Made-in-Vietnam NanoDragon satellite is ready to be launched to the space.

 

Thirty-eight projects on aerospace technology have been approved in Vietnam with a total cost of 236.5 billion VND in the past five years, according to Associate Prof. Dr. Doan Minh Chung from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).

Speaking at a conference on September 27 to review the national-level programme on aerospace technology in the 2016-2020 period, Chung, who is head of the programme, said that through the projects, many results and products with high science-technology values and application capability have been produced, greatly contributing to optimising the country’s aerospace technology infrastructure, especially the image data taken by Environment and Disaster monitoring Satellite-1 (VNREDSat-1).

Many products have been applied in reality and transferred to agencies and localities, especially those in the fields of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS).

Chung highlighted the success of the project of researching, designing and producing the sounding rocket to bring payloads to the space to collect high ozone layer data conducted by the Military Technology Academy from 2018-2020.

In the field of satellite technology, the VAST's Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) has successfully produced the NanoDragon under the “Nano-class satellite development, launch and trial operation” project, which was tested in Japan in August and scheduled to be launched in October, Chung noted.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy said that although Vietnam is not among the leading countries space technology, the country has seen positive results in mastering and maintaining the capacity of researching and developing the technology, enabling the country to receive and apply latest technologies in the world to develop its own products.

VAST Vice President Associate Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha said that the academy and the Ministry of Science and Technology are working together in building a coordination programme in the 2021-2025 period, with space technology being an important content.

He expressed his hope that the cooperation will help bring Vietnam’s aerospace science and technology to a new development period./.

Da Lat landslide kills two people

A landslide in the Central Highlands of Lam Dong’s Da Lat City has killed two women and injured two others.

According to reports from local authorities, the incident happened in Ho Hong area, Ward 7, on Wednesday afternoon.  

Nguyen Thi Trang Dai from Dak Lak Province and Tran Thi Binh Huyen from Da Lat City died. Meanwhile, two men Khong Minh Phuoc and Nguyen Van Cang both from Dak Lak were seriously injured.

The two men are now staying at Lam Dong General Hospital.

The victims are between 21 and 30 years old.

Initial investigation showed that the four people were checking a land plot in Ward 7 to buy during heavy rain. They came to shelter at a nearby tent and then the landslide happened, burying all of them.

Despite being rescued by local authorities, the two women died on the spot.

Made-in Vietnam NanoDragon satellite to go into orbit on October 1

Locally-produced satellite NanoDragon is set to be launched into outer space on October 1, according to the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.

The microsatellite, which was both designed and manufactured by Vietnamese engineers, will be sent into orbit from Uchinoura Space Centre in Kagoshima Prefecture of Japan.

The 3.8 kg satellite is the product of a project to design, manufacture, launch, and test the operation of a nano-sized microsatellite under the national space science and technology programme for the 2016 - 2020 period.

Earlier, the Vietnam National Space Center built PicoDragon weighing one kg which was put into orbit in 2013 and then sent signals back to earth.

Another satellite called MicroDragon, which weighs 50kg, was also built by a group of VNSC engineers under the guidance of Japanese experts. The satellite was successfully launched into orbit in January 2019, and also sent images back to Earth.

Singapore to host AFF Suzuki Cup 2020

Singapore will host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2020, which is set to take place between December 5, 2021 and January 1, 2022.

The country gained a majority of votes for hosting the event during a session held by the AFF on September 28.

Singapore was selected as it met all of the criteria set by the AFF, including the government’s support, safety and health management, risk management within the COVID situation, venue and facilities, and experience in organising competitions amid COVID-19.

The city-state will host the sport tournament at three venues, including its 55,000-seat national stadium, over-6,000-seat Jalan Besar stadium, and over-6,000-seat Bishan stadium.

This year’s teams have been divided into two groups.

Group A consists of Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore and the winners of the play-off between Brunei and Timor-Leste on December 1.

Group B comprises defending champions Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos./.

HCM City field hospitals record fewer patients

Fields hospitals in HCM City have received fewer Covid-19 patients while discharging larger numbers in recent days.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that a total of 23,568 Covid-19 patients recovered on September 29, marking a total of 583,509 recovered patients since the start of the pandemic.

Increasing numbers of patients have been discharged from HCM City field hospitals and the number of patients in serious condition has dropped. Dr Ly Cong Quoc from Field Hospital 3 in Thu Duc City said 186 patients were discharged on September 29, marking a total of 8,012 recovered patients. The hospital is taking care of over 1,400 patients. Field hospitals 1, 8, 10 and 12 have witnessed similar results.

Quarantine centres for patient zeros have also seen a declining number of patients. The quarantine centres in Cu Chi District have a total of 2,400 beds. By the end of September 28, only 79 patients were left at these centres. During the peak of the outbreak, the quarantine centre at Trung Lap Thuong Primary School received up to 200 patients but now the number has dropped to 70. Nine patients stay at the quarantine centre at Trung An Secondary School which has 280 beds.

Thu Duc City has five quarantine centres for patient zeros with 4,400 beds. As of September 28, the number of patients at the centres dropped to 2,881 people. The city is also monitoring 579 patients zeros who self-isolate at home.

As the number of patients drops, HCM City authorities will start closing field hospitals and quarantine centres in order to reopen schools and apartment buildings.

Animated film on Vietnamese history released online

An animated film featuring historical events during the Lê and Mạc dynasties has been released on YouTube. 

Rạch Đôi Sơn Hà (A Country of Two Halves), a 2D production, features the Lê-Mạc war, a 65 year-long civil war between the Lê and Mạc dynasties from 1527 to 1592.  

It focuses on military general Mạc Đăng Dung, who established the Mạc Dynasty in 1527 after fighting against the Trịnh and Nguyễn clans during the Southern and Northern Dynasty period. 

General Dung killed Lê Cung Hoàng, the last Emperor of the Later Lê Dynasty to rule the new Mạc Dynasty. 

In 1592, Thăng Long (now Hà Nội), the capital of the Mạc Dynasty, was reconquered by the Later Lê forces, marking the end of the Southern and Northern Dynasty period of Vietnamese history. 

Rạch Đôi Sơn Hà is produced by filmmakers from Đạt Phi Media, a company founded by Nguyễn Đạt Phi who has a YouTube channel called Hùng Ca Sử Việt (The Heroic Tunes of Vietnamese History).

The film, released on September 21, has attracted more than 49,400 views. 

"We researched documents and books about the nation's historical events and victories, and legendary heroes during the filming,” said Phi, head of the film crew.   

“Through animated films from our YouTube channel Hùng Ca Sử Việt, we hope young people can improve their knowledge about Vietnamese history. They’ll also can learn bravery, honour and responsibility." 

“We have received severals hundred comments and letters from Vietnamese fans at home and abroad who shared their love for Vietnamese history,” he said.

The channel Hùng Ca Sử Việt released in 2016 and has more than 100,000 subcribers.

For every work, Phi and his crew spends around 15 months on filming. “We wanted and have tried our best to make every production lively,” said Phi. 

Phi and his staff are working on a new project, called Anh Hùng Bán Than Trần Khánh Dư (National Hero Trần Khánh Dư), an animated film on Vietnamese history in the Trần Dynasty between 1240-1340. 

“I think animated films shown on social media will help lure young audiences back to Vietnamese movies,” Nguyễn Hoàng Quốc Duy, a 16-year-old from Bình Dương Province, wrote in the comment section on YouTube, after viewing Rạch Đôi Sơn Hà.

Hanoi’s first two electric bus routes to be launched from October

The two first electric bus routes in Hanoi have been scheduled to be put into operation from October, according to a representative from the municipal Department of Transport.

They are among nine electric bus routes approved by local authorities. 

The first route starts from My Dinh Station in Nam Tu Liem District and ends at Ocean Park Gia Lam Urban Area in Long Bien District. The second one runs from Giap Bat Station in Hoang Mai District to Smart City Urban Area in Nam Tu Liem District.

The Hanoi Department of Transport said that preparations for the two route operations have been finished.

The city has planned to put the seven remaining electric bus routes into use by the end of this year.

Hanoi has set a target to raise the city’s rate of CNG-fueled buses to 10-20% in the coming time to help protect the environment.

Funding for purchase of additional 20 million doses of Vero Cell vaccine approved

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on September 29 signed a decision on the purchase and receipt of 20 million doses of Vero Cell COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm group.

The decision stated additional funding for the Ministry of Health (MoH) to buy the vaccine per request of the Ministry of Finance and the MoH.

The two ministries will be responsible for the content and reported statistics. The management, use and payment of the amount must be carried out in an economic, effective, open and transparent manner.

The MoH is required to report the use of the sum to the Prime Minister./.

22nd Vietnam Film Festival to be basically held online

The 22nd edition of the Vietnam Film Festival will be basically organised as an online event from January 18-20 next year to ensure safety regulations amid complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Cinematography Department Vi Kien Thanh.

Previously, the festival was postponed until November instead of September as planned, due to the ravages of COVID-19, Thanh said.

Main events in the framework of the event will include screenings of contested films, and screening programmes in theatres and on online platforms for audiences.

The festival will introduce feature films, documentaries, science films, and cartoons.

The closing and award ceremony will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV) and Thua Thien - Hue Audio and Television Station.

Online promotion and communication activities, and interactions with filmmakers and authors whose films have won the Golden Lotus award are also expected to be organized.

The biennial festival honours outstanding works and artists with contributions to the country’s cinematography.

It also offers chances for insiders to further roll out a project to devise and promote the Vietnam Film Festival in the 2021-30 period./.

Former officials of Vietnam Social Security, Quảng Ninh province expelled from Party

The Party Central Committee’s Secretariat has expelled former leaders of the Vietnam Social Security (VSS) and the Quảng Ninh provincial Department of Education and Training from the Party for their wrongdoings.

The Secretariat made the decision during a meeting held on Tuesday under the chair of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng.

Based on proposals submitted by the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission and opinions given by Party organisations, the Secretariat held that while serving as Secretary of the Party unit at and General Director of the VSS, Nguyễn Huy Ban and Lê Bạch Hồng seriously violated the Party’s regulations and the State’s law on the use of the social insurance fund, causing great financial losses to the State. They have been imprisoned for “deliberately violating the State’s regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences.”

Meanwhile, as a member of the Quảng Ninh provincial Party Committee, and Secretary of the Party Committee at and Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training, Vũ Liên Oanh was held responsible for this Party committee’s violations and shortcomings in its leadership and directions over the building and implementation of working regulations. She lacked sense of responsibility and let law violations occur during the implementation of some investment projects in the 2015 - 2019 period. Police launched an investigation into Oanh and put her into temporary detention for “violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences.”

The Secretariat said the violations committed by the three were “very serious”, causing great financial losses to the State, negatively affecting Party organisations’ prestige, and stirring public concern. Given this, they must receive strict disciplinary measures in line with the Party’s rules.

Basing on the Politburo’s Regulation No 102-QD/TW, issued on November 15, 2017, the Secretariat decided to expel Ban, Hồng, and Oanh from the Party. 

Vietnam, China share experience in Party building

The Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) exchanged experience in Party building and leading national development at a symposium on Tuesday.

The event was co-organised by the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), and the Central Party School of the CPC, both in-person and online formats.

At the symposium, deputy foreign minister Lê Hoài Trung, head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations and Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, emphasised the friendship, comradeship and fraternity between the two Parties.

Both sides expressed their wish to deepen cooperation and exchanges pragmatically and effectively across spheres, intensify political trust, and further advance the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a healthy, stable and sustainable manner, bringing practical interests to people of the two countries and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, Politburo member, President of the HCMA and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, congratulated the CPC on the achievements it has recorded over the past 100 years.

The official expressed his belief that under the leadership of the CPC led by General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, the Chinese people will reap greater achievements.

Chen Xi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the CPC Central Committee’s Secretariat, head of the CPC Central Committee’s Organisation Department, and President of the Chinese school, reviewed the development of the Chinese Party over the past century.

He stressed the view on strengthening the traditional friendship as well as the prospect of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two Parties and States.

On this occasion, the HCMA and the Chinese school signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the future.

Vietnam, RoK bolster education-training cooperation

The Vietnam-Korea Businessmen and Investment Association (VKBIA) and Visang Vietnam Education Company on September 29 signed a cooperation agreement on comprehensive cooperation in education-training and skilled human resources development.

The deal aims to improve workers’ capacity and Korean language skills in a bid to meet demand of foreign direct investment (FDI) firms as well as those in supporting industries and manufacturing.

Under the pact, the sides will build online courses and improve teacher quality by applying a modern education-training model of the RoK.

The cooperation is hoped to generate practical results in human resources development of Vietnam and the RoK in the coming time, said head of Visang Vietnam Education Lee Young-geun.

On the occasion, the VKBIA set up its new affiliate “VKBIA Academy”, which specialises in Korean language training and other relevant fields./.

Khanh Hoa, St. Petersburg foster cooperation in tourism, health

The People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province and the administration of St. Petersburg city of Russia held a webinar on September 29 to promote cooperation between the two localities.

The event aimed to introduce the potential and beauty of the two localities in particular, and the two countries in general; thereby orienting ways to promote cooperation and investment, especially tourism and health.

Evgeny Grigoriev, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, said that his city has twinned with Khanh Hoa province and Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam. St. Petersburg is responsible for contributing to bringing two-way trade turnover to 10 billion USD a year through cooperation between localities.

Le Huu Hoang, Standing Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa provincial People's Committee, expressed his hope that through the webinar, the Russian city will clearly know about potential, strengths and cooperation opportunities with Khanh Hoa province, especially in tourism and health. He suggested St. Petersburg to assist his province in COVD-19 prevention and control.

In 2019, Russia ranked sixth in terms of numbers of tourists to Vietnam, with 646,000, of who 460,000, or over 70 percent, visited Khanh Hoa./.

President lauds undercover police’s contributions over six decades

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed efforts made by the Ministry of Public Security’s undercover police force to fight crimes while attending a ceremony to mark the force’s 60th founding anniversary on September 29.

Over the past six decades, the force has participated in many major projects contributing to fighting kinds of crimes, absolutetly protecting security and safety for activities of Party and State leaders, as well as key works and important national and international events held in Vietnam.

The force’s outstanding feats and contributions of generations of officers and soldiers over the past 60 years have further enhanced the glorious heroic tradition of the People's Public Security force, the State leader affirmed.

He expressed his belief that undercover policemen will exert efforts to fulfil all assigned tasks.

On this occasion, President Phuc granted the Fatherland Defence Order, second class, to the undercover police department, and the Feat Order, second class, to Major General Doan Hung Son, director of the department./.

Amendment of IP law ensures compatibility with int’l commitments: legislators

The National Assembly (NA)’s Committee for Legal Affairs on September 29 reviewed the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Intellectual Property (IP) Law, under the chair of its Chairman Hoang Thanh Tung.

At the meeting, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat stated that amending and supplementing a number of articles of the IP Law is vital to the country’s socio-economic development.

Vietnam has joined international commitments towards the improvement of protection and enforcement of IP rights during global economic integration. Such commitments require amendments and supplements to the country’s IP Law.

Legislators believed that the draft law has basically met international commitments to which Vietnam is a member, especially the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Concluding the meeting, Tung asked drafting agencies to gather opinions and clarify theoretical and practical foundations in a bid to ensure consistency in the legal system, as well as the bill’s compatibility with international commitments that Vietnam has participated in.

He added that based on opinions by the NA Standing Committee and contents of this meeting, the Committee for Legal Affairs will further complete an official verification report for consideration at the second session of the 15th NA./.

Prime Minister highlights Government - VFF cooperation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hailed cooperation between the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) during a conference on September 29 to review the two sides' coordination results in the 2016 -2020 period and the first eight months of this year, and future focuses.

The PM attributed the country's achievements over the past five years to contributions by the VFF, saying that results in previous and current tenures show that cooperation between the Government and the VFF is suitable for national interests.

The two sides have taken the initiative in carrying out tasks stipulated in the collaboration regulation, according to a report at the event.

The tasks have been implemented in a comprehensive and practical manner that addressed urgent issues in life and socio-economic development, thereby creating consensus in society and strengthening national solidarity.

Amid the complexities of COVID-19, the sides have joined hands to tap on strengths of the national solidarity and mobilise resources in the political system, calling for consensus and support of the business community and people nationwide so as to repel the ongoing pandemic and take care of people’s lives.

In the coming time, the Government and the VFF will step up collaboration in COVID-19 prevention and control as well as manufacturing and production, in an effort to offset impacts of the pandemic.

They will continue to promote national solidarity and implement tasks in socio-economic development and ensuring national defence and security; and work together in law building and social accountability programmes for the next year and the 2021-26 period.

He stressed that the Government has determined to operate with integrity, discipline and effectiveness in the 2021-26 term.

The PM asked the VFF and other socio-political organisations, along with the Party Central Committee’s Commission on Mass Mobilisation to partner with the Government to carry out key tasks stipulated in the 13th National Party Congress, and successfully curb the spread of COVID-19 and foster socio-economic recovery and development.

The Government leader hoped that the VFF will strengthen communication work in encouraging good deeds while repelling wrongdoings, and promptly update information from reliable sources and refute fake and inaccurate news, particularly on COVID-19 prevention and control./.

Foreign firms, people aid HCM City in COVID-19 fight
Indonesian businesses and nationals have presented 169 million VND (7,400 USD) and necessities worth more than 120 million VND to Ho Chi Minh City, which is Vietnam’s current largest COVID-19 hotspot. ​
VNA Wednesday, September 29, 2021 17:03
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At the hand-over ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Indonesian businesses and nationals have presented 169 million VND (7,400 USD) and necessities worth more than 120 million VND to Ho Chi Minh City, which is Vietnam’s current largest COVID-19 hotspot.

The gifts were handed over to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of HCM City by Indonesia’s Acting Consul General in the city Yovanka Yoan Siahainenia on September 29.

At the hand-over ceremony, Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of HCM City Nguyen Thanh Trung thanked the Indonesian enterprises and citizens for their timely support.

The aid has practically contributed to consolidating and strengthening the fine friendship between the two countries, he said.

The official used this occasion to call on foreign businesses and communities to further support measures and policies adopted by the Vietnamese government and HCM City’s authorities to combat the pandemic and recover the economy in new normal conditions.

Edwin Setiawan Tjie, President of the Indonesian Business Association in HCM City, affirmed that Indonesian firms always pay heed to social affairs and believed that the southern economic centre will soon put the pandemic under control.

The same day, Good Neighbors International (GNI), a non-governmental organisation in the Republic of Korea (RoK), presented 1,000 gift packages valued at 500 million VND to residents affected by COVID-19 in Tan Phu district.

On September 28, Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong (China) and Deutsches Haus Ho Chi Minh Stadt Ltd. also donated 15 ventilators and other machines with a total value of 8.75 billion VND to medical facilities in the city. /.

Vietnam shares data on multi-hazard warning system at regional meeting

General Director of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Tran Hong Thai, who is Vice President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)’s Regional Association II (Asia), chaired a virtual technical meeting on infrastructure during the 17th session of the Regional Association II (Asia) - Phase 2 on September 28-29.

International and regional experts and scientists discussed issues related to the development of websites serving the community in terms of information and data, the overview of the WMO’s service activities, common alerting protocol, multi-hazard warning system, and multi-hazard early warning consulting system.

The WMO, formally designated as a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1951, has 193 member states and territories.

The 35-member Region II covers a vast expanse of the Indian Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean. It is home to a large and diverse range of ecosystems, including deserts, forests, rivers, lakes and seas. Vietnam has to date held the membership to the regional association for over four decades.

Since 2010, Vietnam's hydro-meteorological sector has continuously expanded international cooperation, significantly contributing to increasing technical and financial capacity, information exchange and staff training, and safeguarding national sovereignty./.

Vietnam reports 8,758 new COVID-19 infections, over 23,500 recoveries

Vietnam recorded an additional 8,758 COVID-19 infections, including 14 imported cases, in the past 24 hours to 5pm on September 29, according to the Ministry of Health.

Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s current largest pandemic hotspot, reported the highest number of infections with 4,699 cases, followed by neighbouring Binh Duong province (2,389), Dong Nai (899), Long An (132) and Soc Trang (112). The capital city reported four cases.

The country has to date logged 779,398 COVID-19 cases.

A total of 23,568 patients were given the all-clear on September 29, raising the number of recoveries to 583,509.

As many as 162 deaths related to the pandemic were announced on the day, raising the tally to 19,098.

On September 28, 1,097,044 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were injected, bringing the total so far to 41,153,041./.

German companies donate medical equipment worth $350,000 to HCM City

German-made medical ventilators and monitors were donated to Hồ Chí Minh City hospitals on Tuesday, thanks to Techtronic Industries and Deutsches Haus.

The donation was initiated by the Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany, Nguyễn Minh Vũ, the European Chamber of Commerce and the German Business Association in Việt Nam.

The medical equipment valued at US$350,000 was handed over to the Vietnam Fatherland Front, who were representing the People's Committee of HCM City, on Tuesday.

Sven Eschrich, Vice President Operations and New Product Introductions of Techtronic Industries in Việt Nam, and Elmar Dutt, COO and General Director of Deutsches Haus, also handed over 15 Intensive Care Ventilators and 30 Patient Monitors made by DRÄGER in Germany, for immediate use in HCM City hospitals.

“In this critical time of the COVID-19 pandemic, both our companies and our German and European partners stand side-by-side with HCM City and Việt Nam to support hospitals with much needed medical equipment,” Elmar Dutt said.

Techtronic Industries Company Limited, founded in 1985, is a world leader in cordless power tools, hand tools and outdoor power equipment for home improvement, maintenance, construction and infrastructure industries. 

Hundreds of residents return home after evacuation

Hundreds of residents of Thanh Xuân District in Hà Nội have returned to their homes after they were evacuated when their neighbourhood became the capital's biggest COVID cluster.

Hundreds more will be back in their own houses over the next few days.

A month ago, after a surge in cases, the majority of people living in the area were moved to the FPT University on the outskirts of Hà Nội.

But now the virus has been contained, the operation has begun to get people back home. 

Dozens of frontline workers, mainly volunteers, who stayed working in the alleys to contain the spread of the virus, have also now fulfilled their missions and are returning to their own families. 

"Just seeing people’s smiles and return to safety makes us always ready to sacrifice everything, because we are frontline workers," one volunteer said.

"When the lockdown was lifted we can return to our families. We miss them a lot." 

Alleys 328 and 330 on Nguyễn Trãi Street in Thanh Xuân Trung Ward became the city’s biggest COVID cluster after a mother and her daughter tested positive on August 23.

Within the space of just a few days, the virus infected around 600 more people. 

Because the area was crowded, with small, densely populated alleyways, the authorities took the decision to evacuate, moving the majority of those who had tested negative to a facility around 17km away. 

The infection source, according to the city’s CDC, was a vegetable vendor who regularly visited the Ngã Tư Sở wholesale market in Đống Đa District.  

Police forces, along with the civil defence and health workers, removed the barriers that had blocked lanes 328 and 330 at the stroke of midnight yesterday.

The returning residents expressed their joy and relief at being back in their own homes.  

Phạm Huy Quân, a resident of Thanh Xuân Trung Ward, said that his family and many people in the blockaded area have seriously implemented the regulations on prevention and control of COVID-19.

"We will continue to strictly comply with the city's regulations to maintain the new normal life we have made efforts over the past month to gain," he said.

Trịnh Thái Hùng added: "I was in the Community COVID Team of the area. We were fully equipped with hats, masks and clothes, but this COVID virus is so evil that all our members were infected.

"I have an 87-year-old mother who became F1 together with my child. My wife became an F0 after being infected while going to get the vaccines. She was treated in Thanh Nhan Hospital. Her result turned negative after 13 days of treatment. I am very happy that I can return home."

Thanh Xuân Trung Ward's COVID-19 Prevention and Control Unit requested all residents continue to monitor their health and strictly follow the guidelines in COVID-19 prevention and control measures due to the complicated development of the pandemic.

Those who have cough and fever must immediately report their symptoms via the website tokhaiyte.vn or via the Bluezone medical app or contact local health authorities for instructions.

Those returning home who had previously tested positive for coronavirus must home-quarantine for 14 days while seven days for F1 people.

Dong Nai to remove checkpoints in COVID-free zones

Authorities in the southern province of Đồng Nai will remove barriers at pandemic checkpoints that blocked off alleys, residential areas and some roads in green (COVID-free) zones from October 1.

Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Nguyễn Hồng Lĩnh said that in "green" areas, people can work and live normally in some fields, however, people should not gather in groups of more than 10 or 20 people.

He was speaking at the provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control’s meeting on Wednesday, adding that checkpoints in the red zones (zones with COVID-19 cases) are still in place.

Also at the meeting, Lĩnh affirmed that the province's policy was to empower businesses to take the initiative.

Leaders of enterprises have the right to decide on the reopening of production and business activities. If re-operating, enterprises must set up a safe production plan.

Provincial authorities will support and guide businesses in epidemiological knowledge, isolation and treatment (in case an outbreak occurs), he said.

Currently, the province is conducting COVID-19 testing in many areas.

Authorities of districts and communes need to mobilise people to actively complete their responsibilities in the fight against the pandemic.

In case people cannot be tested at a fixed location, the medical workers can visit houses.

Meanwhile, the authority in Long An Province said the province is aimed at providing two doses of vaccine for workers as soon as possible.

Nguyễn Văn Út, chairman of the Long An Province People's Committee told a meeting with local businesses on Sunday that wen a case is detected, enterprises do not need to stop all production activities.

He said that enterprises had to handle and isolate F0 cases by themselves, in the narrowest level at production groups, to quickly disinfect the area and then return to operation.

Travel movement from four COVID hotspots to remain limited after Sept 30 

The travel movement of people from the four COVID epicentres of HCM City and Long An, Đồng Nai and Bình Dương provinces must remain strictly controlled after September 30 in order to prevent the spread of virus to provinces where vaccination rates remain low, leaders of southern and Central Highlands' provinces have said.

At a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam on Tuesday, the leaders of these provinces said the plan to reopen the economy in the city and three surrounding provinces could pose a risk of spreading the virus to other provinces such as theirs.

Lê Quốc Hùng, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said that around 3.5 million people from other provinces and cities nationwide, mostly in the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta regions, work in HCM City and Long An, Bình Dương and Đồng Nai provinces.

Of the number, 2.1 million want to return to their hometown after September 30 when the four COVID hotspots are expected to loosen social distancing restrictions.

“However, this is very risky due to the low vaccination rates in other provinces,” he said.

In August when HCM City extended the lockdown period, hundreds of thousands of people rushed to return to their hometowns, spreading the virus to provinces.

Hùng said the PM should direct the epicentres to encourage people to “continue to stay where they are” to prevent the spread. The city and the three provinces should ensure jobs, accommodations, welfare and vaccines to help them stay in city and the three provinces.

Businesses should also be encouraged to welcome people to return to work in HCM City and Bình Dương, Long An and Đồng Nai provinces. 

The ministry recommended that the Government organise trips for the elderly, pregnant women, children and other vulnerable people to return to their hometowns safely if they want to go back. People should not travel on their own, Hùng said.

The Ministry of Health has prioritised most of the vaccines to the hotspots of HCM City and Long An, Bình Dương and Đồng Nai provinces.

From September 30, people in the city and three provinces will be allowed to travel only within their city or provinces, but not to other provinces.

Experts said the Government should continue to prioritise vaccines for HCM City, Long An, Bình Dương and Đồng Nai provinces and neighbouring provinces.

When the vaccination rate of other provinces increases, which is expected in the next month or so, then travel restrictions might be lifted. 

The special working group has also asked the Prime Minister soon to issue a specific directive on travel movement in the city and the three provinces.

Lê Hòa Bình, Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee, said the city had organised 143 trips for 36,000 people to return to their hometowns in provinces across the country. 

After September 30, the city will give priority to reopening businesses and production establishments in industrial zones, processing and exporting zones, and high tech zones, which will need workers. The city will arrange jobs and vaccinations for them to help them stay in the city.

The city is drafting a plan to welcome workers from other provinces to return to the city for work, including criteria to ensure pandemic prevention safety for drivers, companions and workers.

The city is compiling its directive on relaxing social distancing measures which will begin on October 1.

The city will maintain 12 checkpoints at its gateways and 39 other checkpoints at entrances to other localities.

HCM City has imposed various levels of lockdown measures since late May. On August 23, the city imposed the toughest measures, ordering people to “stay where they are” except for emergencies. 

The city has recorded nearly 380,000 cases since late April when the fourth wave began. About 15,000 people have died of the virus in the city. 

COVID situation has improved in HCM City 

According to the city Department of Health, the city has seen the pandemic peak and the city’s number of COVID-related deaths continues to drop, with the number of discharged patients exceeding the number of hospitalised patients.

Seven districts in the city have basically contained the outbreak: Củ Chi, Cần Giờ, Nhà Bè, District 7, Gò Vấp, Phú Nhuận, and Thủ Đức city.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Phạm Đức Hải, deputy dead of the city Steering Committee for Disease Prevention and Control, said HCM City had 2,674 patients hospitalised and 3,131 patients discharged on Monday (September 27), the second day in a row when the number of hospitalised was lower than the number of discharged. 

The number of patients on ventilators has decreased since September 6 and is currently 1,793 cases. As many as 22 patients are undergoing ECMO intervention in the city.

The number of deaths has also decreased over the past two weeks, dropping to 131 on Sept 27 compared to 340 on Aug 22. 

Speaking at the press conference, Nguyễn Hồng Tâm, deputy director of HCM City Cenre of Disease Control, said, as of September 27, the city had administered more than 9.7 million doses, of which the total number of first doses was 6,824,718 and the second doses nearly 1.5 million. 

The number of vaccinated people aged 65 and over and people with underlying conditions has reached more than 1.1 million.

It has administered 100 per cent of the first doses for people over 50 years old (with the second doses reaching 48.5 per cent).

More than 95 per cent of adults aged 18 and above have received at least one vaccine dose and 33 per cent are fully vaccinated in the city.

In addition, the HCM City Welfare Centre has provided more than 2 million support packages to support people in difficulty because of the pandemic.

It plans to provide an additional two million packages in coming time, according to city authorities.

Army continues assisting southern localities’ fight against COVID-19 after September 30

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has requested the army to continue supporting Ho Chi Minh City and other southern localities in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic after September 30 when they begin loosening social distancing measures.

Dam, who is deputy head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, made the statement at his meeting with representatives from the Defence Ministry’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in HCM City and southern localities on September 29.

According to him, before the localities achieve herd immunity, it needs to take steps to adjust support forces appropriately.

He hailed efforts by military and military medicine forces to treat COVID-19 patients and join hands with locals to combat the pandemic.

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, head of the Government’s special working group on COVID-19 prevention and control in HCM City and southern localities, said after September 30 when HCM City and southern localities start loosening social distancing measures, the army will have adjustments suitable for each locality.

Luong proposed the Vietnam People's Army (VPA)’s General Department of Politics assign relevant agencies to coordinate with units and localities to extend disseminations to raise public awareness of pandemic prevention and control.

The VPA General Staff and the General Department of Logistics should adjust their forces to suit the new situation, he added./.

Projects winning Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2021 announced

Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of the US multinational corporation Qualcomm, on September 29 announced three winners at the final round of the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2021 with prizes worth 225,000 USD in total.

Rostek project won the first prize. With its autonomous guided vehicle (AGV) and vehicle management system, Rostek provides a digital and hi-tech solution for transporting goods in factories and warehouses.

The second prize went to the AIOZ BeetleBot project with its indoor delivery robot, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) and voice interface to deliver items such as food or packages in an indoor environment. BeetleBot is suitable for hospitals, and supports delivery in the context of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BusMap project of Phenikaa MaaS Technology JSC got the third prize. Its AI-integrated camera system called bHub allows users to monitor safety factors when driving through an image recognition device, thus assuring the safety for both drivers and passengers amidst the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung, Vietnam has been entering a new era of 5G, AI, cloud computing and diverse applications of IoT technology.

The ministry encourages start-up communities to continue to show off their lightning-fast innovation ability for Vietnam, he said.

Launched in 2019, the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2021 aims to incubate innovative startups in new technology fields. It encourages enterprises to create new products in key technology areas using Qualcomm Technologies' technologies and mobile platforms.

Alex Rogers, President of Qualcomm Technology Licensing (QTL) and Global Affairs, said that the programme was launched to encourage startups show their strength and creativity, thus further promoting development of Vietnam's startup ecosystem.

The Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2022 has officially opened for registration at https://www.qualcomm.com/qvic./.

Video clip launched to promote Phu Quoc’s tourism

 

A video clip titled “Viet Nam: Di de yeu! Roam Phu Quoc” was officially launched on YouTube on September 22, aiming to give viewers a taste of the “Pearl Island” - Phu Quoc.

The clip is part of a programme promoting Vietnamese tourism on YouTube organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, with support from Vinpearl and Google.

It made debut at a time the tourism sector is preparing to welcome international visitors back to Phu Quoc.

The over-60-second video offers viewers a brief tour of renowned places in the island district such as Mong Tay and Gam Ghi islets, the Truc Lam Ho Quoc Zen Monastery, Phu Quoc United Centre - the largest entertainment and resort complex in Vietnam, and Hon Thom Cable Car - the world’s longest sea cable car system.

Beautiful beaches, crystal clear seawater, and fresh seafood are also highlights of the clip, promising an ideal destination for tourists to enjoy.

With vivid images, it helps popularise the beauty of this island and encourage travel lovers to explore this place when possible.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said Phu Quoc is scheduled to welcome foreign tourists back on a trial basis in October. The pilot programme is only applied to those involved in package tours organised by travel companies and coming from markets that have high COVID-19 safety.

International visitors need to have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or recovered from the disease, and test negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The pilot move is expected to be an impulse for the tourism sector and popularise Vietnam as a safe and attractive tourist destination./.

Vietnam to eradicate rabies deaths by 2030

Vietnam targets to eliminate human deaths from rabies by 2030 under a draft National Program for Rabies Prevention during the 2022-2030 period.

At an online national conference jointly held by the ministries of Health and Agriculture and Rural Development on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Xuân Tuyên said that rabies was still one of the deadliest infectious diseases in Việt Nam, besides the measles outbreak in 2014 and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was held to assess the implementation of the National Program to Control and Moving Towards Eradication of Rabies during 2017-2021, and discuss the draft National Program for Rabies Prevention.

Rabies is a severe acute infectious disease caused by the rabies virus, which is transmissible from animals to humans. According to WHO, rabies infections have been recorded in 150 nations and territories, claiming 59,000 lives every year. Up to 95 per cent of fatalities from rabies are from Asia and Africa. Rabies infects 29 million people every year, costing US$8.6 billion in post-infection treatments.

Rabies is dangerous but can be prevented through vaccination for animals and people who were bitten by animals.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phùng Đức Tiến said with the remarkable efforts of the two ministries, along with the local governments and with the support of international organisations, Việt Nam had been implementing measures to enact the prevention of rabies nationally.

As a result, the number of rabies cases dropped an average of 12 cases each year during the 2017-2021 period in comparison with the 2011-2016 period.

As many as 23 out of 63 provinces recorded no cases of rabies over the last two years. However, every year there are still 500,000 Vietnamese bitten by cats or dogs.

The vaccination rates for dogs increased to 49.2 per cent but the current large number of dogs (7.5 million) still poses a high risk for rabies outbreaks in the future.

Participants suggested rabies preventive methods, including vaccination for pets with a targeted rate of over 70 per cent each year, inoculating people at high risk and injecting anti-rabies serum for those bitten by dogs.

Tuyên said although the number of rabies-related deaths had been decreasing, it was not stable and the number of provinces with rabies had not dropped compared to the 2011-2016 period. These shortcomings were due to ineffective management of dogs as well as low vaccination rates for dogs and low public awareness of rabies.

The ministries of Health and Agriculture and Rural Development called for ministries, agencies and the community to take measures to effectively prevent rabies with the aim of eliminating human deaths from the disease by 2030, including increasing public awareness of rabies, improving management and vaccination for dogs and cats, and ensure that all dog-bitten people are vaccinated.

A meeting was held on the sidelines of the conference to mark the World Rabies Day 2021 with the theme: "Rabies: Facts not Fear". 

Vietnam lensman scores silver at French photo contest

 

Tran Viet Van, a Vietnamese journalist, scooped silver for his “90 Years Old Shoemaker” photo a French photo contest. Van was honored in the Press/Travel category of “Prix de la Photographie, Paris”.

Van’s photo captured the moment of 90-year-old shoemaker Trinh Ngoc, who has been making shoes for more than 60 years.

Ngoc was born in 1931 in the Mekong delta province of Ba Lieu. In 1947, his family moved to Cambodia and resided in Phnom Penh. In 1970, he returned to the homeland and has lived in Ho Chi Minh City since then.

Throughout his career, Ngoc has made shoes for many Vietnamese singers and even for the Cambodian royal family, including King Norodom Sihanouk.

When Van asked him what the most important thing in his life was, Ngoc told the photo journalist of Lao Dong newspaper: “If you create joy for others, you will receive double happiness.”

Ngoc said he saw his shoes as works of art that reflected each wearer’s personality. He always asked his customers a lot of questions to get a better understanding of their needs and expectations.

Founded in 2007, “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” is a photography award that strives to promote appreciation of photography, discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community inParis.

Van has won various photo contests in and outside Vietnam and held solo and group exhibitions in many countries./.

Eight-year imprisonment sentence upheld for woman for anti-State activities

The High-level People's Court in Da Nang on September 29 upheld an eight-year imprisonment sentence on a woman from Phu Yen province on the charge of “making, storing, distributing and disseminating information, documents and items aimed at sabotaging the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Clause 1 of Article 117 in the 2015 Penal Code.

Tran Thi Tuyet Dieu, born 1988, was sentenced to eight years in prison on the charge in the first-instance trial by the People's Court of Phu Yen province.

At the appeal trial held publicly at the Phu Yen provincial court, the panel rejected all contents of Dieu's appeal.

According to the indictment of the Phu Yen People's Procuracy, from July 2011 to December 2017, Dieu wrote and stored 25 articles and 9 video clips with anti-state content.

She then posted those articles and video clips on her accounts on Facebook and Youtube.

Earlier from July 2011 to December 2017, Dieu also posted many articles on social media distorting the activities of law enforcement agencies and expressing support for Nguyen Viet Dung, who was sentenced to six years in jail for spreading anti-State propaganda./.

Party’s Commission for Information and Education launches information app

The Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education on September 29 launched an information application, and a new form of three bulletins on activities of Party cells, and reporting information, and education and information work.

Chairman of the Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia said 2021 is the first year that the entire Party, people and army have implemented the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, continue to comprehensively and synchronously promote the renewal process, incite the aspiration for national development, and strengthen the national great unity, thus promoting rapid and sustainable development of the country.

Besides opportunities and advantages, Vietnam is facing many great challenges, especially complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Therefore, the quality and efficiency of the Party’s information and report work must be improved in order to meet requirements in the new situation, Nghia noted.

The official asked the Commission’s Information and Communication Centre to continue closely following the 13th National Party Congress’s Resolution, and give consultancy on measures to innovate and improve the quality and efficiency of information provision, and timely give information orientations.

Director of the centre Do Phuong Thao affirmed that, with the close coordination of the Vietnam News Agency, the application is hoped to operate regularly and effectively, and will contribute to ensuring the rapid provision of accurate information to leaders of the commission, and speakers at all levels.

In recent years, the three bulletins of the commission implemented by the centre have really become an important and useful source of information and documents for a large number of speakers, communicators, Party cells and Party members nationwide. They have played a crucial role in the Party's information front./.

Russian media highlight Vietnamese FM’s visit

Russian media have positively evaluated Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son’s official visit to Russia from September 25 to 28, the first trip to Russia since he took office in April.

Main activities during Son’s visit were covered by state news agency TASS, international news agency Russia Today, Sputnik news agency, TV channel Chanel One, financial news channel Vesti and other websites.

The Russian press highly appreciated the close cooperation between Vietnam and the Russia in many important fields, emphasising the similarities and stance coordination between the two countries’ agencies for external affairs on current international issues.

RIA Novosti news agency quoted Son as saying that Vietnam considers Russia an important strategic partner, and the two countries have cooperated closely in special important fields.

TASS cited the Vietnamese FM’s statement in a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov as reporting that Vietnam and Russia shared similar views on many global issues.

“While discussing the situation in the Asia Pacific, we reiterated that all regional disagreements should be resolved peacefully based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” TASS wrote.

Answering a question raised by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s reporter on cooperation prospects between the two countries, Son said oil and gas cooperation is an important pillar and one of the most effective cooperation areas in the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Most of Russia’s oil and gas corporations such as Zarubezhneft, Gazprom and Rosneft have been carrying out oil and gas projects in Vietnam, of which Vietsovpetro joint venture is a vivid symbol of the Vietnam-Russia friendship, he said.

Rusvietpetro oil and gas joint venture is also operating very effectively in Russia, Son said, expressing his wish that there will be more effective joint ventures such as Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro in the future.

“The oil and gas cooperation between our countries has passed through many challenges, and I can confirm that nothing can threaten or challenge our cooperation in this strategic area," he said.

With the solid foundation of solidarity, traditional friendship and mutual trust, Son was confident that the two nations would continue to expand and deepen the cooperation in the oil and gas sector as well as beefing up collaboration in the fields of renewable energy and new energy.

The Vietnamese FM affirmed that the energy cooperation between Vietnam and Russia has not only served the interest of the two countries but also contributed to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region./.

Freedom House should stop making groundless assessments on internet freedom in Vietnam

The Freedom House has recently issued a report which again contains prejudiced and partial assessments on internet freedom in Vietnam.

Such assessments have no valid grounds and intentionally ignore the vivid reality of internet freedom in Vietnam, as well as achievements the country has recorded in human rights over the past years.

Vietnam’s efforts in ensuring and promoting human rights have been lauded by other countries and international organisations at various cycles of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The council has also regarded Vietnam as a bright spot in human development, as reflected through the implementation of millennium development goals (MDGs) on poverty reduction, and social equality and progress.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has been praised for giving the top priority to public health.

According to the Human Development Report 2020 released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Vietnam has joined the ranks of countries with high human development in the world.

Between 1990 and 2019, the country’s Human Development Index (HDI) increased by almost 46 percent, which was among the highest HDI growth rates in the world, the report said.

Notably, Vietnam is one of the countries that have completed the MDGs ahead of schedule, and are working towards sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The country has made impressive progress in internet development. Statistics show about 70 percent of Vietnamese people use the internet, against the world’s average ratio of only 51.4 percent. Vietnam is among the 20 countries with the highest number of internet users.

Various social platforms have registered to operate in the country, with the most popular being Facebook, Zalo, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok, to name just a few. Notably, Facebook has attracted up to over 65 million users in the country.

People can freely express their views and share information via the internet, especially websites and social networks. Many agencies and organisations in the political system, from the central to grassroots levels, have also utilised the internet and social networks to serve their operations, handle administrative procedures and maintain contact with residents.

They are the vivid evidences of the fact that the Vietnamese Party and State have always respected and protected the development right of each individual, as well as their rights to freedom of information and internet.

Therefore, the Freedom House’s allegation that Vietnam’s Law on Cyber Security is a tool to monitor internet use in the country is groundless.

The cyber security law is designed to make Vietnam’s cyber space healthy and protect the country’s sovereign right in the cyber space, in the context of surging trade frauds, fake news, distorted information or contents that are immoral or trigger social disturbances.

The freedom of internet and social networks in Vietnam has been exercised within the legal framework to ensure cyber security and prevent activities that take advantage of social networks to violate Vietnam’s laws, incite social unrest and create conditions for external forces to intervene into domestic matters.

Moreover, the law totally conforms to international law, specifically the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Article 19 of the ICCPR stipulates that “Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference,” but the exercise of such rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. “It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; (b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.”

It is obvious that the Free House has deliberately ignored the ICCPR regulations, and the fact that not only Vietnam but also more than 180 other countries have issued a cyber security law or relevant rules to ensure national security.

Many countries like the US, Germany, France, the Republic of Korea and Singapore have adopted laws and clauses stipulating the strict handling of law violations in the cyber space.

The Freedom House has repeatedly made biased and prejudiced assessments on Vietnam’s internet freedom since the country issued the Law on Cyber Security. It mainly collects such information from reactionary organisations and groups that involve in activities to sabotage Vietnam.

The fabricated information aims to create false understanding on internet freedom and human rights in Vietnam, to defame the country and lower its prestige, position and role in the international arena.

Professor Vladimir Kolotov, head of the Ho Chi Minh Institute at St. Petersburg University in Russia, said the reports issued each year by Freedom House neither base on realities nor reflect the real situation of human rights in countries. It gives itself the right to accuse other countries of violating human rights and interfere into other countries’ internal affairs, he said.

It is clear that the Freedom House has no rights to intervene into internal affairs of countries. It must immediately put an end to such valueless reports./.

ASEAN pledges stronger cooperation in fighting trans-national crime

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieut. Gen. Luong Tam Quang attended the 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC 15) and related meetings via videoconference on September 29.

Speaking at the event, Quang said criminals are making full use of cyber space to commit offences. In such context, Vietnam’s law enforcement agencies must assist other ministries and agencies in controlling the pandemic while continuing its task of fighting crimes and achieved positive results, he said.

Vietnam pledged to engage actively and responsibly in ASEAN cooperation frameworks and cooperate in trans-national crime prevention and control in particular, he said.

The Deputy Minister suggested the regional states continue consolidating collaboration and creating mutual trust in the near future.

Amid the complicated developments of the pandemic, he called on the regional countries to pay attention to cooperating in border management and cyber security.

Parties concerned need to establish information channels, adapt to the “new normal”, enhance coordination with ASEAN’s dialogue partners in personnel and language training, encourage partners to assist the bloc in COVID-19 response, provide vaccines, improve vaccine production capacity and facilitate the transfer of vaccine production technologies, he stated.

Minister of Defence II of Brunei and Chair of AMMTC 15 Datu Seri Awang Halbi bin Mohd Yussof highlighted the importance of the AMMTC cooperation mechanism, helping to maintain peace, stability and development in the region.

He said Brunei vows to continue upholding its role in guiding ASEAN in maintaining dialogue, as well as in timely and effective response to unprecedented difficulties and challenges.

Participants at the event agreed on measures to promote goals in the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime, and adopted the Concept Paper entitled “A Regional Border Management Cooperation: Roadmap” initiated by Thailand and the ASEAN Statement on post-pandemic trans-national crime prevention and control proposed by Brunei.

At the end of the meeting, the officials also approved the joint statement of AMMTC 15./.

Vietnam welcomes agreement on resuming talks in Syria

Vietnam welcomed the agreement just reached on the working methodologies of the Constitutional Committee in Syria and underscored the importance of rebuilding trust and confidence to overcome long‑standing differences between the sides in the country.

Addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council on the political process in Syria on September 28, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Pham Hai Anh shared the concern about the plight of Syrian people and called for concrete steps towards a political solution that would ensure long‑term peace and security. 

The ambassador added that the international community must remain united and unwavering in its support for the Syrian people.

He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, while noting that efforts to fight terrorism should also be made in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions of the UNSC.

At the meeting, Special Envoy of the Secretary‑General for Syria, Geir Pedersen announced that, after eight months of facilitation efforts, the Syrian Government and the opposition had agreed to hold the sixth session of the Small Drafting Body of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva from October 18.

“I am convinced that Geneva can be the place where Syrians committed to durable peace can begin work with each other in a constructive manner,” he said./. 

Students in HCM City supported to continue study amid COVID-19

Students in Ho Chi Minh City who have encountered difficulties in online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic have received support from local authorities and donors to continue their study.

Statistics from the municipal Department of Education and Training revealed that more than 70,000 students in the city lack either access to the internet or electric devices to study online.

Of nearly 650,000 primary school students, more than 55,000 lack the necessary equipment and a stable internet connection. Some are temporarily staying in the countryside and cannot return to the city.

At secondary and high school levels, which have nearly 700,000 students, as many as 17,000 pupils do not have internet access and the necessary equipment, while 5,000 have the equipment but have no internet connection.

However, thanks to the assistance of all-level administrations and donors, many of them have been able to access online classes.

The local educational sector, agencies and localities have drawn up flexible, specific teaching plans and models matching the latest situation, in line with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations.

Teachers of Minh Duc Secondary School in District 1 have initiated a model, under which they call for the donation of used smart phones and laptops to their students.

Within more than one week, no more students of the school lacked electric devices to log into online classes, according to headmaster of the school Tran Thuy An.

Similar programmes have also been launched by associations and organisations over the past time to aid students with used devices and leaning equipment.

Local youths have also maintained free classes but in the online format for children in difficult circumstances. More than 300 students and teachers have voluntarily joined the programme.

Despite a lack of teachers and study materials, such classes have opened daily, making parents feel secure as their children still continue their study amid complex developments of the pandemic./.

Quang Ninh pilots automatic entry-exit control system

The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on September 29 kicked off a pilot automatic system for entry-exit control at the COVID-19 checkpoint on Bach Dang Bridge toll station in Quang Yen township.

This is the first checkpoint in the province to launch the system, which uses cameras to automatically scan people's QR codes. The scanned information will then be transmitted to computers of officers on duty for further checks.

The cameras process information much quicker than the traditional method under which an officer scans the codes by his smartphone.

The system aims to limit close contact, reduce the risk of disease transmission, and shorten the time for administrative procedures.

Lying on the Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh expressway, the Bach Dang Bridge checkpoint is the most important location to monitor people and vehicles entering Quang Ninh from localities nationwide. Some 3,000 vehicles run though the checkpoint a day./.

Nationwide tourism recovery programme launched

The Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA) on September 28 launched a nationwide tourism recovery programme with a direction of living safely with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the ceremony, VTA Permanent Vice Chairman Vu The Binh said over the past two years, over 2 million direct and millions of indirect workers have become unemployed due to the pandemic. In 2020 and the first half of 2021, a series of tourism stimulus programmes were launched whenever the pandemic was controlled.

Via the programme, the organising board wants to raise public awareness of safe travelling and create trust among tourists about selected travel companies that meet criteria for welcoming guests amid the pandemic, he said.

Binh added that, in the foreseeable future, the tourism sector will adopt six principles and build safety criteria for tourists and travel companies.

According to a plan issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the sector will launch communications campaigns to stimulate tourism with the messages “Vietnamese people travel Vietnam”, “Vietnam's safe and attractive tourism” while piloting a programme to welcome foreign visitors back to Phu Quoc island city in the southern province of Kien Giang, then expanding to other destinations, including Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh, Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam, Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa and Da Lat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The ministry highlighted three important factors in the new normal, including vaccinations for residents and workers in the sector, ensuring safety of destinations and lodging facilities, and creating favourable conditions for domestic and international visitors having vaccination certificates./.

Ministry urges localities to accelerate vaccinations against COVID-19
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has sent a document to Secretaries of provincial/municipal Party Committees and Chairpersons of provincial/municipal People’s Committees, asking for faster vaccinations against COVID-19.
VNA Wednesday, September 29, 2021 11:16
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Ministry urges localities to accelerate vaccinations against COVID-19 hinh anh 1
The Ministry of Health urges localities to accelerate vaccinations against COVID-19 - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) has sent a document to Secretaries of provincial/municipal Party Committees and Chairpersons of provincial/municipal People’s Committees, asking for faster vaccinations against COVID-19.

According to the MoH, from October to December this year, Vietnam is likely to receive a larger number of COVID-19 vaccines than before.

To ensure the use of vaccines on schedule and quickly increase vaccination coverage for Vietnamese people, the MoH proposed Secretaries of provincial/municipal Party Committees and Chairpersons of provincial/municipal People’s Committees across the county to direct relevant units to develop plans and prepare facilities, equipment and human resources to deploy large-scale vaccination rollouts from now until the end of 2021.

The ministry also urged localities to accelerate the inoculations for those aged 18 and above, with priority giving to people aged 50 and older, and increase the vaccination coverage of the first shot, give second injections to those who have received the first shots in line with the prescribed time.

Preparation should be made to deploy vaccinations for other groups in accordance with instructions of the ministry, it added.

The MoH asked localities mobilise all forces to join the vaccination task, including public and private healthcare establishments and medical examination and treatment units of sectors, and conduct vaccinations at fixed medical facilities and mobile vaccination sites.

These facilities should thoroughly apply information technology in vaccination campaigns, and must urgently update full information related vaccinated people, and newly-administered people to the national COVID-19 vaccination system, it said.

The MoH suggested that leaders of localities urgently direct the implementation of the work, consider this as a key task in the current situation, and take responsibility before the Government and the Prime Minister if the organisation of vaccine reception and vaccination remains slow and vaccine waste occurs.

As of September 27, over 40.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered to people nationwide, with 23 million people getting the first shots and 8.6 million others fully receiving two shots. The proportion of people aged 18 years and above getting at least one dose of vaccineư against COVID-19 reached 43.9 percent./.

Japan’s policy towards Vietnam unchanged with new leadership: expert

Japan’s policy towards Vietnam will basically remain unchanged even when the Eat Asian country has a new leadership.

The affirmation was made by Ryokichi Motoyoshi, former Secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the eve of a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to elect its new president on September 29.

Motoyoshi, who is also a legal advisor for Vietnamese in Japan, laid emphasis on the trustworthy relationship between the two countries, with substantial potential for cooperation.

Before Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide visited Vietnam in October last year, the world had seen changes in supply chains, prompting many Japanese firms to move their production to Vietnam, he said.

In addition, Vietnamese now account for the largest ratio among foreign labourers in Japan.

After taking office last year, Suga selected Vietnam for his first overseas trip. The visit has contributed to promoting Japan’s image among Vietnamese, Motoyoshi said.

He recalled that when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Japan, Vietnam presented face masks and other medical supplies to the country, and later, Japan provided Vietnam with COVID-19 vaccines. Motoyoshi described the mutual support as a vivid demonstration of the trustworthy relationship between the two countries.

According to the expert, the bilateral ties will grow stronger across spheres after the two countries bring the pandemic under control.

Japan has faced a shortage of workforce so it needs a large number of guest workers, particularly those from Vietnam, he said, noting that the cooperation in this field will further develop in the time ahead./.

Disciplinary measures against 15 military organisations, individuals proposed

The Inspection Commission of the Central Military Commission has proposed disciplinary measures against one organisation and 14 soldiers violating the rules during its recent third meeting.

The meeting was chaired by General Luong Cuong, member of the Politburo, member of the Central Military Commission’s Standing Committee, Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, and Head of the Central Military Commission’s Inspection Commission.

Cuong said that the consideration of disciplinary measures has been made in line with the Party’s policy, the State’s laws as well as regulations of the Ministry of National Defence, ensuring the principle of settling violations of collectives in connection with the responsibility of individuals without any exception.

He asked the Inspection Commission’s Standing Board to continue giving advice to the Central Military Commission’s Standing Committee and the Inspection Commission on measures to strengthen inspection, supervision and discipline execution, while actively detecting violations and responding to complaints and denunciations, thus helping to ensure and enhance the leadership capacity and combativeness strength of the Party and foster solidarity and unity in the military to complete political tasks./.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/SGGP/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes