All medical facilities to accept chip-based ID card, e-identification app by 2030

Vietnamese people are set to use their chip-based ID cards and national e-identification app for medical checks by 2030, according to a document issued by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on Tuesday. 

Decision No 2491/QĐ-BYT, which details key missions for digital transformation in the health sector during the 2023-25 period, also aims to connect the databases among all medical facilities, as well as of Việt Nam Social Security. 

These include birth and death certificates for essential administrative procedures, reviewed vaccination data for management, and health check records for the re-issuance of driver’s licences. 

Public health facilities will also need to digitalise information on their personnel, facilities, pharmacies, hospital beds and medical equipment.

Hospitals of level 2 (provincial and municipal) are also expected to accept cashless payment methods, according to the document. 

The document also plans to connect the MoH’s database and the National Database on Population to handle administrative procedures.

This means digitalising dossiers and reviewing the procedures related to online public services in order to facilitate the processes for citizens and businesses. 

The digital transformation project also set the goal to complete the upgrade of the health ministry’s data centre on the basis of the existing infrastructure. 

Cyber security is also a focus of the MoH’s data system and will be periodically reviewed, as per regulations. 

Information on monitoring data security will also be shared between the MoH’s data centre, the National Cyber Security Centre, and the Ministry of Information and Communications.

A support network in case of cyber security incidents will also be completed to promptly address the issues that pose a threat to the health sector’s data systems.

Cà Mau, Quảng Trị work hard against IUU fishing

A border guard soldier checks a fishing boat in Cà Mau Province. VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

The Mekong Delta Province of Cà Mau reported no fishing boats violating foreign waters in the first five months of 2023.

This is attributed to the local authorities' application of various measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in a joint effort to remove the European Commission (EC)'s 'yellow card' warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.

However, there still remains a risk of illegal fishing activities in foreign waters as many local boats have been been removing and concealing their vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Huỳnh Quốc Việt has ordered departments, sectors and localities to effectively perform the fight against IUU fishing, focusing on promoting information and communication campaigns to popularise relevant legal regulations and strictly handle illegal fishing cases in foreign waters.

Colonel Phùng Đức Hưng, Commander of the provincial Border Guard Command, said the force continues to maintain and enhance the effectiveness of the communication system, update fishing vessel data in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), and monitor fishing vessels entering and exiting sea border stations.

They have collaborated with other law enforcement forces at sea and local authorities to strictly monitor and control offshore fishing vessels, and strengthen patrol activities, he said.

Cà Mau has more than 4,100 fishing boats, including 1,500 with a length of 15 metres and above. Over the last 180-day peak period, units of the provincial Border Guard inspected more than 40,000 fishing boats entering and leaving seaports in the locality.

Nearly 4,000 local fishermen were provided with legal knowledge, and some 2,000 ship owners and captains urged to sign commitments to strictly adhere to the regulations regarding the fight against IUU fishing.

Meanwhile, the central province of Quảng Trị is also concentrating on enhancing control of vessels that enter/leave fishing ports, as part of the efforts to wipe out illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The province has nearly 2,300 fishing boats, including 460 with a length of six metres and above. As of June 13,441 vessels have been licenced for fishing.

As many as 442 ships have been marked following legal regulations, while 184 vessels were connected to the vessel monitoring system (VMS).

All the fishing vessels with a length of 15 metres or more are required to dock at the Cửa Việt and Cửa Tùng – which are the designated fishing ports in Quảng Trị, for implementing procedures related to the fight against IUU fishing. A total of 594 vessels traversing via the ports have been strictly examined.

In addition, 100 per cent of the fishing vessels entering and exiting creeks at sea border stations have been also inspected.

The locality has also implemented an information and communication campaign to ensure transparency in IUU fishing combat efforts. It has provided diverse forms of popularisation and training for fishermen and related organisations on anti-IUU regulations.  

According to the provincial steering committee for IUU fishing prevention, authorised units will strengthen supervision via the VMS to prevent fishing vessels from engaging in violations in offshore areas, especially in foreign waters.

Film series on Vietnamese fairy tales released on YouTube

A TV series about Vietnamese fairy tales produced by Xuân Phước Studio, a private film company from HCM City, has attracted millions of viewers on YouTube.

The work, Cổ Tích Nước Nam (Vietnamese Tales), features Vietnamese history, culture and lifestyle.

It includes beautiful scenes captured in the Mekong Delta River and southern provinces, interspersed with the folk songs and traditional customs of the southern people.

The themes of bravery, honesty and patriotism are also highlighted.

The series Cổ Tích Nước Nam is part of a long-term film project produced by Xuân Phước Studio in co-operation with Vĩnh Long Radio & Television in 2021.

The project offers web dramas and TV shows on Vietnamese fairy tales which are based on Kho Tàng Truyện Cổ Tích Việt Nam (The Treasure of Vietnamese Fairy Tales), a collection of Vietnamese fairy tales rewritten by late professor Nguyễn Đổng Chi.

The collection includes five books and lively pictures released by the HCM City-based Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House in 2016.

It features 150 stories about Vietnamese people and ethnic minority groups. More than 105,000 copies of each book have been printed.

In 2022, Xuân Phước Studio released 40 shows on YouTube, earning around 20 million views.

The latest 25-minute show, called Vợ Nhập Tràng (Ghost Wife), released on June 1, has attracted nearly 450,000 views on YouTube.

It tells the story of a poor farmer who uses his intelligence to protect his wife from evil.

VN confident ahead of U17 Asian Cup

Despite some tough matches ahead, coach Hoàng Anh Tuấn is confident his Việt Nam U17 team will perform well at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U17 Asian Cup in Thailand.

Việt Nam will play defending champion Japan, powerhouse Uzbekistan and India in Group D. Their campaign will begin on June 17 against India.

India matched their best finish from 2002 when they reached the quarter-finals in 2018 meanwhile Việt Nam best finish was fourth in 2000.

It is Japan's 14th consecutive involvement and 16th overall – both records – in this continental tournament. The Japanese won three titles in 1994, 2006 and 2018 – the most of any team.

Uzbekistan were the 2012 champions.

Việt Nam, Uzbekistan and Japan secured their places in the finals after they were all unbeaten in the qualifying rounds.

Japan and Việt Nam displayed steely defensive performances, securing their places without conceding a single goal.

Tuấn's teens travelled to Qatar and Japan to train ahead of the championship. Among their friendly matches, they drew 0-0 with Laos, beat Qatar 2-0 and lost 0-2 to Yemen.

The group stage will conclude on June 23 before the quarter-finals start two days later, with the champions to be crowned on July 2 at the final in Pathum Thani Stadium.

The Asian Cup is a qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2023. The top four will be AFC’s representatives at the global showpiece in November.

India advanced from a tough qualifying group that included Saudi Arabia and forward Thanglalsoun Gangte's five goals played a major role in them securing a third consecutive appearance at the finals.

Japan scored for fun in the qualifiers, finding the back of the net 15 times in Group A but crucially, conceded none.

The major reason for that was defender Kotaro Honda, with the captain marshalling what proved to be an impenetrable defence and more will be expected from him as Japan look to retain the title after having won the AFC U16 Championship 2018.

Lazizbek Mirzaev played the captain's role to perfection as Uzbekistan topped Group J of the qualifiers.

The midfielder scored four goals, including one in the 3-2 win against South Korea and he will lead the charge as Uzbekistan look to add the title to the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2023 crown already in their possession.

Midfiedlder Nguyễn Công Phượng looked destined for a successful career after guiding Việt Nam into the finals in stellar fashion.

His leadership qualities aside, the midfielder also contributes two goals and Việt Nam will be looking to their skipper for an inspired run in the tournament. 

Fencers to take part in China Asian championship

National fencers will compete against the continent's best at the Asian championship from June 17-22 in Wuxi, China.

A team of 24 athletes including 32nd SEA Games champions such as Vũ Thành An, Nguyễn Tiến Nhật and Bùi Thu Hà will compete at the event.

Among competitors, An in men's sabre and Nhật in men's epee are top two athletes who can get high results in Wuxi.

An took a bronze medal here in 2016 while Nhật finish third at the 2019 edition.

Travellers stopped with undeclared foreign currency at Noi Bai airport

Customs officers at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi seized USD352,000 and EUR245,900 (USD265,261) illegally transported by five people on two international flights.

The five were on flight EK394 and QR976 which travelled from Poland to Noi Bai International Airport. 

The case is under investigation.

Under the State Bank of Vietnam’s regulations, passengers are allowed to carry VND15 million or USD5,000 or equivalent foreign currency in cash on their entry or exit. If they are carrying more, they must declare the amount with border-gate customs offices.

HCMC to build new bridge across Saigon River

The HCMC Department of Transport has proposed that the municipal People’s Council approve the investment policy for a new bridge across the Saigon River at a council meeting scheduled for next month.

The proposed Thu Thiem 4 bridge project, including the approach roads, would begin at the intersection of Tan Thuan 2 Bridge and Nguyen Van Linh Street. Cutting through Tan Thuan Port, the bridge will link with the Thu Thiem new urban area at the interchange of the North and South axis and R4 route in the residential area.

The Thu Thiem 4 bridge is planned to be 2.2 kilometers long and 28 meters wide, with six lanes for vehicles and two sidewalks.

The Thu Thiem 4 Bridge is considered a significant infrastructure project for HCMC as it will help alleviate traffic congestion from the southern part of the city to the center and promote the development of the Thu Thiem new urban area.

The latest report from the Department of Transport said that the estimated investment cost for the project is VND4,950 billion, which is lower than the previously planned VND5,300 billion. The department attributed the cost reduction to updates made in certain categories.

If the investment policy is approved, the contractor selection process and construction work would commence next year. The project is expected to be completed and put into use by 2028.

U.S. Mission in Vietnam announces 2024 Fulbright VNese Visiting Scholar Program

The U.S. Mission in Vietnam announced to seek qualified candidates for the 2024 Fulbright Vietnamese Visiting Scholar Program to lecture and/or conduct research at American colleges and universities.

Fulbright Vietnamese Visiting Scholar applicants must be Vietnamese citizens who hold an M.A. or Ph.D. degree. Applicants must be proficient in English.

Applicants should be university faculty, government officials, private sector professionals, or occupy similar positions.

Moreover, applicants must return to Vietnam upon completion of their U.S. stay.

The deadline of application submission is 5:00 p.m., October 17, 2023 (Vietnam time).

Further application details are available at: https://vn.usembassy.gov/education-culture/fulbright-program-vietnam/

Conference held on implementing AI in medical field

The Science & Technology Ministry and Science-Technology and Information-Communications Ministry of the Republic of Korea co-hosted a forum on using AI in digital transformation in the medical field in 2023.

Key speakers in the conference coming from Vietnam and the Republic of Korea presented many speeches on the influences of AI in the medical field. These include digital health orientation, cooperative research on AI to care for diabetes and cancer patients, innovations in medical care via AI, AI solutions for musculoskeletal imaging and growth testing in children.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy stated that there have been great breakthroughs in implementing IT in the medical field to improve public healthcare tasks.

In particular, the growth of AI and Big Data has created ways for easier compilation of all mankind’s knowledge about healthcare. This database is then analyzed through suitable algorithms to form supporting tools for doctors and medical officers to take care of people’s health.

HCMC steps up medical tourism post pandemic

The departments of Tourism and Health in HCMC are working together to promote the development of medical tourism in the city post pandemic, reported the local media.

At a press conference on June 13, the HCMC Department of Tourism introduced its medical tourism products for 2023 in a bid to leverage the city’s tourism potential and enhance healthcare services for visitors to HCMC.

With 131 public and private hospitals, HCMC is able to offer medical treatments at competitive prices.

Hospitals in HCMC eligible for offering healthcare services to tourists include HCMC University Medical Center, Tu Du Maternity Hospital, HCMC National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, Traditional Medicine Hospital, HCMC Heart Institute, and Vinmec Hospital.

Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, vice director of the HCMC Department of Tourism, highlighted the increasing interest in health tourism among both local and international tourists post pandemic. This presents a good opportunity for the city to boost its medical tourism services.

The departments of Tourism and Health have previously signed a joint plan to develop health tourism products. This year, they will further strengthen their collaboration by supporting tourism businesses in meeting the demands of the local and international markets, while also intensifying medical tourism promotion in foreign countries.

Number of Indian tourists to Vietnam sees spike

The number of Indian visitors to Vietnam is set to surge by at least 1,000% from pre-pandemic levels, according to Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of travel and bookings website Agoda.

“We see a lot more Indians traveling to Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia. They all got Indian travelers before but not to the extent that we see them here,” Morgenshtern said to CNN.

Based on data collected by Agoda, Indians are now traveling to a more diverse range of countries. In 2019, the three most popular destinations for Indians were Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Data from Agoda also showed that searches for Vietnam by Indian tourists between January 2019 to mid-May in 2023 grew more than for Southeast Asian neighbors like Thailand (147%), Singapore (215%) and Indonesia (256%).

In addition, the launch of a number of direct routes in recent years has made Vietnam a top pick among Indian travelers.

In 2019, Vietjet became the first Vietnamese carrier to operate a direct service to India, one of Vietnam's growing tourism markets before the pandemic.

Last year, Vietnam Airlines also launched direct services between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi, becoming the second Vietnamese carrier to fly to India.

250-kilo bomb found in Nghe An river

A bomb weighing 250 kilos with its detonator intact has just been found at the Lam River in the northern central province of Nghe An.

The military command in Nghe A Province confirmed on Thursday that the 1.60-metre-long bomb which was left from the American War, was found on June 13 by a local man while fishing on the Lam River in Ben Thuy Ward.

"The man had informed us and we immediately sent a team to inspect the area," the military command said. "After finding that the bomb still had the detonator, we put up warning signs to prevent people from entering the area while removing it from the site and handling it in accordance with protocols."

The bomb was safely detonated on June 15.

Earlier in April, a bomb weighing 225 kilos which dated back to the US war was also found in the same river by fishermen. Last year, another bomb weighing up to 350 kilos was also recovered from the river.

New heat wave to hit northern, central region

A new severe heat wave with temperatures reaching upto 39 degrees Celsius is hitting the central region from today and expanding to the northern region from Saturday.

Central provinces from Nghe An to Phu Yen were the first to be hit by the heatwave according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting with average temperatures ranging between 35-36 degrees Celsius, some areas including Do Luong District (Nghe An), have even experienced higher temperatures of between 37-38 degrees Celsius.

From June 17, the heat wave will expand to the northern region with average daytime temperatures of between 35-37 degrees Celsius while the temperatures keep rising in the central region to over 39 degrees Celsius.

During this time, the two regions will experience low average humidity from 45-60 percent.

The heat wave is forecasted to last from four-five days until June 21 in the north before rains return from June 22.

Meanwhile, the sunny and hot weather will last longer in the central region during the day, while thunderstorms and hail may occur in the afternoons and evenings, according to the centre.

HCM City dump sites converted into parks
 
Ho Chi Minh City has removed 988 unlicensed dumping grounds and turned 243 others into parks and vegetable gardens.

This is part of the city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s report sent to municipal authorities.  

Last year, nearly 2,200 new dustbins were installed across the city, raising the city’s total number of public dustbins on roads to 42,250. However, some of these dustbins have been damaged or stolen, the report said.

The city also installed an additional 4,800 surveillance cameras in public places in 2022, bringing the total CCTV in the city to 45,400.

The city has converted 243 dumping sites into parks and vegetable gardens. Recently, the Women’s Union of Cat Lai Ward in Thu Duc City co-operated and coordinated with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and residents to transform a 1,000-square-metre landfill into a vegetable garden.

A representative from the Women’s Union of Cat Lai Ward said that roughly 400-500 kilos of vegetables could be picked from the garden monthly. The vegetables are sold to kindergartens and households in the ward. The revenues from the garden are used to help poor people.

Long An concerned about widespread landslides

The Mekong Delta province of Long An has sounded the alarm about widespread landslides along the riverbanks of Can Giuoc and Vam Co Tay.

A severe landslide has recently occurred along a 70-meter stretch of the Can Giuoc River in Can Giuoc District, with numerous cracks discovered in the surrounding areas.

Bank erosions have also been identified in a section of the Vam Co Tay River that runs through three hamlets in Thach Hoa District: Ben Ke, Nuoc Trong, and Voi Dinh. A previous landslide in the same area had caused extensive damage to a road and affected hundreds of local residents.

The provincial People’s Committee has urged relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation and develop plans for relocating people to safe areas if necessary.

Other provinces in the Mekong Delta, such as Bac Lieu and Dong Thap, have also experienced aggravated riverine land losses.

As a result of landslides, a company in Dong Hai District of Bac Lieu Province has incurred losses of 1,180 square meters of factory, concrete fencing and wastewater treatment facilities, amounting to a total cost of over VND2 billion.

In Dong Thap Province, local firms reported losses of VND500 million due to bank erosion in Tan Huu Hamlet.

HCMC to build new bridge across Saigon River

The HCMC Department of Transport has proposed that the municipal People’s Council approve the investment policy for a new bridge across the Saigon River at a council meeting scheduled for next month.

The proposed Thu Thiem 4 bridge project, including the approach roads, would begin at the intersection of Tan Thuan 2 Bridge and Nguyen Van Linh Street. Cutting through Tan Thuan Port, the bridge will link with the Thu Thiem new urban area at the interchange of the North and South axis and R4 route in the residential area.

The Thu Thiem 4 bridge is planned to be 2.2 kilometers long and 28 meters wide, with six lanes for vehicles and two sidewalks.

The Thu Thiem 4 Bridge is considered a significant infrastructure project for HCMC as it will help alleviate traffic congestion from the southern part of the city to the center and promote the development of the Thu Thiem new urban area.

The latest report from the Department of Transport said that the estimated investment cost for the project is VND4,950 billion, which is lower than the previously planned VND5,300 billion. The department attributed the cost reduction to updates made in certain categories.

If the investment policy is approved, the contractor selection process and construction work would commence next year. The project is expected to be completed and put into use by 2028.

Three hostages in gun attack in Dak Lak rescued, returned home safely

The authorities have successfully saved and safely returned three hostages from the armed attack on the People's Committee headquarters of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes in Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province, to their families.

Three citizens held hostage are safely rescued by the authorities.

On June 15, Mr. Bach Dinh Bac, Deputy Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Hiep Commune, Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province, announced that the local authorities had successfully released three citizens who were held hostage during the gun attack on two headquarters of the People's Committee in Dak Lak on the early morning of June 11.

The released individuals are identified as Y Yung Bkrong (18 years old), Dieu Nguyen (32 years old), and Y Dun Bkrong (19 years old). They all reside in Hoa Hiep Commune, Cu Kuin District, Dak Lak Province.

According to the leader of Hoa Hiep Commune, in the early morning of June 11, after the attack on the main offices of the People's Committee of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes, the attackers raided a workers' camp located near the headquarters of the People's Committee of Ea Ktur Commune. The attackers brandished firearms to intimidate and capture three local workers as hostages. By the afternoon of June 11, the authorities successfully rescued two of the hostages. On June 14, the police forces also rescued the third hostage and returned him home.

"When the incident happened, thanks to the prompt action taken by the authorities at various levels, the citizens were promptly and safely rescued without any injuries," Mr. Bac stated.

According to Mr. Bac, the local authorities have also sent officials to visit the homes of the affected citizens, offering them encouragement and reassurance. The local authorities are ready to provide the necessary support when needed.

Earlier, SGGP Newspaper reported that on the morning of June 11, two groups of armed individuals used guns, knives, petrol bombs, and grenades to launch attacks on the People's Committee headquarters of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes. The incident resulted in the tragic deaths of four police officers and commune officials. In addition, two police officers were injured, and three civilians lost their lives.

By June 14, the police had successfully apprehended 46 suspects involved in the incident.

Dong Thap to organize first-ever Sa Dec Flower Festival

The first provincial-level Flower Festival will be held from December 30, 2023, to January 5, 2024, in Sa Dec City of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Sa Dec City Nguyen Van Hon on June 15 said that the event themed “Sa Dec, love for the land and flower” will feature a series of activities, such as an exhibition of ornamental plants, a ceremony honoring ornamental horticulture, programs connecting local and foreign businesses of the floral industry, a seminar on increasing the value chain of the flower and ornamental plant production of Dong Thap Province and the Mekong Delta.

There will be also performances of southern amateur music, a flower fair, and tourism promotional programs offering tours to the province’s attractions.

The festival is expected to contribute to the development of traditional trade and cultural values of Sa Dec flower village, one of the largest flower villages in the Mekong Delta as well as promote the tourism potential of Dong Thap province.

Vietnam Education Publishing House: Profit from textbooks reduced

The prices of grades 4, 8, and 11 textbooks are 4-6 percent lower than those of grades 3, 7, and 10 from the previous academic year, according to the VEPH.

Regarding the matter of textbook prices for grades 4, 8, and 11, which have recently sparked public concern due to a substantial hike in comparison to the current textbook prices, the Vietnam Education Publishing House (VEPH) issued a response on June 15.

The VEPH has confirmed that its Grade 4, Grade 8, and Grade 11 textbooks, titled "Ket noi tri thuc voi cuoc song” (Connecting Knowledge with Life) and "Chan troi sang tao” (Horizon of Creativity), have received approval from the Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). These textbooks will be implemented in the curriculum beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year. Furthermore, the VEPH has fulfilled the necessary pricing declaration following regulations.

The VEPH asserts that despite the ongoing rise in input costs, including materials and printing costs, it has persistently undertaken cost-cutting measures to decrease the prices of Grade 4, Grade 8, and Grade 11 textbooks. Currently, VEPH's textbooks are priced as the most affordable among the approved options. For example, the "Ket noi tri thuc voi cuoc song" textbook is priced 22-26 percent lower than textbooks from other publishers.

In addition to reducing profits and other expenses, VEPH has continued to apply discounts on publishing fees to ensure that the prices of Grade 4, Grade 8, and Grade 11 textbooks are lower than the previous year. Publishing fees include transportation, warehousing, and labor costs. The prices of grades 4, 8, and 11 textbooks are 4-6 percent lower than those of grades 3, 7, and 10 from the previous academic year. This calculation is based on the average price per page, obtained by dividing the total cover price by the total number of pages in the textbook.

According to the VEPH, in 2023, it will continue implementing a textbook support program targeting underprivileged students. VEPH will allocate a larger budget to provide free textbooks to students, supply books to school libraries nationwide, and offer scholarships to students.

Additionally, VEPH has enhanced its retail system and online sales channels to purchase textbooks more convenient for parents and students. The VEPH hotline at 0344.181.018 operates from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, to assist parents and students with any textbook-related issues.

The education sector has been implementing the new general education program since the 2020-2021 academic year. Currently, the program is being implemented in grades 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and Grade 10. Starting from the new academic year 2023-2024, Grades 4, 8, and 11 will also adopt the new program, and by the year 2025, all grade levels will be studying according to the new program. The process of successively replacing textbooks is being carried out simultaneously with the policy of "one program, multiple textbooks," which aims to eliminate the exclusive publication of textbooks.

The socialization of textbooks with multiple sets has sparked controversies over the past three years, as the prices of the new program's textbooks are 2-3 times higher than the old ones. VEPH and the MoET have provided an explanation for the higher prices of the new textbooks. Firstly, there has been an increase in the number of books in each set. Secondly, the compilation and publishing process is funded by enterprises rather than relying on the State budget. Additionally, the new books are approximately 1.2 times larger than the old ones and contain more illustrations, resulting in higher printing costs.

The prices of textbooks have been included in the proposed amendment to the Law on Price, which is currently being discussed during the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly. The government sets price limits for textbooks to safeguard the rights and interests of learners.

At present, the monitoring delegation of the NA's Standing Committee on the implementation of Resolution No.88 and Resolution No.51 of the NA, which focus on reforming the curriculum and general education textbooks is also overseeing this content. This is one of the four topics under monitoring by the NA and its Standing Committee in 2023. It is anticipated that the Standing Committee of the National Assembly will receive a report from the monitoring delegation in August 2023.

Promote payment mechanism for natural ecosystem services in Vietnam
 
It requires policymakers, corporations, individuals, and organizations proposing initiatives to promote ecosystem services, contributing to the regeneration and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems in Vietnam.

 Payment for ecosystem services (PES) has been widely recognized as a successful policy tool for natural resource management in over 60 countries and it’s necessary to promote the payment mechanism in Vietnam.

The idea was shared at a workshop held earlier this week by Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) marking a foundational report for developing provincial and grassroots payment schemes for natural ecosystem services and preparing a pilot project for the payment mechanism of carbon sequestration and storage in marine and wetland ecosystems.

Payment mechanisms have been implemented for various ecosystem services globally, including biodiversity conservation, watershed services, carbon sequestration, and scenic beauty. The total annual payment amount for PES programs worldwide exceeds US$36 billion.

In Vietnam, the successful implementation of payment for forest environmental services has contributed to increased financial resources for forest protection and development over the past decade. The lessons learned from forest environmental services provide a basis for scaling up similar mechanisms for other ecosystems, including marine and wetland environments.

Although Vietnam has implemented "PES-like" initiatives for marine and wetland ecosystems, there is currently no comprehensive payment for ecosystem services for these environments.

Some practical applications include entrance fees for protected marine and wetland areas, co-management models for fisheries resources, and the development of environmentally friendly aquaculture methods in coastal areas with the support of international organizations and related sectors.

Addressing the event, Dao Xuan Lai, Head of the Climate Change and Environment Unit of UNDP Vietnam, said: “Regarding the issue of financing biodiversity in Vietnam, UNDP has implemented initiatives such as sustainable financing for biodiversity, nature-based tourism, co-management of fisheries and natural resources, and promoting the implementation of payment mechanisms for natural ecosystem services."

"Vietnam needs practical contributions to achieve the ambitious biodiversity goals set out in the Global Biodiversity Framework at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15),” he emphasized.

These efforts should come from policymakers and corporations, individuals, and organizations proposing initiatives to promote ecosystem services, contributing to the regeneration and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems in Vietnam.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho, Director of the Institute for Strategy, Policy, Resources, and Environment emphasized the importance of expert contributions and opinions for research outcomes and proposals for mechanisms and policies.

The report summarizes and analyzes experiences and best practices related to PES in countries such as China, East Africa, Europe, and Costa Rica and practical models in Vietnam. It highlights that the success of PES programs depends on various factors and may only sometimes optimize costs.

These programs work best when services are clearly defined, beneficiaries are well-organized, and land and resource management communities have clear ownership rights and robust legal frameworks.

PES systems primarily focus on high-value ecosystem/environmental services for beneficiaries, with low-cost service provision. Headwater services, forest ecological services, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and scenic beauty are the main targets of PES programs worldwide.

The report also provides several key recommendations within the "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network" (BES-Net) Phase II project. These recommendations include developing criteria and methods to assess national marine and wetland ecosystem services and supporting the assessment and evaluation of ecosystem services at the grassroots level.

In addition, it maps the current status of marine and wetland ecosystem services in Vietnam and develops guidelines for provincial and grassroots levels on payment mechanism initiatives. At the same time, It pilots the payment for ecosystem services for marine and wetland ecosystems, and refines policies and regulations on payment for natural ecosystem services, with a focus on marine and wetland ecosystems.

The workshop was attended by representatives from various organizations, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, research institutes, international organizations (WWF, USAID), national parks, and non-governmental organizations. The workshop is part of the "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network" (BES-Net) Phase II project.

BES-Net is a collaborative initiative between UNDP, UNEP-WCMC, and UNESCO, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Government and SwedBio. The project aims to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem services to enhance Earth's resilience and human well-being.

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