An annual ceremony commemorating sailors of the historic Hoang Sa (Paracel) flotilla took place in the communal house of An Vinh village, Ly Son district, the central province of Quang Ngai, on April 24.

The traditional event, namely “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” (Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers), pays tribute to the men enlisted in the flotilla to patrol the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly), tap natural resources, and defend national island sovereignty. In 2013, it was accredited as a national intangible cultural heritage.

According to history, the fleet was established in the early 17th century under the reign of Nguyen Lords in the south. Each year, 70 fishermen were enlisted, commissioned to survey sea routes and erect sovereignty landmarks and steles declaring national territory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. They began their trip in the second lunar month and returned six months later.

Since their mission was fraught with danger, a ceremony was held before the trip to pray for their safety. Puppets representing the men and basics like rice, salt, fuel wood, and drinking water were put on replica boats which were then released into the sea to symbolically substitute for them.

The ceremony has been observed over centuries by families in Ly Son and many coastal areas in Quang Ngai, attracting increasing participation from visitors across Vietnam in recent years.

Following local tradition, after the ceremony, a boat race was held. In the past, such races were organised to select skillful and strong seafarers to join the flotilla./.

Vietnam attends international security meeting in Russia

A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Public Security General To Lam is attending the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues in Russia’s St. Petersburg city from April 23 to April 25.

The event featured the participation of security council secretaries, national security advisors and assistants, deputy prime ministers, and heads of law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies of 106 countries and territories, alongside representatives of 10 international organisations.

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said at a plenary session on April 24 that the meeting opens up plenty of opportunities for the delegates to exchange experience and to seek new approaches and common solutions to pressing regional and global security issues.

In his address, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that international terrorism remains one of the gravest threats of the 21st century, and highlighted the issue of safeguarding the information space from both external and internal threats.

Addressing the plenary session, Minister of Public Security General To Lam briefed the participants on the high-tech crime situation in Vietnam which is among the three Asia-Pacific countries hardest hit by cyberattacks.

He underlined the need to step up  multilateral cooperation within such frameworks as the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), the ASEAN National Police (Aseanpol), and other mechanisms to regulate and support countries in ensuring cyber security, and preventing, combating and handling cybercrime and transnational crime.

Vietnam aspires to intensify exchange experience and initiatives with partners and international friends in crime prevention and control, and protecting national sovereignty in cyberspace, he added.  

Earlier on April 23, To Lam held a bilateral meeting with Patrushev, during which they shared the wish to promote dialogues and collaboration between law enforcement forces of the two nations.

Film week to mark 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

A film week is taking place in Dien Bien Phu city, the northwestern province of Dien Bien, from April 24 to 30 in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - 2024).

The event, coordinated by the Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, aims to educate the public on historical, cultural, and revolutionary traditions; highlight the significance of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and the resistance war against French colonialists; inspire people’s patriotism, solidarity, and gratitude towards fallen soldiers; and affirm the Party and people’s achievements in the struggle for national independence as well as national construction and defence.

The opening ceremony will be held at Dien Bien Phu Cinema on April 24 evening. It will feature “Dao, Pho va Piano” (Peach blossoms, Pho and Piano), a film produced in 2023, and “Dong hanh cung lich su” (Alongside history), a documentary in 2024.

Together with these two films, two others will also be screened at this cinema from April 25 to 30, namely “Tieu doi hoa hong” (Rose Squad) produced in 2021 and the documentary “Ky uc nhung nguoi truyen lua” (Memories of those who spread the fire) in 2019.

Mobile film screening has also been being held from April 18 to serve local people at the Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted, Regiment 82 of Division 355 of Military Region 2, along with the districts of Muong Ang, Tua Chua, Muong Cha, Nam Po, Muong Nhe, Dien Bien Dong, and Dien Bien. The service will come to an end on April 30.

The Cinema Department will also organise an exchange of the film crews of “Dao, Pho va Piano” and “Tieu doi hoa hong” with Regiment 82 on April 25, and another with teachers and students of the Le Quy Don High School the next day.

In addition, an exhibition will also be held at Dien Bien Phu Cinema to showcase documentary photos of the Vietnamese documentary producers and photographers present in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The photos will be later presented to the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum./.

Hanoi exhibition highlights Dien Bien Phu Victory

The Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi is hosting a photo exhibition on the Dien Bien Phu battle to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024).

On display are more than 300 photos, document and exhibits divided into three parts. The first part, themed “Path to Dien Bien”, highlights the military victories after 8 years of waging the resistance war against the French colonialists. It also reveals the Party's policies in the Winter-Spring 1953-1954 war situation, and the strategic location of Dien Bien Phu, along with plots, plans and arrangements of French colonial forces in Dien Bien Phu which was dubbed an "impregnable fortress".

The second part, titled "Determined to fight, determined to win", demonstrates the strategic determination of the Party Central Committee to open the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the preparation in all aspects, the spirit of determination to win of the entire Party, people, and army in the campaign. This part reveals the undaunted, brave, and creative fighting of the Vietnamese army and people on all fronts resulted in a glorious victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”.

The last part of the exhibition introduced present-day Dien Bien as a locality that is developing strongly, a strategic location in terms of economy, defence and security, and an attractive cultural and tourist destination. Historical relic sites associated with the Dien Bien Phu Victory is well preserved and promoted, becoming a red address for traditional education for young generations.

Speaking at the opening of the event, Colonel Dinh Xuan Hoa, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Military History Museum, said the exhibition introduces a lot of photos, exhibits and precious documents for the first time, notably the Conclusion of Commander-in-Chief General Vo Nguyen Giap at the Dien Bien Phu Campaign staff conference on February 7, 1954.

The exhibition, which lasts until the end of May, aims to pay tribute to the sacrifice of heroic martyrs in the struggle for national liberation as well as contribute to educating patriotic and revolutionary traditions for young generations./.

Victims in southwestern border defence war commemorated

A ceremony was held in the town of Ba Chuc, Tri Ton district, the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on April 24 to commemorate people massacred by the Pol Pot genocidal regime in 1978 during the southwestern border defence war.

At the ceremony, participants observed a moment of silence to remember the 3,157 victims ruthlessly killed in the town's Tuong and Dai mountain areas.

The same day, a cultural park dedicated to the victims was inaugurated, meeting the needs of local people to commemorate their lost loved ones and serving their cultural activities.

Immediately after the end of the border defence war, the Party, State, and An Giang province built the Ba Chuc crypt. By 2013, it was upgraded into a historical site to commemorate the victims of the massacre and educate future generations about patriotic traditions. Currently, the site preserves 1,159 skulls, of which 1,017 have been identified for age and sex./.

Vietnam, RoK enhance defence collaboration

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang on April 24 received Deputy Defence Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Kim Seon Ho, who is in Vietnam to attend the 11th Vietnam-RoK defence policy dialogue.

Giang affirmed that Vietnam consistently values its diplomatic relations with the RoK, and wants to work with the country to further deepen bilateral ties for the common benefits of their people, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

He acknowledged the RoK’s care and support for Vietnam’s efforts to overcome war consequences, especially the removal of unexploded ordnance for the RoK - Vietnam Peace Village project to clean up areas still contaminated with mines and bombs in Vietnam.

He proposed the two sides continue to promote and actively implement effective cooperation in addressing war consequences in Vietnam and defence industry.

The minister took this occasion to invite the Korean Defence Ministry’s leaders and Korean defence enterprises to attend the second International Defence Exhibition slated for this December.

Speaking highly of the two countries’ defence relations, Kim Seon Ho agreed to fully implement the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation between the two defence ministries, and important cooperation activities agreed upon by the two ministers during Giang’s visit to the RoK in 2023./.

Vietnam, India boost education cooperation

The Indian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City held the India-Vietnam Meet in Education Sector, themed “InnovEdu: Training and Partnership” on April 24.

Le Thuy My Chau, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training, said that the city boasts nearly 60 higher education institutions which have been providing high quality human resources for the country's development.

It also serves as a venue to promote technology transfer, apply scientific and technical advances to life, meeting the requirements of industrialisation, modernisation and international integration, she said. Some of the universities have made their way on to prestigious regional and world rankings.

"With that strength, we look forward to exchanging and cooperating with Indian higher education institutions to promote each other's strengths amidst globalisation of education," Chau said.

Madan Mohan Sethi, Indian Consul General in HCM City, said that India and Vietnam have had many cooperation programmes, of which developing high-quality human resources is one of the common goals that both countries are aiming for.

Boasting strengths in a range of fields, including education and training, India wishes to promote cooperation with Vietnam in this field in the coming time, the Indian diplomat added.

Representatives of Indian and Vietnamese universities and businesses affirmed that they will promote collaboration to establish joint education and training programmes in many industries, particularly automation and educational innovation.

Nguyen Thi Thu Suong, acting head of the Office for Science Management under municipal Department of Science and Technology, suggested that units can consider establishing exchange programmes for students, lecturers, and scientists as well as jointly organising seminars, exchanging in-depth knowledge and conducting joint research projects.

Programmes in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) that the city is implementing are relevant to those that have been developed in India, she noted.

Suong held that with extensive experience and achievements in software and information technology, India can provide Vietnam in general and HCM City in particular with experience and high quality training courses, especially in priority areas such as AI, IoT and microchips./.

Vietnamese, Philippine coast guards convene first conference

The first bilateral conference between the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) took place in Hanoi on April 24.

At the event, VCG Commander Maj. Gen Le Quang Dao and PCG Commander Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan spoke highly of the results of cooperation between the two sides.

Dao stressed that their relationship has been developing favourably and effectively since the two Commanders signed and exchanged the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral maritime cooperation, under the witness of the Vietnamese and Philippine Presidents in January 2024.

About 2024 cooperation activities, they agreed that the VCG will send a ship for an exchange with the PCG. The Philippine side will consider sending officers to the second "Vietnam Coast Guard and friends" exchange, and hold the second bilateral conference in the Philippines.

Both sides will actively attend training courses and conferences hosted by each other, responsibly engage in activities within multilateral frameworks of which both are members; and continue to enhance information exchange on maritime law enforcement, combating piracy and armed robbery, and search and rescue.

They reached a high consensus on further enhancing collaboration in maritime law enforcement in accordance with international law, serving the two countries’ common goal for a secure, safe and prosperous maritime environment./.

Vietnam-Indonesia Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation convenes fifth meeting

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi co-chaired the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Indonesia Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Hanoi on April 24.

Son congratulated Indonesia on its successful general election earlier this year, believed that Indonesia would continue to prosper, elevate its position on the international arena, and become a developed country by 2045, its 100th founding anniversary.

Marsudi, for her part, affirmed that Indonesia always values and wishes to further enhance its strategic partnership with Vietnam. She hailed Vietnam's successful organisation of the ASEAN Future Forum, which has significantly contributed to promoting the building of a strong and self-reliant ASEAN Community, upholding its central and pioneering role in coping with regional challenges.

The two ministers agreed to further facilitate all-level exchanges and meetings, effectively uphold existing cooperation mechanisms, expedite the completion of the action plan for the 2024-2028 period, contributing to fostering political trust and deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, toward elevating bilateral relationship to new heights.

Indonesia is currently Vietnam's third largest trading partner while Vietnam is the fourth biggest trading partner of Indonesia in ASEAN. Two-way trade hit 14 billion USD in 2023, and reached 3.6 billion USD in the first quarter of 2024, up 20% annually.

Toward a two-way trade of 18 billion USD by 2028, with a more balanced fashion, both sides pledged to encourage the early organisation of a meeting of the Joint Commission on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, hold trade promotion activities and help firms access each other's markets.

Minister Marsudi stressed that Indonesian enterprises are increasingly interested in expanding their investments in Vietnam. In reply, Son suggested that both sides create favourable conditions for their businesses to expand and diversify investments, particularly in new and promising fields such as green economy, circular economy, renewable energy, semiconductor industry, digital economy, electric vehicles and Halal cooperation.

Host and guest vowed to reinforce collaboration in national defence-security, fight against cross-border crimes, including cyber and human trafficking crimes. They also encouraged promoting air connectivity and increased cooperation in agriculture, aquaculture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

On the global and regional issues of shared concern, including the East Sea and Myanmar issues, they promised to continue offering mutual support at multilateral and regional organisations and forums, such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation.

The two sides concurred to maintain ASEAN’s solidarity and agreed principles on the East Sea issue to ensure regional peace, stability and prosperity on the basis international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They also pledged to step up the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and actively push for the early conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

The sixth meeting of its kind is scheduled to be held in Indonesia in 2026./.

Lao minister seeks Vietnamese tech solutions in logistics

Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith on April 24 led a delegation to FSI Investment and Trading Technology Development JSC (FSI) to explore Make in Vietnam technology solutions that could support Laos' digital transformation in the logistics sector and, consequently, propel economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

FSI General Director Doan Huy Thuan FSI presented the company's extensive ecosystem, encompassing over 50 products, saying that FSI offers digital solutions for the logistics sector with outstanding advantages.

Vietnam and Laos share a borderline of over 2,330km with a total of 33 active border gates, including 9 international, 6 main and 18 auxiliary border gates.

Border trade plays a crucial role in bilateral economic relations, accounting for up to 90% of the total trade value between the two nations.

Despite this strong foundation, the overall trade turnover between Vietnam and Laos currently represents only a small fraction of their global trade activity. Laos' total import-export volume sees Vietnam contributing just 10%, while Vietnam's global trade involvement reflects minimal engagement with Laos (0.2%).

One of the key constraints hindering expansion of bilateral trade is the high cost of logistics compared to competing countries.

Under the bilateral trade agreement signed on April 8, 2024, both countries agreed to adopt information technology in customs procedures and statistics collection. This presents an effective solution to address the high logistics costs, potentially leading to shorter processing times, reduced business expenses, and increased transparency./.

Vietnamese, Algerian Parties forge cooperation

Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, on April 24 held online talks with Mourad Lamoudi, who is in charge of external relations at the National Liberation Front (FLN) Party Central Committee of Algeria.

FLN Secretary General Abdelkrim Benmbarek attended the talks.

The FLN leaders asked Trung to convey their regards to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Party and State leaders of Vietnam, and highly valued achievements in Party building and national development the country has recorded over the past time.

The Algerian side also extended congratulations to Vietnam on the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7) and President Ho Chi Minh’s 134th birthday (May 19).

They highlighted the time-honoured relationship between the two Parties, which was established in 1955, only one year after the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

For his part, Trung conveyed regards from General Secretary Trong and other Vietnamese leaders to Secretary General Abdelkrim Benmbarek and other leaders of the FLN Party and the State of Algeria.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation through all-level meetings and contacts, and experience exchange in various fields, contributing to boosting the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

They will also expand people-to-people exchange and further coordinate at international forums.

The sides consented to work towards the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two Parties, thus contributing to creating a firm political foundation for the Vietnam-Algeria relationship./.

Film screenings, exhibitions to mark Dien Bien Phu Victory

The Vietnam Film Institute said on April 24 that it will coordinate with relevant agencies to organise exhibitions and film screenings in Dien Bien Phu city of the northwestern province of Dien Bien, and Ho Chi Minh City.

The activities aim to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024), according to the institute.

An exhibition will be held in Dien Bien Phu from May 3-8, showing about 250 photos on the campaign 70 years ago and present Dien Bien, which have been preserved by the institute itself, the Vietnam Military History Museum and the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Some documentaries produced in 1954, 1964 and 1994 will also be screened from May 3-5.

Meanwhile, in the southern metropolis, such activities will take place from May 15-23./.

Vietnam supports global agreement on plastic pollution

A delegation of Vietnamese negotiators joined those from 176 countries worldwide at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) on plastic waste in Ottawa, Canada, on April 23.

This session is to work towards finalising an agreement on a global treaty to eliminate plastic pollution by the end of this year. To achieve this goal, negotiators will need to reach a comprehensive legally binding compromise on plastic waste.

In his opening speech, Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault said plastic has become a microcosm of consumer culture since the mid-20th century, adding that the world has depended on this culture.  He underlined the necessity to forge a new consensus to eliminate this, putting an end to the waste, expense, and harm of plastic.

On the threshold of the meeting, Guilbeault said the meeting's goal is to achieve consensus on 60-70% of the treaty's content.

Vietnamese head delegate, Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) Le Ngoc Tuan said Vietnam supports the current approach to tackling plastic pollution, but noted that to prepare for negotiations in this session and the next one, specific assessments of future impacts when participating in the agreement are necessary.

As a developing country, Vietnam seeks a balance where, alongside control measures, consideration should be given to implementation methods, including financial, technological, and capacity aspects, he said.

Talking to Vietnam News Agency in Canada, Tuan said Vietnam and other member countries all support building a legally binding global agreement to address plastic pollution.

He noted that this will serve as a legal framework for member countries to develop actions to reduce plastic pollution and collectively address environmental challenges.

Anthony Merante, a plastic waste campaigner from Oceana Canada, asserted that the world cannot delay resolving this crisis any longer.

Plastic pollution knows no borders and is the second most urgent environmental issue after climate change, he said, noting that the devastation caused by plastic pollution in the ocean is undeniable.

Methods and implementation roadmaps are also  crucial because each country has its level of development and unique circumstances, making it impossible to apply a one-size-fits-all formula, he stressed

Statistics show that annual plastic production has more than doubled over the past 20 years to 460 million tonnes, and is on track to triple. Only 9% of the total is recycled.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the "contribution" of plastic to global warming is likely to more than double by 2060.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, emphasised the urgency for a treaty and specific actions to combat plastic pollution, affirming that time is running out for both finalising a treaty and for the earth's resilience./.

4x400m runners to practise in Thailand for Olympic spot

The women's 4x400m team of Việt Nam will have one-month of intensive training in Thailand in preparation for their Asian championship, which is also an Olympic qualifying event.

The Việt Nam Athletics Federation said four runners - Quách Thị Lan, Nguyễn Thị Hằng, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc, Hoàng Thị Minh Hạnh and Lê Thị Tuyết Mai - would begin their course on April 25. It is an important warm-up for their international competitions in the next few months.

The key event will be the Asian Relay Championship in Thailand on May 20 where the Vietnamese expect a good result to be in the world top 16 and grab their ticket to the Paris Olympics.

Việt Nam's 4x400m team are No. 1 in the continent after winning the gold medal at the 2023 Asian championship with a time of 3min 32.06sec. Their result improved at the 19th Asian Games to 3:31.61.

In the world, they are No. 28.

"We believe that we have a big chance to secure an Olympic spot. It depends on how each of us performs at the upcoming competition," said Lan. "We just finished a training course in HCM City and have gradually improved."

"We hope to receive the support and encouragement from the people, which are strong motivations for us to work harder," she said. 

Korean media gives reasons to enjoy Nha Trang and Phu Quoc this summer

Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have become two popular destinations among travelers seeking a perfect blend of natural beauty and vibrant city life, according to daily newspaper Maeil Business of the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Featuring zip lines, diving spots, exciting performances, and theme parks, both places represent ideal destinations for those who prefer exciting activities and exotic experiences.

Located in the middle of the nation’s largest natural forest, Kong Forest is Nha Trang's first jungle activity park and is a new attraction that opened only in 2022. Travelers can enjoy exciting adventures in clean nature through various activities such as rafting and camping, according to Maeil Business.

Sunset Town is the cultural hub of Phu Quoc, where tourists can enjoy spectacular street scenery and wonderful performances. Every evening Sunset Town hosts the world's largest maritime multimedia show "Kiss of the Sea", which has been newly introduced since this year. 

Darkness, light, fire, and water all come and go against the backdrop of a 1,000㎡ water screen, creating various special effects, the Korean magazine added.

In particular, the spectacular fireworks that mark the end of the show attract cheers from viewing crowds. It is said that the quality is higher than that of the existing performance due to the addition of a spectacular stage effect to the flashy performance performed by 60 artists from 20 countries, the article concluded.

Vietnamese arrivals to Japan continue to set record high

The number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan in March reached a new record of 67,000, up 41% from 2019 and a rise of 25.6% compared to the same period from 2023, according to statistics compiled by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO).
 
During the first three months of the year Japan received 172,100 Vietnamese tourists, showing a year-on-year increase of 40.3%, higher than some Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia with 134,200 arrivals, Singapore with 132,000 arrivals, and Indonesia with 117,000 arrivals.

These figures mean that Vietnam ranked ninth among the top 25 countries sending tourists to Japan during the January to March period, the JNTO reported.

Japan is one of the top foreign destinations of Vietnamese holiday-makers as many people are keen to discover it during the cherry blossom season between late March and mid-April. Visitors can also watch flowers bloom in some areas until late May.

Furthermore, tourists can easily fly to localities around Japan such as Kagoshima, Kagawa, and Fukishima prefectures from major cities in Vietnam.

Free film screening to mark major national celebrations

A free film screening will be organised at the National Cinema Centre in Hanoi from April 30 to May 7 to coincide with the country’s major celebrations.

The films will showcase aspects of national history, revolutionary soldiers, and young people in both wartime and peacetime, with the aim of marking major national celebrations such as the Reunification Day on April 30, Labour Day on May 1, the Dien Bien Phu Victory on May 7, and the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh on May 19.

Among them will be films “Đừng đốt” (Don't Burn), “Mùi cỏ cháy” (The Scent of Burning Grass), and “Ký ức Điện Biên” (Memory of Dien Bien).

The occasion will see several documentary films introduced to audiences, including “Điện Biên Phủ” (Dien Bien Phu) and “Đồng hành cùng lịch sử” (Alongside history).

The film screenings will be held at 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. from April 30 to May 7. Free tickets will be available at the National Cinema Centre in Hanoi from April 27.

Local track-and-field athletes begin competition at Asian U20 Championships

The national track-and-field team arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to compete in the 21st Asian U20 Athletics Championships, with the regional sporting event being held from April 24 to April 27.

The nation's best sprinter Tran Thi Nhi Yen is set to compete in the women's 100m and 200m events.

Yen, 19, hails from Long An province and secured three gold medals and set three records in the women's 100m, 200m, and long jump events at national championships. 

At the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) held in Cambodia back in 2023, she bagged a bronze medal in the 100m and a silver medal in the 200m events. 

Yen also finished sixth at the Asian Championships 2023's 100m. At the 2023 Asian Games she was eighth in the 100m and seventh in the 200m on her debut.

Furthermore, Le Thi Tuyet Mai, who was the national youth champion in the 400m and obtained a gold medal in the relay event at the Southeast Asian Athletics Championship, is also expected to bring home medal at the Asian U20 Championships this year.

Vietnam will also send four other athletes to the competition, including Le Quoc Huy who will compete in the 400m, Vu Thi Tra My in the 400m, Ta Ngoc Tuong in the 100m and 200m, and Pham Xuan Tien in the long jump.

Quang Ngai barge sinking leaves three dead and two missing

A barge capsized when travelling to Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai, killing three and leaving two others unaccounted for.

Quang Ngai Border Guard Chief Commander Major General Tran Tuan Anh reported that the incident occurred this morning, April 24 when the barge was transporting stone from Ky Ha District to Ly Son Island. It suddenly sank some three nautical miles from Ly Son.

Rescue force recovered three bodies at around 10 am, while two others remained missing.

The barge was carrying heavy stones amid rough waters, which would have been the main cause of the incident, according to an initial assessment by local authorities.

Quang Ngai has continued to search for the missing.

Water pumped into Long An river to ease saline intrusion

Around 7.1 million cubic metres of water are being pumped into Vam Co Dong River in the Mekong Delta province of Long An to mitigate saline intrusion.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the water will be discharged from Dau Tieng Reservoir into the Vam Co Dong River between April 23-28.

According to the Southern Irrigation Exploitation One Member Limited Company, the firm will closely monitor saline intrusion in the river to adjust the water pumping plan.

Because of the prolonged heatwave, Long An is struggling with severe saltwater intrusion. The water level in rivers, canals and ditches has significantly dropped.

Saline instruction in the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay rivers has hit agriculture production.

On April 17, Long An declared an emergency after saltwater intrusion affected 20,000 people.

US and Việt Nam join hands in regional IUU Fishing action

More than 70 regional and international officials and experts in fisheries law enforcement from around the world have joined the regional workshop on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the central city.

Representatives taking part are from the United States, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Việt Nam.

The workshop, which was organised by the US Mission in Việt Nam, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the US Coast Guard, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries Surveillance of Việt Nam, is the third iteration of successful INL-funded regional IUU fishing workshops previously held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September 2022 and Cebu, Philippines in May 2023.  

Participants shared discussions and updates on global IUU fishing trends, challenges facing the region’s fishing sector, information sharing initiatives, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) overview, and fishing vessel monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) tools.

They also shared insights on how to address domestic and overseas IUU fishing violations through practical exercises based on realistic scenarios.

This regional workshop also presents a platform for partners to meet and exchange information on the current context of maritime law enforcement and seek opportunities to strengthen partnerships that help combat IUU fishing effectively.

This workshop is an example of how the new US-Việt Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership can address shared challenges in ways that make a lasting impact on future prosperity, as the US is committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific and a strong, prosperous, independent and resilient Việt Nam, according to the US Embassy.

Last year, the fishery industry in 28 coastal provinces of Việt Nam committed to take severe measures to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, to remove the 'yellow card' warning issued by the European Commission.

The Government, ministries and local authorities have been improving legal enforcement, supervision on the implementation of the law and traceability requirements through heavier fines for illegal fishing, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The ministry asked local authorities and fishery agencies to clarify the responsibilities of fishing boat management, reporting on the punishment of IUU-violated vessels and sharing information and data on fishing boat registration and catch among local authorities.

The government, ministries and local authorities determined to implement anti-IUU fishing measures to affirm Việt Nam as a ‘trust and responsibility’ partner.

A report from the ministry said 11 out of 28 provinces now monitor fishing boats more than 6m in length, while 28,739 out of 29,827 fishing vessels (96.35 per cent) have installed vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

The number of fishing boats on the National Fisheries Database (Vnfishbase) was identified at 74,521, down 14,024 boats since September 2022, and 86.7 per cent of fishing vessels are officially registered. 

Gift festival expected to promote Hanoi tourism

A series of arts and cultural activities will be launched as part of the Hanoi tourism gift festival which is set to run from August 23 to August 25 in order to promote the capital’s image as an attractive and safe tourist destination.

The festival will run with the theme of Hà Nội – Đến Để Yêu (Hà Nội – Come to Love) and will kick off at the pedestrian zone in front of Thong Nhat (Reunification) Park on Tran Nhan Tong street.

Local craft villages and businesses will display an array of gift products across 70 booths at the event, introducing gift products from typical craft villages in Hanoi such as Phu Vinh rattan and bamboo village, Thach Xa bamboo dragonfly village, and Bat Trang pottery village.

Furthermore, a visual art exhibition making use of 3D mapping technology,  an interactive light performance space incorporating modern technological devices, is expected to offer new experience for visitors.

Festival goers will also have the chance to view artistic photographs depicting Hanoi’s beauty; sample the capital’s unique cuisine; and participate in various handicraft workshops, such as making woven bamboo dragonflies, coffee brewing, paper flower crafting, and creating colourful gifts guided by experts and artisans.

Other activities include art performances, flash mobs, and hip-hop dancing.

The festival is part of activities marking the 79th National Day of Vietnam on September 2 and the 70th Capital Liberation Day on October 10.

North to face more hail, whirlwinds

Vietnam’s northern region has been forecasted to experience more hailstorms and whirlwinds, particularly until early June.

According to National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting’s Forecasting Department head Nguyen Van Huong, the temperature in Vietnam would be higher than average due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon.

More hail, thunderstorms, and whirlwinds would occur between now and early June, Huong added.

People should not seek shelter under trees during storms to avoid the risk of trees being uprooted or getting struck by lightning. When there is a thunderstorm, people should stay indoors, Huong noted.

It is also important for people to monitor weather conditions on the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting website or through mass media channels.

Over the past three days, whirlwinds killed one person and injured eight others in Vietnam. Meanwhile, around 6,891 houses in the provinces of Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Son La, Phu Tho and Quang Ninh were damaged.

Whirlwinds often start in Vietnam in March and April and end in early November.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau to clear 43 hectares of forest for coastal road project

More than 43 hectares of forests will be cleared for two expanded coastal road projects in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The expansion of Coastal Road 994 will involve the clearance of 34.40 hectares of protective and special-use forests in Dat Do and Xuyen Moc districts, according to a recently approved provincial plan.

The 77-km road that connects Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Thuan provinces will be expanded to between 6-8 lanes, allowing speeds of 80 km per hour. There are currently dozens of tourism projects along this road. Once completed, the road is expected to help Ho Tram become a national tourist site.

Construction of the 3.70-km Long Son-Cai Mep Coastal Road will also use 9.40 hectares of protective forest land. The VND1.19 trillion six-lane road will connect Vung Tau, Long Son, Cai Mep, Thi Vai and Phu My with surrounding localities.

African swine fever spreads in Dak Nong

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has warned that African swine fever is spreading in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.

Up to 223 pigs weighing over three tonnes have been culled in the province due to African swine fever. The epidemic has been reported in Nam Dong Commune in Cu Jut District, Dak Som Commune in Dak Glong District and Dak R’tih in Tuy Duc District.

Around 195 pigs were transported to Dak Rtih Commune from other localities.

Two African swine fever outbreaks were experienced in Nam Dong Commune, affecting 29 pigs earlier this month.

African swine fever affected 21 households in Dak Nong last year, causing 465 pigs to be killed. This resulted in hundreds of millions of VND in losses.

Businesses honored for developing and promoting reading culture

20 enterprises developing and promoting reading culture were honored at a ceremony which was held in HCMC on April 22.

The event is one of the activities of the 3rd Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2024 opened at Paris Commune Square on April 19.

Speaking at the event, Editor-in-Chief of the Saigon Entrepreneur Magazine Tran Hoang said that the participation of businesses in developing and promoting reading culture made significant contributions to the development of the Book and Reading Culture Day in HCMC in particular and the country in general.

Enterprises honored for developing and promoting reading culture are Anh Tam Lawyer Office, Asia Dragon Capital Joint Stock Company, CT Group, Green Plus Joint Stock Corporation, HPT Information Technology Services Joint Stock Company, and others.

The 3rd Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2024 featuring more than 300 activities took place with various activities at Cong Xa Paris (Paris Commune Square) situated at the intersection of Nguyen Du and Le Duan Streets and HCMC Book Street in District 1 from April 15 to May 1.

Many people face heat-related health problems

Extreme heat causes chaos for people in the whole country, especially those people who live in dangerous heat-hit areas with temperatures of up to 39- 40 degrees Celsius.

The intense hot climate could lead risk of disease outbreaks and result in health problems regarding physical and mental health in both adults and children, especially people with underlying diseases, like stress, sleep disturbances, heat stroke, heat exhaustion and fatigue.

The National Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai Hospital recorded the numerous patients for examination and treatment regarding insomnia, headaches and heat stress under the impacts of the ongoing extreme hot weather.

According to doctors, high temperature is one of the factors that increase the risks of heat stress during sleep and make the body tired.

It is forecast that the whole country will continue to tolerate more extreme heatwaves in the coming time; therefore, residents are recommended to protect their health, especially their mental health.

According to health experts, everyone should avoid going outdoors during the recommended time, working too hard and drinking alcoholic and caffeinated beverages instead of drinking plenty of water.

As for those people with symptoms of prolonged insomnia, sleep disturbances or stress if any, it is necessary to see their doctors for treatment timely.

HCMC piloting smart neighborhood establishing

Being a basic unit of any urban area, a neighborhood when successfully developed becomes a strong base for the establishment of a smart city in the future.

After the rearrangement of administrative units, HCMC will have 3,654 urban neighborhoods and 1,207 suburban ones and no more residential groups. This helps to optimize daily operations of state offices in the city while reducing their overhead costs. In addition, the HCMC Party Committee has just asked localities to launch digital platforms for communication purposes among neighborhoods to strengthen connections between the authorities and citizens.

The rearrangement of neighborhood citywide is both a challenge and an opportunity for each locality in HCMC to opt for better administrative models based on advanced technologies. Smart management solutions will be adopted in various aspects of life, ranging from traffic, energy, environment to education and healthcare.

It is expected that a smart neighborhood will own a camera system to strictly monitor the security and safety status.

Its residents can look up necessary traffic information via either applications installed on their smart devices or smart information e-board set up in the neighborhood. These dwellers can easily report environmental or security problems through social network platforms and formal applications launched by the local authorities. They can also track the progress of administrative document processing.

Neighborhood leaders and local police officers all play an essential role in receiving and handling the public’s feedback or reports regarding maintaining social security, safety, and order in the area they are in charge of.

In order to reach such a wonderful scenario of a smart neighborhood, it is necessary to consider such elements as existing technological infrastructure, financial resources, and the cooperation of residents in that neighborhood.

The task to ensure privacy protection and information security is a tough challenge as well during the process to create a smart neighborhood. Nevertheless, no matter what difficulties there are, the construction of such a functional neighborhood is a vital step to form a smarter and more sustainable HCMC in the future.

Finally, establishing a smart neighborhood does not mean merely focusing on the technological side but the maintenance of local cultures and solidarity. Any cultural activities in a neighborhood must be fostered to form a stronger bond among members of this community as well as respect for the natural environment.

The creation of a self-management team and implementation of various solutions to control security and safety is indispensable to have a healthy and vibrant neighborhood.

HCMC’s 2nd Int’l Photography Festival to open in November

The 2nd HCMC International Photography Festival will be held in the city on November 29- December 2 by the HCMC Photographic Association (HOPA).

The HCMC International Photography Festival aims to affirm the role of photography in the southern metropolis and offer an opportunity for local and international artists to meet and exchange experiences on the art of photography.

The event will be organized with various activities to promote the development of the photographic culture industry, such as an International Street Photography Exhibition on Dong Khoi and Nguyen Du streets in District 1, another display titled “My beloved City” in front of Chi Lang Park, a Photography Fair at the HCMC Youth’s Cultural House, a photography composition camp under the theme “HCMC through the lens of international photography”.

On this occasion, the organizer in coordination with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA), the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), the Image Sans Frontiere (ISF) has also launched the 3rd HCMC International Photography Contest. Participants can submit their entries to the site www.hopaphotocontest3rd.com.

Training course opened for mine action workers

A pre-deployment training course for captains and technicians of the mine action for the Republic of Korea (RoK) - Vietnam Peace Village project was opened in Hanoi on April 22.

The course, to last until April 28, is organised by the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

It is the first capacity building activity within the project’s framework and also a compulsory task to be fulfilled before implementing the project so that the participating forces are updated on mine action and unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination in the central provinces of Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Thua Thien - Hue.

During the course, participants will be equipped with comprehensive knowledge about UXO and explosive-related issues, data management, quality management in UXO detection and clearance, and financial management, among others, to ensure consistent project implementation and minimise risks.

In his opening remarks, VNMAC Deputy General Director Col. Le Quang Hop said the VNMAC, KOICA, and UNDP worked together to successfully carry out the Korea - Vietnam Mine Action Project (KVMAP) from 2018 to 2021. Following this project’s success, the three sides continue cooperating to implement the mine action for the Korea - Vietnam Peace Village project to help with socio-economic development and bring about peace and safety for residents in Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Thua Thien - Hue.

The new project is funded by the RoK Government through KOICA and given technical support by UNDP. The Vietnamese Government and Ministry of National Defence assigned the VNMAC to coordinate the project implementation.

The project will be carried out from 2024 to 2026, aiming to conduct technical survey of about 15,000ha of land while searching and clearing about 6,000ha of UXO and explosive-contaminated areas in the three provinces.

Airlines proposed to add more flights to Dien Bien during grand celebration

The People's Committee of Dien Bien Province has just issued a dispatch suggesting an increase in the frequency of flights to the locality to meet the high travel demand of people on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

The provincial leaders informed that a grand celebration marking the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory will take place in Dien Bien Province.

This is a significant national event with the attendance of the Party and State leaders, and leaders from ministries and centrally-run agencies and provinces as well as international guests, tourists, and people.

Therefore, the People's Committee of Dien Bien Province suggested the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and domestic airlines increase the frequency of flights to Dien Bien Airport serving for delegates and people, especially increasing the frequency of flights from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Dien Bien from May 3 to May 9.

Specifically, Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air are proposed to arrange early flights at 5 a.m.-6 a.m. on May 7 to serve working delegations attending the events, military parade and parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory in Dien Bien Province.

Two expressway interchanges in northern Vietnam temporarily shut down

Just two days after they were opened to traffic, Thieu Giang and Dong Thang interchanges on the Mai Son-National Highway 45 expressway have been temporarily closed, the local media reported.

The closure, announced on April 24 by the Department of Transport of Thanh Hoa Province in northern Vietnam following a notice from the Thang Long Project Management Board, is required to finalize certain unfinished elements, such as lighting systems and signage, to ensure traffic safety.

As a result of the closure, vehicles are being rerouted an additional 30-40 kilometers, causing inconvenience to road users.

The Thang Long Project Management Board had initially requested the commissioning of these interchanges on April 19. These interchanges serve as vital nodes among seven interchanges connecting the North-South expressway through Thanh Hoa Province.

The interchanges might be reopened on May 1.

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