The January temperature in the north of Vietnam would be 1-2 degrees centigrade higher this year according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. 

The northern region sees warmer January this year. Illustrative photo by Suckhoe & Doisong.

January is less likely to experience many bone-chilling days and the cold weather spells will be shorter.

From now until late this month, northern mountainous areas would suffer from frost which would affect agricultural activities.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting also said that the temperature in the north between January and March this year would be higher than those reported in many previous years due to the El Nino phenomenon.

Meanwhile, the central region has been predicted to have rainy spells with whirlwinds and thunder and lightning. The Central Highlands and the southern region have entered the dry season with the temperature in some areas forecasted to reach up to 35 degrees centigrade. In March, the heat in southern localities would increase to 37 degrees centigrade.

Lao media spotlights Vietnam – Laos special relations

Many electronic newspapers of Laos simultaneously ran articles on January 6 - 7, highlighting Lao Prime Minister Sonxay Siphandone’s official visit to Vietnam and co-chairing of the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

The articles reported that right after the official welcome ceremony in Hanoi on the morning of January 6, Lao PM Siphandone and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh held talks.

During the talks, the two sides spoke highly of the results of the bilateral cooperation in 2023. The two PMs expressed their joy as many cooperation projects have been completed on time, even ahead of schedule, and several existing issues between the two countries have been addressed.

The two sides acknowledged the consolidation of bilateral political relations, saying that this serves as a solid foundation for promoting cooperation in terms of defence and security, economics, trade, investment, industry, energy, education, culture, tourism, and healthcare between the two countries.

They have also exchanged views on orientations and plans for future cooperation, agreeing to continue implementing agreements signed by leaders of both countries, as well as relevant documents signed between the two Parties, States, and ministries and sectors at all levels.

According to Lao media, PM Chinh welcomed the first official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in his new capacity. The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support Laos to successfully perform international responsibilities in 2024, including the ASEAN Chairmanship.

For his part, Siphandone thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their valuable support and assistance for Laos in its national construction and defence.

Lao newspapers said that the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents, including a protocol on border guard cooperation between the defence ministries of Vietnam and Laos, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation plan between the Government Office of Vietnam and the Lao Prime Minister’s Office, an MoU on development and connectivity of border trade infrastructure between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos, and a cooperation plan for 2024 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and Laos’s Ministry of Education and Sports.

Hoa Binh police call for people to hand in dangerous weapons

Police in the northern province of Hoa Binh announced on Friday that they have collected and destroyed many weapons and explosives that were handed in by local people.  

Police in Hoa Binh Province destroy many weapons and explosives that were handed in by local people.

"Following our call, local people have handed in many weapons and explosives, including 1,707 guns, 112 electric batons, and 2,584 bullets," according to local police.

All the weapons and explosives have been destroyed.

Last year, police in the central highlands province of Dak Lak also launched a similar programme which encouraged local people to exchange weapons and explosives for rice and other essential foods following terrorist attacks in the area.

According to Dak Lak Police, many local people are still making weapons and equipment for hunting in local forests. Since the programme was launched, they have gradually realised the danger of keeping the weapons and are willing to give them up to local authorities.

Đồng Tháp Province farmers enjoy high rice prices

Local farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Đồng Tháp are excited as rice prices in the 2023 fall-winter crop have increased and they have a bumper crop.

Currently, the price of rice is above VNĐ9,000 (US$0.37) per kg. Previously, the price of rice was only VNĐ6,600-7,000 ($0.27-0.28) per kg.

“Perhaps, it has been a long time since farmers have had so much joy and excitement,” Tạ Văn Bông, chairman of the Board of Directors of Tân Bình Cooperative, told the Việt Nam News.

If the rice prices continue to stay high, farmers can get rich from growing rice, he said.

Bông also said that local farmers had overcome many difficulties due to heavy rains in the 2023 fall-winter crop to get a bumper crop.

“This is the highest price so far and our farmers are very happy,” he said.

According to Bông, the cooperative's revenue growth reached 15-20 per cent in 2023. The high rice prices helped farmers to earn a profit of 35-40 per cent.

The farmers of the cooperative had applied science and technology in growing rice, and they did not use pesticides.

The cooperative's goal was to produce safe rice following the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standards, aiming to produce rice with low carbon emissions.

The SRP Standard is the world's first voluntary sustainability standard for rice. Designed to be inclusive, it incentivises farmers from smallholders to large producers to shift to adopt proven climate-smart, sustainable best agricultural practices.

He also said that by 2025, safe rice products are expected to be launched into the market, moving towards building the brand "Cù Lao Tây Agricultural Products" in the coming years because consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality of rice.

Thus, growing high-quality rice and ensuring food safety will bring benefits to both producers and consumers, he said.

The cooperative now has 220ha growing organic rice. The area is expected to expand to 300-400ha this year.

Nguyễn Duy Thuận, general director of the Lộc Trời Group Joint Stock Company, said Việt Nam's rice production value chain could rise three times higher than its current’s level.

The quantity and quality of Vietnamese rice are increasing day by day, however, there are a number of barriers that need to be overcome towards sustainable development.

The first thing needed was to boost production linkages. Production linkages help to reduce costs and stabilise supply capacity, he said.

He also added that it was an important issue because the rice sector’s scale was very large, with demand for millions of tonnes, so it was imperative to boost production linkages.

Credit can also be a barrier. Although there are currently many incentives for farmers, cooperatives, and rice production and trading enterprises, the incentives are not completely consistent with the characteristics of the rice industry.

The violation of contracts (related to rice production and consumption) was still common.

The final barrier was asynchronous mechanisation in the agricultural sector. If synchronous mechanisation was applied, losses in harvesting would be reduced.

Lê Văn Thiệt, deputy director of the Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the department had set a goal of developing the plant protection sector in a modern and sustainable direction.

It would expand models and develop the production of biological plant-protection drugs and organic fertilisers.

At the same time, it would also open the market, creating conditions for domestic manufacturers to export their products to the world market. 

HCM City offers Tết gifts, financial support

HCM City will set aside nearly VNĐ1 trillion (US$41.2 million) to assist beneficiaries of welfare policies, poor households, disadvantaged elderly persons, children and workers to celebrate the upcoming Tết (the Lunar New Year) holiday, according to the city Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Speaking at the city’s regular meeting reviewing socio-economic tasks this week, deputy director of the department Huỳnh Lê Như Trang said around VNĐ915 billion would be earmarked to provide financial relief, gifts and other activities, VNĐ34 billion more than last year.

Tết gifts worth VNĐ1.3-3.1 million each will be given to 313,620 people who are beneficiaries of welfare policies, 37,170 poor households, and 161,673 people under social protection, according to the official.

Trade unions in the city will spend more than VNĐ130 billion to provide financial relief, gifts and bus tickets for workers who are affected by job loss or salary reduction due to reduced orders.

The Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union will give out more than 22,000 gifts for disadvantaged people and 3,700 train and bus tickets for students and workers to return home to enjoy the Tết holiday.

This year’s average Tết bonus was estimated at VNĐ12.3 million a person, which is comparable to last year's figure.

In addition to bonuses, enterprises plan to support their employees with gifts and vouchers for purchasing goods and arrange cars for employees to return home.

Around 25,000-29,000 jobs are available during the Tết holiday.

Recruitment demand is forecast at 49,000 – 57,500 positions after the holiday, with textile and footwear, food processing, plastics and rubber, accommodation and restaurants showing high recruitment demand. 

HCM City ensures Belt Road No 3 project on schedule

The city's National Assembly delegation said it expects the Belt Road No. 3 project to stay on schedule this year.

Lương Minh Phúc, director of the Traffic Department, echoed this message, emphasising that special mechanisms approved by the National Assembly and the Government are being applied effectively, accelerating the progress of the project's preparation and compensation work.

The Belt Road No. 3 project was divided into 10 main construction packages, and currently four of them have started construction, while the remaining six packages have completed bidding procedures.

It is expected that in early 2024, 10 bidding packages will be started simultaneously, thereby accelerating and speeding up the project's progress.

According to Phúc, the Belt Road No. 3 project is an important project, so the Traffic Department along with localities and departments will make efforts to speed up the project's progress in accordance with the plan registered with the Government and National Assembly.

In particular, the Traffic Department is committed to accelerating progress to complete the main Belt Road No. 3 route by 2025 and open the entire route to traffic by 2026.

The City's National Assembly delegation highly appreciated the efforts of the investor, departments and localities throughout the process of preparation, construction implementation and site clearance work.

According to the city's National Assembly delegation, Belt Road No. 3 is a key national project.

Therefore, the city needs to continue to ensure progress as planned and continue to promote the best site clearance and resettlement work.

Belt Road No. 3 has a total length of 76.3km passing through four localities: HCM City (47.35km); Bình Dương (10.76km); Đồng Nai (11.26 km); and Long An (6.81km).

In HCM City, the 47.35km section passes through Thủ Đức City and the districts of Hóc Môn, Củ Chi and Bình Chánh.

Designed for speeds of 60-100km per hour, the road has four lanes for commuting and two lanes for emergency stops.

An overpass will be built to link the ring road with the HCM City – Long Thành – Dầu Giây Expressway, which links Đồng Nai and HCM City and connects with the Dầu Giây – Phan Thiết Expressway running from Đồng Nai to the beach city of Phan Thiết.

The project will also link with four other expressways including HCM City – Trung Lương, which connects HCM City with the Mekong Delta; Bến Lức – Long Thành; HCM City – Mộc Bài, connecting the city with the Cambodian border; and HCM City – Chơn Thành, linking HCM City and Bình Dương.

It has a total investment of VNĐ75.4 trillion (US$3.2 billion) with 50 per cent from the central budget and the other half from the four localities. 

Arrests made in embezzlement and smuggling cases

Across the nation, many operations are being deployed by police in a fierce crackdown on crime before the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, with many criminals finding themselves locked up.

On January 4, the Investigative Police Agency of central Quảng Bình Province announced the initiation of criminal proceedings, the indictment, and the temporary detention for four months of Dương Thị Thiếu (residing in Lộc Thủy Commune, Lệ Thủy District, Quảng Bình Province) on the charge of "embezzlement of property" as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 353 of the 2015 Penal Code.

According to the preliminary investigation results, during her tenure as the store manager of the Aluminum Company Yangli Vietnam in Đồng Hới, Quảng Bình, Dương Thị Thiếu exploited the trust of the company, intentionally manipulated records, and misappropriated nearly VNĐ1 billion (US$41,030) for personal purposes.

This is one of the many achievements of the Quảng Bình provincial police in the ongoing high-intensity campaign against crime. In the past 20 days, the provincial police have investigated and uncovered 13 out of 15 cases involving 22 individuals violating social order; discovered 19 cases involving 39 individuals for drug-related offences; detected and investigated four cases involving six individuals in economic crimes; found nine cases of commercial fraud; and identified 23 cases violating laws on resources and the environment.

On January 1, the Drug Crime Investigation Department's Special Task Force, in collaboration with other units, apprehended three individuals, Nguyễn Minh Tú and Trần Thanh Bình from Nam Lý Ward, Đồng Hới City, and Đinh Trần Ngọc Phi from Bắc Lý Ward, Đồng Hới City. The operation also resulted in the seizure of over 10kg of diverse synthetic drugs.

Hà Tĩnh clamp down on illegal fireworks trade

Hà Tĩnh provincial police announced a joint effort with the Border Guard forces in the area, successfully apprehending multiple individuals involved in the trade of fireworks, totalling 144kg.

The Lộc Hà District police collaborated with the Cửa Sót Border Guard Station and discovered the presence of a group smuggling a large quantities of fireworks, with complex and inter-provincial characteristics, requiring suppression and dismantling.

On December 29, 2023, the Lộc Hà District police conducted a search operation, swiftly arrested and brought in for questioning four suspects residing in Thịnh Lộc Commune and Lộc Hà Town on charges related to the illegal possession and trade of prohibited goods. Following this, law enforcement personnel from Lộc Hà, Thạch Hà districts, and Hà Tĩnh City confiscated 34kg of various types of fireworks.

In an expanded investigation on December 30, 2023, the Lộc Hà District police, working with the Economic Police Department (Hà Tĩnh Province), executed a search warrant and urgently apprehended Tô Xuân Tới (born in 1993, residing in Hòa Lợi Ward, Bến Cát Town, Bình Dương Province). The authorities seized 76 units of various types of fireworks, weighing approximately 110kg, along with various related items and documents.

The Lộc Hà District police issued a decision to initiate a criminal case regarding the possession of prohibited goods and the illegal trade of goods within the locality, resulting in the confiscation of a total of 144kg of fireworks. Law enforcement agencies are continuing to gather evidence to proceed with legal actions against the suspects.

Drunk driver arrested

The Bắc Giang City police (Bắc Giang Province) recently issued a decision to initiate criminal proceedings, charge, and detain Nguyễn Thanh Tâm (born in 1984, currently residing at 225-B5 Tân Mai Street, Hoàng Mai District, Hà Nội) for resisting law enforcement during an alcohol content check.

Around 8pm on December 31, 2023, the Traffic Police Team of Bắc Giang City conducted an operation on Hoàng Hoa Thám Street, in the section passing through Song Mai Commune. They signaled stop to a pickup truck with licence plate 29K-055.41 due to suspicious behavior, traveling towards Bắc Giang City - Tân Yên District for inspection. However, the driver did not comply, instead turning around and fleeing, prompting the task force to pursue. The audacious driver collided with a specialised police vehicle and continued to resist arrest.

Upon being stopped, the violator refused to exit the vehicle, leading the police to break the windows and subdue him. Following an alcohol content check, Tâm was found to have violated with a level of 0.595 mg/1 litre of breath.

At the police station, Tâm confessed that he had consumed beer and alcohol before driving his car from Dõng Village, Hương Gián Commune (Yên Dũng District), to Cao Xá Commune (Tân Yên District). Upon reaching the Hoàng Hoa Thám Street section, he encountered the patrolling team. 

Health sector honours families of cornea donors in Ninh Bình

Việt Nam recorded 45,000 people registering to donate corneas in the past 16 years, of which 963 people donated corneas after death in 20 provinces and cities.

In Ninh Bình Province alone, there are 437 donors, of which Kim Sơn District is the leading locality with 427 donors.

“This is a huge contribution of Kim Sơn people in particular and Ninh Bình Province in general in the cause of people's health care. Thanks to this source of donated corneas, many people have received corneal transplants and returned to normal working life," said Deputy Minister of Health Trần Văn Thuấn.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I would like to warmly praise and thank the families who have donated corneas, those who have donated a part of their bodies to bring light to the living,” added Thuấn.

Thuấn was speaking at a ceremony to honour the noble gesture of families of cornea donors in Kim Sơn District, Ninh Bình Province on January 5.

The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and the National Eye Hospital in coordination with the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Ninh Bình Province and Kim Sơn District.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Tuấn Hưng, Deputy Director of the Department of Personnel Organization, Ministry of Health, concurrently in charge of managing and operating the National Eye Hospital, said that the event had been organised annually by the Central Eye Hospital since 2007, since Việt Nam had the first person volunteering in Kim Sơn District, Ninh Bình to donate a cornea after death, opening up opportunities for hundreds of thousands of blind people to regain their sight.

In April 2007, Nguyễn Thị Hoa in Kim Sơn District, Ninh Bình Province, donated her cornea after her death. With her noble heart and gesture, Hoa has become a shining example of a pioneer, promoting the development and spread of the cornea donation movement throughout the country. Following the example of Hoa, the people of Kim Sơn District have created a cornea donation movement throughout the region and the whole province.

In addition, the cornea donation movement in the Kim Sơn District community has encouraged and formed a network of collaborators and volunteers to enthusiastically participate in communication on cornea donation, which raises awareness in the community about eye care and protection in general as well as about issues related to corneal donation and corneal diseases in particular.

Suffering from corneal disease at the age of 12, Tô Thị Thắm has received two corneal transplants from donors in Ninh Bình Province in 2019 and 2020.

"I would like to thank the families who donated corneas to people with corneal diseases like me. I hope that this noble gesture will spread widely, helping more people see the light again,” said Thắm.

Hưng said that from the example of the cornea donation movement in Kim Sơn District, people in other localities responded nationwide, with more localities having cornea donors, such as Hà Nội, Thanh Hóa, Hòa Bình, Nam Định, Nghệ An, Quảng Ninh, Hà Nam, Vĩnh Phúc, Bắc Giang, Thái Bình and Bắc Ninh.

In 2009, the National Eye Hospital took the lead in building the National Eye Bank, building a cornea donation campaign. That was one of the important activities to obtain domestic sources of corneas for transplants for patients. To date, the health sector recorded 45,000 people registering to donate corneas in the past 16 years, of which 963 people donated corneas after death in 20 provinces and cities.

Corneal transplant surgery is the only method in the world today that brings light to people that are blind due to corneal diseases. It is estimated that Việt Nam currently has over 30,000 people who are blind due to corneal diseases and need corneal transplant surgery to regain sight, according to Hưng.

At the National Eye Hospital, the list of people registered for corneal transplants is nearly 1,000 people. Although corneal transplant surgery in Việt Nam is at an advanced level, due to the extremely scarce source of corneas, the amount of corneal donation in recent times has only met a very small number compared to actual needs. Therefore, thousands of patients are having to accept living with blindness, waiting for the only source of corneas from donors after death.

Thanh, Oanh win Bà Rá Mountain Trailing

Hoàng Nguyên Thanh and Nguyễn Thị Oanh both won their second title in a week at the Bà Rá Mountain Trailing race in Bình Phước Province on January 6.

Thanh won the men's 7.7km race for the eighth time in a row in a time of 33.35min.

He was followed by SEA Games champions Đỗ Quốc Luật and Phạm Tiến Sản.

Thanh said he was pleased with his current form, which also saw him win the Vietnam International Half Marathon (VIHM) in Hà Nội on January 1.

The former SEA Games marathon gold medalist said his targets this year include defending his National Tiền Phong Newspaper Marathon Championship title in Phú Yên Province.

In the women’s race, Oanh also led from the off in the women's 5.4km and clocked 31.17min to win her third title of the tournament.

She left defending champion Phạm Thị Hồng Lệ and former SEA Games bronze medalist Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa trailing in second and third places.

"This is the third time I am participating and winning here,” said Oanh, who won and set national record at the VIHM last week in Hà Nội.

"But despite that, every step of the race is difficult as I have to beat the altitude of nearly 800m above sea level. I am really happy after crossing the finish line.”

The organisers also presented awards to the winners of the amateur and elite junior men’s and women’s categories.

This year the event featured 1,530 athletes, including 18 foreigners, who were taking part for the first time in the history of the 18-year race.

Esports, Phygital Sports Festival opens in capital

Some 5,500 contestants are taking part in the first Esports and Phygital Sports Festival Việt Nam that opened on January 6 at the Bắc Ninh Sports University in Bắc Ninh Province.

During the two-day event they will compete for 108 medals in four disciplines of esports (E-football, NBA2k; Audition, Battle Teams, Football Pro); phygital sports (a combination of e-football and futsal; and E-basketball and 2x2 basketball); simulated sports (e-golf; virtual reality Mission X) and digital entertainment sports (recsports, dance, tegball and calisthenics…).

Lê Trí Trường, head of the organising committee, said: "Esports have been growing strongly globally. Esports were not recognised in Việt Nam in the past and suffered criticism. Over the years, it has become popular in the country.”

He said Việt Nam's esports team won four gold and three silver medals at the 31st SEA Games to top the table.

A year later they secured one gold, two silvers and four bronzes at the 32nd SEA Games.

Trường said: "EPS24 will link physical activities and technical sports."

Phygital sports are being organised for the first time.

"Phygital sports are a combination of physical and digital sports," Nguyễn Xuân Cường, chairman of the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA), said.

“With the motto 'Determination, Innovation, Creativity, Pioneering in Digital Transformation', we hope the festival will popularise esports and phygital sports."

Representatives of the International Electronic Sports Federation are in attendance to participate in discussions about teaching esports at university.

At the event, players and fans also have the opportunity to try their hand at esports games.

The event is being organised by VIRESA, the Việt Nam Olympic Committee, the Hanoi Sports and Entertainment Association, and other partners. 

The dynamic transformation of Vietnamese Volleyball

The Volleyball Federation of Việt Nam (VFV) has implemented several new regulations in 2024 aiming to elevate the national volleyball championship to a more professional level. The focus is on assembling national teams comprised of the most exceptional players, capable of conquering international events.

The VFV has issued a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind regulation: "Athletes who are selected to represent the national team or national youth team in international competitions must comply with summons from the VFV and the Sports Authority of Việt Nam. Failure to do so, without valid reasons (except for force majeure with VFV's approval), will result in a one-year ban from future competitions."

Lê Trí Trường, the general secretary of VFV, emphasised the significance of this regulation, stating that it enhances the athletes' and teams' sense of responsibility and honour when called to represent their country. Trường pointed out instances where athletes possessing remarkable skills were proposed for national team selection but repeatedly declined, which raised questions and provoked reactions from experts and fans alike.

"This year, the VFV is striving to create optimal conditions for volleyball teams to maintain long-term focus and stability. We also aim to ensure that teams have a full roster of talented athletes and coaches who can perform well in international tournaments. We will build upon the results achieved last year and place further emphasis on training young players, developing them into the next generation of athletes for the senior teams," Trường explained.

In the past, the national volleyball championship has undergone several changes in its competition format in an effort to enhance quality and attractiveness. However, it has yet to achieve an ideal format. This year, the 2024 National Volleyball Championship has once again modified its competition structure, resulting in a positive impact and garnering praise from teams. The new format follows the international model adopted by countries with strong volleyball traditions.

Under the new format, nine men's teams and nine women's teams compete in a round-robin format. Unlike previous years, teams are not divided into two groups competing in separate locations. Instead, they face each other, creating numerous thrilling matches throughout the season.

The tournament retains the two-leg system, with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the bottom four teams engage in a round-robin match to determine the two teams being relegated.

Starting from 2025, the national volleyball championship will consist of eight men's teams and eight women's teams, with one team promoted and two teams relegated.

Additionally, the men's and women's tournaments will be conducted as separate and independent events, departing from their previous joint organisation. Phase 1 of the women's tournament is scheduled to take place in Bình Phước Province, while Phase 2 will be held in Lào Cai. The men's tournaments will be hosted in Hà Tĩnh and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu.

Trường stated that separating the two tournaments will help attract a larger fan base to volleyball matches.

An outstanding regulation introduced by the organisers of the 2024 National Volleyball Championship stipulates that teams participating in the event must also have their youth teams take part in the national youth tournament; otherwise, they will face relegation in 2025. This regulation has received high praise from professionals as it ensures a sustainable foundation for teams and for Vietnamese volleyball.

The VFV is also planning to focus on and actively participate in international tournaments with the national team, allowing athletes and clubs to take a more proactive role.

Vietnamese volleyball continues to permit teams to recruit foreign players, providing excellent opportunities for domestic players to compete abroad. Currently, three Vietnamese players - Trần Thị Thanh Thúy in Japan, Hoàng Thị Kiều Trinh and Đoàn Thị Lâm Oanh in Thailand - are making a significant impression.

Domestic clubs are fervently preparing for the upcoming season, with the Bank for Industry and Trade Club recently successful in appointing coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt from the Vietnamese national women's volleyball team.

Quảng Bình focuses on afforestation to capitalise on carbon credit potential

With a vast forest area of 590,000ha, Quảng Bình central province ranks second in the country in terms of forest coverage with 68 per cent, representing significant potential for generating forest carbon credits and giving the opportunity for the province to participate in the forest carbon credit market.

Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Mai Văn Minh said Quảng Bình will receive VNĐ235 billion for reducing more than 2.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during 2023-2025.

This is the amount that the province will receive under the emission reduction agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the World Bank, with Quảng Bình being one of the six provinces in the northern central region participating in this agreement.

The money it received in late 2023 will be used for paying forest owners, local people and communities to manage, protect and develop forests, he said.

Participating in the forest carbon credit market will help forest owners enhance the productivity of planted forests, improve sustainable livelihoods, contribute to the protection of existing forest areas, and increase forest coverage, Minh said, adding that this opens up new opportunities for local residents to develop the economy through forest conservation, especially when the exploitation of forest products under the canopy is challenging.

More than 469,300ha of forest to claim carbon credits in the year, he said, highlighting that the province will review the forest area and forest coverage to work with its partners who want to purchase carbon credits, to increase income for local people.

Nguyễn Đức Sự, a resident from Cao Quảng Commune, Tuyên Hóa District, said he cared for the trees in his forest every day.

Five years ago, he decided to green the hills in Cao Quảng Commune with native tree species.

Currently, the young trees have grown well, with over 5,000 large trees covering more than three hectares of previously vacant land and bare hills.

"I feel very happy whenever I enter the forest and see the trees growing well. It takes 20-30 years to have such native forests, and our future generations will benefit from them," Sự told Tin Tức (News) newspaper.

"Planting trees, especially medicinal plants under the forest canopy, contributes to the biodiversity of the forest. As the trees grow, the forest becomes greener, the humidity increases, and the source of water becomes more abundant."

"We need clean water to drink and clean air to breathe, so we must care for and protect the forest."

According to Nguyễn Quang Huy, vice chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Quảng Commune, the locality has a large forest area and high forest coverage.

The forests are not planted for timber sales, but many households engaged in forest planting have achieved good incomes from harvesting non-timber forest products, such as planting short-day crops and medicinal plants under the forest canopy.

The commune aims to achieve 90 per cent forest coverage, gradually increasing the natural forest area and reducing the planted forest area. The locality is also encouraging residents to protect and develop sustainable forests, planting native trees for long-term sustainability and generating carbon credits for the market.

In recent years, authorities in Tuyên Hóa District have encouraged local residents to protect and plant large timber forests with native tree species. The growers have been also supported with seedlings to develop forest.

Every year, Quảng Bình Province plans to plant about 9,000ha of concentrated forests and millions of scattered trees, aiming to maintain and enhance forest coverage.

According to the roadmap, by 2025, the province's raw material forest planting areas will exceed 100,000ha, including more than 16,200ha of large timber forests.

Celebrity Solstice brings 2,700 foreign tourists to central Vietnam

Cruise ship Celebrity Solstice docked at Chan May port in Thua Thien-Hue province on January 7, bringing approximately 2,700 foreign visitors to central Vietnam.

Most of the passengers on board the cruise ship are from Great Britain, France, Canada and the United States.

Upon their arrival, they were warmly welcomed and given special gifts by local authorities, Cham May Port leaders and Saigontourist , a leading travel company in Vietnam.

During their stay, the visitors are scheduled to take on tours of major tourist destinations and sample specialties in Thua Thien-Hue province, Quang Nam province, and Da Nang city which all home to UNESCO-recognised World Heritage sites.

In 2023, Chan May Port received 25 cruise ships, bringing 33,000 international tourists to Thua Thien-Hue and adjacent areas. In 2024, the port is expected to welcome 32 cruise ships with nearly 60,000 passengers and more than 22,000 crew members on board.

Earthquake-affected Vietnamese in Japan receive support

Six hundred gift packages and essential goods donated by the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka and Vietnamese associations and businesses the Kansai region and adjacent prefectures were presented on January 6 to Vietnamese interns and Japanese citizens living in Ishikawa - the locality hit by the recent earthquake in central Japan.  

In a meeting with Mayor of Nanao city Chatani Yoshitaka, Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Ngo Trinh Ha said that relief goods have been delivered to the Vietnamese and Japanese communities in Ishikawa.

The diplomat expressed her desire to know more about the situation and specific demands of the Vietnamese community and locals, thus having more specific support plans.

Mayor Chatani Yoshitaka affirmed that local authorities will make efforts to overcome the earthquake consequences to soon bring the people’s life back to normal.
 
In their working trip to Ishikawa, representatives from the Consulate General and Vietnamese associations and businesses met with several agencies and unions in the prefecture and initially established a coordination channel to receive aid for people affected by the quake.

Ishikawa was one of  the Japanese localities hit by the massive earthquake on January 1. All Vietnamese living near the quake's epicenter were safely relocated to shelters where they were provided with necessary supplies. According to statistics, about 5,000 Vietnamese people are living in Ishikawa, of the about 600 affected by the earthquake.

Hanoi ceremony marks 45th anniversary of southwest border defence victory

High-ranking leaders and people of Vietnam and Cambodia recalled the Vietnam-Cambodia coordination to fight their common enemies during a ceremony in Hanoi on January 7 to mark the 45th anniversary of the victory of the war defending the southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian troops and people, defeating the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - 2024).

The event provided a chance for the two countries to express gratitude to the past generations who shed their blood for peace and development of the two nations, while educating people, especially the youth of Vietnam and Cambodia, on the need to maintain, reinforce and develop the special traditional friendship between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai quoted Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as saying during his Cambodia visit in July 2017 that the history will never be forgotten and no one will fall into oblivion, and that eternal glory belongs to the outstanding sons and daughters who laid down their lives for the Fatherland of the two peoples.

He recalled the crimes that the Pol Pot genocidal regime committed since it came to power in April 1975, with more than 3 million Cambodian and tens of thousands of Vietnamese killed only in 3 years, 8 months and 20 days.

Along with that, the Pol Pot group mobilised most of its military power to invade the southwestern border of Vietnam, seriously violating independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, distorting history, inciting national hatred, trampling on the good values of the traditional friendship and good neighborly relationship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.

In response to the call from the Cambodian United Front for National Salvation and the Cambodian people, and to defend the country's sacred sovereignty, Vietnam cooperated with Cambodian armed forces to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.

This was a common victory of the two peoples, firmly defending independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia and Vietnam, ending a dark page of Cambodia, saving the Cambodian people from the genocidal disaster, opening up a new era of development in independence, peace, neutrality and prosperity, Deputy PM Khai underlined. He added that the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime also contributed to maintaining peace, stability in Southeast Asia and the world.

He highlighted achievements that Cambodian people have gained in the past 45 years, as well as the growth of the Vietnam-Cambodia sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and give top priority to reinforcing and strengthening the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

For his part, Cambodian Deputy PM Neth Savoeun said that Cambodian people always remember the sacrifice by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who shed blood and laid down their lives to fight the Pol Pot genocidal regime and liberate Cambodian people.

He said that the relations between the two countries are benefiting the two peoples in various aspects such as economy, trade, investment, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, education, culture, sports, tourism, defence and security.

The Cambodian Deputy PM pledged that Cambodia always gives the highest priority to maintaining the traditional solidarity and mutual support between the two sides.

It can be affirm that the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship is a symbol of good neighbourliness in the world, he stressed

Participants listened to touching stories of former experts and volunteer soldiers of Vietnam who performed international missions in Cambodia, and enjoyed art performances honouring the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship.

Vietnam treasures bilateral relations with Cambodia: President

Vietnam always attaches importance to the good traditional friendship with Cambodia, President Vo Van Thuong told visiting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun during a meeting in Hanoi on January 7.

Hosting a reception for the Cambodian guest, President Thuong highly valued the fact that Vietnamese Deputy PM Le Minh Khai and his Cambodian counterpart Savoeun delivered speeches which spotlighted the flourishing relations between Vietnam and Cambodia at a meeting to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the victory of the war defending the southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian troops and people, defeating the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - 2024).

He emphasised that Vietnam always remembers the righteous support of the Cambodian people to Vietnam's struggles to defend the nation as well as in the national construction and defence today.

Along with geographical and cultural connections, the two peoples have stood side by side to fight common enemies, overcome difficulties and hardships, and now cooperate for development, he said. 

He expressed his pleasure as Cambodian leaders wish to continue deepening the traditional friendship through recent visits to Vietnam by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Bovor Thipadei Hun Manet, President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Khuon Sudary, and other high-ranking leaders of the State and Government of Cambodia. 

Thuong spoke highly of the comprehensive development of cooperation between the two countries in all fields, saying that the 10-billion-USD trade value between the two sides is a basis for further elevating trade and investment cooperation.

The defence and security cooperation is an important pillar, contributing to creating a stable environment for development, he said, adding that  people-to-people exchanges, especially in border areas, have been enhanced and the two countries regularly have initiatives to form new cooperation mechanisms across channels of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and other organisations.

He said he hopes that the relationship between the two countries will continue to grow stronger and deeper in the future, expressing his belief that under the wise reign of King Norodom Sihamoni, the CPP led by Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and the Cambodian government headed by Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia will develop strongly and its position and role in the region and the world be improved.

The two leaders expressed their joy at the fruitful and practical development of the bilateral relations, and close cooperation in socio-economic development. 

Savoeun showed his honour to attend the celebration, and conveyed New Year wishes from Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and Prime Minister Hun Manet to Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, and other leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam.

He expressed his hope that the two countries will continue to strongly promote people-to-people exchanges, thereby further nurturing the bilateral relations.

New TV programme on Vietnamese music, theatre airs

Hồ Chí Minh Television (HTV) will offer a new TV programme about HCM City and its people this weekend. 

The programme, called Thành Phố Tình Ca (City of Love), features a series of songs, music pieces, and dances, by famous artists who played a role in the city’s music and theatre developments. 

The works portray southern culture and lifestyles. 

Excerpts from dramas, cải lương (reformed opera) and tuồng (classical drama), are included. 

The event also features talks by veteran artists, including pop stars Cẩm Vân and Tạ Minh Tâm, and cải lương guru and People’s Artist Bạch Tuyết.

The first 30-minute show, featuring images of HCM City and its historical sites and tourist destinations, will be aired on January 6. 

The pedestrian-only Book Street on Nguyễn Văn Bình Street in District 1 will be highlighted. After seven years of development, the street has a new task of introducing HCM City to visitors from all around the world.

Several hundred cultural activities, book fairs, and photo exhibitions have been organised every weekend to attract millions of local and foreign visitors. 

The show features young singers and dancers from local art schools. They will perform contemporary folk music and dance. 

“Our programme, Thành Phố Tình Ca, will offer quality shows in a southern style, a style that requires specific performance skills,” said musician Đỗ Anh Hùng, a TV producer of HTV. 

Each 30-minute show of the programme, Thành Phố Tình Ca, will broadcast on channel HTV9 at 10pm every Saturday. A special show is scheduled to celebrate the Lunar New Year or Tết Festival on February 9.

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