The Ministry of Health has asked authorities of provinces and centrally-run cities nationwide to pay special attention to strengthening the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic and other dangerous epidemics before, during and after the national holidays of Hùng Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day and May Day from April 29 to May 3.

In its dispatch sent to the people’s committees of localities on April 28, the ministry requested them to effectively implement the Government's Resolution on the COVID-19 prevention and control programme, strictly perform the regular updating and assessment of pandemic levels, and apply appropriate pandemic prevention and control measures based on the pandemic level.

Localities across the country have been also required to strictly implement the plan for preventing and controlling infectious diseases in 2023, focusing on remote and isolated areas, areas with difficult access to health services, and ethnic minority areas, residential areas with high population mobility, and those with low vaccination rates.

They have been also ordered to sketch out specific plans to be ready for responding to any situations in their localities before, during and after the holidays.

The ministry emphasised the need to keep a close watch on the developments of the pandemic and dangerous diseases, at border gates, health facilities and the community, and strengthen the communications work to raise public awareness of and change residents’ behaviour in protecting the health of themselves, their families and the community.

Holiday-makers should also follow the health ministry’s requirements of wearing face masks and disinfecting regularly, especially on public transport, in train and bus stations, markets, at crowded places and events, it said.  

The ministry asked the people's committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to mobilise the participation of local authorities and departments, sectors and mass organisations to drastically review and encourage people, especially high-risk groups, to get injected with COVID-19 vaccines. 

Hanoi Museum renew itself to attract more visitors

Hanoi Museum has managed to promote the organisation of thematic exhibitions which are not only diverse in content but also creative in the display of objects since its reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic.

With these changes, the museum expects to become a destination that should not be missed for tourists who want to explore the capital city, Ha Noi Moi (New Hanoi) Newspaper reported.

The exhibition "Nhung manh vun" (Fabric Scraps), which is jointly held by the Hanoi Museum and Vun Art Cooperative, is an example.

Visitors to the exhibition are not only surprised at stunning artworks made of silk fabric scraps but also touched by stories about their makers.

Le Viet Cuong, Director of Vun Art Cooperative, said silk fabric scraps, which are seemingly useless, are put together to create traditional folk paintings imbued with Vietnamese cultural identities such as Dong Ho paintings.

He went on to say that the use of fabric scraps has contributed to reducing environmental pollution and generating jobs for people with disabilities, helping them gain confidence in their lives.

Talking about the exhibition, Dang Minh Ve, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Museum, said that silk scrap collage is an art form that requires meticulousness, carefulness, nice artistic eyes, and the ability to mix the fabric pieces.

According to him, the silk scraps seem to be revived and come to life through the hands of Vun Art craftsmen, making the canvas beautiful and unique artworks.

The exhibition will run until October 2023. During this time, the museum will hold a weekend workshop to give visitors the experience of making collages and souvenirs from silk scraps.

Besides “Fabric scraps”, there are three exhibitions that are opened for visitors at the Hanoi Museum. They all leave a deep impression on tourists thanks to their impressive stories and unique approaches.

An exhibition named “Nep xua” (Traditional Customs) reflects good cultural values through the typical lifestyle of Hanoians in the first half of the 20th century. It reminds elderly visitors of their memories of Hanoi as it used to be and teaches younger visitors something about the lifestyle of their predecessors.

Thematic exhibition "Hanoi 1972 - Aspiration for peace" showcases more than 300 photos, documents and artifacts which reenact the historical imprints of 12 days and nights of fighting against the US Air Force.

The sculpture art exhibition entitled "Ego - human" features more than 200 lacquer and oil paintings and more than 100 sculptures from materials such as bronze, stone, and wood by artist Ngo Xuan Binh. These works are designed for urban spaces, contributing to creating a colourful cultural life for modern citizens.

Director of the Hanoi Museum Nguyen Tien Da said that, to meet the public’s requirements, the museum’s staff members always think about how to improve the quality of services.

Besides coordinating with organisations and individuals to hold exhibitions, the Hanoi Museum also maintains the display of national treasures and special national relics of Hanoi, promoting heritage-related education through seminars on handicraft villages, traditional ao dai (traditional long dress) and cultural programmes that bring a lively and attractive atmosphere.

The museum welcomes between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors a month who want to explore cultural heritages, documents and artifacts about Hanoi in the past and at present.

Pham Mai Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Historical Science, said that it is necessary for the museum to continue to develop special, in-depth, and well-organised thematic exhibitions, set up a team of tour guides who are fluent in foreign languages, and offer creative spaces for the youth and essential facilities to attract more visitors to the museum in a sustainable way.

Local athlete successfully defends gold medal at Asian athletics tournament

Nguyen Khanh Linh, 17, won a gold medal for the second consecutive year at the Asian U18 Athletics Championships held on April 27 in Uzbekistan.

She finished the girls' 1,500 metres with a time of 4:35:15 minutes, breaking her own record previously set at the Asian athletics tournament last year in Kuwait with a time of 4:51:61 minutes.

Linh surpassed Aiana of Kazakhstan who ranked second after clocking 4:36:75 minutes. Maftuna of host nation Uzbekistan came third with 4:39:57 minutes.

The Asian U18 Athletics Championships will last through to April 30, attracting nearly 400 athletes from 30 countries and territories. The biennial tournament organised by the Asian Athletics Association was first held back in 2015. The 2021 edition was postponed till 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visitors to Sapa forecasted to surge on national holidays

Sapa Town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has been forecasted to welcome between180,000-200,000 tourists during the coming Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holidays.

Sapa welcomed only 98,000 travellers during the same period last year. 

According to Hoang Thi Vuong, head of Sapa Town’s Tourism Information Board, the locality’s room coverage rate on the April 30 and May 1 holidays would be around 98 percent.

Sapa will hold many activities over the holiday period. From April 26-May 3, a rose festival will be organised at Sun World Fasipan tourist site. This is the second event of its kind held in Sapa.

The Dao Ethnic Culture Festival will take place on April 29-30, offering visitors a chance to enjoy Dao cuisine and fashion shows.

Meanwhile, the Mong Cat Cat Village Cultural Day will be held from April 30 and May 2.

Bao Yen District will have various activities for visitors, including folk games and a food festival.

Local authorities have instructed the management of tourism activities during the holidays to prevent overcharging and ensure traffic.

Over 500 people join beach cleaning in Danang
 
More than 500 people joined in a programme to clean beaches in Danang on April 27. The activity was part of the Environment Day programme organised by Son Tra Peninsula and Danang Tourism Beaches Management Board.

The programme which took place at Ha Khe Square in Thanh Khe District, attracted the participation of local officials, representatives from various departments and agencies, local people and students.

Speaking at the event, vice head of the Son Tra Peninsula and Danang Tourism Beaches Management Board, Tran Dai Nghia, shared that Danang’s beaches just appeared on a list of the seven most beautiful beaches in the world by the New Zealand Herald.

"This programme will prepare our beaches for the coming summer holiday," Nghia said. "It will also help raise awareness of local people and visitors in protecting the sea and keeping the environment clean. We can only develop tourism sustainably when the environment is ensured."

There are some other activities organised during this programme including an exhibition of 20 paintings and objects made from recycled materials; workshops on waste classifying and recycling, dove releasing, among others.

The programme also raised VND 200 million to help build two houses for two environmental workers who had financial difficulties.

2023 Ca Mau Southern Folk Cake Festival opens

The third Ca Mau Southern Folk Cake Festival 2023 themed “The Southern Flavor” opened in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau on April 26.

The festival attracts more than 200 stalls displaying hundreds of local specialties and delicious cakes of the Southern region.

The event also includes exhibitions of 'One Commune, One Product' (OCOP) and images of Ca Mau’s tourism, a trade fair, performances of traditional cake making, and folk games.

On this occasion, the People’s Committee of Ca Mau Province will choose and offer nine trays of traditional cakes in commemoration of Hung Kings at the Hung Kings Temple in Giao Khau village, Thoi Binh District’s Tan Phu Commune on Hung Kings festival on the 10th day of the third lunar month (April 29) to pay tribute to the merits of the Hung Kings, the founders of the Vietnamese nation.

The festival is a chance for gastronomers to enjoy a wide range of local folk cakes and aims to preserve and highlight traditional cuisines and cultural activities and promote tourism and the cultural potential of Vietnam’s South.

The cake show will run until May 3.

Vehicle registration centers to shorten holiday time to serve people in need

Many of the vehicle registration centers nationwide announced yesterday that they will reduce their holiday time to serve the public.

Accordingly, vehicle registration centers in Hanoi will be off for 4 days from April 29 to May 2 and will resume work on May 3. Those in the provinces of Hung Yen and Phu Tho will only take a 3-day holiday from April 29.

Vietnam Register informed that congestion has increased at 177/215 of its vehicle registration centers in 40/63 provinces and cities (accounting for 63 percent). This is because several registration centers are still temporarily closed, along with a shortage of human resources in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Many registration centers have scheduled appointments until the end of May. Despite applying prolonged overtime agendas plus registration exemption for first-use automobiles, a lot of centers are still overloaded.

Therefore, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang asked that Vietnam Register urgently address problems in vehicle registration centers so that these places can resume their work. It must also coordinate registrars flexibly among its centers, adopt necessary IT tools for appointment making to serve the public more effectively.

As to reported negativities in certain centers like the work of brokers doing the registration procedure instead of vehicle owners, Vietnam Register has already established task forces to verify and timely handle it. In addition, Minister Thang stressed that the Ministry’s Inspectorate must cooperate with the local authorities to regularly check registration centers and permanently close those that re-violate the laws.

In related news, Dong Nai Province Public Security Department announced the capture of Duong Viet Hong, Director of Dong Nai Province Vehicle Registration Center No.60-01S (sited in An Binh Ward of Bien Hoa City), No.60-02S (in Long Khanh City), and No.60-03S (in Dinh Quan District) to investigate corruption activities.

New cold spell to hit Northern region

The National Center for Hydrology Meteorology Forecasting this morning reported that a new cold spell is heading to Northern Vietnam.
 
It is forecast that residents will enjoy cool days during the national holidays.

Meteorologists said that several parts of the Northern and Central regions would experience moderate rainfalls from tonight after unbearable hot days. The cold wave will affect the North-Central and Mid-Central regions.

Meanwhile, large parts of the Southern region including Ho Chi Minh City have still suffering sweltering temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius. From tomorrow, it is forecast to reduce gradually.

Terminal 2 of Phu Bai International Airport put into operation

The Terminal 2 of Phu Bai International Airport in Thua Thien Hue Province was officially put into operation this morning after three years of construction.

The new terminal meets the travel demand of passengers on the upcoming national holidays of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30), the death anniversary of Hung Kings on the 10th of the third lunar month (falling on April 29 this year), May Day (May 1) and Hue Traditional Craft Festival 2023.

Besides, it contributes to luring foreign and domestic visitors, promoting the socio-economic development of Thua Thien Hue Province.

Chief of Office of Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee Tran Huu Thuy Giang said that the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) is an investor of the construction and investment project of Terminal 2 which started work in December 2019.

As planned, the Terminal 2 of Phu Bai International Airport will be officially inaugurated on May 13 after half a month of exploitation.

The passenger terminal T2 has a capacity of five million passengers a year, with a design of unique architecture and a modern and specific style of Hue culture.

Currently, the Department of Tourism of Thua Thien Hue Province is coordinating with relevant units, travel firms and some airlines such as Vietjet, Viettravel Airlines and so on to promote the opening of new routes including international routes, increase the frequency of flights to Phu Bai International Airport.

Hanoi to celebrate Reunification Day and Labor Day with rich artistic events

 The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports will hold nine art performances throughout the city, including the special art program of "Dat Nuoc Tron Niem Vui" or "A Day Full of Joy for the Country", which will be open to the public at Hoan Kiem pedestrian zone.

Accordingly, the city's seven art troupes, including Hanoi Cheo Theater, Hanoi Cai Luong Theater, Hanoi Drama Theater, Hanoi Circus and Variety Theater, Thang Long Puppet Theater, and Thang Long Music and Dance Theater, will hold eight performances in the districts of Gia Lam, Ung Hoa, Nam Tu Liem, Tay Ho, Soc Son, Quoc Oai, Thuong Tin, and Hoai Duc from April 28 to May 1.

The art program "A Day of Full of Joy for the Country" will start at 8 pm on April 28 at the Monument in the Hoan Kiem pedestrian area, with dances and songs praising the country and the victory in the American war in Vietnam (1954-1975).

In the same evening, the Vietnam Drama Theatre will hold a music and dance program in West Lake, Tay Ho District. The artists will entertain the audience with various songs and dances, namely "Vinh Quang Vietnam" (Glory of Vietnam), "Bai Ca Thong Nhat" (Reunification Song), "Cung Dan Mua Xuan" (Spring Melody), and others. In particular, two comedies will be on the stages "Chuyen Tinh Linh Dao" (The Love Story of the Island Soldiers) and "O Re" (In-law).

Meanwhile, the Hanoi Cheo Theater will hold a series of folk performances, including a show on the evening of April 27 at the National Special Relic Site of Co Loa Ancient Citadel in Dong Anh District; on the evening of April 29 at Yen Thuong Commune, Gia Lam District; and on the evening of May 1 at Van Dinh Town, Ung Hoa District.

The artists perform some Cheo’s excerpts and other folk dance and music pieces to praise the country and the capital city.

In addition, the Hanoi Cai Luong Theater will hold a performance for the public on the open-air stage in Nam Tu Liem District. In the evening of April 29, artists from Hanoi Circus and Variety Arts Theater will perform in Phu Lo Commune, Soc Son District. In the evening of April 30, the Thang Long Music and Dance Theater will entertain the audience in Duyen Thai Commune, Thuong Tin District with lots of singing and dancing, whistling, and the Thang Long Puppet Theater will give a funky show in Quoc Oai District.

In addition, Hanoi also organizes many festivals to attract visitors to the city on the occasion, including traditional festivals at Tay Phuong Pagoda, Thay Pagoda, Lang Pagoda, Hat Mon Temple; and the incense offering ceremony to commemorate the death anniversary of the Trung Sisters.

Other fun and entertainment programs are also organized throughout the city, such as the water puppet show and activities to experience Korean traditional Hanbok costumes at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (Cau Giay District); the "Chung Mot Con Duong" (Sharing the Same Road) exhibition and water puppet show at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and so on.

Asian influencers join show to discover Vietnam

Players are all influential on social media and must overcome challenges related to regions and create material about Vietnamese culture, cuisine, and tourism to post on social media.

 A new game show called "Let's Feast Vietnam" has made its debut, bringing together 14 young content creators and KOLs (influencers) on social networking platforms from six countries and territories, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

They have just arrived in Hanoi to start their amazing journey in Vietnam. Hanoi, together with the northern province of Quang Ninh's Ha Long Bay, Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang and HCM City are four destinations where local cultural and tourism challenges await them.

"Let's Feast Vietnam" is a reality program promoting Vietnamese culture, tourism, and cuisine, co-produced by BHD and Meta, with the guidance and support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The 14 players (divided into seven teams) will work together to complete two missions, including overcoming challenges related to travel, beautiful scenery, cooking, and culinary experiences and making short videos (reels) to show their personality while promoting Vietnamese culture, tourism, and cuisine on today's most popular social networking platforms.

The teams will be distinguished by colors. Thao Nhi Le, the runner-up for Vietnam Miss Universe 2021 with more than 796,000 followers, and Vu Dino, a popular food blogger with more than 137,000 followers, will make up the Green Team, are among the most popular young faces on Vietnamese social media. Korean influencer Hwang Joowon and young actor Rocker Nguyen (163,000 followers) make up the Red Team.

Other KOLs include Miss Charm 2023 runner-up Olivia Tan from Indonesia (111,000 followers) and Blue Team members Arsyan Dwianto and Machel Wie, two of Indonesia's top 3 chefs (136,000 and 176,000 followers, respectively).

Food and travel are consistently among the most published and viewed content on Facebook and Instagram, according to Khoi Le, a spokesperson for the organizing board.

"For this reason, 'Let's Feast Vietnam' is a special opportunity for creators to collaborate, produce content, and discover unique experiences only available in Vietnam, thereby promoting the culture and Vietnam worldwide in a new and effective way," said Khoi Le.

Currently, the program has completed filming and is in post-production. The show is expected to air on various platforms this Summer.

HCMC Police busts 217 drug trafficking cases during April

In April alone, more than 200 drug-related criminal cases were investigated and concluded by police in Hồ Chí Minh City.

Out of the 217 cases, a total of 467 people were apprehended, and more than 67 kilograms of illegal substances were seized.

On Thursday, the HCMC Police Department released a report detailing their work during the past month

In addition to the cases of drug trafficking, a total of 308 cases of social disorder were recorded, resulting in the deaths of six people, injuries to twelve others, and damage of approximately VNĐ3.2 billion (US$136,000).

Police also investigated 199 cases involving economic mismanagement, corruption, and smuggling with around VNĐ5.53 billion (US$235,700) worth of assets seized.

High-tech crimes remain complicated with instances of fraud and misappropriation of assets, illicit lending and debt collection through apps, and online gambling.

HCMC Police have been instructed to intensify inspections, combat, and deal with crimes involving loan sharks and "rent collection" disguised as financial consulting and legal advisory firms.

Over 12,500 cases of alcohol concentration violations were also investigated and resolved. Police discovered and handled two incidents of illicit racing and disorderly conduct on public roads, detaining 69 individuals and seizing 52 motorcycles.

Lieutenant General Lê Hồng Nam, Director of the HCMC Police Department, requested that police units and localities cooperate more closely in inspecting and addressing drug-related crimes, environmental crimes, corruption, economic crimes, contraband, and high-tech crimes.

HCMC Police will continue to inspect "car modification shops," suspected of modifying automobiles, and facilities that produce and trade car modification parts and components.

Leaders commemorate Hùng Kings in Phú Thọ Province

State President Võ Văn Thưởng, central and local officials, along with thousands of people offered incense in commemoration of the Hùng Kings, the legendary founders of Việt Nam, at the Hùng Kings Temple in the northern province of Phú Thọ on April 29 (the 10th day of the third lunar month).

The ceremony was held at Kính Thiên Palace on Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain, part of the special national historical relic site of the Hùng Kings Temple.

Reading the eulogy, Chairman of the Phú Thọ People’s Committee Bùi Văn Quang expressed the Vietnamese people’s deep gratitude to the Hùng Kings, who established Văn Lang – the first state in Việt Nam’s history, and other ancestors who defended the country. He also reported on the country’s enormous achievements in reforms, integration, and development.

After that, Party and State leaders offered incense at the Tomb of Hùng Kings and laid wreaths at a sculpted relief depicting then President Hồ Chí Minh talking to officers and soldiers of the Tiền Phong Division at the Giếng Temple on September 19, 1954, where he said: “The Hùng Kings established the country, we must together safeguard it.”

On this occasion, the provinces and cities housing temples dedicated to the Hùng Kings and generals from the kings’ era also held ceremonies to commemorate the legendary founders of Việt Nam.

Legend has it that Lạc Long Quân (real name Sùng Lãm, son of Kinh Dương Vương and Thần Long Nữ) married Âu Cơ (the fairy daughter of Đế Lai). Âu Cơ then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs, which hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lạc Long Quân separated. Lạc Long Quân went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Âu Cơ went to the highlands with the rest.

Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Văn Lang and set up the capital in Phong Châu (modern-day Việt Trì City in Phú Thọ Province), beginning the 18 reigns of the Hùng Kings.

The kings chose Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for bumper crops.

To honour their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on Nghĩa Linh Mountain, and the 10th day of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The worship of the Hùng Kings, closely related to the ancestral worship traditions of most Vietnamese families, was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012. 

HCM City seeks to increase output of flowers, ornamental trees

Demand for flowers and ornamental plants in HCM City has surpassed its output, presenting great potential for the production of flowers and ornamental plants, a conference heard.

Demand for flowers and ornamental plants in the city has surged by 15 per cent annually and its production capacity of 20 million pots of flowers and ornamental plants is far below the consumption of 50 million pots of flowers and ornamental plants, said Nguyễn Hữu Hoài Phú, deputy director of the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The city needs to import flowers and ornamental plants from other localities and other countries to meet its consumption, Phú said at a conference held in HCM City on Thursday.

Around 2,500 households in the city grow flowers and ornamental plants on a total of 2,000 hectares of farming area, including 1,000 households growing orchid plants on 370 hectares of farming area.

Trần Thị Hường, head of the department’s cultivation office, said the city has huge potential for the development of new varieties of orchids with high economic value.

It has a pool of human resources at universities and institutions for research and production of seeds.

It also keeps pace with advanced technologies and techniques for farming flowers and ornamental plants in the world, she said.

However, investment for high-tech agriculture remains modest due to household small-scale farms, she added.

Bùi Minh Trí, from the University of Agriculture and Forestry in HCM City, said urban farming models with high efficiency are suitable for farming flowers and ornamental plants in the city.

The city needs to develop the cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants and a centre for producing and supplying high-quality seeds of flowers and ornamental plants

The city plans to supply around 30 million orchid plants a year by 2030. 

Capital city strengthens food safety management

In the first three months of 2023, Hà Nội has increased inspections of fresh food products, to ensure the quality of food for people.

The aim is to detect any violations and take appropriate action in accordance with the law, to provide clean and safe food to consumers, including foreigners residing and working in Hà Nội.

In order to strengthen the quality management of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products in the market, Nguyễn Thị Thu Hằng, Head of the Hà Nội Agro-Forestry and Fisheries Quality Management Sub-Department, stated that the city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has increased sampling and monitoring activities in the first quarter of 2023, focusing on fresh products that are consumed daily by people at high-risk stages, such as vegetables, meat, livestock, poultry, and seafood.

Accordingly, the department has taken 29 samples of vegetables, meat, and aquatic products, and has obtained results for five out of 29 samples, with all being safe for consumption. The department has also inspected 93 businesses and individuals involved in producing and trading agricultural and fishery products. Two individuals and two corporations have been penalised for failing to meet food safety standards.

The department has also cooperated with localities within Hà Nội to carry out inspections in local areas. In Thanh Trì District, inspections have been conducted on 4,757 production facilities and one pig slaughterhouse. The People’s Committee of Thanh Trì District has found 11 cases of food safety violations, which mainly involved trading smuggled food or food of unknown origin.

Hồ Việt Hùng, Vice Chairman of the Sóc Sơn District's People’s Committee, said the district has increasingly held inspections as well as applied new models to control food safety. However, they still face potential risks with pesticide overuse and small scale of production in the area.

Nguyễn Trọng Khiển, Vice Chairman of the Thanh Oai District's People’s Committee, also saw small-scale food production as a problem to manage food safety in the area. Food is mainly distributed to local markets. There are not many cold storage facilities to distribute food on a large scale, therefore, it often comes directly from suppliers to distributors.

Khiển also said there are currently no tests at the district level, for the district to open the specialised inspection of food safety, to measure the amount of chemicals, pesticides, plant protection, mycotoxins and metal content in the food.

According to Nguyễn Ngọc Sơn, Deputy Director of Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, agricultural products and food are primarily consumed through traditional channels, such as wholesale markets, wet markets, and distribution businesses, as there are very few transit centres and large warehouses. Lack of cold storage to preserve food means that fresh products are often delivered directly to retail locations by suppliers, resulting in a small volume of goods transported. This can affect the quality of the delivered products.

He said the department will continue to inspect food production across the city, especially across value chains, the first stages of production and wholesale markets.

“To support the inspection and future management, Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development suggests the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinate with the Ministry of Health in reviewing a list and usage criterion of chemicals, antibiotics, veterinary drugs and plant protection drugs for food products,” Sơn said.

At the district level, Nguyễn Thị Bích Ngọc, Vice Chairman of the Thạch Thất District's People’s Committee, said the district was raising awareness of safe agricultural production. They will strengthen inspection and supervision of food safety, and resolutely handle violators.

Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will also continue focusing on production areas, granting codes for growing and farming areas, as well as linking the value chain to supply safe and quality food.

They will also support businesses and cooperatives to develop trademarks for agricultural, forestry and fishery products. 

Hospitals not to delay emergencies during national holidays

The Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Service Administration recently requested hospitals nationwide not to refuse or delay treatment of emergencies during the national holidays of Hùng Kings Commemoration Day, National Reunification and May Day from April 29 to May 3.

In a dispatch sent to hospitals and Departments of Health in provinces and centrally-run cities, the department asked them to make sure there are sufficient staff on duty in administrative, professional, management, and security aspects, to ensure that all patients in emergencies receive check and treatment.

Hospitals must be prepared for a quick response in case of emergency mass accidents, serious traffic accidents, disasters involved large numbers of people (if any) as well as ensure food safety and hygiene, prevent drownings, and warn of accidents at places with a large number of tourists.

There must be a hotline available round the clock to deliver instructions and coordinate with other medical institutes when needed. 

They are also required to submit daily reports on medical checks and treatment activities, and the handling of traffic accidents and COVID-19 infections. In the event of special developments such as outbreaks of COVID-19 or similar dangerous pandemics, disasters, mass accidents or food poisoning, related units must send an urgent report to their direct management agencies for prompt solutions.

Regarding the risk of mass COVID-19 infections, Dr Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, Director of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment and Research Centre under the Defence Ministry’s Việt Nam-Russia Tropical Centre, said that during the national holidays, the number of people travelling by public transport, and the density of visitors at tourist destinations will increase sharply, leading to the risk of infection with COVID-19 and other diseases.

To ensure health and safety, he advised those at high risk to stay at home, avoid going to crowded places, and arrange travel on another occasion.

Holiday-makers need to follow the health ministry’s requirements of wearing face masks and disinfecting regularly, added Hoàng.

VietnamWorks supports enhancement of digital labour capacity in Việt Nam

The online recruitment portal VietnamWorks, in collaboration with Google and the National Innovation Center, will sponsor 2,500 scholarships for online courses that enhance digital skills, designed and taught by Google experts.

As part of the “Empower Growth - Vietnam Digital Talents” campaign initiated by VietnamWorks, the scholarships include the following courses: Data Analysis, UX Design, Time Management, IT Support, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce.

Not only final-year students, but also workers who are seeking job opportunities can register to participate in the programme to enhance their skills and have the opportunity to access suitable job opportunities.

Learners also have the opportunity to participate in a series of activities organised by VietnamWorks, including in-depth sharing sessions and career orientation workshops.

With the campaign, VietnamWorks has joined forces with Google and the National Innovation Center to implement the “Google Career Certificates” programme which was launched last year to support the enhancement of digital labor capacity in Việt Nam.

The programme is expected to last until October.

This year, in the difficult economic situation, along with the shortage of high-quality labor in the digital technology industry, this collaboration will contribute to a positive change, said Gaku Echizenya, general director of Navigos Group Vietnam, which operates VietnamWorks.

Tammy Phan, marketing director in charge of the Việt Nam market at Google Asia-Pacific, said, “Việt Nam ranks first in the rankings of the fastest developing digital economies in Southeast Asia in 2022. This is synonymous with the high demand for digital human resources in terms of both quantity and quality.”

According to data from the National Committee on Digital Transformation released in August 2022, the estimated percentage of IT workers in the total workforce of Việt Nam is only one per cent out of 51 million workers.

In terms of quality, only about 30 per cent of new graduates meet practical job requirements.

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