“Hanoi in Me” live concert is jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy and community there, with the goal of raising funds for the upcoming mid-autumn festival for children. VNA/VNS Photo

The auditorium at the Band Academy Singapore recently filled with a crowd who came for a live concert called Hanoi in Me jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy and the community there, to raise funds for the upcoming mid-autumn festival for children.

Vietnamese Ambassador Mai Phước Dũng said that the event was an opportunity for the community to come together, and turn their hearts to the homeland.

Lovely melodies about Hà Nội graced the event through the performances of professional singers, and Vietnamese talents.

Trịnh Thị Mai, a 39-year-old worker who has been in Singapore for five years, said she was delighted to attend this meaningful event.

Liz Nguyễn, a representative from the organising board, said the event was meticulously prepared, and the proceeds, small in value as it was, will make practical contributions to organising the mid-autumn festival for the kids next month. 

Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomed in Hanoi

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 20 for Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro.

Chien lauded the comprehensive and positive results in the Vietnam-Japan defence cooperation over the past years, describing it as one of the key pillars in bilateral relations. He underlined the successful exchange of delegations at all levels, the effective maintenance of defence policy dialogue mechanisms at the deputy ministerial level, and consultations between staff officers from the navy, army, and air force.

He also highlighted the enhancement of technology transfer cooperation and the ongoing efforts to address the consequences of war in Vietnam.

As there remains ample potential for bilateral defence cooperation, particularly in areas where Japan has strengths and Vietnam has needs, he asked Funakoshi to make recommendations to the Japanese Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Defence for the continued promotion of practical and effective defence cooperation, thus significantly contributing to the overall strong relationship between the two countries.

Funakoshi, for his part, stressed that the bilateral cooperative relationship is on a positive trajectory, including in national defence. He expressed a desire to further deepen and enhance defence collaboration in a more practical and effective manner, which, he said, would not only contribute to the development of both countries and but also maintain stability and peace in the region and the rest of the world.

Vietnamese-language eloquent contest held in Laos

The final round of the "I love Vietnamese" contest was held on August 20 in Savannakhet province, Laos, for both Lao and Vietnamese students in the locality to show their command of the language.

The event was organised by the Vietnamese Consulate General in the province in collaboration with the local Vietnamese Association, aiming to enhance students' knowledge and proficiency in the Vietnamese.

Speaking at the event, Consul General of Vietnam in Savannakhet Dang Thi Hai Tam highlighted the importance of languages in cultural and social development, emphasising that it serves as a key tool for communication and learning.

The diplomat stressed the necessity for Vietnamese and Lao nationals, as well as peoples of neighbouring nations, to learn each other's languages and expressed her hope that this contest will inspire students to further their studies in Vietnamese in the coming time.

She also pointed out that through learning Vietnamese, students can gain deeper insights into Vietnam's culture, history, and traditions, while also opening doors for future educational and career opportunities in Vietnam. In the long run, these students can serve as bridges, fostering stronger and more enduring ties between the two countries.

The contest attracted 30 participants competing in multiple rounds, including quizzes and presentations. It also successfully underscored the importance of language education as a tool for fostering cultural understanding and bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Vietnamese Defence Minister meets Chinese counterpart

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang held a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun on August 20, on the occasion of the state visit by Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse to China.

During the meeting, Giang stressed that the top Vietnamese leader's visit to China, his first foreign trip after being elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, reflects Vietnam's high priority on developing friendly cooperative relations with China in its foreign policy. He expressed his belief that the visit will contribute to advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries into a new phase of development with effectiveness and durability, and further strengthening their comradely and brotherly ties.

According to the Vietnamese minister, the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries has maintained positive momentum through the high-level visits of historic significance by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 and Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in December 2023. Through the visits, the two Parties and countries have reached many important common perceptions, established a "new positioning" for bilateral relations, elevated the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and built a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance with six major directions indicating higher levels of cooperation, including "more substantive defence and security cooperation."

Giang highlighted that over the recent past, in carrying out the common perception of senior leaders of the two countries, Vietnam-China defence cooperation has been promoted by both sides and increasingly deepened, showing a more "substantive" nature. He cited notable examples like the 8th Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange in April 2024; the exchange of delegations at all levels; education and training cooperation, cooperation among maritime forces, cooperation in border management, and joint research and academic exchanges.

In the coming time, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam hope to continue enhancing and expanding the areas of cooperation that the two sides have been implementing, while studying the expansion of cooperation to new potential areas of mutual interest, especially in defence industry, education and training, Party and political works, Giang said.

For his part, the Chinese defence minister said the Vietnamese top leader's visit offers an opportunity for the armed forces of the two nations to further boost their relations in a more substantive and effective manner.

He emphasised that expanding military cooperation between the two countries in various aspects holds significant strategic importance, and is crucial for ensuring the Vietnam-China community with a shared future.

According to the officer, at this important time, both countries bear a similar historical mission. For the two countries to develop better and achieve success in the cause of socialism building, their armed forces should firmly stand side by side, continue to enhance cooperation in Party and political work, strengthen cooperation in the management of both land and maritime borders, and consolidate a solid foundation for the development of both countries.

Dong stressed that China and Vietnam are comrades, partners and long-time friends who understand each other deeply. Therefore, in the coming time, it is necessary to further foster substantive cooperation between the two countries' armies in all fields, with more extensive, higher-quality, and more effective friendly exchange activities, contributing to the harmony, prosperity, and happiness of the two peoples.

Giang took the occasion to invite leaders of the Central Military Commission, the Minister, and leaders of the Ministry of National Defence of China to attend the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo in December 2024./

Vietnam, China commit to deeper security cooperation

Politburo member, Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee and Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Luong Tam Quang held talks with State Councillor and Minister of Public Security of China Wang Xiaohong in Beijing on August 20.

Quang was accompanying Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse on a state visit to China from August 18-20.

He congratulated China on the successful organisation of the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, believing that under the sound leadership of Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, China will achieve its key objectives by the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, turning China into a modern, prosperous, democratic, civilised, harmonious and beautiful socialist nation.

The Vietnamese Party and State highly value and give top priority to friendly and cooperative ties with China, support China's continued development, improvement of its international role and position, and positive contributions to regional cooperation and development, he said.

Wang, for his part, praised bilateral security and law enforcement cooperation with positive results.

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security is ready to work with the Vietnamese counterpart to effectively realise common perceptions reached by the two General Secretaries and Presidents, with a focus on deepening cooperation in security and law enforcement, he said.

Based on the joint statement reached during the visit, both sides agreed on the need to effectively carry out existing cooperation mechanisms between their ministries and build new ones.

They will focus collaboration on preventing economic crime, telecommunications fraud, human trafficking, cybersecurity, recovering assets from fugitives abroad, and combating illegal immigration. They will also ensure security and safety for each country's major events and high-level visits, strengthen cooperation in training personnel, share experience in digital transformation in professional work, deploy public security forces for the United Nations peacekeeping mission, and enhance legal enforcement cooperation within multilateral frameworks to build an environment of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

The same day, Quang held a working session with Chinese Minister of State Security Chen Yixin.

They pledged to continue facilitating the exchange of high-level delegations, sharing information about global and regional situation, preventing and addressing emerging non-traditional security challenges, with a focus on counter-terrorism, organised international crime, economic and cyber crimes.

Host and guest also agreed to maintain the deputy ministerial-level strategic security dialogue mechanism and foster security cooperation within multilateral frameworks.

Congratulations extended to Hungary on state foundation day

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam has cabled a message of congratulations to Hungarian President Sulyok Tamas on the State Foundation Day of the European nation (August 20).

Also on August 20, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended greetings to his Hungarian counterpart Orban Viktor while Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man sent his congratulatory message to Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Kover Laszlo.

On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also offered congratulations to Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Szijjarto Peter.

Gathering marks Indonesian Independence Day in HCM City

The Ho Chi Minh Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) on August 20 held a gathering to celebrate Indonesia’s Independence Day (August 17, 1945 – 2024) in the southern economic hub.

In his speech, HUFO President Mai Ba Hung said sharing similarities in their struggles for independence, Vietnam and Indonesia set up diplomatic relations in 1955. Since then, their multifaceted cooperation has been increasingly consolidated, with HCM City being the venue for a wide range of bilateral activities across the sectors of economy, culture, sports, education, and people-to-people diplomacy.

He said he appreciates the participation of and support from the Indonesian Consulate General, business association and expatriate community in the city regarding their joint projects with HUFO and contribution to strengthening the countries' sound relationship.

Hung expressed his hope that the sides would step up people-to-people exchanges via cultural, sport, educational, and tourism activities, serving better mutual understanding and expanded collaboration.

Indonesian Consul General Agustaviano Sofjan affirmed that the positive outcomes of the countries’ 69-year-long bilateral relationship serve as a solid foundation for even closer cooperation in the future, fostering prosperous development for both.

Vietnam and Indonesia have been striving together to fulfill their commitment to cooperation and mutual support for each other's development, serving the benefit of their people and contributing to the overall progress of the region, the diplomat stressed.

In addition to educational cooperation, the sides’ people-to-people diplomacy, cultural exchanges, and introduction of their traditional cuisine will play a positive role in strengthening and enhancing their friendship and solidarity, he suggested.

120 local players to attend ASEAN+ Age-group Chess Championships

A total of 120 Vietnamese players will compete at the 22nd ASEAN+ Age-group Chess Championships 2024, scheduled to take place in Vientiane, Laos from August 21 to 31.

The tournament will feature contestants from nine countries within the ASEAN region, together with representatives from New Zealand and Russia.

Participants are set to compete for medals in the standard, blitz and rapid chess categories in groups ranging from U6 to U20, seniors under 50, and above 65.

Outstanding faces who will be present at the tournament include Master Nguyen Minh Chi (U12), FIDE Master Dinh Nho Kiet (U16), and Master Dau Khuong Duy (U18).

After the tournament, Vietnamese players will continue to stay in Vientiane for the third Laos International Chess Open 2024 which is slated to run from September 1 to 6.

The ASEAN+ Age-group Chess Championships is the signature event of the ASEAN Chess Confederation and is open to both players in the ASEAN region and all countries throughout Asia. The event has been held annually since 2000.

In the 2023 edition held in Thailand, Vietnam topped the medal tally with 92 golds, followed by the Philippines with 15 golds, and India with three golds.

VNA fosters ties with Thai partner to deliver diverse information products

General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 20 for Director General of the Public Relations Department (PRD) of Thailand Sudruetai Lertkasem.

General Director Trang expressed her delight at the significant outcomes of the 17th Joint Technical Committee (JTC) meeting between VNA and PRD earlier the same day, which helped promote the substantive ties between VNA and PRD. She thanked the PRD for its support of VNA's correspondents in Thailand, enabling them to effectively carry out their tasks.

She said VNA is increasing policy communication to support Vietnam's socio-economic development, with a particular emphasis on green and circular economies, while combating fake and misleading information. She underscored VNA's goal to disseminate information about Vietnam to regional and global audiences, and sought the PRD's support in achieving this goal.

Lertkasem affirmed that the PRD is pleased to see the growing relationship with VNA, particularly in timely and accurate information exchange, combating fake news, misinformation and online fraud. This collaboration, she said, helps convey the messages of both countries and contributes to strengthening the strategic partnership and enduring friendship between Thailand and Vietnam.

Co-chairing the 17th JTC meeting between the two agencies earlier the same day, VNA Deputy General Director Doan Thi Tuyet Nhung noted that the two sides have resumed the exchange of journalists after a period of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, VNA hosted a delegation of three PRD journalists who visited some locations and entities in Hanoi and Ninh Binh to gather information on tourism development, innovation and business investment activities of Thai enterprises in Vietnam.

In return, VNA sent a delegation of three journalists to Thailand to report on healthcare, game production, and MICE tourism.

The exchange proved to be effective and VNA wishes to continue this cooperative effort, Nhung said.

The guest thanked VNA for its timely exchange of information and agreed to further strengthen information sharing to raise mutual understanding between the people of both countries. She underlined the importance of increased collaboration to quickly and effectively provide information of public interest, help steer public opinions, and counter fake and misleading news.

The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in content production and provision of diverse and reliable information products to meet the growing demand of the public in both countries./.

Australian newspaper hails Vietnamese grilled fish as must-try dish

Famous Australian travel website the Sydney Morning Herald has recently published an article describing Chả Cá Lã Vọng grilled fish as a must-try dish for tourists during a trip to northern Vietnam.

According to Ben Groundwater, a writer with more than 20 years of experience in the field of culinary tourism in Australia, visitors can’t leave northern Vietnam without having tried this absolute treat.

The author described Chả Cá Lã Vọng as the classic Hanoi dish. Chunks of freshwater fish, usually catfish, are typically marinated in a range of ingredients such as turmeric before then being fried in oil until golden brown and served with a tonne of fresh dill, spring onions, peanuts, and often rice noodles.

In 2019, the US-based multinational news channel CNN also praised Chả Cá Lã Vọng as one of the must-try delicacies for tourists when visiting Hanoi.

With regard to the history of the dish, the author revealed that more than a century ago when Vietnam was part of French Indochina, the Doan family had begun a business of selling grilled fish, ostensibly to make money. As well as serving great food, it also provided a secret meeting place in central Hanoi for resistance fighters battling colonial powers. 

At present, the Doans’ restaurant still exists at 14 Chả Cá street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. He advised tourists to be wary as it is surrounded by many similarly named establishments acting as imitations. 

Quang Ninh expects to welcome more tourists on National Day holiday

Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay, will organize two festivals to lure more tourists on the occasion of the National Holiday (September 2), a local official said on August 20.

The Yacht, Parachuting, and Water Sports Festival scheduled to begin on August 24, and the Hot Air Balloon Festival, to take place on September 1-2, are expected to help raise tourism development and introduce attractive destinations in Ha Long, according to Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Son.

They are among the 31 festivals and events within the project “Ha Long – City of Festivals”, these first-time events have won the support of many businesses, the official noted.

Quang Ninh has adjusted its target in attracting visitors to 19 million this year from the initial 17 million after its tourism posted positive growth in the first seven months.

In the first seven months of this year, the province received 13 million visitors, 20% higher than that of the same period last year. It earned total tourism revenue of about 29 trillion VND (1.16 billion USD), an increase of 40% over the same period in 2023. Of the visitors to the locality, there were over 2.2 million foreign guests, equivalent to the number of tourists in all of 2023./.

Photo exhibition on General Vo Nguyen Giap opens in Quang Binh

A photo exhibition named “The Imprint of General Vo Nguyen Giap on Dien Bien Phu” opened in the central province of Quang Binh – the hometown of the General - on August 20.

This event aims to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - 2024), the National Day (September 2, 1945 - 2024), and the 113th birth anniversary of the General (August 25, 1911 - 2024).

The exhibition showcases 103 photos, featuring the homeland and family of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the General, and the Dien Bien Phu Campaign (May 7, 1954), and the sentiments of the Dien Bien people towards the General.

The exhibits introduce the significant contributions, directions, and strategic decisions of the General as the Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army during the struggle against the French colonialists, particularly the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until the end of September 20.

General Giap, whose real name is Vo Giap, was born in Loc Thuy commune in Le Thuy district, the central province of Quang Binh, on August 25, 1911. He was the commander of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign which went down in history as a glorious milestone of the entire Vietnamese Party, army, and people in the resistance war against the French colonialists (1945 - 1954).

The Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe” forced the French colonialists to sit down at the negotiation table to discuss and sign the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina in July 1954. This put an end to the prolonged French colonial rule and heralded a new stage for the revolution in Indochina./.

Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2024 to highlight local handicrafts, cuisine

The Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2024 is scheduled to take place from August 23 to 25 at the pedestrian zone in front of Thong Nhat (Reunification) Park on Tran Nhan Tong street in Hanoi's Hai Ba Trung district.

The annual event aims to promote the capital’s image as a safe, friendly, quality, and attractive tourist destination to draw more visitors to Hanoi during the National Day holidays. It’s also meant to mark the 70th anniversary of the Capital Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - 2024) and respond to the Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024.

The festival will introduce Vietnamese-branded tourism gifts to domestic and international tourists, help boost the gift manufacturing industry, and contribute to strengthening tourism and cultural connections.

At the same time, it is expected to help preserve, honour, and bring into play the unique values of local cultural heritage and traditional crafts in tourism development.

This year, the festival will highlight Hanoi’s typical dishes and promote food tours – a tourism trend in many countries. Visitors will not only experience food or drinks but also the cultural identity and life of the community at the destination, helping them explore the cultural story of Hanoi behind each gift.

Various activities will be held at the three-day festival, including displaying exquisite tourism gift products, introducing tours, offering tour vouchers, and launching promotional programmes by local travel businesses.

There will be a space to showcase craft village products, a festival drum performance, Gong performances by Muong ethnic people from the suburban district of Thach That, along with street circus, hip-hop, and flash mob performances, promising interesting experiences for visitors./.

More than 1,000 prosecuted following flight attendants drug case

The police of Ho Chi Minh City have so far prosecuted as many as 1,038 suspects since the case involving four flight attendants smuggling drugs from France into Vietnam in March 2023.

The police also seized 323kg of drugs, two guns, 67 bullets, and three grenades in the process.

They said they have also established evidence linking the detained individuals to drug transactions amounting to more than VND28 trillion.

The suspects had successfully transported six shipments containing drugs through Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport using similar tricks. They had sent them via domestic express delivery services to Ho Chi Minh City for distribution and consumption.

During investigations, the police busted the entire criminal network, detained the masterminds behind the ring, and released four female flight attendants who were exploited by criminals.

On March 16, 2023, Tan Son Nhat Airport Customs Branch, in collaboration with other units, inspected the luggage of four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants returning from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Tan Son Nhat Airport on flight VN10. They subsequently discovered 327 tubes of toothpaste and 17 bottles of mouthwash containing 11.4 kg of ecstasy and synthetic drugs, including 8,400 grams of gray tablets and 3,080 grams of white powder.

The four flight attendants confessed that they had been asked by an anonymous person in France to transport the items for over VND10 million. They only checked a few tubes and, when they found nothing unusual, agreed to transport them.

A week later, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department released the flight attendants and decided to prosecute the case of “illegal transportation of drugs”. The flight attendants were found to have been exploited to unknowingly transport the drugs.

Hanoi carries out practical measures to support policy beneficiaries

The Hanoi People's Committee has allocated 2,891 gift packages totaling 6.12 billion VND (245,069 USD) to local policy beneficiaries, a move marking the 79th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 - 2024) and honouring those who have contributed to the country’s revolutionary cause.

The recipients include individuals involved in revolutionary activities, those who assisted past revolutions, as well as organisations and units that care for these individuals.

Since the beginning of the year, Hanoi has implemented various practical measures to care for policy beneficiaries. The city has processed and resolved over 6,221 applications for preferential treatment for revolutionary contributors, their relatives, and other related beneficiaries, with an expenditure of approximately 4.9 billion VND.

So far this year, the city has mobilised nearly 34 billion VND in contribution to the gratitude fund, presented 1,734 savings books worth nearly 5.4 billion VND, and upgraded 53 memorial works dedicated to martyrs with a total cost of more than 157 billion VND, surpassing the set targets.

Between now and the end of the year, localities within the city will continue to implement the health rehabilitation plan for revolutionary contributors and relatives of martyrs. Additionally, they will advise on the development of a resolution on specific policies to support allowances for the groups who are receiving monthly preferential subsidies from the city./.

An Giang launches first cultural space commemorating Uncle Ho, Uncle Ton

The An Giang Federation of Labour on August 20 inaugurated the cultural space dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh and President Ton Duc Thang – the great leaders of the nation.

The space, the first built by a trade union in Vietnam, shows sentiments of An Giang province - the hometown of President Ton Duc Thang - towards the two late leaders, aiming to provide a venue for local officials, trade union members and workers to get a deeper insight into their life and revolutionary career.

It is expected to spread positive values of learning and following the ideology, morality and lifestyle of the Presidents among local officials, trade union members and workers.

The work, built at a cost of more than 120 million VND (4,813 USD), include billboards and photos spotlighting the life and career of the late leaders, a corner introducing the provincial trade unions’ efforts in studying and following their examples in caring for the lives of union members and workers, and an outdoor sports space.

Addressing the inauguration, Vice President of the An Giang Federation of Labour Lu Thi Kim Thuy affirmed that the work is part of efforts to improve the cultural and spiritual life for workers at industrial parks, providing a venue for them to meet, exchange and do physical exercise after working hours, thus enhancing their cultural enjoyment.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms to hit northern region over next 10 days

Localities in northern Vietnam, including capital Hanoi, are expected to endure a spell of heavy rain in the next 10 days starting from August 20, with rainfall in some areas likely to reach over 150 mm, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Heavy rain lashed localities from the northern to north-central regions for the past hours, with Son La province receiving 69.8 mm of rain, Quang Ninh province 116.2 mm, and Thanh Hoa province 125.2 mm.

Torrential rain is anticipated to batter northern mountainous and midland areas on August 20-21 that are likely to receive 40 mm to 70mm of rain on average. Rainfall in some places will even exceed 150 mm.

Northern Vietnam will continue to see spells of scattered showers and thunderstorms till August 29.

Meteorologists warned localities, especially those in mountainous areas, about the possibility of severe flooding, flash floods and landslides to occur during the height of the rain.

Meanwhile, widespread heat waves are likely to bake the Central Highlands and southern regions in the coming days.

The 10-day period will see daytime temperatures in localities stretching from Da Nang to Binh Thuan rise to between 34 to 37 degrees Celsius, with some areas reaching above 37 degrees Celsius.

Elsewhere, hot weather is forecast to continue in parts of the Central Highlands region as temperatures reach between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius.

LPBank becomes sponsor of international football friendly tournament in September

Fortune Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank (LPBank) will be the sponsor of the LPBank Cup 2024, an international football friendly tournament featuring the national teams of Vietnam, Thailand, and Russia per an agreement signed between the bank and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on June 19.

The tournament will take place during the FIFA Days in September this year. It is expected to attract a large audience as it is crucial for the Vietnam national team in their preparation for the 2024 ASEAN Championship (AFF Cup), which will be held at the end of the year.

The participation of two high-caliber teams, namely Russia which ranks 33rd in the FIFA World Rankings and has attended 11 World Cup seasons, and Thailand, one of the top teams in Southeast Asia, will provide Vietnam with valuable experience. The tournament will help Vietnamese players improve their skills and tactics, while giving Vietnamese fans an opportunity to enjoy thrilling matches.

Duong Nghiep Khoi, VFF General Secretary, said that the LPBank Cup 2024 is expected to deliver exciting performances and serve as a quality preparation for the Vietnam national team ahead of AFF Cup 2024.

As planned, all matches of the LPBank Cup 2024 will take place at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi at 8p.m. Vietnam will compete with Russia on September 5 and Thailand on September 10. Russia and Thailand will meet on September 7.

The Vietnam national team, comprising the best-performing players selected by head coach Kim Sang Sik, is expected to gather for training on August 30 to prepare for the tournament./.

Quynh Luu - Thanh Hoa 500kV Circuit-3 transmission line operational

The National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) and the Central Vietnam Power Project Management Board (CPMB) in collaboration with relevant units sent electricity to the Quynh Luu - Thanh Hoa 500kV Circuit-3 transmission line on August 19 morning.

As part of the 500kV Circuit-3 power transmission line project, which runs from Quang Trach in the central province of Quang Binh to Pho Noi in the northern province of Hung Yen, the line is invested by the EVNNPT, managed by the CPMB, and operated by Power Transmission Company 1 (PTC1).

The 92-km line passes through the central provinces of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa. Its construction began on January 18.

It is expected to reduce the load and avoid overloading of existing 500kV lines and help improve transmission capacity, thus contributing to strengthening capacity from power sources in the north-central region to the load centre in the northern region.

The completion and commissioning of the project meets the Prime Minister's directives, serving as a significant motivation for completing the entire 500kV Circuit-3 power transmission line project in the coming days./.

Traditional customs of Vietnamese preserved in Hong Kong

A large number of Vietnamese people in Hong Kong (China) have come to a local pagoda on the occasion of the Vu Lan Festival to express gratitude to ancestors and pray for the best for their families, which is also an act to uphold traditional customs of the homeland.

Like other residents in Hong Kong, Vietnamese in this special administrative region often visit pagodas every traditional festival to worship Buddha.

During the Vu Lan Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month (August 18 this year), many have come to a pagoda called “Phap Xuat Duy Giac” in Sino-Vietnamese words.

The pagoda, founded by a Vietnamese nun over 60 years ago, used to welcome numerous Buddhist followers and visitors, but it was less frequented due to a lack of keepers after the nun passed away in 1999, Tran Thi Phuong, manager of the pagoda, told the Vietnam News Agency's resident reporter.

She shared that it could be her destiny that she came to take care of this pagoda and chant prayers every day to wish for good health for her family and peace for the world.

Hoang My An, a Vietnamese in Hong Kong, said every Vu Lan Festival, the Vietnamese community here visit Buddhist pagodas to pray for well-being for their families and show gratitude to ancestors and parents, thereby helping maintain and pass down good cultural practices to descendants.

Le Thi Hong Viet, another expatriate, noted that she also often visits pagodas on this occasion as the tradition of Vietnamese people goes to pray for good health and peace.

Aside from visiting pagodas, many Vietnamese in Hong Kong have also taken part in the release of caught animals on this occasion to wish for the best for their families and themselves./.

Ministry urges tighter supervision of monkeypox at border gates

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has requested increased monitoring to detect suspected monkeypox cases at border gates and proactive surveillance in healthcare facilities after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) amid the potential risk of disease spread.

The MoH announced on August 19 that since the beginning of 2024, particularly in the last two months, the WHO has recorded an unusually high increase in the number of monkeypox (mpox) cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The African country has to date reported about 15,600 cases, with over 537 deaths. The mpox virus Clade Ib is currently the dominant strain in this outbreak in the country.

Additionally, four countries bordering Congo, namely Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, have reported the first cases of mpox with epidemiological links to the ongoing outbreak in Congo. Sweden and Pakistan – the two countries outside Africa, have also recorded cases of the Clade Ib mpox strain.

The MoH sent a document to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, the hygiene and epidemiology institutes, Pasteur institutes, and central hospitals treating infectious diseases, urging them to strengthen measures for preventing and controlling monkeypox, towards proactively monitoring and early detecting cases of the disease, preventing widespread transmission and minimising the number of cases and deaths.

It also asked for strict inspection and control at border gates to early detect suspected cases, and proactive surveillance at medical facilities.

Localities have been requested to organise training sessions for healthcare workers at all levels on monitoring, preventive measures, care, treatment, and infection prevention for mpox.

The ministry also underlined the need to review and update prevention and response plans and scenarios to be ready for any outbreak; prepare medicine, medical supplies, equipment, personnel, and funding for receiving, treating, and controlling outbreaks; and step up the communication work to disseminate monkeypox prevention and control measures in line with the ministry's recommendations./.

Vietnamese students in Queensland supported in career orientation

The Association of Vietnamese Students in Queensland (AVSQ) has carried out a project to assist overseas Vietnamese students in Australia’s Queensland state in career orientation.

The project “Career Compass” featured three career days on Computer Science & Software Engineering, Design, and Accounting and Finance which are majors that are most selected by Vietnamese students in Australia.

During the career days, speakers were invited from big and prestigious Australian companies and associations to share with participating students their experiences and knowledge in job application, working skills and networking.

In addition, at the events, students were divided into groups to participate in work simulations. After 40-minutes group discussions, two groups were selected to present their solutions while invited speakers would give feedback and discussed the answers with the students.

Established on June 18, 2021, with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia and the Vietnamese General Consulate in Sydney, the AVSQ is a non-profit organisation that focuses on skill development and career orientation programmes for Vietnamese students in Queensland and Australia as a whole./.

Da Lat named most affordable tourist destination for upcoming holiday

With an average room rate of 1.45 million VND ($58), Da Lat has been named the destination in Vietnam that has offered the most competitive room rates during the last two months.

With several long weekends and holidays in August and September across Asia, including National Day on September 2 in Vietnam, Agoda highlighted some of the most popular Asian tourist destinations to enjoy Agoda’s great value deals.

Da Lat took over Hue, which came out on top of the cheapest destinations ranking released in April.

A cool climate and beautiful landscapes make Da Lat a popular destination in Vietnam, Agoda said. Visitors can explore the Valley of Love, the Da Lat Flower Gardens, and the historic Da Lat Railway Station. Adventure seekers will also appreciate the proximity to the Lang Biang Mountain, perfect for those who enjoy hiking and outdoor activities.

The destinations with the cheapest average accommodation rates for August 15 to September 30 across nine Asian markets are Hat Yai in Thailand, Yogyakarta in Indonesia, Kuching in Malaysia, Siargao Island in the Philippines, Da Lat in Vietnam, Narita in Japan, Goa in India, Taichung in Taiwan, and Busan in the Republic of Korea.

Despite offering the lowest average room rates, these destinations offer an abundance of experiences that truly allow travellers to see the world for less.

In the latest report, Booking.com also revealed that leveraging the extended holidays, Vietnamese travellers are seeking a blend of relaxation and exploration.

Da Lat, renowned for its picturesque landscapes and charming French colonial architecture, retains its top spot for the second consecutive year. This serene escape offers a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Booking.com also found that Sa Pa is among the destinations that travellers most want to visit during the holiday.

The highlands town of Sa Pa, renowned for its refreshing mountain air and picturesque landscapes, is ranked ninth on the list.

Beach destinations such as Da Nang, Vung Tau and Nha Trang continue to be popular among Vietnamese travellers looking to soak up some summer sun.

Notably, Phan Thiet has entered the top ten this year, thanks to the new Dau Giay – Phan Thiet expressway, significantly reducing travel time from Ho Chi Minh City.

Tourist hotspots like HCM City, Hoi An, Hanoi and Hue also make the list, offering a mix of historical and cultural attractions to travellers.

According to Booking.com, with Vietnamese travellers seeking quick getaways, short-haul international destinations are gaining popularity.

The Asia Pacific region is the top choice, with all 10 of the most searched international destinations located here. While Bangkok is the most sought-after city, the vibrant cultures, exciting shopping experiences and delectable cuisines of other Asian cities including Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong are also captivating Vietnamese for this final long weekend of the year.

The National Day, which falls on September 2, is among the biggest holidays in the country. This year, labourers have four days off, which should bolster the tourism sector./.

Hanoi gains impetus for urban railway development

The first two first urban railway lines in Hanoi have attracted a large number of passengers, helping modernise the public transportation network and ease traffic congestion, which is an important prerequisite for the city to strongly develop this means of transport in the coming time.

The elevated section of the second urban railway line, Nhon - Hanoi Station, was officially put into use on August 8. It served more than 306,000 passengers on the first five days.

Meanwhile, the first line, Cat Linh - Ha Dong, transports about 10 million passengers each year.

These results are believed to be an important impetus for Hanoi to strongly develop its urban railway system in the time ahead.

The municipal People’s Committee recently submitted a draft master plan on building urban railway to the municipal People’s Council for discussion.

This plan proposes urban railway development be divided into three phases.

From 2024 to 2030, the city will complete constructing 96.8km of railway and make investment preparations for another 301km. More than 14.6 billion USD is needed for this period.

And between 2031 and 2035, 301km of railway will be built at a total cost of over 22.57 billion USD. The local urban railway system is expected to serve 35 - 40% of public transport passengers after 2030.

Meanwhile, Hanoi plans to complete an additional 200.7km during 2036 – 2045, which requires funding of over 18.25 billion USD.

The local administration estimates that by 2035, the city will able to mobilise about 28.56 billion USD from different sources for the work and need around 8.61 billion USD in assistance from the central budget for the 2026 - 2030 and 2031 - 2035 periods.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ha Minh Hai said one of the most important factors of urban railway development is finance, and the biggest financial resource is the added value from the land traversed by urban railway lines, which could be optimised through transit-oriented development (TOD).

TOD is an urban development model with rapid public transport being the centre that is closely connected with the formation and expansion of the urban railway network.

Le Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment, said that with the recent adoption of the revised Law on the Capital, the National Assembly and the Government have given Hanoi a “golden key” to address decades-long difficulties and obstacles hampering the development of transport infrastructure, especially urban railway.

The revised law is one of the critical policy frameworks for developing urban railway and the TOD as Hanoi is granted the right to make decisions about urban railway projects by itself, he noted./.

Project to help with climate change adaptation, development in Dien Bien

An integrated water resources management project partly funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) will be carried out in Tuan Giao district, the northwestern mountainous province of Dien Bien, to serve people’s daily life, climate change adaptation, and socio-economic development.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang recently signed off the project proposal.

The project is set to have total investment of nearly 1.4 trillion VND (55.9 million USD), including almost 40.08 million EUR (44.2 million USD) in loan from the AFD, 1.5 million EUR in non-refundable aid, and over 306 billion VND in reciprocal capital from Dien Bien.

It will build a reservoir with a capacity of about 5 million cu.m. in Muong Mun commune. Main facilities include a barrage, water intake structures, as well as a pipeline and associated works with a total length of about 120km.

Technical assistance will be provided to help improve the project management board’s capacity. The promotion of smart agricultural practices will also form part of this project.

The overall goal is to maximise water resources, regulate them among basins, and ensure sufficient water supply for people’s daily life and production activities in the vicinity, thus helping reach economic growth targets. The project is also expected to help complete irrigation infrastructure and connect the network for regulating water resources to facilitate the operation and management of those facilities and climate change adaptation.

Le Xuan Canh, Secretary of the Tuan Giao Party Committee, said the detailed target is to help address drought, erosion, and flooding; guarantee water supply for 35,000 residents and 21,000ha of farmland to form a large-scaled concentrated farming zone with macadamia and coffee being the main crops in the district; proactively create a water source for daily activities and agricultural production; and green bare hills, protect the environment, and mitigate the greenhouse effect.

The project is hoped to firmly guarantee water security, and contribute to development breakthroughs in this district./.

Kien Giang follows EC recommendations to combat IUU fishing

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is following the European Commission (EC)'s recommendations to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as part of a nationwide effort to lift the EC's "yellow card" warning.

To achieve this, the province plans to transform certain fishing practices that adversely affect local marine resources and the ecological environment, while simultaneously improving the State's capacity to manage fisheries.

It has also introduced subsidised subscription fees for the voyage monitoring system (VMS) service for fishing vessels. This initiative's two phases benefited 15,173 vessel trips with a total investment of over 2.6 billion VND (108,000 USD). The third phase has been approved, targeting over 7,000 vessel trips with an estimated budget of around 1.3 billion VND.

As a result, 3,604 boats have been equipped with VMS devices, accounting for 99.42% of the fishing vessels required. The remaining 21 vessels, currently in ports, are being monitored through Google Maps until installation is completed.

To facilitate seafood exports, the province has issued 23 certificates of origin for 252,330kg of seafood to six companies. Additionally, three exporters have been granted 116 certificates of origin for over 1,000 tonnes of seafood destined for Europe.

The provincial authorities have taken a proactive approach to enforcing regulations, handling 264 cases of VMS violations and imposing fines totaling over 14 billion VND. Furthermore, 239 cases of maritime violations were penalised during patrols and inspections, resulting in fines exceeding 3.7 billion VND. These actions have been documented in the national database on administrative penalties in fisheries, with 617 decisions recorded and fines amounting to more than 27.6 billion VND./.

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