Vietnam news in brief - December 11
Find out what is happening in Vietnam today.
Visa waiver for Vietnamese group travelers to South Korea in 2024
| A group of Vietnamese visitors to South Korea. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times |
Vietnamese tourists will enjoy free visa entry to South Korea when traveling in a group starting January 1, 2024, a meeting in Gwangju, South Korea, heard last weekend. Vietnam is one of the three nations, along with the Philippines and Indonesia, that will follow China in qualifying for the policy, which is part of Korea's efforts to attract 20 million visitors and earn US$24.5 billion from tourism. It now costs about US$30 for a Vietnamese tourist to apply for a visa to enter South Korea.
Vietnam Innovation Network launched in France
The Vietnam Innovation Network in Europe (VINEU) has officially launched its activities in France. As one of eight networks worldwide supported by the National Innovation Center of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, VINEU pools Vietnamese knowledge in Europe to provide sustainable solutions to Vietnam's challenges and support the country's innovation through concrete projects.
The world's first Vietnam Town established in Thailand
| Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue attends the opening ceremony of Vietnam Town in Thailand. Photo: VNA |
Vietnam Town, the first Vietnamese enclave of its kind in the world, located in Udon Thani Province, Thailand, was inaugurated on December 9 in the presence of the Chairman of the National Assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue. The initiative aims to preserve and promote Vietnamese culture and replicate it in other locations in Thailand and worldwide. It symbolizes the unity, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand.
Vietnam-Australia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture seeks business participation
The Australia-Vietnam Partnership for Climate Smart Agriculture project seeks business partners to join a business delegation visiting Vietnam and Australia in March and May 2024, respectively. The program aims to create opportunities for collaboration to develop sustainable value chains in Vietnam's agricultural sector, particularly in rice and shrimp/aquaculture. Participating companies will have the opportunity to visit leading farms, organizations, or research institutes to better understand sustainability challenges and explore advanced industry solutions.
Vietnam, India to launch joint peacekeeping training program in 2023
A joint military training program between the peacekeeping forces of Vietnam and India began today (November 11) at the National Military Training Center No. 4 in Hanoi's My Duc District. The program will run until December 21. Named Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX) 2023, it is the fourth such event. It is also the second peacekeeping training project between the two national armies for UN purposes.
Nearly three million tourists visited the Mekong Delta in 2023
More than 2.7 million visitors came to the Mekong Delta region in 2023, a conference on tourism cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 regional provinces and cities heard on Sunday. The tourists, mostly domestic, are attracted by local cultures, ecological experiences and cuisine, according to experts and government officials. Major obstacles to regional tourism development include a lack of a well-developed transport infrastructure, a website to promote regional tourism, and the poor use of technology in tourism operations.
