International visitors at the exhibition (Photo: VNA)

A Vietnamese cultural exhibition is underway at George Mason University (GMU) in the US state of Virginia, which will run to August 15.

This is a joint effort between the Vietnamese Embassy’s spouse association in the US and GMU's Costello College of Business, aiming to promote the land and people of Vietnam to international friends.

On display are items imbued with traditional Vietnamese culture such as bronze drum and Khue Van Pavilion models, Ao dai (traditional long dress), Chu Dau pottery, lacquerware and rattan products.

Tran Thi Bich Van, Chairwoman of the association, said the exhibition is part of the activities to spread Vietnamese culture at universities and influential public spaces in the host country.

President of Costello College of Business Ajay Vinzé called the cultural space the beginning of a great partnership between Vietnam and the GMU, saying the university is looking to expand its cooperation with the Southeast Asian country. 

He expressed his hope for more training and cultural exchanges with Vietnam as many Vietnamese students are studying there.

Vinzé said the GMU will send a delegation to Vietnam to seek cooperation opportunities with its universities in June, adding such partnerships are expected to be established in various forms.

Cindy Shao, President of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), thanked the embassy for improving her understanding of Vietnamese history and culture, adding she was very impressed by Ao dai and the traditional Vietnamese silk material, and the book on ancient costumes of the Le (1428-1788) and Ly (1009-1225) dynasties displayed at the exhibition./.

Universities supported to improve capacity for internationalisation

The Ministry of Education and Training coordinated with the Australian Education Department to organise training courses from March 25 to April 11 for universities to improve their capacity for internationalisation.

Managers and lecturers responsible for developing international training programmes from 44 universities attended the courses face-to-face or online.

During the courses, participants learned about the overview of the internationalisation of higher education and cooperation on student exchange; international cooperation in research and internationalised programmes; quality assurance in transnational education; international education researching; models, strategies and cooperation in transnational education; strategy and plan for internationalisation of higher education; and advantages and disadvantages of higher education’s internationalisation.

John Molony, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, said that the university plans to concentrate on investing in educational internationalisation in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Attracting international students will bring resources to schools and boost their brand. International cooperation of higher education institutions requires efforts with clear focused approaches and strategies, he said./.

RoK’s Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province woos Vietnamese tourists

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province of the Republic of Korea (RoK) held a tourism promotion programme on April 11 in Hanoi to showcase its strength and attract Vietnamese tourists.

Last year, Vietnam was the fifth largest source of tourists to RoK, with 420,000 travellers, of whom 76,000 chose Gangwon as their destination.  The RoK’s province is applying a visa-free policy for many tourist markets, including Vietnam. It is also carrying out various solutions to lure travelers such as speeding up tourism promotion, organising Famtrip delegations to introduce Gangwon tourism and developing a variety of tourism products.

On this occasion, Gangwon and 13 cities under its authorities and travel firms joined the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM), which is taking place from April 11-14 in Hanoi, to carry out promotional and marketing activities.

Choi Seong-hyun, Director of Gangwon Tourism Bureau, said through tourism promotion activities in Vietnam the province wants to promote its attractions and it will design new tourism products targeting the Vietnamese market.

Vietnam is a potential market, so the province is interested in speeding up tourism promotion, focusing on different types of customers and building more attractive products, according to the Gangwon Tourism Organisation.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Ha Van Sieu said Gangwon's booth at VITM 2024 and its tourism promotion programme will be an opportunity to connect tourism businesses of the two countries, helping to popularise the image and potential of Gangwon tourism to the business community and people of Vietnam./.

State respects, protects right to freedom of religion and belief for all: official

The Vietnamese State always respects and protects the right to freedom of religion or belief for all, and does not discriminate against any based on religion or belief, affirmed Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Van Ky.

Vietnam is a country with ethnical and religious diversity. There are now more than 27 million religious followers, accounting for 27% of the total population, over 54,000 religious dignitaries, 144,000 religious assistants, and nearly 30,000 places of worship, Ky told a press meeting held by the Ministry of Information and Communications in Hanoi on April 11.

The country is also home to a diverse system of beliefs with 50,703 belief-associated establishments, including about 3,000 relics, some of which were recognised as world heritage sites by UNESCO, he added.

He went on to say that the legal system serving as the legal basis for protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief has been perfected, including the Law on Belief and Religion and the revised Land Law. The dissemination of the Party’s viewpoints and the State’s policies and laws on belief and religion has been improved.

Religious organisations in Vietnam have been given favourable conditions to operate in line with their charters and statutes as well as legal regulations, Ky said, noting that the State has always paid attention to and created conditions for all religions to have their activities held normally.

Belief adherents and religious followers can express their beliefs freely at home, places of worship, or the sites registered with authorities. Besides, followers of a religion that hasn’t been recognised as a religious organisation or given a registration certificate have still been given conditions to hold concentrated religious activities at legal sites, according to the official.

Many important religious ceremonies have attracted a large number of followers and also become common events of the community such as Christmas or Buddha’s birthday celebration.

In 2023, Ky said, the Ministry of Home Affairs recognised “Phat giao Hieu nghia Ta Lon” and “Hoi thanh phuc am toan ven Viet Nam” as religious organisations and approved the proposal to establish the Vietnamese Baptist Theology Seminary.

As of December 2023, the State had recognised 38 religious organisations. Local authorities also licensed thousands of sites for concentrated religious activities, including over 60 sites for foreigners who legally reside in Vietnam.

For Protestantism alone, between 2021 and 2023, 170 sites of concentrated religious activities and six religious organisations were approved in the northern mountainous region. Meanwhile, 11 organisations of this religion were also recognised in the Central Highlands.

Ky said that the State has also paid attention to religion-related land issues. More than 70% of the religious establishments nationwide have been granted land use right certificates. The State has provided favourable conditions for religious organisations to repair, upgrade, and build religious facilities.

In addition, international relations of religious organisations have been facilitated, helping to introduce the Party and State’s viewpoint and policy on the protection of the right to freedom of religion to the international community.

Vietnam - Vatican relations are making progress, Ky stressed, adding that in July 2023, their leaders agreed to elevate the bilateral ties to the status of Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam, and approve the “Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam”./.

Vietnamese culture introduced at US university

A Vietnamese cultural exhibition is underway at George Mason University (GMU) in the US state of Virginia, which will run to August 15.

This is a joint effort between the Vietnamese Embassy’s spouse association in the US and GMU's Costello College of Business, aiming to promote the land and people of Vietnam to international friends.

On display are items imbued with traditional Vietnamese culture such as bronze drum and Khue Van Pavilion models, Ao dai (traditional long dress), Chu Dau pottery, lacquerware and rattan products.

Tran Thi Bich Van, Chairwoman of the association, said the exhibition is part of the activities to spread Vietnamese culture at universities and influential public spaces in the host country.

President of Costello College of Business Ajay Vinzé called the cultural space the beginning of a great partnership between Vietnam and the GMU, saying the university is looking to expand its cooperation with the Southeast Asian country. 

He expressed his hope for more training and cultural exchanges with Vietnam as many Vietnamese students are studying there.

Vinzé said the GMU will send a delegation to Vietnam to seek cooperation opportunities with its universities in June, adding such partnerships are expected to be established in various forms.

Cindy Shao, President of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), thanked the embassy for improving her understanding of Vietnamese history and culture, adding she was very impressed by Ao dai and the traditional Vietnamese silk material, and the book on ancient costumes of the Le (1428-1788) and Ly (1009-1225) dynasties displayed at the exhibition./.

Drone light show to be organised at Ha Long carnival

A drone light show will be held for the first time in Ha Long Bay as part of the Carnaval Ha Long 2024 on April 28.

The annual event will feature performances and parades on both the sea and sandy shores of the UNESCO World Heritage site in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.

Speaking at a press conference held on Monday about the event, Ha Long City People’s Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Son said they would organise a drone light, firework, and LED display at this first-ever carnival on the sea in Vietnam.

The festival will bring together 1,200 domestic and international artists and craftspeople, and feature hundreds of tourist boats.

The city will host a series of events as part of the Ha Long Tourism Week 2024, including opening a food street, beer festival, sports tournament, and a kite festival.

Organised annually since 2007, Carnaval Ha Long has long been a popular event.

Local authorities claim that Ha Long Bay will receive some 70 international vessels with about 140,000 tourists this year.

Women’s football champion to represent Vietnam at Asian tournament

The winner of the national women's football championship will compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Club Championship, with the prestigious event scheduled to take place this October.
 
The AFC Women's Club Championship was first held back in 2019, featuring the participation of four teams. In 2021, Ho Chi Minh City 1 FC of Vietnam were invited to the tournament but they were unable to participate.

The 2024 edition of the Asian competition will feature a total of 16 teams, with each member of the AFC sending one team to enter the event. This will mark the first time that a Vietnamese representative will vie for the Asian championship title.

The 13th national women's football championship will be held from May 1 to August 2 in Hanoi, along with Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Quang Ninh provinces.

Eight teams will compete in a two-leg round-robin format, with the winner set to receive a cash prize of VND500 million and going on to represent Vietnam at the AFC Women's Club Championship 2024.

Furthermore, the two runners-up will receive bonuses of VND300 million and VND200 million, respectively.

Improving occupational conditions through green transformation

Every business is obliged to conduct an environmental assessment each year according to the laws, but data shows that at least one harmful factor that violates occupational hygiene standards is present in around 32 per cent of workplaces.

This is the result of research conducted by the Việt Nam National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (VNNIOSH - a unit under the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour) at approximately 8,805 companies in the country.

Experts believe that sectors and authorities need to take stringent actions in occupational safety management, while businesses should transform their production model to be greener for employees’ health.

VNNIOSH director Dr Nguyễn Anh Thơ said that in the past five years, nearly 6,000 people died and 50,000 people were injured in occupational accidents, while dozens of others suffered from occupational diseases.

These figures ring the alarm bell on the current situation of labour accidents and related diseases in Việt Nam, he said.

“During our study, we also discovered a number of new factors in the workplace to which Việt Nam has not defined the exposure limits.

“This will be the basis for updating the list of permissible exposure limits regarding new harmful factors,” he added.

Thơ also noted that the number of 10,000 businesses conducting assessments on their workplace environment in 2023 was very modest compared to the dozens of thousands of manufacturing companies in the country, and to the total of 900,000 companies in operation here.

Meanwhile, many businesses do not have sufficient equipment and monitoring systems to assess and analyse environmental factors in the workplace.

“Occupational conditions, safety and hygiene have become a technical barrier in trade, as the international standards in this aspect are higher,” said Thơ.

According to the VNNIOSH director, Việt Nam’s scale of economy is expanding, and several industries are witnessing higher risks of occupational accidents and diseases such as construction, mechanics, electrical engineering, as well as forestry and fishery product harvesting, processing and manufacturing.

“This is a major social issue requiring effective solutions from the Party, National Assembly and the Government for production recovery and job creation, while also preventing occupational accidents and diseases,” said Thơ.

Đỗ Việt Đức from the Việt Nam Federation of Labour also emphasised the role of unions in mobilising resources for environmental protection and technology improvement to reduce energy loss and toxic waste.

Meanwhile, director of the communication centre at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Vũ Minh Lý believed that workers are at the forefront of environmental protection commitments.

Therefore, rewards and recognition should be given to people who have initiatives and contributions to the cause, he said.

Business owners should pay more attention to the “green factory” model, an eco-friendly manufacturing facility that will protect both the environment and workers’ health.

According to Dr Nguyễn Đình Thọ, director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, the MONRE is also developing a set of criteria to classify “green projects”, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister for implementation.

The MONRE also recommends that the carbon market needs to be put into operation soon, alongside the classifications for “green projects” to mobilise funding from green bonds and credits.

This is expected to be a practical framework that helps businesses with their eco-friendly investment plans and practical engagement in inventory and reduction of greenhouse gases.

Hanoi promotes West Lake's values

The Hanoi People's Committee has approved regulations to preserve and promote the potential values and advantages of West Lake.

The move would help the district's goal of turning West Lake and its surrounding area into green, civilized urban areas whose environment would be strictly protected, according to Nguyen Thanh Tinh, Deputy Chairman of the Tay Ho District People's Committee.

"West Lake is Hanoi's largest freshwater body, located Northwest of downtown Hanoi, with an area of more than 500 hectares and a shoreline of 17 kilometers. The lake is an iconic attraction for locals and visitors, with 71 historical and cultural relics located around it," said Tinh. 

To ensure the lake unpolluted, the city government has stepped up environmental monitoring of West Lake, landscape rehabilitation, wastewater management, and cleaning of the lake's surface.

"In previous years, in 2017, Hanoi decided to shut down floating restaurants and yachts in the West Lake that failed to meet fire prevention conditions and discharged waste, causing serious pollution of the water environment and killing tonnes of fish," Tinh said.

He highlighted the district's project to build the interconnected cultural parks around the West Lake; to develop cultural, tourism, and economic offerings; and to promote the value of the lake and surrounding areas.

Duong Duc Tuan, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, praised the careful preparation of the Tay Ho District People's Committee, which had drawn up an elaborate and detailed project with the help of experts, scientists, and consultants.

"The city authorities have also developed a plan for urban subdivision around the West Lake area and its surroundings, creating favorable conditions for the project's execution," Tuan said.

The recently established West Lake Management Board is responsible for assisting the Tay Ho District People's Committee in the comprehensive, centralized, and unified management of the lake area and its surroundings in accordance with the regulations of the Municipal People's Committee.

The Board is also tasked with leading and coordinating with relevant units to formulate projects and plans for the management and development of the West Lake and its surrounding areas; to preserve historical cultural relics, landscapes, and the environment; and to ensure the sustainable development of the West Lake and its surrounding areas.

Tuan praised Tay Ho District's approach to developing the project and asked the Tay Ho District People's Committee and the consultancy units to complete the project as soon as possible.

West Lake is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hanoi and an iconic place in the capital city. With a serene and tranquil beauty, West Lake would definitely be an escape for those tired of the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Tourists (or even locals) looking for a respite can be totally satisfied standing in front of West Lake, which offers a harmonious combination of a poetic lake, solemn historical temples, amazing activities, and unforgettable food.

Eo Gio ecotourism area in Binh Dinh to feature glass-bottom bridge

The south-central province of Binh Dinh has approved in principle an eco-tourism project in Eo Gio area in Quy Nhon City, in which a glass-bottom bridge will be built.

The Eo Gio Ecotourism Area project will offer integrated tourism services, including a glass-bottom bridge, an observation deck, restaurants, and other supporting facilities.

Covering 10.44 hectares of land, the Eo Gio Ecotourism Area will need an initial investment at VND77.8 billion.

Construction is slated for completion within 48 months upon the handover of the project site.

In late 2015, Binh Dinh authorities approved the implementation of the Eo Gio high-end eco-tourism resort project worth VND1.6 trillion.

Since 2017, FLC Group has developed observation decks and concrete roads along rocky mountains leading to the coast, with admission tickets costing VND25,000 each.

In 2022, the Management Board of Binh Dinh Province Economic Zone terminated the operation of the Eo Gio high-end eco-tourism resort project as FLC Group failed to adhere to the registered schedule.

Binh Dinh authorities said that the project will soon be put up for auction.

Around 77,000 workers needed in HCMC in Q2

With improvements in the city’s socio-economic performance in the early months of this year, HCMC-based businesses are seen needing to hire around 77,000 employees in the second quarter.

Compared to the first quarter of the previous year, the demand for hiring remains steady, particularly focusing on positions requiring skills.

The city’s four key industries have seen an increase in hiring demand, while nine service sectors continue to experience stable growth.

Around 12,301 to 12,577 job opportunities are projected in the four key industrial sectors, including engineering, electronics-information technology, food and foodstuffs processing, and pharmaceutical chemistry-rubber, accounting for 16.8% of the total demand.

Meanwhile, the nine crucial service sectors may hire 49,318 to 50,428 individuals, constituting 60.05% of the total demand. Notably, the trading sector makes up a significant proportion, at 22.8%, followed by science-technology and information consultancy services at around 12.5%, with asset and property trading trailing at 9.22%.

The demand for skilled labor is high, at 86.41% of the total. Specifically, individuals with university qualifications make up 24.9%, while those with college and intermediate levels account for 17.63% and 25.18%, respectively. Elementary level workers make up 18.7% of the demand.

The labor demand forecasting center predicted that HCMC’s economy will continue to grow in alignment with this year’s outlined plans, consequently driving the demand for high-quality and skilled labor in the second quarter.

Intensified salinity intrusion in Mekong Delta linked to tidal cycles

Salinity intrusion in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta is intensifying, with the Department of Irrigation and Water Resources noting a surge in recent months.

Despite the peak of saltwater intrusion in the 2023-2024 dry season passing, the phenomenon continues to escalate, particularly with the tidal cycles in early March.

Observations in March showed significant changes in water flow in the upper reaches of the Mekong River at the Kratie station in Cambodia, with fluctuations in water flow observed at the headwaters of the Mekong Delta in Tan Chau and Chau Doc, corresponding with tidal movements.

During the same period, the Mekong Delta recorded the highest level of salinity intrusion since the start of the dry season. Salinity levels peaked at four grams per liter at the river mouth, penetrating inland from 55 to 65 kilometers, surpassing the multi-year average.

In the southeastern region, reservoirs are at 56% of their design capacity on average, with Dong Nai Province reporting the lowest capacity at 32%, followed by Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province at 36%. Drought conditions were reported in Binh Phuoc Province, affecting 8,283 hectares of crops outside of irrigation infrastructure areas. One reservoir in Ba Ria–Vung Tau is currently below the dead storage level.

The ongoing situation, occurring amid the mid-to-late dry season and the harvest of the winter-spring rice crop, poses potential risks to agricultural production and daily activities in the region.

Provinces in the Mekong Delta are facing severe drought and salinity intrusion, resulting in significant economic losses, with some areas declaring natural disasters. Salinity levels along the Vam Co River have reached up to four grams per liter, intruding inland up to 85 to 90 kilometers.

Efforts to manage saline intrusion have been underway, but around 43,300 hectares of fruit trees and 20,500 hectares of rice fields in many provinces have already been affected.

While the water storage capacity in reservoirs in the southeastern region remains at around 48% of their design capacity, ongoing forecasts of hot weather and continued dry conditions raise concerns about potential drought and water shortages, affecting an estimated 8,000 to 11,000 hectares of crop.

Fishermen in Central region facing depleted fishing grounds

For many generations, fishermen in the Central region have depended on the sea to make a living. Yet their destructive exploitation of this natural resource has gradually depleted it, making their livelihood more struggling.

Senior fisherman Le Ba Hoang from Quynh Lap Commune of Hoang Mai Town in Nghe An Province recalled that he used to go fishing 1 hour away from Lach Con Estuary to catch a rich variety of seafood. Now he has to travel to Hoang Sa Fishing Ground or the Bach Long Vi Sea, the seawaters in neighboring provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Nam, or Quang Ngai in order to successfully catch some fish. He regretted that his fellow fishermen had not carefully nurtured young fish but caught them full-scale, leading to quick depletion.

A similar situation can be found in the seawaters of Da Nang City, where fishermen have repeatedly exterminated seafood and increased the number of fishing boats, leading to a remarkable drop of seafood since they do not have enough time for reproduction.

In the communes of Quang Xuan, Quang Phu, Canh Duong of Quang Trach District in Quang Binh Province, fishermen are also discouraged by a significant decrease in the quantity of fish this year, not merely because of climate change but also due to the bad practice of large-scale extermination.

Chairman Duong Minh Phuong of the People’s Committee of Quang Xuan Commune informed that the commune now has 200 fishing boats of all sizes, but since this Tet holiday, only five have had bumper catches of fish and earned VND500 million (US$20,000) in total, while others just have enough money to pay for their trip expenses.

Binh Thuan Province has always been considered one of the three largest fishing grounds in Vietnam, but is still experiencing a similarly worrying state of aqua-product depletion.

“10 years ago, there was such a surplus of seafood that fishermen only needed to stay onshore and throw their net to get a full haul of fish and shrimps. Since the appearance of fishing boats for full-scale catching, fish of all ages have been grabbed, leading to quick depletion. Now only large boats for offshore fishing can earn some profit, whereas it is nearly impossible for smaller boats to successfully catch fish”, said fisherman Le Van Banh from Phan Thiet City of Binh Thuan Province.

Until 2018, Hoai Nhon Town of Binh Dinh Province was classified as the capital of tuna fishing in Vietnam, with 1,000 specialized boats. Thanks to a surplus of fish and export convenience, the life of fishermen then was quite prosperous. Yet that golden time lasted no longer than 10 years.

The main reason, according to senior fisherman Phan Van Coi in Tam Quan Bac Ward of the town, is that both the tuna quantity and prices have gradually dropped but the number of fishermen has increased uncontrollably. Thousands of boats have been catching tuna for 10 years non-stop to kill nearly all tuna in this sea, regardless of their age.

Senior fisherman Bui Thanh Ninh also in Tam Quan Bac Ward agreed with that and added one more reason. The fishing ground for tuna has been greatly narrowed lately.

Over-exploitation of seafood in Binh Dinh Province, along with climate change, has worsened the situation when several fishes are facing the same destiny of depletion. Therefore, according to Director Tran Van Phuc of the Binh Dinh Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is high time the local authorities investigate and re-evaluate the aquatic resources in the province, followed by suitable issuance of fishing permits.

The Fisheries Department of Binh Thuan Province commented that besides uncontrolled exploitation of seafood, catching fish during their spawning season also contributes to the depletion of this valuable resource.

Acting Chairman Hoang Hong Hiep of the Institute of Social Sciences of the Central Region (ISSCR) first reported that a survey conducted by his organization confirmed a seafood quantity drop compared to five years ago. This stems from various factors, including fishing beyond the reserve or the recovery ability of nature. This will inevitably lead to unsustainable marine economic growth.

New decrees contribute to perfecting anti-IUU fishing regulations

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development held a conference in Hanoi on April 11 to popularise new contents in regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention and combat prescribed in newly-issued legal documents.

According to the Directorate of Fisheries, the Prime Minister has recently issued Decree No. 37/2024/NQ-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 26/2017/NQ-CP of the Government detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Fisheries Law, along with Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP regulating sanctions on administrative violations in the field of fisheries, and Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP replacing Decree No. 42/2019/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violations in the fisheries sector.

Director of the directorate Tran Dinh Luan said that major new contents of Decree No. 37/2024/NQ-CP include more flexible administrative procedures in case of natural disasters or epidemics where it is impossible to organise on-site inspections and assessments serving the issuance of licences, certificates and approval of documents, reality assessments and supervision. In those cases, evaluation activities will be conducted online, along with the procedures for registration of aquaculture farming, and the announcement of the closure and opening of fishing ports, he said.

Regarding fishing boat monitoring, the decree clarifies the responsibility of central and local agencies in managing and use of the vessel monitoring system (VMS), as well as the responsibility of VMS suppliers.

The decree has an additional regulation on observers on Vietnamese fishing vessels operating in Vietnam's territorial waters to create a legal framework to maintain and promote Vietnam's seafood exports to the US.

It adjusts and supplements a number of regulations on controlling foreign vessels’ activities of exploiting and transporting aquatic products originating from Vietnamese ports, and controlling seafood and aquatic products imported into Vietnam.

Regarding new regulations prescribed in Decree No. 38/2024/ND-CP, Luan said that the decree increases the prescription for sanctioning administrative violations in the fisheries sector to two years, along with stricter punishments on repeated violations, and the power of rangers on posing punishments on violations of regulations on the protection of aquatic resources in national parks and conservation areas.

Heads of the Departments of Fisheries, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces, districts and communes, police, border guards, coast guards, customs, market management, fisheries inspection forces, forestry rangers, inspection and agencies assigned to perform specialised inspections are also permitted to handle such violations, according to the decree.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that with increasingly effective legal tools, all localities should work hard to join hands with central agencies in seeking the European Commission (EC)’s removal of the “yellow card” against Vietnam’s seafood exports.

The official noted that progress has been seen in IUU fishing prevention and combat, but there is still much work to do.

Localities should continue to focus on supervising their fleets, trace the origin of seafood products and strictly handle violations according to the new regulations, he underlined./.

MCST reports on national culture, sport and tourism activities in Q1, looks to Q2

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported its various important activities in the first three months of 2024 and looked forward to many key events in the second quarter during a press meeting on April 11 in Hà Nội.

The ministry submitted to the Government an amended draft Law on Cultural Heritage, which is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for comments at a meeting in May, and approved three plans for preservation, repair and restoration of monuments.

The ministry also mapped out its preparation to build scientific records to submit to UNESCO for the intangible cultural heritages of Mo Mường (Hòa Bình Province), traditional martial arts (Bình Định Province), and traditional opera of chèo of the Northern Delta (Thái Bình Province).

At the same time, MCST approved a pilot release and dissemination plan for a number of films using the state budget; produced films and allocated film production costs using the state budget, and sponsored film dissemination in the first phase of 2024.

Currently, MCST is working on a law project to amend and supplement a number of articles of the Law on Advertising. There are also plans to organise a film week commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, the seventh Hà Nội International Film Festival, along with photo contests, exhibitions and national fine arts festivals.

In the field of sports, the ministry submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval the Việt Nam Sports and Physical Training Development Strategy until 2030, with a vision to 2045; and completed a plan to implement Conclusion 70-KL/TW dated January 31, 2024 of the Politburo on physical training and sports in the new period.

In tourism, the ministry proposed to the Prime Minister the Planning of Việt Nam's tourism system for the period 2021-30, with a vision to 2045.

Regarding its key missions in the second quarter, MCST will effectively implement six groups of tasks and four groups of solutions to build, preserve and promote the unique values of Vietnamese culture.

MCST will organise the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups' Culture Day (April 19), a mobile contest to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Hồ Chí Minh Trail - Trường Sơn Soldiers' Traditional Day (May 19, 2024); and activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ Victory.

Film weeks for large holidays such as Hà Nội's 70th Liberation Day (April 30), International Workers' Day (May 1), and late President Hồ Chí Minh 134th birthday (May 19) will be held. Other cultural activities include the National Drama Festival 2024 and the closing and awarding ceremony of the sixth Award for Reading Culture Development (2023-24).

In the second quarter, MCST will organise and implement Directive 08/CT-TTg dated February 23 of the Prime Minister on comprehensive and sustainable tourism development in the upcoming period. The ministry will also synchronously deploy solutions to develop national tourism, attracting domestic and international tourists; and strongly innovate methods and contents of tourism promotion.

Also at the April 11 meeting, representatives of the MCST's departments responded to press interest in the field of performing arts; artists' behaviour on social networks; divestment status of the Việt Nam Feature Film Studio; and tourism promotion during the holidays April 30 - May 1.

Coach pleased with preparation of Vietnamese players for Asian U23 Cup

Despite a defeat to Jordan in their friendly test, coach Hoàng Anh Tuấn of Việt Nam was still confident about his players' performance at the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup next week.

The match was part of Việt Nam's preparation for the continental competition. It was played in a closed stadium in Doha, Qatar.

After the official 90 minutes of time, both two sides entered the spot kicks and Viet Nam lost 3-4.

Speaking about his players, Tuấn said he was glad with what they did and the score. Against a strong rival, Việt Nam created several threatening chances including two on-target finishes by Nguyên Hoàng and Bùi Vĩ Hào.

“It is a good test for Việt Nam. Generally, players did their job pretty well," said Tuấn.

"We played with two different line-ups in the two halves. But the quality was the same. We made really good opportunities to open the score. The penalties kicks were what we expected from this friendly. It is a kind of practise in our plan. In the spot kicks, Việt Nam lost but I think a draw is deserved for both."

He added that players did not meet his tactical requirements yet but it was not a big problem. They would have six days to be ready for the first match against Kuwait. In general, his players were good in terms of skills and technique. Their tactics will gradually improve.

"We saw their confidence from this game. They played with the same quality and intensity until the last minutes," he said.

The team has a day off on April 11 and returns for training the next day.

Việt Nam will play Kuwait on April 17. They later play Malaysia on April 20 and Uzbekistan three days later.

The team's target is the knockout stage. 

Shooters seek Olympic places in Brazilian qualifier

Việt Nam's top marksmen are heading to Brazil for the final Olympic qualification round, targeting at least one place at the Paris Games.

Ten athletes will compete in the both pistol and rifle events at the 2024 ISSF World Olympic Qualification Tournament on April 11-19 with 16 spots up for grabs. 

"It is the last qualifier for Việt Nam. We have made plans and chosen the best shooters to take part in this event," said Vũ Anh Đào, from the Shooting Department of the Sports Authority of Việt Nam.

"We all hope that they will achieve positive results and bring home at least one Olympic spot."

Among competitors, Phạm Quang Huy shoulders heavy responsibility after his 2023 Asian Games and 2024 Asian championship gold medals. Huy will compete in the pistol events.

Other shooters include veterans Hà Minh Thành, Lại Công Minh and Phan Công Minh who have taken part and dominated in numerous international competitions. 

Young shooters Phí Thanh Thảo who won Asian Cup bronze in 2023 will seek her slot in the rifle category while Asian silver medallist Vũ Tiến Nam has plenty of potential in the pistols section.

Trịnh Thu Vinh and Lê Thị Mộng Tuyền who qualified for the Paris event also compete at the Rio de Janeiro competition. 

Head coach Park Chung-gun said even just competing in the event was a good opportunity to sharpen their skills both physically and mentality.

Đào said that after an intensive training camp in South Korea, all shooters were really confident and determined to do their best.

After Brazil, the national team will have several international competitions in Azerbaijan and Germany in May and June.

Training camps in South Korea and Europe will be held in July.

The Việt Nam Shooting Federation has announced a bonus of VNĐ50 million (US$2,000) for each Olympic place and it will be VNĐ500 million, VNĐ300 million and VNĐ200 million for each gold, silver and bronze, respectively, achieved in Paris.

Green building development requires standardising regulations: experts

Việt Nam needs more regulations on assessing and supporting green buildings, an important global trend for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to experts.

Speaking at an international conference on laws and policies for green buildings held in HCM City on April 11, they said Việt Nam’s rapidly rising urban population is causing rising demand for housing but also the consequences of urbanisation like including pollution and declining natural resources.

Assoc Prof Dr Trần Việt Dũng, deputy dean of the Law University of HCM City, said green buildings are not just a trend, but an integral part of global commitments to sustainable development.

There is potential for co-operation between educational facilities and government agencies in expanding the boundaries of green construction, he said.

Việt Nam’s construction industry is pushing ahead with green methods, reflecting the country’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection, he added.

Việt Nam currently has over 300 building that meet green criteria and are certified by many various local and international organisations such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) of the U.S. Green Building Council, Green Mark certification from Singapore and LOTUS from the Vietnam Green Building Council.

But this multiplicity leads to difficulties in managing the development of green buildings.

Lưu Thị Thanh Mẫu, deputy chairwoman of the Việt Nam Young Entrepreneurs Association, deputy chairwoman of the HCM City Real Estate Association and general director of housing developer Phuc Khang Corporation, called for issuing a set of assessment tools for green buildings and regulations on the assessment and certification of green buildings.

Việt Nam also needs more favourable policies for green building investors such as low-interest loans and incentives for green bond issuers, and awards to honour green construction, she said.

Assoc Prof Dr Lưu Quốc Thái of the university’s Faculty of Commercial Law said investment in green building is a global trend, but Việt Nam lacks a legal framework to standardise and support it.

He said other countries' experiences in green construction show that government agency participation is crucial for facilitating and standardising investment and certification.

Việt Nam could learn from those countries to frame laws for land planning for green buildings, energy usage, favourable policies, and certification, he added.

The conference was held by the university and Phuc Khang Corporation.

Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee’s 41st session opens

The 41st session of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee opened in Havana on April 11, seeking ways to expand and diversify bilateral economic relations in commensurate with the traditional political relationship between the two Parties, States, and peoples.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi, who is co-chair of the committee, said that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people always remember the special affection, strong support and help from the Cuban Party, State, and people to the Southeast Asian country’s past struggle for liberation as well as its current nation building and development.

In response to this, in recent years, Vietnam has always paid attention to supporting and promoting cooperation with Cuba in all fields, from politics and diplomacy, to trade, investment, and agriculture, and sharing experiences in State management in the fields of finance, banking, foreign investment attraction, information and communications, construction, and justice.

Nghi proposed finding specific solutions to remove difficulties for Vietnamese businesses to maintain production and ensure business and investment efficiency, and create more motivation and confidence to attract new investors to Cuba.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment of Cuba Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, who is also co-chair of the committee, highlighted the importance of economic, financial, and trade cooperation, as Vietnam is currently one of Cuba's main Asian investors and also an important rice supplier.

The two sides agreed to strengthen bilateral collaboration in tourism, energy, biotechnology, and agricultural and food production, while continuing to promote business agreements for domestic and export markets.

The session will last to April 15./.

Vietnam eyes 1.5 million PwDs joining sports, physical activities by 2030

The Vietnam Paralympic Committee is striving to attract 1.5 million out of more than 7 million persons with disabilities (PwDs) nationwide to participate in sports and physical activities by 2030.

The information was shared on April 12 at the national congress for the 2024-2029 tenure of the committee, formerly known as the Vietnam Paralympic Association.

By 2030, the committee also set targets of having 15 sports for PwDs widely available in the community. This will help with connecting and calling for organisations and businesses to join hands in investing in the development of sports for them in Vietnam, and focus on investing in training facilities and equipment for professional athletes.

At the event, Huynh Vinh Ai continued to be elected as Chairman of the committee. The congress also elected a 29-strong executive board./.

HCM City boosts partnership with foreign NGOs

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) in coordination with the city's working group for foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) held an annual conference with foreign NGOs on April 12 to discuss cooperation orientations for the coming time.

In his speech, HUFO President Do Viet Ha said the event offered a platform for foreign NGOs and Vietnamese partners to discuss cooperation, difficulties and challenges, along with HCM City’s aid mobilisation demand. It also gave the unions of friendship organisations of other southern localities a chance to present their demand for assistance from foreign NGOs operating in relevant fields, aiming to enhance cooperation in future projects.

According to HUFO, the partnership between HCM City and foreign NGOs has been expanded across many fields, including community development, health care, education, and social issues. These projects have considerably contributed to local socio-economic development and the implementation of target programmes.

Last year, 127 foreign NGOs were licensed to operate in the city, mainly in the fields of health care, education, social protection, and environment. The municipal People's Committee approved 58 applications from foreign agencies, organisations, and individuals for providing project and non-project aid for Vietnam, with committed capital totaling around 630 billion VND (25.18 million USD).

At the conference, representatives from Children's Hospital No.2, the HCM City Association for the Support of the Disabled and Orphans, the city's Child Welfare Association, and the friendship organisations' unions of Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Dong Nai, Long An, and Tay Ninh provinces introduced their priority projects needing assistance from foreign individuals and organisations. Those projects focus on such areas as health care, social issues, climate change fight, and education.

Participants were also updated on regulations on the management of foreign NGOs’ activities, the management and use of non-refundable aid outside foreign official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, and other relevant legal provisions.

On this occasion, the municipal People's Committee and HUFO presented certificates of merit to 10 foreign NGOs in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian projects in the city./.

Measures sought to promote green transition in tourism

Policymakers and insiders gathered at a forum themed Vietnam Tourism – Green Transition for Sustainable Development held in Hanoi on April 12 as part of the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2024 to discuss measures to promote a green transition in the smokeless industry and encourage the engagement of all parties to turn tourism into a green and circular economic sector.

Vice Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ha Van Sieu said that the trend of green, high quality, and wellness tourism is being promoted and becoming a priority for many tourists.

He underlined the need for all parties in the industry to "green up" from the mindset to actions to form a green culture in tourism, thus developing green destinations, green products and green services.

Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that responding to climate change and protecting the environment are urgent needs in the world. The Vietnamese Government has shown the determination to solve the climate crisis and reduce net emissions to zero by 2050, he noted, adding that adapting to climate change is a responsibility and an opportunity for Vietnam to implement green transition to enhance competitiveness.

He said that tourism is expected to contribute 6.4% to the country’s GDP this year. Green transition will not only benefit the environment and preserve biodiversity but also help improve the income for tourism service providers and promote economic growth.  

Binh said that the association launched a campaign to reduce plastic waste during tourism activities in 2018, which has received an active response from travel firms. The association has also encouraged tour operators to go green, enhancing their awareness and changing their actions towards green transition, he added. 

Deputy Resident Representative UNDP in Vietnam Patrick Harvemann said that the green transition process in tourism in Vietnam should focus on four issues - green planning; effective destination management; plastic-free and low-carbon travel encouragement; and sustainable tourism based on nature.  

He noted that many Vietnamese localities such as Hoi An in Quang Nam and Co To island district in Quang Ninh have applied solutions to reduce single-use plastic items during tourism, showing their strong commitments to environmental protection.

The UNDP has partnered with the Vietnam Tourism Association to implement a project to reduce plastic waste in tourism in Vietnam, he said.

Participants underlined the need to renovate technologies, promote power efficiency, increase the proportion of renewable energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to promote green tourism.

Alongside, it is necessary to strengthen tourism destination management, completing and promoting the effectiveness of tourism development and digital transformation policies to optimise resources and ensuring the success of the greening process, they added.

They also stressed the need for relevant parties to develop responsible tourism, create job opportunities, and share benefits with the community, while diversifying green tourism services to promote green and sustainable tourism consumption and shopping through energy labeling, eco-labeling, and green labeling programmes./.

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