Vietnam news in brief- April 19
Read the Hanoi Times and stay updated with the latest developments in Vietnam.
Vietnam projected to be among top 20 economies in the world
Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP) by purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2023 reached around 1.438 billion US dollars, ranking third in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia and Thailand, and 25th in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Vietnam's GDP in PPP terms ranks ahead of the Netherlands and Switzerland, and is set to surpass Australia and Poland by 2029, when it will hit US$2,343 billion, placing it 20th in the world.
Vietnam Airlines adds 2,000 night flights
Vietnam Airlines will operate 2,000 additional flights after 9pm on routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to other destinations such as the central city of Danang and Nha Trang (central province of Khanh Hoa) during the April 30 and May 1 holidays and summer peak season.
The airline also sells Economy Class tickets at lower prices and offers incentives such as 20% discount on the next purchase for passengers who buy both flexible economy and standard economy tickets.
| Aircraft of Vietnam Airlines. Photo: The Hanoi Times |
Noi Bai and Da Nang among the world's top 100 airports
Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Danang have been ranked among the world's top 100 airports for 2024 by UK-based aviation consultancy Skytrax. Noi Bai was ranked 96th in the list, up 36 places from last year, while Da Nang airport came in at 94th in its first ever ranking.
The Skytrax rankings are based on the opinions of millions of passengers from more than 100 countries on a range of specific criteria, including the quality of service at international passenger terminals, convenience, comfort, language skills and staff attitude.
World Creativity and Innovation Day 2024 celebrations underway
The celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Day 2024 took place on April 19 with the aim of raising awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in socio-economic development, building a sustainable society and promoting overall human development.
A series of activities will be held, including the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Festival 2024 (Techfest 2024), the launch of the Provincial Innovation Index (PII), Vietnam's Women with Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and a scientific workshop on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Trade Promotion Fair opened for cooperatives
The Trade Promotion Fair for Economic Collective Sector and Cooperatives opened on April 19 at Tran Nhan Ton Pedestrian Street and Thong Nhat Park in Hanoi. The fair attracted the participation of 120 cooperatives from 44 provinces and cities across the country and 30 enterprises. With more than 150 booths, the fair showcased vegetables, fruits, processed agricultural products, nutritional products, organic food, and One Commune, One Product (OCOP) products.
Participating companies had the opportunity to exchange experiences, explore opportunities for investment cooperation, joint ventures and linkages, and apply scientific and technological advances in production and business processes along the value chain.
VinFast's US electric vehicle sales up 743% in Q1
VinFast, a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, sold over 900 units of the VF 8 model in the US market in Q1/2024, an increase of 742.7% compared to the same period last year. This represented a market share of 0.3% of the total US market.
VinFast ranked 23rd out of 26 brands that sold at least 100 electric vehicles in the US in the first quarter. The company started selling cars in the US in March 2023. Currently, VinFast's US operations are mainly concentrated in California and the company only offers the VinFast VF 8 electric SUV model with a starting price of US$47,000.
Trang An natural heritage tour viewable on Google photo platform
An online photo show of Vietnam's Trang An natural relic is now available on Google Arts & Culture, a platform that allows viewers to travel to different places through images and photo stories. Viewers can enjoy the caves and mountains that have aged for millions of years, and visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
The Trang An natural heritage site was the first of its kind in ASEAN to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2014.
Haiphong opens first light show park in Do Son district
The northern port city of Haiphong will open its first light show park at the Doi Rong (Dragon Hill) tourist site in the coastal district of Do Son during the upcoming holidays from April 27 to May 1. The park will become a new cultural destination combining entertainment and heritage preservation.
Hundreds of lanterns will be on display in the park in combination with musical themes to tell the stories of Vietnamese traditions, culture and history.
