Administrative procedures remain cumbersome that should be addressed promptly to support businesses and people in their daily transactions, requested Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a meeting of the Steering Committee for Administrative Reform in Hanoi on July 15.

Addressing the meeting, he noted that thanks to due attention and resources given, administrative reform has reaped encouraging results in recent times, helping to improve the business and investment environment, reduce troubles for people and businesses, enhance investment attraction and promote the completion of socio-economic development tasks.

However, he admitted that administrative reform has yet to live up to expectations of businesses and people as administrative procedures remain cumbersome, causing troubles and frustration. In some localities, the bureaucratic apparatus does not operate effectively, while ranking officials still suffer hypengyophobia (or fear of responsibility).

Those shortcomings and limitations need to be overcome soon to quickly unlock and effectively use all resources for recovery and development of the country in the current context, stressed the PM.

He requested delegates to clarify shortcomings, identify causes and lessons drawn and introduce solutions to remove bottlenecks and improve the effectiveness of administrative reform in the coming months.

According to the Steering Committee for Administrative Reform, many of Vietnam’s relevant indexes were upgraded last year thanks to efforts to step up administrative reform and improve the business and investment environment.

Notably, the country’s business environment ranking climbed 12 notches to 106th position in the world business freedom index. The country was also ranked 46th out of 132 economies in the global innovation index, up two places compared to 2022.

Gov’t requests drastic measures in place to control African swine fever

The Prime Minister has asked relevant ministries and localities to strictly implement drastic measures against African swine fever (ASF).

In a directive dated July 14, the PM pointed out that the disease is on the rise, posing a high risk of a widespread outbreak nationwide and impacting food supply and the environment.

He cited a report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, saying the disease has since the beginning of this year broken out in 44 out of a total of 63 provinces and cities across the country.

More than 42,400 infected pigs have been culled, especially in Bac Kan, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Son La, Quang Nam and Long An provinces, causing great damage to livestock farmers.

To effectively control the disease, the PM especially requested the heads of provincial/municipal administrations to directly instruct and mobilize local resources to completely handle outbreaks and nip new outbreaks in the bud.

Among the measures mentioned, he asked them to organize the culling of infected, suspected, and dead pigs; implement policies to support farmers hit by the disease in accordance with the law; and resolutely handle cases of buying, selling, transporting sick pigs, and dumping dead pig carcasses that spread diseases and pollute the environment.

The localities were required to encourage farmers to adopt hygiene and disinfection measures in farming; promote biosafety livestock farming, and build disease-free livestock facilities.

The PM also asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work alongside relevant ministries, agencies and localities to proactively allocate funds and resources to effectively implement the 2020-2025 national plan on ASF prevention and control.

Tropical depression to make landfall in hours, heavy rain expected

A tropical depression is moving closer to the central coast of Vietnam and is anticipated to batter the region on July 15 afternoon, according to the Central Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

At 01:00 a.m. on July 15, the tropical depression was located in the South-western part of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, packing winds of between 39-49kph near its centre.

In the next 12 hours, it is forecast to move west and north-west into the central coast at a speed of between 10-15kph.

In the afternoon, it will lose its strength before pounding the mainland from Quang Tri to Da Nang, moving further inland and dissipating in Laos.

The tropical depression is anticipated to bring heavy rain to all regions of the country, with a common rainfall of between 50-100mm.

Some localities in the central region will even record a high rainfall of more than 200mm, said meteorologists.

The meteorologists also warned that severe flooding, flashfloods and landslides would occur in many areas, especially in low-lying and mountainous localities.

The Central Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said this is an abnormal tropical depression as makes landfall in the central region in July, instead of going to China or making landfall in the North as seen for many years.

This shows that natural disasters are becoming more and more unusual and complicated this year, it said.

Vietnam, China’s Hong Kong see significant cooperation potential

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau Le Duc Hanh and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China) John Lee have recognised the vast potential for cooperation between the two sides, particularly in green finance, innovation, science-technology, human resource training, healthcare, and high-quality labour exchange.

At a reception for the Vietnamese diplomat who paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive on July 12, Lee praised the bilateral cooperation in recent times, particularly Hong Kong’s easing of work visas for Vietnam as well as increasing student exchanges and trade-investment promotion with the Southeast Asian nation.

For her part, Hanh said the relationship between two the sides is special, based on historical ties, cultural similarities, and geographical proximity. Vietnam and Hong Kong are also significant economic partners of each other.

The diplomat held that encouraging legal labour sources and imposing sanctions on employers who hire illegal workers could address the issue of illegal immigration. She also proposed Hong Kong continue to relax visa requirements for Vietnamese citizens for the benefit of both sides.

Lee acknowledged that, despite some challenges, particularly regarding illegal immigration, the two sides have made continuous efforts to find solutions and promote cooperation, achieving many positive outcomes. He expressed his confidence that the relationship will continue to develop healthily and stably in the future.

The Vietnamese Consul General affirmed that during her tenure, she will build on the achievements and further promote the comprehensive development of the Vietnam - Hong Kong relationship.

3.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Central Highland locality again

An earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale hit Kon Plong district of the Central Highland province of Kon Tum on July 14 afternoon, according to the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre under the Institute of Geophysics of Vietnam.

The earthquake occurred at about 15:21 with its epicentre at a depth of about 8km. Fortunately it did not pose natural disaster risks.

Earthquakes have occurred frequently and continuously in Kon Plong district since 2021. This area recorded the highest magnitude earthquake at 4.7 on August 23, 2022.

Nguyen Xuan Anh, director of the Institute of Geophysics, says that Kon Tum province in general and Kon Plong district in particular belong to the small fault zone, and earthquakes there have a magnitude of less than 5.0. Although earthquakes in this area occur frequently, they do not pose natural disaster risks.

One killed in landslide in Central Highlands province

A landslide in the central highlands province of Lâm Đồng early Monday morning killed one member in a family of four, whose home was buried under tonnes of earth and debris.

According to initial reports, the incident took place in the Đam Rông District at around 4am today while the family of Đặng Quang Lành was asleep.

He and his two children managed to escape, while his wife, whose name initials were given as N.T.T, was dead by the massive volume crushed into the home.

The surrounding residents immediately reported to local authorities and joined the rescue force. Dozens of officers and vehicles from the Lâm Đồng Economic-Defence Corps (under Military Region 7), which are stationed nearby, also arrived at the scene.

As of 9am the same day, rescue efforts and site clearance were still ongoing.

According to Đam Rông District People’s Committee chairman Trương Hữu Đồng, the family's properties have been moved to safety.

Local authorities will provide the victim’s family with VNĐ20 million (US$790) as support while also offering assistance for funeral arrangements.

Lâm Đồng has been witnessing prolonged rains due to a recent tropical depression. Forecasts say the province is among the 12 localities at risk of flash floods and landslides in the next six hours. 

Draft ordinance seeks to improve operation of Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum

A draft ordinance on the management and preservation of Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum is underway, aiming for self-reliance in human resources training and equipment supply especially against outside disruptions.

According to the Ministry of National Defence (MOD), investment policies for scientific research are necessary for the mission of preserving late President Hồ Chí Minh’s body and ensuring the technical requirements of the mausoleum, especially as the complicated global developments caused multiple challenges to the technical supply and resources from abroad.

Throughout 55 years of preservation and protection of the late president’s body (since 1969) and 49 years of the historical mausoleum, the President Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum High Command and the establishment’s management board have upheld compliance with the direction and leadership of the Party and the State, particularly the Government, Prime Minister, the Central Military Commission and the MOD to accomplish the special political mission assigned.

The condition of the body remains unchanged between different inspections (from 1970 to 2009).

Inaugurated on August 29, 1975, the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum has welcomed nearly 70 million visitors, of which more than 10 million are international.

On average, the establishment receives approximately 10,000 visitors per day. This figure goes up to around 32,000 on national holidays such as the Lunar New Year, Independence Day (September 2) and the late president’s birthday (May 19).

The preservation of late President Hồ Chí Minh’s body was carried out with the complete assistance of the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1991, therefore Việt Nam has not issued any regulation, or adopted a comprehensive legal basis for the State-level scientific council and the medical scientific council working on this mission.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the mausoleum’s management board has stepped up to take charge of the technical procedures and requirements to preserve the late president's body, which calls for the issuance of laws and ordinances to regulate this mission.

A number of shortcomings and issues have been pointed out, including the risk of shortage or hindered import of single-purpose equipment manufactured abroad in the event of global disruptions (such as COVID-19 pandemic or Russia-Ukraine conflict) which necessitates investment in research and human resources development to ensure self-sufficiency in the long-term preservation.

Another issue was the need for special allowance regimes for officials, public employees and workers of the mausoleum's management board given that they are trained in highly specialised and narrow fields that are applicable only in the work of preservation of President Hồ Chí Minh's body, in order to retain and attract talents in this important task.

The management board also wanted clearer, more uniform policies on the authorisation of important political and diplomatic ceremonies and events that are conducted at the mausoleum and Ba Đình Square, as well as policies on the dual functions of the mausoleum (preservation of Hồ Chí Minh's remains and maintenance of safety and security in the complex, while enhancing the serving of domestic and international visitors who wish to pay respect to the late President).

This draft ordinance is developed with four core policies, which are improving regulations on the long-term preservation and protection of late President Hồ Chí Minh’s body; enhancing regulations on the management and protection of structures and relics within the historical site of Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum; personnel tasked with preserving and protecting the late president’s body; and perfecting regulations on ensuring human resources as well as related policies and employment benefits for these missions.  

First Vietnamese singing contest held in Japan

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan organised the closing ceremony and award presentation for the first-ever "I Love My Mother Tongue" singing contest on July 13.

The event, held by the Vietnam Association for Rights Protection of Music Performing Artists (APPA) with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy, Vietnam Union Association in Japan (VUAJ) and Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese, drew significant interest from both the Vietnamese community and Japanese residents with a fondness for Vietnam.

It aimed to promote the preservation of Vietnamese language and culture, as well as enrich the cultural life of Vietnamese people living abroad. This edition in Japan marked the fifth edition of the competition, which was held successfully in various European and Southeast Asian countries.

The contest kicked off on May 1. Despite their young age, over 200 contestants participated in the competion, showcasing traditional Vietnamese folk melodies imbued with ethnic identity and expressing their love for their homeland and pride in Vietnamese culture.

Following two rounds of competition, the top 17 finalists advanced to the final round on July 13. The sole gold medal went to Nguyen Tran Bao Trinh for her captivating performances of "Ly Ngua O" and "Thuong Ca Tieng Viet"./.

KPL praises President To Lam's visit as boost to bilateral ties

The Lao News Agency (KPL) on July 13 published an article highlighting the state visit to Laos by President To Lam and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation as a significant step in deepening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and people of Laos and Vietnam.

According to the article, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith highly evaluated President Lam's decision to choose Laos as the first country to visit in his new role, showing the importance that the Vietnamese Party and State, and President Lam himself have attached to the Laos - Vietnam great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

The two sides have successfully implemented various cooperation agreements and projects across all sectors, and fulfilled the results of the 46th session of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

The article noted the regular exchange of high-level visits, along with the increasingly robust and effective defence-security cooperation which employs various methods to respond effectively to the evolving and complex situation and maintain the Laos-Vietnam border of peace and sustainable development.

Economic, trade, investment, technology, socio-cultural, educational, and tourism cooperation between the two nations has been increasingly strengthened, bringing tangible benefits to their people. Furthermore, collaboration among ministries, agencies, localities, mass organisations, and citizens of both countries has become more cohesive and effective.

Looking ahead, both sides agreed to continue fostering close coordination across all fields, especially in politics-diplomacy, national defence-security, economy-trade-investment, infrastructure connectivity, technology, socio-culture, education and tourism.

The article concluded by emphasising that the outcomes of President Lam's visit will significantly contribute to strengthening and developing the longstanding tradition of great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States, and people of Laos and Vietnam./.

Cambodian media laud outcomes of President To Lam's visit

The Cambodian press and media have extensively covered President To Lam's successful visit to Cambodia from July 12-13 and highly evaluated the outcomes of the trip.

Major Cambodian media outlets, including the Cambodian news agency AKP, Kampuchea Thmey, SBM News, CNC, DAP News, and FRESH News, provided continuous updates on the visit, including meetings and talks between President Lam and King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni and high-ranking leaders of Cambodia, and various other activities.

Reporting the talks between the Vietnamese leader and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and President of the Senate Samdech Techo Hun Sen on July 12, SBM News quoted Lam as saying that Vietnam consistently pursues the policy of trustworthy friendship with Cambodia, underpinned by comprehensive cooperation and shared history of combating the common enemies. He underscored the importance of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially in promoting people-to-people exchanges.

Lam expressed his confidence that under the leadership of the CPP and the current Government headed by Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, Cambodia will achieve its goal of becoming a high-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.

Hun Sen agreed with Lam's opinions on the bilateral relationship, highlighting Vietnam's potential to become a developed nation and a member of the G20 under the visionary leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, positively influencing neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Laos.

At the talks on July 13 with Cambodian PM Hun Manet, as reported by Kampuchea Thmey, both leaders were committed to enhancing and expanding cooperation for the benefit of their people.

They discussed major issues, including increasing all-level exchanges and visits, promoting economic collaboration within government frameworks and the private sector in trade, investment, and energy, and closely working together in national defence and security to maintain peace, stability and development in bordering provinces. They also agreed to share information to combat cross-border crimes, such as human and drug trafficking and online frauds. Both sides also agreed to prioritise the border demarcation and marker planting and pledged to advance this critical task.

In President Lam's meeting with President of the Cambodian National Assembly Khuon Sodary on July 13, as reported by the AKP, the Cambodian leader highlighted the enduring and strong relationship between the two legislatures, which has been maintained through generations.

She affirmed that Cambodia will never forget Vietnam's support during the struggle for liberation from the Pol Pot genocidal regime, which helped revive the people and supported the country's economic development.

The Cambodian media also covered other significant activities during President Lam's visit, including meetings with Chairwoman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association Men Sam An, the Cambodian Alumni in Vietnam Association (CAVA), and a visit to the Royal University of Phnom Penh where the Vietnamese leader delivered a speech. Notably, the signing of a new cooperation agreement between the Vietnam News Agency and AKP took place within the framework of the trip./.

Technical exchange on EUDR shapes Vietnam's agricultural future

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the EU Delegation to Vietnam have jointly organised a technical exchange focused on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its implications for Vietnam's supply chains.

The event, titled "Technical Exchange on EUDR and Deforestation-free Supply Chains in Vietnam," aimed to share updates on Vietnam's readiness to meet EUDR requirements and to enhance tools supporting their implementation.

Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (ICD), and Rui Ludovino, first counsellor of Climate Action, Environment, Employment, and Social Policies at the EU delegation, co-chaired the event on July 12.

It brought together approximately 70 representatives from various sectors, including MARD departments, local authorities from Central Highlands provinces and districts, non-governmental organisations, private sector entities such as coffee, timber, and rubber producers and associations, as well as other domestic and international organisations.

Building upon a previous technical meeting held in March, this exchange was part of ongoing collaborative efforts between ICD and the EU Delegation in Vietnam.

These efforts aim to facilitate dialogue among key stakeholders on establishing deforestation-free, legal, and traceable supply chains aligned with the EUDR.

Participants provided valuable feedback and raised concerns, particularly focusing on the coffee, rubber, and timber sectors, with the aim of promoting compliant and sustainable agricultural practices.

Tuan underscored Vietnam's commitment to aligning with the EUDR, emphasising the transition towards environmentally sustainable agricultural practices rather than solely meeting high export standards.

Dr. Rui Ludovino highlighted the EUDR's global significance in combating deforestation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and addressing biodiversity loss.

He pointed out potential benefits for Vietnamese small-scale farmers, including improved production systems, product quality, traceability, and enhanced livelihoods.

Background information highlights the collaborative efforts under the "EUDR Engagement" project, where the EU Delegation closely engages with Vietnamese partners to support compliance with international climate and biodiversity goals.

These efforts play a crucial role in preparing Vietnamese stakeholders at both national and local levels for regulatory changes mandated by the EUDR.

As part of the "EUDR Engagement" project, the EUD in Vietnam and MARD have organised several meetings and information exchanges related to traceability and the EUDR.

Through the EUDR, the EU aims to minimise its contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation, thereby mitigating climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting biodiversity.

The EUDR aligns with the EU's commitment to the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

It is important to reiterate that the EUDR focuses on companies, not countries or third-country producers. It shifts the focus from voluntary action to a regulatory framework by mandating due diligence for companies placing relevant products on the EU market./.

Nha Trang international light festival 2024 kicks off

The Ever Glamour Nha Trang 2024 Festival, themed “Brilliant Galaxy”, commenced on the evening of July 13 at 2/4 Square in Nha Trang city in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, with its highlight being a drone light show competition.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ho An Phong emphasised that it is not only an international cultural and entertainment event but also an occasion to celebrate the natural beauty, culture, and people of the beach city. The festival presents an opportunity to showcase a peaceful, developing, and culturally rich Vietnam to the international community, he noted.

The deputy minister expressed his belief that it would help Khanh Hoa achieve its goal of serving 9 million visitors as planned this year.

The festival takes place on July 13 and July 20 nights. The opening night featured the first drone light show competition between teams from the Republic of Korea and China under the theme "Glamour Nha Trang." In addition, there was a musical performance by young Vietnamese singers.

The second night, themed "Night of the Wonders", will see a competition between those from France and the UAE and will conclude with a closing ceremony at Vinpearl Harbour on Hon Tre Island in Nha Trang Bay.

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, the event is expected to attract over 50,000 residents and visitors each night. The department reported that hotels and resorts in the city have already achieved an average occupancy rate of over 80% during the festival period.

Khanh Hoa aims to welcome 9 million visitors, including 3 million foreigners, and targets tourism revenue of approximately 40 trillion VND (1.6 billion USD) this year./.

Ministry asks localities to proactively respond to tropical depressions, heavy rain

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has requested provinces and cities to actively and closely monitor developments of tropical depressions, in order to be ready to respond to any emergency situations.

According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, from late July 13 until July 17, the north and central regions will have rainfall of between 100-200mm, with some places experiencing over 250mm.

The northern plain and coastal region, Central Highlands and the southern region will have rainfall from 60-120mm, with some areas seeing over 200mm of rain.

In an official dispatch sent to localities and concerned ministries and organisations on July 13, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan requested coastal areas to strictly manage offshore vehicles, notify vehicles owners and ship captains about location, movement direction and evolution of tropical depressions to proactively manage escapes from areas in danger.

The danger zone will be updated in daily weather forecast bulletins.

For mainland areas, localities need to assign forces to guard, support and guide vehicles to ensure safe traffic for the people, especially in underground and deep flooding zones.

Supervision must be enhanced on areas where landslides have occurred or are at risk of landslides.

Localities have been urged to keep close watch on warning and weather forecast bulletins and to regularly notify and guide the people to proactively minimise any damage.

They should deploy forces to inspect and review residential areas along rivers, streams, low-lying areas, at high risk of flooding, flash floods, and landslides to relocate and evacuate people when needed and at the same time prepare forces and means for rescue when required.

The Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam and mass media agencies from central to local levels will step up the information on developments of the tropical depressions and heavy rain to let authorities and people know to respond.

Localities and concerned organisations must be strict about remaining on duty and regularly report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

On early July 13 morning, heavy rain caused a landslide on National Highway 34 in Ta Mo village in Yen Dinh commune in Bac Me district of northern mountainous Ha Giang province, killing 11 people and injuring four others.

The Prime Minister on Saturday issued Official Dispatch No. 67/CĐ-TTg on directing measures to overcome the landslide consequences.

A day earlier, the MARD sent a letter to coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Binh Thuan asking them to respond to bad weather at sea and widespread heavy rain./.

Vietnam takes measures to prevent ransomware, AI-powered attacks

The rapid evolution of technology has brought a dark side: increasingly sophisticated ransomware attacks which not only target individual users but also cripple organisations and corporations, causing immense and often difficult-to-quantify damage.

The scale of the problem is staggering. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime-caused losses reached 8 trillion USD in 2023, equivalent to over 250,000 USD stolen every second. This alarming figure is projected to balloon to 10.5 trillion USD by 2025.

Vietnam is not immune. The Vietnam Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team (VNCERT) reported 13,900 cyberattacks on government agencies, organisations and enterprises in 2023 alone. Online fraud incidents soared to nearly 16,000, resulting in losses exceeding 390 trillion VND (16.25 billion USD), equivalent to 3.6% of Vietnam's GDP.

The situation is worsening. Cybersecurity firm Trend Micro revealed a 50% increase in ransomware attacks in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Hackers are primarily targeting personal data and sensitive commercial information, using them as bargaining chips for extortion.

Le Minh Nghia, a cybersecurity consultant at Trend Micro, painted a concerning picture. He warned that hackers are increasingly deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to automate and accelerate ransomware attacks. This allows them to create more potent and effective malicious codes compared to traditional email scams.

He further highlighted the looming threat posed by the integration of AI with the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This convergence, he believed, will escalate cybercriminals' attack capabilities in the future.

In response to this growing threat, the Authority of Information Security under the Ministry of Information and Communications has issued nationwide guidelines urging ministries, agencies, localities and businesses to adopt stricter information security measures and ensure swift recovery from potential incidents.

The focus is placed on regularly reviewing and addressing security weaknesses in information systems, strengthening the monitoring and management of critical accounts and system administrator privileges, and using two-factor authentication or privileged account management solutions to prevent unauthorised access and mitigate damage if passwords are compromised./.

Vietnamese flavours spotlighted at culinary week in Jakarta

JW Marriott Jakarta is hosting a Vietnamese culinary week themed "Vietnamese flavours” in the Indonesian capital from July 12 to 20.

The event originates from the idea of the hotel’s culinary director, who recognised the unique appeal of Vietnamese cuisine. Subsequently, Marriott Asia chose JW Marriott Da Nang to collaborate in organising the first Vietnamese culinary week in Jakarta.

Marketing Director of JW Marriott Jakarta Stella Rizki stated the organisation of the event caters to the growing wave of tourists from Jakarta to Vietnam. Vietnamese food is globally renowned and much loved by Indonesians.

She said that chefs from JW Marriott Da Nang have brought the authentic flavours of Vietnam to Jakarta and that support from the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietjet Air has helped make this event possible.

Vietnamese chef Nguyen Ngoc Thinh from JW Marriott Da Nang said that the dishes selected are signature and famous ones from all three regions of Vietnam, with ingredients brought from the country to ensure their authentic taste./.

Hoi An unveils activities to mark 25 years of UNESCO recognition

A diverse range of activities will be held in various locations throughout the central province of Quang Nam to mark 25 years of UNESCO’s recognition of Hoi An Ancient Town as a world heritage site, according to the Hoi An City People's Committee.

The majority of the events will be organised in the Old Quarter of Hoi An from November 23 to December 4 with the aim of evaluating the outcomes of the conservation of world cultural heritage values, whilst actively supporting international friends in both preserving and introducing different aspects of cultural heritages.

Accordingly, exciting activities such as a parade, a seminar, a photo exhibition, and a race will get underway across the locality.

Boasting its own unique values, Hoi An has recently captured great attention from the international media after being voted as the safest destination in the world for solo travelers by Smoky Mountains magazine.

A study recently conducted by The Post Office UK also found Hoi An Ancient Town tops the list of the 10 best value travel destinations for 2024.

Meanwhile, the UK's Time Out magazine also listed the site as one of the top 13 most attractive destinations in the world to travel to in July.

University team win silver at international DanceSport competition

The DanceSport team of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF) successfully claimed a silver medal at the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) World Challenge Cup Rising Stars Latin and Standard, which was wrapped up at the Military Zone 7 Gymnasium on July 14.

Most notably, the individual category saw Pham Ngoc Thuy, a second-year student of the UEF’s Faculty of International relations, win a bronze medal in the F1 Adult Latin KTA - King The Art and a silver medal in the F2 Adult Latin KTA - King The Art.

The event, which was held in Vietnam for the first time, attracted the participation of more than 1,500 domestic and foreign dancers from 26 countries and territories globally.

The championship offered an opportunity for participants to compete and achieve a source of pride for the country's DanceSport community.

The event was organised by the World DanceSport Federation and enthusiastically supported by the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation.

Hanoi’s first lotus festival in full swing

The capital city of Hanoi’s first lotus festival is being held at the Cultural and Creative Space in Tay Ho district from July 12-16, with its opening ceremony attracting more than 5,000 participants and witnessing two Vietnam’s records awarded.

In his opening speech at the July 12 ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen stated that the meticulously planned event promised to offer residents and visitors exciting experiences and unique artistic programmes that highlight the cultural exchange among different regions of Vietnam.

The opening day saw the Vietnam Records Organisation (VietKings) presenting two national record certificates for the largest number of participants (7,000) in a cycling journey around the West Lake and the largest number of people (1,000) wearing traditional ao dai with lotus patterns. It also featured more than 100 booths from 33 provinces and cities that showcased over 1,000 products under their One Commune One Product programmes.

Speaking on the sidelines of the festival, Lao Chargé d'affaires Latana Siharaj said events like this not only help embassies better understand the host country's culture and traditions but also create opportunities to share values and experiences from various nations.

As part of the festival, there are also a workshop on the conservation and development of Vietnamese lotus, the inauguration of a centre for OCOP product introduction and sale in Tay Ho, a lotus installation art space, an exhibition of lotus photos in the Vietnamese life, a promotion programme for the district’s tourism, and a music night featuring works by Vietnamese popular composer Trinh Cong Son, among many other activities./.

Vietnam seeks to build stronger trade links with Algerian province

Hoang Duc Nhuan, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Algeria, recently held a working session with the Jijel provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry and met with a number of local businesses as part of efforts to promote economic and trade links.

The meeting saw Belmedrek Nouri Said, chairman of the Jijel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, introduce the province's economic and trade potential. Located more than 300 km east of the capital Algiers, Jijel is an important industrial and commercial axis of the North African country and features key infrastructure such as Djien Djien seaport and Ferhat Abbas international airport. In 2023, roughly 9.8 million tonnes of goods were transported through this seaport, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year.

The provincial administration is also actively implementing projects on cooking oil production and fruit and vegetable processing. In addition, the Algerian locality also boasts natural and tourist resources with 120 km of coastline and 50 beaches that attract both domestic and foreign investors, he said.

Said went on to express his desire to soon send a business delegation to Vietnam in order to seek further opportunities for business co-operation, investment, and tourism development.

As part of this occasion Nhuan briefed his host on Vietnam's economic and foreign trade situation; trade and investment co-operation between the two countries; and invited Algerian businesses, specifically those from Jijel province, to participate in fairs and exhibitions such as Vietnam Food Expo and the Vietnam Expo.

The two sides also agreed to soon organise an online trade conference between Vietnamese and Jijel province businesses.

During his working visit, Nhuan visited pharmaceutical manufacturing company Biorem.

The general director of this firm expressed Biorem’s desire to find Vietnamese partners in drug production, particularly partners who can provide hormones and medicinal ingredients that fully meet international and European standards. 

Vietnam backs UN chief's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals

Vietnam strongly supports the operational purposes of the panel to develop a voluntary code of conduct on essential minerals for energy transition and hopes that countries will further contribute and support the panel's activities moving forward.

This affirmation was made by Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, at a meeting held on July 12 to review activities of the UN Secretary General's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

Representatives of UN member states welcomed the panel for informing them about its activities and expressed their priorities in essential mineral exploitation and energy transition.

They also asked that the panel continue to regularly inform member countries about its activities.

In his speech, Ambassador Giang hailed the efforts of the two co-chairs and the Secretariat in managing the activities of the panel, emphasizing that as a member, Vietnam has actively contributed to the panel’s discussions and looks forward to specific results over the next few months.

The nation is in the process of implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership Agreement, Ambassador Giang said, adding that the panel's activities can support climate change response efforts of Vietnam as a developing country in the transition.

Lotus Festival 2024 promotes Hanoi's cultural beauty

The Hanoi Lotus Festival 2024 kicked off at the Tay Ho Creative Cultural Space in Tay Ho district in the capital on July 12 with the aim of promoting and honouring the beauty and cultural values of the lotus flower.
 
The highlight of the event was the opening ceremony held on Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street. It featured an art show involving 1,200 professional and amateur actors performing on a floating stage which made use of unique underwater light mapping technology in order to celebrate the vitality of the lotus plant.

The event, which was the first of its kinds, also consisted of activities, including the introduction of OCOP products and the culture of northern mountain provinces, a display of lotus products, and a workshop held on the preservation and development of Vietnamese lotus flowers.

Furthermore, several community-based events, such as a record performance of 1,000 people wearing traditional long dresses with lotus motifs and a cycling event around West Lake involving 7,000 participants, will also be held during the course of the five-day festival.

At the event, visitors are also introduced to unique artistic products made from lotus flowers and specialty products of northern mountainous provinces.

Upon addressing the opening ceremony, Bui Lan Phuong, vice chairman of the Tay Ho District People's Committee, noted that the function will help to promote the beauty of the lotus flowers and cultural values of Hanoi.

It represents an opportunity to stimulate tourism, arousing the potential for developing local specialty products, as well as attracting tourists to the capital, thereby further contributing to local economic and tourism development.

She also revealed that the first Hanoi Lotus Festival is being held during the main lotus season, which is the busiest time for traditional lotus tea-making households in Quang An village of Tay Ho district.

Phuong noted that the event is expected to become a unique tourism product and will be a summer meeting destination for tourists in the future.

Tua Chua night market in Dien Bien lures visitors

Every Saturday, as darkness falls, people from highland villages of Tua Chua district, the northwestern province of Dien Bien, flock to the night market.

The hustle and bustle of the market forms a unique scene in Tua Chua, a highland district in the northeast of Dien Bien. The district is home to seven ethnic groups, of which the Mong people make up the majority.

The market, which is open through the night from 8pm on Saturday to 6am the following day, is not only a venue to showcase agricultural products and local culture, but also a destination for tourists.

A special thing, local businesses here only sell their goods online by live streaming. Items for sale are mainly local agricultural products, wild orchids and herbs. Each seller uses four to eight smart phones. All phones are connected to the internet and hundreds of items being sold every night.

Dang Thanh Huyen, a live streamer at the market, said that she has started selling online since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in 2019.

Selling goods through live streaming help her reach customers nationwide, she noted.

Visitors to the market also immerse themselves in the unique cultural space of local ethnic groups.

In addition to enjoying art performance staged by local residents and students, they can taste local dishes such as thang co (horse meat and offal) and drink Mong Pe, an aromatic wine distilled from maize fermented with special forest leaves.

Pham Hong Long, a tourist from Hanoi, said that he has traveled to many night markets in the northern provinces. However, he was still very excited when visiting the Tua Chua night market for the first time.

Utilising live streaming to sell products not only helps boost sales for local residents but also offers an opportunity to popularise the image of Tua Chua to domestic and foreign tourists, he added.

Nguyen Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the district People's Committee, said that despite being put into operation for just one year and a half, the Tua Chua night market has become an attractive destination and a unique tourism product of the locality.

He went on to say that the number of visitors to the market increases every week, demonstrating its growing allure to tourists.

Tua Chua aims to become a national tourism site under the province’s tourism development plan until 2025, with a vision towards 2030. It expects to host over 40,000 visitors, with about 10% being foreigners, by 2030.

Along with natural landscapes such as rocky plateaus, caves and ethnic cultures, local authorities have paid attention to turning the Tua Chua night market into a special tourism product, contributing to making tourism a key economic sector for socio-economic development of Tua Chua district in particular and Dien Bien in general./.

Vietnam ranks sixth in SEA in number of athletes qualifying for Olympics

The country will send a total of 16 athletes to the 2024 Paris Olympics which will get underway in France in late July, making the Vietnamese delegation the sixth largest in the Southeast Asian (SEA) region in terms of the number of athletes qualifying for the global games.

Over 170 participants from Southeast Asia will head to Paris to compete, with Thailand taking the lead with 51 athletes taking part in 16 sports.

Malaysia is second with 29 athletes across 12 sports, including nine badminton players. Malaysia with 26 athletes, Singapore with 23 athletes, and the Philippines with 22 athletes are third, fourth, and fifth in the list, respectively.

A total of 16 Vietnamese competitors will vie for medals in 11 sports, including athletics, cycling, swimming, shooting, weightlifting, canoeing, rowing, badminton, archery, boxing, and judo. 

Vietnam ranks sixth in the list, followed by Timor Leste with three athletes, Laos with two athletes, Cambodia with two athletes, and Myanmar with one athlete.

The Vietnamese delegation will consist of 39 members, including the 16 athletes, and will be headed up by Dang Ha Viet, director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam.

The 2024 Paris Olympics taking place from July 26 to August 11 will attract the participation of competitors from 200 countries and territories worldwide who will vie for medals in 32 sports.

Train tickets for National Day holiday on sale

Việt Nam Railway Corporation (VNR) has begun selling tickets for various routes departing from August to the end of this year, including those for the September 2 National Day holiday.

Public workers will have four-day break from August 31 to September 3 for the National Day holiday this year, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Specifically, on the HCM City – Hà Nội route, tickets are available for trains SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4, SE5/SE6, and SE7/SE8. Tickets are available for trains SE19/SE2 on the Hà Nội – Đà Nẵng route, trains NA1/NA2 on the Hà Nội – Vinh route, trains SP3/SP4 on the Hà Nội – Lào Cai route and HP1/HP2, LP2/LP3, LP5/LP6 and LP7/LP8 on the Hà Nội – Hải Phòng route.

In the south, tickets are on sale for trains SE21/SE22 for the HCM City – Đà Nẵng route, trains SNT1/SNT2 for the HCM City- Nha Trang route, and trains SPT1/SPT2 for the HCM City – Phan Thiết route.

VNR has continued to offer discounts for social policy beneficiaries such as Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, war invalids, Agent Orange victims, people with severe disabilities, the elderly, children and students.

Additionally, during the National Day holiday, round-trip tickets will have a five per cent discount for individuals and a seven per cent discount for group bookings of 20 or more.

From now until the end of 2024, the railway sector has offered various promotional programmes with discounts of up to 15 per cent. For trains SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4, SE5/SE6, SE7/SE8, passengers purchasing tickets for distances over 900 km at least 10 days before departure can receive a 5-15 per cent discount, except for 4-berth sleeper cabins on SE3 trains.

For trains SE21/SE22 for the HCM City – Đà Nẵng route with distances over 600 km, SNT1/SNT2 for the HCM City – Nha Trang route with distances over 300 km, and SPT1/SPT2 for the HCM City – Phan Thiết route, passengers purchasing tickets at least ten days before departure can receive a 5-15 per cent discount (excluding four-berth sleeper cabins on SNT1/SNT2 and SPT1/SPT2 trains).

Group bookings of 11 or more passengers will receive discounts of between four and 12 per cent and round-trip tickets will have a 10 per cent discount on the return leg.

In addition to regular trains, extra trains will be operated during the National Day holiday or when passenger demand increases. These additional trains will run from Hà Nội to Thanh Hóa, Vinh, Quảng Bình and return, from Hà Nội to Hải Phòng and return and from HCM City to Phan Thiết, Nha Trang, Quy Nhơn, Quảng Ngãi, Hà Nội and return. 

MoH urged healthcare sector to devise plans combating measles, whooping cough

The Ministry of Health has called on provincial and municipal departments of health to make plans to prevent and control any measles and whooping cough cases nationwide, with particular focus on vaccination campaigns.

The request comes as measles and whooping cough cases in some provinces and cities have increased and are showing complex developments.

Vaccination centres must strictly adhere to vaccination management regulations, ensuring comprehensive updates of vaccination records on the management platform, the ministry noted.

It is necessary to review and ensure adequate funding, medicines, biological products, supplies, chemicals, vaccines, equipment and personnel for regular vaccination activities and epidemic prevention and control efforts, the ministry said.

Regarding medical examination and treatment facilities under the ministry, the ministry demanded readiness in preparing to respond to outbreaks.

Healthcare facilities were required to fully report cases and outbreak clusters on the online Infectious Disease Surveillance and Management System.

That included completing the task force for epidemic prevention and preparing of proactive plans to cope with epidemics at different levels and scales.

The ministry also required intensifying implementation of communication measures on infection prevention, detection methods and handling suspected cases of measles and whooping cough among healthcare workers and community members.

Training in screening, diagnosis, treatment, care and infection control for measles and whooping cough was also needed for healthcare staff to be prepared in case of outbreaks in medical facilities.

Local authorities were directed to enhance communication, implementation and management of measles and whooping cough vaccination for children as well as ensuring sufficient vaccine supplies.

Additionally, close coordination with the local department of information and communications, media agencies and grassroots communication networks was crucial to advise and guide the public on disease prevention measures and ensuring complete vaccination against measles and whooping cough.

The medical facilities were told to enhance screening activities for early detection and timely isolation of confirmed or suspected cases of measles and whooping cough.

Mild cases without complications could be instructed for home treatment.

The medical facilities under the health ministry had to issue guidelines and procedures for responding to cases of confirmed or suspected infections at their units, including patient referral, screening examinations, isolation procedures and patient admission to treatment areas.

They had to prepare with isolation treatment areas or temporary isolation areas for patients, who infected or suspected with measles and whooping cough, depending on the scale and directives of local health authorities.

Immediate investigation of outbreaks must be conducted upon the first reported cases of measles and whooping cough, ensuring adequate protective equipment for healthcare staff involved in direct examination, treatment and care of infected or suspected cases of measles and whooping cough.

The ministry directed preventive medicine units to proactively monitor and promptly detect new cases, conduct investigations, identify sources of infection and handle outbreaks of measles and whooping cough.

Hospitals were urged to effectively manage the admission of measles and whooping cough patients, ensure timely treatment to minimise severe cases and fatalities.

The hospitals had to strictly comply with infection control measures to prevent cross-infection and outbreaks of measles and whooping cough.

The healthcare facilities must strictly adhere to infection control measures and implement prevention methods based on transmission routes upon detecting cases of measles and whooping cough infection or suspicion.

Furthermore, it needed to strengthen supervision and support to ensure compliance with regulations and procedures for measles and whooping cough prevention and control among healthcare staff, patients and patient families.

Deaths caused by traffic accidents decline 10 per cent in first half of the year

A total of 5,343 people were killed by traffic accidents across Việt Nam in the first six months of this year, said the National Committee on Traffic Safety on Friday.

The committee gave out the figures as part of a conference to review traffic safety, reporting that there were 12,350 traffic accidents in the first six months of 2024, in which 9,552 people were injured.

Compared to the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents increased by 15.85 per cent, while the number of deaths declined by 10.61 per cent.

Forty provinces and cities reported declining number of traffic accident fatalities. In particular, Cà Mau, Lai Châu, Bình Thuận provinces reported a decline in deaths from traffic accidents of 45 per cent.

However, 23 localities reported an increase in the number of deaths in the first half of the year, with central province Thừa Thiên-Huế and Mekong Delta province Bến Tre reporting a surge of over 40 per cent, said Lê Kim Thành, the committee’s vice chairman.

He said the number of traffic accidents caused by drunk driving has reduced sharply compared to the same period of the previous years.

He said there were nine extremely serious traffic accidents, killing and injuring many people, causing widespread public anger. The number of cases and injuries due to traffic accidents increased compared to the same period in 2023, with some local areas reporting cases of racing.

Traffic congestion in Hà Nội, HCM City and key gateways of major cities is getting more complicated.

The number of acts against police officers on duty have been on the rise. In the first six months of the year, there were 78 cases, injuring 27 officers, an increase of 45 cases compared to the same period in 2023.

Low awareness of compliance with legal regulations and responsibilities of local authorities being lacking, have been identified as the main causes, according to the committee.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang, the committee’s chairman, said in the context of 6.42 per cent of GDP growth in H1, traffic, trade and goods transportation will subsequently increase, putting pressure on the task of ensuring order and security.

“The National Assembly has passed two laws: the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety and the Road Law, which serve as new legal frameworks to better perform our tasks,” he said.

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