Over 19.4 million tourists visit Mekong Delta in 2012
Mekong Delta region attracted more than 19.4 million visitors in 2012 and earned about 4.3 trillion VND from tourism-related activities, an increase of 23.2 percent compared with the previous year, according to newly-released statistics.
The figures were issued at a meeting of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association held to review its activities in 2012.
In 2013, the association will focus on boosting tourism cooperation in the region and expand its tourism programmes eastwards to Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces.
The famous travel website Lonely Planet last year listed Mekong Delta as one of the best value destinations in the word.
(Source: VNA)
http://www.vietnamtourism.com/
Thứ Năm, 28 tháng 3, 2013
Jewelry craft festival opens in Hanoi Old Quarter
Jewelry craft festival opens in Hanoi Old Quarter
Jewelry-lovers will have a chance to contemplate fine gold and silver craft products made by prominent craftsmen at a festival which opened in the Hanoi Old Quarter on March 26 as a gesture to honour the traditional vocation.
According to organisers, the Jewelry Craft Festival at Hang Bac (Silver) street is a venue for craftsmen in Hanoi and surrounding trade villages to showcase their gold and silver products in order to promote the traditional craft to international friends.
Fine craft products from trade villages including Dinh Cong, Chau Khe, and Dai Bai will also be introduced at Kim Ngan temple, 42 Hang Bac street.
The jewelry craft in Hang Bac street still thrives today. Previously, under the Le’s dynasty in the 15th century, outstanding goldsmiths and silversmiths from Chau Khe trade village in northern Hai Duong province started businesses in ancient capital of Thang Long. Then craftsmen in Dong Xam in Thai Binh, and Dinh Cong in Hanoi also flock to the trade guild.\
The festival runs until March 31.
(Source: VNA)
http://www.vietnamtourism.com/
Jewelry-lovers will have a chance to contemplate fine gold and silver craft products made by prominent craftsmen at a festival which opened in the Hanoi Old Quarter on March 26 as a gesture to honour the traditional vocation.
According to organisers, the Jewelry Craft Festival at Hang Bac (Silver) street is a venue for craftsmen in Hanoi and surrounding trade villages to showcase their gold and silver products in order to promote the traditional craft to international friends.
Fine craft products from trade villages including Dinh Cong, Chau Khe, and Dai Bai will also be introduced at Kim Ngan temple, 42 Hang Bac street.
The jewelry craft in Hang Bac street still thrives today. Previously, under the Le’s dynasty in the 15th century, outstanding goldsmiths and silversmiths from Chau Khe trade village in northern Hai Duong province started businesses in ancient capital of Thang Long. Then craftsmen in Dong Xam in Thai Binh, and Dinh Cong in Hanoi also flock to the trade guild.\
The festival runs until March 31.
(Source: VNA)
http://www.vietnamtourism.com/
Nghinh Ong festival begins in Ca Mau
Nghinh Ong festival begins in Ca Mau
Fishermen from Ca Mau and Mekong Delta coastal provinces flocked to the 2013 Nghinh Ong (Whale Worshiping) festival, which opened on March 26 at Song Doc port in Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province.
The three-day festival includes rituals performed by the local fishermen to pray for fair winds and good seas, a safe return to shore, good luck and prosperity.
Fishermen consider whales gods that will bring them a better fishing season and rescue them if they are in danger at sea.
The annual festival also offered an opportunity for fishermen to contribute to the country’s development and protect its sacred sovereignty over its seas.
A variety of trade and tourism fairs were also held on the occasion, as well as cultural, artistic and sporting activities to promote Ca Mau’s economic and tourism potential.
(Source: Nhandan)
http://www.vietnamtourism.com/
Fishermen from Ca Mau and Mekong Delta coastal provinces flocked to the 2013 Nghinh Ong (Whale Worshiping) festival, which opened on March 26 at Song Doc port in Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province.
The three-day festival includes rituals performed by the local fishermen to pray for fair winds and good seas, a safe return to shore, good luck and prosperity.
Fishermen consider whales gods that will bring them a better fishing season and rescue them if they are in danger at sea.
The annual festival also offered an opportunity for fishermen to contribute to the country’s development and protect its sacred sovereignty over its seas.
A variety of trade and tourism fairs were also held on the occasion, as well as cultural, artistic and sporting activities to promote Ca Mau’s economic and tourism potential.
(Source: Nhandan)
http://www.vietnamtourism.com/
Thứ Sáu, 22 tháng 3, 2013
Franchise health services helps poor, rural women
Franchise health services helps poor, rural women
Over 1.7 million people in poor and rural areas received free reproductive healthcare as part of a Government social franchising service, according to a conference in the capital city on March 21.
Women have their check up with Sisterhood service Nga My Commune's health clinic
The conference between representatives form Marie Stopes International and health departments in the three provinces of Thai Nguyen, Thua Thien Hue and Vinh Long discussed the Sisterhood project, the first ever social franchise in the public health sector in the world.
Since 2009, the project helped carry out 4,325 safe abortions in the three provinces, said the project manager's Nguyen Quy Linh.
Funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and with technical support from international non-government organisation Marie Stopes, the project has local provincial health departments act as the franchisor and commune health stations as franchisees.
Following successful pilot models in Khanh Hoa and Da Nang provinces, the project was designed to strengthen local capacity to respond to the community's sexual reproductive health needs, including demand for family planning. Work was also carried out to raise awareness among target groups and key stakeholders, encouraging communities to use healthcare services.
Under the project, the clinics and district health centres received renovations and upgrades to their facilities while being supported to establish counselling departments and provided with basic medical equipment for the services.
More than 3,520 commune health staff were trained with 80 per cent showing positive changes in knowledge, attitude and behaviour at work.
Vu Hoai Nam, health department director of Thai Nguyen Province's Dai Tu District, said local people had neglected reproductive healthcare due to a lack of facilities at clinics.
"But the project has helped bring back a lot of customers to the local clinics," said Nam.
He said the number of customers using the Sisterhood service had increased significantly, especially for low-cost cervical cancer screenings, which also helped ease the overload of patients at provincial hospitals.
With a network of over 300 stations, the Sisterhood service have given rural women 65,000 cervical cancer screenings, a service considered as expensive in Vietnam.
According to Marie Stopes, the number of patients who received the services tripled between 2010 and 2012, with services helping women avoid more than 42,000 unwanted births and 24 maternal mortalities.
The project has succeeded in attracting strong commitment from local authorities and donors. Heath departments have planned to replicate the model across their localities with their own resources while the European Union has also funded Thua Thien Hue and Vinh Long provinces to develop the model at an additional 60 clinics.
Three more provinces of Yen Bai, Dak Lak and Ca Mau are on the list of new pilot areas if funding is confirmed by Atlantic Philanthropies.
According to the project manager, authorities and health workers from Cambodia and Madagascar have asked her to share her experiences in the area.
Franchise health services helps poor, rural women
Over 1.7 million people in poor and rural areas received free reproductive healthcare as part of a Government social franchising service, according to a conference in the capital city on March 21.
Women have their check up with Sisterhood service Nga My Commune's health clinic
The conference between representatives form Marie Stopes International and health departments in the three provinces of Thai Nguyen, Thua Thien Hue and Vinh Long discussed the Sisterhood project, the first ever social franchise in the public health sector in the world.
Since 2009, the project helped carry out 4,325 safe abortions in the three provinces, said the project manager's Nguyen Quy Linh.
Funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and with technical support from international non-government organisation Marie Stopes, the project has local provincial health departments act as the franchisor and commune health stations as franchisees.
Following successful pilot models in Khanh Hoa and Da Nang provinces, the project was designed to strengthen local capacity to respond to the community's sexual reproductive health needs, including demand for family planning. Work was also carried out to raise awareness among target groups and key stakeholders, encouraging communities to use healthcare services.
Under the project, the clinics and district health centres received renovations and upgrades to their facilities while being supported to establish counselling departments and provided with basic medical equipment for the services.
More than 3,520 commune health staff were trained with 80 per cent showing positive changes in knowledge, attitude and behaviour at work.
Vu Hoai Nam, health department director of Thai Nguyen Province's Dai Tu District, said local people had neglected reproductive healthcare due to a lack of facilities at clinics.
"But the project has helped bring back a lot of customers to the local clinics," said Nam.
He said the number of customers using the Sisterhood service had increased significantly, especially for low-cost cervical cancer screenings, which also helped ease the overload of patients at provincial hospitals.
With a network of over 300 stations, the Sisterhood service have given rural women 65,000 cervical cancer screenings, a service considered as expensive in Vietnam.
According to Marie Stopes, the number of patients who received the services tripled between 2010 and 2012, with services helping women avoid more than 42,000 unwanted births and 24 maternal mortalities.
The project has succeeded in attracting strong commitment from local authorities and donors. Heath departments have planned to replicate the model across their localities with their own resources while the European Union has also funded Thua Thien Hue and Vinh Long provinces to develop the model at an additional 60 clinics.
Three more provinces of Yen Bai, Dak Lak and Ca Mau are on the list of new pilot areas if funding is confirmed by Atlantic Philanthropies.
According to the project manager, authorities and health workers from Cambodia and Madagascar have asked her to share her experiences in the area.
Franchise health services helps poor, rural women
Sugar makers face difficulties, Sugar makers face difficulties, Sugar makers face difficulties
Sugar makers face difficulties
Sugar manufacturers across the country are struggling due to oversupply and a lack of demand that have forced prices down by VND1 million (USD50) to VND1.7 million (USD80.9) per tonne.
Sugar cane is gathered for crushing at the Quang Phu Sugar Mill in the central province of Quang Ngai. Oversupply and low demand have left sugar producers in trouble . — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Long
A report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development\'s Information and Statistics Centre said since the beginning of the year, manufacturers had produced 1.03 million tonnes of sugar, a year-on-year increase of 163,000 tonnes.
It also added that the stockpiled volume had soared by 142,200 tonnes year-on-year to nearly 530,000 tonnes.
The industry estimated that the country needed to import only 200,000 tonnes of sugar to meet domestic demand.
Manufacturers, however, said this would be problematic, because this year\'s import quota was 250,000 tonnes, based on predictions made at the end of 2010.
But with consumption down, pressure is growing on the sugar industry. In March and April, sales reached just 85,000 tonnes and 72,900 tonnes respectively, compared to around 110,000 tonnes per month last year.
Moreover, banks have tightened monetary policies, making it harder for companies to take out loans.
As a result, 16 out of 38 Vietnamese sugar manufacturers have already halted production, and a further eight are likely to do so by the end of the month.
Supply was much higher than demand, and the situation would get worse if more sugar was imported, said Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association.
To help manufacturers, the association has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to extend the final date for the quota past December 7 for the remaining tonnage that has not already had contracts signed for it.
Credit support was also needed to help manufacturers pay overheads and farmers, the association said.
Sugar manufacturers across the country are struggling due to oversupply and a lack of demand that have forced prices down by VND1 million (USD50) to VND1.7 million (USD80.9) per tonne.
Sugar cane is gathered for crushing at the Quang Phu Sugar Mill in the central province of Quang Ngai. Oversupply and low demand have left sugar producers in trouble . — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Long
A report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development\'s Information and Statistics Centre said since the beginning of the year, manufacturers had produced 1.03 million tonnes of sugar, a year-on-year increase of 163,000 tonnes.
It also added that the stockpiled volume had soared by 142,200 tonnes year-on-year to nearly 530,000 tonnes.
The industry estimated that the country needed to import only 200,000 tonnes of sugar to meet domestic demand.
Manufacturers, however, said this would be problematic, because this year\'s import quota was 250,000 tonnes, based on predictions made at the end of 2010.
But with consumption down, pressure is growing on the sugar industry. In March and April, sales reached just 85,000 tonnes and 72,900 tonnes respectively, compared to around 110,000 tonnes per month last year.
Moreover, banks have tightened monetary policies, making it harder for companies to take out loans.
As a result, 16 out of 38 Vietnamese sugar manufacturers have already halted production, and a further eight are likely to do so by the end of the month.
Supply was much higher than demand, and the situation would get worse if more sugar was imported, said Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the Vietnam Sugar and Sugarcane Association.
To help manufacturers, the association has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to extend the final date for the quota past December 7 for the remaining tonnage that has not already had contracts signed for it.
Credit support was also needed to help manufacturers pay overheads and farmers, the association said.
Toyota Vietnam chooses to ignore accelerator issues
Toyota Vietnam chooses to ignore accelerator issues
Vietnamese drivers are increasingly concerned that while Toyota has announced a global car recall their actions will bypass Vietnam.
Nguyen Thanh Long, who owns a Toyota RAV4, imported from the US in 2008, told VietNamNet that he has so many unanswered questions. “What should we do to find out if our purchased cars have problems with their accelerator pedal and need to be recalled? If so, what procedures should we follow? How about expenses?” he questioned.
Nguyen Thi Ha, director of a pharmacy company, who has a Camry 2.4G imported from the US, complained that she feels so insecure when driving the car. “An accident could happen at any time,” she said “Meanwhile, in Vietnam, no one is coming forward to recall the problematic cars.
Vu Viet Chien, an officer of Vietnam Airline, who has a RAV4 said: “ I purchased the car from an import company. They are just traders, and we cannot demand that they take responsibility.”
He added that when purchasing the car, he only received a guarantee from the import company, not from the manufacturer in the manufacturing country.
“This is a global car recall campaign. Why doesn’t anyone in Vietnam represent Toyota in dealing with the problem in Vietnam? The benefit of Vietnamese consumers will be ignored?” he questioned.
According to the General Department of Customs, in 2009, Vietnam imported 3,000 Camry from the US, nearly 1,300 Corolla Altis and 200 RAV4.
Meanwhile, Toyota Vietnam has declined to comment on the accelerator pedal problem.
An official of Toyota Vietnam said that Toyota Vietnam does not have the right to speak about the dealings of its headquarter in Japan as well as the accelerator legal problems in the US. The official said that not something Toyota Vietnam has the power to deal with.
The official said that the accelerator pedal problem only occurs with the cars which have been installed with the accelerator pedal equipment provided by Toyota’s partners’ in the US, CTS Company. Meanwhile, Toyota Vietnam does not import car parts from CTS.
He advised Vietnamese buyers to contact importers to clarify information. The importers, after getting information about engine and chassis numbers, can contact US partners to clarify if the cars must be recalled. However, it is still unclear about what would happen next.
Meanwhile, importers all told VietNamNet that they have had no complaints from clients.
T, who specializes in importing Venza and Camry from the US, said that the explanation by Toyota Vietnam is not convincing.
He said: “We are just traders, manufacturers need to take responsibility for technique problems. I think that Toyota Japan has to assign tasks to their representatives in different markets to carry out the recall campaign. “
Vietnamese drivers are increasingly concerned that while Toyota has announced a global car recall their actions will bypass Vietnam.
Nguyen Thanh Long, who owns a Toyota RAV4, imported from the US in 2008, told VietNamNet that he has so many unanswered questions. “What should we do to find out if our purchased cars have problems with their accelerator pedal and need to be recalled? If so, what procedures should we follow? How about expenses?” he questioned.
Nguyen Thi Ha, director of a pharmacy company, who has a Camry 2.4G imported from the US, complained that she feels so insecure when driving the car. “An accident could happen at any time,” she said “Meanwhile, in Vietnam, no one is coming forward to recall the problematic cars.
Vu Viet Chien, an officer of Vietnam Airline, who has a RAV4 said: “ I purchased the car from an import company. They are just traders, and we cannot demand that they take responsibility.”
He added that when purchasing the car, he only received a guarantee from the import company, not from the manufacturer in the manufacturing country.
“This is a global car recall campaign. Why doesn’t anyone in Vietnam represent Toyota in dealing with the problem in Vietnam? The benefit of Vietnamese consumers will be ignored?” he questioned.
According to the General Department of Customs, in 2009, Vietnam imported 3,000 Camry from the US, nearly 1,300 Corolla Altis and 200 RAV4.
Meanwhile, Toyota Vietnam has declined to comment on the accelerator pedal problem.
An official of Toyota Vietnam said that Toyota Vietnam does not have the right to speak about the dealings of its headquarter in Japan as well as the accelerator legal problems in the US. The official said that not something Toyota Vietnam has the power to deal with.
The official said that the accelerator pedal problem only occurs with the cars which have been installed with the accelerator pedal equipment provided by Toyota’s partners’ in the US, CTS Company. Meanwhile, Toyota Vietnam does not import car parts from CTS.
He advised Vietnamese buyers to contact importers to clarify information. The importers, after getting information about engine and chassis numbers, can contact US partners to clarify if the cars must be recalled. However, it is still unclear about what would happen next.
Meanwhile, importers all told VietNamNet that they have had no complaints from clients.
T, who specializes in importing Venza and Camry from the US, said that the explanation by Toyota Vietnam is not convincing.
He said: “We are just traders, manufacturers need to take responsibility for technique problems. I think that Toyota Japan has to assign tasks to their representatives in different markets to carry out the recall campaign. “
Parents spend more on luxury brands for kids
Parents spend more on luxury brands for kids
Even families with medium-sized incomes have been making sacrifices in their limited budgets to buy expensive brand name goods for their children.
Mai Thi Bich, a parent from Hanoi, said that she wanted only the best for her daughter, and often spent large sums to buy her luxury products.
Now, Bich said, at the age of four her daughter is capable of telling the difference between fake and real brand names, and if she brings home a less expensive product her daughter is displeased.
Even though Bich says that the combined monthly income of her and her husband is VND18 million (USD863), she is still willing to buy an outfit for her child that costs VND2 million.
She continues these shopping habits despite being aware that her daughter will quickly grow out of the clothes. She also said that there may be potential chemical dangers for cheaper outfits.
Hoang Mai, another parent in Hanoi, exemplifies the same trend. She started buying name brand goods for her child before giving birth.
She said, "The things I can get from abroad from relatives going on trips, or flight attendants are the best. Ordering things online is a bit risky because they can be damaged during shipping."
Mai's husband remains reluctant, however, and complains about the amount of money they spend on these items. His income from his job in real estate causes him concern because of the market slump.
Even families with medium-sized incomes have been making sacrifices in their limited budgets to buy expensive brand name goods for their children.
Mai Thi Bich, a parent from Hanoi, said that she wanted only the best for her daughter, and often spent large sums to buy her luxury products.
Now, Bich said, at the age of four her daughter is capable of telling the difference between fake and real brand names, and if she brings home a less expensive product her daughter is displeased.
Even though Bich says that the combined monthly income of her and her husband is VND18 million (USD863), she is still willing to buy an outfit for her child that costs VND2 million.
She continues these shopping habits despite being aware that her daughter will quickly grow out of the clothes. She also said that there may be potential chemical dangers for cheaper outfits.
Hoang Mai, another parent in Hanoi, exemplifies the same trend. She started buying name brand goods for her child before giving birth.
She said, "The things I can get from abroad from relatives going on trips, or flight attendants are the best. Ordering things online is a bit risky because they can be damaged during shipping."
Mai's husband remains reluctant, however, and complains about the amount of money they spend on these items. His income from his job in real estate causes him concern because of the market slump.
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