Millions of children in Vietnam have been protected by immunisation over the past 40 years, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF offices in Vietnam on April 25 when they mark the World Immunisation Week from April 24-30.

The number of children dying from vaccine-preventable causes in Vietnam has been reduced significantly since 1981, when the country introduced the national immunisation programme – the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) – with the aim to ensure that every child, everywhere in Vietnam can receive the lifesaving protection of routine immunisations, the two UN agencies said in their joint media release issued on April 25.

Since the start of the programme, Vietnam has eradicated smallpox and polio, eliminated neonatal tetanus, and dramatically reduced other vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, and Japanese encephalitis, by immunising millions of children.

According to WHO and UNICEF, vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Globally, in the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved nearly 154 million lives (more than 3 million a year) with more children now living to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history.

UNICEF Vietnam Representative Rana Flowers said that Vietnam’s immunisation programme has been instrumental in saving children’s lives and alleviating the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases on families, communities and the country as a whole for over 40 years.

"Looking forward, we strongly encourage the Government of Vietnam to sustain this tremendous achievement, so that every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive and lead a healthy life," she said.

In Vietnam, vaccines covered by the programme are free for all children. Immunisation is safe and the most effective way to protect children against many preventable deadly diseases. However, like many other countries, routine immunisation services in Vietnam were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children who are not vaccinated are at an increased risk of serious illnesses that are easily prevented with a vaccine. In addition, high numbers of unvaccinated children may result in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

These risks are threatening the gains achieved by Vietnam towards reducing child deaths over the past few decades.

It is important that accelerated efforts and bold action continue to be taken by the government to ensure that essential vaccines reach every child in a timely fashion – not only those who are due for vaccination, but also all those who missed their vaccinations in the last four years.

WHO Representative in Vietnam Dr Angela Pratt said that Vietnam’s success in eliminating some, and dramatically reducing rates of other, vaccine-preventable diseases shows the power of vaccination.

Action to achieve these remarkable results has been spearheaded by the Government and supported by strong cooperation from health-care workers in even the remotest communes, local partners, community-based organisations, local leaders and communities, international development partners, donors and scientists over many years, she said.

However, she noted that some of these gains are currently at risk.

“We must act urgently to close existing immunity gaps and ensure that life-saving vaccines reach every child, in every corner of the country, today and into the future,” she urged./.

Vietnamese, Lao female lawmakers discuss women’s roles in politics

Vietnamese and Lao female lawmakers on April 25 shared their experience in politics at a workshop in the northern Lao province of Luang Prabang.

In her opening remarks, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA)’s Social Affairs Committee Nguyen Thuy Anh said the workshop offers an opportunity for them to tighten their bonds.

She said the information, skills, and experience that they share on this occasion will help promote their common voices on issues relating to women, children, and gender equality at domestic and international forums, while building their images before the legislatures and voters of the two countries. 

For her part, Chairwoman of the Lao NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs Thummaly Vongphachanh said the workshop contributes to implementing the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two NAs, and strengthening the solidarity between the two countries, the legislatures, and the female lawmakers’ groups.

Participants looked into how to raise the proportion of women at the NAs and People's Councils, and shared experience in participating in multilateral parliamentary activities, and integrating gender equality into law building.

During their talks on April 24, the two female lawmakers’ groups agreed to further work together to preserve and promote the Vietnam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

They also consented to enhance visits and exchanges, coordinate in organising bilateral and multilateral forums on issues of mutual concern, share information and experience, continue to build common perceptions, and support each other in forums and activities./.

Public security ministry looks to strengthen effectiveness of international treaty implementation

The Ministry of Public Security on April 25 organised a conference to review its decade-long implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.

The conference also discussed ways to enhance the effectiveness of the ministry’s work related to international treaties and agreements between now and 2030.

As heard at the function, over the past decade, under the leadership of the Party and the State, the ministry effectively coordinated with relevant ministries, sectors, and municipal and provincial authorities to implement content of the convention and the protocol. It also performed well in international cooperation tasks such as the extradition of criminals, transfer of individuals serving prison sentences, legal assistance in criminal matters, among others.

The ministry has signed and implemented three agreements on judicial assistance in criminal matters, 17 agreements on extradition, 22 agreements on transferring persons serving prison senctences, 17 agreements on cooperation in crime prevention and control, 6 agreements on protection of confidential information, 14 agreements on receiving back citizens or cooperating in immigration, and 12 agreements on other issues. The work has contributed to creating an effective legal framework to safeguard national interests and protect the legitimate and legal rights and interests of Vietnamese organisations and citizens in the international process. 

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quoc Hung stressed the need for a specific plan for negotiating and signing international treaties and agreements.

He suggested intensifying comprehensive and extensive international cooperation, as well as studying and selectively adopting other countries’ anti-crime law building experiences for application.

He noted that it is necessary to further study the signing, joining and implementation of multilateral and bilateral international treaties with ASEAN member states, major countries, and traditional partners regarding the matters of security, order, crime prevention, criminal legal assistance, extradition, and transfer of individuals serving prison sentences./.

HCM City photo exhibitions celebrate national reunification, May Day

Photo exhibitions celebrating the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30) and the 138th anniversary of International Workers' Day (May 1) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 25.

The best 154 works selected from a national art photo contest on Vietnamese seas and islands, including 22 winning photos are introduced at the event to popularise the beauty of Vietnam, its nature and people to the public.

Other exhibitions are also being held at three locations, including on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street with 80 photos featuring the Great 1975 Spring Victory and the city’s subsequent transformation into a national economic, cultural, education-training, sci-tech hub.

On Nguyen Du – Dong Khoi street, visitors can view 70 photos depicting the movement of Saigon - Gia Dinh – Cho Lon workers during the resistance war against the US.

Opposite to Chi Lang Park, there is an exhibition displaying 50 photos on the construction and development of the city, highlighting its enduring traditions of compassion and solidarity.

The events will be open to the public till May 2./.

Vietnam vows to achieve Sustainable Development Goals: Diplomat

Vietnamese Ambassador-designate to Thailand and head of the Vietnamese delegation to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Pham Viet Hung highlighted Vietnam's commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while delivering a speech at the ESCAP’s 80th annual session in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 25.

Hung said Vietnam is strongly committed to the timely completion of the SDGs. In this endeavor, Vietnam has integrated the 2030 Agenda into national development strategies; performed a series of policies on education and social welfare and has made significant progress, particularly in poverty eradication, clean water and sanitation, improving access to quality education, ensuring universal healthcare coverage, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing the coverage of the social security system, industrialisation, innovation and infrastructure development, as well as building peace, justice and fine-tuning institutions.

Highlighting the 2030 Agenda and SDGs as a lodestar for development, green and sustainably recovery in the coming years, the diplomat proposed the continued adoption of a people-centred approach, with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders.

Countries and territories need to prioritise investment in human resources, sci-tech, innovation and infrastructure as tools to pursue the SDGs, including leveraging the role of the youth, especially through digital transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship, he said.

The session, which runs from April 22-26, is currently discussing measures to improve the sustainability of public debts and strengthen sustainable finance to meet the SDGs in the Asia-Pacific./.

Vietnam eliminates malaria in 46 provinces, cities

Vietnam has eliminated malaria in 46 provinces and centrally-run cities as of the end of last year, and is determined to eradicate the disease by 2030, according to official data.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) commemorates World Malaria Day on April 25 every year to highlight the community's commitment to as well as global solidarity towards the shared goal of a malaria-free world. WHO aims to reduce the number of malaria cases by at least 90% by 2030.

In response, this year, Vietnam adopted the theme of making concerted efforts towards malaria elimination, in a bid to enhance access to healthcare services for malaria prevention and control.

According to Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh, Director of the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology under the Ministry of Health, Vietnam recorded 448 malaria cases last year, a decrease of 97.3% compared to 2011. In the same period, the numbers of severe malaria cases and deaths from the disease went down by 89.19% and 85.71%, respectively.

Although Vietnam has brought malaria cases down to below 500 cases per year, its prevention and control work still face many challenges.

In addition to the nation’s tropical climate, over 6 million Vietnamese now live in malaria-endemic areas and there is evidence of mosquito resistance to insecticides.

To achieve the 2030 goal, Canh noted it is necessary to develop a malaria elimination strategy to mobilise the participation of the entire society and use local budgets to replace aid sources.
 
He recommended strengthening related communications work, training personnel involved, maintaining surveillance and reporting systems, and utilising information technology, among other measures./.

Vietnam, China conducts joint patrol along demarcation line in Gulf of Tonkin

Two vessels of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) on April 25 departed from the northern port city of Hai Phong for a joint patrol mission with the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the vicinity of the countries’ demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin.

This joint patrol, the first of its kind between the two sides this year, will take place from April 27 to 29, spanning 255.5 nautical miles across 13 points. The route starts from a point lying 48 nautical miles northeast of Con Co island to another point 14 nautical miles southeast of Tran island.

The Vietnamese and Chinese coast guard forces are set to conduct discussions, inspection and supervision of fishing vessels operating in the adjacent waters of the demarcation line, dissemination of relevant regulations for the local community, and exchange experience and skills of search and rescue work at sea.

This marks the 8th time such a joint patrol between the sides in the area has been organised since the nations’ fisheries cooperation agreement expired on June 30, 2020./.

Women's Union enhances connection with Vietnamese women abroad

A delegation from the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) led by its permanent Vice President Do Thi Thu Thao held a working session with the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations headquarters in New York during a recent working trip to the US.

During the meeting, Thao praised the achievements of the mission in recent times, including the important contributions of the female staff. She affirmed that the VWU pays great attention to international cooperation on gender equality and ensuring women's rights via both bilateral and multilateral channels.

The VWU has special affection and concern for Vietnamese women living abroad and will continue to carry out meaningful initiatives and activities to strengthen the connection between Vietnamese women at home and abroad, contributing to enhancing the great national unity bloc, while attracting more resources to serve the country's socio-economic development, Thao said.

The Charge d'Affaires a.i of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, Nguyen Hoang Nguyen hailed the significance of the VWU delegation’s working trip in the context that gender equality and ensuring women's rights is always a top priority of UN's agenda and activities. The diplomat said that the achievements that Vietnam has obtained in this field are an important foundation for the country to continue to promote its role and contribute to the issues related to gender equality and women's empowerment.

The mission hopes to coordinate more closely with the VWU in the coming time to jointly promote Vietnam's priorities and concerns at the UN. This is especially so while Vietnam is undertaking its role as a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for the 2025-2027 term, Nguyen said.

While in New York, the VWU delegation also visited the UN headquarters and had a meeting with UN Women Deputy Executive Director Kirsi Madi./.

Singapore Management University opens representative office in Việt Nam

The Singapore Management University opened a representative office in HCM City on April 25.

The SMU Overseas Centre HCM City (OCHCMC), as it is known, is the first representative office to be opened by a Singaporean university in Việt Nam. It is in the Sonatus building in District 1.

It will work to cultivate networks and create opportunities for collaborations and partnerships between SMU and Vietnamese institutions, and connect businesses, academia and potential students with the various programmes that SMU offers.

Vũ Việt Anh, director of the office, said: “Through OCHCMC, SMU aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas, cultures and expertise, fostering an environment where innovation and learning know no boundaries.”

Lily Kong, president of the university, listed some major reasons for opening the representative office.

The first is that Việt Nam is one of the world's fastest growing economies, has a record of successful economic and market growth and a youthful and energetic workforce, she said.

Its efforts to fully digitise is in line with the university's digital transformation strategy, and its National Green Growth Strategy in 2021-30 encourages sustainable practices and the adoption of eco-technologies, also aligning closely with the university's sustainable living priority and reflecting its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, he added.

The Singaporean university has numerous strategic partnerships with Vietnamese universities and corporations, including close-knit ones with the Việt Nam National University HCM City, Vin University and University of Economics HCM City.

SMU, established in 2000 as the third national university out of Singapore's six, specialises in management and commerce. 

Vietnamese localities’ ties with US-based partners to be further enhanced

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations and other agencies in New York will continue assisting Vietnamese localities to enhance relations with US-based partners, a diplomat has said.

As part of a programme on promoting Vietnamese localities in the US, Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN had a meeting with a delegation of the Party Committees of six provinces, namely Gia Lai, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Thua Thien - Hue, and Yen Bai, on April 22.

Leading the delegation, Hoang Trung Dung, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Ha Tinh Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, congratulated the Permanent Mission on its achievements in implementing tasks on external affairs, which have helped protect Vietnam’s interests and promote the country’s stature and role in the world.

He emphasised the necessity of international cooperation and attraction of external financial and technological resources for socio-economic development in domestic localities.

The official called on the mission and other representative bodies of Vietnam in New York to continue helping the six provinces connect with reputable and suitable partners to step up trade and attract more investment to the fields matching the provinces’ interest and the US’s strength.

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission to the UN, stressed that aside from the focus on multilateral diplomacy at the UN, the mission and other representative bodies also attach great importance to the coordination with and support for domestic localities as seen in various activities held in the four pillars of political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and consular affairs - citizen protection.

In the time ahead, the mission and other representative bodies in New York will continue supporting the six provinces to strengthen ties with partners in the US on the basis of their demand, he added.

Also on April 22, the provinces’ delegation visited and had working sessions at the UN headquarters and the New York Stock Exchange./.

Wild gaurs appear in Ninh Thuan

Three herds with some 17 gaurs (Bos gaurus) have been discovered in reserved forests in Phuoc Binh National Park in Bac Ai District, Ninh Thuan Province.

After months of searching, zoologists have spotted footprints, dungs, rest areas and scratches on tree trunks left by gaurs throughout Phuoc Binh National Park in the mountainous district of the south central province. According to these experts, there are two herds of gaurs near Gia Nhong Stream, with 4-6 individuals in the first herd, including a calf, and 3-4 mature individuals in the second one. The third herd with 6-7 grown-up gaurs was found near Da Den Stream.

Nao Duy Phap, head of the science and nature conservation bureau of Phuoc Binh National Park, told vnexpress.net that the zoologists found the wild gaurs after installing camera traps in many places in the national park for three months. Aside from gaurs, the camera traps also captured a large number of yellow-cheeked gibbons, black-shanked doucs, stump-tailed macaques, crab-eating macaques, muntjacs, Javan pangolins, and wild boars, to name but a few.

Phuoc Binh National Park covers over 25,000 hectares, adjacent to Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa provinces. The park terrain ranges from 300 to 2,000 meters above sea level, with some 1,338 flora species and 347 fauna species, dozens of which have been listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book.

Bride and groom plant 100 trees on their wedding day

To celebrate their wedding ceremony, which was held at the bride’s family in Krong Buk District (Dak Lak Province), Thanh Kien, 29, the groom, and Minh Hien, 26, the bride, coordinated with the district’s Communist Youth Union and the company where Minh Hien is working to plant 100 pterocarpus macrocarpus and silver trumpet trees on a barren hill in Ea Ngai Commune. What the couple did went viral on social media.

After the trees had been planted, the couple’s wedding ceremony was then carried out with the participation of the two families and their relatives and their friends. “We are very happy to contribute our small part to making the environment cleaner,” Minh Hien told dantri.com.vn. 

“We cherished this plan a long time ago, and we are glad that it has been realized on one of the most important days of our lives.” She added that she and her husband would join hands to plant trees along some streets in Krong Buk District on the occasion of holidays and their birthdays.

Ha Long Bay reports surge in tourist bookings

Tourism service providers in Ha Long Bay have reported a surge in bookings for the Reunification Day and May Day holiday with services fully booked ahead of the five-day holiday.

CEO of Lux Group Tour, Pham Ha, said that their boats had been fully booked two months ago and they have refused dozens of bookings every day.

"Many other boat operators in Ha Long can’t receive more passengers for the holiday now," Ha said.

A survey by Tien Phong Newspaper showed that hotels with room rates of between VND500,000-1.50 million per night had nearly sold out.

A representative from a three-star hotel in Ha Long City said her hotel was fully booked for the holiday.

"I think that it'll be difficult to find standard rooms, there are only rooms priced at about VND 2.50 million per night left," she said.

The HCM City-Quang Ninh air route has also reported high demand for flights during the holiday, with only tickets of VND3.50 million left between April 26-28 while no tickets left for flights on April 29.

Visitors to Ha Long during the holiday can attend the Ha Long Carnival 2024 which will start on April 28 with fireworks, parades, drone light shows, and a music gala with the participation of local artists and foreign art troupes from Japan’s Hokkaido, China’s Guangxi, Laos, Thailand, and Europe.

Eleven culture, sporting, and tourism activities have been organised from April 27 to May 1, including a beer and squid patties festival, a lion dance festival, and the opening of a culinary pedestrian street in Bai Chay ward.

Winners of Vietnam News Agency Press Awards honoured

Winners of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Press Awards 2023 were honoured at a ceremony held at the agency’s headquarters in Hà Nội on Thursday.

The ceremony was attended by VNA General Director Vũ Việt Trang and Deputy General Directors Nguyễn Tuấn Hùng and Nguyễn Thị Sự, and Nguyễn Đức Lợi, Standing Vice Chairman of the Việt Nam Jounalists Association among others.

The first prizes were presented to five individual authors or groups of authors. Additionally, there were 15 second prizes, 20 third prizes, and 28 consolation prizes, alongside extra awards in categories like outstanding media digital transformation units, versatile journalists, and dedicated journalists.

Three other outstanding entries were also praised at the ceremony.

Congratulating the winners, VNA General Director Vũ Việt Trang thanked all the staff for their dedications throughout 2023.

She stated that in 2023, VNA produced approximately 370,000 news articles, equivalent to over 1,000 articles per day. Among them, only 0.02 per cent were selected and awarded.

This demonstrates the meticulous selection process carried out by each member, branch, as well as the preliminary and final judging panels of the VNA Press Awards 2023.

Trang expressed her delight to observe a greater presence of versatile journalists in this year’s awards.

“Some winning works in reporting, commentary, and broadcasting are the result of diligent professional labour. Some photojournalistic works showcase journalists pushing beyond their personal boundaries to explore new topics and perspectives,” she said.

She took this occasion to launch the VNA Press Awards 2024. 

Quang Ninh boat accident leaves four missing

A bamboo boat sank on a river in the northern province of Quang Ninh early on April 25, leaving four people missing.

The incident occurred at around 5:30 on Chanh River in Quang Yen Town.

The fishing boat with six people on board capsized due to strong winds and rough waters. Two women managed to swim ashore and were rescued, but four others remain unaccounted for.

The boat was found drifting in the middle of the river at around 10 am this morning.

Quang Yen authorities have mobilised 250 people for the search.

Ho Chi Minh City alerts Ransomware malware attacks

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Digital Transformation yesterday hosted a workshop named “Risks and solutions to prevent Ransomware malware attacks”.

According to the report of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Digital Transformation, the city now has around 1,200 operated servers and 380 systems under implementation process comprising a shared database system, Hochiminhcity website and member pages, applications of departments, sectors and the People's Committees of districts and Thu Duc City.

The city’s information technology infrastructure has basically ensured safety and security with a three-layer firewall, consisting of outer layer security, application layer security and inner layer security.

In order to deal with malicious code of Ransomware, Ho Chi Minh City is implementing the solution of Kaspersky Endpoint Security which is the highest version to protect endpoint devices against threats. The solution is being carried out at 639 state agencies and units in the city with 12,500 endpoint devices.

Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Digital Transformation Nguyen Duc Chung said that in order to ensure information security, it is essential to apply safe network measures, especially safe solutions for servers, applications and database management.

Agencies and units have to implement internal software solutions in accordance with the procedures of development, security and operations (DevSecOps); regularly check and evaluate the safety status of information systems before putting them into operation; maintain the operation of security systems for endpoint devices; strengthen monitoring and handle arising problems on information safety.

Vietnamese sepak takraw team to participate in 2024 World Cup

Vietnam Sepak Takraw continues to gather the best players in the national team to prepare for the 2024 World Cup Sepak Takraw in Malaysia.

The outstanding athletes have finished competing in the 2024 national kick volleyball competition in the Northern Province of Bac Giang. This year, the tournament saw the participation of the best Vietnamese male and female athletes of buka ball who won medals at ASIAD 19.

The teams from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Yen Bai, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue, People's Police force, Soc Trang, Vinh Long and Bac Giang provinces competed against each other in the 2024 national sepak takraw.

In the end, athletes from the People's Public Security won the first rank in the 4-person women's team category while Soc Trang Province won the gold medal for the 4-person men's team category. Soc Trang's team also won the women's 3-person category and Vinh Long team won the men's 3-person team category.

Athletes of the People's Public Security and Hanoi took the championship in the women's doubles team and in the men's doubles team category respectively. In the 4-person women and men team category, Hanoi buka ball athletes won the gold medal.

Along with that, Hanoi sepak takraw also won 2 gold medals in the women's 3-person team and men's 3-person team categories. Nghe An sepak takraw won the gold medal in the women's 2-person team category while Soc Trang won the men's 2-person team category. In the final mixed male-female category, the Hanoi team won the gold medal. At this year's national competition, Ho Chi Minh City sepak takraw did not have any gold medals.

After the national competition, Vietnam Sepak Takraw will gather the best players in the national team to prepare for the 2024 World Cup Sepak Takraw which will take place in Malaysia. Vice President and General Secretary of Vietnam Sepak Takraw Federation Le Thanh Son who is in charge of sepak takraw in the 2024 World Cup revealed that Vietnamese athletes will participate in the men's category but not the female category.

The tournament will take place from May 18 to 26.

Hanoi airport prepares for 440,000 passengers during holiday

Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi expects to serve 2,600 flights with 440,000 passengers during the coming Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holiday which will last five days.

According to the airport, they may receive up to 94,000 passengers including 57,000 domestic and nearly 37,000 foreign on the busiest day of the holiday. This would be an 18 percent fall in domestic passengers and a slight increase in foreign passengers compared to the same period last year.

The airport will tighten security during the holiday, and passengers are advised to arrive at the airport at least two hours before flight time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. People who pick up or see off passengers will not be permitted entry.

Passengers can call the airport at 0389166566 for service quality reports and 0243 5842627 for security problems.

Due to shortages in the number of aircraft resulting from airlines restructuring their fleets, and engine maintenance, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has requested airlines to consider increasing capacity on routes from Hanoi to HCM City to other localities, especially on April 27-28 and May 1-3, ensuring compatibility with infrastructure and security and flight safety.

Vietnamese airlines are expected to provide around 900,000 seats on domestic routes, especially on routes between Hanoi and HCM City.

As many as 657,000 seats and 3,400 flights will be offered on routes from Hanoi and HCM City to localities nationwide, up 4.2 percent in seats, and 5.5 percent in flights compared to the same period in 2023, respectively.

Airlines have also been granted adjusted slots at airports across the country to help optimise flight schedules and extend the operating time of aircraft fleets, especially evening and nighttime slots.

Ho Chi Minh Trail history commemorated in Hanoi exhibition

An exhibition on the historic Ho Chi Minh Trail will open at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on April 26 to mark National Reunification Day (April 30) and the 65th anniversary of the legendary route.

The event is organized by the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975-2024); the 65 years since the opening of the Truong Son Trail, also known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail (May 19, 1959-2024).

The exhibition displays about 100 documents and pictures with the most condensed content about the construction of the Truong Son Trail, which symbolizes the willpower, courage and extraordinary creativity of the Vietnamese people.

The exhibition is divided into two thematic areas: Strategic Supply Route for the South and Legendary Road.

According to the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, after the Geneva Accords (1954), Vietnam was divided into North and South. Traveling between the two regions was extremely challenging.

In order to maintain communication with the southern revolutionary movement and ensure timely guidance from the Party Central Committee, the Party set the task of paving the way for aid to the south as "a major issue of strategic significance directly related to the cause of liberating the south and reunifying the nation."

Corps 559 was established on May 19, 1959 with a "special military mission" to deploy engineering, logistics, medical, infantry, and air defense forces to ensure the operation of the Truong Son Trail, which stretched along the Truong Son mountain range in central Vietnam. 

Throughout the war, Truong Son Trail always became the focus of the enemy's fierce attacks with all kinds of modern and advanced weapons. Hundreds of planes sprayed defoliants and dropped nearly 4 million tons of bombs and mines on Truong Son Trail.

However, soldiers, youth volunteers, frontline workers, transport workers, and ethnic minorities always stayed on the battlefield to keep traffic flowing smoothly on this artery.

The route was extended to a total length of 20,000 km from north to south and three Indochinese countries, reaching all the battlefields, carrying more than 1 million tons of materials and weapons, and taking more than 2 million troops from the great rear in the north to the great front in the south, making a particularly important contribution to the victory of the anti-US resistance war and the salvation of the country.

General Vo Nguyen Giap once said: "The Truong Son Trail-Ho Chi Minh Trail is a great project that expresses the will, courage and extraordinary creativity of the Vietnamese people, who are determined to bring the strength of the great rear to support the great front. This trail is one of the decisive factors in bringing the resistance war against the USA to a complete victory."

Ministry asks to handle harm in hospital settings to curb medical incidents

The Ministry of Health ordered to quickly handle harm in hospital settings to curb medical incidents for patient safety.

The Ministry of Health yesterday sent an official dispatch to departments of health and hospitals across the country requesting improvements in hospital quality management, patient safety, and recommendations for preventing medical incidents.

Accordingly, the Ministry required hospitals to increase training on ensuring patient safety as we as the responsibility of each medical staff. Hospital managers will be punished if they don’t report medical incidents.

In particular, the Ministry of Health required medical establishments to review unsafe risks, classify risks, prioritize treatment, and immediately overcome high unsafe risks that affect patients' lives and medical staff.

Moreover, hospitals should have a periodic review of technical and professional processes, standardize, amend and supplement promptly, especially outdated processes such as classification of emergency patients, unsafe surgical procedures, health care-associated infections, diagnostic errors, management of drugs, equipment and medical supplies in emergency rooms, intensive care units and surgical procedure rooms.

In particular, the Ministry of Health requested that immediately after receiving the medical incident report, infirmary heads need to assign staff to reassure patients and relatives and have appropriate solutions as well as calm down medical staff and practitioners who get involved in occurring incidents, avoiding overlooking system errors.

HCMC running various policies to support innovative startups

HCMC is trying to boost innovative startup activities through the introduction of several practical policies and platforms this year.

In the third or fourth quarter this year, the HCMC Innovation Startup Center, sited at the address of 123 Truong Dinh Street in District 3 will come into operation.

It is a hub to organize useful activities and offer support services to innovative startup ecosystems in hope of forming a network to help innovative startup activities in each district, educational institute, and business located in HCMC as well as those linked to this city.

The Center will then launch an online platform named ‘HCMC Open Innovation Platform’ (H.OIP). This platform has valuable data of different ecosystems for enterprises and startups to participate in and enjoy support policies of the city.

The HCMC Department of Science and Technology affirmed that the Innovation Startup Center will contribute to propagandize the State’s policies on innovation and startup to the community. The Center is a place to provide necessary services for innovative startups while aiding technology transfer activities, research and development programs, and the commercialization of scientific research results.

Moreover, several policies to support innovative startups in compliance with Resolution 98 are going to be fully adopted in the near future, including tax exemption or reduction, non-refundable financial aid of VND40 – 400 million (US$1,573 – 15,730) to startup projects, pilots of policies for new products and services or policies to attract scientists and experts for international-standard research centers.

Director of the HCMC Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Viet Dung commented that HCMC is welcoming application forms of innovative startup projects for multiple non-refundable support policies. The Department is also completing necessary procedures to ask for an approval of a tax exemption and reduction policies for organizations and individuals in the innovative startup field.

Traffic accidents increase, but deaths decrease in first quarter

In the first quarter of this year, the economy continued to grow, and travel demand increased, with many high-travel periods putting pressure on the traffic safety system, said deputy chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Lê Kim Thành.

Thanks to the decisive direction of the Government and Prime Minister, and the active participation of ministries, branches and localities, the traffic safety situation in the first quarter was basically controlled, he said in yesterday’s committee meeting reviewing traffic safety in the first quarter of 2024.

He told the meeting that during this period, the number of traffic accidents increased but the number of deaths decreased.

According to a report from the National Traffic Safety Committee, in the first quarter of this year (from December 15, 2023, to March 14, 2024), there were 6,550 traffic accidents nationwide, killing 2,723 people and injuring 5,246.

The number of accidents increased by 1,194, or 22.3 per cent, and injuries rose by 1,847 injuries (54.3 per cent), but deaths decreased by 484 deaths, or 15.1 per cent, compared to the same period last year, the report said.

The number of deaths due to traffic accidents decreased compared to the same period in 2023 in 40 provinces and centrally run cities, of which 11 localities reduced the number of deaths by over 30 per cent, including Long An, Hậu Giang, Bình Thuận, Thái Nguyên, Ninh Thuận, Bình Định, Sơn La, Quảng Nam, Phú Thọ and Bình Phước provinces and HCM City. The provinces of Long An, Hậu Giang and Bình Thuận decreased deaths by over 45 per cent.

However, there were still 22 localities with the number of deaths increasing, of which 10 provinces increased by over 20 per cent, including Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Điện Biên, Quảng Trị, Hưng Yên, Hà Giang, Đồng Tháp, Thừa Thiên - Huế, Lào Cai and Cà Mau, and five provinces with the number increasing by over 50 per cent of Hà Giang, Đồng Tháp, Thừa Thiên - Huế, Lào Cai and Cà Mau.

Among the total traffic accidents, 6,496 cases occurred on roadways, killing 2,686 people and injuring 5,239 people, 40 accidents involved railways, killing 30 people and injuring five people, and 14 were waterway accidents incidents, killing seven people, injuring two people.

Notably, in the quarter, there were several severe traffic accidents, killing and injuring many people, arousing public opinion, such as the accident on January 23 in Đà Nẵng City killing two people and wounded 20 people, or the March 5 accident in Tuyên Quang Province, killing five people and injuring nine.

Regarding civil aviation, the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAA) reported receiving 46 mandatory safety reports, 23 D-level incidents (safety-threatening incidents), and no serious incidents/accidents.

The number of incidents has significantly decreased compared to the same period last year, said CAA.

In the first quarter, the traffic police nationwide inspected and handled more than one million cases of violating traffic order and safety on roads, railways, and inland waterways. They issued fines of over VNĐ2 trillion (US$78.8 million), revoked over 206,400 driving licenses and professional certificates, and temporarily impounded more than 373,500 vehicles of all types.

Handling cases increased by more than 285,000 cases or 38 per cent, and fines increased by nearly VNĐ675.4 billion (26.6 million) or 49.44 per cent compared to last year.

Among the violations, there were over 275,000 cases of alcohol concentration violations, accounting for 22.23 per cent; 1,587 cases of drivers being positive for drugs (accounting for 0.13 per cent); 245,700 cases of speeding (19.85 per cent); 15,200 cases of overloaded goods; 6,521 cases of loading beyond the safe waterline mark; and 776 cases of violating regulations on building, converting and repairing vehicles.

The Ministry of National Defence guided and directed agencies and units to develop and implement plans to inspect military vehicles in 2024, especially during peak periods such as New Year, Lunar New Year and spring festivals.

During this quarter, the Ministry of National Defence has inspected 1,654 military vehicles participating in traffic and closely co-ordinated with the Traffic Police Department and related agencies to handle 27 cases of violation of traffic order and safety.

Exhibition showcases special works about Điện Biên Phủ

The Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum in Hà Nội on April 26 will open an exhibition themed Đường Lên Điện Biên (The Road to Điện Biên) marking the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ victory (May 7, 2024).

The exhibition will showcase 70 special works including paintings, graphics, sculptures, sketches, posters and compositions created by 34 veteran Vietnamese artists between 1949 and 2009.

During the fierce fighting on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, many artists and painters went directly to the war, joining the troops heading to Điện Biên.

Using a wealth of artistic language, the authors realistically and vividly portray the life and struggle of the Vietnamese army and people against French invaders during the heroic Điện Biên Phủ Campaign of which the victory shocked the globe and greatly contributed to Việt Nam's glorious total victory over the foreign enemy.

With traditional exhibition methods combined with the application of cinema-graphic projection technology and interactive experience space, the exhibition will offer viewers the chance to relive moments of the famous Điện Biên Phủ battlefield, according to the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum (VNFAM).

In particular, images of President Hồ Chí Minh, General Võ Nguyên Giáp, and other soldiers and people from ethnic groups participating in the resistance war are displayed at the event.

Organiser said the event aims to honour the tradition of patriotism and national solidarity, teach revolutionary spirit for the youth, and pay tribute to heroes and martyrs who participated and sacrificed during Điện Biên Phủ Campaign for national independence.

The exhibition will be open from April 26 to May 15 at the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyễn Thái Học Street, Ba Đình District, Hà Nội.

Within the framework of the exhibition, two Art Talk shows will take place on April 27 and May 11. 

Thái Nguyên Week of Culture, Sports and Tourism kicks off

The northern mountain province of Thái Nguyên will open today a Week of Culture, Sports and Tourism themed "From experience to heart" with various cultural, tourism and sports activities to promote tourism in the area.

An opening ceremony will take place at 8.30am at Núi Cốc Lake Tourist Area, Tân Thái Commune, Đại Từ District, a famous eco-tourism resort destination in Thái Nguyên.

The Week of Culture, Sports and Tourism features numerous attractive cultural and tourist activities, including introducing and promoting the province's tourism products and tea culture, intangible cultural performance; and showcasing cuisine with the theme "Essence of Thái Nguyên cuisine".

There will be a photograph exhibition of Thái Nguyên culture and tourism, as well as a display of photos and documents themed "From Thái Nguyên ATK to Điện Biên Phủ Victory" to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory.

On the eve of the week, many sports tournaments had been organised, including Thái Nguyên Provincial Air Volleyball Tournament 2024 at Thái Nguyên Provincial Youth Union Gymnasium and Thái Nguyên Province Half Marathon 2024 in Thái Nguyên City.

Meanwhile, the Roller Sports National Cup 2024 championship is taking place in Thái Nguyên City and a boat racing performance will open this morning at Núi Cốc Lake Tourist Area.

For the first time, Thái Nguyên Province will also host a hot air balloon show and operates a hot air balloon sports game at Núi Cốc Lake Tourist Area today and the Tân Cương Tea Cultural Space in Tân Cương Commune, Thái Nguyên City tomorrow.

On this occasion, a fieldtrip delegation consisting of businessmen, experts, and scientists on culture and history will come to survey tourist destinations in the province.

The delegation will pay working visits to historical, cultural, ecological and community sites such as the Museum of Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures, Tân Cương Tea Cultural Space, Hảo Đạt Tea Cooperative, Thái Hải ecological ethnic stilt house village conservation area, and Núi Cốc Lake Tourist Area. 

Muay Thai fighters seek ONE Championship chances at MTR x RTO

The Muay Thai Rampage series will return to the country in a combination with the Road To ONE seeking Việt Nam's strongest Muay Thai fighters to compete at the world’s largest martial arts organisation – ONE Championship.

The Muay Thai Rampage x Road To ONE's (MTR x RTO) elimination will be held on May 19 at the Saigon Sports Club.

It will be the first time Road To ONE is organised in Việt Nam with winners walking away with a slot for fighting at the ONE Championship, which hosts fights across many styles including mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and kickboxing.

The MTR x RTO has three stages equivalent to three consecutive tournaments. After the qualifying round on May 19, the semi-finals will be on July 21 and the finals on September 15.

A total of 16 boxers will compete in two weight classes of flyweight (61kg) and strawweight (57kg), in knock-out format. The winner in each class will win a ONE Championship contract worth US$100,000, opening the doors to the world's most prestigious fighting stage.

Muay Thai lovers and supporters can look for more information and watch the matches live at facebook.com/muaythairampage.

Shadow Entertainment is a leading company in Việt Nam in organising martial arts and entertainment events. After signing a cooperation agreement with ONE last September, the company began planning for Road to ONE in the country.

Road To ONE is a global recruitment league that hosts martial arts events all over the world. These events feature each region’s most promising homegrown talent, and often include single-elimination tournaments where martial artists compete to win a six-figure contract with ONE Championship. 

Ho Chi Minh City and CityNet enhance links

Ho Chi Minh City desires to boost co-operation with CityNet in a bid to enhance connections and to promote the image of the southern metropolis to network members, Vo Van Hoan, vice chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, told Kim Jeong-kee, chief executive officer of the Secretariat of CityNet.

During his recent reception in the city, Hoan said that as a member of the network, Ho Chi Minh City has greatly benefited from programmes of CityNet, which is the largest association of urban stakeholders committed to sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.

The southern metropolis has set up friendly relations with more than 50 localities of countries around the world and organises the Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue that features the participation of mayors from more than 50 cities worldwide every two years, he said. He added that it hopes to work alongside CityNet to promote resources whilst improving the overall effectiveness of activities within the dialogue event, especially in terms of solving challenges that urban areas are facing today.

Regarding Kim’s suggestion on hosting the CityNet General Council Meeting in 2026, Hoan affirmed the city’s capacity to hold the event. He therefore proposed that CityNet should launch seminars and discussion activities between cities on issues of concern to all parties prior to the meeting.

Kim stated that it is time for CityNet to step up its co-operation with Ho Chi Minh City, as well as between the Vietnamese metropolis and other cities, emphasising that his working visit aims to promote collaboration between the network and Vietnamese members.

He said CityNet hopes the city will promote its role as one of its founding members, while affirming that CityNet will work closely alongside the Ho Chi Minh City when it hosts CityNet General Council Meeting in 2026 to improve the efficiency of the event, as well as to connect it with the Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue.

Kim used the occasion to invite the city to attend the international conference on environmental protection and sustainable urban development organised by CityNet in the Republic of Korea in June.

Korean referee to officiate Vietnam match against Iraq

Referee Ko Hyung Jin of the Republic of Korea (RoK) is set to take charge of the upcoming fixture between Vietnam’s U23 side and Iraq’s U23s in the quarter-final round of the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup, with the fixture set to take place on April 27.
 
According to details given by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Jin will be assisted by Bang Gi Yeol of the RoK and Alrefaei Hesham Mohammed of Saudi Arabia.

The fourth official will be Majed Mohammed Alshamrani of Saudi Arabia, while Ahmed Eisa Mohamed Darwish of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will serve as the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

All of the match officials are familiar faces to Vietnamese football fans as they have officiated several matches involving Vietnam and other foreign rivals in recent tournaments.

Previously, Jin took charge of the clash between Vietnam and Thailand in the first leg of the final of the 2022 AFF Cup.

The Korean official was also in charge of Vietnam’s 4-0 defeat against Australia in the third qualifying round of the Asian region for the 2022 World Cup. He also refereed a clash between Nam Dinh and Sai Gon FCs during the 2022 V.League 1 season.