Hanoi: The following is a brief review of the day's events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. - State President Vo Van Thuong offered incense to King An Duong Vuong at the Co Loa special national relic in Hanoi's outlying district of Dong Anh on February 20. An Duong Vuong, succeeding the era of the nation founders Hung Kings, is credited with establishing Au Lac, an ancient state in Vietnam. His strategic vision and unwavering determination in national construction and defence led him to relocate the nation's centre from the northern mountainous region to the vast and fertile plains where he established the ancient capital, known today as Co Loa. Read full story - Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha underlined the need to manage the pharmaceutical industry under market rules, ensuring publicity, transparency, quality control, safety, and cheapest prices during a meeting in Hanoi on February 19 to discuss the law on amendments and supplementations to some articles of the Law on Pharmacy. Ha asked the Ministry of Health (MoH) to collect ideas and fully clarify regulations in the bill, especially those related to the implementation of international commitments and agreements as well as laws on investment, price management, advertising, and rights of foreign-invested enterprises. Read full story - Vietnam saw positive macroeconomic indicators in January. One of the bright spots that continues to be mentioned is the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI), with registered capital reaching 2.36 billion USD as of January 20, a year-on-year increase of 40.2%. Foreign investors accelerate investment in Vietnam not only because of advantages in the business and investment environment, or factors related to the quality of human resources and incentives, but also thanks to the growth potential of an economy of 100 million people. Read full story - Vietnam's rice exports are expected to continue their upward trajectory this year, toward a milestone of 5 billion USD in turnover. The year marks a period of antici pated volatility in the global rice market, encompassing fluctuations in production and demand, as well as related policies from leading exporting nations. Hence, innovation in production and flexible export management are crucial conditions for the Vietnamese rice industry to achieve its growth targets. Read full story - The building of the north-south hi-speed rail line must ensure modern, cohesive, and sustainable elements in line with the Politburo's guideline as outlined in Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW, permanent Government members made the conclusion in a document issued by the Government Office on February 19. They requested that the project be integrated into a comprehensive planning framework, incorporating strategic forecasts of transportation demand across all modes of aviation, road, rail, maritime, and inland waterways, over the long term. Read full story - MoMo has solidified its position as the most popular e-wallet in Vietnam for two consecutive years, according the Fintech Industry Rankings 202 3 announced by Viettel's information monitoring and analysis system on the network environment (Reputa). Following its impressive performance in 2022, MoMo continued to take the lead in the rankings with a total score of 138.23, or 2.5 times higher than VTCPay, which came second in the list. Read full story - Metfone under the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) marked its 15 years of operation in Cambodia at a ceremony held in Phnom Penh on February 19. Speaking at the event, Viettel Chairman Tao Duc Thang said that the group has invested and transferred state-of-the-art telecommunications technologies to Cambodia, helping generate social benefits in the country over the past 15 years. Read full story - Vietnam aims to send 125,000 labourers abroad to work under contracts in 2024, focusing on key traditional markets such as Japan, Taiwan (China) and the Republic of Korea (RoK), according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA). According to Nguyen Nhu Tuan, dep uty head of the Information and Communication Division, MoLISA's Department of Overseas Labour, about 63,000 labourers are expected to be sent to Japan. Vietnam will send about 48,000 workers to Taiwan and 8,500 to the RoK. Read full story - Midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc of The Cong Viettel Football Club (FC) has won the Golden Ball award for the second time while goal keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh of Ho Chi Minh City FC 1 picked up the title in the women's category. The awarding ceremony was held in HCM City on February 19./. Read full story Source: Vietnam News Agency
Vietnam attends Singapore Airshow 2024
Singapore: A delegation of the Ministry of National Defence, led by Lieutenant General Pham Truong Son, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, is attending the Singapore Airshow 2024 from February 20-25. The Vietnamese delegation visited booths displaying products of several large businesses and corporations in the world, and watched demonstrations by the Singaporean, Indian, US, Republic of Korean, Chinese, Indonesian and Australian air forces, and some international civil airlines. Within the framework of the exhibition, the delegation also had meetings with partners to discuss issues of mutual concern and bilateral cooperation. During a meeting with Deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Daniel Blazkovec, Son thanked the people of Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic today) for the valuable help for Vietnam's past struggle for national liberation as well as its nation building cause. He praised the outstanding results of bilateral defence cooperation in recent times, and wis hed the two countries will continue their collaboration in different fields such as delegation exchange and training. Meeting Assistant Secretary of the US Air Force Andrew Hunter, the Vietnamese delegation head suggested the two sides strengthen cooperation on the basis of signed documents, with priority given to promoting collaboration in training, rescue and military medicine, and in joining United Nations peacekeeping missions, and overcoming war consequences in Vietnam. The Singapore Airshow is the biggest air show in Asia held biennially. This year, it attracted the participation of more than 1,000 aviation and defence companies from over 50 countries and territories, including such giants as Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin. This is the first time in four years that the biennial Singapore Airshow is open to the public. The previous edition in 2022 was closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, people can visit the exhibition on February 24-25./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Top legislator calls for developing equal, quality healthcare system
Hanoi: Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue has urged the medical sector to develop an equal, quality and effective healthcare system towards universal healthcare coverage and social insurance for all. At a working session with the Ministry of Public Health on February 20 ahead of the 69th anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February 27), the top legislator requested the sector to fully roll out the 12th Party Committee's Resolution on enhancing people's healthcare in the new situation so as to improve mental and physical wellbeing, stature, longevity, and life quality of the Vietnamese people. He highlighted the sector's important role in the control of the COVID-19 pandemic and the downgrade of the infectious disease to Group B that covers the ones spreading fast and causing death from Goup A that comprises particularly dangerous ones spreading very fast and on a large scale and have a high mortaility rate or unclear causes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said countries worldwide can learn from Vietnam's pandemic prevention and control experience, and this is the biggest achievement that the sector has carved out so far, he added. He hailed the sector's efforts to overcome challenges, remove policy bottlenecks, and make bold steps in the completion of mechanisms, state management and implementation of professional missions, making contributions to the country's success. Describing the medical profession as a special one, he stressed that human resources in the sector must be recruited meticulously and receive special training and remuneration. Since investing in healthcare is investing for development, he recommended the sector to focus more on the training work, helping doctors and other medical staff improve their political mettle, professional expertise and moral virtues to better serve the patients. Hue took the occasion to asks the sector to study suitable remuneration policies for the medical staff, and sketch out stable and long-term policies to attract high-quality human r esources, along with bolstering technology transfer and innovation. He called on the sector to streamline its apparatus and step up administrative reform and digital transformation. Sixty-nine years ago on February 27, President Ho Chi Minh delivered a letter to a conference of medical workers, asking the sector to stay united, sincerely care for patients, and develop the country's health sector. Since then, the date February 27 has become the sector's traditional day./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Young star midfielder, goalkeeper win Vietnam Golden Ball 2023
HCM City: Midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc of The Cong Viettel Football Club (FC) has won the Golden Ball Award for the second time while goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh of Ho Chi Minh City FC 1 picked up the title in the women's category. The awarding ceremony was held in HCM City on February 19. Launched in 1995 by the Sai Gon Giai phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper, the annual award aims to honour and recognise the contributions and achievements of national footballers during the year. This year's event was scheduled for early January but delayed as the national team were busy for the Asian Cup. Duc was appreciated for his stable performance in both domestic leagues and national team. In the V.League 1 2023, he scored five goals and assisted five, contributing a big part to The Cong-Viettel's third-place finish. He netted one and had two assists for the club in the National Cup, which saw The Cong-Viettel earning silver. In the national team, Duc was one of key players in Philippe Troussier's tactics. He sc ored two goals in Vietnam's friendly matches against Syria and Palestine last year. Earlier, Duc achieved the glory in 2021. The Silver Ball and Bronze Ball titles went to striker Pham Tuan Hai of Hanoi FC and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam of Binh Dinh FC. Meanwhile, Tran Thi Kim Thanh took the top title as she helped the national team win the gold medal at the 32nd Southeast Asian games (SEA Games), and made an impressive performance at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Striker Huynh Nhu of Portugal's Lank FC earned the Silver Ball and midfielder Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy of HCM City FC 1 grabbed the Bronze Ball. In the Futsal category, the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ball titles belonged to Pham Duc Hoa, Chau Doan Phat and Ho Van Y of Thai Son Nam FC. Midfielder Nguyen Thai Son of Dong A Thanh Hoa FC and striker Ngoc Minh Chuyen of Thai Nguyen T and T FC were honoured with the Male Young Player of the Year, and Female Young Player of the Year. Brazilian forward Rafaelson Bezerra Fernandes of Binh Dinh FC/Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC was named the best foreign player of 2023. Particularly, the Devotion Award went to head coach of Hoa Binh FC Pham Thanh Luong and assistant coach of Thai Son Nam FC Tran Van Vu./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Bac Giang showcases rare artifacts during Ly-Tran Dynasties
Bac Giang: An exhibition of antiques founded in Bac Giang and literature works from the Ly-Tran Dynasties (1009-1400) as well as the Buddhism careers of leading monks of Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen opened at West Yen Tu spiritual-ecological tourism site in the northern province as part of the Bac Giang Culture-Tourism Week 2024. The exhibition features 60 ceramic and pottery artifacts and items with the typical style of the Ly-Tran Dynasties, which were collected in Bac Giang, along with 40 images and 50 artifacts selected from eight archaeological excavation sites conducted recently. It also displays and performs Han (Chinese script) and Nom (old Vietnamese script) calligraphy of literary works by King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third King of the Tran Dynasty. King Tran Nhan Tong founded the first Vietnamese School of Buddhism called 'Thien Tong' or Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect on the 1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain. Alongside, vestiges of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect found in artifacts discovered during archae ological excavations at relic sites in Bac Giang are also on display. Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice Director of the Bac Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Si Cam highlighted the values of the culture and literature during the Ly-Tran Dynasties. He said that the exhibition aims to popularise the cultural heritages in the province as well as the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, thus enhancing the community's sense of responsibility to protect and promote the national cultural and historical tradition. At the same time, the event is expected to help attract investment in the provincial tourism and boost the local tourism development, promoting the image of a safe, attractive, civilised, friendly and hospitable destination./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Sea opening festival to be held in Co To island district for first time
Quang Ninh: The Thanh Lan commune People's Committee in Co To island district, the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, will hold a sea opening festival from February 23-24 (the fourth and fifth days of the Lunar New Year 2024). The festival, the first of its kind to be held in the district, is among the activities to celebrate the 30th founding anniversary of the district (March 23, 1994- 2024). During the festival, typical products of the locality will be shown at the committee's office on February 23 while festival goers can also join folk games and enjoy musical performances. On February 24, rituals will be performed at the whale worshipping temple in Hamlet 1, Thanh Lan commune. A fleet will set off on the first fishing trip in the Lunar New Year. The organisation of the festival aims to preserve the unique traditional culture as well as rituals imbued with folk beliefs of fishermen, contributing to improving the spiritual life of the people, arousing the spirit of solidarity, and creating working mo tivation for a new year. This is also an opportunity for people to express their respect and gratitude to the sea, praying for a peaceful new year, calm seas, and bumper hauls. The festival is also expected to help raise people's awareness of the sea's importance and values that the sea brings to people, thereby joining hands in protecting the marine environment, and to promote the image of the locality so to boost tourism activities. The 50.1 sq.km. district is an archipelago in the Gulf of Tonkin, located on the east of Van Don district and boasting pristine long beaches with blue sea water and white sand along with a diverse ecosystem of primary tropical forests./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Vietnam’s Poetry Day to take place on this weekend
Hanoi: The 22nd celebration of Vietnam's Poetry Day will be held at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on February 23 - 24 (or the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Dragon). According to President of the Vietnam Writers' Association Nguyen Quang Thieu, the event will bring to the public valuable heritage in the poetic treasury of all 54 ethnic groups across Vietnam, typical works of Vietnamese poets about nature, places, and people of all the ethnic groups. Besides, this year's Poetry Day aims to honour great national unity, he said. At the event, people have chance to learn more about poets and poems, and take part in contests or activities that introduce young popular poets and their works. A poetry night - the event's highlight held on February 24 will begin with a gong performance of Muong ethnic people from the northern province of Hoa Binh province. It will be followed by poem recitals and performances that feature works by 16 domestic and international poets. In addition, poetic stories and epics of the Tay, Muong and Thai ethnic groups will be performed at the event./. Source: Vietnam News Agency