Towards a dog meat banBy Son Nguyen The controversy gets heated following instructions by the Hanoi City government to restrict the consumption of dog meat in the city, with the two aims to safeguard public health and enhance the city’s image as a civilized urban center where cruelty towards animals should not be tolerated. The public is divided over the restriction, with proponents outnumbering opponents. As covered in local media, the city government this Monday issued Document No. 4170 instructing relevant departments and agencies in the city to step up their management over the rearing, trading, slaughtering and consumption of dog and cat meat in the city. The primary aim is to prevent diseases from transmitting from dogs and cats to humans, especially rabies. The city government also highlights the need to boost media campaigns against consumption of dog meat so as to change the public perception on the unpopularity of this practice in line with the global trend, and to … [Read more...] about Towards a dog meat ban
Bao kinh te sai gon online
Southern metro seeks larger budget for tourism promotion
Ho Chi Minh City will ask for a budget of VND12 billion (US$649,878) to launch a tourism marketing campaign at home and abroad to speed up the recovery of the downturn-hit tourism sector this year. The proposed budget, VND3 billion ($162,469) higher than that of last year, would be used to finance a series of tourism promotional programs including international travel fairs and road shows, La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon Online (Saigon Economics Times Online). The city’s tourism authorities are planning join a number of international travel fairs to be held this year in Brunei, Finland, Malaysia, Germany, Hong Kong and South Korea. Local tourism officials and businesses will also organize road shows to introduce HCMC’s tourism products to potential customers and partners in South Korea, Japan, Spain and Cambodia as well as take part in activities held by the … [Read more...] about Southern metro seeks larger budget for tourism promotion
Travel firms call for wharf to boost river tourism
Ho Chi Minh City tourism authorities are considering a plan to develop river tourism between HCMC, the Mekong Delta, and Cambodia but travel companies first want them to build a wharf exclusively for tourism. The city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is planning to do a survey on a new river tour from next month that will allow visitors to cruise from HCMC through the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to Cambodia.The department sees considerable potential in this after surveying two intra-city routes from Bach Dang Wharf to the Nha Be Confluence and Tau Hu Canal.The tour operators hailed the proposal but pointed to the lack of a wharf for tourist boats.There are 20 tourist boats, floating restaurants, and canoes operating from Bach Dang, which is not a tourist wharf, in District 1, Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon Online (Saigon Economic Times Online) reported.They can dock there to pick up passengers but cannot anchor there for long due to the limited space.The wharf also lacks … [Read more...] about Travel firms call for wharf to boost river tourism
Potters hope for cracks in the downturn
The global economic crisis is biting hard on every aspect of Vietnam’s economy; and in the Mekong Delta’s Vinh Long Province where the traditional craft of pottery making reins supreme, the bite marks are life-threatening. But some local potters say they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Only a few years ago, business was booming in Vinh Long; ensuring the southern province a place as one of the country's biggest traditional ceramics producers. Known for its production of bricks and tiles, rooted in techniques which are over a century old, the industry really began to take off about a decade ago as potters sought to hold off increased competition from enamel tile-makers. Pottery from the craft village became popular for its rich rustic tones, the result of the region’s red clay soil; and were exported to the U.S., Europe, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. In its prime, the village sent 50 million to 60 million products overseas, fetching … [Read more...] about Potters hope for cracks in the downturn
Vietnam to hold tourism festivals in Japan, Korea
Vietnamese tourism authorities will organize two festivals in Japan and South Korea next month to promote the country’s cultural and tourism attractions in the two major markets.The festival in Tokyo, Japan, would be held from June 22 to 24 and in Seoul, South Korea, from June 25 to 27, Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Cooperation Department, the organizer of the events, said.Vietnam Airlines, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, and officials from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the central city of Danang, and the central provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien – Hue will attend the festivals, according to Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon Online (Saigon Economic Times Online) newspaper.“Some 30 Vietnamese businesses have signed up to take part,” Tinh said.“A 20-member art troupe is preparing for the events. We will introduce Vietnamese culture and tourism as well as investment opportunities in the two markets.”The focus would be on promoting … [Read more...] about Vietnam to hold tourism festivals in Japan, Korea