Industriousness, enthusiasm, and smartness are the impressions that French doctors have had of their colleagues from the Vietnam – Sweden hospital in the northern province of Quang Ninh’s Uong Bi city, who are working at the Pierre Bérégovoy hospital, Nevers city of Nièvre province, under an apprenticeship programme.

Jacques Ballout, head of the cardiology department at Pierre Bérégovoy, said the hospital has been pleased with their working results, adding the reception of apprentice doctors has helped the hospital ease its workload amidst healthcare workforce shortage across the country.

In the same vein, Johnson Kwaku, head of the neurology department, held that the demand for psychiatrist has been on the rise globally post COVID-19, and expressed his hope for enhanced cooperation with Vietnam to create favourable conditions for doctors to serve an apprenticeship at French hospitals to improve their capacity.

The Vietnam – Germany hospital and Pierre Bérégovoy hospital have carried out various cooperation programmes on the exchange of apprentice doctors and profession, free medical checks, and transfer of new technologies in surgery and treatment, mostly in cardiology, since 2017./.

More helicopters take flight to transport relief packages for flood victims

A helicopter of Regiment 916 of the Air Defence-Air Force Service's Air Division 371 took off at Hoa Lac Airport in Hanoi September 12 to carry out rescue missions and transport essential supplies to flood-affected areas in Nguyen Binh district, of the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang. 

The Mi-171 helicopter arrived at Gia Lam Airport to be loaded with relief supplies before heading to Cao Bang. The relief goods and essential supplies will be handed over to local military forces for distributing to local people. 

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ha Xuan Ngoc, chief navigator of the Helicopter Regiment 916, the unit is scheduled to operate 3 to 4 relief flights to Cao Bang on the day, with each transporting about 2 tonnes of relief goods, including drinking water, dry food, milk, and instant noodles. 

In addition to transporting relief supplies, the helicopter's crew are prepared to deliver emergency services in case they encounter people in distress needing assistance. 

The same day, a helicopter operated by the Northern Helicopter Company from the Ministry of National Defence's Brigade 18 also left Gia Lam Airport, carrying relief goods to flood-affected areas in Nguyen Binh district. 

Previously, on September 11, a helicopter of the company also transported relief goods to Cao Bang.

Malaysian cuisine and culture week launched in Hanoi

"Taste of Malaysia" offers guests a captivating journey through Malaysian cuisine and culture, showcasing the unique flavors and traditions of the Southeast Asian country.

Addressing the event, HE. Dato’ Tan Yang, Ambassador of Malaysia to Vietnam highlighted the significance of Malaysia’s cuisine, saying that, the cuisine is a reflection of Malaysia's rich tapestry of cultures.

“It is our way of sharing Malaysia's diverse culture, and we are proud to have this opportunity today to share it with our Vietnamese friends,” he added.

Signature dishes such as Nasi Lemak and Teh Tarik are being prepared by renowned Malaysian chef Azlan Juri to ensure an authentic dining experience.

Guests attending the launch also enjoyed a special folk dance performance by a cultural troupe from Perak, Malaysia, along with an exhibition of traditional batik art.

This offers diners an authentic experience of both the nation’s cuisine and cultural heritage.

“Taste of Malaysia” is part of cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Malaysia.

Sharing with Vietnam News Agency’s reporter, Malaysian Ambassador HE. Dato’ Tan Yang stressed the significance of bilateral cultural connection and people-to-people exchanges.

“Exchanges through culture, traditional dances, as well as cuisine, will make bilateral relations between Malaysia and Vietnam become closer together,” the Ambassador affirmed.

The "Taste of Malaysia" event will run until September 16 at the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel./.

UNICEF, Japan, RoK assist Vietnam in overcoming disaster consequences

UNICEF Vietnam has urgently transported 80,000 water purification tablets for the Centre of Disease Control in Thai Nguyen province and 4,000 litres of water to the Lao Cai provincial Hospital to ensure the supply of drinking water for 800 people as part of efforts to help communities affected by typhoon Yagi overcome disaster consequences.

In the coming days, UNICEF will provide water purification tablets, water tanks, ceramic filters, hand sanitisers and soap to households, schools and healthcare facilities in Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces.

It is committed to urgently providing sustained support to the Government of Vietnam to ensure children and families have access to essential services, said Silvia Danailov, UNICEF’s Representative in Vietnam.

“We have already started to deliver life-saving support and are mobilising resources to address the massive needs. Too many children have had their access to essential services like clean water, sanitation, healthcare and education cut off and swift action to restore these lifelines is urgently needed. The devastation caused by the typhoon is a tragic reminder of the disproportionate impact extreme weather events, intensified by climate change, have on children,” she said.

Nearly 19 million people, including 5.5 million children, live in the hardest-hit cities and provinces of Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Yen Bai, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Thai Binh, Hai Duong, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho.

Typhoon Yagi ravaged 26 northern localities, leaving 324 people dead and missing, including 24 children. It has damaged an estimated 141,469 homes, 550 health facilities and 805 schools, while around 400,000 homes lack access to safe water.

Approximately 2 million children have been left without access to education, psychosocial support and school feeding programmes.

National authorities have issued a warning for continued heavy rain, with flash floods and landslides still devastating villages and communities in the northern provinces of the country which are home to a large number of vulnerable communities, including ethnic minorities.

In response to the Government's strong and commendable efforts to address the disaster's impact, UNICEF is focusing on several key interventions, including water, sanitation supplies and safe storage solutions to households, health facilities and schools.

The organisation is also delivering emergency medical supplies such as vaccines, malnutrition treatments, nutrition supplements and hygiene kits to health centres in the most affected areas.

To support the reopening of schools, it is offering temporary learning spaces and educational materials for children affected by the trauma of the disaster. Additionally, emergency kits containing essential items, including educational tools and support materials, are being distributed to children and families.

UNICEF is also providing humanitarian cash assistance to the most vulnerable households, particularly those with children and pregnant women.

They say they are currently mobilising resources to ensure emergency aid is urgently provided. An initial 11 million USD is urgently required to be able to deliver on its mandate to assist the most vulnerable children.

Meanwhile, on September 12, the embassies of Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) said that the governments of the two countries have decided to provide emergency aid of goods and equipment to Vietnam to help northern localities deal with the typhoon aftermath.

The Japanese government has decided to deliver emergency aid through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), including water filtration equipment and multipurpose plastic sheets, to address the damage caused by the storm in Vietnam.

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio extended condolences to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh over the impact of typhoon Yagi in Vietnam. In the message, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his deep sympathies to the families affected by the storm and emphasised that the Japanese government stands side by side with Vietnam and is ready to support the country in overcoming difficulties, fixing the disaster aftermath, and restoring normal living conditions as soon as possible.

At the same time, the RoK Government has decided to provide humanitarian aid worth 2 million USD for Vietnam to fix the consequences of the disaster./.

NA Chairman directs settlement of aftermaths of Typhoon Yagi in Thai Nguyen

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on September 12 led a delegation to the northern province of Thai Nguyen to inspect the situation and direct activities to overcome consequences of super Typhoon Yagi and subsequent floods.

Visiting Nga My, one of the communes hardest hit by flooding in Phu Binh district, Man underlined the need to mobilise forces and vehicles to support local residents in resuming normal life, and expressed his hope that local people will stay united in mutual support to deal with consequences together.

The top legislator presented 200 gift packages to households affected by the storm in Phu Binh district.

Earlier, he expressed his sympathy with and encouragement to the Party Organisation, administration and people of Thai Nguyen, noting d that the devastating storm has caused serious losses in human lives and properties in northern localities.

Facing this situation, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam called on all people, soldiers, and the entire political system to join hands to urgently support victims to overcome the consequences of the storm and subsequent floods. On September 12, many Party and State leaders promptly visited localities to inspect and encourage local authorities and people to focus on overcoming the consequences of floods and soon stabilise their lives, he noted.

He hailed the activeness and timely engagement of Thai Nguyen authorities and the whole political system in responding to the storm and implementing directions to deal with its aftermaths.

Along with continuing to deploy search and rescue activities, Thai Nguyen should continue to mobilise forces to assist affected people to repair houses, clean the environment and prevent epidemics, while fixing roads and bridges to ensure utmost safety for residents, he requested.

The provincial education sector must urgently clean and repair flooded schools to ensure all children can return to school, and pay special attention to disadvantaged children, Man underlined.

He asked the local authorities to stay on duty around the clock to grasp the situation and give timely response with the motto of putting the safety of people on top of all, while ensuring security and order in the locality.

On this occasion, the NA Chairman handed over 30 billion VND from the Central Relief Board of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to Thai Nguyen to help the province to overcome the consequences of Typhoon Yagi and subsequent floods. According to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Trinh Viet Hung, due to impacts of the typhoon, the third storm entering the East Sea so far this year, from September 6-12, Thai Nguyen has suffered torrential rains and flooding, causing great damage to assets of the State and people.

As of 1pm on September 12, Thai Nguyen had reported four deaths and property losses of about 600 billion VND (24.4 million USD). At the same time, 61 schools were damaged. The province evacuated more than 50,000 households to safer places.

Local authorities have deployed measures to support households, repair damaged roads, resume power supply, and regulate reservoirs to ensure their safety./.

WWF’s climate resilient project yields efficiency in Bac Lieu province

A project on improving climate resilience for the agro-ecosystem and communities in the coastal areas of the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, funded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has helped improve production efficacy in the locality, heard a workshop held on September 12.

At the event, Nguyen Phuong Duy, a WWF representative, said that after two years of implementation, the project has contributed to changing the traditional shrimp farming practice to reduce the risk of disease. It also helped farmers find markets for their products, creating jobs for rural workers, and bettering local livelihoods through the climate-resilient shrimp – rice farming model.

He expressed his hope that the farmers will continue applying technical models into production, while finding solutions to align them with the situation in different localities.

According to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Trung Hieu, Bac Lieu has been a major shrimp hub of the country with a yearly output of 32-35 billion shrimp fry. As the shrimp sector faces formidable challenges putting a drag on economic efficiency, the project is significant for the industry to remove bottlenecks in management and application of advanced techniques, as well as promote effective models for sustainable agricultural production.

This year, the project is being implemented in six cooperatives in two districts and a town in Bac Lieu, benefiting over 2,700 farmers./.

ASEAN foreign ministers issue statement on Typhoon Yagi’s impact

In response to the severe loss of life and property caused by Typhoon Yagi in several countries in the region, ASEAN foreign ministers on September 11 issued a joint statement on its impact.

In their statement, the ASEAN foreign ministers expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt sympathies over the damage inflicted by the typhoon in the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, China, and other affected countries.

“ASEAN affirms its solidarity with the governments and peoples of the affected countries and is confident that the affected countries will overcome and recover swiftly from the impact of this natural disaster. ASEAN stands ready to extend its cooperation and support to the relief efforts, including through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre),” the statement wrote.

In a related move, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan launched a fundraising campaign on September 12 to support the victims in Vietnam.

Sharing in the immense losses facing the victims, each staff member contributed at least one day's salary. Chargé d'affaires Nguyen Duc Minh also called for support from the Vietnamese community and associations in Japan as well as from Japanese partner organisations and individuals. Material and financial support can be directly sent to designated addresses for contributions or through the embassy./.

Laos commends cooperation between Vietnam, Lao Journalists Associations

A delegation of the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA), led by its Standing Chairman Nguyen Duc Loi, paid a courtesy call to Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Vansy Kuamua, as part of its working trip to the neighbouring country from September 9-13.

Vansy expressed his appreciation for the visit, highlighting its significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between the Lao and Vietnam Journalists Associations as well as between press agencies of Laos and Vietnam. He also expressed his gratitude for the effective assistance provided by the VJA in recent times.

He said that the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism will continue to support the cooperation agreements between the Lao and Vietnam Journalist Associations. He expressed hope that the VJA will continue to send experts to Laos to assist and support not only in improving professional skills of Lao reporters and journalists but also in aiding Lao press agencies with digital transformation and modernising newsroom operations.

Loi noted that the visit aimed to exchange information, share experience, and learn about the operations of Lao press agencies to advise the Vietnamese government and press agencies to facilitate future cooperation.

He briefed the host about the results of working sessions with leaders of the Lao Journalists' Association (LJA) and key Lao press agencies, including the Lao News Agency (KPL), Pasaxon Newspaper, Lao National Television, and Lao National Radio.

Loi affirmed that the VJA will continue work with major Vietnamese press agencies to deploy cooperation agreements and documents between the VJA and LJA and send experts to help improve professional skills for Lao reporters in the coming time.

While in Laos, the Vietnamese delegation held working sessions with key Lao press agencies, during which both sides agreed that in the future, the global and regional press will continue to undergo significant changes. Traditional journalism methods are becoming unsuitable, requiring press agencies to innovate, modernise, and improve the quality of news and articles to attract readers.

They held that Lao press agencies need to embrace and promote digital transformation, incorporating scientific and technical applications to achieve the best results in producing various types of press products, and keeping pace with contemporary development trends./.

PM inspects search for victims at devastating landslide site in Lao Cai

After inspecting recovery efforts in the northern province of Yen Bai following recent floods, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in the neighbouring Lao Cai province's Lang Nu village, which was hit by a devastating landslide that buried 37 households and left 95 people dead or missing, on September 12 afternoon.

The Government leader conducted an on-site inspection of the search, rescue, and relief operations while offering condolences to the survived victims.

Wading through the muddy terrain, the PM encouraged the rescue teams searching for those swept away by the floods. He called for additional personnel and resources, including the use of search dogs, to locate missing persons as quickly as possible.

PM Chinh expressed his profound condolences to the families of the deceased and missing, as well as to those who have lost their homes and possessions. He encouraged them to overcome their grief and affirmed that the Party, State, Government remain by their side, providing care and mobilising all of society to support them in overcoming this hardship and restoring their lives as soon as possible.

At a meeting with Lao Cai administration and rescue forces regarding the search and rescue operations in Lang Nu, the PM instructed the military, police, medical personnel, and other forces to work closely with local authorities to mobilise additional manpower and resources for continued search efforts, provide medical care for the injured, and properly handle funeral arrangements for the deceased. He also underscored the need for the entire political system, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and various organisations to join hands in sharing and supporting the families who have lost their loved ones, and to provide shelter, food, water, clothing, and other necessities for those who have lost their homes and belongings.

The Government leader directed relevant ministries and agencies to collaborate with the province to ensure environmental sanitation, prevent disease outbreaks, restore traffic routes, and urgently repair school facilities to enable students to return to class.

The PM requested Lao Cai to develop a plan for land allocation and housing support for displaced residents. For those who lost their homes in Lang Nu village, this housing arrangement must be completed by December 31.

According to the Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of 5 pm on September 12, the fatalities due to Typhoon Yagi and subsequent floods reached 226 while 104 people remained missing, three more deaths compared to the figure recorded at 12:30 pm the same day./.

Top leader pledges swift relief delivery in flood-hit Tuyen Quang

Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit to flood-devastated Truong Sinh commune, Son Duong district, the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang on September 12 has brought a message of hope and resilience to the affected communities.

The leader encouraged local residents to continue supporting each other in overcoming these hardships, assuring them that the Party and the State would do everything possible to help restore normalcy to their lives as soon as possible.

He called for drastic measures, from prevention to rescue and relief efforts, to ensure the swift delivery of essential supplies to people in flooded areas and the safety of all those involved in search and rescue work.

During a working session with local authorities, he stressed that the top priority is to rescue people with the armed forces playing the core role. The leader urged a thorough review of areas at high risk of flash floods, landslides, dike breaches and flooding with a view to early relocating residents to safety, regular monitoring and warnings of high risk areas, and continuous inspections of dikes, reservoirs and bridges so as to promptly address any emerging threats.

He also requested swift actions to quickly restore normal social activities, production, trade, and environmental sanitation, including repairing transport networks, power grids, communication networks, schools, and hospitals, preventing post-flood disease outbreaks and facilitating access to loans to resume production.

The leader asked the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, along with various ministries, agencies, and localities, to call for donations and support both materially and spiritually from organisations, businesses, individuals, and the entire society for the victims.

On the occasion, the VFF Central Committee presented 20 billion VND (833,000 USD) to Tuyen Quang province to support recovery efforts following the typhoon.

Many areas in the province have been inundated in recent days, with 101 sites still isolated as of September 11. Three fatalities were recorded so far and 3,545 houses were damaged while many schools, hospitals, and government buildings were submerged. In agriculture, 4,362 ha of rice, 1,762 ha of corn and vegetables, 598.64 ha of fruit trees, and 612.9 ha of forestry trees were damaged. The initial property damage is estimated at over 500 billion VND./.

Vietnam, Maldives explore economic opportunities

A seminar aimed at bolstering Vietnam-Maldives connectivity across various economic sectors took place in Male on September 10, coinciding with Vietnamese Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam presenting her credentials to Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

The event, co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka and Maldives and the Maldivian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), marked a significant step in deepening bilateral ties.

In her speech, Ambassador Tam expressed hope that the seminar would provide Maldivian Government officials and businesses with a deeper understanding of investment opportunities in Vietnam. This, she said, could help boost modest economic, trade, and investment ties between the two countries, with annual two-way trade now standing at around 15 million USD and only one Maldivian investment project in Vietnam valued at 23 million USD.

The Vietnamese Embassy is ready to facilitate connections between enterprises from both nations in areas of mutual interest, she said. She pledged to propose visits for Vietnamese business delegations to explore opportunities in the Maldives, paving the way for more practical cooperation activities as the two countries approach the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

Maldivian Minister of State for Economic Development and Trade Hussain Zamir underlined the potential for stronger bilateral relations, particularly in tourism, construction, fisheries, trade, investment, finance and education.

Zamir praised Vietnam as a rapidly developing economy with a robust manufacturing sector and an increasingly significant role in the international trade network. He noted that Maldives, with its strategic location and thriving tourism industry, is looking to diversify its economy, partners and markets. Businesses from both countries hold substantial potential to leverage each other's strengths and complement one another, he said.

He also suggested establishing mechanisms and signing relevant cooperation agreements to lay the groundwork for economic, trade and investment ties.

Maldivian firms highlighted substantial import demand for products serving the tourism sector, such as seafood (excluding tuna), foodstuff and fruits, construction materials like sand, apparel and footwear. Additionally, there is a need for skilled labour in the tourism, construction and fisheries sectors.

They also expressed interest in facilitating visa procedures and establishing a direct air route between the two countries soon.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese embassy showcased several Vietnamese handicraft products, along with popular items like coffee, dried jackfruit and lotus seeds.

Ambassador Tam also held working sessions with the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources to discuss potential collaboration in resort construction, community-based and eco-tourism, seafood export and processing./.

Vice State President presents gifts to children patients

Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on September 12 presented gifts to 200 children patients at the Hanoi-based National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The official, accompanied by representatives of the Support Fund for Cancer Patients-Bright Future, lauded the dedication by the institute’s doctors and workers, and urged them to carry forward the sense of responsibility.

Lauding the institution’s contributions to the voluntary blood donation, Xuan urged it to play a more active role in public health care, especially amidst the present natural disasters.

Institute Director Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Tinh said each year the institute receives 500,000 blood units that are delivered to nearly 200 hospitals in the entire northern region, and some central localities.

It is ready to supply blood to medical facilities for emergency treatment in face of the current widespread flooding that is devastating many northern localities, he said./.

Son La, 7 Lao provinces exchange education-training experiences

The Education and Training Department of the northwestern province of Son La on September 12 held a seminar on measures to improve the sector’s quality with the education and sports departments from seven Lao provinces.

As heard at the event, Son La is home to 610 kindergartens, general schools, and continuing education centres, offering education to more than 375,000 students. Since 2001, the province has trained close to 2,300 Lao students, who have graduated with qualifications ranging from college and university degrees to master's degrees. Additionally, 3,939 Lao students have received Vietnamese language training there.

Participating Lao provinces consisted of Houaphanh, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Xieng Khouang, Xayaburi, and Bokeo.

Their representatives expressed a wish for continued support for Lao students from the Son La department in areas such as Vietnamese language training, undergraduate and graduate education, and training in the use of educational equipment and laboratory tools.

They proposed Son La share its experiences in addressing work-induced high school dropout rates, improving teacher quality and educational policies, promoting preschool education for five-year-old children, and eradicating illiteracy.

The provincial department said it will report these requests to Son La authorities to strengthen cooperation, discussions, and mutual support with the Lao provinces.

Xi Von Pheng Mixay, Deputy Director of the Oudomxay Department of Education and Sports, stated that the Lao delegates had learned many valuable lessons from Son La, expected to help boost the development of education and training in these northern provinces toward efficiency and effectiveness in the time to come./.

Argentina extends condolences to Vietnam over loses caused by Typhoon Yagi

The Government of Argentina on September 12 expressed its solidarity with the Government and people of Vietnam over the devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi, which resulted in the tragic loss of at least 200 lives and numerous individuals reported missing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina emphasised that the Latin American country stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Vietnam and extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims affected by the tragic consequences of the typhoon.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Typhoon Yagi, along with subsequent landslides and flooding in northern Vietnam, has claimed the lives of at least 226 people and made more than 104 others missing./.

Scholarships awarded to outstanding students in Long An

The Asian Development Fund (ADF) on September 12 awarded 200 scholarships to outstanding underprivileged students in the Mekong Delta province of Long An with a total value exceeding 800 million VND (33,000 USD).

Sponsored by COBI CIF Co., Ltd., a private real estate and construction material firm of the Republic of Korea, the scholarships included 100 awards for high school students (3 million VND each) and 100 sets for university and college students (5 million VND each).

Kim Joon Il, Chairman of COBI Group and ADF, highlighted that this is the fifth year since 2020 that COBI CIF has partnered with the Long An Department of Education-Training and the province's study promotion association to provide scholarships, with over 1,200 awards worth 4.8 billion VND delivered so far.

Nguyen Van Duoc, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Council, emphasised that these scholarships play a crucial role in encouraging students to overcome difficulties and excel in their studies, contributing to the province's development.

Currently, COBI Group has four investment projects in the Long Hau Expanded Industrial Zone in Can Giuoc district, Long An, with registered capital exceeding 55 million USD. These projects focus on construction of commercial zones, office and factory for rent and logistics services.

On the occasion, the provincial People's Committee presented certificates of merit to Kim Joon Il and Kim Jae Sung, General Director of COBI CIF, for their contributions to education and social welfare in the province./.

Top leader gives encouragement to flood victims in Phu Tho

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam arrived in the northern province of Phu Tho in the late afternoon of September 12 to inspect flood prevention and control efforts and to provide support and encouragement to residents affected by Typhoon Yagi and subsequent flooding.

According to a report of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board, typhoon-induced heavy rains from September 7 to 11, combined with water released from upstream reservoirs, caused rapid rises in river levels across the province and wide spread flooding.

The natural disaster resulted in two deaths, seven injuries, and nine missing persons so far. Emergency evacuations were carried out for 7,015 households due to flooding and landslides. Several medical, educational, and cultural facilities also sustained damage. Agricultural losses included 6,400 hectares of rice and crops submerged or flattened, 127 hectares of forests uprooted, and 2,000 hectares of aquaculture areas were breached or destroyed. Transport infrastructure was severely impacted, with landslides covering roadways and the T7 pier and two spans of Phong Chau Bridge on National Highway 32C collapsed.

The preliminary estimate of total damage is over 250 billion VND (10.17 million USD) (excluding damage to the Phong Chau Bridge).

At the meeting, provincial leaders requested support from the central government for the construction of a new bridge to replace the old Phong Chau, the reinforcement and upgrading of weak dike sections, and improvements to wave barriers along the Thao River’s left and right banks. Additionally, they called for assistance in materials, equipment, and resources for disaster prevention and rescue efforts.

On behalf of the Party and State, the top leader expressed deep sympathy and solidarity with the local victims.

He noted that the highest priority for all flood-hit localities is to rescue people, with the armed forces playing a central role. All available resources, equipment, and sci-tech applications should be utilised to search for the missing and ensure absolute safety for rescue forces, while efforts should also be made to care for flood victims, early restore the supply of water, electricity and telecoms services, resume production, business and normal social activities.

Regarding Phu Tho's proposals, the Party General Secretary and President highlighted the importance of the Phong Chau Bridge, not only for Phu Tho but also for neighbouring provinces, and stated that its reconstruction must be prioritised and completed as soon as possible.

Concerning the reinforcement of vulnerable dike sections along the Thao River, he instructed the province to research and implement structures capable of withstanding severe weather events to ensure the safety of local residents.

On this occasion, the top leader presented gifts to Phu Tho, while the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front donated 30 billion VND to aid the province's recovery efforts./.

Health, lives of Typhoon Yagi victims placed first and foremost: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for all possible support from the entire political system, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organisations in the spirit of putting the health and lives of affected residents first and foremost while working with leaders of Lao Cai provinces, and relevant ministries and agencies on the settlement of the aftermaths caused by typhoon Yagi and subsequent floods and landslides.

At the working session in Bao Yen district on September 12 evening right after his trip to inspect the search, rescue and relief operations at Lang Nu village, which was hit by a devastating landslide that buried 37 households and left 95 people dead or missing, PM Chinh requested the immediate provision of shelters, food, drinking water and clothes to those who have lost their homes and possessions, ensuring that no one is left hungry, short of clothes or water, or homeless.

Relevant ministries and agencies were tasked with reaching isolated areas to deliver necessities to local people.

The PM also directed efforts to repair and resume the operations of schools and health stations, ensuring that students can return to their classrooms and public health is protected.

Efforts should also focus on cleaning up the environment, preventing disease outbreaks, and restoring transport and infrastructure for electricity, water, and irrigation, he said, adding that emphasis must be placed on ensuring safety, order, and social welfare while promptly addressing any emerging issues.

Local authorities were assigned to consider the relocation of residents from landslide-prone areas, provide housing support for those who have lost their homes, ensure livelihoods and employment opportunities, and allocate land for production to rebuild local lives.

The government leader also assigned other specific tasks to ministries, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political mass organisations.

Agreeing with Lao Cai's proposals, the PM decided to allocate 150 billion VND (6.25 million USD) from the central budget to support the province's recovery efforts.

Lao Cai reported a grim toll, with 98 deaths, 81 missing and 76 injured people. Over 9,100 houses have been inundated, affected by landslides, or swept away by floods, forcing the evacuation of over 2,200 out of more than 9,500 households in dangerous areas. More than 3,500 ha of rice, crops, and aquaculture were damaged. Total damage is estimated at over 3 trillion VND (122 million USD)./.

AVC conducts draw for Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship

The Asian Volleyball Confederation drew Vietnamese clubs into two different groups of the 2024 Asian Women's Championship to be held later this month.

Hoa Chat Duc Giang Lao Cai are in Group A with Kwai Tsing (Hongkong), 2022 champions Kuanysh VC (Kazakhstan) and silver medallists at the 2021 games, Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC (hosts Thailand).

LP Bank Ninh Binh, silver medallists at the 2024 Binh Dien International Cup, are in Group B with 2016 winners NEC Red Rockets Kawasaki (Japan), Saipa Club (Iran) and Monolith Sky Risers (the Philippines).

The championship will be held from September 22-29 in Nakhon Ratchasima Province's 5,000-seater Chartchai Hall.

Two top teams of the tournament will qualify for the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship 2024 in December in China.

Last year, the national team of Vietnam competed under the team name of Sport Centre 1. They defeated Diamond Food-Fine Chef of Thailand 3–2, at home, to take the title in Vinh Phuc Province.

Top Lao leader meets with former Vietnamese Presidents

General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and State President Thongloun Sisoulith had separate meetings with former Vietnamese Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang in Ho Chi Minh City on September 12.

Thongloun recalled memories from his previous meetings with the two former Presidents and expressed his hope to welcome them to Laos in the future. He affirmed that Laos will continue, together with Vietnam, to preserve, nurture and pass on the fine tradition of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship to future generations.

He updated the two former Presidents on the recent situation in Laos, highlighted achievements in Vietnam-Laos cooperation and the outcomes of his discussions with volunteer soldiers, former experts, students, and young generations of both countries in Hanoi. He also conveyed warm regards from former leaders of the Lao Party and State to Triet and Sang.

Triet and Sang expressed their belief that under the sound leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party led by Thongloun, the Lao people will overcome all challenges and achieve even greater successes. They showed their confidence that Laos will successfully realise the resolution of the 11th National Party Congress, and well prepare and successfully hold the 12th National Party Congress.

The former Presidents expressed their delight at the achievements of both Parties and countries, noting that the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, founded by great President Ho Chi Minh and revered Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong and continuously nurtured by successive generations of leaders and people, has been consolidated and developed over the years.

Affirming that Thongloun's visit would further deepen the bilateral special relationship, they expressed their wish and believed that the special solidarity between the two nations would develop to new heights. They also extended their regards to the former key leaders of the Lao Party and State.

Vietnam, Lao Party Central Committees' Organisation Commissions enhance cooperative ties

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Organisation Commission led by its Vice Chairman Phan Thang An had a meeting with Boutsady Thanamueang, Vice Chairwoman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee's Organisation Commission as part of their working visit to Laos from September 10-12.

At the event, the two sides updated each other on their situation, the results of Party building as well as the implementation of cooperation agreements between the two Parties and States, the progress in training Lao language skills for Vietnam’s leading officials and managers, and the outcomes of the cooperation agreement between the two Organisation Commissions.

They agreed to maintain delegation exchanges between the two commissions in the coming years.

The two sides also pledged to continue exchanging information and sharing experiences in the Party and political system building, contributing to the successful implementation of resolutions of each Party Congress and the high-level agreements between the CPV Central Committee’s Politburo and the LPRP Central Committee's Politburo.

They reached consensus on stepping up the communications about the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos among officials, Party members, and the public, especially the younger generations.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation also had meetings with representatives of departments of the LPRP Central Committee’s Organisation Commission. They agreed that in the coming time, the two departments will maintain close coordination, and boost cooperation and mutual support on professional affairs to fulfill their assigned tasks.

Laos commends cooperation between Vietnam, Lao Journalists Associations

A delegation of the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA), led by its Standing Chairman Nguyen Duc Loi, paid a courtesy call to Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Vansy Kuamua, as part of its working trip to the neighbouring country from September 9-13.

Vansy expressed his appreciation for the visit, highlighting its significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between the Lao and Vietnam Journalists Associations as well as between press agencies of Laos and Vietnam. He also expressed his gratitude for the effective assistance provided by the VJA in recent times.

He said that the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism will continue to support the cooperation agreements between the Lao and Vietnam Journalist Associations. He expressed hope that the VJA will continue to send experts to Laos to assist and support not only in improving professional skills of Lao reporters and journalists but also in aiding Lao press agencies with digital transformation and modernising newsroom operations.

Loi noted that the visit aimed to exchange information, share experience, and learn about the operations of Lao press agencies to advise the Vietnamese government and press agencies to facilitate future cooperation.

He briefed the host about the results of working sessions with leaders of the Lao Journalists' Association (LJA) and key Lao press agencies, including the Lao News Agency (KPL), Pasaxon Newspaper, Lao National Television, and Lao National Radio.

Loi affirmed that the VJA will continue work with major Vietnamese press agencies to deploy cooperation agreements and documents between the VJA and LJA and send experts to help improve professional skills for Lao reporters in the coming time.

While in Laos, the Vietnamese delegation held working sessions with key Lao press agencies, during which both sides agreed that in the future, the global and regional press will continue to undergo significant changes. Traditional journalism methods are becoming unsuitable, requiring press agencies to innovate, modernise, and improve the quality of news and articles to attract readers.

They held that Lao press agencies need to embrace and promote digital transformation, incorporating scientific and technical applications to achieve the best results in producing various types of press products, and keeping pace with contemporary development trends.

Int’l workshop spotlights Vietnam – Mongolia diplomatic ties

The cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia over the past 70 years as well as orientations to shape up the bilateral relationship in the coming time were highlighted at an international workshop held by the International Cooperation Department under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) on September 12.

In his opening remarks, VASS Vice President Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Duc Minh said that the relations, set up on November 17, 1954, have been consolidated and strongly developed in various areas, stressing they have been supporting each other during their struggle for national independence, renewal, and international integration.

Recalling the historical milestones in the bilateral ties, including the visit to Mongolia by President Ho Chi Minh in 1955 and many other high-level visits, the signing of various cooperation documents, and the establishment of the inter-governmental committee in 1979, Minh said the events help fortify the friendship basis, and comprehensively develop the relations across the domains of politics, economy, defence, culture, and education.

The workshop created an opportunity for the two sides to look back on the outcomes of the cooperation over the past decades, while ushering in chances for them to discuss future cooperation orientations with a view to building the sustainable, effective and comprehensive Vietnam – Mongolia ties in all areas. Solutions put forth at the event will contribute significantly to further elevating the bilateral ties, he added.

Meanwhile, Vice President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences Dr. Tserendorj stressed the significance of enhancing scientific cooperation between the two countries, particularly in society, history, archeology, and languages, affirming that Mongolia has been interested in Vietnam’s development experience in foreign investment attraction, sustainable development, industry, energy, agriculture, transport, and tourism.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam will serve as a bridge to bolster cooperation between Mongolia and other Southeast Asian countries, and help the nation better engage in regional forums, especially the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Hong Thai from the VASS’s Institute for Northeast Asian Studies spoke highly the prospect of the robust ties between the two nations on the back of their cultural similarities, stating Mongolia’s “third neighbour” policy will open up opportunities for the bilateral relations to further develop.

Dr. Vo Hai Thanh, also from the institute, held that the expansion of cooperation between enterprises of both sides is important for them to bolster trade and investment, and capitalise on their economic potential. Besides, it creates favourable conditions for the firms to access new markets, expand their scales, and step up international connectivity.

Thanh suggested organising culture and tourism popularisation activities to promote mutual understanding between the two countries.

Vietnam, India strengthen cooperation at UN

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of Vietnam's Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) on September 11 received Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, head of India’s Permanent Mission to the UN, right after he presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, marking the beginning of his tenure in New York.

Giang expressed his pleasure at meeting his Indian counterpart again, recalling the latter’s time as India's Ambassador to Vietnam in 2016-2019.

He commended the recent positive development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India, highlighted by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's state visit to India in early August 2024.

He emphasised the importance of further enhancing substantive and trustworthy cooperation at the UN, particularly on issues of mutual interest, contributing to seeking solutions to global challenges and protecting the interests and promoting the roles of developing countries.

For his part, Harish recalled his memories of the land and people of Vietnam and praised the country’s significant achievements in socio-economic development and diplomacy.

He noted Vietnam's growing influence in multilateral forums, especially at the UN, and affirmed his commitment to further advancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening coordination between the two missions in New York.

8th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium opens in Cao Bang

The 8th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Symposium opened in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang on September 12.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Hoang Xuan Anh, who is head of the symposium’s organising board, said that with the theme of “Local/indigenous people and sustainable development in Geoparks” the four-day symposium will find out helpful solutions to building and developing the global geopark title among APGN members, thus contributing to preserving and promoting heritage values towards sustainable development.

In recent years, the province has consistently pursued the goal of developing the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark associated with preserving heritage values, environmental resources and traditional crafts, promoting sustainable tourism and education for future generations, and expanding its network of partners, stated Anh.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed the need for greater efforts and closer and more effective cooperation as the international community advances the 2030 Agenda.

According to Son, the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is slowing down and, in some cases, even regressing. He cited the June United Nations Sustainable Development Report as saying that only 17% of the goals are currently on track. In the Asia-Pacific region, if the current pace continues, it will not be until 2062 that the commitments set for 2030 will be met.

The devastating consequences of extreme natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, heatwaves, and droughts, with unprecedented frequency, scale, and impact, are impeding efforts to improve people's quality of life and achieve sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development. Without effective solutions to these challenges, humanity's development achievements are at risk of being reversed, he stressed.

Stressing that Global Geoparks are indeed a "solution" to this global issue, the official reiterated a message by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, at the 2022 International Geodiversity Day that “understanding geological processes is therefore essential to explore the past, enjoy the present and prepare for an unpredictable future”.

The Deputy PM proposed the symposium establish a comprehensive approach to unify understanding and action regarding the conservation and promotion of geopark values for sustainable development.

It is essential to integrate the principles of sustainable development into policies for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, natural environment preservation, and the cultural identity of communities, he said, adding that conservation and management of geoparks should be aligned with policies for sustainable and inclusive development at the community, local, and national levels. This requires harmonising the relationships between conservation and development, economic benefits and environmental protection, traditional and modern values; as well as internal development and international cooperation.

Son also stressed the importance of enhancing the exchange of good experience, providing appropriate policy recommendations on the management, conservation, and sustainable development of global geoparks, and promoting multilateral partnerships and international cooperation in developing global geoparks in conjunction with sustainable growth.

Hanoians rely on each other to navigate through floodwater

It was 9.30pm on September 10 when residents in Hà Nội’s sub-urban district of Chương Mỹ began to evacuate as the floodwaters from the Bùi River rose.

The local radio station kept calling on villagers to evacuate.

Bùi Ngọc Bình, head of Nam Hài Village said: "During these days, when the flood water rises, we are always on duty all night to help locals. Even in the middle of the night, we will respond promptly to calls in order to assist individuals with moving their possessions and evacuating."

During the days of flooding, Bình and his neighbours have converted a recently acquired tractor at his residence into a movable vehicle to navigate through the village.

The locals built a structure and placed a boat on top of it because the tractor's chassis is very high and it can operate in situations where the road is flooded.

It is now a useful mode of transportation in places like Chương Mỹ that experience flooding on a regular basis.

"When sitting on it, people can feel secure," Bình added.

He has used the makeshift boat to take Nam Phương Tiến Commune’s locals around the village.

A retired soldier in Quốc Oai District created a handmade boat using household wooden bars and metal containers.

On September 11, the inventor's daughter, Nguyễn Khánh, uploaded a boat testing video clip on the internet.

She said due to the impact of Typhoon Yagi, the village where she and her families live has been inundated. 30 cm of water climbed to 60–70 cm of water. People's routines were disturbed, making it challenging to go around.

"Due to the continuous rain, some places recorded waist high water. Most local people have stayed indoors and out their properties at higher places," she said.

“My father is a retired engineer. He fixes a lot of home objects and is pretty skilled at it. There had been no indication of the water level dropping by September 11 afternoon. Given that the water level was still high, he devised a handmade boat from wooden bars and corrugated iron boxes found in the house.”

Numerous touching stories from people affected by flooding in Hà Nội have warmed our hearts on these days.

Another local in Nam Hải Village, Chương Mỹ District, lets her neighbours park their cars in her yard for free.

Since the floodwaters rose, hundreds of motorcycles have been parked at her house.

Nguyễn Thị Xuân said she started letting people leave their motorbikes at her house in 2008, when the floodwaters began to rise.

"Every year, people bring their motorcycles here to park when the water rises and floods the neighbourhood," she said.

"Even though the yard in front of my house was unpaved and the water level was halfway up the wheel a few years ago, a lot of people continued to park their bikes there. Now the yard has been raised and paved recently. There is no longer flood.

“The people who bring their motorbikes here to park are mainly from Nhân Lý and Nam Hải villages. Many people keep telling me to charge fees and take tickets, but I can’t do that.

“When people are in trouble, they really need help from everyone. I don’t have much money, so I can only help them a little by taking this action.” 

Nearly 700,000 customers still without electricity

Nearly 700,000 households have not yet been re-supplied electricity after the typhoon and subsequent floods.

The Northern Power Corporation has restored electricity supply to nearly 5.3 million customers out of a total of approximately six million cut off by the storms, as of yesterday morning.

Due to the impact of strong winds and post-storm circulation, many power lines and distribution substations in various northern provinces and cities experienced failures.

With the urgency and great efforts of units under the Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC), 1,393 out of 1,671 medium-voltage power lines affected by the storm had been restored.

Regarding the restoration of high-voltage power grids, the 500kV power grid has restored 11 out of 13 faults.

The 220kV power grid has repaired 40 out of 44 faults and has restored all ten of its 220kV substations.

As for the 110kV power grid, 175 out of 191 faults have been restored and 94 out of 120 substations have been brought back into operation.

On Wednesday, the Central Power Corporation (EVNCPC) decided to send 245 skilled engineers and workers to Quảng Ninh Province to assist in restoring the power grid there.

Northern power units are continuing to mobilise personnel, vehicles, and equipment to address the aftermath of the disaster and restore electricity supply as quickly as possible, while still ensuring safety.

Due to the impact of post-storm circulation, a large volume of water continues to flow into hydropower reservoirs. Those in the north are currently opening spillways to regulate water flow as directed by the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and the provincial/municipal disaster prevention committees.

The hydropower reservoirs currently releasing water include Tuyên Quang opening three gates, Bản Chát - one gate, Huội Quảng - one gate, Thác Bà – three gates, Trung Sơn - six gates, and Bản Vẽ - six gates.

The Hòa Bình, Sơn La and Lai Châu hydropower plants have closed all spillways as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Specifically, at Tuyên Quang hydropower plant, the highest water inflow into the reservoir was 6,966 cu. m per second at 9 am on September 9.

Currently, the water inflow has decreased to 2,031 cu.m per second, with a total outflow of 2,455 cu. m per second and the upstream water level has dropped to 117.3m.

The plant has only three out of eight spillway gates open (five gates were closed at 8am and 12pm on September 10 and at 8am, 3pm and 8pm on September 11).

At Thác Bà hydropower plant, the highest water inflow into the reservoir was 5,620cu.m per second at 9am on September 10.

Currently, the water inflow has decreased to 2,435 cu.m per second, with a total outflow of 3,140 cu.m per second and the upstream water level has dropped to 59.46m.

Thác Bà reservoir is currently operating under orders to open all three spillway gates as directed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to assessments from relevant authorities, the Thác Bà hydropower reservoir is currently safe. Authorities continue to closely monitor water flow trends and prepare flood discharge scenarios to respond to emergencies (if any), ensuring the safety of the facility as well asdownstream areas. 

Red River water levels drop below Alert Level 2, but warnings remain

After reaching its peak on Wednesday night, the water level of the Red River in Hà Nội fell below Alert Level 2 and is expected to continue receding slowly, according to officials in the disaster team.

Nguyễn Xuân Đại, Director of the Hà Nội’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Deputy Head of the city's Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue, stated that although water levels are decreasing, the flood situation remains complicated and river levels are still high.

He emphasised that local authorities must remain vigilant in monitoring and patrolling dikes and should not become complacent.

To ensure dike safety and proactively respond to adverse weather conditions, the committee requested that all district-level steering committees focus on enhancing dike patrols and inspections, reviewing all monitoring points and supplying necessary tools, documents, and specialised training for patrol teams.

The committee holds full responsibility before the city’s People's Committee if dike safety issues occur due to non-compliance with patrol and protection regulations.

The Hà Nội Department of Transport has mobilised its traffic inspectors and emergency vehicles to ensure traffic safety around the clock in flooded areas, manage traffic flow and maintain road safety.

The department has also requested the Việt Nam Inland Waterways Administration to propose measures to protect transportation infrastructure, especially river-crossing bridges, from potential hazards.

In particular, the administration is urged to closely monitor obstacles such as drifting barges or boats along national waterways, including the Red, Đà, Đuống, Đáy, Công and Cầu rivers that could threaten the safety of bridges.

If any objects pose a collision risk with river-crossing bridges, the Việt Nam Inland Waterways Administration must immediately notify the city’s Department of Transport to implement measures to ensure the safety of both bridges and the public.

On Thursday, Chairman of the Hà Nội’s People's Committee Trần Sỹ Thanh signed Directive No 16/CĐ-UBND, urging focus on responding to major floods and ensuring the safety of dikes across the city.

In recent days, Hà Nội has experienced widespread heavy rainfall, leading to floods on several rivers and severe flooding in riverbank areas, threatening the safety of the dike system.

Given that the dike system in Hà Nội has not faced significant flood pressure for many years, there is a risk of barriers being compromised.

Following Directive No 93/CĐ-TTg issued on September 11, 2024 by the Prime Minister on responding to major floods and ensuring dike safety in the northern region, Thanh instructed vice chairmen, according to their designated areas, to personally oversee key areas and lead, direct, expedite and inspect flood control and dike protection efforts.

Resources, materials, machinery and equipment must be prepared, especially in critical and vulnerable areas, to promptly address any dike-related issues.

Regular inspections of the dike system must be intensified and patrol and monitoring activities should be strictly implemented during the flood season according to the alert levels.

Additionally, immediate safety plans for residents living in flood-prone areas outside the riverbanks, including dike-protected areas at risk, should be updated and implemented. Authorities must ensure no residents remain in dangerous areas when flood levels rise. 

Four die, including a small child, after sleeper coach overturns in Đắk Lắk Province

Four people died after a sleeper coach travelling on the Hồ Chí Minh Highway through Đắk Lắk Central Highlands province hit a rainstorm, causing the vehicle to lose control and overturn.

The accident happened at about 3.37am on Wednesday in Village 9, Ea H’leo District.

Deputy Chairman of the district People's Committee Lê Ngọc Hùng, who was present at the scene to direct the handling of the accident, said that the sleeper bus, with licence plate 50H-308.53, was being driven by Võ Thanh Hùng, 37, from Quảng Phú Town in Đắk Lắk Province.

It was carrying about 18-20 passengers from the province and heading to Gia Lai Province.

The vehicle was travelling when it hit a rain storm and as it navigated a road crossing the surface was reportedly to be slippery, causing the coach to flip over onto the side of the road, killing three people on the spot, while another died at the Chư Sê District Hospital in Gia Lai Province.

The victims included Hồ Ngọc Quốc, 31, from Thắng Lợi Ward, Kon Tum City, Kon Tum Province, Văn Thị Yến Phượng, 30, from Ia Khươl Commune, Chư Pah District, Gia Lai Province, 21 year old Lê Thị Trúc Ly, 21, from Đại An Village, Ia Khươl Commune and three year old Phùng Nguyên Trâm, from Đại An Village.

Many injured victims remain under special care at the hospital.

An investigation has been opened into the accident. 

Two patients who received kidney transplants discharged from Saint Paul hospital

Saint Paul General Hospital in Hà Nội on September 10 held a farewell ceremony for the first two patients who received kidney transplants from a brain-dead donor.

The two were discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, two weeks after receiving a donated kidney from a 32-year-old young man who was killed in a traffic accident.

Six people were saved, including two who received kidneys at Saint Paul and four other patients who received heart, kidney and corneal transplants from the donor.

The kidney transplant surgeries were performed by medical staff at Saint Paul General Hospital with the support of the Việt Đức Hospital and the National Coordination Centre for Human Organ Transplantation on August 24.

They were the 54th and 55th kidney transplant operations, but the first time the hospital had performed two kidney transplants from a brain-dead donor at the same time.

Dr Hà Anh Đức, Director of the Medical Services Administration (MSA), at the Ministry of Health, praised the success achieved by the doctors at the hospital and congratulated the two patients.

“Saint Paul is the first hospital of the Hà Nội's Department of Health, the fourth hospital in the capital city, and the seventh hospital in the country to perform organ transplants from brain-dead donors,” said Dr Đức.

“Many hospitals in Hà Nội currently have mastered transplant techniques. The question is how to get more transplants in the future. This is the responsibility of state management agencies.”

The MSA director added that the Ministry of Health is urgently completing the legal corridor to facilitate the transplantation of human tissues and organs.

The kidney transplants marked an important milestone for the development of Saint Paul General Hospital as well as the medical system in the fields of consultation, diagnosis of organ retrieval, transportation and transplantation of organs from brain-dead donors.

According to the hospital, the two patients were a female, N.L P, 44, from Đống Đa District, Hà Nội, who has right kidney failure and has been undergoing dialysis since 2020 and a male patient D.V.T, 55, living in Hai Bà Trưng District, of Hà Nội, who suffered from kidney failure since 2012.

Currently, the health of the two patients is progressing well with the kidneys functioning normally and urine output is good.

Saint Paul General Hospital director Nguyễn Đức Long said the special ceremony was a way to congratulate the organ transplant recipients and express gratitude to the organ donor.

“We performed a kidney transplant ten years ago but stopped for three years because there were no donor kidneys. Therefore, after this transplant, we look forward to having more patients revived from the noble gesture of organ donation," said Long. 

Another severe landslide in Lào Cai leaves 7 dead, 11 missing

Lào Cai authorities on Wednesday evening reported another severe landslide that resulted in seven deaths, 11 people missing and 11 others injured.

The disaster struck Nậm Tông Village in the province’s Bắc Hà District at around 1.30pm on Tuesday, but the number of casualties was only confirmed after rescue teams reached the site on Wednesday, due to disruptions in telecommunications.

The village had 15 households with a total of 80 residents.

Rescue forces, along with a provincial delegation led by Permanent Deputy Party Secretary Vũ Xuân Cường, took nearly four hours to travel against Chảy River’s current and cross the forest from Bảo Nhai Commune to reach the disaster site.

A landslide in the same area on Tuesday collapsed the operations building of Đông Nam Á-Nậm Lúc Hydropower Plant, injuring several workers and leaving five people missing.

In the ongoing aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, Lào Cai’s Bắc Hà District has recorded 13 deaths, 21 reported missing and 20 others injured due to flash floods and landslides as of Wednesday.

The province has been concentrating its recovery efforts on Làng Nủ Village in Bảo Yên District, where a deadly flash flood on Tuesday morning wiped out all 37 households of 158 people in the area.

HCM City tackles measles outbreaks in schools  

 In just the first week of the 2024-25 academic year, HCM City reported several measles outbreaks in primary schools located in four districts.

This was reported at a virtual meeting on Tuesday (September 11) on measles prevention and control chaired by the municipal People’s Committee vice chairwoman Trần Thị Diệu Thúy with relevant departments and representatives of the people’s committees of 21 districts and Thủ Đức city.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy director of the city's Centre for Disease Control Lê Hồng Nga said local schools have experienced measles outbreaks in the first week of the new academic year.

It recorded four measles cases at Phạm Hữu Lầu Primary School in District 7; three cases at Huỳnh Văn Bánh Primary School, and two cases at Lại Hùng Cường Primary School all in Bình Chánh District; two cases at Võ Thị Sáu Primary School in Tân Phú District; and three cases at Nguyễn Văn Tây Primary School in Thủ Đức city.

“The majority of the affected students had not received the complete dosage of the measles vaccine,” Nga said.

From the beginning of the year until now, the city has had 581 cases of measles.

In terms of scale, 16 out of 22 districts, including Thủ Đức city, have seen new case increases compared to the average of the previous four weeks.

Meanwhile, 172 out of 312 wards and communes have reported cases, and 48 wards and communes have seen an increase in the number of cases compared to the average of the previous four weeks.

Nga alerted the public about the surge in measles cases in the city.

“There is a rapid increase in both the number of measles cases and the rate of spread,” she said.

Currently, measles control in schools and communities is being urgently implemented by localities.

The vaccination rate for measles remains low. During the period from August 31 to September 9, the city dispensed 28,229 vaccine doses.

These include 19,821 doses for children aged one to five, 5,260 doses for children aged six to 10, and 3,148 doses for high-risk children and healthcare workers.

Given the current situation, municipal People’s Committee vice chairwoman Trần Thị Diệu Thúy asked the people’s committees of Bình Chánh, Tân Phú and seven districts and Thủ Đức city with outbreaks recorded in schools to give priority to arranging vaccinations in wards and communes.

Specifically, measles vaccinations will be administered to children in residential areas and schools within those wards and communes, with the urgent goal of increasing the measles vaccination rate to the highest possible level, she said.

Tăng Chí Thượng, director of the city Department of Health, said two private vaccination units, VNVC and FPT Long Châu, will support the city’s health sector in the measles vaccination campaign.

He has asked districts to urgently review children between one and 10 years of age who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough vaccinations, and accelerate the vaccination process to control the outbreak.

If the localities need manpower support, the health sector will immediately provide assistance as many vaccination teams are ready.

The four districts with outbreaks in schools have been asked to promptly organise vaccination campaigns for children aged five to 10 years in primary schools. 

Minibuses, electric vehicles to ease traffic around Saigon Railway Station

HCM City has approved a Ministry of Transport proposal to operate minibuses and electric vehicles to Saigon Railway Station in District 3 to gradually reduce private vehicles and ease traffic on the congested streets around it.

The minibuses, to link Bến Thành Station on the city’s metro line No. 1, will start plying in November this year.

The city has also been trialling electric vehicles in District 1, 4, 5, and 6, and will consider using them to carry passengers to the station.

It is seeking to offer more public bicycle rental services in District 1, 3, 4, 5, and 10 for people to get to the station.

The ministry said there are four bus services to the station, but only bus No. 7 has a stop inside while Nos. 13, 30 and 65 only stop outside.

People mostly use private vehicles and taxis to get to the station as a result, leading to severe congestion on Cách Mạng Tháng Tám Street and the Dân Chủ Roundabout.

Besides, the streets leading up to the station, like Nguyễn Thông and Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên, are narrow, making it difficult for large buses to ply, it added. 

Four schools set to launch world-class hospitality training programme

Four higher education institutions from three different regions of Việt Nam are scheduled to launch a world-class hospitality training programme from the fourth quarter this year.

The schools involved are the National Economics University in Hà Nội, IBH Academy in Đà Nẵng City, and Văn Lang University and Sài Gòn Tourism College in HCM City.

The 'Swiss Executive Hospitality Training' programme is part of the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development in Việt Nam project, which is funded by the Swiss government. It aims to enhance the quality of the local workforce and contribute to the sustainable development of Việt Nam’s tourism sector.

The news was released at an event held in Hà Nội on Tuesday morning by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the Centre for Rural Economy Development.

The programme, which introduces world-class standards to Việt Nam’s tourism industry, is tailored for mid- and senior-level managers and experienced professionals aiming for managerial positions, addressing Việt Nam’s shortage of high-quality leaders and managers.

It also offers exceptional content and teaching methods, drawing on Swiss expertise and values from EHL Hospitality Business School, the world’s top-ranked university for hospitality management.

The project will run through 2027 with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and is co-implemented by Helvetas Việt Nam and the Centre for Rural Economy Development.

A major goal of the project is to develop Việt Nam’s tourism industry to be more sustainable and inclusive.

Speaking at the conference, Swiss Ambassador to Việt Nam Thomas Gass said: “Our aim is to share Switzerland’s deep-rooted experience and expertise in hospitality training, supporting the tourism sector in Việt Nam to continue thriving in a sustainable and high-quality manner.’’

The programme would provide Việt Nam's future hospitality leaders and managers with the tools to deliver exceptional service while maintaining a commitment to sustainability.

“By focusing on sustainability and high standards, we are not only investing in the future of Việt Nam’s tourism but also contributing to global efforts to make tourism more responsible and inclusive,” Gass said.

Jean-Baptiste Berguerand, EHL’s Senior Consultant, said human-centric philosophy underpins the programme, laying a solid foundation for building a robust talent pipeline for Việt Nam's thriving hospitality and tourism industry. 

Party membership badges bestowed upon former, incumbent National Assembly officials

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Delegation to the National Assembly (NA) and NA Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn attended a ceremony held in Hà Nội on Thursday to present the 65-year, 40-year, and 30-year Party membership badges to 11 individuals from the Party organisation of the NA Office.

At the ceremony, the top legislator presented the 65-year badge to Nguyễn Văn An, former Politburo member and former Chairman of the NA.

NA Vice Chairman Nguyễn Khắc Định presented the 40-year badge to four Party members, while Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Agencies' Bloc Nguyễn Văn Thể awarded the 30-year badges to the remaining six members.

NA Chairman Mẫn remarked that the badge represents the Party's recognition and high appreciation for the senior Party members' contributions and dedication to the Party's glorious revolutionary cause.

He expressed his hope that former NA Chairman An will continue to mentor and guide future generations, thereby contributing to improving the quality of the NA’s activities and fostering rapid, sustainable development in the country.

The NA Chairman also urged those who received the 40-year and 30-year Party membership badges to continue building on their achievements, striving to fulfill their responsibilities, and contributing to strengthening the Party organisation of the NA Office.

On behalf of the awarded Party members, former NA chairman An expressed his deep emotion, joy, pride, and honour.

He stressed that this recognition reflects the Party's assessment of its members' efforts, discipline, and dedication, and is a high honor bestowed upon them.

Full-time lawmakers review NA's 8th extraordinary meeting, preparations for 8th session

Continuing the agenda of its 37th session, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Thursday afternoon reviewed the 8th extraordinary meeting and preparations for the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly.

NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office Bùi Văn Cường said the NA’s 8th session will have four additional agenda items, including reviewing and approving the Law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Officers of the Việt Nam People's Army and the Law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Health Insurance, considering the draft Law on Data and the investment policy for a North-South high-speed rail line.

The session will also see lawmakers discussing 26 legislation-related contents, 9 groups of topics related to socio-economic affairs, the state budget, supervision, and other important issues. Furthermore, 12 groups of topics will be submitted to the legislators for consideration.

Full-time lawmakers basically agreed with the draft report on the summary of the 8th extraordinary meeting, presented by Cường.

The 8th extraordinary meeting, held within one day, was conducted in a serious, democratic, and highly responsible manner, fulfilling the planned agenda. At the meeting, the NA voted on 12 resolutions concerning the dismissal and appointment of Government, NA and other positions. 

VNA/VNS/VOV/VNN