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| Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnamese pomelos have officially entered the Republic of Korean, while passion fruits have made their way to Australia. Additionally, Vietnam and China signed protocols to facilitate Vietnamese fresh coconuts and frozen durians to enter the Chinese market. Particularly, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports to China exceeded 4 billion USD this year.
Deputy Director of the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Quang Hieu said that this success is not only due to the introduction of new products into the markets but also reflects the ability of Vietnamese fruits to meet import requirements. It highlights the awareness among producers and exporters about adhering to regulations when entering new markets.
Discussing the negotiation and market entry processes, particularly for frozen durians and other agricultural products into China, Hieu noted that the department has successfully aligned the agreement terms with both Chinese regulations and Vietnam's production conditions, yielding significant benefits for businesses, cooperatives, and farmers in terms of both input costs and administrative procedures.
The positive results of fruit exports are also attributed to efforts in guiding farmers to successfully implement off-season cultivation techniques.
Nguyen Quoc Manh, Deputy Director of the MARD's Crop Production Department, said that the economic benefits of off-season cultivation for five fruit types - dragon fruit, mango, rambutan, durian, and longan - have increased by 1.5 to 2 times compared to traditional harvesting seasons. This allows Vietnam to export fruits all year-round, with durian as a prime example.
However, the success of market openings and the processing industry has put the coconut sector at risk of severe raw material shortages.
Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, President of the Vietnam Coconut Association, said that many companies have invested in facilities and factories in the southern province of Ben Tre - the coconut capital of Vietnam, but the local supply is insufficient. As a result, many enterprises have had to halt operations or function at minimal capacity, achieving only 10-15% of their potential output.
Over the past decade, companies engaging with the global market have recognised trends and invested heavily in modern machinery. Currently, Vietnam's coconut processing technology is on par with international standards.
Vietnam's coconuts are becoming a high-value export item, and processed coconut products have significant potential to enhance the value of coconuts and increase incomes for local farmers. In 2024, the export turnover of coconuts is expected to reach 900 million USD, setting a new record.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Director of the MARD’s Department of Science, Technology, and Environment, said that in addition to fresh coconut exports, the coconut processing industry now accounts for over 70% of export value. Almost every part of the coconut is utilised, which is essential for developing a circular and multi-value agricultural model.
Nguyen Thanh Binh, President of the Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association, emphasised that for Vietnamese products to penetrate deeper into China, Vietnam must address the issues of long transport distance, higher costs, high rates of spoiled products.
Vietnam must restructure fruit production to ensure large-scale, concentrated production that meets high-quality standards and complies with market regulations. While issues of area codes, packaging codes, and quarantine subjects are not new, Vietnamese companies need to excel in these areas to enter the Chinese market more effectively.
Additionally, investment in post-harvest processing technology and preservation methods during transport, storage, and distribution is essential. Efficient transport methods are needed to ensure Vietnamese fruits reach distant regions as quickly as possible. There is also a need to diversify products, including not just fresh fruits but processed items and a wider variety, to enhance consumer choices, Binh emphasised.
Fireworks to light up sky over Hanoi on New Year celebration
The capital city of Hanoi is set to welcome the New Year 2025 with spectacular firework displays at five locations and 30 venues for the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| A high-altitude firework display on Hoan Kiem Lake (Photo: VNA) |
To mark the arrival of the New Year, a music festival will take place on the evening of December 31 at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and August Revolution Square.
Firework displays will be held at five locations, including Hoan Kiem, Ha Dong, and Nam Tu Liem districts, as well as Son Tay township and Dong Anh district. The dazzling shows will light up the sky from midnight to 12:15am on January 1, 2025.
For the Lunar New Year, a grand firework show will be organised at 30 venues citywide to ring in Tet. The displays will begin at exactly midnight on January 29, 2025, marking the first day of the Lunar New Year.
In addition to the fireworks, the city has planned an array of cultural and artistic events. Highlights include the Light Concert – Welcome New Year 2025 in Tay Ho district, scheduled for 8:00 pm on January 18, 2025, and the programme Brilliant Thang Long 2025, set to take place in front of My Dinh National Stadium and the F1 racetrack area from 9:00pm to 11:59pm on January 28, 2025.
Vietnamese products make waves at Malaysia’s halal festival
Vietnam recently showcased its certified halal products at the Melaka Halal Festival 2024 in Malaysia, a move to expand its presence in the global halal market, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Vietnamese coffee leaves impression at the Melaka Halal Festival 2024 in Malaysia. (Photo: VNA) |
The premier event, themed "Optimising the Halal Industry," brought together exhibitors from nine countries, including Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. With 350 exhibition booths spanning lifestyle products, halal industry solutions, food and beverages, beauty care, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and fashion, the festival served as a crucial platform for enterprises to explore new markets and forge valuable partnerships.
The Vietnam Trade Office made a strong impression with its food and beverage offerings, particularly coffee products.
Ngo Quang Hung, First Secretary at the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia, told the Vietnam News Agency that around 1,000 Vietnamese enterprises now hold halal certifications for over 3,000 products, adding Malaysian coffee distributors particularly value Vietnamese coffee for its high caffeine content and distinctive aroma, which appeals to local consumers seeking focus and energy during work hours.
Vietnam's key export products including rice, tea, cashews, coffee, pepper, and seafood have emerged as staples that align well with Muslim consumer preferences and have won the taste in Muslim markets, he noted.
Held in conjunction with the Year of Visiting Melaka 2024, the festival not only boosted local tourism but also established Melaka as an international hub for the halal industry, fostering growth and collaboration in the competitive global halal market.
Vietnam aims to welcome 22-23 million international visitors in 2025
The tourism industry of Vietnam has planned to receive 22-23 million international visitors by 2025 as part of its efforts to recover and grow the tourism industry following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| With a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam aims to receive 22-23 million international visitors in 2025. (Photo: VOV) |
The tourism industry has recovered positively this year after the pandemic and has been praised by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh as a bright spot in the country’s socio-economic landscape.
The past 11 months saw Vietnam attract nearly 16 million foreign arrivals, representing an increase of 41% year on year, and experts believed that the tourism industry would meet the revised set target of receiving 17-18 million arrivals this year.
Visitors from Asia accounted for nearly 80% of the total international arrivals to Vietnam, with over 12.6 million. The largest international tourist markets included the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan (China), Japan, the United States, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Australia, and Thailand.
Notably, the Republic of Korea was the largest source market, with 4.13 million visitors, an increase of 128.3% compared to the same period last year. It was followed by China, with 3.3 million visitors, a 222% increase.
In the European market, the United Kingdom is the largest source of visitors, with over 279,000 visits, followed by France, Germany, and Russia.
To meet the target set for 2025, the tourism industry will focus resources on potential and high-quality markets such as China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, North America, India, and the Middle East, said Ha Van Sieu, deputy director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
The industry will select international markets based on criteria such as visa-free entry markets, markets with convenient flight connections, and markets with high potential, growth capacity, and quality, added the official.
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| International tourists are eager to experience farming activities at Tra Que Vegetable Village in Hoi An City, an immersive and unique way to explore the region's rich agricultural heritage. (Photo: VOV) |
According to the plan for 2025, Vietnam’s tourism industry will organize programs to promote tourism and connect businesses in Chinese-speaking markets, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore), Europe (Western Europe, Eastern-Central Europe, Northern Europe), Australia, North America, India, and the Middle East.
Notably, in 2025 there will be a Vietnam Cultural Tourism Week in Europe. in addition, the Vietnam Pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka in Japan’s Kansai from April to October 2025 will be an important occasion to promote Vietnamese culture and tourism.
Next year, the Vietnamese tourism industry plans to participate in several of the world’s leading travel fairs, including: ITB Berlin, IMEX Frankfurt (Germany), WTM London (UK), FITUR (Spain), IFTM Top Resa (France), MITT (Russia), MATKA (Finland), ITB China (China), TITF (Taiwan, China), SITF (Republic of Korea), Tourism EXPO Japan (Japan), TRAVEX, ITB Singapore, AIME (Australia), IMEX America/Seatrade Cruise Global Miami (USA), SATTE/OTM (India), and the Arabian Travel Market (Dubai).
According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, director general of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, promotion is always a key focus of the industry, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires increased market reconnection, new product development, and attracting returning tourists. Market research and statistics are given priority, with the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism publishing a market analysis newsletter every month on the same day the General Statistics Office releases international visitor statistics.
In the future, tourism promotion will both select source markets suitable for different domestic destinations and develop domestic products that meet the needs of international tourists, thus creating supply to stimulate demand, he said./.