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| Loading rice for export (Photo: VNA) |
Do Ha Nam, Vice President of the Vietnam Food Association and CEO of Intimex Group, said that 2024 will be another record-breaking year for rice exports, with the total to exceed 8 million tonnes and a value of over 5 billion USD, the highest ever. Furthermore, the average export price could also reach a record, potentially topping 600 USD per tonne. This has helped keep rice prices within the domestic market high and stable.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam’s rice exports for the first 10 months of 2024 totalled nearly 7.8 million tonnes, valued at 4.86 billion USD, representing a 10.2% increase in volume and a 23.4% rise in value compared to the same period in 2023. The average price during this period was over 626 USD per tonne, marking a 12% increase year-on-year.
The Philippines, with a strong demand, remains Vietnam's largest export market, accounting for over 45% of the total exports. By the end of October 2024, it had imported 2.91 million tonnes from Vietnam, representing more than 79% of its total rice imports of 3.68 million tonnes. Other key markets include Indonesia and Malaysia, with Malaysia experiencing the strongest growth in value among Vietnam's top 15 export destinations, seeing a 2.3-fold increase.
The Vietnam Trade Office in the Philippines anticipates that rice imports will continue to rise in the final months of 2024, driven by increasing domestic consumption and damage to the harvest caused by natural disasters. It is projected that the total volume of the grain imported by the Philippines in 2024 could exceed 4 million tonnes.
Although rice export prices in Vietnam have fluctuated recently, Nam said he believes that domestic prices could increase towards the end of the year due to limited supply and the impact of storms and floods. He noted that the Philippines, Vietnam's major importer, prefers fragrant rice which keeps a high demand despite increased global supply from India.
In a significant development, Vietnamese companies recently secured 83,500 tonnes of rice in a tender for 500,000 tonnes held by Indonesia in October. Despite the influx of Indian rice, Indonesian buyers were willing to pay more for Vietnamese due to its superior quality.
Nam said that Vietnamese companies have secured substantial orders for the rest of the year, which will help stabilise rice prices.
While India has resumed exporting rice, Nam does not foresee significant impact on prices for Vietnamese, as the Indian grain is generally of lower quality and primarily exported to Africa. In contrast, Vietnamese farmers have shifted to cultivating higher-quality rice varieties.
Vietnam’s agriculture sector is optimistic about the future, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development projecting that this year’s rice production may reach 43 million tonnes, ensuring a steady supply for both domestic consumption and export.
140 exhibitors to join Vietnam int’l defence expo
As many as 140 exhibitors from 27 countries worldwide, including major powerhouses like the US, the UK, and France, have confirmed their participation at the second Vietnam International Defence Expo to be held by the Ministry of National Defence in mid-December, heard a press conference in Hanoi on November 15, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
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| Sen. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, at the press conference on November 15 (Photo: VNA) |
The event will take place at Gia Lam Airport on the outskirts of Hanoi from December 19-22 as part of the activities to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the 35th anniversary of the All-people’s National Defence Day
According to Major General Le Ngoc Than, Political Chief of the General Department of Defence Industry, the public will have free access from the afternoon of December 21 to December 22.
Other commemorative events include a contest on the tradition of the VPA, an art programme, a military cultural exhibition, and a national workshop.
The ceremony marking the anniversaries will be held on December 20 at the National Convention Centre, with the expected attendance of Party and State leaders.
Festival celebrates 15 years of UNESCO-recognised Quan ho singing
More than 700 singers from 24 Quan ho (love duet) singing villages in the northern province of Bac Ninh on November 15 gathered at the first-ever Quan ho village festival, an event held to mark the 15th anniversary of the UNESCO’s recognition of the folk singing as an intangible cultural heritage element of humanity, said the Vietnam News Agency.
They honoured the heritage through traditional unaccompanied duets, solo performances, and group singing.
The festival aimed at evaluating the villages’ contributions to preserving the folk songs over the recent past while creating an opportunity for local singers to meet and exchange experiences in practicing the heritage in the community.
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| At the first-ever Quan ho village festival (Photo: VNA) |
According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Xuan Trung, Quan ho has evolved beyond its traditional village boundaries to become a vibrant force in the community's spiritual and economic life.
The art form has transformed from village performances to diverse stages, reaching audiences both domestically and internationally.
Originally, Quan ho singing was only found on the southern bank of the Cau river in Bac Ninh province. However, due to its significant influence, it spread to neighbouring areas on the northern bank of the Cau river in Bac Giang province. The Cau river is also known as the Quan ho river.
There are opinions suggesting that Quan ho dates back to the 11th century, while others believe it originated in the 17th century. All of them emphasise the significant value of the intangible cultural heritage of Quan ho. This art form is considered the core of the culture of the Kinh Bac region, with a history of thousands of years of civilisation.
Compared to other forms of folk art such as "hat xoan", "hat gheo", "hat ca tru", "hat vi dam", "tuong", and "cai luong", Quan ho singing has existed the longest, with a lifespan of thousands of years.
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| Leaders of the Bac Ninh Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded the A prizes to individuals (Photo: baobacninh.vn) |
Quan ho is a form of folk singing characterised by a duet format. The male singers, known as "lien anh", wear traditional attire of folded scarves and "the", shirts, while the female singers, known as "lien chi", don elegant dresses and round hats made from palm leaves with long silk straps. They sing together in pairs, delivering simple and soulful verses in a traditional style that does not require musical accompaniment yet remains melodious.
Most Quan ho songs follow the verse form of "luc bat" or its variations, and there are also songs in prose form. Up to now, at least 300 melodies of Quan ho have been notated, consisting of verses and poems, primarily in the "luc bat" form, passed down by Quan ho artists to collectors.
Quan ho was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage element of humanity in 2009.
Every year, as spring arrives, people from Quan ho villages in the Kinh Bac region, including both Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, return to their hometowns to join various local festivals, such as temple and pagoda ones. These festivals are incredibly unique because they have been closely associated with the tradition of Quan ho singing for generations.
Tra Que named among world’s best tourism villages in 2024
Tra Que vegetable village in the central province of Quang Nam has become Vietnam's sole representative to earn a spot on the United Nations World Tourism Organisation's (UNWTO) 2024 list of the world’s 55 best tourism villages, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
The UNWTO's evaluation criteria encompasses a range of factors, including cultural and natural resources, promotion and preservation of cultural assets, socio-economic and environmental sustainability, tourism development and value chain integration, governance, infrastructure and connectivity.
Founded in the 16th century, Tra Que is a mere 3km from the historic Hoi An ancient city and 20km from the bustling central city of Da Nang. Bordered by the serene Co Co river and Tra Que lagoon, the village boasts fertile sandy soil and a temperate climate - ideal conditions for organic vegetable farming that has thrived for generations.
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| Tra Que vegetable village (Photo: VNA) |
The village was once a patchwork of homes and gardens, with uneven fields punctuated by irrigation ponds. However, a visionary tourism-oriented development plan initiated over two decades ago transformed Tra Que. Houses were relocated, ponds were leveled, and the landscape was restructured into neat, square fields traversed by well-designed pathways.
Today, Tra Que spans 18 ha, home to 202 households and 326 farmers who cultivate over 20 types of vegetables. Thousands of visitors flock to the village daily, eager to immerse themselves in the picturesque landscape and engage in hands-on farming experiences.
In April 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognised Tra Que vegetable farming as a national intangible cultural heritage, celebrating its rich traditional knowledge and craftsmanship.
But Tra Que is more than just a farming village, it is a treasure trove of history. The Tho Than shrine, Ngu Hanh temple, and the tomb of Nguyen Van Dien are just a few of the sites that offer a glimpse into the village's rich past. Well-preserved customs like the Cau Bong ritual and unique culinary traditions also further enrich visitors' experiences.
Tra Que's recognition by the UNWTO follows the success of Tan Hoa tourism village in Minh Hoa district, Quang Binh province, which received the same distinction in 2023./.