A special concert will be held at the Hanoi Opera House on November 26 night as part of the activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Austria.

Titled MUSIK AUS WIEN “MOZART & STRAUSS”, the event will be organised by the Austrian Embassy in Vietnam in cooperation with the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO).

The VNSO will be joined by Rainer Honeck, the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as singers Marta Poliszot (Soprano) and Adrian Eröd (Baritone; from the Vienna State Opera), heard a press conference held by the embassy in Hanoi on November 15.

They will perform numerous compositions by Wolfgang A. Mozart, Johann Strauss's son Josef Strauss, as well as Emmerich Kálmán.

National Assembly passes revised Law on Domestic Violence and Control

Legislators adopted the revised Law on Domestic Violence and Control with 465 out of 474 votes in favour or 93.37%  during the ongoing fourth session of the 15th National Assembly (NA) in Hanoi on November 14.

The law, comprising six chapters with 56 articles, will take effect from July 1, 2023.

According to Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman of NA Committee for Social Affairs, the amended law contains many new points, including supplementing domestic violence acts and regulations to increase the feasibility of applying the law to foreigners residing in Vietnam.

Measures to support and handle violations in domestic violence prevention and control have been added to fix the shortcomings of the existing law and meet the requirements of reality, she said.

Anh said the law also enhances the State's responsibility in allocating resources for domestic violence prevention and control, towards the building and effective development of support facilities.

The NA Standing Committee asked the Government to widely popularise the revised law so that all people, families, agencies and organisations fully understand its provisions.

Documents detailing and guiding the implementation of the law should be issued soon, focusing on training and capacity building for people in charge of domestic violence prevention and control. The Government must mobilise sufficient resources for the implementation of the law, it added.

Vietnamese-Korean woman honoured for charity efforts in RoK

Nguyen Thi Tam Tinh has been selected by authorities in Seoul to become the first foreigner with Korean citizenship to receive the prestigious Daesang award in recognition of her dedication to charitable activities.

The 45-year-old woman has spent 19 years as a volunteer working on activities such as offering translation support for Vietnamese workers in the Republic of Korea (RoK), providing free surgery for children suffering from heart diseases in Vietnam, participating in teaching the Korean language, and supporting patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tinh said that when she came to the RoK as a university student, she began her charity efforts with a desire to repay the love and help she had received.

She said she will continue to participate in more volunteer activities in the coming years.

In addition to Tam receiving the highest honour, there are 19 awards to be presented to Korean individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions to charity work at the official ceremony slated for November 15.

Algeria hosts 20th national Vovinam championship

The 20th National Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts (Vovinam) Championship of Algeria has opened in Tizi-Ouzou province, gathering 559 athletes from 91 clubs across the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on November 11, Chairman of the Algeria Vovinam Federation (AVF) Mohamed Djouadj, said the competition is Algeria's preparation for the Africa Vovinam Championship which is scheduled to take place in Algiers on November 28.

Accordingly, 50 best athletes at the event will represent Algeria at the Africa Vovinam Championship. 

Introduced to Algeria in the 1970s, Vovinam has become popular and is now practiced by over 30,000 people across the African country.

Vovinam is practiced with and without weapons. It is based on the principle of combining ‘hard’ and ‘soft’. It is not only about the training of the body, but also the mind.

It is practised in more than 60 countries and territories in the world, with millions of learners at thousands of clubs.

Int’l famtrip delegation experiences Hanoi’s tourism products

Representatives from 12 Australian travel companies joined a Famtrip delegation to Hanoi from November 7-13 to study tourism products in the capital city. 

During their stay, the delegation visited a number of tourist attractions in Hanoi like Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi Old Quarter, and Bat Trang pottery village, and enjoyed Vietnamese traditional foods. They also made tours to attractions in Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces. 

The activity, which was jointly organised by the municipal Department of Tourism and the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, aimed to introduce destinations and new products of Hanoi to Australian travel firms. 

It offered a chance for Australian companies to connect with tourism partners in Hanoi, thus promoting the exchange of travelers between the two markets. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the municipal Department of Tourism in collaboration with Vietnam Airlines annually organised 2-3 famtrip delegations from potential markets, such as Australia, Europe, and Japan. 

In 2023, the department will continue to welcome more famtrip delegations from other potential markets, towards speeding up tourism rebound and attract more foreign tourists to Hanoi.

Vietnam enjoys fruitful trade, investment ties with Hong Kong

Vietnam and Hong Kong (China) have enjoyed fruitful trade and investment partnership despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to head of the Vietnamese Trade Office in Hong Kong Vu Thi Thuy.

Thuy cited data from the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong as showing that two-way trade rose 19.3% in 2021 to 28.5 billion USD and 24.2% in the first nine months of this year to 25.2 billion USD.

Vietnam has been one of the 10 largest trade partners of Hong Kong for many consecutive years, ranking eighth in 2021 and the first nine months of 2022, and second among the ASEAN countries.

As of October, Hong Kong was the fifth largest investors of Vietnam, with 2,133 projects worth 28.9 billion USD, Thuy noted.

The official said that along with organising activities to popularise products and market of Vietnam as well as investment environment to Hong Kong businesses, the Vietnam Trade Office in Hong Kong has provided domestic firms with consultations and information on the Hong Kong market. It has also focused on connecting companies of both sides, aiming to strengthen the export of Vietnamese products to Hong Kong.

She held that Vietnamese products have great advantages in Hong Kong thanks to the ASEAN-Hong Kong (China) Free Trade Agreement which took effect from June 11, 2019.

The 7.3-million-strong Hong Kong has high demand for food, foodstuff, consumer goods. Along with close geographical distance that is convenient for the transportation of goods, Vietnam has enjoyed favourable tax policies of Hong Kong without any trade barriers, Thuy said.

However, she pointed out that Hong Kong is a choosy market, requiring Vietnamese exporters to continuously improve the quality and designs of their products, while ensuring food safety requirements.

She also advised Vietnamese exporters to further optimise trade exchange channels, especially e-commerce channel.

Asian experts discuss primate conservation in the region

The opening ceremony of the 8th Asian Primate Symposium, the largest of its kind in the region, took place in Hanoi, providing a platform for experts and stakeholders to discuss challenges and measures for the conservation of primate species in the region.

The four-day event, which commenced at the Vietnam National University of Forestry on Monday, involves representatives from the Ministry of Environment and National Resources, the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, the Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF), and the international organisations including WWF and IUCN Vietnam.

Talking about the urgent action plan, Tilo Nadler, founder of the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre in Cuc PhuongNational Park said the remaining tasks until the completion of the action plan are now gigantic and will require a drastic change in its implementation approach.

During the event, experts will discuss three main topics of human and non-human primate interaction and conflicts; behaviour; and conservation and education.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam has the highest number of primates with 24 species and 26 taxa, followed by Laos with 18 species, Thailand and Myanmar with 17 species each, and Cambodia with 13 species.

Vietnam also has the highest number of threatened primate species. Twenty-two species, or 90 per cent, are threatened with extinction, of which 10 species (42 per cent) are ‘Critically Endangered’ and at risk of extinction, including the three species endemic to Vietnam, the Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri), the Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) and the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus).

Hoi An Memories Land wins World Award

The Hoi An Memories Land – a complex of tourism, art performance, entertainment and resort & spa in the middle of the Thu Bon River – has been named the World Leading entertainment destination 2022 at the World Travel Awards in Oman.

A representative of the complex said the award ceremony took place on November 11, and the certificate of the world leading entertainment destination was voted on by voters of the 29th annual World Travel Awards.

The complex, which is the first and only combined art performance and resort in the UNESCO-recognised world heritage site of Hoi An and the tourism hub in central Vietnam, was designed as a ‘green’ site for domestic and international tourists.

It also hosts the Ky Uc Hoi An (Hoi An Memories) – a 60-minute show on the 400-year history and development of Hoi An during the Dai Viet (Great Viet) State in the 15th-18th century -- on the open-air stage in the middle of the Thu Bon River.

The show – which had been held for 500 nights since its debut in 2018, involves the performance of 500 artists, making it an amazing entertainment destination in Hoi An after lantern night in the old quarter.

The art performance features the daily life activities of people in Hoi An including silk trade, ceramic production, folk performances, busy trade and the culture of Japanese, Chinese and European through visits by merchant ships to Hoi An trading port during the 14th century.

The show was recognised as the leading historical spectacle at the Best Hotels-Resorts Awards by Wanderlust Tips in the Republic of Korea, and chosen to be on at Times Square, New York in the US in March of 2019.

Vietnam wins big at international circus festivals in Russia

Several Vietnamese artists have won gold and bronze prizes at international circus festivals held recently in Russia.

Duo Pham Thi Huong and Truong Hong Thuy claimed gold for their performance "Du Son" (Red Swing) at the 2022 International Circus Festival in Saratov.

Meanwhile, Khanh Huyen brought home bronze in the "Without Borders" International Circus Festival held in Sankt-Petersburg.

Thang noted that this is the first time that the Vietnamese artist has performed abroad, and she greatly impressed judges and nearly 2,000 spectators in attendance thanks to her outstanding aerial silk performance.

Following the good result, Huyen was invited to attend the Girona International Circus Festival due to be held in early 2024.

HCM City hosts Int’l Congress for Cleft Lip, Palate and Craniofacial Deformity

Nearly 30 scientific reports are being presented by domestic and foreign medical professionals at the 3rd International Congress for Cleft Lip, Palate and Craniofacial Deformity that opened in HCM City on November 13.

The annual congress provides the attendees with up-to-date knowledge and applications of new technologies in the care of patients with cleft lip and palate, and craniofacial anomalies.

It features training sessions on a 3D-printed simulator, a physical model developed using 3D printing, and adhesive and polymer techniques to create the most realistic simulation environment.

For the first time, surgeons and trainees in Asia can access the most advanced physical simulator available.

In 2018, the hospital established the Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre, the first of its kind in Việt Nam, with support from the Canadian BC Children’s Hospital and British Columbia University.

The centre has provided medical examinations, consulting and treatment in accordance to its comprehensive cleft lip and palate care protocol and multidisciplinary coordination for more than 12,000 patients over the past four years.

It has also transferred the comprehensive cleft lip and palate care protocol to hospitals in southern provinces.

HCM City incubator ranked among 10 best in Southeast Asia

The Institute of Innovation under the University of Economics HCM City is the only university incubator in Việt Nam recognised as one of the Ten Best Startup Support Organisations in Southeast Asia (AsiaStar 10x10 Launchpad) under the AsiaStar 10x10 programme.

As part of its Project AsiaForward initiative, Alibaba Cloud has teamed up with tech ecosystem partners to celebrate the diverse achievements of tech-driven entities in Southeast Asia. 

Known as AsiaStar 10×10, the initiative gives recognition to 100 companies, communities, and projects in ten categories across the region: Trailblazers, Gamechangers, Growth, Enablers, Explorers, Open Source, Frontiers, Impact, Investors, and Launchpad. 

Results were announced at the annual Apsara Conference held in Singapore on November 4.

The AsiaStar 10x10 Launchpad Award is a testament to the continuous efforts and creativity of the Institute of Innovation in developing an international standard incubation programme, helping Vietnamese projects and start-up companies develop sustainably and access world markets.

Vietnam University of Fine Arts opens dual exhibitions

Two exhibitions are taking place in parallel at the Việt Nam University of Fine Arts, showcasing art by both lecturers and students.

Hòa Sắc 20.11 (Colour Harmony 20.11) and Nghệ Thuật Vẽ Ánh Sáng Nơi Công Cộng (Light Painting Arts in Public Places) are parts of an annual activity to celebrate Việt Nam Teachers' Day on November 20 and to pay tribute to teachers of the Việt Nam University of Fine Arts and those working in the Vietnamese education sector.

The Colour Harmony 20.11 exhibition features 44 pieces by 35 painters who are lecturers of the fine arts university. The artworks are diverse in forms, from painting, graphics, sculpture to photography and installation art.

Held alongside the Colour Harmony exhibition, Light Painting Arts in Public Places exhibits 33 photographs by 14 students from the Faculty of Painting, Graphics and Sculpture at the university.

Utilising various light sources, the students recorded the diverse effects of light movement in public spaces at the courtyard of the fine arts university, Thống Nhất Park or Pasteur Garden.

The images are from a light painting workshop under the guidance of German artist Oscar Lebeck within the framework of a cooperation programme between the Việt Nam University of Fine Arts and the Goethe Institute Hanoi. 

The exhibitions will last until November 21. 

Hanoi BRT system helps reduce traffic congestion: local authorities

Local Hanoi authorities have claimed that the Kim Ma - Yen Nghia bus rapid transit (BRT) system has helped reduce traffic jams in Hanoi.

According to a report from the Hanoi People’s Committee, the route has received an increasing number of customers after five years of operation.

There were on average 40 passengers per trip in 2017, and the number increased to 45, and to 70 during rush hours this year, the report said.

The route received a total number of 4.90 million passengers in 2017, 5.53 million in 2018, and 5.50 million in 2019.

The BRT route has also earned higher revenues than normal bus services.

After experiencing some operational breaks during the Covid-19 pandemic, the route is seeing a rising number of passengers.

The route is still facing some difficulties including its dedicated lane being encroached upon by other vehicles, some stations and not being able to issue electronic tickets.

Despite those problems, local authorities said that the route has helped reduce traffic congestion. But many local people say they are unsure if it has helped reduce congestion since they have to share the street with the BRT line, which makes the streets busier during rush hour.

The 15-kilometre Kim Ma - Yen Nghia BRT route, was put into operation in 2017, connecting Dong Da and Ha Dong districts.

According to the World Bank, which funded and consulted the project, although the number of passengers remained disappointing, the system had created a foundation for a new higher standard public transport service.

Hanoi shortens processing time for land-related administrative procedures

The issuance of a new land use rights certificate or its adjustment will now take only seven working days, as opposed to the 30 days established by law.

This was one of the new changes under decision No.4135 of the People’s Committee on the list of 35 land-related administrative procedures under the city-level administration.

The local authorities also announced 15 other procedures under the jurisdiction of district-level People’s Committees. Accordingly, the processing time for issuing a certificate of land use rights for the first time must be completed within 20 business days, or the resolution of land disputes should not exceed 45 business days.

The Hanoi People’s Committee assigned the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Development to cooperate with other agencies and localities in drafting an internal processing mechanism to ensure compliance with the new rule on processing time.

In June 2022, the Committee issued decision No.26 on simplifying procedures related to the declaration and verification of the land use rights status in Hanoi.

Hanoi is currently gearing up administrative reform, seen as a breakthrough solution for socio-economic development.

The Office of the Hanoi People’s Committee, as of late September, has received over 1,000 recommendations related to administrative works via hotline number 0243.934.6034 and the email address kiemsoatthutuchanhchinh@hanoi.gov.vn, the national public services portal, and Zalo app.

President hosts leader of World University Service of Germany

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 14 for Kambiz Ghawami, President of World University Service (WUS) of Germany, during which the State leader hailed the former's contributions to promoting educational cooperation between Vietnam and Germany in general and Hessen state in particular over the years.

President Phuc noted that WUS has conducted various specific cooperation activities with many universities and education establishments in Vietnam, including Vietnamese-German University.

The organisation has held many activities for scientists and officials of Vietnam and Germany to share experience, thus contributing to the development of science and technology and other sectors of Vietnam.

For his part, Ghawami said that he is always keen on promoting the cooperation between the two countries in education and training.

Ghawami said that during his ongoing visit, he has worked with a number of leading education establishments in Vietnam. Through the organisation, Hessen state of Germany has presented a number of scholarships to Vietnamese students, he added.

Earlier, in the southern province of Binh Duong, the Ministry of Education and Training held a ceremony to inaugurate the campus of the Vietnamese-German University, a project based on the cooperation between the ministry, the Ministry for Science and the Arts of Hessen state, and Germany’s Ministry of Education and Research.

Experts make recommendations to support women migrant workers

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on November 14 announced a study report on women migrant workers in ASEAN countries’ laws and policies.

At the report announcement ceremony, representatives from ASEAN's specialised agencies on labour and women, the ASEAN Secretariat, and international organisations made recommendations to affirm the rights of female migrant workers, promote the role of trade unions, and create a mechanism to support the participation of this group in policy making.

They stressed the need to increase the organisation of training courses for those workers before labour export, set up hotlines to provide support for them, and develop a common policy framework for the ASEAN region.

Director of ILO Vietnam Ingrid Christensen and European Union Ambassador to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti affirmed that this event was an opportunity for stakeholders to share their concerns and set forth practical solutions, promote inter-sectoral cooperation to strengthen the power and better protect migrant workers in each country receiving and sending labourers and across the region.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan said that as a member of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and several ILO conventions related to gender equality and employment, Vietnam has always focused on gender sensitivity in national laws and policies, and carried out many international cooperation activities to improve gender equality and promote domestical and regional workers' rights.

Diverse activities held to mark Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day

A wide range of cultural activities are due to run from November 18 to December 3 in order to mark Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day on November 23.

Tran Thi Thuy Lan, deputy head of the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi’s Old Quarter, said that a programme opening with the theme "All Silk Roads" will be held during the event. This scheme aims to introduce visitors to silk products made by artisans and craftsmen, as well as fashionable products made by local designers.

As scheduled, the opening ceremony will take place on the evening of November 18 at the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center at 50 Dao Duy Tu in Hanoi.

A fashion show introducing an Ao Dai collection and fashion costumes produced from silk, along with contemporary folk music performances, will also be held at the ceremony.

Designer Trinh Thuy, a brand representative of Trinh Fashion, revealed that through the collection "Clone" she hopes to strengthen connectivity of culture through different generations in order to preserve cultural heritage values moving forward.

A space introducing traditional silk production and fabric weaving process in the northern delta region will be also held from November 18 to December 31.

A series of activities will also be held during the event, including a seminar on Vietnamese silk craft villages and spaces to introduce Vietnamese tea culture and Creative Design Week 2022.

Photo exhibition on Belarus’ sights opens in Hanoi

A photo exhibition running with the theme of “Famous sights in Belarus under the protection of UNESCO” kicked off on November 14 in Hanoi in order to mark the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Belarus.

Upon addressing the opening ceremony of the event, Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Vladimir Borovikov stated the photos would provide an insight into Belarus’s history, its rich culture, beautiful landscapes, and hospitable people.

The exhibition represents one of the cultural exchange activities being held by the two countries in order to help strengthen the friendship between Vietnam and Belarus, he added.

On display as part of the occasion are 18 large-sized photos which showcase sightseeing spots in Belarus, including Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park and the Mir Castle Complex, both of which have been officially recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The event is scheduled to last through to November 21 and is being held at the National Library of Vietnam at 31 Trang Thi Street in Hanoi.

Vietnam calls for end to conflict in Ukraine at UNGA’s emergency session

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has stressed the need to give the top priority to ending the conflict, restoring peace, and protecting security and safety of civilians and civil infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.

Addressing the UN General Assembly’s 11th Emergency Special Session on the Ukrainian situation on November 14, Giang said that the parties involved need to persistently promote dialogues and negotiations to find a long-term peaceful solution to disagreements on the basis of conformity to and respect for international law and the UN Charter, with their legitimate interests and concerns taken into account, for peace and stability in the region and the world.

Having experienced decades-long struggles for national independence and independence protection, Vietnam is deeply aware of the importance of overcoming war consequences to reconstruct the country, maintain sustainable peace and stabilise people's lives, he said.

Therefore, Vietnam believes that in all conflicts, relevant parties and international partners should make every effort to contribute to the settlement of war consequences, in accordance with international law, he stressed.

Emphasising the importance of ensuring the urgent humanitarian needs of people, the Vietnamese representative stated that the support of the international community is very necessary, and affirmed Vietnam is willing to make active contributions to the diplomatic process, and reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine.

At the session, the UN General Assembly adopted a text titled “Furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine” with 94 votes in favour, 14 against, and 73 abstentions.

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