Ba Ria-Vung Tau receives eight foreigners in distress at sea hinh anh 1
Ba Ria-Vung Tau's border guards carry out procedures to receive eight Myanmar nationals rescued at sea (Photo: VNA)
The Border Guard High Command of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province said on August 30 that it had received eight Myanmar nationals who had been saved by a Panama-flagged ship at sea.

The ship TRUMP SW was en route to Indonesia from China when sailors detected an orange-colour object with eight people on board adrift at sea on August 26.

The ship’s crew members rescued all the eight victims and gave them health checks and first aid help.

On August 29 evening, the victims were brought to mainland, and provided with accommodations.

Vietnam proposes UNDP be creative in mobilising resources for development

In addition to making use of existing resources and ensuring cost-effectiveness, UNDP should be creative in finding ways to mobilise resources from stakeholders, including the private sector, to implement development programmes, proposed Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

Giang made the proposal at an August 30 dialogue session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)’s second regular meeting. The meeting, taking place in New York from August 29 to September 1, discusses the budget for the implementation of the UNDP Strategic Plan for 2022-2025.

The Vietnamese Ambassador highly appreciated UNDP's role in supporting people in remote and vulnerable areas, building capacity, and providing data, research, and policy recommendations to Governments and people.

To implement the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025 and maintain the quality of support for countries, Giang emphasised the need to secure resources for UNDP.

He suggested countries strengthen their assistance to UNDP through a multi-year voluntary commitment so that UNDP can plan and conduct activities at global, regional and national levels. In addition, UNDP and the international community also need to continue to commit to implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in various forms, from development assistance to trade facilitation, debt forgiveness and technology transfer, and development of infrastructure that aligns with national priorities.

Dien Bien set to host Vietnam - Laos cultural exchange

The third version of the Vietnam-Laos cultural, sports and tourism exchange is scheduled to take place in early October in the northern mountain province of Dien Bien, according to details provided by the Dien Bien Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The official ceremony of the festival is due to take place at 8 p.m. on October 1 and will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV), the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), and throughout other provinces in the country.

The opening ceremony will last for 120 minutes at 7/5 Square in Dien Bien Phu city, with the event starting with a special art programme featuring the participation of hundreds of actors and artisans from both Vietnam and Laos.

Upon addressing the event, Nguyen Hoang Hiep, deputy director of the Dien Bien Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasised that there will be a wide range of activities taking place during the festival. This includes an incense offering ceremony at the martyr temple, ritual ceremonies of cultural activities, shows featuring traditional costumes, an exhibition of the ethnic minority community residing in the Vietnam - Laos border area, famtrip activities, and surveys.

The event is behind held as part of activities celebrating the country’s 77th National Day, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties, and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

A total of nine Vietnamese provinces and 10 Lao provinces along the shared borderline will participate in the occasion.

The previous schedule for the event is from September 23 to September 25.

Korean Cultural Days launched in Quang Ninh

Korean Cultural Days kicked off on August 29 in Ha Long City in the northern province of Quang Ninh, with the event featuring various activities to promote the traditional culture of the Republic of Korea (RoK) in Vietnam.

The occasion marks the first time ever that the event has taken place in Quang Ninh province.

The function is being jointly held by Ha Long University and the Korean Cultural Centre in Vietnam and features a wide range of activities for guests to enjoy, including a food festival, a fashion show on traditional Korean costumes, and a taekwondo performance.

The highlight of this year’s event is a variety of Kpop dances and performances of Korean songs, as well as a showcase of Vietnamese musical instruments by artists of both countries.

Vietnam expects international assistance to accelerate energy transition

Vietnam hopes it will soon get financial support and technical know-how from international development partner donors to realise its energy transition projects.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the request at a reception in Hanoi on August 29 for Alok Sharma, British Cabinet minister and president of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), who is in Hanoi for a working visit to Vietnam.

He said the government has approved a National Strategy on Climate Change for 2050, an action plan to reduce methane emissions at least 30% by 2030, a green energy transition roadmap, an action plan for national green growth between 2021 and 2030 and many other important documents.

Vietnam considers the goal of achieving ‘zero net’ emissions and switching from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy as an inevitable development trend of the world and Vietnam in particular, stressed the PM.

To do this, Vietnam, in addition to its efforts, needs financial assistance and technology transfer from development partner donors during negotiations on a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), he said.

According to the PM, Vietnam is one of the countries heavily impacted by climate change, therefore energy transition and climate change adaptation are of great concern of the Party and State.

This process needs to be done in a fair and just manner, so that not only businesses investing in Vietnam benefit but Vietnamese people also enjoy a prosperous and happy life, he stated.

The PM assured his guest that Vietnam would accelerate the negotiation process to establish a Just Energy Transition Partnership with partners, including countries in the Group of Seven. He also affirmed that the Government would continue to consider a roadmap to reduce coal-fired power in accordance with local conditions with the support of international partners.

For his part, COP26 President Alok Sharma appreciated Vietnam’s commitments and said he would convey the Prime Minister’s request to development partners and hoped a political declaration on the establishment of a Just Energy Transition Partnership would be adopted at COP27 to be held in Egypt later this year.

Alok Sharma returned to Vietnam for a working visit from August 27-30 to drive forward discussions on a Just Energy Transition Partnership and to examine the impact of climate change locally.

According to the British Embassy in Hanoi, the Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership will be a long term political agreement between the Government of Vietnam and an International Partner Group (IPG) of countries, comprising the United Kingdom, European Union, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States of America.

This country-led partnership will support Vietnam to accelerate its transition away from coal as part of the country's commitment to its 2050 net zero target and its ambitious Power Development Plan (PDP8).

The Partnership will be underpinned by clear plans to deliver a just energy transition and catalyse clean energy investment, offering Vietnam the opportunity to become a world leader in renewable energy.

During his visit, the COP26 President is also meeting with G7 and development partner donors, as well as businesses and private sector stakeholders, to help drive public and private sector engagement and mobilisation of finance as part of the process.

Vietnam drawn against Malaysia and Laos in 2022 AFF Cup

The Vietnamese national football team have been drawn in Group B alongside Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Laos for the upcoming 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup, with the tournament set to run from December 23 to January 15, 2023.

Information of the fixtures comes following the draw held in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 30.

Group A consists of hosts Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, and the winner of the play-off match between Timor Leste and Brunei.

The format of the competition will see a total of 10 teams divided into two groups, with each team playing group-stage matches at home and away alternately, whilst the semi-final and final stages will also be held home and away.

Vietnam have been placed in Group B and will play their opening match against Laos on December 24.

They will face Malaysia, Singapore, and Myanmar on December 30, January 2, and January 5, respectively.

The event has been held every two years since 1996, with the exception of 2021 when it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the 2022 version of the competition will mark the 14th edition of the tournament.

Most notably, the Vietnamese national team won the tournament in 2008 and 2018.

In the 2020 version, Vietnam lost 2-0 to Thailand in the semi-final round, one of the most unforgettable failures of the Vietnamese national team over recent years.

Ly Hoang Nam triumphs in first round of Bangkok Open 2

Vietnam’s leading tennis player Ly Hoang Nam enjoyed a 2-1 victory against James McCabe of Australia at noon on August 30, thereby advancing to the second round of the Challenger 50 Bangkok Open 2.

After losing the final round of the Bangkok Open 1 on August 28, Hoang Nam returned to Thailand to participate in the Bangkok Open 2.

According to the original schedule, he had been due to play No. 3 seed Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan in the first round. However, the Japanese player was unexpectedly forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury, with the 19-year-old Australian player McCabe being selected instead.

Currently, the Australian tennis player ranks No. 448 in the world according to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), 158 notches lower than Hoang Nam’s ranking at present.

Despite this disadvantage, the young player caused plenty of difficulties for the Vietnamese representative in the first set, securing a breakpoint in the second games to lead 6-3.

Hoang Nam quickly fought back to level the score in the second set to win 6-3 before successfully winning his serving game to finish 6-2 in the decisive set.

With a final victory of 2-1 against the Australian opponent, Hoang Nam will progress to the second round to face off against Italian Federico Gaio on August 31.

The Italian player is notable for once climbing to 124th place in the ATP 2020. In the first round of the Challenger 50 Bangkok Open 2 he swiftly defeated Australian player Omar Jasika after only two sets.

After his success at the Bangkok Open 1, Hoang Nam jumped from 328th to 290th position in the ATP rankings.

The Bangkok Open 2 tournament is taking place from August 29 to September 4 and has a total prize money of up to US$37,530.

HCM City Children's Hospital 1, Smile Train bring smiles back to 10,000 children

From 2007 to now, HCM City Children's Hospital 1 together with humanitarian organisation Smile Train has supported and provided free surgery for 10,000 children with cleft lip and palate.

This comprehensive surgical treatment programme was reviewed last week by the HCM City Children's Hospital, one of the leading hospitals in the treatment of cleft lip and palate. 

Director of the HCM City Children's Hospital 1 Nguyễn Thanh Hùng said that the dedication of generations of doctors, effective health insurance policies and meaningful support from relevant NGOs have contributed to the programme’s success.

Nguyễn Văn Kịch acknowledged his daughter Nguyễn Minh Thư’s condition since pre-birth and yet decided to keep the baby as his family trusted their doctors and nurses.

Minh Thư had her first surgery at six months old and just finished a second surgery. As Thư’s cleft lip has now begun to heal, she can eat and drink normally like many other children. 

According to Nguyễn Văn Đẩu, head of the Department of Odonto-Stomatology of Children's Hospital 1, cleft lip and palate defects are caused by genetics and environment.

Of 1.5 million babies born every year in Việt Nam, 3,000 cases are diagnosed with cleft lip and palate. Children with cleft lip and palate are often unable to breastfeed because they are prone to choking. They must be fed with an assistive device.

Since they are also very susceptible to digestive disorders, infections, stunting, growth retardation, and ear, nose and throat diseases that cause hearing loss, timely intervention is crucial to prevent children from being physically and intellectually stunted.

Đẩu said that the treatment of children with cleft lip and palate must be comprehensive to ensure aesthetics, stable speech sound and normal eating habits.

On August 26, with the support of Smile Train, Children's Hospital 1 also put into operation a Research and Training Center for comprehensive care of children with cleft lip and palate, helping them regain confidence and become more successful in the future. 

Man prosecuted for smuggling four adopted sons to Cambodia

Police in the northern city of Haiphong have prosecuted a local man for smuggling four adopted sons to Cambodia.

According to Haiphong Police, four families in Hong Bang District denounced Nguyen Van Anh, 45, for selling their teenage children to a casino in Cambodia.

"Investigations showed that the man adopted the four teenage boys who are friends of his son," police reported. "He then managed to persuade them to go to Cambodia to work with monthly salaries of between VND 15-20 million. After the boys agreed, he co-operated with another man to send the boys to Cambodia and sell them to a local casino for USD2,400 each."

After a time working at the casino, the four boys found that they had been cheated. They contacted their families who then repurchased them from the casino and denounced Van Anh.

According to police, Van Anh had just been released after serving a jail sentence for transporting drugs since 2020.

He was arrested again on August 30 and prosecuted for two charges including human smuggling and smuggling children under 16 years old.

Rash of HCM City cosmetic clinics suspended

A rash of clinics in HCM City have been suspended for 18 months after it was discovered they were operating without licenses and lacked advertising permissions.

Despite not being licensed, Ga Spa Ltd. Co.’s branch in Thu Duc District, provided medical services. It advertised its services without permission. Besides facing the 18-month suspension, the facility has also been fined VND42.5 million (USD1,811).

AZ Noskin clinic, which specialises in offering skin care services, has been suspended for 18 months and fined VND107 million for lacking an operational license and selling products without clear origins. One doctor at the clinic had to pay a fine of VND75 million for not having a practising certificate.

The same suspension was imposed on unlicensed Adona Spa in Go Vap District which lacked licenses for advertising its products and services. It also sold products of unclear origins. The facility has been fined VND118.5 million.

JKorea Beauty Spa in the same district will be closed temporarily for 18 months for the same violations as Adona Spa.

Meanwhile, Nam Viet General Clinic, which sold expired medicines and lacked advertisement licenses for some products, had its operational licence withdrawn for three months.

Goods senders, recipients must declare information from September

From September 1, senders of goods via passenger cars must declare information to the driver, according to new regulations.

The Government issued Decree 47/2022/ND-CP amending and supplementing some articles of Decree 10/2020/ND-CP.

The new decree regulates that passenger car service providers must require information from goods senders, including the types of goods and senders’ and recipients’ full names, addresses, ID card numbers and phone numbers.

The decree also states that taxis should have fewer than nine seats, including a driver, and a service life of 12 years.

Besides, information from automobile trackers will be used for the state management of transport and operation of transport businesses and shared with the Traffic Police Department, the General Department of Taxation and the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

From July next year, auto transport businesses are required to install cameras and automobile trackers integrated with cameras so they will be granted signage.

The automobile trackers integrated with cameras must meet the criteria specified in the decree.

Moreover, the decree bans passenger transport businesses from using cars with fewer than 10 seats converted from cars with at least 10 seats. 

Cars whose size or appearance resembles those with nine seats or more are also prohibited from being used in the taxi business.

According to the decree, once the issuing authority decides to revoke a business license, the transport business must submit its business license and signage to the authority within seven days, and stop all transport business activities.

Hanoi to build second int’l airport

To ease the burden of heavy passenger traffic at Noi Bai International Airport after 2050 and meet the demand for modern infrastructure in the capital, Hanoi City will construct a second international airport in the southeast.

Under a plan signed by Party Secretary Dinh Tien Dung, Hanoi will expand and upgrade the current Noi Bai International Airport.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, Noi Bai will handle a total of 100 million passengers by 2050.

The location of the new airport will be in the south and southeast of Hanoi.

As for inter-regional traffic, Hanoi will accomplish the construction of new national highways, expressways and beltways to connect neighboring areas. More bridges crossing the Hong and Duong rivers will be constructed.

Proposal on transferring funds to traffic projects rejected

The National Assembly Standing Committee has turned down a proposal on transferring VND932 billion from the health, social security and labor sectors to three traffic projects.

At an extraordinary meeting on August 29, the National Assembly Standing Committee discussed the allocation of capital to economic recovery programs and extra State budget in 2022, as well as the remaining capital from the central budget in the 2021-2025 period.

For the VND932 billion, which will not be used up, including VND802 billion for the health sector and VND130 billion for social security and employment, the Government proposed allocating the capital to three traffic projects.

However, the transfer of capital from the health, social security and employment sectors to transport is not in line with Resolution 43, according to the chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly, Nguyen Phu Cuong.

The Finance and Budget Committee suggested using that amount of money for other projects which have not been allocated enough capital in the social segment, instead of transferring it to other fields.

In terms of the capital adjustment proposed by the Government, especially the changes in the entire list and expected capital level for projects in the health sector, the Finance and Budget Committee believed that it was suitable and necessary for the current situation.

For the allocation of the VND176 trillion capital, the Finance and Budget Committee will seek permission from the National Assembly Standing Committee on promulgating a resolution to allocate the capital to each sector and field.

For the three traffic projects, the Government should consider using capital from other sources such as VND11,437 billion from the infrastructure segment, if necessary.

Gov’t sets up Capital Region Coordinating Council

The Government has decided to establish Capital Region Coordinating Council led by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh.

The move aims at renovating regional coordination mechanism, promoting sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity, and ensuring national defence and security for Ha Noi and nine surrounding provinces.

The aforesaid provinces are Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, and Thai Nguyen.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, who is Chairman of the Council, will be assisted by three Vice Chairmen namely Minister of Planning and Investment (Standing Vice Chairman), Minister of Construction, and Chairman of Ha Noi Municipal People's Committee. 

Members of the Council include Deputy Ministers from the Ministries of Finance, Industry and Trade, Construction, Health, Education and Training, Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Defense, Agriculture and Rural Development, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, Information and Communications, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Home Affairs, Justice and Government Office and Chairpersons of nine provincial People's Committees in the region.   

The Council shall be allowed to establish sub-committees as focal points for coordination by sectors, fields or sub-regions. 

Hai Phong exhibition highlights national development achievements

An exhibition spotlighting development achievements of the country and Hai Phong in particular, opened in the northern port city on August 30.

On display are over 200 photos and documents, highlighting important historical events and great achievements of the country during the last 77 years. Hai Phong’s breakthrough developments and integration efforts in recent years are also introduced at the week-long event. 

In her opening speech, Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Tran Thi Hoang Mai underlined efforts of the municipal Party Committee and people in speeding up integration and development. 

Hai Phong has always been among the top destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI), she said, noting that the city has a synchronous transport infrastructure system, including highways, deep-water ports, and an international airport. 

The locality has worked hard in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and also paid attention to improving its position in the northern key economic region.  

Hai Phong aims to become a green, civilized, modern city in the future, she said.

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