The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) last week again warned that the ocean is faced with increasing threats and multiple risks posed by climate change, natural disasters, environmental pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources, and unsustainable economic activities. “Global warming and marine litter are threatening marine resources, including widespread bleaching of coral reefs. Globally, an estimated 8-20 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year. In Vietnam, around 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste leaks from the country into the ocean every day. It is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050,” said Caitlin Wiesen, resident representative in Vietnam of the UNDP. The global ocean economy contributes an estimated $3 trillion per year, or about 5 per cent of the world’s GDP and comprises industries ranging from oil and gas, shipping and ports to renewable energy, fisheries, marine ecosystems and tourism. The value of the … [Read more...] about Blue economy model gathering pace
10 000 islands florida
Vietnam tops SEA Games 31 medal tally with 125 golds
Swimmer Pham Thanh Bao (centre) stands on the podium (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam had claimed 125 gold, 76 silver and 74 bronze medals as of May 18 evening, the sixth official competition day of the ongoing SEA Games 31 , retaining the top position in the medal table. The host country is getting closer to its set target of 140 golds. Thailand ranked second with 53 golds, followed by the Philippines with 37. On the day, the Vietnamese athletics team won three more gold medals in the women’s javelin throw, women’s 10,000m and women’s 4x400m, raising the number in the sport to 19 and surpassing the target of 15-17. Runner Nguyen Thi Oanh obtained triple golds in the women’s 1,000m; 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase, in which she broke her own record set in the previous SEA Games. Swimmers continued to excite home fans as Ben Tre-born Pham Thanh Bao won the eighth gold for Vietnam in the men’s 50m breaststroke, beating strong rivals from Indonesia and Singapore. … [Read more...] about Vietnam tops SEA Games 31 medal tally with 125 golds
Marathoner wins historic gold for Vietnam at SEA Games 31
During the event began in early May 19 morning near Hanoi-based My Dinh National Stadium, Thanh faced fierce competition from defending champion Agus Prayogo of Indonesia and Tony Ah-Thit Payne of Thailand. He reached the finish line first after 2:25:08, faster than the second-placed Prayogo by 30 seconds. In addition, he set a new personal record as his previous one was 2:26:56. The 27-year-old runner from the southern province of Binh Phuoc quenched Vietnam’s thirst for medals in the men’s marathon for more than six decades. Previously, Pham Thi Binh clinched a gold medal in the women’s marathon for Vietnam at SEA Games 28 in 2013. Speaking to reporters after the competition, Thanh said he was proud but hardly believed that he could win. In the last kilometres, he told himself to do his utmost until the end with cheering from local supporters. Also on May 19 morning, Vietnam bagged two more golds in the men’s and women’s 20km walk by Vo Xuan Vinh and Nguyen Thi Thanh … [Read more...] about Marathoner wins historic gold for Vietnam at SEA Games 31
Developers clamour for legal clarity
Developers clamour for legal clarity, Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Nguyen Manh Ha, vice chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Association, said that tourism real estate needs to break down barriers to development as soon as possible, in order to move alongside the general economic recovery. “Currently, mechanisms and policies for resort real estate are unclear, especially in terms of new types of real estate such as condotels, officetels, and second-home villas in resorts,” Ha said. The legal framework has not kept pace with the reality of hospitality and resort real estate development, thus partly hindering the growth momentum of these types of property, Ha added. They are not given a right use certificate, known as a red book in Vietnam, because they are built on land plots permitted for developing tourism property only, and not for residential projects. Doan Van Binh, chairman of CEO Group, said that supply is scarce not only in Vietnam but worldwide due to the impact of … [Read more...] about Developers clamour for legal clarity
SEA Games 31: ticket sold out, no room near stadium before men’s football final
Three fans from Thanh Hoa are finding a room near the stadium (Photo: SGGP) On the way, two groups of fans with nearly 10 people were caught asking locals about renting hotels and accommodation. However, they hardly found a hotel room near the stadium where the match will take place, so they then drove the car to continue searching. Mr. Quan – a fan from Thanh Hoa Province who has just arrived in Viet Tri City after 5 hours of driving - said that he took his family members to Phu Tho to watch U23 Vietnam play the semi-finals. Because it is still early, he wanted to rent a hotel or motel room to rest. He moaned no more rooms near the stadium as he wanted a room near the yard to walk to the stadium. He planned when the match finished, he and his family members went back to the hotel for sleeping and in the next day, they will visit some places before returning to Thanh Hoa. Mr. Quan bought a few glasses of sugarcane juice to fuel up before continuing to search for a hotel to … [Read more...] about SEA Games 31: ticket sold out, no room near stadium before men’s football final
Vietnam aims to be 50 percent urbanized by 2030
At a Wednesday conference held by the Communist Party's Secretariat regarding sustainable development of Vietnam’s urban areas by 2030, with vision until 2045, Tran Tuan Anh, head of the Central Economic Commission, said the Party's decision-making Politburo has requested for quicker, better urbanization, as well as sustainably developing urban areas into networks. By 2025, the urbanization rate of Vietnam would be around 45 percent, with 950-1,000 urban areas. By 2030, the rate would be at 50 percent with 1,000-1,200 urban areas. The goal means Vietnam would need 100 more urban areas in the next decade. The country would also have certain urban centers at national and regional level, with medical, education and cultural criteria similar to other urban areas in countries among the top four in Southeast Asia. In those urban areas, the ratio between traffic land and construction land must be at 16-26 percent in 2030. Tree coverage for each person on average must reach 8-10 per … [Read more...] about Vietnam aims to be 50 percent urbanized by 2030