As many as 700 individuals were titled the “good people, good deeds” while 10 outstanding others were honoured for their exceptional contributions to Hanoi at a ceremony held in the capital city on October 8.

Attending the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is also Chairman of the Central Emulation and Commendation Council, praised Hanoi’s creativity in carrying out patriotic emulation movements, which, he said, has helped promote the strengths of sectors, agencies, organisations, and local residents to complete the set socio-economic criteria and tasks.

The capital city has witnessed robust economic recovery and growth, affirming its role as a motive of national economic development, he said, adding local culture-society, education-training, health care, social welfare, and security-order have been ensured while international relations as well as cooperation with other localities at home have been expanded and the city’s position and prestige have been enhanced.

Attributing the results to the honoured individuals’ contributions, PM Chinh expressed his hope that the “good people, good deeds” movement will continue growing, encouraging local officials, Party members, and residents to obtain further impressive accomplishments.

On the occasion, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh launched the “good people, good deeds” movement for 2025, with a focus on the promotion of the communications work on the revolutionary tradition, patriotic emulation movements, and marked achievements of the city and country, as well as the implementation of the amended Capital Law and the city’s planning schemes./.

Vietnam supports int'l community's efforts to accelerate comprehensive disarmament

Vietnam supports the international community's all efforts to accelerate comprehensive and complete disarmament, with the highest priority being the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang said at a discussion of the UN General Assembly’s Committee on Disarmament and International Security (Committee 1) on October 8.
The discussion on emerging issues related to international peace, security and disarmament, saw the participation of many UN member states and representatives of international and regional organisations.

The Vietnamese Ambassador emphasised the need to strengthen existing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation institutions.

He said the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is a decisive factor for the world to gradually become free of nuclear weapons.

Giang said that to effectively promote disarmament, countries need to comply with the basic principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, reduce military spending to reserve resources for development and promote the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, while making greater efforts to build and foster trust that will pave the way for dialogue and negotiations.

Highlighting the contribution of regional frameworks on nuclear weapons non-proliferation, he called on nuclear-weapon states to sign and ratify the “full package” of the Protocol to the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (SEANWFZ).

In addition, he emphasised the significance of the effective control and management of conventional weapons, prevention of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in maintaining stability and order in countries, especially in conflict zones while ensuring respect for the legitimate security and defence needs of states. In the context that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are developing strongly, bringing both great opportunities for socio-economic transformation, and risks to international peace and security, it is necessary to establish smart global governance frameworks, including a regular discussion mechanism on the safe use of information and communication technology in the field of international security, thereby promoting progress in discussions and ensuring the use of these technologies in accordance with international law, the UN Charter and bringing common benefits to all people, Giang said.

On this occasion, the Ambassador reaffirmed that Vietnam is always ready to actively contribute to the affairs of Committee 1, and at the same time, supports efforts towards the common goal of a world of peace, security and development./.

Supreme People's Court boosts collaboration with WIPO

A delegation of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam led by its Deputy Chief Justice Nguyen Tri Tue on October 8 had a working session with representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) as part of their working trip to Switzerland.

Meeting with Assistant Director General, leading the Intellectual Property and Innovation Ecosystem Sector (IES) at WIPO Marco Alemán, Tue called on the WIPO to continue support for Vietnam in various cooperation programmes that the two sides are implementing.

He hoped that Vietnam will receive WIPO's support to learn more about the operation of intellectual property courts in the world, their structures, functions and experience in handling intellectual property cases, or those relating to high-tech crimes or artificial intelligence (AI) issues.

For his part, Alemán appreciated the Vietnamese delegation’s working trip and the efforts of the Vietnamese mission to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva to bridge cooperation between the two sides.

He affirmed that WIPO is ready to cooperate with Vietnam and support the country in enhancing the capacity of judges and the court system in the field of intellectual property.

On this occasion, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on enhancing cooperation and promoting joint activities to strengthen the judicial system and intellectual property protection services./.

Public Security Ministry, Singapore’s Home Affairs Ministry hold annual meeting in Hanoi

The 12th deputy ministerial-level annual meeting between Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore took place in Hanoi on October 8.

The event was co-chaired by Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of the MPS, and Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean ministry Aubeck Kam.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed, acknowledged and appreciated the practical results of their cooperation, particularly the implementation of the contents they agreed at the previous meeting.

The two sides maintained the exchange of delegations and high-level contacts, creating a solid foundation for their close relationship and effective cooperation. They also regularly exchanged information, coordinated in organising conferences, seminars and training courses to share information and experience in crime prevention and control.

Regarding cooperation in cyber security, the two sides attended and organised events to discuss difficulties, challenges and solutions to curb cybercrime and high-tech crimes. They also promoted cooperation in firefighting, and search and rescue.

To further promote their cooperation, the two sides agreed at the meeting that they will maintain delegation exchanges and high-level meetings to reinforce mutual trust and understanding as well as promote bilateral meetings at regional and world conferences and forums.

They will keep organising bilateral Interpol conferences to enhance information exchange, coordinate in investigation and verification of crimes, especially high-tech, economic, and drug crimes, fraud, and wanted criminals.

The two ministries will consider establishing cooperation mechanisms and enhancing experience sharing in this regard. They will hold training courses on high-tech crime prevention and control, and law making; digital investigation, data recovery and analysis, and electronic evidence; management of cryptocurrencies and digital currencies; management of malicious information; and protection of personal data.

The two sides will organise joint exercises in protecting critical information infrastructure and responding to cyber security incidents; cooperate in research, production, transfer of modern and specialised technology, equipment and software to serve the work of ensuring network security, preventing and combating cybercrime and high-tech crime.

They will also strengthen cooperation in fire prevention and control, search and rescue with focuses on experience sharing and technology transfer./.

Solidarity, centrality key to success of ASEAN: Vietnamese Deputy PM

Solidarity and centrality are the key to success of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on October 8.

Son made the remark while attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Political - Security Community Council Meeting, and the ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting in Vientiane, Laos.

At the events, foreign ministers of the regional countries agreed on the agenda and activities of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related summits.

Many important issues will be considered at the summits, including measures to promote connectivity and resilience in the region in line with this year’s theme – “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”, consolidating the ASEAN Community building process towards more extensive connectivity and a future of higher-level development, and intensifying effective, practical and mutually-beneficial relations with partners. The international and regional situation will also be put under discussion.

Addressing the October 8 meetings, Son spoke highly of the leadership role of Laos – Chair of ASEAN in 2024, which has steered the bloc through challenges to sustain the Community building process, keep high economic growth, reinforce solidarity and solidarity, and promote the strategic self-reliance, thus creating a solid stepping stone for the next period.

He expressed his gratitude to the regional countries for their sympathy and assistance for the nations affected by Typhoon Yagi, including Vietnam, which he described as a demonstration of the precious solidarity and mutual support amid trying times.

The Vietnamese official laid special stress on the urgent need for efforts in responding to climate change and improving climate resilience as extreme weather conditions become increasingly complicated.

Applauding the implementation progress on the Community’s pillars, Son asked for comprehensively reviewing the Blueprints 2025 and thoroughly assessing their effects to gain experiences and better implementation efficiency and quality in the time ahead.

The official also voiced support for Timor-Leste to soon become an official member of ASEAN and suggested building a detailed roadmap for Timor-Leste’s participation in the bloc’s legal documents and simplifying procedures for this country’s engagement.

Viewing solidarity and centrality as the key to success of ASEAN, he proposed the association bring into play its common voice more strongly, and maintain a harmonious and balanced approach to external relations as well as the issues affecting regional peace and security.

In the face of complicated developments in Myanmar, Son shared the common concern over the instability there, along with the impacts of an increase in transnational crimes that have influenced the region’s general stability. He emphasised that the related parties in Myanmar need to put an end to violence and strive to hold dialogue for the first and foremost interests of the Myanmar people.

ASEAN should ensure the continuity and effectiveness in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, promote its centrality in helping Myanmar seek a feasible and durable solution, boost humanitarian aid for the Myanmar people, and optimise the mechanisms and initiatives supplementing ASEAN’s common efforts, he went on.

Sharing the viewpoint on the East Sea issue, Son re-affirmed the necessity to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon reaching a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea that is practical, effective, and in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related summits are scheduled to kick off at the National Convention Centre of Laos on October 9. The same day, leaders of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste will attend plenary sessions, retreat meetings, and dialogues with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), and the ASEAN youth./.

Art exhibition highlights Hanoi’s vitality

Seventy paintings, graphic works and sculptures highlighting Hanoi’s vitality in various eras of the history are being showcased at an art exhibition that opened at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum on October 8.

Director of the museum Nguyen Anh Minh said the event is organised to mark the 70th anniversary of the capital city’s Liberation Day.

Running until October 22, the exhibition will shed light on the city’s revolutionary spirit before 1945 as well as relive the memories of the heroic struggles for liberation of the local people and military through paintings of such renowned painters as Tran Dinh Tho, Cong Van Trung and Nguyen Quang Phong.

Furthermore, a Hanoi resplendent with flags and flowers on the liberation day comes alive with paintings “Hanoi Dem Giai Phong” (Hanoi’s Liberation Night) by Le Thanh Duc, “Pho Hang Duong” (Hang Duong Street) by Trinh Huu Ngoc and “Niem Vui Giai Phong” (The Joy of Liberation) by Tran Khanh Chuong.

The capital city’s resilience during wartime and its construction efforts is spotlighted through art works by Tran Binh Loc, Bui Xuan Phai, Phan Van Don and Vu Duy Nghia, among others.

Along with traditional display, the art work will be presented with modern technology, the museum said.

Woodblock printing activities and an art talk about painter Nguyen Tu Nghiem who connected traditional aesthetic values with contemporary art will be also held within the framework of the exhibition./.

Vietnam top international ju-jitsu competition

Vietnamese competitors have returned home with 22 gold medals and the top overall position at the JJIF World Cup Beach 2024, an annual tournament held by the Ju-Jitsu International Federation.

SEA Games champion Dao Hong Son defended his title, earning his third gold in a row in the men's 56kg class, while former world champion Phung Thi Hue also met no challenge to triumph in the women's 45kg category.

In addition to the nearly two dozen gold medals, the Vietnamese fighters also claimed 15 silvers and 13 bronzes.

Hosts Thailand came second in the medal tally, followed by Palestine.

This year's JJIF World Cup Beach tournament took place from September 26 to 29 at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand.

International martial artists competed in men's and women's individual and team events for adults and juniors in different weight categories, ranging from under 40kg to under 94kg./.

Phu Yen: Three face criminal proceedings for abusing rights to freedom, democracy

Legal proceedings have started against Le Thi Thu Tram, residing in Son Hoa district, the central province of Phu Yen, for “abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to violate the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organisations and individuals".

Earlier, Tram, born in 1986, was caught red-handed by the district police when delivering two stick-on documents with content insulting and defaming leaders at various levels in front of the headquarters of the People's Committee of Son Nguyen commune.

When checking Tram's vehicle, the police seized additional 73 documents with similar content, along with two mobile phones. During an emergency search at her residence, they discovered and confiscated four safes, two printers, one scanner, 51 CDs, one computer, and other computer equipment and accessories related to her criminal activities.

Also related to this charge, the Investigation Police Agency of the Son Hoa district Bureau of Police has issued a decision to launch criminal proceedings against 52-year-old Le Thi Hoa and put her in temporary detention, and another to start legal proceedings against her husband Nguyen Van Trong, 54, and prohibit him from leaving the place of residence.

From 2022 to 2024, the couple compiled and filed 104 letters of petitions and denunciations with untrue content, seriously insulting others, infringing upon the interests of the State, and the legitimate rights and interests of organisations and individuals, and causing insecurity and disorder in the locality./.

Singaporean firm supports Quang Ninh to overcome Yagi consequences

Wilmar CLV (Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam), a member company of Wilmar International Limited from Singapore, has donated 7 billion VND (281,803 USD) in cash and supplies to the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of the northern province of Quang Ninh to support people hit by Typhoon Yagi and forces engaging in search and rescue activities.

Quang Ninh is one of the localities that was hard hit by the storm, which devastated the northern region of Vietnam in early September.

To join hands in overcoming the consequences of the storm, Wilmar CLV has launched a programme to support Quang Ninh and five northern localities in the work.

Within the programme’s framework, the firm presented 2 billion VND in cash, 150 tonnes of rice and 90,800 items of essential goods, with a total value of nearly 10 billion VND to the localities.

Earlier on October 5-6, Wilmar CLV donated rice and necessities to people affected by Typhoon Yagi in five mountainous provinces of Cao Bang, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and Thai Nguyen with a total value of nearly 3 billion VND.

The same day, the VFF Committee of Quang Ninh received 300 million VND donated by the Tu Liem Urban Development JSC – Lideco Ha Long to support people affected by the storm./.

Vietnam, France sign five-year cultural cooperation programme

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung has held talks with French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati in Paris, during which they signed a cultural cooperation programme between the two ministries for the 2024-2028 period, marking a new development in the Vietnam-France partnership in this field.

The programme covers various areas, including cultural heritage, museum and archives; cultural and creative industries, cinema and audiovisual; performing and visual arts; library; and craft and fine arts.

Hung expressed his pleasure at the activities that the two sides have carried out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and 10 years of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.

He said he hopes the talks will help promote bilateral cultural cooperation to a new height, optimising the two countries’ potential in heritage preservation and cultural industry development.

For her part, Dati highlighted the traditional historical relations between Vietnam and France, calling cultural cooperation a bridge of friendship between the two peoples.

She suggested that the two sides implement intensive joint activities such as bringing famous sculptures from the Louvre and Versailles museums to Vietnam for display.

The French minister also proposed promoting cooperation in the field of cinema through participation in each other's international film festivals.

Hung agreed with the host minister’s proposals and underlined the potential for Vietnamese culture and tourism promotion through cinema. He told Dati about the project to build a National Exhibition Centre in Hanoi, which is expected to put Vietnam on the map of the global expo economy.

The signing of the programme is expected to lay the foundation for the two sides to effectively implement specific and practical activities in the field, while contributing to strengthening the Vietnam-France strategic partnership./.

Exhibition features history of Hanoi’s ancient gates

Nearly 200 documents and photos featuring Hanoi’s ancient gates are being displayed at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the capital city’s Liberation Day (October 10, 1954-2024).

According to historical records, there was a wall with many gates surrounding the citadel, including Cau Giay, Cau Den, Cho Dua, Dong Mac, and Quan Chuong. Quan Chuong is the only remaining gate today while the others became public sites or were damaged during the wartime.

The exhibition, opened on October 7, gives an insight into daily activities of residents around the gates, while educating young generations about national traditions, and encouraging them to contribute more to building a modern, civilised capital city with long-standing culture.

Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department, said the gates once witnessed various milestones in Hanoi’s history, notably the revolutionary troops marching into the city to take over it from the French forces on October 10, 1954.

Apart from the stories relating to the gates, the exhibits also capture Hanoi’s development over the past 70 years.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel, which was included in the UNESCO list in August 2010, was a power centre for over a thousand years of Vietnamese history and unique evidence of Vietnamese civilisation during the development of monarchies in Southeast Asia and East Asia.

In 1999, Hanoi was presented with the “City for Peace” award by UNESCO in recognition of its contributions to the struggle for peace as well as its development that meets the organisation’s standards of equality in the community, the urban construction, living environment protection, culture and education promotion, and care for young generations. It also joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the “Design” category in 2019./.

Ceramic exhibition celebrates Hanoi's Liberation Day

An exhibition of ceramic products and relevant images themed "Soul of the Earth" kicked off in Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi on October 8 as part of the activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Capital Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - 2024).

The event is organised by the Ho Chi Minh Museum in collaboration with the Bat Trang Porcelain JSC and the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (VFAA).

Addressing the opening ceremony, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum Vu Manh Ha recalled late President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to the Bat Trang pottery village 65 years ago, where the leader underlined the necessity to develop the craft village into one of the model villages in Vietnam.

The exhibition is a community-based display activity, helping businesses, craft villages, and artisans join and directly tell their own stories, Ha said.

On display are over 300 photos, paintings, ceramic vases, and a series of artistic ceramic works by famous painters and sculptors from the VFAA; along with typical ceramics and porcelain products by Bat Trang’s skilled artisans.

The ceramic works featured at the exhibition all carry significant historical, cultural, and artistic values, expressing love for President Ho Chi Minh, the capital city of Hanoi, and the beloved nation. They help domestic and international visitors understand more about Vietnam’s traditional cultural values; as well as raise public awareness of the importance of preserving and promoting the cultural and historical heritage of the nation.

The exhibition will last until the end of October./.

Int'l community values Vietnam’s efforts in addressing UXO clearing

President of the Fifth Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), also known as the Ottawa Convention, Ly Thuch on October 9 praised Vietnam's efforts in addressing consequences of unexploded ordnances (UXO), and the country’s achievements in cooperation with other countries and international organisations in this field.

In a meeting in New York with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, Ly Thuch, who is also Senior Minister and Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), expressed empathy for difficulties and challenges Vietnamese agencies are facing in clearing and cleaning areas contaminated with bombs and mines left over from wars.

He provided information on Cambodia's efforts in this work and in supporting landmine victims, expressing his hope that Vietnam and Cambodia will continue cooperating and working together to promote their mine action in the future.

He announced that Cambodia will host the APMBC’s Fifth Review Conference from November 25 to 29 in Siem Reap, calling on Vietnam to consider sending a delegation to the event as an observer, thus contributing its voice in support of international cooperation, and sharing Vietnam's valuable experiences and practices in this work.

The Vietnamese diplomat stated that Vietnam always stands by the side of the international community in its efforts in this work, and supports many important humanitarian aspects in related conventions, including the Ottawa Convention.

The country has also actively promoted cooperation and support among countries, particularly in terms of technical and financial assistance for mine clearance, and support for landmine victims, he added.

According to Giang, as one of the countries severely affected by the consequences of UXO left by wars, Vietnam has paid special attention to and made great efforts in mine clearance in recent years. The country has developed policies and implemented specific measures to care for and support victims.

Vietnam acknowledges and appreciates valuable assistance from many international partners in addressing the consequences in recent years, he said.

The Vietnamese diplomat highly valued Cambodia's contributions to the international community's efforts in promoting mine action, expressing his belief that with his extensive experience, Ly Thuch will successfully fulfill his role as President of the Ottawa Convention’s review conference. /.

Vietnam, Japan step up sport cooperation

The sports association of the Vietnam People’s Police Force and the Vietnam – Japan international exchange organisation (FAVIJA) will build sport cooperation programmes under a Memorandum of Understanding recently signed between the two sides in Japan.

Accordingly, FAVIJA will help the association establish training and coaching programmes as well as mobilise resources to develop the Vietnamese police force’s sports, particularly in the fields of Japan’s strengths like karate, jujitsu, track and field, and table tennis.

Besides, they will work together to organise sport exchange activities between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan Nguyen Duc Minh highlighted the sound development of the Vietnam – Japan relations in such areas as politics, diplomacy, economy, defence security and people to people exchanges.

He said the MoU signing will contribute to bringing the bilateral ties in a more intensive, practical and effective manner.

During its stay in Japan from October 6-14, the delegation will have a working session with the NPA, visit and ink a cooperation agreement with the Juntendo University’s Faculty of Health and Sports Science, as well as paying working visits to local cultural establishments and sport training and coaching centres./.

Hanoi honours 100 university valedictorians

Hanoi’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union held a ceremony in Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) on October 2 evening to honour 100 valedictorians from the capital city-based universities this year.

This is the 22nd year that Hanoi has commended valedictorians from tertiary establishments in the city, demonstrating the city's attention to education.

Secretary of the Youth Union Chu Hong Minh said that promoting the traditional values of treasuring education and honouring talents, for many years, the municipal Party Committee and authorities have implemented various policies to attract, nurture, and utilise talented individuals, with an aim to harness internal resources to develop the capital city in an increasingly modern, civilised, integrated, and sustainable manner.

The valedictorians are potential young officers of the city in particular and the country at large. They are also typical examples of young, creative and dynamic intellectuals who are also active in scientific research, startups and community activities./.

Vietnam, Japan cooperate to balance tourism development, cultural heritage preservation

Vietnamese and Japanese tourism experts shared experiences and discuss solutions to optimise the cultural heritage preservation and sustainable tourism development at the second Vietnam – Japan tourism seminar in Hanoi on October 2.

The event was co-organised online by the Vietnam Institute for Tourism Development Research (ITDR) and the Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI).

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of Vietnam National Authority of Tourism Pham Van Thuy introduced about Vietnam’s advantages to develop tourism.

He noted that Japan is always an important market of Vietnam’s tourism sector.

He said Vietnam is making efforts to develop new and creative tourism products based on cultural values, meeting the increasingly diverse needs of international tourists. However, its tourism sector is also facing challenges in protecting and developing cultural heritage values.

He said maintaining a balance between tourism development and heritage conservation is an important task.

Hirashima Takashi, Deputy Director of the Japan National Tourism Organisation, affirmed that the two countries have many similarities in culture and tourism. In particular, cultural heritage tourism brings many values, contributing to nurturing the pride of each citizen in their homeland and country; raising awareness and mutual respect between cultures and regions in a country and among countries.

He said the tourism industry needs to build reasonable products, economic mechanisms, train human resources, protect the environment and provide livelihoods for people in heritage areas./.

National karate team earn a spot in 2024 Karate World Cup

Việt Nam have qualified for the 2024 Karate World Cup National Team Championships, the World Karate Federation (WKF) revealed after releasing a list of confirmed teams.

The tournament, known previously as WKF Team World Championships, is set to feature the best karate teams from around the globe. It will take place in Pamplona, Spain from November 22 to 24.

The list of competing teams includes 80 squads that have earned their tickets and confirmed their participation after their success during the qualification process in the last World Championships and the Continental Championships.

With a tally of 18 teams from Asia, 33 from Europe, two from Oceania, 12 from the Americas and 15 from Africa, the upcoming event is set to be a true celebration of global karate talent.

According to organisers, the World Cup will not only showcase the best in the sport but also foster a sense of unity and values among diverse cultures. And it will be a true celebration of the excitement of the sport, with fans getting the opportunity to back up their national teams.

Vietnamese athletes qualified for the tournament after they successfully advanced to three gold-medal matches at the Asian Karate Federation Senior Championships, which closed on September 22 in Hangzhou, China.

Four Vietnamese martial artists – Nguyễn Thị Ngoan, Nguyễn Thị Diệu Ly, Hoàng Thị Mỹ Tâm and Đinh Thị Hương – won gold in the women's kumite (combat) team event after a 2-0 win over China.

It was their fourth Asian championship finals in a row.

Meanwhile the men's and women's kata (performance) teams finished second in their categories, losing to Kuwait and Japan, respectively.

This marks the first time that Việt Nam have won a spot at the world team championships. The national coaching board said that they would draw up plans for the athletes to win big at the Pamplona event.

Book on Sài Gòn before 1975 wins Trần Văn Giàu Prize

The book on the history of Sài Gòn before 1945 won the prestigious annual history prize named after the revolutionary and philosopher Prof Trần Văn Giàu.

Đô Thị Sài Gòn - Chợ Lớn Trước Năm 1945 Qua Tài Liệu Lưu Trữ (Sài Gòn – Chợ Lớn Before 1945 through Archive Documents) was compiled by a group of authors from the HCM City-based National Archive Centre II under the State Records and Archives Management Department of Việt Nam.

Published by the HCM City General Publishing House, the 550-page book consists of two parts describing the establishment and development of Gia Định from the 17th century to 1859, and the administration and infrastructure planning of Sài Gòn – Chợ Lớn from 1859 to 1945.

Cù Thị Dung, a group member, said at the awards ceremony in the city on Saturday that her group spent a lot of time researching and seeking documents on Sài Gòn – Chợ Lớn from the works of predecessors, and articles from archive centres.

Dung added that the issues in the book were just a few pieces in the puzzle of the leading city in the south. Therefore, it was necessary to have the participation of many different generations to write about Sài Gòn – Chợ Lớn and the southern region.

Phan Văn Mãi, Chairman of the city People's Committee, said that studies on the city and southern region would provide the city with more precious documents and references for making future cultural and social development strategies and policies.

He also said the Trần Văn Giàu Prize should be promoted among organisations and researchers in the country and abroad, so they can send their research, particularly in the culture and ideology, to compete for the award.

The Trần Văn Giàu Prize was established in 2002 to encourage and honour Vietnamese history and culture research.

Giàu, born in 1911 in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Long An, was the former secretary of the Việt Nam Communist Party in the south of Việt Nam and chairman of the South Việt Nam’s Resistance Committee.

He is the author of many scholarly and philosophical works about Việt Nam, especially about the south, as well as the teacher of many leading researchers and historians across the country.

Media Services Centre in HCM City cooperates with Athena Cyber Security Centre

The Media Services Centre in HCM City of Vietnam News Agency's Southern branch signed a cooperation agreement with Athena Cyber Security Centre in District 3, HCM City on October 1.

Nguyễn Quốc Tuấn, Director of Vietnam News Agency's Southern branch and Media Services Centre in HCM City, said the agreement with Athena Cyber Security Centre aims to enhance cooperation in training, consulting, and media collaboration between the two parties.

The agreement focuses on developing media strategies and promoting content across VNA platforms and external media outlets.

Both parties will collaborate on projects, events, media programs, advertising, and event organisation.

Additionally, they will host academic seminars, workshops, and conferences to share knowledge and improve staff capacity.

Võ Đỗ Thắng, Director of Athena Cyber Security Centre, said the agreement will help both sides gain advantages to meet goals, and expects future contracts will strengthen cooperation. 

Work starts on $100-million inter-provincial coastal road in Mekong Delta

Construction of the Ba Lai 8 Bridge, the first sub-project of an inter-provincial coastal road project connecting the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bến Tre with the two neighbouring provinces of Tiền Giang and Trà Vinh, began on Wednesday (October 2).

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Bến Tre for construction of the bridge, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Hoà Bình said the Government has allocated large amounts of investment capital to develop the country's transport infrastructure in general and the Mekong Delta region in particular.

“The commencement of the construction of this bridge project is a very important to accelerate the process of starting work on the inter-provincial coastal road project, ensuring synchronous investment in transmission infrastructure and smooth traffic connection for the coastal area in the region,” he said.

Chairman of Bến Tre Province People's Committee Trần Ngọc Tam said the new bridge is one of its major, key transport projects.

The bridge will be nearly 528m long, and have motor vehicle lanes and two mixed lanes, with a designed speed of 80km per hour.

Total investment reaches VNĐ2.3 trillion (US$99.5 million), including VNĐ1.5 trillion ($65 million) sourced from the central budget.

It is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

“Once the bridge as well as the inter-provincial coastal road project are completed, they will contribute to enhancing inter-regional connectivity, creating advantages for development and economic trade for Mekong Delta provinces, and making a breakthrough in the province’s socio-economic development,” he said.

The inter-provincial coastal road project will cover nearly 53km and cross three major rivers - the Tiền, Hàm Luông, and Cổ Chiên.

The road will start at provincial road No. 877B in Tiền Giang Province’s Tân Phú Đông District and end at Thạnh Phú Bridge in Trà Vinh Province’s Châu Thành District.

The investment will be sourced from the Official Development Assistance fund, which supports the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, and the provincial budget.

The project will be divided into two phases. The first phase will run from now until 2025 and will include the construction of 13 bridges and a two-lane road with an investment of more than VNĐ13 trillion ($563 million).

After 2025, the road will be upgraded, with the road surface expanded. Total investment for this phase will be VNĐ15 trillion ($650 million).

The Bến Tre Province coastal road is part of the 740km southern road project that stretches from Hà Tiên City in Kiên Giang Province, to HCM City. It was approved by the Government 13 years ago and runs through the seven Mekong provinces of Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Trà Vinh, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu, Cà Mau, and Kiên Giang.

Bến Tre Province coastal road is the meeting point of national transport projects. The transport network is expected to be completed in the 2025-30 period and will form the Long Xuyên quadrangle area to connect with the HCM City-Trung Lương-Mỹ Thuận-Cần Thơ expressway network.

The road will shorten the distance between Mekong Delta provinces and HCM City and help reduce traffic congestion and accidents. 

Better pregnancy care seen as long-term strategy for improving community health

Ensuring safe motherhood through improved care before, during and after pregnancy will not only reduce maternal and infant mortality rates but also lay a strong foundation for the health of Việt Nam’s future generations. 

Safe motherhood is a key initiative in maternal and child health care, with the aim of improving medical care quality for new mothers and newborns to reduce obstetric complications and mortality rates.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health (MoH) from the first nine months of 2024 showed that more than 87.67 per cent of expecting mothers attended at least four prenatal check-ups during their pregnancy, and nearly 96 per cent of childbirths were assisted by skilled healthcare workers. 

The rate of postnatal care during the first week after childbirth remains above 72 per cent. 

Educating expecting and new mothers is seen as a key task, especially in the optimal care for children during their first 1,000 days of life. 

These efforts require the engagement of the fathers and the families in providing material and emotional support during childbirth and postpartum care. 

In addition to regular check-ups and pre-conception counselling, experts recommend that expecting mothers receive the necessary vaccinations to prevent tetanus in both the mother and child. Early detection of hepatitis B, syphilis and HIV can also help avoid perinatal disease transmission. 

Mothers-to-be should also maintain a proper diet, with iron and folic acid supplementation for sufficient nutrition during pregnancy. 

Nationwide, Việt Nam has been implementing a programme called 'Nutrition care during the first 1,000 days of life to prevent maternal and child malnutrition and improve Vietnamese stature' since 2019. 

According to Dr Trần Thanh Dương, director of the National Institute of Nutrition, 1,000 days of life is a foundational period for a child’s physical and psychological development. 

During this pivotal period, breastfeeding campaigns continue to be included in prenatal, perinatal and postnatal care, and are especially crucial for nutritional diets. 

Breast milk banks have been providing care and treatment to thousands of newborns every year, primarily for low birth weight, preterm birth and other illnesses. These services also reduce the number of newborns requiring intensive care, thereby minimising infant mortality rates. 

Việt Nam’s first-ever breast milk bank, at Đà Nẵng Hospital for Women and Children, has received nearly 12,800 litres of milk donated from 618 mothers, which have been provided to 35,570 newborns in its seven years of operation. 

Meanwhile, the first breast milk bank in Việt Nam’s northern region, at Quảng Ninh Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital, has collected more than 5,400 litres of milk donated from 132 mothers since its establishment in May 2019.

Breast milk is collected, tested, pasteurised and stored from healthy mothers for infants who require additional nutrients.

On a larger scale, the MoH’s Maternal and Child Health Department has been implementing an initiative that guides obstetric and paediatric hospitals to provide support for breastfeeding, especially in early essential newborn care (EENC) and kangaroo mother care (KMC). 

While maternal and child health care has seen progress in recent years, experts believe that more specific policies and stable financial resources should be made available for reproductive health care, especially pre-conception screening and testing. 

Engagement and close coordination between authorities, the community, and the family are also key factors in improving the quality of care for new mothers and their children, which not only reduce maternal and infant mortality but also contribute to the development of future generations.

Border guard force partners with IOM in human trafficking prevention, combat

The Department of Drug-Related Crime Prevention and Control under the Border Guard Command of Vietnam and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam on October 2 jointly organised a ceremony to launch a project to enhance capacity to prevent and combat human trafficking in Vietnam's land and sea border areas in the face of the risk of human trafficking and related cross-border crimes.

The project, funded by the US Department of State, will be implemented in two years by the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Currently, the number of Vietnamese people migrating abroad to work is increasing. Taking advantage of this need, human traffickers are increasingly using online platforms to recruit, defraud, coerce and exploit victims to work for online fraud establishments operating in border areas of Southeast Asian countries.

With the task of managing 5,036 km of land border and 3,260 km of coastline, the border guard is the frontline force in preventing and combating cross-border crime.

From the success of previous cooperation projects between the Border Guard Command of Vietnam and the IOM, this project aims to strengthen the capacity of the border guard force, especially frontline officers in border areas, to detect, investigate and handle human trafficking cases, as well as to identify, protect and support victims of trafficking, especially in the context of crimes shifting to cyberspace.

Within the project’s framework, a new set of training documents on combating human trafficking and protecting victims will be developed for frontline officers. The documents, which updates information on new laws, crime trends and specific cases, will be used for 16 training courses for more than 600 frontline border guards on crime prevention, control and immigration control nationwide.

The project is expected to create opportunities to promote cross-border cooperation between the Border Guard force and regional partners, enabling the exchange of effective handling methods, professional knowledge and practical experience that have been successfully applied in the investigation and prosecution of cross-border crimes.

Besides, the project provides communication skill training for frontline staff to better popularise information about safe migration, reducing illegal migration in vulnerable communities in border areas.

According to IOM Chief of Mission in Vietnam Park Mi-hyung, human trafficking is a global problem that requires close and effective coordination among all stakeholders. This project is an important part of IOM's support to the Government of Vietnam not only to strengthen border and migration management, but also to contribute to the realisation of of the objectives of the national programme on prevention and control of human trafficking in the 2021-2025 period with a vision to 2030 and the plan for implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, of which Vietnam is an active member.

INL Vietnam Director Ryan McKean said that by equipping frontline border officers, their key role in preventing and combating human trafficking will be promoted. The project will also contribute to training and providing essential equipment to support border guards in carrying out this important task, he added.

Colonel Vu Xuan Dai, vice director of the Department of Drug-Related Crime Prevention and Control under the Border Guard Command of Vietnam highlighted the significance of fostering international cooperation in preventing and combating organised and transnational crime in general and human trafficking in particular.

He said that in the coming time, the department will continue to actively implement approved cooperation activities to enhance the efficiency of human trafficking combat.

HCM City’s Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line starts trial run

Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Authority for Urban Railways has announced that the Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro line started trial run from early this month.

During the trial operation from October 1 -17, the trains will run every 4 minutes and 30 seconds, and operators in all positions including drivers, dispatchers at the control centre, and station staff will be mobilised. A total of 71 workers participate in the trial operation in each shift, with two shifts expected each day.

The trial will be conducted with 47 different scenarios, from normal operation to emergency situations such as fire, explosion, power outage, flooding, or signal loss at different locations along the line.

It will be carried out in two phases with the Japanese NJPT consultants responsible for the first and Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Company 1, the second.

Along with the trial operation, BVT System Safety Assessment Consultants - a joint venture of Bureau Veritas of France and TEDI of Vietnam - will monitor, observe, and evaluate the proficiency of workers in emergency situations.

The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line spans 19.7 km between District 1's Ben Thanh market and Thu Duc city's Long Thanh depot, featuring three underground and 11 elevated stations. Work on the metro project began in 2012 and experienced various delays, with costs rising to over 43.7 trillion VND (1.71 billion USD). The line has a total of 17 trains, each can carry 930 passengers./.

Young Vietnamese, Lao officers tighten relationship

An exchange programme between young officers of Vietnam and Laos took place on October 2 at the Long Sap - Sop Bao border gate pair between Moc Chau district in Vietnam's Son La province and Sop Bao district in Laos’s Houaphanh province.

The exchange is part of a series of activities under the framework of the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange, which is scheduled to take place at the Long Sap border gate area in late October. The programme reflects the attention and trust of both countries' military leaders to the youth, creating an opportunity for younger generations of both countries' armed forces to exchange experiences, and review the glorious and heroic traditions of the Vietnam-Laos relationship. Based on this, the two sides will join hands to preserve, cultivate, and further strengthen the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States.

Within the framework of the friendship exchange, the Border Guard Command of Vietnam presented 20 scholarships to Lao and Vietnamese students under a programme which support students to schools, worth over 40 million VND (1,618 USD) as well as handed over 60 breeding cows to households in Laos and Vietnam.

On this occasion, young officers from the border guard forces of Vietnam and Laos planted flowers and friendship trees along the sidewalks at border marker No. 255, and also held a cross-border marathon with the participation of 120 athletes./.