VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES OCTOBER 2515:25 Lawmakers to mull over three draft laws on October 25 Lawmakers are discussing the draft law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Criminal Procedure Code via videoconference during the second session of the 15th National Assembly on October 25 morning. Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy Le Minh Tri will explain several issues raised by deputies. At the end of the morning sitting, the legislators will discuss in groups the revised draft Law on Insurance Business, which comprises eight chapters and 156 articles, and specifies seven groups of policies adopted by the Government under Resolution No.121/NQ-CP dated December 31, 2019. Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said the building of the bill aims to fine-tune relevant legal regulations, step up administrative reform in insurance business, protect legitimate rights and interests of investors and consumers as well as save social costs. The NA’s Committee for Economic Affairs basically agreed with the amendments in the draft law, saying that they will contribute to developing a safe, transparent, sustainable and effective insurance market in conformity with international standards, towards becoming an important channel to provide capital for the economy together with the securities market. In the afternoon, the legislators are due to look into the draft Law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Statistics Law. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung will also clarify issues mentioned by NA deputies./. Vietnam to implement advanced
technologies in water source protection In the virtual meeting, experts in the water industry of both nations agreed that climate change and limitation in water sources have brought along various tough challenges to water supply services. Therefore, water service businesses need to apply modern technologies to renovate their operation so that the water quality can be improved and the security of water sources can be maintained. Chairman of Vietnam Water Supply and Sewerage Association Nguyen Ngoc Diep informed that Vietnam, especially the Mekong Delta, is one of the five countries to be severely affected by climate change, leading to significant impacts in socio-economic development. As a result, it is critical that Vietnam closely collaborate with other nations to devise the most feasible technology-based solutions to protect its water sources. Representatives from Hungary stated that the country has much experience in processing and storing water, changing saline water into fresh one, treating household sewage and waste water from landfills, water facilities construction, and managing river flooding. With 97 percent of its population enjoying clean water, Hungary is confident to use its strengths in water management to help Vietnam via partnership and investment. Nearly 73 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Vietnam An additional 4,045 Covid-19 infections were confirmed in the past 24 hours in 47 localities in Vietnam while the country has so far administered nearly 73 million vaccine doses, the Ministry of Health reported on Sunday evening. According to the ministry's report, 4,028 of the new patients are locally-transmitted cases confirmed in 47 localities including HCM City (966), Binh Duong (524), Dong Nai (429), An Giang (297), Soc Trang (296), Dak Lak (193), Bac Lieu (155), Tay Ninh (132), Tra Vinh (113), Long An (88), and Kien Giang (83). There were 17 imported patients confirmed today. The new infections showed an increase of 667 cases compared to yesterday's figure. There were 1,599 infections found in the community. As of Sunday evening, 884,177 infections have been reported since the new outbreak occurred in the country in late April. Some localities that have recorded the highest number of patients include HCM City (425,121), Binh Duong (228,840), Dong Nai (61,532), Long An (34,227), and Tien Giang (15,626). The outbreak has so far spread to 62 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide. With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 888,940. The country now stands 40th among 223 countries and territories worldwide in the number of infections. On October 24, an additional 1,314 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to 805,978. On Sunday evening, a further 53 deaths related to Covid-19 were announced, bringing the total number of fatalities in Vietnam to 21,673. The deaths were reported in some localities including HCM City (30), Binh Duong (12), Dong Nai (5), Long An (2), An Giang (2), Tay Ninh (1), and Bac Lieu (1). Vietnam today administered more than 936,739 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. The country has so far conducted over 72.92 million Covid-19 vaccine shots, with over 21.04 million people having received two doses. Scientific seminar on great Italian poet held The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS)’ Institute of Literature and the Italian Embassy in Hanoi co-organised a scientific seminar on Italian poet Dante Alighieri on the occasion of his 700th death anniversary. Scientific reports at the event affirmed the value of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy and his position in human culture as well as Italy’s culture and literature in particular. On the occasion, the institute together with the Italian Embassy and the VASS’s Social Sciences Publishing House released a new version of the Inferno section in Divine Comedy, which is one of the literature initiatives in the action programme signed by the two Governments in May within the framework of the Italy-Vietnam strategic partnership. Born in 1265 and passed away in 1321, Alighieri was a great Italian philosopher, a statesman, writer and poet of the Late Middle Ages. He pioneered the Renaissance art movement and made a great impact on the world culture and literature. In Italy, he was known as a “Supreme Poet”. His epic poem Divine Comedy is considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of the world literature. With 14,226 lines, the work is divided into three parts, including hell (Inferno), purgatory (Purgatorio) and paradise (Paradiso), each consisting of 33 cantos and an initial canto. Dubbed as a Bible of the Middle Ages, the work played an important role in founding the literary language and cultural identity of Italy./. Nội Bài airport ensures COVID-19 safety to welcome back passengers Nội Bài International Airport is preparing the best conditions to ensure COVID-19 safety when it welcomes back a large number of passengers as things gradually ease back to normal, according to the airport authority. Following a decision by the Ministry of Transport issued on Wednesday, domestic flights are set to resume to full capacity by the end of November. Since Thursday, all airlines have opened ticket sales on most domestic routes and plan to resume their activities to the level before the fourth outbreak, by the end of next month. As the second biggest airport in the country, on a normal day before the latest outbreak, Nội Bài accommodated thousands of people and hundreds of flights, and thus is considered a very high risk area. The airport authority said all necessary measures are in place to ensure COVID prevention and control to prepare for the restoration of business activities. Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, Deputy Director of Nội Bài International Airport told Việt Nam News: “Nội Bài International Airport has a centralised management system at the Airport Operation Control Center to coordinate activities of all units at the airport, with 2000 surveillance cameras that continuously transmit data to us. “We can monitor the entire movements of passengers through that camera system and this helps us quickly track the movements of F0 cases when they are detected so that all units operating at the airport can carry out pandemic prevention and control measures according to regulations.” “As soon as passengers or family members enter the terminal, there is an automatic temperature checking system, which is monitored by security staff to ensure 100 per cent of passengers and family members when entering the terminal do not have temperatures exceeding 37.5 degrees,” Ngân added. “Anyone with temperatures above that will be refused check in, and the security staff will coordinate with the emergency medical staff to handle them according to the pandemic prevention and control procedures." A system of infrared temperature checks combined with hand sanitiser is also installed at all security check points as well as boarding gates. To guarantee safety for passengers and staff, 95 per cent of staff members at the airport and 100 per cent of those having direct contact with passengers have been fully vaccinated, Ngân added. “All staff have to make health declarations before starting their daily shifts and are fully equipped with pandemic prevention equipment in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health,” Ngân said. According to the Ministry of Transport decision, passengers who are living in or spending time before a flight at a locality defined as at COVID-19 level 4 (very high risk) must present a negative test result within 72 hours before the flight. This also applies to those living in medical isolation areas or passengers departing from Tân Sơn Nhất and Cần Thơ airport. Other passengers need to meet one of the three conditions as follows: having a certificate of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine; or having a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or a hospital discharge certificate not older than 6 months; or having a negative test result within 72 hours. All passengers must make medical declarations and complete a commitment paper on COVID-19 pandemic prevention before check-in. Ngân said to ensure smooth flights and help reduce the risks of virus transmission due to overcrowding, passengers should prepare well in advance before going to the airport. “In the future, when flights are restored, check-in staff will have to do a lot of steps to check all necessary documents for passengers. Therefore, passengers’ cooperation is very much needed,” she said. “Everyone should prepare in advance anything that can be prepared at home, such as online check-in, automatic health declaration, filling out a form on committing to preventing COVID-19 pandemic to submit to medical staff, and other papers such as certificates of two doses of vaccine, to make sure that you have everything needed before going to the check-in area to avoid wasting time and unnecessary congestion.” Information Security Webinar in 2021 takes place The Southern Information Security Webinar in 2021 presented the overall picture of information security in Vietnam and the world, warnings, and recommendations for agencies and businesses in the context of digital transformation simultaneously the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic. The Southern Information Security Webinar in 2021 with the topic "Information Security in Digital Transformation, New Challenges and Opportunities" by the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA), the Information Security Department, and the Department of Information and Communications of Ho Chi Minh City, took place on October 23. This is an important annual event that always attracts the attention of science and technology circles in the fields of information technology and information security. Vice President of Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA) in the South Tran Minh Triet highlighted that Vietnam jumped 25 positions ranking 25 out of 194 territories and countries in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) in 2020, a significant jump of 25 places from its previous GCI rank in 2018. Moreover, the Southeast Asian country's network system is monitored at the national level, technology and information security play an important role in the fight against Covid-19. He added that other countries in the world soon detected; however, there has been an increase in cyber-attacks and cyber-attacks relating to Covid-19 plus ransomware. At the event, participants petitioned for improvement of the legal basis for personal information security as well as a general synchronous mechanism between the State and enterprises and between the central and local authorities for detection and handling of problems and develop the country’s potential for information security. All sectors together periodically survey information security throughout the country to have policies and strategies for information security development. Socio-economic recovery, development scheme should be effective, feasible: PM Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a cabinet meeting on the drafting of a socio-economic recovery and development programme on October 24. Addressing the meeting, the Government leader underlined that the scheme's scale should be large enough and its implementation duration should be long enough in line with the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the socio-economic development plan for the 2021-2025 period as well as the socio-economic development programme for 2022. It should be based on accurate and objective assessments and forecasts along with reliable statistics, he stated. The PM stressed that the programme must have focuses and priorities. For example, in health care, attention should be paid to measures to improve the country’s medical capacity from preventive medicine and grassroots health care system to vaccines and treatment activities. Meanwhile, in issues related to social welfare, the focus should be the recovery of the labour market and sustainable poverty reduction. Regarding economic recovery, the programme should focus on boosting the recovery of businesses and cooperatives and strategic infrastructure development, strengthening the national governance capacity, completing the institutions, speeding up administrative reform, increasing decentralisation and distribution of power, and preventing and combating corruption, he said. The Government leader underscored that the programme should include careful calculation of resources and flexible adjustments of monetary and fiscal policies, ensuring macro-economic stability and major balances as well as inflation control. The drafting agency should continue to collect ideas from relevant agencies, he said, noting the need to ensure that the draft programme is effective and feasible in order to create consensus from the public./. Famed Oc Eo culture set for preservation
One of the most prestigious archaeological sites in the country is set to undergo a lengthy period of restoration and preservation covering hundreds of hectares across the Mekong Delta. The Oc Eo - Ba The national relic site in the southern province of An Giang mostly covers Oc Eo Town, Thoai Son District. Parts of the site are over 2,000 years old. The renowned relic is believed to have been first excavated by French archaeologist Louis Malleret in 1944, and is believed to have been a prosperous commercial port of the once-powerful Phu Nam Kingdom two millennia ago. Artefacts found in the area show an advanced civilisation with developed arts and crafts including jewellery and pottery making, as well as a system of canals and various temples and tombs built with bricks and stones. Several ancient Roman artefacts have also been uncovered at the site over the years. Oc Eo culture was at its peak in the southern delta from the first to seventh centuries. Through several archaeological excavations, Malleret also identified an ancient citadel and identified it as an ancient town, also known as Oc Eo port. The name Oc Eo was given by him after the location of Oc Eo mound in Thoai Son when this relic was discovered and announced in the early 1940s. In addition to being found in Thoai Son, Oc Eo cultural archaeological relics were also discovered in Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts and several other towns in the province. The relics in the region are extremely rich and diverse in terms of both style and material, giving an insight into the period’s religion, residencies, architecture, burial areas, ancient canals and waterways. With such historical and cultural value, the heritage site has been recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism as a national heritage site with three clusters of relics, including two monuments of architecture and art. The stone and the four-armed Buddha were certified in 1988, and the two archaeological sites of Nam Linh Son Tu and Go Cay Thi in 2002. The Director of the Oc Eo Cultural Relic Management Board, Nguyen Huu Gieng, said the new preservation plan was recently announced by the board under the provincial People's Committee's authorisation. The plan will be implemented over 433 hectares, as identified in the Special National Monument Ranking Profile. It aims to protect unearthed archaeological discoveries and the site relics, boost research and surveys, as well as expand the scope of archaeology to compile dossiers, edit records and clarify ideas related to the region, especially those connected to Oc Eo culture and civilization. It also aims to preserve, upgrade and promote the Oc Eo - Ba The special national heritage to become an archaeological research zone to help identify the values of the site, contributing to socio-economic development, culture and tourism. The plan will also help connect the relic site with important destinations in An Giang and the Mekong Delta region to create specific tourism products in terms of history, culture, tourism, river ecology, rural livelihoods, and tourism. Gieng said the plan for preserving and restoring Oc Eo - Ba The was approved by the then Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. "This provides a legal basis for removing obstacles and limitations of the previous plan. It is an effective tool for planning management and urban development investment in the area of Oc Eo Town and Thoai Son District," he said. It is expected that in November 2021, An Giang will hold a ceremony to officially announce the Government's approval of the preservation plan. According to the plan, a relic site on the foothills of Ba The Mountain (Zone A) with a total of 144 hectares will be targeted including Protected Area I (50ha) and Protected Area II (93ha). The Oc Eo field area (Zone B) covers 289ha, including Protected Area I (IB), which is 151ha and Protected Area II (IIB), which covers 138ha. Seeking UNESCO recognition Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has recently assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to take prime responsibility and coordinate with the Vietnam National Committee for UNESCO to submit a summary report on the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre requesting its inclusion on the tentative list of World Heritage Profiles. The ministry will guide the People's Committee of An Giang to compile a scientific dossier on the relic site in accordance with regulations. For some time, the ministry has been striving to complete a dossier on the relic site to submit to UNESCO for recognition as a World Cultural Heritage Site. In late 2012, it assigned the Vietnam Institute for Culture and Arts to complete and submit the dossier to UNESCO. Several workshops have been held to gather expert advice for the dossier. "The Oc Eo - Ba The special national relic site contains numerous outstanding global values," according to experts and scientists at a workshop to discuss nominating Oc Eo - Ba The as a World Cultural Heritage Site, held by the People's Committee of An Giang in collaboration with the Southern Institute of Social Sciences and the Archaeological Association. Associate Professor Dang Van Bai, Vice Chairman of the National Council for Cultural Heritage, said that the Oc Eo - Ba The site was proof of the unity of the cultural diversity of Southeast Asian countries. "This is also a cultural space that has been playing a particularly important role in the meeting, exchanging and acculturating between major cultures in the world (East and West). In addition, the Oc Eo culture is also a link between the two most brilliantly developed civilisations in human history, China and India," he said. Meanwhile, Prof. Tong Trung Tin, Chairman of the Vietnam Archaeological Association, said that the site showed a strong interaction with other world major cultures such as Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as with Chinese, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures. Researchers and scientists have highlighted the important role of Oc Eo culture in the formation of ancient nations in the Southern region in the early centuries of the common era. From the late 1990s to 2011, many research programmes with local funding and international cooperation were conducted at the site. Initial results helped recreate the basic appearance of an ancient city with religious architectural and residential relics, making a significant contribution to promoting cultural heritage. Vice Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee Tran Anh Thu said that along with Vietnam's eight other World Heritage Sites that had been honoured by UNESCO, the creation of a scientific dossier for the site demonstrated the country's great contribution to enriching humanity's cultural heritage, creating a national brand, and introducing a beautiful image of the country to the world. An Giang in southwest Vietnam has an abundance of historical and cultural relics, and authorities and local residents have always paid much attention to cultural tourism. The Oc Eo site not only receives many researchers and archaeologists but also attracts many local and foreign tourists who come to see what they view as one of the jewels in the country’s cultural crown. With convenient transport infrastructure, a mysterious beauty and some of the most brilliant cultural heritage in the nation, the destination will create investment opportunities for those who desire to preserve the site as one of the special features of Vietnam./. VN to build nine new railways by 2030 Deputy Prime Minister Lê Văn Thành has signed a decision approving the railway system plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which sets a target of building nine new railways by 2030. They will have a total length of 2,362km. Under the plan, the railway industry will renovate and upgrade existing railways, connect with international transport routes; prepare capital and resources to start construction on new routes, with priority given to North-South high-speed ones and those linking gateway seaports, international airports, and main railways in major cities. Specifically, the sector will upgrade the seven existing routes with a total length of 2,440km. The nine new railways include a 1,545km north-south high-speed route connecting Hà Nội’s Ngọc Hồi station and HCM City’s Thủ Thiêm station, a 102km-long route connecting Hà Nội and northern Hải Phòng Port City, a 103km-long route connecting Vũng Áng Port and the Mụ Gia Pass along the Việt Nam-Lao border, and a 84km-long route connecting southern Biên Hòa City of southern Đồng Nai Province and southern Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province. They also include a 174km-long route linking HCM City and Mekong Delta's Cần Thơ City, a 128km-long route linking HCM City and Lộc Ninh District of southern Bình Phước Province (from Dĩ An railway station to the Hoa Lư border gate between Việt Nam and Cambodia); and a 38km-long route from Thủ Thiêm Railway Station in HCM City to Long Thành International Airport in southern Đồng Nai Province. The total capital needed for both upgrading and building railways will be around VNĐ240 trillion (US$10.5 billion). By 2030, the volume of goods transported is expected to reach 11.8 million tonnes, accounting for about 0.27 per cent of the market share, and the number of transported passengers will reach 460 million, accounting for a market share of about 4.40 per cent. In order to fulfil the targets, the decision also put forward key measures and policies, including building and issuing mechanisms to encourage, support and create favourable conditions for domestic and foreign individuals and organisations to invest in railway transport and transport logistics services; continuing to attract and effectively use ODA capital sources and preferential loans of international donors in railway projects; socialise investment in railway services and logistics; mobilise all economic sectors, including foreign investors, to invest in means of public transports and construction of facilities supporting transport activities such as goods storage. Other measures include reducing environmental pollution caused by railway transport activities, particularly in treating wastewater and industrial waste; promoting human resources training; and expanding international cooperation to learn from other countries' experience and science and technology in railway development. A new storm likely to form in East Sea, hit southern Vietnam A tropical depression has moved past the Philippines’
Palawan island into the East Sea and is likely to gain strength into a storm
in the coming days, according to the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological
Forecasting (NCHMF). In the next 24 to 48 hours, the depression is forecast to move west and north-west, strengthen into a storm and approach near the southern coast from Binh Dinh to Ninh Thuan provinces. The National Steering Committee for Natural Disasters Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue requested that coastal localities from Quang Binh to Ba Ria – Vung Tau and relevant ministries and agencies keep a close watch on the development of the depression and put their rescue forces on standby. The localities were required to make regular contact with fishing vessels and guide them to come ashore, and at the same time reinforce fishing cages before the storm makes landfall. HCM City drafts plan for urban development along first metro line HCM City authorities are drafting design and construction plans for urban development along the city’s first metro line, aiming to tackle issues such as flooding and congestion and improve the city’s landscapes and residents’ quality of life. The Department of Planning and Architecture is seeking experts’ opinions on exploiting public land along the route, which extends between Bến Thành market in District 1 and Suối Tiên Theme Park in the new Thủ Đức City. With natural landscapes and major cultural and historical works along the metro line, the large land fund along it will be developed into multi-functional and specialised service centres. Under the draft, about 10 urban development projects will be built along a portion of the line that stretches 14.8 km through 11 wards in Thủ Đức City, according to the department. Dr Võ Kim Cương, HCM City’s former deputy chief architect, said the urban developments would follow the TOD (Transit Oriented Development) model in which public transport would be connected with urban development to save land and ensure that public transport develops sustainably. “The metro line will become the main mode of transport, and there will be hundreds of bus routes connecting its stations with residential areas, industrial parks, universities and research institutes.” People would be able to walk conveniently and safely on sidewalks, which would be designed with the hot, rainy climate in mind. Hà Ngọc Trường, vice chairman of the HCM City Port and Bridge Association, pointed out, however, that the draft plan could conflict with previous plans, which would be costly to adjust. Architect Ngô Viết Nam Sơn said the development of transport infrastructure such as the metro, boulevards and highways would increase the value of land in the vicinity. However, previous improper planning allowed many “tiny” houses, he said. Improper urban planning had also resulted in too many concrete buildings and encroachment of water bodies and greenery. “The city needs to develop a comprehensive urban plan to develop housing that will address the issues,” he said. Trường noted that the public urban railway projects would require huge investments (billions of US dollars) and take a long time to recover capital through ticket sales and other commercial activities. Architect Ngô Viết Nam Sơn also said the Department of Planning and Architecture should work with the departments of Planning and Investment, Finance, and Natural Resources and Environment to develop a plan to compensate affected households at market prices. When the infrastructure is completed, the value of land will significantly increase and the state can later sell or auction it for investors to operate. “With this option, the city will have more budget to reinvest in other projects,” he noted. Public land within a radius of 800-1,000m of the first metro line and Ring Road No 2 (the section through Thủ Đức City) will be auctioned to help the city recover capital to invest in other public infrastructure projects, according to the department. Experts recommended that the city earmark more public land along the route for urban beautification in line with the plan to develop Thủ Đức City, and that public transport should be predominant. The draft regulation on the management of urban architecture has been submitted by the Department of Planning and Architecture to the city People’s Committee. With a total investment of more than VNĐ43.7 trillion (US$1.91 billion), the 20-km metro line has three underground stations and 11 elevated stations. More than 87 per cent of the route has been completed. That is expected to increase to 91 per cent by the end of the year. The completion date, originally slated for the year-end, has been pushed up to the end of 2023 or early 2024 due to the impact of the pandemic.  Additional 4,045 COVID-19 cases recorded on October 24 The Ministry of Health announced 4,045 new infections of COVID-19, on October 24, along with 53 COVID-19 related deaths. Among these new cases, 17 were imported and 4,028 were local transmissions. Of these, 1,599 were detected in the community. The national tally now stands at 888,940, of which 884,177 are the result of the fourth wave of infections that swept the country since late April. Ho Chi Minh City remained the locality with the highest number of infections of 966, an increase of 217 cases compared to the previous day’s figure. It was followed by Binh Duong province with 524 cases and Dong Nai province with 429. The capital city of Hanoi recorded 14 new cases in the past 24 hours. The 53 COVID-related deaths were in HCM City (30), Binh Duong (12), Dong Nai (5), Long An (2), An Giang (2), Tay Ninh (1), and Bac Lieu (1). The country’s death toll is now 21,673. According to the Ministry of Health’s report, 2,899 patients nationwide are in serious condition, with 19 on life support (ECMO). A further 1,314 patients were given the all-clear on October 24, taking the total number of recoveries to 805,978. Almost 936.74 million vaccine doses were administered in Vietnam on October 23. The country has now inoculated more than 72.9 million doses of vaccine to date, with over 21 million people fully vaccinated./. Online hearings necessary to improve court transparency: NA deputies Organising online court hearings is a breakthrough solution to improve the transparency of court proceedings, National Assembly (NA) deputies agreed on Sunday. During a session discussing a resolution on organising online court hearings, they said the virtual format would create a driving force to solve cases more quickly, save time and travel expenses. Deputy Lã Thanh Tân from northern Hải Phòng City said online court hearings was a new form of proceedings conducted on digital platforms. It is necessary to invest in equipment and take cautious steps when applying it. Trial online sessions should be held first. Hải Phòng City held a trial online court hearing on August 7 and showed positive results, he said, proposing the Supreme People’s Court consider piloting the online court model at Hải Phòng City People’s Court after the resolution is approved by the NA. Deputy Nguyễn Thị Yến from Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province agreed that online court hearings were new and need to be piloted for three years. After that, the Supreme People’s Court needs to report to the NA for further improvements. Deputy Lê Tất Hiếu from Vĩnh Phúc Province said complicated cases or cases in which offenders did not admit to their crimes or involved many accomplices need to be held in person. Online trials should only be for first-instance and appeal trials of civil and administrative cases, he said. He said current laws did not mention in detail online court hearings, so the organisation must be carefully prepared. Agencies need to be trained before holding the online sessions. Responding to NA deputies’ comments, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyễn Hòa Bình said the feedback delivered at the NA meeting required higher quality for online court sessions. The Supreme People's Court will listen to all of the feedback and submit annual reports to the NA. He said the world had prepared the legal infrastructure for online trials in many different ways including adopting a separate law on online proceedings. Việt Nam has issued an inter-sectoral circular between the Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme People's Procuracy and the Supreme People's Court to make preparations for the launch of online court hearings. The Supreme People's Court will continue to finalise the circular and the NA deputies can give feedback, he said. He also further explained the online court definition. Accordingly, an online court involves three factors - information technology, humans using such technology and legal infrastructure for the use of IT at the courts. Speaking to Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the NA meeting on Sunday, Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà, deputy head of Quảng Ninh Province’s NA delegation, said online court hearings would create conditions for witnesses and lawyers who are far away to connect with the court. It is also an inevitable trend of judicial activities, following the Party and State's guidelines. It aims to help Việt Nam realise international commitments to complete the building of online courts by 2025 when Việt Nam becomes a member of the Council of Chief Justices in the Asia-Pacific region and the ASEAN Council of Chief Justices, she said. Philanthropists donate nearly VND21 trillion to COVID-19 fight Individual philanthropists and organisations have so
far contributed nearly VND21 trillion in cash and kind to the national
COVID-19 fight, according to the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central
Committee. The VFF says it will asked its chapters nationwide to monitor people moving from southern coronavirus hotspots to their home in the central and northern provinces to provide needy people with assistance. It will continue to allocate mobilized funds and resources for pandemic prevention and control and support people to overcome difficulties. It will also continue to mobilise individuals, businesses, and organizations to support the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund and COVID-19 Prevention and Control Fund through online payment apps such as Payoo, MoMo and Zalo Pay. The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that started in late April has spread to all cities and provinces across the country. More than 800,000 people have been infected with the virus and more than 21,000 patients have died of the disease. HCM City rolls out red carpet for workers Workers from other cities and provinces coming to HCM City, which faces a labour shortage, to find jobs will get all kinds of support, city authorities have promised. Many businesses in the city are in dire need of labour to resume operations after the city eased COVID-19 curbs earlier this month, with the shortage running into thousands, Nguyễn Văn Lâm, deputy director of the city Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said. Workers would get vaccinated against COVID as soon as they arrive in the city, he told a programme called “Dân hỏi – Thành phố trả lời” (Residents ask – Authorities answer) last Friday (October 22). The Department of Health is setting up temporary vaccination sites at city gateways and near factories to vaccinate returning workers, he said. They would be fully vaccinated before going to work in companies or factories, he said. They would also get vocational training to enhance their skills under a tie-up between the department and vocational schools, he said. His department has co-ordinated with the Department of Transport to transport people who have registered with their local labour departments to HCM City to work, he added. Nguyễn Quang Cường, director of the Youth Employment Services Centre, said travel restrictions and failure to get vaccinated are major barriers against returning for of a majority of workers. Businesses are taking measures to get employees, who left the city because of COVID, back, including arranging vehicles for them, he said. His agency is carrying out an employment support programme that offers free consulting and COVID-19 rapid tests for workers and connects them with free places of accommodation and low-rent boarding houses, he said. It is also liaising with hundreds of businesses who need thousands of workers, he said. People can get employment information at the HCM City Employment Services Centre and the Youth Employment Services Centre. More than 600,000 workers returned to their hometown when the city imposed COVID-related lockdowns and restrictions, including 300,000 factory workers, according to a report by the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. Conservation of Royal relics gets approval Thua Thien-Hue province has approved five projects on
conserving and restoring relics within the imperial capital of Hue, with
total funding of about 20 million USD. Under the plan, it is recommended that investors complete legal procedures and consult specialists during project planning so as to ensure effective restoration. The complex of relics within the ancient imperial capital welcomed thousands of domestic and international visitors each day prior to the Covid-19 outbreak and is one of the province’s major tourist attractions. Visitors to Thua Thien-Hue last year were estimated at 1.68 million, a decline of nearly 65 percent, of which international visitors were estimated at 558,800, down nearly 75 percent./. The darkest days are over The city has also closed some COVID-19 field hospitals located at dormitories and schools as the number of cases has dropped in recent weeks. Even though the pandemic is far from over, things are looking up. With the Government determining to stop localities from setting policies inconsistent with regulations set by the central government, Resolution 128, after more than 10 days since being issued, has brought about relief for any business operating in Việt Nam after a long period of social distancing measures through different directive levels. The most worrying problem for any country is the fear of resurgence of the pandemic after reopening the economy (and we’ve known examples of many), but as the level of vaccine coverage among adults in Việt Nam increases, the Government has asked localities to reach a consensus to implement policies throughout the country, getting rid of restrictions even higher than the central government’s and causing negative impacts on people’s lives, and businesses’ operations. With clear criteria, consistent and transparent application of COVID-19 restrictions, Resolution 128 has allowed localities to identify their risk levels and follow the do's and dont's accordingly. By October 21, all 63 provinces and cities nationwide announced their pandemic levels, with 26 of them being “green” – which means they are at low risk of transmission and most activities can resume. As many as 37 provinces are in “yellow” – average risk of transmision. And yes, we have no more orange and red areas. Authorities in Khánh Hoà and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu provinces earlier this week reopened public beaches and restaurants in Nha Trang City and Vũng Tàu City, respectively, with restrictions. And these localities are not alone. Northern Quảng Ninh Province took the first steps by cancelling the requirement for people entering the province to show negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing results within the last 72 hours. It also removed the regulation that Quảng Ninh’s residents have to have a test before leaving the locality and returning. Bình Dương Province scrapped the regulation asking workers to have the full two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or putting those coming from other localities in 7-day quarantine. According to the province’s Department of Industry and Trade, the province has allowed businesses to conduct tests and issue certificates for workers to travel, facilitating the mobility of workers and experts between Bình Dương and HCM City. Along with that, the province’s authorities also helped businesses to access sources to buy qualified COVID-19 test kits at reasonable prices. It is expected that in October, 100 per cent of its workers will be fully vaccinated. For Hải Dương those coming into the province from localities with risks of level 1, 2 and 3 (green, yellow and orange) don’t need to show a negative test for SARS-CoV-2. Only those with suspected symptoms are asked to take a test. Firms are now more confident to welcome the workforce returning to their normal business activities while trying to maintain prevention measures at work place and taking appropriate strategies in line with the Ministry of Health’s guidance. As of October 20, Hà Nội has reopened 95 per cent of its industrial zones. Approximately two-thirds of industries in HCM City have reopened. The number of businesses in export processing zones and industrial parks in HCM City resuming operations has reached approximately 66 per cent, while at the City’s Saigon Hi-Tech park the rate is 74 per cent. By October 15, more than 82 per cent of enterprises in industrial zones in Đồng Nai Province have resumed operation, with more than 54 per cent of their workers coming to work. All enterprises in industrial zones in Bình Dương Province have resumed operations, though the capacity has only reached 44 per cent compared to before the pandemic. Even though a pre-pandemic state might take a long time to come, the darkest days are over. While small outbreaks and COVID-19 variants are possible in the future, the Government’s new guidance provides a clear basis to help localities implement pandemic prevention and control measures in a unified, synchronous manner and with minimum impacts on people’s health and businesses’ operations. The business community highly welcome the move. Trần Việt Anh, General Director of Nam Thái Sơn Import-Export Joint Stock Company, said that the most important point of Resolution 128 was to help businesses define their operational status more clearly in the new context. Việt Anh said at the end of September, he had to make a bold decision to transfer a part of export orders to "rivals" to keep commitments with partners. But at the same time, the difficulty was that businesses did not know the Government's long-term pandemic prevention and control plan to build their own production plans. “I couldn't predict when to start production again, so that put my foreign customers in a passive situation as well, it was very likely that they could stop doing business with me and find another supplier. Now that Resolution 128 has clearer regulations, longer-term scenarios can be seen,” he said. Nguyễn Văn Bé, Chairman of the Association of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Zones in HCM City, said that when it was determined to step in to restore production, the most expected thing for businesses was to solve the problem of smooth circulation of goods. “Therefore, the introduction of Resolution 128 is very timely, creating a common mechanism for localities, helping businesses quickly go into production and complete the year-end plan,” he said. Chief Representative of the German Industry and Commerce in Việt Nam (AHK Viet Nam) Marko Walde said as long as the guidelines are national and there is not a different in applying from province to province and between localities the enterprises should have no obstacles in implementing the resolution. Support in labour shortage When the lockdowns were lifted, thousands of workers returned to their hometowns for fear of another outbreak and resulting lockdowns. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), about 1.3 million labourers returned to their hometowns between July and September 15. This has posed additional challenges for businesses and factories that want to resume production. The Government has thus issued and supplemented many policies to support labourers and enterprises. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is making plans to restore the labour market, according to which it will make sure employees can work in safe conditions with full vaccination. At the same time, the Government is also providing transportation from the provinces back to production sites to resume business activity. The Ministry of Finance has advised the Government to reduce corporate income tax, VAT, personal income tax and waive fines for late tax payment for businesses facing difficulties. This total support package is worth about VNĐ21.3 trillion ($926 million). Fiscal measures such as extension of loan payment and insurance premium payment, corporate income tax reduction, and exemption of fines on late payment cannot help businesses recover immediately, but they will provide solid support, helping businesses save more cash to maintain production and recover. Businesses have their own initiatives and efforts in keeping workers, offering incentives such as free COVID-19 tests, hotel accommodation, free meals, and daily stipends to encourage workers to return. They have also given generous benefits to ensure workers remain at their jobs. As of October 21, 2021, the Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 873,901 cases of COVID-19. However, 796,583 of the affected patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The Government is developing a roadmap to fully open up to international visitors by June 2022. The plan will be implemented in phases with a pilot programme for fully vaccinated international tourists to Phú Quốc island in November 2021. This is expected to be followed by Nha Trang, Hạ Long, Hội An, and Đà Lạt in December. Yet we still need to stay vigilant at the new developments of the pandemic in some countries like China (which had to brace for more COVID-19 curbs as a wave of infections raises concerns of a broader outbreak), Singapore (which has extended COVID restrictions to four more weeks after new daily cases hit a record high), or Latvia, (once seen as coronavirus success story but had just become the first country to reimpose lockdown in Europe’s new COVID wave). Hopefully, with the vaccine rollout picking up pace and the whole community taking responsibility for their health, we will all return to a more normal existence, soon. Van Toan among Ones to Watch ahead of U23 Asian Cup qualifiers The-AFC.com has listed Vietnamese goalkeeper Van Toan
among the eight key players to look out for during the upcoming qualifiers
for the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup. It adds that due to Dang Van Lam’s injury, the 21-year-old Hai Phong goal keeper will be keen to hold down the position moving forward. “With senior team head coach Park Hang-seo also helming the U-23 side, Van Toan has another chance to impress in the games ahead,” states the website. Rounding off the list of the top 8 Ones to Watch are Khalid Al Ghannam of Saudi Arabia, Ali Saleh of the UAE, Choi Jun of the Republic of Korea, Amirali Sadeghi of Iran, Manuchehr Safarov of Tajikistan, Yuta Goke of Japan, and Khusain Norchaev of Uzbekistan. At the tournament in Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam are scheduled to play in Group I alongside Myanmar and Taiwan (China). They are due to take on Taiwan (China) and Myanmar on October 27 and October 31, respectively. Climate-Smart Maps and Adaptation Plans (CS-MAP) launched To help farmers manage climate-related risks such as flooding, drought and saline intrusion, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched the Climate-Smart Maps and Adaption Plans (CS-MAP). CS-MAP integrates local knowledge and science-based research to provide location-specific risk maps and adaptation plans for rice production. The project currently covers five ecological regions of Vietnam and was developed by the Ministry’s Crops Production Department and CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security in Southeast Asia (CCAFS SEA). A conference for the launch of CS-MAPS was held in Hanoi on October 19, organised by the Department of Crop Production (DCP) of CCAFS SEA. The socio-economic impact of the project at both a national and international level were discussed, as well as ways policy can be developed in support. An instructional video and five atlases have been produced to help guide the use of CS-MAPS. Using colourful illustrations and animations, the video is an easy-to-understand and enjoyable reference to materials on CS-MAP. DCP and CCAFS SEA have also published a guidebook, to help technical officers and professional agencies at different administrative levels implement CS-MAP. Both the guidebook and instructional video are available in English and Vietnamese. Five compilations of CS-MAP's, for the major agro-ecological regions of Vietnam, were launched at the event. The CS-MAP atlases are for Mekong River Delta, Northern Midlands and Delta, South Central Coast and North Central Coast. These publications contain maps, both for normal and extreme years, covering 43 provinces of the country. All materials are publicly accessible on the CCAFS SEA's official Youtube channel and the CGSpace and CCAFS SEA websites. Chairing policy dialogue on the use of CS-MAP on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Le Quoc Doanh said that the CS-MAP publications would be helpful to farmers in planning production schemes and increase the efficiency of soil and water resource use. Doanh said that Vietnam's agriculture plays an important role in ensuring food security, social stability and livelihoods for over 60 percent of the population in rural areas, contributing 14.85 percent of the country's GDP. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and natural disasters, agriculture has maintained a high growth rate, ensuring food security for nearly 100 million people in Vietnam in 2020. Vietnam’s agricultural export turnover reached 41.53 billion USD, an increase of 3.3 percent compared to 2019. Particularly in the first 9 months of this year, export of agricultural products reached 35.5 billion USD, up to 18 percent over the same period last year. Of that, the export of crop products reached 15.8 billion USD. “Vietnam is deeply aware of the issue of climate change response and adaptation, turning the disadvantages of climate change into advantages. To carry out this task, we have been and will continue to focus on changing crop structures, changing seasons, selecting and creating plant varieties and applying appropriate technical advances,” Doanh said. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, Head of the Crops Production Department, said that the CS-MAP can be integrated into national and local policies and plans, such as in the National Plan to Adapt to Climate Change, Nationally Determined Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation in the Agricultural Sector, and the National and Regional Agricultural Restructuring Plan for the Period 2021-2025. At a local level, CS-MAP is a tool for climate change adaptation and disaster prevention. It is proposed that it be included in the socio-economic plan for the period 2021-2030, an action plan to respond to climate change for the period 2021-2030, and agricultural land use planning including rice land conversion, he said./. Memorial service held for Supreme Patriarch of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha The memorial service for Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Patronage Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), who passed away on October 21 at the age of 105, took place at the Vien Minh (Rang) Pagoda in Hanoi on October 24 morning. The Most Venerable, who led an 85-year religious life, is also member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and head of the Vien Minh (Rang) Pagoda in Quang Lang commune of Hanoi’s Phu Xuyen district. He used to be the Vice President of the VBS’s Executive Council and head of the executive board of the VBS chapter in former Ha Tay province (now part of Hanoi). The monk was honoured with the Ho Chi Minh Order, the second-class Independence Order, the Great National Unity Order, the certificate of merit by the Prime Minister, and many other noble rewards in recognition of his dedications to the Buddhism and the secular life. At the ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Deputy Patriarch of the VBS, read the recitation of the remembrance of Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, which said the Most Venerable’s life achieved three things that everyone in the world bows to, that was, the highest position, the longest life span, and the brightest virtue. At the same time, memorial ceremonies for Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue were held at VBS chapters in cities and provincies nationwide, which were also connected with the Vien Minh Pagoda. The same day, a memorial ceremony for Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue took place at the Phat Tich pagoda in Laos’ Vientiane, gathering the participation of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, the association of Vietnamese in Laos, the Lao Buddhist Coalition Central Committee, as well as many Buddhist monks, nuns and followers in Laos./. President congratulates Academy of Politics on 70th anniversary President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 21 sent a letter of congratulations to the Defence Ministry’s Academy of Politics on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of its Traditional Day (October 25). In the letter, he conveyed his warm sentiment and best wishes to generals, officers, lecturers, students and soldiers of the academy. Throughout 70 years of development under the leadership of the Party, State, the Defence Ministry and the Central Military Commission, he hailed them for staying united, active, creative to overcome difficulties and fulfil assigned tasks. Tens of thousands of political officers at strategic level were trained in the academy to join in battlefields nationwide, contributing to building a politically strong army, strengthening the Party leadership on the army, as well as the victory of the armed forces and people in the past resistance wars and the national construction and defence at present. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, Phuc hailed generations of generals, officers, lecturers, students and soldiers of the academy for their achievements over the past seven decades. He expressed his strong belief that they will keep improving the quality of training and scientific research, build a regular and modern academy with a strong and transparent Party unit, thus making active contributions to building a politically strong army and enhancing fighting power of the heroic Vietnam People’s Army./. 80th death anniversary of anti-fascists combatants held in Paris The France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) and the Association of Vietnamese in France (UGVF) held a workshop in Paris on October 22, on the occasion of the 80th death anniversary of 27 patriotic combatants who were executed by the Nazis in Châteaubriant during the anti-France war, including Vietnamese soldier Huynh Khuong An. Participants at the event watched a documentary featuring a ceremony commemorating Huynh Khuong An at the building No.6, Porte Brancion avenue held by Paris authorities and Châteaubriant-Voves-Rouillé-Aincourt Association in 2014. Historian Alain Ruscio recalled revolutionary life of Huynh Khuong An, a member of the French Communist Party (FCP) who fought against the Nazis and sacrificed his life for the liberation of France and world peace. Huynh Khuong An was born on April 7, 1912 in Saigon. He came to France at the age of 15 to pursue his studies. He completed a bachelor's degree programme in literature in Toulouse before earning his master's degree in Paris. In 1940, he got a job as an assistant professor at Lycee Carnot in Versailles. During his studies, he engaged in many progressive activities and movements in France and joined the FCP. During the World War II, he worked in secret distributing leaflets for the FCP to call on people to join the resistance war against the Nazis. An was arrested and sent to Camp Choisel to Chateaubriand in June, 1941 and was executed by the Nazis on October 22, 1941. In Vietnam, two streets in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau are named after him./. Former vice president honoured with 75-year Party membership badge Nguyen Thi Binh, former member of the Party Central Committee and former Vice President, was conferred the 75-year membership insignia of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) at a ceremony held in Hanoi on October 24. Presenting the honour to Binh on behalf of the Party and State, Politburo member and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc recalled the former official’s important contributions. President Phuc stated the insignia is also the recognition of the Party, State and people's appreciation for her contributions to the nation’s past struggle for national liberation, as well as the national construction and defence cause at present. Binh’s studying and training process and her revolutionary career is a shining example for the younger generation of Party members to study and follow, he noted. Emphasised her honour for such conferment, Binh said throughout her life and revolutionary career, she always tried to complete all the tasks assigned by the Party. Born in 1927, Binh was admitted to the Communist Party of Indochina (now the CPV) in 1947. She had been appointed to many important posts during her career, including Vice President of the Women's Union for the Liberation of South Vietnam (1960); Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (1969 - 1975); and Minister of Education (1976 - 1987). From 1992 to 2002, she was Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 2003, the woman established the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation, of which she has served as Chairwoman until now. She is also the honorary president of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA)./. Goethe supporting project to strengthen bear and nature conservation The Goethe-Institut, the Centre for Nature Conservation
and Development (CCD), and the Vietnamese Center for Wildlife Conservation
(Four Paws Viet), have launched a project to raise awareness about ecological
protection in Vietnam in the 2021-2022 period. Nature and wildlife conservation experts know about conservation but don’t have the skills to tell their stories on film, the organisers said, adding that the participation of enthusiastic filmmakers is very much needed. While the CCD wants to make a film on preserving landscapes, animals, and plants, and ensuring sustainable development, Four Paws Viet wants filmmakers to tell the story of the Ninh Binh bear conservation centre, where 39 bears are being cared for. The organisers have said that two film production groups will be selected. The Goethe-Institut will provide 7,000 euros to the project and also help the films be screened at international film festivals. The films must run for a minimum of 24 minutes and a maximum of 30 minutes, and, more importantly, are required to be creative in their storytelling while respecting the truth. The goal is to spread a message about protecting the environment and nature. The selection panel includes People’s Artist Nguyen Nhu Vu, Director Phan Dang Di, and Screenwriter and Director Nguyen Le Hoang Viet. The results will be announced in December, and the selected filmmakers are to produce their films from January to August 2022./. Botswana wants to beef up cooperation with Vietnam: President Botswana always considers Vietnam a close friend and wants to further develop its friendship and cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation, especially in agriculture, health care, tourism, mining, and information-technology, President Mokgweeti Eric Keabetswe Masisi said. President Mokgweeti Masisi made the statement at a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa and Botswana Hoang Van Loi after the latter presented his credentials on October 19. Loi conveyed greetings and invitations of Vietnamese leaders to President Mokgweeti Masisi to visit Vietnam after the COVID-19 pandemic is put under control. In reply, the President said he will arrange the visit at a convenient time. The ambassador affirmed that Vietnam always wants to promote the friendship and cooperation with African friends, including Botswana. Earlier the same day, Loi presented a copy of his credentials and paid a courtesy visit to Botswana Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Lemogang Kwape who suggested the two countries increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially the high-level ones, and further provide mutual support at multilateral forums, firstly the United Nations. Botswana and Vietnam should promote negotiations to soon reach cooperation documents necessary to their sustainable bilateral ties, he said, adding that to increase two-way trade, Botswana will consider opening doors for some Vietnamese goods like agricultural products, consumption goods, apparels and electronics. He also suggested Vietnam increase imports of minerals that Botswana has large reserves and competitive prices. On this occasion, Loi had working sessions with leaders of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre and Business Botswana to seek specific measures to connect and assist businesses of the two countries in the time ahead./. Vietnamese culture promoted at festival in Geneva The performance of ao dai (long dress) and display of special Vietnamese products, such as silk, handicrafts and souvenirs, have left a deep impression on visitors at Flavours of Asia festival which was recently held at the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland. It was jointly organised by the Ambassadors’ Spouses Association in Geneva in coordination with the Delegation of Asian countries. The cultural diversity and richness of the Asian region have been vividly and colorfully reflected at the festival through performances of their national costumes, music and arts, and introduction of garment products, souvenirs and cusine. The Vietnamese delegation in Geneva brought to the festival typical silk and fine art products such as embroidery and lacquer paintings and souvenirs including bronze drums, paper fans, and lanterns as well as the performance of ao dai. It is noteworthy that the festival was held on the occasion of Vietnamese Women’s Day which falls on October 20 so it has become an opportunity for promoting Vietnam’s culture and people to international friends. According to the organisers, nearly 1,000 people took part in the festival. All proceeds from the sale of tickets and products will be donated to the Afghanistan Charity Foundation to support the country's women and children./. White-blouse female soldiers on the frontlines of COVID-19 fight Leaving behind their families, female medical workers
from Hue Central Hospital in central Thua Thien-Hue province have made
significant contributions to Vietnam’s fight against COVID-19. Like her colleagues, Dr Mai Thi Hong Van worked around the clock to save lives in the COVID-19 hotspots of Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Phu Yen, Dong Thap and Binh Duong provinces and Ho Chi Minh City. Living far from her family for nearly two months, Dr Van was among the first medical workers at COVID-19 intensive care units (ICUs) in Ho Chi Minh City at the time when the city was in its most critical period. Just like her colleagues, Dr Van felt she had more strength and motivation to continue the work after seeing patients make positive steps towards recovery. The task of treating patients is the same everywhere, and is a dangerous job. This time, many medical workers lived far from their family and were quarantined from society. Many female staff worked on the frontlines even though their children and parents also needed their care. Van and Bich are just two of many female medical workers from the Hue Central Hospital who accepted the grave danger to help people during the pandemic. From screening, examinations, and making medical declarations to offering nutritional care, taking care of personal hygiene, helping with rehabilitation, and injecting vaccinations, female nurses and doctors successfully completed their tasks with determination and dedication. Female nurses and doctors have worked continually over the last two years as the pandemic is yet to be stamped out in Vietnam. With ethics and a sense of responsibility, medical workers will do their utmost in the fight against COVID-19./. Ministry guides administration of Abdala Covid-19 vaccine The Ministry of Health yesterday issued its guidelines on the administration of the three-shot Abdala coronavirus vaccine which was approved for emergency use. According to the guidelines, the Abdala vaccine is manufactured at the AICA Laboratories Company, Base Business Unit (BBU) AICA in Cuba with the active ingredient recombinant protein indicated for injection in people aged 19-65 years. The administration consists of three doses and the interval between doses is 14 days. So far, more than three million doses of the Abdala vaccine have been immunized for people in the community, with very rare cases of anaphylaxis and without deaths or other serious side effects related to vaccination. On the evening of the same day, the Ministry of Health said that on the day, the National System of Covid-19 Case Management recorded 3,373 Covid-19 infection cases in 47 provinces and cities, including 1,332 locally transmitted cases. Furthermore, 1,338 people with Covid-19 were discharged from medical facilities, bringing the total number of recoveries to 804,664 people while the Ministry also announced 77 deaths related to Covid-19. Deputy Director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Hanoi Khong Minh Tuan yesterday said that up to now, the capital city has examined and tested over 3,000 people from southern provinces. Thereby, 32 positive cases who were returnees from Ho Chi Minh City (23 cases), Dong Nai (5 cases), Binh Duong (3 cases), Tay Ninh (1 case) were detected. Of the 32 cases mentioned above, 19 people have got full two doses of the vaccines, 8 people have had one dose, 4 people have not been vaccinated and one person has not been eligible for vaccination. Vietnam seeks new cooperation opportunities with Austria Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien has recently visited Styria, the second largest state of the European nation, to seek new cooperation opportunities between localities of the two countries. Within the visit, he met with Elke Kahr, leader of the Austrian Communist Party (KPO) in Styria that won a victory in local elections in Graz city on September 26. With this result, Kahr will become a new Mayor of Graz city later this year. The two sides discussed cooperation between Vietnam and Graz city over the past time, and agreed to boost the bilateral collaboration in economy, industry, research - training, tourism - culture and experience sharing. Kahr said she is willing to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy in Austria to organise activities in Graz on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Austria in 2022. Kien made field trips to two local firms, Christof Industries and AVL, to explore economic models of the Austrian state. Christof Industries is specialised in mechanical and electrical assembly, I & C engineering, power plant engineering, mill installation and maintenance as well as the maintenance and repair of industrial machinery and plants. Meanwhile, AVL is the world's largest independent company for the development, simulation and testing of powertrain systems. Both enterprises expressed their hope for cooperation with Vietnam. At a seminar held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Austria, local businesses suggested that restrictions on movement, entry, exit and quarantine amid the COVID-19 pandemic should be removed or imposed in a flexible manner to create optimal conditions for Austrian firms to soon return to Vietnam./. Hanoi launches first safety tour in new normal A safety tour with a combination of automatic audio guides and traditional sightseeing was launched on October 23 at the Vietnam National Museum of History. The event was organised by the museum in collaboration with the Hanoitourist Corporation (Hanoitourist) to adapt to the current COVID-19 pandemic and adjust the museum's operations in the new normal. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Nguyen Thi Thu Hoan, deputy director of the museum, said the "French architecture in the heart of Hanoi" tour is a product that makes a difference for visitors to the capital due to a connection between the museum with related monuments in Hanoi as well as a connection in terms of architecture and history. This tour combines traditional sightseeing with the application of automatic narration technology through scanning a QR code to ensure the safety of visitors in the new normal, she said. In particular, visitors can also admire and learn about three among many rare and precious treasures only at the Vietnam National Museum of History. They are "Ngoc Lu bronze drum" and the golden books and seals - the treasures symbolising the supreme power of the kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam, Hoan said. Phung Quang Thang, Director of Hanoitourist, said that after the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, all tourism activities have changed to a new form, operating in the context of living with COVID-19, flexible and safety adaptation which required travel firms to have safe tourism programmes and activities. Therefore, Hanoitourist and the Vietnam National Museum of History collaborated to set up a safe tour that last about one hour and a half, he said. The unique feature of the tour is the connection of three attractions, helping visitors to have an overview, identification and comparison to see the outstanding value of architectural works and styles, and interactions between Vietnamese culture with Western culture in the early 20th century. It connects events and artifacts displayed in the Vietnam National Museum of History with the Hanoi Opera House and the historical relic of the Bac Bo Phu (now became the Government Guest House) from the perspective of architecture and historical events, thereby helping visitors understand more deeply as well as having new experiences in the tour. To ensure safety, each tour group will have no more than 10 members and they have to keep a distance and do not contact with each other. The "French architecture in the heart of Hanoi" tour will be held every Saturday and Sunday, starting on October 23. Tourism authorities are working to encourage Hanoians to visit local places of interest, and travel firms also view this as an appropriate measure as the capital city have yet to reopen to tourists from other localities. In a recent interview, Director of the municipal Tourism Department Dang Huong Giang said her department has proposed four stages of tourism reopening on the basis of the Health Ministry’s guidelines for safe adaptation to the pandemic. It will continue developing safe and creative destinations and applying information technology more strongly to diversify tourism products in order to attract domestic travellers, the official noted. In revent years, Hanoi has been emerging as one of the most attractive destinations in the region and the world. According to the 2021 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, the city was one of the four Vietnamese cities listed among the most popular destinations in Asia in 2020. On the list, Hanoi ranked second, ancient town Hoi An in central Quang Nam province fourth, Ho Chi Minh City 11th, and central Da Nang city 16th. The capital city was also ranked the sixth place among the 25 most popular destinations in the world by Tripadvisor./. Risks of Covid-19 treatment drugs with unknown origin When the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in Vietnam, drugs for treating Covid-19 were advertised widely on social networks. Over the past time, experts have continuously warned that it is extremely dangerous for people to arbitrarily use drugs of unknown origin without a doctor’s prescription. Maze of Covid-19 treatment drugs As his relative is infected with Covid-19 and under home treatment, Do Hung Dung, a resident in Phu Nhuan District of HCMC, sought information about drugs for treating Covid-19 on the Internet. Contacting a seller, he was introduced to three types of drugs for Covid-19 treatment and prevention originating from Russia. All of them were Arbidol drugs but in different colors, including the blue box for people who want to prevent Covid-19 and children priced at VND380,000 per box of 10 tablets, the red box for F0, F1, and F2 cases priced at VND480,000 per box of 10 tablets, and the green box for patients with severe Covid-19 priced at VND4.2 million per box of 40 tablets. “The seller pledges that his products are authentic hand-carried goods from Russia, with efficacy in preventing and treating Covid-19 licensed by the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation. However, I am wondering whether to buy it or not because online advertisements are not completely trustworthy," said Dung. He said that on social networks, many accounts were selling this type of Covid-19 treatment drug. With the keyword Russian Covid-19 treatment drug, the search results show hundreds of Facebook pages selling hand-carried goods from Russia that sell Arbidol drugs. A Facebook account named H&G Hospital Online uses praise about this Covid-19 treatment drug. This account wrote that when being infected with moderately severe Covid-19, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation instructs patients under home treatment to use antiviral drugs. Even in the hospital, doctors give this medicine to Covid-19 patients when their conditions become severe. Three drugs include Areplivir, Coronavir, and Avifavir but all have the same ingredient as Favipiravir or Avigan, which was first developed to fight Ebola, Nipah, and Zika. This Facebook account also advises patients to take it as soon as they have a positive result or certain signs that they have contracted with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The drug is only used for treatment, not for prevention. The principle of drug action of the drug is to inhibit the rapid growth of the coronavirus in the body's cells so that the immune system can quickly beat a small number of viruses. “Take 16 tablets on the first day. From the second to the tenth day, take six tablets. The total course of treatment is to take 70 tablets. "Most Vietnamese people infected with Covid-19 in Russia since November 2020 have had to take this drug," this account affirmed. On the group named Specializing in Russian hand-carried goods with 5,000 members, many other Facebook accounts also introduce that Arbidol is the drug used by Russia for Covid-19 treatment. An account named Chuyen TN advertises that he sells three types of Arbidol for Covid-19 prevention and treatment for both adults and children. Meanwhile, Facebook account Le KL introduces Arbidol drugs as follows "Red for F1 and F2, and blue for Covid-19 prevention. Delivery nationwide.” Another seller instructs to take one tablet per day within 10-14 days if people want to prevent and fight Covid-19 when being exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. When they are not exposed to the virus but want prevention against it, take two tablets a week for three weeks. If infected with Covid-19, take four tablets a day for six hours apart within 7-10 days. Although each seller advertises Arbidol drugs differently, in general, the uses of Arbidol drugs are advertised as helping to increase resistance, prevent and inhibit coronavirus. Besides the coronavirus, Arbidol drugs are also effective against several other viruses, such as influenza A, influenza B, and H5N1. Dangerous if used indiscriminately Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, Infectious Disease Specialist of HCMC Children's Hospital 1, said that it is extremely dangerous that people arbitrarily use drugs to treat Covid-19. Recently, he has received many questions for advice on the use of Arbidol. He warned that the use of anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs requires a doctor's prescription because the drug has many side effects. Depending on each specific case, the doctor will have instructions for use or contraindications. If people use the drug arbitrarily, it will only get worse. As for taking medicine to prevent Covid-19, according to Dr. Khanh, it is a trick for sellers to sell goods. “There are currently only vaccines to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Only vaccines can help us prevent and reduce the aggravating symptoms of Covid-19," said Dr. Khanh. According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), Vietnam currently includes a number of drugs that have been recognized worldwide in the Covid-19 treatment regimen. Three antiviral drugs included in the guidelines are Remdesivir for patients with moderate and severe symptoms, Favipiravir for asymptomatic patients and patients with mild to moderate symptoms, and Molnupiravir for patients with mild symptoms. Assoc. Prof-Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department under the MoH, said that these antiviral drugs help reduce the viral load instead of killing the virus. Especially, Molnupiravir is not prescribed for pregnant women in the first three months and women planning to become pregnant. The use of different drugs for Covid-19 treatment must be controlled by medical workers for proper application on each specific case, said Assoc. Prof-Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue. From August this year to now, authorities have continuously uncovered and seized thousands of boxes of Covid-19 treatment drugs smuggled into Vietnam via hand-carrying. Experts also recommend that people should not arbitrarily seek and hoard drugs used in Covid-19 treatment because, without the guidance of a doctor, it can lead to unpredictable consequences. Each case of Covid-19 will have a different level of disease and different physical conditions, so it is necessary to be prescribed by a doctor about the appropriate dose and type of medication. Quang Nam develops tourism stimulus programme for My Son Sanctuary According to the Management Board of the My Son
Sanctuary in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, in Quang Nam province,
together with nearby Hoi An ancient town, the world cultural heritage site
will focus on improving the quality of its tourism products to attract more
visitors now that Covid-19 has been largely brought under control. Held on the 16th night of every lunar month at My Son Sanctuary, the program will recreate the unique artistic values of Cham culture through traditional ceremonies, Cham folk dances and songs, excerpts from the Rija nugar festival, and displays of Cham pottery and brocade weaving, among others. A highlight of the program will be story-telling and light shows taking audiences back to the mysterious past of the Cham people. The new tourism program is hoped to boost tourism in the locality post-pandemic./. Da Nang to vaccinate high school students late this month Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen has asked the municipal health and education departments to build a plan to vaccinate students aged from 15 to under 18 with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on October 26 – 29. At a meeting of the central city’s Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on October 22, she said that according to the education and training department’s plan, first-, ninth- and twelfth- graders will go back to school on November 1, with all students following suit on November 8. Yen said the city will receive 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the near future. At the meeting, the committee reported that Da Nang posted no new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours to 1pm on October 22. As from July 10 to date, the city logged 4,692 infections, with 8,768 people tested for COVID-19 on October 22. Currently, Da Nang has four locations being under lockdown, 55 people returning from pandemic areas put under quarantine at concentrated facilities, and 862 others quarantined at home. The city has so far given 999,744 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, of which the first doses accounting for 97.6 percent and the second doses 16.6 percent./. UNDP debuts climate change news portal for Vietnamese youth The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam launched a news portal on climate change for young people at a discussion held virtually on October 22. Organised in collaboration with the Italian and British embassies in Vietnam, the event took place on the threshold of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and gathered more than 2,400 Vietnamese youths from different regions. In his opening speech, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Vietnam, Terence D. Jones, highlighted that through the portal, the UNDP will support youth capacity development, empower youth-led climate initiatives, and create an favourable environment for young people to access green job opportunities and adopt sustainable lifestyles. Jones said that the UNDP will continue to prioritise supporting and strengthening the climate action of Vietnamese youth in the coming years by establishing a Training of Trainers (TOT) network on different climate topics and foster knowledge for 100 excellent young people to expand the climate learning society in the nation. The portal provides a learning space for young people to access reliable, accurate and contextual information in Vietnam on climate science, agriculture and forestry, energy, waste, circular economy and climate policy. It reshapes and updates climate science and policy into youth-friendly learning themes./. HOPA hosts photo contest honoring victory over pandemic The HCMC Photographic Association (HOPA) has launched a photo contest honoring beautiful images of the prevention and control of Covid-19 pandemic. The submissions are required to describe the unity and solidarity of the people in the fight against Covid-19, hard times and efforts of healthcare workers and frontline forces, people’s life during the social distancing period and the resumption of economic and social activities. The contest is open for all professional and amateur photographers throughout the country. The jury members are photographers including Ly Hoang Long, Doan Thi Tho and Nguyen Minh Tan who will receive artworks from now until December 5. Sea turtles protected at Nui Chua National Park The Nui Chua National Park in the south central province of Ninh Thuan is among the rare destinations in Vietnam where sea turtles lay their eggs. It used to host green, loggerhead, and hawksbill sea turtles, but only green turtles have arrived during nesting season in recent years. The peak of the nesting season in the park falls between June and October. In recent years, though, the number of sea turtles spotted during this time has fallen. "In the evening, we patrol and protect the mother turtles, and move nests or eggs that are near the sea to safety," said Pham Anh Dung, deputy head of the Sea Preservation Department of the Nui Chua National Park. Each year, the Nui Chua biodiversity conservation centre releases hundreds of turtles into the sea. Since the beginning of this year, 78 turtles have been spotted looking for a place to lay their eggs, resulting in 1,250 babies released into the sea. A rescue team also released a 10 kg blue turtle. Since 2000, with the aid of domestic and international organisations, like the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Global Environment Fund, the Nui Chua National Park has run a project to survey visiting turtles and their nesting conditions. The results were then used to protect the species, particularly at the three protection zones of Bai Thit, Bai Ngang, and Bai Hom beaches. "Normally, when the turtles are injured, we will feed them and take care of them, bathing them with disinfectant for a while. After they recover, we release them back into the sea," said Ngo Minh Quoc from the Marine Preservation Department of the Nui Chua National Park. The park has built a facility to treat turtles saved from illegal captivity, with volunteers trained to monitor them during their nesting time and to protect the eggs. The volunteers join patrols of the park’s rescue team along the beach and carry out communications campaigns. Also joining the effort, Ninh Thuan's authorities have requested intensified inspections of the illegal captivity, transport, and distribution of sea turtles and their eggs in the local area, with strict punishment imposed on violators./. Four post-COVID tourism trends revealed: Traveloka The COVID-19 pandemic has changed travel needs and trends around the world. Traveloka, an online travel startup in Southeast Asia, has announced four popular travel trends of the post-COVID-19 period. Touchless travel Keeping a distance, limiting contact and regularly disinfecting hands are ways to prevent COVID-19 infection that have become a habit of many people. Touchless travel in the post-COVID-19 period does not only refer to limiting person-to-person contact as well as contact with objects and surfaces but also to travel experiences with automated devices and technologies. Staycation Staycation is a form of travel in which visitors will experience travel locally, without undergoing a long journey or having to use public transport. This is an opportunity for visitors to discover interesting and attractive things near their living areas that they have missed before. In Vietnam, the post-COVID-19 tourism trend has gradually become popular since 2019. As the pandemic has not shown any signs of being completely under control, this trend is still loved by travel enthusiasts due to the fact that it helps to limit the risk of disease infection and save costs. Medical tourism Medical tourism is a travel service that focuses on relaxation, beauty, and healthcare. The core purpose of this service is physical recovery and mental regeneration. Travelling towards isolated and least visited
places will become the dominant trend in post COVID-19. (Photo:nhandan.vn) Travelling towards isolated and least visited places Unspoiled and isolated locations not only bring tranquility but also bring absolute peace of mind as these places often serve a small number of tourists, thereby reducing the risk of disease infection./. Phu Quoc to welcome int’l tourists with vaccine passports in November The People’s Committee of Kien Giang province on October 21 issued a pilot plan to welcome international tourists using "vaccine passports" to Phu Quoc Island beginning November 20. The plan aims to gradually restore the international tourism market, ensure security in tourism activities, and contribute to socio-economic development targets set for 2021. The provincial People’s Committee requests all international tourists to have a vaccine passport and strictly comply with epidemic prevention measures in Vietnam. At least 90 per cent of the population and workers in Phu Quoc have to be fully vaccinated in order to be ready to welcome international guests in the future. The pilot plan will be implemented in two phases within the course of six months. Specifically, from November 20, a number of charter flights will go to Phu Quoc for authorities to test the process of picking up and serving guests. Based on the experience, authorities will then evaluate the plan’s feasibility, make adjustments if necessary, and follow the official roadmap from December 20 onwards. During the first phase from December 20 to March 20, Phu Quoc will welcome 3,000 to 5,000 tourists per month via charter flights and allocate private experiences within limited locations and areas for guests. The second phase, which starts from March 20, 2022 to June 20, 2022, involves evaluation of the first phase and a scale of 5,000 to 10,000 guests per month if all requirements are met. With regards to the target audience, international tourists will be allowed to visit from countries and territories with high safety in COVID-19 pandemic prevention. They will enter Phu Quoc International Airport via charter flights with a certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a proof of COVID-19 recovery recognised by relevant authorities in Vietnam. Injection of the second shot must have been done at least 14 days before and no more than 12 months from the day of arrival. Visitors who have recovered from COVID-19 have to submit proof that their discharge from the hospital to the date they enter Phu Quoc has not exceeded six months. In addition, an English certificate of negative COVID-19 test results via the RT-PCR method within 72 hours before departure must be prepared by visitors. Children under 18 years old with a valid negative COVID-19 test result are allowed to travel to Phu Quoc with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian. Visitors to Phu Quoc must have a return air ticket and register to participate in a package tour programme with health insurance from a travel agency proposed by Kien Giang province. Kien Giang province has created a backup plan and set up a testing and isolation zone for 2,000 people. Preparation of COVID-19 treatment capacity for 1,000 people is part of the plan as well. All workers involved in the process of welcoming and serving visitors will be trained in safety measures in COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control./. Political parties applaud top Party leader’s message of international solidarity Political parties have lauded Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s message of international solidarity sent to the annual international workshop entitled “Political parties and a new society” held recently in Mexico. They described the message as a great source of encouragement for political parties, and left-wing and progressive organisations in Mexico, Latin America and the world at large. In his message, Trong thanked the Mexican Labour Party (PT), left-wing political and progressive parties in Latin America and the Caribbean region, and other political parties worldwide for their support to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) during the past struggle for national liberation, as well as the present cause of national construction and defence. The leader also expressed his wish to deepen the friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the CPV and political parties in the world. He said the workshop has contributed to the common struggle for peace, national independence, democracy, cooperation and social development and progress. The event that took place from October 21-23 brought together more than 200 international delegates from 32 countries worldwide. PT General Secretary Alberto Anaya Gutiérrez told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that he spoke highly of Trong’s message, saying it is a great source of encouragement for all progressive political parties attending the workshop./. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region grants medical supplies to northern provinces Leaders of Mong Cai city in the northern border province of Quang Ninh and the Ministry of Health on October 22 received 800,000 doses of Vero Cell vaccine, an ECMO machine and many medical equipment and supplies donated by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. The handover of the vaccine and medical equipment took place on Bac Luan II Bridge at Mong Cai (Vietnam) – Dongxing (China) international border gate. The vaccine and medical equipment and supplies, worth 62.55 million CNY (some 9.7 million USD) in total, will be allocated to the provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Ha Giang which share the borderline and close cooperative ties with Guangxi. Since the pandemic broke out, Quang Ninh province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have donated medical supplies to and supported each other in the fight against COVID-19./. Adjusted law on intellectual property right promotes innovation for development The 15th National Assembly in the first week of its second session considered adjustments for the intellectual property (IP) law. This action, according to the Science and Technology Ministry, affirms that IP is one key factor for socio-economic development in Vietnam. SGGP Newspaper has conducted an interview with Deputy Director General of the IP Office of Vietnam Nguyen Van Bay about this adjustment. Talking about the necessity of modifications for the current law on IP, Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Bay admitted that there exist certain inadequacies in regulations on copyright owners, performers, holders of related rights in cases of ownership transfer or use right holder transfer of copyright and related rights; in regulations on promoting the creation, exploitation, and popularization of inventions, industrial designs, and layout designs financed by state budget, and resulting in limited commercialization of these products; and in procedures to register for copyright and related rights as well as the establishment of industrial property right (IPR). In addition, activities to enforce IP rights are facing several challenges now since infringements of IP rights are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, especially on the virtual environment. Finally, the observation of articles in free trade agreements (FTAs) with high requirements in enforcing IP rights like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the European Union–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has asked for the adjustment of IP laws to better suit international regulations. When asked about the benefits of implementing IP rights in Vietnam during the participation in FTAs, the Deputy Director General answered that the IP right protection mechanism is normally considered a tool to encourage innovation and fight against unhealthy competition so that creative products, particularly those using cutting edge technologies, can boost economic growth and serve the community. Therefore, the application of IP rights in Vietnam via FTAs will form a healthy environment to attract technology transfer, investments from other nations and improve the quality, the competitiveness of domestic products, while creating favorable conditions for businesses of the country to enjoy the results of their investment in innovative activities. Along with the benefits come several challenges, which requires the smooth and close cooperation between the Government, businesses, and related organizations, units in the society. Commenting on the direction of adjustments to the current IP law, Mr. Bay said that these modifications should promote more innovation, ensure stability, consistency, synchronization, transparency, and feasibility. Simultaneously, state management on IP must be more effective to encourage socio-economic, cultural developments in the country. Particularly, these seven policy groups will be adjusted: - Ensure clear regulations on authors, copyright owners, performers, and related rights holders in cases of transfer of copyright and related rights; - Promote the creation, exploitation, and popularization of inventions, industrial designs, and layout designs financed by state budget; - Facilitate the process of registration for copyright and related rights, the process of establishing industrial property rights; - Ensure adequate and balanced level of IP right protection; - Enhance the effectiveness of support activities for IP; - Improve the effectiveness of IP right protection activities; - Ensure the full observation of Vietnam’s international commitments on IP protection during its integration process. Discussing necessary actions of Vietnam in obeying international laws and exploiting technological advances in the world for its own socio-economic growth, the Deputy Director General stated that the country has made great efforts to maintain an IP system suitable for its development goals, where the State protects the investment results of organizations and individuals in innovative activities and ensure the general benefits of the community. Statistics from the IP Office of Vietnam reveal that from 2016-2020, around 5,600 foreign patents register for protection in Vietnam annually while this number in the world reaches 3 million a year. This means many technologies are not under patent right protection in the country, which is a pity since the principles of the patent system states that almost all registered patents are publicized to be exploited suitably. The 3 million new patents a year is truly an invaluable resource to be implemented for socio-economic growth of any nation, including Vietnam. Kindergarten students walk for six kilometres to go to school It’s hard for people to believe that kindergarten students must walk up to six kilometres to go get to school, but that is what students in the Ón Village do on a daily basis. Often they are so tired when they reach school that they immediately fall asleep. The Ón Village is in Tam Chung Commune, Mường Lát District in the central province of Thanh Hóa. It’s nearly 230km from Thanh Hóa City’s centre to Mường Lát District, and it’s about 25km from the district to the Ón Village. Many of the roads aren't suitable even for motorbikes, especially on rainy days. The Ón Village kindergarten is in the middle of a high mountain. It is about 2km from the border marker of Laos and Sơn La Province. Vi Thị Bột teaches a class of 16 four-year-old students. On heavy rainy days, only three or four students make it to school. “They live too far away and are not taken to school by their parents. They cannot get here in in heavy rain,” said Bột. Bột said that the school lacks the infrastructure and the necessary equipment to supply lunch for students. “After studying hours, some of them go back home, others go to their relatives nearby and some others bring lunch from home and wait for afternoon lesson after the nap,” she said. The Ón Village has three teachers. Besides Bột, there are Phạm Thị Giang and Bùi Thị Thúy. Recalling her first days at the school, Thúy knew in advance it would be miserable, but it's much harder than even she anticipated. Teachers can try to overcome difficulties, but for students who are only three or four years old, Thúy struggles to believe they can help enough. Students often enter school at 7.30 am, so they must start their journey at about 5 am. Three-year-old students also walk to school, and even walk for 5-6km, said Thúy. Education to escape early marriage The Ón Village has 112 households of ethnic Mông minorities. It is considered one of the poorest areas in Thanh Hóa Province. Local residents’ meals are maize, cassava and bamboo found in the fields or in the forest. Due to poverty, teenagers quitting school to get married at only 13-15 years old is not unusual. They then have many children, and these children too fall into poverty and are illiterate. The circle repeats through generations. Teacher Vi Văn Chuân, head of the Ón Village’s primary school, said, “They are too tired after walking for a long way, so many days they are not able to listen in class.” The weather is too hot in summer and too cold in winter, which also affects their health. However, through education, they are literate, have fun and the cycle of early marriage and poverty can be broken, he said. Giàng A Chống, Secretary of the Ón Village Party Committee, was the first person in the village to graduate from high school, and also the first person to be a Party member. Giàng is a pioneer in poverty and illiteracy elimination in the village. Chống believes that students must go to school despite every obstacle as it is the only way to escape from poverty and early marriage. “If students quit school, teachers do not hesitate to come to their houses and encourage them to come back. In order to eliminate poverty, the first work is to eliminate illiteracy,” said Chống. Students do not just learn to read and write, but also learn how to grow rice and raise livestock effectively, he said. Chống’s and generations of teachers’ efforts have gradually come true. Thanks to the authorities and sponsors, in 2018, strong classrooms were built in the village. Miracle Nguyễn Thế Cường, Deputy Principal of the Tam Chung Primary School, said that in Ón Village, students attending school should be considered a miracle. The miracle did not come naturally. It is thanks to the effort and determination of village officials and generations of teachers. Teachers like Bột or Quách Thị Minh, all sacrificed their youth, carefully preparing lessons to bring students in this mountainous region knowledge. In recent years, more and more students from the Ón Village go to junior secondary school and high school. Teacher Minh said that in some families, all four children have entered high school. Some of them have gone to Hà Nội for higher-level education, with the hope of coming back to enlighten the village. Vietnamese artists take part in German art festival Independent filmmaker and video artist Nguyen Trinh Thi and Nha San Collective, a non-profit, artist-run space for experimental art will represent Vietnam at the 15th German art festival, Documenta. Documenta, the famed quinquennial event takes place in the German city of Kassel. It showcases contemporary art, using a variety of venues throughout the city. Documenta began as a postwar attempt at revitalization. The artist list for the 15th edition of Documenta has been revealed. So far the curators have named 51 artists and collectives included in the show, slated to open on 18 June 2022. Participating artists have been grouped into ‘mini-majelis’. The nationalities of the artists have also been omitted – replaced by their respective time zones. The exhibition is being curated by the Indonesian collective Ruangrupa. Documenta 15 is themed around the idea of lumbung, which translates from Indonesian as a sort of commons predicated upon resource-sharing. Ruangrupa are organizing their show around the idea of lumbung, based on the model of a communal surplus-grain warehouse, created for shared future use. Nguyen Trinh Thi is a Hanoi-based moving image artist. Her diverse practice, transcending the boundaries between cinema, documentary and performance, has consistently engaged with memory and history. Her works have been shown at international festivals and art exhibitions including Asia Pacific Triennial (Brisbane, 2018), Sydney Biennale 2018; Jeu de Paume, Paris; CAPC musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux; the Lyon Biennale 2015; Asian Art Biennial 2015, Taiwan; Fukuoka Asian Art Triennial 2014; and Singapore. he Nha San Collective is a pioneer in facilitating an experimental art movement and in promoting contemporary culture. The organization has supported the development of the first generation of contemporary artists in Vietnam. HCM City to vaccinate children The HCM City steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control has announced vaccination plans for people aged 12 to 17, starting with the oldest demographic and moving down age groups. There are around 780,000 children in the age groups, according to the committee. Students will be vaccinated in their schools or safe sites chosen by their schools, while those who do not attend schools will be given their shots at sites around the city. Children with underlying health conditions will get them at paediatric hospitals and general hospitals with paediatric departments. Those already in hospitals will be vaccinated even if they are from other provinces and cities. The city is waiting for instructions from the Ministry of Health to begin the campaign. Besides, the vaccines need to be approved by the ministry and both shots should be of the same kind. Health and safety regulations will be strictly followed, with medical personnel standing by to monitor health conditions. Strict social distancing norms will be followed at the vaccination centres. Parents or guardians will be kept in the loop at all stages, including signs to watch out for after the shots. The Department of Education and Training has been asked to make a list of students from sixth to 12th grades for the vaccination. Meanwhile, the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will make a similar list of children not attending school or living at shelters it runs. The city plans to work with the ministry to ensure there are sufficient vaccines. Thủ Đức City to vaccinate children on October 25 Thủ Đức City in HCM City plans to vaccinate all 100,000 of its children aged 12 to 17 starting on October 25 after getting consent from their parents and guardians. It will first immunise around 25,000 of them aged 16-17. For the purpose, it will first set up 54 vaccination sites, and more if needed. HCM City, Việt Nam’s COVID epicentre, has been focusing on inoculating its populace quickly, and around 80 per cent of its adult population has received both shots. As of October 19, it had nearly 860 COVID patients under the age of 16. The number of children across the Việt Nam contracting COVID during the current outbreak is a lot higher than in the past, and there have been deaths. HCMC reaches second level of Covid-19 According to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the southern metropolis achieves the second level of Covid-19. The city authorities today announced the level of the epidemic in the city according to Resolution 128/NQ-CP and Decision 4800 of the Ministry of Health on temporary guidance on safe and flexible adaptation to the new situation and effective control of the Covid-19 epidemic. The municipal People's Committee said that the assessment results of the level of Covid-19 epidemic in the country's largest city until October 24 show that it reached the second level. Districts 1, 7, 8, 10, Go Vap, Tan Binh, Can Gio, Cu Chi, Thu Duc City reached the first level while Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, Binh Chanh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Tan Phu, Hoc Mon and Nha Be districts are ranked at the second level. Only Binh Tan District is at the third level. Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/SGGP/Nhan Dan |
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