The 15th-tenure National Assembly (NA) will open the third session in Hanoi on May 23 morning.

Prior to the opening, Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front leaders, along with NA deputies, will pay tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.

Later, the parliament will hold a preparatory meeting during which lawmakers will consider and vote on the third session’s agenda.

The session will officially kick off right after that, and this opening sitting will be broadcast live on Radio the Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television, and the NA Television channels.

National scientific-technological development and innovation strategy approved

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has signed a decision to issue a strategy for scientific-technological development and innovation until 2030.

Accordingly, science, technology and innovation will play important roles in developing key industries in Vietnam, with a focus on the processing and manufacturing industries, contributing to restructuring the national economy toward modernity by 2030.

Science, technology and innovation are hoped to significantly contribute to building and developing Vietnam’s cultural, social and human values, providing scientific grounds for developing national development guidelines and policies, and contribute to the human development index (HDI).

To achieve these goals, attention will be paid to boosting scientific-technological and innovative activities nationwide, and setting up innovative ecosystems in industrial, agricultural and service sectors in connection with domestic and global value chains and industry clusters, in which large enterprises and State management agencies are responsible for creating favourable conditions and policies.

A system of national innovative centres will be linked with hi-tech zones, residential areas, financial centres, venture capital funds, universities and research institutes.

Additionally, open innovation platforms and networks will be developed to attract domestic and foreign investment resources towards creating new technologies and products, and setting up new enterprises.

Another key mission in the strategy is to develop scientific human resources with a high level of innovation and creative capacity.

The Government will also put an emphasis on building highly qualified scientific human resources, including leading scientists that can match the level of their counterparts in developed nations.

Other policies and mechanisms should be introduced to provide financial support and facilitate immigration as well as working permit procedures for overseas Vietnamese or foreigners who wish to participate in domestic scientific activities.

A network to connect talented overseas Vietnamese scientists should be also formed.

Fencer, volunteers collects rubbish in Mỹ Đình Gymnasium

Famed fencer Vũ Thành An and nearly 100 volunteers collected plastic rubbish in Mỹ Đình Gymnasium on Friday in the "Collecting Plastic Rubbish – Getting Green Medals" activity as part of the ongoing 'For A Green SEA Games' campaign.

They divided into groups to pick up rubbish, bottles and cans. By the afternoon, over 30 volunteers who collected the most rubbish won Green medals from the SEA Games organiser.

With the spirit of "For a Stronger Southeast Asia", the event has not aimed just at fair play but also for green-clean-beautiful and environment-friendly purposes.

The Natural Resources and Environment Communications Centre and the WWF have coordinated with the SEA Games 31 organiser on a project to minimise plastic disposal in the ocean and implement a national plan on controlling plastic disposal in the sea by 2030, aiming to set up a recycling economy and focus on environmental protection.

These plastic reducing activities are part of WWF efforts to protect Việt Nam's biological diversity, including the Sao La (Asian unicorn), chosen as this SEA Games mascot.

This is the very first time such a rare and valuable mammal has been chosen as the mascot.

The programmes "Collecting Plastic as Gifts" and "Collecting Plastic Rubbish – Getting Green Medals" have been implemented in Hà Nội's Mỹ Đình Gymnasium since May 12.

Hanoi’s second airport planning proposed

The State Appraisal Council is seeking Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s consideration for Hanoi’s second airport project.

Under the proposal, the project will be located in the south of Thuong Tin District which can help avoid mountains in the west of the city. The airport’s runways may be built parallel to those at Noi Bai International Airport.

The airport would be constructed after 2030 with an annual capacity of 100 million passengers per year. This is expected to ease the congestion at Noi Bai International Airport.

Earlier, Hanoi proposed building the second airport in Ung Hoa District. However, this would affect flights to Noi Bai International Airport.

Hanoi also disagreed with the recommendation to place its second airport in Hai Phong City.

High-speed ship ticket to Ly Son Island sharply rises

The ticket of the express ship service to Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai has been raised sharply.

The ticket will be increased to VND195,000 (USD8.41) per passenger to travel from Sa Ky to Ly Son. The same price is applied for the trip from Ly Son to Sa Ky.

Beside the higher ticket, people going from Sa Ky to Ly Son will have to pay a service fee of VND18,000. However, the fees are exempted for the reserve direction.

Since 2017, the ticket from Sa Ky to Ly Son has been raised many times. Currently, the single ticket is VND168,000-178,000 on the Sa Ky-Ly Son route and VND150,000-160,000 for the reserve direction.

Dang Tan Thanh, vice chairman of Ly Son District People’s Committee, said the ticket price hike will affect local residents.

Vo Phien, deputy director of the provincial Department of Transport, said four firms which provide transportation services to Ly Son Island are suffering from loss due to higher fuel prices. So they proposed the higher high-express ship tickets, which is seen as suitable by the Quang Ngai Department of Transport.

According to Phien, the ticket would be slashed when fuel prices are lowered.

Ministry urges conservation of groundwater resources

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoRE) has called on provinces and cities nationwide to step up the conservation of groundwater resources.

MoNRE said that many localities have been working to protect groundwater resources by limiting exploitation, filling in unused wells, and controlling drilling and exploration activities, which has helped prevent dropping groundwater levels, saltwater intrusion, and land subsidence in urban and delta areas, especially big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and some coastal provinces.

However, it also pointed out that one of the main causes of land subsidence and groundwater pollution, degradation and exhaustion is a lack of attention to geological exploration, mineral mining and construction activities.

In its written request, the ministry asked provinces and cities to promptly order local agencies to deal with unused wells, especially those formed as a result of geological, mineral and construction surveys.

Closing ceremony to send farewell to remember

Artists are in a rush to prepare for a magnificent art show to end the SEA Games 31 at Hà Nội’s Mỹ Đình Indoor Athletics Palace to send a warm farewell to regional friends, according to organisers.

Nguyễn Tuyết Hoa, Marketing Manager of the Việt Nam Opera & Ballet Theatre, said the art show at the closing ceremony on May 23 would be completely different from that in the opening ceremony.

“We will make the closing as a music gala with a long-lasting echo, feelings and inspiration, and send the warm greetings of the hosts Việt Nam to neighbouring friends,” she said.

The stage will be built with modern equipment such as an led screen and the most up-to-date technology system. The closing ceremony will take place at 8pm for 90 minutes and will be broadcast on VTV channels.

The theme of the show will be “Converge and Shine”.

With that theme running through, the art show will open with a dance with traditional conical hats by Dance Group 218, which expresses technology combined with traditional Vietnamese features.

Images of the capital Hà Nội will be represented at the show to say goodbye to athletes: a Thăng Long – Hà Nội holy land with talented people symbolising the strength of the country; a sparkling city with romantic and peaceful moments; beautiful girls wearing áo dài (traditional long dress); and flower sellers in the streets.

According to director Hoàng Công Cường, the whole team of 90 artists include various noted names such as Văn Mai Hương, Uyên Linh, Đông Hùng, Khánh Linh, Dương Hoàng Yến, Bảo Trâm, Phạm Anh Duy and Hà Nhi.

The host flag will be handed over to Cambodian representatives. After that, artists from Cambodia will have a performance of “Cambodia Welcoming and Blessing” to introduce their country, people and culture.

The performance will include the Rose Dance, White Pigeon contemporary dance, and the song “Cambodia Welcoming and Blessing.”

Artist Thanh Hiền, producing manager of the opening and closing ceremony, said Cambodian artists would transmit a message of regional integration, connecting international friends and looking forward to the next SEA Games.

The palace has a stage of 800sq.m and an led screen of 580sq.m. Some 200 tonnes of equipment will be prepared to serve the show.

Experience of going up to the forest and down to the sea on Cat Ba Island

From Ha Long Bay to Lan Ha Bay in Quang Ninh Province, Cat Ba Island marks the end point of a voyage through rocky islands amidst unique natural heritages. Nature is “generous” on this island, bestowing countless miracles that make up the brand of the “pearl island” in the north.

Standing on the road halfway up the mountain and looking down over Lan Ha Bay, visitors will see the cruises turning waves towards the shore. Dawn in Cat Ba often comes earlier than usual, with boats carrying tourists to explore the most beautiful bays and come ashore while the fishing boats of the fishermen on the island begin to set sail for the day. As part of Hai Phong, Cat Ba also has a hot and colourful summer with brilliant blooming red phoenix. On this vast rocky island, the red flowers on the shore mixed with the decorative colours of fishing boats enhance the beauty of the area.

In Cat Ba, a year is 365 days of experience. In the summer, this destination is considered a “paradise” for people who love the ocean. They can enjoy the delight of immersing themselves in the pure blue water, swimming, diving, kayaking, and taking boats to explore the Sang (Light) and Toi (Dark) caves and Khi (Monkey) Island. The beaches are surrounded by high mountains, so the waves are calm and white sand stretches along the shore. This is an ideal place for visitors to rest.

The winter is the peak season for welcoming international tourists, with the area’s natural resources bringing attractive and unique eco-tourism experiences during the cold months. Cat Ba National Park provides a rich "collection" of marine ecosystems, terrestrial forest ecosystems and mangrove ecosystems in a space covering thousands of hectares.

Amidst unspoiled nature, visitors can choose to cycle the 27-km-long road crossing the inland through many steep and winding passes, peaceful villages and the national park to experience going up to the forest and down to the sea on the pearl island. From there, visitors can ride the cable cars across the sea or take a ferry to Hai Phong City for a unique culinary itinerary.

First ‘Vietnam Day’ held at Moscow State Linguistic University

The ‘Vietnam Day’ programme was held by Moscow State Linguistic University for the first time on May 20, offering international friends the opportunity to gain a better understanding of Vietnam’s culture, land and people.

The event also aimed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and Vietnam and the 132nd birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh.

Rector of Moscow State Linguistic University Irina Kraeva shared that the university has been trainingVietnamese students since the 1960s, with 300 Vietnamese students having graduated, many of whom have held positions in the government, diplomatic agencies, and become business owners in Vietnam.

The university has also started teaching Vietnamese to Russian students since 2017. Kraeva also noted that ‘Vietnam Day’ will become an annual event at the university.

Head of the Economic-Scientific-Education Department of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Russian Federation Le Thi Huyen Minh appreciated the initiative of organising ‘Vietnam Day’, stating that this event not only promotes cooperation between the two countries in the field of education and training but also boosts Vietnamese language and Vietnamese culture in Russia.

At the event, Vietnamese students performed dances and songs praising the country and people of Vietnam. The most outstanding performance was the play My Chau-Trong Thuy, which was directed and performed inVietnamese by Russian students.

National online book fair wraps up

The 2022 National Online Book Fair, with the message "Lighting the fire of knowledge", officially wrapped up on May 20 after running for more than one month.

The book fair focused on connecting and taking advantage of all social resources to join hands to "light the fire of knowledge" across the whole society through a wide variety of programmes, events and contests.

In addition, numerous promotional programmes with discounted books from publishers were provided through the book365.vn platform.

On the occasion, the organising board offered price subsidies for more than 10,000 books and over 500 book titles with promotions of up to 80 percent off and free shipping during the festival.

This year online book fair received the support from many publishing houses and sponsors such as Bao Viet Group, Vitranet24, and The Wiselands Coffee.

Within the fair, the contest "Wise Men" attracted more than 9,000 readers, especially young people, from various provinces and cities around the country.

Da Lat to host flower festival in November

The ninth Da Lat Flower Festival will be held in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong from November to late December, as announced by the provincial People’s Committee on May 19.

According a document signed by the Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the festival will include newly-designed programmes and events, such as a helicopter tour, art performances, a hot air balloon festival, and a street carnival.

A dancing contest, a trade fair, and a football tournament will also be held within the framework of the festival.

Work starts on Mau Son tourism complex in Lang Son Province

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on May 20 to commence the construction of an ecotourism complex and cable car system to Mau Son Mountain in the northern province of Lang Son.

The project, which will cost 7,352 billion VND (317.4 million USD), is being invested in by the Sun Group and its first phase is scheduled for completion in 2024.

The complex will include stations for the cable car, an entertainment area on Mau Son Mountain and the Phat Chi spiritual area covering a total area of 692 hectares, expected to boost Lang Son’s socio-economic development.

Dong Thap CDC director arrested over procurement irregularities

Tran Van Hai, director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, has been detained for allegedly violating bidding regulations during the procurement of medical equipment and Covid tests kits from Viet A Technology Corporation.

Nguyen Thi Le Ngoc, deputy head of the division of Testing-Image Analysis-Functional Exploration under Dong Thap CDC, was also arrested for the same charge, the local media reported.

Earlier, Dong Thap inspectors concluded that in 2020-2021, the province’s CDC and healthcare units spent over VND742 billion from the anti-Covid fund buying medical equipment and supplies, test kits and drugs.

These units bought medical equipment and test kits from Viet A through 10 packages worth over VND233 billion. However, the actual value of the equipment and test kits was over VND197 billion, and they paid Viet A nearly VND157 billion.

Relating to the Viet A case, the Police Department for Corruption, Smuggling and Economic Crimes under the Ministry of Public Security and the police departments of localities have filed charges against nearly 40 people, including 16 leaders and officials of the CDC and the Department of Health of provinces, including Hai Duong, Bac Giang, Nghe An, Binh Duong, Thua Thien Hue, Nam Dinh, Binh Phuoc, Ha Giang, Hau Giang and Dong Thap.

HBSO to hold friendship concert next week

The HCMC Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will present a Friendship Concert in collaboration with the Vietnam-US Friendship Association in HCMC in the Saigon Opera House on May 28. It contains three HCMC premieres.

The American side is represented by an overture by Leonard Bernstein,  a famous short work by the composer John Adams, and a recent work by the Vietnamese-born composer P.Q. Phan, who lives in the U.S. and in whose Poeme et Danse the solo pianist will be Vincent Adragna. Adragna spent several years as Assistant Professor at the Indiana University, Bloomington, as well as subsequently working in Paris and New Caledonia. Finally, violinist Chuong Vu is the concert-master of the San Angelo Symphony Orchestra in Texas.

The Ho Chi Mih City premieres will be the P.Q. Phan work, composed in 2018, Gabriel Faure’s Volin Concerto in D Minor, and John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine.

The concert opens with Leonard Bernstein’s Overture from Candide (1956). The work is an essay in musical pastiche, incorporating innumerable American styles from jazz to the tango. The story is taken from a novella by the French Enlightenment philosopher who adopted the pseudonym “Voltaire”.

Tickets are from VND400,000 to VND750,000, with a special concession of VND80,000 for students. The concert, which will be conducted by Honna Tetsuji, begins at 8:00 p.m.

Vietnam rushes to inject fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine for high-risk groups

Vietnam rushed to administer the fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccine to those aged 50 and over, people aged 18 years or older with immunocompromised, and people aged 18 years or older who are in the high-risk group for exposure to Covid-19 such as health workers, frontline staff, workers, people working in industrial parks.

The Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology yesterday sent a document to departments of health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 63 provinces and cities to request directing units and establishments to urgently complete the administration of the third dose of Covid-19 vaccine for those over 18 years old and injecting the full basic dose for children aged 12-17 in the second quarter of 2022 under the Government’s direction while well preparing for vaccination of those aged 50 and over, people aged 18 years or older with immunocompromised and people aged 18 years or older who are in the high-risk group.

Because many localities are implementing very slowly the Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 5-11 with the Moderna vaccine, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has directed the CDCs of provinces and cities to effectively use the Moderna vaccine.

Accordingly, the opened Moderna vaccine is not used up or the Moderna vaccine that has been allocated to vaccinate children in the above age group has not been used up, healthcare facilities and localities can use the remaining vaccine on those from 18 years of age or older, ensure the effective use of vaccines, avoid the cancellation of vaccines due to expiration or defrosting time.

Vietnamese tourists to travel again to RoK with C-3 visa

Vietnamese tourists can now plan tours to and travel again to the Republic of Korea (RoK) in the coming time after the country has just announced to re-issue short-term visa type of C-3 for international travelers from the beginning of June after the long-term suspension due to Covid-19 pandemic from March 14, 2020. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the C-3 visa has been only applied for diplomats, government officials, foreign investors and experts to enter the country. 

The multiple-entry visa will be also taken effect again. As for those being issued multiple-entry visa prior to April 5, 2020 that have not expired, they can now use the visa without re-application.

On the occasion, the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam also launched the campaign named “Travel to Korea Begins Again” with diversified activities for Vietnamese tourists along with special assistance programs for travel agencies to boost the recovery of Korean tourism market in Vietnam.

Separate classrooms designated for candidates suspected, confirmed with Covid-19

Educational facilities are required to designate separate rooms in accordance with Covid-19 prevention and control measures for students suspected of having Covid-19 at the 10th grade entrance examination, according to the latest document on the 10th grade entrance exam in the school year 2022-2023 issued by the HCMC Department of Education and Training.

Students who are confirmed cases of Covid-19 and want to participate in the exam have to display an application for the examination with the signature of parents or guardians.

Candidates, teachers and other staff who will invigilate the examination have to strictly comply with Covid-19 prevention regulations.

The municipal Department of Education and Training asked its units in Thu Duc City and 21 districts across the city to take responsibility for coordinating with the Steering Committees for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to implement medical works and measures against the virus during the exam.

Exam locations have to be cleaned and disinfected before and after the exam, prepare a temporary isolation area and at least three rooms for students suspected of having Covid-19 and infected with the virus. A classroom has 24 students with one student per table and must stop the use of air conditioning systems to reduce the spread of the virus.

Additionally, the exam sites must require candidates and their parents to strictly comply with Covid-19 prevention and control measures, such as wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing.

Vietnam National University moved to Hanoi's outskirt
 
The Vietnam National University's Hoa Lac campus is ready with all facilities and equipment for educational and research activities.

The Vietnam National University (VNU)’s headquarter has been relocated to its newly built campus in Hoa Lac on Hanoi's outskirt this week.

The campus is expected to be the most modern and advanced university town in Southeast Asia.

Planned to cover about 1,113.7 hectares, the campus includes the Polytechnic School, a research center, and offices of the management board.

Built with a total investment of VND22 trillion (nearly US$950 million), the college town consisting of nine member universities, eight institutes, 13 research centers, and four specialized high schools will provide training for more than 41,000 students.

Currently, the VNU-Hanoi student population on the Hoa Lac campus has numbered 15,000.

Two localities get seed support

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has signed a decision on allocation of 2,400 tons of rice seeds and 55 tons of corn seeds from the national reserve for the central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Tri to support local people affected by natural calamity.

Specifically, Thua Thien-Hue province will get 1,500 tons of rice seeds and five tons of corn seeds while Quang Tri Province will be provided with 900 tons of rice seeds and 50 tons of corn seeds.

These provincial People's Committees are responsible for allocating the seed support to right beneficiaries.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam to attend 78th session of ESCAP

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam will attend the 78th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand from May 22-23.

His attendance is made at the invitation of Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

The ESCAP was founded in 1947 in China.  With 53 Member States and nine associate members, ESCAP serves as the United Nations' branch in Asia and the Pacific to promote cooperation to attain inclusive and sustainable economic and social development for the region. 

Themed "A common agenda to advance sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific", the session will mark the 75th anniversary of its establishment.

The event aims to review achievements the ESCAP has gained in promoting socio-economic development in the Asia-Pacific region and assess current challenges and propose orientations and measures for the regional socio-economic development and recovery in the upcoming time.

Ordinary passports to be issued online from next month

From June 1, 2022, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) will issue ordinary passports online for Vietnamese citizens (ones without electronic chips).

The move is part of the ministry’s effort to implement the Government’s initiated Project on “Developing the application of data on population, electronic identification and authentication for national digital transformation in the period of 2022-2025, with a vision to 2030.”

Accordingly, Vietnamese citizens in the country who have a valid citizen ID with an electronic chip or a valid 12-digit citizen ID, will be able to access to the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security to register, pay online fees, receive passports via portals or come to receive them directly at the exit and entry management agency when results are available.

To perform this, people sign up to the Governhttp://dichvucong.gov.vnment public service portal (http://dichvucongan.gov.vn) or the public service of the Ministry of Public Security to submit their dossiers, pay online fees, receive passports via post office or come to receive them directly.

Earlier, from May 4-11, to the Immigration and Exit Management Department under the MPS worked with the Ha Noi Municipal Police and Exit Management Department, and relevant units piloted online public services for the issuance of ordinary passports for Vietnamese citizens.

Action month for drug prevention 2022 to be launched next month

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has asked ministries, agencies, and the People’s Committees of cities and provinces to launch the action month for drug prevention and control from June 1-30, 2022.

This year's action month, in response to the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26), is themed "Improving effectiveness of drug dependence treatment and management of illicit drug users-For a healthy and safe community". 

The Deputy PM tasked the Ministry of Public Security to guide relevant forces to speed up investigations, crack down on drug trafficking rings, especially large-scale, inter-provincial and trans-border ones and effectively manage illicit drug addicts. 

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs was assigned to enhance communications on drug rehabilitation work, particularly at drug treatment facilities and vocational training facilities. 

The ministry should guide localities to organize community-based voluntary rehabilitation as regulated. 

The Ministry of Information and Communications is responsible for directing press agencies and grassroots information system to coordinate with specialized anti-drug agencies to disseminate legal regulations on drug prevention and control.

The Ministry of Education and Training is in charge of guiding education establishments to organize activities on drug prevention and control, with a focus on the consequences and harmful effects of drugs.  

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