Singapore ETO Celebrates Chinese New Year in Ho Chi Minh City to Strengthen Vietnam Ties

Singapore ETO holds Chinese New Year dinner in Vietnam to promote closer relationship

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong.

Jointly organised with the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV) and supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the dinner welcomed over 100 guests, including the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in HCMC, Mr Tang Li; the Chairman of the HKBAV, Mr Michael Chiu; the Director of Indochina of the HKTDC, Ms Tina Phan; and representatives from government and business sectors, chambers of commerce, and Hong Kong communities in Vietnam. During the dinner, cultural performances were presented, including lion dance performances and live renditions of Chinese and Vietnamese music by a band and performers.

Speaking at the dinner, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, recapped the multi-front work and achievements of Hong Kong and Vietnam collaborative efforts. Last December, the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the visiting Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Mr Ho Duc Phoc in Hong Kong to exchange views on deepening co-operation between the two places. In the same month, the Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, led a delegation to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to explore business opportunities.

Ms Hung highlighted the growing economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. In 2025, Vietnam became Hong Kong's third-largest merchandise trading partner, with a total trade volume increasing by an average of 25 per cent annually since 2021. Among the 11 ASEAN member states, Vietnam has risen to become Hong Kong's largest trading partner in terms of merchandise trade. In addition, exchanges between people of the two places have intensified. For instance, in terms of tourism, the number of Vietnamese visitors to Hong Kong increased by 35 per cent last year compared with 2024.

Ms Hung concluded that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" framework to serve as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" linking the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world. The Singapore ETO will align with and support Hong Kong’s strategic directions, such as promoting the one-stop Economic and Trade Express (ETE) platform, through the collective efforts of the global network of ETOs, Invest Hong Kong, and the HKTDC, to assist enterprises in going global while attracting more enterprises to invest and establish operations in Hong Kong.

The Singapore ETO held two Chinese New Year dinners - one in Singapore on February 25 and another in Manila, the Philippines, on February 27 - to further strengthen ties and exchanges with local communities.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. During the dinner, cultural performances were presented, including lion dance performances. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. Jointly organised with the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam and supported by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the dinner welcomed over 100 guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. Photo shows the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, giving a speech at the dinner. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, yesterday (March 14) to celebrate the new year with Vietnamese partners and counterparts and to promote Hong Kong. Photo shows the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in HCMC, Mr Tang Li (fifth left); the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung (sixth left); the Chairman of the HKBAV, Mr Michael Chiu (fifth right); and the Director of Indochina of the HKTDC, Ms Tina Phan (sixth right), toasting with guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.4 million at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (May 1) detected a drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport. About 2.3 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million, and 157 duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized.

A 35-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today. During customs clearance, the batch of suspected heroin was seized from him, and the duty-not-paid cigarettes were found inside his baggage. The male was subsequently arrested.

The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in adangerous drug, one count of possession of dutiable goods and one count of failing to declare to a member of the Customs and Excise Service the possession of dutiable goods. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court tomorrow (May 2).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach, and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected heroin worth about $1.4 million at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases