Vietnam News Highlights for June 30, 2023

Vietnam among 10 cheapest countries for workcation

Vietnam has been among top 10 cheapest countries for workcation. Photo: TITC

Vietnam ranked seventh on the list of the top 10 cheapest countries to work remotely, according to Canadian magazine The Travel. The website stated that no place offers global travelers great food, surreal scenery and friendships like Vietnam. Other recommended destinations include the Czech Republic, Thailand, Portugal, Turkey, Mexico, India, Spain, Hungary and Colombia.

USAID and UNICEF donate 590 vaccine refrigerators to Vietnam

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have provided 590 vaccine refrigerators to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health to improve cold chain systems for routine immunization and Covid-19 vaccination campaigns.

The vaccine refrigerators, model HBC-80, will be delivered to 590 remote communes in the northern and central regions of Vietnam. With a storage capacity of 61L, each refrigerator will be able to store enough vaccine doses for routine immunization and targeted Covid-19 vaccination in the communes, maintaining a temperature range of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

Fruit and vegetable exports jump to $1 billion in June

Fruit and vegetable exports are estimated to have jumped 2.7 times year-on-year to nearly US$1 billion in June. In the first six months of 2023, total fruit and vegetable exports are estimated to be US$3 billion, almost the same as in 2022. Vietnam expects to earn US$5 billion from the export of these products this year.

According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, exports have increased sharply since the beginning of the year. China, one the the leading customers of Vietnamese fruits, has increased purchases of Vietnamese fruits such as durian, dragon fruit, and mango.

Vietnam welcomes 5.57 million international visitors in H1 2023

Vietnam welcomed 5.57 million international visitors in the first half of this year, according to the General Statistics Office. Revenue from tourism was estimated at over VND343 trillion (US$14.6 billion), up 29.4% year-on-year and accounting for 52.7% of the 2023 Plan.

Despite the strong increase in international visitors, tourism has yet to fully recover compared to the pre-Covid-19 period, with the current figure only 65.7% compared to the same period in 2019.

Vietnam return to Asia's top 15 national teams

Vietnam gained 8.54 points after two narrow friendly victories over Hong Kong (China) and Syria in June to reach 1,238.23 points and rank 95th in the latest FIFA World Ranking. In Asia, Vietnam climbed one place to return to the continent's top 15.

By remaining among the top 15 countries in Asia, Vietnam will be considered one of the second seeds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw. The team will also be exempt from the first round of World Cup qualifying.

Vietnamese paintings on display in Paris

Fifty Vietnamese paintings are on display at the exhibition entitled "The Colors of Vietnam", which opened on June 28 in Paris, France. The artworks offer French and international audiences a view of the development of art in Vietnam over the past 100 years. The event is one of the activities celebrating 50 years of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties between the two countries.

According to officials, the exhibition proves that Vietnam and France are enjoying good relations in politics, cultural exchanges and economic cooperation. The event is scheduled to end on July 15.

AHK and VGEC form partnership for vocational training in Germany

The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK) and the Vietnam Germany Eager JSC (VGEC) signed a memorandum of understanding on June 29 on cooperation in recruiting Vietnamese vocational students and degree recognition for skilled workers to work in Germany.

The cooperation between the two sides is of great importance in creating an environment of education and vocational training, thus contributing to solving the shortage of high-quality human resources for both Germany and Vietnam.

Vietnamese users value privacy

Nearly 80% of Vietnamese people value privacy and want more control over their identity online, according to the Global Cryptocurrency and Web3 Report from Consensys, a Web3 technology development firm. The report found that 74% of respondents agree with personal identity control on the Internet, while 64% believe companies using their data should share the benefits.

The results in Vietnam are similar to those in Indonesia and the Philippines, as Asian users transition to a new era of the Internet where all users are builders and contribute significant value.