PM expects Korean company to put down deep roots in Vietnam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hoped that South Korean semiconductor manufacturer Hana Micron Vina will set up long-term projects in Vietnam when he visited the company's factory in the northern province of Bac Giang on December 23. The Prime Minister promised that the government will continue its regulatory reform to create the best conditions for foreign investors.

Korea's Hana Micron Vina launched its semiconductor factory in Bac Giang in mid-September 2023, with a total investment of $600 million. The factory is the first semiconductor plant in the northern region.

Vatican appoints Papal Resident Representative in Vietnam

Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Marek Zalewski, titular of Africa and apostolic nuncio to Singapore, as papal resident representative in Vietnam, the Vatican said in a December 23 announcement. Zalewski, 60, is expected to arrive in Vietnam in late January.

There are more than 7.2 million Catholics in the country, nearly 8 percent of the population.

Quang Ngai licenses four new projects in Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park

The ceremony to award investment licenses was held by Quang Ngai provincial authorities on December 23. Photo: quangngai.gov.vn

On December 23, the central coastal province of Quang Ngai granted investment licenses to four new projects in the local Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park with a total registered capital of US$69.3 million. The industrial park was launched in 2013 and now hosts 39 investment projects totally worth of US$1 billion.

Of the total, 34 projects in the garment, footwear, auto parts and medical equipment sectors are operated by foreign companies from the US, Japan, Thailand, China and Singapore. The industrial park has created about 29,000 jobs for people in Quang Ngai and other provinces.

Vietnam to launch first online anti-fraud application in 2024

Vietnam will have the first online scam counter software program in 2024, according to the National Cybersecurity Association. The AI-based program can operate on the national population database to detect and warn internet users of potential online scam messages and calls.

According to the National Information Security Authority under the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnamese netizens have submitted about 15,900 reports on online scams this year. There are now 24 different types of scams in the areas of financial investment and high-paying jobs.

Foreign-invested cotton warehouse destroyed by fire

A fire destroyed the cotton warehouse of the foreign-invested company Mei Sheng Textiles Vietnam in Ngai Giao Town, Chau Duc District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, on December 23. The fire started on the night of December 22 and was extinguished early the next morning. Damages are estimated at around VND30 billion ( roughly $1 million).

Local authorities are still investigating the fire. In 2019 and 2022, the company's cotton warehouse caught fire, causing hundreds of billions of dongs in damages.

Cantho's tourist village wins first four-star OCOP tourism brand in Mekong Delta

My Khanh tourist village in the Phong Dien District of the southern city of Cantho became the first place in the Mekong Delta to receive a four-star tourism certificate under the One Commune-One Product (OCOP) program on December 23. The certification is expected to boost local tourism activities, benefiting the tourism sector in both the region and the country.

According to Nguyen Ngoc He, Vice Chairman of the Cantho People's Committee, the first-tier city has received certification for 148 OCOP products, including 75 four-star recognitions.