An art programme to honour “Ao dai” (traditional dress) will take place at the Centre for Women and Development in Tay Ho district, Hanoi on October 18.

The event will bring together artists from the Vietnam National Drama Theatre, who will show “Ao Dai” collections by designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam, and other designers.

It will spotlight Hanoi in the past with designs on flowers and old patterns; and national quintessence with designs on lotus and craft villages; among others.

The event aims to arouse pride, love and responsibility for preserving the value of “Ao dai” heritage; and promoting the image of traditional dress, culture, country and people of Vietnam.

Huge fire rips through bar in downtown HCMC

A fire erupted at an 800-square-meter bar in HCMC’s District 1 this morning, October 17, creating a giant column of black smoke.

When the fire was found at District K Bar on Thu Khoa Huan Street in Ben Thanh Ward at 9:30 a.m., residents tried to put out the blaze, but in vain. The fire rapidly engulfed the facility due to inflammable items inside.

After being notified of the blaze, firefighters and a dozen fire trucks were dispatched to the scene for firefighting and rescue efforts. The blaze was brought under control at 10:30 a.m.

The bar, just 50 meters from the landmark Ben Thanh Market, caught fire while it was closed. No casualties were reported this morning.

Vietnam wins two silvers at WorldSkills 2022

The Vietnamese team sent to the world championships of vocational skills (WorldSkills 2022) Special Edition in Germany have won two silver medals, marking their best achievement after seven times of entering the contest.

Competitors Nguyen Thanh Tung and Nguyen Xuan Thai successfully brought home medals in Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Milling and CNC Turning, respectively.

The WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition represents the official replacement for WorldSkills Shanghai 2022 which was canceled back in May due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s event attracted more than 1,000 competitors from 63 countries and territories globally, in addition to the participation of nearly 1,000 experts and 300 interpreters.

Entrants took part in 10 out of 62 skill competitions, including Mechatronics, Cloud Computing, Information Network Cabling, Water Technology, Electrical Installations, CNC Milling, CNC Turning, Mechanical Engineering CAD, IT Software Solutions for Business, and Hairdressing. These competitions are held across six countries, including Germany, France, Finland, Austria, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Vietnam sent a total of 11 contestants to join in CNC Milling, CNC Turning, and Water Technology.

Previously, Vietnam secured one silver medal at the WorldSkills 2019 held in Kazan, Russia.

Corruption cases discovered up by 40.97%: Ministry

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) discovered 523 corruption cases by the end of September this year, an increase of 40.97% compared with the same period last year, according to the latest report of the ministry.

The report was signed by Minister To Lam and will be submitted to the National Assembly.

The MPS detected 5,117 cases of economic mismanagement, down by 36.68%.

Investigations showed that corruption, economic and smuggling crimes continue to be detected.

The report also said that violations in key economic fields included sophisticated methods and tricks, causing extensive damage.

Ministry speeds up provision of online conveniences, services

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is accelerating the granting of electronic identification accounts and the provision of online conveniences, part of common efforts to promote national digital transformation.

As of October 13, the e-identification system had granted 10.5 million accounts, including 115,000 registered online and 10.4 million others at police agencies, according to the MPS’s Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order.

In the recent past, the MPS has given the Prime Minister advice on the implementation of a project on developing the application of population data, e-identification, and e-authentication to serve national digital transformation in the 2022 - 2025 period, with a vision to 2030 (Project 06).

So far, authorities have provided six online conveniences for citizens, namely using e-identification accounts to handle public services, using identify cards and the VNeID app to replace social insurance cards, using identify cards to replace ATM cards, credit rating to serve unsecured loan supply, connecting with verified e-contracts to serve tax collection, and purifying information about bank and mobile accounts.

The department said as the Government’s standing body for the Project 06 implementation, the MPS will supply more services and conveniences in 2023, including using VNeID in health care, education, e-commerce, e-contracts, market surveillance, and tax management.

From now to the end of 2022, the MPS will make all the 227 online public services available so that people can have administrative procedures handled online.

Ceremony held in Ninh Binh to pray for stability, peace

A ceremony took place at Bai Dinh pagoda in the northern province of Ninh Binh on October 16 to pray for peace and stability in Vietnam and in the world, with the participation of public official and Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers.

Held within the framework of the Vietnam Peace Committee (VPC)’s Peace Education Programme, the event also aimed to raise awareness of people, especially the young generation, about the national tradition, patriotism, and culture.

At a talk as part of the ceremony, VPC Chairman Uong Chu Luu and Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council, highlighted the value of peace given unpredictable fluctuations in the world like the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts.

They also called for solidarity and join actions to end conflict and suffering.

Food Bank Vietnam promotes technology application for food sharing

The non-profit Food Bank Vietnam on October 15 launched a programme called Food Share to promote food sharing and stop wastage.

It would promote the use of technology in sharing food and help prevent food waste, Nguyen Tuan Khoi, chairman of Food Bank Vietnam, said.

It would also promote the setting up of a food sharing and food waste prevention association to help create a legal framework against food wastage, he added.

Food Bank Vietnam, a member of the Global Food Bank Network, has delivered 11.6 million kg of food and supported 3.5 million people since 2018.

Food banks are local sustainable non-profit organisations that provide environment-friendly alternatives to surplus food disposal, and rescue safe, wholesome food before it is wasted and redirect it to feed hungry people.

Food banks source an increasing amount of highly nutritious food including dairy products, proteins and produce from all sectors prior to their shelf-life expiration.

Food waste harms the environment by producing methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, when dumped in landfills.

Food banks globally are however rescuing less than 1% of food surplus.

Vietnamese cultural day takes place in Sydney

A Vietnamese cultural day was hosted by the United Associations of Vietnamese Students in New South Wales (UAVS-NSW) in collaboration with four other Vietnamese students’ associations in Australia in Sydney on October 15.

In his opening remarks, UAVS-NSW President Dang Dinh Hung said it provides an opportunity for Vietnamese young generation and expats living in Australia to explore the country’s culture, nature and people.

The cultural day is among a series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations next year, he noted.

More than 200 visitors, most of whom are Vietnamese university students in NSW and expats, showed up at the event which featured a wide range of activities, such as making “to he” – toy figurines made of rice dough, painting on “non la” – Vietnamese conical hat, writing calligraphy and an exhibition of Dong Ho folk paintings.

They were also offered a chance to join a number of folk games and enjoy Vietnamese traditional food and beverage, like “goi cuon” (fresh rolls), “banh mi,” “ca phe sua da” (iced coffee) and “tra dao” (peach tea).  Iced coffee and peach tea were among the most favourite among the youngsters.

The event was designed following a traditional market in Vietnam in the final days of the year when Tet, Vietnam’s traditional New Year, is near.

Naval helicopter brings stroke-hit fisherman to mainland for treatment

A naval helicopter carried a fisherman with a brain stroke from Nam Yet Island to Ho Chi Minh City for treatment on October 15 evening, according to the Naval Regional 4 High Command.

After nearly six hours of flying, the helicopter of Corps 18 with medical workers on board brought the fisherman from Nam Yet Island of Truong Sa district, central Khanh Hoa province, to the HCM City-based Military Hospital 175 at 7:25pm on October 15. 

The patient, 54, suffered from a brain stroke while working on a fishing vessel from the central province of Quang Ngai. He was sent to the health station on Sinh Ton Island of Truong Sa district by the vessel on October 12 and received emergency aid there.

After that, he was transported to the health station on Nam Yet Island the same day to get better treatment. Local military doctors later decided to send him to the mainland so as to have all necessary conditions for intensive care.

Vietnamese, RoK cities co-host fine art exhibition

A fine arts exhibition is being co-held by the northern city of Hai Phong and the Republic of Korea’s Gwangju city, displaying over 100 works by 90 painters from both sides.

Underway in Hai Phong information, exhibition and cinema centre, the exhibition also displays three books featuring selections of artworks by 100 painters from Hai Phong and Gwangju released by three Korean publishing houses.

Addressing the launch of the event, Vice Chairwoman Dang Thi Thuy of the Hai Phong Union of Literature and Arts Association said it is a cultural exchange event between the two cities, aiming to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam-RoK diplomatic relations (1992 – 2022).

The exhibits were created with different materials and in various styles, telling stories about life, nature and people. They highlight unique elements of Vietnamese and RoK fine arts, as well as the similarities and distinctions between the two countries’ arts and culture.

Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe holds second congress

The Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe held the second congress in Prague, the Czech Republic, on October 15, with the participation of nearly 300 delegates and guests from 23 European countries.

The event was also attended by representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, and the embassies of Vietnam in 15 European countries.

Founded in 2016, the union has become the largest organisation of Vietnamese people in Europe.

The second congress was initially slated for October 2020 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

At the event, the union elected a 61-member executive committee with Hoang Dinh Thang re-elected its chairman.

Eighteen couples tie knot in “new lifestyle” mass wedding

Eighteen couples tied the knot in an October 15 mass wedding held in “new lifestyle” practices on pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi.

The event was co-organised by the Hanoi chapters of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Federation to mark the 68th anniversary of the Hanoi Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 – 2022).

It also aimed to raise public awareness of the “new lifestyle” wedding practices which promote simple, cost-saving wedding ceremonies that preserve traditional values.

The couples offered incense and a set of two traditional Vietnamese sweet cakes – “Banh Com” and “Banh Phu The” – that are 130kg in total weight at King Ly Thai To Monument and Ba Kieu Temple as a gesture to honour the country’s traditional cuisine.

HCM City, Hanoi remain most attractive for tourists

Ho Chi Minh City has topped the list of destinations with the highest number of tourists in the year to date, and was followed by Hanoi and Thanh Hoa province.

Ho Chi Minh City received over 23 million visitors, including 2.1 million foreign arrivals, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The number of foreign tourists was only around 30% of pre-pandemic levels, and it hopes to get 3.5 million for the full year.

Hanoi was second with nearly 14 million tourists, including 766,000 foreigners.

The north-central province Thanh Hoa welcomed over 10.4 million visitors, followed by the northern province of Quang Ninh and the Mekong Delta's An Giang Province.

The rest of the top 10 were Kien Giang, Nghe An, Hai Phong City, Binh Thuan, and Lao Cai.

So far this year Vietnam has received nearly 1.9 million foreign visitors or 30 percent of its full-year target. But the number of domestic tourists was 86.8 million, far above the 60-million target.

At least 3 killed by downpours in central Viet Nam

Downpours and flooding in many parts of central Việt Nam in the last few days have killed at least three people and damaged dozens of thousands of houses, according to a report of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control released on Sunday.

Heavy rain occurred from Thursday-Sunday in Quảng Bình, Quảng Nam, Thừa Thiên-Huế, Quảng Bình Provinces and Đà Nẵng City. Some places recorded total rainfall of 857mm (Nam Đông Station, Thừa Thiên Huế) and 831mm (Suối Đá Station, Đà Nẵng).

Nearly 20,000 houses in Thừa Thiên-Huế were inundated by 0.3-0.8 metre of water, roughly 3,600 houses in Đà Nẵng and over 1,300 houses in Quảng Trị were inundated up to 1 metre of water.

More than 14,000 people in Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên Huế, Quảng Ngãi, Đà Nẵng had been evacuated.

Increasing generation of domestic solid waste

Associate Professor Luu The Anh, Director of the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment at the Hanoi National University, said that the amount of domestic solid waste generated is increasing and it is forecasted that by 2030 there will be nearly 92,000 tons per day.

The Associate Professor made the statement at the seminar ‘Consultation on the draft national environmental protection plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050" recently held by the Vietnam Environment Administration and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The disposal of solid wastes is a stinging and widespread problem in both urban and rural areas. Of 92,000 tons generated daily, about 53,323 tons are produced by residents in urban areas per day while approximately 38,458 tons are produced by their peers in rural areas per day.

By 2050, the amount of daily-life solid waste will be about 95,721 tons per day. Of which, the amount of domestic solid waste in urban areas is 73,006 tons per day, accounting for 76 percent and it is about 22,715 tons per day in rural areas, accounting for 24 percent.

In related news, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, approximately 10 percent of medical wastewater has not been collected and treated.

Municipal solid waste collection and disposal is one of the major problems of an urban environment. In 2020, there are nearly 50,000 medical examination and treatment establishments nationwide, including 248 private hospitals and 21,048 private medical clinics. The average volume of medical wastewater is very huge, but about 10 percent has not still been collected and treated thoroughly.

By the end of 2017, of 543 hospitals, 478 facilities in the country will be well-functioned with medical wastewater treatment systems accounting for 88 percent while 54/543 hospitals have medical wastewater treatment systems that do not work well or do not work, accounting for 9.9 percent and 11/543 hospitals do not have a medical wastewater treatment system or are under construction, accounting for 2 percent.

Inspectors collect more than US$12,499,407 from environmental law violations

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, inspectors have collected more than VND300 billion (US$12,499,407) from violators of environmental crime referring to the violation of laws intended to protect the environment and human health over the past time.

According to the Ministry, the work of inspection, examination and fight against environmental crimes has been implemented regularly.

In the 2016-2020 period, inspectors paid visits to nearly 3,000 establishments, industrial parks and industrial clusters in big cities nationwide and about 1,400 establishments were fined more than VND200 billion.

In provinces, local governments have paid more than 2,100 regular and unscheduled visits to 9,100 establishments, industrial parks and industrial clusters, detecting and imposing 4,100 administrative penalties with a total amount of nearly VND100 billion.

HCMC establishes steering committee for component project No.2 of Ring Road No.3

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, on the afternoon of October 16, decided to establish a steering committee to implement component project No.2 and the assisting team of the steering committee to carry out compensation, support, and resettlement of the Ring Road No.3, the section passing through HCMC.

The steering committee for the implementation of component project No.2 is headed by Mr. Bui Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee. The steering committee, which includes 23 members who are leaders of departments, agencies, and localities, directs the coordination between relevant departments, agencies, and localities in the compensation, support, and resettlement work of component project No.2 of Ring Road No.3, the section passing through HCMC.

At the same time, it directly guides and solves recommendations and problems in the compensation, support, and resettlement work in accordance with its competence and legal regulations to ensure the progress of compensation, support, and resettlement work when carrying out the project.

Art lovers can enjoy exhibition of street food stands in HCMC

The Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) in Ho Chi Minh City organized the exhibition of street food stands, presenting a collection of sketches, paintings, and watercolors.

These paintings were drawn by 15 students of Indochina Fine Arts College and their teacher - Ferdinand de Fénis between 1925 and 1929.

Artists skillfully depict the small world of street vendors walking through the streets of Hanoi, under the first rays of the day with fruit and vegetable stalls. Photographs of the same period Periods belonging to the collection of the French School of the Far East (abbreviated EFEO) were also displayed in the exhibition.

In addition, the sound from the rhythmic cries of street vendors was also present at the exhibition, contributing to awakening the audience's memories of the old flavors. The sound is performed by artist Dam Quang Minh and Dong Kinh Co Nhac group.

The exhibition takes place from now until November 5 at IDECAF at 31 Thai Van Lung in HCMC’s District 1. Tickets are free of charge.

Vinh Long inaugurates its first tourist pier

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long put a tourist pier into operation on October 15.

The wharf is located in Vinh Long City’s Ward 9 covering an area of 2,900 square meters with a total investment capital of VND25.5 billion (US$1 million). It also includes the construction of the outdoor lighting system, service and information room, parking area and park.

It is the first tourist pier in Vinh Long Province to meet the travel demand of local residents and visitors. It is not only a highlight of the waterway tourism of the province but also ensures tourists’ safety, provides a safe and secure environment in picking and dropping off passengers and creates favorable conditions for travel businesses, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long Province Phan Van Giau said.

Over 1,200 train passengers to be transported by road due to flooded tracks

Due to the impacts of storm Son Ca, Vietnam Railway Corp (VNR) has announced that it will carry more than 1,200 passengers on eight pairs of trains No. SE1/2, SE3/4, SE5/6, and SE7/8 by road between stations in Da Nang City and Thua Thien-Hue Province.

According to VNR, recent flooding across the Central region has caused damage to the rail network, including the sections running through Da Nang and Hue. The company decided to temporarily suspend some pairs of trains connecting Ha Noi and HCMC with Da Nang from October 15 -16.

Passengers who were stranded at stations of Dong Ha, Hue and Da Nang because trains had to temporarily halt due to flooding will get free food and drink when the clean-up and recovery work begins after the storm.

The railway sector has transported more than 180 passengers from Cau Hai station in Phu Loc District, Thua Thien –Hue Province to Da Nang station, and carried 200 others from Da Nang to Cau Hai.

Hanoi launches inspection plan on fire prevention

The Hanoi Police Department will conduct a two-month inspection on fire prevention at industrial and processing parks as well as crowded entertainment and shopping areas.

The police will inspect business facilities in industrial and processing parks and hi-tech parks and others at district and commune levels.

In addition, the police will strengthen the supervision of fire prevention in leisure and service businesses with a large number of people and high fire risk, such as hotels, guesthouses, bars, clubs, apartment buildings, markets, shopping centers, warehouses and workshops.

All facilities are subject to regular and unexpected checks and re-examination will be taken to see how the fire and explosion prevention improves.

According to the Hanoi Police Department, the inspection will take place until December 15, 2022.

Fashion show to spotlight traditional cultural, artistic values

The first programme of the "VC fashion show – Buoc chan di san”  series will be held at the Centre for Vietnamese Craft Village Quintessence in Bat Trang, Gia Lam, Hanoi on October 20. 

Each collection at the programme will feature 15-20 designs, which are inspired by traditional cultural and artistic values. 

Director of the show Hoang Cong Cuong said he wants to exploit the beautiful and unspoiled locations of Vietnam for the show.

After the opening show,  the next programmes will be organised in Tam Chuc pagoda in Ha Nam province;  Mam Xoi (Tray of sticky rice) Hill in Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai province; and an old church in Nam Dinh province.

RoK willing to help Vietnam develop its cultural industry

The Republic of Korea (RoK) is willing to co-operate alongside Vietnam to develop its cultural industry through efforts such as bringing in famous Korean bands to perform and helping to promote exchanges among young people from both countries.

This statement was made by the RoK’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyoon during a working session with Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung on October 16 as part of the 10th Vietnamese culture-tourism festival held in the RoK.

The most important thing is to share the various strengths in fields of culture, sports, and tourism between the two countries, said Park, revealing he had visited Vietnam five times and had developed a special love for the country thanks to its beautiful landscape, as well as friendly and hospitable people.

Art photos feature beauty of contemporary life across Vietnam

The Vietnam Art Photo Exhibition, held biennially, wrapped up in Hanoi on October 16, and will come to Ho Chi Minh City next month.

This year’s event features 250 outstanding works of 187 professional and amateur photographers, chosen from the National Art Photography Contest 2022.

Over three months, the contest received nearly 16,400 entries by over 1,500 photographers, which are divided into Realistic Photo and Conceptual Photo categories.

The best 29 works have been awarded, including one gold medal, four silver, eight bronze and 16 consolation prizes.

The exhibition will then be held at HCM City Fine Arts Museum, 97A Pho Duc Chinh street, from November 4 to 13.

Vietnam anticipates surge in foreign arrivals over coming months

Representatives of local travel operators indicate they have made plans to welcome hundreds to thousands of foreign visitors to Vietnam in the final months of the year.

Pham Duy Nghia, director of Vietfoot Travel, stated that his firm has prepared a total of 25 50-seater buses to welcome a delegation of up to 1,000 people, including many international tourists from the UK and Sri Lanka wishing to tour Quang Ninh province which is home to UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay.

Sharing this perspective, Tran The Dung, general director of Fiditour, revealed his company has recently received several groups of international holidaymakers who all gave extremely positive feedback about their trips.

According to the executive, this positive feedback will lay the foundations for foreign travel companies to promote tourism in Vietnam moving forward.

Concurring with Dung’s point of view, Pham Duy Nghia of Vietfood Travel said tour operators have prepared financial and personnel plans ahead of receiving hordes of international travelers in the months of the year. He also suggested that Vietnam should be promoted, not only as a destination to explore natural landscapes, historic relics, and distinctive culture, but also as a centre for event organisation and tourism combined with convalescence.

Vietnam received 1.87 million foreign visitors in the Jan. – Sept. period and it aims to attract five million foreign travelers this year.

HCMC aims to hand over 70% of land for Beltway No. 3 next June

HCMC is set to hand over 70% of land for the Beltway No. 3 project in June next year, allowing work on this major road to get off the ground in the middle of that year as planned.

Beltway No. 3 connects HCMC, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An, with a total length of over 76 kilometers long, of which 47 kilometers will sprawl HCMC’s Thu Duc City and three outlying districts of Cu Chi, Hoc Mon and Binh Chanh.

Thu Duc City and the three outlying districts on October 16 signed an agreement to ensure 70% of land for the project will be handed over next June, while completing the land handover in late 2023.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held by the HCMC government, Vo Trung Truc, deputy director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the preparation for the beltway project is going smoothly.

In Cu Chi District, of a total of 320 affected households, 302 have seen their land measured, while Binh Chanh District has collected documents of 80% of affected households and measured the land of 98% of all 386 affected families.

Over 97% of affected households in Hoc Mon District have their land measured, while Thu Duc City is seeing a lower rate at 66.7%.

Luong Minh Phuc, director of the HCMC Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects, said that as many as 1,802 of the total 1,901 stakes of site clearance had been pushed into the ground in the four localities.

The beltway project will be divided into eight components and require VND75.4 trillion in investment.

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