Photo: vietnamnet.vn

Vietnam, Russia enhance tourism cooperation

An online conference on Vietnam-Russia tourism cooperation has been recently held by the Vietnam Trade Office Branch in the Far East region, with the aim of attracting more tourists from the Far East and Siberia regions to the Southeast Asian nation.

Nguyen Hong Thanh, Vietnamese Economic and Commercial Consul, the head of the branch, said that the event attracted the participation of more than 30 delegates from Russia’s Moscow, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok cities, and Vietnam’s Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan provinces.

It aimed to create an opportunity for the two sides to introduce, promote and find cooperative solutions to increase the two-way exchange of tourists, thereby helping to enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and promote economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.

Vietnam welcomed more than 646,500 Russian tourist arrivals in 2019. But the figure reduced to less than 70,000 last year, although it has opened its full door to international visitors since March 2023, and offered 45-day visa exemption for Russian citizens since August 15, 2023. The main reason was said to be due to the lack of direct flights connecting Russian cities to Vietnamese localities, cited VNA.

Evgenia Mikhailova, Director of the Irkutsk Tourism Department, expressed her hope that traveling between the two countries will be more convenient in 2024 to help increase the number of Russian visitors to Vietnam.

Thick fog diverts and delays flights due to poor visibility

Dozens of 37 flights on route to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport were forced to either be diverted or delayed as a result of thick fog on the morning of February 2.

The fog was obstructing the vision of pilots from 2:15 a.m. to 9 a.m., meaning that a total of 37 flights were unable to land at the airport, with 12 flights forced to land at other airports.

Furthermore, 54 flights departing from Noi Bai Airport also had to wait for better conditions in order to take off in safety, according to VOV.

Photo: VOV

Thick fog and poor weather conditions tend to occur in the northern region, including Hanoi, throughout February and March.

The morning of February 2 witnessed the capital engulfed in fog amid the air quality index (AQI) recording a bad level.

According to AirVisual, a Swiss-based air quality monitoring facility that specializes in generating data from public, ground-based, and real-time monitoring stations, the AQI in Hanoi was recorded at 235, a very unhealthy level. Poor-quality air at this level has the potential to do harm to people’s health, and sensitive groups potentially experience more serious health problems.

Fireworks displays at 11 places to shine on Ho Chi Minh City's sky on Tet Eve​

Authorities of the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City have decided to increase the number of venues hosting fireworks displays on the upcoming Lunar New Year's Eve to 11, an increase from last year's eight.

Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sport Tran The Thuan told a meeting on January 31 that there will be high-altitude fireworks displays at two sites and low-altitude shows at nine locations.

The shows will last for 15 minutes from February 9 midnight to 12:15 am on February 10 – the first day of the Year of Dragon, VNA reported.

Photo: qdnd.vn

In addition, on the evenings of February 9 and 10, the department is set to organize art programs in many districts.

A flower festival will be held in the downtown area from February 6 to February 15, featuring dragon dance performances, traditional martial arts demonstrations, folk games, circus acts, magic shows, and daily music and comedy performances.

E-commerce platforms report high growth rates in 2023

The five e-commerce platforms in Vietnam - Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, TikTok Shop, and Sendo - have reported total revenue of US$232.2 trillion in 2023, an increase of 53.4 percent over 2022.

Metric's report on the online sale market said the estimated growth rate was 9.6 percent, with total goods and service retail turnover in 2023 surpassing the targeted level (8-9 percent).

E-commerce continued to be a bright spot as it had a positive impact on the digital economy and promoted domestic distribution and consumption.

However, businesses had a tough year in 2023. Analysts say there are still many barriers, including stiff competition in the market with hundreds of businesses selling the same kinds of products.

Secondly, counterfeit, fake and low-quality products are rampant, which negatively affects the reputation of authentic business brands and the e-commerce economy.

Many consumers only go online to buy products that have low prices and are not that important to them. They will visit physical shops to buy valuable products because they want to see products, cited VNN.

Photo: VNN

Metric reported that in 2023, the total revenue of the e-commerce market reached VND498.868 trillion, including VND232.134 trillion from the five largest e-commerce platforms.

E-commerce revenue was higher in the last two quarters with the highest growth rate, 89.9 percent, reported for September. The revenue reached VND21.1 trillion in Vietnam.

The months from August to December were the high sales season. Reports show that beauty care products, home decor and women’s fashion have had the highest revenue over the last six years.

Household appliances, mobile phones and tablets were popular online. Sports and tourism products witnessed the highest growth rate of 92.1 percent, and the number of sellers increased by 3.1 percent compared with 2022.

2023 saw new shopping models, especially livestream and omni-channel sales, which brought huge revenue to professional e-commerce sellers.

In 2023, more than 105,000 sellers on four e-commerce platforms (Shopee, Lazada, Tiki and Sendo) left the market. About 95,000 new sellers appeared on TikTok Shop.

Local places among top 10 family-friendly resorts in SEA for Valentine's Day

Two Vietnamese destinations have been named on the list of the top 10 family-friendly resorts in Southeast Asia for Valentine’s Day 2024, as compiled by Indo Thai News media outlet of Thailand.

InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort in Da Nang has been described as a hillside haven for families.

Perched on the hills of the Son Tra Peninsula, this resort is a visual treat. The Planet Trekkers Kids Club keeps young people entertained, while parents can enjoy panoramic views, indulge in spa treatments, and savor exquisite dining options, the Thai media outlet reported.

Other local destinations featured on the list include Anantara Hoi An Resort in the central province of Quang Nam, which boasts riverside charm for families.

InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort in Da Nang is among the top 10 family-friendly resorts in SEA for Valentine's Day. (Photo courtesy of InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort)

Nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River, Anantara Hoi An Resort is a blend of ancient charm and modern luxury. Family-friendly activities include cycling tours through Hoi An’s ancient town and enjoying the riverside pool, the article wrote.

Atlantis Sanya of China took the lead, followed by Club Med Bali of Indonesia, and Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa of Singapore, cited VOV.

Rayavadee, Soneva Kiri, and Novotel Phuket Surin Beach Resort of Thailand, Bintan Lagoon Resort of Indonesia, and Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa of Malaysia also made the list.

The top 10 family-friendly resorts in the region promise not just relaxation, but also epic adventures for kids and parents alike. From water parks to themed rooms, these resorts have mastered the art of combining luxury with family fun, Indo Thai News noted.

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