Day: April 8, 2022

Ho Chi Minh City welcomed nearly 130 tourists from the US on April 8 under a tour organised by Citslinc International Inc in collaboration with Asia Life and Beauty Travel and Tour Services Co., Ltd.

As scheduled, the visitors, who came to HCM City for the first time, stay at Muong Thanh hotel in Phu Nhuan district, enjoy food at Rex Hotel Restaurants and Bars and Indochina Queen Rivercruiser.

During their trip, they will also visit Cu Chi Tunnels, Ben Thanh market, and the Mekong Delta region, and join activities in the framework of the 8th Ao Dai Festival in 2022 in HCM City.

Ho Chi Minh City welcomed nearly 130 tourists from the US on April 8 under a tour organised by Citslinc International Inc in collaboration with Asia Life and Beauty Travel and Tour Services Co., Ltd.

As scheduled, the visitors, who came to HCM City for the first time, stay at Muong Thanh hotel in Phu Nhuan district, enjoy food at Rex Hotel Restaurants and Bars and Indochina Queen Rivercruiser.

During their trip, they will also visit Cu Chi Tunnels, Ben Thanh market, and the Mekong Delta region, and join activities in the framework of the 8th Ao Dai Festival in 2022 in HCM City.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam lost 1-3 to host Thailand in the semi-finals of the AFF Futsal Championship in Bangkok on April 8.

In the first half, Thailand proved their ability to pressurise at key moments. However, Vietnam defended well with a particularly good performance from goalkeeper Ho Van Y in the opening exchanges.

Shortly after the second half started, the Vietnamese team conceded through a piece of individual skill from Muhamad Osamanmusa.

Vietnam bounced back strongly, and after several missed opportunities Minh Trii levelled the score in the 32nd minute.

However, Vietnam were unable to create chances from then on, as Thailand continued to press well.

Only four minutes later, the naturalized player Osamanmusa made the score 2-1. Coach Pham Minh Giang responded by getting his players to take a power-play. However, the team’s efforts failed, and the red shirts conceded to Kritsada Wongkaeo’s well-taken goal.

Although Vietnam have attended the World Cup twice in recent years, the levels of the two teams are significantly different, with Thailand one of the top teams in Asia. Nevertheless, the match was close, and if Vietnam had taken their chances they would have gone in into the second half with a lead.

In the other semi-final, Indonesia defeated Myanmar 6-1. Vietnam will play Myanmar for third place.

The AFF Futsal Championship featured nine teams divided into two groups. The teams competed in a round-robin format that saw the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals.

The top three teams will enter the AFC Futsal Asian Cup, scheduled in Kuwait from September 25 to October 20.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper visited a factory of Vietnam’s largest dairy producer Vinamilk in Can Tho on April 8 during his trip to the Mekong Delta city.

He spoke highly of the development of Vietnam’s dairy sector and Vinamilk’s investment in production technology in line with international standards at its Can Tho factory in particular and other ones across the country.

The US diplomat highlighted Vinamilk’s growth against the backdrop of uncertainties brought by COVID-19, which helped stabilise the domestic market and obtain impressive export results.

In addition to support policies, dynamic trade promotion activities and efforts made by businesses have contributed to efficient economic cooperation between the US and Vietnam over the years, he added.

Vinamilk boasts a large-scale network comprising 16 factories and 14 farms of international standards at home and abroad, including one in California of the US.

The 2ha-factory in Can Tho city was put into operation in 2001 and capable of producing more than 202,000 tonnes of products per year.

Its Director Pham Minh Duong said despite the adverse impact of the pandemic last year, the factory maintained its supply chain and produced dozens of tonnes of fresh milk each day for Can Tho and neighbouring localities, thanks to effective measures to cope with COVID-19.

Vinamilk is among 40 largest dairy producer of the world in terms of revenues. Its products have been shipped to 57 countries and territories, including major markets of the US, Japan and China, with an export turnover in excess of 2.6 billion USD.

The company purchased milk powder, cows and equipment from the US worth nearly 306 million USD from 2019 to 2021.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vientiane Times of Laos ran an article on April 8 titled “Special solidarity between Laos and Vietnam” to mark the Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 and celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The article spotlighted the traditional solidarity between the two countries, which was established after the two nations worked closely together during difficult times to liberate themselves from foreign oppression.

The two countries have a long history of supporting each other, and in the process, become good friends and neighbours. Both countries still stand shoulder-to-shoulder, striving together to develop happiness and prosperity for the two countries and their people.

It highlighted the important role played by late President Ho Chi Minh, who set up the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930 to lead the revolution in the three Indochinese countries under the rule of French colonialism – Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

As President, Ho Chi Minh continued to instruct Vietnamese cadres and people to support the Lao revolution in all fields, the article stressed, noting that the State leader’s efforts had created “the special solidarity between Laos and Vietnam”.

According to the Vientiane Times, following the comprehensive victory in the resistance wars against foreign invaders, Laos and Vietnam signed a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation on July 18, 1977, affirming the determination of leaders and people of the two countries to further consolidate their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation in national construction and defence.

The newspaper stressed that the foundation of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries laid by President Ho Chi Minh, late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong has been nurtured by generations of leaders of the two parties and states, and their people.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Traders at wet markets in the central city of Da Nang are now able to go cashless as they can use e-wallet mobile app Viettel Money under a 4.0 wet market model introduced on April 8.

The new model was launched by the municipal Department of Industry and Trade and the Da Nang branch of military-run telecom group Viettel, aiming to accelerate digital transformation and use of the non-cash payment method at the city’s wet markets and provide more opportunities for local residents to experience modern payment services.

Owners of over 1,000 stalls at Da Nang’s three major wet markets – Con, Han and Dong Da – have been provided with a QR code enabling users to make online payments through access with 37 banks and Viettel Money.

As payments now only require scanning of the QR code, with no cash nor changes involved, they become very fast and convenient, said Khuc Thi Hien Khuyen, who runs a stall selling “gio” and “cha” (Vietnamese pork sausages) at Con Market. For every 10 buyers, 7 – 8 will scan to pay, she added.

Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Huu Hanh said the model will be scaled up at other wet markets citywide as a way to promote cashless payments and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The vendors will also receive help to promote their products on e-commerce sites while Viettel will open a post office at wet markets to support goods’ shipments and delivery, he revealed.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, has attended the 12th meeting of the ASEAN-Australia Joint Cooperation Committee, an annual meeting to evaluate the implementation of cooperation activities and programmes within the framework of the two sides’ comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the virtual meeting on April 8, participating countries lauded positive results posted in the first two years of implementing the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action for 2020-2024. All 127 action lines of the plan have been conducted.

Australia affirmed its support for the bloc’s central role in the maintenance of peace, security, stability, and development in the region; and for its community-building efforts.

Australia also pledged to actively cooperate with ASEAN through mechanisms led by the group.

For their part, ASEAN countries highly appreciated Australia’s commitment and timely assistance in COVID-19 prevention and control over the past time. They welcomed the 124-million-AUD ASEAN Futures Initiative, which support projects that address complex challenges.

The two sides committed to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership, focusing on substantive and in-depth cooperation in such areas as maritime security, cyber security, transnational crime, trade and investment, connectivity, smart cities, education, health security, sustainable development, and sub-regions development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The overall punctuality of the local aviation industry was 95.5 percent in the first quarter of this year, according to statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

In the period, Vietnam’s six airlines operated 58,302 flights, a reduction of nearly 25 percent compared to last year’s figure.

Bamboo Airways took the lead with 96.6 percent of its flights on time; Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines ranked second and third with on-time performance (OTP) of 96 percent and 95.7 percent, respectively; and the OTP rate of Vietjet Air was 94.4 percent.

According to CAAV, Bamboo Airways is also the carrier that has the lowest rate of flight delays among Vietnam’s three big airlines with 3.4 percent, a year-on-year decrease of 1.2 percent, while that of Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air was 4 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively.

The overall rate of flight delays in the sector was 4.5 percent in the first three months of 2021, a decline of 7.3 percent compared with the same period. Meanwhile, the cancellation rate of the domestic aviation industry in the period was 1.3 percent, a year-on-year increase of 1.1 percent. Vietnam Airlines led the industry with 2.7 percent of the flights canceled.

The main reasons leading to flight delays of airlines include late return flights, poor management as well as equipment and services at the airport.

In the first quarter of this year, domestic and international routes have been gradually restored to meet the increasing travel demand. Since regular international flights were resumed and the country was opened to international tourists in mid-March, airlines have raised the frequency of their operation on many routes.

From the end of March, Vietnam Airlines plans to increase international flights every week and expand its exploitation to such markets as Singapore, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) as well as domestic routes to meet market demand.

Vietjet Air is striving to increase the frequency of many international routes connecting Vietnam with the RoK, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

A representative of Bamboo Airways said that in order to meet the increasing travel needs of customers in the new normal, the airline is developing a network of flights to many countries in the world.

Source: Vietnam News Agency