Art book on Saigon lifestyle released

LIVELY ART: The art book Bụi Ở Sài Gòn (Living in Sài Gòn) includes many watercolour paintings. It encourages child readers discover the world and people. Photo courtesy of the publisher.

An art book about the culture and lifestyle of HCM City by writer Nguyễn Chiều Xuân has been released by the Hà Nội Publishing House and its partner, Lionbooks.

The book, Bụi Ở Sài Gòn (Living in Sài Gòn), features the journey of Bụi, a cat with dreams of discovering the world and people.

Bụi’s adventure begins when she meets Bòn Bon, a school boy living in HCM City who saves Bụi from living on the street.

Bụi and his new friend Bòn Bon help young readers discover the beauty of HCM City, its culture and lifestyle, and local people in daily life through their stories.

Bụi Ở Sài Gòn includes watercolour paintings by female artist Cẩm Nhung. The pictures are colourful and lively, featuring old streets, buildings, shops and markets which make up the city’s unique atmosphere.

“I love HCM City, its history and culture. I hope our book can touch children’s hearts and encourage and inspire them to dream and discover the world," said artist Nhung.

“Bụi Ở Sài Gòn is part of the art book project called Em Yêu Việt Nam (I Love Việt Nam) launched by Lionbooks. The project encourages children to write stories and create pictures on different minorities groups in Việt Nam. 

War dead remains found at Can Tho nursery school
 
As many as 14 sets of remains of soldiers have been found at a nursery school in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

The remains were found over the past two days at Tan Nhon Preschool in O Mon District’s Tan Thoi Commune with artefacts such as buttons, parachute cords, military belts and bone fragments buried at a depth of 1.70 to 2 metres.  

According to local authorities, these remains may belong to soldiers who died during the resistance against the French and American invaders. It is speculated that their comrades brought them here for temporary burial.

The remains have been handed over to the district’s Department of the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs for reburial at the local war cemeteries.

Local authorities will continue expanding the search for remains in the surrounding area.

HCMC introduces plan on national sovereignty protection on cyberspace

HCMC People’s Committee has issued an action plan in the city for the ‘National Strategies on Cyberspace Safety, Security to Respond to Challenges until 2025, with a Vision to 2030’.

The action plan focuses on protecting the national sovereignty on the Internet as well as the digital infrastructure, platforms, databases, and cyberspace infrastructure in HCMC.

Particularly, the plan concentrates on creating digital trust, forming a healthy, civilized and honest cyberspace environment, preventing law violations on cyberspace, improving the administration task on information security among state agencies and units sited in HCMC.

Among the strategic targets of this action plan, HCMC sets the goals that in 2023, 80 percent of level-3, 4, 5 information systems in the city are fully categorized and receive corresponding protection in accordance with the proposed measures that have been approved. This proportion will reach 90 percent and 100 percent in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

New cave discovered in Tuyen Quang

A new cave has been recently found and explored in Na Hang District of the northern province of Tuyen Quang, according to the local media.

The cave is just a 25-minute stroll from the center of Khau Quang neighborhood, Na Kha Village, Nang Kha Commune.

The cave boasts an array of remarkable stalactite formations, showcasing their pristine beauty and unique shapes. Its complex and diverse structure features a labyrinth of winding passages and intricate pathways, inviting adventurers to explore its depths.

So far, the intrepid team of explorers has charted around 150 meters of this cave. However, it is believed that the cave extends much further, concealing even more impressive stalactite and rock formations waiting to be unveiled.

As news spreads, the local government is assessing the safety of the cave and developing plans for its preservation and eco-friendly tourism opportunities.

HCM City needs over 1.7 million vaccine doses for expanded immunisation programme

Ho Chi Minh City needs more than 1.7 million doses of 12 types of vaccines for children under the expanded immunisation programme between now and June 2024, according to a report to the municipal People’s Committee sent by the Department of Health.

Particuarly, the city needs 121,700 doses and 126,240 doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) in 2023 and in the first six months of 2024, respectively.

The city also needs 110,668 doses and 73,842 doses of vaccine DPT-VGB-HiB against five diseases including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, pneumonia/pyogenic meningitis caused by Hib bacteria for 2023 and the first six months of 2024, respectively.

From 2022, the shortage of vaccines in the expanded immunisation programme took place in Ho Chi Minh City as well as in other localities.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said at a working session between Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and leaders of some ministries, sectors and localities on the purchase of vaccines for children within the expanded immunisation programme last month that the ministry was assigned to buy and allocate vaccines to localities within the target programme for the medical-population programme for the 2016-2020 period.

After this programme ended in 2020, the ministry received budget from the central budget for the work to ensure vaccines for 2021 and 2022.

She said that the ministry hopes to be allowed to continue the vaccine purchase for the expanded immunisation programme as it is an effective scheme with significant importance in ensuring social welfare for women and children.

Meanwhile, Vice Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Nguyen Anh Dung pointed to a number of legal obstacles in the work. He said that all vaccines in the expanded immunisation programme are on the list of drugs for national centralised bidding, so there is no mechanism for self-biding in localities.

Dung suggested that central agencies provide a budget to the Ministry of Health for bidding activities and allow it to allocate vaccines.

Upgrade of Dak Long-Vang Tat border gate in Kon Tum proposed

The People’s Committee of the Central Highland province of Kon Tum on July 13 held talks with a working team on border affairs from Attapeu province, Laos, during which the two sides proposed to upgrade the pair of Dak Long (Vietnam) - Vang Tat (Laos) auxiliary border gates to main ones.

They evaluated the results of coordination in border protection. Discussing arising problems and difficulties in the work, the two sides put forward measures to strengthen cooperation in the coming time to effectively implement the agreements and regulations on border and border gates that Vietnam and Laos have signed.

A representative from Vang Tat Minerals Mining Ltd Company (formerly known as Vietnam - Laos Company) asked the two countries to create favourable conditions for mineral import- export activities via border gates in Attapeu and Kon Tum provinces.

Deputy Governor of Attapeu province Thanuxay Banxalit said that as the company’s iron ore has to travel about 130 km to reach Vietnam’s Da Nang seaport, Attapeu province wants Kon Tum province to study and propose the Government of Vietnam to facilitate the transport of minerals through the Vang Tat - Dak Long border gate. Procedures and documents related to import and export shall be carried out at Phu Cua - Bo Y international border gate.

The Lao official also suggested that Kon Tum province coordinates with Quang Nam province and Da Nang city to support the company in transporting iron ore to Da Nang seaport for export to third countries. Besides, the company is responsible for providing financial support in developing the infrastructure of Vang Tat - Dak Long border gate.

Over 4,000 square metres of Ninh Binh protective forest burnt down in fire

A large fire has burnt down over 4,000 square metres of natural protective forest in the northern province of Ninh Binh. 

The fire broke out at 8.20 am on July 13 at a forest on the Hang Den Mountain in Tam Diem City, local authorities reported.

A firefighting team was mobilised with 300 people and five fire engines but their work faced difficulties due to the high mountainous terrain.

The fire was finally controlled in the afternoon. There were no human losses reported but over 4,000 square metres of forest were burnt in the fire.

Earlier on July 12, a large fire also burnt down a pine forest spanning nearly 20 hectares in the central province of Nghe An.

The north and northern central regions have been facing severe heat waves recently, posing major threats of forest fires.

Zing News closed for three months

Zing News announced on Thursday afternoon that it will halt all operations for three months starting July 14, following the conclusion of an inspection by the Ministry of Information and Communications and a subsequent decision by the Vietnam Publishing Association. 

During this hiatus, the e-magazine said it will focus on reviewing and correcting its current "shortcomings" according to the PM’s Decision No 362/QĐ-TTg (dated April 3rd, 2019) on national press development and management planning until 2025. 

Zing News added that it would continue to renew its content and format to align with the principles and purposes stated in its publication licence, as well as the functions and missions of a magazine under the Vietnam Publishing Association. 

The e-magazine’s representative also sent their apologies to the readership and expressed gratitude towards authorities for their assistance.

Zing News said it hoped to continue receiving support upon its return. 

Zing News, formerly known as Tạp chí điện tử Tri thức trực tuyến (Online Knowledge E-magazine), has been operating under its press licence No 75/GP-BTTTT issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on February 26, 2020. 

Ensuring construction material supply necessary to accelerate key transport projects: PM Chính

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính stressed the importance of addressing problems related to site clearance and construction material supply in pushing the pace of 25 key transport projects which are underway in Việt Nam.

The statement was made at a conference chaired by the PM on Thursday in Hà Nội in both online and offline formats with ministries, departments and localities.

PM Chính requested ministries, branches and localities to be more active and drastic in solving difficulties and obstacles.

He stressed the need to reduce administrative procedures, shorten implementation time and focus on two key issues of site clearance and construction material supply.

He assigned People’s Commitees of provinces and cities to coordinate with ministries and agencies to speeed up site clearance and resettlement.

Deputy PM Lê Minh Khái was chosen to direct the inspection of the allocation of mines nationwide to consider, correct and improve the efficiency of State management in this field.

He also requested simple procedures related to capital allocation to be made available and relevant authorities to be responsible to ensure the supply of capital for the projects while preventing group interest and wrongdoings.

With regards to the metro projects in Hà Nội and HCM City, PM Chính ordered the two cities to be proactive and resilient to completely resolve limitations and issues as well as launch more projects to ensure the cities have advanced transport systems resembling other major cities in the world.

The PM ordered that the three sub-projects of the eastern section of the north-south expressway (Diễn Châu-Bãi Vọt, Cam Lâm-Vĩnh Hảo and Nghi Sơn-Diễn Châu) and the Mỹ Thuận 2 Bridge project must be put into operation this year.

He also stressed that compensation and resettlement must be conducted on schedule as assigned by the Government (by the end of this year) for projects including ring road number 3 in HCM City and ring road number 4 that runs through Hà Nội, Hưng Yên and Bắc Ninh.

Regarding the Long Thành International Airport project, PM Chính praised its investor - the Airport Corporation (ACV) and relevant agencies for their efforts and progress made.

He requested that the passenger terminal must start construction in August this year.

The Government will consider allowing the People’s Committees of provinces from Hà Tĩnh to Khánh Hoà to permit increasing the capacity of sand mines that have been licensed or are in operation. 

Tay Ninh: Many rare, endangered animals rescued

The Forest Protection Sub-Department of the southern province of Tay Ninh said that recently, it has received many wild animals on the list of endangered, precious, and rare species prioritised for protection from local organisations and residents.

Nguyen Thanh Vinh, head of the mobile ranger and forest fire prevention and fighting team under the sub-department said that on July 10, the team received a 50-kg Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) from the fire prevention and rescue police team of Trang Bang township. The rare animal was found in the house of a local in Trang Bang.

The province's forest ranger force has unveiled a case of illegal trafficking of a king cobra. Criminal procedures on the case have been launched, said Vinh.

Earlier on July 4, the team received a report on an aggressive monkey attacking locals in Nguyen Tri Phuong street, Long Hoa ward of Hoa Thanh township. The 14-kg male southern pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) was then anesthetised and captured.

According to the sub-department, since the beginning of the year, its units received and rescued 43 wild animals belonging to 15 species, including four listed as endangered, precious, and rare species prioritised for protection following the Government’s Decree 64/2019/ND-CP issued on September 22, 2021.

They have rescued and released to the wild 421 animals that were illegal trafficked.

International Food Festival – Quang Nam 2023 to kick off in late August

The International Food Festival - Quang Nam 2023 is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 3 in the ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam, according to details given by the Quang Nam provincial People's Committee. 
      
The purpose of the festival is to preserve and promote the values of culture, cuisine, and tourism of Quang Nam province in order to develop cultural and culinary brands, while simultaneously elevating the image of the locality as a unique and attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.

The event is also aimed at stimulating tourism demand and making significant contributions to the tourism industry’s recovery, as well as the locality’s socio-economic development.

A wide range of activities are set to be held during the event, including an exhibition to display One Commune One Product (OCOP) products from various localities and food stalls which will introduce the locality’s traditional food to visitors.

Furthermore, there will also be a space to introduce cultural and tourism products, as well as traditional craft villages’ handcrafts.

Most notably, 26 famous artisans and culinary experts from the country are expected to deliver impressive demonstration of 26 typical traditional dishes of Quang Nam at the event.

Moreover, a famtrip programme will be conducted to help visitors to explore the central province’s unique cuisine and introduce ecotourism sites in the locality.

HCM City’s 1st metro line to be finished by year-end

The much anticipated first metro line will be completed by the end of this year, with commercial operations to begin next year, HCM City authorities have promised.

The Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) said the line, which connects Bến Thành Market in District 1 with Suối Tiên Theme Park in Thủ Đức City, is over 95 per cent complete.

Key stations such as HCM City Opera House and Ba Son would be finished in September.

The tracks, running underground between Bến Thành and the Opera House and above the surface elsewhere, and the depot would be finished in October.

The rest of the work would be completed by December.

The State-run HCM City Urban Railway Company No 1 (HURC1), responsible for operating the metro, faces a shortage of funding and personnel.

The city People’s Committee has sought the Ministry of Finance’s assistance to resolve the financial issue for the company, which has been unable to pay salaries since August 2021, and owes its employees VNĐ6.7 billion.

MAUR will closely monitor implementation and make plans to start operations on schedule.

The project is expected to have a price tag of VNĐ47 trillion.

It will run 19.7km, 2.6km underground, and have 11 stations.

Originally scheduled for completion in 2018, the project has been repeatedly delayed due to funding issues and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Restoration of last Vietnamese king’s palace to be completed by year-end

The restoration and upgrade of Kien Trung Palace in the Hue Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi), which began in February 2019, is expected to be completed by the end of this year, according to the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre.
 
 The work is significant to preserving and upholding the values of the UNESCO-recognised Complex of Hue Monuments in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, the centre said.
 
 Kien Trung Palace, built between 1921 and 1923 during the reign of King Khai Dinh (1885-1925), once served as the living and working space of Bao Dai (1913-1997), the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945).
 
It incorporated elements from three distinct architectural styles - traditional Vietnamese, French and Italian Renaissance - to embody an era of western influence in Vietnam.
 
It is among the five main palaces of the former royal citadel, along with Thai Hoa, Can Chanh, Can Thanh, and Khon Thai. In 1947, the palace was destroyed by the war, with only its foundation remaining intact.

Since winning the UNESCO recognition in 1993, the Complex of Hue Monuments has gone through the state of emergency to develop stably and sustainably. The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre has been working on dossiers to restore the Can Chanh Palace and Dai Cung Mon (Great Palace Gate).
 
Thua Thien-Hue is the only province in Vietnam and Southeast Asia to be home to five UNESCO-recognised cultural heritages. They are the Complex of Hue Monuments (1993-tangible heritage), nha nhac (royal music) (2003-intangible heritage), woodblocks of Nguyen Dynasty (2009-documentary heritage), documents of Nguyen Dynasty (2014-documentary heritage), and royal literature on Hue Royal Architecture (2016-documentary heritage).

Hanoi determined to address traffic congestion

Hanoi continues to focus on tackling traffic congestion, a longstanding issue during the capital’s urbanization process.

With a vision for 2050, Hanoi's focus is to ensure that 20-26% of the central urban area is devoted to transport and urban development, according to Hanoi's Transport Planning to 2030.

In this regard, the city aims to allocate 3-4% of the land for static traffic works and places a strong emphasis on developing the public transport system so that it can meet 50-55% of the urban transport demand in the metropolitan area by 2030 and 60-70% after 2030, effectively tackling traffic congestion.

In recent years, the city has made significant investments in road infrastructure, resulting in the completion and operation of several key projects. These include the construction of the Nga Tu So - Nga Tu Vong section of the elevated Ring Road No.2, the Le Van Luong underpass, and the Chua Boc - Pham Ngoc Thach overpass.

A comprehensive multimodal public transport network has also been established, with notable projects such as the Cat Linh - Ha Dong light railway, which is already operational, and the ongoing construction of the Nhon - Hanoi urban railway line.

The bus network covers 30 districts, extending services to 512 out of 579 communes, wards and townships, and connects with neighboring provinces such as Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong and Vinh Phuc.

Tran Huu Bao, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Transport, said that despite efforts to reduce traffic congestion in Hanoi, the situation remains complex due to a significant increase in the number of vehicles operating in the city and the limited amount of land allocated for traffic.

Recent statistics show that the capital has more than 7.9 million vehicles, including 1.1 million cars and 6.6 million motorcycles. The average annual growth rate for cars has exceeded 10% between 2019 and 2022, while motorcycles have seen a growth rate of over 3% per year.

Moreover, about 12 million vehicles from other provinces and cities ply Hanoi's roads. The land area allocated to transport for new urban construction in Hanoi is only about 10.3% of the total, with an average annual growth rate of only 0.26-0.3%. The land allocation for static traffic is less than 1%, and public transport ridership is growing at 18.5%.

In response, Bao said the city has invested in a comprehensive road infrastructure based on the approved master plan, in which priority has been given to the completion of ring roads, especially the construction of Ring Road No.4, which aims to expand the city's development area.

Major axes such as National Highway 1, National Highway 6, West Thang Long axis, and connecting roads and bridges across rivers will also be built to improve connectivity between different areas. This approach serves as a fundamental and sustainable solution, he said.

In addition, Bao said the city expects to maintain and repair the existing traffic infrastructure to ensure its quality and safety for people and vehicles.

Another solution mentioned by Bao is the synchronous development of various forms of public transport by incorporating the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model into urban planning.

In this regard, Bao said the city would effectively manage the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban rail line and soon launch the Nhon-Hanoi station.

In the long term, Bao said, the city is applying information technology in traffic management and administration, focusing on deploying intelligent traffic systems. This approach is seen as a breakthrough solution.

Hanoi Opera to host Ngo Thuy Mien's live love song show

The Hanoi Opera House will host Mat biec (Dreamy Eyes), a night of music featuring love songs by composer Ngo Thuy Mien, on August 12.

Music director Nguyen Quang will tell the audience a respectful love story between Ngo Thuy Mien and his wife, Doan Thanh Van, who inspired the artist to compose throughout his life.

Mien said all the songs are dedicated to Van, his only love. The couple currently live together in the US.

Mien was born in 1948 in the northern city of Haiphong. He has authored about 70 love songs, which are so popular that many people call them Mien khuc (Ngo Thuy Mien's songs).

During the music show, the audience will be able to enjoy popular songs such as Last Song, Last Love, This Afternoon Without You, Ha Dong Silk Dress, Ivory Tears, Dreamy Eyes, Christmas, Age 13, Autumn for You, Love Song for You, and A Private Corner of the Sky.

Singers who will perform at the show include Elvis Phuong, Phuong Phuong Thao, Le Viet Anh, Huy Quyet, Tuan Anh, Tran Tuan Hoa, Dieu Thuy, Phuong Anh, Bach Nguyen, Ngoc Cham, Tri Anh, Ngan Thuy, and Nhat Truong.

Ngo Thuy Mien once said: "Love is eternal. Since I started writing music, I have chosen a direction for myself: to write love songs. And before and after me, many musicians have written about the war, about the homeland, about the fate of the people. We all contribute to the Vietnamese music industry, each with a different tendency. I only want to be remembered as a writer of love songs, no more and no less."

He said he doesn't write music to live but lives to write music. If people can identify with him, he would be very happy.

The show's music director, composer Nguyen Quang, said Mien and his wife's love is admirable. That's why Quang decided to work on the show.

Commenting on the presence of many young singers at the show, musician Nguyen Quang said he chooses talented and educated singers and wants to give them a chance to promote themselves.

Singer Ngoc Cham, the show's producer, said this is a show of the author's work, so she needs singers to perform with the most genuine emotions and natural vibrations.

Vietnamese representatives win gold at the 2023 Asia Arts Festival

Three Vietnamese representatives on July 12 brought home the Gold Cup at the vocal competition of the ongoing 2023 Asia Arts Festival (AAF) held in Singapore.      

The trio made up of Le Thi Tuyet Anh, Pham Thuy Linh, and Nguyen Thi Yen Linh are students of the Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM).

Since its first edition held in 2013, the AAF has provided a worthy platform for both musicians and dancers from all genres to showcase their talents, skills, and art forms before an illustrious panel of adjudicators.

The AAF has since attracted more than 2,600 participants from over 20 countries including Asia and other parts of the world such as Russia, Germany, Scotland, and New Zealand. Besides forging lifelong friendship and enjoying fun, every participant will be awarded a trophy and certificate.

This year the 10th festival was organised in Singapore from July 10 to July 14, drawing the participation of contestants from 24 countries and territories worldwide.

Vietnam had previously sent several contestants to the event and claimed gold prizes, including teen band Soul Club of Ho Chi Minh City in 2016 and singer Thuy Van in 2022.

Vietnam and CropLife Asia sign MoU on sustainable use of pesticides

The Plant Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CropLife Asia to implement the “Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework”.

The framework is a holistic, comprehensive, and long-term programme for enabling sustainable food systems.

Under the MoU, CropLife will leverage industry efforts to work with relevant stakeholders in Việt Nam to establish a framework for using pesticides sustainably and advance innovation to support smallholder farmers in Việt Nam.

This programme supports the Vietnamese Government and MARD in their transition to more sustainable food and agriculture systems that protect human health, the environment and crop production.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoàng Trung said the ministry highly appreciated CropLife's recent contributions to the Vietnamese agriculture sector. 

The proposals of CropLife to strengthen cooperation, introduce advanced technologies on plant protection and varieties, and promote responsible use of these solutions would transform agriculture production in a sustainable manner.

The measures were in line with MARD’s orientations in improving management efficiency for a safe, transparent and sustainable agriculture and food system in Việt Nam, he said.

Fighters excited to vie for WBO National Title belts

Vietnamese fighters are eager to compete in the first-ever WBO National Title belt fights in the country to be organised on July 16 in HCM City.

There will be three bouts in the Muay Thai Rampage event, with six athletes, including two females, ready to take the stage.

Huỳnh Hoàng Phi will take on Lý Đươl in the men's lightweight (61kg) class; Trần Quốc Tuấn and Võ Quang Vũ will compete in the men's welterweight (67kg); and Đặng Quỳnh Bích will face Nguyễn Thị Lâm Như in the women's super bantamweight (55kg).

According to organisers, all fighters selected for the events have made their names in either amateur or professional competitions locally and internationally.

Among them, Phi is the most regarded as the current national champion. He won a silver medal in the 31st SEA Games and has taken part in a number of tournaments in Thailand.

Phi has fought four pro fights and won all.

His rival Đươl, also a familiar name in the national events, has competed in eight pro fights. He won seven and lost one.

Fighter Tuấn, who has a record of four wins and one loss, is considered to be at a better level than his rival, Vũ, who is yet to fight professionally.

In the women's fight, Bích will make her debut on the Muay Thai stage after being well-known for winning dozens of medals in kickboxing and traditional martial arts. She will be a tough rival for Như on Sunday.

The National Title event will be held prior to the WBO Muay Thai International Title which will feature two main cards.

Vietnamese Trương Cao Minh Phát and Morrocan Hicham Boulahri in the men's super featherweight (59kg) belt; and host Huỳnh Hà Hữu Hiếu and Pornthip Khamthongphanow of Thailand in the women's minimum weight (48kg).

At the fight night, supporters will have a chance to meet Muay Thai legend Saenchai and One Championship champion Stamp Fairtex.

Saenchai is considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter and is regarded as one of the best fighters of all time.

Stamp Fairtex is the ONE Championship's first three-sport world champion, having held the Muay Thai, Kickboxing and MMA titles.

The event, organised by Shadow Entertainment and Saigon Sport Club, will welcome super prestigious guests such as rapper Thái VG, musician Dương Khắc Linh, singer Sarah Lưu, and TikTok influencer Mèo Sao Hỏa. 

VN among most searched tourist destinations

Việt Nam was the seventh most searched travel destination in the world during the first half of the year, according to Google Destination Insights.

It received over 5.5 million visitors in the first five months, most of them from China, India and South Korea.

Changes in Việt Nam's visa policy from August 15 would increase its tourist arrivals by the end of the year, said Gary Bowerman, director of Check-in Asia travel agency in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Citizens from countries whom Việt Nam waives visa requirements can stay up to 45 days instead of the earlier 15, and foreigners with Vietnamese e-visas can enter and exit the country multiple times.

Bobby Nguyễn, chairman of Rustic Hospitality Group, said social media networks like Facebook and TikTok, Google’s promotion pages and travel communities also play a vital role in promoting the country.

The owner of Fuse Hotels & Travel, Max Lambert, said Vietnamese tourism is recovering post-pandemic, referring to the increasing bookings in his hotel to near pre-pandemic levels.

Nguyễn said improvements are needed across the board to harness its tourism potential, such as improving public transportation and infrastructure to serve tourists and training tourism personnel to enhance customer service.

Việt Nam was the only Southeast Asian country among the 20 most-searched destinations on Google until June.

It hopes to receive 8-10 million foreign visitors in the second half of this year. 

PM gives nod to preservation plan of national special heritage site in Đà Nẵng

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has approved a master plan on the preservation, restoration and upgrade of the national special heritage site of Ngũ Hành Sơn (Marble Mountains) in the central city of Đà Nẵng.

The plan aims to fulfil six majors goals including the management and protection of the Marble Mountains in harmony with the requirements of socio-economic development and tourism services; being a scientific basic for study and preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, typical landscape values, and ecosystems in the heritage site.

It will also preserve, embellish and promote the value of the Marble Mountains to become a cultural space and a site for organising festivals and special entertainment spots in Đà Nẵng; connect famous monuments and scenic spots in the city with neighbouring localities to form a chain of rich tourism products, and making it become an important tourism destination with theme Con Đường Di Sản Miền Trung (The Central Heritage Road).

In a decision issued on Tuesday, PM Chính assigned Đà Nẵng City People's Committee to announce the plan, set up boundary markers, and relocate households in the scenic site of the Marble Mountains according to the approved planning documents. He also ordered updating of the boundary and area of the preservation and restoration in the scientific records and heritage ranking of Đà Nẵng City planning to be relevant to each period of time.

The Đà Nẵng City People's Committee was asked to direct units and investors to continue archaeological research, collection and excavation to supplement documents and scientific data about the site to set a basis for appraisal and investment decisions.

The city authority was also urged to actively balance and allocate local budget; promote dissemination, and mobilisation capital sources from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to implement the master plan.

The city People's Committee should be responsible for reviewing the contents of the plan on preservation, restoration and upgrade of Ngũ Hành Sơn National Special Heritage Site after the national and city development plans for Đà Nẵng in the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 have been approved by the competent authorities.

According to the decision, the planning scope for Ngũ Hành Sơn National Heritage Site is on an area of 1,049,000sq.m in Hoà Hải Ward, Ngũ Hành Sơn District. 

Brave firefighters extinguish forest fire on mountain edge in Nghe An

A forest fire in Bàu Mountain in Nghệ An Province was completely extinguished with no casualties reported, said Nguyễn Văn Tụ of the local People's Committee yesterday.

Tụ said the fire likely began due to hot weather and strong winds at around 10am on Wednesday. The hazard area was far from water sources and on steep mountainous terrain, posing difficulties for the local fire brigade.

The burnt area was large and mainly pine forest.

The Thượng Tân Lộc Commune authorities are coordinating with concerned agencies to investigate the cause of the fire and assess the damage.

The commune assigned forces to be on standby during the next three days to prevent the fire from breaking out again.

Immediately after discovering the fire, local authorities quickly took action to extinguish it and prevent it from spreading. 

By about 5pm the same day, they had contained the flames, but due to strong winds, it sprang up again.

They continued to work overnight and drew up a plan to evacuate the elderly and children near the fire area.

The incident was handled completely by 4am on Thursday.

Electric bike on charge causes fire, killing child and grandmother

A short-circuited electric bike on charge caused a fatal fire Wednesday night in the coastal city of Sầm Sơn, causing two deaths. 

The victims are a grandmother, born in 1960, and her grandchild, born in 2018. 

The fire broke out on the ground floor while both of them were sleeping on the second floor. The cause of death has been identified as asphyxiation.

The neighbourhood immediately called the fire department when they discovered flames coming out of the house, but the intense blaze caused difficulties for firefighters. 

Local authorities have paid a visit and sent condolences to the family of the victim.

Vietnam-Japan Festival 2023 opens in Da Nang city

The Vietnam-Japan Festival 2023 kicked off in the central city of Da Nang on July 13 evening, as part of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The four-day event is jointly held by the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Consulate General in Da Nang.

In his opening speech, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh said cooperation between Da Nang and Japanese localities is constantly developing, becoming a bright spot in the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Da Nang has cooperated with 20 localities in Japan, elaborating that it has established friendly and cooperative relations with four cities - Kawasaki, Sakai, Yokohama and Kisarazu.

According to the city leader, Japan has always been one of the leading partners in Da Nang. There are 222 Japanese enterprises, representative offices and projects in the central city with a total foreign direct investment (FDI) capital of over 1 billion USD, he said, adding that FDI projects have actively contributed to promoting Da Nang's socio-economic development through technology transfer, human resources training, product diversification and competitiveness enhancement.

Minh held that the closeness between the two countries' people has helped foster economic, cultural and social cooperation and people-to-people exchange.

The Vietnam - Japan Festival, which was first held in 2014, has become a significant annual cultural event not only for Da Nang residents but also for Japanese people living and working in the city and tourists.

This year’s festival features 80 booths introducing Vietnamese and Japanese cultures, traditional dishes, and information about education, study, tourism and trade, he said.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said he hopes through the festival, Vietnamese people can experience Japanese culture and art, enjoy cultural and sports exchanges, as well as feel the similarities between the two countries’ cultures.

These factors have become the foundation for the development of their fruitful relationship, he added.

Traditional materials of Vietnamese painting art introduced in France

A painting exhibition highlighting traditional materials of Vietnamese painting art opened in Paris, France on July 12.

Jointly organised by the Vietnam Culture Centre, the club “Love Vietnam's seas and islands”, and the Aurore Lumière -  a non-profit organisation based in France, the event is part of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties, and 10 years of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The exhibition features nearly 50 works created on traditional materials such as do paper, silk, wood and lacquer, introducing to the public diverse aspects of daily life and religious beliefs in France and Vietnam.

Painters exhibiting their paintings at the event were alumni of fine arts universities in France and Vietnam.

Nguyen Xuan Dong, Director of the Vietnam Culture Centre in France, said since its reopening after the upgrade, the centre has organised a series of activities related to arts and music performance, painting and photo exhibition, and seminars.

The eight-day exhibition offers a chance to introduce Vietnam’s culture in the European nation, he added.

Hải Phòng rewards students winning medals at International Mathematical Olympiad - IMO 2023

The port city of Hải Phòng, in northern Việt Nam, celebrated the outstanding achievements of its students at the prestigious International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2023, which recently concluded in Japan.

The city bestowed honours upon its young talents during a ceremony held on Thursday afternoon.

Việt Nam's delegation comprised six students, each demonstrating remarkable prowess in the competition. The nation's representatives garnered a total of two gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals, showcasing their exceptional abilities on the global stage.

Among the accomplished cohort, Hải Phòng City proudly claimed two medalists. Nguyễn An Thịnh, a 12th-grade student majoring in information technology at Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students, earned a gold medal. Meanwhile, Nguyễn Đình Kiên, an 11th-grade student specialising in mathematics, secured a prestigious silver medal, also hailing from Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students.

In recognition of their remarkable achievements, Thịnh received a cash prize of VNĐ500 million ($21,100), while Kiên was awarded VNĐ400 million ($16,900). Additionally, the esteemed teachers who guided these exceptional students were acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. Lê Đức Thịnh, the mentor of Thịnh, received an award of VNĐ250 million ($10,500), and Trịnh Việt Anh, the guide for Kiên, was presented with VNĐ200 million ($8,400).

The celebration of these accomplished students serves as a testament to the city's commitment to nurturing excellence in education and fostering a thriving academic environment. With their commendable achievements, these young mathematical prodigies have brought great pride not only to Hải Phòng City but also to the nation as a whole.

In addition to recognising the students, the city of Hải Phòng also extended its gratitude to the dedicated team of teachers who guided the Math Olympiad delegation. The teachers were collectively awarded a sum of VNĐ180 million ($7,600), while Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students, which nurtured these exceptional minds, received VNĐ90 million ($3,800).

The cumulative reward for both the teachers and students who excelled at the International Mathematical Olympiad this year amounts to VNĐ1.62 billion ($68,400), as stipulated in Resolution No. 06/2018/NQ-HĐND issued on July 12, 2018, by the municipal people's council.

Expressing his gratitude during the ceremony, Nguyễn An Thịnh, one of the students, extended his appreciation to the teachers, schools, and families for providing him with an optimal learning environment.

He acknowledged that these achievements marked only the beginning, serving as motivation for him to continue striving and contributing to the future strength of Hải Phòng City.

Teacher Lê Đức Thịnh expressed his hope that the city would continue to prioritise and facilitate the development of intellectually and artistically gifted students, particularly those in remote districts. He emphasised the importance of creating conducive conditions for these exceptional individuals to flourish.

Addressing the students, Lê Tiến Châu, the secretary of the Hải Phòng Party Committee, conveyed that their accomplishments were not only a source of honour and pride for themselves, their families, and their school but also a cause for celebration for the entire city. Châu further recommended that the municipal education and training sector formulate a comprehensive training plan to identify and cultivate outstanding students, not limited to Trần Phú High School for Gifted Students, but also across numerous other schools in Hải Phòng.

The recognition and encouragement bestowed upon these extraordinary students exemplify Hải Phòng's commitment to fostering a culture of academic excellence and nurturing the talents of its future leaders. The city remains steadfast in its dedication to nurturing the intellectual potential of its students, ensuring their continued success and bolstering the development of Hải Phòng as a whole.

He emphasised that besides studying hard, students needed to practise to improve their physical and mental health to have enough strength to contribute to the city's and country's development.

According to the municipal Department of Education and Training, Hải Phòng has achieved the remarkable feat of producing gold medal-winning students at the International Mathematical Olympiad on three occasions: in 2009, 2019, and now in 2023.

Teacher Lê Đức Thịnh has played a pivotal role in the success of his students, with two of them securing gold medals. What makes this achievement even more extraordinary is that these two exceptional students are siblings.

Nguyễn An Thịnh's brother, Nguyễn Thuận Hưng, had previously claimed a gold medal in 2019, further cementing the family's legacy of mathematical brilliance.

14 sets of martyr remains found under preschool foundation

Some 14 sets of remains believed to be wartime military soldiers have been discovered when construction workers refurbished a preschool in Tan Thoi commune, Phong Dien district of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

The remains of the martyrs were excavated along with some buttons, parachute cords, bullets and army belts at a depth of 1.7 – 2m by search team K90 of the Military Region 9.

All of the remains are unaccounted for.

According to local authorities, the remains might be soldiers who died during the past wars of resistance against French colonialists and American imperialists.

The search team handed over the remains to authorities for reburial at a local martyrs cemetery.

The team are calling on veterans who fought in the Lo Vong battlefield to help identify the martyrs so that they could rest in peace in their hometowns.

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