NA Standing Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will lead a Vietnamese NA delegation to the 42nd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-42), which will be held in Brunei in videoconference format from August 23-25, according to NA Standing Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Speaking at a press briefing on August 20, Man said that the AIPA-42 theme of "Forging Parliamentary Cooperation in Digital Inclusion towards ASEAN Community 2025" shows the organisation’s determination and consensus on accompanying with ASEAN in the efforts to control COVID-19, overcoming difficulties for economic recovery, and reinforcing intra-bloc solidarity.

It also aims to implement the association’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, balance, maintaining its central role to complete goals set for ASEAN Community building and building the image of a responsible ASEAN that is willing to coordinate in responding to emerged issues, said Man.

Man said that during the upcoming AIPA-42, member parliaments will continue to reaffirm efforts, together with ASEAN member countries, to enhance the responding capacity of each country and their mutual support in stamping out COVID-19.

With comprehensive and parallel approach to the pandemic control, ASEAN is strengthening measures within the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, in which reform, renovation, digital transformation and growth model transformation are considered the leverage for the recovery of the association’s sustainable growth.

According to head of the NA Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha, the 15-member delegation of Vietnam will engage in major activities of the AIPA-42, including the opening ceremony, the first and second plenary sessions, the meeting of the Women Parliamentarians of AIPA (WAIPA), meetings of AIPA committees, the signing of the joint statement and the closing ceremony.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will send a greeting message to the event, while NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will deliver a keynote speech at the first AIPA-42 plenary session.

Ha said that during the AIPA-42, member parliaments will discuss and adopt a procedure to organise AIPA Young Parliamentarians’ meetings, which is a specific step to realise Vietnam’s initiative at the 41st AIPA General Assembly held in Vietnam in 2020, creating favourable conditions for young parliamentarians to join AIPA activities.

Meanwhile, NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong said that the NA Office has coordinated with relevant activities to ensure security, safety and health for delegates to the AIPA-42 and reporters covering the event./.

Six men caught for poaching in national park

Authorities in Thua Thien-Hue Province have detained a group of poachers for killing wild animals in Bach Ma National National Park, Thua Thien-Hue Province.

Forest rangers from Huong Loc Forest Protection Department at Bach Ma National Park were patrolling the forest when they observed a group of men trying to run away. The six men were caught with several bags and a gun.

According to the men, they are all family members and had plans to hunt in the national park. Ho Van Cong, Ho Van Bim and Ho Van Tuan live in Thuong Quang Commuen. Nguyen Van Ban and Nguyen Van Hap live in Huong Huu Commune and Tran Dinh Ty lives in Thuong Long Commune.   

The rangers found the bodies of two Sunda flying lemurs and one small Indian civet. There were also two torsos and six animal heads that are suspected to be red-shanked douc which is a critically endangered species.

The investigation is being expanded.

HCM City to begin strict lockdown from Monday, military forces to help supply food to people

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged the country’s pandemic hotpot HCM City to impose its toughest COVID-19 prevention measures ever beginning on Monday as “everyone is asked to stay at home”. 

Speaking at an online meeting on pandemic prevention late Thursday, PM Chính said the fight against the virus would focus on major roles played by ward and commune authorities.

“Everyone is asked to stay at home,” said PM Chính, adding that each ward or commune will ensure that  residents are supplied with food, essential items and accommodation.

The Prime Minister ordered the city to classify the pandemic situation in all 312 communes or wards according to three levels: green zone (COVID-free zone), red zone (extremely high-risk zone)  and yellow zone (high-risk zone).

The goal is to maintain and expand the green zones while isolating and reducing red and yellow zones.

The PM has ordered the city to strictly implement Directive 16 by fulfilling six key tasks.

Firstly, the city must implement “thorough isolation between people, families, wards, and communes”. The police and army forces will be mobilised in case of a personnel shortage.

Second, the army will be responsible for providing food and essential items for people so that no one lacks food. 

Thirdly, medical capacity will be enhanced, including more medical equipment (including oxygen supply), as well as nurses and doctors, to treat patients in communes and wards. 

The city must prepare emergency vehicles and emergency centres in each district to respond immediately when needed. Treatment is on three levels: commune or ward level (mild or moderate symptoms), and district level and city level (more severe and critically ill cases).

The PM recommended that the city continue piloting home treatment of asymptomatic cases. 

Chính also ordered the Ministry of Health to research and determine whether a combination of oriental and western medicine is needed in order to minimise the number of deaths. 

Fourth, the city must strengthen the police force to ensure security, order and safety for the people.

Fifth, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will work closely to provide timely support to people in need of relief. Police forces at grassroots level will provide food to the homeless.

Sixth, the city will speed up testing under the guidance of the Ministry of Health with appropriate forms, including testing at home, and will detect cases in the community so the city can isolate and treat all COVID patients in a timely manner.

The PM also asked the city to consider relocating certain people out of densely populated areas to reduce the number of cross-infections. This proposal is based on what northern provinces did in fighting a COVID outbreak. The city should use military sites, schools and accommodation facilities for this purpose.

PM Chính has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh to be in charge of vaccine diplomacy. Deputy Prime Minister Lê Minh Khái is in charge of logistics, finance, and allocation of national reserves, and Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam pandemic prevention and healthcare issues.  Deputy Prime Minister Lê Văn Thành is in charge of goods supply. 

Since the fourth COVID wave began in April, HCM City has recorded about 165,000 cases. The city has carried out social distancing for 43 days under the Government’s Directive 16.

1,000 Hanoi military doctors join COVID-19 frontline forces in HCM City

As many as 1,000 doctors, lecturers and students of the Military Medical Academy in Hanoi will fly to Ho Chi Minh City, the epicenter of the country’s latest coronavirus outbreak, to help with the ongoing COVID-19 fight.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Vo Minh Luong meets with medical staff of MIlitary Hospital 105 in Hanoi before they fly to support the building of field hospital No5D in HCM CIty,. (Photo: Ngoc Tan/zingnews.vn)
These military members have been dispatched to the HCM City coronavirus hotspot to help establish field hospitals there, a representative of the Department of Transport under the General Department of Logistics told zingnews.vn on August 20.

The Department of Transport has requested the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and VietJet Air to facilitate the issuance of flight permits and conduct these flights from now till August 23.

It is expected that the first flight will depart on August 21 and the remaining flights on August 23.

Earlier on August 19, the Logistics Department of Military Zone No. 7 requested the military commands of several southern and central localities to deploy their forces to HCM City to assist with the fight.

HCM City, the busiest and most populous locality in Vietnam is currently the country’s largest coronavirus hotspot. It has recorded more than 160,000 infections since the resurgence of the virus less than three months ago.

Insignia for environment cause awarded to outgoing UN Resident Coordinator

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha on August 20 granted the "For the Cause of Natural Resources and Environment” insignia to outgoing United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra.

At the handover ceremony, Ha expressed his thanks to the coordinator and the UN for actively supporting Vietnam in the field of natural resources and environment.

As the UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, Malhotra has actively promoted the UN agenda to help Vietnam respond more effectively to climate change and natural disasters, as well as sustainably managing natural resources and the environment through the One Strategic Plan for the 2017-2021 period between the Vietnamese Government and the UN in the country.

The UN has been accompanying Vietnamese agencies, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to carry out joint efforts to respond to climate change, with the focus on Vietnam’s implementation of the Paris agreement, especially the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

Expressing his honour to receive the insignia, Malhotra said that Vietnam has an increasingly important role and voice at the UN thanks to its active and responsible participation in and contributions to common activities of the international community and the UN. He also pledged to maintain support for the Southeast Asian nation.

Over the past time, the UN has made important and positive contributions to Vietnam through macro-policy making as well as financial and technical support for the building and implementation of policies on climate change, sustainable management of natural resources and the environment.

Art students struggle with online learning

Students pursuing a career in arts often face problems when switching from face-to-face to online learning.

As art students’ opportunity to practice has decreased during social distancing, they need to make a lot of effort in order to keep their “fire” going.

Trần Vỹ Thái in HCM City’s District 7 told the Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper that he has been practising singing via a computer, instead of the usual face-to-face, one-on-one session with his teachers, for nearly two months now.

Thái and his teachers exchange music lessons on Goggle Meet.

Bùi Xuân Nhi in District 12, a student vocalist at the HCM City Conservatory of Music, had to become familiar with online vocal lessons as well.

“I was initially sceptical at how effective online learning would be. Many shows were cancelled, which means that I have lost valuable opportunities to practise vocal and performance skills, so I need to do everything to keep the fire within me,” Nhi said.

As a student of the Faculty of Arts and Cultural Management at HCM City University of Culture, Nguyễn Trung Hếu from Thủ Đức City said that he has made a schedule to practise choreography at home these days.

Meritorious Artist Nguyễn Thị Ánh Tuyết from the music department of Nguyễn Tất Thành University acknowledged that online music lessons are not as good as those offline.

However, since the larger purpose of online education is to maintain students’ interest, it is crucial for some subjects to be conducted online. Choreography classes and ones with collective practice will resume after the social distancing period.

Trương Đức Cường, principal of the Đồng Nai College of Decorative Arts, said that depending on the nature of each subject, the school would consider if online training is necessary.

For instance, while computer-based design with accurate data can be learned online, subjects related to hand drawing or body measurement should only be done offline.

Some subjects require specific tools to conduct learning, such as pottery, making it inconvenient for students to study online if they don't have their own workshop. 

First mobile medical station set up in HCM City

The first mobile medical station debuted at Ward 11, District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City on August 20, aiming to give health care services to COVID-19 patients at home, thus contributing to easing overload in concentrated treatment facilities and hospitals and minimising deaths.

It is the first of 400 mobile medical stations that HCM City has planned to set up across the city, according to Associate Prof. Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, Vice Director of the city Department of Health. Each station takes care of 50-100 COVID-19 patients, he said.

Medical workers at the station will provide health care consultations to patients via telephone and visit them at their homes by motorbike or taxi, while using “Khai bao y te dien tu" (electronic health declaration) app for patient management.

Nguyen Thai, Vice Director of the Medical Centre of District 3, the mobile medical station No.1 has 10 oxygen cylinders, four oxygen concentrator, two SPO2 meters, COVID-19 test kits, and other medical equipment.

It also has a mobile medicine cabinet for both COVID-19 patients and patients suffering common illnesses.

Doctor Le Thi Bao Yen, head of the mobile medical station No.1, said that the station will coordinate with local authorities to contact COVID-19 patients at the area and directly visit them if necessary.

Earlier on August 19, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long asked HCM City and other COVID-19 hit localities such as Long An, Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces to promptly set up mobile medical stations, which are expected to deal with the problem and enable people to access uninterrupted medical services.

Pagodas urged to move Vu Lan Festival online

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has requested that provincial Buddhist Sanghas, Buddhist dignitaries, followers, and pagodas nationwide celebrate the Vu Lan Festival and hold requiems for the deceased virtually via online apps.

The festival is scheduled to fall on August 22 this year, or the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Buddhist followers are therefore asked to hold the event at their own residence and avoid large gatherings in order to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic among the community.

This year will see the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Hanoi host an online ceremony to mark the occasion of the Vu Lan Festival, with the occasion set to draw the participation of 500 monks and nuns.

The ceremony will be broadcast live through the Facebook page of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, replayed on website khuongviet.vn, along with being uploaded to a number of YouTube channels.

Quang Ninh adds vaccination to entry requirements

Starting from August 20, people who want to enter Quang Ninh Province must have a negative PCR Covid-19 test result 48 hours prior and a certificate showing they have been fully vaccinated.

They must go to the checkpoint to fill in medical declaration forms in person.

People who returned from outbreak areas will be sent to paid quarantine centres for 14 days and then home-isolated for seven more days. Exceptions are made for diplomats, investors, patients who need special care and urgent cases. The authorities will seal the cargo areas of the vehicles at the checkpoint until their destinations to prevent illegal passengers.

Concerning workers who live or go to work in Hai Phong City and Hai Duong Province, negative tests at checkpoints will be waived if firms register shuttle buses with the authorities and test at least 20% of the workers on a weekly basis.

Passengers arriving in Quang Ninh via inland waterways must have a negative PCR test result within 72 hours. They will also have a quick test upon arriving.

Quang Ninh residents were asked not to leave the province unnecessarily. They will also have to have a negative PCR test result before leaving. They will be asked to sign a commitment to go to the quarantine centres if they return from outbreak areas.

Vietnamese children vulnerable to air pollution, flooding: UNICEF report

Vietnamese children are heavily exposed to air pollution and flooding, said a report launched by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on August 20.

The report, namely ‘The Climate Crisis Is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index’, is the first comprehensive analysis of climate risks from a child’s perspective. It ranks countries based on children’s exposure to climate and environmental shocks, such as cyclones and heatwaves, as well as their vulnerability to those shocks, based on their access to essential services.

Lesley Miller, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, said the living environment in Vietnam is becoming more and more risky for children.

Immediate actions can prevent the situation from getting worse, she affirmed, adding that ensuring access to suitable social welfare networks and resilience-enhancing services such as clean water, health care and education will help protect children’s future.

Launched in collaboration with Fridays for Future on the third anniversary of the youth-led global climate strike movement, the report finds approximately 1 billion children – nearly half the world's 2.2 billion children – live in one of the 33 countries classified as “extremely high-risk”.

While nearly every child around the world is at risk from at least one of these climate and environmental hazards, the data reveal the worst affected countries face multiple and often overlapping shocks that threaten to erode development progress and deepen child deprivations.

An estimated 850 million children – 1 in 3 worldwide – live in areas where at least four of these climate and environmental shocks overlap. As many as 330 million children – 1 in 7 worldwide – live in areas affected by at least five major shocks.

Online contest features cai luong talents

Twenty-eight contestants participating in the national traditional music contest, Chuong Vang Vong Co (Golden Bell) 2021, have performed online in the semi-final round in HCM City recently. 

Each candidate performed two vong co (nostalgic tunes) songs and one extract from a cai luong (reformed opera) play in the studio before a jury composed of celebrated artists Phuong Loan, Le Tu and Huu Quoc. 

Works in praise of the country and patriotism were encouraged by the organiser.  

Their performances will air every Sunday, starting on August 22, on Ho Chi Minh City Television’s HTV9 channel to millions of viewers around the country.

“We organised our contest online for the first time as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase,” Meritorious Artist Loan, a member of the jury, said.

“The organiser, Ho Chi Minh City Television, invited a group of cai luong stars such as People’s Artist Bach Tuyet and People’s Artist Minh Vuong to offer online training for 28 semi-final contestants.”

"We hope audiences will support our candidates during the contest,” she said.

Female contestant Huynh Kim Tho of Binh Duong province performed vong co songs about southern women on the first day of semi-final round on August 10.

Her voice impressed the judges.

“I loved cai luong when I were a child. The art has improved my soul and spirit,” said 18-year-old Tho, the youngest contestant. 

“I hope I will be one of the contest’s ten finalists.” 

The Golden Bell contest began in 2006 and has discovered and encouraged new talents in theatre. It encourages young people to learn about cai luong, the south’s most popular theatre form.  

Many Golden Bell winners have become professional artists working for leading traditional art troupes in the region.

This year, the contest attracted 170 contestants who recorded and sent their clips to the organiser in July, instead of singing live as in previous events.

The jury will choose 10 finalists to compete in the final round, which is scheduled to begin in October.

Viewers will vote for the winners of the Golden Bell first prize of 100 million VND (4,300 USD) in cash, and the Silver Bell worth 50 million VND (2,150 USD).

The Favourite Performer and Youngest Talent prizes will also be given.

Booking.com names Hoi An, Sa Pa, Hanoi among top places for photos

Marking World Photography Day (August 19), travel website Booking.com has unveiled a list of the top 10 destinations endorsed by global travelers for photography in Vietnam.

The ancient town of Hoi An is listed among top 10 destinations endorsed by global travelers for photography in Vietnam.
Most notably, the leading three destinations in the list are the ancient town of Hoi An with its famous mustard-colored houses, Sa Pa as it sits surrounded by mountains, terraced rice fields, waterfalls, and streams, and Hanoi with its bustling Old Quarter.

Booking.com stated that global travelers also fell in love with the never-ending Vietnamese coastline of pristine beaches and mountain ranges, along with its array of gorgeous tiny towns nestled in between them. Popular spots to make the list include destinations such as Ha Long, Da Lat, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, and Mui Ne.

Rounding off the rest of the top 10 endorsed destinations by global travelers for photography in Vietnam were Ha Long, Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, Ninh Binh, Mui Ne, Da Nang, and Thua Thien-Hue.

Police complete investigation relating to former HCM City official

The Investigation Agency of Ho Chi Minh City Police said on August 20 that it has concluded its investigation into violations found at Tan Thuan Investment and Construction  Co. Ltd.

The agency proposed the municipal People’s Procuracy prosecute 10 persons including Tat Thanh Cang, former Vice Secretary of HCM City’s Party Committee; Tran Cong Thien, former General Director of Tan Thuan company; Nguyen Van Minh, former Chairman of the Board of Members of the company; and Tran Tan Hai, former Deputy General Director of the company.

Others are Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich, former chief accountant of the company; Nguyen Hoang Viet, former supervisor of the company; Nguyen Xuan Tung, former head of General Sales Department; Pham Van Thong, former deputy chief of the city Party Committee Office; Huynh Phuoc Long, former head of capital trade and investment management division under the city Party Committee's Office; and Phan Thanh Tan, former deputy chief of the City Party Committee's Office.

They are accused of "violating regulations on the management and use of State assets, causing losses " in line with Article 219 of the Penal Code.

In 2018, inspectors detected violations related to the transfer of Phuoc Kien residential area projects in the city’s outlying district of Nha Be and Riverside residential area project.

Thien was found not following regulations on price setting in connection to a land transfer at Phuoc Kien residential area project, resulting in losses of over 167.8 billion VND (7.3 million USD). Regarding Riverside residential area project, his infringement has led to damage of over 81 billion VND to the municipal Party Committee's budget.

Minh and other former officials of Tan Thuan company are responsible for the company’s violations.

According to the investigation agency, Cang didn’t report to the city Party Committee’s Standing Board but himself allowed the transfer of land at Phuoc Kien residential area project at a price much cheaper than market value, causing losses of 167.8 billion VND to the municipal Party Committee’s budget.

Thong, Tan and Long had to bear the responsibility along with Cang, the agency said.

Heavy rain forecast for October, November and first half of December

Between seven and nine storms and tropical depressions are forecast to hit the East Sea, of which up to four will directly affect Việt Nam's mainland from now until the end of 2021.

The forecast was announced by the head of the Climate Forecasting Department, at the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Nguyễn Văn Hưởng on Thursday.

Provinces and cities in the central and south-central regions need to prepare for heavy rain in October, November and the first half of December, however, there is little chance of particularly heavy downpours like in 2020, he said.

Hưởng also said this cold weather will likely occur earlier, from the end of September and the beginning of October.

Severe cold spells may occur around mid-December, while in previous years, they appeared in the last days of December.

The centre predicted that in September, floods will occur downstream of major rivers in the north-central region.

On small rivers and streams, in the central region and Central Highlands, there is a possibility of flash floods and landslides.

Northern mountainous areas are also warned of flooding and landslides.

Hưởng said provinces and cities should review the safety of houses and prepare plans for natural disasters.

Local authorities should coordinate with agencies, especially at the grassroots level, to prepare to relocate households out of areas at risk of landslides and flash floods.

The cities and provinces should strengthen grassroots rescue teams ready for helping residents relocate.

HCM City to vaccinate foreigners against COVID-19

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has agreed to conduct vaccination against COVID-19 for foreigners living, studying and working in the city, within its capacity and resources.

Accordingly, the committee agreed with the proposal of the Department of Foreign Affairs to vaccinate foreigners in the city and assigned the Department of Health to allocate vaccine doses and organise the vaccination as soon as possible.

There are currently more than 200,000 foreigners living and working in the city. Recently, many foreign representative offices have sent diplomatic notes or through official meetings expressed their wish to receive the city’s support to inoculate their citizens in the earliest time.

The municipal Department of Foreign Affairs assessed that the implementation of vaccination for foreigners in HCM City is of great significance, showing the attention of the city in particular and Vietnam in general to the foreign expat community in the city, thus making them feel secured and increase their contributions to the city's development.

Over the past time, many diplomatic officials and staff and foreign citizens living and working in HCM City have been vaccinated against COVID-19 during community vaccination stages.

Additional 12,756 Covid-19 patients recover

Vietnam confirmed 10,657 more Covid-19 infections on Friday and an additional 12,756 patients recovered from the disease the same day according to the Ministry of Health.

According to the ministry's report, 10,650 of the new patients are locally-transmitted cases confirmed in some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City (3,375 cases), Binh Duong (4,223), Dong Nai (686), Long An (495), Tien Giang (367), Danang (167), Dong Thap (156), Can Tho (147), Khanh Hoa (147), Tay Ninh (122), An Giang (111), and Hanoi (72). Among these new infections, 6,132 cases were found in the community. There were seven imported patients recorded.

Binh Duong Province today reported the biggest number of infections in the country with 4,223 cases. Ho Chi Minh City followed with 3,375 cases. On Thursday, the city also recorded 4,425 new patients. Social distancing rules are being further tightened in the city to contain the spread of the virus. The government has set a target for HCM City to contain its Covid-19 outbreak by September 15.

As of Friday evening, 319,209 locally-transmitted cases have been reported since the new outbreak occurred in the country on April 27, including 167,717 in the virus hotspot of Ho Chi Minh City and 59,824 in Binh Duong. The outbreak has so far spread to 62 cities and provinces nationwide.

With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 323,268. The country stands 72nd among 222 countries and territories worldwide in the number of infections.

On August 20, an additional 12,756 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to 132,815.

Also on Friday evening, a further 390 deaths related to Covid-19 were announced, bringing the total number of fatalities in Vietnam to 7,540. The deaths were reported in HCM City (312), Binh Duong (41), Long An (8 ), Dong Nai (7), Tien Giang (7), Khanh Hoa (3), Soc Trang (3), Can Tho (2), Hanoi (1), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (1), Ben Tre (1), Binh Thuan (1), Hai Duong (1), Nam Dinh (1), and Tra Vinh (1).

The country has so far conducted over 16.30 million Covid-19 vaccine shots, with over 1.63 million people having received two doses.

Webinar promotes VN-India cultural exchange

The Consulate of India in HCM City on Wednesday hosted a webinar with the theme “Cultural Meeting between India and Việt Nam” to commemorate India’s 75th Independence Day.

Speaking at the webinar, Pranay Verma, Ambassador of India to Việt Nam, said the webinar was held to help bring the people of the two countries closer, promote cultural understanding, and remind younger generations of the two countries’ relations.

At the event, researchers and lecturers in India and Việt Nam pointed out the close cultural relations of both countries.

Amarjiva Lochan, deputy dean of the International Relations Faculty of the University of Delhi shared his views about the relationship between the two countries in religion, architecture and arts.

“Việt Nam, with its ancient and impressive Hindu and Buddhist heritage, has age-old ties with India,” said Lochan.

He said more student exchanges between India and Việt Nam and tourism development should be promoted.

Vietnamese researchers talked about cultural exchanges between India and Việt Nam in the past and modern times through the history of Hindu temples.

Phan Anh Tú, director of the Centre for Theoretical and Applied Culturology under the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), said the cultural exchange of India and Việt Nam had first occurred during the Funan Kingdom (1st-6th century CE) and Champa Kingdom (2nd century AD until 1832) and in big cities.

In the early 20th century, the Indian community in HCM City built three Hindu temples, including Sri Thenday Yutthapani in District 11 and Subramaniam Swamy and Mariamman in District 1.

Vietnamese experts also highlighted the great contribution of Indian archaeologists in important discoveries in recent excavations and restoration of Hindu relics at Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in Quảng Nam Province.

Meanwhile, Lê Thị Hằng Nga, deputy editor in chief of the Journal for Indian and Asian Studies under the Việt Nam Institute of Indian and Southwest Asian Studies, said: “People-to-people connection is an important aspect of cultural exchanges of India and Việt Nam.”

Nga mentioned that many organisations and associations had been established in recent years, such as the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Hà Nội.

In addition, Việt Nam - India Friendship Associations in Hà Nội, HCM City and Đà Nẵng have worked for years to strengthen people-to-people connections in the two countries.

The “Cultural Meeting between India and Việt Nam” webinar is part of India@75, an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the history of its people, culture and achievements.

Under India@75, webinars featuring India’s socio-cultural, political and economic identity have been conducted by the Consulate General to enhance interaction and engagement, and promote mutual understanding between the people of India and Việt Nam. 

Ministry of Health issues new criteria for pandemic control

The Ministry of Health has issued new criteria in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in HCM City and other cities and provinces that are implementing social distancing rules according to Directive 16 of the Prime Minister, including Hanoi.

Localities will be considered to have pandemic under control when the number of new cases in the community decreases continuously compared to the previous two weeks and decrease by at least 50 percent compared to the week that recorded highest infections during the pandemic.

The rate of positive samples tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method during the day in the community also needs to decrease within 14 days.

Additionally, the locality will be deemed to have COVID-19 under control when no new clusters of infections are recorded over seven days.

Under the new criteria, provinces also need to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the risk of infection and an increase of at least 30 percent of districts and communes that return to the "new normal" state.

In HCM City, the risk of infection needs to be reduced by 30 percent.
In the fourth wave, four southern provinces and cities which record highest infections are HCM City, Binh Duong, Long An and Dong Nai.

Chilean President values traditional ties, cooperation potential with Vietnam

Chile values its traditional relations and potential for cooperation with Vietnam, particularly when both nations are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP), stated Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

The Chilean leader made his statement after receiving the credentials presented by Vietnamese Ambassador to the country Pham Truong Giang on August 17.

Welcoming the diplomat, Pinera recalled his memory about Vietnam’s charms and hospitality during his visit to the nation in 2012. He also expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s heroic history.

For his part, Giang conveyed to the Chilean President, Government and people the greetings from Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and other high-ranking leaders.

Expressing an honour for his appointment on the occasion of the two nations celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of their diplomatic relations, he vowed to do his utmost to contribute to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

Exhibition honours Vietnam’s legendary general

An exhibition featuring the life and works of late General Vo Nguyen Giap opened on August 20 to mark his 110th birthday (August 25). The event is to honour the legendary general’s great contributions to the national liberation cause.

Visitors to the exhibition at the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi will have a chance to look back at the heroic revolutionary traditions of the Vietnam People's Army associated with General Giap, a loyal revolutionary soldier, an excellent and close disciple of President Ho Chi Minh and the “eldest brother” of the Vietnam People’s Army.

The General's military career started with his appointment to lead the first Vietnamese revolutionary army unit with only 34 soldiers in 1944.

He then became the commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People’s Army and led the Vietnamese people's army from victory to victory during the resistance war against French colonialists and then American imperialists.

The general was famous for leading the victorious Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954, which contributed to the country’s liberation from French colonialism.

To the Vietnamese people, he was not only a wartime hero but also an icon who dedicated his life to the development of the country.

HCM City calls on people to “stay where they are” as COVID-19 surges

​Ho Chi Minh City’s authorities are calling on its residents to “stay where they are” and each house, residential zone and commune must keep isolated with each other, starting from August 23.

The municipal Party Committee’s Board for Information and Education said the decision was made as the city’s COVID-19 situation remains very complex, so COVID-19 measures must be tightened to achieve the highest possible results as the government has requested HCM City to keep the virus at bay before September 15.

HCM City, Vietnam’s current largest COVID-19 hotspot, has so far recorded over 164,000 infections.

The city will also redouble efforts to care for COVID-19 patients, particularly those in critical conditions, and minimise fatalities.

It will continue conducting mass testing at very high-risk areas and accelerate COVID-19 vaccination rollout.

The city has also come up with plans to ensure adequate supplies of necessities to people during the time of heightening COVID-19 rules.

Indian community presents medical equipment to aid HCM City’s COVID-19 fight

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on August 20 held a virtual event to receive an ECMO machine worth 145,000 USD donated by Indian businesses and expats to help the city fight COVID-19.

The machine will be sent to HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases where many COVID-19 patients in severe conditions are being treated.

Speaking at the event, Indian Consul General in HCM City Madan Mohan Sethi said India and Vietnam boast long-standing relations and close friendship and has always been supporting each other during difficult times.

The Government and people of Indian want to show solidarity with Vietnamese people and HCM City authorities as the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic is taking heavy toll on the city, he said.

With support of the Indian Consulate General in HCM City and the Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam (INCHAM), the Indian community in the southern region has raised funds to buy the ECMO machine for the hospital as a way it shoulders the burden with the host city, Sethi said.

He unveiled that the Government of India will provide 300 oxygen generators, capable of producing 10 litres of oxygen per minute each, and 100 cu.m of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) to aid Vietnam’s pandemic combat.

Transported by sea, the medical supplies are expected to arrive in HCM City by the end of this month, the official noted.

He went on to say that the Consulate General of India in HCM City stands ready to help provide advanced training for about 200 medical workers in HCM City and 300 others in other southern localities.

Chairwoman of the municipal Fatherland Front Committee To Thi Bich Chau, for her part, thanked the Indian Consulate General and Indian people in the South for their donation and expected that Sethi will forge stronger healthcare cooperation, particularly in the COVID-19 combat, between HCM City and India.

She also proposed him to help HCM City gain access to India-made COVID-19 vaccines and treatment medicines.

In addition to the ECMO machine, INCHAM also donated 200 million VND in cash and 2.5 tonnes of rice to HCM City and cooperated with local authorities to provide volunteers with necessary items, such as medicines, food and personal protective gears./.

More religious volunteers join frontliners in COVID-19 fight

An additional 115 volunteers who are dignitaries and followers of religions began joining frontliners in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City on August 20 in response to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s appeal.

This time, 23 Buddhist volunteers participated in COVID-19 prevention and control at temporary COVID-19 treatment hospital No. 10, while 92 Catholic volunteers worked at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Hospital.

To Thi Bich Chau, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Ho Chi Minh City, thanked local religious dignitaries for sending volunteers to join the frontliners in the fight against the pandemic to reduce the burden on medical workers and help care for active patients.

The solidarity and sharing of resources and sentiments from provinces and cities throughout the country, and from people, religious organisations, dignitaries and followers are a great motivation and spiritual encouragement to the frontliners, thus creating the combined strength to help the city soon defeat the pandemic, Chau said.

Venerable Thich Thien Quy, Deputy Head and Chief Secretary of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the city's VBS will continue to encourage monks, nuns and Buddhist followers to take part in the fight.

Pastor Joseph Dao Nguyen Vu, Chief of Office of the Vietnam Catholic Bishops' Conference, said that through their voluntary activities, Catholic volunteers want to transmit more positive energy and self-confidence in the life to patients and doctors on the front line against the pandemic.

Earlier, 385 religious volunteers participated in COVID-19 prevention and control activities at the city’s COVID-19 treatment hospitals./.

More medical workers sent to help with pandemic control in southern localities

Three northern provinces - Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Ha Nam - on August 20 sent a total 100 medical workers to Dong Nai province to assist the southern locality in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

This time Lao Cai sends 40 health workers with training in pandemic prevention and control skills who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Previously, Lao Cai has also sent two volunteer groups with nearly 100 medical workers to help Bac Giang and  Binh Duong provinces in the fight against COVID-19.

The team of medical workers of Yen Bai province consisted of seven doctors and 23 nurses who specialize in emergency resuscitation.

This is the eighth time  Yen Bai has sent medical workers to help other localities in the fight against COVID-19 in both the northern and southern regions, including Ho Chi Minh City.

The province is among a handful of localities in the country that have not recorded any community infections of COVID-19.

The same day, the 30-member delegation of Ha Nam also left for Dong Nai where COVID-19 cases are increasing quickly. About  80 medical workers of Ha Nam are also working in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, 113 volunteers from the Nam Dinh  University of Nursing in northern Nam Dinh province also arrived in  Binh Duong on August 20 to support the pandemic prevention task in the locality.

Also on the same day, Phuong Trang Group handed over 50 oxygen generators worth about 1.7 billion VND (over 74,000 USD) to the Vietnam Fatherland Front committee of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap to help with the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the locality.

Previously, on August 17, the group also donated 50 oxygen generators and 100 SPO2 tools worth 1.8 billion VND to support Dong Thap./.

HCM City disburses second COVID-19 support package to people in need

The second COVID-19 support package worth more than VNĐ913 billion (US$40 million) has been disbursed to laid-off workers, the poor, and people adversely affected by the pandemic in HCM City, according to the city’s People’s Committee.

Speaking at a press meeting on Thursday, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee Dương Anh Đức said the city was striving to provide financial assistance to needy people in a timely manner to ensure they have food and essential items during the social distancing period, which has been extended until September 15.

Around 143,000 poor and near-poor households have received financial assistance worth VNĐ47.5 billion ($2.08 million), Đức said.

More than 2.3 million laid-off labourers who are ineligible to enjoy unemployment benefits and labourers in the informal sector also have access to the package.

Household businesses and traders who work in traditional markets affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have received financial assistance worth VNĐ12 billion ($526,200) and VNĐ26 billion ($1.13 million), respectively.

Phan Nguyễn Như Khuê, head of the city Party Committee's Propaganda Department, said the COVID-19 support package had been urgently given to people affected by the pandemic due to social distancing regulations.

The city is striving to contain its COVID-19 outbreak by September 15 under Resolution 86 of the Government. It will continue to focus on efforts to implement social welfare packages in the next few weeks.

More than 2.5 million people have been affected by the extension of social distancing orders, according to the city’s Department of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs.

The department will continue to provide assistance to those who have not received or have missed on package allocations. 

Prime Minister, southern localities discuss COVID-19 fight

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an online meeting on August 19 night between permanent Government members and authorities of Ho Chi Minh City and adjacent Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An provinces which are witnessing complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The meeting agreed that the complex situation in those localities is partly attributable to the highly contagious Delta variant while the density of population in the above localities is high, but another reason is social distancing measures have not been enforced strictly enough.

Leaders of ministries, agencies and localities suggested several measures such as continuing with strict social distancing measures, setting up more mobile medical stations and temporary COVID-19 treatment hospitals, expanding the capacity of existing medical facilities, establishing working teams to provide food and necessities for residents.

Localities also proposed the Government, ministries and agencies concerned send more personnel, especially medical workers for Ho Chi Minh City and the nearby provinces, add more groups eligible for support policies, and provide more medical equipment and vaccines for those in high-risk areas.

Concluding the event, the PM basically agreed with the proposals and assigned tasks to Deputy PMs and leaders of ministries, agencies and localities.

He required the localities to extend the enforcement of social distancing measures for at least two more weeks, with the level of strictness depending on the real situation in each locality.

The PM stressed that health care, logistics work, social security and social order must be ensured right at the grassroots level to meet the needs of every resident in their daily life as well as for medical care.

On the occasion, he called on the entire country to join hands with Ho Chi Minh City and adjacent provinces to combat the pandemic. Ministries, agencies and the localities were required to build their own detailed plans to meet the ultimate goal of ensuring people’s health and lives./.

HCM City seeks vaccine support from India

Ho Chi Minh City expects India will help the Vietnamese metropolis access Made-in-India vaccines and drugs to treat COVID-19.

HCM City Fatherland Front Committee leaders expect India will share its COVID-19 vaccines and drugs with the city which is the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam at present.

Leaders of the HCM City chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) made the request while receiving ECMO life support machines for severely ill COVID-19 patients donated by the Consulate General of India and the Indian community in the city.

The hand-over ceremony was held online on August 20 due to COVID-19, and the gift worth US$145,000 was presented to HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases which is receiving and treating COVID-19 patients.

To Thi Bich Chau, president of the VFF’s HCM City chapter, shared difficulties the Indian Government and people had encountered in responding to the recent coronavirus outbreak. She thanked the Indian government and people for donating medical equipment to Vietnam, noting the gift testifies to the great solidarity between the two peoples.

Chau also suggested that India, a global leading COVID-19 vaccine and drug manufacturer, assist HCM City in accessing its COVID-19 vaccines and drugs.

Indian Consul General Madan Mohan Sethi said that the Indian Navy ship is scheduled to dock in HCM City on August 30, carrying 300 oxygen generators and 100 tonnes of liquid oxygen as gifts from the Government of India to Vietnam.

HCM City is currently the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam. The busiest and most populous city has so far recorded more than 160,000 new infections since the resurgence of the virus in late April.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/SGGP/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes 

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