Lao Chai hamlet in Sa Pa (Photo: sapaexpress.com)
Vuong said that revenue from tourism activities during the holidays reached 46 billion VND (2.01 million USD), up over 7.8 billion VND (341,281 USD) compared to the Christmas holidays (December 24-26).
Although the number of tourists was equivalent to only 30 percent of that in the same time last year, the results showed signs of recovery of Sa Pa tourism after a tough year due to impacts of COVID-19, she said.
As part of efforts to promote the "Lao Cai-Safe Destination” trademark, local authorities and businesses have applied effective measures to ensure epidemic and transport safety, environmental sanitation and food safety for tourists.
Alongside, local travel firms have offered various promotion programmes to attract tourists. On average, Sa Pa welcomed about 4,000 - 5,000 visitors each day, with many hotels fully booked during weekends.
Sa Pa Stone Church (Photo: vnexpress.net)
Sa Pa has long been among the country’s leading destinations. Of note, young people accounted for more than 70 percent of tourist arrivals to the town last year.
Hanoi to set off fireworks from only Thong Nhat Park on Lunar New Year's Eve
Hanoi will set off fireworks at both high-altitude and low-altitude from only one location - the Thong Nhat Park in Hai Ba Trung district - on the upcoming Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Vietnam News Agency qouted a plan recently of the municipal People’s Committee.
Cost for the 15-minute firework display will be contributed by businesses.
The city has assigned relevant departments and agencies to make preparations for the fireworks to ensure utmost safety and security.
Photo for illustration (Source: baoquocte.vn)
This will be the second year in a row that the capital city will set off fireworks at just one location due to the complicated development of COVID-19 pandemic.
On previous Lunar New Year’s Eves, fireworks shows were organised in all 30 districts and towns of the city.
Earlier, the capital city canceled all outdoor activities for Solar New Year’s eve, including countdown events and firework displays amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Hi-tech agricultural zone to be established in Quang Ninh
A decision has been signed by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh to establish a hi-tech agricultural zone in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
The zone is set to be located in Hong Thai Tay commune of Dong Trieu town and will cover a total area of 106 ha, according to the Voice of Vietnam.
Furthermore, the area will serve as a facility for experimenting and finding the results of agricultural research, creating demonstration models of high-tech cultivation, preservation, and processing of agricultural products, along with the production of biological products.
Photo for illustration (Source: baotintuc.vn)
It will also be tasked with receiving and transferring scientific and technical advances which aim to serve agricultural production, whist also training human resources to boost hi-tech agriculture in Quang Ninh and other localities.
Investment projects situated in the zone will be entitled to preferential policies in accordance with current regulations.
The Deputy PM has therefore assigned the provincial People's Committee to update the name and land use demand of the zone into the provincial master plan in the 2021 to 2030 period, with a vision toward 2050, the province’s land use plan in 2021 to 2025, and other related plans in accordance with legal regulations on the land use and management planning.
Rice output increases 1.1 million tonnes in 2021
Vietnam’s rice output topped 43.86 million tonnes in 2021, up 1.1 million tonnes year-on-year, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the date of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Although the rice cultivation area decreased by about 39,700 ha, the productivity increased by nearly 1.9 quintals/ha compared to 2020.
Photo for illustration (Source: laodong.vn)
The use of high-quality rice varieties in farming surged by 77 percent, contributing to raising the proportion of high-quality rice in export to over 89 percent, helping lift the average export price of rice to 503 USD per tonne in 2021 from 496 USD per tonne in 2020.
Vietnam’s rice export turnover was estimated to reach 3.27 billion USD in 2021.
The agriculture sector aims to produce 48.3 million tonnes of food grains in 2022, including 43 - 43.9 million tonnes of rice.
In the winter-spring crop 2021-2022, the south and the north - the two largest rice growing regions, planned to grow rice on 1.6 million ha and nearly 1.1 million ha, respectively. Meanwhile, the south central coastal and Central Highlands regions will cultivate rice on a total area of over 321,000 ha./.