The HCMC People's Committee has just submitted to the Prime Minister the study project for the construction of the Can Gio International Transshipment Port.

According to the project, the Can Gio International Transshipment Port will be built at the mouth of the Cai Mep - Thi Vai River, in Ganh Rai Bay. The port is expected to be developed into an international transshipment center of HCMC and the region. The volume of cargo through the Can Gio international transshipment port is forecast to be 4.8 million TEU by 2030, and 16.9 million TEU by 2047.

The port project will create about 6,000-8,000 jobs and expectedly contribute to the State budget of about VND34 - VND40 trillion (US$1.4 billion - US$1.6 billion) per year. It will also create a driving force for the development of the regional infrastructure and favorable conditions for domestic maritime transport businesses to develop and contribute to the socio-economic development, promoting the establishment of an international financial center in HCMC.

The project is divided into seven implementation phases with the first expected to be put into operation before 2030. The construction capital for the port, auxiliary facilities, logistics service centers, and non-customs areas will be sourced from investors. Investment capital for the transportation and technical infrastructure will come from the State budget, and be implemented under the PPP model or other legal sources of capital.

Measures to protect, restore, develop water resources in Vietnam discussed

Climate change, sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and unsustainable water use fuel the water scarcity risks in Vietnam, said Tong Ngoc Thanh, director general of the National Centre for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI).

At the workshop "Protection, Restoration and Development of Water Resources: Science, Policy and Practice" on March 15, he highlighted that to deal with the situation, Vietnam has enacted the revised Law on Water Resources 2023 to change the way the country manages its water resources, improving the efficiency of water use and curbing water pollution.

"Under the law, water resources will be considered as a public property owned by the people, and the State will be the representative of the owners," said Thanh. 

Nguyen Chi Nghia, director of the Northern Division for Water Resources Planning and Investigation, underlined the pollution problems in many rivers in big cities in Vietnam.

He attributed the problems to urbanisation, which prevents rainwater from infiltrating the ground and makes it run into drainage systems where it mixes with wastewater and flows into the water bodies.

The director suggested a four-step measure to restore the polluted rivers with the first involving identifying the causes of river degeneration in big cities and the next setting restoration objectives. Anke Steinel, senior BGR hydrogeologist at CRMGG Project, said the Mekong Delta faces several water resources challenges. 

The first challenge involves the increase in surface water salinity, which is caused by tidal effects reaching further inland due to sand mining and the change in discharge pattern due to dam construction. Another challenge is climate change, which impacts indirectly on groundwater demand and directly on surface water.

Felix Dörr, expert in land subsidence from Postdam University, said the subsidence observatory installed by his team in Ca Mau province found that the causes of land subsidence could be the dynamics of the groundwater level and precipitation changes.

Within a depth of between zero to 13m, a land subsidence of 0.7mm was observed between December 2022 and April 2023. The team also saw a little subsidence between 35 and 84m, and even more happening below./.

2024 National Press Festival wraps up

The 2024 National Press Festival wrapped up in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17.

With the theme of "Vietnamese Press - Pioneering, Innovation for the Revolutionary Cause of the Party and the People", the three-day event is a highlight of the professionalism and modernity of the Vietnamese press.

Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Nguyen Duc Loi, who is also head of the festival’s organising board, said it brought together representatives from central and local press agencies nationwide, with 120 booths displaying outstanding publications covering all aspects of economic, political, cultural, social, defence, security, and foreign affairs.

Nguyen Trong Nghia, head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education, urged press agencies to focus on popularising the implementation of the socio-economic development tasks, spreading good and compassionate values in society, and bringing Party, State, and Government guidelines, policies and laws into life, thus meeting the expectations of all people.

He also asked them to strengthen the work of building a clean and strong Party, constantly fostering and improving political bravery, revolutionary ethics, and professional expertise for journalists.

Within the framework of this year's festival, the organising board and awards council awarded 11 A, 29 B, 53 C, and 88 consolation prizes in the categories of best displaying booth, impressive Tet radio programme, impressive Tet television programme, impressive Tet electronic newspaper interface, and impressive Tet newspaper cover.

The Vietnam News Agency won the A prize in the category of best displaying booth. Its affiliates VietnamPlus electronic newspaper and Tin Tuc (News) newspaper won A and C prizes, respectively, in the category "Impressive Tet electronic newspaper interface"./.

Vietnam one of most important partners of Brazil: Brazilian official

Vietnam is one of the most important partners of Brazil in Southeast Asia, Eduardo Paes Saboia, Secretary for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, has stated at the Vietnam-Brazil meeting recently held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Brasilia.

The official hailed the strong growth of bilateral trade over the past 20 years, which topped 7 billion USD in 2023.

Vietnam and Brazil will continue to cooperate with each other on the foundation of the common values in peace, friendship and mutual respect, he said at the event which marked the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic relations.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will visit Vietnam in April, he revealed, expressing his belief that Vietnam will contribute to the success of Brazil's G20 Presidency.

Meanwhile, Márcio Honaiser, President of the Brazil - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, held that Vietnam and Brazil will be a bridge connecting the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as other regional organisations. In addition to economic and trade relations, the two countries commit to strengthening cooperation in the fields of technology, culture, tourism and sports, promoting friendship and mutual understanding, he said.

General Secretary of the Brazil- Vietnam Friendship Association (ABRAVIET) Pedro de Oliveira said that over the past 13 years, the association has worked closely with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations (VUFO) to contribute to the growth of cooperation and friendship between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi underlined that in 2024, Vietnam and Brazil will organise various activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and the 17 years of comprehensive partnership, including a Vietnam Day in Brazil.

The diplomat affirmed the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Brazil in last September, stressing that Brazil is currently the largest Latin American partner of Vietnam.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy held a ceremony to present the “For peace, friendship among nations” insignias to Miguel Peña, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Bolivia; João Reis, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Minas Gerais state of Brazil; and journalist Valter Xéu, CEO of Patria Latina Media Group, in recognition of their positive contributions to the people diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Brazil and Bolivia.

Earlier, Ambassador Nghi had working sessions with Celso Amorim, advisor to the Brazilian President, on the increase of high-lefel delegation exchanges and the realisation of commitments stated in the joint statement in Prime Minister Chinh's visit to Brazil.

The diplomat also worked with Paco Britto, Vice Governor and Director for External Relations of the Federal District of Brasilia, on the organisation of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic relations and the Vietnam Day in Brazil as well as support to Vietnamese firms to explore the Brazilian market, and the seeking of location to name as Vietnam Street and honour President Ho Chi Minh./.

People run to respond to Earth Hour 2024 Campaign

Nearly 1,500 people took part in a running event to support the Earth Hour 2024 Campaign on March 16 in Hanoi.

Within the framework of the national programme on economical and efficient use of energy in the period 2019-2030, the Ministry of Industry and Trade launched an event for all people to save electricity, Earth Hour 2024.

According to the organisers, as a mass sport that connecting huge number of people, running would  that  was to call, motivate and encourage the participation of state agencies, organisations, enterprises and people to practice saving electricity regularly throughout 365 days of the year, making saving electricity a habit anytime, anywhere.

At the same time, runners could exchange and learn about benefit of sport training and active lifestyle; and contributes to improving health, physical, cultural and spiritual of the community.

The Earth Hour was first held in 2009. After 15 years, the event has increasingly attracted the participation and response of people from all walks of life.

People showed positive change in their awareness of saving and preserving energy, protecting the environment and responding to climate change. All are to contribute to the national sustainable development, towards Vietnam's net-zero emissions goal by 2050./.

Experts seek measures for Dien Bien tourism to thrive

Policy-makers and scholars gathered in Dien Bien province on March 17 to discuss measures to optimise the potential and advantages of the northwestern locality in boosting sustainable tourism development.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha highlighted Dien Bien's advantages in natural landscapes and the cultural values of 19 ethnic minority groups, and underlined the need for the province to make full use of its potential to create unique tourism products, and to call for investment and design cultural planning.

Along with strengthening the application of information technology in tourism promotion, Dien Bien should cooperate with other localities to create destination chains with Dien Bien Phu being a highlight, he said.

The Deputy PM emphasised that the core factor for tourism development must be the preservation and respect of natural values.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stressed the need to evaluate the current situation of Dien Bien tourism, thus clarifying its competitive advantages and uniqueness. He advised Dien Bien to promote tourism service quality by applying science and technology.

Meanwhile, Associate Prof. Vu Trong Lam, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Su that (Truth) National Political Publishing House, recommended that Dien Bien build plans and strategies for the growth of its strong tourism forms, including community-based tourism, while promoting a friendly and safe tourism environment and ensuring the harmony between development and the protection of the natural environment, ecosystem and local cultural identities.

Dr. Bui Thanh Tuan from the Department of Police Science, Strategy and History under the Ministry of Public Security said that Dien Bien has an important location in the northwestern midland and mountainous region and the country as a whole in many aspects, along with a natural beauty, glorious history, unique cultural identity, and favourable weather conditions.

These advantages are important factors for the locality to make breakthroughs in tourism development, he held, underscoring that Dien Bien should focus on building its tourism trademark and design more tourism products on the basis of the traditional culture of ethnic groups.

The conference was held on the sidelines of the Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024 that opened on March 16.

Students promote Vietnamese culture in Russia

The Vietnamese Students’ Association in the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) held an event called "Bamboo Legend” on March 16 to conclude the Vietnamese Culture Week 2024 at the university.

The event drew officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, representatives of various Vietnamese associations in the country, and a large number of students from Vietnam, Russia, and other countries.

Addressing the event, Sololov Vyacheslav, head of the university’s student management division, said that this is a meaningful activity that helps promote the culture of Vietnam to international friends and contributes to fostering the friendship between Russia and Vietnam.

Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa, first Secretary for education at the Vietnamese Embassy, lauded the creativity of Vietnamese students at RUDN and their desire to popularise the nation and people of Vietnam to their peers from other countries.

The event highlighted the image of the Vietnamese bamboo through songs, dances, and other art performances

On the sidelines of the event, an exhibition of souvenirs and demonstrations of Viernamese folk games were also organised to give foreign students a deep insight into the Vietnamese culture./.

Vietnamese Ambassador presents letter of credence to Zimbabwean President

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa and Zimbabwe Hoang Sy Cuong has presented his credential letter to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

During a recent reception held for the diplomat after the presentation ceremony, President Mnangagwa congratulated Vietnam on its impressive achievements recorded in socio-economic development, as well as its increasing international role and position. He expressed his admiration for the country’s historical struggle for national liberation and reunification.

The host urged Ambassador Cuong to continue efforts to nurture the good political relations between the two countries and the two ruling parties, as well as ramping up economic co-operation and investment activities.

He also introduced areas and products of Zimbabwe's strength, such as mining, cotton, and tobacco, while outlining his hope at attracting Vietnamese partners to invest in and do business in the Southern African nation.

Ambassador Cuong suggested that both sides move to intensify the exchange of all-level delegations through party and state channels, as well as promoting people-to-people exchanges in a bid to deepen mutual understanding and lay the foundation for all-around co-operation.

He stressed that with a foundation of friendly political relations and trust between the two sides needs to continue as they collaborate and support each other in multilateral forums, particularly at the UN.

The host agreed that the two countries should further bolster co-operation in multilateral forums.

From March 13 to March 14 the Vietnamese diplomat held working sessions with and paid courtesy calls to Secretary for Foreign Relations of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and  Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe Amon Murwira.

Planning to create solid foundation for Dien Bien province’s development: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that the newly approved master plan for the northwestern province of Dien Bien will create a solid foundation for its development while he handed over the approval decision to local authorities at a ceremony on March 17.

Ha asked the local authorities to prioritise resources to invest in infrastructure projects for regional and global connection, creating a connection axis between Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries and China.

The province must concentrate on developing traffic connection systems, connecting energy infrastructure, digital infrastructure, health care, and education, he said, urging the province to implement mechanisms and regulations to attract large investors, citing Dien Bien's numerous advantages in tourism development.

To produce distinctive, high-value agricultural goods, the province must continue to highlight its agricultural strengths and soil advantages, focus on the forestry industry, and expand afforestation.

According to him, Dien Bien also benefits from hydropower, solar energy, and wind energy - renewable energy sources that require consideration, funding, and utilisation.

After the master plan was announced, the official urged the province to step up investment promotion activities and ask for help from scientists and investors to ensure the area develops diversely and sustainably.

He said the province needs to promote the digital economy, IT application, and administrative procedure reforms in all fields.

According to its master plan for the 2021-2030 period with a vision towards 2050, Dien Bien strives to become a tourism and service hub of the northern midlands and mountainous region by 2030.

The plan states that by 2030, Dien will become a province with a medium level of development, focusing on high-tech, high-quality forestry and agriculture, as well as processing and tourism.

The master plan places a significant emphasis on the digital economy. The area will rise to prominence internationally and serve as a hub for historical, cultural, and ecological tourism in the country, according to the plan.

The province outlines specific goals including exceeding 10.51% of the annual economic growth rate for the 2021–30 period. By 2030, the average per capita GRDP is expected to surpass 113 million VND (4,570 USD). Over 2.65 million tourists are expected to visit the province in 2030.

The province has chosen three innovations: refining rules and regulations to boost productivity; completing the socioeconomic infrastructure system in a timely and contemporary manner, emphasising transportation infrastructure investments to spur innovation and development; and applying science and technology, strengthening innovation for human resource development.

It identifies a driving economic axis along Highway 279, the Dien Bien – Son La – Hanoi expressway, associated with Dien Bien airport. It is considered the main and important driving force of the entire region.

The province will develop an economic axis along National Highway 12, National Highway 6 and National Highway 4H, connecting with its western part. Dien Bien identifies four growth poles namely Dien Bien Phu city, Muong Lay township, Tuan Giao town, and Muong Nhe town./.

AFD supports central provinces to increase resilience to climate change

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed an agreement to fund two projects worth EUR72.3 million (US$80 million) for two central provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Tri to adapt to climate change.

The signing ceremony took place in Ha Noi on March 15. The agreement supports the Hoi An anti-erosion and sustainable coastal protection project in Quang Nam Province and the central coastal urban development project for green growth and climate change response in Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Finance Vo Thanh Hung said the committed loan amount further solidifies AFD's position as Viet Nam's largest bilateral donor in Europe, highlighting the French Government's commitment to strengthening strategic partnership with Viet Nam.

The AFD loan is accompanied by non-refundable aid from the European Union (EU), aimed at improving project effectiveness and supporting localities in enhancing their capacity to operate projects and undertake climate change adaptation activities in localities.

Peteris Ustubs, European Commission Director for the Middle East, Asia and Pacific, said investing in projects funded by the Water and Natural Resources Management Facility (WARM) not only helps strengthen the resilience of local communities but also contributes to the global fight against climate change.

They are in line with the EU's Global Gateway Initiative to bridge the global investment gap and demonstrate the EU's commitment to being a loyal partner of Viet Nam in climate action and sustainable development.

On the occasion, representatives from the MoF, the People's Committees of Quang Nam and Quang Tri provinces also signed loan agreements to redistribute AFD loans from the central to local budgets to ensure the seamless capital transfer and project effectiveness.

On December 29, 2023, the MoF signed loan agreements with AFD and the non-refundable grant agreements from the EU, delegated through the AFD, for the above two projects./.

Cold air mass moving southward into Northern region

A cold air mass in the Northern region is descending southward today, March 17,  the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting announced.

According to the meteorological agency, at noon today, the temperature in Ho Chi Minh City is 34 degrees Celsius, with intense sunlight and clear skies. The forecast for this afternoon suggests that the temperature in Ho Chi Minh City could rise to 36 degrees Celsius. These measurements are taken within a Stevenson screen; however, the actual outdoor temperature may be 2-3 degrees Celsius higher.

In the Northern region, it is forecasted that on the night of March 18, a cold air mass will impact the Northeastern region and certain areas in the Northwest. Starting from March 19, this cold air will extend its influence to other regions in the Northwest, North Central, and some parts of the Central Coastal regions. Winds will shift to the Northeast inland at levels 2-3, reaching levels 4-5 along the coastal areas.

As a result, from March 19, the entire Northern region will undergo a cold snap, with the North Central region experiencing the cold by the night of March 19.

During this cold spell, minimum temperatures in the Northern region will range from 15 to 18 degrees Celsius on average, with mountainous areas experiencing temperatures from 12 to 15 degrees Celsius and some highland areas dropping below 10 degrees Celsius. In the North Central region, temperatures will typically range from 16 to 19 degrees Celsius.

Due to the effect of the cold air mass, from the night of March 18 to 19, there will be scattered showers and localized heavy rain in the Northern and Central regions. Starting from the afternoon of March 19, areas from Quang Binh to Phu Yen will experience rain and showers. Thunderstorms may bring the risk of whirlwind, lightning, hail, and strong gusts of wind. Strong winds and large waves at sea may affect maritime and other outdoor activities.

Department for Roads of Vietnam asks to improve quality of driver training

The Department for Roads of Vietnam has just asked departments of transport in provinces and cities to improve the quality of driver training, including driving on highways.

The Department said that driver training facilities have been organizing training to ensure the content and program of driver training. Moreover, training institutions have paid attention to organizing driving training on highways according to the present regulations.

The content includes training and instructions on steps to take when driving on the highway and handling road emergencies that occur on the highway. Furthermore, training establishments must use simulators to learn to drive on the highway to identify unsafe traffic situations on highways through software that simulates traffic situations.

In recent times, traffic accidents have frequently occurred on highways, especially expressways with divergent investment causing serious and especially serious consequences.

Therefore, the Department requests that provincial and municipal departments of transport base on the driver training framework program. Departments of transport should refer to the issued textbooks, documents, and new knowledge to develop appropriate driving techniques curricula.

The content of driving on highways needs to be focused on driving techniques on highways with divergent investment, ensuring intuitiveness, and consistency with the content and training program to help learners easily remember and practice all operations and procedures when driving on a highway to ensure safety.

The Department also recommends that departments of transport nationwide closely monitor the use of cabins for teaching driving in educational establishments and software that simulates traffic situations so that learners can recognize, learn enough skills and handle traffic situations when driving on the highway.

Vietnam's role in climate change fight earns international plaudits

Actively promoting and participating in advisory opinion procedures at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) indicates the international community's appreciation for Vietnam's role and contributions to the fight against climate change, including the nation’s recent strong commitments at international forums.

 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-ordinated efforts with the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu to organise a legal and technical writeshop on advisory opinions of the ICJ on climate change from March 16 to March 17 in Ha Long city in the northern border province of Quang Ninh.

Attendees at the event included representatives of Vietnamese agencies, government representatives of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, scholars, and international lawyers.

At the writeshop, delegates discussed key legal aspects of the advisory opinion procedure, the contributions made by Asia-Pacific countries, as well as technical support to countries to help them participate effectively in the advisory opinion procedure the ICJ is currently handling.

Previously, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 77/276 by consensus. Accordingly, the General Assembly asked the ICJ to provide advisory opinions on the responsibilities of countries in the fight against climate change.

Both Vietnam and Vanuatu are two of the 18 countries in the core group promoting this Resolution.

According to ICJ regulations, UN member states have until March 22 to become involved in opinion contribution before the Court officially gives its opinion in 2025.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said that the unique geographical characteristics, with a large coastal area, make the nation especially vulnerable to impacts of climate change, of which Ha Long Bay as a world natural heritage and also the venue for the workshop, is no exception.

Therefore, the country places great importance on co-operation with countries and international organisations in joint efforts to respond to environmental challenges and climate change.

“The General Assembly resolution recognizes that climate change has different impacts on each country, so the burden and responsibility for responding must be shared fairly and equally. Participating in the ICJ's advisory opinion procedure is viewed as a major opportunity for developing countries to join the global effort to respond to climate change, promote the rights of vulnerable countries and shape the development of international environmental law," said the Deputy Minister.

According to Deputy Minister Vu, the conference represents an opportunity for legal experts from regional nations to discuss, seek ideas, and consolidate arguments to both ensure national interests in responding to climate change and answer legal questions being considered by the ICJ, thereby increasing the possibility of an appropriate response and participation by states in the advisory opinion procedure.

Furthermore, the event can create a networking forum to promote co-operation between international legal experts in the region, whilst also strengthening the voice of Asia-Pacific countries in dealing with global problems.

Upon addressing the event, Minister of Justice of Vanuatu Arnold Kiel Loughman said challenges from climate change such as rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns, marine pollution, and declining biodiversity depression are threatening the lives, cultures, and even the existence of many peoples.

Implementing effective measures in the climate change response can therefore be seen as the moral responsibility of the international community, with this being the main goal to achieve, Minister Loughman said.

Representatives from participating countries highly appreciated the efforts of Vietnam and Vanuatu in arranging the event, thus creating an opportunity for legal experts from regional and international countries to frankly and substantively exchange experience and support each other in the process of completing proposed submissions to the ICJ.

According to Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, about 80 countries have so far given submissions to officially participate in the ICJ's advisory opinion procedure.

"Actively promoting and participating in advisory opinion procedures at the ICJ clearly demonstrates Vietnam's role as a responsible member of the international community, attracting support from developing countries. The process at the ICJ also shows the international community's respect for Vietnam's role and contribution to climate change, including strong commitments recently made at international forums," Ambassador Giang affirmed.

Ha Giang: a role model for community-based natural disaster mitigation

Concrete roads, electricity systems, and flood-resistant bridges have made the border commune of Tung Vai in Quang Ba Quan district, which is one of the most natural disaster-prone regions in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, more robust.

A solar-powered lighting system consisting of more than 20 lights and power poles has brought light to the rural location, thanks to the support of ActionAid International in Vietnam.

Vuong Phat Quy, a resident of Suoi Vui hamlet, said the solar-powered light system helps save electricity. Installing it is simple and environmentally friendly since there is no need to connect cables to the grid.

All the villagers have to do is to put in the frame and then raise the pole. According to him, this has great significance for residents in isolated and hilly places.

The Tung Vai Commune Youth Union Secretary Phan Chan Phuc said the commune’s union installed the lighting system in December 2023. The system runs bulbs with capacity of 300 watts each and an automatic control system to minimise consumption.

He said: “Since the lightbulb has a light sensor and turns on and off automatically, it doesn't require much effort.”

Its lighting duration is extended, providing two to three days of backup during overcast weather devoid of sunlight. According to Phuc, the method has aided in keeping the hamlet safe and orderly, especially when it comes to helping residents evacuate amid significant floods.

Deputy Chairman of the commune Luc Giang Bang said residents have found the solar-powered lighting system to be effective in boosting output and the local economy. This light represents not just electricity but also the policies and laws of the Party and the State and the social development.

The flood-resistant concrete bridge at Ban Thang hamlet, Tung Vai commune, works in tandem with the solar lighting system to provide assistance to the inhabitants in battling natural calamities.

ActionAid funded the project, with some donations coming from locals.

Beginning in October 2022, the bridge's construction spanned 2.5 metres in width and 9 metres in length. It opened for traffic in December 2022.

Then Thi Cham, a villager, told Vietnam News Agency that before the bridge was built, the villagers had to cross the creek by foot using two iron rails.

Nguyen Thi Thuy, Secretary of the Ban Thang Village Youth Union, said a few years ago, locals would not have dared to dream of a large concrete bridge. Although the community is irrigated by the Ban Thang Stream, the stream also poses a hazard to local life.

"The entire region was submerged when the river rose. Nobody was able to cross the river for several days,” she said.

More than 7,000 residents of Tung Vai commune were spared isolation amid the floods thanks to the Ban Thang Bridge. About 130 children from 50 households no longer have to miss lessons due to floods.

Evaluating the models assisting natural disaster prevention and control in Ha Giang province, Pauline Tamesis, United Nations resident coordinator in Vietnam, said work on natural disaster prevention and control needed to be grounded in people's real needs. ActionAid International in Vietnam has implemented practical solutions such as flood-proof bridges and solar-powered lighting systems that are well-suited to the current circumstances in Ha Giang.

Since 2007, ActionAid International in Vietnam has been implementing a community-based initiative for the prevention and control of natural disasters in Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province.

Each participating village develops community-based strategies for disaster prevention and control every year using tools for risk assessment.

All communes involved in the programme so far have created plans for preventing and controlling natural disasters. These plans are easily linked to the district agriculture department's operations and budget, as it is the agency in charge of organising local efforts to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

According to Do Quang Dung, Deputy Chairman of the Quang Ba district People's Committee, 100% of villages in five communes and one town have adopted instruments for risk assessment and public awareness raising in order to proactively prevent and mitigate risks from natural disasters in the area.

Chief Representative of ActionAid International in Vietnam Hoang Phuong Thao said preparation, reaction, and recovery are three main goals of ActionAid's natural disaster prevention and control programme.

Programmes are carried out in accordance with the circumstances of each locality, she said.

Through grassroots projects, ActionAid Vietnam's programmes give organisations a significant opportunity to contribute to the prevention and control of natural disasters, she said.

Writeshop spotlights proceedings of ICJ’s advisory opinion on climate change

A legal and technical writeshop was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vanuatuan Government in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh, on March 16 - 17 to look into the proceedings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s advisory opinion on climate change.

The event, gathering ASEAN and other Asian member states of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, aimed to provide an overview of the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion on climate change on the basis of the UN General Assembly’s Resolution 77/276, adopted on March 29, 2023, which requested the ICJ provide an advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.

Vietnam and Vanuatu were among the 18 states of the core group promoting this resolution. According to the ICJ’s regulations, March 22, 2024 is the deadline for UN member states to make submissions before the ICJ issues its opinion in 2025.

Opening the event, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said that with a long coastline, Vietnam is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, it attaches great importance to cooperation with other countries and international organisations in common efforts against environmental and climate change challenges.

The UN General Assembly’s resolution recognises climate change’s different impacts on countries, so the burden of and responsibility for making response must be equally and equitably shared. The engagement in the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion is a great chance for developing countries to join global efforts in climate change response, promote the rights of vulnerable countries, and shape international environmental law, he noted.

Attorney General of Vanuatu Arnold Kiel Loughman noted climate change challenges like sea level rise, extreme weather conditions, marine pollution, and biodiversity degradation are threatening the life, culture, and even existence of many nations. Taking effective response measures is a moral responsibility of the international community.

Ambassador Odo Tevi, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN, said the workshop was important as it provided a venue for Asian countries to discuss their submissions to the ICJ. It will be good if all countries can improve their capacity, and countries’ opinions to be submitted to the ICJ should be listened to.

So far, about 80 countries have made submissions to officially engage in the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion, turning this into one of the largest cases the ICJ has ever handled and also reflecting the importance of the court’s opinion to climate change response.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said the active promotion and participation in the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion demonstrate Vietnam as a responsible member of the international community. The proceedings also show the international community’s respect for the country’s role and contributions to climate change response, including its strong commitments made at international forums.

At the workshop, participants discussed key legal aspects of the proceedings, contributions that Asian-Pacific countries can make, and technical support for countries to effectively engage in the proceedings.

To help countries make submissions to engage in the proceedings, some writeshops have also been held in different regions around the world.

Quang Nam launches master plan, National Biodiversity Restoration Year

The People’s Committee of Quang Nam held a conference on March 16 to announce this central province’s master plan for the 2021 -2030 period with a vision to 2050, and launch the National Biodiversity Restoration Year 2024.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stressed that the master plan of Quang Nam, approved by the Prime Minister in January, shows a reformed mindset and a new viewpoint, targets, and vision matching the national development orientation and the development targets for the north and coastal central region. It prioritises promoting a green economy and economic restructuring in tandem with growth model reform to secure comprehensive and sustainable development.

He asked the province to quickly build a detailed and scientific implementation plan that takes into account local resources and conditions, adding that it needs to develop infrastructure as well as urban areas and industries, especially tourism, processing, logistics, and seaports to create an inter-connected economic ecosystem.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Chi Thanh said Quang Nam held the conference to launch the master plan and the National Biodiversity Restoration Year 2024 with a view to demonstrating its strategic target and vision for maximising potential and advantages while ensuring the harmony between socio-economic development and environmental protection so as to take firm steps on the path to become an important growth powerhouse in the central and Central Highlands regions.

On this occasion, the provincial administration also granted 16 investment policy approval decisions, investment registration certificates, and investment destination surveying agreements to businesses which plan to invest over 20 trillion VND (846.5 million USD) in total. Most of the planned projects are located in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone.

US volunteers carry out social security activities in Ben Tre

Volunteers from the US engaged in practical social security activities in Tan Phu Tay commune of Mo Cay Bac district, the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, from March 11 to 16.

Tran Kim Phang, Vice President of the Vietnam Youth Federation of Ben Tre, said on March 16 that 15 volunteers from the YMCA of Greater Houston and the YMCA Vietnam Social Co. Ltd built toilets for children at the Tan Phu Tay Primary School and a charity house for a disadvantaged family.

At the Tan Phu Tay Primary School, they built and upgraded eight toilets at a cost of 229 million VND (9,700 USD) to better serve over 600 students there. Meanwhile, the charity house for a local family, covering an area of 32 sq.m., was built at a cost of 81 million VND.

In addition, the volunteers took part in English exchanges and folk games with local students. They also presented stationery learning tools and 70 sets of English learning books to the school.

Phang appreciated the US volunteers’ assistance, expressing his hope that the YMCA Vietnam Social Co. Ltd will help the Youth Union Committee and the Youth Federation of Ben Tre to connect with volunteers from around the world, including the US, so as to implement more social security activities and strengthen local youths’ friendship with international peers.

In 2023, thanks to the company’s support, many volunteers from the Institute of Technical Education of Singapore, the National University of Singapore, and the Singapore Management University came to Ben Tre to build schoolyards and classrooms in Ba Tri and Giong Trom districts at the total cost of 170 million VND.

Vietnam needs inclusive policies to promote high-quality population growth

Addressing the challenges of population and development requires a comprehensive approach involving economic, political, social, educational, and other policies to achieve harmonious and equitable population size, structure, and quality in all regions and areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha stressed this view at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on Population and Development on March 15.

Ha stressed that the Party's 2017 Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW on population work in the new situation has shifted the focus of population policy from family planning to population and development, emphasizing that "investing in population is investing in development."

However, the implementation of Resolution 21 has shown that challenges in population and development work remain complex, such as gender imbalance at birth, low fertility rates, migration and others, Ha said.

According to the report of the Ministry of Health, Vietnam's population in 2023 was about 100.3 million, with a population growth rate of 0.84%. The proportion of the working-age population is nearly 70% of the total population, entering the golden phase of population structure.

The quality of the population has improved in many aspects, such as physical health, life expectancy, cultural level, reproductive health, and a decrease in consanguineous marriage and early marriage.

However, the large size of the population also puts pressure on economic, technical, social, and urban and rural environmental infrastructure. In particular, Vietnam's population model shows paradoxes: fertility rates are higher in the highlands than in the Delta, higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and the poorest groups tend to have more children than others. The sex ratio at birth remains high compared to the natural balance (104-106 boys per 100 girls).

Vietnam is a country experiencing rapid population aging (expected to enter the aging period in 2038), which will have a profound impact on various aspects of social life, such as health systems, social welfare and employment, Ha noted.

There is also a need to improve and enact mechanisms, policies and laws related to population. The network of population services does not meet the increasingly diverse needs of the population. Resources are insufficient to meet the requirements for the development of basic social services. The organization and machinery of population work lack unity, and are constantly changing and fluctuating. The state budget allocation for population work is insufficient, and social resources have not been effectively mobilized.

Based on the study of population models in developed countries such as Japan and South Korea, experts and scholars have identified several factors that affect the size and quality of the population: the high cost of living and raising children compared with labor income, excessively long working hours, women's need to balance household and social work, and an unfriendly environment for children.

Many young people in Vietnam consider marriage and childbirth inconvenient, burdensome and unnecessary under the current conditions," said Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, former Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation, stressing the need to develop messages and communication materials on population and development policies in the current situation.

In conclusion, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of population and development work as human resources will replace natural resources and quality human resources are the driving force for sustainable national development.

“The success of past family planning population policies shows the need for comprehensive, resolute and unified implementation," Ha said.

He added that the major challenges in population and development work today are a lack of deep understanding and awareness of the importance of population and development work; a lack of unified, consistent direction from the central to local levels; where birth rates need to be increased, they are decreasing and vice versa.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, addressing the challenges of population and development requires a comprehensive approach that includes economic, political, social, and educational policies that aim to achieve a harmonious and rational size, structure, and quality of the population in all regions and areas.

The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Health, in coordination with other ministries, sectors, and localities, to study and absorb the contents of the evaluation of Resolution 21-NQ/TW, referring to successful and unsuccessful experiences worldwide; to intensify public awareness campaigns; to thoroughly understand the accurate, correct and complete contents and importance of population and development policies; Urgently develop and improve the legal framework for population and development; advice on the organization of unified, comprehensive and effective machinery in the field of population, along with budget allocation and personnel arrangements; establish databases, collection tools and statistics on population indicators; clarify the contents of State management activities on population, especially inspection and reporting mechanisms.

USAID expands support for Vietnamese with disabilities with US$1.15 million

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) to expand a US$1.15-million project to support people with disabilities in Vietnam.

The project, which has run from 2023 to October 2025, supports the enforcement of disability laws, expansion of rehabilitation services and livelihood support to persons with disabilities, and improvement in early childhood disability detection.

In the latest move, USAID partnered with the Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee to launch the USAID Disability Programme in the southern Vietnamese province on  March 14. The program was first announced during US President Joseph Biden's visit to Vietnam in September 2023.

At the event, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs stressed that the launch of the program for persons with disabilities in Bac Lieu delivers on the two countries’ shared priorities and our support for a strong, resilient, prosperous, independent Vietnam.

"Our cooperation to overcome the legacies of war has been foundational for building trust, demonstrating our commitment, and advancing the relationship between the US and Vietnam to what is now a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” said Aler Grubbs.

According to Grubbs, USAID's Disabilities Rights Enforcement, Coordination, and Therapies project in Bac Lieu supports the enforcement of disability laws, expansion of rehabilitation services and livelihood support to persons with disabilities, and improvement in early childhood disability detection.

Through the US Leahy War Victims Fund, USAID has worked to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Vietnam since 1991. The US assistance aims to address medical and social needs, improve disability policies, and reduce physical and social barriers.

Hanoi's vehicle inspection centers face shutdown

Despite growing demand for vehicle inspections, a shortage of technicians could put local vehicle inspection centers out of business, according to the Hanoi Department of Transport.

In the latest report to the municipal People’s Committee, the city's Department of Transport said there are now 28 car assessment facilities.

With 53 out of a total of 59 lines fully operational, the facilities can handle nearly 67,700 cars per month.

However, the number of cars to be inspected may reach 77,400 in April, 90,700 in May, and 87,000 in June, with a sharp peak in August.

Over the next three months, local assessment centers can only meet a maximum of 87% of the total demand.

The department also warned that a lack of qualified technicians could disrupt the assessment lines.

Under the rules, an inspection center will be suspended for three months if at least two of its technicians are banned for 12 months.

In its report, the Hanoi Department of Transport said that there are now 226 technicians working in all vehicle inspection stations. Of the total, 143 technicians have been suspended and are being prosecuted for taking bribes and approving vehicles with substandard mechanics and exhaust systems, leading to road accidents and pollution. Pending the outcome of the court case, these technicians have been allowed to resume their work to ensure that vehicle inspections can continue.

"Once they are found guilty, their work licenses will be revoked and these technicians will no longer be able to work as vehicle registrars," the ministry said. "The facilities may face a temporary shutdown if they cannot find a source of registrars to meet the demand for vehicle inspections."

The Hanoi Department of Transportation has inspected local car testing facilities on their operating conditions. The department has asked all car inspection stations to adhere strictly to the rules and to find solutions to prevent possible overcrowding.

The department will continue to work with related units to keep the facilities running even if the technicians are in court, and has proposed to the Hanoi People's Committee to buy more machines and equipment for assessment and to seek assistance from the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnamese Registry.

The situation resulted from investigations launched in early 2023 by the Ministry of Public Security. The legal process was launched for the technicians and managers who had broken the law in running car registration centers across the country.

It is estimated that more than 400 registrars and officials have been detained and prosecuted. Many were given probationary periods to continue working at the centers.

During the raids, many facilities were closed and suspended, making it hard for car owners to get their vehicles checked when their papers expired.

The Ministry of Transport has turned to the police and the military registrars to ease congestion at vehicle inspection stations.

Then, in August 2023, the Ministry of Transport issued a regulation allowing the automatic extension of the inspection validity of non-commercial vehicles for six months without the need to take the vehicles to the inspection stations.

Quang Ngai commemorates 56th anniversary of Son My Massacre

A ceremony commemorating 504 civilians killed by US troops 56 years ago during the Son My massacre was held at the Son My memorial site in Tinh Khe commune, in the Central Province of Quang Ngai’s Son My District on March 16.

In her speech at the commemorative ceremony, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Thi Suong said that on March 16, 1968, US troops stormed Son My village to kill all and destroy all. Within just four hours, 504 civilians, mostly the elderly, women, and children were slaughtered. A total of 247 houses were burned down, thousands of livestock and poultry were killed, and crops destroyed by fire. The incident went down in history as a piercing pain for people in Son My and Vietnam.

In front of the Son My Memorial, leaders, and representatives of the People’s Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ngai Province, Quang Ngai City, and Tinh Khe District, local people and students offered flowers and incense in commemoration of the victims.

The Son My Memorial site has become a popular historical site attracting many visitors. The area receives hundreds of thousands of people every year.

From the beginning of the year to the present, the Son My memorial site welcomed thousands of visitors, many times higher than the same period last year. Of those, there were nearly 2,000 international tourists.

In 2024, more than VND3.5 billion has been invested in an upgrade project of the Son My Memorial site. Currently, there are about 117 pictures and 274 artifacts on display at the exhibition house at the site.

Naval forces of Vietnam, Cambodia conduct 74th joint patrol​​

The Vietnam People's Navy and the Royal Cambodian Navy conducted the 74th joint patrol​​ in the historical waters of the two countries on March 14-15.

The operation was joined by Vessel 263 of the Vietnam People’s Navy’s Naval Region 5 and Vessel 1134 of Ream Naval Base of the Royal Cambodia Navy.

During the joint patrol, the two sides performed a saluting ceremony called Hello ASEAN - a saluting ceremony at sea between naval ships of ASEAN member states, exchanging information and exercising hand-flag, signal lamp and rescue practice.

During the patrol, via a communications channel, the naval forces of the two countries have proactively propagandized and encouraged the two sides’ fishermen to strictly comply with the laws and regulations when they exploit seafood in the historical waters without violations of the sovereignty of another country.

With good preparation and close collaboration, the 74th joint patrol​​ in the historical waters of the Vietnam People's Navy and the Royal Cambodian Navy gained great success which would contribute to maintaining the social security, peace and stability in the historical waters between Vietnam and Cambodia, facilitating favorable conditions for people of two nations to develop maritime economy; strengthening and promoting bilateral relationship, reinforce the understanding, trust and assistance between naval forces of two sides.

25,000 students participate in Int’l Kangaroo Math Competition in 2024

This morning, the 2024 International Kangaroo Mathematics Competition - IKMC took place simultaneously at 51 test locations in 22 provinces and cities across the country. This year, the exam saw the participation of nearly 25,000 students ranging from grades 1 to 12 in public and private elementary, middle, and high schools.

2024 is the ninth year that the International Kangaroo Math Competition is held in Vietnam. This is the large-scale math exam in the world for high school students.

Previously, in 1991, the exam was first held in France. Every year, the exam attracts over 6 million candidates from about 100 countries. The exam was developed by mathematicians who are members of the International Kangaroo Math Committee. The exam is applied worldwide.

In Vietnam, the exam was first held in 2016 and was authorized by the IEG Education Development Foundation (IEG Foundation). It has become an interesting mathematics competition attracting the participation of more than 200,000 candidates from more than 1,000 educational institutions across the country after 8 years being organized in Vietnam.

The test is translated into Vietnamese, candidates take the test on a bilingual English - Vietnamese test. The exam includes multiple-choice questions at levels from easy to difficult related to many application areas of mathematics including algebra, geometry, logical thinking, and magic matrices.

A representative of the organizing committee said that the exam was organized to give students the opportunity to interact and exchange experiences with friends who are passionate about mathematics around the world.

Particularly, the exam is held at 3 centralized exam locations in Ho Chi Minh City including Vinschool Central Park Inter-level High School, British Academy International School in Binh Thanh District, and Vinschool Grand Park Middle School-High School in Thu Duc City.

In particular, in order to spread the love for mathematics and develop students' thinking, this year, the IEG Foundation offers 200 free exam entries to poor students at 2 exam locations such as Thuy Huong Primary School in Hanoi’s Chuong My District and Tay Dang B Primary School in Ba Vi District.

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