Vietnam News Highlight for August 9, 2023

Zhejiang Province promotes tourism in Vietnam's market 

China's coastal province of Zhejiang held a promotional program on August 8 to introduce new tourism products and cultural features to the Vietnamese market, which is part of the province's plans to receive a large influx of visitors for the 2023 Asian Games (ASIAD 19) to take place in the locality in September.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Vietnam and China are working to strengthen tourism ties, especially between Zhejiang and major Vietnamese cities such as Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Video-making contest launched for Korea lovers

The Korea Tourism Organization, in cooperation with the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, launched a video contest on August 8 entitled "Video creation: The Dream Hallyu Travel". Until August 23, participants will upload short videos on social networks such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, telling stories of their Korea-related visits, experiences and fun activities.

The winner will win a trip to Korea worth VND40 million (US$1,700) each for a team of up to three members. The runner-up will receive a round-trip flight to Korea on Vietnam Airlines.

Cuc Phuong National Park is famous for its diverse fauna and flora.

Cuc Phuong National Park named best for the 5th time

After winning the title in back-to-back years from 2019 to 2022, Cuc Phuong National Park has earned Asia's Leading National Park for a fifth straight year at the World Travel Awards 2023.

The national park was established in 1962 and covers an area of 22,400 hectares in the provinces of Hoa Binh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa. The park is home to a wide range of species and contains the cultural features of local ethnic people and artifacts of prehistoric man.

Ministry of Industry and Trade encourages more direct flights to India

At the August 8 meeting of the India and Vietnam Trade Subcommittee, the Ministry of Industry and Trade asked the Indian Government to assist Vietnamese enterprises, especially fruit exporters, to explore the local market through trade fairs and exhibitions. The ministry also supported the idea of more direct flights between India and Vietnam and removing trade barriers for Vietnamese export.

Vietnam also hoped to strengthen partnerships with India in key sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, textiles and garments, footwear, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.

Vietnam to send workers to Greece

The National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece wants Vietnam to send workers to the Mediterranean country to work in agriculture, Christos Giannakakis, the union's vice president, said on August 8. Due to the European Union's tightening labor admission policy, farmers of the Greek Union, 300 in total, are expanding their search for new labor markets such as Vietnam, which provides high-quality, safe and hard-working labor.

Greece is experiencing a shortage of 60,000 workers in agriculture and food processing and 50,000 others in the construction and tourism industries.

75% of Vietnamese workers can't make ends meet on current income

A survey on the living conditions, employment and wages of workers in 2023, conducted by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, found that 75.5% of workers said their income could not cover their expenses, 11.2% of workers could not make ends meet, and another 17.3% often had to borrow money to live. The survey was conducted in six provinces, mainly in urban areas, with a sample size of 3,000 workers.

Local trade unions have proposed an 11.34% increase in the regional minimum wage for 2024 to ensure a minimum standard of living for families.

Annual collection of sidewalk usage fees in HCMC to reach US$65.1 million

Revenues from temporary fees for using sidewalks and parts of roads in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to reach VND1.55 trillion (US$65.1 million) per year. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport is seeking a resolution from the municipal People's Committee on the fee rates for temporary sidewalk use.

The resolution is expected to be approved at the upcoming meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. The fee is intended to contribute to the State budget and support road maintenance, repair and environmental sanitation.

Vietnam to establish trading floor for land titles

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Construction to report the results of their study on the land use rights trading floor by August 15. The operation of the land use rights trading floor by regulators will help increase transparency and stabilize the market.

At present, real estate transactions in the market are mainly conducted by brokers (private trading floors). The land use rights trading floor is aimed at improving the efficiency of land management.