An article published by Lao News Agency (Photo: VNA)

Lao media spotlights Vietnam – Laos special relations

Many electronic newspapers of Laos simultaneously ran articles on January 6 - 7, highlighting Lao Prime Minister Sonxay Siphandone’s official visit to Vietnam and co-chairing of the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

The articles reported that right after the official welcome ceremony in Hanoi on the morning of January 6, Lao PM Siphandone and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh held talks.

During the talks, the two sides spoke highly of the results of the bilateral cooperation in 2023. The two PMs expressed their joy as many cooperation projects have been completed on time, even ahead of schedule, and several existing issues between the two countries have been addressed, cited VNA.

The two sides acknowledged the consolidation of bilateral political relations, saying that this serves as a solid foundation for promoting cooperation in terms of defense and security, economics, trade, investment, industry, energy, education, culture, tourism, and healthcare between the two countries.

They have also exchanged views on orientations and plans for future cooperation, agreeing to continue implementing agreements signed by leaders of both countries, as well as relevant documents signed between the two Parties, States, and ministries and sectors at all levels.

According to Lao media, PM Chinh welcomed the first official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in his new capacity. The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support Laos to successfully perform international responsibilities in 2024, including the ASEAN Chairmanship.

For his part, Siphandone thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their valuable support and assistance for Laos in its national construction and defense.

Lao newspapers said that the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents, including a protocol on border guard cooperation between the defense ministries of Vietnam and Laos, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation plan between the Government Office of Vietnam and the Lao Prime Minister’s Office, an MoU on development and connectivity of border trade infrastructure between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos, and a cooperation plan for 2024 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and Laos’s Ministry of Education and Sports.

Hoi An, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City win Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2023

Vietnam’s three major tourist destinations, Hoi An, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, have won the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best 2023, as voted on by readers of the renowned travel website TripAdvisor.

Accordingly, Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province ranked second, while Ho Chi Minh City ranked 11th in the list of the 25 World’s Trending Destinations.

Hoi An, a city on the central Vietnamese coast, is hailed by TripAdvisor as a well-preserved example of an important Southeast Asian trading port from the 15th to 19th centuries. Already a common stop for backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists, according to NDO.

Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province ranks second in the list of the 25 World’s Trending Destinations. (Photo: VNAT)

Ho Chi Minh City, for its part, sets the cultural and economic pace for the country. “Vietnam's largest bustling city boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic,” the website described.

Meanwhile, Hanoi claimed third place in the 25 World’s Best Food Destinations. The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture while making room for modern developments, stated Tripadvisor.

The website suggested that one of the great ways to immerse in the local culture is to walk around the streets of the Old Quarter, do a little shopping, and eat delicious street food.

It also named the best Hanoi street food dishes to sample, including banh cuon (steamed rice rolls), pho bo (traditional Vietnamese noodle soup with beef), bun cha (barbecued pork with rice vermicelli), banh mi (baguette), bun oc (snail rice vermicelli soup), bun ca (fish rice vermicelli soup), banh tom (shrimp cake), banh goi (crispy “pillow” cake), banh duc nong (Vietnamese hot steamed rice cake), and egg coffee.

Vietnam treasures bilateral relations with Cambodia: President

Vietnam always attaches importance to the good traditional friendship with Cambodia, President Vo Van Thuong told visiting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun during a meeting in Hanoi on January 7.

Hosting a reception for the Cambodian guest, President Thuong highly valued the fact that Vietnamese Deputy PM Le Minh Khai and his Cambodian counterpart Savoeun delivered speeches which spotlighted the flourishing relations between Vietnam and Cambodia at a meeting to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the victory of the war defending the southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian troops and people, defeating the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - 2024).

He emphasized that Vietnam always remembers the righteous support of the Cambodian people to Vietnam's struggles to defend the nation as well as in the national construction and defense today.

Along with geographical and cultural connections, the two peoples have stood side by side to fight common enemies, overcome difficulties and hardships, and now cooperate for development, he said.

He expressed his pleasure as Cambodian leaders wish to continue deepening the traditional friendship through recent visits to Vietnam by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Bovor Thipadei Hun Manet, President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Khuon Sudary, and other high-ranking leaders of the State and Government of Cambodia.

Thuong spoke highly of the comprehensive development of cooperation between the two countries in all fields, saying that the 10-billion-USD trade value between the two sides is a basis for further elevating trade and investment cooperation.

The defense and security cooperation is an important pillar, contributing to creating a stable environment for development, he said, adding that people-to-people exchanges, especially in border areas, have been enhanced and the two countries regularly have initiatives to form new cooperation mechanisms across channels of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and other organizations.

He said he hopes that the relationship between the two countries will continue to grow stronger and deeper in the future, expressing his belief that under the wise reign of King Norodom Sihamoni, the CPP led by Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and the Cambodian government headed by Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia will develop strongly and its position and role in the region and the world be improved.

The two leaders expressed their joy at the fruitful and practical development of the bilateral relations, and close cooperation in socio-economic development, VNA reported.

President Vo Van Thuong (R) receives Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun (Photo: VNA)

Savoeun showed his honor to attend the celebration, and conveyed New Year wishes from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and Prime Minister Hun Manet to Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, and other leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam.

He expressed his hope that the two countries will continue to strongly promote people-to-people exchanges, thereby further nurturing the bilateral relations.

Celebrity Solstice brings 2,700 foreign tourists to central Vietnam

Cruise ship Celebrity Solstice docked at Chan May port in Thua Thien-Hue province on January 7, bringing approximately 2,700 foreign visitors to central Vietnam.

Most of the passengers on board the cruise ship are from Great Britain, France, Canada and the United States.

Upon their arrival, they were warmly welcomed and given special gifts by local authorities, Cham May Port leaders and Saigontourist, a leading travel company in Vietnam, VOV reported.

Cruise ship Celebrity Solstice brings approximately 2,700 foreign visitors to central Vietnam.

During their stay, the visitors are scheduled to take on tours of major tourist destinations and sample specialties in Thua Thien-Hue province, Quang Nam province, and Da Nang city which are all home to UNESCO-recognized World Heritage sites.

In 2023, Chan May Port received 25 cruise ships, bringing 33,000 international tourists to Thua Thien-Hue and adjacent areas. In 2024, the port is expected to welcome 32 cruise ships with nearly 60,000 passengers and more than 22,000 crew members on board.

Hanoi ceremony marks 45th anniversary of southwest border defense victory

High-ranking leaders and people of Vietnam and Cambodia recalled the Vietnam-Cambodia coordination to fight their common enemies during a ceremony in Hanoi on January 7 to mark the 45th anniversary of the victory of the war defending the southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian troops and people, defeating the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - 2024).

Prominent among the participants was State President Vo Van Thuong.

The event provided a chance for the two countries to express gratitude to the past generations who shed their blood for peace and development of the two nations, while educating people, especially the youth of Vietnam and Cambodia, on the need to maintain, reinforce and develop the special traditional friendship between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai quoted Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as saying during his Cambodia visit in July 2017 that the history will never be forgotten and no one will fall into oblivion, and that eternal glory belongs to the outstanding sons and daughters who laid down their lives for the Fatherland of the two peoples.

He recalled the crimes that the Pol Pot genocidal regime committed since it came to power in April 1975, with more than 3 million Cambodian and tens of thousands of Vietnamese killed only in 3 years, 8 months and 20 days, cited VNA.

President Vo Van Thuong and delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

Along with that, the Pol Pot group mobilized most of its military power to invade the southwestern border of Vietnam, seriously violating independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, distorting history, inciting national hatred, trampling on the good values of the traditional friendship and good neighborly relationship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.

In response to the call from the Cambodian United Front for National Salvation and the Cambodian people, and to defend the country's sacred sovereignty, Vietnam cooperated with Cambodian armed forces to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.

This was a common victory of the two peoples, firmly defending independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia and Vietnam, ending a dark page of Cambodia, saving the Cambodian people from the genocidal disaster, opening up a new era of development in independence, peace, neutrality and prosperity, Deputy PM Khai underlined. He added that the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime also contributed to maintaining peace, stability in Southeast Asia and the world.

He highlighted achievements that Cambodian people have gained in the past 45 years, as well as the growth of the Vietnam-Cambodia sound neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and gives top priority to reinforcing and strengthening the sound neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

For his part, Cambodian Deputy PM Neth Savoeun said that Cambodian people always remember the sacrifice by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who shed blood and laid down their lives to fight the Pol Pot genocidal regime and liberate Cambodian people.

He said that the relations between the two countries are benefiting the two peoples in various aspects such as economy, trade, investment, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, education, culture, sports, tourism, defense and security.

The Cambodian Deputy PM pledged that Cambodia always gives the highest priority to maintaining the traditional solidarity and mutual support between the two sides.

It can be affirm that the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship is a symbol of good neighborliness in the world, he stressed

Participants listened to touching stories of former experts and volunteer soldiers of Vietnam who performed international missions in Cambodia, and enjoyed art performances honoring the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship.

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