Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has signed a decision approving a development strategy of rural occupations until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The strategy’s general goal is to promote the potential of rural areas, improve production and business efficiency, increase incomes, create jobs, and improve the material and spiritual life of the people.

It also aims at protecting the environment, preserving the landscape, and promoting the traditions and cultural identity of the nation.

The strategy is expected to spur rural economic development towards ecological agriculture, and modern rural areas and farmers.

Under the strategy, the growth rate of rural occupations will expand by 6-7% per year by 2030. The average income of labourers engaging in rural occupations will be 2.5-3 times higher than in 2020.

Rural occupations are to attract about 5 million regular workers, and earn over 6 billion USD per year from export. 

The rates of trained labourers working in rural occupations and those holding degrees and certificates is expected to reach 80% and 35%, respectively.

Stable and concentrated raw material areas will be formed in localities across the country to meet 70% of the rural industry’s development requirement.

The strategy identifies seven groups of occupations to be developed in rural areas, including agri-forestry-fishery processing and preservation; fine arts and handicrafts; materials production; salt production; services, among others.

The strategy also sets the direction for preserving and restoring traditional craft villages, developing domestic and export markets for rural products, and protecting the environment in rural areas in association with developing tourism.

Vietnamese Deputy PM meets with Cuban leaders

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha paid a courtesy call on President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernández and held talks with First Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba Ricardo Cabrisas Ruíz in Havana on September 18, as part of his visit to the Caribbean nation and attendance at the Group of 77 plus China (G77 China) Summit.

At these meetings, the Cuban leaders expressed their appreciation for Vietnam's participation in the summit, which, they said, showed the special attention of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to the traditional friendship and special cooperation between the two nations and contributed to the success of the event.

Lazo Hernández said the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba has continuously learnt and studied reform experiences of Vietnam and brought them into the building and approval of laws in Cuba. 

Meanwhile, Cabrisas Ruíz, who is also Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, thanked Vietnam for its multifaceted assistance for Cuba, especially when the Caribbean country is facing numerous difficulties from increased blockade measures.

He affirmed that the Vietnam-Cuba relationship is growing very well and expressed his wish to further enhance the effectiveness of their existing cooperation mechanisms via the Party, National Assembly, and Government channels. He also hoped to see more Cuban-invested projects in Vietnam.

For his part, Ha said Vietnam always treasures and is determined to deepen its traditional solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Cuba. He also affirmed Vietnam's consistent stance on uniting with and supporting Cuba, opposing and calling for the end to the blockade and embargo against Cuba, and joining Cuba’s efforts to overcome the current difficulties. 

The two sides discussed specific measures to further promote the comprehensive, practical, and effective cooperation between the two nations, including increasing the exchange of visits and meetings at all levels and coordinating in the implementation of the results of the summit, particularly in the fields of science-technology and innovation. They also agreed to step up the bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties, with a focus on aquaculture projects, corn development, rice production, and collaboration in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

The same day, Ha and the Vietnamese delegation laid flowers at a park named after late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh, visited and presented gifts to Alfredo Miguel Aguayo elementary school in the Cuban capital.

Unplanned shrimp farming blamed for abandoned rice fields in Quảng Trị

Salinisation has led to the abandonment of numerous rice and crop fields in Triệu An Commune, Triệu Phong District of the coastal central province of Quảng Trị.

The unplanned shrimp farming activities of local farmers are responsible for this issue.

Trần Văn Sằn, leader of Tường Vân hamlet, mentioned that their fields were previously fertile and abundant.

Throughout the year, local farmers typically cultivated rice and short-term crops, including luffa, cassava, potatoes, chilli, and other vegetables, he noted.

But the rise in unscheduled shrimp farming has seen local farmers either drilling wells to draw salt water or pumping it directly from the sea. This, he explained, has caused the land in the hamlet to become saline.

Initial figures indicate that 38 of the hamlet’s 80ha of rice fields have been left unused.

Trần Văn Sằn warned that if this trend persists, there would be a shortage of land for agricultural purposes.

Furthermore, the salinisation resulting from ad-hoc shrimp farming has rendered the water sources of many households salty and unfit for use.

Nguyễn Thị Bông, from An Xuân hamlet, stated that her family, along with 194 other households in the hamlet, are now grappling with a scarcity of fresh water.

Bông mentioned that her family tried and failed to find fresh water by drilling wells at three separate spots in their garden.

She resorted to drawing saline-contaminated water from a well and then filtering it for bathing and washing purposes.

For drinking and cooking, she has to purchase bottled water. She shared that it costs her VNĐ30,000 (US$1.2) daily to buy this bottled water.

“The most urgent wish of the local people is that the administration will consider and create conditions for local people to soon have a stable, long-term source of fresh water for daily life,” she said.

Ngô Văn Hai, another local from the hamlet, shared that his family spends VNĐ150,000 ($6) daily purchasing a cubic metre of clean water.

He emphasised that this expense is significant for his family to bear every day.

Moreover, he highlighted the environmental pollution caused by the discharge of untreated wastewater from shrimp ponds into the local canals.

Despite repeated appeals to the local authorities, the problem persists, he noted.

The People's Committee of the commune reported that there are roughly 67ha dedicated to white-legged shrimp farming in the commune. The majority of these shrimp farming ponds are established on agricultural land across five villages.

Hoàng Châu, chairman of the People's Council of the commune, noted that many patches of agricultural land turned saline due to unplanned shrimp farming.

Consequently, the local authorities are collaborating with relevant departments to devise several solutions.

Châu explained that shrimp farming initially provided a stable income, leading to a surge in local farmers taking up the practice.

Even though the local administration had cautioned the farmers about the risks of salinisation, many disregarded the advice, resulting in salinated agricultural areas.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development highlighted that this trend of ad-hoc shrimp farming began in the province around 2000.

Nguyễn Hữu Vinh, the deputy director of the department, stated that this unplanned shrimp farming disrupted established plans and failed to meet regulations.

The department is now partnering with concerned bodies to reinforce management and prevent the expansion of shrimp farming areas. Vinh added that the department has directed these agencies to strictly address any violations. 

Nguyễn Đình Triệu: from security guard to guarding the net

Goalkeeper Nguyễn Đình Triệu spent several years working as a security guard... now he is guarding the Vietnamese net for the national football team.

On September 11, he made his debut for the Vietnamese national team in an international friendly match against Palestine.

Prior to this, Triệu, who was also the goalkeeper for Hải Phòng Club, was involved in the preparations for two friendly matches against China's Hong Kong and Syria in June. However, coach Philippe Troussier did not utilise his services.

When presented with the opportunity to replace the injured goalkeeper Đặng Văn Lâm, Triệu performed admirably, making numerous outstanding saves. His contributions helped the Vietnamese team secure a clean sheet and a 2-0 victory.

At the age of 32, being called up to the Vietnamese national team was a dream come true for Triệu.

Compared to his peers, Triệu started his football journey relatively late, at the age of 17, but eventually quit. Just a few years ago, he was working as a security guard at an oil and gas company in Vũng Tàu.

Triệu was born in 1991 into a poor family in Thái Thụy District, Thái Bình Province. In 2008, Triệu and a group of friends participated in a trial for the Hà Nội T&T youth team (now Hà Nội FC).

After being selected, he made the decision to quit school in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional player.

Under the guidance of coach Triệu Quang Hà, Triệu gradually overcame initial difficulties and demonstrated his abilities in the Hà Nội T&T youth team.

Two years later, he received a call-up to the U19 Việt Nam team to prepare for the final round of the 2010 AFC U19 Championship, alongside notable players of that time such as Nguyễn Văn Quyết, Nguyễn Hải Huy and Ngô Hoàng Thịnh.

Wearing the U19 team jersey should have been a stepping stone for Triệu's career progression, but he encountered obstacles along the way.

In 2014, he played for Thanh Niên Sài Gòn Club in the National Second Division Tournament and set a personal goal to continue competing if the team achieved promotion. However, when the team failed to secure promotion, he decided to abandon football in search of employment opportunities that would allow him to both work and study, thus providing stability in his life. He relocated to Vũng Tàu and secured a position as a security guard.

During that period, Triệu completed his high school programme and entered the HCM City University of Transport.

While attending university, he continued participating in amateur tournaments and later joined the national student championships. His talent caught the attention of many, who suggested he should make a comeback to professional football.

In 2019, coach Nguyễn Minh Phượng invited Triệu to join Bình Phước Club for the National First Division Tournament.

Impressed by his performances, and after his contract with Bình Phước expired in 2021, Triệu was recommended by coach Phan Bá Hùng to join Hải Phòng FC in the national premier league.

In the 2022 season, he played in all 24 matches, contributing to Hải Phòng's second-place finish in the V.League 1. In the 2023 season, he continued to deliver consistent performances, leading to his call-up to the national team by coach Troussier.

Following his impressive display in the friendly match against Palestine, it is likely that Triệu will continue to be included in coach Troussier's squad for upcoming training sessions.

The French coach has expressed his intention to provide opportunities for new talents, including the goalkeeper position, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, scheduled for November.

"I aim to utilise friendly matches as a testing ground and to provide opportunities for numerous players. Goalkeeper Lâm's absence also opens up chances for other goalkeepers to showcase their skills," Troussier said.

Golf legends to tee off at VN's first European Tour event

The Vinpearl DIC Legends Vietnam 2023 will bring world golf legends to Việt Nam at the Vinpearl Nha Trang – an entertainment and sea exploration complex nestled in the coastal city of Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa Province.

The tournament will be played from November 26 to December 2, marking the first time a competition for senior golfers under the Legends Tour has been held in Việt Nam and Southeast Asia in general.

As many as 60 elite athletes will arrive in Việt Nam to take part in the competition, which is considered a new landmark partnership between the European Legends Tour and the Viet Challenge JSC.

Among the legends are former US Open champion and eight-time European Tour winner Michael Campbell, 1991 Master champion and 2006 Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam, 2004 Ryder Cup captain and four-time European Tour champion Paul McGinley and 1999 Ryder Cup captain and 18-time European Tour champion Mark James.

According to organisers, the winner of the tournament will walk away with US$500,000 and it will be increased in future events.

The partnership between Viet Challenge JSC and the Legends Tour will add a touch of sports diplomacy to mark the 50-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and the United Kingdom this year.

After the Nha Trang event, which receives strong support from DIC Group and Vinpearl Joint Stock Company, the Legends Tour will head to Mauritius for the MCB Tour Championship Final where the Legends Tour 2023 Order of Merit winner will be crowned.

The Legends Tour is the current name of the European Senior Tour and is the official tour for players over 50. It is part of the PGA European Tour alongside the DP World Tour and European Challenge Tour.

The European Senior Tour was formed in 1992 after calls from 60 leading professionals to form a senior tour, five years after the first Senior Open in 1987. In 2017 the tour was renamed the Staysure Tour after travel insurer Staysure became the first headline sponsor of the tour.

This led to a ground-breaking joint venture in 2020 between the European Tour Group and Staysure Founder and Group CEO Ryan Howsam, and the Legends Tour came into being. 

MTR: One King - Victory in Pride provides big prizes, attracts strong fighters

All athletes have passed their weigh-in sessions and organisers on September 16 conducted draws for the four-man Tournament under the Muay Thai Rampage: One King - Victory in Pride in HCM City.

The competition is organised under the new format for the first time in Việt Nam in two weight categories at the Saigon Sports Club (SSC).

In each category, four athletes, members of world famous Muay Thai clubs, will take part in three-round knockout-format bouts. The two winners will advance to the final, fighting for a huge bonus of US$5,000. 

A knockout win in the final on September 17 will bring the champion an additional award of $1,000.

The draw sees host Nguyễn Văn Đức Nghĩa of SSC face Julian Leo Gravinese of Elite Team from Japan. In the other match, Kyrgyz Timur Chuikov of Tiger Muay Thai Club will fight Cypriot Ismail Al Kadhi of Bangtam Muay Thai & MMA Club.

Due to visa issues, Chuikov replaces his teammate Amirhossein Kaviani in this fight. Chuikov may be stepping in on short notice, but he has been training hard, and is excited to seize this opportunity of the $5000 prize, according to a statement of Tiger Muay Thai.

In the 68kg, Russian Mikhail Baranov of Tiger Muay Thai will meet Austrian Mochamed Emin Machaev of Soma Fight Club.

WBC Muay Thai Việt Nam champion Trần Quốc Tuấn of SSC will host English Mahmoud Ali Moussa of Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA.

"This format is called muay marathon because athletes have to fight two matches in one day. If he wants to take the trophy he has to win both," said Giáp Trung Thang, general secretary of the HCM City Muay Thai Federation.

"This kind of event is held for the first time in Việt Nam but popular around the world. Fighters must prepare their fitness and resilience well. The competitiveness of the bout will also lure more attention of supporters."

He said due to the fiercest format of muay Thai the big bonus was promised for the winner. The bonus will bring powerful competitors to Việt Nam, pushing the development of the martial art in the City in particular and Việt Nam in general.

In addition to the four-man competition, there will also be six matches between Vietnamese and foreigners.

The MTR: One King - Victory in Pride is organised by the HCM City Muay Thai Federation and Shadow Entertainment. 

Soares, Vinh win international AFC 28 thrilling fights

Brazilian jujitsu champion Robson de Oliveira Soares and Vietnamese rising star Mùi Trọng Vinh made impressive wins at the international Angel's Fighting Championship (AFC) 28, a famed mixed martial arts event, on September 16 in Vũng Tàu City.

Soares took the tournament's fly-weight (56kg) belt after beating Kim Jin-min of South Korea in the main card held at The Grand Hồ Tràm Strip.

Soares, who has won most of his recent fights, attacked his rival from the off with knees and a rear naked choke.

Kim fought back with his powerful kicks and punches. He even caught Soares' leg and pushed him to the side of the cage.

The fierce and tough fighting was maintained until the end of the third round, making a real entertaining night for thousands of supporters.

Soares was finally announced winner of the match with a split decision from judges and would temporally keep the AFC prestigious belt.

Earlier, Vinh strongly defeated Chinese rival Jia Yangin in the bantam-weight (61.2kg) match. 

Vinh was confident with the powerful combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins perfected in Muay Thai putting Jia in defence mode during the first round.

The Chinese tried to overthrow the situation in the second round as he caught Vinh's leg and pushed him to the floor for further attacks.

But Vinh successfully escaped and fought back with series of head shots, launching a combination of ground and pound that caused Jia's face to swell.

Vinh was announced winner with a unanimous decision, a win in his AFC debut.

In other matches, all three Vietnamese fighters suffered quick knockouts.

Lưu Đức Mạnh was defeated after only 11 seconds when he was locked by a leg lock from South Korean Park Seong-hyun in the fly-weight (57kg) bout. 

Lê Minh Hoàng could only maintain in the cage nearly one minute before he was arm locked by Brazilian Felipe Negochadle in the bantam-weight (61.2kg).

Đặng Hoàng Minh suffered a heavy left hook into his stomach from South Korean Song Yeong-jae in feather-weight (65.8kg) class and the match ended after 21 seconds.

Later, South Korean Kim Si-won beat his country-fellow Kim Igor in the feather-weight (65.8kg) by split decision. 

Pablo Eduardo from Brazil knocked out Japanese veteran Hiromu Ueni in the bantam-weight (61.2kg) with a leg lock in the first round.

The AFC 28 was jointly organised by Cocky Buffalo, a leading company in Việt Nam in managing and training fighters and organising tournaments, and AFC, a South Korean mixed martial arts promotion.

Vietnam delegate talks about national sovereignty in cyberspace

Respect for national sovereignty is a vital principle recognized in the international legal system. However, due to the cross-border nature of cyberspace, national sovereignty in cyberspace is a complicated issue, said delegate Luu Ba Mac.

Yesterday afternoon, within the framework of the ninth Global Conference for Young Parliamentarians , delegate Luu Ba Mac from Vietnam said that the digital transformation process is taking place in different countries at different levels. The transformation also showed that the most important foundational factor for the digital transformation process is to perfect institutions and policies with a people-centered approach. Additionally, the process must be attached to sustainable development and it leaves no one behind.

In addition, many discussions about national sovereignty in cyberspace have been taking place during the digital transformation process.

When it comes to this issue, Director of Nigeria-based YIAGA Africa Yetunde Bakare said that according to 2023 statistics, approximately 5.4 billion people in the world, equivalent to 67 percent of the population are currently using the internet, an increase of more than 50 percent compared to 2018.

It is worth noting the difference in internet access between different social classes and different ages. Therefore, the world must do to narrow the gap in digital development and digital capacity in the context of digital transformation. There needs to be policies to promote investment in digital skills of young and older generations to ensure inclusiveness, said Director of Nigeria-based YIAGA Africa Yetunde Bakare.

In addition, Ms. Yetunde Bakare suggested the need to promote public-private partnerships, and relationships with social organizations to ensure inclusive development and connection of all classes together which have the same strategies and supporting methods for digital transformation.

Cynthia López Castro, Member of the IPU Board of Young Parliamentarians and Mexican MP, proposed designing policies to severely punish violations in cyberspace.

Ms. Cynthia Lopez Castro said that Mexico has the Olympia law that bans the sharing of ‘sexual content’ without a consent of those involved in and bans the promotion of sexist stereotypes and hate messages online. Mexico succeeded in introducing into the Constitution that this is a criminal offense and a violation of personal privacy. This law is also replicated in many states in Mexico and some countries.

Currently, Mexico has a ratio of female parliamentarians up to 50 percent; moreover, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court and the President of the National Assembly are women, said Ms. Cynthia Lopez Castro. She thus hoped that parliaments would work together to design a similar law to prevent acts of violence against women online.

Loose management in food safety - matter of considerable public concern

After hundreds of people have been poisoned after eating banh mi at a famous brand store in the Central Province of Quang Nam’s ancient town of Hoi An, slack current management of street food is a matter of considerable public concern.

The case once again sounds the alarm about unsafe street foods. Around schools, industrial parks, and hospital gates in Ho Chi Minh City, street vendors and carts selling all kinds of ready-made food and drinks are easily seen.

Many food stalls only temporarily use a few plastic sheets carelessly while others are even not covered, despite the smoke, dust, and flies. Some food stalls are placed next to the pile of trash.

Even though buyers, mostly workers, know that food safety is not guaranteed, they still eat to continue working in time. Employee Nguyen Hung Cuong of PouYuen Vietnam Company in Binh Tan District said that he eats street food for work though he knows the food is unhygienic.

According to statistics from the Hanoi Department of Health, the city currently has more than 76,800 food production and business establishments including 10,000 street food establishments.

According to the Food Safety Management Board in Ho Chi Minh City, more than 13,500 street food businesses citywide with about 15,850 vendors.

When it comes to street food safety and why people still eat unsafe food, Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Management Board Pham Khanh Phong Lan said that people still eat street food because of the low prices of this kind of food; however, besides the above advantages, there are unpredictable dangers for consumers' health.

She revealed through inspection and supervision at establishments to sell food, business owners’ compliance with food safety regulations is not high.

Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Lam, former Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, said that the risk of street food causing harm to consumers' health is very high, because it is processed with different types of food of unknown origin. In the long term, consuming unsafe foods will affect the body's metabolism, easily causing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity.

According to the Ministry of Health’s regulations, food traders must ensure 10 food hygiene and safety standards including enough clean water, and having tools to pick up cooked food. Moreover, business establishment owners must be trained on the safety of food and they must undergo periodical medical checkups.

Additionally, food processing places must be clean, separate from sources of pollution such as sewers, garbage, sanitation facilities, and places where livestock and poultry are displayed and sold. Food sellers must wear aprons, and face masks. That's the regulation, but most street vendors, carts, and sidewalk eateries today do not meet the above standards.

Deputy Director of the Food Safety Department under the Ministry of Health Nguyen Hung Long said that each year, about 1,000 cases of food poisoning occur nationwide, of which the majority are due to using food contaminated with dangerous bacteria such as E.coli, cholera, and typhoid. To ensure food safety of street food, vendors’ awareness must be high and each consumer must have knowledge of food safety because management agencies cannot detect everything. Furthermore, they should promptly notify management agencies about restaurants that do not comply with food safety conditions.

Wide spread of some infectious diseases in HCMC

Currently, medical workers are warning the widespread of many infectious diseases such as pink eye, chickenpox, diphtheria, and hand, foot and mouth disease.

Specifically, the epidemic of acute conjunctivitis (pink eye) is spreading rapidly in Ho Chi Minh City. Within the past month, the Ho Chi Minh City-based Eye Hospital’s Medical Examination Department alone has received nearly 500 cases while eye departments of other hospitals in the city have recorded a 10-percent increase in the number of pink eye cases.

According to the city Department of Health’s statistics, up to now, the city has 23,873 cases of pink eye in all ages. When a child is diagnosed with pink eye, their parents need to keep the child away from their schools until there is no longer any discharge from the eyes to avoid the spread of the disease. Along with that, parents should note that when there are signs such as the child's fear of light, fussiness, rapid swelling, or blurred vision, it is necessary to take the child to a hospital for timely examination and treatment.

Head of the Can Tho Eye - Maxillofacial Hospital’s Department of Examination Tran Thi Thanh Tam yesterday said that in recent days, especially from September 13 to 15, the hospital recorded many cases of pink eye. According to her, the department every day receives 50 cases who come to the hospital for examination and treatment for pink eye. Among them, mainly children are elementary students.

Medical workers of the hospital also recorded a number of parents, who took their children to the infirmary for pink eye examination in previous days, returned to the hospital for treatment because they got the disease from their children. Pink eye is a contagious disease. Currently, the health sector in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho is coordinating with schools to increase communications to help students prevent diseases.

The Center for Disease Control of Dak Lak Province said that the hand, foot and mouth epidemic is currently reoccurring in the province. As of September 12, the province has recorded nearly 1,200 cases of pediatric hand, foot and mouth disease with 21 outbreaks; worse, three children succumbed to the disease.

In addition, according to the Dak Lak Eye Hospital, the pink eye epidemic has been spreading widely from the beginning of September until now with a sharp increase in the number of pink eye patients. Of these, the Dak Lak Eye Hospital alone receives 300 cases per day.

Elsewhere, Gia Lai Province recorded some 4,644 cases of pink eye from reports of 11 medical healthcare facilities in the province from August 1 to September 11, according to the Center for Disease Control of Gia Lai Province. Most of the patients are pupils. The disease is spreading so strongly at this time when students head back to their schools.

Worryingly, the risk of the disease will continue to increase in the coming time withot preventive measures. This unit recommends that people when showing signs of pink eye need to go to a medical facility for examination, consultation and treatment. Patients need to be isolated without self-medication.

The virus that caused the outbreak of pink eye in Ho Chi Minh City has appeared in many epidemics around the world. The first outbreak was reported in 1969 in Ghana. Since then, epidemics of hemorrhagic conjunctivitis have occurred in many parts of the world. For instance, Coxsackievirus A24 was first recorded in Singapore in 1970, and then appeared in epidemics in other countries.

The coxsackievirus A24 variant was identified as an aetiological agent for the recent acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak in the southern largest city in addition to human Adenovirus 54 and 37.

Book on HCMC’s history receives Tran Van Giau Science Awards 2023

The book entitled “Gia Dinh – Saigon – HCMC: A Long Mile of History (1698 – 2020)” by researcher Nguyen Dinh Tu received the 11th Tran Van Giau Science Awards on September 16.

Attending the award ceremony were Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Phan Van Mai and representatives of the Committee of the Tran Van Giau Science Awards.

The book was released by the HCMC General Publishing House on the occasion of the 325th founding anniversary of the old Saigon-Cho Lon-Gia Dinh area and HCMC.

The book includes six parts which are divided into two volumes. Researcher Nguyen Dinh Tu took more than 20 years to complete the work with the goal of introducing the development and history of HCMC.

Researcher Nguyen Dinh Tu was born in 1922 in Nghe An Province's Thanh Chuong District. He has devoted all his life to cultural, historical, and geographical study and released tens of valuable books on Vietnam’s Southern region, Gia Dinh-Sai Gon-HCMC, such as "Non nuoc Phu Yen" (The land of Phu Yen), "Dia chi Khanh Hoa" (Khanh Hoa’s geographical location), "Non nuoc Binh Thuan" (The land of Binh Thuan), "Duong pho noi thanh TPHCM" (Inner-city streets in HCMC), Dictionary of the Southern administrative placenames, "Non nuoc Quang Tri" (The land of Quang Tri), Notebook of HCMC’s streets, "Loan 12 su quan" (The Anarchy of the 12 Warlords) and more.

One of his well-known works is a historical fiction book series titled "Loan 12 su quan" (The Anarchy of the 12 Warlords) which presents a period of chaos and civil war in the history of Vietnam, from 944 to 968 caused by the succession of the Ngo Dynasty after the death of King Ngo Quyen. The novel was written when he was in his 60s and earned a living with bike repair service on a sidewalk to raise his family during the 1978s.

He was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the cause of Vietnamese history by the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences in 2017 and won the A Prize at the first National Book Awards in 2018 for the collection of two books titled "Che do thuc dan Phap tren dat Nam Ky" (The French colonialism in the Southern region) (1859-1954).

Tran Van Giau Science Award was founded in 2002 in order to honor authors and scientific and historical research works in the Southern region.

Forest restoration calls community funding 

The centre for biodiversity conservation, GreenViet, has been raising funds for an afforestration project on 50ha in the upstream forest of mountainous Hòa Bắc Commune in an effort to reduce erosion and landslide in the lower river area and strengthen climate change resilience for the city’s suburban zone.

The fund raising campaign, Bring the forest back to life, which was launched in co-operation with the Gustav-Stresemann Institute (GSI, Germany) and the EU, was initiated with 60,000 large timber trees, at a cost of VNĐ49,000 (US$1.68) for planting and supervising a tree in the commune in 2023-24.

At the fund-raising night music event in early August, donors contributed funds to start a plantation of 220 trees in November and 40 tonnes of bio-fertiliser from Đặng Gia Trang Company, GreenViet said.

It said the campaign aims to collect VNĐ3 billion ($120,000) for the upstream forest restoration with the participation of the ethnic Cơ Tu community living in the commune 40km away from the city’s downtown.

Earlier this year, GreenViet, a non-profit NGO, began an indigenous timber forest restoration on 18.1 hectares in Hòa Liên Commune as a sustainable agro-forest production with funding from Ecoculture of the US.

GreenViet said it has been implementing the ‘One Million Trees Plantation’ project in Đà Nẵng, Hà Nội and HCM City to provide a ‘green’ shadow for the community and reduce air pollution from 2021-2025.

More than 1,000 big trees have been grown by volunteers and GreenViet in Sơn Trà Nature Reserve in the city.

The European Union (EU) has been funding a biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability project in central Đà Nẵng City for 42 months from July 2020 to the end of December 2023, with total funding of 650,000 euros.

Đà Nẵng has raised total funds of $4.4 million for conservation, forest protection and afforestation, and will establish new reserves on 43,722 hectares by 2030.

GreenViet alone has received VNĐ45 billion ($1.8 million) from the community in funding for biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability in Đà Nẵng over the past decades. 

Deputy PM calls for support from Cuban leader for stronger economic ties

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai received Vice President of the Cuban National Assembly (NA) of People’s Power Ana Maria Machado in Hanoi on September 18, calling for support from the Cuban leader for economic, trade, and investment ties to develop on par with political relations between the two nations.

Khai said that the visit by Machado, who has been in Vietnam to attend the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, demonstrates Cuba’s support for Vietnam and helps strengthen the special traditional friendship between the two countries.

The trip is even more significant as the two sides are celebrating the 60th founding anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam (September 1963) and 50 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro Ruz first visited Vietnam and came to the liberated zone in South Vietnam (September 1973), he said.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Khai congratulated Cuba on its successful organisation of the G77+China Summit, which had been attended by over 100 international delegations. Vietnamese Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha attended the event and engaged in a number of multilateral and bilateral activities in the Caribbean nation.

Khai expressed his delight that the Vietnam - Cuba solidarity and mutual trust have continued growing strongly, practically, and effectively. Dialogue and cooperation mechanisms have been maintained, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Relations between the Parties, States, and people of Vietnam and Cuba have been increasingly intensified.

In addition, economic, trade and investment ties have received more attention. Despite many difficulties and challenges, bilateral trade reached 182 million USD in 2022. Vietnamese businesses have also gradually expanded investment in Cuba, particularly in the areas where Cuba has advantages such as agriculture and food security, defence - security, culture, education, and science - technology, he noted.

The Deputy PM expressed his hope that in the spirit of both comradeship and fraternity, Vietnam and Cuba will keep fostering cooperation to promote the practical and result-oriented development of their ties.

For her part, Machado applauded Vietnam’s recent achievements and cooperation in various fields between the two countries, and informed her host about Cuba’s socio-economic situation.

Cuba will continue enhancing relations with Vietnam in different fields and creating conditions for Vietnamese firms to cooperate, invest, and do business in the country, she affirmed.

Cuba has a contingent of highly experienced experts, not only in healthcare but also in other spheres, Machado said, adding that the Cuban NA will exert all-out efforts to contribute to the bilateral ties for the sake of the two nations' people.

Sharing his guest’s views on the bilateral relations and cooperation, Khai presented some of the Vietnamese Government’s proposals and voiced his hope for support from leaders of the Cuban Party, Government, and NA so as to develop economic, trade, and investment ties on par with their potential and the sound political relations.

Within the cooperation framework and its capacity, the Vietnamese Government will do its utmost to nurture and promote traditional relations, particularly in the fields where they are strong, he said.

The Deputy PM also called on Cuba to continue assisting Vietnamese enterprises to expand investment, production, and business activities and issue a suitable payment mechanism for projects, including the implemented ones in agriculture.

Field exercise held to improve prospective peacekeepers' capacity

A recent field exercise has been held at National Military Training Centre No.4 in Hanoi in the framework of the Competency Evaluation Programme for Prospective United Nations Peacekeepers (CEPPP) with a view to improving the capacity of prospective peacekeepers.

In the scenario-based training, military observers, engineers and medical staff worked together in response to an urgent medical situation in which engineer officers were injured by explosive remnants from war.

According to Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the training session aims to raise the trainees’ awareness of the suitable response to the unexploded ordnance, as well as partnership among military observers, engineers and military medical staff.

Hailing the participants’ professional skills, Indian Lieutenant Colonel Kusum Khaiti, who observed the excerise, said that the training is crucial to helping the prospective peacekeepers get prepared for their missions since it provides them with knowledge and skills to handle situations such as first aid and mass evacuation.
 
The CEPPP, an activity under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations (PKO-EWG) Cycle 4, is co-chaired by Vietnam and Japan on September 13-21.

The event, drawing nearly 300 experts, trainees and observers from ADMM-Plus member countries, is the last activity of PKO-EWG Cycle 4 within the framework of the ADMM-Plus.

The co-hosting of the CEPPP has shown Vietnam’s role and responsibility in multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms in the field of UN peacekeeping operations within the ADMM-Plus framework. Through the activity, Vietnam hopes to make contributions to enhancing the efficiency of UN peacekeeping operations by ADMM-Plus member states.

Vietnam keen to build stronger ties with Oregon state

Vietnam desires to further strongly promote relations with Oregon state of the United States, thereby being compatible within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the causes of peace, co-operation, and sustainable development recently established by the two countries.      

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the statement during a meeting held on September 18 with a delegation of politicians and businesses from Oregon led by Vince Porter, head of the Economic Development and Workforce Advisor at the Oregon Governor Office.

Showing his elation at the growth of the partnership among Vietnamese localities and Oregon over recent years, PM Chinh affirmed that the country is keen to further promote ties with Oregon, one of the gateway states of the US’s western region.

He stated that the elevation of joint ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership shows the efforts of both sides, as well as Vietnamese and US localities, including Oregon. The PM added his hopes for the two sides to continue strengthening bilateral political relations, while simultaneously expanding exchanges through the Party, State, and people-to-people channels.

The Vietnamese Government chief therefore encouraged Oregon, which is home to a large number of firms investing in the Vietnamese market as well as Vietnamese people, to beef up economic co-operation, trade, and investment with Vietnamese localities. This should be done to optimise the collaboration potential, especially in education - training, science - technology, innovation, human resources training, energy transition, circular, and sharing economy.

He suggested Oregon open its door for Vietnamese products such as leather and footwear and garments, whilst also seeking to promote tourism co-operation with the nation.

Noting that more Vietnamese have been elected to leadership positions in Oregon, he noted that this reflects the strong integration and contributions made by the Vietnamese community in the host society.

In response, Porter noted that the relations between Oregon and Vietnamese localities have thrived through the Letter of Intent signed between the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and Oregon, as well as the success of the Vietnam visit taken by Oregon Governor Katherine Brown in November, 2022.

He reiterated Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s invitation to PM Chinh to visit the state, affirming that Oregon wishes to reinforce and expand its partnership with the Vietnamese side in general and Vietnamese localities in particular.

Porter added that the country is among the 10 leading trade partners of Oregon, whilst a large number of Vietnamese students are studying and working in local universities and businesses.

According to the Oregon delegation, there are currently five Vietnamese in the Oregon House of Representatives, along with a judge of Vietnamese origin, affirming the position and role of the Vietnamese community as part of the state. They therefore expressed their desire to further strengthen cultural exchanges and co-operation between the two sides. A representative of Oregon state said that a Vietnamese cultural centre will soon be established in Oregon.

The same day saw PM Chinh hold a working breakfast with some outstanding businesses of overseas Vietnamese (OV) people.

Leaders of the companies greatly value the increasingly improved investment and business climate in the country, the Party and State’s clear-sighted leadership and management, as well as the Government’s strong directions. They also rejoiced at the new strides made in joint relations which have helped remove barriers and create fresh opportunities for trade and investment links.

PM Chinh hailed the OV business community’s growing contributions to the homeland’s economic development. So far, OVs have invested in 385 projects worth more than US$1.7 billion and contributed capital to thousands of companies in Vietnam.

Affirming the Party and State’s attention to the OV community, he requested that OV enterprises further capitalise on the achievements gained since bilateral relations were normalised nearly 30 years ago and the comprehensive partnership set up 10 years ago. This is along with optimising chances created by the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, take heeds to the Vietnamese market, co-operate with Vietnamese companies, and serve as a bridge helping the country further engaging in global supply chains, thereby helping with both countries’ development and bilateral ties.

Hanoi, China’s Shenzhen look to beef up multifaceted cooperation

Shenzhen city of China wishes to further promote economic and trade relations with Vietnamese localities, including the capital city of Hanoi, especially in investment, 5G technology, new energy vehicles (NEV), wind power, and renewable energy, said Mayor of Shenzhen Qin Weizhong.

During a meeting with Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen in Hanoi on September 18, Qin, who is also Deputy Secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee, briefed the host on the Chinese city’s development.

Shenzhen's GDP reached 500 billion USD in 2022, while its industrial production topped localities across China. Shenzhen has also witnessed the formation and development of big high-tech enterprises, such as Huawei, Tencent, and BYD automobile companies. It is also the headquarters of 11 firms in the global Top 500.

Vietnam is the largest trading partner of Shenzhen within ASEAN, and the cooperative relationship between the two sides is on a trajectory of growth and development, Qin stressed.

For his part, Quyen expressed an impression of Shenzhen’s development, noting there are many favourable conditions for further stepping up friendship and cooperation in various fields between Vietnam and China, as well as their localities.

With its annual gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rate ranging from 7-8%, Hanoi possesses huge potential and room for stronger development, Quyen stressed, adding that the capital city has planned to develop satellite urban areas.

Hanoi has also substantial potential for high-tech agriculture development as it boasts a large agricultural land area, he added.

Hanoi is accelerating the construction of ring road projects, and urban metro lines, including Cat Linh - Ha Dong route, which has collaborated with China, Quyen said.

The host mentioned difficulties related to infrastructure, the environment, and transport facing the capital city, stressing that Hanoi wants to attract investors in high and clean technology, and infrastructure development that connects central areas and satellite urban areas.

Quyen suggested the two localities consider the possibility of promoting long-term development cooperation programmes to maximise each other's advantages, expressing a belief that with Shenzhen's potential and strengths, the two sides can completely expand partnership for mutual development in the coming time.

The two officials also discussed potential cooperation aspects, including Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park, urban metro lines, and construction of one more airport in Hanoi, and shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy for public transport.

Qin stated that Shenzhen businesses are capable of supporting Hanoi from planning to construction, operation, and management in these areas.

Economic diplomacy helps tighten Vietnam - Cuba special ties: Deputy PM

Economy is a diplomatic aspect helping tighten the special friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said while visiting establishments of some Vietnamese businesses and meeting with the Vietnamese community in the Caribbean country.

Ha was in Cuba to attend the G77+China Summit and pay a working visit to the country from September 15 to 18.

Reporting to the Deputy PM, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung said about 260 Vietnamese people are living, working, and studying here, and that Vietnamese businesses form a bright spot of bilateral investment links.

He said as economic diplomacy is a focus of their activities, the representative agencies of Vietnam in Cuba have maintained close connections with Vietnamese firms in the country, kept constant information exchanges with them, and provided maximum assistance for the companies to overcome obstacles during project implementation and seek investment and business opportunities in Cuba.

Talking to representatives of the Vietnamese community and staff members of the embassy, Deputy PM Ha emphasised the particularly strong bonds between the two countries.

He affirmed that the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people of Vietnam never forget Cuba’s wholehearted support during wartime. They always treasure and stay determined to further intensify the countries’ traditional solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and stay by the side of the Cuban people in their just revolutionary cause. Vietnam will keep assisting Cuba to weather current difficulties.

Ha recommended that aside from solutions to existing difficulties, Vietnamese businesses should carry out new forms of cooperation to capitalise on Cuba’s strengths and attainments in scientific research and biological and medical technology in order to generate substantive economic benefits.

On behalf of Party and State leaders, he spoke highly of efforts by the Vietnamese community and representative agencies in Cuba to help maintain and promote the special and exemplary solidarity between the two countries.

The Deputy PM expressed his belief that with the people’s strength and the world’s support, Cuba will surmount current challenges and difficulties and become a highly potential market.

He also called on Vietnamese people in Cuba here to continue engaging in cultural exchanges and the promotion of investment, production, and business activities.

PM Pham Minh Chinh receives politicians of San Francisco

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for a delegation of politicians from cities in San Francisco Bay Area of California state, led by Sheng Thao, Mayor of Oakland city, on September 18 afternoon (local time) as part of his trip to the US to attend the high-level week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, and bilateral activities in the country.

Noting that Vietnam and the US have lifted the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the Vietnam visit by US President Joe Biden, PM Chinh said that it reflected aspirations of the two nations to further promote the practical and effective development of the relationship for the benefit of their people, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sheng Thao and several officials and businesspeople recalled their good memories of their Vietnam visit in August this year.

Members of the delegation expressed delight at the establishment of the Vietnam-US comprehensive strategic partnership. They said that they are making preparations for the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco in November and look forwards to welcoming Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

The US officials said that after their visit in August, businesses of the two countries signed many cooperation agreements, including the exploration of Vietjet’s opening of a direct air route to California. They affirmed their hope to strengthen connections between technology enterprises in the Silicon Valley with the Vietnamese community as well as Vietnam, expressing belief that with their sound relations, the two countries boast great potential for stronger cooperation, especially in technology, semiconductor and pharmaceuticals.

Sheng Thao said that the San Francisco Bay Area is home to a strong Vietnamese community who has received support from the administrations of the state and cities. She expressed her hope to seek collaboration opportunities with Vietnamese firms investing in the US, including automaker VinFast.

PM Chinh underlined that Vietnam always welcomes and gives family sentiments to overseas Vietnamese to return to their home country.

Reaffirming the consistent policy of creating favourable conditions for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese to do business in Vietnam, the PM suggested Sheng Thao and representatives of cities and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area call for more people and enterprises to exchange and seek investment and business opportunities in the Southeast Asian nation.

He emphasised that strengthening cooperation, sharing interests and joining hands in national development are an effective and practical measure to deploy the Vietnam-US comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute to the joint efforts in settling war consequences.

Party information-education commission delegation visits US

A delegation from the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education led by its standing deputy head Lai Xuan Mon paid a working trip to the US from September 14-17.

At a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Bill Russo, Mon noted that the two sides have witnessed a special event of US President Joe Biden’s visit to Vietnam, during which leaders of the two countries adopted a joint statement on the elevation of the Vietnam-US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The official affirmed that Vietnam considers the US an important strategic partner and hopes to further expand partnership with policy planning and management agencies of the US in the fields of culture, education and external relations information as well as the application of science and technology and innovation, and other areas.

For his part, Russo said the US wants to foster cooperation with Vietnam through the exchanges of delegations at all levels in external relations and people-to-people exchange channels, and concretise collaboration activities included in the joint statement adopted by leaders of the two sides.

At a working session with Joe Sims, Co-Chair of the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA), Mon underlined that his visit aims to affirm Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations, active and proactive international integration; and foster friendship and cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and political parties of the US, including the CPUSA.

The Vietnamese official briefed the host about the situation of Vietnam in recent years, and gave a number of proposals on strengthening cooperation between the two parties, including increasing information sharing and fostering coordination at forums for political parties, especially the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP).

Sims highly valued the role of the CPV and congratulated Vietnam on the political, socio-economic achievements that the country has gained, especially amid fluctuations and challenges in the world situation. He lauded Vietnam and the US’s efforts to deepen their diplomatic and economic ties, especially after the two sides lifted up their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

At a working session with Merle Ratner, an activist of the left-wing movement in the US and a long-time, close friend of Vietnam, Mon said that his visit provides a chance for Vietnam to meet and show gratitude to close friends who worked whole-heartedly to support Vietnam during the ups and downs of the history.

Vietnam always treasures the priceless solidarity, support and help that US communists and progressive people have given to Vietnam during its cause of national construction and defence, especially from long-time friends like Ratner.

The official expressed his hope that those like Ratner and her spouse Prof. Ngo Thanh Nhan will continue to spread stories about Vietnam, so that more international friends, especially the youth, will support Vietnam and the leadership of the CPV.

During his stay in the US, Mon also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN.

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