The National Assembly will continue with strong reforms in mindset and working style to further improve the quality and efficiency of its operations, Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.

On the key tasks of the legislature in 2023, the top legislator said the NA will give priority to creating a quality legal framework in a timely, concerted manner in service of national socio-economic development, national defence and security, first of all laws in key fields in order to create breakthroughs in socio-economic development.

The second task is to raise the efficiency of supervisions, especially thematic ones, and question and answer activities, with democracy to be promoted, Hue continued. 

He added that at the 6th session slated for October 2023, the NA is scheduled to conduct a vote of confidence for officials holding positions elected or approved by the NA.

Thirdly, the legislature will strive to make decisions on major national matters more accurately and pragmatically, particularly those regarding the state budget, socio-economic affairs, the state apparatus and important national projects.

At the same time, external relations will be promoted and international integration and cooperation will be enhanced, with priority given to the relations with parliaments of neighbouring countries, countries with special relations, strategic, strategic comprehensive, and comprehensive partnerships with Vietnam, along with traditional friendly countries, the leader went on.

The Vietnamese legislature will uphold its responsibility at multilateral parliamentary forums, focusing on the organisation of the 9th IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in 2023. 

Another key task for 2023 is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the NA's ombudsman work, research and develop coordination regulations between the Ombudsman Committee and government agencies, Party committees, and Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

The NA Chairman also listed the continued reform of the organisational and working methods of the NA, the NA Standing Committee, the Ethnic Council, and all relevant agencies as a focus of the NA this year. 

Vietnam has entered 2023 with new hopes and opportunities, which is attributable to timely, sound policies and guidelines adopted by the Party and the State, the consensus of the entire political system and people, and national unity, Hue noted.

The leader expressed his hope that the great national unity bloc will be promoted, contributing to fulfilling the targets set for this year and creating momentum to achieve the 2021-2025 targets.

Vietnamese Tet inspires foreigners

In Asian countries like Vietnam, the Lunar New Year (or Tet Nguyen Dan in Vietnamese) has been a special occasion for thousands of generations. It is a time when everyone wants to return home to welcome in the new year with their families. For foreigners in Vietnam for the first time, Tet is truly a new and intriguing experience.

This year, the Lunar New Year comes earlier, with the joy from the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The typical features of Tet include “banh chung”, red couplets, apricot blossoms, and peach blossoms, which are present along streets everywhere.

For those who are far from home, the Lunar New Year is an opportunity to return and reunite with family members, visit parents, relatives and friends, and wish each other a peaceful, healthy and happy New Year.

As for expats living in Vietnam and tourists in the country during this occasion, the traditional Lunar New Year is a unique holiday, giving them truly memorable experiences.

The Tet atmosphere seems more bustling this year as the country has reopened its borders to welcome international visitors since last March.

The Lunar New Year is fast approaching. Some may feel nostalgic about many things from the old year, but it is time to temporarily put aside such thoughts and welcome a New Year with lots of joy and hope.

Chinese Ambassador's good impression about Vietnam and Hanoi

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo has shared his good impressions of Vietnam, and Hanoi capital, while extending lunar New Year greetings to Vietnamese people in a recent interview granted to a VOV reporter on the occasion of the traditional lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Talking about feelings about the country, culture and people of Vietnam after for more than 4 years living and working in the nation, the Chinese Ambassador said that Vietnam is a country with excellent natural conditions, a long coastline, and different climates.

“My tenure in Vietnam is quite long. Before the breakout of the pandemic, I visited many places, especially northern provinces because they are near border areas where exchange activities are regularly held between the two countries. The southern region is the economic exchange center of Vietnam. There are many Chinese enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces, and I have also visited a lot.

The central region has Da Nang city and neighboring localities are all very interesting places, especially Nghe An, the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh. I made my first first to Nghe An at the beginning of my term in Vietnam. I went back to visit Uncle Ho's hometown and visited the cottage he used to live in. In Nghe An, I also participated in a number of public activities, such as supporting local people who faced natural disasters,” he said.

“I think that Vietnam is a very attractive country with enough conditions for development and has recorded great renewal (Doi Moi) achievements. That's what everyone sees and I also appreciate Vietnam's development potential,”, Xiong Bo went on to say.

Referring to his impression of Hanoi capital, the Chinese Ambassador highlighted Hanoi as a beautiful and vibrant city with a combination of tradition and modernity.

"Although Vietnam is a developing country, on the streets of Hanoi we can see a lot of luxury cars, while the old quarter area, and Hoan Kiem lake still retain the traditional cultural features that foreign tourists really like. Before the pandemic, I also had many opportunities to walk around Hanoi's old quarter," he shared.

Talking about lunar New Year wishes to the people of Vietnam, Ambassador Xiong Bo said that China and Vietnam have many similar cultural customs.

Both countries celebrate the traditional lunar New Year, which is the most important holiday of the year. Tet holiday is the reunion of all family members.

"On the occasion of the traditional lunar New Year, I would like to extend best wishes to the people of Vietnam. I sincerely wish Vietnamese people, and under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, achieve greater development in a multitude of fields. I also wish all Vietnamese people a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year!,"  the Chinese Ambassador said.

Cuban Ambassador hails significance of Vietnam’s joining UNHRC

The presence of developing nations like Vietnam – a country which experienced wars for national liberation in the past and has recently gained remarkable economic achievements – in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is of great significance, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolás Hernández Guillén has stated.

In an interview granted to reporters of the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, the ambassador affirmed that Cuba totally supports Vietnam’s election to the council in the 2023-2025 term.

According to the diplomat, Vietnam represents the struggle for human rights of its people, reflected through the country's history of struggling for national liberation, as well as its efforts in national development and international integration, and its fight for peace.

He also appreciated social progress gained by the country, especially in health care and education.

The Cuban Ambassador highlighted Vietnam’s outstanding achievements in economic recovery and development post COVID-19, notably the GDP growth rate of 8% in 2022 – the highest in Southeast Asia.

He attributed the results to the Vietnamese Government’s successful implementation of pandemic control measures, particularly the policy on vaccine diplomacy, which served as a basis to accelerate the country’s recovery in various fields.

Ambassador Orlando said that in the context of difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and worries about global economic recessions, Vietnam has taken effective solutions to make great strides in import and export activities, and foreign investment attraction; maintain stable macro-economic indicators, and curb the inflation rate under 4%.

These are admirable results, made possible by efforts to implement the Party’s resolutions, the Government’s governance, and the business community’s active engagement, the diplomat said.

Regarding the bilateral relations, he emphasised that the Cuba-Vietnam relation covers all aspects of social life, and the two countries have maintained fine political relations, and close defence and security cooperation.

He appreciated the Southeast Asian nation’s role in ensuring food security for Cuba, and thanked it for providing rice and sending experts and technicians to help the Caribbean country in agricultural production.

The diplomat showed his hope that the two nations will exert efforts to lift bilateral economic and trade relations to a new height to be commensurate with their tradition friendship, solidarity and cooperation.

He shared the happiness with the Vietnamese people on the arrival of the Year of Cat, saying that the Lunar New Year give him an opportunity to learn about the traditional customs and culture of Vietnam in particular and of Asian countries in general.

Vietnam rising to new position with new desire

Vietnam has become a reliable friend and partner as well as a responsible member of the international community over the years. Its immense fortune has created a solid foundation to achieve its goal of rapid and sustainable development in the future.

“Vietnam bucks Asia’s weakening growth trend”, and “an exception to the general rule in the region”, are descriptions used by international organisations and media, to refer to Vietnam’s economic development in 2022.

Vietnam’s economy posted growth of 8.02% in 2022, far exceeding the target of 6-6.5%. The high growth is noteworthy given that, most economies around the world are in decline.

Per capita income has risen over the years, while the poverty rate has fallen to under 3%. Freedom of speech and the press, and access to information are also clear to see.

Vietnam is a multi-faith country, with 95% of its population practicing a religion, of which, 26 million are followers.

It has performed well in terms of gender equality, ranking 65th out of 162 countries, in the Gender Development Index.

The country successfully controlled the COVID-19 pandemic, and is among countries with the highest vaccine coverage.

It was also one of the first to re-open its borders, after a long period of closure due to the pandemic.
With dogged determination, Vietnam successfully organised the 31st SEA Games, and left an indelible impression on international friends.

Rosy results in the corruption fight have been a highlight of the country’s socioeconomic achievements in 2022.

Vietnam’s anti-graft campaign has gained international media coverage.

In its article “In Vietnam, the anti-corruption fight is in full swing”, France’s Le Monde highlighted that, “The fight against lies, and corruption in the Vietnamese justice system, has accelerated, and now spares neither the big bosses of the private sector, nor the high officials of the Communist Party.”

Bloomberg also placed emphasis on the Party’s fierce determination to fight corruption, which is made in a spirit of “no restricted zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance”.

Praising Vietnam’s anti-corruption fight, The Times of India said, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is well aware that, “the anti-corruption drive has to be a continuing process - an essential element for anticipating the challenges in the coming period.”

Ending the article, headlined “Vietnam’s anti-corruption campaign: Progress and challenges”, the Indian newspaper wrote that, “The Vietnamese example provides a valuable lesson that can be followed by other nations, as corruption is endemic globally.”

Vietnam’s anti-graft crackdown has been expanded to the private sector, with corruption cases such as Viet A, FLC Group, Tan Hoang Minh, among others.

Vietnam has been strict in the fight against corruption and is on the right track. I support the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to reform the legal framework to prevent and combat corruption. To ensure transparency, it is necessary to clarify the roles and responsibilities of officials. 

We always follow developments in the fight against corruption in Vietnam. The country has proven itself to be a great example to the world in this fight, with important voices from the Communist Party of Vietnam and correct State policies. Vietnam always upholds honesty and solidarity and says “no” to individualism.

Vietnam’s socioeconomic achievements coupled with its sound global integration have created the resources necessary for the country to better ensure the fundamental rights of its citizens.

In its orientations for national development in the 2021-2030 period, the Communist Party of Vietnam affirmed that “Vietnam continues to pursue a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralisation of external relations; proactively integrating into the world; maintaining peace and stability; and promoting Vietnam’s position and prestige in the international arena.”

To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 189 of 193 countries and economic and trade ties with over 230 countries and territories.

In recent years, it has been an active and responsible member at regional and international forums and organisations, as it holds important positions such as ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the UNSC, and has joined the UN’s peacekeeping force.

Vietnam’s recent election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure is testament to the international community’s recognition of the tireless efforts Vietnam has made in fulfilling its international human rights commitments.

The remarkable achievements Vietnam has reaped after more than 35 years of “Doi Moi” (Reform) have resulted in sweeping changes in its intrinsic strength and position.

With the country’s rising position and prestige in the international arena, the Party’s sound leadership, and great national solidarity, Vietnam is certain to turn its desire to become a developed country by 2045 into reality.

It will be a country with a strong economy in parallel with cultural traditions being preserved and an innovative population. All target the common goal of people’s happiness and prosperity.

Vietnam – best Culinary Destination in Asia: Travel+Leisure

Vietnam has been named the Best Culinary Destination in the Bucket List Places in Asia in 2023 published by US magazine Travel+Leisure.

According to the magazine, if there’s one cultural cuisine that bursts with umami goodness, it’s Vietnamese cuisine. The country, apart from its beautiful landscapes, is known for its food.

The magazine said “Everywhere you go, you’ll be met with local, regional delicacies that will bowl you over, as you soak in new, exciting experiences and visit stunning destinations.”

It also recommends best places to explore in Vietnam are Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City. Must-try food include Pho, Banh Mi, Banh Cuon (rice rolls) and coffee, and the best time to visit the country is from November to March when the weather is the most comfortable, not too hot, not too cold and there are no pouring rain or stormy days.

Asia is the largest continent in the world. The continent is a melting pot of cultures, which varies from region to region.

Vietnamese youths in Japan pin hope on nation’s development in Lunar New Year

As the Year of the Cat comes, the Vietnamese community in Japan, especially youths and students, show their delight at Vietnam’s strong economic recovery post COVID-19 thanks to the sound decisions of the Party, State and Government.

They also have expectations that in the new year, the country will develop steadily and the Vietnamese community in Japan will grow stronger.

Nguyen Hong Son, head of Liaison Board of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Japan, said he is very pleased to hear that Vietnam's economy has grown at the highest rate in the past 10 years.

Sharing the same opinion, Nguyen Dinh Nam, Chairman of the Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in Japan (VYSA), said he expects Vietnam to develop further and have its position improved in the international arena.

According to Son, the Vietnamese community in Japan number nearly 500,000, with over 20 associations and groups operating in different localities.

Slovakia’s town keeps memorabilia on President Ho Chi Minh

Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Nguyen Tuan recently visited Horne Saliby town in Trnava province where late President Ho Chi Minh visited in 1957, and a bronze plate is placed in remembrance of him.

Tuan had a meeting with the town’s governor Pavol Dobossy who told the diplomat that after 65 years, the Horne Saliby City Hall still keeps a notebook which includes the writings of President Ho Chi Minh, and photos of his visit to the locality.

In 2017, a bronze plate was placed in remembrance of the late Vietnamese leader.

Tuan thanked the authorities and people of Horne Saliby town and Pavol personally for preserving precious memorabilia and memories of President Ho Chi Minh.

The host affirmed his willingness to cooperate with the Vietnamese Embassy to continue jointly preserving the memories of the late leader as a symbol of good affections and traditional friendship between the two countries' people.

Character traits of people born in the Year of the Cat

The Cat is the fourth out of the 12 zodiac animals. According to the lunar calendar, this Year of the Cat begins on January 22, 2023 and will conclude on February 9, 2024.

People born in the Year of the Cat are assessed as intelligent, clever, agile and subtle, with a far-sighted vision. They often treat people with enthusiasm and kindness, and are always ready to help others when they are in need.

At work and in life, these people are quick-witted, intelligent, imaginative and clear-headed, so they can succeed in areas that need precise calculation, business or art.

Being optimistic, honest, and easy to forgive others and adapting to any situation are also their outstanding characteristics.

Most of them are sensitive and emotional, and have a rich internal life.

Ancestor worship reminds people of their roots

Ancestor worship, an ancient Vietnamese tradition, is a ritual practice paying tribute to deceased family members and reminding people of their roots.

The practice reflects the influence of patriarchy and Confucianism on Vietnamese culture.

Since Confucianism was introduced to Vietnam during the Chinese domination, filial piety, the most fundamental of Confucian values, has been very much appreciated in Vietnamese families.

Accordingly, children are obliged to respect their parents in life and to remember them after they die. The practice of ancestor worship is thus an expression of “filial piety” toward deceased parents, relatives and ancestors.

Most Vietnamese families have an ancestral altar placed in a prominent place of the house.

The ancestral altar is set with ancestral tablets and pictures, together with an incense burner bowl in the centre as a symbol of the stars. Inside the bowl usually stands a circular incense stick that represents the universe. Two candles are placed on the sides of the altar to embody the sun (left) and the moon (right).

On special occasions like ancestors’ death anniversaries or the Lunar New Year, special rites are performed to communicate with the dead. The rites consist of making offerings of fruits, foods and wine; lighting the candles; and burning incense before praying in front of the altar.

Tet, or Lunar New Year, is the most important festival of the year for Vietnamese people and a time for family reunions. It is an opportunity for descendants to invite the souls of their ancestors to join the family’s Tet celebration.

On these days, every home has a tray filled with five types of fruits placed on the ancestral altar. The fruits may include a bunch of bananas, pomelo, persimmon, pear and tangerine in different colours to represent the desire for “phu” (prosperity), “quy” (notability), “tho” (longevity), “khang” (health) and “ninh” (peace).

The altar may also be decorated with a branch of peach blossoms in warm pink to drive away evil spirits and bad luck.

The ancestral altar occupies a prominent place in every Vietnamese home, no matter whether the family is rich or poor. It is a manifestation of the country’s culture that shows its respect for both the past and the future.

Traditional Tet food offerings to ancestors

During the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, each ethnic group in Vietnam has its own culinary specialties that reflect the culture of their people and are used as offerings to worship their ancestors.

Most Kinh (Vietnamese ethnic majority) people start preparations a month before the festival.

Many people usually cook nine dishes: banh chung (square sticky rice cake), dua hanh (pickled onions), gio nac (boiled lean pork sausage) and gio thu (boiled pork head sausage), thit dong (frozen meat), nem ran (spring rolls), canh mang (bamboo shoot soup), canh bong tha (dried pig skin soup), boiled chicken, and che kho (sweet green bean paste).

These carefully cooked traditional dishes are put on the home altar to worship their ancestors during Tet festival.

Of all the dishes, banh chung is the soul of Tet, reflecting the quintessence of heaven and earth through the skilled hands of humans. To make the cake, the most fragrant and fibrous sticky rice are chosen and the cakes often have pork, green beans, dried onions and pepper in the centre.

The cakes are often eaten with pickled onion because its sour and light peppery flavour helps digestion. Meanwhile, gio nac and gio thu have remained on the offering food tray at Tet from the past to the present.

Nem (spring rolls) is a popular dish in the north that always has a place on a Tet food tray because it is so flavourful and healthy. It is made out of minced pork, carrots, wood ear fungus, green-bean sprouts, bean glass noodles and other ingredients. The fried rolls are then dipped into a bowl of sauce of mixed fish sauce, sugar, lemon or vinegar, chili and minced garlic.

The Tet food tray of northerners never lacks a big bowl of canh mang kho (dried bamboo shoot soup).

Ethnic groups, such as the Mong, Thai, Muong, Tay, Nung, Dao, and Co Tu, have their own New Year dishes. 

For the Mong, their Tet tray should include dishes such as pork, wine, round cakes made from glutinous rice and maize cakes.

Fried fish is the specific dish of the Thai. They believe the stream deity will protect them from danger.

The Nung group often made banh khao from dried glutinous rice powder, minced pork fat and sugar to worship their ancestors. The elderly said the sweet fat in the cake would prevent unlucky happenings in the New Year.

Meanwhile, the Co Tu in Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands) make their own wine known as ruou Ta Vat and ruou can to welcome Tet. All visitors at New Year are invited to enjoy these wines.

Each Dao household has its own thit lon chua (sour pork), locally known as o sui, in New Year holidays. Ingredients include pork, salt, and cool rice. The dish should be eaten with la lot (wild lolot leaves) and la prang lau (a kind of wild leaf), and dipped in a bowl of mixed lemon and chili. 

The Tay welcome Lunar New Year with a roast piglet. They often choose local piglets with small bones, firm and lean meat weighing from 20kg to 30kg. People often put mac mat (a kind of wild leaf and fruit) mixed with spices in the pig’s belly and cover the skin with honey. They then roast it on charcoal for three hours until well done. The food is dipped in a sweet and fragrant sauce gotten from the pig’s belly.

Winner of logo design contest marking Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties announced

The winner of the contest to design a commemorative logo for the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership was honoured at an award ceremony held in both face-to-face and online forms in Hanoi on January 19.

Co-hosted by the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Singaporean Embassy in Vietnam, this was an opening event for a series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, and 10 years of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The contest was initiated by the Vietnamese Students' Association in Singapore and the Singapore Global Network (SGN) in October last year for Vietnamese students studying from the high school to doctoral (PhD) levels in Singapore.

The first prize went to Le Thanh Hong, a student at Singapore Polytechnic.

Addressing the event, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam emphasised that the strong economic relations between the two nations are the foundation of the bilateral relations.

He also highlighted the exchange relationships in terms of tourism, education and culture between Vietnam and Singapore, saying that Singapore always welcomes Vietnamese students to study and research at its educational institutions.

The organising board has received many creative and original entries, which reflect the spirit of the fruitful relationship between the two countries, he said, adding that the selected logo will be used by the Embassy of Singapore in Hanoi, the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, SGN and their partners in events celebrating the 50th anniversary of relations between the two nations in 2023.

Russian scholars highlights 1982 UNCLOS’s strategic value in resolving East Sea issue

Russian scholars highlighted the strategic value of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in settling the East Sea issue while attending a scientific workshop held at the Institute of Oriental Studies (IOS) under the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) on January 19.

The event gathered many experts and scholars who have studied the region and the East Sea from research centres of the RAS.

In his opening remarks, IOS Vice Director Valentin Tsunlievich Golovachev said in the context of the division and fragmentation of global international relations, and the changing space of common existence on land and at sea, the seminar offered a venue for experts to discuss and make useful recommendations to resolve global hotspots by peaceful measures.

Participants agreed that the 1982 UNCLOS is an important strategic document in the process of seeking peaceful solutions to the East Sea issue.

They also spoke highly of the effectiveness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the need to sign a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency’s resident correspondent in Moscow, Dmitry Mosyakov, Director of the IOS's Centre for Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania, said through the event, which was held on the 40th anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS, scholars would draw on experiences in applying a legal document to settle international disputes.

Mosyakov highly valued Vietnam's constructive approach when repeatedly asserting that the most complex territorial disputes can only be resolved on the basis of international law and internationally recognised documents.

For his part, Pavel Gudev, Leading Research Fellow at the Centre for North American Studies of the RAS, stressed that from a legal perspective, the UNCLOS is an important document and is the basis for finding solutions to the East Sea issue.

However, it still requires the desire and determination of all involved parties, and continuous negotiation efforts to step by step reach a consensus, he noted.

External information service contributes to national achievements: Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has described external information service as a bright spot, which has contributed to the  achievements recorded by the country and the diplomatic sector in particular.

Speaking at a New Year meeting with domestic press agencies in Hanoi on January 19, the minister lauded press agencies for their innovations in promoting the country, people and culture of Vietnam, guidelines and policies adopted by the Party and the State, and Vietnam’s stances to international friends.

They have played an important part in raising the country’s role and reputation in the international arena, and mobilising public support for external relations, Son said, expressing his hope that they will continue their support and coordination on the diplomatic front this year.

On behalf of the press agencies, Deputy Director General of the national radio broadcaster Voice of Vietnam (VOV) Ngo Minh Hien praised the ministry for its achievements in 2022, and affirmed that the agencies will maintain their companionship with the ministry in the external information service and work harder to promote a Vietnam of innovations.

On this occasion, Son presented the ministry’s certificates of merit to a number of collectives and individuals in recognition of their outstanding performance in the work, contributing to Vietnam’s successes in assuming the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.