Prof. Dr. Andreas Stoffers - Country director, Vietnam The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom The United Kingdom is an important trading partner of Vietnam. In 2020, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $6.6 billion. With $5.8 billion in exports, Vietnam’s trade balance was clearly positive, which also underlines the country’s strong interest in reaching an amicable agreement with the UK. In recent years, despite the uncertainties associated with Brexit, the growth of trade relations has been unbroken, averaging 12.1 per cent per annum in 2011-2019. The trade relations between the EU and Vietnam are naturally greater given the fact that the EU is the world’s largest market. In 2019, the EU was the second-most important overseas market for Vietnamese products with a total trade volume of $56.45 billion, of which Vietnam’s exports accounted for two-thirds ($41.55 billion). This is 16 per cent of the country’s total export volume. In 2020, exports to the EU … [Read more...] about Added trade potential for Vietnam with UK-EU deals
Cool 13th birthday party ideas
Long jumper Trong aims to complete eight-metre promise
If the long jumper can add a small distance to his personal best, he will become the first Vietnamese athlete to jump 8m and prove he belongs on the world stage. Long jumper Nguyen Tien Trong sets up a new record of 7.98m at the National Athletics Championships in 2019 in HCM City. Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Tiến Trọng “It is two centimetres. “Just only two centimetres. “I will make two centimetres this jump.” Nguyễn Tiến Trọng thinks about this tiny distance every day in training. If the long jumper can add the small distance to his personal best, he will become the first Vietnamese athlete to jump 8m and prove he belongs on the world stage. National record holder Born in 1997 in Cẩm Giàng District, Hải Dương Province, Trọng was taller and bigger than any of his friends at school. He was chosen to take part in the provincial track-and-field competitions where he caught the eyes of the Military team’s scouts. He became an athlete when he … [Read more...] about Long jumper Trong aims to complete eight-metre promise
Bánh Chuoi – The Nostalgic Food of Childhood
The Hanoitimes - Although the ingredients to make this addicting dish sound fairly simple: ripe bananas, sugar, flour, turmeric powder, making banh chuoi requires the exceptional skills of a master artisan. For a lot of Hanoians, banh chuoi (deep-fried banana) is the nostalgic food of childhood. Many of us would savor these crispy, slightly sweet snacks on the sidewalks as an after-school snack, or as a treat to send away the cold. Street food stalls selling deep-fried bananas are ubiquitous in Hanoi. You can find them pretty much anywhere, but do keep in mind that they are open only in the afternoon. It makes a lot of sense actually, since rarely anyone wants something heavy and greasy in the morning. A set of deep-fried bananas, along with sweet potato pancakes and corn pancakes. Photo: Thuy An. Although the ingredients to make this addicting dish sound fairly simple: ripe bananas, sugar, flour, turmeric powder, making banh chuoi requires the … [Read more...] about Bánh Chuoi – The Nostalgic Food of Childhood
Hanoi committed to promoting distribution of OCOP products
The Hanoitimes - The OCOP program, with a view to honoring prominent craft villages’ goods and products, has been identified by Hanoi’s authorities as one of the solutions to boost domestic consumption. Hanoi is committed to creating favorable conditions for other provinces/cities to sell their products under the national’s One Commune One Product (OCOP) program in the capital city. Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen made the statement at the trade promotion event for OCOP products from southern region on December 18. Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen at the event. Photo: Pham Hung. The OCOP program, with a view to honoring prominent craft villages’ goods and products, has been identified by Hanoi’s authorities as one of the solutions to boost domestic consumption at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is causing severe consequences on the local economy. To date, Hanoi has completed the evaluation and … [Read more...] about Hanoi committed to promoting distribution of OCOP products
Nam O Reef, the green pearl of Da Nang
Nguyen Thanh Nam has been leading tours in Da Nang for more than a decade and he says most tourists cannot help but be amazed at the beautiful nature of Nam O Reef. “The reefs combine with beautiful sand, clear blue seawater, and green trees to become a must-visit destination for nature lovers when coming to Da Nang,” said Nam. “During spring, when the tide recedes, rocks of different shapes and sizes reveal they are covered with green moss. They look so beautiful, just like green pearls." Born in Da Nang and spending his childhood living near the reef, Nam has been coming to the place since it was just a pristine beach where fishermen in Nam O village made their living. “The name can be referred to as 'The beach located in the south of Chau O', it also means 'southern gate',” said the 35-year-old tour guide. “Nam O Reef is about 500m long jutting out into the sea with a dense layer of rock hidden under the cool blue seawater. There are many rock layers, stacked to form many … [Read more...] about Nam O Reef, the green pearl of Da Nang