1. Party, State leaders pay pre-Tet visits to localities
The leaders of the Party, State and National Assembly paid pre-Tet visits and extended their Tet wishes to localities nationwide over the past week.
During their trips, the leaders asked after and distributed Tet gifts to policy beneficiary families, poor households, revolutionary contributors and disadvantaged children.
2. Xoan singing officially recognised as heritage of humanity
Head of UNESCO’s Hanoi Office and UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, Michael Croft (second from left) presents the certificate of recognition for Xoan singing to a Phu Tho provincial leader.
A ceremony was held at Lai Len temple in Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province on February 3 to receive a certificate that officially recognises Xoan singing, a religious practice rooted in the ancestral worship of the Vietnamese people, as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity from UNESCO.
Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that the title bestowed by UNESCO reflects an acknowledgement on behalf of the international community of the efforts made by the provincial Party committee and people in preserving their treasured cultural heritage.
3. Vietnam’s consumer price index up 0.51% in January
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Price gains are recorded in 10 out of the 11 groups of goods and services used to calculate inflation.
The consumer price index (CPI) in January rose by 0.51% compared to the previous month and by 2.65% compared to the same month last year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported on January 29.
Price gains were recorded in 10 out of the 11 groups of goods and services used to calculate inflation, which was primarily driven by higher fuel and power costs, hikes in healthcare costs and greater consumer demand ahead of the Lunar New Year.
4. Vietnam posts trade deficit of US$300 million in January
Vietnam’s trade gap for the first month of 2018 was estimated at US$300 million, with exports increasing by 33.1% to US$19 billion, and imports surging by 47.4% to US$19.3 billion as a result of greater demand for manufacturing input and consumer goods ahead of the Lunar New Year.
China was the largest buyer of Vietnamese goods at a value of US$4.5 billion, 2.5 times higher than the same period in 2017. The world’s second largest economy led the way as the largest source of Vietnam’s imports at US$5.7 billion, up 45.6% on the previous year.
5. FDI pledged to Vietnam drops 36.8% in January
The manufacturing sector was the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in January.
Foreign businesses pledged to directly invest US$899.4 million in Vietnam over the first month of 2018, a 36.8% decrease compared to the same period in 2017. Meanwhile, disbursements rose by 10.5% to more than US$1 billion.
According to the General Statistics Office, the manufacturing sector was the largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for US$330.6 million, or 74.7% of the total pledges. Ho Chi Minh City led the nation in attracting FDI, receiving US$86.2 million, followed by Nam Dinh and Ninh Thuan province with US$80 million and US$60 million respectively.
6. Government convenes regular meeting for January 2018
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the meeting.
The regular cabinet meeting for the first month of 2018 took place in Hanoi, on February 2, during which Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called for better coordination in adjusting the prices of power, education and healthcare services to ensure that inflation in 2018 will not exceed 4%.
According to the Government leader, the Vietnamese economy witnessed positive developments in the first month of 2018, with industrial production up by 20.9%, while over 10,000 new enterprises were established and foreign reserves hit nearly US$57 billion.
7. Ten companies honoured for energy efficient solutions
The awards ceremony.
Ten outstanding companies that have successfully utilised energy efficient solutions were honoured at an awards ceremony for the Vietnam Energy Efficiency in Industry Awards 2017 in Hanoi on January 31.
The awards were presented in two categories, namely the best energy efficient solutions, and the most original and innovative energy efficient solutions. Colusa - Miliket Foodstuff Joint stock company won the first prize for the best energy efficient solutions, whilst the first prize of the other category went to Bach Khoa Electrical and Refrigeration Engineering Company under the Polyco Group.
8. Hue recognised as ASEAN Clean Tourist City
The imperial citadel of Hue
The former imperial city of Hue has been recognised as an ASEAN Clean Tourist City, for its clean streets, effective waste management, abundant green spaces, and respectable urban security for tourists.
The titles were awarded at the ASEAN Travel Forum 2018 in Bangkok and are valid for the three years from 2018 to 2020. Meanwhile, the Pilgrimage Village has been named as an ASEAN Green Hotel for its environmentally friendly operational activities, use of green products, efficient use of energy and water, effective noise control, and waste management.
