Regional policy

Representatives of 29 tourism businesses from Ha Noi, HCM City and the north-central region signed agreements to link tourism development on July 1 in Nghe An Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Van Ty Tourism links would boost activity in each locality, contribute to the promotion of local tourism brands in the domestic market and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese tourism in the international market, vice chairwoman of the HCM City People's Committee Phan Thi Thang said at a recent forum on linking tourism development. The forum was held in Nghe An Province last Friday to foster tourism links between Ha Noi, HCM City and six north-central provinces of Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri. Phan Thi Thang said besides tourism links within the north-central region, the six provinces needed to boost tourism cooperation with key tourism regions, and create unique tourism products. “With experience in developing tourism linkages with other regions, HCM … [Read more...] about Ha Noi, HCM City foster tourism links with north-central region

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai signs a regulation on the construction coordination of the Ring Road 3 Project in Ho Chi Minh City with leaders of three provinces of Long An, Binh Duong and Dong Nai at the conference. Regarding the investment capital, the HCMC People’s Committee submitted to the Prime Minister an adjustment of the central budget capital of VND17,146 billion (US$734.5 million) from the Ministry of Transport and allocated the unallocated central budget capital of VND 14,233 billion (US$610 million) to the provinces and HCMC for timely project implementation. Speaking at the conference, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport Tran Quang Lam said that the People's Committees of three provinces and HCMC have directed departments, relevant agencies and units to implement component projects according to the assigned timelines under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh. Specifically, the Ring Road 3 investment and … [Read more...] about HCMC, three localities strengthen coordination to promptly implement Ring Road 3

In an article about Vietnam’s trade and investment links with Italy and Europe, the La Città Futura newspaper said Vietnam is effectively implementing the commitments in the free trade agreements with the E.U. (EVFTA) and the U.K. (UKVFTA). So far, key farm produce of Vietnam like peppercorn, cashew nut, vegetables, fruit, tea, and rubber have benefited from preferential tariffs in the E.U., which is one of the five largest markets of Vietnam’s fishery products. La Città Futura noted Vietnam is a leading partner of Italy in Southeast Asia and also a helpful bridge linking the E.U., including Italy, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Citing the phone talks on April 22 between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi, it emphasised the Italian Government’s pledge to promote the Italian parliament’s ratification of the E.U. - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) amid many enterprises of the country wishing … [Read more...] about Italian media spotlight Vietnam’s economic ties with Europe, human rights achievements

With the recent inauguration of many pedestrian streets, themed spaces, and night tours, authorities in Hanoi hope to give the city’s night economy a major boost. Every evening at about 7:00 pm, Hanoi’s Old Quarter begins to bustle with tourists rushing between shops, food stalls, and entertainment venues. The Old Quarter’s evening rush holds such a footing in Hanoian culture that nicknames have even been given to certain areas. The intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen Streets, for example, is affectionately called 'International Intersection' while Ta Hien Street is known as 'Beer Street,' Gam Cau Street is known as 'BBQ Street,' To Lich street is called 'Mixed Fruit Street,' and Tong Duy Tan Street is dubbed 'Food Street.' Weekends in the Old Quarter are especially busy, with groups of tourists and locals gathering in the area for entertainment and food, art performance venues, and karaoke parlors. The pedestrian street around Hoan Kiem Lake has also been a major … [Read more...] about Hanoi seeks to develop night economy

Any foreigner who can unscramble the rich tapestry of the Vietnamese language deserves the keys to the city, a Nobel Prize, a Golden Buzzer from Simon, and, while we’re at it, let’s toss in an honorary ambassadorship. The plethora of homonyms, at least to the Western ear, is an exciting feature, as there is nothing more catastrophic than calling someone a horse’s ass when you simply want to wish them a nice day. It’s not as if the language had a few ups and downs here and there as does every tongue, but conveying even the simplest sentiments can be precarious. How about the infamous ‘em yêu anh, anh yêu em, em thương anh’ and ‘anh thương em” jigsaw puzzle? It’s damn good that most people know ‘I love you’ in English, for sorting the ‘em’s’ from the ‘anh’s’ and the north from the south is quite a hurdle. Let’s look at personal pronouns in Vietnamese because addressing people is the first and most basic step in any relationship, thus a logical starting point. That innocent … [Read more...] about Vietnamese language torture