Vietnam News Highlights for July 1, 2023

Hanoi to host Asian Open Pool Championship

It will be the first time a world-class pool tournament will be held in Vietnam. Photo: Matchroom Pool

The Asian Open Pool Championship will be officially held in Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi in October in partnership with the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, Vietnamese sports agency Vietcontent and British broadcaster Sky Sports.

The tournament will take place from October 10-15 at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium within the Vietnam National Sports Complex. It will feature 256 players, including 128 top-ranked players on the Matchroom Pool Leaderboard. The total prize is expected to reach $200,000, with the champion taking home a $30,000 prize. This will be the first time a world-class pool tournament will be held in Vietnam.

Hanoi to host Singapore Regional Business Forum in July

The 7th Singapore Regional Business Forum (SRBF) will kick off in Hanoi on July 7, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore.

The Forum, themed "Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Growth", will feature a series of side events such as the signing of memorandums of understanding (MOUs), online and offline business networking, exhibitions, and business field tours. These activities will help companies explore regional growth opportunities and foster stronger partnerships. The event is expected to draw numerous participants from 30 countries.

Vietnam telecom sector reports 7.9% yoy growth in H1 2023

Revenue from telecommunications services in the first six months of 2023 is estimated at VND74.4 billion (US$3.15 million), up 7.9% year-on-year. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, this is the only sector to see revenue growth during the period.

The total revenue of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry in the first half of 2023 fell by 8.66% year-on-year, reaching VND1.6 trillion ($67.8 billion), reaching 39.6% of the 2023 plan. The industry's decline is due to global economic challenges, which caused lower demand for Vietnam's information technology.

Vietnam listed among SEA most peaceful countries

Vietnam's capital Hanoi is one of the most popular destinations for foreign tourists. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore ranked within the top 10 most peaceful countries in Southeast Asia, according to the Global Peace Index 2023 conducted by the Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). In its world list, Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, while Afghanistan is the least.

This is the 17th year that the IEP has published its annual ranking, which ranks 163 countries and territories according to their level of peace. The IEP uses 23 different qualitative and quantitative indicators under three broad themes: the level of safety and security in society, the extent of domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization.

Golden Week of Tourism in Binh Thuan Province

The southern province of Binh Thuan will host the "Golden Week of Tourism" from October 21 to 24 in Phan Thiet City with a series of cultural and tourism activities to celebrate the National Tourism Year 2023 with the theme "Binh Thuan - Green Convergence". The event will also celebrate the 28th anniversary of Binh Thuan Tourism Day on October 24.

Activities during the Golden Week will include a space to showcase local products such as fish sauce, dragon fruit, and products under the "One Commune, One Product" program; a tourism fair showcasing Binh Thuan's green convergence; and the promotion of tourism destinations from other provinces and cities nationwide.