The Ministry of Health announced 21 COVID-19 related deaths in 13 localities in Vietnam during the past 24 hours, a record low since August 2021.

Of the total, four fatalities were reported in Kien Giang, two each in Cao Bang, Soc Trang, Thai Binh, Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Long, and one each in Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai and Lam Dong. On average, 34 fatalities were recorded daily in the past week.

The April 7 figure has raised the total cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths in Vietnam to 42,733, ranking 24th among 227 countries and territories worldwide.

The same day, the MoH announced 45,886 fresh infections, a fall of 3,240 cases compared to the previous day.

Hanoi capital took the lead, registering 3,635 cases, followed by Bac Giang, Phu Tho and Yen Bai that reported more than 2,000 cases each. Two provinces - Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Gia Lai – registered to add more than 44,000 cases to the national COVID-19 database after reviewing their data.

Vietnam helps Laos develop irrigation system

Construction on the 290 billion VND (12.6 million USD) Xieng Vang irrigation project, funded by Vietnam's non-refundable aid, began in Nongbok district, Khammoune province of Laos on April 7.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor of Khammoune province Vanxay Phongxavan, said the project will make a significant contribution to local socio-economic development, especially in four villages in Nongbok district, which will have water for agricultural production all year round instead of only in the rainy season as before.

The governor thanked the leaders of the two parties and the Governments of Laos and Vietnam for always caring for and helping the government and people of Khammoune during the past years.

The Xieng Vang irrigation project will supply water for 500 hectares of crops in four villages, including Xieng Vang where President Ho Chi Minh used to live in late 1920s. It is slated for completion in October 2024.

HCM City adopts measures to strengthen grassroots health care

Specific measures to help strengthen and improve the capacity of health stations in wards, communes and townships in Ho Chi Minh City was approved at the 5th session of the 10th-tenure People's Council of HCM City on April 7. These measures will be implemented since the resolution takes effect until the end of 2025.

One measure to address the shortage in human resources is to recruit retired medical workers to work at grassroots health stations under definite term labour contracts of under 12 months.

Currently, health stations in HCM City need to employ 890 elderly medical workers with medical expertise, including 280 doctors and 610 with qualifications at college or higher levels. 

The city will also provide financial support to young doctors participating in a pilot programme to send new graduates from medical schools to work at communal-level health stations.

More resources are expected to be invested in developing infrastructure facilities and purchasing equipment serving medical stations.

Vietnam urges prompt investigation into Vietnamese woman’s death in Japan 

The Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka, Japan, has requested a prompt investigation into the death of a Vietnamese woman in Osaka city's Yodogawa district, said Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang at the ministry's regular press briefing on April 7.

Hang said that on April 4, local police found a body allegedly of a Vietnamese woman at an apartment in Yodogawa. Forensic results showed that the victim was killed at about 9 am on April 3.

The Consulate General in Osaka is also in contact with the Vietnamese community in Osaka to gather information about the case, said Hang, adding that the body has been handed over to the victim’s family.

Hang said that following directions from the Foreign Ministry, the Consulate General in Osaka is keeping a close watch on the investigation and taking measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, while coordinating with authorised agencies at home and in Japan to organise a funeral for the victim following her family’s wish.

Initial information from Japanese police showed that the victim, identified as Vo Thi Le Q., born in 1991, worked part-time in a shop in the first floor of the apartment building.

Police have arrested a Japanese man who owns the apartment where the woman's body was found. According to local media, the man has confessed to murdering the victim in order to steal her property.

Vietnam Clean Energy Forum looks towards carbon neutrality

The second Vietnam Clean Energy Forum took place in Hanoi on April 7, offering a venue for managers, scientists and businesses to exchange views on mechanisms, policies, technology and financing for wind, solar and gas power projects towards carbon neutrality.

Hoang Trong Hieu, Deputy Chief of Office of the National Steering Committee for Electricity Development, stated that policies encouraging renewable energy development have paid off. Vietnam’s renewable energy sources have reached about 20.7 GW, accounting for more than 27 percent of its total power capacity.

However, the strong development of wind and solar power projects has led to an imbalance of transmission sources by region because these projects are mainly developed in the central and southern regions. In addition, the implementation of clean energy projects currently is facing many difficulties related to planning, construction investment, site clearance, and financial mechanisms.

Pham Thi Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of Credit for Economic Sectors Department under the State Bank of Vietnam, said that by the end of 2021, credit balance for green projects topped 441 trillion VND (19.3 billion USD), accounting for 4.2 percent of the total outstanding loans of the economy, up 32.5 percent compared to 2020. In particular, credit balance for renewable energy projects surpassed 212 trillion VND, or 47 percent of that of green projects. Credit institutions face many difficulties in handling dossiers related to renewable energy projects because they must take into account the project's efficiency. To solve the problem, Vietnam needs a breakthrough policy such as the formation of a renewable energy fund to create favourable conditions for investors.

HCM City augments environmental protection efforts

Ho Chi Minh City is set to carry out five groups of measures for environmental protection during 2021 - 2030 so as to continue easing pollution, improving environmental quality, and adapting to climate change towards the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Nguyen Toan Thang, Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the municipal People’s Committee approved an environmental pollution mitigation programme for the period with five groups of measures.

In particular, HCM City will boost investment in high technology, encourage the application of advanced technology and equipment to production and business activities, minimise waste release, thoroughly deal with pollution, utilise waste to produce energy, and focus on structural solutions to help ease pollution.

From now to 2025, the city will mobilise more than 41 trillion VND (1.8 billion USD) for building various wastewater treatment plants so as to raise the rate of treated wastewater to 58 percent by 2025 and 88.3 percent by 2030, Thang said.

Vietnam calls for ceasefire, dialogue to settle conflicts

Vietnam calls on all related parties to reduce tension, apply ceasefire and resume dialogue in order to seek long-term solutions to differences while taking into account the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties, stated Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN at the 11th emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on the Russia-Ukraine conflict on April 7.

Addressing the session, Ambassador Giang reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on the settlement of international disputes through peaceful measures in line with the UN Charter and international law and the principle of respecting states’ independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, not interfering into countries’ internal affairs and not to use force in international relations.

He highlighted Vietnam’s concern about impacts of the war in Ukraine on civilians and the information of casualties among civilians in recent days.

Vietnam opposes all actions of attacking civilians and violations of humanitarian and human rights laws, he stressed, underscoring the need to verify recent information in a transparent, open and objective manner with the cooperation of all relevant sides.

The Vietnamese representative also underlined Vietnam’s viewpoint that all discussions and decisions by international agencies and organisations must be based on verified and transparent information, with the cooperation of stakeholders and consultation with countries.

New Mexico-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group debuts

The 65th Mexican Chamber of Deputies on April 7 launched its Mexico - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group for the new tenure, with MP Alfredo Femat Bañuelos re-elected its head.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Bañuelos, who is also president of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, noted the group is tasked with promoting parliamentary diplomacy and creating a forum for discussions to promote the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

He said by implementing its foreign policy on the basis of peace and mutual benefits, Vietnam has affirmed its increasing role and position in the region and the rest of the world.

Participating Mexican MPs all expressed their admiration for Vietnamese people’s past struggle for national construction and defence, as well as their tremendous socio-economic achievements during the current Doi Moi (Renewal) process.

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoanh Nam noted the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have been developing strongly over the years, with two-way trade rising 15% last year to nearly US$7 billion.

Traditional musical instruments of ethnic groups on display in Can Tho

An exhibition displaying an array of traditional musical instruments from various ethnic groups in Vietnam officially opened in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 7.

On show are pieces of musical instruments of ethnic groups from north to south, from mountainous areas to the plain.

Some of the instruments are the gourd lute of the Tay, the porcelain made drum of the San Chay, the flute of the Thai, the zither and monochord of the Kinh, the paranung drum of ethnic groups in the central region, and distinctive musical instruments of southerners.

The exhibition is being held as part of the third Don ca tai tu (southern amateur music) festival co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Can Tho City People's Committee,

The exhibition is scheduled to run though to April 11.

Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts World Championship to take place in Algeria

The Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts (vovinam) World Championship 2022 will take place in Algeria between July 16 and 21.

The event is expected to draw 20 teams from Europe and Africa. The number is expected to increase in the future.

Currently, the host, the Federation of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts in Algeria and the Algerian government agencies, have completed the final preparations for the tournament, including training referees under the supervision of Nguyễn Công Tốt, Vice President of the World Federation of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Nguyễn Thành Vinh said that the event, viewed as a major one in Algeria and for the World Federation of Vietnamese Martial Arts, was initially planned to take place two years ago but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vinh added that the Embassy of Việt Nam has helped in preparing for the tournament and will organise activities on the sidelines of the event that promote Vietnamese culture and cuisine.

PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation Limited will sponsor the event.

Swing For the Kids charity golf tournament launched

The 15th Swing for the Kids golf tournament will tee off on April 16 at the BRG Kings Island Golf Resort in Đồng Mô, Sơn Tây Town, Hà Nội.

The annual tournament will feature about 280 competitors taking part in five groups for men and women based on their handicaps, and a group who do not yet have a handicap.

The annual charity competition aims to raise funds to support poor students who have excelled academically. According to the organisers, over the past fourteen years, the event has raised over US$800,000 and handed out almost 18,000 scholarships to outstanding young students in need of financial support.

Concert highlights French songs at L’Espace

International artists will sing a series of love songs at the Glamour 3 concert on April 9 at the French Cultural Centre (L’Espace).

The concert will feature Kenjah David, Osamu Sakurai, Nguyễn Thế Anh, Tora, Marc Ramirez and guest artist Mạc Mai Sương.

The concert marks the much-awaited return of Kenjah David after the show Legend of Opera for the 110th anniversary of the Hà Nội Opera House last December.

David started a long tour through Africa, Europe and Asia, which has given his music studies a universal perspective. He has performed in Việt Nam, Japan and South East Asia promoting a new world music concept. 

David and the Vietnamese guess artist Sương will perform a duet at the concert. Sương is from the band Mac and The Odd Stones, made up of Vietnamese and foreign artists. The emerging indie artist began her career in 2014. 

Osamu Sakurai is a Japanese singer, guitarist and leader of the gypsy reggae band Bamboo Tambourine. After a 20 year-long music carrier in Japan, Osamu travelled and toured in South East Asia for a few years, and recently relocated to Hà Nội.

His unique “drumming guitar” style gives a specific colour to his current musical projects, accompanied by his soulful singing and energetic performance.

From New York, contrabass Ramires has performed in concerts at Carnegie Hall, The Proms and Cite de la Musique. He has been a master contrabass at Hà Nội Sun Symphony since 2018. 

The concert will begin at 8pm at L’Espace, 24 Tràng Tiền Street. Tickets are available at ticketbox.vn. 

PM Chinh calls for Australia to offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students

The Vietnamese Government always creates optimal conditions for operations of foreign investors in the country, including RMIT University, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Thursday while receiving President of the Australian university Prof Alec Cameron and Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam Robyn Mudie.

The PM appreciates RMIT University as the leading foreign investor in education in Việt Nam. He congratulated the university for its over 20 years of effective operation in Việt Nam, thus becoming a vivid symbol of Việt Nam-Australia cooperation in education-training and people-to-people exchange.

The PM asked the university and the Australian side to offer more scholarships for Vietnamese students so as to contribute to human resources training for the country and the region, together with the Việt Nam-Australia friendship and strategic partnership.

The Australian Ambassador and Prof Cameron spoke highly of Việt Nam’s COVID-19 prevention and control work, vaccination campaign, and socio-economic recovery and development, and thanked the Vietnamese Government for supporting the university’s development in Việt Nam during the past two decades.

Cameron pledged that the Australian university would continue working with Việt Nam and shared RMIT's development plan, including an additional investment worth A$100 million (US$74.8 million) into Việt Nam and the region. 

Hanoi discuss delayed projects, improving schools, healthcare, relic sites

Hà Nội Party Committee on Thursday held a meeting to address issues regarding several non-State budget projects and discuss upgradation plans for the city's public schools and healthcare facilities.

The projects being discussed are those using the city's land, but are being delayed or are violating the land law. 

The projects will be reviewed and divided into different categories: those can be revoked according to the laws, those need mitigation, and those meet the criteria to continue execution.

Solutions will be issued accordingly for each group. A specific resolution is expected to be issued to accelerate the investment progress and handle the delayed and violating projects.

Construction Ministry orders suspension of construction at historical site in Ba Dinh District

The Ministry of Construction has ordered Hà Nội's administration to temporarily suspend the construction of a multi-functional building at 61 Trần Phú Street in Ba Đình District, Hà Nội.

The old two-storey buildings, which have already been demolished, were an old factory built by the French in the early 20th century.

The move came on Thursday after the ministry sent a document to the People’s Committee of Hà Nội on reviewing the total ground and architectural plan of the construction of the project.

The document was sent after local media reported that a new building with 11 floors and six basements, with a height of 42.9m, will be constructed at 61 Trần Phú Street to replace the current two-storey buildings.

The media suggested that it needs to review the architectural plan of the new building to protect images of militiamen, defending Hà Nội in the resistance war against the US, on one of the old buildings.

In a related movement, Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee Đinh Tiến Dũng called for the capital's People's Committee, as well as departments and sectors, on Wednesday to urgently order the investor to temporarily suspend the construction at 61 Trần Phú Street.

Dũng also demanded an inspection of the construction’s implementation process and procedures. Results of the inspection must be reported to the Standing Committee of the Hà Nội Party Committee before April 8, 2022.

Global approach needed on cybersecurity: PM

Cybersecurity is a global issue that needs a global approach, said Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính while chairing the first meeting of the National Steering Committee on Cyber Security and Safety in Hà Nội.

PM Chính, who is head of the committee, said that cyber safety and security were becoming increasingly complicated and challenging to forecast, affecting all aspects of society in all countries.

He hailed the efforts of the committee and forces contributing to ensuring safety for large events in the country in recent years and the healthy environment in cyberspace, noting that Việt Nam ranked 25th out of 194 countries and territories in the world and seventh in the Asia-Pacific in terms of cybersecurity and safety.

He asked committee members, the Ministry of Public Security and relevant ministries and agencies to improve the forecast capacity to make timely adjustments to solutions and tasks. 

Chính also required that State management over cybersecurity and safety be strengthened, and the political system and people's awareness of cybersecurity be enhanced. 

Vietnam keen on pushing for renewable energy

Vietnam has been actively building energy planning in the direction of reducing thermal electricity, increasing renewable energy and developing gas-fired power in a rational manner, according to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

Discussing energy-related issues at a recent meeting with Jung In-sub, CEO of Hanwha Energy Group from the Republic of Korea, Minister Dien said Vietnam’s potential for energy production remains very large, noting that its biggest problem is how to transmit electricity to areas with high electrical load. 

He asked Hanwha to provide Vietnam with consultation in developing the renewables and send experts to train Vietnamese policy-makers and others in the field.

Hanwha is the RoK’s multi-industry corporation listed in the world’s top 500 companies. It has invested in a 100MW solar power plant in Cam Lam, the south-central province of Khanh Ho, which became operational in June 2019.

In early 2022, a joint venture of Hanwha, KoGas and KOSPO, all of the RoK, and Vietnam’s T&T Group received a licence to build an LNG-fired power plant in Quang Tri with designed capacity of 1,500MW in the first phase.

Vietnam to take on hosts Thailand in AFF futsal semis

Vietnam will compete against hosts Thailand for a slot in the title match of the 2022 AFF Futsal Championship after the latter cruised to overall top spot in Group A following a 4-2 victory over Malaysia on April 6.

Coach Pham Minh Giang’s side thrashed Australia 5-1 on Wednesday to strengthen their lead in Group B with seven points and a goal difference of +10. However, two hours later, Myanmar demolished Timor Leste 10-3 to become the group winners, beating Vietnam into second place.

In Group A, ahead of their last matchday yesterday, Thailand and Indonesia both had seven points but the hosts provisionally secured the top position on goal difference (+29 compared to +16).

Indonesia crushed Cambodia 11-2 to take top spot but lost it shortly thereafter as Thailand overcame Malaysia 4-2.

As Group B runners-up, Vietnam will play Group A winners Thailand in the last four, while the remaining semi-final clash will be between Myanmar and Indonesia.

Both matches are due to take place on April 8.

HCMC seeks to cooperate with JICA to respond to subsidence

The HCMC government has assigned its Department of Natural Resources and Environment to work with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to develop solutions to the worsening subsidence in the city.
The requirement was made following a proposal from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the local media reported.

The JICA office in Vietnam had earlier expressed its willingness to join hands with the HCMC government to develop a project to deal with the subsidence in HCMC. The office had sent the city a draft plan based on its experience in Japan’s Tokyo, Indonesia’s Jakarta and Thailand’s Bangkok.

Therefore, the HCMC government has assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to coordinate with the relevant departments and agencies to provide necessary information to JICA to determine the city’s subsidence status, learn about its cause and work out solutions.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, HCMC recorded a high subsidence speed, at an average of four centimeters per year, even six-seven centimeters in some areas. A survey conducted in 2019 by the Department of Water Resources Management in 24 locations in HCMC showed that An Lac Ward in Binh Tan District sunk the most, by 81 centimeters, from 2009 to 2019.

HCMC proposes perks for staff of healthcare stations

The HCMC government has proposed an annual budget of over VND138 billion to give perks to doctors, nurses and employees at local healthcare stations to improve the capacity of the grassroots medical system until 2025.

HCMC will support three groups of workers at 310 healthcare stations in the city from now until 2025. Accordingly, doctors will receive VND60 million for 18 months, while nurses will get VND30 million each for nine months. The aid is expected to attract 300 doctors and 100 nurses each year, with total spending of VND16 billion.

In addition, retired doctors working at healthcare stations will get a monthly wage of VND9 million, while a monthly wage of VND7 million will be paid to other retired medical workers. The city’s healthcare stations will need some 890 people, with a total payroll of some VND81.5 billion.

The city also proposed offering a monthly allowance of VND5.5 million to each of the sanitation employees and security guards at healthcare stations, with a total spend of some VND41 billion.

The city will need nearly 5,900 volunteers for quarantine centers and Covid treatment facilities to brace for some 20,000 Covid cases a day, with the budget spending in 2022 estimated at VND228 billion. Each of these volunteers will get VND130,000 a day.

22 more people prosecuted for allegedly making, selling fake books

Additional twenty-two people were prosecuted for allegedly making and selling counterfeit books, the Police Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security announced yesterday.

Relating to the case ‘Manufacturing and trading counterfeit goods', ‘Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties’, ‘Bribery brokering’ and ‘Receiving bribes’ at Phu Hung Phat Production and Trading Company, the Hanoi Printing and Communication Culture Company, the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance and the Hanoi Market Management Department and related units, police investigators yesterday said that they had just prosecuted 22 more people to further its investigation ‘Manufacturing and trading in pirated goods’.

Out of the 22 suspects above, three people were held in custody while the rest were banned from leaving their places of residence. Defendant Nguyen Duy Hai, a freelance worker, was identified as a bribe broker.

According to the investigators, all 22 people have helped Cao Thi Minh Thuan, Director of Phu Hung Phat Production and Trading Company in producing and selling a large number of counterfeit goods or buying fake books in special large quantities to sell profitably.

Previously, police investigators had arrested and prosecuted Cao Thi Minh Thuan and 11 others involved in the case. Amongst 11 accused people is Tran Hung, the main controller and former Head of Team 304, now Head of Team 1444 of the Directorate for Market Surveillance. Tran Hung was charged with receiving a bribe to cover up the case.

Drug watchdog recalls coffee containing Sibutramine

On April 7, the Vietnamese Administration of Food under the Ministry of Health announced the decision on the recall of Hoang Gia coffee containing the banned substance Sibutramine.

Following the hospitalization of a young female patient at the Poison Control Center in Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital at the end of March, the Institute of Forensic Medicine under the Ministry of Health carried out a test on the product. The test result has shown that the weight loss coffee used by the patient contained Sibutramine, which was banned by the Ministry of Health from being used in pharmaceuticals and functional foods because of its high toxicity and side effects, causing cardiovascular complications. Sibutramine also causes strokes and heart attacks, so the US and Europe stopped using it in 2010.

The 37-year-old female patient was rushed to the center for emergency treatment when she experienced difficulty breathing, coma, and convulsions after drinking coffee for four days to lose weight. The CT scan results also showed that the patient had brain damage.

Hoang Gia coffee product was made by Lasva Cosmetics Pharmaceutical Company in Kim Son commune in Hanoi. The producer self-proclaimed and produced products and Hoang Gia Phat Cosmetics Pharmaceutical Company in the Northern Province of Hoa Binh's Yen Thuy distribute the product.

Along with the recall decision, the food authority asked the above businesses to recall the food supplement Hoang Gia coffee. At the same time, the People's Committee, and police force in Yen Thuy District are requested to inspect and supervise the recall by Hoang Gia Phat Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Company.

Moreover, the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-Department, departments of health, and sub-departments of food safety and hygiene in provinces and cities were assigned to supervise the circulation of food supplement Hoang Gia coffee.

The weight loss coffee Hoang Gia coffee is priced at VND550,000 a box. Buyers are advised to drink a pack every morning to lose weight.

Vietnamese movies compete in SIFF, IFTS int’l film festivals

Vietnamese movies will participate in international film festivals, including the 48th Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and the 29th Stuttgart International Animation Festival (ITFS).

The 8-minute animation movie titled “U Linh Tick Ky: Magic powder” directed by Leo Dinh will compete in the category of Family Picture Show while the picture themed “Nhung Dua Tre Trong Suong” (Children of the Mist) of director Ha Le Diem will join the category of Asian Crossroads at the SIFF.

The SIFF will also see the participation of Vietnamese sci-fi kids' adventure, “Maika” directed by Ham Tran in the category of Films4Families and Asian Crossroads. The film will be presented to audiences on April 16-23.

“Children of the Mist” will also take part in the Documentary category. The film is a story about a twelve-year-old Hmong girl in rural Vietnamese villages who normally must face the pressure of impending marriage via the custom of bride-kidnapping, but this doc follows one young heroine in conflict with tradition.

The 5th Hanoi Art Connecting debuts

The art event in Hanoi offers an opportunity for locals to learn about different types of art such as painting, sculpture, and ceramics.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the renowned art event in Hanoi offers an opportunity for locals to learn about different types of arts such as painting, sculpture and ceramics.

The International Art Workshop and Exhibition Vietnam 2022 aka Hanoi Art Connecting 2022 will take place from April 9 to May 9 at Vincom Center for Contemporary Art in Hanoi, with the participation of hundreds of domestic and international artists.

To Vietnamese art lovers, this will be an emotional comeback of the annual art networking event in Vietnam.

The activity will have the attendance of hundreds of artists from Vietnam and Australia, the USA, Ireland, Spain, Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, and Canada, among others.

Hanoi-Austria strengthen cooperation in culture, hi-tech farming

Hanoi and Austria would strengthen cooperation in priority fields, including public transport, culture, hi-tech farming, environment, and healthcare.

The move was agreed upon during a meeting between Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Le Hong Son and Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Hans-Peter Glanzer on April 7, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

Son suggested Austria support Hanoi in realizing the project of promoting Hanoi’s cultural industry by applying technologies in the preservation and promotion of cultural values.

In this regard, Glanzer added a concert is scheduled to be held in Hanoi in October with the participation of Austrian and Vietnamese artists, as part of the efforts to strengthen cultural exchange between the two countries.

As of present, Austria has nine investment projects in Hanoi with total registered capital of US$3.74 million.

Hanoi’s exports to Austria in the first quarter of 2022 were estimated at $6.2 million, mainly footwear, electronics, garment, and imports of $69.5 million, including pharmaceutical products, plastics, and machinery.

Health ministry keeps close watch on new COVID-19 variant

The pandemic has been put under control in Viet Nam as the number of daily infections is on decline, said Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son.

The ministry has prepared for possible future variants by envisaging a response plan in line with three senarios of the World Health Organization.

In the first scenario, the virus continues to evolve from Omicron, BA.1, BA.2, XE. The Ministry is keeping an eye on and and conducting epidemiological and laboratory analysis for timely detection of strains entering Viet Nam. To date, Viet Nam has yet confirmed any case of XE variant.

In the best-case scenario when less severe variants emerge, and boosters or new formulations of vaccines won't be necessary.

In the worst-case scenario, if a more virulent and highly transmissible variant emerges, the ministry will continue epidemiological surveillance and respond.

New regulations on foreign-invested vocational institutions

The Government has promulgated Decree No. 24/2022/ND-CP amending and supplementing several articles of Decree No. 15/2019/ND-CP dated February 1, 2019 on foreign-invested vocational institutions.

The new decree offers detailed instructions on conditions required to set up a foreign-invested vocational education institution in Viet Nam, training curriculum, diploma and certificates among others.

Oxford international curriculum to be applied in Vietnam

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the Oxford International Curriculum (OIC) was signed between the international bilingual programme of UK Academy (UKA) - a member of the education system of Nguyen Hoang Group (NHG), and the Oxford University Press (OUP) of the UK’s Oxford University, at a ceremony on April 7.

The event marks the beginning of a strategic partnership to deploy the OIC at seven UKA’s establishments in Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Hue, Quang Ngai, Da Nang, Ha Long, and Gia Lai from the 2022 – 2023 academic year.

According to Graham Stuart, UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, the partnership with OUP will help UKA receive better support for students to develop skills they need.

The OIC is being implemented in 17 countries around the world, with the number of countries and Oxford schools grows exponentially every year.

HCM City, Finland step up cooperation

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai hosted a reception for Finnish Ambassador to Keijo Norvanto on April 7, during which he informed his guest that the city is on the course of recovery after the city has brought the COVID-19 under control.

The official proposed that Finland help HCM City re-evaluate its education system so as to build a human resources strategy serving a sustainable development plan of the city.

For his part, Norvanto said Finland will work together with HCM City in specific public and private projects helpful to the city’s development in the coming time, believing that the bilateral cooperation will greatly contribute to the development of the Finland-Vietnam partnership.

UNDP ready to join Vietnam in imminent development process

Achim Steiner, director-general of the UN Development Program affirmed his organization’s willingness to continue working closely and accompanying Vietnam in its upcoming development process at a recent meeting with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN.

According to Steiner, amid the current political and security situation facing plenty of challenges and difficulties, the world must focus more on development issues, including the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He also affirmed the central role of the UN in supporting countries in terms of knowledge, technology, capacity building to implement this programme, as well as strategies and plans at regional and national levels.

In response, Ambassador Giang thanked UNDP for its valuable support of the nation in recent years across many areas, such as post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, mine action, and the implementation of recommendations under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council.

Stronger policy needed to prevent youths from smoking e-cigarettes

It is essential to issue a stronger policy to prevent the use of e-cigarettes among youths, heard a meeting held by the Health Ministry’s Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund in Hanoi on April 7.

Associate Prof., Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Health Ministry's Department for Medical Examination and Treatment, said that smoking is one of the main causes of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. Currently, the high rate of patients with cancer and stroke caused by the harmful effects of tobacco is a burden of the whole society. Therefore, the prevention and control of tobacco harms to reduce diseases and mortality caused by the use of tobacco products remains a top urgent task.

According to experts, the rate of e-cigarette smokers in the age group of between 13-17 is 2.6 percent, while that in the age group of between 15-24 years old is 7.3 percent. Therefore, without a strong policy to prevent the use of e-cigarettes and new types of tobacco, the figure will increase sharply in the near future.

Fishermen in distress amid bad weather successfully rescued

Three fishermen and their vessel in distress at sea due to bad weather were saved and brought to central Da Nang city on late April 7 by a ship of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).

At about 1:20 pm on April 5, the QNg 90610 TS of central Quang Ngai province had its gear box broken and went adrift amid strong winds and a rough sea when it was operating at some 6 nautical miles to the south of Da Loi Reef in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

The captain and crew members tried to repair the gear box but failed so they contacted the MRCC to seek help.

The MRCC immediately gave instructions on safety measures and breakdown repairs and prepared a rescue operation. However, in the morning of April 6, the fishermen become tired and panicked after many hours of coping with the increasingly worse weather while they had run out of food and freshwater.

The MRCC then dispatched ship SAR 412 to the site to save the fishermen.

The rescue ship accessed the fishing boat at 6:05pm the same day, provided health care for the fishermen, and tugged the boat to Da Nang.

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