Vietnam news in brief - April 24

Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival sets new record 

A stall at the 2nd Vietnamese Bread Festival. Photo: Laodong newspaper

The 2nd Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival will take place from May 17 to 19 at Le Van Tam Park in Ho Chi Minh City. It will feature 150 pavilions of the most popular brands in Vietnam and other countries and culinary cultures from regions across Vietnam. Chefs will set a record of 150 dishes with bread, which will be displayed on a model bread stand. The festival is expected to attract 100,000 visitors.

Vietnam seeks to boost domestic tourism in summer

Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has urged localities to carry out a domestic tourism promotion program under the theme "Vietnamese people travel to Vietnam - Vietnam I love" during the upcoming holiday to celebrate Reunification Day (April 30) and Labor Day (May 1) and the 2024 summer tourism season. The idea is to develop comprehensive and sustainable tourism with new high-quality products and services in environmently friendly destinations.

Proposal to charge VAT on all goods imported via Shopee, Lazada, TikTok

Le Quang Manh, Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee, proposed at the 32nd meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on April 23 that the government consider abolishing the VAT exemption for imported goods of low value. The proposal is based on the fact that the value of goods imported through platforms such as Shopee, Lazada and Tiktok amounts to US$1.9 billion every month.

WB forecasts 5.5% growth for Vietnam's economy

Vietnam's economy is showing mixed signs of recovery, with growth forecast to reach 5.5% in 2024 and 6.0% in 2025, according to the World Bank's (WB) Taking Stock biannual economic update released on April 23. The report points out that several key sectors, including exports, consumption, domestic private investment, and real estate, are gradually recovering and are on track to grow strongly by the end of 2024.

Vinamilk has a new carbon neutral factory

Vinamilk's Vietnamese beverage factory received international carbon neutrality certification (PAS 2060:2014) from the British Standards Institution (BSI) on April 20. With this certification, Vinamilk now has three units (including two factories and one farm) certified as carbon neutral, bringing it closer to its net zero target by 2050.

The total carbon neutralized at the Vietnamese beverage plant is 3,410 tons of CO2e. This is achieved through a two-pronged approach: reducing emissions during production and maintaining a green tree fund to absorb greenhouse gases over time.

Workshop helps Vietnamese businesses penetrate Thai market

A workshop on "Green Consumption Trends and Export Information to the Thai Market in 2024" was held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 23 to help Vietnamese businesses seize opportunities to enter the Thai market.

Participating firms gained insight into packaging advice, product design standards, and technical specifications to enter Central Retail Vietnam's GO! supermarket chain and meet export requirements for the Thai market. This enabled Vietnamese companies to improve their products and raise competitiveness in international market.

Exhibition on Ly Son Island showcases local culture

An exhibition on Ly Son Island, the central coastal province of Quang Ngai, opened on April 23 to showcase documents and artefacts on the island's cultural heritage.

The exhibition features more than 200 artefacts, images, and documents related to the Hoang Sa soldiers' commemoration ceremony and the traditional Tu Linh boat racing festival, everyday activities on the island and its beautiful landscapes. The exhibition will last until  April 30. It is one of the first events to kick off Quang Ngai Tourism Week 2024, which will be held from  April 22 to May 5. 

Foundation of the Triathlon Federation of Vietnam

The founding congress of the Vietnam Triathlon Federation (VTRIF) for its first term (2024-2029) took place in Ho Chi Minh City on April 23. The establishment of the VTRIF and its membership in World Triathlon will provide opportunities for Vietnamese triathletes to train, improve their skills, compete internationally and develop triathlon as a significant sport in Vietnam with ASIAD and Olympic aspirations.

84 initiatives win the 17th National Technical Innovation Award 

Eighty-four outstanding innovations in the manufacturing sector were awarded at the 17th National Technical Innovation Contest on April 23. Among them, six first prizes went to authors from Hanoi, the central province of Quang Ngai, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, and the Ministry of National Defense (three prizes). Sponsored by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, the event honors outstanding research projects and creative solutions to promote the creative work movement and scientific technology development.