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Vice Secretary of Hanoi's Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong (L) recieves Yuan Gujie, member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong provincial Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee. (Photo courtesy of the Hanoi delegation)

Hanoi eyes broader co-operation with China’s Guangdong province

A high-level delegation of Hanoi, led by Nguyen Van Phong, vice secretary of its Party Committee, recently held talks with Yuan Gujie, member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong provincial Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee.

Phong stated that the capital places importance on its relations with China in general and Chinese localities in particular, including Guangdong province, with the visit aiming to concretise directions by the two sides’ leaders.

Hanoi is spurring forward urban development, meaning co-operation in developing urban governance and construction still has a lot of room, he said, adding that the city desires to exchange and learn from Guangdong's experiences in this field. As such it always welcomes and creates favorable conditions for the Chinese province’s businesses and corporations with strengths in capital and technology to invest in Hanoi.

Phong used this occasion to invite Guangdong leaders to visit the capital on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of its Liberation Day on October 10.

Yuan expressed her confidence that in the time ahead, Guangdong and Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, will continue to step up linkages to achieve greater efficiency in the principle of mutual benefit, cited VOV.

During its stay, the Hanoi delegation took part in a working session with member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong provincial Committee and Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guo Yonghang, who informed them of socio-economic development achievements of Guangdong as the Vietnamese side’s largest trade partner.

He affirmed that cooperation between both sides, as well as Hanoi and Guangdong, have developed well over recent years, based on agreements of the two countries’ leaders to jointly implement common policies on developing mutual relations.

Phong stated that Hanoi hopes to boost collaboration with Guangdong province and Guangzhou city, with a focus on personnel training, student exchanges, culture, urban development, and digital transformation.

On this occasion, the Hanoi delegation attended a closing ceremony of a course on personnel training for Hanoi at the South China University of Technology (SCUT) in Guangzhou city.

The delegation also joined a seminar aimed at preserving and promoting traditional cultural heritage.

Vietnam, Laos step up cooperation in technology, innovation

The first session of the Vietnam-Laos Committee for Cooperation in Technology and Innovation took place in Vientiane, Laos, on May 28.

At the meeting, Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat and Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara agreed to expand bilateral technological and innovative cooperation. They discussed diversifying forms of joint work to meet the sustainable development strategies of each country and the new international context, in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and current global development trends.

The two sides agreed to systematically consult on the organization and management of technology and innovation to effectively utilize the potential of both countries in this field, according to VNA.

Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat (L) and Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vongdara exchange the minutes of the first session of the Vietnam-Laos Committee for Cooperation in Technology and Innovation in Vientiane, Laos, on May 28. (Photo: VNA)

Regarding the collaboration direction for 2024-2026, they agreed to continue sharing experience in state management and policy planning, while supporting the building of institutional and legal frameworks related to high technology, high-tech zones, technology services, innovation management, startups, and technology transfer. It was also concurred that leaders from both ministries will regularly visit and work with one another and that working groups will be exchanged to conduct mid-term assessments of the sides’ implementation of high-level agreements and discuss future cooperation directions.

They will collaborate on research, development, application, and technology transfer in various fields, including Industry 4.0 technologies (AI, IoT, big data, cloud computing), IT, startups, digital transformation, remote sensing technology, geology and minerals, agriculture and forestry, medicine, biotechnology, agricultural product preservation, clean energy, renewable energy, irrigation, water resources, and climate change, among others.

The two sides agreed to organize one or two training courses on sci-tech and innovation management annually. They also encouraged participation in activities and events that promote supply-demand connectivity, technology transfer, startups, and innovation organized by both countries each year.

Nha Trang listed among world’s eight best beach destinations to retire in

Nha Trang city in the south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has been named in the list of the globe’s eight best beach destinations to retire in for beautiful views, mild weather, and a laid-back vibe, according to travel experts from Travel+Leisure magazine of the United States.

Located approximately 250 miles northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang comes in at eighth in the world’s eight best beach destinations to retire in. It is a coastal city with a beautiful beach and an established expat community of about 4,000 people, the publication shared.

The US magazine revealed that there are wet and dry seasons, with the latter running from January through August, while the monsoon season spans September to December.

Photo: VOV

High-quality health care is available through several local hospitals, which most retirees arrange private health care coverage, Travel+Leisure wrote.

According to an article written by Betsy Burlingame, founder and president of Expat Exchange, “Most international retirees in Nha Trang opt for apartments or condos in the city center, close to amenities and the beach. There are also options for houses in quieter, residential areas.”

Burlingame describes Nha Trang as a walkable city that boasts reliable public transportation, a vibrant nightlife, delicious cuisine, and abundance of opportunities for recreation, ranging from parks to hiking and boating.

Topping the list was Carlsbad, a coastal city in California in the United States, followed by Beaufort city, Falmouth town, and Ponte Vedra Beach, all of which are in the US.

Other places to make the list are Ambergris Caye in Belize, Quepos in Costa Rica, and Mazatlán in Mexico.

Optimistic signs in Hanoi’s efforts for year-round bustling tourism

The total number of visitors to Hanoi reached 11.55 million between January and May, up 14% year-on-year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

Among these, foreign tourists numbered 2.64 million, a surge of 51.9%, while domestic ones totaled 8.91 million, an increase of 6.1%. Revenue from tourism exceeded 45.85 trillion VND (1.83 billion USD), growing by 23% from the same period last year.

In May alone, the capital welcomed 2.37 million travelers, an annual rise of 16.6%. Foreign and domestic arrivals increased by 46.7% to 496,500, and by 10.6% to 1.88 million, respectively. Tourism revenue for the month was over 9.19 trillion VND, up 23.6% compared to May 2023.

Tourists inside the Hoa Lo Prison relic site, known in French as Maison Centrale, an attraction in Hanoi’s Hoa Lo street, Hoan Kiem district. (Photo: VNA)

Notably, in previous years, the peak season for international tourists in Hanoi spanned from October to April, thanks to favorable weather conditions. However, this year, right from the beginning of summer, the arrivals have continued to grow strongly, a positive signal for its efforts in attracting visitors throughout the year.

Looking ahead, the local tourism sector will focus on enhancing the effectiveness of state management, developing products, promoting cooperation and market development, accelerating digital transformation, and ensuring a safe, friendly, and civilized tourism environment.

Ninh Binh Tourism Festival promises arts and culture galore

The annual festival in the first week of June is one of multiple tourism and cultural programs held in Ninh Binh this year to mark the 10th anniversary of the area’s recognition by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.

Ninh Binh Tourism Week 2024 is getting ready to launch, with this year's event featuring a plethora of arts and cultural exhibitions as well as a goat fighting contest to mark the 10th anniversary of Trang An's recognition by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.

The annual festival will be held from June 1 to June 8 in the northern province of Ninh Binh, with the theme Sac Vang Tam Coc Trang An (The Golden Colour of Tam Coc Trang An), according to the event's organisers.

It promises to offer amazing attractions to tourists from across the country and abroad, while artists – especially photographers – are also encouraged to come and enjoy the unique and beautiful natural landscapes.

The organizing board said it hopes the event will help boost Ninh Binh's products and services for tourists while affirming the area's reputation as a unique, safe, friendly and attractive destination.

The week will feature various activities including an opening ceremony, the introduction of a walking street, art performances and displays of the province's traditional handicrafts, as well as photography tours themed "Mua vang Tam Coc" (Tam Coc Golden Season), reported VNS.

Photo: vamvo.com

During the event, a photo exhibition titled "Mua vang Tam Coc Trang An" (Tam Coc Trang An Golden Season) will be showcased along with many other cultural programs such as water puppet shows, chèo (traditional opera), xam (buskers’ singing) and folk songs from the three regions.

Pham Tuan Phuong, vice chairman of the provincial Literature and Arts Association, said: "The association will display 120 works at the exhibition. The works are created by members of the association focusing on the theme of Tam Coc. Many of them have won awards at photo contests in the Red River Delta region, in the country, and abroad."

This year's Ninh Binh Tourism Week will also include a goat-fighting event hosted by the provincial Farmers' Association.

The provincial People's Committee (Government) mobilized businesses and local people to participate in and contribute resources to the event. It asked that all activities promote the province's unique cultural and historical features, tourism potential, and strengths, especially the outstanding global value of the Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage site with a focus on the Tam Coc Bich Dong tourist site.

The Tam Coc Trang An Golden Season is an annual event held since 2018 in early summer, as the rice fields ripen along the Ngo Dong River.

Tam Coc paddy field, known as one of the five most beautiful rice fields in Vietnam, is entering its most beautiful time of the year, just in time for Ninh Binh Tourism Week.

The field is attractive in part because it shows the interconnectivity between nature and people, the border between heaven and earth, and the daily lives of the local people.

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