VEN - Tết Đinh Dậu

(VEN) - From the very early times of Vietnamese history, agriculture has played a vital role in the country’s economy, generating a constant demand for  farming tools and strong growth of their production. So important was the production of such tools that an entire street was named Lo Ren - forging furnace - in the old quarter of Hanoi.

(VEN) - Vietnam has been exporting cashews for almost 30 years and has become the world’s largest cashew processor and exporter. It is developing cashew branding while strengthening promotion and material development to maintain its top position in the world cashew market.

(VEN) - Industrial production plays a leading role in the economic development achievements of the Red River Delta province of Hai Duong, creating a firm foundation to complete its goal of becoming an industrialized province.

(VEN) - Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province is known as Pearl Island and has great potential for tourism and services development. Taking advantage of policy support from the party and the state, Phu Quoc is becoming one of Vietnam’s first three special administrative-economic zones.

(VEN) - Every year, from the 15th to the 17th day of the first lunar month, a contest is held at the Con Son-Kiep Bac relic site in Hai Duong Province to pick the best banh chung (square sticky rice cakes) and banh giay (round sticky rice cakes) made by participants. The event attracts tens of thousands of local residents and visitors.

(VEN) - The signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is expected to further boost the strong development of recent years in cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union. Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, talked about the EVFTA in an interview with Vietnam Economic News’ Nguyen Huong and Nhat Quang.

(VEN) - Agriculture in general and high-tech agriculture, in particular, have become attractive investment draws for domestic and foreign enterprises. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is drafting a decree on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in agriculture for submission to the Prime Minister for approval. The decree is expected to considerably promote foreign investment in high-tech agriculture.

(VEN) - The successful ninth “Through Viet Bac Heritage Sites” program and Ba Be-Bac Kan Tourism Week, both held in late November 2017, show that development cooperation and connectivity have brought tourism in Vietnam’s northern provinces to new heights.

(VEN) - The Heritage House in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, a typical 19th century merchant’s home and one of few remaining intact buildings of its era, attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists.

(VEN) - Vietnam is the world’s second-largest producer and exporter of coffee beans, after Brazil. To maintain this position and increase the added value of the coffee sector, simultaneous measures must be taken to raise yields and improve coffee product quality. 

(VEN) - In 2017, the agriculture and rural development sector overcame numerous difficulties and challenges, realizing and exceeding targets set by the government. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong shared with Vietnam Economic News’ Nguyen Hanh the sector’s 2017 results and its tasks for 2018.

(VEN) - FECON is considered to be the “king of foundation and underground construction” in Vietnam.

(VEN) - Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung talked about investment in and support for startups in an interview with Vietnam Economic News’ Quynh Nga.

(VEN) - Si Ma Cai is a rural district of Lao Cai Province in the northeast region of Vietnam, which boasts some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the country. It also has the dubious distinction of being one of Vietnam’s 62 poorest districts. A recent policy change is slowly improving life for inhabitants.

(VEN) - International economic integration has become an important factor significantly contributing to Vietnam’s economic growth and its improved position in the international arena. Vietnam Economic News’ Ngoc Thao spoke to foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations about the advantages of cooperation with Vietnam.

(VEN) - The Tet holiday is an opportunity to visit one of Vietnam’s lesser known natural gems, Vinh Hy Bay.

(VEN) - Many silk villages across Vietnam have been enjoying a strong revival in recent years after a long period of stagnation and hardship.

(VEN) - Hat chau van, or in secular form hat van, is a traditional folk art of northern Vietnam, which combines trance singing and dancing. Its music and poetry are combined with a variety of instruments, rhythms, pauses, and tempos. Hat van originated in the 16th century and spread quickly. The main musical instrument used in hat van performances is a moon-shaped lute. The genre is famous for its use in rituals for deity mediumship. In 2016, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the mother goddesses worship rituals, including hat van, as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

(VEN) - In his last days of 2017, British Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever spent time with Vietnam Economic News’ Nguyen Huong and Nhat Quang looking back on what Vietnam and the UK have achieved in the past year and highlighting 2018 plans.

(VEN) - Foreigners living in Vietnam, who have already experienced Tet, the Lunar New Year celebration, are looking forward to the experience. Those who have not, but have heard a lot about it, are curious about the many holiday customs and traditions.

(VEN) - In addition to improving quality, promoting branding and expanding export markets, the agricultural sector will strive to earn roughly US$40 billion from exports this year.

(VEN) - Vietnam is participating in new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs), and promoting its role in regional and global economic cooperation and integration. Its scope of global economic integration is expanding, from trade in goods to trade in services.

(VEN) - A two-year project to preserve the traditional culture of the H’mong minority in northern Vietnam as a way to improve their livelihood was funded and implemented by Craft Link at a total cost of more than VND643 million.

(VEN) - By the end of 2017, the northwestern province of Vinh Phuc had attracted 310 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with total registered capital of more than US$4 billion, including projects of world-leading groups from Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand.

(VEN) - Mobile payments and e-commerce in Vietnam are forecast to grow strongly in 2018 as online shopping through mobile devices becomes increasingly popular.

(VEN) - Nguyen Vu Quang Trung, board member and deputy CEO of the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) Executive Committee, talked about the Vietnamese stock market in an interview with Vietnam Economic News’ Minh Long.

(VEN) - In 2017, most Vietnamese banks exceeded their annual profit targets. The banking sector’s profitability is forecast to remain satisfactory in 2018.

(VEN) - In 2017, Vietnam welcomed 13 million foreign visitors, up 28 percent from 2016, earning total tourism revenues of more than VND500 trillion. Tourism income accounted for about seven percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

(VEN) - Nguyen Hoai Giang, Chairman of the Board of the Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (BSR), believes the company should make changes that enable it to achieve better results and contribute more to the economy. Vietnam Economic News’ Hong Ha talked with him about BSR’s equitization policy.

(VEN) - Ongoing trade promotion programs and Vietnamese goods weeks held in foreign countries have contributed to carving out a niche for Vietnamese goods in foreign distribution networks.