National flag of Vietnam and SEA Games 31 fly at a stadium. (Photo: VNA)

More than 5,500 young people in the capital city of Hanoi, with 80 percent of them being females, have registered to work as volunteers for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

The volunteers have good health and are fluent in foreign languages. They had been fully injected two doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

They will participate in activities deployed by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) of Hanoi and the Organising Committee of SEA Games 31.

The HCYU of Hanoi created a Facebook page for SEA Games 31’s volunteers at https://www.facebook.com/tnvseagames31hanoi, which frequently updates the capital city’s preparations for the Games.

In addition, units of the youth union have held activities to clean up streets and support tourism events in Hanoi. 

Company directors arrested for suspected involvement in bribery case

Police have charged two company directors for “giving bribes”, the latest move in the investigation of a case of "giving and receiving bribery" involving the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The accused are Nguyen Thi Tuong Vi, Director of ATA Vietnam Consulting and Investment Co. Ltd., and Nguyen Thi Dung Hanh, Director of G Vietnam 19 Co. Ltd.

The Investigation Security Agency under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has detained the suspects and searched their houses and workplaces.

The MPS launched its probe after there were reports that some officials at the Consular Department sought illegal profits from licensing companies operating flights to repatriate Vietnamese citizens from abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Four officials at the Consular Department have been accused of “accepting bribes”, namely Nguyen Thi Huong Lan (born in 1974, director of the department), Do Hoang Tung (born in 1980, deputy director of the department), Le Tuan Anh (born in 1982, chief of the department’s office), and Luu Tuan Dung (born in 1987, deputy head of the department’s citizen protection division).

SEA Games 31 flame lighting ceremony held

The flame ignition ceremony for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) was held at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi on May 6 afternoon to prepare for lighting the cauldron at the Games opening ceremony six days later.

Eleven outstanding Vietnamese athletes who represented the 11 participating sports delegations took park in the ignition ceremony.

They had laid wreaths and paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum before Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh handed over the lit torch to fencer Vu Thanh An at the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

The athletes arrived at My Dinh National Stadium at 7pm.

The flame will be kept at the Ho Chi Minh worshiping hall of the stadium before it lights the cauldron at the opening ceremony on May 12 evening and shines throughout the Games that lasts until May 23.

VNPT bolsters 5G services for SEA Games 31

The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) have sped up the installation and trial runs of IT infrastructure at press facilities and competition venues for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), according to the Organising Committee.

At the international broadcasting and media centre at the National Convention Centre (NCC) in Hanoi, VNPT will bolster 5G services to facilitate news coverage in the fastest and most convenient manner.

Technicians have been assigned to work at competition venues and the NCC. The 18001031 helpline was launched on May 1 to field queries around the clock.

As the largest sporting event in the region, SEA Games 31 is projected to draw 1 billion viewers via TV and social networks, with 1,200 hours of live broadcasts, placing huge pressure on ensuring telecom and ICT infrastructure.

In response, VNPT has set up high-speed internet transmission lines along with 3G and 4G signal boosters at venues in Hanoi and other host localities.

SEA Games 31: Men’s beach handball kicks off in Quang Ninh

The men’s beach handball at SEA Games 31 began in Ha Long city of the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh on May 6.

Hosts Vietnam, who are also the defending champions, won 18-8 and 17-7 over Singapore to secure a 2-0 win. La Van Lon of Vietnam was the game’s top scorer.

Also on the day, the Philippines defeated Thailand in the regular set.

Vietnam will play the Philippines on May 7.

Four teams competing in the men’s beach handball are playing in a round-robin format to decide the eventual rankings.

11 outstanding athletes attend SEA Games fire ceremony
 
Participants gathered at Trinh Hoai Duc Gymnasium before moving to the museum. Leading the delegation were police cars, followed by two cars carrying 11 outstanding athletes, representing 11 countries at the Games.

The delegation came to President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum to lay a memorial wreath.

The fire will be kept in a lamp at the My Dinh national stadium to the opening ceremony of the Games.

National strategy on environmental protection to 2030 approved

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has signed a decision approving the National Strategy for Environmental Protection to 2030 with a vision until 2050, in which the Government sets targets to prevent the increasing trend of environmental pollution, solve urgent environmental problems, and step by step improve and restore the quality of the environment.

Objectives of the scheme also include enhancing the country’s capacity to cope with climate change, ensuring environmental security, and building and developing circular, green, low carbon economic models, contributing to achieving the country’s sustainable development goals.

To this end, the strategy gives a number of key solutions, including actively preventing and controlling negative impacts on the environment and environmental incidents, encouraging ecological and circular economic development, green growth, promoting sustainable production and consumption.

Fencer named Vietnam’s flag bearer for third time at SEA Games

Fencer Vu Thanh An has been named flag bearer for the Vietnamese team at the opening ceremony of SEA Games 31 on May 12 in Hanoi.

Fencer Vu Thanh An received the honour not only because of his ideal height of 1.87 metres and bright face but also because of the exceptional results he has achieved at international competitions in recent years.

He was previously chosen as flag bearer at the opening ceremony of SEA Games 29 in Malaysia in 2017 and SEA Games 30 in the Philippines in 2019.

Vu Thanh An is Southeast Asia’s No 1 fencer, winning five gold medals at three consecutive SEA Games from 2015 to 2019.

In 2016, he opened a new chapter in the history of Vietnamese fencing, winning a bronze medal at the Asian Championships and then attending the Rio Olympics.

Vovinam to be performed at SEA Games 31’s opening ceremony

Vovinam is the only martial art chosen to be performed at the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) on  May 12, according to the Organising Committee of SEA Games 31. 

This is not only an honour but also the result of efforts Vietnam has made to promote and develop its martial arts to the world for many years.

Currently, the Vovinam movement is developing actively in seven Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Vovinam was included in SEA Games 26 in Indonesia for the first time. However, due to many reasons, the martial art was not on the list of sports in the next three events.

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine utilised for children from six to under 12 years old

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine provided through the COVAX Facility should be used first to vaccinate children aged from six to below 12 years to speed up the inoculation for this age group, according to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE).

In a recent document sent to institutes of hygiene and epidemiology, Pasteur Institutes, health departments and centres for disease control and prevention of cities and provinces, the NIHE requested reviewing the list of children in the group to ensure all eligible children are vaccinated.

Vietnam has so far approved Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for use on children between five and under 12 years of age, with Moderna for six- to under-12 year-olds.

Vietnam seeks ESCAP assistance for post-pandemic recovery

Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc held online talks with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), to seek the body’s assistance for Vietnam’s post-pandemic socio-economic development and recovery programme.

He emphasized that Vietnam will actively participate and contribute to the upcoming 78th session of the ESCAP, by putting forward comprehensive and long-term solutions to pressing issues concerning sustainable development in the region.

He also proposed that the UN body continue to support Vietnam in implementing its post-pandemic socio-economic development and recovery programme and the SDGs.

For her part, Alisjahbana affirmed the ESCAP attaches importance to cooperation with Vietnam. She highly appreciated the active and effective participation of Vietnamese agencies at the ESCAP, making practical contributions to joint efforts to promote cooperation and socio-economic development in the region.

Alisjahbana assured that the ESCAP is ready to strengthen cooperation, provide technical assistance and improve capacity for Vietnamese Government and National Assembly agencies in planning, implementing and monitoring socio-economic development policies.

She also said that the ESCAP will work closely with Vietnam to prepare for the 78th ESCAP session and hoped that Vietnam will share good practices and offer initiatives that contribute to promote cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Project to help Vietnam produce quality population data for policy making, implementation

A project debuted on May 5 to support Vietnamese agencies in producing and utilising quality population data for the formulation and implementation of socio-economic development policies, strategies, and programmes.

Project VNM10P04, which is also meant to help with the monitoring of the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country, was launched by the General Statistics Office (GSO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Implemented from now to 2026 at a total cost of US$1.9 million, it will assist Vietnamese agencies in applying new technologies and communication platforms to the collection, analysis, dissemination, and use of quality population data in order to ensure evidence-based policies, strategies, and programmes for the SGD achievement by 2030.
GSO General Director Nguyen Thi Huong said during the almost 45 years of Vietnam - UNFPA cooperation, the GSO’s capacity of building and managing data and statistics has improved considerably.

The new project also matches the roadmap for implementing Vietnam’s statistical development strategy for 2021 - 2023 with a vision to 2045, she added.

At the launch, UNFPA also revealed the key findings in its recently released “State of World Population 2022” report, titled "Understanding the Unseen: Taking Action to End the Neglected Problem of Unintended Pregnancy".

Private troupe presents operatic rendition of southern story

A special cải lương (reformed opera) performance will be restaged by young artists in HCM City on Sunday.  

The show, Hương Sắc Phương Nam (The Colour of the South), will include tài tử music, considered the prototype for vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) and cải lương --  a theatre form that originated 100 years ago in the south. 

The performances are put together by young artists of the Sen Việt Theatre, a private drama troupe that opened in 2020 in HCM City. 

The combination of traditional songs, dances and musical pieces is directed and produced by Meritorious Artist Lê Nguyên Đạt, theatre director of Sen Việt. 

The actor-singers will be accompanied by Vietnamese folk instrumentalists on the tranh (Vietnamese zither), bầu (Vietnamese monochord) and nguyệt (two-stringed long neck moon flute). 

The debut show performance at the city’s Theatres Association featured 20 artists, including young talents Thái Vinh, Đăng Khoa and Hoài Thanh. 

Đạt said The Colour of the South was his theatre’s most fascinating performing arts experiences in HCM City. “With this 60-minute show’s concept, we hope audiences will learn more about Vietnamese culture in the South,” he said.

The Colour of the South will be staged at 8pm on Sunday at the city’s Theatres Association at 5B Võ Văn Tần Street in District 3. 

Young talents urged to participate in national cải lương contest

Organisers are calling on young theatre artists to train and participate in the upcoming national traditional music contest, Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Talented Performers 2022.

The event aims to motivate young artists to develop their talent in cải lương (reformed opera), the southern region’s most popular theatre form, and popularise further the art among audiences, particularly young people. 

The contest is being organised by the city’s Theatre Association and Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre, a leading troupe in the region. 

The contest’s selection rounds are taking place in HCM City, Cần Thơ, Tiền Giang and Hà Nội. The semifinals will be held in HCM City, Cần Thơ and Hà Nội in June and July. 

Contestants will perform vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) songs and cải lương plays. The performances will be broadcast live on the HTV9 channel, reaching millions of viewers around the country. 

The final round will take place over three nights in September in HCM City. 

Twenty finalists will compete for two gold medals for men and women. Four silver medals will also be awarded. The jury will pick their Favourite Performer and Youngest Talent choices. 

The show, called Truyền Lửa Đam Mê (Delivering the Fire of Art), will feature other cải lương stars like actresses Tâm Tâm and Ngọc Đợi of HCM City; and Meritorious Artist Thiên Hoa of Hà Nội. 

It will open at 8pm on Thursday (May 7) and Saturday (May 9) at the HCM City Opera House in District 1 and Củ Chi Cultural House in Củ Chi District, respectively.

Health ministry collecting opinions on two COVID-19 scenarios, stressing importance of vaccines

The health ministry said it is collecting feedback from ministries to develop the medical response to COVID-19 scenarios in the 2022-23 period.

There are two scenarios for COVID-19 in the future that the ministry is preparing for, both with a focus on vaccination as a key way to keep the infectious disease under control.

In the first scenario, the coronavirus continues to mutate but thanks to herd immunity, severe cases and deaths are trending down and outbreaks are not as serious as before, or the dominant strain of the virus is not causing serious illnesses.

In this scenario, the health ministry will focus on reviewing the need for a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the adult population and third dose in children aged 5-18 years, as well as quickly rolling out vaccinations to children 3-5 years old within 2022.

Health authorities will also step up the surveillance and genetic sequencing of COVID-19 cases to discover the emergence of variants of concerns (VOC), especially their ability to cause severe diseases, their transmissibility, and the effectiveness of the intervention measures. SARS-CoV-2 testing on animals – including domestic pets and wild animals – will also need to be expanded, the health ministry noted.

The second scenario is where a new strain/variant of the coronavirus emerges, one that is capable of evading vaccines’ protectiveness or humans’ immunity, leading to an increase in severe cases and deaths, especially among the clinically vulnerable populations.

In this scenario, the principles of ‘prevention – detection – quarantine/isolation – zoning – and outbreak elimination’ will be carried out at the smallest scale possible depending on the outbreak situation, while the COVID-19 formula “5K + vaccines, medications + treatment + technology + public awareness + other measures” will be flexibly applied. The 5K stands for the five public health measures used to combat COVID-19 in Việt Nam for the last two years: Khẩu trang (face mask) – Khử khuẩn (disinfection) – Khoảng cách (distance) – Không tụ tập (no gathering) – Khai báo y tế (health declaration).

HCM City to close down COVID field hospitals as pandemic eases

HCM City plans to temporarily shut down two of its three COVID-19 field three-level hospitals, and permanently close those that were shut temporarily since the pandemic situation is under control.

No. 14 (in Tân Phú District) and No. 16 (District 7) hospitals will be temporarily closed, leaving only No. 13 (Bình Chánh District) in operation. Also to be closed are mobile medical stations.

Personnel at ward- and commune-level medical stations will assist high-risk COVID patients at home using digital technologies.

Hospitals around the city will set up a department or ward for COVID patients with underlying medical conditions.

While temporarily closed field hospitals will now be shut down for good, districts have to be prepared to reopen them if the COVID caseload rises again.

Visitors complain about sand exploitation at Cat Ba beach

Many visitors to Cat Ba Island have complained about illegal sand extraction at some of the most beautiful beaches in the area.

A visitor from Hanoi, Tran Thanh Ngoc, 38, said that she felt very scared swimming at Cat Co 1 Beach during the May Day Holiday when a large ship was dredging up sand nearby.

"Myself and many other visitors on the beach felt that this activity was very dangerous to us," Ngoc said. "A long big tube was used to take sand from the sea bed to the ship which ran really close to us."

The tourist said that she was very annoyed that this had occurred on one of the most popular beaches on Cat Ba.

“They operated day and night and have destroyed the beach and contaminated the water," she said. "This badly affected our holiday."

Speaking to the VietNamNet Newspaper, chairman of Cat Hai District People's Committee, Bui Tuan Manh said that they were taking sand from the sea to build a beach volleyball court. However, the official refused to give a comment when being asked about the legal basis for extracting the sand at a beach.

Meanwhile, another leader of Cat Hai District admitted that the activity was illegal but they just wanted to support the coming women's volleyball tournament in the area.

Hydropower investors asked to install five more earthquake observation stations

To monitor and observe earthquakes in Kon Plong District, Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Kon Tum Province,  asked two hydropower investors in Kon Plong District to install five more observation stations.

The People's Committee of Kon Tum Province, on May 6, issued a document on monitoring and handling earthquakes in Kon Plong District, Kon Tum Province.

Accordingly, Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, requested departments to strengthen monitoring of earthquake aftershocks in the province; instruct people on measures to respond to earthquakes, as well as promptly provide information on the results of inspection and assessment of causes and effects of earthquakes by functional units to announce to the public, avoiding causing panic.

To quickly, accurately, and fully record earthquakes occurring in Kon Plong and surrounding areas to serve the monitoring of earthquake activity, as well as to operate safely hydropower plants, the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee asked the investors of two hydropower plants to immediately install five more earthquake observation stations. Specifically, Vinh Son - Song Hinh Hydropower Joint Stock Company - the investor of Upper Kon Tum Hydroelectricity – must urgently invest in and install three new earthquake observation stations besides three existing observation stations installed by the Institute of Geophysics; provide financial support for the operation of the network of earthquake monitoring stations in the area of Upper Kon Tum Hydropower Plant.

Dak Drinh Hydropower Joint Stock Company - the investor of Dak Rinh Hydroelectricity Plant – must urgently invest, install, and provide funding for the operation of two earthquake observation stations in the area of Dak Drinh Hydropower Plant to connect to the system of six earthquake observation stations in the area of Upper Kon Tum Hydropower Plant.

HCMC records more than 5,200 cases of dengue fever

According to Deputy Executive Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) Nguyen Hong Tam, from the beginning of the year to the end of April, the southern metropolis has recorded 5,247 cases of dengue fever including 126 severe cases whereas there were only 99 severe cases last year. Worse, four recorded deaths have been reported from the beginning of the year to now while there were seven deaths in 2021.

On the afternoon of May 5, the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and economic recovery held a press conference under the chairmanship of Deputy Head of the Steering Committee Pham Duc Hai.

It is extremely alarming that numerous other infectious illnesses have been on the increase. Therefore, before and after the holidays on April 30 and May 1, leaders of the health sector in Ho Chi Minh City and HCDC set up inspection teams on dengue prevention in districts and Thu Duc city to check how localities adopt the measure.

Ha Noi planned to become globally-connected city by 2045

Ha Noi has been planned to become a globally-connected city by 2045, according to Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW of the Politburo on orientations and tasks for the development of the capital city by 2030, vision towards 2045.

The capital city's GRDP growth rate is expected to be higher than the nation's average between 2021 and 2025 and reaches 8-8.5 percent in the subsequent five years.

The GRDP per capita is projected to increase to US$12,000-13,000 by 2030 and more than 36,000 by 2045.

To materialize the aforesaid goals, Ha Noi needs to accelerate economic restructuring in tandem with growth model transformation, optimize manpower resources, and speed up scientific applications and achievements of the fourth Industrial Revolution.

The city also needs to step up the digital transformation process, strengthen digital economy, and develop financial, monetary, real estate, scientific, technological, labor, service and cultural markets in a sustainable manner./.

Prime Minister to have dialogue with farmers nationwide on May 22

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is scheduled to have a dialogue with farmers under an in-person conference at Son La Province Convention Center along with online form to connect with farmers in 62 provinces and cities across the country on May 22.

Yesterday, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union collaborated with the Son La Provincial Party Committee to organize a meeting related to the Prime Minister's dialogue with Vietnamese farmers and the Vietnam Fruit and OCOP Product Festival 2022 in Son La Province. 

As for the Vietnam Fruit and OCOP Product Festival 2022, there will be activities such as the exhibitions of Vietnam fruit and OCOP agricultural products, achievements of Vietnam's agricultural development; the Northwestern Vietnam Goods Festival; the Northwestern Cultural Space and Culinary Festival; food and photo contests; a conference to connect consumption and export of mango and agricultural products of Son La Province, and so on. 

Vietnam’s fencers determined to secure success at SEA Games 31

Vietnamese fencers are promoting training with the aim of obtaining three gold medals at the coming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), according to the Organising Committee. 

Over the past years, Vietnam has continually been among the best fencing teams in Southeast Asia.

Vietnamese fencers pocketed eight of the 12 gold medals at the 28th SEA Games, held in Singapore in 2015. However, they won only three of the six gold medals at the 29th SEA Games in Malaysia in 2017 and four of the 12 golds at the 30th Games in the Philippines in 2019.

Coach Phan Anh Tuan said among the outstanding athletes, Vu Thanh An remains No. 1 or No. 2 in the region, and with his performance and constant training, An will still be able to advance to SEA Games finals even in the next three years. Young potential athletes who can succeed him include Xuan Loi, Duc Anh, and Van Quyet.

Meanwhile, the key female fencers at this time’s Games are Nguyen Phuong Kim, Vu Thi Hong, and Nguyen Thi Trang, Tuan added.

Fencing events with 12 sets of medals will take place at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium from May 13 to 18.

Vietnamese veteran figures to compete at SEA Games 31

Out of the 950 athletes of the Vietnamese delegation attending the 31st Southeast Asian Games, nine have competed in the 22nd edition of the SEA Games that is also hosted by Vietnam, according to the SEA Games 31 Organising Committee.

Bodybuilder Pham Van Mach is one of them. Nineteen years ago, Mach made the name of Vietnam shine at the 2009 World Bodybuilding Championships by bagging a gold medal in the men’s 55kg division. However, being able to attend and win a gold medal in the 60-kg category at the 22nd SEA Games that was held in Vietnam was the most special event in his life. At the age of 46, when he is already the "big brother" of the national team, the veteran athlete is  determined to win one more gold at the 31st SEA Games.

Badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh is another example. At the 22nd SEA Games, Minh was only 20 years old and a greenhorn in the sport. Therefore, despite his efforts, Minh still lost 0-2 to Boonsak Poonsana - Thailand's No. 1 player at that time in the 1/8 round.

It’s the strong determination that has helped Tien Minh make constant progress, joining the group of the top players in the region. He is the oldest in the sport at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  After winning four bronze medals at various SEA Games in his career, at the age of 39, he is determined to win another medal at this tournament.

Hoang Thi Bao Tram was once the national team's youngest chess player when she took part in SEA Games 22nd. However, she defeated many strong opponents to secure a gold medal. The 35-year-old is still Vietnam’s hope at the Games.

There are six shooters among the Vietnamese delegation who had also competed at the SEA Games hosted by Vietnam in 2003 and all of them won gold medals. They are Tran Quoc Cuong, Pham Thi Ha, Dang Hong Ha, Nguyen Thi Le Quyen, Hoang Thi Tuat and Le Nghia.

At the age of 48, Cuong is one of the most veteran of not only the shooting team but also  the Vietnamese sports delegation at the Games. Together with other shooters like Olympic gold medalist Hoang Xuan Vinh, Nguyen Manh Tuong and Pham Cao Son, Cuong and his teammates set a record of winning 25 gold medals at the 22nd SEA Games, contributing to the achievement of the Vietnam delegation at that time. He grabbed two gold medals in the team's air pistol and 50m freestyle pistol. According to coach Nguyen Thi Nhung, this could be Cuong's last SEA Games before turning to coach.

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