Ordinary passports, issued before January 1, 2023 according to previously issued forms, are still valid until the expiry of the period stated in the passport. Another change is that the “surname”, “middle name” and “first name” will be printed on two separate lines, making it easier for Vietnamese citizens while handling immigration and residence procedures abroad, said the department./.

Tourist hotspots welcome huge number of foreign visitors during New YearAccording to statistics released by Vietnamese provinces on January 3, the number of foreign visitors to popular tourist destinations throughout the country during the New Year period sharply increased. This marked the first New Year holiday since the country reopened its borders to foreign visitors on March 15, 2022. In the second day of the holiday, Hoi An welcomed 34 foreign visitors from Mongolia and the Republic of Korea. Meanwhile, 12 projects are having their documents prepared for appraisal, including Tân Túc communal house, Phú Lạc communal house, Vĩnh Trường communal house, Chợ Quán Hospital prison, Continental Hotel, Giác Lâm Pagoda and Linh Tây communal house, among others. The city has investment plans for 11 projects, including the national archaeological relics of the Hưng Lợi pottery kilns, Nam Tiến communal house, Tân Quy Đông communal house, Vĩnh Hội communal house, Tân Hoà Tây communal houses, Hoà Thạnh communal house, Tân Hội communal house, Xa Tân temple and Xuân Hoà communal house.

Home »Editorial »Daily News »Vietnam – Recruitment demand slumps 25% from pre-pandemic levels (Vietnam News)Daily News View All NewsVietnam – Recruitment demand slumps 25% from pre-pandemic levels (Vietnam News)03 January 2023Recruitment demand in Vietnam during the last quarter of 2022 dropped 25% on average from the pre-pandemic level, reports Vietnam News, citing research from Vietnamese recruitment firm Navigos Group. For the month of December 2022, hiring demand fell by 42% compared to the pre-pandemic level, with Navigos citing the impacts of the global economic crisis and difficulties facing domestic businesses. The manufacturing, textiles, and maritime sectors witnessed a significant decrease in staffing demand owing to weak global consumer spending from major markets, high exchange rates, rising material costs, political instability, and high interest rates locally, Navigos noted. Some industries that recorded a progressive decrease in labor demand during Q4 were office administration, marketing, and sales (down 50% from pre-pandemic); construction (down 50%); purchasing, material supply, and transport (down 53%); textiles and footwear (down 58%), and seasonal employment (down 50%). Several segments also saw a sharp decline in hiring needs in December regardless of their growth in the two previous months, including banking, consumer goods, insurance, and stock market with the fall rates varying between 13% and 45%.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)– The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 23,606 VND/USD on January 3, down 6 VND from the rate on the last day before the New Year holiday (December 30).With the current trading band of +/-5 percent, the ceiling rate applicable to commercial banks during the day is 24,787 VND/USD and the floor rate 22,424 VND/USD.The opening-hour rates at commercial banks saw decreases.Vietcombank kept both rates unchanged from December 30 the end of the last week, listing the buying rate at 22,410 VND/USD and the selling rate at 22,760 VND/USD.Meanwhile, BIDV listed the buying rate at 23,405 VND/USD and the selling rate at 23,685VND/USD, both down 50 VND from December 30./.

Therefore, all people entering Vietnam to participate in SEA Games 31 did not have to make COVID-19 health declarations. To be able to pull off such a feat, Vietnam has proven their top-notch level capability, he stressed, adding that it delighted him that Vietnam has hosted and organised such a successful SEA Games for the region. After Vietnam was elected to the UN Human Rights Council, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his belief that Vietnam will continue to actively promote and protect human rights. Meanwhile, Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama said that Vietnam deserves to have a seat at the UNHRC as the country has worked tirelessly to promote and protect human rights in any circumstance. Caitlin Wiesen, former Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, affirmed that Vietnam has realised the Government’s commitments on placing the people at the centre of development following UN guidelines.

Visitors enjoy adventurous paragliding in Binh Thuan (Photo: VNA)Localities and travel firms have quickly embarked on plans to welcome back Chinese tourists to Vietnam and take Vietnamese visitors to China, after the Chinese side announced that it will officially cancel concentrated quarantine and COVID-19 testing for foreign visitors to this country from January 8.Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that this is a signal helping stabilise the flow of international visitors because China has always been a big market for Vietnam.The number of Chinese visitors to Vietnam increased by 34.4% per year, hitting 5.8 million in 2019. They always make up 28-30% of the total number of international arrivals to Vietnam.Speaking at a recent seminar on airline - tourism cooperation, Director of the Department of Tourism of central Khanh Hoa province Nguyen Thi Le Thanh said Vietjet Air and China Southern (CZ) have planned to resume their operation from March 26, while Vietnam Airlines will re-operate its flights from the Chinese market on June 1.The People's Committee of Mong Cai city in the northern province of Quang Ninh has sent a document to tourism sites and businesses about the preparation for welcoming tourists during the upcoming Lunar New Year.Many travel and tourism businesses are also ready to welcome Chinese tourists in the near future.Vietnam is targeting 8 million international visitors and 102 million domestic tourists with a total revenue of about 650 trillion VND (27.5 billion USD) in 2023./.

Vietnam is a multi-faith country, with 95% of its population practicing a religion, of which, 26 million are followers. Rosy results in the corruption fight have been a highlight of the country’s socioeconomic achievements in 2022. Vietnam has been strict in the fight against corruption and is on the right track. We always follow developments in the fight against corruption in Vietnam. With the country’s rising position and prestige in the international arena, the Party’s sound leadership, and great national solidarity, Vietnam is certain to turn its desire to become a developed country by 2045 into reality.

The disbursement of foreign direct investment hit nearly 21 billion USD, up over 8% annually.Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that the country’s total export-import turnover went up 12.18% to around 750 billion USD. The results were impressive amid weakening growth, inflation and spiraling living costs in the world.Economic sectors witnessed considerable growth, including agro-forestry-fisheries. Industrial production expanded by 8.6% in 11 months of 2022 while the total retail of goods and consumption services soared by 20.5%. Notably, on September 6, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Vietnam’s long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to Ba2 from Ba3 and changed the outlook to stable from positive. In addition, the practical and effective promotion of diplomatic activities and integration helped consolidate Vietnam’s prestige and position in the international arena.

Senior Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong, former Deputy Minister of National Defense, has been elected president of the Vietnam War Veterans Association for the 2022-2027 term. Gen. Truong was elected at the first conference of the central committee of the Vietnam War Veterans Association on December 30. Dung said 2023 is key to Hanoi’s socio-economic development plan for the 2020-2025 period and takes the work theme of discipline, responsibility, action, innovation, and development. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said it will enhance aviation security control to Level 1 for the upcoming holidays. The Việt Nam Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Association, a socio-professional organisation, was established in 2016.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (left) and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping. (Photo: VNA)Under the Party’s leadership and the State’s management, forces in charge of foreign affairs have fulfilled their important tasks of contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment at home and raising the country’s position in the international arena, a senior Party official has said.In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency regarding Party diplomacy, Le Hoai Trung, member of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations , affirmed that Vietnam has expanded its partnerships in 2022, not only with political parties but also with States and people’s organisations. Party diplomacy has been conducted through various forms such as phone talks, official visits, theory workshops and experience exchanges, among others, he continued.Vietnam and its partners have enhanced their mutual understanding and consolidated their political trust, the official stressed.Trung highlighted Vietnam's relations with neighbouring countries, recalling the official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in late 2022, which was a success across spheres.Vietnam celebrated the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with Laos, and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Cambodia this year, with an array of practical and diverse activities organised.The country has also joined a number of diplomatic activities of political parties in Southeast Asia, including those between them and their international partners, he added.The official also emphasised Vietnam's relations with countries in Asia, Europe, America and Latin America, which have been fostered through phone talks, meetings, visits and experience exchanges.

A flight carrying disadvantaged workers home will depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on January 9, 2023. The airline also offers free tickets for those who registered on its fanpage and website. A flight carrying the workers home will depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on January 9, 2023. Flights bringing them back to Ho Chi Minh City will depart from Hanoi, Van Don, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, and Vinh from February 10-15, 2023. The workers are also supported to travel from Noi Bai International Airport to stations where they catch coaches to go home.

(Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on December 30 announced that the agricultural sector has achieved all goals set for this year, including a growth rate of 3.36%, a record for many recent years. The export revenues of agro-forestry-fishery products reached a new record of 53.22 billion USD, 9.3% higher than that of 2021, with a trade surplus of over 8.5 billion USD. The domestic market has received more attention while the Government and the sector made efforts to promptly remove trade barriers, boosting the exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. In 2023, the agriculture sector targets a growth rate of 3% and export revenue of 54 billion USD. It aims to have 78% of communes and at least 270 districts nationwide recognised as new-style rural areas./.

Photo by VnExpress/Nhu QuynhVietnam consumes nearly 50 tons of gold jewelry each year, with 80% absorbed by HCMC, according to the Saigon Jewelry Association (SJA). Businesses have not been allowed to import raw gold since May 2012, but consumption of the precious metal has still increased stealthily every year, said SJA. In recent years, the export turnovers of Vietnamese gold jewelry have stood at $20-30 million per year. Vietnam gold companies churn out more than 11 million gold products weighing over 40 tons, thanks to an industry that employ over 38,000 jewelers, according to SJA. However, the ban on importing raw gold has caused difficulties for gold companies because there are differences between gold prices in international and local markets.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s GDP growth reaches 8.02% this year, a record high in the 2011-2022 period as the economy is recovering strongly, General Director of the General Statistics Office (GSO) Nguyen Thi Huong told a press conference in Hanoi on December 29. The agro-forestry-fishery sector expanded by 3.36%, contributing 5.11% to the total added value of the whole economy. The industry-construction sector grew by 7.78%, contributing 38.24% while the service industry rose by 9.99%, making a 56.55% contribution to the economy. With an annual growth of 7.18%, final consumption contributed to 49.32% of the general growth. GSO General Director Nguyen Thi Huong (Photo: VNA)Thanks to the Government's and Prime Minister’s directions, the macro-economy remained stable with inflation put under control and major balances guaranteed.

An overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA)– Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang hosted a reception for Queen Mother of Bhutan Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck in Hanoi on December 28, during which the host affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to its friendship relations with Bhutan.Welcoming the Bhutan Queen Mother's visit to Vietnam for the first time, Hang said that although the two countries have set up their diplomatic relations just for 10 years, the bilateral friendship and cooperation have grown positively with a bright spot being tourism partnership.She thanked Bhutan for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure, expressing hope that the Queen Mother and the Royal Family of Bhutan will continue to promote cooperation with Vietnam at international and regional forums, especially UN bodies.For her part, the Queen Mother said that she was impressed at the strong growth of Vietnam in all aspects. She showed admiration for the nation, people and spirit of Vietnam during the past struggle for national defence and current process of national development.She said that after Bhutan opened its door again for visitors earlier this year, Vietnam has become the second largest source of tourists to Bhutan with 6,000 visitors.At the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue to increase the exchange of delegations as well as bilateral partnership in economy, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries will work together for the opening of a direct air route in the time to come.On the occasion, Hang conveyed Vietnamese leaders’ best regards to King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema./.