India will attend an international exhibition tournament to be hosted by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in September as one of the two guest teams, according to the VFF.

The announcement came after the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) on August 26 lifted its previous ban imposed on the All India Football Federation (AIFF) which prevented it from taking part in international competition.

The upcoming tournament is considered a warm-up for Vietnam before the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 slated at the end of the year.

The Vietnamese national team will play India and Singapore during the tournament which will take place in Ho Chi Minh City on FIFA days. The team earning the most points will win the tournament.  

Vietnam will face Singapore on September 21 and India six days later. The match between the two guest teams will be held on September 24.

Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association debuts

The executive board of the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association (MVFA) made its debut during a ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 27. 

According to a decision signed by the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs on March 8, 2022, the MVFA is an organisation representing the Vietnamese community in Malaysia, and acts as a bridge connecting Vietnamese expats in Malaysia and the Vietnamese Embassy in the country. 

The formation of the friendship association aims to bolster the cooperation between the two countries across fields, including politics, culture and society, and people-to-people exchange. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Tran Viet Thai, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government, sent the congratulatory letters from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia to the association.

Previously, the association received congratulatory letters from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV)  and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations of Vietnam.

Joint opera project to step up Vietnam - Japan friendship

"Princess Anio" - a joint opera performance between Japan and Vietnam will be held at Hanoi Opera House in September 2023, heard a press conference in the central city of Da Nang on August 27. 

The event aims to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam - Japan diplomatic relations in 2023, and promote the friendship and culture exchange between the two countries.

The opera is based on a real story of the love of Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro and Princess Ngoc Hoa [called Princess Anio by Japanese] in Hoi An, Vietnam, during the trading era of the Shuinsen in the early 17th century.

The project will bring together famous opera directors, musicians and singers from both nations.

Vietnam makes contributions to negotiations for BBNJ instrument

The fifth session of the intergovernmental conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) concluded on August 27 (Hanoi time) after two weeks of sitting.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, gave substantial proposals and contributions to the draft BBNJ instrument as well as the negotiations on issues that directly relate to Vietnam's rights and interests at sea.

The fifth session saw progress in all discussing issue groups.

Participants agreed to convene the next session as soon as possible with a hope to concluding negotiations for the document on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in seas beyond national jurisdiction.

The BBNJ negotiation, which officially started in April 2018, is one of the most important negotiation processes currently in the field of sea and ocean, in the context of the international community's efforts to implement the United Nations Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development, especially the realisation of Goal 14 (SDG 14) on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

This will be the third document on the implementation of UNCLOS besides the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the Agreement on Implementation of Part XI of UNCLOS in 1994. The BBNJ negotiation also plays an important role in strengthening the UNCLOS-based system in the governance of seas and oceans, ensuring sustainable development for all countries and future generations.

Vietnam ranks fifth at Army Games 2022

The Vietnam People’s Army (VPA)'s delegation with eight medals finished fifth at the 2022 International Army Games, which was closed with a ceremony held in Moscow, Russia, on August 27.

Vietnam won one gold, two silver and five bronze medals at the Games.

Russia ranked the first, followed by Uzbekistan. Belarus and Kazakhstan came second, while China and Iran ranked third.

Army Games 2022 took place from August 13-27, bringing together 264 teams from 34 countries worldwide. Its competitions were held in Russia and 11 other countries, namely Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Vietnam.

This year, Vietnam hosted the Games’ competitions in the category of “Emergency Area”.

Project helps strengthen Mekong Delta’s resilience against climate change

The "Vietnam Nature-based Solutions for Adaptation in Agriculture through Private Sector Transformation” (VN-ADAPT) is expected to greatly contribute to supporting the resilience of the Mekong Delta region against the severe impacts of climate change.

The project has been jointly launched by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

The Mekong Delta region has long been the largest agricultural production hub of Vietnam, which helps Vietnam ensure national food security and exports.

The region contributes 31.37% to the country’s agricultural GDP, and accounts for 50% of total rice production, 65% of aquaculture production, 70% of fruit output, 95% of the country’s rice exports and 60% of the country’s fish exports.

Due to the impacts of climate change, the region has suffered severe drought, rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion, making agricultural production more difficult.

Lawmakers consider post-pandemic economic recovery progress

The National Assembly Standing Committee is scheduled to examine issues related to socio-economic recovery and development projects at an extraordinary session to be held on August 29 afternoon.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, on behalf of the Government, will present a report on progress of socio-economic recovery and development projects.

A representative of the National Assembly Committee for Financial and Budgetary Affairs will deliver a report that oversees the implementation of the projects.

At the first extraordinary session held in January 2022, the legislative body passed a resolution on fiscal and monetary policies to support the socio-economic recovery and development programme worth about VND350 trillion. The bailout packages will be implemented in the two years 2022 and 2023.

Shortly after that the Government issued a resolution to carry out the National Assembly resolution, focusing on COVID-19 control and healthcare capacity improvement, employment generation and social security, business support and recovery, infrastructure development, as well as institutional and administrative reforms.

In a report presented at the May session of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai noted about VND46 trillion will be allocated for vaccine and medical equipment purchase, VND125 trillion for tax cuts, preferential loans, rental support for labourers, and VND176 trillion for public investment. However, the implementation of the 176 trillion package is slow going as public investment projects are required to comply with strict regulations of the Law on Public Investment.

Thai Binh team recovers hundreds of drowning victims

Often working through the night and in treacherous conditions, a team in Thái Bình Province has spent the last two years searching for the bodies of people who drowned.

Nhâm Quang Văn, head of rescue team 116, said he can't remember how many bodies have been recovered since he started this work.

He and his team members have travelled across rivers from Thái Bình to Quảng Nam Province to search for victims. 

Two years ago, Văn was a director of a transport company specialising in providing cranes. The 39-year-old transferred the company and embarked on unpaid search and recovery work. In October 2020, he called on friends and members of other rescue teams across the country following a large storm in the central region. They brought 100 canoes and dozens of shipments to the central region to help local people.

After nearly a month of working all day and night in flooded areas, receiving thousands of calls for help, Văn understood the suffering of the victims trapped in the water. 

Returning from that trip, Văn decided to set up rescue team 116 in Thái Bình Province and is ready to assist in finding victims of drowning in other provinces if needed.

His family was very worried when he started this work without much experience in the water. But they still supported him because they realised the meaningful work he does for others. 

National Independence Day celebrated in ethnic culture village

Visitors to Việt Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hà Nội’s Sơn Tây this September will have a chance to explore the cultural identities and traditional customs of Việt Nam’s 54 ethnic groups through numerous activities.

With the theme Vui Tết Độc Lập (Happy Independence Festival), the series of cultural activities is to celebrate the 77th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945-2022).

They are also expected to promote and preserve cultural values, strengthen exchanges among ethnic communities nationwide and attract more tourists to the village.

Over 200 members and artists from 17 ethnic groups, along with artists from Vietnam Circus Federation and artisans from various craft villages, will join and entertain visitors next month.

The series of activities will be divided into two parts – Sắc Màu Xứ Tuyên (The colours of Tuyên Land) and Sắc Màu Tây Nguyên (Colours of the Central Highlands).

The highlight of the first part is the re-enactment of the kermis in the northern province of Tuyên Quang in which participants could purchase specialties of ethnic groups in the northeastern region like Mông, Dao, Tày or Thái. Along with the kermis are folk singing performances, traditional games and the introduction of ethnic cuisines.

The second part will feature the cultural activities of the Cor people in the central province of Quảng Ngãi, including their major festival Lễ Ăn Trâu (Buffalo Eating Festival) which aims to reinforce communal relations, the art of đấu chiêng (gong battle) and art performances.

Young visitors will be entertained with exciting circus performances of the artists from the Vietnam Circus Federation, with animal shows, magic shows, clowns, acrobats and juggling.

Particularly, as the Full-Moon Festival, one of the most anticipated festivals of Vietnamese children, is coming, Việt Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism will organise a programme dedicated to children. Children will be able to make Mid-Autumn traditional toys under the guidance of artisans like star lanterns, paper masks and tò he (toy figurines), or play traditional games like ô ăn quan (Mandarin Square Capturing) or beating the drums blindfolded.

Nam in first Challenger Tour semi after win in Bangkok Open

Lý Hoàng Nam has for the first time advanced to the semi-finals of a Challenger Tour event after his win on August 26 morning in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand.

Unseeded Nam beat No 1 seed Alastair Gray of Britain  6-4, 7-5 in the quarter-final round of the Challenger Bangkok Open 1 tennis tournament.

Nam reached his best world ranking of No 328 early this week while Gray is currently No 255.

Nam was former Wimbledon boy's double champion while his rival received a wildcard and advanced to the The All England Lawn Tennis Championships' second round in June.

The win gives Nam 17 points in the world ranking and a US$1,800 bonus. 

He will play the winner of the match between Alibek Kachmazov of Russia and Dane Sweeny from Australia, which will be held on August 27. 

Nam is expected to advance to the final, and whatever the result will be in top 300, a new height for his career and his target for the year. 

Free motorbike groups set up to support Hanoi drunk drivers

Hanoi’s Hoang Mai District has piloted the establishment of free motorbike teams to support drunk drivers.

On Friday, the district police launched a communications programme to raise public awareness of alcohol abuse. Leaflets with warnings on alcohol abuse consequences and the slogan “ If you drink, don't drive” have been distributed at restaurants.

A representative from Dinh Cong Ward’s Police Station said that on the same day, the police came to most of the local restaurants and beer venues as part of the publicity drive.

The district’s authorities have even set up free motorbike teams to help take drunk drivers at 160 local restaurants and beer stalls home. Most of the team members are staff of the restaurants and app-based motorbike services.

On this occasion, restaurants in Hoang Mai District signed a commitment to encourage customers who are drunk not to drive.

The police force will tighten control over alcohol use at local restaurants to violations.

Exhibition honours Vietnamese traditional Ao Dai

An exhibition titled “Ao Dai on the heritage path” officially opened at the Vietnam Women’s Museum in Hanoi on August 26, aiming to honour the Vietnamese traditional long dress.

On display are 200 Ao Dai designs presented by 20 designers, which will later be added to the museum's collections.

The Ao Dai designs bring viewers to many natural and cultural heritages through different patterns highlighting many aspects of life, cultural heritages and beliefs.

The collections of Ao Dai were made from diverse materials and colours, contributing to bringing art and traditional features closer to the public.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to learn more about the development history as well as the process of making Ao Dai designs.

On the occasion, visitors can exchange with famous Ao Dai designers including Minh Hanh, Ngoc Han and Laura Fontan, a Spanish person who has a special love for Ao Dai and Vietnamese culture.

Health Ministry requires hospitals to have isolation areas for monkeypox

Under the Ministry of Health's guidance, hospitals were instructed to carry out screening for people with or suspected of having monkeypox in the community or medical facilities. Hospitals need to put up signs at the entrance of medical facilities so that patients can immediately identify the direction to the screening area which should be located in the medical examination and emergency units.

Because of the complicated and unusual developments of the monkeypox epidemic in the world, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son has just issued Guidelines for the prevention of monkeypox infection in medical examination and treatment establishments. To prevent and control monkeypox infection in healthcare facilities, infirmaries should follow infection prevention and control practices, said the Ministry of Health.

In its guidance, the Ministry of Health has shown that according to the World Health Organization’s statistics, so far, 96 countries and territories have recorded more than 44,500 cases of monkeypox with 12 deaths. Notably, the vast majority of monkeypox cases are in locations where there have been no reports of the disease in history. At the same time, several Asian countries and  territories such as Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Korea, China, and Japan have recorded cases.

Vietnam has not recorded any cases of monkeypox yet, but the Southeast Asian country is reopening to tourists and economic partners after the Covid-19 epidemic came under controlled, the country also faces possible risks of the monkeypox epidemic in the community and medical facilities.

Transport Ministry asks ACV to ease overload in Tan Son Nhat Airport

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The suggested the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to delegate the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to install a video surveillance system in front of Tan Son Nhat International Airport to ensure traffic safety and security at the airport.

The ACV must coordinate with the functional departments to strengthen the supervision, issue fines for administrative violations in the field of road traffic and impose penalties on organizations and individuals who violate regulations in parking, picking up and dropping off passengers to maintain security in the airport.

The ACV needs to delegate Tan Son Nhat International Airport to check and install information panels with departures and arrivals and routes of public transport means and study the investment of an electronic toll collection (ETC) system.

He also asked the ACV and carriers to make an effort to reduce flight delays and cancellations, security screening overload, and slow baggage handling.

Police fine man riding motorbike on one wheel to post on Tiktok

A man in the Mekong Delta Province of Ca Mau was fined for riding a motorbike on one wheel to post on his Tiktok. 
 
Today, the police of Ca Mau city said that they had invited a 19-year-old man in Hoa Tan Commune to the police station for investigation. The man doing the wheelie has posted illegal acts on his Tiktok.

At the police station, the young man admitted that he was riding a motorcycle BKS 69B1-478.20 running on one wheel on Le Duan Street in Ca Mau City on the evening of August 16 and posted in Tiktok.

According to Ca Mau City Police, the man committed four violations including riding on one wheel, having no driver's license, and changing the car's silencer and color paint.

Energy Efficiency Awards 2022 launched

The Office of the Steering Committee of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade collaborated with Vietnam Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Association (VECEA) to launch the Energy Efficiency Awards for Industry–Construction Projects in 2022.

The organizers start receiving documents from contestants from August 26 to October 31. The announcement and award ceremony is expected to be hosted in December. 

The national program on energy efficiency in the period of 2019 – 2030 set the targets of saving from five to seven percent of total power consumption nationwide in the period of 2019 -2025 and from eight to ten percent in the period of 2025 – 2030.

UNFPA, Mitsubishi Research Institute join hands in addressing population issues in Viet Nam

A new partnership between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Viet Nam and the Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI) was inked to address population ageing and other emerging population issues in Viet Nam.

This new partnership will focus on the issues of ageing and other population matters, such as sexual and reproductive health and rights, health care for young people, and gender equality.

Key activities include conducting joint research and communications, consulting and supporting project execution, and organizing events for public sharing of research findings and developing personnel training and exchange programs.

Other activities such as promoting public-private partnerships in the light of population ageing and emerging population trends and expanding a network of Vietnamese and Japanese entities to encourage the development of care and support for the elderly will also be carried out.

Cao Bang border guards prevent 38 illegal migrants

Border guards in the northern province of Cao Bang on August 28 detected and prevented 38 Vietnamese citizens from illegally entering Vietnam from China.

The same day, authorities of Tra Linh and Soc Giang border gates carried out procedures to receive 68 Vietnamese citizens handed over by Chinese border guard agencies.

These people left the country illegally during the 2019-2020 period. Some were arrested in raids conducted by Chinese relevant forces while the others tried to enter Vietnam illegally./.

Ninh Binh ceremony to mark 50 years of UNESCO convention on cultural, natural heritage protection

The 50th anniversary of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage will be marked with a ceremony in northern Ninh Binh province on September 6.

The event will be held by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), the Ninh Binh provincial People’s Committee, and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, on the occasion of an official visit by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay from September 5 to 7, the MCST said.

Other activities will include a photo exhibition on world cultural and natural heritage sites in Vietnam, the screening of short films about heritages and preservation efforts, and an award ceremony for a heritage-themed painting contest by the UNESCO Hanoi Office.

Private tuồng troupe reopened

The Đồng Ấu Bạch Long Troupe, one of HCM City’s leading private theatres, has returned with a series of new performances of tuồng or hát bội (classical drama), a Vietnamese traditional theatre genre that originated in the 12th century. 

The troupe will stage new historical plays featuring national heroes and events in different periods under the Trần, Ngô, Đinh and Lý dynasties. 

The first show is Trần Quốc Toản Ra Quân (Young Hero Trần Quốc Toản in the Battle), a tuồng production featuring Trần Quốc Toản of the Trần Dynasty who was 16 and well known for his active role in the war of resistance of Đại Việt (now Việt Nam) against the Mongol invasion in 1282. 

Young actors who will perform include Khánh Liên, Gia Lâm and Hồng Quyên. 

They will add music to tuồng to meet the taste of young audiences.

Aside from performing, the artists will also speak to the audiences with question and answer sessions, and dialogue.

Vietnamese Music Day to honour contribution of musicians

A special performance to celebrate Vietnamese Music Day, September 3, will be organised by the Việt Nam’s Association of Composers.

Taking place on August 31 at the Âu Cơ Art Centre in Hà Nội from 9am, the concert, entitled Hát Lên Việt Nam (Let’s Sing, Việt Nam) will feature a diversified repertoire.

The artist said the second part will present classical chamber music, while the third part will be for compositions by young composers.

The concert will be livestreamed on the Facebook page of the association and of the Military University of Culture and Arts.

According to Chairman of the Việt Nam’s Association of Musicians, composer Đức Trịnh, alongside the concert Hát Lên Việt Nam, several other art performances will also be held in cities and provinces across the country on Vietnamese Music Day.

In addition, there are also meetings and exchanges to introduce composers and their works, aiming to praise outstanding artists and encourage them to promote the traditional values of Vietnamese music.

Vietnamese thriller films promise to entertain audiences in second half of 2022

Vietnamese film producers are preparing to release a series of thriller movies to entertain audiences in the second half of 2022.

Vô Diện Sát Nhân (Nightmares), a directorial debut by Đinh Công Hiếu, came to cinemas on August 26.

The film revolves around a successful doctor named Phương Anh. Her perfect life is destroyed after a failed surgery. She constantly dreams of being killed by a faceless killer every night. Horribly, her nightmares are coming true.

The film features famous actress Phương Anh Đào, who played main roles in award-winning movies such as Chàng Vợ Của Em (My Mr Wife) by Vietnamese-American director and film producer Charlie Nguyễn, and Bằng Chứng Vô Hình (Invisible Evidence) by Trịnh Đình Lê Minh.

Hiếu, who is known for popular web dramas and sitcoms, told local media that after many years of making web dramas, he wanted to make his first movie and Vô Diện Sát Nhân came to him as fate.

MAR6 Pictures has surprised fans since releasing the first teaser of its highly-anticipated upcoming movie in 2022, Cô Gái Từ Quá Khứ (Girl from the Past), a work by young directors Bảo Nhân and Nam Cito, on August 15.

The teaser highlights a bloody conflict between two main characters who are sisters, and has attracted more than 10,100 views and received good comments by audiences.

The producer invited A-list actresses Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc and Kaity Nguyễn to play the two main characters, and veteran actress Lê Khanh to ensure the film’s quality and ticket sales.

Kaity Nguyễn, who became known with her debut role in Em Chưa 18 (Jailbait), said: “This time, I will come back with a completely different image. I’m excited and can’t wait to share my new movie to all the audiences.”

All the actresses performed in the chick-flick series called Gái Già Lắm Chiêu (The Tricky Ladies) about love and women created by young directors Bảo Nhân and Nam Cito in 2016.

Its latest and fourth movie in the series, Gái Già Lắm Chiêu V – Những Cuộc Đời Vương Giả (Camellia Sisters - Living Like Royalty) was released in March 2021 and earned VNĐ55 billion (US$2.35 million) in ticket sales. Cô Gái Từ Quá Khứ is set to premiere on November 18.

Twin brothers drown in Dak Lak lake

Two twin brothers were found dead on August 28 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.

Le Quang Bat, chairman of the People's Committee of Ea Tul Commune in Cu M'gar District told Dantri/Dtinews late Sunday afternoon that the tragic accident occurred at noon the same day.

H'D, 29, had no reply from her twin sons aged eight when she called them for lunch. She and her husband rushed out to look for them with the help of some local residents.

They found the clothes, hats and rubber slippers of the boys on the banks of a lake in a nearby coffee garden and then found their bodies in the lake.

It is reported that 57 children died from drowning in the central highlands province since the beginning of 2022.

MoH launches back-to-school COVID-19 vaccination campaign

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and UNICEF on August 29 jointly launched a back-to-school COVID-19 vaccination campaign to ensure children will feel safe when they return to school after a long summer holiday.

The campaign was launched ahead of the new school year that is due to start nationwide on September 5.

In fact, new subvariants of the Omicron variant, such as BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.12.1 and BA.2.74 have been reported in Vietnam. The daily number of coronavirus infections is showing signs of rising in the country, while the number of vaccine shots administered to children, especially primary schoolchildren, remains low.

Through the newly launched campaign, the Ministry of Health expects that all people across the country will respond to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and get vaccinated, especially for children and those who are at highest risk of virus infection.

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