More than 60 events are set to take place during the 2023 Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival from June 3-6. 

According to the organizers, this year's festival will include art performances, fashion shows, music programs, an artistic light show, street performances, a fine art and photo exhibition, and sports competitions.

In addition, a number of seminars on tourism promotion, culinary culture, as well as science and education will be held on the occasion.

The opening night on June 3 will see a light show featuring drones instead of fireworks like previous festivals.

Nha Trang Sea Festival is held every two years and has become a trademark of the coastal city since 2003. 

In 2021, the festival was suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nha Trang nature is endowed with not only for the crystal-like waters and the pristinely white sand of Nha Trang’s six km beach but also for the many idyllic surrounding islands, which will definitely guarantee you an exotic get-away from the bustling city.

Incense offering to Vietnamese ancestors held in Phu Tho province

Incense offering rituals took place at the Hung Kings Temple Relic Complex on Nghia Linh Mountain in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 25 in commemoration of the nation’s legendary ancestors, Father Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co.

This marked the opening activity in a series of rituals leading up to the death anniversary of the Hung Kings believed to be the founders of the Vietnamese nation, on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 29 this year.

At the Temple of Father Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co, rituals were performed in a dignified and respectful manner in accordance to traditional rites. Delegates offered incense, flowers, and gifts in order to express gratitude and memory of the ancestors' merits.

The participants also prayed for national peace, prosperity, and strong development. The event is part of the Hung Kings Temple Festival and the Culture and Tourism Week of Ancestral Land 2023 which opened in Viet Tri city of Phu Tho province on the evening of April 21.

The 10-day festival consists of a wide range of activities, including performances of intangible cultural heritages of Vietnam honoured by UNESCO; an international conference on Vietnamese tourism, culture, heritages and sustainable development; a swimming and stand-up paddle board competition; the northwest tourism fair 2023; and football and volleyball tournaments.

Vietnam and Cambodia hold joint conference on border cooperation, development

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of the Interior Krolahom Sar Kheng co-chaired the 12th conference on cooperation and development of border localities between Vietnam and Cambodia in Tay Ninh province on April 25. 
      
Vietnam and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on June 24, 1967. Thirty-eight years later, the two countries’ leaders agreed to set out a new motto for the development of bilateral relations - that is “Good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation.”

The cooperative relations between the two countries have since been consolidated and developed in all areas, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, actively contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the wider world.

Both sides have effectively implemented bilateral cooperation mechanisms to help enhance trust and facilitate the settlement of issues that may arise in their relations.

Bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation has been strengthened and yielded encouraging results. To date, Vietnam has 198 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of US$2.92 billion, ranking first in ASEAN and in the top five foreign investors in Cambodia.

Security and defense cooperation between the two countries has been strengthened. The two sides have always affirmed that they do not allow any hostile forces to use their territory to harm the security of the other country.

Currently, relevant agencies, authorities and people residing along the common border are actively coordinating in implementing the border demarcation and border marker planting work on land based on signed treaties and agreements between the two countries.

Both sides have completed 86% of the workload and are working on the remaining 16% to continue building a common border of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development.

The two governments are committed to creating favourable conditions for nationals of the two countries to live in each other’s territories, in accordance with the law of each country.

HCM City to activate COVID-19 treatment units amid infection rise

The Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, the most populous locality in Vietnam, has recently requested that its medical facilities ready plans for the acceptance and treatment of COVID-19 patients amid increases in the number of new cases.      

All hospitals in the city were instructed to set up separate areas to admit and treat COVID-19 patients. Local health centres and medical facilities were required to prepare resources to timely and promptly to respond in the event that the COVID-19 pandemic worsens.

Hospitals were directed to take samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection by the RT-PCR method in order to make the most accurate diagnosis. For hospitalised cases, it is necessary to exploit their history of vaccination, underlying illnesses, and patient information to implement the most effective treatment measures possible.

When the number of severe cases treated at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases exceeds 50, field hospital No. 13 with 1,800 beds will be reactivated to respond to the worst case scenario.

As of April 25, the southern metropolis has recorded more than 200 new COVID-19 cases, with 57 patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

Notably, about 30% of hospitalised cases have not been vaccinated against the virus, and the majority of them are elderly and those suffering from underlying illnesses. Among them are eight children under 16 and five pregnant women.

Local scientists recently found many sub-variants of the SARS-nCov-2 mutated Omicron, including XBB. 1.5, XBB.1.9.1, XBB. 1.16 and XBB.1.16.1. Health professionals fear the number of fresh coronavirus cases would continue to rise in the coming time, especially during the upcoming five-day break to mark National Reunification Day on April 30 and International Labour Day on May 1.

Photography exhibition showcases Hà Nội through the years

Sixteen Vietnamese and international artists display their works at an exhibition showing different perspectives on life in Hà Nội.

The exhibition, Hà Nội – A City in Photography, is the first one organised in the framework of Photo Hanoi’23 – International Photography Biennial. The French Institute in Việt Nam initiated the event with the support of the Hà Nội People’s Committee.

The displayed photos are made in different styles and span years. They all have the common theme of a love for Hà Nội.

Hà Nội in the exhibition appears in many shapes and forms, distinguished by the personal introspections of each artist. Visitors to the exhibition may discover a familiar Hà Nội or a strange land that bears endless resemblances.

The artists include veteran Nguyễn Hữu Bảo, Nguyễn Thế Sơn, Peter Steinhauer, Alexandre Garel and Veronika Radulovic. The exhibition runs from 8am to 5pm at Art and Culture Centre, 22 Hàng Buồm Street, until June 3.

Within the framework of Photo Hanoi’23 – International Photography Biennale, there are also more than 20 solo and group exhibitions and more than 20 sidelines events will be organised.

The event has the presence of more than 100 Vietnamese and international photographers, curators, speakers and experts in the field of photography.

Hung Kings’ death anniversary commemorated in Canada, Germany

The Vietnamese Embassy in Canada on April 23 hosted a ceremony to commemorate the death anniversary of Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the nations, contributing to maintaining the cultural identity and educating the Vietnamese community especially young people, about the national tradition.

The event saw the in-person participation of more than 100 overseas Vietnamese in the eastern provinces of Canada, and the online attendance of representatives of the Canada-Vietnam Association’s chapters across the country.

Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Cao Phong said the unique practice of worshipping Hung Kings shows gratitude to ancestors, and expresses the unity, strong will and solidarity which has helped the nation overcome many difficulties to achieve great achievements like today.

Julie Nguyen, a member of the Canada-Vietnam Association’s chapter in Toronto, said the event offered a chance for OVs to strengthen solidarity, thus building a closer and stronger community.

In recent times, the embassy has worked as a bridge connecting Vietnamese communities in Canada, Phong said.

Through the embassy, Vietnamese-Canadian scientists will make more contributions to the homeland’s development, while many exchange and support activities between OVs in Canada and people in the homeland will be held in the coming time, the diplomat said

A project to teach the Vietnamese language will be re-started in order to educate Vietnamese expats in the North American nation about the cultural tradition, he added.

The same day, a similar event was organised in Sachsen state’s Leipzig city by the Vinh Phu association of fellow-countrymen, with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy and dozens of Vietnamese organisations and associations in Germany.

Vietnamese guest workers get updated on RoK’s law

The Vietnam EPS (Employment Permit System) Labour Management Office, in collaboration with the Support Centre for Foreign Workers in Uijeongbu city of Gyeonggi province, held a meeting on April 23 with Vietnamese labourers working in the city and surrounding areas to update them on the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s law.

As the RoK remains an attractive market for Vietnamese workers, the office has considered law popularisation meetings a regular activity to strengthen the management work and provide support for Vietnamese labourers to ensure they follow their signed contracts and abide by the host country’s law.

At the meeting, participants were also provided with knowledge related to working and living conditions in the RoK, as well as banking and finance for those working under the EPS programme.

Lee Sang-gu, Director of Uijeongbu city's Support Centre for Foreign Workers, said that the centre is always ready to support and give advice to foreign workers in general and Vietnamese in particular on issues directly related to the interests of workers such as wages, living and working conditions, and law observance, thus helping them quickly integrate into the community and have a stable life.

According to the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labour, the country has a plan to employ about 110,000 migrant workers this year to work at farms and factories, but some businesses believed even more will be needed to keep them running.

Vietnam set a target of sending 10,000 workers to the RoK in 2023. Since the beginning of this year, 3,600 labourers have been sent to the East Asian country under the EPS programme.

Last year, Vietnam sent nearly 9,000 workers to the RoK under the EPS programme, out of 70,000 set for 16 selected countries.

Aerobic Vietnam gain momentum ahead of SEA Games 32

Vietnam won a gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the Suzuki Aerobic World Cup 2023 in Tokyo, Japan, from April 20-24, which gave momentum to the athletes to compete at the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32).

The gold medal was awarded to the group performance of Le Hoang Phong, Nguyen Che Thanh, Nguyen Viet Anh, Vuong Hoai An and Tran Ngoc Thuy Vi.

This is the last tournament for the Vietnamese aerobic team before SEA Games 32, slated for May in Cambodia, and it provided a valuable opportunity for them to sharpen their skills, according to Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation Phan Thuy Linh.

The Suzuki Aerobics World Cup 2023 Gymnasts, held by the World Gymnastics Federation, brought together gymnasts from 17 countries.

At SEA Games 31, which took place in Vietnam last year, the Vietnamese aerobic team bagged three gold and two silver medals. They aim to bring home from two to three golds at SEA Games 32.

New, quality products offered to tourists during Reunification holiday

Travel agents in Vietnam are making necessary preparations for the upcoming Hung Kings Commemoration Day, National Reunification and May Day holidays from April 29 to May 3, as the travel demand is forecast to surge.

Right from the beginning of this year, travel agents started offering tours for this long holiday and a large number of tourists have booked tours since March end.

Saigontourist, one of the leading travel companies in Vietnam, said it is offering more than 200 inbound and outbound tours for the holidays. The company is estimated to serve about 100,000 visitors this time.

Vietravel expects to serve around 15,000 inbound and outbound tourists. At present, Phu Quoc island, the central and Central Highlands regions, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Phan Thiet are favourite destinations.

To serve demand, localities have introduced new and attractive tourism products.

Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector forecasts that the number of holidaymakers will increase by 30-40% compared to that of the same period last year to 200,000, with revenue from tourism services to hit over 1.6 trillion VND (68 million USD).

The city is offering around 30 tour programmes, which are renewed continuously, to bring attractive experiences for holidaymakers.
 
Meanwhile, the central province of Quang Tri will cooperate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organise the 2023 Vietnam Cuisine-Culture Festival to introduce the country’s specialties to domestic and foreign tourists.

The annual Hue traditional craft festival in Quang Tri’s neighbouring province of Thua Thien-Hue will be held from April 28 to May 5. The locality is expected to welcome about 95,000 visitors and earn 155 billion VND this festival.

During the holidays, Paradise Delight Dining Cruise, the first offering art show in Vietnam, will be put into operation in Ha Long Bay – a UNESCO-recognised natural heritage in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

This year, Vietnam is striving to serve 110 million tourists, including 8 million foreigners, and earn around 650 trillion VND from tourism services.

New stamp collection features Vietnamese cable cars

A new stamp collection of modern cable cars in Vietnam has been issued by the Vietnam Post Corporation under the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The collection features plenty of cable cars from across the country, including Fansipan cable cars in the northern province of Lao Cai, Ba Na cable cars in the central city of Da Nang, and Hon Thom cable cars in the southern province of Kien Giang, reported Radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

The main image showcases a cable car cabin with the background including an image of the famous tourist attractions from the localities where the cable car is located.

Designed by artist Nguyen Du, the collection includes a 26 x 66 mm stamp and a 70 x 100 mm block.

The prices of the three stamps and a block are 4,000 VND, 6,000 VND, 8,000 VND, and 15,000 VND, respectively.

The latest collection set will be available on the postal network from April 22 to December 31, 2024.

Vietnamese, Argentine news agencies sign cooperation agreement

General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang and President of the Argentine National News Agency (Telam) Bernada Llorente signed a cooperation agreement in Buenos Aires on April 24 (local time).

The signing took place following their talks the same day as part of the ongoing official visit to Argentina by Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

The two sides will also organise practical activities this year to increase information celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, she said.

Established in 1945, Telam is the biggest news agency in Latin America, and churns out the second largest volume of press products in Spanish in the world.

Tay Ninh: 444 wild animals released to nature

As many as 444 wild animals, including many rare and endangered species, have been released back to nature in the southern province of Tay Ninh so far this year, according to the provincial Forest Protection Department.

Tran Thi Ngan Ha, Director of the department, said the agency has just received 35 wild animals voluntarily handed over by local residents in the period, including many listed in the IB group – the group of endangered and critically endangered animals.

The department advises citizens not to release or abandon wild animals on their own and should hand them over to forest protection forces for release into natural environments suitable for each species, contributing to diversifying forest animals and protecting species in danger of extinction.

Tay Ninh is home to 184 animal breeding facilities for commercial purposes, Ha said, adding that relevant units will continue to strengthen management and inspection of these facilities to ensure their compliance with rules on legal origin of forest animals, and promptly detect and handle those that do not abide by regulations, she added.

Vietnam attends gathering celebrating Int’l Mother Earth Day

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), attended a meeting in New York on April 24 to celebrate the International Mother Earth Day, as Vice President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77).

Addressing the event, President of the UNGA 77 Csaba Kőrösi expressed concern about the impact of unsustainable economic development, production, and consumption on the earth.

He also emphasised the need to reduce impacts on the environment, respect biological limits, recognise the interdependence between humans and ecosystems, and look for new solutions to environmental issues.

Representatives from countries have reaffirmed their interest in and commitment to promoting the protection of the earth, responding to climate change, protecting global biological systems and biodiversity, and promoting harmony with nature and the earth, thus realising sustainable development goals (SDGs) and moving towards a more sustainable world.

They stressed that these goals need to be achieved through a variety of measures such as enhancing global cooperation and multilateralism, securing resources and scientific knowledge, transferring technology, building capacity, and promoting joint global efforts to address existing challenges.

In 2009, the UNGA decided to designate April 22 as the International Mother Earth Day with the aim of increasing public awareness and global efforts in protecting the earth and biodiversity, and ensuring harmonisation between humans, other creatures and the earth.

Russia’s Republic of Khakassia eyes multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam

Russia’s Republic of Khakassia is interested in developing cooperation, especially in tourism and trade, with Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, said its head Valentine Konovalov.

He also mentioned a number of other areas with high expectations for collaboration, including light industry, food, agriculture and manufacturing.

The Republic of Khakassia is ready to continue to develop these relations, he said, adding that Khakassia also offers full packages of investment projects for investors, including foreign ones, in the industries.

Regarding tourism, Konovalov said that over the past five years, Khakassia has increased investment in infrastructure by 7.5 times to build modern hotels, public spots and tourist destinations, making them more convenient for visitors.

According to him, there's a high prospect for cooperation with Vietnam, China and other countries in this field because Khakassia is ready to welcome foreign tourists, and its people also like to travel to Southeast Asian countries.

A record number of more than 1 million tourists visited Khakassia last year, he said.

Saltwater intrusion in Mekong Delta to decrease in late April

Saltwater intrusion on the Mekong River is forecast to gradually abate from April 24-30, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Water with a salinity of 4% would intrude 40-45km in the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay rivers and 20-25km in the Cua Tieu and Cua Dai rivers.

During the same period, water with a salinity level of four gramme per litre may encroach 20-25km deep into the Co Chien River, 18-22km into the Hau River and 40-45km into the Cai Lon River.

As reported by the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the level of saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta during the dry season of 2022-2023 is projected to be similar to that of the previous year.

Localities in the Mekong Delta are urged to promptly follow hydro-meteorological forecast updates and take proactive measures to prevent and combat saline intrusion.

They must take advantage of low tides to store fresh water for agriculture and daily life.

It is recommended that farmers limit irrigation to minimise production losses. Before delivering water to crops, salinity must be monitored in areas where fruit trees have high economic value and poor salt tolerance.

Progress recorded in corruption fight: report

Vietnam has reaped significant achievements in the fight against corruption over the past more than 10 years, according to a Government’s report signed by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on April 24.

The report reviews the national anti-corruption strategy in 2020, and the plan implementing the UN Convention against Corruption.

Anti-corruption solutions have been rolled out concertedly with strong political resolve, raising Vietnam’s Corruption Perceptions Index to 39 points in 2021 from only 2.6 points in 2009, pushing the country to the 87th position from the 120th out of the 180 countries in the global rankings.

Under the 2018 Law on Anti-Corruption and the Government’s Decree No. 130/2020/ND-CP, a network of agencies in charge of monitoring assets and income has been set up, the report said, noting that over the past decade, 162 people were disciplined for their violations of regulations on asset and income declaration.

Along with many regulations adopted by the Government stipulating the responsibility of leaders of agencies, ministries, agencies and localities have also issued codes of ethics for officials and public servants.
The report said inspections revealed that up to 4,971 individuals violated such codes during the reviewed period.

Inspections and supervisions targeted such areas as land management and use, construction investment, the equitisation of state-owned enterprises, public procurement, personnel work, and financing.

A total of 73,833 administrative inspections and more than 2 million specialised ones were conducted, detecting 670 cases with 1,815 individuals showing signs of corruption.

Since 2009, investigation agencies at all levels have launched legal proceedings against 2,578 cases involving 5,635 individuals, procuracies handled 3,067 cases with 7,383 individuals, and People’s Courts opened trials for 2,929 cases with 5,605 defendants.

Many senior officials, including leaders of Party and State agencies, have been seriously handled, and the fight receives strong support from the public, the report said.

Vietnamese culture popularised in Birmingham

A programme to popularise the Vietnamese culture was held in Birmingham on April 23 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

The event attracted 150 students from Vietnam and other countries, as well as Vietnamese living in the locality.

Held as part of the Vietnam Days in the UK 2023 which is taking place from March 28 to April 27, it included a range of activities, including a photo exhibition on Vietnam-UK relations, art performances, folk games, and "Ao dai" (Vietnamese traditional long dress) show.

Pham Van Nam, head of the organising board of the programme, said the event contributes to promoting the relationship and solidarity between the two countries. It also aims to create a playground for Vietnamese students studying at universities in the central UK, as well as enhance the connection in the Vietnamese community.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long, as part of the Vietnam Days in the UK 2023, many more activities are planned in the city in April such as a meeting between the Vietnamese Ambassador and the Mayor of Birmingham and a seminar on trade between the two countries.

Domestic airfares for five-day holiday decreases though many routes already sold out

Ticket prices for domestic flights during the upcoming holidays on the occasion of Hùng Kings Commemoration Day, National Reunification, and May Day dropped compared to last week.

A round-trip from Hà Nội to HCM City, offered by Vietjet Air on April 23, departing on April 29 and returning on May 3, sells for just over VNĐ3 million (US$125), which is a 25 per cent decrease from April 14.

Vietnam Airlines is offering the same route for nearly VNĐ3.5 million, a drop of almost 30 per cent compared to April 14.

The price of tickets for flights to other popular tourist destinations such as Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang, and Phú Quốc during the holiday season has also been slashed. Many flights are already fully booked, leaving passengers with limited options for departure times.

With online check-in services available at almost all domestic airports, airlines recommend that passengers use web or app check-in within 24 hours before departure and boarding time to shorten waiting times at the airport.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Administration of Việt Nam instructed airlines to increase flights from Hà Nội and HCM City to meet the high demand during the five-day holidays.

The agency requested 26 additional flights per day between the two cities and other tourist destinations such as Nha Trang, Đà Nẵng, Phú Quốc, Đà Lạt, Huế, Vinh, Buôn Mê Thuột, and Pleiku from April 28 to May 3, which will provide 4,500-5,000 additional seats.

Budget carrier VietJet Air has agreed to increase the number of seats by 20 per cent to 70,000. Vietnam Airlines Group, which includes Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO, will also operate more flights to Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, and HCM City to meet the holiday demand.

The upcoming holidays are expected to be a good chance for transport enterprises to accelerate operations to serve people’s increasing travel demand better.

Phạm Mạnh Hùng, director of the Hà Nội Bus Station Joint Stock Company, said that the five-day holidays coincide with the opening of the tourist season in many provinces and cities, resulting in a sharp increase in travel demand.

As scheduled, the company will arrange an additional 627 vehicles at the capital’s stations of Gia Lâm, Mỹ Đình and Giáp Bát from April 28 to the end of May 4, especially on some routes to provinces that are expected to see a surge in the number of passengers, such as Hà Giang, Quảng Ninh, Nam Định, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Thái Bình, Lào Cai, and Sơn La.

During the peak days, the number of passengers in the Giáp Bát and Mỹ Đình stations will increase by 300 per cent compared to normal days and is estimated at 18,000 passengers per day.

The Gia Lâm bus station is expected to serve 8,000 passengers per day, up 250 per cent compared to the figure on normal days.

To ensure the safety of passengers, representatives of Giáp Bát, Gia Lâm, Mỹ Đình, Nước Ngầm and Yên Nghĩa bus stations said that they have coordinated with relevant units to strengthen inspections to ensure that transport firms do not increase ticket prices and stuff passengers.

The railway sector has also built plans to increase the transport capacity on the North-South route and trains to tourist attractions.

Đỗ Văn Hoan, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hà Nội Railway Transportation Company (Haraco), said that the company plans to provide 81,000 tickets from April 27 to May 3.

A representative from the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) said that during the period from April 28 to May 3, the firm would operate 22 more trains on the routes from Hà Nội to several tourism destinations such as Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An, Quảng Bình, Đà Nẵng, Hải Phòng and Lào Cai.

Meanwhile, 32 more trains will be added for the routes from HCM City to Đà Nẵng, Quảng Ngãi, Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, and Phan Thiết.

Việt Nam to promote welfare for workers returning home

Experts believe it is necessary to create favourable conditions for workers working abroad to return home and invest in production and business, creating jobs for themselves and others.

A report from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) showed that sending workers abroad has strongly improved in terms of both quality and quantity.

The labour market has been expanded, especially in countries that provide good income and working conditions, such as Japan and South Korea. Many new markets have been opened, including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.

The number of Vietnamese workers abroad has increased steadily. Since 2014, it has been over 100,000 people per year. In particular, from 2013 to 2021, Việt Nam sent nearly one million workers abroad.

The MoLISA said that international labour migration in general and labour migration in Southeast Asian (ASEAN) region has increased over the past decades.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the overseas labour market has almost recovered, with the number of workers going abroad returning to pre-pandemic levels.

With experience in crisis response gained in the period, Việt Nam has made many innovations in policies to protect and promote Vietnamese workers’ rights when working abroad and taking advantage of the strengths that this experienced workforce can bring.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyễn Bá Hoan said that labourers working abroad had higher incomes than those working the same fields in the country, contributed significantly to the country's foreign currency reserve and improved the workers’ and their families' lives.

After returning home, this workforce becomes a good resource for the domestic economy and social development. It has been an important factor in spreading professionalism and labour discipline as well as been a cultural bridge between Việt Nam and the world.

Therefore, workers from abroad returning home needed to be used effectively to promote socio-economic development, he said.

Hoan emphasised the important role of the labour force returning to Việt Nam after working abroad. The Party and the State always paid attention to, encouraged and created favourable conditions for them to work in Việt Nam, created jobs for themselves and others, he said.

New COVID variants found in HCM City, health ministry urges vaccination

New Omicron variants of COVID-19 have been discovered in HCM City. 

The variants were found following epidemiological samples of HCM City Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Pasteur Institute HCMC taken on April 21.

According to the HCMC Department of Health, on the afternoon of April 23, the new sub-variants of Omicron found include XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.16.1.

From April 8 to 14, 11 out of 13 epidemiological surveillance samples tested by the centre had evidence of these new sub-variants.

In addition to the recently discovered sub-variant (XBB.1.5), there are also samples belonging to other new sub-variants, including XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.16, and XBB.1.16.1.

The new sub-variants found in the city are also sub-variants that have appeared in many countries around the world and are classified by the WHO as variants of interest (VOIs) or variants under monitoring (VUMs).

Currently, there are no reports showing a correlation between VOIs or VUMs and more severe cases of COVID-19 globally.

However, the Department of Health assessed that with the current situation, the increasing number of new cases will lead to an increase in hospitalisations, which will be difficult to avoid. On the other hand, most of the hospitalised cases are people at risk, including those who have not received enough doses of COVID-19 vaccines according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health.

Hi, Hiền win Oneway Vũng Tàu Marathon

Lê Tấn Hi and Nguyễn Thị Minh Hiền won the first OneWay Vũng Tàu Marathon 2023 on April 23 in Vũng Tàu City.

Hi finished first in the men's 42km class with a time of 2hr 54.32min. He was followed by Lê Thái Hoà, and Nguyễn Văn Chung.

Meanwhile, Hiền topped the women's 42km in 3:19.19, leaving behind fast runners Nguyễn Thị Đường and Lê Thị Hằng.

The winners of the 21km categories were Lê Hữu Lộc (men) and Tạ Thị Minh Nghĩa (women).

Trương Trí Tâm and Cao Thị Thanh Thuý were champions of the men's and women's 10km, while Nguyễn Chí Kiên and Trương Hồng Uyên secured the men's and women's 5km, respectively.  

Nearly 5,000 local and foreign runners participate in the 2023 OneWay Vũng Tàu Marathon on April 23. 
The nice weather and cool wind were ideal conditions for nearly 5,000 runners participating in the first edition of the Oneway Vũng Tàu.

The next event of the Oneway series will be held on Cát Bà Island in October. 

Việt Nam's Red&Gold crowned champion of Asia Tour, ready for SEA Games

Việt Nam's Red&Gold basketball team showed that it was ready for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games by winning the women's division of the Asia Tour 3x3 on April 23 at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, Manila, the Philippines.

Prior to the last three minutes of the match, Sniper led 15-12. But it was time for Việt Nam to fight back.

Captain Huỳnh Thị Ngoan opened the great comeback with accurate shots. Then, it was Kaylynne Trương who shone brilliantly by scoring the final six points to pull her side to a 21-16 come-from-behind win.

The Red&Gold took home a US$5,000 cash prize, setting a record of five unbeaten games at the tournament.

The win was an encouragement for them ahead of their quest to improve on Việt Nam's silver medal finish in the last SEA Games.

In a men's pulsating finale, TNT survived The Performance Lab of Việt Nam by the slimmest of margins, 19-18, to bag the men’s division crown and a purse of $10,000.

After Manila, the players returned home and will move to Phnom Penh for their SEA Games campaign, where both men and women target top positions after missing their gold medals in the last seconds at the previous Games on home soil. 

Song keeps title, Hải defeats strong rival

South Korean Song Chan-ho defended his title while Vietnamese Nguyễn Văn Hải scored a shocking win at the WBO Youth Title Match Chapter 3: The Rising Star on April 22 in Vũng Tàu.

After establishing his domination from the beginning, Song landed a strong punch to the face of his Thai rival Poramin Saengpak. Saengpak was floored and could not stand up before the referee counted to 10.

It was Song's 12th win in 12 matches. He has defended his super lightweight belt three times.

Earlier, Hải beat Chinese former champion Su Xiao Tao by a split decision in the men's super flyweight division.

While Su tried to get closer to beat Hải, the host athlete responded with his accurate hooks and jabs while moved quickly and avoiding punches.

Both received heavy punches that forced them to lose their balance in the second and third rounds.

Finally, Hải was declared the winner, raising his record to five wins and one loss in his pro boxing career. In other matches held at the The Grand Ho Tram Strip, Phạm Hữu Thương of Việt Nam drew Zeng Yujie of China in the Super Flyweight division.

Mongolian Bayarkhuu Ganbaatar knocked out teenager Lee Ju-yeong in the men's super lightweight. South Korean Kim Gun won by points over Tenorio Romeo of the Philippines in the men's super flyweight. Russian Mikhail Lesnikov defeated China's Zhang Xian-hai in the men's welterweight. 

59 Covid-19 vaccination points set up for booster doses in HCMC

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has just issued a Covid-19 vaccination plan to booster doses for residents at 59 vaccination sites in 22 districts and Thu Duc City.

The Municipal Department of Health informed that HCMC has recorded a surge of new Covid-19 infectious cases in recent days amid the appearance of new sub-variants of Omicron strain in the city being XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.16.1 along with a reduction in herd immunity against Covid-19. Of these, the new sub-variants-driven surge has sent Covid-19 hospitalizations skyrocketing, mostly in the groups of people with high infectious risk and those people who had not received enough Covid-19 vaccine doses as regulated by the Ministry of Health.

As planned, the city's health sector will deploy 59 Covid-19 vaccination points in 22 districts and Thu Duc city throughout the upcoming holidays including the death anniversary of Hung Kings (on the 10th of March Lunar Calendar Month), the South Liberation and National Reunification Day on April 30 and May Day (May 1) for adults aged over 18 years old.

Administrative procedure simplified to remove household registration book demand

The Government Office yesterday issued a formal dispatch on the implementation of 19 resolutions to simplify administrative procedures related to population management and residency papers.

Accordingly, legal documents under the promulgating competence of ministers, head of ministerial-level units, the Government, and the Prime Minister are asked to have their amendment, supplement, or replacement completed this June.

Based on those adjustments of ministries and state agencies, the People’s Committees in all provinces and cities amend their own procedures, especially online ones, in order to abolish any requests on displaying the hard copy of household registration books, temporary residence books, residence certificates (even as proof of residence for CV and marital status confirmation).

Thousands of youth join festivals showcasing Vietnamese traditional clothes

Thousands of young people wearing Vietnamese traditional costumes participated in a festival showcasing the traditional costumes of the country that was held in HCMC on April 23.

The third edition of its kind, called Toc Xanh Vat Ao honoring traditional costumes of Vietnam's ethnic minorities, taking place at the HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities, attracted 15 organizations with 18 display booths. The stalls display items, such as collections of artifacts, Vietnamese royal clothes, calligraphy paintings, the culture of old communal houses in Northern Vietnam, northern traditional painting art, pottery products in the past and present, and Champa traditional costumes.

There was also a seminar on the repatriation of antiques to Vietnam, a forum on Vietnamese folk costumes with a vision for the future, and performances of folk music.

Especially, a talk show on preserving and promoting the traditional beauty of Ao Dai, the social and cultural value, art, and cultural identity of the Vietnamese traditional dress drew the participation of speakers.

The festival spotlighting Vietnam’s traditional costumes is part of a cultural week featuring main events. Including a screening week of Vietnamese movies, a fine arts exhibition, a photo contest that takes place from April 23-28

Additionally, a festival themed Gam Voc Chi Bang honoring Vietnamese traditional costumes will be held at the Hanoi University of Industry on April 27.

A program featuring an exhibition of royal and folk clothes of the country was organized at the Academy of Journalism and Communication in Hanoi on April 21-23.

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