Vietnam was placed fourth among the ten safest places to retire in Asia for less than 2,000 USD per month, according to a list released by GOBankingRates, a personal finance publication run by US-based financial services corporation Nasdaq.

GOBankingRates said it pulled data from the United Nations Pacific-Asia Region Group, the figures for GDP from WorldPopulationReview and for cost of living from Numbeo, as well as the Global Peace Index from the Institute for Economics and Peace Global Peace Index 2022 Report. Countries needed to have a global peace index of fewer than 2.0 to qualify.

The finding showed Vietnam gained its spot for its average monthly cost of living at 1,117 USD and global peace index ranking at 1.786.

Malaysia topped the list with a 1.471 global peace index and a 1,066 USD average monthly cost of living, followed by Kuwait and Mongolia. Other nations named were Indonesia, Jordan, Cambodia, Oman, Cyprus, and Nepal.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen begins Vietnam visit

The Secretary of the Treasury of the US, Janet Yellen, began a three-day working visit to Vietnam on July 19, to discuss bilateral cooperation, as well as other regional issues of mutual concern.

The visit took place at a time when the US and Vietnam are celebrating a decade of their Comprehensive Partnership, which is expected to further promote economic cooperation between the two countries.

The US Secretary is scheduled to have a working session with the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Hong, and meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and representatives of many Vietnamese ministries and agencies.

On July 19 afternoon, Yellen is scheduled to make a call at a start-up company in an attempt to promote energy transition cooperation between the US and Vietnam.

She will then meet with economists and businesswomen, and participate in discussions with female economic leaders organized by Hanoi Foreign Trade University.

She is also expected to deliver a speech on the importance of developing a resilient supply chain through efforts to foster partnerships and climate change response with Vietnam.

Party chief’s book on military policy, defence strategy released

A book on Vietnam’s military policy and defence strategy in the new period by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also Secretary of the Central Military Commission, was made public at a ceremony in Hanoi on July 18.

The event was jointly held by the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, and the Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House.

With 39 articles, speeches and interviews of the Party chief, the book reflects his consistent thought on the leadership and directions over the national defence strategy in the new period. These directions have been drawn from the past struggles for national construction and defence.

It also shows his profound, resolute, comprehensive, and persuasive insights, contributing to clarifying the Party's ideological development in terms of military policy and national defence strategy, and especially the Party’s comprehensive and direct leadership over the Vietnam People's Army in the cause of socialist Fatherland building and safeguarding.

Online administrative reform meetings must reach communal-level administrations: PM

The Government’s steering committee for administrative reform held its fifth session under the chair of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 19.

The meeting, connected to the 63 provincial-level localities via videoconferencing, reviewed activities of administrative reform in the first half of 2023 and set up tasks for the remaining months.

In his remarks, PM Chinh, who is also head of the committee, said that stepping up administrative reform, boosting the decentralisation of power, and building a lean, efficient and effective state apparatus remain an issue identified by the Party and State as a focus and a breakthrough during the building of a law-governed socialist state in the new period.

He recognised efforts and achievements in this regard by the Government, all-level authorities, sectors, localities, and the committee, but also pointed out that there remain many shortcomings and problems.

Given this, the Government leader asked the relevant parties to continue making review and taking actions to ensure people and businesses can quickly access and handle administrative procedures and other works with time and expenses saved while preventing bureaucracy, corruption, and other negative phenomena.

The committee should connect its meetings with communal-level authorities via videoconferencing in order to enhance the sense of responsibility and power for administrations at this level, which directly meet and work with people and businesses, the PM requested.

PM orders overcoming aftermath of traffic accident in Khanh Hoa

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked relevant ministries and agencies to promptly overcome the aftermath of an extremely serious traffic accident in the south central province of Khanh Hoa.

The PM made the request in an official dispatch sent on July 18 afternoon to the Ministers of Public Security, Transport, and Foreign Affairs, the Chairperson of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee and the National Committee for Traffic Safety.

According to the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, four Chinese tourists were killed and nine others were injured after a coach overturned on Khanh Le pass at 15:20 on July 18.

Ho Ngoc Hung, a 58-year-old man from Ho Chi Minh City, was driving the vehicle carrying 20 Chinese tourists and two Vietnamese tour guides from Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong to Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa province when he lost control of the coach which then overturned.

Three victims died at the scene of the incident, while one passed away on the way to the hospital.

Right after receiving information about the accident, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, extended condolences to the families of the deceased and sympathies to the injured.

In the official dispatch, the Chairperson of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee who is also Chairperson of the provincial Committee for Traffic Safety was asked to direct relevant agencies and units to mobilise health workers, medicines and medical equipment to save the injured people; conduct procedures related to the deceased; and visit the families of the victims.

Khanh Hoa’s authorities were also requested to coordinate closely with relevant units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in carrying out the next steps in line with legal regulations.

Vietnam calls for WHO’s support in responding to new health challenges

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on July 18 called on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support Vietnam in responding to new health challenges and particularly enhancing the capacity of its grassroots health care system.

At a reception for WHO Representative in Vietnam Angela Pratt in Hanoi, Ha spoke highly of the organisation’s coordinating role in the context of the world facing various disease challenges, and its support to Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The official stressed that after the pandemic, Vietnam has worked to upgrade its medical system in anticipation of possible disease outbreaks in the future.

He also called for the WHO’s assistance in addressing limitations in health insurance policies, and accessing quality and affordable medical products, medicines, biological products and vaccines, especially those that are not available in the expanded immunisation programme.

Ha noted his views on some specific matters like how to deal with diseases caused by environmental and water sources pollution, tobacco harm prevention, the removal of barriers to vaccine production technology access and transfer, drug quality control, and centralised drug bidding.

For her part, Pratt highlighted the close and effective cooperation between the WHO and Vietnam, which, she said, creates a foundation for the two sides to continue handling present difficulties in the medical sector.

The WHO will maintain its close coordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health to enhance Vietnam’s access to sources of vaccines included in its expanded immunisation programme, she affirmed.  

She also commended Vietnam for its active engagement in future health care programmes and projects, as well as its climate commitments.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs pays official visit to Singapore

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Singapore from July 17-18 at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan.

The first official visit to Singapore by Son took place in the context that the two countries are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their Strategic partnership.

At their talks on July 18 morning, Vivian affirmed that Singapore considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and wishes to further strengthen the Strategic partnership with Vietnam for the benefit of the two nations’ people and for regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Son expressed his pleasure to visit Singapore for the first time in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs and appreciated Vivian’s attendance at a ceremony on July 17 evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Strategic partnership.

The two ministers expressed their satisfaction at the development of the bilateral relations, reflected in the frequency of high-level visits and bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Economic cooperation, trade and investment are constantly being promoted.

Singapore leads ASEAN and ranks second in the world in terms of investment capital in Vietnam with 3,273 projects and total investment of over 73.45 billion USD, accounting for about 23% of total registered FDI capital.

Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks have continued to operate effectively and have been constantly expanded and upgraded, becoming a symbol of success in investment cooperation between the two countries.

Cooperation in other important fields such as national defence, security, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges has been treasured, contributing to enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries’ people.

The two ministers agreed to coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to effectively concretise the commitments made during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Singapore in February 2023.

The two sides vowed to focus on preparing well for the upcoming high-level visits, especially Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s official visit to Vietnam.

They pledged to strengthen the effective implementation of signed cooperation agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding on establishing the Vietnam-Singapore Digital Economy-Green Economy Partnership.

The two sides also agreed to work together to promote negotiations and sign important cooperation documents, including a document to upgrade the Singapore-Vietnam Connectivity Framework Agreement.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two ministers agreed that in the context of complicated and unpredictable global and regional developments, the two countries need to continue to strengthen cooperation, maintain solidarity and promote the central role of ASEAN, especially in strategic issues such as peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.
 
The two sides agreed to build the East Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and development, together with ASEAN countries to strictly and fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), striving to soon achieve an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with the international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with Singaporean Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean during which they agreed to continuously contribute to promoting the bilateral cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Singapore, including fostering cooperation and promoting the signing of documents in security and defence.

They vowed to jointly maintain peace, stability and cooperation in the region, strengthen solidarity and unity, contribute to building a resilient and prosperous ASEAN and promote its central role, especially in strategic regional issues of the region.

During his visit to Singapore, Son and his delegation together with officials of the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese representative agencies visited and offered flowers to President Ho Chi Minh's monument at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

Condolences to Indian leaders over losses caused by serious floods

Top leaders of Vietnam have extended condolences to their Indian counterparts over serious consequences caused by floods in the northern region of India, which killed nearly 150 people and forced thousands of local residents to evacuate.

President Vo Van Thuong on July 18 sent a message of condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, while Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh cabled a similar message to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue extended his condolences to Vice President cum Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (upper house) Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Speaker of the Lok Sabha (lower house) Om Birla.

On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also sent a message of condolences to Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Ninh Binh launches smart tourism application for visitors

The northern province of Ninh Binh’s Department of Tourism has freshly introduced a mobile application developed specifically for tourists namedC

The application aims to connect local authorities, residents, visitors, and businesses; helping tourism enterprises enhance their connectivity, form new tour routes, and offering travellers opportunities to explore the unique and distinctive beauty of Ninh Binh.

Director of the department Bui Van Manh stated that the application of information technology and digital platforms in communications and tourism promotion is a priority for the department.

The sector has collaborated with the local chapter of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) to develop various smart software and gadgets. These include a smart tourism information station, a digital map of tourist attractions and services, and the Ninh Binh tourism information portal.

In the near future, the industry will continue to deploy new tools such as AI-powered application and smart travel chatbots in tourism marketing. Training for its personnel to proficiently use these tourism tools and software will also be intensified.

The department said it is strengthening the development and operation of a digital tourism information system and virtual tour guide software to meet the diverse information access needs of tourists and businesses. It is also building a video data repository using AR and AVR technologies as marketing materials for promotion on digital platforms.

Vietnamese, Lao young officers promote exchanges

A seminar was held in Hanoi on July 18 between a delegation of the Military Youth Board of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and a delegation of the Lao People’s Army who are taking part in a training course on youth affairs in Vietnam.

At the event, the two delegations focused on exchanging measures to promote youth affairs in the army of each country and solutions to further promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Huu Dung, Deputy Head of the Military Youth Board, said that the two sides held many exchanges between young officers.

The Military Youth Board of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army and the Youth Affairs Office of the General Department of Politics under the Lao People's Army hold training sessions to share experiences in professional and youth affairs every year.

Lieutenant Colonel Bounmixay Khamphachan from the Youth Affairs Office of the Lao People’s Army spoke highly of the coordination activities between the two armies in general and the military youth of the two countries in particular, thereby reflecting the traditional friendship and solidarity. Training activities have helped many young officers of the Lao People's Army grow up during their working process, he added.

The leaders of the two delegations affirmed that defence relations have always been one of the important pillars and bright spots in the Vietnam-Laos relationship.

Expressing their belief that the special relationship between the two countries will be increasingly preserved and nurtured, they said that the young officers of the two armies wish to contribute their youth together with the people and armies of the two countries successfully implement the goals that each country has chosen and further promote the role and position of the two countries in the international arena.

Vietnamese, Chinese localities foster tourism cooperation

A tourism promotion programme between Sa Pa township in Vietnam’s Lao Cai province and Mile city in Honghe county of China’s Yunnan province was held in the Vietnamese northern mountainous locality on July 18.

At the programme, travel firms from Mile city introduced their unique tourism products connecting Lao Cai and the Chinese city.

Tourism cooperation between Lao Cai and Honghe county has received support from the Parties and authorities of the two countries.

After the COVID-19 pandemic was controlled, they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation in early 2023.

The two sides agreed to instruct relevant agencies, and travel associations and firms to strengthen collaboration and restore the model tourism programme "Two countries - Six destinations."

Located 350km northwest of Hanoi, Sa Pa is 1,600m above sea level, with an average temperature of 15-18 degree Celsius. The township is among a few locations in Vietnam where snow and ice sometimes appear in winter. The Travel, a well-known travel site in Canada, listed Sa Pa among the 10 most attractive snow-covered destinations in Asia.

According to To Ngoc Lien, Chairman of the Sa Pa People’s Committee, the township expects to welcome 3.5 million visitors this year.

Vietnam, Italy forge cooperation in crime combat

Minister of Public Security General To Lam held separate talks with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, as part of the Vietnamese official’s visit to the country from July 17-19.

At the talks with the host Interior Minister, the officials highlighted results of cooperation between the two ministries, with the signing of an agreement on collaboration in crime combat in 2014.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has sent many officials to Italy to join training courses on crime combat held by the Interior Ministry, and others on peacekeeping financed by the Italian government.

Lam noted with pleasures the positive, comprehensive developments of the relations between Vietnam and Italy over the past 50 years, saying through high-ranking delegation exchanges and cooperation mechanisms, the two countries have enhanced substantive, effective cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economy, national defence and security, science-technology, culture and education, and connectivity between their localities.

At the talks with the Justice Minister, Lam spoke highly of the Italian government’s inclusion of Vietnam into the list of 20 priority countries in trade and investment cooperation this year, as well as its issuance of a new strategy to boost development collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), creating favourable conditions for the two countries to elevate their relations to a new high.
 
Vietnam stands ready to serve as a bridge between Italy and ASEAN, help Italy participate in cooperation mechanisms in Asia-Pacific, and support the country in multilateral forums, he said.

Along with the 2014 agreement, two others on extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons signed on this occasion are significant to the bilateral cooperation in crime prevention and control, the minister noted.
Nordio, for his part, suggested the two sides soon complete their own procedures to put the new legal documents in place, increase high-ranking delegation exchanges, and share information and experience in crime combat, especially organised, transnational, high-tech, drug and economic crimes, and human smugglers.

Universities boost cooperation in developing high-quality human resources

A seminar on cooperation in developing high-quality human resources between Vietnamese universities to serve the demand for personnel of enterprises, including those from the Republic of Korea (RoK), was held in the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City on 18.

The event was attended by representatives of localities in the southern region, leaders of Korean corporations operating in Vietnam, and leaders of the Vietnam National University Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi) and the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM City).

Associate Professor Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Director of VNU-HCM, said that with 90,000 students, the university is the largest public university in Vietnam, providing human resources for the entire southeastern region in particular and the southern region in general. It is implementing measures to develop into a leading higher education institution in Asia.

He acknowledged that the fruitful collaboration between Vietnam and the RoK is an important condition for cooperation programmes between the two countries, including the partnership in human resources development.

A representative of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (KOCHAM) said that businesses are always looking for high-quality human resources of Vietnam to serve production and development requirements.

Representatives of Korean enterprises and universities said that Vietnamese universities can research and develop human resources in a number of industries which have high demand for personnel in both quantity and quality such as information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, components and accessories, among others.

Delegates at the event said that there are many solutions to improve the quality of human resources to meet businesses' requirements. Enterprises must actively propose schools to have appropriate training programmes, cooperate in training or take advantage of conditions of facilities and personnel of the two sides to train and develop high-quality human resources.

HCM City to offer free annual health check-ups for elderly residents

Ho Chi Minh City’s health sector plans to offer free annual health check-ups for elderly residents aged 60 and above in an effort to reduce medical costs for them and improve their quality of life.

The initiative, led by the Department of Health, also aims to effectively manage and detect non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among this population.

The plan, set to begin in 2024, has been submitted to the People’s Committee for approval and budget allocation.

As part of a pilot programme, each district will be assigned a specific ward responsible for conducting health check-ups for over one million elderly residents by August 31.

The health check-up package will include clinical examinations, abdominal ultrasounds, and various tests to determine glucose, creatinine, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels.

These screenings are crucial in identifying potential health issues and preventing the onset of chronic diseases, according to the Department of Health.

The cost for this package is over 140,000 VND (5.92 USD) per person, but under this programme, all expenses will be covered by the city’s budget.

Designated facilities, such as health stations, health centres, district hospitals, or regional general hospitals, will be utilised to carry out these health check-ups. These facilities must have adequate staff, necessary equipment, and coordination with local authorities to establish convenient check-up locations.

Each team conducting the check-ups will consist of a general practitioner, a specialist in general or family medicine, and a doctor skilled in abdominal ultrasound examinations, to be able to provide medical check-ups for up to 50 individuals per day.

During the check-ups, doctors will make appropriate examination and testing recommendations. Test results will be available within 24-48 hours, allowing for timely diagnoses and immediate treatment if necessary.

Elderly patients diagnosed with non-communicable diseases during these check-ups will be enrolled in an integrated programme closely linked to local health stations.

Their test results will be recorded in electronic health records, enabling individuals to better manage their personal health information and for healthcare facilities to have comprehensive data for subsequent visits, ensuring continuity of care.

For those who decline treatment at the health stations, their information will still be updated for management purposes, and they will be referred to other healthcare facilities if necessary.

The city has over four million individuals aged 60 and above. Most of them suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, according to the department.

Top silk painters to showcase their artworks in France

Leading Vietnamese silk painters will display artworks at an exhibition in Paris, France, in the third quarter of this year as part of activities to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France. 
      
The painters of different ages are expected to introduce around 50 high-quality artworks to visitors at the exhibition.

The display will be jointly organised by the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Vietnam Culture Centre in France.

The exhibition is set to be part of a series of events held during Vietnamese cultural days in France. It is expected to contribute to further strengthening the friendship and cooperation in culture and art between the two countries.

Art, literary contest marks 50th anniversary of national reunification

Vietnamese citizens and expatriates are encouraged to participate in an art and literary contest to promote the history and achievements of Việt Nam and HCM City.

The contest, having the theme of “Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh – 50 Năm Tự Hào Bản Anh Hùng Ca” (HCM City – 50 Years of Patriotic Pride), is organised by the city People’s Committee as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification (April 30, 2025).

Entries can be in various categories such as music compositions, movies, dance pieces, theatrical plays, paintings, installation works, sculptures, photos, short stories, novels, and poems.

The works must highlight the historical values of the national liberation fight, and the building and development of modern HCM City with the aim of promoting the quintessence of the progressive Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity.

They must be created from January 1, 2022 to April 30, 2024.

Contestants can send their entries in different categories to the city Department of Culture and Sports on 164 Đồng Khởi Street in District 1 by April 30, 2024.

For more information, please contact 0931563578 or via email hoanglongsvh@gmail.com.

The winners will be announced in the second quarter of 2024. 

150 works of Trần Phúc Duyên to be displayed after 71 years

A retrospective exhibition titled “Fated Encounters: Trần Phúc Duyên” will be organised in HCM City from July 22 to August 6, 2023 at Quang San Museum on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of artist Trần Phúc Duyên (1923-1993).

It has been seventy-one years since Trần Phúc Duyên introduced 30 lacquer works at his first exhibition in HCM City.

“Fated Encounters” introduces almost 150 works exemplary of the life-long career of Trần Phúc Duyên. It explores oeuvres dated from his graduation from the L’École-des-Beaux-Arts Class 16 (1942-1945), his atelier period (1948-1954), his time in France (1954-1968) and Switzerland (1968-1993), until his passing.

During his lifetime, Duyên had many exhibitions. However, this particular one features first-publicised pieces and showcases all genres that the artist worked with: silking painting, woodcut printing and sketches.

The layout of the exhibition consists of a two-floor space with a total area of about 600sq.m. The works are divided into major themes, from figurative to minimalistic: everyday life, landscape, still life and miniature, ink-wash and zen art, abstracts and commemoration.

After Duyên passed away in 1993, all his works and notes were packed and stored in a warehouse at the suburb of Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

For the next twenty years, this treasure chest was forgotten. Not until 2018 was it discovered coincidentally by two collectors, Phạm Quốc Đạt and Lê Quang Vinh.

Their destined journey as the chosen collectors of Trần Phúc Duyên then started. They have dedicated their passionate efforts to tracing the information about the artist and met with his family in France and Việt Nam.

“As diaspora ourselves, we were deeply touched when we first marveled at his masterpieces, which were covered under the dust of time. When we flipped through the sketches of his student time at L’Ecole-des- Beaux-Arts de L’Indochine and turned the pages of his notebooks, we promised to bring him and his art back to Việt Nam as soon as possible,” the two collectors said.

“We had no doubt that he would be wholeheartedly embraced by the Vietnamese audience. His soul, after years of wandering, will finally get reunited with his home, free to fly upon the ripening paddy fields of his village in Hà Tây province. He will once again spread his gaze at the mesmerising Hạ Long Bay where he and his classmates visited to find inspiration, bathe in the silent moonlight, and ultimately be cuddled in the arms of his Motherland.”

Trần Phúc Duyên belonged to the last generation of L’École-des-Beaux-Arts. He was one of those who migrated to Europe, including Lê Phổ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Mai Thứ, Lê Thị Lựu, Phạm Thúc Chương, Võ Lăng, Phạm Tăng. But he was the only one to pursue lacquer as his life-long passion.

He titled himself an “artiste laqueur” (họa sỹ sơn mài) as early as the beginning of the 1950s, when he was still in Hà Nội. He stamped the title in the back of his lacquer works. Indeed, he continued in that role until the very end of his career.

Even when he moved to Europe, the geographical distance and material shortages could not stop Duyên from persevering with his love for lacquer and his endeavour to seek and experiment with lacquer creations. He succeeded in transforming a décor method into a genre of art. In the sky of art, he shone brightly as an example of artistic talent and commitment.

To accompany this exhibition, there will be a book to introduce Trần Phúc Duyên’s life and career. It will be published in 2023 with the sponsorship of Phạm-Lê Collection, featuring commentaries from international and Vietnamese art scholars.

Phạm Lê Collection is also building an archive of Trần Phúc Duyên with the hope to present a full inventory of Trần Phúc Duyên’s art works. All documents will be uploaded onto the website dedicated to him at https://www.tranphucduyen.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/tranphucduyen. 

New milestones in Vietnam-Laos comprehensive cooperative relations

The comprehensive cooperative relations between Vietnam and Laos have been continuously consolidated, and developed across the board following the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation on July 18, 1977.

Nowadays, cooperative ties have entered a new page in history under new conditions with more substantive cooperation contents, and cooperative efficiency being continuously improved.

46 years ago, former Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane signed the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation which is a document of great historical significance, marking a new and comprehensive development of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

The treaty serves as a solid legal basis for strengthening and expanding the special relationship between the two countries in the new period, and accelerating the signing of a series of cooperation agreements in the future.

The Vietnam-Laos relations in recent years have achieved many positive results, making important contributions to maintaining political stability, socio-economic development, and bringing many practical benefits to people of the two countries.

Political-diplomatic relations continue to be tightened, increasingly trusted, through maintaining high-level exchange visits on all channels such as the official friendship visit to Laos by President Vo Van Thuong in April, 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Laos in January, 2023, and the official friendship visit to Vietnam in May, 2023 by General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

At the talks and meetings, both nations’ leaders had confident, honest and frank discussions on orientations and measures to promote all fields of cooperation, and affirmed that in the current situation, Vietnam and Laos need to strengthen consultations, exchange experience, offer mutual support to overcome challenges, and jointly build an independent, self-reliant, and cooperative economy towards extensive international integration.

The two sides have closely coordinated in regional and international issues of mutual concern and support each other at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, ASEAN and sub-regional mechanisms.

Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Thongphane Savanphet said that although Laos and Vietnam were both affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the global economic crisis, the two countries have worked together to promote economic, trade, investment cooperation and tourism are increasingly growing.

The two sides also continue to discuss areas of cooperation such as human resource development, infrastructure, health care, especially promoting the tradition of special Laos-Vietnam relationship. In addition, a series of topics have been included in teaching at academies and schools in a bid to help young people understand more about the importance of the special relationship between the two countries, he added.

According to Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Thongphane Savanphet, Vietnam-Laos relations are on the right track of development, with a host of bilateral cooperation agreements signed by Party and State leaders of the two countries being actively implemented and achieving many important results in a multitude of fields.

Defence-security cooperation continues to be an important pillar in the Vietnam-Laos relationship. A series of agreements between the ministries of defence and public security are well implemented based on close coordination in border management and protection as a contribution to maintaining political stability, security and social order of each country.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation continue to be promoted, with last year’s bilateral trade turnover reaching US$1.703 billion, up 24.1% compared to 2021.

In particular, the first five months of 2023 saw bilateral turnover hit US$701.42 million, up 1.57% on-year.

Notably, Vietnamese investment in Laos has seen remarkable changes, with the total registered investment capital of Vietnamese enterprises in Laos reaching over US$180 million in 2022, an increase of 52.5% compared to 2021.

Particularly in the first half of 2023, with 4 newly licensed projects and 2 projects ưith adjusted capital increase valued at US$26.3 million, Vietnam continued to be the third largest investor in Laos.

Since the beginning of the year, the two sides have inaugurated and handed over a number of projects funded by the Vietnamese government to the Lao government, such as the inauguration of the Laos – Vietnam friendship hospital in  Xiengkhouang province, and the Lao People's Army Boarding School of Ethnic Culture and many other projects are expected to be completed this year.

Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosy said that many Vietnamese investment projects in Laos have operated effectively, making positive contributions to boosting socio-economic development, creating jobs and raising incomes for thousands of workers, thus supplementing Laos' state budget revenue.

Cooperation in education, training, culture and tourism continues to be strengthened, especially after the two countries have well controlled the pandemic and resumed all activities.

In 2023, Vietnam continues to offer Laos 1,100 scholarships to help Lao students pursue their study in Vietnam, while Laos offers Vietnam 60 scholarships.

There are roughly 14,000 Laotian students studying in Vietnam. In addition, cooperation between bordering localities continues to be strengthened, especially in infrastructure construction, medical care, training and human resource development.

Despite having plenty of opportunities and facing intertwined difficulties and challenges, under the clear-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos will continue to be consolidated and elevated to new heights for both nations’ and development and prosperity.

Hanoi tasks 36 local hospitals to become self-financed

Thirty-six hospitals under the management of the Hanoi Department of Health will become financially autonomous in 2023-2025. 

Under a plan released by the Health Ministry last week, these 36 hospitals will be financially autonomous.

These health facilities will not receive subsidies or budget support from any public agency or Government.

The Hanoi Department of Health has asked the hospitals to restructure their management and operational apparatus, ensure cost-effective payroll, and improve the quality of services.

As a result, the department asked the 36 hospitals to increase revenue from healthcare services and reduce costs to improve their financial autonomy.

In addition, all targeted hospitals must disclose their financial statements to the Ministry of Health, the auditing company, and the Government inspection agency as required.

In 2023-2025, the hospitals will be required to submit their financial statements and financial autonomy reports as required.

The list of 36 hospitals includes Saint Paul General Hospital, Dong Da Hospital, Thanh Nhan Hospital, Duc Giang General Hospital, and specialized hospitals for eye, heart, lung, and cancer.

The Hanoi Health Department aims to transform 37 local health facilities from State-funded to financially autonomous, including 30 district-level medical centers and hospitals, six specialized centers such as the Center for Disease Control, the Forensic Center, and the Hanoi Rehabilitation Hospital.

According to Dao Xuan Co, director of Bach Mai Hospital, the biggest challenge for a financially autonomous hospital is raising enough revenue to cover its operating costs.

He said that most patients' medical services are paid for by health insurance, which means that income is not enough to cover expenses.

Roadmap for Vietnam’s sustainable development goals until 2030

The Government of Vietnam has issued a roadmap for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed last weekend the decision on the roadmap titled the National Action Plan, which has a concrete implementation of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Accordingly, the roadmap has 117 criteria with some highlights, including the multi-dimensional poverty rate reduced by 1-1.5%/year; the rate of working groups covered by social insurance to be 60%; per capita income in rural areas 2.5-3 times higher than in 2020; GDP per capita US$7,500/each; exports growth at 5-6%/year in 2026-2030.

Related agencies and localities are asked to apply information technology and digitalization in the implementation and supervision to report the results by the two main deadlines: 2025 and 2030.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment is tasked with reporting the results to the Government and later to the National Assembly. Suitable criteria will be put into the annual socio-economic development plans. 

Vietnam’s concrete targets

Under the UN 2030 Agenda, Vietnam’s sustainable development goals are defined as follows:

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Goal 2: Eradicate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agricultural development. 

Goal 3: Ensure a healthy life and enhance welfare for all citizens of all age groups.

Goal 4: Ensure quality, equitable, universal education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all.

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality; empower and create enabling opportunities for women and girls.

Goal 6: Ensure the adequate supply of and sustainable management of water resources and sanitation for all. 

Goal 7: Ensure access to sustainable, reliable and affordable energy sources for all.

Goal 8: Ensure sustainable, inclusive, and sustained economic growth; and generate full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Goal 9: Build highly resilient infrastructure; promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization; foster innovation.

Goal 10: Reduce social inequalities.

Goal 11: Promote sustainable and resilient urban and rural development; ensure safe living and working environments; ensure reasonable population distribution and workforce by region.

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable production and consumption.

GOAL 13: Respond promptly and effectively to climate change and natural disasters.

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably utilize the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Goal 15: Protect and sustainably develop forests; conserve biodiversity; develop eco-system services; combat desertification; prevent the degradation of and rehabilitate land resources.

Goal 16: Promote a peaceful, just, and equal society for sustainable development; ensure access to justice for all; develop effective, accountable and participatory institutions at all levels.

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Art performances to celebrate Hanoi’s administrative boundary expansion

Hanoi's art troupes will hold a wide range of performances at many venues in the city to mark the 15th anniversary of the expansion of the city's administrative boundaries (August 1, 2008 - August 1, 2023).

The program's highlight will be a performance by artists from the Hanoi Cheo Theater on August 1 in downtown Hanoi.

These shows are open to the public, and no tickets are required.

As planned, the Hanoi Cai Luong Theater will hold three performances in the centers of Hanoi's suburban district of Ba Vi on July 20; Thach That District on July 22; and Son Tay Town on July 29.

Artists from the Hanoi Drama Theater will perform at Ung Hoa District Center on July 22; My Duc District Center on July 29; and Chuong My District Center on July 30.

As expected, the Hanoi Circus and Variety Arts Theater will coordinate with the Youth Union of the Ministry of Culture and Sports to perform at Phu Xuyen District Center on July 22, at Thanh Oai District Center on July 28, and at Me Linh District Center on July 30.

The Thang Long Music and Dance Theater will perform at Quoc Oai District Center on July 22, Dan Phuong District Center on July 28, and Phuc Tho District Center on July 30.

The Thang Long Puppet Theater has scheduled three performances at Hoai Duc District Center on July 23, Thuong Tin District Center on July 28, and Ha Dong District Center on July 30.

PM chairs conference of Regional Coordinating Council for Southeastern region

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh this morning chaired a conference of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) for the Southeastern region.

Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen and Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung co-chaired the event along with the presence of Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh and Head of the Government Office Tran Van Son.

As for the local government, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai, Chairwoman of the Municipal People's Council Nguyen Thi Le and leaders of relevant ministries and sectors and localities in the region attended the conference.

At the conference, the delegates listen to reports relating to the plans of implementing the Regional Coordinating Council for the Southeastern region from the Ministry of Planning and Investment along with presentations from the representatives of ministries, sectors and localities, experts and scientists about the topics of seeking solutions to coordinate and attract resources to build a synchronous and modern transport network for the Southeastern region as well as solutions for coordinating, building and turning big urban areas in the region into modern cities.

Besides, the conference concentrates on seeking solutions for forming and developing start-up, innovation and artificial intelligence centers in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces soon; solutions for overcoming environmental problems, flooding and climate change adaptation, notably, environmental protection solutions in the basins of Dong Nai and Saigon Rivers; solutions for accelerating digital transformation, building regional data centers, developing industrial, urban, service and logistics centers along the Ring Road No. 3 and Ring Road No.4.

Additionally, the conference focused on listening to proposals of specific mechanisms and policies for the Southeastern region towards the development of transport infrastructure, green cities, financial centers and so on.

The Southeastern region includes Ho Chi Minh City and the five provinces Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh.

The whole region has an area of 23,551 square kilometers, accounting for 7.1 percent of the whole country, with a population of about 18.8 million people.

As the country's largest economic center, the Southeastern region plays an important position and role in the nation's socio-economic development.

The Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of the Southeastern region in 2022 accounted for about 31 percent of the whole country's GRDP.

The planning task of the Southeastern region for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 has been approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 463.

Mekong Delta people live in fear of serious landslide situation

Many families in the Mekong Delta are living in fear of the increasing occurrence of landslides in areas along rivers which might swallow their homes at any moment.

Of which, many areas in Long An, Tien Giang, Hau Giang, Dong Thap and An Giang provinces have suffered from river bank erosion and landslides all year round, seriously affecting people’s lives.

In order to continue implementing anti-landslide projects in 2023 and the following years, the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Long An province proposed the Central allocate budget from medium-term public investment capital for the phase of 2023 to 2025 to support the provinces in implementing urgent anti-landslide embankment projects.

On July 17, the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of Hau Giang Province said that the circulation of storm Talim triggered downpours and thunderstorms in large scale of Hau Giang Province, resulting in collapsed houses and damaged house roofs in Long My, Phung Hiep, Vi Thuy districts, Long My Town and Vi Thanh City, with a total of damage estimated at VND262 million (US$11,068).

In An Giang Province, functional agencies are reviewing, monitoring and updating loss from river bank erosion and landslides over Cho Moi and Chau Phu districts.

In the recent few days, Chau Phu, Cho Moi and Thoai Son districts have recorded five riverbank erosion cases. Since the beginning of this year, the whole province has recorded at least 45 landslide-hit areas, three times higher than the same period in 2022.

An Giang and Dong Thap are located in the two watersheds of the Tien and Hau Rivers with the most severe landslides in the Mekong Delta. At the end of October 2022, a working delegation of experts and scientists performed a survey and determined that the landslide situation in the Mekong Delta has become more and more serious.

Currently, the two localities give priorities to afforestation and riverbank reinforcement among solutions to cope with erosions and landslides.

Mekong Delta urged to transform agricultural production structure

The Vietnamese government requested the Mekong Delta region to step up the implementation of solutions to transform agricultural production structures in ecological sub-regions for a high-value and high-efficiency agricultural economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has just signed a decision promulgating the implementation plan for the Mekong Delta region planning from 2021 through 2030 with a vision to 2050.

The Deputy PM urged the region to step up the implementation of solutions for the transformation of agricultural production structure in ecological sub-regions in a bid to develop a high-value and high-efficiency agricultural economy.

Moreover, the region ought to develop key material areas with a focus on the process of land accumulation to ensure long-term and sustainable service for the region's agro-fishery processing establishments.

In addition, the Mekong Delta needs to build a concentrated raw material area to facilitate product traceability to meet the requirements of domestic and international markets.

Last but not least, the region should build a pilot program of smart, sustainable agricultural models that are adaptive to climate change.

First Tran Van Khe Scholarship Award Ceremony to be held on July 27

The first Tran Van Khe Scholarship Award Ceremony will take place at HCMC Opera House on July 27.

The non-profit scholarship that is named after Professor Tran Van Khe was launched in 2021 with the support of Van Lang University to encourage the preservation of Vietnamese traditional music, keep folk music alive in the community, and foster a love for traditional music among young people.

Professor Tran Van Khe, the grand old master of Vietnamese traditional music, dedicated his entire life to studying, teaching, writing, promoting, and preserving Vietnam’s culture and traditional music.

He was born in 1921 in My Tho City of the Mekong Delta region and was introduced to music at the young age of 6. He is able to play many Vietnamese traditional instruments, such as dan kim or dan nguyet (moon-shaped lute), dan tranh (sixteen-stringed zither), dan co or dan nhi (two-stringed fiddle), dan ty ba (pear-shaped, four-stringed lute) and trong nhac (ceremonial drum).

Professor Khe is considered a great master of Vietnamese and world music. He had previously been offered the post of director of research at CNRS (the French National Center for Scientific Research); Professorship at the University of Sorbonne in Paris; Honorary Member of the International Music Council (UNESCO); and Corresponding Member of the European Academy of Science, Letters, and Arts.

He passed away in 2015 in HCMC at the ripe old age of 94.

HCMC determinedly turning to more environmentally friendly city

Reducing environmental pollution is one of the 13 infrastructure development projects of HCMC. The city is synchronously implementing various solutions to turn greener.

So far, HCMC has launched various projects to renovate its canals of Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe, Tan Hoa – Lo Gom, Tham Luong – Ben Cat – Nuoc Len, Xuyen Tam, Hy Vong for the sake of environmental improvement. These efforts have brought fruitful results, offering better living standards to local dwellers.

Le Van Son, living on Nguyen Van Qua Street of District 12, happily shared that he felt really hopeful with the renovation project for Tham Luong – Ben Cat – Nuoc Len canal system as local residents will stop bearing environmental pollution when it completes.

Another notable work is the task of eliminating pollution hot spots due to illegal waste disposal near residential areas. Many of such hot spots have become green parks to serve the public.

Nguyen Thi Hoa, living near Hiep An Bridge in Ward 5 of District 8, joyfully stated that the public park in front of her house is an amazing transformation from the used-to-be squalid waste land owing to indiscriminate littering.

Nguyen Thi Lan from District 4 praised several activities by the municipal authorities to raise the public’s awareness on the matter of environmental protection via media means, including the annual ‘Green Living Festival’ to exchange solid waste for new plants. She commented that such activities are a valuable chance to teach young generations how to care for the environment, and hoped that more meaningful programs like that can be held throughout the city to gradually change both the awareness and habits of city dwellers for a greener city in the future.

The above results display the great determination of not only the municipal authorities but also each city dweller in protecting their environment. Statistics from the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment reveal that in HCMC, 4,213 out of 4,335 production facilities own a proper sewage processing system (accounting for 97 percent). All solid medical waste is carefully collected, categorized, transported, and handled by capable units. All hospitals in the city have their own sewage processing system, leading to a treated sewage proportion of 97.89 percent.

In addition, HCMC now has 1,920 environmentally friendly constructions, while 198 polluted locations have been transformed into greener ones like parks or playgrounds. All households in the city have access to clean water. The percentage of forest and scattered tree coverage of the city maintains at 40.3 percent.

Deputy Director Huynh Van Thanh of the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment stated that there are still limits in the task of environment protection that needs addressing including indiscriminating littering on certain streets and public areas, high potential of re-pollution in some canals.

Therefore, the city is going to adopt more practical measures to fulfill this critical task. It will try to complete legal policies and regulations on the matter, ask for help from central agencies to gather private solid waste collectors into cooperatives. It has also proposed that the Ministry of Industry and Trade quickly include projects of waste incineration for power in the city into the national planning on the development of power sources using solid waste so that investors can complete necessary legal procedures and carry out the construction.

Vice Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said that HCMC has always focused on turning the city into a more environmentally friendly one. That is the reason for the birth of the scheme ‘Reducing Environmental Pollution in the 2020-2030 Period’ and Directive No.19 by the Standing Committee of HCMC Party’s Committee about ‘Stopping Illegal Waste Disposal on Streets and Canals for a Cleaner City and Reduction in Urban Flooding’.

Accordingly, all state agencies and organizations in HCMC have simultaneously launched various suitable activities in each locality like weekly cleaning, green work construction to offer better places for residents to live.

Vice Chairman Cuong called upon the cooperation of civil servants, public employees, laborers, state agencies in HCMC to be more active in protecting the environment, responding to the fight against plastic pollution, devising feasible solutions to apply in daily activities or operations to improve the sanitation status.

Storm Talim weakens into tropical depression, downpours expected in northern region

Talim, the first storm to hit Vietnam this year, made landfall along Vietnam's border with China and weakened into a tropical depression at about 4pm on July 18, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Due to the impacts of the storm, the northeast and north-central regions will continue to experience heavy rainfall, with widespread amounts of between 100 - 200mm, and exceeding 300 mm in some places. The northwest region is expecting rainfall of 50-150mm, while the Red River Delta and the central province of Thanh Hoa will receive around 50-100 mm, significantly lower than the centre’s previous warning.

The northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai and Yen Bai are on alert for heavy rainfall that may cause urban flooding and pose a high risk of flash floods and landslides.

NCHMF Director Mai Van Khiem warned that in the next two days, the rivers and streams in the northern region and Thanh Hoa province will experience water level rises from 3 to 5 metres in the upper areas and 2 to 4 metres in the lower areas.

The water levels on the Thuong and Luc Nam Rivers may reach alarm levels 1 and 2. There is a possibility of local floods in the smaller rivers and streams in provinces such as Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan, and Quang Ninh.

The capital city of Hanoi will experience strong winds and heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms with the possibility of lightning. The amount of rain was expected to reach 80-150mm, with some areas exceeding 200mm on August 18, posing a risk of flooding. The rain will decrease to 10-20mm in the next few days.

The same day, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) decided to reopen the northern airports of Noi Bai, Van Don and Cat Bi sooner than expected as storm Talim weakens, according to its deputy director Dinh Viet Son.

Accordingly, the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi resumed operations from 3pm instead of 8pm while Van Don and Cat Bi International Airports in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong respectively reopened at 4pm instead of 7pm.

Earlier, authorised by CAAV, the Northern Airport Authority ordered Noi Bai airport to stop all arrivals and departures from 11am to 8pm on July 18 while Cat Bi and Van Don were requested to halt all flights from 9am to 7pm.

HCM City's Can Gio district should be turned into city in forest: PM

With its mangrove forest ecosystem and biosphere reserves, Ho Chi Minh City’s outlying Can Gio district should be developed into an urban area in the forest, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on July 18.

The government leader made the suggestion at a working session with representatives from ministries, agencies and HCM City after he made a field trip to the Can Gio international container transshipment port and the Can Gio sea encroachment urban area projects.

He said the planning of Can Gio district, about 50km from HCM City’s centre, and the Can Gio sea encroachment urban area must address issues relating to traffic congestion and housing with new mindsets and visions.

For the Can Gio international container transshipment port, the PM stressed that it matches the goal of turning Vietnam into a maritime and logistics hub.

PM Chinh asked relevant ministries and agencies to step up the study process, and build the project in line with the national master plan on developing domestic seaport network, and socio-economic development of the southeastern region and the nation, while preparing personnel for the operation of the port.

The Government will accompany HCM City and the region in quick, sustainable development, he pledged.

Under a resolution adopted by the municipal Party Committee, Can Gio district is expected to become a resort, high-quality eco-tourism city by 2030.

The Can Gio sea encroachment urban area covers 2,870 hectares in Long Hoa commune and Can Thanh town, with a total investment capital of over 217 trillion VND (9.17 billion USD).

Meanwhile, the 571-hectare port is projected to be located on the remote island of Phu Loi, and accommodate ships of up to 250,000 tonnes (24,188 TEUs).

The 5 billion USD project is divided into seven phases, with the first expected to be put into service in 2027.

Once operational, the port will contribute from 34-40 trillion VND to the State budget, and generate 6,000-8,000 jobs.

Experts share experiences in sustainable urban planning and development in Mekong Delta

A workshop on sustainable urban planning and development in the Mekong Delta was held on July 18 in the southern province of Hau Giang.

The event was part of a series of workshops on urban planning and sustainable development organised by the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission, the Ministry of Construction (MoC), the French Development Agency (AFD), and the provinces of Hau Giang, Son La, and Quang Tri.

It was reported that the Mekong Delta currently has 211 urban areas with an urbanisation rate of 32%, lower than the national average rate of 40.5%. 

It is forecasted that from 2021 to 2025, the region will have over 250 urban areas with an urbanisation rate of about 35-36% by 2025 and about 42-48% by 2030.

According to studies, Vietnam is among the countries that are heavily affected by climate change, and the Mekong Delta is among the three deltas that will suffer the biggest inundation and lose the most land to encroachment in the world. 

It is forecast that the sea level will rise by 0.5-1 metre by the end of the 21st century, about 0.47 metre yearly. Therefore, if there is no solution to respond to climate change, 35% of the population in the Mekong Delta and more than 10% of its area will be affected.

All 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta are at high risk of flooding due to climate change such as Kien Giang province (80%), Hau Giang province (80%), Bac Lieu province (40-50%), Soc Trang province (25-30%), and Ca Mau province (40-50%). 

Climate change put about 300 urban areas in the coastal provinces of Vietnam, including dozens of urban areas in the Mekong Delta, at risk of inundation, flooding, and water source depletion due to saline intrusion.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Director of the MoC’s Urban Development Department Tran Thi Lan Anh said that following the direction of the Party Central Committee and the Government on proactively responding to climate change, the ministry coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies to propose the Prime Minister to promulgate urban development projects on climate change response in the period of 2013-2020 and the period of 2020-2030.

She said that a model for sustainable urban development, climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta is a combined urban-rural system. Accordingly, the combination gives priority to “making room for water", ensuring the balance of the ecosystem and the existing structure of rivers, and canals.

According to a representative from the AFD, the management of urban public space should pay attention to infrastructure location, roads, and access roads so that they do not prevent the flow of floodwater.

At the workshop, Chairman of the Hau Giang provincial People’s Committee Dong Van Thanh introduced a project on green urban area development in the province’s Nga Bay city.

He said that the province is also gradually implementing disaster risk management policies and integrating these policies into the provincial planning and development.

Especially, Hau Giang uses tools and methods to integrate climate-related risks into urban development planning and urban infrastructure development, helping to strengthen the locality’s resilience.

The province also adjusted key orientations on the approach to climate change resilience and increased public awareness of risks relating to climate change.

Children’s HeartLink recognises first excellent cardiac centre in Vietnam

Children's HeartLink, a US non-governmental organisation specialising in supporting developing countries in the field of pediatric cardiac care, awarded an Excellent Cardiac Centre certification to the Pediatric Cardiac Centre at Children's Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City on July 18.

It is the first pediatric cardiac centre in Vietnam to receive this certification from Children's HeartLink.

Speaking at the event, Asso. Prof Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, director of the hospital, said over the past 15 years, the Children's Hospital 1 has performed over 5,100 open-heart surgeries and over 7,100 cardiac interventions, with a survival rate of 98%. This significant achievement has led to a remarkable reduction in the hospital's mortality rate, from 4.9% in 2007 to only 0.4% in 2021, bringing joy and happiness to thousands of families.

One of the evaluation criteria of Children's HeartLink is treatment effectiveness, which is reflected in the survival rate within the first 30 days after cardiac surgery or intervention. The number of children saved by the cardiac centre is also important, he said.

Hung added that apart from significantly improving the mortality rate of congenital heart disease patients at the hospital, it has also trained and transferred cardiac surgical techniques to countries such as India, Japan, Singapore, China, and Malaysia.

With the recognition as an excellent cardiac centre, he pledged that the hospital will strive to become a leading pediatric cardiac centre in Southeast Asia in the near future, in line with the development direction and expectations of the city’s leaders, he affirmed. 

Currently, there are six excellent pediatric cardiac centres recognised by Children's HeartLink in Brazil, China, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia. The centre in Vietnam is the 7th on this list.

Vietnames, Chinese localities step up border patrols, management

Vietnam’s northern provinces of Cao Bang and Ha Giang, and Baise city in China’s Guangxi province will continue to strictly implement three legal documents on the land border between the two countries and step up communication activities to raise public awareness so as to prevent cross-border crimes.

The consensus was reached at a meeting between representatives of the border guard forces of Cao Bang and Ha Giang provinces, and the Baise management unit on July 18.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed their coordination in the second quarter of this year and discussed key tasks in the coming time.

The two sides agreed to maintain and effectively promote the mechanism of information exchange via mails, telephone hotlines and unscheduled meetings, and actively cooperate to promptly solve cases arising in areas along the shared border.

They also pledged to increase patrols and monitoring in key areas, effectively preventing illegal entry and exit activities and ensuring security and order in these areas.

In the second quarter of 2023, the two sides met 39 times and sent 74 letters to each other. They handed over and received 271 citizens who illegally entered and exited as well as coordinated with each other to arrest 27 cases of smuggling across the border.

Noi Bai, Cat Bi, and Van Don international airports reopen

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has unveiled that it has recently decided to reopen three airports in the northern region based on the actual situation of Typhoon Talim.      

The move comes after Typhoon Talim made landfall on the afternoon of July 18 in northern coastal provinces and  weakened.

Accordingly, the CAAV reopened Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport from 3 p.m. on July 18, while Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh and Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong resumed operation from 16:00 p.m. as weather conditions now ensure flight operations in a safe manner.

The CAAV has directed natural disaster response and rescue forces to be on duty around the clock as a means of ensuring the absolute safety for people and vehicles on the airport apron.

Previously, in response to storm Talim, the CAAV requested that the Northern Airports Authority (NAA) move to suspend aircraft arrivals and departures at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi from 11:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m. on July 18, at Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province from 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. on July 18, and at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong city from 9:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. on July 18.

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