Vietnam News Headline: Hanoi Seeks Enhanced Ties with Guangdong Province, China

Vice Secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee, Nguyen Van Phong (L), receives Yuan Gujie, member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee. (Photo courtesy of the Hanoi delegation)

Hanoi and Guangdong Strengthen Ties for Urban Development

A high-level delegation from Hanoi, led by Nguyen Van Phong, Vice Secretary of its Party Committee, recently engaged in talks with Yuan Gujie, a prominent member of the Guangdong Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee.

Phong emphasized Hanoi’s commitment to fostering strong relations with China and its localities, including Guangdong Province. The visit aimed to turn the leaders’ directives into concrete actions. With Hanoi accelerating urban development, there is significant potential for collaboration in urban governance and construction. The city seeks to learn from Guangdong’s experiences and welcomes investments from Guangdong’s businesses, especially those with robust capital and technological capabilities.

Phong extended an invitation to Guangdong’s leaders to visit Hanoi on the momentous occasion of its 70th Liberation Day anniversary on October 10.

Yuan expressed confidence in the continued strengthening of ties between Guangdong and Vietnam, particularly with Hanoi, to achieve even greater mutual benefits in the future, as cited by VOV.

During their stay, the Hanoi delegation participated in a working session with Guo Yonghang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). They were briefed on Guangdong’s socio-economic development achievements as Vietnam’s largest trade partner.

Guo Yonghang affirmed the positive trajectory of cooperation between the two sides and between Hanoi and Guangdong in recent years, aligned with the agreements between the countries’ leaders to jointly pursue mutual development.

Phong reiterated Hanoi’s aspiration to enhance collaboration with Guangdong Province and Guangzhou city, focusing on personnel training, student exchanges, culture, urban development, and digital transformation.

The delegation also attended a closing ceremony for a course on personnel training for Hanoi at the South China University of Technology (SCUT) in Guangzhou.

Additionally, they participated in a seminar focused on preserving and promoting traditional cultural heritage.

Vietnam and Laos Unite for Technological and Innovative Future

The Vietnam-Laos Committee for Cooperation in Technology and Innovation convened for its first session in Vientiane, Laos, on May 28.

Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology, Huynh Thanh Dat, and Lao Minister of Technology and Communications, Boviengkham Vongdara, agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in technology and innovation. They discussed diversifying joint efforts to align with each country’s sustainable development strategies and the global context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to VNA, both sides committed to systematic consultations on technology and innovation organization and management to maximize their potential in this domain.

Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat (L) and Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara exchange the minutes of the first session of the Vietnam-Laos Committee for Cooperation in Technology and Innovation in Vientiane, Laos, on May 28. (Photo: VNA)

For the direction of collaboration from 2024 to 2026, they agreed to continue sharing state management and policy planning expertise while supporting the development of institutional and legal frameworks related to high technology, high-tech zones, technology services, innovation management, startups, and technology transfer. Regular leadership visits and exchanges of working groups were also agreed upon to assess the implementation of high-level agreements and chart future cooperation paths.

Both sides will work together on research, development, application, and technology transfer in various fields, including Industry 4.0 technologies, IT, startups, digital transformation, remote sensing, geology, agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, agricultural product preservation, clean energy, renewable energy, irrigation, water resources, and climate change responses.

They plan to organize one or two training courses annually on science, technology, and innovation management. Additionally, they encouraged participation in events that foster supply-demand connectivity, technology transfer, startups, and innovation in both countries each year.

Nha Trang: A Top Global Beach Retirement Destination

Nha Trang, a city in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, has been recognized by Travel+Leisure magazine of the United States as one of the world’s eight best beach retirement destinations. With its beautiful views, mild weather, and relaxed atmosphere, it has earned a spot on this prestigious list.

Located about 250 miles northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang ranks eighth globally. It boasts a stunning beach and a vibrant expat community of approximately 4,000 individuals. The publication highlights the city’s wet and dry seasons, with the dry season lasting from January to August and the monsoon season from September to December.

Photo: VOV

Travel+Leisure notes that high-quality healthcare is accessible through local hospitals, and most retirees arrange private healthcare coverage. According to Betsy Burlingame, founder and president of Expat Exchange, international retirees in Nha Trang often choose apartments or condos in the city center, close to amenities and the beach. There are also options for quieter residential areas.

Burlingame describes Nha Trang as a walkable city with reliable public transportation, a vibrant nightlife, delicious cuisine, and abundant recreational opportunities, from parks to hiking and boating.

Leading the list was Carlsbad, a coastal city in California, followed by Beaufort City, Falmouth Town, and Ponte Vedra Beach, all in the US. Other notable destinations include Ambergris Caye in Belize, Quepos in Costa Rica, and Mazatlán in Mexico.

Hanoi’s Tourism Efforts Flourish with Year-Round Visitor Growth

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, Hanoi welcomed 11.55 million visitors from January to May, a 14% increase year-on-year. Of these, 2.64 million were foreign tourists, marking a remarkable 51.9% surge, while domestic tourists totaled 8.91 million, a 6.1% increase. Tourism revenue exceeded 45.85 trillion VND (1.83 billion USD), reflecting a 23% growth compared to the same period last year.

In May alone, the capital city hosted 2.37 million travelers, representing a 16.6% annual rise. Foreign and domestic arrivals increased by 46.7% and 10.6%, respectively. Tourism revenue for May surpassed 9.19 trillion VND, a 23.6% increase compared to May 2023.

Tourists inside the Hoa Lo Prison relic site, known in French as Maison Centrale, is an attraction in Hanoi’s Hoa Lo street, Hoan Kiem district. (Photo: VNA)

Notably, Hanoi has traditionally experienced its peak season for international tourists from October to April due to favorable weather. However, this year, even with the onset of summer, arrivals have continued to grow strongly, indicating positive results from its efforts to attract visitors throughout the year.

Looking ahead, Hanoi’s tourism sector will focus on enhancing state management effectiveness, product development, market cooperation and development, digital transformation acceleration, and ensuring a safe, friendly, and civilized tourism environment.

Ninh Binh Festival Celebrates Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Ninh Binh Tourism Week 2024 is almost here, and this year’s event promises to be even more spectacular. Held annually during the first week of June, the festival is one of many tourism and cultural programs organized in Ninh Binh to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its recognition by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.

This year’s theme, “The Golden Colour of Tam Coc Trang An,” showcases the area’s natural beauty and cultural richness. The event will feature art and cultural exhibitions, performances, and a goat-fighting contest, a unique tradition in the region.

Organizers aim to promote Ninh Binh’s products and services while affirming its reputation as a safe, friendly, and attractive destination. The week will include an opening ceremony, the introduction of a walking street, art performances, displays of traditional handicrafts, and photography tours themed “Tam Coc Golden Season,” as reported by VNS.

Photo: vamvo.com

During the event, a photo exhibition titled “Tam Coc Trang An Golden Season” will be on display, along with cultural programs such as water puppet shows, traditional opera, buskers’ singing, and folk songs from different regions. Pham Tuan Phuong, vice chairman of the provincial Literature and Arts Association, shared that the association will present 120 award-winning photographs taken by its members, capturing the beauty of Tam Coc.

Additionally, a goat-fighting event hosted by the provincial Farmers’ Association will be a unique highlight of this year’s Ninh Binh Tourism Week.

The provincial People’s Committee has mobilized local businesses and residents to actively participate and contribute to the event, ensuring that all activities showcase the province’s cultural and historical uniqueness, tourism potential, and strengths, especially the outstanding global value of the Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, with a special focus on the Tam Coc Bich Dong tourist site.

The Tam Coc Trang An Golden Season, held annually since 2018, celebrates the ripening of the rice fields along the Ngo Dong River in early summer.

Tam Coc, one of Vietnam’s five most beautiful rice fields, is at its most breathtaking during this time, and Ninh Binh Tourism Week offers the perfect opportunity to experience its beauty and the area’s rich cultural offerings.

The field’s allure lies in the harmonious interplay between nature and people, the blending of heaven and earth, and the vibrant daily life of the local community.