People are urged to evacuate quickly as a tsunami up to 5 meters high is expected to hit Japan’s northern coast.
At 4:10 p.m. (local time), western Japan suffered a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, with the epicenter believed to be northeast of Anamizu in Ishikawa district, Chubu region of Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami warning along coastal areas of western Japan.
The Noto Peninsula area even raised the warning level to the highest of three warning levels, equivalent to the warning issued after the March 2011 earthquake in the Tohoku region.
In a televised speech, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called on people living in areas with tsunami warnings to evacuate to higher areas to ensure safety.
People evacuate after an earthquake in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture, January 1, 2024.
Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK shows part of the scene of the quake as security cameras shook violently as waves crashed onto the coast at the time of the quake in Ishikawa prefecture.
According to USGS, this strong earthquake also led to a series of strong aftershocks. Accordingly, there was a strong aftershock of 6.2 magnitude at a depth of 10 km that occurred at 4:18 p.m., about 4 km southwest of Anamizu. About 58 km away, tremors with a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale were also recorded. Furthermore, another aftershock measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale was also reported at a location close to the first earthquake.
Currently, there is no specific number of casualties after the earthquake occurred. According to Kansai Electric, no abnormalities have been reported at nuclear plants in this area.
Footage from Japanese broadcaster NHK shows part of the scene of the quake as security cameras shook violently as waves crashed onto the coast at the time of the quake in Ishikawa prefecture.
According to USGS, this strong earthquake also led to a series of strong aftershocks. Accordingly, there was a strong aftershock of 6.2 magnitude at a depth of 10 km that occurred at 4:18 p.m., about 4 km southwest of Anamizu. About 58 km away, tremors with a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale were also recorded. Furthermore, another aftershock measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale was also reported at a location close to the first earthquake.
Currently, there is no specific number of casualties after the earthquake occurred. According to Kansai Electric, no abnormalities have been reported at nuclear plants in this area.
This year’s Christmas season has shown that tourism in Europe has recovered, with European tourists starting to visit Asia again. According to French newspaper Le Figaro, travel outside France has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with destinations in Asia being the most popular. Despite rising costs, particularly in airfare, the French are still keen to travel to faraway locations.
Travel agents have reported a 33% increase in long-haul air tickets this Christmas. The number of French visitors to Thailand has reached 70% of pre-pandemic levels, while to Vietnam, it has recovered 50%. Vietnam is expected to be a popular destination for French tourists in the coming year, as 2024 marks 70 years since the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, a historical event that is still taught in French schools.
Ouest-France newspaper has an article about high school students preparing for a visit to Dien Bien Phu. A French high school has already bought tickets for a history teacher to take 29 students to Vietnam at the end of April to study history at the site where French soldiers surrendered to the Viet Minh. For many French people, Dien Bien Phu is a significant part of their history and is worth a visit.
Vietnam is also becoming a popular destination for sports enthusiasts. Last week, the German newspaper Rhein-Zeitung featured an article about a German couple who had just returned from Vietnam. The 55-year-old wife fondly recounted her run to see the city at night, starting at 1:30 a.m. in the old town near Hoan Kiem Lake, passing the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, before crossing the 5.8 km bridge across the Red River, then crossing the Red River again, following the Long Bien railway bridge.
After several years of preferring domestic or nearby vacations, European tourists are now returning to South America and Asia. When European newspapers write about Asian travel, Vietnam is often mentioned. The French newspaper Maxi devoted two pages to Ha Long Bay, Vietnam’s most famous landscape.
Microsoft Outlook is a powerful email client that is trusted globally by businesses and individuals. Even though it is loaded with powerful security features, it is prone to errors. The ‘Permission Denied’ error is one of the issues that pops up while sending an email from the shared mailbox. Arising mainly because of the insufficient permissions issue, this error not only hinders smooth email communication but also hampers productivity.
In this guide, we will explore possible reasons behind the “You do not have permission to send the message” error. This guide will also shed light on the different methods available to fix this error. Besides this, we will also discuss how to rebuild the OST file as well as how to extract mailbox items from an orphaned or inconsistent OST file to a new profile or PST file.
Reasons for “Permission Denied Error” when Sending Emails in Outlook:
In this section, we will unearth probable causes behind permission-denial errors while shooting emails in Outlook. Some of them are listed below:
Permission Issues: Sometimes inadequate permissions are the main reason behind this error message. When the user tries to send an email, instead, he is greeted by an error message reading, “You don’t have permission to send messages from this mailbox.” It means that the user lacks ‘Send As’ or ‘Send on’ Behalf permissions. Even if the user enjoys ‘Full Access’ permission on a shared mailbox, it doesn’t mean he also has the permission to send messages; he has only read and manage rights.
Permission Delay: Previously the user was granted ‘Full Access’ permission but lacked ‘Send As’ or ‘Send on’ permissions so he was receiving the error message. Now, he is granted all permissions, but still, the error message keeps disturbing him. This is a permission delay issue, and it happens because the permissions take at least 60 minutes for implementation.
Policy Restrictions: There is a policy in some organizations to restrict certain Outlook actions. Sometimes sending emails from the shared mailboxes are also restricted.
Antivirus or Firewall Interference: Antivirus or firewalls installed in the system or network, sometimes hinders with the operational functionality of the Outlook. Sometimes, it also hampers Outlook’s ability to send emails by flagging outgoing messages as threats.
Other Issues: Some other issues, like issues with the mail server or wrong email settings, can also cause this error. A corrupt Outlook profile or damaged Outlook data file (OST) may also lead to this error message.
Resolving ‘Permission Denied’ Error in Outlook:
After understanding possible causes of ‘Permission Denied’ error while attempting to send email from the shared mailbox, let’s move on to discuss possible remedies available to fix this issue. The step-by-step guide to fix this issue is listed below:
Fix 1: Check ‘Send on behalf’ and ‘Send as’ Permission Status:
As stated in the previous section, if a user doesn’t enjoy ‘Send on behalf’ and ‘Send as’ rights, he or she won’t be able to send email messages from the shared mailbox. Reach out to the administrator to check whether you have the required permissions. If you don’t have permission, ask the administrator to assign it. The steps to assign “Send As” permissions are listed below:
Log in to the EAC (Exchange Admin Center) and go to ‘Recipients’
Choose the Mailboxes or Shared tab to look for the mailbox for which you require access to rights
Select the Shared Mailbox or User Mailbox and click Edit
Click “Mailbox delegation” and then press the “(+)” icon
Look for the user who needs permission, and then proceed on to select the user
Select ‘Send As’ in the permission type option and press the Save button to apply the changes
Follow the same process to add ‘Send on Behalf’ permissions
Fix 2: Verify Outlook Web App (OWA) Permissions:
In some cases, Outlook users were unable to shoot an email message receive permission-denied errors even after having correct permissions. In this case, we need to check if the server is available/online by logging into Outlook on the Web (OWA). Follow the steps below:
Login to Outlook on the Web (OWA) to verify if the server is online
If OWA is unavailable, it means that the server is down for maintenance or a regular restart
Wait some time for the server to come back online before trying to send emails again
Fix 3: Verify Outlook Data File Permissions:
Another factor that can cause permission denied error is missing read/write data file permissions. In order to troubleshoot this issue, we need to check and verify the status of the Outlook data (OST) file permissions. Follow the below steps to check and authorize the permissions:
Exit the Microsoft Outlook app
Press the Windows key + R
In the Run dialogue box type “%localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook
This action will open the File Explorer window, featuring the visible OST file
Hover the cursor on the OST file and choose Properties
Make sure that the Read-only checkbox is unchecked
Explore the ‘Advanced’ tab and make sure that the “Encrypt content to secure data” is unchecked
Click Apply > OK
Fix 4: Rebuild Offline Outlook Data File (.ost):
If the above-mentioned methods are unable to fix the issue, then the next method is to rebuild the OST file. Follow the below steps for the same:
Exit Outlook and launch the Run App by pressing Windows key + R.
Type %localappdata%/Microsoft/Outlook in the Run dialogue box and press Enter key or click OK.
Rename the original OST file. Add the a.bak extension to the end of the file name to create a backup.
As an alternate solution, you can also cut and paste the OST file into a different folder or drive for backup purposes.
Launch the Outlook app again.
Since the original OST file has already been moved and renamed, Outlook will create a new OST file automatically and sync (download) all mail items from the mailbox server.
Once the sync process is over, you can try to send a new email and check if the issue is resolved.
Now, it is the time to check and validate all mailbox items in the new OST file/Outlook profile. In case you come to know that some mail items are missing or lost in the OST file rebuilding process, you can use an expert-recommended tools that can scans and convert OST to PST in few easy clicks. Later you can import converted PST file into Outlook via the Outlook Import/Export wizard.
Conclusion:
Many users frequent ‘Permission Denied’ error in Outlook. It occurs when the user sends a new email message from a shared mailbox. Main reasons of this issue include insufficient permissions or delayed permissions. Firewall or antivirus restrictions as well as mail server error or wrong email settings can also result in this error message.
The above post also brings forth some methods to troubleshoot this error ranging from ‘Send on behalf’ and ‘Send as’ permissions and verifying Outlook data file permissions and updating Outlook client. When none of the methods works, go for rebuilding the Outlook data file (OST). There is a possibility that some mailbox items go missing during the troubleshooting process. To restore those missing items, you can use Stellar Converter for OST, which converts OST file into PST format with free preview. Loaded with advanced filter option, it saves the mailbox data in various formats like EML, MSG, RTF, HTML, and PDF.
A recent survey indicates that YouTube is the top social media platform for Gen Z when compared to any other platform.
The survey was conducted in collaboration between Business Insider and YouGov, involving over 1,800 Americans from 5 generations. More than 600 respondents belonged to Gen Z, defined as those born from 1997 to 2012, though Business Insider surveyed only those above 18 years old.
Gen Z trusts Google’s online video platform the most
One question posed to these mature Gen Z individuals concerned their perception of the trustworthiness of certain social media companies. Among them, YouTube led the way, with 59% of Gen Z individuals aged 18 to 26 considering YouTube somewhat or very trustworthy. Only 28% found it somewhat or very untrustworthy.
In second place was Instagram, with 40% of Gen Z members finding it trustworthy, while 45% considered it untrustworthy. 15% of those surveyed indicated they hadn’t decided.
The question arises: which platform has the highest percentage of individuals saying it is untrustworthy? That platform is Facebook, with 60% of mature Gen Z calling it untrustworthy or very untrustworthy. Only 28% of Gen Z found this platform trustworthy.
Following closely behind is TikTok, with 57% of Gen Z considering it untrustworthy. This platform performs slightly better in trustworthiness ratings compared to Facebook, with 30% of Gen Z stating that TikTok is somewhat or very trustworthy.
It’s not difficult to imagine why some platforms on the list rank lower in trustworthiness compared to YouTube. Facebook has been a source of controversy, and many Gen Z individuals have refrained from using it. Meanwhile, X (formerly known as Twitter) has become increasingly contentious since billionaire Elon Musk acquired the service in 2022.
As for TikTok, one of the most frequently used platforms by Gen Z, it has faced close scrutiny as lawmakers express concerns about security issues related to its parent company, ByteDance, based in China.
Cities by the sea such as Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, etc., are favored by tourists during the 2024 New Year holiday. In the northern region, places like Sa Pa (Lao Cai), Ha Giang, and the Ha Long Bay cruises are attracting visitors.
According to information from many travel agencies, in the northern region, Ha Long Bay cruise products are popular. Statistics from the Mustgo booking platform, with 2,000 nationwide hotel partners, indicate that Ha Long Bay cruises are almost fully booked, primarily by international guests.
Mr. Bui Thanh Tu, Marketing Director of Best Price, stated that their company recorded over 1,000 bookings for Ha Long Bay cruises, accommodating a total of 3,000 guests.
According to Mr. Tu, northern mountainous provinces like Sa Pa (Lao Cai), Ha Giang, Moc Chau (Son La) also have good booking rates.
5-star hotels in Sa Pa have reached 70%-80% room capacity, selling out all budget rooms. The 3-4 star segment is almost fully booked. According to the Ha Giang Tourism Association, although complete statistics are not available, many establishments have reported crowded conditions, with many rooms booked from December 30 to January 1, 2024.
Tourists experience catamaran sailing on Cua Dai beach (Photo: Thach Thao)
According to VIVU Journeys’ statistics, coastal cities like Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet are also popular among tourists during this holiday, especially hotels and resorts located near the beach.
Mustgo data shows that room capacity in Da Nang ranges from 40-60% (higher for beachfront hotels) and in Hoi An from 85-90%. In Nha Trang, international 5-star hotels have reached 90% capacity, while Vietnamese 5-star hotels are around 30%. Room capacity in Phan Thiet is between 45-60%.
Mustgo representatives note that the 5-star segment in Phu Quoc has an average occupancy rate of over 80%, and the 3-4 star segment is almost fully booked. However, Vietnamese guests account for only 20% of total bookings in Phu Quoc during this period. Mr. Bui Thanh Tu, Marketing Director of Best Price, also acknowledges that Phu Quoc is preferred by international guests during the 2024 Western New Year holiday.
VIVU Journeys predicts that the spending level of Vietnamese tourists during this holiday may decrease by about 40% compared to last year due to economic influences.
Vietnam is set to experience dry weather and mild temperatures during the upcoming New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, creating favorable conditions for outdoor festivities.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has reported that northern Vietnam will witness gentle daytime sunshine accompanied by fog in the night and early morning over the next few days. Unfortunately, elevated levels of air pollution are anticipated due to a substantial concentration of dust in the air.
According to the U.S. site AccuWeather, Hanoi is expected to have temperatures ranging from 18-27 degrees Celsius on Sunday, with a slight dip to 16-25 degrees on the following day, marking the start of the new year. In high-altitude locations like Sa Pa, temperatures are predicted to hover between 10-18 degrees.
The central region will experience varying mercury levels, with temperatures forecasted at 18-25 degrees in Hue and Quang Binh during the transition from 2023 to 2024. Da Nang is expected to have temperatures between 19-22 degrees, while Phan Thiet and Quy Nhon are anticipated to experience higher temperatures ranging from 28-31 degrees. Quang Binh and Quang Ngai can expect rain during the nighttime and early morning hours.
Vietnam’s Saigon by night
Moving southward, the southern region is projected to have daytime temperatures ranging from 30-33 degrees, while the Central Highlands will experience temperatures of 27-30 degrees.
The temperature records set in the past year, noting that Vietnam recorded its hottest day on May 7, reaching 44.2 degrees in Nghe An Province in north-central Vietnam. The preceding day, May 6, ranked as the second-hottest, with a measurement of 44.1 degrees in neighboring Thanh Hoa Province. The severe heat waves in the initial five months of the year led to the drying up of rivers in northern Vietnam, compelling major hydropower plants to reduce operations, resulting in power shortages.
During the 2024 New Year holiday break, which spans three days, there are an estimated 434 international and domestic flights scheduled to arrive in Da Nang. The number of visitors to the coastal city during this period has also increased compared to 2023.
On December 29, the Da Nang Department of Tourism provided information regarding the implementation of tourism activities in the area during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season in 2024.
According to the department, during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period in 2024 (December 23, 2023, to January 1, 2024), the total number of tourists visiting Da Nang is expected to reach approximately 261,000, a 34.7% increase compared to the same period in 2023 (194,000 visitors in 2023). Among these, approximately 123,000 are domestic tourists, and 138,000 are international tourists.
Domestic visitors primarily come from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and nearby central provinces such as Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue, and Quang Ngai. International visitors mainly include tourists from South Korea, Taiwan (China), Japan, and India.
Da Nang is a favorite destination for international tourists
Luxury accommodations rated 4-5 stars are expected to reach 60% occupancy (a 15-20% increase compared to the same period last year), with the highest room capacity concentrated on the two days of the New Year holiday. Tourists mainly stay in hotels and beach resorts.
The total number of international and domestic flights arriving in Da Nang from December 23, 2023, to January 1, 2024, is estimated at 1,062 flights (an 11% increase compared to the same period last year), including 559 domestic flights and 503 international flights. Specifically, during the three days of the 2024 New Year holiday break, there are expected to be 434 international and domestic flights arriving in Da Nang.
The Da Nang Department of Tourism noted that the city is organizing various activities and events to serve both residents and tourists. These include installing three check-in models around the Dragon Bridge area, where many festival activities take place, to meet the entertainment needs of residents and promote Da Nang as a destination.
Events include the art program Countdown – Welcoming the New Year 2024; the grand music festival “Da Nang Harmonizes to Welcome the New Year 2024”; the art performance program “Welcoming the New Year” in 2024; street music; exploring Da Nang at night at Son Tra Night Market, Helio, and experiencing the Han River cruise.
Tourist attractions and accommodations also organize many activities to attract visitors during this period. For example, the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum hosts the “Joyful Christmas – Welcoming the New Year 2024” experience program; Asia Park organizes a water puppetry art program for New Year’s 2024 (from December 31, 2023, to January 3, 2024) with two performances per day; Sun World Ba Na Hills organizes landscape decoration, art performances with foreign artists welcoming the New Year 2024, and fireworks at Little Ba Na Restaurant – 36 Bach Dang; the Nui Than Tai hot spring park organizes the decoration of various check-in points.
At the same time, many tourist accommodations have policies of room discounts ranging from 20-50% or offer special packages for tourists.
In 2023, the tourism industry welcomed 12.6 million international visitors, a 3.4-fold increase compared to 2022, surpassing the 2023 target of 8 million international visitors but still only reaching 70% of pre-Covid-19 levels.
According to data from the General Statistics Office, in December, the number of international visitors to Vietnam reached nearly 1.4 million people, an 11.2% increase compared to the previous month and a 93.9% increase compared to the same period last year.
The international visitor numbers steadily increased throughout the months, indicating a trend of recovery in international tourism. Notably, in the last six months of the year, each month saw over 1 million visitors to Vietnam, with December registering the highest international visitor count in 2023.
Overall for the year, international visitors to the country reached 12.6 million, a 3.4-fold increase from 2022, surpassing the 2023 target of 8 million international visitors and achieving the adjusted target range of 12.5-13 million visitors.
Leading the market of visitors to Vietnam is still South Korea with approximately 3.6 million visitors (28% of the total), followed by the Chinese market with over 1.74 million visitors. The combined share of South Korea and China accounts for 42% of the total international visitors to Vietnam.
International visitors visit and shop at Ben Thanh market (HCMC)
Taiwan (China) is third with 851 thousand visitors, the United States fourth with over 717 thousand, and Japan fifth with over 590 thousand.
Following are Southeast Asian markets: Thailand with 489 thousand visitors, ranking sixth; Malaysia with 470 thousand, seventh; Cambodia with 402 thousand, eighth. India ranks ninth with 392 thousand, and Australia is tenth with 390 thousand visitors.
European markets showed good growth, especially due to the positive contributions of markets on the list enjoying unilateral visa exemption policies with temporary residence up to 45 days, effective from August 15.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, some markets experienced significant increases in visitor numbers, such as the UK with 48.6%, France approximately 52%, Germany 48.6%, Spain 90%, Italy 68%, compared to the same period in 2022.
Compared to 2019, Russia and the UK are no longer in the top 10 markets for Vietnam; instead, Cambodia and India have seen breakthrough growth in the past year.
However, the number of international visitors to Vietnam in 2023 only reached 70% compared to 2019. Considering continents, the markets from Australia and the Americas showed the best recovery (99% and 93%); Europe (67%) and Africa (63%) are recovering more slowly. Asia reached 68%.
The Tourism Information Center (National Tourism Administration) evaluates that some major markets also have very good recovery rates: the United States (96%), South Korea (84%), Taiwan (92%), Thailand (96%); Indonesia (99%). Particularly, some Southeast Asian markets have even exceeded pre-pandemic levels: Cambodia (176%); Laos (122%); Singapore (106%). In South Asia, the Indian market also has an impressive recovery rate (231%).
However, the traditional Chinese market only achieved a recovery rate of 30%. Before the pandemic, the Chinese market accounted for nearly 1/3 of the total international visitors to Vietnam. The Russian market achieved a 19% recovery rate compared to 2019. Another important market for Vietnam in Asia, Japan, only reached 62%.
Mr. Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration of Vietnam, stated that in 2024, the agency aims to welcome 18 million international visitors, fully recovering to pre-Covid-19 levels (2019).
Statistics from the General Statistics Office also show that the number of Vietnamese people traveling abroad in December 2023 was 352.1 thousand, a 23.2% increase compared to the same period last year. In 2023, the total number of Vietnamese people traveling abroad reached 5 million, twice as much as in 2022.
According to the Vietnam Tourism Association, the largest number of Vietnamese tourists went to Thailand, with over 1 million people. Next is over 536,800 visitors to Japan, exceeding 2019 and the highest ever. The number of visitors to South Korea is 420,000, leading ASEAN and ranking fifth in Asia. Fourth is the market of Taiwan (China) with 350,000 people.
In December, Vietnam sees record number of international arrivals, with nearly 1.4 million tourists, marking the highest monthly figure for the year, as reported by the General Statistics Office (GSO) in their December 29 release. This reflects an 11.2% month-on-month increase and an impressive annual surge of 93.9%, according to the GSO.
For the entire year, Vietnam welcomed a total of 12.6 million foreign arrivals, a remarkable 3.4 times higher than the corresponding period last year. This figure is equivalent to 70% of the pre-COVID-19 2019 numbers, significantly surpassing the initial target of eight million set by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism earlier in the year.
Breaking down the yearly figures, approximately 11 million visitors arrived by air, constituting 87% of the total, while 1.5 million traveled by road, making up the remaining 12%. Accommodation and catering services generated an estimated revenue of VND673 trillion, showcasing a notable 14.7% year-on-year increase.
Simultaneously, vibrant cultural and tourism activities held across various regions contributed to travel businesses earning around VND37.8 trillion, reflecting a substantial 52.5% increase compared to the previous year.
Asia maintained its status as Vietnam’s primary tourist market, accounting for 9.78 million arrivals. The Republic of Korea led the pack with approximately 3.6 million visitors, followed by China with 1.74 million, and India with 392,141.
According to CNN, the Kiss Bridge is an ideal place for couples to share romantic moments under the sunset in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
Proposal in Phu Quoc. Photo: Hao An.
CNN Travel recently published an article about the Kiss Bridge titled “Vietnam’s new bridge is for kissing, not for crossing.” According to the news, a new selfie hotspot called the Kiss Bridge, where couples can share romantic moments under the Vietnamese sunset, was officially inaugurated on December 22. The project is a collaboration between Italian architect Marco Casamonti and the Sun Group travel conglomerate.
The design of the Kiss Bridge is inspired by the painting “The Creation of Adam” by Italian artist Michelangelo and the love story of Nguu Lang and Chuc Nu, with the bridge resembling a ribbon over the ocean, consisting of two branches reaching toward each other, creating a unified yet non-touching structure.
The bridge is over 800 meters long, with a distinctive 30 cm gap between its two branches, to be filled by the sunset every evening. This gap is just enough for two people to touch each other, exchange a kiss, but not cross the boundary. The special design of the Kiss Bridge carries a timeless message about love and connection between humans, nature, and the universe.
According to the Sun Group, the distance between the bridge branches has been precisely calculated so that on January 1 each year, the vibrant red sunset will fall exactly in the middle, becoming a connecting red mark between the two ends of the bridge.
Phu Quoc pearl island is an ideal place for couples to enjoy their honeymoon. Photo: Lan Anh.
The Vietnamese name of the Kiss Bridge also means “propose”, suitable for expressing the special emotions of couples. The bridge is located on Phu Quoc Island, in the Kien Giang province, Southern Vietnam.
Known as the “pearl island,” Phu Quoc is a highly favored international resort destination in Vietnam, ideal for honeymooners. The Sun Group has developed several similar projects, including the “Golden Bridge,” a 150m-long bridge in Da Nang, situated over 1,400 meters above sea level.
Phu Quoc has invested significantly in tourism infrastructure, featuring luxury hotel brands such as Regent, InterContinental, and JW Marriott. From December 22 to December 30, visitors can explore the Kiss Bridge for free.
In 2023, Vietnam’s economy expanded by 5.05%, falling short of the government’s target growth rate of 6.5%.
This underperformance was attributed to a slowdown in overseas demand, impacting the Southeast Asian export hub. In contrast, the 2022 annual Gross Domestic Product showcased a rapid 8.02% expansion, marking its fastest growth in 25 years, driven by a rebound in exports and domestic retail sales post the lifting of pandemic lockdown measures.
While Vietnam has been known for its robust economic growth, this year witnessed a deceleration due to weakened global demand. The International Monetary Fund projected a 4.7% GDP growth for 2023. The latest expansion also lagged behind the average annual growth of 5.87% observed over the previous decade, according to data released by the General Statistics Office.
Annual exports for Vietnam dropped by 4.4% to $355.5 billion, with key commodities like coffee experiencing a 9.6% decline in shipments. Additionally, smartphone exports, a significant source of foreign currency, saw an 8.3% decrease. On a positive note, retail sales increased by 9.6%, and foreign tourist arrivals surged to 12.6 million, though still below the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 18 million.
The industrial production index for 2023 registered a 1.5% increase compared to the previous year. Despite falling short of the 6.5% government target, the statistics agency described this year’s growth as a positive outcome, positioning Vietnam among the fastest-growing economies globally.
In the fourth quarter, Vietnam’s economy rebounded with a 6.72% growth, following expansions of 5.47% and 4.25% in the third and second quarters, respectively. However, economic activity faced challenges, including a government crackdown on corruption, causing bureaucratic caution and impacting permit issuance. Moreover, the country grappled with reduced factory orders, mass layoffs, power blackouts, and a sluggish stock market.
Analysts acknowledged the upbeat tone in light of uncertainties but highlighted challenges such as declining export orders, ongoing difficulties in the corporate bond and real estate markets, and the potential rise of bad debts affecting the banking sector. Despite the adverse factors, some analysts noted that Vietnam’s economy maintained a satisfactory growth rate compared to regional and global benchmarks. Hanoi-based economist Le Dang Doanh characterized 2023 as a “very tough year for Vietnam,” citing increased bankruptcies, widespread job losses, and diminished buying power in middle and lower-income groups.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sold carbon credits obtained from forests in the North Central region to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the World Bank. This was part of an agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions.
As part of the agreement, 10.3 million tons of CO2 were transferred to the World Bank and sold for 51.5 million USD. The Ministry received an initial payment of 41.2 million USD in August, which is 80% of the emission reduction results according to the agreement. The remaining payment of 10.3 million USD will be paid after completing the transfer of 10.3 million tons of CO2.
The Ministry plans to use the funds to pay forest owners, local People’s Committees, and organizations assigned to manage natural forests. In addition, part of the money will be spent on activities related to development and reducing deforestation, forest degradation, increasing income, and improving livelihoods for people working in this field.
The Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund will be responsible for receiving, managing, and using funds from the agreement and coordinating with the Forest Protection and Development Fund of six provinces in the North Central region.
The World Bank confirmed that the emission reduction results of the entire North Central region in the first period (January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2019) reached 16.21 million tons of CO2 (equivalent to 16.21 million credits). Forest carbon credits are generated from project activities that reduce greenhouse emissions such as reducing deforestation, forest degradation, enhancing afforestation, reforestation, vegetation regeneration, and forest management enhancement activities.
Forest owners can convert the forest area under management and protection into the amount of CO2 absorbed, into carbon credits, which can be sold in the carbon market through the greenhouse gas emission reduction mechanism. With the sale of carbon credits, the Ministry can provide incentives for forest owners to manage and protect the forests more effectively while promoting sustainable development of the region.
Recently, BitMake cryptocurrency exchange launched a Vietnamese version and announced a US$10 million protection fund on its official website, officially entering the Vietnamese market. BitMake was formerly an enterprise service provider, providing cloud trading systems for many exchanges around the world. It has been operating stably for more than three years, and will transform to serve individual trading users in July 2022. BitMake currently has more than 1 million registered users and is the only trading platform in the industry that has not been discontinued for more than three consecutive years. Its innovative functions such as unified trading account (UTA) and simple contracts have won unanimous praise from many professional users.
The core team of BitMake mainly comes from international financial institutions and well-known Internet technology companies. They have been working in digital currency exchanges for many years and are committed to building a top international comprehensive cryptocurrency trading platform. Currently, the BitMake trading platform provides professional services such as perpetual contract trading, simple contracts, spot trading, and lending. Its users cover more than 30 countries and regions around the world, and it has established global offices in Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Turkey.
Floyd, CEO and co-founder of BitMake, said: “Vietnam is a country with a large population and a growing economy, and has huge market potential. BitMake Exchange hopes to take root in such an emerging market and provide services to professional trading users in the Vietnamese market with continuous innovation capabilities and a safe and stable trading system. ”
BitMake is the first exchange to launch a unified trading account (UTA) after OKX, and it is also the only exchange among the current Tier 2 exchanges to have a unified trading account function. Users can use a unified account to conduct combinedcurrency margin mode transactions. Not only can they trade across currencies, they can also trade spot, perpetual contracts, and simple contracts at the same time, which greatly improves the utilization rate of funds and the convenience of transactions.
BitMake Asset and Information Security Protection System
Bitmake recently announced the establishment of a US$10 million user risk protection fund and has announced its wallet address for the fund on its official website. The risk protection fund is a separate fund pool set up in addition to the platform’sProof of Reserve Funds (PoR). It is mainly used to provide additional financial protection to platform users when unexpected situations such as network security occur. Bitmake’s asset and information security protection system also includes multiple protective measures for distributed asset management and AI intelligent risk control systems, and cooperates with the world’s top security vendors to comprehensively build a moat for user asset and information security.
BitMake System Stability: Three consecutive years without stopping service
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After a period of operation, the Nha Trang Port (Khanh Hoa province) has deteriorated and needs to be closed for approximately 6 months for repairs.
On December 28, the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa province announced that there is a temporary cessation of activities at Nha Trang Port for repair due to its deterioration.
The Nha Trang Port project, designed and constructed by Vietnam, is capable of accommodating cargo ships with a load capacity of up to 10,000 DWT and a length of 172 meters. After several years of operation, the port has now degraded. Therefore, the Nha Trang Port Joint Stock Company has submitted a document to the provincial People’s Committee requesting a temporary suspension of port activities for repair, maintenance, and upgrade.
A corner of Nha Trang port after many years of operation. Photo: Xuan Ngoc.
Regarding this matter, the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa province has required the Nha Trang Port Joint Stock Company to develop a plan for repairing the port’s infrastructure and report it to the Vietnam Maritime Administration as required.
During the construction period (not exceeding 6 months), the port will not accept domestic passenger ships. Therefore, it is necessary to inform tourism units and relevant parties for coordination and compliance.
Nha Trang Port will still receive international tourist ships during the maintenance, repair, and upgrade period. However, the Nha Trang Maritime Administration must coordinate with the Nha Trang Port Joint Stock Company to develop a plan ensuring safety, security, and environmental hygiene in the port area for receiving and disembarking international tourists during this period.
The leadership of Lam Dong Province People’s Committee has issued an urgent document requesting a review and clearance for traffic through Prenn Pass before the celebration of the 130th anniversary of Da Lat’s formation and development and the New Year holiday.
Prenn Pass after expanding to 4 lanes. Photo: TTXVN.
The leadership of Lam Dong Province People’s Committee has recently issued an urgent document instructing the Department of Transport, the Provincial Traffic Project Management Board, the Da Lat City People’s Committee, and the National Tourism Management Board of Tuyen Lam Lake to review and clear the passage through Prenn Pass before the celebration of the 130th anniversary of Da Lat’s formation and development and the New Year holiday.
Previously, the Provincial Traffic Project Management Board of Lam Dong Province aimed to complete the entire project and open the passage before the Lunar New Year in 2024.
To alleviate traffic pressure on the Mimosa Pass road, ensuring the safe and smooth movement of residents and tourists during the celebration of the 130th anniversary of Da Lat’s formation and development and the New Year holiday, the provincial People’s Committee directed the Department of Transport to lead and coordinate with the Provincial Traffic Project Management Board to review and check technical requirements. If the traffic safety conditions are met, they should report and propose to the provincial People’s Committee before 10:00 am on December 28, 2023, to allow temporary opening of the Prenn Pass road.
The Da Lat City People’s Committee instructed the cleaning of road 3/4 to ensure urban aesthetics; temporary suspension of construction projects along road 3/4 and near the city center from December 29, 2023, to January 2, 2024.
The National Tourism Management Board of Tuyen Lam Lake implemented surveillance and cleaning of branch roads in the Tuyen Lam Lake tourist area; inspection, supplementation, and replacement of damaged road signs, milestones, and lights to ensure traffic safety for vehicles traveling on the route; completion before December 29, 2023.
Earlier, on December 14, 2023, the Vietnam News Agency reported that Lam Dong Province organized a road inspection from the beginning of Prenn Pass (road 3/4, Da Lat City) to Datania Waterfall. This is a section of the project to upgrade and expand Prenn Pass, connecting Da Lat City to the Prenn Highway to Lien Khuong Airport (Lien Nghia Town, Duc Trong District, Lam Dong), started in February 2023. The remaining section from Datania Waterfall to the foot of Prenn Pass is expected to be open in January 2024. Currently, vehicles from Da Lat City to Ho Chi Minh City still use the Mimosa Pass route.
According to Decision No. 1548/QD-UBND dated August 30, 2022, of Lam Dong Province People’s Committee, the Prenn Pass upgrade and expansion project has a total length of 7.4 km, with a scale of 4 lanes, a roadbed width of 15.5 m, and a road surface width of 14.5 m. Along the route, there is a designed low-level bridge at Km224+854, with 4 parking points and 2 scenic viewpoints. The total investment is VND 553 billion from the local budget, and the project is scheduled to be implemented in the 2022-2023 period.
This is an important project for the gateway road of Da Lat City, connecting to Lien Khuong International Airport. At the same time, it links with the Dau Giay – Lien Khuong Expressway, becoming a vital transportation route connecting Lam Dong Province with Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces.
