Amid Vietnam’s “durian gold rush,” farmers are turning to smart agri-tech, notably XAG agricultural drones, to stay ahead. In the Mekong Delta, where durian exports have soared to $3.3 billion, growers use drones to cut costs, improve yields, and work more safely, adapting quickly to the demands of this booming fruit market. Few understand these shifting tides better than Nguyễn Văn Hường, a lifelong farmer in Tiền Giang province. At 64, Hường and his wife manage more than 300 durian trees, along with 250 jackfruit and coconut trees, on a four-hectare farm. “Selling durians is like selling a house,” he says, noting that a single mature durian tree can yield nearly 100 kg…

Women travelers are becoming an increasingly powerful presence in the travel industry, making 82% of travel decisions worldwide. Reflecting this growing influence, Agoda recently unveiled the top women’s travel trends in Asia revealing that women across Asia are charting a different course than their male counterparts when it comes to holiday plans. From a stronger appetite for new destinations to a preference for traveling with family and friends, women travelers are reshaping travel preferences in ways that are directly influencing the hospitality landscape. As Agoda celebrates 20 years of empowering hoteliers to stay ahead of changing travel trends and guest expectations, these insights serve as a timely reminder for hoteliers…

A new publication highlighting the appearance of Chinese-built infrastructure on foreign currency was unveiled at a book launch and symposium in Beijing on May 19, underscoring China’s global reach through its Belt and Road Initiative. The book, Chinese Imprints on World Currency, chronicles how infrastructure projects linked to China have been featured on coins and banknotes issued by countries around the world, casting these structures as enduring symbols of the country’s international partnerships under the Belt and Road framework. The event drew a cross-section of government officials and corporate leaders, including Hong Lei, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wang Haihuai, General Manager of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC); Du Xiaojian, author of the book; and senior executives from state-owned companies.…