Tro tan ruc ro (Glorious Ashes) is the first Vietnamese film nominated in the Competition category of the 2022 Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), which will be held from 24 October to November 3 in Japan.

Directed by Bui Thac Chuyen and adapted from short stories by renowned Vietnamese writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu, the film earlier won the Busan Award at the Asian Project Market programme of the 2017 Busan International Film Festival in the Republic of Korea.

It revolves around the relationships between three women and their partners in a coastal town in the southern province of Ca Mau.

According to the TIFF Organising Committee, the Competition category has 15 candidates selected from the 1,695 works of 107 countries and regions; and Tro tan ruc ro will compete with notable films such as 1976, Ashkal, The Beasts, By the window, and Egoist, among others.

US announces 10 more liquid oxygen systems for Vietnam’s hospitals

The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), on September 26 announced liquid oxygen systems for 10 additional Vietnamese hospitals.

In total, USAID is providing 23 hospitals with liquid oxygen systems. USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs made the announcement Monday afternoon alongside leaders from the Ministry of Health and numerous provincial departments of health, who were gathered to celebrate the completion of USAID’s installation of liquid oxygen systems in 13 hospitals across five provinces. 

Increasing patient access to oxygen strengthens the nation’s health care system and saves lives. The completed liquid oxygen systems help 13 hospitals to support the care of patients with severe cases of COVID-19, as well as patients suffering other respiratory ailments, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Over the next year, USAID will install new liquid oxygen systems in 10 hospitals located in some of the poorest and most remote areas of Vietnam across six additional provinces. This support further strengthens the long-standing health cooperation between the United States and Vietnam, as the two countries approach 10 years of Comprehensive Partnership.

In Vietnam, on-site oxygen storage at smaller and provincial hospitals is rare, necessitating dependence on regular oxygen deliveries. However, oxygen can run out in times of surge demand, as happened during waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals have an urgent need for a reliable supply of oxygen. 

USAID provides liquid oxygen systems with an on-site storage tank, vaporizer to convert liquid oxygen in the tank to gaseous oxygen, and a pressure regulator, which is connected to the hospital’s piping to transport the oxygen to patients’ bedsides. USAID is also providing related staff training, equipment, and supplies to administer the oxygen, such as high-flow nasal tubing and patient monitors, which allow hospital staff to efficiently track patients’ vital signs and quickly respond to changes in patient conditions. USAID’s installation of the 23 liquid oxygen systems and related support, valued at US$7.5 million, helps Vietnam’s hospitals to provide thousands of additional patients with a reliable supply of medical oxygen.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Vietnam have joined hands to tackle this big public health challenge. US contributions, including technical support, life-saving medical equipment, and more than 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, have helped Vietnam’s own remarkable response to this global challenge.

Vietnam calls for enhanced trust to ease nuclear risk

A favourable international environment is needed to promote trust and friendship among countries in order to achieve the effective the disarmament of the nuclear weapons, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has said.

Addressing a meeting held by the UN General Assembly to mark International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in New York on September 26, Giang emphasised international law observance, countries’ fulfillment of obligations and the implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

The global nuclear disarmament is a long-term goal of the UN which, however, will face headwinds, the ambassador noted.

Vietnam proposes intensifying dialogues and negotiations of international agreements on the reduction of nuclear weapons and fissile materials, Giang said, stressing the need to raise public awareness of catastrophic consequences of the weapons.

He also reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of supporting nuclear disarmament, towards the total elimination of the weapons, as well as the country’s commitment to seriously fulfilling its obligations under relevant treaties, including the NPT, the TPNW, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ).

In his remarks, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged all states to use every avenue of dialogue, diplomacy and negotiation to ease tensions, reduce risk and eliminate the nuclear threat.

HCM City seeks stronger cooperation with Korean localities, partners

Ho Chi Minh City wishes to enhance cooperation with localities and partners from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to contribute to advancing the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership to a new level, a municipal official said on September 26.

At a reception for visiting Park Soo Kwan, Vietnam’s Honorary Consul General in Busan, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan highlighted cooperation between the Vietnamese southern economic hub and Korean localities over the past years, especially in trade, tourism and investment.

HCM City is accommodating about 80,000 Koreans and some 2,000 Korean firms, Hoan said, considering them a bridge of culture between the two sides.

The official suggested Park continue his efforts to promote collaboration between HCM City and Busan in the time ahead, affirming that local leaders are willing to welcome Korean enterprises who come to explore investment opportunities in the city.

He also proposed the Honorary Consul General call on more Korean firms and partners to invest in HCM City and help the city organise a friendship dialogue with localities worldwide, to take place later this year.

For his part, Park said Busan’s investors are interested in production, technology, green transport and renewable energy in HCM City.

He also asked local leaders continue their support to Korean enterprises, including those from Busan, and the Koreans living and working in the city.

Rice aid to be delivered to the needy in Soc Trang, Nghe An

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on September 26 signed a decision to supply rice from the national reserves for southern Soc Trang and central Nghe An provinces to assist needy people in the between-crop period of 2022.

Accordingly, Soc Trang will be provided with 208.5 tonnes of rice and Nghe An 693.525 tonnes.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs are assigned to carry out implementation measures. Meanwhile, the People’s Committees of the two provinces are in charge of properly receiving and allocating the aid in a timely manner, according to the decision.

Vietnamese, Lao localities cooperate in different fields

Delegations from Vietnam’s central province of Quang Binh and the Lao province of Champasak reached a cooperation document during their talks in Dong Hoi city on September 26.

Accordingly, Party agencies, authorities and organisations of the two sides will conduct biennial delegation exchanges.

The two localities will also step up the communication work to raise public awareness, especially among young people, of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and the provinces as well.

They consented to enhance collaboration in economy, culture, social affairs and particularly tourism, through the sharing of information and experience, exhibitions and trade promotion activities.

Quang Binh will help the Lao province train 10 officials and students during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. Meanwhile, Champasak will offer two scholarships at the Champasak University and two other Lao language scholarships to Quang Binh’s students.

The provinces will provide mutual support in case of natural disasters and diseases, exchange information about external affairs, and cooperate in other spheres.

Disciplinary warning given to Standing Board of VASS’s Party Committee

The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission has decided to issue a warning against the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) for 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 tenures. The decision was made during the commission’s 20th meeting, which took place in Hanoi from September 23-26.

According to the commission, the Standing Board has violated the principles on Party organisation and operation and working regulations, and showed a lack of responsibility along with lax leadership, direction and supervision, resulting in wrongdoings in the personnel work.

The violations have lasted for years, causing severe consequences, undermining the internal unity, triggering concerns among officials and Party members and adversely affecting the reputation of the Party organisation and the VASS, the commission said.

It has also given a warning to Dang Xuan Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, head of its Organisation Commission and Vice President of the VASS, and reprimanded Nguyen Duc Minh, head of the Party Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission and VASS Vice President; Nguyen Van Minh, Chairman of the Party Committee’s Inspection Commission and head of the Institute of Anthropology; and Nguyen Tai Dong, Chairman of the Party Committee’s Information and Education Commission, and Director of the Institute of Philosophy.

The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission is also considering disciplines against other Party members involved.

It proposed the Politburo consider disciplinary measures against Bui Nhat Quang, Secretary of the Party Committee and VASS President.

During the meeting, the commission also looked into violations and wrongdoings committed by Party delegations to the People’s Procuracy and People’s Court of An Giang province, and the Standing Boards of the Party Committees of the provincial Department of Public Security, Border Guard, Customs Department, and Department of Market Surveillance.

It asked the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee to step up inspection and supervision, and punish a number of organisations and individuals concerned.

Kien Giang to build pipeline network to supply water for 8,000 households

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang will invest in building water supply pipeline networks to supply water to 8,000 households in areas with limited access to water.

Construction will begin in 2023 to 2025.

The project is a part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s programme to supply clean water to areas with limited water access or affected by salt intrusion.

It aims to solve the lack of domestic water supply, especially in the dry season, for about 8,000 households in areas affected by saltwater intrusion, coastal areas and islands in seven districts of Kien Giang province, and reduce diseases caused by usage of unsanitary water.

The project will have 118 kilometres of pipe, and the pipe diameters will be 63-160mm. Water meters and accompanying accessories for households will be installed.

Total investment will be around 74 billion VND (3.1 million USD).

Vietnamese officer joins UN peacekeeping mission

Major Bui Van Nhung from the Vietnam People’s Army will work as a military observer at the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

Nhung received the decision from the State President at a ceremony chaired by Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General on September 26.

Since Vietnam officially joined UN peacekeeping operations nearly nine years ago, the country has sent 512 officers to the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Abyei and the UN headquarters.

Four rotations of the level-2 field hospital and the engineering unit rotation 1 have been deployed so far.

Party delegation attends 12th congress of FRELIMO Party

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), headed by deputy head of its Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Truong Quang Hoai Nam, is attending the 12th National Congress of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) Party.

The congress is taking place in Matola city from September 23-28 with the participation of 1,500 delegates and 23 international delegations.

The Vietnamese delegation delivered a congratulatory speech at the event; paid a courtesy call to President of the Mozambican Assembly Esperanca Bias; and held working sessions with secretary in charge of foreign affairs at FRELIMO’s Central Committee Shakin Abubakar, Minister Augusto Moreno and Deputy Minister Ludovina Bernardo of Industry and Trade of Mozambique.

At these meetings, the two sides informed each other of the current affairs of their parties and nations and discussed measures to beef up bilateral ties.

On the sidelines of the congress, the Vietnamese delegation, accompanied by Ambassador Pham Hoang Kim. also met with many international delegations.

Futsal players arrive in Kuwait for Asian cup 2022

The Vietnamese national futsal team has arrived in Kuwait for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2022 to be held from September 27 to October 8.

Prominent among the players are Van Vu, Van Y, Doan Phat, Minh Tri, Duc Hoa and Quoc Nam.

Placed in Group D, the Vietnamese squad will face the Republic of Korea on September 28, Saudi Arabia on September 30, and Japan on October 2 during the group stage.

There will be 16 national teams, divided in four groups, competing in this year’s tournament.

Transport projects to strengthen regional connectivity in Mekong Delta

A number of transport projects have been proposed to enhance regional linkages and boost socio-economic development in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta.

The Ministry of Transport recently sent a document to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance to propose the implementation of a project to upgrade and renovate three national highways, No. 53, No.62 and 91B, in the delta with a total investment of more than VNĐ7 trillion (US$294 million), funded by a loan from the World Bank.

The Ministry of Transport has recently approved 12 component projects of the North-South Expressway project in the 2021-25 period, with a total length of 723.7 kilometres, including a 110.9km section between Cần Thơ city and Cà Mau Province.

Lâm Minh Thành, chairman of Kiên Giang Province’s People's Committee, said he has recently signed and promulgated a master plan for the province’s socio-economic infrastructure development, in which, the most important factor is traffic.

The province plans to upgrade the Lộ Tẻ - Rạch Sỏi Expressway, and the coastal corridor connecting Cà Mau Province, and the N1 Road connecting An Giang Province.

According to An Giang Province’s People's Committee, the Government has approved investment to complete the planned important highways of Cần Thơ - Cà Mau, Châu Đốc - Cần Thơ - Sóc Trăng - Trần Đề and Mỹ An - Cao Lãnh - Lộ Tẻ - Rạch Giá by 2025.

The new highways are expected to meet the development needs and raise the position of the delta region, including An Giang and the Long Xuyen Quadrangle.

Long An Province has been mobilising resources to invest in its transport infrastructure, part of the national road network development plan for the 2021-30 period, including construction of a 60km-long axis road connecting HCM City with Long An and Tiền Giang provinces.

The road, to be named National Highway 50B, will help to reduce traffic pressure on National Highway No. 1A, National Highway No. 50, N2 Highway, and the HCM City - Trung Lương Expressway, strengthen trade connections between the delta provinces and HCM City.

To reduce the current overload on the existing Rạch Miễu Bridge, Bến Tre Province began construction of the Rạch Miễu 2 Bridge in March and is expected to put it into operation in 2025.

With a total investment of nearly VNĐ5.2 trillion ($218.3 million), the Rạch Miễu 2 Bridge will be 3.8 kilometres upstream from the existing Rạch Miễu Bridge.

Bến Tre and Vĩnh Long provinces have agreed on a plan to build Đình Khao Bridge crossing Cổ Chiên River and passing through Phú Đa and Phú Bình islets in Bến Tre Province.

The bridge will have a total length of 11.31km, starting at National Highway No. 53 in Vĩnh Long and ending at the intersection with National Highway No. 57 in Bến Tre.

Cambodian Cultural Week celebrated in Viet Nam

Cambodia Cultural Week in Việt Nam will take place from today (September 27) to October 2, featuring a variety of appealing art activities in HCM City and Trà Vinh Province.

It was co-organised by Việt Nam's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and Cambodia's Ministry of Culture and Arts to celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the Việt Nam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

An art programme performed by the Cambodia National Art Troupe will begin the official opening of the cultural week, which will take place on September 28 at the HCM City Theatre.

On the same day, HCM City will host the "Cambodia-Kingdom of Culture" exhibition, showcasing photographs of Cambodia's natural beauty, cultural artefacts, and friendly people.

As part of Cambodia Culture Week in Việt Nam, the Cambodian National Art Troupe will perform in Trà Vinh Province on the evening of September 30.

The week will also feature a signing ceremony for the cultural and artistic cooperation plan between the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Việt Nam and the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Cambodia for 2023-2027.

Vietnam, France agree to beef up cooperation in training civil servants

Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra chaired an opening ceremony of the international training course for young managers and female officials from Vietnamese localities on “improving leadership skill, digital transformation and public administrative reform” at the Normandie School of Management in Le Havre city on September 26, as part of her working visit to France.

According to Tra, this course is a practical activity within the framework of cooperation in training, as well as a premise for upcoming cooperation activities between the two sides.

For his part, Elian Pilvin, Rector and General Director of the Normandie School of Management, said that since 2014, the school has organised training courses for over 200 civil servants and managers of the Vietnamese Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission and localities of Vietnam.

After the ceremony, Tra witnessed a signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between the National Academy of Public Administration of Vietnam and the French school. The agreement aims to build a sustainable and effective partnership in training and scientific research in public administration, and to cooperate in human resources development, contributing to developing and modernising the public service and meeting requirements of the administrative reform of Vietnam.

The same day afternoon, she had a meeting with Mayor of Le Havre Édouard Philippe, during which the French official affirmed that he is ready to do everything to contribute to the bilateral relations.

NovaGroup, KfW DEG Impulse to carry out education project for underprivileged students
     
NovaGroup in collaboration with DEG Impulse, a subsidiary of DEG, the German Development Finance Institution, announced a project titled “Teaching English and Informatics for free for primary school students” in Binh Thuan and Dong Thap provinces on September 26.

The project will donate English and Informatics lessons to 1,000 students in Tien Thanh 1 and Tien Thanh 2 primary schools (Tien Thanh Commune, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan) and Long Khanh A3 (Hong Ngu District, Dong Thap).

On the occasion of the start of a new school year, NovaGroup also gifted Te rice cakes, sausages and canned foods made by Nova Consumer Group to students in the two schools.

The project will cost nearly 400,000 euros (US$388,000) and be implemented over two school years (2022-23 and 2023-24).

Schools selected for the project have difficulty teaching English andInformatics while their students have not had a chance to access international-standard curriculums.

Residents in Quy Nhon City face landslide threats

Dozens of households in Quy Nhon City in the southern coastal province of Binh Dinh have constantly been living in fear of possible landslides during flood season.

There are dozens of households living on a mountainous road in Dong Da Ward. Their houses lean against Mot Mountain which has seen serious landslides whenever it rains.

Despite living in danger when the flooding season arrives, local residents, who are mostly poor farmers, still choose to stay because they live off farming in the area.

According to the Dong Da Ward People's Committee, there are 130 households living in simply-built houses in vulnerable areas in the locality. Among them, dozens of households living by Mot Mountain need to urgently relocate due to the threat of landslides.

Chairman of Dong Da Ward People's Committee, Phan Tan Vu, said that they have had to set up rescue teams to help evacuate residents in the area during natural disasters.

Ca Mau wants to send 1,900 workers abroad between 2022-2025

The southern province of Ca Mau has planned to send 1,900 workers abroad duration during 2022-2025, according to the provincial people’s committee.

The plan intends to ensure proper jobs and stable incomes, particularly young people in the province. The committee also expects to have a source of quality workers that would have received good training and qualifications when working abroad. After they complete their contracts, they will return to the locality with the intention that they would become a key factor that helps the province attract FDI investment.

The plan stipulated that 400 people would have work abroad in 2023, 600 others in 2024, and 700 more in 2025. The plan is estimated to cost over VND 236 billion (USD10.26 million).

According to the committee, the province has some 40,000 students who are following university or vocational training courses nationwide. Another 1,000 young people are finishing their military service annually. These are considered the key groups that could work overseas.

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