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| Vietnam among 10 biggest construction ceramic producing countries (Photo: VNA) |
The ceramic industry contributes more than three billion USD to Vietnam’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually. In addition to serving domestic market demand, Vietnam-made construction ceramic products have been exported to many regions and countries around the world, such as ASEAN, Northeast Asia, America, and Europe. In 2022 alone, exports of ceramic products brought home over 220 million USD.
The Deputy Minister said that over the past years, the government, ministries, sectors have issued legal documents, plans, strategies to promote the development of construction materials, including ceramics, during 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.
Localities have also actively attracted investment in the industry, while manufacturers increased investment in many new projects.
In the past two decades, the construction ceramic industry in Vietnam has made strong progresses in both quality and quantity, with total capacity of ceramic tile production, including porcelain, granite and cotto tiles, surpassing 800 million sq. m a year, and that of sanitary ware 26 million units a year.
Phu Quoc voted world's leading nature island destination for second time
Phu Quoc, the nation’s largest island, has been named as the World’s Leading Nature Island Destination at this year’s World Travel Awards, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
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| Phu Quoc is voted as world's leading nature island destination for the second time (Photo: VOV) |
This marks the second time that Phu Quoc has surpassed several strong international rivals such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, the Isle of Skye in Scotland, Lofoten in Norway, the Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, and Zanzibar in Tanzania to receive the prestigious prize.
Covering a total area of 567 square kilometres and home to 180,000 people, Phu Quoc in the southern province of Kien Giang has been blessed with wild and natural beauty.
It features a monsoon tropical climate and has two seasons, the dry season which takes place from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. The average temperature on Phu Quoc is 28 degrees Celsius, which allows visitors to enjoy the island’s beauty at any time of the year.
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| Sao Beach in Phu Quoc (Photo: VOV) |
The island is also home to a marine sanctuary and a national park which is famous for trekking activities.
According to information given by the organising board, the winners of World Travel Awards were chosen based on votes made by the public and travel professionals from across the globe.
The island was also honoured by foreign media outlets and a number of internationally renowned magazines, including Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, Travel Lemming-website, Channel News Asia-Singapore, and The Week.
Eleven-month cashew exports gross US$3.31 billion
Vietnamese cashew exports during the 11-month period raked in US$3.31 billion, representing a rise of 23.1% in volume and 17.4% in value compared to the same period from last year, Radio the Voice of Vietnam quoted the data given by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The nation’s average cashew export price throughout the reviewed period dropped by 4.7% to US$5,682 per tonne on–year.
In line with this, the country’s major cashew export items include W320, W240, and W180, accounting for 63.51% of the total export volume and 69.84% of export turnover, with this exerting a positive impact on the entire cashew industry.
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| Eleven-month cashew exports gross US$3.31 billion (Photo: VGP) |
The United States remained the largest consumer of Vietnamese cashew nuts during the past 10 months of the year, while China has since emerged as an active buyer.
Specifically, China spent more than US$522.3 million importing 85,307 tonnes of cashew nuts, up 43.1% in volume and 47.2% in value over the same period from last year.
The average export price to this market surged by 2.8% to reach US$6,123 per tonne against the same period from last year. Due to both internal and external difficulties, the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) has recently proposed adjusting cashew export turnover this year to US$3.05 billion.
Although the import demand for cashew nuts from both the US and EU markets during the year-end holidays will push up Vietnamese cashew export turnover in the final months of the year, cashew exports cannot regain the record mark this year, according to experts.
Industry insiders assessed that local cashew nut is facing fierce competition from African countries such as the Ivory Coast.
They pointed out that the cashew industry needs to focus on processing quality and diversity of processed cashew products in order to make the most of its competitive advantage, as well as improving product quality to avoid warnings of pesticide residues from major importers like the US and Europe.
100 interesting facts about HCM City announced
Sai Gon double-decker bus tour, national special historical relic site Independence Palace, and popular “banh xeo” (sizzling rice pancake) are among the 100 interesting facts about HCM City in 2023, which were announced at a ceremony held by the municipal Department of Tourism on December 3, said the Vietnam News Agency.
The programme “HCM City – 100 interesting facts” was launched in December last year to promote the city as an attractive destination. It features 10 categories covering exciting sightseeing programmes, 10 exciting attractions, entertainment spots, shopping spots, tourist accommodation establishments, restaurants, coffee shops, tourism, cultural and sports events, check-in places, and delicacies.
At the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Dung stressed the city’s exciting experiences have been shaped up by the vibrant blend of cultures, cuisines, arts and destinations, and expressed his hope that the programme will be a highlight of the city’s tourism sector in the end of 2023, making contributions to popularising local images and destinations.
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| At the ceremony to announce the 100 interesting facts about HCM City (Photo: VNA) |
He ordered competent organisations to make unceasing efforts to improve tourism service quality to meet the expectation of the visitors as well as local tourism’s competitive capacity.
The programme is expected to become a locomotive that motivates local service providers to contribute to the city’s socio-economic development, he said.
Ho Chi Minh City welcomed more than 30 million domestic and foreign visitors during January – October, according to the municipal Department of Tourism. The number included 4.12 million foreign tourists, or 82% of the set target.
Revenue from accommodation and catering services was more than 89.45 trillion VND (3.6 billion USD), and that from travel service was over 8.9 trillion VND, up 30.6% and 68.3% year on year, respectively.
As the peak tourism season approaches, the city hopes to serve 5 million international visitors and more than 35 million domestic ones, and gain some 160 trillion VND in tourism revenue for the whole 2023.
It also sets a target of welcoming 6 million foreign visitors who will spend around 190 trillion VND next year. Given stable political-economic conditions, and good recovery of tourism and related industries, the Vietnamese southern hub expects to welcome a tourist influx from the Republic of Korea, Japan, India, and China./.