The 10th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai (long dress) Festival, slated for March 7-17, is expected to contribute to preserving and promoting traditional culture to international friends.

The festival is part of the project on the organisation of typical festivals and cultural and sports events in HCM City for the 2020-2030 period.

It will include a variety of unique activities such as an art programme themed “Ao Dai – Colours of Ho Chi Minh City”, an Ao Dai exhibition and interaction space, and an online Ao Dai competition.

This year’s event will feature more than 20 key opinion leaders in various fields, beauty queens, singers, artists, and travel bloggers as image ambassadors. Along with that, it will see the participation of 30 famous Ao Dai designers from many localities across the country.

Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the municipal Tourism Department, said the festival will be not only a unique cultural tourism product of the locality, but also a driving force for socioeconomic development.

On this occasion, the city will honour artisans, ambassadors, designers, and tailors who have greatly contributed to the festival during its 10-year journey.

First launched in 2014, the festival has seen breakthroughs in both scale and quality, helping spread the love for Ao Dai among both visitors and locals, particularly civil servants, public employees, and female workers.

Developing unique tourism - cultural products, promoting traditional values to locals and international friends, and attracting more tourists to HCM City are among the priorities of local authorities this year.

Hoa said over the past years, HCM City’s position in the global tourism map has advanced, and the southern metropolis is known as an attractive, friendly, and safe destination for tourists.

Last year, the city attracted nearly 5 million foreign visitors and over 35 million domestic tourists. Its tourism reached nearly 160 trillion VND (7.8 billion USD).

In 2023, it was honoured as “Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination” and “Asia’s Leading Festival and Event Destination”, and was on the list of the world’s Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023.

Hoa said that the city set a target of attracting about 6 million foreign visitors and 38 million domestic tourists this year, with 190 trillion VND (7.6 billion USD) in revenue.

Vietnam among ten best destinations for graduation trips: Lonely Planet

Vietnam, the only representative of Asia, has ranked fifth in a list of the 10 best graduation trips to take in 2024 by Lonely Planet.

According to the travel magazine, the affordable, beautiful, and warm country will get graduates out of their comfort zone.

On local tourist destinations from north to south, it wrote: “Get lost in a sea of mopeds in Hanoi and slurp pho on stools along the sidewalk. Head up to Halong Bay, where you can tour its limestone islands on a junk boat. Enjoy an urban metropolis like Ho Chi Minh City, wander the Binh Tay Market or visit Vietnam's only Taoist temple, Khanh Van Nam Vien Pagoda, before cruising along the Mekong Delta and getting to know the locals at the Cai Rang Floating Market.”

Other countries on the list include Mexico, the US, Greece, and Costa Rica.

VGCL President highlights trade union’s achievements at world conference

President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Nguyen Dinh Khang shared VGCL’s outstanding activities at the second conference of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Presidential Council held in Sao Paolo, Brazil from March 1-2 (local time).

Khang, who is also WFTU Vice President, said in his speech on March 1 that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the VGCL has reaped important achievements in its tasks of representing, caring for and protecting trade union members and workers. It also successfully held the 13th National Congress for the 2023-2028 tenure last year, which aligned with working orientations set at the 18th World Trade Union Congress.

He also outlined the VGCL’s 2024 action plan to realise the Resolution adopted at its 13th National Congress and continued efforts to follow orientations in the WTFU’s Rome Declaration 2022.

The VGCL is always an active and responsible member in WFTU’s activities, working closely with member organisations to protect the workers’ rights and interests, he said.

The conference brought together nearly 100 delegates from 32 countries and territories representing 105 million workers worldwide.

Participants adopted the 2024 action plan and resolutions showing solidarity with the Cuban and Palestinian people.

On March 3 morning (local time), the Vietnamese delegation held talks with the WFTU’s leaders to discuss and reach consensus on scheduled cooperation contents.

WFTU Secretary General Pampis Kyritsis, once again, reaffirmed the VGCL’s important role and position within the organisation.

They also held talks with the Central of Workers of Brazil (CTB) and engaged in bilateral meetings to consolidate and expand relations with WFTU’s member trade union organisations, especially those in American region.

US Justice Department provides anti-timber trafficking training in Vietnam

Attorneys from the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice, in cooperation with the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Forest Protection Department, kicked off a training workshop in Hanoi on March 4 for Vietnamese government officials on countering illegal timber trafficking.

The workshop will last until March 7 and is part of a wider US-Vietnam law enforcement capacity building collaboration event happening in Hanoi.

This technical assistance workshop is the first in a series of workshops and discussions with Vietnam’s forestry, industry and non-governmental stakeholders, under the US-Vietnam Agreement to foster a more collaborative approach to combatting the illegal timber trade. 

In addition to the Justice Department, the collaboration event includes participants from the US Trade Representative, US Departments of Agriculture, Interior and Homeland Security, and the US Embassy. Vietnam government officials and industry and other organizational stakeholders are also participating in the event.

As part of the US – Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both leaders underscored the importance of deepening law enforcement and security cooperation.

Hanoi-related drafts discussed by NA’s Party Delegation, local officials
 
The Party Delegation of the National Assembly (NA) led by Secretary of the delegation and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held a meeting with the Hanoi Party Committee’s Standing Board on March 5 to discuss the draft revised Capital Law and the plans on local development.

Chairman Hue said the draft revised Capital Law had been submitted to the NA for the first consideration at the 15th-tenure parliament’s sixth session in late 2023. It is scheduled to undergo further discussion and be voted on at the coming seventh session.

He stressed the extreme importance of this draft law to not only Hanoi but also the entire country as Hanoi is the capital city. It is also a difficult bill which features both specific and inter-sectoral characteristics, as well as many mechanisms and policies different from common legal regulations.

Meanwhile, it is the Prime Minister’s jurisdiction to approve the Capital Master Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period with a vision to 2050, and the plan on adjustments to the Capital General Master Plan by 2045 with a vision to 2065 on the basis of the NA’s opinions as stipulated in the Capital Law.

In addition, the draft revised Capital Law also contains many important contents related to the Capital Master Plan and the plan on adjustments to the Capital General Master Plan, he noted.

Given this, the NA’s Party Delegation held the meeting with the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board to look into major issues to perfect the draft revised law and the plans and prepare to submit them to the NA for consideration.

The submission of all the three to the NA at the same session will create a crucial legal framework for Hanoi to develop and realise the viewpoints, targets, and orientations identified in the Politburo’s Resolution No 15 on orientations and tasks for Hanoi’s development until 2030 with a vision to 2045, along with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s directions on the capital’s development, according to Hue.

He asked relevant agencies of the NA, the Government, and Hanoi to step up the perfection of the three drafts to submit them to the parliament at the coming session.

OVs in Australia optimistic about bilateral cooperation prospects

Overseas Vietnamese in Australia have expressed their optimism about stronger cooperation between the two countries, especially after the ongoing official visit to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The Vietnamese government leader is in Australia for the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit and the official visit to the Oceanian country.

Tran Ba Phuc , chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia and Vice Chairman of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese, said he and others have been delighted as Vietnam’s position in the international arena has been raised and respected by the international community.

He also emphasised the fruitful diplomatic and trade ties between the two countries, saying the two-way trade is expected to be fostered in the time ahead, particularly after the PM’s visit, as they boast great potential for stronger cooperation.

Phuc also expressed his hope that the visit will be a success, helping to deepen the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership, and that the bilateral diplomatic and economic relations will make greater strides.

The Vietnamese community in Australia shares the wish to contribute to the development in the homeland, he affirmed.     
    
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese Peter Hong, who has lived in Australia for more than 40 years, said he and many Vietnamese nationals in Australia are looking forward to the PM’s visit.

Vietnam’s elevated position and reputation in the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific, has raised the confidence among the Vietnamese community in Australia in the Party’s and the State’s leadership, he said.

President of the Melbourne Overseas Vietnamese Students' Association Nguyen Le Ha Chi also noted her hope that the visit will open up new opportunities for the Vietnam-Australia relations, including their educational cooperation.

Vinh Long looks to expand cooperation with India

The People's Committee of the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long, in coordination with the Indian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, held a conference on promoting cooperation between the province and Indian businesses on March 5.  

Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of Vinh Long province Dang Van Chinh told the conference that the province is ready to cooperate with Indian businesses for mutual development and mutual benefit given the international integration trend.

He reported that last year, the province's exports to India, mainly footwear and garments, were valued at 1.33 million USD, accounting for about 0.2% of its total export turnover. Its imports from India, mostly raw materials for pharmaceutical production and animal feed, reached about 2 million USD, or 0.6% of the province's total import turnover.

Chinh said that Vinh Long wants to attract projects relating to infrastructure of industrial parks and clusters, health care, pharmaceuticals, human resource training, industry, tourism and hi-tech agriculture, creating higher added value as well as meeting the demand of investors.

The provincial leader pledged to support investors and remove difficulties during the implementation of projects as well as facilitate connection between investors with local businesses and the administration for sustainable trade and investment which commensurate with the potential and sound relationship between the two countries.

He expressed his hope that the Indian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and businesses will continue to strengthen people-to-people exchange and promote cooperation in all aspects.

Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, said Indian businesses want to cooperate with the province in the fields of tourism, education, health, and information technology and trade in the future.

Within the framework of the event, Indian business representatives had a field trip to enterprises and tourist destinations in Vinh Long province to explore the potential and cooperation opportunities. The delegates also met with local businesses to learn about typical products of the locality and sign MoUs on cooperative activities in the coming time.

Thai Binh province records fruitful health cooperation with Denmark: official

A senior official of the northern province of Thai Binh highlighted the productive cooperation in healthcare with Denmark while meeting with a visiting delegation of the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health on March 5.

Providing a brief introduction of Thai Binh, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Thi Bich Hang said her province has an evenly developed healthcare system with many quality training and treatment institutions. Recently, the local health sector has applied many new and modern techniques to treatment, thus helping improving public healthcare and protection.

In particular, she noted, the strategic health cooperation programmes on non-communicable diseases between Vietnam and Denmark, implemented on a trial basis in Thai Binh, has entered the second phase and reaped positive results, helping better grassroots health workers’ capacity as well as local healthcare conditions.

Hang voiced her hope that the Danish ministry will continue promoting cooperation activities in the province in the time to come.

For her part, Danish Minister Sophie Løhde Jacobsen said her country is strong at preventive medicine and public healthcare quality.

Given the cooperation results gained so far, she expressed the willingness to continue enhancing partnerships in and improving the effectiveness of non-communicable disease prevention and control between Thai Binh and Denmark.

Later the same day, the Danish delegation visited the Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, including the Thai Binh Medical University Hospital. This is the only training establishment in the province carrying out a research project on chronic disease management in coordination with the University of Copenhagen and the University of Southern Denmark.

Sophie Løhde Jacobsen spoke highly of Denmark’s cooperation programmes in Thai Binh, adding that she believes the quality of grassroots healthcare and the province’s health system at large will receive more attention and develop further in the coming time.

Vietnam, Australia build practical, future-oriented relations

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on March 5 within the framework of the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit commemorating the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations in Melbourne.

FM Son thanked the Australian official for collaboration in preparing for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Australia, expressing his belief that the summit will be a great success.

He expressed his satisfaction with the recent progress in bilateral relations as well as in cooperation between the two foreign ministries.

He suggested the two sides closely coordinate in implementing support packages worth nearly 200 million AUD (130 million USD) for clean energy development and climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta region, which Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and FM Wong had announced during their recent visits to Vietnam.

For her part, minister Wong thanked the Vietnamese Government as well as FM Son for their support and participation in the Summit, while highly valuing substantive activities that the two countries held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations last year.

She took the occasion to invite Son to visit Australia again and co-chair the 6th Vietnam-Australia foreign ministerial meeting.

In a meeting with FM Son on the occasion, Nicholas Moore, Australia's Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, affirmed that Australia highly values the potential for cooperation with Vietnam, especially in terms of economics, trade, and investment, noting that Vietnam holds a significant position in the implementation of Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Nam Dinh committed to creating favourable conditions for German investors: official

Nam Dinh province will create favourable conditions for German businesses to invest in the locality, said Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Pham Gia Tuc.

Receiving a delegation from the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group led by the group's President Don Tuan Phong and German Ambassador to Vietnam Guido Hildner on March 5, the provincial official introduced the guests to the province’s history, culture, advantages, and potential.

Tuc called upon German businesses and investors in hi-tech areas to invest in the province. He noted that Nam Dinh is the home of the only university of nursing in Vietnam, which is an advantage for the province to engage in cooperation programmes on sending Vietnamese nurses to Germany to work.

He hoped that human resource training schools in Nam Dinh will have the opportunity to participate in vocational training and technical support programmes between Vietnam and Germany, which will open up opportunities for comprehensive cooperation between Nam Dinh and Germany’s organisations and localities.

Phong, who is also Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations, said that Nam Dinh has a favourable geographical location, a developed economy, advantages in infrastructure, investment environment, human resources, and good quality human resource training facilities.

The province and German investors have the potential to cooperate in the fields of science - technology, culture, sports, tourism, and labour development.

Ambassador Hildner said Germany and Vietnam agreed to cooperate in developing two important projects related to climate change and nurse recruitment. The projects took the working group of the Vietnam - Germany Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group to Nam Dinh on this occasion.

Within the framework of the working visit, the delegation visited My Thuan Industrial Park in My Loc district and Nam Dinh University of Nursing.

Vietnam, Iran hold political consultation at deputy foreign ministerial level

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang paid a working visit to Iran from March 3-4, during which she co-chaired the eighth political consultation with her Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri Kani.

At the political consultation, discussions centred on specific measures to boost bilateral ties across politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, culture, education, tourism, people-to-people exchange, including the exchange of all-level delegations, facilitating visa issuance for firms to increase connectivity, share information and expand business opportunities. They agreed to soon hold the 10th meeting of the Vietnam-Iran Joint Committee and effectively carry out the signed cooperation agreements. The two sides also shared views on global and regional issues of shared concern.

As part of her visit, Hang met with Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mehdi Safari, and Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Mehdi Zeyghami, and held working sessions with Vice President of the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) Ghadir Ghiyafeh and Chairman of the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Jalil Rahimi Juhan Abadi.

During meetings, both sides affirmed their commitment to realising the results and agreements reached during previous high-level visits and meetings, highlighting the significance of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s working visit last September.

The Iranian Foreign Minister commended Vietnam's regional standing and developmental achievements, and affirmed Iran's willingness to bolster friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Deputy FM Safari shared Iran's strengths in the fields of construction and infrastructure, technology, healthcare, services, energy and hoped that the two sides will consider expanding cooperation into areas where they hold strengths and potential.

The leaders of Iranian ministries and agencies described Vietnam as an important trade partner. They suggested increasing the exchange of trade promotion delegations, joining exhibitions and fairs held in each country, and wished that the two sides would propel cooperation in tourism, cultural and people-to-people exchange.

Hang, for her part, vowed to work closely with relevant Vietnamese agencies to implement commitments and agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders and study Iran’s proposals during her trip.

She believed that leveraging economic strengths and dynamism, Vietnam and Iran have substantial potential for further growth in the foreseeable future.

PM orders drastic measures after fatal road accident in Tuyen Quang

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 5 asked relevant forces to maximise resources to settle the aftermath of a serious traffic accident in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang, which killed five people.

The accident occurred at 1:36 am on the day in Dong Cau village, Tu Quan commune, Yen Son district, when a bus carrying passengers from Ha Giang to Tuyen Quang collided with a container truck traveling from Hai Phong to Ha Giang. Initial investigation found the truck's driver had lost control at a turn, so the vehicle swerved to the left and hit the bus heads-on.

In a dispatch sent to the Ministers of Public Security and Transport, and the chairperson of the provincial People’s Committee of Tuyen Quang, the Government leader requested the Chairperson of the provincial People’s Committee, who is also head of the provincial traffic safety board, to mobilise doctors, drugs, equipment and materials for the treatment of the injured, while conducting necessary procedures for the deceased.

Relevant forces should work together to find the cause of the accident, and take solutions to address problems regarding infrastructure and traffic organisation (if any) to prevent similar accidents in the future, he said, adding collectives and individuals that have committed wrongdoings must be strictly handled.

The PM also urged People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to step up communications work to enhance compliance to traffic regulations and take drastic actions to reduce traffic accidents.

Vietnam calls for stronger ASEAN defence cooperation at regional meeting

Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong led a Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM-Retreat) held in the northern Lao city of Luang Prabang on March 5.

In his address, Cuong described 2024 as a pivotal year to develop a long-term strategy for ASEAN's post-2025 vision, help ASEAN uphold its past achievements; strengthen its solidarity, unity, central role and self-resilience with a common vision and strategic choice, which is cooperation and joint action for peace, stability and security in the region while improving the ability to adapt to new developments in the global and regional landscapes.
According to him, the expansion of ASEAN's defence relations through the establishment of the ADMM and the deployment of seven ADMM Experts’ Working Groups (EWGs) has also demonstrated that ADMM is an effective mechanism to build trust, facilitate cooperation and dialogue between ASEAN and its partners.

The increasing interest from external partners in joining ADMM in various forms reflects the success and attractiveness of this mechanism, he said.

To uphold the ASEAN’s central role and strategic value, and create impetus to propel dialogue processes, build trust for peace, security and stability in the region and the world, he said cooperation activities within the framework of ADMM and ADMM need to adhere to the fundamental principles of the ASEAN Charter and ASEAN regulations and processes, respect the independence and self-reliance of ASEAN countries, and make practical and responsible contributions to regional peace, stability and common security.

Vietnam supports the continued implementation of the ADMM EWG observership programme and welcomes new participants in order to make practical and effective contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region, he said, stressing the need to be consistent with ASEAN's stance and principles on international and regional issues that directly affect ASEAN in order to maintain and promote its unity and solidarity.
On the occasion, Cuong invited defence and military leaders, defence industry enterprises and military music bands of ASEAN countries to the second Vietnam International Defence Expo and the ASEAN military music exchange in Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army later this year.

Vietnam consistently advocates for peaceful dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disputes, he said, adding that in the East Sea issue, Vietnam remains committed to upholding international law, adhering to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and hopes to soon conclude a more concrete, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Heads of delegations all affirmed the need for ASEAN to strengthen its solidarity, maintain its central role, and take the lead in regional cooperation mechanisms to effectively respond to emerging traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as armed conflicts, competition between major powers, cybersecurity, natural disasters, pandemics and climate change.

They further committed to maintaining the role of ADMM and ADMM as the highest-level ministerial defence and military cooperation mechanisms for ASEAN member states and partner countries.

The meeting also adopted a Joint Statement on ADMM’s achievements in service of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025.

Earthquake with magnitude 4.0 occurs in Kon Plông District

An earthquake with magnitude 4.0 and focal depth of about 8.1km occurred at noon on Tuesday in Kon Plông District, the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

The Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Centre under the Institute of Geophysics said that the quake happened at the co-ordinates 14.824 degrees North Latitude – 108.273 degrees East Longitude.

At present, the centre is continuing to monitor for seismic activity.

Along with the recent earthquake, from the beginning of last month till now, eighteen small earthquakes have occurred in Kon Plông District.

The day with the most earthquakes was February 7 with nine ones. The highest magnitude earthquake was magnitude 4.0.

In January this year, eight earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 2.8 occurred across the country. Of these, six happened in Kon Plông District.

The Institute of Geophysics said that earthquakes in the district had occurred frequently and continuously since 2021 until now.

This area recorded the highest magnitude earthquake in recent years of 4.7, which occurred on the afternoon of August 23, 2022.

Director of the institute Nguyễn Xuân Anh said that since June 2021, the institute had sent officers to the area to set up more monitoring stations to better understand the phenomenon. They will also issue prompt warnings when dangerous seismic events occur.

Normally, earthquakes with a magnitude of under 5.0 were considered small and rarely cause significant damage, he said.

Earthquakes of 5.0-6.0 degrees or higher are medium ones and pose a risk of natural disasters; while those from 6.0 are major earthquakes with high risk of natural disaster damages.

Anh said that local people should stay calm and follow instructions of local authorities and competent agencies. They also need to reinforce houses and equip themselves with knowledge of earthquake response techniques.

Vietnamese, Chinese localities intensify border health cooperation

A talk exchanging information on disease prevention and control, and healthcare activities between delegations of the Department of Health of Vietnam's Cao Bang province and the Health Commission of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was organised in Cao Bang city on March 5.

According to Nong Tuan Phong, Director of the Department of Health of Cao Bang, the talk aimed to further promote the comprehensive implementation of the joint statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China, and important common perceptions reached by the two countries’ leaders.

Both sides were committed to implementing the outcomes reached at the 2024 spring meeting between secretaries of the Party committees, the 15th meeting of the Joint Working Committee of, and the medical exchange conference of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the four Vietnamese provinces of Ha Giang, Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Cao Bang in 2023; and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on medical cooperation between the four Vietnamese border provinces and Guangxi.

In 2023, the Cao Bang Department of Health and the Health Commission of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region engaged in numerous friendly exchange activities and cooperation in health care. The two sides stepped up information sharing and coordination in preventing and controlling infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic, plague, and monkeypox, especially cross-border infectious diseases.

The two sides also enhanced coordination and control for disease-carrying intermediate hosts at land border checkpoints between the two countries; managed health quarantine for humans, vehicles crossing the border, exported and imported goods, medical microbiological samples, biological products, human tissues and organs transported through pairs of land border gates between the two countries.

Du Zhenzong, Head of the Health Commission of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said the two sides have collaborated effectively, especially in preventing and controlling infectious diseases, minimising the risks of cross-border infectious diseases, and deepening the relationship between the people of Vietnam and China.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to maintain their relationship, information exchanges, and boost cooperation to reduce the spread of diseases that can be transmitted across the border.

The official hoped to cooperate with the Department of Health of Cao Bang in personnel training, especially in providing further training and technical skills for medical officials and health care givers.

He suggested the two sides discuss developing specific plans for improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, public health, treatment techniques, and traditional medicine and strengthening cooperation in treating cross-border infectious diseases.

Quangxi welcomes Vietnamese citizens to experience its advanced healthcare services and will create the most favourable conditions for these tourists, Du affirmed.

The two sides’ medical agencies are considering establishing and implementing win-win cooperation mechanisms and partnerships between Cao Bang and Guangxi, tapping their resources and harnessing potential to bring a brighter future to the health sector of the two countries.

Additionally, they can conduct emergency response drills, share information on infectious diseases, and traditional medicine, especially in preventing and treating Mediterranean anemia; and agree on a collaborative model to ensure patients receive the best possible healthcare services available today.

Transport inspectors to strengthen checks during festival season

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has asked concerned organisations to strengthen solutions to ensure road traffic order and safety during the holiday season after the Lunar New Year festival.

In an official dispatch sent to the Department for Roads of Việt Nam (DRVN), provincial and municipal departments of transport, Deputy Minister Nguyễn Duy Lâm stated that after Tết holiday, people's demand for travel and joining festivals has increased, raising the potential risk of traffic accidents and traffic jams.

Recently, there have been a number of road traffic accidents causing serious consequences.

To ensure traffic order and safety and minimise the risk of road traffic accidents, the MoT requires agencies to strengthen education and guidance on proper implementation of legal regulations for businesses and drivers.

Inspectors must pay special attention to check driving time, speed, distance between vehicles on the highway, and technical safety conditions of vehicles and drivers.

The DRVN directs road management centres to strengthen inspection and review of traffic infrastructure systems, traffic regulation on key highways and national highways, especially high-speed routes.

Special care must also be given on highways with two lanes or no emergency stopping lane, at intersections, roads with steep gradient, narrow curve radius, limited visibility and potentially endangering traffic safety.

The centres should promptly supplement rescue facilities at steep passes (if necessary) on highways and national highways throughout the country.

The DRVN asks provincial and municipal departments of transport to improve capacity and quality of passenger transport services.

They are responsible for regularly checking, preventing and handling drivers who violate alcohol levels, drive overcrowded vehicles or increase ticket prices illegally.

Localities must manage the operation of transport businesses' vehicles in terms of speed, itinerary and drivers’ daily working time through the trip monitoring devices.

Violations must be punished strictly according to regulations.

​Local departments of transport will strengthen inspection and review of road signs systems, and reflective warning devices at intersections and steep roads to be supplemented and adjusted.

The departments’ duty is timely repairing damaged or eroded road sections, especially when accidents occur on key traffic routes, routes leading to major festival areas and tourist sites that attract many people.

Another important work is inspecting and directing terminals to strictly implement regulations for vehicles entering and exiting, and resolutely not allowing vehicles that do not meet the prescribed conditions to start their journey.

​For passenger transport along fixed routes on highways or on roads with high slopes, transport businesses need to remind drivers before each trip to increase their awareness of driving time, speed and distance between vehicles.

Photo exhibition honours ties between mothers and children

Photos capturing moving moments between mothers and their children taken by photographer Lê Bích over an almost 20 years period, are being displayed at Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hà Nội.

The Mẹ Yêu Con (A Mother’s Love) exhibition is aimed to commemorate the 114th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 8 and International Day of Happiness on March 20.

The photographer travelled through the northern mountainous provinces all the way to the central provinces. There he met and conversed with local people, and captured emotional moments between mothers and children with his lens.

At A Mother’s Love, visitors encounter stories about mother-child relationships in remote villages, from the high mountains covered in mist to the vast plains. The humble and sacred bond is present in every overflowing moment captured in photographs, brimming with love.

Regardless of the region or ethnicity, whether they are from the Mông, Thái, Nùng, Lô Lô Black, or Kinh ethnic groups, the expression of a mother's affection towards her beloved children is natural, whether it be in moments of work, play, rest or teach knowledge.

The first photograph on the subject by Bích is titled Trên Lưng Mẹ (On Mother's Back), taken in 2005 at the Bắc Hà Market in Bắc Hà Town in the northern province of Lào Cai. The image of that moment evoked a special emotion in the photographer.

"The image of a Mông ethnic baby peacefully sleeping on the back of their mother, who was selling goods at a corner of the Bắc Hà Market, touched my heart in a powerful way and inspired my journey to explore the different facets of the mother-child relationship,” he recalled.

“With my works, I hope to touch the hearts of others, inspiring us to love our mothers more, as we all come into this world through them," shared the photographer.

After the exhibition concludes, Bích will donate the collection to the Vietnamese Women's Museum for display.

Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyễn Thị Minh Hương said she was filled with emotions after admiring the artworks.

"Through the exhibition by artist Lê Bích, I see these special yet ordinary and affectionate moments of mothers in both the rural and urban areas, in the mountains as well as the plains," she said.

“What makes it even more remarkable is that these sacred moments are captured through the lens and emotions of a male photographer who deeply understands the mother-child relationship."

A Mother’s Love exhibition runs until March 15.

Born in 1972, Bích is now based in Hà Nội. He started to pursue photography in 2005, and has become renowned for capturing the essences of Vietnamese cultural heritages and traditional crafts.

Bích has won numerous photography awards and has organised several diverse exhibitions, including a solo exhibition titled Sắc Màu Cuộc Sống (Colours of Life) at the Vietnamese Women's Museum in 2018. 

Uy wins first leg of VGA Junior Tour 2024

Đoàn Uy won the first leg tournament of the VGA Junior Tour 2024 on March 3 in Hải Phòng.

Uy earned a cumulative score of 3-under 213 after three rounds to take the top ranking of the boys' U18 and the overall at Vinpearl Golf Hải Phòng.

It was the second time that Uy secured a title on the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA) Junior Tour. 

Uy currently places No. 787 in the world amateur ranking. His position will be lifted after this victory. 

Lê Minh Nghĩa, also U18, and Phạm Đăng Long, who won in the boys U15 class, came second second and third, respectively, with the same score of 9-over 222.

Other winners of the competition included Nguyễn Ngô Minh Uyên (girls U18), Nguyễn Quang Đại (boys' U13), Nguyễn Viết Gia Hân (girls' U13), Sisovic Sasha (U11) and Nguyễn Thái Sơn (U9).

In addition to the champions, organisers also presented awards to three golfers -- Nguyễn Bảo Châu and Nguyễn Phương Quỳnh (U13), and Nguyễn Phúc Anh (U9) who scored an eagle during two days of the tournament. 

The VGA Junior Tour 2024's second leg will be held at the West Lakes Golf & Villas in Long An Province in early April. 

Vietnamese, Chinese localities intensify border health cooperation

A talk exchanging information on disease prevention and control, and healthcare activities between delegations of the Department of Health of Vietnam's Cao Bang province and the Health Commission of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was organised in Cao Bang city on March 5.

According to Nong Tuan Phong, Director of the Department of Health of Cao Bang, the talk aimed to further promote the comprehensive implementation of the joint statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China, and important common perceptions reached by the two countries’ leaders.

Both sides were committed to implementing the outcomes reached at the 2024 spring meeting between secretaries of the Party committees, the 15th meeting of the Joint Working Committee of, and the medical exchange conference of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the four Vietnamese provinces of Ha Giang, Quang Ninh, Lang Son and Cao Bang in 2023; and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on medical cooperation between the four Vietnamese border provinces and Guangxi.

In 2023, the Cao Bang Department of Health and the Health Commission of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region engaged in numerous friendly exchange activities and cooperation in health care. The two sides stepped up information sharing and coordination in preventing and controlling infectious diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic, plague, and monkeypox, especially cross-border infectious diseases.

The two sides also enhanced coordination and control for disease-carrying intermediate hosts at land border checkpoints between the two countries; managed health quarantine for humans, vehicles crossing the border, exported and imported goods, medical microbiological samples, biological products, human tissues and organs transported through pairs of land border gates between the two countries.

Du Zhenzong, Head of the Health Commission of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said the two sides have collaborated effectively, especially in preventing and controlling infectious diseases, minimising the risks of cross-border infectious diseases, and deepening the relationship between the people of Vietnam and China.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to maintain their relationship, information exchanges, and boost cooperation to reduce the spread of diseases that can be transmitted across the border.

The official hoped to cooperate with the Department of Health of Cao Bang in personnel training, especially in providing further training and technical skills for medical officials and health care givers.

He suggested the two sides discuss developing specific plans for improving the quality of medical examination and treatment, public health, treatment techniques, and traditional medicine and strengthening cooperation in treating cross-border infectious diseases.

Quangxi welcomes Vietnamese citizens to experience its advanced healthcare services and will create the most favourable conditions for these tourists, Du affirmed.

The two sides’ medical agencies are considering establishing and implementing win-win cooperation mechanisms and partnerships between Cao Bang and Guangxi, tapping their resources and harnessing potential to bring a brighter future to the health sector of the two countries.

Additionally, they can conduct emergency response drills, share information on infectious diseases, and traditional medicine, especially in preventing and treating Mediterranean anemia; and agree on a collaborative model to ensure patients receive the best possible healthcare services available today.

Vietnam Farmers’ Association ready to exchange, and share experiences with Laos

A delegation of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VNFU) led by the organisation's chairman Luong Quoc Doan paid a courtesy visit to Politburo member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune in Vientiane on March 5.

At the meeting, Doan said the delegation’s visit to Laos aims to exchange information, share experiences in mass mobilisation work, and determine cooperation mechanisms between the association and the Lao front.

They also discussed the establishment of the Lao Farmers' Association.    

For his part, Sinlavong highly appreciated the role of the VNFU in the growth of Vietnam’s agriculture during the past time. He said that the delegation's visit offers opportunities for Laos to learn from Vietnam's experiences in developing the VNFU. 

The same day, the Vietnamese delegation held talks with a delegation from the LFNC Central Committee led by its Vice President Khamlay Sipaseuth.

During the talks, the two sides agreed to continue promoting communications work for farmers of the two countries to understand the strategic importance and meaning of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

They will join in protecting and nurturing the good traditional relationship between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to continue promoting their cooperation and friendship and support each other in activities of the farmers' union in particular and the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas in general.

At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral cooperation in the 2025 – 2030 period.

Hanoi-related drafts discussed by NA’s Party Delegation, local officials

The Party Delegation of the National Assembly (NA) led by Secretary of the delegation and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held a meeting with the Hanoi Party Committee’s Standing Board on March 5 to discuss the draft revised Capital Law and the plans on local development.

Chairman Hue said the draft revised Capital Law had been submitted to the NA for the first consideration at the 15th-tenure parliament’s sixth session in late 2023. It is scheduled to undergo further discussion and be voted on at the coming seventh session.

He stressed the extreme importance of this draft law to not only Hanoi but also the entire country as Hanoi is the capital city. It is also a difficult bill which features both specific and inter-sectoral characteristics, as well as many mechanisms and policies different from common legal regulations.

Meanwhile, it is the Prime Minister’s jurisdiction to approve the Capital Master Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period with a vision to 2050, and the plan on adjustments to the Capital General Master Plan by 2045 with a vision to 2065 on the basis of the NA’s opinions as stipulated in the Capital Law.

In addition, the draft revised Capital Law also contains many important contents related to the Capital Master Plan and the plan on adjustments to the Capital General Master Plan, he noted.

Given this, the NA’s Party Delegation held the meeting with the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board to look into major issues to perfect the draft revised law and the plans and prepare to submit them to the NA for consideration.

The submission of all the three to the NA at the same session will create a crucial legal framework for Hanoi to develop and realise the viewpoints, targets, and orientations identified in the Politburo’s Resolution No 15 on orientations and tasks for Hanoi’s development until 2030 with a vision to 2045, along with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s directions on the capital’s development, according to Hue.

He asked relevant agencies of the NA, the Government, and Hanoi to step up the perfection of the three drafts to submit them to the parliament at the coming session.

Ijiri encourages Việt Nam, asking for more effort in U20 Asian Cup

Despite a big loss in the first match, coach Akira Ijiri said his Vietnamese side still had the chance to show their ability at the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Việt Nam suffered a 10-0 defeat to defending champions Japan in the Group B opener on March 4.

The six-time champions scored a hat trick in the first half and netted seven in the second. Meanwhile Việt Nam could only claim two attempts in the 90 official minutes, but none worked.

“The result tells everything," Ijiri told reporters at the post-match briefing.

"In this tournament, Việt Nam represent the Southeast Asian region. But we faced the strongest rival, Japan, in the first match. It is a disappointing result and it was indeed a tough game. We still have two more matches and we will try our best and this is what I will convey to the team.”

Speaking to reporters, captain Lê Thị Bảo Trâm said the Việt Nam team did all they could but still conceded 10 goals because Japanese players were really strong.

"The coaching board and players will conduct review and analysis to improve our weaknesses for the next matches and hope we will have positive results,” Trâm said.

On the other side, Michihisa Kano praised Japan’s mindset after their victory which placed Japan at the top of the standings, with North Korea and China having settled for a 1-1 draw in the group’s other match.

“We are in this tournament as challengers,” said Kano on the-afc.com. “The team appeared somewhat rigid at the start of the match but we gradually found our attacking rhythm and demonstrated dynamism in the second half.

“In the initial period, our strategy was to be aggressive but, unfortunately, our combinations faltered and our timing was off."

He said in the second half, the team managed to discover their cohesiveness, resulting in well-executed actions, leading to successful scoring opportunities.

Japan will next meet China, while Việt Nam, at the bottom of the ranking, will see North Korea on Thursday.

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