1. Vi-Giam folk singing receives UNESCO certificate
A formal ceremony was held in Vinh city, central Nghe An province on January 31 to receive the UNESCO certificate recognising the Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk singing as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam expressed his gratitude to Nghe An and Ha Tinh people for creating the Vi-Giam folk singing, while thanking UNESCO and international organisations for their support to help Vi-Giam become an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The deputy PM called for continuing co-operation and assistance from international organisations and asked ministries, sectors and localities to continue preserving and promoting the country’s cultural heritages, including the Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk singing, creating a spiritual foundation and a driving force for national construction and development.
2. Activities held nationwide to mark Party founding anniversary
At the exhibition at the Youth Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City (Credit: baohaiquan.vn)
A variety of activities were held throughout the country during the past week to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930), including a special exchange and arts programme in Ho Chi Minh City on January 31, an arts programme at the Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi on January 29, and a photo exhibition at the Youth Cultural House in HCM City on January 30.
3. International arrivals to Vietnam up 6.6% in January
The number of foreign tourists to Vietnam in January was estimated at nearly 700,700, up 6.6% from the previous month and down 9.7% compared with the same month last year. Chinese tourists accounted for the largest proportion with nearly 120,000 arrivals or 17%, followed by the 116,450 tourists from the Republic of Korea.
4. Meeting celebrates 65th anniversary of Vietnam-Russia diplomatic ties
Russian Charge d’Affaires to Vietnam Vadim Vladirovich Bublikov addressing the anniversary. (Credit: VNA)
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association (VRFA) jointly held a meeting in Hanoi on January 30 to mark the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-Russia diplomatic ties (January 30, 1950-2015).
VRFA President Dao Trong Thi and Russian Charge d’Affaires Vadim Vladirovich Bublikov wished the Vietnam-Russia friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership continues growing in the future, for the benefit of the people of both countries, contributing practically to regional and world peace and prosperity.
5. HQ-184 Hai Phong submarine safely anchors at Cam Ranh military port
The HQ-184 Hai Phong submarine, the third of six Kilo-class submarines that Vietnam contracted to buy from Russia in 2009, anchored safely at the Cam Ranh military port in the central province of Khanh Hoa on January 31.
Dutch heavy-lift transport vessel Rolldock Star carrying HQ-184 Hai Phong on board arrived in Cam Ranh Bay on January 28, concluding a 45-day journey starting from Russia’s Saint Petersburg Port. The previous two submarines, HQ-182 Hanoi and HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City, were handed over to Vietnam on December 31, 2013 and March 19, 2014 respectively.
6. Vietnam-DPRK diplomatic ties marked
DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Chang Il speaks at the ceremony in Hanoi on January 27. (Credit: CPV)
A ceremony was held to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) (January 31) in Hanoi on January 27.
President of the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association Pham Tat Dong expressed his thanks to the DPRK Party, State and people for assisting Vietnam during its struggle for liberation and with its current development, while DPRK Ambassador Kim Chang Il affirmed his country’s dedication to maintain its partnership with Vietnam.
7. Vietnam’s FDI inflow sees hike in first month of 2015
The manufacturing industry remains the largest FDI attraction.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam reached US$663.44 million in the first month of 2015, up 67.1% from the previous year, according to the Department of Foreign Investment under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
As of January 20, 44 new projects received investment licenses throughout the country with total registered capital of over US$392 million, up 85.5% over 2014, while 19 existing projects registered to increase capital with a total addition of US$271.26 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 45.8%. The manufacturing industry remained the largest FDI attraction seeing 18 newly registered projects with registered and added capital of about US$605.7 million, accounting for 91.3% of January’s FDI inflow.
8. PetroVietnam named Vietnam’s largest enterprise in 2014
At the ceremony announcing Vietnam’s top 500 largest enterprises in 2014 (2014 VNR500). (Credit: vietnamnet.vn)
The Vietnam National Gas and Oil Group (PetroVietnam) topped the list of Vietnam’s 500 largest enterprises (VNR500) in 2014, which was released by the Vietnam Report Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Report – VNR) at a ceremony in Hanoi on January 27.
Samsung Electronics Vietnam Co., Ltd came in second place, followed by Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and Viettel Group.
Vietnam Report also published the 500 largest private companies in Vietnam, with DOJI Gold & Gems Group, Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company, FPT Corporation and Vingroup Joint Stock Company making the top four positions on the list.
9. January industrial production index sees 17.5% year-on-year increase
The country's industrial production index (IPI) in January rose by 17.5% over the same period last year due to the late Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.
The manufacturing sector, which contributes approximately 70% of the country's total industrial output, saw a 19.4% year-on-year increase while the mining sector rose by 10.7% and the power sector went up by 20.9%. Key industrial products recorded high IIP increase such as telephones, up 91.1% against the same period last year, televisions up 88.7%, steel up 71%, automobiles up 69.6%, as well as numerous other products.
10. New terminal at Vinh Airport opens to traffic
Government and local leaders cut the ribbon to inaugurate the new facility. (Image credit: vietnamnet.vn)
The newly built passenger terminal of Vinh Airport in central Nghe An province opened for business on January 31. The terminal has a total floor area of 11,700 square metres, including four boarding gates, 28 check-in counters, and other facilities meeting international standards, aiming to serve up to 1,000 passengers at peak hours and three million passengers a year.
In addition, expansion projects for aircraft parking areas, access roads and public parking areas were also inaugurated. Total investment for the construction of the terminal and expansion projects is worth VND1.2 trillion (US$56.4 million), invested by Airports Corporation of Vietnam.
