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The Asia Tourism Development Institute (ATI) signs cooperation documents with Korean agencies. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, RoK expand tourism cooperation

The Asia Tourism Development Institute (ATI) and the Korea Tourism Management Association organised a conference in Hanoi on November 30 to promote tourism, trade, and education cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Speaking at the event, head of the tourism promotion division at the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Nguyen Quy Phuong said that in 2024, the RoK will be the largest source of international tourists for Vietnam. In the first ten months of this year, the Southeast Asian nation welcomed 3.7 million Korean visitors, accounting for 26.4% of total international arrivals. Meanwhile, the Northeast Asian country is also a favourite destination of many Vietnamese travellers.

Phuong called on the Korean side to enhance tourism exchanges by implementing digital marketing campaigns that highlight the unique attractions of both countries. He also recommended improving aviation connectivity to foster bilateral tourism, simplifying visa granting procedures, exploring new forms of tourism, and boosting educational and youth exchange programmes between the two countries.

Ruy In Pyong, President of the Korean association, emphasized the necessity of collaboration between tourism entities and academic institutions to foster domestic and international tourism, and that his association is committed to actively supporting Vietnam’s tourism sector through this cooperation, cited VNA.

He added the RoK will actively introduce Vietnam’s attractive tourism resources to both domestic and international travellers while seeking further collaboration to enhance cultural exchanges and tourism.

Kim Hyun, Director of the Tourism Department of the RoK's Chungbuk province, noted Vietnam ranks first in Southeast Asia and fourth globally in terms of the number of international visitors to Chungbuk.

He said his department will continue to strengthen partnerships with Vietnamese tourism units by developing joint tourism products, organiing international conferences, and facilitating cultural and artistic exchanges.

At the conference, the ATI signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation with the Korea Tourism Management Association, the Chungbuk provincial Tourism Department, and the Tourism Department of Sunchang county of the RoK's North Jeolla province.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man begins Singapore visit

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse, along with a high-level delegation from the Vietnamese National Assembly, began their official visit to Singapore on December 1 at the invitation of Singapore Parliament Speaker Seah Kian Peng and his spouse.

Man was accompanied by a number of officials of the National Assembly Committees, and those in charge of foreign affairs and public security of the government, as well as leaders of several provinces.

Vietnam and Singapore share a strong bilateral relationship based on political trust, robust trade and investment links, and close ties between the peoples of the two countries.

In the first nine months of 2024, two-way trade between Vietnam and Singapore reached US$7.6 billion, marking a 12.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Singapore is Vietnam’s fourth largest trading partner within ASEAN, and the second largest investor among 145 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with over 3,800 active projects and a cumulative investment of over US$81 billion.

The network of Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks is a symbol of the successful economic cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Vietnam currently has 153 active investment projects in Singapore, with a total registered capital of over US$690 million, ranking 10th out of 80 countries and territories investing in the island state, according to VOV.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse leave Noi bai International Airport in Hanoi, beginning an official visit to Singapore at the invitation of Singapore Parliament Speaker Seah Kian Peng and his spouse.

Education and human resource training cooperation is a bright spot in bilateral relations. The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on education cooperation in August 2023, fostering partnerships between educational institutions and offering numerous scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate education.

The two countries are also actively implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Vietnam-Singapore Innovation Talent Exchange Program.

Defense and security cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore continues with the regular exchange of high-level delegations and annual dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. Regarding transportation and tourism cooperation, Singapore is one of the most significant aviation markets for Vietnam, ranking sixth in terms of passenger volume to Vietnam.

Singapore is also an important tourism market for Vietnam, consistently ranking among the top 15 sources of international visitors to the latter, while the latter is one of the top 10 tourist markets for the former.

There are about 15,000 Vietnamese expatriates living, working and studying in Singapore. They have so far made a practical contribution to the host country and served as a bridge to promote friendship between the two countries.

The top legislator’s visit is expected to not only enhance diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Singapore but also promote substantial cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments.

Vietnamese band rocks ASEAN - India Music Festival 2024

Famous rock band Buc Tuong (The Wall) represents Vietnam at the ASEAN - India Music Festival 2024 that is taking place in New Delhi from November 29 to December 1.

The festival is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs of India on the occasion of 10 years of India's "Act East" policy. It brings together 10 bands from the 10 ASEAN member states and five others from host India.

As the first to perform, the Vietnamese band rocked the outdoor stage at Purana Qila, one of the oldest forts in Delhi, with its famous songs, VNA reported.

Members and fans of rock band Buc Tuong (The Wall) at the ASEAN - India Music Festival 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Opening the event, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita affirmed that music is a common language that inspires, heals and connects people.

This festival highlights the cultural bond that India and ASEAN have built over the years. It is a celebration of how music transcends borders and strengthens the ties between ASEAN and India in their shared journey of development, he said.

The ASEAN-India Music Festival 2024 gives the audience a rare opportunity to experience the rich and diverse sounds of both regions at one location.

Vietnam and China launch join patrol along land border sections

The Border Guard of Vietnam’s Cao Bang Province, and the Border Defense Force of China’s Guangxi region launched a joint patrol along several border sections of the Vietnam-China land border on November 30.

At the launching ceremony, the two patrol command teams emphasized that the joint patrol serves as an opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding and trust between the border forces of both countries. It also aims to promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge in border patrol, control, and management.

The two sides conducted joint patrols along the border sections from Border Marker 807 to Border Marker 808 and from Border Marker 813 to Border Marker 816. They also coordinated efforts to promote policies and laws, helping people on both sides raise awareness and comply with border management agreements and related documents signed between Vietnam and China, cited VOV.

Border defense forces of both sides conduct a joint patrol around the Border Marker 814.

Through the coordinated patrol work, the two sides exchanged views, reached mutual understanding, and agreed on the need to continue to strengthen cooperation in border management and protection according to the signed land border management agreements.

They pledged to enhance communication campaigns, closely manage border residents, promptly detect, prevent, and handle border law violations. They vowed to maintain regular joint patrols along the border to build a peaceful, friendly, stable, and developed border together, to ensure stability and prosperity for both sides.

At the conclusion of the patrol, the commanders of both sides signed the minutes of the patrol.

Vietnam to ban e-cigarettes from 2025

The National Assembly on November 30 agreed to ban e-cigarettes from 2025 to protect public health and social order and safety.

The move was made at the proposal of the Ministry of Health as e-cigarettes can be addictive due to its high nicotine level, and cause serious diseases such as cancer.

In May this year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh tasked ministries, agencies and localities to tighten management of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products amid rising consumption, especially by youngsters, causing negative health effects.

The Prime Minister tasked the Ministry of Finance to direct the customs authority to strictly inspect and control the transportation of smuggled e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products through border gates and customs control areas.

The Ministry of Health was urged to disseminate the harmful effects of e-cigarette and heated tobacco products to communities, while proposing solutions to better manage these commodities, VGP reported.

The border guard force was tasked to increase border patrol to detect the illegal trading, storing, and transportation of smuggled e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The Ministry of Public Security was requested to direct its forces at all levels to focus on bringing to light those involved in illegally trading and mixing banned substances into e-cigarette solutions.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam Television, the radio Voice of Vietnam, the Vietnam News Agency, and the provincial-level People's Committees were requested to direct press and media agencies to increase communications about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

According to a survey in 2022, the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-15 years is 3.5 per cent. In 2019, this rate was 2.6 per cent. The rate increased significantly, placing at risk the achievements made by Vietnam in reducing the rate of regular cigarette use over the past ten years.

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