Trans Vietnam 'five-star luxury train tour' launched

Traveling by train in Hanoi. Photo: An Thanh/The Hanoi Times

The Vietnam Railways Corporation and Vietravel Group are planning to launch a trans-Vietnamese five-star luxury train tour service, according to Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel's Board of Directors, who said this will be one of the pioneering tourism products pushing up the development of railway tourism in Vietnam and promoting Vietnamese culture to domestic and international tourists.

Phuc Sinh Group valued at $320m

Phuc Sinh Group, a Vietnamese exporter of black pepper and cinnamon, has reached an agreement to sell shares to a European investment fund, valuing the company at $320 million, according to Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper.

The group has successfully attracted its first foreign investment after 22 years of operation. The percentage of shares sold to the foreign partner was not disclosed. It is actively promoting its spice export sector.

Vietnam secures fourth ticket to Paris Olympics

Shooter Le Thi Mong Tuyen won the fourth ticket to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, on January 10. Tuyen scored 188.7 points to finish fifth in the final of the women's 10m air pistol event at the 2024 Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships in Indonesia.

Track and field athlete Trinh Thu Vinh, cyclist Nguyen Thi That and swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang were the first three to qualify for the upcoming Summer Olympics.

VTV awarded AFC Asian Cup broadcast licence

National broadcaster VTV announced on January 10 that it has secured the license to broadcast live all 51 matches of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which will be hosted by Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2024.

Vietnam's first match will be against Japan on January 15, followed by clashes with Iran (January 19 ) and Indonesia (January 24).

Iran Film Week in Vietnam inaugurated in Hanoi

The Iran Film Week in Vietnam opened on January 10 at the National Cinematic Center in Hanoi in honor of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Iran diplomatic relations. The event features five motion pictures, offering local audiences a chance to enjoy the Islamic nation's cinematic industry.

The first film screened on January 10 was So Close, So Far - a drama film by director Reza Mirkarimi. Other films include Crazy Rook, Where Are My Shoes?, Loupetoo and Mobarak.

Ho Chi Minh City aims to welcome 44 million visitors by 2024

Ho Chi Minh City aims to welcome 44 million visitors in 2024, including six million international arrivals and 38 million domestic visitors. Total tourism revenue is estimated to reach VND190 trillion (nearly US$7.8 billion).

The city will intensify tourism promotion activities in domestic and international markets and complete tourism products in its 21 districts and urban areas.

Hanoi ranks 104 OCOP products

Hanoi has evaluated and ranked 104 One Commune, One Product (OCOP) products at the city level, including 93 food products, one herbal product, seven handicrafts and three ornamental plants. In 2023, the city evaluated and ranked 544 products, exceeding the plan by 136%.

Of these, 440 products received a three-star rating, and 104 products were identified as potential four-star items by 200 entities (including 50 companies, 36 cooperatives, and 114 individuals).

Industrial real estate to rise in 2024: SSI Securities

Demand for industrial properties is expected to rise in 2024 as international electronics and semiconductor companies relocate their factories from China to Vietnam, SSI Securities wrote in a report this week. According to SSI, many industrial park operators have signed agreements with new clients in H2/2023, paving the way for investors to move into local industrial parks in 2024.

According to Bloomberg, the average industrial property rental in Vietnam is 21% lower than in Indonesia.