Vietnam News Today (Feb. 1): Vietnam’s Lunar New Year Enchants Foreigners

	Vietnam News Today (Jan. 30): New Visa Exemption Policy Expected to Give a Boost to Vietnam’s Tourism Industry
	Vietnam News Today (Jan. 31): Traditional Friendship Shapes Future Vietnam – Russia Cooperation

The calligraphy street in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

Vietnam’s Lunar New Year enchants foreigners

As the vibrant colors of the Lunar New Year (Tet) sweep across Vietnam, the festive spirit is not confined to the Vietnamese alone. Foreign entrepreneurs, tourists, and students are irresistibly drawn to this traditional holiday.

French national Didier B. Boissonnet, having celebrated Tet for the second time, was utterly charmed, describing the experience as "enchanting."

Vietnam really rolls out the red carpet for visitors, especially during Tet festivities, Boissonnet shared from his recent adventure in Nha Trang where he enjoyed an electrifying performance by world-renowned DJ and music producer Alan Walker. "It's clear Vietnam is innovating, bringing a fresh, youthful vibe to its tourism scene".

The allure of Tet has also caught the attention of European travelers, with a considerable number from Poland showing keen interest. Poland's cold winter makes Vietnam's warm beaches, mouth-watering cuisine, and diverse cultural experiences particularly appealing. The period from October to March sees a surge in Polish visitors eager to escape the chill back home.

CEO of Vietluxtour Tran The Dung highlighted a noticeable shift in tourist preferences this year, saying that tourists are now looking for more than just package deals, they want bespoke experiences. From custom Free & Easy (F&E) tours to à la carte options, there is a growing demand for luxury and relaxation among Vietnamese expatriates and international guests alike.

A representative from Sun Group observed a similar trend, with an increase in foreigners choosing to celebrate Tet in Vietnam, particularly from the Republic of Korea, China, and Taiwan (China), where Tet resonates deeply, cited VNA.

Popular spots like Da Nang and Phu Quoc are becoming go-to destinations for their ease of access and stunning landscapes, bolstered by new international flight routes.

From January 27 to February 2, Nguyen Hue Street in Ho Chi Minh City will be transformed into a floral wonderland, showcasing an array of blossoms and artistic installations, attracting millions eager to soak in the festive atmosphere.

In District 8, a floating flower market provides a slice of authentic Vietnamese culture, where vendors from the Mekong Delta, Central Vietnam, and even the northwest gather to sell unique plants, flowers, and fruits.

In the southeastern province of Tay Ninh, the Spring Festival at Ba Den mountain promises a visual treat with over 115,000 tulips in bloom, drawing visitors to this serene location.

The capital city of Hanoi keeps its doors open for cultural enthusiasts during Tet, with special exhibitions and historical sites. Suburban areas like Me Linh host vibrant flowers, while tours of renowned flower villages such as Hong Van in Thuong Tin district and Phu Dong in Gia Lam district provide serene, picturesque landscapes. Visitors can also explore craft villages like Quang Phu Cau, known for incense-making in Ung Hoa district, and the famous Bat Trang pottery village.

Vietnam's exports remain robust during Tet holiday

Export activities have remained strong and uninterrupted during the 2025 Tet holiday, ensuring the seamless movement of goods via both road and sea routes.

During this period, various strategic measures have been implemented to boost exports to China.

The international border gate in Lao Cai has been operating normally even during Tet, with an expected increase in the number of exporting vehicles due to the temporary closure of other border gates along the Lang Son border for four days during the holiday.

At the Kim Thanh international road gate, customs clearance for goods during the Lunar New Year holiday has been efficiently managed.

The customs office at the Lao Cai border gate has been prioritising clearance procedures for agricultural products in the early morning hours.

The coordination between customs, border patrol, inspection and goods routing has been closely monitored to ensure smooth operations and minimise risks for businesses.

Interagency forces have devised plans and deployed personnel at key border gates to facilitate trade activities during the Lunar New Year period.

At exactly 7am on January 29, the first day of Tet, a shipment of 35 tonnes of mangoes from An Nguyen Import-Export Company underwent export clearance procedures as the first consignment of the Year of the Snake through the Kim Thanh International Road Border Gate II.

This year, Lao Cai Province has directed relevant units to implement comprehensive strategies to attract exporting enterprises, enhance customs clearance capabilities and strive to achieve a total export-import value of goods through Lao Cai border gates amounting to 9 billion USD, according to WVR.

Containers undergoing customs clearance at the Kim Thanh international road border gate II (Kim Thanh border gate) during the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday. (Photo: baolaocai.vn)

Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, significant efforts have been made to facilitate exports.

Saigon Newport Corporation, one of the leading port companies, has kickstarted the year by organising cargo operations at Cat Lai Port in Thu Duc city.

The port received seven container ships on New Year's Eve, with a total cargo handling capacity of nearly 10,000 TEUs, equivalent to 140,000 tonnes.

The first container loaded onto the CNC CHEETAH vessel was carrying electronic goods destined for Shekou, Dalian and Ningbo in China.

Electronic goods play a crucial role in helping HCM City's export revenue surpass 46 billion USD.

During the first week of the Lunar New Year, the port is expected to handle 76 cargo ships, processing over 110,000 TEUs, equivalent to more than 1.5 million tonnes of goods, marking a 9% increase year-on-year.

To support production activities over this festive period, each shift at Tan Cang - Cat Lai Port involves over 1,100 workers, ensuring smooth import and export operations.

Saigon Newport has diversified its business by adding new pillars focusing on investments, industrial park development, maritime tourism services and offshore renewable energy.

With these strategies in place, the company aims to increase revenue and profits by 5%, with logistics services projected to grow by over 15% compared to last year.

Vietnam, China work to promote tourism, people-to-people exchanges

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei has discussed efforts to boost infrastructure connectivity, tourism cooperation, and cultural exchange between the two countries in a recent interview with a special programme by the Voice of China.

The interview was made on the occasion of the 2025 Lunar New Year and the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations, during which the ambassador provided details about the three standard-gauge railway lines currently being fast-tracked, stressing their importance to improving connectivity between the two neighbouring countries and facilitating the bilateral trade as well as the travelling of their citizens, reported VNA.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei grants an interview with a special programme by the Voice of China. (Photo: VNA)

Regarding people-to-people exchanges during the Year of China-Vietnam Humanistic Exchange 2025, the ambassador revealed that both sides will organise large-scale events, such as forums, youth friendship exchanges, and festivals for the ethnic groups along the shared border.

The two sides will also make full use of the Party channel and hold discussions on political-diplomatic and defence-security issues. Additionally, they plan to take advantage of the rapid growth of new media by hosting social media programs, including a short video competition featuring China, and online cultural exchange events.

Another focus is fostering a new tourism trend, he said, adding travel between China and Vietnam by bus has recently gained popularity.

He said this year both countries will also focus on promoting tourism and people-to-people exchanges, improving border immigration procedures, providing high-quality services, and opening more flights between the two nations.

Major tourist destinations attract visitors during Lunar New Year holiday

Many families in Ho Chi Minh City and nearby provinces flocked to Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens and Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Park on January 31 to enjoy the lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Despite opening during the Lunar New Year, the entrance fee at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens remained unchanged from regular days, with tickets priced at VND60,000 for adults and VND40,000 for children.

The zoo has been decorated with various snake mascots to celebrate the Lunar Year of the Snake 2025, providing numerous photo opportunities for visitors.

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a spacious and airy recreational destination with ample space for children. This year, the zoo is celebrating the Lunar New Year with exciting activities such as an interactive session with the Capybara band, the Lucky Spring Tour running from the 23rd day of the last lunar month to the 15th day of the first lunar month, and various art performances for visitors.

Nguyen Ta Thuy Linh, 42, shared that her family traveled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to experience Tet celebrations. They visited Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens on the first day of the Lunar New Year and returned on the third day so their children could explore more.

Asking for lucky scripts at Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Park.

“We came back today for our kids to enjoy the experience. They really loved it. The Tet atmosphere here was livelier than in previous years. Everything has been bustling since the first day of Tet,” said Linh.

At Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Park, the “Timeless Tet” event has left a strong impression on visitors, as it recreates the Tet atmosphere of the 1970s-1980s, allowing guests to experience traditional customs.

Notably, this year, Suoi Tien introduced four new attractions, including Twin Speed Wine Road and upgraded versions of the roller coaster and the aquatic animal forest, aiming to attract more visitors, cited VOV.

Bui Thi To Trinh, deputy general director of Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Park, stated that visitor numbers for the 2025 Lunar New Year are expected to increase by 40-50% compared to the previous year. One of the key attractions is the integration with the new Metro route. The launch of Metro Line 1 has made it easier for tourists to visit the amusement park.

“Suoi Tien has made thorough preparations, including personnel training and service quality enhancement, to ensure that visitors fully enjoy cultural and entertainment programmes," said Trinh.

Apart from entertainment venues like Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens and Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Park, local residents have also gathered along major roads and headed to key attractions such as Nguyen Hue Flower Street, the Independence Palace, Bach Dang Wharf, and Ben Thanh Market to celebrate Tet.

The city has organized cultural and sports activities to provide residents with a joyful, safe, and traditional Tet experience.

How Vietnamese became one of the first 13 languages on Galaxy AI

“The moment we saw Vietnamese standing alongside other languages at the launch of Galaxy AI, we were overwhelmed with emotion,” recalled Tuan Minh, one of the engineers responsible for integrating Vietnamese into Galaxy AI.

The journey to bring Vietnamese to Galaxy AI

Samsung introduced Galaxy AI in January 2024 alongside the Galaxy S24 series. Four months prior, in October 2023, Samsung decided to make Vietnamese the 13th language supported on Galaxy AI and entrusted the Samsung Research and Development Center in Vietnam (SRV) with this critical task.

The decision to include Vietnamese among the initial 13 languages underscores Vietnam's significant role in Samsung’s global operations - not only as a key market but also as a major manufacturing hub, producing nearly all Samsung devices sold in Europe.

However, developing AI support for Vietnamese was no easy feat. The language’s unique characteristics - regional dialects, six distinct tones, numerous reduplicative words, homonyms, borrowed words, and evolving slang, particularly among Gen Z - posed substantial challenges for the SRV team.

“We had to constantly gather new words and refine our data to keep up with online trends,” Minh explained.

The team focused on data processing, ensuring that the input data met three critical criteria: it had to be extensive, diverse, and accurate. In the early stages, when data was insufficient, hundreds of engineers were mobilized to refine and expand the dataset. To enhance accuracy, SRV also collaborated with two leading Vietnamese language institutions: the University of Languages and International Studies and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNN reported.

Vietnamese is one of the first 13 languages to appear on Galaxy AI.

Samsung implemented a dual-layer testing process to improve AI precision - automated testing to evaluate hundreds of thousands of cases rapidly and human testing to ensure the highest accuracy. For example, speech-to-text conversion had to achieve at least 95% accuracy, while text-to-speech conversion needed to be at least 90% accurate.

From one-way interaction to human-like AI

According to Minh’s colleague, Anh Quan, Samsung’s vision of “Galaxy AI for all” has driven its efforts to make AI-powered mobile experiences more accessible. Currently, around 93% of Galaxy S24 users in Vietnam actively use Galaxy AI, a milestone that SRV takes great pride in achieving.

From the Galaxy S24 to the upcoming Galaxy S25, Galaxy AI has evolved from basic one-way interactions to more advanced, human-like AI capabilities. Users can now perform complex tasks through voice commands, such as searching for a specific photo and sending it to a friend.

Human-like AI focuses on three core elements: natural and intuitive interaction, deep personalization, and robust security.

To ensure data security, Samsung has implemented stringent protocols from the outset. All collected data is legally vetted and free from ethical concerns. The AI’s output is rigorously screened to prevent biases or harmful consequences for users. Additionally, Samsung’s Knox security platform safeguards all data stored on its devices.

A dedicated control panel allows users to see exactly which features are utilizing their data. They also have the option to withhold their data from cloud-based AI functions, providing greater peace of mind when using Galaxy AI.

As an open platform, Galaxy AI will continue integrating various AI solutions to better serve users in different contexts. In 2023 alone, approximately 200 million Samsung devices - ranging from smartphones to other ecosystem products - were equipped with Galaxy AI.

While no AI system on the market is flawless, including Galaxy AI, its capabilities will improve with increased usage. Like other AI-driven tools, the more it is used, the smarter it becomes.

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