Day: May 2, 2024

Hanoi: The tourism sector served about 8 million tourists during the five-days holiday from April 27 to May 1, up 14.2% year on year, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has reported.

Of the tourists, 3.6 million stayed overnight and the average room occupancy at accommodation establishments nationalwide was up to 70%, or even 100% in some coastal destinations.

Most of key tourism destinations such as Sa Pa, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Nha Tra, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau recorded a surge in the number of tourists compared to the same period in 2023.

Thanh Hoa topped the country with 1.52 million visitors, a growth of 27.2% year on year, and a revenue of 3.805 trillion VND (152 million USD), followed by Quang Ninh and Khanh Hoa with 1 million and nearly 970,000 visitors, respectively.

However, the scorching weather in the whole country hindered several outdoor activities in mountainous and urban areas. Besides, some destinations recorded a downward
trend in the number of visitors compared to 2023 including Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Quang Nam, and Con Dao due to high airfares.

To cope with the situation, travel agencies have offered high quality shuttle buses, train, car, and waterway services in order to reduce costs for tourists while enhancing experiment for them./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Phnom Penh: The 33rd experience-sharing conference on joint patrol activities between Vietnam’s Naval Region 5 and Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base took place in the port city of Sihanoukville, the southwestern province of Preah Sihanouk of Cambodia on May 2.

The conference, co-chaired by Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan, Political Commissar of the Naval Region 5 Command, and Rear Admiral Mey Dina, Commander of the Ream Naval Base, focused on successes achieved during the 73rd and 74th joint patrols in the historical waters between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Both sides commended the effectiveness of their coordinated patrols in maintaining security and order within the patrolled areas. They highlighted successful joint training exercises that included maneuvering formations, search and rescue operations, and communications via flag signals, semaphore, and light signals as outlined by international signal law.

During the patrol process, the two countries’ naval vessels regularly exchanged information on the maritime situ
ation and related issues. They also conducted close observation and control of activities in the historical waters, thereby contributing to maintaining security and order, facilitating economic development of the two countries’ coastal communities.

Looking ahead, the two sides pledged to raise awareness among both nations’ fishermen of complying with maritime laws and regulations when exploiting marine resources, not infringing in foreign waters. They will proactively collaborate with relevant maritime management authorities in both nations to prevent and combat transnational crimes such as terrorism, smuggling, illegal transport of goods, weapons, explosives, drugs, humans, tax evasion, and illegal entry and exit.

They agreed to maintain open communication channels to ensure prompt and harmonious coordination in handling maritime incidents in the spirit of cooperation and respect for international law, independence and sovereignty. This contributes to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, and stre
ngthening solidarity, friendship, understanding and mutual trust between the two navies.

While in Cambodia, the Vietnamese delegation paid floral tribute and offered incense at the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument, expressing their gratitude to the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their lives to help the Cambodian people in their struggle against the Pol Pot regime./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam has expressed its hope that Cambodia will soon provide information on Cambodia’s Funan-Techo canal project and join hands in assessing its impacts and seeking solutions to them.

According to the Vietnam National Mekong Committee (VNMC), the canal is set to flow 180km, connecting Bassac River (called the Hau River in Vietnam, which is one of the two main branches of Mekong River) with Kep Port and onto the Gulf of Thailand.

The Cambodian side said the canal is designed to allow ships with a total load of up to 1,000 tonnes to pass through. Apart from three sluices, it will comprise 11 bridges, each measuring 161m long and 12m wide.

Its construction is scheduled to start in 2024 and be completed in 2027, with 7 million tonnes of cargo expected to be circulated through the new waterway each year.

The VNMC said it has held bilateral working sessions with the Cambodian side at different levels to raise Vietnam’s concern over the project’s impacts on the Mekong Delta. Vietnam asks Cambodia to sha
re detailed information about the project, including the project feasibility report, conduct joint research on its impacts, and apply the International Mekong River Commission (MRC)’s guidelines for transboundary impact assessment to achieve common understanding of the project’s transboundary impacts and appropriate mitigation measures.

At the meetings, the Cambodia National Mekong Committee took note of Vietnam’s concern over the project, saying it is working with relevant ministries and agencies of Cambodia to convey such opinions to them.

The VNMC has also suggested the MRC Secretariat support countries in conducting research on the project’s transboundary impact assessment, and the Secretariat is also quickly working on independent research on the project’s impacts, especially its transboundary ones, and proposing impact mitigation and monitoring measures.

On April 23, the VNMC coordinated with the MRC Secretariat in organising a consultation workshop on the project.

Participants voiced their concerns
about the canal project, including its impact on water resources of the Mekong Delta, especially in the context of drought and saltwater intrusion plaguing the region more frequently and more severely. The Funan – Techo canal will transfer water from the Bassac River, a tributary of the Mekong River, to Kep port located outside the basin. This will significantly reduce water resources to the Mekong Delta, causing a negative impact on the livelihoods and production of local people and natural ecosystems.

Official announcements made by Cambodia said the Funan Techo canal will be used only for water transport, but according to media reports and remarks of Cambodian leaders, the canal will also serve irrigation for agriculture and socio-economic development in the country’s southwestern region. As information about the operation of the three planned sluices in the project is lacking, Vietnam hopes that Cambodia will early share detailed information about the purpose, design and operation of the project.

Vietnam
also wishes that Cambodia will participate in joint research on the project’s impacts and reach agreement on suitable impact monitoring and mitigation measures.

Chief of the VNMC Office Nguyen Thi Thu Linh said that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the VNMC will continue to coordinate closely with the MRC Secretariat, Cambodia and other MRC member countries to accelerate research over the impacts of the Funan-Techo project and propose mitigation measures and monitor the impacts.

At a regular press conference of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 11, Deputy Spokesman Doan Khac Viet said Vietnam is highly interested in the Funan Techo canal project and requests that Cambodia work closely with the International Mekong River Commission to share information and assess the impacts of the project on the water resources and ecological environment of the Mekong Delta to ensure the harmonious interests of riparian countries and residents in the area.

He made clear that Vietnam s
upports the socio-economic development needs of Mekong River countries, while underscoring the importance of enhancing cooperation to effectively and sustainably manage and use the Mekong River’s water resources for the sustainable development of the basin, the interests of communities on the basin, the future of later generations, and the solidarity among riparian countries, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Nearly 70 Vietnamese expatriates from 22 countries recently returned to their homeland and visited the Truong Sa (Spratly) and DKI platform, as part of a trip co-organised by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the High Command of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

From April 24 to 30, they went to the islands of Sinh Ton Dong, Len Dao, Da Dong, and Da Tay, the Truong Sa township, and the DKI/14 Phuc Tan platform, where they met residents, officers and soldiers; attended musical exchanges; and visited local schools, pagodas, and households.

They also joined a commemoration for fallen soldiers who fell down defending the country’s sea and islands and a meeting and parade marking the 49th liberation anniversary of Truong Sa, and visited memorial areas dedicated to late President Ho Chi Minh and martyrs, offering incense and flowers.

The delegation brought to Truong Sa close to 1.6 billion VND (about 66,666 USD) worth of donations and necessities.

Joining such a trip for the second time, C
ao Hong Vinh, a member of the Liaison Board for Vietnamese in Europe “For the sea and islands of Vietnam”, expressed her delight at positive changes in the places, which she attributed to significant efforts of the Party, State, army, and people.

According to Nguyen Manh Dong, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, the organisation of visits by those delegations to Truong Sa and the platform have enabled them to witness achievements of the Party and State in protecting the national territorial sovereignty over its sea and island. The trips affirm the Party and State’s consistent policy of taking the overseas Vietnamese as an integral part of the country.

Data from the committee shows that since 2012, 11 vessels have brought nearly 600 Vietnamese from more than 40 nations and territories worldwide to the Truong Sa and DKI. They have donated approximately 30 billion VND for the area, established related forums, clubs, and funds in many countries; and organised myriad symposium
s and exhibitions to disseminate information on Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty to their communities and international friends./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Phu Tho: The northern province of Phu Tho climbed to the 9th place out of the 63 localities nation in the ranking of the Public Administrative Reform (PAR) Index, and ranked sixth in the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) 2023, the Government’s Steering Committee for Administrative Reform has announced.

According to the committee, Phu Tho’s latest PAR Index score is 89.19, an increase of 2.59 points and a rise of nine places compared to those in 2022. Meanwhile, the locality achieved a score of 87.56 in SIPAS in 2023.

Trinh The Truyen, Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, said over the recent years, both SIPAS and PAR Index have consistently maintained high rankings compared to localities nationwide and those in the northern midland and mountain regions.

He attributed the result to the locality’s efforts to promote administrative reform, and strictly deal with negative behaviours in addressing administrative procedures that cause inconvenience and obst
ruction to businesses and citizens.

The provincial People’s Committee has directed departments, sectors, and localities to fully implement the Master Programme on State Administration Reform under Resolution No. 76/NQ-CP dated July 15, 2021, and Plan No. 1782/KH-UBND dated May 5, 2021, by the provincial People’s Committee on state administrative reform for the period 2021-2025, and annual plans.

In the coming time, the locality will focus on enhancing the effectiveness of coordination between sectors in performing public duties associated with increasing the responsibility of leaders.

It will also pay heed to effectively performing its plan to improve the provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), PAR Index, SIPAS, and the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) in the 2023-2025 period./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency