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The visit has been made at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, according to a press communique released recently by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event was jointly held by the provincial People’s Committee, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as part of activities celebrating the 20th anniversary of the UNSCO’s recognition of the park as a world natural heritage site (July 5, 2003).
The participants also looked into achievements in the heritage preservation as well as obstacles to the work.
The locality will also closely coordinate with the management board of the Hin Nam No National Park of Laos, which borders the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, to form a unique tourist site of Southeast Asia and the world as well, he said.
At the event, Quang Binh called on international organisations, scientists and researchers to continue to decode values of the heritage, and work out sustainable preservation solutions.
According to the UNESCO, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park comprises an area of 123,326 ha and contains terrestrial and aquatic habitats, primary and secondary forest, sites of natural regeneration, tropical dense forests and savanna and is rich in large, often spectacular and scientifically significant caves.
The property contains and protects over 104 km of caves and underground rivers, making it one of the most outstanding limestone karst ecosystems in the world. The Son Doong Cave, first explored in 2009, is believed to contain the world’s largest cave passage in terms of diameter and continuity.
A large number of faunal and floral species occur within the property with over 800 vertebrate species recorded comprising 154 mammals, 117 reptiles, 58 amphibians, 314 birds and 170 fish. The property clearly has impressive levels of biodiversity within its intact forest cover, notwithstanding some gaps in knowledge of the population status of some species.
With its invaluable values, the park has been twice recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, with the second in 2015. It has also been recognised by the Prime Minister as a special national site.
Runway cracks force Nghe An’s Vinh airport to close for 24 hours
Vinh International Airport in the central province of Nghe An is being closed for 24 hours from 10:50 am July 3 to fix cracks in the runway, according to the Northern Airports Authority.
The incident was reported to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.
At present, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) is coordinating with agencies and the Vinh International Airport to come up with a solution.
In the morning, a number of flights to the Vinh airport were diverted to Thanh Hoa airport.
The runway at the Vinh Airport has been used since the end of 2003. Nghe An province has seen prolonged hot weather and continuous rain in recent days, which may be the cause of the incident.
Two dead, six injured in Khanh Hoa coach accident
Two people were killed and 6 others seriously injured after a passenger bus collided with a truck on Nha Trang-Cam Lam Expressway in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa on July 3.
According to Nguyen Van Dan, director of Khanh Hoa Department of Transport, the accident occurred in the early morning when a passenger coach travelling from south to north rear-ended the truck, which was running in the same direction.
The crash left two dead on the spot and 6 others injured, with the two vehicles severely damaged. The cause of the fatal crash is under further investigation.
The accident occurred just some kilometres away from the site of another accident that killed 2 people on June 24.
Vietnam-Australia Innovation Partnership Day takes place in Hanoi
The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and Australia's national science agency – CSIRO - on June 30 organised a “Vietnam-Australia Innovation Partnership Day” in Hanoi.
The event showcases achievements that the Vietnam and Australian have made thanks to their cooperation in innovation field.
Since 2018, the Australian Government has helped Vietnam develop an innovation ecosystem through its flagship Aus4Innovation programme. Australia recently announced that the Aus4Innovation programme will be extended to 2028, making it a 10-year commitment with a total budget of 33.5 million AUD (22.17 million USD).
Speaking at the event, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski said the two countries’ innovation cooperation is substantial, efficient, and full of trust. It happens at all levels – individual, institution, and government, and proves to be enduring.
“As our two countries are working towards upgrading our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we will continue to deepen our cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, and knowledge and innovation,” he said.
Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Science and Technology said that the partnership with Australia, through the Aus4Innovation programme, has delivered tangible, significant results that are having substantial positive impact on the lives of the Vietnamese people.
With the introduction of the strategy for the development of science, technology and innovation (STI) in Vietnam until 2030, the country affirms the pivotal role of STI in addressing emerging economic, societal and institutional challenges.
Dat said that MoST is working hard to meet the goals set by the strategy; and knowing that in that process, it will have the support of a trusted partner like Australia to achieve much more in the next five years, and beyond.
CSIRO’s Executive Director of Growth Jonathan Law said that the next phase of the Aus4Innovation programme will build upon the solid foundations already established.
Over the next five years, the programme will put a stronger focus on areas of Vietnam’s priorities, such as resilient agriculture and food, as well as introducing appropriate interventions for the digital era, including responsible artificial intelligence, he said.
After five years in operation across 37 provinces in Vietnam, the Aus4Innovation programme has laid the foundation for 82 partnerships between Australian and Vietnamese universities, research agencies, high-tech businesses, and policy makers; established a pool of 875 trainers and experts through capacity building activities; and contributed to national policies on science, technology and innovation, as well as developed practical tools for innovation policy development to help contribute to a more enabling environment.
Border provinces’ courts tighten cooperation with Chinese counterparts
The first conference of People’s Courts of provinces that share the Vietnam-China border took place in Nanning, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, on June 30.
Speaking at the event, Binh said that the conference offered opportunities for border provinces of Vietnam and China to share experiences in the fight against cross-border crimes and settlement of civil disputes, and enhance coordinate to better implement the 1998 Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement in Civil and Criminal Matters between the two countries.
The provinces’ courts will also establish and further strengthen the cooperation relationship with Chinese courts.
Main topics at the conference were the application of information technology in court, the cooperation between provincial-level courts of border provinces of the two countries, and the transfer of procedural documents related to criminal cases and cross-border civil disputes.
Currently, the areas along the border between Vietnam and China are seeing complicated development of transnational crimes such as drug-related crimes, human trafficking, smuggling, and illegal entry and exit, which requires the competent agencies of the two countries, including courts, to strengthen the cooperation in dispute settlements and crime prevention and control.
Vietnam and China share a border of almost 1,450 km, including 1,065.6 km on land and 383.9 km over water. It traverses seven Vietnamese provinces - Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh - and China’s Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Conference shares experience in promoting Internet governance
The Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre (VNNIC) under the Ministry of Information and Communications held the VNNIC Internet Conference 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City on June 30, focusing on sharing experience in effective Internet governance.
According to the VNNIC, the ratio of Internet users in Vietnam in 2023 is 79.1%, while that of application of IPv6 - the latest IP protocol currently is 57.3%, ranking 10th in the world.
The Internet has become an essential part of social life and an important infrastructure of the economy, a crucial factor in promoting the national industrialisation and modernisation, and an important element of the digital transformation process.
Internet technology is developing strongly with the introduction of new technologies such as internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, 5G/6G, and big data.
VNNIC Director Nguyen Hong Thang said that current requirements for Internet governance include mastering technology and codes of conduct and strengthening the engagement of all parties to form effective ecosystems of State agencies, organisations, businesses and users towards a modern, smart, safe and sustainable Internet system.
Internet governance must bring values to users and the whole society, he said.
Participants at the event focused on discussing Internet development vision; solutions to ensure the quality, safety and sustainability of Vietnam's Internet system in order to match the global trend and with Vietnam's development situation; new technologies and experience in implementation of new technologies and techniques for new-generation Internet development.
Dean Samuels, Chief Technologist for ASEAN at Amazon Web Services (AWS) - a provider of cloud computing services, said that in the recent 12 years, the availability of cloud computing services has changed dramatically, as the amount of collected data and the demand for data storage is huge.
Over time, the majority of enterprise data will have to be stored in the cloud, he said, stressing the need to seek methods to store data safely, enabling the effective exploitation and use, he said.
Participants also discussed measures to build “clean” and safe Internet as well as the protection of users.
Themed “Internet governance in smart era,” the conference gave a chance for the Vietnamese enterprises to connect with foreign Internet experts, organisations, businesses as well as leading ICT firms in the world.
Precious artifacts related to Ho Chi Minh presented to Party office
An original issue of the "Pravda" newspaper released on January 27, 1924, which featured an article of President Ho Chi Minh was handed over to representatives of Archives Department of the Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee in an event held in St. Petersburg, Russia on June 29.
The handover of the artifact was occasioned by the 100th anniversary of the day the president first set his foot in the Soviet Union (June 30, 1923 - June 30, 2023).
The issue is a special one that published farewell articles to Vladimir Ilich Lenin, with an article authored by young revolutionary Nguyen Ai Quoc with title "Lenin and the colonial nations" on page 2.
The article was published together with articles of other famous Soviet and comintern figures. As the sole author representing people from colonial nations in this special issue, Nguyen Ai Quoc was then internationally recognised as an outstanding future leader of the national liberation movement in the world.
The newspaper was found thanks to huge efforts of the Vietnamese community in Russia, showing their respect for the country's arduous and glorious history and the invaluable contributions of President Ho Chi Minh and other revolutionary figures, as well as the good sentiment and support of international friends, especially the Soviet Union in the past and Russia at present, for the cause of gaining national independence, reunificationand development of Vietnam.
HCM City calls for Cuban investment in health care
Ho Chi Minh City calls on Cuban businesses to invest in Vietnam's southern metropolis, particularly in the areas of Cuba’s strengths like health care, and biological product and specific remedy manufacturing, a municipal official said on June 30.
At a reception for visiting Secretary General of the Central Union of Cuban Workers (CTC) Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, who is also Vice President of the World Federation of Trade Unions, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people in general and HCM City residents in particular are thankful for Cuba’s support.
HCM City shares difficulties faced by Cuban people, and stands ready to accompany the country in socio-economic development as well as in promoting the comprehensive, substantive relationship between the two countries, he said.
Mai noted that HCM City will encourage local enterprises to invest in Cuba, and send business delegations to help the Caribbean nation in high-tech agriculture, contributing to ensuring national food security.
For his part, Ulises Guilarte De Nacimiento said the regular delegation exchanges demonstrate the special friendship between the two countries, adding Cuba wishes to learn from Vietnam’s experience in socio-economic development, especially in its development and reform policies.
Speaking highly of the host’s proposals, he pledged that Cuban leaders and people will always stay united with and accompany Vietnam in national defence and development.
Large amount of hand-foot-mouth disease treatment drug provided to hospitals
Local hospitals have been supplied with 6,000 bottles of Plasma-derived Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) for treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) which were delivered to Vietnam last week, according to the Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health.
As the number of HFMD infections is rising, the Ministry of Health has directed importers to import more medicine to meet the demands of hospitals, the administration said.
It said that currently, the amount of medicines for HFMD treatment has basically met the demand of hospitals.
IVIG is an effective adjuvant treatment used in severe cases of HFMD and helps to reduce the rate of transfer, as well as the rate of severe complications of the disease in children. However, Vietnam has yet to make the drug domestically.
The production of the drug is entirely dependent on the supply of plasma through blood donation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people donating their blood decreased significantly, a factor which caused a shortage of raw materials for Immunoglobulin production on a global scale.
In this context, since the end of last December, the Ministry of Health has directed medical facilities and importers to order the medicine to ensure IVIG supply. However, the complicated developments of HFMD and higher number of severe cases this year have led to a surge in demand.
The ministry has also provided professional guidance to medical facilities and strengthened preventive measures against the disease, minimising deaths.
According to the Ministry of Health, the country recorded a total of 12,600 HFMD patients during the first six months of 2023. In only one month from May 19 to June 18, 5,383 cases were reported.
HCM City enhances relations with St. Petersburg
Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen had a meeting with Governor Alexander Beglov and Chairman of the Legislative Assembly Alexander Belsky of St. Petersburg on June 29, as he is in the Russian city to attend the inaugural of President Ho Chi Minh’s monument.
Beglov said that all stages have been completed to inaugurate the monument on June 30, marking 100 years since President Ho Chi Minh first set foot in Petrograd, now St. Petersburg city, to seek a path for national liberation.
The monument will become a symbol of the long-lasting and unshakable friendship between Russia and Vietnam, he said, expressing his hope for a monument commemorating Soviet Union experts, who stood shoulder to shoulder for the independence of Vietnam in difficult times, in the country.
The St. Petersburg authority is moving to update the cooperation roadmap with Ho Chi Minh City, and the operator of the Pulkovo airport is speeding up the opening of a direct air route linking the city with Vietnam, thereby helping to increase the number of tourists and open up new business opportunities, stated Beglov.
For his part, Nen showed his wish that St. Petersburg will share experiences in capacity building in cybersecurity, digital platform application, and digital technology.
Ho Chi Minh City is willing to intensify cooperation promotion activities, and enhance understanding and closeness between the two cities, he added.
Earlier, the Ho Chi Minh City delegation visited an exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh, and visited the office of leader Vladimir Ilich Lenin at the Smolny Institute.
Vietnam, Laos bolster cooperation in social sciences
A scientific cooperation agreement was signed among the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, and the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences in Hanoi on June 30.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, said the agreement signing is based on the principle of equality, mutual benefits, and the special relationship of mutual assistance, and comes from the two countries’ benefits from the development of social sciences.
It is an important prerequisite for the signatories to help promote the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States, and peoples, he noted.
Under the deal, the academies will step up join studies, share experience in theoretical and practical issues of their countries’ development and integration, assist one another in manpower training, exchange scholars and coordinate to hold scientific seminars and conferences, and expand cooperation and help one another to take part in regional and international research networks.
They will also exchange information and research findings about issues of shared concern, translate and publish works of social sciences of Vietnam into the Lao language and studies of social and economic sciences of Laos into the Vietnamese language, and hold exchanges between their youth union members.
The agreement took effect upon the signing and will last through 2027.
Earlier on June 30, Director Thang hosted a reception for leaders of the Lao academies.
Ethnic culture and tourism village set to host brocade festival in July
The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay town on the outskirts of Hanoi will host a brocade festival throughout July, with the aim of preserving and promoting the value of ethnic brocade.
The highlight of the event will be the introduction of crafts to visitors, including the traditional brocade weaving of Thai and Muong ethnic groups, silk weaving of the H'Mong ethnic group, Zeng weaving of the Ta Oi ethnic people which is recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage, the weaving tradition of the Ba Na and Ede ethnic groups, and the traditional embroidery of the Khmer ethnic group.
Artisans will perform their traditional weaving process during the event, with visitors also able to join the process.
Within the course of the festival, brocade items from 54 ethnic minority groups nationwide which are considered as souvenir gifts for both domestic and foreign visitors will be put on sale.
Cultural and art performances will also be staged during the weekends. In addition, traditional dishes of the Ede, Kho Mu, Tay, and Thai ethnic people will also be served at the village for guests to sample. The occasion will see visitors given the chance to enjoy playing folk games alongside ethnic people.
No time to waste in the fight against deforestation
Vietnam is ready to enlist as an ally in the EU's fight against deforestation to showcase its dedication to environmental responsibility.
That was the remark made by Le Minh Hoan, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), at a conference regarding deforestation-free coffee production and supply in compliance with EU regulations on June 29.
He said the landmark EU deforestation regulation (EUDR), formally adopted on May 16, would pose new challenges to Vietnamese smallholder farmers in regard to due diligence procedures.
However, the ministry will reiterate the urgent need for a change in agricultural practices and assist them in every step to comply with the new regulations. A plan of action has been submitted to the Prime Minister to that end.
"Green growth is not a slogan but a moral obligation. It's time to take environmental responsibilities seriously," Hoan said.
At the end of his speech, the minister called for the EU's financial support and knowledge-sharing programmes to help the Vietnamese agricultural sector come up to scratch regarding EU standards.
Florika Fink-Hooijer, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, said the vital functions that forests provide could be lost forever if human beings fail to properly protect against deforestation.
The major aims of EUDR, accordingly, are to grow forest-friendly supply chains across the globe and to boost the demand for sustainably-produced products. Any company that places its products on the European market has an obligation to ensure its products are did not cause deforestation in their production.
"I'm really happy to see that Vietnam shares this high ambition on biodiversity and climate," Florika Fink-Hooijer said.
As supply chains are complex for certain commodities, the EU would like to fit countries embarking on the sustainable approach with technology, risk information, and guidance. Sustainable production, she said, would be a triple-win for businesses, consumers, and the planet.
Helge Elisabeth Zeitler, Deputy Head of the Unit DG Environment, in the European Commission, said the EUDR would become applicable as of December 31, 2024, but there would be additional six months for small-sized enterprises.
About EUR2.3 billion of Vietnamese exports would fall under its scope, with coffee, timber, and rubber being the staples. Producers having doubts about whether their products are within its purview could look at its annex to check whether their codes are covered by the section.
"We start with seven commodities and a list of products in the annex. We will look at them again regularly to make sure they can be adapted to the latest trends in deforestation," Helge Elisabeth Zeitler said.
She also said there would be a benchmarking system assigning risk levels to countries or regions according to their risk of deforestation. All countries would begin with standard levels by default, and be assigned lower or higher based on data gathered.
It is important to keep in mind that a high-risk status will not result in any higher due diligence obligation. It just means that the EU authorities will keep a closer watch on it and conduct some more inspections.
Tran Quynh Chi, Regional Director, Asian Landscapes, IDH, called for Vietnam to have a say in the development of the EU's benchmarking system to avoid any discrepancy in their risk assessment reports.
"Different approaches yield different results. The deforestation risk linked to Vietnamese coffee when assessed by a global heavyweight was only half that when assessed by the Global Forest Watch," Chi said.
The director also called for the development of a forestry database being built on satellite imagery and reports prepared by companies. The database would provide a digital ground for mapping forest structural parameters and the delineation of natural forests, production forests, and agricultural farms.
She suggested two models for the control of traceability: the mass balance model for coffee sourced from low- and standard-risk areas and the segregation model for high-risk areas. The landscape approach was also brought up to ensure no farmers be left behind.
Under the new regulation, deforestation-free products are defined as those produced on land that was not subject to deforestation after December 31, 2020.
Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the International Cooperation Department, MARD, put forward a five-pillar action plan to help the Vietnamese agricultural sector comply with the regulation.
The five pillars are the public-private partnership (PPP), communication, technical solutions, dialogues, and resource mobilisation.
"PPP will play a vital role in the country's effort to fight deforestation, given the predominance of smallholders in the sector," Tuấn said.
VICOFA President Nguyen Nam Hai said that the area of land reclaimed before the cut-off date for coffee production was about 680,000ha, whereas almost no land was deforested after the date for coffee growing.
"VICOFA is calling on stakeholders to support coffee companies in covering the costs associated with traceability requirements," Hai said.
JICA, Kawasaki Frontale introduce football centre in Binh Duong
The Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and J.League Kawasaki Frontale football club launched a sports facility centre in Binh Duong, aiming to improve training and education facilities for children.
The centre, which includes an indoor football pitch and educational sites, is one of a series of investments and activities in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.
The J.League football club and Becamex Tokyu, a joint venture of the Japanese Tokyu Group and local Becamex Investment and Development Corporation, hope to train aspiring young players in the new facility.
It’s the first football school that a J.League team has debuted in Vietnam, promoting Japanese football among local clubs.
JICA said it has been cooperating with J.League, the premier football championship in Japan, in bringing the Japanese standard football training system to Vietnam through J.League teams as part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Becamex Binh Duong is one of the leading teams in the football championship V.League 1, winning four national titles from 2007 to 2015.
In 2013, the Vietnam-Japan Soccer Star Sports Centre (VJSS) was founded to provide football and education courses for 5,000 children in Hanoi, HCM City, Vung Tau and Da Nang.
The VJSS centre, which is run by Vietnamese, Japanese and international coaches, aims to get children closer to football, and physical training, while contributing to the development of youth football in the country.
Vietnam-Japan relations featured in Da Nang workshop
A workshop featuring Vietnam- Japan relations was held by Dong A University on July 1 in the central city of Da Nang as part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
A total of 24 thematic reports by more than 30 domestic and Japanese researchers were represented at the workshop, with the goal of evaluating the joint relationship in many fields from history, culture, diplomacy, security-defence, economics to official development assistance (ODA), as well as co-operation in education, agriculture, and digital transformation.
As part of his speech at the event, Ho Ky Minh, vice chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee, said the central city has established friendship and official co-operative ties with four Japanese cities, including Kawasaki, Sakai, Yokohama, and Kisarazu, as well as working alongside 15 other provinces and cities.
Japan currently ranks first in terms of registered investment capital in Da Nang, with more than US$1 billion across 222 projects, duly accounting for 23.5% of the number of projects and 26% of foreign investment capital in the central city.
Last year’s export turnover between Da Nang and Japan hit US$730 million, while import value stood at US$440 million, thereby contributing to trade between the two sides.
Da Nang and Japan have also co-operated strongly in the fields of culture, education, and tourism, with many cultural exchange activities taking place between the two sides which have been launched over recent times.
Furthermore, the central city has also worked with Japanese universities and educational institutions to boost relationships in human resources, education, and training.
Additionally, the Vietnamese city has attracted a large number of Japanese tourists, thereby contributing to local economic and tourism development.
Within the framework of the workshop, a forum on "Vietnam - Japan relations: Looking towards the future" was held with the participation of leading scholars on mutual ties.
Minister of Public Security applauds Vietnam-US co-operation in cybersecurity
The Vietnam Ministry of Public Security highly appreciates the co-operation results achieved in the field of cybersecurity between relevant agencies of the two countries, Minister of Public Security General To Lam said during a recent reception held in Hanoi for US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper.
During the course of the meeting, Minister To Lam emphasized that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is on a positive track of development, whilst reaffirming the goodwill and commitment of Vietnam in general. This is along with the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam in particular as a means of propelling ties between the two countries forward in the time ahead.
Minister To Lam duly thanked the US side for always sharing with the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security on ensuring security and safety of information in cyberspace, especially with regard to information security, digital data, preventing, and combating bad news and all kinds of cybercrime.
In order to further promote the joint relationship, as well as the specialised co-operation in security and law enforcement in particular, Minister To Lam proposed the US side support human resource training and co-operate in research and development of new technologies for the digital economy such as 6G technology. This is along with supporting improvements in the efficiency of national data management on population.
He also asked that the US continue to co-ordinate with Vietnam to share and exchange information on methods and tricks of cybercriminals, experience in building and fine-tuning the management mechanism for new issues arising in the field of cyber security such as dealing with cybercrime, fake news, personal data protection, electronic data recovery, and virtual currency crime.
For his part, Ambassador Knapper hailed the positive development of co-operation relations over recent times, especially since the two sides established the Comprehensive Partnership. He therefore expressed hope that the co-operation relationship would develop more and achieve many good results in all fields of co-operation.
The US diplomat outlined that he believes moving forward the relationship between relevant US agencies and the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security will continue to be promoted as a means of contributing to enhancing linkages between the two countries.
Vietnam set to compete in world swimming championships
A 10-member team from the nation is due to participate in the 2023 FINA (International Swimming Federation) World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka of Japan from July 14 to July 30.
The only female athlete to compete for the world championship title will be Vo Thi My Tien, 17, of Long An province. The youngest swimmer won three gold medals at the national swimming championship which concluded in Hue city in March this year.
Nguyen Huy Hoang, who bagged a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, won’t attend the regional tournament. At present he is busy taking part in a training camp in Hungary in preparation for the 19th Asian Games (ASIAD 19) which will be held in Hangzhou in China this September.
This year marks the 20th edition of the World Aquatics Championships, with a total of 75 medal events being held across six disciplines.
The programme returns to the traditional schedule featuring artistic swimming, diving, open water swimming, and water polo, all of which will be held in the first week, while swimming and high diving will get underway the following week.
Photo exhibition on Điện Biên opens in beach city
A photo exhibition showing scenes of everyday life from Điện Biên Phủ is on display at the central city’s Chăm Sculpture Museum till July 3, featuring 180 photos on the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên.
The museum said the event, which will be co-organised by the culture and tourism departments of Đà Nẵng and Điện Biên Province, will introduce the remote province to domestic and international tourists in Đà Nẵng.
The photo exhibition will show the land and people, landscapes, destinations and traditional cultural heritage of ethnic groups living in Điện Biên Province.
It also marks the 69th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ victory campaign (May 7, 1954) when the Vietnamese Army and people fought to end the French colonial rule in Việt Nam.
The museum is one of the top destinations in Đà Nẵng. It offers a 3D experience for tourists and an audio guide in 14 languages that can be connected to via your smartphone.
The museum was built in 1915 with a contribution from Henri Parmentier, a prominent archaeologist. In mid-1919, the museum preserved and displayed thousands of artefacts and sandstone statues found at many Chăm towers and excavations from the Sa Huỳnh Culture (between 2,500 and 3,000 years old) in the central region.
In previous years, Đà Nẵng and Điện Biên provinces have hosted exchanges on Điện Biên Phủ Victory Day among veterans from the two localities.
Huế - Zumba Festival gathers 1,000 Zumba enthusiasts
More than 1,000 participants from Zumba clubs nationwide participated in the Huế - Zumba Festival that kicked off on July 1 in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế.
The two-day event, one of the highlights of Huế Sports Festival from June 18 to July 2, aims to inspire people of all ages to engage in physical fitness, enhance their overall well-being and enrich the cultural fabric of the community.
It showcases a diverse range of Zumba classes on an open-air stage at Bia Quốc Học Square. Attendees will have the opportunity to try various Zumba programmes tailored to different age groups.
It also features the much-anticipated Zumba carnival, a mesmerising street parade along Hai Bà Trưng pedestrian street, featuring the signature dance styles of Zumba, and a Zumba party led by national and international Zumba stars, trainers, and lovers.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Huế Sports Festival 2023,” said Jarrod Tucker, a Zumba education specialist.
“This event represents an extraordinary opportunity for everyone to experience the power of Zumba, to connect with like-minded individuals, and to embrace a healthier and more vibrant lifestyle,” Tucker said.
The cultural extravaganza, organised by the provincial People’s Committee in collaboration with the Deetop Dance & Fitness Centre, offers an opportunity to experience the joy of Zumba and connect with leaders in the international Zumba community.
Multiple plans in place to improve HCM City's waste management
In a move to transform waste management for a better quality of life, HCM City has been working to improve garbage collection and treatment technology.
Lê Ngọc Hà, a resident of Thủ Đức City said that her area suffers from an overwhelming stench every time the rudimentary garbage trucks stopped by to pick up the trash.
She added: “Fortunately, since the beginning of this year, we have had a larger, more modern truck to collect the garbage, ending the long days of having to deal with the stench.”
Pollution from household trash has also been a pressing issue for local residents, especially those who live near collection points.
Phạm Hà Khánh, a Bình Thạnh District resident said he hopes the city will soon develop proper garbage collection points to ensure hygiene and the people’s quality of life.
Thủ Đức City is one of the few localities that have been successful in upgrading its garbage trucks.
Nguyễn Kim Hoa, deputy director of the local waste management service Liên Hiệp Environment Cooperative, said that all the garbage collecting vehicles in the unit have been upgraded from 500kg to 1.5 tonnes in load capacity.
Hoa told Người lao động (Labourer) newspaper: “Ever since the vehicles were upgraded, trash has been collected in a more professional manner, which prevents them from leaking to the streets and therefore protects the surrounding environment.
According to Thủ Đức City’s Division of Natural Resources and Environment, the locality has upgraded 98 per cent of its garbage trucks.
The city is also working to renovate and ensure technical standards at its trash collection points.
The plan is that from 2025 onward, all of these locations will be developed with fully enclosed waste collection and vehicle parking areas, utilising trash compactor technology, and a treatment system for wastewater, emissions and odour.
According to a mid-term report on solid waste treatment in HCM City to 2025 with a vision to 2050, conducted by the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the city has 2,618 trash collection teams as part of cooperatives and businesses, out of the total 2,653.
These groups have 4,191 (out of the total 7,543) garbage trucks meeting the standards, equivalent to around 55 per cent.
The department suggested a plan to sort waste at source for the 2023-25 period, aiming for comprehensive household solid waste sorting following the 2020 Law on Environment Protection.
At present, Thủ Đức City and districts 4, 8, and 12, as well as Bình Tân, Bình Thạnh, Bình Chánh, Củ Chi, Hóc Môn and Nhà Bè are investing to upgrade 16 trash collection points.
Among these, two in District 12 and Thủ Đức City have been brought into operation, one is under construction, two are undergoing review and approval procedures for investment, while a further 11 are being adjusted in terms of planning, land clearance, investment registration and procedures, as per regulations.
Regarding solid waste treatment, the city set the goal that by 2025, at least 80 per cent of household waste should be treated in waste-to-energy plants, or recycled.
However, based on the actual progress, the city’s natural resources and environment department has proposed to extend the deadline to 2027.
This figure is also expected to rise to 100 per cent in 2030.
HCM City also has five ongoing projects that aim to transform current solid waste treatment into waste-to-energy models.
The city's People’s Committee has decided on the investment strategy for two projects, one of Vietstar JSC and one of Tâm Sinh Nghĩa Investment - Development JSC.
Each of them would be able to process around 2,000 tonnes of waste per day.
The remaining three projects, including those of Tasco JSC, Vietnam Waste Solutions Inc and HCM City Urban Environment Co Ltd, are finishing legal procedures for investment.
The municipal People’s Committee has also assigned the Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corporation (REE Corp) to conduct a pre-feasibility study on a solid waste treatment and energy recovery plant, which is expected to be located at the city’s Northwest Solid Waste Treatment Complex as part of a public-private partnership (PPP).
Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes
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