In Vietnam, nearly 80,000 people in 22 provinces and cities have so far been injected with Covid-19 vaccine; there have been no cases of blood clotting disorders.

The Minister of Health has just decided to establish the Steering Committee for the safety of people after Covid-19 immunization comprising of leaders of the Ministry of Health, leaders of relevant departments including departments under the Ministry of Health, leading experts in the fields of immunization, infectiousness, emergency resuscitation, active resuscitation, hematology, cardiology, neurology who will screen and treat people suffering allergic reactions happening within 4 hours of getting vaccinated.

According to the Ministry of Health, treatment of unusual vaccine-associated blood clots after Covid-19 vaccination is the same as normal coagulation disorders. At present, the Covid-19 vaccination groups of scientists and medical workers have outlined the treatment approaches for blood clots with low platelets after vaccination.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Dao Xuan Co, Deputy Director of Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital, General Secretary of the Vietnam National Association of Emergency, Intensive Care medicine and Clinical Toxicology, said treatment of coagulation disorder after vaccination against Covid-19, an extremely rare reaction, is like common blood clotting disorders.

The Ministry of Health has deployed the remote medical examination and treatment system (Telehealth) to 1,500 locations in 63 provinces and cities nationwide; therefore, leading experts can instruct grass-root medical facilities to cure people suffering from the disorder.

Outstanding scientists honoured with title, order

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 22 handed over the “Labour Hero in the Renewal Period” title to the family of late Professor, Academician Vu Tuyen Hoang, former Secretary of the Party delegation to and President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA).

The honour was also given to Professor Hoang Chuong, Director of the Centre for Research, Conservation and Development of Traditional Culture at VUSTA.

On this occasion, several former VUSTA leaders also got the Independence Order.

In his remarks, Phuc attributed Vietnam’s achievements to great contributions of generations of Vietnamese people, including scientists.

Hoang’s creation of drought and flooding-tolerant rice varieties is significant to Vietnam – an agriculture-based country hard hit by climate change, helping it ensure food self-sufficiency and export, he said.

Phuc hailed Chuong’s contributions to preserving and promoting traditional culture, which, the State leader described as an invaluable asset of the nation.

The diverse, special culture creates not only advantages for the domestic tourism sector, but also an impulse to strengthen national solidarity and lure resources for national development, he continued.

Scientists play a crucial role in fulfilling the target of turning Vietnam into a developing country with a modern industry and high middle income by 2030, and a developed country with high income by 2045, according to the State President.

He urged VUSTA to work harder in order to improve the quality of human resources, attract talents, promote innovations and creations, and optimise scientific and technological advances in national development./.

Facebooker imprisoned for anti-Party, anti-State propaganda

The People’s Court of Binh Thuy district in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 22 sentenced a woman to two years in prison for “abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to violate the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organisations and individuals.”

According to the indictment, Le Thi Binh, born in 1976 and a resident of An Thoi ward in Binh Thuy district, used several Facebook accounts, namely “Binh Le” (then renamed “Le Ngoclan Ct”), “Ngoc Lan CT Ngoc CT Le”, and “Anna Nguyen”.

From October 2019 to November 2020, she frequently used these accounts to conduct livestreams and post and share articles that defamed, offended, and distorted Party and State organisations and leaders.

The jury held that the defendant took advantage of the right to freedom of speech to post articles and livestream on the social network, which attracted a large number of views and comments, to erode Party and State leaders’ prestige and people’s trust.

Binh’s acts broke laws, violated the interests of the State and the rights and legitimate interests of organisations and individuals, and negatively affected local order and security, which called for strict punishment.

Given this, the court decided to hand down a two-year sentence./.

Action month spotlights children protection amid pandemic, disasters

June is the nationwide action month for children this year under the theme of joining hands for ensuring children’s rights and protecting children in natural disasters and pandemic, said the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs’ Department of Child Affairs.

During the month, localities will step up communications campaigns to raise public awareness on laws, policies, programmes targeting the group as well as on the national hotline and local services for child protection.

Visits will be made for and gifts will be presented to children from families of revolutionary contributors, those with poverty or abused background, and those with severe illnesses, among others.

Children’s forums, children-initiated activities, and summer cultural and sport events will also be featured throughout the month.

A ceremony to launch the action month is slated for May 29 in Hanoi./.

Coach accident in Dak Lak leaves 31 injured

A coach has overturned when going through the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, injuring 31 people.

The incident happened on Wednesday evening on Ho Chi Minh Road in Ea H’leo District.  

While travelling on the road from Gia Lai to Dak Lak, the coach driven by Le Van Tuyen suddenly went out of control and hit one of the sides of the road before overturning.

As a result, 31 passengers were injured, including three serious cases that have been moved to the Central Highlands General Hospital.

The vehicle was severely damaged, leaving broken glass widely scattered over the area of the accident.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Can Tho seeks multifaceted cooperation with US localities

Secretary of the Can Tho municipal Party Committee Le Quang Manh and US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Marie C. Damour had a meeting on April 22, during which both voiced the wish to foster bilateral cooperation in trade promotion, climate change response, health care, and education.

Manh expressed his delight at the US Consulate General’s attention to enhancing cooperation between the two countries, including between the US and Can Tho, and noted that the areas that Damour mentioned are all development priorities of the Mekong Delta city both at present and in the future.

Agricultural products are the strength of the Mekong Delta, but Can Tho hopes for the US's further assistance in processing to reduce post-harvest losses, as well as in product examination and certification to export to the US, he noted.

The official added he hopes via scholarships for cadres to study in the US, his city will have more high-quality personnel.

For her part, Consul General Damour said as the centre of the Mekong Delta and boasting many healthcare and education facilities, research centres, and port and logistics systems, Can Tho is a potential strategic partner for many US localities.

Emphasising health care and climate change response, she highly valued Vietnam’s achievements in controlling COVID-19, describing these as lessons for the US and the whole world to learn from.

With the anti-pandemic success, Vietnam has a chance to be a destination for healthcare enterprises of the US to invest in, according to the diplomat.

She added that climate change is a global issue to which the Mekong Delta is vulnerable. Meanwhile, the US has much experience, solutions, and initiatives that have been applied and generated positive outcomes in this regard.

Therefore, Damour went on, the Consulate General wants to work as a bridge to help US businesses come to seek investment opportunities in climate change response in Can Tho./.

Thu Thiem 2 bridge project to resume construction as obstacles removed

The construction of the Thu Thiem 2 bridge project, which spans the Saigon River and connects HCMC’s District 1 with Thu Thiem Peninsula in Thu Duc City, will resume by the end of this month so it can reach completion on April 30, 2022, as obstacles facing the project have been addressed, said an HCMC official.

Speaking at a press briefing today, April 20, Phan Cong Bang, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Transport, said the department had worked with the Dai Quang Minh Real Estate Investment Company, the investor of the project, removed site clearance obstacles facing the project and handed over the cleared site to the investor.

The investor is teaming up with construction units to gather equipment and transport it from Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to HCMC to resume work on the project.

Earlier, work on the project had to be stopped due to site clearance issues, even though the project is 70% complete.

The investor on March 29 reported the situation to the municipal government, listing a number of problems that could arise if the project is suspended for a long time, such as risking the safety of the project and waterway transport and prolonging the duration of the construction as some specilized construction equipment will be shipped overseas to serve other projects.

By April 2, Le Hoa Binh, vice chairman of the municipal government, chaired a meeting with the city’s Transport Department, the government of District 1 and the relevant agencies to discuss measures to remove the obstacles.

The Thu Thiem 2 bridge project was designed to have six lanes and be nearly 1,500 meters long. Work on the project started in 2015, with over VND3 trillion in investment.

Quang Binh Province to open new pedestrian street

A new pedestrian area on Phan Boi Chau and Dong Hai streets will be opened in Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province, on April 23 in an attempt to diversify the tourist services and boost the tourism sector. 

The 1km pedestrian street will open from 6 pm to 12 am on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as holidays and special occasions. This is a part of a series of events held during Dong Hoi Culture Week from April 23 to May 2. Other events and activities include street carnival, boat race, and street music show.

It is estimated that 800-1,000 people visit Phan Boi Chau and Dong Hai streets every night for shopping, eating and other activities. The local authorities have also encouraged and guided local people to switch to more popular products and services.

Hoang Thi Thanh Nhung, vice chairwoman of Dong Hoi People's Committee said, "The infrastructure is completed and we have decorated and prepared everything. Our aim is to develop a night tourism experience in the city centre. We'll continue reviewing and adjusting to improve the services. There will also be traditional games along with other street performances."

Northern and northern central localities face long hot spell

The northern and northern central regions of Vietnam are experiencing a heatwave which would last until April 25.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the north-western region would see highest temperatures of 35-37 degrees centigrade. Meanwhile, the highest temperature for localities from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue would be 36 degrees centigrade.   

From Friday, the hot weather would spread to the northern and northern central regions with the highest temperature of between 35 and 38 degrees centigrade.

The highest temperature of north-eastern localities would be 35 degrees centigrade.

The hot weather with a strong south-western wind would bring high risks for fire due to the higher electricity demand and more forest fires in the central region.

Nha Trang sees visitor surge

Nha Trang City in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa is witnessing a sharp rise in the number of tourists after Covid-19 pandemic has been brought under control in Vietnam.

Since early this month, travellers who have come to the city for beach tours have increased by 100-150% against March.  

Tran Van Phu, head of Nha Trang tourism wharf management board, said that over the past two weeks, around 1,000-1,500 people had taken canoes from local wharves to visit Nha Trang Bay daily. The figure increased to 2,000-2,500 people on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to Phu, besides the controlled Covid-19 pandemic, the province’s tourism promotion activities have also helped attract more visitors. Nha Trang City’s weather is quite nice at this time of year, which is suitable for tourism activities.

The number of tourists to Nha Trang is expected to reach 5,000-7,000 a day during the coming Reunification Day and May Day holiday.

To ensure Covid-19 prevention regulations, wharves in Nha Trang have arranged more staff to help provide temperature checks for visitors who are also asked to wear face masks and use hand wash.

Earlier, the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism invited representatives from local travel firms to the province to survey tourism potential and sign co-operation agreements on preferential tourism services.

More than 100 circus artists to compete at national competition

The National Circus Talent Competition 2021 will take place at the at the Hanoi Central Circus from April 22 to 27 with the participation of over 100 artists.

This was announced at a press conference held in Hanoi on April 19 by the Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Stage Artist Association, and the Vietnam Circus Federation.

The participants come from five art troupes including the Vietnam Circus Federation, the Hanoi Circus and Vaudeville Theatre, the Vietnam Circus and Vaudeville School, the Phuong Nam Art Theatre, and the Long An Provincial Centre for Arts and Culture.

They will bring 29 acts to the stage, each will last from 7 to 12 minutes, featuring various circus skills including acrobatics, juggling, acro-balance, magic, and animal training.

Prizes will be presented to the outstanding performers, best director and best coach of the competition.

Within the framework of the event, the participating artists will entertain the public with free performances at the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake.

The annual competition aims to honour Vietnamese circus talents while providing a venue for circus artists to show off their talents.

Exhibition features documents and artefacts about Vietnamese Press during 1946-1954

An exhibition featuring a wide range of valuable documents and artefacts about the Vietnamese Press during the 1946-1954 period opened at the Vietnam Press Museum in Hanoi on April 20.

Organised by the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA), the opening of the exhibition saw the attendance of many generations of revolutionary journalists, including well-known journalists such as Ha Dang, Pham Phu Bang, Dang Minh Phuong, Thai Duy, Nguyen Khac Tiep.

Speaking at the ceremony, Director of the Vietnam Press Museum Tran Thi Kim Hoa said 2021 marked many major events related to press activities, such as the 75th anniversary of the first general election of the Vietnamese National Assembly, the 7th anniversary of the VJA, the 70th anniversary of the first issue of Nhan Dan Newspaper, among others.

The organisation of the exhibition was completed after a process of collecting and researching publications, press objects and documents, stories and witnesses with the aim of reviving memories of an arduous period, but one full of pride about the revolutionary press, she added.

The exhibition is scheduled to run until June 21.

HIDS assigned to combine knowledge resources for research ecosystem

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong assigned the HCMC Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) to combine heterogeneous knowledge resources for creation of research ecosystem. 

Chairman Phong made the statement while chairing the meeting with the Institute on April 19.

Mr. Phong emphasized that HIDS must act as the conductor in research programs as well as a venue to combine knowledge resources for a creation of research ecosystem in Ho Chi Minh City as well as the economic region of the southern metropolis.

The mission of the institute is carry out researches for immediate political tasks on socio-economic development of the city and research for the development of the city’s basic strategic plan.

For the first task which is the investment environment improvement and the urban government building, Mr. Phong raised a question that what city authorities and related agencies have been doing for the two matters. “Recently, some newspapers released articles about why the Northern Province of Quang Ninh has retained the first position in Viet Nam’s Provincial Competitiveness Index for four consecutive years.

For the efficiency Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) - a flagship governance program initiated by the United Nations Development Programs in Vietnam, HCMC also dropped its position from 31/63 (2019) to 46/63 (2020). After only one year, Ho Chi Minh City was ranked in the group of 15 provinces with low average PAPI.

He wondered all units reported to achieve good result, but the city dropped its rank. Therefore, It is necessary to have an assessment of the results of implementing tasks in units more accurately, otherwise it turned out to be fake achievements.

For the latter task, in addition to the focus on new approaches for management, human resources and infrastructure, HIDS and related agencies were asked to take heed of the implementation of key programs on business development, innovative start-ups and the development of key product t.

Ho Chi Minh City will strive to become the financial center of the region. In the near future, a City Development Advisory Council will be formed, comprising experts in the fields of economics, culture, planning and urban.

Regarding the mission of HIDS in 2021, chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong requested to clearly define the basic contents and key goals of scientific activities and who will assume responsibility for the task.

The final achievement will measure of the value of labor for each individual and department at the end of the year.

Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong concluded that HIDS must urgently develop and complete a institute development project and a scientific research program for the period of 2021-2025 to create dynamic environment for carrying out researches and invite foreign experts’ interaction in order to raise the level of research methods.

Vietnam determinedly ensures national cyber security
 
Vietnam has gone a long way towards establishing its own e-government and digital government. In that journey, it has faced numerous risks regarding information safety and has discovered the critical role of national cyber security to the overall success of this process.

Statistics from major domestic cyber security enterprises reveal that digitalizing data of private and state organizations has made these pieces of valuable information a tempting target for cyber criminals, who are increasingly sophisticating.

No matter how large or small a business or organization is, it is the potential victim of thousands of viruses and malware programs in the world. In 2020, there were nearly 1 million cyber attacks in Vietnam, focusing mostly on major IT systems.

Covid-19 pandemic has led to a more active use of the virtual space for working and daily operations, which means a higher potential of information leak and stealing due to an abnormal rise of cyber attacks via malware, especially Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) ones.

Head of the Authority of Information Security Nguyen Thanh Phuc stated that since digital transformation is a must of all private and state organizations, strict cyber security becomes a strong indispensable fortress to protect all achievements so far of the community, hence its critical role in any development strategy.

One of the most active agencies in the Vietnam Malware and Cyber-Attack Prevention Alliance is VNPT, which is often the leader in developing cyber security ecosystems for itself as well as other organizations nationwide.

Its Security Operation Center (SOC) specializes in dealing with cyber security problems 24/7. Using one platform for all aspects of cyber safety, the center can integrate various functions simultaneously to timely detect cyber attacks and stop them from spreading further, which effectively minimizing damages to IT systems and their owners. SOCs have saved millions of dollars from information safety activities for businesses as well as individuals.

At the moment, VNPT is cooperating with IBM to develop VNPT MSS (VNPT Managed Security Service) – a platform to monitor and manage the cyber security status of an organization, while providing necessary support to rescue IT systems from any attack,

The service is expected to become the immune system for Vietnam on its way to transform into a digital country with a strong and safe digital government.

An Phu intersection project to be invested US$170 million

The People’s Council of Ho Chi Minh City approved a Resolution about the investment policy for the An Phu intersection project in Thu Duc City and infrastructure construction and environmental improvement project for Tham Luong–Ben Cat–Rach Nuoc Len canal at the 25th meeting of the ninth People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City this morning.

Particularly, the construction project of An Phu intersection under the management of the Municipal Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects has a total investment capital of VND3,926 billion (US$170 million), including VND1,800 billion (US$78 million) from the central budget and VND2,126 billion (US$92 million) from the city’s budget.

The project aims to not only strengthen the connection between the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, Mai Chi Tho Street and the city’s key roads but also reduce traffic congestion, meet the smooth traffic demand for the major transport routes of Ho Chi Minh City and Thu Duc City.

As for the infrastructure construction and environmental improvement project for Tham Luong–Ben Cat–Rach Nuoc Len canal, Ho Chi Minh will invest VND4,200 billion (US$182 million) out of VND8,200 billion (US$355 million) into the project. The rest is from the central budget.

The Urban Infrastructure Construction Investment Project Management Board will manage the project. The 32.7-kilometer long project will be implemented in District 12, Binh Tan, Tan Phu, Tan Binh, Go Vap, Binh Thanh and Binh Chanh districts.

The project aims to improve water drainage and wastewater treatment in the rainy season, and to prevent flooding, connect traffic infrastructure.

Both key projects will be implemented for the period 2021- 2025. The HCMC People's Council assigned the Municipal People's Committee to be responsible for the delay or long implementation duration in comparison to its plan and progress.

Nguyen Van Dung elected as Vice Chairman of HCMC People's Council

Chairman of the People’s Committee of District 1 Mr. Nguyen Van Dung was elected as Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Council serving in term IX, 2016- 2021 tenure at the 25th meeting of the ninth People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City this morning.

The newly- elected leader was born in 1972 in Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City who holds the Master of Politics, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Economics, the diploma of high-level political theory.

Besides, he had many years of experience working in positions of Standing Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee of Tan Phu District, Head of the Economy and Budget Division - Ho Chi Minh City People's Council and Chairman of the People’s Committee of District 1.

Two different cars spotted with exactly same number plate in Hanoi

A recent clip that two different make cars bearing the same number plates parked side-by-side went viral on social media.

In the clip, when a woman was taking her child to school, she suddenly saw a blue luxury Porsche having exactly the same number plate with her car. Logically there shouldn't be two cars with exactly matching number plates.

Therefore, she immediately asked the security guard to lock the wheel of the suspicious car and then called the police to handle the case.

Later, a young man claimed to be the driver of that “twin” Porsche and repeatedly asked for her sympathy.
According to the investigation carried out by the Traffic Police Office under Hanoi Municipal Police Department, the woman’s black Porsche is a really registered plate which was issued by the police while the other one is fake plate number.

As verified, the owner of the Porsche with the fake plate number is living in Hanoi’s Hoang Mai District. His Porsche was first registered in June 2015 and the black Porsche owner just came to the Den Lu registry for periodic registration.

National forest service payment mechanism generates 120 million USD annually

The Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) system implemented at national scale under an USAID project now generates approximately 120 million USD annually to finance the management of approximately 6 million hectares of Vietnam’s forests.

The figures were released at an Earth Day event held in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong’s Da Lat city on April 22 to mark the completion of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Vietnam Forests and Deltas project.

The 31.4 million USD climate change programme was implemented by Winrock International from 2012-2021 to support Vietnam’s transition to climate resilient, low-emission sustainable development.

Over its more than eight years of implementation at the national level and in the provinces of Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Lam Dong and Long An, the project supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to successfully implement the PFES system at the national scale. The PFES has contributed to increasing incomes and living standards for hundreds of thousands of people living in the mountainous areas who receive payments to help protect forests.

In addition, the project trained approximately 350,000 people on climate change adaptation, forest management and livelihoods development and helped over 200,000 people implement climate change risk reduction practices in the Mekong and Red River Deltas.

At the event, USAID Acting Mission Director Bradley Bessire said the Vietnam Forests and Deltas project is the first climate change collaboration programme between USAID and the Vietnamese Government, aiming to strengthen forest management and build resilience for vulnerable communities in the Red River and Mekong Deltas.

On the occasion, USAID also announced two new projects – the Sustainable Forest Management project (2020-2025), which seeks to avoid carbon emissions from natural forest conversion and increase carbon sequestration through the improved plantation management; and the Biodiversity Conservation project (2020-2025) that aims to maintain and increase forest quality, and protect and stabilise wildlife populations in national parks and natural reserves. These projects will work in 12 provinces across Vietnam./.

President attends opening ceremony of Leaders Summit on Climate

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc participated in the opening ceremony of the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate hosted by the US on April 22 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden.

President Phuc was among 40 world leaders invited to join the summit, which runs on April 22-23 and is live streamed for public viewing.

The event aims to galvanize efforts that keep a goal of limiting planetary warming to 1.5 degrees within reach in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. It also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts.

As part of the summit, the Vietnamese leader will attend and deliver a speech at a session on the economic opportunities of climate action scheduled for April 23, together with Biden, the Spanish Prime Minister, and the Presidents of Nigeria and Poland./.

Organisation sub-committee contributes importantly to success of 13th National Party Congress

The sub-committee in charge of organisational affairs for the 13th National Party Congress had contributed importantly to the success of the Congress, heard a conference on April 22 to review the sub-committee’s work.

Participants at the conference pointed out that logistics work for the congress faced many new problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with experience from organizing previous events and the high sense of responsibility as well as the professionalism of forces involved in the organisational work.

Concluding the conference, standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong said the sub-committee have fulfilled all tasks from preparing the working programme and communication campaign for the congress, to logistics such as accommodations and transport for delegates, and pandemic prevention.

Thuong quoted Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as saying that the 13th National Party Congress is among the most successful national party congresses in terms of content, organisational work and working style. The sub-committee of organisational affairs had contributed very importantly to the success, he said./.

FMs hold phone talks over Vietnam – Ethiopia relations

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, on April 22, had a phone call with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen to discuss bilateral cooperation and coordination at multilateral forums on the occasion of the two nations marking the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

Congratulating Son on his recent appointment as Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Demeke Mekonnen affirmed that the Ethiopian Government attaches importance to fostering the friendship and multifaceted collaboration with Vietnam.

He praised Vietnam’s successful implementation of its dual goals of pandemic containment and socio-economic development and highlighted his impression at the nation’s significant achievements in external relations, particularly as Chair of ASEAN last year and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020 – 2021.

Expressing his delight at progresses made in the bilateral relations over the past 45 years, Son spoke highly of Ethiopia’s regional role and position.

He hoped the two foreign ministries to promote their roles in enhancing the two countries’ friendship and cooperation for peace, collaboration and growth in the region.
As part of their talks, the officials exchanged measures and orientations for improved bilateral engagements in the coming time, with priority given to increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels when COVID-19 is placed under control, expanding economic cooperation, studying collaboration mechanisms and completing legal frameworks.

The two sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern. Son affirmed that Vietnam supports the settlement of all international disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law and the UN Charter.

Four imported cases of COVID-19 announced on April 22 afternoon

Four imported cases of COVID-19 were detected in the past 12 hours to 6pm April 22, according to the Health Ministry.

The national count increased to 2,816, with 1,570 domestic infections.

The number of recovered patients reached 2,490, while the death toll remained at 35.

Among active patients, 40 have tested negative for the novel coronavirus from once to three times.

A total 39,191 people who had close contact with or arrived from pandemic areas are being quarantined nationwide./.

Death anniversary of the Hung Kings marked in Thailand’s Udon Thani province

The Vietnamese community in Thailand’s Udon Thani province gathered at Khanh An Pagoda on April 21 (the 10th day of the third lunar month) to mark the death anniversary of the Hung Kings, Vietnam’s legendary founders.

Those in attendance included Vietnamese Consul General to Khon Kaen Hoang Ngoc Son, members of the Executive Board of the Vietnamese Association in Udon Thani, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the locality.

Addressing the ceremony, Son said the worship of ancestors is a traditional cultural trait of Vietnamese people, and the death anniversary of the Hung Kings is an important occasion for the country.

He underlined that marking the anniversary not only reflects the respect for ancestors and gratitude towards the country’s founders but also educates Vietnamese people on the tradition of remembering their origins while encouraging Vietnamese people abroad to unite and head to the homeland.

The diplomat lauded the efforts of the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani in organising the event, where COVID-19 prevention and control measures were strictly implemented.

The ritual of worshipping the Hung Kings was recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.

The event has been held annually at Khanh An Pagoda, where a statue of a Hung King is placed, since 2019./.

Quang Ninh ready to welcome back holidaymakers

The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh’s door is wide open to tourists this summer, with a kaleidoscope of cultural and sporting activities planned at local tourist attractions.

Eighty-eight tourism stimulus programmes will be implemented around the province, with COVID-19 prevention measures put in place to ensure safety for the whole community.

Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hanh said that splendid festive spaces are expected to impress visitors to Quang Ninh.

A highlight will be the “Ha Long, Quang Ninh - Destination of Smiles” event on May 1, which includes an inaugural ceremony for Hon Gai Beach, the “Ha Long - Quang Ninh welcomes Summer 2021” art performance, and a flower festival.

Meanwhile, the Tuan Chau International Resort and Recreation Complex will host the inauguration of the Tuan Chau Golf Course and Tuan Chau Sculpture Park, an arts performance, a low-altitude fireworks display, and a parade, among others.

A wide range of cultural, sports, and tourism activities will be held, such as the Tran Quoc Nghien Temple Festival, a photo exhibition, a kite flying contest, street music performances, and a circus performance.

In a bid to cement its dual targets of pandemic prevention and socio-economic development, Quang Ninh introduced discounted entry fees at a range of local destinations late last year.

Tickets to Ha Long Bay, the Quang Ninh Museum, and the complex of Yen Tu monuments and landscapes are cut by 50 percent until December 31. Passengers arriving at Van Don International Airport will receive free round-trip bus transfers to Ha Long city and Uong Bi city throughout the year.

Free entry is available at these sites on Hung Kings Commemoration Day (April 21), Liberation Day of the Cam Pha Mining Area (April 25), National Reunification Day (April 30), International Labour Day (May 1), International Children’s Day (June 1), Vietnamese Family Day (June 28), Vietnam Tourism Day (July 9), War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27), the August Revolution (August 19), National Day (September 2), Vietnamese Women Day (October 20), Quang Ninh founding anniversary (October 30), the traditional day for miners and the coal industry (November 12), Vietnamese Teachers’ Day (November 20), and the Vietnam People’s Army founding anniversary (December 22).

Local authorities and tourism operators have worked together to offer attractive promotions in tourism packages. Notably, the SunGroup has knocked down rates at the Premier Village Halong Bay Resort by 40 percent, offered a 50 percent discount at Plumeria Spa, and slashed entry tickets to the Sun World Ha Long Complex by 70 percent from March 13 to April 15.

The Tung Lam Development JSC has cut cable car tickets to Dong Pagoda by 30 percent until December 31, and the Hai Au Aviation JSC has cut seaplane tickets at 9am and 4.10pm by 40 percent from Monday to Friday between March 22 and April 29.

Quang Ninh sees domestic tourism as a locomotive to maintain the sector’s operations this year, so is promoting tourism links with other localities nationwide.

In Q2 and Q3, it plans to organise an array of tourism stimulus cooperation programmes in Dien Bien and continue its collaboration with Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa province, home of Nha Trang.

It has also joined hands with Ho Chi Minh City Television and Da Nang Television to promote its image.

The province expects to welcome 10 million visitors in 2021, becoming the leading destination for Vietnamese and international holidaymakers.

Its tourism sector overcame the challenges in 2020 to realise the target of welcoming 8.8 million visitors. Tourism revenue was estimated at over 17 trillion VND (739.1 million USD), contributing 5.19 percent to the local State budget./.

Archaeological excavation, research at Hoa Lu ancient capital reviewed

Archaeological excavation and research at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital and other sites in the northern province of Ninh Binh were reviewed at a workshop held by the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, the Institute of Archaeology, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences on April 20.

Held as part of activities responding to the Visit Vietnam Year 2021, participants at the workshop lauded the results of the endeavour, saying it has contributed to preserving and promoting the values of cultural heritages in Ninh Binh.

The excavation work has revealed unique architecture at Hoa Lu, which vividly reflect national construction and defence as well as royal cultural life, and the formation and development of the locality’s administrative system during the 10th century.

Five excavation areas and three exploration pits on a total area of 300 sq.m were studied, revealing architectural layers from the Dai La and Dinh - Tien Le Dynasties.

At brick tombs in Nho Quan and Gia Vien districts, initial research results noted that these were tombs from the Eastern Han Dynasty, proving the development of culture, economy, and politics and clarifying how Hoa Lu was established and developed.

Research results initially recognised that the inner city of Hoa Lu in the 10th century had a much larger distribution area of architectural works than experts and researchers previously imagined.

At the workshop, research and excavation units proposed adjustments to land use planning and the detailed plan for the conservation - embellishment and promotion of specially-protected areas in the ancient capital, which were approved by the provincial People’s Committee in 2009, to serve research, excavation, and conservation in the time to come./.

NA Chairman works with Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Adolescents

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on April 22 chaired a working session with members of the NA's Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Adolescents.

During the meeting, the NA Chairman praised the Committee’s achievements, saying that the Committee needs to further promote its role and perform functions and tasks in the next tenure.

He noted that the Committee should study and evaluate the situation as well as orientations in the political Report of the 12th Party Central Committee presented at the 13th National Party Congress, and in the 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy for areas that it is in charge of.

NA Chairman Hue asked the Committee to focus its research on key issues, and mobilise the involvement of other relevant agencies in implementing the monitoring function.

Regarding the NA’s function to decide important issues of the country, the NA Chairman emphasised the need and importance for the Committee to promote its independence in decision making on the basis of legal regulations, theory and practice./.

ENV campaign helps protect wildlife in central localities

Fruitful results have been made in a campaign to minimise violations of wildlife protection regulations launched by Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) in the three central localities, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Nam, in the 2019-2020 period, according to the ENV.

Authorities in Hue city in Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang city, and Tam Ky city in Quang Nam put an end to 86.3 percent of indications of wildlife violations, with Da Nang’s rate standing at 94 percent, it reported.

Of the 1,369 inspected restaurants, bars, traditional medicine shops, pet shops, and markets, the ENV found 81 instances of regulations being violated (5.9 percent), which is much lower than the wildlife consumption ratio in Hanoi of 11 percent and Ho Chi Minh City’s 8 percent in the 2017-2018 period.

Of note, authorities in the three localities handled 88.7 percent of violations reported during the campaign period, which was higher that the figure recorded in Hanoi (65 percent) and HCM City (82 percent).

The rate of response from authorised agencies to reports through ENV reached 96.1 percent, revealing the efforts of the localities in combating violations of wildlife protection regulations. Da Nang was the most successful in dealing with such violations.

Bui Thi Ha, Vice Director of the ENV, said that since 2013 it has carried out a programme to assess the level of violations of wildlife protection regulations in Vietnam’s major cities, aiming to eliminate wildlife trafficking and consumption around the country, thus helping evaluate the response required of authorised agencies.

The programme covers 30 cities and provinces nationwide, with 16,556 facilities inspected./.

Vietnam willing to assist Cambodia in preventing COVID-19: Minister

Vietnam is willing to send medical experts and doctors to support Cambodia in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long told his Cambodian counterpart Mam Buncheng at an online meeting on April 22.

The two sides shared their experience at the meeting and discussed how to effectively coordinate together in containing the spread of COVID-19.

Long highly valued Cambodia’s efforts and measures to respond to the pandemic, saying that if Buncheng agrees, Cambodia’s pandemic-related health facilities will be connected to Vietnam’s.

Remote consultation proved an effective and successful tool for Vietnam during its first two waves of COVID-19, he said, adding that it was also successful in treating infections during its third outbreak, when no fatalities were recorded.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister has decided to present Cambodia with 800 breathing machines, 2 million medical face masks and 300,000 N95 face masks, as well as other medical equipment given the complex developments of the pandemic in Cambodia, Long said.

This is one of the largest support packages Vietnam has given to another country to help it prevent and control the pandemic, he noted, saying that if the Cambodian side agrees, the Ministry of Health will transport the equipment from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Cambodia as soon as possible.

Long proposed the Cambodian side enhance COVID-19 prevention measures in border areas amid an increasing number of illegal border crossings, while affirming that Vietnam will also perform this task well.

He thanked the Cambodian side for the support and health care offered to Vietnamese people living in the country, and expressed his hope that it will swiftly overcome the difficulties and challenges in fighting the pandemic.

For his part, Buncheng expressed his gratitude for Vietnam’s assistance in preventing the health crisis, saying that the Cambodian side will officially discuss with Vietnam the receipt of the support through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs./.

Forum discusses challenges to sustainable energy transition

Experts discussed opportunities and challenges in sustainable energy transition at a recent forum in Hà Nội, which focused on the development of green, clean, and renewable energy against the backdrop of international capital moving into the country. 

Việt Nam has substantial potential in offshore wind and solar power, with huge opportunities for the integration of different energy technologies and the combination of renewable energies and agriculture, experts said at the event on Tuesday.

Still, there are many things left for the country to do in terms of the sustainable energy transition, said Ngụy Thị Khanh, Executive Director of Green Innovation and Development (GreenID), citing the national grid failing to keep up with the growth of renewable energy generation, the lack of a storage system for renewable energy on a large scale, and difficulties accessing affordable and long-term funding.

To accelerate the sustainable energy transition, she suggested the Government develop and enforce policies promoting the efficient use of energy and the development of renewable energies while restricting investment in fossil fuel power projects.

Renewable energy development policies must also protect livelihoods and foster new partnership opportunities with people and communities affected by energy transition, and facilitate foreign capital flows into the sector.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, renewable energy and natural gas are seen as the main pillars of Việt Nam’s energy transition, helping the country reduce emissions and enhance energy security in the long term by decreasing the share of power imports and diversifying the energy supply.

Nguyễn Ngọc Hùng from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Institute of Energy stressed the need to closely supervise energy production facilities emitting pollutants and to get tougher on those violating emission regulations.

Financial tools such as taxes and fees should be used to change energy production and consumption patterns and raise funds for clean energy solutions, Hùng said. 

Kien Giang Province detects four illegal immigrants from Cambodia by seaway

While the border forces of Kien Giang Province were performed a patrol on territorial water of Phu Quoc in this early morning, they detected a tugboat pushing barges along with four illegal immigrants from Cambodia to Phu Quoc City by seaway.  

A tugboat pushing barges along with four illegal immigrants from Cambodia to Phu Quoc City was detected this morning.

Through the investigation process, all those initially declared that they are Vietnamese citizens tried to illegally enter from Cambodia to Phu Quoc by sea after the Vietnamese people stayed and worked in Cambodia. 
The functional forces took these people to a quarantine place following the regulation and continue the investigation. 

Previously, the border forces of Kien Giang Province had also detected five women who illegally returned Vietnam from Cambodia cross Phu Quoc City. 

Vietnam builds worst scenario as its neighbors' cities on lockdown 

Vietnam shares border lines of more than 1,100 km with Cambodia and roughly 2,300 km with Laos.

Vietnam is building the worst scenario for Covid-19 as its neighboring countries of Cambodia and Laos are struggling with surging infections, including putting their capital cities on lockdown.

According to the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), Cambodia records some 300-500 new cases per day over last week despite the country’s containment efforts.

The caseload in Cambodia has so far hit nearly 8,000, showed statistics by Johns Hopkins University.

The preparations include tightening control along the borderline and building field hospitals in the boundary provinces.

Best health professionals from Ho Chi Minh City and army officers from different areas have been dispatched to the Southwestern provinces of Kien Giang and An Giang.

An Giang, where shares more than 100 km of border with Cambodia’s Kandal and Takeo provinces, has increased the number of checkpoints to control the cross-border movement, including goods transport at Tinh Bien Border Gate.

Meanwhile, Kien Giang’s Border Guard has set up additional dozens of checkpoints to total nearly 100 currently to ensure the tighten control on road and waterways in Ha Tien City and Phu Quoc Island.

Kien Giang has deployed dozens of mobile groups and patrol boats to support the mission.

Chairman of the An Giang People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh has asked local authorities to build a field hospital in Chau Thanh District to serve quarantine and treatment of Covid-19 patients as well as avoiding cross infection among clinical stations.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Kien Giang People’s Committee Lam Minh Thanh urged more efforts by border guard, navy and coast guard in controlling illegal immigration, mostly at border gates and local trails.

Since February 20, local authorities have uncovered 31 illegal immigration cases with 142 immigrants.

Even for Covid-19 vaccination certification holders, Kien Giang has required a close watch on them in terms of health safety.

The province is building a field hospital of around 500 beds in Ha Tien City while concentrated quarantine centers in Hon Dat and Kien Luong Districts get ready to be active.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long earlier this week said that Kien Giang needs to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Apart from An Giang and Kien Giang, all 13 city and provinces in the Southwest of Vietnam are at the high alert against threat of imported Covid-19 cases.

Since the fresh Covid-19 outbreak in Cambodia broke out on February 20, a large number of Vietnamese people, Cambodian and Chinese nationals attempted to cross the border to enter Vietnam.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes