Vietjet officially inaugurates two direct routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi of Vietnam with Mumbai, India (Photo: Vietjetair.com)
According to VNA, the inauguration ceremony of the two routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Mumbai was held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India, with the participation of representatives of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Mumbai, the airport, and Vietjet and passengers.
Passengers on the first flight from Hanoi to Mumbai at Noi Bai International Airport.
(Photo: Vietjetair.com)
Vietjet Vice President Do Xuan Quang said: “After the capital New Delhi, Mumbai is the second city of India - the 1.4 billion people country that Vietjet has direct flights to, we believe that two routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai and upcoming Phu Quoc - Mumbai one will promote the development of relations between Vietnam’s cities and Mumbai. The routes connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai will see three and four round-trip flights per week, respectively, and being expected to continue increasing the frequencies in the near future to serve the passengers’ demands."
Jubilantly welcoming the first flights to Mumbai, Vietjet opens sales on 19,999 promotional tickets from only 0 VND (excluding taxes and fees) for all routes from and to India on three golden days - June 7, 8, 9 2022, with the flight period from July 1 to December 31, 2022 (excluding national holidays and Tet). Promotional tickets are available for sale from 12:00 on June 7 to the end of June 9, 2022 (GMT 7) on Vietjets’ official channels at website www.vietjetair.com, Vietjet Air mobile app or Facebook www.facebook.com/vietjetvietnam (“Booking” section).
Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay is one of the important economic, cultural and social centers - also known as “the city of dreams”, the largest city in India. Mumbai is also famous for the movie capital Bollywood, the capital of one of the world’s largest film industries.
Besides, new routes will also contribute to bringing Indian tourists to attractive destinations of Vietnam including the capital of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc - Pearl Island or easily connect with destinations in Southeast Asia and East Asia where Vietjet has flights to.
Vietnamese doctors provide free health check-ups, medicines for needy people in Laos
A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City's Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs on June 4 provided free health check-ups and medicines for impoverished overseas Vietnamese and Lao people in Vientiane, reported VNA.
Doctors provide free health check-ups for OVs and Lao people. (Photo: VNA)
The programme was implemented with the coordination of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and and the Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane.
This annual event was part of activities to respond to the Vietnam - Laos and Laos - Vietnam Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2022, and celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, and the 45th year of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries.
Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City Vo Thanh Chat praised efforts made by OVs living and working in Laos, and local people in recovering their lives after the COVID-19 pandemic and stabilising their jobs, and joining activities towards the homeland.
He affirmed that the HCM City authorities and the whole country will continue to share with Vietnamese expatriates in Laos, as well as the Lao government in taking care of health of those who face difficulties in their lives.
During the programme, 500 people were presented medicines and gift packages worth 1 million VND (43 USD) each.
The programme enabled OVs and local people with difficult circumstances to have their health checked and receive medical advice and consultancy. It also contributed to raising public awareness of the importance of health care.
Binh Duong takes lead in FDI attraction nationwide
The southern province of Binh Duong lured US$2.5 billion worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first five months of 2022, rising to the top of localities nationwide, reported VNA.
At the beginning of 2022, the provincial People's Committee granted 22 investment certificates to businesses investing in local industrial parks (IPs) and kicked off construction of the 1,000ha Vietnam - Singapore IP III.
So far, Binh Duong has recorded more than 4,033 valid foreign investment projects worth more than US$38 billion. It houses 29 concentrated IPs spanning nearly 13,000ha in total, with average occupancy rate exceeding 83.4%.
According to Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Vo Van Minh, Binh Duong is committed to creating the best conditions for domestic and foreign investors.
Meanwhile, domestic capital poured into the province amounted to nearly VND31 trillion (US$1.33 billion) during the first five months. Binh Duong’s industrial production index also grew 7.9% in the period against the same period last year.
Similar on-year expansion was seen in local retail-service revenue and export value, both at 11.5%.
The province's imports, on the other hand, decreased by 4.2% annually.
Measures sought to facilitate offshore wind power development
The Danish Embassy in Vietnam and the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) jointly held a conference in Hanoi on June 2 to discuss measures to promote the development of offshore wind power in Vietnam.
Photo for illustration (Source: VNA)
According to VNA, participants held that Vietnam boasts offshore wind power potential of up to 160GW, while the national Power Development Plan 8 (PDP VIII) also sets a target of developing 7GW of offshore wind power in 2030.
However, he pointed to various barriers that should be removed to promote the development of this kind of energy.
Nguyen Manh Cuong from the Institute of Energy said that there are two options for Vietnam - increasing the transmission of power from the south where the wind power potential is great to the northern region, and developing offshore wind power in the north.
He underlined the significant role of offshore wind power when Vietnam realises its net-zero emission by 2050.
Cuong noted that northern coastal localities have registered the development of 51,000MW of offshore wind power. However, the region aims to develop 4,000MW, which means only most feasible projects will be selected.
According to Cuong, one of the problems in the power connection is a lack of planning for an undersea cable system connecting offshore wind power projects to minimise impacts on ecosystems, marine transportation and fishermen's livelihoods.
He also pointed to the need to ensure the harmony in interests of all parties involving in wind power projects, and making administrative procedures in the field simpler.
Meanwhile, Stuart Livesay, General Director of La Gan wind power project, held that in order to avoid risks, Vietnam should soon design relevant planning and give detailed guidance to businesses in developing offshore wind power.
Pham Nguyen Hung, Vice Director of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority, said that the Electricity Law, which is being revised, is a breakthrough step by the Government to allow the private sector to involve themselves in investing in power transmission grid.
He said that the MoIT is working to draft documents guiding the implementation of the revised law, adding that currently, some private firms have engaged in investing in power grid, but the inter-region grid must be invested by the State.
Hung also pointed to need for renovating the investment procedure and management of offshore wind power projects to facilitate their implementation./.