By 2023, Vietnam had fulfilled and exceeded 11 out of the 20 national targets set in the national strategy on gender equality until 2025, according to Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung.

Reporting the implementation progress of the gender equality targets in 2023 at the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s 7th session on May 22, Dung said that three out of the 20 targets were partly completed, and two others were close to the targets set for 2030.

Gender equality in the fields of politics, economy, labour, employment, education and training, social security, information and communications continued to be bright spots with many advances compared to the previous years, the minister said.

However, Dung pointed to four targets that are lagged behind, especially the sex ratio at birth which still tends to increase, and the pilot implementation of medical facilities providing health care services for the LGBT group.

Delivering a brief report verifying the Government’s report on the implementation of the gender equality targets in 2023, Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh said that Vietnam's gender equality ranking in 2023 increased 15 places to the 72nd position out of 146 countries from the 87th position in 2021.

Vietnamese women have shown deeper participation in the policy and decision-making process, while taking on important leadership positions and making positive contributions to the cause of national construction and development, she said.

Anh noted that the ratio of female deputies to the 15th National Assembly reached 30.26%, exceeding the 30% mark for the first time since the 6th National Assembly, rising from the 71st to the 55th position in the world and the 4th place in Asia.

The income of female workers has improved. Women account for 55% of the workers participating in compulsory social insurance, and make up 51% of the total number of people receiving pensions and social insurance benefits, the official said, adding that women's roles and positions in families and society have also improved.

Achievements in gender equality promotion have contributed to enhancing Vietnam's role, prestige and image in the international arena. On April 9, Vietnam was elected to the Executive Board of the UN Women for the 2025 - 2027 tenure.

Anh underlined that Vietnam is one of the fastest aging countries in the world while the health care system has yet to meet the increasing demand of the elderly of whom 57% are women.

The official suggested the NA Standing Committee ensure the proportion of women in the number of candidates for the election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Councils at all levels in the 2026-2031 tenure.

She also asked the Government to continue to direct the completion of the legal system regarding gender equality, while strictly implementing the association of gender equality into the building of legal documents as well as the programme to strengthen the equal engagement of women in the leadership and management positions at all policy-making levels in the 2021-2030 period.

New 'Vietnam 2045' report aligns with the country's extended vision

Vietnam has set its sights even higher, aiming to become a high-income country by 2045 and a decarbonised economy by 2050 — ambitious goals that demand innovation and strategic visions.

That was a remark by Florian Feyerabend, Resident Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Vietnam, at the conference 'Vietnam 2045 Report: Global Economic Trends and Policy Implications for Vietnam' on May 21.

He said the Vietnam 2045 Report contained valuable assessments and policy recommendations that has guided Vietnamese policymakers in shaping the country's trajectory over the past few years.

However, shifts in geopolitics, technology and global trends have reshaped the reality of the country's path towards economic growth, exposing the need for a new report aligning with its extended visions.

"The Vietnam 2045 Report will serve as a compass for Vietnam's train," said Feyerabend.

Tran Toan Thang, Head of the International Issues Department at Vietnam Institute for Development Strategies (VIDS) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, underlined several global trends that would have a big impact on Vietnam in the coming years, including competition between the US and China as well as a transition to renewable energy.

Technology development, he said, also plays a role in shaping Vietnam's digital landscape in the next decade. Under his estimation, Vietnam is on par with China and the US in terms of vision and data availability.

"However, Vietnam still lags behind the two superpowers in terms of technology maturity, adaptability, human capital and innovation capacity," said Thang.

Nguyen Quoc Truong, Vice President of VIDS, said Vietnam needs a new report in place of the Vietnam 2035 Report to capture recent changes in global and domestic context.

He said the Vietnam 2045 Report is under development and will consist of nine chapters: Review development path and targets; New context and trends, new visions; Science and technology, innovation, autonomy; Global value chains upgrading, private sector development; Spatial transition, growth dynamic poles, connectivity; Human resource and labour shifting; Green and climate change responses; Social transition; and Institution for development./.

Conference discusses hypertension management programme

Health experts exchanged expertise and experience in an effort to improve the hypertension management programme at a conference on May 22 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The conference was a collaboration between Novartis Vietnam and FPT Long Chau Pharmacy chain with support from the Vietnam Hypertension Association and the Vietnam National Heart Association, aiming at raising public awareness of hypertension.

The event provided medical knowledge regarding diagnosis and hypertension, beginning a series of meaningful activities on World Hypertension Day and the MMM 2024 (May Month Measurement 2024) Community Hypertension Screening and Management Programme.

The conference is also an opportunity to concretise Novartis' efforts in improving community health and enhancing the counselling capacity of pharmacists, jointly working with pharmacy chain partners to be ready to join the Community Hypertension Control Programme according to International Society of Hypertension standards.

For the first time, the programme has collaborated with the FPT Long Chau pharmacy chain system to provide free international-standard blood pressure measurement to the public. After measurement sessions, specialist doctors will not only provide counselling and healthcare advice but also give detailed instructions to participants on how to measure their blood pressure at home. This initiative helps foster proactive daily health care, contributes to the management and reduction of hypertension risks, and aims to improve the quality of life and health of the Vietnamese community.

Speaking about the importance of pharmacists in advising patients with hypertension, Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Minh, President of the Vietnam National Heart Association, said: "Hypertension is a very common issue within the Vietnamese community, and each of us can be a candidate for this problem. Although it is not an infectious disease, the complications associated with organ damage caused by hypertension, such as brain stroke, heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmias, and visual impairment, should not be ignored. Besides the role of doctors, pharmacists are currently being recognized and play a significant collaborative role in helping people enhance their awareness and ensure adherence to the best treatment, contributing to the protection, care, and improvement of community health."

During the conference, experts practised measuring and recording ISH standard blood pressure and counselling hypertensive patients. This activity served as both support and specialised training for the FPT Long Chau pharmacist team to enhance their expertise and professionalism in the process of examining and counselling hypertensive patients. This creates more opportunities for people nationwide to undergo screening and management for hypertension, thereby avoiding potential risks of the disease.

Hypertension is becoming increasingly common worldwide, including in Vietnam. Anyone is at risk of hypertension, including children and young adults. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide have hypertension, and it is responsible for an estimated 9.4 million deaths each year.

In Vietnam, there are about 12 million people with hypertension, with a ratio of one in five adults being affected. Of these, there is a relatively high proportion of patients who have not been diagnosed with the disease or have been diagnosed but have not yet controlled it./.

Soc Trang kicks off sustainable high-quality rice project

A ceremony took place in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang on May 22 to start a sustainable development project targeting one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice linked to green growth in the region.

Soc Trang is one of five provinces chosen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to pilot this project. According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is set to be implemented across nine local districts, towns, and cities. The goal is to achieve 38,500 hectares of the grain by 2025 and 72,000 hectares by 2030.

Speaking at the ceremony, Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the MARD’s Department of Crop Production, stated that the project aims to reorganise the production system according to value chains, apply sustainable farming practices to enhance value, improve production efficiency, increase income and living standards for farmers, protect the environment, and adapt to climate change, among others.

Vuong Quoc Nam, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said that Soc Trang has approximately 146,000 hectares of paddies. Their annual yield exceeds 2 million tonnes, of which high-quality rice accounts for over 97%.

He emphasised that the project presents an opportunity for the local agricultural sector to further develop and for farmers to adopt new, sustainable cultivation methods./.

Nghe An receives remains of 87 martyrs from Laos

The central province of Nghe An held a ceremony on May 22 in Ky Son district to receive the remains of 87 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos during wartime.

The ceremony saw the attendance of representatives of Vientiane, Xiangkhouang and Xaysomboun provinces of Laos as well as leaders of Nghe An province and Ky Son district.

The remains were found by a search and repatriation team of the provincial Military Command during the 2023-2024 dry season.

At the ceremony, participants showed gratitude to the martyrs who devoted their lives to independence of both countries and the noble international spirit.

As scheduled, the remains will be handed over to the provincial Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to collect biological sampling on May 23. A memorial and reburial service for the martyrs will be held at the Nghi Loc district Martyrs’ Cemetery on the following day./.

Binh Dinh ready to host visitors with exciting summer tourist events

A wide range of interesting tourism, cultural, and sports activities await visitors this summer in the coastal city of Quy Nhon, central Binh Dinh province.

The province’s departments of tourism, culture and sports, held a press conference on May 22 to announce the activities to be held in this summer from June to August.

Outstanding events include the VnExpress Marathon Quy Nhon 2024, a kite festival, the national athletics championship of young age groups, a street festival, the national 3x3 basketball tournament, and the national youth kickboxing championship.

Particularly, the 2024 Teqball World Series is scheduled to take place on the beach of Quy Nhon from June 6 to 9. The tourney, held for the first time in Vietnam, will see 131 teams participate from 53 countries.

Teqball is a ball sport that combines football and table tennis and is played on a curved table. Back and forth, players hit the ball with any part of their bodies except arms and hands. Teqball can be played between two players as a singles game or between four players as a doubles game.

Authorities said Binh Dinh is making the best preparations to ensure the best experience for visitors during the summer tourism events.

On this occasion, the province will also introduce its unique art of tuna dishes at a festival featuring local seafood and products of craft villages.

Visitors and local residents will also have a chance to enjoy performances of the traditional martial arts as well as folk arts of Binh Dinh such as “tuong” and “bai choi” singing./.

Joint actions urged to protect wild animals

An event was held at Vu Quang National Park in the central province of Ha Tinh on May 22 to call for joint actions for wild animals, with the support of the US Agency for International Development through the Biodiversity Conservation Activity, a component of the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation Project (VFBC).

This event is among activities in response to the International Day of Biological Diversity (May 22), aiming to raise public awareness, responsibility and action on biodiversity conservation.

Bradley Bessire, USAID/Vietnam Deputy Mission Director, said that through the Biodiversity Conservation Activity, the USAID has cooperated with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide technical and financial support to 21 locations across Vietnam to develop an effective reserve system and restore wildlife abundance.

The event contributes to raising public awareness about the role of preserving biodiversity values, thereby calling on people to act responsibly to sustain biodiversity as a global asset for future generations, he added.

Deputy head of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency Phan Viet Nga said that natural ecosystems and biodiversity resources in Vietnam are facing great challenges. Through this event, she called for the coordination of agencies, sectors, organisations and individuals to join hands to preserve the nation’s biodiversity.

At the event, more than 200 representatives of the local communities, agencies, departments, sectors and students in Vu Quang district responded to the call of the Vu Quang National Park and committed not to hunting or trading wild animals./.

Vietnamese students learn about environmental protection

Vietnamese students will have a chance to learn about environmental protection and sustainable development with their peers in other countries.

The French Institute in Ho Chi Minh City held a press conference to introduce the program ‘Recreating the World with French’ yesterday afternoon.

Within the framework of the Francophone Summit to be held next October in France, the program launched by the French Institute in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia aims to connect students to learn about environment protection and sustainable development in French.

Climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss and natural resource management are challenges that Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, as well as other countries in the world, are facing. Therefore, students will have a chance to experience the educational program, which provides students with an understanding of the above challenges, with practical actions to protect the environment, as well as becoming inspiring ambassadors for the environment and the French language.

The French Institute in the three countries hopes that students participating in the program will tell their friends and relatives about their experiences, and that is why the program chooses eleventh-grade students who will continue studying one more year in their high schools so that they can share their experiences with their classmates.

Students of high schools such as Le Hong Phong, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Marie Curie will be representatives of Vietnam to participate in the program. Children will participate in a variety of interactive workshops and collaborative projects to encourage the development of creative solutions to environmental problems as well as learn how to analyze environmental problems and develop environmental strategy and action plans.

Cần Thơ launches free folk music classes for students

Free folk music classes will be offered to young students in Cần Thơ in an effort to bring Vietnamese culture to international friends.

The Centre for Student Support and Services in Cần Thơ City, under the Secretariat of the Việt Nam Youth Federation in Cần Thơ City, launched a "Free Folk Music Class” programme on May 21.

According to Phương Tấn Đạt, director of the Centre for Student Support and Services in Cần Thơ, the progamme will be implemented from June 10 on every Friday from 9:00am to 10:30am at Thái Bình Dương High School.

The programme includes activities introducing traditional musical instruments and teaching folk singing to young people to preserve and develop the cultural value of traditional music and instruments for the younger generation.

This is also an opportunity to maintain connections, and promote and showcase Vietnamese culture to international friends through traditional musical instruments.

The programme has garnered support from numerous organisations and individuals, all aiming to inspire passion and spread positive cultural values to students.

The operating principle of the programme is "Every student who knows and understands musical instruments becomes a cultural ambassador of Việt Nam to promote and bring Vietnamese culture to international friends."

Trương Tài Linh, currently working at the Ninh Kiều District Cultural and Broadcasting Centre, which supports the "Free Folk Music Class," shared that he is responsible for teaching the history of Vietnamese folk music, guiding students in their initial understanding of folk songs and chants, and practicing on some traditional instruments such as the zither, bamboo flute, and monochord.

"I find the folk melodies very captivating, especially when combined with the sounds of traditional musical instruments,” Trần Quang Minh, an eighth-grade student at Thái Bình Dương High School who attended the launch of the "Free Folk Music Class, enthusiastically expressed.

“I am sure many students like me will register to join this 'Free Folk Music Class.' I hope to master at least one instrument and confidently sing some folk songs. In the future, if I study abroad, I will proudly showcase what I learned here to my international friends." he added. 

‘Week of Vietnamese Culture in Cambodia’ brings countries closer

Dozens of Vietnamese performers have staged an arts and music show featuring the distinctive cultures of the nation to mark and encourage the growing closeness of the two neighbours, at the Chaktomuk Theatre in Phnom Penh.

The performance was part of the 'Week of Vietnamese Culture in Cambodia 2024' that aims to enhance the friendship and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Attending the opening event were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Việt Nam, Tạ Quang Đông, Minister of Culture and Arts of Cambodia, Phoeurng Sackona, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia Nguyễn Huy Tăng, along with many international guests.

Deputy Minister Đông said: "The Week of Vietnamese Culture in Cambodia 2024 is being held in Phnom Penh – the city that embodies the traditional cultural values of Cambodia - and in the northern-west province of Banteay Meanchey, which preserves many unique Cambodian heritage values.

“Through this event, Việt Nam wishes to introduce to the Cambodian people and international friends the beauty of Vietnamese culture through performance featuring traditional dance and music, including the ones that have been recognised by the UNESCO as intangible cultural heritages of humanity.”

He also stressed that the two countries have been good neighbours for over 57 years, when diplomatic relations were established and have a solidarity and enjoy traditional friendly exchanges.

The deputy minister believes that the Vietnamese Cultural Week, alongside other cultural exchange activities between the two countries, will help to make this bond even tighter and lead to greater friendship and mutual understanding, contributing further to long-term sustainability between them.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cambodian minister Phoeurng Sackona said that the event is part of the process of strengthening the friendship between the two countries.

“This is an event that offers opportunity for people of the two countries to learn about each other's cultures, thus contributing to strengthening friendship and neighbouring cooperation," she said.

The audience enjoyed traditional dances of Việt Nam’s ethnic groups Mông, Dao, Lự and Khơ Me and songs praising President Hồ Chí Minh and the friendship between Việt Nam and Cambodia.

The Vietnamese culture week will wrap up on May 25. 

Temple director arrested for power abuse

Lê Trường Giang, director of the Hùng Temple Historical Relic Site, was apprehended and prosecuted for power abuse on Wednesday.

Initial investigation revealed that Giang had allegedly exploited his authority to have Venus Phú Thọ Ltd Co, run by the site's Head of Administrative Organisation Department Bùi Quốc Huy, operate passenger transportation services using electric cars, which is against financial regulations.

The case is under further investigation. 

Việt Nam to apply nature-based solutions for biodiversity conservation

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Lê Công Thành has emphasised the importance of researching and applying nature-based solutions for biodiversity conservation and restoration and for climate change adaptation.

He spoke at the International Day for Biological Diversity 2024 event held on Wednesday in Hội An City, located in the central province of Quảng Nam.

In his opening remarks, Thành highlighted that this year’s theme, 'Be part of the plan,' initiated by the United Nations, offers an opportunity to affirm Việt Nam’s commitment in changing perceptions, unifying actions and proactively addressing challenges to halt the increasing rate of biodiversity loss.

Thành pointed out that Quảng Nam, with the second-largest area of natural forests in the country, possesses significant advantages in natural resources and biodiversity. It is also the first locality nationwide to host the 'National Year for Biodiversity Recovery.'

He urged ministries, sectors, agencies, local authorities, organisations and individuals to take practical actions to address issues concerning nature conservation and biodiversity.

He called on relevant units to control activities that negatively impact biodiversity and natural landscapes, enhance urgent actions to prevent overexploitation and illegal trade of wildlife, and minimise the presence and impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity.

Thành highlighted the need to raise awareness about biodiversity and its values in improving sustainable livelihoods, poverty alleviation and the country's sustainable development strategy.

He also advocated for promoting and establishing partnerships with both domestic and international organisations and individuals to garner support for nature and biodiversity conservation, emphasising the effective implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030.

Bùi Ngọc Ảnh, Director of Quảng Nam’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment, noted that Quảng Nam is home to diverse forest and marine ecosystems, with many rare and endemic species such as the Saola, tigers, elephants, langurs, Muntjac deer, Ngọc Linh Ginseng, coral reefs and seagrass.

The province is part of the central Trường Sơn priority landscape and one of the world’s 200 biodiversity hotspots.

Ảnh said Quảng Nam has been a pioneer in biodiversity action, being among the first provinces to issue a conservation strategy and action plan. The province has also secured international funding to implement various conservation and ecosystem restoration tasks, promoting the establishment of conservation areas and biodiversity corridors.

The development plan for Quảng Nam from 2021 to 2030, with a vision to 2050, aims to make Quảng Nam a leading province in green growth and circular economy, balancing environmental sustainability with development.

To contribute to national and global biodiversity recovery, Ảnh said Quảng Nam has proposed organising the National Biodiversity Recovery Year - Quảng Nam 2024 - Living in Harmony with Nature, with over 40 related activities to be held across the province from March to December 2024.

Quảng Nam will also continue to study the Global Biodiversity Framework and the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, to integrate them into its provincial planning.

Supporting the International Day for Biological Diversity 2024, Văn Ngọc Thịnh, director of WWF-Vietnam, said that WWF will continue to collaborate with the Government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and localities, especially Quảng Nam, to maintain biodiversity and strive for a life in harmony with nature.

During the ceremony, delegates also released indigenous and endemic aquatic species into natural water bodies in the Hội An area. 

National table tennis championship to begin in late May

The Nhân Dân Newspaper National Table Tennis Championship will begin on May 31 at the Khánh Hòa Province Gymnasium in Nha Trang City.

The 42nd annual competition, known as the PetroVietnam Cup, will feature nearly 200 athletes from 18 delegations including powerhouses Hà Nội, Hải Dương, HCM City and the military.

Players will compete in seven categories of men's and women's singles, doubles and teams and mixed doubles. The finals are scheduled on June 7.

"The national championship is a basis for the Sports Authority of Việt Nam and the Việt Nam Table Tennis Federation to pick quality players for the national team, which will compete internationally later this year," said Quế Đình Nguyên, deputy head of the organising board.

"It is also a strong push to develop the national table tennis movement in particular and sports in general."

According to organisers, this year's bonus for high-ranking players will be higher than in the past. Players will also compete for a 'Miss Table Tennis' award for the most beautiful and talented lady athlete.

A photo contest will also be launched at the press conference on May 21.

Photos that capture stunning moments from the tournament will receive high prizes.

Charity activities will be conducted during the championship, with gifts for local people and groups in need. 

Nghệ An Province receives remains of 87 martyrs from Laos

The authorities of Nghệ An held a ceremony on May 22 in Kỳ Sơn District to receive the remains of 87 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos during wartime.

The ceremony saw the attendance of representatives from Laotian provinces of Vientiane, Xiangkhouang and Xaysomboun as well as leaders of Nghệ An Province and Kỳ Sơn District.

The remains were found by a search and repatriation team of the provincial Military Command during the 2023-24 dry season.

At the ceremony, participants showed gratitude to the martyrs who devoted their lives to the independence of both countries and the noble international spirit.

As scheduled, the remains will be handed over to the provincial Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to collect biological sampling on May 23. A memorial and reburial service for the martyrs will be held at the Nghi Lộc District Martyrs’ Cemetery on the following day.

Vietnamese, Chinese coast guards conduct joint patrol in northern Gulf of Tonkin

The coast guards of Việt Nam and China on May 22 conducted their joint patrol in the northern Gulf of Tonkin, covering the waters off Móng Cái city in Quảng Ninh province and Dongxing and Fangchenggang cities in China’s Guangxi province.

The joint patrol, the second of its kind this year, spanned 102 nautical miles from Point 1 to Point 9 along the countries’ demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin. This area is a bustling zone for bilateral import-export and goods exchange activities. It is also a hotspot for illegal activities such as smuggling, trade fraud, illegal border crossings, and unauthorised maritime entries.

The Vietnam Coast Guard took the occasion to actively communicate with dozens of fishing vessels operating near the bordering waters to comply with regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The work aimed to help lift the European Commission (EC)’s yellow card warning imposed on Việt Nam's seafood and promote the country’s sustainable fishery development.

Starting in 2024, joint patrols in the bordering waters are conducted quarterly to maintain security and law enforcement for citizens of both nations.

These efforts contribute to the preservation and development of the Vietnam-China traditional friendship and neighbourliness as well as the cooperation between their coast guards.

Việt Nam calls for stronger efforts in protecting civilians in conflicts

Việt Nam has called on parties involved in conflicts to strictly comply with international law and international humanitarian law, especially the four 1949 Geneva Conventions and relevant UN resolutions, thus better protecting civilians in conflicts.

The called was made by Minister Counsellor Nguyễn Hoàng Nguyên, Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN, at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s open debate held on May 21-22 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in combination with the marking of the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1265 (1999), which first established the protection of civilians as a crucial issue of international peace and security, and the 75th anniversary of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Citing the conflict in Gaza that has killed an average of more than 150 civilians every day over the past seven months, he stressed that the international community and the UNSC should take more effective measures to protect civilians and civil infrastructure works.

The official held that the best way is to unroot the causes of conflict and create favourable conditions for dialogue and reconciliation.

He also highlighted Việt Nam's in promoting the protection of civilians, including the bringing of crimes of undermining peace, waging wars of aggression, crimes against humanity, and war crimes into the Penal Code.

As a non-permanent member of the UNSC in the 2020-2021 tenure, Việt Nam took charge of drafting and promoted the adoption of Resolution 2573 on protecting essential civil infrastructure in conflicts, while chairing a number of meetings on overcoming the consequences of land mines, preventing sexual violence, and caring for children in conflict, he added.

At the event, which drew representatives from more than 90 member states, UN observers and a number of international organisation, the majority of participants expressed deep concern about the increase in armed conflicts over the past year that led to many dire consequences for civilians.

The latest report by the UN Secretary General showed that more than 33,000 civilians died in conflicts in 2023, an increase of 72 per cent compared to 2022, alarming violations of international humanitarian law and difficulties in accessing humanitarian assistance in conflict areas.

Through participating in UN peacekeeping operations, Việt Nam has also effectively contributed to the protection of civilians affected by conflicts on site.

Resolution 1265 dated September 17, 1999, for the first time recognised the protection of civilians in conflict as an important issue for international peace and security and became an official annual item on the agenda of the UNSC. Meanwhile, the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and three Additional Protocols are considered the foundation of international humanitarian law to protect victims of armed conflict. 

Deputy PM pays homage to late Iranian President at embassy in Hà Nội

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang on Thursday came to offer condolences to the Iranian Embassy in Hanoi over the deaths of the country’s President Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other senior officials in a recent helicopter crash.

At the embassy, Deputy PM Quang paid the last respect to the deceased and wrote in the condolence book.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, he wrote that he wishes to offer the deepest condolences to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Government and people of Iran, and the families of President Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other victims who died in the May 19 accident.

Việt Nam hopes that the State and people of Iran will overcome this enormous grief and loss to continue building an increasingly prosperous State of Iran, Quang added.

On May 20, Acting President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân and PM Phạm Minh Chính sent condolences to Acting President of Iran Mohammad Mokhber while National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn cabled message of sympathy to Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

The same day, Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh sơn extended condolences to Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani.

The helicopter crash happened in East Azerbaijan province of Iran on May 19, killing all people on board. The country declared five days of national mourning for the deceased. 

Uruguay supports Việt Nam's negotiations of FTA with Mercosur: Official

Uruguay will take the role as President of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and continue to support Việt Nam's negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the bloc, Uruguayan Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Paganini has said.

Speaking at a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay Ngô Minh Nguyệt who presented a copy of her credentials in Montevideo on May 16, the minister emphasised that the country will work closely with the Vietnamese Embassy to promote stronger and more comprehensive relations between the two countries in the coming time.

He noted that Uruguay wishes Việt Nam to support and share experiences on the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as well as expanding collaboration in economy, commerce, and export of agricultural products.

On May 17, Nguyệt had a meeting with the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Uruguay Juan Castillo and Central Committee member, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anna Olivera Pesano, among others.

General Secretary Juan Castillo expressed his desire to further strengthen cooperation with agencies of the Communist Party of Việt Nam and learn from Việt Nam's valuable experiences in national construction and development.

In addition, the Communist Party of Uruguay is planning to build, publish, and popularise many documents on the history and development of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, Việt Nam, and President Hồ Chí Minh in an attempt to enhance the understanding by Uruguayan people of the heroic history of Việt Nam.

Nguyet expressed appreciation to the Communist Party of Uruguay for its support to the revolutionary movement of the Party, State, and people of Việt Nam as well as the Embassy of Vietnam in Argentina and Uruguay in carrying out activities to promote cooperation and Party-channel and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Gustavo Cabrera, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uruguay and Director of the Department of Economic Development of Montevideo city, handed to Nguyệt a decision of the city on building a 500sqm Vietnamese culture space near the international convention centre. The space includes a zone for commemorating President Hồ Chí Minh who once arrived in ports in Uruguay and Argentina during his journey to seek ways to savage the nation 112 years ago. 

Legislators to opine on results of socio-economic development plan

Legislators are discussing in groups the results obtained in the implementation of the socio-economic development and state budget plans for 2023 and the first four months of 2024, during the ongoing seventh session of the National Assembly in Hà Nội on Thursday.

They will also mull over the thrift practice and anti-wastefulness work, and the outcomes of the implementation of the national strategy on gender equality in 2023.

According to the Government’s report, the country’s macro-economy remained stable, with GDP growth in Q1 reaching 5.66 per cent, the highest during the 2020-2023 period, and the average consumer price index (CPI) in the first four months rising 3.93 per cent year-on-year.

With a flexible monetary policy, interest rates were cut to back the economic growth. Besides, state budget collection during January - April accounted for 43.1 per cent of the projection and increased 10.1 per cent against the same time last year, while exports grew 15 per cent and trade surplus was US$8.4 billion.

A slew of policies were well carried out to ensure social welfare, care for people who rendered great services to the nation, alleviate poverty, and improve local livelihoods.

Regarding missions and solutions in the coming time, the Government will prioritise economic growth in tandem with macro-economic stability and inflation control as well as ensure major balances of the economy. It will pen harmonious macro-economic management policies, renew traditional growth motives and promote new ones, while continuing tax and land rental incentives to remove bottlenecks for business and production activities.

The construction of key transport infrastructure will be accelerated in a move to put some 3,000 kilometres of highway into use by 2025, helping increase the added value of the land fund and cut logistics costs.

The Government will continue working to complete a streamlined and effective state administrative apparatus, apply new payroll policy from July 1, and fulfill the arrangement of administrative units at district and communal levels during 2023-2025 in September.

In the afternoon, the lawmakers will discuss the results of the supervision of the settlement of voters’ petitions sent to the 15th NA’s sixth sitting. 

HCM City honours Buddha’s Birthday

On the morning of May 22 (April 15 of the lunar calendar) at District 10’s Vietnamese National Buddhist Temple, the Executive Board of the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha of HCM City organised the Great Ceremony of Buddha's 2,568th Birthday.

Attending the event were HCM City officials, religious dignitaries, Most Venerable Thích Trí Quảng, Supreme Patriarch of the Patronage Council of Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), members of the VBS and thousands of monks, nuns, Buddhists and followers in the city.

Most Venerable Thích Trí Quảng said that the Buddha's Birthday is an opportunity to review the Buddha’s noble life and teachings of selflessness, altruism, love and wisdom, which are not only a source of comfort but also offer solutions to transform personal suffering and create a peaceful environment for all.

"Monks, nuns and Buddhists pray with a united heart for all wars to end and hatred to disappear. With all the sacred meaning of the anniversary of Buddha's birth, I wish all Buddhists around the world to unite, live altruistically together with humanity, and create a world of peace and happiness," he said.

Venerable Thích Lệ Trang, head of the Executive Committee of the VBS in HCM City, read the 2,568th Buddha Birthday Speech of Most Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, Deputy Patriarch and Chairman of the VBS Executive Council, which reiterated Buddha's teachings: "Gratefulness to the Fatherland is the most sacred thing. A person who is grateful will have everything. A person without gratitude will lose everything."

"We are living in a peaceful, prosperous country, with a prosperous and happy life. Each of us needs to be grateful and respectful for the sacred sacrifices of countless generations of our ancestors to regain independence and freedom for the nation."

Trần Kim Yến, chairwoman of the City's Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee, sent best wishes to the clergies, monks, nuns and fellow Buddhists for a happy and joyful Buddha's birthday season.

Vietnamese Buddhism is always linked with the Fatherland and the people, and the dedication to serving the Dharma and the nation of the Venerable clergies and Buddhists is a big part of Việt Nam’s history, she said.

Over the past nearly 50 years, the monks, nuns and Buddhism followers in HCM City have contributed to building a good society, following the spirit of Vietnamese Buddhism of “Serving good deeds to sentient beings is the best offerings to the Buddhas.”

They have also been making Buddhism more prominent in the hearts of the nation and affirming the role of the VBS, an important member organisation of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front.

Yến expressed her trust that the VBS in HCM City will continue to foster unity and expand the VBS, promote the unique values of Vietnamese Buddhism, and strengthen the solidarity between Buddhism and other religions in Việt Nam.

The city's Executive Board of the VBS also donated VNĐ2 billion to support the “For the Poor” fund and the "For the national sea and islands – For the Fatherland frontline" fund.

Pagodas in HCM City have been celebrating the Buddha's 2,568th Birthday from May 15 to 22 with many activities, including parades and releasing paper lantern flowers.

Việt Nam spares no effort in implementing Human Rights Council recommendations: official

By January 2024, Việt Nam had fully implemented 209 of the 241 recommendations it received from the United Nations' Human Rights Council in the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Việt Nam has also partly implemented 30 of the recommendations, and is considering implementing two others.

That was the message from Nguyễn Vũ Minh, Deputy Director of the International Organisations Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the conference on human rights on Wednesday.

He said Việt Nam had spared no effort in implementing the UPR recommendations and the international conventions it had ratified, including the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

He said Việt Nam had revised 44 laws related to human rights in preparation for its national report for the fourth UPR cycle. After submitting the report, the country proceeded with the passage of the revised Law on Land in favour of vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities and religious organisations.

He said most of the participants in the fourth UPR cycle commended Việt Nam's report for providing comprehensive information on the human rights situation and appreciated the country's open and transparent approach in preparing it.

They expressed interest in Việt Nam's practices in promoting human rights, including its life cycle approach to social security, its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and its efforts in gender equality and women's empowerment.

"The working group of the fourth UPR Cycle adopted Việt Nam's national report and the 320 recommendations for the country on May 10," said Minh.

He also said Việt Nam had amended the Penal Code many times from 1980 to the most recent revision in 2015 to reduce the number of crimes subject to capital punishment.

Currently, the death penalty is only applicable to those who commit particularly serious crimes related to violations of national security, infringement on human life, drugs and corruption. 

340-kg bomb deactivated in Quảng Bình Province

Competent forces have successfully deactivated a 340-kilogramme bomb left over from the war in Quảng Bình Province, a local official said on May 22.

Trần Văn Huyển, chairman of the People’s Committee of Quảng Sơn Commune, Ba Đồn Township, said the bomb was found by a family in Thọ Hạ Village on May 21.

The deactivation was the joint effort of sappers of the provincial Military Command and representatives of the Peace Trees Vietnam organisation in Quảng Bình, he added.

The bomb was then moved to the warehouse of the Military Command for safety purposes. 

HCM City sees jump in hand-foot-mouth disease incidence

The incidence of hand-foot-mouth disease has shot up in HCM City this year, with the number of cases doubling to 4,000.

The Pasteur Institute said last year there had been 2,400 hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) cases as of May.

The use of the HFMD vaccine has not been approved in the country.

HFMD occurs throughout the year, but the peak seasons are March-May and September-December.

Children of all ages can get HFMD but are more susceptible until they three since they do not develop immunity.

The disease causes life-threatening complications such as respiratory failure, myocarditis, heart failure, and acute pulmonary edema.

The number of children with the disease has been increasing rapidly in recent weeks.

In April alone Children’s Hospital 2 treated more than 900 outpatients.

Around 10 per cent were hospitalised, representing a much higher number from March and three time last year’s.

Most children had grade 2A of the disease with moderate severity.

Children's Hospital 1 also reported a higher number in April than last year.

According to the city Centre for Disease Control, between May 6 and 12 the incidence increased by 25 per cent to 442.

Nationally, there were nearly 181,000 cases last year, with 31 deaths, more than 50,100 in HCM City alone.

Dr Trương Hữu Khanh, vice chairman of the city Infectious Diseases Association, said vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent infectious diseases.

Last year the Ministry of Health had sought of the HFMD vaccine. and also submitted a dossier for review and approval of licensing for circulation of HFMD vaccine.

According to Assoc Prof. Dr. Lê Việt Dũng, deputy director of the Drug Administration of Việt Nam, the HFMD vaccine is awaiting evaluation to ensure the absolute safety. 

Cần Thơ rice farmers use alternate wetting and drying irrigation to good effect

More and more rice farmers in Cần Thơ City are using alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWDI) to save water and other costs.

The method helps farmers reduce water consumption as their fields are not kept constantly submerged during the growing stage.

The number of days rice fields are not flooded can vary from one to more than 10 days depending on a number of factors such as soil type, weather and crop growth stage.

In Cờ Đỏ District, 91 per cent of the ongoing summer - autumn rice crop has AWDI.

Nguyễn Thị Bích Trân, deputy head of the district Plant Cultivation and Protection Station, said after rice plants fully flower farmers do not need to submerge their field, and irrigation is needed when the water level drops to 15 cm below the surface of the soil.

Before harvesting 15-20 days, farmers should not flood their fields to enable machines to move rice easily, she said.

Võ Văn Bé, a farmer in the district’s Thạnh Phú Commune, uses the irrigation method, and he said his rice crop has grown well, is strong and has fewer diseases.

The method helps reduce irrigation to three to four times per crop compared to seven or eight while using conventional irrigation methods, he said.

The district has enabled farmers to monitor the water level in their fields using their smart phones.

Phan Văn Ân, a farmer, said the facility helps manage the water level easier.

When the water level drops to about 15 cm below the surface of the soil, the app sends a message to his phone and he irrigates his field again, he said.

“With the facility, farmers can save the time they spend on visiting their fields and still feel assured that the fields do not lack water.”

The Cửu Long (Mekong) city has 75,000ha under rice, mostly in Vĩnh Thạnh, Cờ Đỏ and Thới Lai districts.

Phạm Thị Minh Hiếu, head of its Plant Cultivation and Protection Sub-department, said AWDI saves water and other costs, and is important to farmers in Cần Thơ and the whole delta amid climate change.

AWDI does not affect yields, and helps cope with the shortage of water in the dry season, she said.

It also helps reduce methane emissions and improves sustainability, she added.

The Cần Thơ People’s Committee has issued a plan to implement the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s “project to sustainably develop one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta to 2030.”

Under the project, the city aims to develop 38,000ha of high quality rice by 2025 and 48,000ha by 2030.

Vĩnh Thạnh, Cờ Đỏ and Thới Lai are the districts participating in the project.

They will reduce the use of seeds to 80 - 100 kg per hectare in 2025 and 70 kg in 2030 from 80 -120 kg now, and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by 20 per cent and 30 per cent and water by 20 per cent.

It targets exports of high-quality rice accounting for more than 20 per cent of output.

To reach the targets, the city will take various measures like establishing rice growing areas, improving co-operatives and other players in value chains, investing in infrastructure, and helping farmers link up with companies that buy rice.

This year the city will set up a steering committee for implementing the project and organise advocacy activities, and appoint agricultural officers to transfer farming techniques to farmers. 

Conference discusses hypertension management programme

Health experts exchanged expertise and experience in an effort to improve the hypertension management programme at a conference on May 22 in HCM City.

The conference was a collaboration between Novartis Vietnam and FPT Long Châu Pharmacy chain with support from the Vietnam Hypertension Association and the Vietnam National Heart Association, aiming at raising public awareness of hypertension.

The event provided medical knowledge regarding diagnosis and hypertension, beginning a series of meaningful activities on World Hypertension Day and the MMM 2024 (May Month Measurement 2024) Community Hypertension Screening and Management Programme.

The conference is also an opportunity to concretise Novartis' efforts in improving community health and enhancing the counselling capacity of pharmacists, jointly working with pharmacy chain partners to be ready to join the Community Hypertension Control Programme according to International Society of Hypertension standards.

For the first time, the programme has collaborated with the FPT Long Châu pharmacy chain system to provide free international-standard blood pressure measurement to the public. After measurement sessions, specialist doctors will not only provide counselling and healthcare advice but also give detailed instructions to participants on how to measure their blood pressure at home. This initiative helps foster proactive daily health care, contributes to the management and reduction of hypertension risks, and aims to improve the quality of life and health of the Vietnamese community.

Speaking about the importance of pharmacists in advising patients with hypertension, Prof. Dr. Huỳnh Văn Minh, President of the Vietnam National Heart Association, said: "Hypertension is a very common issue within the Vietnamese community, and each of us can be a candidate for this problem. Although it is not an infectious disease, the complications associated with organ damage caused by hypertension, such as brain stroke, heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmias, and visual impairment, should not be ignored. Besides the role of doctors, pharmacists are currently being recognized and play a significant collaborative role in helping people enhance their awareness and ensure adherence to the best treatment, contributing to the protection, care, and improvement of community health."

During the conference, experts practised measuring and recording ISH standard blood pressure and counselling hypertensive patients. This activity served as both support and specialised training for the FPT Long Châu pharmacist team to enhance their expertise and professionalism in the process of examining and counselling hypertensive patients. This creates more opportunities for people nationwide to undergo screening and management for hypertension, thereby avoiding potential risks of the disease.

Hypertension is becoming increasingly common worldwide, including in Việt Nam. Anyone is at risk of hypertension, including children and young adults. According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide have hypertension, and it is responsible for an estimated 9.4 million deaths each year.

In Việt Nam, there are about 12 million people with hypertension, with a ratio of one in five adults being affected. Of these, there is a relatively high proportion of patients who have not been diagnosed with the disease or have been diagnosed but have not yet controlled it. 

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