Vietnam news in brief - April 9

First international jazz festival to take place in Nha Trang

Nha Trang beach from above. Photo: Trung Nhan/ The Hanoi Times

Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, will host the first International Jazz Festival during the National Holiday from 27 April to 1 May in an effort to attract more tourists to the area. It is expected to become an annual music event to promote local scenery and cultural values to  domestic and international travelers.

Nha Trang is the capital of the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa. On  April 2, the city celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding (1924-2024).

2024 Ha Long Carnival to be held in late April

The 2024 Ha Long Carnival Festival, themed "Brightening up Wonders", will be held on the evening of 28 April at Dai Duong Park Beach in Ha Long City, the northern province of Quang Ninh. 

Incorporating elements of musical theatre, the carnival harmoniously blends history and culture to highlight the beauty of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The festival will also feature up to 2,300 drones and 3D mapping technology. This activity is part of the tourism promotion program of Ha Long City and Quang Ninh Province for 2024.

2024 Plastic Circular Innovation Solutions Competition to be launched

On April 12, the 2024 Plastic Circular Innovation Solutions Competition will kick off to seek and promote innovative solutions in the plastic circular value chain, particularly to enhance the collection, processing, and recycling of plastic packaging in Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam is responsible for 1.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, of which 28,000 to 73,000 tons end up in the ocean, accounting for nearly 6% of the world's marine plastic waste.

Ministry of Finance to inspect gambling centers in Vietnam

The Ministry of Finance will conduct an inspection targeting 27 gambling service companies in 2024. The total includes 10 lottery companies, 11 gaming companies, and six casinos. These businesses are located in various popular tourist destinations across the country, including Lao Cai Province, Phu Quoc Island, Quang Ninh Province's Ha Long City, Quang Nam Province, Danang and Cantho.

The aim of the inspection is to make the gambling and betting sector healthier and to strengthen state control over gambling activities.

EVN proposes to pilot two-tier electricity pricing in 2024

Vietnam Electricity (EVN) is seeking the Ministry of Industry and Trade's approval for an early pilot implementation of the two-tier electricity pricing mechanism in 2024, before expanding it from 2025, Vo Quang Lam, Deputy General Director of EVN, announced at the discussion on April 8.

In January 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade urged EVN to speed up the implementation of a two-tier electricity pricing model that includes both capacity and energy prices. Currently, Vietnam uses a one-tier electricity price, which calculates the price based on the amount of electricity consumed in a month. It only compensates for fluctuating costs such as fuel and materials for the power plant. The two-tier electricity price mechanism will include additional capacity.

Revenue from the four-day tourism festival reaches US$5.6 billion 

Sales revenue during the four days (from April 4-7) of Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2024 is estimated to reach more than US$5.6 million, an increase of 33.3% compared to 2023 (US$1.2 million) - according to quick reports from tourism businesses. With the theme "Going Green of Vibrant Touch", this event brought together 150 booths, many tourism stimulation programs with nearly 400 products, and other attractive promotions.

Festival, tourism week start in the ancestral land of Phu Tho

The Hung King Temple Festival and the Culture and Tourism Week of Ancestral Land 2024 kicked off today morning (April 9) in the northern province of Phu Tho. The event features honorary contributions to the ancient Hung kings, and numerous cultural activities for visitors, and aims to promote the local culture of Phu Tho and Vietnam to international communities. 

The festival and the tourism week will continue until April 18. On April 14, local authorities will hold a ritual to pay respect to Lac Long Quan and Au Co, who are considered the parents of all Vietnamese.

Ho Chi Minh City National University cooperates with Australia on AI research

Deakin University in Victoria, Australia, and Ho Chi Minh City National University signed a memorandum of cooperation in research and training in artificial intelligence (AI) and other fields on April 8. According to the agreement, the two sides will carry out many areas of cooperation, including training and research in community health, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, agriculture, sustainable development and climate change adaptation.

These projects are designed to help Ho Chi Minh City implement its AI application research and development program for 2020-2030.