Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met representatives of the Vietnamese community in Belgium and other European countries on December 13 (local time), as part of his official visit to the country.

Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU), Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao said that the 13,000-strong community formed in the 1960s regularly meets and organises activities, especially cultural and culinary ones, helping the host country's government and people understand and recognise the image of Vietnamese people who succeed in their careers, integrate well into the community, and maintain their own identity.

Besides promoting Vietnam’s images, culture, and Vietnamese people in the host country, the Vietnamese community in Belgium also actively looks towards the homeland through fundraising activities to support victims of flood and other natural disasters, and Agent Orange, as well as join hands in the COVID-19 pandemic fight.

Hoang Dinh Thang, President of the Union of Vietnamese in Europe, said that as the EU is an important partner of Vietnam, more exchange and cultural activities should be taken to strengthen relations and promote the country's image in the EU.

Pham Huy Hoang, Chairman of the young Vietnamese intellectuals network in Europe, said that many of them are knowledgeable in fields, especially in those that Vietnam is having high demand, for example innovation, digital transformation, green economy, and circular economy.

He called for financial support for his network and other similar networks so that they can operate effectively and take advantage of the intellectual resources for national construction.

The PM said that most of the about 5 million overseas Vietnamese living and working in 130 countries around the world are successful, asserting their position and gaining positive assessments from local authorities. He described this as a great pride and priceless assets of the Vietnamese nation.

He informed the community of achievements in national construction and development, especially those over the past 35 years of the Doi moi (renewal) process, adding that the effective implementation of the “safe adaptation, flexible COVID-19 control” policy since early this year generates positive results in socio-economic recovery.

Chinh hailed the Vietnamese community in Belgium for their contributions to the host country as well as the Vietnam- Belgium relations, and asked the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and other agencies to further support overseas Vietnamese to overcome difficulties and challenges.

Prime Minister meets Lao counterpart

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh in Brussels on December 13, as part of his trip to Belgium to attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit.  

The two PMs showed their delight at the strong development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. They discussed issues related to the preparation for the upcoming 45th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

Regarding cooperation projects between the two countries, the leaders welcomed the successful implementation of four key projects and the start of three new ones, expressing their belief that these projects will be implemented effectively, contributing to promoting connection between the two economies and bringing practical benefits to the people and businesses of both nations.

They agreed to continue efforts to remove obstacles and difficulties facing cooperation projects, towards deepening the bilateral relations in a more substantive and comprehensive manner.

The two sides exchanged their views on global and regional issues of common concern, and agreed to closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums, especially ASEAN, the UN and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is willing to support Laos to successfully undertake its international responsibilities, including hosting the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit in 2023, and assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, thus raising its role and position in the region and the world.

Party chief: Vietnam treasures faithful relationship with Laos

The Vietnamese Party, State and people appreciate its faithful relationship with fraternal Lao counterparts in the past struggle for national liberation and current national development, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said.

During a reception in Hanoi on December 13 for head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP)’s Commission for Propaganda and Training Khamphan Pheuyavong, General Secretary Trong affirmed that Vietnam strongly and fully supports Laos’ renewal and national development.

He believed that under the leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will continue reaping greater achievements and successfully realize the Resolution adopted by the LPRP’s 11th National Congress.

Speaking highly of the outcomes of cooperation and talks between the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Lao Commission for Propaganda and Training, he asked both sides to fulfill assigned political tasks and work closely together to effectively realise agreements between the two Parties and countries, and cooperation agreements between the two commissions.

Pheuyavong praised the success of the recent ninth theoretical workshop between the two Parties as well as activities held during the 2022 Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year marking the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

He also hailed the Vietnamese Party's Commission for Information and Education, the Central Theoretical Council and other Vietnamese theoretical agencies for working closely with the LPRP’s Commission for Propaganda and Training to realise agreements reached by leaders of the two Parties and countries and cooperation plans between the two commissions, especially in theoretical research. These include the compilation of a book on Kaysone Phomvihane Thought and a set of books on the history of the Vietnam-Laos special relationship, as well as the sharing of experience in propaganda and personnel training.

Photo exhibition marks 30 years of Vietnam-RoK ties

A photo exhibition was opened in Hanoi on December 14 to mark 30 years of diplomacy between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

On display at the event jointly held by the Vietnam News Agency and the Yonhap News Agency are 90 photos selected from the national archives of the two news agencies. The photos introduce key milestones recorded over the past 30 years of cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, investment, culture, and education between the two countries.

The exhibition is scheduled to run through to December 21.

HCM City to renovate polluted Xuyen Tam Canal next year

After prolonged delays, a project worth VNĐ9.6 trillion (US$405.6 million) to renovate polluted Xuyên Tâm Canal in HCM City is scheduled to start next year.

The eighth meeting of the 10th-tenure HCM City People's Council last week approved a resolution to implement investment for the renovation project of Xuyên Tâm Canal in the city’s Bình Thạnh and Gò Vấp districts.

The total length of Xuyên Tâm Canal is about 8.2km, of which the project's scope from Nhiêu Lộc - Thị Nghè Canal to Vàm Thuật River is 6.4km long.

The project has been delayed for 20 years and is also one of the city’s urgent projects of urban betterment and development plans in the period of 2021-25.

Previously, the project was planned to be invested under a BT (build-transfer) contract in a public-private partnership (PPP) model. But in 2019, the city agreed to allocate public investment capital from the city budget to implement the project.

Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in 2023 and be completed in 2028. The project needs to relocate more than 2,000 affected households along the canal.

Anh secures women's 50m compound gold at National Sports Games

Quang Ninh archers had a successful day on Sunday, bagging one gold medal and one bronze medal at the National Sports Games.

Young athlete Lê Phạm Ngọc Anh took her title in the women's 50m compound all-round event with 686 points. Teammate Châu Kiều Oanh earned a bronze with 678 points.

Nguyễn Như Quỳnh from Phú Thọ claimed the silver with 681 points.

Archery is organised at the Quảng Ninh Sports Complex in Hạ Long City.

A total of 270 athletes and coaches of 20 teams have registered to compete in 30 events from December 11-16.

The hosts take part in archery with nine athletes under coach Đặng Thị Nhàn and have targeted to win at least two titles.

Tan Son Nhat Airport to serve 800 flights daily during Tet Holiday

Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport will serve an average number of 800 flights with 120,000 passengers daily during the coming Lunar New Year, or the traditional Tet Holiday.

According to the airport, six domestic and 54 international airlines are operating here during this winter with an average 680 flights daily, which shows an increase of 40 flights compared to summer's figure.

The airport authorities have asked airlines to arrange more flights at night time during that peak period.

Following its full opening to both domestic and international passengers in March, Tan Son Nhat Airport had served over 22 million passengers by the end of October.

HCM City is planning to start construction on the T3 Terminal of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City in late December.

Construction is expected to take 37 months. Once operational, it will be able to serve up to 20 million passengers annually.

The new terminal will handle domestic flights, helping to ease pressure on the T1 Terminal, which is currently overloaded.

Quang Nam People’s Council verifies info that its member hits female caddie

A source from the People's Council of Quang Nam Province, on December 12, said that the People's Council was verifying information that a member of the provincial People's Council assaulted a golf service attendant at a golf course in Da Nang City.

Accordingly, the People's Council of Quang Nam Province has not received official information from the authorities about the person believed to be a member of the provincial People's Council allegedly beating a golf service attendant in Da Nang. Through information on social networks and the press, the People's Council of Quang Nam Province has identified the mentioned delegate as Nguyen Viet Dung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dat Quang Group.

“The Standing Committee of the People's Council is responsible for monitoring and verifying information. When there is official information, we will follow the regulations and procedures of the law. If he violates the status of a delegate, he will be strictly handled following the provisions of the law," the leader of the People's Council of Quang Nam Province informed.

Mr. Trinh Minh Duc, Chief of the Office of the National Assembly Delegation and the People's Council of Quang Nam Province, said that according to the regulations of the People's Council, the case could only be identified specifically and correctly from specific information of relevant authorities.

“If a member of the People's Council commits a violation, it will be proceeded according to the regulations. At present, there is only information on social networks and the press. There must be specific information from the competent authorities for the People’s Council to handle it," Mr. Trinh Minh Duc added.

Previously, as reported by SGGP Newspaper, fanpages, groups, and websites of golf clubs in Da Nang and across the country expressed their objection and boycotted N.V.D., Chairman of a real estate business, for his actions of using a golf club to hit L., a female caddie at BRG Da Nang golf course.

According to the announcement of Mr. Nguyen Muoi, Chairman of Danang Bach Khoa Golf Club, N.V.D. and three guests played golf at BRG Da Nang golf course on December 6. During the game, due to a disagreement with a female caddie over the number of strokes played in a hole, N.V.D. used a driver golf club to hit the caddie until the golf club was broken, causing her to lose consciousness and must be brought to the emergency room at Da Nang General Hospital. After that, D. forbade the golf course from announcing the incident outside; at the same time, he let his associates enter the golf course to threaten security guards, employees, and caddies not to reveal information.

“Realizing that this is an ugly act, seriously violating golf culture, tarnishing the image of Vietnamese golfers and the growing healthy sports industry, Bach Khoa Da Nang Golf Club announces a boycott of this golfer. Because it is a behavior disgracing the face of Vietnamese golf, we also recommend the Vietnam Golf Association, Da Nang Golf Association, Quang Nam Golf Association, three-region Bach Khoa Golf Association, BRG Da Nang golf course, MongtgoMeries Link golf course, Vinpearl golf course, Hoiana golf course, Banahill golf course, and Laguna golf course boycotting this person and making announcements on their pages so that members and everyone will know," the announcement of Mr. Nguyen Muoi, Chairman of Da Nang Bach Khoa Golf Club, stated.

Police raze cross-country trade, stockpile of nearly 7-ton firecrackers

Police of Thuong Tin District under the Hanoi Department of Public Security this morning informed a mysterious crime of tracing and razing a cross-country trade and stockpile of firecrackers with a total weight of up to nearly seven tons.

Previously, on October 12, the police forces grasped information at rental houses near the K74 warehouse in Vinh Loc Hamlet, Thuong Tin District showing suspicious signs of storing prohibited goods being firecrackers.

Through the verification, the police agency identified that the rental house of Nguyen Thi Mai in Thanh Tri District showed suspicious signs.

Therefore, on October 14, the Thuong Tin District Police promptly checked the rental houses and the functional forces detected 406 carton boxes with 12 small boxes in each box containing 36 cylinders of exploding fireworks with a total weight of over 6,800 kilograms.

On October 15, the Thuong Tin District Police prosecuted the criminal case for the act of “prohibited goods storing”. Besides, the case is being widened for investigation and the functional forces identified that the main subject of the case is Nguyen Manh Phai, born in 1998, and living in Thuong Tin District.

Via social media, Phai made acquaintance with a person nearby the Northern border area and regularly contact this person. After that, the subject proposed Phai prepare a warehouse containing a huge amount of firecrackers produced by China to consume in the Southern region by the end of the year. Subject Phai agreed and rent a rental house from Nguyen Van Truong, in Thuong Tin District to store firecrackers which is in the rental house range of Mai.

On October 14, when the functional forces detected the number of firecrackers in the rental house, Phai decided to flee to the localities of Lang Son, Dien Bien, Son La, Dak Lak, Phu Quoc and so on.

By December 9, the police agency caught Nguyen Manh Phai and forced the subject to confess his entire crime.

Competent agencies warn of rampant fake stamps, QR codes, packaging

Well-known products, even anti-counterfeiting stamps, QR codes, and packaging of various brands are counterfeited and sold on many sales channels.

They made the warning at a seminar on "Application of digital transformation in the prevention and combat of counterfeiting" held by the Representative Office of the National Office of Intellectual Property in Ho Chi Minh City in coordination with Vina CHG Company and the Vietnam Invention Association.

At the seminar, leaders of competent agencies warned of sophisticatedly-made fake stamps, QR codes, and packaging of various brands of anti-counterfeiting genuine ones that have been rampant in the market.

Mr. Tran Van Dung, Deputy Director of the Operations Department of the General Department of Market Surveillance, acknowledged that counterfeit goods are a burden to society. Many best-selling items including clothes, shoes, and food in the market are counterfeited. The end of the year is also the time when counterfeit goods and commercial fraud are rampantly sold especially on social networks.

According to preliminary statistics of the National Steering Committee 389 , from the beginning of 2022 until now, competent forces across the country have detected and handled about 100,000 violations. Amongst them, 12,275 are smuggling, and 82,678 cases of commercial fraud, tax fraud and 1,866 cases of counterfeit goods, and intellectual property violations.

Some e-commerce platforms sell double Swiss watches for less than VND1 million. Moreover, genuine clothes, shoes and cosmetics of many world-famous brands cost only hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese dong. "Real items can't have this price," said Nguyen Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Invention Association.

Mr. Tran Giang Khue, Head of the representative office of the National Office of Intellectual Property in Ho Chi Minh City, admitted that the prevention of counterfeit goods, counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights face many difficulties.

Friendship Street Vietnam - Korea Festival 2022 attracts Hanoi's visitors
 
Many cultural, artistic, culinary and entertainment activities, within the framework of the Friendship Street Vietnam - Korea Festival 2022, attracted tens of thousands of Hanoians and tourists.

Visitors can sample typical Korean dishes such as kimchi, mixed rice and noodles, fish cake, and grilled meat at a number of stalls along Tran Van Lai Street in Hanoi's  My Dinh area.

In addition to gastronomy, some highlights of the festival were the performances of Hanoi folk art, Korean music and dance, which helped tourists experience the space of Korean culture.

The space decorated with Cheongsa Chorong, Korean traditional lanterns, and Hoi An lanterns introduced cultural similarities of the two countries to the visitors.

South Korea's new ambassador to Vietnam, Oh Young Ju, attended the event and expressed her hope that through these cultural activities, the people of the two countries will have the opportunity to exchange and boost friendship and mutual understanding.

Chang Eun Sook, President of the Korean Association in Hanoi, stated that the purpose of the festival is to bring excitement back to Korean commercial areas that were disrupted because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is part of many activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (December 22, 1992 - December 22, 2022).

Vietnam Tourism Promotion Forum in India to take place this week

The Vietnam Tourism Promotion Forum, aimed at strengthening India-Vietnam tourism cooperation, took place on December 14 in New Delhi, India. 

The forum focused on flight connections and promoting special types of tourism, including culinary, wedding, MICE, golf, leisure and film. 

As part of the activities, Vietnam Days in India was also held from December 12 to 14, with a photo exhibition "Vietnamese Vitality" on the beauty of Vietnamese culture, country and people, a presentation of Dong Ho's folk paintings, a performance of ethnic musical instruments, screenings of video clips promoting Vietnamese culture, art and cuisine. 

The Vietnam Days program also featured a 3D digital exhibition on Vietnamese lacquer art, a demonstration of video game “Lac Viet Phieu Luu Ki” (An Adventure through the Land of Lac Viet) and art performances at the Magical Night organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In November, Vietnam welcomed 27,000 Indian arrivals, an increase of 31% compared to the previous month and 50% higher than the same period in 2019, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.

The total number of Indian visitors to Vietnam reached 109,000  during January-November, ranking 9th in top ten source markets and posting an average monthly growth rate of  49% in 2022.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet and Indigo (India) are operating dozens of air routes between the two countries. In June, Vietnam Airlines officially opened an air connection between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi. 

Meanwhile, Vietjet operates 17 routes from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang City, and Phu Quoc Island to New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Bangalore.

Campaign calls for no wildlife-based medicine prescription

The Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) on December 13 launched a campaign to call for no prescription of medicines based on wild animals.

According to the ENV, in October and November 2022, the centre called on nearly 2,000 traditional medicine business establishments in nine cities across the country to join a wildlife-friendly traditional medicine business network, and commit not to illegally trade in drugs and ingredients based on endangered, precious and rare wild species.

The poaching, trade and consumption of endangered, precious and rare wild animals still remain complicated, it said, attributing the situation to beliefs and habits of using medicines from wild animals to cure diseases or improve health.

ENV Vice Director Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung said traditional medicine practitioners and business establishments should choose to prescribe and trade in sustainable medicines instead of products from wild animals.

As part of the campaign to change public awareness of using drugs from wild animals, on November 6, the organisation hosted an annual race #Run4WildlifeHN, attracting the participation of over 350 runners from 25 countries.

Czech Republic supports strengthened Vietnam-EU relations: official

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jiri Kozak on December 12 affirmed that the country supports efforts to strengthen ties between Vietnam and the EU.

During a meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Le Thi Thu Hang as part of his visit to Vietnam from December 12 to 13, Jiri said that as the rotating President of the EU Council in the second half of 2022, the Czech Government has always actively boosted the removal of the European Commission’s IUU “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s aquatic product exports.

It also calls on EU member countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Jiri appreciated the role of the Vietnamese community in Czech, particularly their contributions to the country’s COVID-19 prevention and control.

Hang spoke highly of the visit by Jiri and the Czech pharmaceutical medical business delegation which she said helps boost the two countries’ relations, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry.

She emphasised that Vietnam always pays attention to boosting relationship with traditional partners and the Czech Republic is one of its prioritised partners in Central and Eastern Europe.

Hang said that Vietnam is grateful for the Czech Government’s donation of  250,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses that practically contribute to Vietnam’s COVID-19 prevention and control.

At the meeting, the two agreed to increase contact and exchange of delegations at all levels. 

Northern region enjoys sunny days before extreme cold

The northern region is forecast to be warmer during day time, reaching 22 degrees Celsius at the highest, between December 13 and 16, just ahead of a strong cold spell.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, in the four-day period of warmer weather, the temperatures are forecast to drop quickly to 12 degrees Celsius at night.

From December 17, a powerful cold spell will hit the north and north-central regions. The lowest temperatures are projected to range from 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, even below zero in high mountainous areas, with the possibility of frost and hoarfrost.

In addition, due to the influence of cold air, the Gulf of Tonkin area; the waters from Quang Tri to Ninh Thuan and from Binh Thuan to Ca Mau; the northern, southern and central areas of the East Sea will experience strong winds, high waves, and rough seas.

This is a dry cold, so the bitter cold only occurs at night and in early morning, while the daytime is sunny, said deputy director of the centre Hoang Phuc Lam, adding that the peak of the cold wave will fall in the early morning of December 18 and 19.

Meanwhile, from December 16 to 20, the central and south central regions are likely to enter a long period of heavy rains.

Vietnam, China step up hydrometeorological cooperation

The 13th meeting of the Vietnam-China joint working group on meteorological cooperation was held online by the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) on December 13.

The delegates shared views on weather forecasting, the exchange of meteorological information, personnel training, meteorological equipment and monitoring, and climate forecasting and services for Asia.

General Director of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration (NCHMF) Tran Hong Thai noted that apart from serving the interests of the two countries, the cooperation is expected to contribute to the development of the hydrometeorological community across the world and Asia in particular in natural disaster response, the protection of human life and daily activities, and sustainable socio-economic development.

Zhuang Goutai, head of the CMA, stressed that the two meteorological agencies of Vietnam and China have always supported each other to issue early warnings in order to reduce natural disaster damage and respond to climate change.

The CMA is willing to further cooperate with the NCHMF in meteorology and hydrology, thus promoting the development of the meteorological sector of each side, regionally and globally, he affirmed.

The two sides agreed to organise the 14th meeting in China in 2025.

Chinese University of Hong Kong to offer 30 scholarships to Vietnam

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) will offer 30 scholarships to Vietnamese high school students for the 2023-2024 academic year, heard a webinar co-hosted by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong (China) and CUHK on December 12.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Consul General Pham Binh Dam said the number of high schools benefiting from the scholarship programme has increased from five to nine, including those outside Hanoi. Each student will be awarded with a scholarship worth a maximum 2.5 billion VND (108,000 USD) for four years at the university.

Thanks to funding from the Hong Kong administration, tuition fees at universities in Hong Kong, including CUHK, are relatively lower than those in Europe and the US.

Prof. Andy Wong, Director of CUHK Admissions and Financial Aid, said CUHK now ranks 38th globally in the QS World University rankings and first in the News & World Report rankings.

Many disciplines and subjects taught at CUHK have also achieved high rankings compared to other universities worldwide.

Taiwanese-owned firm spends over US$ 63 million on Tet bonuses

The Pou Chen Corp of Taiwan (China), the world's largest manufacturer of branded sports footwear with factories in Vietnam, will spend 1.5 trillion VND (63.49 million USD) on year-end bonuses.

The group said on December 12 that the bonuses, which will be given to labourers working for its eight subsidiary companies on the occasion of Tet (Lunar New Year), the biggest festival in Vietnam.

The bonus is 30% higher than last year, the group said, adding that each employee will receive an amount equivalent to between one to 2.2 months’ salary.

The Pou Chen Corp's eight factories are located in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Tien Giang, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, and employ over 130,000 labourers. It supplies brands such as Nike, Puma and Adidas.

Pouyuen Vietnam Company Limited in Ho Chi Minh City, the biggest among the eight factories with more than 50,000 workers, had to let 20,000 workers take rotational leave because of difficulties regarding orders. However, during their 14 days off, each worker still received 180,000 VND per day.

HCM City leader highlights support for Lao investors

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen has highlighted a need to provide all possible support for Vietnamese and Lao investors and people and facilitate their exchanges, connectivity and business activities in localities.

During a reception in the city for Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on December 13, Nen spoke highly of cooperation programmes between Ho Chi Minh City and Lao localities, especially those reached at the Vietnam-Laos trade and investment promotion forum co-hosted by the municipal People’s Committee and Lao Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in the morning the same day.

He stressed that the signing of cooperation MoUs and economic contracts at the forum is the first step towards new and more specific cooperation plans expected by the two Prime Ministers.

Siphandone, for his part, believed that ties between the two nations will grow closer during 2022 Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year and subsequent years.

He hailed the signing of 17 MoUs and one economic contract on agriculture, hydropower development and tourism at the forum, which he said shows that there remains huge room for bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

The guest pledged that the Lao Government and authorities will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese investors and businesses to operate effectively. He wished to welcome more Vietnamese firms to Laos.

Can Tho exhibitions feature 1968 spring offensive, Paris Peace Accords

An exhibition featuring the Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising in 1968 spring, and another on the Paris Peace Accords were opened in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on December 13.

The “55 years of Mau Than 1968 – Unfading memories” exhibition displays 60 photos and many valuable items depicting historical stories and memories of the army and people of Can Tho in particular, and the southern region and the whole country in general in the resistance war against foreign invaders, for national liberation and reunification.

Meanwhile, the “The Paris Agreement on Vietnam – The Door to Peace” exhibition comprises of over 150 documents, objects and photos highlighting efforts of the Vietnamese people for the negotiations, signing and enforcement of the Paris Peace Accords.

The two will remain open until April 10.

Youth congress focuses on youthful desire of national devotion

The 12th National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) opened in Hanoi on December 14, drawing the participation of 980 delegates representing over 22 million members of the union both at home and abroad.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Bui Quang Huy, first secretary of the HCYU Central Committee, said the national congress is a great festival of Vietnamese youth as they are set to review and draw lessons from the previous five years, as well as to set targets for the 2022 - 2027 period.

Huy stressed that the event serves to demonstrate the political determination of Vietnamese youth moving into the new era, with great aspirations to overcome challenges and take national development initiatives.

Opening with the theme of "Aspirations - Solidarity - Mettle - Pioneering - Creativity", the Dec. 14-16 congress will see six major discussions held, with a specific focus on youngsters’ desire to devote themselves to the country. Other topics include strengthening the organisation of the Youth Union at the grassroots level and promoting Vietnamese youth’s international integration.

Immediately after the congress, a Youth Day will be launched in all 63 provinces and cities nationwide and also in Laos, featuring a wide range of activities, including a fund-raising campaign, tree planting, school repair, and other voluntary activities.

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