By Nguyen Quy  October 1, 2018 | 01:44 pm GMT+7 Tourists will have a chance to explore the waterways of Vietnam's Mekong Delta on a river tour from Vietnam to Cambodia. Nga Nam floating market in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang in a file photo. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Chi Nam British tabloid Daily Mail has listed a cruise from Vietnam to Cambodia among the top global river tours of 2019. Vietnamese-Australian celebrity chef Luke Nguyen is rolling up his sleeves to organize a cruise on the Mekong River next year, taking tourists through some famous landscapes in Vietnam and Cambodia. And the U.K. newspaper described the journey as a must-try experience in 2019, saying tourists would have a chance to “see the differences between busy Vietnam and slower-paced Cambodia.” The 16-day tour, including a seven-night cruise, is scheduled to begin on October 28, 2019, and stop by in HCMC where the famous chef will guide tourists on how to explore the … [Read more...] about UK newspaper talks up Vietnam-Cambodia cruise
Best mekong delta cruise
Vietnam shines in TripAdvisor’s best destinations for Bucket List holidays
TripAdvisor has announced its list of top 10 best destinations for Bucket List holidays. Hanoi food is one of the best experiences you should try when visit to Vietnam. Vietnam has been ranked third among the top 10 destinations for Bucket List holidays, according to a list released by TripAdvisor, a US travel and restaurant website company. According to TripAdvisor, Vietnam deserves to be ranked third among the 10 best destinations for Bucket List holidays as the Southeast Asian country is known for its bustling cities, delicious food and beautiful coastline. TripAdvisor advises travelers spend a half-day for Hanoi food tour, or enjoy a full-day Mekong Delta bike tour from Ho Chi Minh City, and evening Hoi An food tour by bike. Costa Rica tops the lists, followed by New Zealand, Vietnam, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Portugal, Mexico, the US, Iceland. Earlier, Vietnam has been ranked fourth among the most remarkable travel destinations where your dollar goes far, according … [Read more...] about Vietnam shines in TripAdvisor’s best destinations for Bucket List holidays
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 8/8
VIB buys back all bad debt from VAMC Vietnam International Bank (VIB) announced last week that it has repurchased more than VND1.46 trillion (US$64.2 million) worth of debt from the Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC). With this move, VIB was recognised by the State Bank of Viet Nam and VAMC as one of four banks which required all bad debts that they sold to VAMC. Three others are Vietcombank, Techcombank and MBBank. Earlier in July, VIB released its financial report in the first half of 2018 with a profit of over VND1.15 trillion ($51 million), triple that of the same period last year, or equivalent to 57 per cent of the yearly target. During the period, the banks’ net revenue reached VND2.7 trillion, up 56 per cent year-on-year, while its lending saw a yearly rise of 9 per cent to VND91.7 trillion. From January to July, VIB’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) was maintained at 12.5 per cent while the cost-income ratio (CIR) stood at 49 per cent, … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 8/8
Vietnam among Top 15 most Instagrammed cruise destinations
With up to 40,000 mentions among 1.8 million Instagram posts tagged from ships and ports around the world, Vietnam ranks in the global Top 15 of the most Instagrammed cruise destinations on SeaHub, a cruise deal site. Cruise visit on Ha Long Bay. Photo: Lead Travel The list aims to identify the destinations, activities, and time of year that are most popular for social media cruisers. Vietnam stands together with countries known for their beauty, such as Canada, Japan, and Russia. Some 10,000 Instagram pictures of Ha Long Bay were posted, according to SeaHub.Thanks to a coastline of 3,000 km, Vietnam has a host of beautiful beaches, bays, and islands that are ideal for sea travel, such as Ha Long Bay, Tra Co Beach, the islands of Co To, Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung and Cai Chien (in the northern province of Quang Ninh), Nhat Le Beach (in the central province of Quang Binh), Lang Co Beach (in the central province of Thua Thien Hue), My Son Beach (in the central city of Da Nang), Ly Son … [Read more...] about Vietnam among Top 15 most Instagrammed cruise destinations
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/2
ADB helps urban infrastructure development in HCM CityVice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen on February 1 received Eric Sidgwick, Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Country Director for Vietnam.At the meeting, the municipal official affirmed that HCM City is committed to implementing cooperation deals with its partners, especially ADB. He added that the Vietnamese Government is revising projects using official development assistance (ODA) to ensure their effective implementation.Regarding the four major projects between HCM City and ADB, Tuyen noted that the city has asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to allocate funding for the metro line No.2.It also approved the compensation plan for land clearance which the HCM City’s Management Authority for Urban Railway and ADB have agreed on. In addition, HCM City has worked on ADB’s recommendations on the first phase of the metro line No.5.For his part, Sidgwick affirmed to support … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/2
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/1
Survey helps HCM City plan policyThe 2017 Economic Survey in HCM City has provided basic data about the number of enterprises, workers, the economic efficiency of companies and administrative units and proportion of information technology application, delegates heard at last Friday’s meeting to review the survey.“Such data will be a foundation for city authorities to build action plans and set up policies for socio-economic development in an effort to encourage modern science and technology application in all economic industries and administrative units,” Lê Thanh Liêm, vice chairman of the municipal People’s Committee and head of the Steering Committee for 2017 Economic Survey said.According to the results of the survey, HCM City now has 633,637 economic, administrative and religious units, an increase of 27 per cent in comparison with 2011.Of this amount, there are 173,000 enterprises, an increase of 62 per cent in comparison with 2011 and non-State … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/1
Social News 15/1
Small-scale coffee farmer gets helping handLò Thị Phong from Chiềng Chung Commune in Mai Sơn District in the mountain province of Sơn La, has cultivated coffee for more than 10 years on 5,000 square metres of land, but she still finds life difficult.A decade seems long enough to improve farmining practices by trial-and-error, however, according to the middle-aged Thái woman, “even now, we still cannot keep proper financial accounts”.During discussions hosted by CARE International last week, stakeholders in the mountain coffee industry touched on deeper obstacles facing the industry.CARE has worked in Việt Nam since 1989, concentrating on supporting rights and sustainable development among vulnerable groups, particularly remote ethnic communities, poor women and girls and people vulnerable to climate change.Nguyễn Vĩnh Đức, deputy director of the Sơn La branch of the Minh Tiến Coffee Export Joint Stock … [Read more...] about Social News 15/1
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/1
Leather, footwear sector targets 20 bln USD in export earningsVietnam sets a target of earning between 19.5 - 20 billion USD from leather and footwear exports in 2018, up 10 percent from 2017, heard a conference in January 12.According to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO), the leather and footwear industry is expected to grow 5 percent from last year, with the localisation rate reaching 55 percent. Footwear and handbags will remain Vietnam’s top four and 10 exports, respectively.Addressing the event, LEFASO Vice President Phan Thi Thanh Xuan highlighted positive signs in the world’s economy and increasing consumption demand, saying that these create both favourable conditions and challenges to Vietnam in exports and investment.In order to help Vietnamese exporters realise the target, the association will actively participate in relevant policy making while luring foreign and domestic investment in support industry, thus increasing the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/1
Social News 15/12
Vietnam zeroes in on hunger eliminationPoverty alleviation and hunger eradication has been a consistent priority for Vietnam and the country is committed to achieving these goals in cooperation with the international community, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said in Hanoi on December 13.Dung was speaking at the first meeting of the National Steering Committee for the ten year (2016-2025) Zero Hunger Action Programme.The programme was established by the Prime Minister in 2014 in response to the “Zero Hunger Challenge” of the United Nations, a major initiative to eradicate hunger worldwide.Vietnam’s action programme targets ensuring enough food and nutrition for all citizens towards improved physical and intellectual health; and towards fulfilling sustainable development goals (SDGs) of food security and sustainable agricultural development.There are five specifics targets under the action programme, including ensuring food and nutrition for people all year … [Read more...] about Social News 15/12
More than a bowl of noodles, “pho” is history
Pho bo (beef noodle), the original dish served with two poached eggs (Photo VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - There are many theories regarding its origin. Some say it started as a variation on pot-au-feu, a French beef stew dish. Others believe it’s the heir to a Chinese beef noodle soup or to a traditional Vietnamese dish of noodles with buffalo meat. What is certain is that “pho”, a simple yet deceptively complex dish of noodles served with beef or chicken in a hot bowl of broth, has become Vietnam’s pride on the world map of cuisine. Though its origins are disputed, historians believe “pho” was first made popular in Hanoi and Nam Dinh, two major northern cities, during the French colonial period. And we know that “pho” wasn’t invented in a restaurant. It began life on the side of the road, on the shoulders of street vendors who wandered the city with a big pot of both, always kept hot and ready with … [Read more...] about More than a bowl of noodles, “pho” is history