Weekly press digest – April 28 – May 4

Ministries urged to realize 2014 socio-economic targets

PM Nguyen Tan Dung asked ministries, industries and localities to continue taking drastic measures to realize socio-economic targets set for 2014.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung made the request at the Government’s April regular meeting in Ha Noi on April 29.

He said that the national socio-economic situation is generally positive but changes are still slow and unstable.

PM Dung asked relevant agencies and ministries to focus on increasing aggregate demand through accelerating the disbursement of public investment capital and other sources and raising credit balance while addressing bad debts and ensuring credit quality.

PM directs to improve investment, business environment

The Government will create favorable conditions for the business community to increase productivity, competitiveness, quality and competitiveness and make contribution to the nation’s socio-economic development, said PM Nguyen Tan Dung on April 28 at his conference with businesses.

The PM applauded efforts, achievements and contributions of the business community to the nation’s socio-economic development over the past time.

PM Dung also pointed out difficulties and shortcomings facing these businesses such as the number of enterprises is still low in comparison to the population and 97-98% of businesses are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

The PM suggested ministries, agencies and localities work with the business community to further improve the investment and business environment.

Nation celebrates Liberation Day

Various activities were held nationwide to mark the 39th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Viet Nam (April 30) and the May Day (May 1).

Authorities of central Quang Tri province, on April 29 paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National Road 9 Martyrs’ Cemetery, Truong Son Martyrs’ Cemetery, and the memorial site in the Quang Tri ancient citadel and laid flowers at the late Party General Secretary Le Duan memorial site.

Also the same day, a painting and photo exhibition opened in southern Vinh Long province to mark the nation’s public holiday.

On this occasion, many provinces nationwide hosted meetings with historical witnesses, art performances and sport activities.

Visitors flock to President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

More than 60,000 visitors, including 15,000 foreigners, paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and relic site in Hanoi during the National Reunification Day and May Day holidays that began on April 30.

On May 1 alone, as many as 24,532 people paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and visited the house in which he lived and worked, as well as Ba Dinh Square and the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Southern province welcomes Vesak Day

A number of activities celebrating the forthcoming United Nations Day of Vesak (the day of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death) took place in the southern province of Binh Duong on May 1-3.

A requiem was held at the province’s war martyr cemetery and a parade took place along the 10km road from Hoi Khanh Pagoda to Hoi An Pagoda before the main event was held on May 2 afternoon.

The United Nations Day of Vesak 2014 celebrations will be held in Bai Dinh Temple in the northern province of Ninh Binh on May 7-11.

Buddhism has been practised in Vietnam for over 2,000 years. The country has more than 12 million Buddhist followers, over 40,000 monks and nuns and almost 15,000 temples, monasteries and other places of worship

2014 Ha Long Carnival attracts crowds

Thousands of tourists both from home and abroad along with local people flocked to the 2014 Ha Long Carnival that opened on April 30 in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

The event, themed“Quang Ninh – Convergence and Pervasion”, highlighted a special 45-minute performance by local artists and 300 from China, Laos and Thailand.

More than 3,800 local artists, both amateur and professional, participated in a parade , showing off special cultural identities of the province and promoting tourism sites, such as Ha Long Bay, Yen Tu relic site, Van Don island and Mong Cai city.

Foreign arrivals up 27% in 4 months

Foreign arrivals to Viet Nam in the first four months of this year are estimated to hit 3.1 million, a year-on-year increase of 27.3%, according to the General Statistics Office.

Air travelers were 2.5 million, up 23.5%, while those travelling by road recorded 584,500 people (up 68%) and by sea with 34,500, down 56.1%.

The number of visitors going on holiday reached 1.9 million people (up 25.3%), those going on business were 516,900 (up 27.2%) and those coming to Vietnam to visit relatives were 534,100 (up 33.1%).

Visitors from China recorded the highest surge of 46.9%.

(Source: VGP/VNA/VOV)