Vietnam news in brief - February 25

Foreign Minister sends best wishes to Japanese Emperor

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent his best wishes to Japanese Emperor Naruhito, the Japanese authorities and the Japanese people at a reception to mark the Emperor's 64th birthday hosted by the Japanese Embassy on 23 February.

According to the minister and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio, the relationship between Vietnam and Japan is at its best and serves as a reference for Vietnam's relations with other countries in the world. Both government officials hope to further strengthen bilateral relations so that the two nations can achieve better results in the future.

Hanoi to install more cameras

Hanoi will install more surveillance cameras to improve security in public places. Photo: dantri.com.vn

Hanoi plans to install more CCTV cameras in public areas, public transport terminals and tourist attractions. Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions will be integrated to improve the quality of surveillance.

According to the Hanoi Police Department, the city has installed 605 cameras at 550 traffic intersections. The cameras help monitor traffic flows and punish drivers who break the rules.

Quang Tri to import 11 million tons of coal from Laos

About 11 million tonnes of coal will be imported from the Kaleum mine in Laos' Sekong Province to Vietnam's Quang Tri Province, according to the provincial People's Committee.

The two provinces have agreed to build a conveyor belt to transport coal directly from Sekong to Quang Tri, with a capacity of 25-30 million tonnes of coal per year. In 2023, Quang Tri imported two million tonnes of coal from Laos.

Bac Giang to build new $73m industrial park

The northern province of Bac Giang will develop a new industrial park in Phuc Son and Lam Cot communes of Tan Yen District with an investment of more than VND1.8 trillion (US$73 million). The new industrial park will cover a total area of nearly 124 hectares, and multi-sectoral group Le Delta has been selected as the project's general contractor.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has instructed provincial and local authorities in Bac Giang to ensure the benefits and obligations of contractors, investors and local people.

Saigon Tourist to hold third national culinary festival in March end

Saigon Tourist Group will hold a culinary festival from March 28 to 31 at the Van Thanh tourism site in Ho Chi Minh City, showcasing food specialities from all three regions (North, Central and South) of the country. Now in its third year, the festival will offer visitors the opportunity to attend cooking classes to learn how to prepare local dishes, as well as other cultural activities and performances.

Saigon Tourist expects the festival to become an international event that will introduce Vietnamese culinary values to the world and boost local tourism. The company hopes to attract around 12,000 visitors during the four-day event, which will feature top chefs from popular restaurants and hotels nationwide.