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./.

Although the Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi route is gradually filling up, there are still ample tickets available. Flights from various locations to Ho Chi Minh City also show high booking rates, with the Quy Nhon and Chu Lai routes to Ho Chi Minh City achieving a 100 percent booking rate on certain days. The funtional forces regularly check passengers entering Ho Chi Minh City via Tan Son Nhat International Airport to prevent spread of epidemics. Associate Professor Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said that since the beginning of the year, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have not recorded any new severe Covid-19 cases. In 2023, the Representative Office of the Vietnam Association for Clean Water and Environment in Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with authorities in districts in Ho Chi Minh City and many provinces and cities in the Southern region to organize a program monthly.

Hosted by the Embassy of Canada in Vietnam, the contest, entitled “The Ambassador for a Day”, invited participants to create videos addressing the theme “Women and girls’ engagement and participation in decision-making processes and leadership”. Open to young Vietnamese aged 16 to 25, the contest received hundreds of entries. After a month-long period, the best five were selected for recognition. The first prize winner was given the opportunity to shadow a Canadian diplomat from the embassy in Vietnam, gaining firsthand experience of their day-to-day responsibilities. The initiative is part of the Canadian Embassy’s ongoing efforts to engage with local partners and communities./.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)– The Vietnam Report JSC has released a white book on the Vietnamese economy in 2023, highlighting the country’s economic achievements last year and giving forecast for 2024 as well as a number of policy recommendations.According to Vietnam Report General Director Vu Dang Vinh, last year, despite impacts from the world economic crisis and domestic difficulties, Vietnam has still been a bright spot with GDP growth of 5.05% and the recovery of many areas such as export and industrial production.In its recent report on Vietnam’s top 500 biggest businesses in Vietnam, Vietnam Report underlined that growth was recorded in revenue of all three major areas of industry-construction, service and agro-forestry-fisheries in 2023.The report also showed a year-on-year rise of 0.2% and 4.1% in the average return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), respectively. On the contrary, a downturn of 0.4% was seen in the average return on sales (ROS).Meanwhile, the production and business situation of a number of large enterprises in key economic sectors such as pharmacy, logistics, tourism, hotels - resorts, animal feed were also improved despite many difficulties.Except for the logistics industry, which is heavily impacted by the global economic downturn, all the remaining sectors enjoyed growth.Particularly, Vietnam just witnessed a year with boom in the domestic and international tourist market, and the growing demand for meat products, leading to a higher demand for animal feed.The Vietnam Report held that if they overcome the current difficulties, businesses will reap great opportunities to become the main driving force for the economy, enhancing their position in the domestic and foreign supply chains Vinh underlined that flexible adaptation efforts in production and business activities as well as governance strategies of enterprises will be a premise for a more positive year in 2024 when the economic situation gradually improves.He also underscored the need to build a strong trademark as a way for domestic firms to recover and thrive in the future./.

This is the first year of EPR implementation in Việt Nam, and the hope is to create a change in the process of promoting the circular economy. In 2021 nine enterprises, TH Group, Coca-Cola, FrieslandCampina, La Vie, Nestle, Nutifood, Suntory PepsiCo, Tetra Pak, and Universal Robina Corporation established the Packaging Recycling Organisation Việt Nam. In October 2023 La Vie Limited Liability Company signed a memorandum of understanding for a waste-plastic collection and recycling co-operation programme with DUYTAN Plastic Recycling. DUYTAN Plastic Recycling has invested US$60 million in a plastic recycling plant that used Bottle to Bottle technology. The factory is now among the five most modern and largest that recycle plastic in the world.

Compiled by Thu HàHÀ NỘI — As the room for the fiscal policy remains quite large, Việt Nam in 2024 should continue to pursue the counter-cyclical fiscal policy, with a focus on increasing spending and maximising tax and fee exemption and reduction, to support economic growth, experts believe. According to experts, in 2023, although there were still many difficulties in promoting economic growth, the positive effects of fiscal and monetary policies were shown. Meanwhile, the fiscal policy, including supporting packages for reducing and exempting taxes and fees of several goods and services, were quite effective, contributing to supporting the business community to overcome difficulties, recover and develop production and business. As the domestic economy in 2024 will still face many difficulties due to the impact of global headwinds while room for the domestic monetary policy remains quite limited, experts suggest that it is necessary to rely more on fiscal policy to help the country achieve the growth target of 6-6.5 per cent. In 2024, the fiscal supporting policy should continue to be implemented in the direction of increasing public investment spending; maximising tax and fee reduction and exemption; and strengthening administrative and investment procedure reforms to stimulate aggregate demand.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) and Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh at a ceremony to receive the ambassador's letter of credentials. Despite economic difficulties, Germany agreed to grant 61 million EUR in non-refundable aid to Vietnam for the 2024-2025 period. Many Vietnamese businesses resumed promotion activities and attended trade fairs in Germany. President Steinmeier will be accompanied by a group of large German businesses operating in various industries.According to Ambassador Minh, Vietnam has become a leading attractive destination for German businesses. A Letter of Intent on labour cooperation is expected to be signed on the occasion, Minh said./.

The PM briefed the participants on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation, affirming the important and positive contributions of the Vietnamese community abroad to the country's achievements. In the coming time, it will boost support for the Vietnam National Innovation Centre in terms of innovation and modern technology development, he added. According to the Ambassador, the Vietnamese community in Argentina numbers about 230 people, mostly living in northern Argentina and Buenos Aires province. In the coming time, it will boost support for the Vietnam National Innovation Centre in terms of innovation and modern technology development, he added. Cultural exchanges contribute to Vietnam - Germany mutual understanding: opinionNguyen Duc Thang, head of the Thang Muoi (October) arts club – a member of the Germany - Vietnam Association, has highlighted the role of cultural exchanges in promoting mutual understanding between the two peoples.

A total of 100 defendants were brought to court in connection with the case. Five defendants were given 20 years in prison for terrorism aimed at opposing the people’s administration, and two others 19 years on the same charge. Other defendants, including six on the run abroad, got jail sentences from 9 months to 18 years. Ninety-two defendants in the case were ordered to pay compensation for agencies, organisations and individuals suffering material and mental damage. In connection with this case, the provincial police in Đắk Lắk have conducted investigation and transferred 94 individuals to the provincial People's Procuracy on charges of terrorism against the people's government, engagement in terrorist activities, illegal immigration, and concealing criminals.

Former German Ambassador to Vietnam Rolf Schulze. (Photo: VNA)Berlin (VNA) – Former German Ambassador to Vietnam Rolf Schulze has said that the coming state visit to Vietnam by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his spouse is a testament to the close bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries. In an interview to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, Schulze, who is now President of the Germany-Vietnam Association, said the visit takes place just more than a year after the successful trip to Vietnam by Prime Minister Olaf Scholz. It is also the headquarters of the German Consulate General, becoming a leading destination for German companies when seeking investment business opportunities in Vietnam. According to the former diplomat, at the bilateral level, vocational training will bring many opportunities for the two countries’ cooperation in the future.

by Nguyễn Mỹ HàThe month leading up to Tết (the Lunar New Year festival) has always been beautiful. "Mum, I know you're waiting for my news by now," goes a popular song about a son who cannot make it home for Tết. Many of us could have spent a Tết or more without family. Over the past week, a video has gone viral showing young soldiers crying as they say goodbye to their comrades for two years. After two years of fierce training in the army, strangers have become close friends, like family even.