The Consulate General of Vietnam in Kunming, China, has received a shipment of medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19 prevention donated by China’s Yunnan province and Hong Kong’s Sunwah Group.

Consul General Nguyen Trung Hieu (L) and a Yunnan representative at the handover ceremony.
The shipment contains 160 oxygen generators, 30,000 antigen test kits, 1,200 personal protective suits, and 400,000 medical masks.

In particular, the oxygen generators will be given to eight Vietnamese localities of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Hanoi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh that have increased extensive cooperation with Yunnan over the years.

The gifts were transported to Vietnam through the Lao Cai – Hekou international border gate between August 29 and 31.

Addressing the handover ceremony held in Kunming recently, Consul General Nguyen Trung Hieu thanked Yunnan and Sunwah Group for their gifts which he said create a great source of encouragement for the Vietnamese localities in their ongoing COVID-19 fight.

After receiving the medical equipment and supplies, he said Vietnamese authorities will soon deliver them to coronavirus hit localities to assist them with COVID-19 prevention and control.

A representative of Yunnan shared difficulties faced by Vietnam in combating COVID-19 at present and said his province stays ready to support Vietnam within its capacity.

Yunnan maintains two close cooperation mechanisms with Vietnamese localities, namely the China-Vietnam economic corridor cooperation conference, and the joint working group meeting between Yunnan and four northern border provinces of Vietnam.

In May 2021, Yunnan and four Vietnamese border provinces of Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau and Dien Bien reached consensus on disease prevention cooperation between the two sides.

Hanoi reports 30 new COVID-19 cases on September 1 morning

Hanoi detected 30 new COVID-19 cases, all in quarantined sites and locked down areas, in the past 12 hours to 6am on September 1, according to the municipal Department of Health.

Thanh Xuan district, now the city’s largest COVID-19 hotspot, accounts for the highest number of infections, with 23 cases. Other infections were recorded in the districts of Dong Da (3), Ha Dong (2) and Dan Phuong (2).

The city has been applying social distancing since July 24 to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Since the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections started on April 27, Hanoi has logged 3,298 cases.

Vietnam’s COVID-19 caseload has reached 462,096 as of 6pm on August 31, with death toll hitting 11,064.

The country has administered over 19.96 million COVID-19 vaccine shots, with close to 2.62 million people fully vaccinated with two jabs.

Seven COVID clusters found in capital city

In the past six weeks there have been seven separate COVID-19 clusters in Hà Nội, with a total of 627 new infections recorded. 

Two of the clusters were detected in Đống Đa District, the first in Văn Chương Ward where there have been 89 cases since July 17 and the second in Văn Miếu Ward, with 103 infections since July 30.

The largest has been in Thanh Xuân Trung Ward where in the past week there has been a total of 349 new community transmissions.

Ba Đình District has also seen two outbreaks. The first was in Ngọc Hà Market, where since August 28, there has been 17 new cases and the second in Sơn Tây Street, Kim Mã Ward where 15 people have tested positive for coronavirus.

In Hoàng Mai District, the area around Lane 24 Kim Đồng in Giáp Bát Ward has been cordoned off after 44 new cases have been discovered since August 24, plus 10 cases were also found in Tân Lập Commune, Đan Phượng District.

The capital city has recorded a total of 3,811 new cases of COVID-19 so far, including 2,603 cases recorded since July 24 – the time the city applied the Government’s Decree No 16 with strict social distancing measures across the city to prevent further spread of the pandemic.

There have 39 COVID-related fatalities so far in Hà Nội. 

Vietnamese, Lao Foreign Ministries hold sixth political consultation

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and his Lao counterpart Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune co-chaired the sixth political consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs via videoconference on August 31, focusing on seeking measures to accelerate cooperation between the two sides and discussing international and regional issues of shared concern.

Both sides agreed that despite impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have maintained high-level meetings and exchanges as well as bilateral cooperation mechanisms in various forms. They particularly took note that in the past two months, both sides coordinated in organising the Vietnam visit by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in June and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Laos in early August.

They acknowleged the deepened defence and security partnership, as well as growing economic, trade and investment cooperation, with two-way trade reaching 764.5 million USD in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 34.8 million USD.

Bilateral collaboration in other fields such as transport, education-training, culture-society and people-to-people exchange has also been promoted, they noted.

The two Deputy FMs agreed on a number of measures to increase the role of the two Foreign Ministries in fostering the bilateral partnership of the two countries, especially in speeding up the implementation of signed agreements, enhancing the efficiency of delegation exchanges and optimising international resources for socio-economic development in each country.

They also discussed a plan to hold the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022 to mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Amity, considering it a chance to strengthen communications and education on the tradition of the special friendship between the two countries to people of both sides, especially the youth.

Regarding international and regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides noted that the world and regional situation has continued to see complicated and unpredictable developments. They stressed the need to continue collaborating and supporting each other at regional and international forums, especially within the UN, ASEAN and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms and in matters of strategic significance related to peace and stability in the region and security and development in each country, including the East Sea issue.

They pledged to continue working closely together to deal with COVID-19, promote access to vaccine and the transfer of vaccine production technology as well as COVID-19 treatment medicines in a fair and effective manner.

Regarding cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries, both sides concurred to maintain and promote the effectiveness of consultation mechanisms at ministerial and deputy ministerial levels, while regularly strengthening exchanges among agencies of the two ministries, especially in the fields of personnel training, strategic research, economic diplomacy, international law, consular affairs, and border affairs.

They agreed to organise the next political consultation in 2022./.

Amnesty –special humanitarian decision of significant meaning

Amnesty is a major policy of the Party and State, manifesting the fine tradition of the nation in strictly handling of those who violate the law while giving clemency and humanitarian treatment to prisoners who really rehabilitate themselves and wish to return to society as an useful citizen, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, head of the Advisory Council on Amnesty 2021 wrote in his recent article on the occasion of the President signing a decision to grant amnesty to 3,035 prisoners.

Between 2009 and 2016, under the Amnesty Law 2007, the State carried out seven amnesties on the occasion of major and important events of the country, which benefited more than 87,000 people, noted Deputy FM Minh.

He underlined that this year’s amnesty is not only the first one implemented in conformity with the Amnesty Law 2018, but also the first after the 13th National Party Congress and the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils in the 2021-2026 tenure, reflecting the consistent policy of the Party and State in promoting and protecting human rights.

This year’s amnesty is implemented amid complicated COVID-19 developments, which have caused difficulties in the verification of prisoners’ documents in localities as well as the preparations for both released prisoners and the localities receiving them in line with pandemic prevention and control regulations. However, the work has been carried out in a prompt and scientific manner as scheduled, demonstrating the high determination of the whole political system in implementing this important mission.

According to Deputy PM Minh, immediately after the President signed Decision 1161/2021/QD-CTN on amnesty in 2021 on June 30, relevant agencies have quickly rolled out the implementation process. The Advisory Council on Amnesty has held many meetings to consider each case submitted for amnesty in an impartial manner, to ensure that all the cases submitted to the President for amnesty meet all requirements and legal regulations. The motto of the work is to prevent leaving out eligible prisoners and ensure fairness for all prisoners, including those with foreign nationalities.

“The consistent policy of our Party and State is to protect and promote human rights in a fair and equal manner for all citizens, including those who are undertaking imprisonment sentences. The general policy is to create optimal conditions for prisoners in the rehabilitating process, and amnesty would be the highest encouragement for them to improve themselves and repent,” stressed the Deputy PM.

Reality has proved that legal regulations of Vietnam always ensure all rights of all people regardless of their nationality, he underlined, adding that this is strong evidence to refute the untrue arguments and distorted information given by individuals and organisations with bad intentions to deliberately spread groundless information on the human rights situation in Vietnam.

The consideration of granting amnesty to foreigners on the basis of fairness and transparency has also helped the international community better understand the policies of the Vietnamese Party and State, Deputy PM Minh stated.

With the President’s decision, thousands of prisoners will enjoy the happiness of returning to their family and having another chance to rebuild their life.

“This is the strongest hallmark of humanity of the amnesty policy, manifesting the priority of ensuring and promoting human rights in all guidelines and policies of our Party and State,” concluded the Deputy PM./.

No Vietnamese affected in Afghanistan's aiport attack: Spokeswoman

No Vietnamese citizen has been affected in the terrorist attack at Hamid Karzai airport in Kabul capital city of Afghanistan on August 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said on August 31.

In reply to queries about Vietnam’s reaction to the attack that caused serious casualties at the airport, Hang said Vietnam condemns terrorist attacks in any form.

She also conveyed profound condolences to families of the victims of the attack. 

Hang added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan, concurrently Afghanistan, to continue reviewing and conducting citizen protection work.

Vietnam calls on concerned parties in Afghanistan to ensure security and safety of all Afghan citizens and foreigners living in the country, including Vietnamese citizens, she said./.

PM inspects COVID-19 prevention, control in Hanoi

PM Pham Minh Chinh inspects the hospital

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected a new COVID-19 treatment hospital in Hanoi’s Hoang Mai district on August 31 before it was officially put into operation the same day.

The PM requested relevant agencies to effectively operate the 500-bed facility and provide more professional training to medical staff in service of COVID-19 patients.

Later, the leader inspected pandemic prevention and control work at Thanh Xuan Trung ward, Thanh Xuan district, which is a hotspot of COVID-19 in the capital city. 

He checked the operation of shippers in delivering essential goods to residents in the ward, and reminded residents to seriously follow pandemic prevention and control measures.

 

At a working session with officials of the ward, the district and the city, Chinh pointed out existing shortcomings and urged grassroots authorities to ensure social security and welfare, while intensify the enforcement of social distancing measures as the National Day holiday comes near.

The Government leader affirmed that the motto “each commune, ward and township is a fortress, each citizen is a soldier” is a right policy in fighting the pandemic, and the city must do better in implementing this policy./.

Over 100,000 COVID-19 patients in HCM City discharged from hospitals

As many as 107,216 recovered COVID-19 patients in Ho Chi Minh City have now been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the virus, according to the municipal Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

The centre noted that as of August 31, the southern city has recorded a total of 216,314 COVID-19 cases, with more than 215,800 community infections and 445 imported ones being quarantined upon arrival in the country.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is in the process of treating 40,133 COVID-19 patients, including close to 2,450 children under the age of 16. Among them are 2,736 cases undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation, while a total of 16 people are reliant on the life support machine known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

The city has also conducted a rapid antigen testing (RAT) campaign for people who are living in orange (high risk) and red (very high risk) zones. This has been done alongside taking pooled samples from people in green and yellow areas (places which are free and nearly COVID-19 free).

Furthermore, the country’s largest COVID-19 hotspot will also test shippers for free.

A total of 400 mobile medical stations have been set up across the city, with the primary aim of taking care of home isolated COVID-19 patients.

E-handbook on COVID-19 prevention and control debuts

The Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Health have introduced the first version of an e-handbook on COVID-19 prevention and control at covid19.mic.gov.vn.

The National Technology Centre for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reported that the e-handbook comprises four major sections, including data, documents, information and technology.

The e-handbook is expected to enable agencies, businesses, organisations and individuals to search pandemic prevention and control measures online.

In the information section, visitors could watch videos featuring 5K message, instructions to wash hands and wear masks properly, 10 tips for patients at home, nine prevention and control measures in the community.

The technology section offers guidelines to fill out health declarations and introduces tracing, quarantine, testing and vaccination management platforms.

Any feedback could be sent right to the website, said the centre – operator of the e-handbook./.

Belgium supports Quang Nam in natural hazard management

The Embassy of Belgium in Hanoi has announced that the VLIR-UOS-funded project “Building capacity for disaster management for the mountainous region of Da Bac District, Hoa Binh Province” was approved for expansion in Quang Nam Province’s Nam Tra My District.

The project will be implemented by the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources (VIGMR) under the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Belgian partner, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), in 20 months in the 2021-2022 period.

As long-standing partners in development cooperation, Belgium and Vietnam have been nurturing bilateral ties in different sectors. This project highlights the continued support of the Belgian Government to Vietnam to effectively respond to the challenges of climate change and natural disasters such as flooding and, more specifically, devastating landslides in the central region of Vietnam, such as in Quang Nam Province in October 2020.

“After offering urgent humanitarian aid to those affected in Central Vietnam, Belgium also wants to contribute to solutions for disaster management and to reduce disaster risks in the future,” said Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Paul Jansen.

The results of this project will be crucial for the agricultural sector, in which Belgium and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are in close collaboration to implement the Strategic Partnership Agreement on Agriculture signed in October 2018, Jansen added.

This project aims at going beyond the traditional scientific assessment of landslide hazards by implementing the real-time documentation of the occurrences and impacts of landslides.

“The project will help to link scientists in various fields and managers to comprehensively assess the relationship between natural and human hazards and make recommendations,” said Project Manager Nguyen Quoc Dinh from VIGMR.

In addition, it contributes to improving the understanding of the dangers of natural disasters for the people and the authorities, and aims to strengthen the proactive response to natural disasters in Nam Tra My District.

Further, the project is a stepping stone toward longer-term cooperation between the local authorities and scientists through the establishment of a local observer network to help local authorities in the decision-making process for natural disaster prevention and management.

Vietnam's HCFC consumption down 35 percent in 2020

Vietnam consumed nearly 2,600 tonnes of HCFC substances in 2020, down 35 percent from the base consumption, and also down from nearly 3,600 tonnes in 2019, statistics showed.

In January 1994, Vietnam became one of the first countries to join the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's department of climate change is implementing the second phase of Vietnam’s project on eliminating HCFC substances for 2018-2023 (HPMP II).

The project, funded by the World Bank, targets to reduce Vietnam’s HCFC consumption by 35 percent as committed to the Montreal Protocol.

The project has so far provided technical and financial support to enterprises manufacturing air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, and foam insulation in line with the conditions set by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol regarding technology conversion without using HCFC-22 and HCFC-141b pre-blended polyol.

To date, a number of sub-projects providing technical assistance and funding for the procurement of technology conversion equipment have been implemented, and a number of proposals for similar sub-projects are in the making.

Vietnam is expected to issue regulations banning the import of HCFC-141b pre-blended polyol used in the production of foam insulation from January 1, 2022. 

New Covid infections in Danang rise sharply

The central city of Danang reported 123 additional Covid cases today, August 31, up twofold against yesterday, according to the city’s anti-Covid authority.

Among the fresh cases, 47 cases were found in concentrated quarantine centers, 22 cases caught the disease while undergoing home isolation and 42 were detected in areas under lockdown.

Two of the new patients are local competent forces who were on duty at a Covid checkpoint in Tam Thuan Ward of Hai Chau District. Another case is a medical worker who had collected samples for Covid testing at a residential area in Son Tra District’s An Hai Dong Ward. One more case was found to be infected with the disease after developing symptoms and being taken to the Danang C Hospital.

According to the local health authority, all of the seven districts of the city reported new infections that pose a risk of community transmission. Thanh Khe District took the lead in the number of cases at 36, followed by Hai Chau and Cam Le districts with 20 and 17 cases, respectively.

The central coastal city has been following the stricter stay-at-home mandate for 14 days, with local residents banned from leaving their homes. The local health sector has conducted screening Covid tests for hundreds of thousands of residents to isolate infected cases. However, the number of new cases is still on the rise.

Since May 3 to date, Danang has reported 4,299 infections.

Army Games 2021: Vietnam's chemistry team finishes “Safe Environment” competition

The chemistry team of the Vietnam People’s Army on August 31 finished at the 4th place in the Relay Race, the last content of the “Safe Environment” category within the framework of the International Army Games 2021 at Korla military base in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

During the competition, the Vietnamese team made great efforts against the Belarusian rivals. As Belarus made more technical mistakes, Vietnam was ranked higher despite completing the race in longer time.

The Vietnamese team, comprising 20 officers and soldiers, began the competition on August 25 and participated in the shooting event on August 29.

The organising board will announce the first, second and third runners-up in on September 1.

The International Army Games 2021 is hosted by Russia with 36 competitions in 12 countries and territories. China hosts the “Safe Environment”, “Clear Sky” and “Suvorov Attack” competitions. The Vietnamese team compete in the Safe Environment event.

Vietnam hosts the Military Medical Relay Race and Sniper Frontier contests of Games, which started at National Military Training Centre No 4 in Hanoi on August 31./.

Two elderly people die after receiving second shots of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines

Two elderly people have died after receiving Moderna vaccines, the Health Department in the central highlands province of Lâm Đồng has confirmed.

They are a 73-year-old woman (name given as N.T.L.) and a 78-year-old man (name given as N.A.) from Đức Trọng District, who both suffered from multiple underlying health conditions.

The patients died within 36 hours of receiving their second Moderna jab, all from the same batch. Neither showed any symptoms and had no reactions within the first 24 hours, according to the province’s health department and Lâm Đồng Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The two both got their first jab on August 6 and second on August 28.

The man was suffering from lung cancer and grade-3 heart failure, according to an official document signed by director of Lâm Đồng Health Department Nguyễn Đức Thuận.

He died of pneumonia, cardiogenic shock, lung cancer, grade-3 heart failure and ischemic heart disease early on the morning of August 30 at the Lâm Đồng General Hospital, according to the document.

Health authorities noted that all vaccination protocols had been followed, with all vital signs normal 30 minutes after the shot.

The woman had grade-3 hypertension and type-2 diabetes. She died at home early in the morning on August 30 as announced by the relatives to local health workers, the document read.

On the morning of August 28, during the pre-injection screening, L. was determined to have high blood pressure and was told to have some tablets and return to get vaccinated in the afternoon. She was given the vaccine in the afternoon when her blood pressure was deemed normal.

Nguyễn Đức Thuận, director of Lâm Đồng's health department, after convening a meeting between experts and Lâm Đồng CDC, said the deaths could be attributed to the two persons' underlying health conditions as they didn't suffer from any reactions within 36 hours after vaccination like rash, hives, breathing difficulties, anaphylaxis, and that they still conducted daily activities as normal.

Việt Nam received some 5 million doses of Moderna vaccines as donation from the US Government via COVAX Facility, and is in talks with the US company for a contract of five million more doses.

The country has administered more than 19.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of Monday, among whom more than 2.5 million have been fully inoculated. 

HCMC: Channels connecting residents and authorities expanded amid pandemic

Program “Questioning and answering between and HCMC’s government” broadcast live on social media sites starting on August 24 has attracted more than 1.7 million viewers, and received 70,000 comments and 25,000 shares.

The daily talk show reflecting concerned issues relating to social security, delivery of food bags and relief packages to needy people in the city is co-organized by the Department of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Information and Communications at 8 pm everyday.
Many residents’ problems have been solved and many people have received Covid-19 aid packages timely.

According to Director of the Department of Information and Communications Lam Dinh Thang, the program got more than 3,000 suggestions for help on August 24. Residents’ reflections with detailed addresses have been transferred to competent departments for resolving.

Another popular channel connecting residents and the municipal authorities is the Information Portal 1022 with the participation of 86 functional units and 625 participants. The Covid-19 support hotline 1022 has daily received 2,000-3,000 calls. It was reported that there was a sharp increase up to 20,000 calls a day during the social distancing period, said Deputy Head of the HCMC Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control Pham Duc Hai.

People can also use social media sites and platforms, including email, website, mobile apps, Facebook and Zalo to connect with the Information Portal 1022 from August 28, Hai said.
The HCMC chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front has also opened the SOS program to receive citizens’ questions about support packages.

On the other hand, Thu Duc City, districts across the city and their wards, communes and towns also publicize hotlines and phone numbers of local leaders and create apps for local residents to contact for assistance.

Promoting contemporary dance towards community

By following the Youtube channel of Goethe Institute in Hanoi in the early days of August, the public had the opportunity to enjoy a contemporary dance combined harmoniously with music named “Cai To” (The Nest).

The dance, inspired by emotions during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, was an event following the meaningful activities carried out by the “1648 kilomet” (1,648 kilometres) Organisation that has been operating for the arts.

With a duration of 50 minutes, the dance “The Nest” brings an artistic space of physical dance movements and music. That space was connected by strings where love, freedom and secret things form a resting place in the soul. This is a “nest” and a house where each person goes out and returns.

The work attracted viewers thanks to the flexible and delicate movements of the body and the unique transmutation of lights and music. It conveyed a humane message of the strength of family cohesion and peaceful moments of each individual amid a volatile world. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, people should slow down together to find ways to adapt and cope with the difficulties.

“The Nest” was the result of choreographer Vu Ngoc Khai’s enthusiasm and performed by himself in collaboration with musician-DJ Tri Minh and viola artist Tran Thi Ngoc Thuy. Khai said he rekindled the idea of creating this work from mid-2020 when the world was facing the COVID-19 epidemic and at a time when his wife had just given birth. He began to think more about the houses, the roots, the distance, the cohesion, the affection and responsibility of individuals to their families and society. Khai tried to find ways to convey his thoughts via the languages of dance and music.

The arrangement and release of the dance were conducted by the “1648 kilomet” Organisation founded by Vu Ngoc Khai and his friend Van Quy Ngoc Ai after he returned to the country following many years of studying and working in Europe as an actor and choreographer for many famous theatres in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

According to the 36-year-old choreographer, the “1648 kilomet” Organisation aims to bring meaningful art programmes closer to the community. Its name represents the country’s strength as the crow flies. Since its establishment, many impressive contemporary dance works, which feature traditional cultural materials, have been released and promoted on stages across the country. The organisation’s first dance Non” (Conical hat) directed by Vu Ngoc Khai and traditional music artist Ngo Hong Quang touched the emotions of audiences both in the country and abroad through the legend of a round heaven and square earth in association with familiar cultural symbols of Vietnamese people such as the conical hat, bamboo and Ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress).

The second dance entitled “Day gieng” (The bottom of the well) debuted the Hanoi Dance Festival in 2019. In the performance, dance movements were combined with the sound of the Tay Son battle drum and the image of sedge mats to reproduce Vietnamese folklore festivals. Meanwhile, “The Nest” and “Bao xuyen” (IntraStorm) carved into viewers’ hearts the cultural cohesion of the members of Vietnamese families.

Returning to the beauty of traditional values and finding methods to express them through the language of contemporary dance in order to help the public love the cultural quintessence passed down by ancestors is the ethos of both choreographer Vu Ngoc Khai and the “1648 kilomet” Organisation. They hope to affirm the position of Vietnamese contemporary dance in the world of the arts.

In addition to art performances related to contemporary dance, “1648 kilomet” has regularly conducted many non-profit activities for the community. Through various events such as “From me to you” and “The arts for people”, the organisation has coordinated with a number of domestic and international artists to teach dance and the knowledge of anatomy to hearing-impaired children so that they can protect their bodies when they accidentally fall to avoid injuries.

The artists have also taught poor children in the southwest region how to make recyclables into shirts, bags and towels while introducing the languages of dance and painting to unfortunate children infected with HIV in Ho Chi Minh City.

Choreographer Vu Ngoc Khai said although live art stages have not resumed operation due to COVID-19, he and his associates have still tried their best to seek new methods to maintain their artistic activities.

The “1648 kilomet” Organisation has been coordinating with two international artists in Hanoi to make a dance video expressing the aspiration of overcoming loneliness and finding joy in each person's soul and life. It is expected to encourage the people’s spirit amid the social distancing orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

President requests awarding exemplary models in pandemic fight

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested that exemplary models who have made great sacrifice and contributions to the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including volunteers and philanthropists, be identified and honoured.

The President's request was written in a document sent by the President’s Office to the Central Emulation and Rewards Council on August 31.

The document said in response to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s appeal and the national emulation campaign for concerted effort against the epidemic, the entire political system and people have made tremendous efforts, particularly frontline forces and individuals who volunteer to conduct charity works and deliver aid. Many of them have lost their lives while implementing their missions.

The President urged prompt rewards be made to timely encourage people and soldiers nationwide in the ongoing fight against the pandemic./.

HCMC supports Covid-19 hit people with $95.5 mln in cash, one million gift bags

Ho Chi Minh City has spent a financial package of VND2,181 billion (US$95.5 million) along with more than 1,040,911 gift bags of essential goods and food by August 30 to support residents under difficult circumstances and self-employed workers in districts and Thu Duc City during social distancing order.

The information was released by the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control at the latest press conference, presided over by Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control Mr. Pham Duc Hai, informing the city pandemic situation.

Regarding the SARS-CoV-2 sample test for app-based shippers, the city has organized over 400 mobile medical spots and 312 medical stations in wards to serve rapid Covid-19 antigen tests for the deliverymen once a day from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and control Pham Duc Hai said that the Ministry of Health reported 210,425 coronavirus infections, including 209,980 cases in the community and 445 imported ones by Monday morning.

Besides, the health sector is treating 40,133 patients. A total of 107,216 recovered patients have gone home and there have been 8,869 deaths related to SARS-CoV-2 from January 1 up to now.

Up to August 29, 6,123,510 people get vaccinated against Covid-19.

After a week of extensive testing in high-risk areas, the city detected 64,300 cases infected with coronavirus from over 1.6 million test samples.

As for healthcare for the beggars, vagrants and homeless people, the city took 775 people to the HCMC Social Support Center from August 23 to August 30.

Answering questions from the press agencies about medicine bags for Covid-19 patient treatment, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City's Food Safety Management Board Pham Khanh Phong Lan stated that there are three different medicine bags of A, B, C for Covid-19 patient treatment at home. Of which, medicine bag A includes those for fever relief and patient physical condition enhancement, medicine bag B consists of anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant and bag C has antiviral drug Molnupiravir.

So far, the Department of Health has prepared 150,000 drug bags of A and B and has delivered 74,000 bags to district health centers for delivery to wards and communes. The remaining 66,000 bags are in the warehouse of Children's Hospital 1 and are ready to serve the needs of Covid-19 patients.

HCYU Central Committee supports disavantaged people amid COVID-19

The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) launched a programme named “One million welfare bags” and a special emulation campaign to encourage Vietnamese youths to stand united and join hands in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the launching ceremony, the committee symbolically received 94,000 "welfare bags" and "welfare medicine bags" worth 23.3 billion VND (1 million USD) in total donated by businesses, organisations and individuals.

The Secretariat of the HCYU Central Committee also handed over the token of 20,000 "welfare bags" worth 5 billion VND to disadvantaged people in Ho Chi Minh City, which is the current largest pandemic hotspot. Another 61,400 "welfare bags" worth 15.35 billion VND were presented to needy people in southern Dong Nai province.

The programme has been carried out since August 20 in cities and provinces applying social distancing measures to support people in disadvantaged circumstances.

Accordingly, 1 million "welfare bags" will be handed over to residents until the pandemic is pushed back. Each includes food such as rice, cooking oil, eggs, dried fish, canned meat and vegetables worth 250,000 VND which could be used for one week.

The "welfare medicine bag" worth 150,000 VND comprises basic medicines for COVID-19 prevention and control as guided by the Health Ministry.

As many as 11,400 "welfare bags" valued at over 2.8 billion VND were already presented to 11,400 poor households in Hanoi and eight southern cities and provinces.

On the occasion, the programme debuted its portal www.trieutuiansinh.doanthanhnien.vn, making it easier for organisations and inviduals to grant donations.

Meanwhile, the emulation campaign, which started on August 26, will last till the pandemic is basically under control nationwide./.

Hanoi to grant amnestry to 59 prisoners

The Hà Nội municipal Special Amnesty Advisory Council has proposed authorities grant amnesty to 59 prisoners on the occasion of the National Day (September 2).

The selected inmates have performed well during their prison terms and are eligible for parole in line with the President's 2021 amnesty decision.

Hà Nội Police plans to organise a ceremony on September 1 to announce the President's amnesty decision and release the prisoners.

The Hà Nội police will also consult and coordinate with local authorities to help freed prisoners reintegrate into the community.

Earlier, the Presidential Office held a press conference in Hà Nội on July 2 to announce the State President’s decision on amnesty for prisoners in 2021, on the occasion of the National Day.

The beneficiaries will include those who are serving their fixed-term sentences in jail, those who have life sentences reduced, and those who have sentences suspended.

They must show good conduct, serve at least half of their fixed-term sentence, and at least 15 years for those who have their life sentences reduced to fixed-term sentences.

Hanoi sets up facilities for Covid-19 patients with mild or no symptoms

Hanoi will establish five medical facilities for asymptomatic Covid-19 patients and those with mild symptoms.

Under the decision issued by Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Chu Ngoc Anh, the facilities will receive people aged 18 and 65 who test positive for Covid-19 by the PCR-real time method but display mild or no symptoms.

The facilities, which are not open to pregnant women, foreigners and those with underlying medical conditions, have 7,000 beds.

The first one is building A1 with 2,000 beds in Hoang Mai District. This is a hostel for students.

The second one is apartment building 4A on Ta Quang Buu Street with 1,000 sick beds. Meanwhile, the others are located in resettlement areas in Tay Ho and Hoang Mai districts.

Painting exhibition features August Revolution victory

An online exhibition is underway to introduce 18 paintings on historical events leading to the success of the August Revolution in 1945. We went along to take a look.

The “Con duong doc lap” (or Independence path) exhibition is held by the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum. It tells a story of Vietnamese people staying united to overcome all difficulties and hardship to gain victory.

The exhibition affirms the great significance of the August Revolution as well as devotion of President Ho Chi Minh, as well as the historical lessons for the national reform and international integration.

Particularly, many paintings at the event feature President Ho Chi Minh in important moments of the Vietnamese revolution.

The exhibition is organised on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the National Day (September 2) and August Revolution.

It is available on the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum’s website and fanpage: vnfam.vn and https://www.facebook.com/baotangmythuat./.

HCMC has new treatment plan for Covid-19 patients to expand green area

The health sector in Ho Chi Minh City has had a new treatment plan for Covid-19 patients as it is promoting testing and screening for people with Covid-19 in the community to expand the green area.

Presently, more patients have been discharged from hospitals and Covid-19 treatment facilities, and the numbers of serious cases and deaths have been reducing. This has shown the changes in the treatment plan proved effective, said Associate Professor Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Department of Health in HCMC.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, the screening will help detect infections in time and prevent further spread and the health sector detects about 5,000 Covid-19 patients every day, but the health sector has developed an appropriate treatment plan for people with symptoms of Covid-19 by severity level to avoid hospital transfer and reduce mortality.

Regarding testing for Covid-19 patients, the Ministry of Health has directed Ho Chi Minh City to carry out testing and screening on a large scale to quickly separate infected people from the community. Additionally, the HCMC health sector ought to supplement the treatment plan ensuring adequate oxygen tankers, ventilators, emergency beds, and other necessary medical equipment for Covid-19 treatment facilities.

It is expected that by September 6, when the second round of testing is completed, Ho Chi Minh City will redraw the epidemic map of red zones, orange zones, yellow zones, and green zones.
According to the City Department of Health, within seven days of widespread testing throughout the city with a focus on high-risk and very high-risk areas, more Covid-19 patients have been discovered in the community day by day.

Of approximately 1,677,154 people in red zones and orange zones citywide have undergone rapid antigen tests, some 64,299 people turned out to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 accounting for 3.8 percent of total samples.

Moreover, only on August 27, the city reported 4,551 new Covid-19 cases of 5,357 new cases countrywide accounting for nearly 85 percent.

According to the health sector, Covid-19 positive people in the community have been detected in recent days, mainly in places with high population density, small alleys, and densely populated places because people have not fully complied with 5K principles.

The increase in the number of Covid-19 infected people in the community may make people a bit worried, the health sector vowed to detect all cases of Covid-19 in the community, said Dr. Thuong.

He added the city's positivity rate of total sampled cases is now around 3.8 percent, still well below the world's high level of infection with 5 percent.

Doctor Truong Huu Khanh from Children's Hospital No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City noticed that up to 80 percent of people with Covid-19 in the community have the mild disease which will help the health sector to classify early and have appropriate treatment, avoiding too many people becoming seriously ill and help reduce the mortality rate.

For example, after undergoing testing on August 28, three of the family members of Ms. Ho Thi Thuy in a boarding house in Binh An ward, Thu Duc City were all negative whereas she was positive. She felt happy because her husband and children may catch the virus from her if she did not do Covid-19 test in a timely manner. She was taken to concentrated isolation at Nguyen Hien Primary School in the ward as she has a mild symptom.

As the number of infected cases increases rapidly, treatment demand is higher in recent days, the health sector has reclassified treatment plans including home isolation and treatment, isolation areas in wards and districts and treatment at hospitals for severe cases. Particularly, the city has set up 413 mobile medical stations and 413 groups of military medical doctors in charge of treating and monitoring for 50,000 people with Covid-19 at home.

These 413 mobile medical stations and 413 groups of military medical doctors have provided good care to Covid-19 people who are isolated at home. The station's doctors will examine, provide medicine packages and give first aid for these patients at home, Dr. Thuong added.

Mobile medical stations are supported by military doctors, the community Covid-19 team, and the quick response team; additionally, these stations are fully equipped with essential drugs, including antiretroviral drug Molnupiravir for Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms. Covid-19 patients at home have been told a hotline for advice and support when necessary to help them feel secure”, said Associate Professor Dr. Tang Chi Thuong.

Shippers race to Covid-19 testing sites in HCM City

Hundreds of shippers in HCM City are facing difficulties getting Covid-19 tests for permission to resume working on August 31.

Shippers were already lined up in front of the testing site at Vang Anh Nursery School at 858 Quang Trung Street at 6.30 am. Since the testing hours are from 7 am to 9 am, many shippers said they had to wake up very early to go to the sites.

Only a group of 10 shippers were allowed to enter the testing site at a time. The quick test will give results within 15 minutes. 85 shippers were tested on the morning of August 31 and the results were negative. They were given a certificate to work in the city.

Shipper Nguyen Minh Tuan said, "We have to take the test daily so there will be difficulties. I'll try to work for a few days to see how it goes. If it's too hard, I may not continue this work."

39-year-old Pham Thi Hang said that she worked for over a year ago, yet had to stay home for several months. "I can't afford to look after my family like that. I know travelling around is not safe at a time like this but I have to try," she said.

Many shippers also lined up for testings at a site on Nguyen Van Nghi Street, Go Vap District.

Tran Thi Thu Ha, representative of Go Vap Medical Station said they had announced on the internet that there would be three testing sites at 161 Nguyen Van Nghi Street, 137 Thong Nhat and 858 Quang Trung streets.

"Many shippers did not know about this information so they only went to one or two sites and it meant that some places were overcrowded," Ha said.

HCM City authorities say COVID transmission rate ‘controllable’

The Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee has said the COVID-19 rate of 3.8 per cent in high-risk areas identified following mass testing over the past week is "within the city’s capacity to handle".

Speaking at an online meeting on Monday, Nguyễn Văn Nên said the city would continue to focus on rapid testing, vaccination and treatment to reduce the number of deaths. 

“It will ensure distribution of essential goods and social security for people, especially vulnerable ones.

“Units in charge of social security and goods supply will need to work to ensure transparency in social security and the supply of goods for people.

“This is, however, only the very first step in the long-term fight against the pandemic. We cannot lock down forever, but we cannot relax measures unless the situation becomes predictable.”

He encouraged everyone to stay calm while urging them to continue to “stay where they are” to slow down the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

He urged the city Department of Health to establish teams of pharmacists to help distribute medicines to patients being treated and monitored at home.

Dương Anh Đức, vice chairman of the People’s Committee, said large-scale testing in extremely high-risk and high-risk areas has been helping find 4,800 cases daily.

Phan Văn Mãi, chairman of the People’s Committee, reiterated the city’s goal of basically bringing the outbreak under control by September 15.

“By then most people aged over 18 in the city would have had their first shot, and people who have already had the first jab will be able to get the second shot on schedule.” 

He said it is vital to vaccinate delivery and logistics workers on a priority basis since they play a major role in supply chains.

He stressed the major role played by medical stations and mobile medical stations at ward or commune levels in taking care of patients at home.

He called on the Department of Industry and Trade to consider reopening food stores so that each ward and commune has at least one.

“The City Welfare Centre has prepared two million welfare packages to ensure no one will lack food.

“The head of communes, wards or townships will be responsible for drawing up the list of people in need of help in their localities.”

The Department of Health has called on Thủ Đức City and district authorities to speed up mass testing in low-risk areas and complete it by September 1.

Over a week of testing, the city found more than 64,300 positive cases, or 3.8 per cent of samples taken, which the health sector said was an “acceptable level.” The World Health Organization has said 5 per cent is acceptable.

The city is treating 40,133 patients at medical facilities, including 2,449 aged under 16, 2,736 people critically ill and on ventilators and 16 requiring ECMO.

Another 20,604 are being treated at isolation facilities in various districts.

Of 83,643 people being treated at home, 24,050 have recovered and will remain isolated for another two weeks.

The city provides medicines for patients being treated at home, including antiviral drug Molnupiravir, which is in the Ministry of Health’s experimental phase.

The city has administered vaccines to 6.12 million people, including a second to more than 332,000. 

The number of new infections since the fourth wave hit the country in late April has topped 445,000, with HCM City accounting for more than 216,000.

PM asks for readiness in response to disasters

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered ministries, sectors and localities to stay ready to respond to natural disasters.

In his latest dispatch sent to the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control; the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue; ministries, ministerial-level agencies and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, PM Chinh stressed that it is currently the peak time of storms and floods.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, natural disasters continue to develop complicatedly and unpredictably. From now until year-end, 7-9 storms and tropical depressions are expected to be formed in the East Sea, of which three or four will have direct impacts on the mainland.

Flash floods and landslides may occur in the mountains of the northern and north central regions in September and October, while heavy downpours are forecast to hit the central and south central regions in October, November and the first half of December.

To actively respond to natural disasters, protect people's lives, and minimise losses, especially amidst the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government leader requested the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue to direct ministries, sectors and localities to review and update response plans, and instruct the operation of reservoirs and the effective exploitation of water resources.

It is necessary to prepare personnel, vehicles and equipment to promptly support localities in dealing with any disasters and conducting search and rescue missions when necessary.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was asked to keep a close watch on the weather, and give timely and reliable forecasts and warnings./.

Miss International 2021 cancelled due to COVID-19

Missosology, the world’s leading publication on beauty pageants, has reported that Miss International 2021 will be cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miss International 2021 is cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This comes after the global beauty pageant had been scheduled to take place in November at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan. The event will now be held in the fall of 2022 instead.

“Details of which will be announced in due time,” says Missosology.

The delay marks the second time that Miss International pageant has been cancelled since 1966, with the latest event moved because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally launched in 1960, Miss International is a Japanese-based international beauty pageant organised by the International Culture Association. Along with Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Earth, the pageant makes up one of the Big Four major international beauty pageants.

Pham Ngoc Phuong Anh, first runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2020, has been chosen to represent the nation at Miss International 2021.

In previous versions of the event, the Vietnamese representatives have gone on to win high prizes at the Miss International pageant. They include Pham Hong Thuy Van who won the third runner-up title in 2015 and Tuong San who finished among the leading eight contestants back in 2019.

Law building and enforcement by 2030 debated

The strategy on building and perfecting the legal system and law enforcement by 2030 towards 2045 was discussed at the first meeting of sub-committee No. 1 in Hanoi on August 31, under the chair of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

The strategy aims to meet the demand for building and perfecting the rule-of-law socialist State of Vietnam.

The sub-committee for developing the strategy was headed by NA Chairman Hue. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh serve as deputy heads.

The strategy development is one of the four projects that the Party delegation to the legislature has been assigned to implement.

The sub-committee approved a plan on the implementation of the project, and looked into a draft report regarding the issue.

The implementation should be based on the reality as well as documents issued by the 13th National Party Congress, the top legislator said, asking the compiling group to consider opinions raised at the meeting and international experience to ensure the quality of the project.

The project must be submitted to the steering committee of the Party delegation to the NA before September 15./.

Artists nationwide join online concert for COVID-19 fight

Artists nationwide are set to participate in a virtual concert on September 3 hosted by the Vietnamese Musicians Association (VMA) as they help the country during its ongoing struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is scheduled to feature pieces of music selected through a contest on the nation’s COVID-19 fight launched by the association in late July.

All songs played during the course of the concert will display national patriotism and solidarity, while calling on people nationwide to overcome the various difficulties faced during the steps taken to combat COVID-19.

The concert marking Vietnam Music Day will be broadcast at 9:50 a.m. on September 3 on the fanpage of the Vietnamese Musicians Association and a number of other online platforms.

As of August 31 evening, the nation has recorded nearly 450,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 11,000 fatalities since the start of the outbreak in January last year.

Lao ambassador to France congratulates Vietnam on 76th National Day

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang on August 30 received his Lao counterpart Yong Chanthalangsy, who came to offer congratulations on Vietnam’s 76th National Day (September 2).

The Lao ambassador also took this occasion to congratulate Vietnam on the 76th founding anniversary of its diplomatic sector (August 28) and 59 years since the establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (September 5).

He said this is also an occasion to enhance the special friendship and close-knit relations between the two countries, as well as their Parties, peoples, and embassies.

Both sides should keep strengthening this friendship so that young diplomats can follow and uphold the long-standing tradition of Vietnam and Laos, he noted.

For his part, Thang affirmed that Vietnam - Laos relations are traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.

He highlighted the mutual high-ranking visits this year such as a trip to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in late June, and a visit to Laos by Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc in early August.

These visits demonstrate the fact that the counties’ great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation have been flourishing, for the sake of their people, the ambassador remarked.

He added next year, the two countries will mark the 60th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties, which will be an event of great importance to both sides.

At the meeting, the two diplomats also discussed some issues of common concern such as the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental protection, and sustainable development./.

AFC names key Vietnamese players ahead of World Cup qualifiers

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has revealed the names of three Vietnamese players who are expected to shine in the upcoming match against Saudi Arabia in the final qualifying round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In the recently-published article, the AFC note that the Vietnamese national team have never before reached this stage of the qualification process for the World Cup.

However, after gaining plenty of experience of playing at the highest level of the continental game, their Group B opponents should not take them lightly.

According to the AFC, Vietnam will be banking on the stars of their “New Golden Generation”, which mainly draws players from the 2018 AFC U23 Championship runners-up side, with the team having the potential to cause a few upsets against more experienced opponents.

“Chief among them is the prodigiously talented midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, while striker Nguyen Tien Linh and captain Que Ngoc Hai lead a talented supporting cast,” says the website.

Upon mentioning Quang Hai, the AFC consider him as one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in Asia. In addition, they believe Tien Linh will be in prolific form in the fixtures to come, particularly as the forward stands at six foot tall.

The website also stressed that the captain and rock at the heart of Vietnam's defence Que Ngoc Hai will see no shortage of action when the centre back takes on some of the best attackers Asia has to offer.

President Ho Chi Minh with aspiration for independence, freedom, happiness spotlighted

A symposium named “President Ho Chi Minh with the aspiration for independence, freedom and happiness” was held via videoconference on August 31 by the Institute of Ho Chi Minh and Party leaders under the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the President Ho Chi Minh relic site at the Presidential Palace.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Le Van Loi said that the symposium offered a chance to once again study and clarify the revolutionary life of President Ho Chi Minh and pay tribute to his great contributions to the national liberation and development cause.

Loi said that according to the late President, national independence must be associated with freedom and happiness for all people and is a prerequisite for the realisation of the people's freedom and happiness, and the people's freedom and happiness are the fundamental criterion and a measure of the value of national independence.

President Ho Chi Minh’s aspiration for independence, freedom and happiness has become a great motivation and strength for the Vietnamese people to overcome all difficulties and challenges, he affirmed.

He emphasised that the entire Party, people and army are currently implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, promoting the movement of studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, and taking drastic measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and protect public health.

The late leader’s will and aspiration for independence, freedom and happiness should continue to be creatively applied and developed in order to encourage and promote the tradition of patriotism, solidarity, and self-resilience to overcome difficulties and obstacles, firmly stepping on the path of renewal and development, for a Vietnam with wealthy people, strong country, democracy, justice and civilization, added Loi.

Participants also focused discussion on the life and career of the late leader who devoted all of his life to national independence and the people's freedom and happiness./.

Vietnam tennis team to compete at Davis Cup in Jordan

The Vietnamese tennis team will depart Ho Chi Minh City on September 8 for Amman in Jordan to participate in the 2021 Davis Cup Group III in the Asia/Oceania region.

Ranked 71st in the world, the Vietnamese team are scheduled to play Hong Kong, Syria, Sri Lanka  Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Pacific Oceania, and Malaysia.

The 2021 Davis Cup - Asia/Oceania Group III is due to take place from September 14 to September 18 at the Al-Hussein Youth Sport Stadium in a round table format, with the drawing ceremony expected to be held at the Amman Marriott Hotel on September 14.

The draw will see teams drawn into pools A, B, and C in the initial stage, with each pool consisting of three teams and matches taking place from September 15 to September 17.

Play-off matches will subsequently be held on September 18. At the end of the event there will be a maximum of three teams with the highest results promoted to Group II, whilst the three losing teams will be relegated to Group IV. The other teams will therefore remain in Group III.

Based on the world rankings, Vietnam are likely to be a number two seed.

The nation has been in Group III since 2003. After topping it in 2018, they failed to get promotion to World Group II after losing 4-0 to Morocco in the play-offs last March.

Hanoi reports 27 new COVID-19 infections in six hours

Hanoi reported 27 new COVID-19 cases over the six hours from 6am to 12pm on August 31, according to the municipal Department of Health.

Of these, one is community infection and the rest were recorded in quarantine sites and locked down areas. 

New infections were recorded in Thanh Tri (4), Thanh Xuan (4), Ba Dinh (3), Dong Da (3), Hai Ba Trung (3), Hoang Mai (3), Thuong Tin (2), Dong Anh (2), Cau Giay (1), Dan Phuong (1) and Hoan Kiem (1).

The capital city has documented a total of 3,234 cases since the fourth coronavirus wave struck the country in late April.

The department also said 13 infection cases were recorded over the past 12 hours from 6pm on August 30 to 6am on August 31. All of them were detected in quarantine and locked down areas./.

Vietnam ready for first match of World Cup qualifiers’ final round

All members of the national men’s football team are well prepared for the first match in the final round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers against Saudi Arabia, which is slated to kick off at 1am on September 3 (Vietnam time).

During an interview with the press on August 30 in Riyadh capital city of Saudi Arabia, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai affirmed the team is in high spirits, and pledged to do his best to score in the game.

Although it will be an away match against tough rivals in the continent, confidence and solidarity will be among Vietnam’s strengths, he added.

Vietnam got the chance to play in the third and final round of the World Cup qualification for the first time ever. They will play in Group B along with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman.

The team is to host Australia at the My Dinh National Stadium on September 7 without supporters./.

Vietnamese National Day observed in Brazil

The Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil held a ceremony marking the 76th National Day of Vietnam (September 2) in Brasilia capital city on August 30.

At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Pham Thi Kim Hoa highlighted major achievements of the country after 35 years of implementing the “Doi moi” (Renewal) process.

As Vietnam has been successful in maintaining political stability, creating a favourable business climate and balancing economic growth and implementing sustainable development goals, the country has earned the trust of international friends and become an attractive destination in Southeast Asia for investors and foreign tourists.

Vietnam posted a gross domestic product growth rate of 2.91 percent last year, and the figure saw a year-on-year rise of 5.64 percent in the first half of 2021, despite waves of COVID-19 outbreaks, she added.

Brazil is among major partners of Vietnam in Latin America. The countries have helped each other in socio-economic development over the time and closely joined hands at international organisations and multilateral forums.

On the foundation of the Vietnam-Brazil comprehensive partnership, exchanges in culture and education have brought people of the two countries closer, the diplomat added.

For her part, Márcia Donner Abreu, Secretary for Bilateral Negotiations in Asia, the Pacific, and Russia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, said Vietnam has become Brazil’s leading trade partner in ASEAN, with two-way trade exceeding 3 billion USD this July, a year-on year-increase of 28 percent.

Brazil stands ready to promote and diversify trade relations with Vietnam, she said, citing that the countries touched on issues of mutual concern and identified new fields of cooperation during the seventh political consultation in November 2020; and signed cooperation agreements on maritime transport and aviation services, among others.

Vietnam recently joined talks with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) to discuss future cooperation, she added./.

Tra Vinh turns to other crops on unproductive rice, sugarcane fields

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Trà Vinh is assisting farmers with growing other crops on a total of 1,550ha of unproductive rice and sugarcane fields or switch to aquaculture or livestock farming.

In the first seven months of this year farmers stopped growing rice and sugarcane on more than 1,200ha and switched instead to growing vegetables or coconut or to aquaculture, according to the province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.   

Phạm Minh Truyền, director of the department, said his agency is carrying out the province plan to restructure agriculture and has zoned areas for various crops.

To enable farmers to change crops, the province is implementing a support programme in 2021 – 25 with a budget of VNĐ368 billion (US$16 million).

It has support policies for farmers to adopt good agricultural practices (GAP) standards and offers them subsidies to buy agricultural machinery and equipment.

In recent years it has encouraged farmers to switch to high-value crops.

In Trà Cú District, for instance, farmers have switched to farming vegetables and shrimp on more than 1,300ha of sugarcane farms.  

Farmers in the largest sugarcane growing area in the province earned little and even suffered losses because of low prices in recent years.

Many have also switched to intercropping coconut and shrimp in sugarcane fields, earning VNĐ100-150 million ($4,400-6,500) per hectare annually.

Farmers in the province who restructured on the advice of authorities earn VNĐ80-300 million ($3,500-13,100) per hectare per year, two or three times what they earned from rice or sugarcane, according to the department.

Truyền said under its restructuring plan, the province has since 2017 reduced the area under crops and increased the aquaculture area.

The average crop value per hectare now is VNĐ130 million ($5,700) a year, more than 10 per cent higher than in 2016, he said.

Aquaculture fetches VNĐ360 million ($15,700) compared to VNĐ103 million ($4,500), he said.

In 2017-20 farmers started cultivating other crops or switched to aquaculture on more than 10,647ha of unproductive rice fields, according to the department.

The province has 80,000ha under rice, with 70 per cent having high-quality varieties.

Rice, corn, orange, grapefruit, pig, cow, goat, poultry, black tiger shrimp, white-legged shrimp, and mud crabs are the province’s key agricultural products.

To secure outlets for them, it encourages farmers and agricultural co-operatives to sign contracts with companies, and provides them with financial support and teaches them the latest farming techniques.

Heart-warming drawings lift viewers’ spirits during COVID-19

Inspired by touching stories, many amateur and professional painters have produced sketches, drawings and paintings to convey positive and optimistic messages to viewers amidst COVID-19 while encouraging them to observe pandemic prevention and control.

‘Nhat Ky Chong Dich’ (Diary on Pandemic Prevention) and ‘Thang Fly Comics’ are popular Facebook pages posting illustrations and comics which have been followed and shared by many people, particularly during the social distancing period.

Through the pages, viewers can see the difficulties and hardships of the front-line forces, with the warm humanity and mutual support vividly presented by illustrators and cartoonists. Bui Dinh Thang, commonly known as Thang Fly, is the owner of the ‘Thang Fly Comics’ Facebook page, which has attracted 1.4 million followers. Thang has constantly drawn many paintings that are widely popular in the online community.

Among them was a drawing inspired by a touching photo of a group of volunteers in the pandemic-hit Ho Chi Minh City, who were wearing protective suits, sitting on the back of a pickup truck, and holding each other's shoulders under torrential rain.

Acts of kindness in the quarantine areas, the bonds between fellow citizens, volunteers heading to pandemic-hit localities, and other similar stories have provided inspiration for many pictures. The illustrator of Thang Fly Comics said that he receives dozens of messages every day, sharing touching stories of many places, which provide him ideas for his comics.

Nguyen Dao Nhat Dan, the administrator of the ‘Nhat Ky Chong Dich’ Facebook page, also seeks inspiration for his paintings from the press, social networks, or the sharings of volunteers, doctors and nurses who are working in the fight against COVID-19.

One of his paintings was based on the story of a young female volunteer with a protective shirt with hand-written words “FB: Hue Nguyen – Single”, which conveyed the vitality and optimistic spirit of the youth despite hardships caused by COVID-19. Another of Dan’s drawing featured Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 H'Hen Nie in a casual outfit transporting goods, and distributing free meals to people in the quarantine area.

According to Dan, despite his busy schedule, the amateur painter loves to spend time drawing comics every day to record inspirational stories and spread the optimism to his viewers.

For her part, painter Nguyen Vu Xuan Lan has received tens of thousands of likes and shares on social networks for her collections themed ‘Diary of getting vaccinated against COVID-19’, and ‘Baby in the Quarantine Area’.

With funny drawings and humorous descriptions, Xuan Lan hopes that people will feel more secure when they have to go to quarantine area or get vaccinated, because the medical team is very supportive and cares about the people.

She also wants to spread the message that making honest medical declarations, voluntarily going to quarantine if necessary, and actively registering for vaccination are significant measures that everyone can take to contribute to the prevention of COVID-19.

All young artists are happy when their paintings are appreciated and shared widely on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.

Painting while staying at home during social distancing has also been the response of many other artists, including painter Tran Trung Linh. Linh decided to focus his works on three main themes, including ‘Thanks to the heroes’, which highlights people partaking in charity activities to support needy people; ‘Saigon - Cute Things’, which includes beautiful acts of residents in Ho Chi Minh City amidst the pandemic; and ‘Something Sweet out of Hardships’, which is a touching expression of parents’ love for their children.

Among his paintings, painter Le Sa Long created a portrait of Minh Rau – a vegetable seller in Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province, who often delivers free vegetables to workers and students, and the poor. Meanwhile, female artist Nguyen Minh Hai creates big posters on the health workers, police, soldiers, and volunteers who have been resiliently working to fight against the pandemic.

Not only professional painters, many amateur painting lovers have also actively created paintings on the beauty in life during social distancing.

Cao Hong Ly, a young teacher in Nghe An province, attracted public attention with her series of paintings of elderly people making donations to the COVID-19 fight, which were based on true stories, including an 89-year-old man from Ha Tinh Province donating his savings and two bags of home-grown vegetables, and a 102-year-old woman from Yen Bai Province making donations to those joining anti-epidemic forces.

Little acts of kindness and benevolence continue to touch the hearts of people. Not being subjective but also not panicking is the common message that the painters want to convey to viewers while fuelling their hope for a near future day when normal life will return.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/SGGP/Nhan Dan