On the Hồ Chí Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the HoSE increased 1.79 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 1,131.72 points. The size of stock market capitalisation reached nearly VNĐ6 trillion, an increase of more than 9 per cent year-on-year, equivalent to about 62 per cent of GDP in 2022. Liquidity rose from the last trading session, up 8.2 per cent to over VNĐ17.1 trillion (US$703.3 million). In the VN30 basket, 14 stocks inched higher, while 15 declined and one was flat. On the Hà Nội Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index settled lower on Tuesday, down 1.05 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 229.99 points.

The number of visitors to Hanoi on the New Year holiday from December 30, 2023 to January 1, 2024 is 402,000, up 65% year-on-year. According to the municipal Tourism Department, in the period, the capital city served 72,000 foreign tourists, a 2.1-fold increase, and 330,000 domestic holidaymakers, up 59% year-on-year. Representatives of the authorities of the province and the city on January 1 welcomed and presented flowers and lanterns, a symbol of Hoi An, to the first foreign visitors to the ancient city. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 1.65 million visitors during the period, of which, about 46,500 are international ones, an increase of 86%. This year, Vietnam aims to welcome 17-18 million foreign visitors, the same number recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and 110 million domestic ones./.

Vietnam targets 2 billion USD in tra fish exports in 2024 . - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)– Vietnam aims to produce 1.7 million tonnes of commercial tra fish and earn 2 billion USD from exporting the products in 2024, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.To that end, the fishery sector needs to be ready with plans to better respond to the increasingly competitive market, and stricter regulations and technical barriers of importing countries, Tien said.Although Vietnam's tra fish exports in 2023 faced difficulties and consumption demand from markets decreased, especially the European and Chinese markets, there will be many positive signs for the tra fish industry in 2024.Le Hang, Communications Director of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said despite a decrease in market share in certain markets, the export of tra fish is showing more positive signs in some markets such as China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and the UK.The tra fish export value reached an estimated 1.8 billion USD last year, down 27% compared to the figure of 2022, according to the General Department of Customs.However, there remains a great demand for Vietnamese tra fish in many markets in the coming time, especially for deeply-processed products, Hang said.The US has been among the top markets consuming the most Vietnamese tra fish products.The demand for tra fish products has also recorded a resurgence in the European Union (EU) market which is hoped to be a bright spot for Vietnam’s exports next year when it has a more stable economy than other key ones.As one of the traditional import markets for Vietnamese tra fish, China is expected to witness a high growth in tra fish imports in 2024. In recent years, this market has consistently ranked among the top three largest importers of tra fish products, following the US and Japan.VASEP said that the import demand for Vietnamese tra fish from China and Hong Kong (China) remained stable from June to November last year. China is showing its willingness to expand the import of aquatic products from Vietnam , including tra fish.The product also has an advantage in other markets such as Europe and Algeria. Recently, the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria coordinated with the Carrefour supermarket system in the country to organise an activity to introduce and promote Vietnamese products, including coffee and tra fish fillets./.

At the sports hall of a school in Wakura Onsen city, Ishikawa, where Vietnamese workers seek shelter after the earthquake. (Photo: VNA)The Public Interest Foundation International Manpower Development Organization ( IM Japan ) has affirmed the safety of all Vietnamese interns under its management who are working in Toyama, Fukui and Ishikawa prefectures that were hit by the massive earthquake on January 1.The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan also stated that as of 5pm January 2 (Japan time) there had been no report on any Vietnamese casualties in the 7.6-magnitude earthquake, adding that all groups of Vietnamese connected by the embassy had confirmed their safety and most of them had returned home after spending a night at shelters.According to Phan Tien Hoang, First Secretary and head of the labour management board of the embassy, on the evening of January 1, the board provided evacuation addresses for Vietnamese nationals living in Niigata, Ishikawa and Toyama. All Vietnamese living near the quake's epicenter were safely relocated to shelters where they were provided with necessary supplies, he said, adding that most of them returned home on the next day's morning. However, due to aftershocks in the afternoon, triggering tsunami alerts, authorities in some places have urged residents to return to evacuation centres.The labour management board said it has been keeping contact with labour unions and employers hiring Vietnamese to confirm the group's safety and provide assistance for them when needed.The embassy, meanwhile, emphasised that it is maintaining close contact with local authorities, relevant agencies, and representatives of Vietnamese communities in severely affected areas, ready to carry out citizen protection work if necessary./.

During the last trading week of 2023, the VN-Index displayed a series of recovery sessions, surpassing its previous peak of 1,130 points. At that point, the VN-Index is expected to test the range of 1,123-1,125 points. Throughout 2024, KBSV identifies four key factors that will shape Việt Nam's stock market trend. This shift is viewed as a positive supporting factor for the global stock market, including the Vietnamese stock market. However, the risk of the US economy slipping into a recession remains notable and could exert significant pressure on the global stock market under severe scenarios.

Võ Trí Thành*Việt Nam’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate was estimated to reach 5.05 per cent in 2023, the General Statistics Office (GSO) has announced. In 2023, economic growth momentum has moderated significantly in the first three quarters, reflecting the impact of weakening growth in industrial production, especially manufacturing, and exports. In its report on World Economic Outlook, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast the country’s GDP growth rate in 2023 at only 4.7 per cent. The country’s 2023 GDP growth rate is also higher than the World Bank’s forecast of growth in developing East Asia and Pacific at 5 per cent in its East Asia and the Pacific Economic Update October 2023. As calculated, if even GDP in 2023 was 6 per cent, the growth rate of GDP in 2024-25 would have to be 8 per cent so that the average growth rate of the five-year period would reach 6.5 per cent.

Some large enterprises associate with small enterprises and business households in the form of leasing or contracting, mostly for non-core business activities of the enterprise. The rate of conducting business linkages for core business activities or further participation in the global value chain is not much. Therefore, in order to encourage business linkage activities, there needed co-ordination from the State, industry organisations and economic entities, said Kiên. Finally, economic entities or businesses and business households are conscious of change, self-improvement and proactively seek to participate in the process of business linkages and formation of value chains. The initiative of economic actors played a key role in the formation and operation of economic links, he noted.

It becomes vital for Việt Nam to reform investment incentives in the context of a rapidly changing and complicated world, the ministry said. The three most important factors affecting the decision to choose a location for an investment are security, political stability, investment incentives and policy predictability. The MPI raises seven proposals to reform investment incentives. Seventh, it is necessary for Việt Nam to improve the investment environment and simplify administrative procedures. The ministry recently made public a draft decree on an investment support fund as a solution to attract strategic investment when GMT is adopted.

Vietnam Airlines carries year's first visitorsThe first domestic and international visitors to Vietnam in 2014 received a special welcome ceremony with bouquets and special gifts held by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines in collaboration with localities nationwide on January 1. Hue Festival, held for 24 years, is one of the key international art event in Vietnam. Preserving cultural heritage, generating sustainable developmentEngaging the community in the preservation of natural resources and cultural heritage values has an important role to play in boosting sustainable development since it will bring substantial benefits to the national economy. According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Cultural Heritage, cultural heritage could meet the development requirements of the cultural industry, especially cultural or heritage tourism. Khanh highlighted that Vietnam, boasting more than 40,000 relic sites and 15 UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, has huge potential to build cultural tourism offerings.

Firstly, the sector will continue to strengthen the renovation of mindsets on external relations, the FM said, stressing the need to boldly go beyond old-fashioned thinking and find new methods for the benefit of the nation. It is necessary to strengthen strategic research, consultation and forecast on external relations, discovering new issues and identifying the strategic position of the country, and making full use of international trend to design proper policies and take suitable steps, he said. Thirdly, the diplomatic sector will focus on creating new breakthroughs in building and developing itself in a strong, comprehensive and modern manner, he said. Directions by the Party leader has served as a guiding light for Vietnamese diplomacy to implement tasks in the current tenure, said the FM. Economic cooperation has become a key pillar in all external relations, especially with important partners, he said.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (third from right) and President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez (fourth from right) cut ribbon to inaugurate Suchel – TBV washing powder factory (Photo: VNA)VNA– Vietnam’s economic achievements deserve to be lauded and receive applause from the international community, including Cuba, according to Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolás Hernández Guillén.In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations (December 2) and the New Year 2024, he said that Vietnam has reaped positive results in economic expansion despite complex developments of the world situation as a result of armed conflicts, financial crisis, and economic recession.Thanks to the bravery, intelligence, steadfastness, and sound leadership of the Party and Government, Vietnam recorded outstanding economic growth in 2022, and it continues to be among the countries with fast growth rates in 2023, the diplomat assessed.Regarding bilateral relations, he stated that Cuba has pinned high hope on the development of the Cuba-Vietnam ties.Cuba hopes Vietnam to become an increasingly important factor contributing to supporting the Caribbean country in realising its strategic goals of ensuring food security through the supply of rice, as Vietnam is the main supplier of this very important grain for the Cuban people, the ambassador stressed.He went on to say that cooperation between the two countries has been also promoted through Vietnamese businesses’ commitments to cooperating with Cuban partners in expanding production of essential goods such as rice, meat, maize, and beans.“Vietnam is the largest Asian investor of Cuba and we hope Vietnamese businesses will continue to increase investment activities in our country," Ambassador Orlando Hernández said.During National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s official visit to Cuba in April, Vietnamese businesses inaugurated a solar power plant, a washing powder factory, and an animal feed factory in this Caribbean nation, he said, adding that it continues to promote efforts to have more and more Vietnamese investors explore the market and expand operations in Cuba.He expressed his hope that investment cooperation activities will bring about benefits for both Cuba and Vietnam, as well as their enterprises, and Cuban products, particularly those related to biotechnology, will increase their presence in the Southeast Asian country. He shared that a delegation from BioCubaFarma, the Cuban organisation of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries, recently visited Vietnam to seek cooperation opportunities, which will contribute to improving Vietnamese people’s health.Regarding collaboration at regional and international forums, the Cuban Ambassador emphasised the need for the two countries to intensify coordination at multilateral forums and international organisations, promote cooperation in areas of mutual concern, in the context of a complex and changing world situation with many interwoven challenges and opportunities.In that context, Vietnam and Cuba must unite and make stronger efforts to implement all proposed plans, with the common goal of improving people's living conditions, Orlando Hernández stressed./.

HÀ NỘI Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has emphasised the need for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to train and build a contingent of capable officials and public servants to fulfil the difficult and complicated tasks related to land, natural resources and minerals. Cumbersome and unnecessary administrative procedures that hinder development and cause inconvenience for people should be removed, he stressed. The ministry should focus on digital transformation, green transition and circular economy, while pooling resources to establish databases on land, the environment and minerals connected with the Ministry of Public Security’s population database, Chính said. The PM asked the ministry to drive the development of maritime economy, concentrating on meticulous planning to ensure land reserves for development, and review priority land bases earmarked for the planning of economic and industrial centres along the coastline. In 2024, the ministry was tasked with evaluating water resources and forecasting challenges to propose strategic solutions to ensure water security.

Flight connecting Cambodia to Khanh Hoa via China debutsCam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa province, central Vietnam, on December 29 welcomed the first flight conducted by Cambodia Airways, transiting China. The second edition is jointly organised by the Hanoi People's Committee, Vietnam Athletics Federation (VAF) and Vietcontent under the sponsorship of Herbalife. The main event of the countdown will be the Vietnam International Half Marathon 2024 (VIHM) on January 1 at the Thien Quang Lake. She is currently practicing hard with the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra for the concert that will feature famous symphonies from Italy, France, Germany, and Austria. Tourism authority orders to throw the book on violatorsThe Vietnam National Authority of Tourism ordered to throw the book on those who committed violating deeds to the country’s tourism.

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnam News Agency has selected the top ten noteworthy events that shaped the country's economic landscape in the year 2023. Factors contributing to the country's economic recovery include record-breaking exports, public investment disbursement efforts, the highest FDI since 2020, and a rebound in domestic services. Major media outlets have acknowledged Việt Nam's growth efforts, positioning it as an attractive trade partner and investment destination. Record public investment disbursementThe country's public investment disbursement is estimated to reach an unprecedented value of over VNĐ461 trillion (US$19 billion), the highest to date. At the peak of the crisis, 106 out of 281 motor vehicle registration centres across the country were forced to suspend operations.

HÀ NỘI Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on December 30 chaired an annual dialogue with farmers nationwide, with its theme highlighting farmers’ central role in the development of agriculture, rural economy, and green, sustainable new-style rural areas. He noted that agricultural development still follows a production-oriented mindset rather than transitioning to an economic mindset. There are also shortcomings in rural development planning, environmental pollution issues, and new challenges in rural security and order. PM Chính called for the enhancement of the patriotic spirit, self-reliance, and political position of Vietnamese farmers regarding innovation and international integration. He urged sectors and localities to fully understand the role of farmers, improve the quality of training and consultancy services offered to farmers and rural labourers in production and business, and step up digital transformation in agriculture.