The project costs nearly VND11.5 trillion in investment sourced from Japan’s bank loans and was developed under the build-transfer format. Vietnam - Nepal friendship association establishedA congress to announce the establishment of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association (VNFA) took place in Hanoi on April 19. The exhibition, which opened on April 19, is jointly held by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and the publishing house. The nearly 50 publications displayed also feature Cuban heroes, as well as the nation and culture of Vietnam and its foreign policy. They include two books by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong on Vietnam’s national construction, which were published in Spanish.

An overview of the consulting session (Photo: VNA)At a recent consultation for domestic firms held by the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Thuan said that at the end of the first quarter of 2022, Vietnam shipped 30.95 million USD worth of goods to Algeria, mostly coffee, pepper, aquatic products, metal and chemicals.According to the official, Algeria has great demand for coffee, green tea, rice, footwear, iron and steel products, packaging materials, wood and wooden furniture, automobile accessories and spare parts, and household appliances.He underlined that Algeria has encouraged foreign investors, including those from Vietnam, to seek partnership in production in the country to improve its domestic production capacity, diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil.Besides, Vietnamese firms can also take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area which took effect from January 1, 2021, to increase investment in gateway markets in Africa to enjoy benefit from origin incentives, workforce, and on-site materials.To exploit this market, Thuan advised Vietnamese businesses to provide full and detailed information on the products and offer affordable prices as the import tax rate in Algeria is quite high, while focusing more on packaging and maintaining their high prestige in the market./.

Read full story- A congress to announce the establishment of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association (VNFA) took place in Hanoi on April 19. Former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Tran Anh Tuan was elected as Chairman of the association for the 2022-2027 tenure. Read full story- Senior Chairman of Thai CP Group Dhanin Chearavanont has pledged to continue to prioritise investment in Vietnam, which he described as the most potential and attractive country in Southeast Asia. This is a pilot model to develop the nighttime economy in Da Nang, which is implemented within the framework of cooperation between the municipal People's Committee and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Vietnam./. Read full story

Hoi An is a popular destination among Vietnamese and foreign tourists. (Photo: VietnamPlus)Hue city, a former capital of Vietnam, is still upholding many tangible and intangible cultural heritages. The key activities will be held from May to September.In Quang Nam , Hoi An will be hosting many of these activities. The highlight of these activities will be the Ha Long - Quang Ninh Tourism Week, including the Ha Long Carnival, in late April and early May.Vietnam’s tourism has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the number of international arrivals plunged by over 80 percent from the previous year to 3.7 million, while domestic tourism halved.

Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Photo: VNA)Viettel has been the only Vietnamese firm to enter the Global 500 list for 2022 (Source: Viettel)– The value and position of the Vietnam national brand have constantly improved in recent years in the global market and received recognition from many prestigious international organisations, according to Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Phu, who is also head of the Secretariat of the National Brand Programme, highlighted the significant contributions from the business community to the results, stressing that the success in trademark building and development of leading firms has been an important factor in international organisations’ calculation and evaluation of the Vietnam national brand.Thanks to the improvement of the competitiveness of domestic businesses and products, Vietnam’s export revenue has increased strongly, which has also helped Vietnam national brand become more familiar to consumers around the world, he said.Phu noted that Vietnam’s import-export revenue rose nearly 800 percent from 84.7 billion USD in 2006 to 668.5 billion USD in 2021, with exports increasing from 39.8 billion USD to 332.2 billion USD in the period.The World Trade Organisation places Vietnam in the 20th position among 50 countries with largest trade scale in the world.Along with macro-economic policies, the business community has exerted efforts to make positive changes in the structure of export products.In 2016, manufacturing products made up 80.3 percent of total export revenue. The proportion rose to 85 percent in 2020 and is expected to reach 90 percent in 2025.Notably, Viettel has entered the Global 500 list for 2022, while Vinamilk ranks eighth in the Brand Finance’s top 10 most valuable milk brands in the world in 2021.Phu said that in the 2016-2020 period, Vietnam's national brand value increased 226 percent from 141 billion USD to 319 billion USD, pushing Vietnam to the 33rd position among 100 strongest brands in the world.Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, the national brand of Vietnam maintained the 33rd position in the list with a value of 388 billion USD, up 21.69 percent year on year.Phu attributed the success to the proper policies and orientations from the Party and State and the directions from the Government over economic, political, diplomatic, cultural and social activities, which has helped enhanced the position and prestige of Vietnam in the world arena.The active engagement of ministries, sectors and localities in the National Brand Programme , and efforts of the business community have also contributed to turning Vietnam into a strong brand.According to Phu, in order to successfully establish a brand in choosy markets, apart from products' high quality and differentness, businesses should give more attention to the registration of intellectual property protection for their products abroad, as well as research and development (R&D).At the same time, it is necessary to foster linkages between domestic suppliers with foreign distributors, and attract more foreign investors in order to bring Vietnamese products to distribution systems in foreign countries, he said. Phu also stressed the need for businesses to improve their awareness on the significance of building, governing and developing trademarks abroad to give suitable resources for the work.He said that in the future, as part of efforts to develop the national brand, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will select and announce products eligible for the title National Brand in 2022 within the fourth quarter this year.Together with enhancing public awareness of the necessity of trademark development, the ministry will help improve the capacity for businesses in trademark building, management and development, and further popularise the National Brand Programme and products with national brands. The ministry will also call on the engagement of enterprises in expanding the National Brand Programme, he added./.

There are only about 20 traditional long houses in Buôr hamlet, of which only 6 have retained their original design. The traditional long house, which accommodates several generations of the one clan, typifies the Ede ethnic minority group’s matriarchal structure. There is a saying that compares an old house to the distance the sound of a gong travels, because when a gong is struck at one end of an old house its sound can barely be heard at the other end. Many traditional long houses in Bour hamlet in particular and in Dak Nong in general are falling in disrepair. Preserving and conserving these houses of the Ede people will play an important role in maintaining traditional cultural values and in introducing a unique tourism product of the ethnic people in Dak Nong province./.

The second goal of Vietnam was scored by Huynh Nhu just 10 minutes before the end of the first half. An opening ceremony is slated for April 19 on Nguyen Hue street of HCM City, said Nguyen Nguyen, Director of the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution under the Ministry of Information and Communications. The HCM City People’s Committee will host a book fair on Nguyen Hue street from April 19 to 24. It will run until April 21.WHO officials honoured for contributions to social security in VietnamMedals have been awarded to World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to Vietnam Kidong Park and WHO Vietnam officer Ho Hong Ngoc for their contributions to the development of social security in Vietnam. For her part, Ho Hong Ngoc, a project assistant at WHO Vietnam, has cooperated with the VSS on various issues related to healthcare insurance in Vietnam.

Hanoi April 19 (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency. - The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s decision to tighten control over real estate credit has helped to restrict speculation while making the market transparent and preventing a real state bubble, economic experts have said. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s decision to tighten control over real estate credit has helped to restrict speculation. Read full story- The Prime Minister has approved the restructuring of Vietnam Railways (VNR) to reduce the number of its subsidiaries. The Vietnamese women's football team (Photo: VNA)The Korean squad got the ball into the net in the seventh minute.

The Prime Minister has approved the restructuring of Vietnam Railways (VNR) to reduce the number of its subsidiaries. (Photo: baodautu.vn)The Prime Minister has approved the restructuring of Vietnam Railways (VNR) to reduce the number of its subsidiaries.According to Official Letter 303/TTg-DMDN issued by the Prime Minister on April 7 to approve this restructuring plan, branches of VNR's locomotive enterprise will reduce from five to three units.Meanwhile, the railway project management boards of Regions 1, 2, and 3 will carry out a merger to become the sole railway project management board with the role of representing VNR as the investor in projects for VNR. VNR will urgently complete the plan for the merger of Haraco and Saratrans to submit to the CMSC for approval. "This work is complicated, but VNR will try to complete the merger in the third quarter of 2022," Minh said.According to VNR, Haraco and Saratrans operate freight and passenger transport services on the same railway line, leading to unfair competition. This project was expected to be implemented in 2017-2020, with the goal of restructuring and divesting capital at its subsidiaries nationwide.Accordingly, the corporation will have a more reasonable production and business model focusing on three core industries of railway transport, railway infrastructure and railway mechanical engineering./.

Vietnam’s GDP grew by 5.0 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, comparable to the growth rate in Q4-2021, yet still two percentage points below pre-pandemic rates. Industry and construction and services sectors grew 6.4 percent year-on-year and 4.6 percent year-on-year, respectively, contributing 4.3 percentage points to quarterly GDP growth. Growth of industry and construction was driven by strong external demand for manufactured products, while services sector performance varied across sub-sector. This is the highest inflation rate in seven months but remains well below the 4.0 percent target. The World Bank said the authorities should consider structural reforms to help the economy become more productive and increase aggregate supply.

Coach Park Hang-seo (right) attends the press conference held by the VFF prior to the first friendly between Vietnam's U23 national team and the Republic of Korea’s U20 on April 19. (Photo: VNA)Coach Kim Eun-jung of the RoK’s U20 speaks to reporters at the press conference. (Photo: VNA)The first friendly between Vietnam's U23 national team and the Republic of Korea’s U20 in Phu Tho on April 19 will offer an opportunity to test some new players, Coach Park Hang-seo told reporters on April 18 morning.“There have not been many chances for them to make appearances, so the April 19 match will be an opportunity for me to evaluate their competency,” Park said at a press conference held by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) at Phu Tho’s Viet Tri Stadium.He noted that the Vietnamese squad includes three over-aged players who will help fill the gap.These players have all been tested for their ability, Park noted further, saying they fit in well and are able to lead their juniors in the road to the SEA Games 31.“I hope they will help improve Vietnamese U23 squad’s scoring ability,” he said.Coach Kim Eun-jung of the RoK’s U20 showed his determination to win, saying he and his team are honoured to play with Park’s. “It is an important match for both teams, particularly Vietnam’s U23 as they are gearing up for SEA Games 31,” he said.He unveiled that his team has six to seven players who are students and will probably turn professional so the game will enable him to confirm their competency.The Korean coach said though the match can be very difficult for his players, they will do the best they can before Vietnam.The Vietnam U23 team will take on the RoK’s U20 in two friendlies with the first taking place at Viet Tri Stadium at 7:00pm on April 19 and the second at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium at 7:00pm on April 22.Tickets have been priced between 150,000 VND and 300,000 VND (7-13 USD)./.

A bird's eye view of Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)The newly-launched high-speed boat to Ly Son Island docks on Han River for passengers to board. (Photo: VNA)The central coast city of Da Nang plans a variety of new tourism activities and events to boost travel demand and revive the smoke-free industry which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.The district of Ngu Hanh Son will launch the An Thuong Tourist Streets connecting night-time beach activities at My An Beach at 6:30pm on April 28, said Ta Tu Binh, Vice Chairman of the district’s People’s Committee.The district will also host a street carnival to welcome the Visit Vietnam Year 2022 and plentiful promotional deals and discounts will be offered to tourists during the “Happy Hours” programme, he noted.Ngu Hanh Son will develop new products at the An Thuong Tourist Streets toward creating a highlight to attract both domestic and foreign visitors, he added.Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh said all activities, particularly in tourism, in Da Nang have been resumed. The launch of travel demand stimulus programme s aiming to provide visitors with new and distinctive experience will give a push to the tourism industry and create a spillover effect for other sectors, he stated.The city’s newly-launched travel demand stimulus programme has engaged more than 200 service providers, offering various exciting products at promotional rates as well as high service quality, he said.Da Nang is offering free admission to Ngu Hanh Son landscape complex, Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, Da Nang Museum and Da Nang Fine Arts Museum.During the 3-day public holiday to commemorate the Hung Kings’ death anniversary, the city welcomed close to 78,000 tourist arrivals./.

MV of 31st SEA Games’ official song to make debutThe music video of the official song for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), “Let’s Shine”, will officially make debut at 8pm on April 18, according to the regional sports event’s organising committee. Inspired by memorial moments of the 22nd SEA Games in 2003 - the first of its kind to be held in Vietnam, the MV recounts the feeling of pride at that time and then gradually rolls out a picture of Vietnam on the thresholds of the 31st SEA Games. Send-off ceremony for Vietnamese delegation to SEA Games 31 slated for April 28A ceremony will be held on April 28 in Hanoi to see off the sports delegation of Vietnam to the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) slated for May 12 – 23 in Hanoi. According to the registered preliminary list, 965 athletes of Vietnam will compete in SEA Games 31 (534 men, 431 women). Vietnam tops test shooting event - road to SEA Games 31Vietnam ranked first at the test shooting event - road to the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), with 11 gold medals, 10 silvers and 13 bronzes.

A sixth grade boy receives COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre set up at Le Ngoc Han Middle School in downtown Hanoi on April 17 morning. (Photo: VNA)A total of 14,660 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the past 24 hours from 4pm April 16 to 4pm April 17, according to the Ministry of Health.Hanoi continued to report the highest number of infections on the day with 1,253 cases.The national tally now reached 10,432,547.A total of 5,472 COVID-19 patients were given the all clear on April 11, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 8,936,846.An additional 10 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the total fatalities to 42,944, equal to 0.4 percent of the total caseload.By April 16, the country had injected 209,483,478 doses of COVID-19 vaccines./.

A sixth grade girl receives COVID-19 vaccine at Le Ngoc Han Middle School in Hanoi's Hai Ba Trung District on April 17 morning. (Photo: VNA)- Nearly 1,000 sixth grade students aged 11 years old to 11 years and 10 months old in Hanoi’s districts of Ha Dong, Phu Xuyen and Soc Son were vaccinated against the COVID-19 on April 16.They were the first in the capital to receive the inoculation as the city has kicked off the vaccine rollout for children aged 5 to under 12. The campaign began in other districts the following day.The second dose will be provided 28 days after the first dose.Priority is being given to those with congenital and underlying diseases, malnutrition, obesity and others, according to Director of the municipal Department of Health Tran Thi Nhi Ha.It is estimated that Hanoi has more than 1 million children in the targeted age group./.