Hanoi has been honoured for its attractiveness in startup and innovation under the Vietnam Smart City Award 2023 programme series.

Launched on July 20, 2023, the award aims to honour provinces, cities, real estate investors, and technology businesses that feature urban development solutions. The award promotes cooperation in building appropriate models and the development of smart cities in Vietnam, said President of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) Nguyen Van Khoa at an award ceremony held by the association on November 30.

A total of 32 units and businesses were honoured in the categories of urban management, industry real estate, and technology services and solutions.

Nguyen Nhat Quang, Director of VINASA Institute of Science and Technology, pointed to the urgent need to build unified data infrastructure to serve the development of smart cities.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung also held that smart urban development should go in tandem with digital transformation, with people put at the centre.

The award ceremony took place within the framework of the Vietnam - Asia Smart City Summit 2023, which is taking place from November 29-30 under the theme of “Data Mining – Building Smart Cities for Sustainable Development”.

Action month calls for entire community’s engagement in HIV/AIDS fight

The ongoing National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control 2023 is themed “Creative community - Determination to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030”, which stresses the need for the entire community’s engagement in the work.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Thu Huong, Director of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control under the Ministry of Health, said the country is assessed by international organisations as a bright spot in the global map of the HIV/AIDS fight. However, there remain challenges as HIV is transmitted mostly by sexual contact, more popular among men who have sex with men (MSM), in recent years.

Elaborating the theme of this year’s National Action Month, she said the community mentioned here covers ministries, sectors, and organisations from central to local levels, the private sector, and social organisations. It especially targets communities, including HIV patients and those with high-risk behaviours such as MSM, transgender women, drug users, sex workers, and sex partners of those persons.

The theme aims to remind that HIV/AIDS prevention and control require the engagement of the political system from central to local levels and the entire community, along with creative methods since the understanding about HIV/AIDS has changed much, she noted.

The HIV situation has changed while the approach to and interventions related to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment have also changed. More effective tools are now available to control this pandemic by 2030, Huong went on.

There are currently 534 HIV/AIDS treatment establishments nationwide, including 506 supplying the antiretroviral (ARV) therapy covered by health insurance. As of September 14, there were 177,009 patients receiving ARV therapy, including 2,748 children and 174,261 adults, statistics show.

Efforts are being made to expand this therapy under the health insurance coverage and raise the rate of patients on ARV therapy achieving viral suppression to at least 95%.

To ensure financial self-sufficiency, the country has been working to switch funding for the ARV therapy from assistance sources to health insurance. It has also been mobilising the provision of anti-AIDS services by private health facilities. Technology application is also being boosted to manage and monitor the pandemic, Huong said.
 
Among the 250,000 people living with HIV in Vietnam at present, 88% know their status, 80% who know their status are on ARV therapy, and 98.4% of those on ARV therapy has achieved viral suppression.

Vietnam, France share experience in modernising public services

Representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs and the French Ministry of Public Transformation and Service exchanged experience in modernising public services, reforming administrative procedures, and raising digital transformation capacity, at a symposium in Hanoi on November 30.

The event formed part of the cooperation activities between the two ministries to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-France diplomatic relations and the 10 years of the bilateral strategic partnership.

In her opening remarks, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stressed that Vietnam always advocates accelerating administrative reform and the modernisation of public services, considering this a breakthrough for national development.

Administrative reform must serve the interests of people and businesses, placing their legal and legitimate rights and interests at the centre, and promoting innovation, for rapid, sustainable national development, the official stressed.

Tra expressed her belief that the symposium will contribute to tightening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, saying the two ministries will carry forward their cooperation outcomes and enhance experience sharing in the time ahead.

French Minister of Public Transformation and Service Stanislas Guérini pointed to challenges regarding demography, digital transformation and ecology, noting that both France and Vietnam face demography-related issues given their declining birth rates and aging populations, which requires the sector to take suitable changes.

For digital transformation, the minister said that it has brought about great opportunities to French administrative agencies in particular and others around the world.

Participating experts, scientists, and managers from Vietnam and France evaluated achievements, as well as challenges in public service modernisation, administrative reform, and digital transformation capacity improvement in both nations.

They shared experiences, new models and policy orientations to work towards building a professional, modern, streamlined, effective, and efficient administrative sector.

Vietnam ensures rights to equality for ethnic groups: Official

The principle of non-discrimination and equality among all members of the community is the core of the Vietnam’s constitutional system, and is concretised through various legislative reforms, Y Thong, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, has reaffirmed.

He was defending the combined 15th to 17th national periodic report on the implementation of the International Convention on the CERD during 2013-2019, at the 111th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) which is taking place from November 20 to December 8.

Thong highlighted that the right to equality of the Vietnamese ethnic groups in the period is guaranteed by the Constitution and law.

As the majority of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups reside in mountainous, highland and remote areas with difficulties in socio-economic development, the State prioritises support to them to unleash their potential and helps them better integrate into the overall development.

Since 2013, Vietnam has worked to complete its legal system to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the ethnic minorities, he said, elaborating that the National Assembly has issued 125 laws with 352 articles that stipulate the rights and obligations of the ethnic people in the past decade.

During the period, Vietnam affirmed its steadfast stance against the incitement to division and hatred between ethnic groups and races, thus any acts of discrimination and support for activities that cause division and discrimination among ethnic groups are prohibited and strictly punished under the Vietnamese laws, he stressed.

He went on to say that Vietnam made significant progress in promoting the rights for its ethnic minorities, including that to freedom of movement within the national territory, that to enter and exit the country, that to freedom of state and social management rights, that to freedom of speech or press, and that to freedom of religion and belief.

Along with outlining criteria for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and Sustainable Development Goals for ethnic minority groups until 2030, Vietnam has introduced an array of programmes and policies for ethnic people, he said, adding they have enjoyed preferential policies in education, healthcare, vocational training, employment, land, credit access, among others.

Joining the CERD convention in 1982, Vietnam has successfully defended its national reports on the convention implementation in 1983, 1993, 2000, and 2012.

According to the national periodic report, Vietnam is a unified country consisting of 54 ethnic groups, 53 of them minority with a combined population of over 14 million people and accounting for 14.7% of the country's total population.

Belgian parliamentarian André Flahaut presents gifts to AO victims in Vietnam

Belgian parliamentarian André Flahaut on November 30 handed over to the Vietnamese Embassy in Brussels four wheelchairs and four walkers as gifts to Agent Orange/dioxin (AO) victims in the central province of Quang Tri.

Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao thanked Flahaut for the warm sentiments that he and the group of Belgian parliamentarians sponsoring a resolution on support for Vietnamese AO victims approved by the Belgian parliament in October, have shown towards Vietnamese AO victims.

The diplomat highly appreciated the efforts and contributions that Flahaut has made, together with other parliamentarians, organisations and individuals in Belgium as well as international friends, to assist AO victims in Vietnam.

For his part, Flahaut affirmed that he will exert every effort to bring good things to AO victims in Vietnam with the hope that they will have a better life.

The Belgian lawmaker showed his delight at the growing ties between Belgium and Vietnam over the years with many high-ranking visits, most recently the Belgium visit by Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Flahaut used to be President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. In December 2021, he submitted to the Belgian parliament a resolution on supporting AO victims in Vietnam, which was approved by the Belgian Chamber of Representatives on October 5 with 100% approval votes. The Belgian parliament is the first parliament in the world to adopt a resolution supporting AO victims.

Robber dies in police chase

A man died in a traffic accident while being chased by the police after robbing a gold shop in the southern province of Tra Vinh on Thursday. 

The two robbers at the gold shop. Photo taken from a security camera. According to a report from Tra Vinh Police Department, two men carrying guns came to a gold shop in Chau Thanh District in the late afternoon of November 30. 

The gun used by the robbers.

After taking some money and gold from the shop, the two ran out to two motorbikes and then took off in different directions. Local police quickly arrived to chase them. One of the robbers shot at the police while driving his motorbike at high speed. He then crashed and fell onto the road near the Co Chien Bridge and died from serious injuries.

The other man was arrested while fleeing in the neighbouring province of Tien Giang in the evening of the same day. The second robber is arrested by the police.  Police are further investigating the case.

France to step up cooperation with Vietnam in public service transparency, anti-corruption: Minister

France will step up cooperation with Vietnam in ensuring public service transparency and anti-corruption works, affirmed visiting French Minister of Public Transformation and Service Stanislas Guérini at his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai in Hanoi on December 1.

Welcoming his guest, Khai stated the two nations have deep connections ranging from history, culture, and people to political relations and economic cooperation. Their strategic partnership is developing effectively and substantively across all fields, characterised by high political trust.

Commending joint works between the French ministry and the Vietnam Ministry of Home Affairs, the Deputy PM described them as practical activities that have helped translate statements by high-level leaders of the countries into reality, particularly in the field of administration and public service.

Khai recommended that the two ministries continue to expand their cooperation through high-level delegation exchanges, workshops, and dialogues in areas where France excels such as administrative reform, apparatus organisation and personnel streamlining, salary policies, public servant management, gender equality policies, and the development of young public servants.

Underscoring the importance of accountability in public service activities for tackling corruption and negativity, he suggested France send experienced experts to share their knowledge to help Vietnam apply related practices more effectively. Khai also proposed French assistance for Vietnam regarding the digital transformation, e-government, and digital document storage domains.

For his part, Guérini stressed the long-running and increasingly fortified collaboration between the two ministries. Recalling that France sent an expert delegation to Vietnam this year to share insights on ensuring ethical conduct in public service, the minister said such activity is expected to continue in the upcoming period.

Furthermore, France places importance on bilateral cooperation in training talented young public servants for Vietnam, he went on, noting that this workforce will assist both sides in addressing common challenges and implementing digital transformation.

Forum seeks to enhance youth’s awareness about cybersecurity

The Vietnam Youth Federation (VYF) Central Committee and Google jointly organised a forum on information safety on cyberspace for young people and the elderly in Hanoi on November 30.

In his remarks at the forum, Nguyen Huu Tu, standing member of the Presidium of the VYF Central Committee, said the emergence of digital platforms has greatly facilitated youth work, citing examples like the use of such apps as Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom and Google Meet, youth unions and associations can easily manage their activities and hold regular online meetings.

Moreover, social media platform like Facebook, Zalo, Youtube, Tiktok have become familiar for all people, especially young people, who use them to socialise, entertain, do business and seek jobs.

However, social networks also contain potential risks of insecurity, he said, adding that if users are not vigilant to fake news and toxic information, it is easy for bad people to take advantage of them to commit crimes, affecting the safety of individuals and families.

Le Binh Duong, Deputy Secretary of the National Centre for Technological Progress Youth Union under the Ministry of Science and Technology advised internet users to refrain from sharing personal information and only provide information to trusted individuals and organisations. 

Participants at the event were given advice on how to protect personal information in cyberspace, and engaged in discussions on the role of young people in preventing and combating toxic information and in instructing other people, including the elderly, to use the internet in a safe manner.

They also had chances to experience interacting with cyber security tools provided by Google, thereby guiding users to practice security testing skills, avoid being scammed and browse safely.

On this occasion, Google offered 500 scholarships for Vietnamese youths to attend a training course in how to interact more safely and proactively in cyberspace, identify common cyber risks, threats and vulnerabilities. They will also be equipped with knowledge to prepare for the CompTIA Security exam which enables them to earn a global certification that validates the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career.

Since August, the VYF Central Commitee and Google have organised training courses on cyber security for more than 9,000 young people nationwide. After that, young people in 10 provinces and cities have imparted knowledge on information safety in cyberspace to more than 6,700 elderly people through community activities.

World Vision International helps fight human trafficking in Quang Binh

The People's Committee of central Quang Binh province has recently received a non-refundable aid of more than 79,000 USD from the World Vision International in Vietnam (WVI-V) for a project on fighting human trafficking targeting trafficked persons and vulnerable migrants in the province.

The funding will be used for the project's component on helping human trafficking victims and vulnerable migrants, to be implemented in Dong Hoi city and Bo Trach district from now until the end of March 2025.

It includes activities such as conducting surveys to understand the needs and aspirations of human trafficking victims and migrants in vulnerable situations, and organising workshops to guide business planning for target persons, aiming to support at least 30 - 35 cases.

Human trafficking is currently an urgent problem in many countries, including Vietnam.

Quang Binh has not detected any human trafficking crime, but there are still many cases of people being lured to work in sensitive facilities abroad, illegally get married with foreigners or illegally work in such countries as China, the Republic of Korea and Australia. This situation tends to increase and become complicated, drawing special attention from the province.

Vietnam, France share experience in modernising public services

Representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs and the French Ministry of Public Transformation and Service exchanged experience in modernising public services, reforming administrative procedures, and raising digital transformation capacity, at a symposium in Hanoi on November 30.

The event formed part of the cooperation activities between the two ministries to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-France diplomatic relations and the 10 years of the bilateral strategic partnership.

In her opening remarks, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stressed that Vietnam always advocates accelerating administrative reform and the modernisation of public services, considering this a breakthrough for national development.

Administrative reform must serve the interests of people and businesses, placing their legal and legitimate rights and interests at the centre, and promoting innovation, for rapid, sustainable national development, the official stressed.

Tra expressed her belief that the symposium will contribute to tightening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, saying the two ministries will carry forward their cooperation outcomes and enhance experience sharing in the time ahead.

French Minister of Public Transformation and Service Stanislas Guérini pointed to challenges regarding demography, digital transformation and ecology, noting that both France and Vietnam face demography-related issues given their declining birth rates and aging populations, which requires the sector to take suitable changes.

For digital transformation, the minister said that it has brought about great opportunities to French administrative agencies in particular and others around the world.

Participating experts, scientists, and managers from Vietnam and France evaluated achievements, as well as challenges in public service modernisation, administrative reform, and digital transformation capacity improvement in both nations.

They shared experiences, new models and policy orientations to work towards building a professional, modern, streamlined, effective, and efficient administrative sector.

Vietnam ensures rights to equality for ethnic groups: Official

The principle of non-discrimination and equality among all members of the community is the core of the Vietnam’s constitutional system, and is concretised through various legislative reforms, Y Thong, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, has reaffirmed.

He was defending the combined 15th to 17th national periodic report on the implementation of the International Convention on the CERD during 2013-2019, at the 111th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) which is taking place from November 20 to December 8.

Thong highlighted that the right to equality of the Vietnamese ethnic groups in the period is guaranteed by the Constitution and law.

As the majority of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups reside in mountainous, highland and remote areas with difficulties in socio-economic development, the State prioritises support to them to unleash their potential and helps them better integrate into the overall development.

Since 2013, Vietnam has worked to complete its legal system to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the ethnic minorities, he said, elaborating that the National Assembly has issued 125 laws with 352 articles that stipulate the rights and obligations of the ethnic people in the past decade.

During the period, Vietnam affirmed its steadfast stance against the incitement to division and hatred between ethnic groups and races, thus any acts of discrimination and support for activities that cause division and discrimination among ethnic groups are prohibited and strictly punished under the Vietnamese laws, he stressed.

He went on to say that Vietnam made significant progress in promoting the rights for its ethnic minorities, including that to freedom of movement within the national territory, that to enter and exit the country, that to freedom of state and social management rights, that to freedom of speech or press, and that to freedom of religion and belief.

Along with outlining criteria for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and Sustainable Development Goals for ethnic minority groups until 2030, Vietnam has introduced an array of programmes and policies for ethnic people, he said, adding they have enjoyed preferential policies in education, healthcare, vocational training, employment, land, credit access, among others.

Joining the CERD convention in 1982, Vietnam has successfully defended its national reports on the convention implementation in 1983, 1993, 2000, and 2012.

According to the national periodic report, Vietnam is a unified country consisting of 54 ethnic groups, 53 of them minority with a combined population of over 14 million people and accounting for 14.7% of the country's total population.

Chinese travel firms explore tourism products in Khanh Hoa province

Representatives from around 100 Chinese travel firms from Chengdu city made a Famtrip to the southcentral coastal province of Khanh Hoa from November 30 in order to explore the province’s tourism products.

During their one-week stay, the Chinese travel firms will tour major local destinations such as Vinpearl Nha Trang, Hon Tam, and Pax Ana Doc Let tourist sites, to learn about Khanh Hoa’s tourism development model.

They will also experience tourism products at night and conduct surveys on several major shopping centres in Nha Trang city.

Travel firms from both countries will meet on December 4 to seek measures aimed at attracting more tourists from Chengdu to Khanh Hoa and vice versa.

Welcoming the delegation on November 30, Cung Quynh Anh, deputy director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, said that the local tourism industry has built new tourism products to attract an increasing number of Chinese travelers.

Along with the reopening of the Chengdu-Cam Ranh air route by Sichuan Airlines, the Chinese delegation’s Farmtrip is expected to open up fresh opportunities for Khanh Hoa to receive a large number of Chinese visitors moving forward, he noted.

China is the second largest international tourist market of Khanh Hoa after the Republic of Korea. Over the past 11 months, the locality has welcomed nearly 240,000 Chinese arrivals.

Korean Gastronomy Week kicks off in Hanoi

Hanoi on November 30 kicked off the start of the 10-day Korean Gastronomy Week at InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72, featuring exclusive recipes from two-star Michelin chef Lee Jun.

The annual event themed “Autumn Forest” aims to bring Korean culinary culture to international friends.
  
According to Choi Young-sam, ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam, the main menus primarily focus on Korean forest products, a key category in the Korean food exports.

The Korean Gastronomy Week 2023 will further contribute to promoting Korean cuisine to Vietnamese people, as well as enhancing cultural exchanges between the two countries, said the diplomat.

Visitors will also have the chance to take part in a number of culinary and cultural exchanges, along with workshops conducted by well-acclaimed chefs and mixologists present at the function.

Cuc Phuong Tourist Centre inaugurated in Ninh Binh province

The Cuc Phuong National Park and the French Embassy in Vietnam inaugurated Cuc Phuong Tourist Centre at the park on December 1.

Sophie Maysonnave, Counsellor for Cultural Cooperation and Activities at the French Embassy in Vietnam, said the centre is one of three pilot projects under a project named “Share and protect Vietnam’s heritage” which aims to celebrate 50 years of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations and 10 years of their strategic partnership.

The project is like an invitation to explore the Cuc Phuong National Park and is a typical example of shared culture between Vietnam and France, she said.

Nguyen Van Chinh, Director of the Cuc Phuong National Park, said with the support of the French Embassy in Vietnam and leading experts in the field of museum and international media, the centre will become an attractive destination and ideal classroom about nature that attracts the interest of visitors and communities.

Visitors can learn about the rich ecosystem, flora and fauna; unique cultural features and traditions of indigenous people, he said, adding that items displayed at the centre are designed with the maximum use of local materials such as stone, wood and bamboo.

The “Share and protect Vietnam’s heritage” project was initiated by the French Embassy in Vietnam and sponsored by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, has a total funding of 18 billion VND (742,230 USD) for activities during 2022-2024 from the French Government and partners.

The project focuses on training museum staff, building training programmes on museum-related professions for Vietnamese universities, and helping develop pilot projects on heritage conservation in three regions of Vietnam. Specifically, the project will renovate the Tourist Centre of Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh, support the Environmental Education and Communication Centre in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area in the central province of Quang Nam, and design and implement “Story Boxes” for museums in Ho Chi Minh City in the South.

Situated 120 kilometres from Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is Vietnam’s first national park, founded on July 7, 1962.

Covering 22,000 hectares of land in 14 communes of four districts in the three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa, the national park boasts enchanting scenery and offers a stunning range of biodiversity.

It has long served as a research centre for many conservation organisations, both national and international.

According to surveys, Cuc Phuong has 2,234 floral species of 931 genera and 231 families. They include 430 species of medicinal plants and 229 species of edible plants as well as 57 species which are listed in the Vietnam Red Book of endangered species.

The Cuc Phuong National Park has been named “Asia’s Leading National Park” by the World Travel Awards for the fifth consecutive year in 2023.

MacKenzie makes hole-in-one at Vinpearl DIC Legends Việt Nam

Malcolm MacKenzie secured a hole-in-one on the second day of the Vinpearl DIC Legends Việt Nam 2023 on December 1 in Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa Province.

At the par 3 13th hole of Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang, the legendary British golfer made a beautiful swing that took the ball over a distance of more than 170m to go straight into the hole.

Hole 13 is considered the visual representation of Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang, with brilliant sea views alongside forests. At the same time, it creates many challenges for golfers due to wind, undulating terrain and deep bunkers.

As per rules, the HIO prizes of the DIC Legends event is located at holes 3 and 16, applicable to both professional and amateur athletes.

Hole 13 is not applied for the special prize so MacKenzie could not bring home a VinFast VF9 car but he received many other valuable rewards including a vacation at Vinpearl for the whole family valued at VNĐ350 million (US$14,400).

In addition, DIC Group also awarded golfer MacKenzie a vacation worth VNĐ100 million at Pullman Vũng Tàu Hotel, part of DIC Group's resort system.

During his career, MacKenzie mainly played on the European Tour and won at the Novotel Perrier Open de France 2002.

At the DIC Legends, MacKenzie scored seven-over-par after eight bogeys and one birdie on November 30.

A day later, the 62-year-old golfer had seven bogeys after the first 12 holes before achieving the HIO on hole 13, where he took four strokes to complete the previous day.

The DIC Legends features 60 legendary golfers and 30 amateur players in 30 teams.

The 15 amateur players with the best gross will be selected to compete for the prestigious Best Amateur prize on December 2.

At the same time, the golf legends will compete to take the coveted Vinpearl DIC Legends Vietnam 2023 trophy.

The top three will receive a share of $200,000 worth of prizes and the tournament champion will walk away with the prestigious cup was designed to resemble a traditional Vietnamese bronze drum.

Vinpearl DIC Legends makes Việt Nam the first country in Southeast Asia to participate in a series of prestigious and large-scale tournaments of the European Legends Tour.

The tournament is expected to push the development of the national tourism industry and lift the images of Việt Nam internationally.

It is also an important activity to strengthen the trade cooperation and friendship between Việt Nam and UK when the two countries are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. 

Hải Phòng draw but out of AFC Cup

A 1-1 between Hải Phòng FC and PSM Makassar helped neither team, with both crashing out of the AFC Cup.

In Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, Lucao opened the score for Hải Phòng in the 74th minute but Yakob Sayuri levelled for the hosts three minutes later at the Capt I Wayan Dipta Stadium.

Both sides stayed second and third in Group H after Sabah FC of Malaysia trounced Singaporean Hougang United 4-1.

"I am sorry that Hải Phòng could not win this rematch. The draw result closes the door for us to the next stage," said coach Chu Đình Nghiêm.

The top team in each group and one second-placed team with the best results qualified for the knockout round.

With seven points after five matches, Hải Phòng are at the bottom of the second-placed team ranking. Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia are on top with 12 points.

The hosts had the first meaningful chance on goal after nine minutes when Adilson narrowly fired wide after receiving the ball from Makassar star midfielder Sayuri.

Hải Phòng however took charge of the play. Striker Lucao was crowded out five minutes later, before the Brazilian teed up Nguyễn Hữu Sơn who fired narrowly over on 23 minutes.

Despite their possession, the Vietnamese side were unable to carve out a clear-cut opportunity until the final move of the first half.

The ball broke to Lương Hoàng Nam and allowed him a clean run on goal, but the midfielder could only steer his shot wide with just goalkeeper Reza Arya to beat.

The second half also saw Hải Phòng controlling play and setting the tempo but unable to carve out any clear opportunities on goal.

Nam and Joseph Mpande both had efforts off-target for Hải Phòng, before a rare opening at the other end saw Yuran Fernandes send a free-kick well wide.

Lucao finally broke the deadlock on 74 minutes after Hoang Nam slipped in the number nine with a clever reverse pass and the forward adeptly clipped the ball past the on-rushing Arya.

With the stalemate finally ended, a second goal came shortly after and, against the run of play, it was for the home side as Sayuri fired home a fine free-kick from distance that Nguyễn Đình Triều got a hand to but was unable to keep out.

The Vietnamese side will play a domestic match against defending champions Hà Nội Police on December 4 at home.

They then host Hougang for the AFC Cup's last group tie, while Makassar visit Sabah FC on December 14. 

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