Vietnam News Highlights for August 14, 2023

Quang Ninh relies on tourism as main industry

A cruise ship anchored in Ha Long harbor. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh is working on a plan to make tourism its economic spearhead, accounting for 10-15% of the province's economic revenue in 2024-2030. The province also aims to welcome 25.5-26 million tourists in 2030, including 8.6-9 million foreign visitors. The annual growth rate is expected to be 10-11% in 2025-2030.

Under the plan, Quang Ninh will become a hub connecting Vietnam and other countries regionally and internationally and the national center for hospitality and accommodation.

Trong Mai Islet in Ha Long Bay at risk of collapse

Tourism specialists are looking for ways to preserve Trong Mai Islet, an icon of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site. In late July, studies by the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources showed that the islet is in danger of collapsing if no action is taken.

According to UNESCO, the islets in Ha Long Bay are suffering from climate change and tourism activities, making the preservation of these natural landscapes an urgent task for both local authorities and people.

Vietnam to host two tourism events for overseas Vietnamese

Vietnam will hold the Overseas Vietnamese Tourism Year and a tourism program exclusively for second and third-generation overseas Vietnamese this year, according to an agreement signed between the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

Since 2009, about 700,000 to 1 million overseas Vietnamese have returned to Vietnam every year. In addition to visiting relatives, they want to explore Vietnam's culture and history, vacation, seek investment opportunities, and receive medical treatment.

Approval of Quang Ngai Coastal Ecological Urban Area Investment Project

The Quang Ngai provincial authorities have given the green light to the Coastal Quang Ngai Ecological Urban Area project costing a total investment capital of over VND7.1 trillion (US$300 million) submitted by Newhaus Investment and Development Company Limited.

The project, expected to complete after seven years, aims to meet local housing needs and promote eco-tourism services.

Social media user account verification through mobile phone number

Social media users in Vietnam are required to verify their identities with their cell phones. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

The Ministry of Information and Communications, in a draft decree on regulating online information, plans to require verification of social media user accounts through mobile phone numbers in Vietnam. The increasing prevalence of online fraud has prompted the need for enhanced security measures. Personal phone number verification can contribute to users' responsibility and awareness when sharing information on these platforms.

Currently, the three most common methods of user authentication on social media are email, mobile phone number, and ID/passport.

Vietnam likely earns US$50.8 million per year from emission fees

The emission fees are expected to bring an additional VND1.2 trillion (US$50.8 million) per year to the State budget, according to the Ministry of Finance's draft decree on environmental protection fees on emissions.

According to the ministry, air quality in Vietnam's major cities, industrial zones and craft villages has deteriorated along with economic development. Vietnam currently has about 5.1 million cars, tens of millions of motorcycles in circulation, and dozens of industrial complexes and clusters such as bauxite mining, steel production, oil refining, and power plants. These facilities are large industrial emitters that negatively impact the environment.

Ho Chi Minh City to develop compact urban areas around transport projects

Ho Chi Minh City plans to build a model of compact urban residences around the areas of the metro lines and Ring Road No.3. The sites will follow the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) model, which places public transportation at the center of residential development.

If the demonstration proves successful, Ho Chi Minh City will expand the model to other ring roads and metro lines, including the Ben Thanh-Tham Luong Metro.

Vietnamese football in deep mourning after car accident

Professional players, coaches and football teams in Vietnam are mourning the loss of three members of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club after they were killed in a traffic accident on August 13. The car carrying assistant coach Duong Minh Ninh, doctor Dao Trong Tri and striker Paulo Oliveira crashed on their way back to Pleiku City in Gia Lai Province from Buon Ma Thuot Airport.