Vietnam News Today (Dec. 30): Vietnam Beat Singapore 5-1 on Aggregate, Progress to ASEAN Cup Final
	Vietnam News Today (Dec. 31): Vietnam, Laos Resolved to Achieve Greater Cooperation Results

The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela congratulate the Cuban diplomatic mission on the occasion of Cuba's 66th National Day. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy)

Vietnam – Cuba bonds flourish across continents: Ambassador

The special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba continues to shine across geographical boundaries, as evidenced by the close ties between their diplomatic missions worldwide, including that in Venezuela, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to the South American country Vu Trung My.

During his visit to the Cuban Embassy in Venezuela on December 30, on the occasion of Cuba's 66th National Day (January 1, 1959-2025) and the 64th anniversary of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960-2024), My extended his congratulations to the Cuban Party, State, Government and people on this revolutionary milestone.

He recalled the significance of January 1, 1959 when the Cuban people, under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, overthrew the Batista regime and established the first farmers' and workers’ state in the western hemisphere. He expressed his confidence that under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba, headed by First Secretary and President Miguel Díaz Canel, the Cuban people will continue to safeguard their revolutionary achievements and carve out new results in building a prosperous and sustainable socialist country.

He went on to highlight the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, which was cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro, and nurtured by generations of leaders of both nations.

Cuban Ambassador to Venezuela Dagoberto Rodríguez Barrera, for his part, expressed his delight over the growing traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. The bilateral ties have been consolidated and developed strongly through high-level exchanges, cited VNA.

He affirmed that the Cuban Party, State, Government and people always appreciate the solidarity and friendship with Vietnam, hoping that generations of Vietnamese and Cuban people will keep on preserving and enhancing this special friendship.

Over the recent past, the two embassies have collaborated on implementing various activities to strengthen mutual understanding, including workshops on the occasion of the birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh and the celebration of Fidel Castro’s historical visit to Vietnam and the liberated zone in Quang Tri province.

TasteAtlas honors central, southern Vietnam among world’s 100 best food regions

Vietnam’s central and southern regions have been named among the 100 best food regions in the world, as compiled by international food website TasteAtlas.

In its 2024/25 TasteAtlas Awards, the rankings of all 100 regions are based on 477,287 valid ratings for 15,478 foods which appear in its extensive database.

Ranking 27th on the list, the country’s central region is renowned for dishes such as Hue Breakfast Noodle Soup (Bun bo Hue), Steamed Savory Rice Cake (Banh beo), and Quang-Style Noodles (Mi Quang).

The most popular regional products are delicacies such as Rice Noodles (Bánh hoi), Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit, and Phan Thiet Fish Sauce.

Meanwhile, the southern region of Vietnam was placed 53rd, with some of the highlights being Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls (Cha gio), Sweet and Sour Tamarind Soup (Canh chua), and Broken Rice (Com tam), according to VOV.

Quang-Style Noodles (Mi Quang) is among famous dishes in the central region. (Photo courtesy of TasteAtlas)

Southern Vietnamese cuisine offers a mix of flavors with delicious regional products, such as Keo Dua Coconut Candy (Keo dua), Hoa Loc Mango, Phu Quoc Pepper, and Cai Mon Durian.

Topping the list was Campania in the southern region of Italy. Other regions of Italy were also listed among the 100 best food regions in the world, including Tuscany, Sicilia, Lormbady, Apulia, Piemonte, Lazio, and Sardinia.

The top 10 also saw the presence of Peloponnese and Cyclades of Greece, Sichuan of China, Alentejo of Spain, and Punjab of India.

In Southeast Asia, apart from two regions of Vietnam, Java and Sumatra of Indonesia entered the list, ranking 13th and 79th, respectively.

Music, lights, and fireworks dazzle Vietnam’s major cities on New Year's Eve

The streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City came alive with festive crowds on New Year’s Eve as families and tourists gathered for spectacular fireworks and vibrant music performances.

Families and young groups gathered early near Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi and Nguyen Hue Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City to secure their spots.

Businesses capitalized on the festive demand by selling seats with prime views of fireworks for up to 1.4 million VND (approximately 57 USD) per pair.

Nguyen Hue Walking Street: A hub of music and fireworks

By early evening, Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, was buzzing with excitement. Thousands of young people queued on roads like Le Loi and Ngo Duc Ke to glimpse performances by renowned artists, including Thanh Lam, Tung Duong, Soobin Hoang Son, and Minh Hang.

Some attendees, like Nhi from District 1, arrived as early as 6 PM to secure the best vantage point and enjoy performances by their favorite stars.

Others, such as Tuan's family from District 6, experienced the festive atmosphere for the first time. "We decided to come after learning about the music programs here," Tuan said, adding they planned to stay until the fireworks at midnight.

Nearby, at Saigon Riverside Park, families had already set up spots by 7 PM, while authorities blocked vehicle access to ensure pedestrian safety, VNN reported.

In front of the stage at the Hanoi Opera House, thousands of people directed their gaze towards the singers and dancers to watch artistic performances symbolizing the farewell to the old year and the welcoming of the new year.

Cafés with fireworks views charge premium prices

In Hanoi, establishments near Hoan Kiem Lake turned into prime venues for fireworks enthusiasts. Prices ranged from 150,000 VND to 1.4 million VND (approximately 6–57 USD) per seat, depending on the location and view.

A top-tier café offered a vantage point overlooking Turtle Tower and The Huc Bridge while providing a clear view of the performances at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.

By 9 PM, the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake were teeming with revelers. Roads such as Cau Go, Dinh Tien Hoang, and Dinh Liet were tightly packed, while temperatures of 16°C created a comfortable environment for outdoor festivities.

Crowds converge on Hanoi’s and HCMC’s iconic spots

Tourists like Hoang Ly chose Hanoi for its cultural charm during the New Year. Despite the overwhelming crowds, Ly was determined to stay until midnight to enjoy the countdown and fireworks.

In Ho Chi Minh City, guests like Khanh Han took the opportunity to snap photos at Ba Son Bridge, adorned with lights for the occasion. Visitors such as Bich Thao, who traveled from Binh Thuan Province, shared their excitement: "This will be a memorable New Year's Eve for us before exploring more attractions tomorrow."

International visitors also joined in. Amelia from Australia expressed her joy at celebrating the New Year in Vietnam, while Phillippe from France enjoyed the local flavors of banh mi at Son Tra Night Market in Da Nang.

Danang: A quieter yet festive scene

Unlike the bustling celebrations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Danang offered a more relaxed atmosphere as it did not feature fireworks. However, areas like Son Tra Night Market saw heavy foot traffic with locals and tourists enjoying the festive vibes, shopping, and dining.

At 10 PM, popular streets such as Trang Tien, Hang Khay, and the areas around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi were tightly packed as people eagerly anticipated the "Countdown Party 2025."

As midnight approaches, fireworks will illuminate the skies over Saigon River and Hoan Kiem Lake, marking a spectacular start to 2025.

Hanoi aims to receive over 30 million tourists in 2025

The capital city of Hanoi, which is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, has set a target of welcoming more than 30 million visitors ahead in 2025, 11.1% higher than that of 2024.

Of the total, the city expects to host over seven million foreigners, marking an annual increase of 27.3%.

It also aims to earn about VND130 trillion from tourism services, an increase of 26.1% over 2024.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism during a year-end review meeting on December 30, the capital welcomed 27.86 million visitors in 2024, representing an increase of 12.7% year on year.

Statistics show that Hanoi received 6.35 million foreign arrivals, up 34.4% from 2023, and 21.5 million domestic holidaymakers, up 7.5%. In addition, its total tourism services brought in VND110 trillion, up 18.3% year on year, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

Dang Huong Giang, director of the city’s Tourism Department, said that over the past year Hanoi has gained recognition as a top travel destination, winning prestigious awards such as Asia’s Leading City Destination and the World’s Best Golf City Destination 2024 by the World Travel Awards.

The capital was also listed among the 100 Most Attractive Cities by Euromonitor International, reinforcing its appeal to tourists from the globe, she added.

Moving forward to 2025, the city’s tourism industry aims to effectively implement solutions which will maintain its position as a major tourism hub whilst continuing to cultivate an image of a safe attractive destination.

Exports, e-commerce drive Vietnam’s economic growth in 2025

Vietnam's economic prospects for 2025 are gaining momentum, bolstered by strong export growth, a rapidly expanding digital economy, and a robust e-commerce sector, according to analytics from prominent websites.

While the National Assembly has set an ambitious GDP growth target of 6.5-7% for 2025, the government expects to exceed these projections.

In its recent post on iseas.edu.sg, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore identified several key drivers supporting this optimistic outlook, including strong export growth, substantial foreign investment inflows, domestic reforms under new leadership, and accelerated infrastructure development.

However, the institute pointed out several challenges for the country such as global economic turbulence, possibility of power shortage and weak consumption, cited VNA.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Meanwhile, a recent article on aseanbriefing.com highlighted that Vietnam's e-commerce success is attributed to its tech-savvy young population and high social media integration. The country's digital transformation is characterised by the rise of e-commerce, digital payments, and cross-border trade, positioning Vietnam as a key player in Southeast Asia's digital economy.

The country's e-commerce market has emerged as one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing sectors. A joint report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company reveals that Vietnam's digital economy reached a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of 36 billion USD in 2024, marking a 5 billion USD increase from 2023. The report projects this value could surge to between 90-200 billion USD by 2030. The e-commerce sector alone achieved a GMV of 22 billion USD in 2024, up 3 billion USD from the previous year, with forecasts suggesting it could reach 63 billion USD by 2030.

The market growth is further supported by widespread mobile access, expanding middle class, increasing urbanisation, and continued engagement in free trade agreements. Furthermore, the Government’s investment in digital infrastructure has streamlined customs procedures, improved internet connectivity, and enhanced payment systems, helping strengthen Vietnam's position as a cross-border e-commerce hub.

Vietnam News Today (Dec. 28): Vietnam, Laos Maximize Trade, Investment Cooperation Potential Vietnam News Today (Dec. 28): PM Pham Minh Chinh hails fruitful Vietnam – Australia cooperation; Vietnam, Laos maximize trade, investment cooperation potential; Video introducing Vietnamese ...

Vietnam News Today (Dec. 29): 3-Day Trip to Phu Quoc Costs Less Than a Weekend in Singapore Vietnam News Today (Dec. 29): Vietnam's economy: Flexible and reasonable fiscal policy; Vietnam to promote AI development, manage risks; Vietnamese beef pho among top 100 ...