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Coconut exports expected to achieve the USD 1 billion target by 2025 (Photo: nongnghiep.vn)
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As the US is about to open the market for Vietnamese coconuts and China allows official coconut import, local businesses are trying to develop raw material areas, apply for growing areas codes, and register to build organic material zones to meet the needs of the world market, President of the Vietnam Coconut Association Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh said.
“At the end of 2022, coconut export turnover was over 700 million USD. But based on the momentum of the US and China agreeing to import Vietnamese coconuts, around the end of 2024 and early 2025, coconut export turnover will be up to 1 billion USD," Thanh said.
In the past, there were not any plans for coconut areas. However, in 2021, the fruit was listed as one of Vietnam’s key industrial crops, especially in the context of climate change.
According to Thanh, about 20 large enterprises in the country have exported coconuts to the world. Up to 35 countries and territories are Vietnam’s importers.
Luu Van Phi, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of the southern province of Tien Giang, said the province is home to over 35,000 ha of coconut, mainly in the districts of Go Cong Tay, Cho Gao, My Tho, and Tan Phu Dong.
The export of coconut to the US will help raise the price of the fruit, improving the income of farmers, thus helping them feel secure to invest in coconut farming, Phi said.
He noted that a coconut is priced at 3,000-4,000 VND (0.12-0.17 USD) at farms but consumers in Ho Chi Minh City have to pay 20,000 VND.
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Preliminary processing of coconut for export at Vina T&T Company (Photo: nongnghiep.vn)
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Two issues to solve now are how to reduce costs of brokerage and increase incomes for farmers, he said.
Huynh Quang Duc, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the southern province of Ben Tre province, said that its coconut coverage is over 15,000 ha.
Currently, about 10 businesses in and out of the province are registering to get planting area codes, and packaging facility codes for exporting coconut juice.
"The expansion of export through official channels to China and the US creates a great motivation for coconut businesses to apply to get the codes that make them eligible for export,” Duc said.
Vietnam’s food map with 126 typical dishes to be unveiled in October
A food festival to honour Vietnamese culinary culture will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from October 20 – 22, during which Vietnam’s food map will be unveiled with a record of 126 delicious dishes from all 63 provinces and centrally-run cities across the country.
The event also aims to highlight the culinary profession in the lead-up to the World Chef's Day on October 20 and to set a national record for the culinary map.
Organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association and organisations, the festival will see 100-120 booths introducing regional dishes, along with food demonstrations and a music program.
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Foreign visitors enjoy street foods at Hanoi's night market. (Photo: thanhnien.vn)
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Visitors can taste a variety of regional specialties by chefs from five-star hotels and artisans of Ho Chi Minh City and localities across the country.
Nguyen Thi Khanh, Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, emphasised that Vietnamese cuisine has been increasingly popular among international friends thanks to its numerous delicacies.
Several local dishes have been introduced at international culinary competitions, helping to elevate Vietnamese cuisine’s image on the world culinary map, she added.
The festival aims to honour generations of chefs, and artisans and encourage chefs who love their profession and talented female chefs.
The first food map of Vietnam made from typical dishes of all the 63 provinces and cities was introduced in April 2022. The 20-metre S-shaped map was created with dishes prepared by 50 contestants of the competition’s various editions and chefs in all regions of Vietnam.
E-visa proves convenient at Lang Son’s border gate
More foreign citizens, particularly Chinese, have used e-visa to enter Vietnam via the Huu Nghi International Border Gate, according to authorities at the border gate in the northern province of Lang Son.
Huu Nghi is among the 16 land border gates across Vietnam that have allowed foreigners to enter and exit the country with e-visa since August 15, 2023, following the Government’s resolution on the application of e-visa issuance for citizens of countries and territories, under which electronic visas are issued to citizens of all countries and territories. The list of international border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit with electronic visas include 13 air, 16 land, and 13 sea border gates.
Since the date, border guards of the Huu Nghi International Border Gate have carried out procedures for over 440 foreign citizens, mostly Chinese.
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Foreigners use e-visas to enter Vietnam via the Huu Nghi International Border Gate. (Photo: VNA)
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Personnel and equipment are added to ensure the procedure processing is done quickly and smoothly.
Captain Trinh Van Bac, deputy head of the Border Guard Station of the Huu Nghi International Border Gate, said officers and soldiers at the unit are strictly implementing directions and instructions relating to the use of e-visa.
They have also received training to properly deal with migration applications using e-visa.
According to the Border Guard Station of the Huu Nghi International Border Gate, since the beginning of 2023, the unit has processed about 310,000 migration applications including nearly 164,000 for exit and over 146,000 for entering Vietnam. The applications from Chinese citizens account for the majority with about 248,000.
Domestic flights record booking rates of over 70% for National Day holiday
As of August 29, several domestic flights recorded booking rates of over 70% for August 31 and September 1, the first days of the National Day holidays, reported the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).
On August 31, flights on routes from the capital city of Hanoi to popular tourist destinations such as Da Lat, Quy Nhon, Hue, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, and Nha Trang had booking rates ranging from 73%-97%. The Hanoi-Dong Hoi route was fully booked.
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At Noi Bai international airport (Photo: VNA)
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Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to the above tourist destinations on the same day also sold over 70% of their seats.
Meanwhile, flights on the major route between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City during the four-day holiday has sold between 52%-64% of its seats. Only the Hanoi - Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang routes have booking rates reaching 72%-82% for August 31 and September 4.
On September 4, the last day of the holiday, flights returning from Da Lat, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Tuy Hoa, Con Dao, and Dong Hoi to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have booking rates over 70%.
The CAAV also asked relevant agencies and units to roll out aviation security measures during the period./.