Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue visited the Hongqiao legislative centre in Shanghai on April 10, as part of his official trip to China.

The centre has so far contributed to the drafting of 82 draft laws and legal documents, including four laws promulgated by the National People's Congress (NPC) of China.

In his remarks, the Vietnamese NA leader lauded China's model of establishing legislative centres at the central and grassroots levels.

He said that while making laws, the NA particularly values the policy impact assessment process before drafting laws as well as the collection of public opinions.

Considering the operation of the centre a good practice for study, the top legislator noted that Vietnamese agencies are currently reviewing and amending the Law on the Issuance of Legal Documents.

Vice Chairman of the NPC’s Standing Committee Wang Dongming said that the 6,700 legal contact points nationwide have played an important role in China’s legislation process. All local people's congresses have built and operated their legislative contact centres.

Thanking the Vietnamese leader for sharing the NA’s experiences and effective practices, Wang emphasised the need for continued exchange and cooperation between the two legislative bodies at all levels to enhance their operations, serve the development of each country, and better implement common perceptions between their top leaders and their cooperation agreement freshly signed during Hue’s ongoing trip to China./.

Vietnam attaches importance to East - West Economic Corridor, CLV Development Triangle Area

Vietnam always attaches great importance to the role of the East - West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle Area, and prioritises the allocation of resources to promote cooperation in the area, Nguyen Van Trung, Vietnamese Consul General in Pakse, Champasak province of Laos, said at a trade, investment and tourism promotion forum in the Lao locality on April 10.

Trung noted that over the years, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand have conducted many joint cooperation programmes to boost the development of the East - West Economic Corridor and the CLV Development Triangle Area.

Besides, Vietnamese localities have actively invested in infrastructure facilities to strengthen transport, seaport and logistics connectivity with their peers in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, while fostering trade, investment and tourism links with the countries, Trung said at the event, which gathered leaders and businesses of 18 localities from the four countries.

At the forum, representatives of localities of the four countries highlighted their potential and strength in trade, investment and tourism, enabling them to build plans to implement cooperation content to suit the demands and strengths of each localities, thus contributing to promoting the development of the East - West Economic Corridor and the CLV Development Triangle Area.

Initiated in 1998, the East - West Economic Corridor is an economic development cooperation programme in the Mekong Sub-Region with a 1,450 km long road starting from Mawlamyine, Myanmar and ending in Da Nang city of Vietnam, connecting Myanmar and Vietnam via Thailand and Laos. The initiative aims to strengthen economic cooperation, promote trade, investment and development among member countries, while reducing transportation costs, facilitating goods traffic and supporting the growth of localities on the route.

Meanwhile, the CLV Development Triangle Area was established in 1999 with the purpose of implementing cooperation programmes in the border areas of the three countries across many fields such as traffic, telecommunications, energy, investment, trade, agriculture, tourism, health care, culture and education, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, reducing poverty and enhancing connectivity in the area./.

HCM City strengthens cooperation with German firms

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Vo Van Hoan on April 10 received former Vice-Chancellor, former Minister of Health and Minister of Economics and Technology of Germany Philipp Rösler who is joining a delegation of German firms to visit the city.

Hailing the visit, Hoan said that the city is experiencing an economic transition stage towards green growth and digital transformation, and has high demand for technological change, digital transformation, and digital government building, which is a great chance for German firms to engage in the city’s development process in the future.

With their potential and experience, German businesses can cooperate with the city in such priority areas for development as investing and building new industrial park with new and advanced technologies, especially microchip, electronics, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, he said.

The city leader expressed his hope that German firms will share experience and consultations, and cooperate with the city in building a centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the city within the global network of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He said he hopes the firms will continue to cooperate with the city in finance supply, technology transfer and investment in local infrastructure projects, including urban railway lines.

The city is ready to provide optimal conditions for businesses of the two sides to meet and seek partnership opportunities, bringing benefits to both sides.

For his part, Rösler said that German enterprises highly value the potential and position of Ho Chi Minh City in the Vietnamese economy, and want to make their presence in the city and contribute to its development.

He held that the city's priority development areas are also the strong areas of German businesses, adding that they want to cooperate with the city in the fields of digital transformation and consultation, and seeking financial investment for development projects in the city as well as building the Fourth Industrial Revolution centre.

Urs Unkauf, Federal Managing Director of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA Global Economic Network), the head of the delegation, expressed his hope that the visit will help build a bridge for the business communities of Germany and Vietnam as well as HCM City and German localities in areas of shared interest.

He showed impression at the dynamic development of the Vietnamese economy, affirming that German firms hope to contribute to economic development of Ho Chi Minh City, especially in areas of their strengths and the city’s priority such as digital transformation, pharmaceuticals and health care, innovation, and urban environmental pollution settlement.

Germany currently ranks 14th among the 122 countries and territories investing in HCM City with 244 projects worth over 378 million USD. Currently, the city is hosting 40 representative offices of German economic organisations./.

Minister of Home Affairs welcomes Vatican foreign minister

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra received visiting Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, in Hanoi on April 10.

Highlighting the diversity of religions in Vietnam, Tra said there are 16 religions, 36 religious organisations, and 27 million religious followers in Vietnam who account for 27% of the country’s population. Catholicism has about 7 million followers, ranking second in the number of followers in the country.

Minister Tra appreciated the contributions of Catholic followers to national development and defence while speaking highly of the role of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam in guiding the development of Catholicism in the country and instructing followers to lead a good secular and religious life.

The minister attributed those results to efforts by the Vietnamese Party and State and religious followers, including Catholics, as well as support from the Vatican.

Tra expressed her delight that relations between Vietnam and the Vatican have been growing and obtaining good results, describing the presence of the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam as a clear demonstration of the sound relations.

Tra thanked the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations for considerably helping to promote relations between the two sides.

As the state management body for religious affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs will coordinate with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam to provide favourable conditions for activities of the Resident Papal Representative, the host official stated.

For his part, Gallagher said he hopes following the agreement on the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam, bilateral ties will continue to be reinforced and upgraded.

He considered achievements in the Vietnam - Vatican relations as an illustration of the presence of the Catholic Church in Vietnam as seen in the local administration’s recognition and favourable conditions for the Church to perform its functions, including contributing to national development, caring for the poor, and bringing love to all.

The achievements obtained so far will open up new paths for the Church to continue affirming its presence in Vietnam and engaging more in health care and education, he noted, mentioning Vietnamese authorities’ permission for the establishment of the Vietnam Catholic Academy.

Sharing Gallagher’s opinions on healthcare and educational affairs, Minister Tra said the Vietnamese side will help promote these two areas.

She also suggested Minister Gallagher visit parishes, dioceses, and Catholic followers in the country to see the solidarity of religions and religious followers in the community of all Vietnamese ethnic groups.

The host voiced her hope that under the leadership of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, Catholic followers will continue following Pope Benedict XVI’s teaching that to be a good Christian is to be a good citizen, and the relations between Vietnam and the Vatican will continue to flourish./.

Prime Minister receives Brazilian foreign minister

Vietnam and Brazil boast great potential to boost their economic and trade ties, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told visiting Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira in Hanoi on April 10.

The PM asked the FM to convey regards and invitation to visit Vietnam from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to President of the Workers' Party of Brazil and Brazilian President Lula da Silva.

On this occasion, Vieira handed over an invitation letter from President Lula da Silva to PM Chinh to attend the G20 Summit slated for this November in Brazil. The host accepted the invitation with pleasure.  

Recalling his visit to Brazil in September 2023, Chinh said he was impressed by its  land and people, and spoke highly of policies adopted by the Brazilian government to consolidate and advance the country’s economic and political position, as well as its role in the region and the world at large.

The PM expressed his belief that Vieira’s visit will contribute to enhancing the Vietnam-Brazil comprehensive partnership, and it will be a step forward to materialise agreements reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.

The leader emphasised that Brazil remains Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in Latin America, and the second in America, with two-way trade continuously growing over the past years to stand at 7.11 billion USD in 2023.  

He suggested the Brazilian government soon recognise Vietnam’s economic mechanism and Brazil further coordinate with other members of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) to push ahead with the launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and Mercosur, thus contributing to raising the Vietnam-Brazil trade and advancing the bilateral relationship to a new level.

For his part, Vieira affirmed the importance Brazil attaches to Vietnam’s role and position in the region, and called for its coordination in preparations for the G20 Summit.

He also suggested the two sides step up measures to boost the bilateral ties, effectively maintain the political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level and resume the intergovernmental committee mechanism between the two countries in order to review the bilateral cooperation and propose directions to expand and deepen the Vietnam-Brazil comprehensive partnership.

The minister informed the PM about his talks with Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, during which the two sides agreed on a cooperation programme for the time ahead./.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha attends Vietnam Development Bridge 2024

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said the Government is committed to the continued development of the green economy, including renewable energy, while attending the 4th Vietnam Development Bridge 2024 Forum and the Golden Dragon Awards programme in Hai Phong on April 10.

With the theme of "Vietnam moving towards a green, sustainable economy: From strategies and policies of the Government to initiatives and solutions of localities and businesses", the forum was attended by representatives of diplomatic agencies, leaders of 25 provinces and cities in the northern region, along with business associations and nearly 300 foreign investment enterprises in Vietnam.

Ha said all nations in the world are facing global challenges that each country cannot solve alone without other countries' assistance.

Along with many other countries around the world, Vietnam is now poised to transition from brown to green growth, improve the quality of life, and ease impacts of climate change

The private sector, the Government, international partners, localities, and financial institutions in Vietnam will find solutions to the problems in this aspect, and countries have to sit together to find an effective cooperation mechanism, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He added that Vietnam already has a basic legal framework and the Government pledged to continue improving and promoting the development of the green economy, including the field of renewable energy.

According to a recent assessment by the European Commission (EC) of the current global market size, green products and services are estimated to top 5 trillion USD  and may have a much higher growth rate than other traditional markets. It is forecast that by 2030, the green economy will have create about 24 million new jobs globally.

The green economy also creates opportunities to strongly attract investors in many new fields such as renewable energy, smart transportation, smart agriculture, green urban areas, green construction, and green finance. On the national level, the green growth strategy also demonstrates the determination and desire to develop a strong and sustainable country.

By 2025, greenhouse gas emissions inventories will be mandatory for businesses.

The plenary session of the forum will focus on discussing and updating new international trends in the green economy, low carbon economy, and net – zero economy./.

Deputy PM highlights incentive policies for rooftop solar power installation

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha highlighted the importance of rooftop solar power in ensuring energy security, saying that there needs to be mechanisms and policies to encourage organisations and individuals to invest in solar power.

He made the statement while chairing a meeting held on April 10 to discuss a draft decree stipulating mechanisms and policies to encourage the development of rooftop solar power.

He said rooftop solar power is a renewable energy source that needs to be prioritised and encouraged.

He emphasised the need to mobilise resources of organisations and individuals, and take advantage of the existing transmission network.

The draft decree must include methods of rooftop solar power operation (self-production, self-consumption, linked to the national electricity system, with electricity storage equipment) as well as technological solutions to ensure the safety and stability of the base power system when connecting rooftop solar power with the grid, he said.

He said rooftop solar power, offshore wind power, biomass power and waste power are given priority for development in conditions that they meet technology, system safety conditions and have appropriate prices. Developing rooftop solar power is an economical and effective energy plan.

Procedures should be simplified for households and offices installing rooftop solar power for self-production and self-consumption, not for business purposes, except for works with special requirements regarding safety and fire prevention.

Businesses that invest in rooftop solar power for use, and at the same time install additional electricity storage equipment for sales, need to calculate reasonable prices, financial support and interest rates, he said.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, rooftop solar power can be installed on houses, offices and in industrial parks for use in the form of self-production and self-consumption. It may or may not be linked to the national electricity system and is not sold to other organisations or individuals.

Do Van Nam, member of the Board of Members of the Northern Power Corporation, said businesses in industrial parks need incentives from rooftop solar power procedures and policies. Installing additional rooftop solar power requires ensuring the safety of existing buildings.

Bui Quoc Hoan, Deputy General Director of the Southern Electricity Corporation, said it is necessary to encourage businesses in industrial parks to install equipment to store unused rooftop solar power and convert it into a clean background power source, then transmit it to the grid during the evening peak at a suitable price.

According to the National Load Dispatch Centre, the power grid can remain stable and safe when renewable electricity accounts for up to 50% of total load capacity. It is possible that the power grid in the North can ensure safety and stability when the rooftop solar power capacity is maintained at 5,000-7,000MW, equivalent to the current assessment of rooftop solar power potential./.

Eight coastal localities get more support in forestry modernisation

The 4,040 hectares of forests planted and restored in the first phase of the World Bank (WB)-funded Forest Sector Modernisation and Coastal Resilience Enhancement Project will receive further care, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a decision on the adjustment of the project investment, an official has said.

According to Pham Hong Vich, deputy head of the Management Board of Forestry Projects under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the decision is to raise resilience for coastal areas in the eight project localities, namely Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue.

Under the project, 37,956 hectares of protective forests are being reviewed and protected to complete protection fee payment, and the entire area of protective forests will be handed over to the localities after 2026 for further management and protection.

At the same time, the project has put in place about 100 livelihood investment packages in five localities, and it will maintain the results of the 50 packages done in the first phase.

The target communes, districts and communities will carry out the maintenance and operation of 22 production technology packages and 85 others for infrastructure, which aim to serve sustainable production, increase income for locals, and contribute to protecting and developing existing coastal forest resources.

The project will directly contribute to fulfilling the objectives set at the sustainable forestry development programme for 2021-2025, while improving the resilience of vulnerable areas, covering about 900 kilometres of coastline in the eight localities, Vich said.

Over 6,500 households have benefited directly from the project and 12,000 others, indirectly, with women accounting for about 40% of the beneficiaries./ .

Over 746 tonnes of rice allocated to Dien Bien, Bac Kan provinces in between-crop period

More than 746 tonnes of rice from the national reserve will be allocated to the two northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien and Bac Kan to support local people during the between-crop period in 2024.

Under Decision No.297/QD-TTg recently signed by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai, Bac Kan province will get over 72 tonnes and Dien Bien 674 tonnes.

The Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministries of Finance, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to take prime responsibility for rice allocation and make reports on the work.

Meanwhile, the People’s Committees of the two localities are responsible for delivering rice support for the needy in a timely fashion and in line with regulations./.

Lộc Trời Group win team time trial, Timofei still leads

Ivannov Timofei defended his top spot after Lộc Trời Group took the team time trial event of the HCM City Television Cycling Tournament on April 10.

Lộc Trời Group was led by defending champion Petr Rikunov. He successfully pushed his teammates at high speed to finish with the best time of 30.44min over 26km.

"We were really determined today. Rikunov was really a strong cyclist. He played a key role in pushing the whole team up to win this stage," said Nguyễn Tấn Hoài of Lộc Trời Group, who is one of the top Vietnamese cyclists.

Lộc Trời Group won with a 21-sec gap with the second team, Domesco Đồng Tháp, while Timofei‘s HCM - Vinama came in third at 31.23min.

Timofei was able to maintain in the lead after seven stages. But Rikunov was close behind him after his successful race.

Igor Frolov of HCM City New Group was third.

In the team rankings, HCM City Vinama, Lộc Trời Group and Le Fruit Đồng Nai were the top three.

The eighth stage will be from Thanh Hóa's Sầm Sơn Beach to Vinh City of Nghệ An Province. Cyclists will race for 154km. 

Thật comes second at 2024 Tour of Thailand

Nguyễn Thị Thật finished second at the 2024 Tour of Thailand cycling tournament that wrapped up on April 10.

Despite her strong effort, Thật could only come third at the third and final stage of 70km from Bueng Sam Phan to Si Tep Historical Park.

She was a hair behind Jutatip Maneephan of the host and Claudia Marcks of Australia.

With the outstanding win in the last stage after cycling 1hr 29.43min Maneephan overcame Thật in the overall ranking to take the yellow jersey. She was also the best sprinter and took the green jersey and the best ASEAN rider to bag the purple jersey.

“After three stages, Thật had the same time as Maneephan, but due to her defeat in the last stage Thật lost all three valuable jerseys that she held after two first stages,” said Nguyễn Ngọc Vũ, general secretary of the Việt Nam Cycling and Motor Sports Federation.

The Thai event was one of Thật's warm-ups for the 2024 Olympics. Thật will have three months to prepare for her best performance in Paris in the end of July. 

Đăng goes on at Asian championship, Linh stopped

Nguyễn Hải Đăng advanced to the second round, while female teammate Nguyễn Thùy Linh was ousted from the Badminton Asian Championship on April 10 in Ningbo, China.

Đăng overcame many difficulties before beating Viren Nettasinghe of Sri Lanka, who was 10 steps higher than him in the world, 21-12, 21-18 in the men's singles category.

He will next play the winner of the match between world No 8 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand and Prince Dahal of Nepal. The 2023 world champion Vitidsarn is seeded No 6, while Dahal has to compete for a main round from qualification.

On the women's side, Linh suffered a quick loss of 21-14, 21-5 to Japanese Aya Ohori, world No 12.

Two years ago, world No 21 Linh defeated Ohori at the 2022 world championship. But in this meet, Ohori showed impressive progress. She left Linh behind in the world ranking, while her technique and tactics were also superior.

Việt Nam still has athletes to compete in the men's doubles and mixed doubles categories.

Nguyễn Đình Hoàng and Trần Đình Mạnh will play Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han of Chinese Taipei.

Later, Phạm Văn Hải and Thân Vân Anh will face Cheng Xing and Chen Fang Hui of China.

The continental championship will last until April 14.

Marathoners to run relay halfway through the country to celebrate Điện Biên Phủ victory

The first THACO Marathon for Traffic Safety – Điện Biên Phủ 2024 will be officially organised on April 14 in Điện Biên Province, but a group of elite runners started their longest distance relay event of nearly 900km, far from the start line on April 10.

Famed marathoner Nông Văn Chuyền and nine teammates began running from an area near General Võ Nguyên Giáp's tomb in Quảng Đông Commune, Quảng Trạch District, Quảng Bình Province.

They will run 859km and carry the "Determined to fight, determined to win" flag through cities and provinces before arriving in Điện Biên Province on April 13.

In Điện Biên they will join more than 1,300 runners from nationwide taking part in the Marathon for Traffic Safety's 5km, 10km, 21km, 42km and 70km events.

Their ultramarathon is among activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory (May 7, 2024); 115 years since the founding of Điện Biên Province (June 28, 1909); and the National Tourism Year - Điện Biên Phủ 2024.

General Võ Nguyên Giáp (1911-2013) was the commander-in-chief of the Việt Nam People’s Army in two wars against the French and the Americans. The General was famous for leading the victorious Điện Biên Phủ Campaign in 1954, which contributed to the country’s liberation from French colonialism.

"My team and I were proud and felt lucky when having a chance to take part in this event, a key celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory," Chuyền told reporters before the run.

"We have run crossing the country twice, but this time is really different. First, we plan to complete the race in 70 hours, corresponding to the anniversary year of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory.

"Second, we wave the 'Determined to fight, determined to win' flag throughout the race and will present it to the management unit of the place to worship General Võ Nguyên Giáp in Mường Phăng Commune, Điện Biên Phủ City.

"This time, we run from the Central to the North so the terrain will be more steep slopes along with the hot sun of the early summer days, promising many challenges to the group," he said.

The runners have spent three months to prepare for their plan including mapping out the route, health care, and logistics and many other works to ensure their marathon can be completed in targeted time.

"To run such tough race, we have to best prepare runners. All members must be in good health and have experience in long-distance running. The support team is also very important because they will be the ones handling all problems that arise throughout the journey, so that the athletes can focus maximally on running," Chuyền said.

In addition to running, the marathoners will also pause at memorial sites and historical places to offer incense.

The tournament will be live streamed so everyone can follow the relay runners, and the group will also organise flash meetings with running communities in selected localities.

"As a child of Quảng Bình Province, I am happy to be selected as a part of this meaningful race. I am really excited to run," said Lê Thị Hằng, the only female runner.

Meanwhile Lò Văn Hồng, a runner of Điện Biên, said: "I immediately registered to take part, to contribute my part to the race. It's my dedication and remembering our soldiers who sacrificed to bring independence to the nation."

On April 14 in Điện Biên, runners will pass notable landmarks such as Him Lam Base, Hồng Cúm, Hill A1 and De Castries bunker, which are famous locations associated with the world-shaking victory of Điện Biên Phủ.

The organisers will spread awareness to organisations and individuals, reminding everyone to ensure traffic safety and be persistent and serious, just like when trying to conquer a marathon distance. 

HCM City film festival includes free outdoor movie screenings 

Cine Park, an outdoor movie screening event under the aegis of the 2024 HCM City International Film Festival, is taking place from April 7 to 12. 

There will be screenings of various films in two places, and open to everyone for free. 

There are animation, comedy, human interest, and Vietnam War-themed films being screened that are suitable for all ages. 

The events also feature other activities like music performances and conversations with film crews, actors and artists. 

The screenings are at two locations: The main one at the Saigon Riverside Park in Thủ Thiêm, Thủ Đức City, from 7 PM to 10 PM every day and the Nguyễn Huệ pedestrian square from 6:30 PM to 10 PM in District 1.   

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thúy, deputy director of the city Department of Culture and Sports, said the screenings evoke memories of watching outdoor films in the 1980s and 1990s. 

The films being screened include "Nổi gió" (The Wind Rises), "Mùa gió chướng" (The Winds of the Burned Land) and "Cánh đồng hoang" (The Abandoned Field), all renowned movies cherished by generations of viewers. 

The choice of Saigon Riverside Park, with its huge and airy space with numerous dining options and photography and entertainment spots, is to provide an unprecedented cinematic experience to city residents, Thúy said. 

She hoped the movie nights would leave an impression on the audiences and pave the way for the organisers to run more such events in the years to come. 

The film festival runs from April 6 to April 13. 

Film-live-with-orchestra concert of Disney film to be staged in HCM City

Audiences in HCM City will have an opportunity to experience a film-live-with-orchestra concert of Disney’s most iconic animated feature Beauty and the Beast at the Hòa Bình Theatre on April 13 and 14.

The “Beauty and the Beast in Concert” will feature nearly 80 musicians from the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) and guest artists from the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, who will perform the film’s entire musical score alongside a screening of the film.

The 1991 Disney classic tells the story of a prince who is transformed into a Beast and a young and smart woman named Belle. To become a prince again, the Beast must learn to love Belle and win her love in return.

The film’s music score was composed by the eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken.

According to Nguyễn Bảo Anh, Artistic Director of SPO, the unique performance combining the magic of cinema with the thrill of live orchestral music promises to bring unforgettable experiences to audiences in HCM City.

The concert will be led by Thanapol Setabrahmana, one of Thailand’s leading young conductors.

He is currently the Assistant Music Director of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. He also serves as the Chair of the Conducting Department and the Director of Bands at the College of Music, Mahidol University.

The concert will begin at 7pm on April 13 and 2pm on April 14. The theatre is at 240, 3 Tháng 2 Street in District 10.

Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/beautyandthebeast-EBSPO. 

Frustrations in AI implementation at school

HCMC has been piloting AI at high schools for 2 years to increase training quality. Yet a lack of necessary resources makes it impossible to widely apply it to all educational institutes sited in the city.

In a History-Geography lesson of Class 6A14 (Tan Binh Junior High School in Tan Binh District), students gained a wonderful experience of implementing advanced technology without using a smartphone.

Instead of scanning a QR code via a personal mobile phone to answer questions of their teacher, these students receive a piece of A4 paper with their own QR code for the student order in the class list and symbols for four options at four corners. They will raise their selection high for the teacher to scan each answer, which will then be summarized and sent to their teacher’s laptop. This method saves paper as the pack can be reused multiple times in different classes.

In another Civic Education lesson of Class 9A1 (Phan Sao Nam Junior High School in District 3), the teacher instructed students to design a postcard to express their appreciation to their parents via an AI platform. This not only offers a valuable experience of implementing IT in learning but also helps the lessons become more interesting.

Many teachers in HCMC commented that several educational applications use AI to aid the teaching process like the steps of lesson preparation, question bank development, educational game design, video clip or drawing creation.

However, one reason that leads to reluctance among teachers when applying technologies is software expenses. It is suggested that trainers can take advantage of free apps such as Quizizz, ClassDojo, Padlet or share an account to save cost.

Another issue that prevents teachers from applying AI in their teaching process is a lack of necessary software manuals or proper training on AI. Head of the Education and Training Division of Thu Duc City Nguyen Thai Vinh Nguyen commented that teachers themselves need to actively obtain more knowledge in this field from possible resources.

Dr. Ngo Quoc Hung, Director of Cotai Talent Training Center – the partner of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in AI piloting, shared that students now are very quick in updating technological skills while a large number of teachers are more reluctant, and thus cannot keep up with their learners. Waiting for the introduction of suitable mechanisms or policies before implementing AI in teaching makes many trainers outdated in the eye of their students. These teachers should boldly experience new advanced tools and learn from their mistakes.

Agreeing with that, Head of the Education and Training Division of District 3 Pham Dang Khoa stressed the inevitable upgrade of teaching methods to implement more technologies in order to increase interactions between teachers and students and personalize the learning process.

“AI is merely a support tool and cannot replace the role of a teacher in a class. Mastering this useful technology makes teachers more confident in their job learners more active in their studying”, said Mr. Khoa.

Deputy Director of the HCMC Education and Training Department Nguyen Bao Quoc proposed that depending on real conditions, each school can apply AI in the teaching process or extra-curriculum activities, academic playgrounds. His department has already made an order to Saigon University for a program to teach AI to students at school. This is an essential foundation for the introduction of AI learning-teaching in all schools citywide.

Online scams in Vietnam on rise

By the end of March 2024, the system of the Authority of Information Safety under the Ministry of Information and Communications has blocked more than 10,000 malicious domains, including over 2,700 online fraudulent domains.

According to the Authority of Information Safety, the online fraudulent situations in Vietnam cyberspace during the first months of the year are on the rise and have been developing complicatedly with sophisticated tricks although the functional agencies have consistently warned and given guidance to detect and prevent the popular scam methods.

From March 3 to March 21, some scam cases were reflected by Vietnamese internet users through the National Cyber Security Monitoring Center (NCSC) under the Authority of Information Safety via alert system address canhbao.khonggianmang.vn with nearly 300 reflection turns while the total number from the beginning of the year to end of March 2024 was more than 3,800 cases.

Through the checking process from users’ reflection, NCSC identified that banks, securities companies, e-commerce websites and enterprises and groups were units that are often used by subjects to impersonate their websites to scam users.

Hanoi to tackle obesity in primary schools

Hanoi authorities will run a program to help local students fight obesity by 2025.

A study conducted by the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (Hanoi CDC) on 90 primary, secondary, and high schools in the city in 2019-2021 found that nearly 38% of primary school students were obese, which is the highest proportion among the three levels of education.

The report also found that about 17% of secondary school students and more than 11% of high school students were overweight in their normal measurements.

It is noteworthy that the percentage of obese students has been increasing from year to year, especially in the urban areas. Hanoi CDC reported that 55.7% of students in urban districts are overweight.

According to the agency’s Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Kieu Anh, overweight is caused by the It is noteworthy that the percentage of obese students has been increasing from year to year, especially in urban areas. Hanoi CDC reported that 55.7% of students in urban districts are overweight.

"The best time to intervene and prevent obesity is when children are in primary school enjoying the golden period of growth," Anh said.

Vu Cao Cuong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Health Department, said the two departments have worked together and launched programs to improve healthcare for local students.

"The departments of Health, and Education and Training will launch a special program to prevent overweight and obesity in Hanoi's primary schools," he said.

"We want to raise awareness and develop the right behavior among students, parents, and schools in order to prevent overweight and related diseases when the students grow up."

According to local authorities, the program will be conducted in several primary schools, including La Thanh, Nguyen Du, and Le Loi.

The program will focus on five tasks, getting local authorities involved in ensuring that students enjoy a proper learning environment and eating habits.

They will also launch practical activities to educate students about obesity prevention, training parents, school administrators and teachers, cooks, and health officials to meet specific standards.

In addition, students will enjoy a better nutritional plan and participate in physical training exercises to improve their condition.

OVs in Hungary eager to join trip to Truong Sa

Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Nguyen Thi Bich Thao had a meeting with overseas Vietnamese (OV) and members of Truong Sa Club in Hungary on April 8 before two representatives of the community join a trip to Truong Sa and marine platforms of Vietnam in 2024.

The annual trip for OV delegates is held by the State Committee for OV Affairs and the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Ambassador Thao said she hopes the trip will bring memorable experience to participants, enhancing their awareness of national sovereignty over seas and islands and deepening their bonds with the homeland, thus spreading patriotism and love for national seas and island among Vietnamese community in Hungary.

Le Dinh Bau, and Luong Dinh Khoa, who are to join the Truong Sa trip, showed their gratitude to the Party and State for providing them with the opportunities to visit the homeland and their fellow countrymen in Truong Sa.

At the meeting, OVs in Hungary and members of the Truong Sa Club donated 3,000 EUR (3,255 USD) to the “the whole nation for Truong Sa” programme, which will be brought to Vietnam by Bau and Khoa during the trip.

The Truong Sa Club in Hungary was established in June 2023, gathering people who have joined trips to Truong Sa in different years, providing them with a venue to share their memories of Vietnamese seas and islands and experience from the trips./.

Vietnam seeks applicants for Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and the National Committee for Youth of Vietnam are looking for candidates for the 49th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP).

The programme aims to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between youths of Japan and those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is an opportunity for youngsters to explore and experience different cultures in the region as well as improve their knowledge and skills in a variety of fields.

Vietnam will send a contingent of 15 young delegates and a team leader to the programme.

May 10 is the deadline for candidates to submit their applications. The selection consists of two rounds, including registration form, interview, aptitude test and skills to organise group activities.

Taking place from November 4 to December 11, 2024, young delegates will live together on board the Nippon Maru Ship and will visit Japan, and some ASEAN member states.

During the journey, they will also pay courtesy calls to representatives of the host countries' governments, meet with local youths, visit offices, schools and landscapes./

Diverse promotional programmes launched at Hanoi travel fair

A wide range of discounted package tours and air tickets are set to be put on offer at the annual Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM Hanoi 2024) which will run from April 11 to April 14 in the capital.

The event is expected to further stimulate travel demand during the upcoming national holidays, including National Reunification Day on April 30 and May Day on May 1.

As many as 3,500 international and domestic enterprises are expected to introduce their tourism products to visitors and partner businesses across 480 stalls at the event.

Most notably, domestic tour packages offering discounts of between 40% and 50% will be available at the event, with this being considered as a ‘golden chance’ for visitors due to the recent escalation of airfares.

Some 80,000 guests are expected to join the function. In addition, there will be many Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2V) meetings at the site.

Moreover, a forum on sustainable development will gather up to 3,000 representatives from State agencies, tourism experts, and enterprises as they discuss solutions to green transition and tourism market expansion for green tourism.

HUCE hosts Italian Design Day 2024

A conference on design in the manufacturing industry will be held at the Hà Nội University of Civil Engineering (HUCE) on April 15.

The conference will be opened by Professor Hoàng Trung, rector of HUCE and Italian ambassador to Việt Nam Marco della Seta. It is part of the 8th Italian Design Day (IDD) in Việt Nam held by the Italian embassy. 

Launched in 2017 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, IDD is an annual initiative to promote the history and modernity of Italian design and architecture, share experiences with partners worldwide and encourage the exchange of innovative practices.

Since its first edition, more than a thousand events have been organised as part of the initiative by the network of Italian Embassies, Consulates and Offices of the Italian Trade Agency, with over 470 designers, architects, entrepreneurs, academics and specialised journalists involved.

The theme of the 2024 edition is Manufacturing Value, Innovation, Inclusiveness and Sustainability. The concept emphasises the capacity of Italian manufacturing to shape innovative objects that combine sustainability and aesthetics through the use of cutting-edge fabrication techniques. 

The goal behind IDD 2024 is also to identify models and good practices capable of meeting the challenges of contemporaneity, highlighting the ability of Italian design to create and spread culture, as well as forms.

For the occasion of the IDD Conference, Umberto Palermo, the designer of Ariston Group products and Founder of Umberto Palermo Design, will deliver the keynote speech. 

IDD 2024 is a launching platform for Il Salone del Mobile di Milano (Milan Furniture Fair) in from April 16 to 21. 

The 2024 Italian Design Day in Hà Nội will also be an occasion to celebrate the National Day of Made in Italy, a new initiative launched in 2023 by the Italian government to promote the creativity and excellence of Italian industry. 

ActionAid Vietnam announces new targets for local operations in 2024-2028

ActionAid International in Vietnam (AAV) announced on April 8 its activities for 2024-2028, the seventh period of cooperation with Vietnam.

At the organisztion's 2024 Annual Partnership Meeting (APM), AAV presented its ideas for promoting digital transformation in education and making the best use of local resources to train a skilled workforce.

It will also focus on gender equality, providing better public health services and enhancing healthcare for the disadvantaged in rural and ethnic areas.

According to Country Director for ActionAid Vietnam Hoang Phuong Thao, AAV aims to build the capacity and resilience of Vietnamese people, especially those at risk of being left behind, through community-based solutions.

AAV will also contribute to Vietnam's development of a society that can adapt to climate change and withstand natural disasters for a sustainable future, she said.

"AAV will run three action programs between now and 2028 to develop at least 100 community-based solutions to help Vietnamese people earn a living and adapt to climate change," Thao said.

Through the schemes, Vietnam aims to develop sustainable agriculture within a circular economy, increase the use of renewable energy, improve waste management and develop forest areas to reduce and absorb greenhouse gas emissions.

AAV will also support locals in adopting water-efficient farming practices and encouraging young people to accelerate the use of digital solutions to build a clean, green and healthy future for the Vietnamese.

Jagat Patnaik, ActionAid International's Regional Director for Asia, said that AAV's mission and goals were very much in line with ActionAid International's priorities.

He also appreciated AAV's efforts in identifying and pursuing the goals.

Railway sector gears up to meet demand in peak travel season

While air travel becomes more expensive, the railway sector has worked to unlock its tourism potential to meet high travel demand during the upcoming Liberation of the South - National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holidays.

According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), it is busy with arranging night trips to Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, providing visitors an opportunity to enjoy the splendour of the city of the thousands of flowers.

Before the official launch on April 14, free tickets are offered on the trips from April 11 - 13.

The DL11 train will leave Da Lat Station at 18:15 while DL12 departs from Trai Mat Station at 19:15, with free artichoke tea and wifi on board. Particularly, a cine dome that screens a railway documentary will be inaugurated at the Da Lat Station on April 14, bringing new experiences to visitors.

Earlier, a train route named “Central Heritage Connection” linking Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue and Da Nang city was put into operation at the end of March.

During the about three hours of this train journey, tourists can contemplate the magnificent natural beauty along Hai Van Pass, dubbed “Thien ha de nhat hung quan” (the world’s most marvelous wonder) and also among the 10 most beautiful drives in the world as selected by renowned US magazine Travel Leisure, with one side being Truong Son Mountain Range and the other the sea before reaching Da Nang, which boasts one of the six most beautiful beaches on the planet.

On the way back, from Da Nang to Hue, they can set foot in the former capital of Hue, which is home to various heritage sites.

In particular, riding either trips departing Hue for Da Nang or vice versa in the morning or the afternoon, tourists can enjoy the stunning sunrise or sunset scenes on Lang Co, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and taste typical local delicacies.

The VNR said although the route was freshly operated, it has garner widespread interest from both domestic and international visitors.

According to Chairman of the VNR Member Council Dang Sy Manh, the train on this route consists of five modern seating carriages and another for community activities, expected to be an impressive mobile check-in place for passengers. The train will be equipped with wifi in April.
 
At Da Nang and Hue Stations, there are VIP waiting rooms and automatic bicycle hire services.

The SE11/SE12 trains have been added to the Hanoi – HCM City route to serve growing travel demand during the summer peak period.

An array of promotional programmes has been rolled out, including discounts for round-trip fares and tickets for groups of passengers./.

“I Love Sushi” exhibition to come to Hanoi

The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam is set to present a new exhibition with the theme of “I Love Sushi” from April 12 to May 5 in Hanoi, with the ultimate aim of promoting Japanese history and culture to both locals and tourists.
 
The exhibition includes a simulation of a visit to a sushi shop in Japan. People who know little about sushi will greatly enjoy getting acquainted with the cuisine at the exhibition, whilst keen fans of sushi will find the entire event fascinating too.

Through sushi, the exhibition will also strive to communicate something about the history and customs of Japan, according to the organisers.

Yosakoi performances and craft activities such as Origami paper wrapping will be held during the course of the event.

Back in 2013 UNESCO inscribed washoku, Japanese cuisine, on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with sushi being the archetypal example. Sushi is a refined and healthy food that looks good and tastes good, meaning it has already become a familiar item on menus worldwide.

Sushi has now spread outside of Japan’s borders and is enjoyed by people all around the world. This function aims to provide an in-depth visual guide to the appeal of sushi. It includes the chance to learn about how Japan took in sushi in its original form; as well as how it modified sushi to suit the natural environment, culture, and lifestyles of individual areas worldwide.

Sea turtle returned to ocean in waters off Kien Giang province

The Hon Chong Port Border Guard Station under the Kien Giang Border Guard on April 9 coordinated with Kien Luong district’s Economic and Infrastructure Office in the southern province of Kien Giang to release a sea turtle to nature.

The turtle, which is 45cm long, 35cm wide, and weighs 8kg, was found by a fish trader when he bought seafood. He then handed it over to the Hon Chong port border guards.

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Thanh Cong, political officer of the Border Guard Station said that thanks to effective communication work, local people have a better awareness of protecting sea turtles in particular and wildlife animals in general. Many local fishermen have voluntarily handed over rare and precious marine animals to return them to nature./.

Binh Thuan works hard on combating IUU fishing

A conference was held April 9 to review the implementation of Directive No.30- CT/TU of the Party Committee of the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan on urgent tasks to enhance the management of fishing vessels and fishermen and end fishing in foreign waters.

Delegates candidly assessed the results as well as mentioned challenges encountered in implement the tasks. They said efforts to raise awareness among fishermen have not yielded the desired results, and violations of legal regulations regarding the exploitation and protection of aquatic resources are still occurring.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hoai Anh underlined the need to make combating illegal fishing as an urgent and regular task of the local political system.

He requested relevant sectors, and authorities of coastal localities to concentrate on measures to prevent local fishing ships and fishermen from fishing in foreign waters, and investigating and handling organizations and individuals involved in brokering or facilitating fishing vessels and fishermen to engage in illegal fishing in foreign waters.

Relevant forces must concentrate all resources and urgently address limitations identified by the inspection team of the European Commission (EC) during their fourth inspection, he said, stressing the necessity to well prepare for the team’s upcoming 5th inspection.

He asked the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s local chapter and all-level political-social organiations to improve the effectiveness of communication activities to raise fishermen's awareness of compliance with relevant law.

With over 7,800 fishing vessels and 44,500 labourers engaged directly in fishing activities, Binh Thuan is one of the leading localities nationwide in terms of fishing capacity and seafood output.

According to Nguyen Van Chien, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, thanks to the serious implementation of urgent measures along with the efforts of the entire political system, the locality witnessed positive results in preventing IUU fishing.

Notably, since January 2023, no fishing vessels violating relevant regulations have been detected. Binh Thuan has so far completed the installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) equipment on all 5m-long fishing boats./.

Free surgeries offered for cleft palate children in Thua Thien-Hue

About 80 children with cleft palate in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and surrounding localities are to receive free check-ups and surgeries from now until April 18.

Volunteer doctors and nurses from Interplast - Germany and the Odonto-Stomatology Centre of Hue Central Hospital will conduct the operations.

Deputy Director of the Odonto-Stomatology Centre under the Hue Central Hospital Tran Xuan Phu said the centre has worked with many foreign doctors to offer free cleft palate surgeries, especially for children.

This is the sixth time Interplast has come to the Hue Central Hospital. Along with providing free surgery and check-up, the organisation also shares experience with young doctors and nurses of the hospital.

After six years of cooperation, the free surgery programme for children with cleft lip and palate birth defects has become a regular activity, creating a sustainable link between the medical teams. As a result, more and more children are getting rid of their impairment, and returning to normal life with bright and confident smiles./.

Walk campaign to raise funds for the needy surpasses target

The “Million steps of kindness” walk campaign held by the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) and the Vietnam Youth Federation to call on the community to engage in physical activities to raise donations to the needy, has surpassed its goal, even 13 days earlier than the schedule.

The campaign, held in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954- 2024) and the Hanoi’s Liberation Day (October 10, 1954-2024), it was scheduled to last for 56 days, from February 25 to April 22 as it represented 56-day historic campaign of the Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”.

Initially, the campaign aimed to attract 70,000 people to walk and jog for a total distance of 700,000km and record their results via the app of V-Race.

So far, 78,500 people have joined walking and jogging for 1,698,000km, raising  more than 7 billion VND (284,000 USD) to build seven kitchens for semi-boarding students in mountainous areas, provided sustainable livelihoods to 70 low-income families, essential goods for 700 disadvantaged households, nutrition advice and assistance to 7,000 children from poor families, and free health examination and treatment to 7,000 people in disadvantaged circumstances in the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien, Son La, and Thai Nguyen.

VRC President Bui Thi Hoa said the “Million steps of kindness” campaign marks the start of a humanitarian journey nationwide appealing to people of all ages and from all social strata to engage in good deeds for the sake of the community.

She added that the participation by each person is not only a physical act for their health but also a demonstration of the continuation of the traditional kindness and heroism passed down from former generations.

She also asked individuals and organisations to continue support for the programme until April 22./.

UNEP helps monitor plastic pollution in Vietnam

The Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are building steps to implement a project on enhancing the capacity of plastic pollution management in Vietnam.

It includes two component projects on strengthening plastic pollution control through promoting monitoring activities in Vietnam to provide information for the management and policy making process, and on intensifying plastic waste value chain management in target provinces with river basins through promoting circular economic models and innovative solutions to prevent plastic waste at source.

A wide range of activities are scheduled to be organised to increase the capacity of related parties at the national and local levels on monitoring plastic waste in rivers, and to improve public awareness on waste classification at source.

Statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment show that Vietnam has about 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste discharged into the environment each year, of which only 10% is recycled and the remaining is buried or burned.

ISPONRE Deputy Director Nguyen Trung Thang said that monitoring plastic pollution needs more attention to limit the negative impacts of this type of pollution, and moving towards perfecting the green economic and circular economic models in Vietnam./.

National Assembly deputy proposes extended paternity leave

In a move aimed at bolstering family support, a National Assembly deputy has tabled a proposal advocating for increased paternity leave entitlements for fathers. 

The proposal suggests that husbands should receive a minimum of 10 days off when their wives give birth, with the potential for this period to be doubled in the case of multiple births or caesarean deliveries.

Secretary-General of the National Assembly, Bùi Văn Cường, has compiled the insights and proposals voiced by lawmakers during the recent 5th conference focused on amending the Social Insurance Law. 

Among the key points discussed was the need to revise existing provisions concerning paternity leave to better align with contemporary family dynamics.

Under the proposed amendments, male workers covered by social insurance would be entitled to five working days off when their wives give birth, with seven days granted for surgical deliveries or premature births occurring before 32 weeks of gestation. 

In instances of twin births, a 10-day leave allowance would be provided, with an additional three days granted for each additional child. 

For twin deliveries necessitating surgery, a 14-day leave period would be allocated, with an extra three days given for each additional child requiring surgical intervention.

There were also calls to extend the period within which male spouses could use the leave from the current 60 days to six months following the birth of their child, aiming to provide greater support to mothers during the postpartum period.

During discussions, deputy Tô Ái Vang from Sóc Trăng Province put forth additional proposals concerning paternity benefits for male workers. 

Vang underscored the importance of providing adequate support for fathers, particularly in industrial and export processing zones where familial support may be lacking. 

She emphasised the necessity of extending benefits to workers adopting children under six months old and proposed adjustments to sick leave provisions for parents caring for sick children under 16 years old.

Vang cited current legislation, such as the Children's Law, which recognises children as individuals under 16 years old. She highlighted the realities faced by parents who often require time off work to care for sick children, emphasising the importance of enacting supportive measures in line with these needs.

Speed Cup lures national senior, junior to HCM City this weekend

More than 500 athletes will take part in the annual HCM City Speed Cup 2024 on April 12-14.

The three-day event, held by city's Culture and Sports Department and Athletics Federation, will be held at the District 8 Centre for Sports.

In addition to athletes from 40 cities and provinces, national teams member will also test their skills. Among them is the women's 4x400m relay runners who will warm-up here for the Asian Athletics Championship in May in Thailand, which will also be an Olympic qualification.

The Vietnameses need to be in the world top 16 to secure a place at the Paris Olympics.

In HCM City, athletes will compete in 30 events for both men, women and mixed teams in 60m,100m, 200m, 400m, 110m, 400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot put and discus.

The young athletes also have their own tournaments. They will compete in different age groups in 67 categories.