Vietnam news in brief - October 9

PPP projects key to boosting tourism

Cau Hon (Hon Bridge) in Phu Quoc Island. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is proposing a public-private partnership (PPP) for tourism projects to improve the quality of products and services and encourage businesses to operate in the sector.

According to the ministry, the Vietnamese tourism sector has been struggling with problems, including environmental pollution, an unfinished database, and inadequate tourism promotion campaigns. In January-September, Vietnam welcomed about 8.9 million international visitors and 93.5 million domestic travelers, generating a total revenue of VND495 trillion ($20.3 million).

Some $164 million allocated to fight riverbank erosion in Mekong Delta

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on October 8 approved the allocation of about VND4 trillion (US$164 million) to fund 13 Mekong Delta provinces to prevent erosion of river banks and coastal areas. Each province will receive VND200-500 billion (US$8.2-20.5 million).

Provincial People's Committees are expected to combine these funds with other sources raised through legal means to ensure the process of projects, investment efficiency and transparency following current regulations.

Five Vietnamese films for sale at Busan Film Festival

Vietnam has distributed five films for sale at the Asian Contents & Film Market (ACFM) as part of the Busan Film Festival, according to The Variety.

The films covered a wide range of genres, including the adaptation of novelist Thao Trang's Ke An Hon (A Soul Reaper), Con Cam (Cam), a horror cinematic version of the Tam Cam fairy tale by director Tran Huu Tan and producer Hoang Quan, the short film Ga Ac (Black Hen), and the miniseries Doc Suong Mu (Foggy Slope), both directed by Tung Leo.

Vietnam crowned ASEAN Men's Military Volleyball Tournament

Vietnam's men's military volleyball team won the ASEAN Men's Military Volleyball Tournament on October 8 after defeating the Royal Army of Thailand 3-1 in the final in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the closing ceremony, Colonel General Nguyen Van Nghia emphasized the importance of sporting events as a symbol of solidarity among the region's armed forces. The ASEAN Men's Military Volleyball Tournament was held from October 3 to 8, with seven participating teams representing the armies of Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and host Vietnam.

Nearly 200 hair kits donated at "Dream Hair Station"

Hair Donation Day is a big draw for individual hair donors.  Photo: the Children’s Cancer Network

Nearly 200 hair care kits were donated at the "Dream Hair Station" event organized by the Children's Cancer Network in partnership with the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion on October 8.

The program, launched in 2022, received nearly 3,100 hair care kits from donors, more than 150 of which were sent to children undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Vietnam National Children's Hospital.

Vietnam's business landscape is brightening: EuroCham BCI

The European Chamber of Commerce Vietnam's (EuroCham) quarterly Business Confidence Index (BCI) resumed its upward trend in the third quarter, offering a glimmer of hope for Vietnam's business environment after a turbulent year. The BCI rose to 45.1 points in Q3, up from 43.5 in the previous quarter. While still below the 50-point threshold for four consecutive quarters, this slight increase indicates that positive economic momentum is emerging.

European companies' expectations for increased sales or new orders remained stable, with no change from the previous quarter. Some 22% of companies plan to expand their teams, while only 16% expect to increase investment in the last quarter.

The Vietnam Open Innovation Ecosystem Report 2023 to attract other countries

The Vietnam Open Innovation Ecosystem Report 2023, with the theme "Flat World of Innovation", will attract innovation ecosystems from Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.

This is the third year of the report, including updates to the map of more than 1,500 startup solutions and innovations in Vietnam in 2023. It will provide reference data for enterprises, startups, investment funds, and support units, as well as solutions and suggestions for the implementation of policies to support the development of Vietnam's open innovation ecosystem.

First National Tourism Industry Summit 2023 held in Hanoi

The first National Tourism Industry Summit 2023 was held on October 7, coinciding with World Tourism Day (September 27) and Vietnam Entrepreneurship Day (October 13).

The summit focused on the development direction of Vietnam's tourism industry, heritage and relics, beauty and health tourism, agricultural tourism, entrepreneurship in tourism, technology transfer in tourism to facilitate rapid and sustainable development of tourism businesses, regional tourism connectivity, brand promotion, and events.

Quang Nam - Da Nang - Thua Thien Hue: A shining tourism link between destinations

Vietnam National Authority of Tourism has suggested the central coastal city of Danang and the provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue select unique and valuable festivals and events, which will be invested in content, scale, timing, and connection with other destinations within the provinces.

This will create complete tour packages for tourists, said Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, at the workshop "Leveraging the Value of Events and Festivals to Promote Tourism Growth in Quang Nam - Danang - Thua Thien Hue" on October 8 in the seaside city of Danang.