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| Trade surplus reached 24.44 billion USD as of November 15 this year. (Photo: VNA) |
The office reported that the total import-export turnover of goods hit 587.68 billion USD, down 9% year-over-year, with exports decreasing by 6.4% and imports dropping by 11.7% compared to the same period last year.
The domestic sector saw a trade deficit of 19.05 billion USD, and the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) posted a trade surplus of 43.49 billion USD.
In the first 11 months, 33 products posted an export turnover of over 1 billion USD each, accounting for 92.9% of the country's total. Particularly, seven commodities recorded an export turnover of more than 10 billion USD, accounting for 66.1%.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said that the ministry will promote negotiations, sign new agreements, commitments, free trade agreements, and trade agreements with more potential partners in order to diversify markets, products, and supply chains.
The ministry will support businesses to take advantage of commitments in new generation FTAs to boost exports; and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to negotiate with the Chinese side to open the market for more Vietnamese fruit and vegetable products such as green-skinned grapefruit, fresh coconut, avocado, pineapple, star apple, and lemon.
It will also focus on strengthening early warning of trade defence lawsuits, giving them consultations on how to respond to lawsuits, and providing businesses and associations in a timely way with new market information, demand, and relevant regulations.
Vietnam sees record number of int'l tourists in November
Vietnam served over 1.23 million international tourists in November, up 11% month-on-month, the record monthly number in 2023, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the figures of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).
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| Foreign tourists in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) |
In the first 11 months of 2023, the country welcomed 11.2 million foreign arrivals, 3.8 times higher than the figure recorded in the same period last year, and equal to 68.9% of the figure in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Of the total, visitors traveling by air accounted for 87.3%.
The VNAT said the Republic of Korea (RoK) maintained its position as the largest tourist market of Vietnam in the Jan-November period with 3.2 million arrivals, accounting for 28.5%. It was followed by China and Taiwan (China).
Meanwhile, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia; and the UK, France and German were respectively the top markets in in Southeast Asia and Europe.
In November 2023, the number of European arrivals witnessed the strongest growth among the continents, up 58.5% compared to the previous month. The number of Chinese visitors continued to maintain a growth of nearly 10%.
Statistics from the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam raked in an estimated 34 trillion VND (1.4 billion USD) from tourism activities in the reviewed period, up 50.5% year-on-year.
The US travel site - Travel Off Path also has run an article stating four reasons why Vietnam is increasingly becoming a favourite destination for "digital nomads", including the new visa policy which took effect on August 15, 2023.
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| Visitors in Hoi An ancient town (Photo: tienphong.vn) |
Since early 2023, localities nationwide have actively offered many tourism products and cultural and sports activities to stimulate tourism demand.
Notably, Hanoi has launched 15 night tourism products to promote the advantages of night services, contributing to promoting the city's socio-economic development.
Vietnam wins big at Asian Finswimming Championship
Vietnamese athletes grabbed 19 gold, 19 silver, and 14 bronze medals at the Asian Finswimming Championship, which was wrapped up in Phuket, Thailand, on November 28, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
According to the final results, they won medals in individual and relay events in both the men's and women's seniors and youth disciplines.
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Coach Pham Tuan Anh (middle) and four athletes winning medals at the Asian Championship in Thailand
(Photo: baothanhhoa.vn) |
Most notably, Vu Dang Nhat Nam broke the Asian record in the men's 400m bi-fins with a time of 3’32”49.
The 18th Asian championship attracted the participation of a total of 370 athletes from 15 countries and territories.
This year saw the Vietnamese team send 41 athletes to compete in the tournament, including SEA Games champions Nguyen Thanh Loc, Vu Dang Nhat Nam, Nguyen Trong Dung, Nguyen Tran San San, Pham Thi Thu, Nguyen Thi Thao, and Le Thi Thanh Van, along with their junior teammates.
Vietnam finishes first at Da Nang international chef competition
A Vietnamese representative won first prize at the Catrion ‘Jet Setters Platte’ international chef competition which took place as part of the Asia Pacific Onboard Travel (APOT) Forum 2023 from November 26 to 28 in the central coastal city of Da Nang, according to Radio the Voice of Vietnam.
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Doi Thi Ngoc Diep, a lecturer of CHM International Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, wins
the first prize at Da Nang international chef competition. (Photo: daidoanket.vn) |
The contest attracted the participation of 26 Asian chefs, including four Vietnamese representatives.
Doi Thi Ngoc Diep, a lecturer of CHM International Academy in Ho Chi Minh City, bagged first prize, while her team mate Vo Quoc Viet of MENAS Company Limited was awarded a prize for the best appetizer and another prize for the best chef in the kitchen.
This marks the second time APOT has been held in Da Nang after the first in 2014. The contest provides an opportunity for chefs to demonstrate their culinary creativity, helping food service providers seek suitable and high-quality inflight dishes.
Judges are comprised of famous Asian chefs and representatives of airlines, resorts, hotels, and restaurants. They are led by Thomas Gugler, president of the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS).
APOT is a non-profit organisation dedicated to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and advancement in aviation and related industries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Over the past decade, APOT has continued to organise annual events and forums which bring together leaders and experts in order to drive growth in the industry./.