The wildlife rescue, conservation, and development centre of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh recently took in a wild cat and an Assam macaque, with care and rehabilitation process underway preparing for their release back into their natural habitat.

The 7kg macaque (Macaca assamensis) and 1.7kg leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) were voluntarily handed over by residents in Bo Trach district on April 23 and May 3, respectively.

The two animals are both critically endangered, rare species listed in Group IIB of the Vietnam Red Data Book.

So far this year, the centre has received a total of 20 animals. It is currently caring for 89 endangered wild animals and plants./.

Dak Lak cashew trees cut down after dying from droughts

Many hectares of dying cashew trees have been cut down due to prolonged drought in the Central Highlands Province of Dak Lak.

Many hectares of cashew trees have died due to the serious drought in Dak Lak Province.

Vo Thanh Bac in Ia Rve Commune, Ea Sup District said that they cleared four hectares of cashew trees after they died due to the serious drought.

"We haven't had any rains here over the past six months," the farmer said. "Our trees have all died due to lack of water. So I've had to cut them down and wait for the rains to grow other trees."

Another farmer, Le Van Ut, said that he also had to clear one hectare of cashew trees that could not produce fruits due to the lack of water.

“We had 200 kilos of cashew nuts from this plantation last year, but we earned nothing this year," Ut said.

Chairman of Ia Rve Commune People's Committee Le Van Hoang Lam admitted that many farmers in the area had lost their plantations due to prolonged drought which had led to serious water shortages.

"Besides cashews, local farmers have lost many other crops like mangos, corn, and sugar cane," Lam said.

Local authorities have sought support from various sources to supply water for over 100 households for daily use.

Việt Nam steps up cooperation with OECD

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn has suggested the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) coordinate with Việt Nam to implement their cooperation focuses.

At a meeting with OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2024 (MCM), which took place in Paris on May 2-3, Sơn called on the organisation to continue its support for the implementation of the 15 projects within the Việt Nam-OECD action plan for 2022–2026.

The two sides should step up their partnership on the basis of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) they signed, he continued, suggesting the OECD facilitate Việt Nam’s more intensive integration into its specialised bodies, and help the country understand and contribute more to the building of global governance policies, especially in finance, tax, economy, development, digital policies, investment, and science-technology.

The minister presented Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s thank-you letter to the OECD, in which PM Chính appreciated the organisation’s invitation for Việt Nam to attend the MCM, and its support for the country’s co-chairmanship of the OECD’s Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) for 2022-2025.

For his part, Cormann highly valued Việt Nam’s role as well as its active and responsible contributions to the SEARP, saying he is willing to work together with the country to select the specialised bodies that can help it seize global trends and standards in service of its making of suitable development policies.

On this occasion, Sơn met with Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing of Australia Tim Ayres, during which the Vietnamese official suggested the two sides soon complete the action programme to implement the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

This would create a firm foundation for them to deepen their collaboration across spheres, particularly economy, trade, investment, agriculture, education-training, and labour, while expanding cooperation in such new areas as green economy, energy transition, and digital transformation, he said, suggesting Australia continue its official development assistance (ODA) to Việt Nam in climate change response and human resources development.

Ayres highlighted coordination between the two countries as SEARP co-chairs for 2022-2025, and affirmed Australia’s support for Việt Nam’s efforts in enhancing its relationship with the OECD.

The minister also noted his support for the cooperation project between Việt Nam, Australia, and Laos, and his wishes for stronger cooperation with Việt Nam in all fields.

On May 3, Sơn had a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Kamikawa Yoko, where he called on Japan to increase its investment in Việt Nam in new realms like semiconductors, and help the Southeast Asian nation join its regional supply chain.

He also suggested the two countries foster cooperation in culture, people-to-people exchange, labour, and personnel training.

Kamikawa, for her part, said Japan backs the initiatives, orientations, and priorities proposed by Việt Nam to promote cooperation with the OECD, and agreed to forge cooperation between the two countries at multilateral forums like the OECD and the ASEAN.

Japan will continue its assistance to Việt Nam in industrialisation and modernisation in the new context, she pledged.

As part of his working trip, Sơn visited the headquarters of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) in Paris, where he met with OIF Secretary General Louise Mushikiwabo.

The minister said Việt Nam always support the OIF’s efforts in promoting cooperation for peace and development in the world, noting Việt Nam will attend and actively contribute to the 19th Francophonie Summit slated for October in France.

Mushikiwabo stressed that the OIF attaches importance to Việt Nam’s role and position in the Francophone community, and promised to help Việt Nam enhance its economic, trade, investment and tourism ties with French-speaking countries in a sustainable manner.

The OIF will strengthen cooperation with Việt Nam in spreading the language, and provide French language training for Việt Nam's peacekeeping forces, she said, adding the organisation stands ready to admit Vietnamese officials to work at its Secretariat. 

VNA Publishing House introduces book on Dien Bien Phu to public

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Publishing House has introduced to the public a photo book entitled “Dien Bien Phu – Dien hen lich su” (Dien Bien Phu – Rendezvous with History” on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - 2024).

The 184-page book gathers more than 200 photos and documents related to the victory collected from the Vietnam News Agency, the Vietnam Military History Museum, the Vietnam Art Photograph Archives and Exhibition Centre and the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists.

The book records the history of the nation's heroic struggle in the long resistance war against the French colonialists.

Under the wise leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s army and people went through campaigns such as the Viet Bac Fall - Winter Campaign 1947 and the 1950 Border Campaign, especially the Dien Bien Phu Campaign that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”.

The book also affirms the coordination of combat on the battlefields in Indochina with the Dien Bien Phu Campaign led to the final victory - the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina.

Another book “Nhung chien cong noi bat trong tran Dien Bien Phu sau 70 nam nhin lai” (Looking back outstanding victories in Dien Bien Phu battlefield after 70 years) written by former assistant to the Party General Secretary and former General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Ho Tien Nghi was also published on this occasion./.

Cambodia honours officers, officials in search for Vietnamese fallen soldiers

The Royal Cambodian Army Command has recently held a ceremony to award 470 Friendship Orders of the Vietnamese State and certificates of merit to Cambodian police and military officers, and officials of localities.

The honorees made important and positive contributions from 2013 to 2020 to coordinating the search, recovery, repatriation and reburial of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed in Cambodia’s capital and 25 provinces during the war.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang expressed his wish for further support from the Cambodian leaders, local authorities and army for the effort until there is no longer information available about martyrs’ burial locations.

He also affirmed the policy of encouraging citizens from both countries to come forward with any details they might have concerning the remains and graves of fallen Vietnamese soldiers.

Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army Gen. Mao Sophan stressed that after helping to liberate the Cambodian people from the genocide regime on January 7, 1979, the Vietnamese Party, Government and people continued assisting Cambodia in overcoming the severe consequences left by the Pol Pot regime, as well as in the process of national recovery and reconstruction.

Since 2001, task forces from both sides have collaborated in searching, recovering, repatriating and burying the remains of 20,852 fallen soldiers. However, the search has continued, with over 4,000 sets of remains still unaccounted for./.

Exhibition features Dien Bien Phu Victory in movies

An exhibition entitled "Dien Bien hallmarks in movies" was opened on May 3 in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien to mark the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 -2024).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong highlighted that the victory became a legend and an inspiration for domestic and international filmmakers.

Films about Dien Bien Phu, from documentaries to feature films, have contributed to completing an artistic picture carrying many meaningful messages about this glorious victory.The exhibition is expected to help the public understand more about the victory, which “resounded throughout the five continents and was world-shaking”, while spreading beautiful and peaceful images of Dien Bien province.

On display are 250 photos featuring the historic Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory in cinematic works, writers and artists with the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and Dien Bien today.

Exhibition goers will also have a chance to watch several documentary films about the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

The event runs until May 8./.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau gears up for EC inspection with "peak month" plan

The People's Committee of the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau has issued a plan to launch a peak month in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, and prepare for the 5th working session with the European Commission (EC)’s inspection team.

As scheduled, the province will conduct a thorough review to verify that all fishing vessels operating in the province are properly registered, licensed and equipped with mandatory vessel monitoring systems (VMSs).

The province will also crack down on vessels which remove VMSs, which can facilitate unauthorised fishing and other IUU violations.

It has so far completed a review of the entire registered fishing fleet, updating their information in the national database.Additionally, issues raised by the EC team in October 2023 have been addressed, particularly those concerning two fishing ports and eight vessels without registration numbers.

According to the provincial authorities, nearly 97% of fishing vessels have had their VMSs installed while over 96% have held licenses for offshore fishing activities.

Since August 2022, no local fishing vessels have been caught violating fishing regulations in foreign waters./.

Lao general values significance of Dien Bien Phu Victory for Vietnam-Laos revolution

The Dien Bien Phu Victory on May 7, 1954, was a triumph of not only the Vietnamese people but also the peoples of Laos and Cambodia who allied to fight against a common enemy to liberate the nations, affirmed General Chansamone Chanyalath, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency in Vientiane on the occasion of the victory’s 70th anniversary, the official said that this victory stamped out the will of invasion of old-style colonialism, forcing the French government to sign the 1954 Geneva Accords on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Indochina, and recognising independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

During the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the Lao side not only created favourable conditions for the Vietnamese side, but Lao armed units operating in the North also coordinated to attack French troops in the border areas of the two countries and inside Lao territory, thus contributing to the victory of Dien Bien Phu.

For Laos, this triumph is important to the Laos-Vietnam special solidarity and combatant alliance, and also a result of coordination and mutual support to defeat a common enemy.

After the Geneva Accords, new-style imperialism jumped in to substitute old-style colonialism by invading Laos and Vietnam. Vietnamese volunteers and experts continued to unite and stand side by side with Lao officers, soldiers and people to fight and shatter the invasion ambition of the imperialists and their henchmen, winning many victories in the campaigns of Luang Namtha province (1962), Nambak (1968), Meuang Soui, Kukiet and Lam Son 719 (1971), and Xieng Khouang - Plain of Jars.

To support Vietnamese soldiers in completing the historic mission of liberating the South and reunifying the country, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Central Committee of the Lao Patriotic Front also created favourable conditions to open the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos to transport personnel and military supplies for many years, thereby making an important contribution to the common victory of the two peoples of Laos and Vietnam, Chansamone Chanyalath said.

On April 30, 1975, the south of Vietnam was completely liberated. In coordination with the victory of the Vietnamese people, Laos launched an uprising campaign to seize power nationwide on August 23, 1975, abolishing the old monarchy and establishing the new regime of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on December 2, 1975.

The Lao Deputy PM went on to say that in the context of complex and unpredictable changes in the international and regional situations, the two countries need to strengthen and deepen their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.

It is necessary to maintain education for the young and future generations to have a deep understanding of the history of the time-tested relations so that they will continue to preserve, cultivate, and promote this relationship, he added./.

Public screening of documentaries marking Dien Bien Phu Victory opens in Hanoi

A documentary film screening programme to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - 2024) opened in Hanoi on May 3 by the National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio Co. Ltd. (DSF).

Accordingly, six films will be screened for the public free of charge during the five-day event, including "Dien Bien Phu";Hoi uc Dien Bien (Memories of Dien Bien)”;Chuyen nhung nguoi linh gia (Stories of old soldiers); “Dong hanh cung lich su” (Accompanying history);Chia lua cung Dien Bien” (Sharing fire with Dien Bien), and “Dien Bien Phu niem hy vong” (Dien Bien Phu – hope)

DSF Chairman Nguyen Quang Tuan said the programme aims to bridge the audience with the nation's history, so that young generations are always grateful for, pay tribute to, and take pride in the country’s historic achievements and current position.

After seven decades of construction and development, Dien Bien Phu has emerged as a beacon in the northwestern region, serving as an economic, cultural, and tourist hub. The lives of local people have significantly improved, enjoying prosperity and happiness in peace.

The films are being screened at 465 Hoang Hoa Tham street in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district./.

Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap's book reprinted to mark Dien Bien Phu Victory

The Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House and the family of late General Vo Nguyen Giap held a ceremony on May 3 to introduce the 9th edition of the book “Dien Bien Phu” written by the General.

The reprint of the book aimed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory over French colonialism and the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army.

The book has been published many times by the publishing house with each publication being supplemented, revised and perfected.

The book includes three main contents, namely President Ho Chi Minh's letter to soldiers on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield; Dien Bien Phu, and articles about Dien Bien Phu. Its appendix comprises orders of the day and main events of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

“This is the most complete and authentic book about the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and the General's enthusiasm for the nation's history”, Vo Hong Nam, the General’s son, said at the ceremony.

Along with the printed version, readers can access the electronic version of the book at website https://sachquocgia.vn.

Russia's Victory Day commemoration, “Immortal Regiment” parade held in Hanoi

The Russian Embassy and the Russian Culture - Science Centre in Hanoi held a commemoration ceremony and an “Immortal Regiment” parade on May 3 to mark the 79th anniversary of Victory Day over Fascism in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945 – 2024).

The annual event served as a moment for Vietnamese and Russian people to express their reverence for those who sacrificed for freedom and peace. It also aimed to instill patriotism and national pride in younger generations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam G.S. Bezdetko reiterated the significant contributions of Vietnamese soldiers, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Soviet people during the years of 1941-1945, stressing that their names have been immortalised at the Memory Lane museum complex in Moscow, Russia.

The diplomat also expressed his appreciation for the sacrifices and losses endured by the Vietnamese people in their struggles for national liberation and reunification, which paved the way for historic triumphs like the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954) and the liberation of South Vietnam and national reunification (April 30, 1975).

Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association Trinh Quoc Khanh highlighted the longstanding relationship shared between the former Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation with Vietnam.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet people suffered immense losses to repel fascism, and standing side by side with them in the fight to defend Moscow were Vietnamese volunteer soldiers. In Vietnam’s resistance against the US, many Soviet experts were present, assisting the Vietnamese people in their fight against imperialism and colonialism.

The deep and respected tradition between the two nations needs to be preserved, he noted.

Vietnam, Ivory Coast further deepen friendship, cooperation

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 3 for a delegation from the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), the ruling Party of Ivory Coast.

The delegation, led by Sahy Claude Soumahoro, member of the RHDP's Standing Committee and Deputy Secretary in charge of communication and external relations, is on the first visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

Trung congratulated Ivory Coast on its achievements in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and becoming one of the world's fastest growing economies.

He believed that under the leadership of the RHDP, Ivory Coast’s reform efforts will continue to succeed, further improving the lives of its citizens.

Vietnam values its friendship and cooperation with the RHDP and Ivory Coast, he said.

Trung also discussed several major directions to develop relations between the two Parties and two countries across various sectors.

Soumahoro, who is also Chief of Staff for Civil Affairs in the Office of the President of Ivory Coast, hailed the Dien Bien Phu Victory’s significant contributions to the global liberation movement, including in Africa.He expressed his admiration for the great and historic achievements that Vietnam has attained in nearly 40 years of renewal under the leadership of the CPV, with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the helm.

He stressed that the RHDP and Ivory Coast expect to foster their ties with the Party and State of Vietnam through sharing experiences and learning from each other in Party building and national development, thereby further deepening the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two nations for the benefit of their people.

Russian scholar highlights Vietnam’s bravery in Dien Bien Phu Campaign

The strength of the Vietnamese army in the Dien Bien Phu battle came from wisdom, ingenuity, and bravery, a professor from the Saint Petersburg State University of Russia said about the Dien Bien Phu Victory 70 years ago (May 7, 1954).

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Prof. Vladimir Kolotov, head of the Ho Chi Minh Institute at the Saint Petersburg State University, said that in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the Vietnamese army had to fight against a stronger, larger, and more modern military, and the commander of the Vietnamese army then – General Vo Nguyen Giap – made use of ingenuity to find out a way to defeat French colonialists.

He noted basing on the principle of “knowing yourself and knowing the enemy, in a hundred battles you will never be defeated”, General Giap, an excellent disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, brainstormed a stratagem for beating the enemy.

Kolotov laid a particular emphasis on political struggle as the secret weapon of General Giap, who set up a force of commissars for explaining the justice of Vietnam’s fight so as to persuade and give encouragement to soldiers and people. Thanks to that, the Vietnamese army, from zero, became one securing respect from any enemy.

Another source of the Vietnamese army’s strength was bravery, which could be seen in not only battles but also in the preparations for the campaign from 1953, the Russian scholar noted.

He said every 10 soldiers on the battlefield needed up to a hundred people working in the rear to provide support to them. Facing tough conditions in the midst of mountains and forests and the request for absolute secrecy, Vietnamese soldiers transported all ammunitions to the battlefield on pack-bikes and their own shoulders during nighttime. Food and the injured were also transported safely.

This reflected extraordinary preparations for the campaign, he went on.

The professor held that the Dien Bien Phu Victory created a turning point for the war that resulted in the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords on the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam, heralding a new chapter in Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation and reunification.

With this victory, Vietnam became an example for many oppressed nations around the world and a source of encouragement for other countries on the path to national liberation, according to Kolotov.

Vietnam considers Peru a leading partner in region

Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening relations with Peru, a leading partner in the region, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told his Peruvian counterpart Javier Gonzalez Olaechea in Paris on May 2.

Meeting the Peruvian diplomat on the sidelines of the 2024 OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM), Son said Vietnam appreciates positive developments in relations with Peru in recent times, noting bilateral trade is continuously increasing, making Peru one of Vietnam’s top five important economic partners in the region.

Son thanked the Government and people of Peru for donating the COVID-19 vaccine, helping Vietnam soon overcome the pandemic and recover the economy.

Discussing measures to further promote bilateral relations, the two sides agreed to organize activities in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Peru (1994 - 2024).

The two sides will maintain the exchange of high-level delegations, and strengthen coordination and mutual support within the framework of the United Nations, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP), contributing to the success of the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit hosted by Peru in November 2024.

The two Ministers expected to further enhance the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation, especially in politics, diplomacy, trade and investment between the two countries, and at the same time seek solutions to iron out snags in economic relations.

They also agreed to effectively deploy cooperation mechanisms, and strengthen the signing and implementation of specialized cooperation agreements to promote multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

Ha Long Bay’s tourism strongly rebounds

Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh has seen robust tourism recovery, sparking hopes that the bay’s tourism revenue would return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

According to the Ha Long Bay Management Board, the bay welcomed around one million tourists, including 810,949 foreign arrivals, in the first four months of this year. Ticket sales for the bay earned an estimated VND321.8 billion (USD12.91 million) between January and April.

Ha Long Bay served 84,744 travellers, including 26,526 foreigners, during the five-day Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holiday.

Ha Long has seen a surge in foreign arrivals, mainly from South Korea, India, Malaysia, and Europe.

Ha Long Bay’s tourism revenue could surpass this year’s target of VND800 billion and reach a record-high revenue of nearly VND1.2 trillion in 2019.

Quang Ninh wants to attract 17 million travellers this year. The province has launched many new tourism products for Ha Long and Bai Tu Long bays.

Ha Long Bay served 2.69 million tourists and earned VND792 billion last year.

Can Tho riverbank erosion increases

The Mekong Delta City of Can Tho has faced more erosion along rivers and canals, damaging many houses.

Can Tho has reported eight cases of erosion in April alone. The latest incidents damaged more than 20 houses, causing losses of around VND12 billion (USD472,441).

On April 29, four consecutive erosion sites occurred in Can Tho City with two in Thoi Thuan District and two in Phong Dien District.

On April 30, three houses by Thot Not River in Thot Not District collapsed due to erosion which is around 100 metres long. Authorities of Thot Not District supported VND30 million for the affected households.

Last year, roughly 1,000 cork trees were planted to prevent erosion along rivers in Can Tho.

The major reasons for the erosion in Can Tho have been changes in water flow at bends in rivers and canals, weak banks, illegal construction of infrastructure and houses along banks, use of boats, excessive sand extraction and reduced sediment deposits in the Mekong River.

Dong Nai food poisoning victims rise to nearly 500

The number of people hospitalised after eating banh mi sandwiches at a bakery in the southern province of Dong Nai has risen to 481 including five critical cases.

According to the Dong Nai Health Department, as of 11am May 3, hospitals in Dong Nai had received 469 patients, including 12 children, with similar food poisoning symptoms.

"All the victims had banh mi sandwiches at the Bang Bakery in Xuan Binh Ward between 3-7 pm on April 30," the department said. "After that, they started to develop high fevers, stomach aches, diarrhoea, and vomiting and had to be hospitalised.

Five children treated at the Dong Nai Children's Hospital are in critical condition and two of them have received hemofiltration.

Doctors at the Long Khanh General Hospital said that they admitted 321 of these food poisoning cases, and all the victims had gastroenteritis, and many were recovering after treatment.

The bakery that sold over 1,100 banh mi sandwiches on April 30 has been closed for investigation since May 1.

Last year, nearly 300 people had food poisoning after eating banh mi sandwiches at the well-known Madam Phuong Bakery shop in Hoi An Province.

The Vietnamese banh mi baguette, filled with cold meats, pâté, and vegetables, is a popular snack in Vietnam.

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