A seminar on traditional medicine of Vietnam and Japan was held in Hanoi on October 7, attracting the participation of almost 100 experts and researchers in the areas from the two countries.
 
At the event, the participants exchanged experience in the application of advanced techniques in traditional medicine to raise the efficiency of community health care.

Nguyen The Thinh, head of the Traditional Medicine Management Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Health, said that there are 63 specialised hospitals in this area across the country.

Vietnam has set a goal that by 2030, all provinces and centrally-run cities will have a general hospital for traditional medicine, he said.

Binh Dinh has new Chairman

The Government has confirmed Mr. Pham Anh Tuan as Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People’s Committee for the 2020-2025 tenure.

Earlier, Pham was elected by the provincial People's Council as new Chairman of the Binh Dinh Provincial People’s Committee.

Pham, born in 1973, was  promoted to the new role from his previous position as Deputy Minister of Information and Communications.

Hoi An destined for Mekong tourism forum 2022

Under the theme of “Rebuild Tourism, Rebound with Resilience”, the Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF) will be held in the central province of Quang Nam, home to Hoi An ancient town, from October 9-14.

The forum will bring together delegates who are representatives of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), representatives of other GMS countries' national tourism agencies, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Destination Mekong, Agoda, Asia Pacific Travel Association, OAG, YAANA Ventures, EXO Travel, Travelife and ASEAN Travel Association, among many others.

At the forum, speakers will focus on post-COVID-19 tourism recovery, digital transformation, supply chain localization, social enterprise business models, and best practices for tourism recovery.

Panelists and experts will put forward necessary policies, regulations and investments to revive tourism and travel activities, with particular focus on natural solutions, nature and apply technology.

In the framework of the forum, there is also a sustainable tourism exhibition of Viet Nam and countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The exhibition will display and promote tourism products and services that are responsible to the environment and community, creating positive impacts.

HCMC honors 61 outstanding young, friendly cadres, officials

The Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union held a ceremony honoring 61 outstanding young and friendly cadres and officials at President Ho Chi Minh Statue Park in front of the City Hall on October 8.

Launched in 2011, the award honors outstanding young and friendly cadres and officials who applied practical solutions and initiatives at work, especially in administrative reform, and had a high spirit of responsibility and good performance in the “Studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts, morals and style”.

After the award ceremony, exemplary models took part in the “Connection between cadres and officials with young employees in HCMC” program at the headquarters of the municipal People’s Committee.

Previously, outstanding young and friendly cadres and officials offered flowers at Ho Chi Minh Statue Park in front of the City Hall in Nguyen Hue walking street.

French luxury vessel docks in Quy Nhon port

The five-star luxury vessel, Le Laperouse belonging to French company Ponant bringing 106 visitors and 116 crew members arrived in Quy Nhon port in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh on October 8.

Tourists come from different countries, including Belgium, France, Egypt, Russia, Spain, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, the UK.

The luxury cruise ship is on a trip to visit Vietnam’s destinations of Nha Trang, Quy Nhon and Da Nang.

The travelers visited tourist attractions in Quy Nhon City, such as Banh It, Doi and Canh Tien towers, Mang Lang church, Ghenh Da Dia (The cliff of stone plates).

Le Lapérouse cruise ship operated by Ponant is 132 m long, 18 m wide, and 28 m high. It was put into use in 2018, belonging to the luxury segment, serving only a maximum of 184 guests per trip.

Le Laperouse is a luxury cruise ship with 92 staterooms & suites run by French company Ponant that can accommodate a maximum of 184 passengers. It is 132 m long, 18 m wide, and 28 m high. It was put into use in 2018. The lowest cruise cost is estimated to be US$12,000 per person.

Hanoi applies digital technology in road traffic control

The Hanoi People's Committee will intensify the application of digital technology in traffic control and road infrastructure maintenance.

Under a plan issued on October 5, the city will improve efficiency and safety and save money in Hanoi's construction, management, operation and maintenance of traffic infrastructure.

By 2025, the city will complete digital transformation in the construction, management and maintenance of the transport infrastructure system. It will build a transportation management database by installing an intelligent traffic management and administration system on all national roads passing through Hanoi.

By 2030, the city will put the Intelligent Transportation Center (ITS) into operation and train human resources to handle the fourth industrial revolution's technological applications effectively.

The Department of Transport will manage the project, take stock, and report to the Ministry of Transportation.

The municipal People's Committee tasked the Hanoi police with applying technology in traffic management, control, and handling traffic violations.

VinFast partners with IRONMAN

The 2022 VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship is taking place on October 6-8 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, during which VinFast announced they have joined IRONMAN as a Naming Rights Partner for the IRONMAN® North America Series from 2023, expanding their partnership that previously covered the US.

The partnership showcases the success of VinFast's strategic partnership with IRONMAN in the journey toward a green and sustainable lifestyle applied to the endurance racing community.

Earlier this year, VinFast was announced as the first-ever naming rights partner of the IRONMAN US Series in 2022. With the expansion to Canada in 2023, the series will now be titled the VinFast IRONMAN North America Series.

Vietnam attends Building Bridges Week 2022 in Switzerland

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva, attended the Building Bridges Week 2022 in Switzerland from Oct. 3-6 to mobilize finance for nature conservation and climate goals.

Addressing working sessions, Ambassador Mai introduced Vietnam’s guidelines and policies in response to climate change, disaster reduction, restoration and protection of natural resources including coral reefs.

Vietnam has committed to achieving net-zero carbon neutrality by 2050 as stated by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 26th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP26) in Scotland last November, she said.

In its socio-economic development plan for 2021-2025, Mai said Vietnam gives to climate change adaptation, environmental protection, circular economy transformation and green finance for sustainable development.

To address the impact of coral reef degradation on the livelihoods of coastal people, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG) on the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and the resources therein, Vietnam has been implementing the 2017 National Programme on Sustainable Development and the Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Marine Economy to 2030, with a Vision to 2045.

The lack of financial resources is one of the most crucial barriers to the implementation of the SDGs in Vietnam and other developing countries, she noted.

The diplomat took the occasion to thank the World Bank and the UN Development Program (UNDP) for their great support and policy advice for Vietnam in the implementation of the environmental and climate agendas, as well as in the field of development cooperation.

Muslims celebrate Maulid Festival in HCM City

The Muslim community in Ho Chi Minh City on October 8 jubilantly held the Maulid Festival to celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

The event was attended by representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City branch of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Consulate Generals of Malaysia and Indonesia, and religious organizations such as Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Pure Land Sect, and Cao Daism, as well as a large number of people in the Muslim community in the city.

Int’l science film fest to be held across major Vietnamese cities

The 12th International Science Film is scheduled to take place from October 8 to December 31 in Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, announced the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The festival is held annually by the Goethe Institute in Hanoi, THD Education Solutions Company, and the Vietnam Institute for Education Sciences (VNIES).

It presents a range of scientific topics which are both accessible and entertaining to a broad audience and demonstrates that science can be fun and educational.

In Vietnam, some 16 science films across different categories will be screened during the festival.

Venezuela art exhibition highlights Vietnam land, culture, people

A painting exhibition featuring art pieces on Vietnam produced by Venezuelan artists was held on October 7.

The event was jointly held by the Venezuelan Artists' Association in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela, and the Vietnam-Venezuela Friendship Association.

The exhibition saw famous Venezuelan artists display dozens of art paintings in honour of beloved late President Ho Chi Minh, as well as Vietnamese culture, landscapes, and people.

Beautiful images of Vietnam in Miss Globe Vietnam’s introduction video

Lam Thu Hong, the Vietnamese representative to Miss Globe 2022, impressed international audiences on October 6 with an introduction video describing both herself and her fatherland.

The four-minute video focuses on the country’s beautiful landscape and tells various stories about the life of Miss Globe Vietnam and her family.

Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho City, Tam Chuc pagoda in Ha Nam province, and images of her native land Vung Tau province were screened as part of the video.

Her father and younger brother greatly influenced Hong during her adulthood. Her parents divorced with her father going on to raise Hong and her autistic brother by himself.

Hailing from Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, the 27-year-old girl stands at 1.73 metres tall, weighs 52kg and measures 88-59-92. In 2018 she finished among the Top 5 of Miss Sea Vietnam Global.

Miss Globe 2022’s grand final is scheduled to take place in Tirana, Albania, on October 15.

Hanoi to host Vietnam-Japan charity concert for upland children

Vietnamese and Japanese artists are scheduled to stage a classical concert in Hanoi on October 8 – 9 to raise funds to build schools for children in mountainous areas across Vietnam.

“Music night for Vietnamese children” will be a collaboration project between artists of Ryona Quartet of Japan and the bamboo ensemble Sức Sống Mới of Vietnam. It will also aim to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Vietnam.

Ryoma Quartet consist of four members, Ryoma the violinist, Masakatsu the Tsugaru Shamisen player, Sui the Japanese traditional flute player, and Jin the traditional Japanese drummer.

They are extremely keen to bring Japanese culture to the world through the boundless language of music. The quartet have held successful tours in Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Bulgaria, and the Republic of Korea, among other countries.

Sức Sống Mới are the only ethnic ensemble in Vietnam that perform detailed composition arrangements for symphony, founded by conductor Dog Quang Vinh. Their genres are diverse, including folk music, traditional music, pop music, and Western chamber music. 

The concert will open for free to audiences on October 8 at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.

Ticket sales will be for the concert held on October 9 at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

The proceeds will be used to build a kindergarten school in Muong Dang commune of Muong Ang district in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, with the groundbreaking ceremony due to take place in November.

Winners of Vietnam art photo contest announced

An awards ceremony for a Vietnam art photo contest was held on October 6 in Hanoi, with a set of images showcasing Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Thiem 2 Bridge winning gold prize.

Photographer Le Quang Thien of Da Nang shared that Thu Thiem 2 Bridge is a key construction project which highlights the country’s economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic that has developed the creative urban area in the east of Ho Chi Minh City and is an architectural highlight in urban landscape of the southern metropolis.

A photo showing an important goal scored by the Vietnamese men’s football team in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games won a silver medal.

The organisers also awarded a further three silvers, eight bronze medals and 16 consolation prizes to winners.

The biennial photo contest was launched by the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA).

Over the past three months the organisers had received 16,935 entries by 1,502 photographers from across the country.

The judges had selected a total of 250 photos from 187 authors for an exhibition held at the Vietnam Art and Cultural Exhibition Center in Hanoi until October 16.

The exhibition will get underway in Ho Chi Minh City from November 4 to November 13, with a virtual exhibition taking place at http://ape.gov.vn.

Traditional German beer festival recreated in Hanoi

Beer lovers in the capital can enjoy delicious food prepared for by the world’s leading chefs and drink beer at “GBA Oktoberfest Vietnam”, Germany’s biggest annual cultural festival held in Vietnam.

Taking place on October 6, the traditional opening ceremony of the event showcased the tapping of the first beer keg and saw guests don traditional Bavarian attire.

Addressing participants, Erwin R. Popov, general manager of the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, noted this is the first time that Hanoi Daewoo Hotel has hosted such a festival at its outdoor swimming pool, running each night from 6 p.m. to midnight from October 6 to October 8.

During the festival, he said guests will be able to savour an all-you-can-eat feast of authentic German cuisine, including sausages, sauerkraut, sauerbraten, and pork knuckle. Throughout the evening, the overflowing buffet will also present a selection of traditional dishes from roast potatoes to salted pretzels.

Furthermore, a host of Pan-Asian and local Vietnamese dishes and a live cooking station will also be featured as part of the buffet menu. In addition, guests can also enjoy Schneider Weisse and Krombacher beer imported directly from the brewery.

The event will feature a number of impressive music performances by renowned local DJs, music bands playing both traditional Bavarian and contemporary sounds, along with choreographed dance troupes.

Thien An wins Pre-Arrival poll at Miss Grand International 2022

Doan Thien An, Miss Grand Vietnam 2022, has secured her first win at Miss Grand International 2022 after leading the voting in the Top 10 of the Pre-Arrival contest.

According to latest update provided by the beauty pageant’s organising board, Thien An received nearly 15 million votes, thereby surpassing 19 other contestants to top the rankings.

Due to this win, the Vietnamese beauty and nine other foreign contestants with the highest points will have a special dinner with Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International.

This represents a golden chance for Thien An to showcase her ability and leave a positive impression on the beauty pageant’s president and organising board.

Thien An, 22, of the Mekong Delta province of Long An was crowned Miss Grand Vietnam 2022 on October 1.

Standing at 1.75-metres tall, she is currently a student of the Industrial University in Ho Chi Minh City. She weighs 60 kg and measures 88.5-66-98.

Vietnam retain top position in SEA in latest FIFA rankings

The Vietnamese men's national football team jumped one spot from 97th to 96th place in world football governing body FIFA's latest rankings released on October 6.

Two wins against India and Singapore in the recent international friendly tournament in Ho Chi Minh City helped Vietnam gain a considerable advantage. The country earned an additional 7.81 points to take them up to 96th place in the FIFA rankings with 1,226.65 points.

Vietnam continued to lead the Southeast Asian region and are now 15 places higher than Thailand which held on to 111th position in the global rankings after their poor performance in the King's Cup. 

Some regional teams, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, showed progress after recent wins, although Singapore, the Philippines, and Laos dropped in the latest world rankings.

Overall, Vietnam ranked 17th in Asia, while the leading five Asian teams went to Iran, 20th in world, Japan, 24th, the Republic of Korea, 28th, Australia, 38th, and Qatar, 50th.

Site clearance boundary for Ring Road No.3 in HCM City approved

The HCM City People’s Committee has approved the acquisition of 408 hectares of land and relocation of 740 households that own them to make way for the construction of a 47km section of the Ring Road No.3.

Ring Road No.3, identified as a key national project and one of the city’s urgent traffic projects in 2021-25, is expected to improve the transport infrastructure and inter-regional connectivity, and create a new driving force for socio-economic development in the southern economic region.

It will help ease congestion in HCM City and transport goods from Mekong Delta provinces to the Nhơn Trạch Industrial Zone in Đồng Nai Province and Cái Mép-Thị Vải Port in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province.

It will run more than 76km through the city and the provinces of Đồng Nai, Bình Dương and Long An.

Trading garbage for money in Quảng Ninh

After six months in operation, the "Garbage ATM" programme, named VRacBank from Quảng Ninh Cement and Construction Company, has gathered 20 tonnes of recycled trash and transferred out VNĐ100 million (US$4,190) to people across the city.

The first programme of its kind, it was created on April 1, 2022, and looks to retrieve sustainable resources for production, as well as play a big role in garbage disposal and environmental protection in Quảng Ninh's move to a green economy.

Every Wednesday and Friday mornings, workers of Quảng Ninh Cement and Construction Company, as well as residents of Phương Nam Ward, collect plastic, metal, paper, fabrics and other materials to exchange them for money.

Vũ Thị Thuần is one of the most prolific contributors to this activity. She collects recyclable trash every day and delivers it to the Quảng Ninh Cement and Construction Company.

According to company workers, they always sort out their garbage at home and bring recyclables to the factory.

Outside of the VRacBank programme, the company and Phương Nam Ward collaborated to organise programmes such as the "Reducing Plastic Waste Art Competition", which spread awareness for students on recycling and sorting out garbage.

Ministry prioritises clean water supply for rural areas

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue prioritising the supply of clean water for disadvantaged, mountainous and remote localities and areas that are usually affected by natural disasters, according to deputy minister Trần Thành Nam.

The ministry will build models of water storage to cope with climate change in coastal and Mekong Delta regions, he said at a conference held on Thursday in Hà Nội to implement a programme on enhancing environmental protection, food safety and hygiene, and supply of safe water for rural areas during the 2021-25 period and a programme on digital transformation in building new-style rural areas.

The ministry has coordinated with ministries, agencies and localities to implement on a trial basis some safe water supply projects in rural areas which have yielded positive results, Nam said. These models will be expanded to other localities in the future.

Regarding food safety and hygiene, safe food markets have been built in some localities. Deputy Minister Nam asked provinces to study, assess and build this model in rural areas.

Friendship golf tournament held to foster Vietnam-Laos ties

A friendship golf tournament was held on October 8 in Vientiane, the capital of Laos to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

The event saw the presence of Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung as well as other officials and businessmen from both countries. 

The tournament, which draw the participation of 200 Vietnamese and Lao golfers, was organised by the Vietnam Business Association for Cooperation and Investment in Laos, in collaboration with Young Entrepreneurs Association of Laos and the Embassy of Hanoi in Vientiane. 

Night tours to historic sites appealing to tourists in Hanoi

Though night tours to relic and heritage sites are becoming increasingly common they are still considered a new concept compared to regular day tours.

In Hanoi, two offerings to receive major attention in recent times are night tours to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and to Hoa Lo Prison.

On the “Decoding the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long” tour, visitors have the chance to walk through the ancient royal space, offer incense to commemorate the 52 ancestors at Kinh Thien Palace, and learn about Hanoi’s history through antiquities unearthed under the site.

At Hoa Lo Prison, meanwhile, the “Sacred Night 2: Live Like Flowers” tour allows visitors to learn about Vietnam’s heroic history, with plays staged depicting the strong spirit of revolutionary soldiers and especially female prisoners.

Night tours to Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Hoa Lo Prison have received a warm response from local and foreign visitors.

Following on from the success of these night tours, other relic sites in Hanoi such as Ngoc Son Temple and the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam have been planning to expand their evening activities.

Indeed, there will soon be a night tour of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, to stimulate tourism development in parallel with preserving and promoting Hanoi’s traditional cultural values.

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