Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong is scheduled to visit Vietnam and co-chair the fifth Vietnam – Australia Foreign Ministers Meeting in Hanoi from August 21 to 24. (Photo: AAP).

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to visit Vietnam next week

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong will return to Vietnam from August 21 to 24 for an official visit and the fifth Vietnam – Australia Foreign Ministers Meeting.

This is the second time Wong has visited Vietnam, and the trip comes hot on the heels of the recent Vietnam visits by Australian Governor-General David Hurley and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The visit is aimed at implementing cooperation agreements and strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries towards 50 years of bilateral diplomacy this year.

During her stay in Hanoi, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son will co-chair the fifth Vietnam – Australia Foreign Ministers Meeting, cited VOV.

The meeting will review the implementation of the outcome of the recent high-level visits, especially in the fields of economy, trade, investment, security-defense, education-training, labor, and agriculture.

It will also outline orientations for cooperation in new fields such as digital transformation, digital economy and energy transformation.

The two sides will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Kazakh President’s Vietnam visit hoped to lift bilateral ties to a new height

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Vietnam from August 20-22 is expected to help consolidate and develop the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Vietnam and Kazakhstan set up their diplomatic ties on June 29, 1992. Since then, the bilateral relations have been developing well in various fields.

In July 2008, the Vietnamese Embassy in Kazakhstan was put into operation, while the Central Asian country opened its embassy in Hanoi in March 2015.

The two countries have maintained regular high-level delegation exchanges as well as collaboration in both the bilateral framework and at multilateral forums, according to VNA.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi on August 18, 2022 (Photo: VNA)

Kazakhstan backed Vietnam's candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, the UNESCO Executive Board and Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 term. Meanwhile, Vietnam supported Kazakhstan to join the Mission to the Far East of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Vietnam always pays attention to developing its cooperation with Kazakhstan – its important partner in Central Asia. Two-way trade reached 584 million USD in 2022, and 124.1 million USD in the first four months of this year.

US, Vietnam celebrate improvements to higher education in STEM Fields

The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), celebrated its successful partnership with Vietnam and Arizona State University to improve STEM education in Vietnamese higher education institutions over the last eight years.

Over 200 industry leaders, educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs attended the event held during the 8th annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math conference (STEMCON) in Hanoi on August 16.

“Through USAID’s BUILD-IT public-private alliance, the US government is advancing a shared goal with Vietnam to improve higher education and prepare students to be successful in today’s global economy,” said USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs.

“Together, we harnessed common aspirations and commitment across industry, government, and universities to modernize STEM education, driving economic growth in Vietnam”, he added.

Started in 2015, the US$8.7 million BUILD-IT project leveraged government, private sector, and academic partners' vast capabilities to build strategic leadership skills, advance university autonomy, improve program and instructional quality, and sustain lasting partnerships with the private sector.

The project achieved lasting impact through partnering with eight higher education institutions in Vietnam, namely Can Tho University, University of Da Nang - University of Science and Technology, HCMC University of Technology and Education, Industrial University of HCMC, Vietnam National University HCMC - University of Technology, Lac Hong University, Hanoi University of Industry, and Phenikaa University, reported VOV.

Photo: VOV

In addition, it has leveraged resources from 20 industry partners for an additional US$8.7 million investment in higher education in Vietnam.

Through these partnerships, 121 educational programs received regional and international accreditation, including, for the first time in Vietnam, 12 program accreditations under ABET, the top international accreditation body for engineering and technology.

Over 2,000 courses redesigned to reflect the needs of the emerging digital workforce while 4,000 university leaders and staff improved their skills in the areas of leadership, strategy, curriculum, and partnerships with industry. Moreover, 4,600 students benefited from project-based curricula activities.

In particular, three Maker Innovation Spaces in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho contributed to increasing students' innovation, supporting the university's capacity to incorporate applied projects into its curricula, and fostering strong industry engagement.

These spaces establish a sustainable mechanism to support university students in inventing, building, and launching solutions to technical problems.

All e-visa procedures handled online: Immigration Department

The entire process for granting e-visas, from applying for, processing requests to issuing visas and paying fees, is now carried out online, said the Vietnam Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security.

On August 14, the Government issued Resolution 127/NQ-CP, deciding to grant e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories.

According to the department, foreigners who plan to enter Vietnam to travel, conduct market surveys, or explore investment chances, among others, can apply for e-visas by themselves without the need for invitations or guarantees from Vietnamese agencies, organizations, or individuals.

All the procedures from applying for, processing requests to providing e-visas and paying fees are carried out online. Foreigners can print visas by themselves and don’t have to handle visa reception procedures at visa granting agencies of Vietnam abroad, at international ports of entry, or via intermediaries, it said.

The department added that it will consider, process, and reply to e-visa applicants via the public service portal of the Ministry of Public Security within three working days since the day it receives sufficient e-visa application information and fees, cited VNA.

A foreigner waits to have his entry procedures handled. (Photo: VNA)

According to the Government’s decision, foreigners using e-visas are permitted to enter or exit Vietnam via 13 air border gates, 16 land border gates, and 13 sea border gates.

The 13 air border gates consist of Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa province), Da Nang (Da Nang city), Cat Bi (Hai Phong city), Can Tho (Can Tho city), Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province), Phu Bai (Thua Thien-Hue), Van Don (Quang Ninh province), Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa province), Dong Hoi (Quang Binh province), Phu Cat (Binh Dinh province), and Lien Khuong (Lam Dong province).

The 16 land border gates are Tay Trang (Dien Bien province), Mong Cai (Quang Ninh province), Huu Nghi (Lang Son province), Lao Cai (Lao Cai province), Na Meo (Thanh Hoa province), Nam Can (Nghe An province), Cau Treo (Ha Tinh province), Cha Lo (Quang Binh province), La Lay and Lao Bao (Quang Tri province), Bo Y (Kon Tum province), Moc Bai and Xa Mat (Tay Ninh province), Vinh Xuong (An Giang province), and Ha Tien (Kien Giang province).

The 13 sea border gates comprise Hon Gai and Cam Pha (Quang Ninh province), Hai Phong (Hai Phong city), Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa province), Vung Ang (Ha Tinh province), Chan May (Thua Thien-Hue province), Da Nang (Da Nang city), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh province), Dung Quat (Quang Ngai province), Vung Tau (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), Ho Chi Minh City, and Duong Dong (Kien Giang province).

The National Assembly approved the law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam in late June.

Under this law, coming into force on August 15, the e-visa validity period is extended to 90 days from 30 days. Within 90 days after the e-visa is granted, foreigners can enter and exit Vietnam for unlimited times and without having to apply for new visas. The law also permits citizens of the countries entitled to Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption to be granted a temporary residence period of 45 days, instead of 15 days in the past, and have visa granting and temporary residence extension considered in line with regulations.

The moves are expected to provide favorable conditions for Vietnam to attract international tourists and improve its tourism competitiveness compared to regional rivals.

The expansion of the coverage and extension of the validity period of e-visas for foreigners will help modernise administrative procedures and save time for applicants, the Immigration Department said.

National Day holiday: many airline tickets still available

Air carriers are offering half a million more air tickets for the National Day holiday in September, but airfares are high and there are still many vacant seats.

Vietnam Airlines Group, which includes Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and VASCO, provides 400,000 more seats on domestic air routes for flights from August 31 to September 5, an increase of 15 percent compared with the same period in 2019.

The additional seats are mostly for flights from Hanoi and HCM City to popular tourism destinations such as Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.

As of August 14, air ticket prices for flights on rush days (departure on August 31 and return on September 4-5) were high, and few cheap tickets remain. But there are still many vacant seats.

A HCM City - Hanoi return ticket, including taxes and fees, for example, are VND3.3-4 million, while a ticket to Da Nang is VND2.6-3.1 million, and to Phu Quoc Island VND2.1-2.3 million.

For flights from Hanoi to Phu Quoc, a return ticket, including taxes and fees, is VND3-3.35 million, to Da Nang VND3.44-3.38 million, and to Nha Trang VND3.8-4.2 million.

The airfares are high for less popular routes: VND6 million per return ticket for Hanoi-Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen), and VND3.65-4.6 million for Hanoi - Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh). The prices are 30-40 percent higher than pre- and after-holiday prices.

Pham Thi Dong, a booking agent, said the average air ticket to famous tourism sites for the September holiday is VND3 million per return ticket. However, there are still many vacant seats, except for flights to Da Nang and Quy Nhon.

A representative of Noi Bai International Airport Authorities confirmed that the number of passengers on flights remains low. The peak summer tourism season this year is expected to end on August 15, but in reality the number of passengers returned to normal at the beginning of August. It is estimated that 30 percent of seats on every flight are vacant, cited VNN.

Photo: VNN

As the high tourism season is over, and students are preparing for the new academic year, he predicted that the number of air passengers on September holiday won’t increase sharply.

Air carriers have confirmed that the number of passengers booking tickets by August 13 is not high.

Meanwhile, travel firms are still expecting more travelers who book tours at the last minute.

Le Cong Nang, CEO of Wondertour, said travel demand has decreased sharply after the high summer season. Workers this year will have four days off for the National Day holiday, which raises the hope that the number of travelers will increase, especially as they have chances to view ripening rice fields and terraced fields, or go abroad to enjoy autumn landscapes.

However, according to Nang, demand is weak as people have cut spending.

“I think the number of tourists on the National Day holiday will be just 30-40 percent of that of the April-May holiday,” Nang said.

He went on to say that the bookings are higher than those in July and August, but lower than expected.

“We have cut unattractive tours and focused on tours expected to have high demand. To date, 80 percent of the plan has been implemented,” he said, adding that the firm is still receiving bookings for the September holiday, but it has started post-holiday tours.

The CEO of a HCM City-based travel firm specializing in domestic tours said the market is quiet at this moment, though the holiday will come in half a month. No tourism company is satisfied with number of travelers. He said his firm has mostly served loyal clients this summer.

Tran Bao Thu from Vietluxtour said the September holiday is the last travel season for families with children before the new academic year, so the number of travelers won’t be as high as in the summer. Transport, restaurant and hotel fees are stable.

She predicted that the number of travelers on the September holiday will be 20-25 percent higher than in the same period last year.

Vietnam News Today (Aug. 17): Vietnam Emerging a Big Player on Israel’s Investment Map Vietnam News Today (Aug. 17): Vietnam emerging a big player on Israel’s investment map; Vietnam remains vigilant amid global resurgence of EG.5 COVID sub-variant; EVFTA ...

Vietnam’s Weather Forecast (August 18): Intense Heat And High Temperature On August 18, Vietnam’s weather forecast is predicted to be hot with intense heat in Hanoi, with showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. ...

Vietnam News Today (Aug. 18): Vietnam, US Seek to Further Deepen Bilateral Ties Vietnam News Today (Aug. 18): Vietnam, US seek to further deepen bilateral ties; Vietnam to send representatives to 15th BRICS Summit; Malaysia treasures warm friendship ...