Dutch PM to visit Vietnam next week

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will visit Vietnam on November 1 and 2 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar, Prime Minister Mark Rutte's visit will deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two nations and accelerate partnerships in agriculture, irrigation, high technology, green energy, and cultural exchanges. Mark Rutte will attend a high-tech business forum in Hanoi and meet with students from the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students.

Brunei launches Vietnam Culture and Cuisine Week

The Embassy of Vietnam in Brunei Darussalam launched the Vietnam Culture and Cuisine Week on October 27 in cooperation with Radisson Hotels and Brunei Music Society. The event, which ends on November 4, aims to promote Vietnamese cultural values, arts, and food to international friends.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Anh Vu believed that the event would be a good opportunity for Vietnam to promote the nation's values to the people of Brunei and other nationalities. He hoped to receive more support from the Brunei authorities to strengthen bilateral relations in the future.

Ten million international visitors arrive in Vietnam between January and October

A group of Czech tourists arrive at Phu Quoc International Airport on October 27. Photo: Huu Tuan/The Hanoi Times

Vietnam welcomed 1.1 million international tourists in October, bringing the total number of foreign visitors to around 10 million after 10 months, according to the Vietnam Tourism Authority. October was also the fourth consecutive month that Vietnam hosted more than one million international travelers.

South Korea remained the largest source market for Vietnamese Tourism in 10 months, sending 2.9 million travelers. China came in second with 1.3 million. South Korea and China accounted for 42% of the total number of foreign visitors to Vietnam.

Week-long sauce promotion for international offices inaugurated

On October 27, the Trade Promotion Center of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development launched a week-long event to introduce Vietnamese sauce products to international embassies, consulates and foreign organizations operating in Vietnam.
The event featured different types of sauces and various activities, including a workshop and forum on Vietnamese sauces, a talk show between consumers and experts, cooperatives and producers, and a promotion program on TikTokShop.

Festival of India's Northeast Region launched in Ho Chi Minh City

Seven states of Northeast India launched their first festival in Ho Chi Minh City on October 27 to promote Indian culture, cuisine, art, and music to the Vietnamese people and to link the business communities of the two nations. The festival included three workshops on tourism, investment, trade, cultural exchange, and education, as well as musical performances.

Vietnam is the third country to host the festival. The first two events were held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2019 and 2022.

VCCI urges Ministry of Finance to cut VAT for all industries

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has urged the Ministry of Finance to curb 2% in VAT for all sectors in the first half of 2024 to boost business performance amid ongoing uncertainties and adversities.

The Ministry of Finance is considering further reducing the 2% VAT on most goods and services, except for telecommunications, information and technology, finance and banking, securities and insurance, real estate, metal production, mineral (except coal mining), and chemical production. The tax reduction has been effective from July 1, 2023.

Vietnam's aquaculture sector to meet year-round export target

Vietnam's seafood exports are estimated at US$2.4 billion in the fourth quarter thanks to the recovery of international markets, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). The association forecasts that total seafood exports will reach $9 billion in 2024 as planned.

Flagship products such as shrimp, basa, and tuna rebounded strongly in the third quarter, while shrimp exports increased by $2 year-on-year in July-September. Overall, Vietnam's seafood exports fell 12% year-on-year in Q3, the lowest decline in three years.