Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (RoK) Vu Ho on April 26 presented his credentials to RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol.

At a reception for the diplomat held afterwards, the RoK President expressed his impression of the warm welcome of Vietnamese leaders during his visit to Vietnam last June. He also expressed his belief that Ambassador Ho, with his enthusiasm and experience, will have a successful working term, contributing to the sound development of relations between Vietnam and the RoK.

Ambassador Ho affirmed he will make every effort to continue to strengthen and deepen the bilateral relations, especially in fields related to core technology, future technology and green technology, saying that they will be new development drivers for economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Ambassador expressed his hope that the RoK President will continue to pay attention and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community who are living, studying and working in the RoK to further contribute to the host country's socio-economic development as well as the bilateral relations./.

Long An, Japan's Okayama city explore cooperation opportunities

Leaders of Vietnam’s southern Long An province and Japan’s Okayama city engaged in a dialogue on April 26 to discuss cooperation between the two localities.

Mayor of Okayama city Omori Masao expressed interest in Long An’s strategic location and development potential with abundant and skilled workforce, saying that such provide a favourable condition for Okayama firms to explore investment; expand commercial activities, cold storage and transshipment; and collaborate in training technical and nursing staff.

Representatives of Okayama firms highlighted their need for a better understanding of Long An’s investment environment in the realms of automobile recycling and component production, construction machinery and nursing home.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Tan Hoa said the proposed areas of cooperation suit local development conditions.

He encouraged Okayama to designate a focal point to facilitate communication and collaboration with Long An authorities and business associations. This would help solidify the joint statement signed between the two localities and move toward concrete action.

On the occasion, the Okayama Chamber of Commerce & Industry signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with the Long An Business Association and Young Entrepreneurs’ Association to expand cooperation in the fields of labour, industry, tourism, education and culture./.

Exhibition on legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail opens

An exhibition on the historical Ho Chi Minh Trail opened at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on April 26, as part of activities to mark National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975-2024)) and the 65th anniversary of the legendary route (May 19, 1959-2024).

On display are 100 documents and photos about the Ho Chi Minh Trail, also known as Truong Son Trail, which symbolises the willpower, courage and extraordinary creativity of the Vietnamese people.

The exhibition is divided into two thematic areas, namely Strategic Supply Route for the South and Legendary Road. The stories about the legendary road are depicted in the space of the D67 Revolutionary House and Bunker relic area where visitors have a chance to learn more about the role of the General Headquarters in the resistance war against the US, and the strategic significance of the decision to open the Truong Son Trail from the Politburo and the Central Military Commission.

Throughout the war, Truong Son Trail 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 persistently stayed on the battlefield to keep traffic flowing smoothly on this artery.

The Truong Son Trail was constructed in 1959 to carry supplies to the Southern battlefield during the resistance war against the US. For 16 years, the trail played a key role in the liberation of Southern Vietnam and the country’s reunification on April 30, 1975. The trail has become a legend and a symbol of the Vietnamese people’s resilient spirit and the solidarity between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The exhibition, which is open to visitors until May 31, is expected to contribute to educating revolutionary traditions, promote patriotism and national pride, and pay tribute to heroic martyrs and those who rendered service to the nation./.

340 kg bomb safely disposed of in central Vietnam

A 340-kilogramme bomb left over from the war was safely deactivated by sappers of the Military Command in the central province of Nghe An on April 26.

Workers in Truong Thi ward, Vinh city discovered the bomb while digging soil for a drainage system.

The bomb, 1.1m in length and 41cm in diameter was safely removed and defused at a designated site.

According to the Technology Centre for Bomb and Mine Disposal under the Engineering Command, up to 7,645 of the 8,686 communes in Vietnam’s 63 provinces and cities are polluted with unexploded ordnance (UXOs).

Statistics from the National Steering Committee for Recovery over Postwar Bomb and Landmine Impacts showed that some 800,000 tonnes of UXOs are scattered across 6.6 million hectares, or 20.12% of the country’s land, mainly in the central region, putting people in danger everyday./.

Binh Thuan’s former officials face criminal charges in coastal development project

Criminal proceedings have been launched against 12 former officials of the south central province of Binh Thuan for violating regulations on the management and use of State-owned assets, causing losses and waste in line with the Article 219 of the Criminal Code.

The Ministry of Public Security announced on April 26 that they were involved in the Phan Thiet coastal tourism urban area project in Phu Thuy ward, Phan Thiet city, Binh Thuan province that is invested by Rang Dong JSC.

Among them, five were detained, including former Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Tien Phuong, former Director of the provincial Construction Department and former Secretary of the Bac Binh district Party Committee Xa Duong Thang, former Chairman of the Phan Thiet municipal People’s Committee Do Ngoc Diep, former Deputy Director of the Southern Information and Valuation JSC - Binh Thuan branch Ho Nhu Hai and former head of the general administration office of the provincial Land Management Department Le Anh Huy.

Six others are serving prison sentences for similar offences at Tan Viet Phat 2 commercial, service and residential area project in Binh Thuan province./.

Hanoi exhibition traces growth of Vietnamese army through Dien Bien Phu Victory

An exhibition, co-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Vietnam Military History Museum, opened in Hanoi on April 26, showcasing the Dien Bien Phu Victory and the remarkable development of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA).

Over 300 photos and artifacts are on display, taking visitors on a journey through the VPA's history.

From its humble beginning with 34 soldiers armed with rudimentary weapons on December 22, 1944, the VPA has grown from strength to strength, maturing with each battle under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.

The pinnacle of its achievements was the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954. This laid a solid foundation for the nation to continue writing a glorious epic in the resistance war against the US for national salvation, achieving resounding victories like the "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the Air" Victory in 1972. This decisive air campaign forced the US to the negotiating table, culminating in the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973. The war finally came to an end, paving the way for peace in Vietnam.

The Dien Bien Phu victory marked a turning point. It emboldened the Vietnamese people and their army, ultimately leading to the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country in the historic Spring Victory of 1975.

The event will be open to the public till October./.

Art programme to tell stories about Dien Bien Phu Campaign

A special art programme themed “Dien Bien Phu – Moc vang lich su” (Dien Bien Phu – A historical golden milestone) will be held in the northwestern province of Dien Bien on May 6 evening in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024).

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the programme will be broadcast live on the Vietnam Television’s VTV1 channel.

It will use modern technologies to redraw a panorama of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and provide the audience with an overview of today’s Dien Bien.

The programme aims at honouring the sacrifices made during the wartime and highlighting the value of independence and freedom today, thereby sending out a message of the desire for peace to humanity around the world./.

Ba Ria – Vung Tau inks cooperation MoU with Japanese city

The southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sanjo city of Japan’s Niigata prefecture on establishing friendship and cooperative relations for the 2024 – 2026 period, at a conference held in the Vietnamese locality on April 26.

Jointly hosted by the provincial People’s Committee, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Sanjo city, the function aimed to review the human resources development project funded by JICA to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

Under the MoU, the two sides will create opportunities for personnel and information exchange related to trade and industry, tourism, agriculture, and other areas of common concern to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.

Sanjo will encourage companies operating in the city to accept labourers from Ba Ria - Vung Tau to develop human resources and contribute to promoting industrial development and improving the industrial environment of the Vietnamese locality, while Ba Ria - Vung Tau will provide information to Sanjo and create favourable conditions for sending labourers to work in Japan.

The two sides will also urge their educational institutions to enhance cooperation, contributing to developing and improving academic research activities.

The Sanjo project worth 1.9 million USD was started in 2019, and will finish in August this year.

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the project provides technical support and management skill training for SMEs in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and helps train officials and staff of the provincial industry and trade sector to develop solutions and policies to support SMEs.

Based on the results achieved from the project, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Cong Vinh proposed the provincial Department of Industry and Trade continuously apply the knowledge and experience gained to give policy advise for building programmes to support local SMEs.

He also asked departments and sectors such as tourism, agriculture and rural development, education and training, labour, invalids and social affairs, as well as universities and colleges in the locality to strengthen cooperation and experience sharing with Sanjo.

He expressed his hope that Sanjo, JICA, and Japanese businesses will continue to support agencies and enterprises from both sides in enhancing connection and implementing new development cooperation initiatives between the two localities, and in training high-quality human resources, implementing new-generation ODA projects, and promoting digital transformation, digital economy, and green growth in the coming time.

Mayor of Sanjo Ryo Takizawa said he believes that the connection between companies from the two localities will continue even after the project ends.

Sanjo hopes to continue supporting the development of the two sides’ businesses in areas such as human resource training and market development, he went on./.

HCM City wants to become major partner, customer of NVIDIA: Official

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai has told the Vice President of Worldwide AI Initiative at NVIDIA, Keith Strier that the city wants to become a major and good partner and customer of the firm in Vietnam.

Receiving Strier and the NVIDIA delegation on April 26, Mai said that the city aims to not only apply AI technologies but also become an AI development centre.

He said that the city has assigned local departments and sectors to work on applying AI, initially in administrative management, health care, education, urban development and other areas.

The city leader said he believes that the two sides have many cooperation opportunities, underlining that HCM City has sufficient human resources, institutions and other conditions for cooperation in AI development. He pledged to work with the firm in AI development to become an AI centre of the region.

Mai suggested that the two sides should form a joint working group to sketch out a vision, orientations and priorities in AI development and application.

He said the two sides can immediately start coordination in human resources training to serve AI development, adding that the city has abundant IT human resources thanks to a system of more than 100 universities.

For his part, Strier hailed HCM City’s preparations for AI development, affirming that NVIDIA is willing to join the city to promote the technology. He noted that as AI is a complex technology chain, so the city needs to continue modernising its information technology infrastructure, improving local labourers’ skills and capacity of local businesses so as to keep up with the development of AI.

The executive said that the firm wishes to cooperate with HCM City, adding that NVIDIA's shareholders are interested in the Vietnamese market but they do not place much emphasis on business but on development cooperation.

NVIDIA will support the development of local businesses and hopes that HCM City will become one of the top five cities in AI, said Strier, adding that the company has the capability to train human resources in this industry and will organise free courses to help people understand more about AI./.

Vietnam upholds mobilisation, use, management of financing for sustainable development

State capital and private resources both play an important role in meeting financial needs for development and implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen told the 2024 ECOSOC Financing for Development (FfD) Forum, held in New York from April 22-25.

Nguyen, who is also Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations, emphasised the importance of North-South and South-South cooperation, trilateral and quadrilateral cooperation models to share experience, technology, and capital for Southern countries to implement the Agenda 2030 on sustainable development.

He called on developed countries to fully implement their commitments to spend 0.7% of their Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA capital and contribute 100 billion USD each year to help developing ones cope with climate change.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese delegation’s ideas, delegates to the forum said that 2024 is a very important time to strongly implement measures towards completing the SDGs by 2030.

They reached a consensus on approving a document on the forum's outcomes, which affirmed their commitment to continue efforts to mobilise financial resources for development, encourage and promote the participation of the private sector, strengthen international cooperation in the field of tax and debt management, and take advantage of scientific, technological and innovation achievements to serve sustainable development.

Vietnam announced the Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2023 and is implementing its National Strategy on Climate Change by 2030, thereby affirming its efforts and determination to mobilise and use and manage financing for sustainable development.

Next year, it will host the 4th Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit to promote global efforts on green transformation and sustainable development./.

Exhibitions held to mark Dien Bien Phu Victory anniversary

Two exhibitions, one in Hanoi and the other in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, opened on April 26 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024).

At the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in the capital city is the “The Road to Dien Bien Phu” of 70 outstanding artworks, such as paintings, graphics, sculptures, sketches, and posters by 34 authors between 1949 and 2009. They include a collection of paintings by artists To Ngoc Van and Nguyen Trong Hop, as well as Nguyen Sang's lacquer painting “Ket Nap Dang o Dien Bien Phu” (Joining The Party in Dien Bien Phu), which was recognised as a national treasure.

The collection comprises carefully selected works of high value and historical significance, said Vi Kien Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

Lasting until May 15, the event employs a traditional approach combined with the application of cinemagraph and interactive experiential space, bringing viewers back to the moments of the past historic battlefield. On the sidelines, art talks on the road to Dien Bien as well as celebrated artist and martyr To Ngoc Van are scheduled for April 27 and May 11, respectively.

Meanwhile, the other at the Ho Chi Minh memorial house, Phu Dinh commune, Thai Nguyen’s Dinh Hoa district, is showcasing nearly 200 historical documentary images, showing the role and significance of the ATK Dinh Hoa revolutionary base, where President Ho Chi Minh and the Politburo on December 6, 1953, decided to launch the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign.

The event remains open until May 20./.

Vietnam upholds mobilisation, use, management of financing for sustainable development

State capital and private resources both play an important role in meeting financial needs for development and implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen told the 2024 ECOSOC Financing for Development (FfD) Forum, held in New York from April 22-25.

Nguyen, who is also Chargé d’Affaires of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations, emphasised the importance of North-South and South-South cooperation, trilateral and quadrilateral cooperation models to share experience, technology, and capital for Southern countries to implement the Agenda 2030 on sustainable development.

He called on developed countries to fully implement their commitments to spend 0.7% of their Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA capital and contribute 100 billion USD each year to help developing ones cope with climate change.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese delegation’s ideas, delegates to the forum said that 2024 is a very important time to strongly implement measures towards completing the SDGs by 2030.

They reached a consensus on approving a document on the forum's outcomes, which affirmed their commitment to continue efforts to mobilise financial resources for development, encourage and promote the participation of the private sector, strengthen international cooperation in the field of tax and debt management, and take advantage of scientific, technological and innovation achievements to serve sustainable development.

Vietnam announced the Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2023 and is implementing its National Strategy on Climate Change by 2030, thereby affirming its efforts and determination to mobilise and use and manage financing for sustainable development.

Next year, it will host the 4th Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit to promote global efforts on green transformation and sustainable development./.

Vietnam appeals for maximum self-restraint, end to hostilities in Middle East

A representative of Vietnam appealed to all the parties concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint and to end hostilities, while addressing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on the Middle East and Palestine situation on March 25.

In his remarks, Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, voiced deep concern over the escalating tensions in the region.

He affirmed that Vietnam objects to any act of threatening to use or using force, violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state, or running counter to international law and the UN Charter.

Vietnam strongly condemns all forms of violence targeting civilians and civil infrastructure, as well as the recent attacks on commercial vessels on international shipping routes, he noted.

Nguyen called on all the parties concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint, end hostilities, unconditionally free all hostages, and comply with international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN.

Vietnam supports every reconciliation effort towards sustainable and durable solutions to the ongoing conflict and the Middle East peace process on the basis of the two-state solution. It advocates the key role of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in delivering humanitarian relief in the Gaza Strip, the diplomat went on.

Vietnam strongly supports the State of Palestine’s legitimate aspiration to soon become an official member of the UN, he added.
         
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of spreading conflict in the Middle East amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

He perceived that the failure in promoting the two-state solution will worsen instability and threaten millions of people in the region.

Voicing concern over the risk of conflict escalation, representatives of most states called for maximum self-restraint and an end to the cycle of violence and retaliation. Many also expressed disappointment over the UNSC’s failure in adopt a draft resolution on the official admission of Palestine to the UN on April 18./.

Surge in visitors prompts Dien Bien to mobilise local houses for accommodation

A sharp surge in the number of visitors since the beginning of this year has prompted the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien to encourage local people to use their houses to accommodate tourists, who flock to the province on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024).

The host of the Visit Vietnam Year 2024, Dien Bien has welcomed 845,000 visitors in the first four months of the year, a 1.86-fold increase year on year. It is estimated that 3,000-5,000 people travel to the locality each day.

The number is expected to peak in the coming days as a grand ceremony will be held to mark the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

As of April 20, over 140 households in Dien Bien Phu city and Dien Bien district have registered to accommodate visitors, capable of serving nearly 2,000 people. Those households have received guidance in ensuring security and order as well as fire prevention and fighting.

The list of households eligible to provide accommodation services has been regularly updated on the mass media and social network platforms.

Besides cultural tourism resources associated with key relic sites in the locality such as the headquarters of Dien Bien Phu - Muong Phang Campaign, A1, C1, D1 and E1 hills and the central area of the French stronghold, Dien Bien province is creating a highlight for the northwest region with various new tourism products, exploiting the strength of natural resources.

The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in recent years, Dien Bien has worked with many travel agencies to building new tourism products with regional linkages, such as Caravan (self-driving tour) on Hanoi - Son La - Dien Bien route and Ban (Bauhinia) flower season tour./.

Airports to offer 9,000 domestic flights during upcoming holidays

Vietnamese airlines are expected to operate 9,000 flights on domestic routes to meet the travel demand during the upcoming National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holidays, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).

During April 26 – May 2, the number of daily takeoffs and landings will increase 16.5% compared to the average of normal days in April to 1,285, equivalent to 98% of the figure reported in the same period last year.

Airlines planned to serve a total of 1.53 million passengers on all routes. The peak day is projected to be April 26, with 1,530 takeoffs and landings and 260,000 passengers.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Vietnamese airlines will provide around 900,000 seats on domestic routes, especially those between Hanoi and HCM City.

Accordingly, 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% in the number of seats, and 5.5% in the number of flights compared to the same period in 2023, respectively.

Airports predicted to experience significant increases in the number of flights and passengers during the period are in tourist attractions such Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Khanh Hoa, Thua Thien - Hue, Binh Dinh, Da Lat, Dien Bien, Quang Binh and Con Dao.

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./.

Vietnam treasures role of UNESCO: Foreign Minister

Vietnam always attaches importance to multilateral cooperation and the role of UNESCO, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told visiting President of the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO Simona-Mirela Miculescu in Hanoi on April 25.

The minister affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to share its experience and success stories with other UNESCO member countries.

Welcoming the official visit by Miculescu, the first by a UNESCO General Conference President since 2000, Son pledged that Vietnam will continue to contribute to UNESCO's work, firstly in preparation for the United Nations Summit of the Future slated for September in New York.

The official stressed that the UNESCO support has contributed to spurring sustainable socio-economic development, and promoting the culture, land and people of Vietnam.

He called for more aid from the organisation to Vietnam through specific activities such as accelerating the implementation of the Vietnam-UNESCO memorandum of understanding on cooperation for 2021-2025, providing consultations and sharing experience in socio-economic development, and supporting high-quality personnel training collaboration.

Miculescu said she was impressed by Vietnam’s achievements in reform, integration, dynamic and creative development, as well as culture and heritage preservation.

Vietnam is a strategic, reliable and responsible member of UNESCO, and a leading country in materialising UNESCO programmes and activities, she affirmed, adding the country has won trust and confidence from international friends as there are few countries to undertake positions in five key management mechanisms of UNESCO at the same time like Vietnam.

Sharing Son’s proposals on future cooperation, Miculescu noted that UNESCO is always a companion and reliable partner of Vietnam, helping the country seek recognition for its heritage and in preservation efforts.  

She highly valued Vietnam’s hosting important events this year, notably the 8th International Conference of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network in the Asia-Pacific region in its northern mountainous province of Cao Bang in September.

The same day, Miculescu met with Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO.

She is scheduled to hold a working session with representatives from the northern province of Ninh Binh, home to the UNESCO-recognised Trang An Landscape Complex, and attend and deliver remarks at a ceremony marking 10 years since the complex received the World Heritage Site title (2014-2024)./.

Hanoi Great Souvenirs 2024 kicks off

The Hanoi Great Souvenirs 2024 fair opened at the Hanoi Museum on April 25, offering a venue for businesses and producers to showcase cultural and souvenir products.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen The Hiep said the event aims to support industry associations, businesses, rural industrial production establishments, and artisans to introduce handicraft souvenirs imbued with cultural identities of traditional craft villages in Hanoi.

It also provides an opportunity for businesses and producers of handicraft souvenirs in the city to promote cooperation in producing, processing, and selling typical and high-quality rural industrial goods, thus forming sustainable production and consumption chains of rural products.

The fair features 100 stalls, exhibiting wooden, pottery, bamboo and rattan items, glassware, textiles, yarn and embroidery products, small mechanical products, along with those under the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) programme.

Running until 28 April, the event is expected to attract thousands of visitors./.

Documents, artifacts related to Dien Bien Phu Campaign unveiled in Yen Bai

More than 200 precious artifacts, photos and documents related to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign have been announced in the northern province of Yen Bai, demonstrating activities taken by the provincial Party Organisation, administration, army and people to serve the campaign 70 years ago.

Many artifacts were collected from historical places and witnesses such as submachine guns, rifles, defensive shirts, rice sacks, and emulation flags.

Hoang Tien Long, Director of the Yen Bai Museum, said that documents created in the 1952 – 1954 period mentioned historical circumstances, policy decisions and the process of direction and leadership of the Yen Bai provincial Party Committee in preparing conditions and participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. 

He said that many photos and artifacts were made public for the first time, showing the great sacrifice, solidarity and high determination of the people of Yen Bai province for the campaign.

Meanwhile, nearly 100 photos that are introduced to the public for the first time truly and vividly reflect the contributions of the people of Yen Bai to the campaign, specifically in supplying food and weapons to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, or opening roads.

During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954, Lung Lo pass in Thuong Bang La commune, Van Chan district, Yen Bai province, was one of the vital routes for transporting troops, weapons, and food to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield.

For the campaign, the Party Central Committee decided to open route 13A from Hien ferry in Tuyen Quang province, running past Ben Au Lau to the Lung Lo pass to connect with Road 41 (now Highway 6) at the Co Noi T-junction in Son La province.

The trail stretched 120 kilometres over high mountains and across three big rivers – the Chay, the Red, and the Da. The Lung Lo pass, one of the most treacherous sections, had a steep mountain on one side and a deep abyss on the other. 

More than 124,000 sappers and civil workers used millions of bamboo plants and trees contributed by local people to build the route through the Lung Lo pass in about 200 days. Tens of thousands of trucks, carts, and pack-bikes carried weapons and food to the battlefield.

To obstruct the supply route to Dien Bien Phu, the French army dropped about 12,000 tonnes of bombs on the Lung Lo pass. Some days they dropped as many as 200 bombs. During the campaign, 16 to 18 enemy planes bombed the area five to six times a day.

But tens of thousands of people bravely risked their lives under bombs and bullets to keep the road clear for undisrupted transport. Dozen thousands of tonnes of military equipment, weapons, and food were stockpiled at Thuong Bang La and transported across the pass to the battlefield./.

India, Vietnam enhance culture-tourism links

Nguyen Phi Long, secretary of the Hoa Binh Party Committee, hosted a reception on April 26 for Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya, who is currently leading a delegation on a working trip to the northern province.

Recalling the traditional and long-lasting friendship that exists between both sides and was cultivated by the late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Long hailed the Embassy’s assistance for a rural project in the local Cao Phong district.

By building a cultural house for Chang Trong hamlet in Hop Phong commune, the project will contribute to raising residents’ living standards, he said, expressing his wish for the diplomat to act as a bridge between Hoa Binh and Indian investors.

The Ambassador said he desires to devise plans aimed at ramping up collaboration between the province and India’s public agencies and organisations in the areas of culture, tourism, economy, trade, education, and training.

The same day, saw Ambassador Arya and provincial leaders attend a ceremony inaugurating the cultural house.

Cyclists race to celebrate Điện Biên Phủ victory

A cycling tournament to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Battle victory will be held on May 1- 5 from Hà Nội to Điện Biên Province.

The event, which was held annually before the COVID-19 pandemic, will feature 70 riders of 10 strong teams: Hà Nội, HCM City, Military Zone 7, An Giang, Đồng Tháp, Đồng Nai, Bình Dương, Vĩnh Long, Thanh Hóa, and Hòa Bình.

It is a key activity of the programme marking the anniversary on May 7, 1954-2024.

Riders will compete in five stages for a total distance of 525km. The first stage is 40.8km around Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The second is 132km from the Mỹ Đình Stadium in Hà Nội to Lác Village in Hòa Bình Province.

The third one is 136km from Vân Hồ District to Tây Bắc Square in Sơn La City, Sơn La Province. The fourth stage is from Sơn La to May 7 Square in Điện Biên Phủ City, Điện Biên Province. The last one is 40.8km around Điện Biên Phủ.

The race is held by the Quân Đội Nhân Dân (People's Army) newspaper and the Việt Nam Cycling and Motor Sports Federation.

“This is a professional tournament which gives riders the chance to compete for medals and a meaningful activity to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ victory," said Major General Đoàn Xuân Bộ, editor-in-chief of the army's paper and head of organising board.

"We believe that the tournament will be a highlight of the celebration programme and receive support from people and bicycle lovers nationwide."

A purse of VNĐ40 million (US$1,600) will be delivered to the overall winner who will take the yellow jersey.

The green jersey athlete who earns highest points and the King of Mountain will bag VNĐ20 million each. The most successful young rider will receive VNĐ10 million.

In addition to VNĐ40 million for the winning team, organisers will present bonuses to the winners of the five stages.

During the race, the organisers will conduct charity activities, presenting houses and gifts to war veterans, young volunteers, and people who participated in the Điện Biên Phủ campaign and now live in Điện Biên.

A school worth VNĐ6.5 billion will be built in the province.

Organisers also hold a contest to publicise national history and photo contest entitled "Moments of the Race". 

Ethnic tourism village invites visitors to enjoy highland market during holiday

The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism will introduce a highland market in the capital’s suburban township of Son Tay for the five-day holiday held to mark National Reunification Day on April 30 and International Labour Day on May 1.

The highlight of the event will be a mountainous market which features specialties from the northwest and northeast regions, whilst demonstrations of traditional handicraft making and folk games will also be held.

Folk songs and dances by the Lo Lo, Mong, Tay, Nung, and Dao ethnic people are also expected to impress viewers during the event.

Along with a range of art performances and folk games, visitors to the function will have the chance to sample special dishes from ethnic minority groups such as “rượu cần” (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes) and a horse meat called “thắng cố” which is a traditional dish of the Mong ethnic group in the mountainous northwestern region.

Sơn wins 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final

Nguyễn Đức Sơn won the overall title while his female teammate Lê Chúc An topped the women's U16 category of the 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final on April 26 in Thừa Thiên Huế.

Sơn was among three host golfers in the leading group of both overall ranking and boys' U21 category after the first day of competition. He continued the second day with outstanding performance at the Laguna Lăng Cô Golf Course. 

The 17-year-old took lead with two birdies in the No 1 and No 3 holes of the final round.

A bogey in the No 4 made Sơn dropped behind Wang Ngai Shen of Hong Kong. However, he came back with a birdies in No 9 and levelled the score with Wang.

In the back 9, Wang made series of mistakes and was ousted from the race to the trophy. At the same time, Sơn stayed strong on top with even par and only one bogey in the No 16.

Sơn wrapped up the tournament with 5-under 208, as well as Japanese Masato Sumiuchi.

The first hole of the playoff saw both sides' birdies. But it was Sơn's perfect tee off in the second one which helped him to have another birdie while Sumiuchi took an even par. Sơn won his first international tournament in career.

Đoàn Uy of Việt Nam placed third with 3-under 210.

It was the second year in a row that Vietnamese athlete secured the championship trophy. Last year, Nguyễn Anh Minh was the first golfer of Việt Nam winning the tournament for junior talents.

In the girls' U16, An dominated the category from the beginning. She took the top place with 2-under 211.

An was No 5 in the overall ranking but she said it was much better than her result last year. No 5 place was also better than her target of being in top 10.

Reina Todaka of Japan came second with 5-over 218. She was followed by Lê Nguyễn Minh Anh who jumped to top three in the final round, scoring 9-over 222.

Michelle Bang of Australia took the girls' U21 title while fellow Jamie Smith won the boys' U16 class.

The Faldo Series Asia Grand Final featured 50 players from 12 countries including Australia, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, India, and the hosts.

The competition expanded to Asia in 2006, recognising the huge potential on the Asian junior golf circuit. It helps to reach more juniors around the world by introducing them to the game through grassroots initiatives. 

Thật to compete in Asian championships ahead of Olympics

Nguyễn Thị Thật will defend her title at the Asian Road Cycling Championships in Kazakhstan in June.

Thật is currently training in Việt Nam after she won a silver at the Tour of Thailand earlier this month.

She will join her Israel Premier Tech Roland Club on May 5 to continue their tournament Europe.

"In June, Thật and her road race team will compete in the continental tournament. It will be a key warm-up for her in preparation for the Paris Olympics," said Nguyễn Ngọc Vũ. General Secretary of the Việt Nam Cycling and Motor Sports Federation.

Thật is the first Vietnamese cyclist winning a spot in Olympics after she won gold at last year Asian championship.

This year the tournament runs from June 5-12.

Cambridge International's impersonators prosecuted

Six defendants who used the name of Cambridge International as a bogus organization to host English proficiency testing were prosecuted.

The defendants were accused of the crime “Fraudulent and appropriation of property”.

As of April 25, the Investigation Security Agency under the Department of Public Security of Hanoi reported that the unit is investigating the criminal case of Le Van Vang along with his accomplices for the crime of “Fraudulent and appropriation of property” in the capital city of Hanoi.

During the investigation process, the Investigation Security Agency decided to prosecute six defendants Le Van Vang, Luong Viet Anh, Nguyen Van Giang, Nguyen Truong Doanh, Tran Trong Dai and Hoang Thi Quynh Anh.

According to investigation results, from September 2022 to June 18, 2023, the defendants performed the acts of fraudulent and appropriation of property.

They used the title of Cambridge International being identified as a bogus organization to allow the Institute for Cooperation Research and Educational Development under the Vietnam Association of Psychology and Educational Sciences to organize the testing of English proficiency in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) under online form and granted certificate of Cambridge International.

The Hanoi Department of Public Security notified that those people who paid fees for the examination soon contact the Investigation Security Agency for handling.

Quantity of hand-foot-mouth cases in Mekong Delta significantly increasing

The Health Departments of various provinces in the Mekong Delta have reported a considerable rise in the number of hand-foot-mouth cases recently.

Accordingly, the Health Department of Soc Trang Province yesterday informed that since the beginning of this year, there have been 354 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease, a growth of 217 compared to this time last year. 17 of them are serious and have to have their samples sent to the HCMC Institute Pasteur for virus isolation.

The Center for Disease Control of Bac Lieu Province reported that in the first quarter of this year, there were 348 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease, a rise of 114 year to year.

In Tien Giang Province, the number of hand-foot-mouth cases has witnessed a continuous increase for the last two weeks, with an average of 30 new patients per week.

Aware of this serious state, all localities in the Mekong Delta are urgently applying measures to control current outbreaks.

Hot weather has caused a rise in the quantity of people with strokes. S.I.S Can Tho Hospital shared that since the beginning of 2024, it has treated more than 6,7000 emergencies, including 2,615 cases of stroke, 2,058 cases of cerebral infarction. This is quite common when the weather becomes extreme (too hot or too cold).

Medical experts advised that during this suffocating heat, traffic users should cover themselves carefully before going out and drink sufficient water to avoid being dehydrated.

In related news, on April 25, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (under the Health Ministry) sent a formal dispatch to all localities and related functional agencies about better managing medicine prices and ensuring enough medication for the community during the upcoming national holiday.

The Vietnam Drug Administration asked that the Health Departments and Centers for Disease Control of all provinces and cities frequently check and supply medication for disease treatment, especially in emergencies. The task of disease control and prevention must be taken good care of.

Medicines for common summer diseases like dengue fever, influenza A, hand-foot-mouth, measles, rubella, diarrhea caused by rotavirus, and diseases transmitted through the respiratory and digestive tracts must in stock at all time.

Northern region to face widespread hot spell

Vietnam's northern region will struggle with a widespread heat wave, with high temperatures of around 40 degrees centigrade in some areas.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, the hot weather will intensify and expand to more northern localities starting tomorrow, April 27.

The blistering heat is expected to persist throughout the five-day Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holiday, making it the hottest holiday in the past decade.

The temperature in northeastern localities and Hanoi would be between 36-38 degrees centigrade. Meanwhile, in some areas in the northwest, it could reach around 40 degrees centigrade.

Meanwhile, the sweltering heat would also affect Vietnam's northern and central regions.

Central localities, spanning from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen provinces, will also experience the heatwave, with temperatures ranging from 37 to 40 degrees centigrade.

Ben Cat becomes fifth city in Binh Duong

Ben Cat Town will become a provincial-level city in Binh Duong Province from May 1, as approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Binh Duong now has five provincial-level cities, namely Thu Dau Mot, Thuan An, Di An, Tan Uyen, and Ben Cat.

Under the National Assembly Standing Committee’s resolution, Ben Cat City is established based on the existing natural area and population of Ben Cat Town. The city encompasses seven wards and one commune, namely An Dien, An Tay, Chanh Phu Hoa, My Phuoc, Hoa Loi, Tan Dinh, Thoi Hoa, and Phu An.

With a natural area of 234.35 square kilometers and a population of 364,578, Ben Cat City is designated as a level-3 municipal entity.

Situated 20 kilometers from Thu Dau Mot City in Binh Duong and 50 kilometers from HCMC, Ben Cat City has well-developed traffic infrastructure.

The city is home to numerous industrial parks, including My Phuoc 1, 2, 3, Rach Bap, Dong An 2, and Viet Huong 2. In 2023, Ben Cat attracted 671 investment projects, bringing the total number of operational projects in the area to 6,441.

Bus travel demand surges as holiday approaches

With the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1) holiday approaching, bus travel from HCMC to popular cities and provinces is in high demand.

Trips to destinations like Dalat, Phan Thiet, and Nha Trang in central Vietnam are seeing a shortage of bus tickets, particularly on April 26 and 27.

The HCMC Department of Transport predicts an average of over 64,000 passengers per day and more than 3,000 bus trips during the five-day-long national holiday, a 26% increase in passenger volume compared to last year.

Mien Dong and Mien Tay coach stations in HCMC are gearing up for the surge in passenger traffic.

Travelers are encouraged to book their tickets in advance or explore alternative travel options, especially for popular routes during the peak holiday period.

Tan Son Nhat airport braces for holiday rush

As the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1) holiday is approaching, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC is gearing up for a surge in passenger traffic.

Lasting five days from April 27 to May 1, the national holiday is expected to see an upsurge of travelers, with the airport anticipating around 125,000 passengers per day from April 26 to May 1.

Passenger traffic will shoot up during this time, with a total of 4,280 flights scheduled from April 26 to May 1 at the airport, averaging 720 flights per day.

Among these flights, 1,602 are international and 2,678 are domestic. On the busiest days, April 26 and May 1, the airport plans to accommodate 740 flights.

As the largest airport in southern Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat is preparing to serve a total of 686,700 passengers during the vacation.

Stringent security measures remain in place to ensure flight safety, with additional personnel deployed, including members of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport Youth Union and the Vietnam Aviation Academy Youth Union.

Six Vietnamese fencers join Olympic Qualifiers Paris 2024 in UAE

Vietnamese fencing team comprising six athletes last night left the capital city of Hanoi, Vietnam for the United Arab Emirates to prepare for the Paris 2024 fencing Olympic Qualification for the Asia-Pacific region.

At the tournament, the Vietnamese fencing team sets a goal of gaining the highest achievement to secure at least one official ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.

Six Vietnamese fencers are Vu Thanh An, Nguyen Phuoc Den, Phung Khanh Linh, Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, Pham Huyen Trang and Nguyen Minh Quang.

The Paris 2024 fencing competition will take place on April 27 and April 28 and be the only chance for Vietnamese fencers to make their Olympic dream come true.

Temporary rest areas on eastern North-South Expressway completed

The Ministry of Transport has just announced that as of April 25, the sections of the eastern North-South Expressway opened to the public have rest stops and temporary rest stations.

It aims to meet people's travel needs during a five-day holiday for this year's upcoming Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1).

The Ministry of Transport has just announced that as of April 25, the sections of the eastern North-South Expressway opened to the public have rest stops and temporary rest stations to meet people's travel needs during a five-day holiday for this year's upcoming Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1).

These rest areas are located along various sections of the expressway, including Phap Van - Cao Bo, Mai Son-National Highway 45, Nghi Son-Dien Chau, Dien Chau-Bai Vot, Cam Lo- La Son, Nha Trang-Cam Lam, Cam Lam-Vinh Hao, Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet-Dau Giay.

The Ministry of Transport will begin the construction of eight rest areas on the eastern North-South Expressway for the 2017-2020 period. The project management board has prepared documents to deploy bidding to choose investors on May 20. It is expected that the investor will be selected by June 2024.

Regarding the remaining rest stops along the North-South expressway in the 2021-2025 phase, the Ministry of Transport has directed agencies and units to promptly complete project appraisal and approval, and accelerate the progress of site clearance and land handover to localities. The agencies and units must complete the construction of rest stops and put them into operation simultaneously with the component projects on the routes in accordance with the Prime Minister’s directive.

Cao Bang province, Baise city of China talk cooperation enhancement

The People’s Council of Cao Bang held talks with the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Baise city, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, in the northern border Vietnamese province on April 25.

Trieu Dinh Le, Standing Vice Secretary of the Cao Bang Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, said the meeting was a chance for the two people-elected bodies to review the implementation of the bilateral friendship exchange agreement, share working experience, and explore ways for implementing the cooperation commitments and agreements reached between the Secretary of the Cao Bang provincial Party Committee and the Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Party Committee earlier this year.

He noted his province and Baise boast close-knit relations. Together with the development of the Vietnam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, exchanges and cooperation between Cao Bang and Baise have also been growing and produced significant achievements in various fields, contributing to the friendship and political trust between the two countries.

Since the Cao Bang People’s Council and the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Baise signed a friendship exchange agreement in May 2023, the two sides have actively implemented cooperation activities and obtained fruitful results to generate practical benefits for both, the official went on.

Last year, Cao Bang signed 15 documents and agreements with Chinese localities and partners, sent 31 delegations on working visits to China, and welcomed six delegations of Chinese administrations and businesses.

Exchanges at all levels, especially between the two sides’ border districts have been carried out frequently. Besides, discussions about transport connectivity have also reaped certain results, Le noted./.

Vietnam Register suggests measures to solve inspection bottlenecks

The crackdown on corruption in the vehicle inspection industry has resulted in a severe shortage of qualified staff, leading to overcrowding and delays at centres.

The 29-03V centre in Hà Nội's Cầu Giấy District was overwhelmed by vehicles seeking inspections on Tuesday. The queue stretched for hundreds of metres from the centre's gate, causing traffic congestion.

"The holidays are coming up and my vehicle's inspection is due soon, so I decided to get it inspected early," said one driver.

"I knew that I would have to spend the whole morning waiting in line here."

The situation is expected to worsen as the demand for inspections increases ahead of the holidays on April 30 and May 1.

According to the Vietnam Register, the government body overseeing vehicle inspections, there are currently 1,760 active inspectors and 277 inspection centres across the country.

The crackdown has led to 16 centres being temporarily suspended and more than 900 inspectors prosecuted. Many of them have been dismissed or resigned.

Only a small number remain working while out on bail awaiting trial. With more centres still under investigation, further shortages seem inevitable.

Legally, inspectors convicted will have their licences permanently revoked, barring them from the profession.

Any centre that has at least two inspectors having their licences revoked within 12 months will face a three-month mandatory suspension.

The Register calculates that the number of centres to be temporarily suspended will soon reach 70 across 24 provinces. 

When coupled with the forecast spike in demand, the mass suspension could leave 31 provinces and cities, including Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, and HCM City, facing severe bottlenecks.

Some localities such as Bắc Kạn, Hòa Bình and Thái Bình might have no active centres at all during this crunch time.

In response to the situation, the Register has proposed delaying the revocation of licences for inspectors who have been convicted and given suspended sentences.

The overseeing body also proposed that centres with at least two inspectors having their licences revoked be allowed to operate for additional time.

These measures aim to maintain an adequate workforce for inspection.

Proposals have also been made to selectively rehire trial-awaiting inspectors on temporary employment contracts until their cases are adjudicated.

The Register has also urged local authorities to provide opportunities for inspectors who have committed minor offenses to redeem themselves and continue working in the industry.

If approved, the proposals will take effect as of January 1, 2026, allowing inspectors with suspended sentences and to-be-suspended centres to remain active for additional time.

The Register has also urged centres to increase their working hours, especially during the holidays, to alleviate the backlogs.

It also urged them to put in place online appointment booking portal and warned of ban against any centre refusing to inspected vehicles that had successfully booked an appointment online. 

Vehicle owners are advised to have repairs and maintenance done preemptively before arriving to speed up the inspection process and reduce wait times.

The agency also urged centres to strictly adhere to safety standards and refrain from issuing certificates to vehicles that do not meet the required standards.

Danang pagoda hands over 114 turtles to forest rangers

A pagoda in the central city of Danang has handed over 114 turtles to local forest rangers for their release back into the wild.

Nam Son Pagoda in Danang has handed over 114 turtles to local forest rangers for their release back into the wild.

The Hoa Vang District Forest Protection Department told Dantri/Dtinews on Thursday that Nam Son Pagoda had contacted them to hand over the turtles brought by Buddhists during animal release ceremonies.

"We're working with concerned agencies to send those turtles to the Cuc Phuong National Park which will take care of them before releasing them into the wild," the department said.

Nam Son Pagoda in Hoa Chau Commune has a large lake with many varieties of fish, snails and turtles that have been released by people during Buddhist ceremonies.

"The increasing number of fish and turtles being released in the lake may affect their environment," the department said. "So, we've encouraged the pagoda to hand in the big and rare ones for releasing them into the wild."

Đồng Nai Province tightens measures to protect malva nut trees

Forest rangers in the Đồng Nai Culture and Nature Reserve in Đồng Nai Province are stepping up efforts to protect malva nut trees from illegal harvesting as they are now in their harvest season.

The reserve encompasses over 100,000ha, including 30,000ha where about 7,300 malva nut trees with diameters of at least 40cm grow.

They are found in the Vĩnh An, Hiếu Liêm and Mã Đà forests in Vĩnh Cửu District.

Malva nuts have significant economic value, which attracts illegal logging by people living in the reserve's buffer zones. This can damage the trees and increase the risk of forest fires during the dry season.

A malva nut tree begins to flower and bear fruit when it is 15-20 years old. The nuts are primarily used to make beverages and have medicinal benefits like detoxification and boosting the immune system.

Võ Quang Trung, deputy head of the reserve’s nature preservation and co-operation division, said: “When people enter forests illegally to harvest malva nuts, they might cut down a malva nut tree to collect the nuts, destroying the tree. If they cut branches to harvest the nuts, it takes the tree four to five years to recover and bear fruit again.”

The reserve expects a bountiful harvest of malva nuts this year because trees have many flowers and fruits, with the ongoing dry season providing extended heat without unseasonable rains, ideal conditions for a bumper crop.

Lê Văn Gọi, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted that every three to four years there is typically a bumper harvest of malva nuts, usually in a year with particularly hot and dry weather during the dry season.

This poses risks for forest management, protection and fire prevention as more people may enter the forests illegally to harvest the nuts, according to Gọi.

Forest owners are urged to implement robust protection measures. However, the vast area of the reserve complicates this task, the reserve’s Forest Protection Division admitted.

It has four forest protection stations in Phủ Lý Commune, which has a high concentration of malva nut trees.

Earlier this year the division formulated plans to protect malva nut trees, Trương Đình Minh, deputy head of the division said.

According to Phan Huy Vĩnh, deputy head of the Đa Kinde forest protection station in Phủ Lý, this station has seven personnel managing nearly 6,000ha of forests and over 1,000 malva nut trees with diameters exceeding 40cm.

"The malva nut harvest season occurs during the dry season, which is also when rangers have many other tasks such as preventing poaching and monitoring forest fires. Thus, we have to work twice as hard to meet our responsibilities."

The division has mobile units to monitor forest areas bordering Bình Phước Province, where there's a high risk of illegal harvesting of malva nuts.

It also has rangers joining the mobile patrol groups of the Vĩnh Cửu District Steering Committee for the sustainable forestry development programme.

It cooperates with neighbouring forest protection units, including those of the Cát Tiên National Park and Bình Phước Province’s Bù Đăng Protective Forest, and forest protection bureaux in adjacent districts in Bình Phước and Bình Dương provinces.

Minh said the reserve, in cooperation with local authorities, had raised awareness to discourage people from illegally harvesting malva nuts.

“We have strictly implemented protection plans for malva nut trees from the outset, which helps reduce illegal entry and potential damage to the forests."

Hanoi takes drastic action against environmental violations

With environmental violations still rampant in Hanoi, the city authorities have tightened management and taken drastic measures to deal with offenders.

Trinh Viet Dan, Chief Inspector of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE), said the department has stepped up inspections of production facilities, industrial clusters, and handicraft villages that pose a high risk of polluting the environment and affecting people's health.

"Improper dumping of waste, transporting waste without a cover so that it spills onto the road, throwing waste in public places and discharging wastewater that exceeds standards are the main irregularities found in some artisan villages, industrial zones, and urban areas during the inspection," Dan added. 

Specifically, in Nam Tu Liem District, the inspection team fined eight vehicles for spilling construction materials on the road, 25 cases of dumping solid waste in improper places, two cases of discharging sewage in public places, eight cases of dumping household waste, totaling more than VND800 million (US$31,483).

In Ha Dong District, authorities fined offenders more than VND1.5 billion ($59,031) for over-discharging wastewater, violating environmental protection regulations, and harming people's health.

In 2023, the city authorities sent 90 inspection teams to nearly 3,000 businesses, 1,500 of which were found to have violated environmental regulations and fined a total of VND20 billion ($787,092).

The inspections revealed shortcomings in the regulatory work. Follow-up inspections have not been focused, resulting in repeated violations. As a result, Hanoi's land, water, and air are becoming increasingly polluted.  

Nguyen Minh Tan, deputy director of DONRE, said that to curb environmental violations, public awareness will be raised and training courses on the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection and legal documents related to environmental protection will be organized.

"The DONRE has also guided compliance with environmental protection laws, dealt strictly with violations, and taken action against environmental pollution. Wastewater and exhaust gases must meet standards before being discharged into the environment," said Tan.

He added that the department has asked the city to increase funding for investment in connecting wastewater to treatment plants in industrial clusters into a centralized sewage treatment system.

Hanoi has also taken drastic measures to improve the management of solid waste, which has fallen short of environmental protection requirements.  

In terms of waste collection and transport, the DONRE official urged the district people's committees to continue to improve the quality of urban sanitation management.

"The districts need to coordinate closely with DONRE and specialized agencies in the transportation of domestic solid waste. In the coming period, a waste volume data system must be established to ensure publicity and transparency in solid waste transportation and treatment," Tan said.

DONRE has installed more waste bins and public toilets, carried out communication activities to raise people's awareness, and launched an emulation movement for environmental sanitation, such as planting more flowers on vacant lots along roads and riverbanks to prevent them from becoming dumping grounds.

In addition, the Department has asked local authorities to set up hotlines and on-duty staff to receive timely feedback so that any issues arising can be dealt with promptly.

MoIT working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has been promoting and providing guidance for enterprises to implement slight reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and conduct greenhouse gas inventories in the industry and trade sector.

This information is presented Hoàng Văn Tâm, climate change team leader of the MoIT’s Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development Department, at the seminar on inventory, verification, confirmation and emission reduction in the supply chain.

The seminar was organised by the Việt Nam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) under the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in co-ordination with Nestlé Việt Nam in HCM City on Wednesday.

On the journey to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050, Việt Nam aims to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 compared to 2020.

The country will also build total greenhouse gas emission quotas and allocate emission quotas for greenhouse gas emitting establishments from 2026.

The MoIT issued Circular 38/2023/TT-BCT regulating measurement, reporting and appraisal techniques to reduce light greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas inventory of the industry and trade sector in December last year.

Also at the discussion, Khuất Quang Hưng, Director of External Relations and Communications of Nestlé Việt Nam, shared about the group's commitment and roadmap to achieving Net Zero.

It will reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2025, 50 per cent by 2030, and complete the Net Zero goal by 2050.

To make progress in implementing its Net Zero commitment, Nestlé focuses on the upstream of the value chain, with two strategic approaches to reduce emissions.

Of which, it will promote regenerative agriculture; and conserve and regenerate forests. In addition, the company continues to implement initiatives and programmes to reduce emissions in production and freight transportation.

Microchip human resources training needs more focus on quality

Multiple universities in Vietnam have introduced microchip training programs since this year to answer the high demand of the market. This training should be quality-oriented to gain real competitive advantages.

Until now, various universities in all regions of Vietnam have marketing their new attractive training program – microchip discipline.

In the North, Hanoi University of Science and Technology now offers nine IC-related majors and is training more than 3,300 students in this field. Vietnam National University-Hanoi trains 1,500 students in IC design and semiconductor industry each year on average and is expected to double this quantity in the near future, with a clear focus on invention facilitating. Short courses related to microchip discipline are run as well to timely train sufficient laborers for this human resources thirst.

In the South, the three members of Vietnam National University-HCM, namely HCMC University of Technology, University of Information Technology, and University of Science, have received approval to open training programs in the microchip discipline.

VNU-HCM is now teaching about 6,000 students in majors directly or indirectly related to microchip and semiconductor. During the 2023-2030 period, it will focus more on in-depth training in this field to satisfy the need for high-quality human resources. By 2027, VNU-HCM will have enrolled 1,000 laborers in both the microchip and semiconductor industries.

In the Central region, the three members of Da Nang University, namely University of Science and Technology, University of Technology and Education, and Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, have formally launched their training programs for IC design.

Alongside that are many more state-owned or private universities nationwide training human resources for this field.

Deputy Director Vo Xuan Hoai of the National Innovation Center (under the Ministry of Planning and Investment) shared that the Government has assigned the Ministry of Information and Communications to develop a practical strategy for human resources training in IC design. Among more than 300 universities and colleges in Vietnam, only a small number are able to carry out this mission, but still in serious need of laboratories and more partnerships with businesses in the field.

Therefore, Deputy Director Hoai suggested a longer-term strategy plus suitable policies to boost the growth of microchip human resources in the country because the current quantity can only answer 20 percent of the demand. Most of them are working in HCMC (85 percent), Hanoi (8 percent), and Da Nang City (7 percent).

By 2030, Vietnam will have sought 55,000 high-quality laborers for the microchip industry. It is advisable to first focus on qualified training in universities already having advantages in technology like Vietnam National University-Hanoi, Vietnam National University-HCM, Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

President Mai Thanh Phong of HCMC University of Technology (VNU-HCM) stated that among the four stages of a global microchip supply chain (IC design, IC manufacturing, IC quality control, and IC packaging), Vietnam can only be in charge of the first one.

The good news is this stage can create high added value for microchips. As several leading IC design corporations are rushing to Vietnam to employ high-quality talents for this aspect, Vietnam should take good advantage of this opportunity, beginning with paying more attention to quality in training human resources for IC design.

According to Deputy Director Tran Manh Ha of the Software Technology Park (under VNU-HCM), the university is developing advanced training programs for the microchip discipline with the aim to introduce 1,000 engineers by 2027. VNU-HCM is asking for support from both the Government and the local authorities while trying to form strong partnerships with international organizations to invite renowned professors in the world as guest lecturers.

President of VNU-HCM Vu Hai Quan further added that his university has just signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Synopsys Corp. (the US), Deakin University (Australia), and other domestic and foreign corporations to increase the training and research capability of VNU-HCM in IC design. Facing many challenges in this training process, VNU-HCM is using all possible resources and support from its partners so that it can successfully train international-standard human resources for IC design.

Ponagar Temple Festival 2024 to open in Nha Trang

The Ponagar Temple Festival, a popular traditional cultural event of the ethnic Chăm people, will take place on Sunday at the Ponagar Temple Relic Site in Nha Trang City, the central coastal province of Khánh Hoà.

This year's event will include a series of unique cultural activities such as a flower releasing ceremony on the Cái River, a palanquin procession from the temple tower through streets in residential areas and worship ceremonies for national peace and prosperity, Mother Goddess incense offering, and traditional sacrifice rituals.

The festival will be held from April 28 to May 1 at Vĩnh Phước Ward, Nha Trang City.

Trần Đức Hà, director of Khánh Hòa's Centre for Conservation of Monuments, said more than 100 tourist groups had registered to take part, including many from the Chăm communities in the provinces of Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Lâm Đồng, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum.

Hà said along with the main religious rituals, this year's festival also includes other cultural events including folk dancing, singing, art performances, folk games, hand-loom weaving and pottery of the Chăm.

The event's organising board has posted rules for visitors to the Ponagar Tower relic area, reminding them to ensure security, social order and environmental sanitation.

This year's festival has been upgraded to a higher level and on larger scale. Many programmes have been prepared attracting the attention of local people and authorities, particularly tourists from across the country and abroad.

Every year, millions of tourists come to Ponagar Temple Tower to offer incense and perform rituals. Last year alone, It welcomed more than 80,000 visitors during the four day event.

"The Ponagar Temple Festival was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2012. This is a typical Mother Goddess worshipping festival held annually in Nha Trang City," Nguyễn Văn Nhuận, director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Khánh Hòa Province, said.

The Ponagar Temple Festival bears the cultural colours of both Kinh [Vietnamese majority] and Chăm people. It is one of the very few traditional festivals that clearly show the unique intercultural exchange about Thien Y A Na Holy Mother worship.

Many cultural researchers in the country, when learning about the Ponagar Temple Festival, highly appreciate the religious rituals during the event. They reflect the intercultural exchange of Chăm and Vietnamese cultures which are closely connected with the development of Nha Trang.

Ponagar Temple Tower, a Chăm architectural complex of temples and towers built in the mid-eighth century preserves an important position in the religious life and beliefs of the ancient Champa Kingdom.

The heritage site is located on Cù Lao hill in Vĩnh Phước Ward, Nha Trang City on a total area of 57,000sq.m, stretching east - west, about 200m from the coast. It has typical values of different areas such as history, architecture, sculpture, inscriptions, and religion.

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