The Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has completed and submitted an overall planning project on the sustainable exploitation and use of resources in coastal areas to the appraisal council, said deputy director Nguyen Thanh Tung.

A national marine spatial planning project is being finalised, he said, noting that these are also two main tasks of the administration in the last six months of 2023.

The overall planning project on the sustainable exploitation and use of resources in coastal areas will be completed in line with suggestions of the appraisal council before submitting to the Prime Minister for approval, Tung said.

He held that the MoNRE has received opinions from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, 20 ministries and ministerial-level agencies and 28 coastal provinces and centrally-run cities, adding that most of them agreed with the contents of the draft overall planning project.

In the second half of this year, the administration will review the implementation of the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment and advise the MoNRE to carry out the strategy for sustainable exploitation of natural resources and environmental protection of sea and islands by 2030, with a vision to 2045 which was approved by the Government in April this year.

VASI will strengthen management and supervision in the exploitation of natural resources and environmental protection of sea and islands as well as monitor the implementation of organisations and individuals after being licensed for scientific research in Vietnam's territorial waters, granting permits for dumping, and assigning sea areas and dealing with consequences of oil spills and environmental incidents at sea.

Regarding international cooperation activities, the administration is preparing to organise the 15th East Asian Partnership Council Meeting hosted by Vietnam and implement the project on reducing ocean plastic waste, Tung said.

He also pointed out shortcomings in resources management and environmental protection of sea and islands. For example, regulations on natural resources and the environment of sea and islands are still sensitive and complicated, especially on the allocation and use of sea areas, so it is difficult to amend and perfect them.

Some coastal localities have not paid due attention to resources management and environmental protection of sea and islands, Tung said.

Top leader’s book affirms Party’s comprehensive leadership over army: public opinions

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s book on Vietnam's military policy and defence strategy has further clarified the Party’s mindset about this regard amid new and complex developments in the world, and affirmed the Party’s comprehensive leadership over the army during the construction and defence of the socialist Fatherland.

The recently released book, titled “Some issues about the military policy, defence strategy during the cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnam Fatherland in the new period”, comprises 39 articles, speeches, and interviews of the leader, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission.

Some experts, researchers, and officials said the core and breakthrough point in the Party leader’s mindset about the military policy and defence strategy manifested in the book is that the safeguard of the national independence and self-reliance must be connected with that of peace. This is a creative and unique theoretical thought on military and defence that identifies the protection of a peaceful environment as a consistent objective of the building of the defence - military synergy.

Dang Van Son, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Xuan Tao ward in Hanoi’s Bac Tu Liem district, said the book reflects the General Secretary’s consistent thought about the leadership and directions over the Fatherland safeguarding in the new period.

Valuable in terms of both theory and practice, it could be considered a “lodestar” for military and defence tasks to protect the socialist Fatherland in the new period and during the international integration process, he went on.

Echoing the view, lawyer Ha Huy Tu, Director of the legal consulting centre for the poor and community development at the Vietnam Lawyers Association, said the book demonstrates the Party leader’s dialectical mindset and strategic vision while further clarifying the Party’s theoretical thought about the country’s military policy and defence strategy amid new and complex developments in the world. It also emphasises and affirms the Party’s comprehensive and direct leadership over the Vietnam People’s Army during the building and protection of the socialist Fatherland.

The book will have substantial influence on the country as well as others in the world, he said, adding that holding great significance, it is the lodestar for Vietnam’s military policy and defence strategy not only at present but also in the future.

Son noted the book helps readers grasp and smartly apply predecessors’ lessons of “concurrently building and defending the country” and “defending the country before it is in danger”, and especially preventing and eliminating risks of wars and conflicts early and from afar.

It is an extremely valuable handbook for each Party cadre and member, and people to thoroughly understand the policy on all-people national defence and the task of Fatherland safeguarding in the new context, and for all-level Party organisations, authorities and sectors, especially those at the grassroots level, to promote the entire political system’s role and sense of responsibly towards national defence, according to the local official.

Da Nang launches intelligent operation centre

The Da Nang People’s Committee on August 14 inaugurated an intelligent operation centre (IOC), an important component of the central city’s path to the smart city status.

The centre is also included in the ICT (information and communication technology) reference framework for the development of smart cities issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Chairman of the People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh lauded the municipal Department of Information and Communications, the Management Board of Industrial and Civil Engineering Construction and Investment Projects, the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel), and relevant agencies and localities for their efforts in the first phase of the project.

He described the project as major progress in the city’s digital transformation journey, saying it demonstrates the strong resolve by local leaders in building a smart city.

According to the Director of the Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Quang Thanh, the centre will collect urban information and data in all fields for supervision and analysis, thus serving the management work, as well as policy and decision making of all-level leaders.

For local residents, they will benefit from smart urban services, and notably with the app Danang Smart City, they will stay up to date with traffic, weather and environment warnings, among other emergencies.

Last year, Da Nang was honoured with the Best Vietnam Smart City Award, the third time so far.

This award was among the 43 bestowed upon cities, enterprises, and products considerably contributing to smart city building and national digital transformation.

Cooperation in vaccines needed for disease prevention: Deputy PM

It is necessary to strengthen cooperation in vaccines and biopharmaceuticals to proactively prevent and control diseases, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said while receiving Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam Nitin Kapoor in Hanoi on August 14.

The Deputy PM highly appreciated AstraZeneca’s valuable and timely support for Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19.  

He expressed impression for AstraZeneca's ongoing collaboration activities in Vietnam, particularly in the fields of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals, saying that this plays a crucial role in proactively preparing for potential disease outbreaks in the future.

Vietnam backs AstraZeneca's commitments to emission reduction and moving towards carbon neutrality in all its activities, Ha said, stressing that experience in COVID-19 prevention and control showed that the world can only push back and end the pandemic if all countries have equal access to vaccines.

Similarly, the goals related to addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions cannot be achieved if there are countries that stay "outside" these efforts, he said.

Ha emphasised the close relationship between human health and the "health" of the environment, affirming that restoring and protecting the natural environment is a crucial solution to prevent and reduce the burden of disease-related costs on people and society due to the pollution of water, air and waste.

Technology is a "vaccine" to address climate change, Ha noted, adding that developing countries like Vietnam greatly need support and access to various solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Companies with strong research and development capabilities like AstraZeneca play a important role in achieving climate change goals such as cutting emissions to net zero, and engaging in the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) by joining projects for researching and transferring green fuel production technologies, and developing smart transmission systems and large-scale energy storage devices, he said.

Mentioning AstraZeneca’s project to plant 22.5 million trees, the Deputy PM assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to work closely with AstraZeneca to effectively perform the project.

He expressed his hope that AstraZeneca will engage in projects related to the roadmap for achieving net zero, and JETP in Vietnam, which serve as experimental and pilot initiatives for global mechanisms.

For his part, Kapoor briefed the Deputy PM on several collaboration programmes and projects currently underway in Vietnam to strengthen patients’ access to medicines, develop a sustainable healthcare system, improve public health, and conduct clinical trials for drugs and biopharmaceuticals.

AstraZeneca is collaborating with Vietnamese agencies and partners to implement a reforestation and landscape restoration project worth 50 million USD, which aims to plant 22.5 million trees over 30,500 ha, thus creating conditions for biodiversity development and providing sustainable livelihoods for more than 17,000 households, Kapoor said.

He noted his hope that the project will serve as a pilot initiative in the action plan of the National Steering Committee for implementing Vietnam's commitments at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), therefore encouraging other organisations and businesses to jointly take actions to respond to climate change.

Dak Lak marks All People’s Security Safeguard Festival

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the All People’s Security Safeguard Festival which was opened in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on August 14.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that in the coming time, the province needs to continue to strictly implement the instructions on building the movement “All People Safeguard Security of the Country”, making the movement deeper, more substantive and effective with good practices while mobilising strength of the whole political system and people to ensure security and order and building a peaceful and happy life for everyone.

He said the festival must be maintained annually, attracting a large number of people to participate in order to become a great festival of people from all walks of life.

The province needs to focus on building good models and timely rewarding examples in the implementation of the movement. In addition, localities need to strengthen communication works on guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State, requirements and tasks of national security and order protection in the new situation to the people, he added.

On the occasion, outstanding groups, individuals who have contributions in the “All People’s Security Safeguard” movement were awarded Certificates of Merit from the Ministry of Public Security.

Waste recycling an inevitable trend for sustainable development: Experts

In the context of increasingly depleting natural resources, experts held that the promotion of waste recycling is an inevitable development direction, contributing to easing negative impacts on the environment and increasing input materials for production activities.

Dang Trieu Hoa, General Director of Century Synthetic Fiber Corporation, said that since 2016, the firm has researched on recycling yarn. In 2022, the proportion of this kind of material in the company's reached 52%, which is expected to hit 64% in 2023.

Through the production of recycled fibres, the firm has reused 4.1 billion plastic bottles, contributing to protecting the ocean from plastic waste, which is currently one of the emergency environmental problems globally.

Alongside, the company has also recycled waste fibres into plastic particles. Last year, it recycled 90% of the total waste it generated.

Similarly, Dow Chemical Vietnam LLC also reported that it has completed a project to pave 1.4km of road in DEEP C Industrial Park in Hai Phong city with recycled asphalt made of more than 6.5 tonnes of soft plastic packages.

Meanwhile, Duy Tan Plastic Recycling Corporation (DTR) has also invested in building a plastic waste recycling plant with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year in Long An province. After producing recycled plastic particles, it will provide the product to its partners to convert into new bottles. The firm has collected, sorted and treated all kinds of waste generated in the plastic recycling process.

However, many businesses held that the recycling of waste is facing many difficulties, including technology and finance.

Dr. Do Thanh Bai, President of the Vietnam Responsible Care Council (VRCC) of Chemical Enterprises, held that along with efforts from businesses, authorised agencies should provide them with financial support, and assist them in seeking market for recycled products.

Dr. Mai Thanh Dung, Vice Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said that currently, there are many policies on the circular economy, but their implementation has not been effective, while many related to tax policy are not feasible.

Dung said that in the time to come, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will review all the State policies in the field and give specific proposals on support to enterprises in recycling waste and developing in the direction of a circular economy./

Vietnamese Consulate General in Savannakhet helps flood victims in Laos

The Vietnamese Consulate General in Savannakhet, central Laos, along with the Vietnamese Association and the Vietnamese Business Association in the provinces of Savannakhet, Khammouane and Bolikhamxay, have recently offered gifts to those recently affected by floods and landslides there.

The delegation presented a tonne of rice and 6 million LAK (308 USD) to Savannakhet, a tonne of rice and instant noodles to Khammouane, and a tonne of rice and 9.4 million LAK to Bolykhamxay.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Consul General in Savannakhet Dang Thi Hai Tam said the activity is to partly share difficulties with the local authorities and residents that have been affected by the recent floods.

Expressing their thanks to the delegation, the Lao authorities pledged to soon deliver the gifts to the victims in affected areas.

Prolonged heavy rains since the beginning of August have triggered landslides and disrupted transportation in the central provinces of Laos, significantly affecting the local lives.

Football tournament held to mark 50 years of Vietnam-Belgium ties

A football tournament of the General Union of Vietnamese in Brussels (UGVB) took place on August 13 with the participation of six teams.

Xay Dung FC won the cup while FC Bao Ngoc Quang Binh and Choa FC came second and third, respectively.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony, Vu Thu Thuy, Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to Belgium, spoke highly of the UGVB’s efforts in organising the tournament.

Thuy said she expects the community will continue to promote similar activities to strengthen solidarity with the country and celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Belgium.

For his part, Huynh Cong My, UGVB’s president, expressed his hope that from next year, the football tournament will become an annual event to enrich the activities of the Vietnamese community.

Arranger of foreigners’ illegal residence detained in Bac Giang

Police of the northern province of Bac Giang has launched a probe into and put a man into temporary detention for the charge of arranging foreigners’ illegal residence in Vietnam under Clause 2 of Article 348 in the Penal Code.

On August 2, police of Bac Giang city examined a house on Tran Quoc Toan street of Ngo Quyen ward and found eight Chinese nationals who had not registered temporary residence or had legal papers on their residence in Vietnam, according to initial information from the Bac Giang provincial Department of Public Security.

Tu Van Luyen, born in 1997 and living in Say To hamlet of Tru Huu commune in Luc Ngan district, was identified as the one who had received the eight Chinese nationals and arranged the stay for them.

The police are expanding investigation into the case.

Tien Giang supports AO/dioxin victims stablise lives

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is home to more than 11,800 Agent Orange/dioxin victims, most of them live in poverty, according to the provincial association of AO/dioxin victims. 

At present, 1,506 victims are receiving allowances from the State. Every year, the association and its chapters mobilise more than 15 billion VND (630,000 USD) to help AO victims.

On the occasion of the Action Month for AO/dioxin Victims and the 62nd anniversary of the Day of AO/dioxin in Vietnam (August 10, 1961- 2023), they have presented nearly 4,000 gift sets and sent delegates to visit and present gifts to AO victims.

In the first half year of 2022, they mobilised over 8.6 billion VND; handed out nearly 20,767 gift sets; built and repaired six houses; and provided medical treatment and supports for improvised AO/dioxin victims.

The association has also strengthened communication works to call for assistance from the community to help AO/dioxin victims./

First Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange festival held in Okinawa

The Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange festival, the first of its kind, was held in Naha city, Okinawa prefecture on August 13.

The event was co-hosted by the Vietnamese Association in Okinawa and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai said via the event, the Vietnamese people in Japan could understand more about the potential and strengths of Vietnam in tourism and agriculture, and especially the cohesion within their community, contributing to tightening bilateral ties, and cultural and tourism exchanges.

She thanked the local authorities for creating conditions for the event to be successfully organised.

Sawada Hayato, head of the Culture Promotion Office at the Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sports of Okinawa prefecture, affirmed that the event is part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties. It also provides the people of Okinawa with a chance to learn about the traditional culture and distinctive cuisine of Vietnam.

The event featured more than 20 booths showcasing handicrafts, tourism products and foods from Vietnam and Japan, along with traditional long dress shows, karate and Vovinam martial arts performances, and songs praising the love for the homeland.

France-Vietnam gynecology, obstetrics conference opens in Hanoi

The 23rd France-Vietnam conference on gynecology and obstetrics opened in Hanoi on August 14, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France (April 12, 1973-2023).

First organised in 2000, after 22 years the conference has become a significant scientific event, attracting the participation of experts in the field from both Vietnam and many countries, territories worldwide, including those from France, the UK, Italy, Finland, Australia, Thailand, and China.

Associate Professor, Dr Tran Danh Cuong, Director of the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, head of the conference’s organising board, said cutting-edged technologies and techniques in the field have been applied in order to provide better health care for mothers and babies.

During the two-day event, experts will exchange clinical and preclinical experiences, update new knowledge in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, neonatology, assisted reproduction, and others.

The event is also a chance for Vietnam’s healthcare system in the field of gynecology and obstetrics to review its position in the region and the world in order to develop orientation in the coming time.

It’s also an opportunity for manufacturers of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, biological products, manufacturers, laboratories, brands in the field of medicine and specialise in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, reproductive health, prenatal diagnosis, and reproductive support to introduce their latest products, technology, machinery, and equipment.

During the event, participating experts and scientists will present 55 scientific reports, including 19 by experts from the UK, France, USA, Australia, and Singapore.

Art, sport exchange connect Vietnamese community in Hong Kong (China)

An art and sport exchange programme was held in Hong Kong (China) on August 13 jointly by the Consulate General of Vietnam and the Interim Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Association in Hong Kong to mark the 78th anniversaries of August Revolution (August 19, 1945- 2023) and the National Day (September 2, 1945-2023).

Consul General Pham Binh Dam said that the event is a significance helping strengthen solidarity among the Vietnamese community there. In the coming time, the Consulate General will continue to cooperate with local Vietnamese students' associations and community to organise more such programmes.

Nguyen Hoang Long, President of Vietnamese Student Association in Hong Kong, said that the event is a practical activity for local overseas Vietnamese to be able to connect with each other, creating a united and strong community. 

With support of the Consulate General, the Interim Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Association in Hong Kong was established on May 13, initiating the establishment of an official Vietnamese Association in Hong Kong, aiming to cement and promote a community of 8,000 Vietnamese people in the China’s special administrative region.

NA Standing Committee suggests supplementing regulations on water resources management

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested reviewing provisions on water resources management, while addressing the 25th session of the NA Standing Committee in Hanoi on August 14 during which the draft revised Law on Water Resources is among the documents tabled for discussion.   

Relevant standards, criteria and procedures should be prescribed in the law apart from management through licences, the leader said, highlighting regulations on water efficiency and reuse.   
 
NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai suggested that “mineral and hot water” should not be mentioned in the law as it has already been stipulated in many other legal regulations on minerals as well as documents of the Party and the State.

He also urged assessment and compilation agencies to put under consideration opinions regarding salt water, wastewater, and clean water supply for rural areas, and continue reviewing regulations on the regulation, distribution, and exploitation of water resources, the registration for water resources licences, water reuse, and the responsibility for water resources management.

The draft law is expected to be submitted to the legislature for approval at its sixth sitting, slated for October.

Legislators will spend much time on law building during the session which opened on August 14.
 
Apart from the draft revised Law on Water Resources, they will look into the draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Property Auction, the draft revised Law on Social Insurance, and the draft Law on Defence Industry and Security and Industrial Mobilisation.

They will also opine on reports explaining and adjusting the draft revised Law on Citizen Identification, the draft Law on Management and Protection of National Defence Works and Military Zones, the draft Law on forces participating in the protection of security and order at the grassroots levels, the draft revised Law on Telecommunications, the draft revised Law on Real Estate Business, the draft revised Land Law, and the draft revised Housing Law.

The session is divided into two phases, with the first from August 14-18, and the second from August 24-26.

10-year implementation of resolution on natural resources management reviewed

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held a conference in Hanoi on August 14 to review the 10-year implementation of Resolution 24-NQ/TW on natural resources management issued by the 11th Party Central Committee.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Quy Kien said that in order to complete a report summarising the 10-year implementation of the resolution, localities should submit their full and comprehensive reports on the results of management activities over land, water, geological, mineral, environmental, sea and islands resources.

They should point out shortcomings and problems during the implementation of the document, he said, stressing the need to give proposals on new viewpoints, mindset and awareness amid the world situation until 2030 with a vision to 2050, Kien said.

The official underlined the need to clarify prioritised issues to focus on, including the development of green, circular and low-carbon economy; matters related to global climate change, just energy transition towards net-zero emissions in 2050; digital transformation, innovation and application of th fourth Industrial Revolution’s achievements; the recovery and development of natural ecosystems; and access of market and economic tools for climate change response, and sustainable, effective and fair management of natural resources and environment.

Tran Phuong, Deputy Director of the General Department of Minerals of Vietnam under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, highlighted the practical outcomes from the implementation of the resolution, with the increasing completion of the policy and law system regarding natural resources and environment.

He noted that the survey and assessment of potential, reserves, economic values, current status and trends of national resources have been strengthened, along with the planning, management and exploitation of national resources, the development of new and renewable energy, and new materials and fuels.

In order to promote the effective implementation of the resolution in the coming period, Phuong proposed the Politburo approve the report on the reviewing of the document and issue a conclusion on its continuous implementation.

At the same time, it is necessary to promptly complete relevant policies and regulations, strengthen communications to encourage the community’s engagement in realising the resolution, and supervise environmental protection activities of State agencies and businesses, he said.

U23 football team arrives in Thailand for AFF U23 Championship 2023

Vietnam's U23 football team and their head coach Hoang Anh Tuan arrived in Bangkok on August 14 to prepare for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U23 Championship 2023 which will take place in Rayong province from August 17-26.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, Tuan said the team gather many players aged 17, 18, and 20. This aligns with the association's goal of creating a platform for young players, thus selecting the best ones for the U23 national team to play at the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September this year.

The team will also represent Vietnam at the 19th Asian Games (ASIAD) in Hangzhou, China, in September.

The AFF championship will be an opportunity for young players to sharpen their skills, strengthen their competitiveness. and earn international experience, Tuan said.

Vietnam will have a friendly match against U23 Bahrain on August 15 afternoon in Bangkok before the opening match against Laos on August 20.

HCM City hopes for stronger ties in innovation, technology with Israel

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai received visiting Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat on August 14, noting that Israel is a partner that his city wishes to learn from and cooperate with in the fields of innovation and technology.

The host official said HCM City hopes to be the locality that implements cooperation between the Vietnamese and Israeli Governments, especially in the two above realms.

The southern economic hub of Vietnam is working to become an innovation centre in the region, he noted, adding that it has sufficient space and room to develop connections in technology, startup, and innovation with Israeli partners.

Mai suggested that on the basis of the Governments’ cooperation, an agreement on innovation partnership be built between HCM City and Israeli partners.

The two sides can also promote investment and trade ties while working together to transfer agricultural techniques and technologies, along with new solutions and technologies for climate change response, he added.

For his part, Barkat said he is impressed with the dynamic development of Vietnam, including HCM City.

He held that the recent signing of the Vietnam - Israel free trade agreement will open up many opportunities for mutually beneficial development cooperation, particularly in the areas Israel is strong at such as startup, innovation, and technological solutions to global issues like high technology development, agriculture, climate change, and urban governance.

HCM City in particular and Vietnam in general should build startup and innovation support centres to attract startups, the minister went on, adding that Israel is ready to share its experience in this regard and other fields of its strength such as hi-tech farming and technological solutions.

He also expressed his hope that the city will enhance cooperation with Israeli partners, assist Israeli businesses in marketing and distributing technological products and solutions, and increase bilateral trade, especially in the goods his country has high demand for like farm produce and consumer products.

Ministry calls for enhanced traffic safety during National Day holiday

The Ministry of Transport has requested relevant units to strengthen solutions to meet the traveling demand of passengers and ensure traffic order and safety during the coming National Day holiday.

Vietnam will have a four-day holiday from September 1-4 to celebrate National Day (September 2).

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN) was assigned to urge local departments of transport to direct transport businesses to follow regulations on fares and publicise their ticket prices.

Relevant units were asked to keep an eye on the safety conditions of vehicles and drivers before departure.  Hotlines should be available to receive traffic complaints.

Traffic infrastructure will be checked, including signals, warning signs and equipment in places with a high risk of traffic accidents.

More traffic police should be deployed to ensure smooth traffic circulation, especially routes from/to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, national highways, key traffic hubs and tourist attractions, build-operate-transfer (BOT) toll gates and construction sites which often suffer congestion, the ministry said.

As for the aviation sector, the MoT requested the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam to direct relevant agencies to enhance security control and flight safety.

Airlines need to devise plans to increase flights during the peak time, adjust flight schedules to avoid delays or cancellations as well as strictly implement regulations on prices and publicise air fares.

The ministry ordered airports prepare human resources and equipment serving for security screening and luggage return for passengers to prevent congestion.

The Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration was asked to coordinate with the maritime port authorities to take measures to ensure safety and meet the travel needs of people.

Local transport departments should intensify inspections, especially the observance of regulations relating to life-saving equipment and the number of people on board as well as firefighting equipment, the MoT said.

Active response to COVID-19 urged as new sub-variant emerges globally

The Ministry of Health has sent a dispatch to authorities of centrally-run cities and provinces requesting active response to COVID-19 as the number of new infected cases globally surged by 80% last month.

In its recent report, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified the new EG.5 sub-variant of Omicron as a "significant concern."

The report also revealed that during July 10-August 6, there were nearly 1.5 million new infections worldwide, marking an 80% increase compared to the previous four weeks. However, the number of COVID-19-related deaths fell by 57%, totaling 2,500 cases.

Accordingly, cities and provinces were urged to seriously follow the Government and Prime Minister’s directives on pandemic prevention and control, effectively realise the Government’s Resolution and the Health Ministry’s guidelines on prevention and control of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases such as dengue fever, hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Assoc. Prof Tran Dac Phu, former Director of the ministry’s General Department of Preventive Medicine, said in the current context, Vietnam needs to continue closely monitoring the WHO's information on the transmissibility and virulence of new variants, including the EG.5 sub-variant.

Preventive measures in the public should continue, such as wearing masks in high-risk areas, regularly washing hands and receiving vaccination, and others, he said.

Urban household solid waste collection rate hit 96% after decade

The proportion of urban household solid waste collection nationwide grew from 84% in 2012 to 96% in 2022, heard an August 14 workshop reviewing a decade of implementing the 11th Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW.

The function was held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) in Ho Chi Minh City to collect the southern region’s feedback on the implementation of the document, dated June 3, 2013, concerning proactive climate change response, enhanced resource management, and environmental protection.

Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan noted the ten years saw increasing attention paid on these activities, with the Party issuing six more relevant resolutions considering the environment a condition, foundation, and prerequisite for sustainable socio-economic development.

As reported, the damage caused by natural disasters in the 2018-2022 period decreased by 18% in terms of casualties and 34% in material damage compared to these of 2013-2017.

Between 2012 and 2022, the proportion of solid household waste that had to be buried declined from 90% to 65%, while the rate of industrial zones equipped with wastewater treatment systems rose to 91% from 60%. Also by 2022, 92.5% of rural households nationwide had access to sanitary water, a 12% increase.

Regarding further conduction of the resolution in the near future, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thi Thanh My suggested introducing financial mechanisms to encourage the participation of businesses, organisations, and individuals in climate change response and environmental protection activities.

Deputy Director of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Son Hai recommended that the management of overflow rainwater facing investment projects that involve land use changes like those on infrastructure, transport, and urban development should be the foremost issue to be considered and quickly legislated.

NA Standing Committee looks into renewal of school curricula, textbooks

The National Assembly Standing Committee offered opinions on a report on the results of thematic supervision on the implementation of the NA’s Resolutions on the renewal of school curricula and textbooks, during its 25th meeting in Hanoi on August 14.

Chairman of the NA's Council for Ethnic Affairs Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam said the issuance of curricula and textbooks has been slow. He proposed supplementing regulations and policies concerning lecturers who teach in ethnic languages.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son pledged to fix existing shortcomings in the field.

He said the Government is directing the tackling of difficulties in the publication of textbooks in ethnic languages and teaching materials in localities.

The official also proposed issuing a Resolution on accelerating education reform, including measures to improve teachers’ income.

In a report on the results of thematic supervision, head of the NA’s Committee on Culture and Education and deputy head of the supervision delegation Nguyen Dac Vinh put forth three major groups of solutions regarding mechanisms, policies and implementation, including renovation of examination methods and contents; salary, incentives and training for teachers; support in textbooks for disadvantaged students, budget for education and training, among others.

Speaking at the event, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said this is a very important topic that has drawn much attention from people and voters nationwide.

He assessed that the supervision report provided an overall, comprehensive and profound picture of the general education reform in Vietnam, with many valuable contents and recommendations, both in theory and practice.

All members of the NA Standing Committee present at the meeting voted to show their agreement with the basic contents of the draft Resolution on thematic supervision results. The Standing Committee assigned the Chairperson of the NA Committee on Culture and Education and the Secretary General of the National Assembly to coordinate with relevant agencies and units to complete the draft Resolution.

Hue Ao Dai Festival 2023: Tales from the river

Hue Ao Dai Festival 2023 was organised on August 12 as part of Hue Festival 2023 which was designed as a four-season festival in order to organise a series of festive activities throughout the year, promoting the unique values of Hue and Vietnamese culture, and showing scenic spots, spiritual tourism and local cultural activities to lure tourists.

With the theme "Tales from the river", the festival is expected to innovate and turns the event into a unique show of Thua Thien-Hue, meeting the demand of the public.

The festival attracts well-known designers from all over the country with special collections which are associated with Huong river.

It consists of three chapters, featuring a lot of art performances and fashion shows.

Introduced in 2000, Hue Ao dai Festival has left a special impression on domestic and foreign visitors. It aims to honour, preserve and popularise Vietnamese traditional long dress.

British Library keeps valuable items showing history of Vietnam-UK relations

Although the Vietnamese collection at the British Library (BL) in the UK is quite small, it's actually very important, showing that the relations between the two countries had shaped long before their official diplomatic relations were set up in 1973, according to Dr. Annabel Teh Gallop, Lead Curator for Southeast Asia at the library.

The collection comprises about 10 old manuscripts and an important collection of printed books, especially magazines and journals published in North Vietnam during the war.

Of the manuscripts kept at the BL, Gallop introduced two valuable materials, including a letter in 1673 from the Vietnamese ruler, Lord Trinh Tac, to William Gyfford of the East India Company during a trip to Tonkin to seek the establishment of commercial relations with the region; and a letter from the Tay Son ruler, Emperor Canh Thinh, dated May 1793, to welcome Lord McCartney, head of the first British diplomatic mission on its way to establishing commercial relations with China. The ships were struck by a storm off the cost of Central Vietnam and needed to replenish provisions, leading Lord McCartney to seek help from the Vietnamese ruler.

Gallop said the letter of Lord Trinh Tac dated 350 years ago from 1673, reflecting that the relations between Vietnam and the UK are much older than 50 years. She said this beautiful imperial letter is the earliest Vietnamese manuscript in the collection, having been in the BL since 1753, right from the earliest days of the library and dating from the very beginning of Vietnam-UK relations.

Meanwhile, the letter of Emperor Canh Thinh is another official diplomatic exchange between the two countries that arose because of unforeseen circumstances of bad weather at sea.

Gallop also introduced three imperial scrolls issued by the Emperor in the 1920s to confer deity status on the local guards of three villages.

The scrolls reflect the conditions and the history and culture of Vietnam itself, she said.

Apart from about 10 Han Nom manuscripts dated from 17th to early 20th centuries, the Vietnamese collection at the BL includes around 10.000 monographs and 290 titles of periodicals and newspapers.

Manuscript treasures include a copy of one of the greatest Vietnamese literary works, Truyen Kieu (the Tale of Kieu) by great Vietnamese poet Nguyen Du (1765-1820), she said.

According to Gallop, her former colleague, Dr. Sud Chonchirdsin, who was the curator of the Vietnamese collections in the BL for 15 years until he retired in 2019, wrote a wonderful book about these collections, which is expected to be published this year in association with the World Publishing House of Vietnam as an event to celebrate this 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the UK and Vietnam.

Being the national library of the UK and one of the world’s largest libraries, the BL boasts collections of more than 170 million items in over 400 languages, including books, magazines, manuscripts, maps, music scores, newspapers, patents, databases, philatelic items, prints and drawings and sound recordings from all over the world.

Off-road car racing tournament kicks off in Dak Lak

More than 80 domestic and international teams are taking part in a off-road car racing tournament in Buon Don district, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, which opened on August 13.

Entitled “Challenge over mountains and thick forest – Buon Don 2023”, the tournament brings together strong teams from the Republic of Korea, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Australia. Racing teams from provinces and cities of Vietnam such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Thai Nguyen and Lang Son also joined the event.

This is the first professional off-road racing tournament held in the Central Highlands.

The race is divided into three classes including the original class, the upgraded class and the professional class. The track was designed by two leading experts in the field of race design from Australia and Malaysia.

Speaking at the tournament’s opening ceremony, Pham Trung Nghia, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Buon Don district and head of the organising board, said that Buon Don is the land of elephats, with legendary forests and attractive natural landscapes which have great advantages in tourism activities.

Its tourism sector has not developed in par with its potential, and the number of international and domestic visitors to the district is still low, therefore, it is necessary to have such activities to promote and develop tourism, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

The event is expected to be a breakthrough to promote the tourism potential of Buon Don, he said.

The tournament will run until August 17.

Summer camp connects Vietnamese students in Germany

The Association of Vietnamese Students in Germany (SiviDuc) and its Frankfurt chapter organised a summer camp in the German city from August 11-13, gathering hundreds of participants from across the European country.

Addressing the event, Phan Quang Van, First Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany in charge of educational cooperation and overseas student management, lauded the organisation of the summer camp, saying it creates a useful playground for Vietnamese students and youth in  Germany.

This activity will contribute to spreading traditional values to Vietnamese young people in Germany and Europe in general, he said.

According to Trinh Hoang Loang, SiviDuc president, the summer camp for Vietnamese youth and students in Germany has long been an indispensable event for the Vietnamese youth and students movement in this country.

President of the Vietnam Student Association in Frankfurt Le Minh Long said this is the first time the chapter has collaborated with SiviDuc to organise a large-scale event with the involvement of a large number of people.

The summer camp featured boat tours around Frankfurt city, teambuilding activities, a gala night and a sports festival.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany handed certificates of merit to young people and students with outstanding achievements in studying, researching and students movements in 2021-2023 academic year.

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