The Saigon Professional Chefs' Guild (SPC) that represented Vietnam at the third Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia, held in Kuala Lumpur from June 25 to July 5, has brought home the championship title and many other prizes.

The record haul of 13 golds, 27 silvers and 28 bronzes earned by the 40 Vietnamese chefs demonstrates their professionalism as well as international diners’ love of Vietnamese cuisine, said Le Thi Kieu Oanh, a member of the delegation.

Oanh expressed her hope that Vietnamese chefs will have more opportunities to promote traditional foods to international friends in the time ahead.

This is the second contest the SPC has participated in Malaysia following the 2024 Penang Culinary Competition from June 27-29, where they also won a record number of prizes, including 18 golds, 26 silvers and 24 bronzes.

The Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia aims to promote Malaysian culinary skills and food culture and, at the same time, provide a platform for the participating chefs from all around the world to interact and share experiences./.

Conference looks to connect Vietnam-Japan tourism

Travel firms in the central region were updated on latest information on Japanese tourism at a conference held in Da Nang city on July 4.

At the event, held by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in the framework of the Vietnam – Japan Festival from July 4 to 7, Executive Director at the JNTO’s Vietnam Office Yoshida Kenji highlighted that the number of Vietnamese visitors to Japan hit a record high of over 573,000 in 2023 when the two countries celebrated their 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, surging 115% against 2019 – the time when the COVID-19 pandemic had not broken out yet.

During January – May, Japan hosted 284,300 Vietnamese tourists, a year-on-year increase of 108.5% and the arrivals have been on the rise, he said, attributing the robust result to the sound support and connectivity between diplomatic organisations and travel firms of both sides.

He said besides promoting Japanese tourism in the Vietnamese market, the JNTO wants to nudge the image of Da Nang city closer to the Japanese people with hope to bring more visitors from the East Asian country to Vietnam.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Hoai An, with an arsenal of programmes set up to bring impressive experiences to visitors, Japan has been a favoured destination for those from the city and Vietnam as a whole.

She said Japan is a traditional and stable market of the Vietnamese tourism, adding more than 65,000 Japanese made their trip to Da Nang during the five-month span, and the number of arrivals is expected to grow significantly for the whole year.

She suggested the Japanese General Consulate in Da Nang and the JNTO engage Japanese partners to Da Nang’s tourism offerings as well as encourage them to popularise the Japanese culture.

Da Nang has paid due attention to bringing the best experience to Japanese visitors with various products like Da Nang International Fireworks Festival and BRG Open Golf Championship, she said, expressing her hope that the conference will help bolster bilateral tourism cooperation.

With efforts put in place to renew products together with tourism cooperation programmes, occupancy rate on direct flights will increase, opening up opportunities to connect more destinations between the two nations, she added./.

Programme introduces reasons for Russian tourists to travel to Vietnam

Ten reasons why Russian tourists should visit Vietnam at least once in their lifetime were presented by representatives of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) at a tourism promotion programme on July 3 in Russia.

It was highlighted at the event that Vietnam is a safe tourist destination with many natural scenic spots, unique cultural values, friendly and hospitable people, world-class resorts, distinctive cultural festivals, affordable prices, fascinating local markets, and mysterious destinations for those who love to explore. Besides, the country is also a culinary paradise, and boasts the most beautiful bays in the world.

The event, organised by VNAT in coordination with the Vietnam Trade Office in Russia, was part of the activities in the 2024 Vietnamese Culture Days in Russia from July 1 – 7. It attracted the participation of nearly 130 Russian businesses and Vietnamese firms operating in Russia.

Most businesses emphasised the necessity of resuming direct flights between the two countries, considering this one of the important factors for the rapid recovery and development of bilateral tourist flows.

Deputy General Director of VNAT Nguyen Le Phuc said the event marks an important milestone in strengthening tourism development cooperation, contributing to further strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two governments and peoples

Russia has always been one of the top source markets of tourists to Vietnam, with an increasing number of Russian holidaymakers choosing Vietnam as their destination, driven by their desire to explore a country with a rich history and a unique traditional culture.

Phuc said the programme is expected to contribute to restoring the influx of Russian tourists with large financial potential to Vietnam in the coming time.

Vyacheslav Manuilov, Deputy Head of the Department of Foreign Economic and International Relations of Moscow, said that Russian people are interested in Vietnamese cinema, language, and especially its renowned cuisine.

Vietnam’s events in Russia play a crucial role in advancing economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries, thus contributing to intensifying mutual understanding between their peoples, he stressed.

Representatives from Russia's largest airline, Aeroflot, showed their interest in the event as well as the Vietnamese tourism market, while introducing its new premium services and incentives that the airline is providing on its international routes./.

Lao trade union leader visits Ca Mau to learn about worker support

In a move to share knowledge on worker support initiatives, member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Chairman of the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) Leth Xayyaphone paid a working trip to the southernmost province of Ca Mau on July 4.

Accompanied by Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Thai Thu Xuong, Xayyaphone's delegation visited Viet-Uc Ca Mau One-Member Co. Ltd. in Ngoc Hien district to gain insights into its production process and, more importantly, the activities of its grassroots trade union.

Tran Thanh Tung, Chairman of the company's grassroots trade union, detailed collaborative efforts with Viet-Uc Ca Mau to promote worker well-being, including holding regular worker conferences, facilitating open communication through dialogues, and establishing workplace democracy regulations.

The trade union also plays a key role in encouraging worker participation, promoting social insurance enrollment, and ensuring their access to health, an unemployment and accident insurance, he said.

Xayyaphone commended the Viet-Uc Ca Mau grassroots trade union for its dedication to worker care and its commitment to ensuring their rights and interests. He also lauded the guidance and leadership provided by the Ca Mau provincial Labour Federation in supporting trade union activities in State agencies and enterprises.

The trip provided Xayyaphone with a firsthand look at Ca Mau and the lives of its people. He expressed his positive impressions and a desire to explore the southernmost region of Vietnam further in the future./.

Capital’s tourism flourishes thanks to innovative approaches

The total number of tourists visiting the capital city in the first half of this year is estimated to exceed 3 million, an annual increase of 36.9%, according to the Hanoi Statistics Office.

Of the amount, foreign and domestic arrivals numbered 2.15 million and 892,000, up 48.4% and15.4%, respectively.

As of the end of June, the city had logged 3,760 tourist accommodation facilities, offering nearly 71,200 rooms. The average room occupancy rate for local 1-5 star hotels was 63.3% in the first six months of 2024.

Hanoi currently boasts 43 food, 41 shopping, seven entertainment service businesses, and two health care establishments that meet standards for serving tourists.

To professionalise tourism activities, the capital city has streamlined administrative procedures, making it faster and more convenient for businesses involved and tour guides. Hanoi is home to 1,784 international and 429 domestic travel service businesses, 32 tourist transport companies, seven representative offices of foreign travel firms, over 8,000 tour guides serving international and domestic travellers.

Dang Huong Giang, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism, stated that it aims to foster linkages and cooperation among management agencies and major players of the sector such as associations, airlines, travel, accommodation, and transport service businesses to ensure the harmonious development of the city’s products. Initiatives are launched to enhance the promotion of the city's hotels and resorts and boost the occupancy rates at 4-5 star hotels. They include a new programme encouraging locals and tourists to experience services at these top rated hotels.

Furthermore, the city has organised a survey of tourist destinations across Tay Ho district and developed tourism products that offer heritage and historical experiences at Ha Mo tourism site in Dan Phuong district, while conducted fact-finding trips to destinations in Ba Dinh district, and working on the development of agricultural and rural tourism models in Soc Son, Phuc Tho, and Quoc Oai districts. The authorities also pay heed to develop river tourism products connecting tourist destinations along the Red and Duong rivers, among other projects.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen underscored that Hanoi is teaming up with other provinces and cities to develop interconnected tourism routes and products that complement each other. Among them are the one for spiritual and cultural experiences spanning Hanoi, Ha Nam and Ninh Binh provinces as well as the exploration and experiential tourism routes of Hanoi - Son La and Hanoi - Lao Cai - Lai Chau.

According to the leader, the city is also diversifying its promotional activities through domestic television channels, digital platforms, websites, social media, and other suitable forms of online promotion. Additionally, tourist destination clips and guides in Hanoi have been standardised and translated into five languages, namely English, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

For the remaining months of 2024, Giang revealed that the tourism sector will focus on organising a host of programmes and events, including the Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival, sports events, and thematic activities featuring local cultural and historical tourism products. There will also be a dialogue with businesses in the field that is set to launch the city’s stimulus programme./.

Hanoi to go green with electric buses by 2035

The capital city of Hanoi is taking a significant step toward a more sustainable future for its public transportation system, with the July 4 approval of a plan to achieve a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035 via phasing out diesel vehicles in favour of electric ones.

Between 2026 and 2030, Hanoi aims for a mix of electric buses (50%) and buses powered by cleaner burning fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG) (50%). The estimated financial investment for this transition is 43 trillion VND (1.79 billion USD).

The plan prioritises the electrification of buses operating in the central urban areas (within Ring Road 4). Additionally, new bus routes will be designed with a focus on using electric and green energy vehicles.

By 2030, a significant portion (70-90%) of the existing diesel bus fleet will be replaced with clean energy ones.

Between 2031 and 2035, all buses operating in the city will go electric, achieving a zero-emission bus fleet for the city./.

One arrested, 2 kg of drugs seized in Tay Ninh drug bust

A recent crackdown on a drug trafficking ring from Cambodia to Vietnam led to the arrest of a woman and the seizure of around 2kg of synthetic drugs in the southeastern province of Tay Ninh, the local police said on July 4.

Besides, the force also confiscated 25 million VND (over 980 USD), an electronic scale, and many other things related to the case while raiding the house of Nguyen Thi Mai, 48, in Truong Dong commune, Hoa Thanh district, on July 3.

Mai said she bought the drugs from a Cambodian via Telegram platform, then sold them in small packages to addicts in Hoa Thanh and other localities.

The police are expanding investigations./.

Vietnamese athletes dominate with 19 golds at SE canoeing championships' first day

Vietnamese athletes claimed the most medals at the first rounds of the 2024 Southeast Asia Canoeing, U19 and U23 Championships that opened in the northern port city of Hai Phong on July 4.

They won 19 golds, 17 silvers and six bronzes while Indonesia pocketed two silvers and four bronzes, Thailand two golds, three silvers and 11 bronzes, Malaysia one gold and one silver, Cambodia one bronze, and Singapore four golds, three silvers and two bronzes.

The Vietnamese athletes excellently performed in such categories as men’s 1,000-metre canoe single, young women 1,000-metre canoe double, women’s 1,000-metre canoe single, and 1,000-metre kayak cross.

Nearly 200 athletes are participating in the championships.

Earlier, Vietnamese athletes bagged 34 gold medals, ranking first at the 2024 Southeast Asia rowing event, which concluded on June 30./.

Tay Ninh rangers release pangolins, monkeys back into the wild

In a positive step for conservation efforts, two endangered Java pangolins (Manis javanica) were released back into the wild in the southern province of Tay Ninh on July 4, according to local rangers.

The pangolins, a priority species for protection due to their endangered status, were previously captured and surrendered by residents several days ago.

Joining the pangolins on their return to the wild were three monkeys. The released primates included a long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) and two pig-tailed macaques (Macaca leonina), both classified as endangered and rare species. These monkeys had reportedly been causing disturbances in residential areas before being captured by local rangers./.

Vietnamese language teaching promoted in Taiwan

The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, in collaboration with relevant units, launched a week-long Vietnamese language training course for Vietnamese teachers and a Vietnamese bookshelf in Taoyuan, Taiwan (China) on July 4.

The training course, held from July 1-7, provided nearly 40 Vietnamese language teachers across various levels of the Taiwanese education system with valuable instructions by two lecturers from the Hanoi National University of Education.

Speaking at the ceremony, head of the office Vu Tien Dung said in recent years, the Vietnamese Government and relevant agencies have intensified efforts to promote Vietnamese language appreciation among overseas Vietnamese communities worldwide. This aims to deepen the understanding of the language and national culture among Vietnamese people abroad and international friends as well.

Dung expressed his hope that the training course and a donation of nearly 500 Vietnamese books from Vietnam will contribute to further motivating the Vietnamese teaching and learning movement within the Vietnamese community in Taiwan. This, in turn, will promote cultural exchanges between the people of Vietnam and Taiwan.

The launching of the Vietnamese bookshelf was preceded by a seminar held on July 3, which explored the current state of Vietnamese language education for Vietnamese children in Taiwan./.

Vietnam attends ASEAN-China ministerial roundtable on construction, housing in Malaysia

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung is attending the ASEAN – China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing (ACMROCH) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 3 to 5.

In his address at a discussion at the event, Deputy Minister Dung said that the Vietnamese Government has proactively approached and integrated missions and solutions to build a climate-resilient urban area system.

Although the nation has cared out several positive results in urban area development in tandem with economic growth and better living quality, response to global crisis, improvement of urban area planning, building and management, and construction of smart urban area, the urbanisation has shown shortcomings such as incomplete legal system and database on climate change, and limited resources for climate change response, he said.

Dung laid a stress on the necessity to maintain relations and cooperation between regional urban areas and countries, as well as share practical experience to overcome challenges together.

He highlighted the need of "sharing" and "connectivity", saying that “sharing” and “connectivity” will help ASEAN member states and China develop their close partnership in construction, improve the role of housing and urban-rural development in sustainable development, thus enhancing living quality and ensuring peace, security, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

In his opening remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim held that ASEAN is working to develop the Southeast Asia into a dynamic region, both in economy and culture, acknowledging the region’s trustworthy connectivity and commitment to cooperation which will benefit its member states as they attain economic and social achievements.

In the framework of the event, Dung had a working session with Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, and a discussion with construction firms in Malaysia to study the country’s management and development of urban areas, housing and technical infrastructure./.

Japanese delegation comes to seek stronger ties with Nam Dinh

A delegation of Japanese parliamentarians and businesses, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka, and associations paid a working visit to the northern province of Nam Dinh on July 4 to explore cooperation opportunities in investment, health, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Introducing local potential and advantages, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Dinh Nghi said that situated in the south of the Red River Delta, Nam Dinh has actively upgraded transport infrastructure to boost its connectivity with airports and seaports. Taking the lead nationwide in the field of education, it also boasts abundant human resources.

The official highlighted that the province is strongly promoting administrative reform by reducing and simplifying administrative procedures to create favourable conditions for businesses.

It is also home to many industrial parks ready to welcome foreign investors, including those from Japan, he went on, adding that it prioritises investment in high-tech, environmentally friendly, and green and circular economy projects.

Noting that Japanese investment in Nam Dinh is still modest - about 230 million USD, Nghi suggested the delegation introduce Nam Dinh to Japanese businesses, help with training local students in the Japanese language, and assist graduates from the Nam Dinh University of Nursing to find jobs in Japan.

Yamamoto Gosei, Chairman of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, said that he is very impressed with the province's education and training, which is very important to providing high-quality human resources for enterprises. The two countries also share many cultural and religious similarities, enabling them to access new cooperation opportunities in all fields.

He noted that the province’s economy has expanded by over 10% in recent years, a result attributable to the local administration’s efforts in streamlining administrative procedures to support businesses.

Given this, Yamamoto expressed his belief that many Japanese business delegations will come to Nam Dinh to explore cooperation and investment chances.

During the trip, the delegation also visited the My Thuan Industrial Park in My Loc district and the Nam Dinh University of Nursing./.

Hà Nội hotels launch promotions to attract tourists

With the number of tourists visiting Hà Nội on the rise, luxury hotels in the city are rolling out a variety of special deals to boost sales.

Nguyễn Hồng Minh, Deputy Director of Hà Nội's Department of Tourism, said the city has a target of 27 million visitors in 2024, generating around VNĐ109 trillion (US$4.2 billion) in tourism revenue.

To achieve this, the city has launched the 'Hà Nội Residents and Tourists Experience Services at Four- and Five-star Hotels' programme, designed to encourage locals and tourists to stay at luxury hotels in the city and experience their unique services.

Many hotels in Hà Nội are participating in the programme, offering special deals to attract visitors.

For instance, Pan Pacific Hanoi is launching the 'Live Life and Celebrate' package that includes a 10-per-cent discount on all Club and Suite rooms and an additional 15 per cent discount for Pan Pacific Discovery members.

Hotel de l'Opera Hanoi is offering the 'Summer Indulgence Staycation' package of one night's accommodation in a luxury room, buffet breakfast for two at Lautrec Restaurant, one complimentary full-body massage at Harmonie Spa, two vouchers for selected cocktails at La Fee Verte and free early check-in and late check-out.

The Deputy Director believes the programme will have a positive impact on the city's tourism industry, boosting hotel occupancy rates, increasing tourism revenues and promoting Hà Nội as a must-go tourist destination. 

Tech sector remains strong driver of employment

Despite Việt Nam’s steady economic growth in the first half, the job market has not shown signs of recovery, according to an update released by payroll, recruitment and HR outsourcing agency Adecco Vietnam.

But there has been fair demand for talent in sales and marketing, quality management in the manufacturing sector.

Tech and financial jobs have seen demand plunge by 10 per cent.

Despite a downtrend in job orders, technology sector remains a strong driver of employment.

Trương Thiên Kim, associate director of recruitment services at Adecco, said: “Digital transformation is key, leading to a surge in tech-related roles across various industries. Higher demand for data engineers, AI engineers and developers has been seen.

“With the rapid growth of AI-driven applications, concerns for data protection have also increased, paralleling the rising demand for cybersecurity experts.”

As Việt Nam solidifies its role as a manufacturing hub, there is a growing need for skilled workers in this sector, she added.

In the first half of this year, job orders received by Adecco for this industry showed a 10 per cent increase year-on-year.

There is a notable trend in hiring senior personnel and experts in quality, sourcing and process excellence in manufacturing.

As Việt Nam gears toward becoming a green manufacturing hub and facilitating the export of manufactured products to developed markets, the demand for environmental engineers rises.

With the implementation of electronic health records and electronic payments boosting digitisation in both private and public healthcare, demand for talent to manage tech-applicable solutions has increased.

Significant investments from global giants like Intel, Samsung and Qualcomm have boosted job opportunities in the semiconductor industry.

The Government’s ambitious plans to train 50,000 engineers by 2030 further underscore the growth potential in this sector.

Media and marketing had steady demand, with roles like account manager and creative head continuing to see recruitment.

This sector is on the way to being dominated by technology and AI, since the latter can take over many tasks such as content writing, script development, planning, ideation, and creative production.

The finance and banking and professional services sectors are seeing hesitancy in hiring due to various volatilities.

Tier 2 banks are expanding their digital banking teams, following the trend set by tier 1 banks in previous years.

But the insurance sector is experiencing layoffs and personnel cuts. 

HCM City to unilaterally terminate contract on stalled road project

HCM City will unilaterally terminate the BOT contract for a road project worth over VNĐ1.5 trillion (US$59 million) where construction has been stalled for the past six years.

The 2.7km road section was intended to connect Võ Văn Kiệt Boulevard to the HCM City-Trung Lương Expressway.

The BOT (build-operate-transfer) project was scheduled from 2015 to 2017 and was led by investor Yên Khánh Group and HCM City BOT One Member Co Ltd.

Construction began in October 2015 and continued until mid-2018, at which point it had cost VNĐ140 billion ($5.5 million), or 12 per cent of its planned capital.

HCM City People’s Committee has assigned the municipal Transportation Works Construction Investment Project Management Authority to work with the project stakeholders to review the paperwork and construction to complete procedures for unilateral contract termination. The city’s Department of Planning and Investment and inspection agency will also work on this process.

According to a report from the multi-sectoral working group, HCM City Department of Transport has worked with stakeholders to address any violations of the BOT contract agreements.

These include stalling construction since June 2018, being unable to provide documents, demonstrating capital allocation to continue the signed BOT contract and guaranteeing the execution of the contract and other relevant agreements.

Reports on project progress were requested from investors and businesses involved in the project, but they repeatedly asked for extensions. They explained that many documents were misplaced and contractors could not begin settlement processes due to the lack of information. 

Massive fire engulfs packaging factory in Vĩnh Phúc

A large fire engulfed a packaging factory in Trưng Nhị Ward, Phúc Yên City, Vĩnh Phúc Province on Thursday night.

The flame broke out at 9.00 pm and quickly tore through the 3000-square-metre factory stocked with a large quantity of flammable materials.

The dense smoke plume was visible even from a distance of 40km, causing widespread alarm among residents in the surrounding area.

Ten fire engines and hundreds of firefighters were swiftly dispatched to the scene. The intense heat and the highly combustible materials posed significant challenges to firefighting.

Despite the arduous conditions, they contained the fire by around 0 am on Friday. No live losses were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

HCM City surveys issuance of personal papers to disadvantaged youths

A survey has found more than two dozen children and youths aged up to 18 living in “special circumstances” and at shelters in HCM City’s Tân Phú and Bình Tân districts lacking birth certificates, personal identification numbers, household registration documents, and identity cards.

The survey was done by city authorities on June 7.

The law defines children in special circumstances as those who are unable to get protection, care, upbringing, or education, are abused, do not have parents or guardians, use intoxicants, and require special support and intervention.

In Tân Phú District, 16 lack identity cards, with seven having personal identification numbers but not temporary residence status.

Of the other nine, three were born abroad and six do not have personal identification numbers, have not been registered for permanent residence or are not in the national database.

In Bình Tân District, 10 children in charity classes and two in special circumstances lack ID cards.

Tân Phú authorities said the reasons include the children’s frequent movements in the absence of a permanent dwelling place, their parents' lack of complete identification documents and failure to obtain identification documents for them.

Deputy Chairman of the Bình Tân District People's Committee Lê Thị Ngọc Dung said there are also cases where young parents do not register their marriage, abandon their children or have them living with relatives.

Another problem is the difficulty in collecting citizens’ ID card applications from temporary residents as there are no regulations regarding their storage.

A regulation that allows citizens to choose their place of civil registration causes pressure on registration officers, especially in places with large numbers of temporary residents coming from other provinces and cities, she added.

Cao Thanh Bình, head of city People's Council’s cultural and social committee, said many localities have not fully understood or created regulations for the issuance of identification papers.

Local authorities should focus on issuing them to these children and youths, he said.

This is a humane and significant task requiring various agencies to work together, and would enable the children to study and work in future, he added. 

Work accelerates to get the Nhổn-Hà Nội Station Railway’s elevated section up and running

The Hà Nội Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) is urgently completing the necessary procedures to launch commercial operations for the elevated section of the Nhổn-Hà Nội Station urban railway line (from station S1 to S8).

The elevated section of the pilot urban railway project, stretching from Nhổn to Hà Nội Station over a distance of 8.5km in the west of the capital, is now fully constructed, with equipment installation and system integration testing completed.

According to MRB, the eight elevated stations and the Nhổn Depot have now passed the fire safety inspections by the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department.

Additionally, all ten trains have undergone technical inspections, with the equipment at the stations and Depot being certified according to regulations.

Systra, the consulting firm, has issued the Transfer of Completion (TOC) certificates for each contract package.

The project has completed training for 353 personnel from the Hà Nội Railway Company, who took part in a trial which was concluded on May 31, having successfully completed all 57 scenarios and all eight testing phases, ensuring an efficient and safe operation of the line.

Consultant Alain Bechereau from Systra expressed confidence in the readiness of the Hà Nội Railway Company's personnel after a total of two months of trial operations.

The safety certification consultant consortium Apave Bureau Veritas - Certifer (ABC Consultant) has completed on-site evaluations.

The completion of the trial demonstrates the readiness of the operating unit to commence commercial operations of the elevated section from Nhổn to Hà Nội Station. However, the extended trial period has delayed the issuance of the safety system certification.

Once the ABC Consultant submits their report and safety certification, MRB will forward it to the Railway Department (Ministry of Transport) for evaluation and approval.

The State Inspection Council will then convene to approve the acceptance results for commercial operation.

The completion of the remaining legal procedures requires close co-ordination among various government agencies.

The final safety certification report from ABC Consultant is expected by July 10.

MRB is expediting the remaining procedures to commence commercial operations as soon as possible.

Once operational, the Nhổn-Hà Nội Station urban railway line (Line 3) is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion and urban pollution, enhancing the quality of life for residents in western Hà Nội. 

Selecting reputable contractors to ensure service quality at Long Thành Airport: Deputy PM

Selecting reputable and experienced contractors to provide world-class services at Long Thành International Airport is a top priority, said Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà on Thursday as he chaired a meeting of the project’s working group.

Focusing on bidding and selecting contractors for the airport’s fourth component project, the working team stressed comprehensiveness in the airport’s design and operations, with the aim of it becoming a key regional transportation hub. 

This component project includes cargo terminals, aviation logistics areas, aircraft maintenance areas, catering services and airline operations centres. 

Deputy PM Hà said that the bidding packages should be reviewed and evaluated by international consultants with substantial knowledge about a world-class airport’s comprehensive technology, design and operations. 

Investors must ensure coherence in planning to accommodate the needs of all airlines and Vietnamese contractors are encouraged. 

Evaluation criteria will be applied accordingly to the project’s operation stages, with the investors’ previous experiences in other international airports taken into account. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV) has completed the bidding documents, as well as the appraisals for catering service bidding packages. 

Bidding packages for other sub-projects on maintenance areas for aircraft and ground equipment, alongside airline operations centres, are ongoing and expected to be appraised and approved within this month. 

The key challenge currently is to draft a hypothetical business plan to determine the investors’ contributions to the State budget once the airport goes into operation. 

Emphasising the importance of the fourth component project in the ecosystem of Long Thành International Airport, Deputy PM Hà said that Government leaders and the working group have issued multiple guidelines to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the CAAV to address the bottlenecks related to the bidding packages. 

The MoT and CAAV must resolve the shortcomings in capacity and experience, coordinating with relevant ministries and departments to select reputable and capable units, completing the necessary paperwork and organising the bids. 

At the meeting, the deputy PM also discussed mobilising the Airports Corporation of Việt Nam to participate in several bidding packages related to the aviation logistics area, cargo terminals and airport hotels. 

$1.1b needed to upgrade 15 km section of HCM City-Bình Dương ring road

Nearly VNĐ28.3 trillion (US$1.1 billion) will be required to widen a 15.3 km section of Ring Road 3 that will connect HCM City and Bình Dương Province when constructed in the next few years.

The HCM City Department of Transport, which coordinates the various agencies responsible for the work, has submitted the proposal to the municipal People’s Committee.

The 15.3-km section, between Mỹ Phước and Tân Vạn Road in Bình Dương, opened in 2015, but the remaining portion will not be finished until at least 2026.

The proposal involves widening the constructed section to the same size as the entire proposed road.

The 32-metre, six-lane section will be widened by 16 metres and three lanes.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has approved public funding for it, and ordered the Ministry of Transport to work with the province to make specific plans for it.

Lương Minh Phúc, director of HCM City’s Management Board of Traffic Works Construction and Investment, said construction of the ring road only resumed in June last year after a prolonged delay due to site clearance and compensation issues.

The 90-km road will cost over VNĐ75.4 trillion (US$3.2 billion) and run through Đồng Nai and Long An provinces.

It will have six lanes and be designed for speeds of 80-100 km per hour, while two lanes will be designated for emergency stops.

A flyover will be built to connect the ring road with the HCM City - Long Thành - Dầu Giây expressway connecting HCM City and Đồng Nai Province. 

President Lâm urges the building of streamlined, strong and efficient military force

President Tô Lâm has instructed the Engineering Brigade 25 of Military Region 9 to focus on building a streamlined, strong and efficient force to fulfill military, defence and homeland protection duties.

Speaking at a working session in the southern province of Vĩnh Long on Friday, the President emphasised that the Engineering Brigade 25 is a key unit of the Military Region 9, with nine stationed points operating in four cities and provinces of Vĩnh Long, Đồng Tháp, Kiên Giang and Cần Thơ.

He highlighted that, in recent years, the armed forces have strictly followed the leadership and directives of the upper Party committee and local authorities. They have effectively implemented combat readiness regimes and regular as well as unexpected tasks.

Reviewing the notable achievements of Brigade 25, President Lâm praised the unit for its effective combat training and readiness to undertake anti-terrorism, rescue and disaster relief missions when needed.

On behalf of the Party and State leadership, the President warmly commended and praised the efforts and achievements of the armed forces of Military Region 9 and the officers and soldiers of Brigade 25.

Pointing out the increasing demands of military, defence and homeland protection along with the policy of building a streamlined, strong and efficient army, President Lâm urged the unit to excel in political and ideological education for its officers and soldiers, actively defend the ideological foundation of the Party, counteract erroneous and hostile views, enhance combat readiness and be prepared to assist civilians in disaster prevention and recovery.

The unit should focus on excellent training, mastering both technical and tactical specialties; constructing combat structures that meet quality requirements; actively handling unexploded ordnance and ensuring absolute safety in traffic safety missions.

The President demanded the unit resolutely and persistently fight against corruption and negative behaviours, build a cadre with strong political courage and continuously strive to overcome difficulties and challenges to complete all tasks excellently. 

Việt Nam prioritises equal access to digital technology for all: diplomat

Ensuring equal access to digital technology and benefits from digital economy for all is a priority of Việt Nam, Minister Counsellor Cung Đức Hân, Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, has said.

In his speech at the dialogue on emerging technologies with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk held in the framework of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC56), Hân said the country’s National Digital Transformation Programme is developed towards reducing the digital gap through the expansion of Internet access to rural areas and those with difficulties and support for vulnerable groups.

He affirmed Việt Nam's commitment to promoting human rights amidst digital technology revolution, particularly the rapid development of the Internet and AI.

Since the proliferation of means of communications has brought about such challenges as fake news and misinformation, Việt Nam calls for enhanced cooperation between countries and regional and international organisations to share experience and coordinate to respond to and establish global standards on sustainable development based on emerging technologies, he stressed.

Later on, at the dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, the Vietnamese diplomat held that poverty alleviation is one of the most notable achievements of the international community.

Given the whole world facing a high risk of returning to poverty due to impact of conflicts and climate change, Vietnam calls on the international community to join hands to pen solutions to the problem, he said.

He went on to highlight that Việt Nam has been hailed by the international community for its poverty reduction, adding the update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index by the UN Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative at the University of Oxford in 2023 showed that Việt Nam was one of the 25 countries halving multidimensional poverty by half within 15 years. 

Private theatre's new show on cải lương released

Artists from the HCM City-based private Đại Việt Cải Lương Theatre will stage a new show about Vietnamese history this weekend.

The play, Đêm Trước Ngày Hoàng Đạo (The Night Before Dawn), is a production featuring cải lương (reformed opera), the South’s 100-year-old traditional art genre.

The play is part of the city’s cultural and arts activities to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the day Sài Gòn-Gia Định was officially named after late President Hồ Chí Minh.

The 120-minute event focuses on the unjust death of national hero Nguyễn Trãi, one of Việt Nam’s greatest politicians and poets. His death was resulted from a secret involving the death of King Lê Thái Tông in early 1442.

King Lê Thái Tông visited Trãi’s family, where the king met Trãi’s young wife, Nguyễn Thị Lộ, a native of Thái Bình Province, who was known for her great learning. He decided to sleep at the manor Lệ Chi, owned by Trãi’s family, and that night, he suddenly becomes ill and dies.

The court later blamed Trãi and his wife for the king’s death, accusing them of treason. Trãi, Lộ and members of three generations of both of their families are then executed.

The play’s director, Meritorious Artist Hoa Hạ, featured cải lương stars Lê Tứ as Nguyễn Trãi and Tú Sương as Trãi’s wife.

“Our play dipicts historical events. We have worked to breathe life into the play,” said director Hạ in an interview with local media. “We promise to offer a quality and innovative show meeting the demands of theatregoers.”

Đêm Trước Ngày Hoàng Đạo is among many music and theatre shows with the theme of patriotisim being staged this month marking the 48th anniversary of the day the city was named after late President Hồ Chí Minh (1976-2024).

The shows are organised by the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in co-operation with its partners, including theatres, art clubs, and entertainment centres.

Đêm Trước Ngày Hoàng Đạo by Đại Việt Cải Lương Theatre is scheduled to be staged at Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre at weekends in July and August, starting on July 7. 

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