History of new years

Hanoi launches tree-planting festival on New Year of Bufallo

February 21, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (second right, front row) waters a newly-planted tree in Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The launching ceremony of a tree-planting festival on the Lunar New Year was held in Hanoi on February 21 as part of this year’s efforts in response to the Government’s programme on planting 1 billion trees to 2025.

Addressing the launching event, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh said tree planting has remained as the city’s annual programme. Planting a tree is just the beginning; it is more important to take good care of it and let them grow well, he said, adding that it is a responsibility of everybody.

Hanoi launches tree-planting festival on New Year of Bufallo hinh anh 2

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh speaks in the launching ceremony of a tree-planting festival on the New Year of the Buffalo on February 21. (Photo: VNA)

He asked all districts and towns to accelerate public awareness campaigns on the meaning of the tree planting festival and the importance and benefits of growing and protecting trees.

Hanoi sets to plant more than 300,000 trees this year and strives for each Hanoian to plant at least one tree by 2030, he unveiled.

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Tran Hong Ha said increasing natural disasters and extreme weather events have taken heavy toll on Vietnam for years. At the same time, pollution, especially air pollution, has been rising in an alarming rate, causing harmful effects on the quality of life in humans and social and economic activities in metropolises, while rapid urbanisation and industrialisation have put enormous pressure on the environment, he added.

Hanoi launches tree-planting festival on New Year of Bufallo hinh anh 3

Secretary of the Hanoi Party’s Committee Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Tran Hong Ha (left) plant a tree in response to the tree planting festival. (Photo: VNA)

He highlighted the significance of the five-year campaign of growing one billion trees, saying that various effective models, initiatives and actions have been put in place to scale up the tree planting campaign nationwide in response to President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching and the one-billion-tree-planting campaign.

Previously, the capital city has fulfilled its goal of planting one million trees two years ahead schedule. It has planted around 600,000 new trees along over 250 urban streets to not only expand urban tree canopy cover but also prevent dust and noise pollution.

On November 28, 1959, President Ho Chi Minh wrote an article published in the Nhan dan (People) newspaper stressing the significance of tree planting for each person, each family, and the entire nation. Since the first tree planting festival was held in the spring of 1960, the activity has become a common practice whenever a new year arrives./.

VNA

Vietnam confirms eight new Covid-19 infection cases on Thursday

February 25, 2021 by dtinews.vn

Eight more people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Vietnam, raising the total number of patients in the country to 2,420, the Ministry of Health reported on Thursday evening.

Illustrative photo

According to the ministry’s report, seven of the new patients are from Hai Duong Province.

The imported patient is a 25-year-old Vietnamese woman who entered Vietnam through the Moc Bai International Border Gate on February 22. She was sent to a quarantine area upon arrival and tested possitive for two days later.

The patient is now being treated at the Tay Ninh Provincial General Hospital.

With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 2,412, including 1,520 locally-transmitted cases with 827 cases reported since the new outbreak started in Hai Duong on January 28. Hai Duong Province alone has recorded 643 cases.

Eight new Covid-19 cases diagnosed tonight

February 25, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Eight new Covid-19 cases diagnosed tonight

The Saigon Times

A medical worker takes samples from a resident in Hai Duong Province. The Ministry of Health has reported eight fresh Covid-19 patients, with seven locally-transmitted cases in Hai Duong Province and one imported case in Tay Ninh Province – PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – The Ministry of Health has reported eight fresh Covid-19 patients, with seven locally-transmitted cases in Hai Duong Province and one imported case in Tay Ninh Province, taking the country’s tally to 2,420 as of tonight, February 25.

Five Covid-19 cases in Hai Duong Province tested positive after they had been put at concentrated quarantine centers, while the two others in the province were detected through screening. They are receiving treatment at the field hospital No. 1 and 2 in the province.

Another case reported in Tay Ninh Province is a 25-year-old woman. She entered Vietnam through Moc Bai International Border Gate in the province on February 22 and was immediately quarantined.

In related news, the HCMC government has decided to allow some non-essential services such as wedding venues, cinemas, restaurants, eateries, museums and libraries; and tourism activities to resume from March 1.

The service providers must follow Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures, including wearing face masks, keeping a safe physical distance and avoiding mass gatherings of over 30 persons.

Meanwhile, bars, discos, gyms, karaoke parlors and sporting centers remain suspended until further notice.

Hùng Kings Festival 2021 to exclude festivities

February 25, 2021 by vietnamnews.vn

Visitors to the Hùng Temple Relic are asked to wear masks and keep their distance from others. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kiên

HÀ NỘI — The Hùng Kings Festival, which pays tribute to the founders and first kings of the nation, will be held similarly to last year, with ceremonial activities but no festivities.

The plans for the national major festival were decided at a meeting of the People’s Committee of the northern province of Phú Thọ where it is held annually.

The ceremonies will be conducted with the death anniversary of the great father of the nation Lạc Long Quân and the incense offering to commemorate great mother of the nation Âu Cơ on April 17 and incense offering ceremony to commemorate the Hùng Kings and the flower offering ceremony on April 21.

Speaking at the meeting, vice chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Hồ Đại Dũng said the event would take place in a respectful atmosphere, while strictly abiding by measures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading under the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

This is the second year the Hùng Kings Festival will include only ceremonial activities and no festivities.

According to Lê Trường Giang, director of the Hùng Kings Temple Relic Management Board, the temple received more than 20,000 visitors on the occasion of Tết (Lunar New Year).

“The measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have been taken seriously at the historical site. At the same time, the visitors’ awareness has been much improved this year,” he said.

The Hùng Kings Temple Relic Complex covers more than 1,000ha, more than half of which is forest. The complex is scattered with dozens of temples dedicated to the legendary kings.

There are some 300 temples dedicated to the Hùng Kings and other figures from the Hồng Bàng dynasty (2879 to 258 BC) in Phú Thọ, and nearly 1,500 sites dedicated to the kings throughout the country.

UNESCO placed the “Worship of Hùng kings in Phú Thọ” on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 6, 2012,

The Hùng Kings Festival is held annually from the 8th to the 11th day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 19 to April 22 this year, as a tribute to the Hùng Kings who are credited with establishing the nation.

The main festival day, which is also a public holiday in Việt Nam, is on the 10th day or April 21. — VNS

Petrol prices rise under latest adjustment

February 25, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

A petrol station temporarily suspends service pending price adjustment. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministries of Industry and Trade and Finance revised petrol prices upwards as of 3pm on February 25, marking the first increase since the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

The retail price of E5RON92 bio-fuel rose nearly 700 VND to 17,031 VND (0.74 USD) per litre at a maximum, while that of RON 95 increased over 700 VND to 18,084 VND per litre.

Diesel 0.05S and kerosene, meanwhile, are now no more than 13,843 VND and 12,610 VND per litre, up by around 800 VND and 700 VND, respectively.

According to the two ministries, the prices of petrol and oil in the global market have been rising strongly for 15 days, hence the adjustment.

The two review fuel prices every 15 days to ensure domestic prices are in keeping with the global market./.

VNA

Number of passengers using Can Gio-Vung Tau ferry service on the rise

February 25, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Number of passengers using Can Gio-Vung Tau ferry service on the rise

The Saigon Times

A ferry carrying passengers and goods plies on the Can Gio-Vung Tau route – PHOTO: NLDO

HCMC – The ferry service linking HCMC’s outlying district of Can Gio and neighboring Vung Tau City has seen an increase in the number of passengers and goods after nearly two months of operations, prompting the service operator to consider adding more ferries to meet the rising travel demand.

Data from the Inland Waterway Port Authority for Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province showed that over 400 ferry trips carrying some 31,000 passengers had been operated on the route from January 4 to February 17, with more than 200 trips transporting 15,500 passengers during the recent Lunar New Year holiday.

Given the rising number of passengers and commodities, the operator had to add one-three more trips on the weekends.

Quoc Chanh One Member Limited Liability Company, which is the investor and operator of the ferry project, said that it planned to put four more ferries into operation from 2021 to 2022. The company expects to put 12 ferries into service in 2024.

The company operates 25 daily trips using two ferries on the route. It will take passengers around 30 minutes to travel on the 15-kilometer-long ferry route.