Day: February 20, 2022

Vietnam has 64,000 digital enterprises and the figure is on the rise, which is a good condition for the country to promote its technological self-reliance to rise stronger, according to General Director of FPT Nguyen Van Khoa.

Khoa noted that Vietnam currently ranks 25th in the top 50 digital countries as reported by the US strategic consulting firm Tholons.

He revealed that in the time to come, FPT will continue to research and apply latest technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and cloud computing, thus contributing more to the development of the country, localities and businesses in a fast and more effective manner as well as making people’s life more convenient, safer and more civilised thanks to digital services.

FPT is confident to make it come true thanks to its 20-year experience of working with the most advanced markets in the world as well as world-class technologies and solutions, along with its 20,000 technology engineers, and especially high quality human resources provided by FPT Education, he stressed.

According to Khoa, FPT has coordinated with more than 40 cities and provinces across the country to conduct comprehensive digital transformation and organise training courses for more than 10,000 leadership officials at all levels.

It has also cooperated with the business community at all scales, all sectors and all regions to deal with relevant problems to promote their fast recovery for breakthrough growth right amid the pandemic, he said.

Khoa said that through its experience learnt from different pandemic waves, FPT has developed effective solutions in internal operations as well as business community support through FPT eCovax – a programme to provide technological vaccines to help businesses strengthen their digital immunity in order to become resilient against the pandemic, thus overcoming challenges during social distancing period and the present new normal situation.

After four months of implementation since the fourth outbreak of COVID-19, more than 3,000 enterprises at different sizes across the country have received free access to FPT eCovax, he noted.

Khoa underlined that in the future, FPT will provide solutions for the building of digital Government and digital economy, while engaging in the construction of smart cities, smart traffic, smart health care and smart education, thus benefiting millions of people and improving the competitiveness of the country.

FPT is a pioneer in digital transformation and a leader in consulting, providing and deploying technology and telecommunications services and solutions. Its network covers 27 countries across the world.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese geologists have conducted investigation and research activities towards the establishment of geoparks in recent years, with a view to promoting geotourism development in the future.

To date, the nation has three global geoparks with the official recognition by UNESCO, namely Dong Van Karst Plateau, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, and Dak Nong Geopark. UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. Dong Van Karst Plateau obtained the UNESCO recognition on October 3, 2010, becoming Vietnam’s first geological park and the second in Southeast Asia. Covering a total area of over 2,356 sq.km, it is 80 percent limestone and contains the fossils of thousands of species of prehistoric creatures from 400-600 million years ago.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang, established in the northern border province of Cao Bang in 2015, became Vietnam’s second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark on April 12, 2018. Covering more than 3,000 sq.km., the geopark is home to fossils, ocean sediment, volcanic rocks, minerals, and especially karst landscapes, which can give researchers an insight into an over-500-million-year history of the Earth. It is also well known for rich biodiversity and many indigenous fauna and flora species.

Dak Nong Geopark was the third in Vietnam to gain the UNESCO title on July 7, 2020. It covers more than 4,700 sq.km of land in six of the eight district-level localities in Dak Nong, equivalent to two-fifths of the province’s total area. According to domestic and foreign scientists, there are 65 heritage and geomorphological sites in the geopark, including volcanic craters, volcanic caves, and waterfalls. It is also home to the largest system of volcanic caves in Southeast Asia, with more than 50 caves and a total length of over 10,000m. Last year, the three locations were featured in a stamp collection issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications. To promote their value and beauty, the collection comprises three designs and one block with images of the sites.

According to Dr Trinh Hai Son, head of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, geotourism, which has long been applied in Vietnam, is sustainable, educational, and beneficial form of tourism for the local communities concerned. Geoparks emerge as a new type of geotourism, opening a new era of social responsibility and eco-friendly tourism in the country.

Truong Quang Quy, director of the Vietnam Geology Museum, said the development of geotourism has been contributing to the conservation and promotion of Vietnam’s cultural heritages and natural resources as well as to the nation’s economic growth.

Some local biosphere reserves and world natural heritages that have been recognised in terms of natural value also see great potential for development and benefit from such type of tourism, he noted.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam’s U23 football team thrashed Singapore 7-0 at their opening Group C tie of the 2022 AFF U23 Championship on February 19 night in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

At the end of the first half, Vietnam gained three scores thanks to two goals of player Nguyen Van Tung (at the third and the 37th minutes) and Dinh Xuan Tien (at the 30th minute).

In the second half, player Quang Nho contributed his first goal to the national football team at the 56th minute from a pass of Xuan Tien.

22 minutes later, teammate Ngoc Thang earned the fifth goal for Vietnam.

In the last minutes of the match, footballers Thanh Khoi and Tien Long scored two more goals for Vietnam, bringing the final score of 7– 0 against Singapore.

Vietnam temporarily ranked first in Group C thanks to this great victory.

The national team just needs a draw in the upcoming match with Thailand on February 22 to enter the semi-final.

Speaking after the win, the team’s head coach Dinh The Nam said the strong 7-0 victory showed the strengths of Vietnam’s U23 football team right now.

As the U23 players are mainly aged 20-21, he said he wishes to find 4-5 quality players through the regional U23 tournament to support the team taking part in the upcoming 31st SEA Games held in Vietnam.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Peace Bella will begin in the central city of Da Nang on March 12 after it was temporarily postponed due to the impact of the pandemic.

It is a national beauty pageant licensed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in early 2021.

The contest aims to search for true beauty to affirm the position of Vietnamese beauty on the global map. It is also a cultural activity to orient aesthetic education for the youth across the country.

Judge will be looking for a winner with good morals, educational qualifications and typical beauty of Vietnamese women.

This is also the first time this beauty contest has ever been held, which is also expected to create a platform for young people across the country, contributing to spreading the message of peace to the younger generation.

Eligible contestants must be aged between 18 and 25 years old and have Vietnamese nationality. They will vie for three main prizes, Vietnam Peace Bella, the first and the second runner up, in addition to other titles including talented beauty, Ao Dai beauty, and travel beauty.

Each of 25 finalists will take on a project that aims to contribute to the national economic development, tourism, culture, and traditional occupations, and deliver the meanings of their projects to the judges.

The jury members include prestigious figures and influencers like musician Huy Tuan, ao dai (traditional dress) designer Si Hoang, journalist Ngo Ba Luc, and Miss Vietnam 2018 Tran Tieu Vy.

The final night of Vietnam Peace Bella is expected to be held on October 9 in Da Nang city.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

From shopping to services, Vietnamese are choosing a digital-first lifestyle to benefit from the online world’s speed, convenience and prices, according to Google’s 2021 Year in Search: Vietnam’s Search for Tomorrow report.

The report uses anonymised search data to identify the top consumer trends that will help guide businesses’ marketing strategy.

Google Search has become an indispensable part of people’s daily activities during the pandemic, with the total number of searches rising by 37 percent in 2021 from before the pandemic.

Search interest in online purchases grew by over 42 percent alongside rising searches related to online shopping at major grocery stores.

Besides, users are exploiting the benefits of technology and apps in daily life, with search interest in online banking and applying for cards online rising by over 58 percent and 76 percent respectively, and interest in reviews by 1,250 percent as people research online before committing to a product or service.

Searches related to digital wallets and e-wallets increased by 100 percent.

Vietnam has added eight million new digital consumers since the start of the pandemic, with more than half coming from non-metro areas.

Gross merchandise value for 2021 is expected to hit 21 billion USD, a 31 percent jump underpinned by a 53 percent growth in e-commerce.

The rise in number of users pushed online by the pandemic meant brands had to adapt and digitise at a scale and pace they had never planned for or expected.

In the next five years eight in 10 merchants expect more than half of their sales to come online, and this is prompting many to get tech-savvy, with 81 percent of them likely to increase their use of digital payments in the next one to two years.

The report also pointed out that given the extended pandemic, Vietnamese are re-evaluating their values and lifestyle choices to seek greater comfort and ease in their lives.

Emotional well-being is predicted to be a key focus for people in 2022 as they gravitate towards emotional acceptance and dedicating time to feel.

In addition, even as restrictions ease, it seems a blended way of living is likely to remain. Now that homes often double up as schools or offices, consumers are taking this opportunity to reimagine their domestic spaces. Search interest in decor phòng (room decoration) has risen by 150 percent, with nen thom (scented candles) seeing 100 percent growth.

People are also changing the way they view their finances. While some looked for ways to put their savings to work through investments, others searched for deals and discounts.

They are learning how to invest, with search interest in ch?ng khoán (stocks) growing by over 106 percent, with the rural population demonstrating an especially keen interest in investing, while search interest in cryptocurrencies remained high and grew at 115 percent.

Also according to the report, with online misinformation and data breaches on the rise, consumers are more sceptical than ever. Wary of being misled and savvier about their choices, they are also more proactive about finding trustworthy sources, using Search to fact-check claims, scrutinise brand values, and ensure authenticity from the brands they choose to engage with.

Consumers today do not just check the list of ingredients on a label, but also want brands to be accountable and transparent at every step of their value chain.

Instead of simply hoping that brands will be true to their word, consumers now expect brands to take proactive steps towards earning and keeping their trust.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Under imperialism, “Black Lives Don’t Matter”- an assessment by President Ho Chi Minh in an article, was a prediction for the rise of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, which started in 2013, commented Joe Pateman fromt he University of Nottingham in the UK.

He said that the Vietnamese leader’s articles have reminded the Asian community and the black community to support each other in the ongoing struggle against racism.

Pateman made the remarks at a talk held by York Centre for Asian Research in Ottawa, Canada on February 19 on the book entitled “The Black Race by Ho Chi Minh and Selected Works on Systemic Racism” compiled by Nguyen Dai Trang and edited by Luis Silva.

The talk was held within the Black History Month that is held annually in February across Canada to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.

At the event, Pateman, Trang and Silva reviewed milestones in the 30-year trip abroad of President Ho Chi Minh.

In 1912, when the young Vietnamese man named Nguyen Tat Thanh (then President Ho Chi Minh) arrived in New York, standing under the Stature of Liberty, he wrote: “The light omitted from the head of the statue of Liberty shines out, lighting up the blue sky, but at the foot of the Statue of Liberty, the rights of black people and women were being trampled on. When will the blacks be equal to the whites? When will there be equality among nations? And when will women be equal to men?”

They held that issues of the leader’s concerns remained urgent matters, especially after the death of black man George Floyd, which resulted in protests of the “Black Lives Matter” movement globally.

According to Pateman, President Ho Chi Minh paid great attention to the lives of the blacks and their struggle for equality. He was one of the first Asian communist leaders to discover the problems facing the black community and promote their movement for freedom.

The book “The Black Race by Ho Chi Minh and Selected Works on Systemic Racism” is a collection of 20 articles written by President Ho Chi Minh, including 13 articles in the work “Black Race” and seven articles in other publications written in the periods of 1922-1924 and 1963-1966. It is the first English-language publication that explores this aspect in the revolutionary leader’s legacy and provides a clearer view of his thought regarding the field.

The book’s editor, Silva, said that the Vietnamese leader’s works help him understand the underlying causes of systemic racism and discrimination.

Foreign scholars agreed that the writings showed the special interest of President Ho Chi Minh in the liberation of the blacks.

They held that Vietnamese author Nguyen Dai Trang was right when commenting that the articles on anti-racism have remained highly topical so far.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Thick ice and frost have appeared on the peak of Mount Phja Oac in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang since early February 20, as temperatures dropped to below zero degree Celsius.

At a height of 1,930m above sea level, Phja Oac is the roof of Cao Bang. Frost and ice are normal phenomena here in winter.

Also on February 20, the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicted the cold air will continue to affect other parts of the central and south central regions.

From February 20 to February 21, the areas from Quang Binh to Thua Thien-Hue will see rain, showers and thunderstorms, with possible whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong winds.

From February 20 to 22, in the North and the north central province of Thanh Hoa, the lowest temperatures are forecast at 8-11 degrees Celsius, even zero degree Celsius in the high mountains with a high possibility of frost and snowfall. Meanwhile, the temperatures of areas from Nghe An province to Thua Thien-Hue province in the central region will be 13-16 degrees Celsius at the lowest.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Mai Linh Express high-speed boat on February 19 carried 339 passengers on its first Can Tho – Con Dao trip after a 9-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

A representative of the Mai Linh Tay Do JSC, which runs the service, said the number of passengers means the boat’s full capacity. To get onboard, they must have negative COVID-19 test results valid within 72 hours before the departure, fill out health declarations, and follow the 5K message.

In February, Mai Linh Express is scheduled to have eight trips between the Mekong Delta of Can Tho and Con Dao island in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

Mai Linh Tay Do is one of the two speedboat operators on the route. The other – Phu Quoc Express Joint Stock Company – has yet to announce its date of resumption.

Source: Vietnam News Agency