Vietnam News Today (Jan. 28): Russia Ready to Expand Cooperation in New Energy Areas with Vietnam
	Vietnam News Today (Jan. 29): Foreign Ambassadors Reflect on Charm of Vietnamese Tet

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) visit a photo exhibition showcasing cooperation between the two countries. (Photo: VNA)

Friendship, mutual understanding, assistance – foundations of Russia-Vietnam ties: expert

Russia views Vietnam as one of its most trusted and friendly partners, and this has been a consistent stance in its foreign policy.

Friendship, mutual understanding, and assistance are the three historical foundations of the Russia-Vietnam relationship, which have always been maintained and continue to hold significant meaning for both sides for many decades, regardless of internal and external conditions, according to a Russian expert.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (January 30, 1950-2025), Maria Zelenkova, a senior expert at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISI), said that amid a changing world order, with the rise of new power and economic growth centers, both Moscow and Hanoi reaffirm their interest in developing bilateral cooperation, and recognize the opportunities in traditional fields of cooperation, as well as significant potential for new collaboration.

The current geopolitical context not only does not limit the bilateral relationship but also creates momentum for both countries to view their cooperation in a new way which is adaptive to changes, particularly in the direction of digitalization, science, and technology, said Zelenkova.

She also emphasized the importance of trustworthy dialogues at the highest level, through which both sides can openly discuss all international political issues and share their views on current topics in the bilateral agenda during negotiations, cited VNA.

Commenting on the recent developments in Russia-Vietnam cooperation following high-level visits in 2024 and early 2025, the expert noted that these regular contacts demonstrate that both nations value this form of engagement because agreements made at the highest level ensure that they will be implemented under any conditions and regardless of circumstances, which is crucial to both sides.

According to Zelenkova, the high-level visits of Russian leaders to Vietnam in 2024 and 2025 are not only aimed at maintaining trustworthy dialogues between the two countries’ leaders, but also at clarifying and confirming the agreements that will be implemented by both sides in the coming years. This concerns various areas of cooperation, including energy, nuclear energy, trade, as well as science, education, and banking.

From her perspective, Russia views Vietnam as one of its most trusted and friendly partners, and this has been a consistent stance in its foreign policy. This is partly because Vietnam's leaders consider Russia one of the most important directions in the country’s foreign policy and strive to develop the bilateral relationship.

Vietnam is one of Russia’s priority partners in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Vietnam is assigned the role of a “bridge” in the context of Russia’s relations with ASEAN countries, while Russia itself plays a similar role in Vietnam’s interactions with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), she added.

New visa exemption policy expected to give a boost to Vietnam’s tourism industry

The government of Vietnam will introduce a visa exemption policy for travelers from Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic this year, presenting a valuable opportunity for major local destinations to welcome tourists from high-end markets.

“The hotel was excellent, I felt as if I was at home. It’s perfect for relaxation, in a great beachfront location with convenient access to many places. What I remembered most about Phu Quoc was its people – they were friendly and made me feel at home. Actually, Phu Quoc is peaceful and ideal for long stays. I will definitely return, possibly in October or November this year,” Knoblauch Rof, a Swiss tourist told VOV.VN after spending more than 20 days staying at a resort in Phu Quoc.

From March 1 to December 31, 2025, Swiss, Polish, and Czech citizens traveling to Vietnam for tourism will be granted a 45-day visa exemption upon entry. This policy applies to all passport types and requires compliance with the country’s entry regulations.

Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland are high-quality tourist markets with strong spending power. Some destinations in Vietnam such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, have already successfully catered to these markets, and the newly introduced visa exemption policy is expected to benefit from these markets.

In 2024, Vietnam welcomed an estimated 51,000 Polish and 33,000 Swiss tourists, with Phu Quoc being the primary destination. Notably, direct charter flights operated by LOT Airlines between Warsaw and Phu Quoc brought 15,000 Polish tourists to Vietnam in 2024. Since October 2024, weekly charter flights have also transported Czech tourists to Phu Quoc.

Caballero Medeiros Mario Jorge, Regional Operations director for Southern Vietnam and Phu Quoc at Meliá Vinpearl, shared that Czech and Polish tourists love beaches and resorts, and they are eager to shop and spend generously.

“Hotels like Melia Vinpearl Phu Quoc have seen a significant increase in Czech visitors. Their high spending and long stays generate considerable revenue for hotels and local tourism businesses. This market holds great potential for Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Vietnam as a whole,” said the executive.

Vietnamese travel businesses recognize Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland as high-potential markets with high spending and long stays. Poland, in particular, is a fast-growing outbound tourism market that recorded approximately 17.4 million international trips in 2023, with an expected 7% annual growth from 2023 to 2027, according to GlobalData.

“Polish, Czech, and Swiss tourists are high-quality travelers with strong spending power. Phu Quoc’s tourism industry has successfully served these markets, helping to enhance Vietnam’s reputation in Europe. The government’s visa exemption policy for these three markets will create more opportunities for destinations like Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Hue,” said Andy Nguyen, general manager of Sunset Beach Resort & Spa in Phu Quoc.

In Khanh Hoa province, Bui Quoc Dai, deputy director of Anex Vietnam, stated that visa exemptions will significantly boost Polish tourism in 2025.

“This policy will definitely increase interest from Polish tourists. We have planned charter flights from Poland to Khanh Hoa from January to April 2025, operating three flights per month with 500-seat wide-body aircraft. These tourists prefer long stays, primarily at 4- and 5-star resorts and hotels,” shared the Anex Vietnam executive.

Meanwhile, Pham Ha, chairman of Lux Group, believed the visa exemption policy will be a key advantage for Vietnam’s inbound tourism industry, particularly at the ITB Berlin 2025 International Tourism Fair in Germany this March, according to VOV.

Caballero Medeiros Mario Jorge, Regional Operations director for Southern Vietnam and Phu Quoc at Meliá Vinpearl, welcomes Czech tourists at the end of 2024. (Photo: Melia Vinpearl).

“The visa exemption policy comes at the perfect time for Vietnam’s tourism industry ahead of the world’s largest international tourism fair ITB Berlin 2025. We have scheduled meetings with businesses from European countries at the fair and will invite familiarization trips (fam trips) from Poland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic to explore Vietnam’s tourism products. This is a golden opportunity for Vietnam to strengthen its presence in the European market.”

“We must intensify our promotional efforts, particularly in sustainable and responsible tourism, which aligns with the preferences of these travelers. Most visitors from these countries speak German, French, or English, making them a great match for Vietnam’s existing tourism products,” shared Ha.

The visa exemption policy for Polish, Czech, and Swiss tourists is expected to boost Vietnam’s tourism industry, increasing arrivals and revenue, particularly in resort destinations like Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Hue. With proactive marketing strategies and enhanced service offerings, Vietnam has a unique opportunity to capture a larger share of the European tourism market.

Vietnamese in RoK enjoy warm Tet

The Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Korea (RoK) held a get-together to welcome the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2025 on January 29, or the first day of the Year of the Snake.

Ambassador Vu Ho extended his New Year greetings to all attendees, wishing them a peaceful, happy, healthy, and successful year.

Earlier, on January 26, as part of activities to bring the warm spring atmosphere of the homeland to the Vietnamese community in the RoK, Deputy Ambassador Nguyen Thi Thai Binh visited two exemplary families of Vietnamese brides in Ilsan city, Gyeonggi province, and Seongdong district in Seoul, on the Tet occasion, reported VNA.

Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Korea staff pose for a photo with representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country (Photo: VNA)

Binh presented Tet gifts that are rich in Vietnamese flavours to the families, wishing them a year full of happiness and success. She also expressed her hope that the Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families will continue to make positive contributions to the development of the two countries’ relationship.

On this occasion, the embassy’s representatives also visited and gave Tet gifts to the family of Huynh Thi Thai, one of the first Vietnamese women to marry Koreans in 1973.

Vietnam's export sector sees a strong start to 2025

As Vietnam steps into 2025, following a record-breaking export turnover of over US$405 billion in 2024, the export sector is expected to remain a driving force behind economic growth.

The momentum from 2024 is already evident in the early days of 2025. In the lead-up to Tết (the Lunar New Year) holiday, production has been accelerating to meet signed orders.

The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association reports that many businesses in the textile sector have secured orders through mid-year, prompting factories to accelerate production.

The textile industry aims for an export turnover of $48-49 billion in 2025, surpassing last year’s performance by $4-5 billion. Companies are proactively preparing for market shifts, particularly in response to changing buyer standards and label requirements, ensuring quality while managing costs.

In the agricultural processing sector, businesses also see significant market opportunities and are planning to expand production capacity.

An example is GC Food Joint Stock Company which is doubling its capacity to meet growing market demand, with plans to increase production by approximately 30 per cent each year in the coming years to sustain growth.

The timber industry also has ambitious export targets, with a forecast of over $18 billion in 2025, up from $16.25 billion in 2024, marking a 20.3 per cent increase.

One of the key drivers for the timber export sector is trade promotion, and green practices are also expected to play a significant role in shaping the direction of exports, VNS reported.

Inside a wood processing firm in Binh Dinh Province. The timber industry also has ambitious export targets, with a forecast of over US$18 billion in 2025, up from US$16.25 billion in 2024. Photo: VNS

According to the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (Viforest), the recovery of the global economy, consumer demand in key markets, trade policies and the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses will all influence the timber industry’s export potential.

The 2025 export target of a 12 per cent growth rate poses a challenge, with monthly exports needing to increase by over $4 billion.

However, businesses are optimistic.

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO)'s survey on the production and business trends in the manufacturing industry in Q1 2025, 79.8 per cent of businesses expect new orders to increase or remain the same.

For export orders, 80 per cent of businesses forecast an increase or no change, and 20 per cent expect a decline compared to Q4 2024.

To achieve the ambitious export growth target, the government is prioritising trade promotion and supply chain diversification.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with helping industries maximise the benefits of the 17 FTAs Vietnam has signed. The goal is to tap into large, dominant markets while exploring new opportunities in regions like the Middle East, Muslim-majority countries, Latin America and Africa. The country aims to sustain a trade surplus by expanding exports to both established and emerging markets.

Vietnam is also working to advance negotiations on upgrading key trade agreements, including ASEAN Trade In Goods Agreement (ATIGA), ASEAN-CHINA FTA (ACFTA) 3.0, and FTAs with Canada and EFTA.

Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Luong Hoang Thai highlighted Vietnam's significant gains from global integration, especially as businesses have adapted quickly to trends like green and digital transformation amid changing global supply chains.

Despite these positive projections, challenges remain.

GSO’s report highlights several obstacles faced by manufacturing companies.

The most pressing concerns include low domestic market demand, increased competition from local products and the slow recovery of international markets. Furthermore, many businesses struggle with outdated technology and the lack of investment capital needed to upgrade their production lines.

Additionally, financial constraints, such as high interest rates and limited access to loans, continue to be significant barriers for businesses, with 25.8 per cent of companies facing financial difficulties.

To overcome these challenges, businesses are urging the government to continue lowering interest rates to alleviate the cost burden. Moreover, they suggest that the government implement measures to stabilise raw material and energy prices and streamline administrative processes, along with reducing land lease costs for production purposes.

Vibrant activities to celebrate Tet by OV communities

The Vietnamese communities around the world have organised various vibrant festive activities to celebrate Lunar New Year (Tet), the most important traditional festival of Vietnamese people in a year.

The Dong Xuan Market in Berlin, Germany, is alive with activity as the Vietnamese community prepares for the Tet celebration. Despite the holiday falling on a weekday, many Vietnamese living in Berlin take time off work to visit the market, where they can purchase traditional Tet items like “banh chung” (square sticky rice cake).

For those eager to make their own Tet specialties, ingredients like “dong” leaves and sticky rice are also readily available. The market offers an opportunity for the Vietnamese diaspora to reconnect with their cultural roots and share the festive spirit with their families, easing the homesickness that often accompanies life abroad.

In addition to the bustling market, Vietnamese traditions are further celebrated at the Pho Da Pagoda in Berlin, where a community gathering is held to prepare bánh chưng as part of a charitable event.

Similarly, in Russia, where many Vietnamese live thousands of kilometers from home, the Liublino Market in Moscow offers everything needed for a complete Tet celebration. From banh chung to fresh flowers, the market provides items to help Vietnamese families celebrate the holiday and pass on traditions to younger generations.

For young Vietnamese like Nguyen Hoang Anh Dung, this marks a special moment of connection to their heritage, as they make banh chung with their families. The celebration extends beyond the Vietnamese community, with local Russian friends learning about the cultural significance of Tet and participating in the festivities.

On January 26, the Vietnamese community and Women's Associations in Leipzig held a Tet celebration. Ambassador Vu Quang Minh praised the community’s contributions to Leipzig’s political, cultural, and economic life, and announced plans for future collaborations between the city and Vietnam.

Sebastian Kratsch, head of Business Services in Leipzig, highlighted the growing Vietnamese presence in the city, with over 4,300 Vietnamese residents, contributing significantly to local development.

In Cottbus, the Vietnamese community also celebrated Tet, with Chargé d’Affaires Chu Tuan Duc expressing his gratitude for the city’s support of integration efforts. He noted the community’s spirit of charity, exemplified by their fundraising for victims of Typhoon Yagi in 2024. Freising also saw a warm Tet celebration with over 300 attendees, where Consul General Lu Xuan Dong praised the community’s cultural initiatives and emphasized the importance of teaching Vietnamese to younger generations.

On the occasion of Tet, Viettel Cambodia (Metfone), a subsidiary of Viettel, hosted a traditional banh chung making event in Phnom Penh on January 27. This event aimed to bring the Tet atmosphere to Vietnamese expatriates working in Cambodia while promoting solidarity and preserving Vietnamese cultural traditions.

By the end of the event, more than 300 banh chung and banh tet were made and distributed to Metfone’s offices and branches across Cambodia as Tet gifts.

Metfone’s CEO, Cao Manh Duc, emphasized that such activities help preserve Vietnam’s cultural heritage and foster a sense of unity within the company. He expressed his hope that despite being far from home, Vietnamese expatriates could still feel the warmth of Tet. The event also helped strengthen cultural exchange between Vietnamese and Cambodian communities, enhancing the friendship between the two nations, he added.

Mey Ling, a Cambodian employee, expressed her joy in participating, noting similarities between Vietnamese and Cambodian Tet traditions, such as making banh tet during Cambodia's Chol Chhnam Thmey festival. Many other Vietnamese organisations in Cambodia are also holding similar Tet celebrations to spread the festive spirit.

Also on January 27, the Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania held the Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) celebration, bringing together the Vietnamese community, expatriates, and embassy staff in Tanzania and other East African countries. The event highlighted Tet as a time for family reunion and the celebration of cultural values, cited VOV.

At a traditional banh chung making event in Phnom Penh on January 27.

Ambassador Vu Thanh Huyen outlined Vietnam's impressive achievements in 2024, including a 7% GDP growth and significant foreign policy successes that enhanced the country's global position. She underlined that the Vietnamese Government commits to supporting overseas citizens, particularly in Tanzania.

The ambassador praised the community’s contributions and the charitable efforts of companies like Halotel-Tanzania and Lumitel-Burundi, which have strengthened ties with the local population. Additionally, she thanked the community for donations to victims of Typhoon Yagi and expressed her gratitude to the Honorary Consul of Vietnam to Uganda King Ceasor for his collaboration with the embassy.

In 2025, Vietnam will celebrate key milestones, including the 95th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of reunification. Ambassador Huyen called for continued cooperation from the community.

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