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The talks between NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai and his Lao counterpart Sommad Pholsena in Da Nang city on September 4, (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos vow to create economic breakthroughs

National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai held talks with his Lao counterpart Sommad Pholsena in the central city of Da Nang on September 4, vowing to advance economic cooperation between their nations.

Hai congratulated the Lao people on their recent achievements and expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the management of the Lao Government and the supervision of the legislature, Laos will successfully overcome challenges, maintain macroeconomic stability and drive socio-economic recovery.

Praising the growing and more substantive ties between the two legislatures, he noted the facilitation of delegation exchanges at all levels, work experience sharing and exchange programs between parliamentary committees and friendship groups, cited VNA.

A significant milestone was the first Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Parliamentary Summit held in Laos in December 2023, which elevated cooperation among the three legislative bodies to its highest level and contributed to refining high-level cooperation mechanisms among the three countries at the Party, Government and parliamentary channels.

Pholsena, in turn, expressed the Lao delegation's wish in sharing experience in finance, economy, and auditing during the visit, saying that they are of significant interest to the Lao legislature as it seeks to refine legal system and enhance its role in building and approving policies aimed at the country's socio-economic development.

According to him, the upcoming seminar scheduled for September 5 will provide a platform for both sides to learn from each other in these areas.

Both sides committed to maintaining frequent high-level exchanges through all channels, leveraging the effectiveness of annual meetings between the two Politburos, sessions of the Inter-Governmental committees, and experience-sharing exchanges between the two legislatures.

They agreed to actively implement the new cooperation agreement between the two NAs, support each other at global and regional inter-parliamentary forums, and coordinate efforts to make breakthroughs in all areas, particularly in economic cooperation.

A key focus of the talks was the pledge to achieve breakthroughs in economic, trade, and investment collaboration, elevating it to a crucial pillar that matches the strong political relationship.

The two sides also agreed to establish appropriate and effective policies to unlock resources for economic, trade, and investment between the two countries, with a focus on connecting their economies. This includes transport infrastructure development and opening up Laos' economy to the sea through projects like the Vung Ang and other Vietnamese ports.

Promising signs for tourism industry ahead of inbound tourism season

During the four-day National Day holiday period from August 31 to September 3 this year, the tourism industry served an estimated three million holidaymakers, representing an annual rise of 20%, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

Ho Chi Minh City, the most populous locality in Vietnam, took the lead as it welcomed 980,000 visitors. It was followed by Hanoi (672,900 visitors), Hai Phong city (580,000), Khanh Hoa province (578,219), Ba Ria-Vung Tau province (555,984), and Quang Ninh province (455,000).

Meanwhile, the number of international tourists arriving at key holiday destinations also witnessed an increase, a positive sign for the inbound tourism season starting in October.

Foreign travelers primarily came from markets such as the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan (Chian), India, Europe, and the United States, with an average stay of about four to five nights.

Da Nang city topped the list, receiving approximately 91,000 visitors, followed by Hanoi (58,900), Khanh Hoa (48,000), Ho Chi Minh City (38,800), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (25,560), and Thua Thien Hue (16,000).

Most notably, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang which is home to Phu Quoc Island, dubbed the “Pearl Island in Vietnam”, attracted 15,570 foreign visitors, representing an increase of 271.4% over the same period last year, according to VOV.

Visitors to the Hue Imperial Citadel in Thua Thien-Hue province, central Vietnam. Photo: VOV

To meet the diverse needs of tourists for sightseeing, entertainment, and relaxation, localities coordinated efforts with travel firms to proactively refresh and develop a variety of attractive tourism products. They also organized numerous festivals, artistic performances, promotional programs, and package tours specifically aimed at attracting visitors and increasing both their spending and length of stay.

At tourist centers, attractive products were offered to visitors, including Han River boat tours, paragliding, and cyclo tours in Da Nang; new double-decker bus tours and the inauguration of the Sky Garden commercial and food street in Ho Chi Minh City; the launch of new artificial waterfall Bliss Waterfall in Dong Nai; and the inauguration of the Dalat Art Map in Da Lat.

Thanks to thorough preparations in advance, travel firms rolled out various promotional offers and discounts, thereby contributing to a lively final holiday season of the year, said the VNAT.

High-end accommodation facilities at popular tourist destinations such as Ha Long, Da Nang, and Binh Thuan also introduced various promotional schemes and waived holiday surcharges in an effort to attract visitors.

Statistics highlight that the average room occupancy rate at accommodation facilities reached 56%, an increase of 1.85% compared to the same period last year, with the occupancy rate exceeding 60% on September 1 and 2.

This year’s National Day holiday period has ended with positive results for the tourism industry, a promising sign for the end-of-year tourism season and the inbound tourism season in Vietnam.

The country attracted approximately 10 million foreign arrivals in the January to July period, representing an annual rise of 51%. It aims to receive 18 million foreign visitors this year, with a primary focus on the peak inbound tourism season lasting from October to March of the following year.

Currently, the largest international tourist markets for Vietnam include the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan (China), the United States, Japan, Australia, India, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

Ninh Binh, RoK locality look to boost heritage preservation cooperation

A delegation of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Gyeongju city led by its mayor Joo Nak-Young visited the northern province of Ninh Binh on September 3-4 to boost cooperation between the two localities, especially in preserving and promoting cultural and historical values, as well as developing heritage urban areas in ancient capitals.

During a meeting with the delegation on September 4, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Doan Minh Huan provided an overview of the geographical location, history, potential, strengths, and development orientation of Ninh Binh. It is the only place in Southeast Asia that possesses a mixed heritage site recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage - the Trang An Landscape Complex.

Ninh Binh ranked 12th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide in terms of growth rate in the first half of 2024. The locality always persists in implementing a development strategy focusing on “green, sustainable, and harmonious growth." It is one of the three largest automobile manufacturing centers in Vietnam, with ambitions to become the biggest hub of this kind in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, Ninh Binh has seen significant development in producing and exporting farm produce and foodstuffs.

Huan expressed his hope that Ninh Binh and Gyeongju will strengthen cooperation in areas such as heritage conservation, and share experience in managing heritage urban areas in ancient capitals - a field where the RoK boasts extensive expertise. They also aim to exchange art troupes serving the organization of festivals and large-scale art programs, VNA reported.

Officials of Ninh Binh province and the RoK's Gyeongju city discuss how to boost cooperation between the two localities. (Photo: VNA)

He suggested the two sides enhance business connection and tourism promotion activities, calling on Gyeongju to create favorable conditions and establish cooperation programs, thus intensifying bilateral collaboration.

For his part, Joo remarked that Ninh Binh has beautiful natural landscapes with many attractive tourist destinations.

The two localities share many historical similarities as both were once ancient capitals, he noted, stating that Gyeongju is willing to share its experience in archaeology and cultural heritage preservation with Ninh Binh.

According to the official, Gyeongju also boasts strength in industrial development, particularly in automobile manufacturing as it now is home to 1,300 factories and production facilities supporting the automotive industry. The Korean locality also focuses on high-tech agriculture, with pears and tomatoes as its strengths.

Joo indicated that he will discuss the strengths of Ninh Binh in agricultural processing with the RoK Ambassador to Vietnam, thus helping the Vietnamese locality explore opportunities for exporting farm produce to the RoK.

Vietnam scrambles to respond to powerful typhoon Yagi

Vietnamese localities in the northern and central regions are racing against time to cope with tropical storm Yagi which is expected to strengthen into a typhoon and super typhoon in a couple of days before making landfall.

After the Prime Minister issued an official dispatch on September 3, northern and central localities, especially coastal localities of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, and Thua Thien-Hue worked out urgent response plans.

Among measures to be put in place, the localities tried to inform fishing vessels still out at sea about Yagi’s tracks and nearby storm shelters; reinforce fishing cages and public works; and devise resident evacuation plans from areas at risk of severe flooding, flashfloods and landslides, especially in river mouths and coastal areas.

The past hours have seen Yagi constantly intensify its force. At 7a.m. on September 3, Yagi was swirling around the waters north-east of the East Sea, packing winds of 117kph near its centre, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

Yagi is forecast to move west and northwest at a speed of 15kph and regain further strength before moving into the Gulf of Tonkin on September 6-7.

Yagi is expected to pound northern and central localities of Vietnam this weekend.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy, a climate change and disaster warning expert, said Yagi is expected to rapidly intensify into a Typhoon category on September 4 and a Super Typhoon category on September 5 before pounding the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island in China.

Meanwhile, Vu Anh Tuan, an official of the Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, said the centre has developed two scenarios indicating that Yagi would have a direct impact on Vietnamese waters.

“This is a very powerful storm. Besides strong gusts, it will generate tidal surges of 7-9 meters high, directly affecting ships at sea. It could even sink large vessels,” warned Tuan.

When the typhoon makes landfall, its circulation will be extensive, impacting northern and central localities. It will bring heavy rain to the northern region, and the heavy rain area will expand to localities from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien - Hue. Heavy rainfall could cause flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, and flooding in urban areas.

U.S. commends Vietnam's efforts in human trafficking combat

Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya commended Vietnam's efforts to combat human trafficking, which led to the upgrade to Tier 2 in the Department of State's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report.

In a recent interview with VGP, Zeya said the U.S. and Vietnam are committed to combating human trafficking, and the two sides have many ways to partner on this important priority, including under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

As noted in the 2024 Report, Vietnam's efforts to eliminate trafficking included increasing investigations, prosecutions, and convictions for suspected trafficking crimes; identifying and assisting more trafficking victims; repatriating and assisting 4,100 potential victims from online scam operations in neighboring countries; and consulting with non-governmental and international organizations on amendments to the revised 2011 anti-trafficking law and submitting a draft of it to the National Assembly for review, VGP reported.

Under-Secretary of State Uzra Zeya.

No country is immune from this issue, especially as trafficking patterns become more complex. There is more to do, and it will be vital for Vietnam to continue partnering with the international community to continue to combat human trafficking, said Zeya.

To keep momentum going and maintain Tier 2 status, she strongly encourages Vietnam to continue addressing the report's recommendations for improvement including proactively screening, identifying, and providing specialized services to trafficking victims, particularly among returnees from online scam operations, as well as foreign national trafficking victims present in or transiting through Vietnam.

Additionally, Vietnam should remain vigilant to the potential for official complicity in human trafficking crimes, resolutely investigating, prosecuting, and sentencing any alleged cases.

According to Zeya, Vietnam has taken steps to strengthen international cooperation to identify and repatriate trafficking victims this past year, particularly in cross-border trafficking cases at online scam operations based in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

The joint law enforcement action conducted by Vietnamese and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) law enforcement in August, led by the Criminal Police Department in Ha Tinh Province, is an example of a substantive and concerted approach to trafficking investigations that we hope to see continue.

It will be important to build upon this work by expanding and institutionalizing training for frontline law enforcement officials, particularly those working in border provinces, so they have the skills they need to proactively screen victims returning to Vietnam and increase information-sharing with international counterparts to investigate transnational trafficking cases.

In reference to the joint law enforcement action conducted by Vietnamese and Lao PDR law enforcement, we hope to see all potential trafficking victims who were repatriated to Vietnam efficiently and proactively screened and formally identified as victims.

The U.S. continues to support capacity building and training for those working on the frontlines – police, border guards, and other local officials – to address current and emerging challenges, affirmed Zeya.

The U.S. also looks forward to deepening our cooperation and training for law enforcement on victim screening and to improve data collection and information sharing on human trafficking, she added.

The U.S. is working with Vietnam on multiple fronts to prevent trafficking in persons. Through USAID, the U.S. is partnering with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs to institutionalize training and mentoring for frontline workers so they can better support victims using trauma-informed care models.

Through the Department of State, the U.S. is partnering with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense, and others to enhance the capacity of frontline officers to screen for potential trafficking victims, conduct evidence-based human trafficking crime investigations, and support a victim-centered approach to combating human trafficking.

The Department of State is also supporting United Nations programs to combat forced criminality in online scam operations that include Vietnam. One program will train criminal justice practitioners to identify cases and refer victims to services and another program will raise public awareness in the region and equip private sector companies to identify and respond to use of their systems to promulgate online scam operations.

Under-Secretary of State Uzra Zeya affirmed the U.S. is committed to supporting our partners in the region to address online scam operations in the coming years.

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