The National Press Festival opened at the Hanoi Museum on April 13, displaying outstanding publications in early 2022.

Following the opening ceremony is the exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of “Le Paria” newspaper.

A series of other events will also be organised on the sidelines of the festival, including a press photo show on spring roads, a forum on digital transformation, a talk on humanity in journalism and a concert featuring music performances by journalists.

The organiser will also present several awards for the best Tet (Lunar New Year) magazine cover photo, the best news website design and the best TV and radio programmes. There is also an award for organisations and individuals with outstanding activities at the festival.

The festival, to last until April 15, provides an opportunity to honour the strong development of Vietnam’s journalism and journalists’ creative works, and to promote exchange and cooperation between journalists and the public.

Football body discusses preparatory works for competition at SEA Games 31

Acting President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Tran Quoc Tuan on April 12 chaired a meeting with its Board of General Secretariat and relevant offices to discuss the organisation of football events of the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

Tuan asked all offices to coordinate more closely and promptly report on any challenges, saying the federation’s main tasks are to successfully host football and futsal events and, at the same time, to have all Vietnamese players well-prepared for the SEA Games.

The men’s football tournament will kick off on May 6, and the women’s football events from May 9 – 21. Meanwhile, the men’s futsal will be held from May 11 – 20 and the women’s, from May 10 – 19.

Vietnam ready to make substantive contributions to UN development forums:

Vietnam is ready to make substantive contributions at the United Nations (UN) development forums, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, the country’s head of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, has said.

He made the statement at a meeting with Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, on April 12.

The UN official congratulated Vietnam on successfully completing the role of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term and on the good cooperation between the country and the UN in recent years. Liu expressed his hope that in the coming time, Vietnam will continue to support the UN and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the UN Secretariat on related issues to realise the sustainable development goals (SDG).

He said that DESA is ready to provide and exchange information with Vietnam when necessary.

Hanoi plans to build more bus stations in city gateways

Hanoi plans to build new bus stations at gateways to the city as part of a newly-approved master plan of bus stations, parking areas and logistics centres until 2030 with a vision to 2050.

The plan covers all administrative area of the capital city with consideration of impacts on nearby areas in the Hanoi capital region.

Under the plan, intercity bus and truck stations are arranged at the intersections of radial axes along the east-west and north-south direction and Ring Road No.4.

The new stations will be connected with public bus system of the city and stations of urban railway lines, thus gradually replacing existing stations locating deep inside the city.

Existing intercity bus stations inside the Ring Road No.3, namely Gia Lam, My Dinh, Giap Bat and Nuoc Ngam, will be temporarily used before the new ones are put into use.

In the future, they are expected to be replaced by Dong Anh, Co Bi and Ring Road No.4 stations. More bus stations will be built in the future in gateways into the city in the north, east, west and south.

Binh Thuan province launches smart tourism portal

The south central province of Binh Thuan on April 12 launched its smart tourism portal at https://muinevietnam.vn/, aiming to create an ecosystem serving tourists, businesses, and state management agencies.

The portal integrates all information about Binh Thuan province’s tourism potential, strength, and typical cultural and sport features. It also helps visitors make plans, and find accommodations, tourist destinations, and services via scanning QR code or downloading a related app.

The management agencies, meanwhile, can collect statistics of visitors, tourism market share, business reports, and feedback, among others.

Carnival Ha Long 2022 spotlights SEA Games 31

The upcoming Ha Long Carnival, a highlight of the Ha Long – Quang Ninh tourism week 2022, is expected to be a warm welcome to athletes competing in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) hosted by the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh this May.

The carnival aims at promoting Ha Long, home to the World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, as a safe and friendly destination. With the participation of about 2,000 actors, the event will run at the Dai Duong (ocean) Park in Bai Chay ward. It is expected to be rounded off with a firework.      

On the occasion, the city will kick off the operation of its one-year pilot floating night street, which features 30 boats serving food from 5:30pm to 11pm every day.

The tourism week will also treat visitors to a series of activities, including a kite flying festival, a dancing festival, a photo exhibition, and a trade fair.

Regional football clubs arrive in HCM City for AFC Champions League

Leading football clubs from regional countries have arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to compete in Group H of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2022, the most prestigious club competition in Asia.

This year, Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC of Vietnam will host the games of Group H, which also comprises Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan), Jeonbuk Huyndai Motors FC (the Republic of Korea), and Sydney FC (Australia).

The games will take place at HCM City's Thong Nhat Stadium from April 16 to May 1 in the round-robin format.

On April 12 morning, Yokohama F. Marinos FC with 30 players arrived in the city and stayed at Park Royal Hotel. All the players have received COVID-19 tests. Those who have positive results will be moved to another hotel to ensure safety.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC also arrived in the city the same day. Their first training will take place on April 13.

As scheduled, Jeonbuk Huyndai Motors FC will reach HCM City on April 12 evening, and Sydney FC on April 13. Regional football authorities and referees will be present in the city on April 12 and 13.

The first game of Group H will be a competition between Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC and Yokohama F. Marinos at 6pm on April 16.

Vietnamese peacekeepers in South Sudan successfully give first aid to stroke patient

Vietnamese peacekeepers of Level 2 Field Hospital No. 3 in South Sudan delivered medical care to save a 50-year-old officer from a stroke on April 11.

It was the third stroke that the neurologist from the field hospital has diagnosed and managed successfully in the past 12 months.

It was also the second time that peacekeeping health workers at the field hospital effectively used ultrasound to assess the increased intracranial pressure and support the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of acute cerebral stroke as they lack medical equipment like CT scanners or MRIs.

Party's new guidelines on land policies must be institutionalised by law: NA Chairman

The Party's new guidelines on land policies must be institutionalised to facilitate the effective management and use of land and contribute to limiting complaints and denunciations in this area, stated National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue at a meeting in Hanoi on April 12. 

The meeting was held by the Party Delegation at the National Assembly and the central steering committee on reviewing the implementation of Resolution No.19-NQ/TW issued by the 11th Party Central Committee on reforming land laws and policies.

According to Tran Tuan Anh, head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission – the standing body of the Steering Committee, the commission has drafted a new resolution on land issues within the framework of the 2011 Party Platform and the 2013 Constitution (the 15th version) after considering reports, recommendations, opinions and feedback of central level agencies, ministries, sectors, associations, provincial-level Party Committees of 63 provinces and centrally-run cities, and domestic and foreign experts.

He said some issues remain contentious and need opinions of the NA's Party Delegation to help the steering committee finalise the draft resolution before submitting it to the Politburo for consideration and later to the Party Central Committee, with the aim of issuing the resolution at the 5th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee slated to be held in May. 

Kien Giang records no IUU violations for consecutive quarters

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang reported no illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing cases in the last quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022 thanks to drastic crackdowns.

According to Nguyen Quoc Truong, deputy head of the provincial fisheries sub-department, a series of anti-IUU measures have been implemented.

They include communication campaigns to raise awareness; intensified handling of suspicious fishing vessels; and coordinated investigations to tackle illegal fishing in foreign waters and illegal entries into Vietnam by sea, among others.  

The province plans to further tighten its cooperation with central and local agencies to investigate, verify and strictly handle fishing vessels that violate foreign waters. Increasing communication is a vital part of the country’s efforts to remove of the “yellow card” imposed by the European Commission on Vietnamese seafood products.

Hanoi issues plan to promote cultural, tourism image during SEA Games 31

Hanoi has announced a plan to promote the image of the nation as well as Vietnam’s culture and people of Vietnam and the capital city to international friends during the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

Along with activities to popularise the meaning of the SEA Games 31 as well as Vietnam's efforts to host the event and Vietnamese athletes, Hanoi will promote local cultural and tourist sites and increase communication on the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam, Hanoi and ASEAN countries.

Along with traditional media, Hanoi will use social media platforms such as Zalo and Facebook as well as the websites of local departments and districts.

Local residents will also be encouraged to get involved in voluntary activities for the SEA Games 31.

Major streets in the city will be adorned with banners promoting the event, while various cultural, art and sporting activities will be held depending on the COVID-19 situation in the city.

Painting exhibition depicts Vietnam’s spring beauties

Sharing a love of watercolours and a desire to bring the form to a large number of art lovers, six young artists recently launched an exhibition entitled “Spring” in Hanoi, refreshing the senses of audiences.

The six artists presented 62 watercolour works on silk and cotton with a variety of themes, converging on scenery in their homeland and people on roads they travelled along.

In addition to some commonality, the six artists also revealed their own characteristics. While Pham Thanh Son’s paintings have a strong, definitive style and clear colours, Nguyen Lam’s paintings have their own warmth and are very passionate.

Hoang Quoc Tuan’s paintings use humans as the main theme, evoking rustic but profound emotions. In the paintings of Luong Binh, we meet the faces of the northwest region with their distinctive features. Painter Nguyen Cuong, meanwhile, offers viewers the poetic beauty of Da Lat.

National plan for natural disaster prevention and control released

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has coordinated with relevant ministries, sectors and localities to build a national plan for natural disaster prevention and control to 2025.

The plan defines major tasks in the 2021-2025 period to implement the strategy on natural disaster prevention and control by 2030, with a vision to 2050.

The overall aim is to improve capacity for natural disaster prevention and control, climate change adaptation to proactively respond to and reduce damage caused by natural disasters.

Worshipping ceremony in Ha Giang becomes intangible cultural heritage

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just recognized the Ban Vuong worshipping ceremony of the Red Dao ethnic group in Ha Giang province as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Ban Vuong is believed to be the great ancestor of all clans of the Dao people. The Ban Vuong worshipping ceremony aims to show the Red Dao people’s respect for ancestors and aspiration for a peaceful life, prosperity, good weather, and bumper crops. They believe that the worship of Ban Vuong is related to the destiny of each person, each clan, and the entire ethnic group.

Held from October 15 to December 30 (Lunar calendar) every year, the worshipping ceremony is an important festival in the cultural and spiritual life of the Red Dao people.

Vietnam, Laos see progress in hydrometeorological cooperation

Vietnam and Laos have taken significant strides in recent years in hydrometeorological cooperation, according to General Director of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration (VNMHA) Tran Hong Thai.

At the 43rd meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Bilateral Cooperation on December 6, 2020, the Vietnamese and Lao ministers of natural resources and environment signed a memorandum of understanding on hydrometeorological cooperation to strengthen ties in weather forecasting and disaster warning.

Under the agreement, the two sides have exchanged hydrometeorological monitoring data to help with weather forecasting and disaster warning. The Vietnamese ministry has also assisted its Lao counterpart to improve its capacity in this regard, which has contributed to socio-economic development and natural disaster prevention and control in both countries and the region as a whole.

Students should receive psychological support on return to school: official

The Ministry of Education and Training has asked schools to provide psychological support for students when they return to in-person classes, an official has said.

Nguyen Thanh De, Director of the Physical Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training (MoIT), said students should have more chances to interact with each other at school, especially first graders.

According to the official, the MoIT has coordinated with the Ministry of Health to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, consolidate medical services in schools and vaccinate children against the virus.

The MoIT has also instructed the provincial and municipal Departments of Education and Training to take measures to improve teaching and learning standards, saying more attention should be paid to twelfth graders and that educational institutions should sketch out plans to conclude the 2021-2022 academic year before June 30.

Localities that fail to wrap up the academic year before the end of June will need to submit detailed reports, De added.

Educational institutions should work to fill the knowledge gaps for students after months of online learning, and take measures to support students who have to suspend their in-person classes due to the pandemic.

Da Nang launches website, application to better children’s mental health

Children and their parents in the central city of Da Nang now can access consultations regarding mental health and psychological issues of children through a website and an application.

The website, Baovetreemdanang.vn, and the application, Tre em DaNang, debut at a ceremony held by the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on April 13.

The website enables children and young people to connect with their peers, share their problems and support each other to overcome spiritual issues.

Parents and caregivers can also leave comments on the posts as encouragement to the children, while experts will interact with them and provide them with necessary courses.

Hanoi among most favourite destinations in Southeast Asia: Travelbook

Hanoi is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia, a recent article on German travel website Travelbook.de said, and highlighted six attractions that tourists should explore when visiting the capital city of Vietnam.

At the top of the list is a visit to Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), which was an educational centre for gifted young people since 1076 and is considered the country’s first university. The article said for residents of Hanoi, the Temple of Literature not only has cultural importance but is also one of the quietest and most peaceful places in the bustling metropolis. Many visitors from Europe describe the special harmony that can be felt in the almost thousand-year-old project as a "profound experience".

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is an attractive destination that is worth visiting. Locating on Ba Dinh Square, the mausoleum is one of the most important sights in the country. Vietnamese people come there to pay respect to President Ho Chi Minh. Strict rules of conduct apply in the building, such as a ban on talking, appropriate clothing, and a ban on photography.

According to the article, another spot that tourists shouldn’t miss in Hanoi is One Pillar Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in the city, which is also considered a Hanoi landmark. The wooden temple was built on a log more than 1,000 years ago. In the 1950s, the original tree trunk was replaced with a concrete pillar. It is worth taking some time walking around the pagoda because the residential buildings around it are among the most beautiful and impressive in the city.

Taking a cycle rickshaw through the 36 alleys of the old centre is a must-do in Hanoi, it said. The tour will give you a good impression of the special attitude towards life in the city. In addition to numerous restaurants and shops, the old town is characterised above all by handicraft businesses, some of which have existed for generations.

A visit to a water puppet theatre, where there are up to one-metre high puppets, also a must. Many plays related to legends have been staged.

Travelbook suggested visitors try pho (noodle soup) at least once in Hanoi If they haven't done it elsewhere in Vietnam before. The aromatic soup is prepared with lots of fresh herbs, rice noodles, and beef. Vegetarian options are also offered in some places.

It recommends that tourists look for information on entry requirements and the current corona situation in Vietnam on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Female Vietnamese footballers beat RoK hosts in friendly game

Female Vietnamese footballers secured a 3-2 surprising win over their Republic of Korean opponents in a friendly game on April 12.

This is Vietnamese women’s first win over their RoK opponents since 2010.

In another friendly match on April 9, hosts RoK stunned their Vietnamese visitors 3-0.

The Vietnamese players who are training in the Republic of Korea ahead of the coming 31st Southeast Asian games (SEA Games 31) are scheduled to have two more friendlies with opponents from Uiduk University and Gyeongju KHNP club.

Vietnam first sends contestant to Miss Teen United Nations 2022

16-year-old Truong Phuong Nga has been chosen to represent Vietnam at the upcoming Miss Teen United Nations 2022 pageant which is scheduled to take place in India this May.

Nga’s inclusion in the competition comes after she successfully surpassed 100 other domestic contestants to win the right to compete at the Miss Teen United Nations 2022 pageant.

The local girl is a tenth-grader at Huynh Man Dat High School in Kien Giang province and is an exceptional student who has achieved excellent academic results over the past decade.

Nga has participated in many cultural activities, such as fashion shows, dances, and plays, as well as many charity activities organised by Kien Giang.

Miss Teen United Nations 2022 is scheduled to take place in May in India and will see the participation of more than 30 contestants aged 14 to 19 from across the world.

Promoting Vietnam’s tourism, culture in Iran

Vietnamese Ambassador to Iran Luong Quoc Huy recently had a meeting with Abbas Heidani, CEO of Milad Tower Company in Tehran capital, on the possibility of promoting Vietnam’s tourism potential in the capital.

Milad Tower, a multi-purpose tower in Tehran, stands at 435 meters from the base to the tip of the antenna. It is part of the International Trade and Convention Center of Tehran, which also includes a five-star hotel, a convention center, a world trade center and an IT park.

The tower is the place where many major cultural and art performances take place. Every day tens of thousands of visitors come to visit and shop at the tower.

At the working session, the two sides agreed to cooperate closely in implementing activities to promote culture and tourism between Vietnam and Iran in 2022 in the lead up to 50 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Iran in 2023.

8-year-old Hanoian wins first prize at national folk tales competition

Eight year old Nguyễn Thanh Ngân from Hà Nội has won the national “Đóa hoa đồng thoại” (Folk tales flower) competition, beating 2,914 other submissions. 

The tale, “Đoàn tàu Gió” (The Wind Ship)", tells the story of “Wind” - a boatman who brings fresh air to everyone daily, helping kites and birds fly high and pollinating flowers, was chosen from three first-prize winning stories from three categories to be awarded the first prize of the competition.

Ngân is the winner of the primary school category, while Đặng Phương Lan (13) from Nam Định Province took the secondary school category with the story "Mở cửa" (Opening the Door) and Nguyễn Thị Oanh, 48 from Đồng Nai, won the independent contestant’s category with “Những chú mèo ngủ quên trong ổ trứng” (Overslept Cats in Nest).

The competition was first organised in Việt Nam in 2018 by ENEOS Việt Nam and More Production Việt Nam, sponsored by the Embassy of Japan in Việt Nam. This year's “Folk tales flower” competition has welcomed 2,336 contestants and 2,915 works, nearly doubled the previous competition. 

Artist blends both Vietnamese and Japanese lacquer into paintings

Vietnamese artist and lecturer Triệu Khắc Tiến tells a story about the connection between the lacquer cultures of Việt Nam and Japan through his lacquer paintings. 

The paintings are on a display at an exhibition entitled Câu Chuyện Phương Đông (The Oriental Tale) at the Japan Foundation Centre in Hà Nội. Tiến displays some of 30 lacquer paintings and art supplies at the exhibition. 

He uses Japanese lacquer techniques of toghidashi-makie; tate-nuri and hakue and Japanese natural lacquer tree to feature a geisha in traditional kimono wearing exquisite jewellery. 

The Oriental Tale is a summary of his personal creative journey full of sublime emotions. It is also his reflection of a fortunate opportunity to be immersed in the exchange between two long-standing lacquer cultures of Việt Nam and Japan. 

The exhibition runs until April 22 at 27 Quang Trung Street, Hà Nội from 9am to 6pm daily. 

New reality TV contest celebrates 100 years of reformed opera

A new TV show called Trăm Năm Ánh Việt (A Hundred Years of Cải Lương) is being broadcast on the Vĩnh Long Television and Radio Station (THVL).

The show aims to revive the 100-year-old traditional music genre of the south by popularizing it among people, particularly the youth.

It features 18 young cải lương and tuồng cổ (classical drama) performers who also share the desire to boost the profile of Vietnam’s traditional arts. They include Thy Nhung, Hoàng Việt Trung and Ngọc Kiều Oanh, who have won top prizes at cải lương contests organised by local radio and TV stations.

The reality TV contest Trăm Năm Ánh Việt is broadcast 9pm on Fridays on the THVL1 channel.

Kindergarten students in Hanoi return to school

Around 600,000 preschool students in all 30 urban and outlying districts and townships in Hà Nội returned to school on Wednesday after a year of online instruction due to the pandemic.

Hà Nội is the last locality among 63 provinces and cities nationwide to allow kindergartens to resume in-person learning.

HCM City eyes more social housing developments

HCM City’s districts want vacant lands available in industrial parks, export processing zones and high-tech parks to be used for affordable housing for workers.

The People’s Committee of Bình Tân said migrants make up half the district’s population, and 300,000 of them lack housing.

Preferential policies and mechanisms were needed to attract investors in social housing, which requires a lot of money for land, Vũ Chí Kiên, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee, said.

Seven social housing projects with more than 4,000 units are behind schedule due to procedural obstacles, including workers’ housing at the Tân Tạo Industrial Park and Pouyuen Việt Nam Company.

Thủ Đức City began work on several social housing projects as part of HCM City’s plan to build one million affordable units for workers in 2021-25. Last year it began one each in Thạnh Mỹ Lợi and Long Trường wards with 1,000 and 726 apartments.

A number of projects in the outlying district of Bình Chánh are at the land clearance stage to pave the way for construction.

The District 7 People’s Committee wants city authorities to approve social housing development on nine plots of land.