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The event, which was to celebrate the upcoming Vietnam Women's Day (October 20), saw the participation of the wives of the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and ambassadors of Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, and ASEAN member nations such as Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam; and female officials from ASEAN countries' embassies and foreign diplomatic organisations in the US.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung commended activities hosted by the spouses of the ambassadors of the ASEAN nations in the US, as well as the initiative of organising this event, saying that it contributed to honouring Vietnamese women, and stepping up exchanges and solidarity among the ASEAN diplomatic community, and promoting distinctive culture values of the ASEAN countries to international friends and partners.
Ambassador Dung’s spouse Bich Van said the Vietnamese traditional long dress is not merely a type of clothes, but also reflects the identity and spirit of the Vietnamese people, and the cultural quintessence of the Southeast Asian nation.
She hoped to have more opportunities to introduce and promote the costumes and Vietnamese culture to friends from ASEAN, the US, and international friends around the world.
Amateur "models" consisted of the wives of the ambassadors of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Vietnam, who performed rather professionally and with excitement.
International friends all admired the beauty and charm of the amateur "models" who said that "ao dai" helps women become more beautiful and attractive.
In the framework of the event, Vietnamese silk products were also introduced to international delegates.
Head coach of the national football team Philipe Troussier said he was not surprised at the team's 2-0 loss to China in the friendly on October 10 when talking to the press following the match in Dalian, China.
He added that both teams have equal goal-scoring chance, and Vietnam could have beaten China.
The team have undergone restructuring in preparation for the qualifiers of World Cup 2026 and Asian Cup 2023 scheduled in the beginning of 2024, he said, adding he was pleased with the team’s confidence and solidarity throughout the match with China.
Both teams started the match slowly, but Vietnam played with more confidence, despite all the odds stacked against them.
The stats showed that Philippe Troussier's men had more possession, and more accurate passes in the first half than the Dragon's Team.
In the final minutes of the first half, Vietnam had more chances but clumsy footwork in the final third sent the Golden Star Warriors to the locker room with a goalless draw at the interval.
Troussier brought on young stars in the second half, hoping for creativity in attack. The changes brought control of the match to Troussier's men, with countless opportunities coming in the first ten minutes.
However, a smart China took the lead in the 56th minute, when Liu Yang's cross from the left found an unmarked Wang Qiuming, who fired a one-touch volley into Lam’s net.
After Linh was sent off in the 89th minute, China with the man advantage, reversed the pressure and capitalised with a goal from Wu Lei in the eighth minute of added time.
Vietnam have two more tougher oppositions in this international friendly calendar, as they face Uzbekistan in a behind closed-doors game on October 13, and the Republic of Korea in Suwon on October 17.
Vietnam, UK’s West Midlands region look toward closer ties
A seminar connecting Vietnam and the West Midlands region of the UK took place in the UK city of Birmingham on October 10.
Co-hosted by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Department of Foreign Affairs for Provinces and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK, the event was part of a promotion programme for Vietnamese localities in the UK this year, with leaders of Hanoi, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Lam Dong, Kien Giang and Phu Quoc and over 100 delegates representing the UK’s associations, organisations and businesses taking part.
In his welcome speech, Lord Mayor of Birmingham Chaman Lal said Birmingham, with strengths in education, health care, finance and commerce, is particularly interested in fostering friendly relations and building cooperative ties with localities across the world, including those in Vietnam.
He also pointed out several potential areas of cooperation with Vietnamese localities, such as sci-tech, high technology, artificial intelligence and industry.
The UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy Mark Garnier said West Midlands gives priority to development in various sectors, including industry, services, education and culture.
He hoped that the visit of the Vietnamese local leaders will enable both sides to gain a better understanding about each other and contribute to promoting investment and trade.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long, for his part, said with the UK's entry to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), two-way trade between Vietnam and the UK will keep rising.
Vietnam needs logistics and services in the UK to facilitate connections to the European country and to establish the UK as a hub for Vietnamese exports to other markets such as the European Union (EU) and the US, he said, adding that Birmingham specifically and the West Midlands in general possess strengths and experience in green transformation, industry, education, health care, and more. When combined with the advantages of Vietnamese localities, this partnership potentially brings significant and practical benefits to all sides involved.
Through promotional videos and illustrative images, the Vietnamese local representatives provided concise and vivid information about the potential and strengths of their areas. They also introduced a list of projects in need of investment in industrial production, high-quality agriculture, renewable energy, education, workforce training, tourism, infrastructure and smart city development.
The UK partners expressed their wish to continue discussing and cooperating with the Vietnamese localities for mutual benefits.
A representative from the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce also shared bilateral cooperation opportunities in the fields of education, training and high technology, and how to effectively tap opportunities arising from the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement.
Hanoi reports first Japanese encephalitis case of the year
The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed the detection of the first case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in the capital this year.
A five-year-old boy was hospitalised at Vietnam National Children's Hospital on September 25, suffering from a high fever, headache, and fatigue.
The child patient then had samples taken, with his results coming back positive for JE.
Health experts say JE is caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus which can spread the disease throughout the year, especially during the summer. The disease is more common among children under 15, with pigs and birds being reservoirs of the virus.
Symptoms of JE, commonly known as "brain inflammation", include high fever and nausea, as well as seizures, paralysis, and coma in severe cases.
Doctors estimate that about one-third of patients die from the JE virus, whilst the other one-third to one-half of patients who survive suffer from nerve damage after-effects.
The Japanese encephalitis vaccine was added to the monthly National Immunisation Programme last year. Children under the age of five must be vaccinated for the virus three times, according to the programme schedule.
In a bid to curb the spread of JE, the Ministry of Health has said that people should keep their homes clean, keep livestock cages away from their residences and children, and make use of mosquito nets while sleeping.
The Algeria-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Group made its debut in Algiers on October 9, aiming to reinforce relations between the two countries in all fields, especially through parliamentary channel.
According to Deputy Speaker of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria Monder Bouden, the establishment of the group is the continuity of the sound traditional friendship between the two countries, showing Algeria’s wish to lift up the bilateral political relationship to a new height, making it broader and deeper across all fields.
Bouden expressed his hope that the establishment of the Algeria-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group will help activate cooperation agreements signed between the two legislatures and promote bilateral coordination and consultation at international forums.
Addressing the launching ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Tran Quoc Khanh reaffirmed that Vietnam prioritises the reinforcement of friendship and cooperation with traditional friends, including Algeria. He highlighted the sound relations between the two countries, including parliamentarian cooperation.
The diplomat said that the establishment of the group is an important milestone in the Vietnam-Algeria relationship, especially on the thresholds of the Inter-Governmental Committee’s meeting slated for October 16-18 in Hanoi. As schedule, the Algerian delegation will be led by the Algerian Minister of Industry who will be accompanied by leaders of many leading firms of Algeria. The event is expected to help further promote the bilateral partnership in many areas, including economy and trade.
Miloud Benmakhlouf, an official from Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the Algeria-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group was formed at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 61st founding anniversary of diplomatic relations. He underlined that the two countries share similar viewpoints on many international issues and the hope to promote their ties in many areas.
For his part, Chairman of the Algeria-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Salah Djeghloul affirmed that the group will become a link for parliamentary partnership between the two countries, and described it as a new achievement in the bilateral relationship that has a deep historical root.
In a meeting with the Vietnamese ambassador before the launching ceremony, Deputy Speaker of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria Monder Bouden spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and highly valued the ties with Vietnam in the fields of parliamentary cooperation and locality-to-locality collaboration.
Bouden expressed hope to further beef up bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation to match the sound diplomatic and political ties as well as the great potential between the two countries.
Algeria is willing to act as a bridge and a gateway for Vietnam to enter the African market, he said, showing his hope that Vietnam will help Algeria access the Asian market.
An exhibition entitled “Chut tinh gui pho” ( a little love to the city) opened in Hanoi on October 10 to celebrate the capital city’s Liberation Day (October 10).
On display are 54 watercolour paintings by artist Hoang Phuong, portraying the dreamy beauty of the thousand-year-old capital city of Vietnam. The works were selected from the young artist's 100 watercolour paintings about Hanoi.
This is Phong's first painting exhibition in Hanoi. The artist shared that the exhibition is a gift for people who fall in love with the capital city.
The exhibition was cradled during a trip to the locality of the artist in 2017. As a person who was born and grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, he said his paintings captures all the love of Saigon people for the capital city.
The exhibition opens to the public from now until October 29 at Ho Guom Information and Culture Centre, No.2 Le Thai To, Hoan Kiem district.
Phong is well-known for his watercolour painting works on Hanoi. What may take many by surprise, however, is that Phong was neither born nor raised in Hanoi.
He took up painting in 2009 after attending a basic art course at the HCM City Fine Arts Association. His skills have been gradually honed under the guidance of experienced artists he had the chance to work with, in addition to knowledge and skills he acquired on his own. Phong chose watercolour to explore his own creativity.
Phong is now a member of prestigious art organisations such as the HCM City Fine Arts Association and the International Watercolor Society, and his works have been part of more than 50 exhibitions nationwide.
He has chosen realism as the path to pursue, because he is generally attracted by the details of the objects he wants to capture in his paintings.
Vietnam ready for friendly match against China: Head coach
Vietnam are ready for international friendly matches on the FIFA Days in October, including a match against China in Dalian on October 10, said head coach Philippe Troussier.
After the match against China, Vietnam will face the hosts Uzbekistan on October 13. They will then play against the Republic of Korean (RoK) team in Suwon city on October 17.
Coach Philippe Troussier has shortlisted a squad of 28 players to prepare for the matches consisting of a combination of young talent and experienced veterans, with nearly half of the squad comprised of U23 players.
"I selected players based on their performance and current physical condition, rather than their reputation," he said.
"Players who do not participate in these FIFA Days still have the opportunity to compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, Asian Cup 2023, or the next FIFA Days," Troussier said.
Vietnam are currently ranked 93rd in the FIFA rankings, while the RoK are ranked 26th, China are ranked 79th, and Uzbekistan are ranked 75th.
Although Vietnam have recently won and kept clean sheets in friendly matches during the previous FIFA Days at home, they are expected to face challenges in maintaining their achievements when these three teams are ranked higher globally.
The results will serve as an accurate evaluation of the true strength of the Vietnamese team after nearly seven months of training under the guidance of the new coaching staff.
Troussier said he highly appreciated the quality of China, Uzbekistan, and the RoK. He believed that competing against strong teams will allow the coaching staff to assess their players and develop reasonable tactical strategies before entering the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia in November.
Vietnam are focused on building a playing style based on a modern attacking philosophy. According to experts, achieving positive results against strong opponents will not be easy. However, the mistakes and shortcomings revealed during the matches will help coach Troussier and his coaching staff identify areas for improvement and make necessary corrections to enhance the overall performance of the team.
The French coach wants the Vietnamese team to perform well and showcase all their strengths and weaknesses in the matches against formidable opponents.
"Our opponents are strong, but I hope the Vietnamese players can execute our preparations," Troussier said.
"I also emphasise the importance of playing style and the players' ability to create as many scoring opportunities as possible while maintaining smooth connections on the field.
"We need to focus on highlighting the positive aspects. I am also concerned about the results because all three upcoming opponents are stronger than the Vietnamese team. However, I anticipate the occurrence of mistakes. When these issues are revealed, we have the opportunity to address them."
In their last meeting during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Asia in early 2022, Vietnam emerged victorious against China. However, coach Troussier acknowledges that China are still considered a stronger team.
He added: "When the Vietnamese team face China, Indonesia, and Thailand, I recognise the significance of these matches. We thoroughly studied China and analysed their strengths to prepare for the upcoming game.
"I fully understand the current position of Vietnamese football, and we are making every effort to narrow the gap with the top teams on the continent."
The friendly matches also serve as a warm-up for the Vietnamese team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which will take place from mid-November 2023 to June 2024.
By being ranked among the world's top 100 teams and Asia's top 20 teams, Vietnam will not be required to participate in a playoff round to advance to the group stage of qualifiers for both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
In the Asian region, all 36 teams are expected to be divided into nine groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the third qualification round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and securing a spot in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals.
Vietnam are placed in Group F alongside the Philippines, Iraq, and the winner of the upcoming playoff match between Indonesia and Brunei. Vietnam will play as visitors against the Philippines on November 16 and then return to their home ground to face Iraq on November 21
Elite billiards players to play for big-prizes at Hanoi Open Pool Championship
World cueists will gather to compete for US$200,000 worth of prizes at the Hanoi Open Pool Championship 2023.
The world elite tournament, which is one of the World 9-ball Tour series' events, is taking place for the first time in Việt Nam from October 10-15 at the Mỹ Đình Indoor Athletics Palace.
A total of 128 top international players have landed in Hà Nội and will play against 128 local competitors, who passed the qualification round, in a double-elimination format event.
"I am really excited to be here. I have never visited Việt Nam before. I couldn't believe even when I arrived at the airport seeing many fans," said Spain's Francisco Sánchez Ruíz, reigning world champion in both eight-ball and nine-ball.
"I know this is one of the biggest tournaments here by far. I really enjoyed the last four days playing at the Peri Open, an amazing tournament as I believe that a nine-ball tour is the future (of billiards).
"I can't wait for tomorrow," said the Spanish professional player.
In addition to Ruíz, other world giants include Shane Van Boening of the US, Fedor Gorst of Russia and Jayson Shaw of Scotland ready to battle for the title of the tournament which is jointly organised by Matchroom and Vietcontent.
Vietnamese competitors are Lường Đức Thiện, Bùi Trường An, Đặng Thành Kiên and Phạm Phương Nam are hot names among local talent.
It is the first Asian tournament of the prestigious World Nine Ball Tour competition system, along with the US Open, UK Open, European Open and Spanish Open.
In addition to the event for seniors, the Hanoi Junior Open, a playground for Southeast Asia's brightest young talents, will take place on October 13-14. As many as 64 young players under 17 years old from Australia, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, India and Việt Nam will compete for a total prize of $10,000.
In particular, on the penultimate day of the tournament on October 14, world fans will also enjoy the performance of the legendary Efren Reyes of the Philippines.
"The World Nineball Tour is a global professional pool tour committed to staging world-class international sporting events," said Emily Frazer, managing director of Matchroom Multi Sport.
"As we broaden and strengthen the tour, we set our sights on Asia a continent we aim to develop nine-ball further in and Việt Nam is the perfect hub to launch this.
"It is important for us to deliver such opportunities like this week and expand into new territories so we can discover local talent, unveil new personalities and showcase the world’s very best to an audience craving nine-ball."
Frazer said Matchroom was so excited to be hosting its very first multi-table major event in Asia, and she couldn’t think of a better stage than Hà Nội which had a proud history in pool.
"With the likes of world number one Francisco Sanchez Ruiz and former world champions such as Shane Van Boening and Niels Feijen, showing their support for local venues in Hà Nội, Matchroom hopes the impact of the Hanoi Open and the World Nineball Tour will be felt across Việt Nam," she said.
The Hà Nội's Culture and Sports Department welcomes athletes to the city of peace and hopes that the Hanoi Open will be a strong push for the further development of billiards in the city.
An Giang to celebrate Sen Dolta Festival
The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang will host its annual Bảy Núi (Seven Mountains) Ox Racing Festival in Tri Tôn District on October 14.
Around 56 pairs of oxen from the province and Kiên Giang Province will compete in the race.
The festival is part of the Sene Dolta, one of the most important annual festivals of the Khmer community in the southwest region, along with Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) and Ooc Oom Bok, a festival honouring the moon for a good harvest.
The oxen racing festival commemorates the merits of Khmer ancestors and wishes for happiness and peace for their souls.
Sen Dolta is held from the last day of the eighth lunar month until the second day of the ninth lunar month each year, falling on October 14-16 this year.
During the event, the Khmer people pay tribute to their ancestors and take part in activities with traditional songs and dances after a year of hard work.
Many religious rituals and several cultural activities will take place at the Khmer pagodas to preserve the cultural heritage of the Khmer people.
The ox racing is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the event, which will begin at 7:30 am at the Tà Pạ - Soài Chek Sports and Tourism Area.
As part of celebration of Sen Dolta, the province will also host a motocross performance by 60 athletes at the tourism area on October 7.
Central station for North-South express railway proposed in Thu Thiem
The HCMC Department of Transport has proposed developing a central station for the North-South high-speed railway in Thu Thiem and a rail link between Thu Thiem and Long Thanh in Dong Nai Province.
This proposal comes in response to the Ministry of Transport seeking feedback on the direction, location, and scale of the station and depot for a rail line passing through HCMC as part of the North-South express railway project.
The department explained that the proposed direction of the railway section running through HCMC aligns with the city’s comprehensive planning by 2025, which should run in parallel with the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway to the south.
Consultants will study whether the route should be elevated or built on the ground.
The department also favors Thu Thiem in Thu Duc City as the major railway station for passengers of the North-South high-speed railway, and a connecting point for other means of public transport.
The proposed Thu Thiem station, spanning over 17 hectares, will also serve the Thu Thiem-Long Thanh railway section, facilitating connection with a section of HCMC Metro Line No. 2 in phase 2 linking Ben Thanh and Thu Thiem in the future.
The HCMC Department of Transport is considering another location for the maintenance center for the high-speed railway, which was initially proposed in Long Truong Ward in Thu Duc, HCMC, to Long Thanh District in Dong Nai province.
The Ministry of Transport plans to submit the project investment policy to higher authorities in November this year, complete the pre-feasibility study and seek approval for the investment policy before 2025.
Under the national railway development planning, the 1,545-kilometer North-South high-speed railway will depart from Ngoc Hoi station in Hanoi City to Thu Thiem station in HCMC with 1,435-mm double track.
Ministry proposes to supplement priority policies for elderly citizens
The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs proposed to supplement priority policies to support job transition and employment support for the elderly.
Statistically, Vietnam will have more than 16 million elderly people in 2023. According to forecasts of the General Statistics Office, by the year 2036, Vietnam will go into the aged population, transitioning from an aging to an aged society with more than 21 million elderly, accounting for 19.48 percent of the total population. Many experts predict that within the next 10 years, tens of millions of elderly citizens will start a business, and many of them need career advice, vocational training and even seek jobs.
According to the National Action Program on the Elderly, at least 50 percent of the elderly who are still able to work will have jobs from 2022 to 2025 while at least 20,000 elderly will receive support for starting a business and career change training while at least 70 percent of the elderly will have jobs between 2026 and 2030. At least 30,000 elderly people will receive support for starting a business and training for job transitions.
Currently, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is developing a draft Law on Employment to submit to the Government for consideration at the 15th National Assembly.
In particular, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs proposed to supplement policy regulations to help special citizens transfer to another job and support their employment including vocational training support, employment advice, and job introduction for older workers as well as give job consultations and introduce suitable for elderly workers. Moreover, the government should have priority policies such as loans, and employment policies when hiring elderly workers.
Work starts on road connecting Thang Long boulevard and Hanoi - Hoa Binh expressway
Construction of a road connecting Thang Long boulevard and Hanoi - Hoa Binh expressway with a total cost of more than 5.2 trillion VND (213 million USD) started on October 10.
According to the city's Civil Construction Investment Project Management Board, the road has a total length of about 6,7km with six lanes.
The road starts at the intersection between Thang Long boulevard and national highway 21 in Thach Hoa commune of Thach That district, and ends at the intersection between Hanoi - Hoa Binh expressway and Van Hoa village road in Yen Binh commune of Thach That district.
Four bridges spanning rivers and crossroads and five tunnels will be built on the road.
The route will connect the capital city with the western and southwestern provinces, creating conditions for socio-economic development, security and defence as well as becoming a driving force for the development of Hoa Lac satellite urban area and the western satellite urban chain.
The 30km Thang Long boulevard is a western centripetal expressway, connecting Hanoi's centre with Hoa Binh and northwest provinces. It was put into operation in October 2010 with six lanes.
The 26km Hanoi - Hoa Binh expressway was opened to traffic in 2018, allowing vehicles to travel at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour. At the end of August 2023, Hoa Binh province decided to expand the expressway from two to six lanes with a designed speed of 100 km per hour. When the expansion project is completed, it will take only about 30 minutes from Hoa Binh to Hanoi.
Hanoi to host the IT and STEM Festival in 2024
The IT and STEM Festival 2024, with the theme "Accelerating Digital Transformation and STEM Education in the Education and Training Sector towards Smart Education", will be held for the first time in 2024.
Third-grade students from Trung Trac Primary School (Hai Ba Trung District) participate in a STEM course. Photo: Linh Nguyen
As part of the festival, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training will hold a conference on the direction of digital transformation and STEM education in the city's education sector in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The event is set to take place on April 3-4, 2024, at Nguyen Hue Specialized High School in Hanoi, featuring workshops on digital transformation and STEM teaching methods for primary and secondary education in the digital environment.
In October 2023, organizations and schools will launch promotional activities and organize festivals at the grassroots level. They will also submit electronic lecture entries on the website https://itday.hanoi.edu.vn for the electronic lecture competition.
The organizers will announce the results of the electronic lecture competition and the list of selected entries to be presented at the city-level festival.
The festival will also include the semifinals of the Electronic Lecture and Information Technology Product Competitions, as well as the semifinals of the Information Technology Skills Competition.
Hung Kings Temple Spirituality Marathon to take place next April
The Hung Kings Temple Spirituality Marathon 2024 will take place on April 7 in the northern province of Phu Tho.
The tournament will comprise four races, including a 5km run, a 10km run, a 21km half marathon, and a 42 km full marathon.
Runners will pass through the Hung Kings Temple Complex and Viet Tri city. They will be able to explore the sacred land area which is associated with the historical and cultural roots of the nation.
The marathon is a kick-off event in a series of activities of the Death Anniversary of the Hung Kings - Hung Kings Temple Festival in 2024.
Legend has it that the Hung Kings ruled Vietnam from 2879 BC until 258 BC and they are considered the founders of the nation. To honour the Kings, the 10th day of the third lunar month is designated as their national commemorative anniversary date.
The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings are closely related to the ancestral worshipping tradition of most Vietnamese families which forms an important part of people's spiritual life. It was recognised by UNESCO as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.
The annual Hung Kings’ Temple Festival is usually celebrated by overseas Vietnamese like that at home. However, in the past, as expats held the celebrations sporadically and without a centralised format, they generally attracted little attention from community members and international friends.
Hanoi offers visitors interesting experiences on capital liberation day
Besides its unique charm in autumn, Hanoi has become even more attractive to visitors during the best season of the year thanks to various activities held to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the capital city’s liberation day (October 10, 1954-2023).
In the city downtown, an exhibition showcasing 100 documents and photos featuring Hoan Kiem Lake is underway on Le Thai To pedestrians’ street. It gives visitors an insight into changes of the lake from the early 19th century to the middle of the 20th century.
In Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature), an exhibition is also being held, spotlighting Hanoi after 15 years of expanding its administrative boundaries.
On the occasion, the Management Board of Hoa Lo Prision, a historical relic site of Hanoi, has also hosted an exhibition highlighting the liberation of the capital city 69 years ago.
Meanwhile, various activities have been held in Thang Long Imperial Citadel, including an exhibition on the history, culture, land and people of Thang Long-Hanoi in the 19th century until mid-20th century.
Alongside, many stages in the capital city have also introduced attractive art programmes and performances, giving visitors more options in the evening when visiting Hanoi.
Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Travel Association Phung Quang Thang, Hanoi has many historical relic sites associated with major historical events, including the capital city’s liberation. The Hanoi flagpole, Hanoi Opera House, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi Station and Dong Xuan Market are among popular destinations for visitors who are keen on exploring the history of the city, he said.
Vice Director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency Nguyen Thi Mai Anh said that from the end of September, the city has organised many activities to celebrate the liberation day, including an Autumn Festival that attracted 80,000 visitors.
Director of the city's Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang said that activities to mark the city’s liberation day will continue until the end of October, including an upcoming "Ao dai" (traditional long dress) Festival.
Greater efforts made to speed up digital transformation
Contactless payments are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam as people can easily see QR codes at vegetable and meat stalls in local markets or at restaurants and electronics stores.
Vietnam has set a target of provide practical benefits to the public through advantages brought by digital transformation. Gradually shifting from traditional methods to the digital environment ensures that every citizen has equal opportunities to access services, education, and knowledge.
During the action month in response to National Digital Transformation Day (October 10) this year, community-based digital technology teams continue their efforts to guide every person to acquire skills for using online services, online shopping and payments, and self-protection against risks and dangers in the digital environment.
People across the country have been benefiting from preferential policies when using digital products and services through the initiative, which has so far attracted the engagement of more than 50 businesses from nine different sectors.
Notably, many discount programmes have been launched by businesses in response to National Digital Transformation Day before October 2023, and some of these will extend beyond this month.
Themed “Exploiting digital data to create value”, this year’s National Digital Transformation Day aims to accelerate the implementation of the national digital transformation as well as the National Digital Transformation Programme to 2025, with a vision to 2030.
A transportation and logistics centre applying AI and barcode technologies is launched by Vietnam Post in 2022. (Photo: VNA)
It is also to raise public awareness of the role, significance and benefits of digital transformation, and promote the involvement of the entire political system and population so as to ensure the success of the work.
According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, it is necessary to rapidly disseminate basic knowledge related to digital transformation through shared digital platforms nationwide, and develop new things via leading entities.
Digital transformation is a comprehensive and all-encompassing process that involves the entire population, so it must be widely accessible, he stressed.
The National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, with a vision towards 2030 approved by the Prime Minister in June 2020 targets dual goals of developing a digital government, digital economy, and digital society; and forming Vietnamese digital technology enterprises with the capacity to reach globally.
In the first nine months of 2023, the National Public Service Portal recorded 5.6 million registered accounts, over 87.37 million synchronized profiles, more than 13 million utility service transactions, over 19.8 million applications processed through the portal, and more than 13 million online payment transactions with a total value of over 4 trillion VND.
Regarding digital data, about 1.4 million transactions were conducted successfully via the Integrated Data Sharing Platform every day.
Population databases have been officially connected to 15 ministries and agencies, one state-owned enterprise, three telecommunications enterprises, and 63 localities for the purpose of information exploitation. Data related to public servants have been connected to and synchronized with 100% of ministries, departments, and local authorities.
In terms of digital infrastructure, the proportion of subscribers using smartphones reached 79.8% in the last nine months, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%. The percentage of households with broadband fiber optic internet connection hit 78.38%, up 5.22% year-on-year.
Chuvashia hopes to boost economic cooperation with Vietnam
Head of Chuvashia, a republic of Russia, Oleg Nikolaev on October 9 affirmed that his administration always pays attention to supporting Vietnamese enterprises in boosting with local peers.
Speaking at a meeting with reporters of Vietnam, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, Oleg Nikolaev said that the republic will provide information to help Vietnamese entrepreneurs partner with Chuvash ones.
Regarding potential areas for cooperation between Chuvashia and Vietnam, he said that the republic has many unique business fields, which are not available elsewhere in Russia, and of interest to many countries.
It is the field of electrical engineering whose products are manufactured following the highest world standards, he said, sharing that recently Chuvashia provided a modern, fully digital transformer station for the famous Technopark Skolkovo in Moscow. This meets all international standards and can compete with competitors such as Siemens, ABB, and Schneider.
The two sides can also cooperate in chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide bleach, herbicides and pesticides for agriculture, as Chuvashia’s herbicides and pesticides are among the best in the world in terms of compliance with GMO standards.
Chuvashia also has many other strong areas that can cooperate with Vietnam, and the two sides’ businesses should meet and discuss to find common points, added Nikolaev.
Vietnamese students in Netherlands hailed as bridge for bilateral ties
The Vietnamese Students' Association in the Netherlands has held practical and creative activities in various fields, serving as a bridge to further enhance cooperation between the two countries, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Huong Nam.
Speaking at the association's congress for the 2023-2025 tenure, Nam praised the outstanding activities of the association in the past term, with particular attention to volunteer movements, support for the fight against COVID-19, the "Vietnam Youth Innovative Programme - InnoCity" across Europe, job fairs and skill training programmes for students, welcome programmes for new students, and sport tournaments for Vietnamese students in the Netherlands.
He also commended generations of Vietnamese students who had learnt or are studying in the Netherlands, saying that with a strong learning spirit, many of them have achieved successes in their careers, including those holding high-ranking positions in Vietnam's political system and key roles in various foreign companies, organisations and agencies.
The congress elected a 17-strong executive committee of the association in the new tenure.
Nam wished that the Central Committee of the Vietnam Students’ Association would continue creating favourable conditions for the development of the Vietnamese Students' Association in the Netherlands and its activities in the coming term.
Get-together in honour of Venezuelan guerillas joining Nguyen Van Troi campaign
The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela on October 9 held a get-together in honour of Venezuelan guerillas who participated in Nguyen Van Troi campaign 59 years ago.
The campaign was launched by Venezuela’s Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN) Command on October 9, 1964, during which Venezuelan guerillas abducted US Lieutenant Colonel Michael Smolen in Caracas to ask for the release of young Vietnamese patriot Nguyen Van Troi, who had been sentenced to death by the US and the US-backed Saigon regime for his assassination attempt on US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara.
However, after the Caracas guerillas released the US hostage on October 12, the US and the Saigon administration killed Nguyen Van Troi in order to suppress the emerging anti-US movement in Vietnam and around the globe.
Carlos Rey, an 81-year-old veteran, travelled nearly 400km to the ceremony to meet his comrades at the get-together.
Recalling the day when he joined the campaign at the age of just 22, the man said he and other Venezuelans at that time admired the Vietnamese people’s resistance war.
Raúl Rodríguez, who also participated in the campaign, said he was delighted at the great socio-economic achievements Vietnam has recorded, and noted his wish that the good traditional friendship between the two countries will be further consolidated and enhanced in the time ahead.
In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My thanked the former Venezuelan guerillas for their good sentiments to Vietnam, and attributed the successes of the Vietnamese people's struggle for national independence, liberation and reunification to valuable contributions by international friends and comrades, including people and left-wing and progressive forces of Venezuela and other Latin American countries.
On this occasion, the former Venezuelan guerillas presented the ambassador a book featuring Caracas guerillas by Nancy Zambrano, which devotes much of its space to the Nguyen Van Troi campaign.
The former Venezuelan guerillas said they hoped that the book will be translated into Vietnamese on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the campaign (October 9, 1964-2024) and the 35th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Venezuela diplomatic ties (December 1989-2024).
Vietnamese and Lao youths kick off friendship meeting
The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union opened the youth friendship meeting 2023 Vientiane (Laos) on October 10, attracting the participation of hundreds of young people from both countries.
Addressing the event, Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union (LPRYU) Central Committee Monxay Laomuasong underlined the significance of the meeting, during which the two sides will hold talks to exchange experience and discuss youth campaigns and related activities.
Young Lao people will continue fostering a closer connection with their Vietnamese peers via joint programmes, thereby contributing to tightening the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation that exists between Laos and Vietnam, he added.
For his part, Bui Quang Huy, first secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, said over recent decades the reform process in each country has brought about great socio-economic development achievements, elevating the two countries’ role and position globally, that has encouraged the young generation of each country to proactively integrate into the world.
Huy stressed that the friendship exchange provides an occasion for young people to share experience in youth union affairs, while stepping up the studying and following of late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane’s ideology and moral examples among young people in each country.
At the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue to effectively implement their 2022-2027 cooperation agreement, including promoting socio-economic development of each country and supporting digital transformation for young people.
The same day, the two sides organised a conference on the youth’s role in economic development, especially in further pushing the production and consumption of domestic goods.
Cold air wave grips northern region, heavy rain batters central localities
A cold air wave is sweeping across the northern region, while the central region is experiencing a long spell of heavy rain, reported weather experts.
The early morning of October 10 saw many commuters wear warm clothes hitting the road, with temperatures ranging between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, there was a slight chill in the air in the northern mountainous areas, with temperatures falling to below 16 degrees Celsius.
According to the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), the cold snap struck north-eastern localities early in the morning and is spreading across the north-central and north-western localities I the afternoon.
The cold snap will cause strong winds and rough seas in the Gulf of Tonkin and coastal localities, said the centre.
Meanwhile, a long spell of heavy rain is anticipated to hit central localities from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri due to the impact of the cold spell and the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
Heavy downpours are likely to last for several days, starting on October 10 evening, said the NCHMF.
Weather experts warned about the possibility of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas during the height of the rain.
The NCHMF also reported that tropical storm KOINU, the fourth to hit the East Sea this year, has weakened into a tropical depression
At 01:00 on October 10, the tropical depression was churning through the southern waters of China’s Guangdong province, packing winds of between 39-49kph near its eye.
At 13:00 the same day, KOINU is forecast to head for China’s Hainan islands and further lose its strength.
In a weather bulletin issued several days ago, weather experts anticipated that KOINU is unlikely to impact the central coast of Vietnam.
Infant dies after father set fire at home
A one-month-old baby boy has died after his father set fire to their home in the southern province of Ninh Thuan.
The Ca Na Commune People's Committee announced on Monday that the tragic incident occurred at 10.30 pm on October 8 when Lam Van Hoa, 35, set fire to his home using petrol. There were six family members inside at that time.
Hearing screams from the house, neighbours rushed in and tried to open the gate to rescue the family. Firefighters also arrived and controlled the fire at 11.30 pm.
However, Hoa's one-month-old baby boy had died and three other people including his mother-in-law, his wife and their three-year-old daughter were badly injured. Hoa then killed himself with a knife.
Initial investigation showed that Hoa set fire to his house after a quarrel with his wife.
Police are further investigating the case.
Dozens of tourist boats suspended on Yen Bai lake
Dozens of tourist boats on Thac Ba Lake in the northern province of Yen Bai have been suspended after failing to meet registration requirements.
According to the Yen Bai Provincial Transport Department, the boats were built and operated by private tourism companies and residents in the area to serve visitors to the lake.
"As the number of visitors has increased, more boats have appeared," the department said. "Most of these boats were converted from being cargo boats so failed to meet the requirements for registration."
Le Thanh Do from the Thac Ba Lake Management Board said that they have had to suspend many boats which don't have registration certificates."Many of those boats are still being anchored on the lake," Do said. "We've asked the boat owners to remove their boats as quickly as possible to protect the local environment."
Director of the Thac Ba Lake Tourism Services Collective, Duong Van Sau, said that two of their boats have been suspended.
Director of the Thac Ba Lake Tourism Services Collective, Duong Van Sau, said that two of their boats have been suspended.
“We had invested over VND2 billion to rebuild these two boats from two cargo boats," Sau said. "Now we've sold one to a household who are raising fish on the lake at VND200 million. And we're trying to find buyers for the second. We've suffered big losses but there's no other option. We have to obey the safety regulations."
Hanoi ranks first in online driver's license renewal
After almost 20 months, Hanoi now leads among Vietnam's 63 provinces and cities with the highest number of driving license applications submitted online.
According to Hanoi transport department, by the end of September, more than 6,000 applications for license renewal had been submitted to the department through the digital platform.
The department had processed and approved more than 5,100 applications while rejecting about 106 others.
Submitting the license renewal application in person used to be the most challenging and daunting undertaking for both the department and the people.
It was time-consuming for drivers to complete all the administrative procedures and wait in line for hours to take the physical and mental tests.
It often took a driver a couple of hours, or worse, half a day, to stand in line. Once the application was submitted, the driver would not receive his license until two weeks later.
On February 17, 2022, the Hanoi People's Committee inaugurated a citywide e-platform for population identity verification, which aims to accelerate the country's digital transformation progress.
The plan aims to digitize all administrative tasks, including the issuance of new driver's licenses, through a shared online platform among all local departments and government agencies.
Drivers are encouraged to apply for driving licenses through the city's public services portal. The move is expected to ease the workload of government officials and employees, improve transparency, fight corruption, and save costs and time for citizens.
Hanoi public transport ridership up over 50% in 9 months
In the first nine months of 2023, Hanoi’s public passenger transport system witnessed a remarkable resurgence, carrying over 417.2 million passengers, up 56.8% year-on-year and met 96.4% of the projected target.
In particular, the Cat Linh - Ha Dong urban railway alone transported approximately 7.2 million passengers, generating an estimated total revenue of VND55.1 billion ($2.26 million).
Vu Hong Truong, General Director of Hanoi Metro Company, said that during the initial phase of operation, which coincided with periods of social distancing, daily ridership averaged around 10,000 passengers. Now, on regular working days, the line's daily ridership is around 35,000 passengers.
In addition to the growth observed in urban railways, the bus system also achieved remarkable results. Throughout the first nine months of the year, the total revenue of the entire bus network reached an estimated VND410.2 billion ($16.8 million).
The network operated some 5.45 million vehicles and carried 410 million passengers, an impressive 57.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022, reaching 94.7% of the target plan. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line alone transported about 3.4 million passengers.
Furthermore, in 2023, Hanoi introduced bike-sharing services, providing residents with an additional mode of transportation.
Do Ba Dan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tri Nam Group, the operator of public bike-sharing in Hanoi, reported that more than 28,240 people had registered to use the service within just under nine days of its launch. The system recorded 17,024 trips, averaging more than 5 kilometers each, signaling a positive response to this mode of transportation.
Public transportation is becoming increasingly popular because it is convenient, saves time, and helps reduce the number of private vehicles on the road, thereby easing traffic congestion and reducing environmental impact.
Moreover, there has been significant enhancement in the service quality of public transport. Train and bus staff undergo training and skill improvement, with a focus on providing the most attentive service to passengers.
A representative of the Hanoi Public Transport Management Center emphasized that the city's bus system has seen improvements in both quantity and quality. Aging vehicles have been replaced with new ones, and dilapidated bus shelters have been renovated, repaired, and expanded to better serve passengers.
HCMC to call for investment in wastewater treatment plants
Ho Chi Minh City will call for social contributions for the construction of wastewater treatment plants, said Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction Dang Phu Thanh.
Deputy Director Thanh yesterday said that according to the approved planning development orientation, the city will invest in the construction of 11 urban domestic wastewater treatment plants with a total capacity of 2,912 million cubic meters a day in 2020 and 3,076 million cubic meters a day in 2030.
According to him, the city will mobilize financial resources to build a number of new factories and increase the capacity of one factory in the coming time. Specifically, the city will call for investment in the form of Public Private Partnership to build a wastewater collection system and treatment plant at the city’s western gate.
Moreover, the southern metropolis will build a collection system and upgrade the Tham Luong - Ben Cat wastewater treatment plant for the second phase and wastewater collection system and treatment plant. Last but not least, the construction of another wastewater collection system and treatment plants in the Northwest of the city will commence.
Vietnamese, Lao youths join hands in promoting friendship
The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee and the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union (LPRYU) Central Committee jointly organised the Vietnam-Laos youth friendship meeting 2023 in Vientiane on October 10.
Addressing the event, Secretary of the LPRYU Central Committee Monxay Laomuasong affirmed that the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos has become a decisive factor in the success and victory of the two countries' revolutions, and an invaluable common asset and the law of existence and development of the two peoples.
The two countries’ youths must actively preserve and promote the special relations, he stressed, adding that the LPRYU always pays attention to educating young Lao people on the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.
Bui Quang Huy, First Secretary of the HCYU Central Committee, said over recent decades, the reform process in each country has brought about great socio-economic development achievements, elevating the two countries’ role and position globally, that has encouraged young generations of each country to proactively integrate into the world.
The same day, the two sides organised a symposium on expanding the youth's engagement in further pushing the production and consumption of domestic goods.
Foreign media notes investment prospects in Vietnam waste disposal management
Vietnam Briefing has published an article suggesting a wealth of opportunities for foreign investors and sustainable development entrepreneurs to invest in waste disposal management in the country.
According to the website, the country’s rapid urbanisation and industrial growth has brought forth a significant challenge in the management and disposal of increasing amounts of waste. However, the challenge also presents a golden opportunity for investors keen to make a positive impact on the environment while tapping into a burgeoning sector.
“With a growing demand for sustainable waste management solutions, Vietnam offers a promising landscape for investment in waste disposal,” it said.
Vietnam Briefing quoted data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) as saying that the country produces approximately 60,000 tonnes of household waste each day. Most notably, the urban areas of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City alone account for a significant portion, generating 7,000 to 9,000 tonnes of trash each, with this amount projected to increase by 10% to 16% by 2025.
Despite the staggering volume of waste generated, waste treatment in the country remains largely ineffective. Currently, according to MoNRE’s National Environmental Status Report in 2021, the majority of the waste is taken to landfill sites, but only 20% of them meet national sanitary requirements.
“Vietnam is currently undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization, resulting in a significant increase in waste generation,” the website stressed.
As reported by Mordor Intelligence, the waste management market in Vietnam is projected to reach US$5.12 billion this year and US$7.54 billion by 2028.
“This surge in waste production presents numerous opportunities for investors to provide suitable and effective waste disposal solutions to meet the escalating demand for waste management services across the country,” it noted.
In the article, David Duong, president of California Waste Solutions (CWS) and CEO of Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS), expressed his optimism about the future of waste disposal in Vietnam. The CEO who has been investing in waste treatment in Ho Chi Minh City since 2005, said he firmly believes that both Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam as a whole possess substantial potential in this field.
“With the market size of the waste management industry projected to grow steadily, coupled with the endorsement of industry experts like Duong, it is evident that Vietnam presents a promising landscape for investors seeking to contribute to waste disposal and management solutions,” Vietnam Briefing wrote.
According to the media outlet, the Vietnamese Government has also implemented policies which seek to encourage further cooperation through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
The website shared that this approach is recognised as a promising direction for waste management development, adding that PPPs enable investors to collaborate with the Government’s entities or local authorities as part of efforts to establish waste management infrastructure projects.
By engaging in PPPs, investors can benefit from long-term contracts that provide stability and predictability. This therefore allows for more efficient planning and implementation of waste management projects.
Vietnam Briefing shared that financiers can capitalise on the rising waste generation and favourable government policies in a bid to establish profitable waste disposal businesses.
“Furthermore, by making the right investment decisions, firms could potentially see long-term, sustainable revenue streams develop,” it concluded.
Vietnamese NA strengthens cooperation with German KAS foundation
National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai had a meeting with visiting Deputy Secretary General of Germany’s political foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Gerhard Wahlers in Hanoi on October 10.
Congratulating the foundation on its 30-year presence in Vietnam, Hai said he hopes Vietnamese NA’s agencies will continue to strengthen cooperation with KAS in many areas such as budget and tax management, e-invoice issuance, e-commerce, anti-transfer pricing, commercial fraud combating, digital transformation, and regional and national planning.
Hailing the fruitful cooperation and support from Germany and some German research institutes, including KAS, to the NA and its agencies, he asked KAS to continue to increase collaboration with the Vietnamese side, helping enhance the operational capacity of the People’s Councils at all levels, and sharing experience in legislative activities, budget management, and the application of the global minimum tax.
The official suggested that KAS and the NA Finance-Budget Committee and Economic Committee consider the signing of a cooperation agreement. He also proposed that the German foundation expand partnership with the NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment.
For his part, Wahlers said that KAS has conducted many effective cooperation activities with Vietnamese NA agencies, including the Finance-Budget Committee, Economic Committee and Committee for External Relations.
He said that NA Vice Chairman Hai’s suggestions focus on areas in which KAS has rich experience and a large database thanks to its network of 100 representative offices around the world.
KAS is keen on working closely with agencies of the Vietnamese legislature to build a more effective cooperation plan in the future, he affirmed.
Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes
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