Vietnamese people expected to travel and spend moreVietnamese travellers take the most shorts trips in the world, and the trend is expected to be on the rise with more local travel outside of Asia and spend more on their trips, according to Visa Global Travel Intentions (GTI) Survey. Vietnamese travellers, in particular, are found to take the most shorts trips with 74 per cent of those being in four nights or less. Among the top 5 motivations, reward-based motivations include bonding with family and friends and to unplug, while achievement-based motivations include experiencing new cultures and visiting exotic destinations. The study also showed a range of positive trends amongst Vietnamese travellers. Accordingly, the average time spent abroad during the last trips is found to be four nights for Vietnamese travelers, much lower than the APAC average of seven nights.

IT helps the blind get better lifeMore than 3,500 out of over 1 million blind people in Vietnam have used computer proficiently for the work and daily life, President of the Vietnam Blind Association Pham Viet Thu noted at a conference on solutions to information technology (IT) development for the blind in Hanoi on March 13. IT helps the blind get better life. Yutori Sadamoto from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam stressed that IT plays an important role in the life of the blind. An IT Training programme for the blind has been launched from March 2017 to August 2019 in the Training and Rehabilitation Centre for Blind under the Vietnam Blind Association and the Centre for Blind Children Education and Career Guidance under the Blind Association of the central Thua Thien-Hue province. After the conference, an information technology training course with two classes will be open at the Training and Rehabilitation Centre for Blind on March 15.-VNA

SOEs failed to disclose business information to be punishedThe Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has just asked the Government to handle the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) which failed to disclose their business information in 2017 in line with the Government’s Decree 81/2015/ND-CP issued in September 2015. (Photo: baodautu.vn)According to the ministry’s report, by the end of 2017, only 265 out of 622 SOEs sent reports to publicise their information on MPI’s business information portal. Besides, many subsidiaries failed to follow the Decree, including one under the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), two under the Vietnam National Chemical Group (VinaChem), five under the Vietnam National Coal – Mineral Industries Holding Corporation (VinaComin), and four under the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG). As of December 31, 2017, only 20 out of 84 governing bodies disclosed their business information in line with the decree. The rest have yet strictly followed the decree, in terms of setting up a column to disclose their business information, inspection, monitoring and violation handling.

“The Prime Ministers of Australia and Vietnam, Malcolm Turnbull and Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will sign a strategic partnership agreement in Canberra on March 16. Over the last forty-five years Australia and Vietnam have built up strategic trust based on mutual respect and shared interests. In 2009, Australia and Vietnam agreed to form a comprehensive partnership (2009) and in 2015 they agreed to enhance the comprehensive partnership. The new strategic partnership between Australia and Vietnam must be forward looking and reflect the reality that both countries have a growing convergence of national interests. After the strategic partnership is signed both sides will have to work draw up a Plan of Action for the coming years.

Watch huts on Hue’s flag tower to be restoredVietNamNet Bridge – Hue is restoring two watch huts that once sat atop the historic Ky Dai flag tower in this former imperial capital city. Coming back: The flag tower and two watch huts on the top platform of the tower. Hai said the restoration of the watch huts began according to a request by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017, aiming to ensure the authenticity of this historic tower. The centre director also added that time and war had collapsed the concrete huts, leaving their foundations at the scene. Scenic: One of the watch huts and an aerial view around the flag tower.

Public in favour of capital’s underground train station planVietNamNet Bridge – Locating an underground station (Terminal C9) for the city’s urban railway project near Hoan Kiem Lake is reasonable, Dao Ngoc Nghiem, deputy chairman of the Ha Noi Association for Urban Development and Planning told Tien Phongnewspaper (the Vanguard). According to the master plan, Terminal C9 is designed to be 150m in length, 21.4m in width and 17.45m in depth. The underground terminal C9 will have four entrances and exits. In addition to experts’ opinions, the master plan of the underground terminal is also gathering many comments from people. It was necessary to present an architectural form to match the heritage of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Book reflects astonishing beauty of the Spratlys’ landscape, soldiers, peopleVietNamNet Bridge – The beauty of the nature in the Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) and its people is portrayed in a book of photos taken by photographer and journalist Nguyen My Tra, released yesterday in Hanoi. Soldiers in Truong Sa are captured in one of Nguyen My Tra’s photos. “This book is also about the people living on the mainland and overseas who yearn to visit the Spratlys. Now they are gathered in the book Truong Sa – Here We Come. She hopes that her exhibition and book will inspire the younger generation to love the Spratlys as well as the country more.

Province budget to pay for workers’ social insuranceThe People’s Committee of southern Đồng Nai Province on Sunday decided to spend VNĐ1.4 billion (US$61,500) from its budget to pay for the social insurance of workers of a garment company. Many workers, especially pregnant employees, became worried as they were unable to get social insurance benefits since the company did not pay social insurance to the insurance agency. The group asked the workers to compile designation letters and gave advice on how to terminate labour contracts and close social insurance books. The Cao Bang Employment Service Centre will coordinate with the Labour-Invalids and Social Affairs of districts across the province to recruit and supply labour for Chongzoa city. The MoH will grant autonomy to more public non-business institutes and consider managing hospitals as social businesses, Tien said.

Vietnamese designer to host fashion show on cruiserVietNamNet Bridge – Well-known Vietnamese designer Le Thanh Hoa will transform a 50m-long luxurious cruiser into a ramp for his upcoming fashion show. Newly-crowned Miss International Queen 2018, Vietnamese transwoman Huong Giang, is seen in Vietnamese designer Le Thanh Hoa’s outfit in the finale of the pageant. The designer will have his latest designs displayed at a fashion show on a luxurious cruiser in Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province. Hoa has participated in major Vietnamese fashion shows, including Dep Fashion Show, Elle Show or Viet Nam International Fashion Week. The ball gown worn by the newly-crowned Miss International Queen 2018, Vietnamese transwoman Huong Giang, is one of Hoa’s designs.

More Chinese travelers visiting Vietnam via chartered flightsVietNamNet Bridge - Nha Trang, Da Nang, HCM City and other famous tourism sites are seeing an influx of Chinese travelers. Chinese travelers have been flocking to VietnamCam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa province was full of Chinese travelers during the Tet holiday. According to a report, there were 30-40 chartered flights a day bringing 9,000-12,000 Chinese travelers to the locality. In 2017, Vietnam received 4 million Chinese travelers, a sharp increase of 48.6 percent over 2016. He said that most of the aircraft serving chartered flights were leased from Vietnam’s airlines, and the number of Chinese travelers will increase as Chinese air carriers have joined the market.

Vietnam, New Zealand agree to boost all-round cooperationPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, agreed on major directions to boost the future Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation in all fields during their talks in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 13. In defence-security, PM Ardern agreed that the two sides should implement specific cooperation within the newly-signed Action Programme on defence cooperation in the 2018-2021 period. They agreed on numerous trade promotion activities, including the facilitation of farm produce exports, in order to bring bilateral trade to 1.7 – 2 billion USD by 2020. PM Ardern expressed her delight at positive growth in bilateral tourism cooperation, which is reflected through the fact that New Zealand welcomed 17,000 Vietnamese tourists last year. She affirmed to maintain assistance for Vietnam in human resources training, while backing the opening of direct air routes linking the two countries, and committing to facilitating tourism and trade cooperation.

Thanh Hoa must win to continue at AFC CupVietNamNet Bridge – FLC Thanh Hoa will seek revenge for their loss to Bali United last week when the two sides meet again for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup. FLC Thanh Hoa will receive Bali United at the My Dinh Stadium today. In the previous round, Thanh Hoa were beaten 1-3 on away ground. Thanh Hoa are now in third place at the AFC Cup, with three points after three matches. Thanh Hoa had some of the best U23 players, though the other players were also quite good.

French training programme begins in HCM CityVietNamNet Bridge – An intensive training course for French teachers and managers, chiefs and communication specialists at French teaching centres and universities in 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific began yesterday at the HCM City University of Paedagogy. A training programme for French teachers and others in 12 countries in the Aisa-Pacific began on Monday including at the HCM City University of Paedagogy.- VNA/VNS Photo Thu HoaiThe five-day BELC (Bureau pour l’Enseignement de la Langue et de la Civilisation Françaises) programme will train them in advanced methodology to improve the French language teaching quality. The programme is being run by the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research’s Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques (CIEP). The BELC programme would also focus on development of communication based on the set of quality criteria, and French faculties in various countries, she added. The French consul general in HCM City, Vincent Floreani, said the programme is among the activities to mark the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations.

Intellectual property court on way in VietnamThe establishment of an intellectual property court in Vietnam is in sight but has yet to be completed, a deputy chief inspector of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has said. “There needs be an intellectual property court in Vietnam, but we don’t know when it will be established,” she said at a conference on intellectual property enforcement in the digital world held in Hanoi on March 12. While the prospect of an intellectual property court seems down the road, Quynh said that it is essential to have a department within the country’s judicial system specialising in intellectual property. Taking advantage of social media platforms – particularly Facebook – to do business makes it harder for inspectors to discover violators of intellectual property rights, she said. “Intellectual property enforcement is the core of protecting innovation and strengthening the applications of science and technology to the development of the country.”-VNA

CPTPP impacts on small and medium enterprisesLuong Hoang Thai, director general of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, speaks to Viet Nam News Agency about the likely benefits and impacts of the CPTPP on the country’s economy. However, the other 10 member nations have agreed to give Viet Nam a longer road map in implementing the tax article. However, for developed nations, the road map is about seven years while for developing nations, the road map will be longer to make it suitable to their development conditions. Will you please talk more about the direct impacts of CPTPP on Viet Nam? The CPTPP has come up with a long road map in tax reduction for all enterprises to prepare.