New normal

Vietnamese authorities have realized that the birthplace-omitted passports have troubled other countries’ immigration work. Vietnam’s Ministries of Public Security (MPS) and Foreign Affairs (MoFA) have been working on redesigned passports with some European countries due to the omission of birthplace in the paper. Vietnam's redesigned passport. Photo: Hoang Lam/Zing MoFA Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang informed at the press conference on August 11 following questions on the visa application rejected by Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic over the place of birth information. “The Consular Department of MoFA and the Immigration Department of MPS on August 8 worked with the embassies of Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic in Hanoi to discuss the temporary suspension of visa issuance by these countries to holders of the redesigned passport as the document does not explicitly display information about the place of birth,” Hang said in a statement. At the … [Read more...] about Vietnam works with some European countries for new passports

The Embassy of Finland in Hanoi announced on August 11 that it has decided to stop recognising the new-style Vietnamese passports due to the lack of information regarding the place of birth of the holder. In a statement released on its Facebook page, the Embassy noted that the new passport “does not contain information of the place of birth of the passport holder, which is a requirement for personal identification and also for processing of Finnish visa/residence permit applications.” “The Embassy of Finland will not receive applications for visa/residence permit of holders of the new passport until further notice from competent authorities of Finland. The Embassy will provide information in case of any changes,” the announcement concluded. The Scandinavian country will actively work alongside EU member states in the Schengen area and Vietnam in order to devise solutions to the matter, the Embassy concluded. Finland has become the latest country to reject the new Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Finland temporarily refuses new Vietnamese passports

The new Vietnamese passports with a navy blue cover. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Finland on August 11 became the third country to reject Vietnam’s new-style passports, following similar moves of Germany and the Czech Republic . The new Vietnamese passports with a navy blue cover, issued from the beginning of July 1, 2022, do not contain information about the place of birth of the passport holder, “which is a requirement for personal identification and also for processing of Finnish visa/residence permit applications,” the Embassy of Finland in Hanoi said in a statement. Therefore, Finland has decided to temporarily suspend recognition of Vietnam’s new passports. “The Embassy of Finland will not receive applications for visa/residence permit of holders of the new passport until further notice from competent authorities of Finland. The Embassy will provide information in case of any changes,” the announcement continued. Finland will actively work with member … [Read more...] about Finland suspends recognition of Vietnam’s new passports

In the letter, the Vietnamese top legislator showed delight at the progress of the Japan-Vietnam Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia, including the ties between the two legislatures. He expressed his strong belief that with the rich experience gained through different working positions, Hidehisa will achieve great success in his new position and continue to promote the partnership between the two countries in all fields. N.A. Chairman Hue underlined his hope to work closely with the Japanese House of Councillors leader to make the cooperation between the two legislative bodies deeper and more effective for the benefits of peoples of both countries and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. On the occasion, N.A. Chairman Hue also invited Hidehisa to visit Vietnam at a convenient time. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about N.A. Chairman extends congratulations to new Japanese House of Councillors President

Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) recently met with the embassies of Germany, the Czech Republic and Spain and asked them to coordinate with Vietnam to tackle difficulties regarding granting visas in the new version of Vietnam’s passports, according to the MoFA. At the MoFA’s regular press meeting on August 11, spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang updated the media on some countries’ refusals to recognise the new version of the passports since they don’t contain information about place of birth. She said under the Prime Minister’s direction, the MoFA’s Consular Department and the MPS’s Immigration Department had a working session on August 9 with the embassies of Germany , the Czech Republic and Spain in Hanoi to discuss the countries’ suspension of issuing visas on new Vietnamese passport s due to the absence of this … [Read more...] about Ministries work to smooth out problems with new version of Vietnamese passport

A scene of the MV featuring Ninh Binh's Trang An complex. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam looks stunning in a music video “ Waiting for You – 5 , 000 Years ” newly released by Republic of Korean singer and composer Joseph Kwon to mark the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries (December 22, 1992 – 2022). A press conference took place in Hanoi on August 10 to launch the new MV with Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu in attendance. Sieu said he appreciates Kwon for his love for Vietnam’s nature, people and culture, stressing his brilliant MV makes the beauty of Vietnamese tourist destinations shine through and expecting the MV will promote Vietnam’s landscapes globally. According to Kwon, for almost two months, he and his production team have travelled to numerous popular destinations across Vietnam, from Hanoi, Cuc Phuong National Park and Trang An (Ninh Binh), Tam Chuc (Ha Nam), … [Read more...] about RoK singer shows love for Vietnamese destinations in new MV

Japan ese President of the House of Councillors Hidehisa Otsuji (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has sent a congratulatory letter to the newly-elected Japanese President of the House of Councillors Hidehisa Otsuji. In the letter, the Vietnamese top legislator showed delight at the progress of the Japan-Vietnam Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia, including the ties between the two legislatures. He expressed his strong belief that with the rich experience gained through different working positions, Hidehisa will achieve great success in his new position and continue to promote the partnership between the two countries in all fields. NA Chairman Hue underlined his hope to work closely with the Japanese House of Councillors leader to make the cooperation between the two legislative bodies deeper and more effective for the benefits of peoples of both countries and for peace, stability, … [Read more...] about NA Chairman extends congratulations to new Japanese House of Councillors President

Hanoi (VNA) - Myanmar has recently designated two new public forest areas in the western state of Chin's Paletwa Township and in the west-central region of Magway's Gangaw Township. According to Xinhua news agency, the Southeast Asian nation’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation announced they consist of the 4,988 acres Paletwa and the 8,400 acres Pawle-Watchipa forest in Gangaw. The designation of the protected areas aims at conserving watershed areas, mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, ensuring soil conservation and fulfilling the needs of local residents, the ministry said. A total of 11 protected forest areas have been designated across the country so far this year, according to Maung Maung Kyaw, a director of the Forest Department. In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, Myanmar had a total of 67,559.66 square miles of reserved forest and protected public forest areas , or about 25% of the country's national territory, … [Read more...] about Myanmar has two new protected public forest areas

The Hanoi-Vientiane cooperation has constantly been improved in all spheres via a growing number of development projects between the two. Hanoi has been giving priority to fostering solidarity and friendship with Laos’ provinces/cities, especially Vientiane, and aims to take bilateral relations to a new height. Overview of the meeting. Photos: Pham Hung “Hanoi considers its partnership with Vientiane a major part in the foreign affairs policy.” Former Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi gave the remarks during a meeting with Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee Anouphap Tounalom on August 11. Tounalom is leading Vientiane’s high-ranking delegation in a visit to Hanoi from August 9 – 14. According to Nghi, based on the close ties between Vietnam and Laos, the Hanoi-Vientiane cooperation has constantly been improved in all spheres via a growing number of development projects between the two. Nghi applauded the efforts from both … [Read more...] about Hanoi commits to taking relations with Vientiane to new height

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Samsung Electronics ’ plan to manufacture semiconductor products in Vietnam has sparked the hope that the Southeast Asian nation will be a new stop for the semiconductor industry . During his recent trip to Vietnam, CEO Roh Tae-Moon unveiled that Samsung will make an additional investment of 3.3 billion USD in the country this year, enabling the Korean technology giant to start producing semiconductor components in Vietnam by July 2023. In fact, part of the investment commitment has been materialised, with 841 million USD for Samsung Complex HCMC-SEHC in Ho Chi Minh City and 1.18 billion USD for Samsung Electro-Mechanics in the northern province of Thai Nguyen. Since 2019, the tech giant has announced that it will raise investment in the semiconductor industry to a whopping 151 billion USD. When Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited Vietnam in 2020, host leaders expressed their wish that Samsung will invest in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam – new stop for semiconductor producers