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The delegation, led by Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien, included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Ministry of Justice.
Speaking on the opening day of the session, which lasted from January 9 to 20, the delegation highly valued efforts by the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Committee in building the first draft, which laid a solid foundation for the next negotiations to soon finalise the draft convention and submit it to the UN General Assembly for ratification.
The Vietnamese side also gave opinions about some parts of the draft such as the scope of the convention, offences against information technology (IT) systems, IT-based scams, and individual criminal responsibility.
In recent years, protecting cyber safety and security and combating cybercrimes have become a crucial part in the security strategies of many countries.
After 10 years of negotiations by inter-governmental working groups, in 2019, the UN General Assembly decided to set up the Ad Hoc Committee to build an international convention for promoting international cooperation against ICT crimes. The committee establishment reflected the international community’s concern about growing threats posed by ICT crimes, and also showed UN member states’ efforts to create the first international legal document covering this issue.
At the three sessions held in 2022, the Ad Hoc Committee agreed on the negotiation roadmap and identified the structure and basic content of the future convention. Countries began discussing the draft in detail from the beginning of 2023.
The final draft is expected to be finalised by the end of 2023 and submitted to the UN General Assembly for ratification in 2024.
Strong cold spell hits northern Vietnam today
A strong cold air wave is moving toward northern Vietnam to cause temperatures in the northern region to fall sharply, starting on January 23 evening.
The cold spell will affect the mountainous border localities in the afternoon before spreading across the northern midland and lowland regions in the evening, said experts from the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.
The cold wave will send temperatures dropping to a low of 10 degrees Celsius in the low lands, and 6 degrees in the midlands.
Northern mountainous provinces are anticipated to have showers, thunderstorms, and even frosts in the coming days.
In Hanoi, the temperature is forecast to fall to a low of 9 degrees Celsius on January 24 before rising a bit in the following days till the end of the week.
Meanwhile, the mountainous resort of Sa Pa will see temperatures go down to between 1 – 7 degrees Celsius on January 24.
North-central provinces will also be affected by cold air from January 24, with temperatures expected to hover around 13 – 17 degrees Celsius.
According to weather experts, cold air waves are normally weaker than average in January, but the strong ones may still occur, mainly in the mountains and midlands of the North.
Vietnam’s top 20 sites and tours announced
The Vietnam Records Organization, Vietkings, has released a list of the top 20 must-see sites and excursions in Vietnam for domestic and international tourists, particularly during the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet.
Paragliding in Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai Province, flying a seaplane over Halong Bay in Quang Ninh Province and riding a hot-air balloon in Phan Thiet in Binh Thuan Province are on the list.
As for heritage tourism, travelers should visit Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, the ancient town of Bao Vinh in Thua Thien-Hue Province and and the ancient town of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province.
Visitors to the Mekong Delta may enjoy the home-made chocolate farms in Tien Giang Province, Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City, Tra Su Cajuput Forest in An Giang Province, and the performances of Vietnamese classical opera, or hat boi, in Vinh Long Province.
Other favorable activities include touring Yok Don National Park in the province of Dak Lak in the Central Highlands and taking a luxury train ride through the central region, among others.
VietKings created the list after surveying thousands of visitors on their favorite ways to explore Vietnam.
TV series highlights Vietnamese culture in Tết
Local television stations have lined up new TV series to entertain nationwide audiences during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, which started on January 20 and ends on Jan 26.
Vĩnh Long Province Radio and Television Station (THVL) plans to broadcast the comedy-drama Ăn Tết Miệt Vườn (Tết in Homeland), which promises to bring many laughs and a lot of joy to people during the holiday.
The 20-part film highlights the traditional culture and customs of Tết in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta region, such as making bánh tét (cylinder glutinous rice cake), writing calligraphy, and worshiping ancestors.
Quách Khoa Nam, the film’s director, told local media: “The family union is always the major topic of film productions for Tết. However, I want to make something different, focusing on the unique traditions of Vietnamese people in the special holiday to introduce our country’s culture to audiences, especially young people.”
The film stars veteran actors such as Meritorious Artist Công Ninh, People’s Artist Thanh Điền, and young actors Ngọc Lan, Quốc Thái and Xuân Văn.
Nam said every member of the crew worked hard to make the film perfect.
Because the film was made before Tết, it took them a lot of time to create settings for Tết, including hundreds of pots of flowers, to bring a joyful and fresh atmosphere to the work.
He said: “Despite working hard, we are truly happy to bring a quality production to audiences in Tết.”
In addition, THVL introduces another romantic-comedy, Có Hẹn Với Yêu Thương (Time for Love), directed by Xuân Phước.
Phước said: “The film is expected to bring joyful moments to people in a special holiday, and can heal their soul as well.”
The 40-episode film features young people’s journey to return to their homeland in the Mekong Delta from HCM City. Through the journey, they find their love of the land and its people, and particularly their true love.
It features around 60 favourite actors and actresses such as Huỳnh Đông, Lê Bê La, Meritorious Artist Trịnh Kim Chi, Phi Phụng and Hoàng Sơn.
Both Ăn Tết Miệt Vườn and Có Hẹn Với Yêu Thương have been broadcast on THVL1 since January 16.
Meanwhile, the HCM City Television (HTV) will present the six-episode comedy Bà Chủ Vắng Nhà (When the Host is not at Home).
Nguyễn Lê Minh, the film’s director, said: “The film focuses on many people’s concerns when Tết is coming. However, Tết is a time for union when all family members get together to prepare for the most special time of the year.”
Minh added that the work would also highlight familiar images in Tết to all Vietnamese people.
Bà Chủ Vắng Nhà will air on HTV7 from today, January 22, till Jan 26.
A touching story about Uncle Ho’s portrait
At the headquarters of the Vietnamese Association in France in Paris, France, there is a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh which has been treasured by patriotic expatriates since the years of negotiating the Paris Agreement. Behind the special portrait is a touching story...
Visiting the headquarters of the Association at No.16 on the small street of Petit Musc in District 4 of Paris, many people were surprised to see that a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, which was scorched in a corner, was still hanging solemnly above his altar.
For overseas Vietnamese in France, this is the most beautiful and meaningful portrait in both art and history because it is associated with the patriotic movement in France.
Nguyen Van Bon, former Chairman in charge of foreign affairs of the Vietnamese Association in France, said that on the occasion of the opening of the Association's Headquarters in 1971, Xuan Thuy, Head of the negotiating delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at the Paris Conference, came to congratulate the Association and presented a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh - a very meaningful gift for overseas Vietnamese here and people often call it “Portrait of Uncle Ho”.
Since 1971, the headquarters of the Vietnamese Association in France at Petit Musc Street, purchased and renovated by expatriates, is the official gathering place of Vietnamese people towards the homeland.
Not only is it a meeting place and organising activities for dear Vietnam, there is also a portrait of Uncle Ho, the founder of the Patriotic Annamite Group in 1919 (the name of the Patriotic Overseas Vietnamese Movement in France and is the predecessor of the Vietnamese Association in France today).
For the same reason, this is the target of attacks of supporters of the Saigon government. The first time happened at dawn on April 30, 1975 (French time) when the South was liberated.
The solid gate of the association's headquarters was broken, many places inside were damaged, but fortunately the portrait was still intact. The second time was at noon on February 14, 1980, when the association was again burned by the haters. The French press at that time reported that some fascists had attacked the headquarters of Vietnamese patriots.
Some of them rushed in to throw incendiary substances and injured Nguyen Cong Hoan, a member of the Workers’ Union, assigned to be on duty at the headquarters. Hoan tried to put out the fire that spread to many areas and burned the portrait. After that, some members of the association, followed by the police and firemen, intervened in time.
Over many terms, the association's leaders agreed to maintain the status quo, considering it a living proof of patriotism and respect for the great leader of the Vietnamese people, including overseas Vietnamese in France. Over the years, the picture has still been sharp and retained its colour as it was in the beginning.
It is considered a great source of encouragement for Vietnamese people to uphold their patriotism, regardless difficulties and dangers, towards the country during the war and in subsequent reconstruction and development.
Nguyen Van Bon recalled: The Paris Agreement also marked a prominent period in the patriotic movement of the Vietnamese community in France, those who were wholeheartedly united and towards the homeland.
Uncle Ho, the embodiment of patriotism and aspiration for national liberation, was always by their side to give more strength and faith to overseas Vietnamese about a reunion day of the North and the South.
He left priceless heritage, which is the unshakable will: independence and national reunification. Therefore, overseas Vietnamese in France have done their best to protect the sacred image of the nation’s old father.
Every year, on Uncle Ho’s birthday, National Day on September 2 or on New Year’s Eve, the Vietnamese Association in France and the seniors in the Workers’ Union and descendants of the Vietnamese community come here to burn incense in memory of him and remind each other to continue the patriotic tradition, to be grateful to Uncle Ho and to look forward to the homeland.
Every time French and international friends visit the headquarters of the association, the story of Uncle Ho's portrait is proudly told.
Nearly 8,000 work through Tet in Binh Duong
More than 7,800 employees in the southern province of Binh Duong work through the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, according to statistics from the Binh Duong Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs.
Some 42 enterprises maintain production with around 6,000 employees in the industrial parks from January 20 to 25 (from the 29th of the 12th lunar month to the third of the lunar new year).
Around 4,546 people were at work in some 38 enterprises on January 21, the final day of the old lunar year. Meanwhile, 36 enterprises operate as normal, with 4,415 employees on January 22, the first day of the lunar new year.
The second day of the lunar new year sees some 4,592 employees at work in some 38 businesses while 37 enterprises maintain production on the third day of the year.
Over 1,800 employees in Binh Duong also work throughout Tet, mainly those in security service, polyclinics, and public works.
Enterprises triple the wages of the employees who work through Tet. Moreover, some businesses also give their employees VND1 million per person and Tet gifts.
Promoting internal strengths, affirming national stature
Vietnam has undergone a difficult period. After two years of enormous collective efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam began to adopt a flexible approach to promote socio-economic recovery and development in a sustainable manner.
Despite facing many difficulties both at home and abroad, Vietnam successfully fulfilled the two tasks of controlling the epidemic and reviving economic growth, thanks to the Party’s prompt leadership, the National Assembly’s effective supervision and the Government’s bold actions.
Another highlight is the reform in the Party’s leadership method as reflected in the strong fight against corruption, which has exerted a positive effect and become an irreversible trend.
After 12 months, the Vietnamese economy has returned to the pre-pandemic growth orbit, expanding by a higher-than-expected rate of 8%. The macroeconomic situation was fundamentally stable while inflation was kept in check and major balances of the economy were ensured. Many international organisations have made optimistic projections for the Vietnamese economy.
After the National Cultural Conference in late 2021, awareness on this pillar has witnessed positive changes and culture has received adequate investment. Many large cultural and sports events were held, especially the 31st Southeast Asian Games. At the same time, the people-centred social policies were promptly implemented, especially those towards contributors to the nation and those severely affected by COVID-19.
In the field of external relations, Vietnam was elected Vice President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly and member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure. Vietnam’s election to the Human Rights Council shows the international community’s recognition of the country’s policies, efforts and achievements in exercising the people’s rights to mastery and in protecting human rights.
Concluding a difficult yet proud year, we recollect General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s affirmation that Vietnam has never before enjoyed such a great accomplishment nor had such international prestige as it does today. Indeed, under the Party’s leadership and the people’s support, Vietnam’s stature on the international stage has been increasingly enhanced.
Vietnam is forecast to face more difficulties than advantages, but the achievements in the past year are the foundation for the country to record new miracles. During the development process, it is necessary to tap into internal strengths, ensure political stability, promote active international integration, kindle the development aspiration and the innovation spirit, uphold cultural values and the pioneering role of entrepreneurs.
In 2023, the entire Party, army, people and political system will strive together to successfully realise the socio-economic development targets for 2023, helping to victoriously implement the resolution of the 13th Party Congress, the National Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision for 2050, and the Socio-economic Development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision for 2045, while affirming Vietnam’s position and role on the international stage.
Park Hang-seo stops rumours he will coach Indonesia
Coach Park Hang-seo has confirmed that he will succeed Shin Tae-yong to lead the national team of Indonesia after he terminates his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation.
Shin is doing a good job in Indonesia, and there is no point in making a change there, Park told YTN News of the Republic of Korea, silencing rumours surfacing on social media. .
Park also said he has yet to draw up any plan to return to the Republic of Korea, his home country, for a coaching career after he bids farewell to the national team of Vietnam in January 2023.
He said he can lend a helping hand to the Korean football at any time, but it’s not the right time to return to the RoK.
Explaining his decision to stay longer in Vietnam, Park.who has been in Vietnam for five consecutive years, stated infrastructure for young football in Vietnam is not good and ‘I want to stay here to help’.
Park and his wife are in Hanoi to celebrate Vietnam’s traditional lunar New Year festival after finishing the AFF Cup 2022 campaign with the Vietnamese team. He said he would stay in Vietnam to arrange personal affairs until early February before returning to the Republic of Korea.
Park’s contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is scheduled to end on January 31.
Video clip promotes golf tourism in Vietnam
With a length of 1 minute 41 seconds, the video clip titled "Golf Tourism - Enjoying every moment" in the media programme “Vietnam: Di De Yeu!” (Discover Vietnam) conveyed the message that golf tourism is not just a sport but a journey full of emotions.
On the occasion of Lunar New Year 2023, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) released its first video clip of the year in the media programme “Discover Vietnam”. With the theme of “Golf Tourism - Enjoying every moment”, the clip introduces visitors to the wonderful experiences of golf tourism - a popular trend with outstanding potential of Vietnamese tourism.
In addition to indulging in moments of focus, calm, stillness and determination to a precise putt, visitors can enjoy the excitement of beautiful swings as well as admire and immerse in the artful space of the vast and green natural landscape of the golf courses.
Visitors will also enjoy high-class services at high-class and luxurious resorts and join entertainment activities such as going on safari to see rare animals and visiting thrilling games and art programmes.
Vietnam has been honoured by the World Golf Awards as "Asia's Best Golf Destination" six times in a row. With a series of high-class and high-quality golf courses of international standards, Vietnam is confident to bring visitors to unique and challenging golf courses.
Golf legend Greg Norman once praised Vietnam as one of the destinations with the best golf courses in the world.
Those who love to travel will certainly be fascinated by the excitement of the amusement parks and cannot take their eyes off the unique entertainment events.
Five dead in road accidents on National Highway 55
Two traffic accidents occurred on National Highway No.55 in Binh Thuan Province, leaving five people dead, the local media reported on January 20.
The first fatal accident happened to three residents of Ham Tan District, Binh Thuan Province, at around 6 p.m. on January 19.
Tran Van Thai, aged 37, was carrying his wife and a six-month-old son, on a motorbike on National Highway No.55, in the direction from Binh Thuan to Ba Ria-Vung Tau, when their motorbike crashed into a truck in the opposite direction.
The collision killed all the three people.
Another road accident on the morning of the same day left a mother and her kid dead on National Highway 55, the section passing through Thang Hai Commune, just around three kilometers from the above accident.
A tractor was traveling on National Highway 55, from Binh Thuan to Ba Ria-Vung Tau, when it collided with a motorbike carrying a woman, aged 32 years old, living in Long An, and her daughter, aged 14, in the opposite direction.
The woman and her daughter died on the spot.
The traffic police of the province completed the scene examinations to determine the cause of the fatal accidents on January 20.
Head of Dong Nai auto testing center arrested over alleged bribe taking
Luong Minh Tu, 43, director of the 60-04D auto inspection and testing center in the southern province of Dong Nai, and 10 others have been charged with taking tens of billions of dong in bribes.
The Dong Nai police today, January 20, detained Tu and two deputy heads of the center – Le Son Tuyen and Tran Duc Duy, along with six inspectors for allegedly accepting bribes, the local media reported.
The police also pressed charges against Vo Chi Giang, an employee of the Saigon 3T auto driving center, and Le Tien Trung, director of the Vy Khang Transport Trading Services Company, for allegedly giving bribes.
The arrests came after the police searched this auto testing center in the province’s Bien Hoa City for several days.
According to the investigation results, Tu colluded with eight inspectors and staff members to advise car owners to use the inspection and testing service at the center. Besides an auto inspection fee and a road use charge in line with the prevailing regulations, owners of cars which did not meet technical and environmental standards to run on the road had to give bribes to the center to get their vehicles certified as eligible for use.
The investigators discovered that these suspects had given and taken tens of billions of dong in bribes during last year, with Tu admitting to pocketing more than VND3 billion.
Over the past month, police in many provinces and cities nationwide have probed violations of auto inspection and registration regulations, resulting in many auto testing centers closed.
The HCMC police searched 13 auto testing centers and pressed bribery charges against 89 individuals.
In the capital city of Hanoi, the police filed charges against 18 people from 10 auto testing facilities and detained 57 people for their alleged involvement in bribery cases.
Yesterday, the investigators in the northern province of Thai Binh filed charges against multiple officials of two auto testing facilities for allegedly taking bribes.
At the 17-01D auto testing center in Thai Binh City, the investigators arrested its director Luu Quang Hai, deputy director Bui Ngoc Diep, and inspector To Hong Duong.
Five officers of the 17-02D auto testing center in Dong Hung District, comprising Nguyen Ngoc Vien, Nguyen Van Kinh, Bui Van Tuong, Nguyen Tien Uy, and Ta Van Huynh, faced the same charges.
Similar to other auto testing centers under the investigations, these two facilities in Thai Binh were found to have infringed violations while offering auto inspection and registration services to car owners.
Two Dong Thap officials face disciplinary action
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has imposed disciplinary measures against chairman Pham Thien Nghia and vice chairman Doan Tan Buu of the Dong Thap Province People’s Committee in the 2021-2026 tenure.
According to the prime minister’s decisions, which were signed by Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on January 19, Nghia was reprimanded while Buu received a warning for their irregularities while on duty.
Earlier, the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission issued disciplinary sanctions against Nghia and Buu, with effect from November 9, 2022.
The Inspection Commission in November last year took disciplinary actions against the Party Civil Affairs Committee of Dong Thap Province in the 2021-2026 tenure along with Pham Thien Nghia, Doan Tan Buu, Ngo Hong Chieu, former head of the provincial Finance Department and Nguyen Lam Thai Thuan, director of the provincial Health Department, for their irregularities and slack leadership during the Covid fight.
In related news, the head of the Government decided to relieve Pham Van Thanh of his post as vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province in the 2021-2026 tenure to take charge of another position.
In late August last year, the provincial Party Committee’s Executive Board issued a warning against Thanh for his shortcomings in purchasing and bidding activities for Covid-19 test kits offered by Viet A Technology Corporation for Dong Trieu Town while he was leader of this locality from January 2020 to June 2021.
Three months later, Thanh sought to resign as vice chairman of Quang Ninh Province.
Hanoi seizes large volume of illicit drugs
The Hanoi Department of Customs, in coordination with an anti-smuggling force, discovered and confiscated over 58 kilograms of illicit drugs hidden in chocolate packs sent from the Netherlands to Vietnam.
The drugs include over 6.7 kilograms of ketamine and 51.7 kilograms of synthetic drugs, the local media reported.
The General Department of Vietnam Customs last night, January 18, announced that the department detained one drug trafficker and seized a large volume of illicit drugs sent from the European country by plane.
The illicit drugs were hidden in eight packages of goods weighing 154 kilograms transported to the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi City on January 12, according to Vietnam Customs.
Vietnam Customs is working with the Hanoi police and relevant authorities to expand the probe into the drug trafficking ring.
People should not drink over two units of alcohol per day: medical experts
Health experts are advising men not drink more than two units of alcohol per day while women are advised to not drink more than one.
Both men and women should not drink more than five days per week, said Trương Hồng Sơn, senior nutrition expert and director of the Việt Nam Institute of Applied Medicine.
One unit of alcohol is equivalent to about three quarters of a 330ml beer bottle, one glass of 100ml wine or a 30ml shot brandy, he said.
The advice was given in advance of Lunar New Year, when many people toast Tết by drinking alcohol.
Sơn told Nhân dân (The People) online newspaper that people need to be aware that alcohol contains ethanol and methanol. Ethanol is also known as traditional alcohol and methanol is industrial alcohol.
The main reason for methanol poisoning is that traders have bought the chemical to mix with traditional alcohol to sell to consumers, he said.
Methanol poisoning can be dangerous to people’s health and even fatal, he said.
To limit the purchase of methanol-containing alcohols, people should not buy alcohol without labels or of unknown origins, he said.
Although methanol or ethanol poisoning have the same symptoms of hypothermia and hypotension, the process of methanol poisoning develops after half a day or even one, two days, he said.
If the patient has blurred vision, fatigue, rapid breathing, slowness, even coma, possibly vomiting, this is already the late stage of poisoning, he said.
Then the patient needs to go to the nearest medical facility immediately, he or she must not self-treat at home, he said.
After drinking alcohol, people should drink filtered water to make up for lost water and dilute the blood alcohol concentration, he said.
People should drink ginger juice, making blood vessels circulate better, thereby quickly dissolving alcohol in the body, he said.
The addition of water with diluted lemon juice, orange juice with high vitamin-C content helps reduce drunkenness and revives the body, he said.
In addition, being drunk can often leads to dehydration, so drinking lemon juice and orange juice will help quench thirst effectively.
Some foods such as bread, cereals, and porridge have a large amount of carbon that acts as a filter in the body to help absorb all alcohol and effectively prevent drunkenness, he said.
Whole grain breads and cereals contain a lot of vitamin B1, which helps limit nausea symptoms, he said.
Transport Ministry asks to inspect slot coordination
The Ministry of Transport requested the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and the Ministry of Transport Inspectorate to strengthen the inspection and supervision of anti-corruption in management and coordination of slots for taking off and landing.
Accordingly, the MoT assigned its Inspectorate to chair and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to soon organize a delegation to inspect the slot coordination at the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam and relevant agencies; report to the Ministry of Transport on implementation results.
The Ministry of Transport directed the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam to strengthen handling the situation of flight delay and cancellations, improper implementation of slots and strictly handle violations according to its competence in order to avoid congestion at airports.
The Ministry of Transport also required the Airline Slot Council under the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) to raise its responsibility, role to ensure the consultancy for CAAV to regulate the airline slot publicly and transparently.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Transport assigned the CAAV to synchronously implement solutions to timely detect and overcome difficulties and obstacles on slot management; implement slot management in accordance with the law; study to strengthen applying advanced information technology on slot management to ensure publicity and transparency.
Previously, at the conference to review works in 2022 and discuss plan implementation in 2023 of the Ministry of Transport on January 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh required the Ministry of Transport to review the inequality, lack of transparency on slot management at airports with and without priority for some airlines.
Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes
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