The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong is striving to become a “green paradise”, with the attraction of leading high-end resort-eco-healthcare-sport tourism centres in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Accordingly, the average GRDP growth rate in the 2021-2030 period is expected to reach 8.5-9% a year, and per capita GRDP to hit 170 million VND (6,960 USD).

The goals are set in the province’s master planning in the 2021-2023 period, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister on December 29, 2023.

With the master planning, the province’s tourism sector will develop comprehensively in scale and quality of human resources and services, diversify tourism products, and upgrade infrastructure to the international level, thus creating impetus for the development of related industries on the foundation of green economy, circular economy, digital economy, and creative industries.

In particular, the province's Da Lat city and its surrounding areas will become a high-quality, modern, world-class tourist urban area, and a centre of education and innovation.

By 2050, Lam Dong strives to meet the standards of a modern, green and worth-living centrally-run city.

PM demands stronger national, int’l connectivity in culture, sports, tourism

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 3 demanded enhancing inter-regional, national, and international connectivity in culture, sports, and tourism.

He made the request at a hybrid conference held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) to review the performance last year and launch tasks for 2024.

Highlighting the growing role and position of the culture, sports, and tourism sector in recent years, he said the Party and State attach great importance to culture, which is an internal strength of a nation. While sports help improve physical and mental health as well as will of each people, tourism is a key sector in national economic development.

PM Chinh applauded efforts and achievements by those working in the fields of culture, sports and tourism, but also pointed out certain problems, shortcomings, difficulties, and challenges they need to surmount.

He asked the sector, including the MCST, to make breakthroughs in institutionalising the Party and State’s viewpoints, guidelines, policies, and laws on cultural, sports, and tourism development; pay more attention to reforming administrative procedures, improving the investment and business climate, and stepping up digital transformation; press on with preserving, upgrading, and bringing into play national heritage and cultural values, along with tangible and intangible cultural values of regions; harmonise the relationship between preservation and development; and diversify forms of communications and education about heritage.

The sector needs to coordinate with other sectors and localities to build, upgrade, and promote the effectiveness of cultural facilities; properly organise cultural activities in celebration of major anniversaries and events of the country; and strongly bring into play the role of families in nurturing people’s morality and dignity, he continued.

The Government leader told the sector to improve the effectiveness of and reform state agencies’ management over sports, facilitate private parties’ engagement in sports development, devise mechanisms and policies for promoting sports economy, and reform the mass sports movement.

 The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism holds a conference on January 3 to review the performance last year and launch tasks for 2024. (Photo: VNA)
In addition, the PM ordered strongly reforming tourism promotion methodology, developing a smart tourism ecosystem in tandem with conducting digital transformation, enriching experiences for tourists, and stepping up green technology application so as to reach the targets of 18 million international tourist arrivals, 110 million domestic visitors, and 850 trillion VND (34.8 billion USD) in tourism revenue this year.

He asked the sector to strengthen connectivity within each region, among different regions, and with other countries in cultural, sports, and tourism affairs.

It is also necessary to ensure equal access to culture, sports, and tourism, particularly for residents in rural, remote, border, and marine areas and for vulnerable groups, PM Chinh emphasised.

Looking back on the sector’s performance last year, participants said major national and inter-regional cultural, sports, and tourism events were held and received warm response from people and tourists.

In particular, thanks to creative methods adopted and policies issued to tackle bottlenecks, tourism recovered quickly with about 12.5 million international visitors attracted to Vietnam – exceeding the initial target of 8 million and rising 3.5-fold from 2022, and 108 million domestic visitors – 5.8% higher than the target.

Cultural industries were fostered while sports activities received more investment. At the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), the Vietnamese delegation for the first time topped the medal standings of a SEA Games held in another country, the conference heard.

Illegal homestay facilities rampant in Vinh Hy Bay

Several officials in Ninh Hai District in the southern province of Ninh Thuan have been given warnings for land management violations which has led to the construction of a rash of illegal tourism facilities on Vinh Hy Bay. 

The move came after an inspection team from Ninh Hai District People's Committee found that the owners of some homestay facilities including Lo O, Chanh Ranh, the Lang Chai Seafood Restaurant, and some guest houses including Vu Ha, Thanh Huong and Vinh Hy had no land use right certificates.Many floating restaurants under the Tan Vinh Cuong, Ut Thanh, and Dung Nhan brand names do not meet requirements. Some are still illegally using land managed by Nui Chua National Park.

The committee also issued warnings to three officials in Vinh Hai Commune. It has asked agencies to work with owners of the facilities to reclaim any illegally taken land.

Vinh Hy Bay lies along the south-central coast and is famous for its pristine beauty and coral diving tours.

Dak Lak farmers let down by poorly executed resettlement plan

More than 460 households had to be relocated to construct the Krong Pach Thuong Reservoir in Ea Kar District. However, two years after giving their houses and land for the project, only just over 280 households live in the resettlement area arranged by local authorities. Only 50 households have received land for agricultural activities.A report from local authorities said that more than 190 households have refused to live in the resettlement area and instead many have moved to live along the Dong Truong Son Road.

An elderly man said that his family moved to live in this resettlement area a year ago but now his son and daughter-in-law had moved out.

"They've moved to another place which is more convenient for their work," the old man said. "Only me and their two small children are staying here."

The man added that most of the residents here are elderly people and children while people in working ages have left.

"We're of the ethnic Mong group and we are mostly farmers," he said. "But we haven't got farmland to continue our work here. Many families have sold their land here and left for other places a short time after moving here."

Talking about the situation, two contractors of the resettlement area, Phuc Cuong Company and Quy Hoang Construction Company, said that they had only transferred nearly 30 hectares, just six percent, of the promised 248 hectares of farmland to residents in the area. Other infrastructure facilities have failed to be finished.

Speaking with Lao Dong Newspaper, the Dak Lak Province's Management Board for Transportation and Agriculture and Rural Development Projects said that they had asked the contractors to speed up their work and complete and transfer 43 hectares of farmland for local people by the end of December.

Krong Pach Thuong Reservoir was started in 2009 with a total investment of over VND4.40 trillion (USD181.21 million). More than 700 affected households have waited over a decade for the resettlement area.

In August this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development approved the second stage of the project with a further investment of VND 1.12 trillion which is scheduled to be completed by 2026.

The reservoir is expected to supply water for both residents and agricultural production in the area.

Scholarships presented to disadvantaged students in Tra Vinh

A total of 110 scholarships worth 1 million VND (40.8 USD) each were presented to disadvantaged students with outstanding academic achievements in the southern province of Tra Vinh on January 3.

They include 55 scholarships of Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund for ethnic minority students, 35 scholarships of the “For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” Club for those living in coastal areas, and 20 scholarships for children of border guard soldiers in the locality.

Addressing the ceremony, Truong My Hoa, former Vice President, Chairwoman of the Vu A Dinh scholarship fund and head of the "For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa" Club, said that the scholarships are motivation for the recipients to study well and deserve to be good children and good students.

Since 2010, the Vu A Dinh fund and "For Beloved Hoang Sa-Truong Sa" Club have presented more than 1,100 scholarships to disadvantaged students in Tra Vinh province, according to Le Thanh Binh, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, adding that the scholarships have helped recipients surmount difficulties and nurture their dreams despite their difficult circumstances.

Established in 1999, the fund was named after Vu A Dinh (1934-1949), an ethnic Mong man in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien. The fund has provided scholarships to outstanding students living ethnic minority areas nationwide. Many of them have participated in training projects organised by the fund, contributing to improving the qualifications of high-quality human resources for the country. Meanwhile, "For beloved Hoang Sa - Truong Sa" Club scholarship is dedicated to students who are children of fishermen in difficult circumstances.

On this occasion, Thieu nien tien phong va nhi dong (Vanguard teenager and children) newspaper donated 15 bicycles worth 2 million VND each to disadvantaged children in the province.

Top legislator pays working visit to Tay Ninh province

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue had a working session with the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the southern province of Tay Ninh on January 3.

At the event, the top legislator commended the province’s efforts to overcome formidable challenges, and carve out achievements across various areas, especially foreign investment attraction, social welfare and tourism.  

Tay Ninh has the lowest household poverty rate in the country, and its GRDP expanded by an estmated 6.12% in 2023.

He attributed the province’s success to its due attention to the Party and political system building work, and strengthening of local solidarity.

Expressing his impression of Tay Ninh’s development aspiration, Hue said the province should roll out its planning in tandem with the implementation of the resolutions on regional development, while continuing to enhance connectivity with Cambodia and the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), making contributions to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV) cooperation mechanism and the CLV Development Triangle Area.

Additionally, the NA Chairman urged the province to accelerate the development of infrastructure, and coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City to connect the HCM City – Moc Bai highway with Phnom Penh – Bavet highway, given the province’s strategic location on the trans-Asia route, which Hue said provides Tay Ninh with great potential to become an important trading destination.

He agreed on the province’s projects to construct the Moc Bai border economic zone under a modern and sustainable industrial-urban area-service model, and develop the Ba Den (Black Lady) Mountain national tourism area into an international-level tourism site.

Furthermore, he requested the province to build farm produce value chains with Cambodia, step up infrastructure connectivity with localities in the vicinity and Cambodia, and prevent cross-border crimes.

The same day, Hue offered incense and flowers at martyrs' cemetery Hill 82 in Tan Bien district.

NA Chairman visits Moc Bai International Border Gate

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on January 3 visited the Moc Bai International Border Gate in Tay Ninh as part of his trip to the southern locality.

Moc Bai is one of the three international border gates in Tay Ninh, which borders three provinces of Cambodia, along with Xa Mat and Tan Nam.

The top legislator stressed that Vietnam and Cambodia have completed up to 84% of the workload of border demarcation and marker planting so far, and they are working hard to complete the remainder.

He hailed competent forces at the Moc Bai Border Gate Economic Zone for good border management, thus facilitating border trade between the two countries, and especially their care for local residents as the 2024 Lunar New Year is approaching.

The leader also emphasised Tay Ninh’s role in connecting the Moc Bai – HCM City Expressway with the Phnom Penh – Bavet (Cambodia) Expressway, and other inter-regional transport routes to form a development network.

Reviewing the first Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam (CLV) Parliamentary Summit which took place in Vientiane, Laos, last December, the NA Chairman said it has opened up a new page for cooperation between the three legislative bodies.

To enhance cooperation with neighbouring Cambodia, apart from promoting political trust and friendship, it is crucial to boost economic and trade ties, he said, urging border competent forces to further facilitate the exchange of goods with the country.

The leader suggested digital transformation in border gate development, and called for greater efforts in the fight against cross-border crimes, as well as administrative reforms.

Later the same day, Hue attended a programme in Ben Cau district marking the 65th anniversary of the border guard force (March 3, 1959), and presented gifts to poor border households.

Scholarships given to disadvantaged ethnic minority students in Soc Trang

As many as 90 scholaships worth 1 million VND (41 USD) each, donated by the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and the “For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” Club, were presented to ethnic minority students with difficult circumstances in the southern province of Soc Trang at a ceremony on January 3.

The programme was organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU)'s chapter in Soc Trang, in collaboration with the provincial Department of Education and Training, and the management boards of the fund and the club.

At the event, three students affected by COVID-19 pandemic also received scholarships worth 6 million VND each, while 20 others who are children of border officers and soldiers in the locality were presented with scholarships worth 1 million VND each.

On this occasion, the Thieu nien Tien phong va Nhi dong (Vanguard Teenager and children) newspaper under the HCYU Central Committee also donated 15 bicycles to local disadvantaged children.

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Commitee Huynh Thi Diem Ngoc, since the 2010-2011 academic year, the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund has presented over 1,000 scholarships totaling over 1 billion VND to ethnic minority students in Soc Trang. The "For beloved Hoang Sa - Truong Sa" Club has also given many scholarships to students who are children of officers and soldiers, and fishermen in difficult circumstances in the province since the 2016-2017 school year.

Truong My Hoa, former Vice State President, Chairwoman of the Vu A Dinh scholarship fund and head of the "For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa" Club, said that the scholarships are hoped to add motivation for the recipients to pursue study for a better future.

Established in 1999, the fund was named after Vu A Dinh (1934-1949), a young ethnic hero who sacrificed his life in the war of resistance against the French colonialists. The fund has provided scholarships to outstanding students living in ethnic minority areas nationwide.

People-to-people diplomacy an important pillar of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector: senior official

People-to-people diplomacy serves as an important pillar of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector, said Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and head of the committee’s Commission for External Relations while addressing a conference in Hanoi on January 3.
The conference, held by the commission, reviewed people-to-people diplomacy in 2023, and put forth tasks for this year.  

Pointing to opportunities, challenges and requirements for people-to-people diplomacy in the time ahead, Trung called for greater efforts to better the work. He asked the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), and people’s organisations to continue implementing relevant policies and guidelines set at the 13th National Party Congress, as well as tasks assigned by the Secretariat.

He urged the organisations to outline plans to promote their partnerships, reform their operational methods, step up communications activities, and pay more heed to personnel development.

Ministries and agencies should work harder to ensure the Party leadership and State management over people-to-people diplomacy, and institutionalise relevant Party documents, the official said.

According to reports presented at the conference, despite complex, unpredictable developments of the regional and world situation in 2023, Vietnam still recorded significant achievements in external affairs, which were attributable to contributions by the VFF and people’s organisations.

People-to-people diplomacy has played a role in national socio-economic development, protecting national interests, promoting the country’s image to international friends, popularising guidelines and policies of the Party and the State, and bringing overseas Vietnamese closer to the homeland.

On this occasion, the commission honoured collectives and individuals for their outstanding contributions to people-to-people diplomacy in 2023.

Expert highlights Vietnam-Cambodia cooperation prospects

Cambodia’s victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime (January 7, 1979) demonstrates the solidarity between Vietnamese and Cambodian peoples and armies, opening up a new page for the bilateral friendship and neighbourliness, according to an article published on the website of the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC).

The article, issued on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the victory, highlighted the role of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in the event, achievements the neighbour has recorded in development and peacekeeping, and cooperation between the two countries.

Its author Uch Leang, a researcher at RAC, said after the victory, the Vietnamese soldiers continued helping the Cambodian army in personnel training and strengthening combat capacity to avert the return of the genocidal regime.

All of the Vietnamese soldiers returned home in September 1989. Since then, the bilateral relationship has been constantly developing across spheres, benefiting people of both nations.
 
The researcher held that economic, trade and investment cooperation will create momentum for the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability to move forward in the time ahead.

Coast guard force continues focusing on IUU fishing prevention, combat in 2024

The coast guard force will continue to focus on implementing drastic and synchronous measures to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2024, heard a conference held by the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) Command on January 3.

Along with firmly protecting national sovereignty, maintaining security, order and safety on islands and seas, the force will strictly maintain readiness to combat as well as prevent disasters, search and rescue, while speeding up reform, enhancing the quality of political and ideological education, and promoting the study and following of President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, moral example and lifestyle.

At the same time, the force will continue to effectively promote international cooperation, and roll out measures to prevent and fight all kinds of crimes, said participants.

A report on the VCG operations in 2023 showed that the force completed all tasks for the year, while recommending policies and solutions to deal with arising problems to the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence.

During the year, the force conducted 18 search and rescue missions, saving 36 people, two fishing boats, one cargo ship and recovering three bodies to hand over to local administrations.

It discovered and handled six cases of IUU fishing regulation violations involving seven vessels.

The VCG also showed strong performance in criminal prevention and control, investigating and handling 1,759 cases with 2,075 suspects, an increase of 573 cases and 672 suspects compared to 2022. The force collected 85 billion VND (3.48 million USD) of administrative fines and seized exhibits.

CNN praises Kiss Bridge in Vietnam's Phu Quoc island

The US-based multinational news channel CNN has praised the newly opened Kiss Bridge on Phu Quoc Island, describing it as a new selfie hotspot where couples can share a romantic moment against the Vietnamese sunset.

Crafted by Italian architect Marco Casamonti, the design of Kiss Bridge took inspiration from 'The Creation of Adam', the classical fresco created by Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and ‘The Legend of Nguu Lang and Chuc Nu', a Vietnamese folk tale about two young lovers who are separated by the Jade Emperor but permitted to meet once a year on the O Thuoc Bridge.

This wonder spans a distance of 800 meters with two separate walkways coming from opposite directions. In the middle there is a 30 cm gap, a distance which can be easily crossed with an embrace, a handshake, or… even a kiss.

The precise point gap has also been calculated to capture a spectacular sight – every January 1, the setting sun gracefully descends right between the bridge's two arches, creating a charming scene, making it one of the world's most stunning sunset spots.

In the article, CNN also mentioned the Golden Bridge in the central city of Da Nang. Locating more than 1,400m above sea level, the bridge is designed like two giant hands lift up a shimmering structure, it said. The Golden Bridge was one of the most impressive photos in 2018 of the CNN and the Kiss Bridge is expected to become another phenomenon for global travelers.

CNN said Phu Quoc is also regarded as Vietnam’s best island getaway and is favoured by honeymooners, adding that the Kiss Bridge expands the list of must-visit places when coming to the island.

Kiss Bridge is an item in the new entertainment complex in Phu Quoc island's Sunset Town with a total investment of more than 4,000 billion VND (164.8 million USD). The remaining entertainment spots for tourists include Night Market on Vui Phet Beach and the "Kiss of the Sea" show with a 7-minute fireworks display that takes place every night.

Food for thought for Spratly islanders and soldiers ahead of lunar New Year

The Fourth Regional Command of the Vietnam’s People’s Navy on January 3 met more than 100 reporters who would visit and produce stories about soldiers and islanders’ preparations for the coming lunar New Year (Tet) festival on the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Addressing the meeting, Colonel Nguyen Huu Minh, deputy political commissar of the Fourth Regional Command, expressed hope the reporters would bring a lot of love from the mainland to Truong Sa soldiers and islanders, and truly reflect the life of civil servants and people on the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago.

During the meeting, the Fourth Regional Command received Tet gifts from organizations, agencies, localities and reporters sent to soldiers and people on the Truong Sa archipelago.

Every year, when the lunar New Year festival draws near, the Vietnam People’s Navy dispatches a special trip for reporters bringing Tet gifts from the mainland to Truong Sa soldiers and islanders and making reports about their life. The trip is considered food for thought for the islanders in their effort to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.  

Food management must be further enhanced: deputy PM

Food safety management must be ensured at all levels, along with promoting the roles and responsibilities of grassroots governments and knowledgeable consumers, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà said yesterday.

In the meeting with the Central Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Food Safety in Hà Nội yesterday, the deputy PM requested that in the coming time, the committee continuously review and summarise the implementation of the 2010 Food Safety Law, strategies, planning, plans, and action programmes on food safety, update modern and unified food safety management practices, methods and models from central to grassroots levels, promote decentralisation, and strengthen resources for food safety implementation.

Hà emphasised the need to innovate diverse and regular communication methods and forms, thereby changing the awareness of all levels and sectors, especially grassroots and people, about food safety and having peak periods and serious responses to food safety violations.

Each ministry and sector should strengthen food safety management throughout the value chain, promote the spirit of self-responsibility, focus on inspecting and examining areas that have a significant impact on human health, and proactively develop standards and regulations to harmonise with international standards and regulations, Hà said.

"Ministries and branches have to promote the application of information technology further, create favourable conditions for businesses and people to register product quality announcement, as well as receive feedback and supervision from socio-political organisations, associations and people regarding compliance with food safety regulations," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

At the meeting, participants proposed to overcome the unclear assignment of responsibilities in food safety management at localities, especially at the commune and ward levels, to strengthen inspection and handling of food safety violations, and to immediately build a database of administrative violation records as a basis for criminal prosecution in cases of repeat violations.

Some delegates said that the Central Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Food Safety is organised from the central level down to the district level. Still, in communes and wards, there are only part-time staff.

Food safety inspection activities must be undertaken in such a way as to avoid disturbing businesses, establishments and people.

Delegates recommended the need to strongly apply information technology and build a map of food safety nationwide with the direct participation of people combined with a database on handling food safety violations.

In 2023, the system of legal documents on food safety continued to be completed, meeting State management requirements. Inspection and examining work was implemented, focusing on specific cases.

The health sector inspected more than 382,000 establishments and found 34,500 violating establishments, of which more than 12,000 establishments were fined about VNĐ44.4 billion (US$1.9 million).

The agriculture sector inspected more than 19,300 establishments producing and trading agricultural materials and agricultural, forestry and fishery products, and administrative sanctions on more than 1,600 establishments were worth more than VNĐ14.4 billion ($586,606).

The industry and trade sector inspected more than 8,300 cases, handled more than 6,770 violations and levied fines of VNĐ36.3 billion ($1.48 million), and confiscated goods valued at VNĐ31.6 billion ($1.3 million).

Meanwhile, the Environmental Police Force detected and handled more than 7,100 cases of violations and collected a total fine of more than VNĐ31 billion ($1.26 million).

Information, education and communication work were strongly promoted and continuously increased in quantity and diversified forms.

The awareness of law enforcement among production, processing and business establishments was increasing. Sales of poor quality goods, expired goods and goods of unknown origin decreased. Food poisoning prevention and control was implemented drastically and synchronously. Nationwide, 125 cases of food poisoning were recorded, poisoning more than 2,100 people and causing 28 deaths. Notably, poisoning caused by clostridium botulinum (a very rare toxin) occurred.

Along with the achieved results, there were still some limitations that needed solving.

After 13 years of implementation, many provisions of the Food Safety Law are no longer consistent with practice. Decree 15/2018/ND-CP still has many shortcomings regarding regulations on exported food control, registration of declarations, and food safety conditions at markets and craft villages. The management, supervision, inspection and handling of food safety violations on the internet and e-commerce environment remains difficult.

Phạm Khánh Phong Lan, director of the HCM City Department of Food Safety, said that the legal framework for food safety management is complete, but there is still a lack of models and organisations carrying out effective, practical implementation.

"I suggested that the risk monitoring and food testing sampling rate must increase compared to last year. The results must be better and violating samples must decrease,” Lan said.

PM asks to accelerate key transport projects

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính signed an official dispatch requesting the acceleration of construction progress on key infrastructure transport projects.

The official dispatch sent to ministers of Transport, Planning and Investment, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development and Construction, chairman of the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises and chairpersons of the People's committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, stated that developing synchronous and modern infrastructure is one of three strategic breakthroughs, of which transport infrastructure development is an important pillar creating new development space, driving force for socio-economic development and ensuring national defence and security.

The 13th Party Congress set the goal that the country will have about 3,000km of expressways by 2025 and 5,000km by 2030.

The 2021-2025 period has focused maximum resources on developing transportation infrastructure, three times higher than 2016-2020.

Recently, the Ministry of Transport and localities, investors, project management units (PMUs), contractors, engineers and workers have drastically and actively implemented important national transportation projects and works.

In many construction sites, work has continued three shifts daily, even on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, to complete road, highway, airport, railway and maritime projects.

Last year, 20 projects were completed and put into operation, including nine expressway projects with a length of 475km, bringing the total length of expressways to nearly 1,900km.

On behalf of the Government, Chính highly appreciated the efforts of ministries, branches and localities in completing project progress, ensuring quality and labour safety.

To strive to complete the goals of the 13th Party Congress’ Resolution, Chính requested ministries, branches, localities, investors, PMUs, construction and consulting contractors and staff on construction sites to further promote the highest sense of responsibility, promptly overcome all difficulties and obstacles, and strive to speed up the progress of projects, significantly 1,700km of North-South and East-West connecting highways, large bridges, domestic and international airports, railway lines, seaports and inland waterways, as well as start new projects this year.

Minister of Transport and chairpersons of People’s committees were asked to guide relevant units to co-ordinate closely with local authorities to remove difficulties and handle existing problems in site clearance, build resettlement areas ensuring production and re-establishing people’s lives before the Lunar New Year (Tết) Holiday.

At the same time, the relevant units have to remove obstacles related to the exploitation and supply of construction materials and offer support to investors and contractors to speed up construction progress for putting projects into operation on schedule as well as to review synchronous connection with expressways to overcome the consequences of arising problems to promote investment efficiency, land fund exploitation and socio-economic development of regions and the whole country.

The Minister of Transport co-ordinates with the Chairman of the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises and the chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to urgently complete investment procedures, especially investor selection to start highway projects in 2024 according to the set plan.

The Ministry of Construction strengthens state construction management, guides and inspects localities in price management and announcement of construction material prices, and reviews and amends inadequacies in construction norms.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment promptly advises the Government on allocating investment capital for transportation projects and works, and closely coordinates with governing agencies to speed up the appraisal process of projects.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment co-operates closely with governing agencies to speed up investment procedures in the transport sector, strengthen State management in licensing construction material exploitation, guide localities and remove obstacles in the supply of mine materials according to specific mechanisms, and continue to expand the scope of the sea sand resource assessment project to serve transportation projects and other construction works.

The Ministry of Finance closely co-ordinates with governing agencies to review and accelerate the settlement of procedures related to official development assistant (ODA) loans and loans from international organisations for transportation projects.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and governing agencies have to speed up procedures related to changing the use purpose of forests, forest land and rice land for construction projects.

Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities with transport infrastructure projects under construction were asked to accelerate site clearance, relocate technical infrastructure, and construct resettlement areas, ensuring people’s lives and production.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà was assigned to directly instruct, inspect, urge and handle arising issues within his authority and report any beyond his authority to the Prime Minister.

The Government Office is in charge of monitoring and urging the implementation of this official dispatch and promptly summarises and reports any issues that arise to the Prime Minister. 

Famous cải lương play from 1970s restaged

Young talents from the HCM City-based Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, one of the region’s leading traditional art troupes, will perform a famous play from the 1970s. 

Actress Kim Luận plays Quỳnh Nga, a beautiful and hardworking woman, in Bên Cầu Dệt Lụa (Weaving on the Bridge), a story about love and life.  

The play depicts the life of Nga, who loves a poor student and works hard to support him to get rich. 

Southern people, and their traditional culture and lifestyle, are also featured. 

The original version of Bên Cầu Dệt Lụa was written by late scriptwriter Thế Châu of Bình Dương Province.  

The play helped its creator, Châu, and talented performers from Thanh Minh-Thanh Nga Troupe, one of the region’s leading cải lương theatres, to become a phenomenon in the industry after its release in HCM City in 1976. 

The late theatre star Thanh Nga was chosen to play Quỳnh Nga. She offered a very unique style of cải lương, a traditional genre of southern theatre which began in the early 1920s in the Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta region. 

In the new version of Bên Cầu Dệt Lụa, Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre invited People’s Artist and theatre director Trần Ngọc Giàu to guarantee its success. 

Bên Cầu Dệt Lụa will be staged on weekends starting on January 13 at 136Đ Trần Hưng Đạo Street, District 1. 

HCM City forecasted to face early heatwave

HCM City has been forecasted to witness an early heatwave at the beginning of this year, according to the Southern Hydro-meteorological Station.

The Southern Hydro-meteorological Station reported that the peak dry season of the southern region would happen from January. The average rainfall in HCM City in the first three months would be much lower than in the same period of many previous years. Meanwhile, the temperature in the city in the first quarter of this year will be higher.

Temperatures of 35-36 degrees centigrade would hit some areas in the city earlier than usual in January and February. In March, the heat would increase up to 37 degrees centigrade. Up to 20 days in the month would experience hot weather.

The highest temperature in HCM City’s dry season would climb to 38-39 degrees centigrade.

The Southern Hydro-meteorological Station has warned that the prolonged dry season would result in a freshwater shortage for both daily life and crops. 

Furthermore, there were warnings of thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong winds with high intensity, particularly during mid to late March 2024, the centre said.

Rare Quang Nam monkey troop handed over to Gia Lai national park

A troop of eight rare monkeys which were cared for by an elderly woman in the central province of Quang Ngai has been handed over to Kon Ka Kinh National Park in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

According to Ho Trong Phuong, Director of the Quang Ngai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the monkey relocation to the national park has been completed.

The monkeys were cared of by Nguyen Thi Chat, aged 79, in Hon Tra Island, Son Tra Village, Binh Dong Commune in Quang Ngai Province's Binh Son District.

Chat was visiting Hon Tra Island to catch snails one day when she saw the monkeys. She then gave them some fruits. Initially, the animals ran away when being fed by Chat. However, later, they became familiar with her. She came to the island daily to feed them.

The monkeys were said to come from a nearby forest which was destroyed for construction projects. 

The forest management of Quang Ngai said that the monkeys, which has the scientific name of Macaca Mulatta, are listed among rare and endangered species.

Over 35,000 tourists visit Halong Bay during New Year holiday

Halong Bay, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site in northern Vietnam, attracted more than 35,000 visitors during the New Year holiday, with 25,400 of them coming from abroad.
From December 30 to January 1, Halong City and other parts of Quang Ninh Province reported a total of 170,000 visitors, a 60% year-on-year rise.

Of them, 129,000 were domestic tourists and 41,160 were foreigners, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.

Tourism revenue in the period soared by 48% year-on-year to VND349 billion.

Favorite attractions include Quang Ninh Museum, Sun World Park, and Cua Ong Temple.

The majority of international visitors hailed from Vietnam’s key source markets for tourism, including China, South Korea, India, Japan and France.

Halong City welcomed two cruise ships on December 31, with nearly 3,700 European and American passengers on board.

The Bac Luan Bridge 2 border gate in Quang Ninh Province saw a significant number of Chinese passing through, contributing to a total of 13,000 visitors through the Mong Cai International Border Gate.

This surge followed a joint launching ceremony on November 29, 2023, aimed at promoting cross-border trade and tourism between Vietnam and China.

First cruise ship visits Danang in 2024

The Westerdam cruise ship, owned by Holland America Line, called at Tien Sa Port in the central coastal city of Danang on January 2, with over 2,000 passengers on board.
This was the first group of international visitors to come to the city by sea in the new year.

The Westerdam hailed from various countries, including the Netherlands, England, France, Italy, Denmark, Hungary, Canada, the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

The passengers had one day to explore the city’s attractions, including the Marble Mountains, Linh Ung Pagoda, and the Museum of Cham Sculpture.

The 5-star Westerdam cruise ship features classic and opulent amenities and a comfortable interior equipped with cutting-edge technology.

In 2023, Danang received 22 cruise ships with 18,000 passengers on board. This year more than 40,000 passengers on board 45 cruise ships are projected to come to the city, according to data of Danang Port JSC.

Exhibition shows perspectives of life of overseas Vietnamese in Germany

 An exhibition on the Vietnamese community in Germany, entitled "The Return", will be opened at the Manzi Exhibition Space in Hanoi from the 8th to the 28th of January.

"Separation and Reunion" became one of the Le Brothers' main themes, as art became a channel for them to reveal individual history, memories and the past with many layers and unknown meanders.

During their two-month stay in Germany early last year, the Le brothers met and talked with many people from the Vietnamese expatriate community in Halle, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Leipzig, the major German cities.

They come from different historical periods and backgrounds: international students, guest workers in the 70s and 80s, migrant workers after Doi Moi in the 1990s, second-generation young people born and raised in Germany, and other Vietnamese students at German universities in recent years.

This visual exhibition is a multimedia installation consisting of hundreds of photographic documents selected from more than 1,500 images and a video of the twin artists interviewing Vietnamese people in Germany.

The photos, printed in different sizes and hung on large nets in the gallery, create a multi-layered visual installation. They are separated and superimposed, like layers of memory that time can hardly erase, creating a colourful collage panorama of diaspora.

"The Return" is the latest art project by the Le Brothers, following their previous one "The Bridge" (2010), a series of on-site performances from the Hien Luong Bridge that divided Vietnam into two regions, North and South, to the North-South Korean border at Panmunjom and the Berlin Wall that separated Germany for almost half a century.

Since then, "separation and reunion" has been one of the twin artists' main themes for over a decade, as art has become a channel to reveal individual histories, memories and the past with its many layers and unknown meanders.

The Le brothers, Thanh Le Ngoc and Hai Le Duc, were born in Quang Binh province in 1975 and graduated from the Hue College of Arts in 2000.

The twin artists are known for their performances and video works highlighting the metaphor of resemblance. The artists have exhibited and performed at internationally renowned art events and venues, including B3 Film Biennale Frankfurt (2023), The Nord Galerie in Berlin (2018), and Vietnam Eye in START at Saatchi Gallery in London (2017), among others.

Fishermen help to clean sea from plastic waste

Many fishing boats approaching Quy Nhon Port (Binh Dinh Province) these days are loaded with both seafood and net bags containing plastic trash collected on the sea.

In the bustling atmosphere of Quy Nhon Fishing Port at the beginning of the new year, fisherman Phan Thanh Truong from Dong Da Ward of Quy Nhon City was happily unloading the captured tuna. His staff were also busy taking two large plastic waste bags, weighing over 13kg, to the environmental officers here in exchange for VND4,000 (US$0.164) per kilo. Truong shared that this was the waste disposed from daily activities on their fishing trip as well as the one floating on the sea.

Similarly, the fishing boat of Ngo Minh Chau from Hoai Hai Commune of Hoai Nhon Town carried about 22kg of plastic trash collected on sea. Chau joyfully said that his four ships have registered in the program of plastic waste circulation, organized by the functional agency of Binh Dinh Province lately.

“So far, fishing ship have thrown away plastic waste right into the sea, which is extremely harmful to the environment. This trash might then drift back to shore or sink deep into the seabed, damaging the ocean. This is also a waste of material since used items could be recycled to useful ones later. Therefore, when Binh Dinh Province launches this plastic waste circulation model, I immediately join in”, said fisherman Chau.

The plastic waste circulation model, where plastic trash floating on the sea is collected and taken to shore, is the idea of Dr. Tran Van Vinh from Binh Dinh Province Department of Fisheries. Dr. Vinh recalled that in 2021, his unit conducted a preliminary investigation, whose result reveals that most fishing boats just throw plastic waste directly into the sea.

It is estimated that each boat disposes of 10-15kg of such trash each trip (15-20 days). Binh Dinh Province now has about 3,200 fishing boats, meaning an amount of 3.9 tonnes per fishing trip. On a national scale, this volume would be truly huge.

The model invented by Dr. Vinh requires that a funnel-shaped net bag is installed on every fishing boat, along with special tools to pick up waste. These equipment pieces are user-friendly, cost-effective, and easy to repair. As the net bags are hung on the side of a boat, they do not occupy much space yet are able to withstand ocean waves without causing the trash to break open or bounce out even in big waves.

This meaningful idea was submitted to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and received full fund to pilot as well as construct a plastic waste processing and recycling plant.

At the end of November 2023, more than 200 fishing boats in Binh Dinh Province entered this piloting scheme. When successful, this model will be applied to all boats in the province.

In a long term, all fishermen will be asked to be responsible for fighting against scattering plastic trash into the sea. Their boats will have monitoring devices attached for convenient control and management. This is supposed to bring back dual benefits of protecting the ocean and creating a better image for Vietnamese seafood when exporting.

Deputy Director Nguyen Anh Dung of the Management Board of Binh Dinh Province Fishing Port shared that the plastic waste collected and brought back by fishing boats is transferred into a processing plant, where it is classified and compressed into plastic blocks. Certain environmental enterprises will then turn these blocks into useful products.

Other businesses in the province are encourage to arrange plastic-to-gift programs where fishermen can exchange the collected trash from the sea to vouchers, gifts, fuel.

HCMC tries to attract good students to work in state machinery

Ho Chi Minh City has been trying to attract good students to work in state machinery by offering specific policies on income and bonuses.

After the National Assembly-approved Resolution 98/2023/QH15 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City ( Resolution 98), Ho Chi Minh City sets the goal of attracting excellent graduates, young scientists, and highly qualified people in state machinery to improve the quality of young officials for the city's political system by offering special mechanisms on income, work promotion and many other incentives.

In early December 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council approved a remuneration policy to recruit civil servants and public employees from excellent graduates and highly qualified people to work in state-run agencies and units.

According to this policy, in addition to salary and allowance policies according to regulations, people with doctoral degrees and equivalent get income support equal to 4 times the regional minimum monthly salary while master's degrees and equivalent holders will receive support three times the monthly regional minimum wage. Anyone having initiatives or technical and technological innovations from the city level or equivalent or higher will also receive incentives of up to VND100 million (US$4,121) each per project.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assesses that this is a breakthrough policy based on the specific products of excellent graduates and highly qualified people. The application of incentive levels will create great motivation showing the city authorities’ recognition of the efforts and intellectual contributions of people according to this policy.

Also in December 2023, Ho Chi Minh City organized a civil service exam to recruit excellent graduates and young scientists after the five-year implementation of this policy for the first time.

Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Home Affairs Huynh Thanh Nhan said that Ho Chi Minh City leaders pay special attention to talent attraction with the aim to build high-quality human resources, making an important contribution to shaping and promoting the development of the city in the context of globalization, digital transformation and deep integration.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, attracting excellent graduates and young scientists has been implemented since 2018. However, after 5 years of implementing the old regulations, the city has not recruited any individuals who are good students, young scientists and talented people in the political system.

One of the reasons is that salary policies, income and other incentives are not attractive enough to lure these special people whereas organizations outside the public sector offer handsome wages. With the breakthrough mechanisms and policies concretized from the Resolution 98, Ho Chi Minh City will foster and build a team of leaders and managers with excellent moral qualities and capacity to join in the city’s growth.

According to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the pilot civil service exam has created a big change in awareness and a healthy competitive environment as well as helped select competent people with moral qualities; thereby, contributing to good implementation of regulations on power control in personnel work.

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