Vietnam news in brief - October 18

Vietnamese scientists receive awards from French Academy

Two Vietnamese scientists received honorary awards from the French Academy on October 17 (local time) in recognition of their efforts to promote bilateral scientific relations between France and ASEAN member states. The scientists, who are Hoang Thi Giang from the Agricultural Genetics Institute and Tran Quang Hoa at Hue University, with their research will help students and scholars from Vietnam and France to exchange, discuss, and realize their ideas.

Ho Chi Minh City to advertise local tourism in the US market

Tourists visit Cu Chi tunnel in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism held a press conference in Las Vegas, the US, to promote Vietnam's cultures, people, and landscapes. The press conference is part of a series of promotional activities the city is holding in the US from October 17-19 to provide information on local tourism programs. Similar activities have also been held in San Francisco since October 11.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the US was one of the top 10 source markets for Vietnamese tourism sector. In 2022, more than 265,000 American tourists arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, and the number is expected to increase.

Lam Dong, Singaporean officials agree to boost travel

Lam Dong provincial authorities and businesses signed three cooperation agreements with their Singaporean counterparts on October 17 to strengthen two-way travel ties. The two sides also discussed establishing a direct flight route between Lam Dong's Lien Khuong Airport and Singapore's Changi International Airport.

The direct flight will increase the number of travelers and businessmen from Singapore and other nations to Lam Dong Province, as well as bilateral trade.

17 million Vietnamese goods sold on Amazon

Vietnamese merchants sold 17 million items on the US e-commerce platform Amazon in the 12 months to August 31, 2023, Amazon Global Selling Vietnam reported on October 17. During the period, the value of Vietnamese exports increased by 50% year-on-year, and the number of Vietnamese sellers on the platform increased by 40% inter-annually.

According to Amazon, Vietnam is an active, young, export-oriented economy. Driven by digital transformation, Vietnam has great potential to boost its global trade through e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.

Germany pledges further support for Vietnam on climate change issues

The German Government, through the International Climate Initiative (ICI), is financing about US$529 million for climate projects in Vietnam, Fabian Hartjes, second secretary of economic and climate affairs at the German Embassy in Vietnam, said a conference heard on October 17.

The operational projects focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving adaptability to climate change impacts, conserving and restoring natural carbon reservoirs, and ecological diversification.

UK enthusiastic to strengthen ties with Vietnamese businesses

The West London Chamber of Commerce is ready to help Vietnamese businesses explore opportunities in the UK, said Director Alan Rides on October 17. Since the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement came into effect on May 1, 2021, bilateral trade between the two economies has increased significantly to $8.5 billion in 2022.

Vietnam's ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland, Nguyen Hoang Long, said Vietnam-UK trade could double to $17 billion by 2030.