Nearly 11.8 million people in Vietnam have used their chip-based ID cards to access healthcare services, according to Vietnam Social Security (VSS).

Nearly 12,270 medical units, accounting for 96% of the total across the country, have accepted the chip-based ID cards which are integrated with health insurance cards for their services.

The integration is part of the VSS efforts to implement the Prime Minister’s Decision 06/QĐ-TTG approving the use of population data and electronic identity and authentication for the national digital transformation in the 2022-25 period with a vision to 2030, aiming to make it easier for people to get healthcare check-ups and treatment services.

According to the VSS, as of February 20, the data of 74.4 million citizens in the National Database on Insurance has been cross-checked and verified with that on the National Database on Population.

The VSS has also provided and shared nearly 96.3 million records with information about social insurance and health insurance with the National Database on Population.

Regarding the integration and online public services provision on the National Public Service Portal, the VSS has integrated and offered a service that allows premiums in household health insurance packages to be deducted when health insurance cards are renewed.

To date, the VSS’s system has received and processed the renewal of 587 health insurance cards with reduced premiums through the Vietnam Social Security Public Service Portal and the National Public Service Portal.

Its branches in Hanoi and Ha Nam have been piloting two integrated services, with one involving birth registration, registration of permanent residence, and issuance of health insurance cards for children under 6 years old and the other involving death report, deletion of permanent residence registration and funeral allowance.

The two localities have processed 12,455 dossiers of application for health insurance cards for children under 6 years old and 502 others of application for payment of funeral allowances which were submitted online to the integrated services.

The VSS has received data from the National Public Service Portal to confirm the unemployment insurance participation of 60,115 cases so that they can enjoy unemployment benefits.

Vietnam to select candidates to join ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2023

The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam will send youth delegates to join the ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2023 (AYD 2023).

The AYD 2023 themed “Digital development for the sustainable development goals (SDGs)” will be organized online from April 4 to April 5 and offline in Jakarta, Indonesia from April 10 to April 14.

The selected delegates will be covered round-trip airline tickets, food and accommodations by the host country.

The delegates are Vietnamese citizens aged from 18 to 30, fluent in English and able to communicate, discuss, write and deliver a speech in English; understand ASEAN and the relationship between Vietnam and Indonesia, Vietnam and ASEAN.

They are prioritized to have experience and competence in fields of education, training, information, communications and technology and so on.

The organizing board will select three delegates through two rounds of competition.

Candidates can now register via the link: https://bit.ly/AYD2023 and send information to email aseanyouthvietnam@gmail.com with the subject Digital development for sustainable development goals (SDGs) including full name and date of birth.

The deadline for registration will be before 4:00 p.m. on February 27.

For more information, candidates can contact the International Relations Department of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union via E-mail at aseanyouthvietnam@gmail.com.

Vietnam Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard bolster cooperation

The Vietnam Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard held talks in Hanoi on February 21 to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation.

Senior Colonel Vu Trung Kien, deputy commander in charge of law of the Vietnam force, affirmed that bilateral cooperation between the two sides is on the right track, saying he believes that more significant and in-depth collaboration will be carried out in the time ahead.

Vice Commandant Shiraishi Masami asserted Vietnam is an important partner of the Japan Coast Guard and said he hopes the good cooperation will contribute to promoting security, safety and freedom of navigation for peace, stability and development of the two countries as well as the region and the world.

The two sides reached consensus on plans to carry out and promote activities within bilateral and multilateral cooperation in 2023, including strengthening training on law enforcement at sea, organising the 10th bilateral conference between the two forces in Japan, running delegation exchange programmes at all levels, conferences, seminars, friendship visits by ships of the two sides in order to bolster cooperation, exchange and share experiences.

Bilateral relationship has seen a robust development since the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding in September 2015.

The Japan Coast Guard has sent eight patrol ships to visit and organised several joint search and rescue drill exchanges at sea with the Vietnam Coast Guard.

They also held six exchange programmes on the coast guard legal system and law enforcement experience at sea, and a training course on search procedures on vessels.

Besides, the Japan Coast Guard has coordinated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to provide training courses on law enforcement at sea, search and rescue and environment protection to the Vietnam Coast Guard.

Vietnam General Confederation of Labour keen on deepening ties with ILO

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has always been interested in promoting the friendship and partnership with international labour organisations, especially the United Nations’ members such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), stated VGCL President Nguyen Dinh Khang.

Receiving Regional Director for ILO Office for Asia and the Pacific Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa on February 21, Khang said that the VGCL has received effective technical and financial support from the ILO in general as well as the ILO Office for Asia and the Pacific and ILO Office in Vietnam in particular.

Various cooperation activities and coordination projects have been conducted, including those on the new labour relations framework, migration workers, better employment, and just transition in mechanisms, he noted.

Khang said that through the ILO, the VCGL has accessed helpful international experience, enabling it to effectively build hamonised and stable labour relations, thus improving the working conditions of labourers in Vietnam.

He told the guest that 71% of the total businesses in Vietnam have formed their owned trade unions with collective labour agreement, covering more than 6 million labourers.

Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa highly valued the sound cooperation between the ILO Office in Vietnam and the VGCL over the years, including in sustainable employment building, and hailed the coordination of the VGCL and the Vietnamese Government.

The two sides discussed issues related to social welfare and challenges ahead, including conflicts in the world, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disruption of supply chains, which have affected the life and employment of labourers.

On the occasion, the VGCL President thanked Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa and the ILO Office for Asia and the Pacific for assisting the VCGL over the years.

The two sides shared the hope for the continuous promotion of ties between the VGCL and the ILO, contributing to enhancing the VGCL’s capacity in representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interest of labourers and trade union members, thus further improving the working and living conditions of labourers.

Vietnam, UK step up academic education cooperation

The Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the British Embassy in Vietnam held a seminar in Hanoi on February 21 to promote bilateral cooperation in vocational education.

The event was the first official activity to realise the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on vocational education cooperation signed by the two Governments on April 5, 2022, which is also the first of its kind at the Government level between Vietnam and an international partner.

Speaking at the event,  Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Tan Dung said the event takes place at a time when Vietnam and the UK are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, which is an important milestone in the context that the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement already took effect.

However, developing a workforce that meets the requirements of the international market remains a challenge for Vietnam as its level of human resources is low compared to that in the region and the world, he said.

British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew, for his part, said as a recent dialogue partner, the UK chose Vietnam as a priority country in the ASEAN education strategy. The UK looks forward to building its reputation both in the wider region and bilaterally with friends like Vietnam, as a long-term and reliable partner.

Following three discussions, the UK agreed to assist Vietnam in supporting policy at the macro level by sharing lessons on promoting business participation in vocational education. The UK will also assist in promoting digital technology in online training, developing skills relevant to the fourth industrial revolution, and quality assurance and accreditation of vocational education. The English curricula and cooperation between vocational education institutions of the two countries is also part of the package under the agreement.

On this occasion, the General Directorate of Vocational Training (GDVT) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) signed an MoU on cooperation.

Accordingly, the ACCA will help the GDVT build training and capacity-building programmes for accounting and business lecturers in colleges up to international standards. This will equip learners with knowledge and skills to work at a high level in the fields of accounting, management and finance. Assistance between the two will also provide knowledge and experience in vocational training associated with the needs of enterprises in general and in the field of accounting and business in particular.

At the same time, the UK will help Vietnamese colleges deploy training programmes and exams to grant the International Diploma in Accounting and Business up to UK standards, as well as connect with enterprises that have a demand for qualified human resources in the fields of accounting, finance and business.

VPA’s rescue team sent to Turkey completes mission

By the command from the heart, the rescue team of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), sent to Hatay province – one of the Turkish localities most affected by the February 6 earthquake, has successfully completed its mission, Maj. Gen. Pham Van Ty has said.

The head of the team, who is Deputy Chief of the Office of the National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response, Search and Rescue and Deputy Director of the VPA's Department of Search and Rescue, said that this is the first time the Ministry of National Defence and the VPA have sent personnel and equipment aboard to participate in humanitarian assistance and respond to the earthquake disaster.

However, team members all underwent training and drills and handled some cases on a small scale at home, so they have effectively applied their experience in carrying out rescue work in Turkey, stated Ty.

The team’s use of sniffer dogs, visual and audio observation radar and a wall-penetrating radar system has produced good results, he said, adding that local and international rescue teams and host people have also appreciated the effective command, and implementation of tasks of the Vietnamese team.

Vietnam will apply experience drawn from this search and rescue operation to training and exercises in the country to improve the command and administration organisation of commanders and improve the capacity of rescuers, he added.

VPA team presents earthquake relief to Turkey

The rescue team of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) presented nearly 25 tonnes of relief to Turkey on February 21 to help with the settlement of earthquake aftermath.

The aid, including packed rations, rice, milk, medical supplies, and many other essentials, was handed over at the Hatay stadium in Antakya city, the capital of Hatay province.

Speaking at the presentation, Maj. Gen. Pham Van Ty, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the National Committee for Incident and Natural Disaster Response, Search and Rescue and Deputy Director of the Rescue Department at the VPA’s General Staff, and head of the team, said the relief demonstrates the sympathies from the Vietnamese people and Ministry of National Defence to the Turkish people over the huge human and property losses they are suffering from.

He also expressed his hope that Turkey can manage to address earthquake consequences soon.

On behalf of Turkish authorities, Ambassador Hakan Cakil, a representative of the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Hatay province, appreciated the VPA’s assistance and said the practical support will help Turkish people surmount difficulties and losses.

In particular, the medical supplies they donated will be quickly transported to local hospitals and health centres to serve the delivery of emergency aid and treatment to patients, he noted.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on February 21, Vietnamese Ambassador to Turkey Do Son Hai said search and rescue operations by the teams of the Vietnamese ministries of public security and national defence have received high evaluation from local administrations and people, international rescue teams, as well as Vietnamese people.

They performed tasks in Adiyaman and Hatay provinces, about 500km from each other and among the localities hit hardest by the earthquake. This was a challenging environment, so the teams’ successes became even more meaningful, he went on.

Highlighting the diplomatic significance of the teams’ engagement in search and rescue efforts, Hai said this was the first time Vietnam had sent rescue teams to a humanitarian mission in such a faraway place, helping implement the Party and State’s policy that Vietnam is a responsible member of the international community.

Besides, it also showed that Vietnam is able to fulfill the responsibilities that the international community entrusts to the country despite difficulties and even risks of loss, the diplomat went on, adding that the two teams’ performance also extends a message that Vietnam is not only a responsible member of the international community but also capable of carrying out those responsibilities at its best.

Turkey believes in stronger ties with Vietnam

On behalf of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hakan Cakil expressed his thanks to search and rescue teams of countries, including those from the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), for their effort in Hatay province following the devastating earthquake.

Meeting the VPA’s search and rescue team, Ambassador Cakil once again thanked them and the Vietnamese Government for providing necessities for Turkey.

He said medicines, medical equipment as well as other equipment sent by Vietnam are extremely important to the Turkish people at this time.

Cakil said he is moved by the Vietnamese soldiers’ sentiment when knowing that they withdrew part of their salary to support the Turkish people.

Turkey always wishes to develop relations with Vietnam in all aspects, he said, adding that the practical support of the Vietnamese team when Turkey is in difficulties is also one of the driving forces to cultivate bilateral ties.

He hoped that in the near future, Vietnam and Turkey will see new progress in their ties in various areas.

Maj. Gen. Pham Van Ty, Deputy Chief of the Office of the National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response, Search and Rescue and Deputy Director of the VPA's Department of Search and Rescue, expressed his hope that the Turkish Government and people will soon overcome the current difficult period.

Ty, who is also head of the VPA’s team, also believed that ties between Vietnam and Turkey, as well as sentiment between the two peoples will elevate to a greater height on the basis of mutual understanding.

Vietnamese citizens in Turkey assist with search and rescue efforts

Aside from the rescue forces from Vietnam, Vietnamese people living in Turkey have also joined hands in the search for earthquake victims in the Middle Eastern country over the past few days.

Luu Thai Hung, living in Istanbul – about 1,000km from the earthquake’s epicenter, studied in Turkey and has resided in the country for many years.

Leaving aside his job as a director of VT Travel Plus – the first and also only tourism company run by a Vietnamese in Turkey, he assisted the team of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) in performing their tasks in Hatay province.

Hung told the Vietnam News Agency that deep sympathies for the Turkish people and their enormous pain and loss as well as his love for the country have prompted him to volunteer to help locals surmount these trying times.
 
Right then the VPA team arrived to help with search and rescue work, he felt both moved and proud, and immediately decided to join the team and served as an interpreter to help them fulfill their duties.

He said that he and other volunteers gained strong support from colleagues in his company.

Accompanying the team, he has seen how the rescuers encountered and surmounted various difficulties such as in locating the exact positions of victims in devastated areas, ensuring equipment, or preparing meals amid limited conditions. However, they also received assistance from the coordinating agency, police, and Turkey's military.

Braving hardships and challenges, the military officers and volunteers like him maintained the determination to fulfill duties, Hung went on, and they obtained encouraging results.

One thing that left a strong impression on him was the Turkish people’s sentiment and gratitude toward the VPA team. They were warmly welcomed by locals in every place they came, and many residents shared food and water with the team even though the Turkish people themselves were still struggling with difficulties, he said.

Hung added that he and other Vietnamese in Turkey are always ready to help the Vietnamese task force perform tasks in the most effective manner.

Opinions on draft revised Land Law collected

Representatives from organisations as well as experts and scientists gave their opinions on the draft Land Law (revised) during a conference held in Hanoi on February 21.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha underlined the significance of the adjustments and supplementations to the Land Law.

He stressed that the law, covering all socio-economic aspects and all people, is a fundamental law for the State management over land. Proper land-related policies will not only create a stable and transparent environment and unleash land potential, but also contribute to ensuring security-defence, socio-political stability, protecting the environment, and sustainably promoting legitimate rights of the people, he said.

President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) Phan Xuan Dung said that the collecting of ideas to the law aims to promote people’s right to mastery, optimising the brainpower of people from all walks of life, creating consensus among the community in completing the bill, and improving public awareness of the work.

Prof. Dr. Phan Trung Ly, former Chairman of the National Assembly’s Law Committee said it is crucial to design strict regulations to fix all legal loopholes, putting an end to the exploitation of land values serving the interests of certain individuals or interest groups, and preventing policy corruption and the abuse of land policies, he said.

Ngo Sach Thuc, former Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee said that the bill should clarify whether contractors are allowed to negotiate with people holding the land use right in the compensation and switching of land-use purposes during urban and commercial housing projects.

Thuc held that it is necessary to stick to the regulation of implementing land allocation and land lease mainly through the auction of land use rights and bidding in projects using land as stated in the Resolution No.18-NQ/TW issued on June 16, 2022 by the Party Central Committee.

Participants gave their opinions on a wide range of issues, including the rights and responsibility of the State and citizens to land; the rights and obligations of land users; land planning and land use plans; and regulations on land reclamation and requisition.

HCM City eyes boosting cooperation with Russian localities

Nguyen Thi Le, Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council, on February 21 hosted First Deputy Speaker of the Russian Federal Assembly’s Federation Council Andrey Yatskin.

Yatskin, who is also head of the council’s group for cooperation with the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA), is on a working visit to Vietnam.

Le told her guest that the city is committed to promoting sound relations with foreign partners, including Russian localities. She expressed her hope that these localities will work more closely with the Vietnamese southern metropolis and accompany the city during its construction and sustainable development.

Regarding the positive results gained from recent working sessions between Yatskin and leaders of the Vietnamese National Assembly and a number of localities, Le said she believes in growing relations between Russia and Vietnam and HCM City in particular toward effectiveness and practical outcomes.

The leader suggested a series of fields potential for the HCM City-Russia cooperation, including climate change response, trade, tourism, education and training.

With the support of the Federation Council and other competent agencies of Russia, the ties between the city and Russian localities as well as its People’s Council and these localities’ legislative and elected bodies will thrive, contributing to the enhancement of the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership for mutual benefits, she affirmed.

For his part, Yatskin stated that Russia always pays attention to fostering bilateral partnership, particularly regarding their inter-parliamentary relationship.

The official said the Federation Council will do its best to strengthen relations between localities of the sides with a hope the localities will consider and sign friendly cooperation agreements to create a legal basis for their engagements.

He noted that ample room remains for further collaboration between the city and St. Petersburg of Russia, particularly in tourism and trade. Given the global complex developments, Vietnam and Russia should team up in traditional fields like tourism, science, arts, and education and new ones such as wind power and environmental protection, Yatskin added.

Ho Chi Minh City ranks second in Asia’s top 10 best street food cities

Canadian travel magazine The Travel has listed the southern metropolis Ho Chi Minh City among the top 10 Asian cities that can be considered a dream for every street food lover.

The Travel revealed that while most eateries dish out their bánh mì (baguette sandwiches), cháo mực (squid porridge), and xá xíu (barbecued pork) from old-fashioned restaurants, plastic chairs and tables on the pavement are where locals prefer to eat their meals.

In fact, some stalls even specialise in Vietnamese coffee and pouring cold Saigon beer while belting out local tunes via loudspeakers. The magazine suggested that visitors hop onto a Vespa and whizz through the vast streets of Ho Chi Minh City to enjoy a street food experience unlike any other.

The Indian city of Delhi topped the list, followed by  Osaka (Japan), Seoul (Republic of Korea), Singapore, among others.

Binh Thuan expects strong tourism recovery in Visit Vietnam Year

With the over 200 special events to be held, the Visit Vietnam Year 2023, themed “Binh Thuan - Green Convergence”, is a chance for the south-central province and other localities nationwide to promote tourism recovery and development.

Outstanding events among those cultural, sports, and tourism activities will include a street culture week, an international festival of performing arts, a national rowing and canoeing race, a national golf championship, and a tourism week.

They are expected to help open up a new period of tourism cooperation with other countries, connect travel companies, and expand tourist markets in ASEAN, Asia, and the world.

Bui The Nhan, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the theme “Green Convergence” implies the concentration of many cultures in Binh Thuan, which is home to unique landscapes, special cultural festivals, and hospitable people.

Activities during the year will promote the use of green products and clean energy, the creation of a friendly and safe environment, and the preservation of cultural heritage and fine traditional values of Vietnam, towards green growth and sustainable tourism development.

Tourism development will also help boost other sectors, provide jobs, and guarantee social security, he noted.

The opening ceremony of the Visit Vietnam Year 2023 will be held in Phan Thiet city on March 25.

For 2023, Binh Thuan targets 6.5 million tourist arrivals, including 200,000 foreigners, and 15.9 trillion VND (669.5 million USD) in tourism revenue.

Thanks to measures to recover and adapt to the new normal, local tourism has bounced back. The province welcomed over 5.7 million visitors in 2022, a 3.2-fold rise from the previous year.

In January this year, it attracted about 700,000 visitors, including nearly 24,000 foreign arrivals, respectively rising 2-fold and 4.6-fold from a year earlier. Tourism revenue also soared 2.9-fold to about 1.79 trillion VND, statistics show.

HCM City to build four major bridges

HCM City has planned to build the Can Gio, Thu Thiem 4, Binh Tien and Tan Ky-Tan Quy bridges in the coming period.

The VND10 trillion (USD420.16 million) Can Gio Bridge would link the districts of Nha Be and Can Gio via a six-lane crossing funded via a public-private partnership (PPP).

The project’s feasibility study is expected to be completed this year to ensure the work is started in 2025 and finished in 2028.

The 2.2 kilometre, VND5.3 trillion (USD222.68 million) Thu Thiem 4 Bridge linking Thu Thiem New Urban Area with District 7 is slated to begin in 2025 and completed in 2028.

Once put into operation, the six-lane bridge will help mitigate the traffic pressure for HCM City’s centre.

Binh Tien Bridge and road project have a total investment of VND4.1 trillion (USD172.26 million), and would travel through Binh Chanh District and districts 6 and 8.

The feasibility study of the 3.2-kilometre project will be finished this year. Construction on it is scheduled to be started in 2024.

Meanwhile, work on the Tan Ky-Tan Quy Bridge will be resumed this year following the city’s decision to invest an additional VND491 billion for the project.

By late 2018, 70 percent of the project had been completed, but the project was halted due to site clearance problems.

The city is taking measures to deal with project difficulties. Construction of the project is slated to be concluded in 2024 to improve the traffic flow for the city’s northwestern gateway.

Earlier summer forecasted for northern region

An earlier summer has been forecasted in the northern region this year, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The centre said that the first hot spell would affect the northwestern region in March. In April, the hot weather would expand to the whole northern and central region.

This year, summer would be hotter than last year. The average temperature in northern and central localities between March and May would be 0.5 degrees centigrade higher than many previous years.

The time between June and August would see the hottest weather with temperatures 0.5 degrees centigrade higher than previous years.

The centre, however, said that from now to March, northern mountainous areas would see some short cold fronts.

From June, storms would be likely to occur on the East Sea. Between June and August, the East Sea would face more frequent storms than usual.

High-school students to sit graduation exams early this year

The Ministry of Education and Training announced it will hold the 2023 graduation exams for grade 12th students in June instead of July as in previous years.

With the COVID-19 pandemic bought under control, life has returned to normal and the graduation exams will begin early, the ministry said.

Over the past few years, the graduation exams have been considered an important test for high school students if they wish to enter a college of university.

Many universities rely on the results of the graduation exam to enroll new students, while some universities welcome new students based on the academic results they record during their study at high school.

This year, candidates will apply online through either the admissions portal of the Ministry of Education and Training or the National Public Service Portal.

The ministry has requested colleges/universities to make public their admission policy at least 30 days before candidates register.

Southern region likely to suffer from natural hazards

Many localities in the Southern region are forecast to suffer from natural hazards including big waves, tidal waves, saltwater intrusion and a scorching temperature of 35 degrees Celsius.

According to the National Center for Hydrology Meteorology Forecasting, from February 21 to February 28, the upstream area of the Mekong River and the Southern region will experience less rain and more sunshine with the highest temperature of up to 35 degrees Celsius.

At the same time, saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta continues to increase. The highest salinity at stations is at the same level as that in February 2022.

The depth of salinity in the rivers of Vam Co Dong, Vam Co Tay, Ham Luong and Co Chien might be about 55 kilometers to 70 kilometers.

Amid the situation, the Mekong Delta localities need to promptly update information about hydro-meteorological forecasts and prepare measures against saltwater intrusion.

Currently, the highest water level at the surveyed station of Vung Tau reaches 4.21 meters while the offshore of the Southern region faces big waves of up to 2.5 meters.

It is expected that the height of the wave in the Southern offshore will range from 2 meters to 4.5 meters and the highest tide level at Vung Tau station can reach from 4.15 meters to 4.25 meters.

Due to the influence of high tide in combination with huge waves, flooding is likely to hit the coastal areas of the Southern provinces, especially in the low-lying areas and places along rivers increasing the risk of saltwater intrusion in rivers in the Mekong Delta.

Public transport industry struggles to survive

Public passenger transport in Ho Chi Minh City especially buses is still facing many difficulties, despite transport companies and responsible agencies’ efforts.

Departing at 5:45 am on February 12 at the new Mien Dong bus station, the bus with number plate 51B-208.03 operating on the route 93 from Ben Thanh to old Mien Dong bus station carried nearly 20 passengers. In the afternoon of the same day, a bus with number plate 50F-002.37 traveled along the route from Quang Trung Software City to the new Mien Dong bus station with only 15 passengers.

According to many transport units, the ratio of passengers / capacity of the vehicle reaches about 30 percent-40 percent depending on various routes. Although this number of passengers is not as many as before when the Covid-19 epidemic has not yet broken out, it is better than a few months ago. To achieve this result, in the past time, transport companies and responsible agencies have made efforts to increase the service quality of the city bus system.

It is worthy noting that the first electric bus line was put into operation in early March 2022. This environmentally friendly bus will go through crowded streets such as Le Lai, Ham Nghi, Pasteur, Nguyen Cong Tru, Ky Con in District 1.

In August 2022, the non-subsidized intercity bus code 63-1 for the Tan Phu Bus Station - Tien Giang Bus Station route officially came into operation. Also in 2022, Ho Chi Minh City enhanced bus connection with Tan Son Nhat Airport by opening a new bus route number 72-1 along the route Tan Son Nhat Airport - Long Thanh - Dau Giay - Vung Tau Expressway.

Moreover, the southern metropolis has restored bus route 109 from Saigon Bus Station to Tan Son Nhat Airport and adjusted the bus route 103 connecting to Tan Son Nhat Airport in addition to opening 4 new intercity bus routes connecting with the Southern province of Dong Nai.

This year, Ho Chi Minh City will open dozens of new bus routes, including 4 electric bus routes and 4 intercity bus routes connecting the southern provinces of Binh Duong and Tay Ninh, 2 mini bus routes, and a bus route connecting the existing Mien Dong bus station and the new Mien Dong bus station with the city.

According to the municipal People's Committee’s Decision 3998/QD-UBND dated October 27, 2020 on approving the project of enhancing public passenger transport combined with control of personal motor vehicles in the city, city leaders targeted that public transport must meet 25 percent of the market share by 2030.rom now to that deadline is not far away, but in view of the actual operation of the bus, it seems that reaching the set limit is extremely difficult.

However, until now, the market share of public passenger transport by bus is still small, no more than 10 percent. is a fact that in recent years, public transport by bus is facing fierce competition. Right before the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of bus passengers has continuously decreased. The reason is not because the demand for travel decreases but people take other transport means.

For instance, with a smart mobile phone, people can book a cab or a motorbike easily using internet data by providing the details of pickup and drop location. Furthermore, taxi or motorbike drivers will pick up and drop passengers at their house whereas people must go to bus stations to wait for a bus of their route. Ride-hailing technology transport companies have continuously offered many incentive programs, thereby affecting the number of bus passengers.

Increased private means of transport is also the cause of the decrease in bus passengers. A surge in means of transport causes frequent traffic jams, leading to many buses being unable to ensure their journey. As a result, many passengers, especially students, switch to private means of transport instead of buses.

Until now, passengers have still opted for buses because of low cost.

National conference on activities of People’s Councils concludes

The national conference reviewing activities of the provincial-level People’s Councils in 2022 and launch tasks for this year wrapped up on February 21 afternoon.

The event, held in the northern province of Quang Ninh by the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee, was the second to review activities of People’s Councils in the National Assembly (NA)’s 15th tenure, but the first at the national level.

In his closing remarks, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that in 2022, Vietnam faced numerous difficulties and challenges, but it managed to successfully carry out tasks with relatively comprehensive results. Those common achievements were partly attributable to important contributions by people-elected bodies.

The “new wind” in activities of people-elected agencies is spreading more widely, which has concurrently inspired, created an impetus, and sustained the momentum for their activities, he said, noting that reforms have been made rather comprehensively and the People’s Councils are working an increasingly substantive and effective manner.

Highlighting the importance of the year 2023 to the implementation of the 13th National Party Congress’s resolution and the five-year plan for 2021 - 2025, he asked the People’s Councils of provinces and centrally-run cities to base on the achievements and lessons last year to exert stronger efforts, show a higher sense of responsibility, and act more drastically.

In particular, Hue noted, the councils need to hold a crucial role in reforming local governance; ensure the adherence to the Constitution and law, improve transparency and accountability, and promote people’s engagement; help build democratic, professional, modern, scientific, clean, and transparent administrative agencies that work for the sake of people and enterprises; learn from experience to improve the effectiveness and sense of responsibility of the People’s Councils of centrally-run cities; and continue implementing the Politburo’s conclusion on the organisation of administrative units.

This year, the NA and People’s Councils will conduct votes of confidence for the positions elected or approved by the NA or People’s Councils. The move will help evaluate officials’ reputation and performance of their assigned duties, the Chairman added.

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