Vietnam news in brief - November 12

Vietnam ready to provide aid to Cuba: Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang

Vietnam is willing to help Cuba overcome difficulties and achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Sustainable Development told UN Resident Coordinator in Cuba Francisco Pichon on November 11.

Stressing the friendship and special relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, Giang said Vietnam has provided assistance to Cuba in various fields, especially in agriculture and food production.

Ho Chi Minh City to upgrade tourism products and services for 2024

Improving products and services, adopting digital solutions, and strengthening cooperation with other provinces and cities are among the key measures to boost Ho Chi Minh City's tourism sector in 2024. The southern metropolis plans to welcome around 44 million tourists next year, including six million foreigners, and earn VND190 trillion (US$7.8 billion) from the travel industry.

In 2023, the city has received about 35 million visitors, up 12% year-on-year, including about five million international arrivals, an annual increase of 44%. Total revenue from tourism activities is estimated at VND160 trillion ($6.5 billion), up one-fifth from last year.

Gia Lai Tourism and Culture Week opens

Gong performance at the Gia Lai Tourism and Culture Week 2023. Photo: People's Army Newspaper

The Gia Lai 2023 Culture and Tourism Week kicked off on November 11 with activities to promote local cultural features to both domestic and international communities and strengthen ties between the province and other localities nationwide.

On the opening night, Gia Lai Province announced the certification of the Roc Tung - Go Da Special National Relic and the recognition of the An Khe Paleolithic Collection as a National Treasure. The week-long event also includes the third Central Highlands Gong Culture Festival, a Wild Flowers - Chu Dang Ya Volcano Festival from November 10 to 12.

Vietnam invests nearly $5.5 billion in Laos

Vietnamese enterprises and organizations have invested nearly US$5.5 billion in Laos, a conference on Vietnam-Laos relations in Thua Thien Hue province heard on November 11. Vietnam ranks third among all 79 foreign investors in Laos, focusing on the telecommunications and information technology sectors, providing Lao people with access to high-speed 4G technologies.

The conference is one of a series of key activities to celebrate the 61st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Local ritual ceremony honoring navy soldiers to become national event

The ritual ceremony commemorating the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Marines will be held as a week-long national festival at the end of April 2024, according to a meeting between the Vietnam National Authority for Tourism and the Quang Ngai Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on November 11. The ritual ceremony was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

The event will feature activities highlighted by a canoe race, a national folk singing competition, a women's beach volleyball tournament, a marathon, and a photo exhibition of Vietnamese islands.

Best rural start-up projects to be named tonight

A closing ceremony will be held tonight (November 12) at April 30 Park in Soc Trang City, Soc Trang Province, to honor the best start-up projects of young people from rural areas. The top three winners will receive a maximum of VND1 billion ($41,100) each to realize their initiatives.

Launched at the end of March 2023, the contest assessed 446 projects, including 62 projects done by young people from ethnic minorities. After evaluation, 40 projects were selected as finalists. The contest aims to encourage young people in rural areas to become more involved in the agriculture sector.