The People’s Committee of the southern province of Dong Nai has been entrusted with the authority to implement the Bien Hoa airport project under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

This was decided as Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on March 13 signed a document regarding the investment in the airport, in which he requests the Ministries of Defence, Planning and Investment, Finance, and Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant agencies to coordinate and support provincial authorities in the project implementation process.

According to the Prime Minister’s decision approving the overall national airport system development plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, Bien Hoa Airport is a domestic airport for dual-use operation in the period.

The facility is located in Tan Phong ward, Bien Hoa city, approximately 25km northeast of Tan Son Nhat International Airport and about 32km northwest of the Long Thanh International Airport. With a convenient location near large residential areas, it is now a Grade 1 military airport spanning about 967 hectares, of which approximately 50 hectares are available for civil aviation planning./.

HCM City People’s Council to approve key socio-economic resolutions

HCM City People’s Council is set to approve a range of resolutions related to socio-economic development in order to regain the city’s leading position after facing setbacks in recent years.

Speaking at the opening of the 14th People’s Council session on Thursday, Nguyễn Thị Lệ, chairwoman of the People’s Council, said one of the key resolutions to be passed is a draft resolution defining criteria, standards, and quotas for officials and public servants in wards, communes, and towns across the city. 

Other resolutions on economic and budget issues to be passed include adjustments to the mid-term public investment plan by 2025, urban issues such as land use conversion for urban projects and land acquisition projects for socio-economic development.

It will discuss investment in major traffic projects and projects for the development of public spaces, including a landscaping project in front of Bến Thành Market in downtown District 1.

The session will also elect a vice chairperson of the People’s Council, according to Lệ.

The meeting will also discuss ways to effectively implement a National Assembly-approved resolution for the city’s development.

Resolution 98, issued in June of last year, which replaces an older resolution from 2017, includes 44 mechanisms and policies covering various aspects of development in HCM City. 

These include investment management, finance, budgeting, urban management, natural resources, the environment, and science-technology management.

It also allows for the allocation of unassigned portions of budgets to the city's district people's committees.

HCM City’s economy is expected to rebound in the second quarter, and achieve 8 per cent growth in 2024, experts estimate. 

Earlier, the city made an ambitious goal this year to achieve a growth rate of 7.5-8 per cent and attain 100 per cent of State budget revenue targets.

Last year, its growth was only 5.81 per cent, significantly down from over 9 per cent in 2022.

Experts have pointed out that the city’s economic recovery will continue to face obstacles throughout the year due to global turmoil.

The real estate, stock and bond markets will continue facing obstacles this year following serious scandals related to the arrests of major property developers.

Effective implementation of Resolution 98 will be beneficial for not only HCM City but also the entire country, experts said.

Despite the challenges, the city’s industrial production index (IIP) witnessed 4.3 per cent year-on-year growth in the first two months, mostly in the pharmaceutical sector, mechanical industry, food processing, and electronic goods production.

The city saw an estimated 20 per cent increase in real estate business revenue during the first two months, according to a report by the Department of Planning and Investment.

Retail sales revenue in the city is expected to reach VNĐ184.9 trillion, up 14.8 per cent year-on-year. 

Total state budget revenue is estimated to reach VNĐ103.2 trillion, accounting for 21 per cent of the yearly plan and up 14 per cent year-on-year.

Exports, which had stagnated for the last two years, reached $6.3 billion in the first two months, marking a rise of 11.6 per cent year-on-year.

A survey conducted by the Department of Industry and Trade found that most enterprises in the city have orders booked until June and some textile companies have orders extending until the end of the year. 

As a major contributor to national GDP, particularly in the industrial sector, the city plays an essential role in Việt Nam’s economic landscape and State budget.

Capital city law to allow more decision-making power to Hà Nội

The draft Law on the Capital City has been adjusted to allow more authority to Hà Nội in organising its management and operational structure as the capital of the country.

The document was the centre of discussion at the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Thursday morning, which is holding its 31st session from March 14-19.

Following the current NA’s sixth plenary session in October last year, the draft was revised and now has seven chapters and 55 articles (with six articles from the previous version removed and two new ones added). 

According to the draft, Hà Nội People’s Council has the authority to stipulate the establishment criteria and decision to form, restructure and dissolve departments and administrative organisations under the city People’s Committee. 

The standing committee of the People’s Council will operate full-time and have no more than 11 members. This committee can also decide urgent matters and report to the council at the next meeting session. 

Hà Nội People’s Council is also assigned to detail the procedures to adjust the general planning of its urban zone, functional areas and specialised technical infrastructure. 

It can also make decisions on investment policies regarding urban railway projects following the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) model, projects using public investment or partially or fully funded by the state, as well as interprovincial public investment projects with a maximum capital of VNĐ20 trillion (US$810 million). 

Meanwhile, the city People’s Committee will approve construction projects in riverside areas.

The draft law also presents two options regarding Article 19 which specifies the limit on underground land use.

The first option stipulates that people with land use rights are allowed to use the underground land 15 metres below the surface within the vertical boundaries of their land plot. 

They can use the land outside of this limit with justified planning, but will have to pay and obtain permission from authorities in alignment with the government’s regulations.

The second option states that the government will decide the depth limit of underground surface that land users can utilise. The remaining aspects are the same as Option 1. 

Chairman of the NA Office Bùi Văn Cường said he agrees with Option 2, as it will allow the government and Hà Nội authorities to be flexible and proactive, avoiding implementation difficulties as not every case is the same. 

Underground land use and management is a challenging, complicated issue and a concern not only in Việt Nam but also in many major cities in the world, he said. 

Deputy NA Chairman Trần Quang Phương said that more research, evaluation and comparisons need to be conducted for appropriate regulations regarding effective underground land use. 

The rights and responsibilities of land users on this matter must also be transparent to harness the added value of land, he said.

Phương also recommended that the law specify the depth limit for land use. 

Regulations on the salaries and additional incomes of public officers are also open for comments from authorities before submission and approval at the NA’s seventh plenary session. 

Speaking at the meeting, NA Chairman Vương Đình Huệ said that fundamental understanding and agreement have been achieved on the draft capital city law in terms of vision, thinking and viewpoints between state agencies. 

The draft goes into detail about the authority and responsibilities of different management units and levels in comparison to the existing law, but will still need to be reviewed to ensure clarity, feasibility and compliance with the legal system, he said. 

The NA Chairman also noted that future regulations must take into account current issues such as pollution, traffic congestion and inundation, and allocate adequate resources and authorities to address these problems. 

Vietnam, Australia working to promote strategic trust: Scholar

The establishment of the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership during the recent official visit to the Oceania nation by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh demonstrates joint efforts to deepen and promote mutual strategic trust, and contribute to building a new vision for the region, according to a scholar.

In his recent article, Dr. Vu Le Thai Hoang, Director of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies under the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, said since the two countries set up their diplomatic ties in 1973 and upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2018, they have witnessed strong, comprehensive, and strategic developments in the bilateral cooperation across spheres.

He highlighted the bilateral economic-trade-investment ties, with two-way trade hitting 13.8 billion USD last year, making Australia the 10th biggest trade partner of Vietnam, and the Southeast Asian nation the seventh largest of Australia.

For investment, Australia has run nearly 600 projects worth over 2 billion USD in Vietnam, while Vietnamese investments in Australia are valued at 600 million USD.

Australia remains one of Vietnam’s biggest non-refundable aid (ODA) providers with the funding amounting to 92.8 million AUD (60.9 million USD) each year during the 2022-2023 period, according to the article.

Hoang also reviewed people-to-people exchange activities between the two countries, as well as their effective support and cooperation at regional and international forums, especially within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Sub-Mekong region.

Touching upon the joint statement issued on March 7 as part of the visit, the scholar said bilateral friendship and cooperation have been developing firmly and comprehensively on the basis of mutual strategic trust and understanding, and the relationship has been consolidated through the reciprocity of the two economies, similarities in interests, and the close ties between the two peoples.

He called the joint statement on the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership an outcome and development of the 50-year relationship, which matches the needs, interests and aspirations of both sides’ people.  

This is the most important relationship framework in the foreign policies of both countries, he said, noting it enables Vietnam and Australia to further enhance their relations, promote mutual political trust and understanding, and mobilise more resources for cooperation priorities, especially economy, science-technology, and sustainable development.

The scholar emphasised the cooperation spirit for rapid and sustainable development, and that the sole purpose of cooperation contents is to contribute to regional and international peace, stability, security and safety.

He viewed the comprehensive strategic partnerships between Vietnam and Australia, and others like China, Russia, India, the Republic of Korea, the US and Japan, as a testimony of Vietnam’s sound foreign policy, helping the Southeast Asian nation maintain a peaceful, stable environment for development, and advance its position and role in the international arena.

Regarding the common vision for the Indo-Pacific as affirmed in the joint statement, he said it is the universal principle in international relations and law.

By promoting a new vision that sees the Indo-Asia-Pacific as a common home for many countries to stay together peacefully in the spirit of mutual respect as well as respect for international law, Vietnam, Australia and their partners can nurture a sustainable and equitable future, he noted.

Vietnam strongly committed to promoting gender equality, women's rights: Ambassador

Delivering a speech at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) of the UN Economic and Social Council in New York, Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan expressed Vietnam's high-level commitment to ensuring gender equality and women's rights as well as its multifaceted engagement and contributions to this priority area, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang has assessed.

In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency in New York, Giang elaborated the four proposals by the Vietnamese leader aimed at accelerating swift and effective actions in this field.

According to the diplomat, the first involves the enhancement of women's participation in decision-making mechanisms in politics, economy, culture, and society, and the prioritisation of resources to support women and girls in humanitarian crises.

The second highlights the empowerment and provision of access opportunities for the group in science, technology, and digital transformation, coupled with efforts to combat discrimination and violence in  the cyberspace.

The third focuses on elevating the role of women in building a peaceful, stable, comprehensive, and sustainable international environment, and addressing non-traditional security challenges, particularly in climate change response.

Last but not least, it is necessary to promote partnership for sustainable development, to enhance financial support and consultation for institutional and policy building in developing countries, and to share, disseminate, and leverage effective models to enhance the role of women in socio-economic and sustainable development.

About Vietnam's efforts at the UN in promoting global gender equality, Giang noted that gender equality and women's rights have always been the fields that Vietnam values and actively contributes to at the national, regional, and global levels.

Vietnam was among the first countries in the world to sign the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on July 29, 1980, and ratified it on November 27, 1981. It is also a member of the Group of Friends on Gender Parity, promoting women's holding of positions at the UN, especially leadership ones. The Southeast Asian country recently adopted its national action programme on women, peace, and security for 2024 - 2030 with specific objectives.

Vietnam has been evaluated by the international community as one of the top ten countries implementing Goal 5 on promoting gender equality and women empowerment in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the ambassador highlighted.

The country is in the top one-third in the world concerning the proportions of female parliamentarians and of women participating in the workforce. Notably, its human development index for men and women is nearly equal, with women earning 81.4% of estimated male income.

Giang concluded that these meaningful results reflect Vietnam's commitment and efforts that can be shared with international friends to promote the cause of gender equality and empower women and girls, thereby contributing to the construction of a world of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.

Synopsys helps HCM City-based university with semiconductor training, research

The Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) and US technology enterprise Synopsys signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on March 15 to enhance the VNU-HCM’s semiconductor training and research capacity.

Among the five cooperation areas under the MoU, Synopsys, one of the world’s leading electronic design automation (EDA) companies, will share training textbooks and license the use of chip design tools and software for VNU-HCM students. It will receive students for internships and introduce job opportunities at domestic and foreign businesses for semiconductor engineers graduating from this school.

The US enterprise will assist the VNU-HCM to train young lecturers in semiconductor design via a short-term course named “Train-the-Trainer”. Lecturers from the university will work at Synopsys in four months to improve their knowledge. The VNU-HCM has sent three lecturers from its University of Technology (HCMUT), University of Science (HCMUS), and University of Information Technology (UIT) to the first course.

In addition, the two sides will work together to develop the VNU-HCM Semiconductor Research Institute (VSRI) into a supplier of training and research laboratories for universities and startups, and a connection centre for semiconductor development between the VNU-HCM and businesses, institutes, and colleges of Vietnam and other countries.

Synopsys will help the VNU-HCM connect with its global partners so that Vietnamese side can supply high-quality manpower for them. It will also encourage its partners to build research and development centres at the VNU-HCM.

Data from Synopsys show that about 53% of the engineers working at chip design companies in Vietnam graduated from member universities of the VNU-HCM.

The school is training about 6,000 students in the branches directly or indirectly related to semiconductor technology. It aims to train more than 1,800 engineers and 500 master’s degree holders in chip design and establish the VSRI by 2030.

In 2024, the VNU-HCM is set to open the training branches of chip design and semiconductor technology at the three abovementioned member universities. It will also invest about 80 billion VND (3.2 million USD) in two new semiconductor laboratories at the HCMUS and the UIT. A similar laboratory took shape at the HCMUT in 2018.

French professor releases book on Vietnamese bronze drums  
  
A Vietnamese version of French professor Jacques de Guerny's book on the history of bronze drums in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, was launched at an event steeped in Vietnamese culture last week.

The book launch and music function, hosted by the French scholar, featured the Dong Kinh Co Nhac troupe playing traditional percussion and other folk instruments.

Titled Les Tambours de Bronze de l'Asie du Sud-Est (Bronze Drums of Southeast Asia), the book was first published in French in 2017, then translated into English in 2018 and now Vietnamese.

De Guerny, who is also an economist and a former lecturer at HEC University in Paris and Harvard Business School in the US, has devoted his time and resources to collecting and studying these drums, some of which date back 2,500 years.

He visited museums in Vietnam that have bronze drums on display and spoke to museum directors and researchers across the country, including those in Hanoi, Thanh Hoa Province and Ho Chi Minh City.

In his book, the author has shown an insatiable passion for collecting and tracing their evolution in Southeast Asia, particularly in Vietnam.

"Many bronze drums have been described by scholars or missionaries, but their mystery has persisted to the extent that various hypotheses, often antagonistic, have been put forward to explain the origin and evolution of these masterpieces whose metal has not yet been found," said De Guerny.

Be that as it may, the drums belonged to the final sophistication of the Bronze Age in Asia, avatar of one of the oldest musical instruments ever created and still popular in human life and beliefs, according to De Guerny, who added: "I was therefore intrigued and decided to investigate the "Bronze Drums Case", not only by studying the existing research, but also by visiting all the countries concerned, with the help of the best scholars and natives."

In his book, he wrote: "The 'wealthy southern barbarian kingdoms' bordering the Red River, from what is now Yunnan (China) and Tonkin (Vietnam), invented bronze drums around 500 BC and developed them until the Han colonisation at the end of BC. The Dong Son culture cast perhaps the most elaborate drums of the period at the end of the 2nd century BC.

The French professor said he hadn't written a new thesis, but wanted to give the reader some keys to understand and hopefully join him in becoming a lover of bronze drums.

According to Jacques de Guerny, the Red River basin is the home of bronze drums. The first bronze drums were cast here and they were the most beautiful and influential bronze drums. There are not many objects in the world that have existed for more than 2,000 years and still retain their beauty like bronze drums.

In the three chapters (Foundations for understanding; Journey through countries with bronze drums; Synthesis: Reality and Interpretation), the author explains the origin, casting method, style and use of bronze drums. There is also an overview of bronze drums and comments from experts.

According to historian Trinh Sinh, the book is valuable because the author offers the perspective of a long-time archaeological researcher in Vietnam.

"There are views that need to be discussed, but still Jacques de Guerny loves Vietnam and Vietnam's beautiful bronze drum heritage. This is something worth appreciating," said Sinh.

Ministry asked for connectivity between railway stations, Long Thanh Airport

The Ministry of Transport has just requested the Railway Project Management Board, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, and the Transport Design Consultancy Corporation, to ensure the connection of the railway stations at Long Thanh Int'l Airport.

According to the Ministry of Transport, Long Thanh International Airport will be connected by a road system and two railway lines including the North-South high-speed railway route and Thu Thiem - Long Thanh railway.

In the first phase of the construction, items of the Long Thanh International Airport project that are implementing include the runway area, Terminal 1, and connecting roads.

Thu Thiem – Long Thanh railway project’s pre-feasibility study report is also preparing. The project has two stations S19 and S20 located between Terminals 3 and 24in the airport.

The Ministry of Transport has just requested the Railway Project Management Board, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), and the Transport Design Consultancy Corporation (TEDI), to ensure the connection between the railway stations and works of Long Thanh International Airport, and the construction of railway projects that do not affect the structure of Long Thanh International Airport.

Vietnam among six nations hardest hit by climate change

Vietnam is among the six nations most severely impacted by climate change, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh during his recent visit to the Central Highlands hydro-meteorological station in Pleiku City, Gia Lai Province.

Minister Khanh underscored the profound impact of climate change on Vietnam, citing earlier and more intense heat waves, reduced rainfall, and unpredictable weather patterns.

These changes have exacerbated drought conditions and heightened the risk of wildfires across the country, he added.

The minister urged local meteorological agencies to enhance forecasting capacity and improve data accuracy to better respond to climate-related challenges.

The Central Highlands hydro-meteorological station has issued warnings of severe drought for the region this year, driven by above-average temperatures.

In addition to the Central Highlands, the Mekong Delta is seeing the effects of climate change, with saltwater intrusion posing a significant threat.

The intrusion reported during the 2019-2020 period resulted in the loss of 5,400 hectares of rice fields and the disruption of water supplies for 87,000 households, with agricultural losses amounting to VND1.7 trillion in value.

Ministry inspects IUU fishing prevention in Binh Dinh

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien on March 14 inspected the implementation of the European Commission (EC)’s recommendations on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Hoai Nhon township, the central coastal province of Binh Dinh.

Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Van Phuc reported that as of September 30, 2023, the province logged 5,360 registered fishing vessels, with 455 regularly operating in southern localities without annual returns to their home port.

Currently, 100% of the local fishing vessels longer than 15 meters are equipped with tracking devices as per regulations. Between October 2023 and now, there have been no fishing vessels from Binh Dinh violating foreign waters.

Phuc also noted that based on the existing issues and constraints identified by the EC team during their fourth inspection visit to the province from October 12 - 14 last year, authorities have focused on addressing violations, particularly by vessels disconnecting their tracking devices.

Tien, also the deputy head of the national steering committee on IUU fishing prevention, acknowledged the province's efforts in implementing the EC’s  recommendations.

With a hope that Binh Dinh will become a model for the 27 other coastal localities to follow, he recommended the province review the number of fishing vessels and continue to resolutely handle violations.

UNDP Administrator congratulates Vietnam on human development achievements

Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Achim Steiner has congratulated Vietnam on many important achievements in human development it has obtained over the recent past.

The UNDP released the 2023/24 Human Development Report, titled “Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a popularised world”, at the UN headquarters in New York on March 13 (local time)

Steiner said at the launch that the world has gradually recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Human Development Index (HDI) has bounced back and stood at the highest-ever level since the report was first released in 1990.

However, he also voiced concern about growing uncertainties and conflicts in several regions, especially the worsening inequality and widening HDI gap between developed and developing countries.

The UNDP expected the new report will serve as a basis for policymakers worldwide to work out appropriate directions and solutions to cope with challenges and continue promoting human development.

In a separate meeting with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang – Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN – prior to the launch, Steiner congratulated Vietnam on continuing to obtain many important achievements in human development, which has contributed to the international community’s common efforts in settling global challenges and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
         
In the latest HDI rankings, Vietnam climbs eight places to the 107th position among the 193 countries and territories, remaining among the developing countries with a high HDI.

The ranking improvement is a result of the Party and State’s effective policies and strong efforts to foster economic recovery, guarantee post-pandemic social security, and create the best possible conditions for the development of Vietnamese people.
         
The UNDP’s Human Development Report, released every two years, is compiled basing on contributions by many experts from UN agencies, member states, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations. It analyses human development trends and multi-dimensional impacts of the world situation. The HDI is considered one of important criteria for assessing countries’ development and widely used by researchers and policymakers.

An Giang, Cambodia’s province outline plan for continued cooperation

The People’s Committee of southern An Giang province held a conference on March 14 to review its cooperation with Cambodia’s Takeo province in 2023 and set out directions for the first half of this year.

The two sides agreed to continue promoting comprehensive cooperation in border management, border demarcation and marker planting, social safety and order in border areas, agriculture, trade, education, culture, tourism, health care, transport, front affairs, and search and repatriation of martyrs' remains.

Vice Chairman of the An Giang provincial People's Committee Le Van Phuoc said the two provinces will continue carrying out the Supplementary Treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty, and the Protocol on land border demarcation and marker planting signed by the two countries on October 5, 2019 recognising the completion of 84% of border demarcation and marker planting.

Phuoc also revealed a plan for infrastructure development to facilitate cross-border trade. Following the Vietnamese Government's approval, the province will prepare a proposal to upgrade the Bac Dai - Bak Dai auxiliary border gate into a main border gate, he said. 

The first half of 2024 will see continued collaboration on security matters. An Giang and Takeo plan to jointly fight crimes and smuggling activities, conduct joint patrols and address illegal activities such as cultivation and encroachment across the border. Furthermore, district, town, and city hospitals in An Giang will maintain their policy of providing medical care for Cambodian citizens.

They vowed to continue collecting the remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives on the Cambodian battlefield in the spirit of creating favourable conditions for border crossing procedures, ensuring smooth movement of citizens, vehicles, and other activities.

Last year, the total export-import turnover through Tinh Bien - Phnom Den and Vinh Hoi Dong - Kampong Krosang international border gates between the two provinces reached a significant milestone of 1 billion USD.

Solutions proposed to improve investment environment in HCM City

Representatives of foreign business associations have proposed several solutions to improve the investment and business environment in Ho Chi Minh City at a meeting with municipal officials hosted by the Investment & Trade Promotion Centre of the city on March 14.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Vo Van Hoan affirmed the city’s authorities always accompany businesses, including foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises, stressing that contributions made by FDI firms play an important role in the city's social investment.

According to the official, in 2023, the southern economic hub continued to lead the country in terms of registered FDI capital, with nearly 6 billion USD, surging by nearly 50% compared to 2022, and accounting for 16% of the country's total FDI attraction.

This highlights efforts of the municipal authorities in improving investment environment and implementing its commitments to investors and businesses, Hoan said.

Resources from FDI enterprises are crucial for the city's development and help facilitate its’ economic restructuring, he noted.

Ramachandran A.S, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham) stressed that the partnership achieved by the governments of Vietnam and the US is an important foundation for promoting cooperation between the business communities, contributing to the economic growth of the two nations.

HCM City should focus on strengthening the high-value production ecosystem, including areas such as tertiary education, innovation and digital transformation across sectors, logistics, infrastructure, energy, and sustainable development; investing in infrastructure development; enhancing the quality of healthcare; and improving policy environment, he said.

According to Wesley Chua, Vice Chairman of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (SCCV), administrative procedures in Vietnam are still complex and could pose obstacles for foreign investors.

He also mentioned other limitations such as a shortage of skilled labourers, the backwardness of transportation network, seaports, and power supply which raises logistics costs and poses challenges to foreign investors.

Meanwhile, Do Thi Hong Duyen, a member of the leadership board of the German Business Association in Vietnam, said HCM City and Vietnam in general need to pay heed to improving the investment environment through policy reforms, education reform, improving transportation infrastructure, and simplifying visa policies.

Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the municipal People's Committee stated that the city has concentrated on three growth pillars of investment, consumption, and exports.

In its long-term strategy, the southern economic hub is developing new growth drivers such as a financial hub, digital economy transformation, and green transformation to keep up with global development trends, he said, adding that the municipal authorities have also promoted efforts to better the quality of healthcare, education, transportation, and living environment to attract quality and sustainable capital flows.

Museum honours Vietnam’s glorious Dien Bien Phu Victory

The Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum in Dien Bien Phu city of the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien is a cultural work that preserves thousands of documents and artifacts closely associated with the glorious Dien Bien Phu Victory over French colonials in 1954, which “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”.

Construction of the museum started in 2012 and it was inaugurated in 2014 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The museum is a modern architectural work and its exterior design mimics the shape of iconic camouflage helmet worn by Dien Bien soldiers in the past.

The exhibition area is arranged on the first floor of the museum, covering an area of 1,250 sq.m. It houses nearly 1,000 documents, artifacts, photographs, and maps, making it a modern exhibition space.

The highlight of the museum is the large panoramic artwork, which is one of the world’s largest war-themed oil painting re-enacting the Dien Bien Phu battlefield at different times from late 1953 to May 7, 1954.

The extraordinary circular oil on canvas painting is 132m long, 20.5m high and 42m in diameter. Featuring 4,500 characters, the artwork depicts the entire army going to battle, the opening combat at Him Lam hill, A1 hill battle, and the triumph.

It was done by nearly 200 painters, architects, musicians, and technicians, starting in November 2019 and completed in May 2022.

The museum is a must-visit destination for domestic and international visitors to Dien Bien as the province is proactively preparing for the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954  - 2024) and Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024.

Vu Thi Tuyet Nga, director of the museum, said the unit has mobilised all human resources to meet tourists' demand.

Attention has been paid to collecting and preserving war artifacts, contributing to popularising the country’s tradition of resilience and solidarity in resisting foreign invaders, not only for Vietnamese people and but also peace lovers around the world, she added.

More than 2,200 runners to join Vietnam Ultra Marathon

Over 2,200 runners from 40 countries and territories will participate in the Vietnam Ultra Marathon which will take place in Mai Chau, the northern province of Hoa Binh, on March 23.

This is the latest tournament in the Topas Vietnam Trail Series, comprising the first ultramarathon in Vietnam – Vietnam Mountain Marathon in Sapa in Lao Cai province, and races in Moc Chau in Son La province and Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa province.

Athletes will participate in running at five distances, from 5km, to 10km, 25km, 50km and 70km ultramarathon with a total increase in altitude of up to 3,300 metres.

The running track is uniquely designed, bringing participants a new feel of Mai Chau that not many people have experienced. From the romantic Mai Chau valley with villages of Thai ethnic people, the race will take runners through a variety of landscapes, from dense primitive forests to terraced fields, passing many long slopes and majestic landscapes.

Especially, the race will welcome children from the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation. The organiser will sponsor all expenses for 50 disadvantaged children from Hanoi to participate in the race.

The event also attaches special importance to charity work. So far, the Topas Vietnam Trail Series has raised more than 11 billion VND (445,000 USD).

Vietnam works towards equal access to quality education

Chief Representative of UNESCO Vietnam Jonathan Baker said on March 14 that it is crucial for Vietnam, home to many ethnic groups, to ensure equal access to education for minority students.

Speaking at an international conference jointly held by UNESCO Vietnam and the Vietnam National Institute of Educational Services (VNIES) in Hanoi, Baker said the rich-poor divide and the gap between urban and rural areas should be taken into account in this regard.

In terms of gender equality, he said that although Vietnam has gained significant achievements in ensuring equal access to education for both boys and girls, males and females, more work should be done to address the root causes of gender disparity and stereotypes.

The cooperation between UNESCO and the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and localities revealed the fact that greater efforts are required to ensure that minority girls face no hindrances to schooling, Baker continued.

In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc briefed participants on Vietnam’s educational landscape, as well as challenges to the enforcement of policies that aim to ensure equality in education.

The official used this occasion to call on international organisations and experts to further support Vietnamese scientists in building education strategies and plans, and promote cooperation between countries in this sphere.

12th Ocean Dialogue discusses maritime connectivity in fragmenting world

The 12th Ocean Dialogue, themed “Enduring Maritime Connectivity in a Fragmenting World”, took place in Ho Chi Minh City on March 15.

The event, held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung foundation of Germany, drew officials of Vietnamese ministries and sectors, domestic and international experts, along with representatives of agencies, research institutes, foreign representative agencies, and some localities in the country,

In his opening remarks, Nguyen Minh Vu, Assistant to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underlined the importance of the Indo-Pacific, which boasts huge potential for maritime connectivity that promises strong economic growth.

He said as a trading country, Vietnam is strongly committed to navigation safety, navigation and overflight freedom, and unimpeded maritime connectivity in line with international law. Trade revenue makes up a sizeable proportion of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), and any disruption to maritime trade will strongly impact its economy.

Vietnam views safeguarding safety, security, and freedom of navigation in line with international law as essential and important, he stated, noting that as a coastal country, it has built a strategy for sustainably developing the sea-based economy by 2030, with a vision to 2045, which lays a stress on maritime connectivity.

The prosperity of the Vietnamese economy now depends on the safety and security of navigation corridors. The country pledges to maintain rules-based order and believes that respecting the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides a foundation for ensuring peace, stability, and order at sea and is also the most appropriate way for resolving sea-related disputes, according to Vu.

The official went on to say that the dialogue’s tasks include looking into all aspects of maritime connectivity, pointing out challenges and barriers, and working out innovative ideas and feasible proposals to ensure seas and oceans are always physically, procedurally, digitally, and culturally open, stable, and sustainable.

He said countries are facing big challenges to the conservation and proper utilisation of maritime resources and potential, but thanks to dialogue and cooperation, they can create a path to a sustainable and prosperous maritime ecosystem for all.

The 12th Ocean Dialogue consists of four panel discussions on the connection of key sea routes to ensure global supply chains, sustainable smart seaports as an irreversible trend in the blue economy, maritime infrastructure connectivity in the digital era, and the connection of the green corridor network at sea.

Archeological excavation starts on part of My Son World Cultural Heritage Site

Archeological exploration and excavation on the eastern part of tower K in the My Son Sanctuary - a UNESCO-recognised World Cultural Heritage Site in the central province of Quang Nam, started on March 15 by the Institute of Archaeology in coordination with the Management Board of the site.

The exploration and excavation site covers 220 sq.m, including an exploration area of 20 sq.m and an excavation area of 200 sq.m.

Artifacts collected during the archaeological exploration and excavation process will be kept by the My Son World Heritage Management Board.

Along with organising archaeological exploration and excavation, recently, the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board has coordinated with domestic and foreign partners to conduct maintenance and restoration of towers G, H, A, K, while reinforcing the supports of towers in the site and researching the age of the bricks and the stratigraphy in the area.

To improve the quality of conservation work and promote heritage values, the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board is currently coordinating with relevant agencies to excavate the path from tower K to towers E and F and expand the walkways outside the three towers of B, C and D to reduce pressure on the site.

Once the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom, My Son relic site is located in a hilly landscape in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, about 70 km southwest of Da Nang city and 40 km from Hoi An city.

It comprises eight groups of 71 monument built throughout the 7th -13th centuries.

The temples in My Son were built into groups that basically followed the same model. Each group was comprised of a main sanctuary (Kalan), surrounded by towers and auxiliary monuments. The towers, topped with tiled, covered roofs, were stocked with offerings and sacred objects of the pilgrims. Cham temples do not have windows, so they are very dark inside. Windows are found only in the towers.

However, there were only about 20 towers remaining.

US,Vietnam launch new project to strengthen coastal resilience in Mekong Delta

The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), on March 15 joined leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Mekong provinces to launch the Mekong Delta Coastal Habitat Conservation project.

The US$2.9 million project will work to reduce threats to coastal biodiversity and fisheries and strengthen coastal resilience in the Mekong Delta, in partnership with the Government of Vietnam, including provincial authorities; businesses; management boards of marine protected areas; development partners; and fishing communities.

“This project launch advances our shared priority with Vietnam to build coastal resilience in the vital yet increasingly vulnerable Mekong Delta region, and supports the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” said Aler Grubbs, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director, during remarks delivered at today’s event. 

The Mekong Delta and its islands are home to 70% of Vietnam’s mangroves and 90% of its seagrass beds. Fed by the sediment and nutrients from the Mekong River, these habitats support Vietnam’s richest fishing grounds and provide crucial protection for coastal communities from storm surges.

However, these habitats and the commercially important species they support, such as sea bass and snapper, are facing a range of threats that impact long-standing livelihoods and lifestyles. 

Through this new project, the United States will support Vietnam’s restoration of coastal biodiversity and the sustainable management of marine resources to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities and enhance coastal resilience.

The launch on March 15 advances the US commitment to expand engagement in the Mekong Delta and across Vietnam, in line with our two countries’ shared priorities under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Capella Hanoi honoured as best city hotel in Vietnam

Capella Hanoi of Sun Group has been honoured as one of the best city hotels nationwide, as compiled by DestinAsian, Asia's Leading Travel Magazine.

Accordingly, the hotel was originally designed by Bill Bensley, who has been dubbed the “King of Resorts”, and ranked first in the list.

Located on Le Phung Hieu street in the capital, Sun Group's first boutique hotel embraces a unique Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture, reviving an elegant inn for famous artists and composers during the heyday of opera music in the 1920s.

Capella Hanoi only has a total of 47 rooms and suites. However, each room is a special masterpiece that is in association with the name of a famous artist or a legend from the past.

The impressive design of Capella Hanoi has so far impressed the world media. Previously, prestigious magazine TIME of the United States mentioned Capella Hanoi as one of the best destinations in the world in 2021. The hotel also was honoured as one of the "Best New Hotels in the Asia – Pacific region" by The Luxe List 2021 and voted as the second best hotel brand in the world for two consecutive years by the Travel + Leisure Awards 2021 - World's Best Awards.

Rounding off the list of DestinAsian’s top 10 best city hotels in Vietnam is Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake, Park Hyatt Saigon, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Le Meridien Saigon, Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers, Hotel Des Art Sagion-MGallery, Caravelle Saigon, Lotte Hotel Hanoi, and Hotel de l’Opera Hanoi-MGallery.

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