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| Photo: VOV |
The news publication pointed out that this would be the first time the UK hasn’t been among the group since 2004.
The UK’s share of trade with the US declined by 2.6% during the first 10 months of the year, while Vietnam’s rose to 2.7%, according to details given by the Census Bureau data.
In terms of full-year numbers going back almost 20 years, the top seven US partners in terms of goods trading have consistently been Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, Germany, the Republic of Korea, and the UK, though positions within the group have shifted around.
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| Photo: congthuong.vn |
Most notably, the country didn’t appear in the top-15 list until 2019, with a rapid climb seeing it end last year at 10th position. If Vietnam’s lead over the UK holds for the final two months of the year, then it will be the first time that a majority of the top seven are Asian economies.
According to economic experts, the nation’s new position highlights that the Vietnamese economy has secured a stronger foothold within the global supply chain.
Vietnam named among the friendliest countries on Earth
Prestigious international travel magazine Far & Wide has placed Vietnam in fifth position on its list of the 10 friendliest nation in the world, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| Vietnam is among the friendliest countries in the world. (Photo: hadynyah/Getty Images) |
According to details given by magazine, the country has largely recovered from historical periods of war, with a friendly atmosphere welcoming foreign visitors among local people now common nationwide. Indeed, expats typically praise the nation’s “friendly vibe” and “nice and gentle” locals.
In line with this, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are both modern destinations that have a warm feel, whilst Vietnam as a whole is a particularly safe country, making it a good choice for solo travelers, it added.
Perhaps the surprising choice at number one on the list was Oman, with 87% of expats describing the locals of the Middle Eastern country as “welcoming.”
Mexico, Portugal, and Taiwan (China) rank second, third, and fourth, respectively. Other countries to make the top 10 list include Colombia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Costa Rica, and Bahrain.
Tan Son Nhat Airport ready for record passenger numbers during Tet
An estimated 130,000 passengers are forecast to pass through Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City every day during the 2023 Lunar New Year festival, locally known as Tet, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| Passengers line up to check in at Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Photo: vtc.vn) |
As part of efforts to prepare for the peak travel season, the airport’s authorities have taken special measures in a bid to ensure security and ease congestion both in and around the airport during the Tet rush.
The move will see the number of flights operated by domestic carriers during from January 6 to February 5 rise to 820 a day.
Most notably, on January 20 and January 29, there will be 889 and 898 flights, respectively.
This surge in terms of the number of passengers usually causes added traffic congestion in the area surrounding the airport. Therefore, the authorities will co-operate with relevant units as part of efforts to strengthen the supervision and install information panels featuring information about departures and arrivals. This will be done alongside asking that carriers make an effort to reduce flight delays and cancellations.
US unveils US$29 mil contract to local firm to clean-up dioxin contamination
The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), announced a new contract for approximately US$29 million to clean up dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa Air Base, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| The construction site of the dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa Air Base (Photo: USAID) |
USAID issued the four-year contract for civil works to Vietnamese firm VINA E&C Investment and Construction JSC (VINA E&C). Under the contract, VINA E&C will complete the excavation of contaminated soil on the air base and prepare it for treatment.
“This announcement represents the United States’ commitment to our partnership with Vietnam,” said Aler Grubbs, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director.
“This contract will complete critical preparatory work, paving the way for the treatment phase of the project. This marks the largest contract yet by USAID to a local Vietnamese organization, as we make a concerted effort to build Vietnamese expertise in this nascent area of environmental health and safety”, he added.
“It is an honor to be selected to lead the next phase of the joint cooperative project between the US and Vietnam governments to remediate dioxin at Bien Hoa Air Base,” said Vu Van Liem, General Director of VINA E&C.
“This contract is a great opportunity for VINA to continue achieving project progress. We look forward to applying our specialized expertise to meet the project’s high safety and health requirements and technical specifications, and contribute to the overall success of the project”, Liem noted.
USAID is working with the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to remediate approximately 500,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment on and around the Bien Hoa Air Base.
USAID previously completed the clean-up of dioxin contamination at Danang Airport in 2018. The Bien Hoa clean-up effort involves nearly four times the volume of soil as the Danang Airport clean-up. USAID and MND launched the Bien Hoa project in April 2019./.