Vietnamese – Author Carlo Carrasco

Thailand Sets Ambitious Tourism Targets For 2026

January 25, 2026January 20, 2026carlocarrasco

Thailand, the 2^nd most visited nation of Southeast Asia in 2025, has set ambitious tourism targets for itself for 2026 and it includes achieving US$95 billion in tourism revenue, according to a VnExpress news release. Thailand attracted over thirty million international arrivals last year which was actually a decline of more than 7% compared to 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has expressed confidence that the country’s tourism sector will earn 3 trillion THB (US$95.35 billion) in revenue this year through its “Amazing 5 Economy” strategy.

The plan targets an 11% increase in international visitors, enhanced domestic tourism, and a focus on sustainable, high-quality growth despite global challenges.

TAT aims for 36.7 million international arrivals and about 210 million domestic trips in 2026. Meanwhile, the revenue target includes 2 trillion THB from international markets, with an expected 11% increase in international tourist arrivals, and 1 trillion THB from domestic tourism, projected to grow by 4%, said TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.

In 2026, TAT plans to reignite quality tourism growth by addressing challenges such as geopolitical tensions, increasing global competition, and domestic factors like the strong baht, household debt, safety concerns, and natural disasters. The key to success lies in the “Amazing 5 Economy” framework, which includes life economy, sub-culture economy, night economy, circular economy, and platform economy.

In 2025, Thailand recorded total tourism revenue of approximately 2.7 trillion THB. International arrivals reached 32.97 million, down 7.23% year-on-year.

It saw declines in short-haul markets such as Malaysia and China. However, long-haul markets showed strong momentum, with visitors from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa reaching a record 10.8 million.

Notably, arrivals from the U.K. and the U.S. each surpassed one million for the first time. Domestic tourism also expanded, with more than 202 million trips, up 2.7%.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Thailand before? If you did, how long did you stay in Thailand and how was your overall travel experience there? Do you think Thailand will be to achieve its ambitious tourism targets this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Lot More American Fruits And Vegetables Imported By Vietnam In 2025

January 23, 2026January 22, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam, a nation previously ravaged by war which eventually emerged as a major tourism destination in Southeast Asia, imported a lot more fruits and vegetables from the United States of America resulting in a jump of 67% to US$900 million, according to a news report by VnExpress. Vietnam’s exports to America, however, were not too great which resulted in a trade surplus of more than $350 million for America on fruits and vegetables.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the VnExpress news report. Some parts in boldface…

U.S. fruits and vegetables are pouring into Vietnam, with 2025 imports rising by nearly 67% to US$900 million, but Vietnamese exports to the U.S. are not keeping pace.

This marked a 10-fold jump in imports from the U.S. from a decade ago, with cherries, apples, grapes, and oranges being among the top fruits bought, according to Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports to the U.S. were worth $546 million last year, a minuscule 1.49% share in a market is dominated by suppliers such as Mexico, Canada and South American countries.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the U.S. is a very large market but also one marked by stringent technical standards and also long geographical distance for Vietnam.

Vietnam’s position as the 13 largest fruit and vegetable supplier to the U.S. is owed to the great efforts made by businesses in recent years, he added.

There is room for growth as the list of fresh fruits permitted for export to the U.S. continues to expand, and now includes pomelo, mango, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, star apple, rambutan and, most recently, coconut.

Consumer trends in the U.S. are shifting toward novel fruits, health-oriented products and more deeply processed items such as frozen fruit, dried fruits and juices, with Vietnamese products like coconut, durian and pomelo becoming increasingly popular.

But exports do face many challenges. Starting this month the U.S. began tightening regulations on traceability and food safety, particularly with respect to pesticide residues.

Vietnamese oversight of planting area codes and packing facilities remains uneven, which threatens to bring warnings or even temporary import suspensions by the U.S.

The high logistics costs due to the distance make it difficult for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to compete on price with suppliers close to the U.S. such as in Mexico, Peru or Thailand.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you consider Vietnam’s heavy importing of American fruits and vegetables in 2025 big economic victories for Trump’s America? What do you think is the main reason as to why Vietnam purchases so much fruits and vegetables from the United States? Do you think Trump’s tariffs are already helping American producers of fruits and vegetables?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Vietnam Attracts All-Time High 21.2 Million Foreign Tourist Arrivals In 2025

January 10, 2026January 6, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam, a nation ravaged by war decades ago, has emerged as a major tourism magnet in both Southeast Asia and Asia as a whole after successfully attracting more than twenty-one million foreign tourists in 2025, according to a VnExpress International news report. The figure is a new all-time high. What Vietnam achieved was more than 20% higher than its 2024 foreign tourist numbers. For 2026, Vietnam is aiming high with a target of 25 million foreign visitors.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam welcomed a record number of foreign tourists in 2025 with 21.2 million, up 20.4% from the previous year and the highest ever, according to General Statistics Office.

Mainland China was Vietnam’s biggest source of visitors last year with 5.2 million arrivals, up 41% year-on-year, followed by South Korea with 4.3 million and Taiwan with 1.23 million.

The U.S. ranked fourth with 848,000, followed by Japan with 814,000. The rest of the top 10 were India (746,000), Russia (689,000), Cambodia (687,000), Malaysia (573,000) and Australia (548,000).

Tourism industry insiders attributed Vietnam’s strong performance to visa reforms.

*Foreign tourists welcomed in Vietnam. (photo credit: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism)*

In March the government decided to extend visa exemptions until 2028 for citizens of 12 countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.

In August it waived visa requirements for stays of up to 45 days for citizens of 12 more countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

This expanded the unilateral visa waiver list to 24 countries and the total number including bilateral waivers to 39.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering the strong international tourism momentum it has right now, do you think Vietnam will succeed in attracting 25 million foreign tourists this year? Do you think a lot more visitors from Europe will come to Vietnam this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Foreign Resident Population In South Korea Reaches New All-Time High

December 30, 2025December 22, 2025carlocarrasco

Have you ever thought about entering South Korea with employment and residency in mind? The economic giant of Asia saw its foreign resident population reach a new all-time high and it has something to do with the arrival of young migrants and foreign students, according to a news report by VnExpress. Not only that, Vietnam’s own people in South Korea got counted as a fast-growing demographic.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

South Korea has reached a new demographic milestone with its foreign resident population hitting an all-time high, a trend fueled largely by an influx of young migrants and international students, particularly from Vietnam.

As of May, the number of foreign residents aged 15 and older stood at approximately 1.69 million, representing an 8.4 % increase compared to the same period last year, according to a survey by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. This shift comes against the backdrop of a total national population of roughly 51.8 million.

While ethnic Koreans from China continue to comprise the largest foreign resident group at 506,000, Vietnamese nationals have emerged as the fastest-growing demographic. Vietnamese residents now rank second with a population of 270,000, expanding much more rapidly than any other major group.

A major portion of this growth is driven by the education sector, according to the Korea Times.

The overall number of student visa holders rose by 18.2%, or 36,000 people, in just one year. Data highlights the prominence of the Vietnamese community within this sphere, as Vietnam currently ranks first with approximately 100,000 students in South Korea, followed by China with 45,000 and Uzbekistan with 17,000.

The rise in international students, attributed to the global appeal of Korean culture and government initiatives, is reshaping the visa landscape.

While ethnic Korean visas (F-4) and low-skilled worker visas (E-9) still account for the largest raw numbers at 410,000 and 321,000 respectively, professional visa categories are seeing sharp increases. The number of professional workers jumped 25.7% to 82,000, while the population of workers holding permanent residence visas grew by 17.1% to 123,000.

The report also identifies a shifting mindset among these new arrivals, noting a growing preference for long-term settlement over short-term employment.

Among those without permanent residency status, more than 89 % expressed a desire to remain in South Korea. This sentiment is strong among the student population as well, with 65.5 % stating they plan to continue living in the country after graduation, citing high satisfaction with the quality of education and academic programs.

The surge in migration has had a tangible impact on the labor market. More than 1.1 million foreign residents were employed as of May, marking a 9.8% year-on-year rise, the highest employment level recorded since the ministry began collecting such data in 2017, Yonhap reported.

The employment rate among foreign residents reached 65.5%, up 0.8 percentage points from the previous year.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think South Korea can benefit economically and socially from the growing foreign resident population? Do you think time will come when foreign residents will eventually displace South Korea’s citizens on employment, local communities and business? Do you know anyone who wants to study in South Korea or enter the country as a foreign investor? Do you think South Korea has secured itself from human trafficking?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Eight Vietnamese Nationals Arrested In Parañaque City Over Visa Violations And Online Scam Involvement

November 29, 2025November 23, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended eight Vietnamese nationals in a hotel for allegedly overstaying, illegal employment and suspected involvement in online scam operations, according to a news report by DZRH.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the DZRH news report. Some parts in boldface…

Eight Vietnamese nationals in Parañaque City were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for allegedly overstaying, unauthorized employment, and suspected involvement in online scam operations.

The BI operatives conducted an enforcement operation on November 11 at a hotel unit along Roxas Boulevard, where they apprehended 29-year-old Nguyen Phan Gia Khuong, along with seven other Vietnamese nationals, which 6 more men and one woman.

Initial reports indicate that Khuong reportedly overstayed in the country and allegedly engaged in work and activities not authorized under his immigration status. Authorities further said he is connected to suspected online scams targeting foreign victims.

While conducting the inspection, officers found drug-related items and several bullets in a separate room within the same building. The evidence was promptly recorded and handed over to the proper law enforcement authorities for further investigation.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stressed that the agency is resolute in its crackdown on foreign nationals who exploit the country’s hospitality.

Viado also stated that the Philippines will not tolerate individuals who violate its laws or engage in illegal activities. He added that their agency is intensifying operations to ensure that those who pose a threat to public safety are apprehended and deported.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more illegal aliens secretly living and doing online scam operations in the city?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Two Vietnamese Nationals Arrested in Parañaque For Operating Illegal Cosmetic Clinic

September 4, 2025August 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two Vietnamese nationals for the operation of an illegal cosmetic clinic, according to a news report by the Daily Tribune. This development is similar with what happened to an abortion clinic that was raided in Parañaque in 2023.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…

Personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation–Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) arrested two Vietnamese nationals in Parañaque City on 15 August for illegally practicing medicine and offering unauthorized cosmetic procedures.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago identified the suspects as Nguyen The Thang and Mai Quy Loc, who also used the alias “Dr. Do Thi Binh.” They operated a beauty clinic where they performed procedures such as chin fillers, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and facelifts without proper authorization. The NBI acted on a tip about their activities, which violated the Medical Act of 1959 (R.A. No. 2382) and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (R.A. No. 10175).

Agents posed as clients and confirmed the suspects were advertising their services online. Verification with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) revealed that “Dr. Do Thi Binh” had no Special Temporary Permit (STP) or Special Permit (SP) to practice medicine in the Philippines.

During the entrapment operation, the NBI seized medical equipment and supplies used in their illegal clinic. The suspects now face multiple charges, including: Illegal practice of medicine (under R.A. No. 2382 and R.A. No. 10175), Sale of unregistered and misbranded health products (under the FDA Act, R.A. No. 9711), Unauthorized dispensing of pharmaceutical products (under the Philippine Pharmacy Act, R.A. No. 10918)

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think there could still be a lot more illegal operations being done by foreigners? What do you think makes Parañaque an attractive place for foreign criminals to put up illegal operations?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Vietnam-based Thien Long to invest almost $3 million in the Philippines

September 2, 2025August 26, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently the Vietnam-based office supplies company Thien Long announced that it will be investing almost $3 million in the Philippines as it is expanding in the Southeast Asian region, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnamese office supplies company Thien Long plans to invest US$2.8 million in the Philippines as part of efforts to expand in Southeast Asia.

It will establish the Flex Office Philippines brand to distribute stationary products imported from Vietnam, according to a recent announcement.

In an interview with VnExpress in April, the company’s chairman, Co Gia Tho, had outlined plans to gain a bigger share of the Southeast Asian stationary market.

In recent years the pen and stationery market in the region has been shrinking, with businesses shifting to more profitable industries, offering Thien Long the chance to expand overseas, he said.

Exports currently account for 20% of the company’s sales, and have been growing in double digits over the last decade, reaching VND1 trillion ($38 million) for the first time in 2024.

The management aims to increase this share in the coming years through a “glocalization” strategy, leveraging domestic strengths and adapting them for international markets.

In May, through a subsidiary, it acquired Phuong Nam Cultural Corporation, which operates a chain of nearly 50 bookstores.

The management said the purchase is a strategic step to develop new product categories, particularly toys and lifestyle consumer goods, on which the company has been focusing in recent years.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you ever heard of Thien Long before? Do you think the Vietnam-based office supplies company will succeed with its $2.8 million investment in the Philippines?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Wanted Vietnamese national apprehended at NAIA Terminal 3

April 7, 2025April 1, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently a Vietnamese national who turned out to be a wanted person over kidnap and rape was arrested by immigration officers at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City have arrested a Vietnamese national wanted in the country for abducting and raping a Chinese woman in 2023.

In a news release Monday, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said Nguyen Hu Mai, 48, was intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 while attempting to flee aboard a Cebu Pacific flight to Saigon last March 21.

The foreigner was immediately referred to supervisors for secondary inspection after his name prompted a positive hit in the centralized derogatory database of the bureau.

“Our supervisors were able to establish that the passenger and person appearing in our watchlist are one and the same. He was thus stopped and arrested by our airport personnel,” he added.

Nguyen was immediately turned over to the BI’s border control and intelligence unit (BCIU) and later transferred to the bureau’s detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

According to BI-BCIU chief Ferdinand Tendenilla, Nguyen has been on the wanted list of the BI since March 10 when he and two Chinese nationals were charged with deportation for being undesirable aliens for being prime suspects in the kidnapping and rape case.

Police investigators alleged that on March 2, 2023, the three foreigners kidnapped a Chinese woman inside her condominium unit in Makati City.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be more personnel of the Bureau of Immigration who are engaged in illegal activities that the national authorities have yet to find? Do you think that the syndicates behind human trafficking are a threat to national security?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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PAOCC files cases against many foreign nationals involved in Parañaque City scam hub

March 3, 2025February 25, 2025carlocarrasco

In relation with the big raid on an office build in Parañaque City that resulted in the apprehension of hundreds of suspects, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced that it has filed charges against several foreign nationals who were among the many suspects arrested, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Charges of qualified human trafficking were filed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) against 20 foreign nationals apprehended in the Feb. 20 raid of a scam hub in Parañaque City.

PAOCC Executive Director Gilbert Cruz said the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub at the ATI building, in front of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), ran investment and love scams using foreign nationals.

A total of 435 POGO workers, including 148 foreign nationals, were arrested at the Chinese-run hub.

“We conducted the inquest for the foreign nationals operating the POGO hub here at PITX and we have filed charges against 20 of them,” Cruz said in an interview.

“Qualified trafficking, because you can clearly see that they facilitated the employment of individuals in this POGO hub to work here for a long time.”

Cruz said the scam hub also had several other violations, including the lack of the necessary permits to operate.

Among the complainants were three Vietnamese women.

“These Vietnamese women were the models they used to attract investors and then after you fall in love, that’s it, they will invite you to invest in cryptocurrency,” Cruz said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think the presence of illegal POGOs having hundreds of employees – both locals and foreigners – make the city look bad? Do you consider Parañaque City a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals and other foreigners? Do you think that a lot of bad money – money sourced from scams and illegal means – made its way into Parañaque’s local economy?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Ten foreign nationals arrested in Parañaque City village for alleged scamming activities

January 24, 2025January 23, 2025carlocarrasco

Very recently in Parañaque City, ten foreign nations were arrested by elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for alleged online scamming, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The apprehension took place inside a village.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Ten foreigners have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in a subdivision in Paranaque City where they were found allegedly conducting online scamming activities.

In a statement, the NBI said the 10 foreigners were arrested by operatives of the NBI National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) during the service of a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) at a residence in Multinational Village in Paranaque City.

It said all the 10 foreigners face charges of violating Republic Act (RA) 12010, the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act.

The NBI identified seven of the foreigners as Vietnamese nationals Phan Viet Ngan, Do Anh Tuan, Nguyen Duc Anh, Phan Kim Sang, Vo Hong Sy, Nguyen Van Khanh, and Doan Van Dung.

The other foreigners were identified as Chinese nationals Zhang Ming Yi, Xin Yao Huang and Himen Chen.

The NBI said that during the operation, seized from the suspects were computers and transcripts with Chinese characters.

“Based on the seized translated transcripts, Subjects are indeed engaged in phishing and scamming activities,” it said.

“In addition, Operating System Triage conducted on the seized computer units revealed the illegal activities of the Subjects like romance scam, fictitious messaging accounts, fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes and fake investment solicitations,” it added.

The NBI said the operation was conducted after NBI-NCR received “an intelligence report that groups of foreign nationals are engaged in Investment Fraud, Crypto Asset or Crypto Currency Scam, Artificial Intelligence scam and High Yield Investment Program (HYIP), Romance scam and identity theft through the use of social engineering scheme and digital communication systems.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that there could still be a lot more illegal operations secretly happening in residential communities with foreigners doing the work? When was the last time an online scamming operation was discovered in your local community?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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