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Tourists in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working with domestic ministries, agencies and foreign partners to facilitate travel of Vietnamese and foreign citizens, said Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang . At the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on August 11, Hang said amid the complicated and uncertain developments of the COVID-19 pandemic with new, more virulent and transmissible variants as well as the emergence of new epidemics like monkeypox, several countries are yet to open their doors and continue limiting travel, some of which are major tourism markets of Vietnam. As the global economy continues to struggle from the pandemic, international tourism has not yet fully recovered, and Vietnam is not an exception. Following the Prime Minister’s directions to accelerate the tourism recovery in the new situation, Hang said Vietnam has promoted the mutual recognition of 'vaccine passports' and the … [Read more...] about Vietnam facilitates travel of Vietnamese, foreign citizens

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

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Foreign Ministry has instructed the Vietnamese Embassy in Spain to continue monitor the case of two Vietnamese citizens accused of violating law in Spain and coordinate with relevant agencies during the investigation and legal proceedings of the case, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang . At the ministry’s regular press briefing on August 11, the spokesperson said the court in Spain had returned passports to the two Vietnamese citizens on August 8 after they were represented by local lawyers, and the pair had left Spain, citing official information from the Vietnamese Embassy in Spain. Hang added that the two had reportedly arrived in Vietnam, according to local media. The Vietnamese Embassy in Spain is ready to take measures to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, the spokesperson affirmed./. VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Embassy in Spain ready to ensure legitimate rights of Vietnamese citizens

Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) – Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has stated that Vietnam is closely keeping a close watch on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. At the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on August 11, Hang affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on the Taiwanese issue, which, she said, has been clearly reflected in common documents reached during high-level visits by Vietnamese and Chinese leaders. She confirmed Vietnam’s viewpoint that peace, stability and cooperation in the Strait hold significance to the region and the world amid regional and international complicated developments. On the basis of persistently following the 'One China' principle, Vietnam wants parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, prevent increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait , making positive contributions to maintaining peace and stability, and promoting cooperation and development in the region and the … [Read more...] about Vietnam closely monitors situation in Taiwan Strait: Spokeswoman

With the peak summer travel season drawing to a close, Vietnam’s international tourism segment still faces bottlenecks on its route to full recovery. Within the framework of a program early this week to discuss the current state of the Vietnamese tourism sector, representatives from businesses and organizations across the country voiced doubts that Vietnam will meet its goal of welcoming five million foreign tourists by the end of the year if regulations governing visa policies, infrastructure, and personnel are not relaxed. Incomplete recovery According to Cao Thi Tuyet Lan, sales manager at Viettours Incentives & Events Co. Ltd., foreign tourists still find it difficult to enter the country despite Vietnam having fully reopened its borders. “What's more, it is hard to apply for visas for business travelers who work with domestic enterprises," Lan said. “[The domestic partner] first has to register [the foreign partner] with the Immigration Department, then wait for a … [Read more...] about Vietnam still struggles to welcome back int’l tourists

Great opportunities Vietnam has climbed up the value chain over the years, becoming a key electronics manufacturing hub, attracting stable foreign direct investment with its sound macro fundamentals, preferential tax incentives and an abundance of relatively cheap and productive labor. Electronics, a major driving force of Vietnam’s export growth Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly integrating into the global production chain, as confirmed by international organizations, including the World Bank and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in their reports. For decades an apparel and footwear exporter with a low value added, Vietnam has gradually become an important production center in the technology industry, according to HSBC. Ngo Dang Khoa, HSBC Vietnam’s Country Head of Markets and Securities, said Vietnam has become a production center of electronics and cell phone components, helping it lure an increasing number of foreign … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s star rises in global supply chains

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

This provides an opportunity for the city to seek important partners, establish in-depth relations, promote economic and cultural development, and strengthen international cooperation in personnel training and equipment supplies, Vu told Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang during their working session in Da Nang. According to the Deputy Minister, Da Nang has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and central agencies to successfully organise multiple international events. It has also joined efforts to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty over its sea and islands, especially Hoang Sa island district of Da Nang city, he said, noting that the National Border Committee will continue to support Da Nang in this regard through training courses. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also further assist the city to seek partners and attract foreign investors, Vu noted. For his part, Quang stressed Da Nang always regards economic and cultural diplomacy … [Read more...] about Countries, major groups seek investment opportunities in Da Nang

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health’s Drug Administration has asked local pharmaceutical firms to focus on researching medicines and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of monkeypox. According to the Ministry of Health, monkeypox cases have been on the rise globally. Many countries have intensified research into new treatments. At present Tecovirimat, Brincidofvir, Cidofovir, and Probenecid, have been allowed for monkeypox treatment by the World Health Organisation. Monkeypox vaccines have been used in some nations. Monkeypox cases have been on the rise globally Under the Drug Administration of Vietnam’s instruction, local pharmaceutical companies need to seek sources for monkeypox medicine imports in necessary cases. The administration will create the most favourable conditions for granting licenses for the import and distribution of monkeypox medicine. The import of materials for medicine production will also be prioritised. The Ministry of Health has urged … [Read more...] about Vietnam to research monkeypox treatments

Foreign tourists visit the Independence Palace in HCM City on August 8. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Strict visa policies and a shortage of human resources and infrastructure in the tourism sector have stymied recovery of the travel industry, and the target of five million international arrivals this year could be out of reach, industry players have warned. Domestic travel has seen a strong rebound whereas international tourism, with a target of five million arrivals this year, remains in a slump, said Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association. Domestic visitor numbers topped 71.1 million in just the first seven months of this year against a full-year target of 60 million, he said. In the same period there were only 733,000 international visitors, or 8% of pre-pandemic numbers, he told a two-day programme titled ‘Lien Ket Suc Manh Du Lich Vietnam Nam 2022’ (Power of Vietnam Tourism Linkages) that ended in Ho Chi Minh City on August 9. Though … [Read more...] about Vietnam mulls ways to boost inbound travel