Vietnam News Update (Jan. 26): President of the Philippines to Visit Vietnam

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr (Photo: Manila Times)

Philippine President to make state visit to Vietnam

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse are set to pay a state visit to Vietnam from January 29 to 30.

The visit is made at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong and his wife, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on January 25.

In recent years, the relationship between Vietnam and the Philippines has grown steadily in a multitude of fields, with political cooperation being enhanced through numerous visits and high-level meetings.

Bilateral economic cooperation has also seen positive developments, with the Philippines representing the 6th largest trading partner in ASEAN and the 16th largest trade partner of Vietnam. The Philippines continues to be Vietnam’s largest rice export market, cited VOV.

Greater attention continues to be paid to cooperation in other important fields such as national security and defense, education and training, labor, culture, and tourism.

Both nations go ahead with maintaining and boosting closer coordination at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and APEC..

During the visit, the Philippine President is scheduled to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Van Thuong and have a host of meetings with key Vietnamese leaders as well as engaging in other important activities.

Special preferential import tariffs issued to boost Vietnam-Cambodia trade

The Government has issued Decree 5/2024/ND-CP on special preferential import tariffs for Cambodian goods as part of the implementation of the Vietnam-Cambodia trade promotion agreement for the 2023-2024 period.

The decree provides details on special preferential tax rates and conditions for being entitled to those rates, including being on the list in Appendix I to the decree, having C/O form S issued by authorized agencies of Cambodia, and being transported through pairs of border gates stipulated in Appendix III to the decree.

Besides, the decree also stipulates tariff and import quotas specifically for rice and unprocessed tobacco leaves originating from Cambodia, according to VNA.

At Tinh Bien international border gate on the Vietnam-Cambodia border (Photo: VNA)

Under the decree, rice products produced with the support of Vietnamese firms, households, and individuals in Cambodian provinces bordering Vietnam, upon import into Vietnam, must comply with existing regulations on export and import taxes.

For rice and unprocessed tobacco leaves originating from Cambodia and imported into Vietnam by Vietnamese enterprises for re-export to other markets, the decree mandates adherence to the temporary import and re-export mechanisms established by the Vietnamese Government and relevant regional and global agreements signed by both countries.

Petrol prices rise in latest adjustment

The retail price of petrol rose in the latest adjustment made at 15:00 p.m. on January 25 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance.

According to the latest changes, the price of E5 RON92 went up by VND760 to be sold at no more than VND22,170 per liter, while that of RON95-III was raised by VND920 to VND23,400.

Diesel oil and kerosene are to be sold at a maximum of VND20,370 and VND22,540, up VND180 and VND10, respectively, VOV reported.

Petrol prices rise in latest adjustment.

Meanwhile mazut oil 180CST 3.5S will be sold at no more than VND15,490 per kilogram, a fall of VND10.

In the latest adjustment, the two ministries decided to make use of the petrol price stabilization fund for mazut oil, at VND300 per kilogram.

Bookings for Tet tours on the rise

Ocean liners bustling at ports, bringing thousands of foreign visitors to Vietnam, and bookings for Tet (Lunar New Year) tours on the rise are among the robust upticks for the tourism sector in 2024, according to insiders.

Deputy Director of the Domestic Tourism Division at Saigontourist Travel Services Co., Ltd Vu Hai Sam said that tours to northern localities, ranging from VND9-15 million (US$366-610), have been attractive to visitors.

Besides, road trips departing from Ho Chi Minh City to explore such destinations as Bao Loc, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Buon Ma Thuot, and Mang Den have won favor among customers, he added.

Statistics from Saigontourist showed that bookings from overseas Vietnamese (OVs) have risen dramatically, accounting for up to 80% of the total.

During the peak Tet season, which runs from the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (February 2) to the 10th day of the first Lunar month (February 19), the tour operator will service some 28,000 domestic and foreign visitors, up 20% from the same time last year, cited VNA.

HCM City is a favorite destination for foreign visitors. (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

According to Communications and Marketing Director at TST Tourist Nguyen Minh Man, the OVs are interested in seven to ten-day tour packages to the northern region.

In the run-up to Tet holiday, Ho Chi Minh City has welcomed thousands of visitors a day who then continue their trips to the Mekong Delta and neighboring countries.

The municipal Department of Tourism, some 416,000 foreign visitors and more than 2.3 million domestic ones made their trips to the city, helping it generate nearly VND13 trillion in tourism revenue in January, up 57% year-on-year.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport said it hosts 860-900 flights with 135,000-140,000 passengers a day from January 26 to February 24. The airport authority has penned detailed plans and arranged staff and equipment to prevent congestion and provide the passengers with the best services.

Vietnam introduces program for English-teaching foreigners

The Ministry of Education and Training has introduced a program for foreigners who are interested in teaching English at foreign language centers in Vietnam.

The program aims to improve the quality of foreign language teaching and learning in the country, with a particular focus on the English language, Saigon Times reported.

The program is open to native speakers and foreigners with a college degree in English, or those with a college degree and a minimum foreign language certificate level five, equivalent to C1 proficiency based on Vietnam’s English language proficiency standards.

Comprising 11 topics and a total of 160 lessons, each lasting 45 minutes, the program covers essential knowledge about the social and cultural context of Vietnam, the Vietnamese education system, and relevant regulations for teaching and learning in the country.

Participants will be trained for English language teaching methods, the development of four language skills, testing and assessment methods, and the integration of information technology into English teaching.

Foreigners who already possess English competence and English teaching certifications such as TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, and DELTA are exempt from attending this certification program.