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The strategy’s general goal is to promote the potential of rural areas, improve production and business efficiency, increase incomes, create jobs, and improve the material and spiritual life of the people.
It also aims at protecting the environment, preserving the landscape, and promoting the traditions and cultural identity of the nation.
The strategy is expected to spur rural economic development towards ecological agriculture, and modern rural areas and farmers.
Under the strategy, the growth rate of rural occupations will expand by 6-7% per year by 2030. The average income of labourers engaging in rural occupations will be 2.5-3 times higher than in 2020.
The rates of trained labourers working in rural occupations and those holding degrees and certificates is expected to reach 80% and 35%, respectively.
Stable and concentrated raw material areas will be formed in localities across the country to meet 70% of the rural industry’s development requirement.
The strategy identifies seven groups of occupations to be developed in rural areas, including agri-forestry-fishery processing and preservation; fine arts and handicrafts; materials production; salt production; services, among others.
The strategy also sets the direction for preserving and restoring traditional craft villages, developing domestic and export markets for rural products, and protecting the environment in rural areas in association with developing tourism.
PM attends ground-breaking ceremony for bridge connecting Mekong Delta provinces
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 15 attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Dai Ngai Bridge spanning over Hau River, a Mekong tributary, connecting Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces.
Costing 8 trillion VND (327.4 million USD) sourced from the State budget, Dai Ngai Bridge stretches over 15 km long on National Route 60, including leading roads.
Set for completion in 2026, the bridge will replace the last two ferries on National Route 60, helping shorten the travel time between the two localities, and from Ca Mau, Soc Trang, and Bac Lieu provinces to Ho Chi Minh City.
Speaking at the function, the PM stressed three strategic breakthroughs set at the 13th National Party Congress, one of which is infrastructure, notably transport infrastructure, saying since the beginning of the 13th-tenure, the Party and the State have allocated nearly 100 trillion VND to transport projects.
As the Mekong Delta region has a strategic role, resolutions adopted by the Politburo, the NA and the Government have emphasised transport infrastructure development in the Mekong Delta, covering all road, inland waterway, sea, aviation railway services, he said, adding that the Dai Ngai Bridge project forms part of the master plan on road network in the 2021-2030 period with a vision towards 2050.
On October 14 evening, Chinh attended a ceremony announcing Tra Vinh’s master plan for 2021-2030 with a vision towards 2050, approved by the PM on October 2.
Under the scheme, Tra Vinh is envisioned to be among the leading localities in the Mekong Delta by 2030, with a uniform infrastructure system connected with other localities in the region and nationwide.
Notably, the Dinh An economic zone is set to serve as an economic engine of the province and the region at large. Tra Vinh will prioritise such sectors as renewable energy, agricultural and aquatic processing, shipbuilding and support industries, high-tech aquaculture, services and tourism with products linked with seaports and logistics.
In his remarks, the PM highlighted Tra Vinh’s strategic location in terms of economy, and national defence and security, and its potential and strengths for socio-economic development. He commended the locality for its outstanding socio-economic achievements, including a GRDP growth of 8.51% in the first nine months of this year.
The master plan will create new development spaces and promote sustainable development of sectors, helping the province maximise its potential and strengths, he said.
For the implementation of the scheme, the Government leader asked Tra Vinh to form major development axes and gateways, especially the axes along coastal roads, National Highway 60 and Hong Ngu - Tra Vinh Expressway.
He advised Tra Vinh to optimise local resources, step up public-private partnerships, focus on transport infrastructure development, pay more attention to economic restructuring in tandem with growth model reform, and further streamline administrative procedures.
On this occasion, the PM requested ministries and agencies to closely coordinate with Tra Vinh to implement the master plan, ensuring that its implementation is aligned with the process of the national socio-economic development strategy for 2021-2030.
Floods caused by prolonged heavy rains cause heavy damage in central region
Floods caused by torrential rains over the past six days in the central region have caused heavy damage in many localities, and rains are forecast to expand to the south region in the coming days.
According to the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, as of 4:pm on October 14, two people in Ha Tinh and Thua Thien - Hue had lost their lives after floods swept through the localities.
Many low-lying areas in Da Nang city were inundated and as many as 1,564 houses in Da Nang, Thue Thien - Hue and Quang Tri were submerged in water. Over 3,700 people in Da Nang had to evacuate to safe places, and all schools in the city had to close.
To proactively respond to heavy rains in the coming time, the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requests affected localities to continue implementing the official dispatch No. 950/CD-TTg dated October 12, 2023 by the Prime Minister on flood control measures.
Experts said impacts of a cold airmass combined with an Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and easterly wind caused the torrential rains in the central region over recent days, which is expected to continue for the next several days.
Vietnamese citizens advised to avoid non-essential travel to Israel
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 15 advised Vietnamese citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Israel where the ongoing conflict is developing complicatedly.
For those who are in Israel, they should consider moving to a third country or returning to Vietnam, the ministry said, asking them to keep a close watch on information from local authorities as well as warnings from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's Consular Department and the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel so as to take timely response.
Vietnamese citizens seeking support can contact the hotlines of the embassy at 972 50 818 6116/ 972 52 727 4248/972 50 994 0889, or the citizen protection hotline of the ministry’s Consular Department at 84 981 84 84 84/ 84 965 41 11 18, and email baohocongdan@gmail.com.
Festival connects Vietnamese student community in Hong Kong
The Vietnamese Student Association in Hong Kong (China) (VSAHK) has organised a Vietnamese Student Festival for the first time, aiming to strengthen connection among Vietnamese students in Hong Kong as well as provide multi-dimensional views on job opportunities and graduate studies.
The programme attracted the participation of nearly 100 students, graduate students. Speakers included many experts, scholars, business people in Hong Kong and Vietnamese representative agencies in China's special administrative region.
In his opening speech, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, President of VSAHK, said the event is intended to offer a chance for Vietnamese students to meet and interact with experts, economists, and leaders of Hong Kong corporations and companies investing in Vietnam and Hong Kong, thus helping them make the best preparation for their future directions.
Long expressed the belief that the Vietnamese student community in Hong Kong will serve as a bridge contributing to promoting relations between Hong Kong and Vietnamese localities.
Anthony Lam - Vice Executive Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI), and Group CEO and Vice-Chairman of Golden Resources Development International Limited, said there are many opportunities for students to work in Hong Kong, in the region or in Vietnam.
Lam shared with students the skills needed to prepare to pursue a career in Hong Kong, and the advantages of working for companies in Hong Kong.
Graduate education programmes, employment opportunities and in-depth research programmes in Hong Kong were also introduced to students at the event.
PM extends greetings to Khmer community on Sene Dolta festival
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 15 visited the Tra Vinh Patriotic Monks Solidarity Association at Kom Pong Pagoda in Tra Vinh city on the occasion of the Sene Dolta festival, as part of his visit to the Mekong Delta region.
Sene Dolta, which is celebrated from the 30th of the eighth lunar month to the second of the ninth lunar month each year (October 13-15 this year), is one of the most important religious festivals for Khmer ethnic people, along with Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) and Ooc Oom Bok to thank the Moon for a good harvest.
Chinh praised contributions by Buddhist monks and nuns in general and those of Khmer Theravada Buddhism in particular to the country’s achievements, affirming that the Party and the State always make efforts to protect human rights and the freedom of belief and religion of people, including Khmer Theravada Buddhist followers.
The leader expressed his hope that the association and Khmer Theravada Buddhism will make more contributions to national construction and defence.
On this occasion, he conveyed wishes and regards from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Khmer Theravada Buddhist followers and Khmer people.
Most Venerable Thach Sok Xane, Vice President of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), head of the Executive Committee of the VBS chapter in Tra Vinh province, and Chairman of the Tra Vinh Patriotic Monks Solidarity Association, said he hopes that the Party and the State will support Tra Vinh in building and upgrading religious facilities, including those winning national recognition.
Vietnam Summit in Japan 2023 kicks off
The Vietnam Summit in Japan 2023 opened at the University of Tokyo on October 15 as part of activities to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan.
The event is a series of seminars held every two years by the Vietnamese Academic Network in Japan (VANJ), the Vietnamese Professionals in Japan (VPJ) and the Vietnamese Youth and Students’ Association (VYSA) in Japan.
In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu highlighted the rapid development of the Vietnamese community in Japan in recent years, which is the second largest foreign community in Japan with nearly 500,000 people.
In this community, many have obtained important positions in teaching, research, and management at prestigious universities and businesses in Japan, the ambassador said, stressing that the community have made great contributions to the development of the Vietnamese community in Japan and the host country’s socio-economic development. They also serve as important bridges promoting friendship cooperation between the two countries.
The firm foundation of scientific and technological cooperation over the past years, along with the development of the Vietnamese intellectual community in Japan, will help create a new pillar - science, technology and innovation cooperation, in the relations between the two countries, Hieu added.
According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy, Vietnamese scientific intellectuals abroad are an indispensable force of Vietnam's science and technology sector.
Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan have engaged in many practical activities benefitting their homeland and contributed to establishing and promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, especially in the fields of technology and innovation, he said.
In a plenary discussion on the 50-year relations between Vietnam and Japan, Rector of Vietnam - Japan University, Prof. Furuta Motoo said the key for the bilateral relations in the future will be whether they can build a really equal partnership. According to him, with its rapid development at present, Vietnam has sufficient foundations and conditions to have a bilateral "equal partnership" with Japan.
Participants reviewed the development of Vietnam-Japan relations over the past five decades, and discussed opportunities and challenges posed for the bilateral relationship in the future.
In the framework of the event, many activities have been organised, including an exhibition on science - technology and trade and nine debates gathering 62 speakers, which focus on directions for Vietnamese people in Japan, challenges and opportunities for Vietnam in microchip technology, and green energy and sustainable development in Vietnam.
Nutrition week launched, focusing on clean water use
The Ministry of Health has launched a week-long campaign in response to World Food Day (October 16), through which it calls on the public to use and protect clean water properly to improve nutrition, health, and quality of life.
With the theme “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind”, World Food Day 2023 shines a spotlight on water as the foundation for life and food. It wants to raise awareness worldwide about the importance of managing water wisely as the availability of this precious resource is threatened by rapid population growth urbanisation, economic development, and climate change.
Globally, at least 2 billion people have to use drinking water from contaminated sources, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
Currently, 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries, and approximately 10% of the global population live in countries with high or critical water stress. In addition, 80% of wastewater is discharged untreated into the environment, and more than 90% of natural disasters are water related, it said.
Over the past years, Vietnam has made much progress in improving the nutritional status and health of people. Malnutrition among children under five has decreased rapidly and sustainably, yet it remains high at 19.6% in 2020, especially in mountainous and disadvantaged areas, statistics show.
In response to the "Nutrition and Development Week” from October 16-23, the ministry will also give out nutrition advice, stressing each person should use safe, clean water, and drink enough water daily.
Statue of Indian literary celebrity Tagore inaugurated in Bac Ninh
A delegation of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs led by Minister S. Jaishankar on October 15 visited the northern province of Bac Ninh and attended a ceremony to inaugurate a statue of the famous Indian poet and writer, Rabindranath Tagore in the province’s capital, Bac Ninh city.
The statue of Tagore is a gift from the Indian Government to Vietnam.
Addressing the ceremony, Secretary of the Bac Ninh Party Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan highlighted the traditional friendship of Vietnam and India that takes root in the cultural and religious exchanges more than 2,000 years ago and was fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
He said over the past more than 50 years, India has been a reliable partner that regularly expresses its support of Vietnam’s development path and policies at many regional and international forums.
The cooperation between the two countries have reaped many important achievements not only in politics-diplomacy but also in economics and defence-security, turning them into reliable and important partners of each other, matching their comprehensive strategic partnership, Tuan said.
He stressed that the statue of the great Indian poet is the first placed at the International Friendship Park of Bac Ninh, which the province builds to honour the cooperation and friendship between the province and foreign countries.
Minister S. Jaishankar thanked the government and people of Bac Ninh for holding the ceremony to inaugurate the statue of Tagore. He said he was surprised by Vietnamese people’s admiration for the Indian poet whose works are widely known in Vietnam and even introduced in Vietnam’s school textbook.
He recalled that Indian monks had come to Luy Lau in Bac Ninh to teach Buddhism in the ancient time, turning it into a famous Buddhism centre in Vietnam, which constitutes a special spiritual and cultural bond between India and Bac Ninh.
After the ceremony, the Indian minister and Bac Ninh leaders planted trees at the park and visited Phat Tich Pagoda in Tien Du district.
Top Party leader heads subcommittee on personnel for coming Party Congress
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will head a subcommittee on personnel of the coming 14th National Party Congress, according to a resolution issued by the Party Central Committee following its recent eighth plenum in Hanoi.
The personnel subcommittee is responsible for setting out directions for personnel work of the Party Central Committee, and nominating candidates to the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat and key leadership positions of the Party for the 2026 - 2031 tenure. The subcommittee will also make a report on personnel work of the new Party Central Committee to be submitted to the 14th National Party Congress.
The Party chief will also head the documents subcommittee, tasked with making a political report and a report summarizing the achievements and results of 40 years of implementing Doi Moi (Renovation) for submission to the 14th National Party Congress.
The eighth plenum of the Party Central Committee meeting in Hanoi from October 2-8 also decided to establish three other subcommittees to prepare reports for the 14th National Party Congress.
Among them, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will lead the socio-economic subcommittee, tasked with making a 2021-2025 report on implementing the Socio-National Economic Development Strategy for 2021-2030, and working out a five-year socio-economic development plan for 2026-2030, to be submitted to the 14th Congress.
The eighth plenum gave opinions on the introduction of personnel to the 2026-2030 Party Central Committee for the Politburo to consider and make a decision.
According to the General Secretary, those who commit violations and do not meet the criteria must be promptly removed from the tentative list of candidates. He said that this is an important first step towards working out strategic-level cadre planning for the 14th tenure that must be done in a careful manner.
The plenum additionally elected Le Hoai Trung, member of the Party Central Committee, and head of the Party Commission for External Relations to the Party’s Secretariat (13th tenure).
HCM City handles over 93,500 drink driving cases so far in 2023
HCM City’s traffic police have encountered more than 93,500 cases of drunk driving in the first nine months of 2023, with total fines of more than VNĐ12.5 billion (US$539,400).
According to the Road-Railway Traffic Police Division (PC08) under the city’s Police Department, PC08 coordinated with other relevant forces to organise mobile patrol and control checkpoints to monitor the blood-alcohol levels of drivers.
Of the total violations, drivers of 421 cars and 93,086 motorbikes were caught driving under the influence of alcohol and had their driving licences revoked.
Some 150 drunk driving cases were found in five days in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces of Tiền Giang and Long An.
The Traffic Police Department (C08) under the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the traffic police officers of the two provinces checked the blood-alcohol levels of car and motorbike drivers from October 2 to 6.
The C08 and local traffic police officers set up many checkpoints on main streets in the two provinces to catch acts of driving under the influence of alcohol and other violations of traffic regulations.
All violation cases faced administrative fines and the vehicles seized for traffic violations were confiscated.
Phú Thọ Province pioneers agriculture digital transformation
Phú Thọ Province is focusing on transition to digital technology in agriculture as this is considered a key driver for increasing agricultural productivity and farmers' income while expanding markets and promoting agricultural products, helping build a modern and sustainable agricultural sector.
Cẩm Mỹ Tea Cooperative in Tất Thắng Commune, Thanh Sơn District is among enterprises making remarkable strides in embracing digital transformation.
Nguyễn Thị Cẩm Mỹ, deputy head of the cooperative said in the age of booming information technology, consumers could easily access product information online. The cooperative embarked on its digital journey from its inception to establishing a brand.
Today, the cooperative has its own website, an official domain and a Facebook fan page. This digital platform has attracted customers within the province and other localities as well.
Out of their 30-hectare tea plantation, more than 15ha of Cẩm Mỹ's tea production is VietGAP certified, yielding about 240 tonnes of fresh tea buds annually.
This substantial quantity is processed into finished products and distributed across various cities and provinces. To enhance exports, the cooperative plans to create international social media profiles on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
Mỹ said digital transformation offered many benefits, including accurate market demand predictions, product supply sources, reduced production costs, optimised fertiliser use, and efficient irrigation. Additionally, it enabled tasks that were difficult for humans to perform, such as continuous plant and livestock monitoring, extensive weather and disease analysis.
Digital transformation in agriculture also created added value, facilitated source tracing, tracked growth processes, expanded the consumer market, expedited exports, and ensured safe products at reasonable prices, she said.
Trần Tú Anh, Deputy Director of the Phú Thọ Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said to enhance the value of agricultural products, save costs and protect the environment, a plan for digital transformation was established. It focused on three pillars: digital solutions, digital agricultural economics and digital rural development.
Furthermore, the agricultural sector has identified 50 OCOP (One Commune One Product) production businesses and products for digital transformation. These businesses will be assigned unique identification numbers, mapped, and GPS-located. They will regularly update complete production processes, input and output materials, as well as encode and generate QR codes for source traceability labels.
Nguyễn Minh Tuấn, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the province engaged in activities that supported and guided farmers in using new technology in agriculture. These initiatives included the utilisation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the implementation of automated irrigation systems for crops, and the application of information technology for field reporting and crop area identification to establish cultivation area codes.
In the quest for agricultural digital transformation, he said the province would focus on addressing challenges and providing farmers with the skills necessary for digital transformation. It would encourage the use of advanced technology, connecting with companies that specialised in digital transformation.
The ultimate goal was to have 100 per cent of OCOP products participating in digital transformation, with production supervision and source tracing before reaching the market, he added.
Nguyễn Trung Trực festival recognised as national heritage
The annual festival dedicated to national hero Nguyễn Trung Trực (1838-1868) in Kiên Giang Province’s Rạch Giá City was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.
The Nguyễn Trung Trực Temple Festival began in 1891 to honour Trực and his supporters as well as people involved in his uprising against the French in the middle of the 19th century.
The event is held for three days, from August 26 – 28 of the lunar calendar, at Nguyễn Trung Trực Temple in Vĩnh Thanh Vân Ward, and attracts around a million visitors.
Nguyễn Trung Trực was born as Nguyễn Văn Lịch in Gia Định, today Bến Lức District of Long An Province.
In 1861, he gathered local farmers to fight against the French in Tân An and Rạch Giá (in today Kiên Giang). They attacked and burned the warship L’Esperance of the French navy in Nhật Tảo village in Tân An.
When Vĩnh Long, An Giang and Hà Tiên were lost to the French in 1867, Trực withdrew his troops to Rạch Giá and established a military base in Hòn Chông.
In 1868, Trực’s insurgents attacked Rạch Giá military station of the French, killing the Rạch Giá provincial governor. The fight was a significant event that threatened the French colonial regime and was recorded in French military history.
The French later seized Trực’s mother and his soldiers’ families to force them to surrender. They had to surrender to save the lives of their families.
Facing the enemy, Trực stated with confidence: “Only when there is no grass in Việt Nam will there be no more Vietnamese fighting against foreign invaders.”
The French killed him at Rạch Giá Market on October 27, 1868.
Nguyễn Văn Sáu, director of the province’s Department of Culture and Sports, shared that the Nguyễn Trung Trực Temple Festival is one of the province’s major events to connect the community, strengthen solidarity, and celebrate Vietnamese people’s patriotism and national pride.
He added the festival also aims to educate about patriotic traditions and raise awareness of the importance of protecting the country and preserving and promoting national cultural heritage for young generations.
Dino Sefir and Tuyết win Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race
Dino Sefir from Ethiopia and Lê Thị Tuyết from Việt Nam emerged victorious against tough competitors in the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race 2023 held on Sunday.
Sefir, who previously represented Ethiopia in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and achieved an impressive top-eight finish in the renowned Boston Marathon in 2017, clinched the men's full marathon category by completing the race in an impressive time of 2:16.28, securing the title.
"I am thrilled to have won the event held in Hà Nội. This was my first time participating in this tournament, and I was extremely satisfied with the track and the organisation of the event," Sefir told Việt Nam News.
"I hope to return to Hà Nội next year to participate again because I am genuinely happy with the people and everything here."
Sefir's teammate, Jebesa Dabesa, secured second position with a time of 2:27.31, while Hoàng Nguyên Thanh from the Vietnamese national team finished third in a time of 2:29.19. Thanh's performance in the Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race was an improvement over his time of two hours and 36 minutes, which earned him a bronze medal in the SEA Games 32 held in Cambodia in May.
In the women's category, national team member Lê Thị Tuyết triumphed without facing any strong competitors, crossing the finish line with an impressive time of 2:44.36. Askale Magarsa Tafa from Ethiopia secured second place with a time of 3:00.49, while Lèo Thị Tình finished third with a time of 3:04.32.
In the men's 21km category, Tống Văn Hoàn emerged victorious with a time of 1:12.31, defeating Đinh Thanh Huệ and Hà Văn Được. Vàng Như Quỳnh claimed the women's title with a time of 1:28.17, followed by Lý Ngọc Hà with a time of 1:29.14 and Trần Thị Duyên with a time of 1:29.24.
The men's 10km division was won by George Schrank from Austria, who completed the race in 33:56. Nguyễn Việt Ái and Vũ Anh Đức secured the second and third positions, respectively.
"It was my first time racing here, and it was a truly fantastic event. Athletics in Việt Nam is highly developed. Thank you for organising such a remarkable event," Schrank expressed to Việt Nam News.
"Although I'm not accustomed to the high temperature and humidity, despite spending a lot of time in Việt Nam and training here, the race was challenging due to the rare situation of 24 degrees Celsius and 80 per cent humidity," he added.
"One thing I vividly remember is passing by the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, as I had never been so close to it before," Schrank shared.
On the women's side, Bùi Thị Thu Hà claimed the first position with a time of 36:28, surpassing Trần Hồng Thúy and Lưu Thị Thanh Tâm.
The Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race this year featured more than 12,000 runners from Việt Nam and around the world. The race provided a unique experience, combining a traditional marathon with a tour of six major districts and numerous historical and cultural landmarks in the Old Quarter of Hà Nội. Participants had the opportunity to explore the peaceful, charming, and historic city, which boasts 11 heritages and landmarks such as the Hà Nội Opera House, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, and Trấn Quốc Pagoda.
With its cultural, professional, and international significance, the Hà Nội Marathon - Heritage Race 2023 aimed to establish Hà Nội's sports heritage through the rhythm of running. Building on previous successes, the event incorporated innovative initiatives to enhance the overall quality of the race.
The Hà Nội Marathon – Heritage Race has earned a prestigious position in the age group ranking system of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Consequently, participants' accomplishments in this race will be recognised as qualifying conditions for any of the six esteemed marathons within the Abbott World Marathon Majors system, namely the New York Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Boston Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and Berlin Marathon.
Tuấn, Hoa win top prizes at 2023 Đất Sen Hồng Marathon
Lê Văn Tuấn and Hoàng Thị Ngọc Hoa dominated the 2023 Đất Sen Hồng Marathon -- Materise Homes Cup on Sunday in Đồng Tháp Province.
Former national team member Tuấn faced no difficulties in leaving all rivals including international runners behind, in the men's full marathon event.
He quickly separated from the main group and finished first with a time of 2hr 43.53min.
Nguyễn Đăng Khoa ran 2.45:03 to take second place and Lý Phi Hải came third after 2.46:54.
On the women's side, 31st SEA Games bronze medallist Hoa raced in a time of 3.07:42, much slower than her personal best, but still quick enough to take the gold medal.
"It is the first time I have run a marathon in Đồng Tháp," Hoa said. I am pleased with my result because it rained heavily last night.
"This tournament is a good warm-up for me before I take part in the National Athletics Championship next week in Hà Nội."
Behind her were Trần Thị Hoa and Quách Thị Bích Thùy who finished about 20 minutes after the champion.
In the half marathon, Lê Hữu Lộc crossed the men's finish line first at 1.16:12, followed by Trương Văn Tâm (1:16:41) and Nguyễn Trường Giang (1:20:16).
Đoàn Thị Hiền (1:31:58), Phạm Thị Thuý Hạnh (1:34:03) and Lê Thị Nhân (1:37:42) were top three in the women's class.
In the 10km categories, Lý Nhân Tín (34.16min) won the men's race and Cao Thị Thanh Thuý (42.25) claimed the women's.
Earlier, Lê Kim Dược (17.05) and Nguyễn Đặng Yến Huỳnh Huỳnh (21.23) topped the men's and women's 5km podium.
The second Đất Sen Hồng Marathon featured more than 6,000 local and international athletes. There was a children's run for nearly 1000 youngsters competing in the 800m distance.
Prizes worth more than VNĐ230 million (US$9,500) were delivered to winning athletes.
Speaking at the event, Đồng Tháp People Committee's Vice Chairman Nguyễn Phước Thiện, head of the organising board, said the marathon is one of the events recognised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races created a pro playing ground for runners. The event would inspire more local people to take part in sports and running in particular.
It would help improve people's health and lifestyle and attract more international friends to the land of lotus in Việt Nam.
The Masterise Homes Cup event is hosted by the provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Department and managed by Nexus Sport Events.
Fishing boat with 14 sailors rescued off Đà Nẵng coast
A fishing boat with its 14 sailors were rescued off the coast of the central city of Đà Nẵng as it was sinking in rough sea and downpours last night.
The Đà Nẵng-based Maritime Co-ordination and Rescue Centre No2 (MRCC2) said the fishing vessel from Thanh Hoá Province coded TH90929TS was heading to safe dock in rough weather and heavy rains when water broke into the deck around 4.30pm on October 13.
A rescue ship from the centre (coded SAR412) was sent to the sea after getting SOS signals and emergency calls from the fishing boat, in co-operation with the city’s coastguard and disaster prevention and rescue forces found the endangered boat just two hours after that.
Rescuers had given first aid to all sailors and repaired the boat to be towed safely to a port for further health care and mechanical service.
All sailors are now healthy, and the boat had been sent for repairing at the centre’s dock in Sơn Trà Peninsula.
Heavy rains have been recorded in the central region, causing floods in Thừa Thiên Huế and Đà Nẵng on October 13-14.
HCMC University of Technology presents Vietnamese Bookcase to Swiss students
The "Vietnamese Bookcase" is a valuable resource created by the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), intended for students of FHNW, in particular, as well as the Swiss people in general.
On October 15, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) under the Vietnam National University-HCMC hosted an event to present the "Vietnamese Bookcase" and a collection of cultural and historical items from Vietnam to the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). Mr. Nguyen Ho Hai, Deputy Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee, was in attendance.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Associate Professor - Dr. Mai Thanh Phong, Rector of HCMUT, said that the "Vietnamese Bookcase" is a valuable resource created by the HCMUT, intended for students of FHNW, in particular, as well as the Swiss people in general.
Accordingly, the "Vietnamese Bookcase" comprises 47 books, four paintings, and six outstanding gifts introducing distinctive aspects of Vietnamese culture and history to international friends. The bookcase encompasses a diverse selection of books, magazines, novels, artworks, and iconic Vietnamese items to offer readers comprehensive insights into Vietnam's history, culture, and society.
Especially, the bookcase contains renowned Vietnamese novels and short stories, including some translated into English. This enhances readers' comprehension of the lives and psychology of the Vietnamese people across various historical eras, spanning from the past to the present.
Within the bookcase, there are also photos and paintings and representative items of Vietnam, such as ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress), ao tu than (four-part dress), ao ba ba (Southern Vietnamese pajamas) with checkered scarfs, non la (palm-leaf conical hat), lotus flowers, bronze drums, and more, to provide readers with a clearer insight into the art and culture of Vietnam. The "Vietnamese Bookcase" will be placed in the library of FHNW.
The presentation of the "Vietnamese Bookcase" not only bolsters educational cooperation between HCMUT and FHNW but also creates a platform for both parties to partake in cultural exchange. This event facilitates a deeper comprehension of Vietnamese culture, people, and history.
HCMUT and FHNW have been collaborating for nearly 20 years. The two universities have partnered in offering the MBA-MCI program (Master of Business Administration) as part of their cooperative education efforts.
Vietnamese face at Kashihara Jingu Chrysanthemum Exhibition
The Chrysanthemum Bonsai Exhibition at Kashihara Jingu Shrine in Nara Province, Japan, organized by the Japanese Chrysanthemum Association, is scheduled to be held from October 20 to November 20.
Ten years have elapsed since the first chrysanthemum bonsai artwork was exhibited, and Nguyen Van Quang, a Vietnamese individual, stands as the sole foreigner who has persevered with this art form in Japan.
Shaping chrysanthemum bonsai is far from a rhythmic and orderly process as the cycle of "as the lotus withers, it is the chrysanthemum's turn to bloom." Until this day, chrysanthemum bonsai has largely remained a Japanese pursuit. To receive awards from the President of the Japanese Chrysanthemum Association and to be interviewed by Nara's Mainichi Newspaper, Nguyen Van Quang has previously faced numerous instances of disappointment.
"During my first two years of participating in the chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition, I encountered failure. My Japanese bonsai master pointed out that my mistake was an excessive devotion to the plant, with overzealous watering and care, which led to the roots not needing to extend to absorb nutrients. A plant cannot flourish with overly short roots. This experience is a valuable lesson in both the art of shaping the tree and being human."
In such exhibitions, what is truly captivating is observing the evolution of the artworks as each day of the exhibition unfolds. When the President of the Chrysanthemum Bonsai Association sent an invitation letter to the members for their participation, it was the time that Nguyen Van Quang's chrysanthemum plant, nurtured meticulously on the crowded shelves in the small garage in front of his house in Goseshi District of the ancient capital of Nara, was poised to bloom.
Cultivating woody bonsai demands patient nurturing from a young age, and it can often take a lifetime to witness the outcomes. At times, it requires multiple generations to cultivate a one-hundred-year-old bonsai tree. However, what fuels the Japanese passion for chrysanthemum bonsai? Quang explained that, with chrysanthemum bonsai, results can be witnessed within a single year. The beauty of the chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition is similar: the artworks gradually unfold, bursting with color and fragrance from October 20 to November 20 every year."
Nguyen Van Quang has been fond of bonsai since his time in Vietnam. He admired it for its beauty, but he had never delved into growing them on his own. In 2006, he relocated to Japan to work as a laborer, immersing himself in the homeland of this art form where his initial interest had the opportunity to take root and flourish.
"By chance, I attended a bonsai exhibition here and met my first Japanese master. He told me that if I liked it, he would teach me. Many lessons unfolded, with a focus on the concept of 'wabi-sabi,' which my master wished for me to deeply grasp. 'Wabi' represents perfection, while 'sabi' embodies imperfection. Even when observing a failed bonsai piece, my master always found something to commend. Every imperfection possesses its unique beauty; it is just that people have not noticed it yet," Quang said.
People are willing to spend thousands, even millions of dollars, to acquire a fully mature bonsai tree for immediate enjoyment. However, Quang derives satisfaction from the process of cultivating and shaping these trees. In his small garage, there are scarcely any expensive bonsai trees. When he and his family take strolls through the woods, venture up the mountains, or explore the local market, if they encounter an affordable and promising tree, Quang is quick to purchase it and bring it home for cultivation.
The joy and spiritual enrichment come from the watering, pruning, and repotting process. In his small garden, Quang tends to smaller plants, usually 20cm or less in size. Surprisingly, almost every year, Quang receives invitations to exhibit his creations, and he is held in high regard by local bonsai enthusiasts. Moreover, from a bonsai tree, a new layer of significance emerges. It is when Quang plans to introduce Vietnamese cultural values in harmony with a bonsai pot starting next year.
"The bonsai tree is planted in a Vietnamese ceramic pot and displayed on a wooden pedestal crafted by Vietnamese carpenters," he revealed.
HCMC Police raze inter-provincial firecrackers trading ring
The Police Investigation Agency under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security on October 15 issued a decision to prosecute the case and the accused for the acts of “Trading, storing and transporting prohibited goods”.
Accordingly, the Police Investigation Agency executed a temporary detention order against 13 people for the above-mentioned crime in line with Article 190 and Article 191 of the 2015 Penal Code as amended and supplemented in the 2017 Penal Code.
All of the decisions have been approved by the People’s Procuracy of the same level.
Previously, the HCMC Police detected that defendant Tang Quoc Tien, born in 1978, residing in Kien Giang Province collaborated with Dang Duy Linh, born in 1992 and Danh Tich, born in 1990 living in Kien Giang Province performed the transportation and trading of firecrackers which were prohibited under law.
The group of defendants had transported and traded a huge number of firecrackers from the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang to Ho Chi Minh City for consumption and transshipping to other cities and provinces nationwide under the form of transport business activity.
The firecrackers were hidden in boxes containing dried fish having the information of receivers.
After that, the defendants directed drivers and drivers’ assistants to transport several boxes of firecrackers to a coffee shop in Binh Hung Hoa A Ward, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City owned by Nguyen Dang Thanh, born in 1990, residing in Binh Tan District for hiding.
Besides, the defendants directly distributed the prohibited goods to other relevant people nationwide via online shipping services.
With such methods and tricks, from August 2023 until the time of arrest, the criminal group led by Tien had transported and consumed nearly six tons of firecrackers in Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces of Ca Mau, Long An, Vinh Phuc and the capital city of Hanoi. They regularly changed the ways of transporting and trading to avoid detection from functional agencies.
On August 29, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security arrested Thanh while he was transporting five boxes of firecrackers. In addition, the working team of HCMC Police chaired and collaborated with the Provincial Department of Public Security of Kien Giang and the Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes, the High Command of Vietnam Border Guard to arrest Tien, Linh, Tich and four drivers, drivers’ assistants.
Under the investigation expansion process, the HCMC Police continued to collaborate with the Departments of Public Security of Ca Mau, Long An, Vinh Phuc and Hanoi to arrest six defendants related to the acts of transporting and trading firecrackers led by Tien.
Within ten days, the HCMC Police chaired and collaborated with the Departments of Public Security of Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Kien Giang, Long An and Ca Mau raided 11 locations and seized almost all of the prohibited firecrackers with a total amount of nearly six tons which were prepared for consumption in the upcoming Tet holiday of 2024.
Vietnam to host 45th ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group Meeting
The 45th Maritime Transport Working Group Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (MTWG 45) will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from October 17-19, according to the Vietnam Maritime Administration (MOT), which serves as chair of the group and hosts the meeting this year under the rotating mechanism of ASEAN.
The meeting will continue to consider the implementation of measures related to maritime transportation in accordance with the Kuala Lumpur 2016-2025 strategic plan, initiatives in maritime transportation recovery and sustainable development post COVID-19 pandemic as well as progress of the 2022-2023 action plan on goods circulation and ship waste management.
Besides, participating delegates will discuss future cooperation with the International Maritime Organisation and hold talks with dialogue partners.
Measures related to smart technology application in the field of maritime transportation for upcoming action plans are expected to be introduced at the three-day event.
According to MOT, as chairman of MTWG 45, Vietnam hopes ASEAN member states will continue to intensify bilateral, multilateral cooperation in order to create growth momentum for the sector in ASEAN in particular and the world at large.
Since joining ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has made important and productive contributions to the grouping, including in maritime transport cooperation.
The country has signed bilateral maritime and sea transport agreements with countries in the bloc, including Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Myanmar.
More special mechanisms proposed to speed up national target programmes
The Government has proposed the National Assembly allow the application of additional special mechanisms to remove difficulties and obstacles facing national target programmes, thus speeding up their progress in the coming time, according to Minister of Planning and Investment (MPI) Nguyen Chi Dung.
The three underway national target programmes focus on socio-economic development in ethnic-inhabited and mountainous areas, sustainable poverty reduction, and new-style rural area building.
Minister Dung noted that the allocation and use of resources for the implementation of the programmes have been slow at both central and local levels due to many difficulties.
According to the MPI, as of June 2023, over 1.31 trillion VND (53.56 million USD) had been disbursed to the three programmes, fulfilling only 5.33% of the plan for the year.
Along with promoting the role of Party committees and administrations at all levels in directing, managing and inspecting the implementation of the programmes, the official stressed the need for strengthened communications on the Party and State’s policies regarding the implementation of the programmes, as well as the reviewing and completion of mechanisms and policies related to the management and realisation of the programmes.
The minister pointed to the need to finish the national database on the supervision and evaluation of the programmes’ progress at all levels.
The MPI minister highlighted the significance of the programmes, and efforts by the administrations from the central to local levels in the implementation process.
However, he said that the work has faced many difficulties due to many reasons, such as some policies no longer suitable to the reality and a lack of legal foundations for the implementation of some policies.
Meanwhile, the allocation and use of resources for the implementation of the programmes at both central and local levels remain slow, he added.
Russia, ASEAN strengthen cooperation in digital era
The ASEAN Centre of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations held an international conference themed “Russia and ASEAN in Asia-Pacific Region: Dynamics of Cooperation, Regional Processes and the Global Context” from October 12-14.
This year, the conference is dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership, discussing topics such as new challenges and current situations of ASEAN countries; Russia-ASEAN cooperation in the digital era; political and economic results of ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit; modern regional trends; and Russia-ASEAN relations in current time.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko affirmed that for Russia, relations with ASEAN are always a foreign policy priority, which has been clearly shown in Russia's recently updated "Foreign Policy Concept".
More than 90 experts and scholars of Russia and ASEAN countries joined in 14 panel discussions at the conference.
Scholar Ngo Di Lan from the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, in his speech titled "Vietnam's digital transformation strategy" said Vietnam aims to quickly modernise its economy to gain global competitiveness and overcome challenges including the "middle-income trap", while ensuring social justice. Vietnam is focusing on building digital infrastructure and developing human resources in the field of digital transformation, coordinating multi-sectoral and international efforts to accelerate the pace of digital technology application in many aspects of social life.
Regarding the prospect of Russia-ASEAN cooperation in the above field, Lan said that ASEAN, including Vietnam, identify digital transformation to change the economic structure as a very high priority. He said the trend creates favourable conditions for Russia which has a long history of scientific and technological development, to penetrate the ASEAN market.
Meanwhile, Irina Korgun, director of the Centre of Russian Strategy in Asia under the Russian Academy of Sciences, highly appreciated Vietnam's position in the global value chain of information technology. According to her, as the electronics industry accounts for 17.8% of Vietnam's industrial sector and nearly 30% of its export turnover with a value of 114 billion USD, the country is a potential market for Russian businesses in the fields of information technology and digital transformation.
In energy cooperation, Inna Chuvychkina from the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences said that Russia is facing difficulties due to international sanctions, finding new markets plays a very important role to the country. ASEAN is currently emerging as a potential market with energy demand expected to triple by 2050.
Indian diplomatic chief Jaishankar begins Vietnam visit
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Hanoi on October 15 to begin an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.
During his three-day stay, Minister Jaishankar is scheduled to co-chair the 18th session of the Vietnam – India Joint Commission on economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation with Minister Son. He will also pay a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
The two ministers met each other on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 27. They highly appreciated the strong developments of the Vietnam – India comprehensive strategic partnership, especially in economy and trade.
The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and effectively deploy existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Vietnam – India Joint Commission on economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation.
Vietnam and India established diplomatic ties on January 7, 1972. The two countries lifted their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016. They have been implementing a plan of action on the comprehensive strategic partnership for 2021-2023.
Two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached a record high of more than US$15 billion in 2022, exceeding the target set by their senior leaders. India is one of Vietnam’s top 10 leading trade partners.
The two countries launched the first direct air route in 2019, and so far more than 50 direct flights have been operated on a weekly basis, connecting major cities of the two countries.
Prime Minister meets young voters of Cần Thơ City
Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính joined other National Assembly (NA) deputies of the Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ in a meeting with 700 voters who are representatives of the local youth and young manpower on October 14.
A representative of the NA deputies’ delegation of Cần Thơ informed participants about the 15th-tenure NA’s sixth session, scheduled to last from October 23 to November 29.
During the session, the NA will consider and vote on nine draft laws, discuss eight other bills, make decisions on socio-economic and budgetary issues of 2023 and 2024, and look into the mid-term reports on the implementation of the five-year plans for 2021 - 2025 on socio-economic development, economic restructuring, medium-term public investment, national finance, and public debts. Particularly, the NA will carry out question-and-answer activities and collect votes of confidence on the positions it elected or approved.
Expressing their delight at the country’s socio-economic achievements during the first nine months of 2023, Cần Thơ voters said they believed the Party Central Committee, NA, and Government would continue implementing strong, timely, and effective measures, policies, and directions in all fields, especially in carrying out the resolutions, programmes, and projects on the development of the Mekong Delta and Cần Thơ.
Many asked the NA deputies of Cần Thơ to propose measures for promoting the development of infrastructure, especially transport, logistics, and digital infrastructure, training and attracting high-quality human resources, building cultural facilities for the youth, and establishing a startup and innovation centre in the city.
Appreciating the young voters’ opinions, contributions to local development, and support for the Government, PM Chính underlined the youth’s core role in national construction and safeguarding.
He updated them about Việt Nam’s socio-economic situation and expressed his belief that with solidarity, joint efforts, and consensus upheld, all-level authorities, sectors, and localities would continue showing strong determination and take drastic actions to address shortcomings, surmount challenges, and fulfil the tasks and targets for 2023 with the best possible results, thus creating favourable conditions for the implementation of the 2024 plan.
He also fielded voters’ questions about several issues, including infrastructure development, information safety of online transactions, human resources attraction, and career orientation for young people.
Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes
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