Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 6 issued an official dispatch on accelerating the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses across the nation.

Under the dispatch, the PM acknowledged enthusiastic response of ministries, agencies, Secretaries of the provincial and municipal Party Committees, Chairmen of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, businesses and individuals to the emulation movement on joining hands to remove temporary and dilapidated houses by 2025 launched by the Prime Minister in the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh on April 13.

He expressed his belief that the movement will continue creating strong and widespread motivation among the public, helping realise the set goal.

The Government leader ordered cities and provinces’ enhancement of their self-reliance as well as rational mechanisms enabling localities to provide support for those with difficulties in eliminating houses in poor conditions, adding it is necessary to mobilise ministries, agencies, businesses, banks, organisations and individuals both domestically and internationally to assist the work.

He called for concerted efforts and drastic actions of sectors and localities to complete the set goal by December 31 next year, with housing support for people who rendered service to the nation, housing assistance under the national target programmes and one under the removal of temporary and dilapidated houses for local residents.

The Ministry of Construction was ordered to urge the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to study and design several housing models, meeting technical and quality requirements as well as ensuring they are suitable with culture, practices and features of each locality and region.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was asked to join hands with competent ministries and agencies to make reports and propose the establishment of a central steering committee on implementation the elimination work to the Prime Minister before October 10, with the Prime Minister being the head of the committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs deputy heads. Besides, members of the committee include leaders from the Ministries of Construction, Finance, Planning and Investment, National Defence and Public Security and State Bank of Vietnam and General Director of Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam News Agency.

The committee will be responsible for proposing the Prime Minister solutions and specific ways to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses across the nation, assuring the work’s progress.

The Government’s Office was ordered to keep close tabs on the implementation of the official dispatch and report to the Prime Minister on any issues that exceed its authority./.

Vietnam to play in friendly match against India on FIFA Days

Korean coach Kim Sang-sik has called up 27 players for training to prepare for a friendly match against India on FIFA Days in October, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced on October 5.

The list of the Vietnamese team see many changes, notably the return of outstanding faces such as defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh, midfielder Le Pham Thanh Long, To Van Vu, Chau Ngoc Quang and veteran striker Nguyen Van Quyet.

Besides, coach Kim also increased the youthfulness for the squad by summoning U23 players such as goalkeepers Nguyen Van Viet and Tran Trung Kien; defender Giap Tuan Duong, midfielders Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong and Nguyen Thai Son; and strikers Nguyen Dinh Bac, Bui Vi Hao and Nguyen Quoc Viet.

In a relating move, the VFF also confirmed that the Lebanese Football Federation sent a letter of apology to announce their withdrawal from the international friendly tournament coinciding with the FIFA Days in October 2024. The tournament will be hosted by Vietnam at Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh province.

Initially, Vietnam were set to face India on October 9 and Lebanon on October 15, while the Indian and Lebanese teams were scheduled to meet on October 12. All matches were to be counted according to FIFA rankings.

With Lebanon's withdrawal, Vietnam risk only playing one match on the FIFA Days, potentially impacting their preparation for the ASEAN Cup at the end of the year.

There are only two FIFA Days left in October and November for coach Kim to test his squad and tactics. Since replacing Philippe Troussier in June 2024, the Korean coach has struggled to make a significant impact, with the team losing their last three matches against Iraq, Russia and Thailand.

Currently, the VFF has no plans to find a replacement opponent for the Vietnamese team. Inviting another national team for a friendly match is challenging at this time, as many have already scheduled their fixtures. Vietnam may end up playing two matches against India, who will also be one match down due to Lebanon's withdrawal./.

Top leader pays floral tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh in France's Montreuil

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and a high-ranking delegation of Việt Nam laid flowers in tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh at his statue in Montreau Park in Montreuil City, France, on October 6.

After a moment of silence in memory of the late leader, Lâm expressed appreciation for the Montreuil authorities in preserving valuable documents and memorabilia of President Hồ Chí Minh.

He showed his joy at witnessing the flourishing development of the Việt Nam-France Strategic Partnership based on the friendly and traditional relations and mutual trust, stressing that cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities is a distinctive feature of the bilateral relations, contributing to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and cultural interactions between the two countries.

The leader affirmed that Việt Nam always considers France a key European partner, and choosing France for his first visit to Europe in his position as the top Vietnamese leader demonstrates the strong determination of the Vietnamese Party and State to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation with France.

Mayor of Montreuil Patrice Bessac emphasised that Lâm's trip to the city is a strong testament to the friendship between the Vietnamese and the French peoples.

The same day, Lâm and the Vietnamese delegation visited the Hồ Chí Minh space in the Museum of Living History in the French city, during which the top leader said the trip helped the delegation gain a deeper understanding of President Hồ Chí Minh's immense sacrifices on the path to find a way to save his country, and the goodwill and valuable support that Montreuil authorities and French friends have for Việt Nam and the traditional friendship between the two countries.

The space, which was inaugurated on the occasion of the 110th birth anniversary of President Hồ Chí Minh (May 19, 2000), preserves valuable images and artefacts related to the great Vietnamese leader's life and activities while he stayed in France. It is considered to be one of the cultural heritage pieces of Montreuil. 

Top leader attends inauguration of memorial plaque honouring President Hồ Chí Minh in French city

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm on Sunday attended the inauguration of a memorial plaque honouring President Hồ Chí Minh, a national liberation hero and an outstanding cultural figure of Việt Nam, in France's Sainte-Adresse City.

It is placed in the city's Masquelier Place, in front of the house that President Hồ Chí Minh used to live in, which is now used as a place to organise community activities of the city.

The commemorative plaque is engraved with French and Vietnamese words saying that from 1911-1912, President Hồ Chí Minh lived and worked in the city of Sainte-Adresse in the Masquelier area on his long journey for the future of Việt Nam.

Addressing the event, Lâm highly valued the city's consideration of this plaque as a heritage site, and thanked French people, loyal friends of Việt Nam, who have always strived to preserve historical sites that mark President Hồ Chí Minh's journey to find a way to salvage the country.

He highlighted that President Hồ Chí Minh, a shining example of Vietnamese people's spirit and characteristics, a UNESCO-recognised Hero of National Liberation and a Great Man of Culture of Việt Nam and the world, left a precious heritage belonging to the common memory that all have the responsibility to honour and preserve.

The newly-inaugurated plaque will become a place of remembrance for Vietnamese people as well as for all peoples who strive for peace and independence. This is also one of the pieces of evidence that link the historical relationship between Việt Nam and France, said the Vietnamese top leader, highlighting the growing relations between the two countries through the ups and downs in the history and the contributions by President Hồ Chí Minh to the development of this ties.

He said he hopes Sainte-Adresse will conduct more exchange and cooperation activities with Vietnamese cities, contributing to strengthening bilateral multifaceted cooperation at all levels, and enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

For his part, Sainte-Adresse Mayor Hubert Dejean de la Batie said that the memorial plaque aims to make a historical mark for not only Việt Nam but also France. It contributes to expressing the sentiments, friendship, and solidarity of the people of Sainte-Adresse city in particular and French people in general towards President Hồ Chí Minh and the Vietnamese people, he said.

Earlier, General Secretary and President Lâm visited the Sainte-Adresse city hall and wrote on the memorial book there, expressing his belief that on the basis of the common history and the noble human values left by President Hồ Chí Minh, the traditional ties and close cooperation between Việt Nam and France in general and with the city of Sainte-Adresse in particular will be increasingly consolidated and developed. 

Top leader meets with Mauritania's President in Paris

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm had a meeting with President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who is currently the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), in Paris on October 5 (local time).

At the meeting, held within the framework of his trip to France for the 19th Francophonie Summit, Lâm highly valued the growing traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He said that Việt Nam always remembers the valuable support and assistance that the Government and people of Mauritania gave Việt Nam in the struggle for national independence.

Lâm hailed the role of Mauritania as the Chair of the AU, and thanked the AU for creating favourable conditions for Việt Nam to finalise procedures to become an official observer of the AU from December 2023.

For his part, Ghazouani congratulated Việt Nam on the country's achievements so far, regarding Việt Nam as a success example for African countries, including Mauritania. He expressed his belief that Việt Nam will be an active bridge for AU-ASEAN cooperation.

Regarding orientations to promote Việt Nam-Mauritania relations, the two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels and through all channels, contributing to further deepening political trust and creating new momentum for bilateral cooperation in the coming time.

On this occasion, Lâm invited the President of Mauritania to visit Việt Nam at an appropriate time. 

Top leader meets Swiss President, Armenian Prime Minister in Paris

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm had meetings with Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation and head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport; and Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, on the occasion of his attendance at the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris on October 5.

Meeting Amherd, Lâm thanked Switzerland for assisting CHF$1 million (US$1.16 million) and sending experts and equipment to help Việt Nam address consequences of Typhoon Yagi.

He said that the bilateral friendship and cooperation have been developing well after more than half a century of establishing diplomatic relations; and proposed both sides continue to develop their relations commensurate with their potential in the coming time.

The two leaders agreed to increase delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels and channels to create new momentum for bilateral cooperation in all fields, and strive to conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), continue to research and expand cooperation in the fields of education-training, science and technology, innovation, climate change response, digital transformation and green transformation to facilitate the elevation of bilateral relations to a new level at an appropriate time.

Amherd assessed Việt Nam as an increasingly important economic partner of Switzerland in the region, affirming that Việt Nam is a high priority partner in her country’s development cooperation. She also affirmed her readiness to support Việt Nam in implementing international commitments on climate change response.

The two sides vowed to strengthen coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and cooperation mechanisms, especially the United Nations (UN), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), the ASEAN-Switzerland Sectorial Dialogue Partnership, the World Economic Forum (WEF); and jointly contribute to efforts to maintain peace, security and stability in the two regions and in the world.

Lâm proposed the Swiss Government continue to create favourable conditions for the 8,000-strong Vietnamese community living, studying and working in Switzerland so that they can actively contribute to Switzerland’s socio-economic development and act as a bridge to enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

At Lâm’s meeting with the Armenian Prime Minister, the two leaders emphasised the importance of the good traditional friendship between the two countries. The Vietnamese leader affirmed that his country wishes to promote multifaceted and substantive cooperation with Armenia to effectively exploit their cooperation potential, especially in economics and trade.

Nikol Pashinyan suggested the two countries’ relevant agencies coordinate closely with each other to promote the implementation of signed agreements. On this occasion, he expressed his wish to welcome the Vietnamese top leader to visit Armenia at an appropriate time. 

Top Vietnamese leader meets with IOF Secretary General in Paris

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and State President Tô Lâm had a meeting with Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) Louise Mushikiwabo on October 5 (local time) as part of his trip to France for attendance at the 19th Francophonie Summit and an official visit.

At the event, Lâm said he appreciates the sound relations and cooperation between Việt Nam and the OIF as well as the contributions by the organisation and Mushikiwabo to bolstering the Francophone solidarity and cooperation for peace, stability and development.

Lâm took the occasion to ask for OIF to accelerate tripartite cooperation models to support African countries in agriculture and South-South collaboration, while continuing to step up the implementation of cooperation programmes and projects in education, French language teaching, and scientific research and startup in French.

He also urged the OIF to continue backing ASEAN’s efforts in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, including the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), and supporting the settlement of disputes via peaceful means on the basis of respecting international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Mushikiwabo, for her part, welcomed Việt Nam’s attendance at the summit, affirming the country is an indispensable factor in the Francophone community and acknowledging its positive contributions to the community’s agencies.

In a constructive, frank and open spirit, the two sides discussed orientations to bolster the cooperation between Việt Nam and the Francophone community, particularly in the areas of economy, trade, investment and cooperation for sustainable tourism.

Lâm invited Mushikiwabo to visit Việt Nam in the coming time. 

NA Chairman asks HCM City to remove policy obstacles

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn on Saturday asked HCM City to remove obstacles in terms of mechanisms and policies to grow further, matching its potential and advantages.

The top legislator made the request while chairing a session with the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee on the implementation of the NA’s Resolution No 98/2023/QH15 on piloting some special mechanisms and policies for the city’s development, and Resolution No 57/2022/QH15 on the investment plan for the Belt Road No 3 project in the southern largest economic hub.

The leader highlighted the Party and the State’s attention to HCM City’s socio-economic development, national defence and security, and political system building.

He hailed the city’s socio-economic achievements in the past nine months, with a growth rate of 6.8 per cent, saying to achieve the yearly target of 7.5 per cent, it must reach 9 per cent in the fourth quarter.

The NA leader said the legislature has approved laws relating to land, housing, real estate, and credit institutions, asking HCM City to review its issued documents to put the laws in place.

The southern largest economic hub was asked to raise its competitiveness, productivity, and human resource quality to prepare for the municipal Party Congress, and all-level Party Congresses, towards the 14th National Party Congress, and the elections of the 16th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2026-2031 term.

Regarding public investment disbursement, Mẫn asked HCM City to trace the root causes of its sluggishness over the past nine months as the rate stood at only 20.2 per cent.

At the working session, the Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Văn Mãi reported the city’s socio-economic situation, as well as issues regarding major projects on Belt Road No 4, urban railway, and international financial centre, among others.

Delegates touched upon how to tangle knots in the implementation of the resolutions in HCM City. 

Lai Chau Tourism-Culture Week 2024 slated for November

The Lai Chau Tourism-Culture Week 2024 will take place from October 8-11 with a set of diverse activities, highlighted by a Vietnam-China art exchange, and a sanctioned Marathon event.

Activities to be held during the week include the introduction of Lai Chua tourism, the screening of video clips featuring local tourist destinations, the promotion of OCOP products and typical farm produce of many localities. The festivities will involve eight Northwestern provinces and neighbouring localities, HCM City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and even Chinese localities.

A cultural space will be organised to spotlight the cultural identity of local ethnic communities, and a tourism space that will feature the beauty of local destinations, together with a photo exhibition and an ornamental plant display.

Lai Chau culinary culture will also be introduced with 20 booth featuring various local and sumptuous dishes.

At the same time, a farmtrip will be held from November 8-9, along with a seminar on building a city tour of the Lai Chau programme.

The Lai Chau Tourism-Culture Week aims to preserve and promote the traditional cultural identities of local ethnic minority groups to domestic and foreign visitors, giving them a deeper insight into the customs, traditions and unique lifestyles of the communities.

The week-long event is also hoped to contribute to foster community connections, and links between different regions of Vietnam, promoting cultural exchanges. In the process, the event is hoped to create momentum for economic development and improving the living conditions for local communities through sustainable tourism activities./.

Hanoi cultural festival for peace features capital city's historical, cultural values

The cultural festival for peace is underway in Hanoi to mark the city's 70th Liberation Day (October 10, 1954-2024) and 25 years since receiving the title “City for Peace”.

The opening ceremony on October 6 drew Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, high-ranking officials from the Party, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, ministries, sectors, agencies and Hanoi, as well as more than 10,000 people.

The festival also attracted representatives from the United Nations in Vietnam and ambassadors from several countries.

After offering incense to King Ly Thai Tho who moved the capital city of Vietnam to Thang Long (Hanoi now) in 1010, delegates attended a special flag hoisting ceremony that re-enacted the first one in Hanoi on October 10, 1954, right after the capital was liberated.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi Tran Sy Thanh underlined that the festival aims to spread the message on the value of culture, peace and creativity of Thang Long-Hanoi people through different periods.

Featuring three main topics of Hanoi on the day of victory, Hanoi - the flow of heritage, and Hanoi - City For Peace - Creative city, the festival recreates the historical milestones of the capital through the ages, introducing and performing tangible and intangible cultural heritages, festivals and typical craft villages of the capital.

One of the highlights of the festival is a performance reenacting the liberation troop's entering the capital city on October 10, 1954, to take over Hanoi, drawing nearly 1,000 soldiers and 200 artists.

Thanh expressing great gratitude to ancestors who founded and developed Thanh Long-Hanoi, President Ho Chi Minh and heroic martyrs, Hanoi residents and overseas Vietnamese community for their contributions to the construction and defence of the capital city.

He said that the festival is a chance to affirm the noble qualities and values of the time-honoured, heroic, peaceful and friendly Hanoi and the Vietnamese nation as a whole, as well as Vietnamese people's aspirations for peace./.

Traditional Vietnamese music, arts shine among French-speaking nations

An art programme featuring Vietnam's unique traditional music and culture was held at the Francophone Village on October 5 as part of the activities on the sidelines of the 19th Francophonie Summit in Paris.

The event attracts large crowds of audiences, showcasing Vietnam's image prominently within the community of French-speaking countries.

The arts of Quan ho love duet singing and Chau van (hat van) singing, folk songs, folk dances imbued with the worship of Mother Goddesses, and traditional musical instruments of Vietnams were introduced at the event, creating a special art programme that received endless applause from the audience.

In Vietnam's exhibition area, visitors had a chance to print Dong Ho folk woodcut paintings - the famous folk art that Vietnam is seeking UNESCO's recognition as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.

Taking place from October 2 - 6, the Francophone Village serves as a venue for exchanging and exploring cultures within the French-speaking nations. With over 60 booths, the event attracted the participation from dozens of French-speaking countries from around the world, allowing attendees to engage in and discover cultural diversity through activities and performances that highlight the creativity and artistic expression of all five continents./.

Late Belgian professor honoured with Vietnam’s Friendship Order

Late Professor Jean Salmon, former Honorary President of the Centre of International Law under the Free University of Brussels, and former member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), has been awarded the Friendship Order of the Vietnamese State in recognition of his great contributions to the Vietnam-Belgium cooperation, especially in international law.

A hand-over ceremony was held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium on October 4 with the participation of the late professor’s relatives, colleagues, and friends.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao, who is also head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU), praised the late professor’s contributions to the bilateral cooperation, saying the order is to honour his tireless efforts in this regard.

The late professor’s wife Denise Mathy Salmon and his son Yvain Salmon thanked Vietnamese leaders and the embassy for their sentiments to Jean Salmon, saying it is their honour to receive order.

Yvain Salmon highlighted milestones in cooperation between his farther and Vietnamese government agencies.

Late Professor Jean Salmon was a distinguished international law scholar, known for his significant contributions to the research and teaching of international law. He played a key role in various cooperation projects on scientific research, legal consultancy, and high-quality personnel training in Vietnam./.

Vietnamese language and culture day held in Brunei

The Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei in collaboration with the University Brunei Darussalam (UBD) organised a Vietnamese language and culture day in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on October 2, drawing crowds of UBD lecturers and students, international friends, Brunei visitors, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador in Brunei Tran Anh Vu said the areas of education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges are priorities in an action programme for implementing the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Brunei in the 2023-2027 period, and they are also areas that attract the active interest and participation of the youth and students of the two countries.

The dipmomat said educational cooperation between the two countries has recorded significant progress with the effective implementation of a Vietnamese language teaching programme at UBD, training collaboration and the exchange of lecturers and students.

He expressed his hope that Brunei students studying Vietnamese will serve as a bridge to spread Vietnamese culture and language to Brunei people, thus further enhancing the cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

Dr. Juliana Shak, Director of the UBD Language Centre, said since the Vietnamese language programme was implemented at UBD in 2022, the number of Brunei students studying Vietnamese has rapidly increased from an initial registration of 12 students to an average of 60 to 90 students in subsequent semesters.

Shak and representatives of the UBD management board showed their desire to further strengthen cooperation activities, student and lecturer exchanges, and training and research cooperation with Vietnamese universities.

Within the framework of the event, a video introducing the Hoi An Ancient Town, which is recognised as a World Cultural Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1999; and the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hoi An, was screened. An exhibition featuring traditional cultural items related to Mid-Autumn fectival such as star lanterns, paper folding lanterns, Mid-Autumn masks, was also organised.

In recent years, UBD has implemented several cooperation programmes with Vietnamese universities in the fields of teaching Vietnamese and English, providing master's and doctoral scholarships for Vietnamese students, and facilitating lecturer and student exchanges. During his official visit to Brunei in February 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited UBD and interacted with Brunei students studying Vietnamese at the university./.

Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2024 promises numerous worth-to-try activities

The Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2024 kicked off on October 4, featuring a wide range of activities linked with the traditional costume of Vietnam.

The event, organised by the municipal People’s Committee, is also an activity marking the 70th anniversary the Capital Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - 2024).

In her opening remarks, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha said the festival has become an annual event held every October with a view to developing a cultural and tourism product that helps popularise Hanoi’s image as a safe, hospitable, quality, and attractive destination, thus contributing to the preservation and development of traditional cultural values, including “ao dai” – a symbol of Vietnamese women.

This year’s festival attracts six “ao dai” artisans and 85 designers from nationwide while featuring nearly 100 booths of “ao dai” designers and brands, along with travel companies.

The three-day event includes various activities, including an “ao dai“ show by professional designers and winners of a design contest, an “ao dai” carnival with the participation of 1,000 people, a photo exhibition of this costume in history, a display of new “ao dai” designs along with tourism services and traditional craft villages’ products, a workshop for visitors to experience the “ao dai” making process, and a space of folk games, among others.

The festival is part of Hanoi’s efforts to boost cultural and tourism development, helping turn the city and Vietnam into top choices of domestic and international travellers.

During the first nine months of 2024, Hanoi welcomed about 21.12 million tourists, including 4.45 million foreigners and 16.66 million domestic visitors, respectively rising 40% and 6% from a year earlier, statistics show./.

Tay Ninh taps into tourism as economic driver

The southern province of Tay Ninh is investing efforts to bolster tourism, one of the breakthroughs in local socio-economic development.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Ngoc said Tay Ninh views 2024 as particularly crucial to the implementation of its five-year economic development plan (2021-2025), and tourism is identified as one of the breakthrough areas.

The province expected to record a growth rate of 7.2% in its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) during the first nine months of 2024, a result attributable to the effective policies and solutions to obstacles.

Tay Ninh recently inked a cooperation deal with the Saigontourist Group with a view to helping maximise local travel potential and advantages. Tourism projects such as the one at the Ba Den Mountain national tourism area, and the project on forest protection and development in connection with eco-tourism on Nhim Island - Dau Tieng Reservoir are receiving fresh development efforts.

During the nine months, a wide range of tourism activities associated with cultural events and cooperation programmes with other localities and businesses were held to attract visitors, connect places of interest in different localities, and design new tours.

Local relic sites, tourist attractions, and lodging establishments have improved infrastructure and services while offering new tourism services to meet the needs of residents and visitors.

As a result, the province welcomed about 4.5 million visitors and earned some 2.38 trillion VND (96 million USD) in tourism revenue during the period, rising 41.7% and 7.1% year on year respectively, statistics show.

Tran Anh Minh, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the sector is stepping up tourism promotion activities and improving service training and quality.

In particular, Tay Ninh has worked to raise awareness of building its image and improving the quality of tourism services through the code of conduct for civilised tourism, thus establishing the province as a civilised, hospitable, and humane destination to attract visitors from far and wide.

He said that in the coming time, localities in Tay Ninh should carry out the plans on tourism quality improvement and stringently improve service excellence through extensive hospitality training.

During the last three months of 2024, the province will work harder to better the quality of cultural and sports activities, including an amateur music festival, 12 sports competitions at the provincial level, and four others at the regional and national levels. It also plans to organise a week to popularise the art of making local vegetarian dishes, and launch a Tay Ninh brand identity kit, he added./.

Bilingual language school helps enhance Vietnam - Laos connection

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam and his spouse visited the Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual language school in Vientiane on October 4, during which they congratulated teachers of the education establishment on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Lao Teacher's Day (October 7, 1994 - 2024).

The Vietnamese diplomat praised the school for positive results it achieved in recent years, especially the increasing quality of education at all levels, the school's strong position in the Lao education sector, and students' significant accomplishments in competitions.

He commended achievements and efforts of the school's teachers in the mission of "training and developing human resources," saying that they have overcome challenges and taken many innovative initiatives in teaching methods to improve the quality of education.

Tam highlighted the necessity for the school to train students that can speak both Lao and Vietnamese languages, while urging the teachers to enhance their professional expertise, be dynamic, creative, and flexible, and adopt new approaches in teaching and learning, thus contributing to training a future generation that is both virtuous and skilled.

According to Principal of the school Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, the school, which spans from kindergarten to high school levels, has nearly 60 teachers and employees, and over 1,000 students, with approximately 30% being children of Vietnamese descent and the remaining students being Lao children.

In the 2021-2022 school year, the school was honourably selected by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos as a pilot school for bilingual Lao-Vietnamese education from grade 1 to grade 12. This initiative aims to expand this training model across Laos, helping the younger generation of Laos gain a deeper understanding of the tradition of special friendship between the two countries.

Regarding the preservation and development of the Vietnamese language, Huong said the school aims to teach Vietnamese as a common language, adding that Vietnamese is always given top priority in the school.

Students are not only taught to read, write, and speak Vietnamese but also receive lessons on Vietnamese culture and history, which are conveyed by the teachers in every lecture, she noted.

Tam took this occasion to present 20 million LAK (over 900 USD) to the school to support activities related to the preservation and development of the Vietnamese language, expressing his hope that the teachers and students will become ambassadors of the Vietnamese language in the country./.

Deputy FM visits adoptive family of Vietnamese child in Dublin

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SOCV) Le Thi Thu Hang visited the family of Eamon McMullen in Dublin on October 3 (local time), expressing gratitude for their adoption of a Vietnamese child named Ngo Huong Thao.

Hang, who accompanied Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on a state visit to Ireland, was delighted at seeing the Vietnamese community in Ireland, with about 5,000 people, leading stable and united lives while contributing to the host country's prosperity.

She praised their efforts to promote Vietnamese culture and teach the native language to younger generations born and raised in Ireland. These people-to-people exchanges, along with cultural, educational and tourism activities are vital to fostering mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations, Hang noted.

The Deputy Minister introduced various annual activities held by SCOV, such as the Vietnam Summer Camp designed for young overseas Vietnamese (OV) and students. She encouraged Thao to excel in her study, explore Vietnamese cultural heritage, and visit the homeland whenever possible.

In a touching moment, Hang also invited Thao to attend the Vietnam Summer Camp, a unique opportunity to strengthen her connection with her roots.

The official expressed her hope that the McMullen family would continue to nurture a supportive environment for Thao, enabling her to learn and maintain her native language, practice Vietnamese cultural traditions, and stay connected with her homeland. She encouraged the family to involve Thao in activities held by the Vietnamese community in Ireland and bring her back to Vietnam whenever possible.

Discovered abandoned in Ve An ward, Bac Ninh province when she was just 2-3 days old, Thao was entrusted to the provincial centre for revolutionary contributors and social protection in December 2007. In May 2008, she found a loving home with the McMullen family in Ireland.

Since the signing of an adoption agreement in 2003, Ireland has emerged as a leading partner of Vietnam in child adoption, providing countless Vietnamese children with loving homes and opportunities for a brighter future./.

‘Ao dai’ wearers offered free city tour on double-decker bus

The Tourism Authority of Hanoi, in collaboration with the Hanoi Transport Corporation, on October 4 organised a city bus programme named “Tinh hoa ao dai” (the quintessence of ‘ao dai’), within the framework of the Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2024.

Accordingly, women and men wearing the traditional dress of Vietnam are offered a free city tour on double-decker buses, which run through the capital city’s tourist attractions such as Hoan Kiem Lake and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

Around 700 passengers are expected to participate in this programme on the day.

A similar programme will be organised on October 10 – the capital’s Liberation Day. It is hoped to draw the participation of 1,010 individuals./.

Prime Minister meets female scientists, engineers from Asia-Pacific

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 4 received delegates to the ongoing conference of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) in the Asia-Pacific as well as leaders of the Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women.

In his address, PM Chinh said the association’s hosting of this annual conference underscores its proactive role in fostering international cooperation in science and technology, particularly at the time when Vietnam freshly celebrated its National Innovation Day (October 1).

The country places great importance on intellectuals, steadfastly pursues sustainable development, and considers science and technology key national priorities, he affirmed. Valuing the role of women, Vietnam is committed to promoting gender equality and developing the contingent of female scientists.

The Government leader extended his gratitude to the network and his hope for its continued collaboration and experience-sharing with Vietnam.

He called on the network to help enable Vietnamese female intellectuals to connect with, learn from, and collaborate with experts, scientists, and high-tech enterprises worldwide. Its support for Vietnam in terms of technology transfer, workforce training, and the improvement of governance, institutions, and policies are also necessary, Chinh said.

The PM expressed hope that the network and the association will make more contributions to the country and the region, as well as the building of a peaceful, fair, humane, compassionate, civilised, and sustainable world.

In response to a proposal by the association to establish a fund in support of young female scientists, the leader assigned the President of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) to work with the finance minister on necessary legal requirements.

Over the past 13 years, the VWU’s Vietnam Association for Intellectual Women has grown to nearly 6,000 members from 12 provinces and cities, 31 research institutes, universities, government agencies, and state-owned and private enterprises.

It once hosted the INWES Asia-Pacific’s conference in 2018. This year’s edition is slated for October 4 and 5 in Hanoi, themed “The Role of Women in Science & Technology and International Integration for Sustainable Development.”/.

Binh Thuan handles fishing boats losing VMS connection

The south-central province of Binh Thuan will take drastic measures to end the state in which fishing boats loss their vessel monitoring system (VMS) connection at sea in a move to clamp down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Chien, competent agencies and localities have been urged to step up communications work to raise fishermen’s awareness of VMS regulations and instruct ship owners and captains how to install and use the VMS software on mobile phones so as to keep close tabs on fishing boats’ monitoring device information.

Besides, they are ordered to enhance direction and coordination in managing, operating and processing the VMS data while reviewing all violations of VMS rules from the outset of the year and handling them in accordance with regulations, he said.

The VMS devices have been installed on all of the 1,943 fishing vessels from 15 metres in length in Binh Thuan province.

Over the past time, the provincial Department of Fisheries have worked around the clock to supervise, detect and handle fishing boats losing contact and crossing the fishing boundaries in a timely fashion.

Since the beginning of the year, 61 fishing boats measuring between 15 and 24 metres have been found staying disconnected to the VMS device for more than 10 days. A total fine of 100 million VND (over 4,000 USD) were meted out to four violation cases./.

ASEAN, Vietnam affirm commitments on social development

ASEAN always takes social development as a top priority associated with commitments to implementing the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development toward building an inclusive, fair and people-centred society, said Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

The ambassador made the remark on behalf of ASEAN countries at a meeting of Committee on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues (Third Committee) of the 79th session of UN General Assembly in New York on October 3.

He highlighted ASEAN’s efforts and outcomes in reducing poverty, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, bringing full play the role and potential of youth, as well as ensuring the rights and welfare of the elderly and people with disabilities.

He affirmed that ASEAN is committed to accelerating the implementation of the social development agenda, the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and its other relevant cooperation frameworks to build a resilient, inclusive community where no one is left behind.

On the same day, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Nguyen Hoang Nguyen said that current urgent challenges, such as conflicts, climate change, disparities in development level and access to education and health services, as well as the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals that have yet to meet the set progress, are negatively affecting social cohesion and stability globally.

Addressing these challenges requires joint and timely efforts from the international community, in which people need to always be placed at the centre of all policies and actions, he added.

Sharing Vietnam's efforts and achievements after nearly 40 years of implementing Doi Moi (Renewal) process, Nguyen affirmed that Vietnam will continue its efforts to improve policies and laws, strengthen international cooperation to build a fair society, and prioritise ensuring welfare and creating favourable conditions for people to develop their potential, thus contributing to the national development./.

Vietnam Fatherland Front’s 10th National Congress to be held this month

The 10th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) for the 2024 – 2029 term will be held in Hanoi from October 16-18, the VFF Central Committee’s standing board announced on October 4.

Specifically, a photo exhibition featuring the great national unity bloc and the front work in the 2019-2024 tenure will be opened on October 16.

The congress’s opening session will take place on October 17 with the participation of leaders of the Party, State, and VFF, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for October 18, during which the standing board and the 10th-tenure VFF Central Committee will make debut.

The congress is expected to draw the participation of nearly 1,400 delegates, including 1,052 official ones.

The number of members of the VFF Central Committee for the 10th term is set at 405, 20 higher than the previous tenure, of them 249 to be re-elected. Meanwhile, its Presidium will comprise 72 members, 10 higher than the ninth term, of whom 49 will be re-elected./.

Cultural tourism requires more investment to become cultural industry

Vietnam has been praised internationally for its cultural resources and tourism development, but much still needs to be done to transform cultural resources into tourism value and cultural tourism into a cultural industry.

Vietnam has been honoured with such accolades as the World’s Leading Heritage Destination, Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination, and Asia’s Leading Culinary Destination by the World Travel Awards.

Though cultural industries have only recently been mentioned in Vietnam, some products creatively taping into cultural values have come into being, helping diversify tourism products, such as real-life shows “The Quintessence of Tonkin”, “Hoi An Memories“, and “Dance in the Clouds”.

In early 2024, the Hanoi Department of Tourism announced 15 nighttime tourism products, most of which are based on local cultural and heritage values, including the night tour of Hoa Lo Prison, the night tour “Decoding the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long”, and the “Legend of Youth” Programme at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum.

However, Dr Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research under the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, pointed out that cultural tourism products in the country still lack creativity, and there remains a shortage of distinctive products of each locality and region. Many resources of cultural tourism have yet to be maximised to match their potential.

Besides, localities haven’t coordinated closely with one another to make use of resources, thus hampering the creation of quality and sustainable tourism products, he opined.

Some experts said to turn cultural tourism into a cultural industry, the key point is how to develop products that truly “touch tourists’ hearts”. To do so, it is necessary to increase the content of creativity in each tourism product to generate unique and impressive experiences for travellers.

Dr Nguyen Thu Hanh, Chairwoman of the Scientific Union for Sustainable Tourism Development, held that for a long time, the tourism sector capitalised on just heritage values of the past but not paid due heed to the values of the present and the future. Moreover, as the connectivity among individual and collective innovators remains limited, there hasn’t been a sustainable value chain for tourism products.

Echoing the view, Dr Trinh Le Anh, a lecturer at the Faculty of Tourism at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said tourism should partner with entertainment, software, and technology sectors, among others to create products attractive to today's tourists, especially the young. He suggested fashion and cuisine be utilised to design distinctive products deeply imbued with local identities.

On August 29 this year, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 30/CT-TTg on the development of Vietnam’s cultural industries. This directive underscored the need to accelerate the application of science, technology, cultural resources, and intellectual property to create products and services with cultural and economic value. It requests the development of cultural industries maximise potential and advantages, and also connect different sectors.

Between January and August, Vietnam welcomed over 11.4 million international visitors, up 45.8% year-on-year, while the number of domestic tourists reached some 89.5 million. Tourism revenue approximated 586.1 trillion VND (23.67 billion USD) during the period.

The country aims to attract 17 - 18 million international visitors in 2024, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism./.

Vietnamese leader To Lam visits French city of Le Havre

Party General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam visited the French city of Le Havre and held a working meeting with city Mayor Edouard Philippe on October 6 as part of his ongoing official visit to France.

To Lam congratulated the city’s leaders and people on their achievements in making Le Havre one of the important gateways for global maritime trade. He emphasized that Le Havre is also a significant site in the revolutionary life of Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and a lively symbol of friendship between the two countries, representing a valuable heritage that showcases the strong historical ties between Vietnam and France.

The Vietnamese leader highly appreciated Philippe’s positive contributions to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and France. He expressed joy at the progress of cooperation between Le Havre and Da Nang, which has helped enhance cooperation with various Vietnamese localities in areas such as people-to-people exchanges, port development, logistics and maritime transport, marine environmental protection, and maritime technology.

Philippe for his part introduced Le Havre as a city rebuilt from the ruins after World War II, which has now become a major port center in France and Europe. He spoke highly of Vietnam’s dynamism and remarkable development, and expressed a desire to enhance cooperation between Le Havre and various Vietnamese localities in areas such as training and high-quality human resource training. He said he would encourage French businesses to increase investments in Vietnam, especially in sectors where Le Havre has strengths.

As the President of the International Association of Cities and Ports (IACP), the Mayor, who has acquired expertise in inland transportation, shipbuilding, and maritime tourism, affirmed his commitment to connecting Vietnamese ports with the global port system.

Both host and guest emphasized that the East Sea is a vital shipping route for global trade, highlighting the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, and safety for maritime and air navigation in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982.

Mayor Edouard Philippe previously served as Prime Minister of France from May 2017 to July 2020. He has visited Vietnam several times, most recently in November 2018 as Prime Minister and again in February 2023 in his capacity as Mayor of Le Havre.

Vietnam, France bolster transport cooperation

Vietnam and France will promote collaboration in railway, sea and inland waterway transport under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Thang and Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) Phillipe Orliange.

The MoU was inked in the framework of the trip to France by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam for attendance at the 19th Francophonie Summit and an official visit to the country from October 3-7.

Accordingly, the two sides will work closely with each other in the planning work to facilitate energy transition, reduce emissions, enhance resilience and recovery, adapt to climate change, while carrying out an action plan on green energy transition of the transport sector. The AFD will support the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport (MoT) at international conferences and forums in prioritised cooperation areas, provide consultations and study to sponsor and transfer non-emission technologies, helping Vietnam develop transport infrastructure, vehicle and equipment.

At the signing ceremony, Minister Thang expressed his delight over the MoU signing in the domains of Vietnam’s interests to concretise its net-zero emissions commitment by 2050 at the 2015 and 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conferences.

Since Vietnam and France established their diplomatic relations in 1973, they have promoted comprehensive cooperation and maintained regular dialogue mechanisms in the domains of economy, politics, culture and defence, he said, adding the European country is currently the fourth largest trading partner of Vietnam in the EU, and accounts for a lion share of the trade relations between the nation and the bloc.

Transport cooperation is among the priorities that the two countries have bolstered over the past year, including that in aviation, railway, maritime and land road, he stressed, elaborating besides several completed projects, they have joining hands to carry out the Nhon – Hanoi Station metro line, using funding from the AFD.

He took the occasion to thank the French agency for providing capital for Vietnam’s railway infrastructure development and expressed his hope that under the assistance and sound coordination from the agency, the project will become operational soon.

Regarding the Hanoi – Hai Phong railway renovation project, Thang said the ministry requested the French Embassy in Vietnam and the French Treasury to provide technical support and make a feasibility study for the project, helping improve the operation capacity and efficacy of the existing Hanoi – Hai Phong railway, taking into account the future construction of the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway.

Philippe Orliange, for his part, spoke highly of the MoU signing, considering it a new step to consolidate the dynamic and positive cooperation between the ministry and agency and the two countries as a whole.

He said that he is willing to promote the implementation of the MoU, affirming he stands ready to share experience and provide capital support for Vietnam in building and developing high-speed railway, the sector of France’s strength and Vietnam’s interest.

Key lawmakers to debate many bills in new meeting

The National Assembly Standing Committee that comprises key lawmakers of the legislature will discuss many bills in a new meeting that is due to open in Hanoi on October 7.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man will deliver the opening remarks and, along with the Vice Chairmen of the National Assembly, take turns chairing the discussions.

Among the bills to be tabled for discussion are those on management and investment of state capital in enterprises; teachers; digital industry; public investment (amended); public-private partnership investment; bidding; accounting; independent auditing; state budget; management and use of public assets; tax administration; national reserves; and data.

The lawmakers will also debate amendments and supplements to certain provisions of the Law on Oversight Activities of the National Assembly and People’s Councils; the Law on Planning; and the Law on Securities.

During the four-day session, the National Assembly Standing Committee will give opinions on a draft resolution of the National Assembly regarding the organization of urban administration in Hai Phong city; and a draft resolution of the National Assembly to pilot a mechanism for handling evidence and property during the investigation, prosecution, and trial of criminal cases.

The committee will look at Government reports on the results of the socio-economic development plan for 2024 and the proposed plan for 2025; the implementation of the state budget for 2024 and the allocation plan for 2025; the implementation of the public investment plan for 2024 and the proposed plan for 2025; as well as the financial plan for 2024 and the proposed plan for 2025.

The lawmakers will review and provide opinions on the investment policy for the National Target Program on Cultural Development for 2025-2035; examine and decide on the adjustment of the public investment plan from the central budget for 2024; offer opinions on the proposed adjustment of the land use planning for 2021-2030 with a vision towards 2050; and look at preparations for the coming year-end session of the National Assembly.

They will also review personnel affairs and approve a proposal to appoint Vietnamese ambassadors abroad.

Vietnamese fishing fish rammed at sea, four crew members rescued in time

Four Vietnamese fishermen have been rescued after their vessel was rammed by an unnamed ship at a fishing ground off the central coast of Nha Trang.

The incident happened at 7p.m. on October 3 at the fishing ground about 123 nautical miles southeast of Hon Tre island of Nha Trang city, central Vietnam, said local authorities.

The collision took place when the fishing vessel BD97543 TS owned by Nguyen Huu K, 64, was catching fish. The vessels was rammed by an unknown vessel, causing it to sink.

The four fishermen on board the vessel quickly jumped into a lifeboat and were rescued by another Vietnamese fishing vessel five hours later.

All the fishermen were in stable health condition.

Ambassador aspires to expand Vietnam-Japan education cooperation

The Vietnam Office of Japan’s Hiroshima University has been inaugurated simultaneously at Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry in Thai Nguyen province and the Government Guest House in Hanoi.

In his opening remarks on October 4, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki recalled late Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s saying, “Talented individuals are the backbone of the nation”, emphasizing that human resource training is a crucial foundation for the development of both countries.

He cited the joint statement on the upgrading of Vietnam – Japan relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership late last year, saying the leaders of both countries agreed to seek measures to strengthen cooperation in higher education, encouraging Vietnamese students to study and research in Japan.

Ito expressed his hope that universities from both countries would further expand their academic network.

“The Vietnam Office of Hiroshima University will help enhance educational and research activities in Vietnam, and to promote global human resource training through cooperation among the government, businesses, and universities. I hope that through this office, Japanese and Vietnamese universities will increasingly broaden their network and strengthen their cooperation further,” said the diplomat.

Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi thanked relevant authorities of Vietnam for their support in making the office operational and congratulated the doctoral candidates who will begin participating in the joint PhD program.

According to Ochi, Hiroshima University aims to develop four training areas: agriculture, semiconductors, carbon neutrality, and smart cities. He assured that the university has prepared the best conditions for Vietnamese researchers to study and conduct research there.

He recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the recent G7 Summit, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnamese ministries and agencies would create all favourable conditions for joint training programs between the universities of the two countries.

Meanwhile, President of Thai Nguyen University Hoang Van Hung noted that Thai Nguyen University has over 83,000 students enrolled in more than 300 training programs covering various fields. He proposed cooperation with Hiroshima University in joint training programs, scientific research, and human resource exchanges, including cultural and sports exchanges.

Vietnam and the OIF enhance cooperation

General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam had a meeting with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, in Paris on October 5 on the sidelines of the 19th Francophonie Summit.

To Lam spoke highly of the positive cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the OIF, as well as the contributions of the OIF and Mushikiwabo personally to promoting solidarity and cooperation within the Francophone community for peace, stability, and development.

Both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Vietnam and the Francophone community, particularly in economic, trade, investment, and sustainable tourism cooperation.

To Lam suggested that the OIF promote tripartite cooperation models to support African countries in agriculture, and South-South cooperation, while also continuing to implement programs and projects in education, French language teaching, scientific research, and entrepreneurship in French.

He urged the OIF to further support the ongoing effort of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, including in the East Sea, as well as in peacefully handling disputes based on respect for international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Mushikiwabo for her part welcomed Vietnam’s engagement in the Francophonie Summit at the highest level, affirming that Vietnam is an indispensable member of the Francophone community. She appreciated Vietnam’s role and positive contributions, including the significant positions held by Vietnamese individuals within Francophone institutions.

At the end of the meeting, To Lam extended an invitation to Louise Mushikiwabo to visit Vietnam in the near future.

Vietnamese leader To Lam meets with world leaders in Paris

Party General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam met with the heads of state and government of Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and Armenia in Paris on October 5, on the sidelines of the 19th Francophonie Summit.

Meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, To Lam reiterated Vietnam’s policy of strengthening its comprehensive partnership with Canada based on mutual benefit and trust, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, and development both regionally and globally.

He thanked Canada for relief aid worth CAD560,000 to help Vietnam recover from the impacts of Typhoon Yagi.

Congratulating Canada on assuming the presidency of the Group of Seven (G7), To Lam affirmed that Vietnam would continue to work alongside Canada and other G7 members to contribute to cooperation efforts, particularly in areas of green growth and sustainable development.

To further enhance the comprehensive partnership, the Vietnamese leader proposed increasing high-level and various other exchanges, improving the effectiveness of existing bilateral dialogue mechanisms, and effectively leveraging opportunities from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) for deeper and more effective cooperation in economics, trade, and investment.

He also called for strengthened collaboration in addressing climate change and at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Agreeing with To Lam’s proposals, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advancing the comprehensive partnership in priority areas, especially in politics-diplomacy, economics-trade, defense, education-training, and people-to-people exchanges. He also reiterated Canadian support for Vietnam’s engagement in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

To Lam requested that Trudeau and the Canadian government continue facilitating the Vietnamese community living and working in Canada. He extended an invitation for Trudeau to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

Trudeau gladly accepted the invitation and expressed his desire to visit Vietnam soon.

During his meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, To Lam reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to its traditional friendship and cooperation with Belgium, an important member of the European Union and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

He appreciated the Belgian Parliament passing a resolution to support victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam in October 2023, and expressed hope that Belgium would continue to assist Vietnam in addressing the consequences of war, particularly for Agent Orange victims.

He urged Belgium to step up the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and support the European Commission in lifting the yellow card against Vietnamese seafood exports. Additionally, he called for increased cooperation in renewable energy, logistics, high technology, artificial intelligence, green development, education and training, and cultural exchanges, while effectively utilizing the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

De Croo expressed sympathy for the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam, commending the Vietnamese people for their resilience in responding to the disaster. He agreed with To Lam’s proposal to strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating climate change.

To further deepen Vietnam-Belgium relations, both leaders agreed to enhance exchanges at all levels, and increase mutual support at multilateral forums for peace, security, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large

Both sides delved into discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern to maintain peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in coastal and oceanic regions, including the East Sea.

They supported the importance of respecting international law and resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

At his meeting with Swiss President Viola Amherd, To Lam thanked Switzerland for supporting Vietnam with CHF1 million and promptly sending equipment and experts to help Vietnam recover from the impacts of Typhoon Yagi.

He noted that that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have been developing positively after more than half a century of diplomatic relations. He proposed that both sides continue to promote bilateral relations in line with their potential in the coming time.

The two sides agreed to enhance delegation exchanges to create new momentum for cooperation across all fields. They vowed to finalize negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and to expand cooperation into areas such as education and training, science and technology, innovation, climate change response, digital transformation, and green transition.

Meanwhile, Amherd noted that Vietnam is an increasingly important economic partner for Switzerland in the region, and a high-priority partner for development cooperation. She expressed Switzerland’s readiness to support Vietnam in fulfilling its international commitments to climate change response.

Both sides emphasized the need to enhance coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and cooperation mechanisms, particularly the United Nations, the International Organization of La Francophonie, the ASEAN-Switzerland Sectoral Dialogue Partnership framework, and the World Economic Forum in Davos. They agreed to contribute to efforts to maintain peace, security, and stability in both regionally and globally.

To Lam asked the Swiss government to further support the community of 8,000 Vietnamese living, studying, and working in Switzerland, who positively contribute to Switzerland's socio-economic development and serve as a bridge to enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

While meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, To Lam affirmed that Vietnam wishes to promote multifaceted and substantive cooperation with Armenia to effectively tap into the potential between the two countries, especially in the fields of economy and trade.

Pashinyan for his part recalled the important agreements reached during his Vietnam visit in 2019, and suggested that both sides closely coordinate to ensure the effective implementation of the signed documents.

On this occasion, he cordially invited the Vietnamese leader to visit Armenia at an appropriate time.

Vietnam values special relationship with Laos

Vietnam and Laos have treasured a special relationship that is an invaluable asset and a rare, exemplary bond characterized by loyalty and purity in international relations, said a senior Vietnamese leader.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam was speaking during his meeting in Paris on October 5 with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, on the sidelines of the 19th Francophonie Summit.

To Lam expressed his appreciation for the mutual support between Vietnam and Laos in overcoming the recent impacts of natural disasters, reflecting the brotherly sentiments and the longstanding tradition of mutual assistance between the two countries.

Sisoulith for his part emphasized that Laos places great importance on its relationship with Vietnam. He highlighted the two countries’ continued efforts to cultivate and develop the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in a sustainable and extensive manner.

The mutual concern and support in addressing the impacts of natural disasters demonstrate the close comradeship and traditional mutual assistance between the two peoples, he said.

The Lao leader conveyed warm regards to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, recalling the positive outcomes of his state visit to Vietnam and the annual meeting between the two Politburos in September 2024.

Both leaders praised the results of bilateral cooperation in implementing major directions agreed upon during their recent meetings, and vowed to closely monitor relevant agencies to effectively implement high-level agreements and cooperative programs between the two sides.

In the context of complex global developments, the two leaders underscored the value of solidarity among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They agreed to continue coordinating with Cambodia to make the trilateral cooperation increasingly substantive and effective, meeting the practical needs of the three countries and aligning with development requirements in the new phase.

Vietnam promotes filming locations at Busan International Film Festival

The Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) in collaboration with relevant agencies inaugurated the Vietnam – DANAFF booth at the Asian Content & Film Market (ACFM) in Busan, the Republic of Korea, on October 5, as part of the ongoing 29th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

The inauguration of the booth is a significant highlight at BIFF, aiming to showcase the beautiful landscapes of Vietnamese localities such as Ninh Binh, Phu Yen, Quang Ninh, and Da Nang, contributing to promoting and attracting international investors through the film festival.

Among delegates present at the booth were VFDA president Ngo Phuong Lan, leaders of Ninh Binh, Phu Yen, Quang Ninh, and Da Nang, and film crews. Many Vietnamese film stars, producers, and directors were also present at the booth to share filmmaking experiences with their foreign counterparts.

During the Busan International Film Festival, VFDA will hold workshops to introduce prominent Vietnamese film projects, the filming environment in several localities, and new cinema policies. There will be visits and surveys of film studios in Busan.

The Busan International Film Festival is one of the largest and most important film festivals in Asia. Held annually in the city of Busan, this event attracts filmmakers, critics, and audiences from around the world. BIFF is not only a platform for screening independent and art films but also an opportunity for networking among producers and professionals in the film industry.

The 29th edition is scheduled to last from on October 2 to 11 screening 279 films from 63 countries, including 224 officially invited films and 55 community beef screenings.

The Da Nang International Film Festival (DANAFF) is an event that showcases films from various genres and countries, promoting cultural exchange and collaboration within the film industry. It serves as a platform for filmmakers to present their works and engage with audiences while also highlighting the scenic beauty and cultural richness of Da Nang, Vietnam.

Vietnamese leader To Lam meets OV intellectuals of Francophone community

Party General Secretary and President To Lam on October 5 met nearly 30 Vietnamese experts and intellectuals from countries such as France, the UK, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, as part of his working trip to France for the 19th Francophonie Summit.

At the meeting, the intellectuals shared their experiences and proposed ideas on various issues, including multilateral cooperation in technology and artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, growth and development, major challenges in the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) for economic growth, and the benefits of applying blockchain technology in healthcare services.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, an overseas Vietnamese from Luxembourg, recommended that the government enhance multilateral cooperation in technology and artificial intelligence with other Francophone countries that have similar conditions and needs like Vietnam, particularly in applications such as medical diagnostics, health records, smart agriculture management, and weather and climate change forecasting.

Sharing insights on promoting sustainable growth and enterprise development, Assoc. Prof. Thai Thi Thanh Mai, an overseas Vietnamese from Canada, emphasized that in the context of a startup and innovation economy, Vietnam needs to proactively keep pace with global trends by standardizing the requirements of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework to measure sustainable development and the impact of businesses on the community.

She proposed that, in addition to creating an appropriate legal framework, an important measure is to integrate startup education, focusing on fostering startup skills among students. There should also be close coordination between the business sector and educational institutions to provide students with opportunities to practice what they have learned.

With regard to the application of blockchain technology in health care, Dr. Vo Cam Quy, an overseas Vietnamese from Switzerland, stressed the need for security solutions in this industry, as it records the highest rate of data breaches, accounting for about 26% of all attacks.

Practical applications of blockchain can address security issues in health care, said Dr. Quy, adding monitoring the pharmaceutical supply chain through blockchain can help prevent counterfeit drugs and ensure transparency in distribution.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam for his part highly appreciated the intellectuals’ heartfelt and responsible opinions, affirming that the contributions of Vietnamese intellectuals abroad to their host countries and to Vietnam are invaluable resources.

He said that his working trip to France for the 19th Francophonie Summit aimed to reaffirm Vietnam’s role as a key member of the Francophone community in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as its active and responsible participation in the activities of the Francophone community and the international community in general.

To Lam briefed the intellectuals on Vietnam’s major development policies and goals in the coming years which he said cannot be met without support from international friends and Vietnamese expatriates overseas.

“Our goal is to develop our economy to nearly three times its current size, and to achieve this, there is no choice but to develop science and technology. We must take advantage of every opportunity to move forward…. I hope that scientists and intellectuals here, who have acquired modern technologies worldwide, will distill and contribute these advancements to the fatherland,” said the Party and State leader.

The General Secretary and President expressed his happiness about the potential of the Vietnamese community abroad, highlighting the growing strength of the intellectuals within this community. He affirmed the important role of both the community as a whole and the intellectuals in realizing the fatherland’s development goals.

He reaffirmed the Party and State’s consistent policy towards the Vietnamese community abroad that are now mounting to approximately 6 million, saying they are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation.

“The Party and State highly value and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community abroad,” said To Lam.

He expressed hope for continued cooperation and support from the Vietnamese community abroad, particularly from the intellectuals within the Francophone community, to the fatherland.

The leader requested that the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, relevant ministries and sectors, as well as Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, actively listen to and embrace the contributions of overseas Vietnamese.

2024 Asian Open Junior Pickleball Championships starts in Vietnam

More than 100 athletes are competing for 12 sets of medals at the 2024 Asian Open Junior Pickleball Championships that opened in Quang Nam province, central Vietnam, on October 5.

Athletes from Malaysia, Japan, China, India, Taiwan (China), and Vietnam, are competing for 12 sets of medals in various categories, including men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, and women’s doubles for ages U12 to U16, said Nguyen Thanh Hong, director of the Quang Nam provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, at the opening ceremony.

The event aims to introduce Pickleball as a growing movement worldwide, particularly in Asia and Vietnam, emphasizing its expanding popularity and the numerous health benefits it offers, said Hong, adding this sport is an excellent way to enhance physical fitness, promote teamwork, and foster community engagement.

According to organisers, young athletes participating in this tournament all have impressive competition records in various domestic, regional, continental, and global junior Pickleball events. Notably, Vietnamese athlete Sophia Tran Phuong Anh, 16, won two Gold medals in the mixed doubles category for U18 and 19+ at the 2024 World Pickleball Championship recently held in Bali, Indonesia.

The four-day tournament is being organized by the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Quang Nam, in collaboration with the Asia Federation of Pickleball and DHL Event Media Joint Stock Company.

Pickleball in Vietnam has been gaining popularity rapidly in recent years. The sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, is appealing to a wide range of age groups due to its accessibility and the fun, social atmosphere it fosters.

Pickleball in Vietnam has been gaining popularity rapidly in recent years. The sport, which combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, is appealing to a wide range of age groups due to its accessibility and the fun, social atmosphere it fosters.

With ongoing support from the community and the government, the potential for pickleball to thrive in Vietnam looks promising. The establishment of training programs and partnerships with international organizations can further enhance the development of the sport, creating opportunities for Vietnamese athletes to compete on larger stages.

Public policy forum looks back at US war in Vietnam after 50 years

Politicians, former leaders of anti-war student movements, war veterans, and American journalists from the United States, shared their personal experiences, perspectives, and lessons learned from the US war in Vietnam decades ago at a public policy forum organised on October 1 by the University of Vermont.

Delegates at the forum titled “The US War in Vietnam: Looking Back After 50 Years” also examined the process of reconciliation and the strengthening of bilateral ties, including cooperation in addressing war legacy and the ongoing role and contributions of Senator Patrick Leahy over the past 50 years, beginning with his decisive vote that prompted the US Congress to end the war in Vietnam.

Speaking at the forum, Senator Leahy emphasised that while the war has ended, the painful memories and losses continue to persist, and the lessons from Vietnam remain relevant. He noted that although history cannot be changed, the two countries still have the chance to build a better future for the coming generations.

Therefore, he and many other US senators have always done their utmost to contribute to bilateral relations, particularly in maintaining and promoting activities related to addressing war consequences, such as carrying out the clearance of bombs, unexploded ordnance, and dioxin remediation, supporting people with disabilities, and locating and identifying the remains of Americans and Vietnamese who went missing in action.

He described the 2023 upgrading of the bilateral relationship to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership as a historical milestone, with high hopes that US-Vietnam relations will continue to grow robustly.

Given the complex global situation today, what the two countries have achieved over the past 30 years will serve as a model for other nations to learn from and follow suit, he said.

Taking to the floor, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung reviewed the history of diplomatic ties and highlighted the significant contributions of Senator Leahy throughout the process of reconciliation, trust building, and relationship development. He noted the transformation of relations between the two countries, going from former foes to friends, strategic partners, and comprehensive strategic partners for peace, co-operation, and sustainable development.

He therefore thanked US lawmakers for their efforts in helping the two countries overcome the pain of war and building a strong, positive partnership today. He expressed Vietnam’s desire to receive continued support from the US Congress and Government, with priority given to addressing the heavy war legacy still present in the country, including dioxin remediation at airbases, unexploded ordnance clearance, as well as the search and identification of Vietnamese soldiers’ remains.

The Ambassador took the opportunity to brief delegates on Vietnamese socio-economic development policies, as well as achievements recorded by both Vietnam and the US after a year of their partnership upgrade. He stressed that with the new partnership framework, there remains significant potential for both sides to deepen and further develop bilateral ties.

According to the diplomat, there are several core areas in which to further develop linkages between Vietnam and the US, including economy-trade-investment, science-technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, green transition, high-quality human resource training, and defence - security.

Kyrgyz visitor with chronic kidney disease receives timely treatment in Vietnam

Hospital 199 under the Ministry of Public Security in Da Nang City has recently provided emergency treatment for a male tourist from Kyrgyzstan who came for medical care and dialysis during his trip to the central city of Vietnam.

Ferfilev Pavel Aleksandrov, 35, was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of headache, dizziness, and diarrhea.

Through necessary paraclinical tests, doctors diagnosed him with severe anemia, high uremic hemolysis syndrome, acute kidney failure, and chronic kidney disease (stage 5).

Doctors took initial steps to stabilize his health and then transferred him to the dialysis unit in the intensive care unit for hemodialysis.

According to Dr. Cao Thi Xoan from the Emergency Unit, the patient was staying at a hotel in An Hai Dong Ward of Son Tra District. For the past two weeks, he had frequently experienced fatigue, dizziness, and diarrhea 3-4 times a day. As a result, he sought a medical facility for examination and received timely dialysis.

Xoan said stage 5 is the most severe stage of chronic kidney disease, characterized by uremic syndrome, which can easily lead to death if the patient does not receive kidney replacement therapy.

Currently, the patient is in stable health condition, and he requested to be discharged on October 5.

Life sentence proposed for Vietnamese property tycoon Trương Mỹ Lan

Vietnamese real estate magnate Trương Mỹ Lan is facing a recommendation for a life sentence in prison for charges of fraud and property appropriation, in addition to her prior death sentence for embezzlement.

On October 4, the People’s Procuracy proposed a sentence of 12 to 13 years for money laundering and eight to nine years for the illegal transportation of currency, cumulatively resulting in a life imprisonment recommendation for the 68-year-old Lan, who is also the chairwoman of Vạn Thịnh Phát Group.

Her niece, Trương Huệ Vân, may receive a sentence of six to seven years for her involvement in the appropriation of VNĐ13 trillion (US$525 million) from over 20,000 victims. 

Lan’s sister-in-law, Ngô Thanh Nhã, is facing a potential sentence of seven to eight years for her role in endorsing fraudulent documents associated with the appropriation of over VNĐ24 trillion from nearly 31,000 victims.

Her husband, Eric Chu Nap-kee, has a recommended sentence of two to 2.5 years for laundering VNĐ33 billion.

Other individuals implicated in the scheme, including Trương Khánh Hoàng, Nguyễn Phương Anh, Trịnh Quang Công, and Võ Tấn Hoàng Văn, face sentences ranging from 15 to 27 years for their respective roles.

In the second phase of the case, Lan is accused of fraudulent appropriation of assets, money laundering, and the illegal trans-border movement of funds. 

Allegations against her indicated that she defrauded over VNĐ30 trillion from some 36,000 bond investors, laundered VNĐ445.7 trillion in cash, and illegally transported $4.5 billion across borders.

Between 2018 and 2020, Lan, along with executives from Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB), Vạn Thịnh Phát, and Tân Việt Securities, utilised four companies under Vạn Thịnh Phát Group to issue 25 fraudulent bond tranches, employing the raised funds to settle debts and invest in various projects. 

Prosecutors further alleged that she transferred these funds overseas.

“The magnitude of the appropriation was considerable. The actions of the defendants have had significant repercussions on both the stock market and the investment environment of Việt Nam,” the prosecutors stated.

During the trial, Lan consistently expressed her respect for the investigators’ allegations while requesting that the court take into account the circumstances surrounding her offenses. 

She accepted full responsibility for the resulting consequences. All 33 accomplices involved have also acknowledged their wrongdoing.

Lan was sentenced to death earlier this year for embezzling funds from SCB between 2012 and 2022. She has appealed the verdict, but a hearing date for this appeal has yet to be established.

Lan has requested the court consider various funds for compensation, including VNĐ21 trillion owed to her, over VNĐ386 billion already disbursed, and VNĐ17 trillion recovered from other banks. 

She has also proposed offering massive assets, including Project 6A and the Amigo project, as part of her efforts to rectify the situation. 

The scandal is the most severe financial fraud in the history of Việt Nam and came to light as a result of a government anti-corruption initiative that began in 2022. 

Việt Nam unveils comprehensive urban, rural planning vision to 2050

The Ministry of Construction (MOC) held a conference in Hà Nội on October 3 to announce the urban and rural system planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

The event also provided detailed information and data on urban and rural system planning as per regulations and MOC responsibility.

The conference saw the participation of representatives from ministries and departments, people’s committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, the Association of Cities of Vietnam, the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, the Vietnam Construction Association, the Vietnam Architects Association, several international organisations, and various media and press agencies.

UN-Habitat, which has been a partner throughout the preparation of the plans, emphasised that the urban and rural system planning will serve as a strategic tool, contributing to the implementation of the National Master Plan (Resolution 81/2023/QH15) and the Politburo’s Resolution 06 on sustainable urban development to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The urban and rural system planning identifies urban development as the main economic driver, aiming for harmonious, sustainable development, urban-rural linkages, rational resource use, environmental protection, and the promotion of natural, cultural, social, and economic potential.

The plan proposes developing the urban system in a network model, improving technical and social infrastructure, enhancing the competitiveness of urban areas, and increasing resilience to natural disasters and climate change.

The orientations in the plan align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, as well as the New Urban Agenda (NUA) that UN-Habitat is implementing.

UN-Habitat also highlighted the necessity of adjusting the urban classification system towards an integrated, interdisciplinary and evidence-based approach to improve living quality and enhance the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluating urban development.

During the development of the urban and rural system planning, UN-Habitat collaborated with the Urban Development Agency and utilised resources from the “Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Sustainable Urban Development in Vietnam” project (ISCB), funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), to provide technical support, peer reviews, and policy recommendations.

In the future, as the United Nations agency for urban planning and development, UN-Habitat will continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Construction, the Urban Development Agency, and domestic and international partners to strengthen the urban policies and enhance capacity for urban development in Việt Nam. 

17 people charged in second phase of repatriation flight bribery scandal

The Security Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security has proposed the prosecution of 17 persons after concluding the second phase of its investigation into a case against officials allegedly involved in corruption surrounding repatriation flights for Vietnamese citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The accused are charged with receiving bribes, giving bribes, abusing positions of power and concealing crimes. These offences occurred in Thái Nguyên and several other provinces and cities.

The investigation agency considers this case an especially serious and complex corruption case involving high-ranking officials, which has drawn significant attention from various leadership levels, sectors and the public.

The actions of the accused violated the lawful functions of State agencies in the protection of Vietnamese citizens abroad, particularly in the context of citizens being stranded during the COVID-19 pandemic (due to various border closure orders) and needing support from authorities.

By allegedly concealing their crimes, their actions are accused of having disrupted judicial processes and eroding public trust in the Party and in State agencies. As a result, authorities are pushing for strict legal action against those involved.

Among the accused, Trần Tùng, former Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Thái Nguyên Province, faces two charges: receiving bribes and abusing positions of power.

Five people are proposed for prosecution for receiving bribes, including Trần Thị Quyên, Director of Sen Vàng Đất Việt Company; Lê Thị Phượng, former Specialist with the Hải Dương Province People’s Committee; Nguyễn Văn Văn, former Deputy Director of Quảng Nam Province’s Department of Health; Lê Ngọc Tường, former Deputy Director of Quảng Nam Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Nguyễn Mạnh Trường, former specialist at the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam.

Ten people are proposed for prosecution for giving bribes, including Vũ Hồng Quang, former Deputy Head of the Air Transport Department; Trần Thanh Nhã from HCM City; Vũ Hoàng Dũng from Hà Nội; Nguyễn Mạnh Cương, Head of E-commerce at Vietjet Air; Đặng Nhật Đức, Director of Top Agent Japan Co., Ltd.; Bùi Đăng Khoa, Director of World Travel Co., Ltd.; Trương Thị Mỹ Dung, Director of Ánh Sao Thiên Travel Services; Phạm Quốc Thắng, Director of PNR Co., Ltd.; Trần Thị Ngân, Chairwoman of Anna Travel Trading and Services; and Trần Minh Phụng, Director of Gia Huy Travel Services and Construction.

In addition, Nguyễn Xuân Thông, a resident of Hà Nội, is proposed for prosecution for allegedly concealing crimes.

The scandal emerged in early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic left thousands of Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad. The Vietnamese Government organised repatriation flights, commonly referred to as rescue flights, to bring citizens home. 

However, as demand surged and logistical challenges grew, a working group led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated the repatriation process with multiple ministries involved.

Several officials and businesses, taking advantage of their roles, allegedly colluded to approve flights in exchange for bribes. 

Some wered accused of instructing others to cover up these criminal activities, obstructing the investigation.

In July 2023, at the first-instance trial of the rescue flight case, 54 defendants were convicted of bribery, bribery brokerage and fraud. 

Four individuals, including former Consular Department Director Nguyễn Thị Hương Lan, received life sentences. 

The appellate trial in December 2023 saw reductions in sentencing for some defendants, but life sentences were upheld for others due to the severity of their actions. 

Van Lang University ties up with Singapore partner for education, research

Van Lang University in HCM City and the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Thursday (September 19) signed a memorandum of understanding for deeper collaboration in education and research in a range of academic areas.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, VLU president Assoc. Prof. Tran Thi My Dieu said the university has established key initiatives aimed at advancing its training programmes, enriching student experiences and improving employability outcomes.

“This collaboration will deliver substantial benefits to students, faculty and the workforce through joint academic and research efforts.”

It will enable VLU and NUS to facilitate smoother exchange of academic information and resources, thereby expanding mobility programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

They will join hands for several key initiatives like reskilling and upskilling programmes focused on integrated circuit design and semiconductor technology, and joint training and research initiatives in the field of artificial intelligence.

NUS will help VLU set up state-of-the-art laboratories.

VLU’s School of Technology will focus on developing high-quality talent to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global tech landscape.

Prof. Aaron Thean, NUS deputy president (academic affairs) and provost, said this partnership draws upon NUS’s research knowledge and expertise in advanced semiconductor chip design and process technology research, on top of digital technology and transformation, which would equip students with the necessary skills for the future workplace.

“It highlights the power of cooperation in driving progress towards academic excellence and creating meaningful opportunities in nurturing our students from both countries.”

Founded in 1995, VLU offers more than 100 academic programmes across spheres ranging from undergraduate to doctoral levels.

It has been awarded a four-star rating by the well-known UK-based education organisation Quacquarelli Symonds and named in the 2024 Impact Rankings released by the Times Higher Education also of the UK.

NUS has 16 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses in Singapore and 40,000 students from 100 countries, and more than 20 NUS Overseas Colleges entrepreneurial hubs around the world.

Experts search for solutions to reduce damage caused by disease in aquaculture

Unfavourable environmental developments and weather conditions, combined with recent epidemics, have wreaked havoc on the aquaculture industry.

The agricultural sector and local authorities therefore need to work together and proactively develop effective prevention and control plans to minimise economic losses and ensure the quality and supply of aquatic products for consumption and export.

This was the topic under discussion by experts at the Conference on Aquatic Disease Prevention and Control 2024 and Plan for 2025, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in HCM City on Thursday.

Phan Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health (DoAH), said that, according to reports from localities, good results in preventing aquatic diseases were achieved in the first nine months of the year.

The area of aquaculture affected by disease was reported to be 4,257ha, down 28.94 per cent compared to the same period last year.

In particular, the shrimp farming area affected by disease was just 3,593ha, down 34.97 per cent.

However, the aquaculture area damaged by climate change and natural disasters like typhoons, flooding, droughts, saltwater intrusion and environmental pollution was reported at 17,316ha, along with 3,936 ponds, cages and rafts, accounting for over 80 per cent of the aquaculture total damage.

Minh said that while shrimp diseases have decreased, the area of ​​damage caused by climate change and environmental factors has increased sharply -- by around 20 per cent compared to last year.

Some dangerous pathogens in shrimp are still circulating in many farming areas. Diseases, combined with stress caused by high temperatures, salinity and other extreme environmental changes, affect shrimp health, causing slow growth and weakened resistance.

Farmed shrimp mainly suffer from diseases such as white spot, acute hepatopancreatic necrosis, white feces, stunting and microsporidia.

Diseases occur mainly in key shrimp farming provinces like Trà Vinh, Sóc Trăng, Cà Mau, Bạc Liêu and Kiên Giang.

Meanwhile, tra fish mainly suffer from liver, kidney and hemorrhagic diseases.

These diseases occur mostly in An Giang, Đồng Tháp and Vĩnh Long provinces.

Compared to last year, disease outbreaks in tra fish have decreased in scope.

Tra fish are raised in ponds and rafts using natural river water, making it very difficult to control the aquatic environment.

In addition, the high population density of the fish poses a constant risk of disease outbreaks.

The DoAH stated that disease prevention efforts need to be strengthened, especially surveillance programmes for early detection and training workers to handle diseases starting at the breeding and pond preparation stages to avoid the spread of diseases.

Regarding production and farming results in the first nine months of the year, Ngô Thế Anh, Head of the Aquaculture Division under the Department of Fisheries, said that aquaculture product output reached nearly 4 million tonnes, an increase of four per cent over the same period last year.

However, Typhoon Yagi, which hit the northern provinces in September, directly affected about 33,000ha and 15,000 cages of aquaculture. The typhoon caused a loss of up to 50,000 tonnes of all kinds of aquatic products, with estimated economic damages of around VNĐ6 trillion (US$241.8 million).

Immediately after the typhoon, the aquaculture industry focused on restoring production, identifying the needs of each locality to recover, prepare infrastructure and ensure an environment conducive to aquatic animals' reproduction.

The industry is focusing on the quality of aquatic breeds and materials as well as ensuring food safety to meet market requirements.

Phùng Đức Tiến, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that disease prevention has achieved positive results, as the area of ​​​​infected aquaculture has decreased compared to last year.

But he noted that localities must be vigilant when aquaculture diseases appear, as they can spread quickly and cause severe damage.

Tiến asked aquaculture facilities to prioritise biosafety farming areas, strictly comply with disinfection and sanitation processes, and treat water sources before and after farming.

It is also necessary to choose breeds with clear origins that have been quarantined and maintain high resistance to disease, he added.

Local authorities need to support farmers in technical processes and warn them about environmental factors that can affect the health of aquatic animals.

On the other hand, border provinces need to control the illegal import of aquatic products, especially shrimp breeds, to prevent pathogens from entering and causing epidemics.

Hà Nội’s 'vitality and belief’ showcased in art exhibition

The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum will host an art exhibition called Hà Nội Sức Sống và Niềm Tin ('Hà Nội - Vitality and Belief') from October 8 to 22 in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Hà Nội's liberation on October 10, 1954.

The exhibition will showcase 70 selected works of painting, graphic art and sculpture from the museum's modern art collection. These pieces feature diverse materials and rich artistic language, vividly and authentically reflecting the vitality and strength of the capital city.

Hà Nội, the thousand-year-old capital, has endured many ups and downs throughout history and continues to be a source of inspiration for generations of artists across various art forms.

The works of art hold significant value and are deeply rooted in realism, vividly depicting the dynamic spirit and resilience of the capital, as well as the faith of the entire nation in this beloved land.

Hà Nội’s revolutionary spirit before 1945 is vividly illustrated in the Work Đánh Chiếm Bắc Bộ Phủ (Assault on Tonkin Palace) by artist Trần Đình Thọ. The courage of Hà Nội residents during the early days of resistance is captured in various pieces, including Chiến Lũy Ngã Tư Sở, Chợ Mơ (Ngã Tư Sở Defense Line, Mơ Market) by artist Nguyễn Văn Tỵ, Hà Nội Năm 1947 (Hà Nội in 1947) by artist Công Văn Trung and Thủ Đô Kháng Chiến (The Capital of Resistance) by artist Nguyễn Quang Phòng.

After nine years of resistance, Hà Nội is depicted in a vibrant atmosphere filled with flags and flowers welcoming the troops returning to liberate the capital in 1954. Works such as Hà Nội Đêm Giải Phóng (Hà Nội on Liberation Night) by artist Lê Thanh Đức, Phố Hàng Đường (Hàng Đường Street) by artist Trịnh Hữu Ngọc, and Niềm Vui Giải Phóng (Joy of Liberation) by artist Trần Khánh Chương capture beautiful scenes that are etched in memory and will forever live on in the hearts of the people of Hà Nội.

Art enthusiasts will also be able to admire many works of art featuring President Hồ Chí Minh with the people, soldiers, workers and future generations of city residents. Notable pieces include Bác Hồ Với Công Nhân Xe Lửa Gia Lâm (Uncle Hồ with Gia Lâm Railway Workers) by artist Phạm Văn Lung and Bác Hồ Thăm Lớp Vỡ Lòng (Uncle Hồ Visits a First-Grade Class) by artist Đỗ Hữu Huề.

A lot of the art illustrates a resilient Hà Nội throughout the years of war, emerging to build an increasingly beautiful capital. This is the Hà Nội portrayed in a tranquil, ancient light through the works of artists like Trần Bình Lộc and Bùi Xuân Phái.

Among the 70 pieces of art, the exhibition will feature the painting Phố Gia Ngư (Gia Ngư Street) by the renowned artist Bùi Xuân Phái (1920 – 1988), created in 1980 using oil on canvas.

Phái is particularly known for his depictions of Hà Nội, capturing the city's landscapes, architecture and daily life with a unique blend of traditional and contemporary styles. His work often reflects the spirit and essence of Hà Nội, using vibrant colors and expressive brushwork.

According to a representative from the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 'Hà Nội - Vitality and Belief' is expected to be a valuable gift and a meaningful activity in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of Hà Nội, dedicated to the city and art-loving audiences.

As part of the exhibition, an Art Talk programme titled 'Master Painter Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm - Connecting Traditional Aesthetic Values with the Contemporary' will take place in the exhibition space on October 12. 

Students in central city Đà Nẵng to learn about biodiversity conservation

More than 10,000 students from 72 secondary schools in the central city of Đà Nẵng will be studying biodiversity conservation and natural species as part of an educational renewal programme from the Ministry of Education and Training.

Under the programme, more than 100 teachers have been given lectures and practical sessions on biodiversity and endangered species by conservationists from the Center for Biodiversity conservation and Endangered Species, GreenViet and the University of Science and Education under Đà Nẵng University.

Nguyễn Thị Tịnh, a biologist from GreenViet, said that the biodiversity conservation education programme will be included in the schools' regular science curriculum, and will include innovative experiences and practical study trips.

Tịnh said the programme will take students to see the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve, where they will learn more about threatened wildlife species, especially the endangered red-shanked doucs langurs (Pygathrix nemaeus) living in the reserve.

She said GreenViet, in cooperation with the Science and Education University, has signed an agreement to provide information for the already-launched web portal thiennhiendanang.vn (Đà Nẵng Nature). The organisation will give access to more than 3,000 documents, with 1,000 photos, 53 video clips and statistics from nature reserves in Sơn Trà and Bà Nà-Núi Chúa as well as a special-use forest south of Hải Vân near the central city.

“Secondary school students will be learning from real images and video clips of wildlife species living in the reserves near Đà Nẵng City, while participating in forest trips to explore what they saw in the classroom sessions,” Tịnh shared.

“We have been working with teachers at schools in the city since 2023, before launching the programme for all secondary school levels. The portal will be used for education at kindergartens and primary schools in the city as well,” she said.

Tịnh added that the web portal will also serve as a valuable database for 10,000 teachers and 300,000 students at all levels of education in Đà Nẵng.

The biology expert said the programme would help provide basic knowledge for a new generation of students to become young conservationists in the future.

According to the Centre of Learning and Research-Information Technology at Đà Nẵng University, the portal is the first-ever database for nature, forest protection, wildlife conservation and research on biodiversity in Việt Nam.

The portal's development was supported by the UK-based Synchronicity Earth, VisualViet, and Comclick.

A report from GreenViet shows that the Nature Education and Experience Centre on Sơn Trà Peninsula has provided nature awareness education activities for more than 25,000 students and 3,000 area residents.

Earlier this year, the Việt Nam Bird Conservation Society (VBCS) planned to offer a free nature experience for primary school students, including education on life skills and awareness of migratory birds and the wetland ecology system in Đà Nẵng.

The city has approved a Master Plan on biodiversity conservation in line with sustainable development goals. The current nature reserves of Sơn Trà, Bà Nà-Núi Chúa and Nam Hải Vân, or southern Hải Vân forest, will be key priorities for strict protection of biosphere reserves, the natural landscape, and herb and botanical gardens.

The Sơn Trà Nature Reserve, located 10km from central Đà Nẵng, is home to more than 1,300 red-shanked doucs langurs and more than 1,000 plant and 370 animal species. 

Source: VNA//VNS/VOV/SGGP/VGP