The Information and Communications Ministry has started the campaign ‘Action Month for Identifying and Preventing Online Fraudulence’, chaired and coordinated by the Information Security Authority.

Accordingly, the campaign ‘Action Month for Identifying and Preventing Online Fraudulence’ is carried out from June 23 to July 23. The Information Security Authority is going to cooperate with members of the Alliance to spread suitable knowledge in order to raise the awareness of the public about information security on the Internet.

The campaign is held nationwide via useful clips to illustrate popular cyberspace scams, to help identify 24 fraudulence types, and to provide a knowledge handbook to protect people and their relatives on the cyberspace.

Reports from the Information Security Authority show that technology-related scamming activities in Vietnam lately has become more cunning and complicated. In the first 6 months this year, the proportion of cyberspace frauds increased by nearly 65 percent compared to this time last year.

There are 24 kinds of scamming divided into three main groups of brand counterfeiting, account hacking, and combination of various kinds. They mostly aim at the elderly (15 popular kinds), children (3 kinds), students and young adults (13 kinds), and workers or officers (19 kinds).

One of the major reasons why victims easily fall into those tricks is the low awareness of Internet users. Therefore, besides applying technical measures top stop these frauds, the Information Security Authority sees knowledge propaganda campaigns as an effective way to raise this awareness and equip citizens with proper Internet skills to protect themselves. This will in turn boost the national digital transformation process, help sustainable socio-economic development.

American War 340-kilo bomb found in Yen Bai

A US bomb weighing up to 340 kilos is found at a house construction site in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai on June 25.

According to the Van Yen District People's Committee, the bomb was found in the late afternoon of June 25 by a group of workers digging at a house construction site in Mau Dong Commune.

After being informed by the house owner, the local authorities immediately sent a team to investigate the site.

The bomb which was left from the American War, was 1.20 metres long and 0.45 metres in diameter, the committee said.

Mau Dong Communal Military Command has sealed the area while waiting for the bomb to be disarmed.

Large bombs have regularly been found in Yen Bai. In August 2018, a 350-kilo bomb was also found and successfully deactivated in Van Yen District. Another 340-kilo bomb was discovered and safely defused in Luc Yen District in February 2020.

Local authorities said the US-made bombs were dropped during the US bombing of northern Vietnam from 1968 through to the 1970s.

According to the National Steering Committee for Recovery of Postwar Bomb and Landmines, about 800,000 tonnes of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) were left scattered across 6.6 million hectares – or 20.12 percent of the country’s surface area after the war ended in 1975, mainly in the central region, putting people in danger every day.

By 2020, some 6.13 million hectares of land are polluted or suspected of being affected by UXOs, accounting for 18.82 percent of the country’s total area.

Since 1975, UXO incidents have killed more than 40,000 people and injured 60,000 others.

Halong City takes action against scam travel agencies

Halong City has called on the competent authorities in Quang Ninh Province to launch an investigation into individuals or groups using social media platforms to deceive travelers and tarnish the tourism image of Halong City.

There has been an alarming rise in the number of scam groups and websites posing as travel agencies, offering fraudulent tickets and trips, with the intention of swindling money from individuals planning to visit Halong City.

Nguyen Ngoc Son, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Halong City, told Vietnam News Agency that the city has urged its public security forces to promptly investigate and take appropriate action against these fraudulent activities, including imposing criminal penalties on offenders.

To combat these scams, travel firms are strongly advised to provide accurate information on their social media platforms and maintain transparency in their dealings with customers. This will help potential travelers identify legitimate agencies and avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes.

The city of Halong is committed to protecting the interests of tourists and upholding its reputation as a premier travel destination. The authorities are taking these measures to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors to Halong City.

Losing weight thanks to cycling

Vu Van Linh, 28, is a live streamer living in District 11, HCMC. He used to go to bed at 3-4 a.m. and sleep until late in the afternoon. Last year, he weighed up to 110kg from the former weight of 70kg, mainly because of his sedentary lifestyle.

In December last year, Linh bought a mountain bike, and began to get up early to cycle around the city from 5 a.m. every day. Half a month later, he moved to live in the central coastal city of Danang and continued cycling every early morning. Then he decided to cycle farther to the neighboring city of Hue or to Quang Nam Province and back within a day. Wonderfully, he could lose up to 30kg after five months of cycling.

On April 15 this year, Linh started his trans- Vietnam cycling tour. Bringing with him some personal belongings, medicines and repairing tools, he cycled to Hue and then to Dong Ha City (Quang Tri Province). He continued cycling to the northwestern and northeastern regions, and then cycled southward.

As of June 10, Linh had arrived in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, crossing over 3,500km by bicycle. He told thanhnien.vn that he would cycle to the southernmost province of Ca Mau to complete his trip.

The “godmothers” of orphaned kids

The “Godmother” program jointly launched by the Vietnam Women’s Union and the General Political Department of the People’s Army of Vietnam has attracted the participation of over 23,000 “godmothers” for 19,760 orphans, including more than 3,000 ones as a result of Covid-19.

 The program has also raised some VND115 billion after two years. At the event held in Hanoi on June 8 to welcome 100 “godmothers” and children coming to the capital city to attend the Hoa Huong Duong (Sunflower) Summer Camp, the organizing board announced an additional of 7,850 orphans had been registered to join the “Godmother” program by organizations, provinces and cities countrywide.

Ha Thi Nga, chairwoman of the Vietnam Women’s Union Central Committee, told tuoitre.vn that thanks to the love and care of the “godmothers,” most orphans have been able to live a stable life, been obedient and industrious, achieved good academic results, and actively taken part in many social and charitable activities.

15 more people prosecuted in case related to Trinh Van Quyet

The Police Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security yesterday issued a decision on prosecution to 15 defendants related to the case of “Manipulation of securities market” arising in FLC Group.

Among the 15 accused, there are two employees of FLC Group named Do Thi Huyen Trang, Deputy Chief of the Accounting Department and Nguyen Thi Yen Nga, an accountant.

The accused also include leaders and employees of FLC’s subsidiaries and BOS Securities Corporation; acquaintances, relatives and employees of Trinh Van Quyet. They helped Trinh Van Quyet, Trinh Thi Minh Hue and other related people for the act of “Manipulation of securities market” to illegally earn more than VND667 billion (US$28.3 million).

The 15 accused above were prosecuted following the regulations on Article 211 of the Criminal Code.

Ceremony receiving UNESCO certificate on Han-Nom character documents organized

A ceremony to receive the UNESCO certificate of recognition of Han-Nom character documents (1689-1943) in Truong Luu Village of Ha Tinh Province as documentary heritage in Asia and the Pacific was held on June 24.
 
The event also aims to mark the 310th birthday of well-known scholar Nguyen Huy Oanh, (1713-2023), the 280th birthday of celebrity Nguyen Huy Tu and the 240th birthday of celebrity Nguyen Huy Ho.

Attending the event was Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung; representatives of the Department of Culture, External Relations and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, three families of Nguyen Huy, Hoang Van, and Tran Van; and leaders of Nghe An and Quang Binh provinces.

The Han-Nom character text includes 48 documents written in Han (Chinese) and Nom (the old Chinese-based Vietnamese) scripts of the three families including Nguyen Huy, Tran Van, and Hoang in Truong Luu Village, Kim Song Truong Commune in Can Loc District. Of which, there are 26 ordination documents from the Le and Nguyen Dynasties (1689-1943), 19 administrative documents of the Nguyen Dynasty (1803-1943), and three silk baldaquins offered to individuals to congratulate their longevity and top scores achieved at examinations. These texts are rare and valuable cultural and educational documents as well as unique artworks.

At present, Truong Luu is the only village in Vietnam having three heritages that are documentary heritage in Asia and the Pacific, including the Phuc Giang School’s woodblocks, Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do (The Envoyship Journeys to China – literally translated as maps and itinerary of the envoy’s journey to China) and Truong Luu Village’s Han-Nom character documents.

Nguyen Minh Phat triumphs in men's singles at ITF U18 J60 Nonthaburi 2023

With a convincing 2-0 triumph (6/1, 6/4) over Pham La Hoang Anh, Nguyen Minh Phat became the champion of the ITF U18 J60 Nonthaburi 2023 Tennis Tournament.
 
In contrast, Nguyen Minh Phat was eliminated in the opening match of the men's doubles event, which allowed the tennis player from Hung Thinh Club to concentrate all his efforts on the men's singles event. Due to previous defeats against Hoang Anh, Nguyen Minh Phat considered himself the "underdog" and, as a result, put in even more determination. Nguyen Minh Phat showcased an exceptional performance, consistently executing accurate shots on the court.

Right from the first set, Minh Phat showcased his dominance by securing two breaks of serve, resulting in a comfortable 6/1 victory. The momentum carried into the second set, where Minh Phat continued to outperform his opponent, earning another break and ultimately winning with a score of 6/4.

With a convincing 2-0 triumph (6/1, 6/4) over Pham La Hoang Anh, Nguyen Minh Phat became the champion of the ITF U18 J60 Nonthaburi 2023 Tennis Tournament. 

HCMC studies Seine River planning

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City high-ranking officials led by Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen studies the Seine River planning.

Within the framework of a working visit to France, the high-ranking delegation of Ho Chi Minh City, accompanied by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, learned about the planning and development of the Seine.

Head of the Propaganda and Education Board of the HCMC Party Committee Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong, Chief of Office of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong; and some leaders of departments, agencies and localities of Ho Chi Minh City were taking the boat trip.

Mr. Nicolas Bauquet, Director of the Institute of Urban Planning in Paris, gave an explanation of the river planning to the delegation. During a nearly 4-hour boat trip along the Seine River, Secretary of the City Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Van Nen and members of the delegation were learning about the experience of planning and developing the Seine, including how to keep the river from not be polluted.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen thanked Mr. Nicolas Bauquet who explained the Seine River development planning experience, which helped city leaders learn more about solutions to develop Ho Chi Minh City in the near future.

Secretary Nguyen Van Nen also disclosed that the National Assembly-approved Resolution allowed Ho Chi Minh City to pilot several specific mechanisms and policies that are not currently regulated by Vietnamese law. This is a pleasure for the city. The delegation’s visit to France aims to learn experience from France to attract investment in river embankment development and economic riverside services along the Saigon River.

More importantly, the city has a team of dedicated staff and a large number of experts, Saigon river lovers who will make the best efforts to embellish and build the river more and more beautiful.

In the evening of the same day, the delegation visited and worked with the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE Global).

At the meeting, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen commented that the Vietnamese community in France is a large community with a long tradition, making many contributions to the cause of the nation’s revolution and the present country’s construction.

The HCMC Secretary also affirmed that the Party and State always consider overseas Vietnamese, including overseas intellectuals, to be an inseparable part of the country's development.

HCMC needs to have policies for Immunoglobulin production

Ho Chi Minh City needs to have policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical enterprises to carry out studies and produce Immunoglobulin, said Associate Professor Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City.
 
Hospitals across the country are lacking Plasma-derived Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG), which is needed for the treatment of child patients with severe hand, foot and mouth disease in the southern provinces and cities. Worse, many localities have not stored this drug - which can only be produced from human plasma and cannot be produced domestically.

IVIG is an effective adjuvant treatment for severe cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, reducing the rate of transfer as well as the rate of severe complications of hand, foot and mouth disease in children.

IVIG is prepared directly from human plasma, so production will depend entirely on the supply of plasma through blood donation, so the soaring need for the drug will cause more difficulties for the supply than that of other drugs. IVIG is prepared directly from human plasma, so it is only allowed to be circulated and used after obtaining a quality certificate issued by the National Institute for Testing of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals.

The National Institute for Accreditation of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals on June 23 issued a certificate for 6,000 bottles of ProIVIG imported by Duy Anh Pharmaceutical Trading Company. Pediatric hospitals citywide have access to this newly imported source of IVIG drugs and urgently carry out procedures to procure drugs, ensuring uninterrupted drug supply for the treatment of hand, foot and mouth diseases.

Hand, foot and mouth disease circulates year-round in most provinces and will continue to evolve, so more radical and proactive solutions to IVIG drug supply should be adopted soon. Accordingly, the Ministry of Health needs to conduct concentrated procurement of rare drugs to ensure the supply of drugs for the group of endemic diseases, including dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth and a number of other dangerous and rare diseases.

Ho Chi Minh City needs to have policies to encourage domestic pharmaceutical enterprises to carry out studies and produce Immunoglobulin from locally available plasma supplies through blood donation activities instead of entirely relying on imported drugs. This is also consistent with the development orientation of the pharmaceutical industry in the coming time.

The boy bravely surviving burns

Twelve years ago, at three years old, Vu Quoc Linh was burned up to 87% of his body. After four months of treatment in the hospital, undergoing many skin grafting surgeries, the little boy could be sent home in Te Tan Commune, Nong Cong District, Thanh Hoa Province, with innumerable scars from head to toes.

Le Thi Ha, Linh’s mother, said that at first, she had to hide all the mirrors in the house for fear that the image her son saw in there could frighten him. But Linh was not so pessimistic about his appearance. He often asked his mother humorously whether he looked like an extraterrestrial being. As for other children, who were afraid when seeing Linh’s face full of scars, he asked them whether he looked like Spiderman.

Linh could go to school at the same time as his peers. He could hold the pen to write after undergoing three surgeries to separate his fingers in South Korea. Over the past nine years, he has been a good student in spite of quite a few skin grafting surgeries conducted on him over the past 12 years.

Linh could ride a bicycle when he was seven years old. Now a teenager, he loves wearing sports attire and dancing with music like any other peers.

Thu Thiem – Long Thanh Light Rail to finish in 2030

Vice Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong informed that the city has sent a pre-feasibility report on the section of Thu Thiem – Long Thanh Light Rail passing HCMC to the Railway Project Management Unit under the Transport Ministry.
 
As to the route plan, the section of Thu Thiem – Long Thanh Light Rail passing HCMC basically corresponds with the approved space management part in HCMC’s master planning until 2025.

Therefore, the city proposed that the Railway Project Management Unit work with its Department of Planning and Architecture to obtain necessary documents and balance the land allocated for railway projects within the planned corridor as well as developing intersection connections.

The specific surface area for each item in the light rail project must be identified to become the foundation for the planning and development task of current land resources.

Regarding the scale, Thu Thiem – Long Thanh Light Rail is 38km long, constructed with an international track gauge of 1,435mm. It connects Long Thanh International Airport to Thu Thiem area, and to the North-South Hi-speed Railway.

HCMC proposed to turn Thu Thiem Station into a central railway hub with a consistent link to Metro Route No.2 – second stage (Ben Thanh – Thu Thiem section). The whole route of this light rail will have 20 stations, each of which is 1km away.

According to the Railway Network Planning in the 2021-2030 Period with a Vision to 2050, Thu Thiem – Long Thanh Light Rail belongs to the key national project list that is prioritized in the 2021-2030 period, with a total estimated capital of VND40.5 trillion (US$1.7 billion).

In related news, Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway construction project has its working time adjusted. The expressway has a length of 57.8km, receiving a total investment of VND31.3 trillion ($1.33 billion) by VEC. The project had started in 2014 but then stopped temporarily in 2019.

At present, VEC is asking for a construction deadline extension to September 2025, and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) loan extension for the second time to December 31, 2025 in order to ensure the completion of J1 package (Binh Khanh Bridge), J3 package (Phuoc Khanh Bridge).

However, the latest news reveals that certain contractors have sued VEC to the Singapore International Arbitration Center, asking for compensation because the project has been delayed for too many years, negatively affecting the construction progress.

Buying fish to help a disabled man

Nguyen Doan Mao, a 24-year-old resident of Ha Tinh Province, called for help on social media on June 13 when his 2.5 tons of fish died due to his pond’s oxygen machine breakdown. The estimated damage would reach around VND200 million if he could not sell those fish.

Mao told the Tien Phong news site (tienphong. vn) that his family started raising fish for the fishing service about four months ago. At the end of May, he closed the fishing pond to upgrade it and moved his fish to a smaller pond for nurturing.

However, Mao and his relatives found that almost all of his fish died early on June 13 because the oxygen machine stopped working. When hearing the news of the incident, his relatives came to take photos and shared them online, seeking help from other people. The neighbors also came to support his family in selling the fish. Luckily, the fish was sold out within just two hours.

Mao tragically lost both hands after a gas cylinder explosion five years ago. However, he has shown incredible resilience and determination by overcoming the challenges. He shared his story on social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube and received much love and support from other people.

Hanoi's unique pottery museum sets up creative space

Located in the heart of the ancient pottery village of Bat Trang in Hanoi's Gia Lam District, the Bat Trang Pottery Museum is not only a place to preserve the cultural values of the village, but also a creative space for visitors from far and wide.

The museum is part of the "Quintessence of Vietnamese Handicraft Village" project of the Hanoi Handicraft and Craft Villages Association and Quang Vinh Ceramic Co., Ltd.

Launched in 2018, the museum was completed after five years of construction, with a surface area of 3,300 square meters and six storeys, realizing the original idea.

The museum is a tribute to the quintessence of the art of pottery and is the home of a unique collection of ceramic products. Complex curves impress visitors from the very first steps. It is also considered to be a traditional house that preserves all the cultural values of the ceramic village of Bat Trang and introduces them to visitors.

Recently, many creative activities have taken place in the vocational experience area, the artistic ceramic creation area of ceramic sculptors, and the nursery, which welcomes students from the ceramics and printmaking departments for free internships.

The center for "Quintessence of Vietnamese Handicraft Village" also has an exhibition area to introduce contemporary art and auction excellent works of art by famous craftsmen and artists, as well as a quintessential food area offering specialties of Bat Trang.

It also has a hall with a capacity of more than 300 guests that specializes in organizing functions, an outdoor area with a beautiful view, and ten three-star standard rooms to rent.

Most importantly, the center has a very special Bat Trang pottery museum to tell the 1,000-year history of Bat Trang craft village.

"The products on display here are all works of art by craftsmen from Bat Trang pottery village. We will take tourists to visit the nearly 1,000-year-old Bat Trang ancient pottery village, which has a small lane but is steeped in the culture of a famous craft village for many generations," said Ha Thi Vinh, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Handicraft and Craft Villages Association.

Bat Trang craft village was recognized as a tourist attraction by the Hanoi People's Committee in October 2019. It is also known as one of the first craft villages in Hanoi to apply digital technology to develop smart tourism. As a result, Bat Trang welcomes 3,000 to 5,000 visitors per day, especially on weekends.

According to Phung Thi Hoai Huong, Director of the Gia Lam District Culture and Information Office, the number of visitors to Bat Trang has doubled and sometimes tripled since it was recognized as a tourist attraction.

Mekong Delta region adapts to climate change, sustainable development

The Mekong Delta region, an area sensitive to environmental changes, faces great challenges from climate change, requiring regional localities to come up with an effective strategy to adapt to extreme weather conditions, reduce emissions and increase recovery capacity, according to experts.

A climate change scenario created in 2016 showed that if the sea level rises by 100 cm, and if no solutions are taken, some 39 per cent of the total area of Mekong Delta will face the risk of flooding. Localities with the highest risk are Hậu Giang (over 80 per cent of the area), Kiên Giang (nearly 77 per cent) and Cà Mau (about 58 per cent).

Alongside, each year, erosion will also cause a loss of about 300 hectares of land and mangrove forest, it said.

Currently, the Mekong Delta region has 564 erosion sites with a total length of over 834km, including 512 sites along river banks with a total length of about 566km, mostly along Tiền, Hậu, Vàm Cỏ Đông and Vàm Cỏ Tây rivers. This includes the main branches of canals, together with 52 sites of coastal erosion areas with a total length of 268km.

Cần Thơ city, Cà Mau and Kiên Giang provinces are three localities hardest hit by climate change from high tide, erosion, heat, storms, and tornadoes, not to mention other negative factors such as saltwater intrusion, environmental pollution and epidemics.

Dr. Muthukumara Mani, an environment expert from the World Bank (WB) in Việt Nam, said Việt Nam in general and the Mekong Delta in particular need to work in two directions to respond to climate change - reducing emissions and increasing the resilience of the economy.

In the first direction, solutions to reduce emissions must be implemented simultaneously in the fields of transport, agriculture and industry through mechanisms of emission pricing and emission taxation, which requires an investment of US$114 million until 2040.

In the second direction, a budget of about US$254 million is needed in the 2022-2040 period to strengthen the recovery capacity of the economy, thus protecting resources, infrastructure and people from climate risks, especially in vulnerable sectors and communities.

According to the master plan of the Mekong Delta in the 2021 - 2030 period with a vision to 2050, the urban system of the region will be built with rational distribution in urban areas, along the main development corridors of the climate-resilient region.

With development orientations in harmony with nature, the Government has issued Resolution No.120 on the sustainable growth of the Mekong Delta region with adaptation to climate change.

The resolution clarified the crucial need to change the development mindset from sole agricultural production focusing on rice to a diversified agricultural economy to meet the needs of the market. Another change in perception that is required is from quantity to quality with the application of high technology, organic agriculture and clean agriculture associated with value chains and brand building, and greater attention on developing processing and supporting industries for agriculture.

At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính delivered Việt Nam’s strong commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050. Energy transition is an indispensable factor in achieving the goals of sustainable development and climate change adaptation of Viet Nam and the Mekong Delta.

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Đình Thọ, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, said that the Mekong Delta region boasts high potential in developing renewable energy and can become a motivation for Việt Nam to complete the commitments.

With the advantage of a long coastline, the Mekong Delta region has high potential in offshore wind power development, especially in Bạc Liêu, Bến Tre, Sóc Trăng and Trà Vinh provinces.

Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bạc Liêu Phạm Văn Thiệu said that the province has 56km of coastline and full conditions to become a wind power production hub.

Under a wind power development plan to 2030, Bạc Liêu’s wind power potential could reach 3,500MW. Currently, the province has eight operating wind power projects with total investment of nearly VND23.9 trillion ($1.01 billion) and a combined capacity of 469MW, ranking third in the country. They have contributed VND450 billion to the provincial State budget collection each year, he said.

Meanwhile, in Trà Vinh, the implementation of policies on power development, especially those on renewable power, has been intensified.

Currently, the locality has five wind power plants with a total capacity of 256.8 MW. Recently, Trà Vinh has started construction of a green hydrogen factory on an area of over 20 hectares with a total investment of nearly VND8 trillion. Chairman of the Trà Vinh People's Committee Lê Văn Hà said that the production of green hydrogen from renewable energy will be developed in line with the strategy for the development of Việt Nam's chemical industry to 2030, with a vision to 2040.

In order to create a driving force for production transformation to adapt to climate change in the right direction and with high efficiency, localities in the Mekong Delta have focused on transferring and applying science and technology in the fields of cultivation, breeding and aquaculture. They are also encouraging local enterprises to participate in science and technology research, transfer and application to make breakthroughs in the improvement of productivity and quality of agricultural products as well as their competitiveness.

Đồng Tháp Province farmers increasingly sold on organic agriculture

The Mekong Delta province of Đồng Tháp is expanding organic agriculture to improve quality and farmers’ incomes.

Trần Ngọc Ẩn, its chairman, was the first in the commune to grow mango using organic methods, and has since been instructing others in their use.

His 4ha mango orchard fetches him an income of VNĐ400 million (US$17,000) a year.

Organic mangoes cost VNĐ10,000 a kilogramme to grow, VNĐ1,000 less than by using traditional methods, he said.

The weather remains hot in June these days because of climate change, but thanks to organic methods, mango trees still develop well and yield high-quality fruits, he said.

Most mango farmers in the club have an area of at least 2,000sq.m.

Đồng Tháp, the delta’s largest mango producing province, has 14,000ha under mango and an annual output 137,000 tonnes.

Nguyễn Phước Thiện, deputy director of the province People’s Committee, said mangoes are exported to highly demanding markets, and the adoption of Vietnamese and global good agricultural practice and organic standards has increased.

Most farmers use organic fertilisers and plastic bags to cover young fruits to reduce the use of pesticides, and grow the fruit also in the off-season.

The fruits are exported to many markets, including the EU, South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

In Châu Thành District, many farmers grow longan using organic farming methods, mainly for export.

Huỳnh Hữu Thuận, chairman of the An Nhơn Commune Farmers Association and deputy director of the An Hoà Safe Agricultural Product Co-operative, said in the past farmers used chemical fertilisers to grow longan and harvested 15-20 tonnes per hectare per year.

But after switching to organic farming, they yield 30 tonnes and earn VNĐ600 million ($25,500) per hectare.

The co-operative is instructing its members in growing longan using organic methods, which also reduces costs, and the high quality means the fruit can be exported to large markets such as the US, EU, Japan, and South Korea.

Phan Thanh Dũng, deputy chairman of the Châu Thành District People’s Committee, said the administration acts as a link between farmers and co-operatives and farmers clubs in teaching them how to adopt GAP and organic standards and advanced techniques.

Châu Thành has more than 2,670ha under longan with an annual output of 40,000 tonnes.

Its longan was granted the collective brand name of “Châu Thành longan” in 2016, and the fruit is exported mostly to the US.

Lê Văn Chấn, deputy head of the province Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department, said the target this year is to grow 504,000ha of rice and 32,000ha of flowers and vegetables, with organic fertilisers used for 3 per cent of the former and 6-7 per cent of the latter.

Growing organic rice ensures guaranteed demand and higher prices for farmers, according to the department.

Lê Quang Cường, deputy chairman of the province Co-operative Alliance, said the alliance has stepped up advocacy about the benefits of organic rice.

The switch to organic rice has also helped improve the environment and exports, he said.

Many farmers in the province make organic fertilisers from agricultural by-products, animal waste and other natural materials, and this helps them reduce production costs.

The province aims to increase the area under organic agriculture by 1 per cent a year in the 2022-25 period.

Vietnam claims Top 11 finish at Miss International Queen transgender pageant

Nguyen Ha Diu Thao, the Vietnamese representative at Miss International Queen 2023, was named among the Top 11 in the grand final of the world’s transgender pageant which was recently held in Thailand.

She also won two sub-titles, including Best National Costume and Miss Popular Vote.

Diu Thao, 23, hailing from Hai Duong province stands at 1.70 metres tall and measures 90-68-94 cm. She was crowned Miss International Queen Vietnam 2023 held back in April and represented the nation whilst competing for Miss International Queen 2023 title.

The conclusion of Miss International Queen 2023 ultimately witnessed Solange Dekker of the Netherlands crowned as the winner in the grand finale, with the two runners-up spots going to Qatrisha Zairyah Kamsir of Singapore and Melony Munro of the United States.

Representatives from the Philippines, Thailand, Venezuela, Spain, Mexico, China, Colombia, and Vietnam were also among the Top 11 finalists.

Miss International Queen is owned and run by Thailand-based Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co, Ltd. and has been held annually in Pattaya in Thailand since 2004.

Vietnam has sent several contestants to the transgender pageant throughout its history, with Nguyen Huong Giang becoming the first Vietnamese representative to win the Miss International Queen crown in 2018.

Last year Phung Truong Tran Dai secured a Top 6 finish at Miss International Queen 2022.

Vietnamese culture showcased in France

France-based association Art Space is organising a series of events to present Vietnamese culture at Carre International Cultural Centre in the city of Saint Herblain, France.

The event will include an international exhibit and workshops titled "Connections" presenting paintings from the children of Việt Nam as well as 20 other countries. It will also feature a collection entitled Dreaming Hội An by young artist Thảo Nguyên, with vibrant and vivid photos of the ancient town. 

The project also includes workshops to explore Vietnamese culture and heritage at primary and middle schools such as Grand Bois, Jacqueline Auriol, Blanche de Castille, and Gutenberg in the cities of Nantes and Saint-Herblain, France.

Almost a thousand French children have had the opportunity to understand Vietnamese culture through activities organised by 25 Vietnamese students from the US, UK, Australia, Việt Nam and France.

The programme is part of the Toucher Arts project, which includes a series of seminars, concerts, exhibitions and workshops on Vietnamese culture at schools in France from June 20 to July 3, 2023. The event celebrates 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between Việt Nam and France.

Toucher Arts is hosted by Art Space Association, in cooperation with the Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association and APPEL Lorient Association. The project contributes to spreading Vietnamese culture to the world and also raises funds to help disadvantaged and disabled children in Việt Nam.

At primary and secondary schools in the city of Saint-Herblain, students came together to promote Vietnamese culture to their peers, offering an engaging approach to discovering the vibrant tapestry of Vietnamese customs and heritage.

Children experienced folk games such as the Cheraw dance and lion dancing, and learned about Vietnamese childhood toys like bamboo stilts, star lanterns, and bamboo dragonflies.

They also learned about Mid-Autumn Festival and the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Teachers and staff participated in making star lanterns and red envelopes for lucky money.

The exhibition encourages young art lovers to convey their thoughts about a world with strong connections and bonds, thereby expressing their desire for peace and friendship. The organisers of the "Connections" exhibition have received hundreds of paintings from Vietnamese children in Việt Nam and France. 

They also received entries from elsewhere in Asia, Europe, Australia, the Americas and Africa. Two hundred paintings were selected for display at the exhibition at Carré International. In addition, all submitted paintings will be introduced on the online exhibition at www.toucherarts.com.

Exhibition participants can experience Vietnamese culture through calligraphy, decorating bamboo trays and creatinging Đông Hồ paintings.

All activities are free of charge and all paintings on display are up for auction with the funds used to help disadvantaged, orphaned and disabled children in Việt Nam.

Mr. Driss Saïd, Vice Mayor of Saint Herblain, said "I'm always happy to attend the events organised by Art Space, especially when their activities focus on promoting friendly relations between Việt Nam and France through cultural activities.

"I'm also excited to have learned more about Việt Nam, a country with a rich and beautiful culture. I encourage people in Saint Herblain to participate in this interesting event to learn more about Vietnamese culture." 

Work begins on Beltway 4 in Hanoi

Work has begun on the Beltway No. 4 project in the Hanoi City region, which will connect the capital and neighboring provinces.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday (June 25), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said, “Vietnam has made significant strides in expressway development. Recently, an additional 566 kilometers of expressway has been opened to traffic, bringing the total length of expressway nationwide to 1,729 kilometers.

So far this year, work has started on 1,406 kilometers of expressway in many parts of the nation, he said, adding that by 2025, the country would have over 3,000 kilometers of expressway in operation.

The construction of Beltway No. 4 in Hanoi, linking the capital city with Hung Yen and Bac Ninh provinces, will serve as a catalyst for other ongoing projects. It will create new development opportunities, address infrastructure issues in the capital city, maximize land usage potential, and establish a sustainable and modern urban system.

A special mechanism, involving decentralization and delegation of authority, will be implemented for the Beltway No. 4 project in the Hanoi region. Under this mechanism, localities will be assigned as governing agencies for different project components.

This approach aims to streamline the preparation process by allowing the designation of contractors for bidding packages, relocation of technical infrastructure, and compensation and resettlement packages.

The Beltway No. 4 project in the Hanoi region has a length of 112 kilometers, passing through Hanoi City, Hung Yen, and Bac Ninh provinces. It needs an investment of over VND85 trillion in the form of a public-private partnership.

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