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Party general Secretary To Lam (R) and outgoing Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski during their meeting in Hanoi on December 23.

Vietnam desires to foster strong partnership with Australia

Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed Vietnam’s desire to further strengthen cooperation with Australia for the benefit of the peoples of both countries and to contribute to peace and stability in the region and the world, during his reception for outgoing Australian Ambassador to Vietnam.

Receiving Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski in Hanoi on December 23, To Lam highly appreciated the diplomat's efforts in promoting Vietnam – Australia relations in recent years, including upgrading the relationship between the two countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024.

He stated that Australia has always been one of Vietnam’s foreign policy priorities and is a key partner in the region. Within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he emphasized the need for the two countries to continue fostering political trust and sharing perspectives and visions on regional and international issues. He also welcomed the recent ministerial-level dialogue mechanisms that have been actively implemented by both sides.

On this occasion, the General Secretary expressed gratitude to the Australian Government for its support to Vietnam in various areas, including health care, UN peacekeeping force deployment, climate change response, energy transition, while creating favorable conditions for the community of 350,000 Vietnamese nationals in Australia, cited VOV.

Goledzinowski for his part noted that during his tenure, Australia-Vietnam relations have seen substantial progress in many areas, achieving positive outcomes. He expressed hope that in the next 50 years, the bilateral relationship will advance even more significantly compared to the past five decades.

The Ambassador admired the vision and insights of the Vietnamese leaders and noted the strong unity of the Vietnamese people in this new era of national advancement. He emphasized Australia's desire to contribute further to Vietnam’s development process and hoped the bilateral relationship would continue to deepen and expand in a manner befitting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in enhancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation. He affirmed that many Australian businesses are eager to invest in Vietnam in this new era.

The diplomat said, that regardless of his future position after his tenure, he would always cherish his positive impressions and strive to cultivate a strong relationship between the two countries.

Vietnam seen as favorite New Year destination for int’l travelers: Agoda

With inbound accommodation searches up 30% compared to last year, Vietnam is set to sparkle as a favorite for international revelers looking to welcome New Year 2025, according to Agoda.

Of Vietnamese cities, Agoda said, Ho Chi Minh City tops the chart as the most sought-after destination, where visitors can ring in ‘25 with fireworks above the Saigon River.

The analysis was made between November 1 and 27 with a check-in date of December 31. Comparisons are based on data from November 1-27, 2023.

The tourism service platform said that travelers from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan (China), and the United States are leading the charge to see 2024 off in Saigon-style.

Lam Vu, country director for Vietnam at Agoda, shares his excitement: Vietnam’s growing popularity as a New Year’s Eve destination reflects its unique blend of culture, energy, and natural beauty.”

On the list, Phu Quoc Island climbed to second place, rising from fifth last year, while Da Nang, Hanoi, and Nha Trang round out the top five hotspots, according to VNA.

HCM City tops the chart as the most sought-after destination, where visitors can ring in ‘25 with fireworks above the Sai Gon River. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese travelers are also making bold choices for their New Year escapes. Domestically, HCM City reigns supreme, followed by the romantic highlands of Da Lat, the serene beaches of Vung Tau, the capital city Hanoi and the beach city of Nha Trang. Nha Trang, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, reclaims its spot in the top five, nudging out Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan province.

For those looking to expand their travel horizons, international searches point to Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong as top contenders for ringing-in the new year.

In New Year 2024, Vietnam welcomed 3.2 million tourists, increasing by 6.6% over the same time of 2023.

In the first 11 months of this year, foreign tourists to Vietnam totaled 15.8 million, surging by 41% year-on-year.

Storm Pabuk forms over Spratly Islands, heads toward southern coast of Vietnam

A tropical depression over the northwestern waters of the Spratly Islands intensified into a storm on December 23 afternoon and is heading towards the south-central and southern regions of Vietnam.

At 1:00 PM, Pabuk, the 10th of its kind to operate in the East Sea this year, was located in the northwestern part of the Spratly Islands, packing winds of 62-74 kmh near its center.

The storm is expected to move west-northwest at a speed of 5-10 kmh in the next 24 hours before changing its course to west-southwest and weakening into a tropical depression, reported VOV.

Storm Pabuk is heading towards the southern coast of Vietnam and is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression on December 24.

By 1:00 PM on December 25, the center of the tropical depression is projected to churn near the coast from Phu Yen to Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, with winds decreasing to 50-61kph.

The weather pattern will cause rough seas, and vessels operating in the hazardous areas should prepare for thunderstorms, strong winds, and high waves, warned meteorologists.

On December 23 - 24, localities from Da Nang city to Khanh Hoa province are anticipated to experience moderate to heavy rain, with torrential downpours of 40-120 mm, and some areas exceeding 200 mm.

The Central Highlands may also see significant rainfall of 30-60 mm, with some areas exceeding 100 mm.

Thunderstorms may bring lightning, tornadoes, and strong winds, while heavy rain could lead to flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods on small rivers and streams, and landslides on slopes.

Authorities and residents are advised to closely monitor the developments of Storm No. 10 and take necessary precautions to ensure safety.

Vietnamese products crave out a niche in the UK market: Official

Vietnamese goods have steadily established a strong presence in the UK, with exports to this demanding market continuously growing since 2021, said Hoang Le Hang, First Secretary of the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK.

Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that in the first 11 months of 2024, trade between Vietnam and the UK reached over 7.7 billion USD, an increase of 18.1% compared to the same period last year. Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of more than 6.1 billion USD, up by 21.4%.

The majority of Vietnam’s major exports have seen significant growth, including computers, electronics, and components at 118.6%; fruits and vegetables 50.7%; pepper 46%; confectionery and cereal products 35%; machinery, equipment, and parts 34.5%; steel 34.4%; coffee 34%; and rubber products 33%.

Notably, many “Made in Vietnam” products, from clothing and footwear to tools, electronics, and food items, have found their way into well-established UK supermarket chains. Vietnamese fashion items, such as summer and autumn collections, can now be found at major retailers like Marks & Spencer (M&S), which holds the largest market share for clothing in the UK, and other stores like UNIQLO, NEXT, and PRIMARK. Vietnamese food products, including seafood, noodles, dried noodles, and various fresh fruits, are now available in top supermarket chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury's, and premium outlets like Whole Foods and M&S. Vietnamese products are widely sold in supermarkets catering to the Vietnamese community and Asian markets, such as Longdan and Eutek Group.

Hang said that the increasing availability of Vietnamese products on UK supermarket shelves is an encouraging sign, highlighting that Vietnamese goods are becoming more popular and carving out a niche in the UK market, cited VNA.

Vietnamese rice products are sold at a supermarket in the UK. (Photo: VNA)

She attributed the strong growth of Vietnamese exports, especially agricultural products, over the past three years to the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which has eliminated 94% of tariffs on fruit and vegetable imports. She also pointed to efforts of Vietnamese exporters and the business community in the UK as well as support from authorised agencies at home.

She highlighted several activities conducted by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK in supporting businesses, particularly by providing updates on local trade policies, connecting UK and Vietnamese businesses, and offering guidance on consumer preferences, quality standards, and import regulations.

Hang is optimistic about the potential for continued bilateral trade growth, driven by the UKVFTA and Vietnam's strong economic growth. The UK’s recent accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) further opens up opportunities for exports, especially with new tariff quotas on products like fragrant rice, tuna, and honey, giving Vietnamese exporters a competitive advantage.

However, she also noted challenges such as reduced demand in the UK due to economic downturns and inflation, as well as shipping cost increases. The UK’s application of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will also impact exporters in carbon-intensive industries such as ceramics, aluminum, steel, cement, and fertilizers, unless they prepare an adaptation strategy, she said. She also pointed to competition from other CPTPP member countries in the UK market.

Despite these hurdles, she remained confident that Vietnam could continue to capitalize on opportunities with strategic planning and reforms for sustainable growth in the global market.

Vietnam to tighten aviation security during upcoming Tet holiday

Level-1 aviation security measures will be applied during the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival from January 26 to February 2, 2025, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

Accordingly, airports are requested to prepare the necessary manpower and equipment to handle the increasing number of passengers.

All passengers, cargo, and mail will be screened before entering the restricted areas. Security staff will randomly check 7 percent of passengers and baggage during the festival.

The number of on-duty personnel will be increased by 20 percent during the peak time except for days (from January 28 to January 29, 2025), VGP reported.

The number of passengers traveling through airports during the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday is expected to reach 10.5 million compared to 10 million recorded during the same period last year, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).

With the holiday spanning nine days, passenger numbers are projected to surge during this peak period. Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City alone is projected to serve over 4 million passengers during the holiday.

In the first ten months of 2024, airport security forces detected 223 violations of aviation security, including illegal transportation of weapons, controlled substances, and drugs, theft at airports, false bomb threat,s and improper use of identification for boarding.

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