Vietnam Insider

On August 10th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected the progress of the construction project for Tan Son Nhat Airport’s T3 passenger terminal and attended the inauguration of a new underpass at the airport’s gateway.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspects the Tan Son Nhat T3 passenger terminal construction project implementation on August 10. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

During a meeting with relevant agencies at the project site, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commended the involved agencies, the investor ACV (Airports Corporation of Vietnam), and the contractors for making up for previous delays in the project and praised the 3,000 workers diligently working on-site.

To ensure the project’s quality and effectiveness and to meet the goal of putting the terminal into operation by April 30, 2025, the Prime Minister invited ACV to concentrate the investor’s resources, consulting units, and construction contractors. He emphasized the need for close coordination with relevant agencies to ensure the project’s construction is on track and meets the required timeline.

The Prime Minister noted that the remaining construction period is short, with only about seven months left (including one month for the Lunar New Year), while a significant amount of work remains (about 45.7%). This includes tasks that demand high technical and aesthetic standards and require tight, synchronized coordination among contractors and construction units.

Therefore, it is necessary to implement stronger directives, closely monitor progress, and promptly address any arising issues to ensure the project’s construction schedule and quality.

The Prime Minister also focused on completing the project’s technical systems to ensure synchronization, and on effectively connecting the terminal with the urban road network to avoid congestion when the T3 terminal is put into operation.

The Ministry of Transport and the Committee for State Capital Management at Enterprises are to closely follow the implementation process and direct ACV in executing the project.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee is urged to quickly complete the connecting traffic routes, ensuring they are operational and meet travel demands when the T3 passenger terminal comes into operation.

The Ministry of Construction is to prepare thoroughly to ensure proper inspection and acceptance of the project. The Ministry of Defense is tasked with coordinating with the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and relevant ministries, sectors, and agencies to thoroughly resolve issues related to defense land for the arrangement of traffic routes, landscaping around the T3 terminal, and to ensure the effective operation of Tan Son Nhat Airport while maintaining national security and defense duties.

@Znews

Despite a slight decrease from the summer peak, airfares for the upcoming September 2nd holiday remain significantly higher compared to regular days, with increases ranging from 500,000 VND to 3 million VND for many domestic routes.

Although slightly lower than the peak summer season, airfares on September 2nd remain high. Photo: Dat Thanh

According to a survey conducted on August 14th, airfares on airline websites for flights between August 30th and September 2nd show that tickets for the Hanoi-Phu Quoc route are priced between 3.6 million VND and 6 million VND per ticket, doubling the price compared to regular days.

For the most popular route, Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, the average round-trip fare is currently around 3 million VND to 5.4 million VND, depending on the flight time and airline.

These prices are 500,000 VND to 1.2 million VND higher than usual. The lowest fares are generally for flights departing before 9:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.

Ticket prices for some flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on August 30. Photo: Google Flight

To meet the increased travel demand, Vietnam Airlines will increase the number of flights during the four-day holiday. The airline plans to offer nearly 2,500 flights, equivalent to about half a million seats on both domestic and international routes, according to TTXVN.

Vietnam Airlines reports that key domestic tourist routes have already reached nearly 50% capacity and are expected to fill up quickly in the coming days. International routes to India, China, and Thailand have also reached load factors of 50-70%.

With its current fleet, Bamboo Airways is prioritizing connections between the three major economic centers of Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City with popular domestic tourist destinations to meet the high travel demand during the holiday. Additionally, the airline is expanding its international network to destinations such as Lijiang, Taipei, Macau, and Gwangju.

@Thesaigontimes

Ho Chi Minh City has announced the closure of several streets to facilitate the 55th Anniversary of the People’s Public Security Forces’ implementation of President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, certain roads will be closed and traffic restricted to support the commemoration of the 55th Anniversary of the People’s Public Security Forces implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament, the 79th Anniversary of the Traditional Day of the People’s Public Security Forces, and the 19th All-People National Defense Day.

Vehicles are banned from many central streets of Ho Chi Minh City to serve the 55th anniversary of the People’s Public Security implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament.

According to the Information Security Department, there has been a recent increase in individuals within social media groups offering airline tickets at unexpectedly low prices, requiring buyers to transfer a deposit and then fraudulently taking their money.

The Information Security Department recommends that people be vigilant when buying and selling airline tickets on social networking platforms. Illustration photo: TL

According to the Information Security Department, there has been a recent increase in individuals within social media groups offering airline tickets at unexpectedly low prices, requiring buyers to transfer a deposit and then fraudulently taking their money.

Exploiting the desire for cheap deals, some scammers create fake Facebook accounts, posting advertisements for low-priced airline tickets and hotel bookings in groups with many participants. After someone contacts them to make a purchase, the scammers ask for a deposit and then disappear, with many victims losing up to tens of millions of dong.

These individuals often impersonate well-known travel companies, including easy-to-remember phone numbers and reputable bank account names in their posts. The content typically promotes special promotions, vouchers with significant discounts, and a limited supply.

Once the victim completes the deposit, the scammers send them a booking code for the ticket or room. The criminals deceive people by exploiting the booking systems of some hotels or airlines, which allow customers to obtain a booking code before payment, with a grace period of 12-24 hours for payment. Victims only realize they have been scammed when they arrive at the airport or the destination.

The Information Security Department (Ministry of Information and Communications) advises the public to be extremely cautious when buying airline tickets on social media platforms. It is essential to thoroughly verify the company’s information, request the scammer to provide a company contract with the director’s signature and seal, and use various methods to authenticate the website domain, business registration details, address, and tax identification number of the company before proceeding with any transaction.

Furthermore, if any signs of fraud are detected, the public should immediately report them to the authorities and share the information on social media to help prevent and stop the spread of such scams.

@SGtiepthi

According to Decision No. 2328/QD-BVHTTDL, signed and issued by Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, Hanoi’s pho has officially become a national intangible cultural heritage.

On August 9th, Minister Nguyen Van Hung issued Decision No. 2328/QD-BVHTTDL announced the inclusion of Hanoi’s pho in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

Both Hanoi’s pho and Nam Dinh’s pho were recognized as national intangible cultural heritage during this occasion.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MoCST) categorized Hanoi’s pho under the national intangible cultural heritage list as part of the folk knowledge category, incorporating elements of social customs and beliefs. Some famous pho restaurants in Hanoi have also been included in the Michelin Guide.

Hanoi Pho is recognized as a national intangible heritage.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung invites the chairpersons of the People’s Committees at all levels, where the intangible cultural heritage is located, to carry out state management according to the provisions of the cultural heritage law.

Pho is not only a dish deeply ingrained in the consciousness of Hanoi residents but has also become a symbol of Vietnam’s rich culinary tradition, contributing to the promotion of Vietnamese cuisine globally. Pho has become a proper noun in numerous prestigious dictionaries and is present in over 50 countries worldwide.

According to a selection by Lonely Planet, Vietnam is among the countries with seven bowl-served dishes that offer the best experiences globally. Business Insider also recognized Vietnamese pho as one of the must-try dishes for world travelers.

The travel website The Travel has listed Vietnam among the top 10 countries with the best food in the world, with pho being one of the highlighted dishes.

Previously, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, in collaboration with district and town cultural and information offices, conducted an inventory of pho heritage. This marks the first time pho has been comprehensively inventoried, combined with heritage identification and an assessment of the cultural, historical, and scientific value of this heritage.

@Znews

The craft of making Quang noodles in Quang Nam embodies the unique culinary culture of the region. Recently, this craft has been officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

A bowl of traditional Quang noodles, with the culinary flavor of Quang region. Photo: Tien Sa

According to the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (DCST) of Quang Nam province, the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has signed Decision No. 2327/QD-BVHTTDL to include the traditional knowledge of making Quang noodles in the national list of intangible cultural heritage.

Quang noodles are not just a dish but also a cultural story of Quang Nam. The noodles, made from finely ground rice flour mixed with gardenia-infused water and eggs, have a striking yellow color. The dish is further enriched by a variety of fresh herbs such as basil, lettuce, and young mustard greens, creating a vibrant and appetizing presentation. The rich broth, made from simmered pork bones, is enhanced by the sweet flavors of various meats like fish, chicken, and pork. The dish is completed with crispy rice paper and fragrant roasted peanuts.

Quang noodles gained international recognition when they were served at the APEC 2017 Summit in Da Nang, where they were featured at the banquet for attending world leaders, showcasing the cultural and culinary significance of the dish. Additionally, the culinary website Taste Atlas listed Quang noodles among the 100 best dishes in Vietnam for international travelers to experience.

On August 10, 2023, the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee submitted a formal request to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to include the craft of making Quang noodles in the national list of intangible cultural heritage. With this recognition, Quang Nam now boasts 13 national intangible cultural heritages, including folk performance art such as Hat Ba Trao; Bai Choi art; traditional crafts like Co Tu people’s brocade weaving; folk performance art of the Co Tu people, including the Tung Tung Da Da dance; social customs and beliefs like the Neu pole erection and Gu rituals of the Co people; the Kim Bong carpentry craft; Thanh Chau bird’s nest harvesting; the Ba Thu Bon Festival; the Ba Phuong Hi Festival; the Lunar New Year Festival in Hoi An; the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hoi An; and now, Quang noodles.

@SGtiepthi