Vietnam news in brief - September 6

Lao President to visit Vietnam 

Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary and President of Laos, and his wife will officially visit Vietnam from September 10 to 13 to strengthen the relationship, which is called special friendship. The two neighboring countries share a history, and Vietnam has supported Laos in various fields.

Vietnam encourages Japan's investment in seaport

Authorities from Vietnam and Japan discussed strengthening cooperation in port infrastructure on September 5, with Vietnamese officials encouraging Japanese investors to seaport projects, including Lach Huyen Port in Haiphong and some in Danang and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. 

Ho Chi Minh City Travel Expo promotes sustainable tourism

The 18th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2024) opened on September 5 under the theme "Sustainable Travel - Creating Future" at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC). The three-day event features nearly 480 exhibitors, highlighting Vietnam's commitment to sustainable tourism, promoting eco-friendly practices and cultural preservation, and supporting the country's growing inbound tourism market.

The International Travel Expo HCMC 2024 (ITE HCMC 2024) is held under the theme "Sustainable Travel - Creating Future". Photo: Baovanhoa.vn

Vietnam ranks 4th at International Olympiad in Informatics

Vietnam ranked fourth at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) 2024, up five places from last year, with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal won by students from the High School for Gifted Students, Hanoi National University. Held in Egypt, IOI 2024 attracted more than 360 participants from over 90 countries.

Vietnam faces feed trade deficit

Vietnam incurred a trade deficit of US$2.65 billion in animal feed in the first eight months of 2024. With 85% of raw materials imported, including corn, wheat and soybeans, Vietnam produced 20 million tons of industrial feed per year and imported feed materials remain dominant.

Hoi An recognized as top destination for September

UNESCO-recognized Hoi An Ancient Town has been selected as one of the top 13 destinations for September vacations by the Australian travel website "Escape". The city offers warm days, cool nights and occasional light showers, making it ideal for exploring the ancient city. The number of international visitors to the town has been on the rise over the past time.

The restored Chua Cau (Japanese Bridge) in Hoi An Ancient Town exudes a mystical beauty at night. Photo Baovanhoa.vn

Vietnam launches drug-free school competition

Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Education have launched the second "Drug-Free School" competition to promote a healthy educational environment free from drug-related crimes. Held in 10 provinces, the competition targets secondary and higher education students to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs and strengthen prevention efforts. This initiative focuses on boosting legal education and drug prevention in schools for 2024-2030. 

Ho Chi Minh City to inspect social welfare centers

Ho Chi Minh City will set up three task forces to inspect all social welfare centers, focusing on their physical and staffing conditions. The move follows recent incidents at the Hoa Hong Shelter. The city aims to prevent similar incidents by thoroughly inspecting 63 private and 16 public social welfare centers, emphasizing the importance of mental health training for caregivers and unannounced inspections.

People visit the booths at the Vietnamese Goods Week. Photo: HaNoiMoi newspapers

The New York Times receives license for Vietnam bureau

The New York Times on September 5 was licensed to establish a permanent bureau in Vietnam. The move aims to strengthen the newspaper's coverage of Vietnam and provide more dynamic reporting on the country and its regional context. Damien Cave, the bureau chief, cited Vietnam's growing international profile and the strengthening of US-Vietnamese relations as key reasons for establishing the bureau. This reflects increased US media interest in Vietnam and aims to foster a better understanding of the country's development and bilateral relations.