According to Chinese Customs, Vietnam exported 460,000 tons of bananas to China in the first eight months of 2024, valued at nearly $190 million. The shift in market dominance is attributed to unfavorable weather conditions in the Philippines, which led to reduced banana yields and higher prices. Although Philippine bananas remain popular in China for their taste, supply shortages and rising costs have impacted their availability.
Data from Chinese Customs also revealed that China imported approximately 1.13 million tons of bananas, worth $592.1 million, in the first eight months of 2024. This represents a 7.9% decrease in volume and a 23% decline in value compared to the same period last year. The average price of bananas imported to China dropped by 16.3%, with the exception of bananas from Mexico, which saw price stability.
SKY has significantly underperformed the CoinDesk 20 index, since the re-brand.
MakerDAO is contemplating dropping the Sky brand after a lukewarm reception to the re-brand and a successful launch of the USDS stablecoin.
The USDS stablecoin, launched in August, is designed to offer native token rewards and operate alongside the existing DAI synthetic stablecoin, which remains unchanged. On-chain data shows it has a supply of $1.2 billion and offers a savings rate of 6.5%, with a general agreement amongst community members that the launch was successful.
“It is also now more clear than ever just how much the DeFi community loves and trusts the Maker brand,” Sky co-founder Rune Christensen wrote on its governance forum. “There was a lot of affinity for the brand and what it stands for: stability, security, and DeFi scale. And there is a lot of commitment to holding the MKR token versus upgrading to SKY.”
Christensen wrote that three proposals are being considered to address community concerns: continue with Sky as the core brand to build on its recent momentum, recenter the Maker brand with its original identity and reinstate MKR as the sole governance token, or bring Maker back with a refreshed brand that aligns with the current ecosystem while maintaining its established trust and stability.
Several contributors have pointed out that the introduction of the SKY token, which replaced MKR as the core governance token under the Sky ecosystem, has not delivered the anticipated growth.
In the last two weeks, SKY is down 23% while the CoinDesk 20, an index fund that measures the performance of the largest digital assets, is up 10%. MKR, the governance token, is down 24% on-year according to CoinDesk data.
The controversial “freeze function,” introduced to ensure regulatory compliance, has also been criticized for its lack of clear utility and potential long-term risks.
With 13.79 million DAI and 9,535 MKR (approximately $25 million in total) spent on the rebrand, Christensen said MakerDAO will host a community call to gather feedback about the re-brand, then the platform will conduct a formal governance poll on November 4 to determine its next steps.
There are skewed expectations of a Republican win as better for bitcoin. However, some say the asset is poised to go higher either way as several macroeconomic factors weigh in.
Bitcoin (BTC) may cross previous highs in the coming weeks regardless of which candidate becomes the U.S. president, some traders say, in a shift of tone ahead of the November elections.
Traders have long perceived Republican Donald Trump’s victory as a bullish catalyst for the industry for his pro-crypto stance and promises to make the U.S. a bitcoin powerhouse. Democrat Kamala Harris, on the other hand, has not made similar promises but said he would introduce regulations to protect certain groups.
Such stances have skewed expectations of a Republican win as better for bitcoin. However, some say the asset is poised to go higher either way as several macroeconomic factors weigh in.
“Both Presidential candidates have adopted pro-crypto stances to appeal to voters, but it’s tough to say if any of their promises will come to pass,” Jeff Mei, chief operating officer at crypto exchange BTSE, told CoinDesk in a Telegram message. “However, It is clear that the market is responding positively to the upcoming change in administration and policies – whether it’s Harris or Trump, traders and investors think any sort of change will be good.”
“The fact that this coincides with the first Fed rate cuts in four years and a recent run-up in stock prices only adds to the thesis that Bitcoin could surpass its all-time high and reach $80,000,” Mei added.
Options traders are already increasing bets that bitcoin will touch fresh highs by the end of November, per Bloomberg. The implied volatility for bitcoin options due around election day is elevated.
The open interest for call options expiring on November 29 shows a significant concentration at the $80,000 strike price, followed by a notable interest at the $70,000 level. For call options with expiration on December 27, the open interest is primarily grouped around the $100,000 and $80,000 strike prices.
Options due to expire on November 8 have their highest open interest at the $75,000 strike price, indicating a key market focus area for that period.
However, some are terming the price behavior as an election hedge rather than a bullish outlook.
“I wouldn’t say that people buying 80K calls on BTC to be a bet on higher prices, but is more like a cheap option (implied vol really hasn’t gone up that much) against a broader market rally,” Augustine Fan, head of insights at SOFA, told CoinDesk in a Telegram message.
“BTC vol skews heavily in favor of higher prices post election, but that has been the case for quite a few weeks now as an election ‘hedge,” Fan added.
BTC is down 0.7% over the past 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows, outperforming a 1.6% drop in the broad-based CoinDesk 20 (CD20).
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Niclas Kvarnström, Director General for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS), co-chaired the fifth Vietnam-EU Joint Committee meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday.
During a meeting held under the framework of the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), Hang emphasized the EU’s position as one of Vietnam’s most critical economic and development partners. She reaffirmed that Vietnam highly values its comprehensive partnership and cooperation with the EU, as well as its relations with individual EU member states.
Hang called on the EU to encourage the parliaments of certain member states to expedite the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). She also acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, urging the EU to recognize these efforts and move toward lifting the yellow card warning on Vietnam’s seafood exports.
The EU side praised Vietnam’s growing significance in the region and at multilateral forums, affirming that Vietnam remains a priority partner for the EU in the Asia-Pacific. The EU expressed its desire to elevate the bilateral relationship, pledging continued support for Vietnam in implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). It also highlighted opportunities for enhanced cooperation in emerging fields such as clean technology, digital transformation, high technology (including semiconductors and artificial intelligence), raw materials, and innovation, within the framework of initiatives like the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative.
Both parties agreed to step up delegation exchanges, especially high-level visits, in celebration of the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2025. They also committed to expanding cooperation in defense and security, agriculture, the environment, and other new areas of collaboration. Furthermore, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to resolve regulatory issues and fully implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
On the East Sea issue, both parties expressed concern over recent developments. They emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. Both sides called for all parties to adhere to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and expressed support for the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The Independence Palace historical site (also known as Reunification Hall) has become an essential stop for visitors to Ho Chi Minh City, attracting more than 1 million visitors each year.
The Independence Palace welcomes 1 million visitors each year. Photo: N.K.
This information was shared by Mr. Tran Huu Phuoc, Acting Director of Reunification Hall, during the tourism promotion forum titled “Converging Identity, Elevating Heritage,” held on October 19, according to baochinhphu.vn.
According to Mr. Phuoc, one of the most attractive tourist products is the exhibition “From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868 – 1966.” Since it opened to the public in March 2018, this exhibition has welcomed nearly 350,000 visitors annually, offering them a unique experience.
In the future, Reunification Hall plans to digitize the exhibition space and artifacts, incorporating technology into displays and information dissemination. This will provide the public with new historical stories and immersive experiences, making the Independence Palace more accessible and appealing to younger generations.
In addition to Independence Palace, the Cultural and Scientific Activities Center of the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam has also successfully organized the “Night Tour at the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam,” highlighting the excellence of Vietnam’s traditions of learning, respect for teachers, and recognition of talent. A unique aspect of this tour is that visitors experience the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam through activities that utilize 3D Mapping technology.
According to Dr. Duong Duc Minh, Deputy Director of the Institute for Economic and Tourism Development Research, it is necessary to apply technology and creativity to tap into existing resources, restructure products for destinations, enhance heritage, and create added value for the tourism industry and the economy.
At the forum, Reunification Hall and the Cultural and Scientific Activities Center of the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam signed a memorandum of cooperation. This partnership aims to bring greater recognition to these two national heritage sites.
By 2045, the Mang Den tourism area in Kon Tum will cover more than 90,000 hectares, positioning itself as a national-level destination and a prominent, branded attraction in the Central Highlands.
Recently, the Kon Tum Provincial People’s Committee announced the master plan for the development of the Mang Den tourism area in Kon Plong District, Kon Tum, up to 2045.
Mang Den is immersed in the morning mist, bringing both peaceful and poetic beauty.
Located at an altitude of over 1,200 meters above sea level, Mang Den is a town in Kon Plong District with an average temperature ranging from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius. The terrain consists mainly of hills and mountains, with forest coverage reaching 82%. This area is home to many natural scenic spots, lakes, waterfalls, rocky streams, and pristine indigenous cultures. Not only does it offer a cool and pleasant climate, but Mang Den also boasts a breathtaking natural landscape with majestic and mysterious beauty, ready for tourists to explore.
To develop Mang Den into an attractive destination in the Central Highlands and a driver of socio-economic growth for Kon Tum, the Prime Minister has approved the master plan for the construction of the Mang Den tourism area.
According to the plan, the Mang Den tourism area will span over 90,000 hectares and be part of the national tourism development plan, focusing on economic activities, tourism, and leveraging unique advantages in climate, natural landscapes, and traditional culture.
The night market area located in Mang Den pine forest attracts tourists to visit and experience.
The Mang Den tourism area will be designed based on a model consisting of two development corridors, three tourism centers, and four urban areas. Mang Den Town will serve as the central urban hub of the district, operating as the administrative, political, socio-economic, and commercial service center of Kon Plong District.
Additionally, Mang Den will play an essential role in driving socio-economic development, especially in tourism, commerce, and services for Kon Tum Province, the Central Highlands region, and the country.
Mr. Pham Van Thang, Vice Chairman of the Kon Plong District People’s Committee, shared that Mang Den and Kon Plong District, in general, are blessed by nature with excellent climate and soil conditions, ideal for developing ecology and resort tourism. To promote sustainable tourism development, the district has been actively promoting tourism linked with the traditional culture of the local ethnic areas. The combination of traditional culture and experiential tourism has been highly appreciated by visitors.
“Recently, the district has organized attractive such as sim flower, mua flower, and multicolored flower viewing, combined with visits to high-tech agricultural areas; culinary tours to explore Mang Den’s local cuisine and ethnic minority culture; tours to discover and experience the planting and harvesting of dong sam (a local herb); and weekend gala programs with cultural performances every Saturday and Sunday,” Mr. Ladder added.
A section of Mang Den town at night
Ms. Bach Thi Man, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Kon Tum Province, stated that the development plan will contribute to elevating the Mang Den tourism area to national prominence, becoming a highly attractive, branded destination in the Central Highlands, both domestically and internationally. In the future, Mang Den will focus on developing various tourism models such as resort tourism, ecological tourism, cultural tourism, and tours to explore cultural and historical relics.
On October 21, at the Ha Long International Cruise Port, Quang Ninh Province held a ceremony to welcome its 3 millionth international tourist of 2024. This marks the highest number of international visitors to Quang Ninh since 2020.
At 8:00 AM on October 21, the international cruise ship Viking Orion docked in Quang Ninh, arriving from Hong Kong (China), carrying the 3 millionth international visitors of 2024 to the province. The two milestone visitors were David and Tina (U.S. nationals). The couple expressed their surprise at the warm welcome from Quang Ninh Province and said it was an unforgettable memory of their trip to Vietnam.
Mr. and Mrs. David and Tina (right cover) are present at Ha Long International Passenger Port, Quang Ninh Province. Photo: Quang Ninh Department of Tourism Electronic Information Portal
According to a representative from the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, welcoming the 3 millionth international visitors is significant for the province’s tourism sector. It marks an important milestone, demonstrating that the province has successfully overcome the challenges posed by Typhoon Yagi (Storm No. 3) and is fully prepared to welcome tourists back with top-quality services.
As part of the itinerary, passengers aboard the Viking Orion will visit Ha Long Bay, the Quang Ninh Museum, and several other local attractions from October 21 to 22.
From now until the end of 2024, nearly 20 cruise ships are expected to arrive in Ha Long, including the Costa Serena (carrying 3,500 guests from Hong Kong, China), the Celebrity Solstice (with 2,800 guests from Europe and the U.S.), and the Mein Schiff 6 (with 2,500 guests from Germany and other European markets).
For the 2024-2025 cruise season, over 60 cruise ships are scheduled to dock in Ha Long, bringing approximately 100,000 visitors. This includes luxury cruise lines such as Viking Orion, Costa, Seven Seas, Noordam, Celebrity Solstice, Le Lapérouse, Seabourn, and Mein Schiff.
The figure of 3 million international visitors is the highest since 2020. In 2020, Quang Ninh welcomed 540,000 international visitors, followed by 50,000 in 2021, 304,000 in 2022, and 2.15 million in 2023.
In the first nine months of 2024, Quang Ninh received a total of 15.64 million visitors, including 2.59 million international tourists. The province aims to meet its 2024 target of welcoming 19 million visitors, with over 3.5 million of them being international tourists.
The annual Ha Giang Buckwheat Flower Festival is a celebrated event held each late autumn and early winter, when the buckwheat flowers bloom across the Dong Van Karst Plateau. This year, the festival will officially open on November 9, 2024, at the Thanh Nien Square in Dong Van District.
The 10th Buckwheat Flower Festival in 2024 will open on November 9, 2024, at the Youth Square of Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province. Photo: Dang Huy
Taking place from November 9 to 21, the 2024 Buckwheat Flower Festival will feature various activities such as competitions applauding and introducing the traditional costumes of ethnic groups in Dong Van. Other activities include demonstrations and hands-on experiences of traditional flax weaving, hand embroidery, crafting of household items and traditional musical instruments, and exhibitions of local cultural products, tourism offerings, agricultural products, cuisine, and medicinal herbs.
In addition, cultural exchange activities, traditional music and art performances, and folk games will be organized for visitors at tourist stops and cultural villages throughout Dong Van District on Saturdays and Sundays. During the festival, Dong Van District will also inaugurate new tourism landmarks.
Buckwheat flowers on the Dong Van stone plateau. Photo: Nguyen Phong
Recently, Ha Giang, along with other northern provinces, has been severely impacted by heavy rain and flooding, resulting in the cancellation of several cultural and tourism events, as well as many tourists canceling their travel plans.
To attract visitors during the peak season and support local restaurants, hotels, and tour operators after a difficult period, the Provincial Tourism Association has called on its members and tourism businesses to participate in a stimulus program offering discounts of 10-30%. The program began in mid-September 2024 and will run through the peak tourist season, ending in early February 2025.
Since the beginning of the year, Ha Giang has welcomed approximately 2.47 million visitors, achieving 77% of the 2024 target, with total tourism revenue estimated at VND 6,120 billion. However, in September 2024, the number of tourists dropped to 243,000, a 5.4% decrease compared to the same period last year.
The project for Cho Lon Night Street, aimed at boosting tourism in District 6, has been approved for a pilot implementation by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.
Binh Tay Market – the highlight of Cho Lon Night Street. Photo: Lac Ha
The project, centered around Binh Tay Market—which has been recognized as an architectural and artistic heritage site by the People’s Committee—was proposed by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade.
Cho Lon Night Street will integrate the cultural and social values of the Cho Lon area with nearby tourist attractions in Districts 5, 8, and 11 (including Ha Ton Quyen Dumpling Street, Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street, and Chau Van Liem Street), adding to the diversity of Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism offerings, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism’s online portal.
Cho Lon Night Street is expected to operate daily from 6:00 PM to midnight, covering the sidewalk space of four streets: Nguyen Huu Than, Thap Muoi, Le Tan Ke, and Tran Binh (surrounding Binh Tay Market, from Nguyen Xuan Phung Street to Chu Van An Street).
The total area of Cho Lon Night Street spans 1,510 square meters and will be divided into seven functional zones, featuring 41 stalls.
The night street’s functional zones will include a highlight called the “Creative Zone” with 14 food stalls fully equipped with counters, shelves, and cabinets. The “Saigon-Cho Lon Heritage Zone” will feature nine hand-pushed carts designed in the traditional style of old Cho Lon, while the “Dynamic Zone” will have 18 hand-pushed carts offering cultural products, souvenirs, technology, and youth- oriented fashion.
In addition to food and shopping stalls, the night street will also include public restrooms, artistic lighting, and scenic installations to create a community space. Street performances will further enrich the experience for visitors.
The Ha Long (Quang Ninh) – Cat Ba (Hai Phong City) route began trial operations from the Ha Long International Cruise Port on October 18, with plans to officially commence services on November 15.
The Ha Long – Cat Ba high-speed ferry is expected to launch on November 15. Photo: Tuan Chau Express.
On the morning of October 18, the Tuan Chau Express, operated by Havaco Investment Corporation, conducted a trial run of the high-speed ferry connecting Ha Long and Cat Ba at the Ha Long International Cruise Port. This trial run is in preparation for the official inauguration event on November 15.
According to the operator, the travel time between the two points is approximately one hour.
The ferry will depart daily at 7:30 AM from Tuan Chau International Cruise Port (Ha Long) and arrive at Dong Ho Bay, located in the center of Cat Ba Town (Hai Phong City), at 8:30 AM. After that, the ferry will continue to Dong Bai Port and return to Dong Ho Bay. The return trip back to Ha Long International Cruise Port will depart at 3:00 PM on the same day.
The ticket price for this journey is set at 250,000 VND per person per trip.
Inside the high-speed boat route connecting Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba heritage. Photo: Tuan Chau Express.
This high-speed, twin-hull ferry operates at a maximum speed of 28 knots, equipped with noise reduction and anti-seasickness features. It can function in adverse weather conditions, including winds of up to level 7, and has a capacity of up to 300 passengers.
According to the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, this ferry service is the first modern high-speed sea passenger transportation route to be operated, connecting the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago heritage region.
Additionally, the Ha Long – Cat Ba high-speed ferry provides both residents and tourists with an enhanced travel experience, strengthening the connection between the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago area. It also helps alleviate the pressure and congestion on ferry services during busy weekends.
Currently, parking facilities in the city can only meet about 10% of the demand, while the number of newly registered vehicles, especially private cars, continues to rise, leading to a severe shortage of parking spaces.
Additionally, many drivers disregard traffic regulations, and enforcement remains lax, allowing violations to persist. Despite no-parking signs, vehicles are frequently seen blocking sidewalks, storefronts, or even areas designated for pedestrians. This shortage of parking, especially in city centers, has become a growing issue as the number of cars increases.
While Hanoi has several fee-based parking lots, most do not meet safety and regulatory standards, and some operate illegally. “We hope for temporary permits to ensure security, fire prevention, and environmental safety, while also following the law,” said Bui Minh Tan, a resident of Thanh Xuan District.
Despite previous government proposals, efforts to allocate long-unused land for parking lots have stalled. Bui Danh Lien, former President of the Hanoi Transport Association, remarked, “It’s challenging to establish legal parking areas.”
In theory, Hanoi should allocate at least 3% of its land for parking, but currently, only 0.3 to 0.4% is used for this purpose. This shortfall is one of the main reasons behind the persistent illegal parking and encroachment on sidewalks and streets.
Bridge, which has raised $54 million in funding, previously said it aspired to become the blockchain version of Stripe, operating a global system in which other developers could integrate
Looking to advance its cryptocurrency ambitions, payments processor Stripe has finalized a deal to buy stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion, according to a Sunday X post from TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington.
Bridge, which has raised $54 million in funding, was founded by Square and Coinbase alumni Zach Abrams and Sean Yu, and counts SpaceX and Coinbase (COIN) among its customers.
The startup previously said it aspired to become the blockchain version of Stripe, operating a global system in which other developers could integrate.
Stripe, which enables companies to accept payments online or in-person, has this year been exploring extending its offering to cryptocurrency through Circle’s USDC stablecoin.
The hub is in collaboration with Ghaf Group, a blockchain firm in the region.
Dubai – The Sui blockchain has launched a hub in Dubai which will act as an incubator for blockchain developers and entrepreneurs, one of its founding developers told CoinDesk in an interview.
Kostas Chalkias, co-founder and chief cryptographer at Mysten Labs, which developed the Sui network, is originally from Greece and has moved to Dubai from California. He said his vision is to bring an army of solution engineers to Dubai.
“Like Leonidas, the Greek war hero, we are bringing an army of developers and if it is super successful in the very first month we will probably make it like Leonidas’ 300,” said Chalkias. “”Initially, we are bringing a small army but with big brains.”
Chalkias painted a scenario where a government entity would want a blockchain based solution to a problem and instead of spending days to create the solution, this hub would have the capacity to build the solution as a smart contract more or less on the spot.
“When you’re preaching an idea we will be able to sit down for two hours and build the proof of concept there. No other blockchain can do a POC on the spot. This hasn’t happened before,” Chalkias said.
The hub is in collaboration with Ghaf Group, a blockchain firm in the region.
The Dubai hub will be first in a global series of hubs, the entity announced. Dubai has been attracting the Web3 community with reasonably clear regulations and licensing processes which has seen crypto exchanges like Binance, Crypto.com and OKX win approvals this year.
“UAE is top for deals UAE but not the actual development,” said Chalkias. “The vision is to be the heart of hackathons and implementation even in Dubai.” Initially, the hub would be hoping to help the government with digitalization, he added.
“We are building solution engineering here in Dubai,” said Chalkias. “We want to invest in the region. We want to bring engineering capacity. I am bringing solution engineers. I want to run hackathons every month in Dubai where we don’t sleep for three days.
The Sui network which was built by former Meta (META) employees, including Chalkias, overtook the likes of Cardano, Near and Aptos in terms of total value locked (TVL) in February this year. For some, Sui has emerged as the chosen blockchain over Solana.
Lắng nghe nhu cầu của các Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý, xây dựng chương trình đào tạo linh hoạt và phát triển kỹ năng quản trị doanh nghiệp… là cách thức Prudential đang thực hiện để giúp các giám đốc bảo hiểm đủ sức thích nghi với những thay đổi của thị trường bảo hiểm.
Là khách mời trong chuỗi talkshow “Thành công vẫn cần thay đổi” hợp tác giữa Prudential và Cafebiz phát sóng ngày 15/10, anh Trần Văn Trung Châu – Giám đốc Huấn luyện Đào tạo kênh Đại lý Prudential – lần đầu chia sẻ những câu chuyện chưa từng bật mí về công tác đào tạo bảo hiểm đặc biệt vào thời điểm “ngược gió” của ngành nói riêng và thị trường nói chung.
Mở đầu tập 3 với chủ đề “Tư vấn viên bảo hiểm: Dục tốc bất đạt?”, anh Châu cho biết công việc chính của bộ phận phát triển và huấn luyện kênh đại lý bao gồm: xây dựng nội dung đào tạo, biên soạn giáo trình cho đội ngũ tư vấn viên bán hàng; Thiết kế các quy trình đào tạo; Tuyển chọn và quản lý đội ngũ giảng viên giỏi để truyền đạt kiến thức, kỹ năng cho đại lý.
Không chỉ bật mí về vai trò tại Prudential, với hơn 20 năm kinh nghiệm trong ngành, anh Châu còn mang đến góc nhìn sâu sắc về câu chuyện đào tạo đội ngũ tư vấn viên và các Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý trong những giai đoạn đầy thách thức của ngành.
Theo anh Châu, so với mô hình đào tạo tư vấn viên, việc đào tạo Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý trong bối cảnh hiện nay cũng đang có những khó khăn nhất định. Dẫn chứng điều này, Giám đốc Đào tạo của Prudential cho biết khách hàng ngày nay có nhu cầu đa dạng, điều này đòi hỏi những người làm trong lĩnh vực bảo hiểm phải không ngừng nâng cao chuyên môn và chất lượng phục vụ.
Mặt khác, những thay đổi về yếu tố vĩ mô cùng sự ra đời của Luật Kinh doanh bảo hiểm cũng đưa ra các bài toán mới cần tìm lời giải. Do đó, việc thiết kế các chương trình và cách thức đào tạo phù hợp dành cho các Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý để “trúng” nhu cầu thị trường cần, khách hàng muốn là những điều khiến anh Châu cùng các cộng sự luôn trăn trở.
“Đó là thách thức cho người làm đào tạo. Nhưng khó thì cần phải gỡ”, anh Châu nói. Tuy nhiên, khi đã hình dung được bài toán cần giải, anh Châu cùng nhân sự làm công tác huấn luyện, đào tạo kênh đại lý tại Prudential từng bước tìm ra câu trả lời. Đầu tiên, thay vì “nghĩ” xem các Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý cần gì, những chuyên gia đào tạo trực tiếp đối thoại với từng Giám đốc xem họ thực sự muốn một chương trình ra sao, những kỹ năng nào là cần thiết để phát triển bền vững.
Thực tế, Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý đang phải đóng ba vai trò khác nhau: Bán hàng, Quản lý đại lý, và Giám đốc điều hành doanh nghiệp (CEO). Phần lớn những người thành công kỳ cựu rất có kinh nghiệm trong vai bán hàng và tuyển dụng, phát triển hệ thống đại lý. Còn với “vai CEO”, họ sẽ phải đối mặt với nhiều thách thức hơn trong câu chuyện quản trị, đòi hỏi kỹ năng quản trị phải thật “cứng”.
“Đây là thời điểm trọng yếu nhất để hướng các Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng đại lý về công việc lớn và quan trọng nhất của một người điều hành doanh nghiệp, đó là CEO. Với hệ thống chương trình dành cho các anh chị tổng đại lý năm nay, chúng tôi tập trung vào đúng vào góc độ đào tạo CEO”, anh Châu nói.
Cụ thể, với chương trình đào tạo này, Prudential tập trung phát triển các kỹ năng giải quyết vấn đề, quản trị doanh nghiệp của CEO. Chương trình đào tạo dài hạn và mang tính thực chiến cao giúp các Giám đốc văn phòng tổng đại lý giải quyết hầu hết các vấn đề tại doanh nghiệp.
Cùng với đó, chương trình được phát triển theo hướng “đo ni đóng giày”, từng bài giảng nhằm phát triển các kỹ năng của CEO – người làm chủ, điều hành doanh nghiệp, giúp đại lý bảo hiểm có thể đi dài và bền hơn với nghề. Với lộ trình đào tạo 6 tháng, các Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý có thể “thực hành” ngay với nghề, giải được những bài toán khó thị trường đang đặt ra.
Để tiếp tục nâng cao chất lượng đào tạo, Prudential đã hợp tác cùng các đối tác uy tín trên thị trường nhằm giải quyết bài toán này, xác định những kỹ năng “sống còn” của một giám đốc bảo hiểm cần có vào chương trình đào tạo. Tháng 8 vừa qua, Prudential kết hợp với Viện Quản trị và Công nghệ FSB của Đại học FPT triển khai chương trình đào tạo “Nâng cao năng lực quản trị doanh nghiệp” dành riêng cho các Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý.
Không chỉ đầu tư vào đội ngũ giám đốc, Prudential còn hỗ trợ phát triển toàn bộ hệ thống nhân sự cốt lõi trong văn phòng tổng đại lý. Các chương trình đào tạo sẽ được mở rộng cho các vị trí như nhân viên hỗ trợ kinh doanh, kế toán tài chính… nhằm tạo sự phối hợp hiệu quả và nâng cao năng lực toàn diện cho cả hệ thống.
“Khi đứng trước cú sốc của ngành bảo hiểm vừa qua, các anh chị Giám đốc Văn phòng Tổng Đại lý đứng trước ngã rẽ: thay đổi hoặc buộc phải thay đổi”, anh Châu cho biết thêm. Đồng hành cùng các Giám đốc trên hành trình đó, Prudential cam kết không để ai lại phía sau, tiếp tục mở rộng và nâng cao các khóa đào tạo để nâng cao năng lực cho toàn bộ đội ngũ, vững vàng trước mọi thách thức.
On the morning of October 21, Quang Ninh city of Vietnam welcomed its 3 millionth international visitor of the year, who arrived aboard the luxury cruise ship Viking Orion, alongside nearly 900 other travelers.
The 3 millionth visitor, an American tourist, arrived in Ha Long Bay from Hong Kong. This marks a significant milestone for the city’s tourism sector, as Quang Ninh province continues to recover and thrive following the challenges posed by the global pandemic. The Viking Orion, known for its high-end amenities such as a cinema, theater, bar, and health care center, has a maximum capacity of 930 guests and has made multiple visits to Ha Long Bay.
During their two-day stay, the group of tourists is expected to explore Ha Long Bay, visit the Quang Ninh Museum, and discover other key attractions in the province.
Provincial leaders highlighted the significance of reaching the 3 millionth international visitor milestone, the highest number of foreign arrivals since 2020. This achievement underscores the rapid recovery of Quang Ninh’s tourism industry, which was severely affected by Typhoon Yagi earlier in the year.
Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 cruise season, Quang Ninh expects to welcome more than 60 cruise ships, bringing over 100,000 passengers from renowned luxury lines such as Viking Orion, Costa, Seven Seas, Noordam, Celebrity Solstice, Le Lapérouse, Seabourn, and Mein Schiff. By the end of 2024, Ha Long is projected to receive nearly 20 cruise ship visits.
Quang Ninh province has set an ambitious goal of attracting 19 million tourists by the end of 2024, including over 3.5 million international visitors, solidifying its position as a premier destination in Vietnam.
