A steam locomotive in Vietnam. The old trains are set to resume their route between Da Nang and Hue (Photo courtesy Transport Newspaper) The Indochina Rail Tourist Service Company plans to restore the operation of steam trains travelling between the central city of Da Nang and Hue to serve tourists. The company said the restoration of the defunct steam train line has been prepared with an investment of 81 billion VND (3.6 million USD). As planned, three steam locomotives and 10 carriages have been repaired and decorated, while logistics services, stations, bridges and coal and water supplying systems will be restored at the stations of Kim Lien in Da Nang and Lang Co in Thua Thien-Hue province. According to the Hue tourist company, it has operated a carriage since 2016 for tourists travelling from Hue to Da Nang before exploring Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam by coach. Steam trains stopped operating in Vietnam from the 1990s, replaced by diesel-driven locomotives. … [Read more...] about Hue – Da Nang steam train to be restored to serve tourism
Da nang train station
Huế-Đà Nẵng steam trains restored for tourists
A steam locomotive in Việt Nam. The old trains are set to resume their route between Đà Nẵng and Huế. — Photo courtesy Transport NewspaperViet Nam News ĐÀ NẴNG — The Indochina Rail Tourist Service Company plans to restore the operation of steam trains travelling between the central city of Đà Nẵng and Huế to serve tourists. The company said the restoration of the defunct steam train line has been prepared with an investment of VNĐ81 billion (US$3.6 million). As planned, three steam locomotives and 10 carriages have been repaired and decorated, while logistics services, stations, bridges and coal and water supplying systems will be restored at the stations of Kim Liên in Đà Nẵng and Lăng Cô in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province. According to the Huế tourist company, it has operated a carriage since 2016 for tourists travelling from Huế to Đà … [Read more...] about Huế-Đà Nẵng steam trains restored for tourists
Hanoi, Da Nang Spring Press Festivals open
The annual event includes 25 display booths presenting publications for the spring festival and Lunar New Year, published by central and local press agencies from across the country. The publications offer a comprehensive view of outstanding events in 2018 and predictions for 2019 in fields of economy, policy, society, security, culture, defense and foreign affairs. On this occasion, the Hanoi Journalists’ Association presented Ngo Tat To Press Award 2018. The festival will last until January 26. Yesterday, Da Nang Spring Press Festival 2019 opened with the participation of 17 newspaper agencies. This year’s event themed “Da Nang-based press agencies have always accompanied the city's development” features more than 200 copies of printed editions and magazines of local newspaper agencies and other press units, such as Da Nang Newspaper, Danang Radio & Television Station, Vietnam News Agency, Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper, People's Army Newspaper, Nhan Dan … [Read more...] about Hanoi, Da Nang Spring Press Festivals open
Da Nang works to make IT spearhead sector
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) - The central city of Da Nang has become an attractive destination for more and more domestic and foreign investors operating in information technology (IT) and communications thanks to tireless efforts made by the local authorities to improve the quality of human resources and infrastructure for the sector. Da Nang is one of the leading localities in the country in developing IT and software industry. Statistics from the municipal Department of Information and Communications, about 20,000 people are working in Da Nang’s IT sector, significantly contributing to promoting the development of software technology in the city. Many international training programmes with high quality have been implemented in Da Nang, meeting the demand of domestic and foreign software firms. Notably, Da Nang University has cooperated with Washington and Portland Universities of the US, Grenoble and Marseille Universities of France in training … [Read more...] about Da Nang works to make IT spearhead sector
Two killed as train hits truck, derails in central Vietnam
By Le Hoang  May 24, 2018 | 10:05 am GMT+7 Around 400 train passengers, including many foreigners, were transferred to a station one kilometer away. Two people were killed and 10 others were seriously injured when a train collided with a dumper truck in the central province of Thanh Hoa after midnight on Thursday. The accident happened at a level crossing at around 0:30 a.m. when the truck tried to cross the railroad in Tinh Gia District just as the train carrying over 400 passengers traveling from Hanoi to Da Nang was approaching. Nguyen The Hung, 42, the train driver, and his unidentified assistant were killed. The 10 injured passengers were sent to hospital for treatment. The train's locomotive was severed and seven of its cars derailed, blocking the vital north-south railway. The truck was knocked off 10 meters away from the level crossing. Rescue workers were dispatched to the site at 7 a.m. Authorities said all passengers, including many foreigners, have … [Read more...] about Two killed as train hits truck, derails in central Vietnam
Da Nang, FPT cooperate to build ‘smart’ city
Local residents search public procedure online at Da Nang’s Administrative centre. (Photo: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) - The central city of Da Nang and FPT, a Vietnamese software giant, inked on April 19 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on building Da Nang as a ‘smart city’ for the 2018-20 period. The MoU will help the city develop smart solutions in traffic, agriculture, English language training, health care and tourism. The two sides also agreed to complete online service in traffic and agriculture to boost connection between the city’s administration and local residents, as well as to promote transparency in administrative procedure. As planned, FPT will invest 15 billion VND (664,000 USD) to build pilot projects with smart applications in 2018-19. Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, Ho Ky Minh, said the MoU would help Da Nang improve administrative reform and transparency for local people, businesses and tourists, and build Da Nang as … [Read more...] about Da Nang, FPT cooperate to build ‘smart’ city
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/2
PNJ targets opening at least 40 stores this yearPhu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ) plans to open at least 40 new stores this year and have 300 by the end of April. The 40 new stores include gold stores or stores combining gold and silver retail.It has also set a net revenue target of VND14.1 trillion ($619.6 million) for the parent company this year, up 30 per cent, with after-tax profit increasing 22 per cent to VND882 billion ($38.7 million).PNJ is in the process of preparing for upgrading and modernizing its ERP system, through which it can study customer behavior at outlets and better understand customer choice.The company also plans to use big data to develop new products aimed at more specific customer groups and at the same time use digital marketing strategies to expand market share.As noted by HSC, PNJ’s sales in FY2017 increased 28 per cent year-on-year to VND10.97 trillion ($482.1 million) thanks to most segments growing strongly. Gold bar revenue increased 20 per cent, to … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/2
Social News 16/1
Fire destroys thousand sq. meter wood factory in Dong NaiA huge fire suddenly occurred at a wood factory of Shing Mark Company in Bai Xep Industrial Park, Trang Bom district, Dong Nai at midnight on January 15. Because materials inside the wood factory are easily ignited, the flame quickly spread out causing the firefighters to meet difficulties in order to access the site and localize the fire. By 5am today, the blaze was extinguished.The initial information showed that there was no death in the fire; however, the flame destroyed thousand sq. meter factory and burnt wood materials inside the factory. At present, the functional agencies have investigated the cause of the fire. HCM City ensures traffic safety for TetThe Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Safety Committee has deployed various measures to ensure traffic safety and order in the city before and during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.Nguyen Ngoc Tuong, deputy chief of the committee, said, “The campaign aims to … [Read more...] about Social News 16/1
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
VNR launches luxury trains on North-South route
Six new “five-star” trains began running between HCM City and Hanoi on January 11 (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) has launched six new high-quality trains on the Thong Nhat (North - South) route at Sai Gon Train Station. Vu Anh Minh, chairman of VNR, said on January 10 that the new trains were five-star quality and would meet passenger demand for transport during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. VNR has upgraded trains and stations and offered discount tickets. The new trains are expected to meet demand for quality services and conveniences, reducing the pressure on overcrowded roads. The six trains, which have a total of 90 carriages, include alert systems, displays of the next train station, temperature, and train speed. The trains have semi-automatic doors, power sockets, big corridors, eco-safe toilets, and quality air conditioning systems. Each carriage bed has a reading lamp and USB charger. A … [Read more...] about VNR launches luxury trains on North-South route