Members of the Vietnam Coast Guard force in a joint patrol at sea with their counterparts of the China Coast Guard force.

Vietnam and China hold joint patrol in Gulf of Tonkin waters

Ships 8004 and 8002 of the Vietnam Coast Guard left a port in Hai Phong city on November 27 for a joint patrol with the China Coast Guard in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin.

This is the second time this year the two sides have conducted joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin, according to the Command of Coast Guard Region 1.

The coast guard forces are scheduled to conduct the joint patrol over 13 points with a total length of 255.5 nautical miles, from the Southeast of Tran Island to the Northeast of Con Co Island of the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin, cited VOV.

The two sides will hold telephone exchanges, inspect and monitor fishing vessels of the two countries fishing in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line.

Furthermore, the Vietnam Coast Guard force in collaboration with northern coastal provinces of Vietnam will inspect the enforcement of regulations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and deal with violations.

This is the seventh joint patrol between Vietnam and China in the waters adjacent to the Gulf of Tonkin demarcation line following the signing of a fishery cooperation agreement in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin between the two countries.

The joint patrol is scheduled to last through to December 2.

Vietnam, UK bolster education cooperation

A delegation from the Ministry of Education and Training, led by Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son, paid a working visit to the UK on November 20-23 to enhance cooperation between education establishments of the two sides.

Attending the British Council’s Going Global conference and a ceremony to launch the Transnational Education strategy in Edinburgh on November 20, Son discussed the sustainability of the strategy and the ability to expand it in Vietnam, and highlighted opportunities and challenges in the field.

At the Vietnam – UK principals’ forum on cooperation between institutes/schools and enterprises for sustainable development the same day, Son affirmed that higher education establishments in Vietnam and the UK have enhanced collaboration across training, research and academic exchange.

He valued UK’s support for Vietnam to improve its higher education quality, enhance cooperation between universities of both sides in innovation, digital transformation, energy transition, and human resources development, and better the quality of English teaching and learning in the Vietnamese education system, according to VNA.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son (first from right) meets with representative from the Imperial College London. (Photo: VNA)

Son had bilateral meetings with officials from the UK Department for Education and Department of International Trade, and representatives from the British Council on November 22.

At the events, both sides discussed measures to promote cooperation and support for Vietnam in digital transformation in education, AI development, semiconductor, green energy, and emissions reduction.

Besides, the opening of the UK top-ranked universities’ branches in Vietnam was also on the table.

On November 22 and 23, the working delegation visited and had working sessions with the Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge to set up education cooperation.

During the delegation’s stay in the European country, nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Vietnam and British universities, enterprises, and the association of Vietnamese intellectuals in the UK and Ireland.

Foreign media outlines Vietnam’s surge in popularity among digital nomads

Convenient tourist visa, an array of destinations to explore, low cost of living, and a friendly atmosphere are among the four reasons that Vietnam is surging in popularity with digital nomads, according to United States-based travel website Travel Off Path.

Vietnam’s 90-day tourist visa, which was recently introduced in August, can be viewed as a game changer for both visitors and digital nomads alike.

Not only is the document obtainable online, but it also allows for multiple entries in and out of Vietnam, enabling remote workers to explore hotspots and attractions located outside the country’s borders with ease, noted Travel Off Path.

Similar visas in comparable Southeast Asian destinations are nowhere near as easily obtainable or long-lasting. In contrast, Thailand’s only lasts for 30 to 45 days. Elsewhere, Indonesia offers a digital nomad visa but requires applicants to have proof of funds of at least IDR2 billion, equal to US$130,000, in their bank account, whilst Malaysia is more reasonably priced at US$24,000.

The second reason is that Vietnam boasts so much attractions to explore. In Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital is home to the Old Quarter’s narrow streets, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Temple of Literature, all of which provide the visual and intellectual stimuli that many explorers chase.

Vietnam is surging in popularity with digital nomads (Photo courtesy of Travel Off Path)

Furthermore, along with the serene waters of Ha Long Bay to the terraced fields of Sa Pa, digital nomads can find some much-needed tranquility and inspiration through natural beauty that can only be found in Southeast Asia.

While the gorgeous sights are undoubtedly a major selling point for Vietnam, what’s drawing in digital nomads at such remarkable rates is the area’s low cost of living, the foreign website recommended.

Anecdotal evidence highlights that the average living expenses of a digital nomad living in Hanoi, Da Nang, or Ho Chi Minh City range from between US$700 and US$950, which is notably cheaper than what one would have to pay in regional countries such as Thailand or Malaysia.

Friendliness and hospitality are two values that are deeply ingrained in Vietnamese culture, something that becomes apparent as soon as a visitor comes into contact with a local or asks them for help. Travel Off Path suggests this as the final reason for the Southeast Asian country to surge in popularity with digital nomads.

The willingness of Vietnamese people to share their culture and traditions not only enhances the overall experience on offer for guests, but also allows visitors to make new connections and actually feel part of a wider community.

Moreover, the country’s popularity among digital nomads has seen its biggest cities host thriving expat communities, with plenty of co-working spaces and meet-up events on offer, the article concluded.

FTAs help strengthen Vietnam – Japan trade cooperation: official

Japan is the partner that has signed the most bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with Vietnam which open up many opportunities for stronger trade cooperation between the two nations, according to Tran Quang Huy, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Asia-Africa Market Department.

Trade deals such as the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), the Vietnam – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have created an extremely important cooperation framework, contributing to promoting trade, investment and business relations between the two countries in accordance with the principle of mutual benefit.

Notably, Vietnam and Japan have many cooperation opportunities in the fields of trade, technological innovation, digital transformation, and supply chain diversity, Huy said.

The structure of export and import products of the two countries is clearly complementary to each other without direct competition, cited VNA.

A lychee processing line for export to Japan (Photo: VNA)

Statistics show that bilateral trade turnover has increased steadily over the years, hitting US$40 billion in 2020, US$42.7 billion in 2021, US$47.6 billion in 2022, and nearly US$37 billion in the first 10 months of 2023.

is the third largest foreign investor in Vietnam with 5,227 valid projects worth over US$71.41 billion by October 20, 2023. Meanwhile, Vietnam has 106 investment projects in Japan with a total registered investment capital of about US$19.5 million.

According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit & Vegetables Association, the Japanese market accounts for about 5% of Vietnam's fruit export turnover, with a total value of about US$150 million.

Last year, Japan imported US$165 million worth of fruits from Vietnam, accounting for 4% of the fruit and vegetable market share. However, Japan's standards for imported fruit and vegetables are very high.

Currently, a number of Vietnamese fruits occupy a large market share and are increasingly popular in the Japanese market such as dragon fruit, mango, durian, coconut, lychee, longan, and banana.

According to Pham Quoc Liem, General Director of U&I Agriculture JSC (Unifarm) in the southern province of Binh Duong, the company exports 10 containers of bananas and one container of melon to Japan each week.

However, to enter the Japanese market, agro-forestry-aquaculture products must ensure standards of food hygiene and safety and animal and plant quarantine and are required to be produced and raised in line with Japanese agricultural standards of GAP, HACCP, and JAS.

Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Japan Ta Minh Duc advised Vietnamese businesses to pay attention to stabilizing product quality and stabilizing preservation technology for fruit products exported to Japan.

Vietnamese exporters should not increase prices too much to avoid losing competitiveness as inflation in Japan is very low, Minh said.

Trade experts predicted that cooperation between Vietnam and Japan will be supported more as businesses from both sides are exploiting advantages and tax incentives from FTAs such as CPTPP and RCEP.

Vietnam has been an attractive destination for Japanese businesses thanks to its market size and growth potential, stable political and social situation, and high-quality human resources, they stressed.

A 2022 survey report of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) shows that 60% of Japanese firms plan to expand operations in Vietnam in the next two years.

Insiders said this will be an important motivation to promote stronger trade exchange between the two sides in the coming time.

'Tro Tan Ruc Ro' wins various awards at national film festival

Director Bui Thac Chuyen and the crew of Tro Tan Ruc Ro (Glorious Ashes) have won various awards at the 23rd Vietnam National Film Festival which took place last in Da Lat City, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The film was honored at the closing ceremony held on Saturday night in Da Lat for winning this year's Golden Lotus Awards in the categories of Feature Film, Music, Cinematography and Director.

Actor Le Cong Hong who plays character Duong in the film has also won the Supporting Actor Award.

This is also a Vietnamese film selected for the 2024 Oscar competition, VNS reported.

Director Bui Thac Chuyen (second left) reveives award as Best Director at the 23rd Vietnam National Film Festival. Photo: VNA

Last year, the film won the top award at the Festival des 3 Continents 2022 in Nantes, France. Based on a novel by popular writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu, the film unveils relationships between three women and their partners in a southern seaside village.

Prior to Tro Tan Ruc Ro, Chuyen created many successful films with rave reviews such as Song Trong So Hai (Living in Fear), Choi Voi (Adrift) and Loi Nguyen Huyet Ngai (Blood Curse).

His documentary about ordinary people during the COVID-19 pandemic, entitled Không Sợ Hãi (No Fear), won the Silver Kite Award in the Documentary Category of Vietnam's Golden Kite Awards 2021.

Tro Tan Ruc Ro was among 16 motion pictures competing for Golden Lotus Awards at the 23rd Vietnam National Film Festival. The movies are made by both State-owned and private studios, and include international award winners and the current highest-grossing movies.

Dat Rung Phuong Nam (Song of the South), one of the most invested films, was a strong contender for the award but did not win any category at the festival.

The film directed by Quang Dung with a budget of VND40 billion, received mixed praise and criticism and earned a budget of nearly VND150 billion.

This is the first year Da Lat hosts the national film festival. The event coincided with the city’s 130th anniversary. Da Lat has also just joined UNESCO's network of creative cities in terms of music.

According to Vi Kien Thanh, director of the Cinema Department and head of the film festival organizing board, this year the event attracted more than 5,000 viewers watching live, and 500,000 watching on digital platforms.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony on Saturday, the director revealed the festival had drawn the participation of 177 films, the highest number. Feature films had improved artistic and professional skills, while cartoons, documentaries and scientific films all have reached high quality standards.

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