Vietnam’s Tan Thanh Holdings and 10 Pharma JSC will be distributors of COVID-19 vaccine Oravax throughout Southeast Asian nations, comprising Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Oravax Medical of Israel's Oramed Pharmaceuticals and the Vietnamese firms signed the cooperation agreement of oral COVID-19 vaccine Oravax at a ceremony held online on December 29.

Nadav Kidron, Chief Executive of Oramed and Oravax Chairman, said the deal, worth hundreds of millions of US dollars for Oravax, includes pre-order of oral vaccine.

He viewed Tan Thanh Holdings as an ideal partner for his business to bring the oral vaccine to Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries that have a combined population of over 660 million.

Da Nang, FPT boost ‘smart city’ project

The central city of Da Nang and IT giant FPT Group have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on digital transforming in 2021-25, accelerating the ‘smart city’ project in 2030.

The MoU, signed on December 28, was developed from the cooperation deal between FPT and Da Nang in 2018-20 in boosting the digitalisation process and putting the city on the list of ASEAN smart city network in 2030.

The 2021-25 MoU will focus on the smart city framework in traffic, education, natural resources and environment, health, agriculture, trade and industry and information and communications.

FPT will begin the digitalisation among business and administration in tourism hub Ngu Hanh Son district before expanding to the other six districts in 2021-25.

Earlier, Da Nang and Viettel signed an MoU on the ‘smart city' project in 2021-25, launching a 5G network at Da Nang Software Park No 1 and No 2, with an Internet of Things service, a digital database centre and cybersecurity services.

Programme to promote cultural life building in 2021-2026 period

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has signed a decision approving a programme to implement the movement of “All people stay united to build cultural life” in the 2021-2026 period.

The objectives of the programme is to continue expanding the movement in a deep, high quality, effective and practical manner, creating positive changes in building the modern Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, optimising the cultural strength to inspire patriotism and national pride as well as the desire for a prosperous and happy country, ensuring sustainable development, international integration and national defence.

At the same time, it aims to promote the role of the movement in the development of culture in rural areas and new-style rural area building.

Specifically, the programme sets a target that 100 percent of provincial-level administration units have three cultural facilities - cultural centre, museum and library, and 100 percent of communes, wards and townships have entertainment centres for the youth, adolescence and children, and 80 percent of families secure the title of cultural family.

Book features Vietnamese literary and arts works about Tet

The Dong A Books Joint Stock Company, one of Vietnam’s leading book publishers and distributors, has released a new book to celebrate the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival in the Year of the Tiger.

Sach Tet Nham Dan 2022 (Book for the Year of the Tiger 2022) features a collection of stories, poems, songs, paintings and illustrations about the spring and Tet festival by 60 writers and painters. The 304-page book was compiled by writer Ho Anh Thai, who has worked with Dong A to publish special books for Tet since 2019.

The book also features literary works by famous Vietnamese writers and poets, like Cho Hoa Phien Ap Tet (Flower Market the Day Before Tet) by late author Ma Van Khang, and Tet Binh Thuong Cua Mot Nguoi Nghiem Tuc (A Usual Tet Festival of a Serious Man) by Phan Thi Vang Anh, as well as songs by composers Pho Duc Phuong and Song Hao.

The painting section features works by Nguyen Viet Cuong, whose work honours frontline workers, and life in HCM City and the solidarity of its people during the pandemic, as well as paintings and illustrations by veteran and young painters like Thanh Chuong and Ta Huy Long.

60 outstanding businesswomen honoured

The 2021 Golden Rose Cup awards were presented to 60 businesswomen during a ceremony held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in Hanoi on December 29.

The event aimed to honour their important contributions to national socio-economic development amid COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters caused by climate change.

On the occasion, the VCCI presented the insignia “For the cause of Vietnamese business development” to former Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh in recognition of her support to the Vietnamese business community and businesspeople in particular.

The VCCI also posthumously granted the title of “Outstanding Vietnamese businesswoman – Golden Rose Cup” to Hoang Thi Minh Ho. She and her spouse Trinh Van Bo made their names in history with meaningful contributions to a special period of the country./

Vietnamese, Chinese parties hold 16th theoretical workshop

The 16th theoretical workshop between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held virtually on December 29.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theory Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. Meanwhile, the Chinese side was headed by Huang Kunming, Politburo member, Secretary of the Secretariat and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

In their remarks, both officials affirmed the significance of enhancing theoretical exchanges between the two parties in the new situation, and considered the workshop an opportunity to share achievements in theory and practice, as well as experience in the Party leadership in building socialism in each country.

UN official hails Vietnam’s capacity in peacekeeping operations

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix has highly valued Vietnam’s cooperation with the UN in peacekeeping activities since the country joined the operations in 2014 as well as the country’s efforts throughout 2021.

Cold weather to continue in north next month

Cold air will linger in the north during the first days of January, with temperatures ranging from 13 to 16 degrees Celsius, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Meanwhile, the central region, from Thanh Hoa province to Khanh Hoa province, is expected to witness scattered rains on January 1 and 2, and temperatures from 16 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in the Central Highlands would stand at 17-29 degrees Celsius, and in the southern region, at 23-32 degrees Celsius, the centre said.

Vietnamese, Japanese communist party officials hold talks

Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong held online talks with Chairman of the Presidium of the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) Central Committee Shii Kazuo in Hanoi on December 29.

The two sides vowed to continue working closely together to strengthen peace, security and promote development in the region and the world, step up international cooperation in COVID-19 prevention and control, non-proliferation and disarmament of nuclear weapons, environmental protection, climate change response, and build a world order of peace in accordance with international law.

Play performed with participation of RoK screenwriter

To promote cultural exchange between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea, the Vietnamese Drama Theatre recently performed the play “The Girl and the Motorcycle”, penned by Lee San - a Korean journalist who has lived and worked in Vietnam for more than 10 years.

The play revolves around a group of young Vietnamese struggling to start a business. Each has a dream and a burning desire. On the path to success, though, they all struggle with money, failure, temptation, and deception. But the love and chivalry between young people saves them from the mistakes of youth. 

VJA honours outstanding press works for late 2020, early 2021

Standing board of the Vietnamese Journalists’ Association (VJA) presented awards to outstanding press works for late 2020 and early 2021 during a ceremony in Hanoi on December 29.

At the event, 28 television and 18 audio works and 12 electronic newspaper interfaces for New Year (Tet) were honoured.

The judging panel presented 17 A, 29 B, 32 C and 30 consolation prizes to outstanding Tet newspaper covers. The Vietnam News Agency’s Tuan Tin Tuc (Weekly News) won B prize and The thao and Van Hoa (Sports and Culture) newspaper earned C prize in this category.

On the occasion, the VJA chose 11 best works at the “Vietnam 2020” photo competition and a total of 73 works for exhibition within the framework of the VJA’s 11th Congress. Taken during January - November 2020, the works feature Vietnam's achievements in all aspects and its fight against natural disasters and the pandemic.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases can discontinue self-isolation after 10 days

People who are infected with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms can have their isolation and precautions discontinued 10 days after being treated, the Ministry of Health said.

Also, they must have negative rapid antigen tests performed by staff or by the patients themselves under the supervision of medical staff directly or indirectly via remote methods. The rapid test must be licensed by the Ministry of Health.

On December 28, the Ministry of Health sent a document to the hospitals under the Ministry; departments of health of provinces and cities; and medical facilities under ministries and branches, on testing to detect suspected COVID-19 cases and conditions to discharge patients.

According to the Ministry of Health, the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country is complicated, and the number of cases is tending to increase; in order to adapt to the new situation and ensure safety and flexibility in accordance with the current situation, localities and health facilities should base decisions on the real pandemic level at their areas and the health ministry’s temporary guidelines on the management of people infected with COVID-19 to identify cases.

Front leader meets with heads of diplomatic representative agencies abroad

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee held a meeting with heads of Vietnamese diplomatic representative agencies abroad (2021-2024 tenure), in Hanoi on December 29.

VFF Central Committee President Do Van Chien said the committee has coordinated with the Foreign Ministry’s State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs to connect Vietnamese abroad with their homeland.

He urged the agencies’ chiefs to seek ways to further link foreign organisations with the VFF, helping to expand people-to-people diplomacy in the time ahead.

At the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Quang Minh affirmed that Party, State and VFF leaders always pay attention to the life of overseas Vietnamese, stressing the spirit of great national unity in diplomacy.

Chiefs of the agencies expressed their hope that the VFF will continue to pay heed to overseas Vietnamese affairs, and support them during the tenure.

On this occasion, Minh, on behalf of the Vietnamese community in London, and the Chairman of New World Fashion Group – UK presented over 1.3 billion VND to Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccine fund.

Dong Nai police arrest human traffickers for prostitution in Cambodia

Police in the southern province of Dong Nai on December 28 arrested three men and a woman for their involvement in trafficking in persons, organising illegal migration and bringing persons abroad for prostitution.

Arrestees include Phan Thi Kim Hue (or Nhi), 24, residing in the central province of Phu Yen; Bui Van Huu, 41, from the southern province of Binh Phuoc; Tran Danh Tuong, 24, from the central province of Binh Thuan; and Nguyen Van Son (or Ty Bay), 26, from Dong Nai province.

The victim named D reported that in early April 2021, she met Bay and was introduced by him to work at a karaoke parlour and restaurant at a monthly salary of 80 – 100 million VND (3,400 - 4,300 USD).

Via Bay, D connected with Nhi via Zalo and agreed to move to Cambodia. After arriving there, she found out that the job failed to meet her expectation.

In mid-June, D and other victims managed to escape after many failures, and contacted the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia for support. Via interrogation, Hue admitted that she was the mastermind and Huu directly took victims to Cambodia.

UNICEF: strengthened protection system, zero tolerance to violence required to better protect children

A strengthened protection system and zero tolerance to violence are required to better protect children, said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Vietnam in a statement released on December 29.

In her statement, Flowers said UNICEF expressed its deep sadness and concern over the recent violent death of a young girl at the hands of someone who she should have been able to trust, to protect her. Sadly, the majority of abuse is perpetrated by someone known and trusted by the child. Shrouded in silence, alone. The rising accounts of abuse of children, even greater during COVID-19 lockdowns, signal an urgent need for a strengthened approach.

A strengthened protection system – for women and children is urgently needed in Vietnam – a system that is staffed by trained social workers, not volunteers, not non-trained welfare workers – but qualified professional staff – who can identify, intervene, respond and protect.

Vietnam in Group C of AFF U23 Championship 2022

Vietnam are in Group C of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U23 Championship 2022 together with Thailand and Singapore. The event is scheduled to take place from February 14 to 26, 2022 in Cambodia.

Group A comprises the hosts Cambodia, Timor Leste, the Philippines and Brunei. Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos are in Group B.

The teams are to play in the round-robin format. The three top teams in the groups and the best second-place squad will compete in the semi-finals.

To prepare for the tournament, members of the Vietnamese team will gather for a training session in Hanoi from January 5 next year. It will be the third edition of the AFF U23 Championship after the first and second tournaments in 2005 and 2019, respectively. Vietnam earned a bronze medal in the 2019 edition after beating the hosts Cambodia 1-0 in the third place playoff. 

Storm-proof houses handed over to residents on Ly Son island

Ten storm-proof houses were handed over to families in the central province of Quang Ngai’s Ly Son island on December 29.

They are part of a project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, with beneficiaries being poor and near poor households; families with disabled members; and women living alone with their houses affected by storms.

According to a representative of the UNDP in Vietnam, the storm-proof houses are among the most effective solutions to help Ly Son people reduce risks from natural disasters.

In addition to the building of these solar-powered shelters, more than 680 storm-proof houses were constructed in Quang Ngai with the assistance of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the UNDP in Vietnam, and the Vietnamese Government.

HCM City to celebrate New Year with virtual activities

Ho Chi Minh City will roll out virtual activities in parallel with in-person ones to celebrate the upcoming 2022 New Year amid complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced the municipal Department of Culture and Sports.

A virtual event highlighting reading culture is underway from December 27 to January 5 at www.ngayhoivanhoadoc.hochiminhcity.gov.vn.

People can access the website to visit a myriad of cultural destinations of the city as well as look for helpful information about HCM City and Vietnam.

The Virtual Countdown Lights will be held online starting at 8.30pm on December 31 on YouTube and Facebook pages of Billboard Vietnam, TikTok Live Vietnam, VieOn app and others.

Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs sets out tasks for 2022

The Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs will focus on the implementation of the master scheme and the 2021-2030 national target programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas next year, heard a meeting held by the committee in Hanoi on December 29.

It will also coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to roll out other programmes and policies in these areas.

The committee will join hands with ministries, agencies and localities in the COVID-19 fight, and raise timely solutions to deal with adverse impacts of the pandemic on the localities.

The meeting set out other tasks for the committee in 2022, including international cooperation and attracting and mobilising ODA and preferential foreign loans to serve local socio-economic development.

Hanoi travellers opt for suburban areas in upcoming holidays

Holidaymakers are opting for destinations close to Hanoi or in suburban areas while ensuring safety against the backdrop of the pandemic, as tourism activities in Hanoi and many localities are hard hit amid the complexities of COVID-19.

A homestay in Minh Phu commune of Soc Son outlying district is fully booked about one month ago as visitors took the initiative of making reservation and they could not travel far.

All visitors are required to be fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 using rapid antigen test, along with adhering to the 5K message of the Ministry of Health.

To ensure safety of tourism activities amid the pandemic, in addition to complying with regulations in serving customers, many destinations and companies have devised suitable travel tours.

Digital technology application to be optimised in publishing activities

Vietnam aims to strengthen the application of digital technology in publishing activities to increase the provision and popolarisation of knowledge, improving people’s literacy, boosting cultural growth and implementing national development orientations, according to a recently approved national book programme in the 2022-2026 period.

Under the scheme, in the period, 500 book titles will be newly published or re-published in the form of electronic publications, while websites and apps for book archiving and publishing will be built.

The Ministry of Information and Communications was tasked to coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors and agencies to implement and evaluate the programme, and report to the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance was assigned to allocate capital from the State budget to the programme.

Da Nang adapts safely and flexibly to COVID-19

The municipal Department of Tourism said that it has guided tourism businesses and tourism service providers in the city to actively and flexibly carry out programmes to welcome and serve visitors during the Christmas and New Year 2022 holidays, while focusing on ensuring pandemic prevention and control regulations and improving the quality of services.

The city plans to organise several activities for residents and visitors to welcome New Year 2022 and the 25th anniversary of Da Nang becoming a centrally-run city.

From Christmas to New Year holidays, Da Nang expects to serve a total of 284 domestic flights. On January 1, 2022, 27 flights are expected to land in the central city.

It plans to coordinate with national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines to welcome passengers on board the first flight to the city on this day.

To date, around 300 accommodation establishments, over 50 travel agents, and nine out of 16 tourism sites have resumed operations, offering special promotions to draw more visitors.

Japan supports Vietnam in deployment of sapper team No 1 to join UNISFA

Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), on December 29 hosted a reception for a group of experts from the Japanese Ministry of Defence who is on a working visit to Vietnam to assist the country in the deployment of sapper team No 1 to join the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Abyei (UNISFA).

Previously, the experts from the Japanese Ministry of Defence and the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations conducted an assessment of the actual workload and requirements relating to equipment packaging. They also exchange professional skills in order to improve the capacity of the sapper team during its mission at UNISFA.

Japan is one of the countries with a lot of experience in packing equipment to be transported to United Nations Peacekeeping Missions after successfully deploying the sapper team to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan between 2012 and 2017.

HCM City: FDI enterprise pays highest Tet bonus of nearly 1.3 billion VND

The highest bonus for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday has been reported at 1.3 billion VND (nearly 57,000 USD) in a foreign-invested business in Ho Chi Minh City, according to the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs

The bonus level exceeded the highest level of nearly 1.1 billion VND recorded in the Lunar New Year in 2021.

Results from a survey by the department of more than 1,000 businesses that are employing nearly 175,000 workers in the city shows that despite many difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many local businesses still try to give Tet bonuses to their employees.

Navies of Vietnam, Thailand bolster cooperation

Rear Admiral Nguyen Duy Ty of the Naval Region 5 High Command held phone talks with the Commanders of Thailand’s First and Second Naval Area Commands on December 29.

At the talks, the sides underlined that joint activities between the countries’ navies have reaped positive results, thereby promoting cooperation, mutual understanding and trust, as well as maintaining maritime zones of peace and stability that foster economic development.

In the coming time, they will continue to exchange information via established communication channels, as well as fully and effectively implement agreements on regulations on joint patrol on bordering sea areas signed by the naval forces of Vietnam and Thailand in 1999.

The sides are to closely join hands in settling maritime incidents on the sea.

They also agreed to propose the countries' Defence Ministries to continue sending patrol ships to each other's ports once the pandemic is put under control.

HCM City hospital performs first paediatric liver transplant

Doctors at the University Medical Centre in HCM City have successfully conducted a liver transplant operation on a two-year-old female child with biliary atresia.

It is the first pediatric liver transplant carried out at the hospital.

The child from Đồng Nai Province was diagnosed with congenital biliary atresia and underwent the Kasai procedure, the first treatment for biliary atresia, at the Pediatrics Hospital No 2 when she was two months old.

The child was hospitalised with serious complications of biliary atresia, and a liver transplant was the only cure. On November 15, doctors at the University Medical Centre in coordination with the Pediatrics Hospital No.2 performed the life-saving operation with remote medical consultation from experts in Japan. The child received a portion of a healthy liver taken from her 30-year-old father. Four weeks after the operation, she recovered and was discharged from the hospital on December 21. The liver donor was in stable condition one week after the operation.

Hoi An cancels New Year celebrations amid Covid fears

Hoi An City has announced that it would cancel New Year celebrations due to the complicated development of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Hoi An Gala Dinner - New Year’s Eve Countdown 2022 programme scheduled for December 31, and the welcoming ceremony for the first visitors to the city scheduled for January 1, 2022 will be cancelled to avoid large gatherings.

The city was expected to welcome eight delegations and some 400 visitors on the first day of 2022.

Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Chairman Le Tri Thanh has asked relevant departments to ensure Covid-19 prevention during New Year celebrations.

Agoda: Ho Chi Minh City still named among top New Year’s Eve 2022 holiday destinations

Ho Chi Minh City and Sapa continue to be the two most favoured destinations of Vietnamese tourists for the New Year’s Eve holiday, according to booking data for the New Year period on Agoda, one of the world’s fastest growing digital travel platforms.

According to Agoda, tourists from Vietnam and around the world are looking for new experiences to celebrate 2022. Famous cities are still attractive destinations, but tourism trends to natural destinations or beaches are dominating the New Year's Eve plans this year. Tourists also continue to choose luxury accommodation spots for their first trip of the year.

Ho Chi Minh City has maintained its position as the top destination for tourists on New Year's Eve for two consecutive years. Prominent in the ranking is Sapa, which rose from 7th place last year to 2nd place this year, pushing Da Lat to 3rd place. In addition, Ninh Binh has become a new name in the Top 10 New Year’s Eve 2022 holiday destinations because of its attractive natural beauty and many interesting experiences.

16 newly released Vietnamese animated films introduced to public

The Vietnam Animation Joint Stock Company held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 29 to make public the 16 animated films which it produced and released in 2021.

The films included cartoons on historical theme, namely ‘Nu Tuong Me Linh’ (The Female General in Me Linh), ‘Bach Dang Noi Song’ (The Battle on Bach Dang River), and ‘Dai Hanh Hoang De’ (The King).

There are also animated series for different age groups, which were produced using 2D, 3D and traditional paper-cut animation techniques, as well as short films with a length of 10 minutes each. All of them feature bright colours, vivid characters, and joyful music.

The company’s YouTube channel has attracted nearly 600,000 subscribers and around 200 million followers, marking an encouraging process in promoting made-in-Vietnam animated films to wider online audiences.

National Architecture Awards 2020-2021 honour 48 outstanding works

A ceremony was held at the Hanoi Opera House on December 29 to honour the 48 most outstanding works of the 13th National Architecture Awards 2020-2021.

The organising board received 212 entries, of which 48 most outstanding designs in nine different categories were honoured.

Accordingly, five golden prizes were presented to architectural works in the categories of Residential Architecture, Public Architecture, Urban and Rural Planning, Interior Architecture, and Outstanding Architectural Works in Vietnam by Foreign Architects.

A total of 16 silver and 17 bronze prizes along with three certificates for smart investors and two certificates of merit for excellent young architects were awarded at the event.

The biennial awards were launched in 1994 as part of the official State Awards system in the field of architecture.

More students in HCMC likely to return to school in early 2022

The HCMC Department of Education and Training has proposed the municipal government allow 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th graders to get back to in-person classes from January 3, 2022. If the proposal is approved, HCMC will see students from six grades, 7th to 12th, return to school.

Depending on the Covid-19 situation, sixth graders, primary-school students and kindergarteners will be allowed to return to school, according to the department. The proposal was made as these graders have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

A decision to give in-person instruction to these graders from January 3, 2022, might be made by the HCMC government on December 30.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/ND/VGP

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES DECEMBER 29

14 localities cover basic doses of COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 12 -17