Vietnam news in brief - March 17

Quang Nam Province wants renovation plan for Hoi An approved soon

The Japanese Bridge in Hoi An old town. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The central coastal province of Quang Nam hopes to get government approval soon for its plan to upgrade the city of Hoi An. The plan is worth VND1.67 trillion (US$67.5 million). Under the plan, the province aims to maintain and repair all dilapidated buildings in the Old Quarter and develop a database to manage all local heritage and relics by 2030.

By 2030, the province plans to develop Hoi An into a tier 2 city and a national tourism site. The Hoi An Old Town and the Cu Lao Cham (Cham Island) Biosphere Reserve have been identified as the core of the city's growth.

 61 Vietnamese soldiers' remains found in five months: Nghe An Province Military High Command

After five months of searching, the Nghe An Provincial Military High Command has recovered the remains of 61 Vietnamese soldiers and specialists in the Lao provinces of Xiengkhuang and Xaisomboun and the capital of Vientiane.

Of the total, the remains of five soldiers and experts were found in Xiengkhuang Province. The remains were buried at a depth of 0.8-1.5m along with lighters, belts, shoes, bowls and other personal belongings. The remains are now kept in Phonsavan Commune, Xiengkhuang.

Chip, semiconductor sectors draw interest from overseas Vietnamese

Overseas Vietnamese companies want to join the local semiconductor and chip industry, Peter Hong, president of the Overseas Vietnamese Businessmen Association, said on March 16. According to him, the association is willing to help local companies train workers, and the first assistance is expected this month.

Peter Hong spoke highly of Vietnam's export prospects. He suggested that local businesses strengthen cooperation with overseas Vietnamese to increase the presence of their products in other markets.

Ho Chi Minh City ranks first in FDI attraction

As of February 2, Ho Chi Minh City led Vietnam in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) with more than 12,500 projects and registered capital of about $57.6 billion, according to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. These figures represent 31.6% of all projects in the country and 12% of the total registered capital.

In 2023, Ho Chi Minh City attracted a total of $5.9 billion in FDI capital, up 48.5% from the previous year.

International food, beverage and hospitality expo to be held in HCMC

Food and Hotel Vietnam 2024 will take place from 19-21 March at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Now in its 12th edition, the food, beverage and hospitality exhibition will feature 300 businesses from 27 countries and territories, including the UK, India, Belgium, Japan and the host country, Vietnam.

Covering an area of 11,500m2, the expo is expected to attract 17,500 visitors over the three days. According to Mordor Intelligence, Vietnam's food and beverage industry is forecast to be worth $22.7 billion by 2024 and $36.3 billion by 2029.