A night performance in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the twinning between the ancient town of Hoi An and Szentendre, Hungary, will be staged at An Hoi Sculpture Park on the Hoai River on July 20.

The city’s Information and Sports Centre said series of cultural exchanges and meetings will be held between the two cities to boost co-operations in heritage conservation, tourism, arts and culture, businesses alongside schools visits of the two sides in the coming years.

It said the anniversary will be an opportunity for the two cities sharing discussions and plans of hosting more cultural and tourism events in 2024-29.

The two cities will be seeking people-to-people visits, as well as introducing each other in world forums and events.

Hoi An, a UNESCO-recognised world heritage, has twinned with seven urban areas including Wernigerode in Germany, Gwangju in the Republic of Korea and Thanh Hoa city in Vietnam.

The ancient town is a rendezvous for annual Japan-Hoi An Cultural Exchange Day and a Korean Culture Day.

A lantern festival of Hoi An was also organised in Wernigerode and Paris, France last year.

Hoi An has officially joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in field of Crafts and Folk Art.

The mid-autumn Full Moon Festival (on the 14th day of the eighth lunar month) of the Hoi An ancient town was the latest National Intangible Heritage recognition in 2023, joining series of national intangible heritages recognised such as the annual Nguyen Tieu Festival of Hoi An, Thanh Chau bird's nest, Thanh Ha Pottery Village, carpentry of Kim Bong Village and Tra Que vegetable garden./.

Net Zero Challenge 2024 contest launched

The second edition of the annual Net Zero Challenge contest to seek technological solutions to address climate change began in Ho Chi Minh City on July 16.

With prize money of 15 billion VND (630,000), it is open to Vietnamese and foreign startups, research teams, and non-profits working in climate technologies.

Entities whose solutions have been commercialised in other nations but want them piloted in Vietnam are also encouraged to join.

The contest will have three main fields: renewable energy and carbon neutrality, food systems and sustainable agriculture and circular economy and waste management.

Contestants will be asked to develop a product that has the potential to be commercialised or replicated in the country.

The best solutions will be trialled and introduced to investment funds, policymakers and climate change alliances.

Winners can receive an investment of 100,000 USD from Sopoong Ventures and Touchstone Partners venture capital companies, and prize money of 200 million VND (7,835 USD) from the German Corporation for International Cooperation.

The submission deadline is September 15, and nine outstanding teams will enter the final round to be held in November.

This year's contest aims to establish an open, innovative platform to connect entities in climate technologies and promote green technology and green capital among businesses.

Last year the contest received over 100 applicants from 45 countries and 200 others from Vietnam.

The three winners were Vietnamese battery startup Alterno for its thermal energy storage solution using sand battery technology, Forte Biotech with a tester to detect diseases in prawn, and AirX Carbon with a plastic replacement produced from biowaste./.

Vietnam attends 34th Hong Kong Book Fair

Vietnam is joining 30 other countries and territories worldwide in the ongoing 34th Hong Kong Book Fair, whose theme spotlights literature in film and television.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the annual fair runs at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 17-23, featuring over 600 cultural activities.

At the fair, the Consulate General of Vietnam designed a space rich in cinematic elements, showcasing classic and contemporary Vietnamese literary works that have been adapted into films or translated into multiple languages. The Vietnamese booth also features books highlighting the nation's culture, arts, tourism, and cuisine, including English and Chinese versions of Vietnam Pictorial published by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Within the "Vietnam Space" at the fair, the Consulate General created a display area featuring historical books and those representing Vietnamese culture and arts, aiming to introduce and promote the Southeast Asian nation’s images to local and international visitors.

Talking to the VNA's resident reporters, Vietnamese Consul General Le Duc Hanh stressed that the Consulate General aims to bring Vietnam closer to the world, in line with the Party’s and State’s cultural diplomacy policies.

The 2023 edition of the fair attracted nearly 1 million visitors in seven consecutive days./.

Hung Yen ready for longan harvest season

Farmers in the Red River Delta province of Hung Yen are making final preparations for the 2024 longan harvest season that will start next month.

Members of the Quyet Thang speciality fruit cooperative in Tan Hung commune, Hung Yen city, have been spending days and nights at their over 30 hectares of orchards which are expected to yield about 150 tonnes of longan this year.

Director Tran Van My said the cooperative was set up by 17 local households in 2017, with 30 hectares under the local famous fruit that follow the VietGAP standards. In 2020, its fresh longan was the first in Hung Yen to be exported to the European Union (EU).

Apart from promotion activities on social networks, the cooperative has also launched farm tours, aiming to introduce the fruit to both domestic and foreign consumers, he said.

Over the past years, many local households have adopted organic farming methods, supplying safe longan products to domestic and foreign markets.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Trang said Hung Yen is now home to about 5,000 hectares of longan, some 1,700 hectares of which meet the VietGAP standards, accounting for about 34% of the total. Many longan products of local cooperatives have been recognised as items under the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme.

In Hung Yen city alone, there are more than 500 hectares following the VietGAP standards, and 10 orchards have been granted the origin tracing and authenticity system (OTAS) certificates./.

British organisation supports Quang Binh in UXO clearance

The central province of Quang Binh, one of the localities most affected by unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from the war, has benefited from UXO risk education, survey and clearance activities implemented by British non-governmental organisation Mines Advisory Group (MAG).

Nguyen Van Chien, a resident of Cu Nam commune, Bo Trach district, used to live and farm in a UXO polluted area. He said previously, due to a fear of accidents from UXO, his family could not dig soil deeply for farming.

Since MAG conducted bomb and mine clearance in Cu Nam, Chien and hundreds of other local households have had peace of mind to fully exploit the land for farming and enjoyed high economic production. In particular, in the 4,500sq.m garden of Chien’s family alone, eight cluster bombs were discovered and removed.

Cu Nam commune is not the only area benefitting from activities by MAG, which has been present in many areas dubbed as “bag of bombs and mines” to deal with UXO pollution and return safe land to locals.

Nguyen Thanh Ha, the manager of MAG Quang Binh project, said that the organisation has operated in Quang Binh since 2003 to deliver risk education and UXO clearance activities.

After more than 20 years, the project has successfully detected and deactivated more than 147,000 UXOs, and conducted 1,755 communications activities to prevent accidents from bombs and mines, said Ha.

Nguyen The Huy, Vice Director of the Quang Binh Department of External Affairs said that MAG activities have greatly contributed to raising public awareness of bomb and mine accident prevention and clearing land for local socio-economic development.

In the 2021-2025 period, MAG has invested more than 16.25 million USD in its project in Quang Binh with an aim of turning the locality in to a UXO-free area./.

Young OVs eager to explore homeland’s history, culture

The young overseas Vietnamese (OVs) attending the Vietnam Summer Camp 2024 have expressed their enthusiasm when returning and having a chance to learn more about the homeland’s history and culture.

Expressing her interest in language and culture, Nguyen Khue An, 16, from the UK said she used to participate in a number of cultural exchanges in many countries and learn new languages. However, nothing is better than connecting with peers from around the world who share the same Vietnamese origin that her parents and grandparents often talk about, and being able to explore the homeland’s unique and diverse culture.

An added that this is a chance for her to visit her ancestors’ hometown, practise the Vietnamese language, and improve her knowledge about the country’s history and culture.

She is also able to make new friends and learn more about the diverse landscapes and cuisine of each destination they will set foot in, An went on, noting that she will introduce the Vietnamese culture to the community where she lives in after the camp.

The expatriate expressed her hope that after the programme, young OVs will form a global Vietnam Summer Camp network to jointly carry out community activities benefiting the homeland, assist OV communities, especially young people, around the world, hold cultural exchanges, and help organise future summer camps.

Sharing the same feeling, Tran Yen Vy, a young OV from Romania, said this is the fifth time she has come back to Vietnam. She could see the homeland’s changes every time she returned but in her eyes, its serene beauty remains intact.

She shared that her family still observes Vietnamese traditional festivals along with traditional practices, especially the Lunar New Year.

Vy said she hopes that by taking part in the Summer Camp, she can make the acquaintance of many OV and domestic peers, learn the Vietnamese language, taste good dishes, and visit scenic landscapes as well as tangible and tangible cultural heritage in the homeland.

This is also an occasion for her to better knowledge about the country’s glorious history and express gratitude to the heroes, martyrs, and former generations who laid down their lives for the sake of the nation, she continued.

The Vietnam Summer Camp is an annual programme held by the State Committee for OV Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with relevant agencies. It aims to create conditions for young OVs around the world to return to improve their understanding of the homeland’s traditions, culture, and history and also strengthen solidarity.

Nearly 3,000 young people have participated in the programme since it was first organised in 2004, according to Vice Chairman of the State Committee for OV Affairs Nguyen Manh Dong.

This year, the Vietnam Summer Camp attracts 120 outstanding young OVs from 28 countries and territories. It is taking place from July 14 to 29 across various locations in northern, central, and southern Vietnam, including Hanoi, Phu Tho, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and Ho Chi Minh City.

It features a wide range of activities, including paying homage to ancestors and fallen heroes, engaging in cultural exchanges with the domestic youth, learning about the Vietnamese history, culture and traditions, and exploring scenic landscapes and cultural heritage sites.

Sea and island sovereignty is also a focus of the camp, with highlights including a visit to the Hoang Sa exhibition house in the central city of Da Nang, and an interaction with students from the Vietnam Naval Academy in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, among others./.

Success of Hanoi Lotus Festival opens up new prospects for capital’s tourism

Hanoi’s first-ever lotus festival, held from July 12-16 and participated by more than 50,000 visitors, was a great success, opening high prospects for the capital city to build a unique cultural and tourism brand.

Organised at the Cultural and Creative Space in Tay Ho district, the festival, which introduced OCOP (One Commune-One Product) products in association with the culture of northern mountainous localities, featured various culture, art, and trade activities.

Following an impressive opening ceremony was a diversity of activities, including an exhibition showcasing lotus-inspired art works, a photo contest, and a cycling event around Ho Tay (West Lake) that drew 7,000 cyclists.

Along Trinh Cong Son pedestrian street in Tay Ho district, many ornamental lotus pots with different species blooming were arranged, affirming Hanoi’s lotus brand and spotlighting the delicate hands of Hanoi lotus artisans.

The exhibition space introducing OCOP products of different northern localities and hundreds of kinds of lotus-based products became a highlight of the festival. It featured more than 100 booths from 33 provinces and cities that showcased over 1,000 products under their One Commune One Product programmes.

Many artisans, including Nguyen Cao Son and Luu Thi Hien, were also present to introduce the unique art of making and enjoying lotus tea of Hanoi people.

According to Hien, Tay Ho lotus tea is one of the specialties of Hanoi. Scented with Bac Diep lotus grown in some areas of the West Lake, Tay Ho lotus tea is handcrafted meticulously and delicately from the choosing ingredients to scenting, she said.

Most artisans who make Tay Ho lotus scented tea do not use modern technology to make it but still keep the manual method passed down from their ancestors, the artisan added.

The five-day festival was a success, leaving deep impressions among visitors.

According to the People’s Committee of Tay Ho district, the event saw a transaction value of 11 billion VND (433,523 USD), including more than 6 billion VND of direct sales.

Le Ba Dung, a visitor from Hoang Mai district of Hanoi, expressed his strong impression after enjoying Tay Ho lotus tea and talking to famous Hanoi tea artisans. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thu Huong, a resident of Tay Ho district, said that she is fascinated by many entertainment activities at the festival.

Currently, Hanoi has 600 hectares of lotus, mostly in Tay Ho, My Duc, Me Linh, and Thach That districts, providing great spaces for photo lovers, and materials for the production of handicraft and food products from lotus.

Many products under the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme have been developed from lotus, including silk scarf, Quang An tea, Me Linh tea, sausage, steamed sticky rice, longan sweet soup, jam, and milk, which have been exported to many countries around the world.

Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Tay Ho district Bui Thi Lan Phuong affirmed that after the success of the festival, the district will consider turning it into a regular event carrying the capital city’s tourism brand./.

Da Nang, Salavan youth enhance cooperation

The Da Nang chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) and the Salavan chapter of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union held an exchange and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation for 2024-2029 on July 17.

The MoU aims to improve the effectiveness of communication work targeting young generation of the two localities about the special traditional friendship relations between Vietnam and Laos in general, and Da Nang – Salavan in particular. The two youth unions will also work together to support young people to start businesses and improve the quality of youth volunteer activities.

The two sides will continue their collaboration to organise exchanges to share experiences in youth union affairs and children’s movements, as well as language training for each other's youth activists.

Secretary of HCMCYU’s Da Nang chapter Nguyen Manh Dung said he hopes that through specific activities, the two youth unions will further tighten their solidarity and friendship.

Since 2015, the Da Nang chapter of the HCMCYU has held more than 42 friendship exchanges with the counterpart in Salavan to share experiences in youth movements. Thousands of Lao students and youth who are studying, living and working in the city have received assistance in the reviewed period./.

Hanoi to step up traffic safety communications

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Duong Duc Tuan has approved a plan on the implementation of a traffic safety communication programme this year.

The programme aims to engage the whole political system in ensuring traffic safety, reducing traffic congestions, and bringing down accidents.

It is set to boost popularising information and legal regulations on traffic safety to improve public awareness of the issue and encourage proper traffic behaviours in the public, particularly among local young people and students.

Under the programme, the city will launch a traffic safety knowledge contest which will include a multiple-choice test about traffic rules, a writing contest on the traffic culture and exemplary models in keeping traffic order and safety, and solutions or initiatives proposed to reduce traffic congestion and accidents.

Hanoi will also debut a website specialising in the issue at giaothonghanoi.kinhtedothi.vn. Communication activities will be also promoted on social networks.

In the first six months of 2024, Hanoi police handled over 167,000 cases of traffic rule violations, collecting a total fine of over 314.3 billion VND (12.4 million USD), an increase of 9.37% compared to the same period in 2023.

A total of 805 traffic accidents with 339 deaths and 688 injured people were reported in the city during the period. The respective figures increased 39.27%, 2.42 % and 77.78% year on year, statistics show./.

Vinh carries national medal hope at Paris Olympics

Weightlifter Trinh Van Vinh has completed his intensive training course abroad and returned home full of determination to get a good result at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Vinh is the only Vietnamese representative in weightlifting at the Paris 2024, which will be held from July 26 to August 11.

Director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam (SAV) Dang Ha Viet was cautious when discussing the country's medal potential at this world toughest competition, but said athletes were asked to do their best to win silverware.

Among the 16 athletes who will travel to France later this month, Vinh is one of the best hopes.

The 28-year-old will compete in the men's 61kg, against eleven of the strongest rivals in world at this weight.

Based on their records, Vinh is unlikely to win a gold - as at least five of his direct competitors lifted over 300kg - while Vinh made 294kg in his latest competition three months ago.

Title candidates are Li Fabin of China, Hampton Morris of the US, Sergio Massidda of Italy, Eko Yuli Irawan of Indonesia and John Ceniza of the Philippines.

Vinh who landed home on July 15 after 40 days sharpening his skills in China, is aiming for bronze.

He was confident about his improvement, saying he was doing well with the specific programmes and would demonstrate everything to make his Olympic medal dream come true.

"Definitely, my dream is an Olympic medal. I have struggled to overcome challenges in my career. Now I want to create more milestones and bring home victory," said the former world champion, who returned to competitions in 2023 after a four-year ban of doping violation.

His coaches, however, did not want to reveal much about their athlete.

“We can't say anything specific because Vinh's statistic is secret. The main point to note is that he has achieved a stable psychological state and is ready for the Olympics," said Nguyen Huy Huung, representative of the SAV's Weightlifting Department.

"Through our channels, we carefully monitor the indicators of the 61kg category participants during the recent training period. Of course, these statistics are only reference because they also keep them in secret.

"A good point is that Vinh is in comfortable mode and he is not listed as a medal candidate in Paris so he doesn't shoulder heavy pressure.

"The actual competition will decide everything and that is the time when coaches implement their tactics to ensure our lifter performs well and surprises the opponent."

Weightlifting is one of key sports of Vietnam and athletes in the discipline earned their official tickets in six Olympics in a row.

However, the last medal awarded to one of the team was a bronze at the London 2012 Olympics by Tran Le Quoc Toan.

The weightlifting team will leave for Paris on July 31. The 61kg category will be carried out on August 7-8 at the South Paris Arena where Vinh will be supported by two coaches, twice the number of any other competitors in the Vietnam Olympic Team./.

Chinese Embassy supports school nutrition improvement in Lang Son

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) and the Chinese Embassy on July 17 held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new semi-boarding kitchen at Kim Dong primary school in the northern border province of Lang Son’s Trang Dinh district, aiming to provide better care and meals for its students.

Funded by a non-refundable grant from the embassy, the project is valued at 200,000 CNY (27,551 USD), covering expenses for the building of the kitchen and related equipment and utensils. Meanwhile, nearly one third of the sum will be used to improve students' lunch meals for one year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy Mao Wei Cheng said that the embassy consistently supports the development of education in Vietnam in general and Lang Son province in particular, with the hope of helping local students study and live in a better environment.

Both nations are striving to build a community with a shared future, the diplomat noted, expressing a wish that the young people will study hard and contribute to the bilateral cooperation and friendship.

Tran Sy Pha, head of the VRCS Central Committee’s social work and disaster management section, said caring for students at all levels, especially preschool and primary school pupils, is a top priority for the Party and the State.

The project is among activities under the VRCS’s nutrition programme for poor and disabled children for the 2022-2027 period. Targeting the mobilisation of support for 250 semi-boarding and boarding kitchens, the programme has so far been implemented in 27 provinces and cities. As of June 2024, it had raised nearly 8 billion VND and funded the construction and renovation of 30 semi-boarding kitchens./.

Over 3,000 local, foreign runners to compete in Quang Binh Int'l Marathon

More than 3,000 national and international marathoners have registered to participate in the Quang Binh International Marathon 2024, the first of its kind to be held in Dong Hoi city, central Vietnam, on July 28.

Participants will run in four categories of five km, 10km, 21km, and 42km.

Runners will travel through several famous sightseeing spots in the central province of Quang Binh, including Ho Chi Minh Square, Nhat Le 1 Bridge, Tam Toa Church, Quang Binh Gate, and Nhat Le beach.

Over 80 prizes will be awarded to the winners of the different categories. In addition, 24 teams from many localities nationwide will vie for an open marathon cup which aims to strengthen solidarity, boost the sports movement, and offer wonderful experiences to many runners.

The tournament, to be jointly organised by the Quang Binh Department of Culture and Sport and Bolt Event Joint Stock Company, aims to promote the local tourism industry and create a safe and high-quality playground for both local and foreign athletes.

It is part of activities underway to celebrate 420 years of Quang Binh province.

Two Hanoi hotels listed among 20 favourites in Asia of 2024

Famous magazine Travel+Leisure of the United States has published an article unveiling 20 favourite city hotels in Asia in 2024, including Capella Hanoi and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.

Capella Hanoi is a masterpiece by architect Bill Bensley and Sun Group which claimed the 19th position. Located on Le Phung Hieu street, one of the most beautiful streets in Hanoi, Sun Group's first boutique hotel embraces unique Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture.

It is the first hotel in Vietnam operated by the Capella brand, recreating a luxurious inn for famous artists and composers during the golden age of Opera music in the 1920s.

In July 2023, the famous American news outlet CNN listed Capella Hanoi with Hibana by Koki in the top 20 hotels with the best Michelin-star restaurants in the world.

The 20th position in Asia’s 20 favourite city hotels went to Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, a fixture located in the heart of the capital city since 1901, which was praised for its old-world colonial charm. It has played host to playwrights, ambassadors, and heads of state from around the world.

Divided into two wings, the historic Metropole side blends classic French and Vietnamese styles while the contemporary Opera wing displays neoclassical influences.

Topping the list is Park Hyatt Siem Reap in Cambodia, followed by Regent Hong Kong in China, Rosewood Phnom Penh in Cambodia, the Leela Palace Bengalaru in India, and Regent Beijing in China.

Vietnam scrambles to wipe out African swine fever

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has dispatched 35 working groups to 35 cities and provinces across the country where the African swine fever (ASF) disease is breaking out to inspect disease prevention and control.

The ministry reported that more than 660 African swine fever outbreaks have been detected 44 provinces and cities nationwide since the beginning of the year, with more than 42,400 pigs culled, causing great losses to farmers.

The ASF epidemic is developing most complicatedly and severely in Bac Kan and Lang Son provinces in the north, followed by Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, and Son La provinces also in the north, Quang Nam province in the central region, and Long An province in the south, said the ministry, adding the whole country now has 346 outbreaks in 25 provinces and cities in less than 21 days.

The epidemic is on the rise and likely to spread on a large scale that would impact food supply, consumer price index and the environment, warned the ministry.

Nguyen Van Long, director of the Department of Animal Health, attributed the rise in ASF outbreaks to local lax management with regard to the declaration of outbreaks, the slaughtering and transport of pigs in disease hit localities, and the implementation of disease prevention measures, among other causes.

Although there is African swine fever vaccines, localities and farmers have not yet organized vaccination for pork herds, he said.

According to the director, firms have produced and supplied to the market 5.7 million doses of vaccine to prevent African swine fever. Some localities such as Cao Bang, Bac Giang, Son La, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh have stepped up vaccinations, helping control the epidemic.

To ensure disease prevention and control, Long requested that provinces and cities pool resources for disease prevention and control; closely monitor, early detect, and timely and thorough handle outbreaks to prevent the disease from spreading widely.

He reminded localities to promote vaccination, direct livestock households to clean and disinfect barns, apply biosecurity technology in farming, and at the same time enhance communications.

PM receives Fulbright University Vietnam Board of Trustees leader

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 17 received Professor Thomas Vallely, chairman of the Fulbright University Vietnam Board of Trustees and University experts.

Chinh appreciated Vallely’s important role, especially in the fields of education and policy dialogue, contributing to effective economic management and strengthening Vietnam - United States relations.

He briefed his guest on Vietnam’s development orientations and said the country is transforming its economic growth model, relying on science-technology and innovation and taking advantage of the achievements of the fourth industrial revolution.

The country is promoting three strategic breakthroughs, namely institutions, human resources and infrastructure, including transportation infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and digital infrastructure.

Vietnam is also renewing traditional growth drivers of investment, consumption, and export, and at the same time strongly promoting new growth drivers such as digital transformation, green transformation, green economy, and circular economy, knowledge economy and high value-added fields such as semiconductor chips, artificial intelligence.

The Prime Minister proposed that Prof. Vallely and experts continue supporting Vietnam in policy advice, technology transfer, human resource training, and experience sharing in smart management.

He said he has assigned relevant ministries, agencies and Ho Chi Minh City where Fulbright University Vietnam is located to flexibly apply policies and create favourable conditions for partners and investors in general and the University in particular to operate efficiently in compliance with the law.

Prof. Vallely and Fulbright University experts spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic development gains, as well as the government’s sound performance, amid global uncertainties.

They highly appreciated Vietnam’s development potential, especially in the fields of digital infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and cloud computing, and affirmed that they would continue to support and cooperate closely for the country’s sustainable development.

Vietnam bolsters cooperation with RoK in human strategy

A Vietnamese delegation of high-ranking officials led by Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra had working sessions on July 17 with the National Human Resources Development Institute (NHI) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on human resource training and the development of the public sector and smart city building and management.

Meeting with Prof. Kim Chae-Hwan, president of the NHI, Minister Tra hailed the positive developments recorded in both nations’ ties across a variety of fields and highlighted her delegation’s first visit to the institute as an important opportunity for the two countries to further boost ties in the field of human resource training and development in the public sector.

Minister Tra highly appreciated training programmes, innovation initiatives, and global international co-operation activities of the NHI, which she said has played an important role in providing training schemes to develop high-quality civil servants and human resources for the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The Minister asked the NHI to share and discuss the strengths and results achieved in the field of training civil servants and nurturing national talents with the Vietnamese side, focusing on experience in training and fostering human resource development within the public sector.

Prof. Hwan stated his hopes that moving forward the NHI and the Vietnam Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as the National Academy of Public Administration of Vietnam, will continue to ram up joint efforts in training and fostering civil servants and public employees, whilst working together in research into issues of mutual concern.

 Upon visiting the KAIST, the delegation showed a keen desire to learn about the Institute's training model, judging it to be a factor in helping the RoK transform from manufacturing light industrial goods to becoming a world leading country in the high-tech industry.

The group also visited the Convergence Research Center and heard an introduction to the smart city management model.

Earlier on July 16, the Vietnamese delegation held a working session with the Korean Ministry of Personnel Management (MPM) on building and creating a capable, disciplined, and cultured civil service, thus attracting and appreciating talents in the public sector and issues related to salaries of civil servants and public employees.

Working with the Seoul metropolitan government on issues related to smart cities on the same day, Minister Tra expressed her positive impressions of the smart, vibrant, and livable cities within the RoK, particularly as the East Asian nation is itself leading the way in successful digital transformation.

The Vietnamese delegation also visited the Smart Operation Center of Seoul City and heard an introduction to the basic functions of the Center's operating system, including the organization and co-ordination mechanism that exists between the metropolitan Government and competent agencies and departments.

Through bilateral meetings, the two sides made many commitments to actively strive to boost collaborative ties between the RoK and Vietnam in various public administration fields such as administrative reform and digital transformation, human management and human training resources, as well as national and smart city profile management.

Quang Ninh to host final night of Miss Tourism Vietnam 2024

The final night of the Miss Tourism Vietnam 2024 pageant is scheduled to take place on July 20 in Cam Pha city in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

The contest was first launched in June with the aim of seeking beautiful girls who aim to promote tourism, cultural heritage, landscapes, and people in Vietnam to the wider world.

The contest is open to all women of Vietnamese nationality who are aged between 18 and 28, single, and have no children yet. Contestants who are at least 1.62m tall and have had no cosmetic surgery are eligible to enter the contest.

Over 300 contestants nationwide registered to compete in the event, with 40 people ultimately being selected to participate in the final round. The top 40 finalists will compete in Ao Dai (traditional long dress), evening gown, and swimsuit parts. The top five finalists will then take part in Q&A part.

The winner will walk away with a cash prize of VND300 million, whilst the first and second runners-up will be awarded VND200 million and VND100 million, respectively.

Winners of the sub-contests will be unveiled in the grand finale, including Miss Sea, Miss Talent, Miss Fashion, Miss Ao Dai, and Most Favourite Beauty.

The top three finalists of Miss Tourism Vietnam 2024 will work as tourism ambassadors as they will travel through 63 cities and provinces to promote local tourism potential.

Miss Tourism Vietnam was first held back in 2008, although it was not until 2022 when the second edition took place. Since then it has been held biennially.

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