Visitors to Paris can no longer watch the Olympic opening ceremony for free

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With security challenges looming, the French government will no longer allow tourists and locals to stand on the banks of the Seine River to watch the Olympic Games opening ceremony for free.

Tourists check-in at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. Photo: @surbucuyazgiicoskun.

The Olympic Games opening ceremony for Paris 2024 is scheduled to take place on July 26th along the Seine River in the capital city of Paris. Initially, the organizers had planned to distribute 600,000 invitations, allowing an equivalent number of locals and tourists to directly watch the ceremony for free from both sides of the river.

However, on March 5th, Gérard Darmanin, the French Minister of the Interior, cited significant security challenges and announced that the official audience capacity for the opening ceremony would be reduced to 326,000 people, nearly halving the previous estimate. Among them, 104,000 ticket holders will be positioned along the low-lying riverbanks near the event venue, while the remaining 222,000 will watch for free from higher vantage points, according to the Independent.

In addition to the official audience, an estimated 200,000 more people are expected to watch the opening ceremony from nearby high-rise buildings with views of the Seine River, and about 50,000 people will watch from fan zones surrounding the area, bringing the total viewership to 576,000.

Darmanin also announced that free tickets will no longer be distributed freely to the public but will be reserved for invited guests.

“To manage the movement of crowds, we cannot invite everyone. Security is our top priority, given the recent terrorist threats. We will organize the opening ceremony for free, but it must be controlled,” Darmanin emphasized.

As a result, tourists will not be able to attend the opening ceremony for free as previously planned. Instead, invited attendees will be selected from Olympic event towns, local sports federations, and the organizing committee.

When passing through security checkpoints, they must present a QR code and undergo thorough checks.

It is expected that 10,500 athletes will march across the Seine River, Paris. Photo: @fabviews_cskillz.

The 2024 Olympics mark the first time in history that the opening ceremony will take place outdoors, rather than in a stadium. Approximately 10,500 athletes will parade through the heart of the French capital on boats along the Seine River, covering a 6km route.

The event is expected to be attended by around 160 heads of state. The French government will close all airports and impose a no-fly zone within a radius of 150km around Paris before, during, and after the 3.5-hour opening ceremony. Airports around Paris such as Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Bourget, and Beauvais will all temporarily cease operations during this time.

@Znews

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism proposes reduced immigration processing time at Tan Son Nhat

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The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has proposed the application of Industry 4.0 technology in the immigration process, visa issuance, and customs clearance at Tan Son Nhat border gates to reduce waiting times for tourists.

This is one of the proposals put forth by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism in a report submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee regarding the conclusions of Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Bui Xuan Cuong, at a working session on activities related to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

According to the Department of Tourism, it has received feedback from international organizations, major tourism enterprises, and international investors in Ho Chi Minh City about difficulties and long waiting times when arriving at and departing from Tan Son Nhat Airport, especially in the immigration area, despite using business class services.

The Department of Tourism proposes to pilot a priority lane for immigration procedures specifically for business class passengers

These entities have suggested improving the efficiency of immigration procedures at the airport counters, creating a separate immigration process for business-class passengers, and possibly considering charging a fee for expedited processing to give passengers a choice.

The implementation of automated immigration procedures at Tan Son Nhat International Airport since August 2023 has somewhat reduced the waiting time for tourists. However, the Department of Tourism states that they still receive numerous complaints from tourists about having to queue for hours to complete immigration procedures.

The City Department of Tourism also proposed applying 4.0 technology to reduce waiting time for tourists

Additionally, the department has received suggestions from airlines proposing an extension of operating hours at the airport during nighttime periods.

Therefore, the Department of Tourism recommends that the Immigration Management Bureau and the Southern Airports Authority study a trial mechanism for a priority lane for business-class passengers, extend operating hours during nighttime periods, and apply Industry 4.0 technology in immigration, visa issuance, and boarding procedures to minimize waiting times for tourists.

Furthermore, the Department of Tourism suggests that the Vietnam Airports Corporation and Tan Son Nhat International Airport designate a fixed location at the domestic and international terminals for organizing communication activities, visual promotion, and information dissemination about destinations in Ho Chi Minh City throughout 2024-2025.

@Thanhnien.vn

U.S. Will Appeal Do Kwon’s Extradition to South Korea: Report

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On Thursday, Kwon’s attorney Goran Rodic told CoinDesk via text that a Montenegro court had ruled to extradite him to South Korea.

The U.S. will appeal the ruling of a Montenegro Court to hand Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon to South Korea, according to Bloomberg.

On Thursday, Kwon’s attorney, Goran Rodic, told CoinDesk via text that a Montenegro court had ruled to extradite him to South Korea after March 23 without indicating whether he would be appealing.

“The United States continues to seek Kwon’s extradition in accordance with relevant international and bilateral agreements and Montenegrin law,” the Justice Department said in a statement Thursday, Bloomberg reported. “The United States appreciates the cooperation of the Montenegrin authorities in ensuring that all individuals are subject to the rule of law.”

The U.S. and Kwon’s native South Korea have been battling it out in court, seeking his extradition.

The eyes of global authorities, including Interpol, have been on Kwon ever since Terra collapsed in mid-2022. Terra’s collapse wiped out billions of dollars of investor funds, and Kwon fled to Montenegro, where he was arrested for possession of falsified official documents. The courts in Montenegro are deciding the destination of his extradition.

The U.S. Department of Justice didn’t immediately reply to a CoinDesk request for comment.

Dragon pair in Binh Duong sets Vietnam record

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With a length of about 29 meters, the model of two dragons assembled from over 14,000 traditional pottery tiles in Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, has set a Vietnamese record.

On March 5th, the Vietnam Record Organization established the record for the “Pair of dragons assembled from the most handmade pottery tiles in Vietnam” in Tuong Binh Hiep Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, since March 4th, 2024.

The pair of dragons is assembled on both sides of Ba Sang bridge, Ho Van Cong street. Photo: Gia Nghi

This is considered a unique ceramic space model, launched to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Dragon in 2024 and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Tuong Binh Hiep Ward.

With a length of 29 meters, the model of two dragons is assembled from over 14,000 traditional pottery tiles. Each part such as the head, body, scales, and beard of the dragon is made from clay and fired beforehand.

With a length of 29m, the two dragon model is assembled from more than 14,000 traditional fired ceramic jars. Photo: Gia Nghi

It is known that the process from conceiving the idea to completing the model lasted over 6 months, involving the participation of nearly 50 workers.

Currently, the two dragon mascots are the highlights attracting the attention of many people from inside and outside the province to visit and take commemorative photos.

@SGtiepthi

Mongolia waives visa for Vietnamese visitors

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Starting from March 7th, Vietnamese visitors staying in Mongolia for no more than 30 days will not require a visa, as announced by the Mongolian government’s official website on March 4th.

Mongolia exempts visa for Vietnamese visitors. Photo: Do Hoang Lan.

This is the latest initiative by the Mongolian government to attract Vietnamese tourists. Previously, Vietnamese visitors to Mongolia had to apply for a visa (with a processing time of 5-7 working days) or an e-visa (3 days). The visa fee is 25 USD plus additional charges.

Vietnamese citizens can apply for an e-visa for three purposes: tourism, transit, and participation in events. According to instructions from the Mongolian Immigration Agency, travelers granted an e-visa can either print it out or keep it on their phone and present it at the border. For other purposes, Vietnamese visitors need to apply for a paper visa.

32-year-old Dong Nguyen, upon learning about the visa exemption, immediately made plans to explore the vast Mongolian steppes with a companion this summer. “I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time. Because of the hassle of applying for a visa, I hesitated,” Dong said.

The number of Vietnamese visitors to Mongolia has gradually increased in recent years. Photo: Vu Vi Vu.

Nevar, a representative of the media company MerTrip, stated that obtaining a Mongolian visa is not difficult in practice. However, the visa exemption remains an attractive factor for many Vietnamese tourists due to their reluctance to research the visa application process. “Today’s announcement is just out, so there haven’t been many inquiries about tours yet. But I’ve seen in online groups that many people have been discussing tours to Mongolia after hearing about the visa exemption,” Nevar shared with Tri Thức – Znews.

According to Nevar, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Mongolia has been gradually increasing in recent years. Mongolia is famous for its endless steppes and unique cultural nomadic lifestyle. Compared to traditional Northeast Asian tours, the cost of exploring Mongolia does not differ significantly. With direct flight routes available and meeting travelers’ mobility needs, it is expected that more Vietnamese tourists will visit Mongolia in the near future.

@Znews

Ho Chi Minh City is Asia’s leading conference tourism destination

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On March 6th in Berlin, Germany, Ho Chi Minh City was honored as the “Leading MICE Tourism Destination in Asia for 2023”.

Ho Chi Minh City Tourism received the title “Asia’s Leading MICE Tourism Destination in 2023”. Photo: Linh Huynh.

Surpassing numerous contenders in the region, Ho Chi Minh City once again was recognized as the “Leading MICE Tourism Destination in Asia” for the fourth consecutive year. This award not only attests to the capability and allure of Ho Chi Minh City as an ideal destination for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry but also reinforces the city’s position on the international stage.

Ms. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, stated, “This is a recognition of the tireless efforts and contributions of the city’s tourism sector. By 2030, Ho Chi Minh City aims to become a leading destination in Asia with the image of a city that is ‘Open-minded – Youthful – Vibrant – Exciting – Future-oriented'”.

Representative of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism received the souvenir trophy at the event. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism.

She further noted that the award from the World MICE Awards is a significant milestone on the path towards this goal, reflecting the international community’s confidence in the potential of the city’s tourism industry in the future.

The World MICE Awards is a prestigious annual award aimed at honoring destinations, hotels, airlines, venues, and specialized service providers in the MICE tourism sector. It is part of the World Travel Awards series, which celebrates outstanding achievements in all sectors of the global tourism industry.

At the ceremony, other representatives from Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City were also recognized for their contributions to putting Vietnamese tourism on the world map. Among them, Vietnam Airlines was honored as the “Leading MICE Airline in Asia”, while Vietravel was recognized as the “Leading MICE Tourism Organizer in Asia”.

Graham Cooke, President of the World Travel Awards, remarked, “Ho Chi Minh City is a special destination, rich in history and diverse culture, a vibrant and colorful metropolis. It is a dynamic and leading destination in Asia, and with its vision of becoming a global tourism hub, it will serve as a catalyst for attracting prestigious tourism corporations and brands, ready to be a MICE tourism hub regionally and globally”.

The consecutive recognitions demonstrate that Ho Chi Minh City is an attractive destination, blending harmoniously modern infrastructure, rich history, and diverse cultures, creating an ideal venue for international MICE tourism events.

@Znews

Maximizing Instagram Campaigns: Key Conversion Metrics

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Maximizing Instagram Campaigns: Key Conversion Metrics

Tracking the growth of your fans is a crucial metric whilst evaluating the overall performance of your influencer marketing campaigns on Instagram . By reading the follower growth , you may understand the effectiveness of your campaigns in attracting new followers .

Net follower gains metric measures the general increase of your Instagram fans during a specific campaign period. It displays the internet difference between the wide variety of new fans gained and the number of followers misplaced.

Followers increase the percentage boom to your follower count can provide insights into the success of your influencer campaigns. Dividing the net follower advantage through the beginning follower count and multiplying it by 100 will come up with the follower increase fee .

Essentials

Assessing an influencer’s followers is crucial for collaboration success. Look for genuine engagement to ensure valuable fans for your brand. Tools like Instagram Insights, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social offer valuable follower analytics. Remember, follower increase isn’t just about quantity but also audience satisfaction. Work with influencers aligned with your target market. Analyzing follower metrics helps optimize campaigns, refine strategies, and foster relationships with impactful influencers for sustainable brand growth.

Instagram Brand mentions metrics

Emblem mentions are a crucial component of tracking and measuring the success of your influencer advertising campaigns on Canadian Instagram. Using tracking emblem mentions, you may gauge the level of focus and visibility your logo is receiving from influencers and their audiences. Here are some key metrics to track while comparing brand mentions –

The overall mentions metric indicates how frequently your brand or product is mentioned by influencers, giving insight into its reach and exposure. Sentiment analysis categorizes mentions as positive, negative, or neutral, revealing audience perception and identifying areas for improvement or leveraging positive sentiment for further engagement opportunities.

 

Instagram Engagement with mentions 

This metric gauges audience engagement through likes, comments, shares, and other interactions, indicating resonant content that can boost brand awareness and affinity. Monitoring influencers citing your brand reveals insights into their effectiveness. Utilize analytics tools like Google Analytics for detailed data on brand mentions, sentiment, and engagement to drive informed adjustments, enhancing campaign performance and maximizing brand success on Instagram. Monitoring brand mentions aids in understanding brand perception, fostering long-term loyalty and brand building.

Instagram Traffic metrics

Monitoring the site visitors generated with the aid of your instagram influencer campaigns is important for expertise in the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and measuring the impact in your internet site or landing page. Using reading site visitors metrics, you may benefit from insights into the performance of your campaigns and make facts-pushed selections to optimise your techniques.

Here are some critical visitors metrics to track –

  • Click on-through fee (ctr) 
  • Degree the share of individuals who clicked at the hyperlink in the influencer’s post or bio. Ctr indicates the level of interest and engagement generated with the aid of your marketing campaign.
  • Referral traffic 

Monitor the amount of site visitors that are pushed on your website or landing page via the influencers content material . Referral traffic helps assess the impact of the influencer in driving visits on your site .

Time on web page 

Examine the average quantity of time customers spend on your internet site or landing page after clicking the influencer’s hyperlink. Longer time on a web page suggests engagement and hobby in your content material.

Soar fee 

Look at the share of users who go away from your website online after viewing the simplest one web page . An excessive leap rate can also suggest that the influencers content or the landing web page is not always effectively attractive to the audience .

Instagram Conversion price 

Measure the proportion of visitors completing desired actions, like making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter, to gauge the effectiveness of influencer marketing campaigns. Utilize tools like Google Analytics for comprehensive insights into user behavior and conversion data. Implement UTM tags or unique tracking links to attribute traffic specifically to influencer campaigns. Regularly analyze traffic metrics to optimize campaigns, refining strategies for more impactful results by understanding their impact on website traffic.

Instagram Conversion metrics

Tracking conversion metrics is crucial to determine the achievement of your instagram influencer campaigns . Via studying those metrics , you may determine the effectiveness of your advertising efforts in riding income and attaining your desired goals . Here are a few key conversion metrics to focus on –

1 . Click on-thru fee (ctr) –  this metric measures the share of users who clicked on a name-to-motion hyperlink or button within an influencers submission . It shows the level of engagement and interest out of your target audience .

2 . Conversion price –  the conversion fee measures the proportion of customers who finished a preferred motion , along with making a buy or filling out a shape , after interacting with the influencers content material . It showcases the effectiveness of your influencer advertising and marketing in using actual conversions .

3.Return on investment (roi) –  roi calculates the revenue generated in comparison to the funding made to your influencer advertising campaign . It gives you a clear knowledge of the profitability and basic achievement of your marketing campaign

4.Fee per acquisition (cpa) –  cpa measures the fee incurred to gather a brand new patron or lead via your influencer campaign. It enables you to compare the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your advertising efforts.

5.Common order fee (aov) –  aov measures the average amount spent by way of customers who purchased your influencer marketing campaign. It presents insights into the fee and profitability of every transaction.

Track Conversions

To track these conversion metrics successfully, bear in mind using conversion tracking tools supplied via Instagram, which includes custom URLs, UTM tags, or specific links. Those tools permit you to attribute actions and conversions directly for your influencer campaigns. For example, you can create an “omgblog ” that directs users to your blog post, allowing you to monitor conversions originating from your influencer’s content.

Do not forget, monitoring conversion metrics helps you gauge the effect of your influencer partnerships and optimise your campaigns for higher outcomes. With those insights, you may make data-pushed choices and refine your strategies to obtain higher conversions and maximise your go back on funding.

 

To Conclude:

In conclusion, tracking various metrics is essential for evaluating the success of Instagram influencer campaigns in 2024. . Leveraging analytics tools like Instagram Insights and Google Analytics enables data-driven decision-making to optimize strategies and achieve better results. By focusing on these metrics, brands can refine their influencer partnerships, drive meaningful engagement, and maximize ROI on Instagram.

 

 

One more country offers visa exemption for Vietnamese visitors

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Mongolia has recently announced a list of countries and territories that are exempt from visa entry. Vietnam is among the countries on the list, and the visa exemption takes effect from March 7, allowing Vietnamese citizens to travel to Mongolia without a visa for a maximum of 30 days until the end of 2025. Other countries on the temporary visa exemption list include Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, and Japan, among others.

This move by Mongolia aims to attract more international tourists. Last year, Mongolia simplified visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens by issuing e-visas for three purposes: tourism, transit, and cultural, artistic, and sports events.

Mongolia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with a population density of only two people per km². It has a fascinating nomadic lifestyle with ancient traditions such as horseback riding, archery, and many festivals. As such, it is an interesting destination for backpackers looking for unique experiences.

Previously, applying for a Mongolia tourist visa could be complicated as it required an invitation letter. However, the new visa exemption policy makes it easier for Vietnamese tourists to explore Genghis Khan’s homeland. Currently, Vietjet Airlines operates a direct flight connecting Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar with Vietnam’s coastal city of Nha Trang. The route has been available since December 15, 2023, with an initial frequency of two round-trip flights per week, with each flight taking approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Many Vietnamese travel companies, such as Viet Travel Tours, are already selling Mongolia tours with destinations such as Ulaanbaatar, Genghis Khan, Gun Galuutai Natural Reserve, Terelj National Park, Hustai National Park, XiangShaWan Desert, Kubuqi Ecological Park, Ordos Steppe, and Kangbashi scenic area.

With Mongolia exempting Vietnamese tourists from visas, Vietnamese citizens can now visit 56 destinations around the world without needing a visa.

Low-cost airline AirAsia seeks entry into Vietnam

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AirAsia is the largest low-cost airline in Southeast Asia, currently operating in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Air Asia is the 4th largest airline in Asia. Photo: Air Asia.

According to Bloomberg, the ambitious expansion plans of the low-cost airline AirAsia are targeting Singapore and Vietnam. This signals a bold move to expand the airline’s footprint in Southeast Asia.

Tony Fernandes, the CEO of Capital A Bhd, the parent company of AirAsia, stated that the airline aims to establish its presence in these markets despite knowing that it is not the dominant player in these areas.

BNN Breaking reports that this is part of AirAsia’s strategy not only to enhance its presence in the market but also to capitalize on the increasing demand for affordable travel in the region.

AirAsia currently operates in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.

In Vietnam, the low-cost airline does not have a legal entity but operates international flights on foreign-registered aircraft. Weekly, there are approximately 117 flights connecting various cities in Vietnam with Thailand and Malaysia.

Previously, the airline had attempted four times to establish a joint venture for a low-cost airline in the Vietnamese market, all of which failed.

Most recently, in 2019, AirAsia Investment, Gumin, and Hai Au terminated obligations related to the agreement to establish a joint venture airline in Vietnam.

As part of AirAsia’s expansion plan, it includes plans to enhance regional connectivity by increasing flights to visa-free tourist destinations such as Japan and China.

This aligns with Thailand’s ambition to become a regional aviation hub, leveraging the network of Thai AirAsia. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has also announced his ambitious goal to make Thailand a hub for aviation and one of the world’s top five cargo distribution centers.

AirAsia was established in 2001 when it acquired a bankrupt airline with only a few aircraft. Since then, AirAsia has rapidly grown to become the largest low-cost airline in Southeast Asia with the best service quality globally.

It is the largest airline in Malaysia and the fourth largest in Asia with a fleet size of 200 aircraft. Associated airlines include AirAsia Cambodia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, and Philippines AirAsia.

@Znews

Binh Dinh organizes drone performance for the first time

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Tourists and residents of Binh Dinh province are promised to be delighted with a drone performance at the end of March 2024.

On March 6, in an exchange with Thanh Nien newspaper, a representative of the Amazing Binh Dinh Fest 2024 organizing committee stated that there would be a drone performance to serve the locals and tourists at the end of March 2024.

Demonstration of unmanned aerial vehicles

Specifically, on the opening night of the Amazing Binh Dinh Fest 2024 event (March 22), after the performances by artists, there will be a drone performance followed by fireworks to welcome the event. It is planned that there will also be fireworks on the closing night of the event on March 31.

The Amazing Binh Dinh Fest 2024 week is one of the biggest events of 2024 in Binh Dinh province. It marks the beginning of a series of outstanding events and festivals in the province this year, aimed at attracting domestic and international tourists.

It starts with the UIM-ABP Aquabike International Jet Ski Championship from March 22 to 24, with around 70 racers from 30 countries participating. The UIM F1H2O International Powerboat Race will be held from March 29 to 31. Traditional boat races will take place from March 25 to 27, and the Binh Dinh Wild Race in response to the Olympic Health Run for All will be held on the morning of March 28.

Additionally, there will be a Binh Dinh food festival running from March 22 to 24, featuring a special “Buffet 77 Binh Dinh delicacies”.

The events will take place from the evening of March 22 until the end of March 31, in Quy Nhon City (Binh Dinh).

@Thanhnien.vn

Carnaval Ha Long 2024 to feature drone light show

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The 2024 Ha Long Carnival is expected to showcase drone light displays along with many exciting performances, with the participation of thousands of people.

On March 5th, information from the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee stated that they had just discussed plans for organizing the 2024 Ha Long Carnival, which includes plans to showcase drone light displays.

Light shows using drone light at many events across the country bring new emotions to people and tourists.

Accordingly, the program will take place on April 30th – May 1st at Ocean Park (Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City) with the gathering of thousands of actors, professional artists, international artistic troupes, and artisans.

The program will incorporate elements of musical theater art, harmoniously combining with history and culture to highlight the values of the Ha Long Bay natural heritage.

A notable highlight of the 2024 Carnival will be the drone light displays, featuring illuminated models combined with fireworks displays, LED technology, sound, and light…

According to the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, in 2024, the locality will organize 186 programs, events, and tourism promotion activities.

Especially, in the second quarter, nearly 50 international, national, and provincial-level cultural, sports, and tourism events will be organized. Among them, the focus will be on the 2024 Ha Long Carnival, the Bach Dang traditional festival, the OCOP fair, and the 2024 culinary festival.

Additionally, various localities within the province will also organize many programs and activities to kick off the summer tourism season, contributing to attracting at least 17 million visitors to Quang Ninh in 2024.

@Thanhnien.vn

Hanoi to showcase light show with hundreds of drones over West Lake in March

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The opening ceremony of “Hanoi Tourism Welcomes 2024 – Get on Hanoi 2024” promises to attract tourists with a program featuring epic-themed artistic performances and an enticing light show using laser mapping technology with hundreds of drones.

The program “Hanoi Tourism Welcomes 2024 – Get on Hanoi 2024” and the announcement of the recognition of Nhat Tan tourism area with the theme “Get on Hanoi 2024 – Fragrance of West Lake” will take place from March 9th to March 10th at the creative cultural space of West Lake (Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street), 612 Lac Long Quan, Tay Ho, Hanoi. This is part of the activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (10/10/1954 – 10/10/2024), while promoting the image of Hanoi as a “Safe – Friendly – High-Quality – Attractive” destination, attracting more and more tourists to Hanoi.

The opening event features over 50 cultural, festival, and tourism activities of Hanoi in 2024 such as the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2024; Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2024; Hanoi Autumn Festival; Culinary and Craft Village Tourism Festival; Hanoi Ao Dai Festival 2024…, contributing to promoting the image of the capital city of Hanoi to domestic and international friends. These activities aim to achieve the goal of welcoming 27 million tourists to Hanoi in 2024, including 5.5 million international visitors, with total tourism revenue reaching 109.41 trillion VND.

The opening program “Hanoi Tourism Welcomes 2024 – Get on Hanoi 2024” and the announcement of the recognition of Nhat Tan tourism area will feature laser mapping technology light displays and epic-themed artistic performances.

Especially, the program includes a light show with hundreds of drones programmed according to a 3D scenario, promising to bring an exciting experience to the audience.

New Year’s light show of 2,024 flycams in the sky of Hanoi (Photo: Tung Doan – Chi Hieu)

Additionally, within the program, locals and tourists can experience the distinctive culinary space of Hanoi, visit booths displaying tourism products, take photos with decorated scenes, participate in traditional folk games, and admire award-winning photos from the “Welcome Ha Noi City” tourism photo contest.

In the program “Hanoi Tourism Welcomes 2024 – Get on Hanoi 2024”, the Department of Tourism and the People’s Committee of Tay Ho District will announce the decision to recognize the Nhat Tan tourism area.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in 2024, the capital’s tourism will focus on promoting cultural values and heritage associated with tourism, building the image of Hanoi as “Cultural – Civilized – Modern”, “City for Peace”, and “Creative City”. Hanoi will develop characteristic and attractive tourism products based on existing advantages, while also researching and investing in the development of new types of products tailored to the advantages of each locality, such as exploiting domestic waterway tourism routes along the Red River, West Lake, Dong Mo Lake; developing agricultural tourism, experiential tourism, sports tourism…

@Vietnamnet

Over 400 Indian guests arrive in Da Nang for wedding party at 5-star resort

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The Department of Tourism of Da Nang City identifies wedding tourism as a new product that requires investment and promotion to attract high-spending groups from India.

Wedding of an Indian couple in Da Nang. Photo: The Photo Lab.

The Department of Tourism of Da Nang City has announced the addition of 2 Indian couples to organize weddings in February. The couple Kulvin Kaur and Dilip Bhagwan chose the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa as the venue for their wedding from February 2nd to 4th, with over 200 guests attending.

The Danang Marriott Resort and Spa hosted the wedding of Heena Paryani and Bhisham Ramchandani from February 29th to March 2nd.

Both couples are of Indian origin, currently living and working in Singapore and the Philippines. However, they still maintain Indian traditions with a series of grand wedding rituals. With over 200 guests for each wedding, the total hotel room capacity for the two weddings reached over 650 rooms, accommodated at 2 resorts.

“In 2024, we have received requests for wedding consultations for about 30 international couples. Specifically for Indian couples, we organized weddings for 5 couples in the first quarter,” said Dhinesh Rajarathinam, CEO of Dated Luxury Weddings, the organizing unit for the two weddings in Da Nang.

According to Dhinesh Rajarathinam, by understanding the destination choices of couples, the company expects to organize about 20 international weddings this year, including 6-8 Indian couples.

The occurrence of 3 large Indian weddings and dozens of destination weddings within the first 2 months of 2024 is a positive sign for Da Nang.

Identifying wedding tourism as a new product, the Department of Tourism will concentrate resources to organize a series of activities to promote and advertise to this segment with the expectation of becoming a popular wedding tourism destination in the Asian region.

@Znews

Digital Currency Group Files for Dismissal of New York Attorney General’s Lawsuit

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The crypto firm’s boss, Barry Silbert, also filed a motion to dismiss the Attorney General’s accusation that he concealed losses at the firms and so cheated customers and investors.

Digital Currency Group (DCG), the owner of bankrupt cryptocurrency lending operation Genesis Global Capital, has filed a motion to dismiss New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit against the firms.

DCG founder and CEO Barry Silbert also filed a motion on Wednesday to dismiss the Attorney General’s accusation that he concealed losses at the firms and therefore cheated customers and investors.

The New York lawsuit, filed in October of last year and subsequently expanded last month, alleges investors tied to the now-defunct Gemini Earn product and those with direct investments with DCG unit Genesis had been defrauded out of $3 billion, due to DCG and others hiding losses incurred during the collapse of crypto firms such as Three Arrows Capital (3AC) and FTX.

The crypto industry’s tangled mass of high-yield lending programs has mostly vanished, with the biggest and ugliest probably the partnership of Genesis and crypto exchange Gemini – owned by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss – which has itself given rise to an acrimonious legal battle.

“Today, DCG and Barry Silbert filed motions to dismiss the meritless civil complaint filed by the New York Attorney General against Gemini, Genesis, and DCG. As we have stated from the beginning, the allegations are a thin web of baseless innuendo, blatant mischaracterizations, and unsupported conclusory statements,” DCG said in a statement.

The NYAG lawsuit alleges the companies knew loans between them were under-secured and highly concentrated with FTX’s sister company, Alameda Research, and that DCG and Silbert concealed a gaping hole in the finances by way of a promissory note between the parent company and Genesis.

DCG’s dismissal filing points to misinformation and speculation in the market, which held that following the collapse of 3AC in 2022, DCG took money out of Genesis. The opposite was true, DCG claims: In addition to the promissory note, which DCG says is a fully vetted, fully binding document the firm is committed to, some $1.4 billion of cash and other assets, at today’s prices, were contributed to Genesis after 3AC went down, according to Wednesday’s filing.

“DCG transferred hundreds of millions of dollars and assets into Genesis at a time it had no obligation to do so,” a DCG spokeswoman said via email. “In fact, at today’s prices, this equates to ~$1.4 billion in cash and coins. This is in addition to the $1.1 billion promissory note that continues to be misunderstood. Together, DCG’s contributions equate to ~30% of the current value of the Genesis estate.”

DCG also contests allegations that the firm took an 18,000 bitcoin loan from Genesis after 3AC collapsed in June of 2022. This in fact was an administrative repapering to consolidate prior loan agreements, DCG claims, and no new money left Genesis for DCG.

“The allegations are inaccurate throughout the complaint and they are often outright false,” the DCG spokeswoman said.

Adding a further layer of complication, Genesis last month proposed a settlement deal with the New York attorney general’s office, which parent company DCG later objected to, calling the proposal “a back-door attempt to circumvent U.S. bankruptcy law.”

Bitcoin Rally May Slow as Order-Book Imbalance Hints at Profit Taking

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The gap between liquidity on the ask and bid sides of the order book within 2% of the market price has widened to nearly five times is usual value, according to data tracked by Kaiko.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) price rally may face temporary resistance as the climb to a record high seems to have spurred profit-taking among holders of the largest cryptocurrency by market cap.

That’s the message from the imbalance between potential sellers and buyers in bitcoin’s aggregated order book across 33 centralized exchanges. The gap between the total dollar value of orders to sell bitcoin, the so-called ask side, and orders to buy, the bid side, within 2% of the market price has widened to nearly $100 million, according to Paris-based Kaiko. That’s about five times its usual value.

Moreover, there has been relatively more liquidity on the ask side, representing potential supply to the market, since late January, a sign investors have been looking to sell on the rise. Bitcoin has surged almost 60% since the start of the year.

“The current mismatch is notable because the 2% BTC ask depth has surpassed the bid depth for the longest period since early 2021 (when our data starts). It typically suggests building of limit orders on the sell side of the order book and could mean that traders are taking profit as BTC nears its all-time high,” Dessislava Aubert, a research analyst at Kaiko, said in an email.

Bitcoin tapped fresh record highs above $69,000 on Tuesday before sliding back and then rebounding. It was recently changing hands at $66,700, little changed on a 24-hour basis. The CoinDesk 20 Index, a broader market gauge, was down 1.5% at 2,553.

Market makers could be partly responsible for the imbalance in order book numbers, Aubert said. Market makers agree to provide liquidity to the order book and are always on the opposite side of investors’ trades. They are constantly hedging their exposure to maintain a direction-neutral portfolio.

“We also observe a strong increase in demand and net buying on most exchanges over the past days, so it [the imbalance] could be related to market makers positioning,” Aubert said.

The chart below shows the cumulative volume delta (CVD) on major spot exchanges since Feb. 25. A positive and rising CVD indicates a net buying pressure, while a negative CVD suggests the opposite. CVD on Binance, the largest crypto exchange by volume traded, has grown by nearly $1 billion since that date. Other exchanges have also contributed to the net buying pressure in the market.

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