The People’s Committee of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, has proposed to operate food businesses on the sidewalks of Nguyen Hue Street. This initiative is scheduled to be implemented from December 15th to serve the local residents and tourists during the New Year’s Day in 2024.
A corner of Nguyen Hue walking street. Photo: TL
The People’s Committee of District 1 has recently sent a letter to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee outlining the plan for organizing and managing the side streets intersecting with Nguyen Hue Street and the proposal to allow food businesses on the sidewalks of Nguyen Hue Street, as reported by TTXVN.
Specifically, the District 1 People’s Committee has suggested that the city approve a pilot program allowing hotels, restaurants, and food establishments along Nguyen Hue Street to serve food and beverages on the sidewalk. This program is set to start on December 15th and aims to cater to the local residents and tourists during New Year’s Day in 2024.
In the plan for developing the nighttime economy in District 1, Nguyen Hue Street is envisioned as an artistic avenue, and there will be a fee for businesses operating on the sidewalks.
The section of Nguyen Hue Street from the intersection of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi to Ton Duc Thang has 28 hotels and food establishments currently in operation. In the plan for managing and utilizing the central area being developed by the city, Nguyen Hue Street is divided into different zones for various activities.
In this scheme, the area around the Ho Chi Minh Statue Park will host cultural and political activities that are in harmony with and situated behind the statue. The area between the Ho Chi Minh Statue Park and the adjacent Ton Duc Thang Street will be used for festivals, sports, and artistic performances. The area bordering Ton Duc Thang Street will be allocated for advertising, entertainment, and pedestrian connectivity between Nguyen Hue Street and Bach Dang Port Park to enhance the landscape and reduce traffic congestion.
Currently, the District 1 People’s Committee is proposing the management and pilot operation of six intersecting side streets with Nguyen Hue Street, including Nguyen Thiep, Mac Thi Buoi, Ngo Duc Ke, Hai Trieu, Huynh Thuc Khang, and Ton That Thiep. District 1 People’s Committee plans to pilot the operation of the middle lane for two-wheeled vehicles on Mac Thi Buoi, Ngo Duc Ke, and Hai Trieu streets on Saturdays, Sundays, and major event days from 6 PM to 11 PM. This pilot program is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2024, and continue until the establishment of the District 1 Park and Pedestrian Street Management Center.
According to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends Report, Da Nang leads the list of the top 10 destinations for Indian travelers with the most significant increase in search volume in recent years, rising by 1141%.
According to Skyscanner (a website for searching flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, etc.), Da Nang tops the search list for Indian tourists, followed by Krabi (Thailand) and Mahe (Seychelles).
Indian travelers show a strong interest in destinations with short distances, beaches to enjoy the sun, and relaxation. Additionally, the three major factors influencing the choice of vacation destinations for Indian tourists in 2024 are food (71%), weather (65%), and the cultural experience of the destination (65%). Among these, shopping (49%), exploring historical sites (45%), and trying local cuisine (38%) are the three most prominent cultural experiences.
Da Nang leads the top 10 destinations for Indian tourists with the strongest increase in total searches over the past years, up 1141%. Illustration photo.
Rounding out the top 5 destinations in the list are Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Osaka (Japan), and the capital city of Hanoi (Vietnam), which ranks 5th with a 396% increase.
Da Nang’s strengths lie in its beach tourism, abundant sunshine, and weather that aligns with Indian travelers’ preferences. Additionally, Da Nang boasts many renowned seafood restaurants with capacities ranging from 100 to 300 guests, as well as over 30 Indian restaurants serving Halal cuisine. Han Market and Con Market are the bustling shopping destinations favored by Indian tourists.
Skyscanner is a website that allows people to search for flights, hotel rooms, and car rentals. After nearly 20 years of development, Skyscanner has become a leading global flight, hotel, and car rental search application, available in over 30 languages and with 100 million users each month.
The expected revenue from ticket sales is approximately 48 billion Vietnamese Dong per year, which is used for management and contributed to the budget to support conservation, infrastructure development, and other related activities.
The People’s Committee of Ha Giang province has recently issued Decision No. 2131/QD-UBND approving the plan for collecting entrance fees for the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark. This is a step in the legal framework development process and will serve as the basis for the Provincial People’s Council to review and make decisions.
Dong Van Karst Plateau is a spectacular and unique combination of soaring peaks and deep canyons, with the highest peak being Meo Vac (1,971m) and the deepest canyon – Tu San, with cliff depths. up to more than 700m
According to the plan, Ha Giang will collect the fee once for overnight stays at accommodation service establishments in four districts: Đong Van, Yen Minh, Meo Vac, and Quan Ba. The fee does not include entrance fees at certain attractions within the Dong Van Karst Plateau, such as Lung Khuy cave (in Quan Ba district), Architectural and artistic relics of the King’s Dynasty, the historical site and scenic landmark Lung Cu flagpole (Dong Van district).
The fee for each adult staying overnight is 30,000 Vietnamese Dong per person per night, while children are charged 15,000 Vietnamese Dong. It is estimated that in 2024, the number of visitors to the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark may reach nearly 1.8 million, generating an estimated revenue of around 48 billion Vietnamese Dong. A portion of this revenue will be allocated to the fee collection management unit and accommodation service establishments in the four districts within the Dong Van Karst Plateau, while the remaining part will be contributed to the budget for conservation, reinvestment in infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of the tourist experience.
Tourism is said to have changed the appearance of 4 highland districts of the Dong Van Karst Plateau
Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark was established in September 2009 and officially recognized as a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in October 2010. It has successfully passed three reevaluation cycles as a member.
Dong Van Karst Plateau has a large and relatively complex terrain, located in 4 distrhttps://thanhnien.vn/ha-giang-chuan-bi-thu-phi-vao-cao-nguyen-da-dong-van-185231106081721384.htmicts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac with a total natural area of 2,356 km2. Currently, this place is putting into operation 4 experiential tourist routes with 59 heritage sites. According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ha Giang province, from 2015 to the end of 2022, about 65% of visitors to Ha Giang choose to visit the Stone Plateau area.
The new flight route is expected to boost the number of South Korean tourists visiting the highland city of Vietnam.
South Korean airline Jeju Air announced will launch a new route on the Seoul – Da Lat flight route starting from December 20 with a schedule of 7 flights per week.
With the introduction of this new Da Lat route, Jeju Air now operates 7 South Korea – Vietnam flight routes across a total of 6 cities, including Incheon (Seoul) – Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Busan – Da Nang.
Da Lat is a favorite destination for Korean tourists
The Seoul – Da Lat flight departs daily at 22:20 and arrives at Da Lat Airport at 01:30 (local time) the next day. Conversely, the flight departs from Da Lat at 02:30 on the same day and arrives at Seoul’s international airport at 09:30.
A representative from Jeju Air stated, “As the airline with the most South Korea – Vietnam flight routes among South Korean airlines, we can now offer more convenient and diverse options for travelers considering a trip to Vietnam.”
Jeju Air’s new flight from Seoul to Da Lat is set to enhance convenience and accessibility for travelers. With additional benefits such as reduced ticket prices and a plethora of tourist destinations, the South Korean media believes that Da Lat, Vietnam’s enchanting highland city, has now become more accessible and attractive than ever before.
Da Lat is located on the Central Highlands of Vietnam and is often referred to as the “Eternal Spring City” and the “City of a Thousand Flowers” due to its pleasant and mild climate year-round. A recent survey conducted by Skyscanner, a reputable global flight search platform, predicts that Da Lat will be the most sought-after travel destination in 2024.
South Korean tourists are leading the way in international arrivals to Vietnam. According to the National Tourism Administration, Vietnam has welcomed 2.9 million South Korean tourists in the past 10 months, surpassing China.
Vietnam’s unwavering commitment to eradicating drug-related offenses was underscored by a Vietnamese representative during the 30th Anti-Drug Liaison Officials’ Meeting for International Cooperation. The event, held in Busan, Korea from November 7 to 8, was attended by a delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, led by Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Vien, Director of the Narcotics Investigation Police Department, also known as C04.
Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Vien outlined Vietnam’s stance on the prevention and combat of drug crimes, emphasizing the country’s proactive and responsible approach in collaborating with other nations worldwide. Vietnam reaffirmed its adherence to key foundational documents in shaping global drug policy, including the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action on Drug Prevention and Control, the 2019 Ministerial Declaration on enhancing efforts against drug crimes, and the documents resulting from the special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the World Drug Problem.
C04 leaders further expressed Vietnam’s resolute commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, rejecting the trend of legalizing drug use and steadfastly pursuing the vision of establishing a drug-free region. Nevertheless, they acknowledged the importance of respecting each country’s sovereignty in selecting solutions that strike a balance between supply reduction, demand reduction, and socio-economic measures, taking into account historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural factors in the fight against drug crimes.
Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Vien emphasized the Vietnamese Government’s comprehensive and synchronized efforts across various departments, agencies, and sectors to curtail drug supply and demand while mitigating the harm caused by drugs, in alignment with its international obligations. Notably, Vietnam has set forth overarching policies with long-term objectives, including the National Drug Prevention and Control Program for 2021-2025 and the National Drug Prevention and Control Strategy with a vision for 2030. In 2021, the Vietnamese National Assembly passed the Law on Drug Prevention and Control to enhance legal regulations in this domain. The Prime Minister has directed ministries, agencies, and localities to bolster bilateral and multilateral cooperation while fostering close ties with regional countries.
The 30th Anti-Drug Liaison Officials’ Meeting for International Cooperation, organized by the Department of Drug Prevention and Control and Transnational Organized Crime under the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office of Korea, brought together over 200 delegates from 32 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and various international organizations. The conference centered on topics such as assessing the regional drug landscape, member countries’ progress in drug prevention and combat, the effective management of drug precursors, and the prevention of precursor loss for synthetic drug production, along with sharing information to combat transnational organized crime.
During the opening ceremony, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol highlighted the global significance of tackling drug abuse and the shared responsibility of nations in this endeavor. He stressed the need for active information exchange and collaboration among countries and partners to address the drug issue. South Korea pledged its commitment to resolving drug-related problems and supporting other countries in achieving a drug-free society.
In recent times, there has been a growing number of foreigners coming to Vietnam for tourism, sightseeing, and even long-term settlement. With its stunning natural landscapes and friendly people, Vietnam has become a second home for many foreigners. So, what conditions do foreigners need to meet to settle in Vietnam? Which cases are eligible for permanent residency in Vietnam? All your questions will be answered in this article.
According to Article 14 of the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended in 2019), a permanent residence card is a document issued by the Vietnamese immigration authorities to foreigners allowed to reside in Vietnam indefinitely and is valid in place of a visa.
Specifically, foreigners eligible for permanent residency in Vietnam include individuals with foreign nationality confirmation documents and those without nationality, who enter, transit, or reside in Vietnam, as stipulated in Article 1 of the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam (amended in 2019).
According to Article 39 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, there are four cases in which foreign citizens can be considered for permanent residency in Vietnam:
Vietnamese citizens must meet several requirements and regulations.
Similarly, according to Article 40 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, foreigners wishing to settle in Vietnam must meet the following conditions: According to point a, clause 2 of Circular 31/2015/TT-BCA, foreigners who have resided continuously in Vietnam for three years or more are determined based on immigration entry and exit stamps issued at border gates.
The total duration of temporary residence in Vietnam must be three years or more within the past four years, counting from the date of application for permanent residency.
Regarding where to submit applications for foreign residents, the following provisions apply:
For foreigners who have made significant contributions to the construction and defense of the Vietnamese homeland and have been awarded state medals or honorary titles by the Vietnamese state, or foreigners who are scientists, experts temporarily residing in Vietnam, they should submit their applications to the Immigration Management Department.
Foreigners who are children, parents, spouses, or not nationals and have continuously resided in Vietnam since 2000 or earlier should submit their applications to the Provincial or Central Cities’ Immigration Management Department where they wish to obtain a permanent residence card.
Processing Period for Permanent Residency Cards for Foreigners in Vietnam
Expats in Vietnam
Within four months from the date of receiving a complete application, the Minister of Public Security will review and make a decision on granting permanent residency to foreigners in Vietnam. In case supplementary verification is deemed necessary, the processing time may be extended by up to two months but not exceeding this period.
The immigration authorities are responsible for notifying the foreign applicant of the processing result in writing, as well as the Provincial or Central Cities’ Police Department where the foreigner has applied for permanent residency within five working days from the date of receiving the notification.
Within three months from the date of receiving the processing result notification for permanent residency, foreign residents must visit the Immigration Management Department or the Provincial or Central Cities’ Police Department where they have applied to receive the outcome.
(As per Article 2, 3, 4, 5 of Article 41 of the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, amended in 2019).
Leading Asian financial conglomerates are extending their influence in Vietnam through the acquisition of entire or partial stakes in consumer finance companies, Sophie Dao, Senior Partner at GBS – one of the best M&A advisory firm in Vietnam told reported.
Bloomberg recently cited a close source, reporting that Thailand’s largest banks, Kasikornbank and SCB X PCL, are among the potential bidders for Home Credit’s consumer lending business in Vietnam. Additionally, KB Kookmin Bank, a subsidiary of South Korea’s KB Financial Group, has entered the next round of negotiations.
Sources reveal that Home Credit aims to identify buyers for its business in Vietnam before the end of this year. Deliberations are ongoing, and potential buyers may decide not to proceed, while Home Credit might also retain its assets for a longer period. The deal’s estimated value could be around $700 million.
“KBank is currently running KBank Biz Loan, a credit service for small-scale retail stores. A potential agreement with Home Credit would enable the bank to promote financial services for small business customers,” shared one of the sources close to KBank with Bloomberg.
In a recent press conference, KBank’s Chairman Pipit Aneaknithi stated that Vietnam is a focal point for the bank’s development in the Southeast Asian region. According to the head of KBank, the bank sees an opportunity as over 97% of businesses in Vietnam are SMEs, but they only hold a 20% market share in the credit capital market structure.
AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan’s largest retail group, AEON Group, has recently acquired the entire Financial Company Limited (PTF) from SeABank for a transfer price of VND 4.3 trillion.
In Vietnam, AEON Group is a significant player in the retail sector. The group has invested over $1.18 billion in Vietnam, marking the largest capital investment by AEON worldwide. AEON currently operates six shopping centers in major cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City, with plans to open a new shopping center in Hue next year.
During a meeting with the Chairman of the National Assembly, Vương Đình Huệ (who was the Deputy Prime Minister at the time) in 2019, Masaki Suzuki, Chairman of AEON Financial Service, expressed that AEON considers Vietnam a key investment area for the group in Southeast Asia. The company plans to expand to 30 large-scale shopping centers with a total investment of around $5 billion, aiming to create 50,000 jobs for local workers.
In addition to retail, Masaki Suzuki stated that AEON is involved in financial operations, contributing to the overall strength of AEON in Japan. Therefore, AEON aims to expand its financial activities in Vietnam by acquiring foreign financial companies or state-owned financial companies.
In 2021, Thailand’s Krungsri Public Company Limited (Krungsri) reached an agreement to acquire 100% of SHB Finance’s capital from SHB. Specifically, SHB will transfer 50% of SHB Finance’s charter capital to Krungsri and will continue to transfer the remaining 50% after 3 years.
Last May, SHB completed the initial transfer of 50% of SHB Finance’s charter capital to Krungsri. At the same time, the Thai bank also introduced personnel to take on key leadership positions at SHB Finance.
Through its investment in SHB Finance, Krungsri openly expressed its ambition to lead the consumer finance sector in Vietnam. “Vietnam’s economy is expected to continue high growth, with an annual growth potential of around 6-7%, along with expanding business opportunities due to increased consumption. We believe that the cooperation between Krungsri and SHB Finance will strengthen the brand, operational efficiency, and position of SHB Finance as a leading company in the Vietnamese consumer finance market,” said Kenichi Yamato, Chairman and CEO of Krungsri.
Previously, in early 2018, Lotte Card of South Korea spent nearly VND 1,700 billion to acquire Techcom Finance from Techcombank. This was one of the major M&A deals in the Vietnamese market in 2018.
In addition to complete acquisitions, many foreign financial institutions have invested tens of millions or even billions of dollars to acquire nearly 50% of stakes in financial companies.
FE Credit
In 2021, SMBC Consumer Finance Company (SMBCCF), a subsidiary of Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, successfully acquired 49% of FE Credit’s charter capital from VPBank, with a transaction value of nearly $1.4 billion.
SMBC stated that its investment in FE Credit is part of its medium-term strategy to expand its business platform in Asia. SMBC expects this investment to create synergies in both directions: sharing its business secrets and learning from its partner’s business strategies.
Earlier, MB and HDBank had also sold 49% of their financial subsidiaries to Shinsei Bank and Saison Group of Japan.
On the market, MSB is currently working with several foreign financial institutions to sell part or all of its capital in FCCOM Financial Company.
A gun threat delayed a flight from Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang to Hanoi, airport authorities said yesterday.
VTC News has reported that Flight VN186, operating on the DAD – HAN route, had to be temporarily suspended due to alleged threats from two male passengers who claimed to have firearms.
The Security Center at Da Nang International Airport confirmed that it had collaborated with the Central Airport Authority to address two passengers who had violated aviation security and safety regulations.
On the evening of November 7, airport security personnel at Stop 27 in Da Nang Airport received a distress call from a flight attendant aboard Flight VN186. The message conveyed the alarming information that two male passengers were purportedly discussing the presence of firearms on the plane.
Flight VN186, originally scheduled to depart at 7:25 p.m. on November 7, faced a critical decision by the captain following this incident, leading to the refusal of boarding for the concerned individuals.
Promptly informed, the Aviation Security Force and the Central Airport Authority swiftly mobilized and reached the aircraft’s location at Wharf Number 27.
The Central Airport Authority decided to escort the passengers suspected of carrying firearms off the plane, initiated a comprehensive reevaluation of all passengers and their carry-on luggage, and conducted a thorough search of the aircraft.
By 9:00 p.m. on the same day, the inspection process concluded without the discovery of any dangerous items or prohibited explosives. Consequently, at 10:00 p.m., Flight VN186 resumed its scheduled journey.
The two passengers who had reportedly mentioned having firearms were identified as Nguyen Duc Trong, aged 30, residing in Tien Hai district, Thai Binh province, and Le Xuan Quang, aged 40, residing in Thai Binh city, Thai Binh province.
The case is currently under the jurisdiction of the Central Airport Authority, with actions being taken in accordance with the provisions of the Aviation Law.
From the advantage of the landscape of West Lake, where there is a traditional profession of growing cherry blossoms and a number of destinations such as: West Lake Water Park, West Lake Flower Valley…, Nhat Tan tourist area in Nhat Tan ward (Tay Ho district, Hanoi) has been recognized as a city-level tourist area of Hanoi .
The People’s Committee of Hanoi has just issued Decision No. 5642/QD-UBND on recognizing a city-level tourist area for Nhat Tan Tourist Area (Nhat Tan Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi).
Nhat Tan Ward is one of the famous beautiful landscape areas of the Capital. Currently, the blossoms growing area on the Red River edge is one of the attractive tourist destinations with a peach growing profession that has existed for hundreds of years.
The river edges area also has flower farms, the most prominent being the Red River rock beach area.
Nhat Tan ward is located next to West Lake – the most scenic spot in Hanoi, in the area there is Nhat Tan Communal House and Tao Sach Pagoda.
Tay Ho District has also implemented the activities of Trinh Cong Son walking street in recent years and has gradually become an attractive address.
In addition, Nhat Tan ward also has West Lake flower valley, West Lake Water Park, Sen Tay Ho restaurant… and many other entertainment services, creating a whole of many activities to attract tourists. calendar.
Nhat Tan tourist area has welcomed tourists since 1999. Up to now, this tourist area has attracted a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to visit, experience, rest, explore, and enjoy special cuisine. local and regional characteristics.
Currently, the main tourism products exploited here include: Cultural, architectural, historical tourism; Ecotourism, cuisine, entertainment, shopping…
In the tourist area, there are 19 tourist accommodation establishments with 102 rooms. Indoor and outdoor entertainment and recreation services with an area of 100,000m 2 .
With the existing popularity of Nhat Tan peach village, the beauty of West Lake and a number of destinations, recognizing Nhat Tan Tourist Area as a city-level tourist area will create conditions for Tay Ho district to deploy activities. promotional activities to attract tourists.
Due to the influence of cold air, from November 12 to 13, the North is likely to have showers and thunderstorms; The weather is cold, the mountainous areas are cold.
The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said that on November 12 – 13, there will be a strong wave of cold air sweeping across the North of our country.
Due to the influence of cold air, from November 12 to 13, the Northern region is likely to have scattered showers and thunderstorms, with some places having moderate to heavy rain. From November 13, the weather turned cold and the mountains turned cold.
In the capital Hanoi, the highest temperature on November 13 – 14 was 24 degrees Celsius.
Also during this cold spell, the Central provinces are likely to experience widespread heavy rain from November 13 to 17. The North Central region is likely to be cold from around November 13.
According to meteorological experts, in November there will be about 3-4 cold air waves but the intensity will not be strong, it will only make it cold at night and in the morning, while the day will still be sunny.
In addition, the temperature in November this year is forecast to be 1 – 2 degrees Celsius higher than the average for many years.
In the winter of 2023 – 2024, cold air waves will be weaker than average for many years; Severe cold and harmful cold may appear late and the number of days of severe and harmful cold tends to be lower than the average of many years.
The average temperature from December 2023 to January 2024 nationwide is generally about 0.5 – 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the average for many years.
From February to April 2024, the number of days of severe and harmful cold is likely to be less than the average of many years and the periods of severe and harmful cold tend not to last long. The average temperature trend during this time is also 0.5 – 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the average for many years.
Tony Fernandes – owner of low-cost airline AirAsia – commented that Vietnam is still an important market for AirAsia, operating 314 weekly flights.
Mr. Tony Fernandes is currently taking on the role of CEO of Capital A – AirAsia’s parent company – sharing with VnExpress quarterly business results; strategy for the ASEAN market in general and Vietnam in particular…
– Can you share AirAsia’s revenue and profits in the past 9 months?
– The last time – on August 29, we reported business results. In the second quarter of 2023, core operations helped Capital A generate cash flow worth one billion Malaysian ringgit (210 million USD). All four segments (aviation, air services, logistics, logistics) are “galloping”: Ebitda (profit before interest, tax and depreciation) reached 462 million ringgit (9,702 USD), up 325% compared to same period last year; Revenue increased to 3.2 billion ringgit ($672 million), up 115% compared to 2022.
International tourism boom boosted airline revenue to 2.9 billion ringgit (609 million USD), Ebitda reached 405 million ringgit (8,505 USD). Also in the second quarter, AirAsia recovered 77% of passenger numbers and 74% of transportation capacity compared to the second quarter of 2019. The average ticket price is 205 ringgit (43.2 USD), down slightly by 4% over the same period (due to increased flight capacity), but still 15% higher than the second quarter of 2019.
To date, we have successfully brought 175 aircraft out of storage, with 180 expected to return to operation by the end of the third quarter. AirAsia’s goal is to put a total of 200 aircraft back into operation by the end of this year. I also predict passenger numbers will peak in the fourth quarter, and am excited when ancillary revenue per passenger increases, expected to reach 358 million USD in the second half of the year, up 27% compared to before Covid-19.
AirAsia has increased its control of AirAsia Philippines to 100%. After 21 years, we have gathered four short-haul airlines under AAV, including: AirAsia Malaysia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia and the Philippines. This merger contributes to reducing aircraft maintenance costs, yard costs, employee salaries… With the above results, analysts and investors will have a clearer view of our financial capabilities. I..
In June, my colleagues and I received good news: we were honored by Skytrax as “The World’s Best Low-Cost Airline”, surpassing 325 other airlines, marking 14 consecutive years of winning this award.
– What factors have helped AirAsia receive recognition from Skytrax for 14 consecutive years?
– It’s heartwarming to achieve such a significant accolade for 14 consecutive years, especially after facing various challenges that global airlines had to contend with in recent years due to the pandemic, particularly without government assistance.
Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our team and effective leadership, along with transparency in all our operations, AirAsia has successfully navigated through two decades of turbulence, including events like 9/11, the SARS epidemic, weather incidents, financial crises, and Covid-19. In times of difficulty, we are committed to building a strong and tangible group culture, propelling each other forward. Especially, the key to our success lies in “providing value, the best choices, and excellent customer service.”
For instance, during the Covid-19 pandemic, we didn’t stand still; instead, we utilized the downtime to examine every aspect of our operations and accelerate our digital transformation strategy to come back stronger. In every crisis, we see an opportunity. In recent years, I have focused on building a solid foundation to compete in core markets, especially in ASEAN, where AirAsia is strongest.
We recovered faster than our competitors because we are in the right segment and market (low cost, focused on the booming ASEAN region), offering the best fares in the short to medium-haul route portfolio.
In 2022, I decided to restructure the company and change its name to Capital A, but the airline segment is still branded as AirAsia. In addition, we operate a super app that allows customers to book flights, hotels, taxis, meals, and provides various other fintech services.
Every newly established airline faces challenges and has many obstacles to overcome in order to become strong and successful. There are so many things I remember and am proud of during that long journey. With only 2 initial aircraft, we currently have more than 200 aircraft, and in the future there will be 300 aircraft with 150 destinations. In two years, transformed from an airline to a leading OTA, with a one-stop digital travel and lifestyle platform in ASEAN. A special milestone for us is bringing back all employees who were out of work due to Covid-19.
Ho Chi Minh City is synonymous with street food and motorbikes: It often seems like one massive, sizzling food court combined with a beeping motorcycle rally that came to town and never left. Almost as dizzying is how quickly Vietnam’s biggest city is transforming with new urbane enclaves and upscale planned communities, as well as the highrises constantly shooting up, like the country’s tallest skyscraper, Landmark 81, which opened in 2018. The busy boulevard along the Saigon River at Bach Dang Wharf last year added a new pedestrian park and a dramatic suspension bridge across the water to an emerging finance district. What’s constant is the optimism of savvy locals, Vietnamese returning from abroad and ambitious foreigners infusing the city with inventive bars, high-fashion boutiques, chic eateries and hotels.
@ Justin Mott
Recommendations
Restaurants and bars
XO Tours takes visitors on the back of scooters to captivating street-food eateries and markets in five districts during a 4.5-hour excursion.
Ho Thi Ky food street is a densely packed lane flanked by oodles of food carts serving everything from pig brains soup to pork, shrimp and glutinous rice in banana leaf.
Summer Experiment is a softly lit, airy cocktail bar with a cleverly illustrated menu of handcrafted drinks, on the third floor of an old apartment building in District 1.
Hum Cafe & Restaurant, a tranquil space with wooden interiors in District 3, serves excellent plant-based dishes.
Anan Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City’s first and only Michelin-starred restaurant, reimagines classic Vietnamese fare with a contemporary flair.
Nen Light serves a set menu of seven or nine seasonal courses by the executive chef Summer Le in an intimate, minimalist dining room in District 1.
Captain Phook is an open-kitchen tapas bar and restaurant with a dining counter fronting a narrow lane in the Binh Thanh District.
Nong Trai Khoai, was created in the style of a ramshackle Budapest ruin bar that serves a wide selection of Vietnamese and Belgian craft beers.
RetroSaigon is a rambling, multi-storied bar with a karaoke room and rooftop lounge offering craft beers from around the world.
Laang serves contemporary Vietnamese dishes in a serene, garden-like setting.
Where to stay
Mia Saigon is an elegant boutique hotel in a serene location on the Saigon River with a spa and riverbank restaurant. Weekend rates for doubles start from about 6 million Vietnamese dong, or about $253, and include a complimentary speed boat ride downtown four times a day.
Bach Suites is 36-room boutique hotel with lots of white marble and stylish custom furniture, next to the bustling Turtle Lake pond and traffic circle in District 3. The small rooftop pool offers stunning center city views. Doubles start from about 3 million dong.
The Hammock Hotel, overlooking the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum in District 1, has quiet, clean rooms, each adorned with a hanging hammock chair. The minimalist rooftop cafe offers free water, soda and beer for guests. Doubles start from about 1.5 million dong.
For short-term rentals, avoid the construction cranes and the main boulevards and look in the Da Kao and Tan Dinh neighborhoods, with plenty of quiet alleys just a few minutes drive from downtown.
Getting around
The most convenient way to get around is booking a car or motorbike ride with Grab’s ride-hailing service on its mobile app, or flagging down a metered taxi — either the white Vinasun brand taxi or the green Mai Linh taxi. Hailing a Grab motorbike is the most fun, but it’s tricky to coordinate the timing of booking two rides at once if you are with a friend. The Saigon Waterbus has limited service from Bach Dang Wharf to District 2.
Itinerary
Friday
5:30 p.m. Rev around town
Embrace the traffic and hop on the back of a motorbike for a whirlwind street food tour with XO Tours, in which the expert, female driver-guides in traditional áo dài tunics navigate through five of the city’s 24 districts. The tours steer clear of the conventional banh mi and pho, instead rolling up for dishes like grilled goat at a hot-pot hub in District 8, and scallops on the half shell in the boisterous seafood street in District 4 (XO Foodie Tour, 1,872,000 Vietnamese dong, or about $79). If you’re even more adventurous, head on your own to District 10’s Ho Thi Ky food street, a long and narrow lane with carts serving dishes like sticky rice cooked in a bamboo branch, and bot chien, fried rice-flour cakes with egg (street-food dishes, 15,000 to 35,000 dong).
10 p.m. Try a cocktail in sphere form
Find passionate Vietnamese mixologists in leather aprons using fire, foam and liquid nitrogen at Summer Experiment, the softly lit cocktail bar three stories up in an old apartment building in District 1, the central area with many major tourist attractions, including the nearby Reunification Palace. Try the Heaven Tears, a jiggly sphere that explodes in the mouth with vodka, melon puree and mint (100,000 dong). And ask for one of the homegrown gins like Song Cai, Lady Trieu or Ve de di in the Spiced Plummy Gimlet, blended with a local plum spirit and rimmed with a chili shrimp salt (180,000 dong). If you hear music on the way back down, follow it to COI Saigon (one floor below), which often has free live jazz on weekends until 11 p.m.
A street vendor walks through the Cholon area, the city’s Chinatown, near the multi-story Ten Thousand Buddha Temple. @ Justin Mott
Saturday
9 a.m. Count the Buddhas
At the end of a lane in the Cholon area, or Chinatown, is one of the city’s most astonishing Buddhist temples: Chua Van Phat, the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple. Climb the stairs to the fourth floor and step awestruck into a gilded, towering chamber lorded over by a 23-foot tall Buddha in a gold robe, serenely seated on a lotus flower. Little Buddha statues sit on each of the sculpture’s 1,000 gold-painted petals, and in the thousands of niches in the walls up to the carved, paneled ceiling. Locals kneel and pray, incense wafts and a robed devotee chants and taps a wooden drum and singing bowl. If you encounter the temple’s head monk, Thich Truyen Cuong, he may answer your questions about the upper chamber’s decade-long construction. Admission free; donations welcome.
11 a.m. See traces of war in a Vietnamese cafe
Have a coffee break steeped in history at Ca Phe Do Phu in the Tan Dinh neighborhood in District 1. During what the Vietnamese call the American War, communist operatives for the north plotted undercover in haunts and homes across Saigon, as the city was then named (many locals still refer to it as such), like this wooden shophouse. Order a coffee with condensed milk (30,000 dong) or a tea with canned peach wedges (40,000 dong) and climb the ladder-like steps to the large room with wartime artifacts like transistor radios and American munitions boxes. Across from an ornamented family altar stands a wooden closet with a drop panel concealing a ladder that led to tunnels. Under a floor plank, you’ll find dangling metal cans that once held cash and documents to be secreted north via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
1 p.m. Hum through a vegetarian lunch
Many Buddhists in Vietnam turn vegetarian each month on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar calendar, but a number of new plant-based restaurants are serving innovative takes on ancestral dishes daily. One standout is Hum Cafe & Restaurant, which opened its three-story, villa-like space with wooden ceilings, lotus flowers and brightly colored drapes, in District 3 in 2012. The thinly sliced and fried lotus root with sesame salt (160,000 dong) are as addictive as potato chips, and don’t miss the winged bean salad with tofu (200,000 dong), the skillet of banana flower in a tomato sauce (190,000 dong), and mango with sticky rice for dessert (80,000 dong).
Tiny Ink
3 p.m. Browse hand-painted dresses
Visitors with an impulse to shop often head straight to Dong Khoi, one of the oldest streets in the city and a hub of fashionable boutiques like Gia Studios, Lam Boutique and Ha Linh Thu House of Silk. But you can also find hidden gems across the city including Tiny Ink, a small boutique at the end of an alley in District 1. A regular on the runway at Vietnam International Fashion Week, the brand is the creation of the designer Hoang Quyen. The boutique displays an explosion of brightly colored gowns and dresses made with silk, satin and organza fabric, and hand painted with floral art and abstract splashes (dresses range from 3.5 million to 24 million dong).
6 p.m. Swap the street-food stool for a tablecloth
When the Michelin Guide debuted in Vietnam in June, Ho Chi Minh City netted just a single star, for Anan Saigon, a restaurant that opened in 2017 and transforms classic dishes into contemporary triumphs, like a bone marrow pho with Wagyu beef. The Michelin guide recommended 55 restaurants in the city, including Nen Light. Opened in 2022 in District 1 and set in an intimate, single room with black ceilings and dark cloths on the eight tables, the restaurant serves creative Vietnamese dishes with seasonal produce. Highlights of a recent nine-course “Journey” menu (about 2.6 million dong, minus alcohol pairing; reservations recommended) included a dollop of minced river eel and roe in a bouquet of sliced plum, and slow-cooked duck from the north with vegetable puree and purple rice.
8:30 p.m. Stroll the center
The city is hardly known for pleasant strolls, given that sidewalks double as motorbike parking lots, and even as ad hoc traffic lanes. But you can find entertaining people-watching on Nguyen Hue Street, a half-mile pedestrian boulevard surrounded by French Colonial landmarks and the Saigon River. Start at the top in the glow of the grand People’s Committee headquarters, then continue through the Le Loi intersection for a view of the palatial Saigon Opera House. Head toward the gleaming towers and the river, wading through the chattering couples and families noshing dried squid or cotton candy, and stopping to join the crowds encircling people crooning ballads or dancing for TikTok videos. Pull up tyke-size plastic stools for a coconut ice cream (15,000 dong) from a cart and watch young locals play da cau, a game that involves kicking a weighted shuttlecock high into the air.
10 p.m. Head to a hipster street
One of the city’s trendiest nightlife enclaves is Pham Viet Chanh Street in the Binh Thanh District, a gritty quarter crammed with eateries and drinking spots in narrow shophouses that has mushroomed from a couple of bars less than a decade ago. If you still have a taste for dessert, try the caramelized fried bread with cinnamon ice cream (100,000 dong) at Captain Phook. Then head across to Nong Trai Khoai, where vintage shop meets dive bar, to try a beer cocktail (70,000 dong) mixed with a brew from Quy Nhon, a coastal city in Central Vietnam, and passion fruit from Dalat, in the mountains. At RetroSaigon you’ll find a multistory warren with a wood-paneled karaoke lounge and a dimly lit rooftop. Drink in the District 2 skyline with a Mangotango, a cocktail with fresh mango, rum and coconut (179,000 dong).
Ho Chi Minh City is a densely developed, often sweltering metropolis, where chaotic wet markets are tucked amid dilapidated apartment blocks and craft drink bars sit in the shadows of gleaming highrises. @ Justin Mott
Sunday
9:30 a.m. See a harrowing perspective of war
The abandoned and captured United States tanks, planes and helicopters displayed on the grounds of the War Remnants Museum (admission, 40,000 dong) is the first indication that the victors will be telling the story of the wars in Vietnam. The museum is filled with photographs depicting the brutalities that the French and later the Americans committed in their losing campaigns against the Vietnamese. In addition to photos of rows of bodies in open pits, burning villages and instruments of torture, the harrowing displays are heavy on graphic shots of Vietnamese deformed by U.S. chemicals like Agent Orange, with hardly any mention of the atrocities the North and South committed against each other. The museum can trigger a surge of emotions, especially for visiting American veterans, who, 50 years after the United States pulled combat troops out of Vietnam, mostly are in their 70s.
11:30 a.m. Relax in comfort for brunch
The Thao Dien area, across the river from the Binh Thanh District, is home to forests of condo and commercial high rises. Popular with expats and affluent Vietnamese, the area has all the accouterments of the city’s upturn, from chic boutiques to gourmet eateries. For brunch, visit Laang, a stylish, vegetarian-friendly Vietnamese restaurant that may be a welcomed alternative to the multitude of uncomfortably warm, open-air eateries. You can’t go wrong with a platter of wraps and rolls, including succulent grilled chicken and veggies wrapped in fresh leaves (239,000 dong), sweet and savory grilled eggplant stuffed with shiitake mushrooms (109,000 dong) and the refreshing pomelo, lime and butterfly pea juice (79,000 dong).
1:30 p.m. Make room for souvenirs
A short walk from Laang brings you to OHQUAO Concept Store, the brainchild of Simon Phan and Hoa Pham, who created the space for local artists to sell alternative souvenirs to the typical lacquer bowls and conical hats found in tourist markets. Mr. Phan designs cartoonish magnets with quips like “Falling Pho You” (110,000 dong) and illustrated greeting cards (80,000 dong). Their Thao Dien store, which opened in 2022, is filled with products by dozens of local artists, including funky T-shirts (530,000 dong) and hats (430,000 dong) from the Saigon designer Dang Khim’s street fashion brand easybadwork; as well as Ruou Can Y Mien fermented rice alcohol (630,000 dong), Lacaph coffee (from 190,000 dong), both from the Central Highlands; and a wide selection of art prints (150,00 to 300,000 dong).
2:30 p.m. Contemplate contemporary paintings
If you have time for one last stop, see what’s on at the Lotus Gallery in District 7, a fast-developing area of wide boulevards and glossy malls, universities and condo complexes. The long-established private gallery moved into a new warehouse-like space in 2022, just down the road from the Mercedes and Porsche dealerships. Exhibits rotate every couple months and center on Vietnamese themes, like the “Soul of the Street” show (Aug. 5 to 31) that will feature works by 10 artists that include watercolors of fish markets and oil paintings of cyclo pedalers. Admission is free.
Patrick Scott is a regular contributor to New York Times Travel. He lived in Ho Chi Minh City between 2018 and 2022.
The Hanoi People’s Committee has recently issued Plan No. 263/KH-UBND to implement the National Action Program on sustainable production and consumption in the city by 2024. The main objective of the plan is to promote sustainable production and consumption activities in Hanoi while developing a circular economy, creating a high-end sustainable network, and reducing waste generation. The plan also aims to raise awareness and promote social responsibility among businesses, organizations, and individuals regarding sustainable production and consumption.
To achieve these goals, the plan sets out specific targets to be achieved by the end of 2024. These include a 3.5-4.5% reduction in raw material consumption in the textile, garment, alcohol, and beverage production industries, steel, and plastic, as well as an 80% rate of districts and towns organizing propaganda to raise awareness about sustainable lifestyles and consumption. The plan also targets 85% of industrial zones and clusters and 60% of craft villages to be popularized and informed about sustainable production and consumption.
People use tote bags to store things they buy from supermarkets
The plan further aims to encourage the distribution of environmentally friendly products with eco-labels at supermarkets and shopping centers and to have 60-70% of traditional markets and 100% of supermarkets and shopping centers not using non-degradable nylon bags. The committee also assigned the Department of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with departments, branches, and related units to implement the plan. The department will also guide and urge distribution businesses to reduce the use of nylon bags and single-use plastic products and to develop a roadmap to reduce plastic waste and non-degradable nylon bags.
Samsung is getting ready to launch the new Galaxy S24 series, and they’ve already started preparing for it. According to a report, the Galaxy S23 FE will be released in Korea on December 1, 2023, priced at 800,000 won (around 600 USD).
Samsung has launched the Galaxy S23 FE as an affordable option in Korea due to economic challenges and a slow market, despite the popularity of high-end phones. It’s been three years since the Galaxy S Fan Edition phone was introduced in Korea.
Samsung Galaxy S24 with innovative AI capabilities
The report mentions that the Galaxy S24 series will be called an “AI Phone” because of its Generative AI capabilities, similar to ChatGPT and Dall-E. The product line will include three models: Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung has announced the Exynos 2400 processor, which will have faster GPU and NPU performance.
The Galaxy S24 will have on-device AI processing capabilities that will support text-to-image conversion and other features. Additionally, the report mentions a titanium frame for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro series.
Samsung considers the Galaxy S24 series important during these challenging times. The report also highlights Samsung’s financial results for the third quarter of 2023, showing a decrease in consolidated revenue compared to the same period last year but an increase in quarterly revenue. The company achieved operating profit, mainly due to strong sales of its flagship mobile phone models and demand for displays, along with some improvements in the Device Solutions Division.
The Vietnam Supply Chain Challenge 2024, an academic competition that promises to ignite the fire of enthusiasm and unlock the true potential of young talents, is thrilled to announce the opening of registrations for the National Level Championship.
Under the theme “Vivid Passion: Ignite the Fire of Enthusiasm Within You!”, VSCC 2024 is all set to create a spectacular showcase with the aim of challenging participants to explore new depths and embark on an extraordinary journey towards achieving excellence in the world of supply chain management.
The journey to assert oneself is unceasing, and success is attainable to those who dare. The Vietnam Supply Chain Challenge 2024 will serve as a pivotal opportunity for young talents to unlock their potential. Don’t miss the following important information as it is the key to opening the door to success.
VSCC 2024, organized by the VILAS Supply Chain Club under the patronage of the Vietnam Logistics and Aviation School (VILAS), in partnership with Inchainge, is the exclusive host of the National Championship of the “Global Student Challenge.”
The competition’s goal is to provide a valuable platform for participants to create innovative scenarios through exciting rounds in a business simulation environment powered by The Cool Connection. Simultaneously, the contest will select Vietnam’s outstanding representatives to compete in the world elimination round (Asia region) and be ready to challenge the international stage at the Global Student Challenge.
Get ready for the Vietnam Supply Chain Challenge 2024! This competition has officially begun and promises to be a vibrant and captivating journey for participants to shine and overcome all challenges. VSCC 2024 represents the golden opportunity for dreams to soar high. Unleash your wings of knowledge and embark on the journey to glory. From the national championship to the world championship, let’s transform dreams into reality through this event.
RULES OF THE VSCC 2024 CONTEST
Participants: Students aged 18 to 24, currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at universities and colleges nationwide or having less than 2 years of work experience.
Timeline of the contest: Phase 1: November 1, 2023 – November 26, 2023: Team registration. Phase 2: December 1, 2023 – February 25, 2024: National Championship Rounds. Round 1: December 1-16 Round 2: December 17-23 Round 3: December 31 – January 13 Round 4: January 14-20
Should there be any changes to the VSCC 2024 contest, the VSCC 2024 Organizing Committee will notify you immediately.
Journey with us and conquer the Vietnam Supply Chain Challenge 2024, where winners become outstanding leaders!
About Vietnam Supply Chain Challenge 2024: The Vietnam Supply Chain Challenge 2024 (VSCC 2024) is an academic competition organized by the VILAS Supply Chain Club under the patronage of the Vietnam Logistics and Aviation School (VILAS), in partnership with Inchainge. The competition aims to provide a platform for young talents to explore and excel in the field of supply chain management, with the opportunity to compete on the international stage at the Global Student Challenge. VSCC 2024 encourages participants to unlock their potential and turn their dreams into reality.
