The number of international search volume for Vietnam’s tourism in June surged by 1,125% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Large volumes of search for Vietnamese tourism information are seen in the US, Singapore, Australia, India, Japan, France, Thailand, Germany, Canada and the UK.

Meanwhile, the country’s most searched destinations were Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phu Quoc island in Kien Giang province, Da Nang, Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa province, Hoi An ancient city in Quang Nam province, and Da Lat city in Lam Dong province.

Vietnam contributes to UN Human Rights Council with meaningful messages: official

Vietnam’s activities within the framework of the ongoing 50th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will help the country mobilise international support for its candidacy for the council’s membership for the 2023-2025 term, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet has said.

Viet, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondent in Geneva, Switzerland, that the country has engaged in specific initiatives, especially those on climate change and the right to food, and issues regarding gender equality.

Vietnam’s advocacy to dialogue and cooperation has drawn the attention of other countries, he said, adding that Vietnam shared its experience in climate change response, COVID-19 combat and post-pandemic recovery to ensure social welfare and rights of its citizens in health care, economy, social affairs and education.

The country promotes women’s role in families, will continue to prioritise commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and stands ready to cooperate with countries in this regard, he affirmed.

According to Viet, Vietnam’s speeches and messages at the council aimed to promote mutual understanding and respect, enhance dialogue and cooperation, and promote efforts to ensure human rights for all.

Within the framework of the session, the Vietnamese delegation met with the UNHRC President and Vice President, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Director General of the UN Office in Geneva, and many ambassadors and representatives of countries in Geneva.

Culinary festival brightens summer days in Da Nang

The “2022 Da Nang Food Festival” is now underway in the central coastal city of Da Nang, as part of the “Da Nang Summer Festival 2022”.

Typical dishes from Da Nang and the central region are on offer in Bien Dong Park, where the 2022 Da Nang Food Festival is taking place.

In addition to 20 stalls with local cuisine, a space offering a traditional culinary experience is of special interest to tourists. Artisans teach visitors how to make vermicelli and rice paper - two specialties of Tuy Loan ancient village.

Local chefs also explain how to make local cakes and dishes. The vibrant atmosphere attracted a large number of local people and visitors to Bien Dong Park on the first day.

The Da Nang Food Festival will run until July 6.

Revival of endangered Delacour’s langur in Vietnam

Poaching and loss of habitat drove Delacour’s langurs to the verge of extinction nearly three decades ago and they have been listed as critically endangered in the Vietnam Red Data Book ever since. However, concerted conservation efforts have saved the rare primate, with numbers now increasing to 250 in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

Delacour’s langurs are also on the list of critically-endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They were named after French-US scientist Jean Theodore Delacour, who first discovered the primate in Vietnam.

Scientists found some 300 individuals at the end of the 1980s. However, the IUCN said there were only 250 left in 2015 due to poaching for traditional medicine. Populations of the world’s rarest animal can still be found in the Van Long Nature Reserve in Ninh Binh province and limestone mountains in Ha Nam province.

Last year, a baby Delacour’s langur was born on Ngoc Island in Ninh Binh’s Trang An Landscape Complex, giving fresh hope for the revival of the rare primate.

According to the primatologist, the Frankfurt Zoological Society of Germany has provided support for the Van Long Nature Reserve to protect Delacour’s langur. The joint efforts of various parties have paid off.

Ho Chi Minh City introduces 6 new inter-city tours

Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector has announced that 42 inner-city tours will be conducted for visitors, including 6 new offerings.

Among them is the Saigon - Cu Chi tour, which is a combination of travel by car, bicycle, and ferry. The tour will help visitors experience the natural surroundings and be close to rural life, and explore the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The Saigon - Thu Duc Tour, meanwhile, is also a combination of car, bicycle and ferry travel, where visitors can learn about the history and culture of gardens along the Saigon River.

The Saigon - Hoc Mon, Saigon - District 7 - Nha Be - Can Gio, and Saigon - Binh Chanh tours offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of life in agricultural and craft villages.

Visitors can also take the City Tour to discover the rhythm of life in Saigon. Tours start from District 1, District 3, and District 4 with “Hop on - Hop off” double-decker buses.

PM stresses significance of preventing COVID-19 re-emerge

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the COVID-19 has been put under good control inside the country, it is necessary to focus on preventing the pandemic from re-emerging as no persons, localities or countries are safe when others are struggling against COVID-19.

Chairing an online meeting of National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control with the 63 localities nationwide, Prime Minister Chinh said COVID-19 has still developed complicatedly in the world with the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 in many countries.

He said it is crucial to control the pandemic to create favourable conditions for socio-economic development, national protection and the improvement of people’s living conditions.

He stressed the need to give top priority to the ensuring of people’s lives and health, and to consider the pandemic prevention and control as the common task of the whole political system.

The Government leader highlighted the need to maintain three key pillars in COVID-19 fight – testing, quarantine and treatment.

Banks provide preferential loans to enterprises

Four commercial banks signed agreements to provide loans worth a total of 4.66 trillion VND (200 million USD) to 20 companies operating in Ho Chi Minh City-based industrial parks and export processing zones at a meeting connecting banks and businesses held last week.

The agreement is designed to help companies access credit in a timely manner in the context of increasing capital demand.

According to the State Bank of Vietnam’s HCM City Branch, this year, 13 banks in the city have registered to participate in the loan programme and plan to provide credit of 424 trillion VND (18.2 billion USD) at interest rates of less than 4.5% per year for short-term loans and around 9% per year for medium and long-term loans, as well as offer other support such as reducing interest rates on old loans and rolling them over, and increasing credit limits.

Nguyen Duc Lenh, deputy director of SBV’s HCM City branch, said the banking sector in the city had adopted many solutions to help meet the capital needs of enterprises, co-operatives and business households.

The programme to connect lenders and businesses alone had seen nearly 100 trillion VND (4.3 billion USD) disbursed in the first half of the year to help enterprises, co-operatives and business households revive production and trading, he said.

Hanoi police detain man for anti-State propaganda

Hanoi’s police have taken a man into custody as they are investigating his allegations of “making, storing, distributing or disseminating information, documents and items against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Article 17 of the 2015 Penal Code (revised in 2017).

The municipal Department of Public Security said on July 5 that the police have arrested 47-year-old Nguyen Lan Thang who lives in the city’s Dong Da district.

The decision to detain Thang was approved by the Hanoi People’s Procuracy.

Further investigation into the case is underway.

Campaign spreads message of zero tolerance for violence against children, women

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), in collaboration with UN agencies and the Australian Aid, launched a campaign on July 5 to enhance public awareness of women and children protection, spreading the message of zero tolerance for violence against children and women.

The initiative is built on the 2020 campaign to raise public awareness and change individual and societal behaviour, helping prevent violence before it begins.

According to the UN, globally, each year, one billion children experience violence in various forms. The survey on Sustainable Development Goals indicators on children and women in Vietnam for the 2020-2021 period showed that more than 72% of children between the ages of 10 and 14 experienced violent discipline. In which, 39% of children suffered from mental violence, 47% from physical abuse, 20% from sexual abuse, and 29% from neglect. Meanwhile, a research revealed that 21.4% of adolescent girls and 7.9% of adolescent boys reported having had suicidal thoughts. Another study found that 5.8 percent of adolescents reported having attempted suicide.

A survey by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam said that in 2019, 62.9% of women in Vietnam experienced one or more forms of violence in their lifetime such as physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence, as well as controlling behaviour by the husband. In addition, violence against women resulted in a deficit of 1.81% of the country's GDP.

UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Naomi Kitahara said that in Vietnam, the model of one-stop service centre to support victims of gender-based violence called “Ngoi nha Anh Duong” has been set up, providing essential and comprehensive services to people suffering from gender-based violence, including health, social, justice and protection services. The model is one of the visible results of UNFPA efforts towards zero gender-based violence and harmful behaviours, she added.

3D model of Cuc Phuong National Park built

A 3D model of Cuc Phuong National Park has been completed, and it is hoped to help with the management and protection of local natural resources.

Deputy Director of the park Do Quang Lap said with a ratio of 1:10,000, the 3.1m x 2m model reflects an area measuring 31km x 20km of the park’s core zone and part of its buffer zone.

It will help improve knowledge about the potential of tourism products in and around the park and engage local residents in the development of new and sustainable community-based tourism products.

The 3D model will also help locals take part in the assessment of COVID-19 impacts on the access to and use of local natural resources, he noted.

The model was built from May to July this year with support from teachers and students of the Nho Quan B High School in Nho Quan district of Ninh Binh province, along with residents in the 18 villages located in the park’s core and buffer zones in Hoa Binh, Binh Binh, and Thanh Hoa provinces.

Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong is the first national park in Vietnam, covering more than 22,000ha in Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces. It is a typical tropical rainforest that is home to a rich system of flora and fauna, including critically endangered species.

Dien Bien to host exhibition on cultural characteristics along Vietnam-Laos border

An exhibition featuring cultural characteristics in border areas and the Vietnam-Laos friendship and solidarity will be held in the northwestern mountainous province of Dien Bien in September within the framework of the third Vietnam-Laos Border Culture, Sports and Tourism Exchange Festival.

The event will include musical performances, shows featuring traditional costumes, cultural products and images of Vietnamese people as well as socio-economic achievements of some localities that have cooperative ties with Lao counterparts.

Around 2,500 people from nine Vietnamese provinces of Dien Bien, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Son La, Thua Thien-Hue, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Nam and Kon Tum and 10 Lao provinces of Luang Prabang, Huaphanh, Attapeu, Sekong, Xiengkhuang, Borikhamxay, Khammouan, Savannakhet, Saravane and Phongsaly will attend the festival.

Sufficient power supply to be ensured in 2022

The electricity supply will basically be guaranteed in 2022 without a risk of power shortage, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has said.
 
A recent report of the ministry said the power production and import in the January – May period reached an estimated 108 billion kWh, up 4 percent year-on-year.

According to the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the production and import will reach some 167 billion kWh in the remaining months of the year, bringing the total in the whole year to over 275 billion kWh, up 7.9 percent compared to 2021.

The ministry has requested hydropower plants to store water in reservoirs to prepare for generation in the dry season of 2022, and coal suppliers and investors of thermal power plants to have solutions in order to ensure enough fuel in the context of high fuel price due to the influence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Relevant units have been urged to speed up the progress of the transmission line works, especially 500 kV and 220 kV transmission ones.

More than 1 million students to take high-school graduation exams

More than 1 million high-school students are set to sit graduation exams at all examination councils across the country on July 7-8, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

They are scheduled to do tests in mathematics and literature on July 7 and in natural sciences subjects (physics, chemistry and biology) and social sciences subjects (history, geography, and civic education).

The National Steering Committee for High-School Graduation Exams 2022 and the Ministry of Education and Training have dispatched 15 teams to inspect preparations for the exams in 44 selected localities nationwide.

Localities reported all preparations for the exams, including COVID-19 prevention and control plans, have been completed.

As of July 5, as many as 1,002,432 candidates had registered for the exams, with 933,510 students registering online. 

They are set to come to examination venues to learn about exam regulations on July 6. The results of the exams will be used for tertiary enrollments by universities and colleges.  

Winners of photo contest on SEA Games 31 unveiled

An image on track-and-field athlete Bui Thi Nguyen competing in the women’s 100 metre hurdles won a gold medal in the photo contest on the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) launched by the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA).

The purpose of the contest is to capture the best moments taken during SEA Games 31 held from May 12 to May 23. It attracted 2,093 photos submitted by 237 amateur and professional photographers from across the country.

A total of 11 prizes were presented as part of the competition, with the gold medal going to a photo of track-and-field athlete Bui Thi Nguyen snapped by photographer Luong Viet Son Tung.

An image depicting local striker Huynh Nhu scoring a goal for the Vietnamese women’s national football team at SEA Games 31 bagged the silver medal.

Meanwhile a photo capturing the only goal scored by striker Nham Manh Dung in the final match of the men’s football event was also awarded a silver medal.

The three bronze medals and five consolation prizes were also awarded to other winners.

Quang Nam to host exhibition on Vietnamese cultural heritages

The “Vietnam cultural heritage space” exhibition is scheduled to take place from July 8 to July 13 at An Hoi Sculpture Garden in Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam.

The event is due to run as part of a range of activities held to celebrate the Quang Nam National Tourism Year 2022 with the theme of "Quang Nam - a green tourism destination" which aims to introduce and promote the values ​​of unique aspects of Vietnamese cultural and natural heritages which have been recognised by UNESCO.

It is anticipated that the function will offer an ideal venue for Quang Nam to promote the potential of green tourism and raise public awareness about protecting the environment protection, natural heritages, as well as elevating the image of the country and its people.

On display at the event will be 100 handicraft products of local artisans with the goal of introducing traditional Vietnamese craft villages and strengthening connectivity among various craft villages, producers, and tourists.

A photo exhibition themed "Journey through Vietnam's heritage regions" will be held within the framework of the programme in order to to introduce UNESCO-recognised heritage sites, historical places, notable landscapes, and national intangible cultural heritages.

Furthermore, a space titled "Colours of Heritage" will be held during the event, along with an art exchange scheme featuring intangible cultural heritage and traditional folk art forms such as Xam, Ca Tru, Xoan (ceremonial singing), and the unique folk dance of the country’s Thai ethnic minority, called Xoe Thai.

Passengers to HCM City surge in first half of 2022

About 11 million domestic visitors visited HCM City in the first half of 2022, up 43.1 per cent over the same period last year, according to HCM City Department of Tourism.

Domestic tourism to HCM City surged in the first six months of the year, as Vietnamese travellers sought to make up for lost time after more than two years of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

About 11 million domestic visitors visited HCM City in the first half of 2022, up 43.1 per cent over the same period last year, according to HCM City Department of Tourism.

In addition, nearly three million passengers passed through Tân Sơn Nhất airport in June, with 1.4 million of those passengers staying in HCM City.      

HCM City Department of Tourism announced that total tourism revenue in the first half of 2022 was VNĐ49.7 billion (nearly US$2.2 billion), up 29.9 per cent compared to the same period last year, reaching 73.5 per cent of the year’s target.

The HCM City tourism industry has prepared plans to prevent overload from surging tourism demand. It is focusing on creating new tours, and instructing tourism enterprises and amusement parks to hire more personnel.

Number of dengue fever cases rising steadily: Ministry

The number of cases of dengue fever has risen steadily in recent weeks, mainly in the south and central regions, according to the Ministry of Health.

According to the ministry’s report, as of July 4, the whole country recorded about 92,000 cases of dengue fever, an increase of about 15,000 cases compared to 10 days earlier.

Also according to the report, there have been 36 deaths recorded due to dengue fever, an increase of six cases compared to the previous 10 days.

The ministry warns that the number of dengue fever cases will continue to increase and may explode if local authorities, relevant agencies and people do not take drastic measures to prevent and control the disease.

The ministry has asked localities to enhance prevention efforts. Seven inspection teams visited cities and provinces in the south in late June and early July to check on measures in place.

Veteran artist depicts scenes of Italian sea at new exhibition

New paintings by Vietnamese artist Văn Dương Thành are on display at an exhibition in Naples, Italy.

The exhibition entitled Memories of Childhood is among a series of activities to be held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Việt Nam and Italy next year.

Six new paintings by Thành feature beautiful scenes of the sea in Italy, including Blue Sea Mountain and Naples Sea in The Morning.

Thành grew up in Hà Nội and studied for 12 years at Việt Nam Fine Arts University. Her works were first collected by the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum when she was 20 years old.

Since then many of her works have been collected by museums in India, China, Singapore, Spain and Sweden. Her paintings have also been collected by international art collectors.

She was the first Vietnamese selected into the International Excellence of Arts of CFM - Snecma, USA – France.

Memories of Childhoods runs until July 22 at Consulate of Việt Nam in Naples.

Omicron BA.4, BA.5 sub-variants detected in HCM City

HCM City has found three patients infected with the two new Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants through gene sequencing results provided by the Pasteur Institute.

According to the HCM City Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two among those contracted BA.4. The siblings contracted the sub-variant from their mother. 

After being self-quarantined at home, they have recovered and returned to work. All people who have come into close contact with the two tested negative for the BA.4 sub-variant.

Since June, the city has tightened control over the new sub-variants of Covid-19 in 22 districts and Thu Duc City. The Pasteur Institute will carry out gene sequencing to detect new sub-variant carriers. People are advised to take their Covid-19 vaccination jabs.

Earlier, three Omicron sub-variant cases were also detected in Hanoi.

“Indochina - the wonderland” exhibition tells the story of Vietnam during French colonial period
 
The exhibition entitled “Indochina - the wonderland” will be held in virtual format at the website http://archives.org.vn or https://www.facebook.com/luutruquocgia1 from July 9.

According to the National Archives Center I, the exhibition will show the history as well as the rich natural resources of three Indochinese countries, namely Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia, through hundreds of black and white photographs taken in the late 19th century and the early 20th century.

The exhibition consists of three parts: “Indochina - the land of wonders”; “Indochinese  Seas - the tropical paradise” and “Indochinese Mountains - Ideal resorts”.

Along with the photos, there are many reviews and comments from the French about this charming and enchanting yet mysterious region.

Lao Cai hands over wanted criminal to China

Policemen in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on July 5 handed over a wanted criminal to the Chinese side at the Lao Cai International Border Gate.

Previously, the Chinese Police sent an official dispatch to exchange information about Liang Lei, born in 1990, residing in Honghe county, Yunnan province, China.

In 2019, Liang organised gambling. After being hunted by the Chinese Police, he fled to Myanmar, and then crossed the border to Vietnam in October 2020. He moved to many places in Vietnam and at last hid in Lao Cai.

The Investigation Police Agency under Lao Cai’s Department of Public Security found his hiding place, and succeeded in mobilising him to give himself up.

Deputy PM hosts outgoing Danish Ambassador

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh on July 5 hosted a reception for outgoing Ambassador of Denmark Højlund Christensen, speaking highly of the guest's contributions to bringing green projects to Vietnam.

Ambassador Christensen has left an imprint in Vietnam by pushing for Denmark-based LEGO Group to invest in Binh Duong, Minh said, adding that what makes the LEGO project special is that it will use clean energy which is well aligned with Vietnam’s priorities.

He further noted that following LEGO, another Danish renowned company – Pandora – has pledged to pour 100 million USD into a jewelry-crafting facility also using renewable energy at the Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park 3 (VSIP3) in Binh Duong.

Minh expected both projects will not only pave the way for a new wave of investment into those using the renewables in Vietnam but also help the country attract value chain investors.

With his competency, experience and passion, Ambassador Christensen has played a significant part in expanding the long-standing friendly relations and cooperation between the two peoples throughout his mission in Vietnam, the Deputy PM said.

He particularly underscored the Danish Ambassador’s role in fostering the effective implementation of the two countries’ joint Energy Partnership Programme from 2017 – 2022.

The foreign diplomat expressed his affection for Vietnam’s nature and people during his four-year term of office.

He also thanked the Government of Vietnam for facilitating LEGO Group’s goal to build its first carbon-neutral factory.

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