Vietnam news in brief - April 6

Developing Sa Pa into a ASEAN clean tourist city

The northern province of Lao Cai is seeking solutions to develop Sa Pa Town into the ASEAN clean tourist city, based on the exploitation of local cultural identity and the strengths of green and clean natural landscapes. This information was announced on April 5 during the Sa Pa Culture-Tourism Day in Hanoi.

Sa Pa Town’s authorities are implementing projects and planning for infrastructure investment, transport systems, accommodation and tourism services. By 2025, Sa Pa aims to welcome 5.8 million visitors and generate VND27.9 trillion (US$1.1 billion) in revenue.

Vietnamese consumers have confidence in online shopping: Visa

Some 64% of direct transactions made with Visa cards in the first two months of 2024. Photo: Visa

A Visa study shows that Vietnamese consumers are showing increasing confidence in online shopping, even in traditionally face-to-face transaction categories such as insurance, transport and accommodation, which are currently leading in e-commerce transactions. The majority of consumers are also opting for contactless payments, with 64% of direct transactions made with Visa cards in the first two months of 2024.

Workshop highlights dire health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverages in Vietnam

Rising consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in Vietnam over the past decade has led to a rapid increase in overweight and obesity, especially among young people, a workshop on the health impact of sugar-sweetened beverages and the role of tax policies in controlling consumption heard on April 5. On average, a Vietnamese citizen consumes one litre of sugary drinks per week. This amount can have a significant impact on health.

Unemployment insurance beneficiaries tend to decrease

By the end of March, the Vietnam Social Security had paid lump-sum unemployment insurance to 308,120 people, about 189 people less than the same period last year. Although the decrease is not significant, it is a positive signal as the number of people receiving lump-sum unemployment insurance payments had been rising steadily for a long time.

In January-March, the agency also paid allowances and short-term vocational training support to more than 154,000 unemployed insurance recipients, some 2,000 fewer than in the same period last year.

French province wants economic cooperation with Vietnam

The Mayor of Nevers, Denis Thuriot, emphasized his desire to develop economic cooperation with Vietnam during a seminar on April 5. The presence of many local companies at the event showed their interest in the Vietnamese market. He was impressed by the Vietnamese car manufacturer VinFast and said that the company's business could flourish in Europe and France. He hopes that the city and the Vietnamese company can work together in the near future.

Thay Pagoda Festival to take place next week

From April 12 to 16, Hanoi's Quoc Oai District will host the ceremony to receive the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate and kick off the Thay Pagoda Festival 2024. As part of the festival, Thay Pagoda will also host the Quoc Oai District 2024 Cultural Tourism Week and Trade Promotion Week, with 150 booths showcasing and promoting cultural, tourism, culinary, traditional handicraft and One Commune One Product (OCOP) products.