Vietnam news in brief - May 21

Vietnam reaffirms stance on One-China Policy

Regarding the "One China" policy, Vietnam respects the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs and believes that maintaining peace, stability and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait is crucial for the region and the world. Vietnam recognizes Taiwan as an inseparable part of China's territory, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said.

Mobile phone imports to Vietnam surge in January-April

Vietnam's imports of mobile phones and accessories reached more than US$3.08 billion in the first four months of the year, up 22.4% year-on-year, according to the General Department of Customs. China, South Korea, and Hong Kong (China) are the top three in terms of value, with US$2.66 billion, US$134.5 million, and US$25.3 million respectively.

Hoi An listed among the best places to travel in July

A visitor on Hoi An street. Photo: Linh Pham/The Hanoi Times

Hoi An Ancient Town in the central province of Quang Ngai has been ranked among the 13 best places to travel in July by the British magazine TimeOut.On May 20, the city launched a pilot program that allows tourists to stay with local people, making visiting Hoi An even more attractive.

Central bank to auction SJC gold bars today

The State Bank of Vietnam continues to auction SJC brand gold bars today [May 21] at a reference price of VND88.6 million (US$3,474) per tael. The total amount is 16,800 taels. The minimum bid volume for each buyer is five lots, equivalent to 500 taels, with a 10% deposit required. The maximum bid volume is 40 lots (or 4,000 taels). On May 16, the SBV successfully auctioned 123 lots, equivalent to 12,300 taels of gold, with 11 winning bidders.

Italian Textile Style and Innovation Exhibition runs until June 2

The Italian Textile Style and Innovation Exhibition (FABRICA), co-organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italian fashion and garment industry organizations and associations, and Hanoi University of Science and Technology, opened on May 20. The exhibition will continue until June 2.

 This event presents the history and evolution of Italian textile production through a series of fabric panels and 6 different interactive installation modules created by more than 20 companies in the sector. In particular, the modules capture the richness and diversity of Italian production, from high fashion and furniture fabrics to cutting-edge applications such as natural and recycled fabrics.

Lien Khuong Airport to become international airport

Lien Khuong Airport in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong is planned to become an international airport with a capacity of five million passengers per year, according to the airport master plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, which was recently approved by the Minister of Transport.

It will be an international airport for joint civil and military use. By 2050, Lien Khuong's capacity is expected to increase to seven million passengers and 30,000 tons of cargo per year.

All transactions on the Ministry of Trade's public service portal to be electronically authenticated

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's latest Digital Transformation Plan 2024, the ministry has set a target that 100% of transactions on its public service portal will be electronically authenticated, except for services that require other methods.

The public service portal and the ministry's single window information system are connected and exchange data with the national public service portal. All administrative procedures eligible for full-process online public services are also being implemented.

US Embassy launches virtual AI Summer Camp for Vietnamese teachers
The 2024 Train the Trainers program, an AI summer camp program on "Computational Thinking and Generative AI Curriculum Design" will provide online lessons for Vietnamese students from June to August 2024. The program is organized by the US Mission in Vietnam, STEAM for Vietnam, Scratch Foundation, and Hanoi University of Science and Technology, along with the Vietnam Innovation of General Education Foundation.