Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has emphasised the need to diversify resources for social housing development, from the State, the public, society and financial institutions, in order to provide support for both sellers and buyers.

PM Chinh made this call while chairing a meeting with ministries and agencies in Hanoi on May 17 to discuss solutions to social housing development, as part of a project aiming to construct at least 1 million social housing units for low-income earners and industrial zone workers in the 2021-2030 period.

He acknowledged that key hurdles relating to land allocation, administrative procedures and real estate regulations have been largely resolved, saying that the laws on land, housing, real estate business and credit institutions have been issued, and what matters now is how to put them into practice.

The localities were urged to proactively engage in specific programmes, plans and projects while procedures and conditions for borrowers seeking social housing must be simplified, he said.

The leader also urged building and issuing a resolution allowing the Land Law, Housing Law and Real Estate Business Law to take effect early from July 1, 2024, and the early enforcement of preferential policies for social housing projects.

The PM assigned specific tasks to relevant ministries, local authorities and investors to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Currently, Vietnam now has 503 underway social housing projects, providing a total of 418,200 apartments./.

Second working day of PCC ninth plenum spent on Party building report

On the second working day of the ninth plenum of the 13th-tenure Party Central Committee, the members discussed in groups the Outline Report summarising Party building activities and the implementation of the Party Charter, which is to be presented at the 14th National Party Congress in early 2026.

They also gave opinions on the project summarising Directive No.35-CT/TW, dated May 30, 2019, of the Politburo and the draft Directive on the congresses of Party committees at all levels leading up to the 14th National Party Congress.

At 4pm the Politburo met to review and respond to the Party Central Committee's comments on the outline report.

On its first working day, the Party Central Committee had decided on several important personnel matters and they had worked in groups, discussing the detailed outlines for the political report of the 13th Central Committee at the upcoming 14th National Party Congress, the detailed outlines for the report on five-year implementation of the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for 2021-30 and the five-year socio-economic development plan for 2026-30.

The ninth plenum is expected to have its final working day on Saturday.

Vietnam, AFD strengthen cooperation, promote energy transition

Vietnam wants to deepen the traditional reliable relations and strategic partnership with France, particularly the French Development Agency (AFD), said Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha while receiving AFD Deputy Director General Marie-Hélène Loison in Hanoi.

During the reception, Ha appreciated the results of AFD's activities in Vietnam as well as changes in its organisational apparatus for wider and more effective access to new development fields.

Ha said that besides institutionalising mechanisms and policies on green transition and just energy transition, Vietnam needs advice on techniques, institutional improvement, technology selection, governance models, and financial resources in the fields of energy, transportation, agriculture, and urban areas.

Such advice will help Vietnam to determine actual needs, and plans for effective use of domestic resources, loans, and sponsorship sources, Ha said.

He noted that AFD's studies on green transition, climate change response, and energy transition will provide "solution packages" for investment, science and technology, and technical infrastructure development in Vietnam.

Regarding green transition and just energy transition, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the Government of Vietnam is discussing with partners to soon pilot several offshore wind power projects, adding the country also promotes the participation of the private sector in renewable electricity production.

"AFD's research results can also support French businesses to find investment and business cooperation projects in Vietnam," Ha said.

For her part, Marie-Hélène Loison affirmed that AFD and its partners are always ready to provide technical advice and support for Vietnam to improve the legal framework, find financial sources to implement important socio-economic development programmes and projects in Vietnam, especially in the fields of energy transition, climate change response, and green transition.

Since 2019, AFD has coordinated with the Vietnamese side to implement a project to research the socio-economic impacts of climate change in Vietnam and the climate change adaptation strategy. The two sides have launched Phase 2 of the project with priority given to assessing the socio-economic impacts of the energy transition process in Vietnam./.

Vietnamese cultural, art products displayed at Hong Kong art expo

The Consulate General of Vietnam in Hong Kong (China) has brought many cultural and artistic products to an international art exhibition which is being held at Hong Kong’s exhibition centre AsiaWorld-Expo from May 16-19.

During this period, the exhibition centre also hosts the 6th Hong Kong International Art and Collectibles Expo.

Covering an area of 28,400 sq.m, the exhibition has brought together more than 600 exhibitors from countries and territories across the world, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Iran, Russia, Nepal, Zimbabwe, and many cities of mainland China.

Many works of calligraphy, watercolor paintings, oil paintings, modern art, photography, jewelry, collectibles and antiques, ceramics, sculpture, and embroidery are displayed at the expo.

The exhibition aims to strengthen the connection and cohesion between countries from the perspective of art and culture to promote international cooperation and create a completely new atmosphere for the culture and art industry. Each country showcases its unique works of art and culture.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong International Art and Collectibles Expo provides a platform for artists worldwide to display their works of art. This is also an opportunity for curators and collectors to exchange, evaluate, invest, and collect works.

Many concurrent events will be held, such as seminars, performances, and competitions.

The exhibition organisers expect that it will attract over 20,000 visitors from countries and regions./.

Reburial service held for remains of martyrs repatriated from Laos

A ceremony was held at Nam national martyrs’ cemetery in the central province of Ha Tinh on May 17 to re-bury remains of 11 Vietnamese volunteer martyrs and experts who died in Laos during the wartime.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Ngoc Chau said that since 1999, thanks to support from the Lao side, Ha Tinh forces have searched, gathered, and repatriated the remains of 821 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos.

In the 2023 - 2024 dry season, the remains of the 11 martyrs were found in the capital city of Vientiane and Bolikhamxay province.

Chau expressed his condolences and deep gratitude to the martyrs who spent their entire youth to heroically fight and sacrifice for the cause of national liberation and noble international missions./.

Vietnam, RoK foster multifaceted cooperation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the People’s Committee of the southern province of Binh Duong organised the “Meet Korea 2024” programme on May 17 in the lead up to the 32nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The event, attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang, Korean Ambassador Choi Youngsam, leaders from southern localities and many Korean firms operating in Vietnam, was an opportunity for the two sides to evaluate their cooperation outcomes in the past 32 years, and discuss orientations for future development.

In her speech, Hang stressed that the Vietnamese Government treasures contributions made by foreign investors, including those from the RoK, to the socio-economic development of Vietnam.

She expressed her hope that the two countries will continue enhancing cooperation across the areas of hi-tech electronic device production, semiconductor, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

Discussions at the event are expected to contribute to the sustainable development and prosperity of the two nations, she underlined.

Over the past more than three decades, the bilateral ties have borne fruit in various domains, particularly economy. The East Asian country is now a leading economic partner of Vietnam as it has poured a total of 86 billion USD in investment into the country. Their cooperative relations have also thrived in tourism, labour and trade, among others.

According to Chairman of the Binh Duong provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Minh, investors from 65 countries and territories have registered nearly 40.6 billion USD in some 4,300 projects in the province, with the RoK being the 5th largest with nearly 800 projects worth 3.4 billion USD.

The province commits to creating the best conditions for Korean firms who run business in the locality, he said, adding it prioritises investors boasting considerable experience in the advanced technology industry, semiconductors, and state-of-the-art electronic products.

On this occasion, Binh Duong signed several cooperation deals with its Korean partners./.

Painting exhibition on sentiment of OVs for President Ho Chi Minh opens in Hanoi

Up to 55 paintings of painter Dao Trong Ly on overseas Vietnamese’s (OVs) sentiment for President Ho Chi Minh are on display at an exhibition opened in Hanoi on May 17.

Jointly organised by the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum and the Thailand-Vietnam Association in Nakhon Phanom province of Thailand, the event was held on the occasion of the 134th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (19/5/1890-2024).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum Nguyen Minh Anh said during his revolutionary life, President Ho Chi Minh lived in Thailand from July 1928 to November 1929. During the period, he expanded and strengthened the mass base of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth League, educated Vietnamese in Thailand to respect the customs of the Thai people and encouraged them to learn Thai and Vietnamese languages.

An emphasised that along with building revolutionary organisations, President Ho Chi Minh also instructed Vietnamese cadres who were operating in Thailand to help OVs improve their living conditions. The life and moral example of the late President always live on in the hearts of all Vietnamese people, whether living at home or abroad.

The exhibition featured the spirit of patriotism and respect for President Ho Chi Minh of the OVs community in general, overseas Vietnamese community in Thailand, Nakhon Phanom province and the painter in particular to remember and appreciate the great merits of President Ho Chi Minh.

The exhibition runs until May 22, after that all the paintings will be gifted to the museum.

Painter Dao Trong Ly was born in 1951 into a patriotic Vietnamese family in Nakhon Phanom. He used to be chairman of the association of Vietnamese Thais in the province and teach Vietnamese to OV children. He has been managing the relic site dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Nakhon Phanom since 2018./.

65th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Trail marked in Quang Binh

A ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary of the Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail (1959 - 2024) took place in Bo Trach district, the central province of Quang Binh, on May 17, highlighting the significance of the legendary road in the country’s resistance war against the US and today's socio-economic development.

The event was attended by 200 delegates, including former pioneering youths and members of youth unions from the provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, and Quang Nam in the central region, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Nong in the Central Highlands, and Binh Phuoc in the south, which the trail traversed.

In his remarks, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee Ngo Van Cuong said the Ho Chi Minh Trail, also called Truong Son Trail, went down in the country's history as a legendary route and a miracle, and became a symbol for educating today's young generation about the revolutionary ideal and the spirit of overcoming challenges.

It also holds practical significance in the current national construction and defence, he noted.

Sixty-five years ago, to carry out the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission's policy on opening a route to deliver support to the revolution in the South, thanks to extraordinary efforts and the determination of reunifying the nation, forces built a strategic transportation route from rudimentary trails along the majestic Truong Son Mountain Range.

The Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail spanned nearly 17,000km, including five vertical routes along the Truong Son Range and 21 horizontal ones connecting strategic areas, fuel pipelines, and communication lines, among many others. The system of arteries served as not only a strategic military transportation and logistics network but also a fierce battlefront, vividly demonstrating the solidarity in combat among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

As part of the activities commemorating the trail's 65th anniversary, between May 15 and 17, representatives of the former pioneering youths and youth union members held a programme in the provinces to express gratitude to the war veterans and former pioneering youths who once performed duties along the legendary trail./.

Dế Mèn Awards' official nominees announced

Ten nominees for the 5th Dế Mèn awards have been announced, with a diverse and exciting line up.

The hopefuls include poetry, comic, animation and literature, selected from 135 submitted works, pared down following two rounds of judging. 

The top ten finalists include the latest work by 14-year old Lê Sinh Hùng's draft of comic Thư Viện Kỳ Bí (Mysterious Library), the six-volume Ogo Code by Belgium-based writer Kiều Bích Hương and veteran writer Lý Lan's Tự Truyện Một Con Heo (Autobiography of a Pig). Lan has had a prolific career, writing poems, short stories, essays, novels and also working as a translater. She translated Harry Potter into Vietnamese.

Initiated by the Vietnam News Agency’s Thể Thao Văn Hóa (Culture & Sport) newspaper in 2020, the Dế Mèn Award aims to celebrate the best works by and for children. The award title is named after the main character in Dế Mèn Phiêu Lưu Ký (Diary of a Cricket) by Tô Hoài. 

Dế Mèn Phiêu Lưu Ký has been reprinted many times and into 37 languages, including English, French, Thai and Russian.

The awards include one grand prize, the Hiệp Sĩ Dế Mèn (Cricket Night) trophy, together with several others for Khát Vọng Dế Mèn (Cricket Design). The award ceremony is expected to be held on International Children's Day June 1 in Hanoi. 

Archers aim for Olympic slots at South Korean World Cup for Olympic spot

Vietnamese archers will compete at the World Cup 2024 in Yecheon, South Korea from May 21-26.

They will take part in both recurve and compound events for men and women.

As the recurve is the Olympic discipline, this is the last tournament that offers Olympic slots to competitors including Việt Nam's best hopes Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhi and Đỗ Thị Ánh Nguyệt in the women's events.

They took part in the World Cup stage in China last month but did not get the results they expected.

Ánh Nguyệt and Nguyễn Hoàng Phi Vũ were Việt Nam's competitors in Tokyo in 2021.

Phong triumphs at Southeast Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship

Nguyễn Duy Phong brought home a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship which wrapped up on May 16 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Phong came from behind to defeat Nicolas Tan of Singapore 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 in the boys U19 singles final match at the Olympic Council of Malaysia Sports Complex.

Earlier, he also beat Yang Ze Yi, another Singaporean player, 11-7, 13-11, 13-11, 11-9, in the semi-final round.

It was great farewell of the Vietnamese player to the tournament as it was his last year at the youth championship.

It was Việt Nam's only individual title but the third in total, making it a most successful competition of the young players in history.

Earlier, they won in the boys' U19 doubles and U15 doubles.

Other athletes also bagged silvers in the U19 boys' doubles and team events and girls' U19 doubles; and three bronze medals in the girls' U19, boys' and girls' U15 team categories.

“Players' achievement from this championship is remarkable and appreciated," said Phan Anh Tuấn, general secretary of the Việt Nam Table Tennis Federation.

"It is the first time that Việt Nam have earned that much golds in different categories in one regional championship." 

EU's substantial contributions to HCM City’s development praised

Ho Chi Minh City always greatly values the substantial contributions by EU nations to its development process, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc at the celebration of Europe Day 2024 held by the EU Delegation to Vietnam on May 16.

In his address, the municipal leader stated the southern city looks forward to optimal conditions conducive to its effective utilization of funding sources from the bloc’s Global Gateway Strategy and Horizon Europe Programme to further foster economic relations with the EU and jointly achieve sustainable development goals.

Duc also pledged to ensure stable socio-political environments, protecting the rights and legitimate interests of investors, and facilitating long-term and effective operations of European businesses in the city.

In response, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier said the Vietnam-EU relationship is evidence of fruitful cooperation toward a bright future. Over more than three decades, they have worked hand in hand and obtained numerous accomplishments.

The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), coordinated by the EU and the UK, is ready to provide around 15 billion EUR to support climate change mitigation in Vietnam, he added.

The EU ambassador expressed his belief in growing Vietnam-EU ties as a contribution to Vietnam’s goal of becoming a developed country by 2045 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Remains of 11 Vietnamese martyrs repatriated from Laos

A ceremony was held on May 16 at Cau Treo International Border Gate in the central province of Ha Tinh to receive 11 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos.

At the event, leaders of both Laos and Ha Tinh province, along with other participants, came together to offer incense and flowers to the fallen soldiers as a way of showing their deep gratitude for their sacrifice.

During the 2023 to 2024 dry season, a total of 11 sets of remains were collected by the provincial Special Task Force with support from authorities of Borikhamxay province and the capital Vientiane. All of them are still unclaimed.

Since 1999, the collection team of the Laotian province has successfully recovered and repatriated 821 sets of remains of fallen Vietnamese heroes from the neighbouring nation.

Tripartite talks held between Vietnam, Laos, and China on border security

Border guards of Vietnam, Laos, and China held tripartite talks at the landmark of the intersection of the three countries' borders on May 15.

During the course of discussions, the three parties evaluated the results achieved in co-ordinating border management and protection efforts, as well as the ongoing fight against cross-border crime and illegal immigration.

The parties identified key tasks in co-ordinating and maintaining the implementation of legal documents on land borders that the Government of each side has signed and strengthening management collaboration activities between the three parties moving forward.

At the meeting, the three parties reached a common perception and signed a memorandum of understanding. The talks took place in accordance with foreign policy principles, with safety being ensured in all aspects.

The tripartite talks are based on the consensus of high-level co-operation between the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam, the Ministry of Public Security of Laos, and the Ministry of Public Security of China, as well as the spirit of the memoranda signed between border security forces at all levels of the three countries.

Nam Dinh border guard force works hard to prevent IUU fishing

Along with increasing patrol on waters under its management, the border guard force of the northern province of Nam Dinh has strictly managed the movement of local fishing vessels to ensure that no vessel without enough documents and equipment can go offshore, thus preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Major Vu Chi Cong, head of the border post at Hai Thinh Port said that along with combating all kinds of criminals in the sea border area, the post has sent officials and soldiers to local vessels to educate fishermen on IUU fishing prevention and control regulations.

As a result, the majority of local fishermen have thoroughly understood the regulations and have not violated regulations, Cong said.

Nguyen Van Tuan, the captain of a local fishing boat, said that thanks to communications efforts of the border guard force of Nam Dinh, he and local fishermen have understood legal regulations related to offshore fishing, thus avoiding violations to foreign waters.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Truong, head of the Border Guard Station at Hai Thinh Port Border Gate said that in 2023 and the first four months of 2024, the provincial border guard force has inspected about 20,000 vehicles and 60,000 people, while conducting more than 10 patrols to protect the national sovereignty over sea areas in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf in association with IUU prevention and control.

Nam Dinh currently has about 1,760 operating fishing vessels, including 531 vessels with a length of 15m and above, of which 97% have installed VMS devices, and the remaining are out of use.

Since the beginning of this year, local authorities have sanctioned over 20 administrative violations with total fine of over 230 million VND (9,037 USD).

Colonel Cao Xuan Thuy, Deputy Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command of Nam Dinh said that in order to join the whole country’s efforts in removing the European Commission’s "yellow card" on Vietnamese fisheries sector, the provincial border guard force will continue strengthening communications and patrol activities, promptly detecting and handling violations on IUU fishing, and intensifying law enforcement measures to absolutely prevent fishing vessels that fail to show necessary documents from going to sea./.

HCM City exhibition spotlights Dien Bien Phu Victory in cinema

A photo exhibition highlighting imprints of the Dien Bien Victory in cinema opened in Ho Chi Minh City on May 17 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the triumph (May 7, 1954 – 2024), and the 134th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890-2024).

The event, features nearly 200 photos sourced from documents and film works archived at the Vietnam Film Institute, with support from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province, the Vietnam Military History Museum, and various artists.

The exhibition spotlights the historical Dien Bien Phu campaign and the Dien Bien Phu Victory in cinematographic works, and artists with the Dien Bien Phu campaign. It also introduces cinematographic documents reflecting the life and revolutionary career of the late President.

On this occasion, organisers will also screen some documentary films about the Dien Bien Phu Victory and President Ho Chi Minh.

The exhibition will last to the end of this month./.

Six Vietnamese fencers competing in grand prix in China

Six Vietnamese athletes are participating in a fencing grand prix foil, scheduled to take place from May 17 to 19 in Shanghai, China.

According to the initial registration list, the team consists of female fencers Ha Thi Van Anh, Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, and Tran Hong Hanh, as well as male athletes Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Van Hai, and Nguyen Truong Giang. Giang is assessed as a prominent figure.

Securing no spot in the official roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Vietnamese fencing team is preparing its squad to compete in the Asian championship to be held in Kuwait from June 22 to 27./.

Youth scientific conference introduces new innovations, ideas

A conference on young scientists and innovative startups took place in Hanoi on May 16, sharing perspectives and introducing new ideas in translating sci-tech advances into reality.

At the conference, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Hoang Giang said the ministry has launched various programmes, while advising on the building and amendment of policies to help scientists unleash their creative capacities and stimulate technological demand from the business sector. It has also worked to boost enterprises’ technology absorbability through encouraging businesses to establish sci-tech development funds, sci-tech firms, and innovative startups.

The National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) has changed its operational methods to give more support for young scientists to lead research projects and participate in international conferences and workshops, the official noted.

The conference saw Luong Van Truong, Director of the Nam Dai Duong youth cooperative in the northern province of Nam Dinh, talking about the cooperative’s research and invention process for its production of pre-germinated seeds, which helps farmers save costs, labour, and reduce cultivation expenses. Trinh Thi Hoa, co-founder of the Buyo bioplastic company, meanwhile, presented insights into the firm’s research and development of a product to replace plastic from organic waste using a production process prioritising fuel recirculation.

Following the conference was a ceremony awarding winners of a scientific ideal competition, which was organised for the third time by the online newspaper vnexpress.net. Compared to the previous editions, this year’s recorded over 130 submissions spanning various fields such as medical-biochemistry, technology, agriculture, environment, and new materials.

Vietnam's Global Innovation Index (GII) has continuously improved over the past 13 years. In 2023, the country ranked 46th out of the 132 countries/economies worldwide and 4th in Southeast Asia. It is one of the seven middle-income countries with the most significant innovation progress in the past decade./.

Tien Giang’s anti-IUU efforts pay off

Since 2022, the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has recorded no cases of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, thanks to the locality’s dissemination efforts, according to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Man.

Tien Giang is home to 1,305 fishing vessels with over 9,460 fishermen. At present, the awareness of ship owners and fishermen has been increased.

In Go Cong Dong district which houses 704 fishing vessels, to combat IUU fishing, local border guard stations have coordinated with relevant agencies to step up dissemination and training for organisations and individuals on the provisions of Vietnamese and international fisheries laws.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Nham, Chief of Office of the provincial Border Guard Command, said that the Command has directed border guard stations and flotillas to intensify disseminations and provide leaflets to remind ship owners and fishermen to comply with the law when going to sea, avoid violating regulations against IUU fishing, and uphold responsibility in protecting sovereignty over the country’s sea and islands as well as the marine ecological environment.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first quarter of 2024, it collaborated with the provincial Border Guard Command, the Naval Region 2 Command, the Coast Guard Region 3 Command, and other relevant agencies to hold two sessions to raise awareness of IUU fishing regulations for nearly 250 fishermen. Additionally, 600 information materials and 1,000 national flags were distributed to them.

So far, all the fishing boats have been equipped with the vessel monitoring systems./.

Vietnam participates in Saint Petersburg Int’l Book Fair

Nhan Dan (People) newspaper has set up a stall exhibiting a wide range of books at the ongoing 19th Saint Petersburg International Book Fair in Russia.

On display at the Vietnamese stall are books on President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954) and the Vietnamese culture and people, along with works by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

This year’s fair features 250 stalls, representing the 225th birth anniversary of Aleksander Pushkin – the “Sun of World Poetry”, and celebrating the Year of the Family in Russia.

Saint Petersburg Mayor Alexander Beglov emphasised the role of books, affirming that the fair is a rendezvous for book-lovers.

Vyacheslav Kalganov, Deputy Chairman of the External Relations Committee of Saint Petersburg, expressed his delight about Vietnam’s participation, as well as his impression of the country's socio-economic development.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Russian-Vietnamese Cooperation Development Fund, said the translation of General Secretary Trong's books into Russian helps Russians understand more about Vietnam's guidelines and policies, while contributing to strengthening the strong friendship between the two countries.

The event will run until May 19./.

2024 Asian Taekwondo Championship sees record number of participants

The 2024 Asian Taekwondo Championship is gathering the highest number of participants in the tournament’s history, President of the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation Truong Ngoc De said at its May 16 opening ceremony held in central city of Da Nang.

The championship has attracted the participation of over 1,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from 45 countries, including many nations renowned for their Taekwondo movements such as the Republic of Korea, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Qatar.

Athletes are competing in both poomsae (performance) and kyorugi (combat) disciplines across various weight categories for men and women. The Vietnamese team takes part in both events.

In the poomsae events, which concluded on May 15, Vietnam secured one gold, one silver, and nine bronze medals. The championship will continue with sparring events on May 17./.

Youth scientific projects displayed at int’l technology-invention expo in Malaysia

Five scientific projects, selected from the award-winning entries of the 2023 national children and youth creativity competition, are being showcased by Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) at the ongoing International Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2024) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Among the projects are a website about a journey to become a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of the northern province of Bac Ninh’s Quan Ho love duet singing and a simulation model of car racing based on knowledge from an intelligence competition. The others include a project on the utilisation of recycled materials from waste to simulate insects’ transformational cycle, a model of Hanoi, and the equipment for making kumquat jam from fresh fruit.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Chang Lih Kang said that ITEX serves as an excellent platform for introducing innovation, connecting with experts in emerging industries, fostering partnerships, and sharing experiences.

Within its framework, the World Young Inventors Exhibition (WYIE), ASEAN Young Inventors Exhibition (AYIE), and Malaysian Young Inventors Exhibition (MYIE) are also organised, promising breakthrough technological innovations with over 700 creative projects from 15 countries across 25 fields including artificial intelligence, agriculture, automation, biotechnology, and health.

ITEX, an annual exhibition displaying the latest innovations from Asia, is underway at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from May 16 to 18./.

Outpouring of support eases burden for Vietnamese impacted by Warsaw fire

A wave of solidarity has brought relief to Vietnamese nationals affected by the devastating fire at the Marywilska shopping centre in Warsaw, Poland.

As of May 14, about 6.5 billion VND (270,000 USD) was raised to support the victims.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Poland played a pivotal role in coordinating the support efforts. Immediately following the fire, the embassy collaborated with Vietnamese associations in Poland to launch fundraising initiatives and distribute emergency food aid to those impacted.

A dedicated fund was formally established during a meeting on May 12 between embassy officials, association leaders, and representatives of the Vietnamese community at Marywilska. This fund will provide direct financial assistance to the fire-affected small businesses.

Several Polish Government agencies, non-Governmental organisations, and citizens have also reached out to the embassy, expressing their willingness to offer various forms of support.

A notable gesture came from the Poland-Vietnam Friendship Association, whose executive board conveyed their regards and donated 5,000 PLN (1,270 USD) during a meeting with embassy leaders on May 14.

In response to the call for support, Vietnamese embassies and communities in neighbouring countries like the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria also initiated fundraising activities./.

Ceremony held to mark 190th anniversary of Vietnamese pagoda in Thailand

A ceremony was held on May 15 to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the establishment of Khanh Tho Pagoda, one of the first pagodas of Vietnamese people in the western province of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, that have been recognised and attached with the plates bearing Vietnamese names.

The event saw the attendance of Thai Buddhist dignitaries, Chairman of National Office of Buddhism of Thailand Ittiporn Chan-iam, representatives from the Annam Nikaya sect in Thailand and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, leaders of Kanchanaburi province, Vietnamese Ambassador Designate to Thailand Pham Viet Hung and hundreds of local Buddhist followers.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs thanked the Royal Family and Government of Thailand, the government and people of Kanchanaburi province for their support of the Vietnamese community, helping them integrate into the host society while preserving their cultural identity and the Vietnamese language.

The Vietnamese diplomat, who led a delegation of SCOV on a working visit to Thailand, emphasised that Vietnamese pagodas are both venues for cultural and religious activities and for overseas Vietnamese to convey their feelings for their homeland, maintaining long-standing customs and traditions associated with the community, educating the young generation about the roots and cultural beauties of the homeland.

On the occasion, the Deputy FM had a working session with Thotsapon Chaikomin, Governor of Kanchanaburi province and Khanh Tho Pagoda Board of Directors, and met with representatives from Vietnamese associations in Thailand./.

U19 footballers summoned to prepare for Southeast Asian championship

Vietnam’s U19 football team will start their first training camp this year on May 17 to prepare for the 2024 Southeast Asian U19 championship and the 2025 continental U20 tourney qualification, said the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

New head coach Hua Dien Vinh has called up 29 players for the camp, including many from the U17 squad competing at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U17 Asian Cup 2023 in Thailand and the friendship tournament of U18 Seoul Eou Cup in the Republic of Korea (RoK) also last year.

Some of the footballers used to receive training at the clubs playing at J. League of Japan under the VFF’s cooperation with the Japan Football Association.

However, the training camp has yet to gather all the best U19 players as many are still playing at their clubs at domestic tourneys.

The first training session will take place at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre on May 17 morning.

The team are scheduled to leave for China on June 2 to play at the international U19 tournament held by the Chinese Football Association.

Apart from hosts China, this event will also see the participation of the teams from Uzbekistan and the RoK. It is considered a test for the Vietnamese players before competing at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U19 Youth Championship 2024 and the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 qualification./.

New vaccines against dengue fever and shingles licensed

As many as 40 types of vaccines and biological products have been licensed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to be put into circulation nationwide, including three new vaccines licensed for the first time.

They include Qdenga against dengue fever, Shingrix against shingles, and Shingrix Pneumovax 23 against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria.

All three vaccines are produced by the world’s large pharmaceutical companies, namely Takeda of Japan, GSK of Belgium, and MSD of the United States.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Dac Phu, former Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, the MoH has reviewed and evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines before being put into use in the nation.

Currently, the three vaccines are in the vaccination programme that requires payment.

Vietnamese culinary festival to get underway in Singapore

A Vietnamese culinary festival has been taking place at Oscar's Restaurant inside the luxury hotel Conrad Centennial Singapore to introduce the country’s diverse specialties alongside both local and international delicacies.

Two renowned Vietnamese head chefs Tin Nguyen and Khoa Nguyen Dac and their skilled team from Hilton Da Nang have contributed to introducing the authentic and rich flavor of Vietnamese gastronomy such as Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) and Banh My (Vietnamese baguette). 

Berry Chua, director of food and beverage of Conrad Hotel's, revealed that Vietnamese cuisine has become very popular in Singapore.

Over the past few years, many hotels in the city island nation have introduced Vietnamese cuisine in their menus, he said, adding that with the boom recorded in tourism and people’s increasing exposure to Vietnamese cuisine, the hotel has hosted the festival as a means of meeting the growing demand for Vietnamese cuisine.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung underscored the significance of the festival in helping Singaporean and international friends gain greater insights into special cuisine from three regions of Vietnam.

He expressed his hope that Vietnamese businesses and organisations will arrange additional culinary events moving forward to introduce the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine to a global audience.

Phú Yên authority searching for missing construction workers

Local authorities in Phú Yên Province are searching for two construction workers who went missing while traveling by boat on the Ba River on Wednesday night.

According to the Phú Hòa District Police Office, at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, six male construction workers working on a sub-project of the Chí Thạnh - Vân Phong section of the North-South Expressway project took a boat from Vĩnh Phú hamlet in the district to Tây Hòa District.

When they reached the construction site for the Đà Rằng Bridge, the boat collided with the bridge and capsized.

Three individuals survived: Mai Chí Thành, 45, Nguyễn Văn Huê, 32, and Lê Kim Vàng, 29.

Three others drowned: Nguyễn Cửu Đồng, 34, Nguyễn Mạnh Nguyên, 31, and Lê Đức Cường, 46. Nguyên died after being taken to Phú Yên Provincial General Hospital for treatment. The other two individuals remain missing.

Late on Wednesday night, Cao Thị Hòa An, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Lê Tấn Hổ, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, visited the scene and ordered search and rescue forces to continue searching for the missing victims throughout the night.

A Vietnam News Agency correspondent reported that heavy rains hit the province early Thursday morning, causing water levels in the Ba River to rise significantly, making the search for the missing victims more difficult. 

Da Nang’s health care service to go digital

The central city has approved the ‘smart’ health care development project in 2025-30, promising all hospitals and health care centres we go digital in procedures, examinations and treatments.

The city said the project will be receiving total fund of VNĐ488.95 billion (US$19.56 million) for building data and infrastructure.

By 2025, all hospitals and health centres will be using digital medical records and cashless payment, offering online medical check-ups and examinations and medical consultancy or using database of patients and national database-connected ID cards.

The ‘smart’ health system will provide facilities for doctors giving medical consultancy to patients with online medical examination and treatment.

It also includes global positioning system (GPS) tracking of ambulances for doctors providing first aid instructions on the way to hospital.

Deputy director of the city’s health department Võ Thu Tùng said the city’s health data will be connected with the national health data centre, supporting doctors with patient’s medical records nationwide.

The ‘smart’ health care system would start using AI Robot in treatment and examination in 2030 as well as medical training, he said.

Tùng said doctors will use digital images or online photos instead of checking films in examination of patients.

Last year, the city put into operation the first Intelligent Operation Centre (IOC), starting the first service of the ‘smart’ city plan, allowing local people and businesses to apply for paperwork from home via the city’s online public one-stop service.

The system has helped speed up the procedure schedule, saving $44.2 million and cutting 20 per cent of other costs in manpower payment.

A total fund of VNĐ2.14 trillion ($95 million) has been allocated for the ‘smart’ city plan in 2030-45, in which information technology and communication will play a key role in the digitalisation process.

The central hub has targeted becoming the first in Việt Nam to join the ASEAN ‘smart’ city network by 2030.

A report from the city’s information and communication department said 16 health centres and hospitals have been using digital records

Đà Nẵng, in co-operation with the military-owned telecommunications group Viettel, and FPT Group have been jointly developing a 5G network, an Internet of Things (IoT) service, a digital database centre, cyber security services and digital transforming. 

Exhibition of “Ho Chi Minh Bookcase” marks Uncle Ho’s 134th birthday anniversary

An exhibition of “Ho Chi Minh Bookcase” and “Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space” opens in HCMC Book Street from now until May 19 to mark the 134th anniversary of the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890-2024).

The Tre (Youth) Publishing House launched the “Ho Chi Minh Bookcase” in 1999. As of 2023, the publisher released more than 60 book titles featuring the life, revolutionary career, ideology, morality, and lifestyle of President Ho Chi Minh.

The “Ho Chi Minh Bookcase” received certificates of merit from the Propaganda and Education Board of the Municipal Party Committee in 2009 and 2015 for outstanding contributions to the “Studying and Following President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts, morals, and Style” program, and the Ho Hao Hon Prize 2024 from the HCMC Youth Union.

Since 2023, the Youth Publishing House has digitized and published the e-book series of the “Ho Chi Minh Bookcase”. The publisher will offer access to 600 free e-books during the exhibition.

Việt Nam-Denmark cooperate for a sustainable agriculture

The Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Jacob Jensen, is leading a high-level delegation to visit Việt Nam on 14-16 May 2024.

Together with a group of Danish agri-food companies with advanced technology and know-how on sustainability and green transition, the aim of the minister’s visit is to intensify high-level policy dialogue with Vietnamese counterparts with a focus on a more sustainable food production and a resource efficient supply chain.

Việt Nam and Denmark have developed a close and long- term bilateral relation on food safety. Since 2017, the bilateral cooperation has concentrated on facilitating co-operation within feed and food safety. The co-operation is a crucial part of the Green Strategic Partnership launched by the two Prime Ministers last November, where the two countries have committed to promote green transition and green growth, supporting Việt Nam in building a green economy and fulfilling the country’s commitment to achieve net-zero emission by 2050.

The SSC Food programme between Việt Nam and Denmark has been implemented by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The first phase of the programme focused on improving framework conditions for animal feed production through capacity development of government officials and on the legislative framework for prudent use of veterinary drugs. In phase 2, which ran from April 2020 to April 2024, the main themes of cooperation are enhancing capacity across various stages of the food chain from farm to fork, combating anti-microbial resistance (AMR), feed control and traceability and recall of unsafe food.

During his visit, Minister Jensen has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnamese Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Lê Minh Hoan extending the government-to-government co-operation. For the coming years, the co-operation will have increased focus on the green transition of food and agricultural production, aiming to promote a more sustainable and resilient food system.

Jensen said: “Denmark's green transition in sustainable food production has led to the development of strong, innovative methods and approaches throughout the value chain, which boost production yield and improve product quality but at the same time consume less water and energy.

"We look forward to sharing these insights and inspire further collaboration with our Vietnamese partners. Our agreement is a strong testament to our fruitful cooperation where the two ministries do not only share common needs and interests but more importantly a common goal and vision: a sustainable and resilient food system.”

During his visit, the Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries also made a keynote speech at a workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance in agriculture and aquaculture. Antimicrobial resistance is a big threat to public health and human health nowadays. Therefore, this has been an important track of the Strategic Sector Co-operation Food programme.  

The minister’s visit to Việt Nam this time, the second Danish high-level visit within just two months, has been also accompanied by a group of Danish companies and producers who own world leading’s solutions in food production and processing, storages, optimising the use of food and agriculture resources, drainage and water techniques.

Việt Nam is an attractive destination for Danish businesses in the agricultural sector. At present, Denmark has been one of the EU countries with the highest export per capita to Việt Nam and the agri-food sector constitutes approximately half of the total Danish exports to Việt Nam.

“Việt Nam has become an important and attractive market for Danish businesses and investors," Jensen said. 

"Although Việt Nam and Denmark are geographically very far from each other, we are facing many of the same challenges and we have to continue working together to find ways to use resources effectively. In a smart way to increase competitiveness and sustainability.”

During his visit in the South of Việt Nam, the minister will visit Food Bank Vietnam, an important partner for the efforts to combat food waste and food loss. He will also pay site visits to a catfish aqua-farm in Tiền Giang and an aqua-feed factory in Bến Tre, where close partnerships between Vietnamese and Danish research institutions and companies promotes the use of new green technologies and solutions for a sustainable aquaculture production in Việt Nam.

On his last day of the visit, he will deliver a keynote speech at the seminar on “Sustainable agri-food production – Danish innovative technologies and financing opportunities”. The seminar will provide a forum to connect and facilitate exchange of experiences, technologies, financing and business opportunities between authorities, local decision-makers, sector managers as well as Danish and Vietnamese entrepreneurs. 

20-year-old woman arrested for running fraudulent charity scheme

A 20-year-old woman from Cà Mau Province has been arrested for allegedly operating a fraudulent charity scheme using fake social media accounts. 

Huỳnh Phương Thủy was nabbed in Đồng Nai Province by the Đồng Tháp Province police on Thursday.

She admitted to using multiple fake Facebook accounts with different names to solicit donations. 

She would post in various groups, claiming to be raising funds for charitable causes but pocketed all the money, she said. 

She collected VNĐ140 million and used the money for her personal expenses, according to investigators.

Đồng Tháp authorities have recently found several cases involving fake charity appeals on social media. 

The police recommend that people should verify the legitimacy of donation requests to avoid scams.

Basket, brocade weaving of S’tiêng people recognised as National Intangible Cultural Heritage

Basket weaving and brocade weaving of the S’tiêng people has been included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 2023 and 2024.

Bình Phước Province Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on May 15 held a ceremony at Bù Gia Mập National Park to announce the inclusion of the traditional crafts of basket weaving and brocade weaving of the S’tiêng people in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Bình Phước is known as a region where many ethnic groups live together. Among them, the S’tiêng people are the second-largest ethnic group in the province, with nearly 97,000 people residing in 11 districts, towns, and cities of the province.

With this population size and long history, the S’tiêng community has created its own unique and distinctive cultural identity, including the traditional crafts of basket weaving and brocade weaving.

The basket weaving and brocade weaving crafts of the S’tiêng people are traditional crafts accumulated and developed over many generations, demonstrating the skill and creativity of S’tiêng artisans.

To create baskets and brocade products, the artisans must have talent, skills, and a thorough understanding of techniques.

Additionally, they must know how to identify and properly exploit natural materials such as tree leaves and bark to create dyeing materials and weaving patterns.

These techniques and knowledge reflect the accumulation, creativity, and refinement over time to produce unique products of the S’tiêng people in Bình Phước Province.

At the announcement ceremony, Nguyễn Khắc Vĩnh, deputy director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Bình Phước Province, said that the inclusion of the basket weaving and brocade weaving crafts of the S’tiêng people in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list not only honours the historical and cultural values of these traditional crafts but also recognises the efforts of local authorities and the dedication of the S’tiêng artisans and community in preserving and promoting the value of these crafts.

Vĩnh suggested that relevant authorities should continue protecting and promoting the intangible cultural heritage value of basket weaving and brocade weaving.

The provincial museum should continue researching and collecting more information to clarify the value and significance of these crafts, providing documentation and guidance to local communities, which are the heritage bearers, to effectively preserve and promote the cultural heritage.

Localities should promote traditional craft training, improve skills, create high-quality products rich in cultural identity, prioritise access to funding for households maintaining the craft to expand and develop production.

Policies should encourage and support skilled basket weavers and brocade weavers, establish craft villages as community tourism sites and form basket weaving and brocade weaving cooperatives to promote and introduce products to a broader audience of tourists. 

Miss National Việt Nam 2024 launches

The first Miss National Việt Nam 2024 competition was launched this week. 

Women not married or pregnant aged 18 to 27 who are at least 1.63m tall are invited to join the event.  

Students from universities and colleges are encouraged. 

The organiser, Sen Vàng Entertainment, will select 63 candidates for the final round, to be held on December 7 in the northern province of Hoà Bình.

Contestants will represent the 63 provinces and cities of Việt Nam where they was born. 

Before becoming finalists, contestants will compete in the categories of traditional costumes, swimsuits, question-and-answer sessions and evening wear.

They will also take part in social and community activities highlighting their talent and charity work.

The organiser will present awards for different titles such as, Miss Talent, Miss Tourism, Miss Traditional Costume, Miss Fashion and Miss Áo Dài (Vietnamese dress). 

"We hope this beauty contest will be a charming introduction to Vietnamese culture and lifestyle,” said Phạm Kim Dung, head of Miss National Việt Nam 2024’s organising board. 

According to Dung, the contest encourages young Vietnamese women, particularly those living in remote areas, to live more confident and happier as well as develop their talent and careers. 

Miss National Việt Nam 2024 will be broadcast on leading television and radio stations. Preliminary rounds will be organised from May to August. Semi-final rounds will begin in September in Hà Nội, HCM City and Hoà Bình Province. 

The jury includes Miss World Việt Nam 2019 Lương Thuỳ Linh, Miss Grand International 2021 Nguyễn Thúc Thuỳ Tiên, and Miss Intercontinental 2022 Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc. They will also support contestants during the event.

The jurors all work in different fields, including fashion and movies. They have been involved in several charity and community projects aimed at young women and children of ethnic minority groups.

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