Vietnam tourism wins 16 categories at World Travel Awards

Vietnam’s tourism destinations and brands have been named in the top 16 award categories of the 2022 World Travel Awards, with the country accredited as World’s Leading Heritage Destination for the third time since 2019.

 

Popular Vietnamese locations also won a series of prestigious titles, with the capital city Hanoi and Phu Quoc island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang being named World’s Leading City Break Destination and World’s Leading Nature Island Destination, respectively.

 

Moc Chau district in the northern mountainous province of Son La won the title of World’s Leading Regional Nature Destination, while the Hoi An Memories Land in the central province of Quang Nam’s Hoi An city was listed as World’s Leading Entertainment Destination.

 

The Tam Dao area in the northern province of Vinh Phuc has been recognised as World’s Leading Town Destination for its first-time nomination this year.

 

In addition, many famous Vietnamese brands in the fields of hotel, resort, airline, and travel agency have also won the first place in the awards’ world top categories.

 

The WTA was launched in 1993 to acknowledge excellence in the travel and tourism industry. Heralded as the “travel industry’s equivalent of the Oscars” by the Wall Street Journal, the awards are based on votes from the public and travel professionals across the globe./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam, India foster cooperation in innovation, startup

A Vietnam-India Startup Forum was held in a hybrid format on November 12, as part of the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

 

In his opening remarks, President of the National Economics University (NEU) Pham Hong Chuong said that although economic cooperation between Vietnam and India has gained a lot of achievements, bilateral collaboration in innovation, start-up, market connectivity, and investment is not commensurate with the potential, as India is assessed as the third most developed startup ecosystem in the world.

 

According to him, Vietnam needs to step up cooperation activities, learn from India’s experience, and connect the two countries’ startup ecosystems.

 

As a leading university in Vietnam in the fields of economics and business administration, as well as a renowned organisation supporting start-ups, NEU is always ready to accompany Vietnamese and Indian partners to create a network connecting innovative start-ups, investment funds and experts, contributing to promoting start-up activities, and serving the socio-economic development of the two countries, he added.

 

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai said that innovation and start-up is a new field which, however, holds a lot of cooperation potential and opportunities for both sides.

 

The embassy will continue implementing activities in economics, trade, and science and technology, and creating more chances for both sides’ startups to connect and enhance cooperation.

 

The forum, with the participation of nearly 20 Vietnamese and Indian investment funds and potential startups, is expected to open up practical and effective collaboration opportunities for the two sides./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Benin President admires Vietnam for socio-economic achievements

Benin’s President Patrice Talon has expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, and expressed his wish that the Southeast Asian nation will share its experience with Benin in the fields.

 

At a recent reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco and Benin Dang Thi Thu Ha, who came to present her credentials, Talon asked the diplomat to convey his wishes and regards to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

 

The host leader expressed his belief that the ambassador will significantly contribute to consolidating and enhancing relations between the two countries.

 

For her part, Ha congratulated the Benin President and people on achievements they have recorded in national development, and affirmed that Vietnam wants to bolster the friendship and cooperation with the African nation across all spheres.

 

The ambassador pledged to make all-out efforts to contribute to deepening the bilateral ties.

 

The two sides also compared notes on specific measures to step up cooperation in the time ahead, especially in agriculture and the trading of cashew nuts and other materials.

 

They agreed to accelerate the appointment of an Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Benin, and prepare for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations (March 14, 1973 )./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Foreign Minister highlights success of Prime Minister’s official visit to Cambodia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Cambodia from November 8-9 is a great success, showing that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening the cooperative relations, friendship, solidarity and trust between the two countries, said Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

 

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, the FM highlighted the crucial and comprehensive outcomes of the visit, particularly the issuance of a joint statement and the signing of 11 cooperative agreements between ministries and sectors of the two countries along with contracts and business agreements between their enterprises, which contributed to deepening the bilateral cooperation.

 

In terms of politics, the two sides affirmed their determination to further develop the Vietnam – Cambodia friendship, promote and strengthen solidarity, mutual trust and understanding between the two nations, towards further deepening the bilateral relations in substantive and effective manner, considering this an inevitable objective requirement for both countries.

 

Regarding economic – investment ties, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation to new fields in order to further strengthen economic cooperation, and enhance infrastructure, institutions and policy connections between the two economies, including accelerating the completion of the project on building a master plan to connect the two economies to 2030.

 

They agreed to strengthen cooperation in defence and security based on the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use their respective territories to harm the other’s security and interests. They reaffirmed to work closely together to effectively implement the existing agreements and make effective use of the existing mechanisms on defence and security cooperation to enhance coordination in maintaining political stability, security, social order and safety in each country, as well as improve the effectiveness of border management and protection.

 

FM Son noted that Vietnam and Cambodia had completed the demarcation and marker planting for approximately 84% of their land boundary, and agreed to seek mutually acceptable solutions to the remaining 16% of the boundary in accordance with all border treaties concluded between the two countries with a view to building a land boundary of peace, stability and cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam.

 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Cambodian side to continue to create more favourable conditions for the people of Vietnamese origin to live and work stably and legally in Cambodia, and integrate and make positive contributions to the host country’s socio – economic development.

 

With these outcomes, the visit has contributed to further deepening the bilateral relations, FM Son stressed.

 

Following the visit to Cambodia, PM Chinh attended the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and relevant summits, and meetings between ASEAN and its partner countries from November 11-13, during which the Vietnamese delegation participated in all the events with a sense of responsibility and has made many substantial contributions to cooperation within ASEAN and between the bloc with its partners, FM Son said.

 

He underlined three major contributions made by Vietnam to the ASEAN Summits and related summits, first of all its role as a bridge to promote consensus of ASEAN in many important decisions, especially in decision-making on implementing the 5-Point Consensus and the declaration on Timor Leste’s application to join ASEAN.

 

Second, PM Chinh has proposed many important cooperation contents, receiving the attention of countries.

 

At bilateral and multilateral meetings, the PM emphasized that countries need to continue to open up their economies together, not introduce trade restrictive measures, maintain open trade and smooth operation of supply chains, promote technology transfer and support developing countries in developing digital economy, digital transformation, green economy, circular economy.

 

The PM also emphasised the point of view of putting the people as the centre, the goals and motivation of recovery and sustainable development efforts, and paying due attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

 

Third, the PM shared Vietnam’s views on issues related to the East Sea, Myanmar, and the Ukraine conflict, in the spirit of balance and harmony, which not only affirmed Vietnam’s role and responsibility, but also contributed to strengthening ASEAN’s principled stance and objective and balanced approach, thus promoting the dialogue and cooperation value of ASEAN-led mechanisms, encouraging participation and responsible contribution of partners to peace, security and development in the region.

 

Vietnam’s contributions also consistently demonstrate Vietnam’s support for the ASEAN Chair, contributing to the success of the meetings, and further strengthening the good neighbourly relationship, traditional friendship and comprehensive and sustainable cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, according to FM Son./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister of New Zealand starts official visit to Vietnam

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern arrived in Hanoi on November 14, starting a four-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of her counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

 

The New Zealand delegation includes Minister for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor, deputy chief of the PM’s Office Holly Donald, Deputy Secretary for Asia and Americas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Deborah Geels, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson, and Chief Executive of Education New Zealand Grant McPherson.

 

During the visit, PM Ardern is scheduled to attend an official welcome ceremony, hold talks with PM Chinh, engage in a press briefing, make a courtesy call on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, meet President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, take part in a business dialogue between the two countries, and participate in an event on agricultural connectivity.

 

The trip is expected to help enhance political trust and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in such fields as politics – diplomacy, defence – security, economy, investment, labour, education, technology, climate change, and digital transformation./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

German media spotlights Chancellor’s trip to Vietnam

Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz’s two-day official visit to Vietnam was further in the limelight of German media on November 13.

 

An article published in the Handelsblatt newspaper said that in Hanoi, the Chancellor was respectfully received by Vietnamese leaders. Vietnam is the first stop on Scholz’s five-day Asia tour, with the leader of Europe’s leading economy hoping to promote opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation with Vietnam, it noted.

 

The author quoted the Chancellor as saying in the current context, Germany must expand its business market, supply chain, source of raw materials and production locations so that it does not depend on any country. Vietnam plays a particularly important role in this process. Germany wants to support Vietnam’s transition towards carbon neutrality, such as its building of metro systems in the capital Hanoi.

 

As per the article, the two countries have conditions for closer economic cooperation. Currently, Germany is Vietnam’s most important trading partner in the EU with a trade turnover of 14 billion EUR (about 14.46 billion USD). Vietnam, meanwhile, is Germany’s largest trading partner in ASEAN. In addition, the Vietnamese community in Germany is now about 180,000 people, who make an important contribution to the sides’ relationship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have also actively supported each other to overcome difficulties.

 

The article said via the visit, the German side hopes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam on raw materials. Vietnam possesses many natural resources with large reserves such as copper, titanium and zinc. In addition, the visit must be viewed in a larger international context and is part of the German Government’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

 

According to the comments of the Wirtschaftwoche newspaper, the Chancellor’s visit to Vietnam perfectly fits his Asia tour. The trip is considered a “working visit”, promoting the sides’ strategic partnership that has existed since 2011. The focus of Scholz’s meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a large number of Vietnamese business representatives was economic projects, especially in the fields of infrastructure, health care, and commerce. The two sides have signed a number of mutual agreements. Germany is also very interested in cooperating with Vietnam in education and training and in the sending of Vietnamese skilled workers to the German labour market.

 

Highlighting sound outcomes of the visit, the Die Welt newspaper said as part of the trip, the two sides signed three joint cooperation agreements in the fields of defense, labour and education. Notably, the Vietnam – Germany University, a joint educational cooperation project between the two countries, has been implemented very successfully in the past time. In addition, they agreed to establish the Germany – Vietnam energy dialogue, a cooperation format that will enable them to intensify discussions on opportunities for climate-friendly technologies and socially equitable energy transition./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Malaysian expert highly values Vietnam’s leadership in ASEAN

Vietnam has shown its dynamism in the leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Associate Prof. Dr. Awang Azman Awang Pawi from the Kuala Lumpur-based University of Malaya.

 

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits, he said ASEAN members should promote cooperation to guarantee economic stability, and that Vietnam can contribute to growth and the maintenance of economic stability and peace in the region.

 

Vietnam can improve its national industry by diversifying products amid international and regional integration, with priorities matching its national development strategy, he noted.

 

Mentioning the country’s contributions to the agenda promotion and efforts to respond to common challenges in ASEAN this year, Awang held that Vietnam has become a strategic part in the bloc’s success.

 

In terms of ASEAN’s cooperation with dialogue partners in 2022, the expert said the association will stay committed to dialogue partners to promote shared prosperity in the region to sustain post-pandemic recovery./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam, Venezuela forge cooperation between localities

The association of Vietnam’s friends in Venezuela’s Mérida made its debut at a recent ceremony held by the Foundation for the Cultural Development of the Mérida State (Fundecem), with Ambassador Le Viet Duyen attending.

 

Fundecem President Enrique Plata Ramírez described the establishment of the association as an important event helping to bolster the multifaceted cooperation between Mérida and Vietnam.

 

The association brings together representatives from local authorities and businesses, along with cultural researchers, scholars, professors and prestigious people in Mérida, he said, expressing his hope for twining relationship between the Venezuelan state and Vietnam’s northern province of Lao Cai in the time ahead.

 

Joel Cuevas, President of the association, pledged that the association will work to build and roll out programmes promoting the culture, land and people of Vietnam, and enhancing cooperation between businesses of the two sides.

 

In his remarks, Ambassador Duyen said the establishment of the association has significantly contributed to fostering and deepening the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Venezuela in general and Mérida in particular.

 

The Vietnamese Embassy will closely coordinate with the association to promote and implement activities in Mérida, helping to boost the close, effective collaboration between Vietnamese and Venezuelan localities in the time ahead.

 

During his stay in Mérida, Duyen had a working session with Rector of the University of the Andes Professor Mario Bonucci to discuss cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese universities and the possibility to organise a Vietnamese cultural week at the Venezuelan university in the time ahead.

 

The ambassador also visited a number of production facilities specialising in garment-textile, beverage and aquaculture in the locality./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency