Michael holston 911 animal abuse

Dead and dying starfish on the beach

The photographer said she and her family visited Phu Quoc and were brought to the beach by a taxi driver on April 2. The taxi driver said the beach had a large number of starfish which visitors could take out of the water and brought onto the beach to arrange them into different shapes to take selfies. When she arrived, what she saw was many dead and dying starfish on the sand.

Celebrities who had taken selfies with starfish were also criticised.

Tien Hung, a tour guide in Phu Quoc, said Rach Vem beach is known as starfish heaven. The best visiting time is from March to May. However, taking starfish to ashore for selfies will kill them. He also said that there were no signs on the beach yet to ban the behaviour.

“Starfish can only breathe in the water,” he said. “I always ask visitors to not take the starfish out of water. If everyone takes them out of water for selfies and leaves them there, they will die and such action will badly affect the marine ecosystem.”

Le Chien, a representative of Sasa Team Marine Animals Rescue, said taking any animal out of its habitat and leaving it to die is an action that needs to be condemned, even touching the starfish barehanded already poses some risks because human hands often have various chemical substance like moisturisers or sunscreen.

“In Thailand and Philippines, tourists may be fined USD600 to USD2,000 for touching the coral reef for a selfie. Such punishments are rare in Vietnam and it’s time we change the tourists’ behaviour and awareness,” he said.

dtinews

Domestic airlines must equip with Mode S transponders to improve the quality of aircraft detection, identification and altitude reporting information. (Photo: VNA)

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has recently ordered the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATMC) and domestic airlines to equip with Mode S transponders to improve the quality of aircraft detection, identification and altitude reporting information.

Mode S is a Secondary Surveillance Radar process that allows selective interrogation of aircraft according to the unique 24-bit address assigned to each aircraft. It is essential in airspace subject to high levels of traffic density or absence of air traffic control radar coverage.

VATMC is requested to study and carry out the Mode S Enhanced Surveillance (EHS) in accordance with the progress set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s Office in Asia and Pacific, and set up plan to upgrade or invest in infrastructure that is able to handle Mode S data.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese airlines must outline plans and equip their aircraft with Mode S EHS in tandem with the Asia-Pacific ICAO’s progress.

Representatives from the CAAV said that the requirement to equip Mode S transponders was imposed at the 31st meeting of the Asia/Pacific Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group from December 14-16, 2020.

Accordingly, aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 5,700 kilogrammes, or with a maximum cruising true airspeed higher than 250 knots must be equipped with Mode S EHS./.

COVID-19 vaccination conducted in 19 Vietnamese localities, with 2,265 recoveries

The COVID-19 vaccination has been carried out in 19 cities and provinces nationwide, with close to 40,000 Vietnamese citizens getting the first jabs of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Ministry of Health said on March 25 morning.

Vaccinated people are primarily frontline medical workers, and members of community-based anti-COVID-19 groups and steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control.

As many as 1,906 people got the vaccine shots on March 24, according to the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

The northern province of Quang Ninh and the southern provinces of Tay Ninh and Dong Thap are set to carry out the injection this week.

Vietnam is expected to acquire 150 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from foreign and domestic sources by 2022.  In addition to the deal with AstraZeneca, the nation is also accelerating negotiations with US vaccine producers Pfizer and Moderna, along with others from Russia and China.

By far the nation documented no fresh cases of COVID-19, leaving the national infection tally unchanged at 2,576, including 1,601 domestically-transmitted cases, and 975 imported ones.

One day earlier, a further 19 coronavirus patients have been release from hospital after making a successful recovery from the virus, taking the total number of recoveries to 2,265, while the death toll remained at 35.

A total of 120 COVID-19 patients have tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2-virus at least one, while as many as 29,762 people are put in quarantine nationwide as part of the country’s coronavirus control and prevention measures.

The nation has gone the 7th consecutive day without recording any more cases of local transmission, with ten localities having no fresh domestic infections to report for 40 days.

The Ministry of Health has dispatched working groups to Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh to supervise pandemic prevention and control, and the vaccination work there.

Take precautions before getting vaccinated, say health experts

People who receive COVID-19 vaccines should take precautions just like with other vaccines, as the COVID-19 vaccine may offer some immunity but might also side effects soon after entering the body, according to health experts.

They said people who should be cautious about vaccinations are those with a history of allergies, people with underlying health conditions or chronic diseases which require medical supervision.

Last week, the Ministry of Health released guidance on health screening before COVID-19 vaccinations for people aged 18 and above.

Under the instructions sent to medical facilities nationwide, people who will not be vaccinated against COVID-19 are those with acute diseases; pregnant women, breastfeeding women; people with impaired immune responses, end-stage cancer patients and patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Users of high-dose corticosteroids, those who have had chemotherapy and radiation treatment within 14 days and recipients of immunoglobulin and COVID-19 plasma treatment within the last 90 days and recipients of other vaccines within 14 days are also excluded. Those infected with COVID-19 within the last six months, people aged 65 or above and people suffering thrombocytopenia or blood clotting disorders are also ineligible to be vaccinated.

After receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, people should stay at the vaccination centre for 30 minutes of observation. They are recommended to pay attention to abnormal changes in their body such as hives, itching or difficulty breathing. They should report any symptoms they experience to medical staff.

As of Tuesday, nearly 38,000 frontline workers had received AstraZeneca COVID-19 jabs as part of the national inoculation programme which started on March 8.

Health officials said that there have been several cases of severe allergic reactions among people who received the COVID-19 vaccine but they are all in stable conditions.

The most common reactions are headaches, arm pain, body aches, chills or fever but they only last a few hours to a few days.

Olympic Day Run to be held in downtown HCM City

The HCM City Department of Culture and Sports and its partners will hold the Olympic Day Run 2021 downtown on March 28.

Participants will compete in the 5km route, which will go through famous sites like the headquarters of the People’s Committee, Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Central Post Office.

The run will start at 7am at April 30 Park on Lê Duẩn Street in District 1.

Participants can register for the run at olympicdayrun.com. Registration fee is VNĐ350,000.

Vietnam co-chairs 15th meeting of ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation Committee

Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, and Japanese Ambassador Chiba Akira on March 23 co-chaired the 15th meeting of the ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation Committee.

At the meeting, the Japanese side said it is working hard to roll out a comprehensive aid package to serve the formation of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).

Under the aid package, Japan will help ASEAN in designing the centre, sending Japanese experts and training experts for the grouping.

During the Special ASEAN 3 Summit on COVID-19 last April, then Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced the aid package worth US$ 50 million for the project.

Delegates at the meeting shared the view that ASEAN-Japan cooperation programmes have been rolled out effectively amidst the pandemic. In 2020 alone, up to 32 projects valued at US$ 22 million were implemented and 25 others worth US$ 17 million were adopted, within the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund.

Under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) programme, about 900 ASEAN youths joined training courses in Japan last year, and the number would be 700 this year.

The ASEAN member countries appreciated Japan’s contributions over the past time, especially its decision to sponsor the ACPHEED, expressing a hope that the two sides will step up their comprehensive cooperation in the time ahead, particularly in such spheres as cyber security and smart city building.

Chair of the Initiative of ASEAN Integration (IAI), Bang lauded Japan’s funding 11 projects within the IAI Work Plan III and suggested the country continue its support for the IAI Work Plan IV through new, result-oriented projects.

2021 is the last year when Vietnam works as the coordinator of the ASEAN-Japan relations. The role will be handed over to Thailand during the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting in August 2021.

Hanoi’s cooperative ties with Italian localities enhanced: Official

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Chu Ngoc Anh has said that cooperative relations between the capital city and Italian localities have been strengthened.

During a reception in Hanoi on March 24 for Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonion Alessandro, Anh highlighted growing ties between Vietnam and Italy in various fields such as politics, economy, diplomacy, national defence to science-technology, and education.

According to the official, Italy is now investing in 28 projects worth over 43.9 million USD in Hanoi. The city’s exports to Italy hit nearly 142 million USD. A number of activities were held to foster cultural and economic exchanges toward common prosperity of the two nations.

As Vietnam will host many important events this year, including the 31th Southeast Asian Games and the 11th ASEAN Para Games, Hanoi will work closely with departments and agencies on such activities, especially for opening and closing ceremonies, he said.

He expressed his hope that with its cultural richness, Italy will share its experience in holding festivals and sport events with Hanoi to make thorough preparations for SEA Games 31 and ASEAN Para Games 11.

Alessandro, for his part, expressed his belief that with a solid foundation, relations between Italy and Vietnam will further develop in the future.

Agreeing with the host’s proposal, he said many Italian firms have strengths in holding large-scale events. He promised to introduce them to Hanoi to share experience in the coming time.

On the occasion, the ambassador also wished to enhance collaboration with Hanoi in the fields of cultural exchange, heritage preservation and stepping up the construction progress of urban metro No.3./.

Efforts of female parliamentarians reviewed

A ceremony reviewing the activities of the Group of Vietnamese Women Parliamentarians was held in Hanoi on March 24.

In attendance were Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man, head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai, and leaders from ministries and agencies.

Addressing the ceremony, Permanent National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, who is also Chairwoman of the group for the 14th tenure, said that since its establishment in May 2008 and through three NA tenures, the group has conducted diverse activities that attracted the active participation of members and fulfilled its set goals, contributing to improving the quality of the NA’s operations.

The role and position of female parliamentarians improved during the tenure of the 14th legislature. Accounting for 26.7 percent of all deputies, they offered suggestions regarding gender equality to Party and State leaders and affirmed their mettle and brainpower as representatives of the people.

During 10 NA sessions, they presented hundreds of opinions on reports to the legislature and draft laws, accounting for 31.58 percent of total feedback.

They also made responsible, effective, and important contributions at international forums. In particular, last year they made substantial contributions to the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and ASEAN Summit.

In preparation for the election of deputies to the 15th NA, they will work closely with the NA Committee on Social Affairs to hold training courses for female candidates.

Phong hoped that such activities will help achieve the goal of raising the number of female candidates to 35 percent and the number of female lawmakers winning the election to over 30 percent.

Vietnamese ambassador visits Ukraine’s southern provinces

Ambassador of Vietnam to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach visited Vietnamese people living in the provinces of Kherson and Mykolaiv from March 21 – 23 to learn about their wishes and help them overcome difficulties.

The southern provinces used to be home to a large number of Vietnamese people, but years of political crisis coupled with economic challenges have forced many to move to other places.

Though various obstacles remain, the second-generation Vietnamese in Ukraine have managed to succeed in their study or work. Several have earned national awards and scholarships to study in foreign countries while others have become doctors, lawyers and journalists who are playing their part in developing Ukraine and promoting the relations between the two countries.

Speaking during his visits, Ambassador Thach said one of the main focuses during his working term is to help Vietnamese people there overcome COVID-19 and shift to other livelihoods.

He suggested some new business areas such as e-commerce, catering, tourism and finance, they can shift to for their resilience amid the pandemic.

On behalf of the embassy, Thach presented gifts to the provinces’ funds for community support and gave his commitment to standing side by side with people of Vietnamese origin to tackle difficulties.

The diplomat later had an audience with Governor Sergiy Kozyr of Kherson to discuss how to boost relations between Vietnam and the province, particularly in agriculture.

Central Vietnam among world’s 7 lesser-known destinations to consider visiting post COVID-19

US news channel CNBC listed central Vietnam among seven lesser-known destinations in the world to consider visiting in the post-COVID-19 era, according to Nhan dan (People) Online.

CNBC noted that many international tourists to Vietnam head north to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay or south to Ho Chi Minh City. Those who do venture to the centre typically go to the old town of Hoi An, the glitzy hotels outside of Da Nang or to the historic sites of Hue and My Son.

Another attraction in the country’s interior is the colossal Son Doong Cave. First explored in 2009, only 1,000 travellers are permitted to explore it each year, a limit put in place to protect the cave, which is believed to be one of the largest and most magnificent in the world.

With Vietnam continuing the suspension of international flights and the halting of entry for all foreigners, except for special cases, as a measure to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, CNBC has urged its readers to visit the country once the pandemic passes.

Traveller habits are changing as people across the world are bypassing big cities in favour of smaller destinations that attract fewer tourists, and outside activities such as hiking and biking are drawing greater interest than before, CNBC said.

The channel also included other destinations worth visiting post-pandemic like Normandy in France, Kagawa in Japan, and Dandenong in Australia.

Vietnamese people in Czech set example in following anti-COVID-19 rules

Vietnamese people living in the Czech Republic have taken anti-COVID-19 measures very seriously, Chairman Milos Kusy of the Czech-Vietnam Friendship Association told Aktualne.cz in an interview on March 24.

Vietnamese perceive non-compliance with the measures as very irresponsible, so they adhere to anti-pandemic rules better than many Czechs, he said.

Kusy noted he sees what lies behind Vietnamese discipline is years of experience in dealing with epidemics in their home country and in Asia.

“They are an example for us in discipline and adherence to hygiene rules,” he said.

Kusy was also impressed by how Vietnam has fought the COVID-19 with only 35 deaths reported since the outset of the pandemic despite the fact that it has a population of more than 90 million. Strict preventive measures have been in place in the country since the beginning of this year, he noted.

“Since last February, anyone who wants to enter Vietnam has to go through a fortnight’s quarantine in a state-designated camp or hotels,” Kusy described. He also attributed the low number of infected cases in Vietnam to effective contact tracing.

Data from Vietnam’s Health Ministry shows that Vietnam has gone through seven days without new COVID-19 cases. The national count remains at 2,576, of which 1,601 are locally-infected cases./.

14th National Assembly leaves major imprint

The 11th session of the 14th National Assembly, which opened on March 24, concludes its five-year tenure. Throughout the term it made a significant mark in terms of legislature, supreme supervision and decision-making on critical matters facing Vietnam.

Nguyen Huu Mao has carefully observed all meetings of the 14th NA over the last five years. He said he has been deeply impressed by the decisions it made, all of which have been critical for Vietnam’s development, with many being unprecedented and complex in nature.

The Q&A sessions were animated and the questions practical. Sessions were held in high regard by NA deputies and the public, as most voters’ questions were asked and answered.

The 14th NA has made a mark on legislative work. It had issued 72 laws and 18 resolutions as of last December, including several important laws keeping the country abreast of the new context, such as the Law on Planning, the Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment, the Law on Cybersecurity, the Law on Anti-corruption, and others.

The 14th NA has been a tenure of innovation, with many teleconferences held, even internationally. Though taking place online, they have all been effective.

It has proved its pivotal role as the highest representing body of the people and as the most powerful State agency.

Screening of French movies at L’Espace

L’Espace will present two movies on Sunday as part of its monthly movie screening programme.

The films shown are Le voyage du Prince (The Prince’s Voyage) by directors Jean-François Laguionie and Xavier Picard, and Les Cowboys (The Cowboys) by director Thomas Bidegain.

Inspired by A Monkey’s Tale made over 20 years ago by celebrated animator Laguionie, The Prince’s Voyage is about the old monkey Prince who runs aground on an unknown shore. Injured and lost, he is found by 12 year-old Tom, and taken in by his parents, a couple of scientists who were banished from their community because they believe in the existence of other monkey civilisations. With Tom’s help, Prince discovers a society he knows nothing about, while Tom’s parents decide to use him to prove that their theory was indeed correct.

Les Cowboys is a directorial debut of acclaimed French screenwriter Thomas Bidegain. The 2015 movie, which is about a father searching for his missing daughter with his son, was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

While Le voyage du Prince will be presented at 3.30pm, Les Cowboys will be screened at 6pm. Ticket costs VNĐ50,000 and available at L’espace, 24 Tràng Tiền Street.

Asian black bears rescued from Son La household

Two Asian black bears have been rescued from a household in the northern mountainous province of Son La.

The two bears, one 160 kilos in weight and the other 130 kilos, had been kept at a household in Song Ma Town for 10 years.

On Tuesday, Four Paws Organisation and the provincial Forest Protection Centre received the two bears from the family and handed them over to Ninh Binh Provincial Bear Sanctuary.

The animals were given a medical check-up and anaesthetised before being transported to the sanctuary.

Four Paws Vet Szilvia Kalogeropoulu, said that due to being kept in darkness for many years, the bears are facing some problems related to their eyes, bones and livers.

The animals will be taken care of at a quarantine site for three weeks before being released back to the wild.

They are the first bears sent to Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary so far this year.

No new COVID-19 cases, 19 recoveries recorded on March 24

No new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Vietnam over the past 12 hours to 6pm on March 24, keeping the national count at 2,576, said the Ministry of Health.

Of the total, 1,601 are domestically-transmitted cases, including 907 infections since the third wave of outbreak hit the country on January 27.

According to the ministry’s Medical Service Administration, an additional 19 patients have been given the all-clear from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2,265, while the death toll remained at 35.

Among active patients undergoing treatment at medical establishments nationwide, 54 tested negative to the virus once, 21 twice and 45 thrice.

As many as 29,762 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions are currently quarantined across the country, including 214 in hospitals, 16,651 in state-designated establishments and 12,897 at their residences.

To live safely with the pandemic, the Ministry of Health advised people to continue preventive measures, including the “5K message” (in Vietnamese) – Khau trang (facemask) – (Khu khuan) disinfection – (Khoang cach) distance – (Khong tu tap) no gathering – (Khai bao y te) health declaration./.

Vietnamese, Chilean leaders exchange congratulatory messages

Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and Chilean President Sebastián Piñera Echenique on March 24 exchanged their messages of congratulations on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (March 25, 1971-2021).

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also exchanged a congratulatory message with Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrés Allamand Zavala.

Vietnam, Chile preserve fruitful cooperation, traditional friendship

Vietnam and Chile – the first Southern American nation to set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam – have nurtured and preserved their sound cooperative relations and traditional friendship as well as comprehensive development partnership over the past five decades.

In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s reporter, Charge d’affaires a.i. Gonzalo Guaiquil at the Chilean Embassy laid stress on historical relations between the two nations, which were found and developed by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and Chilean President Salvador Allende.

The trip to Vietnam in May 1969 – the time when Vietnam was undergoing the fierce war against the US imperialists – had a huge impact on Salvador Allende, who served as President of the Chilean Senate at that time, and he decided to establish diplomatic relations with this Southeast Asian country when he became President of Chile, opening a new chapter in the bilateral relations.

Both nations have enjoyed stronger bonds in recent time thanks to rosy economic cooperation, long-lasting friendship and mutual understanding between the people of Chile and Vietnam, the diplomat added.

According to Guaiquil, Chile was the first American nation to ink a free trade deal with Vietnam, and this was an important milestone in trade and investment ties between the two sides.

Expressing his delight at opportunities that the free trade agreement (FTA) has brought to both nations, he said trade in goods between Vietnam and Chile exceeded the 1 billion USD benchmark in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, up over 1 percent year-on-year.

The figure is a vivid illustration for the unceasingly developed trade ties between the two nations, even when the global economy is facing formidable challenges, he underlined.

Since Vietnam was among a few countries achieving positive economic growth in 2020, it is an attractive destination for Chilean investors, he said. The diplomat also commended the Vietnamese Government’s efforts and measures to prevent the pandemic.

Statistics shows that Chile is the fourth largest trade partner of Vietnam in Latin America, with two-way trade increased to 1.23 billion USD in 2019 from 170 million USD in 2005. Most of Vietnam’s exports to Chile are footwear, garments and textiles, seafood, steel products, electronic products and spare parts, cement, coffee and rice. Meanwhile, the nation imports copper, pine wood, paper powder, and wine from Chile.

Chile was among one of the very first nations to recognise Vietnam’s market economy. Both sides signed the FTA on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Hawaii, the US, in November 2011. The deal officially came into force on January 1, 2014, marking the substantial development in trade relations between two countries.

Guaiquil said Chile wants to further boost trade ties with Vietnam, particularly the trading in Chilean wine and cherry, and Vietnamese tropical fruits.

Additionally, Vietnam and Chile’s cooperation has been expanded to culture, politics and tourism. The visa exemption agreement signed in 2016 has facilitated travelling of citizens of both nations to enhance exchanges and better their mutual understanding, he stressed.

Tourism board set to launch “Hue in my heart” photo contest

A photo and video contest with the theme of “Hue Trong Toi” (Hue in my heart) in English, is scheduled to run from April to December.

The event will be open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreign nationals across all ages who either live or work in the country.

The contest’s organising board is set to offer a specific topic for each month, with this information set to be officially announced on the website “Visit Hue”.

All individuals hoping to enter the competition can send their works to the email address [email protected] before 17:00 p.m. on the 20th of each month.

The judging panel will then select some of the outstanding works and post them on the Visit Hue’s fanpage and TikTok. Following this, the winning works will be the ones which get the highest number of views and interactions.

Earth Hour 2021 in Vietnam going online

‘Speak up for Nature’ is the theme of this year’s Earth Hour, aiming at raising the public’s awareness about the alarming state of environment quality, the shocking biodiversity reduction, and the too frequent forest fires globally at present.

According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), in the next few months, representatives of several nations will gather for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Kunming, China. They will discuss international actions in the next 10 years to save biodiversity.

Joining hand in this year’s Earth Hour, people can create a voice powerful enough for world leaders in the meeting to sign agreements to protect the nature on our planet and to help it recover from severe injuries so far.

In Vietnam, as usual, SGGP Newspaper cooperates with Ho Chi Minh City Urban Environment Co. Ltd., Thu Duc Water B.O.O Corp. to host many online activities, fully taking advantage of cutting edge digital technologies. A large number of volunteers nationwide enthusiastically have taken part in the campaign. The main event will be on March 27.

The first program – Green Footprint – is an online walking project using Strava app on mobile smart devices to count the quantity of steps in walking, jogging, bicycle riding activities of participants over the length of 60km. Each step represent repeats the yearning voice of partakers to protect the environment. The program attracted more than 1,000 people only after 4 days launching. The final data will be announced on March 27.

Another program is Green Dance. The common theme song of Earth Hour Campaign is choreographed into a flashmob dances. They are recorded and then uploaded onto the official website and YouTube channel of Earth Hour Vietnam. The clips are sent to the organization board before March 24. Volunteers are also encouraged to upload their dance onto their own Facebook page and TikTok.

Participants in the campaign are asked to perform and record suitable actions in their neighborhoods to protect the environment. Feasible and innovative actions will be shared publicly on the Facebook page of the organization board. 80,000 people have registered for this interesting activity.

The main activity – Light Out – will be held from 8pm to 9pm on March 27 nationwide. Agencies, organisations, and individuals are encouraged to ‘turn off lights and unnecessary electrical equipment’ at that time. After that is the show of outstanding flashmob dances and the online as well as offline interviews with media ambassadors.

In this 13th year taking part in the meaningful Earth Hour Campaign, Vietnam hopes to join hands with over 200 countries to create positive results in raising the public’s awareness about environment protection and sustainable development.

CARE International helps ethnic minorities in Ha Giang

The People’s Committee of northern mountainous Ha Giang province and CARE International in Vietnam signed a framework cooperation agreement for the 2021-2026 period on March 24.

The agreement is expected to lay a foundation for the development of community projects regarding agriculture livelihoods, climate change response, gender equality enhancement, economic empowerment for women, market and value chain connectivity.

CARE pledged to launch a project to improve economic position of female ethnic minorities in Vietnam in six communes in the province’s Quang Binh district at a total cost of 23 billion VND (1 million USD).

Accordingly, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People’s Committee of Quang Binh district will be responsible for implementing the project.

Its major components include improving the possibility of seeking income for poor ethnic minority women via agriculture and non-agriculture production, assisting them in saving and borrowing capital for economic development, improving business capacity of women-led businesses and cooperatives, offering support to those in remote and mountainous areas who have limited access to modern technology and lack land for production.

The provincial Women’s Union and relevant units will offer technical and human resources support for the project.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Hoang Gia Long wished that CARE International would continue expanding projects related to economic value chains underway in Ha Giang to help improve income for ethnic minorities.

He also committed all possible support to CARE International to effectively carry out the project.

Country Director of the CARE International in Vietnam Le Kim Dung said founded in 1945, CARE has partnered with international organisations and Vietnam since 1989 with over 300 projects.

From 2017 to 2020, it carried out two projects in Ha Giang, including one to improve partnership for fair and comprehensive development of ethnic minority communities and another to comprehensively promote finance for female ethnic minorities, at a total cost of 7.7 billion VND (333,315 USD).

Nearly 170,000 local households have received support in housing and production land for economic development. The rate of poor households was brought down to 22.29 percent last year from 43.6 percent in 2015.

ASEAN, New Zealand forge stronger cooperation under new plan of action

Senior officials from ASEAN and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment for stronger cooperation at the 28th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue held online on March 23, following an important milestone in their strategic partnership.

Last year, the two sides commemorated the 45th anniversary of dialogue relations and adopted a new ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action 2021-2025, to mark a new chapter in their relations.

At the dialogue, the officials noted the full implementation of the ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2016-2020), and underlined the need to further enhance cooperation between the two sides under the new Plan of Action.

The meeting identified a number of key areas in the new Plan of Action, where ASEAN and New Zealand could enhance their collaboration, such as maritime security, fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, sustainable development, marine sustainability, trade, investment and economic recovery plan, renewable energy, disaster risk management, settlement of climate change, healthcare, human capital development, education, and people-to-people connection.

In advancing economic cooperation, both sides look forward to the upgrade negotiations of the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), as well as the conclusion of the negotiation of the Regional Air Services Agreement between ASEAN and New Zealand.

They also welcomed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in November last year, and look forward to an early entry into force of the agreement next year.

The meeting exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, highlighting the importance of ASEAN-led mechanisms and ASEAN’s centrality in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.

ASEAN senior officials commended New Zealand’s success in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its efforts toward establishing a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. They also appreciated New Zealand’s support and contribution to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.

Vietnam co-chairs 15th meeting of ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation Committee

Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, and Japanese Ambassador Chiba Akira on March 23 co-chaired the 15th meeting of the ASEAN-Japan Joint Cooperation Committee.

At the meeting, the Japanese side said it is working hard to roll out a comprehensive aid package to serve the formation of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).

Under the aid package, Japan will help ASEAN in designing the centre, sending Japanese experts and training experts for the grouping.

During the Special ASEAN 3 Summit on COVID-19 last April, then Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced the aid package worth 50 million USD for the project.

Delegates at the meeting shared the view that ASEAN-Japan cooperation programmes have been rolled out effectively amidst the pandemic. In 2020 alone, up to 32 projects valued at 22 million USD were implemented and 25 others worth 17 million USD were adopted, within the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund.

Under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) programme, about 900 ASEAN youths joined training courses in Japan last year, and the number would be 700 this year.

The ASEAN member countries appreciated Japan’s contributions over the past time, especially its decision to sponsor the ACPHEED, expressing a hope that the two sides will step up their comprehensive cooperation in the time ahead, particularly in such spheres as cyber security and smart city building.

Chair of the Initiative of ASEAN Integration (IAI), Bang lauded Japan’s funding 11 projects within the IAI Work Plan III and suggested the country continue its support for the IAI Work Plan IV through new, result-oriented projects.

2021 is the last year when Vietnam works as the coordinator of the ASEAN-Japan relations. The role will be handed over to Thailand during the ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Meeting in August 2021.

ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting convenes

The two-day ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADSOM) opened virtually on March 24 under the chair of the Permanent Secretary of the Brunei Ministry of Defence, Brigadier General (retired) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar Bin Haji Ma’awiah.

In his opening speech, the Bruneian official said amid COVID-19 challenges, it is important to step up regional defence cooperation for peace and safety in ASEAN.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political Security Community Robert Matheus Michael Tene spoke highly of Vietnam’s chairmanship last year for leading the bloc through a year full of challenges.

He called on member states to increase defence collaboration in contribution to regional peace and security regionally and globally.

At the meeting, participants heard updates on ASEAN cooperation over the past time and a report from Brunei – the current Chair of ASEAN – on outcomes of the recent ADSOM’s Working Group (ADSOM WG) meeting and 18th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces’ Meeting (ACDFM-18).

The ADSOM reviewed documents which had been discussed and submitted by the ADSOM WG, including those on new conceptions and discussions in the ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting (ADMM), and draft joint statements of the 15th ADMM and the 8th ADMM Plus.

It also considered recommendations of ASEAN’s partner nations, including the schedule for ASEAN Plus One’s informal meetings of defence ministers and the ASEAN – Russia joint naval maneuver.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien attended the meeting.

Vientiane ceremony marks 60 years of Vietnam’s public security expert force in Laos

The Lao Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and the representative office of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security in Laos have held a meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of Vietnam sending public security experts to the country (March 22, 1961-2021).

The meeting was attended by member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP)’s Politburo and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Chansamone Chanyalath, member of the LPRP’s Politburo and Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamphong, former Lao Deputy PM and former Minister of Public Security Asang Laoly, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung, and head of the representative office of the Ministry of Public Security in Laos, Major General Hoang Quang Huong, among others.

In his address, Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamphong recalled the historical context and situation when the Vietnamese public security expert force was formed in Laos, stressing that generations of experts overcame numerous difficulties and accepted the sacrifices to help the Lao People’s Public Security force develop.

He underlined that the Vietnamese public security expert force in Laos accompanied Laos’ struggle for national liberation and defence as well as the development of the Lao People’s Public Security force.

He affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Laos always remember the valuable and whole-hearted support from the Party, State, and people of Vietnam during all stages of Laos’ revolutionary cause in the past and national construction at present.

On behalf of the Party, State, and people and the People’s Public Security force of Laos, the minister expressed his sincere gratitude to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam, especially leaders and officers from Vietnam’s People’s Public Security force who work in Laos to assist its Ministry of Public Security.

The Party, State, and people of Laos and the People’s Public Security force of Laos in particular always pay great attention to the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, he stated, pledging that they will do their utmost to maintain and reinforce ties and make them last forever.

Meanwhile, former Lao Minister of Public Security Asang Laoly highly appreciated the whole-hearted support from Vietnamese public security experts to the public security force of Laos over the past six decades, describing it as valuable and strategic assistance that helped build basic foundations for the development of Laos’ public security force.

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung thanked the Lao side for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese public security experts, helping them overcome the difficulties and hardships to complete their assigned tasks in protecting security, social order, and safety in both countries, for peace and the happiness of the Vietnamese and Lao people.

On the occasion, the Party and State of Laos presented the Itsala (Freedom) Order, Second Class, to the representative office of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and the third-class Itsala Order to Major General Hoang Quang Huong, in recognition of their efforts in the safeguarding of public security in both countries, contributing to reinforcing and accelerating the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two.

Within the framework of the meeting, a book on the history of the Vietnamese Public Security expert force in Vietnamese was handed over to the Ministry of Public Security of Laos. A photo exhibition on 60 years of Vietnam’s public security expert force in Laos was also held.

Hoi An active in promoting nipa palm forests

Beyond playing an important role in protecting the environment and minimising the negative impacts of climate change, in recent years, thanks to conservation and development efforts, the nipa palm forests of the ancient town of Hoi An have generated many jobs and increased the incomes of local people.

Located on the banks of the Thu Bon River in the central province of Quang Nam, the area was formerly alluvial ground, with immense water areas. It is now dubbed the “little Southern region” in the heart of Hoi An ancient town.

The conservation and development of the mangrove forests create breakwaters and the conditions necessary for aquatic species to thrive, serving the long-term livelihoods of local people.

Covering hundreds of hectares, the nipa palm forest has become a must-see destination for domestic and foreign tourists to Hoi An. Basket dancing for tourists now earns many local people a high and stable income.

Because of its benefits, local people are more aware about protecting the forest and no one cuts down trees or exploits nipa leaves for souvenirs, as used to be the case.

To conserve and develop the forest, Hoi An town and Quang Nam province have also rejected licensing projects that risk impacting its sustainability.

Amid the impact of urbanisation and climate change, the conservation and development of the nipa forests in Hoi An have brought about substantial benefits, facilitating sustainable development for the future.

Australia-Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue initiative gets underway

The Australia-Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue (AVLD) kicked off on March 23 in Australia in an effort to intensify mutual understanding and step up co-operation between the two countries.

As part of her opening speech, New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley affirmed that the focus of this year’s dialogue will be on promoting a range of innovations and partnerships in the post-COVID period, including areas related to the arts, business, and community.

The young leaders selected for this year’s scheme will be made up of a range of dynamic and talented individuals who work in such fields as business, policy making, education, health, arts, culture, and innovation.

Following their selection, the young leaders will then participate in activities scheduled to take place in both Ho Chi Minh City and Sydney in September.

It is anticipated that the dialogue will create greater opportunities for the next generation of leaders from both countries to embark on a transformative journey towards achieving a stronger innovation partnership and co-operation across priority areas.

Trinh Duc Hai, the Vietnamese Consul General in New South Wales, affirmed that the initiative will help contribute to developing bilateral relations, especially as Australia represents one of Vietnam’s most important strategic partners.

During the course of the event, representatives from both countries expressed their opinions on several international issues and reiterated common values.

Peter Cosgrove, former governor-general of Australia and sponsor of the Australia-Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue, emphasised that both countries have recorded a range of amazing achievements in bilateral relations, with these milestones reached largely through boosting diplomatic, economic, and trading ties.

Both Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie have been invited to be advisors for the programme.

“Vietnam welcomes the comprehensive participation of the change-makers network and expresses its belief that participants in the dialogue will further strengthen the bilateral relationship through cooperation in the priority strategic areas of the two countries,” said Ambassador Thanh.

The AVLD was originally established in 2016 with the aim of creating a platform in which young people could discuss issues of mutual concern, thereby enhancing their understanding and connectivity between the two countries.

Hanoi prepares to host upcoming Brazilian Film Week

The Ministry of of Culture, Sports and Tourism has granted permission for the Embassy of Brazil in Vietnam to launch a Brazilian Film Week in Hanoi.

The event is set to feature five outstanding movies, including Nise: The Heart of Madness, Trinta, and A Story of Love and Fury.

Through the event, the Brazilian Embassy wants to introduce some of the unique aspects and characteristics of Brazilian culture to local audiences.

During the course of the week, all movies will be shown in their original language whilst featuring both English and Vietnamese subtitles. Indeed, all movies will only be screened as part of the film week after being granted a license by the Vietnam Cinema Department.

Digital installation commemorates Italian poet Dante Alighieri

A digital installation exhibition entitled Inferno V opens in Hà Nội this afternoon (March 25, 2pm) to mark the 700th anniversary of the death of the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri, who wrote of one of the most renowned works of world literature, The Divine Comedy.

Produced by the Italian creative media company MTM Reality and promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Inferno V is conceived as a unique digital journey through the second circle of Hell, where lie those punished for their sins of passion. Inferno V combines augmented reality with the timeless words of Dante Alighieri.

Visitors will enjoy a variety of images, videos and narrations which provide an intense experience of Dante’s work and explain the essential place he holds within the history of literature. All content is available in Vietnamese as well as in Italian, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Starting from March 25, a website version of Inferno V can be accessed through the Italian Embassy’s Facebook page.

Entry is free and the exhibition runs until April 8, from 10am to 8.30pm, at Generali Room in Casa Italia, 18 Lê Phụng Hiểu Street.

Health minister underlines need to amend law to make organ donation easier

The law on donation, removal and transplantation of human tissues and organs and donation and recovery of cadavers should be amended to streamline procedures and help increase donations to save more lives, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn has said.

Many provisions in it, such as the one on donors’ age, are barriers preventing tissue and organ donation, he said.

His ministry is drafting amendments and would submit them to the National Assembly next year, he said.

The amendments would be in compliance with the Declaration of Istanbul made at the 2008 Istanbul Summit on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism to prevent transplant tourism, trafficking and commercialism and provide ethical guidelines for organ donation and transplantation.

The ministry held the conference to collect opinions on the amendments from health experts, he added.

Dr Trần Thị Cẩm Tú, deputy head of the Human Organ Transplantation Centre at Huế Central Hospital, said, “The amended law should allow people from 15 years of age instead of [the current] 18 to register for organ donation when they are brain dead.”

The Civil Code and Penal Code recognise people aged 15 as old enough for many things, she said.

But living donors should be more than 18 to donate an organ to a family member to reduce the impact on their health post-donation, she said.

In the case of donations to strangers for transplantation, the donors should be at least 30 years old, she said.

She suggested setting up an online system to register for organ donation after brain death to get young prospective donors on board.

Prof Trần Đông A, a counsellor at Children’s Hospital 2, said the law bans organ harvest from brain dead children, reducing the survival chances of child patients who need organs.

Now doctors transplant kidneys taken from adults in children, a difficult task to perform, he said.

Nguyễn Hoàng Phúc of the Vietnam National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation said: “The number of people needing organ and tissue transplants is very high while the number of donors is low. Many patients die even as they wait for a donor.”

As of last year 40,257 people had registered to donate their organs and tissues in case of brain death, he said.

There are 100 living donors, while 339 have registered to donate their cadaver after death, he said.

So far 5,587 people have benefited from organ transplants, he added.

According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 10,000 people are waiting for kidney transplants alone and thousands of others for other organs.

The conference also discussed the illegal buying and selling of human organs.

On March 9 the ministry had organised a conference in Hà Nội on funding for removal and transplantation of human tissues and organs.

Vietnam, ASEAN urged to adopt green manufacturing technologies

Vietnam and its ASEAN neighbours need to adopt green manufacturing technologies to make sustainable new products and services, an international conference in Bình Dương Province heard on Tuesday (Mar 23).

Dr Michael Braun, co-ordinator of the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument project, told the ‘Cooperating with Europe for Green Manufacturing Technologies’ conference that it is important to promote technological co-operation between the European and Southeast Asian blocs for mutual benefit.

ASEAN countries have emerged as important manufacturing hubs in global supply chains, he said.

“The growing demand for environmentally sound, resource- and energy-efficient products and manufacturing has created a hunger for new green manufacturing technologies.”

With its rich technology and research landscape, innovative enterprises and dedicated green growth strategies, Europe is a major source of such green technologies, he said.

“Green technologies are key to sustainable new products, services and manufacturing processes, and are essential for realising green growth.”

For ASEAN member states, green technologies will help make the best possible use of their natural and energy resources and protect the health and well-being of workers and consumers.

Hans Farnhammer, head of Cooperation for the European Union Delegation to Indonesia, Brunei, Darussalam and ASEAN, said: “Green production has become the core of sustainable development.”

Prof TAN, Reginald Beng Hee, of the National University of Singapore, said, “Bình Dương Province is set to become the next destination for green technology transfer.”

Nguyễn Việt Long, director of the province Department of Science and Technology, said comprehensive transport infrastructure and quality human resources play a major role in attracting foreign investors, especially from Europe, with green manufacturing technologies.

The Government needs to invest in improving infrastructure and offer incentives to promote the triple helix model of university–industry–government co-operation, he said.

European Green Deal

Joanna Drake, deputy director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment, said under the European Green Deal, the EU recognises that climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world.

To overcome the challenges, the EU needs a new growth strategy that would transform it into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy in which there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, and economic growth is decoupled from resource use, she said.

The Deal aims to make the EU’s economy sustainable by turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities, focusing on investments in green technologies, sustainable solutions and innovative businesses, she said.

It also lays out a path for a sustainable transition that is socially fair and ensures ‘no person or place is left behind’, she said.

The EU therefore supports ASEAN and its member states with initiatives related to climate-change resilience and adaptation, environmental protection, including protecting bio-diversity, and disaster preparedness and response, she added.

The two-day conference that began on Monday is being held as part of the 2021 EU Industry Week organised by the provincial People’s Committee and the European Commission.

Legislators continue to hear and discuss in groups working reports

The 14th National Assembly is continuing its working programme on March 25 as part of the ongoing 11th session.

During the plenary sitting in the morning, the legislature will hear reports reviewing the performance of the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy and the State Audit Office of Vietnam during the 2016-2021 tenure, and a report verifying them.

The legislators will also listen to a report summarizing opinions and petitions sent by voters and people to the NA’s 11th session, and another report on the results of supervising the settlement of voters’ suggestions sent to the 10th session.

The National Election Committee will also report the outcomes of its operation since its establishment.

The plenary sitting is broadcast live by Radio The Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television and the NA’s television channel.

In the afternoon, the lawmakers will discuss in groups the draft report on performance of the 14th NA, the NA Standing Committee, the NA Ethnic Council and the NA committees, as well as working reports of the State President, Government, Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuracy and the State Audit Office for the 2016-2021 tenure./.

Vietnam supports comprehensive political solution in Libya: diplomat

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, deputy head of the Vietnamese delegation to the UN, has reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned comprehensive political solution on the basis of respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya.

Addressing the UN Security Council’s videoconference briefing on the Libyan situation and operations of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on March 24, Ambassador Anh spoke highly of important progresses on politics and security in Libya, and called on parties involved to fully carry out articles of the ceasefire agreement, and try their best to facilitate the transitional period and make all necessary preparations for the holding of national elections based on the agreed roadmap.

Voicing support for UNSMIL’s role in assisting the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned ceasefire monitoring mechanism, the Vietnamese representative highlighted the need to address the humanitarian and economic challenges in that country and called on all international partners to continue to provide technical and financial support for Libya and other countries in the region.

He appreciated efforts made by parties in Libya in bomb, mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance under the support of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and called for more efforts to reduce risks and protect civilians from risks caused by post-war UXO.

Ján Kubiš, Special Envoy to Libya and head of the UNSMIL, called on the UNSC to continue backing the peace progress in Libya, including allowing UNSMIL to support the ceasefire monitoring mechanism

Delegates welcomed political progress in the country and stressed the need to consolidate gains towards national elections in December. They also called for the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya and compliance with the arms embargo, the need for the unification of institutions in Libya and the improvement of basic services for local people.

Thematic exhibition on National Assembly election opens in Dak Lak

A thematic exhibition titled “Ngay hoi non song” (National Festival) opened at Dak Lak Museum in Dak Lak Province on March 24, aimed at celebrating the upcoming election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the term 2021-2026.

The exhibition consists of three main themes: Uncle Ho and the NA of Vietnam; marks of the NA of Vietnam; and the outstanding activities of the delegation of NA deputies and People’s Councils at all levels in Dak Lak.

The event features 250 documents and photos introducing the outstanding activities and achievements of the NA and People’s Councils at all levels in general, and that of the delegation of NA deputies and People’s Councils of Dak Lak in particular.

They contribute to affirming the inheritance of the NAs after each term, promoting the spirit of renewal within the NA’s legislative activities, as well as monitoring and deciding upon the important issues of the country.

The event also highlights the responsibilities of the powerful agency of the State in institutionalising the Party’s guidelines and undertakings into State policies and laws, contributing to the successful implementation of the objectives and tasks of building, developing and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The exhibition aims to contribute to raising public awareness about the Party and State’s policies and laws on the elections and citizenship rights and responsibilities toward the nation, while creating a consensus in society for the success of the election of deputies to the 15th NA and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term, ensuring democracy, equality, enforcement, safety and cost saving, as well as making the election the national festival.

The exhibition runs until late May 2021.

Gov’t urges execution of Long Thanh Int’l Airport project

The compensation and site clearance for the Long Thanh International Airport project in Dong Nai Province are set to be completed in April, but the Government has asked the province to speed up the project.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on March 22 told the Dong Nai government to expedite the land reclamation, site clearance compensation as well as support and resettlement processes in line with prevailing regulations.

The province was also asked to work with the Ministry of Transport, the Airports Corporation of Vietnam and other relevant units to start work on some components to ensure the project runs on schedule.

In November last year, the prime minister gave the green light for the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport project in Dong Nai Province with total investment of more than VND109 trillion. The project is set to be put into operation in 2025.

The first phase of the project is divided into four subprojects. In the first phase, a passenger terminal, a runway and supporting facilities will be developed capable to transport 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year.

In late October last year, during Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh’s on-site trip to the location of the airport project in Dong Nai Province, the leader of the provincial government committed to handing over 1,810 hectares of land prioritized for the construction of the first phase in late 2020.

Of the total of 5,000 hectares of land for the construction of the big-ticket project, over 2,900 hectares are owned by 5,541 households and individuals. Up to now, the plan to compensate over 2,650 households and individuals, with the total value of VND5.9 trillion, has been approved, Dong Nai newspaper reported.

Photo exhibition features HCMC’s youth on reunification day

A photography exhibition to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 – 2021) and the 45th establishment and development anniversary of Youth Volunteer Force (March 28, 1976-2021) was opened at the Youth Cultural House and Nguyen Hue pedestrian street yesterday.

The two-week long exhibition introduces documents and images featuring the process of establishment, development and achievements of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union as well as the Municipal Youth Volunteer Force.

Through the evidences, the exhibition will help the local people, especially members of Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union understand and be more and more proud of the precious heroic tradition and voluntary spirit of young generation in HCMC in the first days of the country’s reunification day.

Accordingly, the exhibition will take place until April 4. Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh city’s Youth Volunteer Force launched the show.

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

Peter Cowan

The Disney motto could be if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

The multinational entertainment giant is worth some US$130 billion because it knows how to pump out films that sell big, which is why Disney offerings keep returning to the same themes and tropes.

Princesses, parental separation, the hero’s journey and adorable animal sidekicks are just some of the ingredients for the Disney soup that results in ticket sales.

Animated film Raya and the Last Dragon was touted prior to release as breaking the mould, introducing the first Southeast Asian Disney princess and the first Disney movie inspired by the region.

In truth, Raya and the Last Dragon sticks to the Disney blueprint for the most part and the result is a hugely entertaining 117 minutes, with enough minor deviations from the formula to make one take notice.

Inspired by a region

Set in the fictional land of Kumandra, Raya and the Last Dragon focuses on Vietnamese American actress Kelly Marie Tran’s character Raya and her dragon sidekick Sisu, voiced by comedian and actress Awkwafina.

Kumandra, a region split into five warring kingdoms, has been afflicted by an apocalyptic plague of monsters called Druun which turn people to stone. Raya, Sisu and the companions they meet along the way are tasked with defeating the main antagonist Namaari (voiced by Gemma Chan) and the Druun to save the world.

So far so Disney, but as it’s set in a world inspired by Southeast Asia, Raya and the Last Dragon features glimpses of the diverse cultures that make up the region, including a soup that reminded some young Vietnamese viewers behind me of Thailand’s tom yum, durian, dragon fruit and even some bánh tét (cylindric glutinous rice cake).

The screenwriters for Raya include Malaysian Adele Lim of Crazy Rich Asians and Vietnamese American writer Qui Nguyen and they felt great pride at the “small details” of the diverse Southeast Asian cultures they managed to get into the movie.

Nguyen told Time magazine: “We were all pitching different dishes and when you could get one little dish in there that was super recognisable, it meant so much.”

I watched Raya and the Last Dragon with a Vietnamese friend who did instantly recognise many of the details referencing Vietnamese culture but was less convinced that Kumandra as a whole or its characters were reminiscient of Việt Nam or Southeast Asia.

Whether these little pieces of Southeast Asian culture and the largely East Asian cast are enough to make Raya and the Last Dragon a Southeast Asian movie has been fiercely debated since the project was announced.

Stealing the show

What is less up for debate is how the film marks a triumphant return for the actress voicing its titular character.

Kelly Marie Tran suffered horrendous online racist and misogynistic abuse after becoming the first woman of colour to have a leading role in a Star Wars movie.

The experience forced her to leave social media and to add insult to injury, she and other minority actors had their characters largely relegated to supporting roles in the final film of their Star Wars trilogy, which it must be said is also a Disney production.

In Raya and the Last Dragon though, Tran is given the latitude to carry the movie and the result is a touching transformation of Raya on her hero’s journey from naivety, to cynicism and finally to hopeful and trusting.

Tran’s chemistry with Awkwafina provides some of the best laughs in the film, while the evolution of her relationship with Gemma Chan’s character provides the emotional core.

As any Disney movie does, Raya and the Last Dragon ends on a note of optimism and it’s clear to see the film’s message of the need for humans to come together to avoid catastrophe as particularly timely in this time of a pandemic and environmental mayhem.

While I find it hard to apply the optimism of Raya and the Last Dragon to COVID-19 given the disaster that has unfolded in my home country (the UK), Tran’s strength to overcome the abuse she has suffered to turn in such a performance should inspire even the most cynical. VNS

Hanoi is still determined to boost production and business and develop solutions for socio-economic development.

In the first months of the year, Hà Nội continued to assert itself as one of the leading localities of the country with dramatic growth.

According to the municipal People’s Committee, total products of the city in the first quarter this year were estimated to increase by 5.17 per cent compared to the rate of 4.13 per cent of the same period last year and higher than the general growth rate of the whole country.

The city was interested in developing agriculture, forestry and fisheries, so these sectors were estimated to increase by 2.51 per cent over the same period last year.

In the first months of the year, the weather was favourable for agricultural production, with rice and spring crops growing and developing well.

Cattle and poultry husbandry developed stably, while African swine fever was controlled. The re-herd activities helped the pig herd increase by 18.2 per cent, poultry increased by 5.4 per cent and fishery production increased by 2.9 per cent.

Industry and construction was estimated to increase nearly 8 per cent compared to 5.6 per cent in the first quarter last year, contributing 1.52 percentage points to the general growth.

With the drastic direction of the city, the COVID-19 pandemic has been controlled in the community so industrial production gradually regained good growth momentum.

The construction sector gained growth thanks to the city’s drastic implementation of measures to attract investment and accelerate the implementation and disbursement of public investment.

The service sector was estimated to rise by 4.54 per cent, of which a number of industries maintained good growth, including finance, banking and insurance with 7.43 per cent, real estate business by 7.6 per cent, and wholesale and retail with 6.77 per cent.

However, some industries continued to see negative growth such as art and entertainment activities down by more than 15.9 per cent, administration and support services decreased by 7.3 per cent, accommodation and food services down 6.36 per cent, and transportation and warehousing down 2 per cent.

The city reached revenue of VNĐ67.4 trillion (US$2.92 billion), gaining 29.1 per cent of the plan and increasing 2.2 per cent over the same period last year, of which the revenue from import and export activities was VNĐ5.1 trillion (US$2.21 million), reaching 27.3 per cent of the target and increasing by 9 per cent.

However, there were still shortcomings, difficulties and challenges due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to successfully implement the targets of the economic development plan for 2021 – the first year of the 5-year socio-economic development plan in 2021-2025 – the Hà Nội People’s Committee requested all levels and sectors to implement the most important solutions in COVID-19 prevention and control including proactively monitoring and preparing facilities, equipment and vaccine sources.

The city will continue to strongly improve the investment and business environment, accelerate administrative reform, enhance the city’s competitiveness, carry out activities to support production and business, and encourage the application of high technology, supporting industries, digital transformation, agricultural production, processing, and consumption.

The city will focus on promoting the implementation and disbursement of public investment capital, further mobilise private capital for development investment, simplify investment procedures, and speed up licensing and implementing projects.

Ground clearance activities for project implementation, especially key projects of transport infrastructure and industrial parks, will be pushed up.

The agricultural sector was asked to actively watch weather developments and strengthen measures to prevent and control African swine fever, influenza A/H5N6 on poultry, quickly re-herd pigs, further develop cows and poultry, and ensure food hygiene and safety.

The sector must accelerate the crop structure transformation, expand cultivated areas for high yield and quality plants, and restructure large-scale commodity production regions.

The city will also concentrate on developing production and technical infrastructure, calling for businesses and investors to pour money into industrial parks and high-tech zones, paying attention to developing the domestic market in association with the campaign “Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese goods”, and formulate and implement a plan for consumption promotion programmes.

Hà Nội will build and implement recovery scenarios for its tourism sector by introducing unique tourist products and places attracting tourists to the city.

Besides, all levels and branches needed to further take care of the lives of people with meritorious services to the revolution, job creation and sustainable poverty reduction.

Vietnam has no new COVID-19 cases to report on April 5 morning

Vietnam recorded no new cases of COVID-19 over the past 12 hours to 6am on April 5, keeping the national count at 2,631, including 1,603 domestically-transmitted infections.

The Ministry of Health said 910 COVID-19 cases have been detected since January 27 when the third wave of outbreaks hit the country.

There are 27,487 people who had close contact with confirmed cases or entered Vietnam from pandemic-hit areas under medical monitoring at present.

As many as 2,383 patients have recovered from the disease while the number of related fatalities is kept at 35, the treatment sub-committee under the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reported.

Among those still under treatment, 38 have tested negative for the coronavirus once, 15 others twice, and 28 thrice.

The health ministry said 9,158 people were vaccinated against the pandemic last week, raising the number of vaccinated people in 19 cities and provinces to 52,431 as of 4pm on April 4. They are frontline medical workers and members of community-based anti-COVID-19 groups and the National Steering Committee.

In a bid to live safely with the pandemic, people should strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration)./.

Health ministry, WHO launch campaign on smoke-free restaurants and hotels in Hanoi

The Vietnamese health ministry along with the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Vietnam on April 3 launched a campaign to encourage smoke-free restaurants and hotels in Hanoi.

Addressing the campaign, WHO Representative in Vietnam Kidong Park said every year, 8 million people died from tobacco use around the world.

In Vietnam, 15 million adults smoke while the number of passive smokers is 75 million.

Nearly 40,000 people die each year in the country from tobacco use along with about 6,000 casualties from secondhand smoking, the WHO official said, urging an end to “the deaths of these blameless victims” of passive smoking.

“WHO called upon you to begin this with implementing smoke-free restaurants and hotels, which include simple acts such as placing no smoking signs at visible areas of hotels and restaurants,” the WHO representative told restaurant and hotel owners.

Inspections from law enforcement units would surely result in a higher compliance rate, he added.

Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment and Director of the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund, said a smoke-free tourism environment is an effective way to realise people’s right to breathe clean air.

However, smoke-free measures in hotels and restaurants must be carried out more fully, as most owners are not paying due attention to anti-smoking regulations.

According to a 2020 study conducted by the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund, the rate of secondhand smoking in these establishments remains high – with 80 percent of customers exposed to smoking in restaurants, and 65 percent in hotels, the Vietnamese health official noted.

About 200 restaurants and hotels in the capital city are expected to join the campaign./.

PM urges drastic measures to develop Mekong Delta

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked ministries, agencies and localities to take drastic measures to boost the development of the Mekong Delta region.

The region accounts for 19 percent of Vietnam’s population and 12 percent of the country’s size is the nation’s biggest agriculture hub.

It contributes half of the national rice production, 95 percent of the rice exports, 65 percent of aquaculture production, 50 percent of fish exports and 70 percent of fruit exports.

The region plays a key role in ensuring the security, political and economic development of Vietnam, so has received a lot of resources to make uses of its advantages and thrive, particularly as it is hard-hit by climate change.

To boost the region’s sustainable development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been assigned to be a contact point to collect local and international contributions for a new national strategy on sustainable development in the Mekong Delta with climate change-responding measures.

PM Phuc assigned the Ministry of Transport to work with agencies and localities to develop transport infrastructure in the region.

Resources would be given to key works expected to create a driving force for development and regional links, for example, the North-South expressway linking the region with the southeastern region, Chau Doc-Can Tho, Soc Trang route, An Huu-Cao Lanh route, My An-Cao Lanh route, Rach Mieu 2 Bridge, Dai Ngai Bridge, the second phase of the Cho Gao Canal and the Ho Chi Minh City-Can Tho railway.

Agencies and localities have been urged to speed up preparations to fund investment for Tran De Port and Long An Port and to improve coastal and provincial roads.

The transport ministry has been tasked with defining the river-based economy and making it part of a Government resolution to optimise the region’s dense river/channel networks.

The ministries of education and labour, in cooperation with local authorities, must ensure people can access general education and job training.

Advanced training must also be promoted to help prepare high-quality human resources to increase productivity, income and better manage challenges the region is facing, especially those relating to climate change.

The Ministry of Investment and Planning is responsible for coordinating ministries/agencies and localities to boost links among localities within the region and links between the region and HCM City and southeastern provinces.

PM Phuc also asked for solutions to improve the business climate, administrative reforms and increase the competitiveness of the region.

Agencies and localities must be more flexible in attracting investment, including overseas development assistance and preferential loans.

Investors are encouraged to develop or join projects relating to climate change and adapting to seawater rises.

Localities must arrange funding to respond to climate change’s impacts.

The construction ministry was told to better control urban planning and rearrange residential areas to adapt to rising sea levels.

The environment ministry was told to review and amend land regulations to be compatible with natural changes. Rice growing areas could be shifted to other crops which generate higher economic benefits and are better adapted to climate change.

Agencies were also asked to improve disaster warning capacity and develop climate change response scenarios./.

Directory of agencies supporting survivors of gender-based violence, abuse debuts

A directory listing organisations and agencies offering support for women and child survivors of gender-based violence and abuse in Vietnam, the first of its kind, has been launched.

Tran Thi Bich Loan, deputy head of the Gender Equality Department at the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), said the launch aims to establish an inter-sectoral network in gender-based violence prevention and combat in the time to come.

The directory is hoped to help victims seek support and protection in times of need, said Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women Vietnam.

The release of the directory is an effort by the MoLISA and UN Women within a joint project to urgently respond to violence against women and children in the context of COVID-19, with sponsorship from the Australian Government and financial and technical assistance from UNFPA and UNICEF.

It was developed with inspiration from the “Directory of Services” initiative for female migrant workers during the pandemic, initiated by UN Women and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), with sponsorship from the EU and within the framework of the “Safe and Fair Migration” project./.

Vietnamese expats join Czech Republic’s efforts to fight COVID-19

Vietnamese expatriates in Ustí nad Labem – Ústecký kraj, the Czech Republic, have present gifts worth nearly 200,000 CZK (over 9,000 USD) to medical workers in Chomutov and Kadaň cities.

The gifts included confectionery, coffee, water and shopping vouchers, among others.

Vice President of the Vietnamese People Chapter in Chomutov city Pham The Quang said that the move aims to express gratitude to medical workers, who have directly confronted risks of COVID-19 infection to aid patients and help to prevent the spread of the pandemic over the past year.

Particularly, they have worked relentlessly to care for the patients, including Vietnamese citizens, he added.

The Vietnamese community has been commended for their contributions to the host nation. At the outset of 2020, the community donated more than 252,000 CZK to support people with disabilities, and upgrade the fire-fighting system at sponsorship centres for people with disabilities in Chomutov, following a fire at a sponsorship centre that killed eight people and injured 30 others.

The community has also joined hands with local authorities to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic through sewing face masks and providing food for frontline workers. Besides, it mobilised some 300,000 CZK to buy ventilators for Maysaryk hospital./.

Over 10,000 job vacancies introduced at HCM City’s job fair 2021

More than 10,000 jobs were offered at the job fair 2021 jointly held on April 3 by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Employment Services (YES) Centre and Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper.

The event attracted the participation of more than 50 enterprises operating in the city and surrounding provinces.

The job offers focus on the fields of business, accounting, marketing, sale, delivery, production, retail and catering services.

Many enterprises also introduced labour cooperation internship programmes abroad in the fields of mechanics, construction, food processing, electronic assembly, packaging and agriculture with an average salary of over 28 million VND (1,216 USD) per month.

Yes Centre Director Nguyen Quang Cuong said that the new feature of this year’s programme is that the centre signed a plan to coordinate with the police force and the Military High Command of the city to offer jobs for demobilized soldiers and public security soldiers who complete their obligations.

The centre also has a programme for workers who have completed their overseas labour contracts (especially workers returning from the Republic of Korea under the ES programme and from Japan under the IM Japan programme) to help them stabilise their lives./.

Four arrested in Dien Bien for illegally taking people abroad

The border guard and police in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien have arrested four people for their attempt to illegally bring Chinese nationals to Laos.

One of the four, Nguyen Van Sinh, born in 1988 and residing in Pom Lot commune, Dien Bien district, was captured on April 1 in Ca Hau hamlet, Na U commune, Dien Bien district, when he was leading a taxi with four Chinese citizens towards the border area.

Sinh said he hired two taxis to transport nine Chinese from Dien Bien Phu city to Na U commune, then Va A Phong, a local resident in the commune, would take them to the border area for illegal immigration into Laos.

From Sinh’s testimony, competent forces arrested Va A Phong, born in 2000 in Con Cang hamlet, Na U commune, while he was taking five Chinese nationals to the border area.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Thinh, born in 1985 and residing in Thanh Hoa hamlet, Thanh Luong commune, Dien Bien district, and Nguyen Van Nhat, born in 1986 and residing in hamlet 4, Pom Lot commune, Dien Bien district, were summoned to clarify their roles in the case.

The Chinese nationals said they had business establishments in Laos, and they were expelled from the nation in 2020. Via social network, they contacted with a person, suspected to be Vietnamese, who said he would pick people from China’ Yunnan province to Vietnam’s northern area where they would cross the border illegally to Laos. Each needed to pay some 250 million VND (10,859 USD) for the transportation.

Further investigation into the case is underway./.

Dong Thap’s border guards get COVID-19 vaccine injections

The Border Guard Command of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, in collaboration with the Military Hospital 120, on April 3 began COVID-19 vaccinations for its officers and soldiers.

Accordingly, from now until April 6, 351 border guard officers and soldiers will be injected. Their health will be monitored via e-records as the Health Ministry’s regulations.

They are the first border guards to be injected with COVID-19 vaccine in Dong Thap province.

The priority has been given to those on duty along the border and at border gates and pandemic prevention and control stations.

Dong Thap province shares a border line of over 50km with Cambodia./.

Vung Tau city to host cuisine week

The 2021 Vung Tau Taste Week will take place from April 24 to May 2 in the coastal city, featuring a wide range of cuisine, art and entertainment activities, the city People’s Committee has announced.

More than 100 booths will showcase popular dishes and street foods from the southern city and other localities across the country.

Cooking demonstrations and contests, fruit and vegetable carving and bartending exhibitions will also be a highlight of the event.

Music and magic performances with the participation of popular singers and artists will entertain visitors every night.

Hoang Vu Thanh, acting chairman of the city People’s Committee, told a meeting held recently to announce the event that it is part of the city’s efforts to promote beach tourism, a main driver of its development.

The city has entrusted the Ba Rịa-Vung Tau province Tourism Association and Sea Star Sai Gon JSC with organising the event./.

Vietnam’s efforts in international maritime cooperation

International maritime cooperation has been expressed through coordination between countries at different levels – bilaterally, regionally, and globally. It is an indispensable need to protect this important “source of life” through the harmonisation of activities at sea and resolving inherent transboundary problems in seas and oceans, especially environmental issues.

The current situation requires that countries in the East Sea region attach importance to international maritime cooperation, in order to maximise the potential brought about by the sea as well as to resolve and handle the challenges in order to create a peaceful and stable environment in the waterway, serving national construction and development. Like most other coastal countries, Vietnam has increasingly emphasised international maritime cooperation, and has taken the initiative in expanding foreign relations as well as international and regional integration.

As a responsible coastal nation, the resolution to ratify the Law on the Sea from the National Assembly in 1994 affirms the country’s determination to encourage maritime cooperation. Vietnam has advocated the use of regulations on international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to settle disputes in the East Sea.

Regarding the handling and settling of disputes, on the basis of international law, Vietnam successfully resolved problems on the delimitation of the sea in the Gulf of Thailand with Thailand in 1997 and in the Gulf of Tonkin with China in 2000, and the delimitation of the continental shelf with Indonesia in 2003. It is actively negotiating the delimitation of overlapping waters with countries such as China in the area outside of the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, and with Indonesia in the area overlapping the exclusive economic zone between the two countries in the East Sea.

In specialised maritime fields, Vietnam has established an extensive international cooperation network with countries with strong economic, scientific, and technological potential in the sea, such as Russia, Japan, the US, and China, as well as regional and international organisations.

Over the years, Vietnam has always actively developed relations with other countries in the world, thereby constantly expanding and enhancing international marine cooperation.

Vietnam has also established a maritime dialogue mechanism with countries such as the US, Australia, and India, among others, to promote awareness among related parties of maritime issues, creating a strong foundation for international maritime cooperation.

It can be said that Vietnam’s achievements in international maritime cooperation are both a concrete expression of the Party and State’s foreign policy and the result of implementing this correct policy.

International marine cooperation has made an important contribution to strengthening political trust, relations, and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries, to gradually settle disputes at sea and create a peaceful and stable environment for development while helping to mobilise the necessary resources and knowledge to serve the country’s industrialisation and modernisation./.

Children’s Council model makes children’s voices heard

The Children’s Council model has helped Hanoi authorities and agencies understand aspirations and needs regarding the development of children, heard a recent event to review the Council’s operation in the city in 2017-2020.

The model also has served as an important representative for children of the city over the more than three years since its establishment.

Chairman of the Hanoi Council of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation (HYPO) Ly Duy Xuan stressed that care, education and protection of children are for the sake of the country’s long-term benefit and the State and people must work to create optimal conditions for their comprehensive development.

Under the Prime Minister’s Decision 1235/QD-TTg dated August 3, 2015 on approving a programme on promoting children’s involvement in child-related issues, Hanoi is among five provinces and cities selected for the pilot of the Children’s Council model.

In the reviewed period, the municipal Children’s Council, set up with 41 members, arranged over 300 activities to garner children’s opinions at grassroots level and held five meetings at city level, with focus on tackling learning pressure, school violence, and child abuse in the community and cyber space, among others.

Members of the Council also joined regular training courses to improve soft and social skills so as to better fulfil their role.

Although the model is newly-launched, its members have exerted efforts to hold numerous practical activities. Many children’s opinions have been inscribed in Hanoi’s legal documents./.

Over 6.4 million poor households access social policy bank loans

As of March, more than 6.4 million poor and near-poor households had won access to loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP).

The bank said its total credit balance stood at 230.55 trillion VND (10.01 billion USD) at the end of last month, up 4.35 trillion VND as compared with the end of 2020.

Up to 169.52 trillion VND or 73.5 percent of the credit balance was used to serve production, business and job generation, and the remainder for improving the livelihood.

The bank’s accumulative credit loans reached 239.2 trillion VND, up 5.77 percent from last year.

Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong, who is also Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the VBSP, said since the beginning of this year, the VBSP has taken prompt actions in disbursement to meet capital demand of poor and near-poor households, and other social policy beneficiaries.

She ordered stepping up the reception of trusted capital from local bank for social policies, as well as the mobilisation of deposits from organisations and individuals, while better retrieving due debts during the second quarter. /.

Autotech & Accessories 2021 to be held both offline, online

The 17th Saigon International Autotech & Accessories Show (Autotech & Accessories 2021) is scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City from May 20 to 23 with both offline and online activities.

The event, which will feature more than 300 booths, is organised by the Asia Trade Fair and Business Promotion JSC with the support of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnam Association for Supporting Industry.

Organisers said as the COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting almost all aspects, including business matching and trade promotion activities, they decided to hold the Autotech & Accessories 2021 in both offline and online formats, which will concurrently help enhance cooperation among enterprises, prevent coronavirus transmission, and promote green practices towards sustainable development.

The online show will be held in three phases: from Mary 20 to 23 (at the same time with the offline one), from June 30 to July 2, and from October 27 to 31 at www.virtualautotech.com.vn and www.autotechonline.com.vn.

The virtual exhibition applies modern technologies to simulate businesses’ factories, showrooms, and products and enable visitors to connect with exhibitors, according to organisers./.

Bac Giang tapping biotechnology in socio-economic development

The northern province of Bac Giang will promote the application of biotechnology and new material technologies to serve socio-economic development, according to the director of the Bac Giang Provincial Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Thanh Binh.

Located in the northern key economic zone and adjacent to major centres such as Hanoi, Hai Phong city, and Quang Ninh province, Bac Giang boasts favourable conditions for economic development.

A particular focus of biotechnology and new material technologies is the fields of breeding, preserving, and processing agricultural and forestry products, especially key products such as lychee, Yen The chicken, Yen Dung fragrant rice, Lang Giang mushrooms, Tan Yen peanuts, Hiep Hoa grapefruit, and Son Dong honey; the treatment of waste and wastewater in industrial zones and clusters and trade villages; and health and medical surveillance technology.

The province is also stepping up the application of advanced materials and fuel-saving and environmentally-friendly technologies in production and daily life.

It prioritises developing science and technology, especially biotechnology and new material technologies, supporting the establishment of and improvements to the operational efficiency of science and technology enterprises, innovative enterprises, and start-ups in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, and new material technologies.

Meanwhile, the provincial centre for science and technology application will form an experimental area and conduct research and application and transfer biotechnology and new material technologies.

Over recent years, the strong application of biotechnology has had a positive impact on the province. Its Department of Science and Technology has deployed 91 national and provincial level projects to date in the field of biotechnology, which has been applied to develop high-yield, good-quality crops and animals and contributed to economic restructuring, improving the quality, commercial value, and competitive edge of local agricultural products. By way of example, the breeding and development of new fruit trees such as V2 orange, ODL guava, MC17 and Choquete avocado, late ripe longan, and early thieu litchi have yielded hundreds of billions of VND a year.

Bac Giang has also applied VietGAP and GlobalGAP standards in cultivation at 39 percent of orchards and used QR Codes for tracing product origin, together with the iMetos smart weather station, the VietGAP app, and drip irrigation technology.

The province has recently expanded its VietGAP-standard lychee coverage to 14,300 ha and its GlobalGAP-standard coverage to 258 ha. It also has 218 ha of lychee with cultivation codes granted for export to the US, Australia, and the EU.

Using drip irrigation technology, biological fertilisers, and pesticides, and following VietGAP standards, a tea production model in Yen The district has posted a 20-30 percent increase annually in productivity and revenue. The success of the model helped expand the district’s tea growing area to 530 ha, with a combined output of over 4,300 tonnes a year.

Many local enterprises have applied biotechnology in pollution treatment and environmental pollution recovery. The application of biotechnology in socio-economic development contributed to economic growth in the province averaging 14% per year in the 2015-2020 period. It currently has more than 160 enterprises and household businesses operating in the production of building materials applying new material technologies, including the production of unfired bricks.

Unfired brick production line at Song Cau Ha Bac Joint Stock Company (Source: baobacgiang.com.vn)

In the field of medicine, new material technologies have also made a positive contribution to local medical examinations and treatment, such as the application of nanopolymer in medicine and nanomaterials in biomedicine. Their application has also contributed to medical examinations and treatment of local people.

Bac Giang implemented 74 national and provincial science and technology projects in various fields during the 2015-2020 period, with total funding of over 222 billion VND./.

Quang Tri aims to become first province to be safe from UXOs

The central province of Quang Tri is striving to, by 2025, become the first province in Vietnam to be safe from unexploded ordnances (UXO) left over by the war.

The locality has, starting from 1995, had success in the mobilisation of aid from international and non-governmental organisations to deal with the deadly legacy of war.

It is the most polluted locality in terms of UXOs which are scattered over 81 percent of its land area, and have killed over 3,430 people and injured 5,100 so far during peace-time.

Over the last 26 years, it has mobilised nearly 144 million USD from international and non-governmental organisations to help it mark off more than 446 million sq.m of land contaminated with cluster bombs and treat around 86 million sq.m of this kind of land.

Over 740,700 bombs, mines and other ordnances have been found and detonated, while tens of thousands of locals have received support in livelihoods.

2018 was the first year Quang Tri reported no accidents from bombs and mines.

Since 1995, US non-governmental organisations have assisted Quang Tri in seeking resources for the implementation of relevant programmes and projects, and helped bomb and mine victims with tens of millions of US dollars.

The US’s Peace Trees Vietnam is the first foreign non-governmental organisation licensed by the Vietnamese Government to operate in UXO search and clearance.

Thanks to the support from US non-governmental organisations, Quang Tri has detoxified some 187 million sq.m of land and deactivated hundreds of thousands of shells.

Assistance has also come for the training of technicians of international standard, the application of cutting-edge technologies in bomb and mine clearance, and the creation of jobs for nearly 900 local people.

RENEW is a cooperative programme between Quang Tri and foreign NGOs to restore the environment and address the consequences of war, especially UXOs. The main foreign partner in the programme now is the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).

Quang Tri aims to clear about 3,000 ha of contaminated land and mobilise 10 million USD each year for the task during the 2021-2025 period, and announce dangerous areas to the public.

Also each year, up to 60,000 people can access education programmes on bombs and mines, and 1,300-1,500 victims and their families are expected to receive support in healthcare and livelihood development.

By 2025, all local schools will include bomb and mine education in their curricular.

Quang Tri is set to develop its provincial bomb and mine action centre into a regional one with multiple activities, said Nguyen Trieu Thuong, Director of the provincial Department of External Affairs and deputy head of the standing board of the provincial steering committee for the settlement of UXO./.

Hanoi FC coach Nghiem resigns after Da Nang defeat

Hà Nội FC yesterday announced that coach Chu Đình Nghiêm had handed in his resignation, ending his glittering five-year reign.

It’s fair to wonder if the 49-year-old jumped before he was pushed, as a 2-0 defeat away to SHB Đà Nẵng on Friday coming soon after an embarrassing 1-1 draw at home against minnows Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh had left the club in crisis.

Regardless, Hà Nội announced that the club’s leadership had accepted Nghiêm’s resignation on Sunday.

Nghiêm leaves his side in the sixth position in the V.League 1 with 10 points after six matches, a disappointing start to a season in which the club were widely tipped to return to the top of local football.

Last season was also a struggle for Hà Nội as the side finished second after winning the title in 2019.

In his more than five seasons in charge, Nghiêm helped the team win the V.League 1 in 2016, 2018 and 2019; the National Cup in 2019 and 2020: the National Super Cup in 2018, 2019 and 2020; as well as enter the AFC Cup’s ASEAN Zonal finals in 2019.

The team moved quickly to announce a replacement coach before their next match against local rivals Viettel in the Hà Nội derby on Wednesday.

Former Việt Nam national team coach Hoàng Văn Phúc will take charge of the team on a temporary basis, an announcement on the official Hà Nội FC Facebook page said.

Phúc has worked as a youth coach for Hà Nội after many years in charge of Quảng Nam. In addition to the V.League 1 title in 2017 with Quảng Nam, Phúc coached the national team and U23 national team in 2013.

The country’s most successful team in recent years are facing an injury crisis at present, with star midfielder Đỗ Hùng Dũng out for the long-term, while Brazilian forwards Geovane Magno and Bruno Cunha both missed Friday’s match due to injures.

Four arrested in Dien Bien for attempting to smuggle Chinese nationals into Laos

Border guards and police in the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên have arrested four people for attempting to illegally bring Chinese nationals to Laos.

One of the four, Nguyễn Văn Sinh, 33, residing in Pom Lót Commune, Điện Biên District, was detained on April 1 in Ca Hâu Hamlet, Na Ư Commune, Điện Biên District, when he was driving a taxi with four Chinese citizens towards the border area.

According to police, Sinh said he hired two taxis to transport nine Chinese nationals from Điện Biên Phủ City to Na Ư Commune, then Và A Phong, a local resident in the commune, would take them to the border area for illegal immigration into Laos.

After detaining Sinh, forces arrested Và A Phong, 21, who lives in Con Cang Hamlet, Na Ư Commune, while he was taking five Chinese nationals to the border area.

Meanwhile, Nguyễn Văn Thịnh, 36, residing in Thanh Hòa Hamlet, Thanh Luông Commune, Điện Biên District, and Nguyễn Văn Nhật, 35 and residing in hamlet 4, Pom Lót Commune, Điện Biên District, were summoned to clarify their roles in the case.

The Chinese nationals said they had business establishments in Laos and were expelled from the nation in 2020. Via social networks, they contacted a person, suspected to be Vietnamese, who said he could take people from China’s Yunnan Province to Việt Nam’s northern area where they would cross the border illegally to Laos. Each needed to pay some VNĐ250 million (US$10,859) for the transportation.

Further investigation into the case is underway.

Quang Tri Youth Union helps poor kids stay in school

The sight of the blue shirts of Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union members of central Quảng Trị Province has become familiar to the people in Hải Dương Commune, Hải Lăng District.

Their work has helped dozens of children in extremely difficult circumstances stay in school and look forward to a brighter future.

Lê Minh Đức, a second-grade student from Nhiên Khánh Village, lives with his grandparents because his mother died and his father has to work far from home to earn a living.

Every month, Đức receives encouragement and VNĐ300,000 (US$13) from the local Youth Union.

“The youngsters visit my family every month and help me learn. I’m so happy and will try my best to study well,” Đức told Tin Tức (News) online newspaper.

Đức is one of 77 children in an extremely difficult situation that the Youth Union of Quảng Trị Province has supported.

The programme to help poor kids was launched by the Youth Union in 2015 in Vĩnh Hà and Vĩnh Sơn communes, Vĩnh Linh District.

The work has received a positive response from many local unions and a large number of young people and has been replicated across five districts, towns and cities.

Lê Thị Hồng Tươi, a local fourth-grade girl, faces many difficulties. Her mother was paralysed in an accident in 2019 and her dad has to support all five people in her family.

“After class, I help my father to look after my young brother and do housework,” said Tươi.

“I love my father very much. He has to work to have money for my mother’s treatment and our study. Fortunately, the youth union’s help eases the burden on my family.”

In addition to monthly support of VNĐ300,000 to VNĐ1 million, Youth Union members also stay in close contact with the school about the kids’ studies and help them study at home.

The Youth Union’s efforts have helped the children improve their academic results, according to Võ Trung Hiếu, vice chairman of People’s Committee of Hải Dương Commune.

“The programme has motivated the children not to give up their studies and become confident and amiable. It shares the economic burden of poor families and helps the children nurture their dreams,” said Trần Thị Thu, provincial Youth Union secretary.

“It also encourages young people to share their compassion for the poor.”

Innovation contest helps bring student’s engineering products to light

The three winners of this year’s Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) contest organised by USAID and Dow Vietnam have been announced.

The EPICS programme in Việt Nam was launched in 2018 jointly by the USAID Building University-Industry Learning and Development through Innovation and Technology (BUILD-IT) Alliance, Arizona State University, and Dow Vietnam STEM Program.

Students from Lạc Hồng University in Đồng Nai Province, who made an electric wheelchair, won the first prize.

The wheelchair incorporates extra batteries and a motor module into the frame, and has a solar panel.

The second and third prizes went to students from the University of Đà Nẵng – University of Science and Technology and the HCM City University of Technology.

The former made a protective coat for drivers for ride-hailing services, and said motorbike taxis are becoming increasingly popular, and their drivers face growing risks of being robbed.

The coat uses material that cannot be pierced, thus preventing life-threatening dangers even if they are robbed, and it is cooler in summer, they said.

Besides, it would automatically send their location and emergency signals to first responders and family members if the drivers press the SOS button on it, they added.

The students from the HCM City University of Technology made a smart greenhouse dryer designed especially for seafood and aimed at small businesses.

It helps prevent contamination, takes less time to dry and enables users to keep track of quality.

It uses solar energy, reducing energy use by 80 per cent.

The three inventions were chosen out of 34 entries from six universities.

EPICS is an internationally recognised service-learning model where students make engineering prototypes to address social issues. It was the fifth EPICS contest held in Việt Nam.

Students’ innovation and service-learning at Vietnamese universities are supported through Building University-Industry Learning and Development funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Innovation and Technology Alliance with Arizona State University in the US, and Dow Vietnam.

The partner universities in HCM City, Đà Nẵng and Cần Thơ are converting EPICS from an extracurricular activity into an elective course.

The adoption of international engineering programmes helps them train young engineers.

Life largely back to ‘new normal’ in Hai Duong

Normal life has returned to Hải Dương Province after more than two months struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social distancing was officially lifted on Thursday in the northern province, once the biggest COVID-19 cluster in Việt Nam.

Students have returned to schools and workers have returned to factories. Coffee shops and restaurants are reopened and the whole province is getting used to the “new normal”.

Lê Hải Anh, a Hải Dương City resident, reopened his coffee shop on Thursday morning and was glad to see the number of customers was 10 times higher than a day before when only takeaways were allowed.

To attract more customers and compensate for revenue losses after a long time of closure, he has renovated the shop, added more drinks to the menu and offered takeaway discounts.

“The shop pays attention to disinfection and requires staff to wear face masks,” he said.

Returning to school on Thursday after a long time, more than 1,000 students of Thạch Khôi Primary School in Hải Dương City were excited to meet friends and teachers in person.

All classrooms were sterilised before welcoming students back. Students have their body temperatures checked and are required to sterilise their hands before entering school.

Nguyễn Thị Hạnh, the school’s principal, said students learn for half a day and go back home. The school hasn’t run day boarding classes.

In Hưng Đạo Commune, Chí Linh City, which recorded the first COVID-19 community case in Hải Dương’s outbreak in late January, life in the new normal is a dream for everyone after 60 days of fighting non-stop with the pandemic.

Vũ Huy Đăng, chairman of the commune People’s Committee, said local authorities updated COVID-19 new cases twice a day at 9am and 3pm to timely detect new infections and report to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The outbreak in Hải Dương over the past two months recorded a high number of infections among Poyun Vietnam Company workers.

As the pandemic has been contained in the province, on Thursday, more than 1,200 workers of Poyun Vietnam returned to the factory after being tested for the coronavirus twice.

Worker Mừu Văn Trọng said: “We faced a lot of difficulties when production suspended during the pandemic. We all felt excited when the lockdown was lifted and we were able to get back to work.”

Chen Shu Ming, who leads a team of workers at Poyun, said: “We found that the best way to protect ourselves is to wear face masks and keep a distance between each other while eating. The company gives a bottle to each worker for personal use.”

Workers in some sections wear spit-shielding masks. Meal times have been extended to ensure not too many workers eat at the same time.

A representative of Poyun Vietnam said after halting production, the company was facing difficulties due to a lack of labourers. Although the company had taken anti-virus measures, workers were still worried and had not all returned.

The company wants the Government to give permission to vaccinate the workers so more of them feel safe and return to work.

According to Hải Dương authorities, the province has more than 350,000 labourers working at 14,000 businesses. About 95 per cent of local businesses have resumed operation.

Recovering production and preventing the virus are their dual tasks after the resumption.

At businesses that recorded infections, special COVID-19 working teams are still on duty to detect new possible cases.

Local authorities said the province would not neglect prevention methods and would stick to COVID-19 protocols.

Outdoor food stalls and non-essential services such as massage parlours, pubs, karaoke parlours, game centres and movie theatres will be suspended until April 15 across the province.

In Kim Thành Commune, which still has 28 community cases, markets and restaurants are ordered to be closed until April 10.

Local residents said that was a proper decision to completely contain the pandemic in the commune.

HCM City cracks down on clandestine cosmetic surgery clinics

The HCM City Department of Health found 19 unlicensed cosmetic surgery clinics operating clandestinely during a three-week inspection campaign, Dr Nguyễn Mạnh Cường, its chief inspector, said.

They were in luxury apartments, hotels, coffee shops, and houses, and concealed their surgical tools to elude authorities, he said.

Lê Công Vân, head of the HCM City Police Department’s administrative management of social order division, suggested revoking the licences of those who could not furnish the necessary papers during the inspection.

Vân said, “I will look into [it] and report to the city police for appropriate action if the local police had indeed failed to perform their duty.”

The police and Department of Health plan to form a team to crack down on plastic surgery centres that do not have all the requisite licences or offer services they are not licensed for.

Dr Nguyễn Phan Tú Dung, director of JW Korea Plastic Hospital, said his hospital received numerous patients with complications from cosmetic surgeries they get done at dubious clinics because of their low fees. Doctors at these centres mostly did not undergo professional cosmetic surgery training, he said.

Last year the number of such patients at his hospital was five times as in 2019, he added.

The department has launched an app called Tra cứu khám chữa bệnh that carries lists of legal and trustworthy plastic surgery centres and those penalised for lack of licences.

Another app, Y tế trực tuyến, allows people to blow the whistle on illegal centres, and inspectors then carry out raids within 24 hours.

Hanoi asks for special mechanism to renovate apartment buildings

Renovating and rebuilding old apartment buildings in Hà Nội is not only an urgent social issue but also will help improve the city’s urban look and boost its economic development.

That was the message from the city People’s Committee chairman Chu Ngọc Anh, who has asked the Government for a special mechanism to address problems relating to old apartment buildings.

There are about 1,579 old apartment buildings in the city in need of improvement. Most were built between 1960s and 1992 in inner districts of Ba Đình, Hoàn Kiếm, Đống Đa and Hai Bà Trưng.

Of the buildings, 1,273 belong to 76 apartment building zones – 34 zones with areas of more than two hectares each and 42 zones with areas of less than two hectares each. The remaining 306 old buildings are located separately across the four inner districts.

Almost all are in poor condition, degrading for many years. They are now owned or used by organisations or individuals. Many have been illegally enlarged by home owners, threatening the safety of those who live there.

Since early 2000s, Hà Nội began making plans to renovate the old buildings.

However, since 2014, only 18 old buildings in the city were renovated and rebuilt, said mayor Chu Ngọc Anh, adding that difficulties in mechanism hindered the restoration.

House users refusing to move or being not happy with compensations are among major reasons for the delay of restoration projects. Meanwhile, investors are not interested in such projects due to current restrictions imposed on buildings in Hà Nội’s inner districts, for example, height limits.

To speed up the building renovation projects, Hà Nội has asked the Government to allow it to conduct technical examinations of all old apartment buildings in the city and then develop a renovation plan.

Options must match investment modes and the current situation of old buildings to ensure the feasibility of renovation projects, Ngọc Anh said.

In apartment building zones, new buildings will be built on available land, replacing public works. Public works would be constructed after the old apartment buildings are removed. New apartment buildings will be designed with the number of storeys limited and more underground parking areas.

In small-sized zones, once the old buildings are renovated or rebuilt, home owners will be relocated to other buildings in the same wards or districts.

People living in separated old buildings will be relocated into a zone. Land plots at prime locations will be given to commercial works or commercial housing to further attract investors.

Chairman Chu Ngọc Anh said the city expected the Government and National Assembly to issue a resolution with special power given to it to tackle old apartment buildings.

“Hà Nội commits to following planning, ensuring population and housing targets, reducing construction density and properly arrange land for commercial and service works when increasing the height of buildings,” he said.

Legal proceedings launched in mental hospital drugs case in Hanoi

The Investigation Agency for drug-related crimes under the Hà Nội Police has launched legal proceedings against Nguyễn Xuân Quý and other four accomplices on charges of selling, storing and organising the illegal use of drugs.

The other suspects are Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, Nguyễn Trung Nguyên , Nguyễn Công Thương and Lê Hoàng Hải.

Earlier on Wednesday Hà Nội police announced they had busted a drug trafficking ring that was being run out of a hospital.

According to police, a mentally ill man ran the ring from National Psychiatric Hospital No 1.

The ringleader has been identified as Nguyễn Xuân Quý, 38, who resides in Hà Nội’s Thanh Trì District.

Police investigations stated that Quý was sent to the hospital for treatment in November 2018.

He repeatedly left the hospital during treatment. In January this year, Quý was arrested by the police of Hai Bà Trưng District on charges of illegally possessing drugs but was returned to the hospital due to his mental illness.

The investigation revealed that after a long time at the hospital, he formed close relationships with a number of hospital staff and was free to come and go as he pleased.

Quý renovated a treatment room into a soundproof room and installed large speakers and laser lights to use as a place to take and sell drugs.

As well as Quý and his friends, some hospital staff were also offered drugs in the room.

He sold drugs at the hospital by telling his customers to pretend to be caregivers.

To avoid being detected, Quý hired Nguyễn Trung Nguyễn and Nguyễn Công Thường to disguise themselves as delivery drivers and stand at the hospital gate as lookouts. They also delivered drugs to customers.

On March 20 morning, Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, Nguyễn Công Thương and Nguyễn Trung Nguyên were caught red-handed while they were driving a car to deliver drugs to customers. Police seized four plastic packages containing suspected drugs in Ngọc’s pockets and three bags in the back seat next to Thương. Later the contents were determined to be drugs.

The same day, Quý was caught using drugs with seven others at Riverside Hotel in Hà Nội’s Hai Bà Trưng District.

Later that day, the Police Department for Investigation of Drug-related Crimes raided the hospital room and seized more than 6kg of drugs of various kinds, including ecstasy, methamphetamine and ketamine.

Police also initiated legal proceedings against Nguyễn Anh Vũ, a technician from the rehabilitation and traditional medicine at the hospital accused of not denouncing the crime.

All the suspects reportedly admitted their crimes.

The investigation is ongoing.

Police propose prosecuting Mường Thanh Group chairman for deceiving customers

Hanoi police on Friday proposed the prosecution of Le Thanh Than, chairman of the Muong Thanh Group, for customer fraud.

The proposal came after police completed an investigation into alleged customer deception and lack of responsibility causing serious consequences that occurred at the CT6 Kiến Hưng Project, in Kiến Hưng Ward, Hà Đông District.

The police proposed prosecuting seven defendants including Thản, 71, Nguyễn Duy Uyển, 57, chairman of Kiến Hưng Ward People’s Committee, Vương Đăng Quân, 63, former deputy chief construction inspector of Hà Đông District, Mai Quang Bài, an official of the construction management team of Hà Đông District, and three others who are officials of the Kiến Hưng Ward and Hà Đông District People’s Committees.

Thản is suspected of violating the law at the investment project to build the Bemes apartment complex and commercial (CT6) in Kiến Hưng Ward.

Regarding the incident, in May 2018, apartment owners at CT6 apartment submitted an application to Hà Nội authorities to receive their land-use right certificates but discovered the CT6 apartment building was ineligible to issue the certificates, though they had been led to believe it was.

Thản is one of the country’s top real estate tycoons and the head of a large corporation.

Mường Thanh Group operates in many fields such as real estate investment and business, travel services, restaurant and hotel, shopping malls, finance and retail supermarket.

According to Clause 2, Article 198 of the Penal Code, Thản’s could be fined VNĐ100-500 million (US$4,300-21,600) or imprisoned from 1-5 years.

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

The Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade will organise five Vietnamese Goods Weeks this year to stimulate demand. Photo baodauthau.vn

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will organise conferences to connect producers, suppliers and retailers, and events for producers and traders, especially small traders, to help take goods to residential areas, industrial parks and rural and mountainous regions, the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper reported.

It will help encourage consumption by fostering the evening economy and holding fairs and exhibitions of products and services. It continues to implement the ‘Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese goods’ programme.

It will also promote the adoption of IT and foster e-commerce.

The Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade will organise five Vietnamese Goods Weeks this year to stimulate demand.

To be held in the districts of Ha Dong, Hai Ba Trung, Nam Tu Liem, Quoc Oai, and Ba Vi, they will have around 100 standard booths each.

Companies and co-operatives will exhibit food products, textiles, footwear, consumer goods from One Product One Commune programmes from Ha Noi and other cities and provinces.

The department will subsidise booth costs by 50 per cent.

The city will also support localities and businesses in Ha Noi and elsewhere in selling agricultural and aquatic produce that face difficulties in selling due to the pandemic.

It will strengthen communications and promotions, create the best conditions for businesses to reach consumers and expand their market.

Products displayed and sold at the events will all be Vietnamese products with quality, food safety and traceability guaranteed.

To effectively implement the programme, the department has called on people’s committees of districts and towns to review all businesses and co-operatives to participate in the 2021 Vietnamese Goods Week of Ha Noi, especially agricultural produce that are difficult to sell and the One Product One Commune programme.

According to the newspaper, the Can Tho City Department of Industry and Trade also plans to organise a promotional month programme, possibly from April 10 to May 10.

It will seek the participation of businesses, supermarkets, commercial centers, convenience stores, restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues.

HCM City plans to focus on digitisation of industry and promotion of domestic tourism.

Deputy director of the city Department of Tourism, Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, said her agency is stepping up digitisation, and the sector would continue its efforts to boost domestic tourism to drive the recovery of the industry.

Tourism co-operation and linkages between HCM City and the north-east, north-west and the central regions would also serve to boost domestic travel, she added.

VN-Index falls as selling pressure weighs market

Viet Nam’s stock exchange ended mixed on Thursday as the benchmark VN-Index reversed course to finish lower while the HNX-Index continued its rally.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index declined by 8.62 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 1,247.25 points. The index rose slightly 0.15 per cent in the morning trade. The market breadth was negative with 294 stocks dropping while 141 stocks climbed.

The market’s liquidity remained high as nearly 806.5 million shares were traded, worth over VND20.6 trillion.

The index successfully tested the support territory of 1,225 – 1,232 points and rebounded at the end of Wednesday’s trade. The move is expected to help the index continue to rise and head toward the resistance zone of 1,275 – 1,300 points in the short-term, Bao Viet Securities Company said in a daily report to customers.

“However, during this period, the market is likely to be dominated by some large-cap stocks, along with a strong division between groups of stocks,” the securities firm added.

April futures contracts expired yesterday and the event might have a huge impact on large-cap stocks in the VN30 basket.

The VN30-Index, which tracks the 30 biggest stocks in HoSE, fell 0.51 per cent to 1,284.2 points. Of the VN30 basket, 24 stocks declined while only five increased.

Stocks from banking, materials, utilities, information technology, retail, transportation and logistics posted poor performance on Thursday. Of which, top five stocks weighing the market were Vietcombank (VCB), JSC Bank For Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), Investment And Industrial Development Corporation (BCM), Techcombank (TCB) and Vietnam Rubber Group JSC (GVR).

VCB posted the biggest loss in market capitalisation, down 1.22 per cent.

The losses were limited by gains in material stocks and real estate and construction sectors with Hoa Phat Group (HPG) leading the market’s rally, up 2.83 per cent, followed by Vingroup JSC (VIC), No Va Land Investment Group Corporation (NVL) and Vinhomes JSC (VHM).

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index, meanwhile, climbed 0.44 per cent to 296.12 points despite falls in big stocks. The HNX30-Index fell 0.64 per cent to 443.82 points on Thursday.

During the session, local investors poured over VND3.2 trillion into the northern bourse, equivalent to a trading volume of 172 million shares.

Foreign investors still fled from both exchanges as they net sold a value of VND829.47 billion on HoSE and a value of VND13.25 billion on HNX.

FLC Group plans Bamboo Airways IPO in the U.S.

FLC Group, Vietnam’s multi-industrial conglomerates, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of its airline, Bamboo Airways, in the United States that could raise about US$200 million, Reuters reported.

Bamboo Airways is planning to sell 5-7% of its share in the IPO this Q3 and seeking a valuation of at least US$4 billion after the listing.

“The IPO is a part of our efforts to expand services globally,” said FLC Group chairman Trinh Van Quyet. The airline has been working with an international auditing firm for the potential listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bamboo Airways last month announced it will list its share on the Vietnam Stock Exchange in Q3, however, Quyet told Reuters that “it was a backup plan, depending on market conditions”.

Bamboo Airways plans to increase its fleet from the current 30 to 40 by the end of this year, including two new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Quyet added.

The airline is seeking to launch new routes to the U.S., Australia, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom this year should COVID-19 pandemic improve.

It plans to conduct chartered flights to the U.S. in July, and launch non-stop commercial flights between Ho Chi Minh City and San Francisco in September, with an initial frequency of three flights per week.

This year, Bamboo Airways targets a 25% rise in pretax profit to VND500 billion.

Vietnam, Singapore beef up investment links in industry

Addressing the forum, General Director of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Do Ba Phu said he values Singaporean investor’s potential and predicted that investment flows from Singapore to Vietnam will rise sharply in the future.

Singapore was the largest investor in Vietnam last year, with nearly US$9 billion, accounting for 31.5% of the country’s total foreign investment.

It possesses advantages in investing in key industries where Vietnam is calling for investment, Phu said.

Tran Thu Quynh, Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Singapore, briefed participants on production trends in Vietnam and the country’s priorities in attracting investment in industries in the 2021-2030 period, and told them of free trade agreements Vietnam has signed with foreign partners.

Douglas Foo, President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF), who is also President of the Vietnam – Singapore Business Council, highlighted the significance of the forum, affirming that Singaporean enterprises are interested in the Vietnamese market.

In the context of COVID-19, with flight routes yet to restart between the two countries, opportunities for links like this forum will help Singaporean firms learn more about new investment opportunities in Vietnam, he said.

Vietnam adds eight more wharves this year

Eight wharves in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Haiphong, HCMC, Dong Nai and Khanh Hoa have been listed in Vietnam’s wharf system, raising the country’s total number of wharves to 286 this year.

The number of wharves in the country’s wharf system rose by eight against the 2020 figure, according to the list of wharves at seaports in Vietnam recently announced by the Ministry of Transport.

Four new wharves in Ba Ria-Vung Tau comprise Hyosung Vina Chemicals, Military Defense 7, Southern petrochemical complex and Naval Team 129.

Besides, Haiphong City has MPC Port Wharf, while the list also named some other new ones, including Nam Van Phong Wharf in Khanh Hoa Province, Vinh Hung Wharf in Dong Nai Province and Ben Nghe Phu Huu Wharf in HCMC.

Among the 286 wharves in Vietnam, Haiphong City has 50, Vung Tau Province is home to 46 and HCMC has 42.

Other localities such as Can Tho, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa and Quang Ninh have from 13 to 21 wharves, the local media reported.

Some other seaports in Quang Binh, Quy Nhon, Kien Giang and Dong Thap have some three or four wharves, while Quang Tri, Binh Duong, Tra Vinh, An Giang and Vinh Long have one wharf each.

Each year, Vietnam welcomes an average 120,000 ships, with a 16% growth in goods transport. In 2020, the volume of cargo transported through seaports reached 692 million tons.

Coffee exports fall by over 11% in Q1

In March alone, 145,000 tonnes of coffee were shipped abroad, bringing home US$275 million. The figures respectively rose 18% and 27.3% month on month, but declined 21.1% and 11% compared to the same period last year.

Despite a drop in both export volume and value, export prices still increased in Q1, the MARD said, noting that prices of Vietnamese coffee averaged US$1,897 per tonne in March, up 7.9% from the previous month and 12.8% year on year.

During Q1, average coffee export prices grew 6.8% from a year earlier to US$1,801 per tonne.

MARD statistics also showed that in the first three months, the country exported US$10.61 billion worth of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, up 19.7% year on year. Meanwhile, imports hit US$7.74 billion, up 44.7%.

That resulted in a trade surplus of US$2.87 billion for the agricultural sector during the period.

Wood industry seeks to crack down on disguised investment

Despite foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) businesses playing an important role in the local wood industry, a number of disguised businesses have taken advantage of legal loopholes to cause injury to the genuine domestic industry, say industry insiders.

A recent report released by the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFOREST) indicates that the domestic wood industry welcomed 63 new projects with total registered investment capital of approximately US$327.7 million by the end of 2020. In addition, 174 businesses decided to increase their capital and buy shares totaling US$244.8 million. These figures prove that the industry continues to represent a magnet for FDI attraction.

The report also outlines that FDI wood enterprises last year outperformed their local rivals in terms of exports, as 653 FDI enterprises raked in US$6 billion while 2,676 local firms earned only US$5.9 billion from exports.

This outperformance can largely be attributed to the difference in production scale, technological level, investment capital scale, and market approach, according to experts in interviews with Vietnam News Agency.

“Undoubtedly FDI businesses are part and parcel of the Vietnamese wood processing industry,” says Dr. To Xuan Phuc, senior policy analyst of non-profit organisation Forest Trends. “However, several disguised FDI activities are posing a real risk to the domestic industry.”

Elaborating on the tactics that a number of FDI businesses use, Do Xuan Lap, chairman of VIFOREST, says foreign traders entering a company in the country can sublease a factory and sign a contract in the form of technical staff.

They then inject money into production lines by importing timbers subject to US-imposed anti-dumping tax, and processing them in Vietnam before re-exporting the products bearing Made-in-Vietnam trademarks back to the US to enjoy tax preferences.

Another form of disguised investment is that foreign businesses do not sign contracts to lease land or hire employees in Vietnam. Instead, they hire Vietnamese people to run the business.

Nguyen Liem, vice president of the Wood Processing Association of Binh Duong province, describes the situation as serious and says it is hard to address the matter.

At present, the US represents the most important export market for the Vietnamese wood industry, with the products shipped to the US last year making up over 60% of the country’s total export turnover. This means any market fluctuations in the US will exert an impact on the entire industry as well as its set target.

Le Trieu Dung, head of the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, says his agency has asked businesses and craft associations to increase inspection and oversight in terms of product origin, especially during the customs clearance process, in order to nip in the bud any trade fraud. The agency has also requested businesses not to aid and abet any behavior of trade fraud that injures domestic production.

Economists have advised local authorities to carefully inspect FDI projects and only accept projects with high-content technologies. This should be done whilst simultaneously strengthening connectivity among craft associations, domestic enterprises, and genuine FDI enterprises to tighten supervision activities which will prevent trade fraud and disguised investment activities.

Binh Phuoc proposed to take charge of HCMC-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh expy project

The HCMC government has proposed the prime minister assign the Binh Phuoc government to take charge of executing the HCMC-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh expressway project passing through HCMC and the Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces, requiring an estimated investment of VND36 trillion, or roughly US$1.5 billion.

The city has also suggested the Government allocate capital from the State budget for the 2021-2025 period for the project, news site Vietnamplus reported.

The expressway project was initially designed to be 69 kilometers long but the Binh Phuoc government later proposed changing the direction of the route and increasing the length of the road to 70 kilometers. It will start in Binh Phuoc’s Chon Thanh District and end at the Go Dua Intersection in HCMC.

At a meeting in January, the prime minister assigned Binh Phuoc to develop the project under the public-private-partnership model and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work with the relevant ministries and agencies to allocate capital from the State budget for the project.

In March, leaders of HCMC and Binh Phuoc agreed that the Binh Phuoc government would be in charge of constructing the expressway.

According to a report by the Binh Phuoc government, of the total investment required for the project, VND17 trillion or 47% will be sourced from the State budget and VND19 trillion will come from the investor.

The section in Binh Phuoc will be 11.5 kilometers long, have six lanes to be synchronous with the Dak Nong-Chon Thanh Expressway and need some VND3 trillion.

Meanwhile, the 1.5-kilometer elevated section in HCMC from the Go Dua Intersection to HCMC’s border line with the Binh Duong Province will also cost VND3 trillion.

The section passing through Binh Duong will have a length of 57 kilometers, including a 28-kilometer elevated section and 10 overpasses. The needed investment for the section will be some VND30 trillion.

The HCMC-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh expressway is an important project to connect HCMC, Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc and create a driving force for the socioeconomic development of the southern key economic zone.

Vietnam to have first dual credit and debit card

The Viet Nam National Payment Joint Stock Company (NAPAS) and Vietinbank on Tuesday in Ha Noi signed a co-operation agreement for the launch of a dual credit and debit card – the first of its kind in Viet Nam.

The card will have one chip for a debit card and another for a credit card. The dual card aims to simplify administrative procedures for issuing cards for customers as well as to meet diverse consumption and purchasing demand.

The dual card is expected to launch in the third quarter of the year.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dam Hong Tien, director of the Vietinbank’s Retail Division, said: “Vietinbank has been a pioneer bank co-operating with NAPAS in developing the dual card to bring new and different experiences to cardholders. The dual card would have new payment conveniences with low cost and outstanding preferential treatment.”

Nguyen Dang Hung, deputy general director of NAPAS said: “The dual card is a unique domestic card available for the first time in Viet Nam, using the most advanced payment made-in-Viet Nam technologies. The card and multifunctional payment products will make an important contribution to promoting non-cash payment solutions in the country – a major policy of the Government.”

The deal is part of efforts from Vietinbank and NAPAS to provide creative, reliable and easy-to-use payment products.

Vietnam’s labour market to recover as half of companies look to increase headcounts

Vietnam’s employment market is expected to rebound as 50 per cent of companies in Vietnam are looking to increase their headcounts in 2021, according to the Talent Trends 2021 Report by Michael Page Vietnam.

The report also reveals that 58 per cent of those employed anticipate looking for new job opportunities, while another 34 per cent are passively open to new roles. Around 10 per cent expect a zero pay increase from their current salary for new job offers.

The insights in this report are derived from a regional survey that covers 12 Asia-Pacific markets. The responses came from over 5,500 businesses and 21,000 employees, of which 3,500-plus are directors or CXOs.

Mark Donnelly, director of Michael Page Vietnam says, “By all accounts, Vietnam has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic better than many of its neighbours in the region. Its tight and swift control of the situation not only kept the number of cases low by comparison, Vietnam’s economy, too, remained in a relatively good shape over 2020. While multinational companies based there were cautious on the recruitment front, domestic companies took the opportunity to ramp up their hiring activities and secure the best available talent.”

“Our Talent Trends 2021 report reflects vital market insights for the next 12 months ahead of us. Acquiring and retaining high potential talent will be crucial for future growth. We saw many businesses looking to prevent employee cuts and redundancies as much as possible during the pandemic. And several industries are already showing signs of a healthy recovery,” he said.

This was evident especially among Vietnam’s burgeoning technology sector. Startups and e-commerce, for example, operated unabated throughout the year, and hiring demands within those sectors were healthy.

In recent times, Vietnam’s efforts to position itself as a hub for software development also paid off in 2020, with markets like Japan, Hong Kong, China, and South Korea investing heavily into the country’s technology sector. Despite a slow year for manufacturing, Vietnam still saw a record year in terms of export surplus – a positive indicator for the road ahead.

Looking ahead, Vietnam is well-positioned to bounce back from the impact of COVID-19. In the meantime, businesses are well-advised to focus on employee engagement and well-being, ensuring that the entire organisation is poised for the recovery phase and beyond, according to Donnelly.

Vietnam has second highest rate of cryptocurrency use

Out of 74 countries in the Statista Global Consumer Survey, the second highest rate of cryptocurrency use in the survey was recorded in Vietnam while Nigerians were the most likely to say they used or owned cryptocurrency.

There has been a recent boom of cryptocurrencies (bitcoin) in Vietnam as investors realize the potential of this currency, while the government and experts have constantly been warning of possible risks, including Cybercrime. Cryptocurrency has not been recognized as a legitimate means of payment in Vietnam.

The price of bitcoin has risen to US$57,000 per Vietnamese dong. Moreover, with the emergence of new cryptocurrency Pi, the Vietnamese crypto market early 2021 saw a large influx of new investors.

Statista company’s survey of global customers has showed the second highest rate of cryptocurrency use in the survey was recorded in Vietnam just after Nigeria. With millions of dollars traded every month, bitcoin exchanges are prey to cybercriminals.

Mr. Chris Connell, Managing Director of Kaspersky Asia Pacific (APAC) region, said that there will be more new bitcoin virtual crypto currency investors in the Southeast Asia region adding that Vietnam is one of the leading countries in this transition; therefore, people should have more knowledge or understanding of security measures.

Deposits at banks modest due to low interest rates

Low deposit rates at commercial banks have resulted in a low growth of capital flows into banks, while the capital that has been poured into other sectors, such as insurance, real estate, bonds and securities, has surged.

According to the Department of Credit for Economic Sectors under the State Bank of Vietnam, in the first quarter of this year, the deposit growth reached only 0.54%, well below the credit growth of 2.93% and the average deposit growth of 2.28% in the first quarter of the past seven years, Lao Dong newspaper reported.

At present, the rate for savings of less than six months is 3%-4%. Meanwhile, tenors of six to less than 12 months and over 12 months enjoy a rate of 3.5%-5.5% and 4.6%-6%, respectively.

Although some banks have revised up their deposit rates by 0.1-0.4 percentage points, the banks’ average deposit rate in the first quarter remained some 2 percentage points lower than that in the same period last year.

If the trend continues, the banking system’s liquidity will no longer be ample this year, according to Bao Viet Securities Company.

Meanwhile, the General Statistics Office stated that capital had been injected into other sectors, with life insurance premium soaring 11%. Meanwhile, the securities market mobilized nearly VND55.6 trillion, surging 42% over the same period last year.

Pham Lam, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Realtors, attributed land fevers over the past few months partly to residents’ idle money and their expectations of higher prices of real estate products.

According to Dao Minh Tu, deputy governor of the central bank, as of mid-March, banks’ outstanding loans for the property sector grew 2.13%, higher than the current credit growth of 2.04%, despite the central bank’s close control over credit for the sector.

Yeah1 continues amassing deficit

Shifting to consumer services has yet to pay out for Yeah1 as its deficit grew by VND180 billion ($7.82 million) last year.

Yeah1 (HSX: YEG) has just published its financial report in 2020. After-tax losses increased by VND29billion($1.26 million), bringing its total losses last year to VND180 billion ($7.83 million).

Yeah1’s management board blamed the deficit on the VND44 billion ($1.9 million) it had to set aside as a provision for inventories that was added to the prime cost. Moreover, switching to consumer services last year (GIGA1 platform, a factory-to-end straight multi-channel trading platform ecosystem) cost the company many resources, leading to increased expenses.

Yeah1’s chairman Nguyen Anh Nhuong Tong told VIR that since late 2019, the company has rejuvenated and poured more capital into the new business. He explained that the first phase of the development last year demanded a large investment to build up bases such as human resources, goods, and business strategies.

Tan Hiep Phat may be little aid for Yeah1 recoveryBad luck may not give up Yeah1Yeah1 sets provision of $3.6 million for selling ScaleLabYeah1 failed to negotiate with YouTubeYeah1 to sell US-based unit

Yeah1 also stated that the COVID-19 impacts and the social distancing last year have been hampering its operations in key segments like media and digital platforms, as well as consumer services.

Regarding solutions for the consequences, Yeah1 will focus on developing the consumer system and extend co-operation with new partners from the second quarter this year. The management board also targeted to generate 20 per cent of the group’s profit from media and digital platforms in 2021.

Meanwhile, YEG stocks have been plunging for years. As of the morning of April 13, it was at VND27,300 ($1.19) per share, much lower than the VND49,800 ($2.17) in last August. Moreover, HSX has been constantly issuing warnings for the ticker due to its tremendous losses. As soon as YouTube announced stopping work with the group in March 2019, 35 per cent of Yeah1’s share value evaporated.

Last year also marked the co-operation between Yeah1 and local soft drink maker Tan Hiep Phat. Tran Uyen Phuong, general director of Tan Hiep Phat in 2020 spent about VND300 billion ($13 million) to own 6.05 million stocks, equivalent to 21.61 per cent of Yeah1 shares.

Bettering workplaces to retain talent

After a year of fluctuations in both business and human resources, many Vietnamese businesses are working to improve and establish a new working environment to attract more highly-skilled workers, while encouraging long-term employees with years of continuous attachment and dedication. However, many senior employees are also willing to say goodbye when they feel their rights and interests are not respected.

According to survey results on trends in human resources (HR) and the working environment carried out by Anphabe, difficulties in the job market in recent years have made it easier for employees to fall into uncertainty and anxiety.

The survey published in March, was carried out from the second quarter to the end of the third quarter of 2020 with 53,000 workers in Vietnam participating.

It shows that many workers expect to receive more attention, commitment, and leadership from business leaders, as well as become more empowered at work to increase the connection between employees and businesses. Some 60 per cent of employees in the survey said they will work harder and stick more closely to business practices if that business prioritises investment and improves operations.

Meanwhile, more than half of the participants do not intend to change jobs but are instead willing to accompany the company to overcome difficulties because they believe in the corporate vision and strategy. This is a reason for businesses to improve, restructure, and increase employee benefits to keep staff stable in the context of the growing labour market.

For many years in the top 10 sustainable businesses in Vietnam and last year receiving the title of outstanding enterprise for employees, Nestlé Vietnam is one example of a strong working environment for employees. Up to 85 per cent of the total 2,300 employees of the company are satisfied with the salary and benefit policies they are enjoying, and employee resignation rate ranges from 7.3 to 7.8 per cent, according to the company.

Truong Bich Dao, HR director of Nestlé Vietnam, said people are the most important factor for the company. Even in the difficult situation caused by COVID-19, the company has protected employee rights and incomes, raised salaries, and organised training courses for improving skills for employees, at a cost of over $780,000 per year.

Not only affirming to be one of the leaders in implementing optimal personnel policies and the best working environment, Nestlé Vietnam also pioneers commitments on women’s empowerment and gender equality with many activities aimed at the community, contributing to increased sympathy and a deeper connection between employees and businesses.

Nestlé Vietnam is not the only company that understands the importance of this, because in the list of 100 best workplaces in Vietnam over the years is typically the presence of other familiar businesses such as Vinamilk, FPT, Coca-Cola, Honda, Viettel, and SABECO, among others.

FPT strives to build an environment that attracts young and dynamic employees by always encouraging them to create, develop their talents, and support startup projects.

Chu Quang Huy, chief HR officer at FPT Corporation, previously shared, “FPT does not keep people with just salary or a remuneration policy. What we do is offer learning and practice. At FPT, everyone has the opportunity to express themselves, to be able to live as themselves, and to live in an environment of solidarity and teamwork.”

Meanwhile, the remuneration policy is not inferior to foreign companies, and the development and nurturing of financial personnel is the secret for Vinamilk to both ensure quality human resources and develop a team of successors for a new stage of development towards the goal of being in the top 30 dairy companies globally.

In addition to businesses that have received the trust of their employees by creating a culture of connection and development, many employees nowadays are also ready to leave their roles after years of working to find a better environment if they are unable to find a common voice on issues related to leadership and rights. There have been cases where employees organised mass resignations or sued the company when they felt their rights and interests were not respected.

The results of Anphabe’s Human Resources Happiness survey over the years show that Vietnamese employees are less and less attached to any one company, and this decline has been seen continuously over the past five years, from 71 per cent in 2016 to 53 per cent by 2020.

Up to 35 per cent intend to change jobs within the next year, an increase of 11.1 per cent compared to 2018. Just over 7 per cent of this group are employees who have made efforts but still want to leave, while the remaining 28 per cent belongs to employees who do not put in effort and actually cherish the intention to change jobs.

SBV continues tightening control over property loans due to credit growth

The central State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has pledged to tighten control over credit for some risky sectors, including property, it was announced at a teleconference on credit activities held by the central bank on April 14.

As of March, credit had grown by 2.93% against the end of 2020 and by 1.3% year-on-year. The demand for credit is expected to rise in the coming months, said Nguyen Tuan Anh, head of the Department of Credit Policies for Economic Sectors at SBV.

Between January and February, credit for the agro-forestry-fishery sector and the industry and construction sector amounted to VND777 trillion, up 0.16%, year-on-year, and VND2,615 trillion, up 1.13%, respectively.

As for risky sectors, as of February, loans for the real estate sector had reached 1,835 trillion, up 2.13% against 2020, while credit for the securities business dropped by 6.9%.

Apart from the tight control over credit for risky sectors, including property, securities and Build-Transfer transport projects, the central bank also continued to enhance the credit risk management of consumer loans and lending for personal needs to ensure the safety of banking operations, Anh said.

As of March 15, real estate outstanding loans growth at 2.13% was higher than the banking sector’s credit growth rate, so the central bank has monitored and issued warnings to credit institutions.

Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy director of the central bank’s HCMC branch, said that since the beginning of 2021, credit for the property sector in HCMC had risen by 2%, with outstanding loans amounting to VND350 trillion, some 13.5% of the total outstanding loans.

Capital flows into the risky sector were controlled, the local media reported, citing Minh.

To enhance control over the risky sectors, risk management of BOT and BT transport projects and consumption, the central bank has adopted certain regulations, including applying the risk coefficient imposed on the real estate sector at 200% and on the securities business at 150% and revising up the risk coefficient on consumer loans worth VND4 billion or more.

Long An to build $59 million IP in Duc Hoa district

In light of Decision No.548/QD-TTg of the prime minister granting in-principle approval for the project to build Century Industrial Park (IP), the IP will be positioned in Huu Thanh commune in the southern province of  Long An, with Hai Son Co., Ltd. acting as the developer.

Covering over 119 hectares, the project will be built at a cost of VND1.355 trillion ($58.9 million), VND400 billion ($17.4 million) of which is investor’s equity.

Construction time must not exceed 36 months from the date of land allocation, and the project’s operation duration will be 50 years from getting the approved investment proposal.

Under the decision, Long An People’s Committee was tasked to direct Long An Economic Zones Management Authority to guide the investor and ensure that the investment project and the investor’s equity contributions stay on schedule.

For its part, the committee must ensure the accuracy of information, statistics, and assessment in line with regulations, and guarantee the compatibility between the project’s implementation and approved plannings.

Earlier, via Official Letter No.1840/TTg-CN dated December 28, 2020 the PM approved the revised development planning of Long An industrial parks (IPs) to 2020, adding Long An’s three expanded IPs to the country’s IP development planning to 2020.  Accordingly, Hoa Binh IP in Thu Thua district will be expanded by 49ha, Long Hau IP in Can Giuoc district by 90ha in the second phase, and Xuyen A IP in Duc Hoa district by 177ha in the third phase.

According to Long An Economic Zones Management Authority, the province will have about 1,500ha of additional cleared land in its IPs to cash in on rising foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Vietnam in 2021. The sectors most appealing to foreign investors are textiles and garments, footwear, animal feed, poultry, seafood, food processing, beverages, and manufacturing.

According to Nguyen Thanh Thanh,director of Long An Economic Zones Management Authority, the presence of many IPs has played a huge role in driving local socio-economic development by contributing nearly VND3.9 trillion ($169.57 million) to state coffers and creating jobs for more than 148,000 workers.

According to the latest figures from the Long An Department of Planning and Investment, as of March 20, 2021, Vietnam lured in a total $10.13 billion in total committed FDI. The province took the lead nationwide with nearly $3.2 billion, accounting for nearly 32 per cent of the country’s total FDI volume during the period.

This late March, Long An granted an investment certificate to LNG Long An I and II gas power project of Singapore’s VinaCapital GS Energy Pte., Ltd.

The project has a capacity of 3,000MW, including two combined cycle gas turbine plants that possess a capacity of 1,500MW each, with registered investment capital totalling $3.1 billion. The project is expected to begin operation in December 2025.

Also in the first quarter of 2021, Long An granted investment certificates to 10 new foreign investment projects and six others requesting leave for capital expansion.

So far, the province is home to more than 1,100 foreign investment projects worth more than $9.17 billion in total committed value, 588 of which have already come on stream.

AppWorks leads $1 million round in Vietnamese healthcare booking app Docosan

AppWorks, a venture capital company that invests in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, has led an over $1 million funding round in Vietnam-based healthtech startup Docosan.

Established in January 2020, Docosan is an app for searching and booking appointments online with doctors 24/7, checking price lists and reviews by real patients. Docosan has helped 50,000 patients in Vietnam book appointments with physicians across 35 specialties within less than a year of operations.

“Many clinics are frustrated after spending large amounts on social media marketing because these networks’ vast, opaque user bases are difficult to harness to reach new patients,” Docosan’s CEO and co-founder Beth Ann Lopez said in a press statement.

“Docosan’s proprietary booking software provides doctors an easier way to manage bookings compared to the crowded waiting rooms, which people are increasingly wary of amid the pandemic,” she added.

In press statement, AppWorks partner Andy Tsai said, “We noticed Docosan’s potential early on because of its participation in the AppWorks Accelerator. Docosan’s founders demonstrated strong experience and dedication to the healthcare issues in the region. We are proud to be supporting Docosan’s vision of better healthcare access for all.”

The potential for healthtech startups is huge as the healthcare market will double in the next 7-10 years. Digital healthcare makes up less than 1 per cent of the total market size currently, a figure which is projected to skyrocket. Many healthtech startups are ramping up operations in Vietnam including eDoctor, Zoop Care, Doctor Anywhere, MedPro, and Jio Health.

A report by Fitch Solutions identified great promise in digital healthcare in light of the current challenges faced by public hospitals in Vietnam and the COVID-19 pandemic. Internet access is widespread and the country has seen rapid development in 4G and 5G mobile communications technologies.

Building on these foundations, the government of Vietnam is driving a digitalisation agenda in hospitals and clinics across the country. Smart solutions are being strongly encouraged that utilise big data, AI, cloud computing, and mobile technology to help alleviate Vietnam’s overcrowded public hospitals and increase the quality of care.

Divestment slow off the blocks for banks

Foreign investment in state-owned banks could quench the thirst for capital while assisting with consolidation, but major problems continue to hinder the process.

State-owned lender Agribank has been stuck for years with divestment efforts because its real estate assets could not be approved by the Ministry of Finance due to their large size and complex procedures.

“At the end of last year, the Ministry of Finance also made a comprehensive assessment on the equitisation goal of state-owned enterprises. Specifically, only about 28 per cent of enterprises were equitised, which means that nearly three-quarters did not meet the plan. The main issue is that many large corporations’ land use rights remain unclear, as can be seen in the cases of VNPT and Agribank,” explained Chu Manh Hung, deputy head of the Equitisation Department at Agribank.

“Since the equitisation plan during 2016-2020 has not been completed yet, Agribank will continue carrying out this task for the 2021-2025 period,” he added. “However, there are still major roadblocks hampering the process, associated with determining the value of land and affiliated enterprises.”

While Agribank has been constantly pushing the equitisation process, the complex valuation procedures have been a major obstacle slowing down progress. The bank also has to cope with the myriad challenges arising from its large number of affiliated enterprises, multi-level authorisations required, as well as delayed approval of land use schemes.

Agribank has a total of around 294 real estate properties with a total area of 2.6 million square metres, with diverse origins and incomplete legal documents. While these assets can help the bank’s equitisation value reach record levels and enhance its efficiency, they have also delayed divestment for years.

“Agribank currently has more than 100 land plots with unclear legal status. We hope to receive support from relevant units and agencies to quickly equitise this large volume of assets,” Hung told VIR.

Despite its ongoing equitisation, Agribank jumped 17 spots to rank 173rd in the recently-announced Brand Finance Banking 500 list for 2021, which featured the most valuable and strongest banking brands in the world.

As of December 31, Agribank’s total assets reached nearly VND1.57 quadrillion ($68.26 billion), with its capital exceeding VND1.45 quadrillion ($63 billion). According to Brand Finance, as governments scramble to stimulate economic growth in the face of the ongoing global health crisis, and profits and interest rates taking a hit, nearly two-thirds of the world’s 500 most valuable banking brands have recorded brand value losses.

As per Decree No.01/2014/ND-CP released in 2014 on foreign investors’ purchase of shares of Vietnamese credit institutions, a foreign strategic investor shall not hold more than 20 per cent of the charter capital of a Vietnamese credit institution. Foreign investors shall not hold more than 30 per cent of the charter capital of a Vietnamese commercial bank.

Besides Agribank, other local lenders have been enjoying the attentions of foreign partners looking to increase their footprint in Vietnam.

In 2019, a strategic co-operation between Vietnamese bank BIDV and South Korean KEB Hana Bank turned the former into the lender with the largest market capitalisation in Vietnam with around $1.73 billion. KEB Hana invested capital in exchange for a 15 per cent stake in BIDV, while BIDV received long-term technical assistance from the South Korean lender and its parent company, Hana Financial Group. The tie-up also quenched the bank’s thirst for capital as BIDV announced it has now satisfied Basel II requirements.

Elsewhere, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC in 2019 purchased over 94 million new shares and now owns a 2.55 per cent stake in Vietcombank. Mizuho, one of the largest Japanese financial services providers purchased an additional 16.6 million new shares to maintain its existing 15 per cent stake in the bank.

“The equity investment by GIC and Mizuho increases Vietcombank’s charter capital and creates a solid capital buffer for the bank to meet capital requirements under Basel II Accord as well as maintain its leading position in the Vietnamese banking sector,” a GIC representative stated.

Last year, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group reduced its stake in VietinBank by 1.5 per cent, following an earlier divestment.

The IFC and equity subsidiary IFC Capitalization Fund also reduced their combined ownership in VietinBank from almost 6.49 to 4.99 per cent last year, leaving more room for other foreigners.

Besides the IFC, Japanese financial institution Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ holds 19.73 per cent in the state-run bank. However, VietinBank has not signalled any new potential partnerships since IFC pulled out.

On the other hand, under Vietnamese regulations, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) must complete the sale of shares within four months of having their equitisation plans approved. This time limit may not be enough for overseas investors to conduct due diligence and negotiate representations and warranties, special rights, and other conditions for share acquisitions with the authority representing state capital in the SOE, according to ASCV Legal.

Creating basis to promote development of domestic market

In the first quarter of this year, ministries, sectorsand localities have actively implemented many solutions to remove difficulties for production and business activities, especially for the circulation and consumption of agricultural products in pandemic-hit regions.

These included programmes to build scenarios and plans to promote the consumption of agricultural and aquatic products in localities facing difficulties in the export and domestic consumption of their products.

Under the programme, the reserve capacity of frozen and cold storage warehouses was also reviewed towards the preparation of storage plans when necessary. In addition, related State management units have actively connected a series of distribution enterprises with localities to promote the consumption of large-yield and harvested agricultural products facing market difficulties.

For example, right after Hai Duong Province implemented social distancing from 0:00 on February 16, the Ministry of Industry and Trade directly worked with major distribution systems such as Central Group (BigCand Go! supermarket chain), Vincommerce (Vinmart and Vinmart + chain), BRG Retail (BRG Mart supermarket chain), MM Mega Market chain and others to purchase agricultural products from farmers, cooperatives andenterprises in the province.

As a result, although the COVID-19 pandemic, with its new variants, has developed complicatedly and spreadrapidly on a large scale in many localities, the domestic market was still guaranteed and has gradually recovered.

Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in March increased by 9.2% over the same period last year, showing the recovery of consumers’ demand. In the first quarter of this year, total retail sales of consumer goods and services also rose by 5.1% over the same period in 2020.

The Prime Minister issued Decision No. 386/QĐ-TTg on March 17 to approve the Project on Developing Domestic Market associated with the “Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods” campaign in the 2021-2025period.

The project outlined four main groups of tasks to be performed, including boosting information and communication; developing a sustainable distribution system with priority given to Vietnamese goods; improving competitiveness for Vietnamese products and Vietnamese enterprises; and strengthening the inspectionof the market and protection of consumers.

This provides an important basis for State management agencies to continue the implementation of activities to promote domestic market development through various programmes such as “Proud of Vietnamese goods” and “The quintessence of Vietnamese goods”, contributing to promoting production, trading and consumption of Vietnamese goods

At the same time, such programmes will be combined with annual action programmes of ministries, sectors andlocalities to create a spillover effect nationwide.

Ca Mau Province calls for investment in marine economy

Leaders of Ca Mau Province and several companies made a field trip on April 14 afternoon to the Nam Can Economic Zone and the Song Doc coastal area where they are considering the development of sea ports and a fishery urban zone.

Earlier that morning, a meeting had been held for the Mekong Delta province’s leadership to introduce its potential to Nam Mien Trung Group, Tuan Chau Group and Ho Guom Group.

Ca Mau Province is currently conducting an ecological shrimp farming project with 1,000 hectares of forest-shrimp land. In addition, the province is expected to call for investment in eight fishery and high-tech agriculture projects.

In urban development, Ca Mau is calling for investment in 17 urban and housing projects, including seaports in Hon Khoai, Ong Doc and Nam Can, which were already approved by the central government.

Speaking at the working session, Nam Mien Trung Chairman Hoang Anh stated that the company is interested in both seaport and urban development and expects that the provincial leaders will create favourable legal conditions for investors.

Echoing Anh, Tuan Chau Chairman Dao Hong Tuyen said that if the procedures are processed quickly, the company can promptly commence construction of a coastal fishery city in Ca Mau.

For his part, Ca Mau Chairman Le Quan highlighted the province’s strengths in fish farming and marine economy while affirming that the province will do its best to assist investors with legal procedures.

Some coastal hotels report full occupancy as tourists are on the rise

Many hotels in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province have reported full occupancy as the number of tourists is on the rise, though the holidays of April 30 and May 1 are still a while away, signaling good news for the tourism sector.

Nguyen Van Tuan, manager of Long Hai Hotel in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, told Lao Dong Online that over the past one year, the hotel saw few guests and its highest occupancy rate at a mere 20%. However, for some days last week, the number of tourists who booked rooms at the hotel surged, with the occupancy rate at 90%.

For April 17 and 18, the hotel is fully booked, and it is the first time since the coronavirus pandemic that the hotel is seeing some 100 rooms in total fully booked, Tuan said, adding that the hotel was fully booked three weeks ago for the Reunification Day, April 30.

Last weekend, many guests fully booked rooms at Vietsovpetro Ho Tram, said a representative of the resort.

Many hotels at sea tourist destinations near HCMC such as Ho Tram, Long Hai, Vung Tau and Mui Ne are seeing the number of guests soar on weekends.

Do Van Thuc, deputy director of Dat Viet Tour, said that the firm had received rising tour bookings on weekends.

Recently, Dat Viet Tour has been seeing an average 1,500 guests book weekend tours to the sea each week, some 200 kilometers from HCMC, he said.

Apart from this, since March, when the coronavirus outbreak was brought under control in Vietnam, Alo Limo, a transport firm, has become busier on weekends, said Le Gia Thanh Tam, a representative of Alo Limo.

Over the past few weeks, each week has seen some 10-15 groups of tourists book limousines for their trips, mainly to Dalat, Phan Thiet and Vung Tau, Tam said.

VNA to launch new air routes for summer vacation

From April 24 to August 31 this year, Vietnam Airlines (VNA) will launch six new domestic routes—Danang-Vinh, Phu Quoc-Can Tho/Nha Trang/Buon Ma Thuot/Hue/Thanh Hoa—and resume air services on two routes—Danang-Thanh Hoa, Can Tho-Buon Ma Thuot—to meet the surging travel demand brought on by the summer holidays.

The national flag carrier will operate four weekly flights on the Danang-Thanh Hoa, Phu Quoc-Can Tho/Nha Trang/Hue routes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from April 24.

The Danang-Vinh, Can Tho-Buon Ma Thuot, Phu Quoc-Buon Ma Thuot/Thanh Hoa routes will have three weekly flights departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

With an aim to promote the domestic tourism segment and contribute to the country’s socioeconomic growth after it was hit by Covid-19, VNA since May last year to date has opened 28 air routes, raising its domestic network to 67 routes.

Further, VNA is offering special ticket prices starting from VND99,000 per leg (equivalent to VND579,000 per leg including taxes and fees) to customers booking tickets for trips taken from April 24 to May 8 on these routes.

To ensure the safety and health of passengers and the community, VNA has been implementing Covid-19 preventive measures such as cleaning and disinfecting its fleet of aircraft and facilities, equipping its employees with protective gear and requesting passengers to make health declarations and undergo temperature checks before boarding flights.

Role as global manufacturing hub to fuel Vietnam’s growth: Oxford Economics

The UK’s forecasting and quantitative analysing company Oxford Economics has given positive assessments on Vietnam, highlighting the rising role of the country in the global manufacturing supply chains.

In a research released on April 13, the firm noted that Vietnam’s goods exports were up 6.9% in 2020, a moderation from 8.5% growth in 2019, but still a solid achievement given world trade fell 7.8%.

Vietnam also further strengthened its world market share to 1.6% of goods exports in 2020, up from 1.4% in 2019 and 0.5% in 2010, as a substantial rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased the country’s role in global manufacturing supply chains.

According to Oxford Economics, Vietnam was able to take full advantage of the work-from-home-related global boom in demand for computers, other electronics, and furniture. These tailwinds will likely fade this year as an easing in restrictions will allow production in other countries to normalise, it said.

It expected Vietnam’s export manufacturing sector will be buoyed by a rebound in world trade this year. It forecast that as coronavirus-related restrictions are rolled back and vaccines become more widely available, world trade in real terms will surge nearly 10% this year.

This is in part because of the US’s US$1.9 trillion stimulus package, which will also likely bolster US demand for Vietnamese exports, it added.

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

Gas demand is expected to rise from about 9.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2020 to above 25.3bcm in 2030, while influx of LNG helps to counter the decline in domestic production.

Vietnam’s gas consumption is predicted to accelerate strongly over the coming decade, more than doubling, over the duration of the upcoming Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII) [2021-2030].

“The potential of the Vietnamese gas market is strong,” stated the Fitch Solutions in a note, saying in comparison to markets similar in terms the size of the consumer market as measured by population, Vietnam appears undersupplied in gas both in terms of absolute consumption volume and per capita.

The domestic gas network is also found deficient with Vietnam ranking 15th out of 17 Asia-Pacific gas markets as per the CIA Factbook in terms of total gas pipeline length, despite having historically been self-sufficient in gas.

The current gas demand is predicted to be more than double over the next decade, from about 9.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2020 to above 25.3 bcm in 2030. It is also expected that influx of LNG will help counter the decline in domestic production.

However, long-term growth has the potential to far outpace the current forecast, as more projects in the pipeline gain clarity and are brought online, stated Fitch Solutions.

Under the draft PDP VIII, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) outlines ambitious growth targets for power generation from natural gas and renewables.

The share of gas-fired generation capacity is forecast to grow from about 14.9% in 2020 to 21% in 2030 and further to 24% in 2045, while that for renewables is expected to increase from 9.9% in 2020 to 29% in 2030, and to over 40% in 2045.

“These are expected to occur at the expense of coal and hydropower, which are more pollutive and environmentally damaging to produce domestically,” added Fitch Solutions.

The PDP does indicate that coal use in the domestic market would continue even as emphasis shifts to using cleaner forms of energy, although consumption will increasingly become dependent on imports as domestic supply declines.

The share of imported energy is also expected to see marginal growth, so as to minimize the environmental footprint from producing own energy.

Capital inflows into the sector also look set to strengthen over the duration of the PDP. The Plan estimates that an investment of about US$128.3 billion will be needed over the next decade in order to realize the aforementioned growth targets in natural gas and renewables generation.

From the sum, US$95.4 billion is expected to be allocated to the development of power sources with an excess of US$56 billion worth of LNG regasification and LNG-to-power projects already lined up to be commissioned over the next decade.

The current pipeline features 23 different projects and is notable for its strong US presence; of the 23, 11 projects worth a combined US$35.9 billion and 32.6GW in generation capacity, are backed up by pledges of funding from US firms, to be completed over 2023-2030.

In addition, about US$32.9 billion will be set aside for the duration of the PDP for expanding the national grid network.

Petrol prices slightly drop in latest review

The retail prices of petrol dropped from 16:30 on April 12, the ministries of industry and trade and finance announced.

Accordingly, the price of E5RON92 fell 45 VND to 17,806 VND (0.77 USD) per litre at the highest, and that of RON95-III was also 76 VND to 18,970 VND per litre.

Meanwhile, the prices of diesel 0.05S and kerosene are capped at 14,141 VND, and 12,827 VND per litre, down 102 VND and 177 VND per litre, respectively.

Mazut 180CST 3.5S is sold at no more than 13,686 VND per kilogramme, decreasing 70 VND per kilogramme.

This is the first time the petrol prices have been reduced after nine consecutive increases since Tet holiday.

The ministries review fuel prices every 15 days to adjust domestic prices in accordance with fluctuations in the global market.

Demand for petrol has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, settlement of Suez Cannal blockage, and bright prospects on global economic growth, among others.

In order the set these prices, the ministries have used the Price Stabilisation Fund for E5RON92 at 1,800 VND per litre, RON95-III at 950 VND per litre, diesel 0.05S at 250 VND per litre, and kerosene at 300 VND per litre.

Without using the Fund, petrol prices would increase from 123 VND to 1,755 VND per litre/kilogramme as compared to current prices./.

Vietnam salt company’s IPO surpasses plan

The Vietnam Salt One Member Limited Liability Company (Visalco) launched the initial public offering (IPO) on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) on April 12.

With nearly 1.28 million shares put on sale at the auction, the volume of ordered stocks amounted to almost 3.88 million. The highest price was 25,100 VND (1.09 USD) per share while the lowest was 23,500 VND.

The sum of money collected from the IPO was over 30 billion VND, 2.8 billion VND higher than the estimated value calculated based on the asking price of 21,300 VND per share.

Visalco is a State-owned subsidiary of the Northern Food Corporation, one of the most prestigious food suppliers in Vietnam. It produces and sells salt and salt products. Revenue in this field fell sharply from 2018 to 2020 as the company halted supply contracts with several mountainous localities.

After that, it moved to the rice business, with revenue rising from 65.05 billion VND in 2018 to 163.96 billion VND last year.

Under its production and business plan, Visalco forecasts earning 99 billion VND in revenue this year and posting 870 million VND in pre-tax profit. By 2023, revenue is predicted to be more than 110 billion VND, with pre-tax profit to top 1 billion VND./.

Vietnamese family businesses optimism about growth prospects: PwC

The UK-based audit service supplier PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has released its first survey on Vietnamese family businesses, which showed optimism in their future development.

The survey is part of the PwC’s 10th PwC Global Family Business Survey, which unearths the current thinking and future outlook of 2,801 family business leaders across 87 countries and territories, of which 33 were from Vietnam, representing a diverse mix of businesses and industries.

According to the survey, 65 percent of Vietnamese family businesses expect to grow in 2021, and 75 percent expect to grow in 2022

Meanwhile, 33 percent of the businesses think they will experience aggressive growth in 2022 which is higher than both regional and global family businesses surveyed.

Besides, 55 percent of Vietnamese respondents will focus on introducing new products and services, following by increasing use of new technologies (52 percent).

The current operating model among Vietnamese family businesses is concentrated on family and owner managed businesses (52 percent and 36 percent respectively).

However, the survey findings show that in five years, Vietnamese family businesses will shift towards more external involvement in family businesses. In detail, it will transit from owner/family managed businesses to family-owned/ externally-managed or externally-run businesses (increased to 60 percent from 12 percent)./.

Dossiers from Hanoi candidates for 15th NA election counted

The Hanoi Election Committee has handed over 72 dossiers from candidates for the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly (NA) and 188 dossiers from candidates for the election of deputies to the municipal People’s Council in the 2021-2026 tenure to the city’s Fatherland Front Committee.

According to the city’s Fatherland Front Committee, of these, six candidates for the election of deputies to the 15th NA and 11 for the election of deputies to the 16th municipal People’s Council withdrew their candidacy.

Of the 2,060 candidates for district-level People’s Councils, 41 have withdrawn their dossiers. Meanwhile, as many as 121 out of 21,399 people withdrew their candidacy for commune-level People’s Councils.

The city’s Fatherland Front Committee reported that as of April 2, a total of 1,592 conferences for collecting comments and confidence votes from constituents had been held, or 33.24 percent of the plan.

Preparations for the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure have been implemented in accordance with relevant laws and documents.

As planned, the city’s Fatherland Front Committee will hold the third consultation conference from April 14-16 to prepare the lists of qualified candidates for the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and the 16th People’s Council of Hanoi.

Good control of pandemic will accelerate credit growth: Insiders

Credit growth will expand significantly from Quarter 2 and exceed the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s target of 12 percent for the year as a whole if the pandemic is brought under good control and the vaccination campaign proves effective, according to insiders.

Expecting domestic recovery in its strategic investment report for 2021, the VNDirect Securities Corporation forecast that this year credit growth would top 13 percent and interest rates could fall 20-50 percentage points in the context of loose monetary policy and low inflationary pressure.

According to Can Van Luc, BIDV chief economist, 10-15 percent growth is suitable, given that risks await commercial banks in the time ahead despite the economic recovery.

Potential bad debts are on the rise, which will eat into the bank’s profit, he stressed.

Meanwhile, the SBV’s Department of Credit for Economic Sectors forecast strong credit growth from Quarter 2, which could be higher than the SBV’s target of 12 percent, especially in the fields of industrial production, exports, trade and tourism.

Good domestic consumption, rosy exports, strong FDI attraction and disbursement of public investment will drive credit growth, it said.

Head of the department Nguyen Tuan Anh revealed that as of the end of March, credit growth was up by 2.3 percent compared to the end of 2020 and higher than the figure in the same period last year, when credit growth in the economy inched up less than 1 percent.

From the outset of this year, the SBV was prudent in assigning credit growth for commercial banks, Anh said, adding that it outlined three scenarios for credit growth this year, with the maximum reaching 14 percent if COVID-19 was wiped out in Quarter 1, 10-12 percent if the pandemic lasts until June and social distancing measures are put in place, and 7-8 percent if it lasts until the end of the year.

According to economist Nguyen Tri Hieu, it is necessary to stimulate credit demand to achieve effective credit growth. However, banks should be able to control their customers’ sources in covering debts to ensure credit growth criteria and the quality of collateral./.

Decree 148 further restricts land sub-division

Decree No. 148/2020/ND-CP of the Government, which came into force on February 8, 2021, has further restricted the division of land into smaller plots for sale by expanding the areas where the sub-division of land is not allowed.

By expanding the scope and tightening regulations on land sub-division, Decree No. 148, which contains amendments and supplements to several decrees and provides detailed regulations on the implementation of the Law on Land, is aimed at preventing land speculation and unstable urban development.

Doan Thi Thanh My, deputy director of the General Department of Land Administration under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said Article 41 of Decree No. 43 dated July 1, 2014, banned investors from dividing land into smaller plots for sale in the inner districts of the two special-level cities of Hanoi and HCMC only.

Decree No. 148 now regulates that the sub-division of land is prohibited in the inner districts of not only Hanoi and HCMC but also level-one cities including Danang, Haiphong and Can Tho.

Moreover, before a project is implemented, the provincial People’s Committees have to publish areas where the sub-division of land is permitted.

According to Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the HCMC Real Estate Association, the sub-division of land plots has resulted in land speculation and construction of housing projects and urban areas that are not consistent with urban plans.

Chau said stricter restriction over the sub-division of land plots will ensure benefits for customers and sustainable urban development without adversely affecting the real estate market.

Demand for laptops remains high amid work, study from home

Laptop sales, which began to boom at the beginning of 2020 following the Covid-19 outbreak, remain strong as studying and working from home continue.

Nguyễn Thế Kha, senior director of mobility groups, FPT Shop, said the growth last year was 20-30 per cent for retailers.

The high-end laptop segment alone achieved 60 per cent growth, he said.

Many parents said while they were previously content with having one laptop at home to share with their children or let the latter use smartphones, they have now had to buy one for their children’s classes.

Realising the prospects in store, big players like Dell, Asus and HP are all launching new products in many markets, including Việt Nam.

According to Dell Technologies, Asia is a market with a huge demand for gaming laptops, especially in China, Korea and Japan, where e-sport is highly developed.

Việt Nam is a promising market with rapidly growing demand, and so the latest products are launched in the country, it said.

More and more companies are involved in the production of gaming laptops, and so customers have many options in terms of prices, with those costing from VNĐ 16 million to VNĐ25 million (US$700-1,080) selling best.

Many retailers said certain brands are likely to be unavailable often since demand for them is rising and supply is being hampered by Covid.

Some said stocks are down 20-30 per cent, and they are struggling to replenish them.

But despite the surging demand, prices of laptops have remained relatively stable, and many retailers are even offering discounts and free installation of programmes.

FDI inflows surge into industrial real estate market

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the Vietnamese real estate sector during the first quarter of the year reached over US$600 million through 12 projects, representing a 2.3-fold increase compared to the same period from last year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.

In line with the development plan for the project, Panasonic is aiming to build the workshop between January, 2023, and March, 2024, with the project set to come into operation ahead in April, 2024.

This comes following Panasonic initiating plans to shut down a large appliance factory outside of Bangkok in March, whilst seeking to consolidate production to a larger facility in the nation in order to achieve greater efficiency, according to Nikkei newspaper of Japan.

The warehousing industry attracted the majority of foreign capital throughout the reviewed period. Especially, eight out of ten newly-licensed projects are within the industrial real estate segment, with a total investment capital of over US$430 million, equal to 99.7% of the total newly-registered capital.

Singapore became the largest foreign investor within the local real estate market during the three-month period  following Amigos An Phu Holding Pte. Ltd registering to invest in the US$185 million project at New Motion Industrial Co., Ltd in Phu Tan Industrial Park in the southern province of Binh Duong.

The Singaporean investor has also put plans in place to start construction on a warehousing and office building cluster ahead in the second quarter of the year, with the project anticipated to be put into operation on a trial basis during the third quarter of the year.

Furthermore, BW Industrial development JSC of the Netherlands has recently poured a sum of US$80.61 million in investment capital into building a warehouse for rent, whilst providing warehouse and logistics services in Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park in Cu Chi district of Ho Chi Minh City.

This increase in FDI inflows in the domestic industrial real estate sector can be attributed to the optimism of foreign investors regarding investment prospects in the Vietnamese industrial production and logistics industry following a challenging year which involved disruption in the global supply chain caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Vietnam started the year with great potential as it rose to be among the top ten emerging markets in terms of performance in the logistics industry. Boasting substantial infrastructure improvements, low operating costs, and large corporate tax exemptions, the country represents an enticing market for plenty of foreign investment, especially in relation to the industrial manufacturing sector.

John Campbell, industrial services manager of Savills, said the nation features the lowest operating costs based upon analysis done on industrial real estate in 54 markets across 21 countries, which has become one of the key factors to help the country increase its attractiveness to multinational companies.

Farmers in Southeast provinces have bad crop of cashew

Cashew farmers in the Southeast provinces are rushing to enter the harvest season. Due to unusual weather, many cashew plantations have suffered heavy losses, but well-cared-for cashew ones still give high yields.

Binh Phuoc Province is considered as the cashew capital of the country, with about 170,000 hectares and an output of 243,000 tons per year, mainly concentrated in Phu Rieng, Bu Gia Map, Bu Dang, and Dong Phu districts. This place creates jobs for about 50,000 workers in rural areas.

Mr. Dieu Thanh, a farmer in Dak O Commune in Bu Gia Map District, has two hectares of over-20-year-old cashew trees that are developing well and not damaged by cashew stem borer as in previous years. He spent VND10 million for fertilizing and spraying nourishing agents for cashew flowers. His cashew trees were blooming more flowers than the previous year. Unfortunately, after the Lunar New Year, there was a prolonged period of hoar frost, causing cashew flowers to dry, and young cashew fruits to fall a lot. During this time in the previous year, his family collected 2 tons of fresh cashew, but up to now, only about 100 kilograms of fresh cashew have been collected. Many households in the commune also suffered from lean harvest in this crop.

On the contrary, Mr. Nguyen Van Long, a farmer in Tien Hung Commune in Dong Xoai City, has three hectares of cashew trees that are giving high yield. Currently, Mr. Long’s family is entering the second phase of the harvest season, with a yield of 2 tons per hectare. Cashew prices are stable at VND24,000-VND27,000 per kilogram of fresh cashew, after deducting expenses, his family earns more than VND1 billion. Mr. Long said that cashew trees give a good harvest or not, it depends a lot on the weather, fertilization, and care. Right from the beginning of the year, his family pruned branches, removed old cashew trees with low productivity, and spend nearly VND20 million to fertilize and spray plant protection drugs, so the garden is clean and free from pests and diseases.

A survey in many cashew plantations in localities with large cashew areas such as Bu Dang, Dong Phu, and Bu Gia Map districts shows that if the cashew plantations are taken care of well, the trees have fewer pests and diseases and give an average yield of 2 tons per hectare. Many cashew plantations are close to each other, but there is a quite large difference in productivity because the care and cultivation capacity of each household is different.

Because cashew trees give fruits late this year, the 250-hectare organic cashew plantation that meets the European standards of Mr. Dung Quy Dong in Tan Hung Commune of Dong Phu District has just been harvested for half a month this month. According to Mr. Dong, organic cashew cultivation is not affected by weather and pests, so the yield next year is higher than the previous year.

Mr. Dong shared that last year, in the first harvest with nearly 100 hectares, his family collected more than 200 tons of cashew. It is expected that his cashew plantation would produce about 500 tons of cashew this year. With the current price, he would earn more than VND10 billion. However, because of the large harvest area, he was worried about a labor shortage.

Currently, he needs 150-200 workers every day, but he has just been able to hire 100 regular workers at the price of VND250,000 per person per day, higher than the previous year.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Binh Phuoc Province admitted that this year due to the high-temperature difference between day and night, it had negative impacts on the flowering and fruiting of cashew trees, but well-cared-for cashew plantations have fewer harmful pests and diseases and cashew yield is still high. The Department recommended that farmers need to take care of their cashew plantations regularly and should not abuse pesticides. Especially, they should use the right drugs and dosage, choose safe plant protection drugs for the trees, ensure health for people, and reduce care costs.

Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Director of the Statistics Office of Dong Nai Province, said that the whole province has about 36,000 hectares of cashew trees, down nearly 14,000 hectares compared to 2010. Farmers continue to chop down cashew trees to switch to other crops with higher economic efficiency, due to low cashew prices and its dependence on the weather.

According to the agricultural sector of Dong Nai Province, cashew can be grown in sloping areas, especially in ethnic minority areas and remote areas. Cashew is still considered as a crop for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation and key crop. The industry will carry out solutions to remove difficulties for farmers, such as finding and expanding the consumption markets, supporting and encouraging people to apply scientific and technical advances in production to improve productivity, quality, and promote deep processing.

Binh Phuoc Province is facing the situation of selling young cashew in the ethnic minority areas. If there were only 482 households selling young cashew, with a total area of 683.75 hectares for VND28.8 billion in 2017, there were 663 households last year, with a total area of 1,161.13 hectares for more than VND37.5 billion, concentrated in Bu Dang and Bu Gia Map districts. To stop this situation, the provincial People’s Committee has instructed authorities to focus on propaganda about the forms and tricks of the subjects who buy young cashew to raise awareness for farmers to prevent frauds that lead to debts, foreclosure, and loss of cultivation land.

US$491 million to be invested in market stabilization program in 2021-2022

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, six banks and credit institutions are registered in the market stabilization program for the period 2021-2022 with a total of VND11,346 billion (US$491 million) to support businesses to prepare goods for the program.

Enterprises with the demand for bank loans will be connected with credit institutions with long-term interest rates ranging from 6.5 percent to 11.3 percent a year and short-term interest rate of 4.5 percent per year to invest in livestock and production activities, technology renovation and development of distribution systems and goods storage.

The paymen term of loans and interest rates will be based on the agreement between the credit institutions and enterprises under the market stabilization program.

Besides, the Department of Industry and Trade also encouraged businesses to use their capital, strengthen linkage and cooperation between manufacturing enterprises and distributors to be loaned for production, ensure plentiful goods, stable prices and raise the competitiveness of subsidized products.

HCMC’s outlying district calls for investment in 17,000 hectares of land

HCMC’s outlying district of Cu Chi has called on enterprises to invest in 17,000 hectares of agricultural land in the district, according to the district government.

The district also expected investors to develop a port to serve the agriculture sector and three to four ports for urban ecotourism, invest in 2,500 hectares of land in the Tay Bac Urban Area and ecotourist sites along the Saigon River, Thanh Nien Online newspaper reported.

The district government has sought to convert 10 areas along the river into ecotourist sites and increase the population target in the areas to 200,000 people and the construction density to 35%-40% to attract investors.

According to the district, last year, it accomplished 15 of 20 socioeconomic development targets. This year, it will strive to meet 20 socioeconomic development and urban environment protection targets.

It will develop the supporting, healthcare and biology sectors, services serving industries, ecotourism in association with agriculture, logistics and river ports and hi-tech agriculture.

The district will implement planning in a modern manner and develop an underground space to serve 1.2 million residents by 2030.

To execute the socioeconomic development plan for this year, the district government proposed the municipal government and the relevant departments and agencies quickly issue a land use plan for 2021-2030.

The district also urged the completion of adjustments to the planning of the Tay Bac Urban Area.

Vinh Long to have VND3-trillion industrial zone

The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long will develop the Dong Binh industrial zone in Binh Minh Town, with total investment of over VND3 trillion.

The Vinh Long government on April 9 made a decision on the establishment of the industrial park covering 350 hectares of land in the Dong Binh and Dong Thanh communes, Phap Luat Online reported.

The industrial zone project, whose investor is TNI Vinh Long Investment JSC, is set to operate within 50 years.

Once in place, the industrial zone project will focus on attracting investments in the agriculture, food, vegetable and fruit processing, seafood processing, consumption industry, chemical industry and medical equipment production fields, among other sectors which cause less environmental pollution.

As of now, Vinh Long Province is home to five industrial zones–Binh Minh, Hoa Phu, An Dinh, Hoa Phu and Co Chien.

Transport Ministry’s proposal to acquire eight toll roads

The National Assembly’s (NA) Economic Committee has rejected the Ministry of Transport’s proposal to use State cash to acquire eight controversial toll roads built or upgraded under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) format, saying it is unreasonable and dubious and may lead to lawsuits.

The committee has reported the deployment of policies on the investment and operation of traffic infrastructure projects developed under the BOT format.

The eight BOT roads are Bim Son on a bypass in Thanh Hoa Province of the National Highway 1A project, T2 of a project to upgrade National Highway 91 in Can Tho City, Ninh Xuan of the National Highway 26 upgrade project, Cai Lay of a bypass project in Cai Lay Town, tollgates on National Highway 3 of a project to build the Thai Nguyen-Cho Moi road and upgrade a National Highway 3 section, a section of the Ho Chi Minh Road in Daklak Province, the La Son-Tuy Loan Expressway connecting Thua Thien-Hue Province and Danang City and a section from the La Uyen to the Tan De bridges of National Highway 10 in Thai Binh.

As residents had refused to pay toll fees, causing difficulties for investors, the Ministry of Transport proposed using the State budget for the public investment plan in the 2021-2025 period to make payments to investors, following which the tollgates were dismantled.

However, according to the NA’s Economic Committee, it is unreasonable to use State funding to acquire these BOT projects due to the lack of a legal and practical foundation.

Besides these eight projects, the location of the tollgates of some other projects was also unreasonable, but local residents have stopped opposing these projects as they have been offered fee reductions or exemptions.

Therefore, if the State acquires the eight projects listed above, it may affect other projects.

The acquisition will also put pressure on the State budget and go against the State’s guidelines to mobilize funds from the private sector for infrastructure development.

Last year, 42 of 54 BOT projects reported lower revenues than expected. Therefore, the NA’s Economic Committee proposed the NA Standing Committee review the responsibility of the relevant individuals and agencies and ask the competent agencies to remove obstacles facing tollgates and localities to ensure security, social order and the safety of investors’ assets.

EVN’s power from renewable sources reaches nearly 7.8 billion kWh in Jan-Mar

The State-run utility Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) mobilized approximately 7.8 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of power from renewable energy in the first three months of the year, surging 181% against the 2020 figure. Of this, the amount of electricity from solar energy accounted for over 7.13 billion kWh, according to EVN’s recently-released report.

In the first quarter, the volume of electricity produced in the country and imported from overseas reached some 60 billion kWh, up 4.1% compared to the same period last year. Of the amount, EVN and its subsidiaries generated 29.22 billion kWh, or 49%, while non-EVN businesses were in charge of the remaining volume.

While the amount of power from renewable energy soared sharply, that generated from traditional sources saw a decline.

Among the traditional power sources, more electricity from hydropower plants was supplied to the national power grid, at nearly 14 billion kWh. The volume of electricity generated from coal-fired and gas-fired power plants contracted 12-21% year-on-year at 29.75 billion kWh and 7.44 billion kWh, respectively. Further, imported electricity also plunged 58% versus last year’s figure to 405 million kWh.

The soaring supplies of renewable power have prompted EVN to face a number of obstacles in mobilizing various sources of power. For instance, hydropower generators had to change their capacity flexibly to offset the changes in the volume of renewable power, thus leaving an impact on the power supply at the end of the dry season. Besides, if the capacity of power generators at coal- and gas-fired power plants is activated or changed numerous times, it could lead to possible incidents.

As the volume of electricity from renewable sources now accounts for an increasing proportion and the second quarter will be in the peak dry season, the local power sector will adopt measures to ensure the safe operations of the national power system and local power market, including cutting down on renewable power supplies, EVN said.

Vietnamese overseas enterprises desire to further connect with Lam Dong Province

The Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs has recently held a meeting between overseas Vietnamese enterprises and leaders of the People’s Committee of Lam Dong Province and Lac Duong District to create conditions for overseas businesses to exchange and work with the provincial leaders as well as seek potential markets, promote trade connectivity and investment cooperation in the upcoming time.

Through Lam Dong Province Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Center, the enterprises had an opportunity to learn about some projects which are being implemented as well as calling for investment in the Central Highlands province such as Prenn Waterfall Project, Lien Khuong- Prenn Urban Area Project, Tuyen Lam Lake National Tourist Site Project, etc.

On the occasion, the enterprises desired to not only further cooperate with the Central Highlands province in the fields of high-tech agriculture, human resource training, service and tourists, real estate, etc but also bring local agricultural products to foreign markets. Especially, they were very interested in local agricultural products such as tomatoes, avocado and chili.

Additionally, some overseas businesses also wanted to cooperate with the province in the cold storage and transportation service, laboratory system establishment for researching new varieties under modern techniques and high-quality human resources training to serve for the locality and connect Lam Dong Province with several cities of foreign countries.

Besides, the delegation of overseas enterprises also worked with Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lac Duong District Mr. Su Thanh Hoai and the local authorities related to current investment projects in the fields of high-tech agricultural production and tourism.

In addition to the proposals about investment and export connectivity for local high-tech agricultural products, President of Japanese- Vietnamese Cuisine Association Mr. Matsuo Tomoyuki proposed to become a bridge between Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province and some localities of Japan, contributing to enhancing the mutual friendship, cultural cooperation and development.

Investment policy for infrastructure in Hoa Lu Industrial Park approved

The People’s Committee of Binh Phuoc Province informed that the Prime Minister has just signed Decision No.550/QD-TTg on approving the investment policy of the project of building and trading infrastructure in Hoa Lu Border-Gate Industrial Park.

Hoa Lu Border-Gate Industrial Park covers an area of 348.32 hectares in Loc Tan and Loc Thanh communes in Loc Ninh District, with an investment of nearly VND1.12 trillion. Of which, the capital contribution of the investor is VND170 billion, with the goal of building and trading infrastructure of the industrial park invested by Hoa Lu Binh Phuoc Investment Joint Stock Company.

The People’s Committee of Binh Phuoc Province will conduct statistics and land inventory, map the current land use status, and recommend the implementation of the project without public assets. During the implementation process, if public assets are detected in the project, the provincial People’s Committee will be responsible for retrieving, handling, and submitting to the competent authority to cancel the investment policy decision issued to the project.

The People’s Committee of Binh Phuoc Province will also be in charge of proposing the selection of investors, who meet the conditions of investment, bidding, land, real estate trading, checking, and determining the satisfaction of land lease conditions at the time the project is carried out.

State budget collection reaches US$17.52 billion in Q1

Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of US$2.67 billion during the period.

Vietnam’s state budget collection in the first quarter of this year stood at VND403.7 trillion (US$17.52 billion), up 0.3% year-on-year and equivalent to 30.1% of the yearly estimate, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

Upon breaking down, domestic revenue made up a lion’s share of the total at VND340.2 trillion (US$14.7 billion), up 1.2% year-on-year or 30% of the estimate. The MoF noted 57 out of 63 provinces/cities fulfilled tax collection targets as scheduled, or over 25% of the estimate.

Meanwhile, state budget expenditures during the January – March period hit VND342 trillion (US$14.84 billion), representing a slight increase of 0.2% year-on-year, or 20.3% of the estimate.

This resulted in the budget surplus of VND61.7 trillion (US$2.67 billion) during the period.

In 2021, the MoF estimated the budget revenue around VND1,343 trillion (US$58 billion) and expenditure VND1,687 trillion (US$72.78 billion).

Fitch Solutions, a subsidiary of Fitch Group, however expected the country’s fiscal deficit to be narrowed to 3.7% of the GDP.

Such forecast “factors in both a stronger revenue and expenditure outlook against the government’s projections supported by more robust economic activity in 2021 against 2020,” stated Fitch Solutions.

According to Fitch Solution, Vietnam’s budget revenue could rise to VND1,580 trillion (US$68.6 billion), thanks to a continued recovery in economic activity, while expenditure is set to hit VND1,840 trillion (US$79.88 billion).

“A recovery in revenue collection will facilitate looser spending by the government. Capital expenditure disbursement is likely to be quicker in 2021,” Fitch Solutions noted.

Rising livestock exports of Laos creates opportunity for Vietnamese businesses

Animal husbandry makes up the sector which provides one of the top 20 export commodities of Laos, with China and Thailand joining Vietnam currently being the largest markets for Lao exports.

Furthermore, the Vietnamese market must also import between 300,000 and 400,000 buffaloes and cows from numerous foreign sources as at present Laos is unable to meet this demand.

With huge potential due to being home to large land areas, the Lao livestock industry is expected to grow and thrive in the near future providing that greater investments are poured into it.

Laos is therefore calling on foreign businesses to make investments in the agricultural sector in order to exploit the full potential of land in both Northern and Southern regions to boost large-scale farming and husbandry in order to serve domestic consumption and exports.

When serving as Prime Minister, Party General Secretary and State President of Laos Thongloun Sisulith expressed a strong desire to work closer with the leaders of the Vietnamese Government during meetings between both nations’ Intergovernmental Committee. He added that he expects competent agencies to work harder to remove difficulties and promote stronger bilateral co-operation in the agricultural sector, especially in terms of high-tech agriculture.

This can be considered a positive investment co-operation opportunity for Vietnamese businesses in the context that leaders have always paid close attention to reinforcing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Laos.

Da Nang ready to welcome foreign tourists with vaccine passports

Da Nang City’s Department of Tourism has selected a total of 10 travel agencies who can receive international arrivals in the near future, providing that the Government gives the go ahead to welcome travelers who have vaccine passports.

Local authorities have also chosen a variety of tourist destinations within Da Nang which can run suitable tours.

Nguyen Xuan Binh, deputy director of the central city’s Department of Tourism, says welcoming the return of foreign travelers is one of many measures being implemented in an effort to revive the local tourism industry, with safety being the leading top during the world’s ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moving forward, the municipal administration is set to receive delegations from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the Vietnam Tourism Association who will conduct a thorough survey to detail the capacity of local travel operators when vaccine passports are brought into use.

In line with this, local authorities have initiated plans to hold a webinar aimed at promoting Vietnamese tourism to potential travelers worldwide, with a strong desire to connect Da Nang with various countries which have successfully brought the COVID-19 pandemic under control, Binh notes.

Due to the damaging impact of the coronavirus pandemic last year, Da Nang welcomed a total of 881,000 foreign arrivals, a drop of by 70% compared to figures from 2019.

Unchecked golf development raises concerns

Experts have expressed concerns over the licensing of too many golf projects in Vietnam.

According to Pham Thanh Tri, vice chairman of Vietnam Golf Tourism Association, Vietnam now has 75 golf courses, three-quarters of which are owned by Vietnamese investors with the rest are owned by South Korean investors.

“One new golf course project is given a permit every two weeks in Vietnam. At this rate, Vietnam will have 50-100 new golf projects every year. Vinh Phuc authorities have given permits to 10 golf courses and Quang Nam has also planned for 10 new golf courses,” he said. “Even though the number of golf courses in Vietnam is still lower compared to the world’s average but such mass development in at the same time is worrying.”

Too many golf courses may lead to loss of cultivated lands, terrain and underground water changes. In some cases, the golf course is only a highlight of an urban area project. Recently, the government inspectorate has accused Hoa Binh authorities of violating the national golf planning after Hoa Binh authorities reclaimed 61ha out of 140ha reforestation land and assigned Vietnam Forest Corporation to build a golf course.

Former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Hung Vo acknowledged that golf is a way to boost tourism. However, many investors have used golf projects as a way to do real estate businesses. He went on to say that golf projects are only a part of tourism development planning and the investors do not own the land-use rights.

“Yet many investors avoided the law and earned money by using 10% of the land of the golf projects to build hotels and villas and condo hotels illegally,” Vo said. “Why have many golf projects suffered losses but investors still plan on building more and expanding?”

He suggested tightening the regulations so that only 10% of the land will be allowed for golf-related businesses. If necessary, the government should collect taxes at the rate as if the land has been leased to a hotel or urban area projects to avoid budget losses.

Over 100 educational institutions join enrolment and career counselling festival

The 2021 enrolment and career counselling festival officially opened at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology on April 11.

This is an annual activity organised by Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, attracting 170 counselling booths of universities, colleges, vocational schools, and foreign language centres.

The event drew the participation of experts from the Ministry of Education and Training, universities, academies, representatives of the Military Admission Committee under the Ministry of Defence, etc.

At the festival, students and parents were provided with the latest information on high school graduation exams and university and college admission exams in 2021; experience on exam review; how to select the right career and school; as well as enrolment methods of universities, colleges and schools, among others.

Students also had a chance access to forecasting information of the needs of human resources of fields and industries in the future, changes in career structure in the context of strong digitalisation.

Kumho to invest over US$300 million in its Vietnam plant

South Korean tiremaker Kumho Tires has announced that it will invest an additional US$305 million to expand its manufacturing plant in Vietnam, enabling the tiremaker to double the facility’s production capacity.

The expansion project will be implemented in two years, starting from the third quarter of this year to the first quarter of 2023.

The plant, which is located in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park in Binh Duong Province and has been operational for a decade, will be expanded by building more facilities on the vacant lot inside the plant’s compound.

Once complete, the expanded plant is expected to churn out at least 9.3 million tires per year.

Over the past years, Kumko Tire products manufactured in Binh Duong have been shipped to many parts of the world.

Kumho Tires is currently operating a number of tire manufacturing plants globally, but Vietnam is the only Southeast Asian country where the tiremaker has its facility. Aside from its plants in South Korea, Kumho Tires has also set up plants in China and the United States.

With an abundant amount of natural rubber, the surging demand for vehicles, low-cost labor, stable investment environment and other factors, Vietnam has been attracting major tiremakers to set up and expand their businesses.

Early this year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency, a Chinese-invested tire factory project in Tay Ninh Province had its investment adjusted upward by over US$312 million. Other large tire manufacturers such as Bridgestone, Yokohama Tyre, Maxxis and Sailun had entered the Vietnamese market, investing in large-scale projects.

US$491 million to be invested in market stabilization program in 2021-2022

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, six banks and credit institutions are registered in the market stabilization program for the period 2021-2022 with a total of VND11,346 billion (US$491 million) to support businesses to prepare goods for the program.

Enterprises with the demand for bank loans will be connected with credit institutions with long-term interest rates ranging from 6.5 percent to 11.3 percent a year and short-term interest rate of 4.5 percent per year to invest in livestock and production activities, technology renovation and development of distribution systems and goods storage.

The paymen term of loans and interest rates will be based on the agreement between the credit institutions and enterprises under the market stabilization program.

Besides, the Department of Industry and Trade also encouraged businesses to use their capital, strengthen linkage and cooperation between manufacturing enterprises and distributors to be loaned for production, ensure plentiful goods, stable prices and raise the competitiveness of subsidized products.

Khau Vai Love Market to open in May

The Khau Vai Love Market 2021, a unique cultural practice of local residents in Khau Vai commune in Meo Vac district of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, is scheduled to be held from May 6-8.

The love market, which is located about 200km far from the province’s centre, has been held once every year on the 27th day of the third lunar month, attracting thousands of visitors.

Under the theme “The love songs fair”, this year’s festival will feature an array of activities showcasing the most typical cultural features of local ethnic minority people.

There will be a beauty contest, an incense offering ceremony at Ong Temple, rituals to pray for peace, along with folk games, among others.

Organisers said the market offers a chance to promote local tourism, notably Dong Van Karst Plateau – a UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Khau Vai Love Market is a popular attraction in Ha Giang. On the 27th day of the third lunar month, local ethnic women and men put on their best traditional costumes and go to the market where they are free to meet their former lovers in public.

Husbands and wives arrive at the market together and start looking for their past partners among the crowd. Spouses do not get angry or jealous because the meeting at the market is supposed to be a temporary moment and does not affect their daily lives or relationship.

According to folklore, a man and a woman were deeply in love but were forbidden to be together because they were from different ethnic groups. A violent conflict later took place between the two tribes, resulting in bloodshed for both. To stop the fierce fight, the couple decided to part ways with broken hearts. They, however, promised to meet once every year in the market in Khau Vai commune on the day.

Ha Giang has been an attractive destination among visitors for its stunning landscapes and diverse cultural values.

Among popular tourism destinations are the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Lung Cu Flag Pole, Ma Pi Leng Peak and Dong Van Town Old Quarter.

Hanoi: Additional 23.7 billion VND raised for sea, island fund

As much as 23.7 billion VND (over 1 million USD) was donated by 119 organisations and agencies in Hanoi for the Fund for Vietnam’s Sea and Islands on April 12.

The donations were collected at the launching ceremony for this year’s second donation drive to raise money for the Fund, held by the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) committee of Hanoi.

From February 3, the city’s VFF committee has received more than 35.7 billion VND from 162 organisations and agencies for the Fund.

Chairwoman of the committee Nguyen Lan Huong said that warm response to the drive was a vivid illustration for Hanoians’ love for soldiers and officers in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

She expressed his hope that the Fund will receive widely support from local citizens and organisations.

A working group from the city, led by Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong, will visit Truong Sa archipelago and DK1 Platform from April 12 to 20.

Earlier, more than 12 billion VND was mobilised for the Fund by 73 organisations in the city in the first donation drive.

The money will be used to build a cultural house on Thuyen Chai A island in Truong Sa archipelago, and organise a number of “For Vietnam’s sea and islands” activities.

Publication on historic outer space journey debuts

The Vietnamese version of the archival publication “Chuyến du hành vũ trụ lịch sử” (Historic outer space journey) debuted in Hanoi on April 12, marking the 40th anniversary of the first Vietnamese astronaut Pham Tuan’s flight to space and the 60th anniversary of Yu.A.Gagarin’s spaceflight.

Speaking at the event, Director of the State Records and Archives Department Dang Thanh Tung said following the establishment of diplomatic ties, Vietnam and former Soviet signed a number of cooperation agreements, treaties and conventions in the fields of economy, trade, culture, education, science-technology and army, including aviation and astronautics.

The 130-page publication is a joint effort between the State Records and Archives Department and the Federal Archival Agency of Russia. It features outstanding documents and photos chosen by the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, the State Records And Archives Management Department’s National Archives Centre III, Vietnam News Agency and astronaut Pham Tuan.

Its Russian version was published last year.

Role of female NA deputies discussed

To raise the rate of female deputies to the National Assembly (NA) and all-level People’s Councils requires strong, synchronous, and effective solutions as well as political resolve and efforts from female candidates, a meeting in central Da Nang city on April 12 heard.

According to Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs and Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Female NA Deputy Group, legal regulations require that women must account for at least 35 percent of the total number of female candidates for deputy to the NA and all-level People’s Councils.

Although the rate of female deputies to the 14th NA and all-level People’s Councils for 2016-2021 was higher than in the previous tenure, it failed to reach the targeted 30 percent.

The world average rate is currently 25.5 percent, and Vietnam ranked 60th globally in this regard during the 14th tenure and fifth in Southeast Asia, after Timor Leste, Singapore, the Philippines, and Laos, she said.

Anh stressed that Vietnam attaches importance to promoting gender equality and women’s engagement in politics, noting that the country’s constitution, policies, and laws on the matter have created a legal framework for women to play a role in political activities.

Le Thi Nguyet, Vice Chairwoman of the Committee, lauded the contributions of female deputies to the country’s development, especially on issues regarding women, children, gender equality, and social welfare.

During the 14th tenure, they actively contributed opinions on draft laws, thematic supervision reports, and Q&A sessions, she added.

A focus of the meeting was how to improve female candidates’ election campaign skills, towards the goal of having more women representatives in elected bodies.

Ninh Thuan cooperatives link up with firms to sell farm produce

Agriculture cooperatives in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan have linked up with companies to increase product value and guarantee outlets, the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has said.

Up to 24 of the province’s 63 agriculture cooperatives have linkages with companies to develop value chains for their products like rice, corn, grapes, asparagus and organic cashew nuts.

The 24 cooperatives produce agricultural products on large-scale fields that use advanced farming techniques.

Many products of the cooperatives have been granted international standard certificates from the EU and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Vietnamese good agricultural practices (VietGAP).

The Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative in Ninh Phuoc district’s An Hai commune grows asparagus on a large-scale field to VietGAP standards and has a farm contract with Tien Tien Organic Agriculture Farm to guarantee outlets for its members.

Hung Ky, director of the Tuan Tu General Service Cooperative, said: “The cooperative supplies loans and fertilisers to its members to grow asparagus and teaches them techniques to produce safe, quality products.”

The agriculture cooperatives’ products have been included in the country’s “one commune – one product” (OCOP) programme in the province.

OCOP products are commercial products and services such as food and beverages, handicrafts and rural tourism services. They are classified at five levels, with a five – star being the highest level.

Dang Kim Cuong, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and deputy chairman of the appraisal board for the province’s OCOP programme, said that seven cooperatives participated in the province’s OCOP programme last year.

The cooperative’s products like red onion, fresh jujube, dried jujube and asparagus are rated three or four-star OCOP products.

The province is promoting OCOP products in combination with tourism services via cooperatives, companies and households.

The Thai An General Agriculture Service Cooperative in Ninh Hai district’s Vinh Hai commune had its NH01 – 152 grape recognised as a four-star OCOP product last year, and its NH01 – 152 grape growing area has become a tourism destination.

Nguyen Khac Phong, director of Thai An, said the province had assigned the co-operative to expand the cultivation of its NH01 – 152 grape to serve tourism services.

Besides its NH01 – 152 grape, Thai An has other seven products, including dried jujube, dried grape, and fresh red grape and grape wine, granted as three-star OCOP products.

“The co-operative’s OCOP products have created motivation for the co-operative to promote production and expand its market,” he said.

With their effective operation, the provinces’ agriculture cooperatives had an average revenue of 2.1 billion VND (90,000 USD) and average profit of 250 million VND (10,800 USD) last year, up 9.4 percent and 13.6 percent, respectively, against 2019, according to the province’s Co-operative Alliance.

Collective economy

Ninh Thuan targets that its collective economy will contribute 8.8 – 9 percent of its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) this year, according to the provincial People’s Committee.

The province aims to establish 10 – 12 new cooperatives and 10 – 15 new co-operative groups, with a total of 200 – 300 members, this year.

Its goal is to have average revenue of 2.2 – 2.25 billion VND (95,000 – 97,200 USD) this year for cooperatives and an average revenue of 260 – 270 million VND for cooperative groups.

It also plans to have 50 – 60 percent of cooperatives operating effectively by 2025, and for the collective economy to contribute 10 – 11 percent of its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2025.

The province will encourage the development of cooperatives in agriculture, small industry, commerce and services, and promote effective new-style cooperatives, and cooperatives that link up with companies to produce agricultural products on large-scale fields with value chains.

Tran Quoc Nam, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said: “The province will help cooperatives to access the central and local governments’ preferential policies on land, loans, infrastructure, human resource training, and advanced techniques for production.”

It will also arrange trade promotions at home and abroad to expand markets for products of cooperatives.

Ninh Thuan, which has the least rainfall in the country, has developed 12 specifically identified products, including grape, jujube, asparagus, sheep, goat, Ca Na fish sauce, My Nghiep brocade products and Bau Truc pottery products./.

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