Full-time National Assembly (NA) deputies opined on some draft laws, to be submitted to the legislature’s sixth meeting in October, at a conference in Hanoi on August 28.

In his opening remarks, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue noted that the conference, the fourth of its kind in the 15th tenure, is to make the best possible preparations for the sixth sitting.

The amended laws to be scrutinised in the conference includes the Land Law, the Housing Law, the Law on Real Estate Business, the Law on Water Resources, the Law on Telecommunications, and the Law on Citizen Identification, along with the Law on Management and Protection of National Defence Works and Military Zones, according to the chief legislator.

Following the fifth meeting, which took place from May 22 to June 26, there have been many workshops and seminars to collect opinions of experts, agencies and organisations on draft laws.

The legal documents were also tabled for discussions at July and August sessions of the NA Standing Committee, Hue continued, noting that the number of the draft laws to be debated at the conference is the biggest so far.

He asked the deputies to look into the harmony between the bills and major policies, orientations and principles, especially those linked with each other like the Land Law, the Housing Law, and the Law on Real Estate Business.

He emphasised the importance of a thorough review of the political and legal basis, constitutionality, legitimacy, uniformity, quality of the legal system, thus making no loopholes for corruption and other negative phenomena.

Hue urged the deputies to carry forwards their sense of responsibility to join discussions, contributing quality opinions to the draft laws.

Tây Ninh plans seven billion đồng for tourism promotion

The southern province of Tây Ninh is determined to shape and assert its tourism brand on the map of Việt Nam’s tourism with a budget of VNĐ 7 billion (US$294,300) from now until 2025.

The provincial People's Committee has asked relevant units to establish a local brand identity image with four key attractions and 13 other tourist sites.

The plan aims to connect a series of attractive destinations in Tây Ninh, including the historical and scenic Bà Đen Mountain, Tây Ninh Caodaism Holy See, Dầu Tiếng Lake, and the Central Party Office for South Việt Nam, a special national heritage site,

To establish a distinct identity, relevant authorities will select, enhance the quality of and focus on promoting 10 festivals such as the Bà Đen Mountain Spring Festival, Dol-Ta Festival and Trảng Bàng Rice Paper Festival, among others.

In 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic was under control, Tây Ninh attracted more than 4.5 million visitors, an increase of 200 per cent compared to 2021.

Total tourism revenue of the province reached nearly VNĐ1.5 trillion in 2022, an increase of 140 per cent over the same period last year.

The number of tourists visiting Bà Đen Mountain was almost 4.3 million, which was a promising sign demonstrating that the province has made a strong recovery after the pandemic.

These achievements were due to the efforts of leadership at all levels in promoting and implementing tourism promotion through various traditional and modern methods.

However, Tây Ninh tourism still faces some limitations, resulting in some poor quality tourism products and low international tourist numbers compared to projections and development potential.

Therefore, it is crucial to focus on the development and promotion of Tây Ninh tourism destinations in the 2023-2025 period, according to the provincial People's Committee.

The budget for the Tây Ninh tourism promotion plan is VNĐ7 billion, taken from the local budget, of which, nearly VNĐ4.7 billion is allocated for tourism information portal software.

Key attractions with their different characteristics will be identified. From there, they will be put on the planning map for professional development.

Related units need to strengthen and prioritise the use of digital technology in management activities to allow tourists to access and experience various tourism services more conveniently.

The Tây Ninh tourism information portal will integrate a smart digital tourism map of localities, which will provide detailed descriptions and introduce information about attractions using virtual reality.

Meanwhile, a chatbot system that provides tourism information will be built as well.

It will offer personalised suggestions for tourists by asking and analysing answers about various topics such as destinations, hotel room price suggestions, interesting activities to experience, and flight ticket exchange support, among others. 

HCM City to apply tax exemption, reduction policies to promote start-ups

HCM City is implementing tax exemption and reduction policies to further promote start-ups and position itself as a hub for innovation and technological advancements.

The move comes as a response to a newly approved resolution by the National Assembly, which aims to create special policy mechanisms to foster start-ups.

Lê Thanh Minh, deputy director of the Department of Science and Technology, said the city has immense potential for economic growth and job creation that comes with a thriving start-up ecosystem. 

HCM City is home to over 2,000 start-ups, accounting for about 50 per cent of such enterprises nationwide.

The department is working on drafting regulations and guidelines to support start-up activities in accordance with the resolution, he said.

The regulations aim to establish a legal framework for implementing tax exemption policies for innovative start-ups, he added.

Under the draft, start-up businesses would need to meet specific conditions and obtain certification to be eligible for tax benefits. 

These conditions include operating in priority sectors, engaging in innovative activities, and possessing certification as criteria for tax consideration. 

By setting these criteria, the city ensures that tax benefits are directed towards start-ups that truly contribute to the growth and development of innovative sectors.

Resolution 98, which took effect from early August, outlines several tax benefits for start-ups in HCM City. 

Under the resolution, corporate income tax will be exempted for a period of five years, including income generated from innovative start-up activities conducted by businesses, scientific and technological organisations, and innovation centres. 

In addition, personal income tax and corporate income tax for individuals and organisations with income from capital contributions to start-ups will also be exempted. 

The implementation of tax benefits for start-ups in HCM City under Resolution 98 will further enhance the attractiveness of the city for foreign investors.

Resolution 98 grants HCM City increased autonomy to enable the city to tackle persistent challenges it faces. 

This increased autonomy in institutional governance allows local authorities to streamline administrative procedures and improve public services. 

The resolution also grants the city the authority to attract investment in strategic sectors such as chip manufacturing, new materials, and sports and culture through public-private partnerships. 

In a related issue, HCM City is implementing a project aimed at attracting experts, scientists, and individuals with special qualifications.

The project focuses on two talent attraction groups: those with special qualifications and outstanding students or individuals with high qualifications. 

Phan Văn Mãi, Chairman of the city People’s Committee, speaking at a recent meeting, said by providing tax benefits to start-up businesses and attracting top talent, the city aims to foster the development of a thriving start-up ecosystem and further contribute to its economic growth and job creation.

Phú Quốc’s caged aquaculture, tourism prove a winning combination

Many farmers on Phú Quốc Island, off the coast of the southern province Kiên Giang, farm marine creatures in cages at sea and combine it with tourism to earn high incomes.

The island city is well-known for its beautiful landscapes, especially beaches.

Trần Quốc Trung in Gành Dầu Commune’s Rạch Vẹm Hamlet, who raises cobia, grouper, pacific oyster, and other marine species, is among those who offer tourism services.

He has built small houses on top of his floating cages to accommodate tourists, who watch and feed the fish, and also offers boarding.

In the past he used to catch aquatic species close to shore using a small boat, and his family had a difficult life then.

But after some friends taught him how to farm fish in floating cages, he switched to it.

He now hires four to six workers to tend the fish and serve tourists.

Following the success of the model, he established the Gành Hàu Aquaculture Agriculture Services Co-operative in 2018, and it now boasts 33 members.

According to Lê Đình Quảng, chairman of the city Farmers Association, the model is very effective as farmers have incomes from both fish and tourism.

They do not have to worry about selling their produce either since most of it is consumed by the visitors and in fact sometimes have a shortage.

The city is zoning marine caged aquaculture to ensure sustainable development and production of high-quality and safe products.

It is establishing concentrated areas for floating cages to safeguard the environment, cope with natural disasters and prevent disease outbreaks.

It is also creating favourable conditions for farmers to breed wildlife such as deer, boars, crocodiles, and soft-shell turtles. 

Vietnam Innovation Challenge receives over 750 solutions

Technology experts and businessmen have so far submitted 758 initiatives to the Vietnam Innovation Challenge, which seeks innovative solutions from domestic and international organisations and individuals to tackle key national challenges on its path towards prosperity and sustainable development.

Of the solutions, 60% came from startups and the remainder from technological groups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Those that submitted are located not only in Vietnam but also many foreign nations such as Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong (China), and the Philippines.

Their submissions focus on the four key areas of enhancing the management capacity of SMEs through digital transformation; applying digital transformation to support SME participation in global value chains; strengthening the linkage between SMEs and FDI and large firms via digital platforms; and enhancing effective dialogue between the Government and businesses through these platforms.

The annual programme is steered by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and organised by the National Innovation Center (NIC) and Meta Corporation.

Apart from prizes totaling 300,000 USD, winning solutions will be implemented in Vietnamese localities. Their inventors will receive assistance from NIC, Meta and other partners, including Goldsun Media, Up Co-working Space, Amazon Web Services, Google and Viettel, to improve capacity, research and develop products, and advertise solutions.

The programme is the first to realise the MPI’s InnovateVN initiative, in which NIC works with domestic and foreign tech firms and partners to promote innovation-based economic growth with new business models, products, and processes. This initiative aims to assist the development of 500 pioneering innovation businesses by 2030 and help improve the public sector innovation capacity.

Contest launched to find practical ways to combat climate change

The HCM City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) in collaboration with Vietnamese venture capital firm Touchstone Partners and Singapore’s Temasek Foundation on Thursday launched a contest called ‘Net Zero Challenge’ to look for practical solutions to fight against climate change.

Speaking at the contest launch ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Võ Văn Hoan said the city is the largest economic hub in the country and releases a huge amount of emissions.

Therefore, HCM City is actively seeking effective solutions to carry out the national commitment at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

“This is both a challenge and opportunity for the city to quickly keep up with the global green shift. The choice of a green economy and development is inevitable now,” he said.

He hopes that innovative businesses in the green economic field will introduce their current products that can help diminish the negative impacts of climate change, and for more connections between enterprises and investors.

The ‘Net Zero Challenge’ contest aims to support technologies that can manage large-scale environmental challenges in the first stages of climate change.

It focuses on three major aspects: renewable energy and carbon neutrality, sustainable food and agriculture systems, and circular economy and waste management.

The deadline for application submission is mid-October.

The judging board includes organisations, corporations and investment funds in the region that support sustainable development.

It will select nine outstanding solutions for the final round to be held in December.

The prizes are worth VNĐ15 billion in total (US$630,000) for the best solutions, which will then be piloted in the country and introduced to investment funds, businesses, policy makers and climate change alliances.

Contestants can be innovative startups, research teams, members of businesses or non-profit projects that are ready for a large-scale piloting project.

Foreign entrepreneurs who have made products which have already been commercialised in other nations but wish to develop a strategic partnership in Vietnam can also apply.

All participants must have a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) that has the potential to be successfully replicated or commercialised.

They will have an opportunity to directly collaborate with leading enterprises such as those specialising in real estate infrastructure, L Group (with knowledge of large-scale agriculture) and Duy Tan Plastics Co., which has deep understanding of material science and plastic recycling.

Touchstone Partners and Temasek Foundation will train contestants and then help to connect the winners to suitable partners for large-scale pilot programmes.

National Day holiday signals sharp passenger rise at Noi Bai Airport

Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi is expected to serve 2,500 flights carrying around 410,000 passengers during the coming National Day (September 2) holiday, up 37 percent and 17 percent respectively on-year.

The peak day would welcome 637 flights with 106,000 passengers, including 31,000 international tourists. 

Under the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAA)’s instructions, local airports, particularly Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat, need to tighten security measures and ease congestion during the National Day holiday.

Passengers are advised to arrive at the airport two hours before departure time for domestic flights and three hours before international flights to avoid being late.

They are also encouraged to use web check-in or self-check-in kiosks at the terminal to help save time.

The country will enjoy a four-day holiday from September 1-4 for the September 2 National Day holiday.

Dong Nai completes site clearance for airport project's first phase

Authorities in the southern province of Dong Nai have completed site clearance for the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport project.

The Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee on August 25 handed over land for the Long Thanh International Airport project and two roads connecting the T1 and T2 terminals for the investor- the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).

Site clearance started in 2018 and nearly 5,000 hectares of land belonging to 7,211 households and 18 organisations in Long Thanh District would have to be taken for the project.

Local authorities have so far completed site clearance for the first phase of the project with 2,532 hectares of land transferred to the investor so far.

Speaking at a land hand-over ceremony on Friday morning, Chairman of Long Thanh District People's Committee, Le Van Tiep, said that they would complete the site clearance of 126 hectares by the end of August for the construction of two roads connecting the T1 and T2 terminals.

Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, Vo Tan Duc expressed thanks to over 7,000 local households for handing over their lands for the project.

According to ACV, construction for the terminal at Long Thanh has been scheduled to begin on August 31. The project has a total investment capital of VND35 trillion (USD1.52 billion) and is slated for completion in 2026. Once put into use, the terminal can provide 40 aircraft parking slots.

Kicked off in 2021, the VND336.63 trillion Long Thanh International Airport project is divided into three phases.

Once fully finished by 2050, the airport can serve 100 million passengers and five million tonnes of cargo annually.

HCMC attracts visitors via cuisine promotion

Food and Beverage Networking Fair 2023 was opened this morning in District 1’s Sports Center which will last until August 27.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Duong Anh Duc (fourth from left) and other delegates attend the fair
The fair was organized by the People’s Committee of District 1 in collaboration with District 1 Labor Union, Ho Chi Minh City Cuisine Association, Enterprises Association of District 1 and so on.

The main activities consist of display, promotion and goods trading in fields of food and beverage; seminars to develop food and foodstuff sectors and linkage of agricultural products consumption via e-commerce and so on.

Besides, the “Contest Overview” for bartenders of alcoholic drinks will take place with the participation of hundreds of candidates.

From August 25 to August 27, a vegan food festival has been also organized by the People’s Committee of District 7 in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Food and Beverage Association which take place at Canh Doi Park in District 7.

The event has a scale of more than 200 stalls together with various activities comprising the Green Chef 2023, special vegan dishes, a cultural show, a huge buffet for more than 10,000 people and so on.

Delegates visit the fruit and vegetable stall at the Food and Beverage Networking Fair 2023

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, the promotion of special cuisine in the city districts and Thu Duc City aimed at attracting visitors, especially high-spending customers segment via night tourism products, water-way tourism and so on.

From the beginning of the year, Ho Chi Minh City has welcomed more than 2.3 million turns of international arrivals with a total revenue of nearly VND94,000 billion (nearly US$4 billion).

HCM City People’s Council, People’s Committee open to tourists on National Day holiday

The headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council and People's Committee will open its doors to visitors for tours free of charge on September 1-2, reported the municipal Tourism Department on August 26.

Later, it will have regular openings on the last two weekends of each month, including on September 30 and October 1, October 28-29, November 25-26, and December 30-31.

Each group, consisting of 30 visitors, will tour the headquarters for about 60 minutes.

Those interested could register at https://visithcmc.vn/news/chuong-trinh-tham-quan-di-tich-kien-truc-nghe-thuat-cap-quoc-gia-tru-so-hoi-dong-nhan-dan-uy-ban-nhan-dan-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-vao-ngay-01-0292023.

They are advised to arrive at the tour location 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time for security procedures, and bring along ID cards or passports for information verification.

The activity is part of celebrations for the 78th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (September 2), with an aim to create the image of a friendly and open-minded administration, popularise the formation and development of the city, and present the city as an "attractive - safe - vibrant" destination.

Earlier on April 29-30, the headquarters were also open to visitors for the first time, welcoming over 50 delegations with nearly 1,500 domestic and foreign visitors, on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30) and International May Day (May 1).

Marathon to raise funds for 'Mass Wedding 2023' programme in 2023

The Ho Chi Minh City Youth Worker Support Center on August 27 cooperated with the Youth Union of Foreign Trade University Campus II to organise the 2023 "Couple Run" marathon with the participation of more than 2,000 runners.

According to the Organising Committee, the marathon is a kick-off and fundraising event for the 'Mass Wedding 2023' programme for 150 young worker couples in difficult circumstances which will take place in the city on October 15.

The event aims to improve physical fitness, life health and physical training movement; promote the spirit of mutual assistance among the Vietnamese people.

The 'Mass Wedding 2023' is expected to feature many meaningful activities such as a parade of wedding cars through the streets and wedding ceremonies for young worker couples in difficult circumstances, contributing to honouring the national cultural tradition, promoting civilized and thrifty weddings, and show the spirit of mutual assistance among people in HCM City.

During the past 13 years, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Worker Support Center has accompanied agencies, organizations, and business communities in the city to help more than 1.022 young couples to have a meaningful wedding.

HCM City wishes to partner with China in Party building, governance

Permanent Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party’s Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai has expressed a wish to enhance collaboration and exchange of delegations with Chinese ministries, agencies and localities in the fields of Party building, governance and economic cooperation.

During a reception on August 26 for visiting Chairman of China's national research committee for Party building Li Zhiyong, Mai said the exchange of delegations and sharing of experience in Party building, political and economic cooperation will contribute to fostering the fine relationship between the Parties, States and people of the two countries.

As an economic powerhouse of the south and the country, Ho Chi Minh City pledges to actively follow directions of both countries’ leaders to materialise cooperation programmes between the two Parties and States, toward nurturing the friendship between the two countries, he said.

Li, for his part, congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, especially since the 13th National Party Congress.

He affirmed that the two Parties and countries share similarities and could share experience with each other.

China wishes to partner with Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, to effectively implement cooperation programmes and share experience in Party building, promote economic cooperation and facilitate the exchange of delegations at all levels, he said.

Can Tho: Final sections of Tran Hoang Na bridge get linked

The final sections of the Tran Hoang Na bridge spanning Can Tho River in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho were linked on August 26 after almost three years of construction.

According to the municipal management board of ODA projects, the completed workload has so far reached over 88%.

The arched bridge, with three steel-reinforced concrete spans, has a total length and width of 820 meters and 23 meters, respectively. It consists of four lanes for vehicles and has a designed speed of 60 km/h.

Worth over 791 billion VND (32.95 million USD) sourced from official development assistance (ODA) funds, the project began in September 2020. The completion date, planned for July 2022, has been extended until the end of 2023.

Currently, Can Tho has three bridges spanning the river connecting the Ninh Kieu and Cai Rang districts to National Highway 1A. Once the Tran Hoang Na bridge is completed, it is expected to help enhance urban transport connectivity between National Highway 1A and the city’s central routes, reducing the traffic load and helping ease congestion during peak hours.

Uzbekistan’s Independence Day celebrated in Hanoi

The Vietnam-Uzbekistan Friendship Association held a friendship exchange event in Hanoi on August 27 to mark the Vietnam’s 78th National Day (September 2, 1945-2023) and Uzbekistan’s 32nd Independence Day (September 1, 1991-2023).

Speaking at the event, President of the association Luong Phan Cu said that bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Uzbekistan has been developing strongly in many areas on the basis of win-win collaboration. The two sides have made great achievements in socio-economic development.

Cu highlighted active cooperation between the Vietnam - Uzbekistan and Uzbekistan - Vietnam Friendship Associations, saying it has contributed to promoting the people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries.

He expressed his belief that the people-to-people exchange activities of the two friendship associations in the coming time will continue to prosper, thus further strengthening the traditional relationship, mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations.

In his congratulatory message, President of the Uzbekistan - Vietnam Friendship Association Mukhamedov Alisher Rustamovich affirmed that the sincere and close friendship and mutual support between the two countries' people have existed for a long tine.

In recent years, with the active dynamism of leaders of the two countries and members of the two friendship associations, the ties between the two sides have created a great impetus for both Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

He hoped that this cooperation will develop to a new height in the future.

STEAM education festival held in Hanoi

The STEAMese Festival 2023 with the theme of igniting creativity and unlocking passion, took place in Hanoi on August 27, attracting the participation of numerous students, parents, teachers, and educational institutions.

The event was organised by the STEAM for Vietnam organization, UNICEF in Vietnam, the US Embassy’s American Center, and Phenikaa University.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Phuong Thuy, co-founder of STEAM for Vietnam, said the ecosystem of STEAM for Vietnam programmes revolves around a mission of providing modern STEAM education to Vietnamese children aged 6 to 18 through advanced technologies, innovative educational models, and the expertise of teachers.

Kate Bartlett, Cultural Attaché at the US Embassy, affirmed that the US diplomatic mission in Vietnam is committed to supporting the Southeast nation’s efforts in enhancing the quality of higher education and preparing its 21st-century workforce for global integration. Vietnamese youths are dynamic, talented, and ambitious global citizens, and their potential is limitless, she noted.

Participating domestic and international experts, policymakers, and schools joined discussions at the festival to share teaching methods and materials design for STEAM educators.

A series of creative and interactive STEAM activities, such as the Scratch and Robotics, scientific exploration, and robot assembly, were also organised, becoming a big draw to students, parents, and teachers from Hanoi, Lao Cai, Soc Trang, and other provinces and cities.

Hundreds of athletes take part in National Roller Sports Championship

Lê Bùi Bảo Long and Trần Ngọc Minh Thy won men's and women's classic freestyle slaloms events at the National Junior Roller Sports Championship which closed on August 27 in Hà Nội.

Long of Hà Nội's Việt Nam Roller team was on top with 40.51 points. He was followed by teammates Trịnh Khanh Khương with 37 points and Phạm Bá Minh Nghĩa on 34.253.

On the women's side, Thy of Việt Nam Roller dominated the race with her outstanding performance which received 36.51 points from the judges.

Lê Ngọc Yến Trân of HCM City-based Vietpassion came second with 28 points and Đặng Thu An of Việt Nam Roller was third, securing 21.53 points.

At the tournament, organisers also held categories for athletes of different age groups. They competed in the freestyle slide, speed and skateboard events.

Almost 450 athletes take part in a two-day National Junior Roller Sports Championship which closes on August 27 in Hà Nội.Photos of SFV
The national two-day tournament lures nearly 450 athletes from 13 cities and provinces nationwide at the Mỹ Đình Stadium.

"The championship definitely plays the key role to push the development of the roller sports in Việt Nam. Best athletes will be called to the national team and receive support to take part in international competitions," said Đặng Hà Việt, director of the Sports Authority of Việt Nam.

In the next few months, the team will take part in the 19th Asian Games in September in China and the Asian Indoor Games and Martial Arts Games in November in Thailand.

Việt Nam will also host the Southeast Asian Roller Sports Championship in March, 2024. 

VTV's new show motivates students

A new weekly game show featuring students will begin on Việt Nam National Television (VTV) on August 31. 

The show, called Sinh Viên Thế Hệ Mới (Students of New Generation), is a competition for Vietnamese university students to develop creative thinking.

"We believe that New Generation of Student will not only be an exciting show for students but also will be a bridge between generations," said Tạ Bích Loan, Director of VTV's Channel 3 at the press conference at VTV headquarters in Hà Nội. 

"Young talented students will have the opportunity to learn from the valuable experiences of senior generations who will engage during the competitions."

Students will learn and engage in various real-world challenges to hone the skills needed for their future careers, such as creativity, leadership, presentation and teamwork.

It has five rounds designed on the elements of the project formation and development cycle. 

In addition, teams will also develop practical experiences working on community-oriented topics and social issues of high interest.

Judges are professor Lê Anh Vinh, reactor of Việt Nam National Institute of Educational Sciences; Trần Xuân Bách, deputy chairman of Việt Nam Youth Federation Central Committees; artist Trần Ly Ly, head of the Department of Performing Art and film director Nguyễn Quang Dũng. 

Khánh Vy and Quang Bảo will be host the show. Both were excellent students at their university and have a positive influence on young people in the community. 

The 12 selected schools competing include the International School from Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội University of Science and Technology in the north and HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, HCM City University of Economics and Finance and HCMC University of Education. 

The show Students of New Generation is produced by VTV3 in conjunction with Ministry of Education and Training and Việt Nam Youth Federation Central Committees with sponsor Herbalife Việt Nam.  It will be aired at 8.30pm on VTV3 every Thursday. 

Two to three years prison sentence recommended for former chairman of Hà Nội People’s Committee

A prison term of two to three years has been recommended for Nguyễn Đức Chung, the ex-chairman of the Hà Nội People's Committee, for misusing his position and authority during his tenure.

This suggestion was made public on Saturday during the initial hearing of Chung and 14 other accused individuals involved in the unlawful inflation of tree prices in Hà Nội.

Vũ Kiên Trung, former chairman of the Hà Nội Green Trees Park Co Ltd (HGTP), was recommended to receive 7-8 years in prison; Nguyễn Xuân Hạnh, former general director of the HGTP, from six years six months to seven years and six months in prison; Bùi Phương Thảo, former chief accountant of the HGTP, from 5-6 years in prison; Đỗ Quang Tiến, former director of the Plants, Flowers and Ornamental Plants Production Enterprise under HGTP, from five years and six months to six years and six months in prison; Bùi Văn Mân, former director of Green Eco Co Ltd, from eight to nine years in prison; Hoàng Thị Kim Loan, former deputy director of Green Eco Co Ltd, from four to five years in prison; Đỗ Khắc Tú Anh, former deputy head of the Finance and Accounting Team, the Division of Maintenance and Repair for Urban Technical Structures under the Hà Nội Department of Construction, from three to four years in prison; and Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Lâm, former appraiser of the Việt Nam Valuation and Financial Consultancy Joint Stock Company, from 30-36 months of probation.

The same charge of breaking rules on the management and utilisation of financial resources, resulting in loss and waste of State assets, was levied against eight defendants.

Nguyễn Tuấn Nghĩa, the former director of the For the People Company, was recommended to serve a two to three-year prison sentence for breaking rules on the management and use of State assets, resulting in loss and waste, and an additional 18 to 24 months for illegal procurement of invoices. His recommended overall punishment ranged from three years and six months to five years in prison.

Kiều Thị Thúy, former accountant of the Green Hòa Lạc Company, was advised a prison term of 18 to 24 months for breaching regulations on the management and use of State assets, causing loss and waste, and a further 15 to 18 months for illegal procurement of invoices. Her total sentence was proposed to range from two years and nine months to three years and six months in prison.

Hoàng Đình Văn, former director of the Hoàng Anh Phát Company, faced a recommendation of five to six years in prison for smuggling.

The remaining three defendants were suggested to receive probation periods of 24 to 36 months for illegal trading of invoices and receipts and failing to take responsibility, leading to severe consequences.

Prior to 2016, the planting and replacement of trees in Hà Nội were conducted through a bidding process.

However, in December 2015, Chung took direct control of the task, halted all bidding, and shifted to quarterly tree orders.

He also instructed the director of the Department of Construction to directly order plants from Green Eco Co Ltd, managed by Bùi Văn Mận.

Under Chung's supervision, from 2016 to 2019, the tree planting process in Hà Nội satisfied the criteria for bidding. Nevertheless, the Division of Maintenance and Repair for Urban Technical Structures designated the HGTP and Green Eco Co Ltd for tree planting, followed by the creation of estimates and appraisals.

Having signed ten contracts with the maintenance and repair department, the HGTP colluded with traders to unlawfully inflate tree prices in quotations and evaluations.

Six comparable contracts were also agreed with Green Eco Co Ltd.

Collectively, these 16 contracts resulted in a VNĐ34 billion (US$1.4 million) loss to the State budget.

Court records indicated that these firms illicitly gained substantial amounts of money through their close connections with Chung.

The Supreme People's Procuracy stated that Chung's actions breached the operating procedures of State agencies and eroded public confidence.

Remarkable progress made on sustainable development goals

Việt Nam has made remarkable progress in terms of meeting the sustainable development goals, but more work is needed in a number of areas.

In 2023, the Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) highlighted Việt Nam's significant strides in areas like poverty reduction, provision of clean water, infrastructure development, social equality, institutional reforms, and bolstering international partnerships.

Nonetheless, there remain persistent challenges such as addressing hunger, improving healthcare and education provisions, advancing gender equality, harnessing renewable energy, enhancing labour productivity, and tackling environmental concerns including climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

The VNR 2023 was unveiled at a seminar and discussion on Friday in Hà Nội, organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), in partnership with the United Nations (UN) and the Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), representing the German government.

“The UN joins hands with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and GIZ in organising this dialogue to facilitate the sharing of innovative ideas and recommendations in the formulation of Việt Nam’s National Commitments to SDG Transformation," said Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam.

"These commitments will help provide concrete pathways for the Government of Việt Nam and various stakeholders to rescue the SDGs. This dialogue, more importantly, allows us to demonstrate our solidarity and support implementation.”

The gathering saw the attendance of over 100 individuals, encompassing leaders and representatives from central and local ministries, agencies, the national assembly, socio-political entities, NGOs, United Nations branches in Việt Nam, diplomatic entities, development associates, international financial institutions, the business sector, academia, and the press.

The report highlighted that, with respect to Goal 1 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Việt Nam has significantly reduced its multidimensional poverty rate, which dropped from 9.2 per cent in 2016 to 4.3 per cent in 2022. Most benchmarks, like the proportion of households owning durable goods, and those with access to sanitary toilets and clean water sources, are approaching 100 per cent.

However, the solitary criterion that lagged was the percentage of households possessing a sturdy dwelling, which stood at merely 50.3 per cent in 2022.

Regarding gender equality, it's noteworthy that Việt Nam boasts 30.3 per cent of female delegates in its National Assembly. Yet, there was a decrease of 12.8 per cent in female leadership within governmental bodies from 2018 to 2021. In addition, the gender disparity in births remains pronounced, with figures from 2022 indicating a ratio of 115 boys for every 100 girls.

In pursuit of the 2030 UN Agenda, Việt Nam pledges to prioritise investment in human resources, science, technology, and innovation. They aim to bolster infrastructure to boost productivity, advocate for a green and circular economy, and fortify resilience against natural calamities and the impacts of climate change.

The country is focused on refining socialism-oriented market structures, propelling public administration reforms, and endorsing the active involvement of vulnerable segments in the decision-making framework. They are keen to revamp their social protection mechanisms, amplifying the resilience of communities and offering robust support to vulnerable groups.

Additionally, Việt Nam is determined to stabilise its macro-economic underpinnings, persist with support for COVID-19 recovery, channel and amplify the efficacious utilisation of financial means for sustainable progress, and better the accessibility of data to augment the observation of SDG advancements.

To realise the SDGs by 2030, there's a strong emphasis on involving all stakeholders and fostering collaborations with global partners. 

Digital transformation for workforce through enhanced vocational education

The online learning platform congdanso.edu.vn has attracted more than 15,100 people since its launch, and nearly 3,000 students and workers in industrial zones are guided in learning on the platform.

They are parts of the results of the project “Supporting the Government of Việt Nam in the Digital Transformation of Labour through Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training”, which was declared on Friday in Hà Nội.

The project, implemented in partnership between the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), with support from the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour, started in 2021 in four provinces, including Thái Nguyên, Quảng Nam, Bình Dương and Đồng Nai.

After more than two years, 31,100 courses have been completed and nearly 26,000 certificates have been issued for digital skills courses, contributing to improving the skills of workers, especially migrant workers in industrial zones.

These results have confirmed the potential of the online learning platform in building capacity and connecting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions with businesses to equip learners with digital skills to access knowledge and information.

It promotes digital transformation in TVET, moving towards building a digital society, digital economy and digital culture and towards safe and sustainable migration.

In addition, the reference manual for digital transformation in TVET has been elaborately and scientifically compiled to provide the most basic knowledge about digital transformation, which is the basis for vocational education institutions to build a digital transformation plan in the near future.

Trương Anh Dũng, director of the DVET, said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution had had a strong impact on the world, forcing governments and countries around the world to face great challenges, requiring changes to match technology and science development.

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend to transform operation and business models towards innovation, thereby improving the country's competitiveness.

“Việt Nam is considered one of the first countries in the world to issue a national digital transformation programme and has an awareness of digital transformation in parallel with advanced countries in the world, but the reality shows that the digital capabilities of the Vietnamese workforce are still weak and not ready for the Revolution 4.0,” he said.

Therefore, the Việt Nam Government strives to promote digital skills transformation in all areas, including TVET, in order to utilise digital skills to improve people's working ability and productivity of the working-age population, especially vulnerable groups.

“With the positive feedback and participation of learners, in the coming time, we will coordinate with the IOM and partners to popularise the congdanso.edu.vn online learning platform and the reference manual for digital transformation in TVET to vocational education institutions,” said Dũng.

IOM Chief of Mission Park Mihyung said: “Investing in skills development in Việt Nam is very important. It helps people get better jobs and work more productively, which makes the country stronger in the world economy. That’s why IOM takes pride in our work, especially our e-learning platform."

"It improves access for low-skilled workers and migrant workers to gain essential skills, such as technical, soft, and digital skills. This reduces their vulnerability, helps them navigate in the digital environment, making them more adaptable and resilient.

“Together, we are supporting Việt Nam’s goal of elevating its vocational education to gradually match top regional countries by 2030, with a vision to 2045,” she said.

Hà Nội urges fire safety measures for electricity use

The Hà Nội People’s Committee has urged better fire prevention in the management and use of electricity.

In a Directive signed last week, Chairman of the city People's Committee Trần Sỹ Thanh requested relevant agencies and authorities at all levels to thoroughly address existing limitations in electricity management and usage, while strengthening communication, raising public awareness and implementing fire prevention and rescue.

The city's police force is required to enhance guidance, inspection, and supervision of fire safety and search and rescue operations.

The police force needs to collaborate with relevant units to intensify inter-departmental inspections, promptly identify existing problems, and handle violations related to fire safety regulations.

The city police is also assigned to conduct investigations, clarify the causes of fire and explosion incidents and the responsibility of organisations and individuals whose negligence leads to serious consequences.

The Hà Nội City Electricity Corporation and related units must ensure fire safety for electrical projects and facilities.

The city chairman assigns the Department of Industry and Trade to enhance inspections and supervision of the implementation of halting or reducing the electricity supply by the Electricity Corporation.

The Department of Construction must provide guidance to the district People's Committees on inspecting and addressing violations of construction regulations, especially unpermitted construction projects on agricultural and forestry land, areas earmarked for future projects, flood drainage corridors, and power grid protection zones.

The People's Committees of districts, towns, and municipalities are required to regularly and randomly conduct inspections of fire prevention and rescue operations at business establishments and residential areas.

The city also mandates comprehensive solutions for projects that have not yet been accepted for fire prevention but have been put into operation.

According to statistics over the past five years, there have been 2,647 fire and explosion incidents in the city, resulting in 77 deaths and 131 injuries, causing property damage of over VNĐ684 billion (US$28.6 million).

Notably, a fire occurred at a house on Thành Công Street, Quang Trung Ward, Hà Đông District, on May 13, killing four people.

About three-fourths of fire incidents are related to the electrical system and equipment. 

HCM City adds more bus routes linking metro line

HCM City has run 21 more bus routes connecting to the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line.

The list includes three inter-provincial routes and three inter-city routes to help transport passengers to the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line. 

Specifically, 18 inter-city routes will be connected to urban areas and schools such as Vinhomes Grand Park, Thanh My Loi and Masteri An Phu urban areas and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City.

Three inter-provincial routes will link Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces.

With the added routes, the city will have 185 bus routes, including 148 inter-city routes.

This year, HCM City has spent VND1.70 trillion (USD72.34 million) subsidising buses. However, in the first seven months, local buses transported only 49 million passengers, fulfilling just 51.4 percent of the annual passenger target.

The VND43.7 trillion Ben Than-Suoi Tien is HCM City’s first metro project. The route would have three underground and 11 elevated stations. It is expected to be put into operation by late this year.

The test run for the whole Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line has been set for the end of this month.

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