Vietnam welcomed 12.6 million international arrivals last year, reaching 70% of the 2019 pre-pandemic level. World-leading indie travel news source Travel Off Path has listed Vietnam as the safest country to visit in Asia in 2024, saying the country is both prosperous and peaceful, as it enjoys low rates of crime and impressive political stability. Vietnam is ideal for slow travelers and backpackers seeking to reconnect with nature and expose themselves to a culture that is almost entirely different from their own, especially for those coming from the Northern Hemisphere, it said. Many Vietnamese places have made their names on prestigious voting sites, leaving good impressions on international tourists and friends. However, experts said, limitations still remain, especially in making policies and long-term strategies whose efficiency requires many factors, including data sources to ensure accuracy and harmony in tourism statistics./.

After a knee injury, I had to stop Muay Thai, so I do weight training with my upper body instead. We are glad that our campaign resonates with both seniors and youths alike, and we thank them for their support. This shows a strong support in our call to foster inclusivity and to celebrate the vibrancy of individuals at every stage of life. About the Agency for Integrated CareThe Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) aims to create a vibrant care community for people to live well and age gracefully. Our work in the community brings care services and information closer to those in need.

A pivotal accomplishment in 2023 was the sector's record-breaking trade surplus, soaring to 12.7 billion USD, reflecting a noteworthy increase of 43.7%. Six key commodity groups, namely rice, fruits and vegetables, coffee, cashew nuts, shrimp, and wood and wooden furniture, recorded export turnovers exceeding 3 billion USD. Beyond the efforts of small- and medium-sized enterprises, major corporations continued to bolster their investments in agriculture, particularly in high-tech one. The overall growth in the sector reached its highest level in the last five years, sustaining growth across all domains while ensuring food security and major balances of the economy, and contributing to macroeconomic stability. Looking ahead, the sector has set ambitious goals, aiming for a growth rate of 3-3.5% and export revenue of around 54-55 billion USD, surpassing that in the previous year by 1-2 billion USD./.

As Vietnamese firms continue to expand globally, it is important for them to invest in brand building on the global media stage to sustain their success, experts said. One of the key reasons for Vietnamese firms to invest in brand building on global media was to enhance their credibility and reputation. By leveraging global media outlets, Vietnamese businesses could effectively communicate their values, innovation and quality to a wider audience. Experts, however, pointed out that investing in brand building on global media requires a strategic approach. Experts recommended that, to stand out and compete effectively, Vietnamese firms proactively engage with global media to ensure that their brand is visible and memorable to global consumers.

When asked why they gamble during Tết, many say "Well, if I win the game, it means luck for me for the entire year." In common card games played in Tết, the rules clearly state that there can be only one winner. Sometimes, the winner can win triple the bet of the losers, and the losers can lose more than they intended. Therefore, any gambler must face the consequence of losing, and if losing means bad luck, why would he even want to gamble at Tết? If you know someone who gambles a lot, please first be a listener, not a judge, and try to show them a better path in life.

Analysing holiday booking data, Kyowon Tour Travel Easy identified Japan as having the highest proportion of reservations, accounting for 20.8% of the total. Vietnam secured the second position with a share of 11.7%. Newly emerging tourist destinations gaining popularity among travellers include Siem Reap in Cambodia and Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Renowned for its long beaches with gleaming white sand nestled beside inviting turquoise waters, Phu Quoc island received accolades from the American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler as one of the world’s top islands in 2023, marking its second consecutive year on the prestigious list. Beyond its stunning landscapes, Phu Quoc stands out as one of Vietnam's most alluring destinations, offering a kaleidoscope of cultural-historical experiences and a range of accommodations, from affordable housing to luxurious resorts./.

Vietnam suggests diversifying ASEAN-Russia tourism activitiesASEAN member states should consider measures to intensify tourism cooperation between the bloc and Russia, Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said on January 26. The Vietnamese official emphasised that the three partner countries are key tourism markets of not only ASEAN countries but also Vietnam. In 2023, Vietnam welcomed nearly 6 million visitor arrivals from the three countries, accounting for 47% of total foreign arrivals, he continued. This is the first time the cruise liner has returned to Ha Long since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Sanya (China) - Ha Long (Vietnam) route. They affirmed that they are always interested in and ready to assist Vietnam in settling post-war consequences and reconciliation, especially in dioxin detoxification.

- Thailand recorded a total of 85,300 companies registered as new businesses in 2023, the highest number in a decade, with combined registered capital of over 560 billion baht (over 15.72 billion USD).In its “2023 Thailand Investment Report” published on January 26, the Department of Business Development under the Thai Ministry of Commerce said 29% of new businesses were set up in Bangkok (25,120 companies), while the rest (60,180 companies) were in other provinces.The central region reported the highest number of new business registrations at 17,581 companies (20.61%), followed by the South (11,675 companies, 13.69%), the East (10,948 companies, 12.83%), the Northeast (8,942 companies, 10.48%), the North (8,604 companies, 10.09%), and the West (2,430 companies, 2.85%).In Bangkok, the top five businesses that saw the biggest jump in new registrations from last year are operating in electronic manufacturing, entertainment venues, bakeries, games and toys, and employment services.In provincial areas, the top five new businesses that saw the biggest increase over the previous year were motorcycle parts wholesale, motorcycle rental, currency exchange, marine transport, and technology education.The department estimated that the number of new companies in Thailand could reach 95,000 in 2024, increasing 5-10% year-on-year./.

The slow economic recovery globally has exerted strong impacts on many key exports of Vietnam last year. Therefore, meeting the high standards of markets and customers on green, sustainable development is the prerequisite to increase values and maintain the position of exports in the context of the increasingly fierce competition. Over the past years, such big markets as the US and the EU have faced great inflation pressure, causing their consumers to tighten their purse string, thus resulting in the reduction of imports of non-essential consumer goods. The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, suggested relevant ministries and agencies supplement and consolidate the legal framework, and set out standards and regulations on green transition for each sector in order to help enterprises optimise market opportunities and satisfy higher standards of importers./.

The two sides concurred to work closely together to speed up the effective implementation of the action programme to boost the Việt Nam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership. The two FMs pledged to encourage Korean firms to expand investment in Việt Nam, build more research and development centres, and transfer core and source technologies to Việt Nam, while coordinating in making the full use of the RoK's Economic Development Co-operation Fund (EDCF) and the Economic Development Promotion Facility (EDPF). The RoK will help Việt Nam develop cultural industries, expand exchanges among youngsters of the two countries, and provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in the RoK. The two FMs vowed to work for the strengthening of cooperation among localities of the two countries through practical activities such as the Meet Korea programme, while the RoK will continue supporting Việt Nam in high quality human resources training and increasing the receiving of Vietnamese workers in the future. The two sides agreed to continue coordinating closely and supporting each other at regional and international forums.

The Strategy for developing Vietnam’s cultural industries, which is in place to 2030, highlights the importance of cultural industries as a vital component of the national economy. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasised this during the 2021 National Cultural Conference, stressing the significance of developing cultural industries to build an advanced Vietnamese culture that embodies the nation’s identity. Investment resources are needed for cultural fields at all levels, with a particular focus on prioritising the development of Vietnam’s robust cultural industries. Of the 12 cultural industries, 6 - cinema, crafts, design, performing arts, cultural tourism, and entertainment software and games - have achieved significant milestones. Turning culture into a marketable product that can be consumed by many people and repeatedly sold is among the strategies employed to foster economic growth in the cultural industry.

"The US will work with Việt Nam in supporting Vietnamese schools to have over 50,000 engineers in this field in the next few years. "There are companies right now that are telling us that they want to invest in Việt Nam, but they're having trouble finding the qualified workforce, and this is not just limited to Việt Nam. "Many companies have made commitments to the shareholders and to their customers that they will use only renewable energy, so they are waiting for renewable energy regime and Việt Nam to expand. They're waiting for permits so that they can establish renewable power systems here in Việt Nam." He also reaffirmed that the US was committed to supporting a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Việt Nam.

The Vietnamese Ministry also hopes to strengthen exchanges with Korean partners in education and technology transfer on smart city development. Mekong Delta steps up vocational training for workforceAuthorities in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta are providing vocational training for the workforce to help people find steady jobs and improve their lives. It has persuaded agricultural production and services and industrial services businesses to link up with vocational training establishments to create jobs. Last year Sóc Trăng provided vocational training to 17,540 people and created 29,412 jobs, according to its Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. It plans to invest more in vocational training facilities, develop skilled teachers and generally improve the quality of vocational schools, she added.

HÀ NỘI Friday saw a resurgence in the VN-Index following a three-day downturn, primarily attributed to the recovery of several prominent large-cap stocks. This positive shift can be largely attributed to the recovery of a few key large-cap stock groups. The recovery of large-cap stocks played a crucial role in driving the VN-Index upward. Bank stocks emerged as the driving force behind the market's upward momentum on Friday, orchestrating a notable rebound after a series of declining sessions. Gaining bank stocks were Tiên Phong Bank (TPB), Vietcombank (VCB), VPBank (VPB), National Commercial Joint Stock Bank (NVB), Military Bank (MBB), Techcombank (TCB), Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), Vietinbank (CTG) and Saigon-Hanoi Bank (SHB).

This best-seller is one of the most sought books in 2023, and 24 nations have already purchased its publishing rights, including Vietnam. Director of Omega Plus Tran Hoai Phuong shared that her organization usually accelerates the translation and publication of hot international books (e.g. Despite all of the above preparation, a negotiation for a publishing right to a title is not always successful. The last factor affecting the success of obtaining a publishing right is copyright protection. Unless the copyright protection process has more positive results in Vietnam, otherwise foreign partners will certainly hesitate to grant the right to Vietnamese publishers.