Vietnam News Highlights for July 18, 2023

Malaysian government leader to visit Vietnam this week

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim will pay a visit to Vietnam on July 20-21, marking his first official trip to the country since taking office in late 2022. The two nations set up diplomatic ties in 1973 and became strategic partners in 2015.

Malaysia is Vietnam’s second-largest trade partner in Southeast Asia and the ninth-largest worldwide. Bilateral trade in 2022 rose 18% on-year to US$14.8 billion. Malaysian investors have poured a total of US$13 billion into Vietnam, while Vietnamese projects in Malaysia are worth US$860 million.

Vietnamese players on watch list for 2023 Women's World Cup

Pham Hai Yen (number 12) is Vietnam's most outstanding player at the 2023 Women's World Cup. Photo: Vietnam Football Federation

Vietnam's striker Pham Hai Yen is one of the players prominent to watch at the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, according to sports media company Goal.com. The media outlet expects Yen, who was Vietnam's top scorer in the qualifiers, to "put on her boots this Summer" and "upset the odds" at the tournament.

The Vietnamese women's soccer team is an underdog against the United States, the Netherlands, and Portugal in the Women's World Cup group stage, which will be held in New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to August 20.

Koreans can drive themselves in Vietnam

About 4.3 million South Koreans with valid international driving permits will be able to drive in Vietnam starting July 23. Under the agreement signed on June 23 during President Yoon Suk-Yeol's visit to Vietnam, South Koreans can drive in Vietnam for one year after receiving international driving permits from police and driver training centers around Incheon and Gimpo airports.

Vietnam accepts the validity of driving permits for citizens of 86 countries and territories, including South Korea, that are subject to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, signed in November 1968.

Seven-year plan to focus on night tourism activities

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has released a plan to develop night tourism and entertainment in 12 localities, including the major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. According to the plan, each locality will complete the construction of at least one area for night travel by 2030.

The main activities in night tourism are performing arts, sports and beauty care, shopping and entertainment, night visiting tours, and food and beverage. The ministry also stresses the importance of adopting digital solutions to boost tourism.

Singaporean investors interested in Vietnam's energy and green industries

The implementation of Vietnam's National Power Development Plan (PDP VIII) and the development of green industries are of great concern to Singaporean investors. At a conference on July 17, they expressed their confidence that Vietnam will make great achievements in developing green, digital, and circular economies.

Singapore is the second largest investor in Vietnam, having poured more than US$73 billion into some 3,300 projects, employing more than 300,000 Vietnamese workers.

Employment to continue rising in Q3

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has projected that around 51.5 million people will have jobs in Q3, up 267,000 from the previous quarter. Beverage and restaurant services, wholesale trade, and electrical production are the three sectors that will see the strongest increase in employment numbers, ranging from nearly 70,000 to 114,000 people.

In the second quarter, the ministry reported that the number of employees with a valid contract increased by about 83,300 to 51.2 million, with the service sector accounting for 40% of the total.