The 15th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee commenced the 8th session in Hanoi on February 15 morning.

In his opening remarks, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said during the session, the Standing Committee will look into the amendment of two draft laws, namely the one on mobile police and another revising and supplementing some articles of the Law on Intellectual Property, expected to be submitted to the parliament for approval at the coming third session.

Participants will scrutinise the articles needing revision in the laws on customs, science and technology, management and use of public assets, and prices as some regulations in these laws are related to the amended ones in the Intellectual Property Law.

They are set to consider including the draft revised Law on Medical Examination and Treatment in the 2022 law and ordinance making programme. Initial results of supervision over the implementation of related policies and legal regulations since the Law on Planning took effect will also come under consideration.

In addition, the Standing Committee will make decisions on the establishment of wards in Pho Yen township and the establishment of Pho Yen city in Thai Nguyen province.

A report on the settlement of people’s opinions in January will also form part of the session’s agenda, according to Chairman Hue.

The 8th session of the NA Standing Committee is scheduled to last for two and a half days.

New highway planned in Mekong Delta

A new 188-kilometre highway in the Mekong Delta between Chau Doc city in An Giang province and Soc Trang province is planned to be built, and the feasibility study for it has been handed to the Ministry of Transport by the My Thuan Project Management Board.

It will start at National Road No 91 in Chau Doc, pass through Can Tho and Hau Giang province and end at Tran De Port in Soc Trang.

In the first phase, it will have four lanes and allow speeds of up to 80km per hour.

To be built using public funds, its cost is estimated at 44.3 trillion VND (1.9 billion USD) for the first phase.

It will be widened to six lanes by 2030. Further, the project was suggested to get off the ground in 2023.

Hue man preserving imperial glazed ceramic tiles

Dang Uyen in Thuan Hua ward in Hue city is the only person to have successfully restored ancient royal tiles, contributing to rejuvenating important monuments at the Hue Monuments Complex, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

According to historical research, lapis lazuli is a precious jewel and the Nguyen Dynasty used the name for royal lapis lazuli (yellow-glazed tiles) and lapis lazuli bar (blue-glazed tiles). They were used as roofing at palaces and mausoleums, and contain cultural, historical, and aesthetic meaning.

To restore the royal tiles, Dang Uyen spent a lot of time researching and learning from historical and cultural researchers as well as ceramic artisans.

The most difficult matter was determining the components of ancient enamel, so that when fired at high temperatures the tiles turn yellow or blue.

Vietnamese model to compete at Mister Global 2022 pageant

Local model Danh Chieu Linh will represent the nation by competing at the Mister Global 2022 pageant.

The Khmer-born native stands at 1.85 metres tall and measures 107-79-100.

He had previously achieved a top 30 finish in Mister Vietnam and was chosen to represent the country in competing at the international competition.

The contest had previously been cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the complicated developments relating to COVID-19. However, this year is expected to see the event take place in March in Thailand.

COVID-19 measures must be strengthened when reopening KTVs, bars

The Ministry of Health has suggested the reopening of karaoke and bars based on the pandemic evaluation in each area.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn this week issued an official dispatch in response to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism about the proposal to reopen karaoke and bars to help the businesses recover after two years of serious disruptions.

Throughout 2020 and 2021 in Việt Nam, karaoke and bars, deemed inessential services and breeding grounds for the virus, were usually the first to be closed and the last to be allowed to resume operations when a COVID-19 outbreak emerged.

The health ministry asked the other ministry to ensure karaoke and bar businesses strengthen pandemic prevention measures including frequent disinfection and better ventilation as they are indoor venues.

447 employees to be hired for operation of Nhon-Hanoi Station urban railway

On February 14th, Hanoi Railway One Member Company (Hanoi Metro) told that this company planned to hire 447 employees for the operation of the Nhon-Hanoi railway station, the first of its kind in Hanoi.

According to Hanoi Metro, the trains are under testing time. Equipment and automatic ticketing system have been installed at the Train Operating Center and train stations. The project is scheduled to put the 8.5 kilometer elevated section into operation at the end of 2022.

The project needs 624 staff to operate. Far from it, the operation of the elevated section requires 524 staff. Among them, 478 staff will receive training on how to operate and maintain the railway.

This time, Hanoi Metro will recruit leaders and staff for the vacancies of departments of operation, automatic ticketing system, safety supervision and maintenance and repair.

Hai Phong sees surge in Covid-19-infected teachers and students

Up to 22,652 teachers and students in the northern province of Hai Phong have been infected with Covid-19, said Bui Van Kiem, Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training.

Kiem gave the information at an online meeting on the city’s Covid-19 prevention and control measures on February 14.

According to Kiem, 21,364 Covid-19 cases are the city’s students, while 1,288 are teachers.

Among the total figure of 22,652 patients, 6,104 have not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, Haiphong has combined both online and in-person classes.

HCMC draws up plan to renovate iconic Ben Thanh Market

Le Hoa Binh, standing vice chairman of the HCMC government, has directed the relevant units to implement a renovation plan for the Ben Thanh Market, one of the famous landmarks in the southern city. The funding for the renovation project will come from private sources.

The vice chairman recently approved in principle the TA Landscape Company’s proposal to renovate the market. He asked the city’s industrial and civil construction investment projects management board to coordinate with the company, which serves as the design consulting unit for the project, to execute a more detailed renovation plan and submit it to the municipal government before February 28.

Ben Thanh Market, located in downtown HCMC, is one of the favorite shopping destinations in the city for tourists. It was built in 1912, covering an area of over 13,000 square meters.

HCMC asks health sector to provide precise information on epidemic prevention

The People's Committee in Ho Chi Minh City has asked the Department of Health to give accurate information on the coronavirus pandemic prevention mission.

The Committee has ordered to implement the plan of the Standing Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on improving the effectiveness of the ideological work of the municipal Party Committee in the context of safe, flexible adaptation and effective control of the Covid-19 epidemic and economic recovery and development.

Under the municipal People’s Committee’s directions, departments, agencies, sectors, and localities ought to focus on implementing the government’s Resolution 128, the Resolution 05 of the 8th Conference of the Executive Committee of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and the People's Committee’s plans relating to epidemic prevention and economic recovery.

Hanoi – HCMC train ticket priced from US$20

The Hanoi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company yesterday launched a 50-percent fare discount program for passengers from February 21 to March 31.

Particularly, the promotion program will apply for North-South trains, including SE5/SE6, SE11/SE12 with a distance from 500 kilometers, Hanoi – Vinh trains comprising NA1/NA2 with a distance of 319 kilometers. The promotion program covers Hanoi – Hai Phong train route departing from Hanoi or Long Bien train stations to Hai Phong station and vice versa.

The opening for sale will start from 8:00 a.m. on February 18 to the end of March 28 for passengers buying tickets three days before their departure with detailed wagons and seats. The program is applied for soft seats and beds with air-conditioners.

Under the promotion program, the Hanoi – Hai Phong train tickets will be priced from VND35,000 (US$1.5) per ticket, the ticket prices of Hanoi – Vinh route and Hanoi – HCMC route shall be from VND79,000 (US$3.5) per ticket and from VND450,000 (nearly US$20) per ticket, respectively.

Tan Son Nhat Int’l Airport to open new lane for passenger pick-up, drop-off

Aware of the trouble passengers have encountered when they need to catch a taxi home, along with the messy state created by illegal tech-based taxis, Tan Son Nhat International Airport yesterday announced that it will cooperate with TCP Parking Garage in front of the domestic station to allow cars to use D1 lane for picking up and dropping off purposes.

Accordingly, the D1 lane has been built parallel with other lanes in front of the domestic station, fully equipped with road signs and ticket towers, as a backup for the D lane – the parking for taxis and cars signing a contract with the airport for passenger pick-up and drop-off purposes.

In the end of 2020, the inner traffic in Tan Son Nhat International Airport was rearranged, with four lanes A, B, C, and D in front of the domestic station being used for passenger dropping off (lane A), and picking up (lane B and C for private cars and lane D inside TCP Garage for taxis of transport businesses).

After adjustment, tech-based taxis and contracted cars are now allowed on those lanes but have to use the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of TCP Garage for picking up purposes. Only Bee Co. after signing a contract with the airport is approved to serve passengers at the international station, which is 100 meters away.

Ministry of National Defense establishes hospital for Covid-19 patients in HCMC

The Military Traditional Medicine Institute in Ho Chi Minh City under the Ministry of National Defense officially established a hospital for treating Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms on February 14.

Accordingly, the Military Traditional Medicine Sub-Institute in Ho Chi Minh City's District 6 has been converted into a hospital for treating Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms with a scale of 300 to 500 beds which will officially operate from February 16.

Apart from treating Covid-19 patients with mild and moderate symptoms, the hospital will treat post-Covid-19 patients, especially the elderly, adults with underlying medical conditions and overweight people infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Gov't plans to raise combined length of expressways to 5,000 km by 2030

The Government plans to increase the total length of expressways to 5,000 km by 2030 from the current 1,163 km.

By 2050, the national expressway network will be basically completed with 41 routes, totaling about 9,014 km, according to the road network plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister in September last year.

The planned expressways include the North-South axis with two roads, one running from Lang Son to Ca Mau with a length of about 2,063 km and another road with a length of about 1,205 km, with 4-6 lanes.

In the Northern region, there will be 14 roads, totaling about 2,305 km, with 4-6 lanes. The Central Region - Central Highlands will have 10 roads, about 1,431 km in length, with 4-6 lanes. The Southern region will consist of 10 expressways, about 1,290 km in length, with 4 - 10 lanes.

Hanoi will have three routes, totaling about 425 km, with 4-6 lanes. Ho Chi Minh City will have two routes, about 295 km in length, with 4 - 8 lanes.

Japanese Film Festival 2022 opens online

The Japanese Film Festival 2022 in Vietnam by the Japan Foundation Center opens online from February 14 to 28.

The event introduces 20 feature films in different genres, including drama, live-action, anime, musical, comedy and romance.

The organiser hopes the film festival will introduce a taste of the Japanese film industry as well as the country's history, culture and lifestyle to Vietnamese audiences.

COVID-19: Vietnam records close to 30,000 new infections in single day

For the first time since the COVID-19 disease broke out, the daily number of new infections of the coronavirus in Vietnam has surpassed the 29,000 case mark, hitting 29,414 on February 14.

The February 14 caseload for new infections represents an increase of more than 3,000 cases compared to the previous day. Of the total, as many as 20,924 cases were detected in the community, meaning the virus infection risk is very high.

All eyes are on northern localities which have seen the virus spread very quickly over the past few days. On February 14 alone, Hanoi capital topped localities, registering 3,507 new infections, followed by Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Lang Son, Nam Dinh, Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho that reported more than 1,000 new cases each.

Official data from the Ministry of Health show the past 24 hours saw an additional 6,193 patients recover from the disease and 91 more patients died of the virus and other underlying illnesses.

Defender Trọng leaves Hà Nội to play for Bình Định

Defender Trần Đình Trọng has left Hà Nội FC and signed for Topenland Bình Định on a free transfer, but he will be paid VNĐ10 billion (US$434,700) for the duration of his three-year contract.

The hefty salary shows the ambition of Bình Định, who hope Trọng will strengthen their defence.

Bình Định have also signed deals with Hà Đức Chinh and Rafaelson Bezerra Fernande from SHB Đà Nẵng, Nghiêm Xuân Tú and Mạc Hồng Quân from Quảng Ninh Coal as well as Jermie Lynch from Hải Phòng.

Joining Bình Định will see Trọng play more often than he did at Hà Nội FC and he will reunite with coach Thắng who helped him develop at Sài Gòn FC.

UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay popularized at EXPO 2020 Dubai

The World Heritage Week Ha Long Bay - New Wonder of the World at EXPO 2020 Dubai has officially kicked off, with a wide range of activities held to promote Ha Long Bay as a UNESCO recognized World Heritage site.

Ha Long Bay has twice been recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1994 and 2000. In 2011, Ha Long Bay was voted as one of the new seven natural wonders of the world.

The landmark is therefore expected to become an interesting check-in point in the premises of the Vietnam Pavilion as it will help visitors to gain greater insights into the World Natural Heritage of Ha Long Bay.

The World Heritage Week is of great significance in reviving the local tourism industry following the pandemic, serving to introduce Vietnamese arts and cuisine, as well as elevating Ha Long Bay to an array of international friends.

Glass bridge leaves visitors cracking up

Glass bridges are certainly not for the faint-hearted, and if you don't have a head for heights then maybe it's best not to cross. But one tourist attraction in northern Việt Nam has left visitors cracking up – after a glass panel on the bridge appears to be shattered.

Photographs published on social media clearly show the damage. But it seems the shattered pane is nothing more than a visual effect to get hearts racing even more.

Local authorities in Lai Châu Province insist the bridge is still perfectly safe to cross despite the cracks, but they still say they will soon replace the broken pane, offering peace of mind and calming the nerves of visitors.

Nguyễn Văn Huân, who is responsible for the Glass Bridge Dragon Cloud Tourism site on Ô Quý Hồ Pass, in Tam Đường District, Lai Châu Province, said the glass panel measures 1sq.m at the foot of the glass staircase.

A representative from the local Culture, Sports and Tourism Department and Construction Department visited the site to examine the glass and said it was in good condition and perfectly safe for tourists to cross. However, they decided that the site should replace the glass to calm the nerves of visitors.

Huân said the glass used was imported from Japan and consisted of three layers, each measuring 1.2cm in thickness, which was then bordered with bullet-proof film layers imported from the US.

The site was opened to the public in November 2019, which includes a lift inside a glass cage of 300m in height. The glass bridge runs 500m in length, a part of which reaches out of 60m of the attached cliff. The bridge was built at an altitude of 2,200m above sea level and is the highest glass bridge in the country.

Local image claims prize at CEFF International Environmental Photography

An image snapped by Vietnamese photographer Tran Viet Van has been named the winner in the Indigenous Cultures category at the CEFF International Environmental Photography.

The photograph titled “Sunny Day” features a woman drying incense sticks in Quang Phu Cau, a 100-year-old incense making village located in Hanoi.

Viet Van is currently a journalist working for Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper. The Hanoi native received a bachelor's degree from Hanoi Cultural University in 1996. He started photography in 1998 and has so far won over 80 international photo prizes. He has also worked as a judge at many film festivals and photo contests in Vietnam.

HCM City celebrates Lantern Festival with parade, cultural shows

HCM City is organising several programmes including a parade to celebrate Tết Nguyên Tiêu (Lantern Festival), which falls on the 15th of the first lunar month.

The parade with around 800 performers in colourful traditional costumes, taking place this afternoon, is a highlight of the festivities.

The parade will travers the main streets of Chợ Lớn including Hải Thượng Lãn Ông, Châu Văn Liêm, Lão Tử, Lương Nhữ Học, Nguyễn Trãi, Trần Xuân Hòa and the District 5 Cultural Centre.

The main celebration of the festival will be held at the cultural centre from 7pm-9.30pm, featuring traditional dances and games, along with calligraphy demonstrations by several artisans.

Meanwhile, a poetry reading event to celebrate the Việt Nam Poetry Day will be held at the Văn Lang Park from 7.30pm-9.30pm.

The festival also includes a cuisine week on Trần Hưng Đạo Street, and exhibitions showcasing calligraphy, ink-wash and other paintings as also a photography exhibition at the cultural centre, which will remain open until February 20.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park hoped to become central region’s biodiversity conservation centre

The People’s Committee of the central province of Quang Binh has approved a project to support the work of wildlife rescue, conservation and release at the Center for Rescue, Conservation and Creature Development in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

The project will operate with an assistance of more than 1.7 billion VND (74,740 USD) provided by the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF).

It is hoped to help turn the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park into a biodiversity conservation centre in Vietnam’s central region, that meets requirements in welfare, treatment and release of wild animals, said the management board of the park.

Perfume Pagoda ready to welcome tourists back

Preparations have been completed for the reopening day of the Perfume Pagoda, a famous spiritual tourist destination in Hà Nội.

Everything is ready to welcome thousands of Buddhist pilgrims back on February 16.

Hương (Perfume) Pagoda opened on a pilot basis four days earlier than expected, to check its ability to cope and prevent the pandemic before officially welcoming visitors back.

Mỹ Đức District has set up eight checkpoints to control the pandemic at the entrances and exits of Hương Sơn scenic area, and two mobile medical stations at Hương Sơn commune health station and Bến Trò .

Visitors with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 will be taken to the isolation point and supported by health workers according to regulations.

Vietnamese film Memoryland being screened at Berlinale

“Mien Ky Uc” (Memoryland), a film by director Bui Kim Quy, is being screened at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) taking place from February 10 – 20.

Mai Nguyen, Director of Munich-based Scarlet Visions, one of the Memoryland producer, said the movie highlights the differences between urban and rural life. It reminds those leaving villages to pursue their dreams, study, work or a better life in the cities of the customs and traditions of where they were born and grew up, she said.

In this year’s Berlinale, the 99-minute film is vying in the “Forum” category. There will be five screenings of the film at five different movie theatres in Berlin from February 14 – 19.

After Berlinale, “Memoryland” will compete at Doc Fortnight, an annual international festival for nonfiction films, in New York, the US at the end of this month, Mai added.

Health ministry issues guidelines for COVID-19 patients under home care

COVID-19 patients who are allowed to self-monitor at home have been told to measure and pay attention to breathing rate, pulse, temperature, peripheral oxygen (SpO2) levels, and blood pressure, then fill out a health monitoring sheet twice a day.

The Ministry of Health on Saturday issued new guidelines on health monitoring for COVID-19 patients who are allowed to self-monitor at home. Việt Nam registered 29,413 COVID-19 patients on Monday, the highest since the start of the pandemic.

Mekong Delta set for dry-season saltwater intrusion

Saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta’s rivers is expected to be less severe than last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Irrigation Department.

Water from the sea is likely to enter 50 – 65km up rivers in February and March, 15 – 25km less than last year.

It is expected to reduce gradually in April.

The delta, the country’s largest producer of rice, fruit and seafood, suffers from saltwater intrusion annually in the dry season that lasts from December to April.

UNFPA Vietnam calls for ending child marriage on Valentine Day

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam has called upon the community to take immediate actions to end child marriage on the occasion of Valentine Day (February 14).

According to the UNFPA, to end child marriage, many changes are needed, including strengthening and enforcing laws against the practice, promoting gender equality and ensuring the community’s commitment to the rights of girls.

However, young people must also be empowered to understand and claim their rights. This means they must be provided with accurate sexual and reproductive health information, educational and skills development opportunities, as well as platforms for

According to the Survey measuring Vietnam Sustainable Development Goal indicators on Children and Women (SDGCW) 2020-2021, co-launched by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UNFPA in Vietnam, among women and men aged 20-24 surveyed, 14.6 percent of women and 1.9 percent of men were first married or in union before the age 18.

Rural women and men are much more likely to marry before age 15 and 18 than their urban peers. Marriage before age 18 among women aged 20-49 is negatively correlated with their education level and their household wealth quintile. Women who have lower education and come from poorer households are more likely to marry before their 18th birthday.

Vietnam Airlines to launch online check-in service at Lien Khuong airport

Vietnam Airlines will launch online check-in service for passengers departing from Lien Khuong Airport in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong’s Da Lat city from February 16.

This is the 10th domestic airport the carrier provides this service after Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Van Don, Cat Bi, Vinh, Chu Lai and Con Dao.

According to Vietnam Airlines, the expansion of its airport network applying online check-in service is one of its efforts to achieve the goal of a digital airline.

Passengers can save time by check-in online via website www.vietnamairlines.com or mobile app within 24 hours until 60 minutes prior to their scheduled departure time.

Vietnamese to compete at Super Ball 2022 in Czech Republic

Nguyen Danh Quang will represent Vietnam at the Super Ball 2022, which is scheduled to take place in the Czech Republic this August.

The event is dubbed the biggest and most prestigious open competition of freestyle football in the world.

Quang, born in 1994, triumphed at the recent Tet Freestyle Football 2022 in Hanoi, with two categories of Routine and Battle. He received a cash prize of 500 USD, a trophy and a berth at the Super Ball.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Anh Tuan, aged 24 and Vu Ngoc Nam (20), were awarded the second and third prizes.

The Tet Freestyle Football was first initiated by winner of the Asian Freestyle Football Championship 2013 Do Kim Phuc, with a hope to promote the sport in Vietnam.

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

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES FEBRUARY 14

EC Executive Vice President to visit Vietnam this week