Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a Decision appointing Mr. Pham Thanh Binh as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Pham, aged 49, was former Director of the Northeast Asia Department, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is led by Minister Bui Thanh Son, who is assisted by six Deputy Ministers: Nguyen Minh Vu, Ha Kim Ngoc, Le Thi Thu Hang, Do Hung Viet, Nguyen Minh Hang and Pham Thanh Binh./.

Cuban leaders appreciate Vietnam’s support, call for more investment

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang had a meeting with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana on April 15.

The Vietnamese official congratulated Cuba on its significant achievements obtained amid numerous difficulties and challenges. He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent solidarity with and support for Cuba as well as objection to the embargo against the Caribbean nation.

He informed his host about the outcomes of his talks and working sessions with Cuban Government leaders and made some suggestions for pushing ahead with the comprehensive, substantive, and effective cooperation between the two countries.

The Deputy PM stressed the need to devise mechanisms and measures for tackling difficulties, further promoting bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, and fruitfully implementing joint projects, especially in agriculture, thus helping strengthen the countries’ friendship and all-round partnerships.

Welcoming Quang on the first official visit to Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the Cuba - Vietnam relations are special and have continually been reinforced on the basis of mutual trust, with their strategic importance affirmed in the current context.

He congratulated Vietnam on its recent political - diplomatic and socioeconomic attainments while appreciating the Vietnamese Party, Government, and people’s assistance for his country through the stable rice supply and technical support in terms of rice and fisheries production.

The host leader praised joint ventures and investment projects with Vietnamese enterprises, which have effectively contributed to Cuba’s economic stability and development.

Cuba always pays attention to and provides optimal conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to do business and invest in such fields as trading, consumer goods production, renewable energy, construction material, and industrial park infrastructure, he stated.

Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his hope that more Vietnamese firms will cooperate with Cuba in agriculture, food processing, energy, automobile industry, bio-pharmaceutical production and health services to tap into each country’s advantages and herald a new period of cooperation for common development.

At the meeting, Quang also conveyed Vietnamese leaders’ invitation to Miguel Diaz-Canel to pay a visit to Vietnam.

Meeting with Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz the same day, the visiting Deputy PM noted that leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State always keep a close watch on Cuba's situation and share the Caribbean country’s successes as well as difficulties and challenges on the path of national development and protection.

Vietnam, within its capacity, will continue standing side by side with and assisting Cuba, he remarked, stressing its consistent solidarity with and support for the latter, along with objection to the embargoes against the country.

The Cuban PM applauded the Southeast Asian nation’s role as the biggest Asian-Pacific investor in Cuba and the second biggest in the Mariel Special Development Zone.

He asked the two Governments to keep enhancing coordination in implementing high-level agreements and the outcomes of the 41st session of the Inter-Governmental Committee.

Calling on Vietnam to encourage its enterprises to increase investment and business activities in Cuba, he affirmed that the Cuban Government will work out mechanisms and measures for facilitating activities of Vietnamese firms, thereby benefiting enterprises and people of both countries and contributing to local socio-economic development.

At the meeting with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Deputy PM Quang said Vietnam believes that with its traditional heroism and dauntlessness, Cuba will manage to weather difficulties and challenges and harvest greater achievements.

The Cuban Foreign Minister appreciated the attention and support from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, other leaders, the Government, and people of Vietnam for his country in food and fisheries production and at international forums as well.

As part of the official visit, Deputy PM Quang laid floral tributes to President Ho Chi Minh at a park named after the late Vietnamese leader in Havana, as well as to Cuban hero Jose Marti at his monument.

He also visited Vietnamese projects at the Mariel Special Development Zone and had a meeting with Vietnamese enterprises and people in Cuba.

Quang is set to visit the Vo Thi Thang Primary School and the Fidel Castro Ruz Centre, where the late Cuban leader’s legacy is preserved./.

Remains believed to be of US MIA repatriated

A ceremony to repatriate two sets of remains believed to be of US soldier listed as missing in action (MIA) from the war in Vietnam was held at the Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Da Nang on April 16.

The ceremony, the 164th of its kind, saw the attendance of Deputy Defence Minister Hoang Xuan Chien, Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu, representatives from the ministries of defence, foreign affairs and public security and the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP). On the US side were US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper, US Defence Attaché to Vietnam Thomas Bouchillon and representatives of the US MIA Office in Hanoi.

The remains were found as the result of the 154th joint field activity which lasted from February to April 2024. Vietnamese forensic specialists examined the remains and determined that they might belong to US MIAs from the war in Vietnam.

The joint efforts of the two governments to search and account for US MIAs since the late 1980s have to date identify over 720 US MIAs.

On this occasion, Deputy Defence Minister Chien hosted a reception for US Ambassador Knapper, during which he highly appreciated the US' help for Vietnam to overcome the consequences of war, including raising the budget for the dioxin detoxification project at Bien Hoa airport to 300 million USD; supporting people with disabilities in localities affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin; conducting mine clearance; and cooperating in searching for Vietnamese soldiers who died or went missing during the war.

He proposed that the two sides coordinate to early sign a memorandum of understanding on overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam.

Ambassador Knapper affirmed that the US Government is committed at the highest level to supporting Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war, especially in completely cleaning up dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa airport and transferring DNA examination technology for identifying Vietnamese martyrs’ remains.

He also expressed a wish to work closely with Vietnam to hold activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of relations and establishment of diplomatic relationship between the US and Vietnam (1995-2025), the 50th year since the end of the war in Vietnam (1975-2025) and 80 years since the first contact between Viet Minh and the US (1945-2025)./.

Football: AFF U19 championship 2024 rescheduled

According to the latest announcement from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), AFF U19 Youth Championship 2024 will be held in Surabaya, Indonesia, from July 17 - 31 instead of starting in June 2024, the Vietnam Football Federation said on April 16.

Meanwhile, the AFF U16 Youth Championship 2024 will be held as scheduled, from June 17 to June 29 in Indonesia.

The adjustment will create favourable conditions for the host country to make the best possible preparations for the two youth championships in the region./.

Vietnam confident in re-election to HRC for next tenure: ambassador

Vietnam is confident in its candidacy for re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2026 - 2028 tenure, the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung said while talking about the country’s contributions to the HRC’s 55th session.

The 55th session took place from February 26 to April 4, making it the longest session of the HRC so far. It considered over 80 reports and discussed a wide range of areas related to human rights, from climate change, the right to food, gender equality to such issues as impacts of the conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and other regions in the world on the enjoyment of human rights.

Concluding the session, the HRC adopted 32 resolutions and two decisions, approved 14 states’ national reports under the HRC’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, and appointed personnel for 14 special procedures of the HRC in various areas, said Dung.

He told the Vietnam News Agency that the delegation of Vietnam, an HRC member in the 2023 - 2025 tenure, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, actively participated in the session’s discussions and making of decisions.

Speaking at the session's high-level segment, Minister Son highlighted Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in economic, cultural, and social development that have helped ensure social security and people’s full enjoyment of human rights. He also shared the country’s viewpoint on and approach to issues of the international community’s common concern. He stressed the requirement for maintaining and respecting peace, stability and international law; promoting mutual respect and understanding, tolerance, inclusiveness and unanimity; respecting differences, dialogue and cooperation; putting people at the centre of every policy; and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.

The minister re-affirmed the priorities of Vietnam as an HRC member and also called for other states’ support for Vietnam’s re-election to the HRC in the 2026 - 2028 tenure, according to Dung.

The ambassador noted that during the session, apart from its national speeches, Vietnam also actively joined in the drafting and delivered addresses on different topics on behalf of four groups of states.

The country represented the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Timor Leste to give a speech at the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. It represented the Core Group of the resolution on climate change and human rights (including Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam) at the dialogue on the report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on measures for mitigating climate change impacts on the enjoyment of the right to food. On behalf of 22 states in different regions, Vietnam delivered a speech at a general debate on the protection of people’s essential infrastructure in armed conflicts. As a representative of 63 states, it gave an address at another general debate on accelerating the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals to boost gender equality.

All those issues were priorities of Vietnam and also high on the international community’s concern and priority, Dung went on, adding that the support and co-sponsorship of the speeches by many states reflected their high evaluation of Vietnam’s role, voice, and capacity of promoting dialogue on human rights-related issues at the HRC.

He affirmed that with the country’s role and stature, its active and responsible engagement in the HRC during the 2023 - 2025 tenure, and the international community’s high evaluation of its participation in multilateral forums, most recently its election to the Executive Board of the Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for the 2025 - 2027 tenure, there are grounds to be confident on other states’ support for Vietnam’s candidacy for re-election to the HRC in the 2026 - 2028 tenure./.

Symposium spotlights life, career of first Party General Secretary

A symposium held in the central province of Ha Tinh on April 16 highlighted Tran Phu, the first General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, as a faithful and undaunted communist and an eminent figure of Vietnam.

The event was held by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, and the Party Committee of Ha Tinh province - the hometown of Tran Phu, on the occasion of his 120th birth anniversary (May 1, 1904 - 2024).

Addressing the event, Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, Director of the HCMA and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, described the life, honourable revolutionary career, and enormous dedications of Tran Phu as precious heritage contributing to the glorious history of the Party.

His revolutionary morality, faithfulness, and undauntedness set an ever-shining example for generations of cadres, Party members, and people of all social strata to follow, Thang noted.

The official added that the symposium was also a tribute to Tran Phu, who dedicated his entire life to the revolutionary cause of the Party and people, and helped educate cadres, Party members, and people, especially the young, on revolutionary traditions.

Speeches delivered at the events shed light on the process during which Tran Phu turned from a patriot into a communist, his role as the first Party General Secretary, his faithfulness and undauntedness as a communist, his role as an excellent disciple of President Ho Chi Minh and an eminent figure of Vietnam, and the promotion of his revolutionary spirit in the current context./.

Rice cake cooking contest thrills visitors to Hung Kings Temple Festival

A cooking contest spotlighting Vietnam’s traditional rice cakes has stirred excitement in Phu Tho as part of the northern province’s ongoing signature Hung Kings Temple Festival.

Taking place on April 16 or the 8th day of the third lunar month, the competition saw the participation of 13 teams representing 13 districts and townships in Phu Tho province.

Regarding the category of “banh chung” (square glutinous rice cake), teams are set to compete in making 10 cakes from 5kg of glutinous rice, 1kg of green beans, and 1kg of pork within a maximum time of 10 minutes, with the boiling process lasting for five hours.

In the category of “banh giay” (round glutinous rice cake), artisans had to cook 5kg of glutinous rice into sticky rice in 30 minutes at the maximum, and then pound and shape them into 10 cakes in no more than 15 minutes.

The contest aimed to reenact the traditional ritual of presenting offerings to ancestors dating back to the time of Hung Kings. It is an opportunity to honour products made from rice, express gratitude and respect to the merit of the Hung Kings, and connect people of various ethnic groups in the province.

This year, the festival, one of the country’s largest annual cultural and religious events to commemorate its legendary founders, lasts from April 9-18.

The commemoration of the Hung Kings is a national holiday that takes place annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 18 this year. The practice of worshiping them in Phu Tho was recognised by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage in 2012./.

Vietnam book, reading culture day to feature numerous activities

The 3rd Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day will kick off at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on April 17, and be broadcast live on the Hanoi Radio and Television Station.

Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communications in coordination with the municipal People's Committee, the event is expected to feature over 40,000 book titles of 60 publishers, publishing businesses, and technology enterprises.

A book fair themed "Nurturing knowledge - Creating the future" will be held on the same day morning in the Hanoi Book Street as part of the series of activities to respond to the event.

In the framework of the event, seminars and book introduction events, and art and cultural performance programmes will be held, aiming to provide readers and visitors with a variety of experiences.

Publishing and distribution units will organise numerous promotional programmes from April 17 to 21 for readers both in-person and online to encourage them to buy and read books.

Activities to respond to the Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day will be organised in schools and universities to encourage and develop reading movements in the community, especially among the young.

The annual Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, first held in 2022, has been considered a festival for book-lovers, helping spread the value of books as well as the reading culture in the community./.

Vietnamese taekwondo athletes welcomed ahead of Olympic Games Paris

Mayor of the French city of Bagneux Hélène Amiable hosted a local reception on April 15 for a delegation of eight young Vietnamese taekwondo athletes currently under training until April 16.

With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games just over 100 days away, Amiable highlighted the symbolic significance of the training session, saying that it embodies the strong friendship between Vietnam and France.

She said the training session in Bagneux is highly symbolic of the Vietnam - France friendship.

The official expressed delight at welcoming the talented young Vietnamese for exchange with local fellows, notably Solène Avoulète, an eight-time French national champion and two-time European champion.

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang described the training activity as the continuation of a long-standing tradition of sporting exchange between Bagneux and Vietnam, saying that it follows the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between Vietnam and France.

He said this activity holds great significance in demonstrating the diversity in France-Vietnam relationship, particularly in the field of sports. It also reflects the growing closeness between French and Vietnamese localities, as well as France's wish to foster diverse forms of exchange and cooperation with Vietnam.

Bagneux boasts a large Vietnamese community and a strong tradition in taekwondo, making it a location suitable for this pre-Olympic training programme./.

Vietnam Airlines to double flight frequency for 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

Vietnam Airlines will operate three flights daily between Hanoi and Dien Bien from May 3 to 8, in response to the northwestern province's upcoming grand celebration of the 70th Dien Bien Phu Victory anniversary (May 7, 1954 - 2024).

The peak frequency to serve the commemoration nearly doubles to the current one, which is 11 flights per week.

The increase, accompanied by convenient flight hour options, aims to meet higher travel demand and support the organisation of events in Dien Bien.

The national flag carrier is the official transport sponsor of the tourism programme Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024, of which the 70th anniversary celebration is a highlight.

On March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched the first attack against the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base of Dien Bien Phu, starting the 56-day historic Dien Bien Phu campaign whose victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina./. 

Saigon Baseball Major Series kicks off in HCM City

The Saigon Baseball Major Series 2024, the first season, has officially kicked off in HCM City.

The tournament features six teams playing in two groups with the best two of each group advancing to the semi-finals.

First matches were played last week while the opening ceremony was organised on April 14.

At least two matches will be held every Sunday at Thành Long Sport Centre in Bình Chánh District. The final is scheduled for April 19.

To increase the quality of the tournament, teams are allowed to register unlimited number of foreign players who are living and working in Việt Nam.

In addition to competitive games, organisers also built the first personal index data and image storage system in Việt Nam, approaching the model of the US Major League Baseball.

The Saigon Baseball Major Series is the second event of the Vietnam Baseball Major Series (VBMS), following the Hanoi Baseball Major Series, which was organised last October.

It is organised by New Sports in coordination with relevant partners under permission of the HCM City Culture and Sports Department.

The VBMS is a baseball tournament project built with the goal and desire to create a playground for exchange and sharpen the skills of amateur, professional and international baseball players. It aims to develop the No. 1 baseball tournament series in the country with an advanced athlete database.

Vietnam Baseball Major Series will visit other cities and provinces in the upcoming period to ensure baseball's strong and professional development nationwide.

It is supported by VNPAY, D&G Golf Group and Hà Nội Eye Hospital 2. 

Doors are open and free for interested supporters who also can cheer up their clubs through fanpage facebook.com/vbms.baseball. 

Nearly 80,000 visitors attend Việt Nam tourism fair

More than 80,000 people visited a huge travel mart in Hà Nội, picking up plenty of bargains and exchanging information about the tourism industry.

A total of 10,000 tour products were sold over the four-day Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2024.

The 13th edition of the annual VITM featured more than 700 enterprises from 16 countries and territories as well as 51 domestic cities and provinces.

A series of meetings between national and international partners looked at important contributions to the recovery, acceleration and rapid and effective development of Vietnamese tourism.

Based on a quick survey of 50 units taking part, tourism product sales reached over VNĐ180 billion (US$7.1 million) with 91,9 per cent of units were satisfied with activities at the mart.

About 92 per cent of businesses achieved their goals, of which 5.4 per cent exceeded expected goals.

Some 81 per cent of enterprises and organisations said they would join VITM 2025.

Travel businesses said that outbound tours saw many positive signs when reaching partners and customers from international markets, targeting key markets in Europe, Northeast Asia, Australia, America and India.

The forum "Việt Nam Tourism - Green transformation for sustainable development" organised by the Việt Nam Tourism Association in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program UNDP and the Vietnam Tourism Development Research Institute discussed many initiatives from domestic and foreign experts, managers and tourism businesses to transform green and develop a circular economy gradually.

The Ceremony to Honour Outstanding Businesses and Individuals VITA AWARDS in 2024 honoured 170 organisations, businesses and 112 individuals who are members of the Việt Nam Tourism Association and its branches in 58 provinces and cities and the Mekong Delta Tourism Association. The ceremony has truly become a festival for the tourism business community, encouraging businesses to promote emulation, innovation and creativity, actively contributing to the recovery and development of tourism.

At the closing ceremony, the organising committee awarded medals to representatives of large-scale booths; The booths have impressive designs; and booths organise unique activities, attracting visitors at VITM Hà Nội Mart 2024.

Summarising the results of the mart, Cao Thị Ngọc Lan - Standing Vice Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association said: "VITM Hà Nội 2024 continues to affirm its brand and position as the leading tourism promotion event of Việt Nam Tourism."

100 local and foreign artists to perform for free at jazz music festival

More than 100 domestic and foreign artists are set to take part in the first international jazz festival to be held in the southcentral province of Khanh Hoa later this month.

The event, a music feast for jazz lovers, is to introduce modern European music to local audiences, and at the same time to promote the Vietnamese land and culture, said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong at a press conference held in Hanoi on April 15.

Nha Trang city of Khanh Hoa province will host the international jazz festival for the first time from April 27 to May 1, with main activities to take place at the April 2nd Square, Tran Phu street, and Thanh Nien (Youth) football ground.

The opening and closing art programmes will run with the themes of “The spotlight of Jazz” and “Jazz Flows” on April 27 and May 1, respectively. The shows will be live broadcast with each lasting 90 to 100 minutes.

Other free music programmes with the themes of “Living the Legend”, “The Latin Night”, and “The Collection” will take place from April 28 to 30 and have a duration of two to 2.5 hours each.

Many famous artists and jazz bands from the United States, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea have been invited to participate in the event.

Vietnamese singers My Linh and Thu Minh, jazz band Anh Em (Brothers), and saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan will also perform at the function.

Vietnam, Venezuela bolster comprehensive partnership

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang will pay an official visit to Venezuela from April 17-19 at the invitation of Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

Quang is scheduled to have talks and meetings with key leaders of the ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV), the Government, and the National Assembly of Venezuela.

Ambassador Vu Trung My affirmed that the visit has a significant role to play in maintaining high level exchanges, and concretising agreements between leaders of the two Parties in power and countries in an attempt to solidfy political trust, contributing to strengthening and deepening the comprehensive partnership and multifaceted cooperation between them.

The diplomat emphasised that the visit is takes place as the two countries are celebrating the 35th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic relations (December 18, 1989-2024) and 17 years of comprehensive partnership (2007-2024). In particular, Vietnam-Venezuela relations have continued to be promoted and strengthened on all three pillars, including Party, State, and people diplomacy.

My acknowledged that this will be an important occasion for the two sides to deepen the exchange of ideas on major issues in bilateral relations as well as international and regional situation of common interest, thereby further strengthening political trust, promoting cooperation mechanisms.

The ambassador revealed that the two countries also plan to sign a number of new cooperation agreements in such areas as oil and gas, telecommunications, agriculture, and construction.

According to him, the relationship between the two Parties is a bright spot and a favourable political basis to promote multifaceted relations between Vietnam and Venezuela in the coming time.

Recently, the two countries have supported each other at the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term. They have been coordinating closely and effectively at international forums that the two countries are members.

Ambassador My said that the two countries will co-organise a number of events this year such as "Vietnamese Day in Venezuela", "Venezuelan Cultural Week in Vietnam", and "Rice Festival in Venezuela".

In particular, 2024 also marks the 60th anniversary of the Nguyen Van Troi operation (October, 1964-2024), an event that entered the history of relations between the two Parties and countries, a symbol of solidarity and support by leftist and progressive forces in Venezuela in particular and progressive forces in Latin America in general to the national liberation and reunification of the Vietnamese people./.

Vietnam and UK intensify cooperation in combating human trafficking

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam and UK Secretary of State for the Home Department James Cleverly discussed security cooperation between the two countries, including in preventing and combating human trafficking, during their phone call on April 15.

General Lam affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening its strategic partnership with the UK.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1973, he said bilateral relations have developed positively and substantially through reciprocal visits and cooperation mechanisms, helping to spur cooperation in fields such as politics, diplomacy, economics, security, defense, science - technology, culture and education, as well as local cooperation.

With regard to law enforcement, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the British Home Department have been cooperating closely in fighting and preventing crime. A number of areas of cooperation have been increasingly enhanced, becoming the major pillar in law enforcement cooperation between the two countries. They include cooperation on migration, immigration management, and prevention and control of human trafficking and illegal migration crimes.

The two sides regularly exchange information and effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on migration issues between the Vietnamese Government of Vietnam and the British Government, and the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in preventing and combating human trafficking crimes.

To improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to further implement signed cooperation documents, especially the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in preventing and combating human trafficking, the Memorandum of Understanding on sharing immigration information, and the Memorandum of Understanding on migration issues.

They will maintain reciprocal visits and contacts at all levels to exchange information and share experience in preventing and combating human trafficking and illegal migration.

General Lam reaffirmed that there are no victims of human trafficking directly from Vietnam to the UK, and that Vietnamese citizens are victims of organized crime in Europe.

During the phone call, the two ministers also discussed measures to strengthen cooperation in the coming time, including enhancing community communications on safe migration and illegal migration prevention and control; running training courses and workshops to improve officers’ technical and foreign language capacity in relevant fields.

Dien Bien gears up for Dien Bien Phu victory celebration

The northwestern province of Dien Bien is installing a system of mega outdoor LED screens, each measuring 40-60 square metres, to serve the celebration of 70 years of Dien Bien Phu victory.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 15 screens will be put up across Dien Bien Phu city, including May 7 Square, Him Lam Square, Dien Bien Phu victory monument and Dien Bien Phu Airport.

Besides popularising this important event, the screens will help public enjoy the grand celebration on May 7.

On the occasion, the relic site of Muong Thanh bridge will be illuminated under a project funded by the French Development Agency and France’s Lyon city.

In the same vein, the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum will open an exhibition themed "Duong Len Dien Bien" (The odyssey to Dien Bien) in Hanoi on April 26, introducing 70 art works that highlight the Vietnamese people’s heroic battles and solidarity during the national struggle for independence.

The exhibition will run until May 15./.

Vietnam Coast Guard, French navy's ship hold joint exercise

The Vietnam Coast Guard Region 2 High Command and frigate Vendémiaire of the French Navy held a joint maritime exercise on April 15.

During the training session, the two sides exchanged experience on anti-smuggling at sea and information sharing, fire prevention and control, maritime safety, anti-pollution measures and sea search and rescue operations.

This is the first time the Vietnam Coast Guard force has joined a training exercise at sea with the French ship’s crew.

Frigate Vendémiaire of the French Navy docked at Tien Sa port, Da Nang, on April 11, beginning a five-day visit to the central city.

During their stay, the crew members paid a courtesy visit to leaders of the city and took part in a volleyball competition with the High Command of Navy Region 3. Besides, they visited renowned landscapes in Da Nang, Hue and Quang Nam.

Departing from Noumea in New Caledonia on February 29, Vendémiaire has performed several maritime patrol missions with several ASEAN countries and Australia.

The frigate measures 93 metres in length and accommodates a crew of approximately 100 along with a Dauphin-type helicopter./.

VFF to send national teams to Spain for training

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and LaLiga, the top tier of Spanish men's football, have reached an agreement on plans to bring Vietnamese national men's and women's teams to train and play friendly matches in Spain.
 
During the recent working trip to Spain, Tran Quoc Tuan, president of the VFF, met with Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, to discuss cooperation opportunities in the future.

The Vietnamese delegation also visited a number of LaLiga clubs such as Getafe and Atletico Madrid to learn more about their organisation and operation.

They toured around ESC LALIGA & NBA Youth Sports Center and watched the Laliga match between Atletico Madrid and Girona FC.

The visit marks an important milestone in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the two sides from September 2023 to June 2026.

Earlier in January in Hanoi, experts from LaLiga Academy held a training course for 41 Vietnamese coaches from youth football clubs and training centres across the country.

In September 2023, the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding, aiming to seek and develop talented young players in Vietnam and carry out various sports training projects in the country.

Heat wave grips regions, temperatures rise to 42 degrees

A heat wave has hit the northern and central regions over recent days, causing daytime temperatures to rise up to 40-42 degrees Celsius in some areas.

On April 14 alone, the northern and central regions saw daytime temperatures climb to 41 degrees in Son La and Dien Bien in north-western Vietnam, and in Nghe An province in the central region.

Notably, Yen Chau district in Son La province even recorded a high temperature of 42.2 degrees, becoming the locality with the highest temperature in the country on April 14.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Weather Forecasting, hot weather will spread across the northern and central regions, from Dien Bien and Son La to Thanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces, with daytime temperatures ranging from 35 to 38 degrees.

As the El Nino phenomenon is subsiding, from May to July, the Central Highland and the southern regions will suffer from drought, while the northern and central regions will experience extremely hot days, according to meteorologists.

Doctors warn that hot spells could threaten people’s health, especially children and the elderly, and especially labourers working outdoors for a long time. Children are therefore advised to be kept in airy homes during hot days, avoid bathing in the sea from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., vaccinate fully, and maintain a clean living area.

Int'l award-winning film to be released

A Vietnamese musical film with scenes shot entirely in the United States Đóa Hoa Mong Manh (A Fragile Flower) has been released in Việt Nam. 

A Fragile Flower tells the tale of resilience and hope through the eyes of a blossoming Vietnamese songstress blessed with both a mesmerizing voice and a gentle soul.

The film revolves around the life of Thạch Thảo played by actress Maya. Thanks to her talented voice and top-notch beauty, she quickly became famous, reaching the peak of glory.

It also partly reflects the miniature lives of artists of Vietnamese origin overseas and successful Vietnamese people in America. 

"This is the first Vietnamese film to be shot entirely in the US," said actress and director Mai Thu Huyền. "The story is very different from some previous films which are about hidden corners of Vietnamese overseas. 

"Viewers will get to know other aspects of Vietnamese overseas, not only the hardship but also the success as well as the native people."

The film has up to 15 songs in Vietnamese, English and French with arrangements by musician Lê Thanh Tâm promising to bring touching melodies.

Before its release in Việt Nam, the film has toured cinemas in US cities of Las Vegas, Chicago and New York. It also has won the Best Female Director Feature Film award at the World Film Festival in Cannes in France and honourable mention at Chicago Women Film Fest. 

At the Flow Festival and Film Market 2024, it won the best actress, the best supporting actress and the best first film.

It was also introduced at the International Women Filmmakers Festival (IWFF) held in Turkey from February 26 to March 2.

It will be screened in India from May 31 with dubbed in English and Hindi. 

Điện Biên still facing extreme forest fire risk level

Despite a significant decrease in the number of fires over the past week, the risk of forest fires in Điện Biên, a northern mountainous province, remains at level five – an extremely dangerous level due to the hot and dry weather.

Hà Lương Hồng, Director of the provincial Forest Management Sub-department, disclosed this information on Tuesday.

On Monday alone, the province experienced 104 fires, two of which spread into forest zones before being extinguished. Of these, 79 were attributed to land clearing for cultivation, with ongoing investigations to determine the cause of the remaining 19 fires.

The districts with the highest number of fires include Điện Biên Đông, Mường Nhé, and Tuần Giáo.

The sub-department has directed local forest ranger units to keep a close watch on villages in the province as part of implementing Official Dispatch 1536/CĐ-UBND issued on April 5 this year by the provincial People's Committee on strengthening management on burning vegetation, managing and protecting forests in the dry season.

The number of fires caused by individuals burning and clearing vegetation has shown a noticeable decline following the issuance of the official dispatch.

To illustrate, from April 1 to 5 (before the dispatch was issued), the province recorded 1,594 fires. In contrast, from April 8 to 12 (after the dispatch was issued), only 280 fires were reported.

Hồng emphasised that the sub-department has urged all organizations and individuals to cease clearing vegetation until the end of next year, following the guidance provided by the province.

According to forecasts from the Điện Biên Hydro-Meteorological Station, the province will continue to experience intense heat in the coming days.

The highest temperatures reach 36-38 degrees Celsius, with some places hitting above 39 degrees Celsius.

The humidity is relatively low, only 35-40 per cent, and the hot period lasts 11-17 hours per day.

Heat can also cause dehydration, exhaustion and stroke to people exposed for a long time.

Hồng recommended that people be vigilant and control all fire sources to prevent forest fires during this peak period.

When detecting a fire, people must immediately notify the village chief, local forest rangers or local authorities for timely rescue solutions.

Steering committees for forest fire prevention and fighting at communes and villages arrange an all-day duty schedule to ensure they are always ready if a forest fire occurs.

When participating in firefighting, people must comply with the procedures and instructions of the specialised forces and firefighting commanders to ensure safety. 

Vietnam, Hungary strengthen parliamentary supervision of bilateral agreements

National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong and First Officer of the Hungarian National Assembly Márta Mátrai co-chaired the fifth legislative conference on strengthening parliamentary supervision of bilateral cooperation agreements between the two countries, in Hanoi on April 16.

Both sides highlighted parliamentary cooperation as a bright spot in the two countries' overall relationship, adding that the cooperation agreement signed by the two legislatures last June has laid an important foundation to further deepen parliamentary ties, which is also instrumental in fostering political trust and mutual understanding. 

Vietnam and Hungary currently have a robust framework of cooperation, with 48 international treaties currently in effect, one pending ratification, and 49 valid international agreements. 

The 48 treaties, signed between the two States and Governments under various names such as agreement, protocol and memorandum of understanding, cover various subjects across multiple fields, such as visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports, investment promotion and protection, double taxation avoidance, prevention of income tax evasion, and cooperation in plant quarantine and protection, sci-tech, engineering, finance, culture, education, State management, agriculture and justice.

The 49 international agreements, signed by the Vietnamese and Hungarian ministries, agencies and local authorities, further solidify coordination in specific sectors like agriculture, tourism, postal services, broadcasting, information technology and communications, sports, education and healthcare.

Mátrai said the two legislatures will independently conduct supervision of the implementation of bilateral treaties and agreements and report outcomes at the next forum. She suggested that the two sides agree on concrete contents and focus and priorities of supervision with an aim to improve the effectiveness of implementing bilateral treaties and agreements.

Phuong proposed that the two legislatures can assign their committees of external affairs to review the signed agreements and treaties to identify the most crucial issues that require oversight, then report to their parliament leaders./.

Deputy PM asks for prompt building of documents guiding implementation of Land Law 2024

Documents guiding the implementation of the Land Law 2024 must be built promptly in the motto of “early and from afar”, thoroughly dealing with issues with different opinions, ensuring their coherence, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested at a meeting with leaders of some ministries and sectors on April 16.

He noted that the Prime Minister has directed ministries and sectors to build documents detailing and guiding the implementation of the law to make sure that it can take effect on July 1, 2024, instead of January 1, 2025, as previously planned.

This means they must work harder with higher determination in the work, ensuring that the Land Law 2024 is coherent with relevant laws.

The official asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to continue clarifying issues with different opinions on the scope, subjects, and implementation policies of the law, while speeding up digitalisation and the online processing of administrative procedures related to land.

He requested the Ministry of Justice to coordinate closely with the MoNRE to promptly submit to the National Assembly a resolution allowing the law to take effect from July 1, 2024.

The Ministry of Construction was assigned to build legal documents detailing the Housing Law 2023 and the Law on Real Estate Business 2023, enabling them to take effect at the same time with the Land Law 2024.

According to MoNRE Deputy Minister Le Minh Ngan, the ministry has drafted six decrees and four circulars guiding the implementation of the Land Law 2024. The documents were sent to relevant agencies of the 63 cities and provinces for feedback, he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said that his ministry is working on draft decrees, including one regarding regulations on rice farming land./.

Russian province presents Lenin’s statue to Nghe An

The central province of Nghe An, the homeland of late President Ho Chi Minh, on April 16 received a statue of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, a gift from the authorities and residents of Russia’s Ulyanovsk province.

The hand-over ceremony was held on the occasion of the 154th anniversary of the late Russian leader's birthday (April 22, 1870-2024).

The copper statue, which weighs 4.5 tonnes and measures 3.6 metres in height, stood in a more than 1,000sq.m area at the intersection of avenue V.I.Lenin and Nguyen Phong Sac street in Vinh city.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Dinh Long expressed his hope that such cultural diplomatic activities will help the two localities step up cooperation in investment, trade, health care, education-training, tourism, and other spheres.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Bezdetko Gennady Stepanovich called the statue as a new symbol of friendship and cooperation between Ulyanovsk and Nghe An, as well as between the two countries.

In 2017, Nghe An and Ulyanovsk also inaugurated a statue of President Ho Chi Minh in the Russian province, the homeland of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin./.

Vietnam Airlines to double flight frequency for 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

Vietnam Airlines will operate three flights daily between Hanoi and Dien Bien from May 3 to 8, in response to the northwestern province's upcoming grand celebration of the 70th Dien Bien Phu Victory anniversary (May 7, 1954 - 2024).

The peak frequency to serve the commemoration nearly doubles to the current one, which is 11 flights per week.

The increase, accompanied by convenient flight hour options, aims to meet higher travel demand and support the organisation of events in Dien Bien.

The national flag carrier is the official transport sponsor of the tourism programme Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024, of which the 70th anniversary celebration is a highlight.

On March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched the first attack against the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base of Dien Bien Phu, starting the 56-day historic Dien Bien Phu campaign whose victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina./. 

PM commemorates Dien Bien Phu battle heroic martyrs

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 17 offered incense to commemorate Vietnamese heroic martyrs at War Martyrs Cemetery A1 in the leadup to 70 years of the world’s resounding victory of Dien Bien Phu battle over French colonialism (May 7, 1954 – May 7, 2024).

In a solemn atmosphere, the PM and other officials expressed their heartfelt gratitude to great president Ho Chi Minh and legendary general Vo Nguyen Giap, as well as many officers, soldiers, volunteers and people who fought bravely and laid down their lives during the Dien Bien Phu campaign, leading to the glorious victory over French colonialism on May 7, 1954.

Built in 1958 in Dien Bien Phu city, War Martyrs Cemetery A1 is the resting place of 644 officers and soldiers who joined the Dien Bien Phu campaign and died during the fierce battle. Most of the graves are unknown, except for four heroic martyrs – To Vinh Dien, Phan Dinh Giot, Be Van Dan and Tran Can.

War Martyrs Cemetery A1 serves as a historical witness reminding young generations to follow the example and remember the merits of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed to record the victory of Dien Bien Phu. The Cemetery is a not-to-be missed destination for any tourist when they come to in Dien Bien.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on a working visit to Dien Bien Phu. He is scheduled to meet officers, soldiers and volunteers who directly engaged in the Dien Bien Phu battle seven decades ago.

Vietnam Digital Awards 2024 launched

The Vietnam Digital Awards 2024 was launched by the Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) and VietTimes Magazine in Hanoi on April 16 with a view to fostering the development of the digital government, digital economy and digital society.

It will honour state agencies and businesses with excellent digital transformation, outstanding digital products, services and solutions for the community, as well as foreign products, services and solutions.

Ho Duc Thang, Acting Director of the Department of National Digital Transformation under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said the awards will be a launching pad that promotes the development and application of digital solutions in key fields of the economy, including health care, education, finance-banking, agriculture, transport and logistics, energy, environment and industrial production.

Entries should be sent to the organising board through website www.vda.com.vn by June 30. An awarding ceremony will be organised in early October in response to the National Digital Transformation Day (October 10).

The Vietnam Digital Awards has attracted the participation of 16,000 organisations in all 63 provinces and centrally-run cities over the past six years./.

Vietnamese youth’s position in international arena to be enhanced

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), held a working session in New York on April 16 with Nguyen Ngoc Luong, Permanent Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, who is leading a Vietnamese youth delegation to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, which takes place from April 16-18 at the UN headquarters in New York.

Ambassador Giang expressed his belief that the participation of the Vietnamese delegation at the ECOSOC forum will contribute to strengthening the position and role of Vietnamese youth in the international arena, demonstrating their active contribution to joint efforts to address global issues such as sustainable development and climate change.

Giang briefed the delegation on the activities of the Vietnamese Students’ Association in New York and asked the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) Central Committee to enhance connections with the association, thereby encouraging Vietnamese youth in the US in general, and New York in particular, to actively contribute to the homeland's socio-economic development.

Luong affirmed that by attending the forum, the delegation aimed to raise the voice of Vietnamese youth in the process of implementing the UN's major agendas and at the same time inform international friends about Vietnam's policies and achievements in relevant areas, especially youth development. He said the HCMCYU Central Committee always pays special attention to Vietnamese youth and students abroad, considering them an important resource for the country's development and international integration.

First held in 2012, the ECOSOC Youth Forum serves as a platform for youth representatives from countries around the world to exchange ideas on implementing Sustainable Development Goals, raise concerns about existing issues, and propose solutions and recommendations. These opinions are then compiled and reported to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, where leaders of nations meet and discuss issues related to implementing the 2030 Agenda./.

Vietnam, Russia bolster education, training collaboration

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son is leading a delegation on a working visit to Russia from April 15-20 to bolster education and training collaboration between the two countries.

On April 16, the delegation met with officials of Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education led by Deputy Minister Konstantin Mogilevskyi.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the signing of a new agreement in education and training cooperation, expansion of activities of the Puskin Institute of Russian Language (HFIRL) in Vietnam, university alliance between Vietnam and Russia and research collaboration. 

The Russian side said it is considering the granting of scholarships for Vietnamese students to study science-technology and information technology in Russia, among others.

Deputy minister Son also informed that Vietnam will grant 75 scholarships for Russian students in 2024.

On the same day, the delegation visited some top universities in Russia, including the National Research University Higher School of Economics University (HSE) and Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI).

On the occasion, the Vietnamese delegation also held an exchange with Vietnamese students in Russia./.

Quang Nam launches big tourism stimulation programme

The central province of Quang Nam launched the tourism stimulation programme 2024 themed “Quang Nam – Green Heritage Region” at a press conference on April 16.

Taking place from May to November, the programme aims to lure domestic and international visitors to Quang Nam, while promoting the image of Quang Nam green tourism, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

The programme will be divided into two phases, with the first taking place from May to August offering various unique tourism products, high quality services and attractive promotions.

Particularly, the locality offers a three-day-and-two-night tours to major tourist attractions of the province such as Hoi An city, My Son Sanctuary, Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve, Vinwonder Nam Hoi An, Bay Mau Coconut Forest, Pomu Heritage Forest, Phu Ninh Lake Ecotourism Area, and Dong Giang Heaven Gate Ecotourism Area, along with high-end tourism packages and summer camps for children.

In the second phase from September to November, the province will highlight the beauty of the rice ripening season and related festivals, as well as Hoi An in flood season, while offering sharp service discounts for tourists.

The total promotion value of the programme is about 9.5 billion VND (374,754 USD). Further information on the programme is available at websites visitquangnam.com and quangnamtourism.com.vn, and Facebook Fanpages visitquangnam, quangnamcamxucmuahe, and muavangxuquang1, as well as tourism information portals of other linkage localities and social medial networks.

At the press conference, Quang Nam signed cooperation agreements on tourism development with a number of enterprises, including Vietnam Railways and Heineken Vietnam./.

Czech Senate President lauds Vietnam’s rising position globally

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam on April 16 paid a courtesy visit to Czech Senate President Milos Vystcil to discuss measures to promote Vietnam – Czechia relations, including parliamentary cooperation, towards 75 years of diplomacy between the two countries in 2025.

At the meeting, Vystcil noted that the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation has been strengthened in recent times, especially after Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s visit to Vietnam in April 2023 as well as frequent exchange visits between the two countries’ leaders and officials.

He affirmed that the Czech Republic wishes to foster relations with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam, in line with the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the European Union.

The Czech Senate President expected both countries to increase parliamentary cooperation, as well as mutual support at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP).

He agreed that an agreement between the two countries’ legislative bodies should be reached to outline future parliamentary cooperation orientations.

He proposed that both countries soon get down to work on the opening of a direct air route between Prague and Hanoi, in order to increase bilateral cooperation in fields such as economics, trade, tourism, education-training, labour, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

On this occasion, he singled out the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic for their efforts to successfully integrate into their host country and make practical contributions to the Czech Republic’s socio-economic development.

Ambassador Nam for his part affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to fostering the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation with the Czech Republic. He said an increase in frequent visit exchanges will help promote political trust and mutual understanding between the two countries.

According to the diplomat, both Vietnam and the Czech Republic have great potential for stronger cooperation in fields such as defense industry, manufacturing, mining, education-training, tourism and agriculture.

He proposed that the Senate President support labour cooperation, the signing of a new education cooperation document, and the establishment of the Vietnam Culture Centre in the Czech Republic.

Foreign Minister welcomes Spanish State Secretary for foreign affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on April 16 received Diego Martinez Belio, State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs of Spain, who is in Vietnam to co-chair the fifth political consultation between the two countries.

Lauding the significant strides in bilateral relations, Minister Son stated that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to promote cooperation with Spain, the first strategic partner of Vietnam in the European Union (EU).

He asked the two sides to increase high-level mutual visits and meetings, maintain the frequency of the political consultation at the deputy ministerial level, and coordinate to review and upgrade the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two foreign ministries along with the joint action plan of the two governments.

Son recommended the countries continue to fruitfully implement the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to soon raise bilateral trade from US$4 billion at present to US$5 billion. He also called on Spain to promote the remaining EU countries’ ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), as well as the European Commission’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing for Vietnam.

The minister also voiced his hope that the Government and enterprises of Spain will seize opportunities to cooperate with Vietnam in human resources training, institutional building, and infrastructure development, which are the three strategic breakthroughs the Southeast Asian nation is targeting.

Expressing delight at his visit to Vietnam and the resumption of the political consultation after seven years, Belio affirmed Vietnam is a leading priority of Spain in Southeast Asia and that his country hopes to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

He pledged close coordination with the Vietnamese side to step up delegation exchanges, soon renew the MoU between the two foreign ministries, including fostering the collaboration between the countries’ diplomatic academies, and update the countries’ joint action plan.

The State Secretary expressed Spain’s wish to enhance ties with Vietnam in terms of transport infrastructure, renewable energy, and education, including promoting the teaching of the Spanish language in Vietnam. He also stated that his country will strengthen bilateral connections in the fields of science - technology, culture, sports, and tourism.

With regard to international and regional issues, both host and guest agreed that their countries will maintain coordination and mutual support at international and regional forums such as the United Nations and the ASEAN - EU cooperation.

They shared the viewpoint of respecting law and supporting ASEAN and Vietnam’s stance on the peaceful settlement of sea-related issues on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Earlier on April 16, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and State Secretary Belio co-chaired the fifth political consultation between the two countries.

The two sides reviewed cooperation, identified orientations and measures for bolstering the Vietnam - Spain strategic partnership towards the future, and looked into some international and regional issues of shared concern.

They agreed to hold the sixth political consultation at the deputy ministerial level in Spain in the time ahead.

Whirlwinds wreak havoc across central Vietnam

Several provinces in central Vietnam have experienced whirlwinds and severe hailstorms over the past two days, injuring one person and damaging houses and crops in the process.

Among the worst hit provinces were Nghe An and Quang Tri.

The whirlwinds accompanied by hail struck three communes of Quang Tri province on April 15, damaging an estimated 49 houses, a huge number of trees, signs, and barns.

The total damage caused by the abnormal weather is estimated to be at over VND1 billion.

Local authorities promptly conducted damage assessments, mobilised on-site forces to address the damage, and provided temporary shelter and food for all affected families in the region.

Meanwhile, whirlwinds and hail also ripped through the border communes of Bao Thang, Huoi Tu, Bao Nam, Chieu Luu, and Nam Can, in the upland district of Ky Son, Nghe An province, leaving a woman injured and destroying hundreds of houses.

Ky Son authorities said that they would provide aid to those whose houses collapsed in order to help them to stabilise their lives.

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