Students in various localities started to return to schools from March 21 after a period of online learning due to a surge of COVID-19 cases.

Students from Grade 7 to Grade 12 in the capital city of Hanoi went to schools on the day.

Earlier, those from the first to sixth grades in the 18 suburban districts and town of Hanoi turned to online learning from February 28, part of the local efforts to curb COVID-19 transmission.

In the northern province of Tuyen Quang, the 7th and 12th graders will continue to attend both in-person and online classes in accordance with plans by the provincial Department of Education and Training. Kindergarteners will remain at home while students from Grade 1 to Grade 6 study online.

In northern Bac Ninh province, elementary and secondary schools are asked to devise plans for in-person classes.

Students of Grade 9 and Grade 12 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak will return to school from March 21, while all students in the north-central province of Nghe An are set to come back to schools from April 4.

Beloved Hanoi musician passes away

Popular musician Hồng Đăng died on Monday morning at Hữu Nghị Hospital. He was 86. 

Hồng Đăng was talented in music from a young age. At 9-10 years old, he read books on music in French, and wrote his first song at the age of 12. 

He later went to Hà Nội to study as part of the first generation at the Việt Nam National Academy of Music and became a lecturer there.

He also wrote a book about orchestra instruments for students studying arrangement and composing. 

He was former Deputy General Secretary of Việt Nam Musicians Association and Editor-in-Chief of The World of Music magazine. 

During his career, he wrote 700 works, including songs, symphonies, choruses and scores for the theatre. 

His most famous works are the songs Hoa Sữa (Milkwood Pine Flower); Biển Hát Chiều Nay (Sea Sings in The Afternoon), and Kỷ Niệm Thành Phố Tuổi Thơ (Memories of Childhood City). 

Hồng Đăng was awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts in 2001. 

Last year, he won Grand Prize at the annual Bùi Xuân Phái Awards for the song Hoa Sữa and Kỷ Niệm Thành Phố Tuổi Thơ. The award aims to honour the contributions of individuals and organisations to Hà Nội and their love for the capital.

Travel fair to focus Viet Nam’s 'new normal' tourism situation

The annual Việt Nam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2022 will be held in downtown Hà Nội between March 31 and April 3.

This year, as the borders have reopened to international tourism, the theme of the fair is: "New Normal – New Chance for Việt Nam’s Tourism''.

The event is a continuation of a series of events hosted by the Việt Nam Tourism Association, like the National Travel Forum on January 21; the National Domestic Travel Tourism Forum on April 15, 2021; and the Sustainable Recovery for Việt Nam’s Tourism Forum on November 30, 2021.

The fair will feature 320 stalls from enterprises, tourism management and promotion agencies from 52 provinces and cities around the country. So far Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Turkey and Taiwan Island have confirmed their attendance;

Over 500 enterprises dealing with hotels, resorts, travel agencies, tourism centres, airlines and other services have registered for the event.

The event is expected to receive some 40,000 guests and 2,500 tourism enterprises, working with partners and customers.

It is jointly organised by the Viet Nam National Tourism Administration and the Tourism Development Support Fund.

Millions of dollars needed to save Tay Phuong Pagoda

The Tay Phuong Pagoda, a national heritage site in Thạch Thất District, Hà Nội, has been severely degraded over time and there is a real risk of collapse, which could damage the centuries-old statues inside. 

The entrance's laterite stone to the temple was broken, a trip hazard for visitors. Many ancient statues have flaking paint or broken bases.

The project to repair the pagoda has an estimated budget of VNĐ150 billion (US$6.56 million). If the plan is approved, works on Tây Phương Pagoda will kick off in 2023 and are expected to be finished by 2025.

The Pagoda is 40km northwest of Hà Nội centre. It is home to many masterpieces of Vietnamese Buddhist sculptures of the 18th century.

Among 64 statues are 18 Arhats date back nearly 300 years. The most impressive one is the statue of Guanyin Buddha with one thousand eyes and one thousand hands.

The pagoda is listed as the national special heritage site in 2014. A year later, a collection of more than 70 Buddha and Arhats statues were recognised as national treasures.

Paralympian powerlifter awarded Labour Order

Lê Văn Công was honoured with a Labour Order, second-class in Hà Nội yesterday, for his contribution to national sports in 2021 as part of the 'Việt Nam's Glory' celebration.

The powerlifter was the only Vietnamese athlete to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics last August in Japan.

Công secured silver in the men's 49kg class, adding to his gold at the 2016 Games to become the most successful Vietnamese competitor at the Paralympics.

His coach, Lê Quang Thái, was also awarded a Labour Order, third-class, for his effort in training Công to success.

HCM City seeks investment to renovate 25 canals

The city administration should prioritise capital allocation for 25 canal upgrade projects, the municipal Department of Construction has said.

It has asked the Department of Planning and Investment to advise the city administration accordingly, specifying that a total capital of VNĐ19.28 trillion will be needed to implement the projects, including site clearance, compensation for 6,500 households along the canals and the upgrade work.

According to the construction department, the 25 projects have been divided into three priority groups to improve wastewater drainage in tandem with removing makeshift houses along canals to revitalise the urban landscape.

The first group of projects would relocate a total of 3,220 makeshift houses at the Xuyên Tâm, Hy Vọng and Văn Thánh canals in Gò Vấp, Tân Bình and Bình Thạnh districts respectively. The first group will need a total investment of VNĐ12.5 trillion.

The second group of 14 projects will expand and upgrade Tôn Thất Thuyết Street and a park on the banks of the Kênh Tẻ Canal in District 4 (third phase); the Khánh Hội Lake park in District 4 (fourth phase); the Hàng Bàng Canal in District 6 (fifth phase).

The third group of eight projects, which are being completed to seek public investment, includes one to build the wastewater drainage system in the Bảo Ngân Canal in districts 3 and Phú Nhuận, the Bàu Trâu Canal in districts 6 and Tân Phú, and upgrade the Hàng Bàng in District 5 (second phase).

Southern region gets bumper winter- spring rice harvest again

The southern region has again got a bumper winter - spring rice harvest but farmers’ incomes are lower than last year because of the high costs of inputs, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The region grew nearly 1.6 million hectares of the grain rice, slightly down from last year.

Farmers are harvesting 7.2 tonnes per hectare, marginally up from last year.

In the winter-spring crop, fragrant and speciality varieties account for more than 80 per cent of the output.

But the cost of cropping has increased by 15 – 20 per cent this year, causing farmers’ incomes to reduce by VNĐ9 – 26 million (US$400 – 1,100) per hectare, according to local agriculture departments.

The southern region will plant a total of 1.6 million hectares in the upcoming summer – autumn crop, and estimates yields of 5.7 tonnes per hectare.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Quốc Doanh said the summer – autumn rice would face challenges since the COVID – 19 pandemic situation was still unpredictable and the prices of inputs were still high.

The region is expected to sow 305,000ha, or a fifth of the total area, by March 20.

The ministry has called on local authorities to speed up the harvest of the winter-spring rice and sow the summer-autumn crop early.

Woman raises funds to build rural bridges

A woman in southern Đồng Tháp Province has won praise for donating money and raising funds to build bridges in local rural areas, connect many villages and communes in the region.

For more than 15 years, Tống Thanh Mai, 70, of An Hoà Commune in Sa Đéc City has been driving to households on an old motorbike to raise funds to build about 150 bridges.

She even visits bridge construction sites to supervise and encourage workers, regardless of sun and rain.

Over the years, Mai has contributed more than VNĐ500 million (US$22,000) and raised funds from individuals and organisations to build 150 bridges in rural areas worth over VNĐ30 billion.

Accompanying Mai on her fundraising journey are three charity bridge construction teams with 60 workers and engineers, all members of Sa Đéc City’s Bridge Engineering Association.

Mai is in charge of surveying where the bridge is needed, mobilising benefactors to support funding and organising construction.

Vietnamese culture promoted at Francophonie Weekend in France

The Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France on March 19-20 represented Vietnam at the 2022 Francophonie Weekend, which was held in celebration of the International Francophonie Day 2022 (March 20) in France’s Seine et Marne, 60km from Paris.

Adorned with the national flag, the pavilion of Vietnam drew attention of many event-goers. Publications in the Vietnamese language on the country’s seas and islands, and tourist attractions, souvenir and traditional musical instruments were on display.

The centre held a special programme promoting Vietnamese cuisine, music, and martial arts on March 19.

This year's event hosted nearly 40 booths of members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

It offers chances for participating countries to introduce their culture through music, cuisine, literature and folk games, as well as bolster mutual understanding via discussions on emerging issues in member countries.

Nearly-14-mln-USD project to modernise Kon Tum’s irrigation system

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has signed a decision to give in-principle approval for a project worth 14 million USD to modernise irrigation in response to climate change in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

The project using the Asian Development Bank's loan aims to enhance drought and climate change resilience; improve irrigation efficiency serving agricultural restructuring towards increasing added value and sustainably developing irrigation systems; better the efficiency of irrigation management service, new techniques and irrigation works.

It will focus on repairing and upgrading a number of irrigation works in the districts of Dak To, Ngoc Hoi, Dak Ha and Kon Ray, thus ensuring stable water supply for about 1.448 ha of crops.

The project will be implemented in four years, starting from June 2022.

Vietnam builds COVID-19 prevention, control plans for SEA Games 31

At the recent second Chefs de Mission Meeting of the Games, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration Tran Duc Phan told delegates that in the face of complex developments of COVID-19, Vietnam has devised three options of allowing full capacity, restricting or barring spectators.

In case no fans are allowed in competition venues over COVID-19 concerns, all individuals are required to wear face masks, except for competing athletes. If capacity restrictions are observed, seats will be arranged to maintain distance among spectators. As for the no-restriction plan, spectators must still observe the 5K message on the prevention of the spread of the virus.

The commute of sports delegations and athletes must be held in a closed routine. Arrivals will take COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours.

Any found contracting the virus may stay in quarantine at hotels if they develop no or mild symptoms. Those with severe symptoms will be transferred to assigned medical facilities.

Athletes having contact with COVID-19 positives are eligible to compete and not be quarantined.

The organising board will cover COVID-19 testing and treatment costs for medical incidents handled at competition venues and accommodation facilities. Sports delegations are to bear hospital bills, insurance and other costs. 

More beaches polluted with oil in Khanh Hoa

The Bai Dai Beach in Cam Lam District in the southern coastal province of Khanh Hoa has been covered with a large amount of the black oil which had earlier been found in a Nha Trang.

The Bai Dai Beach in Cam Lam District in the southern coastal province of Khanh Hoa has been covered with a large amount of the black oil

The Cam Lam District People's Committee said that the oil has been found at the beach since March 19.

The same black oil was also found in thick layers on a 3-kilometre beach near Tran Phu Street and some other beaches in Hon Mun Marine Protected Area in Nha Trang City between March 15-17.

Head of the Nha Trang Bay Management Board, Huynh Binh Thai, said that they had sent divers to the sea to find where the oil came from but there was no trace. There has been no oil spill or boat sinkings reported in the area.

New cold spell to hit northern region at the end of March

A strong new cold spell will bring rains to the northern region from early next week, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The dry and warm weather with temperatures ranging between 26-28 degrees Celsius over the past few days in the northern region will last until next Tuesday when a strong cold spell arrives, the centre said.

The cold will come with rains from the evening of March 22 with some northwestern provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau, and Lao Cai seeing the highest rainfall.

On March 23, temperatures are forecasted to drop to between 17-19 degrees Celsius in lowland areas, and between 14 - 16 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas.

After that, the northern region may see two more cold spells on March 26 and March 31. From April, the temperatures will gradually increase when summer comes.

Educational activities outside of schools in HCMC temporarily suspended

In its document, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has asked to temporarily suspend all extra activities.

The Department has just sent a document to heads of the Sub-divisions of Education and Training of Thu Duc City and districts citywide, principals of vocational training schools, intermediate schools and colleges, directors of the vocational education centers - continuing education establishments not to organize extracurricular educational activities outside of schools for students in the city.

Based on the actual situation of complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Department of Education and Training proposed that managers of schools take the main responsibility for ensuring safety and preventing accidents and injuries when organizing extracurricular activities in schools.

In particular, educational institutions were required not to carry out extra-curricular and extracurricular educational activities outside the school for students until further notice.

Vietnam Sports sector honors outstanding athletes

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Vietnam Sports Administration and Vietnam Olympic Committee yesterday held a program named “Glorious Vietnamese Sports” in Hanoi National Sports Training Center to honor outstanding coaches, players, disabled coaches and athletes nationwide in 2021.

Accordingly, the athletes voted on the list include swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang, track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh, taekwondo practitioner Truong Thi Kim Tuyen, football player Huynh Nhu, track and field athlete Quach Thi Lan, swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, futsal player Ho Van Y, boxer Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi, footballer Nguyen Quang Hai and karate practitioner Hoang Thi My Tam.

Besides, outstanding disabled athletes nominated on the list comprise Le Van Cong, Do Thanh Hai, Cao Ngoc Hung, Trinh Thi Bich Nhu, Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan. Notably, athlete Le Van Cong was awarded the second- class Labor Medal thanks to his achievement of Silver Medal in weightlifting in Paralympic Tokyo 2020.

List of poor districts approved

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh signed Decision 353/QD-TTg to approve a list of 74 poor districts in 26 provinces and 54 extremely disadvantaged communes in coastal areas of 12 provinces in the 2021-2025.

Especially, Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Dien Bien are the three provinces with the highest number of poor districts with seven each.

The 12 coastal provinces with extremely disadvantaged communes include Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Long An, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, and Ca Mau.

The classification of these districts and communes are based on four criteria enshrined in Decision 36/2021/QD-TTg, dated December 13, 2021 of the Prime Minister including the proportion of poor households and nearly poor households in line with multidimensional poverty standards in the 2022-2025 period, socio-economic development standards of commune-level administrative units, income per capital.

Travel restrictions relaxed as Viet Nam fully opens borders to foreign arrivals

The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism has updated travel regulations as Viet Nam fully opened borders to foreign arrivals from March 15.

Foreign arrivals travelling to Viet Nam by air shall be required to take a RT-PCR or RT-LAMP COVID-19 test within 72 hours or a rapid test within 24 hours before departure. This requirement is not applicable to children under two years of age.

The above requirement shall also applied to those who wish to enter Viet Nam by road or by sea, or they can take a COVID-19 test at the port of entry.

Incoming air passengers shall no longer be obliged to take a COVID-19 or follow mandatory quarantine requirement after arriving in Viet Nam.

All incoming entrants shall be required to fill health declaration form at the website tokhaiyte.vn prior to their departure and download PC-COVID app.

Within 10 days since the date of entry, entrants shall self-monitor their health and immediately notify the nearest medical facilities if they experience such symptoms like fever, cough, throat pain, runny nose, chills, headaches. Entrants have to regularly wear masks and disinfect hands.

Source: VNA/SGT/VOV/VGP/VNS/Dtinews

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES MARCH 20

Francophonie Secretary General to visit Vietnam next week