The 10th international food festival, an annual event by the Service Department for Diplomatic Corps since 2014, took place in Hanoi on December 11, offering visitors myriad dishes from different cultures.

There were over 100 stalls run by 35 embassies, foreign representative agencies, and units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and departments of external affairs from localities across Vietnam.

The annual event offers an occasion for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between nations and introducing Vietnam to international friends. It also raises funds to support disadvantaged people, including orphans, people with disabilities, and needy women, with donations nearing VND5 billion ($212,089) after nine editions.

Spreading a love of Hanoi on “zero dong” tours

Would you like to take a tour around Hanoi for free, accompanied by young and enthusiastic students? It’s quite easy. All foreign tourists need do is register on the website of Hanoikids and wait for a tour.

The Hanoikids Club organises regular “zero dong” tours for foreigners to create an effective English language environment for students.

After registering on the Hanoikids website, tourists only pay costs associated with any travel, entry tickets, and food and drinks consumed during the tour.

Founded in 2006, Hanoikids has a total of 800 members.

It works under the slogan “Become a small ambassador of Hanoi”.

With the power of youth and a positive effect, Hanoikids receives good reviews on many tourist websites.

It has become a bridge for spreading a love of Hanoi among foreign visitors.

Vietnam appeals for cooperation, contributions to peace, stability, legal order at sea

Countries should cooperate with one another and make active and practical contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability, and legal order at sea, Vice Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said on December 10.

She made the remark while responding to the media’s question regarding the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The official affirmed that the adoption of the 1982 UNCLOS – the “constitution of the seas and oceans” – is significant to the development of international law in general and the international law of the sea in particular. Over the last 40 years, the convention has always served as a comprehensive and full international legal framework and the legal foundation for all activities of sea and ocean management and use.

As a law-abiding and responsible member of the international community and an active member of the 1982 UNCLOS, Vietnam has consistently upheld the convention’s guidelines, goals, and principles; seriously complied with and implemented the convention; persistently resolved sea-related differences by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS; and actively engaged in and contributed many initiatives to activities within the institutions set up under the convention, winning the international community’s recognition, Hang noted.

Besides, Vietnam has also stepped up perfecting its legal regulations on sea management and use in accordance with the convention, while enhancing international maritime cooperation on the basis of UNCLOS and the UN Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015, according to the Vice Spokeswoman.

On this occasion, Vietnam also emphasised that countries need to continue respecting and fully implementing their obligations under UNCLOS and international law; cooperate with each other; and make active and practical contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability, and legal order at sea, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, and the sustainable development of the seas and oceans.

Hanoi friendship cycling journey held to promote green practices

A friendship cycling journey took place in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district on December 11 with a view to raising public awareness of environmental protection.

The event, drawing nearly 300 Vietnamese and international participants, was held by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HAUFO) and local authorities.

In her opening remarks, Nguyen Lan Huong, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi and President of HAUFO, said developing a “bright, green, clean, beautiful, and civilised” capital city remains one of the consistent targets of Hanoi.

Such activities as the cycling journey aim to improve the awareness among local residents and foreigners living in the city about environmental protection and climate change response, and encourage the use of bicycles and other green transport vehicles to help achieve sustainable development, she added.

Highly valuing the event, Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Tatiana Pugh Moreno affirmed diplomatic corps and international organisations’ pledge to work closely with HAUFO to strengthen friendship among countries and contribute to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

On this occasion, the organising board presented bicycles to five disadvantaged students with outstanding academic results to support their learning efforts.

UNCLOS 1982 an effective mechanism to address sea disputes: experts

The practical implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has shown that it is an effective mechanism for the peaceful settlement of disputes at sea, said Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao, a member of the International Law Commission (ILC) for the 2023-2027 tenure.

He stressed that the signing of the convention on December 10, 1982, marked the first time a set of rules for sea and ocean activities was established, thus helping build a new legal order at sea.

According to him, the convention best represents the codification of international custom and the progressive development of international law in the maritime field, and one of its greatest contributions is the establishment of a new effective mechanism for the settlement of maritime disputes.

The UNCLOS 1982 has laid the foundation for resolving maritime disputes from maritime delimitation, fisheries disputes, navigation, marine scientific research, undersea cable and pipeline installation to other sea-related disputes, Thao said, adding that over one-third of the 500 overlapping seas have been resolved so far.      

The ambassador also stated that in the spirit of complying with the provisions of the convention, Vietnam is the most successful country in the region in terms of addressing maritime disputes with the most diverse tools. Vietnam creatively applied the principle of fairness in delimiting the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf with Thailand in 1997, the Gulf of Tonkin with China in 2000, delimiting the continental shelf with Indonesia in 2003. It also applied the mode of win-win cooperation and joint exploitation of fisheries with China in the Gulf of Tonkin  in 2004, with Malaysia in 1995, and Cambodia in 1982, and is continuing negotiations to resolve maritime delimitation outside the Gulf of Tonkin, and on the delimitation of an exclusive economic zone with Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Veeramalla Anjaiah, a senior journalist and currently a senior research fellow at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) of Indonesia, said that the UNCLOS, considered the ‘Constitution of the oceans’, has laid down a comprehensive law and order regime in the world's oceans and seas, and established rules for managing all activities of using oceans and marine resources.

Therefore, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including this convention, is of great significance.

According to him, over the past 40 years, the UNCLOS 1982 has proven to be an important document in dealing with all issues related to international navigation.

Gregory Poling, Director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the US-based Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), highlighted the important role of this convention for small and developing countries.

He emphasised that the UNCLOS 1982 creates a more equal system for all states to access and manage marine resources and enjoy their rights. The document has given developing countries and coastal states a greater voice, at least in the East Sea.

It is the most widely accepted international treaty after the United Nations Charter. Therefore, every member of the international system has a role to play in shaping this convention, he added.

Vietnam boosts parliamentary collaboration with UAE

Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should intensify cooperation in agriculture and energy which are key fields of the Western Asian country, Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong recently told Hamad Ahmed Al Rahoumi, First Deputy Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council (FNC).

Phuong, who was on a working visit to the UAE on December 7-8, congratulated the country on its 51st National Day (December 2), and appreciated its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and active participation in the international political life for peace, stability and development.

Welcoming the Vietnamese NA delegation, Al Rahoumi said he believes that the visit will contribute to promoting the bilateral relations, especially as the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.

He proposed the two sides step up delegation exchanges, exert efforts to bring two-way trade to 10 billion USD, maintain coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums, soon sign a cooperation agreement between the two parliaments, and consider the establishment of a friendship parliamentarians’ group.

During his stay, NA Vice Chairman Phuong also met Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), who affirmed his willingness to share experience with Vietnam in building e-Government through an open mechanism, and suggested the two countries sign a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation in this field.

Phuong said that Vietnam pays great attention to developing information technology and digital transformation, so as to better the management and administration of the Government, State agencies and the National Assembly to serve production and business activities. businesses and meet the needs of the people.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam and the UAE will intensify the exchange of experience in this field.

The NA Vice Chairman also met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the UAE.

Ancient town tourism needs refreshing for recovery

Despite tourism reopening this year, local businesses in Hoi An have asked for more supportive solutions from the state for a full recovery after 90% of travel enterprises closed or withdrew from the market in 2020-21.

A recent survey from Quang Nam’s provincial tourism association unveiled that 95% of 200 tourism businesses called for access to bank loans and preferred rates, eased debt payments, tax reductions, human resources and infrastructure investment.

Huynh Thi Minh from the Hoi An tourism human resources club said 65 proposals from hotel owners, travel agencies and tourism service suppliers focused on financial assistance, market promotions, and refreshing Hoi An's tourism brand.

It needs destinations for tourists from Asia, the US and Australia as well as the emerging markets of India, the Republic of Korea and France, she added.

Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong from the Quang Nam provincial tourism department said 65% of tourism services had resumed, but only 56,000 foreign tourists out of 1.5 million had visited the province in the first half of 2022.

Hoi An was seen as a favourite destination in Vietnam when the UNESCO-recognised world heritage site hosted 60% of total visitors (7 million in 2019) in Quang Nam province, she said.

Nguyen Son Thuy, general secretary of the Quang Nam Tourism Association, said local businesses had not yet fully recovered from the COVID-19 ‘shock’.

He said Vietnam had hosted a record 18 million international tourists in 2019, of which 67% were from China and the RoK, but the number of tourists from these two major markets had not yet recovered due to pandemic lockdown policies.

Pham Chuong Hoang, an expert from the national economics university, said good products, high-quality human resources, digital transformation, and tourism promotions were crucial proposals from local tourism businesses that would help them be ‘healthy’ again from a two-year pandemic illness.

Tran Quoc Quan from the Quang Nam Provincial department of labour, invalid and social affairs said nearly 1 million labourers in the province were infected with COVID-19 in 2020-2021, of which 30,000 were self-employed persons and tourism workers in Hoi An.

Reductions of insurance fees and allowances had been provided to thousands of businesses and unemployed workers in the tourism sector, he added.

Classical music concert held to welcome Christmas season

The choir and soloists of the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) are scheduled to hold a special concert at the municipal Opera House on December 16 – 17 to celebrate the Christmas season.

The Christmas concert is set to begin with an orchestra piece called Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson, an American composer of light music who lived from 1908 to 1975.

Following this will be two pieces, including Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate featuring Pham Khanh Ngoc, a female vocalist who has won First Prize at the Concour Festival in 2019. A chorus from Handel’s Messiah, For Unto Us a Child is Born, will then be played.

Furthermore, German Christmas song Maria Wiegenlied by Max Reger will be performed by soprano soloist Duyen Nguyet.

A Christmas Scherzo by American arranger and keyboard player Don Sebesky and O Holy Night will then be played by Dao Mac, a baritone who plays many roles in HBSO operas, from Papageno in The Magic Flute to Doctor Falk in Die Fledermaus.

Dao Mac will sing It’s beginning to look like Christmas by Michael Buble, a celebrated Canadian composer.

The solo orchestra will return with Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, before leading into Variations on Jingle Bells led by the HBSO chorus.

Most notably, a group of Korean children residing in Ho Chi Minh City will then bring to the stage a performance Santa Claus is Coming to Town, as well as singing festive songs from the movie Home Alone.

The concert will be conducted by Tran Nhat Minh who has trained in both Russia and Italy and is the chorus master of the HBSO.

Relay race against natural disasters and climate change sees large turn out

More than 1,000 people participated in a relay race against natural disasters and climate change on December 10 in the central city of Da Nang.

The race was held as part of activities within the framework of the "Together We Act" campaign which is running in response to the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction on October 13. The event was co-hosted by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam.

Participants in the race were made up of people of all age from across the country with two distance categories, including three km for people aged six to 16 and 15 km for those over the age of 16.

Recent years has seen the country’s natural disaster prevention and control record comprehensive achievements due to investment in building a solid infrastructure system coupled with the application of science and technology.

Furthermore, the country has also paid special attention to raising public awareness by mobilising the participation of the entire society in disaster prevention, response, and recovery.

Maharajan Muthu, chief of the Child Survival and Development Program of UNICEF Viet Nam, pointed out that the event is an effective way of contributing to the fight against climate change.

He emphasised that UNICEF has stood alongside children, families, communities, governments, and partners as a means of resolving any problems, adding that practical actions are needed to overcome challenges to create a brighter future for all children throughout the country.

HCM City among most searched destinations by US travelers

Ho Chi Minh City was named among the top 10 trending destinations on online flight booking search service Google Flights, which gives an insight into where Americans are looking to travel this year and beyond.

CNN Travel recently revealed Google’s annual roundup of Year in Search trends, which covers a wide variety of topics, including top 10 trending destinations.

The website noted that Google’s list is comprised of trips departing from the US between January 1 and September 30, as well as searches done during that time frame.

According to the data, Ho Chi Minh City ranked second in the list.

CNN quoted Google as saying Vietnam moved to reopen its tourism industry at the start of the year, while other countries which are traditionally popular such as Japan and China remained shut.

“That could explain why Ho Chi Minh City placed high on Google Flights' trending list,” the website added.

“A spate of new hotels opening in popular destinations like Phu Quoc and Ke Ga Bay - both of which are in the southern part of the country and accessible via Ho Chi Minh City,” it shared.

London of the UK topped the list, while Paris of France ranked third.

The rest of the top 10 included New Delhi of India, Toronto of Canada, Rome of Italy, Mumbai of India, Vancouver of Canada, Lisbon of Portugal, and New York of the US.

Vietnam's 'Trail Queen' wins Doi Inthanon race on international debut

Hà Thị Hậu finished top of the podium in her international debut at the Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB, which closed on December 11 in Chiang Mai.

The Vietnamese runner finished first in the women's Pagoda50 category with a time of 6hr 15.31min in the 54km race. The athlete of MUDE Running Team was the winner of both women's 20-34-year-old group and women's overall class. In the Pagoda50 general, Hậu was the 12th finisher.

Hậu is a rising star of Việt Nam's, grabbing remarkable results from both trail and road races domestically. The Chiang Mai's Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB was the first international event that she took part in. The 33-year-old said she did not force herself for a place on the podium but felt free to run. For her, success meant a comfortable and fast time. Hậu was one of almost 60 runners from Việt Nam at the Thai event.

They were among about 3,000 competitors who ran in different categories from 14km to 171km. Many of them could not finish their races. Hậu said she would take part in the final of the 2022 Asia Trail Master Championship next week.

Khánh Hòa recovers over 1,254ha for urban area project

Khánh Hòa Provincial People’s Committee recently approved a resolution to recover more than 1,254ha of land in Cam Ranh City for a bayside urban area project. 

The area includes the communes of Cam Lập and Cam Thịnh Đông, as well as districts of Ba Ngòi, Cam Lợi, Cam Linh, Cam Thuận, Cam Phú, Cam Phúc Nam, Cam Phúc Bắc and Cam Nghĩa. 

This is part of the plan for the provincial People’s Committee to complete the project dossier before submitting it to the Prime Minister for approval and carrying out the selection process for investors. 

Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, vice chairman of Khánh Hòa People’s Committee, said that the investment objective of the project is to establish a complete and comprehensive urban area, which will include infrastructure systems, residences, public spaces, services for businesses and the city, parks and greenery, resorts, golf courses and theme parks. 

The project aims to make use of the land and promote socio-economic development in Cam Ranh Bay and City. 

Total funding for the project is expected to be over VNĐ42 trillion (US$1.8 billion). It has a total operation term of 50 years, counted from the date that investors receive permission for land allocation, lease and use. 

Yên Bái Province proposes civil airport to receive 1 million passengers per year

The People's Committee of Yên Bái Province has sent a request to the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Administration of Việt Nam to add Yên Bái Airport to the master plan on the development of the national airport system in the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Ministry of Transport said.

In the written request, Yên Bái Airport is proposed to be at 4C grade under the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), with an expected capacity of 800,000 to 1 million passengers per year, and a military airport of grade 2.

The investment will be in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) with the planning period of 2021-2030.

Therefore, Yên Bái Province proposed to add Yên Bái Airport to the master plan on the development of the national airport system in the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

Despite being a locality with the Nội Bài-Lào Cai Expressway running through it and being not far from the Sa Pa airport project that is about to be built, Yên Bái Province still wants to have its own airport.

Last month, the Civil Aviation Administration of Việt Nam (CAAV) had a meeting with the People's Committee of Yên Bái Province on the proposal of adding Yên Bái Airport to the master plan on development of the national airport system.

Preliminary research results of the CAAV showed that Yên Bái Airport is feasible for civil aviation operations.

In the future, when Sa Pa Airport is in operation, it will be necessary to establish additional flight methods and unify the coordination and operation of the overlapping areas between the two airports, according to the CAAV.

Currently, the province has a military airport grade 2 managed by Regiment 921 of the Air Defence and Air Force Service (Ministry of Defence) in Yên Bái City. The military airport has a total area of ​​279.47ha with a runway length of 2,400m, which is convenient for military and civil services.

Vĩnh Tuy - Ngã Tư Sở high line to be opened by the end of this year

The No.2 Belt Road Project from Vĩnh Tuy to Ngã Tư Sở will increase capacity and help solve traffic issues in Hà Nội when it is completed by the end of this month, according to the Hanoi Traffic Construction Projects Investment Management Board.

Construction crews have basically completed the project and are currently finishing the details for a 2022 opening.

The project, which started in April 2018, includes one main bridge and three connecting bridges from Vĩnh Tuy, Ngã Tư Vọng and Ngã Tư Sở.

The total length of the high line is 5.1 kilometres with a width of 19 metres, and 7 metres wide for entrances and exits.

The lower Vĩnh Tuy-Chợ Mơ-Ngã Tư Vọng route is also widened. After widening, the No.2 Belt Road will have eight lanes available, six for motor vehicles and two for non-motorized ones.

The total investment of the project is VNĐ9.5 trillion (US$383 million), of which VNĐ4.1 trillion (US$165 million) was for land clearance in the areas of Hoàng Mai, Hai Bà Trưng, Thanh Xuân and Đống Đa districts.

After completion, the high line will combine with the lower road and create a system that will divert and increase capacity for routes where vehicles travel from western Hà Nội to southern and eastern Hà Nội.

Ninh Binh offers new spiritual tourism product at night

Ninh Binh Province’s Buddhist Sangha has inaugurated Tay Phuong Pagoda and Tu An Pagoda at the Ky Lan Temple Complex, offering visitors to the northern province a new night-time spiritual travel destination.

Ky Lan Temple Complex is located on the eponymous mountain sitting independently in the heart of Ninh Binh, where archaeologists have discovered layers of animal bones and mollusc shells.

In recent years, religious structures and the natural settings in the mountain have been renovated with the donations of local residents, pilgrims and enterprises.

According to the Ninh Binh Buddhist Sangha, the newly built Tay Phuong and Tu An pagodas are outstanding structures that bear the distinctive features of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Upon the inauguration of the two pagodas, Buddhist monks, nuns, laypeople and pilgrims visited the complex to pray for peace and good luck ahead of the new year.

Ninh Binh currently has 357 Buddhist temples, 26 of which are recognised as national sites. Among the most notable features of Buddhism in Ninh Binh are the nearly 20 temples associated with limestone mountains and caves.

Ministry gives prizes to winning students of science competition

The Ministry of Education and Training yesterday held a glittering prize-giving ceremony to award students who won prizes in the competition ‘Science and technology for students in higher education institutions in 2022’.

The Ministry received 416 entries about 6 science and technology fields of students in 94 higher education institutions. The organizing committee has selected 250 entries to give awards including 12 first prizes, 44 second prizes, 78 third prizes and 116 consolation prizes.

The participating topics in the 2022 competition mostly focused on socio-economic development such as new materials, medicine, agriculture, and economy-society.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc said that in recent years, there have been dramatical changes in scientific research at higher education institutions with the rate of international publication annually increasing from 20 percent to 25 percent. Moreover, technology transfer activities have gradually achieved remarkable results.

Activities celebrating Vietnam-France diplomatic ties kicked off

French President of the Senate Gérard Larcher and National Assembly Chairwoman Vuong Dinh Hue last week kicked off a program to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France and the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership. These activities will take place in both Vietnam and France throughout 2023.  

Accordingly, the official logo and slogan of the 50th Anniversary of French-Vietnamese diplomatic relations were released. The logo features the image of the Eiffel Tower of France and the Vietnamese Ao Dai (traditional long dress) drawn in a stylized way.

Meanwhile, “Cultural Sharing” is set as the program’s slogan to honor the two countries' history and the rich bilateral relationship in many fields.

As planned, a series of cultural events will take place across Vietnam next year, including the Hanoi Photo Festival 2023 project; the Light and Sound Show at the Hue Citadel; the Food, Fashion and Design Festival in Ho Chi Minh City; the "Balade en France" Food Festival in Hanoi, among others.

Unlocking private investment in science, technology, innovation development in Vietnam

The Ministry of Science and Technology, UNDP in Vietnam, and UNDP SDG Impact co-hosted a conference in Hanoi last week with policymakers, experts, investors, and businesses to explore barriers and opportunities to unlocking private investment to accelerate the development of science and technology (sci-tech) and innovation in Vietnam.

During the conference, the Vietnam SDG Investor Map (the Map) was launched to provide policymakers, investors, and relevant stakeholders with market intelligence to direct their capital and activity toward SDG-aligned investment themes and business models, known as Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAs). This serves as a basis for Vietnam to invest in SDG-priority areas to generate profit and consider environmental and social outcomes. The Map was made possible with support from the non-profit Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP), UNDP SDG Impact’s anchor partner in the ASEAN region.

The Map will be used to guide the private sector to where funding is needed most within the country, and they are encouraged to apply sci-tech innovation and efforts to realise the IOAs. Using UNDP SDG Impact’s robust methodology, the Map has identified 14 IOAs across 6 SDG priority sectors that require funding, and match the Government’s policies, including Education, Healthcare, Food & Beverages, Infrastructure, Renewable Energy and Financial Services.

The Map also identified seven white spaces which are IOAs that have growth potential and are aligned with the national development needs, but where Government policies can go further to foster private sector investment participation.

To accelerate private investment in sci-tech and innovation development, the Ministry of Science and Technology, UNDP Vietnam and its partners will facilitate dialogues among ministries, investors, academia, experts, and businesses to identify solutions to overcome existing barriers and contribute to the development of sci-tech and innovation in Vietnam.

The market intelligence from the Map is freely available on the SDG Investor Platform.

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