Vietnam news in brief - November 11

E-cigarette use on the rise among Vietnamese youth

The use of e-cigarettes among Vietnamese aged 15-24 has increased rapidly in recent years, the Ministry of Information and Communications reported on November 10 during a training workshop to improve communication skills on smoking prevention. Every year in Vietnam, about 40,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to develop strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of e-cigarette use among students.

Launch of the National Action Month for Gender Equality

Delegates attend the signing ceremony. Photo: VNA

The signing of the Women's Empowerment Principles between the United Nations in Vietnam and Vietnam Airlines took place on November 10 in Hanoi as part of the launch of the National Action Month on Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence 2023, organized by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, UN Women and Vietnam Airlines. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2023, Vietnam ranked 72nd out of 146 countries in terms of gender equality, up 11 places from 2022.

Fitch Ratings gives Vietnam's economy a strong outlook

Global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings remains optimistic about Vietnam's economy, predicting that the Southeast Asian nation will grow by 6.3% in 2024 and 7.0% in 2025. In a report released on November 9, Fitch Ratings said Vietnam's economy has performed well amid global uncertainties thanks to appropriate fiscal and monetary policies. The agency predicted that fundamentals will continue to be positive for Vietnam's economy in the medium term, and the steady growth of Vietnam's economy would provide potential opportunities for banks.

Hanoi Fruit Festival 2023 runs until November 12

The Hanoi Fruit Festival 2023 kicks off on November 9. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The Hanoi Fruit Festival 2023, held at Thong Nhat Park from November 9 to 12, aims to introduce and promote the distinctive products of Hanoi and nationwide and to connect and expand markets among localities.

Bac Ninh launches Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region project

On November 10, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the investment project to construct Ring Road 4 - Hanoi Capital Region, a 112-kilometer road running through Hanoi, Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2026 and operational in 2027. The investment for the Bac Ninh section of Ring Road 4 is about VND5.2 trillion (US$214.2 million), including VND2.1 trillion (US$86.7 million) from the central budget for land reclamation and VND3.1 trillion (US$127.5 million) from the Bac Ninh provincial budget.

Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line No.1 expected to start selling tickets in July 2024

The construction of Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line No.1 is expected to be complete by the end of this year, with commercial operation starting in July 2024, according to the management board of Metro Line No.1 at the city's monthly meeting. From January to June 2024, the city will continue to carry out inspections and payments for completed items, train personnel for commercial operations, and assess the safety certification of the system, among other undertakings.