PM Phuc told his guest that the two countries have become important partners of each other in a multitude of fields as a result of the strong development of the comprehensive partnership. He thanked the Australian PM for inviting him to the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit set for March 2018, saying that the event will help  boost ties between ASEAN and Australia, and Vietnam and Australia. Phuc also expressed wish that Australian businesses will pay greater attention to Vietnam, especially in fields of mutual strength such as hi-tech agriculture, animal husbandry, infrastructure, information technology, education and high technology.  He said he hopes Australia will become one of the biggest investors in Vietnam and facilitate the import of Vietnamese goods, particularly tropical fruits and aquatic products.  The more than 30,000 Vietnamese students now studying in Australia are the resource for stronger bilateral relations in the … [Read more...]

“When supply exceeds demand, importers try to pull prices down. Vietnam, which provides some 60% of the global pepper output, will be heavily affected,” Nam told VnEconomy. In the peak harvest season, farmers need to sell large volumes of pepper to cover expenses, causing prices to fall. Local farmers are stuck in a dilemma: the more pepper they sell, the sharper prices decline. Domestic pepper prices have been falling throughout May and June, so the VPA is urging local farmers to hang on to their stocks and wait for prices to recover. “If farmers can hold on for the next 1-2 months, prices will rise again,” Nam said. The VPA has attributed falling prices to a 15% increase in pepper output in for this crop and the 20,000 tons of Cambodian pepper Vietnam has shipped in. However, the greatest problem facing the sector is the … [Read more...]

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Frances Adamson, Special Envoy of Australian Prime Minister (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam wants to elevate ties with Australia during a reception in Hanoi on June 27 for Frances Adamson, Special Envoy of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. PM Phuc underlined the strong development of the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Australia, noting that the two countries have become important partners of each other in many fields. He thanked the Australian PM for inviting him to the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit scheduled for March 2018, saying that the event will strengthen ties between ASEAN and Australia, and Vietnam and Australia in particular. Speaking highly of Australia’s supply of official development assistance to Vietnam, the PM also expressed wish that … [Read more...]

UN Peacekeeping Mission (Source: Internet) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh affirmed Vietnam’s political determination to join the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission at a reception in Hanoi on June 27 for a delegation from the UN Assessment and Advisory Visit (AAV).  The delegation was led by Bianca Selway, representative from the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations.  The reception was also attended by UK representative in charge of the UN peacekeeping mission Samantha Hope and UK defence attaché in Vietnam David Houghtonm, who sought to increase coordination among Vietnam, the UN and the UK in transferring the operation of the UK’s second-level field hospital in the South Sudan city of Bentiu, part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan, to Vietnam.  Vinh, who is also head of the Defence Ministry’s Steering Committee on … [Read more...]

Outside the Hanoi Stock Exchange (Photo: VNA)   Hanoi (VNA) - The capitalisation of the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) has rocketed 100 times to reach 444 trillion VND (19.73 billion USD) after eight years of operation. The number of traded companies has also risen from about 40 in 2009 to 568 in 2017, making the scale of UPCoM 2.4 times bigger than the listed market on the Hanoi Stock Exchange. The secondary market for unlisted companies also recorded a 50-times increase in its daily trading value, which has reached an average of 197.7 billion VND from 4 billion VND in 2009. UPCoM was first launched by the HNX on June 24, 2009 to narrow and limit the trading of companies’ shares on the free, unmanaged market and expand the Government-managed market. After eight years of operation, UPCoM has undergone significant changes to … [Read more...]

Vietnamese pop star Ho Ngoc Ha (Photo: File Photo)     HCM City (VNA) -  Pop star Ho Ngoc Ha is set for her first world tour named Love Songs next month. Love Songs will feature 14 shows in the US, Australia, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.      She will perform 20 songs for 90 minutes at each show along with talented musicians. At her first show in Houston, the US, Ha, who began her career by singing pop and dance music but has turned recently to R&B, will perform jazz, blues and R&B music. The evening’s highlights will include romantic songs from her latest albums, Destiny and What Is Love?, which came out late last year and quickly became top hits. "My crew and I have worked hard the whole year to provide my fans with something new," the 33-year-old says. “It will be … [Read more...]

At their talks, the two State leaders discussed a score of measures to boost bilateral trade and improve their trade balance while expanding investment cooperation. They emphasized the importance of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The two sides consented to continue the Vietnam-Belarus cooperation programme on economics, science, education and culture for 2016-2018. They underlined the need to improve the working efficiency of the Inter-Governmental Committee, facilitate export-import activities, expand industrial partnership with a major focus on putting the two countries’ automobile assembling and manufacturing joint-venture into operation in Vietnam.  The two leaders agreed to maintain the regular exchange of all-level delegations, particularly those at high level to enhance all-around ties, especially in economics, trade and investment.  They pledged to work hand in hand at international … [Read more...]

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar on developing quality and productive agriculture took place in Hanoi on June 27 as part of the Vietnam Economic Forum 2017. Speaking at the event, permanent deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Cao Duc Phat said the agriculture sector grew strongly in the 2011-2015 period with improved farm produce quality and increasing number of agricultural firms. However, high-tech agriculture tends to stall due to barriers regarding land, market and capital access. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoNRE)’s Department of Science-Technology and Environment, said the State has issued a number of policies to facilitate high-tech agriculture, but administrative procedures and the lack of insurance for the field pose difficulty … [Read more...]

President Tran Dai Quang (L) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the welcome ceremony (Source: VNA)   Minsk (VNA) – Vietnam and Belarus will work to lift bilateral trade to 500 million USD, President Tran Dai Quang and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told a press conference held following their talks in Belarus’s capital city of Minsk on June 27. President Tran Dai Quang, who is in Belarus for an official visit from June 26-28, said he and his Belarusian counterpart had discussed measures to promote bilateral trade and improve their trade balance while expanding investment cooperation, adding that the two sides underlined the importance of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union. The two Presidents also agreed to continue the Vietnam-Belarus cooperation programme in the fields of economy, science, education … [Read more...]

President Quang expressed his gratitude to Belarusian veterans who were sent to Vietnam from the former Soviet Union to help the country fight for independence and freedom. The President said the association has helped increase solidarity and mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Belarusian people. He said the Belarus-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Vietnam-Belarus Friendship Association should enhance the exchange of visits, share experience and educate young generations of the two countries to continue the bilateral friendship. President Quang expressed his delight at the development of friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus over the years, particularly in politics, economy, national defense and security, science-technology, culture, education and training, and tourism. Notably, the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) created a strong momentum in … [Read more...]

Visiting President of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang (R) and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (Source: VNA) Minsk (VNA) – Visiting President of Vietnam Tran Dai Quang and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held talks in Minsk on June 27, reiterating their determination to make greater efforts to bring bilateral ties to the next level. President Tran Dai Quang stated that Vietnam has always attached importance to cementing and stepping up the traditional friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation with Belarus. For his part, President Alexander Lukashenko affirmed that his country always considers Vietnam one of its important external priorities in Asia, hailing Vietnam’s efforts in undertaking the hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic (APEC) Forum in 2017 and wishing the country to hold the APEC Year successfully. The leaders showed their delight … [Read more...]

Dung Quat oil refinery at night. — VNS Photo The initial public offering (IPO) of Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (BSR) in the fourth quarter of this year is expected to lure big investors, especially those with value, given the company’s mammoth capitalisation. BSR is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and operator of the US$3 billion Dung Quat Oil Refinery, the first oil refinery in the country. To date, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co Ltd is the largest company by market capitalisation implementing equitisation. In early June, the Viet Nam oil refinery was valued at VND72 trillion ($3.2 billion) at the end of 2015 according to a decision signed by the minister of industry and trade. The size of State holding in the company is almost VND45 trillion. Given its large size, Binh Son will sell capital in two tranches, … [Read more...]

Quang Tri province is working to complete compensation payment for marine incident in June - Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Quang Tri (VNA) – The central province of Quang Tri is working to complete the distribution of a compensation batch for local victims of last year’s marine environment incident within June. So far Quang Tri authorities have allocated to local administrations more than 679 billion VND (29.87 million USD) for the compensation. To date, over 618 billion VND (27.19 million USD) of the sum have been disbursed. Nguyen Duc Chinh, Chairman of the Quang Tri People’s Committee, urged local agencies of different levels to speed up the progress for completion on June 30. Fishery activities and tourism across 16 coastal communes in the four districts of Vinh Linh, Gio Linh, Trieu Phong and Hai Lang have so far recorded good … [Read more...]

Thai Permanent Secretary for Commerce Chutima Bunyapraphasara (Photo: National News Bureau of Thailand)     Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand’s Commerce Permanent Secretary Chutima Bunyapraphasara said the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) is intensifying connectivity between Thai investors and groups and leading trade and investment businesses from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV).  Chutima Bunyapraphasara was cited by local media on June 26 as saying that the ministry will accelerate the establishment of business networks between Thai investors and enterprises as well as the private sector of CLMV in order to exchange experience and expand business opportunities in these countries.  Besides, the MoC established the New Economy Academy which operates under the supervision of the International Trade Promotion Department to support Thai small-and … [Read more...]

  Assistant Prof. Dr. Cu Chi Loi at the workshop (Photo: VNA)   Havana (VNA) – Major economic deals will assist Vietnam’s modernisation and industrialisation, heard a workshop themed “Vietnam and super agreements in the Pacific Rim” held in Havana, Cuba on June 26. Researchers from the Cuba Centre for International Economic Research sketched out the geopolitical and economic significance as well as position and benefit of each state joining the agreements, namely the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Free Trade Area for the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Dr. Ruvisley Gonzalez from Cuba’s Centre for International Political Research said that Vietnam’s engagement in the three super deals is part of the country’s intensive global integration serving its national modernisation and … [Read more...]

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ​speaks at the political-military conference  for the entire army (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to continue effectively implement the national protection strategy in the new situation. The government leader made the request at a political-military conference for the entire army in Hanoi on June 27, which reviewed the performance of military and national defence tasks in the first six months of 2017 and lay out missions for the second half of the year. PM Phuc pointed out other short-term tasks for the entire army such as improving the institution-building and forecasting work, bettering training quality, combat capacity and preparedness, and effectively carrying out the Politburo’s Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW on building and … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – The country has seen an estimated 6.2 million international visitors in the first half of this year, up 30.2 per cent year-on-year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported. Foreigners travel around Hoi An Ancient Town in the central province of Quang Nam by Xich lo (cyclos).  In June alone, around 950,000 foreign tourists visited Viet Nam, 33.6 per cent higher than the same period last year, according to the GSO data. During the six-month period, arrivals by air reached 5.21 million, up 33 per cent year on year; 170,800 visitors came by sea, up 26 per cent; and the remaining 824,000 arrived by road, up 15.8 per cent. Northeast Asia remained the largest market for Vietnamese tourism in the first six months of 2017, accounting for 58.5 per cent of total international arrivals. Southeast … [Read more...]

Chairman of the Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh speaks at the Vietnam Economic Forum 2017 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission and the Australian Embassy held the Vietnam Economic Forum 2017 in Hanoi on June 27 under the theme “Unleashing the potential for sustainable economic growth”. Chairman of the Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh said Vietnam has made great strides in economic growth since the Doi moi (reform) process began in 1986. It has recorded an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent since 2000, and reduced the poverty rate to under 3 percent from about 50 percent in the early 90s. Up to 65 percent of Vietnam’s exports are products of the manufacturing and processing industries, but a majority of them are made by the FDI sector. Domestic enterprises mainly export such goods … [Read more...]

New Zealand pop singer Lorde landed her first U.S. chart-topping album on Monday as her latest record debuted at the top of the weekly Billboard 200 chart. Lorde performs during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, U.S. April 16, 2017. "Melodrama," the second album from 20-year-old Lorde, sold 82,000 albums, 40,000 songs and was streamed nearly 35 million times, totaling 109,000 album units according to figures from Nielsen SoundScan. The singer is the third consecutive female solo artist to top the Billboard 200 chart after Katy Perry's "Witness" and Halsey's "Hopeless Fountain Kingdom." Lorde's breakout first album "Pure Heroine," which featured her hit single "Royals," debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart when it was released in 2013. Lorde's album led six new entries in the top 10 of the Billboard … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge - Besides being sold on streets, street food places have one thing in common: they are groups of shops selling one type of food. Here are the top food streets in Hanoi. Usually one family starts the business with an innovative idea and the neighbors follow their examples. As time goes by, these shops achieve an almost equal status and gain recognition among street food-lovers.  Caramel pudding (Hang Than Street): There are about three or four shops selling homemade caramel pudding and yogurt close to the corner of Hang Than and Hoe Nhai. It’s easier for takeout but if you don’t mind a bit squeezing, you are welcome to sit down. They are master at mixing yogurt and caramel pudding with fruits, nep cam (violet glutinous rice) and all kinds of yummy jelly. Photo: A caramel pudding shop on Hang Than Street … [Read more...]