Improving qualifications of guest workers and developing foreign labour markets that suit Vietnamese labourers' standards and skills have been considered as key tasks in 2024 in order to stepping up the sending of labourers to work abroad.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), in 2023, the number of Vietnamese labourers sent to work abroad under contract reached its peak with 155,000 people, 29% higher than the year's plan and marking an increase of 8.55% compared to 2022.

Currently, there are about 650,000 Vietnamese guest workers in 40 countries and territories in the world, including Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Taiwan (China), among others. The number of Vietnamese guest workers has increased in European countries such as Hungary, Greece, Poland, Slovakia and Croatia.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan said that the Party and the State have always paid attention to sending Vietnamese labourers to work abroad. It is a significant and long-term strategy, helping to build a high-quality workforce for the cause of national construction in the period of industrialisation and modernisation. Vietnamese guest workers have also helped to strengthen cooperative relations with other countries in the world. In many labour markets, Vietnamese workers are playing an important role in the foreign workforces.

Besides, Vietnamese guest workers send home about 3.5-4 billion USD in remittances each year, contributing to the country's socio-economic development while helping their families to have a better life.

Recently, MoLISA has announced a plan to recruit labourers to work in the RoK under the Korean Government's Foreign Worker Licensing Programme (EPS Programme) phase 1 in 2024 with an expected number of more than 15,000 people. Other labour markets such as Japan, Taiwan (China), Malaysia, and Singapore also need to recruit large numbers of workers. Many other countries like Australia, Germany, and Canada are also lacking skilled human resources in several areas including social security, nursing, agriculture, construction, and mechanics, among others.

Besides the positive results, the sending of Vietnamese workers to work abroad has also faced many difficulties and challenges, including high costs of working abroad; limited management and citizen protection for Vietnamese workers in foreign countries and territories, poor capacity of some organisations and businesses to send workers to work abroad, among others.

According to experts, to meet the increasing requirements of labour exports, it is necessary to closely monitor labour selection and training processes of enterprises with focus on linking businesses with vocational schools to select and train quality labour resources.

MoLISA revealed that in 2024, the ministry will continue to promote and improve the quality of sending Vietnamese labourers to work abroad under contracts while increasing information and guidance for businesses to proactively train labour resources, fostering the training of vocational skills and foreign language skills for workers before sending them to work abroad.

Two int’l sports channels broadcast exclusively on MyTV

MyTV platform of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) on January 16 launched two international exclusive sports channels, SPOTV and SPOTV2.

The channels will provide sports enthusiasts with exclusive access to various international tournaments, including the Grand Prix motorcycle racing (MotoGP), the US Open Tennis Championships (the US Open), the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, the BWF World Tour and BWF Major Events, Golf Major The Open and The Masters, and the World Table Tennis Championships.

The exclusive television channels will also broadcast the Saudi Pro League in the 2024-2025 season which brings together many world-class stars. In addition to football, viewers can enjoy a variety of sports tournaments such as basketball, volleyball, figure skating, and athletics, among others.

MyTV is the top pay-TV service provider in Vietnam with nearly 200 channels and 70,000 hours of Video on Demand (VOD). MyTV offers a diverse content library, making it a prominent player in the national market.

According to Deputy General Director of VNPT-Media Nguyen Son Hai, the inauguration of SPOTV and SPOTV2 aligns with MyTV's content strategy and marks a significant milestone as MyTV officially re-introduces international sports channels to its audience after a two-year absence from the Vietnamese market.

Owned by media conglomerate Eclat of the Republic of Korea (RoK), SPOTV and SPOTV2 are currently available in 10 countries and territories in Asia. They are accessible through 14 major PayTV infrastructures, including Astro & TM of Malaysia, True Visions of Thailand, Singtel & StarHub of Singapore, Sky Cable & Cignal of the Philippines, Univision of Mongolia, Macau Cable TV of Macau (China), PCCW of Hong Kong (China), as well as MNC Vision, K.Vision, First, and Useetv of Indonesia, with  over 20 million subscribers.

Urban development forum shapes future of Da Nang, Yokohama

In a joint effort to address urban development challenges, authorities of Da Nang City and leaders of Japan’s Yokohama city convened the 12th urban development forum in the Vietnamese central city on January 16.

Their discussions covered a range of topics, including the establishment of eco-industrial zones, solid waste management, smart urban development, sustainable growth and voluntary local assessments.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Quang Nam described these discussions as a groundwork to study and propose solutions to fostering smart urban development in Da Nang, helping address local pressing issues such as traffic management, urban development, public order and security, environment, education, healthcare, and economic development. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of local lives while ensuring better social welfare.

As part of the event, the municipal authorities arranged a field trip for the Japanese delegation to explore key projects, including the Lien Chieu Port, a railway station relocation project, and a waste treatment plant.

The forum also served as a platform to facilitate business connections, fostering ties between the Da Nang Young Entrepreneurs’ Association and businesses from Yokohama city.

Highlighting the collaborative achievements over the past years, Director General on Development Cooperation of Yokohama city Hashimoto Toru said both Da Nang and Yokohama have declared their commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. Da Nang's focus on green, sustainable development and carbon neutrality with help popularise its image and attract more capital in the future.

Yakabe Yoshinori, Consul General of Japan in Da Nang, noted that Da Nang has set long-term economic development goals with the aim of becoming a regional hub for commerce, logistics, finance, tourism, hi-tech and information technology (IT) in the entire Southeast Asia.

As a port and well-known tourist destination, Yokohama is also a key component of Japan's largest industrial region, the Keihin industrial zone so that it is home to numerous high-tech and IT enterprises, he said, adding that the Consulate General wishes to see further development in the ties between the two cities and offer support to the best of its ability.

Operating under the Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation for sustainable development signed by the two cities, this forum has been a recurring event since 2013. To date, 11 editions have been successfully held in the two cities.

WB aids Can Tho in improving citizens' participation in public services

The World Bank (WB) hosted a workshop in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on January 16, seeking measures to boost citizens' participation in the planning, design, and implementation of public services through digital technology.

In Can Tho, WB-funded public investment projects are being implemented in various sectors such as healthcare, irrigation, agriculture, urban development, and transport.

At the event, Duong Tan Hien, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, said at a January 6 workshop, co-organised by the local authorities and the bank, the former selected specific areas that require support and proposed them to the latter and sponsors for review. These areas focus on reforms in the city's public financial management system in the coming period, with the aim of achieving efficiency, transparency, and sustainable development.

Tran Thi Phuong Mai, a WB senior expert in financial management, said citizens' participation in the planning, design, and implementation of public services will bring about high efficiency and consensus. The involvement has three levels of information provision, consultation, and engagement. Citizens participate when they are given the opportunity and necessary resources to collaborate in various stages of the policy cycle, as well as in the design and delivery of services.

Tran Thi Lan Huong, a WB senior expert in public administration, suggested Can Tho continue deploying and effectively utilising online public service software and social media channels to listen to and collect feedback from the people quickly and accurately. Therefore, interfaces must be user-friendly.

Participating experts recommended the city to have initiatives for open data, like sharing non-sensitive data about services for citizens to analyze and provide opinions, and creating conditions for research projects and universities to explore the best use of non-sensitive data.

Can Tho city was also advised to monitor the quality of public services and present citizens' feedback and the administration's  actions through publicly accessible dashboards, among other affairs.

Undocumented Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Laos

Border guards and police from the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien completed procedures to receive 69 citizens handed over by the Phong Sa Ly provincial police of Laos, at Tay Trang international border gate on January 16.

The undocumented Vietnamese citizens hail from 30 cities and provinces, including 48 men and 21 women aged between 15 and 40.

Among them, there are cases involved in illegal residency and employment in Laos. Some had previously worked in Thailand, China and Myanmar before illegally entering Laos where they were subsequently arrested by local authorities. Others were deceived by acquaintances on social media, who enticed them to enter Myanmar illegally with promises of "easy work and high wages".

Following verification, the border guards will hand over them to relevant authorities in accordance with legal regulations.

Vietnamese community in Japan sends more relief to quake-affected people

A delegation of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka on January 15 handed over thousands of essential supplies to authorities of Higashiosaka city so as to deliver relief goods to people affected by a recent earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture.

The relief aid, donated by Vietnamese associations, businesses and community in Japan, included 1,000 cases of mineral water, 500 boxes of antiseptic hand sanitizer, and 1,000 hygiene kits.

At the handover ceremony, the Mayor of Higashiosaka thanked the Vietnamese community in Japan for their support and affirmed that these goods will be sent to the most challenging areas.

Previously, on January 6, the Consulate General in Osaka, the Vietnamese Association in Kansai, and various other associations mobilised 600 sets of essential goods, which were directly delivered to affected Vietnamese citizens and local residents in Ishikawa.

Ishikawa, home to over 5,000 Vietnamese residents, recently bore the brunt of the major earthquake and tsunami on January 1. Immediately after the disasters, the Consulate General guided Vietnamese associations and businesses in the region to establish a fundraising mobilisation committee, providing assistance to victims and promptly implementing relief plans.

Deputy PM receives Vietnamese, Japanese students

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 16 for a delegation of Vietnamese and Japanese students joining the Teenage Ambassadors’ Programme, which is organised to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.

Quang said cultural similarities and historical connections are the sustainable foundation for the Vietnam-Japan relationship.

Citing statistics, he noted that Vietnam currently has 51,000 students studying in Japan, ranking second in the number of international students in the country. He wished that the programme would further develop, providing more opportunities for students to have educational experiences in both Vietnam and Japan.

The Deputy PM expressed his hope that the students would strive for academic excellence and personal growth to become knowledgeable and helpful citizens serving their countries. He also encouraged them to contribute to nurturing the bilateral long-standing friendship.

The Teenage Ambassadors’ Programme, initiated by the AEON 1% Club Foundation in Japan and other countries since 1990, aims to enhance mutual understanding and relations between Japanese youths and their counterparts from various nations, through visits to explore history and culture. To date, it has been conducted 43 times, attracting nearly 2,500 high school students from 18 countries, with four editions held in Vietnam.

The latest edition of the programme took place in Japan from November 13-18, 2023, and is being held in Vietnam from January 15-20, 2024, with the participation of 50 Vietnamese and 50 Japanese students.

Hanoi Medical University receives five-star UPM ranking

Hanoi Medical University (HMU) has been given a five-star University Performance Metrics (UPM ranking), Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Tu, rector of the University, has revealed.

Accordingly, the university is among the group of research-oriented schools.

The universities given the five-star rating boast outstanding lecture staff, have recorded good scientific research results, have outstanding innovation activities, and also feature an innovation ecosystem.

UPM five-star universities have a high national reputation and are internationally recognised.

UPM is a rating system for higher education institutions which is a suitable rating tool for universities in the region who aim to benchmark with the Asian top 100 universities.

It evaluates university performance through 54 indicators across eight categories which gives a total score out of 1,000. The categories include Strategic Governance with five indicators, accounting for 6% of the total score; Education with 15 indicators, 35% of the total; Research with four indicators, 20% of the total; Innovation with four indicators, 11% of the total; Innovation Ecosystem with four indicators, 6% of the total; IT Infrastructure with 10 indicators, 10% of the total; Internationalisation, nine indicators, 6% of the total; and Community Services with three indicators, 6% of the total.

Evaluation results are presented in the form of an overall score for the whole institution, as well as a score for each category, corresponding to a number of Stars ranging from one to five.

So far, nearly 40 universities across Vietnam and other ASEAN member states have voluntarily applied the UPM system as part of quality evaluation.

Apart from HMU, five other research-oriented higher education institutions rated five-star include Vietnam National University, University of Natural Sciences and University of Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and University of Kasetsar in Thailand.

Earlier, Vietnam National University was also named on the list of Best Global Universities Rankings 2023 as complied by U.S. News & World Reports.

Vietnam closely monitors disease situation amid global COVID-19 reemergence

The Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine on January 16 asked localities nationwide to keep a close watch on the disease situation in the face of complex developments of infectious diseases, especially respiratory ones, around the world.

In December 2023, nearly 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 were reported worldwide while the number of hospitalised cases surged 42% from the previous month. New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have continuously changed, and sub-variant JN.1 is spreading rapidly around the globe, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The US, China, and some European countries have recorded the re-emergence of COVID-19 infections as well as the transmission of other respiratory illnesses like seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus.

In Vietnam, the northern region is now in the transitional period between winter and spring, when cold and dry weather is alternated with wet weather, triggering infectious diseases, especially respiratory ones. Meanwhile, the numbers of cases suffering from other infectious diseases like dengue fever, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and some others which have already had vaccines have also been on the rise in many places, the department pointed out.

It warned that the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays and spring festive season, when trading and travel demand surges, along with abnormal weather changes are favourable conditions for diseases to spread, particularly among children with weak immunity and the elderly with comorbidities, who are more vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Given this, the Department of Preventive Medicine asked provincial-level departments of health to propose their provinces and cities’ administrations soon issue plans on infectious disease prevention and control for 2024. They were also told to engage all local sectors and socio-political organisations in the work, especially during Tet.

In particular, local health departments were demanded to order grassroots health units like disease control centres and preventive medicine bodies keep a close watch on the disease situation and the increase in infections of respiratory illnesses and severe cases of viral pneumonia.

They need to maintain constant monitoring to detect infections early so as to make timely response, control transmission, and minimise severe cases and deaths, the Department of Preventive Medicine added, requesting the expanded programme on immunisation be properly maintained.

Hanoi's art exchange programme helps promote international friendship

An international art exchange programme to welcome New Year 2024 was held by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HAUFO) on January 16 as part of activities to nurture and strengthen the friendship between the people of Vietnam and foreign nations around the world.

The event saw the participation of ambassadors, representatives from foreign embassies in Vietnam, international and non-governmental organisations, and foreign students studying in Hanoi.

Addressing the event, HAUFO Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Ky affirmed that 2023 was a successful year for the capital city's foreign affairs in the context of intertwined challenges and opportunities, and many bilateral and multilateral relations between Hanoi and other countries and territories, localities, and foreign organisations were established and upgraded.

Many exchange and friendship activities were organised, opening up orientations for cooperation in the areas of economy, politics, culture, and society, helping to improve the position of Hanoi and Vietnam in general in the international arena, he said.

The official expressed his gratitude to international delegates for their support and for standing side by side with Vietnam on its path of integration and development.

Participants reviewed and shared experiences in foreign affairs, particularly people-to-people diplomacy, throughout 2023. They emphasised the crucial role of Hanoi in developing and elevating diplomatic relations between Vietnam and countries worldwide.

Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama, who is Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Vietnam, expressed his hope that HAUFO will make more successes in promoting people-to-people diplomacy and fostering solidarity and friendship between the people of Hanoi and Vietnam with the international community.

The diplomat took this occasion to wish the people of Hanoi a New Year full of peace, happiness, and prosperity.

Phu Quoc emerges as new trending destination among Koreans

Phu Quoc island in the southern province of Kien Giang has emerged as a new trending destination, spurred by the introduction of new air routes by Korean Air.

Despite a shorter Lunar New Year holidays from February 9-12, major Korean travel companies such as Hana Tour, Very Good Travel and Kyowon Tour Travel Easy on January 17 reported a remarkable annual surge in tour bookings, averaging around 50%.

Hana Tour revealed a substantial 48% increase in overseas travel bookings during the holidays, demonstrating the highest growth in Southeast Asia at 57%, followed by Japan at 25%, Europe 6%, South Pacific 6%, and China 5%. This underscores a discernible customer preference for destinations with shorter distances.

Breaking down the data by region, the demand for travel to Vietnam and Japan collectively constituted over half of the bookings, with 27% heading to Vietnam and 25% to Japan.

Analysing holiday booking data, Kyowon Tour Travel Easy identified Japan as having the highest proportion of reservations, accounting for 20.8% of the total. Vietnam secured the second position with a share of 11.7%.

Very Good Travel anticipated a booking growth of more than 10%. Among all international travel bookings, Southeast Asia took the lead with the highest share at 37.2%, followed by Japan at 29.1%, Europe 11.2%, Oceania 8.1%, and China 6.4%.

According to its data, newly emerging tourist destinations gaining popularity among travellers include Siem Reap in Cambodia, Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Taichung in Taiwan (China), and Matsuyama in Japan.

Renowned for its long beaches with gleaming white sand nestled beside inviting turquoise waters, Phu Quoc island received accolades from the American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler (CN Traveler) as one of the world’s top islands in 2023, marking its second consecutive year on the prestigious list.

Beyond its stunning landscapes, Phu Quoc stands out as one of Vietnam's most alluring destinations, offering a kaleidoscope of cultural-historical experiences and a range of accommodations, from affordable housing to luxurious resorts.

Seminar seeks to develop metro routes in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

Dozens of domestic and foreign experts gathered at a seminar in Hanoi on January 17 to map out solutions for speeding up major metro projects in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In his opening speech, Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, emphasised that the urban railway system is widely considered to be the "backbone" of the transport infrastructure network.

Early investment and effective operation of the metro system is expected to raise the proportion of public passenger transport and reduce the use of personal vehicles, thereby making a positive impact on local socio-economic development, as well as helping to reduce environmental pollution and traffic congestion, said Thanh.

However, he said after more than 15 years of implementation, the progress of urban railway projects remains slow with only one metro line being put into operation.

Thanh therefore underlined the necessity of devising proper mechanisms and policies, whilst also learning from international experiences to complete the development of the urban railway system.

At the seminar, foreign experts shared details about the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) model in urban railway development from a global perspective, which has been applied successfully in France, Japan, Hong Kong (China), China, and Singapore.

The initiatives put forward by experts at the seminar are expected to enable breakthrough solutions to emerge in the building of the urban railway network in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Community level healthcare key in tuberculosis fight

The diagnosis of tuberculosis at community healthcare facilities is key as Việt Nam stands at high risk of tuberculosis outbreaks.

Đinh Văn Lượng, director of the National Lung Hospital and head of the Executive Board of the Việt Nam Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Project, said community level healthcare facilities are a competent, responsible, and dedicated force protecting the community against the disease.

Assessing the COVID-19 impact on tuberculosis prevention and control, he said the pandemic delayed by five to eight years the provision of essential TB services and increasing the global TB burden.

“Việt Nam is still a country with a high tuberculosis burden, ranking 11th among the 30 countries with the highest proportion of tuberculosis patients and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the world, according to World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2023,” he told Vietnam News Agency.

During the pandemic, Việt Nam’s TB fight faced challenges with the over 20 per cent decline in the number of infections detected in the community in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020.

This put Việt Nam on the list of countries with the highest rate of reduction in tuberculosis detection in the world due to the impact of the pandemic.

The TB death rate in Việt Nam has been also on the rise, reaching 12,000 people in 2021, an increase of 35.8 per cent compared to 2020.

The National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Programme has strived to launch the TB prevention task at all communes and wards across the country, with 100 per cent of the population getting access to the programme.

Fifty one out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide have established lung and tuberculosis hospitals.

The programme has expanded cooperation with partners such as the Ministry of Public Security, Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as central and provincial general hospitals.

Local authorities have committed to implementing the model of TB detection in the community.

Everyone who has a health check-up at community medical facilities will have TB screening and check-up for other lung diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Thanks to that effort, in the first nine months of 2023, the total number of TB patients detected by public and private healthcare facilities reached 26,300 patients, accounting for 33.4 per cent of total patients.

This has demonstrated the efficiency of grassroots TB detection, Lượng said.

Lượng said the medical sector needs to strengthen TB diagnosis at the community level, focusing on high-risk groups to early detect and treat TB, looking towards ending the infection source in the community, and soon ending the epidemic.

In 2023, one of the most outstanding achievements in the fight against TB in Việt Nam was the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the disease diagnosis.

The application of AI will facilitate the detection of tuberculosis, especially cases that are easily missed or difficult to reach, Lượng said.

The medical sector has also stepped up TB detection in the community and at healthcare facilities by applying X-ray and Xpert testing for diagnosis.

Thanks to active participation of the community level healthcare system, in the first nine months of 2023, the National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Programme detected 78,674 cases, a year-on-year increase of 1,909 cases.

Detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis during this period also rose by 44 per cent compared to the same period in 2021. 

Coast Guard seizes 15,000 litres of smuggled diesel

The Coast Guard has seized 15,000 litres of smuggled diesel from a wooden fishing boat off the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Nhân Hậu, head of the Đồng Nai Province-based Coast Guard Intelligence Division No 2, said a patrol team discovered the boat 50 nautical miles east Thổ Chu Islands on January 12.

Officers boarded KG 91060 TS registered in Kiên Giang Province and found the oil of unknown origin.

The vessel’s captain, Nguyễn Công Định, 50, of Hậu Giang Province, and four crew members were on board.

Định failed to furnish documents proving the origin of the oil, while none of the crew had the qualifications or certification required to be a sailor.

The patrol team brought the vessel ashore and handed the case over to Coast Guard Region No 4 based on Phú Quốc Island for further investigation. 

Hà Nội ensures safety during Tết holiday festivals

The Hà Nội People's Committee has directed departments and branches to strengthen management and ensure social order and safety during the festival season of Tết (Lunar New Year).

Districts are assigned to review and compile a list of festivals, as well as the management and organisation programmes of the festival according to regulations. 

Localities are assigned to develop festival programmes to ensure environmental hygiene, food safety, and disease prevention, as well as ensure security, safety and fire prevention. Localities need to preserve and protect relics, and religious facilities in festival areas. 

Within the grounds of the monument, the city mandates that places and services must be arranged diagrammatically for the benefit of tourists. The locations of the festival's burn-votive-paper locations and entertainment venues must be publicised by the local government. A summary table provides an overview of the monument's artistic, cultural, architectural, and historical significance.

The city encourages each monument to place only one common incense burner, as well as to instruct visitors not to place offerings or merit money on altars, which could affect the sanctity of the relics. Visitors are encouraged to maintain hygiene and protect the environmental landscape to avoid harming relics and historical landscapes.

The city will accelerate the construction and replication of models of monuments following a set of criteria of the cultural environment in traditional festivals.

The City People's Committee establishes an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect the management and organisation of the festivals in Hà Nội to promptly handle negative violations of heritage such as damaging monuments and religious facilities. 

Hà Nội's Department of Culture and Sports also establishes two inspection teams to supervise festival activities and handle organisations and individuals who take advantage of the festival according to regulations.

The two teams aim to promptly prevent and strictly handle organisations and individuals who increase prices and engage in superstition and illegal business. 

Hà Nội will also organise a conference to discuss pilot models for building a cultural environment in festival activities, aiming to improve the effectiveness of preservation work, as well as promote traditional festivals in the capital.

The City People's Committee has launched a hotline for giving feedback on Tết festivals via 0965404557. 

Hà Nội has one of the greatest number of festivals in the nation, with 1,206 held throughout the year, mostly in the spring. Therefore, the cultural sector, as well as all levels and branches of the city, are involved in the management and organisation of festivals to ensure civilised traditions and safety. 

Việt Nam’s national team earns Al-Thani's admiration and support

Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, chairman of the local organising committee of the AFC Asian Cup finals in Qatar, paid a visit to the Vietnamese national team on Monday and expressed his admiration for their performance against Japan.

Al-Thani emphasised that as the host country of the Asian Cup, Qatar is committed to providing the best possible service to all participating teams. He specifically commended the Vietnamese team, led by coach Philippe Troussier, for their impressive performance in the opening match against the formidable opponent, Japan.

Al-Thani acknowledged the challenges faced by the team due to injuries sustained by several key players prior to their arrival in Qatar. Despite these setbacks, the Vietnamese team showcased an excellent display of football at the Al Thumama Stadium, even with a young squad.

Al-Thani firmly believes that Việt Nam will not only continue to progress at the Asian Cup but will also establish themselves as a formidable team at the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup in April.

On behalf of the organisers of the AFC Asian Cup finals, Al-Thani expressed his joy and pride that Qatar was chosen as the host for world-class and continental tournaments.

During the meeting, Trần Anh Tú, the vice chairman of the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) and head of the Vietnamese delegation in Qatar, extended his gratitude to Al-Thani and the host country for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to the Vietnamese team.

Tú said: "Since arriving in Qatar, the Vietnamese team has received unwavering support and assistance from the Qatar Football Federation and the tournament organisers. We feel incredibly honoured to be participating in Asia's premier tournament and have been deeply impressed by the graciousness of the host country."

Tú also expressed admiration for Qatar's meticulous organisation and the grandeur of their events, having successfully hosted the world's largest tournament, the FIFA World Cup 2022, and currently being the venue for the 2023 Asian Cup finals, followed by the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup.

Tú noted that Asian football is steadily approaching the developmental pace of world football, with Qatar serving as a prime example. Vietnamese football is likewise striving to keep up with this progress.

Tú, alongside the general secretary of VFF, Dương Nghiệp Khôi, also met with and encouraged the national team. The VFF leaders urged the entire team to maintain emotional control and remain fully focused on the remaining two group stage matches, particularly the crucial encounter against Indonesia scheduled for January 19.

After a training session on Monday for the match with Indonesia, striker Nguyễn Văn Trường said: "We feel confident heading into the match against Indonesia. We have faced Indonesia on numerous occasions, so both teams are well-acquainted with each other, making it a highly anticipated match. The entire team is determined to secure a victory and secure a spot in the next round.

"As a young player, I feel immense happiness and pride when I step onto the field. Following the match against Japan, I will give my utmost effort to contribute to the Vietnamese team." 

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