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Bulgarian President Rumen Radev speaks at the Vietnam - Bulgaria Business Forum in Ho Ch Minh City on November 27. (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

Ample opportunities for Vietnam – Bulgaria economic, trade cooperation

Vietnam and Bulgaria have ample opportunities for multi-sector cooperation, ranging from high-tech, automobile manufacturing, and agriculture and food processing to health care and education, heard a Vietnam – Bulgaria Business Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 27.

In his opening remarks, Vo Van Hoan, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, stated that Vietnam and Bulgaria share a traditional friendship built on mutual trust and support over the past 70 years. Bulgaria is not only a reliable partner but also a long-standing friend that has accompanied Vietnam throughout its socio-economic development journey.

Currently, Bulgaria is recognized as a country with strong capabilities in areas such as information technology, organic agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy. These are fields of great interest to Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, which seek to learn from and cooperate with Bulgaria, he said.

The forum provides an opportunity for businesses from both sides to share information, exchange ideas, and explore potential cooperation opportunities, he said, adding, Ho Chi Minh City is committed to creating the most favourable conditions for Bulgarian businesses to invest and operate in the city.

Effective cooperation between businesses from both countries will help strengthen bilateral economic relations and contribute to the sustainable development of both sides, emphasized the official.

Speaking at the forum, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev expressed his deep admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements, particularly the dynamic growth of Ho Chi Minh City.

Bulgaria values every opportunity to cooperate with Vietnam, not only as an economic and trade partner but also as a companion in development, he said.

According to the President, Bulgaria serves as a bridge between Asia and Europe, acting as a gateway for Asian goods to enter the EU market. Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City holds a strategic position as Vietnam’s gateway and trade hub to the region and the wider world.

This creates significant potential for cooperation in freight transportation between the two sides, said Radev, adding Bulgarian businesses also excel in areas such as information technology, automation, and pharmaceuticals, cited VOV.

Notably, Bulgaria has successfully transitioned from raw material processing industries to high-tech manufacturing and automation. Electronic products now account for the largest share of the country’s total exports, at 12% of its GDP.

The automotive manufacturing industry in Bulgaria is also highly developed, with numerous research and development centers from leading European car manufacturers, a sector that suits Vietnam’s current development priorities. In addition, Bulgaria is among economies advancing in the aerospace industry.

Both Bulgaria and Vietnam recognize that economic development requires a solid foundation while simultaneously ensuring national defense, food security, and climate change adaptation. Bulgaria is well-positioned to support and cooperate with Vietnam on projects to enhance agricultural processing capacity and ensure food security, said Radev.

According to the President, Bulgaria, with an area one-third the size of Vietnam but a population of only 6.5 million, has a low population density, making it an attractive destination for foreign investment in agriculture and food production to meet domestic demands and export to other markets.

This is an intriguing suggestion for Vietnamese businesses interested in agriculture and food processing investments, suggested Radev.

Providing additional information about Bulgaria’s investment environment, Krasimir Yakimov, Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth of Bulgaria, highlighted the country’s strategic location, intersected by five international road corridors, making it easier for foreign businesses to access 1.3 billion consumers across Europe and the Middle East.

Beyond its expertise in developing processing and manufacturing industries, Bulgaria places a strong emphasis on creating a favourable and attractive business environment. This includes reducing administrative and regulatory burdens and supporting investors in connecting with businesses and government organizations. The operational costs for businesses in Bulgaria are highly competitive, thanks to a stable energy supply and low office rental and utility costs, he introduced.

This serves as a significant incentive for Vietnamese businesses to choose Bulgaria as a destination for startups or to expand their production and business operations, he suggested.

New milestone in Vietnam – Russia economic training cooperation

The first meeting of the Vietnamese and Russian economic universities association was held in Moscow on November 26.

Established on September 10, the association aims to develop collaboration between higher education institutions of both countries as well as coordinate research projects and potential cooperation programmes. The Rector of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (FU) and the Chairman of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) Council are the co-chairs of the association.

Nikolai Kudriavtsev, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation under Russia's Ministry of Education, highlighted the robust educational relationship between the two countries. Russia annually provided 1,000 scholarships to Vietnamese students and approximately 3,000 Vietnamese students studying in the country in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Meanwhile, FU Rector Stanislav Prokofiev emphasized that the goal of the association is to deliver enhanced bilateral collaboration that the leaders of the two countries reached consensus on during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Vietnam in June 2023.

The initiative seeks to concretise specific results in scientific research collaboration, cultural understanding, and linguistic exchange, he said, expressing his hope that joining in the association will help education establishments improve their training quality while contributing to the development of the Vietnam – Russia relations, according to VNA.

Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)

For his part, UEH Council Chairman Nguyen Dong Phong described the association as a strategic step that is not merely an expansion of resources but also a platform to address global challenges through education and research cooperation.

He said he hopes that the event will serve as an important foundation to deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

At the event, leaders from the UEH, Banking Academy of Vietnam, University of Economics and Business under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Hanoi Financial and Banking University signed Memoranda of Understanding to join the association.

Ural State Economics University, Rostov State University of Economics and the Russian Foreign Trade Academy were also welcomed as new members.

Lunar New Year holiday to span nine days

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has approved a nine-day holiday for the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tet) – Vietnam’s largest traditional celebration.

The break will last from January 25 (the 26th day of the last month of the Year of the Dragon) to February 2 (the fifth day of the Year of the Snake), VOV reported.

Illustrative photo (Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

In addition to the Tet holiday, the PM also approved other public holidays in the year. Specifically, public employees will enjoy a five-day break from April 30 to May 4 for the National Reunification Day - Labor Day holiday and a four-day break from August 30 to September 2 for the National Day holiday.

The PM asked ministries, agencies, and localities to arrange staff to be on duty according to regulations to ensure continuous services to organizations and the public. Officials and civil servants should also stand ready to handle unexpected issues.

Vietnamese army's 80th anniversary of celebrated in Japan

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944-2024) and 35 years of the All-People Defense Festival.

The event drew many Japanese officials, including Defense Minister Nakatani Gen, along with ambassadors and defense attachés from various nations; as well as representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu highlighted the heroic 80-year history of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the military’s proud legacy, rooted in Vietnam's millennia-old tradition of nation-building and defense, as well as significant contributions by the VPA to peace and stability in the region and the world.

The ambassador underlined successes in Vietnam’s international integration and defense diplomacy, which have not only achieved substantial breakthroughs but also created favourable international conditions for national development and security. Vietnam has established defense ties with over 100 countries and has been participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions since 2014, he noted.

Regarding defense ties with Japan, Ambassador Hieu described the bilateral defense relationship as a cornerstone of the broader Vietnam-Japan partnership, becoming a bright spot in bilateral relations, cited VNA.

Along with maintaining regular visits and delegation exchanges, including the visit by Japan’s Defense Minister to Vietnam in August, the two sides have maintained cooperation mechanisms such as the Deputy Ministerial-level Defense Policy Dialogue. Both sides have signed numerous defense cooperation agreements and strengthened ties in areas such as post-war recovery efforts, training, military medicine, search and rescue operations, and UN peacekeeping missions. The two sides have also coordinated closely within the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM +), noted the diplomat.

He said that upgrading bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership has provided fresh momentum for multifaceted cooperation, including defense. He expressed his confidence that Vietnam-Japan defense collaboration will continue to flourish, contributing to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Meanwhile, Colonel Nguyen Thai Son, Vietnam’s Defense Attaché in Japan, underlined the VPA's evolution over 80 years as a revolutionary force born from the people and for the people, steadfast in its loyalty to the Party, the State, and the people. He affirmed defense diplomacy as a pillar of Vietnam’s broader foreign policy, enhancing trust, fostering international friendships, and elevating Vietnam's global stature.

Understanding that defense cooperation is an important pillar and a motivation of the Vietnam-Japan ties, Son referred to the 2018 Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation, which serves as a legal framework for expanding and deepening collaboration. This foundation has enabled regular delegation exchanges, effective annual Defense Policy Dialogues, and robust multilateral cooperation, especially within the ADMM +.

He said that at the talks between the Defense Ministers of Vietnam and Japan in Hanoi in August, the two sides agreed to continue to effectively maintain bilateral defense cooperation mechanisms.

For his part, Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen expressed his admiration for the VPA, and reviewed cooperation periods with the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam.

At the bilateral defense meeting in August, both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation across multiple domains, underpinned by the trust built through direct dialogue, he said. He expressed his hope that this trust will continue to be further expanded.

More flights, trains launched to serve transport on Tet holiday

All air carriers have announced they will increase transport capacity to satisfy travel demand during Tet holiday.

Vietnam Airlines Group, including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and VASCO, will provide 650,000 additional seats, or more than 3,000 flights on domestic air routes, with departure from January 13 to February 12, 2025.

The total number of seats available on the entire Vietnam Airlines’ network will be 2.15 million this Tet, or 11,000 flights.

The additional flights mostly serve demand from workers returning to their hometowns for family reunions, including the routes Hanoi – HCM City, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Vinh; HCM City – Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hue, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Pleiku, Chu Lai, Dong Hoi and Vinh.

Vietnam Airlines Group plans to lease four more airplanes to serve the peak travel season. Each plane is expected to provide 180 flights this Tet.

Vietjet Air has also begun selling air tickets for Tet flights, with departure from January 15 to February 12, 2025, VNN reported.

The tickets on HCM City – Da Nang, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Nha Trang and Da Lat routes are priced between VND890,000 (not including tax, fees) and VND1,790,000 for flights on HCM City - Hanoi, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong. The tickets for the opposite direction are priced from zero dong.

Photo: VNN

Air carriers have reported that many Tet flights have had occupancy rates of 70-80 percent, especially from HCM City to northern and central provinces. The number of passengers is expected to increase in upcoming months.

Airlines have recommended that passengers book tickets soon to enjoy preferential airfares. They have also been advised to book tickets on websites or apps, or with official booking agents.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) is keeping a close watch over ticket booking and fares of domestic flights to instruct air carriers to increase output on routes with high demand.

The Vietnam Railways Corporation on October 6 began selling tickets for trains during Tet holiday at railway stations, on websites, and via the switchboard and apps.

On the first ticket launch day, 43,000 tickets were sold, worth VND77 billion. Thanks to innovations in booking and payment methods, passengers can quickly access train tickets.

The high travel season for the railway sector begins on January 15 and ends February 16. There will be 22 trains to serve passengers each day during Tet, including nine Thong Nhat trains running on Hanoi – HCM City route and 13 to serve short-distance travel.

Ticket prices for trains during 2025 Tet days are 4-5 percent more expensive than 2024 Tet prices.

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