Muong Thanh Tet 2025 marks a new milestone for Muong Thanh Group. This unique celebration represents a crystallisation of the cultural essence of diverse ethnic groups from the highlands, creatively and wholeheartedly reimagined by Muong Thanh Group.

It is a distinctive gift offered to visitors of the hotel chain, serving as a bridge to connect travellers to Vietnamese culture, and is a testament to the vision of a brand that is deeply committed to preserving and spreading the cultural values of a community.

Traditional ethnic dance

Stepping into the group’s 61 hotels, visitors will feel as though they have entered a cultural space rich with the charm of the northwest highlands. Pure white flowers will accentuate the vivid backdrop of brocade fabrics, graceful Xoe and Sap dances, and hearty laughter from the traditional “nem con” (ball-throwing) game. All will come together to create a lively and captivating picture of Muong Thanh Tet.

Guests will have the chance to savour highland specialities such as aromatic five-colour sticky rice, smoked buffalo meat, fragrant Pa Pinh Top (grilled stream fish), and rich, tender local pork, among others. Each dish carries its own unique flavour and story, enriching the cultural experience for visitors.

While still deeply honouring the cultural identity of Vietnam’s ethnic groups, this year’s Muong Thanh Tet also reflects an alignment with modern trends; an integration without losing its essence. This demonstrates a determination to maintain its position as the “largest private hotel chain in Indochina” with a spirit of independence and unity, ensuring the Muong Thanh brand retains its distinct and unique character.

Muong Thanh Tet is not only a celebration of the iconic beauty of the northwest mountains and forests, but also a bold affirmation of the Muong Thanh Group’s relentless ambition to rise. Like the ban flower, which braves the mist and cold winds to bloom proudly, the group has overcome all challenges to assert its position and spread beautiful cultural values across the nation and to international friends.

The signing ceremony took place on March 10 during the official state visit of Party General Secretary To Lam to Indonesia, highlighting the strengthening cooperation between the two nations in technology and energy.

According to the agreement, FPT will provide advanced AI technologies to optimise asset inspection and maintenance across Pertamina’s operations. The project focuses on two key areas: enhancing asset reliability and improving workplace safety. AI technology developed by FPT in collaboration with Pertamina Marine Engineering will be deployed on Pertamina Hulu Energi Offshore Southeast Sumatra platforms to analyse data collected from drones, detecting anomalies, leaks, and structural damage to ensure the integrity of offshore assets. Additionally, at Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia drilling sites, AI-powered systems will monitor compliance with personal protective equipment regulations, helping minimise risks and maintain a secure working environment.

Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation, said, “Leveraging our expertise, experience, and advanced AI infrastructure and ecosystem, FPT aims to drive comprehensive digital transformation for Pertamina, Indonesia’s national oil and gas corporation, while playing a key role in realising the AI goals outlined in Indonesia’s National AI Strategy 2020-2045. This collaboration also creates opportunities for FPT to expand our expertise beyond energy into other sectors such as education, telecommunications, and agriculture.”

“The AI-Based Monitoring and Inspection System for Oil and Gas Platforms, developed in collaboration with FPT, is one of Pertamina’s key strategies and main focuses in enhancing asset integrity and operational efficiency in offshore upstream activities,” said I Ketut Laba, president director of PT Pertamina Trans Kontinental.

FPT entered the Indonesian market in 2017 and has since then collaborated with top Indonesian enterprises across energy, banking and finance, and telecommunications. The company boasts over 200 experts across two major offices, with a third planned for opening in Yogyakarta this year to support the growing demand for digital transformation in Indonesia.

On the morning of March 11, the government sought the Standing Committee’s approval for a 30 per cent reduction in land rental fees for 2024, citing persistent economic difficulties both domestically and internationally.

The measure aims to help businesses to recover while assisting individuals and organisations in localities severely affected by natural disasters and climate change last year.

Deputy Minister of Finance Bui Van Khang stated that the policy is expected to reduce land rental revenues by approximately $160 million, equivalent to the estimated 2023 land rent reduction of 30 per cent nationwide, accounting for about 0.26 per cent of total budget revenue.

“The reduction will not significantly impact overall state budget revenue but will have a substantial effect on the recovery and development of production and business,” added Khang. “This will, in turn, boost state budget revenue from taxes, such as personal income tax and corporate income tax, to offset the shortfall caused by the bill.”

Deputy Minister of Finance Bui Van Khang at the Standing Committee of the National Assembly’s meeting. Photo: National Assembly

The land rental reduction policy was previously implemented from 2020 to 2023. On average, land and water surface rental fees were reduced by approximately $116 million per year.

From 2021 to 2023, the annual reduction increased to $149 million, contributing significantly to supporting businesses, organisations, households, and individuals in resuming production and business after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a prior review, Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee, noted that most committee members agreed with continuing the land rental reduction policy in 2024.

“However, since the 2024 fiscal year has already ended, the government’s delayed submission of this proposal to the Standing Committee creates difficulties in collecting, paying, refunding, or imposing penalties for late land rental payments,” said Mai.

Mai urged the government to clarify whether this policy would continue in the coming years to avoid repeated procedural delays and redundant administrative processes.

Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee. Photo: National Assembly

Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Adolescents, expressed concern that the 2024 land rental reduction policy was being proposed and implemented in 2025.

“In this regard, the Economic and Financial Committee recommends that the government clarify the impact of the revenue reduction on the state budget, as well as how to address arising issues when implementing the 2024 land rental reduction policy in 2025,” added Vinh.

Explaining the delay, deputy minister Khang noted that given the economic difficulties businesses faced in 2024, the government had already extended the deadline for land rental payments until the end of last year.

As a result, most eligible entities had not yet made their payments, meaning the reduction could still be applied without significant obstacles.

“For organisations and businesses that have already made their payments, the reduction will be deducted from their land rental fees for the following year,” Khang added. “In this proposal, the government is also seeking approval from the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to proactively implement land rental exemptions and reductions from 2025 onward, based on actual economic conditions.”