Business traveler news

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) — Green tourism will be the main theme of the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2019, which is scheduled for March 27 – 30 in Hanoi. Organised by Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), the annual expo has so far received registration from businesses and travel management agencies across 39 provinces and cities nationwide as well as 22 countries and territories worldwide.   Participating booths are expected to offer more than 18,000 tour packages and 40,000 air tickets with special discounts at the event. The mart also covers forums, including one on green tourism, which will attract some 1,000 participants from public agencies, businesses and universities. A forum on Vietnam’s outbound tourism will discuss hot topics in sending tourists overseas, in the context of the number of Vietnamese travelling to foreign countries increasing by 15-20 percent annually. A forum on tourism jobs will also take place, with … [Read more...] about Vietnam International Travel Tourism Mart 2019 spotlights green trend

Phạm Thị Hằng, chairwoman of Hải Phòng Economic Zone’s trade union, talks to labourers about the roles of trade unions and the benefits of joining them. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Thu HẢI PHÒNG — At enterprises in Việt Nam, it is still common to see a senior manager or human resources manager doubling as that company's trade union chairman. Although trade unions are supposed to represent and protect the rights and interests of labourers, the union leaders are usually employed by businesses, which in principle, would undermine their works. An international expert on employee-employer relations has said making unions independent from the interference of management is key to building harmonious, stable and progressive industrial relations. Phạm Thị Hằng, chairwoman of Hải Phòng Economic Zone’s trade union, is well known for her initiatives to help improve … [Read more...] about Trade union leader secures benefits for workers

Residents in Hà Nội wear masks while driving to protect themselves from air pollution. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang QuyếtViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Air pollution in Hà Nội in recent days has been so severe that health experts have warned people to stay indoors. The Air Quality Index at various air monitoring stations across the capital showed dangerously high levels on Sunday afternoon. For instance, it was at 240 at Phạm Văn Đồng Street in Bắc Từ Liêm District. The index touched 238 on Hàng Đậu Street, while it was 201 on Tân Mai Street. A number above 150 is unhealthy for anyone, while anything between 201 and 300 is very unhealthy, according to the US Environment Protection Agency. The heavy concentration of the particulate matter PM2.5 in the air has also raised health alarms. The PM2.5 concentration in Hà Nội last Friday was 400 micrograms per cubic metre on … [Read more...] about Hà Nội chokes as air pollution increases

Times a-changin’ as daughters of doi moi climb career ladder (28-07-2007) by Anh Thu She’s the boss: Ly owns two companies. — VNS Photo Like many young Vietnamese women involved in business, the HCM City’s event planner Duong Cam Ly loves to face a new challenge. The 32-year-old says that traditional ideas on women have changed, creating openings for young women at work instead of only at home. They are at the frontlines of building the country’s economy. "I’m trying to add my name to the list," says Ly. Ly is running Than Nu (Venus), an advertising, marketing and events company employing 20 full-time staff and a part-time staff of more than 500, many of whom live in remote provinces like Ca Mau. "Women now can do anything that men can achieve," she says. Ly began her own business in late 2005 after spending years of working for foreign groups like Prudential Insurance. The environment and its challenges captivated her so much that she … [Read more...] about Times a-changin’ as daughters of doi moi climb career ladder

Hà Nội covered in haze. The 2018 World Air Quality Report ranked Hà Nội as the second most polluted city in Southeast Asia behind Jakarta. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt HùngViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội residents are worried about the bad air quality they have been experiencing in the city since the beginning of the year. The latest air pollution data compiled in the 2018 World Air Quality Report ranks Hà Nội as the second most polluted city in Southeast Asia, behind only Jakarta. Air pollution in the city became so severe at the end of January that health experts warned people to stay indoors. The city’s Air Quality Index was measured at between 201 and 240 at various monitoring stations across the capital, while anything between 201 and 300 is considered very unhealthy. Hoàng Lan Anh, a resident of Tây Hồ District, choked on toxic air every day as she travelled on Võ Chí … [Read more...] about Hà Nội residents worry about air pollution