Vietnam news in brief - September 5

Vietnam promotes defense cooperation with other ASEAN members

Vietnam reaffirmed its readiness and proactive cooperation with other ASEAN members at a defense event held by the bloc in Vientiane, Laos on September 4. Speaking at the event, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of Defense, stressed Vietnam's commitment to strengthening defense cooperation with ASEAN countries and actively participating in world and regional issues. He also hoped for ASEAN's support for activities hosted by Vietnam in 2024.

Vietnam wins big at World Travel Awards 2024 

Hanoi's gilrs in Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) in Hoan Kiem Pedestrian Zone. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

Vietnam has won the title of Asia's Leading Destination 2024, Leading Heritage Destination, and Leading Nature Destination at the 31st World Travel Awards held in the Philippines on September 3. Many places in Vietnam were also honored in various categories. Hanoi was named Asia's Leading City and Leading City Break Destination, while Ho Chi Minh City won Asia's Leading Business Travel Destination and Asia's Leading Festival and Event Destination.

More than 2,700 flights operated during National Day holiday

Vietnamese airlines operated more than 2,700 flights during the four-day National Day holiday (August 31 to September 3). They carried more than 531,000 passengers and more than 4,300 tons of cargo, representing a 12% decrease in passenger traffic and a 17.8% increase in cargo traffic compared to the same period last year. Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City handled about 407,000 passengers and 5,300 tons of freight, while Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi handled 407,000 passengers and about 5,300 tons of freight.

Vietnamese dairy brand expands global presence and achieves export growth

Vinamilk's global reach spans 61 markets, including Oceania, South America, and Africa, supported by a network of 13 factories that meet international standards. Its yogurt products have even received FDA approval in the US. This robust infrastructure contributed to a 37% growth in export revenue in the first half of 2024, demonstrating Vinamilk's competitive advantage in the global dairy industry.

Vietnamese powerlifter wins bronze medal at Paris 2024 Paralympics

Vietnamese Paralympic powerlifter Le Van Cong won a bronze medal in the men's 49kg powerlifting event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on September 4, lifting 171kg despite an injury. This adds to his Paralympic achievements, including gold at Rio 2016 and silver at Tokyo 2020. Powerlifting has the most Vietnamese athletes at Paris 2024, with four competitors.

Commemoration ceremony shows strengthened ties between Vietnam and Slovakia

Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Vietnam's Chargé d'Affaires in Slovakia, laid a wreath at the Slovak National Uprising Memorial in Banska Bystrica while attending its 80th anniversary. The event, which commemorates the resistance against Nazi occupation in 1944, was attended by Slovakia's President Peter Pellegrini, Acting Speaker of Parliament Peter Ziga, and Prime Minister Robert Fico.  

Exhibitions on Vietnam's ethnic groups on Google platform

The online museum platform Google Arts & Culture has launched an exclusive site for Vietnam called "Vibrant Vietnam", which features 31 online exhibitions with over 400 images and dozens of videos about Vietnam's ethnic groups.

Screenshot of the "Vibrant Vietnam" exhibition interface on the Google Arts & Culture online platform.

"Vibrant Vietnam aims to celebrate and promote the natural landscape, cultural heritage, and diversity of Vietnam's ethnic communities to a global audience.

Binh Duong's export turnover up 11.3%.

Binh Duong Province, a key industrial hub in southern Vietnam, shipped US$22.5 billion worth of products abroad in January-August, up 11.3% year-on-year. The province's main exports recorded positive growth in the eight months, including timber (up 21.8%), garments and textiles (3.6%), and leather shoes (9.4%). These were sold to the US, EU, Canada, South Korea, Australia and Japan.

Ninh Binh, South Korean city strengthen cooperation in heritage preservation

A delegation from the South Korean city of Gyeongju, led by Mayor Joo Nak-Young, visited the northern Vietnamese province of Ninh Binh on September 4 to strengthen cooperation between the two cities in the field of cultural heritage preservation. The two places have many historical similarities as both were once ancient capitals, said Mayor Joo Nak-Young, explaining that Gyeongju is willing to share its experience in archaeology and heritage preservation with Ninh Binh.

Gojek to withdraw from Vietnamese market in mid-September

Indonesia-based ride-hailing firm Gojek has announced that it will cease operations in Vietnam on September 16, according to a September 4 announcement. Gojek has been operating in Vietnam since 2018. It operated in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, the southern province of Binh Duong, and Dong Nai before shutting down its operations.