Foreign arrivals in HCM City rise by 10%
HCM City has received 341,000 foreign tourists this month, up 10 per cent year-on-year, according to the city's Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.
Earnings from tourism reached VND6,900 billion (US$328.5 million), a 20 per cent rise. HCM City expects to receive 4.1 million foreign visitors this year.
Nhan Dan (The People)
Sugar stockpiles mount to 250,000 tonnes
More than 250,000 tonnes of sugar are stored in manufacturers' warehouses in the country, according to the Viet Nam Sugar and Sugarcane Association. The association has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that association members be allowed to export sugar.
Lao Dong (Labour)
Fireworks to light up Tet eve in HCM City
According to HCM City's People's Committee the annual fireworks displays on the eve of Tet (the Lunar New Year) on February 10, will be set off at seven locations, including Thu Thiem Tunnel area in District 2, Dam Sen Amusement Park in District 11 and Cu Chi District's historic Ben Duoc site. The fireworks will begin at midnight and last for 15 minutes.
Saigon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon)
Free Tet bus tickets for workers
The trade unions of HCM City's Industrial Parks (IP) and Export Processing Zones (EPZ) on Monday handed over 4,500 bus tickets worth VND4.7 billion (US$223,800) to poor workers to help them return to their native villages in central and northern provinces for Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations.
The trade unions had originally planned to present bus tickets to 6,000 workers but only 4,500 workers registered for the tickets, according to Vuong Phuoc Thien, president of the IP and EPZ trade unions. This year, many workers are not returning home for the holidays because of cuts in pay and holiday bonuses.
Tuoi Tre (Youth)