Up to 95% of children aged 1-5 in Hanoi are expected to be vaccinated against measles and rubella (MR) this year, according to a plan recently issued by the municipal People’s Committee.

The vaccination campaign also targets health workers at measles treatment in the capital city.

The plan excludes those who had received vaccines containing the measles component or the MR vaccine, or vaccines with both measles and rubella components within one month prior to the drive, as well as those fully vaccinated.

After the Ministry of Health allocates the vaccine to all the 579 communes, wards, and towns of Hanoi’s 30 districts, the vaccination will be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2024 at health stations, kindergartens, preschools, and other sites.

The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control said from September 13 to 20, the city recorded two additional cases of measles, one 15 months old, and the other seven years old.

It noted that measles cases are on the rise in localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, and the central provinces of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa. In Hanoi, more cases are expected for the coming months, particularly the rest of the year./.

RoK’s Lotte Group to donate 120,000 USD for Vietnam's post-typhoon recovery

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Lotte Group announced on September 24 that it will donate 160 million KRW (about 120,000 USD) to help Vietnam's northern provinces to overcome the consequence of typhoon Yagi and subsequent flooding.

A representative of Lotte Group said that 18 subsidiaries of the group operating in Vietnam, including Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotte Construction, Lotte Hotel, Lotte Rental, and Lotte Chemical, will take part in this donation drive. The donation will be transferred to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee ofices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Lotte Group has been investing in Vietnam since 1996. It has expanded its business into various sectors and established branches in many provinces and cities across Vietnam. The group’s subsidiaries have also engaged in numerous social and charitable activities in the country.

Lotte donated 200 million KRW for Vietnam's COVID-19 pandemic combat in 2020, and around 500 million KRW to support the establishment of a vaccine fund in the Southeast Asian nation in 2021./.

Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in London

A Mid-Autumn Festival celebration has been held in London, gathering a large number of Vietnamese children in the UK and local friends.

The event, which took place within the framework of the East and Southeast Asia (ESEA) Month organised by Lewisham ward to celebrate the contributions of the ESEA community in the UK, was part of the "The Moon Project" aiming to preserve traditional cultural beauty and create connections between the Vietnamese community and local people.

The festival included diverse activities such as making moon cakes, mask painting, handicraft making, chess competition, tug of war, bamboo dance, lion dance, as well as music and dance performances.

Participants to the event had a chance to enjoy traditional Vietnamese dishes and sweet treat.

At the event, the Vietnamese Family Partnership (VFP) launched a fund-raising activity to support people affected by Typhoon Yagi at home.

Addressing the celebration, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to the UK To Minh Thu said that the event offers a chance for participants to remind themselves of the traditional values, love and solidarity among overseas Vietnamese community.

Councillor Edison Huynh, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities in Lewisham, who is the first Vietnam-origin councillor in the UK, expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnamese community in the UK with activities sharing traditional cultural values at events such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, contributing to attracting the attention of British people to Vietnam and raising the understanding of local people about the great contributions of the Vietnamese community to the UK as well as many other countries in the world.

Quynh Giao Nguyen VFP Founder, said that from a small event, the Mid-Autumn has become the biggest occasion of Vietnamese in the UK and a pride of the community, bringing Vietnamese cultural values closer to local friends, contributing to enriching the local culture and enhancing the prestige and image of Vietnamese people in the country.

The event also aims to create opportunities for generations of Vietnamese people born and raised in the UK to learn about the origins and traditions of hard work of the nation, and create beautiful childhood memories with traditional Vietnamese values for Vietnamese children in the European country, she said./.

Vietnamese ao dai heritage club debuts in Czech Republic

A Vietnamese “Ao dai” (traditional long dress) heritage club has recently made its debut in Prague, aiming to preserving and promoting the costume in the the Czech Republic.

At the event, participants were impressed by an Ao Dai show presented by club members. Notably, the dresses specially designed for the club, which is the combination between Vietnam’s flag and that of the Czech Republic, symbolise a connection with their homeland among those living in the European country. They also demonstrate a desire for closer ties between the two nations.

Pham Gia Hau, honorary president of the Vietnamese ao dai heritage club in the Czech Republic, said that the club has sewn and distributed 350 sets of ao dai to its members in just one month. It aims to complete 750 sets of ao dai, not only for its members but also for the Vietnamese community ahead of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Czech Republic next year.

On this occasion, the club also held its first Congress for the 2024-2029 tenure and elected an executive board of 33 members, chaired by Nguyen Tuyet Hanh./.

National footballers to friendly meet Lebanese, Indian players within FIFA Days

The Vietnamese men's national football team will have two more international friendly matches with Lebanon and India at Thien Truong Stadium in the northern province of Nam Dinh from October 9-15 within FIFA Days this year as part of the preparation for the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

The Lebanese and Indian teams boast levels similar to Vietnam, which will make it easier for head coach Kim Sang Sik to make good preparations before entering the race at the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024.

In the new rankings announced by FIFA, Lebanon jumped two places to 114th in the world, two places above Vietnam. Meanwhile, India dropped two places, ranking 126th.

Most recently, the Vietnamese and Lebanese teams faced each other twice during the Asian Cup 2011 qualifiers, where Vietnam won 3-1 in the first leg at My Dinh Stadium and drew 1-1 in the second leg away.

To prepare for FIFA Days, the Vietnamese men's national football team is scheduled to regroup on October 5, after round 4 of the LPBank V.League1 - 2024-2025 concludes./.

Vietnamese Embassy in Israel issues urgent security advisory amid tensions

As tensions between Israel and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon escalate, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has issued security and safety recommendations for the Vietnamese community residing, working, and studying in the country.

In a notice released on September 23, the embassy underlined the need for heightened caution, urging Vietnamese nationals to closely monitor situation through trusted local media sources and steer clear of areas deemed unsafe, particularly those in northern Israel that may be at risk of Hezbollah attacks.

The Vietnamese people across Israel, especially those living in northern cities, must strictly follow security and safety measures imposed by local authorities while proactively making plans for the safety of themselves and their families, it said.

They should also keep regular contact with the embassy. In case of emergencies or if assistance is needed, they are advised to contact the embassy's citizen protection hotline immediately for information on available support measures./.

Traditional cultural values shine at Hue “Ao dai” festival

An art programme featuring “ao dai” (traditional long dress) collections by 12 famous designers across Vietnam took place on September 23 evening at the Huong River Theater in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

The “Hue Ao Dai Festival 2024” programme, themed "Linh Phung" (Phoenix), was one of the highlights of the Autumn Festival within the framework of Hue Festival 2024.

The “ao dai” collections were inspired by the image of phoenix in architectural decoration and royal costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty combined with the beauty of modern Vietnamese ao dai.

Le Quang Tu, the programme's general director, said that the most special feature of this year's ao dai festival was the combination of all art forms including singing, dancing, music and fashion revolving around the theme of the phoenix, one of the four sacred animals together with dragon, unicorn, and turtle.

The programme was expected to spread the message of appreciating and spreading the traditional cultural values of the nation as well as the beauty and value of the traditional dress.

In Vietnamese culture, the image of phoenix appeared very early, becoming a familiar pattern in the traditional architecture, sculpture and decoration.

In Hue – the capital of Vietnam's last feudal dynasty, the entire wooden architecture above the main gate of Ngo Mon in the Imperial Citadel is called Ngu Phung (Five Phoenixes) Pavilion. Vietnamese people believe that the appearance of the phoenix is a sign of good luck, marking the beginning of national peace and prosperity, and people's well-being./.

Vietnam needs to build disaster-resilient homes, infrastructure

In light of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather phenomena, relevant ministries must consider appropriate models for housing and educational facilities in disaster-prone areas to mitigate damage and enhance disaster response capabilities.

Following the terrible losses from Typhoon Yagi, Tran Ngoc Chinh, President of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, said the relevant ministries had to reassess devastated regions, investigate direct and indirect causes of landslides and flash floods and identify suitable places for constructing local settlements.

The planning of resettlement zones in mountainous regions would require the involvement of multiple ministries.

“The selection of village construction sites must adhere to a clear perspective that the locations would avoid flash floods and mudslides,” he said.

Furthermore, the sites must provide adequate living conditions, including access to water, electricity, schools, healthcare facilities and transport links.

When selecting a resettlement site, the Ministry of Construction had to consider the scale of development, current and future land area and reserve land.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should address not only housing, but also employment opportunities for residents, he added.

Vice principal of Nguyen Trai University Ngo Doan Duc, told the Voice of Vietnam (VoV) online newspaper that to prevent and minimise human casualties caused by extreme weather, the involvement of specialised agencies alongside local authorities was essential.

A comprehensive assessment of the safety levels of existing residential areas should be conducted, with plans for evacuation for villages at risk.

The State and local authorities were responsible for planning and constructing housing for ethnic minorities and regions vulnerable to natural disasters.

In addition to selecting locations for residential settlements, the design and construction of homes should enhance traditional architectural styles while adapting to local geographical and climatic conditions.

“We should appreciate the traditional structures that local communities have inhabited for generations,” he said.

Many residents lived in stilt houses situated on uneven or steep terrain. Flattening the areas might disrupt the natural landscape. Additionally, stilt houses offered more living space and could be resilient to local flooding.

“It’s essential to modernise the traditional homes scientifically to ensure stability and comfort,” he said.

Regarding building materials for homes in the northern mountainous areas at risk of landslides and flash floods, Thai Van Sam, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Association for Building Materials, said that using materials like bamboo and wood did not ensure the sturdiness required to withstand natural disasters.

If conditions permitted, houses should be constructed with reinforced concrete frames, while walls and partitions could be made from non-fired building materials, such as concrete blocks and panel systems.

If opting for a flat roof, it must be solid, otherwise, fibre cement should be used.

There were now many types of non-fired building materials available that comply with regulations, he said.

Chief of the Office of the Vietnam Association of Architects Pham Thanh Tung, said climate change was complex and Vietnam still lacked appropriate response strategies for it.

The country was advised to make the planning and positioning of housing for communities in mountainous areas, particularly concerning safety risks.

The planning must be based on geological conditions and involve geotechnical engineers, architects and environmental specialists, he said.

Experts also emphasised that the selection of land for constructing villages must be conducted systematically and scientifically.

Establishing a Housing Council for ethnic minorities was crucial, involving geologists, planners, architects and meteorological experts.

Based on geological and technical studies of each area and analyses of climatic, hydrological and water resource conditions, the housing council should compile a list of potential sites, detailing their advantages and disadvantages.

Using a scoring system, local authorities could identify the optimal site for residential planning, prioritising the safety of residents.

The planning framework must prohibit developments that pose a risk to public safety, such as mining sites or waste disposal areas.

From a policy perspective, the Ministry of Construction should review and refine building standards and regulations for housing, particularly in disaster-prone areas.

The standards were required to account for climate change adaptation and disaster resilience.

Depending on local conditions, each region should tailor the standards to meet practical needs.

In addition to planning, selecting sites and designing houses that adapt to climate change in the northern mountainous provinces, each locality should also construct safe shelters near residential areas to facilitate emergency evacuations when necessary.

Data revealed that the typhoon resulted in hundreds of thousands of homes being damaged or swept away in the affected provinces.

Lao Cai province was significantly affected by the typhoon. Statistics show that as of 12 September 2024, nearly 9,200 homes in the province had collapsed or had been swept away, isolating 97 hamlets across 25 communes. Of these, 444 homes were completely destroyed.

In Yen Bai province, flooding caused damage to over 25,000 homes, with hundreds of families losing their roofs./.

HCM City, RoK locality boost cooperation in training high-quality human resources

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai hosted a reception for Governor of the Republic of Korea (RoK)'s Chungcheongbuk province Kim Young Hwan on September 23 to discuss ways to expand cooperation between the two localities, especially in training high-quality human resources.

Mai expressed his pleasure in welcoming Kim to the second Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue and the fifth Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum, noting that the southern economic hub and Chungcheongbuk province have effectively implemented many cooperation activities. He showed his belief that the partnership between the two localities will achieve positive results in the coming time.

According to Mai, the dialogue's and the forum's theme focuses on industrial transformation, while Chungcheongbuk has valuable experience in this field that HCM City can learn from.

He highlighted great potential for the two localities to further promote cooperation in semiconductor industry and high technology as outlined in the memorandum of understanding they have signed.

The HCM City leader said cooperation in high-tech agriculture development is also a promising area for collaboration in the near future, pointing out that HCM City has a large number of students from nearly 100 colleges and universities, and education and training is another cooperation area agreed by both sides.

HCM City hopes to establish a joint task force with Chungcheongbuk to discuss and implement specific cooperation programmes in training high-quality human resources and semiconductor technology, Mai stressed, adding that initially, the two localities will begin with training 100 students receiving full scholarships for master's and doctoral programmes in mechanical engineering, as proposed by Chungcheongbuk's leaders.

Kim applauded HCM City's efforts in applying AI, high technology, and semiconductor technology for its development, saying that high technology and semiconductors are among the strengths of Chungcheongbuk.

He urged the two localities to focus on training human resources in this field to not only create a workforce for the economic sector but also foster a bridge of friendship between the Vietnamese and Korean people.

He highly valued HCM City 's strengths in high-quality personnel training, expressing a hope for specific cooperation programmes with Vietnam's southern metropolis in this regard, and master's and doctoral training programmes in areas where the RoK boasts strengths.

Chungcheongbuk is willing to provide 50-100 full scholarships for master's and doctoral programmes in mechanical engineering in the RoK to develop a quality workforce that supports HCM City's development, Kim stated./.

Vietnam receives 100,000 USD in Chinese donation for Typhoon Yagi victims

The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRC) Central Committee has received emergency aid worth 100,000 USD from the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) to assist Vietnamese people affected by Typhoon Yagi and its aftermath.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei handed over the donation to VNRC President Bui Thi Hoa at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 23.

The diplomat said the Party, Government, and people of China are closely monitoring the flooding in Vietnam, adding the Red Cross Society of China has decided to donate 100,000 USD in emergency aid to help Vietnamese victims recover from the typhoon aftermath.

Hoa said the VNRC Central Committee continues to promote cooperation between the two Red Cross Societies as well as their branches in border provinces, focusing on strengthening exchange and experience sharing, and supporting each other in the areas of health care, social affairs, disaster prevention and response, livelihood, and youth/volunteer exchange.

So far, the VNRC Central Committee has allocated emergency relief valued at nearly 10 billion VND (over 406,000 USD), and assisted over 10,300 households with more than 41,500 beneficiaries in 15 provinces and cities affected by the typhoon and its aftermath.

Since a community fundraising campaign was launched on September 7, the VNRC has received 16 billion VND.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has launched an emergency call for joint efforts in support of Vietnamese people hit by the natural disaster with an estimated budget of 4 million CHF (over 4.7 million USD). Currently, a number of domestic and international organisations, businesses, and individuals are in discussions with the VNRC Central Committee to implement projects and non-refundable aid./.

Quy Nhon pilots programme for solid waste classification at source

A waste classification at source programme was launched in the ASEAN clean tourist city of Quy Nhon, in the south central coastal province of Binh Dinh on September 23 by the provincial People’s Committee and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The programme is part of the "Scaling Up A Socialised Model Of Domestic Waste And Plastic Management" project funded by the Norwegian Government through the UNDP.

At the event, Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy Mette Møglestue underscored the important role of the waste classification in management and recycling. The Norwegian Government will continue support for Vietnam’s circular economy development and waste management efforts, especially in coastal tourist cities like Quy Nhon.

UNDP Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi stressed that Quy Nhon city's waste classification at source marks a milestone in the province’s sustainable solid waste management and promotion of recycling towards a circular economy.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Quy Nhon city People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Toan said that the move will significantly improve the city’s waste management, helping it protect the environment and keep the ASEAN Clean Tourist City title.

The programme will be piloted in Ngo May and Nguyen Van Cu wards over six months before being implemented across the city.

On the occasion, the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) was inaugurated at the Long My solid waste treatment area in Phuoc My commune. The 1,000sq.m facility, built at a total cost of nearly 8 billion VND (over 325,000 USD), is designed to process 3-4 tonnes of plastic waste daily. It is expected to create over 200 jobs in waste management, sorting and recycling for local residents./.

Vietnam win golds, placed second in Asian karate championships

Vietnam pocketed three gold medals from the Asian Karate Federation Senior Championships which ended on September 22 in Hangzhou, China.

In the last day of competitions, Vietnamese fighters competed in three kumite (combat) matches.

Hoang Thi Tam defeated Wei Yuchun of the hosts 4-2 to take the title in the women's 55kg category.

Nguyen Thi Ngoan excelled in the women's over-68kg class, beating Gurung Arika of Nepal to take gold.

Tam and Ngoan then grouped with teammates Dinh Thi Huong and Nguyen Thi Dieu Ly to outclass China 2-0 to defend their top place in the women's team event.

In addition to golds, athletes also took two silvers and one bronze to rank second in the medal tally.

Japan placed first in the table with five golds, three silvers and three bronzes. Kazakhstan were third, winning two golds, two silvers and one bronze.

"We appreciated the athletes' effort in this tournament. They prepared well and competed with highest determination," said coach Vu Son Ha.

“Currently, we are home to young and quality coaches and good martial artists who promise to earn high results in international tournaments."

The Asian championships featured 355 competitors from 30 countries and regions, with a total of 16 sets of medals awarded. Karatekas who won the continental top two medals will qualify for the Karate World Cup./.

Hanoi Autumn Festival attracts 50,000 visitors

The Hanoi Autumn Festival, which took place from September 19-22, attracted more than 50,000 visitors, showing the capital city’s enduring appeal in the eyes of tourists, especially in autumn - the most beautiful time of the year in Hanoi.

Themed "Hanoi Autumn - Historic Autumn" and held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the city’s Liberation Day (October 10), it revived and honoured the historical and cultural values of Hanoi, while promoting the image of a dynamic and modern capital that still retains its traditional identity.

According to the organising board, the festival drew 12 cities and provinces as well as 17 districts and town across Hanoi, along with many tourism associations and businesses. They introduced cultural values, craft villages, and heritage sites of not only Hanoi but also other localities across the country, spotlighting a panorama of Vietnam’s culture and tourism with Hanoi being the centre.

Vice Director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency (HPA) Nguyen Tran Quang said the festival provides a good chance for travel firms to introduce their autumn tourism products of the capital city, building the image of Hanoi as a four-season attractive destination, especially in autumn.

It is also an opportunity for tourism businesses, hotels, and restaurants to introduce new product and service packages, especially those associated with Hanoi in autumn, he said.

Particularly, a highlight of this year's festival was a cultural space showcasing models of Hanoi's heritage and monuments.

The space features 15 exhibition areas introducing typical products of 11 artisans and skilled workers from 11 famous craft villages of Hanoi.

Concluding the festival, the organising board handed over 288 million VND (11,711 USD) raised during the event to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi to support people affected by recent Typhoon Yagi.

The first edition in 2023 attracted about 80,000 visitors. The Hanoi Autumn Festival is expected to be developed into an important annual event, contributing to the sustainable development of the capital's tourism industry in the coming years./.

Vietnam wins five medals at World Youth Championships in Spain

Tran Minh Tri took home two gold medals to help Vietnam return home with five golds in total from the ongoing World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Spain.

Competing against seven rivals in the men's 67kg class, SEA Games champion Tri was successful in all three attempts, winning the silver with 142kg in the snatch event.

In the clean and jerk, he was unsuccessful in the first lift of 168kg but managed well in the second attempt. Trii increased the weight to 171kg and met no difficulty in lifting it up for a gold medal.

In total, Tri's combined 313kg placed him in the top position, giving the regional champion his second gold. The result was even better than his achievement at the 32nd SEA Games last May, where he lifted 306kg to win gold and set a new record.

Earlier, K’Duong and Do Tu Tung had also won three golds for Vietnam in the men's 55kg class.

K'Duong excelled in the snatch event, with a best lift of 115kg winning the first gold. He made it up to 138kg in the clean and jerk to earn a bronze. His total of 253kg was the best among all rivals in his class, helping him earn his second gold.

Meanwhile, 2023 champion Tung was disappointed in the snatch, as he failed to lift 112kg in all three attempts and finished at the bottom.

The clean and jerk was not much better, as he failed to lift 138kg the first time and 140kg the second. However, the former champion successfully lifted 140kg in his last attempt which was also the best result among rivals, leading to a gold for the Vietnamese.

Vietnam sent four athletes to the competition and has earned five golds, one silver and one bronze medal so far.

The world championships will last until September 27, featuring nearly 370 competitors, including 168 women, from around 60 countries./.

Hanoi friendship sports tournament helps promote international solidarity

Nearly 100 tennis players from agencies and associations in Hanoi, embassies, and international organisations based in the city took part in the Friendship Tennis Tournament 2024 on September 22.

Held annually by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Department of Culture and Sports, the tournament aims to create a place for foreign diplomats working in Hanoi to meet and exchange with local officials who work in sectors of people diplomacy and culture and sports.

This year, the tournament was among the activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Liberation Day of the capital city (October 10) and 25 years since Hanoi was recognised as a city for peace by UNESCO (July 16, 1999).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the tournament, HUFO Vice President Tran Thi Phuong said besides health benefits, the games is expected to help local and international athletes understand more about each other and nurture their love for the capital city.

The competition at events included men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles with age groups of 31-40, 41-50, and 51-60./.

Vietnamese contestant wins third prize in Leeds Int’l Piano Competition

Vietnamese pianist Luong Khanh Nhi has won third prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition, one of the world’s foremost music competitions.

The final night of the event took place at the historic St. George's Hall concert hall in Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK, on the evening of September 21.

Nhi performed Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No 3 in C major with the orchestra. Before that, three contestants had competed on the evening of September 20.

Canadian contestant Jaeden Izik-Dzurkocame came first, Junyan Chen from China second and the Vietnamese representative was third place.

Kai-Min Chang from China's Taiwan, a student of renowned Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son, finished fourth while Julian Trevelyan from the UK secured fifth place.

The organisers also awarded several special prizes. Kai-Min Chang received the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society prize and Junyan Chen, the silver medalist, also received the Alexandra Dariescu prize.

After the finals, three winners of the Leeds International Piano Competition 2024 will each have a solo concert night at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

The Leeds International Piano Competition is ranked fifth among the top ten most prestigious international piano competitions in the world. Co-founded by Fanny Waterman, a local piano teacher and Marion Thorpe, Countess of Harewood, the competition has launched the careers of some of the greatest pianists of our time over the past 60 years. This year's event attracted 65 contestants from around the world.

Nhi is the first Vietnamese contestant to reach the finals of this competition and was awarded the bronze medal.

Her recent award is the greatest achievement by Vietnamese contestants in over 40 years, following Dang Thai Son's first-place win at the Chopin International Piano Competition in 1980.

Nhi, 27, is a Vietnamese pianist renowned for her captivating performances across three continents. Introduced to the piano at the age of four within a musical household, her talent bloomed early.

In 2014, she secured a full scholarship to study at Kunstuniversität Graz in Austria, chosen as the sole candidate from Southeast Asia after rigorous auditions conducted by ASIA-Uninet and OeAD.

Throughout her tenure in Austria, Nhi showcased her artistry in prestigious venues across Europe, including performances in Austria, Germany and Denmark.

The Vietnamese pianoist has won many accolades, including victories at renowned competitions like the Yong Siew Toh Concerto Competition, Lee University International Piano Competition, and MTNA National Piano Competition. Notably, Nhi’s recent triumph at the Sicily International Piano Competition earned her a prestigious five-concert tour in Italy for 2024.

She is pursuing her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michigan under the mentorship of Prof. Christopher Harding./.

Two int’l golf competitions to take place in Hai Phong next month

The 30th Asia-Pacific Amateur Team Championship-Nomura Cup 2024 and the Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Championship 2024 will take place in Hai Phong City next month, according to the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA).

They are two of eight official tournaments of the Asian Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC).

The first will be from October 15-18 while the second one will be from October 30 to November 1 at the Vinpearl Golf Hai Phong golf course.

Each event will feature more a hundred athletes from APGC's 47 members, including Australia, Japan and China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the hosts, said the VGA.

The biennial Nomura Cup, for men's teams, is held over four days with 18 holes of stroke play. Results from the two players with the best score will be counted as the team's result in each round. The team with the best gross over 72 holes will lift the championship trophy.

Australia has previously dominated, winning the cup ten times, followed by Japan with seven.

Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific Senior Amateur Championship is the premier team and individual event for senior golfers across the region.

The tournament provides a chance for players aged 55 and above to compete for the ultimate prize – an exemption into the R&A Senior Amateur Championship. Since its inception in 2006, it has become a pinnacle event for senior amateur golfers.

The men's competition will feature a team format where the top three of four scores from each round will contribute to the overall team score across the 54-hole event.

In the women's competition, the best two of three scores each day will count toward the team total. Women’s competitors must meet the age qualification of 50 years and older.

Last year, Australian James Lavender and Sue Wooster took the individual titles and Australia also secured teams' cups at the Vinpearl Golf Nam Hoi An in Quang Nam province./.

Vietnamese-origin children in Cambodia to benefit from education support

A delegation of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Battambang province and the Vietnam - Cambodia Business Association (VCBA) has made a fact-finding trip of some floating classrooms for Vietnamese-origin students on Tonle Sap Lake in Pursat province to help with infrastructure upgrade.

The fact-finding trip from September 19 to 21, led by Consul General Nguyen Thanh Van and VCBA Chairman Oknha Leng Rithy, aimed to serve the building of a support programme for classroom repair and upgrade as proposed by the Pursat branch of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association.

Visiting some floating classrooms in Kandieng and Krakor districts of Pursat, a northwestern province of Cambodia, Van said the Vietnamese Party, State, and people always view overseas Vietnamese as an integral part of the nation, and have paid constant attention to the Vietnamese-origin community in Cambodia.

He asked the Vietnamese-origin residents on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater body in Southeast Asia, to comply with local law and not to break rules, especially the annual ban on illegal fishing. He also called on them to exert efforts to integrate into the Cambodian society, thereby improving their life quality and contributing to the two countries’ relations.

With regard to classroom repair and upgrade, the diplomat underlined the priority for education so that Vietnamese-origin children can secure a better life in the future.

Particularly, he suggested them enroll their children in public schools of Cambodia in order for the children to fulfill the host country’s general education programme, acquire certificates, and make decisions on their careers.

The delegation will consider assistance for upgrading the classrooms in need within the VCBA’s capacity, Van added.

During the trip, VCBA representatives also had a working session with the Vietnamese Consulate General to discuss measures for assisting needy Vietnamese-origin residents on Tonle Sap Lake, including support for education, to help improve the quality of human resources and life and develop a strong Vietnamese-origin community in Cambodia.

Vietnamese-origin people in Pursat province have difficult living conditions. The majority of them reside on Tonle Sap Lake and depend on fishing for their livelihood, according to the Vietnamese Consulate General in Battambang province./.

Health ministry, FHI 360 cooperate to prevent antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam

The Medical Services Administration (MSA) under the Ministry of Health along with Family Health International (FHI 360) will work together on a project to control antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam.

The two-year partnership will focus on building a national surveillance system of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country, following a deal signed in Hanoi on September 20.

The project’s goal is to strengthen testing for AMR and monitor antibiotic use and consumption to contribute to policymaking and management practices at both the national and international level, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of antimicrobial resistance prevention and control efforts.

Antibiotic resistance is still a major challenge for the health sector that requires long-term efforts from the government, ministries and relevant units to tackle, MSA Director Dr Ha Anh Duc said at the signing ceremony.

The partnership will focus on strengthening the national system for monitoring drug resistance and antibiotic use in the medical field, promoting the sharing of data on antimicrobial resistance following the One Health approach and ensuring sustainable investment at regional and national levels, he said.

The project will also enhance the technical capacity of laboratories and ensure biosafety and biosecurity for laboratories participating in the national AMR surveillance system. At the same time, it will assess AMR surveillance priorities and needs, particularly in data analysis and reporting capacity, as well as improve the quality of national AMR surveillance data, helping build surveillance data on antibiotic use and consumption from hospitals.

The partnership will implement antibiotic use and consumption surveillance, enhance the sharing of surveillance data between clinical surveillance sites and laboratory data and improve the usage of AMR data at hospitals and governmental institutions.

It will also strengthen the capacity of AMR surveillance information sharing among the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and other relevant stakeholders as well as enhance the sharing of AMR knowledge and information between research and governmental institutions.

Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Nam, head of FHI 360's Representative Office in Vietnam, said that FHI 360 will continue to provide technical support, training and capacity building for laboratories, especially national reference laboratories to support the National Surveillance System monitoring of resistance, use and consumption of antibiotics, thereby contributing to policy planning and management practices at the national and international level, as well as enhancing the effectiveness of drug resistance prevention in Vietnam./.

VNA/VNN/VOV/VNS