Joining hands for clean air and a green Hanoi is the theme of a programme launched in the capital city on June 3 in response to the World Environment Day (June 5).

The event, jointly held by the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the municipal Women’s Union, brought together individuals, community-based organisations, government agencies, and the UN to make a collective commitment to achieving clean air in Hanoi through joint action and innovative solutions.

DoNRE Deputy Director Nguyen Minh Tan laid a stress on the significance to promote such practical activities as cutting down on plastic bag use, classifying and recycling waste, using renewable energy, and raising public awareness of environmental protection.

According to UNDP Representative in Vietnam Ramla Khalidi, socio-economic losses due to air pollution in Vietnam top 13 billion USD a year, equal to 4% of the nation’s GDP.

UNDP is working to improve air quality in Vietnam in various sectors, including support for the country’s just energy transition and its carbon neutral commitment by 2050 as well as development of green transportation and circular economy, she added.

This year, the World Environment Day 2024 focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience, calling on countries across the globe to join hands to restore lands, build drought resilience and combat desertification, helping slow down the crisis of climate change and improve livelihoods and food security for billions of people in the world.

In Hanoi, the day offers an opportunities for schools, communities, enterprises, social organisations, and State management agencies to push ahead activities for a green and clean Hanoi, create green economy for a future of sustainable development, and build a healthy and livable city./.

Vietnamese-funded secondary school inaugurated in Laos

A secondary school built with a non-refundable grant from the Vietnamese Government has been inaugurated in Houameuang district in the northern Lao province of Houaphanh.

Jointly implemented by the authorities of Vietnam’s Hoa Binh province and Houaphanh, the project cost close to 156.23 billion VND (6.25 million USD), of which Vietnam’s funding amounted to 126.6 billion VND.

Speaking at a June 3 ceremony to inaugurate the facility and transfer it to the Lao side, Secretary of the Hoa Binh Party Committee Nguyen Phi Long said the project aims to improve the quality of education and human resources in the district.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committee Viengsavanh Vilayphone expressed his gratitude for comprehensive assistance given to Laos and its localities by the Vietnamese Party, State and people so far. The support covers the building of educational infrastructure, serving the growth of Laos’ younger generation./.

NA deputies scrutinise national target programme on cultural development

National Assembly deputies heard a proposal and an appraisal report on a proposal on investment policy for the National Target Programme on Cultural Development for the 2025 - 2035, period during their morning sitting of the 7th session of the 15th NA on June 3.

Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stressed that the programme will be implemented nationwide and in some countries that have long-term cultural relationships and interactions with Vietnam, where a large number of Vietnamese people live, work, and study.

The three-phase programme will focus on activities in the fields of culture and arts, especially cultural heritage, grassroots culture, performing arts, fine arts, photography, and exhibitions.

It aims to create a strong and comprehensive transformation in cultural development and to perfect and standardise the ethics, identity, and values of Vietnamese individuals and families; and improve the spiritual life and the ability of people to access and enjoy culture, addressing disparities in cultural enjoyment between regions, social classes, and genders.

The programme is expected to contribute to preserving and upholding the value of the nation's unique cultural heritage; promoting socio-economic development; and enhancing the country's position in the international arena through promoting "soft power” of the Vietnamese culture, international cultural integration, and absorbing the quintessence of human culture.

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh stressed that the programme will contribute to enhancing investment resources, meeting the urgent requirements for comprehensive human development and building an advanced culture imbued with national identity, thus ensuring that culture truly becomes a solid spiritual foundation of society, an internal strength, and a motivation for the national development and defence.
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Regarding mechanisms and solutions for implementing the programme, the committee agreed with groups of solutions proposed by the Government. It suggested that it is necessary to specify the tasks, roadmap, and implementation progress for institutional improvement solutions, further clarify measures to mobilise resources, and clearly define certain priorities and tasks to attract social resources./.

New Chairman of VPA General Department of Politics appointed

President To Lam handed over the decision to appoint Sen. Lieut. Gen. Trinh Van Quyet, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission and Vice Chairman of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) as the new Chairman of the General Department of Politics at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 3.

President Lam held that the appointment showed the trust that the Party, State, VPA and people have put on Quyet, and the recognition of his contributions and devotion to the Party and political affairs in the army over the years.

He asked Quyet to continue to promote the glorious tradition of the General Department of Politics and the VPA; maintain the revolutionary moral virtue and absolute loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland and the people; study and follow President Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and lifestyle; set a good example and successfully complete all assigned tasks, thus actively contributing to the cause of national protection and construction in the new situation.

Highlighting difficulties and challenges in both the world and domestic situation, the State leader underlined that the task of national construction and defence is becoming tougher, requiring the VPA in particular and the armed forces as a whole to stay united in terms of ideology and action, enhance the quality and combat capacity, deserving to be the loyal and trustworthy political and fighting force of the Party, State and people.

The President requested Quyet and members of the Central Military Commission and the General Department of Politics to give advice to the Party and State on implementing military and defence tasks following the 13th National Party Congress’s Resolution and the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress of the VPA, building a strong people-based defence and security gesture. He reminded them to pay greater attention to building a strong and pure VPA and military human resources training.

For his part, Quyet vowed to work hard to complete all tasks assigned by the Party, State, VPA and people.

He expressed his hope that the VPA will continue to receive attention and favourable conditions from leaders of the Party and State and coordination from ministries, sectors and agencies and well as support from the people to better perform its tasks in the coming time./.

Vietnam-France project on heritage preservation successful

The French Embassy held a press meeting in Hanoi on June 3 to announce the results of a project named “Share and Preserve Vietnam's Heritage”.

The 2022-2024 project, funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects and initiated by the French Embassy in Vietnam’s Cultural Cooperation and Operations Department, aims to meet the needs of Vietnamese partners and foster cooperation with French museums.

Speaking at the event, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet highlighted the significance of the project with a budget of some 600,000 EUR (667,000 USD) over a period of two years. More than 200 officials from 20 Vietnamese heritage units have benefited from the project.

He further hinted at the project's potential to pave the way for future collaborations as early as 2025.

The project consists of three main components, including developing training courses in the field of conservation and valorisation of heritage in Vietnam, enhancing the capacity of Vietnamese museum officials and three pilot projects in three locations in Vietnam, namely renovation of the visitor centre of Cuc Phuong National Park - the first national park in Vietnam in the northern province of Ninh Binh, support of the content display at the education and communication centre of Cu Lao Cham Biosphere Reserve in the central province of Quang Nam, and design and production of storytelling tools using sound called "Storytelling Box" for museums in Ho Chi Minh City./.

Pencak Silat events at 13th ASEAN Schools Games begin

Events of Pencak Silat at the 13th ASEAN Schools Games began at the cultural centre of Son Tra district, the central city of Da Nang, on June 3.

Athletes will compete in 16 categories, including men’s and women’s combat and performance ones, between June 3 and 6.

Qualifiers of combat and performance events took place on June 3. Men’s combat events took place in the afternoon with the matches of Vietnam - Brunei, Thailand - Laos, and Malaysia - Indonesia in the 51 - 54.9kg category, and Brunei - Malaysia, Laos - the Philippines, and Thailand - Indonesia in the 55 - 58.9kg category.

Themed “Connect to shine together”, the 13th ASEAN Schools Games gathers more than 1,300 students along with coaches from 10 countries in the region.

It takes place from May 29 to June 9, featuring 107 categories of six sports: swimming, basketball, badminton, athletics, Pencak Silat, and Vovinam./.

Four local players to strike against top cueists at World Pool Championship

Some of leading Vietnamese players are set to compete for big prizes at the World Pool Championship 2024 due to take place in Saudi Arabia from June 3 to 8.

Duong Quoc Hoang, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Pham Phuong Nam, and Luong Duc Thien will join the top 128 players from across the globe as they attempt to win a share of the US$1 million prize money.

On June 3 Anh Tuan will play his opening match against Konrad Juszczyszyn, a Polish cueist who is notable for winning the 2018 European Pool Championship.

The same day will also see Pham Phuong Nam face Chinese player Dang Jin Hu, the winner of the 2023 Spanish Open Pool Championship.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese cueists Quoc Hoang and Duc Thien will meet Toh Lian Han of Singapore and Elliott Sanderson of the UK, respectively, on June 4.

The World Pool Championship has been held annually since 1990. This year’s total prizes are worth up to US$1 million, four times higher than last year. The winner is set to receive a cash prize of US$250,000, a figure much higher than the US$60,000 amount the current champion Francesco Sanchez Ruiz got back in 2023.

The best results recorded by Vietnam at the annual professional nine-ball pool tournament consist of Luong Chi Dung, Do The Kien and Quoc Hoang progressing to the quarter-final round in 2006, 2019, and 2023.

In 2024, the players who made it through to the quarter-finals will be awarded US$27,000 each, equal to the championship title of a big tournament such as the UK Open Pool Championship.

Hanoi meeting marks World Environment Day

A meeting was held at the Green One UN House in Hanoi on June 3 to mark World Environment Day (June 5).

The event was jointly held by the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE), the municipal Women’s Union, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the UN Development Programme.

The meeting, that was attended by individuals, representatives of socio-political organisations, and and community-based organisations, is to enhance communication effectiveness, improve environmental quality, protect people’s health, balance ecological systems and develop a sustainable economy.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Nguyen Minh Tan, deputy director of the DoNRE, shared that  World Environment Day 2024 focuses on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.

He stressed that Hanoi has recently implemented a number of environmental protection solutions, to boost air quality and improve waste management, including plastic wastes.

However, environment pollution in Hanoi slowly improving, he called on the community, businesses, social organisations, and state management agencies to join hands in environmental protection work.

World Environment Day on June 5 is launched annually by the UN to preserve the pure environment for the sake of humanity.

Bustling crowd of people at Suoi Tien Farm Festival 2024

Fresh delicious fruits have been abundant and diversified at the 20th Southern Fruit Festival - Suoi Tien Farm Festival 2024.

Crowds of people flocked to the fruit festival, which takes place at Suoi Tien Cultural Park in Thu Duc City, trading regional specialty fruits at affordable prices throughout this summer to serve residents, and domestic and international tourists.

Particularly, langsat was priced at VND69,000 (US$2.7) a kilogram, rambutan was traded at VND30,000 (US$1.2) a kilogram, Ri6 durian was sold at VND71,000 (US$2.8) a kilogram and so on.

The prices of specialty fruits are 10 percent to 30 percent lower than the market rates. There are fruit sculpting competitions and a series of activities for a green, clean, and healthy environment at this festival.

According to Deputy General Director of Suoi Tien Theme Park Bui Thi To Trinh, the festival is to promote international integration, showcase to visitors the distinctive and diverse varieties of regional fruits and honor the achievements in the fields of agriculture, tourism and Vietnamese cuisine.

Suoi Tien Farm Festival 2024 is among the activities in response to the second HCM City River Festival.

Within the framework of the second Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, nearly 600 athletes competed in swimming and stand-up paddle boarding from Ba Son Bridge to Thu Ngu Flagpole.

Additionally, residents and tourists enjoyed exciting water sports performances such as sailing, parasailing, surfing, flyboarding, water skiing, paragliding and so on.

Workshop discusses offshore wind power development in southern Vietnam

The administration of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam co-hosted a workshop on June 3 to share knowledge of offshore wind power development in the locality.

Addressing the workshop, Nguyen Cong Vinh, vice chairman of the provincial administration, emphasised that the development of renewable energy, including offshore wind power, is considered one of the key breakthrough solutions for energy conversion whilst also ensuring national energy security.

It is also one of the major goals in the province’s plan for the 2021 - 2030 period with a vision towards 2050, as approved by the Prime Minister, he said.

According to the official, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has a lot of potential to develop offshore wind power and form an inter-regional renewable energy industrial and service center. Therefore, developing renewable energy is one of the key tasks to ensure socio-economic development, defense and security of the province and the entire Southeast region in the coming years.

At the workshop, Danish and Vietnamese experts analysed challenges faced in offshore wind power development, shared experiences and examined key issues regarding the development of offshore wind power projects.

Furthermore, they also discussed support policies, feasibility, and the efficiency of energy projects in order to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of offshore wind power projects.

Stuart Livesey, general director of Copenhagen Offshore Partners Vietnam, shared that seaports represent an important sphere of ​​investment to serve the assembly of various equipment and components on a large scale.

It is expected to create a wealth of opportunities to upgrade port infrastructure, not only serving the offshore wind power industry, but also for other types of marine energy industries, he noted.

At the workshop, businesss reprsentatives and investors also recommended that relevant ministries and agencies move to swiftly issue policies to create favourable conditions for them to develop this industry.

Sea turtle lays eggs on beach in central Vietnam

A sea turtle on June 2 laid 102 eggs at a beach in Nhon Hai commune of Quy Nhon city, central Vietnam, under close supervision by a group of local volunteers.

According to Nguyen Ton Xuan Sang, a marine conservationist in the commune, local residents discovered a turtle crawling onto the beach and laid eggs in the evening.

They quickly reported the case to a team of marine conservationists in the commune in order to protect the eggs.

Sang noted that the turtle is estimated to weigh some 90 kilograms and is 0.94 metres long.

As its nest was at risk of being swept away by waves, Sang and other marine conservationists subsequently relocated the nest to a safer place.

On May 21, locals and marine conservationists also watched the turtle lay 103 eggs on the same beach.

Trans Vietnam tour launched to protect dogs and cats

Four Paws International, a global animal welfare organisation, officially launched a trans-Vietnam tour themed 'Journey of Love' on June 3 to convey a message of ending the dog and cat meat trade in the country.

The Four Paws’ journey makes use of trucks equipped with LED screens which are moving through the nation’s three largest cities, namely Ho Chi Minh City from May 31 to June 1, Da Nang on June 2, and Hanoi on  June 7- 8.

Four Paws is calling on local residents of the three cities to take action aimed at ending the trading in dog and cat meat. 

At every stop, the programme has received a lot of attention and support from local people.

According to a representative of Four Paws, every year in Vietnam more than five million dogs and a million cats are trafficked and slaughtered for their meat, jeopardising both animal welfare and public health.

In 2021, Hoi An, which is the ancient town of the central province of Quang Nam, became the first-ever dog and cat meat-free tourist-friendly city in the country.

Authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Four Paws International this month, pledging not to consume dog and cat meat from now on.

A survey conducted by Four Paws in 2021 shows 91% of Vietnamese people opposed the trading in dog and cat meat, and 95% believed that consuming dog and cat meat was not part of Vietnamese culture.

Kindergarten teachers proposed to retire at 55

According to the draft Law on Educators, kindergarten teachers are proposed to retire at the age of 55.

The National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education and the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) yesterday organized a workshop to listen to expert opinions on state management of educators in the draft Law on Educators.

Speaking at the workshop, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son emphasized that the National Assembly Standing Committee has agreed to submit the Law on Educators to the 15th National Assembly's 2024 Lawmaking Program. This good news meets the expectations of 1.6 million educators in educational institutions nationwide.

Head of the Department of Educators and Education Management Officials under MOET Vu Minh Duc said that the draft Law on Educators stipulates that the salary of educators is prioritized to be the highest compared to the system of administrative and career salary scales.

In addition to the salary policy, educators are also entitled to high occupational allowances compared to other industries, commensurate with the complexity of the work and suitable for working conditions.

Last but not least, teachers also enjoy preferential policies such as housing, allowances, subsidies, training policies, annual periodic health checks, tuition support for children of educators, and priority in recruitment.

The draft also regulates the retirement age of educators in accordance with the working characteristics of each level of education. Accordingly, kindergarten teachers are allowed to retire at the age of 55; highly qualified educators (professors, associate professors, Ph.D holders) have their working age extended as long as they are still in good health and have aspirations to continue working in an institution with a need.

Czech city wants to boost cooperation with Vietnamese localities

Authorities of the administration of Plzen, the fourth largest city of the Czech Republic, expressed their desire to stablish and increase cooperative ties between Plzen and Vietnamese localities during their recent meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam.

Receiving the ambassador on June 3, Plzen mayor Roman Zarzycky affirmed that Plzen city attaches great importance to developing relations between the two countries and with Vietnamese localities.

He welcomed a proposal by Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung District administration to establish a sister relationship with Plzen, saying the two sides have a lot of potential for cooperation, especially in the fields of education, tourism and labour.

At the meeting, he also highly appreciated Vietnamese expatriates’ practical contributions to local development, noting that with about 3,500 Vietnamese people living in Plzen, accounting for about 40% of the number of foreigners in the city, they serve as the bridge to help promote relations between the Czech Republic and Vietnam.

In response, Ambassador Nam noted with satisfaction the positive development of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in recent times, saying local cooperation is an important pillar in bilateral relations.

He expected that the Plzen administration would soon consider Hai Ba Trung District’s proposal. He also invited leaders of Plzen to visit Vietnam, including Hanoi, to explore more cooperation opportunities.

The diplomat thanked the Plzen administration for creating conditions for Vietnamese expatriates to stabilise their lives, and integrate into the local community.

During his working trip in Plzen, the ambassador also had a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community there.

Enjoy Danang festival to take visitors by storm in July

Enjoy Danang, an annual signature event of the central coastal city of Da Nang, is set to last from July 17 to 21, featuring 14 cultural, sport and tourism activities.

According to a press conference held in the city on June 3, its highlights will cover a grand music fest marking its opening on July 17, an artistic kite show from July 17 to 19, and a performance of 15 sailboats along the Han River on July 20.

Other activities will include a cuisine festival of 50 stalls, street carnivals and street dances.

The press conference also revealed that the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2024 will kick off on the evening of June 8 with its theme highlighting cultural essence. The opening night will feature a competition between the reigning champions - ArtEventia from France and the host team from Da Nang, representing Vietnam. A new feature this year will be a Jetski & Flyboard artistic sports show, which combines water and aerial dances, extreme sports, and fireworks displays.

At the event, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh said that to diversify tourism products and position the city as a leading festival and event destination in Asia, numerous international-scale events will be held in the near future.

He added that the municipal authorities will support organisations and businesses in hosting events and festivals to boost the development of new tourism products./.

Over 6 million children receive free vitamin A doses on June 1-2

More than 6 million Vietnamese children aged from 6-59 months across the country received free high-dose vitamin A pills on June 1-2.

This was part of the activities organised for the Vietnam Micronutrient Day (June 1), which aimed at reducing the rate of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in children in the country.

Over the past years, Vietnam has successfully launched several vitamin A supplement campaigns with the rate of children receiving high-dose vitamin A pills topping 98%. The efforts have helped Vietnam eradicate blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency and improved public awareness about micro-nutrient.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen requested sectors and departments to popularise communication campaigns to strengthen community's awareness, especially among mothers, of micronutrient deficiencies.

Besides, departments of health of provinces and cities have been asked to implement the campaign in accordance with professional instructions, ensuring sufficient number of drugs, hygiene, and safety for children.

In 2024, children from 6-59 months in 31 provinces and cities having high stunted growth rates will be given free vitamin A supplements. The national drive will also provide vitamin A capsules for children from 6-35 months in the remaining 32 cities and provinces, and children at risk of micronutrient deficiency.

The distribution of vitamin A supplements has become an annual activity at 11,000 wards and communes nationwide, benefiting nearly 1 million under-five children each year.

According to the National Nutrition Census conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in 2020, the rate of child malnutrition across the country had decreased rapidly and sustainably, of which the rate of underweight malnutrition decreased from 33.8% in 2000 to 14.1% in 2015 and 11.6% in 2020.

Providing micronutrient supplements for high-risk groups such as children and new mothers is a fast and timely measure to reduce the situation of micronutrient deficiency.Medium-term measures such as adding micronutrient supplements to essential foods, and long-term, sustainable measures such as adding diverse food products to daily meals are being taken to solve the problem of micronutrient deficiency in Vietnam.

HCMC leaders attend 2024 World Cities Summit in Singapore

Vice Chairman Pham Thanh Kien of the HCMC People's Council led a delegation to attend the 2024 World Cities Summit with the theme ‘Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Rejuvenate, Reinvent, Reimagine’ in Singapore from June 1 to 5.

The biennial World Cities Summit is a global platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share integrated urban solutions and forge new partnerships. Since 2008, WCS has seen the participation of over 250 cities from around the world, represented by leaders from government, business, international organizations and academia.

The summit witnessed the participation of representatives from 90 cities around the world to discuss the challenges faced by cities in areas such as climate change, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the green economy, the aging population, and environmental improvement.

During the summit, Vice Chairman Kien and the delegation were scheduled to have a meeting with the CEOs of CityNet, attend international speakers in a panel discussion on resilient and regenerative cities, meet with the Center for Liveable Cities (CLC) to share knowledge and best practices among cities in the region and globally and meet with Darwin Mayor (Australia) about the potential cooperation between the two cities.

On this occasion, it is expected that a second cooperation agreement between the HCMC Department of Planning and Architecture and the CLC will be signed to promote infrastructure study in HCMC.

Other activities include an exchange with Plenary Group, an Australian investment fund of public-private partnership in infrastructure projects, to discuss the investment opportunities in healthcare projects in HCMC; a meeting with officials from the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore to discuss bilateral relations and opportunities for further cooperation between HCMC and Singapore.

Aside from that are visits to the Marina Bay area, Clarke Quay, and the Singapore River to learn about Singapore's experience in developing infrastructure and services related to waterways for tourism, culture, and the night-time economy.

Second football tournament of Vietnamese community in RoK held

The Vietnam Football Association in the Republic of Korea (VFAK) organised its second Champions League in Daejeon city on June 2.

The event was held under the auspices of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country and sponsorship of more than 10 Vietnamese and Korean firms.

According to VFAK President Doan Quang Viet, the tournament was a great success thanks to support from the embassy, local administrations, and sponsors.

As the tournament has a great impact on the football community and fans in the country, the VFAK will work to organise more competitions for Vietnamese expats, helping strengthen solidarity and build a stronger community there./.

Hanoi to complete four clean water plants by 2024-2025
 
Hanoi is accelerating efforts to complete four clean water plant projects to provide quality water supply to the public by 2024-2025.

The move was mentioned in the city’s plan to address issues such as water shortages and poor water quality in certain districts, which have caused public concern. The plan outlines four main areas to address these issues.

In terms of water supply, the city aims to maintain maximum production and operational capacities of water plants and stations to meet the highest possible demand from residents. Water distribution will be managed to ensure a balance between supply and demand across different areas, prioritizing regions with a single water source to prevent prolonged water outages.

The city plans to ensure stable operation and sufficient pressure for all current customers regarding the water network. New customers within existing network areas will also receive clean water. Detailed water supply plans will be developed for areas downstream of the pipeline to guarantee a continuous and safe water supply. Additionally, water trucks will be arranged in case of water supply disruptions.

The city will also encourage investors to expand water networks in rural areas and Ba Vi District, targeting 124 communes across 12 districts. By 2024, 54 communes (59,110 households or 236,440 people) will be connected, and by 2025, the remaining 70 communes (58,116 households or 232,465 people) will follow.

Regarding water quality, the city will strengthen the control of source water and treated water quality, with the Water Quality Monitoring Center under the Department of Natural Resources and Environment being responsible for management and oversight.

Regarding investment projects, the city will focus resources on the rapid development of the following water supply projects:

(i) The Red River Surface Water Plant (300,000 m³/day), which is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2024 and will supply water to districts like Bac Tu Liem, Nam Tu Liem, Tay Ho, Hoai Duc, and Dan Phuong.

(ii) The second phase of the Da River Surface Water Plant, increasing capacity to 600,000 m³/day by 2024-2025.

(iii) The expansion of the Bac Thang Long - Van Tri Water Plant from 150,000 m³/day to 200,000-250,000 m³/day by 2024-2025.

(iv) The Xuan Mai Water Plant in Hoa Binh with an initial phase capacity of 150,000 m³/day by 2024-2025, serving Ha Dong, Thanh Oai, Ung Hoa, and My Duc districts.

State Committee reports success in two decades of OV affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) held a press conference in Hanoi on June 3 to announce the results of the 20-year implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution 36-NQ/TW on OV affairs.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and SCOV Chairwoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Resolution 36 has raised public awareness of OV affairs as well as sense of reponsibility in implementing tasks relevant to OV affairs. It has garnered widespread support and active participation from OVs.

She highlighted achievements made in policy building consultations, securing legal rights and protections for OVs, preservation of Vietnamese language and national cultural identity, and external news services to ensure OVs remain informed about Vietnam.

Resolution 36 builds upon the Party and State's unwavering commitment to viewing OVs as an integral part of the Vietnamese nation, a vital resource, and a cornerstone of national unity, she said.

On the occasion, Hang revealed that the fourth World Conference of OVs and the 2024 forum of OV intellectuals and experts will take place from August 21-28. The aim is to disseminate the Party's guidelines and State policies and laws related to OVs, gain insight into their difficulties to provide timely support and collect suggestions for national development in the new situation./.

Winners of 7th national Adobe design skills championship awarded

Winners of the 7th national Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) Championship 2024 were awarded at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 2.

The three best performers, Le Trang Anh from the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), Nguyen Dinh Kien Dat from Hanoi Industrial Vocational College, and Mai Ngoc Linh from Chu Van An High School in Hanoi, will represent Vietnam at the world finals of the World Graphic Design Championship (ACPWC) which is scheduled for late July in California.

As many as 186 contestants or nearly 77% of the total number of participants scored at least 700 points, meeting the requirements for the international ACP certificate.

At the national final round, 15 outstanding contestants competed in designing with the theme "Youth volunteers for the community”. Their entries vividly sent out the message about the role and responsibility of the youth in volunteer activities for the community.

Addressing the event, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMYU) Central Committee and President of the VSA Nguyen Minh Triet said throughout its seven seasons, the national competition has provided opportunities for Vietnamese youth to improve their IT application skills to international standards, creating a momentum for their future development with a global prestigious certification.

The ACPWC is an annual competition organised by Certiport Corporation (USA) since 2013 to find the top design professionals using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Indesign software.

The competition opens to students from 13-22 years old globally and attracts hundreds of thousands of contestants from nearly 70 countries and territories to participate each year.

In 2019, the Vietnamese team won the Most Voted Audience Award. In the 2020-2021 edition, two Vietnamese contestants entered Top 4 and Top 10 in the world competition.

Vietnam earn five golds on first day of ASEAN Schools Games

The Vietnamese squad secured five gold, three silver, and one bronze medals at the 13th ASEAN School Games (ASG) held in the central city of Da Nang on June 3.

Following the first gold by Hoang Thi Ngoc Anh in the women’s 3,000m run in the morning, the remaining four were obtained in the afternoon. Le Thi Tuyet Mai captured one in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 1 minute 1.87 seconds, while Duong Thi Thao claimed another with a jump of 1.74 metres in the high jump event.

In the men’s 800m run, Duong Phu Toan took home a gold medal with a time of 1 minute 55.44 seconds, while Luong Binh Duong earned a silver medal with a time of 1 minute 55.75 seconds.

Additionally, in the men’s 3,000m run, Nguyen Le Hoang Vu and Nguyen Hoang Thinh secured the first and second places with 9 minutes 29.65 seconds and 9 minutes 30.41 seconds, respectively.

Another silver was captured by Pham Xuan Tien in the men’s long jump, and the bronze one went to Trieu Thi Binh in the women’s 3,000m run./.

Quang Binh tightens protection over white-cheeked gibbons

Quang Ninh District in the central province of Quang Binh are taking measures to protect white-cheeked gibbons living on a local mountain.

Resident Nguyen Van Tran suddenly saw a herd of white-cheeked gibbons at Len Chong Mountain in Truong Son Commune. He quickly used his phone to record video clips, capture images and inform the authorities.

After the clips on the gibbons were published, many other people in Truong Son said that they had seen such animals on Len Chong Mountain in the afternoon.
 
According to Nguyen Van Tao from Khe Cat Village, he had seen gibbons eating leaves or drinking water several times.

Hoang Trong Duc, chairman of Truong Son Commune, confirmed the appearance of the gibbons on Len Chong Mountain, but was not sure of their exact numbers.

Based on the locals’ observations, at least two groups of some 30 white-cheeked gibbons may live on Len Chong Mountain.

The commune has reported the case to Quang Ninh District’s forest management board for protection measures to be implemented.

The commune people’s committee has intensified communications activities to help raise people’s awareness about wild animal protection as well as ban the hunting, transportation and consumption of wild animal products.

Since the white-cheeked gibbon groups were found on Len Chong Mountain, this area has been strictly guarded. Forest rangers are stationed on duty 24/7 to coordinate with relevant authorities to protect and create a safe and healthy environment for the species.

Kon Tum boosts agro-forestry teamwork with Lao, Cambodian localities

The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum has recorded positive outcomes in a series of agro-forestry cooperation programmes with Lao and Cambodian localities.

According to the Kon Tum Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, significant progress in forest management, protection, and agricultural technology transfer along the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border.

At the end of 2023, the department signed a memorandum of understanding on forest management and protection with the agro-forestry departments of Laos’ Attapeu and Sekong provinces.

Since the beginning of this year, 61 patrols and operations have been conducted along the border communes of Kon Tum’s Ngoc Hoi and Dak Glei districts, adjacent to Laos. These efforts involved 458 personnel and resulted in the handling of one case violating the forestry law.

Currently, the Kon Tum agricultural extension centre is assisting households in the Lao province of Salavan’s Laongam district to cultivate high-yield Robusta coffee, while providing agricultural production support in Sekong’s Dakcheung district.

Moving forward, the centre will continue to monitor and coordinate remote advisory exchanges with partners in Salavan, Sekong, Attapeu, and Cambodia’s Stung Treng province to sustain relevant agricultural cooperation development programmes./.

Multiple Hanoi areas hit by heavy rains

The Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Company reported that as many as 30 spots in Hanoi are often affected by heavy rains, with rainfall of more than 70mm per hour.

Most of the flood spots are concentrated along the basins of the To Lich and Nhue rivers, according to a recent meeting held by the Hanoi Sewage and Drainage Company to announce the sewerage and drainage plan this year.

The company, citing a report from the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, warned of the severity of this year’s weather. It will be complex and unpredictable, with more intense heat waves. Moreover, unusual, severe heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and hail will frequently occur.

According to the company, with rainfall under 50mm per hour, there will generally be no flooding in Hanoi, except for some areas in low terrain or facing drainage issues.

With rainfall of between 50-70mm per hour in 2024, Hanoi will see 11 flooding points. When the rainfall is more than 70mm, there would be 30 locations, including 16 along the To Lich River basins and eight by the Nhue River.

The streets that the inundation will ravage include Nguyen Khuyen in Dong Da District, Hoa Bang and Duong Dinh Nghe in Cau Giay District, Phan Boi Chau-Ly Thuong Kiet T-conjunction, Tong Dan and Dinh Tien Hoang in Hoan Kiem District, Cao Ba Quat Street in Ba Dinh, and Nguyen Chinh Street in Hoang Mai District.

Experts said lakes and ponds in Hanoi have been filled with housing, while the construction of proper drainage systems has yet to receive sufficient attention. This has caused the city to experience more severe floods after downpours.

RoK pledges collaboration with Vietnam to fight IUU fishing

The Republic of Korea (RoK) supports Vietnam's efforts in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, as recommended by the European Commission (EC), said Korean Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung.

During a recent interview granted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Seoul, Kang described Vietnam as a major seafood trading partner. In 2023, Vietnam was the third largest seafood exporter to the RoK with a value of roughly 800 million USD, primarily consisting of shrimp, shrimp meat, and octopus. He added that Vietnam is also the fifth largest source of seafood imports from the RoK, valued at some 240 million USD in 2023.

The RoK Government plans to work with major Korean companies like Lotte Mart in Ho Chi Minh City to launch trade promotion initiatives that will benefit both Vietnamese seafood producers and Korean consumers, he revealed.

The interview also shed light on ongoing technical cooperation projects between the two countries. "The RoK's National Institute of Fisheries Science and Vietnam's Research Institute for Aquaculture are currently engaged in a project to enhance aquaculture productivity in the northern Vietnamese provinces of Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh", Minister Kang said. This project, valued at 3 billion KRW (2.1 billion USD) and running from 2022 to 2026, aims to improve aquaculture practices through technology transfer. He reaffirmed the RoK's commitment to building long-term partnerships with Vietnam to develop a sustainable aquaculture sector.

Presenting the RoK’s ongoing efforts and experiences against IUU fishing, he said the RoK Government advocates for upholding the rule of law, information sharing, public awareness campaigns, and refraining from violence in enforcement efforts.

He expressed wish for joint work with Vietnam in this regard, saying that the RoK will also collaborate to strengthen the capabilities of Asian countries like Vietnam to address IUU fishing./.

Ha Tinh farmers lose land due to erosion

The riverbank of the Ngan Pho River in the central province of Ha Tinh is facing serious erosion, causing farmland of over 25 hectares owned by 120 local households to fall into the river.

Resident Nguyen Thi Loan, 68, said that her 750-square-metre farmland had shrunk to approximately 350 square metres over the past five years.

"The erosion started after the construction of the Trung Luu Bridge five years ago, which changed the river’s current," Loan said. "It’s taking some 15-20 metres of land from the bank every year. The field covering 30 hectares has now shrunk to 25 hectares while the river has become larger.'

Loan and other farmers have asked the local authorities to take measures to protect their farmland.

Chairman of Son Tay Commune People's Committee, Cao Van Duc, admitted that the Ngan Pho River had faced erosion on a section stretching 40-50 metres, affecting local farmland. "We've asked the Huong Son District to help us with funds to build a dyke along the river," Duc said.

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