National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will make official working trips to Hungary from June 26 – 28 and to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from June 28-30.

The visit to Hungary was made at the invitation of Laszlo Kover, speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, while the visit to the UK was made at the invitations of John McFall, speaker of the House of Lords, and Linsay Hoyle, speaker of the House of Commons.

Catriona Gray to judge Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 pageant

Filipino beauty Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, touched down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on June 23 as she prepares to judge the upcoming grand final of Miss Universe Vietnam 2022 two days later.

Miss Universe Vietnam 2022’s final night is scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City on June 25, with the event attracting the participation of 41 contestants nationwide.

Catriona Gray will join other beauties, including Natalie Glebova, Miss Universe 2005, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, Miss Universe 2021, and H’Hen Nie, a Top 5 finisher at Miss Universe 2018, to work as members the judging panel for the local pageant.

Vietnam remains in FIFA top 100

The national men’s football team of Vietnam remains in FIFA's top 100, according to the Vietnam Football Federation.

The Golden Dragons are in the 97th spot in the FIFA ranking with 1,219 points.

A 2-0 victory over Afghanistan in a friendly match held on June 1 has helped Vietnam gain 3.46 points. However, it was not enough for the team to advance in the rankings because its closest rivals such as Palestine and Kyrgyzstan had very good performances in the 2023 Asian Cup Third Qualifier.

Although Vietnam has dropped one spot compared to the previous ranking update, it is the only Southeast Asian team in the world’s top 100. Notably, maintaining the position since November 2018 is considered a very impressive record for the team.

Vietnam still leads Southeast Asia, followed by Thailand and the Philippines. In Asia, Vietnam ranks 17th.

Mozambican Assembly President concludes Vietnam visit

President of the Mozambican Assembly Esperanca Laurinda Francisco Nhiuane Bias concluded her official visit to Vietnam on June 23.

The visit, made at the invitation of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, is the first to Vietnam of Bias since she took office as President of the Mozambican Assembly in January 2020. It is also the first visit of a President of the Mozambican Assembly to Vietnam.

During the visit from June 18-23, the Mozambican legislative leader held talks with NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, paid a courtesy visit to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, had a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and met with standing member of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee Vo Van Thuong.

During the meetings, the two sides shared the belief that the visit of the Mozambican Assembly leader will contribute to strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries and deepening the cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

They also agreed that economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Mozambique remained modest at 149.5 million USD in 2021. They discussed and reached agreement on major orientations to boost the bilateral partnership in the time ahead, with economy the focus of cooperation.   

As for the ties between the two parliaments, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation, which they said will serve as an important legal foundation for the two legislative bodies to expand their partnership.

The Mozambican guest also made a working trip to the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Vietnamese association makes debut in Japan's Okinawa prefecture

The Vietnamese community in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture has established the Association of Vietnamese in Okinawa (AVO) with the aim of strengthening connectivity and mutual support among overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in the locality.

According to the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, at a meeting held in Naha city of Okinawa prefecture, delegates agreed to approve the charter and operational orientation of the association, and elected an executive board of 15 members.

AVO President Nguyen Thi Huong said at the launch ceremony that with over 3,000 people, Vietnamese is the largest expat community in Okinawa.

The establishment of the association was an important milestone showing the strong development of the Vietnamese community in the prefecture, she said.

HCM City hospitals get software to manage organ procurement, transplant

Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in coordination with Thong Nhat Hospital and the Children’s Hospital No.2 on June 23 launched the country’s first ever software for organ donation, management, allocation, and transplant.

The software was developed through the municipal Department of Science and Technology’s research project at the three hospitals, Dr Du Thi Ngoc Thu, head of Cho Ray’s unit for coordinating human organ transplants, said.

The system contains data on the waiting list to receive organs, donation and matching and transplantation, she told a press briefing.

According to the hospital, of the limited donation of organs in Vietnam, 94.1% comes from living people and 5.9% from deceased people.

Indian-funded preschool handed over to Lao Cai province

The Indian Embassy in Vietnam coordinated with the People's Committee of the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai to hold a handover ceremony for a preschool project in Trung Chai commune, Sa Pa town, Lao Cai, on June 23.

The construction of the two-storey kindergarten was funded by the Indian Government, and was completed in three months.

Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma said that the school project is an example of the cooperation between India and Vietnam at the grassroots level, adding that it is even more meaningful as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (January 7, 1972 - January 7, 2022).

Vietnamese, Cambodian leaders exchange greetings on 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Party and State leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia have exchanged letters of greetings on the 55th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations and the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

For Vietnam’s part, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Cambodian People’s Party Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc extended his greetings to King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his congratulations to his counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue extended congratulations to President of the Senate Samdech Say Chhum and President of the National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin.

In their messages, the Vietnamese leaders noted with satisfaction that despite numerous challenges, ups and downs in history, the Vietnamese and Cambodian peoples have always stood side by side and supported each other in the struggles for national liberation in the past as well as in each country’s national development at present, which is a priceless asset that the two countries’ leaders and peoples need to continue nurturing.

They expressed their belief that the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable, and long-term cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia will be further enhanced and developed for the sake of the two peoples, and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development of the ASEAN Community, the region, and the world.

On this occasion, the leaders of Vietnam also congratulated Cambodia on its enormous and comprehensive achievements over the last decades, especially in the pandemic control and socio-economic recovery and development recently.

They said they believe that the Cambodian people will reap even greater accomplishments and successfully build a country of peace, stability, independence, self-reliance, and prosperous development that has an increasing stature in the international arena.

For Cambodia’s part, King Norodom Sihamoni sent letters of congratulations to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen extended greetings to his counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, and President of the Senate Samdech Say Chhum and President of the National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin sent congratulations to National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

The leaders of Cambodia affirmed the two countries’ friendship, which had existed long before the diplomatic relations were officially set up, has continually been reinforced in the spirit of good neighbourliness, solidarity, mutual trust and understanding, and win-win cooperation.

The Vietnamese and Cambodian peoples together underwent many difficulties and hardships in the endeavours for national liberation, independence, reunification, and development, they stressed, voicing their belief that bilateral ties will keep developing strongly, intensively, and comprehensively in both bilateral aspects and at multilateral forums, especially ASEAN.

The Cambodian leaders congratulated the Vietnamese Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people on many major achievements in national development, along with the growing role and stature in the world.

They wished Vietnam more successes and fulfillment of the goal of becoming a developed and high-income nation by 2045.

On this occasion, Vietnam’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn exchanged letters of congratulations. Leaders of the two countries’ committees, ministries, sectors, and localities also sent greetings to each other.

PM requests prompt settlement of medical supply shortages, health workers’ resignation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh demanded the shortages of drugs and medical supplies and the resignation among health workers be promptly settled while chairing a meeting of the Government’s permanent members in Hanoi on June 23.

Explaining the drug and medical supply shortages in some localities and central-level hospitals, the Ministry of Health (MoH) pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, whose serious impacts in 2020 and 2021 led to the scarcity of materials for production and surged prices and subsequently made it more difficult to purchase medicine and medical supplies.

Notably, it noted, some localities and establishments are afraid that they may commit wrongdoings or undergo examination and inspection, so they didn’t dare to buy supplies.

In addition, resignation among health workers in the public sector has increased, the MoH said, blaming that on low salaries and allowances in the public health network, especially preventive medicine and grassroots health facilities, as well as high pressure, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

PM Chinh requested relevant ministries and sectors to have a through grasp of the situation, analyse causes, and coordinate closely with each other to deal with the situation in a timely and effective manner.

Hanoi finalises design of $375m Tran Hung Dao Bridge

Hà Nội’s People’s Committee has chosen the final design for the Trần Hưng Đạo Bridge, which will cross the Hồng (Red) River and connect three urban districts of the capital, after three months of consideration.

According to the design, the main bridge will be 900m long with six spans. The project will have a total length of about 5.5km, connecting the districts of Hoàn Kiếm and Hai Bà Trưng to Long Biên District on the northern bank of the Red River.

The bridge's starting point will be at the Trần Hưng Đạo-Trần Thánh Tông intersection in Hoàn Kiếm District, where it will extend to Nguyễn Văn Linh Road in Long Biên District. 

The design is a combination of ancient and modern Hà Nội on the two sides of the Red River, featuring curving waves in the bridge's dome and symbolising endless connection.

There will be separate lanes leading to the bridge for vehicles and pedestrians. The bridge will also feature spaces for sightseeing and parks for people to enjoy.

There will be parks at both ends of the bridge.

The project's construction will take three years and will be completed in the second quarter of 2025. Total preliminary investment capital is estimated to be about VNĐ8.7 trillion.

Health ministry urged caution as dengue fever outbreak escalates

The Ministry of Health on Tuesday asked localities nationwide to boost dengue prevention and control measures as the number of cases continues to rise, particularly in the south and central regions.

This is now considered the peak dengue season, and by June 16, Việt Nam recorded more than 60,000 cases, an increase of 97 per cent compared to the same period last year and about 8,000 cases higher than the previous week.

This year, the number of severe dengue cases increased rapidly, much higher than in the same periods of two previous years. More children have also died from dengue fever than adults.

The Ministry of Health forecasts that the number of dengue fever cases will continue to increase in the near future and the disease may break out on a large scale if drastic measures are not put in place.

Police warn about Cambodian human trafficking scams

Authorities in some central and central highlands provinces are investigating human trafficking scams to Cambodia targeting local young people.

Police in Quang Ngai and Gia Lai provinces have recently received reports of local teenagers cheated by human trafficking rings and brought to Cambodia to work through social media scams.

According to the Quang Ngai Provincial Police Department, they have received letters calling for help from eight local families whose children were cheated and brought to Cambodia.

Police in Gia Lai Province also said that they had been informed of many young people being cheated by human trafficking rings in Cambodia since early June with two of them having been rescued and brought home.

One of the saved victims, Pham Phuong Tu, 23, said that he came to Sihanoukville Province to work following promises of a high salary from some people he knows on an online forum. But then he was asked to work on cheating other Vietnamese young people.

In another case, Nguyen Thi Loan, 16, from Phu Yen Province was also convinced to go to Cambodia with the same promises. Loan left Phu Yen for HCM City to work and then lost contact with her family in early June. In mid-June, Loan called her family saying that she was in Cambodia and needed VND 23 million to pay the ring to take her home. And Loan arrived home on June 20 after her family sent the money.

Local police are trying to find out the rings which are led by Cambodian nationals while issuing warnings to local people about the scams.

EVN warns of electricity failure due to hot weather

Vietnam Electricity warned that the prolonged hot weather would increase household electricity consumption, mainly due to the use of many cooling devices, such as air conditioners. This leads to 

The development of intensely hot weather on a large scale in the North and Central regions since mid-June has been causing the national electricity consumption to climb sharply. According to data from the National Load Dispatch Center, at noon on June 21, the national electricity consumption capacity exceeded 45,000 MW for the first time and set a new record high of 45,528 MW. In addition, the electricity consumption capacity of the North alone also hit a new record with a peak capacity of 22,330 MW at noon on June 21.

According to the EVN, compared to the average level of the previous week, the peak capacity of the national power system on June 21 has increased by more than 6,500 MW. In the North alone, peak capacity has risen by more than 5,200 MW, or nearly 31% compared to the average of the previous week. 

Vietnam Electricity warned that the prolonged hot weather would increase household electricity consumption, mainly due to the use of many cooling devices, such as air conditioners. This leads to a high risk of local grid failure due to having to operate at full load and overload many times.

Minor titles of Miss Universe Vietnam beauty contest 2022 announced

The organization board of Miss Universe Vietnam beauty contest 2022 presented minor titles to beauties in the semi-final rounds which were held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in HCMC’s District 7 on June 21.

Accordingly, contestants including Le Thao Nhi, Nguyen Thi Thanh Khoa, Nguyen Thi Le Nam won the titles of Best English skill, Best interview and Best face respectively. While the awards of Best body, Best catwalk and Best introduction went to Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau, Le Hoang Phuong and Nguyen Thi Huong Ly.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau and Huynh Pham Thuy Tien were honored with the titles of Environment Ambassador and Tourism Ambassador. Nguyen Thi Le Nam and Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao received the titles of Community Ambassador and Cultural Heritage Ambassador.

Miss Universe Vietnam beauty contest 2022 themed “Vinawoman – Vietnamese women's stuff” was returned in February after a temporary halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The jury of the contest selected 70 outstanding contestants for the reality TV competition series and narrowed down to 41 candidates in the semi-final rounds. 

The final round will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in HCMC’s District 7 on June 25.

Scientists honoured with L’Oréal-UNESCO International Rising Talent Award

The Jury of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the L’Oréal Foundation on June 22 presented the L’Oréal-UNESCO International Rising Talent Award in 2022 to Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, a chemicals scientist who is working at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment.

With her research in developing new materials to the production of green hydrogen, Dr. Van has become one of the 15 young women scientists representing the five continents in the world to receive the award.

The 15 International Rising Talents, selected by an international Selection committee, receive an additional endowment of 15,000 EUR (15,840 USD). In addition to this financial support and international recognition, these young women also benefit from a leadership training that is complementary to their academic background and essential to fight discrimination. This programme is exclusively dedicated to the national and regional Young Talents.

Over the past 24 years, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme has honoured 122 women scientists and supported more than 3,800 others from 110 countries to make outstanding achievements and contribute to making the world better.

Exhibition to feature works by photojournalists in Hanoi

Press photos by reporters from Hanoi Photojournalists’ Club will be introduced at an exhibition which is scheduled from June 24-30 at the Vietnam Women’s Museum in Hanoi.

On display are 105 works, including 74 single and 31 sets of photos.

They were created by photojournalists who are working at leading press agencies as well as freelance photographers and photojournalists in the capital city.

At the exhibition, visitors will have the chance to review the political, diplomatic, economic, cultural and social events of the country from January 2020 to May 2022, including Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s speech at the closing ceremony for the 13th National Party Congress, medical forces at hot spots during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing days in Hanoi and SEA Games 31.

In addition, the exhibits diversely and comprehensively show the movements of all aspects of social life, such as the daily life of female environmental sanitation workers and the images of storms and floods in Hue and Quang Tri.

All works clearly show the passion, aspiration and devotion of photojournalists in the capital city.

Vietnam Women's Museum receives portrait paintings of female journalists

The Vietnam Women's Museum held a ceremony to receive artifacts and hold an exchange programme with the theme "Female journalists" with author and journalist Huynh Dung Nhan on June 20.

The event as among the activities in response to the 97th Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2022).

The collection of 100 portrait paintings of Vietnamese female journalists was selected from the more than 500 paintings created by journalist Huynh Dung Nhan over the past two years.

Journalist Huynh Dung Nhan has donated the collection to the Vietnam Women's Museum, No. 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, in order to contribute more interesting stories and multi-dimensional perspectives on many contemporary issues of society.

Tay Ninh expected to spend VND1.5t on HCMC-Moc Bai expy site clearance

The HCMC-Moc Bai expressway project, which will link HCMC with Tay Ninh Province, will require around VND7.4 trillion for site clearance work, with over VND1.5 trillion set to be covered by Tay Ninh.

The provincial Department of Transport said today, June 22, that the pre-feasibility study for the 50-kilometer road project had been completed. A 23.7-kilometer section will run across HCMC and the remainder through Tay Ninh, reported Thanh Nien newspaper.

The project will cost over VND15.9 trillion in investment. Site clearance accounts for 47% of the total investment, at VND7.4 trillion.

Of this, the southern province of Tay Ninh will spend some VND1.53 trillion on site clearance, while VND5.9 trillion will be borne by HCMC.

The project’s investor will call for investment under the build-operate-transfer format to cover the remaining funding of VND8.5 trillion to pay construction, project management and investment consulting costs.

Elderly people hospitalised by prolonged hot weather

Prolonged hot weather with average temperatures of about 40 degrees Celsius in many northern localities including Hanoi in recent days have led to health problems in elderly people.

According to doctor Tran Dinh Thang at the Emergency Aid and Stroke Ward under the National Geriatric Hospital, the rate of elderly people having health examinations at the hospital in June increased by two to three times compared with May.

"We’re receiving between 30-40 patients who are mostly elderly people daily who have health problems related to hot weather, with many of them in critical condition," the doctor said. "The situation occurs every year during severe hot summer weather”.

Explaining the problem, Doctor Thang said that the elderly could easily have problems in hot weather because their ability to adapt to the weather was weak. Many have underlying diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, so hot weather puts them at risk.

Eight Party members in HCMC face disciplinary measures

The Standing Board of the HCMC Party Committee has imposed disciplinary measures against eight Party members in the city for their violations in major cases.

In a case involving violating regulations on the management and use of State assets, causing losses and wastefulness at 8-12 Le Duan Street in District 1 and a case of irresponsibility causing serious consequences involving businesswoman Duong Thi Bach Diep, director of Diep Bach Duong Real Estate Co., Ltd., three Party members were expelled from the Party, the local media reported.

They were Tran Nam Trang, former deputy director of the municipal Department of Finance; Huynh Kim Phat, former deputy head of the HCMC government’s office; and Nguyen Thanh Nhan, former deputy director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Trang was found to have shown a lack of responsibility in checking, detecting and preventing violations in the case at 8-12 Le Duan Street.

Trang and Phat had also proposed the city approve the exchange of a land lot at 57 Cao Thang Street, District 3, for the 185 Hai Ba Trung location, facilitating Duong Thi Bach Diep to appropriate State assets, causing serious consequences.

Meanwhile, Nhan failed to direct the review of the legality of the land lot at 57 Cao Thang Street, so he did not detect that the land lot had been mortgaged for loans, causing losses for the State.

As for the case at the Saigon Agriculture Incorporated (Sagri), the Standing Board of the HCMC Party Committee dismissed Nguyen Thanh Nhut, deputy director of Saigon Zoo Co., Ltd, from the title of former deputy secretary of Sagri’s Party Committee in the 2015-2020 tenure. Nhut was found to have approved a plan for overseas study trips for Sagri employees, causing losses for Sagri.

In a case that involved seven schools in Cu Chi District, Le Thi Thanh Tuyen, former head of the district’s finance-planning division, and Nguyen Thi Loan, former head of the district’s education and training division, were expelled from the Party.

According to the standing board of the municipal Party Committee, Tuyen and Loan violated regulations on investment, bidding and construction at seven schools in Cu Chi, causing losses to the State budget.

In addition, Huynh Thi Tuyet Nhung, former chairwoman of the member council of the Service Company to Foreign Missions, was ousted from the Party for her involvement in a case of embezzling assets and showing a lack of responsibility at the Service Company to Foreign Missions.

Nhung had signed documents without checking and comparing them with the relevant dossiers and documents, causing losses for the company.

Nguyen Thanh Tuan, head of the Board for Propaganda and Education of the Party Committee of District 11, faced the same fate as Nhung as he had abused his position and power to allow people ineligible for the Covid-19 vaccination to get vaccine doses at a vaccination site at kindergarten No. 10 in District 11’s Ward 10.

Tuan had also created conditions for unassigned people to organize the Covid-19 vaccination and collect fees from residents, going against the State’s policies of providing the vaccines at no charge.

Football midfielder to play for French club

Leading footballer Nguyen Quang Hai has signed a contract with a club of France but he kept its name undisclosed.

Most likely he will play for one among the clubs; Paris FC, Metz, Pau, Bastia, Rodez, Nimes and Grenoble in the Ligue 2, with Nimes being the highest possibility.

Hai started his career 16 years ago and has spent his entire career at Hanoi FC, from the youth to senior team.

Currently, he is applying for a working visa for the contract signed with the club in Ligue 2 so that he can go back to France for a medical examination.

Fans across Southeast Asia sent their best wishes to Hai following the information. 

Hai, 25, has played 126 matches and scored 35 goals as yet during his 16 years at Hanoi FC which negotiated with the midfielder for a contract extension but he remained steadfast in moving abroad.

He won three top-tier V-League 1 championships in 2016, 2018, and 2019, two National Cup trophies in 2019 and 2020, and three titles of the Vietnam Super Cup in 2019, 2020 and 2021 with Hanoi FC.

Hai rose to prominence with a series of stellar performances that helped Vietnam reach the final of the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship.

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