Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has signed a decision on establishment of Health Science University, becoming the latest member of the Viet Nam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM).

Established in 1995, VNUHCM has over 90,000 full-time students with an academic team of more than 300 professors and associate professors and 1,197 doctors.

VNUHCM for many consecutive years was ranked in the top 150 universities in the continent by the Quacquarelli Symonds Asia Education Organization (QS). In 2019, VNUHCM maintains its ranking in the top 701-750 by the QS UK, which evaluating over 1,000 leading universities in 82 countries.

VNUHCM has eight member universities: University of Technology, University of Science, University of Social Science and Humanities, International University, University of Information Technology, University of Economics and Law, Institute for Environment and Resources, An Giang University, and Health Science University./.

Prime Minister appoints new Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has decided to appoint Nguyen Hoang Long, Ambassador of Viet Nam to the UK, as new Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade.

Nguyen, aged 48, has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1999.

He served as Deputy Director-General, Director-General of the Europe Department, Ambassador of Viet Nam to Italy, Deputy Director-General and Director-General of the Department of Provincial-level Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador to the UK from June 2021./.

Vietnam attends 2024 UN International Bazaar

Vietnam’s traditional cuisine fascinated foreign friends at an international bazaar held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on June 5.

Attracting more than 1,000 event-goers, this year's bazaar featured about 50 booths showcasing handicrafts and traditional dishes of UN member states.

The Vietnamese mission brought ceramic, lacquer, brocade and silk products to the event, along with traditional dishes like spring rolls, banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) and iced milk coffee to the event.

Visiting the two booths of Vietnam, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis expressed his hope to visit the country in the near futhre to directly experience the local culture and cuisine.

After the event, Vietnam was one of countries which contributed the most from their proceeds to the organisers' charity fund.

The UN International Bazaar is organised annually by the club for spouses of representatives of UN member states, aiming to promote exchanges, strengthen ties among member states, and raise funds for humanitarian activities and projects.

The Permanent Mission of Vietnam has regularly taken part in this event with a view to introdcuing the country's good values to the international community and diplomatic missions at the UN headquarters, and also enhance the solidarity among members of Vietnam's prerensentative bodies in New York./.

Logo unveiled to mark Vietnam People's Army’s founding anniversary

The Ministry of National Defence has officially announced the logo design for use in popularisation activities in celebration of the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All-People's National Defence Day (December 22, 1989 - 2024).

It is designed to be harmonious and steadfast, expressing pride, honor, and righteousness, with the spirit of combat readiness to defend the country's peace, independence, and freedom.

It aims to widely disseminate and educate officers and soldiers throughout the army, and people from all walks of life about the glorious historical tradition of the army throughout its 80-year building, combat, and development.

The logo features prominently the image of the army’s flag of victory - a traditional and iconic image to resemble bird wings – a symbol of peace, along with a sturdy hand gripping a rifle to safeguard the fatherland - representing soldiers of the army./.

HCMC People's Committee submits draft plan on urban railway system development

The HCMC People's Committee on June 4 submitted a draft plan for the city’s urban railway system development project to the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the municipal People's Committee.

The HCMC urban railway system development project has been created in accordance with the Politburo's Conclusion No 49-KL/TW on the development orientation of Vietnam's railway transport to 2030 with a vision towards 2045.

Under the project to develop the urban railway network in HCMC by 2035, the city will complete six metro lines running around 183 kilometers, including metro line 1 with a length of 40.8 kilometers, metro line 2 (20.22 out of 62.8km), metro line 3 (29.53 out of 62.17km), metro line 4 (36.82 out of 43.4km), metro line 5 (32.5 out of 53.87km), and metro line 6 (22.85 out of 53.8km).

By 2045, the city will have an additional 168.36 kilometers, raising the total length of metro routes to more than 351.08 kilometers, including the remaining sections of metro line 2 (42.58km), metro line 3 (32.64km), metro line 4 (6.58km), metro line 5 (21.37km), metro line 6 (30.95km), and metro line 7 (51.23km).

By 2060, the city will finish metro lines 8, 9, and 10, raising the total length of metro routes to more than 510 kilometers. Specifically, the length of metro line 8 is 42.8km, metro line 9 is 28.31km, and metro line 10 is 87.84km.

The project development task force has collected opinions from the specialized agencies of the Ministry of Transport and the capital city of Hanoi City to complete specific mechanisms and policies for investment and implementation of HCMC’s urban railway system development project.

Safety certification evaluation of Metro Line 1 to be completed in December

A safety certification evaluation report for metro line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro route) was sent to the Management Board of HCMC Urban Railway Projects (MAUR) on June 3.

According to BVT Joint Venture, including Bureau Veritas Vietnam, Bureau Veritas Exploitation, Bureau Veritas Quality Services, Shanghai Project Management, and the Transport Engineering Design Inc (TEDI), the metro line will begin a test run scheduled in October to ensure the project to be timely put into operation

During this period, the BVT Joint Venture will focus on assessing personnel training to serve the operation of Metro Line 1, the Operational Safety Management System (OSMS), and operational processes. The BVT Joint Venture expects to complete the safety certification evaluation of Metro Line 1 and submit a final assessment report in December.

The BVT Joint Venture hoped to receive support from investors, and cooperation from consulting units and contractors to ensure that the evaluation is carried out effectively and quickly in order to put Metro Line 1 into commercial operation as soon as possible.

Yellow-backed bamboo locusts devouring crops in Northern Vietnam

Initial reports from the Northern provinces indicate that the swarm of locusts are swiftly spreading here, uncontrollably destroying a large area of bamboo forest.

The locust swarm, whose type is identified by functional agencies as yellow-backed bamboo locust, has been reported in huge amounts in the provinces of Lang Son, Cao Bang, Bac Kan.

Particularly, in Binh Gia District of Lang Son Province, they are right in their reproduction period. After devastating bamboo and Schizostachyum aciculare forests, they are now approaching corn fields.

In the communes of Hiep Luc (Ngan Son District), Van Lang, Van Vu, Cu Le (Na Ri District) of Bac Kan Province, the locust swarms with a density of 150-200 locusts per square meter, are devouring Dendrocalamus barbatus forests.

The Plant Protection Department (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) confirmed that this yellow-backed bamboo locust type has an extremely fast spreading speed.

The total affected surface area in the three provinces of Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Bac Kan comes to more than 600ha.

Miss Grand Vietnam 2024 beauty contest starts

Miss Grand Vietnam 2024 beauty contest has been kicked off in HCMC on June 3.

This year’s contest includes new competitions including the “Grand Voice Award” seeking singing talents and “Best Seller” developing contestants’ business and communication skills in marketing and promoting a brand's products or services to clients.

The final round of the beauty pageant will be held at the coastal economic and entertainment urban area of NovaWorld in Phan Thiet City (NovaWorld Phan Thiet) in the southern central coastal province of Binh Thuan.

The national costume competition at the ongoing Miss Grand Vietnam 2024 will also see the presence of fashion designers likely Viet Hung, Nguyen Minh Cong, Vu Lan Anh, and Dang Trong Minh Chau.

The jury members include Miss Vietnam 1992 Ha Kieu Anh, People’s Artist Vuong Duy Bien, Miss Grand International 2021 Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, model Minh Tu, designer Do Long, Miss Grand Vietnam 2022 Doan Thien An and Miss Grand Vietnam 2023 Le Hoang Phuong.

The beauty pageant aims to search for beautiful women who are ready to work with perfection in all elements including Body, Beauty, and Brain. They should be complete with a Skill Set and all-around abilities and be able to show the potential of being a modern woman who must be beautiful, skillful, and smart so that they can be an icon for women.

On this occasion, the organization board announced that following the success of the Miss Grand International 2023 contest that took place in HCMC last year, Vietnam will host the Miss Grand International 2027 with the goal of promoting Vietnamese culture, tourism, and cuisine.

Urgent legal decision for e-cigarettes needed

Amidst mounting health concerns, ongoing debates over whether to ban or pilot e-cigarettes remain deadlocked; therefore, the government should make legal decisions for new-generation tobacco products.

This legislative deadlock arises from a legal gray area surrounding these new-generation tobacco products. So far, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has not yet granted a business license for this product. However, e-cigarettes are still displayed in the market rampantly due to smuggling and carry-on. Worryingly, a survey of students in 11 provinces and cities in Vietnam shows that the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-17 increased from 2.6 percent in 2019 to 8.1 percent in 2023.

Medical experts have long warned that with its high addictive potential and rapid spread in the community, e-cigarettes will create a new generation addicted to nicotine and other addictive substances such as drugs without effective preventative measures. At least 39 countries and territories around the world have completely banned this product.

According to Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, since the sixth session in November 2023, he has responded to questions on this content. He stated that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is consistent in its view that it is necessary to protect the health of Vietnamese people; hence, if the Ministry of Health affirms that e-cigarettes must be banned due to their health effects, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will support the early amendment of legal regulations; based on the legal law, the new generation tobacco products are not circulated in Vietnam.

E-cigarettes not only cause a new huge burden on healthcare, economy, and security and order but also affect the breed and many other fields. Currently, imported heated tobacco and e-cigarettes are still illicit in Vietnam. Therefore, this issue needs to be agreed upon by related ministries and sectors to submit for the Government’s final decision so that the National Assembly deputies don’t question again.

Over 1,900 inland waterway wharfs operating without permission; General inspection to be conducted

The Ministry of Transport will conduct a comprehensive inspection, review, and propose guidelines for handling illegal waterway wharves.

According to a report by the Việt Nam Inland Waterways Department, there are a total of 5,553 inland waterway ports and wharves that have been announced, licensed, and are currently in operation. This includes 310 ports and 5,243 wharves.

Meanwhile, there are 1,900 unauthorised inland waterway ports and wharves, of which 991 have expired licenses and 909 operate without permission.

In the two provinces of Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang alone, there are 134 wharves with expired licenses that continue to operate without permission. Bắc Giang Province has 82 wharves located on the Thương-Lục Nam rivers and Cầu River, while Bắc Ninh Province has 58 wharves operating on the Cầu and Đuống rivers.

Despite implementing many measures to limit and handle unlicensed ports and wharves, the situation remains complex due to the existence of many wharves that are not under the department's management, said Bùi Thiên Thu, director of the Việt Nam Inland Waterways Department.

Some wharves have existed for a long time, Thu said, and the department’s inspection force lacks the authority to sanction administrative violations. So, they can only remind violators and make recommendations to local authorities on handling.

Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Transport has instructed the department to set up a comprehensive inspection plan for ports and wharves nationwide from 1 July to 31 December this year.

However, the ministry also noted that handling violations and suspending the operations of waterway terminals requires assessing the impact on transportation and proposing solutions to overcome challenges while creating favourable conditions for businesses. 

The upcoming general inspection will help the ministry clearly assess the shortcomings and problems, thereby enabling the proposal of amendments and supplements to regulations and legal documents related to inland waterway activities, thus creating favourable conditions for the safe and sustainable development of water transport, Thu said.

Vietnam, US boost aviation security cooperation

Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen Luong Tam Quang hosted a reception for Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration under the US Department of Homeland Security David Pekoske in Hanoi on June 5.

At the event, Quang highlighted the cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and US agencies, including the Departments of State, Homeland Security, and Justice in the fields of counter-terrorism, settlement of criminal cases, and arrest and handover of wanted criminals.

Quang suggested the two sides clinch an agreement on aviation security officers in 2024, helping ensure safe flights between the two nations, and elevate the bilateral cooperation in the area to a new high which is on par with their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He went on to say that both sides should enhance delegation exchanges at all levels so as to share information and experience in preventing and fighting aviation terrorism, establish a mechanism to discuss and handle information on suspicious signs and kinds of crimes, and pen measures to combat terrorist activities.

They should study and build cooperation documents on aviation security between the Vietnam Immigration Department and the US Transportation Security Administration to ensure security and safety for commercial flights, as well as enhance support for training activities and arrangement of field trips in the two countries, Quang added.

He took the occasion to ask the US side to promote regular information and experience exchange with the Ministry of Public Security’s units in air baggage, cargo and people screening process, and share measures to control the abuse of aviation services to smuggle and transport drugs, weapons and explosives as well as solutions to ensuring cybersecurity and preventing aviation terrorism.

Pekoske, for his part, affirmed that he will continue boosting the Vietnam – US ties and promote the cooperation between the Ministry of Public Security and its US partners in a deep, practical and effective fashion./.

Local YouTuber fined for spreading false information about ascetic practitioner’s pilgrimage

A Vietnamese YouTuber has been fined VNĐ7.5 million (US$295) for spreading inaccurate information and sensationalised content regarding ascetic practitioner Thích Minh Tuệ’s pilgrimage.

Nguyễn Văn Tý, 34, who manages the YouTube channel “15s Bình Dương,” from Bình Dương Province, uploaded videos with exaggerated titles and false information about security in the areas where Thích Minh Tuệ was traveling through.

Authorities determined that Tý’s content caused confusion and curiosity among the public, leading to disruptions and gatherings that affected traffic and public order.

Following discussions with authorities, Thích Minh Tuệ decided to pause his nationwide pilgrimage after a follower tragically passed away in Quảng Trị Province due to high temperatures.

The decision was made to ensure the safety of his followers and to maintain social stability, as reported by local media.

Thích Minh Tuệ, who was born Lê Anh Tú, 43, is not a Buddhist monk, does not practise Buddhism, and is not affiliated with any pagoda or facility under the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

However, he has been on personal pilgrimages multiple times in recent years, walking significant distances across the country.

He clarified that he does not refer to himself as a monk and that he intends to continue his pilgrimages for the rest of his life to “embrace the teachings of Buddha to enhance himself.”

He said while he does not actively seek disciples, he does not prohibit anyone who wishes to accompany him on his journeys.

In recent years, Vietnamese authorities have taken action to combat misinformation and fake news on social networks.

Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok have been instructed to remove violating channels and accounts from their platforms.

Authorities recommend social network users to educate themselves on how to identify and filter out misinformation and violations on the Internet. 

Vinh Airport to invest VNĐ750billion to upgrade runway and taxiway

Airports Corporation of Việt Nam (ACV) has issued a document requesting the Ministry of Transport to consider and approve a project to upgrade the runway and taxiway of Vinh International Airport in Nghệ An Province.

The airport's runway and taxiway have reached the end of their design life, while the number of passengers has increased in recent years.

ACV's report shows that from 2017 until now, the runway and taxiway have only been maintained to ensure they are operationally safe, but they have not had any major overhauls. Meanwhile, the airport has continued to become busier, with an average increase of 15 per cent in volume from 2015 to 2019 and passenger numbers reaching more than 2.6 million in 2022.

According to an inspection from Airport Design and Construction Consultancy One Member Limited Liability Company (ADCC), the runway and taxiway at the airport both need to be repaired.

The asphalt concrete road surface has shown typical types of damage such as a deformed asphalt surface, tire ruts, cracks and asphalt peel-off that affect operational safety.

To ensure safe, sustainable, long-term operations and improve the operational capacity of the airport, which can now receive modern aircraft such as the fully loaded Airbus A320/A321, ACV recommended that, in addition to resurfacing, they build brake strips at both ends of the runways and renovate and repair the safety strips for that and the taxiway. 

The runways would be made of steel mesh and concrete to prolong its working life and provide additional protection against adverse weather conditions.

ACV estimated that the total investment of the project is VNĐ745 billion (US$29.1 million) using aviation infrastructure maintenance capital, invested in and managed the State.

The project will take about four months, so ACV recommended closing the airport after the Lunar New Year in 2025 and finishing construction before the summer peak in 2025, in order to minimise travel disruption.

ACV also proposed that the Ministry of Transport co-ordinate with the People's Committee of Nghệ An Province to study other investment plans including land clearance work, arrangement of the approach light system, increase of the flight strip size and construction of a security fence. 

One proposal is to re-use the approach light systems which will be removed following the upgrades and renovations of the runways at Nội Bài and Tân Sơn Nhất international airports for the project.

Vinh International Airport is one of 22 airports managed and operated by ACV.

From 1993 to 2000, the airport’s runway was first expanded to 2,174m long and 30m wide. Then in 2003 it was further extended to 2,400m and 45m so that it could land the Airbus A320 and A321 planes or their equivalent. 

HCM City’s summer volunteer campaign begins

Around 125,000 young people are taking part in numerous volunteer activities and programmes of the HCM City 2024 summer volunteer campaign from June 2 to August 4.

The Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) of HCM City in collaboration with the Việt Nam Youth Federation and the Vietnamese Students’ Association in HCM City held a ceremony to launch the city’s summer volunteer campaign at a park along Sài Gòn River on the side of Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area in Thủ Đức city on June 2.

Some 5,000 delegates, members of youth unions, young people and volunteers attended the launching ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, permanent deputy secretary of the city Party Committee Nguyễn Hồ Hải, said the summer volunteer programmes and activities have taken place mostly in the city over the passing years and will continue to spread and develop to other provinces and cities nationwide.

Young people from the armed forces in the city and international students will continue to participate in this year’s summer volunteer campaign, showing the spirit of living for the community, responsibility, compassion and youthful enthusiasm.

He expects to continue receiving support from the Central Committee of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union and other localities so that the city’s young volunteers can fulfill their duties.

The activities and programmes will take place mostly in the city, and 17 other provinces and cities, including Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Nông, Phú Yên, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận, Bình Phước, Tây Ninh, Long An, Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Đồng Tháp, Vĩnh Long, Trà Vinh, An Giang, Hậu Giang and Kiên Giang.

The campaign will also include activities in Thạnh An Island Commune in HCM City’s Cần Giờ District, Phú Quý Island District in Bình Thuận Province and Laos.

The young volunteers will help to upgrade at least 65km of roads and alleys, repair downgraded houses or build new ones for 45 disadvantaged families, plant 125,000 trees, build and upgrade 10 bridges in rural areas and 30 facilities serving community activities, and admit 4,000 new youth union members, 6,000 new members of the Việt Nam Youth Union and 500 elite union members to the Party.

They will organise training activities to foster knowledge of digital transformation for about 600,000 people, consulting and job introductions for 5,000 people, training activities with knowledge on start-ups for 5,000 people, and caring for 100,000 people and children in difficult circumstances.

Chairwoman of the Việt Nam Students' Association in HCM City Trần Thu Hà said the two-month campaign is expected to attract more than one million volunteers jointly participating in numerous works and meaningful activities in various localities across the country and the neighbouring country of Laos.

This annual campaign includes six main events, Mùa hè xanh (Green Summer) volunteer campaign, Hoa phượng đỏ (Red Flamboyant) volunteer campaign, Kỳ nghỉ hồng (Pink Vacation) volunteer campaign, Hành quân xanh (Green March) volunteer campaign, Tiếp sức mùa thi (Assistance for candidates during the national high school graduation examination) and Gia sư áo xanh (blue-shirt tutors) programme; international volunteer activities; and volunteering on islands and cyberspace.

Right after the send-off ceremony, the Steering Committee and Organising Committee for the city 2024 summer volunteer campaign launched various volunteer activities such as releasing fish at Sài Gòn River Park to replenish aquatic resources for the river basin; clearing, cleaning and planting trees in the area of the city Children's Palace project; introducing a team for the digital transformation project in An Phú Ward in Thủ Đức city; training on fire prevention and rescue at Sadora Apartments in Thủ Thiêm Ward along with many other programmes and activities.

Man treated for lung injury caused by fish gun arrow in Quảng Bình

Đồng Hới Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in Quảng Bình Province has successfully treated a male patient who had a sharp, arrow-shaped object pierced into his lung.

While fishing in the waters of Quảng Trạch District, the 32-year-old man suddenly encountered an incident that caused the fish gun arrow to hit him, causing injury.

He was taken to the hospital with the object penetrating deeply into his back, causing severe pain in the right chest area.

After a computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen, doctors determined that the patient had a sharp, arrow-shaped object penetrating from the lumbar area into the pleural cavity (right), causing damage to the right lung and right pillar of the diaphragm.

The doctors decided to operate to remove the object from the patient's body.

After a two-hour operation, the patient’s health was in stable condition and he is now being cared for and treated at the hospital’s Department of Thoracic Surgery.

Vietnam and New Zealand seek to achieve US$3 billion trade target

To this end, the two sides will increase economic connectivity, expand market access, and effectively implement commitments within the framework of free trade agreements, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), as well as soon opening direct flights between the two countries.

They will also expand cooperation in new fields such as clean agriculture, green economy, digital economy, and energy transition in the Action Plan to realise the Strategic Partnership for 2024 -2027 that is being formulated.

The agreement was reached during the second Vietnam – New Zealand Foreign Ministers’ Meeting co-chaired by Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters, in Hanoi on June 5.

Both sides expressed satisfaction at the positive and effective development of the Vietnam-New Zealand strategic partnership in the fields of politics - foreign affairs, economics - trade - investment, security – defense, education - training, science - technology, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.

They also consented to coordinate closely in preparing foreign affairs activities in 2025 when the two countries celebrate 50 years of their diplomatic ties and 5 years of their Strategic Partnership, including the exchange of visits, high-level meetings and cultural and people-to-people exchanges of the two countries.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to strengthen coordination to effectively contribute to common efforts to maintain stability, cooperation and development in the region.

With regard to the East Sea issue, the two ministers stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Peters said New Zealand prioritises cooperation with Southeast Asia, a dynamically developing region in the world, while voicing its support for ASEAN’s central role.

Son for his part emphasized that Vietnam, in its capacity as the coordinator of ASEAN-New Zealand relations for 2024 – 2027, will strive to further promote cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand. He requested that New Zealand increase cooperation for sustainable development in the Mekong Sub-region, especially including supporting regional countries to develop green agriculture in response to climate change.

Son also proposed that New Zealand coordinate to spur cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Foreign sport delegations impressed by organisation work for ASEAN Schools Games

Foreign sport delegations to the 13th ASEAN Schools Games in Vietnam’s central city of Da Nang are impressed by the organisational work for the regional sport event.

foreign sport delegations impressed by organisation work for asean schools games picture 1

Niwat Limsuknirun, head of the Thai delegation said the host country has made meticulous preparations, from competition venues to accommodation and travel vehicles.

“Vietnam has left great impression as host of the 13th ASEAN Schools Games,” said Francis Cesar B.Bringas, a senior official of the Philippine Department of Education. He said accommodations for participating sport delegations are near competition venues, the food suits the taste of athletes, and young local volunteers are bright and enthusiastic.

Carlos, a Philippine track-and-field athlete, and Ni Made Ayu Ratih Daneswari, a Vovinam athlete from Indonesia, said the competition venues are modern and the referees are professional, which ensure smooth and fair competition.

Friendly people and beautiful landscape in Da Nang are also appreciated by foreign athletes.

Cloe Chee En-Ya, a track-and-field athlete from Singapore, said she is surprised at the beautiful scenery with long white beaches and many entertainment venues in the city, adding that local people are warm hearted and amiable.

The official leading the Vovinam athlete delegation of Thailand, Araya Thivato Vuelta said she is impressed by the beauty of Da Nang. The city has many good tourist attractions which are modern while the natural beauty is still preserved, she said, noting that Da Nang residents are nice and hospitable.

Deputy head of the organising committee for the event Nguyen Thanh De said besides competition infrastructure and security, the organising committee paid attention to accommodations and food of the athletes. After competition time, the organising committee arranges for athletes to go sightseeing and relax at famous tourism attractions in the city.

The 13th ASEAN Schools Games is taking place from May 31 to June 9 in Da Nang under the theme “Connect to Shine Bright”. It saw the participation of about 1,300 athletes and coaches from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

WWF hosts seminar on nature-based solutions for central Trường Sơn region

A seminar took place in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế on Wednesday to explore the potential of nature-based solutions (NbS) for the sustainable development of the central Trường Sơn region, one of Asia’s largest continuous natural forest areas facing serious biodiversity loss from climate change and human activities.

Co-hosted by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Việt Nam (WWF-Vietnam), the WWF-USA, the WWF-Denmark and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the event was part of the Nature-Based Solutions Origination Platform, a new WWF initiative focused on high-quality and high-integrity NbS that will deliver impactful results for people, climate and nature across tropical forest landscapes.

Participants engaged in discussions on the initiative itself, along with potential NbS applications and development strategies for the central Trường Sơn region. This included sharing experiences in pooling resources for nature-friendly agricultural solutions in the Mekong Delta, livelihood models under forest canopies; and the WWF’s expertise in building, managing, and operating NbS globally.

The initial phase of NbS adoption will target four priority provinces in the central Trường Sơn region, namely Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên-Huế, and Quảng Nam. These NbS projects will align with existing provincial development plans for the 2021-30 period with a vision towards 2050.

The first two schemes will protect and restore special-use and protective forests in priority areas with high biodiversity value, such as national parks, conservation areas and surrounding communities. They will also improve the management capacity for production forests and develop sustainable forest certification for households, family groups, and forestry companies.

All activities in these schemes will be closely linked to the objective of supporting community livelihoods. 

Kim wants a win in his debut with Việt Nam during WC qualifier

Kim Sang-Sik is expected to make a strong debut when Việt Nam hosts the Philippines in the 2026 World Cup qualification Asian zone at the Mỹ Đình on June 6 in Hà Nội.

Although it will be a first outing for the South Korean manager as national team head coach he wants a better result compared to the first match of his successor Park Hang-seo, the most successful coach of Việt Nam in history.

"Seven years ago, coach Park Hang Seo had a draw result in his first match with Việt Nam. My target is a win," Kim said at the press briefing on June 5 in Hà Nội.

Under Park, Việt Nam drew nil nil against Afghanistan in his opener. The result helped Việt Nam secure a place in the Asian Cup finals 2019.

“Tomorrow will be my first match. Despite short time of practice I tried to convey my philosophy and hope the players catch up with it," Kim said.

“I want to be a senior of players on the field where I will instruct and guide them to complete their exercise and I want to connect to them and bring out their best. Meanwhile in daily life I want us to be close like brothers in a family.

"I receive support from local supporters and play on home ground. Players have practised well and tried hard every day so I hope they will play with confidence we will have good result against the Philippines." 

The 47-year-old has only had five days working with the 27 players but discovered that their ability and passion exceeded his expectations. If they can sharpen their technique and tactical mind, they would be a much better version, leading to a stronger team, he concluded.

In Group F, Việt Nam are in third place with only three points, while the Philippines at the bottom with one point after four games. Both two sides need a win to maintain their small hope of qualifying for the next stage, meanwhile a draw or a loss mean they will be eliminated from the tournament.

Captain Đỗ Hùng Dũng also attended the briefing.

He said a heavy domestic competition schedule and short preparation time are challenges for Việt Nam, but all players were ready and hoped to make Kim's debut a good game.

"Currently, coaches around the world often follow a general trend with similar styles. This is consistent with the development process of teams and football.

"Việt Nam are under new coach and each change requires time and effort, so we hope to have support from the supporters. A five-day training schedule is short but my teammates and I tried very hard to meet the coach's requirements.

"We are in a good mood and have the best conditions. We will play the match with highest determination," he said.

Coach Tom Saintfiet of the Philippines said they were also confident despite playing away.

He said Việt Nam were a strong rival and under a new coach, difficult to read, so it would be difficult, but the Philippines would try to win.

Saintfiet, who has taken charge of 12 national teams, said his coaching board researched Việt Nam via video clips. It was a team of experienced and many young talented players, making them a powerhouse in the region.

The Philippines lost their first match, but the team prepared well for the upcoming game regardless which playing style Kim would apply for Việt Nam.

Asked about naturalised players in his team, Saintfiet said the local federation wanted to seek all Filipino talents in the world to join together to develop the national football team.

The coaching board is still focused on domestic players, but the coach has been travelling to many countries and talked with number of players and there were five or six who could play for the national team.

In the Mỹ Đình match, there would be players wearing the Philippine national team shirt for the first time and some Filipino players might not speak the same language, but wearing the national jersey they would fight all their best, Saintfiet added.

Centre-back Christian Rontini was excited and could not wait for the game. He said it would be big challenge but his side was determined. 

"It is 50-50 for both teams but we will not play for a draw. I clearly know a group of outstanding players of Việt Nam. They are Quang Hải, Hùng Dũng, Tiến Linh, they are very agile and technical. Việt Nam may be rated higher, but let's wait and see," he said. 

Việt Nam Under 19s lose to China at the International friendly football tournament

The U19 Việt Nam team lost to China 0-1 at an international friendly football tournament in China on Tuesday.

From the start, both teams were committed and not afraid of physical contact. But the Chinese team controlled the match better and scored an early goal in the tenth minute, thanks to a long-distance shot by Wang Yudong.

After falling behind, Việt Nam tightened their formation and ramped up their passes. Led by captain Công Phương, the players caused many difficulties for their opponents, however they lacked coordinating skills and were unable to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities.

In the second half, Việt Nam had several chances to equalise, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Coach Hứa Hiền Vinh made tactical team changes, but the game remained the same, with the match ending one nil in China's favour.

Việt Nam will next face South Korea on June 8 and Uzbekistan on June 10. 

Bắc Hà's white plateau festival attracts thousands of tourists

Thousands of tourists have flocked to a much-anticipated cultural event of the year in Bắc Hà District in the northern province of Lào Cai – the traditional horse race.

The 17th annual horse race opened the Bắc Hà White Plateau Festival this year.

Neither a commercial nor professional race, the event features amateur riders, mainly farmers, on their mounts and riding without full saddles, harnesses and stirrups, just a horse belt, with two iron hooks tied to ropes on either side of the horse’s mouth for control.

According to the People's Committee of Bắc Hà District the races saw 86 riders compete from various districts in Lào Cai Province, including Bắc Hà, Bát Xát, as well as Hàm Yên in nearby Tuyên Quang Province.

Prior to the race, the horses participated in a ritual ceremony and a street parade, symbolising the deep connection between horses and the lives of the ethnic communities in Bắc Hà District.

Then the horses raced in a 1,900-metre qualifying round to select the 32 best horses for the final on June 8.

In the final race the top riders and runners will compete over a 1,500-metre distance, vying for the individual and team championship titles for both male and female sportspersons.

Over the course of the festival, which opened on June 1, over 65,000 visitors are expected to attend, with the highlight the traditional horse racing that has been recognised as national intangible cultural heritage since 2021.

Other attractions will include folk performances, contemplating the sunset and sunrise over Mount Ngải Thầu, over 2,000m above the sea level, visiting the 1,000-year-old timber tree, ancient tea trees in Hoàng Thu Phố Commune and the Cốc Sâm grasslands.

Bắc Hà District is known for its fresh, cool climate and many beautiful scenic spots, making it an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists.

It is home to 14 different ethnic minority groups, each with their own distinctive customs and traditions.

In recent years, the district has focused on developing a diverse range of tourism products, particularly community-based tourism initiatives that showcase the unique features of each village and ethnic group.

According to Bùi Văn Vinh, head of the Culture and Information Department in Bắc Hà District, the Bắc Hà festival has gradually become a distinctive tourism product of Lào Cai Province that is highly anticipated by both domestic and international visitors.

“The local cultural identity and available resources have been exploited to create highlights for the festival, thereby attracting tourists near and far to experience the unique offerings of the region,” he added. 

Floating fruit festival opens in District 8

Various kinds of fruit from Southern provinces are being introduced at HCM City’s “Trên Bến Dưới Thuyền” (On the Wharf - In the Boat) Fruit Festival in District 8.

The event includes more than 100 stalls offering the region’s signature fruits such as durian, mangosteen, mango and grapefruit that satisfy VietGap and Global Gap standards

It also offers different kinds of fruit-based drinks and food produced by local manufacturers.

Nguyễn Thị Thu Hoa, deputy chairwoman of the district’s People’s Committee, said, “The festival is one of the city’s outstanding events since it was first held in 2022. The event aims to honour the agricultural values of different regions, and promote special kinds of fruit of the region among local and foreign visitors.”

Apart from fruit of the Southern region, the festival introduces special products from different regions such as asparagus, grapes, and green apples from the Central province of Ninh Thuận, and dried persimmon and artichoke syrup from the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) province of Đà Lạt.

In addition, visitors can learn how to make bánh tro, which is made of sticky rice and soaked in ash water (the ash comes from burning leaves such as dried sesame or rice straw). It is often eaten during the Double-Fifth Festival.

There are performances of tài tử music and lion dragon dance during the festival as well.

The festival is open at Bình Đông Wharf until June 10. 

Volunteer soldiers’ remains from Cambodia laid to rest in Kon Tum

A ceremony was held at a martyr cemetery in Ngoc Hoi district of Kon Tum province on June 4 to re-bury the remains of eight Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who had died in Cambodia during wartime.

The remains were collected by the provincial Military Command’s Team K53 with the support from the authority of Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province during the 2023 - 2024 dry season.

All of the repatriated remains are still unclaimed.

One day earlier, Y Ngoc, vice chairwoman of the Kon Tum provincial People’s Committee and head of the provincial Steering Committee 515, had a meeting with leaders of Rattanakiri province to discuss the withdrawal of Team 53 after they have completed their mission in the 2023 - 2024 dry season.

Deputy PM, US Secretary of the Treasury hold phone talks

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai held phone talks with US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen on June 5, noting that her Vietnam visit in July 2023 paved the way for the upgrade of bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during US President Joe Biden’s official visit to Vietnam two months later.

Deputy PM Khai congratulated Yellen on economic achievements made under President Joe Biden's administration, particularly in economic growth, job creation, and macro-economic stability. He stressed that the US’s stable economic growth is significant to the global, regional and Vietnamese economies.

Two-way trade reached US$38.6 billion in the first four months of this year, making the US the largest export market of Vietnam.

According to Khai, the new partnership framework has expanded opportunities for cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity and emerging technologies, transfer of core technologies, strengthening supply chains to develop the semiconductor and electronics industry ecosystem, and addressing war consequences.

Yellen informed Khai about the cooperative relationship between the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and the US Department of the Treasury, expressing support for this collaboration and noting their shared goal of fostering strong, inclusive, and sustainable economic development.

Both sides also engaged in open discussions on bilateral collaboration in finance, banking, energy transition, and macroeconomic management.

Hailing the SBV and the US Department of the Treasury for maintaining regular information and policy exchanges and preparation for theỉr first policy dialogue session as committed in the Joint Statement between Secretary Yellen and the SBV Governor during her Vietnam visit in July 2023, Khai emphasised that the Vietnamese Government appreciates the positive assessments from the US Department of the Treasury regarding Vietnam's recent monetary and exchange rate policy management.

He urged the US Department of the Treasury to continue providing objective assessments, considering each country's unique economic factors and context. He also sought continued US financial support for Vietnam's development goals, particularly in infrastructure, sustainable energy transition, and climate change response, through bilateral and multilateral initiatives like the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Khai requested that Yellen and the US Department of the Treasury advocate for Vietnam's market economy status recognition in the US Government and Congress, stating that it would build mutual trust and lay a foundation for further collaboration, benefiting businesses and citizens of both countries.

Yellen responded with her willingness to engage in discussions across all fields to deepen the bilateral relationship further.

Thailand always values enhanced strategic partnership with Vietnam

Thailand always values its enhanced strategic partnership with Vietnam, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said when receiving Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung on June 4 in Bangkok.

Hung congratulated Maris Sangiampongsa on his new position and expressed his honour to be appointed as Ambassador to Thailand - an important friend and partner of Vietnam.

The diplomat affirmed that he will strive to contribute to deepening and developing the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries to new heights.

For his part, the Thai minister affirmed Thailand always values the enhanced strategic partnership with Vietnam, adding that the two countries still have much room for cooperation.

He said he will continue to pay attention to promoting the two countries’ relations.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed measures to strengthen cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand in the coming time, including exchanging delegations at all levels and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, cooperation between localities, and enhancing transport connections.

Vietnam leads ASEAN School Games’ medal tally on June 5

Vietnam took the lead in the ASEAN School Games (ASG) 2024’s medal tally after six competition days, bagging 27 gold, 17 silver and seven bronze medals as of June 5.

Thailand ran behind with 11 golds, 12 silvers and 15 bronzes, followed by Malaysia with nine golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes.

Indonesia and Singapore completed the top five, while the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Brunei came next in the sequence.

On June 5, the Vietnamese delegation won four golds in swimming and three golds in track and field.

Athletes continue competing at the qualifiers and finales of swimming, badminton, track and field and Pencak Silat on June 6.

The 13th ASG is being organised in the central city of Da Nang from June 1 to 7 under the theme of “Connect to Shine Bright”, drawing the participation of more than 1,300 students and coaches from 10 ASEAN countries.

The athletes are competing in six sports namely swimming, basketball, badminton, track and field, Pencak Silat and Vovinam for 107 medal sets./.

Art programme marks 76th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal for patriotism

An art programme was held in Hanoi on June 5 to mark the 76th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal for patriotic emulation (June 11, 1948-2024).

Themed “Vietnam – aspiration to rise”, the event helped raise public awareness of patriotism and great national solidarity, particularly among young people, and encourage them to devote and contribute to the breakthroughs in the nation’s construction, renewal, and international integration.

It featured songs that extol patriotism, devotional spirit and national construction, and documentaries on the national resistance war.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy stated that 76 years have passed but the late leader’s appeal lives on, helping promote the patriotic emulation among the Vietnamese even in peace time to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.

Back in 1948 when the country was struggling as it waged its resistance war against the French, President Ho Chi Minh made an appeal for patriotic emulation on June 11 to encourage the entire nation to contribute to the war./.

Da Nang aims to become wedding tourism destination

The Tourism Department of Da Nang on June 5 organised a conference to promote wedding tourism development and welcome an international famtrip group who come to explore this type of tourism in the central city.

At the event, the department announced a plan to develop wedding tourism and a pilot programme to lure more wedding tourists to the city in the 2024-2025 period with the message “Da Nang - Where happiness begins”.

Deputy Director of the department Nguyen Thi Hoai An said that the locality is aiming to become a professional wedding tourism destination with attractive travel itineraries for couples and their guests.

She revealed that in the first five months of 2024, the city hosted four weddings of Indian couples with more than 1,200 guests; provided consultations on wedding services for more than 26 couples.

Although the numbers are still modest, wedding tourism is gradually making significant contributions to the structure of the city's tourism industry, she noted.

From June 5-9, the city will welcome 20 profestional and well-known wedding organisers from big cities of India such as Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad, and Thailand’s Bangkok.

David Ippersiel, General Manager of Sheraton Grand Da Nang, shared that the collaboration between international wedding organisers and the city’s tourism department will not only popularise Da Nang city, but also brings unforgettable memories to couples and their families.

Along with Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang, Da Nang is also proving to be one of Vietnam's outstanding destinations for wedding tourism.

Since the beginning of 2024, the city has been continuously chosen as a wedding destination by super-rich Indian people. Not only attracting international visitors, wedding tourism is also becoming a trend that many domestic celebrities are interested in.

These positive signals show the great prospects of this potential market segment.

Vietnam has full advantages to develop wedding tourism with many charming beaches, a rich heritage, high-end resorts, diverse cuisine, friendly people, and well-invested tourism infrastructure and services.

Although it is a relatively new market, wedding tourism can bring significant benefits to Vietnam's hospitality sector, because those who go for wedding tourism often have abundant financial capacity and are willing to spend large amounts of money on the most important event of their lives.

Furthermore, weddings of foreign couples often have the participation of hundreds of guests from many parts of the world. In addition to using accommodation, dining, and enjoying shopping services at the chosen wedding location, many guests also plan to extend their trip to have more profound travel experiences./.

Woman and child swept away in Lao Cai flash flood

A woman and her child have been swept away in a flash flood which struck Bat Xat District's Ban Vuoc Commune in the mountainous province of Lao Cai early Thursday morning.

Reports from local authorities said that the accident occurred at about 6am when the 30-year-old woman and her two-year-old child were staying in a tent which was built to guard their fish pond.

"The flash flood coming from upstream suddenly ascended, sweeping the tent and the two people inside," said Ban Thanh Thao, chairwoman of Bat Xat District People's Committee. "We've sent a rescue team of 250 people to search for the two victims.

Many localities in the northern region have experienced heavy rains since Wednesday due to effects from a tropical depression.

It is forecasted that rains will continue on Thursday and the northern mountainous areas may see average rainfalls of 30-70 mm in the next six hours, causing possible flash floods and landslides.

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