Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Hong Dien welcomes Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel at Noi Bai Airport on May 3. (Photo: VNA)

Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel begins Vietnam visit

Xavier Bettel, prime minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, arrived in Hanoi on May 3, beginning a three-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

Upon arrival, Bettel traveled to Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city in the north for some private activities.

Chinh is scheduled to host a welcoming ceremony and hold talks with Bettel in Hanoi on May 4.

The two leaders will then witness the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two countries, and meet the press to announce the results of their talks.

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg will also meet with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in Hanoi and have a number of activities in Ho Chi Minh City.

The visit, the first by a Luxembourg PM to Vietnam in over the past 20 years, is expected to promote the friendship and partnership between the two countries in a deeper and more substantive manner.

Vietnam and Luxembourg established diplomatic relations on November 15, 1973, and over the past five decades bilateral relations have developed positively. The two sides have maintained regular reciprocal visit exchanges to outline orientation for future cooperation.

Most recently, in December 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid an official visit to Luxembourg, during which the two sides agreed to set up a strategic partnership in green finance at an early date.

Luxembourg agreed to support the development of a new financial hub in Ho Chi Minh City and strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in trade, investment, education-training, science-technology, and stock market.

Economic-trade-investment cooperation is an important pillar in bilateral relations. Two-way trade turnover between the two countries has increased over the years, from US$96 million in 2019 to US$181.6 million in 20021 and US$187.1 million in 2022, cited VOV.

As of March 2023, Luxembourg had invested in 64 projects worth US$2.6 billion in Vietnam, ranking third among 24 EU countries and 17th out of 139 foreign investors in the country.

The two countries are currently working together towards establishing a bilateral strategic partnership in green finance, aiming for sustainable and inclusive development, and implementing circular economy towards green growth.

The two sides have also agreed to expand their collaboration in other fields such as climate change response, environment, culture, and education and training.

Vietnam and Luxembourg have also maintained close coordination and cooperation at multilateral forums such as the Asia – Europe Meeting (ASEM) and within the framework of ASEAN-EU relations and the United Nations.

Vietnamese localities see surges in tourist numbers during five-day holidays

Localities across Vietnam saw a boom in the number of tourists during the five-day holidays of Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day from April 29 to May 3 – the second longest national holidays only after the lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The Tourism Department of Hanoi said on May 3 that during the five-day break, the capital city served 719,000 tourists, including 69,500 foreigners, and earned around 2.4 trillion VND (102.2 million USD) from the visitors.

Tourist attractions in the city include the Temple of Literature (30,000 arrivals), Thang Long Imperial Citadel (31,400 arrivals), Ao Vua Tourist Site (17,300 arrivals), and Ba Vi National Park (17,000 arrivals).

Tourist sites in Ho Chi Minh City welcomed around 950,000 visitors, including 48,000 foreigners. This time, the southern metropolis pocketed about 3.13 trillion VND from tourism services.

Meanwhile, with many attractive activities and programmes, tourist sites in the central city of Da Nang served more than 321,600 tourists, of whom 34,800 are foreigners, during the five-day holidays, according to VNA.

Foreign visitors to Binh Tay Market in HCM City (Photo: VNA)

Some sites saw large numbers of holiday-makers are Sun World Ba Na Hills (nearly 65,000 arrivals), Ngu Hanh Son (28,000 arrivals), Than Tai Mount Hot Spring Park (17,300 arrivals), and Mikazuki Water Park (13,000 arrivals).

During the holidays, around 120,000 visitors flocked to the resort city of Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Of the total, 4,500 are foreigners, representing a year-on-year surge of 221.4%.

On this occasion, the provincial People’s Committee held the “Lam Dong tourism golden week 2023” from April 27 to May 3. The programme is expected to draw 300,000 visitors.

In the northern mountainous region, Lao Cai province welcomed around 227,200 tourist arrivals, earning 712 billion VND, up 53% and 30% year-on-year, respectively.

The province’s Sa Pa township, home to Fansipan Peak – the highest mountain in Indochina, served 103,000 tourists and pocketed over 335 billion VND.

Vietnam to watch penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5 night

Vietnam and many other countries around the world will likely observe a penumbral lunar eclipse which is set to occur when the Earth's outer shadow falls on the Moon's face on May 5.

Observers in Vietnam will be able to view the penumbral lunar eclipse starting from 10:14 p.m. on May 5, with this phenomenon reaching its peak at around 0:22 a.m. on May 6.

According to timeanddate.com, a penumbral lunar eclipse takes place when the Moon moves through the faint, outer part of the Earth's shadow, the penumbra. This type of eclipse is not as dramatic as other types of lunar eclipses and is often mistaken for a regular Full Moon.

Every lunar eclipse begins and ends with a penumbral stage, when the Moon passes through the light, the outer part of Earth’s shadow, called the penumbra, VOV reported.

Photo: VOV

Often, the Moon also passes through the Earth’s dark, inner shadow, which is known as the umbra, producing a partial or total lunar eclipse.

However, in around one out of three lunar eclipses, the Moon doesn’t reach the umbra, meaning the penumbral stage is as deep as the eclipse gets. These events are called penumbral eclipses.

This phenomenon will be visible from Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia on the night of May 5.

President’s presence at coronation of King Charles III shows importance of Vietnam-UK ties

President Vo Van Thuong’s attendance at the coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from May 4-6 will affirm the importance that Vietnam attaches to its Strategic Partnership with the UK as well as its wish to build up a fine relationship with the King.

The two countries established their diplomatic ties on September 11, 1973. Over the past years, the two sides have exchanged high-level delegations to promote the bilateral relationship in a practical and effective manner. In September 2010, they signed a Joint Statement on the establishment of the Vietnam - UK Strategic Partnership.

At present, the UK is Vietnam’s third largest trading partner in the European Union. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in 2022, despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade saw a year-on-year increase of 3% to 6.83 billion USD, of which Vietnam’s exports surpassed 6 billion USD, up 5.2%, while its imports were 771 million USD, down 9.2%.

The two countries officially signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in December 29, 2020 on the principle of inheriting the FTA between Vietnam and the EU with necessary adjustments to ensure compliance with the Vietnam-UK bilateral trade framework. The deal, which officially took effect on May 1, 2021, has helped create a comprehensive, long-term and stable framework for economic and trade cooperation between the two nations.

Regarding bilateral investment, the UK ranks in the top 20 countries with FDI in Vietnam. According to data from the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of October 20, 2022, the UK had 494 valid investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of nearly 4.2 billion USD, ranking 15th out of 140 countries and territories pouring capital into the Southeast Asian nation.

Meanwhile, as of June 2022, Vietnam had 13 investment projects in the UK and added capital to three existing ones with a total capital of 13.9 million USD, ranking 39th out of 79 countries and territories receiving Vietnam’s investments.

Over the past time, Vietnam and the UK have also promoted effective cooperation in various fields. In terms of defence and security, the two sides have exchanged a lot of delegations, promoted cooperation in training and information sharing. The two defence ministries have raised their annual Defence Policy Dialogue to the Deputy Ministerial level; set up a working group on defence collaboration; and boosted cooperation in various priority fields such as the United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The two countries have also promoted cooperation and coordination in the fight against organised transnational crime, terrorism, illegal migration and human trafficking; as well as in the implementation of the agreement on transfer of sentenced prisoners and the agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, cited VNA.

President Vo Van Thuong (R) receives Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Vietnam Iain Frew on April 28. (Photo: VNA)

In terms of development cooperation, the UK is one of the leading donors of Vietnam. Although the UK stopped providing ODA for Vietnam from 2016, it has supported Vietnam through development funds such as the Prosperity Fund and Newton Fund, and maintained its assistance in technology development, research and innovation, public governance, improvement of the business environment, green growth, and renewable energy.

In the field of education and training, the UK has actively promoted the participation of leading British educational institutions in training linkages as well as cooperation in the construction and development of higher education institutions in Vietnam. At the Vietnam - UK Seminar on Educational Cooperation held on June 30, 2022 on the occasion of the official visit to the UK by Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, Vietnamese and British universities signed 10 cooperation agreements.

The UK has also participated in cooperation activities to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes, research, and innovation to promote economic development and social security in Vietnam.

At present, there are around 110,000 Vietnamese people, including 12,000 students and postgraduates, living, studying and working in the UK.

President Vo Van Thuong’s upcoming working trip is one of the milestones contributing to the continued implementation of the 13th National Party Congress’s foreign policy on comprehensive and extensive international integration and the Party Central Committee Secretariat’s Directive 25 on promoting and elevating multilateral external relations.

Vietnam named among Top 5 most attractive destinations in Asia

Vietnam has been named among the Top 5 most attractive destinations in Asia, reported renowned Canadian travel site The Travel.

Accordingly, the country ranked fifth in the list, and it is one of the most peaceful countries in the world.

The magazine noted that Vietnam has been developing with both youthful and dynamic vitality. It boasts numerous majestic and beautiful natural wonders.

The Travel mentioned limestone islands in unique shapes located in Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha Cave in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, and charming rivers throughout the Mekong Delta region.

Photo: VOV

Furthermore, vast rice fields and typical floating markets help to increase the attractiveness of this top regional tourist destination, it said.

The Travel stressed that Vietnam is not only home to an array of natural beauty, but it also attracts tourists through its architectural works with century-old historical and cultural imprints.

Rounding off the list are Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Laos.

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