The capital city of Hanoi is pooling resources for the construction of the Nam Thang Long – Tran Hung Dao and Hanoi Station – Hoang Mai metro lines, with total investment exceeding 76 trillion VND (3.16 billion USD).

Slated to commence construction next year and complete by 2029, the Nam Thang Long – Tran Hung Dao line will span 11.5km with 8.9km underground and 2.6km elevated. It features 10 train sets and comes with a price tag of over 35.5 trillion VND.

Meanwhile, the Hanoi Station – Hoang Mai line, proposed to be funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA) capital, is estimated to cost around 40.5 trillion VND. This entirely underground line will span 8.7km, snaking beneath the bustling corridors of Tran Hung Dao - Tran Thanh Tong - Kim Ngưu - Nguyen Tam Trinh.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Duc Tuan said according to the city's transportation master plan until 2035, Hanoi aims to boast a metro system of 10 lines stretching around 410km. Recently revised, the master plan now extends to 2065, adding 5 more lines and expanding the network to 610km.

Between 2024 and 2030, Hanoi plans to construct 96.8km of metro lines, with an investment of 14.6 billion USD. The following five years will see an additional 301km built, at an estimated cost of 22.5 billion USD.

The city has already chalked up significant milestones, with the Cat Linh – Ha Dong metro line and the elevated section of the Nhon – Hanoi Station metro line now operational and warmly welcomed by the public, Tuan said.

The total funding required for Hanoi's metro system by 2035 is estimated at 37.1 billion USD, with the city expecting to secure over 28 billion USD over the next decade. By 2035, Hanoi will need nearly 9 billion USD in support from the State budget./.

Mekong Delta region enjoys growing crop production

The Mekong Delta region’s cultivation sector has maintained good growth with increased production of major products, ensuring supply for domestic market and export, heard a conference held in Long An province on August 20 to review the region’s cultivation activities in 2024 and launch a plan for 2025.

According to Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said that the region’s total rice farming area in 2024 is estimated at 3.82 million hectares with an output of 24.14 million tonnes, up 11,130 tonnes compared to 2023.

However, rice production in the region has faced many challenges from climate change, drought and saltwater intrusion, he said. The use of farming land has yet to be effective, causing soil degradation, while the unsuitable use of input materials has caused a waste of resources and environmental pollution, he added.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Minh Lam, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Long An underlined the need to expand high-quality rice production area in association with agricultural reform. He noted that the locality currently has 60,000 hectares of high-tech rice farm.

Regarding the production plan for 2025, MARD Deputy Minister Hoang Trung directed regional localities to speed up the implementation of agricultural projects in line with agricultural restructuring, especially the project to develop 1 million hectares of high-quality rice in association with boosting green growth in the region, the project to develop key fruit products, and another to promote industrial plants with special attention to coconut trees.

The official asked the localities to keep a close watch on the hydrometeorological situation and water resources to proactively protect production and minimise risks of damage.

Trung advised them to build a plan to prevent drought and saltwater intrusion, while forecasting and preventing diseases on rice and other crops./.

Quang Ngai hosts 2024 Programme on Pacific Partnership and Pacific Angel

The 2024 Programme on Pacific Partnership and Pacific Angel (PP&PA-24) opened in the central province of Quang Ngai on August 20.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from Vietnamese ministries and agencies, leaders from Quang Ngai province, and around 200 personnel from the navies, air forces, doctors, and experts from the US, the UK, Australia, and Chile. It also saw the presence of the Ambassadors of the US and Australia to Vietnam, the US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, and members of the diplomatic missions of the US and Australia in the Southeast Asian country.

Affirming that this is one of Quang Ngai’s most significant foreign affairs events in 2024, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Vo Phien, who is head of the organising board, said that the event aims to enhance international cooperation; improve disaster response and humanitarian support capabilities; foster mutual understanding, people-to-people exchanges, and local cooperation; and contribute to strengthening the Vietnam-US comprehensive strategic partnership.

Emphasising that Vietnam is always an important partner in the Pacific Partnership programme, US Consul General Susan Burns stated that this marks the first time that the US Navy’s Pacific Partnership and the US Air Force's Pacific Angel have collaborated to support a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Vietnam.

The event is part of a series of activities in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the US- Vietnam diplomatic relations (July 12, 1995 - 2025), and comes a year after the US and Vietnam elevated their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership level.

PP&PA-24, which will last to August 30, includes 60 activities in the fields of health, construction, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief. Soldiers of the US Navy and Air Force are expected to help renovate schools and health clinics, provide humanitarian support and disaster response training, exchange medical experiences, and participate in air performances and community exchange activities across Quang Ngai./.

Vietnam-China economic, trade ties to open up brighter future: Chinese daily

Vietnam and China have been tightening their economic and trade ties over the recent years, reflecting a strong vitality, said the International Business Daily, the mouthpiece of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

An article published by the daily said in the first half of this year, durian remained Vietnam's strongest export to China, of them over 90% fresh. Another Vietnamese fruit ready to penetrate the Chinese market is fresh coconut. The two countries have agreed to finalize the signing of a protocol on phytosanitary requirements for fresh Vietnamese coconut exports to China.

The newspaper quoted General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association Dang Phuc Nguyen as saying that Vietnam’s official export quota agreement with China will present a significant opportunity for the Vietnamese coconut industry. Vietnamese fruit has a competitive edge in the Chinese market thanks to geographical proximity, short transport times, and low costs.

Statistics show that bilateral trade rebounded strongly in the first half of this year, reaching nearly 95 billion USD. Vietnam's imports from and exports to China amounted to 67 billion USD and 27.8 billion USD, up 35% and 5.3% year-on-year, respectively.

The countries have signed bilateral and multilateral agreements, including the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). With these pacts, the bilateral trade is expected to continue growing in years to come, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, textiles, and electronics. According to the article, the signed bilateral agreements have significantly strengthened the strategic linkage between China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” and Vietnam’s “Two Corridors and One Economic Belt” framework. In the future, they also look to enhance cooperation within multilateral frameworks to meet their respective economic development needs, promote regional economic connectivity, and boost the economic vitality and global competitiveness of the Southeast Asian region.

In terms of connectivity, the first international freight train from Shijiazhuang (China) to Hanoi (Vietnam) was launched in July 2023, running more than 2,700 km. In the future, the two countries are set to accelerate connectivity construction and provide more convenient channels for economic and trade cooperation between them and in the region.

The Vietnam-China ties in economy and trade have many highlights. Vietnam attracted investment from 84 countries and regions in the first half of the year, with China leading in the number of new projects, accounting for 29.1% of total foreign-funded projects in the Southeast Asian nation. This reflected that China's economic investment in Vietnam has become an important driving force for the development of bilateral relations, said the article.

In tourism, the number of Chinese visitors to Vietnam in the first three months of this year reached nearly 890,000, up 634.5% year-on-year. In terms of people-to-people exchange, 60 provinces and cities in Vietnam have signed friendship and cooperation agreements with their Chinese counterparts.

According to the newspaper, with the extensive cooperation between the two countries in industrial and supply chains, and standardisation, their economic and trade ties are poised to open up a brighter future./.

Health Ministry urges HCM City to respond to ongoing measles outbreak

The Ministry of Health has urged HCM City authorities to take immediate action against the current measles outbreak, which has resulted in the deaths of three children.

The deceased children, aged between four months and seven years, all had pre-existing health conditions.

The ministry has instructed local healthcare facilities to provide timely treatment to individuals diagnosed with measles to minimise severe cases and fatalities.

The HCM City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) has been asked to work with agencies to establish a comprehensive monitoring network for both measles infections and vaccination efforts.

Hospitals within the city are required to adhere to stringent infection control protocols and to maintain an adequate supply of medical resources.

Earlier, the Department of Health had recommended the People’s Committee declare a measles outbreak due to the rapid increase in cases.

As of August 12, more than 600 cases of fever accompanied by rash have been reported, with 346 confirmed cases of measles, over half of which involve patients from other provinces.

According to the HCDC, measles infections have been identified across 57 wards within 16 city districts, with the highest number of cases reported in Bình Chánh, Hóc Môn, and Bình Tân districts.

Over 84 per cent of the affected children were either unvaccinated or had incomplete vaccination schedules.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can spread rapidly following an incubation period of seven to 21 days.

Initial symptoms typically include fever and a rash, which usually begins on the face and subsequently spreads to the back.

Additional symptoms may include conjunctivitis, cough, runny nose, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, seizures.

Medical experts have cautioned the disease can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, keratitis, diarrhea, and even death.

Measles can only be effectively managed when the community immunity rate reaches 95 per cent and each individual has received two doses of the vaccine.

Healthcare centres are asked to review the vaccination records of at-risk populations and to ensure that eligible children receive the appropriate vaccinations.

If a child has not received or missed their vaccination appointments, they must be taken to medical facilities for consultation and immunisation without delay.

Parents and guardians are advised to consult local healthcare stations for information regarding the vaccination schedule.

Measles remains one of the 11 infectious diseases for which vaccination is mandatory for children, with the first dose administered at nine months of age and the second dose at 18 months of age. 

Hà Nội's urban railway line 2 project to be completed by 2031 instead of 2015

The implementation time of the Hà Nội's urban railway line 2 project, connecting Nam Thăng Long Urban area to Trần Hưng Đạo Street, is to be completed by 2031 instead of 2015 as per the initial plan.

The reason for adjusting the project implementation time is that the process of reviewing, examining and appraising the project adjustment has lasted from 2012 until now, but has not been completed, so the construction and equipment packages of the project have not been implemented.

Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the progress and implementation timeline of the project to suit the current circumstances.

Hà Nội has scheduled the completion and commission of the project by 2029, followed by an additional two years for operational and maintenance training.

It was part of Proposal No 275 submitted by the city administration to Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính to review and approve adjustments to the investment plan for the Hà Nội Urban railway line 2 project.

Dương Đức Tuấn, deputy chairman of the Hà Nội People's Committee, said due to the longer than expected process of implementing procedures of the project, such as having to change the location of station C9 and changing regulations on public investment and debt, means plans must be adjusted to fit the current reality.

According to the document, the proposed total length of the project is 11.5km, consisting of 8.9km of underground track and 2.6km of elevated track, with a fleet of ten trains, each comprising four carriages.

Compared to Decision No 2054, issued on November 13, 2008, by the Hà Nội People's Committee, while the overall length of the project remains unchanged, modifications have been made to the length of the underground section (increased from 8.5km to 8.9km) and the elevated section (reduced from 3km to 2.6km). Additionally, the number of trains has been decreased from 14.

Another adjustment concerns the estimated total investment for the project, which is proposed to rise to VNĐ35.58 trillion (approximately JPY200.74 billion/US$1.42 billion), an increase of VNĐ16.03 trillion (JPY95.5 million/$642 million) since 2008.

Of this, Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) will amount to JPY167.07 billion, equivalent to VNĐ29.67 trillion ($1.19 billion), up by VNĐ13.187 trillion ($527 million).

Hà Nội’s own contribution from its budget is set at VNĐ5.9 trillion (around JPY33.665 billion/$235 million), an increase of VNĐ2.846 trillion ($113.7 million).

Under the submission, Hà Nội administration proposed that the Government allocate capital for the project over three middle-term public investment periods to align with the revised project timeline.

The allocation consisted of about VNĐ9.2 trillion ($366 billion) for the 2021-25 period, about VNĐ19.9 trillion ($791 million) for 2026-30 and around VNĐ5.58 trillion ($221.8 million) for 2031.

Currently, the 2019 Law on Public Investment does not specifically address the balance and allocation of mid-term public investment funds over consecutive periods.

Thus, Hà Nội's administration said it would propose the Prime Minister to approve the adjustments and would report the project’s status to the National Assembly in late this year, in accordance with Article 104 of the Government’s Decree No 29 on major national project assessment and monitoring.

Since the Ministry of Planning and Investment completed its report on the investment adjustment in May 2021 and with the Government Office's approval of the C9 underground station location as noted in Notification No 328 on October 14, 2022, Hà Nội submitted four requests for approval of the adjustments, including three in 2024 alone.

That demonstrates the complexity of the project, which was initially approved by Hà Nội People’s Committee under Decision No 2054 issued on November 13, 2008.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, head of the Hồng (Red) River Delta Coordination Council, chaired the fourth meeting regarding the issue.

He ordered relevant ministries, agencies and localities to expedite the completion of procedures to accelerate the implementation of regional and inter-regional projects, including the Urban railway line 2 from Nam Thăng Long Urban area to Trần Hưng Đạo Street.

PM Chính also called for proposals on special mechanisms and policies for the Government to review and decide.

The Urban railway line 2 project, approved by the Hà Nội People's Committee in November 2008, stretches from Nam Thăng Long Urban area, Nguyễn Văn Huyên Street, Hoàng Quốc Việt Street, Hoàng Hoa Thám Street, Thụy Khuê Street, Phan Đình Phùng Street, Hàng Giấy Street, Hàng Đường Street, Hàng Ngang Street, Hàng Đào Street, Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, Hàng Bài Street and ends at Trần Hưng Đạo Street.

It consists of three elevated stations and seven underground stations and a depot located in Xuân Đỉnh Ward, Bắc Từ Liêm District.

Expanding access to essential medications for insured patients

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has responded to voter concerns regarding the limited availability of cancer treatment drugs covered by health insurance in public hospitals, medications that were once included but are now excluded. 

The ministry has pledged to continue its efforts to expand the range of covered treatments and enhance the quality of care for patients.

In its commitment to universal health insurance, MoH has prioritised the development and improvement of policies, particularly those related to drug coverage. 

Việt Nam is recognised as one of the few countries with a relatively comprehensive list of medications covered by health insurance, aligned with the premiums paid.

Under a circular issued on December 31, 2022, the ministry provided an updated list of chemical drugs, biological products, radiopharmaceuticals and markers eligible for insurance coverage. 

This extensive list includes 1,037 active ingredients, divided into 27 major groups, along with 59 radiopharmaceuticals and markers.

Significantly, the list features 76 active ingredients specifically for cancer treatment and immunomodulatory drugs, underscoring the ministry's commitment to safeguarding the rights of cancer patients. 

The list specifies medications by active ingredient rather than by brand name, ensuring flexibility in the selection of drugs covered by the Health Insurance Fund at medical facilities, regardless of treatment indications or specialities.

MoH plans to continue reviewing and amending the circular that governs the list of drugs covered by the Health Insurance Fund.

This ongoing effort aims to broaden treatment options and ensure high-quality care for patients. 

Additionally, MoH is working with relevant agencies to establish regulations for the direct reimbursement of drug and medical device costs for insured patients. 

This initiative is designed to address potential drug shortages caused by external factors, ensuring that patients' treatment needs and insurance rights are protected.

In a related response to voters in Cần Thơ City, the ministry highlighted that the insurance coverage extends beyond modern pharmaceutical drugs to include traditional medicines and herbal remedies. 

A circular issued on March 17, 2015, outlines a list of 229 traditional medicines and herbal drugs, organised into 11 functional groups, and 349 traditional medicinal herbs, divided into 30 groups based on traditional medicine principles.

The current list of drugs covered by the Health Insurance Fund encompasses a wide range of treatments across various medical specialities, both in modern and traditional medicine, meeting patients' needs while aligning with the Fund’s payment capacity.

To further enhance medication availability and quality for insured patients, the ministry will periodically review and expand the list of covered drugs, with a particular focus on the needs of children, the elderly, and the economically disadvantaged, while maintaining the financial balance of the Health Insurance Fund. 

Removal of IUU fishing-related ‘yellow card’ important for fisheries sector

Identifying the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a priority to remove the European Commission's (EC) ‘yellow card’ warning against Vietnamese seafood, the coastal provinces in the southern part of the Hồng River Delta, namely Thái Bình, Nam Định and Ninh Bình, are working hard to prevent illegal fishing.

Given that local fishermen primarily operate nearshore, and following the Government's directives on combating IUU fishing, the three coastal provinces have actively monitored illegal fishing to prevent all violations. With decisive, regular, and continuous instructions, recent efforts have focused on addressing weaknesses in seafood exploitation pointed out by the EC, thus leading to a positive change in compliance with laws among fishermen.

Cao Thị Nga, head of the Fisheries Inspection, Control, and Management Office of Nam Định Province, said that awareness of the penalties for illegal fishing has improved among local fishermen. They now adhere to regulations by reporting before departure, logging their catches, and submitting their logs. As a result, violations related to fishing have significantly decreased, and no fishing vessels in the province have infringed upon foreign waters or been detained by foreign authorities.

As of May 15, 533 out of 542 fishing vessels with a length of 15m or more in Nam Định, or 98.34 per cent, have been equipped with the vessel monitoring system (VMS). The remainder have not installed monitoring devices as they are inactive, docked, or out of service.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Thái Bình Province, as of June 30, the locality had registered 706 fishing vessels that meet the requirements for seafood exploitation in the national fishing vessel database VnFishbase, with a total capacity of over 101,000 KW.

In addition to dissemination campaigns to raise fishermen's awareness, the department organised eight inspection teams in the first half of 2024 to detect violations.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Trần Văn Kha, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Ninh Bình Border Guard, stated that the Border Guard has proactively developed plans and enhanced monitoring at sea to promptly detect and address any violations while supporting fishermen in developing sustainable maritime economy.

The provinces have a continuous coastline stretching nearly 150km, with thousands of hectares of mudflats and a vast continental shelf. This presents huge potential and advantages for developing the marine economy.

Alongside efforts to have the ‘yellow card’ warning lifted, these localities are restructuring their fishing industry towards sustainable development, thus creating suitable livelihoods, and improving the quality of life for fishermen.

Trần Đức Việt, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Định Province, said that in the coming time, the department and localities will continue to reshuffle the agricultural sector, restructure the fleet of fishing vessels by gradually reducing the number of those operating nearshore. The plan is also to invest in communication systems to ensure the monitoring of fishing activities, thus meeting the requirements of Vietnamese law and international conventions.

Meanwhile, leveraging existing advantages, Thái Bình aims to become a leading agricultural production center in the Hồng River Delta, with a focus on developing and modernising the production of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, as well as improving the value chain of agricultural products in the province. For sustainable development, the province will enhance the application of science and technology in aquaculture, fishing, and processing by the value chain, meeting domestic consumption and exports.

Although Ninh Bình has only one coastal district - Kim Sơn, the province has maximised this advantage over the years to develop aquaculture, generating high income for its residents. With a total aquaculture area of nearly 5,000ha (including up to 4,000ha of saltwater and brackish water aquaculture), Kim Sơn has identified saltwater and brackish water aquaculture in coastal mudflats as a development focus.

In October 2024, the EC will send its fifth inspection team to Việt Nam to assess the country’s compliance with recommendations on combating IUU fishing. This inspection will be decisive in determining whether Việt Nam can remove the restrictions on its seafood exports to the EU. The three coastal provinces in the southern part of the Red River Delta continue to monitor and detect fishing violations, contributing to the nationwide efforts to regain the "green card". 

Two Chinese nationals arrested for consuming counterfeit money

Police forces in Mong Cai City in the northern province of Quang Ninh have detained two Chinese nationals for using counterfeit money.

This comes after August 16 when local residents detected a Chinese man who was using counterfeit Chinese Yuan to exchange for Vietnamese currency in the area of Hung Vuong road in Ka Long district.

Upon receiving the news, local police conducted a search and found two Chinese suspects who were travelling on Trieu Duong road in Tran Phu district.

They were identified as Song Xhi Jie, 35, residing in Xianning City in Hubei province; and Guo Jun, 29, residing in Kunming City in Yunnan province.

The police arrested the two Chinese nationals and seized a total of 187 notes of 100 Yuan.

Once at the police station, the Chinese suspects confessed that they had brought counterfeit Chinese Yuan from China to Vietnam to trade. The case is currently under further investigation.

Legal proceedings initiated for smuggling fishermen to work Illegally on Malaysian fishing boats

The Cà Mau Provincial Police has initiated legal proceedings and detained Quách Thanh Tuấn and Dương Hoàng Giang on charges of organising and brokering illegal exit and entry for people to illegally fish for them.

Both detainees are residents of Sông Đốc town, Trần Văn Thời District of southern Cà Mau Province,

In addition, Cà Mau police, in collaboration with the force of neighbouring Bạc Liêu and Kiên Giang provinces, detained Nguyễn Văn Công, a boat captain, and Nguyễn Văn Phu, who acted as brokers, for smuggling fishermen onto Malaysian fishing boats.

According to the initial investigation, at the beginning of 2023, Tuấn directly organised, connected, and conspired with Công, Giang, and Phu to repair the fishing vessel CM-92365 TS, aiming to smuggle nine fishermen to Malaysia by sea.

The suspects organised and coordinated the illegal exit of six other fishermen by air to Malaysia, where they would work on Tuấn's fishing boat KNF6649.

Before departing for Malaysian waters, Tuấn and the fishermen agreed on profit-sharing that after deducting all expenses for fuel, ice, food, fishing gear, provisions and others, the harvested seafood would be divided with 60 per cent going to the boat owner and the remaining 40 per cent allocated to the crew. The biggest share would be given to the captain, followed by the chief engineer, technician and, then, according to the work contributions, with those working harder earning more.

After six months, the fishermen were allowed to return home once, with an advance payment of VNĐ30-40 million (US$1,265-1,686) per fisherman.

In August 2023, after preparing the vessel and personnel, the suspects carried out the smuggling of the boat and fishermen to Malaysia to fish.

On July 8, when the CM-92365 TS fishing vessel returned to Vietnamese waters to sell seafood to a Vietnamese support vessel, it was inspected, detected for violations and detained by the coast guard.

The actions of Tuấn and Giang are sufficient to constitute the crime of organising and brokering illegal exits abroad.

The police are continuing the investigation and expanding the case to handle it according to the law strictly.

Vietnam’s U16s beat Japan at 2024 Peace Cup

Vietnam’s U16 national football team recorded a win over Japan on August 20 in the final match of the 2024 Peace Cup which was held in China, thereby finishing as the runner-up of the friendly tournament.

Following the 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan’s U16s, the Vietnamese team entered the match with great confidence and rapidly scored the first goal in the 16th minute of the game.

The only goal made by striker Van Bach helped the Vietnamese team to defeat Japan with a final score of 1-0 to finish second in the tournament.

Meanwhile, hosts China beat Uzbekistan to become the champion of the 2024 Peace Cup.

The friendly match helped Vietnam’s U16 team led by head coach of Cristiano Roland sharpen their skills whilst serving as a warm-up for the qualifiers to the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup which is scheduled to take place in October.

HCM City funds urgent repairs of disaster prevention works

HCM City will spend more than VNĐ62.5 trillion (US$2.5 billion) to undertake urgent repairs of 23 disaster prevention projects in 2024.

The municipal People's Committee has approved a policy to use the city Natural Disaster Prevention Fund to support urgent repairs of disaster prevention projects this year.

The city’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the People's Committees of Tân Bình and Củ Chi districts and Thủ Đức City has been assigned the responsibility of using the funds to carry out the works.

Upon completion, the projects are expected to effectively prevent flooding caused by high tides and heavy rains, protecting a total area of about 134.5ha and 7,722 local households.

The works include repairing culverts of the flood-control dyke project along Sài Gòn River from Bình Phước Bridge to Cầu Ngang Canal; repairing 11 embankments along river and canal banks in Thủ Đức City; urgent reinforcement of landslide locations on Cầu Sa Canal bank in District 12; flood prevention on four alleys in Tân Bình District; and renovating six drainage canals in Củ Chi District.

According to the latest update from the municipal People's Committee, the city’s flood-prevention project worth multi-trillion đồng has yet to be completed.

This is the largest and most expensive flood prevention construction project ever planned for the city.

It is expected to handle tide-related floods and lessen climate change consequences in a vulnerable 570sq.km urban section inhabited by around 6.5 million people, nearly half of the city’s population.

The first phase of the project costing VNĐ10 trillion ($433.3 million) started in June 2016 and is expected to be built over the next three years.

It is 90 per cent complete, but it had been temporarily halted due to the slow disbursement of loans for the project.

About 60 per cent of the city floods at high tide and 70 per cent of the city's land is sinking. Climate change, urbanisation and higher tides on lower lands all make flooding a major challenge for the city.

Vietnamese football clubs ready to shine in 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship

Starting August 21, two representatives from Việt Nam, Hà Nội Police and Đông Á Thanh Hóa, will compete in the 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship.

Đông Á Thanh Hóa are in Group A alongside BG Pathum United, PSM Makassar, Terengganu, Svay Rieng and Shan United. Meanwhile, Hà Nội Police is in Group B, facing Buriram United, Kuala Lumpur City, Borneo FC Samarinda, Lion City Sailors, and Kaya FC–Iloilo.

Thanh Hóa will kick off their campaign against Shan United on August 21, with the team confident of securing all three points after salaries and bonuses were paid.

On August 22, Hà Nội Police will face a highly anticipated match against the giants of Thai football, Buriram United. The Thai team is considered a strong contender this year, featuring a lineup of regional stars, including Theerathon Bunmathan, Supachai Chaided, and Narubadin Weerawatnodom.

The 2024-25 championship will implement VAR technology starting from the group stage to ensure fairness and objectivity throughout the tournament.

First international beach tennis tournament opens in Bình Định

Việt Nam's first international beach tennis tournament has officially opened in Bình Định Province.

The tournament, which began on August 20, features 36 local and international athletes from seven countries of Japan, Thailand, Latvia, Slovakia, the Philippines, Italia, and the hosts. They will be competing in men's, women's and mixed doubles events at the Chiến Thắng Square, next to the sandy beach of Xuân Diệu in Quy Nhơn City.

Among them are the world's high-ranking players such as Japanese male duo Sakata Kouhei and Yoshimura Ryo, Thai male duo Almufadhi Saleh and Harrison Leklamat and Japanese female pair Homma Eri and Otsuka Erina

After the August 19-20 Fleur De Lys Cup 2024, the ITF - BT50-2  2024 Vietravel Cup will be held on August 21-28.

A total of US$8,000 will be handed out to the highest-ranked players.

"The ITF - BT50 2024 international beach tennis tournaments aim to celebrate the national anniversaries and the tourism year 2024. We hope to introduce and promote the image of attractive culture, tourism and friendly people of the martial arts land of Bình Định to the world," said Nguyễn Hồng Sơn, Vice President and General Secretary of the Việt Nam Tennis Federation (VTF)

Beach tennis was first played in Europe in the 1970s and has been widely developed worldwide in more than 50 countries.

With its popular, safe, diverse and easily accessible nature for practice and competition, the sport is particularly suited to the 28 localities of Việt Nam which have beautiful beaches. In the last three years, VTF organised three national championships with an ever-increasing number of participants.

VTF plans to bring beach tennis to the wider community and help localities to promote their marine economies and tourism at the same time.

National biggest Mid-Autumn Festival to take place in Tuyên Quang

Tuyên Citadel Festival 2024 will take place in the northern province of Tuyên Quang to celebrate the national biggest traditional Vietnamese festival, welcoming the middle of autumn.

There will be unique series of events in the province, from August 31 to September 15, with the highlight of the festival on the closing night, being a huge parade of giant and colorful lanterns.

The night-time parade will be aired live on Việt Nam National Television from Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Tuyên Quang City at 8pm.

"We will welcome tourists to visit Tuyên Quang to experience Tuyên Citadel Festival with a wide range of activities that are cultural typical characteristics," said Hoàng Việt Phương, deputy chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

"Preparation for the festival is taking place in the whole province. Local people are busy making lantern models with many unique colors and shapes for the parade."

This year's Tuyên Citadel Festival is the 20th year of the Mid-Autumn Festival held in the province and visitors can look forward to hundreds of giant, colourful lanterns, featuring the images and characters of fairy tales, legends and historical figures.

The lantern parade will take place across Tuyên Quang City until the full moon of the lunar eighth month.

The festival started in 2004, when some families modelled and decorated a few big animal lanterns which were dragged along the street with a lion dance and song. It was a big hit with children and adults alike and gradually evolved into the festival it has become today, the biggest of its kind in Việt Nam.

It holds records for three times for having the largest traditional lantern models shown on the mid-autumn night, the largest tray of offerings and the largest pair of revolving lanterns (đèn kéo quân) for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

After 20 years, it has become a unique tourism product, a meeting place for locals and tourists contributing to promoting the potential and strengths of Tuyên Quang Province and creating momentum to attract investment into local tourism development.

Over the past years, the lanterns have become ever more beautiful and more sophisticated featuring new styles while still representing traditional culture.

This year is the second time that the province has implemented the project to innovate the organisation of the Tuyên Citadel Festival to make the festival become a national and international tourism product.

The opening ceremony will begin at 8pm on September 13 with a show of art and will feature artists from the southern and central provinces of Trà Vinh, Đắk Nông, Phú Yên, Thừa Thiên-Huế and the northern Bắc Ninh.

The artists will perform Huế royal court music, cồng-chiêng (gong) art performance and sing love duets, among other musical styles. These art genres are UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritages.

Two art troupes from Japan and Republic of Korea are expected to perform at the opening ceremony.

Other cultural, sports and tourism activities will be held during the festival, including a series featuring ethnic groups of Tuyên Quang Province.

A conference will be held focusing on preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritages in the context of tourism development. 

Outbound tours fully booked for upcoming national holiday

Local travel agencies have reported that their international tours for the upcoming national holiday on September 2 are completely booked thanks to attractive pricing and the extended four-day break.

Popular destinations include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and China, with package tours starting at VNĐ8.9 million (US$357) and seeing rapid sales. 

Short trips to Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are favoured, while longer excursions to South Korea and Japan also attract attention. 

Notable tours include Bangkok-Pattaya at VNĐ8.9 million and Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka at VNĐ23 million.

Flamingo Redtours has achieved full sales for the holiday, and Tràng An Travel reported complete bookings for package tours to Beijing and Shanghai in China. 

Phạm Anh Vũ, communications director of Việt Tourism Media JSC, noted a 60 per cent booking rate, with international tours accounting for 70 per cent. 

While visa-required tours to China, South Korea, Japan are nearly full, Southeast Asia destinations still have availability. 

Meanwhile, popular domestic tours to Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang, and Phú Quốc, starting from VNĐ3.7 million, are also in high demand due to luxury resort offerings.

Watercolour painting exhibition celebrates National Day

The HCM City Fine Arts Association is holding its annual watercolour painting exhibition to mark the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

The showcase includes more than 90 paintings created by 45 artists who are members of the Chinese Fine Arts Club.

The paintings feature traditional themes of portraits, landscapes, animals, flowers, and birds.

The works also reflect the country’s landscapes, seas, islands and people, and particularly the daily life of ethnic minority groups in mountainous areas and fishers at fishing villages.

Trương Lộ, head of the club, said the topics of the paintings were inspired by field trips across Việt Nam.

He added that it highlighted the country, people and the building and development of the nation.

Lộ brought to the exhibition his paintings on the life and landscapes of different regions of the country, including the work titled Một Thoáng Phố Cổ Hà Nội (A Glimpse of Hà Nội Old Quarter).

The 72-year-old artist learnt watercolour painting and calligraphy with the city’s leading artisans such as Chiêm Quốc Hùng and Ngô Thiết Triều between 1970 and 1975.

He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in China, Singapore, the US, and Laos.

In 2019, Lộ was awarded the title of People’s Artisan for his great contribution to maintaining and promoting cultural heritages in the field of fine arts.

The exhibition also displays paintings by veteran artists Lục Hà Kim and Lý Khắc Nhu, along with young painters Trần Vũ Bằng and Trương Gia Tuấn.

The exhibition remains open until August 21 at 218A Pasteur Street in District 3.

Third Vietnam Day held in Slovakia

The third Vietnam Day, held on August 18 in Bratislava attracted over 10,000 visitors, becoming the largest event of its kind organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and community in the host country.

The event saw the participation of Slovak government representatives, parliamentarians, diplomats, and a large number of Slovak friends and Vietnamese expatriates.

The Vietnamese Embassy showed traditional Vietnamese products, tourism, and culture, including a display of "ao dai" (Vietnamese traditional dress).

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Tuan reaffirmed the embassy's commitment to supporting the Vietnamese community in their activities and daily lives, contributing to the growing strength of the community.

He also expressed gratitude for the community's contributions to the two countries’ relations. In 2023, Slovakia officially recognised the Vietnamese-Slovak community as the country's 14th minority group.

The event featured cultural performances by Vietnamese artists in Slovakia and across Europe, offering attendees a taste of traditional Vietnamese cuisine and an immersive cultural experience. The festival highlighted the deepening integration of the Vietnamese community into the host country's society./.

Vietnamese football clubs ready to shine in 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship

Starting August 21, two representatives from Việt Nam, Hà Nội Police and Đông Á Thanh Hóa, will compete in the 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship.

Đông Á Thanh Hóa are in Group A alongside BG Pathum United, PSM Makassar, Terengganu, Svay Rieng and Shan United. Meanwhile, Hà Nội Police is in Group B, facing Buriram United, Kuala Lumpur City, Borneo FC Samarinda, Lion City Sailors, and Kaya FC–Iloilo.

Thanh Hóa will kick off their campaign against Shan United on August 21, with the team confident of securing all three points after salaries and bonuses were paid.

On August 22, Hà Nội Police will face a highly anticipated match against the giants of Thai football, Buriram United. The Thai team is considered a strong contender this year, featuring a lineup of regional stars, including Theerathon Bunmathan, Supachai Chaided, and Narubadin Weerawatnodom.

The 2024-25 championship will implement VAR technology starting from the group stage to ensure fairness and objectivity throughout the tournament.

Vietnamese sporting delegation departs for 2024 Paris Paralympic Games

A send-off ceremony was held on August 20 in Ho Chi Minh City for disabled Vietnamese athletes who are heading to compete at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, with the competition due to take place in France from August 28 to September 8.

Upon addressing the ceremony, Nguyen Hong Minh, head of Vietnamese sporting delegation at the Paralympics, stressed that the games is a good chance for athletes to hone their skills and to gain greater experience at international events.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong shared that the local athletes have set a goal of winning one or two medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, with the delegation making every effort to achieve the best results to bring glorious victories to the country.

The Vietnamese delegation consists of 14 members, including seven athletes and three coaches. As planned, the Vietnamese sporting delegation, including seven athletes, will depart for Paris on August 23 before then returning home on September 9.

Vietnam will send a total of seven athletes to the games. They include powerlifter Le Van Cong; runner Pham Nguyen Khanh Minh; swimmers Le Tien Dat and Do Thanh Hai; and powerlifters Nguyen Binh An, Dang Thi Linh Phuong, and Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan.

They will vie for one or two medals in three sports, namely athletics, swimming, and weightlifting.

The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games features a total of 22 sports and 23 disciplines with 549 events. Around 4,400 athletes are expected to compete in 20 venues across France.

All eyes are on powerlifter Le Van Cong who brought home a gold medal in the men's 49 kg back at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. He became the first Vietnamese athlete winning a gold medal in the history of the Paralympic Games.

The powerlifter also bagged a silver medal in the men's 49 kg at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo in Japan.

A stranded rare green sea turtle returned to the sea

The Forest Protection Force of the Côn Đảo National Park Management Board has recently rescued and returned a rare green sea turtle stranded on the beach near Mũi Lò Vôi back into the ocean.

According to the management board, around 6pm on August 17, they received a report that a sea turtle was stranded on the beach near the Hàng Keo cemetery area at Mũi Lò Vôi.

The Côn Đảo National Park's Forest Protection Unit quickly dispatched a team to the location, together with local residents and tourists present, to rescue the stranded sea turtle and release it back into the ocean.

The stranded sea turtle was identified as a Chelonia mydas (commonly known as the green sea turtle), an endgered species and was a male weighing around 70kg.

The cause of the stranding may have been due to the turtle coming too close to shore while foraging or searching for a female to mate with and then being unable to return to the sea due to the rapid retreat of the tide.

Thanks to the professional handling of the Forest Protection Force, along with the support from local residents and tourists, the rare green sea turtle was successfully rescued and safely returned to the ocean in good health.

In 2023, the unit rescued and relocated 2,262 egg nests to incubation sites, with a total of 217,257 eggs from 2,159 nests, successfully hatched.

A total of 166,177 hatchlings have been safely released into the ocean under supervision.

The unit has tagged 441 mother turtles. On average, each tagged mother turtle lays around 2.96 nests per year, with the most prolific mothers laying up to eight nests annually.

It is estimated that in 2023, approximately 765 mother turtles returned to Côn Đảo waters to lay their eggs.

As of April this year, turtles have successfully laid 65 nests on the beaches, 13 mother turtles have been tagged for monitoring and 65 nests have hatched, with 3,374 hatchlings released into the ocean under supervision.

In recent years, the Côn Đảo National Park has rescued over 1,500 turtle egg nests every year, carried out artificial incubation and released over 150,000 hatchlings into the ocean.

Deputy PM Trần Hồng Hà urges green transport development

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà on Tuesday asked the Ministry of Construction and local people's committees to provide guidance on supplement planning for electric charging stations in urban construction and infrastructure.

Chairing a meeting with ministries on green transport and electric vehicle charging station development, the Deputy PM noted that supportive regimes should be set up for investors in electric charging stations in terms of land, planning, taxes and fees.

He requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to submit soon to the Government a mechanism for calculating electricity prices at power stations based on the principle of supporting electric vehicle users.

Affirming that many countries are strongly implementing regulations related to green transport, Deputy PM Hà assigned the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to coordinate with relevant ministries and localities to review and propose rules to encourage the conversion to electric and green fuel vehicles.

Speaking at the working session, Deputy Minister of Transport Lê Anh Tuấn said that implementing the PM’s Decision No 876/QĐ-TTg on action programme for green energy conversion, reducing carbon and methane emissions of the transport sector, the MoT has reviewed and supplemented contents related to encouraging the development of vehicles using electricity and green energy.

The MoT also promulgates, amends and supplements regulations on inspection of technical safety quality and environmental protection of electric cars and motorbikes.

It amends and supplements standards on technical safety quality and environmental protection related to electric cars; and releases regulations on electric charging posts, and power supply infrastructure for the posts.

The MoT also compiles a report proposing policies to support the conversion to electric cars.

Representatives from the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance said that the Government had issued and conducted many preferential policies on investment, taxes, fees and land for businesses in the field of electric vehicle production.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Đỗ Thành Trung said that it was necessary to immediately add the content of electric charging stations to the urban and rural systems planning.

Regarding electric charging stations construction and installation, Deputy Minister of Construction Bùi Xuân Dũng said that it had been integrated into the draft Law on Urban and Rural Planning.

It is expected to be submitted to competent authorities for promulgation before 2026.

The Ministry of Construction gave instructions on technical procedures for installing electric charging stations to ensure safety of existing works, as well as regulations and standards related to urban transport infrastructure for green vehicles.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Lê Công Thành added that many countries shifted from supporting people to buy electric vehicles to building infrastructure, charging stations, researching and producing batteries and tightening regulations and standards on emissions of vehicles using petrol and oil.

During the meeting, delegates discussed plans to calculate electricity prices for charging stations, unify technical standards for charging sockets, regulations and standards on energy consumption rates for gasoline vehicles and development of public transport systems using electricity and green fuels.

Sea turtles return to nest on Hòn Cau beach

A sea turtle nest, potentially belonging to the rare hawksbill species, was discovered by the patrol team of the Hòn Cau Marine Protected Area in Tuy Phong District, in the coastal south-central province of Bình Thuận on Friday.

The nest contained 78 eggs. It was found at Tràng Dão beach, an area known for its rich coral reefs and diverse food sources for sea turtles.

Volunteers from the marine protected area then collected, preserved and brought all the eggs to a safe incubation site.

Under normal weather conditions, the eggs are expected to hatch within 45 to 60 days.

According to the marine protected area’s management board, this is the first time sea turtles have come to the marine protected area to lay eggs this year.

During 2022 and last year, although sea turtles visited the area, they did not lay eggs.

“After a two-year hiatus, the return of nesting turtles to the area is a positive sign,” the management board said.

Between May and October each year is the sea turtle nesting season.

Staff and volunteers regularly patrol the nesting sites to ensure the utmost safety for nesting turtles during this time.

When turtles are spotted nesting, the eggs are immediately relocated and any traces of the nesting turtle are removed to prevent anyone exploit the turtles for profit.

The marine protected area is located approximately 10km from the mainland. It is one of 16 marine protected areas of significant environmental importance in Việt Nam.

The marine protected area spans around 12,500 ha, including island areas, protective buffers, core zones, buffer zones and ecological restoration areas.

The marine protected area boasts a diverse ecosystem, including coral reefs and seagrass beds and serves as a habitat and nesting ground for many rare and economically and ecologically valuable marine species.

Sea turtles, in particular, are a critically endangered species.

In recent years, the marine protected area has called for volunteers to participate in activities such as patrolling and safeguarding nesting sites on the island to raise public awareness about marine conservation and the protection of sea turtles.

Since 2014, hundreds of volunteers have successfully protected numerous turtle nests, ensuring the hatching and release of thousands of hatchlings into the sea.

Bus accident in Gia Lai claims one life, 18 others injured

A tragic accident on the Hồ Chí Minh Road in Chư Pưh District, Gia Lai Province, has resulted in one fatality and 18 injuries.

The accident occurred on August 17, involving a bus with 18 passengers on board and a motorcycle driven by R.L.H, a 41-year-old living in Ia Rong Commune, Chư Pưh District. 

According to the authorities, the bus collided with the motorcycle while attempting to avoid it. The impact caused the bus to overturn, inflicting severe injuries on R.L.H., who tragically passed away on August 21 despite medical efforts.

The remaining 18 passengers sustained various injuries, with six suffering fractures and head trauma. Fortunately, all were discharged from the hospital on August 20.

Initial investigations indicate that the motorcycle rider failed to yield while entering the main road, contributing to the accident. The bus driver was found to be sober and possess a valid licence. 

Hà Nội Tourism Gift Festival 2024 to highlight local handicrafts, cuisine

The Hà Nội Tourism Gift Festival 2024 is scheduled to take place from August 23 to 25 at the pedestrian zone in front of Thống Nhất (Reunification) Park on Trần Nhân Tông street in Hà Nội's Hai Bà Trưng 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 Hà Nội 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 - Điện Biên 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 Hà Nội'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 Hà Nội 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 Mường ethnic people from the suburban district of Thạch Thất, along with street circus, hip-hop, and flash mob performances, promising interesting experiences for visitors. 

Flag-raising ceremony in Cuba marks ASEAN’s 57 anniversary

An ASEAN flag hoisting ceremony was held on August 20 by the ASEAN Committee in Cuba (ACC) in Havana to mark the 57th founding anniversary of the regional grouping.

Along with ambassadors of the member countries, the event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of China, Japan, and Timor-Leste, as well as representatives of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).

As part of his address, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long, rotating chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Cuba, highlighted the spirit of co-operation, friendship, and solidarity of the ASEAN community over the past decades, applauding the bloc’s core values of peace, stability, and prosperity through solidarity and collaboration.

The bloc will welcome Timor-Leste as its 11th member, he said, adding that this is also a testament to ASEAN's commitment to comprehensive ties in the region.

In Cuba, the ASEAN Committee has worked hand in hand to promote the interests of the member countries, as well as the community's solidarity for the causes of peace, development, and happiness of the people both in Southeast Asia and in Cuba.

Regarding the ASEAN-Cuba ties, Ambassador Long emphasized that the relationship is based on mutual respect, solidarity, and a shared vision for the future.

In November, 2020, Cuba became the first Caribbean country to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). This important step underscores Cuba’s commitment to promoting peace and co-operation within the region.

He noted that Cuba performed as an observer at the 44th Session of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2023, highlighting the Caribbean island nation’s desire to strengthen relations with ASEAN and contribute to regional stability.

The diplomat also took the opportunity to extend his thanks to the ASEAN dialogue partners, namely China and Japan, for their important contributions made to the bloc's success.

For his part, Ariel Lorenzo Rodríguez, director of Asia and Oceania Division under the General Division of Bilateral Affair of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke highly of the solidarity, friendship, and increasing role of ASEAN in the international arena.

He affirmed that Cuba always places importance on relations with ASEAN member states, standing ready to co-operate with ASEAN in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, language training, culture, sports, and climate change response.

As part of this occasion, the ASEAN Committee in Cuba launched a group walk and activities for children to further reinforce solidarity and friendship.

Nha Trang International Light Bay Festival should be annual: organisers

The organisers of the successful Nha Trang International Light Bay Festival, an international drone light show competition held in July, has proposed making it an annual event to boost tourism.

Nguyễn Hoài Thu, the chief organiser and chairwoman of Corex Business Solutions Joint Stock Company, has said recently that this would help build the city’s reputation as a tourist destination.

She said her company is developing a programme for next year that promises to be more attractive, unique, and innovative than this year's.

Nguyễn Tấn Tuân, chairman of the Khánh Hòa Province People's Committee, said the festival helped showcase Nha Trang’s tourism offerings to the international market and highlighted the broader attractions of the province.

Since the drone performance teams participated in this event, Khánh Hòa became the first locality in Việt Nam to obtain two Guinness World Records for the largest light display of world wonders and the largest light display of Vietnam’s cultural symbol, the Lạc bird, he pointed out.

If the festival becomes an annual event, it would need to feature something special and unique each year, he added.

The four-day festival attracted more than 660,000 visitors to the city, with over 288,000 staying overnight.

During the 2024 Nha Trang International Light Bay Festival hotels in the city’s downtown reported average room occupancy exceeding 90 per cent. 

There were over 50 million live viewers on TV and other media. 

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