The HCMC Department of Transport has unveiled a plan to develop more than 500 kilometers of urban railways by 2060.

Under the plan, which has been presented to the city government for consideration, the city would have about 183 kilometers of metro lines by 2035, with lines 1 to 6 ready for service by then. Towards 2045, another 168.36 kilometers of urban rail would be built in the city, increasing the citywide urban railway network to over 351 kilometers.

The vision for 2060 includes developing lines 8, 9 and 10, concluding the expansive development with a total of 510.02 kilometers.

The network is designed to cater to the growing commuter demands in the city.

The plan would require an estimated VND790.53 trillion, or US$32 billion, by 2035. The metro lines in HCMC will be able to accommodate speeds of 80 to 160 kilometers per hour.

Deputy FM extends sympathy to OVs affected by Warsaw shopping centre fire

In the wake of a devastating fire that ripped through the Marywilska 44 shopping centre in Warsaw, Poland, on May 12, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who also serves as Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, has extended her heartfelt sympathy to Vietnamese nationals impacted by the blaze.

Through a letter sent on May 13, Hang expressed her most profound sympathy to the affected families.

She conveyed her belief that during this challenging time, overseas Vietnamese, businesses and organisations in Poland and across the world as well, will come together in a spirit of solidarity and compassion. This unified front will be crucial in assisting the affected families in overcoming their hardships and finding solutions to rebuild their lives and businesses.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland to promptly work with the host authorities to ensure the protection of legitimate rights and interests of those impacted by the fire. The embassy will prioritise expediting assistance with essential documents, allowing the affected families to regain normalcy as quickly as possible.

The Marywilska 44 shopping centre housed an estimated 400 Vietnamese small traders with nearly 600 stalls. Additionally, hundreds of Vietnamese workers found employment in stalls, nail salons, and restaurants within the complex.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland Ha Hoang Hai announced that the embassy will be taking additional steps to support the affected community. This includes opening an extra reception session each week specifically dedicated to receiving and processing consular documents for Vietnamese citizens who lost their documents in the fire. The embassy will also convene meetings with Warsaw's leaders to discuss potential support measures, including document issuance, financial aid, job placement, and a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Poland can be reached via the following hotlines: 48 782 257 359 and 48 601 925 288./.

Vietnamese ambassador presents letter of credence to ASEAN Secretary General

Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, the new ambassador and permanent representative of Vietnam presented her credentials to Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn at the ASEAN Secretariat’s headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 13.

Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn has praised Vietnam's contributions to building ASEAN Community at a meeting with Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, the new ambassador and permanent representative of Vietnam to the bloc in Jakarta on May 13.

At a reception following the credentials presentation ceremony, Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn congratulated Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong on taking on her assignment and affirmed that the ASEAN Secretariat is ready to cooperate closely with the Ambassador personally as well as the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to support the regional bloc’s activities towards achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and beyond.

He also praised Vietnam’s proactive and coordinating role in ASEAN's foreign relations, particularly the dialogue relations between ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

vietnamese ambassador presents letter of credence to asean secretary general picture 2
The ASEAN chief expressed gratitude for Vietnam's facilitation of his recent working visit to the country, during which he attended and delivered a speech at the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF), a significant initiative of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. He applauded the initiative and showed his appreciation of Vietnam's leading role in shaping the future of the bloc.

In response, Huong said she hopes that the Secretariat and Secretary-General would further make greater efforts to assist member countries in completing and effectively implementing goals set by the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, particularly bringing the community closer to the people and delivering tangible benefits to citizens and businesses.

She thanked the Secretariat and Secretary-General for their cooperation with and support for the Permanent Mission of Vietnam, especially during its tenure of coordinating ASEAN-RoK relations.

She said she is looking forward to more assistance to Vietnam in its forthcoming rotating tasks within ASEAN.

Training course for Vietnamese staff officers on UN missions

The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence on May 13 opened a training course for United Nations staff officers with the support of the US Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI).

The course, running from May 13-29, aims to equip UN staff officers of the Vietnam People's Army and partner countries with knowledge and skills within the framework of the GPOI programme who are preparing to deploy tasks in UN peacekeeping missions, or those working in this field.

It is designed to prepare Vietnamese trainees who are set to join UN peacekeeping missions.

This gives a chance to enhance friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the US and international partners in the peacekeeping field.

Lee Seck Weng, head of the GPOI Lecturer Team, applauded Vietnam’s contributions to UN peacekeeping missions with the deployment of military personnel since 2014.

The country’s peacekeeping force has not only created a significant impact on the ground but also inspired others to join in the noble cause of maintaining peace in regions affected by conflicts and disasters, Lee said.

Remains of Vietnamese martyrs repatriated from Laos

A ceremony was held on May 13 in Vientiane, Laos to hand over and repatriate two sets of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who sacrificed in the Lao capital city.

In his address, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and head of the Special Task Force of Vientiane Songlao YhongNou expressed profound gratitude to the Party, State, army and people of Vietnam for their immense support throughout Laos's struggle for national liberation as well as current process of national protection, construction and development since the late 1975.

He affirmed Laos's continued commitment to locating and collecting remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts who sacrificed in Laos during the wartime, as well as fostering public awareness, particularly among younger generations, about the special friendship between the two nations.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee and head of the Special Task Force of Ha Tinh province Le Ngoc Chau thanked the Party Committee, authorities, mass organisations and armed forces of Vientiane for their invaluable support for the task entrusted by the Parties, Governments and people of the two countries.

Since 1999, Ha Tinh's collection team has successfully recovered and repatriated 821 sets of remains of fallen Vietnamese heroes from the neighbouring nation./.

Vietnamese athletes with disabilities preparing for 2024 Paris Paralympics

Vietnamese athletes with disabilities are working hard to get ready for the 2024 Paris Paralympics, scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 8 in France.

Pham Dong Anh, in charge of sports for people with disabilities at the Department of Sports, said that the athletes have been getting additional support since the beginning of the year, from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. They have been training overseas under experts, also hired by the Department, to get ready for the Paris Paralympic qualifying tournaments, which include the World Athletics Championships in Japan, the World Weightlifting Championships, the World Aquatics Championships and badminton tournaments.

"The goal of Vietnamese athletes with disabilities is to secure approximately eight slots (both official tickets and wild cards) to participate in the Paralympics," said Anh.

As it stands Vietnam have secured one official slot in powerlifting for Le Van Cong and three slots in swimming for Le Tien Dat, Do Thanh Hai and Trinh Thi Bich Nhu.

Four more powerlifting places are being looked for at an event in Thailand by the end of May, while the team also awaits wild cards for athletics.

Tran Duc Tho, general secretary of the Vietnam Paralympic Committee, said that Vietnam is hoping for a medal in Paris, with powerlifter Cong offering up the best chance.

At the recently concluded World Para Powerlifting Organisation's Pattaya World Cup 2024 in Thailand, on May 11, Cong, the world record holder, secured two gold medals in the men's 49kg category. His lift of 168kg earned him a first gold and his total result of 496kg from three lifts placed him on the top of the podium once again.

Cong's impressive performance is now a light ahead for Vietnamese athletes with disabilities on their journey to the Paralympics.

"If Cong wins a medal at this year's Paralympics, he will set a national record by winning three consecutive medals at the largest sporting event on the world. As for his chances of winning a medal, we highly appreciate Cong's efforts and determination," said Tho./.

Vietnam attends fair to support Danish children’s fund

Vietnam participated at the second diplomatic fair to raise fund for disabled children in Denmark held by Ambassadors’ Spouses Group (ASG) in Copenhagen.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Michael Fenger, district chef of Gentofte, praised the ASG’s initiative on the social cultural exchange event in support of disabled children in the country.

Spouse of Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Nguyen Thi Thu Hong and staff of the Vietnam Embassy popularised images, cultural, handicraft and tourism products of Vietnam as well as its cuisine to international friends at the fair.

In addition, special performances by overseas Vietnamese artists also received warm response from audience.

The embassy has determined cultural exchange work as one of the key tasks in 2024 in an attempt to strengthen friendship relations and people-to-people exchange./.

Quang Nam’s Nui Thanh district strives to shed “yellow card” status

Nui Thanh district, boasting the largest offshore fishing fleet in the central province of Quang Nam, is committed to having the "yellow card" warning lifted by the European Commission (EC).

Nui Thanh is home to a formidable fleet of 1,916 fishing vessels of various types. Local fishermen are targeting total catch of 48,000 tonnes of seafood this year.

To achieve this goal and improve overall fishing practices, the district is adopting several key measures. All offshore fishing vessels are now equipped with a comprehensive suite of technology, including positioning systems, formatting machines, radars, and GPS devices.

Additionally, these vessels undergo rigorous inspections by border guards and relevant authorities before setting sail, ensuring their compliance with regulations and best practices.

These efforts in Nui Thanh contribute to Quang Nam's broader goal of catching a total of 195,000 tonnes of seafood this year. The province is spearheading a programme to modernise fishing vessels and ensure all offshore vessels are equipped with essential navigation tools like Icom and GPS devices, said Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Pham Viet Tich./.

Binh Duong welcomes boost in investment from RoK

The Republic of Korea (RoK) has emerged as a key investment partner of the southern province of Binh Duong, said Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Mai Hung Dung.

At a working session on May 13 with Lee Sung Hun, head of the Seo Daemun District Office in Seoul, Dung highlighted the RoK's investment worth 4 billion USD, accounting for 10% of the total foreign direct investment in Binh Duong, solidifying its position as the fourth largest foreign investor in the province.

Lee, for his part, said the delegation is impressed by the development of Binh Duong and Di An city in particular.

He expressed his optimism that a newly signed friendly cooperation agreement between Di An and Seo Daemun will pave the way for further collaboration, with a particular focus on boosting their investment ties and economic growth.

With nine major universities and 30,000 businesses, Seo Daemun is an attractive destination for investors and enterprises, which will lay the foundation for a strong partnership and bring significant benefits to both Binh Duong and the RoK in the near future, he said.

The signing of the agreement between Di An and Seo Daemun on the occasion aimed to promote people-to-people exchange and socio-economic cooperation./.

Wartime bomb with intact detonator disposed in Nghe An

Military forces in the central province of Nghe An on May 13 successfully disposed of a wartime bomb whose detonator was still intact weighing 340kg.

On May 7, a man discovered an object resembling a bomb of over one metre long while plowing a field in the C4 area of the Ba Hang hill in Nam Dan district’s Nam Nghia commune.

Immediately, the incident was reported to local authorities. The Nam Nghia Military Command swiftly deployed forces to cordon off the area and organised round-the-clock patrols, preventing people and livestock from approaching.

The explosive object was identified as a Mark 82 low-drag general-purpose bomb, measuring 35cm in diameter and 155cm in length. It was then transported to the Nam Dan shooting range area for a safe disposal./.

Embassy ramps up efforts to support Vietnamese traders affected by fire in Poland

Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland Ha Hoang Hai has committed to accompanying and supporting Vietnamese traders and labourers hit by a fire that broke out in a shopping centre in Warsaw on early May 12.

In a working session with representatives of the Vietnamese community, Hai spoke highly of the support activities that Vietnamese organisations have given to the affected traders. The ambassador said he would work closely with competent authorities in the host nation to discuss measures to ensure their rights such as helping them have their identity documents re-granted and get new employment.

He gave a donation of the embassy’s staff to the traders, and provided them with citizen protection hotlines of 48782.257.359 and 48601.925.288, highlighting that the embassy will arrange an additional reception to handle personal documents for citizens.

Meanwhile, several Vietnamese enterprises in Poland said they will receive those who lost their jobs after the fire and help the affected establishments to shift their business models.

The Vietnamese associations in the European country has set up a community-support board to help the citizens recover from the incident.

The shopping centre at No.44 Marywilska is a large retail centre in Poland with approximately 1,400 commercial units, of which about one-third were run by 400 Vietnamese. Hundreds of Vietnamese were working at nail rooms and restaurants there.

Upon receiving information on the fire, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Le Thi Thu Hang on May 13 sent a letter of sympathy to the affected Vietnamese citizens and organisations./.

Conference shares experience in implementing int’l covenant on civil and political rights

A conference to share experience in implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) within the framework of a justice and legal empowerment project in Vietnam funded by the European Union (EU) was held in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho on May 13.

The event, jointly held by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ)’s Department of International Cooperation (DIC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, provided an overview of the ICCPR and the preparation of periodic national reports on, and shared experience in implementing the covenant.

According to DIC Director Nguyen Huu Huyen, since becoming a member of the UN in 1977 and the ICCPR in 1982, Vietnam has continuously worked to fulfill its obligations as a member state of the covenant. This is evidenced through activities such as building and improving laws concerning civil and political rights, promoting the popularisation of laws related to civil and political rights and ICCPR at a national level.

He underlined the importance of enhancing training and legal knowledge, as well as skills for those in charge of building law and policy development, and addressing difficulties and obstacles in institutional building and improvement.

Sabina Stein, Assistant Resident Representative, Head of the Governance and Participation Team at the UNDP, said the international community has recognised Vietnam's efforts and achievements in enhancing education and promoting human rights in recent times.

The training programme is also a clear testament to Vietnam's efforts, she said, adding that legal officers and reporters attending the event play a crucial and strategic role in protecting citizens' rights, especially vulnerable groups in the country.

The ICCPR of 1966 is one of the most important international treaties of the UN on human rights. With the participation of 173 out of the 193 UN member states, this covenant has become one of the most widely ratified international treaties.

It served as a legal foundation for the emergence of other international treaties on human rights such as Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1984, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1979, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989./.

Dien Bien airport serves over 12,000 passengers on victory occasion

Dien Bien airport in the northwestern province of Dien Bien served more than 12,000 passengers from May 1-9, on the occasion of May Day holiday and the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7).

According to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), in the period, the airport handled 98 civil and 26 military flights.

Thanks to effective safety security protection measures, utmost safety was ensured for all the flights.

The airport applied strengthened security measures from April 27 until May 12, while ensuring good passenger services.

So far this year, Dien Bien has welcomed more than 1 million tourists, including 4,800 foreigners. Total revenue from tourism activities has reached nearly 1.9 trillion VND (74.65 million USD).

Particularly, from April 30 to May 7, the province received over 370,000 visitors, earning over 390 billion VND./.

Over 120,000 Vietnamese people succumb to cancer each year

According to statistics from the Global Cancer Organization - GLOBOCAN 2022, cancer is responsible for the deaths of more than 120,000 Vietnamese people each year, a high rate compared to countries in Southeast Asia.

This was heard at this morning’s 2024 Scientific and Technical Conference organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital with the participation of leading experts in cancer treatment in Vietnam.

At the conference, Dr. Diep Bao Tuan, Deputy Executive Director of Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, said that cancer has been a burden for countries around the world. The incidence rates for several types of cancer and mortality rates remain on the rise.

GLOBOCAN 2022 data just released shows that there were around 19.9 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide for the year 2022. In Vietnam, as per statistics, about 180,000 new cases and more than 120,000 cancer-related deaths have been reported. The top three types of cancer by number of deaths include liver, lung, and stomach cancers.

According to Dr. Diep Bao Tuan, the country's cancer incidence rate is average but the death rate is high in comparison with other countries in the Southeast Asia region. He also pointed out late discovery is the culprit of the high proportion of deaths.

Statistics show that about 50-80 percent of patients come to see medical workers when their cancer is in stages 3 and 4, and the treatment results are not as expected. Effective cancer screening programs will help detect diseases early, reduce mortality rates, improve treatment quality and reduce costs for patients. This is also one of the solutions in Ho Chi Minh City's cancer prevention strategy.

At the Ho Chi Minh City-located Oncology Hospital alone, in 2023, the hospital received nearly 800,000 patients who came to the institution for examination. Plus, around 37,000 surgeries have been performed and more than 180,000 people have undergone radiation treatments, 300,000 others undergoing chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. There has been an increase in patients to the hospital.

According to Associate Professor-Dr. Nguyen Anh Dung, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, cancer care and treatment can cost a lot and requires high technology and modern equipment. Therefore, preventive measures, early detection and effective treatment are needed. At the same time, hospitals must be equipped with good equipment and doctors’ professional skills should be improved to gradually prevent and repel cancer.

Ceremony marks Lang Co’s recognition as world most beautiful bay

A ceremony has been held in Lang Co town of Phu Loc district in the central Thua Thien Hue province to mark the 15th anniversary of Lang Co Bay's recognition as one of the world's most beautiful bays.

A diverse range of attractive activities took place during the event, including a traditional fishing festival, the Bai Choi singing festival, an Ao Dai fashion show, a flower lantern releasing event, and a rowing boat competition.

Upon addressing the event, Kang Byung Suk, vice president of the Association of the World's Most Beautiful Bays, in charge of Asia, revealed that Lang Co Bay was elected as the 30th member of this prestigious club back in May, 2009, during the fifth Summit of the World's Most Beautiful Bays Club held in Setubal in Portugal.

He emphasized that Lang Co Bay has been exemplary in protecting the Club’s values, as well as preserving the rich culture, biodiversity, and sustainability of the area.

The event serves as a testament to the Club's commitment to taking the vanguard of protecting the economies within the Bay Area.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, standing vice chairman of Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Committee, said Lang Co has been identified as the key driving force to build the Chan May-Lang Co urban area.

According to the provincial planning, the locality has pledged to create optimal conditions for Phu Loc district and Lang Co to improve the technical infrastructure to develop unique tourism products in a bid to attract more local and foreign visitors moving forward.

Vietnam International Fashion Week casting round kicks off in HCM City

The Vietnam International Fashion Week Spring Summer 2024 debuted on May 12, with the first casting day taking place in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hundreds of models were made to compete to impress five Vietnamese judges, including Nam Trung, creative director; supermodel Anh Thu; Miss Universe Vietnam’s first runner-up Huong Ly; model Thuy Duong, also known as TyhD; and Anh Duong, show director of MultiMedia JSC.

According to information given by the organising board, after the casting round the judges will continue to hold private selection sessions with talented designers to choose the most suitable models who will go on and participate in the Vietnam International Fashion Week Spring Summer 2024, which is scheduled to take place from June 13 to June 16.

The Vietnam International Fashion Week was first held back in 2014 and quickly became the leading fashion event in ASEAN. In terms of Asia, it ranks as the fourth largest show after Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai fashion weeks.

Indian corvette visits Khanh Hoa

Corvette INS Kiltan of the Indian Navy docked at the Cam Ranh international port on May 12, beginning its four-day visit to the south-central province of Khanh Hoa.

The visit is designed to bolster cooperation and deepen mutual understanding and trust between the two countries’ armies as well as the navies.

During their stay, Indian officers and ship commanders are set to pay a courtesy visit to Naval Region 4 and the Naval Academy, while the crew members will take part in friendly sports competitions with officers and soldiers of Naval Region 4 and visit some historical and cultural relic sites.

The Indian Navy ship will coordinate with the Vietnamese Navy in conducting a joint exercise at sea after leaving the port.