Vietnam news in brief - September 12

Sa Pa Town celebrates 120th anniversary of foundation and tourism

Sa Pa Town wrapped in clouds. Photo courtesty of Lao Cai Provincial Portal

Sa Pa Town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai will host a series of activities from September 18 to 30 to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Sa Pa's foundation and tourism. Among the activities, an opening ceremony will be held on September 20 to kick off the tourism week. Local authorities will organize a travel workshop on September 22, a marathon called Sa Pa-VMM 2023, and an OCOP Week Fair from September 18 to 24.

On the last day of the series of activities, the city will host a dance sports gala on the night of September 30.

Vietnam's 10 best hotels list announced

The World Travel Awards 2023 Asia-Pacific last week announced the list of the 10 Best Hotels in Vietnam, including three from Ho Chi Minh City and two from Hanoi.

The top 10 hotels in Vietnam include Imperial Hotel in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province; Park Hyatt Saigon, The Reverie Saigon and InterContinental Residences Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City; Azerai La Residence and Melia Vinpearl Hue in Hue City, Thua Thien Hue Province; InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 and SOJO Hotel Ga Hanoi in the capital city of Hanoi.

Ho Chi Minh City explores Jakarta's urban development practices

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City officials visited Jakarta (Indonesia) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) from September 3-10 to learn about the development of public transport networks, including electric buses, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), affordable housing construction and waste management.

According to Vietnamese officials, Ho Chi Minh City needs to learn from the two foreign capitals and develop new approaches to improve the city's mass infrastructure.

ADB supports commercial rooftop solar development in Vietnam

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and GreenYellow Smart Solutions Vietnam Co., Ltd. (GreenYellow) signed a US$13.8 million loan agreement on September 11 for rooftop solar photovoltaic systems to increase clean energy production at affordable prices for businesses in Vietnam.

The financing package includes a $3 million loan from ADB's regular capital resources and another $10.8 million loan from FMO, responsAbility Fund, and Société Générale, with ADB as the mandated lead arranger. This is ADB's first financing in Vietnam's commercial and manufacturing rooftop solar investment portfolio.

Vietnam's booth at the Fine Food Fair 2023 in London. Photo: VNA

Vietnam attends Specialty and Fine Food Fair 2023 in London

Five Vietnamese enterprises, including Utea ID Co., Ltd., Ly Tuong Food, Ben Tre Coconut Technology, RYB, Saigon Beer, and EUTEK Group, showcased their specialty food and beverage products at the Specialty and Fine Food Fair 2023, held from September 11 to 12 at the Olympia Exhibition Center in London.

This year's fair attracted more than 500 exhibitors from the UK and other countries and thousands of visitors, providing opportunities for manufacturers, service providers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors in the food and beverage industry to network, explore potential suppliers and buyers, and grasp market trends.

Danang strengthens investment attraction in AI industry

The central city of Danang will enhance promotion and investment attraction in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry to achieve digital economic development by 2030, according to delegates attending the international workshop on investment promotion and AI development held in the beach city on September 11.

Enterprises investing in the sector will enjoy various incentives, including free land rent, tax exemption for the first four years, a 50% tax reduction for the following nine years, and a preferential tax rate of 10% for 15 years.

Vietnam faces water security challenges

Vietnam faces water security challenges, including uneven water distribution, inefficient water storage, regulation and distribution systems, and increasing water demand, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai said at the conference "Water Security and Insecurity: Rebuilding Peaceful Coexistence with Science" held in Binh Dinh Province on September 11.

Through the conference, Vietnam will work with the regional and international community to ensure national water security and reduce disparities in sustainable water exploitation and use.