Both Vietnam’s southern metropolis and the capital Hanoi climbed up one place from last year to 31st and 52nd respectively in the annual Top City Destinations Ranking report, released Thursday by the U.K.-based global business intelligence firm Euromonitor International. Da Nang, the country’s third largest city after HCMC and Hanoi, jumped six places from last year to 90th in the list, which ranked over 400 cities around the world based on the number of international tourist arrivals. The report said HCMC received 7.2 million foreign tourist arrivals last year and is expected to welcome 8.2 million this year, up 14 percent from a year ago. Hanoi received 4.6 million foreign tourists in 2018 and expects 5.1 million arrivals this year, a year-on-year rise of 9.5 percent. The Huc Bridge that connects Ngoc Son Temple to the banks of Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake in Hanoi. Photo by Shutterstock/Jimmy Tran. Da Nang, home to My Khe Beach and neighbor to the hot tourism destination of … [Read more...] about 3 Vietnamese cities among world’s most visited destinations
Southeast asia when to visit
State President starts State visit to Japan
State President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse have left Ha Noi to start their State visit to Japan from May 29-June 2, 2018. State President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse have left Ha Noi to start their State visit to Japan from May 29-June 2, 2018 - Photo: VNA In 2018, Viet Nam and Japan are celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The two nations’ high-ranking leaders have organized visits and exchanges at international and regional forums, launching crucial cooperative mechanisms and enhancing close coordination at multi-lateral forums such as the UN, ASEAN, APEC and ASEM. Japan is one of Viet Nam’s key economic partners. In 2017, the countries' two-way trade value reached US$33.4 billion, up 16.8% against the previous year. Japan has taken the lead among nations and territories investing in Viet Nam with US$9.11 billion. As of March 2018, Japan has poured US$49.839 billion in 3,693 valid FDI projects in Viet Nam, ranking second. Japan is … [Read more...] about State President starts State visit to Japan
Vietnam’s Doan Van Hau publicly honored at Dutch club’s stadium for SEA Games gold medal
Vietnam international Doan Van Hau, who currently plays for SC Heerenveen in the Netherlands’ top-flight league, was honored by the Dutch side in a short ceremony at their home stadium on Friday for winning the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal. Hau scored twice in the finale of men’s football at the Games in the Philippines earlier this week to help the junior Golden Dragons defeat Indonesia 3-0 and clinch their first-ever SEA Games gold medal in the category. Upon his return to SC Heerenveen, the club spent a decent amount of time preceding their home game against Willem II paying tribute to the 20-year-old defender for his achievements with the junior national team. Gerry Hamstra, director of football of the Dutch club, gifted Hau a bouquet in the flashes of cameras capturing the moment. At the same time, the big screen at SC Heerenveen’s home stadium of Abe Lenstra Stadion played the goals the Vietnamese scored in the finale. Video of Vietnam's Doan Van … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Doan Van Hau publicly honored at Dutch club’s stadium for SEA Games gold medal
Investors step up M&A movements
The remainder of 2019 will be key for Vietnam to avail of longer-term investment possibilities, Photo: Le Toan Warrick Cleine, chairman and CEO of KPMG Vietnam, told VIR that they have seen tremendous confidence in Vietnam from large investors, especially from the likes of Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The trend has expanded from the acquisition of 100 per cent or control of Vietnamese companies, such as the Sabeco deal from Thailand, to minority or strategic investments in large Vietnamese companies. These are often institutional investors, and their decisions reflect confidence in Vietnam’s overall macroeconomic and geopolitical state, and the management teams and business models of the specific companies. “Provided the global economy remains strong and Vietnam maintains its reform orientation, there is no reason investors will not continue to have the confidence to invest in Vietnam,” Cleine stressed. KPMG in particular expects to … [Read more...] about Investors step up M&A movements
Internet speed to remain sluggish until New Year
Repair work on the disaster-prone Asia America Gateway (AAG) undersea cable is expected to be completed on January 2, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications. A local internet service provider said a repair ship will arrive at the AAG location, the S1H branch, at 6 p.m. on December 28, 2019. The first weld will be conducted at 2 a.m. on December 30 and the final operation is expected to be done at 5 a.m. on January 1, 2020. But experts expect normal internet speed won't be restored until 8 a.m. January 2 for everything to be linked back again. In the latest breakdown, the S1H branch, about 163 km off the beach town of Vung Tau in southern Vietnam, was first reported damaged at 5 p.m. on November 14. This has resulted in slower internet speeds in the section between Saigon and Hong Kong. Connected in November 2009, the $560-million AAG cable handles more than 60 percent of Vietnam’s international internet traffic. The system is more than 20,000 kilometers … [Read more...] about Internet speed to remain sluggish until New Year
