Ho Chi Minh City will have a 150-ha multi-function park in Thanh Xuan Ward and Thoi An Ward in District 12.

The municipal Department of Planning and Architecture coordinated with the Department of Construction and the People's Committee in District 12 to organize a seminar on planning opinions for a multi-functional park area in Thanh Xuan ward and Thoi An ward in District 12, with the participation of many urban and planning experts.

In order to add more green parks to Ho Chi Minh City, a representative of the Department of Planning and Architecture and the Department of Construction said that the city People's Committee has assigned the People's Committee in the two wards in District 12 to make a research plan and call for investment in a 150ha park project. This is a non-profit social project for the community's sake.

Evaluating this project, many delegates said that the city government must be determined to carry out the project as a public investment project for the community benefit rather than profits.
For the project’s feasibility, the city should spend the budget capital to compensate for site clearance to build the park because it is very difficult for any business to pay for compensation and set up a multi-function entertainment park at this location.

While waiting for the construction of the park, authorities at all levels should create conditions for people to have a safe place to live. Additionally, residents are allowed to build temporary houses for a certain time.

PM launches action month for children

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 31 launched the Action Month for Children 2022 to promote child care and protection, and mobilise social resources for the work.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (5th from L) attends the launching ceremony of the ction Month for Children 2022, Ha Noi, May 31, 2022

Under the motto “Joining hands to care for, educate and protect children,” the action month for children targets to engage socio-political organisations, social organisations, families and communities in the care, education and protection of children.  

The People’s Committees of localities nationwide were asked to build plans for activities of the action month suitable to their conditions, and to bolster communication work to raise awareness and skills in child protection.

Measures to fight sexual abuse and violence against children in family and locations receiving tipoffs and offering shelters for children, and helpline 111, an emergency telephone number for child protection, must be popularised.

Localities were also required to regularly check to detect in a timely manner high-risk locations prone to child-related accidents and to call on organisations and individuals to support victims of abuse, orphans and poor, ethnic and pandemic-hit children.

The same day, the Prime Minister came to visit and present gifts for child patients at the Viet Nam National Children's Hospital in which he asked the hospital to join hands with other medical facilities and the Health Ministry to thoroughly analyze the pandemic’s impacts on children’s physical and psychological health.

Electronic toll collection applied along entire Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway

Hanoi - Hai Phong Expressway is applying full electronic toll collection (ETC) on a trial basis, starting at 9am on June 1, according to the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.

Preparations for the service on the expressway, including traffic control and response plans for different scenarios, have already been completed, said Vu Huu Thanh, Deputy General Director of the expressway manager - Vietnam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment JSC (VIDIFI).

He noted the ETC system has been used on this road for two years, and VIDIFI has managed to deal with many of the scenarios, adding that detailed response plans were built so as to handle different incidents in a timely manner and minimise inconvenience for motorists. Thanh said nearly 90 percent of the vehicles on the expressway have had ETC tags, and over 70 percent have used this service.

Vehicles without those tags or insufficient money in ECT accounts will be fined if they intentionally enter ETC lanes.

According to the Government’s Decree 123/2021/ND-CP, drivers of such vehicles will face fines ranging from 1 - 2 million VND (43 - 86 USD) and have their driving licences withdrawn for between 1 - 3 months.

Embassy in Russia helps repatriate Vietnamese evacuees from Ukraine

The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, in collaboration of the Vietnamese Association in Russia, welcomed and repatriated Vietnamese people who had evacuated from Donetsk in eastern Ukraine to Russia, from May 29-31.

There were 11 evacuees, including four children, travelling from Donestsk to Rostov on Don city.

The group was welcomed at Kazan train station on May 29. Two days later, eight of them were supported to return to Vietnam on a Qatar Airways flight.

During their stay at the Vietnamese embassy, they were received by Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi who wished them to soon overcome difficulties and stabilise their lives when returning the homeland.

Nguyen Tung Lam, head of the embassy’s Desk for Consular Affairs, said that the desk has maintained contact with Russian authorities at border gates as well as the Vietnamese communities in Rostov on Don, Voronezh and Krasnodar to promptly support Vietnamese evacuees from eastern Ukraine.

Week-long event raises awareness of sea-based economy, marine biodiversity

A host of activities are scheduled during the Vietnam Sea and Island Week, starting on June 1, to raise awareness and sense of responsibility among sectors, enterprises and people of the effective management, exploitation and use of natural resources and protection of marine environment.

There will be a forum on the sustainable development of Vietnam’s sea-based economy by 2030, alongside series of seminars and workshops.

The Vietnam Sea and Island Week 2022 focuses on the theme “sustainable development of sea-based economy in association with preservation of biodiversity and marine ecosystems” this year, aiming to address challenges and limitations in developing the marine economy in Vietnam.

The week-long event provides an opportunity to promote the Party and State’s policies and international laws on marine issues, Vietnam’s legitimate rights and benefits at sea, and the significance of sea, islands, ocean and marine resources to humans; and enhance the sustainable development of sea-based economy.

It is also expected to help translate the strategy for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s sea-based economy by 2030, with a vision towards 2045, into reality.

State leader praises man for life-saving bravery

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 31 sent his of commendations to Dinh Van Chien, a resident in Ho Son commune of Tam Dao district, northern Vinh Phuc province, for the latter’s saving of the life of a family on a motorbike.

In his letter, the leader praised Chien’s quick-witted, skillful, and brave action to save three people from a life-threatening situation on a road on Tam Dao Pass on May 29 afternoon.

The President also expressed admiration for Chien’s saving of many others on this road.

He stressed that Chien’s action is a bright example of bravery to help those in distress, noting that this is one of many good virtues of the Vietnamese people and deserves commendation and multiplication in the community.

The leader took this occasion to call on commuters to further improve their awareness and sense of responsibility while moving on roads and to assist others when necessary.

President Phuc also demanded relevant agencies press on with measures to minimise traffic accidents and improve commuters’ awareness and skills, thereby helping guarantee social order and safety for the sake of a peaceful and happy life for all.

All Vietnamese contestants secure prizes at 2022 Asian Physics Olympiad

All eight Vietnamese students participating in the 2022 Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) have won prizes, bringing home one silver, two bronze medals and five certificates of merit, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

12th-grader Le Minh Hoang from the Hanoi University of Science (HUS)’s High School for Gifted Students earned the silver medal. Also from the school, 10th-grader Vo Hoang Hai and 11th-grader Vu Ngo Hoang Duong, secured the bronze medals, while 11th-grader Nguyen Tuan Minh and 12th-grader Cao Van Dong each received a certificate of merit.

The remaining three certificates went to students from high schools for the gifted in the northern provinces of Vinh Phuc and Bac Ninh, and the south-central province of Phu Yen.

Hosted by India, the online competition lasted from May 23 to 31 and drew 28 contingents with 218 contestants.

Concluding their participation, the Vietnamese team ranked 8th after those from China, Russia, Australia, Taiwan (China), Kazakhstan, India, and Thailand.

Vietnam obtains highest number of visas issued by Japan in 2021

Vietnam was the top recipient of Japanese visas last year, with a total of 15,434 people obtaining the official mark in their passports.

Per statistics of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam, China and the US accounted for around 40 percent of the total number of visas issued by the country in 2021.

Accordingly, Vietnamese nationals secured 17 percent of the total visas issued, followed by Chinese with 14 percent and Americans with 10 percent.

All embassies, consulates and consular offices of Japan issued 90,306 visas last year, a decrease of approximately 92 percent from the previous year. The reduction was attributable to strengthened border control measures against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the overseas diplomatic establishments, the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea issued the highest number of visas.

IQ tests: Vietnamese ranked 9th

Of the more than 100 countries and territories participating in IQ rankings conducted by Finland’s Wiqtcom, Vietnam was ranked 9th, with an average IQ of 109.37, followed by Finland.

According to Wiqtcom, Taiwan (China) ranked 1st, with an average IQ of 116.07, followed by Japan, with 112.69, then Hungary, South Korea, Iran, Hong Kong (China), Serbia, Italy, Vietnam, and Finland.

Wiqtcom, which has been conducting IQ tests around the world since 2019, is considered a reliable, accurate, and unbiased source.

IQ tests are designed to measure a person’s thinking abilities, such as problem-solving skills, abstract thinking, and general knowledge.

Tests require candidates speak a particular language, understand complex mathematical problems, and comprehend certain meanings within the context of a culture.

Vietnam attends 58th ASOSAI Governing Board Meeting

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Auditor General Ha Thi My Dung attended the 58th meeting of the Governing Board of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI), held virtually on May 31.

Hosted by Pakistan, the meeting brought together representatives from 14 Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI), of which 12 are members of the Governing Board, including Vietnam, and two are members of the ASOSAI's Audit Committee.

In her remarks, Dung said after completing its ASOSAI Chairmanship for the 2018-2021 tenure, the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) has played an active role in ASOSAI activities as a member of the Governing Board for 2021-2024 and a member of ASOSAI working groups on crisis management and sustainable development auditing, as well as ASOSAI regulation amendments.

It also attended a meeting of the Capacity Development Committee in May, and worked as a member of the 13th ASOSAI Research Project titled "Remote Audit for SAI: Future and Challenges”, she added.

VnExpress Marathon in Quy Nhon returns after year’s gap

Thousands of runners will take part in the VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon on June 12, according to the organisers.

Nearly 10,000 professionals and amateurs have signed up, a record number, as the annual race returns for a third time to the coastal city in Binh Dinh province after being cancelled last year because of COVID-19.

It will feature a full marathon (42.195km), a half marathon (21km) and 10km and 5km races.

Around 1,300 children aged six to 10 will take part in the one-kilometre race.

The runners will pass through the Thi Nai Bridge and streets that offer stunning views of the sea and mountains.

Total prizes of more than 1 billion VND (42,800 USD) are on offer at the event.

Athletes who break national records will also get prizes of electric cars.

Outstanding SEA Games 31 athletes to be honoured with Labour Order

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 31 signed a decision to confer the Labour Order to athletes who made outstanding achievements at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

Under the decision, the second-class Labour Order will be awarded to swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang who won five golds and broke two records at the Games, swimmer Tran Hung Nguyen with four golds and two records, Nguyen Thi Huong with five golds in canoeing, and runner Nguyen Thi Oanh with three golds and one record.

The U23 men’s and women’s football teams and 19 athletes in aerobic, swimming, canoeing, athletics, dance-sport, finswimming, rowing, gymnastics and weightlifting will be awarded the third-class Labour Order.

The SEA Games 31 took place in Hanoi and 11 nearby localities from May 12-23. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam ranked first in the medal standings with 205 gold, 125 silver and 116 bronze medals. Thailand came second with 92 golds, 103 silvers and 136 bronzes, while Indonesia finished third with 69 golds, 91 silvers and 81 bronzes.

Social policy bank to roll out interest cuts worth 3 trillion VND this year

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said it had been working around the clock to ensure the smooth implementation of an interest rate package cut through the Vietnam Bank of Social Policies (VBSP).

The package, estimated to cut as much as 3 trillion VND in interest rates by slashing 2 percent off the annual commercial rate for eligible businesses, is part of a larger measure to help the economy get back on track post-pandemic.

VBSP-issued and disbursed loans under governmental decrees, with recommendations by local authorities, governmental and non-governmental organisations, reborrowings from ODA and preferential loans at an annual interest rate greater than 6 percent are to be considered for the package.

VBSP is responsible for making sure the aforementioned loans were issued to the right businesses and the disbursed funds were used for the declared purposes. The package is to run from January 1, 2022, until the end of the year, or until VBSP ends the package.

All loans issued and disbursed during said periods are considered eligible for the interest rate cut. Measures are to be taken to ensure transparency and minimise waste and exploits.

VBSP branches are to be held responsible and accountable for the issued loans, which will be reported to VBSP headquarters no later than February 2 of the following year for inspection and approval.

Thanh Binh among AFC’s Ones to Watch list at U23 Asian Cup

Vietnamese defender Nguyen Thanh Binh has been named among the ‘Ones to Watch’ list compiled by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ahead of the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.

According to the AFC, Nguyen Thanh Binh helped the national team secure a gold medal at SEA Games 31 following a comfortable win over regional rivals Thailand in the final of the tournament.

“Nguyen Thanh Binh’s 2022 is turning into a banner year for the young defender, who already impressed for club side Viettel in the 2021 AFC Champions League,” says the AFC.

The website notes that following a strong season with his club, the 21-year-old broke into the senior national team. It was here that he enjoyed a moment that will go down in history as he scored against Japan at the Saitama Stadium to help Vietnam draw against the Asian giants in the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Completing the list of eight key players to look out for at the AFC U23 Asian Cup are Lee Kang-in of the Republic of Korea, Turki Al Ammar of Saudi Arabia, Kuryu Matsuki of Japan, Khusain Norchaev of Uzbekistan, Suphanat Mueanta of Thailand, Yasin Salmani of Iran, and Cardo Siddik of Iraq.

Hong Trang departs for Miss Global International 2022

Doan Hong Trang, the Vietnamese representative to Miss Global International 2022, left Tan Son Nhat International Airport for Bali, Indonesia, on May 31 to compete in the grand final of the pageant.

The Vietnamese beauty is bringing with her eight pieces of luggage for the finale and other sideline activities.

Trang, 25, stands at 1.73 metres tall with measurements of 86-60-92. The local beauty is most notable for winning Miss Eco Vietnam 2020. She was also named as the official Vietnamese representative to Miss Eco International 2020 in Egypt in April 2021. However, she missed the pageant due to visa procedures.

The girl hailing from Binh Thuan province has acquired plenty of experience in competing in beauty pageants throughout the country. She is currently employed as a model.

Trang said she is eager to showcase Vietnamese beauty and talent during Miss Global International 2022, which is scheduled to take place from June 1 to June 11.

Many activities for children in culture-tourism village

In June, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi will organise many activities for children, introducing the culture, customs and habits of the ethnic groups in the programme with the theme " Childhood with summer days".

Activities in June include the programme "Children with the traditional culture of ethnic groups", "One day as an artist", and "Back to my village".

In these programs, the organising board recreates the space of childhood with folk games and activities to experience some traditional crafts.

A programme, introducing food, especially snacks for young people, children, and families, will take place in the area of A2 pine hill.

In addition, the cultural experience programme associated with ethnic spaces helps the children learn about folk games, architecture, costumes, folk songs and dances, festivals, and types of performances, including performances of ethnic musical instruments, and traditional folk games of ethnic groups.

Also, on the weekend, a Family Culture Festival of ethnic communities will be organised at the "Common House".

Miss Sea Tourism Vietnam Competition begins

The 2022 Miss Sea Tourism Vietnam Competition officially began in Hanoi on May 30 following a three-month period of receiving entries from contestants across the country.

The event is among the activities in response to the 2022 National Tourism Year.

As expected, after the preliminary round in the participating regions, the competition will enter the next exciting rounds to select the best contestants for the finals, which are set to take place from October 15 until December 15 in Khanh Hoa Province.

The final night is scheduled for December 17, 2022, at Hon Tre Island in Nha Trang City.

Nine-year-old girl wins De Men Arts Awards for Children 2022

Nguyen Vu An Bang, 9, a 4th grader of the Quynh Loi Primary School in Hanoi was honored with the 3th De Men (Cricket) Arts Awards for Children 2022 for her collection of four short children's tales.

The organizing board also presented four Cricket Desire awards to two novels of Biet Doi Tham Tu (Detective Team) and Emma Tham Hoa (Disaster Emma) by Quyen Gavoye from France; a Vietnamese English bilingual book titled The Lost Sandal by writer Geralda of Belgium and painter Sofia Holt of Sweden, translated by Kim Ngoc; Du Dua Tren Ngon Cay Bang (Swing on Indian Almond's Branch) by Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy; and Co Ban la Co Ban (Basic is Basic) by Pham Huy Thong.

Launched in 2020, De Men Arts Awards for Children aims at promoting and honoring works dedicated to children. The entries can be in one of several forms like literature, cinema, music, arts, theatre, photography, comic, traditional games, or electronic games. The awards will include one grand prize named 'Cricket Knight' and others, 'Cricket Desire'.

De Men (Cricket) is named after the main character in the famous Vietnamese children's story, De Men Phieu Luu Ky (Diary of a Cricket) by To Hoai. This is one of the most popular stories of Vietnamese children for many generations.

Dong Nai fails to hand over construction site of Long Thanh Airport on schedule

According to the commitment of the leader of Dong Nai People's Committee to Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, the province would hand over the entire site of the Long Thanh Airport construction project phase 1 in May 2022; however, the above progress has not been realized.

The People's Committee of Long Thanh District in Dong Nai Province informed that up to now, the locality had handed over 2,378 hectares out of 2,532 hectares, accounting for nearly 94 percent of the land area to serve phase 1 of the Long Thanh International Airport project.

However, according to the commitment of the leader of Dong Nai People's Committee to Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, the province would hand over the entire site of the Long Thanh Airport construction project phase 1 in May 2022, so the above progress has not been achieved.

Thus, it will be very difficult for Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh to request Dong Nai Province to hand over the entire site of the Long Thanh Airport project of about 5,000 hectares for the construction of Long Thanh Airport in June 2022.

The area has not been handed over mainly because people have not completed the construction of houses in the resettlement area of Loc An - Binh Son to move to a new place. Hence, Long Thanh District has been coordinating with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam to localize these areas. Currently, site clearance and resettlement face many difficulties, with 643 cases that have not been completed the compensation and support plans in the priority area of 2,532 hectares and 537 cases in other areas that have not been approved the compensation and support plans.

According to the schedule set by the Government, the Long Thanh Airport project phase 1 must be completed and put into operation in 2025. Up to now, two construction packages of the project have been started, including leveling the ground and drainage and installation of pile foundation for the passenger terminal.

Burning heat predicted after irregular rain in Northern, Central Regions

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting yesterday predicted heavy rain in Hanoi and the Northern region, followed by intense heat to the high of 39 degrees Celsius in both the Northern and Central areas.

Accordingly, due to unexpected torrential rain before May 31 in Hanoi and the Northern region, a landslide happened that morning in Nam Hoa Commune of Dong Hy District in Thai Nguyen Province, causing three deaths and one missing (initially identified as B.D.T, a construction worker born in 1990 and was transporting construction devices early that morning).

Before this, the continuous heavy rain killed at least six people, two of whom were children, while the thunderstorm brought deaths to another two in Dien Bien Province. Cao Bang Province reported two death cases by thunderstorm and landslide.

However, the Central region of Vietnam yesterday experienced hot spell, which will expand from the provinces of Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen on June 1. In the following week, this searing heat with the high of 39 degrees Celsius will touch the Northern region, including the provinces of Hoa Binh and Son La.

Dengue, HFMD cases up in Ho Chi Minh City

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said that the number of cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and dengue fever continued to increase in the week from May 20 to May 26.

Specifically, in the first five months of 2022, the city recorded 10,052 cases of dengue, an increase of 46.4 percent over the same period in 2021 with 6,867 cases. Amongst the cases, the number of severe dengue cases was 194, an increase of nearly 5 times compared to the same period in 2021 with 28 cases.

From May 20 to May 26, the city recorded 1,402 dengue cases, an increase of 457 cases or 48.4 percent compared to the average of four weeks ago. The number of dengue cases increased in both inpatients and outpatients. There have been no deaths from dengue this week.

According to the health sector’s data, the number of dengue cases continues to increase in most districts and Thu Duc city. For instance, Ward 7 in District 8, Le Minh Xuan Commune and Vinh Loc A Commune in Binh Chanh outlying district, Binh Hung Hoa A Ward in Binh Tan District, Tan An Hoi Commune in Cu Chi outlying district and Tay Thanh Ward in Tan Phu District have had a higher number of cases compared to the average of prior four weeks.

Regarding HFMD, in the first five months of the year, the city recorded 3,699 cases, with 96 percent of children suffering from the disease aged 1-5 years old.

Moreover, from May 20 to May 26, the city recorded an additional 1,070 cases of HFMD, an increase of 481 cases or accounting for 81.7 percent compared to the average of the previous four weeks. The number of cases increased in both inpatients and outpatients.

According to HCDC, from May 20 to May 26, the city recorded 121 new dengue outbreaks in 71 wards and communes in 15/22 districts and Thu Duc City. The number of outbreaks in the specific week increased by 42 new outbreaks compared to the prior week.

12th European – Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival to open on June 3

The 12th European – Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival will take place in Hanoi from June 3-10 after one year of suspension due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Participating in this year’s festival are outstanding productions from countries, including Austria, the Wallonie- Bruxelles Delegation (of Belgium), Germany, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the UK and Vietnam.

Movies include Vietnamese Tea Talk (Vietnam), Molecore (Italia), Fairy Tales in Rao Tre Village (Vietnam), The Uncertain Kingdom (the UK), Hanoi Old Street Storyteller (Vietnam), De Chaque Instant (France), Behind the Aura (Vietnam), Petit Samedi ( the Wallonie- Bruxelles Delegation (of Belgium)), Northern Village Temple (Vietnam), Helmut Lachemann-My Way (Germany), Unlimited battle (Vietnam), New shift (Czech), Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh (Vietnam), Save The Village (Austria), Guerilla Girl of Huong River (Vietnam), Omega (Spain), Reviving Lands (Vietnam), A Common Goal (Israel), Two Hands (Vietnam), and Nobel Citizen (Switzerland).

The event aims at promoting cultural exchange between Vietnam and other countries and giving audiences a chance to learn about the cultures, people, and communities in Vietnam and other countries, and explore different territories and contemporary issues.

Project of free digital library for Vietnamese children launched

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in Vietnam, in cooperation with the Global Digital Library and the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, will build a free digital library with high-quality books for all children, especially those who are from ethnic minorities and children with disabilities.

The library will feature 3,000 books in different formats and languages. There will be 50 augmented reality books and 40 sign language video books.

These books can be freely accessed via the website and the book reading applications of the Global Digital Library.

According to Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, the library will focus on books in English, Vietnamese, and eight ethnic minority languages including Bahnar, Cham, Ede, and Jarai, Khmer, M’Nong, H’Mong, Thai and sign language.

The project is funded by the Government of Norway, with the participation of experts in various fields such as linguistics, translation, ethnic languages, special education, general education, and technology, among others.

The free digital library for children is expected to be officially launched in September 2022.  

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