Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The funds were sourced from international financial institutions, such as the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency. Of the total, 1.76 billion USD was earmarked for power projects. EVN said international cooperation contributed significantly to its growth in 2016, with the WB and ADB supporting the group in studying long-term programmes on finance, management restructuring, renewable energy and infrastructure development. The group has worked with regional electricity companies to research power exchange as well as continued projects within the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS), including the building of a GMS electricity trade centre. Theo TTXVN/Vietnam + … [Read more...] about EVN mobilises 2.96 billion VND for power projects in 2016
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Thai Binh Trading Corp invests US$23 million in Cuba
Cuba was a potential market of Vietnamese enterprises, Tu said. Moreover, the Cuban believed to use Vietnamese products, he emphasized. The two factories were planned to be at Mariel special economic zones which was 43 kilometers from Havana. Investment capital for the washing powder factory was US$18 million from Thai Binh Trading Corp, Vico Limited Company and Suchel Company. The factory is expected to open in the second quarter of 2017 with 40,000 square meters. Thai Binh Trading Corp and Kywy Joint Stock Company invested US$5 million aiming to produce from 120 million to 180 million products per year. It would be built in 10,000 square meters and operated in first quarter of 2017. Besides the two projects, Thai Binh Trading Corp planned to build wood manufacturing factory for interior and exterior architecture in Havana, Vice Chairman of the Corp, Nguyen Thi Kim Thao said. On the other hand, the Corp had participated in the merge and acquisition market in Cuba, … [Read more...] about Thai Binh Trading Corp invests US$23 million in Cuba
Australia, HCM City enjoy fine cooperation
Australia wants to further enhance its relationship with Vietnam in all fields, including cooperative ties between Australian localities and Ho Chi Minh City, for the benefits of the two peoples. Australian General-Governor Quentin Bryce emphasised this desire at a meeting with the chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Le Hoang Quan on May 12. Bryce expressed her impressions of Vietnam’s poverty reduction results and said she was pleased that Australia’s assistance projects in Vietnam, especially child-oriented projects, were effective. Chairman Quan spoke highly of the fine cooperation between the city and Australia, especially in the fields of science and technology and tourism, education and training, notably RMIT University, that has trained about 10,000 students over the past 10 years. He added that Ho Chi Minh City was Vietnam’s first locality to sign a cooperation agreement with an Australian partner, firstly with the State of Queensland, … [Read more...] about Australia, HCM City enjoy fine cooperation
VN suggests visa free ASEAN area
Senior immigration officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have welcomed Vietnam's proposals that the organisation gives visa exemptions to ASEAN citizens visiting member states. At the seventh Meeting of ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Divisions held in Hanoi this week, officials drew up a draft for ASEAN immigration policy. The deputy director of the security department at the Ministry of Public Security, Major-General Hoang Duc Chinh, told participants a visa exemption would help promote tourism, investment and trade in ASEAN countries. "However, collaboration among ASEAN countries should be tightened to control the spread of epidemics, social problems, crime and terrorism," Mr Chinh said. He said the signing of visa agreements with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand had helped Vietnam attract more tourists from those countries. The head of the Indonesian delegation, Iman Santoso, welcomed Mr … [Read more...] about VN suggests visa free ASEAN area
Vietnam opens training course for Lao cultural officials
CPV- A training course on museology was opened on Friday for 20 culture and information officers of Laos. The course, organised by the Vietnamese Department of Heritage of the Ministry of Culture and Information, plans to provide Lao officers with the basics about the Cultural Heritage Law of Viet Nam. It is also to help them know how Viet Nam preserves its cultural heritage, restores and preserves historical relics and natural areas, and manages its museums. During the nine-day course, trainees will take field trips to the ancient capital city of Hue and Ha Long Bay (World Cultural Heritage sites), Relics of President Ho Chi Minh at the Presidential Palace, the Temple of Literature, and some museums. Also on Friday, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front's Central Committee started its 5-day training course for Lao national construction front officers. The Lao officers are also scheduled to pay working visits to the Front's chapters in some localities. M.T … [Read more...] about Vietnam opens training course for Lao cultural officials
Phong Nha – Ke Bang proves a magnet for visitors
CPV- The Phong Nha - Ke Bang National is in Quang Binh province, about 500km south of Ha Noi. It is reachable by road or rail to Dong Hoi and then visitors have to come to Phong Nha - Ke Bang by car, an airfield is being built at Dong Hoi about 50km from the Phong Nha tourism centre. A festival will be held there between February 14th - 16th to receive a certificate of UNESCO confirming the Park as a World Heritage Site. March to September is the "high" season and the park is now offering seven adventure tours and visits to the Arem village. … [Read more...] about Phong Nha – Ke Bang proves a magnet for visitors
Tourist numbers are up and discounts are down
Discount programmes launched by Vietnamese hotels to boost tourism in the wake of the SARS epidemic are ending as the market shows signs of recovery. Tourism is on the rise again with figures from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism showing a 44 per cent increase in foreign arrivals in July against the previous month. Airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are busy again. As a result, major hotels such as the Omni Saigon Hotel, Hanoi Horison Hotel and the Melia Hotel in Hanoi have said they will end their discount promotions. Although the Japanese and European tourism markets are still very weak, hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are seeing an increase of visitors from South Korea, Thailand and other regional countries. Tourism from Europe and Japan is expected to pick up in the fourth quarter. Saigontourist, Vietnam's largest tourism operator, recently took a 450-person tour group from Malaysian insurance firm Great Eastern on a four-day tour of the south. Earlier … [Read more...] about Tourist numbers are up and discounts are down
Living it up in Style
Hotel construction has hit new heights as the country struggles to accomodate the rising number of foreign visitors. Vietnam Investment Review looks at the hotels and resorts soon to open across the country. Saigon Phu Quoc Resort No.2 Location: Phu Quoc island, Kien Giang province, pictured below Investors: Saigon Phu Quoc Resort joint stock company Construction: to start next year Description: Phu Quoc is fast becoming a tourist hot spot. At present, the Saigon Phu Quoc, Tropicana and Huong Bien hotels are the only properties on the island. Saigon Phu Quoc Resort has just added 50 rooms, bringing its total to 90 rooms. Saigon Phu Quoc Resort No.2 will be built on the island's Sao beach. It will be a high-end eco-tourism resort covering 300 hectares with 150 bungalow-style rooms. There will be a golf course, water and mountain sports and other entertainment facilities. Other projects include a wild animal protection area and even an area for performances by Phu Quoc dogs. There … [Read more...] about Living it up in Style
Foreigners say fare reforms just the ticket
FOREIGNERS and locals will pay the same airfare for domestic routes next year, a move that foreign investors have long been asking for.Civil aviation authorities have announced the abolition of the dual airfare system, effective from January 1. Both Vietnamese and foreign nationals will then pay VND1.5 million ($96) for an economy-class ticket between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The new one-price system represents a reduction of VND275,000 ($17.50) for foreigners but a jump of VND125,000 ($8) for locals flying between the two commercial hubs compared to the present pricing system. Airfares for other routes have been also fixed. Christian Saillard, commercial and economic counsellor at the French Embassy, welcomed the decision, saying the single price system was something foreigners had wanted the Vietnamese government to do for many years. "It is a big improvement. It is not only me - many foreign investors and donors have praised this," he said. Saillard said he flew from Hanoi to … [Read more...] about Foreigners say fare reforms just the ticket
Room at the inn:how much is enough?
FOR years Hue has had only three large hotels - Huong Giang, Saigon Morin and Century Riverside. They can no longer accommodate the growing number of foreign visitors who come to explore the Imperial City World Heritage Site. During the biannual Hue Festival in particular, foreign visitors have found it hard to secure a room in the city, simply because there are not enough luxury hotels. Travel agents have to direct clients to other places such as Danang or Hanoi instead. This shortage has inspired Eric Merlin, a Frenchman who owns Exotissimo travel agency, to set up a venture with a local company to build a hotel at 5 Le Loi Street in Hue. The 120-room hotel is expected to have a soft opening next June to accommodate visitors during the festival. Merlin is not the only investor setting his sights on the hotel business in this beautiful and historic city. Other developers have seen opportunities in the room shortages during the peak season to establish large hotel projects there. … [Read more...] about Room at the inn:how much is enough?
Beach hotel to wake up sleepy Cua Lo
A BEACH hotel project in Nghe An province, the hometown of the late president Ho Chi Minh, is expected to receive an investment licence in a matter of days, according to local authorities. Provincial Planning and Investment Department director, Nguyen Van Chat, said the project would receive a licence soon, after local authorities met with officials from the Ministry of Planning and Investment to discuss the project last week. The project, a joint venture between the Bien Hoa-based Hong Thai Construction Consultancy Company (36 per cent) and the Australian Safekeeping Investment Trust (64 per cent) broke ground a few months ago but has not yet received an investment licence. The $50-million complex is located at Cua Lo beach and consists of hotels of two to five-star standard, as well as holiday villas, serviced apartments and sport and recreation centres. A lotus-shaped recreation area will stage music and dolphin shows, while other features of the complex will include tropical … [Read more...] about Beach hotel to wake up sleepy Cua Lo
Giant Nha Trang resort changes management
INVESTORS in the country's largest resort, VinPearl on Nha Trang Bay's Hon Tre island, have terminated their contract with Furama Hotels and Resorts International in order to employ a new hotel management company. Hon Tre Tourist and Trade Company has signed a contract with the Hong Kong-based Swiss-Belhotel International for the hotel management company to operate the 500-room VinPearl Resort and Spa which opened one month ago. Prior to its dismissal, Furama, operator of the Furama Resort Danang and the Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, had provided pre-opening management for VinPearl. Hon Tre executives were not available for comment on the company's decision. Swiss-Belhotel's national director of operations and development, Jan Hilhorst, said the resort's first 200 rooms were almost fully occupied over the Tet holidays, with promotional prices of $77 to $99 a night. The contract marks a new development for Swiss-Belhotel, which has recently started to aggressively expand its … [Read more...] about Giant Nha Trang resort changes management
The First Vietnam – Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat – a great success
The First Vietnam - Thailand Joint Cabinet ended on February 21, 2004 with 10 important cooperation documents signed by the two countries, creating frameworks for further bilateral cooperation. Most importantly, it opened up a new page in the relations between the two countries, cooperation for equality, mutual benefits, development and stability. "Vietnamese PM Phan Van Khai and Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra opened up a new stage in the relationship of the two countries", said Singapore's Asian Channelnews agency at the beginning of its report on the first Vietnam - Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat. The Thai daily newspaper "The Nation" showed great interest in the special protocol of the Retreat. For instance, the two cabinet delegations left Furama Resort in Danang City for the Thai northeast province of Nakhonphanom to attend the second session . "Choosing Nakhonphanom for the second session was of great significance. From 1923 to 1931, President Ho Chi Minh - the great leader of the … [Read more...] about The First Vietnam – Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat – a great success
Plans for Hai Phong’s development okayed
CPV - Plans to make Hai Phong a major marine, industrial and commercial city and an impenetrable national fortress have been confirmed. The avowal was made during a review of a resolution for the city's development until 2010, and the implementation of resolutions carried by the 9th Congress of the Viet Nam Communist Party in mid 2001. The review by the Political Bureau and the Hai Phong Party Committee last Saturday found that Hai Phong should take advantage of its closeness to Ha Noi and its shipping links to the rest of the country and the world to become a key component in the economic development of northern Viet Nam. The provision of services, education and health care as well as the development of tourism and fisheries will be part of that development. The working session was chaired by Party General Secretary, Nong Duc Manh, and attended by State President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, all Party Politburo members. The … [Read more...] about Plans for Hai Phong’s development okayed
Sa Pa opens centenary festival
October 4th 2003- In the evening, Lao Cai province celebrated a ceremonial festival for remarking the centenary birthday of Sapa. The Secretary of Central Communist Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, people and ethnics in Lao Cai province and foreign visitors took part in this festival. Located in the Hoang Lien Mountain Range, Sa Pa is known for its cool climate, scenic landscape and colourful Sunday market where ethnic people from Sa Pa's surroundings converge, traveling often on foot or by horses for the weekly social meeting. Sa Pa once was a meeting-place for young Mong, Dao, Tay and Giay people who headed to town to play music, meet potential lovers and renew ties with old ones. Local authorities now hope to revive this "cho tinh" or love market as part of the festival celebrating its centenary. The festival's agenda is packed with regional cultural and sporting activities. The festival also features the photo exhibitions Sa Pa Now and Then and Highland Tourism, a Sa … [Read more...] about Sa Pa opens centenary festival
Hotels put Asian crisis to bed
DANANG's first luxury resorts since the 1997 Asian crisis took a grip on tourism development are to get off the ground this week. Non Nuoc Tourist Company and Ben Thanh Tourist Corporation of Ho Chi Minh City are to invest $7 million to develop a 17ha tourist complex in Non Nuoc with hotels, conference halls, villas, high-class apartments and souvenir shops. The five-year project will be divided into two phases. In the first phase, the company will upgrade two tennis courts and two existing hotels to four-star standard and build a resort with 31 bungalows and swimming pool. In the second phase, a new 120-room, nine-storey hotel will be built as well as 21 villas, two upmarket condominiums, a mini-golf course and another swimming pool. Sam said the Bahamas-registered Magnum Investment Group would also start construction of a $7.5 million resort in the Marble Mountains in August. The resort would feature a villa and hotel complex with restaurants, a mini-mart, souvenir shops and … [Read more...] about Hotels put Asian crisis to bed
Lots of foreign reporters participated in famtrip tour to Danang
34 reporters and representatives of Hongkong's travel companies took part in the famtrip tour to Danang City, Hue and Hoi An from 5 to 8 December 2003. The tour aimed at introducing the tourism program "Heritage Route" to be organized in 2004. Another famtrip tour for 60 Taiwanese reporters and travel enterprises to visit Central Vietnam will also be held by the Far Eastern Airlines in January 2004. Four international flights from Danang to Bangkok, Taipei, Siem Reap and Hongkong have been resumed so far with 60% of seats occupied. In addition, Singapore - Danang - Con Minh air route will be put into operation in 2004 by the Silk-Air. (By the Youth Journal on 11 Dec. 2003) … [Read more...] about Lots of foreign reporters participated in famtrip tour to Danang
Road system
* Status: Danang has a comparatively good road network. The total length of the city's roads is 382,583 kilometers (apart from alleys and pathways). This includes 70,865 kilometers of national routes, 99,716 kilometers of provincial routes, 67 kilometers of rural roads and 81,672 kilometers of inner-city roads. The roads are 8 m wide on average. Road density varies from 3 km/km2 in the central city areas to 0.33 km/km2 in rural areas. Of the 77 bridges in the city, 34 are permanent and 43 are temporary. - Tourist transportation: There are 30 new style well equipped means of transport that meet aesthetic and technical demands. They are periodically quality-tested, license-granted and insured by tourist administration, and transportation and public works agencies. Most of the drivers have been trained in foreign language and tourist service courses. - Transportation for Public Travelers: The Danang enterprise of passenger transportation and trading services has 3 coach stations at … [Read more...] about Road system
Port network
* Status: Danang port is at latitude 16017'33" North and longitude 180020'30''East. The pilot station is at latitude 16010'North and longitude 180011'East. It is influenced by semi-diurnal tides with the average water level difference being 0.9 meter. Danang port network consists of Tien Sa Sea Port and the Han River Port. The total yard area is 125,350 m2 and the total warehouse area is 22,764 m2. The length of berths is 1,647 m2 and total area of berths is 27,633 m2. The Port's throughput is 3-4 million tons per year. Danang Port is 310 nautical miles from Hai Phong Port, 520 nautical miles from Sai Gon Port, 550 nautical miles from Hong Kong, 610 nautical miles from Kao Slung (Taiwan), 720 nautical miles from Manila (Philippines), 860 nautical miles from Komponchom (Cambodia), 960 nautical miles from Singapore, 1,030 nautical miles from Taipei (Taiwan), 1060 nautical miles from Satalip (Thailand), 1,400 nautical miles from Malaysia, 2045 nautical miles from Shang Hai, and 2,340 … [Read more...] about Port network
Topography
The total land area of Haiphong is 1,519 km2, including 02 islands (Cat Hai and Bach Long Vi). Of that, hills account for 15%, mainly located in the north, forming a midland geological structure of plains along with hills alternately; southern terrain is low and flat, a typical delta sloping to the sea, with the elevations from 0.7 to 1.7 m above the sea level. The sea is bestowed with Cat Ba Island known as the pearl of Hai Phong, comprising of over 360 small and large islands adjacent to Ha Long Bay. Cat Ba Island is at an altitude of 200 m above sea level, covering an area of about 100 km2, 30 nautical miles from the city centre. Bach Long Vi Island is quite flat and sandy, 90 km away from Cat Ba to the southeast. Hills, plains Northern Hai Phong is a midland of plain dotted with hills, descending to the sea. The mountainous area is associated with Quang Ninh's mountains with an ancient folded basement, in which a slight sag occurred in the past, consisting of sandstone, shale … [Read more...] about Topography