Many foreign travelers are creating their own tours to HCM City instead of booking package tours at travel agencies. More travelers choose self-planned tours The number of self-guided domestic travelers is also high, but most Vietnamese appear to prefer package tours. A survey on the length of stay and average expenditures of travelers to HCM City conducted in 2017 by the HCM City Statistics Office and the Tourism Department found a growing tendency of self-planned tours. Sixty-nine percent of polled foreign travelers said they chose self-planned tours, while the remaining said they would book tours at travel agencies. Travel firms confirmed that many travelers book partial services, rather than book package tours. After arriving in HCM City, travelers choose the next destination themselves. Travel firms confirmed that many travelers book partial services, rather than book package tours. After arriving in HCM City, travelers choose the next destination themselves. However, … [Read more...] about More foreign travelers to HCMC choose self guided tours
Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses
The Hanoi Transport Service Company (Transerco) has introduced the new ticket price for its double-decker tour bus service. The double-decker tour bus service in Hanoi The new ticket which is VND196,000 (USD8.91) for a two-hour tour will be applied from July 10. The new ticket will exclude the hop-on, hop-off service, which means passengers need not get off the bus during the entire trip to 30 attractions in the city. The company has also proposed launching a double-decker bus night tour from August 1, starting at 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm every day. The current double-decker bus tour prices are VND300,000 (USD13.30) for a four-hour tour, VND450,000 (USD20) for 24 hours and VND650,000 (USD28.80) for 48 hours. On May 30, Hanoi launched its first double-decker city tour, with hop-on and hop-off at 13 stops, running through 25 streets and taking tourists to 30 destinations in the city. The bus arrives every 30 minutes from 9 am to 5 pm every day. Tourists can choose to join or stop the … [Read more...] about Cheaper ticket launched for Hanoi tourist buses
More Japanese firms interested in Vietnamese market: JETRO Chairman
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organization Hiroyuki Ishige, Ha Noi, July 19, 2018. Photo: VGP At the reception, JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige said Japanese PM Shinzo Abe attaches importance to boosting cooperation with Viet Nam. Mr. Ishige highlighted that the deals secured at the investment promotion conference into Viet Nam held in June last year on the occasion of PM Phuc's visit to Japan are effectively being implemented in Viet Nam. Highlighting the strong Japanese capital flow into Viet Nam, he said JETRO is making efforts to support Japanese businesses to expand investments in the Southeast Asian country. He said skilled Vietnamese employees are in high demand for Japanese firms, adding that JETRO is working with Vietnamese universities to introduce Japanese firms. He stressed that improvements in the business climate are … [Read more...] about More Japanese firms interested in Vietnamese market: JETRO Chairman
VN sends aid to Japan’s flood relief effort
The Foreign Ministry’s representative handed over the donation to Ambassador of Japan to Viet Nam Umeda Kunio The ambassador expressed gratitude towards the valuable and timely support from the Vietnamese Government and people for Japanese people. Earlier, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a message of condolence on July 8 to his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, over the great human and asset losses caused by the deadly floods and landslides in Japan. The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also expressed his sympathies to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. … [Read more...] about VN sends aid to Japan’s flood relief effort
VN works to ratify CPTPP
The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made the statement in response to reporters' queries at the ministry’s regular press conference in Ha Noi on July 19. Responding to reporters’ question about the possibility of expanding the CPTPP, Hang said the trade deal will enter into force 60 days after six of the signatories have finished ratifying it. Viet Nam and other member states are conducting the necessary ratification procedures in line with each country’s related regulations. The agreement will be soon implemented to boost win-win economic cooperation between member economies, as well as contribute to the regional economic growth and connectivity, she noted. The CPTPP is an open agreement that allows other countries to join after the deal takes effect if they accept its principles and are approved by the member states, she added. The … [Read more...] about VN works to ratify CPTPP
VN shares fall on global dive
Officials at Hà Nội Stock Exchange monitors trading orders. — VNA/VNS Photo Pham hau Vietnamese shares tumbled on Friday morning on both local indices, following the slump of the global market. The benchmark VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange plunged 0.77 per cent to close at 936.70 points, reversing from its increase of 5.7 per cent during the last six sessions. The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange dropped 0.60 per cent to end at 104.94 points. The northern market index inched down 1.26 per cent on Thursday. The stock market turned chaotic when investors triggered large-scale sell-offs in all sectors with some 113.6 million shares traded on both local bourses, worth VNĐ1.9 trillion (US$82 million). Overall market condition was negative with 153 gainers and 227 losers while another 361 closed unchanged. Tracking the southern bourse’s largest stocks by capitalisation and liquidity, the VN30-Index added 0.75 per cent, to end at 933.99 points. Among all … [Read more...] about VN shares fall on global dive
Bomb destroyed successfully in Đắk Nông
The bomb discovered in a local farmer’s field in Đắk Nông Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Nam News ĐẮK NÔNG — Authorities of Đắk Mil District in the Central Highlands Province of Đắk Nông on Thursday successfully removed and destroyed a MK82 bomb. The bomb was discovered on July 11 by Mông Văn Hưng, a resident in Đắk R’la while he was doing farm work. Hưng reported the discovery to the district authorities. Local militiamen set up warning signs around the area to prevent residents from approaching the device. The bomb then was moved to the Đức Xuyên training ground and safely destroyed. Weighing 227kg and measuring 1.67m in length and 27.4cm in diametre, the explosive contained 87.1kg of dynamite. Many bombs of this type have been discovered by local residents while they were digging holes, planting trees or building houses. On the same day, the … [Read more...] about Bomb destroyed successfully in Đắk Nông
At least eight killed as ‘duck boat’ capsizes in Missouri
By Reuters  July 20, 2018 | 11:51 am GMT+7 At least eight people drowned when an amphibious 'duck boat' capsized and sank in stormy weather on a lake in Missouri with 31 people on board. Rescue personnel are senn after an amphibious "duck boat" capsized and sank, at Table Rock Lake near Branson, Stone County, Missouri, U.S. July 19, 2018 in this still image obtained from a video on social media. Photo by Reuters Divers were searching for other possible victims, police said on Thursday. Seven people were taken to hospital following the incident on the “Ride the Ducks” amphibious vehicle on Table Rock Lake, near Branson, Missouri, Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader told reporters. “We have eight confirmed fatalities,” Rader said in a televised media briefing. “We do have some people still missing.” Rescue personnel work after an amphibious "duck boat" capsized and sank, at Table Rock Lake near Branson, Stone County, Missouri, … [Read more...] about At least eight killed as ‘duck boat’ capsizes in Missouri
French bank interested in Việt Nam’s thermal power projects
The bank hopes to fund thermoelectric projects Nhơn Trạch 3 and 4, and Sơn Mỹ 1. — Photo vietnamfinance.vnViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking (SG) of Singapore is particularly interested in sponsoring thermoelectric projects invested by the Việt Nam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), an official from the bank said on July 19. … [Read more...] about French bank interested in Việt Nam’s thermal power projects
National Single Window mechanism proves effective
An overview of the press conference (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) and ASEAN Single Window (ASW) customs mechanisms has produced positive results, facilitating trade development in Vietnam, said Deputy Finance Minister Vu Thi Mai at a press conference on July 19. According to Mai, as of June 10, 11 ministries and sectors have connected to the NSW since it was launched in November 2014. As a result, 53 administrative procedures involving nearly 1.26 million documents of 22,000 enterprises have been handled through this mechanism. By the end of this year, an additional 143 administrative procedures will be carried out through the mechanism, raising the total to 196, equivalent to 78 percent of the 251 procedures expected to be implemented by 2020, she added. Regarding specialised inspections on imports and exports, Nguyen Cong Binh, deputy head of the Customs of Vietnam, said the customs sector has coordinated with relevant … [Read more...] about National Single Window mechanism proves effective