 |
| Chairman of the An Phu district People’s Committee Trang Cong Cuong. (Photo: VNA) |
This was the first batch of mangoes exported to the RoK under a contract signed between Long Binh Agriculture Cooperative in An Phu district and Hoang Phat Fruit Ltd. Co.
Chairman of the An Phu district People’s Committee Trang Cong Cuong said that it took local authorities and farmers more than 10 years to open the doors for local mangoes to demanding markets like the RoK.
The official emphasised that the district will increase support for enterprises and farmers to build stable material areas, develop sustainable value chains, and accelerate the issuance of codes of remaining mango growing areas to boost exports while coordinating with fruit exporting companies to survey other mango orchards to sign export contracts to choosy markets.
An Giang province has more than 12,000 ha of mango, of which An Phu district accounts for 1,860 ha. The district has over 354 ha of mango farming in line with VietGAP standards in Khanh An and Phu Huu communes. The district has issued 61 area codes for planting acacia mangoes for export to New Zealand, the US, the RoK, Japan, Australia and China.
Ha Giang launches travel program “Marching in his footsteps”
The Ha Giang Tourism Association has coordinated with the provincial Youth Union to organize the experiential travel program “Marching in his footsteps” with the participation of more than 110 union members, youth and tourists.
In the fight to protect the northern border, border communes of Vi Xuyen district, Thanh Thuy commune were fierce battlefields. Here, soldiers marched on high mountain slopes to the border to fight and protect every inch of their homeland.
 |
| Delegates and tourists marched on foot on a 15 km route. (Photo: hagiang.gov.vn) |
The program aims to help visitors feel the hardships and great sacrifices of the soldiers of the past who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence and freedom, thereby continuing their revolutionary journey. The program has brought visitors to many historical locations, many meaningful gratitude activities, towards the roots with unique values.
In the experience, tourists wear soldier’s costumes, burn incense and commemorate fallen heroes at high point 468, Thanh Thuy commune, Vi Xuyen district. They can hear a summary of the historical story of the resistance war to protect the Fatherland on the northern border from veterans who directly fought at the Vi Xuyen front.
Next, tourists march to the forward surgery station in Pinh village (Thanh Son village, Thanh Thuy commune, Vi Xuyen) and offer incense at the Martyrs' Memorial House of Pinh village.
Mr. Lai Quoc Tinh, Chairman of the Ha Giang Tourism Association, said the program aims to promote the traditions of “drinking water, remember its source”, “eternal gratitude to the heroic martyrs” of our people, especially teaching the patriotic spirit to Ha Giang youth and union members and youth nationwide.
Cambodia - Vietnam trade reaches more than 1.4 billion USD
The value of cross-border import and export of goods between Cambodia and Vietnam showed positive signs in the first two months of 2024, with more than 1.4 billion USD; an increase of more than 30% over the same period last year, according to data from the Cambodia General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).
GDCE statistics showed that Cambodia’s export value reached 801.6 million USD; an increase of 63.2% over the same period in 2023, of which Vietnamese goods to Cambodia were valued at 612.66 million USD, an increase of 3.2%.
 |
| Photo for illustration |
Mr. Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said that bilateral trade between Cambodia and Vietnam has shown positive signs since the end of 2023 thanks to the contribution of Cambodia’s agricultural exports. Because the two countries share a common border, people in the border provinces exchange goods in large quantities, so the actual quantity is much higher than recorded.
He added that the trade turnover between the two countries could increase further when the highway connecting Phnom Penh with Bavet (Svay Rieng) is opened. “I believe that Cambodia - Vietnam trade turnover will continue to increase because there are currently many Vietnamese investors in Cambodia,” he said.
According to Lim Heng, Cambodia’s main exports to Vietnam include rice, rubber, cassava, corn, bananas, cashew nuts, mangoes, tobacco and natural resources, while Vietnamese goods to Cambodia are construction materials, machinery, fuel, electronics and fertilizers.
He said that in addition to trade relations, the two countries also have good relations in tourism. According to the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, in 2023, Cambodia received 5.45 million international visitors, an increase of 139.5% compared to 2022; including 1.02 million Vietnamese visitors, an increase of 119.8%.
Heritage train route linking Hue with Da Nang launched
This is a new product has been exploited by the Vietnam Railway sector to continue transportation business products combined with tourism service exploitation.
 |
| Delegates cut the ribbons to launch the train route |
The train route named “Central Heritage Connection” linking Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang city was put into operation on March 26.
Preferential price applied during the opening month is 150,000 VND a ticket; monthly ticket price is 900,000 VND a ticket and discounts from 10% - 50% are applied for passengers who are policy beneficiaries.
General Director of the Vietnam Railways Corporation Dang Sy Manh said the route is part of the efforts by Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang combines transportation and tourism services, promising new and interesting experiences of history, culture and heritage for passengers.
Vietnam Railways Corporation organizes 2 pairs of daily trains with numbers HD1/HD2 and HD3/HD4 between Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang. Train HD1 departs from Hue station at 7h45 and arrives at Da Nang station at 10h35, while train HD3 departs from Hue station at 14h25 and arrives in Da Nang at 17h40.
Train HD2 departs from Da Nang station at 7h50 and arrives at Hue station at 11h05, while train HD4 departs from Da Nang station at 15h00 and arrives at Hue station at 17h45.
The train used for this route consists of five modern seating carriages and another for community activities. It is expected to become an impressive mobile check-in place for travellers.
VIP waiting rooms are also arranged at the Đà Nẵng and Huế stations to serve passengers, the executive said.
According to Vietnam News Agency, during the about three hours of this train journey, tourists can admire the magnificent natural beauty along Hai Van Pass, dubbed the world’s most marvelous pass, and also among the 10 most beautiful drives in the world as selected by renowned US magazine Travel Leisure, with one side being Truong Son Mountain Range and the other the sea before reaching Da Nang, which boasts one of the six most beautiful beaches on the planet.
Durian exports to Thailand skyrocket
A quick report from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit) said that fruit and vegetable export turnover in March was estimated at 433.3 million USD, up 32.9% from the previous month and up 3.8% over same period in 2023.
In the past 3 months, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports reached nearly 1.25 billion USD, up 27% over the same period in 2023.
Notably, among the top 10 fruit and vegetable export markets of Vietnam (updated until the end of February), Thailand and Germany saw rapid growth rates, increasing by 125% and 160% respectively compared to the same period last year.
Accordingly, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable export turnover to Thailand in the first 2 months reached 28.6 million USD, up 125% over the same period. This result has increased the market share of Vietnamese durian in Thailand from 2% to nearly 4%. Thanks to high growth, Thailand has become Vietnam’s fourth largest fruit and vegetable import market, while just a few years ago it was not in the top 10.
 |
| In the first 2 months of the year, Thailand increased purchases of durian from Vietnam |
In the 2 months, Vietnam exported 8.9 million USD of fruits and vegetables to Germany, up 160% over the same period last year.
Explaining this sudden growth, Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association said that in the first 3 months of the year, the German market increased imports of passion fruit and coconut milk from Vietnam, causing export turnover to this market increase sharply.
Meanwhile, the Thai market was growing strongly thanks to frozen durian products. According to Mr. Nguyen, many Chinese tourists in Thailand love to eat durian. However, Thai domestic durian is only available for about 4 months a year, while Vietnam has durian all year round, so Thailand increased import of the goods to serve tourists./.