and degradation. Tran Van Phuc, Deputy Director of the Binh Dinh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development who headed the inspection, announced the findings at a meeting on June 22. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested an inspection in 27 coastal provinces to examine the new steel fishing boats, after fishermen complained that poor quality fishing vessels were preventing them from fishing offshore. PM Phuc said that as the inspection was going on, seven vessel owners asked to withdraw their complaint petitions … [Read more...]

Generations of ethnic Mong people in Vietnam have sought redemption and salvation for departed relatives through unique funeral rituals. >> Alpine ethnic people in Vietnam – P6: Getting drunk at the market >> Alpine ethnic people in Vietnam – P5: ‘Wife-pulling’ custom >> Alpine ethnic people in Vietnam – P4: Unique metalwork >> Alpine ethnic people in Vietnam – P3: The fight for clean water >> Alpine ethnic people in Vietnam – P2: Growing crops on rocks >> Alpine ethnic people in Vietnam – P1: Leading lives aloft Funeral musicians loudly blew their khen, a Vietnamese windpipe, while circling the funeral area, showering the space with a melancholic medley of enigmatic sound. Cutting through the noise was the nauseating smell of freshly slaughtered cows and pigs mixed with the pungent … [Read more...]

A view of Can Tho city at night (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Officials of Can Tho city on June 23 met with a delegation from the Republic of Korea (RoK) which came to the Mekong Delta locality to enhance cooperation in health care and construction. Haeseung Shin, Director of the RoK’s Gumi Gangdong Hospital, who led the delegation, said this was their fifth destination in an investment promotion trip to Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh and Soc Trang provinces, Can Tho city and Ho Chi Minh City. The delegation had working sessions with the Can Tho municipal People’s Committee and People’s Council, the Can Tho General Hospital, the Hoan My Cuu Long Hospital, and some construction companies, through which they learned about local mechanisms and policies on attracting foreign investment, especially in these two fields, he noted. He expressed his hope that the … [Read more...]

  3D design of Bui Vien Walking Street (Source: VNA)   HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City will expand pedestrian area in District 1 to include Bui Vien Street as from July 15. The street will be open to pedestrians only from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am next day on Saturdays and Sundays. The municipal People’s Committee said training courses on community-based tourism will be held in June to help businesses, households and individuals directly involving in trading activities on the street. Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said the Department of Tourism will be responsible for organising, managing and developing tourism activities in the area. Units and individuals are encouraged to conduct art performances on the street to reduce the use of public budget, Tuyen said. District 1 was requested to … [Read more...]

Thailand's Department of Tourism has launched the Thailand International Film Destination Festival 2017 (Source: thaivisa.com)   Bangkok (VNA/NNT) - The Thai Department of Tourism has launched the Thailand International Film Destination Festival 2017 (TIFDF2017), with the aim of promoting Thailand as the World's Best Film Location. The TIFDT 2017, themed “a fascinating destination”, focuses on promoting the eight tourism clusters in Thailand among international filmmakers through a series of activities, such as a short-film competition among film students around the world. Thai Tourism and Sports Minister MrsKobkarnWattanavrangkul said this week that the international film industry is directly linked to Thailand’s tourism. The film industry not only brings in a large amount of money to the country, but also helps promote its beautiful destinations … [Read more...]

Countless hectares of forest in Vietnam’s Central Highlands are being destroyed as the result of industrial and agricultural activities conducted by local businesses and residents at such a rate that authorities are unable to prevent the situation. Businesses, residents, and even immigrants in the Central Highlands region are exploiting the local forests for its natural resources. Meanwhile competent authorities have been unable to manage the excessive exploitation, with some even caught abetting the harmful activities. According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters this year, a large area of forest along National Highway 14 in Tuy Duc and Dak Song Districts in Dak Nong Province has vanished. A local resident stated that the area was cleared to make space for coffee plantations. “The soil here is perfect for the agricultural activity. First people just chopped down a small … [Read more...]

Containers are loaded onto a lighter at Hai Linh port in Viet Tri city (Photo: VNA)  Hanoi (VNA) – The Vinalines Container Shipping Company, a subsidiary of the Vietnam Shipping Lines (Vinalines), on June 23 launched its first-ever waterway lighterage service in the northern region, focusing on the Hai Phong-Viet Tri route. The firm will operate 2-3 lighters per week from Hai Linh port in Viet Tri city of Phu Tho province to Hai Phong city. Dinh Hai Bac, Director of Vinalines Container, said the company will provide trucking service for customers in Viet Tri before the containers are transported to Hai Phong and then central and southern localities. Bac said that the service aims to diversify services, expand markets and reduce container trucks operating in Viet Tri area. The Ministry of Transport assessed that currently, the domestic … [Read more...]

The youth volunteer tasks are to help motivate and guide the students who are taking the exams June 22-24 so that they can perform at their best. An estimated 860,000 high school students nationwide are setting for the exams. Many students sitting for the exams (and parents in some cases) cannot hide their anxiety. The … [Read more...]

A rice field heavily ​damaged by saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta in 2016 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam should calculate in advance damage caused by climate change as its effects have become more obvious and devastating in recent years, with changes in temperature and rainfall, sea level rises and extreme weather. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, the drought triggered by El-Nino in 2015-2016 affected millions of Vietnamese farmers and the national economy. Pham Van Tan, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries due to climate change.  However, many organisations, businesses and locals have not been fully aware of climate change and green growth, he … [Read more...]