The Prime Minister recently issued a dispatch requiring ministries, sectors and localities to get prepared for torrential rains in the northern region.

According to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, heavy downpours ranging 40-80 mm and even exceeding 150 mmm in some localities are predicted for the region from July 2 to 4, with possible flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, and flooding in low-lying sites.

In the dispatch sent to the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, Transport, Industry and Trade, Defence, Public Security, and Education and Training, and the Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, and Lang Son, he asked them to stay vigilant, keep close tabs on the situation, and carry out effective and timely response measures to ensure safety for both local residents and properties.

They must also step up communications work to raise public awareness of the safety measures, while evacuating people, vehicles and assets in dangerous areas to safe places.

They are requested to arrange forces and means to promptly launch evacuation as well as search and rescue operations in case of emergencies, and direct post-disaster recovery work in line with the legal regulations.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is asked to make forecasts and provide information for competent agencies in a timely fashion for the response work. Meanwhile, the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Industry and Trade must join hands with localities to efficiently operate and assure safety for reservoirs and agricultural production./.

Vietnam, RoK issue joint press release

A joint press release has been issued on the occasion of the official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) from June 30 to July 3 by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse at the invitation of Korean PM Han Duck-soo.

As part of the visit, PM Chinh held talks with his Korean counterpart Han Duck-soo, during which they shared a view that the Vietnam-RoK relationship is now at its best since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to foster cooperation across a wide range of areas, aligning with the framework of the Vietnam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.

Economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of the relationship. The two leaders pledged to work toward boosting bilateral trade turnover to 100 billion USD by 2025, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-RoK Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA), and reaching US$150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable direction.

To realise this target, Vietnam and the RoK agreed to collaborate closely in effectively implementing existing economic cooperation mechanisms such as the VKFTA, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). The early signing of a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme in 2024 was also highlighted.

Beyond trade, the two leaders concurred on the importance of fostering collaboration in science and technology, particularly in high-tech areas, research and development (R&D) and technology transfer.

People-to-people exchanges are also set to receive a boost. The two leaders expressed a shared vision of facilitating exchanges in culture, education, tourism and other areas in a bid to raise mutual understanding and connections between the Vietnamese and Korean people.

The joint press release further underlined a commitment to close collaboration and mutual support at international and regional forums.

The two PMs witnessed the exchange of nine cooperation documents signed between ministries and agencies of both countries. These documents cover different fields such as development cooperation, trade and investment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovation and entrepreneurship, environment, competition and consumer protection, and education.

Both leaders expressed their satisfaction that the visit has significantly contributed to deepening the Vietnam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership, benefiting peace, stability and development in the region and the world as well.

2024 Vietnamese Culture Days in Russia open

The 2024 Vietnamese Culture Days in Russia programme opened in Moscow on July 2, with a wide range of activities being held throughout this week.

Attending the opening ceremony were Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Andrey Yatskin, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi.

Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matvienko also sent a letter of greetings, expressing the special interest of Russian leaders in the event, as well as in developing and strengthening the traditional friendship and relations between Russia and Vietnam.

In his opening remarks, Minister Hung stressed that the programme, taking place after the state visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin from June 19-20, aims to implement the joint statement on further deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, towards the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2025.

Over the recent years, cultural, sports and tourism cooperation between the two countries has become more effective and achieved great progress, and people-to-people exchanges increasingly strengthened. This is an invaluable asset of the two peoples, and a fruit of the long journey that the two countries and their peoples have built together, he added.

Hung said that bilateral cultural cooperation will go deeper and more specifically through new areas of cooperation such as training cultural officials and artists.

Within the framework of the programme, there will be a photo exhibition, a Vietnamese film screening, and tourism promotion events in Moscow and St. Petersburg./.

RoK media spotlights PM Chinh’s meetings with Korean leaders

Major media outlets of the Republic of Korea (RoK) have spotlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s meetings with RoK President, Prime Minister, and National Assembly Speaker on July 2, and highlighted the potential of bilateral cooperation in many aspects.

PM Chinh has had a busy schedule with more than 30 activities during his official visit to the RoK from June 30 to July 3, more than half of which focus on the economic field.

Reporting on PM Chinh’s working session with RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chosun TV said that the RoK President affirmed that his country considers Vietnam a leading partner in the efforts to implement the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.

For his part, PM Chinh said that Vietnam supports Yoon’s plans for peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, it said, stating that the two sides agreed to further strengthen contacts and strategic cooperation for peace and stability in the region. The meeting mostly focused on economic issues, Chosun TV noted, adding that Yoon asked for Vietnam’s support to Korean companies to engage in energy, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and key mineral processing areas to contribute to Vietnam's energy transition efforts.

PM Chinh lauded RoK firms’ contributions to Vietnam's economic development, affirming that Vietnam has been striving to improve regulations to support investors and attract Korean companies, it said.

Meanwhile, Yonhap News Agency said that in the meeting with the Vietnamese Government leader on July 2, Korean PM Han Duck Soo expressed his hope for measures to further bolster cooperation between the two countries bilaterally and multilaterally.

Meil Kyongjae newspaper quoted PM Chinh as speaking at a meeting with Samsung Executive Chairman Lee Jae Yong that Vietnam will always support Samsung in effectively and successfully conducting investment activities in Vietnam. It noted that PM Chinh plans to visit the semiconductor factory of Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek on July 3.

Covering the Vietnamese leader’s meeting with Speaker of the RoK’s National Assembly Woo Won Sik, Donga Ilbo newspaper said that the meeting agenda focused on measures to expand bilateral collaboration in many areas, including trade, investment, taxation, economic security, and supply chain cooperation.

Woo asked Vietnam to consider smoothly resolving the issue of applying the global minimum tax rate and amending the value-added tax regulations to support Korean businesses.

PM Chinh said that Vietnam has prepared regulations on a system to support foreign investors in applying the global minimum tax rate and is considering establishing appropriate systems related to amending the Law Value Added Tax, the journal noted.

On July 2, PM Chinh also met with leaders of Korean small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to discuss current issues and economic cooperation plans for SMEs of the two countries.

Donga Ilbo quoted Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) Chairman Kim Ki-moon as saying that 88% of the Korean firms operating in Vietnam are SMEs. PM Chinh welcomed and called on Korean SMEs to strengthen investment in Vietnam, pledging that Vietnam will actively support them.

Asia Kyeongjae newspaper boldly featured information about cooperation between the RoK and Vietnam in building a startup ecosystem. It said that the RoK’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) on July 2 announced the signing of two memoranda of understanding with Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Science and Technology on cooperation in development and exchange of startup ecosystems./.

2nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival in full swing

The 2nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF II – 2024), which was kicked off in the central coastal city of Da Nang on July 2 evening, is treating festival-goers to a series of screening, conferences, and award activities.

The opening ceremony of the first annual film fest in Vietnam was attended by Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan.

At the ceremony, Ngo Phuong Lan, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development (VAFPD) and co-chair of the organising committee, highlighted the success of the inaugural edition held in May in 2023, and selected by the Vietnam News Agency’s The thao & Van hoa (Sports & Culture) newspaper as one of the top ten cultural events of the year.

Lan noted that the second edition has curated fresh and high-quality films from Vietnam, the Asia-Pacific, and the world at large. Featuring a diverse range of screenings, it has attracted renowned stars and filmmakers from around the world and Vietnam to serve on the jury or to present their films.

Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, said lasting to July 6, the festival also includes various professional activities such as seminars, training workshops, exchanges, as well as indoor and outdoor film screenings. There are also opportunities for audience to interact with filmmakers and artists.

Chinh emphasised that the festival is expected to become a prominent event in Da Nang, contributing to the development of the city's cultural industries. It aims to promote the image, culture, and tourism of the central economic hub to international friends, aspiring to establish it as a city of cinematic events.

Themed "Bridging Asia", the highlight of DANAFF II is the competition in two categories of Asian and Vietnamese Film Awards. Notably, for the first time the festival presented the cinema achievement award to an outstanding filmmaker./.

Vietnam urges stronger int’l cooperation to resolve climate change impacts on livelihoods

Vietnamese Ambassador Mai Phan Dung has urged the international community to enhance cooperation to effectively deal with climate change impacts on people’s livelihoods, stressing that ensuring sustainable livelihoods is a top priority of developing countries.

Dung, who is Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, made the appeal while representing the core group of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) resolution on human rights and climate change, comprising Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Philippines, to address a debate on ensuring sustainable livelihoods in the face of climate change impacts. The event was part of the HRC’s 56th session in Geneva.

He affirmed that ensuring sustainable livelihoods, particularly for the groups vulnerable to climate change, is a top priority of developing countries. Climate change and extreme weather conditions are causing increasing damage to housing, ecosystems and infrastructure, weakening economies, and affecting the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, especially vulnerable groups.

Apart from calling for the international community’s stronger cooperation to effectively deal with climate change impacts on people’s livelihoods, he also urged the Loss and Damage Fund, established at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), to be run efficiently to provide necessary finance for climate change-hit communities, especially in developing countries.

The ambassador also suggested several solutions, including implementing policies to empower local communities through education, resources and adaptation strategies; promoting sustainable practices in agriculture and fishery to guarantee food security and sustainable livelihoods; and integrating the improvement of climate adaptability into social protection programmes to strengthen vulnerable groups’ resilience.

Climate change response is one of the top priorities of Vietnam, which has carried out many policies and drastic action plans to cope with this global phenomenon. The country has also engaged in the strongest international commitments in this regard, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions to secure net zero emissions by 2050./.

Vietnam’s culture promoted at ASEAN youth forum

A Vietnamese delegation attended the recent 19th ASEAN and 9th ASEAN 3 Youth Cultural Forum held by the ASEAN University Network in Bandar Seri Begawan.

It gathered representatives of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi; the Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City; and the Can Tho University. Aside from universities of the 10 ASEAN member countries, the forum also saw the participation of the Plus Three countries - China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.

The forum featured various activities in the fields of culture, academics, and arts.

Vietnamese representatives brought to the event traditional and modern performances to introduce the country's traditional culture and costumes.

They also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei, during which the Vietnamese Ambassador and officials at the embassy spoke highly of the delegation's presence at the forum. They expressed the hope that officials, lecturers and students of the universities will take the initiative in promoting educational, cultural, and people-to-people partnerships, which are also among the two countries' cooperation priorities during 2023-2027 and beyond.

The Youth Cultural Forum is one of the ASEAN University Network’s flagship youth activities that serves as a venue for young people in the region to shine, share, and bond over the diverse beauty of ASEAN arts and cultures. Through this forum, ASEAN youths are expected to gain experience to become the key actors in preserving and promoting the artistic treasure of ASEAN, along with contributing to the cultural identity of the region./.

Vietnam to boost defense cooperation with Japan, Laos

Defense Minister Phan Van Giang expressed Vietnam’s desires to increase defense cooperation with Japan and Laos, during his separate meetings with the Ambassadors of Japanese and Laos to Vietnam in Hanoi on July 3.

Receiving Ambassador Ito Naoki, Gen. Giang noted that Vietnam - Japan defense cooperation in recent times has been effectively promoted, yielding important results and serving as a pillar in bilateral relations, especially in areas such as visit exchanges, cooperation between armies, human resource training, network security, maritime security, and in overcoming the consequences of war.

The minister affirmed that the potential for defense cooperation between the two sides remains large, particularly in areas where Japan is strong and Vietnam is in need. He expected that the Ambassador would play an active role in promoting bilateral defense cooperation, contributing to strengthening the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Ambassador Naoki for his part spoke of the positive developments in Vietnam – Japan relations, and assured his host that he would make every effort to reinforce bilateral cooperation, including defense cooperation, during his working term in Vietnam.

At another meeting with Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh, Gen. Giang emphasized that defense cooperation is a major pillar in Vietnam – Laos relations, saying both sides have effectively deployed their signed protocol and cooperation plan on defense, contributing to each other’s cause of national construction and defense.

He congratulated Laos on successfully organizing conferences within the ASEAN framework, and voiced Vietnam’s strong support for Laos to successfully assume the role of ASEAN Chair 2024. He proposed that the two sides increase visit exchanges, review the results of the protocol on Vietnam – Laos defense cooperation for 2020 – 2024, and prepare to sign a new protocol for 2025-2029.

For her part, Ambassador Ernthavanh thanked the Party, State and army of Vietnam for providing effective assistance to Laos over the years, and said the two countries have deployed many practical and effective cooperation activities, such as communications on the friendship between the two countries, border management, training, and collection and repatriation of martyrs’ remains.

She vowed to work hard during her term to cultivate and promote the relationship between the two countries and the two armies.

More than 5,000 deaths of traffic accidents in the first half this year

There were 12,321 traffic accidents, resulting in 5,255 deaths and 9,599 injuries nationwide in the first half this year, reported the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Although the number of traffic accidents across the country increased, the number of deaths significantly decreased compared to the same period last year, the committee said.

“Compared to the first six months of 2023, traffic accidents increased by 1,842 cases, up 17.58%, deaths decreased by 702 people, down 11.78%, and injuries increased by 2,707 people, up 39.28%,” said Tran Huu Minh, the committee’s head.

Out of these, there were 12,225 road traffic accidents, causing 5,191 deaths and 9,584 injuries.

Railways experienced 66 accidents, resulting in 48 deaths and ten injuries, waterways had 27 accidents, leading to 15 deaths and five injuries and at sea, there were three accidents, causing one death.

This year alone, from May 15 to June 14, 2024, there were 1,894 accidents across Vietnam, resulting in 849 deaths and 1,373 injuries, an increase of 140 cases (up 7.98%), a decrease in deaths by 92 (down 9.78%) and an increase of accidents causing injuries of 194 (up 16.45%), respectively, compared to the same period last year.

Viettel and Supermicro cooperate in 5G technology, AI development

The Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) and Supermicro Company of the United States have inked a technology cooperation document focusing on global solutions in the fields of 5G technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) took place within the framework of Computex Taipei 2024 which was recently held in Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre in Taiwan (China).

Under the MoU, both sides aim to create values ​​and improve service quality for the benefit of customers.

With regards to the development of 5G technology, the two sides will work together to develop 5G solutions, including software and hardware.

In the field of cloud computing, Supermicro will provide hardware, while Viettel will supply software to develop private cloud solutions for customers to use.

Furthermore, both sides will jointly develop energy-saving server solutions which are designed to suit customer group and apply AI to improve the overall quality of telecommunications, data hubs, and business processes.

Viettel already has experience in fully tapping into telecommunications and master technologies in the 5G ecosystem, including radio access devices, transmission devices, and core network systems, all of which have contributed to turning Vietnam into the fifth country in the world to master 5G technology.

Meanwhile, Supermicro is renowned for developing server system management software and providing computing solutions which are capable of meeting the rising demands of businesses.

The partnership between the two groups is anticipated to accelerate the deployment of the 5G network widely throughout Vietnam.

Comuptex Taipei Exhibition is an annual technology event that has been held since 1981, attracting the participation of more than 1,000 developers from 26 countries worldwide.

Vietnam, France bolster political ties, people-to-people diplomacy

Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien successfully concluded a three-day working trip to France on July 2.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Chien, offered flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh and visited the Museum of Living History in Montreuil during their stay. They also engaged in meetings and working sessions with key French figures, including member of the Politburo of the French Communist Party (PCF) Taylan Coskun, head of the PCF's Committee on Foreign Affairs Vincent Boulet, President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) Thierry Beaudet, and leaders of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV).

Chien stressed that his visit aimed to solidify the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, strengthen ties between the Communist Party of Vietnam and political parties in France, and between the VFF and the CESE, bolster people-to-people diplomacy and support for the Vietnamese community in France.

The French officials welcomed the trip, saying it contributes to deepening the relationship between the two nations, which boasts over 50 years of diplomatic ties and a decade of strategic partnership.

Discussions resulted in a consensus on measures to enhance cooperation through party and people-to-people diplomacy channels, particularly collaboration between the VFF and the CESE.

Prior to his departure, Chien met with AAFV members and asked for their assistance with popularising the images of Vietnam and its people to French friends, supporting Vietnamese Agent Orange victims and To Tran To Nga in her legal battle against US chemical companies that supplied herbicides for the US army to use during the war in Vietnam.

He also called for supporting the integration of the Vietnamese community in France and sharing Vietnam's viewpoints on the international stage, thus cultivating a strong and enduring partnership that contributes to global peace and prosperity.

Vietnam attends 27th Meeting of Sao Paulo Forum in Honduras

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) attended the 27th Meeting of the Sao Paulo Forum in Tegucigalpa capital of Honduras, and paid working visits to Honduras and Costa Rica from June 27 to July 2.

The delegation, led by member of the CPV Central Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of Bac Kan province Hoang Duy Chinh, joined more than 1,000 delegates from over 400 political parties, organisations and social movements in the Latin American region, along with more than 360 delegates from 21 countries in the forum.

They attended meetings and workshops within the forum's framework, and the second meeting of political and social organisations of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC Social 2024).

Speaking at the forum, Chinh affirmed that Vietnam highly valued the forum’s important role and influence in strengthening solidarity and promoting regional integration, and enhancing opinion exchanges among political parties and organisations in the face of volatility in the world situation and common challenges.

On this occasion, Chinh informed the participants about Vietnam’s outstanding achievements in socio-economic development and foreign affairs, and preparations for the 14th National Party Congress.

Vietnam attaches importance to the consolidation, expansion and intensification of cooperative relations with political parties, socio-political organisations, and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, he said.

Heads of delegations from many political parties and organisations appreciated the CPV’s consistent support for and continual participation in the forum. They described the CPV’s achievements and Doi moi (Renewal) experiences as a great source of encouragement for the left-wing movement and the cause of building a new society of countries in the region.

On the sidelines of the forum, the CPV delegation had meetings with the secretaries-general of the Sao Paulo Forum and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA), and delegations of the Communist Party of Cuba, United Socialist Party of Venezuela, Brazilian Labour Party, Mexican Labour Party, Communist Party of Bolivia, Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front of El Salvador, and the Movement for Social Justice of Trinidad and Tobago to discuss measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation and expanding relations with the regional political parties.

During the working visits to Honduras and Costa Rica, the CPV delegation paid a courtesy call on Honduran President Xiomara Castro, and had working sessions with general coordinator of the ruling LIBRE party Manuel Zelaya and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Honduras who is also head of the LIBRE Central Committee's external affairs division.

They also held talks with leaders of the Broad Front (FA) - a left-wing political party in Costa Rica, and also met with representatives from the ruling Social Democratic Progress Party (PPSD) in this country.

High-ranking leaders of the governments and political parties of the two countries all expressed the importance they attach to the relations with the CPV and Vietnam. They agreed to promote the role of party-to-party ties in consolidating the political foundation, soon complete bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and promote potential cooperation areas, especially trade, investment and tourism, between their countries and Vietnam.

Three arrested for arranging 'Buddhist' people smuggling

Two women and a man have been arrested for facilitating people smuggling to Australia through Buddhist institutions using fake credentials.

The gang went to extreme lengths and even instructed a man to shave his head, wear robes and take photographs at a pagoda in order to give the impression he was a Buddhist monk.

They then contacted Buddhist organisations in Australia to obtain an invitation letter so the man could enter the country.

But the plan was that when he arrived in Australia, he would not be there to study at a retreat, but instead work illegally on a farm.

The Investigation Security Agency in the central province of Hà Tĩnh have arrested the trio for trafficking and forging seals and documents of agencies and organisations.

The decision has been approved by the People's Procuracy at the same level.

The three people arrested are Đậu Thị Khuyên, 52, from Hà Tĩnh Province’s Nghi Xuân District, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Hằng, 46, from in HCM City’s District 7, and Nguyễn Văn Khánh, 28, who lives in Đồng Nai Province.

According to the case file, since the end of 2023, Hà Tĩnh Province Police had obtained information that several individuals were exploiting Buddhist institutions' frequent organisation of study retreats in Australia for Buddhists worldwide.

They connected and organised for many people in various localities to illegally flee to Australia for labour by forging monk credentials. The cost for each successful trip was VNĐ300 million per person.

The police determined that at the beginning of 2024, Khuyên and Hằng agreed to organise for Hồ Văn Thìn, 36, residing in Nghệ An Province, to go to Australia for labour under the guise of a monk on a study retreat.

Once Thìn successfully entered Australia, Hằng would arrange for an acquaintance to pick him up and place him in agricultural work in Australia.

In February 2024, Hằng and Khuyên directly arranged for Thìn to shave his head, wear monk robes, and go to Kim Quảng Pagoda in Đà Nẵng City’s Liên Chiểu District to take photos, pretending to participate in the pagoda's activities for the visa application file to Australia.

Next, Hằng contacted religious institutions in Australia to obtain an invitation letter for Thìn to participate in Buddhist activities under the guise of a monk practicing at Kim Quảng Pagoda with the monastic name Thích Giác Ngộ.

Hằng then contacted Khánh to alter Thìn's portrait on his citizen identification card to make him appear as a Buddhist follower.

On the night of May 4, after receiving payment, Hằng handed over the travel visa to Australia to Thìn and arranged for a car to take him to HCM City’s Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport for departure procedures.

At the airport, Thìn was stopped by authorities to clarify related matters. There is no suggestion any Buddhist organisation was aware of the illegal activities.

The Hà Tĩnh Province Police are continuing to investigate the case. 

Fire breaks out in shophouse, four residents rescued

A fire broke out in a shophouse in Hà Nội on Wednesday with a family trapped inside.

Firefighters were called to the incident on Tô Hiệu Street, Cầu Giấy at around 4.20am after residents reported seeing thick black smoke from the property.

The team quickly extinguished the fire using water and foam, rescuing a 92-year-old woman and leading three others to safety.

Initial reports indicate no casualties, but the property damage is being assessed. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The four-story shophouse has a toy store on the ground floor, selling toys, bicycles and strollers. It is part of a fire safety neighbourhood model, equipped with a portable fire extinguisher and a second fire escape route. 

Sand to be mined from river for Mekong Delta expressway construction

Sand is being mined in a new location in the Hậu River in Sóc Trăng Province since June 30 to serve construction of a key expressway in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta.

It is in An Thạnh 1 and An Thạnh Đông communes in Cù Lao Dung District.

According to the province People's Committee, the sand will be used for component project 4 in the first phase of the Châu Đốc - Cần Thơ - Sóc Trăng Expressway.

The area covers nearly 100 hectares, and the sand is extracted from depths of 8.5 to 16 metres.

The licence allows 1.14 million cubic metres of sand to be mined over two years.

The fee for the right to extract is more than VNĐ7.7 billion (US$303,000).

There are five locations in the river in Sóc Trăng where mining is permitted with a combined area of more than 450 ha. They have an estimated 11 million cubic metres of sand.

People's Committee Vice Chairman Vương Quốc Nam has called on the contractor, Army Corps 12 - Trường Sơn Construction Corporation, to strictly comply with regulations throughout the mining operation, ensure labour safety, minimise impacts on the river and local people’s livelihoods, and coordinate closely with local authorities for monitoring and transporting sand. 

The company has promised to scrupulously comply with all regulations and requirements.

The expressway will run a total of more than 188 km through An Giang, Hậu Giang and Sóc Trăng provinces and Cần Thơ City, cost VNĐ44.7 trillion ($1.8 billion) and is expected to be completed in 2027.

The Sóc Trăng Province component is around 58.4km.

A shortage of river sand is affecting work on many major construction projects in the delta.

To mitigate the problem, the Government has approved a mechanism to increase the extraction of sand.

Using other materials in place of river sand is also under scrutiny. 

Vietnamese, foreign scholars discuss latest research in business, economics, resources

Around 90 domestic and foreign scholars shared their thoughts at the 8th international conference of Việt Nam’s Business, Economics & Resources 2024 (VBER2024) held at HCM City Open University on Tuesday (July 2).

With the theme “Going forward from crisis: Unleashing the power of ultimate aspirations and innovations”, this annual event aims to create a forum for researchers to present and discuss the latest research in the fields of business, economics and resources in the current context.

The conference serves as a bridge to enhance exchanges, learning, and promote academic cooperation among individuals and countries in the region and around the world.

Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Minh Hà, president of HCM City Open University, said with a vision of becoming a university that implements open education and oriented towards high-quality applications, the university continuously strives to create conditions and issue various policies to encourage research activity to strongly awaken and promote research capabilities within the community of students and lecturers.

New research centres and institutes are going to be established to improve and enhance the university’s research output and quality.

“The VBER2024 conference is a forum that connects multi-disciplinary, multi-field knowledge to collectively assess opportunities and challenges, thereby proposing solutions, overcoming limitations, and improving socio-economic efficiency through research projects with practical application value and high dissemination,” he said.

This year's event attracted 34 papers with the participation of keynote speaker Professor Roger Strange, lecturer at the University of Sussex in UK, and co-editor-in-chief of the International Business Review, along with 34 researchers, and 53 lecturers and doctoral students.

After the opening session and the plenary session, the conference featured two special discussion sessions.

“Financial Literacy, Mental Health” showcased state-of-the-art academic studies on financial literacy and mental health – the most important aspects of civilised life in modern society.

The “Sharing is Caring” forum, co-chaired by Professor Roger Strange and Dr. Banjo Roxas, lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, offered a place for young scholars to present their research, receive valuable feedback, and update the most advanced research methods from leading experts worldwide.

Through this, young scholars have improved their skills, enhanced their capabilities, and increased their chances of publishing articles in prestigious international journals.

Professor Roger Strange, lecturer at the University of Sussex in UK and co-editor-in-chief of the International Business Review, shared research on international business.

The new realities of business include the growth (resurgence) of populism and economic nationalism; sustainable development and climate change agenda; new digital technologies, and changing power relationships, he said.

The new realities in Việt Nam are an emerging market-oriented socialist economy in a multipolar world, integration into the global economy, with WTO membership since 2007, low production costs, a conducive business environment, partnerships with independent suppliers and/or opportunities for inward FDI.

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) from US and Europe are increasingly looking for suppliers and GVC partners in “friendly” emerging economies (friend-shoring) as an alternative to over-reliance on China (decoupling and de-risking).

There is limited domestic availability of parts and components of suitable quality. Most parts and components are imported or produced by foreign-owned firms.

“Free trade agreements and ‘bamboo diplomacy’ are appropriate government policies to promote upgrading and to capture more of value,” he said.

Dr. Võ Hồng Đức, executive director of the Business, Economics & Resources Research Centre at HCM City Open University, said quality papers and research presented at the conference would be considered for publication in prestigious journals listed in the ISI and/or Scopus indexes.

In the conference, awards were given to outstanding papers/presentations, prominent young researchers, and the best papers on gender studies or energy/environmental economics. 

Dengue fever cases increase sharply in Đắk Nông

The Central Highlands province of Đắk Nông has recorded more than 1,200 cases of dengue fever so far this year, more than double the number in the same period last year, according to the provincial Department of Health.

From the beginning of the year until now, most cases have been concentrated in Gia Nghĩa City, and Đắk Song and Đắk R’lấp districts.

The province has recorded one death due to dengue fever.

In order to prevent dengue infections from continuing to spread, the health department has coordinated with local authorities to spray mosquitoes and mosquito larvae to prevent and control dengue fever.

Rare turbulence incident reported in Việt Nam

A Vietnamese aircraft encountered turbulence caused by another aircraft while flying over the Indian Ocean on May 23, according to a recent report by the National Traffic Safety Committee.

The incident involved Vietjet Air flight VN-A814, an Airbus A330 en route from Mumbai, India, to HCM City, which encountered sudden turbulence and shaking, causing it to drop in altitude and deviate from its original flight path.

An investigation found that the turbulence was caused by 'wake turbulence' - a phenomenon that occurs when a smaller aircraft encounters the disturbed airflow created by a larger aircraft flying nearby.

Data from air traffic control showed that the two aircraft were 1,000 feet (304 m) apart vertically when they crossed paths. The 1,000-foot distance is within the International Civil Aviation Organisation's prescribed separation distance.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) consulted with the aircraft manufacturer and concluded that the incident was unexpected as wake turbulence is extremely rare, if not unheard of, in Việt Nam.

Fortunately, it did not result in any injuries to the passengers.

Based on the investigation's findings, CAAV has directed airlines and pilots to enhance their surveillance when operating in the vicinity of larger aircraft flying in the opposite direction, particularly within a range of 1,000 feet.

Pilots are instructed to be vigilant in recognising potential turbulence and to be prepared to take immediate action if wake turbulence causes a loss of control. 

Victim's body recovered after cave collapse in Bắc Kạn

According to the Fire Prevention and Rescue Department of Bắc Kạn Province, by 2.05am on Tuesday, the body of the last victim trapped in the cave-in accident on June 30 had been brought out.

The victim was identified as M.V.T. (resident of Thuần Mang Commune, Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn Province).

Since the entire area of the incident was covered by large rocks, the rescue team decided to approach the victim from above the cave entrance. At the previous rescue site, the team used specialised rock-breaking equipment to create a path about two metres deep, reaching M.V.T.'s position.

Despite the efforts of the rescue forces to search and stabilise the area to limit the risk of rockslides, the victim had already died before the rescue team could reach his location. The victim's body was handed over to the family for funeral arrangements by the local authorities.

Earlier as reported by the VNA, at around 5.30pm on June 30, a cave-in, suspected to be an illegal gold mining, occurred in Liên Kết Hamlet (Hiệp Lực Commune, Ngân Sơn District, Bắc Kạn province). The incident resulted in M.V.T. and Triệu Văn Xuân being trapped inside; and injured B.T.L., whose arm was broken and was taken to Bắc Kạn General Hospital for emergency treatment.

By 11.30pm on June 30, the authorities successfully rescued Triệu Văn Xuân, while M.V.T.'s position was still undetermined. 

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