The number of people participating in social insurance in Vietnam surpassed 17.4 million in the first four months of 2024, up 1.73% from the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Social Security (VSS).

By the end of April, nearly 16 million people joined compulsory social insurance, up 1.56% year-on-year, while over 1.4 million others took part in voluntary insurance.

Also in the period, the number of people covered by unemployment insurance reached over 14.2 million, up 1.74% year-on-year. Meanwhile, 90.2 million joined health insurance, representing a 0.02% annual increase.

Total social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance premiums collected by the end of April increased 14 trillion VND (551 million USD) or 10.04% compared to the same period last year.

The VSS has directed its local chapters to take drastic measures to increase the number of participants and hasten the collection of insurance premiums./.

Local table tennis players begin battle for Olympic slots

The Vietnamese table tennis team are ready to compete for places at the Olympics during the Southeast Asia regional qualification from May 8 to May 10 in Bangkok in Thailand.

The country has sent a table tennis quartet to the event, including Nguyen Anh Tu, SEA Games 32 silver medalist; and Dinh Anh Hoang, SEA Games 32 gold medalist; who will compete in the men's singles.

This is along with Mai Hoang My Trang, the champion of the national championship; and Nguyen Khoa Dieu Khanh, the winner of the national top stars table tennis tournament; who will take part in the women's singles.

They will join eight male and six female athletes from other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Philippines as they vie for Olympic tickets.

Among the group are outstanding faces including Sanguansin Phakpoom, Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 31 men's singles silver medalist; Izaac Quek, SEA Games 32 men's singles gold medalist; Zeng Jian, SEA Games 32 women's singles gold medalist; and Ho Ting, SEA Games 31 women's singles bronze medalist.

Vietnam Table Tennis Federation (VTTF) has announced that any athlete who earns a spot at the Olympics will receive a big bonus of VND100 million.

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will take place in France from July 26 to August 11. A total of 172 athletes worldwide will participate in the table tennis competition at the event.

Keeping mother tongue alive among OVs in Denmark

A Vietnamese language class for the overseas Vietnamese (OV) community in Denmark has been opened in Copenhagen, aiming to keeping and promoting the language as well as the nation’s cultural identity in the European country.

Speaking at the event held at the Vietnamese Embassy, Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi hailed organisers and teachers’ efforts in opening the class and highlighted the significance of maintaining the teaching and learning of Vietnamese as the language is a special bond connecting overseas Vietnamese, particularly young generations, and their roots.

September 8 has been designated as the day for honouring the Vietnamese language for communities abroad.

Currently, there are more than 16,000 OV living and working in Denmark. They have deeply integrated into the host society, and been highly appreciated by local authorities for contributions to the economic and socio-cultural development of Denmark.

For the more than 5.3 million overseas Vietnamese living in more than 130 countries and territories worldwide, the Vietnamese language is a means for them to preserve their traditional culture and establish themselves while integrating into the local communities. The language is also a bridge to connect OVs all over the world with their Motherland./.

A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for people smuggling

A man has been jailed for two years for Việt Nam people smuggling.

The People's Court of Trần Văn Thời District of southern Cà Mau Province opened a mobile court session to hear the first instance of a case of organising and brokering for others to escape to abroad or stay illegally in a foreign country.

The jury sentenced defendant Phạm Văn Nghệ, 53, from Bến Tre Province, temporarily residing in Sông Đốc Town of Cà Mau Province, to two years in prison for arranging for others to flee abroad.

The fishing boat used was also confiscated by the court.

The court heard that in August 2019, a man named Lê Quốc Khánh went fishing illegally in Malaysian waters and was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison by the Malaysian authority.

After being released from prison, Khánh returned to Việt Nam and met Lê Thị Đẳng (also known as Nguyễn Thuỳ Trang) who is living in Malaysia.

Trang hired Khánh to go to Malaysia to catch fish for her and asked Khánh to find a captain and fishermen to work for her.

On February 9, 2023, Đẳng and Nghệ arranged for Khánh and Huỳnh Văn Lâm to use the fishing boat going from Sông Đốc estuary to Malaysia to catch seafood.

On April 24, 2023, Nghệ drove a boat with Lê Quốc Khánh, Đào Quốc Dương, Nguyễn Văn Lam, Phạm Văn Út, Nguyễn Chí Tâm and Ngô Doãn Công to illegally return to Việt Nam by sea.

On May 2, 2023, the Sông Đốc Border Guard Station were on patrol when they spotted the boat and Nghệ was arrested in November later that year.

Nghệ was convicted of the crime of "organising for others to escape abroad".

Workers Month begins in HCM City

Labour unions at various levels in HCM City are organising a number of activities to provide better care for workers during Workers Month in May.

At a ceremony to kick off Workers Month at industrial parks and export processing zones in the city on Sunday, nearly 700 workers who suffered work-related accidents and serious illnesses and 1,780 others who had put in outstanding performances at work received gifts.

The HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA)’s trade union will spend VNĐ2 billion (US$79,000) on workers’ welfare during the month.

The Action Month for Labour Safety and Hygiene is being held concurrently. 

The Tân Bình District Labour Federation on Sunday organised a fund-raising walk that attracted more than 1,500 union members and raised more than VNĐ300 million ($11,800) for Workers Month.

The Tân Phú District Labour Federation on Sunday kicked off the month with a number of activities for workers such as a sports event and price-stabilisation sales programmes.

It offered vouchers worth VNĐ100,000 to 1,000 workers to buy goods and gave gifts to nearly 100 disadvantaged workers. 

Hà Nội has 38 bus routes using electronic tickets

There are a total of 38 bus routes using electronic tickets under the pilot programme on the multi-modal ticket system for public transport in Hà Nội, said Nguyễn Phi Thường, director of the Hà Nội Department of Transport.

Electronic bus tickets are one of the important solutions helping transform Hà Nội into a smart city, bringing many benefits to the city and public transport users, Thường said.

Since November last year, in addition to the ten electric bus routes using these type of tickets, the city has expanded the pilot to other 18 regular bus routes, bringing the total number of routes piloting electronic tickets to 28 regular routes and the BRT line.

Passengers can buy chip cards or online tickets via the website, mobile applications or at ticket counters. The system accepts many forms of non-cash payments such as bank cards, e-wallets and QR codes.

“The multi-modal electronic ticket system, in addition to making ticket sales and checking quick and convenient, also meets the management and operation requirements of the route network, allowing the creation of a flexible ticket mechanism to attract people into using public services," Thường said.

The pilot programme aims to help create a foundation for an inter-connected ticket system across the city. 

Việt Nam, Belarus celebrate major anniversaries

The Việt Nam Embassy in Belarus and the Association of International Friendship and Cultural Exchange of Belarus on May 6 held a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of Victory Day over Fascism in the Great Patriotic War (May 9, 1945 – 2024), the 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ Victory (May 7, 1954-2024), and the 49th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the national reunification (April 30, 1975-2024).

Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Ngữ highlighted similarities between the victories of the two countries and affirmed that in world history, the victories do not only belong to the peoples of Việt Nam and Belarus but also to all peoples who love peace, freedom, and justice.

He emphasised that the Vietnamese people always remember the pure solidarity and valuable support and assistance of the Soviet people, including the people of Belarusia as well as peace lovers worldwide, adding that Việt Nam values traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Belarus.

He said Việt Nam hopes to work with Belarusian friends and partners to continue nurturing the bilateral friendly relations.

Representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and Belarusian guests showed their love and admiration for the Vietnamese as well as their glorious victories and great achievements in the cause of national defence, construction, and development.

The event wrapped up the series of the events in the "Việt Nam Day in Minsk" organised from April 15 by the embassy and the association.

Earlier, the embassy and the Việt Nam Trade Office in Belarus held talks with Belarusian economic agencies and representatives of nearly 30 enterprises that have business relations with Việt Nam in such fields as economics, trade, and tourism. 

Kim Đồng Publishing launches late writer's diary

A new book launched by Kim Đồng Publishing House offers bookworms a chance to know more about late writer Nguyễn Huy Tưởng.

Nguyễn Huy Tưởng (1912-1960) was a popular writer and playwright responsible for masterpieces including Vũ Như Tô, Đêm Hội Long Trì (Long Trì Festive Night), Lá Cờ Thêu Sáu Chữ Vàng (The Flag Embroidered with Six Golden Words) and Sống Mãi Với Thủ Đô (Live Forever With the Capital).

The writer was one of the first people to be awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize and State Award for Literature and Arts.

The book entitled Con Đường Văn Sĩ (The Writer's Path) is Tưởng's diary from 1938 to the first half of 1945 and is compiled by his son Nguyễn Huy Thắng to commemorate the writer's 112th birthday anniversary.

"My father died when I was five years old so I almost don't have memories about him," said Thắng. "The diary helps me to understand him."

Tưởng came to writing quite late and in his youth participated in patriotic movements in Hải Phòng to spread the national language.

In 1943, he joined the secret National Salvation Culture group. In August 1945, he was sent to attend the National Congress in Tân Trào, then when the August Revolution succeeded, he became a key leader of the National Salvation Cultural Association and a delegate to the 1st National Assembly in 1946.

After 1954, he was a founding member of the Việt Nam Writers Association and became a member of the association's executive committee.

During those young years, he channeled his enthusiasm and desire to contribute, while suffering from anxiety about how best to express those emotions, into a diary.

The diary pages written during the years 1938 through to the August Revolution illuminate the path of a civil servant at the Tax Department working towards becoming a writer.

In the book there are also sketches about a generation of pre-war writers and historical details from the August Revolution of the urban intellectuals.

The writer did not expect that one day his diary would be published, so the writings are innocent and unfliltered, according to Ph.D in Literature scholar Đỗ Thanh Nga.

"The diary is therefore attractive because it is concise but vivid," Nga said. "With realistic and emotional details, the diary pages are valuable documents about social life, civil servant life and partly outline the picture of Vietnamese literature before the August Revolution."

Tưởng died of cancer in 1960 in Hà Nội. In his 20-year career, he left a huge literary legacy including six plays, five novels and nearly ten literary works for children and others. 

Bến Tre Province secures water for agriculture, household use amid saltwater intrusion

Bến Tre Province has taken a number of effective measures to prevent saltwater intrusion this dry season, mitigating its impacts on agriculture and daily life.

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province has faced severe saltwater intrusion up its rivers.

Trần Ngọc Tam, chairman of the province People’s Committee, said a programme to encourage the public to store water from rains and other sources for irrigation and household use has proven extremely effective.

People have used containers and huge plastic bags and dug ponds in orchards to store water.

The province has built new irrigation works and upgraded existing ones.

Nguyễn Thành Tấn of Chợ Lách District’s Hoà Nghĩa Commune said he dug a pond in his 4,000sq.m durian orchard.

The pond holds 500 cu.m of water, enough to irrigate the orchard for one to two months, according to the farmer.

He has also invested in an automatic irrigation system to save water and grows grass in the orchard to keep the soil moist.

The province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has helped farmers switch to crops that can cope with saltwater.

It has also developed effective farming models to improve production efficiency.

A salinity of four grammes per litre was found 42-54 km inland in many major rivers on May 2, according to the province Centre for Hydro-Meteorology Forecasting.

It was 54 km deep into the mouth of the Hàm Luông River in Châu Thành District.

Most plants can only survive four grammes.

The province has 67 water supply plants with a total capacity of 250,000cu.m a day.

Last month it decided to reduce by 10 per cent the tariffs for tap water supplied by the Provincial Centre for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in March and April.

The province has an estimated 25,000 households facing a water shortage this dry season.

It has set up 165 sites in Giồng Trôm, Ba Tri, Chợ Lách, Thạnh Phú, Châu Thành and Bình Đại districts to supply free water to locals.

It has also organised vehicles to transport water for people living in areas affected by saltwater.

Many philanthropists and organisations have also set up water tanks and provided water to people living in areas with water shortages.

At the end of last month the province Youth Union and philanthropists did so in Mỏ Cày Nam District’s An Định Commune.

Last week the Central Committee of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) and the Việt Nam Young Entrepreneurs Association donated water tanks and water bottles in Ba Tri District.

HCYU also donated money to assist locals, including for building a bridge and a children’s playground in An Hiệp Commune, in addition to VNĐ1 billion (US$40,000) each to help poor households breed cattle for beef and provide soft loans for young people looking to set up start-ups.

Events and exhibitions to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ Victory

The commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ Victory has been marked by many events, exhibitions and with a specially-designed set of stamps.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity and Education, People's Committee of Điện Biên Province, and Việt Nam Post Corporation have issued a set of stamps named 'Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory.'

The stamp set, designed by artist Nguyễn Du from the Việt Nam Postal Corporation, comprises four designs to recreate the story of Điện Biên Province from the heroic past to the bright future.

The designs are new and not a replicate of previous stamps issued to commemorate other anniversaries of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, which have been issued every decade since 1954.

The first stamp is Chắc thắng mới đánh (Be sure to win). The stamp's primary graphic depicts an army hauling artillery into combat with a background featuring a picture of Mường Phăng's Command Headquarters.

The second stamp, named, Cả nước ra trận (The whole country to the front, shows a group of volunteers loading food and weapons for the front lines. The Điện Biên Phủ Campaign is depicted on the stamp's backdrop, which shows soldiers taking control of the French command bunker and hoisting the flag above it.

The third is called Bài ca không quên (Unforgettable song) and has as a backdrop the signing of the Geneva Accords, which declared the end of the French resistance war and shows a group of veterans visiting the old battlefield.

The final and fourth stamp is called Phồn vinh, hạnh phúc (Prosperity and happiness). A Thái ethnic woman is welcoming children from all groups into school with a blooming banyan tree in the background, planted above the site of the former Điện Biên battlefield.

The stamps, which cost VNĐ4,000, VNĐ4,000, VNĐ6,000 and VNĐ15,000 each respectively, will be available from the postal services until December 31, 2025.

An 800-document exhibition

Eight hundred documents are displayed at 'Điện Biên Phủ Victory -Việt Nam's Strength and the Stature of the Times' at the Việt Nam National Library.

The documents are divided into four parts, including the Resistance against French colonialism and Vietnamese military art, the actual Điện Biên Phủ Campaign and Victory, Symbols of Wisdom and Patriotism, and Echoes of Điện Biên.

The Director of the National Library of Vietnam Nguyễn Xuân Dũng said the whole history of Việt Nam in the 20th century is tied to the historic victory of Điện Biên Phủ -- a symbol of the nation's desire for peace, independence and freedom.

The exhibition takes place until May 26, at the Việt Nam National Library, 31 Tràng Thi Street, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hà Nội. 

Điện Biên Phủ victory celebrated in Laos

A grand meeting was held in Vientiane, Laos on Tuesday to mark the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory in Việt Nam (May 7, 1954).

This was one of the activities of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, State and Army to celebrate the historic victory that forced France to sign the Geneva agreements ending the war in the whole Indochina and recognising the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Việt Nam, Laos and Cambodia.

Recalling the enduring war of the Vietnamese people as well as their 56-day ferocious battle against the French enemy, Vice President of Laos Pany Yathotou affirmed that the Điện Biên Phủ Victory is a manifestation for not only Việt Nam’s solidarity strength and aspiration for peace and independence but also the courage and growth of its armed forces.

She went on to say the Điện Biên Phủ victory is a victory of the solidarity of Việt Nam, Laos and Cambodia during the struggle against the French colonists, which not only contributed to overthrowing the old-style colonialism in the world but also set an example for other countries to fight against oppression and colonial rule, contributing to the great struggle for peace, democracy and social progress of the humankind.

Seventy years have passed but the spirit of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory remains intact and has been a source of encouragement for the three Indochinese nations, she said, adding Laos has been proud to join the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in the battles in Laos, creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese army to win the Điện Biên Phủ campaign.

She laid a stress on the close ties between Việt Nam and Laos, which were built by the blood of thousands of Vietnamese and Lao soldiers, on the foundation laid by President Hồ Chí Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and have been nurtured by generations of peoples from both sides.

Despite the rapid and complicated changes in international and regional situations, the two countries should preserve and strengthen their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation for mutual development, she said, affirming they should enhance solidarity and raise the awareness of their peoples, especially the young, about the special relations. 

Việt Nam’s human rights record hailed at UN review

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt attended a dialogue on Việt Nam's national report under the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism in Geneva on Tuesday.

In his opening speech and presentation of Việt Nam's national report, Việt expressed the pride in engaging in the dialogue with other countries on the day of the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, at the UN headquarters which witnessed the negotiation and signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords, and significant historical events in the national liberation struggle and anti-imperialist fight of the Vietnamese people and many other nations around the world.

Affirming Việt Nam's consistent policy of protecting and promoting human rights, placing people at the centre, goal and driving force of its renewal and development process, he highlighted Việt Nam's journey from a poor country to one of the fastest-growing economies deeply integrated into the global community.

Since the third UPR in 2019, Việt Nam has continued fine-tuning its legal system and policies regarding human rights, leading to tangible progress. The rights to healthcare, education, social security, freedom of religion and belief, press freedom, and Internet access and gender equality have all made significant progress. Việt Nam's rankings in the UN's Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Equality Index (GEI) have also improved, he said.

He further added that the Vietnamese Government has enforced many policies and measures to protect people's health, boost post-pandemic socio-economic development, actively promote the transition to a green and digital economy, and fulfil Việt Nam's commitments in line with international human rights conventions.

The event garnered high interest from over 130 participating countries. They congratulated Việt Nam on its 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ Victory and acknowledged its achievements in human rights, economic development, social justice and human rights education.

The Vietnamese delegation answered many questions, providing additional information about issues of shared concern, including sustainable development goals, inclusive and green economy, Internet and social network development, freedom of speech and information access, labour rights, the role of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy, freedom of religion and belief, basic conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), human trafficking prevention and support for ethnic minorities.

At the dialogue, Việt Nam received about 300 recommendations encompassing a wide range of human rights issues.

On May 10, the UNHRC's UPR Working Group will consider a report on Việt Nam's review, and then to submit it to the UNHRC for the official adoption at the council's 57th session in September-October. 

Vietnam hands over four illegal migrants to China

The police force of the northern province of Ha Giang and the border post at the locality’s Thanh Thuy International Border Gate handed over four illegal Chinese migrants back to their home country on May 7.

On April 25, the local police discovered that Tho Mi Sinh and Vu No Po, residents in Dong Van district, arranged for the four Chinese nationals to enter Vietnam illegally through the district.

Sinh and Po were then prosecuted and put into temporary detention, while the Chinese nationals got administrative fine and were sent back home in accordance with regulations./.

Argentinian media praises Dien Bien Phu victory

The Dien Bien Phu victory 70 years ago created a premise for the signing of the Geneva agreements on ending war and restoring peace in Indochina, according to Radio National Argentina (RNA).

In his article posted on the RNA’s e-newspaper, journalist Gaston Fiorda recalled the moment when the red and gold star flag flew on the roof of the French commander bunker in Dien Bien Phu at 17:30 on May 7, 1954, and all French troops at the base surrendered and were captured.

The article said the modern history of Vietnam is connected with the 100-year French colonial rule and the Vietnamese people’s resistance war against the invaders. Under the leadership of the Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese army and people successfully conducted the August Revolution in 1945 and the Dien Bien Phu campaign, which showed that a small nation is able to defeat a global military power.

Summarising three phases of the Dien Bien Phu campaign at Muong Thanh valley, Gaston Fiorda wrote that with their courage, intelligence and creativity, the Vietnamese army and people completely destroyed the Dien Bien Phu stronghold.

The campaign was the last chapter of Vietnam’s nine-year resistance war against the French colonialists, and the beginning of the breakup of the colonial institution across the globe, he wrote, describing the victory as a largest military feat in Vietnam’s Indochinese war (1945-1954).

Seventy years have gone by, the historical lessons of the global-shaking victory still echoed and become a source of encouragement for the Vietnamese people and peace loving nations in the world, he underlined./.

Lao media continue highlighting 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

Vietnam's 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory has resonated in Laos, with major newspapers and state media outlets dedicating significant coverage to the historic event.

The May 7 editorial of Pasaxon, the official newspaper of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, positioned the Dien Bien Phu Victory as the "pinnacle" of Vietnam's fight for national liberation, a decisive blow against old-style colonialism and the intervention of new-style imperialists, etching a permanent mark on Vietnamese and global history in the 20th century.

The editorial concluded by once again underscoring the victory's paramount role in fostering the special solidarity and combat alliance between Laos and Vietnam, highlighting the mutual support and collaboration that secured a shared triumph over a common enemy.

The Lao News Agency's Pathet Lao newspaper echoed this sentiment with a front-page article the same day. Declaring May 7 a "historic day for the people of the three Indochinese countries”, the article underlined the invaluable lessons the Dien Bien Phu Victory imparted on the national liberation movements in the region, including the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR).

Another Pathet Lao article, published a day earlier, delved into the enduring lessons of the longstanding friendship and solidarity between Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, especially the combat alliance forged between Vietnam and Laos, from the Dien Bien Phu campaign to the present day.

The Lao national radio and television network also joined the celebratory chorus, dedicating considerable airtime to broadcasting news and articles related to the anniversary events. They gave much praise to this victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”./.

Swift action ordered following deadly Ha Tinh landslide

In the wake of a recent landslide in Ky Lien ward, Ky Anh town, the central province of Ha Tinh, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai signed a dispatch on behalf of the Prime Minister outlining urgent measures to address the disaster's aftermath.

The incident, triggered by heavy rainfall on May 6, buried a camp of workers constructing a 500 kV power line in the area, leaving three dead and four others injured.

The PM's dispatch expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, assigned the provincial People's Committee chairperson and relevant agencies with the responsibility of providing immediate support for the affected families.

It further emphasised the need for a prompt investigation to determine the cause of the landslide. The provincial authorities must impose strict fines if any safety violations are identified during the investigation.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was tasked with closely monitoring weather conditions and issuing timely forecasts, particularly for extreme weather phenomena. Such will empower local authorities to take proactive measures to safeguard public safety.

Specific tasks were also assigned to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the chairpersons of provincial People’s Committees and construction investors./.

Remains of fallen soldiers reburied in Quang Tri

The People's Committee of the central province of Quang Tri on May 7 held a memorial and re-burial services at Quang Tri Martyrs’ Cemetery for the remains of three soldiers who laid down their lives during wartime.

The remains were found at the construction site of the Quang Tri Town Administrative Centre after the construction unit discovered some explosive materials and reported it to local authorities. Upon receiving the news, the Military Command of Quang Tri province dispatched forces to the scene to handle explosive materials and discovered the remains of the martyrs, along with their belongings include AK rifles, shovels, buttons, rubber sandals and wallets.

At the event, representatives of provincial leaders, National Steering Committee 515, Military Region 4, the special working group of Laos’ Savannakhet province and officers, local armed forces and people offered incense and paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national liberation and independence of the Fatherland./.

Art exhibition features traditional art, life of northern Việt Nam

The "Nguyễn Linh 6" solo art exhibition by northern Vietnamese artist Nguyễn Linh is depicting the rural landscapes, daily life, and cultural activities of Việt Nam's northern region.

The exhibition, his sixth solo and first in HCM City and southern Việt Nam, was launched at An Gallery in District 1 on May 5.

The exhibition showcases over 70 artworks, including both large (170-250 cm) and small (45-50 cm) sizes, created using mixed media on canvas.

These artworks range from portraying the familiar lives of locals to capturing artists embodying national traditional art forms such as tuồng (classical drama), chèo (traditional opera), or moments of ritualistic ceremonies like hầu đồng (also known as lên đồng).

Artist Trịnh Tuân, the curator of the exhibition, said, "Artist Nguyễn Linh has been known as a painter with a rare abundance of creative energy, capable of producing hundreds of paintings of considerable size in just a few seasons. But for me, his talent does not solely lie in the enormous quantity, diverse subjects, and monumental scale of his works. The 'strength' in his creativity lies in his mindset, his knowledge, and a solid cultural foundation."

Linh Nguyễn, Managing Director of Linh Nguyễn Art House and daughter of artist Nguyễn Linh, said during the opening ceremony that her father did not pursue an artistic career from the beginning but spent over 20 years of his life taking care of his family. It was only after his children had grown up that he decided to return to his artistic path.

The exhibited artworks are considered as "folk treasures" of Nguyễn Linh, representing his dedication and love in creating and expressing the unique life and cultural traits of Việt Nam's northern region.

“This exhibition aims to help both local and international friends gain a deeper understanding of the life and cultural artistic forms of northern Việt Nam through these paintings,” she said.

Artist Nguyễn Linh was born in 1961 in Hà Nội. He graduated from the Hà Nội University of Fine Arts in 1983. He previously worked for Việt Nam Architecture Magazine. However, by 1990, he redirected his full passion towards fine art.

The exhibition is organised by Bến Thành Art Gallery and will be open until May 19.

Việt Nam to take part in the continental mountain bike championship

Đinh Thị Như Quỳnh is expected to win a medal at the Asian Mountain Bike Championship in Malaysia on May 8-12.

The tournament includes different categories of XCO (cross-country Olympic), XCR (cross-country team relay), cross-country eliminator (XCE) and downhill (DHI) for the men's and women's elite, U23 and junior participants.

Quỳnh is one of seven Vietnamese cyclists who arrived in Putrajaya on May 6 to check the route and familiarise herself with the terrain and weather conditions.

Quỳnh is the national No 1 in the cross-country event and winner of the 31st SEA Games in 2022.

The Asian championship, which will see athletes from 30 countries compete, is a key competition for the riders to test out skills after training and preparations for the 33rd SEA Games next year.

After the mountain bike competition, Vietnamese cyclists will also compete in the Asian Road Cycling Championships on June 5-12 in Kazakhstan. 

Việt Nam take four golds to finish fourth at Asian Jujitsu Championships

Việt Nam finished in fourth place at the Asian Jujitsu Championships which wrapped up in the UAE on May 6.

The Southeast Asian team won four golds, seven silvers and ten bronzes at the competition, which featured more than 400 martial artists from 30 countries and regions.

Thailand topped the medal tally with 13 golds, Kazakhstan came second with 12 golds and the hosts placed third with six.

The Vietnamese champions were Phùng Thị Huệ in the women's contact and fighting U45kg categories, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trúc in the women's over-70kg contact and Hoàng Thị Nhật Quế in the women U70kg. 

The championships for juniors were held at the same venue, with Vietnamese young fighters winning five golds over two days of competitions.

The medalists were Hà Thị Nhung (U16 female, U40kg), Trịnh Thị Anh Thư and Phan Tuấn Kiệt (U16 mixed duo performance), Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trúc (U21 female, over-70kg), Ngô Thị Thảo Vân (U21 female, U63kg), Trịnh Thị Hoàng Anh and Trần Thị Hoàng Vân (U18 duo performance).

The team also won two silvers and two bronzes.

The championship will close on May 8. 

HCM City top National Triathlon Clubs Championship

The HCM City team dominated the National Triathlon Clubs Championship on their home ground on May 6.

The team fielded the strongest of their athletes including Lâm Quang Nhật, Nguyễn Thị Kim Tuyến and Vũ Đình Duân who pocketed five golds, three silvers and four bronzes to top the medal tally.

Khánh Hòa came second with three golds, followed by the People's Police with two golds.

The tournament, which was held on May 4-6 at The Global City urban area, featured 87 competitors from 12 teams. They competed in 13 categories for triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon while this year's tournament also hosted four competitions for young athletes, aged from 15 to 18 years old.

The championship was the first managed by the Việt Nam Triathlon Federation, which was only officially established in late April. Athletes will go on to compete in the National Triathlon Championship in July in Quảng Ngãi Province.

The two tournaments will be basis of the national team pick for the 33rd SEA Games and 20th Asian Games.

UOB Painting of the Year calls for entries from Vietnam

The UOB Painting of the Year, the longest-running annual art competition in Singapore and one of the most recognised in Southeast Asia, launched its 2nd edition for the artist community in Vietnam on May 7.

Organised by United Overseas Bank (UOB) Vietnam, it is an opportunity for domestic artists to showcase their creativity and vie for significant prizes. The top winner is set to win 500 million VND (19,675 USD), a slot to compete at the regional level for a prize worth up to 13,000 SGD (9,600 USD) and an opportunity to participate in a special artist residency programme.

Entries, which are original works created within the past two years, must be submitted to the organising board between May 7 and August 1.

Speaking at the launch, CEO of UOB Vietnam Victor Ngo said the country boasts a vibrant art scene with many young talents, as evidenced by outstanding artworks participating in the inaugural edition last year. The organising board aims to foster a conducive environment to explore and develop Vietnamese arts talents, make arts more accessible, and inspire the next generation of artists.

Artist Dang Xuan Hoa, the head judge, said it is a great opportunity for local artists, especially young painters, to showcase new ideas and modern artistic styles. He also looked forwards to the submission of many excellent works to help Vietnamese arts get established in the region.

In the competition's first edition last year, eight talented artists were honoured./.

35 localities piloting four-wheel EVs for tourists, despite no official legal regulations

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà on Tuesday chaired a meeting to discuss the results of the pilot operation of four-wheel electric vehicles for transporting tourists in restricted areas.

According to the report submitted to the Government by the Ministry of Transport, these vehicles have been used for this purpose since 2010 in the capital city, and to date, 35 out of 63 localities have received approval from the Prime Minister to pilot the operation of four-wheel vehicles powered by electricity or gasoline engines to serve tourist transportation within restricted areas.

Most localities have implemented the pilot project well and have issued regulations on the scope of operation and managing the number of vehicles registered, reads the report.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ministry of Public Security, along with local authorities have all assessed that these vehicles are safe, environment friendly, cause little pollution and noise and thanks to its low speed there have been no accidents causing injuries or damages to other vehicles, making a convenient and civilised mode of transport, according to the deputy transport minister Nguyễn Duy Lâm.

However, the transport ministry acknowledges that since these types of vehicles are not yet accounted for in the Road Traffic Law, it is difficult for both Government agencies and businesses to implement procedures such as registration, issuance of licence plates, safety inspections, imposition of taxes and road tolls and collection of road maintenance fees.

Some localities, due to practical tourism needs, have used this model of transportation in their own way, with vehicles lacking the required documents for registration and inspection, and some localities have not managed well the number of vehicles participating in the pilot.

The ministry said it has received requests to allow pilot operations from six additional localities, Vĩnh Long, Phú Thọ, Bình Thuận, Trà Vinh, Quảng Trị, and Hà Nam, and asked the Prime Minister to give the green light to their use until official regulations are established.

Deputy PM Hà said the operation of these vehicles followed green transport trends, urging the transport ministry to coordinate with the public security ministry to specify regulations for four-wheel electric vehicles in the Law on Order and Safety of Road Traffic and the Road Traffic Law, which will be submitted to the National Assembly for reviews.

He also urged the transport authorities to consider more general, future-proof regulations that may cover novel modes of transport such as AI-powered, self-driving or flying vehicles, or ones that use new forms of energy.

The development and issuance of standards for four-wheeled electric vehicles should adhere to the principles of harmony, acknowledgment and recognition based on the origin, assessing the quality of this type of vehicle in developed countries, the Deputy PM said.

Regarding the continuation of the trial, Deputy PM Hà demanded that vehicles must comply with origin and quality standards in line with developed countries as well as with Việt Nam's.

Drivers must have valid driving licences as prescribed, while organisations and units operating, using and managing four-wheeled electric vehicles must be responsible for the real-life scope of operation of this type of vehicle. 

Binh Thuan works to stop fishing vessels from infringing on foreign waters

The People’s Committee of the south-central province of Binh Thuan on May 7 requested extra efforts to resolutely not let any local fishing vessels and fishermen violate foreign waters so as to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In an official dispatch to relevant units, the committee asked border guard, fisheries and police forces, and local authorities to investigate, verify, clarify, and strictly handle ships that stay unconnected to the province's vessel monitoring system (VMS); and continue to closely monitor fishing vessels operating at sea through the VMS to keep them from surpassing the allowed sea boundaries.

The units were required to seriously implement the registration, registering, and issuance of fishing licenses to vessels according to regulations and fully update the national fishing vessel database VNFishbase.

Meanwhile, fishermen and businesses were guided to implement the electronic catch documentation and traceability (eCDT) under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

With over 7,800 fishing vessels and 44,500 labourers engaged directly in fishing activities, Binh Thuan is one of the leading localities nationwide in terms of fishing capacity and seafood output.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, thanks to the serious implementation of urgent measures along with the efforts of the entire political system, the locality has recorded positive results in preventing IUU fishing.

Notably, since January 2023, no fishing vessels have been detected violating relevant regulations./.

Interactive panoramic painting of Điện Biên Phủ Campaign presented in Hà Nội

An interactive exhibition of the impressive panoramic painting depicting the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign, which captivated visitors at the Điện Biên Phủ Victory Museum in the northern province of Điện Biên, has been launched at the Nhân Dân (The People's) headquarters in Hà Nội.

The exhibition brings together cutting-edge technology, including augmented virtual reality with a 360-degree panorama painting. This unique application allows viewers to vividly relive the 56 days and nights that led to the glorious victory of Việt Nam’s military and people.

At the exhibition inauguration, Editor-in-chief of Nhân Dân newspaper, Lê Quốc Minh said that the exhibition is among the special activities held by the newspaper to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the glorious victory (May 7, 2024).

“We spent six months preparing for this, starting with the launch on March 13 of a special website that provides information about the historical military campaign Điện Biên Phủ,” he said.

Today a special printed issue of Nhân Dân newspaper has been published with four pages presenting the entire progress of the Điện Biên Phủ Campaign. The 56-day-and-night progress, from March 13, 1954 to May 7, 1954 will be issued in both Vietnamese and English in the form of 56 diary entries.

“This special issue also includes four pages featuring all the four sections of the panoramic painting Điện Biên Phủ Campaign,” Minh said.

The chief editor hopes that the exhibition and other activities held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, will inspire the younger generation to better understand the country's history.

The Điện Biên Phủ Campaign original oil-on-canvas version on display at the Điện Biên Phủ Victory Museum was created by 200 painters and is 132m-long and 20.5m-high, covering a total area of over 3,200sq.m. It features 4,500 characters with artwork over four major stages – Toàn Dân Ra Trận (All People Go to Battle), Khúc Dạo Đầu Hùng Tráng (Epic Prelude), Cuộc Đối Đầu Lịch Sử (Historical Confrontation), and Khúc Khải Hoàn Mừng Chiến Thắng (Song of Triumph).

The interactive exhibition of the panoramic painting is open to the public until May 12 at 71 Hàng Trống Street.

A similar interactive exhibition also takes place at the Điện Biên Phủ Victory Museum in Điện Biên Phủ City. 

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes