Vietnamese fishing vessels’ infringements of foreign waters have gradually decreased over the past years, which is the clearest demonstration of the border guard and other forces’ moves to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, an official has said.

Notably, violations of the waters of Pacific Islands nations such as Australia, Palau, New Caledonia, and Papua New Guinea have been eradicated since 2018, noted Col. Vu Van Hung, Deputy Chief of the Staff of the Border Guard High Command, in a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency.

He said that placing importance on the IUU fishing combat, the High Command has seriously followed the directions given by the Party Central Committee, the Government, and the Ministry of National Defence while issuing a number of documents on concerted measures against IUU fishing. In particular, it launched a peak crackdown on IUU fishing through this April before the European Commission (EC) comes to Vietnam for the fifth inspection over the issue.

During the campaign, it has been coordinating with the Party committees of coastal localities to enhance the leadership and directions over the work, increase personnel and vehicles for key border guard posts, and set up teams for patrolling islands, river mouths, estuaries where many unregistered and unlicensed fishing vessels or those without vessel monitoring systems (VMS) are often concentrated in to ensure all vessels operating at sea are eligible.

Another focal task the High Command has been performing is to work with local forces and administrations to boost communications and law dissemination to raise fishermen’s awareness, classify and make dossiers for strictly managing violating vessels and high-risk ones, and early detecting IUU practices to take timely counter-measures, Hung went on.

Besides, he added, it has maintained communication channels with other forces and localities in the IUU fishing combat.

To prevent and put an end to vessels' infringement of foreign waters, the High Command will maintain close coordination with relevant forces and local authorities to strongly implement the Prime Minister and the Defence Ministry’s directions on urgent solutions to fight IUU fishing and lift the EC’s “yellow card” warning.

It will effectively use the VMS system to monitor all fishing vessels at sea, detect any case of VMS connection rule violations, and demand the vessels going beyond the maritime boundary return to the Vietnamese waters in a timely manner.

Another important task is to order border guard units coordinate with local agriculture and fisheries authorities to make proper preparations for working sessions with the EC delegation, according to the official.

Vietnam has been working hard to carry out the EC’s recommendations about IUU fishing prevention and control, towards the goal of having the EC's yellow card lifted.

The EC issued a “yellow card” warning for Vietnam in this regard in 2017. The "yellow card" is followed by a "green card" if the problem is resolved or a "red card" if it is not. A “red card” may lead to a ban on aquatic exports to the EU./.

Amazing Binh Dinh Fest features impressive art show

The Amazing Binh Dinh Fest, considered one of the biggest events in the central province of Binh Dinh, kicked off on March 22 with an impressive art show involving hundreds of artists.

It showcased a musical play depicting the historical periods of Binh Dinh. The performance combined elements of traditional music, world music, and local traditional martial arts.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Anh Tuan said the festival runs from March 22-31, featuring a variety of cultural, sports and tourism activities. It aims to promote the culture, tourism and sporting spirit of people in Binh Dinh province.

The highlights of the festival includes the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship taking place from March 22-24 and the UIM - F1H2O Grand Prix from March 29-31.

Other main activities include a culinary fest, a buffet party with 77 quintessential specialties of Binh Dinh province, an international music night, the Binh Dinh martial arts night, the Aquabike Show, a Drone Light and motorised paragliders show as well as investment and trade promotion conferences with the Vietnam-Canada Business Association.

Some cultural, sports and tourism activities will also be held within the framework of the festival, such as a street carnival programme, a street music and performing arts programme, and a traditional boat racing tournament.

Binh Dinh welcomed more than 5 million tourists in 2023, earning more than 16.5 trillion VND (666 million USD), an increase of 25% compared to 2022. The province targets 5.5 million visitors and 18.5 trillion VND in tourism revenue this year./.

Vietnam condemns Moscow terrorist attack: spokeswoman

Vietnam strongly condemns terrorism in all forms and firmly believes that the perpetrators will be strictly punished, said spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang on March 23 in response to the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia that left numerous casualties a day earlier.

“We are deeply appalled upon learning about this brutal terrorist attack and would like to extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Russian Government, people and families of the victims”, she said.

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, no Vietnamese citizen has been reported as victim in the incident so far.

Following the ministry’s directions, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia is working closely with local authorities to keep a close watch on the situation and ready to take necessary protective measures in case any Vietnamese citizens are affected.

The embassy urged Vietnamese citizens in Russia to avoid crowded areas, stay informed about the situation and immediately contact the embassy via the citizen protection hotline 79166821617 or the citizen protection call centre in Vietnam 84981848484 in case of emergency./.

Son La, Laos’ Houaphanh province hold tourism, cultural festival

The northern province of Son La and Laos’ Houaphanh province jointly held a tourism and cultural festival in Houaphanh on March 21-23 to promote their popular destinations and the cultures of ethnic groups in the two provinces.

The event helped connect and promote tourism development links between Son La, Houaphanh, and other Vietnamese localities. It offered a chance for the two provinces to together develop unique and attractive tourism products, create jobs, and increase income for their people, especially those in ethnic minority and border areas.

Festival goers enjoyed art exchange programmes, typical products of the two provinces, and learn about their cultural features, including folk games and cuisine.

The festival took place at a time when the Lao people are preparing to celebrate their traditional New Year Bunpimay, which is held annually in mid-April./.

Party leader’s demand for putting Fatherland above all receives public support

The request for putting interests of the nation, the Party, and the people first and above all in Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s speech on some issues needing special attention in the personnel preparation for the 14th National Party Congress has attracted widespread support from officials, Party members, and people of all social strata.

The leader delivered the important address at the recent first meeting of the sub-committee on personnel affairs of the 14th National Party Congress.

In his remarks, he stated that personnel affairs of the congress are extremely important but also extremely complicated, difficult, and heavy, requiring the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the entire political system work with a very high sense of responsibility, great determination and efforts, and in a truly impartial, objective, and scientific manner that puts interests of the nation, the Party, and the people first and above all.

Commenting on this issue, Dr. Nguyen Viet Chuc, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents, and Children, said that throughout his life and revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh always put interests of the nation and people first and above all. This viewpoint formed the supreme principle for the leadership of the revolution and was also one of the factors of the Vietnamese revolution’s success.

Vietnam is said to have never secured such a great stature like it has nowadays. In the new context, cadres need to show even stronger mettle and wholeheartedly bring into play their capacity to serve the Fatherland and the people. They have to put the interests of the people, collectives, and the nation above their own, Chuc opined.

He shared General Secretary Trong’s analysis of the shortcomings and weaknesses of some cadres as well as problems of the personnel work.

At the time the country is standing major opportunities and also facing considerable challenges, if the problems lingering for many years and many tenures fail to be resolved, it will be very difficult for the dream of a powerful and prosperous country to come true, he added.

Voicing support for the Party chief’s demand for putting interests of the nation, the Party, and the people first and above all, Col. Nguyen Van Nien, former Director of the Army Corps 12 pharmaceutical company, recalled that in the 1960s, there was a slogan posted everywhere – “The Fatherland above all”, which means cadres and Party members must place the Fatherland and the Party, not their personal interests, above all.

However, he also perceived that it is easier said than done, pointing out the need to uphold impartiality and carefully listen to public opinions.

President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam managed to attract the most prominent persons to the system and the entire people to the great revolutionary cause thanks to the Party’s ultimate goal of working for the sake of the people. It is a fact proved since the country’s founding that once unanimity is secured, even a small nation can become great, as seen in the successes of the resistance wars against the French colonialists and the US imperialists, Nien went on.

To be successful on the path chosen by President Ho Chi Minh, the Party, and the people, he said, the personnel affairs for the coming time are of critical importance. Only when a contingent of good cadres is available can better policies be issued, strategic-level issues resolved, as well as complicated situations related to national construction, development, and safeguarding and the regime’s existence handled in a timely, righteous, and effective manner./.

Vietnamese, Australian scholars discuss 40-year renewal in Vietnam

The Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam jointly held a roundtable themed “Vietnam: 40 years of Doi Moi and 2045 vision” in Hanoi on March 21 to serve the building of a report summarising the implementation of the “Doi Moi” (Renewal) scheme in Vietnam so far.

More than 200 Vietnamese and Australian experts and scholars at the event analysised the 40-year implementation of the scheme and gave recommendations on policy for the country’s growth, contributing to realising Vietnam’s development goal until 2045.

Participants focused their discussion on major trends in the world, the reform of the public administration, measures to overcome the middle-income trap, the reform of financial sector, and urbanisation and sustainable development.

Addressing the event, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, HCMA Director, and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, underlined that the event aims to gather ideas from experts and scientists who provide objective perspectives based on scientific evidence supporting the summarisation and evaluation of the socio-economic development results that Vietnam has achieved over the nearly 40 years of renewal, helping draw lessons for stronger developments in the new period.

He said he hopes participants will point out limitations, weakness, and shortcomings in particular areas, especially hinderances to the development of Vietnam, while sharing experience applicable to Vietnam and seeking feasible solutions to deal with difficulties and challenges facing Vietnam during the renewal, integration, and development process.

Thang also hailed scientific research cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, showing the strong political trust and commitments in sharing knowledge between the two countries.

Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski expressed his impression at efforts of 40 Australian and Vietnamese businesses in conducting researches in the field.

Australia is working to support Vietnam realise the 20245 vision, he said, stressing that the relationship between the two countries is now closer than ever, enabling them to continue partnering in areas of shared interest on the foundation of mutual trust as stated in the joint statement on the upgrade of the Australia-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership./.

Meeting unites global cities under the umbrella of tourism

The Tourism Promotion Organisation for Global Cities (TPO) organised a regional meeting in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on March 21, seeking measures to bolster regional connectivity for tourism development.

The event was attended by TPO Secretary General Woo Kyoung Ha and representatives of six Vietnamese cities and provinces which are members of the TPO, namely Hanoi, Phan Thiet, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau and Long An.

According to Vice Chairman of the Tourism Association of Lam Dong province Cao The Anh, regional connectivity aims at building a mechanism to promote tourism, build brand for a destination, and help it reach out to the world.

He suggested that the cities should develop their most standout tourism offerings, adding Da Lat will focus on green tourism to attract visitors.

Anh went on to say that the TPO should give information on its members’ consumer behaviour so that cities will be able to develop suitable tourism products. 

Meanwhile, Seo Ji Ae from the TPO Secretariat recommended the Vietnamese localities learn the experience from the Republic of Korea’s Busan city, which has policies and applies technologies to support tourists in searching for entertainment zones.

Busan has emerged as a hotspot for incentive and entertainment tourism, she said, adding the city is moving forward into the future as a 15-minute city where all essential services are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike, with green space for its citizens and tourists.

At the event, participants gave their opinions on the TPO’s initiatives to support its members to develop and connect for tourism promotion.

As a member of the TPO since 2019, Da Lat has made efforts to popularise its tourism by joining tourism promotion activities of the organisation.

Last year, the city welcomed 6.7 million visitors, up 11.6% year-on-year. In the first quarter of 2024, it hosted 1.9 million tourist arrivals, rising 11.4% against the same time last year, with international visitors reaching 133,000./.

More solutions to ensure safety on highways

According to the National Traffic Safety Committee, 23 fatalities occurred due to highway accidents in the first two months of this year.

On the Cam Lộ - La Sơn Highway, a tragic accident occurred on February 18 in the area between Phong Mỹ and Phong Xuân communes in Phong Điền District in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế. A four-seated car overtaking on the right side of a container truck led to a chain collision involving four vehicles, causing one car to be thrown across the road. Three people from the same family were killed, and two others were injured.

Three weeks later, another traffic accident occurred on the same highway. On March 10, a passenger bus passing through Phong Điền District collided with the rear left side of a truck that was stopped on the side of the road in the same direction due to a flat tyre. The accident resulted in the death of two passengers and injuries to nine others.

On the La Sơn - Túy Loan Highway, on January 23, a 45-seat passenger bus suddenly plunged into a 30m deep ravine, causing two deaths and injuring 19 others when driving through Hoà Bắc Commune in Đà Nẵng City’s Hoà Vang District. Also, on this highway, on February 28, a container truck overturned, resulting in the death of the driver.

Many similar accidents have occurred on other highways. Four teenagers died while riding a motorcycle against traffic on the Nội Bài-Lào Cao Highway on February 14, and a collision between a passenger bus and a truck on the Nha Trang-Cam Lâm Highway resulted in two fatalities.

Drivers’ faults

Trần Hữu Minh, Head of the Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee, said the direct cause of these accidents is drivers’ violations of basic principles in traffic law, such as not observing when changing lanes, not staying within lanes, overtaking without observation, and stopping inappropriately. This behaviour directly affects safety, leading to a high risk of collisions.

Major Nguyễn Quang Nhật from the Traffic Police Department said that according to investigations and conclusions of investigating agencies, the majority of accidents stem from the awareness of road users on highways, such as lane violations, lane changes without signalling, lack of observation, driving in the opposite direction and even riding motorcycles against traffic on highways.

Highway traffic control patrols under the Traffic Police Department reported that traffic law violations remained common.

During the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday, 843 traffic violations on highways were detected, with fines totalling VNĐ1.11 billion (US$44,810). A total of 401 drivers' licenses were revoked and 99 vehicles were detained.

A further 1,014 violations were detected through surveillance camera systems.

From February 18-23, the Highway Traffic Control Patrol Team No4 detected 33 cases of violations on the Cam Lộ - La Sơn Highway and imposed fines of VNĐ171 million ($6,900).

In just the first half of 2024, the Traffic Police Department of Đà Nẵng City handled nearly 70 cases of speeding violations on the La Sơn - Túy Loan Highway.

Substandard infrastructures

However, experts said that substandard highways contribute to traffic accidents. Many highways in Việt Nam, including sections of the North-South Expressway, are only invested in two lanes, failing to meet highway standards.

Highways constructed with only two lanes without emergency stopping lanes pose high risks of accidents. Since they were put into operation, many highways have deteriorated and jeopardised traffic safety.

Opinions suggest that the infrastructure on the Cam Lộ - La Sơn Highway has numerous shortcomings, such as no gas stations, no rest stops, many curved and steep sections, bottleneck points, narrow passing lanes and a lack of barriers.

Nhật said by the end of 2023, the Traffic Police Department inspected 12 highways and discovered that seven sections did not ensure safety, such as insufficiently wide emergency stopping lanes, lack of nighttime lighting, limited visibility in some sections, and lack of rigid median barriers between lanes.

He said that highways must have rigid median barriers in principle, as they would shorten travel time and ensure safety.

By the end of 2023, 20 expressway projects had been implemented, increasing the total length of expressways nationwide to nearly 1,900 kilometres. Currently, nearly 1,700 kilometres of expressways are under construction.

Việt Nam hopes to build approximately 3,000 kilometres of expressways by 2025 and 5,000 kilometres by 2030.

Solutions

Minh, Head of the Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee, emphasised that road users must always adhere to traffic rules to minimise highway traffic accidents. Violation of traffic rules on highways increases the risk of accidents.

Studies have shown that seat belts can reduce serious injuries by up to 45 per cent and reduce the risk of death by up to 75 per cent. However, the seat belt usage rate in Việt Nam is still relatively low (below 20 per cent), Minh noted.

Recently, the Vietnam Road Administration has requested that local transport departments direct driver training facilities to focus on teaching driving skills on highways.

It has asked the departments to develop an appropriate driving technique curriculum, which includes content on "driving on highways" that demonstrates driving techniques on divided investment highways.

The use of virtual cabins will enable students to learn all the necessary skills and handle situations when driving on highways.

It said that highway driving training has almost not been conducted in practice as it is not included in the examination content.

To improve traffic safety on the Cam Lộ - La Sơn Highway, the Việt Nam Road Administration has assigned the Management Board of the Hồ Chí Minh Road project to conduct vehicle counting, classification, and analysis of unfavourable factors to develop traffic flow separation plans on the highway.

The Traffic Police Department stated that they will strengthen control to handle cases of violations that pose safety risks on the Cam Lộ - La Sơn Highway. The police will patrol the area around the clock to monitor and impose penalties for the violated vehicles. 

Ninh Thuan, Ca Mau work hard to combat IUU fishing

The south central province of Ninh Thuan has been undertaking measures to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, along with 27 other coastal localities, in an efforts to have the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” imposed on Vietnamese seafood removed soon.

Trinh Minh Hoang, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee said the committee has issued an action plan to ensure effective implementation of IUU fishing prevention and control.

Coastal communes and wards have been asked to conduct communication campaigns to enhance vessel owners' and fishermen's awareness

The province's fisheries sub-department has been required to guide vessel owners to carry out registration and licensing procedures for fishing operations and updating data into the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase).

Relevant units have been assigned to strictly control fishing vessels and notify those that do not maintain monitoring equipment as requested or sail beyond allowed boundaries at sea for handling. They must ensure that all fishing boats, which are 15 metres in length, dock at designed ports to load and unload aquatic products as well as submit record of their fishery activities.

The provincial border guard command and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development were asked to launch a peak campaign on inspecting and strictly dealing with IUU fishing and not allow fishing vessels that don’t meet requirements to leave the ports.

According to the local fisheries sub-department, all offshore boats have been granted licenses and  the number of fishing vessels equipped with vessel monitoring system (VMS) reached 99.7%. Of which, all fishing vessels longer than 24 meters have VMS installed. Now there are no fishing vessels from Ninh Thuan violating foreign waters.

In the southernmost province of Ca Mau, the border guard force has strengthened collaboration with relevant agencies and local authorities to promote dissemination to persuade fishermen to follow regulations on fishing.

According to the Border Guard Command of Ca Mau province, since February 26, it has detected and imposed administrative fines on three cases and seven vessels for violating rules on exploiting aquatic resources.

From the beginning of 2024, border guard stations in the province have worked with local administrations to organise more than 20 dissemination sessions, attracting more than 2,500 people. They helped raise awareness of fishermen in complying with regulations on fishing, contributing to maintaining social order and safety and protecting aquatic resources in maritime border areas./.

First HCM City International Film Festival 2024 slated for April

Ho Chi Minh City will host its first-ever International Film Festival (HIFF 2024) from April 6 to 13, bringing together nearly 200 filmmakers, directors, and actors from around the world.

Anticipated to give a boost to the country’s vibrant film market, the event has selected "Boléro" by French director Anne Fontaine on classical music as the opening work, marking its first-ever screening in Asia. Apart from the main competition categories, symposiums and exhibitions will be organised within its framework.

According to local actress and film producer Truong Ngoc Anh, with its diverse activities, the event serves not only as a platform to promote films but also to showcase tourism, culture, and the people of the southern metropolis. It provides an opportunity for young filmmakers to connect with producers, investors, and bring their potential projects to life.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy stated that the festival will be an opportunity to introduce high-quality Vietnamese cinematic works, affirming their position and reputation on the world cinema map./.

Text campaign launched to support TB patients

The National Lung Hospital, the National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programme and the Patients Support Foundation to End Tuberculosis (PASTB) and the National Humanitarian Portal 1400 have launched a text message campaign to call for aid for TB patients.

From March 8 to May 6, mobile service subscribers can text TB to 1402 to contribute 20,000 VND (0.81 USD) per message to the fund to help TB patients overcome the disease and reduce infection risks in the community. Donors can access to websites https://1400.vn/hotrodieutribenhlao for more information about the campaign.

Each year, Vietnam detects and treats more than 100,000 people with TB. However, the number of patients detected and reported in the community accounts only 60% of the real figure. The rate of cured patients is maintained at over 90% for new TB patients. About 70% of multidrug-resistant TB patients use a long-term therapy and 80% of multidrug-resistant TB patients use a short-term therapy.

Launched in 2018, the PASTB is a social, charitable, non-profit fund that supports the care, prevention and treatment of TB patients and people affected by tuberculosis./.

Quang Binh strives to combat IUU fishing

The central coastal province of Quang Binh has been making efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to have the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood removed soon.

Hoang Viet Thong, head of the Fisheries Surveillance Division under the provincial Fisheries Sub-Department, said his office is coordinating with coastal localities and competent agencies to patrol waters, inspect fishing activities, and strictly handle violations.

They have established teams to verify and handle fishing vessels that violate foreign waters and those that are detected to violate other regulations through the vessel monitoring system (VMS).

The work helps improve the understanding, responsibility and awareness of vessel owners, captains and people on the provisions of fisheries law on IUU fishing control.

As soon as the division was established late last year, it developed a scheme to tighten control over fishing vessels with VMS being turned off for a long period.

With a coastline of nearly 120 km, Quang Binh province has a lot of potential for fisheries. It now has nearly 6,800 fishing vessels, of that nearly 3,600 with a length of over 6 metres are operating in fisheries exploitation and logistics services at sea./.

IAEA pledges to further cooperation with Vietnam

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue its cooperation with Vietnam, especially in technical assistance, personnel training, infrastructure development, and the perfection of regulations and standards to ensure nuclear safety and security, said its Deputy Director General Hua Liu on March 21.

Hua, who is on a visit to Vietnam, told Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang that during the visit, he held fruitful meetings with representatives from the Ministries of Science and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Health.

The IAEA has repeatedly hailed Vietnam's pioneering role in sub-regional cooperation, particularly in the trilateral cooperation model between Vietnam and neighbouring Laos and Cambodia in the application of nuclear science and technology in economic-technological sectors, he stressed.

The IAEA Deputy Director General also pledged to help Vietnam optimise nuclear technology in smart agriculture.

For his part, Quang thanked the IAEA for its support to Vietnam over the past years through both bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, elaborating that in the 2018-2023 period alone, the agency directly assisted the country in 17 national projects with total funding of nearly 3 million EUR (3.26 million USD).

The Deputy PM lauded Hua’s efforts in accelerating the signing of the cooperation framework programme between Vietnam and the IAEA for 2022-2027, and his support to Vietnam in amending the Law on Atomic Energy.

Quang called on the IAEA to further its cooperation with Vietnam, especially in policy making and personnel training in atomic energy.

Vietnam commits to fulfilling its obligations and contributing responsibly to international treaties to which it is a signatory, especially those related to safety and security control, the fight against illegal trafficking and transportation of radioactive substances and nuclear materials, and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, he affirmed.

The official noted that Vietnam always backs the IAEA's central and leading role in shaping standards and frameworks for nuclear safety and security, especially emerging nuclear technologies./.

Kien Giang strengthens anti-IUU fishing communication campaigns

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang will continue cooperating with the High Command of the Coast Guard Region 4 to enhance communications work to raise fishermen’s awareness about the fight against the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Under a cooperation programme for 2024 and 2025 signed between the provincial Party Committee’s information and education board and the coast guard force at a conference on March 21, both sides will focus on popularising the Party’s guidelines and State’s policies and regulations, agreements that Vietnam has clinched with competent countries, and Kien Giang’s documents on sea and islands.

Besides, regulations on the protection and sustainable development of aquatic resources, Vietnam’s legitimate rights at sea in accordance with international law and the achievements that the country has carved out to remove the European Union (EC)’s “yellow card” will be brought closer to local people.

They will enhance communication work on the role and potential of sea and islands to the national construction and protection, strategy on sustainable development of the blue economy in tandem with national defence and security.

In the meantime, the two sides will encourage the coast guard officers to overcome challenges to protect the national sovereignty over sea and islands and maintain peace and stability in the southwestern waters. They will also work to fight against wrongful and hostile views on the East Sea issue and the relationship between Vietnam and relevant countries.  

According to head of the information and education board Nguyen Thanh Phong, the communication campaign between the two sides has paid off over the past years, helping reduce the number of fishing vessels infringing on foreign waters. In 2020, there were 43 violating cases while the figure was brought down to 16 in 2023.

Located in the southwestern region, Kien Giang has a coastline of 200 kilometres, 143 small and large islands, and a sea area of more than 63,000 square kilometres./.

Dong Nai eyes 10,000 units of social housing by 2025

The southern province of Dong Nai targets some 10,000 units of social housing built by 2025, the provincial Department of Construction said at a meeting on March 21.

To date, the provincial People’s Committee has given in principle approval to five projects with some 9,000 apartments.

In 2024, the province will begin construction on the projects and complete more than 710 units of social housing, it said, adding seven others will be kicked off while nearly 980 units will be accomplished in 2025.

Acting Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Tan Duc said over 1,000 hectares of land have been set aside for social housing while localities have proposed to develop 12 projects. However, sluggish legal procedures regarding bidding as well as investment policy appraisal and adjustment have affected construction progress.

The Department of Planning and Investment is responsible for the issue, he stated, asking localities to work with competent departments and agencies to complete bidding procedures and kickstart construction for the approved projects.

Besides, the Department of Planning and Investment must support investors to complete project adjustment procedures so that they can carry out social housing projects soon.

Dong Nai is now home to 31 industrial parks, attracting investments from 44 countries and territories. Some 400,000 workers are in need of social houses while the figure by 2025 is 450,000./.

WB's 51.5-million-USD payment helping Vietnam reduce emissions

Vietnam has received a 51.5-million-USD payment for verified emissions reductions (carbon credits) for reducing deforestation and forest degradation (commonly known as REDD ) and for enhancing carbon stored in forests through reforestation and afforestation.

This makes Vietnam the first country in the East Asia-Pacific to receive a results-based payment from the World Bank (WB)’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).

The payment was made to Vietnam for reducing 10.3 million tonnes of carbon emissions between February 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019. It is the largest single payment to date made by the FCPF for verified and high integrity carbon credits.

The payment will benefit 70,055 forest owners and 1,356 communities near the forests, to be distributed according to a robust benefit sharing plan designed through a consultative, participatory, and transparent process.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan said Vietnam is already generating emission reductions in excess of the volume contracted with the FCPF, and can sell the credits to third party buyers through bilateral agreements or carbon markets.

The success of this REDD programme brings Vietnam closer to delivering on its ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, while protecting areas of vital importance to biodiversity conservation, he added.

According to WB Country Director for Vietnam Carolyn Turk, this landmark payment marks another step for Vietnam towards joining the global carbon credit market and opens a new opportunity to finance the Southeast Asian country’s ambitious climate commitments and targets.

Vietnam’s emission reduction programme protects most of the country’s tropical forests, covering 3.1 million out of the 5.1 million hectares of land in the programme area. These forests are of significant ecological importance, encompassing five internationally recognised conservation corridors. The area is also home to 12% of Vietnam’s population, including 13 ethnic minority groups and many forest-dependent communities.

Through improved forest management, investment in the forest sector, and enhancement of agricultural policies, the programme is increasing both the extent and quality of forest cover in collaboration with local communities.

The FCPF is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples' organisations focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, activities commonly referred to as REDD . Launched in 2008, the FCPF has worked with 47 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, along with 17 donors that have made contributions and commitments totaling 1.3 billion USD./.

United actions, balance crucial to ensure sustainable water resources use: Official

Amid climate change impacts and global population growth, countries must stay united and act together to balance human rights and people's needs for water resources as well as balance in benefits from water resources for countries using the same water sources, stated Nguyen Minh Khuyen, Vice Director of the Department of Water Resources Management under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In an interview to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the World Water Day 2024 (Mach 22), Khuyen cited a report from the UN-Water showing that currently, more than 3 billion people worldwide are depending on transboundary water sources.

Without solidarity and fairness, water can be a cause of conflict when the interests of users are different and cannot be reconciled or when the quantity and quality of water decreases, which can affect human health and ecosystems, the official held, underlining the risks for water resources to become a weapon or a target of conflicts.

For Vietnam, a country that has 3,450 rivers and streams with a length of 10 km or more, of which 405 are inter-provincial, including cross-border rivers, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation and sharing in the process of exploiting transnational water sources on cross-border rivers such as the Mekong River, Red River, Ma River, Se San River, and Srepork River, Khuyen underlined.

He noted that Vietnam was the first ASEAN member to join the Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses in 2014, becoming the 35th member of the convention and enabling it to become effective after 17 years of approval.

The engagement in the convention has provided Vietnam with a favourable legal basis to negotiate and sign bilateral and multilateral agreements with countries sharing common water sources on cooperation in resolving disputes and disagreements and handling issues related to transnational water resources, especially in the context that Vietnam depends on the exploitation, use and protection of water resources of upstream countries, he said.

The official said that in order to prepare for the Natural Resources Law to become effective from July 1, 2024, the Department of Water Resources Management is working to build documents detailing the implementation of the law, a plan for the realisation of the law, and other documents specifying contents of the law.

The department has conducted activities to popularise the law, while focusing on building the national water resources database to meet requirements of the national digital transformation programme.

It has also built water resources scenarios to serve as a foundation for ministries, sectors, and localities to build their own water use plans, he said.

Khuyen said that the department will speed up the restoration of degraded, depleted, and polluted water sources on a pilot basis for Bac Hung Hai, Nhue, Day, and Ngu Huyen Khue rivers.

Along with closely monitoring the water resources, the department will promote international cooperation in the field, the official added./.

Website supplies comprehensive information about Dien Bien Phu Victory

A special website supplying information about the historical military campaign Dien Bien Phu that led to the world-shaking victory of the Vietnamese army over French colonial forces in 1954 has been launched by Nhan Dan (The People) newspaper.

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the glorious victory (May 7, 2024), the website https://dienbienphu.nhandan.vn/ wants to recreate the grandeur of the victory that "resonated across five continents", and analyse the insightful political and military strategies of the Party, led by President Ho Chi Minh.

Editor-in-chief of Nhan Dan newspaper Le Quoc Minh said that the special website has been created “as a deep gratitude sent to the generations of our fathers and grandfathers who devoted their lives and blood for the nation’s independence and freedom”.

Minh has also emphasised that the website is a useful platform supplying information about the campaign in a complete, comprehensive and creative way.

The website offers a vast digitalised collection of printed newspapers published during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954, as well as valuable books and documents. Readers can explore authentic articles and original writings that have been presented in the form of a multimedia e-magazine.

The entire progress of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign lasting 56 days and nights, from March 13, 1954 to May 7, 1954, has been represented in the form of 56 diary entries. Each entry covers the progress that occurred at the Dien Bien Phu frontline and at other fronts and localities across the country related to the Dien Bien Phu battle, logistics operations and diplomatic struggle.

Together with the ‘Campaign Diary’, the page also includes report stories, comments, analysis and interviews with historical witnesses about military art and logistics, and about the courage and sacrifice of Vietnamese soldiers.

Alongside Vietnamese language, the website is also available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian./.

Cuc Phuong national park strives to promote ecotourism

Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh on March 21 held a consultation conference to collect opinions on its plan for developing ecotourism in the 2023-2030 period and to introduce a set of mascots for the run Jungle Paths 2024.

Under the plan proposed by the national park, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation are considered the most important tasks of the park and the central point to develop tourism services and environmental education on the park’s biodiversity, wildlife, and endemic species.

The proposed plan also includes measures to promote cultural and historical values to diversify tourism products and experiences.

Speaking at the conference, Director Nguyen Van Chinh said that the park, established in 1962, is the first national park in Vietnam that has successfully provided tourism services with programmes and products promoting forest values.

However, new social contexts and trends require concerted access to ecotourism products, nature-experiencing activities, indigenous community culture, and environmental protection messages.

Director of the Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Chinh Nghia said that Cuc Phuong National Park has been well coordinated with the local community, particularly those living in the buffer zone in forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and tourism development.

He emphasised that it is necessary to minimise the impacts of tourism activities on the ecosystem and the wildlife in the park and ensure balance and harmony between tourism development and environmental conservation.

Also at the conference, the park launched the set of mascots used in the Jungle Paths 2024 Run, which are stylised images of wildlife animals including keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii), Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Cuc Phuong red-bellied squirrel, white-rumped langur, and clouded leopard./.

Cultural exchange strengthens Vietnam-Japan friendship

The Japan-Vietnam Support Association on March 22 organised a musical programme “Que Huong” (Homeland) Programme 2024 in Higashi Osaka city, Kansai region, attracting about 1,000 Vietnamese and Japanese people.

Singers from Vietnam and Vietnamese people living in Kansai performed at the event. Notably, Vietnamese singers sang a popular Vietnamese song “Diem xua” by famous composer Trinh Cong Son in Japanese and a well-known Japanese song titled “Sukiyaki”.

Speaking at the event, Mayor of Higashi Osaka city Noda Yoshikazu said that cultural exchange activities between Vietnam and Japan like the music programme can help tighten the friendship between the two countries. He hoped that more Vietnamese people will come to live and work in the city.

Consul General of Vietnam in Osaka Nguyen Minh Son said that the event is of great significance to the Vietnamese community in the Kansai region because few major cultural events have been held for the Vietnamese community in the region.

Son expressed his thanks to the event organisers and sponsors for their efforts to bring a spiritual gift to Vietnamese people living far from home and create an opportunity to unite the community.

The second edition of the event is slated for January next year, making it an annual event to tighten the friendship between Vietnamese and Japanese people in the Kansai region./.

Young man in Nha Trang contracts avian influenza

A 21-year-old male student in Nha Trang City in the southern central province of Khanh Hoa has tested positive for the avian influenza A (H5) virus.

According to Doctor Ton Thanh Toan, deputy director of Khanh Hoa’s Centre for Disease Control, on March 11, he had a fever and cough. He took some medicine but did not improve.He then visited Ninh Hoa Town Health Centre for a medical check-up and was diagnosed with acute pharyngitis accompanied by monitoring for dengue fever.

On March 16, his condition worsened and he was taken to Ninh Hoa General Hospital. He was diagnosed with intestinal infection and septicemia with warning signs.

One day later, due to his deteriorating health, the patient was transferred to Khanh Hoa General Hospital. The hospital sent his samples to the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang for testing. On March 20, it was diagnosed that he had contracted the avian influenza A (H5) virus.

As many as 20 medical staff members had contact with the patient who continues to be monitored.

The room at Nha Trang University’s dormitory where the student lived has been sterilised with Chloramine B.

The local health sector is investigating the cause of the infection.

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