Samsung Vietnam has announced its participation in the ‘Google for Education’ pilot programme, which is being carried out at the Thuc Nghiem Junior High School in Hanoi.

Samsung has presented its Galaxy Chromebook to 16 teachers and 38 sixth graders of the school so that they can access to Google’s EdTech Solutions through the devices.

Teaching and learning activities will be upgraded with Chrome Education and supported by Google Workspace for Education’s tools such as Google Classroom and Google Meet.

This is the first time that the ‘Google for Education’ programme has been launched at a public school.

Vietnam’s COVID-19 caseload exceeds 3 million

The national caseload of COVID-19 has exceeded 3 million with 69,128 cases detected in the past 24 hours from 4pm February 23 to 4pm February 24, up 8,781 from the previous day, including 9 imported cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

Hanoi continued to record the highest number of infections with 8,864 cases, followed by Bac Giang with 4,171 and Hai Duong with 2,948.

The national tally reached 3,041,506, including 205 infections of Omicron.

There are 3,137 patients in critical conditions, while an additional 111 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the total fatalities to 39,884.

Indonesia becomes ASEAN Para Games 2022 host

Indonesia has received official approval to replace Vietnam to host the ASEAN Para Games 2022, Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sport Zainudin Amali said on February 24.

ASEAN Para Games is normally organised together with the the SEA Games, but Vietnam, the host of the games, asked for Indonesia's support in organising it, he said.

Zainudin said that although the time given by the ASEAN Para Sports Federation is relatively short as the latest ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines has been cancelled, Indonesia will do its best to revive this event.

As scheduled, the ASEAN Para Games 2022 will take place from July 20-31 with 14 sports. Recently, Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka has been appointed as Chairman of the Organising Board of the games.

Nine saved, two died in ship accident offshore Vung Tau

Rescuers on February 24 saved nine sailors and found two bodies from an accident that involved the VANDON ACE vessel which was en route from Papua New Guinea to the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

According to the National Committee for Incident and Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, the accident took place in the waters of Vung Tau city in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau on February 23.

The ship’s engine broke down in bad weather. At that time, there were 19 Vietnamese sailors aboard the vessel owned by the Hong Gay shipping company located in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh’s Ha Long city. As the ship drifted to a location 160 nautical miles southeast of Vung Tau, sailors informed land that they were about to leave the ship for the lifeboat. Communication was cut right after that.

The rescue committee asked six ships operating nearby to search for the sailors. Further search and rescue efforts are underway for those remaining unaccounted for. 

Vietnam’s frigate joins multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2022 in India

Vietnam's frigate 016 - Quang Trung and a delegation of the Vietnam People's Navy arrived at the Indian city of Visakhapatnam on February 24 to attend the multilateral naval exercise MILAN 2022 at the invitation of the Indian Navy.

A ceremony to welcome the Vietnamese delegation, which was led by Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Naval Region 4 Colonel Nguyen Van Ngan, was held the same day under the chair of Lieutenant Colonel Amit S.Gore, captain of the Khukri-class corvette INS Kirpan of the Indian Navy.

Themed “Camaraderie-Cohesion-Collaboration”, the two-phase multilateral naval exercise is taking place from February 25 – March 4 at onshore and offshore locations east of Visakhapatnam city.

All Vietnamese students win medals at int'l olympiad

All the seven members of Vietnam joining the 18th International Zhautykov Olympiad on Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science brought home medals, including five gold and two bronzes.

They are students from the Hanoi University of Science’s High School for Gifted under the Vietnam National University (VNU) - Hanoi.

With this result, Vietnam ranked 2nd out of the 170 participating teams, only after Romania.

The competition was held online by Kazakhstan from February 15 to 23, with the participation of 1,200 candidates from 21 countries. 

81 percent of people willing to have children vaccinated against COVID-19: poll

Up to 81 percent of people in general said that they are willing to get children aging from 5-11 years old vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a poll conducted in all 63 localities nationwide by the Social Opinion Institute under the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education.

The poll, taking place from February 11-15 and received 387,037 votes from all social classes and six socio-economic sectors, aimed to investigate people’s willingness to have their children at the age of 5-11 vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the ratio of willingness among parents with children aged 5-11 years old is 80 percent.

At the same time, 12 percent showed hesitation and only 3 percent said that they are not willing to allow their children get vaccination.

Truong Sa fisherman suffering respiratory failure brought to mainland for treatment

The Military Hospital 175 on February 24 brought a patient with respiratory failure from Truong Sa island district in the south central province of Khanh Hoa to the mainland for treatment, using a helicopter.

The patient, Nguyen Hung, a 49-year-old fisherman aboard vessel QNg 96435 TS, suffered severe coughing, chest pain and short of breath. On February 23, he was brought to the health station of Truong Sa (Spratly) island where he was tested negative for COVID-19 three times.

After giving Hung emergency aid to recover his survival indicators, doctors at the station contacted the Military Hospital 175 for consultations. The doctors held that the patient had respiratory failure due to extensive pneumonia complicated by left pneumothorax with the cause unknown. As he faced the risk of severe respiratory failure, the doctors held that he must be brought to the mainland for treatment.

After that, EC 225 helicopter coded VN 8616 operated by Army Corps 18 was sent to the island to pick up the patient and bring him to the Emergency Department of the Military Hospital 175 for further treatment.

New art space, sculpture exhibition open in Hanoi

A new art space named ‘Anh Duong’ (Sunshine) was inaugurated in Hanoi’s Long Bien district on February 24, hosting a sculpture exhibition on the day.

The event was jointly organised by the Hanoi Studio Gallery and HimLam Art project, part of the activities aimed to promote artworks and prominent contemporary artists of Vietnam.

The sculpture exhibition showcases 47 latest artworks by 15 creators. 

Caution urged in stockpiling COVID rapid tests

As the number of new COVID-19 infections in Hà Nội continues to rise after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays, people have been rushing to buy COVID-19 rapid test kits, causing a shortage and increased prices in some areas.

To promptly tackle the issue, the Ministry of Health held an online meeting with manufacturers and importers of COVID test kits, he said.

Accordingly, health authorities called on COVID-19 rapid test kit producers and importers to increase production and import activities to ensure supply and product quality. Distributors and retailers are required to publicise prices and not stockpile or increase prices, which could result in scarcity in the market.

The Ministry of Health now has very specific guidelines for suspected infections (F1) and confirmed infections (F0). These regulations have been distributed.

It is recommended that people contact their nearest medical facility for detailed instructions, and avoid unnecessarily buying tests, limiting waste that could affect the environment.

The ministry urged users to carefully follow the instructions for using the products to avoid buying fake goods, goods of unknown origin, and poor quality goods.

UNDP assesses difficulties for disabled during pandemic

About 67 per cent of people with disabilities said they felt secure and received support during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent assessment.

Nine per cent of people with disabilities said they felt lonely during the pandemic, and 38 per cent said they lost their job and had no income.

The results were in the 'Rapid Assessment of Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19 to Persons with Disabilities in 2021', which was announced by the UNDP and the Action to the Community Development Centre (ACDC), at a virtual meeting on Thursday.

The assessment was conducted in September 2021 with the participation of 1,792 people with disabilities in 63 provinces and cities, said Đỗ Thanh Huyền, a UNDP public-policy expert.

Of the people surveyed, 91 per cent were from the Kinh group – the main ethnic group of Việt Nam, and the rest from ethnic minorities, she said.

HCM City department requests capital for Ring Road project

The HCM City Department of Transport has proposed a VNĐ13.6 trillion (US$596 million) allocation for building two sections of the Ring Road No. 2 project.

The allocation should be made by city authorities as a medium-term public investment plan for the 2021-25 period, it has said.

The entire Ring Road No. 2, which will run more than 64km as it passes through District 7, Bình Chánh District and Thủ Đức City, has received investment for around 50 kilometres.

The two sections for which capital allocation has been proposed are part of a 14km-long stretch of the ring road in Thủ Đức City on which construction is yet to begin.

When being completed, Ring Road No. 2 is expected to reduce traffic congestion and the number of vehicles entering the inner city, improve connectivity with roads leading to local ports, and link up with the HCM City-Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway and ring roads No 3 and 4.

It will help form a connecting route between neighbouring provinces and minimise congestion at the city’s entrances.

Hà Nội boost cultural heritages preservation

Hà Nội is mobilising all social resources and moving full speed ahead to promote and preserve the values of the capital city's intangible cultural heritage.

The plan issued by the city's People's Committee aims to create a strong change in awareness among officials and people, mobilise community resources in protecting and promoting the city's strong traditions.

The municipal Department of Culture and Sports has been assigned to closely coordinate with relevant agencies, local authorities, and communities in taking all measures to preserve the heritage in the city.

Dissemination campaigns will be launched to introduce the heritage values to both Vietnamese and foreign visitors, contributing to enhancing the community’s awareness of the work.

Specifically, from now to 2025, Hà Nội will compile scientific dossiers to submit to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism seeking inscription of them on the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

COVID-19 overshadows 2022 V.League 1's opening round

The Night Wolf V.League 1, which is kicked off today (February 25), is already grappling with how to deal with the pandemic this season, after cancelling the season for the first time ever last October.

The pandemic also caused trouble for the national women's football team at the recent Asian Cup, as well as the U23 squad at the ongoing AFF Championship.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, but no less disappointingly, on Wednesday the Việt Nam Professional Football Company (VPF) announced a postponement of the V.League 1 first-round match between Hà Nội FC and Đông Á Thanh Hóa, scheduled for today at the Hàng Đẫy Stadium.

In a further announcement, VPF said Đông Á Thanh Hóa asked for the postponement because the team has 18 players, including all three goalkeepers, positive with COVID-19.

Hà Nội are not affected as badly, though Nguyễn Quang Hải, Đỗ Duy Mạnh and Đoàn Văn Hậu are also isolating.

Early on Wednesday, Topenland Bình Định FC also planned to request a postponement to their game as 28 of their set-up, including 19 players, have returned positive tests.

More than 120 male and female golfers register to join the Lexus Challenge Tournament 2022

Some 121 golfers have registered to join Lexus Challenge 2022 as of February 21. They include 106 male and 15 female golfers, according to the Việt Nam Golf Association (VGA) organising committee.

The registration, which will select 120 male and 30 female golfers, will be closed on February 28.

The tournament will officially take place on March 7-11 at Tràng An Golf & Country Club, Ninh Bình Province after two years of postponement due to the pandemic.

The tournament will be broadcast live from March 8 to 11 via the official channels of VGA Tour, VHndicap, GolfNews TV and others.

Major tourist sites in Da Nang welcome return of tourists

Sun World Ba Na Hills, the largest tourist resort in the central city of Da Nang, is set to officially reopen to visitors from March 18 after being closed for nearly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after other major tourist areas in Da Nang also resumed operations, such as Suoi Hoa eco-tourism area, Hoa Phu Thanh waterfall slide area, along with both the Mikazuki Japan tourist area and the Ngu Hanh Son relic site.

Truong Thi Hong Hanh, director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, said the central city’s tourism industry strives to welcome 3.5 million visitors this year, representing a three-fold increase compared to 2021. 

UN Charter important basis for int’l community’s actions: Vietnamese Ambassador

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has stressed the importance of the UN Charter in Vietnam’s foreign policy, affirming that it is an important basis for the international community’s actions during difficult times.

Addressing the annual session of the Special Committee on the UN Charter on February 23, he recalled Vietnam’s organisation in January 2020 of an open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on upholding the UN Charter, adding that the UNSC Presidency Statement adopted at that time is still valid.

The diplomat emphasised the need for nations to comply with international law and the Charter through specific actions, promote cooperation and mutual assistance between the UN and regional organisations for peace and sustainable development.

Regarding the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, Ambassador Anh affirmed that Vietnam always upholds this basic principle of international law, especially the use of measures mentioned in Article 33 of the UN Chapter, and supports the committee’s effort to continue discussing this topic.

Cyber-attacks in Vietnam decline in 2021

Latest statistics from the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) showed that the number of cyber-attacks in Vietnam has abated, reported Sai Gon Giai phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper.

The KSN detected and prevented more than 63.48 million cyber-attacks targeting computers of its users in Vietnam in 2021. The amount hit a record low in the recent five years and plunged by over 871,400 cases compared to in 2020.

KSN data also indicated that threats posed by malware spread by removable drives such as USB flash drives or compact discs slipped to more than 162.91 million last year from 268.51 million recorded in 2020.

Vietnam’s efforts in creating a safe cyberspace greatly contributed to the decline.

Vietnam steps closer to African swine fever vaccine

A Vietnamese-made commercial vaccine for African swine fever is expected in the next few months, after long delays.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien told a meeting last week that his ministry (MARD) assigned authorities to complete the procedure for the debut of a commercial African swine fever (ASF) vaccine to serve the development of domestic livestock and export to overseas.

A vaccine is being studied by Dabaco Group thanks to the transfer of biological products from the US Department of Agriculture’s research centre for exotic species diseases. The US has studied the virus for a decade and in 2020, Vietnam requested the US to transfer genetically-altered samples of the virus it has developed to facilitate vaccine production.

Three young bands to perform at LiveSpace 3

Three young bands - Phach Ca, Bot Mau Khoai Tay Ca Rot (Potato Carrot Colour Powder) and Lope Dope - will perform at LiveSpace 3, at the French Cultural Institute in Hanoi - L'Espace - on March 5, promising to bring the audience new songs with unique melodies and witty, disruptive lyrics.

The music night is part of LiveSpace Vietnam, which a music project aimed at discovering new talents initiated by the by the French Cultural Centre - L’Espace in collaboration with Monsoon Music Festival and a number of organisers.

Winners of Toyota Dream Car Art Contest announced

The Toyota Motor Vietnam Co.Ltd recently announced the winners of the 11th Toyota Dream Car Art contest, with the nine best paintings being selected to enter the final round in Japan in March 2022.

The contest was launched in October 2021 by Toyota Vietnam in coordination with the ‘Thieu nien Tien phong va Nhi dong’ (Young Pioneers and Children) Newspaper, targeting children aged from seven to 15 from across the country.

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest has been organised annually by the Toyota Motor Corporation since 2004. In Vietnam, since the 2011-2012 school year, the initiative has become one of the largest drawing contests nationwide with about 5 million entries following its 11 editions.

Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest achievements in the international competition, winning one gold, one silver, a bronze and four consolation prizes so far. 

Short film contest promotes environmental protection

A short film contest has been officially launched by the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), aiming to reflect current issues related to sustainable development from environmental protection.

The participants can make short films that convey inspirational real-life stories or fictitious ones on the impact of people’s choices and decisions on the environment.

A movie’s length is under 10 minutes and its after credit is under 1 minute. The films must have behind-the-scenes images featuring the application of green measures in the production process including recycled water bottles, meals without styrofoam boxes and environmentally friendly filmmaking equipment.

The entries must be produced after January 5, 2022, and must not have been sent to any other competitions.

The contestants can send submit their scripts and projects to the pitching round for the chance to receive financial support of 20 million VND for each script and project.

The deadline for film submission is July 31, 2022, while the scripts/projects submission deadline is March 31, 2022.

HCMC seeks PM nod to plug capital shortfall at metro line operator

The HCMC government has written to the prime minister seeking approval for capital allocation for HCMC Urban Railways No. 1 Co. Ltd. (HURC1), which operates the city’s metro line projects, as the company has run out of capital for its operations.

In its letter to the prime minister, the HCMC government reported that HURC1 is finding it hard to pay salaries and premiums for social, health, unemployment, labor accidents, and occupational disease insurance for workers. The company is also facing a shortage of capital to pay its electricity, water, and telecom bills, it added.

At present, the company has 15 leaders and employees along with 59 metro train drivers whose training course has been suspended as an appendix on general consulting services for the metro line No. 1 project has not been signed, it informed.

The VND14 billion allocated to the company was used to buy office equipment, and its operational costs are yet to be allocated, it said.

Moreover, the progress of the metro line No. 1 project has been slower than expected, so HURC1 has not earned any revenue, it added.

Therefore, the HCMC government has asked the prime minister to allow the city to use its budget to ensure HURC1’s operation and duty fulfillment to meet the Vietnamese Government’s commitments to sponsors.

If the plan is approved, the city will propose the Ministries of Finance and Planning and Investment instruct the budget allocation.

Over VND5.6 trillion sought for road upgrade in Mekong Delta

The Vietnam Directorate for Roads is seeking over VND5.6 trillion in funding for upgrading three roads in the Mekong Delta— National Highway 62 in Long An, National Highway 53 passing through Tra Vinh and Vinh Long, and Nam Song Hau road.

The directorate has submitted its proposal for the road repair and upgrade project to the Ministry of Transport for approval.

It said it will require over VND2.2 trillion to upgrade National Highway 62, over VND1.8 trillion for National Highway 53, and VND1.5 trillion for Nam Song Hau road.

The 39-kilometer National Highway 53 section, which links Long Ho District of Vinh Long to Cang Long District of Tra Vinh, will also be widened to 12 meters to allow a maximum travel speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The project’s investor will also upgrade a 21.6-kilometer section and build a 17.5-kilometer bypass, the directorate said.

The Nam Song Hau road is over 141 kilometers long and runs from Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, to Bac Lieu. Under the project, one seven-kilometer section in Can Tho will be elevated on par with the project of expanding Quang Trung-Cai Cui streets. Another section running from Cai Cui Bridge to an intersection linking the Nam Song Hau road with the Bac Lieu-Vinh Chau provincial road will be reinforced with asphalt concrete layers.

The rehabilitation and upgrade of the roads is necessary to ensure traffic safety and promote local socioeconomic growth, according to the Vietnam Directorate for Roads.

HCMC seeks VND6.5 trillion from central budget to boost healthcare

HCMC is seeking a budget allocation of over VND6.5 trillion from the central Government for strengthening the grassroots healthcare network and upgrading three general hospitals in Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, and Thu Duc.
The municipal government has forwarded the proposal for the budget allocation—which is aimed at improving the capacity of grassroots healthcare facilities to meet the healthcare demand of local residents—to the ministries of Planning and Investment as well as Health, local news reports said.

Specifically, over VND2 trillion is needed for 184 grassroots healthcare projects and the HCMC Center for Disease Control (HCDC), and VND4.5 trillion for upgrading the general hospitals in Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, and Thu Duc.

The city’s government had registered the proposal on January 13 under the Government’s program for socioeconomic recovery and development. However, the Ministry of Planning and Investment only provided a portfolio of projects for 41 communes, wards, and HCDC, with a total allocation of VND586 billion.

According to the municipal government, the city’s healthcare sector receives and treats over 30 million patients each year, with 40–60% of the patients coming from southern localities. Hospitals in the city are usually overwhelmed by a large number of patients.

Gov't Steering Committee formed for Long Thanh Airport, North-South Expressway

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed a decision to establish the Government's Steering Committee for implementation of the Eastern North-South expressway construction project and the Long Thanh international airport project.

The committee is assigned to direct, inspect, coordinate with and urge relevant ministries, agencies and localities to implement the missions of construction investment of the Eastern North-South expressway and the Long Thanh international airport project following the resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government for the above- mentioned projects.

Accordingly, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh is Head of the Government's Steering Committee for the implementation of the Eastern North-South expressway construction project. Deputy heads included Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The and Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi.

As for the Long Thanh international airport project, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has been appointed as the Head of the Government's Steering Committee. Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The, Chairman of the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises Nguyen Hoang Anh and Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi are deputy heads.

Japanese artist introduces Butoh dance

Japan Foundation in Hanoi introduces the art of Japanese Butoh dance through performances and lectures given by artist Yukio Suzuki.

The performance is available at https://vimeo.com/646352593 with Vietnamese and English subtitles.

The unique Butoh dance, often translated as ‘Dance of Darkness’, was born in Japan in the 1960s. Today, Butoh is known internationally and there are practitioners all over the world.

Yukio Suzuki is a Japanese dancer and choreographer. He has studied Butoh since 1997 and in 2000 he founded his dance company “Yukio Suzuki projects” in order to more widely present activities as a choreographer, performer and director.

He’s been to more than 40 cities in the world for his strong physicality and dance performance that is flexible, sensitive, and attractive to local audiences. He is also active in choreography for ballet dancers and children, collaboration with musicians and workshops.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/SGGP/VOV/ND

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES FEBRUARY 24

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc leaves Hanoi for State visit to Singapore