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Showing posts from March, 2023

Ex-diplomats start businesses in Vietnam

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Former French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noël Poirier and former New Zealand Ambassador Haike Manning both served in Vietnam from 2012 to 2016 – a tenure which left such an impression on each of them that they both chose to stay in the country following their ambassadorships. Ex-ambassador’s laundromat service   Former French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean-Noël Poirier left diplomatic service following his term in Vietnam, but he didn’t choose to leave the country.   Instead, he opened three laundromats in Hanoi, one of which managed to stay open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while the other two only recently reopened following financial hardship brought about by the coronavirus. But laundromats are just a side hustle for Porier. When he’s not busy making sure Hanoians have clean clothes, he manages a foreign investment consulting business in the Southeast Asian country. While the pandemic essentially put a hold on foreign investment in Vietnam, the country’s rapid economic recov

Khanh Hoa Welcomes First International Cruise Calling in 2023

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According to Khanh Hoa Tourism Department, there have been 27 registered cruise ships to bring international tourists to Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa in 2023. This is a good signal for its tourism industry. The luxury cruise ship Seven Seas Explorer ported in Khanh Hoa on March 1 (Photo: VOV). Some of the famous attractions in Khanh Hoa are Ponagar Tower, Long Son Pagoda, and Truong Son Craft Village Center. Another tour is to travel by cyclo around the city through the main roads and visit Dam Market. Many tourists also choose a tour to the outskirts of the city to visit the processing of wet cakes, rice paper, mat weaving, enjoy fruits, visit Dinh Phu Vinh and Loc Tho pagoda, Xom Moi market… Then, guests return to Nha Trang port to board the ship and continue the cruise. International tourists visit the coastal city of Nha Trang (Photo: VNA). Director of Khanh Hoa Tourism Department Nguyen Thi Le Thanh said: This year, Khanh Hoa targets to welcome about 4 million t

Tay Ho Half Marathon 2023 to promote Hanoi running community

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The annual Tay Ho Half Marathon running race will take place around West Lake on April 9 to encourage the city’s entire strata to lead healthy lifestyles, according to the Tay Ho District People’s Committee.  There have already been 5,000 registrations for the running tournament. Photo: Tay Ho Half Marathon Runners will have the chance to experience the majesty of West Lake and run through numerous historic sites, such as Tran Quoc Pagoda, Tay Ho Palace, and Quan Thanh Temple. The Tay Ho Half Marathon, powered by BIM Group 2023 and Kids Run the Earth, has already attracted more than 5,000 registrations, more than doubling the number of previous competitions, according to Bui Thi Lan Phuong, Vice Chairwoman of Tay Ho District People’s Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee. In particular, she noted that up to half of the participants in the event would run the 21 km (half marathon), demonstrating how the runners’ fitness has been rising. She confirmed that the

Devoted doctor's house in Khanh Hoa wins national recognition

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung issued Decision No. 699/QD-BVHTTDL on the recognition of the house on Hon Ba Mount in Suoi Cat commune, Cam Lam district. Yersin (1863-1943) studied medicine in France, and then became a bacteriologist and an adventurer. He arrived in Khanh Hoa’s Nha Trang city in 1891 to work and lived there until his passing. The doctor founded the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute in 1895, the Hanoi Pasteur Institute in 1926, and the Da Lat Pasteur Institute in 1936. Yersin was also the founder and the first principal of the Indochina Medicine School, now the Hanoi Medical University and the Hanoi University of Pharmacy. He grew many industrial trees and medicinal plants in Suoi Dau, Khanh Hoa, and discovered Hon Ba Mount and the Lang Biang Plateau in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Yersin was honoured with the title of “Honorary Citizen of Vietnam” by the Vietnamese government in 2013. The house where Yersin lived in and conducted

Female diplomats learn about silk weaving in Vietnam

Addressing foreign delegates, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang noted that the gathering gives them the chance to explore the traditional craft of silk weaving as well as authentic products in Vietnam. The exchange is expected to help strengthen ties of solidarity and mutual understanding among ASEAN and international friends, she said. Elisa Fernandez, country representative of UN Women in Vietnam, expressed great appreciation for the initiative to organise the cultural exchange and said that culture can promote human development. Foreign delegates inquired into the history of the craft as well as the production process through a presentation by a representative of brand De Silk. They made a fact-finding tour of a local mulberry garden where they watched the silkworm rearing process, sampled the ripe berries and learned about silk incubation and weaving. Currently, more than 100,000 Vietnamese farmers live off mulberry farming and silkworm raising. Many Made

Hanoi opens tour to Co Loa Ancient Citadel

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The new tourism product tied to Co Loa Citadel in Dong Anh District, and themed “Visiting the Ancient Vietnamese Capital”, has just been launched as an appealing side event of the recently-held Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023 in Hanoi. This newly-launched tour will delight tourists who love Vietnamese history and traditional culture. Co Loa Ancient Citadel from a bird-eye view. Photo: VNA A fresh storytelling style Organized by Vietnam S.T.I.D in collaboration with Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, the brand-new tour starts and ends at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. On the way to Co Loa, visitors will have the chance to explore the heritages of Hanoi: the medieval beauty of the Imperial Citadel with valuable artifacts from the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties, the tree-lined Phan Dinh Phung Street – one of the most charming in the capital, as well as the Red River, Long Bien Bridge or Chuong Duong Bridge. According to the tour organizer, the route was planned

Vietnam considers issuing e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories

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The Government of Vietnam is seeking approval from the National Assembly to issue electronic visas to citizens of all countries and territories. International tourists on the way to the sandy beach in the southern province of Khanh Hoa’s Cam Ranh Coastal City. Photo: Trung Vu/ The Hanoi Times Accordingly, Vietnam would extend visa validity from 30 to less than 90 days for single or multiple entries and stay from 15 to 45 days for foreign visitors from Vietnam’s Visa Waiver Program countries and territories. The measure is seen as a boost for the development of Vietnam’s “smokeless industry”, which will enhance the competitiveness of national tourism in Southeast Asia. The country reinstated the visa waiver policy for citizens of 24 countries after three years of border closures due to Covid-19. Despite being one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to fully lift border restrictions, the travel industry has not recovered as expected. Restrictive visa policies are l

10,000 promotional tours for VITM Hanoi 2023

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Vietnam International Travel Mart Hanoi 2023 (VITM Hanoi 2023) will offer 10,000 promotional tours and gifts to attract domestic and foreign visitors.  The VITM Hanoi 2023 is expected to welcome more than 60,000 visitors. Photo: VNA It is estimated that more than 60,000 visitors will attend the four-day event. As of late March, 600 exhibitors from 60 Vietnamese cities, provinces, and 15 countries and territories had registered to set up 450 booths at VITM. Vu The Binh, chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said at the fair’s press conference on March 28 that the event, themed “Cultural Tourism,” aims to encourage travel companies to develop new products linked to cultural values and heritage, thereby contributing to the development of the cultural industry and bringing Vietnamese culture to the world. He said the fair would also increase travel links between domestic and foreign tourism enterprises through a series of activities, including a forum on “Developme

Foreigners enjoy adventurous trip to Chay River and Toi Cave in Quang Binh

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Tourists can jump down from the zip line in order to dip themselves in the crystal green water and swim to Toi Cave. Tourists can also choose to journey along the river on kayak boats and take part in water activities before continuing to explore Toi Cave. A foreign tourist on the 400-metre-long zip line system which leads to Toi Cave Each tourist can pay between VND270,000 and VND450,000 for a ticket to experience zip line service, mud bathing, kayak boats, and other services. Discovering Toi Cave serves as a great experience for all visitors. Dense dark covers up every inch of Toi Cave, making it challenging for tourists to move when inside the cave. Visitors will find themselves in a cool climate due to the flow of an underground section of the river. The only light coming from the headlamp which helps to lead the way for tourists to explore and view fossils in various shapes on the cliffs.