Vietnam news in brief - April 25

Hanoi to turn Nam Son landfill into photogenic place for young people

Le Thanh Nam, Director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, proposed turning the Nam Son landfill into a photogenic place at the meeting between Hanoi leaders and voters in Soc Son District on April 24. The proposal came amid many concerns from local people about the landfill's negative impact on the environment.

Noi Bai Airport to handle nearly half a million passengers on April 30

Noi Bai International Airport is expected to handle about 2,600 flights and 440,000 passengers on April 30, an estimate based on airline schedules. It is estimated that about 94,000 passengers will pass through the airport on the peak day.

However, domestic traffic is expected to be down 18% on April 30 this year compared to the same period last year, while international traffic is expected to grow impressively with up to 37,000 passengers per day on the peak day.

People queue to check in at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo: Phan Cong

Vietnam leads the world in duck and pig farming

Vietnam is the world's second-largest producer of ducks, with 105 million head/year, and the world's fifth-largest producer of pigs, with 30 million head/year. This information was given by Duong Tat Thang, Director of the Department of Livestock Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at the press conference to introduce the 9th International Exhibition on Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing and Aquaculture. The event will be held from May 29 to 31 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Standard Chartered revises Vietnam's GDP growth forecast for 2024 down to 6%

Standard Chartered Bank has lowered its forecast for Vietnam's GDP growth in 2024 to 6% from 6.7% previously, citing lower-than-expected growth in the first quarter and global trade headwinds. However, the forecast is still an improvement from 5% in 2023.

Q1 GDP growth slowed to 5.7% from 6.7% in Q4 last year. The bank lowered its Q2 year-on-year growth forecast to 5.3% (from 6.3%) and Q3 to 6% (from 7.2%) but growth is expected to rebound to 6.7% in Q4. Trade, a key source of growth and investment for Vietnam, also faces short and long-term challenges. Despite the risks, Vietnam's recovery remains positive. The bank also lowers its 2024 inflation forecast to 4.3% from 5.5% to reflect lower-than-expected Q1 inflation.

Another 16,800 taels of gold to be auctioned today

The State Bank of Vietnam will continue to auction SJC gold taels this morning (April 25). The total estimated volume of gold taels to be offered is 16,800. The deposit rate is 10%. The minimum and maximum bids are 1,400 and 2,000 taels, respectively.

In the first auction session, held on the morning of April 23, a total of 16,800 SJC gold taels were auctioned. Each transaction lot consists of 100 taels of gold.

Vietnam university partners with TIMES Publishing to publish books

TIMES Publishing Group and Vietnam National University - Hanoi signed an agreement on April 23 to publish several books in Italian, as part of the plan launched in January to create a national library of continents. The two parties will collaborate on the publication of four works, including "Breve storia della moda in Italia" (A Brief History of Italian Fashion), "Amaro - Un gusto Italiano" (Bitter - An Italian Taste), "Il Paese del sì - Note sull'identità culturale italiana" (The Land of "Si" - Notes on Italian Cultural Identity), and "Il gesti dell'italiano" (The Gestures of the Italian).

Vietnam's extractive industry exhibition opens with numerous pavilions

Mining Vietnam 2024, the 6th International Exhibition of Mining, Mineral Extraction, and Construction for Vietnam, occures in Hanoi on April 24-26.

The event features 200 pavilions with products for the mining industry from 17 countries, including the UK, India, Poland, Taiwan (China), Italy, and Vietnam, spread over 6,000 square meters. The exhibition, which is expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors, also includes a seminar to help companies approach mineral exploitation from a circular economy and green growth perspective.