☕ Afternoon briefing on April 27

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the inauguration of Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant, which was held by the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) in the northern province of Thai Binh on April 27.

According to PetroVietnam General Director Le Manh Hung, the plant has a total investment capital of over 41.7 trillion VND (1.8 billion USD) and a combined capacity of 1,200 MW, which is a large-scale project in the north. Read full story

- The freshly concluded visit to Cuba by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue was a greater-than-expected success, creating a chance for the two countries to enhance their long-standing relations in politics - diplomacy, economy - trade and investment, security - defence, and people-to-people exchange, Dr Ruvislei Gonzalez Saez, Vice President of the Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association and Director of the International Relations Programme of Cuba, told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) following NA Chairman Hue’s visit. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has asked ministries and central agencies to work closely with localities to remove obstacles for particular projects, thus speeding up public investment disbursement.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of 17 ministries and central agencies on April 27, Deputy PM Ha underlined the need to strengthen their capacity in directing and managing the disbursement of public investment capital from the stage of preparation to investment decision. He requested leaders of ministries and central agencies to bear responsible for the whole process from project proposing and verification to implementation. Read full story

- Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Canada have expressed their impression of the homeland’s achievements over the last 48 years, since the Liberation of the South and the National Reunification on April 30, 1975.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Dinh Kim Nguyet, member of the executive council of the Canada - Vietnam Society in Vancouver city, said despite staying far from Vietnam, she has always kept a close watch on the homeland’s development. Read full story

- The trading of new-generation tobacco products is popular around the world in recent years, leading to an increase in the rate of new-generation cigarette use, especially among the young, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan told a seminar in Hanoi on April 27.

He noted that the emergence of new-generation cigarettes has created more choices for both non-smokers and users of regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are boosting the rate of smoking. Read full story

- Many Vietnamese businesses are interested in increasing trade with Mexico, a big and potential market of strong consumption power, according to experts.

With a population of some 130 million, Mexico consists of all consumer segments. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s export market share in the North American nation has reached only about 1.3%, hence a plenty of room for growth. Read full story

- The Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association held a seminar on April 27 looking back on five editions of the annual Vietnam Amazing Cup which aims to discover and honour specialty coffee manufacturers, roasters and traders, contributing to improving the value of Vietnamese specialty coffee. Read full story

- Vietravel Airlines is expecting to expand its fleet to six by adding three more aircraft in the third quarter following a plan set out from the early days of its establishment. The move in association with a recruitment programme slated for May in Ho Chi Minh City aims to help the carrier be ready for its market expansion targets.

- Poultry meat export has shown signs of bouncing back since the beginning of 2023, according to the Department of Livestock Husbandry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The department said Vietnam shipped over 1.6 million USD worth of poultry meat abroad in February, doubling that in January and higher than the 86,500 USD in revenue posted in the same period of 2022. Read full story

- The northern province of Hai Duong has been taking actions to promote lychee sales, as the specialty fruit of its Thanh Ha district is ripening in the latter half of May.

The Hai Duong Department of Industry and Trade and the Thanh Ha People’s Committee held a conference on April 26 to seek ways for promoting lychee sales and improving the fruit’s value. Read full story

- CNN Travel has included banh mi (Vietnamese baguettes) among its top 24 sandwiches in the world in 2023. It is regularly ranked in the list of delicious dishes that foreign tourists must try when visiting Vietnam. Read full story

- A festival spotlighting cultures of ethnic groups in the northwestern and northeastern regions will take place at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in the suburbs of Hanoi from April 29 to May 3 in conjunction with the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holidays.

The festival will feature myriad activities run by 100 people from 16 ethnic communities living in the village, as well as 100 others from the Thai, Mong, Nung, Tay communities in the provinces of Son La, Lao Cai, and Thai Nguyen. Read full story./.