Vietnam news in brief - May 30

Vietnamese food among the best in the world

A loaf of banh mi (Vietnamese bread) with meat and condiments. Photo: Taste Atlas

Banh mi (baguette), com tam (broken rice), pho (beef and chicken noodles) and meat and sausage banh mi are among the top 100 street foods in the world, according to global cuisine magazine Taste Atlas. Banh mi is ranked sixth, with the others ranging from 40th to 82nd.

MTA Vietnam 2024 to be kicked off in early July

The 20th International Precision Engineering and Manufacturing Reinvented Exhibition & Conference (MTA Vietnam 2024) will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from July 2 to 5. The event will promote the use of low-carbon production methods and models for sustainable growth.

MTA Vietnam 2024 will bring together more than 450 companies from 20 countries and territories to exhibit their forming and cutting machines, measuring and testing technologies, automation, and more.

Vietnam secure second titles at the Asian women’s volleyball tournament

Vietnam women's volleyball team defended its title at the 2024 Asian Women's Volleyball Challenge Cup hosted by the Philippines from May 22-29. 

Vietnam defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 in the final on May 29 to win the championship for the second year in a row.

Vietnam has now qualified for the FIVB Volleyball Women's Challenger Cup 2024, which will be held from July 4-7. The winner of the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup will participate in the 2025 Nations League.

Total agricultural export turnover reaches US$24.14 billion in Jan-May

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first five months, the total agricultural export turnover reached US$24.14 billion, including agricultural products reaching $13.11 billion, up 27.7%; forestry products $6.58 billion, up 22.7%; fishery products $3.5 billion, up 3.6%; and livestock $199 million, up 5.6%.

Nearly 100 domestic enterprises join consumer-favorite Vietnamese goods fair

Nearly 100 Vietnamese enterprises have joined the 2024 Consumer-Favorite Vietnamese Goods Fair to promote their brands, facilitate business connections, and expand their markets. The fair runs until June 2 at the Vinhomes Smart City urban area in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi.

Hanoi Social Insurance aims for 80% ATM coverage

Hanoi's district-level social insurance agencies are required to coordinate with the public security sector to ensure that all pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries have bank accounts (ATM cards) in the coming period. By the end of April 2024, the rate of pensioners and social insurance beneficiaries receiving payments through ATM cards in the city reached 45%. This rate is expected to reach 80% by 2024. Hanoi has more than 593,000 monthly social security pensioners and beneficiaries.

Retail sales of goods and consumer services up 8.7% in Jan-May

Total revenue from retail sales of goods and consumer services rose 8.7% year-on-year in the first five months of 2024, the General Statistics Office of Vietnam said on May 29. Revenue from accommodation and food services rose by 15.1%, while revenue from travel and tourism increased by 45.1%. Some of the localities that recorded increases in retail sales include Quang Ninh, Haiphong, Cantho, Hanoi, and others.

Hanoi creates over 100,000 jobs in Jan-May

In the first five months of 2024, Hanoi created jobs for more than 100,000 people, reaching 60.8% of the annual target, which is up 16.8% year-on-year, according to the Hanoi Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The city had created jobs for 8,800 workers in January-May using city funds disbursed through the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.