Vietnam is working to soon develop its own home-made COVID-19 vaccines, a representative from the Health Ministry told a meeting of the standing board of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control on April 14.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also head of the committee.

 The board asked that favourable conditions continue to be created for the clinical test of COVID-19 vaccines, while plans of production should be put in place in order to quickly produce vaccines once the testing proves successful.

Hailing the Health Ministry for its vaccination efforts and dealing with post-vaccination reactions, the board directed the health, public security, and national defence ministries to continue closely controlling immigration pending a policy regarding “vaccine passports”. 

Many at the meeting reiterated that prevention measures continue to play an important role in the current context.

Ministries, agencies, and localities are urged to direct medical stations, schools, lodging facilities, factories, and markets to remain vigilant and seriously follow prevention and control measures./.

Vietnam confirms 21 imported cases, including an Indian expert

Twenty-one people, including an Indian citizen, have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus after entering Vietnam, the Ministry of Health (MoH) announced in its 18.00hrs update on April 15.

The Indian expert, 38, boarded EK392 flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Vietnam’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on April 13, and was quarantined upon his arrival.

He tested positive the following day and was transferred to HCM City-based Cu Chi field hospital for medical surveillance and treatment.

Eighteen other patients are Vietnamese citizens who returned from the Philippines, Japan, the UAE, Qatar, Thailand, Japan and Angola from late March to April 14.

Only two patients crossed the Long Binh International Bordergate in Long An province into southern Vietnam.

All the returnees tested positive during their stay in concentrated quarantine facilities, thus posing no risk to the community, said the MoH.

The number of the new patients has raised the national count to 2,758, including 1,570 locally transmitted infections.

As many as 2,445 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease.

Of the remaining cases in health facilities, 52 have tested negative for the virus at least once.

New PM presides over first Cabinet meeting

Newly-elected Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 15 chaired a Cabinet meeting to implement upcoming tasks following the completion of the new Cabinet lineup.

Addressing the meeting, Chinh congratulated new Cabinet members on their election and appointment at the recent National Assembly session, and asked them to work closely alongside incumbent members to undertake tasks assigned by the Party, State and people.  

Cabinet members then examined a draft plan of action on implementing the Resolution adopted at the recent 13th National Party Congress, amendments to several legal documents, and preparations for the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and local People’s Councils.

They also touched upon the ongoing COVID-19 fight; the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and measures to accelerate public investment disbursement and assist businesses as well as people affected by recent coronavirus outbreaks.

PM Pham Minh Chinh was elected at the 11th session of the 14th National Assembly taking place from March 24 to April 8. Fourteen ministers and heads of ministerial-level bodies were also appointed at the NA session to replace their successors.

The new Cabinet has the Prime Minister, five Deputy Prime Ministers and 22 Ministers and heads of ministerial-level bodies.

Vehicle owners urged to install surveillance cameras

A surveillance camera is installed in a coach

The owners of vehicles with more than nine seats and trucks have been urged to quickly complete the installation of surveillance cameras before July 1.

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN) recently issued a written request to the Department of Transport of provinces and cities to hasten the installation according to the roadmap specified in a decree on transportation business conditions.

Recording and storage of the images on the vehicles must be sent to police, traffic inspectors and licensing agencies to ensure transparent surveillance.

Videos and images must be transmitted 12-20 times per hour on journeys to transportation business units and the DRVN.

Also after July 1, vehicle owners that are required to install surveillance cameras but fail to do so will be severely dealt with.

The DRVN will start a campaign to inspect and handle violations through data monitoring device for all passenger and goods transportation vehicles nationwide from April 15 to July 15.

The leader of the DRVN said the agency had repeatedly directed the Department of Transport and the transportation businesses to monitor and handle violations through monitoring device to improve the effectiveness of transport management, contributing to preventing and minimising traffic accidents.

However, many vehicles failed to transmit data to transportation businesses and the DRVN.

This inspection aims to prevent, detect and strictly handle violations of the installation, exploitation and use of data from the monitoring devices for business units and drivers./.

Seven defendants in Phu Tho ethanol case file appeals

Seven defendants and one unit whose rights and obligations were associated with the Phu Tho ethanol plant case have filed appeals after the Hanoi People’s Court passed judgement a month ago.

The seven are among 12 defendants in the case involving violations of regulations on investment in construction works, causing serious consequences, at the ethanol plant in the northern province of Phu Tho. They were brought to trial by the municipal People’s Court from March 8-15.

The defendants lodging appeals are former Chairman of the Board of Directors and former General Director of the PetroVietnam Construction JSC (PVC) Trinh Xuan Thanh, former General Director of the PetroVietnam PetroChemicals and Biofuel JSC (PVB) Vu Thanh Ha, former General Director of the PetroVietnam Construction JSC (PVC) Pham Xuan Dieu, former deputy head of PVB’s investment office Nguyen Xuan Thuy, former deputy head of PVB’s commercial office Khuong Anh Tuan, former head of PVB’s business office Le Thanh Thai, and former chief accountant at PVB Hoang Dinh Tam.

Thanh asked the court to throw out the entire verdict, while the six others asked for an exemption from civil responsibility.

Ha, Dieu, and Thuy also asked for reduced punishment on the charge of “violating regulations on investment in construction works, causing serious consequences”. Thai, meanwhile, hoped to receive a suspended sentence.

They asked the court to consider the situation when the violations took place and that they were not fully aware of their wrongdoings.

The Mai Phuong Company also filed an appeal, asking the court to return 3,400 sq m of land in Vinh Phuc province’s Tam Dao district to the company, instead of giving it to PVC.

Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) Dinh La Thang, who, the court said, must shoulder the main responsibility in selecting the contractor for the project, did not file an appeal.

During the first instance trial last month, the People’s Court handed down a jail term of 11 years to Thang for “violating regulations on investment in construction works, causing serious consequences” in line with Article 224, Clause 3 of the 2015 Penal Code.

Combined with sentences given to him in previous cases, Thang will spend a total of 30 years in prison.

On the same charge, Ha was given a jail term of six and a half years. Binh received a 36-month suspended sentence. Dieu will spend three and a half years behind bars, while former Deputy General Director of PVC Nguyen Ngoc Dung was sentenced to three years in prison.

Jail terms ranging from 24 to 30 months were handed down to the other defendants on the same charge.

Thanh was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “violating regulations on investment in construction works, causing serious consequences”, and eight years behind bars for “abusing position and power while performing duties”. Taking into account his previous sentences, he faces life imprisonment.

Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of the Kinh Bac Petroleum Construction and Investment JSC Do Van Hong was given a jail sentence of four years for “abusing position and power while performing duties”. Combined with sentences given earlier, he must serve a jail term of 17 years.

According to the indictment, Thang signed a resolution to approve investment in the project in October 2007. On his instruction, the PVC/Alfa Laval/Delta-T joint contractors, who had no previous experience in carrying out ethanol projects, were appointed to implement the project.

As a result, the project was continuously behind schedule and ceased in March 2013 with no construction items done.

The wrongdoings of the defendants were said to cause losses of more than 543 billion VND (23.49 million USD).

Thanh confessed that when signing the contract for the implementation of the project with funding of 59 million USD, he was aware that the amount was not enough to cover implementation.

The judge stated that Thang must take the main responsibility in selecting the contractor.

Such wrongdoings in contractor selection have resulted in the suspension of the project, with no items completed so far, according to the judge.

Vietnam’s vaccine regulatory system reaches WHO’s second-highest level

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently announced that Vietnam’s National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for vaccines reached Maturity Level 3, the second highest in the WHO classification of national regulatory system.

Classification is carried out by WHO’s Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) which assesses a number of functions and criteria to ensure the quality, safety, and effectiveness of vaccines distributed in the country.

In April 2015, Vietnam’s vaccine regulatory authorities achieved the “Functional” status against WHO Vaccine Assessment Tool.

In 2018 November, a WHO team comprising of international experts re-assessed Vietnam’s NRA using an updated and more comprehensive GBT (version V) with new functions and benchmarking criteria.

It requires national regulatory authorities, including those who have been certified by WHO in 2015, to make great efforts to further improve their systems.

GBT evaluation results are presented as maturity levels on a scale of 1 to 4. Achieving Maturity Level 1 means some elements of regulatory system exist. Maturity Level 2 indicates evolving national regulatory system that partially performs essential regulatory functions. Maturity Level 3 confirms a stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system is in place. The highest level, Maturity Level 4, is achieved by a regulatory system operating at advanced level of performance and continuous improvement.

Vietnam’s NRA for vaccines has been maintained and enhanced in recent years to meet the domestic demand including vaccines in the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation, as well as to be the trusted authorisation body so that domestic vaccines could be exported to other countries, contributing to the regional and global supply of vaccines.

During the latest evaluation, Maturity Level 3 was certified to NRA for vaccines in eight of the nine functions of regulating vaccines. Accelerated efforts are continuing to expand NRA maturity to medicines and other medical products.

Dr. Kidong Park, WHO Representative in Vietnam, congratulated the country on this achievement.

“This accomplishment reaffirms the continuous collaboration between the Government of Vietnam and WHO in achieving universal access to safe, effective and affordable vaccines,” he said.

“It is expected that the country’s regulatory system for medicines, vaccines and other medical products will transform further to become a more coherent and science-based national regulatory authority independent from political and commercial influence.”

Currently, Vietnam has managed to produce 11 vaccines to prevent 11 diseases covered under the expanded immunisation programme (tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis/whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, cholera, typhoid, measles, rubella, poliomyelitis), in addition to other types of vaccines like seasonal flu, H5N1 influenza, and rotavirus.

Four Vietnamese vaccine manufacturers and developers are researching locally made COVID-19 vaccines, with two – Nano Covax by HCM City-based pharmaceutical company Nanogen and COVIVAC by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals – already in human trials.

The frontrunner in the race, Nano Covax, is expected to obtain a licence for circulation within 2021./.

Drug trafficker caught in Dien Bien

A man was arrested on April 13 in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien for smuggling 30 bricks of heroin weighing 10.5kg, according to the provincial police.

The provincial drug crime investigation police office in cooperation with police in Tuan Giao and Nam Po districts apprehended Ha Quang Hiep, 43, in Dien Bien district when he was transporting the drugs.

Hiep admitted he had bought the drugs from a person in the Vietnam-Laos border area.

Police also seized a 80cm-long sword and other related exhibits./.

Big drug bust cracked down in HCM City

Four people have been arrested and a number of illegal drugs seized after a two-month police investigation.

The Counter Narcotics Police Department under Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday announced the success of the operation smashing a drug trafficking ring between Cambodia and Việt Nam.

Some of the drugs recovered were stuffed inside children’s toy animals.

In total, police seized 49 kilos of heroin, 13 kilos of methamphetamine, eight kilos of ketamine, 11,000 meth tablets, 1,000 bottles of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (C4H8O3) commonly referred to as a  “date rape drug” and 5,000 bags of a powdered substance.

At about 7.30pm on April 4, police arrested Diệp Trọng Hiếu, born in 1988 and Tăng Minh Trí, born in 1986 as they allegedly sold crystal meth.

Police found another 100 grams of meth at Hiếu’s home address. 

Also the same night, police raided Yến Trang Hotel in HCM City’s District 10, arresting a Phan Thị Thanh Nhàn, born in 1990, living in Tân Phú District. A quantity of drugs were found hidden in animal toys. 

Information she provided led police to a warehouse in Lạc Long Quân Street, District 11, were a large quantity of narcotics were seized.

Police also arrested another man, Nguyễn Văn Thịnh, born in 1993, who was living in HCM City.

Under Việt Nam’s laws, those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or over 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty. 

Vietnam opens UN staff officer training course

The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations opened a training course for UN staff officers with the support of the US’s Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) on April 14.

Director of the Department Maj. Gen. Hoang Kim Phung said it has organised the course since 2017 but this is the first time it has been held via both online and in-person forms due to COVID-19.

The course attracts the participation of 16 trainees from 10 units of the Defence Ministry. All have a good professional background and English skills.

The course provides basic knowledge on UN military staff for trainees who are about to join UN peacekeeping missions or participate in management, advisory work, research, and teaching at units involved in peacekeeping missions inside and outside of the Defence Ministry.

It also helps improve the department’s capacity for organising international training courses on UN peacekeeping, with the aim of increasing the quality of the country’s UN peacekeeping training facility.

This is also a chance to intensify the friendship between Vietnam and the US, the EU, and other partners in UN peacekeeping.

Head of the lecturer delegation Julian Bower hailed Vietnam’s efforts to be the first country carrying out the GPOI-assisted training course via both online and in-person forms./.

Dance show inspired by tuong to enthrall Hanoi audience

A special contemporary dance show inspired by traditional classic drama (tuong) will be staged at the Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre in Hanoi on May 15, heard a press conference held on April 14.

The 50-minute show named “Than” is a brainchild of choreographer Nguyen Duy Thanh.

The stage will be adorned with the two prime colours of red and black.

Background music and dance movements will also bear tuong’s characteristics. Especially, music is a combination of female electronic artist Luong Hue Trinh, drummer Luong Van Quy from the Vietnam Tuong Theatre and dancers Tran Ngoc Minh, Dao Nhat Vy and Vu Ngoc Bao.

With more than 17 years dedicated to dancing, Thanh has earned recognition as among the best contemporary performers of Hanoi.

He has collaborated with many famous artists at home and abroad like Tran Ly Ly, Arco Renz and Heiner Goebbels; and won various regional and international prizes in hip-hop and contemporary dance./.

HCM City beefs up cooperation with foreign partners

Ho Chi Minh City treasures and wants to continue receiving support from international partners during its development process, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen has said.

Nen made the statement on April 14 at a meeting with nearly 40 Consuls General, Honorary Consuls, and leaders of international organisations and economic-cultural offices of countries in the city.

He stressed that generations of leaders of HCM City have affirmed that all successes of the city are associated with the companionship, support and sharing of international friends.

The city’s development stance is stepping up economic development in line with environmental protection and not trading the environment for economic development, he said, adding that the city will do its best to become a city for the whole country, and with the whole country.

Sharing information about the city’s development orientations, especially smart city projects, building a National Financial Centre and developing Thu Duc city, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong emphasised that, besides internal efforts and resources, the city wants to receive support from international partners to complete the set targets.

Phong highly valued proposals on orientations for developing cooperation between international partners and HCM City in the future, expressing his belief that with the determination of the city and the enthusiastic cooperation of international partners, HCM City will develop, deserving the role of the economic driver of Vietnam, and a friendly destination of international friends.

Carel Richter, Dutch Consul General and head of the Consular Corps in HCM City, highlighted the significance of the meeting, and congratulated HCM City on important achievements in COVID-19 prevention and socio-economic development, as well as in foreign investment attraction.

He affirmed that the Consular Corps wants and is ready to continue joining hands to contribute to HCM City’s development, thus further strengthening and developing cooperation relations between foreign countries and Vietnam.

The municipal relevant departments and sectors updated participants on the city’s recent socio-ecomomic development, and its development plans and projects in the coming time.

Participants discussed issues related to COVID-19 prevention, activities to promote cooperation between HCM City and foreign localities, investment cooperation projects in basic construction, finance support for development, development of supporting industries and smart cities, and sustainable development as well./.

Vietnam records four imported cases of COVID-19 on April 15 morning

Vietnam confirmed four more imported COVID-19 infections during the past 12 hours to 6am April 15, raising the national tally to 2,737, according to the Ministry of Health.

All of the new cases are Vietnamese who were sent to quarantine in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang and the central province of Khanh Hoa right upon their arrival.

The ministry said 2,445 COVID-19 patients have been given the all-clear, and the death toll remains at 35.

Among patients still under treatment, 16 have tested negative for the novel coronavirus once, 18 twice and 18 thrice.

A total 38,743 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined across the country.

The ministry reported that an additional 1,767 people were vaccinated against the coronavirus on April 14, raising the total number of vaccinated people in the country to 62,028, mainly frontline medical workers, and members of community-based anti-COVID-19 groups and the steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control in 19 cities and provinces.

The Health Ministry continues to urge all people to follow the 5K motto – Khau trang (wearing facemask) – Khu khuan (disinfecting) – Khoang cach (keeping distance) – Khong tu tap (no gathering) – Khai bao y te (making medical declaration), in order to live safely amid the pandemic./.

UK’s newspaper highlights Vietnam’s development strides

Vietnam is now increasingly emerging as a regional middle power, especially in the global supply chain and development of 5G technology, according to an article published by the UK’s website strifeblog.org on April 13.

The article writes that in the early 1980s, Vietnam was one of the poorest places on earth. This situation changed in 1986, when the country opened to the world and launched a set of reforms known as “Doi Moi” (renewal). These reforms quickly boosted the economy and attracted massive foreign direct investments. If a few years before Vietnam had had to import rice from abroad, by 1989 it had become the second largest rice exporter in the world. 

Over recent decades, Vietnam has presented itself as a good international citizen, earning recognition and respect within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It has signed a wide array of bilateral trade agreements, while joining the WTO, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and recently, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

In 2019, it took a mediating role in global diplomacy by hosting the second DPRK-USA summit in Hanoi, and in 2020 it assumed the ASEAN chairmanship while successfully handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanoi was in fact praised for giving one of the world’s best responses to the pandemic, quickly introducing a massive programme of contact tracing while mobilising the Vietnamese society in a collective fight against the virus.

These factors suggest that Vietnam is walking the path of a rising middle power, reflected in its role in the global supply chain and the realm of 5G technology.

Vietnam has many advantages thanks to its ability to offer solid infrastructure coupled with a large low-wage workforce. Nike and Samsung have been outsourcing their production to Vietnamese factories for years, and recently Apple has started to assemble its AirPod earphones on Vietnamese soil too.

According to the article, in the field of technological development, Vietnam built its own domestic infrastructure and appears ready to deploy it for commercial use by 2021. Viettel, a Vietnamese state-owned telecom company, has collaborated with Ericsson to create its own 5G technology, and plans to expand the product to Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

Vietnam has also provided a cheap mass access to the Internet for its citizens, while aiming to become a key player in e-commerce and online payment methods. After Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE, Viettel is the sixth producer in the 5G race, an impressive result for a country that 40 years ago was not able to keep up with food shortages.

The article concludes that, a latecomer to the international community, Vietnam is now increasingly emerging as a regional middle power as the country is well-integrated in the world economy and it is one of the only domestic producers of 5G technology.

Switzerland helps Vietnam with institutional strengthening for sustainable urban development

The Swiss Government, through the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), will provide 4.25 million CHF (4.59 million USD) in non-refundable aid to the “Institutional strengthening and capacity building for sustainable urban development in Vietnam” project.

The Ministry of Construction in coordination with the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and SECO organised a workshop on April 13 to launch the project.

According to Dr Nguyen Quang, UN-Habitat Programme Manager in Vietnam, of the total funding for the 2020-2025 project, 3.8 million CHF will be managed by UN-Habitat while 450,000 CHF will be under the management of SECO.

The main goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of national and local institutions to promote, plan, and implement innovative and participatory solutions for sustainable urban development in Vietnam.

The project will be implemented over a period of five years by UN-Habitat in close coordination with the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and city governments.

Marcel Reymond, head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam, said Vietnam’s socio-economic growth will only be maintained if there are measures to enhance the economic potential and competitiveness of urban areas and to improve the living standards of urban residents.

He expressed his belief that the project will bring about great socio-economic and environmental benefits, thus facilitating the transformation of sustainable development models in Vietnamese cities.

Vietnam is among countries with the most rapid urbanisation rates in Southeast Asia, with the number of urban areas jumping from 480 to 830 between 1986 and 2019./.

Xa Tac Temple in Quang Ninh recognized as national relic

The People’s Committee of Mong Cai City of the northern province of Quang Ninh on April 11 held a ceremony receiving the certificate of recognizing the National Relic of Xa Tac Temple.

The recognition is expected to raise the public awareness of preservation and protection of historical sites and cultural heritages. It also aims to promote the provincial tourism industry from the Covid-19 outbreak.

Xa Tac Temple which is located on the bank of Ka Long River in Mong Cai City’s Ka Long Ward and shares a border with China was recognized as a provincial heritage in 2005. The site is not only a religious tourism place but also a landmark affirming the country's sovereignty.

Xa Tac Temple was built in the late 13th century and the early of 14th century under the Tran dynasty to worship Xa Tac, the God of Land and Agriculture of Mong Cai in the past.

In November 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also recognized the temple as a national architectural relic.

International online education forum during COVID-19

Lecturers in 10 Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam are invited to participate in an international online education forum to be hosted by Australia’s University of Tasmania in June and September this year.

The project, entitled Australia-ASEAN Academics Forum: Online Education during COVID-19 and Beyond, is funded by the Australia-ASEAN Council under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government. It is led by a research team including Dr Vinh To, Professor Victoria Carrington, Professor Sharon Fraser, and Professor Monica Cuskelly from the School of Education at the University of Tasmania.

Through a series of webinars and interviews, the forum will invite academics from the 10 Southeast Asian nations, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, to discuss the readiness, practices and challenges they have faced delivering online lectures during COVID-19, and the mutual benefits of engaging in an academic forum to enhance online teaching in higher education in both Australia and Southeast Asia.

Vietnamese-origin project leader Vinh To said: “Having a deep connection with Vietnam made me more aware of my responsibility to make contributions to the Southeast Asian region.

“COVID-19 had required the majority of academics in Southeast Asia to move to online education for the first time. This was challenging in the many cases where all previous experience had been in traditional face-to-face teaching. This project aims to help improve participating ASEAN academics’ knowledge and skills to teach online.”

Academics from the University of Tasmania and selected universities in Southeast Asia will be invited to share examples of high quality online teaching practice in various disciplines - education, humanities and social sciences, health, ICT, business and economics.

“The project also aims to support the Australian Government’s international relations policy and the Australia-ASEAN Council’s people-to-people link objective, especially during COVID-19, by establishing and fostering the multilateral relationship between academics and institutions in Southeast Asia and Australia for ongoing partnership and collaboration,” Dr To said.

The project will officially begin in June this year, with rounds of webinars taking place in the same month and September. The webinars will be available to 300 academics or more, and lecturers in the focus disciplines in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries are invited to register at this link.  

Former TISCO leader faces up to 11 years in jail

A prison term of 10-11 years has been proposed for Tran Trong Mung, former General Director of the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel JSC (TISCO), with the main role in wrongdoings at the company, during the ongoing first-instance trial held by the Hanoi People’s Court.

On April 14, a representative of the Supreme People's Procuracy presented the case and recommended sentences for each defendant.

Fourteen defendants were charged with “violating regulations on the management and use of State assets, causing losses and wastefulness” under Clause 3 of Article 360 in the 2015 Penal Code.

They included Tran Trong Mung (born in 1949), Tran Van Kham (born in 1961 and former Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of TISCO), Mai Van Tinh (born in 1952 and former Chairman of Vietnam Steel Corporation (VNS)’s Board of Directors), and Dau Van Hung (born in 1951 and former General Director of VNS).

Two former members of the VNS Board of Directors and three former members of TISCO’s Board of Directors were accused of “lacking a sense of responsibility, causing serious consequences” under Clause 3 of Article 360 in the 2015 Penal Code.

According to the indictment issued by the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the VNS Board of Directors decided to invest in the second phase of TISCO’s production expansion project, and TISCO was the investor of the project.

This project initially had total investment of more than 3.8 trillion VND (164.9 million USD at the current exchange rate). The China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) won the construction bid in 2007.

On July 12, 2007, then TISCO General Director Tran Trong Mung and MCC General Director Shen Heting signed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract worth over 160 million USD (equivalent to over 3.5 trillion VND). It was stipulated that the value, including taxes and expenses necessary for contract implementation, was to not change during the implementation process.

TISCO and MCC launched implementation on September 29, 2007. However, more than 11 months after the contract took effect, MCC had failed to select or sign contracts with subcontractors, or carry out the EPC contract. Instead, it proposed extending the contract implementation duration and raising the contract value by more than 138 million USD.

The indictment said that although individuals at TISCO and VNS were aware that MCC had infringed the contract and groundlessly proposed the implementation extension and value hike, they did not consider contract termination, revocation of the advance, or reporting the matter to competent persons to abolish the bidding result and re-organise the bidding process so as to ensure the project’s effectiveness and progress.
Among the defendants, Mung held the overall responsibility for the project’s effectiveness while Tinh was in charge of approving and directing project implementation.

The Supreme People’s Procuracy held that the violations of rules on the management of State assets and the lack of a sense of responsibility by those at TISCO and VNS caused losses of over 830 billion VND to the State. The sum is the interest rate TISCO had to pay to banks for the period from the time the project began falling behind schedule, on May 31, 2011, to the date an official investigation was launched, on April 18, 2019.

The defendants’ criminal acts not only adversely affected economic development and had a direct negative impact on production and business activities and the interests of employees at TISCO, they also indirectly affected the process of promoting rapid and sustainable economic development, becoming a burden on the national economy and causing a loss of trust in society.

On April 15, the trial continued with debates between lawyers, defendants, and representatives of the Procuracy./.

Online book festival 2021 offers free shipping on orders

The online book festival celebrating the 2021 Vietnam Book Day which is scheduled to open at the e-commerce trading floor at Book365.vn from April 17- May 15 will offer many promotional programs to readers, according to the event’s organizer , the Department of Publishing, Printing, and Issuing under the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The online book festival celebrating the 2021 Vietnam Book Day will open at the e-commerce trading floor at Book365.vn from April 17- May 15.

Businesses participating in the book show will offer coupon codes for discounts, rewards, free shipping, discounts on books and the shipping cost.

In addition, an event of Book Copyright will be also organized on the website Book365.vn from April 19-22 with the participation of local and foreign publishing houses.

The e-commerce trading floor at Book365.vn has been innovative with its display and technology, aiming at creating advantages for book distributors and publishing houses at home and abroad to participate and implement online cooperation, transactions and exchanges and attracting the number of 5-6 million visitors.

Besides, the 8th Vietnam Book Day will open on April 18 in HCMC Book Street featuring hundreds of display booths of nearly 100 enterprises in the publishing industry. The book show will include exchanges between writers and readers; the introduction of books; seminars and discussions on the reading culture, the digital transformation in the publishing industry and the way of approaching book in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Hung Kings Temple complex welcomes tourists at night

A night tour guiding guests around the Hung Kings Temple historical site in the northern province of Phu Tho has opened to the public, with the ultimate aim to draw more visitors.

Tours of the complex are scheduled to last until the 2021 Hung Kings Temple Festival which is traditionally held in commemoration of the Hung Kings’ death anniversary on the 10th day of the third lunar month, with the event set to take place on April 21 this year.

Following the occasion it will be held on the first and 15th days of each lunar month.

Nguyen Dac Thuy, director of Phu Tho province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the launch of the night tour represents one of the many activities being held in order to celebrate the 2021 Hung Kings Temple Festival.

In addition, the tours will also contribute to honouring the cultural heritage values of Phu Tho province as recognised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

During the course of the night tours, visitors will be able to visit the Hung Vuong museum, Den Thuong, also known as the Upper Temple, Den Trung, also known as the Middle Temple, Den Ha, also known as the Lower Temple, and Nghia Linh mountain.

Korean Taekwondo Ambassador Cup 2021 wrapped up

The National Taekwondo Clubs Championships - Korean Taekwondo Ambassador Cup 2021 - concluded on April 13 as part of the Korean Culture Days taking place in the central province of Quang Nam.

The Ho Chi Minh City I team took the leading positions in both the combat and demonstration categories for men, winning 13 gold medals in total.

Meanwhile, the Son La team topped the female combat category after securing four gold, one silver, and one bronze medals. They were followed by the Hanoi I and Gia Lai teams who finished in second and third places, respectively.

Overall, Ho Chi Minh City I came out top in the final medal tally with 17 gold, seven silver, and 10 bronze medals.

The second-placed spot went to Hanoi I after snatching nine gold, four silver, and 14 bronze medals.

The tournament initially began on April 7, drawing the participation of roughly 1,000 martial artists from 47 different taekwondo clubs nationwide.

Competitors fought in 92 combat and demonstration categories across three age groups, from 12 to 14, from 15 to 17, and above 17 years old.

HCM City tightens pandemic prevention measures at border with Cambodia

The chairman of HCM City People’s Committee has called for stricter implementation of anti-pandemic measures at the border with Cambodia as the number of COVID-19 cases there is surging, which could lead to the collapse of that country’s healthcare system as warned by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Speaking at a meeting on Monday on pandemic control and prevention, Nguyễn Thành Phong said that the COVID-19 situation had become worse in neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia, which borders southern Việt Nam.

The number of cases in Cambodia has soared from about 500 last year to more than 4,081 just a few days ago, following a local incident related to a number of Chinese who legally entered the country but violated quarantine regulations. 

On April 10, the number of new cases reported in Cambodia was 454, he said.

“The situation in Cambodia has posed a significant risk of infection for HCM City, so the city must closely monitor illegal entries from Cambodia,” Phong said.

Phong told agencies to continue to tighten control of illegal entries from Cambodia to prevent the spread of the virus.

HCM City will continue to take medical declarations and do periodic monitoring and screening of high-risk people.

The city has not recorded any new cases in the community for two months.

It has completed the first round of vaccinations for frontline medical staff. 

Because the supply of vaccines remains limited, it is important to have a fair risk assessment to compile a priority list for vaccinations under guidance from the Ministry of Health. 

The city plans to ensure enough vaccinations for everyone, according to Phong.

He has asked the city Police and High Command of HCM City to prepare plans for quarantine of illegal entries. 

“While waiting for measures to deal with illegal entries, it is important to intensify supervision of medical quarantine regulations for illegal entries so as to detect and treat any infections to prevent the virus from spreading, following the Ministry of Health guidelines.”

Nguyễn Tấn Bỉnh, director of the Department of Health, said the city was treating 11 newly imported cases, all of whom have mild symptoms.

It will continue to test people in high-risk areas such as supermarkets, train and bus stations, airports, schools, businesses and factories, and others at high risk, such as airport arrivals, international flight crews, medical staff, chronically ill patients at hospitals, and airport staff (all of whom have tested negative recently), according to Bỉnh.

Regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, as of April 10, the city had vaccinated 7,530 medical staff at 65 medical facilities. Post-injection reactions are closely monitored and all are in stable condition.

From April 12-16, the HCM City Centre Disease Control will receive 1,600 vaccine doses for staff working at hotels being used for centralised quarantine, according to Bỉnh.

The city strongly recommends that people continue to strictly follow the ministry’s measures to prevent winter-spring diseases as well as COVID-19.

The city continues to promote its 5K (in Vietnamese) message: Khẩu trang (face mask) – Khử khuẩn (disinfection) – Khoảng cách (distance) – Không tụ tập (no gatherings) – Khai báo y tế (health declaration). 

Việt Nam shares a 1,158-kilometre border with Cambodia. 

Binh Dinh develops traditional craft villages as tourism product

 

The development of traditional craft village tourism is one of the key solutions for promoting economic growth and development and stabilising the political and social situation in rural areas. The Binh Dinh Provincial People’s Committee has recently approved a pilot project on developing traditional craft village tourism in the 2020-2025 period, with total investment of more than 14 billion VND,

The giant squash village in Mỹ Tho commune, Phù My district, is one of four craft villages selected by Binh Dinh province for the pilot of traditional craft village tourism development. Located 60 km from the provincial capital Quy Nhon city, the village has about 50 households that have long specialised in planting squash. There is no scientific explanation behind the bountiful yields from squash in the area, with each weighing around 50-80 kg. The mystery also holds great appeal for tourists.

An Nhon town has 21 traditional craft villages, many of which are unique and strong points for tourism development. The town considers tourism development to be a spearhead economic sector in the 2020-2025 period, with localities mobilising resources to invest in tourism infrastructure, prioritise traffic development, and support people to build sanitation systems and collect waste and wastewater. Tourism business households receive support in terms of lending interest rates.

Binh Dinh currently has 67 craft villages, and its tourism industry has selected four of the most unique to pilot tourism development, including Bau Da Wine village, Phu Gia Horse Hat craft village in Cat Tuong commune, Phu Cat district; the giant squash farming village in My Tho commune, Phu My district; and the noodle and Tam Quan Nam rice paper making village in Tam Quan Nam ward, Hoai Nhon town. Craft village tourism is therefore being piloted to preserve and promote the value of local cultural products.

There will be homestay services in the four traditional craft villages selected, so that visitors can enjoy the fullest experience by living in a local home./.

Reason for mass resignation in Bach Mai hospital identified
 
Director of Bach Mai Hospital Nguyen Quang Tuan yesterday confirmed the mass resignation of nearly 200 employees there and deliver convincing reasons for the case.

According to the Management Board of Bach Mai Hospital, mass resignations are not at all an abnormal situation in any organization. The discussed resignation submissions in the hospital belong to doctors and officers, some of whom have a Ph.D. degree or are professors.

Their decisions come from either the personal wish to transfer to other businesses with better salary levels or the objective reason of reorganizing the staff when Bach Mai Hospital applies the financial autonomy model.

The Ministry of Health has already asked Bach Mai Hospital to prepare a report with detailed statistics on the quantity of high-leveled staff who turned in a resignation, along with possible reasons.

The Department of Organization and Personnel under the Ministry of Health stated that it has received the report from Bach Mai Hospital on the case. One of the cited reasons in the report is the negative impact of Covid-19 pandemic on personnel policies and revenues. Therefore, the hospital proposed that the Ministry of Health issue a ceiling price for medical diagnosis and treatment services so that the hospital can increase its income, and thus upgrading the benefits package for its staff.

In Bach Mai Hospital lately, there have been cases of illegal activities related to medical equipment purchase, which have formed lawsuits. That leads to former Director of the hospital Nguyen Quoc Anh and his gang being put in prison. This, to some extent, also adversely affects the reputation of the hospital.

Vinh Long's university holds New Year celebration for Cambodian, Lao students

The Cuu Long University in the southern province of Vinh Long held an event to welcome the traditional New Year festival for Cambodian and Lao students as well as its Khmer lecturers and students.

The New Year festival, called Chol Chnam Thmay in Cambodia and Bunpimay in Laos, is held from April 14-16 every year.

Speaking at the event, the university’s Rector Luong Minh Cu said that due to complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodian and Lao students cannot return home to welcome the New Year with their families.

Therefore, the university organised the event to help them practice rituals and customs during their traditional New Year festivals such as thread tying and water splashing, and participate in folk games, he said.

The event was also a chance to connect Cambodian and Lao students with Vietnamese teachers and friends.

A total of 114 Cambodian and Laos students are studying at the university./.

NA Vice Chairmen inspect election preparations in Long An, Lao Cai

A delegation of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee and the National Election Council (NEC) led by NA Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man on April 14 inspected preparations for the elections of deputies to the 15th legislature and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

During a working session with the locality’s representatives, Man, who is also NEC Vice President, highly valued the preparations for the elections in Long An, saying that the provincial authorities have proactively issued guiding documents and urged the implementation of the work as scheduled in accordance with regulations of the Law on Election and the NEC’s resolutions.

He asked the locality to focus on promoting communication activities and ensuring political security, and social order and safety during the elections, as well as proactively settling complaints and denunciations (if any).

The local health sector was ordered to keep close watch on the COVID-19 situation and strictly implement relevant directions and regulations of the Ministry of Health in order to well prevent and control COVID-19, especially in border areas.

Long An has completed collection of voters’ opinions for candidates to the 15th National Assembly and the provincial People's Council.

The province has more than 1.2 million voters and 1,298 constituencies.

On the same day, NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai also inspected preparations for the elections of deputies to the 15th legislature and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai. 

Lao Cai established 1,138 constituencies. The lists of voters have also been publicly posted in line with regulations./.

Vietnam, US seek ways to enhance comprehensive partnership

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc had an online conversation with US Congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas, who is Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on ASEAN, to discuss ways to boost the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership, the ASEAN-US strategic partnership, and several issues of mutual concern.

Both expressed their delight at the progress in the Vietnam-US relationship after 25 years of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and their hope to soon exchange high-level and parliament delegations after the COVID-19 is put under control.

Ngoc thanked the US for supporting Vietnam and ASEAN in responding to the pandemic and speeding up economic recovery, while proposing the US further accelerate support for Southeast Asian countries to access the COVID-19 vaccines, and cooperate with Vietnam on technology transfer and vaccine production licensing.

Castro, who is also Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on International Development, International Organisations, and Global Corporate Social Impact, affirmed that he will discuss with authorities about Ngoc’s proposal regarding the two countries’ maintenance of dialogues in a constructive manner to resolve the differences. He also shared concerns over increasing violence and discrimination against Asian Americans, and pledged to work to ensure security, safety and the right to access to health, education and social security services for the Vietnamese community in the US.

The Vietnamese diplomat highly valued Castro and Congressman Ann Wagner of Missouri’s introduction of the Southeast Asian Strategy Act. He asked Castro to support the promotion of the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership, including the US’s presence at the ASEAN-US Summit and the East Asia Summit (EAS).
Castro affirmed his efforts to, together with other MPs, hasten the government to increase active and constructive engagement in the region and canvass the House of Representatives and Senate to pass the Southeast Asian Strategy Act.

They took the occasion to exchange views on several regional issues. Ngoc suggested that the US government and parliament pay more attention to implementing the Mekong - US partnership. He appreciated the US stance on upholding the basic principles to ensure the rules-based maritime order and supporting Vietnam's legitimate interests in the East Sea. Regarding the recent complicated developments in the sea, especially in the Ba Dau and Sinh Ton Dong areas, Castro affirmed that the US strongly supports the respect of sovereignty of regional countries, including Vietnam./.

Khanh Hoa puts aside 15 billion VND for friendship works in Cambodian province

The People’s Council of the south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on April 14 decided to put aside 15 billion VND (over 650,300 USD) to fund the construction of two friendship projects in Cambodia’s Stung Treng province.

Accordingly, the project to construct a psychological education hall and a working building of Stung Treng’s Military Command aim to strengthen the solidarity between the Vietnamese and Cambodia provinces in particular, and the two countries in general.
Khanh Hoa province’s Military Command will be the investor of the project, which will cover a total area of nearly 1,100 sq.m at the headquarters of Stung Treng province’s Military Command in Stung Treng city.

According to Colonel Bui Dai Thang, Commander of the Military Command of Khanh Hoa province, said the construction of the project will be implemented in 2022 and 2023.

Chairman of the Khanh Hoa provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tan Tuan emphasised that Khanh Hoa and Stung Treng have enjoyed a fine traditional friendship, noting that in the context of complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the friendship works are vivid manifestation of the good relationship between the two twinning provinces./.

More congratulations to newly-elected Vietnamese leaders

Leaders of foreign countries have continued to send their messages of congratulations to newly-elected State and Government leaders of Vietnam.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received congratulatory messages and letters from King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Hungarian President Asder Janos, and King of Eswatini Mswati III.

Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Kazakhstani Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán Viktor, and President of the Republic of Panama Laurentino Cortizo Cohen cabled their messages and letters of congratulations to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

HCM City ceremony marks traditional New Year of neighbouring countries

A ceremony was held at Pho Minh Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on April 14 to celebrate the traditional New Year of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Organised by the HCM City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), the ceremony saw the presence of representatives from the consulates-general of the four countries in HCM City, the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, the municipal Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, and the countries’ entrepreneurs and students.

The traditional New Year festival is known as Chol Chnam Thmay in Cambodia, Bunpimay in Laos, Thingyan in Myanmar, and Songkran in Thailand.

Addressing the celebrations, HUFO Vice Chairwoman Tran Hoang Khanh Van said the ceremony aims to further promote mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam, including HCM City, and the four neighbouring countries.

She noted that Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand are ASEAN members and have cooperated and assisted one another over many years. Their peoples have stood side-by-side in fighting for national independence, developing their countries, and building an ASEAN Community of peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperous development.

Most Venerable Thich Thien Tam, Vice President of the Executive Council of the Central VBS Committee and deputy head of the HCM City VBS Committee’s executive board, said the traditional New Year of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand reflects the similarities in culture and religious practices among the countries, adding that it is helpful in strengthening the five nations’ solidarity in their development efforts and in ASEAN Community building.

Echoing that view, Ratiwan Bonprakhong, Chief Representative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s HCM City Office, held that the ceremony helps bring the five countries’ people closer together and also demonstrates their solidarity and unity./.

Project supporting implementation of Paris Agreement sped up

The Steering Committee of the project “Support to Vietnam for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement” (VN-SIPA) held its second meeting in Hanoi on April 14 with the participation of representatives from certain ministries, sectors, and localities.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh highlighted the project’s support in implementing Vietnam’s nationally determined contributions (NDC) and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

In order to speed up the project, he asked participants to make proposals and discuss the 2021 plan, especially activities relating to State management over climate change and the enhancing of Vietnam’s role and responsibility as a signatory to the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Meanwhile, Weert Borner, Deputy Ambassador of Germany in Vietnam, said that Vietnam was one of the first countries to build an action plan to realise the Paris Agreement and one of the first to submit and update its NDC.

He held that the VN-SIPA supports Vietnam in creating the necessary suitable conditions for the deal, to mitigate the impact of climate change and bring about environmental and socio-economic benefits for the country.

Pham Van Tan, Vice Director of the Climate Change Administration at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said that as COVID-19 is still a major issue, ministries and localities should prepare alternative measures and speed up the implementation of approved plans.

Kia Fariborz, Chief Advisor of the VN-SIPA project, said that last year, Vietnam completed and updated its NDC report in September, which was recognised and lauded by the international community as it was one of the first 20 countries to do so.

The four-year VN-SIPA project was approved by the Prime Minister on April 3, 2019 and has a total cost of 10.3 million EUR (12.31 million USD), funded by non-refundable ODA from Germany. It aims to strengthen the legal framework and national capacity in implementing the Paris Agreement, with the core being conducting Vietnam’s NDC.

So far, it has assisted the building of a climate change response programme in the revised Law on Environmental Protection 2020 as well as climate change management documents and sectoral plans on climate change response. It has defined solutions in the central provinces of Quang Binh and Ha Tinh based on the ecosystem.

NA Chairman examines election preparations in Quang Ninh

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on April 14 examined preparations for the elections of deputies to the 15th legislature and members of all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026 in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.

Talking to local voters, Hue, who is also Chairman of the National Election Council (NEC), highlighted the important role of them in selecting NA deputies and People’s Councils members and asked them to make wise choices.

He and a delegation of the NA Standing Committee and the NEC also held an online working session with election committees at provincial and district levels.

As heard at the event, Quang Ninh will hold the third political consultative conference at provincial level on April 16, and those at district and commune levels before April 18.

To date, the lists of constituents have been publicly posted in 177 communes, wards and towns as well as in 1,438 constituencies for voters to check.

After hearing reports at the function, the NA Chairman commended Quang Ninh’s preparations of the elections. He underscored that the elections must be held in line with regulations and bring into full play the people's right to mastery, with publicity, transparency, and absolute safety ensured in all circumstances for people to exercise their citizens’ rights.

He suggested Quang Ninh continue to review and update the lists of constituents in accordance with the law to ensure citizens’ rights according to the Constitution.

Hue expressed his belief that the province will successfully host the elections./.

NA Vice Chairman inspects election preparations in Tien Giang

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man on April 14 led a delegation to inspect preparations for the elections of deputies to the 15th legislature and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang.

Man, who is also Vice Chairman of the National Election Council, lauded the efforts of the province in its election preparations.

To make the elections a success, the provincial Election Committee and agencies in Tien Giang need to set forth plans to ensure political security, social order and safety, pandemic prevention and control, and natural disaster mitigation, he said.

More attention should be paid to the settlement of complaints and denunciations, the legislator said.

Man was informed that the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee's Standing Board in Tien Giang will hold a third negotiation conference on April 16 to prepare a list of eligible candidates for the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026.

The province has more than 1.5 million voters and 1,451 constituencies, including 20 military units./. 

“A touch of Hanoi culture” book event debuts 

A three-day event of “A touch of Hanoi culture” to praise books and promote reading culture will open this weekend.

The book event entitled “A touch of Hanoi culture” will be organized from April 16 to 18 at Van Mieu Temple of Literature by Truong Phuong Company and MaiHa Books, aiming at honoring books and reading culture.

According to the organizers, along with book booths, a series of cultural activities aimed at attracting the attention of readers of all ages will also be organized in the authentic Vietnamese cultural space with decoration highlights featuring Hanoi in the old days.

Representatives from MaiHa Books said that the publisher will introduce three lines of books at the up-coming book event, including the academic books, heritage books with eye-catching layout; and children's books.

The MaiHa Books’ heritage books are printed on high-quality do paper to showcase the beauty of the traditional printing materials. Especially, the classic ‘Kim Van Kieu’ (Kieu’s Tale) by Vietnamese great poet Nguyen Du is republished in a limited quantity of 100 copies on do papers with lacquered covers.

Participating to the event, visitors will have chance to experience a simple step of the do paper making process to understand more about the meticulous technique of making this special type of paper.

Apart from indulging themselves in unique cultural space with thousands of books, visitors can take part in some folk games, as well as enjoy traditional art performances. A “nostalgic” space featuring décor from the “subsidized economy period” (1954-1986) and is expected to attract middle-aged visitors.

The event is organized to honor the Vietnam Book Day which falls on April 21.

The writing contest enables Vietnamese people to search for rich and diverse cultures of four countries.

Vietnamese people aging from 18 are now given an opportunity to delve into cultures of four Central European countries the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia in a contest of such a high caliber.

Held by the Embassy of Poland in Hanoi, this is the third Wikipedia writing contest and the first on the Visegrád Group, Visegrád Four, or V4, expected to attract a large number of contestants in two and a half months thanks to its size and the meaning.

“Visegrad (V4) Heritage” competition is aimed to encourage participants to search for the rich and diverse heritage of these European countries.

By writing as much as possible entries with 1,000 words each from early April to mid-June on Wikipedia.org and republishing them on www.disanv4.com, entrants are promised to win the first prize worth US$2,000, in addition with second, third and consolation prizes.

A jury of four Vietnamese people who represent four V4 countries will be in charge of marking the test.

The awards are funded by the Embassy of Poland in Hanoi.

Established in 1991, the V4 was created following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Cooperation of the cultural and political alliance initially focused on the construction of democratic systems and accession to NATO and the EU.

The intensity of this cooperation varied over the years to advance co-operation in military, cultural, economic and energy matters with one another and to further their integration to the EU.

Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian youths join friendship exchange

A friendship exchange among Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian youths studying at Kien Giang University was held in the southern province of Kien Giang on April 14, on the occasion of Cambodia’s traditional New Year festival Chol Chnam Thmay.

Speaking at the event, Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s provincial chapter and Vice Chairman of the provincial Vietnam Youth Union (VYU) Phan Dinh Nhan said it is an activity to raise awareness of friendship and solidarity among Vietnamese and Lao, Cambodian youths, thereby raising their understanding and contributing to safeguarding each nation’s territorial sovereignty.

Participants enjoyed music performances and traditional cuisines and played folk games at the event.

On the occasion, the provincial VYU and the provincial Union of Friendship Organisations presented 69 gifts and 12 scholarships to Lao and Cambodian students at Kien Giang University./.

First Vietnamese businesswoman to be honoured with France’s Legion of Honour

Chairwoman of the Sovico Group and CEO of Vietjet Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has been granted with the Legion of Honour by the French Government for her special contributions to Vietnam’s relations with France and Europe.

On behalf of the French Government, Ambassador of France to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery presented the noble order to Thao, the first Vietnamese businesswoman to be honoured with this decoration.

He noted that as Sovico Chairwoman and Vietjet CEO, Thao has made special contributions to the enhancement of economic and cultural ties and development cooperation between Vietnam and Europe, including France.

The diplomat highly valued the entrepreneur’s vision, wisdom, humanity and business philosophy for the sake of community development and future generations.

Warnery also appreciated the firms led by Thao like Sovico, Vietjet, and HDBank continually standing side by side with French businesses and people, especially during the time his country was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congratulating Thao, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung described the order presentation as a milestone in the two countries’ diplomatic, cultural, and economic links.

For her part, Thao thanked the French State and people for their cooperation with herself as well as the Sovico Group./.

Vietnam extradites four illegal Chinese entrants

Relevant Vietnamese agencies have recently handed over four Chinese citizens illegally entering Vietnam to the authorities of Dongxing city, Guangxi province of China.

Earlier border guards operaring in Mong Cai City of Quang Ninh province that borders China had arrested four Chinese citizens attempting to cross the border into Vietnam.

The arrest was made on March 28 while the four Chinese citizens was travelling by car on National Highway 18A in Cong Hoa commune of Cam Pha City.

Searching the vehicle, the police found the four Chinese suspects had not brought with them any legal immigration papers.

The Chinese nationals confessed that they had planned to enter Vietnam and then travel to Cambodia for employment.

The police moved swiftly to place the group into quarantine in an effort to prevent the possible spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition, the Chinese nationals were also fined VND4 million each.

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