Diversifying communications methods to enhance public awareness of natural disaster prevention and control, and ensuring accurate and timely forecast are among solutions to minimise damage caused by natural disasters, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said while chairing a national conference on natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue in 2024 held in Hanoi on May 10.

Deputy PM Quang, who is Chairman of the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, noted that despite many kinds of natural disasters in 2023 and the first months of 2024, damage caused by the disasters has been reduced, showing the effective efforts of ministries, sectors and localities, especially stronger performance in forecasting, and the timely adjustments of regulations related to natural disaster prevention and control.

However, the Deputy PM pointed to a number of outstanding problems in the work, including inadequate preparations for the stormy season, outdated relevant legal regulations, and limited resilience against natural disasters.

He requested that ministries, sectors and localities continue reviewing and completing the organisation of their steering committees for national disaster prevention and control and civil defence at all levels, while perfecting legal regulations in the work and well preparations before the stormy season.

The Deputy PM also asked for support and information sharing from international organisations, calling for their assistance in equipment and infrastructure through projects in the fields of forecasting and natural disaster prevention and mitigation.

According to the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, last year, the country suffered 1,964 natural disasters of all kinds, especially torrential rain, landslides, flashflood and flooding.

Since the beginning of this year, a number of serious natural disasters have occurred across the country, including severe cold, heatwave, saltwater intrusion, erosion, hail, and earthquakes.

The National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting warned that between July and September this year, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is likely to change to La Nina state. The average temperature in the first four months of 2024 across the country was 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the average in many years, it noted.

Deputy General Director of the centre Hoang Duc Cuong said that heat and severe heat are likely to appear more often than average in many years between July and August. In the central region, there is a possibility of prolonged drought from now until August, he said.

The centre earlier forecast that about 11-13 typhoons and tropical low pressures will hit the East Sea, especially from September to November, 5-7 of which are likely to affect the mainland. Dangerous weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong winds will continue to occur across the country from now until the end of 2024, it added.

Cuong said the centre will keep a close watch on developments of natural disasters and water resources in river basins to give early and long-term forecast and alerts.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, who is deputy head of the National Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, said that natural risk prevention and control will continue to be a major task in the coming time.

He said that the committee will continue to focus on the review and inspection of the implementation of strategies and projects on natural disaster prevention and control, civil defense; river and coastal erosion prevention and settlement; and community-based disaster risk management. Meanwhile, natural disaster prevention and control issues will be integrated into socio-economic planning and plans as well as investment projects of ministries, sectors and localities, especially those on infrastructure and residential area development, the official added./.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine recipients do not need blood clotting test: MoH

People who have already received the AstraZeneca vaccine shots do not need a D-Dimer test or any other blood clotting test, recommended the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Health authorities made the recommendation, playing down public concerns about side-effects people may have after having got the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shots.

AstraZeneca recently admitted that its vaccine can, in very rare cases, cause thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) which is known to cause blood clots and low blood platelet counts.

Since July 2023, Vietnam has used up all the AstraZeneca vaccine, and there is no longer any risk of the TTS in the country, said health authorities.

According to experts, thrombosis issues, if present, often arise 28 days following injection.

“Vaccination side-effects don’t last long,” said Dr. Doan Du Manh, a member of the Vietnam Vascular Disease Association, cautioning that the misuse of pointless testing will cause public confusion.

According to the health professional, the D-Dimer test is indicated for people with symptoms of blood clotting disorders, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include leg pain or swelling, redness, or red streaks on the leg. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism are shortness of breath, cough, chest tightness and irregular heartbeat.

The D-Dimer test is usually performed in an emergency room or other healthcare facility. Although it is common, patients should only have this test performed when it is recommended by cardiologists, he said.

Associate Professor Do Van Dung, head of the Department of Public Health, HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said at this moment, there is no need to perform such tests to check for blood clots or monitor platelet count.

Only a small percentage of recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccination during a one to two-month period experience blood clotting. People who have received the COVID-19 vaccination from AstraZeneca would no longer experience blood clots after repeated injections, he said.

The AstraZeneca vaccine was licensed for conditional use by the MoH in February 1, 2021 to meet the country’s urgent needs for vaccination against COVID-19. This was the first COVID-19 vaccine imported for use in Vietnam.

The MoH has developed a strict vaccination process to ensure the vaccine’s effectiveness and recipients’ safety. Based on recommendations from medical organizations around the world, the ministry on April 22, 2021 issued Guidelines on diagnosis and treatment thrombocytopenia and blood clot syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination.

So far, more than 266 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, including 70 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses.

Thanks to the widespread vaccination campaign, the AstraZeneca vaccine and other COVID-19 vaccines helped Vietnam effectively control the pandemic, significantly reducing morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19, and partly contributing to bringing life back to normal, said health authorities.

AstraZeneca is one of the 14 COVID-19 vaccines licensed for emergency use by the World Health Organization. Statistics show more than 170 countries have approved the emergency use of this vaccine and more than 2 billion doses have been administered globally.

Experts also say that the AstraZeneca vaccine has proved to be effective in preventing severe symptoms and reducing deaths from COVID-19. Analysis of data from multiple studies and post-vaccination follow-up indicates that the vaccine is safe and effective for all age groups.

The MoH recommended that people keep updating information from reliable sources to have a more complete view of pandemic prevention and control measures, and to get to know benefits they enjoy from vaccination.

Female artist uses silk painting to create dream fragments

An exhibition taking place in HCM City showcases silk paintings of emerging artist Lê Nguyễn Minh Như. 

Entitled Fragment - Depiction, the exhibition recalls Như's technique of tracing creative impulses. Since 2021, the female artist has been practicing recording fragments of dreams to examine the ambiguity of life.

While silk paintings are more traditionally associated with themes in Việt Nam's art history, Như's artworks offer a lens to the disconnection of the young, the fear of not belonging and the existential crisis in the contemporary social chaos. 

"I used to think that life progressed in a straight line: you grew up, got old, and then passed away," Như said. "But life is far more flimsy than that."

During Covid, when the world came to a standstill and the quarantine was mandated, Như could hardly recall how she got by. The only images that linger in her mind are the barbed wire fences at the roadblocks, the flashing lights of the few cars allowed on the streets and the lives permanently stuck in that moment.

These personal experiences and memories have been overshadowed by what is known as the 'collective memory' of a nation.

Amidst the cacophony of society, Như painted characters who embody this collective identity, hair intricately braided, symbolising an unbreakable connection.

Confronted by the precariousness and interdependence of life, Như s art aspires to become a prayer, offering solace in the face of solitude and isolation, where individual voices are suffocated by the demands of society and where the memory of death and life is consensually abandoned.

Như s vision is to connect herself to others and look at personal memories in relation to collective memories to perceive a sense of misalignment, uncertainty, confusion or loss.

This skepticism echoes the haunting imagery of Japanese artist Tetsuya Ishida, where figures hover their gaze between reality and abstraction, fragmented and transient.

It's us all carrying the memories of those forced to endure the pressure of existential crisis according to Như.

The exhibition opens from 12pm to 10pm, from Tuesday to Sunday at Ô Art Bar, 292/15 Điện Biên Phủ Street, Ward 17, Bình Thạnh District, HCM City.

Diverse activities underway to celebrate world’s most beautiful bay Lang Co

A wide range of activities are set to get underway from May 10 to 12 in Phu Loc district of Thua Thien-Hue province, central Vietnam, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Lang Co Bay's recognition as one of the world's most beautiful bays.

The highlight of the event will be the inauguration of the Nguyen Van walking street along Lap An Lagoon on May 10 evening.

Other festive activities will also be held, including musical performances, an Ao Dai (traditional long dress) fashion show, paragliding to explore the stunning Lang Co Bay from the air, and a whale worshipping ritual.

Visitors will also have the chance to take part in boat racing, a women’s football tournament, camping, and a trade fair.

Lang Co Bay was elected as the 30th member of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Club in May, 2009. Since then, the bay has developed into a tourist attraction popular among both Vietnamese and foreign visitors.

Rome seminar spotlights Dien Bien Phu Victory’s international values

The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy on May 9 held a hybrid seminar highlighting the international values of the Dien Bien Phu Victory on the occasion of its 70th anniversary (May 7, 1954-2024).

The event saw the presence of representatives from the Italian Communist Party, the Italian Communist Refoundation Party, the French Embassy in the country, the Palermo University, and Vietnamese Honourary Consul in Turin city Sandra Scagliotti, among others.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung spotlighted the great significance of the victory for not only Vietnam but also the whole world, especially oppressed peoples in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Cristina Cirillo, standing member of the Italian Communist Party Central Committee, assessed that the victory was not only meaningful to the Vietnamese revolution but also became a source of encouragement for national liberation movements and marked the beginning of the collapse of colonialism around the world.

Vietnam has become an example for the world in the struggle against colonialism and imperialism, for freedom, independence and self-determination of peoples, and 70 years later the Dien Bien Phu Victory continues to inspire resistance against injustice and oppression.

Sharing the same view, former Senator Giovanni Russo Spena, a representative from the Communist Refoundation Party, highlighted Vietnam's ability to make history, not only in the past like the Dien Bien Phu Victory but also today as it is standing firm in an increasingly volatile world.

The country is an example of a new, wise, balanced and, stable multipolar approach for Italian communists, and is taking the lead in building a global community of security for all, he added./.

Israel shares experience in water-saving irrigation

Israel is ready to advise Vietnam on irrigation technologies suitable for soil conditions in the Southeast Asian nation, the country's Ambassador Yaron Mayer said at a workshop held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Hanoi on May 10.

Some Israeli delegations are scoping out irrigation needs in a number of Vietnamese localities to seek cooperation opportunities, he said, highlighting the popularity of the drip irrigation technology in Israel.

The Israeli side shared its experience in supplying water to deserts, saying studies in this field were mainly funded by the government previously, yet 97% of them now invested by businesses.

Vu Trung Kien, from Netafim, an Israeli firm providing precision irrigation solutions for sustainable agriculture, said the company’s irrigation technology has been applied on tens of thousands of hectares of crops in Vietnamese localities, including the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong and the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan.

MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan stressed what Israel has done brings hopes to many countries, including Vietnam that is grappling with drought and saltwater intrusion in many of its areas.

The official warned that such natural disasters will worsen in the future, forcing farmers to change their mindset in production.

Nguyen Tung Phong, head of the MARD’s Department of Water Resources, said 530,000 hectares in Vietnam have been covered by water-saving irrigation solutions, mainly sprinkler irrigation.

According to the official, the ministry has worked out an action plan on water-saving irrigation, and the Government has offered incentives to projects in this regard.

He suggested Israel help Vietnam improve its drought forecasting capacity, build planning schemes for drought-hit areas, and develop water-saving irrigation models./.

Border guards commended for seizing big haul of drug

The Vietnam Border Guard High Command on May 9 commended the drug and crime control department of the border guard force and border guards from the central province of Ha Tinh for seizing a big haul of drugs smuggled from Laos to Vietnam.

On May 6, the local border guards caught red-handed six Lao nationals transporting 121 kg of synthetic drugs from Laos in a car with a Lao license plate at the Cau Treo International Border Gate area in Son Kim 1 commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province.

One day later, at the Cau Treo International Border Gate, they coordinated with local customs officers to arrest two people, both residing in Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province, who were found keeping 12,000 synthetic drug pills in a car with a Lao license plate.

At the same border gate, the forces on May 9 seized two Lao nationals, along with 45,000 synthetic drug pills, 30 heroin bricks, 21 kg of Ketamine, and 20 kg of synthetic drugs./.

Workshop shares Italy’s experience in adoption support services

A workshop is taking place in Ho Chi Minh City on May 9 - 10 to share experience in adoption support service models of Italy.

The event, held by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Italian Commission for Intercountry Adoption (CAI), aims to provide a platform for experts, researchers, specialised agencies, sectors, and localities to seek measures for improving child adoption as well as child care, education, and protection.

Dang Tran Anh Tuan, Director of the MoJ’s Child Adoption Department, said the Party and State have issued many policies and legal regulations on child care, education, and protection to ensure children’s equal access to resources and equal enjoyment of social services. Adoption aims to ensure the best benefits for adopted children, including being brought up, cared for, and educated in the family environment and having their rights respected.

He said opinions from domestic and foreign experts will help the agencies, organisations, and individuals handling child adoption have a broader view and strengthen the capacity of studying, building, and implementing adoption support models and services. This is also a source of reference for authorities to perfect a draft decree amending and supplementing the Government’s decrees issued in 2011 and 2019 that detail the implementation of some articles of the Law on Child Adoption.

Tuan also highly valued the good results of the Vietnam - Italy adoption cooperation on the basis of the two countries’ 2003 cooperation agreement on child adoption and Hague Convention No. 33 on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

CAI Vice President Vincenzo Starita said the countries’ cooperation programme on child adoption has helped create many new multiracial families and respect the personal identity and life of Vietnamese children.

Recording certain positive results, yet the two sides still need to address several shortcomings and difficulties to devise the best solutions for guaranteeing maximum benefits for each child who is abandoned or left without a family, he noted.

The Child Adoption Department said legal regulations on adoption in Vietnam are basically complete and match international norms while the settlement of adoption has been standardised.

So far, more than 26,000 children have been adopted domestically, and nearly 4,000 others with severe disabilities or illnesses adopted to other countries, statistics show.

At the workshop, participants pointed out the necessity of support services during the adoption process in Vietnam and the role of adoption organisations in the intercountry adoption system.

They also looked into facts of social work and support services for adoption in Vietnam, and gave suggestions on social work implementation during the adoption settlement in the coming time./.

Hà Nội innovates vocational training to build connections

Vocational education in Hà Nội has incorporated many innovations, in which schools closely cooperate with businesses to sign employment contracts right from the time students are studying in schools.

As a student majoring in baking at the Cooking, Tourism and Fashion Vocational School, Phan Thị Bích Hiền had memorable experiences in a baking and introducing products session.

The session was held at a job transaction and consultancy in Sơn Tây Town, near her school.

Hiền is now studying for a double degree, both high school official curriculum and vocational training.

“Not only can we practice our profession, but we can also participate in many useful interactive activities, such as job searching skills and receiving advice about future jobs," said Hiền.

Giang Huyền Trang, an 11th grader at the Sơn Tây Town Centre for Vocational Education, could not hide her excitement after practising operating an excavator under the guidance of a lecturer from the Central College of Transport 1.

Trang said, "This experience shows me that I can choose to study many professions that, when I first heard about it, seemed to be only for men. Job opportunities are opening up for young people with good mechanical and technological skills."

Head of the Electronics and Refrigeration Industry Faculty under the Hà Nội College of High Technology (HHT) Nguyễn Thị Hồng told the Hà Nội Mới (New Hà Nội) newspaper that the model of "One day studying as a college student" attracted a great number of high school and junior secondary school students.

It creates conditions for them to access modern equipment and teaching methods associated with professional practice.

“The work helps them choose schools and careers that are closer to their practical needs," she said.

Nguyễn Đức Minh, Head of the Organisation and Administration Division under the Hà Nội Community College, said that the school was increasing direct access to junior secondary and high school students.

The students are allowed to visit the college and experience the work here so that they can choose a suitable profession to study.

It also organises career experience tours to enterprises, providing real practice for learners.

Hà Nội now has 313 vocational schools.

Their mission is to train 235,000 people this year, striving to raise the rate of trained workers to 74.2 per cent.

To realise this goal, the focus is on strengthening connections between the State, schools, and businesses in vocational education.

Talking about new points in the enrolment this year, Hồng emphasised, "With close connection between schools, businesses and students, all parties achieve the goal of effectively combining learning and practising when the students are still in schools.”

Many businesses highly appreciate the HHT's training effectiveness and are willing to lend their production lines to serve students’ practice.

Typically, the HHT signed a cooperation agreement with the XtechFuture Co Ltd in March last year.

The company will train second-year students as automation technicians.

It will also support equipment for teaching and learning, and support training costs for the school.

At the end of the training course, excellent students can intern and work at large-scale companies and enterprises such as Apple, Compal, Justech and Luxshare.

Vietnam nominated for Asia and World's Best Golf Destination 2024

Vietnam has been nominated for the Asia’s Best Golf Destination 2024 award and World’s Best Golf Destination 2024 award, announced the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

Over recent years Vietnam has emerged as an attractive golf destination among international tourists. It has been chosen as the host venue for many international professional golf tournaments, including Vinpearl DIC Legends Vietnam 2023.

Furthermore, the country has been honoured as Asia’s Best Golf Destination seven times and the World’s Best Golf Destination two times by the World Golf Awards (WGA), the most prestigious awards in the golf tourism industry.

Under the Government-approved tourism development strategy by 2030, golf tourism has also been identified as a main trend that will help to bolster socio-economic development and to stimulate greater travel demand.

VNAT called on people and tourists to vote for the country and votes can be cast on the website https://worldgolfawards.com from now until October 6. The results will be announced at World Golf Awards 2024 ceremony to be held at the beautiful islands of Madeira of Portugal in November.

HCM City hosts ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup’s draw ceremony

The official draw for the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup kicked off on May 9 in Ho Chi Minh City.

This year sees Dong A Thanh Hoa FC and Hanoi Police FC represent the nation at the regional tournament.

According to the draw’s results, four football clubs from Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, and Myanmar will take part in two play-off matches both at home and away to choose the sides progressing from the group stage.

Young Elelphants FC of Laos and Svay Rieng FC will play in the Play-off 1 match, while Kasuka FC of Brunei and Shan United of Myanmar will face off against each other in the Play-off 2 match.

The tournament will feature 12 teams who will be divided into two groups A and B with each group, including six teams.

Following the draw, local side Dong A Thanh Hoa FC are in Group A with Pathum United FC of Thailand, Terengganu FC of Malaysia, PSM Makassar FC of Indonesia, and two teams who win the play-off 1 and 2 matches.

Elsewhere, Hanoi Police FC are in Group B with Buriram United FC of Thailand, Kuala Lumpur City FC of Malaysia, Borneo FC Samarinda of Indonesia, Kaya FC - Iloilo of the Philippines, and Lion City Sailors FC of Singapore.

The event, run by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), will take place from July 7 to May 21, 2025.

Lao dialogue explores significance of Dien Bien Phu Victory

The Lao Ministry of National Defence recently held a dialogue on the Dien Bien Phu Victory on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, providing the Lao officials and soldiers with an insight into the solidarity of the Vietnam-Laos special combatant alliance.

Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung described the victory as a testament to the great friendship and special solidarity between the two countries’ Parties, States and peoples, especially their armed forces.

He delved into the reasons why it is rightfully considered a joint triumph of Vietnam, Laos and the entire Indochina. Describing it as the most decisive and important victory of a long and intense military campaign waged by the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia combatant alliance, he highlighted the close coordination between the Vietnamese volunteer forces and the Lao army and its people, particularly during the Upper, Middle, and Lower Laos campaigns.

Without the victories secured on the Upper, Middle, and Lower Laos fronts, the battle at Dien Bien Phu would have undoubtedly been far more challenging and costly, he asserted, noting that the sacrifices and losses would have been even greater, and Laos's liberation efforts would have been greatly hindered.

The Dien Bien Phu Victory ultimately led to the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords which brought an end to hostilities, restored peace in Indochina, and recognised the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This opened a new historical phase in the cooperation and combatant alliance between the two countries against American imperialists, he added.

The diplomat concluded by expressing his belief that the historical lessons from the victory remain relevant and serve as a source of inspiration for both nations as they continue on their respective paths of national defence and development.

Tra Vinh takes strong measures against IUU fishing

The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has taken a lot of concerted measures to raise fishermen’s awareness of regulations related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing prevention and control.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Van Han said that it has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the provincial Border Guard Command, the Department of Public Security and the local People's Committees to inspect the registration status of all fishing vessels in the province to handle any violations in accordance with regulations.

In parallel with taking strong measures to avert vessels and fishermen from infringing upon foreign waters, localities and Border Guard stations in Tra Vinh have stepped up the communications work, encouraging fishermen to strictly comply with regulations and absolutely not exploit illegally in foreign waters.

Border guard and fisheries surveillance forces have conducted patrols and supervised the operation of fishing vessels.

Tran Van Dung, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said all the fishing vessels in the province have updated data into the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), and undergone inspections when entering and exiting wharves.

Currently, Tra Vinh has a total of 858 qualified fishing vessels that have been licensed according to regulations. Since 2023, no fishing vessels have been found violating regulations on their operation./.

Việt Nam's Safe School Zone guides marks first implementation in HCM City

AIP Foundation, in collaboration with the HCM City’s Department of Transport and the HCM City Traffic Safety Committee, on Thursday inaugurated the first school zone modifications carried out at four project schools using the Safe School Zones Guide (SSZ Guide).

Việt Nam’s Safe School Zones Guide brings safe school zones a step closer to being a reality for students nationwide. Developed in two years, the guide is a comprehensive technical blueprint for urban planners, engineers, and policymakers to address the issue of safe mobility around schools across the country.

The four project schools – Lê Quý Đôn Secondary School, Trần Quang Khải High School, Phú Lâm Primary School, and Mạc Đĩnh Chi High School – were identified as high-risk following a city-wide assessment under AI&Me, a parallel programme that incorporates youth participation to identify unsafe school commutes.

The results showed that 57 schools in HCM City will require critical safety upgrades with a majority receiving 1-2 star ratings using the Star Rating for Schools methodology (with 1 being the lowest and least safe rating and 5 being the safest).

"The AI&Me programme embodies the power of collaboration, especially with our youth, who have proven that they are passionate about playing a role in improving the safety and well-being of their peers. In parallel, the Safe School Zones Guide is a vital tool that will help us implement vital changes to better protect the thousands of students who rely on our roadways every day," Deputy Director of the Special Division of HCM City Traffic Safety Committee Nguyễn Thành Lợi said.

In addition, this collaboration aims to support the Ministry of Transport's action plan to implement Prime Minister’s Directive No. 31/CT-TTg – released on December 21, 2023 –to enhance and ensure order and traffic safety for school-age children in the future.

This directive, calls for all relevant agencies to review and amend Việt Nam’s current technical standards and regulations for school zones.

Following the announcement, the Ministry of Transport issued Decision 64, instructing all 63 provinces in Việt Nam to provide detailed reports on their local assessments and action plans for enhancing school zone safety within their respective jurisdictions.

“Together with the HCM City Department of Transport, the Traffic Safety Committee, and the invaluable support of AIP Foundation, we are not merely renovating infrastructure; we are solidifying a culture of safety and empowerment for every student at the project schools. With each school zone modification, we inch closer to realizing the vision outlined in Directive No. 31/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister of Việt Nam, ensuring a future where every journey is a safe one for every school student across Việt Nam,” Saul Billingsley, Executive Director of the FIA Foundation, said in a statement.

The modifications around the four project schools represent the start of a series of life-saving actions to improve commuting safety for the millions of students, parents, teachers, and communities that travel to and from school daily. The modifications include new pedestrian traffic lights, raised crosswalks, rumble strips, steel railings to separate the footpath and the parking area for parents, road signs, and markings.

The improved school zone modifications also encourage families to walk and ride their bicycles to school, paving the way for healthier and greener transportation.

For students in HCM City, these modifications will not only safeguard them on their commutes to school but will also ensure that all students have safe and equitable access to education and life opportunities.

Building upon the project’s assessment results, the HCM City Department of Transportation will develop a plan to improve infrastructure for other school zones in the city.

"Today's unveiling of school zone modifications at Lê Quý Đôn Secondary School signifies practical adjustments to safeguard the welfare of students, educators, and families. Allocating resources towards enhancing school zone safety infrastructure, as demonstrated today, is an essential measure in securing the safety and success of our future generations," Chief Executive Officer at AIP Foundation Mirjam Sidik remarked. 

Public diplomacy key to creating influence and experience: expert

Public diplomacy is crucial in helping people at home and abroad understanding Việt Nam, its values, people, policies and achievements and refuting misinformation about the country.

That was the message from Nguyễn Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Việt Nam News, at the workshop "Multimedia Communications in Public Diplomacy" on Thursday.

As Việt Nam integrates internationally, public diplomacy, he believes, deserves more attention. He said multimedia communications had become essential in creating ties and promoting mutual understandings between Việt Nam and other countries.

"Multimedia channels allow Việt Nam to express its perspectives not only through text but also images, sounds and videos, increasing influence and persuasion," Minh said.

Đỗ Thị Thu Hằng, Head of the Journalism Department under the Vietnam Journalists' Association, said digital transformation centres around the change of mindset and working techniques from a traditional to a digital environment.

She cited digital transformation as a factor that has given rise to multimedia and multi-platform journalism and digital ecosystems in media outlets.

"The three main building blocks of multimedia journalism are text, sound and visual," said Hằng.

Đỗ Anh Đức, a lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, underlined five challenges in public diplomacy, related to awareness, strategy, context, competition and journalism profits.

He said the goal of public diplomacy is not only to "inform what happens in Việt Nam" but more importantly to "create influence and experience" on the target audience.

The lecturer also highlighted five opportunities for the country in public diplomacy, which involve regime, reputation, materials, young people and media channels.

Cao Thị Ly Ly and Đinh Vũ Nhật Hồng, reporters of Việt Nam News, shared several practical tips to improve online engagement, such as embedding popular keywords in titles, captions, teaser and lead paragraphs of articles to boost viewership.

"We should use at least three and at most five main keywords in every article," said Ly.

The reporters suggested using the Google Trends tool to identify the most popular keywords every day on the Google search engine.

Nguyễn Quang Vũ, Deputy Director of the Vietnam News Agency Television Centre (Vnews), said most mainstream media outlets had engaged in multimedia.

Some advanced ones have employed AI for virtual studios and anchors which attract mass attention. However, multimedia's rise has also seen harmful misinformation pages emerge.

"The task now is to lure audiences away from those malicious pages and back to official sources," said Vũ, noting their Channel Đối Diện combats fake news head-on.

Nguyễn Hoàng Nhật, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Plus, said audiences now consume news primarily on smartphones rather than print or desktop, citing over two million page views two days prior with over 70 per cent from mobiles.

With more than 70 million social media users in Việt Nam, he stressed the need for media outlets to leverage these platforms.

He also quoted a January 2024 survey showing Vietnamese spend 6h18m online daily, most on social media (2h25m) versus video/TV (2h21m) and news reading (1h47m).

Nguyễn Phong Anh, a lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said AI is advancing rapidly in sophistication, scale, diversity and personalisation, potentially reaching US$2 trillion in market size by 2030.

AI offers opportunities to automate mundane journalistic tasks, enhance audio-visuals, create new formats like AI-generated music and virtual reality, optimise advertising and customise user interfaces.

However, easier AI access means more junk content and sophisticated fake news, data bias risks,and the potential loss of advantages in some professions.

Female artist uses silk painting to create dream fragments

An exhibition taking place in HCM City showcases silk paintings of emerging artist Lê Nguyễn Minh Như. 

Entitled Fragment - Depiction, the exhibition recalls Như's technique of tracing creative impulses. Since 2021, the female artist has been practicing recording fragments of dreams to examine the ambiguity of life.

While silk paintings are more traditionally associated with themes in Việt Nam's art history, Như's artworks offer a lens to the disconnection of the young, the fear of not belonging and the existential crisis in the contemporary social chaos. 

"I used to think that life progressed in a straight line: you grew up, got old, and then passed away," Như said. "But life is far more flimsy than that."

During Covid, when the world came to a standstill and the quarantine was mandated, Như could hardly recall how she got by. The only images that linger in her mind are the barbed wire fences at the roadblocks, the flashing lights of the few cars allowed on the streets and the lives permanently stuck in that moment.

These personal experiences and memories have been overshadowed by what is known as the 'collective memory' of a nation.

Amidst the cacophony of society, Như painted characters who embody this collective identity, hair intricately braided, symbolising an unbreakable connection.

Confronted by the precariousness and interdependence of life, Như s art aspires to become a prayer, offering solace in the face of solitude and isolation, where individual voices are suffocated by the demands of society and where the memory of death and life is consensually abandoned.

Như s vision is to connect herself to others and look at personal memories in relation to collective memories to perceive a sense of misalignment, uncertainty, confusion or loss.

This skepticism echoes the haunting imagery of Japanese artist Tetsuya Ishida, where figures hover their gaze between reality and abstraction, fragmented and transient.

It's us all carrying the memories of those forced to endure the pressure of existential crisis according to Như.

The exhibition opens from 12pm to 10pm, from Tuesday to Sunday at Ô Art Bar, 292/15 Điện Biên Phủ Street, Ward 17, Bình Thạnh District, HCM City. 

Điện Biên's historical relic sites flooded with tourists

More than 1 million tourists, including 4,800 foreigners, flocked to the northwestern mountainous province of Dien Bien from the outset of the year to May 7, according to the provincial Department of Culture and Sports.

From April 30 to May 7, the province welcomed over 370,000 tourist arrivals who came to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory. The Điện Biên Phủ Historical Museum and the complex of the Điện Biên Phủ battlefield relics were full to their capacity on the days, hosting thousands of visitors each day.

As local hotels were full at that time, authorities encouraged more than 140 households to provide accommodation for 2,000 people. They received guidance in ensuring security and order as well as fire prevention and fighting.

In 2023, the number of visitors to Điện Biên reached the one-million benchmark for the first time.

As the host of the Visit Vietnam Year 2024, Điện Biên eyes to welcome 1.3 million visitors and gain some VNĐ2.2 trillion (US$86.48 million) in tourism revenue for the whole year. 

Hải Phòng Open Puppetry Festival 2024 kicks off

The Hải Phòng Open Puppetry Festival 2024 kicked off as a part of the 11th Red Flamboyant Festival of Hải Phòng in May, aiming to promote the cultural and historical heritage values of the city and improve its appeal to tourists.

The event aims to preserve and promote the unique cultural value of the art of traditional puppetry of the Vietnamese people, as a part of the Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival with the theme  Hải Phòng – Bừng Sáng Miền Di Sản (Hải Phòng – The Heritage Region Bright Ups).

"The Hải Phòng Open Puppetry Festival 2024 showcases the artistic essence of Việt Nam's puppetry and the art and water puppetry of Hải Phòng City in particular. The city wants to turn this event into an annual cultural and tourist attraction, establishing Hải Phòng as the centre for the nation's cultural and artistic values," Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy, director of the Hải Phòng Puppet Art Troupe, said at the opening ceremony.

The festival also promotes artistic exchange, creating opportunities to connect cultural heritage with localities across the country.

Trần Thị Hoàng Mai, director of the Hải Phòng Department of Culture and Sports, said the event was key to the work of developing culture and arts in Hải Phòng City, and appreciated how it valued, promoted and invested in all types of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Leading puppet theatres in Việt Nam joined the festival, including the Việt Nam Puppet Theatre, the Thăng Long Puppet Theatre in Hà Nội, the Hải Phòng Puppet Art Troupe, the Puppet Troupe of Ninh Bình, and the Quảng Ninh Puppet Theatre.

As well as professional puppetry troupes, the festival has participants from ancient wards from numerous localities, such as Nhân Hòa Puppet Troupe in Hải Phòng City, Thanh Hải Water Puppet Troupe in Hải Dương Province and Nam Chấn Countryside River Water Puppet Troupe in Nam Định Province. 

Puppet theatres and performers bring to the festival all manner of distinctive and colourful shows from many different puppetry genres, such as water puppets, string puppets, stick puppets, and mask puppets.

"I feel very excited because every troupe and theatre group has distinctive and creative puppet show for the audience. I hope there will be more programmes like this so that audiences, not only in Hải Phòng City but nationwide, will come to know the quintessence of puppetry art," Nguyễn Xuân Long fromThăng Long Puppet Theatre, told VOV.

The festival takes place until May 12, at the City Theatre Square and Hàng Kênh Communal House in Lê Chân District, Hải Phòng City.  

Passenger forgets valuable jewellery at Hanoi airport

Security at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi returned a suitcase containing valuable jewellery to a female passenger.

Security staff member Tran Van Tien found the suitcase on Thursday afternoon and informed the security cameras section which then showed that the owner had left the airport.

Checking the suitcase, they found a laptop, an iPad, two watches, a bank card, some foreign currency and some gold and diamond jewellery with receipts which showed their value of over VND200 million.

Tien called the female passenger, who confirmed it was her suitcase that she had forgotten at the airport.

"I was helping my son, who had to use a wheelchair, and thought my driver had taken all my luggage to our car," she said. "It was not until the security man called me that I checked my luggage and noticed the missing suitcase. I sincerely thank the staff at Noi Bai Airport for helping me."

The woman and her son arrived at Noi Bai Airport at 3 pm on May 9 on Flight KE0164 from Turkey.

Hanoi to tackle traffic congestion on Lang Road for US$826M