HÀ NỘI — President Võ Văn Thưởng and his spouse hosted a banquet in honour of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his spouse at the Hà Nội Opera House on Tuesday evening. The President expressed his delight at the presence of outstanding individuals from the Vietnamese community in Germany accompanying the President. The leader held that the thing that connects Vietnamese and German peoples is the shared history of the two countries. It is the foundation that has created diversity and depth in the bilateral friendship. After the banquet, the President and his delegation were invited to enjoy an art programme presented by the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

Vietnam suggests measures to boost tourism cooperation in ASEANDirector of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Trung Khanh put forth some measures to boost regional tourism cooperation while addressing the 59th Meeting of the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations in Vientiane, Laos, on January 23. Khanh told the meeting that Vietnam welcomed about 12.6 million foreign tourists last year, including about 2.1 million visitors from the ASEAN countries. Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2022 Nong Thuy Hang presents gifts to ethnic kids in Bac Me district of Ha Giang province. (Photo: VNA)Miss Ethnic Vietnam 2022 Nong Thuy Hang went to Ha Giang province’s Sao Ha village, where 94% of the population live in poverty. Ban flower festival to ignite National Tourism Year - Dien Bien Phu 2024The Ban Flower Festival, a highlight of the National Tourism Year 2024, is set to open in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien on March 16.

At the 59th Meeting of the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo: VNA)– Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Trung Khanh put forth some measures to boost regional tourism cooperation while addressing the 59th Meeting of the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations in Vientiane, Laos, on January 23.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) needs to pay more attention to joint activities in three partner countries, namely China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and take advantage of the strengths of partners and dialogues to promote ASEAN tourism, he said, elaborating that after COVID-19 pandemic tourists tend to travel shorter distances.It is essential for the bloc to seek out tourism standards in the coming years, taking into account emerging regional trends such as golf tourism , the head of the Vietnamese delegation said, adding that this is an attractive product and also a strength of ASEAN member countries.He held that more efforts should be paid to developing and diversifying tourism products , with the participation of the member countries, in which ASEAN can jointly organise a joint regional festival.Khanh told the meeting that Vietnam welcomed about 12.6 million foreign tourists last year, including about 2.1 million visitors from the ASEAN countries. He also expressed optimism about the bright prospects in 2024, saying that the tourism markets of all ASEAN countries will fully recover.Entitled “Quality and responsible tourism - Sustaining ASEAN future”, the meeting focused on discussing and updating the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025, and decisions relating to tourism at the 42nd and 43rd ASEAN Summits.

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, his spouse, and the high-ranking delegation of Việt Nam arrived back in Hà Nội on Tuesday, concluding a tour of Europe from January 16 to 23 to attend the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and pay official visits to Hungary and Romania. Việt Nam and the two European countries agreed to augment cooperation in all spheres. Việt Nam and the European countries also agreed to fully implement the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and persuade the remainders to ratify the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). The Government leader also met with the Vietnamese communities in Hungary and Romania. The official visits marked important milestones in the Việt Nam-Hungary comprehensive partnership and the Việt Nam-Romania traditional and friendly partnership.

HÀ NỘI - The retail and consumer industry is poised for a strong recovery in 2024, driven by positive business conditions and encouraging macroeconomic indicators, according to leading securities companies. In their outlook report for the year, these firms assert that the worst challenges faced by the retail industry are now in the past. In their latest report, KB Securities Việt Nam (KBSV) has assessed the prospects of the retail industry in 2024, affirming that clearer signs of recovery are emerging alongside improved macroeconomic indicators. Attractive retail stocksIn terms of attractive retail stocks, several securities companies have identified potential industry groups and provided outlook reports. KB Securities Việt Nam (KBSV) has a positive evaluation of MSN shares as Masan Group is considered a pillar corporation in the retail and consumer industry.

Singapore (VNA) – Hive 2.0, a high-tech retail innovation hub has been launched at Esplanade Xchange underground mall in Singapore. The centre offers 10 unique retail experiences for startups focusing on automation, robotics and gigital retail services. Bot delivery is part of a host of concepts now in operation under Hive 2. At the 7-Eleven Shop & Go, the convenience store chain’s first unmanned and cashier-free store in Singapore, customers can tap into a gantry to pre-authorise their credit cards, pick items off the shelves, and exit. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology and smart cameras track and detect customers’ shopping behaviour in the store, which can currently hold up to five people at a time./.

Videos Bird's nest industry has many opportunities for development Since the first batch of Vietnamese bird's nest products was exported to China in November last year, over 700 kg of bird's nests have been exported to this market. With the effectiveness of the protocol with China, the bird's nest industry has many opportunities for development. Videos Romanian, Vietnamese PMs hold talks Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on an official visit to Romania. Join us to see his activities in the European country on January 22. Videos Winners of “Women leadership” video contest announced The winners of a video contest highlighting the significance of female engagement in decision-making processes and leadership have been announced by the Embassy of Canada in Vietnam.

At the get-together (Photo: VNA)– A get-together for overseas Vietnamese in Sweden and Latvia to welcome the Lunar New Year 2024 has been held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Sweden.Gathering crowds of representatives from the Vietnamese communities in the two countries, the embassies of other ASEAN member nations in the European nations, and international friends, the event also reviewed the fruitful development of the Vietnam – Sweden relations over the past 55 years.Addressing the event, Ambassador Tran Van Tuan highlighted Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements in 2023, and the country’s practical and effective contributions to international and regional organisations and forums.He appreciated the valuable support and assistance provided by the Swedish government and people for Vietnam in its struggle for national independence and reunification in the past, as well as in Doi moi (renewal) and international integration efforts, and national construction at present.The diplomat asserted a commitment to focus on strengthening the bilateral relations between Vietnam and Sweden in various areas, especially in mitigating climate change, protecting the environment, developing carbon capture technology, managing and treating waste, digital transformation, energy transition, financial management, public health, labour cooperation, trade, and investment.The embassy is actively promoting the establishment of direct flights and maritime transport routes connecting Vietnam and Sweden, he said, adding that the agency is also collaborating with Swedish authorities to propose possibilities for upgrading the partnership between the two countries on par with the bilateral relations and aligning with the demand and practical interests of their people, he said.He highly valued the contributions by nearly the 23,000 Vietnamese expats in those two European countries to the development of Vietnam and the host countries, especially in enhancing trade and investment connections, introducing goods and services, and promoting Vietnamese culture and language there.The ambassador expressed his belief that the Vietnamese community in the two European nations will continue to reap more accomplishments./.

They have broken down stereotypes that exist within families, schools and society to become female STEM leaders. Many surveys in Việt Nam have shown that there is a lack of female participation in STEM. Without strong connections between female students and successful female experts, female students lack personal confidence and motivation to boldly develop their STEM careers. Nguyễn Thị Huyền said life challenges sometimes make sensitive female engineers change their mindset in STEM jobs. The Việt Nam Energy Efficiency Network has recently launched the She4Future project which aims to promote a generation of confident and talented women in STEM in Việt Nam.

He stressed that with the consensus and joint efforts of the entire nation, including overseas Vietnamese, Vietnam achieved great achievements in 2023 in spite of numerous many difficulties and challenges. 05 of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership for sustainable poverty reduction until 2030, fine-tuning poverty reduction mechanisms and policies, and promoting the internal strength of people and communities to escape poverty. This also includes the full and timely implementation of current poverty reduction policies and the National Poverty Reduction Target Program for the 2021 to 2025 period. In 2018, Vietnam and Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding on military training cooperation. The scope of training cooperation between Canada and Vietnam has been expanded from language training and logistics to security training courses.

Videos Winners of “Women leadership” video contest announced The winners of a video contest highlighting the significance of female engagement in decision-making processes and leadership have been announced by the Embassy of Canada in Vietnam. Videos Nang Tien Waterfall splendid amid Northwest forests A splendid waterfall amid immense mountains and forests has been bestowed upon Van Ho district in Son La province. Videos Unique oil lamp tour on Ho riverine island “No electricity, no schools and no stations” are what travellers say about Ho riverine island in Cang Long district in the Mekong Delta’s Tra Vinh province. Nighttime tours without electricity use have become a unique and attractive offering, giving tourists an experience not easily found elsewhere. Videos New strategy shapes plant cultivation growth to 2030 Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has signed a decision approving a strategy to develop plant cultivation until 2030 with a vision to 2050.

The highest interest rate at the bank is 4.7 per cent per year when customers deposit for 12 months or more. Agribank follows with the latest deposit interest rates at the bank down by 0.2 per cent - 0.4 per cent per annum for terms under 12 months. Its interest rate for a 3-6-month term experienced the most significant decrease, falling to 2.1 per cent from 2.5 per cent. BIDV and VietinBank have also simultaneously cut deposit interest rates by 0.3 per cent per annum for terms under 12 months. Since the beginning of January, many commercial banks have cut their deposit interest rates, including Techcombank, KienLongBank, PVCombank and SCB.

BUCHAREST — Romanian Prime Minister Ion-Marcel Ciolacu said his country aspires to be the 'main partner' of Việt Nam bringing Vietnamese goods and products into Europe with its uncontestable advantages, including the strategic position to access the entire European continent. Both parties agreed on the positive evaluation of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Việt Nam and Romania over nearly 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations (1950-2024). On behalf of the Party and the people of Việt Nam, PM Chính expressed gratitude for Romania's precious support over the past nearly 75 years, standing by Việt Nam in difficult times. Regarding economic-trade-investment, both parties need to further leverage bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic Cooperation between Việt Nam and Romania. Việt Nam and Romania also concurred to enhance effective collaboration in various fields such as digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, labour and cooperation between localities.

BUCHAREST– The Vietnamese Government always accompanies and supports foreign enterprises, including those from Romania, so that they can make long-term, effective and sustainable investment in Việt Nam in the spirit of “harmonising benefits and sharing risks”, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính said on January 22. PM Chính made the statement while attending the Việt Nam – Romania Business Forum co-organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Vietnamese Embassy in Romania and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania. Việt Nam prioritised investments in digital economy, green economy, circular economy and knowledge-based economy, with projects in the areas of high technologies, electronics, semiconductor, innovation, renewable energy, and infrastructure development, among others, he stressed. At the forum, participants were introduced to investment potential, climate and opportunities in Việt Nam and Romania. Businesses had the chance to get a deeper insight into the economic development strategies in each nation as well as their business procedures, infrastructure and human resources.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)– Along with completing its transport infrastructure system Ho Chi Minh City is building a smart traffic management and operation system using high technologies to deal with traffic congestion and reduce accidents.The southern economic hub is the first locality to build a smart traffic operation centre, which has been put into operations in 2019, helping enhance the efficiency of traffic monitoring and regulation in the city.Doan Van Tan, Director of the Urban Traffic Management and Operations Centre under the HCM City Department of Transport, said that the city is investing in completing the system of transport system and major transport works with the application of the TOD (Transit Oriented Development) model, enabling the implementation of traffic management and regulation on digital platforms.He revealed that the department plans to build a complete traffic management and operation centre having all functions following traffic development orientations of the city.Experts held that on the foundation of the underway smart traffic operation centre, HCM City should continue to make a breakthrough in the application of new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) in traffic management.The city should increase data connections and sharing and expanding reaction and connectivity with public transportation service suppliers and transport work management agencies to enhance the efficiency of traffic regulation and operation, serving research and assessment of urban traffic situation and solving traffic congestion , they said.The synchronous implementation of these solutions in particular periods will contribute to perfecting the city’s smart traffic system in the future, they added./.