Thirty one COVID-19 cases, including 19 domestic infections, were recorded over the last six hours to 6:00pm on May 13, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

The new patients included 10 in Da Nang, 4 in Bac Ninh, 3 in Vinh Phuc and 1 each in Hanoi and Bac Giang, all in quarantine facilities or sealed off areas. The new cases brought the total number of local infections announced on May 13 to 73.

The national count rose to 3,710, with 2,253 domestic and 1,457 imported cases.

An additional 21 patients were given the all-clear, raising the total number of recoveries to 2,657. The death toll remains at 35.

Meanwhile, 77,648 people are being quarantined nationwide.

To stay safe from COVID-19, people are urged to strictly follow the MoH’s 5K health message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering), and khai bao y te (health declaration)./.

Vietnam confirms 21 further domestic infections in 7 localities 

An additional 21 cases of local transmission were confirmed by the Ministry of Health during the six hours to midday May 13, raising the total number of locally-infected cases to 664 since the virus resurged in the nation on April 27.

Of the latest cases, 7 are in Bac Giang, Hung Yen (4), Thai Binh (4), Hanoi (3), Hue (1), Ha Nam (1) and Hoa Binh (1), and all were detected in quarantine areas.

With the latest detection, the national tally now counts 3,679, including 2,234 community transmissions, and 1,445 imported infections.

Vietnam is currently facing the most challenging COVID-19 wave, which has recorded 664 domestically-transmitted cases across 26 cities and provinces since late last month.

A total of 77,648 people who came in close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide as part of the nation’s COVID-19 containment efforts.

One day earlier on May 12, a total of 82 local transmissions were recorded in 11 provinces and cities, which were closely linked to various outbreaks in most northern and central localities.

American War period bombs found at a state-owned agency

Nearly 400 cluster bombs have been discovered at the headquarters of the northern province of Hai Duong People’s Committee.

The bombs were found during the drainage construction at the committee headquarter on May 10. They have diameters of 10-15 cm. Right after that, local authorities zoned the area and arranged security staff to be on duty there all round the clock.   

On the following day, the bombs were excavated and relocated.

An official from the committee said that the bombs were used by the American air force to destroy Phu Luong Bridge, National Highway 5A and the Hanoi-Haiphong railway route.

The authorities have continued the search in the headquarters campus for other possible remaining war ordinances.

Hanoi: Company director suspended for flouting COVID-19 regulations

A construction company director has been suspended after he allegedly flouted COVID-19 regulations.

Nguyễn Văn Thanh, director of the Hà Nội Construction Investment Company No 2 under the Hà Nội Housing Development Investment Corporation, took his family to Đà Nẵng during the four-day national holidays.

On his return to the capital, he should have made a health declaration as required by Hà Nội authorities for anyone who had left the city during that period.

According to CDC Hà Nội, after his return, Thanh did not complete any declaration and attended several meetings, played golf, and visited his home town in Thanh Oai District.

Both Thanh and his wife tested positive for coronavirus for SARS-CoV-2 on Wednesday.

Two other people who had close contact with Thanh were confirmed positive on Thursday morning while other F1 cases are still waiting for the test results.

The decision came after Hà Nội authorities late Wednesday night requested the company consider imposing a punishment upon him for the violation.

Emergency department of Hà Nội hospital locked down due to COVID-19

The emergency department of the Hữu Nghị (Friendship) Hospital in Hà Nội was locked down on Wednesday afternoon after two COVID-19 positive cases were detected in the hospital.

At 10.30am on Wednesday the Emergency Department received two patients named N.T.T.H and N.V.T residing at the Centre Point Building on 27 Lê Văn Lương Street, Hà Nội.

The two patients did not report their epidemiological history and said they wanted a check-up because they had a sore throat, cough and fever. Both were taken to the quarantine room and tested for COVID-19.

When the rapid results came out positive, the two patients said they had visited Da Nang from April 30 to May 2 and had symptoms of cough and sore throat from May 6.

The Emergency Department reported the incident to the hospital’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention. The department then was locked down and disinfected.

Five health workers who examined and took samples from the patients have been quarantined at the hospital.

The two patients were sent to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment at 2.30pm the same day.

The patients’ samples were sent to the city’s Centre for Disease Control for confirmation. The PCR test showed that they were positive for SARS-CoV-2.

According to Hà Nội CDC, the two patients travelled to many places and met many people.

The building where they live has been put under lockdown and disinfected. The epidemiological investigation is underway.

Võ Đăng Dũng, chairman of Thanh Xuân District, said local authorities have so far detected 10 F1 cases in the building. All of them have been quarantined and had their samples taken for testing.

He said the number of people who have close contact with the two patients would increase as their travel histories were very complex.

TV programme featuring cải lương, tuồng performers launched

Theatre stars Bạch Tuyết and Thanh Kim Huệ will perform in a TV programme about cải lương (reformed opera) and tuồng (classical drama) on HCM City Television this week. 

The programme, Dấu Ấn Huyền Thoại (Legends), will feature veteran artists who were famous in the 1960s and 80s and have worked to develop Vietnamese theatre. 

Its first show on Thursday will feature People’s Artist Tuyết and Meritorious Artist Huệ, gurus of cải lương in the South. Both artists have more than 40 years of experience in the industry.

The actresses will perform in famous extracts from cải lương and tuồng plays that were staged by the region’s leading troupes. 

Extracts from Đời Cô Lựu (Ms Lựu’s Life) and Câu Thơ Yên Ngựa (Poetry and Saddle), which portray southern people and their culture, will be included.  

Đời Cô Lựu is a production by the late well-known scriptwriter Trần Hữu Trang. Since its debut by the Thanh Minh -Thanh Nga Troupe in the 1930s, the play has been staged many times by art troupes in HCM City and southern provinces.

Câu Thơ Yên Ngựa was written and directed by late People’s Artist Thanh Tòng in 1982. The play features the themes of patriotism and bravery. 

Tuyết and Huệ will also talk at the show. Video clips on the history of cải lương and the artists’ careers will be screened. 

“Our programme will offer quality plays with southern dramas by talented artists,” theatre director Thanh Hiệp of the HCM City Theatre Artists’ Association, who is a member of the programme’s art managing board, said. 

“Cải lương, which originated 100 years ago, was performed by small troupes in the Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta provinces of Cần Thơ, Sóc Trăng, Cà Mau and Bạc Liêu. The art developed in the 1930s and 40s in Sài Gòn (HCM City now) and is popular among southern people today.” 

“Through talented artists in our performance, audiences will learn about the history and development of cải lương in different periods,” he said. 

Meritorious Artist and zitherist Hải Phượng will perform in the TV theatre programme Dấu Ấn Huyền Thoại (Legends). Photo Courtesy of the producer
After actresses Tuyết and Huệ, dozens of theatre stars will appear in the programme. 

People’s Artist Thanh Tuấn and Australian-Vietnamese Thanh Hằng have been invited. 

"I hope my art will help fans, particularly youth, understand why and how cải lương is the spirit of Vietnamese people," said Hằng, who returned to live in HCM City in 2016 after 15 years away from home.

The programme, Dấu Ấn Huyền Thoại (Legends), will air at 8pm every Thursday on HTV7 channel.

Nearly 1.7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to arrive in Vietnam this weekend

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said on May 13 that 1.682 million doses of AstraZenceca COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in Vietnam on May 16.

Long said that the vaccine, supplied by COVAX Facility via the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will be distributed to all agencies and localities to speed up the vaccination programme.

The official affirmed that the ministry has been seeking other sources of vaccines and implementing comprehensive measures to ensure safe vaccination.

As of May 13, 62 localities nationwide have completed their vaccination plans with more than 942,030 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine injected into frontline medical staff, people involving in COVID-19 prevention and control activities as well as military and public security officers.

Vietnam has documented 2,213 domestically-transmitted infections and 1,445 imported cases so far. As many as 643 new cases were recorded since the latest outbreak hit the nation on April 27./.

Campaign launched to protect safety for elections

 

The Ministry of Public Security on May 12 held a virtual ceremony to launch a campaign to ensure security and safety for the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also head of the National Election Council, attended the event.
 
In his remarks, National Assembly Chairman Hue lauded efforts made by the public security force over the past time to guarantee security and safety for the elections, slated for May 23.

To ensure absolute security and safety for the important political event, the top legislator asked the force not to let the guard down.

Given the complex developments of COVID-19, Hue said one important task is to ensure constituencies do not turn into pandemic hotbeds.

He also urged relevant agencies, all-level Party Committees and authorities in localities as well as voters and people nationwide to coordinate with and create the best possible conditions for the public security force to outstandingly perform their assigned tasks./.

Discussions held on classifying impairments for ASEAN Para Games 11

A meeting was held in Hanoi on May 12 to discuss the classification of impairments for the upcoming 11th ASEAN Para Games.

Host Vietnam will assign sevent - nine medical staff from the Vietnam Sports Hospital and the Vietnam Anti-Doping Agency to an expert team completing the task.

An online training conference on classifications is scheduled for August-September.

The ASEAN Para Sports Federation proposed conducting the classifications online.

The timing of the games will depend on the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam, the region, and the world./.

Elections in ethnic minority areas

The mountainous district of Song Hinh in Phu Yen province is home to 21 ethnic minority groups, mostly the E De people. To prepare for the upcoming elections to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure, the district has had been busy raising awareness in ethnic minority areas.

Many ethnic minority groups live in Song Hinh district and their awareness about the upcoming elections has been raised via posters, banners, and bandrolls and by the personal efforts of village elders and reputable local people. These people visit every house together with officials and encourage voters to attend meetings, meet candidates, and exercise their rights as citizens to participate in the election.

As election day draws closer, radio programmes from the Center for Culture - Sports - Broadcasting - Television in Song Hinh district are being broadcast in both Vietnamese and the Ede language. Vehicles with loud speakers also pass through every village to raise awareness.

The diverse means of election popularisation has gradually raised awareness in ethnic minority areas in Song Hinh district in particular and Phu Yen province in general. Voters are now ready to participate in the election and select candidates who will represent the will and aspirations of the people./.

Vietnam Buddhist Sangha presents medical supplies to help India fight COVID-19

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has presented 100 ventilators and 50 oxygen concentrators worth nearly 14 billion VND (606,000 USD) to India as the pandemic reaches crisis levels in the country.

Addressing the virtual handover ceremony in Hanoi on May 12, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the VBS’s Executive Council, emphasised the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and India.

Thousands of Vietnamese Buddhists visit religious sites in India and hundreds of Vietnamese monks and nuns study at universities in the country each year, according to Thien, who is also Vice President of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung told the ceremony that the aid demonstrates the sentiment and solidarity between the two peoples and contributes to enhancing the friendship.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Government presented medical supplies worth 70,000 USD to India, while the Vietnam-India Friendship Association donated 100 ventilators.

Dung expressed his belief that with its medical capacity and resolve, India will soon overcome the current challenges, curb the pandemic, and restore socio-economic activities.

For his part, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma thanked the VBS and Vietnamese monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers for their valuable contributions.

The aid package, he said, mirrors the humanitarian links and time-tested strategic relationship between the two countries./.

Vietnam basically bringing COVID-19 under control

Vietnam has exerted sound control over the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, particularly at the Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Vietnam National Cancer Hospital (Hospital K), Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen affirmed at a May 12 online working session with the two medical facilities, which have been hotspots during this outbreak.

Tuyen said that new community infections linked to the two hospitals have been recorded, adding that they have made all-out efforts to stamp out the pandemic.

He requested them ensure their facilities and equipment are ready to receive COVID-19 patients.

The deputy minister also asked the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases to review its regulations, instructions, and procedures in patient treatment areas to avoid cross-transmission and the spread of the disease to the community.

He said it is necessary to review screening activities, adding that hospital staff working in risky areas like patient reception desks, examination departments, and emergency sections should receive periodic Covid-19 testing at least once a week.

More than 80 percent of COVID-19 patients in this latest outbreak do not need ventilators, he said.

The COVID-19 tally in Vietnam stood at 3,593 as of 12:00 on May 12. Cases have now been found in 26 cities and provinces nationwide./.

Deputy PM stresses prevention of COVID-19 transmission in IPs

Deputy Prime Minister and head of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control Vu Duc Dam has asked localities to do their best to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading in factories, especially at industrial parks (IPs).

During an online meeting with permanent members of COVID-19 prevention and control steering committees and leaders of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces and Da Nang city on May 12, Dam hailed their efforts in responding swiftly and responsibly to the pandemic.

The Deputy PM noted that Vietnam is now home to 369 IPs and nearly 30 border gates and processing zones with 3.8 million workers, and around 700 industrial clusters with 600,000 workers. Since early on, the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control has required strict enforcement of pandemic prevention in those areas, he said, pointing out that if IPs are hit by the pandemic, production and supply chains would be disrupted, putting negative effects on the national economy.

He stressed that all localities nationwide must quickly direct enterprises, factories, and IPs to periodically update their anti-pandemic work on the COVID-19 safe living map at http://antoancovid.vn.

The health ministry has been assigned to step up the licensing of new testing technologies and to issue specific guidelines to localities on how to use testing methods in different cases and in areas with varying degrees of risk.

Cities and provinces nationwide must popularise prevention and control regulations to enterprises with many workers, particularly those at IPs. Businesses must also actively join in periodic virus screening to ensure safe production.

The Deputy PM ordered quarantine facilities to be kept ready to prevent cross-infection in poor conditions in quarantine. He also directed the Minister of Industry and Trade to work closely with the Ministry of Health to hold a nationwide training conference to ensure safe industrial production, especially at IPs./.

Two more provinces to hold early voting

The National Election Council (NEC) has allowed the Central Highlands provinces of Kon Tum and Dak Lak to hold early voting at certain polling stations.

Accordingly, voters at polling stations in Ngoc Linh, Muong Hoong, Dak Man, Dak Plo, Dak Nhoong and Dak Long communes in Dak Glei district, and the border guard station in Dak Xu commune in Ngoc Hoi district, Kon Tum province, will cast their ballots to elect deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Council for 2021-2026 on May 22, one day ahead of schedule.

The voting will also take place the same day at polling stations of armed forces in Ea Sup and Buon Don districts, and Buon Ma Thuot city of Dak Lak province.

Apart from Kon Tum and Dak Lak, 12 other cities and provinces will also hold early voting in certain polling stations, namely Hai Phong, Can Tho, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Dinh, Ca Mau, Dak Nong, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Quang Binh and Nghe An.

The NEC has asked local election committees, agencies and organisations to quickly draw up plans for the early elections, and step up the information work.

The time for early polling has been set in line with Article 71 of the law on election of deputies to the NA and People’s Councils.

Voters nationwide will go to the poll to select 500 deputies to the 15th NA from 868 candidates on May 23./.

Endangered sea turtle rescued in Quang Nam

A green sea turtle is rescued on the beach of Thang Binh district of Quang Nam province. (Photo courtesy of Cham Islands MPA)

A female sea turtle that was rescued by a fisherman in Thang Binh district has been handed over to rescuers of the Da Nang-based SaSa Marine animals rescue team.

The Cham Island’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) management board confirmed to Vietnam News that the green turtle (Lepidochelys Olivacea) was found by a local fisherman on the beach of Thang Binh of Quang Nam province early this month.

It had suffered serious injuries with two-thirds of its rear limbs and part of its shell cut.

Head of the SaSa team Le Chien said the turtle might have been attacked by a shark in the ocean.

He said the turtle tried to survive in the ocean after the shark attack, but became exhausted and stranded on the beach.

Chien said the turtle was X-rayed and cared for at a pool in Da Nang, but it would be tough to recover from the wounds.

He has been in contact with experts from the US to help the turtle recover.

In February, the team and the MPA management board rescued and released a healthy female olive ridley turtle – an endangered species – to the ocean after five months of care at the MPA.

The Cham Island MPA said at least 30 sea turtles had become trapped in fishing nets off the islands since 2018. Two-thirds die after becoming entangled.

Only seven species of sea turtle exist in the world, and five of those are found living in Vietnam./.

Aviation authority demands extra efforts to maintain flight safety

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has requested that all measures be enhanced to ensure flight safety following recent cases of lasers being pointed at cockpits and objects like flycams, drones, and kites being flown near airports.

The CAAV has demanded that the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and airports work closely with local administrations and relevant agencies to detect and prevent the pointing of lasers at aircraft, the illegal use of flycams and drones, and the flying of kites in the vicinity of airports in a timely manner.

It also asked for stronger communications to raise public awareness about aviation safety regulations while strictly addressing any violations.

Recently, as Flight BL6431 was preparing to land at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, its pilot spotted a kite flying to the left of the aircraft and reported the incident to the operations centre, which later informed related units to collect the kite.

A kite was also recently found flying to the north of a runway at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport.

Aviation experts said although there were no consequences from either incident, they still posed a serious threat to flight safety and similar cases must be prevented in the future./.

Friendship association provides aid for Cambodia to fight COVID-19

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association on May 12 presented 500 million VND (around 21,680 USD) to the Cambodian Embassy in Vietnam to support Cambodian people in their fight against COVID-19.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony in Hanoi, VUFO President Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga said over the past two week, both Vietnam and Cambodia are facing the complexity of the pandemic. The Vietnamese government and people are concerned about the developments of the pandemic in countries in the region, especially neighbouring nations.

People of countries need to join hands to deal with the health crisis, she stressed.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth affirmed that the assistance reflects the solidarity and friendship between the two countries.

He affirmed that his country will use effectively the aid for its COVID-19 prevention and control.

The Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association launched a campaign to raise fund to support Cambodia people to fight COVID-19 during April 28 - May 7. The campaign received warm response from members of the association and its chapters nationwide./.

US mission to Vietnam seeks candidates for YSEALI Academic Fellowship

The US Mission to Vietnam is seeking candidates for the Fall 2021 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship on civic engagement, environmental issues and natural resource management, and social entrepreneurship and economic development.

Vietnamese citizens aged between 18 and 25, full-time undergraduate students or those who have graduated from college, university, or other institutions of higher learning, who demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in their university or place of work, an interest in community service and volunteerism, and have a good command of English, are applicable for the programme, said a press release issued by the mission on May 12.

The deadline for application is June 13, 2021.

The YSEALI is a public diplomacy programme designed to advance regional strategic goals, break down barriers that separate the next generation of leaders in Southeast Asia, and link those emerging leaders to the US.

The YSEALI Academic Fellowship is an intensive short-term academic programme whose purpose is to provide groups of young leaders with a deeper understanding of the US and a particular theme, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills. The Fellowship will include a virtual academic residency and an integrated in-person experience approximately two to three weeks in length at a US host institution.

During the academic residency, participants will engage remotely from their home countries in Institute activities including academic sessions, site visits, leadership development exercises, and cultural activities. If conditions allow, participants will travel to the US in Spring 2022 to participate in educational and cultural activities inside and outside of the classroom, lectures and site visits to local communities./.

Public security ministry launches campaign to protect security, safety for elections

The Ministry of Public Security on May 12 held a virtual ceremony to launch a campaign to ensure security and safety for the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also head of the National Election Council, attended the event.

In his remarks, Hue lauded efforts made by the public security force over the past time to guarantee security and safety for the elections, slated for May 23.

To ensure absolute security and safety for the important political event, the top legislator asked the force not to let the guard down.

Given the complex developments of COVID-19, Hue said one important task is to ensure constituencies do not turn into pandemic hotbeds.

He also urged relevant agencies, all-level Party Committees and authorities in localities as well as voters and people nationwide to coordinate with and create the best possible conditions for the public security force to outstandingly perform their assigned tasks.

Major General Le Hong Nam, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Police, on behalf of the entire public security force, pledged to make every effort to protect security and safety for the elections./.

Health Ministry receives 10,000 COVID-19 test kits

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan received 10,000 sets of COVID-19 testing kits donated by the Ampharco U.S.A Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company at a ceremony held in Hanoi on May 12.

Speaking at the event, Thuan lauded the company’s success in using the technology from the Vietnam Military Medical University to produce the ‘made in Vietnam’ kits.

Licensed by the Ministry of Health to circulate under Decision No. 2263/QD-BYT issued on May 7, the Ampharco U.S.A’s AmphaBio HT- Hithroughput PCR COVID-19 kit can detect most of the current coronavirus variants. As a joint product between the firm and the university, it has been tested and clinically proven on 2,000 patient samples.

Highlighting the meaning of the aid, Thuan affirmed it demonstrated the firm’s corporate social responsibility in the fight against the pandemic.

Under the Prime Minister’s direction, the ministry set up a board for the mobilisation and coordination of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control in March. The freshly received test kits will be stored at the company’s warehouse to ensure preservation conditions and be distributed to localities in need following real-life situations./.

Plastic litter kill Nghe An cows

Nylon bags found in the cows' stomach

 

Many cows in Nghe An Province have died from eating plastic bags.  

Farmers in Nghe An were worried after dozens of cows suddenly died. They all have the same symptoms including swollen stomach, foam and substances on the mouth.

"I often let them wander outside to find food. I didn't know why they died so suddenly. This is the first time in 20 years so many cows of mine have died at once. If they were all well and healthy, I could sell them for meat all and earn over VND100m (USD4,300)," farmer Ngap said.

Pot, another farmer from Dak Bot Village, said, "All four cows died this early morning. They were all healthy the previous night. They were our most valuable assets."

Chairman of Kon Chieng Commune People's Committee Vo Dinh Huy said after receiving the news, they had launched an investigation to find the cause of the problem.

"In April, a total of 34 cows died in Dak O Village. We have asked the villagers to report to the authorities immediately if their cows keep dying. We also asked them to lock the cows up instead of letting them wander to find food," he said.

Truong Thi Dao, chairman of Dak Troi Commune People's Committee, said unusual cow deaths have also been detected in Dak Bot and To Bla villages. A total of 22 cows from 18 households have died.

"We found a large number of plastic bags in the cows' stomachs. It looked like they ate the bags littering on the fields and were unable to digest. The grass has withered due to hot weather so we advised the villagers to plant banana plants as cow fodder," she said.

Duong Ngoc Thanh, deputy head of the Veterinary Department under Gia Lai Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, confirmed the cause of the deaths.

School-year ends early for Covid-19 prevention

Schools in many localities have announced an early summer holiday due to the spreading Covid-19 pandemic. 

Vinh Long provincial authorities announced that nursery schools would close from May 12 while primary, secondary, and high school students would take exams and begin the summer break by May 14. An Giang authorities also allowed nursery pupils to leave schools from May 12, primary school children from May 13 and secondary and high school students from May 17.

Chairman of Binh Dinh People's Committee Nguyen Phi Long asked educational facilities to end the school year early by May 15, the same time as Dong Thap Province. Thanh Hoa and Phu Tho provinces let students take the summer break from May 11. Schools with unfinished curriculum must organise online classes.

Lai Chau Department of Education and Training issued an official document stating that students can take summer break early and schools do not have to hold a closing ceremony. Nam Dinh Department of Education and Training asked schools to complete administrative works to let students take the summer break early. Online classes will be held for 9th graders to prepare for high-school entrance exams while 12th graders must go to schools to prepare for university entrance exams.

In Tay Ninh, nursery students will take the summer break from May 14 while primary, secondary and most high-school students can stay home from May 15 and take online classes until May 28. 12th graders must still go to school.

Tra Vinh Province said exams will be held early so they can end the school year from May 17 to 22.

Long An launches legal proceedings against organisers of illegal exit, entry

Competent authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Long An launched legal proceedings against 29 people engaging in 14 cases of organising illegal exit from and entry into Vietnam in the first four months of this year, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

Long An province has detected 189 people illegally crossing the border since the outset of the year. All of them received administrative penalties for violating the law, and were put under quarantine in line with current regulations.

As the COVID-19 pandemic becomes more complicated, the province has ordered relevant sides to ensure round-the-clock patrols along the border with Cambodia with a view to preventing illegal border jumpers.

Thirty-six COVID-19 prevention groups have been established, being on mission all day and night in the border areas.

The local border guards have maintained good border management cooperation with the Cambodian counterparts so as to have good understanding of the situation in border areas.

Meanwhile, communication work has been paid due attention to raise public awareness of the necessity to prevent illegal entry and exit in the fight against COVID-19./.

Vietnamese association presents 100 ventilators to India

Minister of Information and Communications and Chairman of the Vietnam – India Friendship Association (VIFA) Nguyen Manh Hung presented 100 ventilators to help Indian people fight the COVID-19 pandemic during his virtual meeting with Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma on May 11.

At the event, Hung informed the ambassador about Vietnam’s ongoing battle against the pandemic and expressed his sympathy toward the Indian Government and people over difficulties met by them in the fight.

He said in April 2020, the VIFA handed over 100,000 anti-bacteria masks to Indian people and urged Vingroup to offer 100 ventilators worth over 10 billion VND (434,000 USD) to them.

The minister expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Government and with solidarity of the entire people, the pandemic in India will be put under control soon.

Verma, for his part, said the move reflects the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two nations amid the pandemic.  

He also pledged to effectively use ventilators presented by the Vietnamese side./.

TikTok Vietnam hosts video contest to raise awareness of climate change threat

A contest to produce a video in response to climate change and other ecological disasters was launched on TikTok on May 11, with all people nationwide eligible to enter by simply using the hashtag #Phongchongthientai. 

The organisers are receiving entries up to May 15, with the results of the competition set to be announced sometime between May 18 and May 21.

The total prize money on offer is up to VND30 million, including one first-place prize of VND10 million, one second-place prize of VND7 million, and one-third prize of VND5 million.

Furthermore, the producer of the video which gets the most likes and shares will receive a cash prize of VND3 million. The contest has so far attracted hundreds of videos, with 5.6 million viewers in total.

The event is being jointly organised by the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority in co-operation with the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and TikTok Vietnam.

The purpose of the competition is to mark the 75th anniversary since the establishment of the country’s natural disaster response sector and National Disaster Prevention Week from May 15 to May 22.

Last year saw the nation suffer the impact of 576 natural disasters, including 14 storms and two tropical disasters which caused huge losses for people nationwide.

The contest is anticipated to help locals raise public awareness of the significant impact of natural disasters and strive to actively reduce potential losses in the future.

Vietnam national team to play friendly against Jordan on May 31

The Vietnamese men’s national football team will take on Jordan in a friendly match in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 31 in preparation for the upcoming second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The fixture was agreed upon by both the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the Jordan Football Association on May 10.

The national team, led by head coach Park Hang-seo, are scheduled to arrive in the UAE on May 27. Upon arrival in the Middle Eastern country, the squad will have four days in which to take part in a brief training camp before playing against Jordan.

At present, the national team are leading Group G with total 11 points, with Malaysia in second place on nine points.

They are followed by Thailand on eight points, the UAE on six points, and Indonesia on zero points.

Currently, Jordan are placed third in Group C after earning 10 points so far. They are behind second-place Kuwait who are also on 10 points but have a higher goal difference compared to Jordan, as well as group leaders Australia on 12 points.

All of the matches in Group C are set to be held at a venue in Kuwait, which neighbours the UAE, providing favourable conditions for the upcoming friendly match.

In the most recent match between the two during the round of 16 at the 2019 Asian Cup, the Vietnamese team beat Jordan 4-2 in a penalty shootout to progress to the quarter-finals.

New Zealand contributes VND800 million to forestation project in Vietnam

The New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam and the Song Foundation has announced a contribution of VND800 million (NZ$48,000) from New Zealand to the Forest Symphony project in Ninh Thuan province in response to the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to plant one billion trees by 2025.

It will be jointly implemented by the Ninh Thuan Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Thuan Nam Coastal Protection Forest Management Board and the Green Happiness program of the Song Foundation.

“The New Zealand Embassy is proud to be part of a project that will see an estimated three hectares of forest planted in Ninh Thuan Province. Reforestation is critical to our planet’s long-term health and this is a fantastic result for Ninh Thuan,” Tredene Dobson, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, said at a press conference to announce the contribution.

According to Dobson, forestation and reforestation are the best and most effective ways to reduce global warming.

The Forest Symphony project, spanning from 2021 to 2025, aims to plant more than 40,000 trees on an area of 20 hectares in the province’s coastal district of Thuan Nam.

“The contribution’s purpose is to achieve better environmental protection through forestation. Benefits from the project, including protecting underground water, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and preventing soil erosion, will create real changes for the future of Ninh Thuan Province,” said Pham Thi Huong Giang, chairwoman of Song Foundation.

To mark the new milestone of the project and the contribution from New Zealand, the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam and the Song Foundation, in collaboration with Fulbright University Vietnam organized an online seminar to raise public awareness over climate change. The experts also discussed how forestation projects such as Forest Symphony and Green Happiness can create changes.

Earlier on May 7, the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam and the East Meets West Foundation launched a project on empowering poor and underprivileged women affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Hai Duong Province.

With VND800 million in financial assistance from the New Zealand Embassy, the project will be implemented by the East Meets West Foundation in collaboration with the Women’s Union of Hai Duong Province. It is expected to help 270 poor households overcome the impacts of COVID-19 in five communes in Kim Mon District.

"Women are not victims, and we know that they will be at the forefront of the economic recovery, and we will be there to support them," said New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson.

Through the project, vulnerable women will receive support to restore their livelihoods to improve incomes such as seeds, breeds, fertilizers or production tools suitable for their family.

"We believe that with this project, vulnerable poor women and their families will have the opportunity to access resources for sustainable economic development and overcome the difficulties caused by the pandemic," said Nguyen Hong Hanh, country director of East Meets West.

Vietnamese U22 side to miss French football tournament

The Vietnamese national U22 team will not compete in the upcoming Toulon Tournament in France due to the complicated global developments relating to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) had previously agreed to send the U22 team led by head coach Park Hang-seo to France in order to participate in the tournament following an invitation sent by the French Football Federation.

However, due to the impact of the pandemic, the Vietnamese side have been forced to withdraw. In addition, the competition itself has been pushed back from the summer to the autumn.

In line with the new schedule, the squad and coach Park Hang-seo will instead come together to participate in a training camp in the nation in preparation for upcoming tournaments, including the SEA Games 31.

The Toulon Tournament is widely considered to be a miniature World Cup for youth teams, with the likes of France’s Thierry Henry, Portugal’s Manuel Rui Costa, and England’s Alan Shearer having all played in the competition in the past.

This year’s version of the tournament will feature the participation of 10 teams, including Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, and Romania.

They will compete in a round-robin format to choose the group winners and the best second-placed team who will progress to the semi-finals.

Previously, the tournament was scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 13. However, due to the impact of COVID-19 the competition has been rescheduled to start on August 7.

Script creation contest for documentary and animated films launched

The Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially launched the 2021 Script Creation Contest for Documentary and Animated Films on May 11.
The contest is open to both professional and amateur writers who are living, studying and working in Vietnam.

The organising board is seeking scripts that have high ideological and artistic values and convey deep humane messages.

The documentaries are 60 minutes long and animated films are 90 minutes long. The contest is expected to create a source of scripts for film production during the 2023-2025 period.

The documentary scripts must have contents that reflect the vivid reality of social life as well as new discoveries about life and people with multi-dimensional, humanistic, and benevolent perspectives.

The animation scripts should promote education as well as honour the values of truth, goodness, and beauty imbued with national cultural identities. The organising board encourages the themes related to the history, legend, fairy tale, fantasy and fiction on nature.

The scripts should be sent to the Cinema Department from May 17 to August 31. The awards ceremony is expected to be held in December.

HCMC determined to complete key transport infrastructure projects in 2021-2025

Ho Chi Minh City has identified key transport infrastructure projects so that the city will complete them in the 2021-2025 period. 

In its proposal to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the Department of Transport mentioned the project of transport infrastructure development in the city in the 2020-2030 period. The plan supplied construction detail of bridges and roads from 2020 to 2030.

Director of the Department of Transport Tran Quang Lam said the city will speed up transport infrastructure projects including four roads in the new urban Thu Thiem, Nguyen Huu Canh, Dang Thuc Vinh, and Long Kieng Bridge in Nha Be District and Hang Ngoai Bridge in Go Vap District this year.

Additionally, bridges and roads connecting regions including Cat Lai Bridge, flyovers along the road 25C, roads connecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces of Long An and Tien Giang as well as upgrade of Nguyen Van Bus Street and expressway HCMC- Moc Bai in the Southern Province of Tay Ninh, Mr. Lam said.

Director Lam noted that completion of the ring belt 3 is the city’s top priority because the ring belt plays a vital role to ease traffic congestion in roads from the eastern region to the western region indirectly affecting highways such as HCMC - Long Thang - Dau Giay, HCMC - Trung Luong, Ben Luc - Long Thanh - Dau Giay, HCMC - Moc Bai, HCMC - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh.

Because of the ring belt’s important role, the city has petitioned to speed up the projects several times; however, the Ministry of Transport has not sought investment sources for the ring belt; hence, the project has been delayed.

Therefore, to surmount this situation, the Department of Transport has advised the municipal People's Committee to issue a list of key projects in each year, in five years, or ten years.

Based on the annual plan, five-year plan, or ten-year plan, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Construction and related agencies will together remove obstacles to accelerate the compensation and resettlement for land acquisition, site clearance for construction of traffic infrastructure projects.

The city’s urban infrastructure must be better within the next one or two years, according to the direction of Thu Duc City, to reduce congestion and accidents in a bid to satisfy residents’ expectations.

According to the city’s plan of investment and development of transport infrastructure in the period of 2021-2030 submitted to the People's Committee, the total investment is expected to be VND 970,650 billion; of which, the state budget is nearly VND400,000 billion while the money from different sources is nearly VND570,925 billion.

Only two twin trains allowed operating daily on North-South railway

According to Vietnam Railways Corporation, there will be only two twin trains allowed operation daily on North-South railway, starting from May 14, due to a significant decrease of passengers under the Covid-19 pandemic impact.

Earlier, the railway sector temporarily halted some twin trains on the North- South railway amidst the Covid-19 escalation along with strictly performing the pandemic control and prevention measures at train stations and on trains such as equipping with antiseptic hand sanitizers, regularly checking temperature, performing medical declaration of passengers, spraying disinfection at train stations and inside all carriages, etc.

Besides, the railway sector recommended passengers to strictly comply with the 5K regulation, including khau trang (face mask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration) against the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Ministry expects to provide 5G coverage nationwide in 2022

The Ministry of Information and Communications’ new mission is to lead national digital transformation process in order to build a digital Viet Nam, including digital government, digital economy, digital society and digital media.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung made the above statement at a working session with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday.

Nguyen said digital economy, which accounted for 8.2 percent of Viet Nam’s GDP in 2020, will open up a new space for the country’s economic growth. Viet Nam expects to raise the GDP share of digital economy by 20 percent within the next five years.

In 2018, a report by Google and Temasek referred to Viet Nam’s digital economy as a “dragon being unleashed.” Two years later, the same report put Viet Nam and Indonesia as countries the forefront of Southeast Asia’s digital economy growth.

The ministry also set goals to increase the number of digital enterprises from 58,000 to 100,000 by 2025, and provide 5G coverage nationwide in 2022, according to Nguyen.

He said that one of the ministry’s immediate tasks is to propose amendments to laws on post, telecommunications, and e-transactions in the direction of enriching contents on digital economy and digital infrastructure.

Speaking at the session, PM Pham urged the ministry to mobilize all resources for the development of strategic infrastructures and spearhead sectors./.

State President meets with ethnic delegates from Bac Giang

Bac Giang needs to pay further attention to poverty alleviation and human resources development serving ethnic work, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged the northern province on May 12.

During a meeting with delegates of ethnic minority groups from the northern province, the State leader noted that the province must also attach importance to building a strong political system so that ethnic people will always place their trust on the Party.

He urged the province to take care of ethnic minority children’s study and better implement major programmes involving ethnic people.

President Phuc affirmed that maintaining and upholding the national solidarity holds great importance for national construction and development, in the context of hostile forces often making use of ethnic and religious issues to trigger division and sabotage policies of the Party and State.

On the occasion, he asked the Party Committee, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front of Bac Giang to continue calling on local people to comply with regulations for COVID-19 prevention and actively participate in the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure on Sunday May 23./.

HCM City leaders extend greetings on Buddha’s birthday

A delegation of representatives from the Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on May 12 visited and offered greetings to several local Buddhist establishments ahead of Lord Buddha’s 2565th birthday.

The delegation was led by Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai.

At the Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda, Hai extended the best wishes to Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, who is Deputy Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Chairman of the Executive Council of the HCM City Buddhist Sangha, and local dignitaries and followers on the important festival for Buddhists.

On behalf of the city’s leaders, Hai thanked the Ho Chi Minh City Buddhist Sangha, Buddhist dignitaries and followers for joining hands with municipal authorities in the fight against COVID-19 and helping people facing difficulties due to the pandemic.

He suggested the HCM City Buddhist Sangha continue to coordinate with municipal authority in encouraging Buddhist dignities and followers and local residents to uphold their responsibility and actively participate in the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure.

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang highlighted the meaning of the Buddha's Birthday, saying that to ensure safety and abide by regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, the city’s Buddhist Sangha has downsized many Buddhist activities to save money for supporting the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines of the city, and the fight against the pandemic of Vietnam and neighbouring countries.

The city’s Buddhist Sangha will continue efforts to make more contributions to the city’s construction and development, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang affirmed./.

Vietnam calls for cooperation to end Yemen conflict

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), called on all parties to strengthen cooperation to seek a sustainable solution to end conflict and promote peace and stability in Yemen at a UN Security Council (UNSC) debate that was held online on May 12.

The Vietnamese diplomat showed his deep concern over the escalating military actions and regular border attacks in Yemen.

He welcomed the recent shuttle diplomacy efforts by UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths and associates to promote stakeholders' participation in the UN-led peace proposal for Yemen.

It is crucial to immediately stop hostile actions, not to impede humanitarian activities and call on the international community to continue providing financial support to Yemen, Quy said, urging parties to accelerate the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the Riyadh Agreement, with the UN playing a mediating role.

According to Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock, relevant parties have yet to get close to an agreement to end conflict in Yemen.

Meanwhile, clashes have forced more than 25,000 people in Marib to flee, worsening the humanitarian situation, they said, adding that the Middle East country is facing challenges in severe economic crisis, escalated prices, shortage of financial resources, risk of widespread hunger and increased COVID-19 infections and deaths.

At the discussion, UNSC member states called for an end to violence, greater efforts to help Yemen fight hunger, and increased funding for UN humanitarian operations.

Several countries expressed concern over attacks on civilians and civil infrastructure facilities in Saudi Arabia. They called on parties not to obstruct humanitarian activities and protect civilians, especially women and children. They also underlined the need to realise the Stockholm and Riyadh Agreements and urged Ansar Allah to cooperate with the UN in solving the issue of the Safer oil tanker off the coast of Yemen before it is too late./.

Vietnam condemns violence in escalating Israel - Palestine conflict

The UN Security Council (UNSC) held the second emergency meeting this week on May 12 to discuss escalating tension between Israel and Palestine in recent days, during which Vietnam expressed serious concern over and oppose related violent acts.

Delivering a briefing on the situation at the meeting, Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, stressed if there is a war, people of both sides will suffer the consequences. He called on the UNSC and related parties to take urgent action to prevent the risk.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said that Vietnam is deeply concerned by the escalation of tension, violence and armed conflict leading to casualties in both sides.

Vietnam condemns violence and excessive use of lethal weapons against civilians, he affirmed, calling on all parties involved to immediately stop the escalation of violence, exercise maximum restraint, and avoid actions and statements that could further complicate the tension.

Vietnam calls on the parties to resolve conflicts by peaceful measures; ensure the security, safety and legitimate interests of the people; and not to attack their essential infrastructure, Quy noted.

The diplomat also emphasised the important role of regional and international parties, including the Middle East Quartet, and welcomed recent efforts of international organisations and countries to reduce the stress.

The first emergency meeting on the matter took place on May 10 at the request of eight council member nations – Tunisia, Ireland, China, Estonia, France, Norway, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vietnam./.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes