The Immigration Division under the Department of Public Security of Lao Cai province, in conjunction with the Border Guard Station at the Lao Cai International Border Gate, on September 28 received a wanted Vietnamese man handed over by police in Hekou county in China’s Yunnan province.

The man was identified as Vu Cong Hai, hailing from Thai Binh province’s Thai Thuy district. He was wanted by local police for illegal gambling.

Hai admitted he took a car to the northern border province of Lang Son, then illegally entered China where he worked at a garment workshop until his arrest.

Lao Cai's police have completed related procedures and handed Hai to police in Thai Binh for further investigation.

Police in Lao Cai city and the districts of Muong Khuong, Bao Thang and Bat Xat of Lao Cai province held talks with their counterparts from Hekou county on September 27. This was the first meeting in virtual form between the two sides since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Water supply to be cut off in 8 districts of HCMC for maintenance

Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco), the city’s water supply provider, has announced a two-day service outage in eight districts this weekend.

Water supplies will be shut off or curtailed on the evening of October 1 and the following morning due to maintenance at the Hoa Phu pump station and the Tan Hiep water plant.

Sawaco said that the work would begin from 10 p.m. on October 1 to 4 a.m. on October 2.

As a result, water supply will be turned off in the entire Binh Tan District and partially cut off in districts 6, 8, Tan Binh, Tan Phu and Binh Chanh.

Additionally, Hoc Mon District and several areas in the districts of Tan Binh, Go Vap, Tan Phu, 12 and Binh Chanh may see water shortages for a while.

Sawaco stated that it was prepared to deliver and distribute water through water tank trucks and to deal with potential issues that arise.

Floods, landslides isolate thousands of residents in central, Central Highlands regions

Floods and landslides have isolated thousands of people in the central and Central Highlands regions after typhoon Noru.

The regions face a high risk of floods even as the typhoon dissipates. 

According to the National Hydrometeorological Forecasting Centre, torrential rain is forecast to continue in the central and Central Highlands regions. As a result, flash floods and landslide warnings have been issued. 

Prolonged torrential rain has inundated more than 2,000 houses in Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province, with some parts up to 70cm underwater. Residents had to evacuate.

A dyke section in Quynh Tam commune broke on September 28 night. Hundreds of residents and military officers were on-site to protect the dyke under the rain.

More than 300 schools in Nghe An have been closed due to heavy floods and isolation.

Reservoirs in the central region have released water over the past few days, leading to floods.

Authorities in central Nghe An province fixed the landslide on a section of the North-South railway line at Hoang Mai Station, which a lot of trains departing from Hanoi run.

The landslide was reported on September 28 night and delayed some trains.

The water level of rivers in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Nam provinces are expected to rise.

Floods are forecast in rivers of provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.

Central Ha Tinh province has closed 83 schools, affecting nearly 35,000 students, due to the floods.

Some roads connecting villages in Son Tien, Son Bang, and Kim Hoa communes have been flooded, isolating 123 households.

Since September 28 night, landslides have isolated 8,000 people in three villages of Tu Mo Rong district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

About 1,000 cu.m of rock and soil has blocked the road leading to Tu Tho hamlet. Local authorities are mobilising forces to clear the road.

In other areas where weather conditions are more stable, residents are helping each other repair houses.

On September 29 morning, passenger boats and high-speed ferries from the mainland to Phu Quoc, Tho Chau and Nam Du islands resumed operations.

Chinese Identification card found in body drifting in Phu Quoc

The functional agencies in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang have found a body with a Chinese ID card among seven bodies adrift on Bai Truong seaside, Phu Quoc island district.

Senior Colonel Le Minh Chanh, Deputy Chief of Phu Quoc City Police said that in the afternoon of September 30, the Police of Kien Giang Province, the Department of External Affairs and other functional agencies of Kien Giang Province will arrive in Phu Quoc to verify identifications of the seven bodies.

Previously, from noon to the evening of September 29, seven male bodies were discovered on Bai Truong seaside. Among these, there is a body without head. All the bodies are being refrigerated at the Medical Center of Phu Quoc City.

According to the functional agencies, the bodies might relate to the ship carrying Chinese people traveling from Fujian Province to Cambodia which was sunk in the bordering waters between Vietnam and Cambodia in the period from September 22 to 24. At that time, a fishing boat in Ganh Dau Commune, Phu Quoc discovered and rescued 11 people while they were drifting at sea.

Currently, the police are continuing to investigate and clarify the case.

Vietnam ready to cultivate Flanders-Mekong ties: ambassador

Vietnam is ready to cultivate mutually beneficial ties between Belgium’s Flanders and Mekong region, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao.

Addressing a forum on the Mekong River Commission recently held at the Flemmish Parliament in Brussels, Thao suggested that Flanders-Mekong cooperation should focus on cross-border water management and hi-tech agriculture in adaptation to climate change, given the challenges facing the Mekong region such as climate change impacts, floods, droughts, rising sea level, and saltwater intrusion.

He proposed enhancing experience sharing, workforce training and transfer of technology such as smart cold warehouse in service of farm produce export, wind power, water-by-wind, logistics centre and riverway transport infrastructure.

Delegates at the event discussed ways to boost bilateral coordination in water management and seek solutions to common challenges related to climate change, drought, flooding and transportation. A number of Flemish technological solution providers also expressed their interest in business opportunities in the Mekong region.

At the 27th meeting of the MRC Council held in November 2020, Flanders officially became a development partner of the MRC and signed a cooperation agreement worth 1.07 million USD for the 2021-2025 period.

Appeal trial of former deputy minister of health held

The High-Level People’s Court in Hanoi on September 29 held an appeal trial over the trading of counterfeit medicine labelled as Health 2000 Canada  involving former Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong.

Cuong filed an appeal for a reduced sentence. Earlier, he was given four years in jail in the first-instance trial for "lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences”.

Two other defendants, Nguyen Viet Hung, former Deputy Director of the Health Ministry’s Drug Administration (DAV); and Le Dinh Thanh, a former official of the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department, were sentenced to three years and two years respectively, on the same charge as Cuong.

Two former officials of the DAV, Pham Hong Chau and Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, got four years for abusing positions and power while on duty.  

Nine other defendants were given imprisonments ranging from 2 years to 16 years for trading counterfeit medicine.

These defendants filed appeals for reducing their sentences, enjoying suspended sentences, lessening civil compensation or exempting from civil responsibilities.

According to the verdict of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, as head of the DAV from 2007 to 2016, Cuong failed to fulfil his responsibility in supervising and inspecting the work of experts in assessing and granting licences for seven kinds of drugs, leading to the approval of dossiers for the import and consumption of the six out of the seven counterfeit drugs, labelled Health 2000 Canada, in Vietnam with a total value of over 148 billion VND (6.43 million USD).

After the drugs were imported and consumed in Vietnam, although he received information about the suspected origins of the drugs, Cuong did not give direction to stop their circulation, or recall and destroy the drugs. As a result, domestic medical establishments continued to use supplied counterfeit drugs labelled Health 2000 Canada without clear origins to treat patients at a total value of over 3.7 billion VND. 

Meanwhile, former DAV deputy director Nguyen Viet Hung did not perform properly his assigned tasks and duties thus failing to detect and stop wrongdoings of his subordinates in assessing and licensing the drugs.

Foreign tourists help clean up Hoi An after typhoon Noru

A group of foreign tourists joined local residents in Hoi An ancient city in the central province of Quang Nam to clean up trash and clear mud along a bridge crossing Hoai River on September 28 as super typhoon Noru weakened and floodwater started receding.

After the rainfall stopped and the sky cleared, foreign tourists flocked to the submerged streets to explore the town. A group of five tourists from Belgium helped local people collect fallen trees and trash.

These tourists were on their way to explore the central region but were stuck in Hoi An due to super typhoon Noru.

The water level in Hoi An city is forecast to continue rising over the next few days, put many areas of the city at risk.

Insurance companies urged to compensate damages caused by Typhoon Noru

The Insurance Supervisory Authority under the Ministry of Finance has asked non-life insurance enterprises to determine the extent of damage within the scope of compensation coverage caused by Typhoon Noru.

The agency said in an official dispatch sent to non-life insurers that Noru left a trail of damage in the country’s central region.

It also urged the companies to determine the extent of the loss within the scope of compensation coverage, submit the result to the agency before September 30 and carry out compensation procedures as prescribed in insurance contracts and regulations.

Earlier, BaoViet Insurance Corporation had prepaid VND100 million to the family of the victims of a car crash on September 27 caused by the typhoon.

On September 28, the typhoon barreled through central Vietnam, injuring four people, destroying three houses, blowing away 157 rooftops, sinking three boats and causing landslides and floods, the local media reported.

Typhoon Noru, one of the four strongest storms in 20 years, weakened into a tropical depression and dumped rain in many parts of the country.

Vietnam, Laos foster education cooperation

Vietnamese and Lao education-training leaders, representatives from 50 universities and 55 agencies as well as teachers and students gathered at a forum in Vientiane on September 29 to discuss cooperation between the two countries in enhancing training quality.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc said the event aims to review cooperation between the two countries in the field, creating a chance for education-training facilities and management agencies to introduce achievements and give recommendations for the improvement of tertiary training quality of both countries.

In the 2011-2021 period, Vietnam received nearly 30,000 Lao students. In the 2011-2020 period, Vietnam trained 1,196 officials and teachers of Laos through 44 courses in Vietnam with durations from 2-9 months.

In order to strengthen collaboration in the field, Vietnam and Laos have signed an agreement on a project to enhance the quality and efficiency of bilateral education and human resources cooperation in the 2021-2030 period, which gives specific measures to improve the quality of training activities for Lao students in the period.

At the forum, 24 memoranda of understanding were signed between Vietnamese and Lao education management agencies, universities and colleges.

Vietnam among five most popular destinations for New Zealanders

A survey conducted by adventure tour operator Intrepid Travel has highlighted that Vietnam represents one of the five leading destinations for tourists from New Zealand who are keen to travel over the next year.

According to details within the survey, roughly 85% of New Zealanders are planning to travel within the next year, despite enduring soaring living costs at home.

Of the figure, 29% of New Zealanders plan to travel overseas over the next year, while 56% intend to travel domestically.

Alongside Vietnam, other most popular destinations include New Zealand itself, Australia, Turkey, and Morocco.

The New Zealand Herald quoted Sarah Clarke, managing director of Intrepid Travel, as sayings that the company is also seeing New Zealanders start to plan for a future involving international travel.

Since March, the Vietnamese Government has allowed quarantine-free entry for foreign visitors from 80 countries and territories, including New Zealand.

Festival to showcase traditional costumes of Vietnam's ethnic minorities

A festival, slated for November 18-20, will spotlight traditional costumes of Vietnam's ethnic minorities in the north at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay town on the outskirts of Hanoi.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has freshly issued an organisation plan for the festival, the first of its kind, which aims to concretise policies of the Party and State on the conservation and promotion of ethnic minority cultures, and to honour such traditional cultural values.

The event will also offer an opportunity for ethnic artisans and artists to exchange experiences and learn from one another and for their communities to popularise their traditional culture to domestic and international visitors.

Themed ‘The colours of northern ethnic traditional costumes amid integration and development era’, it will gather representatives of 17 provinces and cities in the region, including Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Phuc Tho, Hoa Binh, Son La, Yen Bai, and Lao Cai.

It is expected to feature a meeting with artisans and people who have made significant contributions to the preservation of ethnic culture, a seminar, a fashion show, and a number of exhibitions, among other activities.

Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups, each of which has its own unique cultural identity.

Ultra Trail Cao Bang 2022 attracts over 500 runners

More than 500 athletes nationwide on September 29 joined the Ultra Trail Cao Bang 2022 in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang – home to a UNESCO-recognised geopark.

Organised by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the tournament featured foot races ranging from 10km to 200km. The event, scheduled to last until October 2, is intended to promote local tourism.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark is an exceptional area in which it is possible to explore the history of the Earth for more than 500 million years. It’s also a land of tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites.

The 3,000sq.km geopark covers the six districts of Ha Quang, Tra Linh, Quang Yen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang, Phuc Hoa, and part of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh and Thach An districts. The geopark accomodates nine ethnic groups, including Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao and San Chay.

Vietnam, Nicaragua eye to boost friendship, partnership

A Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation led by Tran Duc Thang, Deputy Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission, visited Nicaragua from September 25 – 28 at the invitation of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).

The Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy call to Nicaraguan National Assembly President and also had meetings with representatives from the country’s council of ministers and supreme electoral council as well as leaders of the capital city of Managua, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Youth Ministry, the Nicaragua-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group and others.

They also visited a number of agricultural production and handicraft projects.

Dortmund Legends beat Vietnam All Stars in charity match

A team of legends from German side Borussia Dortmund defeated Vietnam All Stars 4-1 in a charity match in Ho Chi Minh City on September 28 evening.

With outstanding physical and technical skills, the Dortmund legends opened the scoring in the sixth minute through Mladen Petric.

David Odonkor then doubled the lead for Dortmund in the 14th minute. Vietnam had several chances to narrow the gap but failed to find the net.

In the second half, the Vietnamese star team did manage a goal thanks to former striker Le Cong Vinh.

In the remaining minutes, Vietnam made many changes and the two teams continued to attack as the game opened up. But it was the Dortmund legends who sealed victory with two more goals before the final whistle.

The event was organised by Next Media, HCM City’s Youth Union, Borussia Dortmund, and delegates of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK) in support of orphans and children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The visitors line-up included Julio Cesar, Dedé, Marcel Schmelzer, Norbert Dickel, Evanílson, Kevin Grosskreutz, Jorg Heinrich, Jan Koller, David Odonkor, Patrick Owomoyela, Karl-Heinz Riedle, Miroslav Stevic, Roman Weidenfeller, Ibrahim Tanko, Mladen Petric, and Mohamed Zidan.

While the Vietnam All Stars included coach Le Huynh Duc, former national players Pham Van Quyen, Vinh, and Le Quoc Vuong, as well as current players of the national team such as Que Ngoc Hai, Do Hung Dung and Ngo Hoang Thinh.

Hanoi eyes 80 - 85% of public schools meeting national standards

Hanoi is trying to have 80 - 85% of local public schools meeting national standards by 2025, according to a plan recently issued by the municipal People’s Committee.

In this plan, the city looks to have another 432 - 552 national-standards public schools between 2022 and 2025, including 153 - 201 kindergartens, 163 - 211 primary schools, 100 - 119 junior high schools, and 16 - 21 senior high schools.

It will also work to maintain the quality of existing national-standard schools.

As of June 2022, Hanoi had 2,835 schools with 70,199 classes, over 2.2 million students, 138,000 teachers, and 72,796 classrooms. About 64.3% of the schools citywide met national standards, with public schools accounting for 79%, according to the municipal Department of Education and Training.

578 Magnum to compete for International Feature Film at Oscars

Vietnamese film 578: Phat Dan Cua Ke Dien, also known as 578 Magnum, will compete in the preliminary round of the International Feature Film category at the 95th Oscars.

The action film, put forward by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will have English subtitles added before it is sent to the organising board of the Oscars on October 3.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 12, 2023.

Directed by Luong Dinh Hung, 578 Magnum tells the story of a father - a container truck driver who is driven to hunt down a gang of underground criminals that kidnapped his daughter.

The cast is led by Alexandre Nguyen and features the likes of Hoang Phuc, model Jessica Minh Anh, and former Miss Universe Vietnam H'Hen Nie.

With a budget of US$2.54-million the film has a different way of expressing content as it is shown in a montage style that mixes both the past and present of the story. Indeed, it can be considered a combination of commercial entertainment and artistic elements, introducing impressive images of Vietnam with poetic scenery and beautiful people whilst also popularizing the country’s martial arts.

578 Magnum became the first Vietnamese action film selected to compete in the Grand Prix for the Best Film Award at the 26th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (POFF) due to run in Estonia from November 11 to November 27.

The film has also been selected to premiere at a festival of martial art films in the Republic of Korea in early 2023.

Get-together fosters Vietnam-India strategic partnership

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association in Can Tho held a meeting on September 29 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The purpose of the event was to highlight the significance and importance of maintaining and consolidating ties of traditional friendship, as well as the strategic partnership which exists between local people from both Vietnam and India, especially among the young generation.

Madan Mohan Sethi, consul general of India in Ho Chi Minh City, said that bilateral co-operation has developed strongly, with two-way trade rising from US$200 million in 2000 to US$12.04 billion in 2019. However, this figure dropped to just over US$10 billion in the 2020 to 2021 period due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two countries are currently striving to boost this figure to US$14 billion moving forward, he added.

Huynh Van Nghiep, president of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association in Can Tho, said that the association has closely co-ordinated efforts with the Indian Consulate General to arrange a wide range of economic and cultural co-operation activities and people-to-people exchanges.

During the COVID-19 outbreak which hit India, agencies in the Mekong Delta city called on organisations and individuals to assist the Indian people in combatting the pandemic, while Can Tho received plenty of assistance from India in fields such as agriculture and information technology, he highlighted. Indeed, these activities greatly contributed to developing the bilateral friendship.

The same day saw Sethi received by Nguyen Thuc Hien, vice chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, who affirmed that relevant authorities and local people view the traditional friendship and solidarity with Indian citizens as an important factor in international relations which safeguards mutual development.

National costume for Miss Intercontinental revealed

“Co em Dao do" or “Red Dao ethnic minority girl” designed by Pham Minh Hieu has been selected as the national costume which will be worn by the Vietnamese representative to the upcoming Miss Intercontinental 2022 pageant.

According to details provided by the designer, the outfit draws inspiration from the wedding gown of Red Dao women, which is typically embroidered with brocade motifs. One notable feature is that the wide wings fitted into the dress can be adjusted.

This design will be worn by Bao Ngoc, the first runner-up of Miss World Vietnam 2022, at the upcoming Miss Intercontinental pageant due to take place this October in Egypt.

The Can Tho-born beauty measures 87-63-88 and is currently a student at the Faculty of International Affairs of the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City.

The 21-year-old girl enters the pageant with previous experience having made the Top 22 of Miss Vietnam 2020 and finished as runner-up of Miss World Vietnam 2022.

Police force strengthen security at hospitals

Police will increase security at hospitals following a recent spate of attacks on medical staff by patients and their family members.

In one incident in August, a doctor was assaulted by a man armed with a knife at the Emergency Department, of HCM City’s Gia Định People's Hospital.

And in July, medical staff were chased through the Department of Surgery and Trauma at Vĩnh Long Province’s General Hospital by a man wielding a knife.

The authorities say that these shocking incidents not only put the lives of health workers at risk, but also hamper important medical treatment.

Lương Ngọc Khuê, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment, said that the Ministry of Health, has asked the Ministry of Public Security to strengthen coordination in ensuring security and order at hospitals.

A special hotline has been set up to allow incidents to be reported and enable police officers to quickly respond.

Traffic police will also increase patrols outside hospital buildings. 

Hanoi to encourage people to use overpasses

Authorities in Hanoi are taking action to stop pedestrians crossing streets without using overpasses.

The municipal Department of Transport recently asked its Inspectorate Department to work with units of the Department of Public Security and local authorities on encouraging people to abide by the Law on Road Traffic, and strictly punish any violators.

The city currently has 70 pedestrian bridges, mainly at intersections and areas near schools and hospitals with heavy traffic. After opening, they helped pedestrians cross the road smoothly and safely.

However, many people have ignored pedestrian overpasses to save time, thus endangering themselves and others.

According to traffic experts, in addition to raising public awareness, it is also necessary to strengthen the application of coercive measures and resolutely handle violations in accordance with regulations.

Traffic accidents drop in January-September

Traffic accidents across the country in the first nine months of this year dropped by 52.5 per cent (4,362 cases) to 8,313 and related deaths reduced by 20 per cent (945 deaths) to 4,714 compared to the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

However, the figures rose 1.71 per cent (140 cases) and 12.35 per cent (518 deaths) from the same period in 2021.

The majority of accidents happened on the road with 8,206 incidents, killing 4,606 people.

There were 76 accidents on the railways, claiming 55 lives, while 26 accidents on waterways killed 41.

Meanwhile, 12 people died or went missing in five maritime accidents in the period.

No serious aviation incidents were reported in the nine months. 

Vietnamese advance at VN Open badminton event

Vietnamese athletes reached the second round of the Yonex-Sunrise - Vietnam Open badminton tournament in HCM City on September 28.

National No. 1 Nguyễn Thùy Linh met no difficulty in beating her junior teammate Nguyễn Thị Diệu Linh 21-12, 21-15 in the women's singles first round match at Nguyễn Du Gymnasium.

The No. 6 seed will next play Ng Tin Yan of Hong Kong, who defeated Indian Samayara Panwar 21-19, 21-14.

Vũ Thị Anh Thư also went to the second round after beating Vietnamese Lê Ngọc Vân 19-21, 21-14, 21-11. She will face Malaysian Kasturi Radhakrishnan, a walkover.

Olympian Vũ Thị Trang won 21-18, 21-4 over Indonesian rising star Dhea Bunga Anjani to advance to the next round.

She will next play walkover Gadde Ruthvika Shivani of India.

Trần Thị Phương Thúy came from behind to beat Hong Kong representative Sum Yee Yeung 16-21, 21-14, 21-19 to set up a match against Indian Rituparna Das.

In other matches, No. 1 seed Aya Ohori of Japan won 21-12, 21-16 against Aashi Rawat of India.

No. 4 Ruselli Hartawan of Indonesia beat Fuyu Iwasaki 21-16, 21-15.

On the men's side, four-time Olympian Nguyễn Tiến Minh of the host was ousted in the first round, losing 21-18, 21-18 to China's Sun Fei Xiang.

National champion Lê Đức Phát was also eliminated by Malaysian Sholeh Aidil in a 18-21, 21-18, 21-11 match.

Young qualifier Trần Lê Mạnh An was lucky enter the third round on September 29 after his No. 1 seed Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan withdrew. Earlier, his Indian rival Rahul Yadav Chittaboina also retired when An won the first set 21-15. 

Nguyễn Hải Đăng was the second Vietnamese left at the tournament.

He beat Thai Korakrit Laotrakul 21-13, 21-15 in the second round after earning a bye in the first round.

Đăng will next play No. 6 seed Weng Hong Yang of China.

The finals are scheduled on October 2.

Run for Peace returns this weekend after two years

More than 1,500 athletes will compete in the 47th New Hanoi Newspaper Run for Peace, which is back after two years of absence.

The October 2 tournament's final will be held around Hoàn Kiếm Lake as usual, with a range of categories for both professional and amateur runners from both Việt Nam and abroad. 

Athletes will compete in the 1.75km (one lap around the lake), 3.5km (two laps) and 5.25km (three laps) categories for both amateur men and women; and women's 5.25km and men's 8.75km (five laps) for pros.

Organisers will deliver a total of VNĐ70 million (US$3,000) for the top five-ranking finishers of each category and the three best teams.

Among elite athletes on Sunday are 31st SEA Games champion Khuất Phương Anh (Hà Nội) and SEA Games silver medallist Trần Văn Đảng (Hà Nội) who are the reigning national champions; multi-time SEA Games winner Dương Văn Thái (Nam Định); and 30th SEA Games silver medallist Nguyễn Trung Cường (Hà Tĩnh).

According to organisers, about 150 foreigners living and working in the city will compete in the tournament this year. In addition, for the first time, people from the US embassy will participate in this annual event.

The Run for Peace will start at 7am and will be live on VTV2.

HCM City traffic police revoke nearly 20,000 driver’s licenses in three peak months

During three peak months of deploying inspection and handling of traffic order and safety violations, the traffic police forces of Ho Chi Minh City detected, handled 73,559 violations, revoked 19,738 driver’s licenses and temporarily seized 10,783 vehicles. 

The Road-Railway Traffic Police Department (PC08) under the Ho Chi Minh City Public Security reported on September 29 that in the period from June 20 to September 20, the number of traffic accidents, death and injured people in HCMC dropped. 

At that time, the city recorded 472 road traffic accidents, killing 156 people and injuring 304 others. 

AAF rescues bear kept in captivity since 2003

This morning, the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF), a Hong Kong-based charity that seeks to end cruelty to animals in Asia, rescued a bear that has been kept in captivity since 2003 when it was a young panda bear weighing only about 12kg at a household in Phuc Loi ward in Hanoi’s Long Bien District.

Veterinarian Ly Mai Han said that the bear currently has no health problems. The bear was named Marmalade (Orange Jam).

This bear has been mobilized by Forest Protection Department No. 1 under the Hanoi Forest Protection Department, and the owner's family voluntarily transferred it to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center.

The bear, the ninth of its kind, was transferred by the Hanoi Forest Protection Department this year and the 14th bear to be rescued by the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in 2022.

The rescued bear is a female, weighing about 160kg, and about 19 years old so far. The bear owner shared that he raised bears mainly for the purpose of being ornamental in the barn at the end of the orchard. The bear was fed with fruit and milk.

According to information from Forest Protection Department No. 1, seven bears are being kept in captivity at home in Me Linh District. The authorities are continuing to encourage these owners to soon hand over to the conservation center.

50 outstanding young people with disabilities honoured

As many as 50 young people with disabilities who are outstanding role models across the country were honoured at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 29 within the framework of the programme "Toa sang nghi luc Viet".

Organised by the Vietnam Youth Federation (VYF) Central Committee in coordination with the Vietnam National Committee on Disability and TCP Vietnam Co., Ltd, the event also aimed to call for support for youths with disabilities. 

Initiated in 2013, the annual programme has honoured young people with disabilities who have made contributions to the development of the community and the society. So far, as many as 2,150 typical examples of young people across the country have been commended.

Southeast Asian, European universities discuss higher education governance reform

A workshop on building common development strategies for higher education was held at the Free University of Brussels (ULB) in Belgium on September 29, attracting representatives of eight Vietnamese and Cambodian universities and the Francophone University Agency (AUF).

Participants discussed skills in making strategic plans on higher education, plan implementation, the establishment of systems for assessing teaching quality and assisting lecturers, and policies for research and capitalisation of research findings, which are all important to Southeast Asian universities, especially in Vietnam and Cambodia, during the reform of higher education governance.

The workshop was part of the Renewed University Steering in Southeast Asia (PURSEA) project funded by the EU from 2020 to 2023 within the framework of the Erasmus - Key Action 2 programme that aims at improving universities’ capacity.

The Vietnamese schools in the PURSEA project comprise the Hanoi University, the Hanoi Architectural University, the University of Transport and Communications, the University of Science and Technology under the Da Nang University, along with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of Economics and Law under the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City.

Five universities and institutes of France, one university of Belgium, and another from Germany provide experts and experience under the project.

Taste of Italy Week opens in HCM City

The MM Mega Market Vietnam Company, in collaboration with some trade promotion organisations and the Italian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, opened the Taste of Italy week in the southern metropolis.

The event is also the start for a series of activities on promotions and tasting Italian cuisine in 12 MM centres across the country.

Until the end of October 12, consumers have chances to enjoy Italy’s typical food and beverages, and buy its products at attractive prices.

Italian Consul General Enrico Padula said that Vietnam is one of 10 emerging markets in the Italian Government's priority to develop trade and investment relations. Currently, Vietnam is Italy's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In the first eight months of 2022, two-way trade between Vietnam and Italy reached 4.25 billion USD, up 13.9% year-on-year. And there are nearly 6,000 Italian businesses investing in Vietnam.

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