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Pho Festival 2024 will take place in the northern province of Nam Dinh from March 15 – 17
(Photo: VNA)
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With various activities, the event is expected to offer an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the flavour of ‘pho’ (Vietnamese rice noodle soup) blended with regional cultures across the country, thus promoting the Vietnamese distinctive dish.
Chairwoman of the provincial Culinary Culture Association Le Thi Thiet said that the festival aims to highlight the diversity of ‘pho’ in many localities nationwide, such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nam Dinh, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Lam Dong, Quang Nam and Gia Lai.
On the first day of the event, both domestic and international tourists will have the opportunity to explore and savor the traditional pho of Van Cu Village in Nam Truc district. They will learn about the origin and development of the dish and directly participate in the cooking process.
The festival will gather more than 50 booths introducing the ingredients and seasonings to make ‘pho’, as well as packaged ‘pho’ products for export.
A talk show on the history and development of the craft making of ‘pho’, an exhibition space, and a writing contest on the dish will also be held on the occasion.
Notably, chefs will join hands to cook a giant pot that can serve 2,000 bowls of ‘pho’ to serve visitors to the festival.
The event will be jointly organised by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the provincial Culinary Culture Association, Masan Consumer Corporation, and Blue Vietnam Company Limited.
Plastics & Rubber Vietnam 2024 exhibition kicks off in HCM City
The 11th international exhibition on plastics and rubber technology, materials and machinery opened in Ho Chi Minh City on March 13, with the participation of more than 60 booths showcasing products in the plastics-rubber industry from 12 countries and territories, including the UK, Germany, China, Singapore and Vietnam, among others, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
With a total area of 3,300 sqm, the three-day Plastics and Rubber Vietnam 2024 offers an opportunity for domestic and foreign businesses to access the latest technologies in the industry as well as seek potential business partners.
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| Delegates at the Plastics & Rubber Vietnam 2024 exhibition in HCM City on March 13 (Photo: VNA) |
Speaking at the opening ceremony, General Director of Informa Markets Vietnam Ben Wong said that the event is expected to connect leading suppliers from all around the world with Vietnamese enterprises while promoting international trade across the plastics and rubber industry.
Besides, a series of seminars will be held in the framework of the exhibition on different perspectives on circular economy and recycling in the plastics and rubber industry, he added.
Commercial Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy in Vietnam Dietmar Schwank shared that Vietnam is a potential market for plastic, rubber and many other industries. The Austrian Embassy's Commercial Section Ho Chi Minh City is always ready to support Vietnam in investment, technology transfer and specialised experience, he said.
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The event attracts the participation of more than 60 booths showcasing products in the
plastics-rubber industry from 12 countries and territories. (Photo: VNA) |
According to Mordor Intelligence, the scale of Vietnam's plastics market is expected to reach 10.92 million tones in 2024 and 16.36 million tonnes by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.44% in the period of 2024 – 2029.
Despite effects of the global economic situation, stimulus policies and business support activities have contributed to maintaining the growth of Vietnam's plastic industry. Along with plastics, Vietnam's rubber industry also showed positive signs in the first months of the year. The industry's exports in January 2024 reached 260,000 tonnes, worth 365 million USD, up 92.6% in volume and 99.8% in value year on year.
HCM City among cheapest nightlife cities to book in 2024
British magazine Time Out has picked Ho Chi Minh City among the top 10 cheapest nightlife destinations to book in the year ahead, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
The magazine used the interesting metric created by UK tour operator Ski Vertigo which analyses the cost of three beers, a five km taxi journey, and a McDonald's meal across 183 major cities to see which is the friendliest for the budget of travelers.
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| Ho Chi Minh City is among cheapest nightlife cities to book in 2024 (Photo: VOV) |
In line with this, the southern city came in sixth place in the list with the cost being US$11.07. Guangzhou, a city historically known as a major starting point for the Silk Road and China’s main trading port, topped the list. Three beers, a cab journey, and a meal from McDonalds will set visitors back just US$9.4.
It was followed by Gurgaon of India, Alexandria of Egypt, Coimbatore of India, Kolkata of India, Shenzhen of China, Tunis of Tunisia, Beijing of China, and Jakarta of Indonesia.
Local female cyclist wins seventh stage of Biwase Cup
Nguyen Thi Be Hong won the yellow jersey in the seventh stage of the 14th Binh Duong International Women’s Cycling Tournament, the Biwase Cup, which took place on March 12 after overcoming two foreign cyclists from Kazakhstan and Iran, reported Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
During the seventh stage of the event saw the cyclists compete in the route around Phan Rang and Phan Thiet cities.
In the final 70-km race, Be Hong defeated Solovyeva Anzhela of Kazakhstan and Anujin Jinjiibadam of Iran to become the winner of the seventh stage of the cycling tournament.
The Dong Thap native represents the second Vietnamese winner at the Biwase Cup 2024 after Nguyen Thi Thu Mai of Loc Troi Group who won the second stage.
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| Nguyen Thi Be Hong wins the yellow jersey in the seventh stage of the 14th Binh Duong International Women’s Cycling Tournament. (Photo: tuoitre.vn) |
After a total of seven stages, Natalia Frolova of Russia came first in the overall ranking, followed by Jutatip Maneephan of Thailand and Nguyen Thi Thu Mai of Vietnam.
The 14th Binh Duong International Women’s Cycling Tournament began on March 6 and is scheduled to last through to March 15. The competition has attracted the participation of 11 domestic and nine foreign teams.
With a total length of 1,158 km, the female cyclists compete in 10 stages, starting from Binh Duong and travelling through to Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
Individuals will compete for three jerseys, with the yellow jersey being given to the overall winner who will receive a cash prize of VND45 million, the green for the best sprinter receiving a cash prize of VND30 million, and the pink being given for the Miss Biwase Cup with a cash prize of VND10 million.
Meanwhile, the winning team who ultimately go on to secure the championship trophy will be awarded VND42 million. In addition, the organisers will also give special gifts to disadvantaged children during the race./.