The “Tremplin pour le Vietnam” (Springboard to Vietnam) project - a collaboration between France's Paul-Valery Montpellier III University and the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has affirmed its role as a bridge to connect French young people with Vietnamese culture and language.

Initiated in 2019, the university education programme in Vietnamese language and culture, has garnered significant interest among French young people, with 20 students enrolling in the first course.  

So far, the programme, operated under the special coordination of historian Pierre Journoud, a professor at Paul-Valery Montpellier III University, has trained nearly 100 students.

According to Prof. Journoud, the project is strongly supported by the French university and the Vietnamese Embassy in France. Its objective is to make Vietnam more popular among young French people and even older ones as this certificate is for those aged from 18 to 78.

The programme primarily focuses on education in Vietnamese history, culture, and language which serve as a common gateway to help learners understand more about Vietnam. In addition, it also covers economic, business and environmental topics, Journoud said.

In addition to in-class Vietnamese language and culture lessons, students also have chances to attend seminars or symposiums and engage in extracurricular activities to gain a deeper understanding of the Vietnamese community's presence in France.

The project is expected to contribute to further boosting the French–Vietnam cooperation, he added.

Holtzer Gérard, one of the oldest students in the programme, shared that he is especially interested in the programme.

“I enrol in the programme not only to learn the Vietnamese language but also to learn about history and sociology,” he said.

According to Dam Minh Thuy, head of the Faculty of French Language and Culture under ULIS, this programme provides young French people with an opportunity to learn more about Vietnamese culture, and offeres a valuable chance for Vietnamese French people to connect with their homeland.

Shadow Entertainment brings Road to ONE series to Việt Nam

Shadow Entertainment has announced a strategic partnership with ONE Championship to push the development of national martial arts.

ONE is the world's largest martial arts organisation, hosting fights across many styles including MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and more.

ONE broadcasts globally to more than 190 countries with an extensive list of partners, which includes Amazon Prime Video Sports, Globo’s Combate, beIN Sports, Abema, Disney+ Hotstar, among others.

Shadow Entertainment is operating in the field of managing and training professional boxers and martial artists and organising sporting events.

It is home to more than 30 local and international athletes such as WBA Asia champions Trương Đình Hoàng, Eric Pen and Lê Hữu Toàn as well as Muay Thai WBC winner Nguyễn Kế Nhơn and WBC Muay Thai International champion Trương Cao Minh Phát.

Following their partnership agreement, Shadow Entertainment proudly announced a professional selection tournament entitle Road to ONE: Việt Nam, realising Vietnamese fighters' dreams to be parts of the world elite competition.

The winner of the event, scheduled in second quarter of 2024, will receive a big contract to compete on ONE Championship's global stage of martial arts which lures the attention of millions of supporters.

“Road to ONE: Việt Nam is a big jump of Shadow Entertainment in its roadmap to bring Vietnamese boxers to the international professional arena," said Jenny Do, CEO of Shadow Entertainment.

"The cooperation agreement with One Championship and the Road to ONE: Việt Nam will be solid foundation for Việt Nam's combat sports. It also creates playing ground for professional athletes of Muay Thai, kick boxing and MMA in Việt Nam.

"The tournament will also be a great opportunity to introduce and promote Việt Nam's long-standing martial arts heritage to the world."

The Road to ONE series will give martial artists from all over the world a chance to showcase their talents on the global stage. The victors will not only achieve glory but also earn their shot at a coveted roster spot in the promotion.

Road to ONE will pit the best Muay Thai fighters in the world against one another, as participants will vie for guaranteed contracts worth $100,000.

Road to ONE: Việt Nam will be organised and produced according to the strict standards of One Championship, promising fierce fights in the ring.

It will expectedly set a new standard for martial arts events in the country, aiming to improve the quality of martial arts and competitors. 

Cải lương star, pop singer release MV on YouTube

Meritorious Artist Thoại Mỹ, a veteran cải lương (reformed opera) performer, and young singer H’Kray have released a new music video on YouTube.  

The MV Phấn Hoa Màu Son (Scarlet Flower) is a production that combines pop music and cải lương, a gerne of Vietnamese theatre which began 100 years ago in the South. 

It portrays a cải lương actress, her career and love.

In the MV, Mỹ and H’Kray perform vọng cổ (nostalgia tunes), a type of traditional Southern music that is used in cải lương plays.

Vọng cổ songs are always performed at traditional festivals and anniversaries in the Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta provinces of Cần Thơ, Sóc Trăng, Cà Mau and Bạc Liêu.

They feature the hopes and dreams of southern people. These songs are popular among farming families who love singing vọng cổ after a hard day of working in the fields.

The MV Phấn Hoa Màu Son attracted more than 60,000 views after just one day of its release on October 1.

“I love the music in Phấn Hoa Màu Son by young singer-songwriter H’Kray. His song about the love of a cải lương actress for her art left a very strong impression in my heart,” said Mỹ, who has been a cải lương singer for 35 years. 

Mỹ began her love for cải lương when she was a child. Her first lessons came from her older sister, People’s Artist Thoại Miêu, a guru of the art. 

She was a theatre star in the 1990s-2000s and performed for several leading theatres in the region, including Trần Hữu Trang Cải Lương Theatre of HCM City.  

She won 20 top prizes and golden medals at national theatre festivals and contests. 

She organised two live shows in 2005 and 2007, attracting audiences of more than 10,000 in HCM City. 

She has worked with art schools to offer training courses providing young participants with performance skills in singing vọng cổ (nostalgia tunes) and cải lương. 

“Cải lương is a very unique and old genre of traditional theatre from the south. I will work until my last breath to expand this art among young generations,” said 53-year-old Miêu.  

H’Kray, 23, began his career in 2015. His music targets teenagers, and he is also a Tiktoker. 

“I fell in love with cải lương from my grandmother, who often listens to the music on the radio,” said H’Kray. “I hope my video Phấn Hoa Màu Son on YouTube will help young fans learn more about cải lương - the spirit of the Southern people." 

Việt Nam should focus on skilled labour force to enhance productivity

Việt Nam needs to accelerate the development of a skilled labour force, especially individuals with advanced skills, in order to meet the demands of the labour market, enhance labour productivity and increase national competitiveness, experts have said.

On the occasion of Việt Nam's Labour Skills Day (October 4), Nguyễn Bích Lâm, former general director of the General Statistics Office, highlighted the pivotal role of labour skills in determining the productivity and effectiveness of employees in Việt Nam.

Figures from the General Statistics Office showed that the labour productivity in Việt Nam experienced an annual increase of 4.65 per cent on average during the years of 2021 and 2022. However, this growth rate fell short of the targets outlined in the socio-economic development plan for the 2021-25 period and the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for the 2021-30 period. These plans set a target of achieving an average annual labour productivity growth rate of over 6.5 per cent.

That meant to reach the goals for the 2021-25 period, Việt Nam must strive for an annual labour productivity increase of around 7.8 per cent in the next three years.

"This presents a significant challenge for Việt Nam's economy. The practical development of the country has shown that accelerating labour productivity growth is crucial for the competitiveness of the economy," he said.

Lâm also pointed out that there were issues with the current training structure, a shortage of highly skilled workers, and a significant gap between vocational education and the labour market's demands.

Some workers lacked training in discipline and some workers lacked teamwork skills, cooperation and risk-taking abilities, and were hesitant to innovate.

These were barriers to improving labour productivity, he said.

A representative of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ General Department of Vocational Education noted that Việt Nam had a relatively abundant labour force compared to many countries in the region and the world.

However, there were still imbalances in the labour force structure by education level and economic sectors. Only 26.4 per cent of the labour force had vocational certificates.

The labour market still saw an imbalance in labour supply and demand between regions, areas, and economic sectors. Informal labour and unskilled labour still dominated, making this sector the weakest in terms of occupational skills.

Commenting on the labour market's demand in the Mekong Delta, a region with unique importance, potential, and advantages in key economic sectors, Vice President of the HCM City’s Vocational Education Association Trần Anh Tuấn said the labour market in Việt Nam, especially in the key economic region in the South and the Mekong Delta, has shown continuous growth.

Tuấn said the technical expertise of labourers through training has increased rapidly in terms of quantity, but it was not met with the labour market's demand, especially the demand for high-quality labour.

He forecast that in the future, the labour structure would shift from simple occupations to specialised technical jobs, making manual labour less competitive.

Đặng Thị Hồng Diệp of the Trade Union University suggested that functional agencies develop and provide training programmes to enhance vocational skills for fresh graduates before they enter the workforce and programmes to improve skills for workers during their employment. These programmes should be tailored to the specific needs of different employer groups.

Encouraging employers to participate in skill training and organising short-term skill training courses for their employees was also important, she added.

Nguyễn Thị Lê Uyên from the HCM City’s Institute for Research and Development said retraining and upskilling for employees would include two directions.

Firstly, training and retraining employees within the same field or industry, but with a focus on embracing new technologies. For instance, transitioning from traditional agriculture to high-tech agriculture, or from manual textile and garment manufacturing to industrial, high-tech, and automated processes.

Secondly, retraining employees to switch careers due to the obsolescence of old professions. For example, moving from agriculture to industry or services, or from industry to control and automation, she said. 

Long An eyes 60,000 hectares of high-tech rice cultivation

The Mekong Delta province of Long An is striving to have 60,000 hectares of rice under cultivation utilizing high-tech equipment and practices by 2025, according to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Thanh Truyen.

Zoning off land for high-tech rice will help form a stable large-scale material area that contributes to improving the value of the rice supply chain and ensuring food security, he said, describing it as a bold step for effective rice production and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The high-tech rice farming in Long An has proved efficient. To date, the province is home to nearly 47,200 hectares of rice cultivated with advanced technologies, accounting for 78.6% of the goal set for 2025.

The areas yield some 7,200-7,500 kilogrammes per hectare, or 300 kilogrammes higher than those planted with traditional methods.

The high-tech cultivation model helps farmers save an average of 1.4 million VND (57.61 USD) in production costs, while earning 27 million VND in profit for each hectare, or 3.2 million VND higher than other models.

Particularly, it enables farmers to reduce the amount of seedlings and the use of herbicides and pesticides, as well as change production practices towards modernisation and improvement of productivity and income.

According to Mai Van Ret, a farmer in Hung Thanh commune, Tan Hung district, his family has 6 hectares of rice cultivated under the high-tech model, which results in stable productivity, input cost reductions, and higher prices.

Director of the Huong Trang Agricultural Service, Production and Trade Cooperative in Moc Hoa district Tran Van Sua said that the cooperative is developing large-scale agricultural production in an area of 600 hectares, with mechanisation put in place from soil preparation, seedling plantation to harvest and preservation.

The cooperative has also worked to ensure stable markets for local farmers, he added.

According to the local agriculture sector, the province is on the right track to branch out the high-tech rice cultivation model. Advanced technologies have been applied to bring about production efficiency, while farmers’ awareness of the benefits of mechanisation in farming has been raised.

Truyen said the sector will continue working to develop high-tech rice cultivation, and carry out the mechanisation model together with the one that helps cut the amount of mineral fertilizers.

It will focus on human resources training to serve the development of high-tech agriculture, mobilise capital for construction of irrigation works, and support cooperatives to find markets for their products.

Book on Cuba-Vietnam relationship introduced

The National Political Publishing House held a ceremony in Hanoi on October 3 to introduce the book entitled "Cuba - Vietnam: Two Nations, One History”.

The event was part of activities to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of leader Fidel Castro’s visit to Vietnam and the southern liberated zone.

The Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and Commission for Information and Education, and the National Political Publishing House translated and published the book from its original Spanish version.

Speaking at the event, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the publishing house Asso. Prof Vu Trong Lam noted that the book by Dr. Ruvislei González Saez, Vice President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association and Director of the International Relations Programme in Cuba, documents the important milestones in the enduring and steadfast relationship between Vietnam and Cuba over the past more than six decades since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1960.

According to Lam, the book is a chronicle of events, systematically documenting significant events in the bilateral relationship. It covers a wide range of events, from high-level visits, exchanges to bilateral cooperation in various fields. The book is complemented by a rich collection of photos that vividly depict the enduring fraternal friendship between the two nations though they are geographically distant.

The translation, publication and release of this book could be seen as a spiritual gift dedicated to the fraternal Cuban people and generations of the Vietnamese and Cuban people who have made significant contributions to building, preserving and fostering this special solidarity and friendship, he said.

First cold air wave to send temperatures tumbling on weekend

The northern region of Vietnam is likely to brace itself for the first cold air wave of this winter this weekend, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF). The 2023-2024 winter is forecast to be not as cold as in previous years.

It will probably be a weak cold snap that may cause temperatures to drop by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, said NCHMF experts.

It will be a bit cool at night but warm in the daytime, added the experts.

Northern localities are experiencing a warm air wave in a couple of days before the arrival of the cold front, with daytime temperatures ranging from 24 to 32 degrees Celsius.

Scattered showers will then spread the whole region on October 7, causing temperatures to fall.

According to weather experts, the 2023-2024 winter will be not as cold as in previous years, with temperatures staying between 0.5 – 1 degrees Celsius higher than the average.

Resorts World One cruise ship brings 1,500 foreign visitors to Nha Trang

Resorts World One, a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship, docked at Nha Trang port in the southcentral province of Khanh Hoa on October 3, carrying 1,500 foreign tourists onboard.

The majority of the arrivals hail from France, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong (China), Thailand, and Singapore.

This marks the 14th cruise ship to dock at Nha Trang port since the beginning of the year.

Following disembarking, the visitors explored a number of tourist attractions in Nha Trang city, including Tram Huong Tower, Truong Son craft village, Ponagar Tower, Hon Chong island, Dam market, and Mountain Church.

Since the beginning of the year, Khanh Hoa has welcomed a total of 14 cruise ships, bringing more than 19,000 passengers ashore. This month Nha Trang city is expected to receive three other high-class cruise ships.

During the opening nine months of the year, Khanh Hoa received 5.7 million visitors, including 1.45 million foreign arrivals, earning tourism revenue of nearly VND29,000 billion.

Vietnamese players head for AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers

The Vietnamese futsal team coached by Diego Raul Giustozzi departed for Mongolia on October 4 to compete in the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers, an event which will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

To prepare for the Asian competition, the Vietnamese team played two friendlies in the past month, losing 4-1 to Hungary (World No.28) and drawing 3-3 with Russia (World No. 4).
  
Right before flying to Mongolia coach Giustozzi made a shortlist of 15 players, eliminating four players, namely goalkeepers Luu Thanh Bao, and Nguyen Hoang Anh, and pivo Nguyen Tran Duy and Nguyen Van Tuan.

Vietnam will play in Group D alongside Mongolia on October 7, Nepal on October 9 and the Republic of Korea on October 11. They aim to be group winners to progress through to the final round.

A total of 31 Asian futsal teams have been divided into eight groups, with the best eight group winners and seven second-placed teams progressing to the final round, which will also serve as the qualifying round of the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

The Vietnamese team have played in two FIFA Futsal World Cups before, in 2016 and 2020, reaching the knockout-stage in both tournaments.

At the most recent World Cup, they ended their campaign in the round of 16. They are now placed 39th in the global rankings.

Thanh Hoa mountain faces collapse risk

A mountain in the northern central province of Thanh Hoa is at high risk of collapse after being struck by lightning last year.  

Vong Phu Mountain in Thanh Hoa City’s An Hung Ward is a 20-metre-high stone pillar located at An Hoach historical site or Nhoi Mountain area which was recognised as a national heritage in 1992. The site is home to Thuong Temple, Hinh Son Pagoda, Quan Thanh Pagoda and Vong Phu Mountain.

In June last year, Vong Phu Mountain was hit by lightning, causing cracks and tilting at an angle ranging from 10 to 15 degrees from the vertical. If further struck by lightning, it would collapse.

It is easy to see that the mountain is tilted following a landslide caused by lightning.

A previously majestic mountain range, Nui Nhoi has been severely depleted by excessive quarrying.

Hand, foot and mouth outbreak continues

Vietnam recorded a total of 86,078 hand, foot and mouth disease patients in the first nine months of this year, up 75 percent on-year.

As of September, 21 people had died of hand, foot and mouth disease, up 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to the Ministry of Health, most hand, foot and mouth disease patients in Vietnam are affected by Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackie A16, with children under three the hardest hit. 

Over the past week, the country saw 5,250 hand, foot and mouth disease patients with a surge in Hanoi.

The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control reported that Hanoi had witnessed 1,789 hand, foot and mouth disease cases this year, up 1.2 fold on-year. However, no deaths have been recorded.

The return of students after the summer holiday along with weather changes have been partially blamed for the recent hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak. The outbreak seems set to continue increasing in the coming time.

Doctor Do Thi Thuy Nga from the Central Hospital of Paediatrics said that there were two common complications associated with hand, foot and mouth disease related to neurological and respiratory problems. This year, the hospital has seen a considerable rise in cases affected by neurological complications, particularly encephalitis.

Children taken to the hospital remain conscious but display symptoms such as sudden jerks along with trembling and unsteady walking.

To date, no vaccine for hand, foot and mouth disease has been used. Currently, patients are mainly monitored at home, using medicine to reduce fever and ease pain as well as maintain hydration in line with medical instructions.

Parents need to closely monitor their children’s health and ensure they are sent to hospital in good time if suffering from a suspected infection.

North-South high-speed rail project’s steering committee established

The Steering Committee for the construction and implementation of the high-speed railway investment policy project on the North-South axis and other national railway projects has just been established.

On October 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Decision No. 1143/QD-TTg on the establishment of the Steering Committee for the construction and implementation of the high-speed railway investment project on the North-South axis and the country’s key railway projects.

Accordingly, the committee is an inter-sectoral coordination organization to help the Prime Minister research, direct and solve important tasks related to the construction and implementation of the high-speed railway investment project on the North-South axis and national key railway projects, excluding urban railway projects.

The committee is responsible for directing and urging relevant ministries and sectors to successfully conduct Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW dated February 28, 2023 of the Politburo on the construction and implementation of the high-speed railway investment project on the North-South axis and the country’s key railway projects.

Besides, the steering committee was assigned to propose to the Prime Minister solutions, mechanisms and policies for removing obstacles, mobilizing resources, speeding up projects’ progress and organizing the successful implementation of the North-South high-speed railway investment project and national railway projects and so on.

Road leading to Cam Mountain blocked temporarily due to landslide

A landslide with a mass debris flow of rock and soil suddendly occurred at a road leading to Cam Mountain, An Hao Commune, Tinh Bien Town, An Giang Province at 1:30 p.m. on October 3.

The local authorities and functional forces promptly performed a survey right after the landslide.

Currently, there are nearly 400 positions along the slope of Cam Mountain with high risks of landslide and rockfall, causing unsafety for tourists and residents.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tinh Bien Town, An Giang Province Pham Thanh Nhon said that the communal People’s Committee required the Management Board of Tinh Bien Area Construction and Investment Project and An Hao Commune People's Committee to coordinate with the Cam Mountain Tourist Area Management Board to conduct an on-site survey to release initial damage assessments.

According to initial reports, the landslide damaged the road slopes and barriers and affected traffic situation through the area.

Currently, a mass of soil and rocks has spilled on the surface of the route to the top of Cam Mountain and a large amount of water from the top of the mountain continuously poured down.

Following a survey from the Management Board of Tinh Bien Area Construction and Investment Project and the An Hao Commune People's Committee, there are 397 positions with high risks of landslide and rockfall on Cam Mountain.

In order to ensure the absolute safety of the people, the People’s Committee of An Giang Province was required to temporarily ban all vehicles traveling through the route for four days.

Additionally, the Provincial People’s Committee must have a policy of implementing an urgent project against landslides along both sides of the main road going up and down Cam Mountain, enforce and handle the illegally built works and homestays on Cam Mountain.

Thong Nhat Park’s fence to be taken down

Hanoi authorities will remove all fencing around Thong Nhat (Reunification) Park in a plan to turn the entire park into a public space freely accessible to people.

In early December 2022, the first 400 meters of the fence facing Tran Nhan Tong Street were removed to connect the park with the street along the Thien Quang Lake, turning the whole place into a pedestrian zone on weekends, where various cultural and social activities will take place. 

Other sections of the fence remained on Dai Co Viet, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, and Le Duan streets.

The decision is part of the renovation plan that the municipal People's Committee is considering to improve the conditions of the city's public spaces.

According to locals and urban planning experts, the removal of the fence will allow the pedestrian area to host a wider range of large-scale entertainment events.

In addition to removing the fence, local authorities will renovate the park's facilities, add more attractions, and install more surveillance cameras.

The cost of the renovation plan is estimated at VND408 billion (US$16.7 million). Besides Thong Nhat Park, Hanoi will also renovate Thu Le Park (the city's zoo) and Bach Thao (Botanical) Park for a total of VND479 billion (US$19.6 million).

The renovation plans for the three parks are among 30 public investment projects in the capital worth VND15 trillion ($615 million).

Thong Nhat Park was built in 1958. After three years of construction, the park was opened in 1961. It was named after the Vietnamese people's desire for national reunification at that time.

For more than six decades, people were charged to enter the park until December 2022.

Musical tells old Hanoi story
  
The musical entitled "Street Stories of Hanoi during the Subsidy Period" will be premiered on the evening of October 14 at the Youth Theater.

Wishing to evoke memories of the hardships during the subsidy period, artists from the Youth Theatre will stage a special musical about daily life in Hanoi in the 1980s and its dwellers.

Under Vietnam's subsidy regime (1976-1986), goods were distributed according to a coupon system; there was no free trade in the market and no free movement of goods from one locality to another.

Directed and choreographed by Meritorious Artist Le Anh Tuyet, the play recalls the audience's memories of past deprivations, allowing them to appreciate what they have today.

The musical "Street Stories during the Subsidy Period" tells the story of a family of four generations living in Hanoi's Old Quarter. The family's joys, sorrows, conflicts, and even private happiness epitomize the life of people in Hanoi at that time.

Each member of the family has different personalities, occupations, and interests, and they live together under one narrow roof. Many conflicts or humorous situations arose from this. In the end, these little conflicts in life are healed by music. The love of music unites people, resolves conflicts, and erases all existing boundaries. Immersed in music with passionate dances, people realize that life is always beautiful, no matter what happens.

The program features a cast of renowned artists such as Duc Long, Anh Tuyet, Ton Son, Tuan Nghia and others.

The musical soundtrack consists of Hanoi-themed songs and international musical works, including Hoa Sua or Blackboard Flower by Hong Dang, Nho Mua Thu Ha Noi or Remember Hanoi Autumn by Trinh Cong Son, River Babylon by German vocal group Boney M, and others.

HCMC Health Department convenes to determine cause of child poisoning death

On October 4, the HCMC Department of Health will convene an urgent expert panel meeting to investigate the cause of the poisoning further.

Regarding the incident involving the suspected poisoning death of a child who consumed a cream puff during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration on the evening of September 29 at Palm Heights Apartment Complex in Thu Duc City, the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Management Board, in the afternoon of October 3, announced they had coordinated with competent authorities to inspect the Givral bakery store located at No.208 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Ward 21, Binh Thanh District. Samples were collected for testing to determine the cause. No violations were detected during the inspection.

The inspection team did not find any violations of the cream puff production facility at Lot II - 1B Le Trong Tan Street, Tan Binh Industrial Zone, Tay Thanh Ward, Tan Phu District. The inspection team collected six samples for testing, including one cream puff sample and five raw material samples used in cream puff production. The team continues to cooperate with the Thu Duc City Police in their investigation of the incident involving Givral Bakery Joint Stock Company. They also collaborate with the Thu Duc City People's Committee to promptly address the situation, minimize its impact on consumer health, and coordinate with hospitals for the best treatment of the victims.

Later that evening, during an interview with reporters from SGGP Newspaper, Associate Professor - Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, Director of the Department of Health of HCMC, revealed that as soon as they received rapid reports from hospitals where patients with suspected food poisoning due to consuming cream puffs were being treated, the Department of Health promptly deployed a team of medical experts to investigate and evaluate the food poisoning situation among residents living in Palm Heights.

As reported by the HCMC Department of Health, during the night of October 1 through the night of October 2, Le Van Thinh Hospital, Children's Hospital No.1, and Children's Hospital No.2 admitted several child patients who reside in Palm Heights. These patients presented symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. At present, all the child patients are awake, displaying stable vital signs, and are under close monitoring at specialized hospitals.

The HCMC Department of Health has issued directives for hospitals to allocate resources to treat the affected child patients. Simultaneously, they have instructed the HCMC Center for Disease Control to cooperate with the HCMC Food Safety Management Board and the Thu Duc City Health Center in conducting epidemiological investigations and toxic substance testing to prevent similar poisoning incidents proactively. This morning, on October 4, the HCMC Department of Health will convene an urgent expert panel meeting to investigate the cause of the poisoning further.

Tokyo-based established gallery to present Vietnamese painters’ artworks

A painting exhibition featuring artworks of Vietnamese painters will open at a Tokyo-based established contemporary gallery, TomuraLee on October 6 in HCMC.

The display entitled “Connecting with…” will present 23 pictures with a range of different art themes and styles, such as abstract art, minimalism, and visual art created by artists namely Le Thiet Cuong, Tao Linh, Pham Tran Quan, Hoang Phuong Lien.

TomuraLee was established in November 2019 by Ms. Lee who had opened the gallery for 10 years in Seoul and Mr. Tomura who worked for the oldest contemporary gallery in Japan. The gallery’s organizers hold Japanese young artists and famous artists exhibition and cooperate with overseas galleries and collectors, and handle the works of well-known artists.

TomuraLee contemporary gallery will be officially opened in HCMC in October serving as a venue for displaying paintings, of emerging and veteran painters from Vietnam, Japan, South Korea and countries around the world, and ceramics, sculptures, art installations and antiques.

Pre-feasibility study report of Hanoi’s metro line No.5 approved

The State Appraisal Council has approved the pre-feasibility study report of Hanoi’s urban metro line No.5 project from Van Cao Road to Hoa Lac Road.

According to Decision No.1514, which was signed by the head of the council and also Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, project No.5 consists of 14 content areas for appraisal.

The preliminary total investment for the project is estimated to be 65.4 trillion VND (2.68 billion USD), using the city’s budget.

The metro line No.5 will be built following the standard double-track gauge of 1,435mm as it connects the major stations of Van Cao, Ngoc Khanh, Lang, and Hoa Lac. With a total length of 38.43 kilometres, the route runs 6.5 kilometres underground, two kilometres on elevated sections and 29.93 kilometres at ground level.

The project includes 21 stations, including six underground stations, one elevated station, and 14 ground-level stations.

Depot No1 is located in Son Dong commune in Hoai Duc district, covering an area of approximately 18 hectares. Depot No2 is located in Yen Binh commune, Thach That district, covering an area of approximately 6.9 hectares.

The plan is to have 26 four-carriage trains operating in 2025 which will increase to 37 four-carriage trains in 2035 and more 38 six-carriage trains in 2050. Further clarification will be provided regarding the suitable train operation plan to meet transportation needs and maximise the effectiveness of investment funds.

To secure the funds for the construction of metro line No.5, the project is balanced within the mid-term public investment plan for the 2021-2025 period, with additional allocations possible in the 2026-2030 period.

The project is expected to operate trial runs at the end of 2025.

The metro line No.5, passing through the capital city’s inner districts of Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Cau Giay, Nam Tu Liem and outer districts of Hoai Duc, Quoc Oai and Thach That, will connect crowded residential areas with the satellite residential area of Hoa Lac, in a bid to reduce population density in overcrowded districts.

The urban metro line No.5, once established, will connect with metro lines No2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, enabling quick and convenient commuting from suburban areas to the city centre.

Vietnam urges comprehensive, breakthrough measures for sustainable development

Minister Counsellor and deputy head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations Nguyen Hoang Nguyen has called for comprehensive and breakthrough measures to realign the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development back on track.

Addressing the discussions of the Economic and Financial Committee of the 78th-tenure United Nations General Assembly that took place in New York on October 3-4, Nguyen said the global issues continue hurting the progress of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with only 15% of the goals being in place according to their set timelines.

The Vietnam's representative urged for stronger actions in three main aspects. In economy and finance, he said there is a need to accelerate the reform of the international financial structure and deploy the SDG Financing Package to pool resources in support of developing countries.    
       
On social issues, he suggested continued focus on poverty eradication by strengthening food security, investing in education and ensuring sustainable employment and social welfare for all citizens.

Regarding environment concerns, he proposed a push for climate action and increased climate finance, supporting developing nations in transitioning to clean energy, realising the Loss and Damage Mechanism under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the upcoming 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), and expediting the fulfillment of biodiversity targets set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

As a member of the core group advocating for the Resolution on UN Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development for 2023-2034, Vietnam called on developed countries to step up technology transfer, financial and technical support to enable developing nations to leverage the opportunities of the digital age.

The diplomat affirmed that Vietnam always wishes to continue partnering with the international community to achieve the SDGs by 2030. 

Delegates at the event looked into difficulties and challenges facing the international community, stressing the need for collective efforts and coordinated actions to effectively roll out economic, financial and sustainable development measures.

Vietnam-South Africa relationship enters new development period: President Cyril Ramaphosa

President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa has noted with pleasure developments of the Vietnam-South Africa relationship, which is entering a new period as the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (1993-2023).

At a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador Hoang Sy Cuong, who came to present President Vo Van Thuong’s credentials, in Pretoria on October 3, Ramaphosa asked the diplomat to convey his regards to President Thuong and other leaders of Vietnam.

For his part, Cuong conveyed regards from Vietnamese Party and State leaders to President Ramaphosa and expressed his wish to receive support from the President and government of South Africa during his tenure, pledging to contribute to strengthening the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on economic, trade and investment ties.

Vietnam and South Africa are celebrating the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties with diverse activities in different channels, notably the visit to South Africa by Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on September 13-16.

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