Home to 19 ethnic groups with various cultural festivals, the northwestern province of Dien Bien is tapping its strengths in this regard to lure more tourists.

Ethnic minority groups accounting for up to 83% of the local population have maintained their traditional festivals like boat racing of the Thai Trang (White Thai), crop praying of the Kho Mu, and fire dance of the Dao, featuring multiple folk dances and songs.  

Such festivals not only serve the spiritual life of local residents but also remain their pride. They have also been considered a booster of local tourism since eco-, cultural and community-based tourism has emerged as a trend.  

Over the past years, local authorities have paid more attention to the organisation of the festivals with higher quality. Meanwhile, a number of travel firms have included them as highlights of their tours.

Statistics show that Dien Bien welcomed more than 1 million visitors last year, up nearly 25% year-on-year, and earned over 1.7 trillion VND (68.64 million USD) from the sector, a rise of nearly 27%.

However, experts noted that the province’s potential for festival tourism has yet to be fully tapped as festive activities are not diverse enough to entertain both locals and visitors, and the engagement of different economic sectors in the holding of cultural, arts and sports activities in combination with cultural festivals remains limited.

Some suggested Dien Bien pay more heed to special, typical festivals and connect them with tourist attractions in the province, step up its connectivity with travel companies, and encourage the public to play a more active role in local tourism development.

Dien Bien is hosting the Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024 with an opening ceremony for the national tourism year and the Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival 2024 held on March 16.

In coincidence with the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 7, 1954 – 2024), Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024 is expected to bring endless experiences to tourists.

There will be 169 programmes and events throughout the year, comprising 13 national ones to be held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other agencies, 28 by host Dien Bien province, and 128 by 33 other provinces and centrally-run cities, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy said.

Organisers said they believe that Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024 will help promote tourism values and potential of Dien Bien province, the northwestern region, and Vietnam at large, thus helping to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, she noted./.

Nha Trang capitalising on advantages for cruise tourism

Leveraging existing advantages of an attractive destination for cruise tourism, the coastal city of Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa is continuing to refine related mechanisms and offer a variety of services meeting demand of those who come by sea.

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, the beach city offers the holidaymakers a short travel from the port to the central areas as well as numerous options for sightseeing and hands-on activities.

Tour operators noted that cruise tourism comes with a high-end customer segment with significant spending power. It also has very high expectations for services and tourism products. This reality necessitates ongoing efforts from Nha Trang authorities and businesses to improve infrastructure and service quality.

However, there is still much to be done in the future. For instance, most of these travellers only visit for the day without overnight stays. Additionally, local souvenirs and specialties remain lacking in distinctiveness and creativity.

Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Director of the provincial Department of Tourism, stated that Khanh Hoa identifies this group as one of the main sources for the industry in the future.

The authority has so far directed its units to intensify promotion campaigns, enhance the workforce quality, encourage localities and businesses to develop distinctive products, and promote eco-tourism models and local cultural experiences./.

Sports campaign spreads kindness among community

After three weeks of implementation, the charity campaign called Trieu Buoc Chan Nhan Ai (Million Steps of Kindness) to raise funds for the Vietnam Red Cross has drawn than 40,000 participants and recorded more than 586,000 km, fulfilling 41% of the fundraising target.

Taking place in 56 days from February 25 to April 22, the campaign aims to attract 70,000 runners and walkers who record their sports activities through V-Race app.

With their 700,000km recorded, the participants will contribute 7 billion VND (282,599 USD) to the fund, which will be used to build seven boarding school kitchens for children in impoverished mountainous areas; support 70 poor families for sustainable livelihoods; organise humanitarian markets providing necessities for 700 disadvantaged families; provide consultation and nutrition support for 7,000 poor children; and organise medical examinations and deliver free medicine for 7,000 people in difficult circumstances in Dien Bien, Son La, and Thai Nguyen provinces.

The campaign, part of the activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory, is also a special call towards history, showing respect and gratitude for those who sacrificed to protect the country.

"A Million Steps of Kindness" begins a humanitarian journey - giving and receiving love, extending from the North to the South, from the plains to the mountains and border, from rural to urban areas, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Red Cross Bui Thi Hoa said.

This campaign opens up opportunities to build a happy and compassionate community, while sending out a strong message of solidarity and unity in the society, she added.

Doan Tuan, a member of the Me Linh Runner club, who has run 822km in 23 days of the campaign to lead the performance rankings on the V-Race app, said that by joining the campaign, his happiness has tripled with joys from physical exercise, spreading happiness, and easing difficulties of others. He has encouraged 40 other members of his club to join the campaign.

The message that the campaign spreads is similar to the theme “Happier Together” of this year’s International Day of Happiness, which underlines that happy is love and sharing, and kindness brings happiness./.

An Giang, Cambodian province boost cooperation activities

The People’s Committee of the southern province of An Giang held a conference on March 19 to review its cooperation with Cambodia’s Kandal province in 2023 and set out directions for the first half of 2024.

The two sides agreed to continue promoting collaboration across the fields, including social safety and order in border areas; cross-border drug crime prevention and combat; border management and demarcation; agriculture - trade; education, culture, tourism, health care, transport, and search and repatriation of martyrs' remains, among others. 

Vice Chairman of An Giang People’s Committee Le Van Phuoc appreciated the effective coordination and joint work of departments and border localities of An Giang and Kandal, contributing to tightening the cooperative relationship between the two provinces under the motto of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation”.  

Phuoc expressed his hope that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to effectively implement agreed cooperation contents in order to boost socio-economic development, improve the living conditions of people of the two provinces, thereby contributing to building a border of peace, friendship and cooperation for mutual development between the two countries.

For his part, Deputy Governor of Kandal province Dim Bora said that coordination between the two provinces in many fields in recent years has produced practical results, contributing to maintaining social order and safety and border security.

He also suggested that in the coming time, the two provinces will continue working together in the fight against crimes, especially cross-border human and drug trafficking and smuggling; regularly exchange information, coordinate bilateral patrols, protect border markers, and promptly prevent sabotage activities of bad elements./.

Cruise liner Celebrity Solstice brings foreign visitors to central Vietnam

International cruise liner Celebrity Solstice docked at Chan May port in Thua Thien-Hue province on March 19, with the vessel bringing approximately 3,000 tourists of various nationalities to central Vietnam.

Immediately after their arrival, the passengers took on tours to several major tourist destinations and sampled specialties in Thua Thien-Hue province.

After a one-day stay, the foreign travelers are scheduled to continue their trip to discover the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

This comes after the ship brought the tourists on March 17 to Ha Long international cruise port in the northern province of Quang Ninh, with the site being home to UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay.

Celebrity Solstice is the lead ship of the Solstice class of cruise ships which is operated by Celebrity Cruises. 

The vessel stretches for 314.86 metres in length, boasts a capacity of 2,852 passengers, and is rated as one of the most modern ships in the world.

Moving forward, Chan May port in Thua Thien-Hue province is scheduled to welcome a total of 32 cruise ships with 60,000 international passengers in the year ahead.

Experts give opinions on education development strategy to 2030

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà on Tuesday directed that the education development strategy needed to be persistent in the right orientation, while also being updated and adaptive with the new era.

Chairing the conference on a draft education development strategy to 2030 with vision to 2045, the Deputy PM, who is also Chairman of the National Council for Education and Human Resource Development, said that the strategy should call for the participation of the entire system, including the private sector, to increase investment and efficiency in the field.

The strategy must also take into account the economic structure, the responsibility of the industry and businesses in the goal setting process, and the requirements placed on the education sector.

“Human resource development means inspiring breakthrough thinking and innovation for the education sector, taking advantage of the Fourth Industry Revolution, digital economy, digital and green transformation. The ultimate goal is to create human resources meeting the requirements of a developing and globally integrated world," said the Deputy PM.

The Ministry of Education and Training confirmed that the strategy’s goal was to develop the Vietnamese people comprehensively, maximising their potential and creativity.

It will build an open, fair and equitable education system, serving lifelong learning, moving towards standardisation, modernisation and international integration.

By 2030, the country can reach the advanced level of the Asian region.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn said that the draft strategy included the summary of 10 years implementing Resolution 29, evaluated five-year comprehensive education reform, and updated future human resource needs.

During the conference, the council members analysed the goals and tasks set out in the draft strategy.

They said that the strategy needs to propose new goals and breakthrough solutions to meet the current human resource demand.

Professor Nguyễn Văn Minh, director of the Hà Nội University of Education, suggested determining the specific responsibilities of concerned agencies in conducting the strategy.

Sharing the same opinion, Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Culture and Education Committee Nguyễn Thị Mai Hoa said that the strategy must be linked to the vocational education development strategy to create an open education system.

Listening to opinions from local departments of education and training, Deputy PM Hà said that leading localities needed to pioneer and try new mechanisms and policies in the field with higher goals and roadmaps. 

HCM City market uses leaves instead of money

Thousands of people came to an annual market that uses leaves instead of money to buy goods in HCM City's District 5 on Tuesday afternoon.

The market, organised by District 5 authorities and a local Cao Dai religious group, is inspired by the traditional markets of Caodaists in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

A representative from the organiser, Nguyen Ngoc Cam, said that the market aims to connect people from different religions and help disadvantaged people. "We prepared 5,000 leaves this year and each visitor was given five leaves to buy five items which were mostly food, drinks, and other necessities," Cam said. "The market has 60 stalls this year and the sellers receive leaves as a blessing in exchange for goods."

This was the second year the market was held in HCM City and attracted many visitors.A local student, Ha Duy, said she came with friends and had to wait two hours to receive five leaves each. "This is the first time I have attended this market and I was surprised to see so many people here," Duy said.

Pham Thi Mien at a stall selling noodles at the market said her family prepared 200 bowls of noodles to offer to visitors here. "As the market attracted many visitors today, some people couldn't get a leaf," Mien said. "But we're still offering noodles for everyone who came to our stall. We want everyone to understand the beautiful meaning of this market event."

The market lasted for three hours. A representative of HCM City Caodaism said the market is held once a year.

Vietnam, Belgium promote cooperation on physical training, sports

Dang Ha Viet, Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training (GDSPT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on March 19 held a working session with Alain Goudsmet, Chairman of Mentally Fit Global of Belgium to discuss cooperation in the field of physical training and sports.

Earlier, Belgium expressed the wish to work with the GDSPT in implementing a project on building a mental training network in Vietnamese sports, aiming to further promote collaboration between the two countries in this field on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties (March 22, 1973 - March 22, 2023).

Goudsmet said that after meeting with coaches and members of some football and basketball teams to understand the operations of sports teams in Vietnam, he noticed that most Vietnamese teams do not have a mental coach, although they know that it is extremely important. He added that the achievements of the Belgian football team is attributable to the great contribution of mental coaches.

According to Viet, the GDSPT and specialised agencies are very interested in mental training, elaborating that that Vietnamese sports is aiming to build a contingent of mental coaches.

He acknowledged the importance of the project and assigned related sections in the general department to coordinate with the Mentally Fit Global to set forth a specific roadmap on the implementation the project.

The first phase of the project is expected to be launched in May this year./.

Construction units at Long Thành Airport urged to address dust pollution

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Đồng Nai Province has urgently requested action from the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to combat dust pollution during the construction of Long Thành Airport.

The ongoing work, combined with dry season and strong winds, has worsened dust issues.

The department emphasised the need for effective pollution control measures to minimise the environmental impact.

On March 15, the department along with local authorities in Long Thành District, met with ACV to oversee compliance with environmental regulations at the airport site.

ACV reported that 43 specialised vehicles have been mobilised for dust suppression and construction of cooling and settling ponds have been completed.

However, monitoring reveals lapses in monitoring vehicle activities and inadequate dust suppression efforts, including irregular watering and failure to follow designated routes.

The airport construction site has experienced significant dust spread, impacting nearby residents and even visibility on the HCM City - Long Thành - Dầu Giây expressway in recent days.

With the project involving thousands of vehicles and workers, the Long Thành Airport Project Management Board said it plans to enhance watering efforts and enforce strict traffic control measures.

The management board also emphasised the challenges posed by the lack of vegetation cover and the removal of the topsoil layer in the airport construction area, leading to dust emissions during strong winds. Construction units have yet to find effective solutions to prevent dust. 

Exhibition tells stories of Hàng Trống folk paintings

An exhibition showcasing 40 Hàng Trống folk paintings associated with popular folk tales in the spiritual and cultural life of Vietnamese people is taking place at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hà Nội.

The Tranh Truyện Hàng Trống (Hàng Trống Folk Paintings) is organised by the museum in collaboration with the artist Phan Ngọc Khuê, an art researcher.

Genuine handicraft products, Hàng Trống paintings have a history of more than 500 years, and are linked to the rituals of ancestor worship.

The highlight of the exhibited items is their aesthetic value, the exquisite technique of woodblock printing, colour blending techniques, and especially the manifestation of the humanistic values and unique cultural identity of the ancient Vietnamese people.

According to researcher Khuê, the sets of paintings displayed in the Hàng Trống Folk Paintings exhibition were likely created from the 19th century until before the year 1945, and most are over 100 years old.​

Particularly, as part of the event, the Vietnam Women's Museum has received a set of paintings entitled Chiêu Quân Cống Hồ as a donation from the researcher. This set of paintings is among the artworks featured in the exhibition.

“The Chiêu Quân Cống Hồ paintings hold significant social value,” the researcher said.

“The female characters depicted in these paintings are exemplary figures, embodying virtues such as loyalty, filial piety, integrity and righteousness. They also aim to honour beautiful characters which are needed in the development of any contemporary society.

“The paintings enable the public to reflect on the noble examples set by past generations in the cultural heritage of the nation,” he added.

Nguyễn Thị Tuyết, the Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum, said the exhibition is expected to increase the appreciation and understanding of the beauty and value of the renowned genre of Hàng Trống paintings.

The Director also expressed gratitude to the researcher for collaboration with the museum in organising the Hàng Trống Folk Paintings.

She believed that this event opens up opportunities for future collaborations with cultural and art collectors, enabling the Vietnam Women's Museum to effectively connect cultural heritages and contribute to the dissemination of the cultural values of the Vietnamese people.

The exhibition is open until March 31. 

Đồng Nai focuses on eco-tourism development

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Đồng Nai Province has worked out a plan to build and develop eco-tourism linked with the province's agriculture.

With the goal of turning tourism into a key industry of the province’s economy, the tourism industry resolves to make the best use of local advantages and strengths.

The province has huge potential for developing eco-tourism related to orchards, forests, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes.

The southeastern region’s largest fruit producing province has more than 70,000ha of orchards and is well known for tropical fruits such as durian, grapefruit, orange, mandarin, and custard apple.

Lê Thị Ngọc Loan, director of the department, said that this year, the province will invest in building "Tân Triều Cultural and Tourism Village" in Tân Triều riverine island, Tân Bình Commune, Vĩnh Cửu District.

The village is also expected to be the province's first tourism One Community One [Speciality] Product (OCOP).

Tân Triều island on the Đồng Nai River is well known for sweet grapefruit, a local specialty, and many orchard owners here offer tourism services.

They also make various products from the fruit such as wine, jam, essential oil, grapefruit milk tea, and salads to serve tourists.

Under the national programme for building new-style rural areas, the province has invested in infrastructure in rural areas, especially roads, creating favourable conditions for orchard owners to offer tourism services.

The province has organised trips for farmers to other provinces to see for themselves how agritourism models work.

Major fruit growing districts such as Tân Phú, Vĩnh Cửu, Cẩm Mỹ, Xuân Lộc, and Long Thành and Long Khánh City have expanded orchard tourism services in recent years.

The province also has multiple craft villages that make well-known products such as fine-art furniture, pottery, dried banana, and grapefruit wine.

Đồng Nai currently has 23 tourism sites and 131 accommodation establishments with a total of 3,500 rooms to meet the demand for recreation and relaxation of domestic and foreign visitors. 

Children's books feature Vietnamese seas, islands

A series of books featuring the seas and islands of Việt Nam have been reprinted by the Kim Đồng Publishing House. 

The works are part of the publisher’s special book collection on Vietnamese history and culture targeting children and young readers. 

They are written by famous authors such as Chu Lai, Nguyễn Đình Tú, Sương Nguyệt Minh, and Nguyễn Trí Huân. 

Highlighted books feature the Trường Sa (Spratly) Archipelago and the life of the soldiers and local residents. Pictures and photos are also included. 

Minh’s Trường Sa Kì Vĩ Và Gian Lao (Great Trường Sa) includes 22 notes by the writer during his trip to the archipelago. 

The book portrays the beauty of Trường Sa and the daily activities of the soldiers who are protecting the country’s sovereignty over the sea and islands. 

It is lively and brings young readers a feeling that Trường Sa, the soldiers and people are so close to them that they can see, touch, feel and talk with them.   

Another book is titled Tôi Kể Em Nghe Chuyện Trường Sa (Stories of Trường Sa that I Tell You) by Nguyễn Xuân Thuỷ, a solider stationed on Trường Sa. 

His 100-page book tells many things about how the soldiers live and work on the islands. Images of stones, trees, fish, and storms are captured through the writer’s lively writing. 

“Thuỷ’s book, Tôi Kể Em Nghe Chuyện Trường Sa, will help to spread love for Trường Sa and bringing the islands closer to the people on the mainland,” said Ngô Vĩnh Bình, a member of the Việt Nam Writers’ Association. “Young readers will improve their patriotism, national unity and sense of responsibility after reading it.” 

Tôi Kể Em Nghe Chuyện Trường Sa was honoured with the Golden Prize at the Best Book of the Year awards by the Việt Nam Publication Association in 2012. 

The children's Kim Đồng Publishing House has more than 65 years in the industry. It has signed contracts with well-known authors, including young writers, to create books for children and teenagers.

Many books and comics featuring Vietnamese culture, customs, history and arts are introduced through its website www.nxbkimdong.com.vn. 

Đà Nẵng satisfies requirements for receiving high-profile tourists

The short visit of American billionaire Bill Gates to Đà Nẵng early this month has demonstrated that the central city can meet the standards of high-profile guests.

After the visit of Microsoft’s founder, the keywords "Bill Gates", "Danang, city in Vietnam", and "Danang" have surged significantly, according to Google Trends.

According to Director of Đà Nẵng Department of Tourism Trương Thị Hồng Hạnh, the province highly values the impact of famous figures on promoting tourism and hopes to attract other renowned people in the future, following Bill Gates's visit.

“Đà Nẵng is becoming a destination of choice for ultra-rich tourists and famous individuals. It is being selected for tourism, and filming game shows and movie projects,” she said.

In particular, Bill Gates's trip to Đà Nẵng has demonstrated that the city meets all the requirements of high-profile tourists who have strict demands for quality accommodation, services, distinctive culture, and a safe and friendly atmosphere at their destination.

The successful organisation of this visit has indicated the city’s potential for developing unique tourism products based on the core values of culture, heritage, history and nature.

Apart from Bill Gates, famous figures who have visited Đà Nẵng recently include Indian tycoons, and South Korean celebrities Lee Joon Gi, Lee Je Hoon, and Kim Yoo Bin.

Their presence has brought significant brand recognition to Đà Nẵng, contributing to positioning the city on the world tourism map, thereby increasing the media effect on social media platforms and attracting many other international visitors.

"This encouraging signal demonstrates the effectiveness of Đà Nẵng's tourism development direction," Hạnh said.

She said that the top concern for high-profile tourists is safety and privacy, alongside unique experiences. They do not want to publicly disclose their travel itineraries, in order to freely explore and experience the destination.

Therefore, Đà Nẵng always places great importance on ensuring the quality of services and human resources at tourism-related establishments, while also preserving the destination's brand.

Keenly aware of the impact of famous individuals, the city's tourism authority has connected with some of them to promote the destination through various channels such as television, travel corporations, entertainment companies, airlines, festivals, and public events.

Specifically, the authority has collaborated with IHQ, a South Korean television channel, to film the travel show Travely featuring sports influencers such as Cho Eun-bi, Kim Hye-lin and Kim Ah-ryong.

Besides, rapper Kim Yoo Bin, former member of the famous girl group Wonder Girls, has been featured in promotion programmes on culture, tourism, cuisine and people that have been carried out by the department in collaboration with South Korean television station SBS.

Đà Nẵng has also enhanced its tourism reputation domestically through collaboration with producers of Vietnamese reality series 2 Ngày 1 Đêm (2 Days 1 Night), Hành Trình Rực Rỡ (Vibrant Journey), and Muốn Ăn Phải Lăn Vào Bếp (To Eat, You Must Enter the Kitchen) to film at the city.

The department will continue to connect with event organisers and hotels to gather information regarding plans for welcoming celebrities. Additionally, they will further promote the city through various communication channels.

According to the Statistics Office of Đà Nẵng, in the first two months of 2024, the city welcomed 1.1 million tourist arrivals, an increase of 23.3 per cent compared to the same period last year. Among them, foreign visitors were estimated at 370,000, a 26.5 per cent increase compared to the same period.

The trend of employing international famous figures to promote travel destinations is a tested approach that has a real impact on people’s travel decisions.

This approach has proven to be effective, as exemplified by American celebrated singer Taylor Swift and K-pop megastar BTS.

A Harvard Business School study showed that celebrities have a "significant" impact on tourists' travel decisions, helping generate sales that are 4 per cent higher than those of competing destinations. 

Ministry urges avoiding further delays of HCMC’s metro line

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has called for HCMC to clarify several matters related to a proposal for extending the completion date of Metro Line No.1.

Local authorities have been tasked with specifying a new timeline for the completion of the city’s first metro line and gathering feedback from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the funder of the project.

HCMC should also make sure whether the rescheduling would not impact the loan agreement with Japan.

City authorities should also calculate any extra costs which might be incurred when the completion date is pushed back further, and determine the parties responsible for covering these additional costs.

The city should ascertain the remaining workload and make a firm commitment to finish the project on a newly proposed date.

With a total investment of VND43.7 trillion, the 19.7-kilometer Metro Line No.1 links the iconic Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City. The project is now 97% complete.

The Management Authority for Urban Railways of HCMC (MAUR) recently wrote to the city government saying that Metro Line No.1 could not be put into commercial service in July this year as earlier planned.

MAUR said it would need more time to get fire safety systems and railway station safety certification done.

This marks the fourth time the deadline has been extended.

Dong Nai further investigates cross-border gasoline smuggling

The Police Investigation Agency of Dong Nai Province yesterday provided more information on Special Criminal Case 920G, created in September 2020.

Accordingly, the Police Investigation Agency has just launched a criminal investigation into the case of gasoline smuggling happening in several provinces including Dong Nai Province. This is an act of further investigating Special Criminal Case No.920G.

This special criminal case has been closely monitored and directed by the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption to fight against the gasoline smuggling ring from Singapore to Vietnam to consume in the Central Highlands, Central, and Southern regions.

The Police Investigation Agency confirmed that the total volume of smuggled gasoline comes to over 200 million liters, worth VND2.69 trillion (US$108.8 million). The Agency confiscated 17 waterway vehicles, 22 fuel tank trucks, hundreds of billions of VND, and other related assets.

In the first stage of this investigation, 74 defendants were sentenced by the people’s courts at different levels. The leaders of the criminal group Dao Ngoc Vien and Phan Thanh Huu received a punishment of 15 years and 13.5 years in prison for smuggling, while Ngo Van Thuy – former Head of the Anti-smuggling Investigation Department under the General Department of Customs was sentenced 15 years in prison for ‘receiving bribes’.

The Police Investigation Agency of Dong Nai Province encourages related criminals to this case to report to the nearest police station or the Economic Police Division of the Dong Nai Province Public Security Department for leniency.

Vietnam in response to Earth Hour 2024

Vietnam is committed to working hand in hand with the rest of the world to achieve the common goal of carbon footprint reduction towards net zero emissions.

In response to the global Earth Hour campaign, which will take place on the evening of  March 23, Hanoi authorities are planning activities to raise environmental awareness among the community.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam), are calling on the Vietnamese to join hands in reducing their carbon footprint to achieve net-zero emissions.

Accordingly, the Hour Bank was recently launched with the expectation of receiving at least 10,000 hours of support for the earth from the Vietnamese people. Vietnamese are encouraged to donate as many hours as possible and register them in an online tally at HOUR BANK | WWF (panda.org).

Users can participate in some or all of the activities in six areas, including food, sport and health, entertainment, art and creativity, sustainability and nature. Through healthy hobbies and daily lifestyles, individuals can help spread positive messages about environmental protection to the community.

"The annual Earth Hour event gives everyone a chance to reflect on the harm we are doing to the planet. Everyone on the globe should do practical things to protect our only common home: the Earth," said Nhung Pham, Climate and Energy Lead, WWF-Vietnam.

In addition, "Save Viet Nam - We Are One", an environmental volunteer club at the Hanoi-based Vietnam Vinasep Quality and Environment Certification Joint Stock Company, launched a campaign to encourage people to take part in three challenges: using stairs, turning off the power when not in use, and turning off the screen when not being watched.

The challenge has attracted many participants from Hanoi's Hoang Mai and Thanh Xuan districts, with 700 people signing up in three days. So far, 500 office workers have taken up the challenge to turn off their desktop screens when not in use.

Earlier, nearly 1,500 people took part in a running event in support of the Earth Hour 2024 campaign in Hanoi on March 16.

The initiative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade aimed to motivate and encourage the participation of government agencies, organizations, enterprises and individuals to practice electricity saving on a regular basis, 365 days a year, making it a habit anytime, anywhere.

The ministry also launched an online running event through Uprace - a sports training application - from 16 to 31 March.

This is the 14th year that Vietnam has participated in Earth Hour to highlight energy conservation and raise public awareness about environmental protection and climate change.

By turning off the lights for one hour from 8:30 pm on March 25 in response to the 2023 Earth Hour campaign, Vietnam saved 298,000 kWh of electricity, equivalent to about VND555.6 million or US$23,617, according to the National Load Dispatch Center of Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

An annual tradition started by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 to raise awareness about climate change, Earth Hour has become one of the world's largest grassroots environmental movements.

Earth Hour has inspired and empowered individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in 7,000 cities and towns in 190 countries and territories to take action against climate change and environmental degradation every year on the last Saturday of March.

Hanoi book launch to mark International Day of Happiness

The Hanoi Library on 19 March hosted a book event entitled "Happiness for All" as part of a series of activities to mark the 11th International Day of Happiness in the capital.

According to the organizer, the book event aims to popularize the United Nations' concept of the International Day of Happiness and to disseminate the policies developed by the Party and the government to nurture families in the new era.

Featuring around 300 books, magazines, newspapers and other reading materials, the book fair is divided into three main sections.

The first section contains materials introducing the Party and Government's policies on social security and the development of happy families.

The second section is dedicated to the culture and customs of the people of Hanoi, which are widely regarded as the benchmark for others to follow.

The third section deals with the ethics and lifestyle of a normal family.

The reading material is intended to help people understand domestic violence and how to prevent it, promote equality in the family, care for and educate children, and encourage the younger members to show affection for the elder members.

It also aims to raise public awareness about happiness and good-hearted actions in the family as the core of social development.

In addition to the book event, the library also hosted a talk show with Dr Hoang Chi Bao, former member of the Central Council for Theoretical Studies and former chairman of the Institute for Talent Development.

Dr Bao is widely known as the storyteller of the late President Ho Chi Minh, having spent many years collecting and recounting the President's ideas and ethical actions.

Entitled "President Ho Chi Minh's Ideology on Happiness", the talk attracted a large audience.

The two events hosted by Hanoi Library are part of a series of activities taking place in Hanoi to celebrate the 11th International Day of Happiness, which falls on March 20.

Launched by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, they are in line with the nationwide plan approved by the Prime Minister in 2013, and follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize annual activities to mark the international event.

"With the theme 'Happiness for all', we hope to promote the traditional values of Vietnam and Thang Long - Hanoi on compassion, humanity and kindness," said Tran Thi Van Anh, Deputy Director of Hanoi's Department of Culture and Sports.

Through the activities, especially the book event, Anh hoped to motivate families in Hanoi to preserve traditions, foster good deeds, prevent violence and contribute to the further growth of society, thus creating a good atmosphere and momentum for the city's development.

The United Nations last year chose March 20 as the International Day of Happiness to motivate people to act and strive to build a world of equality and happiness.

Since 2014, Vietnam has been organizing activities to commemorate the event to inspire Vietnamese people and families to do better and improve their lives and move the country forward.

Đắk Lắk launches photo contest celebrating anniversary

The Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk is holding a photo contest to highlight its cultural identity and socio-economic achievements, and promote tourism.

The contest, with the theme Đắk Lắk – Hội Tụ và Bản Sắc (Đắk Lắk – Convergence and Identity), is organised by the province’s Association of Literature and Arts with support from the Việt Nam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the province (1904-2024).

Vietnamese amateur and professional photographers aged 18 and above can send their entries to the website anhnghethuatdaklak2024.com by September 30.

The entries can be single photos or a set of five to eight photos in colour or black-and-white.

The photos must introduce and promote Đắk Lắk’s people, cultural values, historical heritage sites, landscapes, and potential in economy-society, science-technology, defence-security, and international integration.

They have to highlight the beauty of the cultural and spiritual life of all ethnic minority groups in the province, and their efforts in preserving and promoting their identity.

The works should also portray individuals or collectives who are studying and following President Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology, morality and lifestyle.

Writer Niê Thanh Mai, chairwoman of the Đắk Lắk Association of Literature and Arts, said: “Through the contest, the organisers want to encourage photographers to create numerous beautiful pictures of the land and people of Đắk Lắk after 120 years of establishment and development. We expect the photos will highlight the province’s outstanding achievements and introduce a province imbued with unique cultural identity to local and international visitors.”

The organisers will give six top prizes and seven consolation prizes to the best photos chosen by the jury from VAPA.

The awards ceremony and an exhibition showcasing 120 photos from the contest will be held in Buôn Ma Thuột City in October. 

Vietnam ready for U16 women football friendly tournament

The Vietnamese national U16 women’s football team have gathered together for a training camp at the Vietnam youth football training centre in Hanoi as they prepare for an upcoming international friendly tournament.

Under the guideline of Japanese coach Akira Ijiri, the local players will spend three weeks in the capital ahead of their departure for Turkey to compete in a friendly tournament organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

The tournament will see the participation of teams from eight countries, including China, the United States, Wales, Paraguay, Vietnam, the host nation Turkey and two countries which will be announced in the near future.

After being knocked out of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U20 Women's Asian Cup, the young footballers have more opportunities to gain experience as several top teams from the continent and the wider world have both techniques and physical strength to help them achieve such high positions in the global rankings, according to coach Akira Ijiri.

The Japanese coach also shared that playing abroad against European opponents would be a very good experience for the young players.

International cruise ships dock at Tien Sa port in Da Nang

Cruise ship Zuiderdam docked at Tien Sa port in the central coastal city of Da Nang on March 19, with the vessel carrying more than 700 tourists of various nationalities onboard.

The ship’s one-day stay allowed foreign travelers to visit popular tourist attractions throughout Da Nang, including the Marble Mountains, the Cham sculpture museum, Han market, as well as taking a city tour around Linh Ung pagoda and My Khe beach.

On March 20, Da Nang continued to welcome cruise liner Resorts World One, with the vessel bringing over 2,000 tourists of American, British, French, Australian, and Canadian nationality to the central city.

The Da Nang Department of Tourism and other localities such as Son Tra, Hai Chau, Ngu Hanh Son, and Hoa Vang have all arranged forces in order to maintain security in a bid to ensure that foreign tourists enjoy a safe tour and have exciting experiences during their stay in the area.

Last year witnessed the central coastal city receive 22 international cruise liners with 18,000 arrivals on board. This figure is expected to rise to 45 ships and 40,000 foreigners over the course of this year, double compared to last year.

Mường Ảng District honours ethnic culture, sports and cuisine in festival

A festival featuring the culture, sports and cuisine of diverse ethnic groups is held in Mường Ảng District in the northern province of Điện Biên on March 19-20.

The festival is within the opening celebration of National Tourism Year 2024 and the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory. It is held every two years and has become a distinctive cultural tourism product of the district.

Festival-goers have the chance to explore the vibrant and colourful cultures of the ethnic groups in Mường Áng District by participating in folk games and performances of xòe dance, a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity recognised by UNESCO.

Besides, the event includes exhibitions of local specialties and a culinary festival where people will be served free traditional dishes like thắng cố (simmered horse meat and offal).

This year's festival is held on a larger scale compared to previous editions, featuring activities organised for the first time such as street art performances, screening of documentary films about the Điện Biên Phủ campaign, and a photo exhibition on the historical campaign and the socio-economic development achievements of Mường Ảng District through time.

According to the organisers, the Cultural, Sports, and Food Festival of Mường Ảng District aims to preserve, promote and honour the cultural identity of ethnic groups within the district.

It also seeks to instil a sense of national pride, strengthen unity among the people, and enhance socio-economic development and the cultural and spiritual life of the population.

Mường Ảng District has inaugurated three key projects to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ Victory: Mường Ảng District Conference and Cultural Centre, Hoa Hồng Kindergarten, and an archway and LED lighted gateway on National Highway 279.

The district has also launched a tree planting campaign in the centre of Mường Ảng Town. The district has set a target to plant 240 hectares of forests and over 400 hectares of agricultural crops such as coffee, tea and fruit trees in 2024. Additionally, there is a collaboration with investors to implement reforestation for the biomass power plant within the district.

The district has set a target to strive for poverty eradication and achieve a forest coverage rate of 34.11 per cent by the year 2025.

Spirit of Youth Month 2024 promoted in Laos

A football tournament of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU)’s chapter in the National University of Laos kicked off on March 20 in Vientiane on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the HCYU (March 26, 1931-2024).

This annual activity aimed to promote the physical exercise and sports movement among Vietnamese students studying at the university.

The event also provided an opportunity for students to enhance mutual understanding, and contributed to popularising the movement of studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's moral example among young people. 

This year’s tournament sees the participation of five teams.

The final match and the closing ceremony were scheduled to be held on March 26./. 

Over 1,800 runners to participate in Francophone tournament

A Francophone running tournament entitled "Ensemble" (Together) will take place on March 24 at Thong Nhat (Reunification) Park in Hanoi, with the event attracting the participation of over 1,800 runners.

Participants will include students, lecturers, businesses, representatives of diplomatic agencies, Francophone organisations, and foreigners based in Hanoi.

The race will consist of three main distances such as 2.5 km, five km, and 10 km.

A total of 37 prizes will be awarded to both male and female winners in each distance. In addition, the organisers will deliver prizes to the oldest and youngest athletes.

A wide range of activities will get underway as part of the occasion, including nearly 40 booths set up by organisations and businesses in the French-speaking community in Hanoi.

Moreover, students across the capital will bring 28 art performances to the event.

The function was first held back in 2022 and jointly organised by the Embassy of France in Vietnam, the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), and the Francophone University Agency (AUF).

US considered top important economic and trade partner of Vietnam

Vietnam views the US to be its most important partner, especially in terms of economics and trade, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said at a meeting with a business delegation of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) held on March 20 in Hanoi.

Those in attendance at the meeting included chairs of the NA Committee; US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper;  Ted Osius, president and CEO of USABC; Sarah Morgenthau, Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs at the US Department of State; along with more than 90 business representatives operating in the fields of technology, transportation, automobile, energy, health care, financial services, agriculture, investment funds, logistics, hospitality, manufacturing, cosmetics, and consulting service.

In his address, the top Vietnamese legislator welcomed the USABC delegation's first visit to the country after both sides upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This new framework will serve to create new space and fresh impetus for co-operation in a multitude of fields, including economics - trade - investment with a longer vision, larger scale and deeper level of connection, higher quality, and greater efficiency.

He noted his appreciation for the US's consistent support for a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam, while also affirming the nation's readiness to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership with the US on the basis of respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions.

The country therefore prioritises further expanding ties with the US at bilateral, regional, and global levels with deeper mutual understanding and higher trust.

The NA leader stated that the current key Vietnamese goals are to create breakthroughs in the fields of infrastructure, institutions, and human resources, whilst also promoting the application of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, sustainable development, and climate change response.

NA Chairman Hue expressed his joy and hope when he learned that many major US businesses and groups view Vietnam as a strategic market and have the same vision as Vietnamese development orientation, with long-term investment commitments, and investment portfolio expansion.

NA Chairman Hue applauded the US Government's commitment to consider recognising the market economy status of Vietnam. This is a practical and important step which will affirm the commitment and will of the US in realising visions and strategic directions both leaders both countries stated in the Joint Declaration.

The Vietnamese side is keen for large US businesses to have a voice and enhance their role in providing objective information as a contribution to promoting the internal consensus of the US Administration/Congress for the removal of Vietnam from the list of countries with non-market economies.

On this occasion, NA Chairman Hue reaffirmed that the NA strongly supports the development of mutual relations, thereby bringing benefits to the people and businesses of both sides. This will be done while striving to create a favourable, stable and transparent legal and policy framework for foreign businesses, including those from US to continue to operate, expand their scale and ensure long-term development in Vietnam, especially in the fields where the US has strengths and Vietnam has needs.

Moving forward, the NA Chairman requested that USABC and its member businesses regularly discuss and make recommendations to the NA and the Vietnamese Government on the policy and legal solutions to continue to improve the business investment environment, national competitiveness, products, while also joining hands to remove barriers and obstacles and, above all, creating opportunities for businesses to further develop.

The top Vietnamese legislator therefore desires US businesses to research and develop, innovate, and create; apply science and technology; intensify investment; provide financial support; expertise; experts for start-ups, creative projects, projects making use of modern technology; and having added value and high competitiveness that bring practical benefits to all parties.

He proposed that USABC, with its reputation and relationship network, will further enhance its role as a bridge prompting the US Government and Congress to step up linkages with the Vietnamese NA, including the establishment of the Group of US Congressmen friendly to Vietnam.

In line with this, Vietnam has established the Vietnam - US Parliamentary Friendship Group, NA Chairman Hue added.

At the meeting, business representatives highly appreciated the opportunity when the two countries upgraded their relationship to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership, saying that US businesses recognise Vietnam as a very important market. In particular, the USABC has provided the US Department of Commerce with evidence that within the framework of economic co-operation, US businesses have recognised Vietnam as a market economy.

Businesses also asked the NA to create favourable conditions in terms of mechanisms and policies for them to work together under public-private partnerships and with small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as promulgating appropriate policies to develop the digital economy in Vietnam.

They also made recommendations on special consumption tax, supporting reinsurance activities in Vietnam, and creating conditions for them to invest in the field of green energy.

They proposed the NA amend the Health Insurance Law to cover the increasing number of infertility diseases in the nation, whilst simultaneously amending the Pharmacy Law in line with reality.

Regarding the digital economy and digital transformation, the NA leader welcomed businesses’ ideas to invest in the Vietnamese market in new fields, including using AI in weather forecasting, while emphasizing that digital transformation is an important issue and the NA has issued many draft laws related to this field and is studying the Law on Public Industry and Digital Technology.

Concerning the tax field, the NA Chairman informed that the Vietnamese legislature has issued Resolution No. 107 on the application of additional corporate income tax according to the Global Anti-Base Erosion Rules.

The NA has asked the Government to develop a Decree for promulgation in the year ahead and simultaneously building an Investment Support Fund in areas that Vietnam prioritises, suggesting that businesses give their opinions on this area.

NA Chairman Hue also wishes that the two sides continue to advance relations between the two nations in general, between the Vietnamese NA and the US legislative bodies, senators, the House of Representatives, and the Senate.

Ha Nam, Laos’ Oudomxay step up cooperation

The northern province of Ha Nam and Oudomxay province of Laos will strengthen cultural exchanges and expand cooperation in various fields towards further tightening the durable and comprehensive friendship between the two localities, said Vice Secretary of the Ha Nam provincial Party Committee Dinh Thi Lua.

Lua made the statement during her a working session with a high-ranking delegation of the Lao province led by Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Oudomxay Bounkhong Lachiemphone on March 20.

According to Lua, Ha Nam and Oudomxay have had numerous collaborative and exchange activities to share experience in leadership and implementation of political tasks and socio-economic development, and information related to investment environment, strength and potential of the two localities.

The visit holds special significance in further promoting cooperation and friendship between the two localities in particular, and Vietnam and Laos in general, she said.

Lua briefed the guests on Ha Nam’s socio-economic development, noting that the locality has invested in developing 12 industrial parks with a total area of over 3,470 ha, and 14 industrial clusters with synchronous and modern infrastructure facilities.

For his part, the Lao guest congratulated Vietnam in general and Ha Nam in particular on their achievements. He pledged to continue effectively implementing signed agreements and maintaining the good relationship between the two localities.

He expressed his hope that Ha Nam will support Oudomxay in training human resources, share experience in building public administration centre, and in developing new-style rural areas./.

Vietnam welcomes investment in hi-tech, semiconductor industries: PM

Vietnam welcomes and encourages investments in hi-tech and semiconductor industries by providing appropriate mechanisms, incentives and modern infrastructure, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

PM Chinh made the statement at a reception in Hanoi on March 20 for Karthik Rammohan, Group Vice President of Global Operations at Lam Research, one of the leading US semiconductor manufacturing equipment providers, and representatives of the Seojin Company of the Republic of Korea. The two companies are collaborating in semiconductor chip production in Vietnam.

Lam Research, headquartered in California, recorded a revenue of 19 billion USD in 2022. As of March 2023, it had employed over 18,700 employees.

Rammohan said Lam Research is looking to expand operations and diversify its supply chain in Asia. In Vietnam, the company is planning to collaborate with Seojin, which already has factories in northern Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, to develop factories and establish a supply chain with an investment of 1-2 billion USD in the first phase. After the first phase, it will possibly invest directly or expanding its operations in the Southeast Asian country.

He expressed interest in Vietnam's investment promotion policies and programmes that could support the development of a domestic supply chain ecosystem for the semiconductor industry.

PM Chinh highlighted sci-tech and innovation as important cooperation areas in Vietnam's comprehensive strategic partnerships with both the US and the RoK. He pointed to Vietnam's efforts in training a workforce of 50,000-100,000 engineers by 2030 to meet the demand of enterprises.

Meanwhile, major tech players such as Samsung, Intel, and Foxconn are already present in Vietnam, he said, adding that many other leading global corporations are continuing to explore opportunities and investment in the country.

In the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing risks for mutual development, he expected that both companies would focus on research and development (R&D) activities, technology transfer, thus helping to develop a robust semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam.

He called for continued close collaboration between the companies and relevant Vietnamese authorities and localities to ensure a smooth and legal investment process./.

Deputy PM receives Singapore's Second Minister of Trade and Industry

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 20 for Second Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore Tan See Leng, who is on a visit to Vietnam.

During the meeting, the Deputy PM highlighted the sound development of the Vietnam – Singapore relations across a variety of fields in recent times.

In 2023, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, and 10 years since Vietnam and Singapore established the strategic partnership, the two countries signed many important cooperation agreements, opening up new opportunities to boost sustainable development cooperation between the two countries, especially in new areas such as energy transition, digital economy, digital transformation, and the green economy, he said.

The host said he supports cooperation in new areas in line with global trends, thus contributing to further deepening the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership in the coming time.

The two sides focused their discussion on the prospects of cooperation in areas of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, innovation, digital and green economic development, and establishing free trade zones.

They also mentioned the possibility of establishing legal support channels for Singaporean investors in Vietnam, the potential signing of agreements on carbon credits, and cooperation in energy transition towards achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Regarding trade cooperation, two-way trade between Vietnam and Singapore hit 9.1 billion USD in 2023, and is estimated to reach 2.4 billion USD in the first quarter of 2024, up 8.3% year-on-year, and higher than the average trade growth between Vietnam and ASEAN (7.2%).

Singapore is the largest Southeast Asian investor in Vietnam, and the second biggest investor among 143 countries and territories, with a total registered capital of 73.5 billion across 3,274 valid projects.

Vietnam and Singapore also closely cooperate in regional and international forums such as ASEAN, APEC, WTO, particularly within frameworks and mechanisms led by ASEAN. Both countries are members of major free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.

Vietnam and Singapore, as ASEAN members, signed FTAs with the UK and the European Union, facilitating stronger cooperation between their business communities./.

Kien Giang makes efforts to overcome EC warnings against illegal fishing

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has just issued a directive requesting party committees, party organisations, departments, sectors and localities to focus on overcoming the European Commission (EC)’s warnings against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) in the locality.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Do Thanh Binh has directed authorised units to continue implementing Official Dispatch No. 81-CV/TW, dated March 20, 2020 of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat on the effective implementation of IUU fishing prevention and control.

They have also asked to implement Decision No. 81/QD-TTg, dated February 13, 2023 of the Prime Minister on promulgating an action plan against IUU fishing, and the Official Dispatch of the Prime Minister and the directions of the National Steering Committee for IUU, of the provincial Party Committee, the provincial People's Committee on IUU.

 Relevant sectors and units are asked to strictly manage fishing grounds, and inspect and control fishing vessels. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Relevant sectors and units have been asked to strictly manage fishing grounds, and inspect and control fishing vessels. Fishing boats which are 15 metres in length or above must install VMS devices and have sufficient registration documents, registration, permits, and markings designated for fishing vessels.

Functional sectors and units have been required to strengthen inspection and control of fishery activities, and implement the control of fishing vessels entering and leaving fishing ports and berths of border guard checkpoints at sea mouths and estuaries. They must also strictly control fishery output through fishing ports and fishing wharves, must keep fishing logs, and promoted the certification of raw materials, certification of aquatic origin according to regulations while ensuring complete and legal dossiers, along with handling violations.

The provincial border guard command has been asked to take measures to investigate, verify and handle vessels crossing the boundary for illegal fishing in foreign waters and fishing vessels showing signs of exploitation in foreign waters in line with the provisions of law. Thanks to the drastic and regular implementation of the prevention and control of IUU fishing vessels, over the past time, the number of fishing vessels violating foreign waters has decreased significantly. In 2020 there were 43 cases with 323 vessels, and the number reduced to 16 cases with 22 violating vessels.

Since the beginning of 2024, Kien Giang has detected no fishing vessels violating foreign waters./.

Vietnam, Laos bolster defence cooperation

The fourth Vietnam – Laos ministerial-level defence policy dialogue was held in the northwestern province of Dien Bien on March 20 under the chair of Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and his Lao counterpart Vongkham Phommakone.

At the event, Chien and Vongkham Phommakone agreed that the bilateral defence cooperation has carved out practical outcomes that help promote the sound friendship between the two governments, armies and peoples, especially in the areas of delegation exchange at all levels, dialogue mechanisms, border management and protection, training, consultation and support for each other at multilateral forums.

Touching the global and regional situations, Chien spoke highly of ASEAN’s role in shaping up and maintaining the regional security architecture, and boosting practical cooperation among its member states as well as between ASEAN and its partners.

He expressed his belief that as the ASEAN Chair 2024, Laos will effectively run the bloc’s cooperation mechanisms, create consensus in the bloc, and continue developing the ASEAN community.

Both sides concurred to continue cooperation in the above-mentioned fields, and proposed to assign delegations of experts from the two ministries to review and evaluate the outcomes of the implementation of the protocol for the 2020-2024 period and recommend collaboration contents for 2025-2029.

As Laos’ traditional Bunpimay festival is approaching, Chien conveyed Minister of Defence General Phan Van Giang’s new year greetings to Minister of Defence General Chansamone Chanyalath./.

Spirit of Youth Month 2024 promoted in Laos

A football tournament of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU)’s chapter in the National University of Laos kicked off on March 20 in Vientiane on the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the HCYU (March 26, 1931-2024).

This annual activity aimed to promote the physical exercise and sports movement among Vietnamese students studying at the university.

The event also provided an opportunity for students to enhance mutual understanding, and contributed to popularising the movement of studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's moral example among young people. 

This year’s tournament sees the participation of five teams.

The final match and the closing ceremony were scheduled to be held on March 26./. 

Event in Denmark introduces Vietnam, bilateral relations

The Vietnamese Embassy in Denmark coordinated with the Denmark-Vietnam Friendship Organisation (DAVIFO) to hold an event on March 20 to introduce the Southeast Asian country and Vietnam-Denmark relations to teachers and students of Slotshaven High School in Holbaek.

The event was organised ahead a school delegation's fact-finding trip to Vietnam next month.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Luong Thanh Nghi said this was an extremely meaningful activity which helped promote mutual understanding and attachment between the people of the two countries, especially younger generations.

He briefed participants on Vietnam’s socio-economic development, achievements in relations between the two countries after more than 50 years of establishing diplomatic ties as well as the functions and tasks of the Vietnam Embassy in Denmark in deepening and promoting the bilateral ties.

According to the diplomat, young Danish people should take advantage of the strengths of the youth to explore about Vietnam because each region of the country has its own beauty and leaves deep impressions on visitors.

Meanwhile, DAVIFO President Trine Glue Doan talked about the association’s activities to enhance exchanges and mutual understanding between the people and young generations of the two countries, and shared her personal experiences and love for Vietnam and its people.

Vietnam is a favourite destination for international businesses and tourists due to the hospitality and friendliness of the Vietnamese people and a diverse culture, she noted.

Visitors to the event had the opportunity to get an insight into the culture of Vietnam through a photo exhibition and short films that depict the country and enjoy its traditional dishes./.

South Sudan wants to promote multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam: President

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt and South Sudan Nguyen Huy Dung on March 20 presented the Vietnamese President's credentials to President of South Sudan Salvar Kiir Mayardit.

At a reception for the diplomat after the presentation ceremony, President Kiir Mayardit expressed his joy to receive the credentials from the first Vietnamese ambassador to the youngest nation in Africa.

He hoped the ambassador will complete his duties excellently during his term of office in South Sudan, making contributions to strengthening and developing the cooperative relations between the two countries.

President Kiir Mayardit expressed his admiration for Vietnam's socio-economic achievements, affirming his wish to promote the bilateral multifaceted cooperation.

For his part, Dung affirmed his determination to promote the friendship and cooperative relations between the two countries in the coming time both bilaterally and multilaterally.

On March 19, the ambassador presented a copy of the credentials to South Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation James Pitia Morgan.

South Sudan was founded in 2011 after a referendum on separating the southern region of Sudan into an independent country. Currently, South Sudan has a population of about 12 million people, with more than 200 different tribes. It has abundant natural oil, gas and wood resources.

Vietnam and South Sudan established official diplomatic relations on February 21, 2019. Since 2014, Vietnam has sent over 800 military and police officers and soldiers to join in the United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan./.

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