About 12.6 million international tourists visit Vietnam this year. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam sees record number of international arrivals in December

Vietnam served nearly 1.4 million international tourists in December, a record-high figure on a monthly basis this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) in a report released on December 29.

The December figure represents an increase of 11.2% month on month and an annual rise of 93.9%, said the GSO.

For the whole year, Vietnam welcomed 12.6 million foreign arrivals, 3.4 times higher compared to the figure recorded in the same period last year and equal to 70% of the number seen in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, far exceeding the target of eight million set earlier this year by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

Of the total, approximately 11 million traveled by air, accounting for 87% of the total, while 1.5 million traveled by road, making up 12%, cited VOV.

The estimated revenue from accommodation and catering services this year hit VND673 trillion, up by 14.7% year on year.

Meanwhile, thanks to exciting cultural and tourism activities held across localities, travel businesses earned about VND37.8 trillion, an increase of 52.5% from last year.

Asia maintained its position as Vietnam’s largest tourist market with 9.78 million arrivals. Of the total, the Republic of Korea took the lead with around 3.6 million, followed by China1.74 million, and India 392,141.

Vietnamese Embassy in Laos promotes economic, cultural diplomacy

Looking back on the embassy’s performance in 2023, he told the Vietnam News Agency that to implement Vietnamese and Lao leaders’ direction for developing economic cooperation on par with political, diplomatic, security, and defense ties, the embassy identified economic diplomacy as one of its focal tasks right at the start of 2023.

In that spirit, it has actively helped to promote actions by the two countries’ ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses to effectively implement the cooperation agreements and deals reached at the 45th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Inter-governmental Committee, he noted.

Vietnam remains one of the biggest foreign investors in Laos while bilateral trade has posted good growth. Some key cooperation projects have been completed as planned such as Nong Khang Airport in Houaphanh province and the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Hospital in Xieng Khouang province of Laos. Besides, the embassy has also helped promote many others, including the Vung Ang 1, 2, and 3 terminal projects in Ha Tinh province of Vietnam, the Hanoi - Vientiane Expressway project, and the Vung Ang - Vientiane rail route project, which will be carried out soon.

Another important achievement is that the embassy has actively coordinated in the settlement of difficulties and obstacles facing Vietnamese businesses in Laos, along with the search for and encouragement of new and capable investors from Vietnam to invest in potential areas in Laos, including renewable energy, mining, and agriculture.

A new wave of Vietnamese investment in Laos is emerging as seen in big and quality projects of many major enterprises like Vietjet Air, Vingroup, and Viet Phuong, according to Hung.

The ambassador added the embassy has also successfully held many investment promotion conferences and meetings with Vietnamese firms in Laos during Vietnamese leaders’ visits, thereby enhancing the businesses’ confidence in the neighboring country.

In terms of cultural diplomacy, it has also worked with the Vietnamese Culture Center to organize various activities in Laos such as a Lunar New Year fair, photo exhibitions on Vietnam’s world heritage and culture, trips to Lao cultural heritage sites for the two countries’ photographers, performances by Vietnamese art troupes in Laos, and participation in cultural events held by Lao authorities and the diplomatic corps in this country, cited VNA.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung (Photo: VNA)

Those activities have helped Lao and international friends understand more about the country, people, and identity of Vietnam, he went on.

In addition, the embassy has also actively organized events to honor President Ho Chi Minh City, including offering incense at the memorial site in Xieng Vang village in Nong Bok district of Khammouane province on the occasion of the late Vietnamese leader’s 133rd birth anniversary and upgrading the President’s relic site in Xaynhaphoum village in Kaysone Phomvihane city of Savannakhet province.

Hung said that nowadays, the works named after President Ho Chi Minh, who laid the foundation for bilateral ties, in Laos have become tourist attractions. These sites also help visitors learn about the long-standing solidarity between the two countries.

Activities of cultural diplomacy have also been connected with overseas Vietnamese affairs to assist the Vietnamese expatriates in upholding and introducing the homeland’s culture in Laos, he continued, taking celebrations of the Lunar New Year and the commemoration anniversary of the Hung Kings, along with the maintenance of traditional customs as example.

The diplomat noted that together with sound political, diplomatic, security, and defense relations, economic and cultural diplomatic activities will also be fostered by the embassy in 2024.

As countries are paying more attention to cultural diplomacy, international cooperation in cultural affairs, and the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos will keep exerting efforts to fulfill its tasks to help promote the homeland’s identity, images, and stature in the international arena, he added.

Vietnamese economy grows by 5.05% in 2023 despite global headwinds

The Vietnamese economy has weathered global headwinds to secure an estimated growth rate of 5.05% for this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) in its report released on December 29.

Although the country failed to meet its 6.5% set target, its growth rate can be seen as a positive result, especially as it made Vietnam among the economies with the highest growth rate in the region and the world, said Nguyen Thi Huong, leader of the GSO, at the press briefing.

Statistical indicators highlight that the domestic macroeconomy continued to be stable; inflation was controlled at an appropriate level; the supply and demand of essential goods were guaranteed; and the purchasing power and domestic consumption maintained relative growth, she emphasized.

The GSO report indicates that GDP in the fourth quarter of the year was estimated to have expanded by 6.72% over the same period from last year, a figure that was higher than the fourth quarter of the 2012 - 2013 and 2020 - 2022 periods. It also shows that the national economy kept maintaining an increasing streak on a quarterly basis, from 3.41% in Q1, 4.25% in Q2, 5.47% in Q3, and 6.72% in Q4.

Among major economic indicators, the agro-forestry and fishery sector, the industrial and construction sector, and the services sector all increased by 3.83%, 3.74%, and 6.82%, duly contributing 8.84%, 28.87%, and 62.29% to the national GDP respectively, according to VOV.

The Vietnamese economy will grow by 5.05% in 2023 despite global headwinds. Photo: VOV

It’s noteworthy that the agro-forestry and fishery sector grew positively and continued to represent the pillar of the economy this year, said Huong.

According to the GSO leader, the export turnover of several agricultural products increased considerably; livestock production developed steadily; and the application of high-tech models in white-legged shrimp farming brought about economic efficiency.

Overall, the scale of national GDP for this year was estimated to be at US$430 billion, while GDP per capita was estimated to be at US$4,284, an increase of US$160 compared to 2022.

Cultural exchange promotes Da Lat-Chuncheon twinning relationship

A cultural and art exchange between the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong’s Da Lat city and Chuncheon city of the Republic of Korea’s Gangwon province took place in Da Lat on December 28, drawing thousands of domestic and foreign visitors.

The event was part of a series of activities to mark the 130th anniversary of the city's formation and development and the recognition of Da Lat as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of music.

At the exchange, artists of Da Lat and Chuncheon performed traditional cultural and artistic performances to promote the culture of each country and each locality, VNA reported.

Representatives of Da Lat and Chungcheon cities hand over souvenirs to participants. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the event, Dang Quang Tu, Chairman of the Da Lat city People’s Committee said Da Lat and Chuncheon established a friendly relationship in 2016 and a twinning relationship in 2019.

Since then, the two cities have held many effective exchanges and cooperation activities such as friendly visits and the exchange of delegations, according to Tu. Many students from Da Lat have come to study at universities in Chuncheon city, he said.

The cultural and art exchange will strengthen the solidarity and friendship between the two cities and is also an opportunity for residents of Da Lat and tourists to understand more about Korean culture and people and vice versa, he went on.

Yook Dong Han, Mayor of Chuncheon city, said he hopes that diverse cultural and art exchanges will be continued in the future between not only professional artists but also the people of both cities. The organization of Korean-Vietnamese cultural exchange in Da Lat city annually is a meaningful event that aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries, he added.

According to the Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee, the province welcomed 8.65 million tourists in 2023, including 400,000 foreign visitors, an increase of 167% over the same period last year. In particular, the number of foreign visitors to Da Lat city this year increased sharply, of which Korean visitors accounted for 80%.

HCM City’s museums offer night tours to attract tourists

Southern Women's Museum in HCMC plans to offer an evening tour with art programs featuring southern culture to attract visitors.

Giving a speech at a seminar on transportation and destinations held in the city on December 28 by the HCMC Tourism Department and the HCMC Tourism Association, the Director of the Southern Women's Museum in the city Nguyen Thi Tham said that the museum has carried out a pilot plan on offering a tour to enjoy performances of Don Ca Tai Tu Nam Bo (Southern amateur music) and local dishes of the Southern region on the full moon day to attract many visitors.

In the coming time, the Southern Women's Museum in HCMC will organize performances of Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) to lure more tourists, cited SGGP.

A performance of Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) at the HCMC Ao Dai Museum.

The HCMC Ao Dai Museum also plans to introduce night tours with periodic products to travelers.

Director of the HCMC Ao Dai Museum Huynh Ngoc Van proposed the city’s tourism industry apply IT (Information Technology) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) in receiving domestic and international tourists.

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