About 400 delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yamaguchi prefecture of Japan as well as Vietnamese and foreign businesses gathered at the "Meet Japan 2023" programme held in the southern province of Binh Duong on September 8.

Addressing the event, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu hailed Binh Duong's idea to organise the programme with many activities, contributing to fostering the friendship and extensive partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

He said he hopes the two sides explore their cooperation potential and sketch out specific collaboration plans, thus making more room for partnership between Binh Duong as well as other Vietnamese localities and Japanese partners.

Highlighting the growing ties between Vietnam and Japan over the past five decades, Vu said that the two countries have reached profound political trust and effective and substantial cooperation in all fields. Especially in economy, Japan has been one of the leading important partners of Vietnam, he noted.

He suggested that the two sides work together to grasp cooperation opportunities and tackle difficulties for stronger partnership, and pledged that the foreign ministry of Vietnam and Vietnamese representative agencies in Japan will continue to support Binh Duong in strengthening connections with Japanese partners.

Within the programme's framework, Binh Duong also organised a meeting with Japanese businesses and partners, and granted investment and construction licences to Japanese firms in Binh Duong, along with various cultural exchanges and investment promotion activities.

A firework performance was also held in Thu Dau Mot city to celebrate the event.

Currently, Binh Duong is hosting more than 300 Japanese enterprises.

The southern industrial hub and Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture have enjoyed fruitful partnership since they signed a memorandum of understanding on friendship and cooperation in December 2014.

Khanh Hoa: Fishermen in distress sent to infirmaries for treatment

Two fishermen were rushed to the infirmaries at Song Tu Tay and Son Ca islands in Truong Sa island district, in the south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa where they are under treatment for injuries they suffered at sea, reported the High Command of the Military Region 4 on September 8.

On September 7 evening, Song Tu Tay island infirmary received and provided emergency medical care to Bui Van Tang, 46, a native of Ly Son district, the central province of Quang Ngai.

As a fisherman on board the fishing vessel QNg 96669 TS, he showed symptoms of decompression sickness due to deep-sea diving. After examination and online consultation with the Navy Medical Institute, medical staff diagnosed Tang with decompression sickness and proceeded with fluid infusion and the use of blood-thinning medication. The sickness can last up to 36 hours.

The same day, fisherman Doan Hoang Vu, 51, from the fishing vessel TG 93949 TS was sent to Son Ca island infirmary with an injury to his left hand. He was injured in a workplace accident while fishing at sea.

At present, the two fishermen are in stable condition, but they are still required to stay on the islands for further treatment.

Measures sought to promote Vietnam’s medical tourism

Vietnam’s medical tourism should be further promoted to international visitors through communications activities as well as diplomatic, cultural, sport, and economic events, heard thematic workshops held within the framework of the 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City on September 8.

Kien Le, General Director of Panhou Resort & Whale Island Resort, said businesses should offer more unique medical tourism products based on available resources and local culture.

Other participants pointed out the fact that Vietnam boasts diverse natural resources and traditional medicine. However, such potential has yet been fully tapped to serve medical tourism.

They suggested tourist sites coordinate with authorities and educational institutions in this regard, saying tourism students should learn more about traditional medicine, and vice versa.

Rafi Kot, Founder and CEO of Family Medical Practice Vietnam, also suggested Vietnam study culture and work style to better serve foreign patients, stressing workers proficient in English, good services and connectivity with foreign insurance companies are crucial factors for a medical system.

HCM City striving to end illegal fishing

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has requested stronger actions to put an end to illegal fishing in foreign waters, ahead of the fourth fact-finding trip by an European Commission (EC) delegation this October.

The committee assigned the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to strictly monitor fishing vessels, certify traceability of catches to ensure legality, and coordinate with relevant units to conduct specialised inspections of enterprises importing seafood for processing and export to the European market, and strictly deal with any violations.

The city Border Guard Command was asked to work with relevant units to strengthen patrols to prevent and stop fishing vessels and fishermen from conducting illegal fishing in foreign waters.

The Department of Public Security was asked to direct investigations, consolidate records, and prosecute organizations and individuals illegally fishing in foreign waters.

Ho Chi Minh City is home to over 2,000 fishermen, mainly in Can Gio district, of whom nearly 150 take part in offshore fishing.

Da Nang starts construction of coastal port-linked road

Work started on a 6-lane 2.96km coastal road connecting the national road system and the Lien Chieu port in the central city of Da Nang on September 7.

The coastal road, which will be built at cost of 1.2 trillion VND (48 million USD) includes two multi-layer junctions with the national North-South railway and road system, and the South Hai Van-Tuy Loan ringroad, will create an independence traffic route linking the national traffic and the port for all vehicles.

It also helps build channel crossing bridges, tunnels and flyovers for smooth travel of container trucks, storage and shipping logistics service among the port and industrial parks in the area.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh said the construction of the port and shared infrastructure projects has been following the country’s master plan on the seaport system until 2030, making it a key port in the central and Central Highlands region and the third largest port system in Vietnam and a leading ASEAN port and key logistics connection in the country.

He said Lien Chieu Port was designed for handling from 40 million to 50 million tonnes of cargo in 2050.

The Lien Chieu Port and coastal road system as well as inner port traffic road will host multi-vehicle cargo trips from National Highway No 1A; Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway, Industrial Zones and Hi-tech Parks and Da Nang International Airport.

The port will help build a cargo link with Chan May Port in the neighbouring province of Thua Thien – Hue, 40km away, and Chu Lai Port and airport 70km and Dung Quất Economic Zone in Quang Ngai province.

Vietnamese flavour excites crowds at International Culinary Village in France

Vietnam is joining more than 50 other countries from September 7 to 10 at the International Gastronomy Village 2023 in Paris, France, which is providing a delightful fusion of flavours, cultures, and experiences for food enthusiasts and cultural explorers alike. 
      
The country used the occasion to introduce a range of dishes, such as Nem (spring rolls), beef noodles, and Banh Mi (baguette) to international friends.

Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its delicate combination of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavours in each dish. This creates a diverse and attractive culinary experience for guests to enjoy.

Along with lotus dances, Non La (conical hat) dances and Ao Dai (traditional long dress) fashion shows are taking place in front of the Vietnamese booth, offering a vibrant atmosphere for visitors.

These performances not only provide visitors with a wonderful experience, but also helped international friends to gain a deeper understanding of cultural values ​​of Vietnam.

This is the second time Vietnam has participated in the annual event following the 2022 edition. The annual event takes place at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, attracting thousands of visitors.

One of the largest gourmet events in Paris, the International Gastronomy Village (or Village de la Gastronomie) features popular cuisines and cultures from many countries worldwide and several French regions.

This year’s festival features 40 demonstrations, 60 drinks masterclasses, and a vibrant lineup of events on offer.

Poisoned pine forest recovered well after being rescued

Most of the poisoned natural pine trees have successfully recovered after receiving rescue treatments, according to the Lâm Đồng Province Sub-department of Forest Protection, as reported on Thursday.

The affected pine forest is located in Lộc Ngãi and Lộc Phú communes within Bảo Lâm District.

Specifically, in Lộc Ngãi Commune, which is under the management of the Hà Phong Joint Stock Company, forest managers have successfully restored 116 out of 231 three-leaf pine trees that were initially poisoned.

In Lộc Phú Commune, managed by the Đam’bri Protective Forest Management Board, they have rescued 145 out of the 167 damaged trees.

Currently, forest managers and specialised teams are closely monitoring the situation to take necessary measures to further protect the pine trees from any potential harm.

Previously, on July 20, the Vietnam News Agency reported that the natural pine forests in these two communes had been continuously poisoned. Some individuals had drilled holes into the tree trunks and poured chemicals into them, causing the trees to be on the brink of death. The total affected area amounted to nearly 18,000 square meters.

According to local authorities' statistics, nearly 400 decades-old natural three-leaf pine trees were subjected to poisoning.

Upon the discovery of this incident, the forest protection force swiftly implemented temporary measures to rescue the affected trees. They employed chisels and hewing equipment to widen the drilled holes and then applied oil to prevent the chemicals from further penetrating the tree stems.

Subsequently, the provincial Sub-department of Cultivation and Plant Protection provided guidance on how to treat the poisoned pine trees.

These protective measures were carried out two to three times a day.

In connection with this case, Deputy Chairman of the Lâm Đồng Province People's Committee, Nguyễn Ngọc Phúc, on July 21 issued an urgent document requesting the Bảo Lâm District People's Committee to temporarily suspend the chairpersons of the Lộc Phú and Lộc Ngãi people's committees from their duties to conduct an inspection and clarify the responsibilities of organisations and individuals in accordance with the regulations. 

Exhibition displaying nearly 170 ceramic antiquities

An exhibition is now underway at the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, featuring a wide array of valuable ceramic antiquities spanning from the 11th century to the early 20th century.
 
Nearly 170 items contributed by 27 members of the Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association are on display. They originate from both Vietnam and China and come in a wide variety of ceramic materials in different categories.

Items include worshipping statues and incense burners, ornamental ceramics like miniature figurines and decorative vases, as well as everyday objects like bowls, plates, teapots, and water containers.

Several stand out as exceptionally unique or rare, including a green-glazed ceramic pot crafted during the Ly Dynasty, and a plate from the Chu Dau pottery line.

On this occasion, members of the Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association donated a total of 91 items to the History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City.

The exhibition is open to the public at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, and will last until October 30 as part of activities marking the 15th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association.

Hanoi resettlement housing projects left idle

Hundreds of apartments in Hanoi have been left unused despite increasing housing demand in the city.

Den Lu Resettlement Area located in Hoang Mai District has three high-rise buildings with hundreds of apartments. Finished in 2017, the project has been abandoned.

Resettlement Area N3-N4-N5 in Sai Dong New Urban Area in Long Bien District is home to 150 apartments. But it has also been left deserted for years.

The same situation has also been reported in different resettlement areas such as Nam Trung Yen in Cau Giay District and Tran Phu in Hoang Mai District.

Hanoi is home to 199 resettlement buildings with a total number of 17,957 apartments, but to date, hundreds of apartments have been left unused.

Meanwhile, many buildings lack the required facilities such as basements, and waste treatment and fire prevention and control systems.

Lots of resettlement areas are quite far from schools and hospitals and are inconvenient for transport connections.

Some resettlement apartment projects have struggled with difficulties in compensation or a lack of capital.

HCM City bridge opens to traffic after two decades of construction

Long Kieng Bridge in HCM City's outlying district of Nha Be was put into use on Friday, nearly 23 years after the project was approved. 

Long Kieng Bridge in HCM City's outlying district of Nha Be was put into use on September 8.

The 318-metre-long, 15-metre-wide bridge project was built with a total investment of VND589 billion (USD24.30 million), sourced from the city’s budget.

Speaking at the bridge inauguration ceremony, Luong Minh Phuc, director of the Transportation Works Construction Investment Project Management Authority of HCM City expressed happiness that the bridge had finally been completed.

"Due to problems in site clearance, work on the project did not start until August 2018," he said. "It was scheduled for completion at the end of November 2019. However, site clearance bottlenecks again slowed progress."

The 318-metre-long, 15-metre-wide bridge project was built with a total investment of VND589 billion (USD24.30 million).

Attending the ceremony, the chairwoman of the HCM City People's Council, Nguyen Thi Le, said that the opening of the new Long Kieng Bridge was a dream come true for local residents after nearly 23 years of waiting.

"The new bridge will help revitalise the area and facilitate travel between Nha Be District and districts 1, 7 and surrounding areas of Nha Be District," she said. "Many local residents are excited to have the new bridge."

Dozens of spots in Quang Binh warned of landslide risks

As many as 85 areas in the central province of Quang Binh are at risk of landslides.

Quang Binh is home to 153 reservoirs, including 31 that have deteriorated. 

According to local authorities, around 85 localities in the province are at risk of landslides, posing a danger to 1,100 households.

Tran Hoai Nam, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said landslides in the province were increasingly common and more serious.

To cope with landslides and other hazards caused by natural disasters, Quang Binh has established emergency response teams at village and commune levels.

Dozens of foreign firms to promote tourism in Can Tho

The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) Can Tho is scheduled to be held in December this year, expected to attract many firms from different countries.

The Eco-tourism in the Mekong Delta event will take place in Can Tho City on December 1-3 with the participation of around 120 travel businesses, including half from 10 nations such as France, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia.  

Roughly 350 booths will be displayed at the VITM, with the hope to draw 20,000-30,000 visitors.

According to Dao Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, VITM would help to promote tourism products in the Mekong Delta region. This is also a chance for companies to seek cooperation opportunities.

VITM was held for the first time in 2019 with 340 stalls, serving 50,000 visitors. Many travel companies, including those from six countries, participated in the event.

Poverty alleviation undertaken in southern ethnic minority areas

Efforts to enable poverty reduction in the southern region are to be pushed ahead in the coming time to help better the lives of ethnic minority groups in the area.

Eliminating poverty in a sustainable fashion for ethnic minority areas is a major policy of the Party and State and also garners the attention and support from the general public.

According to the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, the poverty reduction rate in ethnic minority areas of the south is estimated at almost 1.9% on average during 2021-2023. Some localities have surpassed their targets such as Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Vinh Long, Hau Giang, and Ca Mau. However, some are lagging behind, including Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tra Vinh, An Giang, Kien Giang, Can Tho, and Soc Trang.

Though the south has fared better than other regions nationwide, including the northern mountainous, central and Central Highlands regions, in disbursing capital under the national target programme on sustainable poverty reduction, the poverty alleviation rate in ethnic minority areas here is still low.

Hau A Lenh, Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, pointed out the fact that most ethnic minority people living under the poverty line in the south, especially the southwest, are irregular migrants or those from particularly disadvantaged areas lacking residential land, farmland, means of production, or clean water.

Policies supporting the settlement of these issues are included in the national target programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, but bottlenecks linked with regulations and mechanisms remain. Therefore, many localities face difficulties in bringing the ethnic minority poverty rate down, he explained.

The official said to help with poverty reduction in the communities, he has demanded southern provinces and cities step up assistance for poor and near-poor families as well as those recently escaping from poverty to develop livelihoods through approved projects. Funding for these projects come from the State budget, loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) or the credit institutions assigned by the State, and the capital for relevant policies, programmes, and projects.

A VBSP leader noted that to ensure sufficient concessional loans for ethnic minority households, the Party, National Assembly, Government, ministries and central agencies, along with administrations of localities, have paid attention to mobilising financial resources to meet the target group’s borrowing demand.

 Ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands have been assisted to develop coffee farming. (Illustrative photo: VNA)
Huynh Thi Diem Ngoc, Vice Chairwoman of the Soc Trang provincial People’s Committee, said more than 7,100 households of the Khmer ethnic group and 345 others of the Hoa minority group are living under the poverty line in the province. Soc Trang aims to cut the household poverty rate among ethnic minorities by 3-4% annually.

For 2021-2023, it has been allocated with over 126 billion VND (5.2 million USD) to carry out the national target programme on sustainable poverty reduction. Soc Trang has arranged more than 12 billion VND in reciprocal capital and raised other resources from the public for programme implementation, she went on.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring province of Tra Vinh looks to reduce the poverty rate, as measured according to multidimensional poverty criteria, among ethnic minority households by 1% and lift two hamlets out of the particularly disadvantaged status this year.

To that end, it is disbursing over 80 billion VND for its localities, maximising resources from the public, and combining poverty reduction with many other programmes, projects, and policies to help the poor improve their livelihoods and living conditions.

Actions taken so far include disbursing concessional loans for low-income earners and disadvantaged students, funding the construction of water supply and hygienic facilities, providing capital for job creation for the poor, and using the Social Security Fund to finance house building for poor and near-poor families, local authorities said.

At a teleconference held by the Central Steering Committee for the national target programmes in the southern province of Bac Lieu in early August, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang asked localities in the Mekong Delta (southwestern) region to speed up capital disbursement for the programmes, increase information sharing and experience with one another, and send inspection teams to examine and remove obstacles in a timely manner.

He also told relevant agencies and units to allocate more capital under the national target programmes to help locals develop livelihoods. He also required due attention to the transfer of scientific and technical advances to assist farmers in improving production efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs was asked to introduce and expand the application of fruitful production models to help with poverty alleviation in ethnic minority areas.

Korean artists performing musical instruments enthrall locals in Da Nang

A street parade featuring musical instrument performances put on by Korean art troupes excited crowds in Da Nang on September 6 ahead of the Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) culture exchange festival.         

The event draws the participation of nearly 100 Korean artists from 12 troupes, along with 20 students from Duy Tan University in Da Nang who took part in the event.

Both groups either wore the Korean costume hanbok or an Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) before joining a parade on the banks of Han River.

Korean musical instruments such as Jang-gu, kkwaenggwari, Sogo, and Buk were introduced to both locals and tourists.

The Vietnam-RoK culture exchange festival from September 7 to September 9 is a part of activities aimed at marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

A showcase of Taekwondo performed by Korean club Seung Ri will also be presented as part of the occasion.

Furthermore, the festival will include a total of 60 stalls showcasing Vietnamese and Korean cuisine. Visitors will be able to take part in folk games and cooking contests.

The final round of the Vietnam-RoK Talent competition will be held, with the competition featuring over 20 performances of entrants from both countries.

Int'l workshop discusses law on territory, border

An international workshop discussing the values and practical application of laws on territory and border was jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Wallonia-Brussels General Delegation of Belgium in Vietnam in Hanoi on September 7, gathering 150 domestic and foreign scholars.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu highlighted the significance and importance of issues related to territorial sovereignty and national borders in international relations; and the relationship between them and their impact on security, peace, stability, and cooperation for development.

Briefing participants on the outcome of the settlement of border and territorial issues in Vietnam, Vu affirmed its consistent stance on the role and importance of international law as a crucial foundation for resolving territorial border issues, stressing that the country not only rigorously adheres to international law but also builds and strengthens its national legal system to ensure compatibility with international law.

He spoke highly of the cooperation between Belgium's Wallonie-Bruxelles region and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in general, and the ministry’s National Boundary Commission in particular.

Pierre Du Ville, Head of the Wallonia- Brussels General Delegation in Vietnam, expressed his delight at the cooperation results between the Wallonia-Brussels Region and Vietnam in general, and the National Boundary Commission in particular, especially in terms of human resources training, saying that these have contributed significantly to the proper settlement of territorial and border issues, thus promoting peace and stability in the region and the world.

With the two sessions, the workshop reviewed Vietnam's process of building, managing, and protecting the national boundary and territory. Domestic experts and scholars, and representatives from ministries and sectors provided their insights, emphasising the significance and outcomes of the implementation of the Law on National Border over the last two decades and the Law of the Sea of Vietnam after 10 years it came into effect, and affirming that Vietnam's laws regarding territory and border are in line with international law.

It also featured presentations by international scholars and experts from Belgium, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Republic of Cyprus, which focused on topical topics, including territorial disputes at the International Court of Justice; the value of straight baselines around offshore archipelagos; and the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the East Sea.

Delegates also engaged in discussions on issues related to the construction, protection, and management of borders and territories. They agreed on the importance of international law for this process and proposed measures to harmonise national laws with international law in border and territorial matters.

Moc Chau, Cuc Phuong National Park honored at World Travel Awards 2023

Popular local tourist destinations including the northern highlands town of Moc Chau and Cuc Phuong National Park were honoured at the 30th annual World Travel Awards (WTA) held on September 6 in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the results, Moc Chau, which is home to the world's longest glass bridge in the mountainous province of Son La, was crowned as 'Asia's Leading Regional Nature Destination' and ‘Vietnam’s Leading Regional Nature Destination' for the second consecutive time.

Back in 2022 Moc Chau was also named as the World's Leading Regional Nature Destination.

Moc Chau represents the gateway to the northwest and is the stopover for inter-regional tours such as Hanoi - Son La - Dien Bien Phu - Sa Pa - Lao Cai, transnational tourism routes such as Hanoi - Son La - Luang Prabang of Laos – Thailand, and Son La - Lai Chau - Yunnan of China.

The average local temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. In the winter, from Pha Luong and Mt Van Ho, visitors are able to view the beautiful 50,000-ha plateau through a thick fog.

The site typically charms tourists with many beautiful and unique natural landscapes such as majestic Mt Pha Luong, poetic Dai Yem Waterfalls, and Doi Cave with its magnificent natural stalactite system.

Meanwhile, Cuc Phuong National Park, a scenic tourist destination located in the northern province of Ninh Binh, was named as ‘Asia’s Leading National Park’ by the World Travel Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

Situated 120 kilometres from Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is the country’s first national park and founded on July 7, 1962.

Covering an area spanning 22,000 hectares of land in 14 communes of four districts under the three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa, the national park boasts enchanting scenery and offers a stunning range of biodiversity.

According to surveys, Cuc Phuong boasts 2,234 floral species of 931 genera and 231 families. Included in these are 430 species of medicinal plants and 229 species of edible plants, with 57 species being listed in the Vietnam Red Book of endangered species and also in the IUCN Red Book.

The WTA was launched back in 1993 to acknowledge excellence in the travel and tourism industry. The annual event has been dubbed as the ‘Oscars’ of global tourism.

Ho Chi Minh City to host Vietnam Open Badminton Champs 2023

The Yonex – Sunrise Vietnam Open 2023 Badminton Championships is scheduled to take place in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City from September 12 to September 17.

At the press conference held on September 7, Nguyen Phuong Nam, deputy head of the Vietnam Badminton Federation, said that this year will see the event attract the participation of 283 male and female players from 23 nations and territories globally.

They will compete in five categories of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with a total prize money of US$100,000 on offer.

Kota Ogawa of Japan is seeded No 1 in the men's singles, followed by Eveshgaran Vasigaran of Malaysia.

In the women's class, the country’s top female badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh, is seeded No.1. She will face off against another talented Vietnamese player Vu Thi Trang in the first round.

The Yonex – Sunrise Vietnam Open represents a prestigious tournament held annually in Vietnam, with its results being included in the BWF ranking system.

Long spell of rain lashes across Vietnam

Moderate to heavy rains are expected to hit areas throughout the country in the coming days, helping to break the heat, especially in the northern region, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.      

Northern localities are anticipated to endure lashing rain accompanied by whirlwinds and lightning in the afternoon and evening from September 7 to 12.

The long spell of rain will send temperatures plummeting to 25 - 27 degrees Celsius, albeit several places still experience high temperatures of between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius.

Provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue will have hot daytime periods and face showers and thunderstorms in some places in the evening and at night, with chances of whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and gusts, as well.

Showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening are also forecast to hit the Central Highlands region.

Meanwhile, the southern region will also experience downpours with rainfall of between 10mm and 30mm, or even 50mm in some areas from September 9 to 12. There will be showers and thunderstorms in some places in the evening and at night, with a possibility of whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and gusts.

Book on Fidel Castro introduced to public

The Vietnam News Agency Publishing House has recently introduced to the public a book named “Fidel Castro - Huyen thoai xuyen the ky” (Fidel Castro - A legend through centuries), a collection of articles and writings about the Cuban leader collected, selected and translated by veteran journalist Pham Dinh Loi.

The publication marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban leader’s visit to the liberated zone in Quang Tri province during the war, the 70th anniversary of the attack on Moncada Barracks of Cuba, and the 60th founding anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam.

The over-300-page book comprises articles, memoirs, reviews and comments of many historical witnesses, including typical politicians (Tomas Borge), great intellectuals (Frei Betto, Salim Lamrani, Michel Chosudovsky), famous Cuban and international writers and artists (Miguel Barnet, Gabriel Garcia Marquez), great journalists (Oliver Stone, Gianni Mina, Ignacio Ramonet), sports stars (Diego Maradona), and some Vietnamese authors.

Loi studied the Spanish language at the University of Havana and working as a resident reporter in Cuba and Latin America for more than a decade. He had the good fortune to meet the legendary leader during his career.

Vietnam, Laos enhance cooperation in supporting expatriates

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, who is also head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs, had a meeting with Lao Foreign Minister Tinh Souksan in Vientiane on September 7 to discuss the two countries’ cooperation, including in supporting overseas Vietnamese and Lao people.

The two sides agreed to step up bilateral cooperation mechanisms and effectively implement their countries’ high-level agreements, especially those in education - training, tourism, culture, people-to-people exchanges, and locality-to-locality ties, thereby helping enhance the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Hang said that with about 6 million people in over 130 countries and territories, the OV communities have been gaining a foothold in their host countries, substantially contributing to local socio-economic, scientific - technological and cultural development, and acting as bridges connecting Vietnam with other countries.

The Party and State of Vietnam always pay attention to and view OVs as an integral part of the great national solidarity and a resource for national development, she went on.

She added that the over 100,000 Vietnamese people in Laos form a large OV community. They have been upholding patriotism and the homeland’s cultural identity, staying united, complying with laws of Laos, and serving as a link between the two peoples, thus contributing to the countries’ special friendship.

Hang thanked the Lao Party, Government, and people for assisting and creating favourable conditions for OVs to settle down, study, and work here to help with the country’s development and prosperity.

The official proposed the Lao side continue giving conditions to the OV community, assisting with the maintenance of the Vietnamese cultural identity, and supporting the teaching and learning of the Vietnamese language at educational establishments of Laos in the areas housing large numbers of OVs.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation between the State Committee for OV Affairs and the Liaison Committee for Overseas Lao People, resume mutual visits after the COVID-19 pandemic, and share experience in making policies, mobilising expatriates’ resources for the homelands and maintaining the countries’ cultural identities and languages.

Hang also invited the Liaison Committee for Overseas Lao People to pay a working visit to Vietnam in the coming time.

Also on September 7, she had a working session with the OV community in Laos.

HCM City, China’s Zhejiang promote cooperation among people-elected agencies

 – Ho Chi Minh City and Zhejiang province of China have numerous opportunities to beef up cooperation among their people-elected agencies, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Council Nguyen Van Dung told Gao Xingfu, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of Zhejiang, during a meeting with the Chinese official on September 8.

Dung stressed that the two sides can promote cooperation and experience sharing in building resolutions of people-elected agencies, supervisory activities, and meeting with voters.

HCM City wants to further step up cooperation with the Chinese locality in areas of mutual interest such as trade and investment promotion, thus expanding the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between the two countries, he stressed.  

According to Dung, in recent times, the Party and the Government, and the people of Vietnam and China have been attaching great importance to promoting the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries for the benefit of their people.

On the basis of the strong bilateral relationship, HCM City has established friendly cooperation ties with a number of Chinese localities, including Zhejiang, he noted, adding that municipal authorities always pay attention to further strengthening cooperative relations with Chinese localities, especially in exchanging delegations and sharing economic development experience, and people-to-people exchange.

For his part, Gao expressed pleasure at the fruitful development of the Vietnam–China relations, especially in trade and investment, saying that leaders of the Party and the State of China in general and Zhejiang in particular always attach great importance to cooperative relations with Vietnam, including HCM City.

He added that Zhejiang and the Vietnamese southern metropolis share many similarities in terms of geography and role in each country's economy, so they have many opportunities to expand cooperation and support each other for mutual development, such as sharing experiences in attracting foreign investment and promoting cooperation among businesses.

The Chinese official showed the desire to bolster cooperation with the People's Council of HCM City in delegation exchange, sharing experiences in voter engagement, and supervisory work, towards further solidifying and boosting the political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people cooperation between the two localities and the two nations in general.

Vietnam Olympic football team gear up for ASIAD 19

The Vietnam Olympic football team under the guidance of coach Hoang Anh Tuan on September 7 gathered to prepare for the upcoming ASIAD 19 in Hangzhou, China, according to the Vietnam Football Federation.

However, coach Hoang Anh Tuan does not have many options in selecting players as many Olympic players are now competing in the 2024 U23 Asian qualifiers as members of the Vietnam U23 team. The regulations of the ASIAD 19 Organising Committee, which requires that each team can register a maximum of 30 players and the preliminary list must be submitted four months before the tournament, also limit the choices.  

As a result, half of the team can only show up for training after the 2024 U23 Asian qualifiers wrap up on September 12. This means the team will have only about four days to practice with all the players before leaving for ASIAD 19 on September 16.

In China, coach Hoang Anh Tuan will have two more days to complete the final preparation before the team play their first match on September 19.

In the first phase of training at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, the Vietnam Olympic team had only 12 players, among whom two players, goalkeeper Do Sy Huy and striker Nham Manh Dung, are over 23 years old.

The men's football competition at ASIAD 19 consists of 23 teams, divided into six groups, with five groups containing four teams each and one group having only three teams. The top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams will qualify for round of 16.

The Vietnam national Olympic team have been drawn in Group B, and they are due to play Mongolia on September 19, Iran on September 21, and Saudi Arabia on September 24.

ASIAD 19 will take place in Hangzhou city from September 23-October 8. Some football matches will start before the opening ceremony to ensure the schedule is met.

Work starts on coastal port-linked road

The central city started construction of a 6-lane 2.96km coastal road connecting the national road system and the ongoing Liên Chiểu port at a ceremony on Friday, promising an operational schedule of the port in the first phase in 2025.

Head of the city’s management unit of priority infrastructure projects, Lê Thành Hưng said it’s a key section of the shared infrastructure on the development of the port, ensuring the traffic on the first phase investment of the port.

Hưng said the port, which commenced the construction last December, has been speeding up the scheduled construction, and the coastal linked road item resulted from the port schedule progress.

The coastal road, which will be built at cost of VNĐ1.2 trillion (US$48 million) includes two multi-layer junctions with the national North-South railway and road system, and the South Hải Vân-Tuý Loan ringroad, will create an independence traffic route linking the national traffic and the port for all vehicles.

It also helps build channel crossing bridges, tunnels and flyovers for smooth travel of container trucks, storage and shipping logistics service among the port and industrial parks in the area.

Chairman of the city’s people’s committee, Lê Trung Chinh said the construction of the port and shared infrastructure projects has been following the country’s master plan on the seaport system until 2030, making it a key port in the central and Central Highlands region and the third largest port system in Việt Nam and a leading ASEAN port and key logistics connection in Việt Nam.

He said Liên Chiểu Port was designed for handling from 40 million to 50 million tonnes of cargo in 2050. 

The Liên Chiểu Port and coastal road system as well as inner port traffic road will host multi-vehicle cargo trips from National Highway No 1A; Đà Nẵng-Quảng Ngãi Expressway, Industrial Zones and Hi-tech Parks and Đà Nẵng International Airport.

The port will help build a cargo link with Chân Mây Port in Thừa Thiên-Huế, 40km away, and Chu Lai Port and airport 70km and Dung Quất Economic Zone in Quảng Ngãi. 

Veteran playwright Hạnh dies in HCM City 

Veteran theatre critic and scriptwriter Lê Duy Hạnh, former chairman of the HCM City Theatre’s Association, died of a heart attack on September 6 in HCM City. He was 76. 

Hạnh was born in Bình Định Province. He joined revolutionary movements when he was young. 

He began his career as a scriptwriter for cải lương (reformed opera) theatres in HCM City in 1976. He also worked as a lecturer for the HCM City Theatre & Cinematography University and HCM City Culture University.  

He worked with cải lương gurus such as late actress Thanh Nga, People’s Artist Bạch Tuyết, Kim Cương and Thanh Tòng.  

He wrote and produced several drama and cải lương plays featuring Vietnamese history, such as Vua Thánh Triều Lê (The Kings of Lê Dynasty), Lý Chiêu Hoàng (Empress regnant Lý Chiêu Hoàng), Tâm Sự Ngọc Hân (Princess Lê Ngọc Hân) and Mặt Trời Đêm Thế Kỷ (Sun after the Long Night), which won top prizes for the best play at national theatre festivals and contests.

One of Hạnh’s historical plays, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, has been staged many times by leading drama and cải lương troupes in the South. 

The play portrays the empress regnant Lý Chiêu Hoàng, the last and only sovereign of the Lý Dynasty. The themes of patriotism, bravery and honesty as well as love and betrayal are also featured.

Hoàng ruled the kingdom of Đại Việt as queen regnant from 1224 to 1225. Later, she was forced to deliver the throne to her husband, Trần Cảnh, later King Trần Thái Tông, the first king of the Trần Dynasty, who ruled Đại Việt for 33 years (1226-1258).

Through his play, Lý Chiêu Hoàng, scriptwriter Hạnh introduced new concepts in cải lương. 

“Late scriptwriter Lê Duy Hạnh played a very important role in our theatre’s development. His art helps young people to improve their knowledge and love for Vietnamese history,” said theatre director and critic Thanh Hiệp of the HCM City Theatre Artists’ Association. 

Hà Giang Provincial Museum receives guests

A remarkable and appealing location, filled with its own distinct personality and infused with the spirit of the times, promises to draw both local and foreign travellers.

The project to rebuild and enhance the Hà Giang Provincial Museum began in December 2020 and covers a total area of 4,100m2.

After more than two years of building, this project was officially launched at the end of May and began welcoming visitors on September 1.

The museum area contains a stateroom and five exhibition rooms with themes including Hà Giang inhabitants through history; protecting the Fatherland and border security; diverse culture; three natural zones; and building a new life.

The museum now has around 50 authentic relics related to the history of Hà Giang province.

Aside from history and people, the Hà Giang Provincial Museum educates tourists about the province's biodiversity.

Interior and exterior decorating adheres to current museum principles, utilizing digital technology to produce dramatic visual effects, with the goal of providing visitors with an amazing and meaningful experience.

Hà Giang Provincial Museum also employs a variety of innovative and cutting-edge image technologies, promising to provide tourists with exciting sightseeing opportunities.

The museum is located at No 148, Trần Hưng Đạo Street, Hà Giang City. It opens at 8-11am & 2-5pm between Tuesday & Sunday and 7.30-9.30pm on Friday and Saturday.

The entrance ticket is sold at VNĐ30,000 (US$1.25) per adult, VNĐ15,000 per student and VNĐ10,000 per child (aged 6-16).

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