An overview of the session (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam active at UN Human Rights Council’s 52nd session

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, made active contributions to the agenda of the 52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that concluded in Geneva on April 4.

Along with highlighting Vietnam’s achievements in boosting national development and ensuring human rights, Vietnam raise the idea of celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA).

To realise the initiative, Vietnam has made great efforts to build a core group with representatives of all regions of the world, while conducting negotiations on a draft resolution on the 75th anniversary of the UDHR and the 30th anniversary of the VDPA.

The resolution was adopted on April 3 by consensus and co-sponsored by 102 states as of the end of April 4 afternoon (Geneva time), including 14 co-authors (Vietnam, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Panama, Romania, South Africa, and Spain).

The result showed recognition of efforts and goodwill by Vietnam during the negotiations, while proving that the contents of the resolution meets the common attention and priority of all countries, cited VNA.

During the session, Vietnam was active in giving opinions in many discussions on the observance of specific human rights such as rights to housing and food, cultural rights, development rights, child rights, and the rights to fair, equal and timely access to reasonable prices of COVID-19 vaccines.

In all speeches, Vietnam spotlighted the country’s constant policies, efforts and achievements in promoting and observing human rights, affirming its commitments to sustainable development for the interest of people, underlining the significance of settling inequality and protecting vulnerable people, and calling for the dealing with global challenges such as climate change.

Vietnam also committed to strengthening constructive cooperation with other countries, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UNHRC and its mechanisms, aiming to promote and protect human rights for all on the basis of respecting the UN Charter, international treaties on human rights, and ensuring national sovereignty and the principles of objectivity, fairness, constructive dialogue and cooperation.

Together with other ASEAN countries, the Vietnamese delegation had a speech on issues of ASEAN shared concern, including the development rights, technical cooperation and capacity building on human rights and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Regarding climate change and human rights, which are the priorities of Vietnam and other countries, Vietnam, along with Bangladesh and the Philippines, which are members of the Core Group on climate change and human rights at the UNHRC for many years, drafted and delivered a Joint Statement on Climate Change and Human Rights at this session, attracting a large number of co-sponsor countries.

At the same time, Vietnam also actively met and discussed with delegations from other countries and co-sponsors on a number of initiatives in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation as well as in the implementation of the duties of the members of the UNHRC in the process of consulting and voting to approve 43 draft resolutions of the council.

The active participation of the Vietnamese delegation at the 52nd regular session of the UNHRC demonstrates Vietnam's efforts and responsibilities as a member of the council for the 2023-2025 tenure. At the event, Vietnam sent out a strong message on its consistent viewpoints, policies, achievements and ASEAN's common views and achievements in the promotion and protection of human rights, thus contributing to the cooperation with other countries to ensure that the operation of the council is consistent with the basic principles of the UN Charter and international conventions regarding human rights.

During the session, lasting for more than one month, participants discussed more than 80 reports, while considering and approving 43 draft thematic resolutions, passing the UPR reports of 14 countries, and approving the decision to appoint 10 personnel for Special Procedures.

Vietnam, Cambodia increase labour cooperation

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia should enhance cooperation, especially in improving labourers’ skills, to match the two sides’ cooperation potential.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha was speaking at a reception in Hanoi on April 5 for Ith Samheng, Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training who is in Vietnam for a meeting between the two countries’ labour ministers.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Cambodian Labour Minister Ith Samheng at a meeting in Hanoi on April 5. (Photo: VGP)

Ha said cooperation in human resource development and vocational training is one of the effective ways to further cultivate and preserve the special and close friendship between the two parties, states and peoples.

He highly appreciated the results of bilateral cooperation in labour and vocational training over the years, saying the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia have effectively implemented the 2017-2022 Memorandum of Understanding on labour cooperation, helping improve the efficiency of the management of Cambodian and Vietnamese workers in each other’s markets.

The Deputy PM suggested that both sides exchange and share experiences in law-making, policy formulation, vocational education programmes, labour market and migrant workers management, according to VOV.

The two sides should not only improve and enhance skills of workers, but also enhance exchanges and mutual understanding about each other’s cultures, he said.

Minister Ith Samheng for his part briefed his host on the results of the working session between the two ministries during which they signed an MoU on labour cooperation for 2022-2027. The two sides would increase exchange and sharing of experiences in human resource development, human trafficking prevention and control, and forced labour, among others.

He said during the visit he would visit several vocational training institutions that are running training cooperation programmes for Cambodian trainees.

Vietnam a potential market for French businesses, investors: experts

French businesses should innovate their approach, enhance their understanding of culture and language, and make changes to adapt to Vietnam's transitioning economy in order to expand their market share and boost investment in the Southeast Asian nation, said Dr. Jean-Philippe Eglinger, the founder of the Viet Phap Strategies.

Addressing a seminar held by Salveo/Adit/ESL economic information consulting firm on April 4 in Paris to introduce investment potential and promote economic and trade cooperation between France and Vietnam, Eglinger said Vietnam is a large and highly potential market, and businesses from both sides have an opportunity to capitalise on strengths generated by the strategic partnership between the two nations and the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

He underlined the need for the two sides to conduct research so as to understand more about each other's market and strengthen training to have more French people who can speak the Vietnamese language and understand Vietnamese culture.

Participants at the seminar (Photo: VNA)

French businesses should seek opportunities in other localities nationwide besides the two major cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, he noted.

According to the expert, Vietnam's economy is undergoing a strong transformation from a production model relying on assembling products for export to a new one with added value and higher competitiveness.

Vietnam has been concentrating on training and upgrading products. It has joined many FTAs, including new-generation ones which have higher requirements related to environmental protection and labourers, and product origin, reported VNA.

France used to lead foreign investment into Vietnam among countries outside Asia, but French businesses failed to capitalise on Vietnam's integration into the global economy, he said.

Statistics show that 170 French businesses are operating in Vietnam, including large corporations investing in projects that are important to Vietnam's development, such as the renewable energy producer EDF Renewables and Bouygues Corporation which have invested in the two projects worth 1.5 billion EUR (over 1.64 billion USD).

Prof. Pierre Journoud from Paul Valéry Montpellier University spoke highly of Vietnam's foreign policy of multilateralisation, demonstrated through its increasingly important role in regional and international organisations, as well as its strategic partnerships with many countries around the world.

Journoud said Vietnam has also made positive contributions to the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and joined many bilateral and trilateral cooperation programmes. In its relationship with Vietnam, France is a reliable partner that has supported the country to overcome difficulties in its international integration process.

Tristan Cotte, Managing Director of Salveo – a subsidiary of ADIT Group which specialises in investment consulting, said Vietnam is a typical example of economic recovery ability, therefore many French businesses are interested in this market.

The firm’s experts will assist French companies in turning their ideas into specific projects, helping French businesses find local partners, he affirmed.

Foreign sea travelers to Vietnam on the rise

The number of foreign visitors coming to Vietnam by sea has increased considerably over recent months, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

March alone saw sea travelers to Vietnam rise more than 2.8 times compared to the previous month, said the VNAT.

Many luxury cruise ships docked at ports in Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Ninh, bringing foreigners, mostly from Asia and Europe, to local destinations.

Azamara Quest brings foreign visitors to Ho Chi Minh City early this year. (Photo: Chi Nguyen)

In late February, Spectrum of the Seas brought more than 3,000 visitors, mostly from the US, the UK, Australia and Singapore, to Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Meanwhile, Silver Muse carrying more than 330 visitors from Germany, Canada, Australia, Colombia Thailand and China, docked at Nha Trang port in early March.

Sea tourism is a priority in the national tourism development strategy till 2030. Famous beach resorts in Vietnam such as Ha Long, Cat Ba, Son Tra, Cam Ranh, Mui Ne and Phu Quoc are said to be capable of competing with other resorts in Southeast Asia and beyond to attract cruise travelers.

Vietnam welcomed nearly 2.7 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of this year, 29.7 times higher than the same period last year. The Republic of Korea topped the list of countries with most visitors to Vietnam, followed by the US, Thailand and China.

Air tickets almost sold out for long holiday break

Air tickets have almost been sold out and only business class seats have been left for the long holiday break.

Many airline companies announced no more tickets in economy class flights for the long holiday break to celebrate Reunification Day and Labor Day due to increased demand of travel.

Working people will enjoy five consecutive days off from April 29 to May 3 to celebrate the commemoration of the Hung Kings (the nation's founders) that falls on April 29, the National Reunification Day on April 30, and International Labour Day on May 1, which has prompted a surge in tour bookings.

According to information from air ticket agents, round-trip airfares for some routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to tourist destinations such as Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Hue, Da Nang, Con Dao, Nha Trang are currently at a very high price, ranging from VND4 to VND8 million including taxes and fees. In particular, the flight from Hanoi to Phu Quoc departing on April 29 and returning on May 3 has been selling like hot cakes.

Air tickets are almost sold out, business class seats left for long holiday break.

Specifically, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines all have prices above VND 8 million to VND 8.5 million for a round-trip ticket.

Particularly, Vietnam Airlines only has business class tickets with a price of approximately VND15 million a round trip, cited SGGP.

The airline companies are currently selling the Hanoi - Nha Trang route at the price of VND6.2 - VND7.5 million a round-trip ticket and the Hanoi - Da Lat route at a price of VND5.5 - VND7.3 million a round-trip ticket.

Economy tickets for some flights on this route have been also sold out and only business class tickets cost about VND11.5 million a round trip.

Airfares of the Hanoi - Da Nang route are being sold at over VND4 million a round-trip ticket. Similarly, the Ho Chi Minh City - Phu Quoc route from April 29 to May 3 has a price of VND3.6 million a round-trip ticket or more, many flights are also out of economy class tickets, and only business class tickets are left with the price of over VND7.5 million each round-trip ticket. Worse, there have been no more flights for the Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City - Da Lat route.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, airlines have plans to increase their load for long holidays. For instance, the national carrier Vietnam Airlines is expected to increase the load by nearly 35 percent, and Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways are also expected to increase the load by 15 percent for the domestic market compared to the same period last year.

However, the air transport capacity is still unable to meet people’s travel demand during the national holiday. Further increasing the frequency of flights is difficult, because two key airports, Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat, are already overloaded with infrastructure.

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