The Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Center has warned the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City of flooding in lowland and riverside areas as a high tide is forecast to occur and reach its peak in the next couple of days.

According to the center, water level in the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers on October 12 highly increased. It is predicted to continue surging in the next few days. The peak of the high tide might occur on October 15-16, the 17th and 18th day of the ninth lunar month.

The National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Center also issued the same warning, saying that the water level in the Mekong and Saigon Rivers will reach alarming levels 2-3 under influence of the high tide. Low lying and riverside areas in HCMC and the Mekong Delta might be flooded.

In the meantime, the meteorological station in Can Tho city said that tide level in canals in the city will continue moving up to reach 1.95-2 meters and exceed alarming level 3 on October 15-17. That will be the largest high tide this year so local residents and authorities should take the initiative in coping with tidal flooding.

Eleven arrested in US$130 million sports betting racket

Nguyen Hoang Long is the alleged leader of the gang caught operating an illegal sports gambling racket worth millions of U.S. dollars – PHOTO: HCMC POLICE NEWSPAPER

Eleven people have been arrested this week in connection with an online sports gambling business that booked more than VND3 trillion (US$130 million) in bets, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The ministry told the local media that some 100 police officers from the ministry and the HCMC Police Department had raided a total of 10 locations in the southern city on Tuesday and made the arrests, which included the alleged kingpin, Nguyen Hoang Long, 39, posing as a businessman residing in District 7.

Investigators also seized more than VND4 billion and US$100,00 in cash, dozens of computers and phones and thousands of pages documenting the football betting accounts.

A preliminary investigation found that since late 2017, Long had set up a number of legitimate companies in many different fields, such as construction, finance and tourism, as fronts for his illegal gambling business.

He then rented offices in several districts in the city and installed and connected equipment to two football betting sites, bong88.com and sbobet.com, which were used by gamblers in HCMC and other provinces and cities.

His close friend, Nguyen Quang Hai, 39, an information technology technician, took charge of the ring’s activities and its dozens of employees and technicians.

Investigators estimated the total value of the ring’s transactions at over VND3 trillion (US$130 million), based on data from thousands of gambling accounts in which transactions worth tens of billions of Vietnamese dong were made on a weekly basis.

Long confessed that he and another man, known only by his first name Dan, had operated the online gambling racket since 2017, sharing profits, with 70% going to Long.

“The organization that set up the gambling websites is headquartered in a foreign country. This is the first time we have arrested a ‘Super Master’ moderator in Vietnam, the highest level, just below the administrator. Long could directly make deposits and pay money into winning accounts,” said an investigator.

In other multimillion-dollar online gambling rings, law enforcement officers were only able to arrest individuals serving as agents, who offer betting accounts to their customers.

Investigators are carrying out a deeper investigation and have issued summons and arrest warrants to a number of people allegedly involved with the gang.

Outstanding Vietnamese farmers in 2019 honoured

A ceremony was held on October 12 to honour outstanding Vietnamese farmers in 2019 on the occasion of the 89th founding anniversary of the Vietnamese Farmers Union.

Speaking at the event, Head of the Central Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai highlighted the worthy contributions of farmers and affirmed the significance of farmers, agriculture and rural affairs to national construction and defence.

She said the Vietnam’s historic achievements in the more than 30 years of Doi Moi and 50 years of implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament have been greatly contributed by generations of farmers throughout the country.

Farmers currently account for 35% of the total workforce and are undergoing major transformations along with economic restructuring and a renewal of the growth model.

The Politburo member asked local governments to continue supporting farmers to have access to scientific and technological advances and to develop and replicate new production models and connect agriculture with the processing industry.

She also requested the Farmers Union to properly exercise its role of representing the legitimate interests of its members and acting as a bridge between the Party, State and farmers, strengthening the farmers’ confidence in the Party.

Police raid central Vietnam forest, arrest 40 gamblers

A police raid into a forest in Binh Thuan Province busted a gambling den Sunday. 40 people, including 10 women, were arrested.

Nearly 80 people in 18 cars of four to seven seats had gathered in the forest in Bac Binh District to gamble.

Many gamblers fled into remote and dangerous areas of the forest as the police arrived. 40 people were captured and around VND500 million ($21,510) in cash seized.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Huynh Ngoc Liem, head of Bac Binh District Police Department, said most of the gamblers were from other localities, including Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands, the provinces of Dong Nai and Tien Giang as well as Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

police raid central vietnam forest, arrest 40 gamblers hinh 1
Cars of gamblers are held at a police station in Bac Binh District, Binh Thuan. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc.

Officers have been following this gambling den for months before the crackdown. These people often gamble all night long. Due to deep forest and dangerous roads, it has been difficult for police forces to take action, Liem said.

The police are expanding their investigation and hunting for the remaining gamblers.

While gambling has for long been dealt with as a social evil in Vietnam, a relaxed stance saw the government legalize sports betting in 2017.

It has also said it would allow Vietnamese aged over 21 and with a monthly income of at least VND10 million ($445) to gamble at designated casinos. All other forms of gambling are still deemed illegal. 

Vietnamese women honoured for positive contributions to society

At last year's awarding ceremony

Six organisations and ten individuals who have made significant contributions to social development in Vietnam will be honoured with the Vietnamese Women’s Awards on the occasion of the upcoming national Women’s Day (October 20).

The prizes will be presented at the Centre for Women and Development on October 15, the Vietnam Women’s Union said at a press conference in Hanoi on October 11.

The honoured groups are from the Hanoi Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Can Tho Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University- HCM City), Nam Hong Kindergarten in Ha Tinh province’s Hong Linh town, Yen Dinh district’s women’s union in Thanh Hoa province, and Tan Huong tea cooperative in Thai Nguyen province.

Meanwhile, the 10 outstanding individuals are Trinh Thi Hong, director of Minh Hong Biotech JSC in Da Nang city; Nguyen Thi Bich Hue, director of Vinh Tien Co., Ltd in Da Lat city; Senior Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Ngo Thi Lan from the Military Technical Academy; Ho Pham Thuc Lan from Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine; Professor Nguyen Thi My Loc from the University of Education (Vietnam National University- Hanoi); people’s artist Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoan, director of Vietnam Cheo Theatre; farmer Tran Thi Tan from Tri Hai commune, Ninh Thuan province’s Ninh Hai district; Do Thi Toan from Vicem Hoang Thach cement company in Hai Duong province; farmer Lanh Thi Trieu from Bao Quang commune, Dong Nai province’s Long Khanh district; and Lieut. Col. Vu Thi Hoang Yen from Hanoi’s environmental police department.

Certificates of merit will be also presented to three female students who made excellent achievements at international and national contests.

The Vietnamese Women’s Awards, launched in 2002, have become one of the largest annual prizes for Vietnamese women. The event was set up to honour Vietnamese women’s devotion and creativeness during national construction and development.

To date, 80 collectives and 144 individuals have received the awards./.

Embassy in Japan takes citizen protection measures as typhoon hits

Flooding in Ashikaga, Tochigi, on October 13

The Vietnam Embassy in Japan has stepped up citizen protection work as Typhoon Hagibis hit the country on October 12 causing extensive damage.

The embassy has kept close contact with Japanese competent agencies, and has received no information about any human loss regarding the Vietnamese expatriate community in the country as of 20pm on October 13.

Regarding two Vietnamese citizens on board the Jia De ship of Panama, who went missing after the ship sank on Tokyo Bay on October 12, one of them was found and rescued together with three other sailors in the morning of October 13. The man, named Pham Van Duc, is now receiving treatment at a hospital in Yokohama. He is reportedly recovering positively.

The other Vietnamese, named Nguyen Van Tri, and six other sailors remain missing.

On October 12, the Vietnam Embassy also guided nine Vietnamese interns stuck in Fukushima to seek rescue from local agencies; and helped a group of seven Vietnamese tourists seek shelters in Tokyo.

The embassy has contacted labour companies in charge of the affected interns, asking them to conduct necessary procedures to ensure rights and interests of the group.

The Foreign Ministry of Vietnam has instructed the embassy to continue monitoring the situation, implementing measures to ensure the safety of Vietnamese citizens in Japan and coordinating with Japanese agencies in searching for the missing Vietnamese citizen.

Typhoon Hagibis lashed Tokyo and other areas in central, eastern and northeastern regions of Japan on October 12. It dumped record rainfall, flooding huge swaths of residential districts and leaving at least 33 dead and nearly 20 others missing, according to Kyodo News. Rescue efforts are continuing./.

Cambodian alumni in Vietnam gather in Phnom Penh

Participants at the event

About 100 Cambodian alumniin Vietnam held a get-together in Phnom Penh on October 13 to reminisce about their memories ofthe country.

Cambodian Under-Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce Sam Sereyrath said the annual event aims to strengthen the close relationship among those who used to study in Vietnam, thereby promoting mutual support.

Sam Sereyrath, who had studied in Vietnam in the 1980s, thanked the Vietnamese Party and Government for training generations of Cambodian students over the years.

The community of Cambodian alumni in Vietnam was set up in 2009 with about 300 members.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh lauded the idea of organising the function annually to create a chance for them to strengthen their connectivity and exchange.

Khun Simon, a representative of the alumni, spoke highly of the tertiary training system in Vietnam.

He noted that many Cambodians have held high positions in the Cambodian Government after returning from Vietnam, stressing that Vietnam’s support has made great contributions to the growth of Cambodia.

Over the years, Vietnam has provided scholarships for Cambodian students with the aim of helping the country develop human resources./.

Int’l Day for Disaster Risk Reduction marked in Việt Nam

A disaster prevention drill was held on the beach following the meeting with a simulation involving a fierce storm hitting the city.

A ceremony was held in Hà Nội on Saturday in response to the International Day for Disaster Reduction to review the impacts of natural disasters and climate change in recent years, and form plans for future co-ordination activities.

The event was held by the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, UNICEF and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Addressing the event, MARD Deputy Minister Nguyễn Hoàng Hiệp said the International Day for Disaster Reduction on October 13 aimed to foster a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction.

This year's theme was: "Substantially reducing disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruptions to services, among them health and education facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030," with the message “Build to Last”.

Hiệp expressed his hope that with the efforts of the Vietnamese Government and people, as well as the support of international organisations in terms of technical support and disaster prevention facilities, Việt Nam would increase its resilience against climate change and reduce the damage caused by natural disasters.

At the event, leaders from the agriculture ministry signed co-operation documents in the framework of the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction. This marked an important step in increased co-operation between the Vietnamese Government and its partners in preventing, fighting and reducing disaster risks and climate change impacts.

Caitlin Wiesen, resident representative of the UN Development Propgramme (UNDP) in Việt Nam, presented awards to winners of the “Saving the Earth” comic contest, themed: “Children create superheroes to fight natural disasters and climate change.”

At the end of the ceremony, deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, Trần Quang Hoài, introduced the Bé và các vị thần (Kids and Genies) programme, a contest on disaster prevention for members of the Hồ Chí Minh Vanguard Children’s Union, and a ceremony to launch the first national press award on disaster prevention and control.

In a related event, the Việt Nam Red Cross in collaboration with the International Red Cross and Crescent Societies organised a meeting in the central province of Thanh Hoá’s Sầm Sơn City on Sunday to celebrate the International Day for Disaster Reduction and launch the 2018 World Disaster Report.

A disaster prevention drill was held on the beach following the meeting with a simulation involving a fierce storm hitting the city. 

Vietnamese sailor rescued after cargo ship sinks in Tokyo Bay

One of the two Vietnamese sailors who were on board a Panama-flagged cargo ship which sank late on Saturday in Tokyo Bay off Japan had been rescued by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), Vietnam News Agency reported on Sunday.

Phạm Văn Đức was taken to hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture’s Yokohama City.

The two Vietnamese nationals were among the 12-member crew of the 1,925-tonne ship, which sunk while at anchor as Typhoon Hagibis approached. His ten crew mates included three from Myanmar and seven from China. Three of them were also rescued on Sunday.

One Chinese sailor is reported to have died in the accident, while the fate of the other Vietnamese sailor Nguyễn Văn Trì his six companions remains unknown. 

Vietnam calls for Japanese support in waste treatment

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan has called on Japan to continue helping Vietnam with treatment technologies for daily waste.

Nhan, who led a Vietnamese delegation to the 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME15) in Cambodia’s Siem Reap, made the suggestion at a meeting with Japan’s state minister of the environment Yukari Sato on the sidelines of the event on October 9.

Vietnam is scheduled to organise a national conference on solid waste in October or November this year, he said, expressing his hope that Japan will introduce cutting-edge treatment technologies applicable in Vietnam at the event.

As ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam considers plastic and marine plastic waste one of the priorities of the year, the official said, adding that over the past years, the country has focused on addressing pollution caused by solid waste, and intensified advanced solutions to solid waste.

For her part, Sato said Japan is assisting ASEAN in carrying out activities regarding plastic and marine plastic waste.

She highlighted the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision adopted by the Group of G20 (G20) last June, and suggested Vietnam join hands to realise the goals set out in the document.

Japan hopes that the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) will continue its support for Japan in implementing projects on marine plastic waste monitoring and building a centre on knowledge sharing about marine plastic waste, she said.

At a ministerial-level dialogue on environmental cooperation between ASEAN and Japan within the framework of AMME 15, Japan presented an initiative on establishing a hydro-fluorocarbons (HFC) management centre, which will be announced at the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 25) in December, she said, calling for Vietnam’s participation in the alliance.

In this regard, Nhan said Vietnam is also interested in HFC management and stands ready to join the alliance.

On this occasion, Sato affirmed that Japan is willing to help Vietnam implement activities in 2020 when the country assumes the ASEAN Chair./.

Laos, Vietnam join hands to promote tourism

Officials from four southern provinces of Laos, central and southern provinces of Vietnam, and tourism-related businesses have gathered in Champassak province to discuss measures to draw more visitors to the two countries.

Bounthong Bouphasavanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Information, Culture and Tourism of Attapeu province, told Vientiane Times on October 9 that Laos and Vietnam planned to promote tourism through several activities and discussed the possibilities for tourism programmes.

The two sides considered ways to improve facilities and procedures at immigration posts and agreed to inspect accommodation facilities at tourist sites to ensure their service quality.

At the meeting, participants reported the challenges they had experienced, deliberated their respective tourist hotspots, and shared ideas to increase the number of tourists.

They also discussed group tours from Laos to Vietnam and vice versa, the creation of new tourism products, advertisements to promote tourism, and ways to attract investment to improve tourist sites, Bounthong said.

Statistics from the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism showed that more than 2.2 million foreign tourists visited Laos in the first six months of 2019, up about 5 percent compared to the same period last year./.

Mexico’s lower house sets up friendship parliamentary group with Vietnam

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies, 64th tenure, held a ceremony on October 8 to set up the Mexico-Vietnam friendship parliamentary group.

Alfredo Femat Bañuelos, Chair of the Chamber of Deputies’ Foreign Affairs Committee, said the group is responsible for promoting and creating a space for dialogue, contributing to strengthening the multi-faceted relations between the two countries.

He added that Mexico and Vietnam share many historical, cultural and economic similarities and development goals.

The two sides can learn from each other and exchange experience in socio-economic development and education, said Alfredo Femat Bañuelos, who is also Chairman of the group.

He highlighted that the bilateral friendship and cooperation have thrived in all fields, especially economy and trade.

Vietnam is currently the eighth biggest trade partner of Mexico in Asia-Pacific. Two-way trade increased by over 20 percent in the past 10 years to reach nearly 5 billion USD in 2018.

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong affirmed that the establishment of the group demonstrates the sound relations between the two countries in all fields and cooperation channels.

He thanked Mexican people for supporting Vietnamese people in the cause of national independence and building.

He highlighted the sound relations between the two countries’ parliaments, governments and peoples.

The diplomat pledged to strengthen coordination with the group to promote the bilateral rapports in the coming time.

Pham Tat Thang, deputy chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, voiced his hope that the group will help promote the bilateral cooperation./.

Video clip contest promotes gender balance at birth

The General Office for Population - Family Planning recently launched the “It’s great to be a girl” video contest in response to the International Day for the Girl Child (October 11).

Organisations and individuals of all ages living and working in Vietnam can join the contest which aims to raise public awareness on easing gender imbalance at birth, increasing status of girl children, and affirming the role of women in the family and society.

The contest is expected to make contributions to connecting population-family planning staff while promoting the application of media technologies in the field of population and family planning.

Entries to the contest should be in HD or full HD modes, and have maximum allowable length of five minutes. Each contestant could send up to three video clips to the event by accessing www.cpcs.vn/congaithattuyet, or turning the files into DVD disc or USB before sending to the Centre for Population – Family Planning Counselling and Services (CPSC).

Subtitle in both Vietnamese and English is encouraged.

The organising board will update valid entries on www.cpcs.vn/congaithattuyet in 24 hours after receiving them.

Authors should call relatives and friends to like, share and comment on their entries posted on Facebook fanpage “Hanh phuc gia dinh”. Total likes will make up 40 percent of the entries’ score while the remaining 60 percent is decided by the jury.

Receipt and votes for the entries will begin at 12:00 on October 11 and end at 12:00 on December 11./.

Hanoi Art Connecting 2019 to draw 140 local and foreign artists

The international exhibition and workshop Hanoi Art Connecting 2019 will take place in the capital city from October 14-18, as part of activities celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of the University of Industrial Fine Arts.

Vice Rector of the University of Industrial Fine Arts Dang Mai Anh said the annual event will attract 140 domestic and foreign artists, including 60 foreigners from 23 countries and territories, including Nepal, Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Sri Lanka, Canada, the US, Colombia, Brazil, Dominica, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, India, the Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar, Morocco, Bangladesh and Australia.

The host Vietnam will send 80 artists from cities and provinces to the event, including lecturers from art universities and colleges.

The event, the fourth of its kind, will feature ceramic painting activities, exhibitions and exchanges at the Hanoi Architectural University. Visitors will have a chance to learn about different kinds of art such as painting, sculpture and ceramic making.

Its first edition was co-organised by the University of Industrial Fine Arts and Asia Art Link in 2016./.

Workshop highlights women’s role in Vietnam-Cambodia border protection

Women’s role in keeping peace and stability along the Vietnam-Cambodia border was spotlighted at a workshop held in the border commune of Krong Na in Buon Don district, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, on October 9.

Head of the Dak Lak Women’s Union Nguyen Thi Thu Nguyet said the event aimed to devise solutions to help local women and their peers in the neighbouring Cambodian province of Mondulkiri to continue realising the cooperation deal between the two women’s unions in an effective manner.

At the workshop, representatives of Dak Lak and Mondulkiri women, along with local authorities and border guard officers, discussed and shared experience in such issues as communications to raise public awareness of border-related regulations, people-to-people diplomacy, and women’s role in maintaining peace and stability in border areas.

Director of the Mondulkiri Department of Women’s Affairs Mali Sokny suggested the two sides organise programmes to exchange experiences to help their women, especially those with disadvantages, to improve their livelihoods. The official also asked the Dak Lak Women’s Union to assist the Mondulkiri department to better its staff’s capacity.

Under their cooperation agreement for 2017-2020, the women’s unions of Dak Lak and Mondulkiri have launched emulation movements to encourage local women to engage in economic development and poverty reduction.

Both sides have joined hands in fighting illegal border crossing while working with border guards and authorities to promote illiteracy eradication, health care for women and children, and border management and protection. They have also proposed women-supporting mechanisms and policies to their respective provinces’ administrations.

Vietnam and Cambodia share 1,137km of land border that runs across 10 Vietnamese provinces and nine Cambodian provinces. Of this, 73km runs across Buon Don and Ea Sup districts of Dak Lak and Koh Nhec district of Mondulkiri./.

ILO to support Vietnam Social Security in human resources training

Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) Dao Viet Anh recently had a meeting with a delegation from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) led by Nuno Cunha, ILO Senior Specialist on Social Protection in Asia-Pacific region.

Cunha said that from now to 2020, the ILO will provide technical assistance to Vietnam and send experts to the country to assess its capacity and design a complete project.

After that, the ILO will give assessments and specific data for the building of a finance evaluation model in the future, he said.

The official added that the ILO will connect VSS training centres with those around the world, while inviting VSS officials to join ILO training courses.

Simon Brimblecombe, an ILO financial assessment expert, noted that the VSS is facing difficulties in providing technical and professional training courses, therefore the ILO will help the VSS in human resources training.

Highly valuing the cooperation and proposal of the ILO, VSS Deputy General Anh expressed his hope that in the future, the ILO will continue assisting the VSS in building a financial assessment model managed and operated by the VSS.

At the same time, the VSS is in need of the ILO’s support in human resources training in a sustainable and balanced manner, he added./.

Design contest for symbolic work of Hai Duong launched

The Red River Delta province of Hai Duong has launched a design contest to create a symbolic work of the locality.

The work must be 25-50 metres high, featuring the history, culture, economy and social identities of the land and people of Hai Duong, said Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Other requirements for the entries include the feasibility of construction and harmony with the local master plan.

Each designer or group can submit a maximum of three original designs.

The organisers will receive entries from November 15-30 at 73 Bach Dang street, Hai Duong city, and announce the results in early 2020, with the winner receiving 300 million VND (12,900 USD).

The work is set to be built at the intersection of Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway and National Highway 38B in Toan Thang commune, Gia Loc district.

Hai Duong, formerly called “Thanh Dong” – meaning the city to the east of Thang Long royal citadel – is well-known for its rich culture, both tangible and intangible, which is typical of the Red River Delta. The province is a cradle of cheo (traditional opera), ca tru (ceremonial singing), chau van (spiritual singing) and water puppetry.

According to the municipal People’s Committee, the province collected over 11 trillion VND (nearly 475 million USD) for the State budget, and earned 5.5 billion USD from exports in the first nine months of this year. Three districts and 191 communes in the province have so far been recognized as new-style rural areas./.

HCMC urges acceleration of two metro line projects’ capital revision

The HCMC government has proposed the ministries of Planning and Investment and of Finance accelerate their reviews of capital upward revisions for the first and second metro line projects in the city; otherwise, work on them might be suspended.

According to the municipal government, the appraisal council for the two metro line projects has assessed the projects’ execution and the investment capital adjustment and has consulted with the ministries of Planning and Investment and of Finance, the local media reported.

The capital adjustment for the two projects must be cleared prior to October 21 so that the HCMC government can report the adjustment to the municipal council at the end of this year.

If the ministry reviews last longer than expected, the capital adjustment approval could be delayed, negatively affecting the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the countries that have financed the projects.

They may be hesitant to invest in other urban railway projects and other projects in Vietnam in the future.

They may even cast doubt on Vietnam’s ability to manage and operate foreign-funded urban railway projects.

According to the HCMC government, the first metro line, which connects Ben Thanh Market in downtown HCMC and Suoi Tien Park in District 9, is 67% complete. If the capital adjustment approval is postponed, the project might be suspended or even face lawsuits with foreign contractors.

As for the second metro line project, contractors are being chosen. If the capital adjustment is not approved next month, foreign loans cannot be disbursed in December, resulting in a lack of capital for the project.

Therefore, the HCMC government proposed the Minister of Planning and Investment arrange a meeting with the Minister of Finance, the HCMC chairman and representatives of the relevant agencies to help remove any hinderances to the capital adjustment review process.

The first metro line project was begun in March 2007 and was expected to be completed in 2017 and put into operation in 2018.

The city also had to revise the technical design for the Ben Thanh Market underground station, which is connected with metro lines No.1, 2, 3a and 4.

Recently, the Management Authority for Urban Railways of HCMC decided to reschedule the launch of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line until the last quarter of 2021.

Vietnam, Norway share experience in marine farming development

Vietnam and Norway shared information and experience in sustainably developing marine aquaculture at a seminar in Nha Trang city, the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, on October 9.

The event, focusing on sustainable technology for industrial marine aquaculture and processing, was held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Norwegian Embassy.

Norwegian Ambassador Grete Lochen said her country has drawn lessons on the sustainable development of the farmed salmon industry, and it is ready to share them with Vietnam, thereby helping to protect the oceans, minimise risks of climate change and sustainably develop the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said the two countries have cooperated with each other in the fisheries sector for more than 30 years, adding the seminar was a good chance for them to share information and experience in how to sustainably develop the marine aquaculture industry.

Participants, including researchers, entrepreneurs and officials, shared information about the Vietnamese State’s planning of industrial marine farming, along with the demand for green technology and smart solutions in the sector.

Representatives of 12 organisations and companies from Norway also presented their country’s experiences and solutions to develop marine aquaculture and processing.

The event was also an occasion for the two sides’ organisations, agencies and businesses to promote technology transfer, seek cooperation opportunities and gain an overview of advanced green technologies for the sector in both countries./.

Vietnamese, Lao youth work together to promote bilateral ties

A seminar was held in the northern province of Bac Ninh last week to discuss the role of Vietnamese and Lao youth in maintaining and promoting the great friendship and solidarity between the two nations.

The event was jointly held by the provincial Youth Union and the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union.

Addressing the seminar, Secretary of the Bac Ninh Youth Union Nguyen Nhan Chinh said that Vietnam and Laos have shared close neighbourliness and long-lasting traditional friendship.

Over the past decades, the special ties between the two countries have been reinforced and expanded in all fields, he noted.

Chinh said that in 2017, Bac Ninh helped Houaphan province of Laos build a meeting hall with a total area of 5,000 sq.m and 600 seats, adding that the gift shows the special sentiment of the Party Organisation, authority and people of Bac Ninh to Houaphan province and Laos in general.

Highlighting the role of the youth to the development of each country, Chinh proposed that participants share experience in youth affairs and children’s movements, contributing to enhancing the friendship and cooperation among youth organisations of the two sides.

Khamphasy Venmasone, Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union of Laos’ Attapeu province and head of the Lao delegation, said that the seminar is a good chance for the youth of both sides to meet and exchange, thus strengthening the mutual understanding and trust, and foster collaboration in maintaining and promoting the Laos-Vietnam relations.

He expressed his hope that in the future, the youth unions of the two countries will increase activities to exchange the youth situation of both sides and learn from each other’s experience in youth and children’s movements as well as cooperation models and innovations in production.

Nguyen Thu Thuy, head of the Movement Board of the Bac Ninh Youth Union said that in the future, both sides’ youth unions should promote their strengths and seek new cooperation models, while focusing more on educating youngsters the great friendship and special solidarity between the two countries.

Alongside, the two sides should increase exchange activities for youngsters along the shared border, he added.

Earlier the same day, the Lao delegation visited the model of residential area of youth in Phuong Mao commune, Que Vo district of Bac Ninh./.

Thua Thien-Hue launches new medical tourism service

Dai Nam Thai Y Duong (Dai Nam Royal Medical Hall) located on Doan Thi Diem street, Thuan Thanh ward is a new tourism service introduced by the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on October 9.

The hall is built in a 4,450 sq.m site, and decorated in the traditional style of an Oriental medical house.

Coming here, visitors will have an opportunity to get pulse diagnosis by Oriental medicine practitioners who are members of the Hue Oriental Medicine Association as well as learn about precious medicinal plants used in ancient royal remedies.

Tourists are also able to enjoy high-class tea and explore the process of making traditional essential oil for therapy.

According to Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Le Huu Minh, the number of tourists to Hue increases averagely by 10-12 percent on a yearly basis.

In 2019, the ancient imperial city is expected to welcome about 4.8 million tourists./.

Police Ceremonial Guard performs at Hanoi pedestrian zone for first time

After successful performance at the pedestrian zone on October 12, the police force plans to hold other performances in this place during the weekend.

The People's Public Security Ceremonial Guard and Music Ensemble held the first ever parade and performance at the pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake on October 12.

The event, which marked the participation of 65 police officers from the force music ensemble and 20 others from the police dance troupe, was held to make the pedestrian zone more vibrant.

The parade and the musical performance also showed a different side of the officers of the Public Security of the People, who are not only brave and tough at work, but also friendly and cheerful.

The Ceremonial Guard and the Music Ensemble performed at the Ly Thai To Square and then marched around Hoan Kiem Lake and finally played music and presented dances on the street at the main stage at the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.

“We try to prepare an attractive show both visually and acoustically for the audience. At this show, the officers perform ear-catching music and lively dance,” said Head of the Ceremonial Guard Do Ngoc Anh.

After successful performance at the pedestrian zone on October 12, the police force plans to hold other performances in this place during the weekend.

Exhibition celebrates Vietnam-Mexico friendship

Two visitors look at photos on display at the “Mexico - Vietnam: At the Crossroads of Vietnam” exhibition in HCMC - Photo: Courtesy of Honorary Consulate of Mexico in HCM City

The Honorary Consulate of Mexico is holding a photo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City to commemorate 44 years of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Mexico and to honor the value of culture and art between the two countries.

The “Mexico - Vietnam: At the Crossroads of Vietnam” exhibition takes place on the second floor of Deutsches Haus in District 1, featuring works by Vietnamese and Mexican photographers such as Sergio Camalich, Eunice Chao, Juan Carlos Duran, Hoang Hai Thinh, Luu Viet Hung, and Nguyen Viet Thanh.

Following its success in Hanoi, the exhibition comes to HCMC as part of activities to celebrate the 209th anniversary of the Independence Day of Mexico and the 74th National Day of Vietnam.

The exhibition helps visitors explore the cultures of Vietnam and Mexico through their similarities as well as differences. On display are color or black and white photos of the people, heritage, cultural identities and landscapes of both countries.

According to Mexican Ambassador to Vietnam Sara Valdes Bolano, the exhibition is the fruit of an intended and perhaps unintended exchange of glances at moments of daily life in both countries, illustrating the shared commonalities of two societies thousands of kilometers away and yet so close.

"The exhibition honors both countries through art, sensitive coincidences and creative synergies," she said.

Duran, one of the Mexican photographers joining the exhibition, said he fell in love with Vietnam as soon as he started exploring the country and wanted to introduce its beauty to the world through his photos.

The “Mexico - Vietnam: At the Crossroads of Vietnam” exhibition runs until October 20, offering free admission.

Overseas Vietnamese firms contribute significantly to HCMC’s development

The overseas Vietnamese business community has made significant contributions to the development of HCMC by not only sending home remittances but also providing information and technology to local firms.

At a conference held in HCMC on October 9, Phung Cong Dung, head of the HCMC Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said that overseas Vietnamese enterprises have acted as a bridge to bring foreign investors to Vietnam and help domestic enterprises boost their business and investment activities abroad.

In particular, they have helped introduce and promote Vietnam’s culture and people to the world, the local media reported.

At the conference, Dung also stated that remittances to HCMC in the January-September period this year were estimated to have grown 7% year-on-year to US$3.8 billion.

The remittances have mainly been used in business and production activities, instead of real estate, securities or savings.

The increase in remittances to the city is due to the rising number of Vietnamese people sent to other countries for guest work.

Overseas Vietnamese have also grasped many investment opportunities in Vietnam. The Government has attempted to create favorable conditions for them to do business in the country.

Further, banking services have been improved, easing the transfer of foreign currencies.

Nguyen Cong Chinh, a Vietnamese entrepreneur in Germany and a member of the standing board of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese, said that the figures have yet to fully express the contributions of overseas Vietnamese enterprises.

For example, some overseas Vietnamese in Germany have invested in projects worth millions of U.S. dollars in Vietnam.

A representative of the State Bank of Vietnam said remittances to HCMC have risen annually by 8%-10% in recent years.

According to the World Bank, the remittances to Vietnam have increased constantly, placing Vietnam among the top 10 countries to receive the most remittances. Last year, the country received nearly US$16 billion in remittances. The respective figures in the two previous years were US$13.8 billion and US$11.88 billion.