Garments are among Vietnamese key exports to the US. (Illustrative image)
The US represented Vietnam’s largest export market in the first quarter, consuming US$21.2 billion worth of goods, representing a year-on-year increase of 32.8%, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.
The Wall Street Journal reported recently Vietnamese exports to the US are likely rising even faster, with no sign of a slowdown on the horison.
Import-export data from both sides show in 12 months through January 2021, Vietnamese goods shipped to the US made up approximately 29% of the Asian country’s total exports, far higher than the roughly 20% average before 2019.
Vietnam emerged as a big winner from the China-US trade war. Some supply chains reoriented away from China, and the country also was a logical docking station for multistage “transshipments” to avoid American tariffs, the Wall Street Journal said.
Through the good prospect may not last long. the Wall Street Journal noted the fiscal splurge in Washington, it is likely that the US share of Vietnam’s exports will remain high for some time. The 6.5% growth rate forecast by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is expected to keep US import demand strong and business brisk for export-focused Vietnamese companies.
The paper also stated Vietnam is poised to be one of the most clear-cut international beneficiaries of the US stimulus package.
Vietnam strives to become regional pioneer in reducing ocean plastic waste
Vietnam is striving to become a regional pioneer in reducing ocean plastic waste, heard a recent virtual meeting of environmental officials of Vietnam, Germany, Ecuador and Ghana, reported Vietnam News Agency.
An aerial view of Cat Ba island (Photo: VNA)
At the event, they discussed the holding of a Ministerial Conference set for September to reach a global strategy to end marine litter and plastic pollution, with an aim to ensuring a future with clean seas.
Ta Dinh Thi, Director General of the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, underlined that the time is now for countries to come together to develop a cohesive global framework - with clear milestones, stakeholder roles and responsibilities and progress indicators - to tackle transboundary marine litter and plastic pollution issues.
“South-East Asia is in a unique position with a significant role to play here, and a new global agreement will provide the essential boost to our regional and national actions against the global plastic crisis," he added.
Vietnam has adopted a development strategy to promote the maritime economy in parallel with protecting maritime environment and ecosystems, specifying "Preventing, controlling and significantly mitigating marine environmental pollution; being a regional pioneer in reducing ocean plastic waste" amongst the country’s objectives for 2030.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), called for transformational action now to put the brakes on plastic pollution.
She affirmed that the UNEP stands ready to support member states' discussions towards stronger global action on single-use plastics, while urging them and other stakeholders to start the work of eliminating single-use plastics where possible.
According to the organisers, a global agreement is needed to build consensus on the threat of marine litter, in a bid to unlock funding and provide the framework and impetus for action and change at local, national, regional and international levels.
More than 120 countries have some sort of legislation in place to regulate or ban the use of single-use plastics, heard the meeting.
In Africa, 34 of 54 nations have instituted bans on single-use plastics, while the European Union has also introduced a single-use plastics ban as well as an export ban on unsorted plastic waste.
However, the flow of plastic into the ocean continues, and is projected to nearly triple by 2040.
Month-long events on way to honour cultures of Vietnamese ethnic groups
A kaleidoscope of cultures, rituals, and cuisine of ethnic minority groups around the country will be highlighted throughout April at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay town on the outskirts of Hanoi, reported Vietnam News Agency.
A mountainous market (Photo: VNA)
A series of events will be organised in honour of Vietnam Ethnic Group Cultural Day (April 14) and to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the Liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification Day (April 30).
Folk songs, dance, cuisine, specialties, and traditional customs and rituals of ethnic minorities will be on show.
The highlight will be “Mountainous market - Hoang Su Phi destination”, which features the cultures of ethnic minority groups in the Northwestern and Northeastern regions, such as the Dao, Mong, La Chi, and Thai. An exhibition with the theme “Hoang Su Phi - a magnificent haven” will be held to promote local tourism, while booths from Hoang Su Phi district will sell handicrafts and staples.
Several rituals will be re-enacted at the event, so as to preserve traditional cultures and bring local tourism products closer to visitors. They include the Ban Vuong festival of the Dao people, Co Um Do of the La Chi people, and Tet thanh minh (Ancestors Day) of the Dao people in Hanoi’s Ba Vi district.
On Hung Kings Memorial Day (April 21), the village will host a wide range of activities to introduce traditional cultures and cuisine./.