In a bid to enhance the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems and diverse wildlife within the country, the application of payment mechanisms for environmental services rendered by forests is being recommended for broader ecosystems.

Tran Thi Thu Ha, a member of the Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, which falls under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that these payment methodologies could effectively stimulate and harness resources for this vital cause.

According to Ha, the efficacy of such payment schemes for ecosystem services has been proven through their successful implementation in forest ecosystems across Vietnam.

The Forest Protection and Development Fund has been instrumental in deploying the payment for forest environmental services model. This approach has facilitated resource augmentation for the forestry sector, bolstered revenue streams for forests, lightened the fiscal burden on the State, enhanced the effectiveness of forest protection and development efforts, and fostered income and livelihood avenues for communities residing in mountainous regions, explained Ha.

In light of these accomplishments, she emphasised the importance of expanding this payment structure to encompass other ecosystem services. This would drive revenue generation for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems and wildlife species that are currently inadequately supported by the State's budget, she added.

Leveraging the knowledge gained from the application of payment mechanisms for forest environmental services, Vietnam now sets its sight on extending this model to a variety of other ecosystems, such as marine and wetland environments, said Ha.

While the country has initiated similar programmes for these ecosystems, Ha highlighted that comprehensive payment mechanisms for their services remain absent.

To date, Vietnam has incorporated payments for certain ecosystem services. These encompass fees for sightseeing within protected marine and wetland areas, a shared management model for aquatic resources, and the promotion of eco-friendly aquaculture practices within select coastal regions. These efforts have been facilitated through collaborations with international organisations and pertinent sectors, Ha explained.

However, she cautioned that the longevity of many such payment models is threatened due to a lack of a clear legal framework.

Amid this backdrop, environmental specialists have emphasised that the existing State budget is insufficient to meet the pressing needs of biodiversity conservation. They argue that the advent of new financial structures and policies is indispensable to draw additional resources. The active participation of local communities and the business sector is deemed crucial to fortify investment in biodiversity preservation.

It needs mechanisms for certificates and credits for biodiversity, mechanisms for accessing carbon credit markets, mechanisms for debt swaps for nature conservation, biodiversity, green bonds, green credits, and establishment of biodiversity funds such as funds for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems.

According to Dao Xuan Lai, who heads the Climate Change and Environment Unit at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, payment for ecosystem services is globally acclaimed as an effective policy instrument for the management of natural resources, utilised with success in several countries worldwide.

Such programmes have been widely implemented across a diverse range of ecosystem services worldwide, encapsulating areas such as biodiversity conservation, watershed services, carbon sequestration, and landscape aesthetics, stated Lai.

He further noted that the collective annual value of ecosystem service payment programmes on a global scale is estimated to exceed a staggering 36 billion USD.

Lai expressed optimism that the launch of initiatives to promote ecosystem services could significantly aid the revival and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems within Vietnam. He added that these initiatives could also provide tangible contributions towards the fulfilment of biodiversity targets that Vietnam has pledged to achieve under the Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework was launched at the 15th Conference (COP15) of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Nguyen Dinh Tho, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, said that as per Clause 1, Article 138 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, payment for natural ecosystem services implies that entities or individuals who utilise these services must remunerate those who facilitate environmental and landscape values created by such natural ecosystems.

Tho explained that the funds thus accrued would be utilised to safeguard, sustain, and enhance the natural ecosystems.

Services provided by natural ecosystems that qualify for such payments encompass the environmental aspects of the forest ecosystem in alignment with forestry law, wetland ecosystems utilised for tourism, leisure, and aquaculture; marine ecosystems serving similar purposes; mountain ecosystems, caves, and geo-parks catering to tourism and entertainment; and natural ecosystems which facilitate carbon sequestration and storage.

He further clarified that the law unequivocally prescribes the modus operandi of payment for these natural ecosystem services. Accordingly, entities and individuals exploiting these services are obligated to pay directly to those providing these services, through a contractual agreement between the two parties.

For indirect payment scenarios, entities and individuals availing natural ecosystem services are required to remunerate the service providers via an entrusted model through the provincial environmental protection fund, or the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund in instances where a provincial fund is unavailable, he noted.

Big python found at house in Tay Ninh

A 50-kilo python has been found at a house in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

It appeared at the toilet of Phan Van Thuan’s house in An Tinh Ward, Trang Bang Town. A member of the family was shocked to find the reptile. 

He quickly ran out of the toilet and reported the find to the local police.

Right after that, nearly 10 policemen were sent to the house to catch the python. The animal was then handed over to the provincial Department of Forest Management.

The three-metre-long python is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book of Rare and Endangered Species.

PM orders acceleration of reforming judicial record issuance procedures

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a directive on the promotion of administrative procedure reform in issuing judicial record certificates, aiming to create convenience for citizens and businesses.

As per the document dated July 9, to promptly tackle existing limitations and enhance administrative reform in receiving and processing requests for the certificates, ministers, heads of central-level and governmental agencies, and chairpersons of provincial people's committees are instructed to strictly comply with the requirements for the issuance as stipulated in Article 7 of the Law on judicial records.

Effective solutions should be implemented to put an end to the request for citizens’ judicial record certificates that do not conform to regulations. Specifically, the focus should be on implementing several tasks, such as raising public awareness; taking corrective measures against the misuse of the request for the submission of the certificates by organisations and businesses; and ensuring the confidentiality of judicial record information in line with the law.

Furthermore, efforts are required to digitise and improve the judicial record database, connecting and sharing data to serve the certificate issuance.

Among many bodies mentioned in the directive, the Ministry of Public Security is tasked to collaborate with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the People's Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province to study and develop a pilot solution for issuing the certificates on the VNeID (e-identification) app. Based on results of the work, a comprehensive report must be submitted to competent authorities serving the nationwide implementation.

Vietnam’s sun protective clothes showcased at BIENALSUR 2023

Sun protective clothing, often worn by Vietnamese women while riding motorbikes, is impressing visitors to the international contemporary art exhibition BIENALSUR underway in La Plata city of Argentina.

Specifically, German-Vietnamese fashion designer Tra My Nguyen brought to the exhibition her art works that are motor-scooters wrapped with sun protective clothes.

The designer said that she was born in 1992 in Hanoi and moved to Germany with her family from a young age. After returning to Vietnam many times, she was impressed by sun protective clothes that Vietnamese women use while riding motorbikes on streets.

According to her, this is a special feature not found elsewhere and is the inspiration for her to create the works brought to this exhibition.

Starting in 2015, BIENALSUR is the International Biennial of Contemporary Art of the South, an extensive platform for art and culture under permanent construction.

In this 2023 edition, from July 8 to December 22, art works will be exhibited in over 70 cities in 27 countries and territories over the five continents.

Trang An planned to become attractive tourism site in the world

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 10 issued a decision on approving the task of formulating a planning project to preserve and restore the special national landscape site of Trang An - Tam Coc - Bich Dong in the northern province of Ninh Binh, with the aim of turning the complex into one of the most attractive tourism sites of Vietnam and the world.

The planning project covers 9,663 ha of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex which was designated as a dual UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural and cultural values in 2014.

The work aims to preserve outstanding global values of the heritage, realise strategies and development orientations of the province, and fulfill Vietnam's commitment to UNESCO in conserving and promoting heritage values; conserving heritage in harmonious combination with sustainable development.

In addition, the planning will zone off the area for relic protection, determine functions and ratio of land use for different areas, arrange technical infrastructure system suitable to stages of conservation and promotion of the value of the complex while promoting investment resources as well as role of the community in conservation, embellishment and promotion of heritage values.

Accordingly, the planning project will include research, survey, determine visions, goals and principles; forecast and determine development targets; develop landscape architecture and tourism promotion orientations, among others.

Int’l conference discusses measures to preserve national values in new context

The Institute of Philosophy under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) held an international conference named “National Values in the New Context” in Hanoi on July 9.

According to Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Tai Dong, Director of the Institute, the document of the 13th National Party Congress stresses the requirement to focus on researching, defining and implementing the building of the national value system.

In his speech at the national cultural conference on implementing the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong mentioned the national value system which consists of nine elements: peace, unity, independence, wealthy people, strong country, democracy, justice, civilisation, and happiness.

National values both ensure individuals’ freedom and protect human rights, aiming to eliminate inequality, and express the will of the whole nation, and the aspiration and mission of the entire people, not just a choice or privilege for few people.

They are formed from the development practice of each country, and each chooses different values and gives different priorities to those values in different periods, with specific historical conditions.

Regarding solutions to promote the nation’s traditional values in building a prosperous and happy country and in meeting requirements of the new situation, Mai Dieu Linh from the institute said that along with preserving the fine traditional values of the Vietnamese nation, it is necessary to introduce those values to international friends, and selectively absorb the world’s cultural quintessence.

She stressed the need to promote the role of the State, and better coordination between relevant authorities, organisations and individuals, especially the young generation, in order to continue preserving, developing and promoting Vietnamese traditional values to the world.

Longest heat wave with temperatures exceeding 39℃ bakes parts of Vietnam

The hot spell, believed to be the longest to hit northern and north-central regions of Vietnam this summer, is forecast to last for several days more with daytime temperatures even rising past 39℃.

Localities stretching from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue are anticipated to endure extreme hot weather on July 11, with temperatures ranging between 36 and 39℃, and relative humidity falling to a low of 45%, the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting said on July 11.

Meanwhile, the ongoing heat wave is also baking the northern delta and central localities from Da Nang to Phu Yen, with daytime temperatures rising to a high of 37℃ or even 38℃ in some places, and relative humidity dropping to a low of 50%.

This is the longest hot spell that has hit northern and north-central parts of Vietnam this summer. Experts have warned that the hot spell that has gripped Vietnam for over a week is likely to last for several days to come.

The intensity of the heat wave is forecast to subside on July 16, and rain will start shortly afterwards.

New Zealand presents gifts of fruit and milk to vulnerable children in VN

More than 7,000 kilograms of fruit and 1,000 litres of milk from New Zealand were recently delivered to four charity organisations for children and disadvantaged adults in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

According to details given by the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam, the gifts were from 10 New Zealand fruit and dairy companies which came together to make a joint contribution to support the country in its fight against chronic malnutrition in children.

This represents the third consecutive year that New Zealand fruit businesses have donated fruit to the country.

Upon addressing the event, New Zealand Consul General and Trade Commissioner Scott James said that over the past three years the programme provided an opportunity for New Zealand firms to share their exceptional produce with under-served communities in Vietnam.

It is therefore a tangible and heartening demonstration of New Zealand exporters’ striving to deepen their engagement and relationships with the Vietnamese community and coming together to make a difference, he stressed.

The beneficiaries of the donations this year include Operation Smile in Ho Chi Minh City, Vinacapital Foundation, Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, and Maison Chance.

This year’s donations are made by 10 New Zealand exporters, including Bostock Group, Fonterra, Fresh Fruit Company of New Zealand (Freshco), Golden Bay Fruit, Heartland Fruit, Kiwi Crunch, Meadowfresh, Mr Apple, T&G Global, and Zespri International.

Mortgage of cashew land on black market still common among ethnic farmers in Bình Phước Province

The mortgaging of cashew crops in the illegal market in ethnic minority areas has become complicated in recent years in Bù Gia Mập District of the southern province of Bình Phước.

The family of Điểu Be in the commune of Đắk Ơ is like many poor cashew famers who borrowed money and mortgaged their land to black market operators.

Due to a difficult life and having to earn money to feed five children, since 2016, he had to mortgage 5,000sq.m of cashew land to get only VNĐ30 million (US$1,300) for five years.

After mortgaging the land and getting the modest amount of money, he and his wife mainly work as hired rubber scrapers to have more income to support the family.

Mobilised by the local government, he has regained his land and has affirmed that he will not mortgage land for money on the black market again but focus on farming to earn income.

Unlike Điểu Be, many families have not got their land back after mortgaging it to black market lenders.

The family of Điểu Tin, a member of the Xtiêng ethnic group in Bình Hà Village of Đa Kia Commune, has 2ha of cashew. But due to bad crops, he could not pay the previous debt, so he had to sell the 2ha of unharvested cashew crops to get money to cover daily life.

Or the family of Điểu Brôn, in the same village, who also fell into a difficult situation when he had to borrow VNĐ6 million ($255) with monthly interest of VNĐ100,000 ($4.2) from the black market for his living expenses. He planned to pay the debt by harvesting the cashews. But unfortunately, the crop failed so he had to sell 1.5ha of his cashew garden to the creditors within five years to repay the debt.

Similarly, many farmers in Bình Hà Village had to mortgage their cashew lands to black market creditors as debt payment and receive money to cover their living expenses.

When the cashew harvesting season comes, these people have to work as hired labourers on their own land to earn money.

According to Nguyễn Mậu Hải, deputy chairman of Đắk Ơ Commune, most of the ethnic people are poor. They mainly make a living by working as hired labourers.

Many households have to mortgage cultivated lands for four, even 10 years to get “fresh” money to cover daily expenses, Hải said.

In recent years, as the local authority has enhanced information dissemination to improve people’s awareness of keeping cashew lands and avoid the black market, this situation has been less serious, the deputy chairman said.

According to statistics of the Ethnic Minority Committee of Bình Phước Province, the number of ethnic minority households selling unharvested cashew crops was 90 households, mortgaging production land was 21 households, transferring residential land was 95 households, and transferring productive land was 208 households by last year.

Therefore, the committee has requested districts, communes and relevant agencies to strengthen information dissemination as well as maximise the role of village heads and reputable people among ethnic minorities to increase people’s awareness about the harmful effects of the black market and mortgaging land.

Along with that, local authorities have to offer farmers financial and banking services so as to avoid black market loans. 

Kien Giang Province temporarily bans fishing of bivalve molluscs to improve stocks

The Mekong delta province of Kiên Giang is banning the fishing of natural bivalve molluscs in its coastal waters for the rest of this year to protect their stocks.

The protected species include short-neck clams, hairy ark clams, blood cockles, and basket clams, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Quảng Trọng Thao, its deputy director, said the ban applies to all fishing boats with a length of less than 12 metres, which usually fish near shore.

The department will not issue certificates of origin for short-neck clams during the ban period, and step up inspections of fishing, buying, preliminary processing, processing, preserving, transporting, and distributing bivalve molluscs.

The province is focusing on managing and protecting its aquatic resources.

Besides catching them in the wild, the province also farms bivalve molluscs on more than 20,758ha, up 12 per cent from a year ago, according to the department.

Farmers breed them mostly in mud flats and mangrove forests in the coastal districts of Kiên Lương, Hòn Đất, An Minh, and An Biên.

An Biên District has a coastline of 22km and 5,200ha of mud flats suitable for breeding marine aquatic species.

Many households there have become wealthy from breeding blood cockles.

Nguyễn Văn Vui of Nam Thái Commune, who has bred them for 15 years and has a total of 300ha, said the weather is favourable this year and he expects to have a good harvest.

Blood cockles are easy to breed and have steady demand, he said.

His produce has been rated three-star under the national “One Commune, One Product” programme and fetches VNĐ100,000 (US$4.2) per kilogramme (for blood cockles of the size 80 to a kilogramme), he said.

He expects to earn VNĐ5.3 billion ($225,000) this year, he said.

The commune has 2,065ha of mud flats which are leased by 97 local households for farming blood cockles, according to the Nam Thái People’s Committee.

Huỳnh Văn Thanh, its deputy chairman, said the commune’s bridges and roads used to be in poor shape and houses dilapidated.

Marine aquaculture, especially farming of blood cockles, has improved locals’ lives enormously, and they have since built large houses and contributed money to upgrading the bridges and roads, facilitating transportation and trading, he added.

Trang Minh Tú, head of the An Biên Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the district has surveyed coastal areas and their mangrove forests and mud flats to adopt measures for fostering the commercial breeding of blood cockles.

They include zoning farming areas, doing aquaculture extension work, providing breeding technologies to farmers, developing logistics services, providing soft loans and securing outlets.

The district plans to develop blood cockle breeding in combination with eco-tourism since this model is gaining popularity.

Tourists visit breeding areas to see how the farms operate and enjoy food made from them. 

HCM City legislature discusses implementation of NA resolution granting autonomy

A recently approved National Assembly resolution that grants increased autonomy to HCM City would help address the numerous challenges it faces amid the economic turbulence, a city official said.

Speaking at the 10th HCM City People’s Council session, Nguyễn Thị Lệ, its chairwoman, said the city’s industrial production has been suffering since the beginning of the year due to the global economic situation, especially the electronics industry.

The slow recovery by the property and financial markets has contributed to it, she said.

Resolution 98, set to take effect next month, would optimise resources for the city and southern key economic region’s development, she noted.

The increased decision-making powers and allocation of resources it provides would enable the city to tackle persistent challenges, particularly related to infrastructure and institutional governance, she said. 

With its new ability to swiftly allocate resources and prioritise infrastructure projects, the city aims to alleviate congestion, improve transportation and enhance the quality of life for its people, she added.

The Department of Transport estimated that VNĐ266 trillion (US$11.28 billion) will be required for infrastructure development between 2021 and 2025. 

Of this, VNĐ92 trillion would come from public funds and VNĐ174 trillion from public-private partnerships (PPPs), it said. 

Major ongoing projects include construction of ring roads 2 and 3 and renovation of the Xuyên Tâm and Tham Lương – Bến Cát canal systems, it said.

Institutional governance is another key factor in the management of and decision-making processes in the city. 

The current system often requires time-consuming co-ordination with national authorities, making timely reforms tailored to specific needs difficult for local governments. 

Resolution 98 empowers HCM City authorities to streamline administrative procedures, improve public services and implement innovative policies.

The city will also have the authority to waive income tax and offer other incentives to individuals and businesses involved in innovation, science and technology, and start-ups.

It can solicit investment in strategic sectors such as chip manufacturing and new materials, and in sports and culture through PPPs. 

It can also initiate projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the carbon credit exchange and retain 100 per cent of revenues generated from carbon credit transactions.

The city’s economy grew at 3.55 per cent in the first half of the year, with the services sector topping with 4.96 per cent.

The city will continue to address issues and inadequacies related to administrative reform, housing, tax refunds, land-use rights and prices, house ownership certificates, and other land-related problems. 

HCM City launches action plan for implementing national cybersecurity strategy

HCM City plans to focus on disseminating information to create a strong transformation, aiming to raise awareness and work toward a more robust approach to cybersecurity in State agencies, businesses and people’s day-to-day activities.

The municipal People’s Committee has issued an action plan for implementing a national cybersecurity strategy in response to cyberspace challenges in the city by 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Under the plan, the city will pay more attention to building human resources in cybersecurity.

It will focus on creating digital trust, building an honest, civilised and healthy network environment, preventing and combating law violations in cyberspace, and strengthening the State management of information safety and network security in agencies, units and enterprises.

It sets targets of reaching a rate of information systems at levels 3, 4, and 5 which will be classified and protected in accordance with the levels and rate of information systems that were approved and reached a target of 80 per cent in 2023.

These targets are expected to gain 90 and 100 per cent in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Other goals include the rates of servers and workstations in State agencies in installing anti-malware software and sharing information with the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), rate of malware detection of Botnet IP of servers at State agencies, and rate of security assessment of information system of State agencies must annually reach 100 per cent.

The city has also asked agencies and units to carry out missions strictly and synchronously.

The city’s Department of Information and Communications is in charge of monitoring, instructing and inspecting units and businesses related to building plans to perform the tasks, examining and urging the implementation of the plan, and making a report of difficulties and challenges to submit to the municipal People’s Committee.

Việt Nam aims to build a cyber security research and development centre, protect information systems in 11 important areas, and form cyber security forces at ministries, sectors and State agencies by 2025.

The authority stressed that it is necessary to strengthen the protection of national sovereignty in cyberspace, digital infrastructure, digital platforms, digital data, national cyber infrastructure, information systems of Party and State agencies and important fields. 

AIPA Caucus 14 wraps off in Kien Giang

The 14th meeting of the AIPA Caucus, themed “Promoting innovation, transfer, application, and development of science and technology for sustainable growth and development”, concluded in Phu Quoc city of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on July 11.

At the closing session, a publication produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)’s Secretariat was released. Participating AIPA member parliaments reviewed, approved, and signed the meeting’s report. 

Following the AIPA rotation mechanism, the Legislative Council of Brunei will host the 15th edition. 

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA)’s Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha emphasised that the 14th meeting affirmed the efforts of AIPA member parliaments to put AIPA resolutions in practice; promote innovation, technology transfer, application, and development of science and technology to serve growth and sustainable development; and further consolidate ASEAN’s centrality and internal cohesion, and the ASEAN Community.

Faced with new non-traditional security challenges, between now and 2030, AIPA member parliaments reaffirm their commitment to accompany the ASEAN governments in completing the bloc’s 2025 and post-2025 visions, he noted.

This includes a focus on maintaining unity, solidarity, and the central role of ASEAN, enhancing capabilities to address both traditional and non-traditional security challenges; as well as promoting economic cooperation for post-pandemic recovery, strengthening supply chains within the region to enhance self-reliance, and seizing new regional and global economic trends such as the digital economy, green economy, and circular economy serving rapid, inclusive, sustainable, and innovative development.

AIPA Caucus is a mechanism to develop common legislative initiatives with the objective in harmonising the laws of ASEAN member states. As one of AIPA’s ad-hoc committees, it is also utilised as a platform for regular interaction amongst AIPA member parliaments as well as AIPA and ASEAN in monitoring the implementation of AIPA resolutions adopted by the AIPA General Assembly.

Art Exhibition in Quy Nhơn shows nature unfiltered

An exhibition showcasing some of 100 pieces by Đào Văn Hoàng and Nguyễn Tiến Dũng offers a chance for spectators to approach wild nature in a more creative way.

The exhibition entitled Into Wildlife is held by Hanoi Grapevine in parallel with seminars at the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE) in Quy Nhơn City, the central province of Bình Định.

It introduces a style of art known globally that is still relatively unheard of in Việt Nam.

The event includes scientific research illustrations, wildlife paintings, and wildlife conservation graphic novels.

Hoàng has undertaken adventures in tropical forests throughout Southeast Asia, central Africa and South America, living among nature.

These long-awaited encounters, represented in his painting, are between the artist and the animal as two equals living in a shared environment.

There is no relationship of force or domination between man and animal, neither side prevails over the other. Depending on the species he is depicting, Hoàng adopts a point of view adapted to its characteristics.

One of his paintings at the exhibition Waiting for Nightfall – Annamites’ Stripped Rabit shows a placid rabbit sleeping peacefully in its den. The moment reflects the animal's calm nature and personality, and the stillness of the surrounding forest.

It is thus not only a scientific observation – which is intended, by definition, to be objective – that Hoàng paints, but a real narrative around the bond uniting humankind and animals.

Being observed by its subject, the viewer becomes an integral part of the scene depicted in the artwork.

Hoàng dedicated the first part of his life to computing and advertising. After working for more than fifteen years in the world of advertising, and bouncing between France and Việt Nam, he finally returned to nature by becoming its painter and most faithful observer.

During his childhood, Hoàng used to observe the animals in the Sài Gòn Zoo, patiently watching them and how they behaved, and sketching their features that he had memorised once he returned home.

His travel diaries testify to his sharp eye and almost scientific inclination. For years, he travelled across several continents and assiduously drew the smallest details he found.

Hoàng carefully observes the natural beauty around him painting precisely and methodically as if for research purposes while Dũng describes the journey of discovering and bringing animals back to nature.

He narrates stories from many different points of view with a powerful and compassionate educational message.

In this exhibition, Dũng displays works from two graphic novels Saving Sorya: Chang and The Sun Bear and Saving H’non: Chang and The Elephant, co-authored with conservationist Trang Nguyễn.

The work, about the journey of wildlife conservation, was published by Kim Đồng Publishing House in Việt Nam and was quickly licensed by many publishers to be distributed to countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, South Korea, China, Turkey, Norway, Russia. It has also won several prestigious awards.

Dũng is the first Vietnamese artist to receive the YOTO Carnegie Medal for Illustration in the UK.

The exhibition provides the viewers with a fresh perspective so they can better comprehend the particular approaches or methods used by the two artists who are engaged in this subject to produce their work, as well as the distinctions between traditional painters, science illustrators, and comic book creators and graphic novelists.

It is open daily from 8am to 5pm by reservation and lasts until September 13, 2023, at 7 Khoa Học, Quy Nhơn City. 

Cà Mau seeks to boosts tourism

The southernmost province of Cà Mau plans to develop tourism facilities, services and products to lure visitors and promote tourism.

The province has recently approved a project on the sustainable development of ecotourism at the U Minh Hạ National Park by 2030 relating to the conservation of melaleuca forest growth, ecosystems and biodiversity.

The project will focus on a safari, an herb garden, a traditional craft zone, resorts, entertainment facilities, and transport infrastructure connecting the park with nearby tourism areas such Hòn Đá Bạc and Sông Trẹm.

Its investment capital will be more than VNĐ1.46 trillion (US$61.7 million), including VNĐ58 billion ($2.45 million) from state budget and the remaining from social investment.

In addition, Cà Mau will upgrade the “Mui Ca Mau Tourism” application running on both iOS and Android devices to help tourists to easily approach information on destinations, tourism sites, accommodations, food and beverage services, and entertainment and shopping places.

The province will also focus on the development of new products and services to lure local and foreign visitors, and the promotion of relic sites, traditional rituals and craft villages.

Several cultural and tourism events in the Cà Mau-Destination 2023 programme will be held by the end of this year as well.

The Đất Mũi – Marthon Cà Mau 2023 on November 25 and 26 is expected to attract around 5,000 runners.

The first-ever Shrimp Festival will be held in December to introduce and promote the province’s OCOP (One commune-one product) products.

The festival will feature an exhibition on OCOP products, a culinary competition, and seminars.

Trần Hiếu Hùng, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province is focused on promoting tourism on social media platforms and joining tourism promotion activities in HCM City and other provinces to raise people’s knowledge about the province and its potential.

According to the department, in the first half of 2023, Cà Mau welcomed more than 1.65 million visitors, up 36 per cent over the same period last year.

Total tourism revenue was VNĐ1.52 trillion (US$64 million), up 33 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Samsung Engineering offers to provide environment solutions to Long An province

Samsung Engineering of the Republic of Korea (RoK) wants to provide environment solutions to the Mekong Delta province of Long An, the company’s Executive Vice President Han Sangdeog said at a meeting with Long An officials on July 10.

Han said the environment is one of the three main business lines of Samsung Engineering so the company is at an advantage to provide solutions in this field, such as urban wastewater treatment plants and solid waste treatment.

The company is interested in investing in wastewater treatment plants in Tan An city and Duc Hoa and Can Giuoc districts of Long An, he said.

Vice Chairman of the province’s People’s Committee Huynh Van Son said the RoK is the second biggest foreign investor in Long An with 197 projects and total capital of over 1 billion USD. He affirmed that the province welcomes a new wave of investment from the RoK.  

The official assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to coordinate discussions between the province’s agencies and localities with Samsung Engineering on matters related to the company’s proposal.  

He asked Samsung Engineering to continue to introduce more Korean companies to Long An for investment, stressing that the provincial authorities always welcome investors.

Peace, security, stability – prerequisite for prosperity: Vietnamese FM

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son called peace, security, and stability the prerequisite for prosperity while addressing the plenary session of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 11.

The plenum centred on the ASEAN Community building process, the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, the bloc’s external relations, and the regional architecture.

Sharing other officials’ view on an increasingly complex and unpredictable world, Minister Son stressed that it is hard for ASEAN to avoid challenges from both inside and outside. However, with what it has undergone for the last 56 years, the bloc has sufficient grounds to be proud and confident of a united and strong ASEAN Community.

He held that ASEAN remains a bright spot with an optimistic growth forecast of 4.7% for this year. Amid the pandemic’s existing impacts, it should place economic and trade cooperation at the centre and make full use of growth drivers to restructure economies.

ASEAN should seize opportunities so as not to be left behind, he went on.

Son welcomed the ASEAN Chair 2023’s initiative to hold an ASEAN forum on the Indo-Pacific, focusing on infrastructure, sustainable development, and the innovation economy. He suggested the bloc pay more attention to other potential fields such as the circular economy, energy transition, and climate change response.

Affirming that peace, security, and stability form the prerequisite for prosperity, the Vietnamese official applauded ASEAN’s tradition of dialogue and cooperation, enhancing trust, ironing out differences, and building up consensus.

In its relations with partners, ASEAN needs to maintain a balanced approach, consult partners about issues of common concern, and ensure the compliance with its fundamental principles, processes and procedures, he noted.

The minister also reaffirmed and asked partners to respect the bloc’s principled stance on the East Sea issue.

At the session, officials congratulated host Indonesia on its attainments, especially the impressive success of the recent ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. They reiterated the support for efforts to implement the Chair’s priorities towards an “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” as the theme of the 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship goes.

To realise that ambition, the ministers agreed to further consolidate ASEAN’s resilience and adaptability to every opportunity and challenge.

In a volatile strategic environment, the solidarity and centrality of ASEAN need to be affirmed more strongly, they noted, recommending the bloc take the lead in shaping an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture with partners’ active participation and responsible contributions to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Cooperation in such fields as financial stability, supply chain resilience, health care, digital transformation, energy security, and food security should continue to be promoted via specialised channels of ASEAN, thus helping improve the bloc’s capacity, responsiveness, and resilience to current and future challenges, they added.

They also agreed to step up the effective implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and encourage partners’ concrete and substantive partnerships with ASEAN in priority areas, including connectivity, maritime cooperation, sustainable development, economy, and the Community building, thereby contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

The ASEAN foreign ministers are scheduled to attend an AMM-56 retreat on July 12 to discuss international and regional issues of common concern.

Vietnamese FM meets ASEAN Secretary-General in Jakarta

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on July 11 on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) and related meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Kao appreciated Vietnam’s contributions to the ASEAN Community and the ASEAN Secretariat.

He expressed his hope to continue receiving the country’s support for his performance of the Secretary-General’s duties, especially in contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, and prosperity of the ASEAN Community and to the bloc’s relations with partners.

Emphasising that Vietnam attaches importance to the role of ASEAN and the Secretary-General, Minister Son voiced his belief that under Kao’s leadership, the role of the ASEAN Secretariat will be promoted continually.

Vietnam will coordinate closely with other ASEAN members and the Secretariat in strengthening the bloc’s cooperation mechanisms and ASEAN-led ones so that ASEAN will operate in an increasingly efficient manner and adapt to the new situation, he noted.

The official also suggested the Secretariat pay more attention to boosting substantive and effective ties with partners, thus practically helping with the solidarity, unanimity, connectivity, and centrality of ASEAN.

At the meeting, the two sides shared the view that amid the fast changing international and regional situation, to continue bringing into play the role and stature of ASEAN, the Secretariat should assist in stepping up dialogue and cooperation with partners.

Son held that to maintain the bloc’s role as a growth driver of the region in the coming decades, ASEAN should build a strong economic pillar, mobilise resources from members, and capitalise on partners’ attention to and resources for the region to foster economic, investment, and tourism partnerships, thus substantively contributing to regional development and prosperity.

Deputy PM receives Australian professor of energy, climate change

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Professor of energy and climate change Frank Jotzo from the Australian National University in Hanoi on July 11.

Ha spoke highly of Australia’s outstanding achievements in realising the international commitments on climate change adaptation and energy transition which are partly attributed to Australian scholars, including Jotzo.

The two countries have many cooperation priorities related to climate change adaptation, net zero emissions, and just energy transition. Experts and scientists of Australia have an important role to play in transferring technology, giving advice, and assisting Vietnam in perfecting mechanisms, policies and laws, he went on.

The Deputy PM noted the restructuring of multilateral financial institutions towards green investment and green finance poses many challenges to developing countries like Vietnam, whose growth model still depends much on natural resources and fossil fuels. Given this, Vietnam targets green and sustainable growth in tandem with the effective settlement of social, environmental, and employment issues.

He also underlined Vietnam’s attention to human resources training, considering this a highly potential field of cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Jotzo held that the challenges facing Vietnam in integrating renewable energy such as wind and solar power into the national power grid are mainly related to economic and technical issues. The country’s Government should devise preferential policies to attract the private sector’s finance for dealing with this issue.

The professor expressed his readiness to actively contribute to bilateral collaboration in education-training and climate change response in the time ahead.

VN beats Malaysia, will play Myanmar in regional U19's semis

Việt Nam advanced to the AFF Women's U19 Football Championship as the top team of Group B.

Việt Nam beat Malaysia 6-0 in their second match on July 10 at Palembang's Athletic Field.

The match was the final of the group as both sides won their previous game and had three points. The winner would qualify for the knockout stage.

Coach Akira however made several changes, giving chances for new faces such as defender Nguyễn Thùy Linh and midfielders Lương Thị Thu Phương and Nguyễn Thị Mai Hương to show their skill.

After the first 20 minutes of balanced play, Việt Nam opened the score with a successful penalty from Vũ Thị Hoa.

Ngọc Minh Chuyên netted one in the first half and two others in the second half after Việt Nam's counter-attacks.

Nguyễn Thùy Linh and Hoàng Thị Ngọc Ánh scored one each to wrap up the 6-0 win for Việt Nam.

Chuyên with four goals after two matches is one of three leading scorer of the tournament.

In the semi-finals on Thursday, Việt Nam will take on Myanmar, second-placed team of Group C, while Indonesia, No 1 of group A, will play Thailand, leader of Group C.

All matches are at the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium. 

VN must fix problems prior to World Cup

Coach Mai Đức Chung highlighted Việt Nam's weak spots in the recent friendly match against New Zealand and asked his players to quickly fix problems prior to their World Cup campaign.

The SEA Games champion suffered a 2-0 defeat to New Zealand in a friendly on July 10 at McLean Park in Napier.

“I saw their effort but their handling of the ball was not good enough," said  Chung at the post-match briefing.

"New Zealand were thirsty for a win after a 10-match losing streak before the start of the World Cup, in which they are a co-host. Players made use of their better form and physique to create threatening opportunities for the Vietnamese challengers. They were not afraid of fierce duels but tried to keep the ball at all times. It is a team of equal-quality players."

Chung said Việt Nam conceded both goals in the first half when players had not caught up with the pace of the game. Our defenders did not keep close eyes on New Zealand's players. They were much better in the second half.

"I will have to adjust our plans. Players must run faster and work with the ball. We also have to improve our passing skills. Their fitness is the main thing that I am pleased about regarding my team."

Speaking with reporters, forward Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã said the Kiwis were strong, ran fast and approached the Vietnamese box quickly. Meanwhile, the cold weather was a big problem that prevented her team from playing well.

"We could not play as flexibly as we expected with such cold weather. I hope that we will adapt to the conditions in the next few days. And we should have special warm-up exercises to help us ready for World Cup games," said Nhã.

Her captain Huỳnh Như shared her opinion.

"The temperature here is very different from Việt Nam. It really affected our performance. This friendly was for us to get familiar with the weather," said Như who was back in action after two weeks of injury.

It is winter in New Zealand and the temperature is usually under 10 degrees centigrade. The Vietnamese players were from Hà Nội where it is summer and the temperature is up to 38 degrees.

"We will have a discussion with the team to analyse our game and try to adapt to the cold and prepare for the next friendly with Spain," said Như.

Việt Nam will play Spain on July 14 in a closed-door match, their last game to prepare. 

Việt Nam is No 32 in the world while Spain is No 6 which and home to 2021 and 2022 FIFA Golden Ball winner Alexia Putellas.

The World Cup will begin on July 20. Việt Nam's first match is against the reigning champion USA on July 22. 

Vietnamese players already earn medals at 2023 Sepaktakraw World Championship

The Vietnamese National Sepaktakraw (Kick Volleyball) team has achieved their first medals at the King's Cup 2023 tournament, also the 2023 Sepaktakraw World Championship.

The tournament this year is held in Korat, Thailand, with the participation of teams from 36 countries and territories around the world. The competition is taking place from July 9 to July 16.

In the first event, the Vietnamese National Sepaktakraw team won a silver medal in the men's hoop event and a bronze medal in the women's hoop event. These are not Vietnam’s strongest events, so winning these medals is a great source of encouragement.

On the evening of July 10, the Vietnamese National Sepaktakraw team encountered the host team, Thailand, in the semifinals of the three-player team event, unfortunately, they lost with a final score of 1-2. Despite winning the first set against their opponents, the Vietnamese players failed to sustain their advantage and ended up losing the remaining two sets, leading to a 1-2 defeat. However, the Vietnamese team will continue to participate in various other events for both men and women until the end of the tournament, with the potential to compete for gold medals.

In the 2023 King's Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship, the Vietnamese national team registered 18 male and 15 female players to compete in four events for men and four events for women.

Last year, the Vietnamese Sepaktakraw team achieved a remarkable victory by winning the gold medal in the four-player women's team event, defeating the host team, Thailand, in the final match. This gold medal, along with the world championship title in that event, stands as one of the most significant accomplishments of the Vietnamese Sepaktakraw team to date. Additionally, in the 2022 Sepaktakraw World Championship, the Vietnamese team also secured three silver medals in the men's four-player event, women's team event, and women's doubles event, as well as one bronze medal in the men's doubles event.

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