Vietnam news in brief - March 4

Danang, Thua Thien Hue mull over new tourist train

Thua Thien Hue Province and the central coastal city of Danang plan to launch a tourist train between the two central coastal cities on March 26, allowing tourists to explore landscapes and specialties during the trip. The two provinces are consulting 400 local people and 20 businesses to improve the quality of the train's services. The state-owned Vietnam Railway Corporation is willing to cooperate with the two local governments and businesses to achieve the best results.

Air Asia sets up official operations in Vietnam: Managing Director

AirAsia airplanes at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang. Photo: AFP/VNA

Malaysia's low-cost airline Air Asia is hoping to fly within Vietnam soon, according to Tony Fernandes, managing director of the airline's parent company Capital A Bhd. Air Asia now operates more than 300 flights a week between Vietnam and Thailand and Malaysia. The airline has expanded its markets to Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Five airlines operate in Vietnam, including the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, low-cost carrier Vietjet Air, Bamboo Air, Vietravel Airlines and Pacific Airlines.

Steel giant Hoa Phat to launch three new projects in Phu Yen

Giant steel producer Hoa Phat Group will launch three new projects, including a steel plant with a total investment of VND120 trillion (US$4.86 billion) in the Southern Industrial Park in the central coastal province of Phu Yen, Chairman Tran Dinh Long said on March 3.

Long expected the three projects to create jobs for about 20,000 local workers and contribute about VND10 trillion ($405 million) to the provincial budget.

Five major investors plan to build $2.4 billion LNG power plant in Thanh Hoa

The Management Board of Nghi Son Economic Zone and Industrial Parks has received proposals from five major investors for the approval of the investment plan for the Nghi Son LNG Power Plant project in the central province of Thanh Hoa. The project, which covers an area of approximately 68.2 hectares, is expected to receive an estimated investment of VND58 trillion (over US$2.4 billion). The selection of Investors for the plant is scheduled for the second quarter of this year, with commercial operations expected to begin before 2030. This development is the third major project in Thanh Hoa, following the Nghi Son Refinery and the Nghi Son Thermal Power Plant, and will further boost the region's industrial growth.

Binh Dinh inaugurates $750 million industrial park

Overview of Becamex Binh Dinh Industrial Park project.

The first phase of Becamex Binh Dinh Industrial Park, covering 1,374 hectares with a total investment of VND7.5 trillion ($750 million) in Nhon Hoi Economic Zone, Canh Vinh Commune, Van Canh District, was inaugurated on March 4 after more than three years of construction. The project is a collaboration between Becamex IDC Corporation and VSIP Group, two major industrial real estate developers in Vietnam. Of the total area, 1,000 hectares are allocated for industrial purposes, while 374 hectares are designated for resettlement, residential areas, commercial activities and services.

Vietnamese coffee makes inroads in Algeria

Representatives of Algerian importers, visitors and local consumers on March 2 learned about Vietnamese coffee at a Vietnamese coffee launch event held in the capital Algiers, where is one of the largest coffee consumption markets in the world. Many customers expressed their desire to purchase various Vietnamese instant and pure coffee brands directly in Algeria. Some importers are planning to visit Vietnam after mid-April to meet with partners.

Quang Ninh expects strong efforts to preserve value of fishing villages

Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee Cao Tuong Huy has urged local authorities to make greater efforts to preserve cultural values in local fishing villages. The chairman also expected local authorities to develop new tourism products and services to attract more travelers and increase income for locals and the provincial budget.

Quang Ninh is famous for its fishing villages of Cua Van and Vung Vieng. The villages' facilities have deteriorated in recent years and require strong measures to improve them.