Australia shares experience in IUU fishing combat with Vietnam

Australia imposes severe penalties against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, such as confiscating catches and involved vessels, an Australian expert has said.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency's reporters in Australia, Prof. Stuart Kaye, Director of the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security at the University of Wollongong, shared Australia’s experience in the fight against IUU fishing, saying that his country attaches importance to combating IUU fishing.

Australia does not have specific regulations for detaining individuals engaged in illegal fishing within its territorial waters, but individuals may be detained by immigration authorities pending the outcome of legal proceeding against them, he noted.

Australia proactively collaborates with other countries in the Indo-Pacific to support their efforts against IUU fishing, he said, adding that the country prioritises sustainability in managing its fish stocks.

In addition, Australia has allocated significant resources not only to monitor its waters but also to take enforcement actions against vessels suspected of engaging in IUU fishing, he revealed.

Australia and Vietnam have cooperated in preventing IUU fishing through various frameworks, such as the Regional Plan of Action to Promote Sustainable Fishing including IUU Fishing; the Vietnam-Australia MoU to Combat Illegal Fishing; and Australia's regional programme Combating IUU Fishing and Promoting Sustainable Fisheries in Southeast Asia, which will provide opportunities for Vietnam to access capacity building support for monitoring, control and surveillance officers, according to Associate Prof. Camille Goodman also from the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security at the University of Wollongong./.

Seminar boosts Vietnam - France cinema connection

A seminar highlighting the relationship between the Vietnamese and French cinema was held on July 3 as part of the 2nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF II), bringing together crowds of film experts from both countries.

Participants shared experiences from France, provided suggestions for the Vietnamese cinema industry, and discussed the influence of French documentary cinema on its Vietnamese peer, among others.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Tran Chi Cuong said France boasts a large and long-standing film industry. In the two countries' cultural exchange history, the cinema of France and that of Vietnam share strong bonds.

The seminar provided a platform for Vietnamese artists and filmmakers to share and learn experiences in film production and distribution, special cinematic effects, and post-production. It also enabled participants to identify areas of cinematographic collaboration between the countries, he noted.

DANAFF II, opened in the central city of Da Nang on July 2, is treating festival-goers to a series of screening, conferences, and award activities.

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

Quang Ninh requests registration of nearly 1,500 fishing vessels

Authorities of the northeastern coastal province of Quang Ninh has made public a list of 1,489 unregisteredoperating fishing vessels of at least 6 metres in length, with related instruction and registration activities now underway in a bid to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

According to the list, Van Don district and Ha Long city house the highest numbers of unregistered boats, at 645 and 428, respectively.

The provincial People’s Committee has tasked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with leading and guiding the reception of registration documents, with the deadline for submission slated for December 31.

After January 5, 2025, any fishing vessels having yet to be officially registered as required will be listed as illegal ones. This list will be sent to relevant authorities and local administrations for strictly handling in line with regulations.

Under the 2017 Fisheries Law, those with a length of 6 metres or more must be registered in the national fishing vessel registry and obtain a registration certificate.

As of June 22 this year, Quang Ninh had registered 6,193 fishing vessels, 94% of which secured fishing licences, a 7.3% increase from 2023. All the offshore fishing vessels measuring more than 15 metres were equipped with tracking devices and closely supervised by relevant authorities.

In addition to vessel management, inspections and violation handling have been intensified in the province. So far this year, fines totalling nearly 2 billion VND (80,000 USD) have been imposed on 181 fishing vessels./.

Da Nang intensifies educational cooperation with Nagasaki Prefecture

Deputy Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi had a working session with a delegation of Japan’s Nagasaki Prefectural University led by Satomi Iwashige, Vice Rector in charge of strategy and international relations at the university, on July 3.

In 2013, the Japanese university and the city launched an internship programme and in 2027, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a focus on international student exchange.

Thi thanked leaders of the Nagasaki Prefectural University for sponsoring the school nutrition and health project in Da Nang city over the years, affirming that the project has contributed to improving the capacity and knowledge of the matter for managers and supporting staff at kindergartens and primary schools in the city while improving the quality of care and nurturing services for preschool children and primary school pupils.

She added that the Japanese university has made many contributions to the promotion of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in general, and between Da Nang city and Japanese localities in particular in recent years. The official also expressed her wish that the university will continue to pay attention, coordinate with, and support municipal authorities in the coming time, especially in the fields of education and training, and health.

For her part, Satomi Iwashige said that Da Nang has huge potential for development and she hopes the university will have more opportunities to cooperate with the Vietnamese locality in the future such as information technology, nursing and caregiver.

Established in 1950, the Nagasaki Prefectural University currently has more than 3,000 students and post-graduate students. It has officially signed memorandum of understandings with 15 universities worldwide, including the Da Nang University./.

Da Nang to host third national baseball club cup

The third national baseball club cup is scheduled to take place from July 24 to 28 in the central coastal city of Da Nang.

The tournament is scheduled to see the participation of 196 players from 10 clubs nationwide, including Hanoi, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

The event was first held in Ho Chi Minh City in 2022, drawing the participation of eight teams and 168 players. It subsequently returned to Hanoi in 2023 with 220 players registering to participate in the competition. 

Earlier, the Vietnam Baseball and Softball Federation and the Korean Cultural Center in Vietnam signed an agreement to co-host the 2024 national baseball club cup - Korean ambassador cup in order to promote baseball as a movement.

Along with prizes for the top three teams, the organisers will present awards to the best player, best catcher, and best pitcher. Outstanding players from the tournament will be named in the best-12 squad.

Vietnam treasures ties with Marshall Islands: Diplomat

Vietnam attaches much importance to the cooperation ties with the Republic of the Marshall Islands which was set up on July 1, 1992, Ambassador to the Pacific Ocean country Pham Quang Hieu has affirmed.

Presenting his credentials to President of the host country Hilda Heine, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his hope that the two nations will intensify cooperation in the areas of trade-investment, fisheries, agriculture, tourism, health care, and climate change response, among others.

He took the occasion congratulated Heine on her recent re-election as the President of the nation earlier this year, and the country on its successful organisation of the Micronesian games on June 15-24.

He conveyed greetings from State President To Lam to her, and said he wishes that she will visit Vietnam soon.

The host spoke highly of the bilateral ties over the past years, saying she hopes that the two countries will continue extensive collaboration in the domains of mutual interest such as economy, fisheries, environmental protection, and prevention of global warming.

As part of his working trip in the nation from July 1 to 3, Hieu made a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani Kaneko, during which both sides exchanged views on the bilateral cooperation in the international arena, and affirmed that they treasure the sound bilateral ties, especially the coordination and support that they have given each other at the multilateral forums, including the UN.

Hieu expressed his wish that the two nations will step up delegation exchanges and arrangement of meetings between high-ranking leaders in the coming time.

They agreed to consider the establishment of cooperation mechanisms, signing of agreements in areas of the two nations’ strengths such as trade-investment, fisheries, agriculture, tourism and health care, among others.

Kaneko sad he hopes that the Vietnamese Government will send experts to the Marshall Islands to help it develop agriculture, health care and tourism.

Hieu also had a meeting with Speaker of the Parliament (Nitijela) Brenson Wase, during which the two sides reached consensus on promoting delegation exchange to improve mutual understanding and solidarity between the two peoples.

Meeting with Minister in Assistance to the President and Environment Bremity Lakjohn, Hieu highlighted that both nations treasure the implementation of drastic solutions to responding to climate change.

During his stay, Hieu also had meetings with Minister of Natural Resources and Commerce Tony Muller, and director of trade, investment and tourism office Carlos Dominick. He is scheduled to have a working session with the Honourable Consul General and visit several economic, tourism and education establishments in the country on July 3.

Bình Phước Province to complete construction of concrete houses for the poor by next year

Bình Phước Province aims to wrap up its programme of eliminating temporary and dilapidated dwellings and replace them with concrete houses for poor people next year.

The southeastern province has mobilised funding from various sources to build houses for the poor in recent years.

They are at least 50 sq.m each and have corrugated iron roofs.

In 2019-23 the local Fund for the Poor provided VNĐ313 billion (US$12.3 million) to 5,017 families to rebuild temporary or dilapidated houses.

The province is building 99 houses for poor ethnic people under a national programme this year.

In the first half of the year its Fatherland Front Committee assisted 121 poor and near-poor households in Bù Gia Mập, Lộc Ninh, Bù Đăng, and Bù Đốp districts with building “great solidarity” houses. This “NhàĐại đoàn kết” programme is meant for poor and near-poor households with the support of organisations and individuals.

Lâm Bang of Lộc Ninh District’s Lộc Quang Commune has rebuilt his 67.5 sq.m house using VNĐ80 million ($3,200) given by the Fund for the Poor.

He was glad to receive the assistance and his family would do its farming better to ensure a stable life, he said.

Đỗ Thị Mai Hương in Đông Phú District’s Đồng Tâm Commune used to be poor as her husband suffered from mental illness and they had three school-aged children.

The Fatherland Front Committee provided her with VNĐ80 million ($3,200) to rebuild her house and the district Fund for the Poor gave her a cow that was worth VNĐ30 million ($1,200) and produced calves.

With a house to live in, she feels secure about going to work to increase her income, and her family has thus escaped poverty, she said.

Phước Long and Chơn Thành towns and Đồng Xoài City have completed the programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses.

Lê Thị Xuân Trang, head of the province Party Committee’s mass mobilisation board and chairwoman of the Fatherland Front Committee, said local administrations should address the problem of housing land and construction.

Fatherland Front Committees at all levels should enhance advocacy about reducing poverty sustainably and mobilise more resources to build houses for the poor, she added. 

Plastic Bag Free Day pushes for changes in consumer habits

Light, cheap and they can contain anything from solid to liquid; plastic bags have always been popular for grocery shopping in Việt Nam.

However, recognising the adverse effects of these non-biodegradable bags on the environment, retailers are advocating for changes in consumer habits.

July 3 this year marked the second time the Plastic Bag Reduction Retailers Alliance of Việt Nam celebrated the International Plastic Bag Free Day with various customer initiatives.

Nguyễn Thùy Anh, Senior Communications and Outreach Officer of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Việt Nam said: “This year’s campaign sees active participation from many businesses and this number is increasing. Several retailers are also implementing campaign activities nationwide, which is a good sign that shows their proactiveness.

“We hope that this campaign will not only take place on July 3, International Plastic Bag Free Day, but that businesses and retailers be more proactive in reducing the use of plastic bags all year round.”

As a member of the alliance, AEON Việt Nam now lets shoppers rent a reusable bag for their purchases at only VNĐ5,000 (20 US cents), which is fully refunded when they turn the bag at the counter.

The supermarket chain also has a ‘greenline’ – a priority check-out lane for customers who opt for environment-friendly products, with no plastic containers or packaging from its food court.

Central Retail Việt Nam, which owns GO!, BigC and Tops Market, has been calling for customers to bring their own shopping bags and giving out reusable ones on July 3.

Customers can also buy these multi-use bags at VNĐ9,000 on normal days, or choose the free, recycled cardboard boxes offered by the supermarket.

BigC Thăng Long supermarket director Nguyễn Minh Tuấn said: “This initiative aims to encourage customers to use these bags for multiple shopping trips.

“Additionally, we have collaborated with over 30 food suppliers to switch from plastic packaging to biodegradable materials.”

The changes and efforts have been met with positive response from customers.

Betty Adrian, an Indonesian woman who has lived in Việt Nam for the past seven years, said she only took the single-use bags the very first time she went shopping here.

“Every time I go to the supermarket or other shops, I always bring my own bags. If I use plastic, it’s not good for the earth,” she told Việt Nam News.

Other shoppers, like Ngô Thuyết, take it up a notch by mindfully bringing designated containers for their shopping trips.

“I bring my own insulated bag for frozen items, and another reusable bag for dry goods. When I buy a lot of things, I pack them up in cardboard boxes [at the cashier] to reduce the use of plastic bags,” she said.

Ngọc Linh, a senior-year student who often shops at BigC, agreed and said people should use plastic bags less.

“I used to be a cashier, and when customers take a lot of plastic bags, they often throw them away and that’s not good.

“Sometimes these are also reused as trash bags, which I think should not be recommended.”

Statistics from the Worldwatch Institute estimate that on average since 2002, about five trillion plastic bags have been produced, used and discarded every year.

In Việt Nam, data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shows that the country counts over 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste annually and among that there are 30 billion plastic bags.

On average, one household in Việt Nam can use up to a kilogramme of plastic bags each month, of which 80 per cent are thrown away after just one use.

Plastic waste accounts for 8-12 per cent of household solid waste, but only about 12 per cent of them undergo treatment and are recycled, while the rest are either buried or burned in landfills, according to Vietnam Plastics Association.

Recognising the negative impacts of these non-biodegradable containers and packaging to the environment, Việt Nam has been taking actions to address the issue.

The 2020 Law on Environmental Protection stipulates the extended producer responsibility on recycling and waste treatment, while the Prime Minister’s Decision 1316/QĐ-TTg on strengthening plastic waste management in Việt Nam was approved in July 2021.

Nguyễn Trung Thắng, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment said: “Our country has adopted many strategies and policies to reduce plastic waste, a majority of them non-biodegradable plastic bags.

“Therefore, activities that aim to reduce non-biodegradable plastic bags are of great significance, so that everyone can join in reducing plastic waste in our environment.” 

Vietnam greatly values cooperation in renewal energy with EU

Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU) Nguyen Van Thao has affirmed Vietnam’s recognition of great importance to cooperation in renewable energy and environmental protection with the EU and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham Vietnam).

The Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium held a discussion in Brussels on July 2 with the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham Vietnam) to discuss cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), especially in important areas such as green economy, renewable energy, the environment and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU) Nguyen Van Thao underscored the importance of cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in promoting green and sustainable economic development, especially in the fields of renewable energy and environmental protection.

He also expressed his belief that EuroCham's cooperation and expertise in renewable energy will make an important contribution to Vietnam's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to climate change.

At the seminar, the two sides discussed a number of important environmental issues that Vietnam is facing, including combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, protecting biodiversity in agriculture and responding to environmental pollution.

Regarding the IUU issue, Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao called for EuroCham's support in urging the European Commission (EC) to remove the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnam. He also emphasized the importance of biodiversity in agriculture for food security and sustainable development.

Regarding the JETP, Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao hailed EuroCham's role in accelerating this program in Vietnam. JETP is an EU initiative to help low- and middle-income countries transition to a clean energy economy. The Ambassador expressed his desire to cooperate closely with EuroCham to effectively carry out JETP in the nation.

For his part, Eurocham Chairman Dominik Meichle said this discussion emphasized the ongoing and future cooperation between EuroCham and Vietnamese partners, focusing on sustainable economic development.

At a working session with the EC's functional units, Eurocham touched upon the IUU "yellow card" issue and hoped the EC side would quickly consider removing it, Dominik Meichle said, adding that in late September or October this year, the EC delegation will visit Vietnam to consider dealing with the yellow card-related issue.

At the discussion, EuroCham business representatives all expressed their confidence in the stable development of the Vietnamese economy.

Meichle said that the business confidence index regularly published by EuroCham shows positive signs and that Vietnam is bringing many opportunities to the European business community.

In addition, the EuroCham leader also emphasized Vietnam's strengths in attracting foreign investment such as a stable investment environment, a well-trained workforce, and open dialogue between the government and businesses. Thanks to that, Vietnam's prospects now and in the future are considered very positive, he went on.

Meichle put forth a number of suggestions for the Vietnamese side such as controlling inflation at a reasonable level, thus enabling consumers to ensure spending power , increasing government investment in infrastructure, especially green energy, traffic systems and seaports, streamlining administrative procedures, and accelerating digitizing processes.

According to EuroCham Vice President Jean-Jacques Bouflet in charge of policy, Vietnam's economy is increasingly growing and stable and EuroCham are very excited about the prospects in Vietnam.

Bouflet affirmed EuroCham's commitment to maintaining and strengthening the sound relations between Europe and Vietnam.

He also noted his appreciation Vietnam's efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.  Vietnam has many advantages for future development, including favorable geographical location, high-quality workforce and competitive prices, he continued

Concerning personal data protection, which is becoming increasingly important in the digital age, Bruno Sivanandan, in charge of Eurocham's electronics field, said that Vietnam and Europe both need to improve personal data protection.

He underscored the importance of raising awareness from businesses, especially the private sector, about investing in information technology systems to ensure data security.

Complying with regulations on personal data protection is not only a responsibility but also a competitive advantage for businesses.

Vietnamese businesses need to raise awareness and invest in information technology systems to ensure data security and compliance with international regulations, he emphasized.

The discussion between the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and EuroCham is evidence of the increasingly close cooperative ties between the two sides. With support and commitment from European businesses, Vietnam has full potential to achieve the goal of sustainable economic development and prosperity in the future.

President To Lam receives ambassadors of Japan, Belarus

President To Lam received the ambassadors of Japan and Belarus at separate meetings in Hanoi on July 3.

At a reception for Ambassador Ito Naoki, Lam underscored the importance of the Vietnam-Japan relationship, particularly in light of the recent upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the successful celebration of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023.

He expressed his satisfaction with the significant progress achieved in bilateral relations over recent years, with growing closeness marked by frequent exchanges of delegations at all levels. Economic ties remained a major pillar while workforce exchanges and connectivity were also noted to be strengthening.

Recognising the cultural similarities and economic complementarities between Vietnam and Japan, he expressed Vietnam’s desire to collaborate effectively with Japan in implementing the new partnership framework which he said would benefit the two countries’ peoples and contribute positively to regional peace, stability and development.

The host encouraged the ambassador to play a key role as a policy advisor and bridge between the two countries. He specifically asked the diplomat to work to concretise the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, focusing on enhancing political trust and strengthening substantive cooperation in economy, trade and investment, especially in infrastructure, labour, human resources training, cultural, locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges.

Ambassador Ito highlighted his commitment to deepening the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership toward the next five decades, with a focus on economic collaboration, workforce training, cultural and locality-to-locality cooperation, and tourism.

He pledged to work closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to realise agreements and shared visions established by leaders, aiming to foster a more robust and substantive partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

Receiving Uladzimir Baravikou, Lam affirmed that Vietnam always values the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belarus, which have been nurtured by the leaders and people of the two countries since the Soviet era and for more than 30 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

He said Vietnam always considers Belarus a trusted friend and partner, and appreciates the support of the Belarusian people for Vietnam in the past, adding that Vietnam hopes to continue strengthening the multifaceted cooperation with Belarus.

The President highly appreciated the results of cooperation between the two countries over the past time, including promoting the intergovernmental committee mechanism in implementing cooperation agreements and joint efforts to enhance collaboration in areas of politics - diplomacy, economics - trade, investment, defence, security, science - technology, culture, education, and local-level ties.

For his part, Ambassador Baravikou affirmed that Belarus values the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and wishes to strengthen the cooperation in all fields including politics - diplomacy, economics - trade, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges, especially between the young generations of the two countries.

The Ambassador agreed with the orientations for bilateral cooperation proposed by the President, including the exchange of delegations at all levels and via all channels of the Party, State, Parliament and Youth Union, as well as the promotion of people-to-people exchange, culture, and tourism, especially after the two countries’ agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders comes into effect.

He pledged to do his best to develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus.

Discussing the two countries’ cooperation at international organisations and multilateral forums, the Vietnamese President and his guest agreed that the two countries will continue to coordinate and support each other for the common interests of the two countries and to contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Vietnamese film days opens in Russia

The “Vietnamese film days in Russia 2024” opened in Moscow on July 3, as part of a series of events to welcome the Vietnam’s culture days there.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director General of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Phuong Hoa said this is to welcome the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations between Vietnam and Russia (June 16, 1994-2024).

She said that cinematography of the two countries share a closeness as many famous and timeless Russian movies are loved by Vietnamese cinephiles, and Russia has helped train generations of Vietnamese directors, scriptwriters and film critics.

Five movies will be screened during the three-day event, including “Mat biec” (Dreammy Eyes), “Thach Thao” (Bell Heather), “Truyen thuyet ve Quan Tien” (Myth of Quan Tien), “Dao, Pho va Piano” (Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano), and "Em va Trinh" (Me and Trinh). The movies tell stories about the country’s fights for independence, freedom and peace, love for family, country and the arts.

Dmitry Davydenko, Director of the Department of Cinematography and Digital Development of Russia’s Ministry of Culture, spoke highly of the Vietnamese diverse, vibrant and unique culture through movies. He also touched upon the film production cooperation between the two countries, aiming to make works which can attract Vietnamese, Russian and international audiences.

General Director of Roskino, a government organisation representing the Russian audiovisual content industry in international markets, Elza Antonova affirmed that it will strengthen collaboration with Vietnam in the industry, including film production./.

Fire engulfs factories in Bình Dương, cause under investigation

A fire broke out at a factory in the Nam Tân Uyên Industrial Park in Bình Dương Province on Wednesday night.

The blaze erupted around 10:30 PM at a wooden furniture manufacturing factory in the industrial park. Within minutes, the flames intensified, engulfing nearby factories.

To combat the fire, 17 fire engines and 100 firefighters were swiftly dispatched to the scene. By 11:10 PM, they had extinguished it completely.

The fire ravaged an area of about 2,000 square meters of the factories, whose structures were made of steel and metal sheet roofs. The primary combustible materials were wood, fabric, and packaging.

By this morning, the police had confirmed that the fire caused no casualties. Property damage is still being assessed.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Vietnamese history books for kids released

A collection of historical books for children and teenagers by Vietnamese writers have been distributed by the Kim Đồng Publishing House this week.

It includes nine books featuring Vietnamese history in different periods under the dynasties of Đinh, Lý, Trần and Lê. 

The books were collected and written by well-known authors such as Nghiêm Đa Văn, Ngô Văn Phú and Vũ Ngọc Tiến. 

Colour pictures by young artists of Kim Đồng Publishing House are also included.

Highlighted books include author Phú’s Cờ Lau Dựng Nước (The Country), a work on historical events under the Đinh Dynasty.

The work highlights Đinh Bộ Lĩnh (924-979), the first Vietnamese emperor following the liberation of the country from the rule of the Chinese Southern Han Dynasty. 

A founder of the Đinh Dynasty, he was a significant figure in the establishment of Vietnamese independence and political unity in the 10th century.  

In 968, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh defeated the twelve lords and unified the country. He declared himself King and named the country Đại Cồ Việt. This name remained throughout the Đinh Dynasty (968-980), Early Lê Dynasty (980-1009) and the beginning of Lý Dynasty (1010-1225).

The work features General Lý Thường Kiệt, a prominent military leader and politician of Đại Việt - the former name of Việt Nam in the 11th century.

In 1075, Lý Thường Kiệt led his soldiers north to fight a 40-day battle against the Song Dynasty of China and gained victory.

They planted spikes under the Như Nguyệt riverbed and tricked their enemies into the trap. They were victorious, and Đại Việt then completely defeated the invasion of the Song Dynasty’s army.

“We hope our publication will promote the habit of reading among children and young people,” a Kim Đồng representative said. “We are working to provide more Vietnamese titles for readers this year.” 

Kim Đồng Publishing House, one of the country's leading printers, has more than 60 years in the industry. 

In recent years, it has signed contracts with well-known authors, including young writers, to create books in literature, history and the arts targeting children and teenagers. 

It has participated in book fairs and hosted forums and seminars attracting young writers this summer. 

Hà Nội Police preparing for new season with contract extensions

Hà Nội Police Club are gearing up for the new season right after they ended the V.League 2023/24 with a sixth-place finish.

To prepare for the new season and secure better results, the club's leaders and coach Mano Polking had a working session and agreed on important elements in the club's development strategy. From the players whose contracts have expired, the team leaders will extend the contracts with those who best fit the playing style that coach Polking has built.

Notably, the club successfully renewed the contract with star midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải. The 2018 Việt Nam Golden Ball winner will stay at the club for three more seasons, although it has not been ruled out that Hải will retire from playing and join the coaching staff in the future.

Coach Polking has experimented with giving opportunities to many young players at various events and in the upcoming season, he continues to put his faith in these promising players.

This is also a priority in the development play of Hà Nội Police, as they aim to build the next generation of quality players for the team and develop a squad with depth and a unique identity.

Regarding new recruits, Hà Nội Police have had time to monitor, negotiate and sign memoranda of understanding with several prominent Vietnamese football talents. These contracts will be finalised after the parties agree on the terms. The presence of these new recruits is expected to help the club achieve success in the upcoming season.

Under the plan, Hà Nội Police players will reunite after a three-week break to prepare for the next season. The team's first tournament will be the 2024-2025 Southeast Asian Clubs Football Championship, where they will host Buriram United Club on August 22. This is also an opportunity for the new recruits to showcase their abilities in the colours of Hà Nội Police. 

Poster exhibition spotlights President Ho Chi Minh portrait

An exhibition themed “Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh – Perspective from Posters (1969 - 2011)” kicked off on July 3 in Russia’s Ulyanovsk city,

Jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Memorial Museum V.I. Lenin in Ulyanovsk, the event is part of the 2024 Vietnamese Culture Days in Russia programme on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations and the 12th anniversary of the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

On display are 58 posters, introducing images of President Ho Chi Minh through graphic art works by Vietnamese artists after his passing. The exhibition is divided into four sections with various themes.

With impressive graphic techniques and concise language, the collection of posters features President Ho Chi Minh - a great yet straightforward and approachable leader, and sends out clear message about his qualities, serving as a significant source of encouragement for generations of the Vietnamese people in their national construction and defence cause.

In his opening speech, Aleksey Russkich - Governor of Ulyanovsk Oblast - said the exhibition creates a chance for both the youth and older generations of Ulyanovsk to learn about the history, culture, and traditions of Vietnam.

He affirmed the event contributes to promoting bilateral multifaceted cooperation, especially in the field of culture which the two sides have agreed upon as a result of the recent visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

For his part, Dr. Vu Manh Ha, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, said that Russia holds a significant position and influence in the revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh.

Trinh Van Que, Chairman of the Vietnamese People Association in Ulyanovsk, said the exhibition contributes to honouring the noble values of President Ho Chi Minh and strengthening mutual understanding between the people of Ulyanovsk in particular and Russia in general and the people of Vietnam.

At the event, a Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and cultural cooperation was inked between the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Memorial Museum V.I. Lenin.

Heavy rains cause flooding in many northern localities

Spells of heavy rain have plagued mountainous northern regions over the past few days, seriously flooding many areas and damaging a number of houses.

A storm lasting from July 2 until the afternoon of July 3 seriously flooded many areas in Lang Son, especially the two communes of Nhat Tien and Nhat Hoa in Bac Son district. The floodwater isolated the communes, destroying dozens of houses in the process.

Around 343 hectares of crops were also inundated with flooding. Meanwhile, the authorities of Dien Bien province announced that the heavy rainfall, lasting over two days, severely disrupted transportation.

Flooding following the downpour destroyed a temporary bridge abutment of Nam Nhe II on National Highway 4H. Currently, vehicles are prohibited from crossing the bridge until it is repaired.

Moreover, the heavy rain also resulted in landslides on roads in Vi Xuyen and Viet Lam town of Ha Giang province, causing terrible traffic jams to buildup. Several streets and residential areas in Minh Khai ward of Ha Giang City were also impacted by flooding, with water as deep as 90 cm covering roads following a downpour.

To proactively respond to the weather event, to minimise damage, and to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, the National Steering Committee for Natural Disasters Prevention and Control has asked that provinces and cities devise measures to respond to rain, flooding, and landslides. This should be done alongside efforts to normalise local people's lives as soon as possible.

Lao newspaper hails Vietnamese tourism growth rate

Laophattananews, a publication of the Lao Journalists Association, recently published an article highlighting its positive impression of the growth rate of the Vietnamese tourism industry.

According to information citied in the article, Vietnam welcomed more than 8.8 million international visitors during the first half of the year, representing an increase of 4.1% compared to the pre- COVID-19 pandemic period.

The newswire also put forward data for the number of tourists coming to the country by air, which accounted for 83.8% of the total, equivalent to 7.4 million visitors.

Furthermore, the article was also impressed by the number of tourists from Northeast Asian countries such as the Republic of Korea and China which made up 47.2% of Vietnam’s total number of foreign arrivals throughout the reviewed period.

The media outlet outlined that these represent the two major markets which have helped the tourism industry rebound rapidly. Indeed, visitors from the Chinese market have witnessed a sharp rise of more than 229% annually.

The newspaper stated that the number of international arrivals to the nation will continue to grow strongly ahead in the second half of the year, noting that the country will seek to fulfil the goal of welcoming between 17 million and 18 million foreign tourists this year.

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