Awards to honour hospitality sector

The 11th Viet Nam tourism awards will be handed to 50 exemplary hotels and travel businesses at a ceremony here later this month.
The Viet Nam Tourism Association said the award would be also granted to another 15 firms who supply good tourism services, including transportation and shopping.

The award follows the former awards for the Top Ten International Tour Operators and Hotels in Viet Nam.

It is aimed at encouraging hotels and travel businesses to improve the quality of products and services, develop new products and sharpen their professional skills in line with world standards.

"The more hotels and travel businesses offer world standard products and services, the more attractive the country's tourism industry will be," said association chairman Nguyen Phu Duc.
Shipbuilder launches Blue Star

HAI PHONG ? Bach Dang Shipbuilding Industry Co launched the 22,500DWT container ship Blue Star last Thursday in the northern port city of Hai Phong. The vessel is the first under a contract to build eight ships for the Viet Nam Maritime Corporation. The vessel was designed by Vinakit, a joint venture between the Vinashin Group and Japan's Kitada Company.

Fund to develop infrastructure

The Quang Nam provincial People's Committee announced the formation of the Chu Lai Development and Investment Fund last Thursday. The fund has VND100 billion (US$5.26 million) in State capital to invest in export processing, economic, hi-tech and industrial zone infrastructure in the province.

Construction begins on urban area

The Housing and Urban Development Co (HUD) has commenced construction of the Dong Son new urban zone in Thanh Hoa's Dong Son District. The VND95 billion (US$5 million) project is being built on a site of 12,300sq.m and is slated for completion in 2011.

Indian textile firms promote goods

India's Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council, the Ha Noi Trade Promotion Centre and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry will hold an event in Ha Noi on June 29 to introduce Indian textiles to Vietnamese garment makers. Among the 16 Indian enterprises taking part will be Vardhman Textiles Co Ltd, KG Danim, Gokak Textile, Rajasthan Spinning. The similar event will be held in HCM City on July 1.

Phu My Fertilisers exceeds targets

The PetroVietnam Fertiliser and Chemical Co (Phu My Fertilisers) earned VND2.5 trillion (US$131 million) in the first half of this year, equivalent 60 per cent of the year's target. It produced 390,000 tonnes of urea fertiliser during the period, 330,000 tonnes of which came from the Dam Phu My Plant. Phu My has a network of five agents and over 2,000 outlets nationwide selling its products.

Visa launches Platinum card

Visa, a global payments technology company, launched the Visa Platinum card last Friday in the Viet Nam market, which will first be issued by HSBC Viet Nam and Sacombank.

"As the economy here continues to mature, we felt the time was right to introduce the first Visa Premium cards to Viet Nam," said Truong Minh Ha, country manager for Visa in Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos.