Vietnam Festival 2023 opens in Japan

Vietnam Festival 2023, themed "Hope", opened at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo on June 3 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan. As the largest of its kind, the festival reflects the desire of the two countries' governments, local communities, and citizens to work together for a better future and embark on a new phase of progress.

The festival features 140 booths showcasing traditional Vietnamese food and products, while visitors enjoy cultural and musical performances by artists from both nations.

Beach Festival in Nha Trang City underways

A performance at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Khanh Hoa - Nha Trang Sea Festival on June 3. Photo: Trung Nhan/The Hanoi Times

The 2023 Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Beach Festival opened on June 3 in Nha Trang City, the southern province of Khanh Hoa. The four-day festival, which runs until June 6, will feature 70 cultural and artistic activities. The highlight of the opening ceremony was the first drone light show performance, followed by a musical show telling the stories of Vietnam's sea.

There is also a food festival with 100 booths showcasing products from all 63 provinces and cities nationwide. Now in its 10th year, the beach festival is expected to attract 100,000 visitors.

A new tour to Cu Chi District launched

HCM City's authorities have announced a new tour to Cu Chi District - the land of steel - introducing local traditions, cultures, people, and specialties. The tour, titled "The Flowers and Fruits of the Land of Steel", is expected to boost the district's tourism sector and improve the quality of agricultural products and services.

Tourists will be able to cycle around the local areas and enjoy local fruits at mock traditional markets. Other entertaining activities include art performances, folk games, and songs.

Second Taiwanese investor in Nam Dinh Province

Taiwanese company JiaWei will invest US$100 million in three projects in the northern province of Nam Dinh's My Thuan Industrial Park, one of which will produce high-tech home appliances worth US$80 million, while the other will produce printers and card boxes worth a total of US$20 million. JiaWei specializes in manufacturing high-tech home appliances using new, environmentally friendly materials. The company exports about 6,000 containers a year to the U.S. and Europe.

JiaWei is the second Taiwanese investor in Nam Dinh's My Thuan Industrial Park. In late April, Quanta signed an agreement to build a US$120 million computer factory in the park.

Australian RMIT University invests US$165.5 million in Vietnam

RMIT University has announced an investment of AU$250 million (US$165.5 million) to boost education, research, partnerships, and campus infrastructure in Vietnam. The Hanoi Industry and Innovation Hub is the first of these investments and will facilitate collaboration among the community, government and industry in Hanoi. As the leading international university in Vietnam, RMIT is committed to helping the country achieve its social and economic goals.

The investment will support the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy. The Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia, Nguyen Tat Thanh, praised RMIT's two-decade commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Ginseng to become Vietnam's key crop

Vietnam aims to cultivate a total of 21,000 hectares of ginseng by 2030, producing 300 tons of output annually and making ginseng a key economic product in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. Nine provinces will participate in the program, including Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Gia Lai and Lam Dong, with plantation areas ranging from 8 hectares to a maximum of 8,400 hectares.

Under the program, a development center for ginseng-based pharmaceutical products will be built in Quang Nam Province. By 2045, Vietnam will become a key ginseng exporting country.

Danang Smart City app helps tourists access public toilets

Visitors to Danang City in central Vietnam can easily find public toilets open for free at 294 locations across the city through a recently launched application on the Danang Smart City mobile app. Residents and tourists can download the Danang Smart City app and select a facility nearby.

Danang Smart City is an integrated multi-service app that has been used since 2020, with more than 1.2 million users.