Day: May 8, 2022

Kickboxing competitions at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) began in the northern province of Bac Ninh on May 8.

Nearly 90 kickboxers from eight countries will compete in Low Kick and Full Contact until May 13.

Twelve matches are set to take place after the opening ceremony, notably four of Vietnamese kickboxers.

Vietnam’s team comprises five females and seven males. This time, four gold medallists at the SEA Games 30 are medal hopefuls of the country.

This is the second straight time that kickboxing has been a SEA Games sport. Vietnam topped the sport’s medal tally at the previous Games in the Philippines in 2019.

SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held in the capital and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23.

Featuring 40 sports with 526 events, it is expected to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected a series of socio-economic locations in the northern province of Thai Binh on May 8.

Examining the investment in as well as construction and operation of the Thai Binh Economic Zone, Chinh affirmed the building of the site is in line with the Party’s policy and resolutions and with the province’s conditions.

Covering more than 30,000ha, including 8,000ha earmarked for industrial, urban and service development, the zone is expected to become a driving force and key economic development area of the province and the Southern Red River Delta region. The zone is now home to a number of key projects.

The PM highlighted the importance of related land clearance and resettlement works and requested the construction of a complete, interconnected and harmonious infrastructure, especially regarding traffic, electricity-water, worker housing, and environment.

At the zone, the leader inspected the construction site of the Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant in Thai Thuy district. Invested by the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), the building of the 1,200MW plant began in 2011.

He recommended efforts for the completion of remaining workload, and said he is confident that following the set goal, the plant will join the national grid by the end of 2022.

On the day, the PM also attended at a ceremony to start the construction of the southern ring road of Thai Binh city. The 8km road is estimated to cost more than 6,000 billion VND (261,364 USD).

Earlier, he attended the inauguration ceremony of a 7,000m2 memorial site dedicated to late President Ho Chi Minh in Thai Binh’s Tien Hai district.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam were held to a goalless draw in a men’s football match against the Philippines at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho province on May 8 in the framework of the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

U23 Vietnam started their second match with a high mood after their 3-0 win against Indonesia two days ago, while the underdogged the Philippines had a cautious approach although they had a 4-0 win against the Timor Leste also two days ago.

Numerous clear chances came to the Vietnamese young men, but they failed to turn them into goals.

Right after the half time, head coach Park Hang-seo of Vietnam sent in substitutes to increase the pressure on the Philippines, and indeed Vietnam had many more chances, but none could find the net of the Philippines as their defence was effective.

The 0-0 draw saw the Philippines retaining their top position in Group A with four points. They are followed by Vietnam, also with four points.

Vietnam will play Myanmar on May 13.

SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held in the capital and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23.

Featuring 40 sports with 526 events, it is expected to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh has freshly received five wild cats to take care of at its centre for species rescue, conservation, and development.

Earlier, the centre sent its staff to collect the animals in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien’s Dien Bien Phu city. The wild cats, seized by the local police after being caged illegally by a resident, are all healthy.

As reported, two of the cats were initially kept by the local in March last year. They gave birth to three babies, now nearly 30 days old.

A representative of the national park said that it was one of the biggest rescues of the endangered wild animal to date.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has expressed her confidence in the growth of the Vietnam-Denmark relations toward new heights toward comprehensiveness and effectiveness, at a reception for the new Vietnamese Ambassador, Luong Thanh Nghi, following a ceremony to receive his letter of credentials.

The queen also showed her delight at the development of the bilateral diplomatic ties since its establishment in 1971 across myriad sectors, from traditional socio-political-economic affairs to new arenas of climate change and green growth.

For his part, the Vietnamese diplomat vowed to do his best and said he hoped for assistance from the queen, the royal family, the Government, and the people of Denmark in deepening the nations’ relationship in the time to come based on the good foundation that their leaders and peoples had built.

Nghi requested the Danish Government continue to pay attention to and create conditions for the over 16,000 Vietnamese expatriates in the country to integrate deeply and make more practical contributions to the bilateral friendship and relations.

The ambassador also conveyed President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s greetings on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Queen Margrethe II’s accession to the throne.

In response, the queen wished him a success tenure ahead.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A Vietnam Airlines flight from Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur landed safely at Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi at night on May 7, making it the first operated by the national flag carrier between the two capitals after 26 months due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency in Kuala Lumpur, Hoang Minh Tri, head of the airlines’ branch in Malaysia, said there will be three flights on the route per week.

The resumption is necessary, as demand is recovering thanks to the control of the pandemic, Tri said.

He said that Malaysia authorities request passengers to present a negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding.

According to the manager, between now and the end of the year, Vietnam Airlines will also gradually increase its frequency on the Kuala Lumpur – Ho Chi Minh City route to a maximum of two flights a day.

Tri said he hopes in 2023, demand for travel between the nations will get back to the level before the pandemic.

The branch stopped operating flights from Malaysia to Vietnam from March 17, 2020, due to the former’s pandemic-induced border closure. On February 18 this year, it reopened the air route

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien has sent his sympathies to National Coordinator of the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR) of Cuba Gerardo Hernández Nordelo over huge human and asset losses caused by a massive explosion at Hotel Saratoga in Havana on May 6.

In his message, Chien expressed his belief that with the leadership of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, together with the solidarity among Cuban people and efforts by the CDR and relevant agencies in the country, Cuba will soon stabilise the situation, thoroughly handle the incident and support the bereaved families to surmount losses caused by the blast.

At least 32 people have died and 19 remain missing following an explosion at the Hotel in Havana capital city, reported Cuba’s state-run Prensa Latina News Agency on May 7.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Leaders of Vietnam have extended their sympathies to their Cuban counterparts over huge human and asset losses caused by a massive explosion at Hotel Saratoga in Havana capital city on May 6.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent their sympathies to First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also extended his sympathies to his Cuban counterpart Manuel Marrero Cruz, and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue did the same to President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent his sympathies to his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

At least 32 people have died and 19 remain missing following an explosion at the hotel in Havana, reported Cuba’s state-run Prensa Latina News Agency on May 7.

Source: Vietnam News Agency