Ho Chi Minh City has less time left for the city's preparation of waste treatment as per the new Environmental Protection Law.

According to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, from January 1, 2025, localities must classify waste at source and invest heavily in recycling and reusing waste effectively. Thus, only 3 more quarters are left to prepare for this important task, but the southern largest city has not done all.

Unlike many other localities across the country, Ho Chi Minh City has a big team of waste collectors. According to Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Thanh My of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, binmen of private garbage men play an important role in collecting garbage and ensuring environmental hygiene for the city as they collect up to 60 percent of the volume of household waste generated from daily activities in the city.

To improve the quality of collection activities, the city has lately encouraged households and trashmen to form cooperatives or businesses with legal status and transform into cooperatives. Moreover, the city has asked garbage collectors to change old collecting vehicles at source such as tricycles, and homemade vans that only have 1 garbage compartment (cannot contain classified garbage) to new ones that ensure environmental standards.

Statistics from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City show that up to now, Thu Duc City and 20/21 districts have been successful in transforming private waste collection forces into cooperatives or companies.

From 2021 up to now, Thu Duc City People's Committee and districts have reviewed and converted 1,897 vehicles to collect and transport household waste. Through updating local reports, the total number of existing collection vehicles in the city is 6,414 including substandard 2,378 vehicles accounting for 37 percent.

According to the estimate, about VND 228.89 billion is needed to convert 1,883 substandard waste vehicles into new ones.

A representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Tan district said that the city has not yet issued a plan to classify waste according to new criteria, so it has not assigned units to equip 2-compartment vehicles.

A representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Chanh outlying district said that because there is no general vehicle design for garbage collection vehicles in small alleys, the Department did not know how to equip it.

Talking about the design of 2-compartment vehicles, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh My added that the use of garbage collection vehicles with 1-compartment or 2-compartment bins depends on the purpose of the collection units which must think how to do it.

In a move to transform waste management for a better quality of life, the Environmental Protection Fund has a supporting policy to provide 70 percent-80 percent of loan capital to units which want to convert old collection vehicles into new ones. However, waste collectors must have a mortgage on their homes, land, or property to borrow a bank loan. Trashmen with a current average income of about VND5 million a month don’t have assets to mortgage.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has two domestic waste recycling services markets, including the informal market and the official market. The informal recycling market is mainly small establishments, specializing in recycling scraps such as paper, plastic, metal, and glass. Most recycling facilities are located in districts 5, 11, Binh Tan, and Binh Chanh district.

In general, private recycling facilities of this type have outdated technology and often do not ensure environmental hygiene during recycling operations, affecting the health of workers and the surrounding community. The official market is mainly recycling enterprises licensed to operate according to regulations.

Vietstar Company's household waste recycling plant in the Tay Bac Solid Waste Treatment Complex in Cu Chi District has invested in a processing line and after being collected by trucks, the waste will be put into storage, then pressed dry.

All garbage trucks before and after entering and leaving the factory are sprayed with clean water. When processing, waste is transferred to the line and automatically classified (metal into metal, plastic into plastic, separate food), then will be forwarded to other lines for processing such as cutting, mixing, and grinding. All stages are closed by machinery.

According to General Director Ngo Nhu Hung Viet of Vietstar Joint Stock Company, Vietstar is receiving and processing about 2,000 tons of household waste per day. Vietstar's compost fertilizer has been used on a large scale in the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta.

In addition, the company's recycled organic fertilizer products are also exported to Thailand. A representative of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Environment Company Limited also said that the company is currently implementing a project to recycle non-hazardous medical plastic waste into reusable plastic pellets. The recycling workshop is located at the Go Cat waste treatment site in Binh Tan District, with a capacity of about 2 tons/day. Non-hazardous medical plastic waste is collected and transported to the Go Cat recycling factory.

General Director Truong Kien Dung of Moc An Chau Company, said that the company has invested and built an industrial solid waste treatment and recycling plant with a capacity of 500 tons per day. The plant will treat 313 tons of garbage a day in the first phase.

HCM City honours 80 artists, artisans with titles

HCM City has conferred the titles of People’s Artist on 25 people, Meritorious Artist on 40 others, People’s Artisans on three, and Meritorious Artisans on 12.

A ceremony to present them was held on Thursday (March 28) with the attendance of Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Nguyễn Văn Nên, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Văn Mãi, Chairwoman of the People’s Council Nguyễn Thị Lệ and a number of artists.

Mãi said the city has always honoured artisans and artists who have talent or have made outstanding long-term contributions to Vietnamese culture.

He hoped the artists would actively take part in an art contest to be held to mark the 50th anniversary of the south’s liberation and national reunification (April 30, 2025).

Earlier, on March 6, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a ceremony in Hà Nội to award People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles.

The titles aim to recognise artists’ dedication and contributions to developing Việt Nam’s traditional cultural values. 

Tuấn wins ONE Championship debut, ending Việt Nam’s winning drought

Trần Quốc Tuấn ended Việt Nam's winning drought at the ONE Championship series with a technical knockout win on March 29 night in Bangkok, Thailand.

It was a brilliant victory of the Vietnamese fight after he floored Japanese rival Yuya Jonishi in the men's 69kg category of the ONE Friday Fights 57 in his first time taking part in the world largest martial arts competition.

Despite a under-card match, Tuấn's impressive win strongly persuaded organisers to give him a “Fight of The Night” award at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. 

Having not much information of his rival who totally competed in home town, Tuấn tried to send him heavy punches from beginning of the first round.

Only 80 seconds after the start, he made Jonishi down on the floor for the first time. Jonishi could stand up and continue fighting immediately. But only about 20 seconds later, he found himself on the floor again.

It seemed to be an easy ONE Championship debut for Tuấn but Jonishi was not an easy rival. He fought back strongly and after a series of heavy head shots he made Tuấn sat down on the floor in the second round.

In the early time of the third round, Tuấn caught Jonishi's leg and delivered powerful blows which made the Japanese collapsed for the third time.

Recognising that Jonishi was exhausted the WBC Muay Thai Việt Nam champion quickly approached and gave him series of head and body shots and knees.

After his fourth time on the floor, the main referee decided to end the match, giving Tuấn a technical knockout win at the 55th second of the third round.

It was Tuấn's first victory at the ONE Championship and also first of Việt Nam after four years.

The latest winning was by world muay thai champion Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất who beat Yuta Watanabe of Japan at the ONE Championship: Edge of Greatness in 2019. 

After his successful debut, Tuấn received a bonus of THB 350,000 (US$9,600) from ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong for the best fight of the night.

He is the first Vietnamese earning this valuable prize in history. 

Tuấn, 29, is the national championship silver medallist. He is an athlete of Shadow Entertainment and is training at the national leading Saigon Sports Club (SSC) under coach Nguyễn Kế Nhơn, national elite muay thai fighter who was the first Vietnamese to win the WBC Muay Thai belt. 

HCMC makes planning for construction of underground parking lots

Regarding the difficulties and hiccups along the underground parking projects in Ho Chi Minh City, on the afternoon of March 27, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Office said that the municipal People's Committee assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to coordinate with other departments and relevant units review legal issues related to granting investment certificates to investors.

Furthermore, these above-mentioned departments and agencies must report to the City People's Committee on how to eliminate old legal procedures related to investment in underground parking projects in the city.

Under the city authorities’ instructions, the City Department of Planning and Architecture ought to work with Dong Duong Company to unify the project's planning criteria, difficulties and obstacles related to architectural planning plans for the underground parking project at Trong Dong Stage and report to the City People's Committee for new guidance.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice must liaise with the Department of Planning and Investment to review and guide the procedures for terminating project contracts ahead of schedule with investors of the underground parking lot project at Le Van Tam Park. The Department has to submit the results to the City People's Committee.

After the city revokes an investment project, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment should consider legal procedures related to the project's land.

The municipal People's Committee assigned the City Department of Construction to urgently make the planning of construction sites for underground parking lots and report to the City People's Committee on investment plans to build underground parking lots. Moreover, the Department should develop appropriate policies to call for foreign investment in the underground parking lot construction project.

Previously, on March 6, SGGP Newspaper had an article titled Awaiting a ‘push’ for parking lots in the city center. According to the newspaper article, Ho Chi Minh City planned to build four underground parking lots in the downtown area to meet its enormous demand for parking vehicles, but a decade on, parking lot projects remained on paper as none is likely to be built.

Currently, three of them have been temporarily haltered to wait for a new, more feasible policy.

HCMC Beltway 3 project lags behind schedule

The Tan Van-Nhon Trach section of the HCMC Beltway 3 project is experiencing delays due to problems with land clearance and material sourcing, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Following a review led by Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan, the ministry issued directives highlighting concerns about Phase 1A of the project’s implementation and urging prompt action from investors and contractors to meet deadlines.

The assessment by the My Thuan Project Management Board showed that overall construction progress stands at 43%, 10.8 percentage points lower than the planned schedule. While Package CW1 has achieved nearly 64% of its targets, Package CW2 lags at just over 12%, mainly due to delays in land clearance and shortages of essential construction materials like sand.

To expedite the project, the ministry demands a comprehensive adjustment of construction schedules for Package CW1, emphasizing adherence to the April 30, 2025 completion deadline set by the prime minister. Measures must include allowances for contingencies such as weather disruptions and material supply issues.

For Package CW2, contractors are instructed to mobilize sufficient machinery and manpower immediately, focusing on areas where land clearance has been completed and ensuring a timely and legal supply of sand materials. Contractors must also prioritize addressing weak soil sections to minimize potential delays.

The My Thuan Project Management Board is urged to collaborate with Nhon Trach District authorities on land clearance and relocation of technical infrastructure to meet the March 31 deadline for land handover.

The eight-kilometer section of Beltway 3 from Tan Van to Nhon Trach passes through Dong Nai Province (over six kilometers) and HCMC (nearly two kilometers). Its starting point intersects with Road 25B in Nhon Trach, Dong Nai Province, while the endpoint connects with the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway.

Designed with a roadbed width ranging from 20.5 to 26 meters, the road comprises four lanes for motor vehicles and two lanes for mixed traffic, with a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour.

The project needs VND6,955 billion, which is sourced from official development assistance (ODA) loans from South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund and reciprocal funding from Vietnam’s Government.

Construction work started in September 2022 and is scheduled for completion by September 2025.

Vietnam spends over US$32 million on rabies vaccine, anti-rabies serum

Vietnam spends about VND800 billion (US$32,314,933) on rabies vaccine and anti-rabies serum,  said Director Hoang Minh Duc of the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health.

Director Hoang Minh Duc revealed the information at a virtual meeting organized by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on strengthening the prevention and control of diseases transmitted from animals to humans in 2024.

At the conference, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong stated that in recent years, thanks to the close coordination between the health sector and the agricultural sector, along with the participation of authorities at all levels, zoonotic diseases transmitting from animals to humans have been basically controlled.

However, from 2022 until now, some diseases such as bird flu and rabies have increased again. No case of bird flu was reported in more than 8 years; however, from 2022 to now, 2 cases have been recorded including 1 death over the weekend in Khanh Hoa Province.

Along with that, rabies recorded a very high number of deaths up to 100 percent. For instance, there were 82 deaths in 2023 while in the first 3 months of 2024 alone, 27 people died from rabies, an increase of 16 cases compared to the same period last year.

Talking more about the evolution of animal pathogens into human pathogens, Director Hoang Minh Duc said that up to 75 percent of dangerous and emerging diseases are diseases transmitted from animals to humans or having genetic origins from animal diseases. In Vietnam, five zoonotic diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, rabies, anthrax, streptococcus and jaundice are high on the list of priority for prevention.

Among these epidemics, rabies is on the rise and is very complicated. In just the first 3 months of this year, 16/63 provinces and cities had cases of rabies in humans, with 27 deaths. The Central region has the highest number of deaths (9 cases). In the South, the number of people receiving vaccines against rabies is the highest in the country (143,000 people).

According to Mr. Hoang Minh Duc, rabies not only causes high mortality in humans but also causes heavy economic losses. Statistically, each year, Vietnam spends about VND 800 billion on rabies vaccine and anti-rabies serum, not to mention the cost of treating wounds caused by dogs and cats.

Mr. Duc added that the majority of people who succumbed to rabies are not vaccinated because they didn’t view rabies with caution and they have difficulty in accessing vaccines, especially the poor and people in remote areas because the price of rabies vaccination is quite expensive from VND1,2 million to VND1,5 million a dose.

In addition, foreign companies reduce the supply of rabies vaccines because of low profits, so there is a shortage of vaccines at some times.

The Prime Minister has just issued a telegram requesting increased strict handling of violations of legal regulations in raising and managing dogs and cats. This includes a request to investigate, prosecute, and resolutely handle cases of violators in raising and managing dogs and cats leading to serious consequences.

At the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien emphasized that localities strictly implement the PM’s instructions.

Schools in HCMC face difficulties in mobilizing revenue sources

Currently, besides tuition fees, schools are also in need of several expenses for educational support services and activities. However, many schools in HCMC are struggling to mobilize revenue sources.

Although there are documents issued by the management authorities regarding regulations and instruction on schools’ financial activities in every academic year, many schools in HCMC still struggle to allocate revenue sources and implement fundraising projects, leading to suspicion and even negative reactions from parents.

In the academic year of 2023-2024, some schools such as Thoi Thanh Primary School and Dang Thuc Vinh Secondary School in Hoc Mon District have decided not to collect operation fees from the school’s Parent Representatives Committee and also do not implement any fundraising plans. When funds are needed for activities, the parent representatives voluntarily contribute their own money to support the school. For instance, in a recent cultural event held in Dang Thuc Vinh Secondary School, parents happened to notice a lack of equipment while passing by the stage, so they suggested providing support.

According to the Principal of Dang Thuc Vinh Secondary School, Mr. Tran Cong Nghia, the school has been following this approach for many years as they hesitates to actively seek funding due to past instances in which parents complained about contributions. They questioned why some students paid while others did not, despite studying in the same class and participating in the same activities.

On the other hand, some schools choose a different way. At the beginning of school year 2023-2024, Vo Truong Toan Secondary School in district 1 implemented a fundraising plan of VND268 million (US$10,809) approved by the Division of Education and Training of District 1. According to the school’s Principal, Ms. Nguyen Thi My Hanh, until the middle of the second semester, they have mobilized VND199 million (US$8,030). The contribution list includes 1,415 out of 1,428 parents participating, with the highest contribution being VND1 million (US$40.35) and the lowest being VND50,000 (US$2.02).

Mr. Cao Thanh Binh, Head of the Culture and Society Committee (HCMC People's Council), said: "The participation rate in the entire the schools was almost absolute. All these contributions are based on voluntary spirit, but it will create pressure on parents if implemented extensively, which is not in line with the actual purpose and significance of mobilization."

Vo Truong Toan High School in district 12 also imposed a fundraising plan of VND400 million (US$16,140), approved by the Department of Education and Training of HCMC, to mobilize funding for two categories: repairing and replacing TVs and equipping sunshades for classrooms. However, by the end of the first semester, the school has mobilized VND140 million (US$5,649), with a participation rate of less than 50 percent of the student number. Therefore, they will equip sunshades for classrooms first because of the scorching hot weather in HCMC these days. Regarding the purchase of TVs, since there are not enough funds, they will continue to mobilize and implement this in the second semester.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Tu, Deputy Head of the University Education Department, International University (National University of Ho Chi Minh City), expressed: "In the context of limited budgets, education requires the collective effort of parents. To prevent financial activities in schools from being corrupted and to maximize their effectiveness, regulatory agencies have issued many guidelines, but each place implements them differently."

Mr. Cao Thanh Binh, Head of the Culture - Society Committee under Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, explained that every school needs a common fund for its activities, and the key is how schools manage and operate it to gain parents’ trust and agreement.

Circular 16 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on August 3, 2018 regulating sponsorship for educational institutions under the national education system is a legal basis for schools to implement sponsorship campaigns during the academic year. Sponsorship must adhere to the principles of voluntariness and transparency, without setting average or minimum sponsorship amounts or treating sponsorship as a condition for providing educational services.

However, some schools opt to use funds from the operating budget of the class’s Parent Representatives Committee instead of launching an official sponsorship campaign. This is against the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, as the operating fees within classes cannot be used to purchase equipment for classrooms, Mr. Cao Thanh Binh added.

From a management perspective, according to Mr. Tran Khac Huy, Head of the Financial Planning Division under Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, contributions from parents are such valuable resources that should not be overlooked. Current regulations do not prohibit schools from receiving financial support from parents, but there needs to be a clear plan that is implemented with transparency and approval of the authorities.

In addition, representatives from the Department of Education and Training emphasized that when implementing sponsorship campaigns, schools should not compete for revenue achievements between classes and should not create pressure on parents and homeroom teachers. Sharing about the purpose and significance of the fundraising projects to parents is key for schools to gain support from them. Moreover, schools should also avoid engaging in improper practices due to concerns about public opinion on this.

To cut down revenue sources, many schools in HCMC equip classrooms with air conditioners through the form of parents “lending" or donating them. After 3-5 school years (depending on the grade level), the school will ask for opinion of the Parent Representatives Committee of the class on whether parents want to reclaim those facilities or donate them to the school so that they can be used in the next school years.

A representative from the city’s Department of Education and Training stated that schools are public non-business units. When installing, equipping, or receiving valuable assets, the school must have a receipt or property transfer document according to the regulations, and there should not be any situation where items are installed or removed without proper management.

Nguyen Thuy Linh's prospects for Spain Masters 2024 quarterfinals

Nguyen Thuy Linh secured her first victory in the women's singles category at the Madrid Spain Masters 2024.

On the evening of March 27 (Vietnam time), Nguyen Thuy Linh entered the fray at the Madrid Spain Masters 2024. This tournament is part of the BWF World Tour Super 300, with Nguyen Thuy Linh seeded 8th in the women's singles.

In her inaugural match of the women's singles event, Nguyen Thuy Linh faced off against Tiffany Ho. Facing a lower-rated opponent, Linh encountered little difficulty in clinching victory. After just 25 minutes on the court, Thuy Linh dominated her opponent, winning with a score of 2-0 (21-10, 21-9).

In the second-round match, Linh will once again meet with her familiar rival, Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo from Indonesia. The two players recently competed against each other at the 2024 Swiss Open, where Nguyen Thuy Linh emerged victorious with a score of 2-1. According to the latest world rankings, Nguyen Thuy Linh holds the 21st position, while Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo is ranked 38th. If Linh secures a win against her opponent, she will advance to the quarterfinals of the Madrid Spain Masters 2024.

The badminton tournament in Spain is the last stop in Nguyen Thuy Linh's current European competition tour. Presently, she and the Vietnamese badminton team are making efforts to enhance their performance to guarantee an official berth for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as aiming for a seeded position in the draw.

The Madrid Spain Masters 2024 will last until March 31.

Bình Phước farmers enjoy bumper pepper harvest, high prices

Pepper farmers in Bình Phước Province are enjoying a bumper harvest and high selling prices this year.

The southeast province, which is one of the country’s largest pepper producers, is at the end of this year’s pepper harvest season and has seen higher yields compared to last year.

It has about 13,550ha of pepper, mostly in Bù Đốp, Lộc Ninh, Bù Gia Mập and Hớn Quản districts.

Huỳnh Thị Kim Phượng has a 2ha orchard in Bù Đốp District and has harvested about 4 tonnes of pepper this year compared to 2 tonnes last year because of better weather conditions this year.

Her pepper is grown under organic methods and has a guaranteed buyer.  

Her pepper is purchased at a price of VNĐ105,000 (US$4.2) a kg this year compared to VNĐ70,000 ($2.8) last year, she said.

“This year, households who still have large pepper growing area are very glad,” she said.

In recent years, pepper growing areas in the province have declined because of falling prices, and many farmers have not invested in tending their pepper well. 

Farmers are now selling pepper at an average price of VNĐ100,000 ($4) a kg, the highest in the past five years, according to farmers.

The increase of pepper prices this year will make many farmers expand pepper cultivation, and local authorities have warned them not to grow the spice in areas not zoned for it.

Nguyễn Văn Bắc, director of the Bù Đốp District Agriculture Services Centre, said the price of pepper was low in past years, farmers did not tend pepper plants properly, and thus they did not grow well and had low yields.

As prices increase, pepper growing households will invest in tending their existing pepper plants or grow new ones, he said.

Trần Văn Thành, head of the Bù Đốp District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, has warned farmers should grow pepper under the district’s plan and in zoned areas.

The cultivation of pepper should match with soil conditions, and the application of advanced farming techniques for sustainable pepper cultivation is necessary, he said.

To increase the value of pepper, farmers should grow them under organic methods, he said.

Harvested pepper should be preserved properly and processed deeply to produce high quality pepper products, he said.

More farmers in Bình Phước have planted pepper under clean and organic farming and have stable incomes and buyers in recent years.

Võ Ngọc Quế in Bù Đốp District’s Hưng Phước Commune has planted his 5ha pepper orchard under organic farming and gets higher yields.

Pepper planted under the method has a survival rate of 95 per cent and its value is 20-30 per cent higher than pepper under traditional farming methods, Quế said.

His organic pepper was recognised as a four-star product under the country’s “One Commune-One Product” programme in 2022.

In Bù Đăng District, Thống Nhất Commune established its Clean Pepper Co-operative in 2021 with the participation of 20 farmers to grow organic pepper.

Hoàng Văn Đình, chairman of the Thống Nhất Commune Farmers Association, said the association encouraged local farmers to set up the co-operative to stabilise their production.

The co-operative is linked with a company to grow pepper under organic methods and guarantees buyers for its pepper, he said.

In Lộc Ninh District, which has the largest pepper growing area in the province, farmers have set up 24 co-operatives to grow clean pepper. 

These co-operatives have a total of 604 members who grow 645ha and produce more than 1,170 tonnes of clean pepper a year.

Hồ Quang Khánh, deputy chairman of the Lộc Ninh District People’s Committee, said the district has developed clean pepper co-operatives since 2013, while their members have applied advanced farming techniques and reduced the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

The clean farming method helps to expand the market of the district’s pepper, he said. 

National stars shine at TD Pool Master League

The country's best pool players have gathered in Hà Nội for a special edition TD Pool Master League 2024 opening on March 29 in Hà Nội.

Eight players are selected to take part in the tournament based on their outstanding performance that have not only contributed to push the national sport's movement but also promote the Vietnamese players' power to the world.

Đỗ Hoàng Quân has secured local and international medals since 2006.

In his collection are national and SEA Games' golds, Indoor Games silver and World Cup bronze.

Lương Chí Dũng dominated national championships with five gold and topped the regional SEA Games in 2009. He also won a bronze at the World Cup of Pool.

Nguyễn Phúc Long was twice won national championships and came second at a National Sports Games (NSG). He also won one gold, one silver and one bronze from three SEA Games.

Nguyễn Anh Tuấn lured his fans with eight national championship titles four others at the NSG, and one silver and three bronzes from SEA Games.

Đặng Thành Kiên was on national championship podiums twice and triumphed at the NSG once before winning a SEA Games bronze in 2013.

National five-time champion Đỗ Thế Kiên won NSG twice. He also pocketed two silvers and one bronze from the regional SEA Games.

Phạm Phương Nam made the list after having one gold, one silver and one bronze from the national championship and a second-finish at a Beijing Open event in 2019.

Dương Quốc Hoàng earned four national championship titles, one SEA Games silver. He advanced to the quarter-finals of the World Pool Championship 2023 and semi-finals at the Alfa Las Vegas 2023event.

At the nine-pool tournament, players will compete in the Swiss chess format, which is held for the first time in Việt Nam.

A total prize fund bonus of VNĐ500 million (US$20,200) is the biggest ever available in the country in pool. The winner will pocket VNĐ250 million along with a valuable gift from sponsors AO Smith and five-star Citadines Hạ Long Hotel.

"TD Pool Master League 2024 is expected to bring a truly unique tournament, making a contribution to the development of the domestic pool industry, " said Dương Mạnh Tiến, head of organising board.

"Players have the opportunity to interact and sharpen their skills and strengthen their mentality in the international arena, as well as push Vietnamese billiards to reach the world level."

The event is organised by TD Billiards Club and Vietcontent, a leading producer and distributor of entertainment and sports in Việt Nam.

Tuấn wins ONE Championship debut, ending Việt Nam’s winning drought

Trần Quốc Tuấn ended Việt Nam's winning drought at the ONE Championship series with a technical knockout win on March 29 night in Bangkok, Thailand.

It was a brilliant victory of the Vietnamese fight after he floored Japanese rival Yuya Jonishi in the men's 69kg category of the ONE Friday Fights 57 in his first time taking part in the world largest martial arts competition.

Despite a under-card match, Tuấn's impressive win strongly persuaded organisers to give him a “Fight of The Night” award at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. 

Having not much information of his rival who totally competed in home town, Tuấn tried to send him heavy punches from beginning of the first round.

Only 80 seconds after the start, he made Jonishi down on the floor for the first time. Jonishi could stand up and continue fighting immediately. But only about 20 seconds later, he found himself on the floor again.

It seemed to be an easy ONE Championship debut for Tuấn but Jonishi was not an easy rival. He fought back strongly and after a series of heavy head shots he made Tuấn sat down on the floor in the second round.

In the early time of the third round, Tuấn caught Jonishi's leg and delivered powerful blows which made the Japanese collapsed for the third time.

Recognising that Jonishi was exhausted the WBC Muay Thai Việt Nam champion quickly approached and gave him series of head and body shots and knees.

After his fourth time on the floor, the main referee decided to end the match, giving Tuấn a technical knockout win at the 55th second of the third round.

It was Tuấn's first victory at the ONE Championship and also first of Việt Nam after four years.

The latest winning was by world muay thai champion Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất who beat Yuta Watanabe of Japan at the ONE Championship: Edge of Greatness in 2019. 

After his successful debut, Tuấn received a bonus of THB 350,000 (US$9,600) from ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong for the best fight of the night.

He is the first Vietnamese earning this valuable prize in history. 

Tuấn, 29, is the national championship silver medallist. He is an athlete of Shadow Entertainment and is training at the national leading Saigon Sports Club (SSC) under coach Nguyễn Kế Nhơn, national elite muay thai fighter who was the first Vietnamese to win the WBC Muay Thai belt.

LION Championship back with aggressive fights

The nation's largest mixed martial arts series, the LION Championship (LC), will be back in action with 12 thrilling fights on April 13 at the Rạch Miễu Gymnasium in HCM City.

The LC 12 will be the opener of a 10-event series to be held throughout the year in different localities.

There are 24 martial artists competing in 12 bouts, divided into class A and B.

The main card will feature class A men's 60kg fight between Trần Ngọc Lượng and Bùi Trường Sinh.

Lượng is former national jujitsu fighter who won an Asian silver medal, while Sinh is one of the talented athletes under Johnny Trí Nguyễn, a Vietnamese-American actor, martial artist, action choreographer and stuntman.

Lượng was promoted from class B to A last season where he secured two impressive wins at the LC 06 and LC 07. He is currently the No 5 athlete in the LC's 60kg category.

Sinh ended the 2023 season with a knockout win in the LC 05 and a defeat in the LC 11. He is No 1 player in this weight class.

The winner of this match will face reigning champion Robson de Oliveira Soares for the championship title. Brazilian Soares defeated Sinh by submission in last year's belt match.

The next biggest match will be between Phan Thanh Tùng and Phạm Ngọc Cảnh in the men's 56kg.

Tùng used his jujitsu techniques to have two wins in the LC 08 and LC 10 in 2023. At No 7 he is three ranks below Cảnh who recorded a loss at the LC 05 and one win at the LC 11.

In the 77kg, Vietnamese Đặng Hoàng Minh will fight Jesse James Bernal, a marine security guard at the US Embassy in Việt Nam.

Minh is currently No 6 after one technical knockout (TKO) win and one TKO loss last year.

Meanwhile Bernal, a member of the US Marine Corps, was pushed to class A this season after a TKO win in the LC 08. The No 12 just finished a training camp in Thailand prior to the season's opening.

This fight was scheduled at the LC 11 late 2023 but was delayed because Hoàng was injured and could not fight.

Both targeted a win so that they could advance to the title belt which was returned to the organisers earlier this year by reigning champion Aleksei Filonenko. Russian Filonenko suffered a back injury which cost him more than one year rest for treatment.

In the 56kg, Võ Thanh Tùng is expected to make another impressive match against Trần Trọng Kim.

Tùng has competed three times in the LION Championship with two losses and one win. The two latest matches were voted “Fight of The Night”, making every tournament that he took part draw a huge number of supporters.

The No 8 athletes said his goal this year was a slot in the final against defending champion Phạm Văn Nam who lost to him in the 2022 season.

On the other side, Kim, an architect, was one of the most active fighters in 2023 in all competition levels. In the LION Championship alone, he won two and lost one for a fifth ranking.

Other matches of the night are Lê Văn Tuần vs Trần Minh Nhựt in the men's 60kg and Ngô Hồng Giang vs Nguyễn Đức Tuấn in the men's 84kg along with bouts of class B in the afternoon.

LION Championship is the first professional MMA event in Việt Nam, run and managed by the Việt Nam Mixed Martial Arts Joint Stock Company and the Việt Nam Mixed Martial Arts Federation.

VTVcab, Zeit Media and MCV S&E jointly cooperated in the production.

Painters tell their own stories in group exhibition

Five painters will showcase their artworks covering a wide array of subjects like portraits, still-life and landscapes at an exhibition held from March 30 to April 4 at the 29 Hàng BàI Exhibition Hall in Hà Nội.

The Câu Chuyện Đầu Năm (The New Year’s Stories) exhibition will display 67 paintings by five painters - Phạm Thanh Sơn, Nguyễn Đình Lâm, Hoàng Quốc Tuấn, Lương Bình and Nguyễn Đức Cường.

According to painter Phạm Thanh Sơn, a member of the organisation board, this is the second time the artists have had a joint exhibition.

“Together, we share a passion expressed through the mediums of watercolour on paper and silk, with a small number utilising oil paint. The materials are considered relatively new in the Vietnamese arts scene, while they have seen significant advancements all over the world these days,” he told Việt Nam News.

Besides displaying artworks, The New Year’s Stories also include four workshops and painting performances of the artists.

Through their collective body of artworks, five painters have created an immersive experience where viewers can explore diverse themes and engage their personal narratives.

Painter Phạm Thanh Sơn, born and raised in the Old Quarters’ Hàng Điếu Street, reflects strength and decisiveness in his artworks thanks to a youth filled with various challenges. His paintings often depict familiar images of Hà Nội such as the sưa (Dalbergia Tonkinensis) flowers, pomelo blossom and starfruit, as well as iconic landmarks like the Long Biên Bridge and the arches of Cửa Đông. They not only capture the external beauty of Hà Nội but also carry the stories, memories and emotions of an artist who has been based in the city for decades.

Silk paintings by Hoàng Quốc Tuấn, despite being imbued with the essence of the medium, possess a distinctiveness in their expertly crafted and precise brushwork, honed through years of practice. They also capture the delicate nuances of emotions that are rarely encountered elsewhere. The theme that he explores in his artwork is the small anecdotes of childhood or the beauty of rosy cheeks of young girls.

In The New Year’s Stories, Nguyễn Lâm presents a collection of carefully arranged still-life artworks alongside vibrant nature paintings. The composition of his paintings may appear coincidental at first glance, but in reality, they are meticulously calculated. Furthermore, the interplay of light, both realistic and ethereal, creates a distinct and enchanting quality in Lâm's artworks.

Artist Lương Bình brings diversity to this exhibition by utilising two mediums - watercolour and oil paint. He explores various subjects such as portraits, still-life and landscapes, and regardless of the medium or subject matter, his works carry a strong sense of the artist's life experiences. 

Thai unique culinary culture wins favours of visitors to Điện Biên

The culinary culture in the northern mountain province of Điện Biên has the typical  flavours of ethnic minorities living in the northwestern mountain and forest region, particularly the Thái people.

The unique cuisine of Thai people is always chosen most by visitors whenever they come to Điện Biên to experience the culture of local indigenous ethnic groups there. It is famous for its grilled dishes that are meticulously prepared and marinated, with their own flavours that cannot be mixed with any other ethnic dish or cooking method.

These days, restaurants that specialises in serving ethnic food, and cultural tourism villages around Điện Biên Phủ City and Điện Biên District are always crowded with diners.

The main dishes in a Thai feast are grills, salads and soups. Meat of livestock, poultry or seafood all can be grilled and marinated. There are different ways to marinate the meat depending on its  type but some of the most commonly used spices including chili, garlic and mắc khén - a special spice originating from the northwestern region of Việt Nam, that is quite close to pepper with mild spicy taste and intense aroma. 

Phiêng Lơi cultural village in Điện Biên Phủ City these days welcomes crowds of visitors who booked to stay and enjoy local meals there.

Lò Thị Xuyến, the owner of Kim Xuyến restaurant in the village, said: "Since the beginning of March, the restaurant has received so many customers mainly from outside the province. As they come from far away, they are very excited to enjoy traditional ethnic dishes here. Their most favourite orders include the popular grilled dishes of chicken, fish, pork, buffalo, beef and eel.

Thai people often prepare grilled pork wrapped in banana leaves. The pork meat is cut in slices or minced carefully, and marinated with spices then grilled over charcoal. Before, the pork used to be wrapped in a large square shape and put on a plate to serve for each meal but now, to make it more convenient and easy for visitors to enjoy, it is divided into small and moderate pieces only about 12cm long.

To prepare grilled dish, the cook should choose fresh meat, usually the best part of the animal such as the rump. After preliminary processing, the meat will be chopped and mixed with green onions, coriander, and MSG.

It is especially important to marinate the meat with fish sauce to enhance the aroma. The banana leaves should be wiped clean, then heated over a fire to wilt and cut into square pieces for easy wrapping. The marinated meat should not be left too long for it to become watery. After about 15 minutes, the meat will be soaked in spices and divided into portions for packaging. Each package only has about three small spoons of meat placed in the middle of the banana leaf and then tightly folded on two edges so that when being grilled, the meat still retains its sweet and hot flavour. About 30 minutes before mealtime, the meat is put on a wood stove to grill. The charcoal should be heated moderately so that the meat can be cooked gradually, without drying out or losing its sweet flavour.

When speaking about Thai ethnic cuisine, nộm hoa ban (Bauhinia flower salad) should be mentioned. This is an indispensable dish in the traditional Thai feast, especially every March and April - when the flowers are in full bloom. Bauhinia flower salad is combined with vegetables from the forest such as Erythropalum scandens and bitter bamboo shoots. After boiling thoroughly to reduce the acrid taste, the flowers will be squeezed out and then mixed with boiled beef and bitter bamboo shoots. The spices mixed into the flower salad are not complicated, and are especially not sour like other salads. Usually, there are only galangal, garlic, chili, coriander and MSG.

The soup dishes in the traditional Thai feast are also very diverse. In addition to bon soup and eggplant soup, buffalo foot soup cooked with some sour leaves is very easy to eat. The buffalo foot, after cleaning and deodorising, will be burned on charcoal, chopped into small pieces and then put into a pot to boil. When it's almost done, the cook will add the sour leaves and boil them together.

The rusticity has created a unique feature for the culinary culture of Thai people in Điện Biên. Delicious dishes help visitors from far away better feel the flavours of the mountains and forests.

If you have the opportunity to go to the Northwest, come to Điện Biên to enjoy Thai ethnic cuisine. 

Traditional festival honours ethic Thái heroine

Nàng Han Temple, a place of worship for a legendary figure known as "Nàng Han", or "Heroine" in the Thái ethnic minority language, is located in Phong Thổ District, the northern province of Lai Châu.

Thái girls dress in traditional costumes and engage in various folk games at the temple for the traditional festival, held every year on the 15th day of the second lunar month. On this day, local people offer incense, flowers, farm produce and speciality foods.

In the two-day festival, Thái girls and boys together play folk games such as ném còn (throwing a small cloth ball), kicking shuttlecock, walking on stilts and tug-of-war. Guests who joined the festival in the last day were offered with the food specialties.

The legend of Nàng Han tells the story of a goddess born into a poor Thái family, who led an uprising against the northern invaders, and after the victory, ascended to the heavens. She became one of six gods who have supernatural powers in the folk beliefs of the Thai people.

In 2007, Nàng Han Temple was recognised as a provincial-level architectural and artistic heritage site.

Nàng Han Festival has been revived since 2008 by the culture authority of Lai Châu Province, after 60 years of being neglected. The annual festival aims to pray for peace, prosperity and good harvests.

HCM City promotes cooperation with US state of Indiana

Ho Chi Minh City and the US state of Indiana have the potential for cooperation in many fields, particularly industrial production, agriculture, education, and healthcare, said Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan at a meeting with US Senator from Indiana state Todd Young on March 29.

At the meeting, Hoan said that the two sides need to increase exchanges and connections to seize opportunities for further development.

Hoan said that Vietnam and the US are important economic and trade partners of each other. Since the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, many US business delegations and congressmen have come to Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, which shows the US business community’s interest in the southern metropolis.

Hoan said that HCM City is a major economic hub, contributing 27% of the country’s budget. The city is thriving strongly towards green growth and digital transformation, developing new industries and applying high technologies.

It has many favourable conditions for developing high-tech industry, for example, its high-tech parks are planned to expand by 600 ha to attract investors into semiconductors and electronic chips. With more than 60 universities and 10 international schools, the city’s human resources can meet the requirements when it develops new and high-tech industries.

In addition to the Government's support policies, the city has its special mechanism with attractive incentives on land, corporate income tax, and personal income tax to attract strategic investors. Investors in the high-tech industrial sector are also facilitated with simple investment procedures, Hoan said.

For his part, Senator Young spoke highly of HCM city's achievements and sustainable development orientations.

He said Indiana state is prioritising the development of high-quality industrial production, agriculture, food, and education sectors. In the context that the relationship between Vietnam - US relations has been elevated to a new height, there is a lot of cooperation potential for the two countries' localities.

Indiana is a friendly, open state and is ready to connect with other countries through investment and trade activities, he said, adding that it is strong in education and health, research and development, and technology transfer.

More stray dog-catching teams set up in HCM City

As many as 59 wards and communes in HCM City have established stray dog-catching teams as the city is struggling with a rising number of dog attacks.

HCM City has 183,700 dogs and cats raised by 106 households in 59 among 312 wards and communes.

The stray dog-catching team in Hiep Binh Chanh Ward in Thu Duc City have caught 105 dogs since they began work in the last year. Stray dogs caught by the team will be temporarily held at the ward people's committee for 48 hours. If the owner wishes to reclaim the dog, they must pay a fine.

Up to 19,552 people in Ho Chi Minh City were vaccinated against rabies during the first two months of this year, a slight increase compared to the same period in 2023 which saw 18,810 vaccinations.

Of the total figure, 74.80 percent were attacked by dogs, followed by cats with 20.50 percent and the remainder by other animals.

Between January and February, HCM City hospitals witnessed seven deaths from to rabies who were patients brought from other localities.

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