Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong (R) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shaking hands ahead of their talks in Hanoi on January 30.

Vietnam and Philippines outline action plan for strategic partnership in 2025-2030

Vietnam and the Philippines will work closely together to develop an action plan to realize their strategic partnership for the 2025-2030 period.

During talks in Hanoi on January 30, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who is in Hanoi for a State visit to Vietnam, agreed to further increase political-diplomatic cooperation through reciprocal visits and contacts. They also agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, striving to soon raise bilateral trade turnover to US$10 billion, by limiting the imposition of trade barriers and facilitating the import and export of major products of both sides such as seafood, fruits, and vegetables.

They vowed to make good use of opportunities from regional free trade agreements and encourage their businesses to invest in important fields such as processing technology, high-tech agriculture, infrastructure, oil and gas. They stressed the need to expand cooperation into new and important fields like digital economy, green economy, digital transformation, circular economy, and renewable energy, as well as enhancing the resilience of the supply chain.

Both sides also agreed to increase cooperation in responding to climate change, overcoming pollution, reducing carbon emissions, and treating plastic waste, cited VOV.

The two leaders highly appreciated the positive development of bilateral relations over the years, especially since the lifting of the relations to a strategic partnership in 2015. The two countries frequently maintain reciprocal visits and effectively deploy cooperation mechanisms. Economic cooperation remains a bright spot in bilateral relations. The Philippines is Vietnam’s largest rice consumer.

President Marcos Jr. thanked Vietnam for providing a stable and long-term source of rice for the Philippines and appreciated the two sides signing a document on rice trade cooperation during his visit, contributing to ensuring food security and strengthening solidarity between the two countries. He also highly appreciated the Vietnamese community’s contributions to the socio-economic development of the Philippines.

The two leaders agreed to promote security and defense cooperation, as well as cooperation in crime prevention and control while emphasizing the importance of marine cooperation.

President Thuong proposed that the Philippines continue to treat Vietnamese fishermen humanely, soon extend the hotline agreement on fishing, and assist Vietnam in quickly removing the European Commission’s yellow card against Vietnamese seafood exported to Europe.

Both host and guest also agreed to enhance cooperation in other important fields, including education, culture, and tourism. They underlined the need to open more direct flights between the two countries, foster people-to-people exchanges, and promote the role of friendship organizations in strengthening mutual understanding.

Exchanging views on multilateral and regional cooperation, the two sides agreed to continue to regularly coordinate and support each other’s candidacies for international organizations. They concurred that both countries will support Laos in successfully fulfilling its 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship, and will coordinate with other ASEAN countries to maintain solidarity and unity in ASEAN.

President Marcos Jr. affirmed the Philippines’ support for Vietnam’s successful hosting of APEC Year 2027.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides are committed to maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation. They called on all concerned parties to exercise restraint, not threaten or use force, fully respect diplomatic and legal processes, and resolve disputes by peaceful means, based on international law, including the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, President Marcos Jr. respectfully invited President Thuong to pay a state visit to the Philippines at an appropriate time, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

After the talks, the two sides issued a joint press statement and witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries in the fields of agriculture, rice trade, maritime cooperation, and culture.

Netherlands, Vietnam still on the same path in next 50 years: Ambassador

The year 2023 was an important milestone in the Vietnam-Netherlands relations as the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.

On the occasion of New Year 2024 and Vietnam’s Traditional New Year (Tet), Ambassador of the Netherlands to Vietnam Kees van Baar told the Vietnam News Agency about the Vietnam - Netherlands relations in the past 50 years and the prospect of their bilateral cooperation relations in the coming time, particularly in fields where the Netherlands has strength like green transition or high tech.

According to Ambassador Kees van Baar, the two countries’ relations are multifaceted and strong and continue to develop and grow. The Netherlands and Vietnam have supported each other in good and bad times and have become trusted partners. The Netherlands started as Vietnam’s development partner 50 years ago but now the Netherlands is the biggest trade and investment partner of Vietnam in Europe.

“I think in the next 50 years, we will go on the same path. There's much more focus now on the green transition of the economy, climate change, and the shift to renewable energy sources,” the Ambassador stressed.

Ambassador Kees van Baar noted that besides such main things, another one, as both Prime Ministers of the two countries said, is high tech which should also help the two countries promote electric vehicles and green transition.

“Vietnam is very eager to attract Dutch businesses, and Dutch businesses also like Vietnam, so it's mutual. There's good cooperation. Dutch businesses in Vietnam also produce for the Vietnamese market such as Heineken, FrieslandCampina, and Damen Shipyards. They are different from a business that just imports, assembles, and exports,” Ambassador Kees van Baar said.

Ambassador of the Netherlands to Vietnam Kees van Baar (Photo: VNA)

Regarding the Netherlands’ support to Vietnam in climate change response and Vietnam’s efforts in this field, Ambassador Kees van Baar said that the Netherlands’ cooperation with the provinces in the Mekong Delta is important.

“A Vietnamese delegation came to the Netherlands in June, and it was a fruitful visit during which the two sides discussed how to sustainably develop in the Delta. The Mekong Delta is facing a few challenges, including land subsidence and saltwater intrusion, which are also issues in the Netherlands,” he said.

According to him, when it comes to climate challenges, it’s necessary to see where to adapt and where to mitigate. To adapt to it, one measure for example is changing from rice cultivation to aquaculture or fruit production, or developing rice crops that can grow in more brackish water.

“The speeches of the Vietnamese Prime Minister at COP26 (The 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference), as well as COP28 in Dubai, are excellent,” he said, emphasizing that the Netherlands is ready to work together with Vietnam to realize those plans when it comes to the implementation stage.

Assessing Vietnam’s post-pandemic economic recovery in 2023, Kees van Baar said that Vietnam has done very well, compared to some of its neighbors, and the country can be applauded on that one, according to VNA.

“I think what is needed right now, as Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh mentioned as well, is the investment in public infrastructure, power plants, renewable energy, and also roads and ports. You have economic development and you can develop much more,” the Ambassador said, adding that the Vietnamese Government should step up public investment in infrastructure, which couldn't be carried out by the Government itself, but with the engagement of private partners in public-private partnership.

He noted that Vietnam can attract even more businesses and investments. The country must have a “one-stop shop” to support businesses. If Vietnam had that, it would be very attractive to foreign investors.

Talking about his feelings as Vietnam’s Traditional New Year (Tet) is approaching, Kees van Baar stressed that this year is the Year of the Dragon. When it comes to dragons, people usually think about prosperity and power.

“When it comes to prosperity, I think Vietnam has all the elements in it to be a prosperous country even if the market demand worldwide is going down. Vietnam can attract a lot of investment because a lot of businesses now don't want to be dependent on one country to produce their goods. That is what we've seen during the pandemic. If you produce your goods in one country, and that country goes into a lockdown, you have a problem. So you have to spread your risks,” he said.

“Vietnam can profit from that because Vietnam showed the world how well it handled the COVID-19 crisis and how well it recovered from it. Vietnam took the right measures,” the Ambassador underlined.

On the occasion of New Year, Ambassador Kees van Baar wishes all Vietnam News Agency readers a great Tet, a splendid start to another thriving new year of the dragon.

Vietnam to host 2024 ICPC Asia Pacific Championship

The 2024 International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) Asia Pacific Championships is set to run from February 29 to March 3 in Hanoi.

The event, to be co-hosted by the University of Engineering and Technology under the Vietnam National University Hanoi (UET-VNU), and the Vietnam Association for Information Processing (VAIP), is expected to attract 64 teams from different countries, including 12 teams from Vietnam.

The opening ceremony of the championships will be held on March 1 at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi, VOV reported.

General Secretary of the Vietnam Informatics Association Nguyen Long takes a photo with contestants from the University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University Hanoi (Photo: viettimes.vn)

The morning of March 2 will see contestants attend a five-hour contest, with the winners to be awarded in the afternoon.

All participants will have the chance to visit Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage site in the northern province of Quang Ninh, before returning home.

According to the organizing board, the competition is expected to provide a new playground, thereby encouraging the movement of learning computer science and looking for young computing talents.

The winning team will stand a chance to take part in the 2024 global ICPC Finals which will be held in Kazakhstan in September.

Vietnam was officially approved to organize the ICPC contest in 2006 and won a bronze medal in 2022.

Vietnam witnesses sharp increase in number of international visitors

Right at the beginning of 2024, Vietnamese tourism witnessed a boom in the number of international visitors, the highest since the country reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed over 1.5 million foreign arrivals, up 10.3% over the past month and a year-on-year increase of 73.6%. This number is higher than January 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the total, nearly 1.3 million traveled to Vietnam by air, accounting for 85.1%, 11.7% on road, and 3.2% by sea, cited NDO.

International tourists learn about the production process of handicraft products in Hoi A City on January 1. (Photo: Tan Nguyen)

The Republic of Korea (RoK) saw the largest number of tourists to Vietnam in January with 417,576 arrivals, up 112.2% over the previous month and 161.3% over the same period last year. China was the second largest source market in January with 242,181 (a month-on-month increase of 103.4% and a year-on-year increase of 1,525.5%), followed by Taiwan (China) and the US.

In January, the revenue from travel and tourism was estimated at accommodation and catering services was estimated at VND4.4 trillion (US$179.3 million), a year-on-year increase of 18.5%.

Meanwhile, revenue from accommodation and catering services was estimated at VND58.9 trillion (US$2.4 billion), up 10.2% over the same period last year.

The sharp increase in international visitors to Vietnam in January was the result of Vietnam’s efforts in synchronously promoting tourism. Vietnam was assessed as a safe and friendly destination for foreign tourists.

Traditional Tet rituals take place in Hanoi Old Quarter

A program entitled Tet Viet-Tet pho 2024 (Vietnamese Tet – Old Quarter Tet 2024) celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) 2024 has opened at Kim Ngan communal house, Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district.

The Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter organizes the program, aiming to introduce to Hanoi’s citizens and visitors the traditional Tet space, rituals and activities of Hanoi and the Northern Delta.

Traditional rituals such as the procession to present offerings at the communal house gate, the Ceremony to declare the Thanh Hoang and worship the Craft Ancestors, and the Ceremony of erecting the Neu tree are adapted in the program.

The procession to present offerings at the communal house started from the Heritage House at 87 Ma May street, passed through Hanoi Old Quarter area to the Kim Ngan communal house.

More than 300 people joined the procession, including up to 200 worshipers, most of whom were of the young generation.

Those participating in the procession all wear ao ngu than (traditional five-panel dress). The people performing the ceremony wear ao tac (wide-sleeved shirt), while the rest wear ao tay chen (short-sleeved dress).

The offerings are traditional Hanoi craft products such as green rice cake and sweet lotus dessert, VNA reported.

A procession wearing ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) passes through a street in Hanoi Old Quarter. (Photo: VNA)

The program also features traditional folk activities such as building bamboo trees, wrapping cakes, and exchanging and introducing craft village products.

"This year's procession has had a significant change, with more people wearing the ngu than instead of wearing hybrid costumes," said Nguyen Duc Binh, Chairman of the Vietnamese Village Communal Club.

"This year, the procession is completely inclusive of the Hanoi community."

"Preserving and promoting tangible and intangible cultural heritage values in the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter area is a key task for the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem district to carry out," said Tran Thuy Lan, deputy head of the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter.

Activities under the Vietnamese Tet - Old Quarter's Tet 2024 program will continue until the end of Tet holiday for Hanoi’s citizens and visitors.

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