The upcoming National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holidays are expected to be a “golden chance” for travel firms to start a bustling summer tourism season.

This year, the holidays are expected to last for five days following the proposal of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, prompting travel service suppliers to design long tours with attractive promotion policies.

Saigontourist has offered more than 200 domestic and foreign tours that are expected to attract more than 110,000 visitors. A representative from the firm said that many tours have been fully booked, reaching 80% of its plan.

Meanwhile, STtourist has provided 63 summer tours with the number of tourists for each tour limited at 20 to ensure service quality.

The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2024 (from April 4-7) and the Vietnam International Travel Mart slated for April 11-14 in Hanoi are likely to “heat up” the tourism industry on the thresholds of the long holidays.

According to insiders, the recent domestic air fare hikes have prompted tourists to turn to outbound tours, especially those to nearby destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, China and the Republic of Korea.

Many experts held that with the completion of many sections in the North-South Expressway, the flexible combination of many means of transportation in a tour will help optimise travel cost and increase tourists’ experiences.

This year’s summer is likely to continue to see a boom in self-sufficient travel, especially in the domestic market thanks to the increasing car owning trend. To meet this group of tourists’ demand, many travel firms have offer room and entertainment combos.  

Homestays are also a popular choice for tourist in this summer, with high booking rates seen in destination of Cat Ba, Van Don, Sam Son, Sa Pa in the north and Vung Tau and Mui Ne in the south.

The railway sector has also braced for the peak tourism season by increasing trains and offering promotions for various priority groups.

Meanwhile, many coastal localities have planned sea tourism festival to lure visitors in the holidays./.

NA Chairman receives Secretary of Yunnan Provincial Party Committee

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue received Wang Ning, member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Secretary of the Yunnan provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the provincial People's Congress, in Kunming city on April 11, as part of the Vietnamese leader's official visit to China.

Hue and Wang expressed their delight at and positively evaluated the development of relations between the two Parties and countries over the past time.

They discussed measures to leverage the potential and strengths of both sides, aiming to further promote cooperative ties between Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities and Yunnan in the coming time.

Wang praised the existing mechanism for exchange between the five Secretaries of the provincial Party Committees of China and Vietnam. He announced his intention to chair the mechanism’s next meeting in May.

Hue reaffirmed Vietnam's policy on deepening ties with China and enhancing the traditional neighbourliness, comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and a community with a shared future between the two nations. He pledged support for Vietnamese localities to establish and develop mutually-beneficial partnerships with Chinese provinces, particularly those sharing the borderline with Vietnam like Yunnan.

The top legislator proposed increasing exchanges between local leaders, along with the effective implementation of existing cooperation agreements between Yunnan and Vietnamese localities. He suggested collaboration in border patrols, counter-terrorism efforts, and crime prevention and combat. Additionally, he advocated for stronger cooperation in key areas like railway connectivity, including Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong route, tourism, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

Hue stressed the importance of close coordination in border management and protection in line with three documents on land border and relevant agreements, and properly resolving pending issues and arising matters. He proposed Yunnan continue the preservation of historical locations where President Ho Chi Minh and other Vietnamese revolution leaders had worked.

Highlighting Yunnan's strategic location and natural resources, Wang emphasised efforts to improve railway and road connectivity, expand trade and logistics cooperation, and solidify the province's role as a gateway to Southeast and South Asia, including Vietnam.

Yunnan treasures its friendship and cooperation with Vietnam and stands ready to work closely with Vietnamese localities to effectively realise common perceptions of high-ranking leaders of the two nations, as well as those between Yunnan and Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities, he said.

He added that Yunnan will increase the exchange of all-level delegations, effectively uphold the role of cooperation mechanisms, including those between the People’s Congress and all-level People's Councils; deepen economic and trade collaboration, encourage Yunnan enterprises to invest in Vietnam, and facilitate the import of hig-quality Vietnamese agricultural and seafood products.

The province will also enhance cooperation in infrastructure and border gate connectivity, streamline customs procedures, improve customs clearance efficiency, and collaborate in green and modern agriculture, green energy, health care, culture, education and tourism, he said./.

Cambodian dengue child patient treated in Vietnamese hospital

Doctors at Children’s Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City have saved a 4-year-old Cambodian girl from serious dengue, the hospital announced on April 11.

According to the hospital, the child was taken to the hospital on March 26 in critical condition due to dengue fever, including respiratory failure, prolonged shock, multi-organ failure, severe liver and kidney damage, and blood loss. Doctors found it hard to measure the child’s blood pressure. Immediately, the patient was given mechanical ventilation, anti-shock with electrolyte solutions, transfusion of blood products, and vasoactive and cardiac drugs.

According to the patient’s family, the child living in a Cambodian locality bordering Vietnam had a high fever for two consecutive days, but local treatment could not ease it. On the third day, she was very tired, vomiting blood, so her family took her to a private clinic in the southern province of Binh Phuoc for examination. The child tested positive for dengue fever and was rushed to Children's Hospital 2 for further treatment.

She will be discharged from the hospital soon./.

PM lauds strong ties with Japan as ambassador departs

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on April 11 for outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio who came to bid farewell at the end of his tenure in Vietnam.

Both sides expressed their delight at the strong, comprehensive and substantive development of Vietnam-Japan ties during the ambassador’s tenure in Vietnam. Japan has remained one of Vietnam's top economic partners, being the leading ODA provider, the second largest investor and labour partner, the third biggest tourism partner, and the fourth largest trade partner.

Vietnam and Japan elevated their diplomatic ties to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World". The total ODA loan amount for post-COVID-19 recovery increased by an additional 1 billion USD in 2023. Japan's cumulative direct investment in Vietnam rose to 74.2 billion USD, a 24% increase since the start of the diplomat's term. Two-way trade reached 45 billion USD, up 13.6% from 2020.

PM Chinh attributed these achievements to the dedication of Ambassador Yamada and the embassy staff. He specifically highlighted their support for Vietnam's response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the onset of his term.

Looking forward, he expressed his hope that the ambassador would continue to champion the Vietnam-Japan relationship in future positions.

Yamada, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese Government, ministries, agencies, localities and people for their support during his tenure.

He noted that the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World between Vietnam and Japan" is gradually being translated into concrete action through various projects, including the Metro Line 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ben Luc – Long Thanh section of the north-south expressway, the Vietnam-Japan University, and the Yen Xa wastewater treatment system in Hanoi.

He suggested continued collaboration between the two countries in areas like digital transformation, green and energy transition, renewable energy, biomass power and emission reduction./.

Eighth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange held in Lao Cai

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun co-chaired activities within the eighth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange which opened in Vietnam’s Lao Cai province on April 11.

The ministers painted border marker No. 102, planted a friendship tree at the Lao Cai International Border Gate, and attended the inauguration ceremony for a Vietnam-China friendship cultural house in Ban Phiet commune, Bao Thang district.

They also visited and presented gifts to students at Kim Dong Primary School in Coc Leu ward, Lao Cai city, and visited the border guard post at the Lao Cai International Border Gate. The two sides then held talks and signed a memorandum of understanding.
 
In his remarks at the talks, Minister Giang stressed the significance of the border defence friendship exchange to promoting mutual political trust and understanding, and strengthening solidarity and close ties between people, authorities and defence ministries of the two countries, for a shared borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development.

The Vietnamese Party, Government, army and people always treasure the valuable contributions and support of their Chinese counterparts in their past struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as the present cause of national construction, Giang said. 

The minister affirmed that China has always been one of the top priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy, and stressed Vietnam’s consistent stance of attaching importance to building the solidarity, friendship, long-term stability, solid trust and comprehensive cooperation with the neighbouring country.

He said Vietnam has pursued a consistent foreign policy of independence, peace, friendship, cooperation and development and a defence policy of "four no's", adding that the maritime issue should be settled by peaceful measures through negotiations and compliance to the common perceptions reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.

Giang used the occasion to invite Minister Dong, leaders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence of China and Chinese defence businesses to attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo.

The two sides noted with pleasure the positive developments of the bilateral defence ties, especially the exchange of high-level delegations, the effective operation of the defence strategic dialogue mechanism, training cooperation, Party and political affairs, and border management and protection.

Bilateral cooperation in border management and protection between border forces, border military zones and border localities has produced practical outcomes, with the border line and border markers kept safe and political and social order in border areas secured.

They shared the view that the exchange programme has become an effective and unique model of cooperation, demonstrating the political resolution of both sides in strengthening solidarity and close ties between people, authorities, localities and defence ministries of the two countries.

To boost the defence-security ties in a more practical manner, the two sides will step up delegation exchanges, and maintain and make the best use of annual cooperation mechanisms, including the defence strategic dialogue, the border defence friendship exchange, and the joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin.

They will also enhance cooperation in training, Party and political affairs, defence industry, defence trade, strategic research, United Nations peacekeeping, logistics, and military medicine.

At the end of their talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding of the two defence ministries on the establishment of a hotline between the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army./.

Vietnam, Russia discuss ways to foster cultural cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi discussed bilateral cultural cooperation with Special Envoy of Russian President on International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy and Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Third Asian Department Vadim Bublikov in Moscow on April 11.

Khoi shared several ideas to enhance cultural ties between the two nations, mentioning Shvydkoy's proposal for a reciprocal year for science and technology. He also mentioned plans to organise a Vietnamese cultural week in Russia's St. Petersburg and Moscow this July.

He expressed his desire for an increase in the number of Russian tourist arrivals to Vietnam, aiming for 600,000-1 million visitors annually. He advocated for Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, to launch more direct flights to Hanoi and for Russia to offer visa exemptions to Vietnamese tourist groups to boost travel exchanges.

Furthermore, the ambassador stressed the importance of encouraging more Vietnamese students to study in Russia and hoped for Russia's support in facilitating visa arrangements for these students to enhance their education and research opportunities there.

Shvydkoy, for his part, acknowledged the deep-rooted historical relations that span generations between the two nations.

He concurred with and supported Khoi’s initiatives aimed at enhancing bilateral cultural cooperation./.

PM hosts new Bulgarian ambassador

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the new Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam, Pavlin Todorov, in Hanoi on April 11, affirming Vietnam’s appreciation of and wishes to enhance the two nations’ traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation.

The Government leader suggested that Bulgaria call on the remaining EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and advocate the removal of the European Commission's "yellow card" warning imposed on Vietnam regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

Lauding the deepening bilateral political ties, marked by high-level exchanges across party, state, and people-to-people channels, Chinh underscored the upcoming 75th anniversary of the nations’ diplomatic relations in 2025 and proposed the sides closely coordinate commemorating activities.

Expressing his delight at the countries’ effective coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums as well as the steady growth in bilateral trade, particularly since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into effect, he acknowledged that their current scale of trade and investment remains modest compared to potential.

Looking forwards to stronger cooperation, particularly in areas of mutual strength such as green, digital, and circular economies, and agriculture, he affirmed the Vietnamese government's commitment to creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Bulgarian businesses to connect and collaborate.

Furthermore, the PM expressed a wish for joint work in traditional and strategic sectors such as education and training, defence, security, culture, and tourism. He proposed Bulgaria further support the Vietnamese expatriate community so that they can better integrate and serve as a link in enriching the friendship between the two nations.

On this occasion, he conveyed greetings and an invitation to visit Vietnam from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the President of Bulgaria.

In response, Todorov said he is committed to further promoting friendship and cooperation between Bulgaria and Vietnam, focusing on enhancing exchanges at all levels to build political trust and develop trade and investment ties.

The diplomat praised the excellent state of bilateral relations and expressed high regard for the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria. He affirmed the European nation’s recognition of Vietnam's significant role and position in the region as well as its readiness to support Vietnam in its relations with the EU./.

Finnish kindergarten opens in Hanoi

FINE Finnish Kindergarten was officially opened in Yen Hoa ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, on April 7 morning. 

This is the first establishment in educational cooperation between two units in Finland and Vietnam - Finland International Education Group (FINE Finland) and FINE Education Development Investment JSC (FINE Vietnam).

Attending the opening ceremony was Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam Keijo Norvanto and his wife. 

The ambassador announced that Finland continues to set a record by topping the list of the happiest countries in the world for the seventh consecutive time according to the newly published World Happiness Report of the United Nations. 

He was very happy that Finnish education is continuously spreading around the world, especially the presence of Finnish preschool education in Vietnam.

According to Dr. Johan Storgard, General Director of FINE Finland, the most effective investment is to invest in early years education. 

“In Finland, we always educate children about trust. When children grow up with trust in their parents, teachers, and friends, they will have trust in society. On the contrary, it is the younger generation that will continue to create trust in all activities of social life," he said.

Finland’s early years education encourages and stimulates children's comprehensive learning abilities through creative play, experimentation, observation, questioning, and interaction with other children and adults. 

The curriculum is designed to ensure that young children have a balanced experience in the areas of language and storytelling, maths and science, arts and performance, health and society. 

Students' abilities are not to be evaluated, but each child will have a unique method and goal, helping children easily adapt from preschool to elementary school. Preschool time also helps children create a basic foundation for a long-term interest in learning later.

The representative of FINE Vietnam said that the two sides have agreed to cooperate in developing more educational fields beyond early years education in the next three years, such as exchanging high school students between the two countries, training Vietnamese pedagogical human resources following Finnish teaching methods, and developing the scholarship programmes of Finnish university and vocational college for Vietnam.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the ambassador presented FINE Kindergarten with a set of books including Finnish children's storybooks published in Vietnamese. 

The ambassador's wife read stories to FINE Kindergarten students with the hope of spreading reading culture to Vietnamese children. 

At the ceremony, there was also the presence of the Solar Dancesport Club of the Blind. FINE Vietnam wishes to share the efforts of blind friends in the long-term goal of making Dancesport for the Blind become a new official game in the Asian and World Paralympics Games./.

UN Secretary General impressed by Vietnam’s economic growth

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his impression of Vietnam's economic growth, at a working session with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, on April 11 in New York.

The UN chief said he believes that Vietnam will complete its development goals despite recent challenges in the region.

Giang informed the UN leader of Vietnam's recent socio-economic development and thanked him for his attention and support to the country. 

The two sides exchanged views on emerging regional and international issues.

The diplomat took the occasion to announce Vietnam's initiative to organise the ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi on April 23.

The move comes as a response by ASEAN and regional countries to the Summit of the Future to be held by the UN in September 2024, he said, adding that the forum's discussions will provide a foundation for supporting policy-making efforts of ASEAN members and shaping the grouping's vision for the time to come./.

Party Central Committee's Secretariat demands enhancing IUU fishing combat

The Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on April 10 issued a directive on enhancing the Party’s leadership over the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and sustainably developing the fisheries sector.

The directive, signed off by Permanent Member of the Secretariat Truong Thi Mai, highlighted the fisheries sector’s development over the past years. It also notes that since 2017, all-level authorities, sectors, and the national steering committee for combating IUU fishing have exerted efforts to carry out policies and legal regulations, build systems for monitoring fishing vessels, and boost management, thus gradually reducing violations.

However, the directive also pointed out that the sector has yet to secure truly sustainable development or fully comply with anti-IUU fishing regulations. As a result, the country hasn’t succeeded in having the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning over the issue removed.

The Secretariat underlined the main causes of current shortcomings and assigned some focal and urgent tasks to Party committees and organisations, administrations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and socio-political organisations so as to ramp up the fight against IUU fishing and ensure sustainable fisheries development.

It required them to view the IUU fishing combat as an important, urgent, and also long-term task critical to sustainable fisheries development, as well as a responsibility of the entire political system and the whole society.

It asked for stepping up law dissemination and awareness-raising activities; effectively implementing the strategy for sustainably developing Vietnam’s maritime economy until 2030 with a vision to 2045, along with the plans, strategies, and programmes related to the fisheries sector’s sustainable development and international integration; and quickly perfecting relevant policies and legal regulations.

Other tasks include paying due attention to the policies on aquaculture, fishery resources exploitation, protection and development, and export processing; supporting the modernisation of the fisheries sector; improving livelihoods and vocational training for fishermen; and bettering the state management capacity.

The fisheries resources surveillance force and relevant agencies are required to enhance their capacity and sense of responsibility while examination, inspection, monitoring, law enforcement, and settlement of violations must be enhanced and public - private partnership in building fishery infrastructure should be encouraged and facilitated.

The tasks also include strengthening international cooperation, especially with the EU and European countries, boosting diplomatic measures, garnering support from relevant parties in order to have the “yellow card” warning lifted soon, and preventing fishing vessels and fishermen’s illegal operations in foreign waters from affecting Vietnam’s relations with other countries.

The Secretariat also asked for taking diplomatic actions to protect the Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen who do not commit IUU fishing but are detained by foreign authorities in overlapping, disputed, and undemarcated waters.

Another task is to accelerate negotiations and signing on the delimitation of exclusive economic zones and continental shelves between Vietnam and other countries, according to the directive./.

Vietnam shares strategic knowledge about Indo-Pacific with Italy

Representatives of Vietnam presented the country’s relations with Italy and the Asia-Pacific region’s growing importance, while attending a hearing of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies on April 10.

Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) Nguyen Hung Son and Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung were among the guests at the hearing, which focused on Italy and other European countries’ vision on the Indo-Pacific.

Talking about the enhanced economic and political relations between the two countries, Hung affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the strategic partnership, traditional friendship, and multifaceted cooperation with Italy.

Meanwhile, Son provided Italian parliamentarians with information about the increasingly important role of the Asia-Pacific region – a new geopolitical and economic hub in the world.

He also presented advantages of and challenges to the Indo-Pacific region, the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), new development potential of Vietnam, and opportunities for the bilateral cooperation.

Paolo Formentini, Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, affirmed his country’s growing interest in the Indo-Pacific and its benefits from the development of relations with the region, ASEAN, and Vietnam.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Son said that in his speech at the hearing, he highlighted that Asia-Pacific is becoming more and more important, and Italy should pay attention to and enhance cooperation with this region so as not to be left behind in new regional cooperation trends.

He also told Italian parliamentarians that Vietnam is a critical partner of Italy in the region and could serve as a gateway for it to strengthen ties with other Southeast Asian and Asian-Pacific nations. Besides, he noted that as both countries hold numerous of advantages, there are various opportunities for Italy to boost partnerships with and investment in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The April 10 hearing was part of a fact-finding investigation of the Foreign Affairs Committee to identify the basis for building a new strategy for Italy’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region./.

EU ambassadors study investment climate in Da Nang city

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang city People’s Committee Tran Chi Cuong on April 11 hosted a reception for ambassadors of the European Union (EU)’s member states who came to study the investment climate in the locality.

Briefing them on Da Nang’s development potential, Cuong said that the city is the growth nucleus of the country’s central key economic region, with such major industrial products as seafood, garment and textile, shoes, building materials, and handicraft.

Hi-tech industry, particularly IT, is being developed into an economic spearhead, he said, adding the city is shifting the economy towards service and industry while reducing agriculture.

According to Cuong, the city has set up cooperative ties with 48 localities of 22 countries and territories, signed 104 agreements and organised important diplomatic and economic activities.

Da Nang is eyeing to turn itself into a socio-economic hub of the country and Southeast Asia by 2030, and a large and smart eco urban area, a centre for innovation, and startup and a livable coastal city in Asia by 2045. The city has paid due attention to developing high-quality tourism and services in tandem with resort property, seaport and airport with logistics service, hi-tech industry with creative urban area construction and startup, IT, electronics and telecommunications with digital economy, and hi-tech agriculture.

Cuong expressed his hope that the ambassadors will help popularise Da Nang’s investment environment and cooperation opportunities in education-training, startup and innovation, IT, hi-tech agriculture and fishery, tourism, and port development, while supporting cultural exchange activities, among others.

EU Ambassador Julien Guerrier held that Da Nang, which has emerged as a centre for IT, innovation and semiconductor training in Vietnam, boasts an attractive investment environment.

Seeing Vietnam as a leading partner of the EU in Southeast Asia, EU member states have cooperated with and supported Vietnam in the areas of transport, renewable energy, health care and culture, he said, adding they are interested in working with Da Nang to boost semiconductor industry, green transition and education.

He said he hopes that Da Nang city will create favourable conditions for investors from the EU, and the representatives of EU states will popularise Da Nang’s potential and investment climate among enterprises.

Last year, Da Nang exported some 283 million USD worth of products to the EU, and imported 140 million USD from the bloc.
During 2020-2023, non-governmental organisations of the EU countries committed to funding over 26 billion VND (over 1 million USD) for 37 programmes and projects in the Vietnamese locality./.

PM urges issuance of detailed regulations for implementing laws, ordinances

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 11 ordered ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies to focus on accelerating the drafting, submission, and issuance of detailed regulations and guidelines for implementing laws and ordinances passed by the National Assembly (NA).

Chairing a monthly Government law-making session to discuss the draft Law on Value-Added Tax (amended) and a plan to increase revenue sources and save regular budget spending in 2023, he applauded efforts by ministries and agencies in diligently preparing and presenting their proposals

He also highly valued opinions and responsibilities demonstrated by cabinet members and delegates, while tasking Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai with directing the Ministry of Finance to fully incorporate the opinions, thus completing projects and plans in accordance with regulations, ensuring progress and quality.

The PM requested a review, supplementation, amendment, and perfection of the law project to enhance the efficiency of tax management activities; and asked for the acceleration of digital technology and cashless payment.

Tax policies must be tailored to prioritised sectors and contribute to removing bottlenecks and limitations, ensuring a balance of interests between the State, citizens, and businesses, he said.

Agreeing with the opinions of delegates regarding the plan to increase revenue sources and save regular budget spending in 2023, the PM underlined the need to adhere to the Budget Law, prioritising the implementation of breakthroughs in infrastructure development.

Regarding the key task of institutional building in the coming time, PM Chinh asked relevant ministries and agencies to prepare for the 7th session of the 15th NA.

Ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies were requested to concentrate resources and direct the completion of law projects following regulations of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents, and to be responsible for the content and quality of those projects, ensuring that there are no provisions inserted to serve the interests of particular groups.

They were also tasked with urgently finalising and submitting to the Government and the Prime Minister for reviewing and issuing detailed regulations for the Land Law, Law on Credit Institutions, Housing Law, and Law on Real Estate before May 15, 2024.

The Minister of Justice will be responsible for monitoring, urging, and inspecting the issuance of detailed regulations by ministries and ministerial-level agencies.

The PM emphasised the need to continue investing more in institutional building, removing bottlenecks, unlocking all resources to serve socio-economic development, upholding the role of heads in institution building and perfection, and speeding up simplification of administrative procedures.

The Government leader also asked for close coordination among ministries and agencies in building and finalising law projects and ordinances./.

HCM City promotes economic collaboration with Washington state

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan hosted a reception on April 11 for Washington State Senator Joseph Nguyen and a delegation from the state.

The city is orienting to develop green economy and speed up digital transformation to catch up with the common trend of the world economy, he said, expressing his hope that the state’s businesses will participate in the city's economic transformation process, especially in the priority areas and industries such as semiconductor technology, digital transformation, and green energy.

Stressing the need for the two sides to coordinate in organising exchange programmes, the municipal leader invited the state to participate in the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum and the city’s Friendship Dialogue to seek cooperation opportunities.

Joseph Nguyen, Washington state's first Vietnamese-origin senator, expressed his impression of the city's dynamic development, affirming that the state wants to tighten its friendship with Ho Chi Minh City, particularly in trade and investment, to bring practical benefits to the people and businesses.

Washington state is willing to, together with Ho Chi Minh City, implement contact and dialogue activities to move forward with specific cooperative actions in the future, he added./.

Vietnam, France enhance transport cooperation

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang led a Vietnamese delegation on a working visit to France from April 8 to 10 during which the two sides agreed to promote all areas of transport cooperation.

The delegation had meetings with French Minister with responsibility for transport Patrice Vergriete, agencies of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, and representatives of Airbus Group.

At the events, Thang affirmed that transport cooperation, including in air, railway, maritime, and road transport, is one of the priorities both countries have been promoting for many years.

He said Vietnam will create conditions for France to send large-sized vessels to Vietnam, open more international shipping routes to major ports in the Southeast Asian nation, and boost railway cooperation.

The two sides will also review the agreements signed since the 2000s to align them with the current context, especially the issues related to technology, green port development, and CO2 emission reduction, in order to ensure more fruitful ties in all aspects, he noted.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Minister Vergriete said they looked into some topics to help foster bilateral partnerships. Vietnam has an efficient seaport model, and France hopes to strengthen maritime trade cooperation in the future.

The two countries share the same goal of developing road transport, particularly the North - South Expressway project in Vietnam. France is experienced in this regard and completely able to support Vietnam during the implementation of this project, he went on.

The official expressed his wish to visit Vietnam to promote the cooperation potential in this expressway project, stressing that the two countries can further enhance collaboration to prove that Vietnam is a major trading partner of his country.

At the working session with the Transport Regulatory Authority (ART) under the French Ministry for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, Minister Thang said the Vietnamese Government is prioritising the development of comprehensive infrastructure, including road infrastructure. It is accelerating the eastern North - South Expressway project, of which more than 1,800km has been put into use. The country targets 3,000km of expressway to be completed by 2025 and 5,000km by 2030.

As France is strong at managing and operating urban transportation, he called for the European country’s assistance so that people in Vietnam can soon access convenient, safe, and seamless transport services.

Meeting with the Vietnamese delegation, Rodolphe Gintz, Director General of the French Directorate General for Infrastructure, Transport and Mobility (DGITM), noted the French side is ready to share its specilised knowledge with Vietnam about high-speed railway and expressway development.

During the visit, Minister Thang also had working sessions with Paris public transport operator RATP, Ile-de-France Mobilities (IDFM) – the governmental authority that coordinates companies operating in the Paris-area public transport, and the French National Railway Corporation (SNCF) to discuss partnerships in railway transport.

To bolster ties in air transport, the delegation also engaged in a meeting with representatives of Airbus in France.

Thang voiced his hope that Airbus, which has operated in Vietnam for over 40 years, will step up ties with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and agencies, especially in new areas such as aerospace and aviation-related science, technology, and training.

He also affirmed that his ministry will keep working with relevant agencies to provide conditions for Airbus to carry out cooperation programmes and projects in the country./.

Over 43 hectares of forest vanish from golf course project

Through a forest inventory, authorities determined that the forested area decreased by over 43.2 hectares between 2022 and 2007 (the year of the inventory before handover to the investor).

Lam Dong Province’s authorities have instructed the Lam Dong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to lead and coordinate with the provincial inspectorate and relevant agencies to inspect the golf course project in Da Ron Commune, Don Duong District. This project, operated by Acteam International Co., Ltd. (also known as The Dalat at 1200 golf course), has been in operation since late 2015 and has resulted in significant deforestation.

According to the Lam Dong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2008, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee leased over 649 hectares of land to Acteam International Co., Ltd. for the construction of a golf course and resort in Don Duong District. This land included 533.05 hectares of forested area (consisting of 430.53 hectares of natural forest and 102.52 hectares of planted forest) and 116.74 hectares of non-forested land.

Through a forest inventory, authorities determined that the forested area decreased by over 43.2 hectares between 2022 and 2007 (the year of the inventory before handover to the investor).

However, among this area, only 2.77 hectares of lost forest have been addressed by the authorities, primarily forests cleared by Acteam International Co., Ltd. on leased land without proper authorization.

The remaining 37.52 hectares of lost forest have not yet been addressed. Notably, local authorities have not detected or taken action regarding this portion of the lost forest. The deforestation occurred from the implementation of the project until around 2017.

The authorities determined that the forest loss occurred from the project's inception until 2017, necessitating a comprehensive inspection of the golf course project.

Based on document collection and on-site observations, the Lam Dong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has identified that Acteam International Co., Ltd. directly cleared forests to develop infrastructure for the project.

Regarding the lost forest area, there are 11.53 hectares of protected forest (over 30 times the amount subject to administrative fines), indicating the offense of "forest destruction" as outlined in Article 243 of the Criminal Code of 2015 (amended and supplemented in 2017). Therefore, the case needs careful consideration and evaluation to propose a solution that neither misses the perpetrators of their wrongdoing nor disrupts the company's investment activities.

Additionally, the reduction in forested areas took place a long time ago. The grounds for criminal prosecution are not tight, and it is associated with a major investment project in the province. Therefore, supplementary documentation is necessary, including the forest's condition before it was handed over to Acteam International Co., Ltd., and the previous procedures for forest resource handover.

In response to this issue, the agricultural sector recommends that the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee task the provincial inspectorate with conducting a thorough investigation of the project. After the inspection, recommendations and proposals will be made for appropriate legal actions in accordance with the law.

Star Hoàng to strike against top cueists at World Pool Masters 2024

Vietnamese star Dương Quốc Hoàng has received one of only two wildcards to compete at the prestigious World Pool Masters 2024.

It will be 30th edition of the tournament, an official World Nineball Tour (WNT) Invitational event, which will be held from April 25-28 in Hildesheim, Germany.

The event will boast a world-class field, with the top 14 taken from the WNT Rankings, plus two additional wild cards across four days of elite action.

On its Facebook fanpage, Matchroom posted: "Xin chào Duong Quoc Hoang! We are pleased to announce that Duong Quoc Hoang has received our first wildcard. Get your tickets now so you can join this amazing event".

"Feeling extremely proud, because this is a tournament that I am looking forward to," Hoàng responded to the wildcard announcement.

"Last year I missed it. This year the opportunity opens again. Upon receiving the invitation from Matchroom at 3.00am, I couldn't sleep because of happiness. I hope to improve my current form (for the event).”

Hoàng was invited to take part in the 2023 event after Fedor Gorst could not join because of a visa issue. The Vietnamese accepted the invitation before he recognised that the entry date in his visa was nearly 10 days after the opening match of the tournament, causing him to miss the event.

Hoàng has been known in the pool community for years, but he caused a stir in 2023 with a win over reigning world 9-ball and 10-ball champion at the World Pool Championship.

In the World Pool Masters, he will play against world leading athletes such as reigning European Open champion David Alcaide, world No 1 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, American legend Shane Van Boening, Hà Nội Open Pool Championship winner Jayson Shaw, Wiktor Zielinski, Max Lechner, Ko Ping Chung, Eklent Kaci and defending champion Ko Pin Yi. The second wildcard holder will be announced in the next few days.

A big bonus of US$125,000 is up for grabs with the winner to pocket $40,000.

World Pool Masters is the most sought-after annual invitational event in the world of pool. The first event was organised in 1993 in England.

Vietnamese women in Hungary help promote national culture in host country

The Vietnam Women’s Union in Hungary is organising a wide range of activities to mark its 20th founding anniversary, with a grand ceremony expected to take place in Budapest on June 9.

Attending a get-together held by the union on April 8, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Nguyen Thi Bich Thao spoke highly of its contributions to activities of the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese representative offices there.

Women have also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s culture to people in the host country, Thao added.

The union is holding a painting contest for Hungarian children, with the sponsor of the Vietnamese Embassy. The contest is attracting the participation of students from over 50 schools across Hungary. The outstanding works will be honoured at a ceremony on May 25./.

Co To calls for actions to prevent plastic pollution in tourism activities

Co To island district in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh has asked local accommodation facilities and travel firms to apply environmental protection measures in tourism business activities to build an island free of plastic bags and other single-use items.

According to head of the Culture-Information and Tourism Division of Co To Nguyen Hai Linh, the island is likely to welcome a large number of visitor in summer.

Authorities have requested local accommodations and tourism businesses to increase the use of environmentally-friendly and recycled products, Linh said.

The official said that in 2024, the district will encourage all tourists not to bring plastic bags to the island and strictly implement the codes of conduct for Co To tourism and environment.

Accommodation establishments and tour operators that do not inform tourists about plastic reduction practices must be fully responsible for any problems that arise, he underlined.

Since August 2022, Co To has implemented communications activities to encourage tourists and residents not to use plastic bags and disposable items on the island. From September 15, 2023, the district prohibited tourists from bringing single-use plastic items to the island.

In July 2020, the district invested in a new incinerator system with a designed capacity of treating 750 kg per hour, handling about 70% of the daily waste generated there.

However, as Co To is located near the intersection of ocean currents, it is subject to "seasonal landings" of waste from the ocean. Therefore, environmental and waste issues are still major problems facing the popular tourist destination, especially during the peak tourist season./.

New book gives insight into Dien Bien Phu victory

The Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House recently released a book called “Dien Bien Phu – History and memories” on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory.

Compiled by the Party Committee of Dien Bien province, the Vietnam Association of History Science and the Su That publishing house, the book contains writings and evaluations on the Dien Bien Phu campaign by generals directly participating in the campaign, as well as domestic and foreign scientists, military analysts, and reporters. They were previously published on the Xua & Nay (Past & Present) Magazine, the Military History Magazine and the Political Theory Magazine.  

Divided into three parts, the book provides readers an insight into the historical values and significance of the campaign from different perspectives, and sheds light on the glorious strategic battle of the Vietnamese Party, people and army that crushed the French colonists.

It also pays tribute to the soldiers, frontier workers, and youth volunteers who laid down their lives for the victory.

The book is also considered a valuable document for historical and military researchers, museums and students./.

Forum promotes film industry in HCM City

A forum on HCM City’s film industry was organised as part of the first Hồ Chí Minh City International Film Festival 2024 (HIFF 2024) from April 6-13.

The event, entitled “HCM City Promotes Film Development”, on Tuesday included presenters from local and foreign film studios and entertainment agencies, and cultural authorities as well. 

Highlighted speeches focused on the role of HCM City in promoting the development of Vietnamese cinema. Filmmaking and film production in the city and how to bring popular Vietnamese movies to international film festivals were also discussed. 

Film actress and producer Mai Thu Huyền shared her experience on how to invest in and market movies. She has been successful as a director, working on historical films. 

She suggested the city build new film studios in rural districts. The studios should be provided modern equipment and technologies for filming, and also become new tourism destinations in the city.

“The city should issue favourable policies to develop its film industry,” said Huyền, who has 20 years in the industry. 

The city now has only a few studios for filming. Most of them are small with an area of thousands of square metres that can be used for making TV series, music videos, commercial videos and game shows.

There is only Hoà Phú Studio in Củ Chi District of HCM City Television Station (HTV), with an area of 49.5 hectares, which can be used for both indoor and outdoor filming, and for all kinds of movie themes. 

According to Professor Trình Quang Phú, director of the Oriental Research Development Institute, HCM City has achieved good results in cultural growth in the three years after launching the project called “Hồ Chí Minh Cultural Space”. 

The project is part of a strategy of the city’s cultural industry between 2020 and 2025 approved by the municipal People’s Committee. 

Under the project, a film production centre offering services in filming, pre-production and post-production will be built. 

Building a cinema museum will be one of the city’s targets to promote Vietnamese history, culture and people to the world. It will display artefacts and equipment about the history and development of the film industry in Việt Nam and HCM City.

“Local authorities should work with relevant agencies to build a human resources plan for the city’s film industry,” said Phú. 

People’s Artist Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thuý, deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture and Sports, said that cinema would be the spearhead in the city's cultural industry development strategy. “We have worked to organise and hope the HIFF 2024 will promote the development of the domestic film industry, build a brand, and diversify cultural products.” 

Thuý said that the HIFF 2024 will be an opportunity for Vietnamese filmmakers to meet, interact, and compete with international colleagues.

HCM City's cinema accounts for about 40 per cent of the national cinema market. Its film industry is expected to grow at an average annual rate of about 12 per cent from 2025, reaching over VNĐ5 trillion (US$200 million).

Hạ Long to host nation's largest aquathlon tournament

Aqua Warriors Hạ Long Bay, the nation's largest aquathlon competition, will be held on April 14 in Quảng Ninh Province.

Some 1,500 athletes have registered to compete in the swimming and running combination event. Among them are many foreign competitors from South Korea, the US, Australia, France, India, Russia and New Zealand.

It is jointly held by the provincial People's Committee, Culture and Sports Department and Bolt Event.

At a recent meeting, the organisers promised to make the Aqua Warriors Hạ Long an annual tournament of the city, responding to the campaign "All people do exercise following the example of the great President Hồ Chí Minh" and the programme to prevent and control accidents and injuries in children for the period 2021-30 (including preventing drowning).

It is expected to contribute to promoting Quảng Ninh as a tourist destination and developing local tourism.

Athletes will compete in five categories of Aqua Warriors (3km swim,15km run), Olympic Aqua Warriors (1.5km swim, 10km run), Sprint Aqua Warriors (0.75km swim, 5km run), Junior Aqua Warriors (0.3km swim, 2km run) and Kids Aqua Warriors (0.15km swim, 1km run).

The running route has been designed around the beach road of Trần Quốc Nghiễn which will offer runners stunning views of Hạ Long Bay. The swimming will be held at Hòn Gai Beach, an area which was designed and constructed following Italian style at a cost of a VNĐ100 billion (US$4 million).

The organising committee has set up plans to have a tournament organised thoughtfully, safely and effectively, ensuring political security, social order and safety, and environmental protection.

Aquathlon is a multisport race consisting of continuous run and swim activities. Competitors complete a swim immediately followed by a run over various distances. Athletes compete for fastest overall course completion, including the time transitioning between the disciplines.

Aquathlon is one of a family of endurance based multisport races, which gained popularity from triathlon and various independent races.

Aquathlon has been strongly practised in Việt Nam in recent years. Many groups and clubs have been established where athletes can practise and learn more about the modern sport.

Many Vietnamese professional athletes from other sports have switched to aquathlon. Among them are SEA Games bronze medallist Vũ Đình Duân and marathon champion Võ Xuân Vĩnh.

Realising its potential, Dương Đình Việt, director of Bolt Event, decided to promote the movement by organising Aqua Warriors Hạ Long Bay, one of the first aquathlon tournaments in Việt Nam.

"In recent years, running and swimming have developed very strongly. Athletes have gradually got acquainted and want to challenge themselves in multisport races," said Việt, head of the tournament organising committee.

"However, there are only a few tournaments of this type. A new event like Aqua Warriors Hạ Long Bay will attract athletes to participate."

He believed that aquathlon will develop in the long term because athletes do not have to invest much in equipment, while the competition format was also more favourable compared to other sports.

Besides, practising aquathlon helps athletes comprehensively develop physique.

"This sport requires people to have equal coordination between arms (swimming) and legs (running) to achieve high results. Aquathlon helps comprehensively develop muscle groups and train strength, speed and shape," Việt said.

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