Thua Thien-Hue was the first locality in the central region where the organic farming model has been developed for paddy fields and pig husbandry with support from the Que Lam Group. The model was then applied at orchards after proving its efficiency. Da Nang city - the largest market in the central region - is also shifting to organic farming. With organic products selling at more than twice the price of those cultivated using traditional methods, more farmers in the central region have taken up the organic model. Many localities in the region are developing products and models to extend organic production./.

- A mobile app named ‘ Den Hung ’ (Hung Temple) was launched on April 9, or the ninth day of the third lunar month and a day prior to the death anniversary of Hung Kings - the legendary founders of the nation.Via the app, now available on App Store and CH Play/Google Play, users can search for information on the Hung Temple special national historical relic site illustrated by images, video clips with narratives.Maps and areas opened for visitors, venues hosting rituals and festivals this year, services and trustworthy accommodations, dinning, and shops, will be featured in the app. A hotline of the organising board is provided to receive feedback and reports regarding violations during the Hung Temple festival.People at home and abroad can donate to the repair of the relic site via the app.Hung King is the title given to the ancient Vietnamese rulers of the Hong Bang period (2879–258 BC). The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings was recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name Sung Lam, son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs, which soon hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated.

A ban on styrofoam packaging and single-use plastics in national parks in Thailand comes into effect (Photo: www.pattayamail.com)A ban on styrofoam packaging and single-use plastics in national parks in Thailand came into effect on April 6 as a preventative measure to protect wildlife.According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP), the new regulations went into effect after being published in the Royal Gazette. The ban aligns with the government’s policy of converting Thailand’s plastic use to 100 percent recyclable plastic by 2027.The department said plastic bags with a thickness of fewer than 36 microns, as well as plastic food containers, cups, straws, and cutlery, are now prohibited at all national parks. Visitors caught bringing single-use plastic items or styrofoam containers into the parks could now face a fine of up to 100,000 baht.Plastic waste, according to the DNP, endangers the lives of wild animals by clogging airways and disrupting the digestive system. These wastes can also end up in rivers and lakes, posing a threat to river ecology and marine life.Although single-use plastic bags have been prohibited in supermarkets and department stores since 2020, the DNP said small retailers and markets continue to distribute them. It added that increased demand for takeout food during the COVID-19 pandemic in recent years has also exacerbated the plastic waste issue both in Thailand and countries around the world./.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)VNA– A circular stipulating independent audits of credit institutions and foreign bank branches issued by the State Bank of Vietnam will take effect from April 15. Circular 24 amends and supplements several articles of the central bank’s Circular 39 dated December 15, 2011.Under the new circular, internal control systems, including mechanisms, policies and regulations, of credit institutions and foreign bank branches in Vietnam, will be subject to independent auditing.The performance of the internal control system during the preparation and presentation of financial reports, as well as the assessment of foreign bank branches’ capital capacity, will also be audited.The move aims to ensure efficient and safe operations of credit institutions and foreign bank branches, and protect, manage and effectively use assets and resources./.

Ship SAR 412 tugs the fishing vessel in distress to Da Nang city. (Source: VNA)– Three fishermen and their vessel in distress at sea due to bad weather were saved and brought to central Da Nang city on late April 7 by a ship of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).At about 1:20 pm on April 5, the QNg 90610 TS of central Quang Ngai province had its gear box broken and went adrift amid strong winds and a rough sea when it was operating at some 6 nautical miles to the south of Da Loi Reef in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.The captain and crew members tried to repair the gear box but failed so they contacted the MRCC to seek help.The MRCC immediately gave instructions on safety measures and breakdown repairs and prepared a rescue operation. However, in the morning of April 6, the fishermen become tired and panicked after many hours of coping with the increasingly worse weather while they had run out of food and freshwater.The MRCC then dispatched ship SAR 412 to the site to save the fishermen.The rescue ship accessed the fishing boat at 6:05pm the same day, provided health care for the fishermen, and tugged the boat to Da Nang./.

The first Vietnam Card Day took place at Hanoi's Bach Khoa Stadium in 2020. (Photo: hemera.vn)- The second Vietnam Card Day is set to take place at Hanoi ’s Bach Khoa Stadium between April 16 and 17 with the theme of Tu tin mo loi (Leading the way).The event is jointly held by Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) under the instruction of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), aiming to promote non-cash payments and digital transformation in the country.Over 20 banks and financial institutions will participate in the event as sponsors and more than 100 firms join in to showcase their products.Editor-in-chief of Tien Phong Le Xuan Son described the card day as a bridge that connects young people with innovative technologies and novel methods of payment.“Banks and financial intermediaries can introduce their modern banking services to more clients during the event,” he said.Nguyen Quang Hung, chairman of NAPAS, revealed that his corporation co-organises the event to promote cashless payments in line with the Governmental Project on Non-cash Payments from 2021 to 2025.He said youngsters who try new payments at the event, such as VietQR and contactless credit cards, will receive small gifts from the organisers.The organisers will also put aside 200 million VND (8,750 USD) and raise funds at the event to build schools for children in disadvantaged areas.The first Vietnam Card Day took place between November 7 and 8, 2020 with the theme Khoi day noi luc tu khung hoang COVID-19 thuc day phat trien thanh toan khong dung tien mat (Building up strength after the COVID-19 pandemic to promote non-cash payments).Seventeen banks and financial institutions were involved in the event and more than 100 booths exhibited firms' products during the occasion./.

An auto component production line of Keihin Vietnam Co Ltd. Rising shipping and raw material prices were also cited.In turn, manufacturers raised their selling prices at an accelerated pace. This was primarily due to labour shortages, as so many workers were off with infections that factories were unable to maintain production volumes. Input costs increased at the sharpest pace in almost 11 years on the back of higher costs for oil and gas following the outbreak of war. This has dashed any hopes that inflationary pressures might be set to ease over the months ahead.

Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)– The Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka Japan , has requested a prompt investigation into the death of a Vietnamese woman in Osaka city's Yodogawa district, said Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang at the ministry's regular press briefing on April 7.Hang said that on April 4, local police found a body allegedly of a Vietnamese woman at an apartment in Yodogawa. Forensic results showed that the victim was killed at about 9 am on April 3.The Consulate General in Osaka is also in contact with the Vietnamese community in Osaka to gather information about the case, said Hang, adding that the body has been handed over to the victim’s family.Hang said that following directions from the Foreign Ministry, the Consulate General in Osaka is keeping a close watch on the investigation and taking measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, while coordinating with authorised agencies at home and in Japan to organise a funeral for the victim following her family’s wish.Hang also extended condolences to the victim’s family.Initial information from Japanese police showed that the victim, identified as Vo Thi Le Q., born in 1991, worked part-time in a shop in the first floor of the apartment building.Police have arrested a Japanese man who owns the apartment where the woman's body was found. According to local media, the man has confessed to murdering the victim in order to steal her property./.

Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long (first, left) visits an exhibition of paintings by young artist Xeo Chu as part of the Vietnam Days in the UK 2022. (Photo: VNA)– The Vietnam Days in the UK 2022 recently wrapped up, leaving a good impression about the Southeast Asian country on British and international friends.The programme, organised by the Vietnamese Embassy, started on March 28 and featured a variety of events on culture, sports, trade - investment - tourism promotion, educational cooperation, green transition, renewable energy, fintech, startup, and innovation.It took place on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and marked the resumption of people-to-people exchange between the two countries after an over-two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long said as Vietnam has reopened the economy and international tourism, the programme with a diversity of activities created a major opportunity for foreign friends to come to know images of Vietnam, along with its economy and tourism attractiveness. Vietnam is one of the first countries to hold cultural and trade exchanges in the European nation over the last two years, he highlighted.British investors spoke highly of Vietnam’s investment climate with an open and consistent policy, a transparent business environment, and high political stability.While Vietnam is viewed as a promising country for the development of tech startups thanks to an open market and a young and dynamic population, it is also believed to be a potential partner for educational cooperation because of the high demand for tertiary and high school education, Long said.Cultural activities such as painting exhibitions and concerts also grabbed public attention, and Vietnamese artists were received by British Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Nigel Adams and Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi.This helped strengthen the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said.He added in the time ahead, the Vietnamese Embassy will organise more activities to popularise images of the country and reinforce bilateral relations./.

Wind turbines of a plant in the coastal area of Vinh Chau town, Soc Trang province. (Photo: VNA)The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked for assistance from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) to help Vietnam realise its net zero emissions target by 2050, especially regarding offshore wind power development, said Minister Nguyen Hong Dien at a working session with Mark Hutchinson , chair of GWEC ’s Southeast Asia Task Force.Dien suggested the council provide advice on financial sources with long-term incentives; technology support and human resources training; and investment and cooperation in offshore wind power production, including building smart grids and producing clean energy.The official said Vietnam’s strong statements at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) showed the determination of the Party and State in converting traditional energy sources into green and clean energy.However, changing from coal to wind or gas power was a long process with many difficulties and challenges, he added.Lauding Vietnam’s efforts and commitments at COP26, Hutchinson affirmed that the GWEC is willing to cooperate with the ministry to organise renewable energy seminars, and share experience regarding the sustainable operation, management and development of renewable energy.The GEWC will provide supply chain support as well as human resources training for Vietnam's offshore wind power industry, he noted.Its working group will explore what Vietnam needs to do to attract domestic and foreign preferential financing and work with financial institutions and banks to remove the country’s problems with capital sources for offshore wind power development, said Hutchinson.Vietnam’s renewable energy sources have reached about 20.7 GW, accounting for more than 27 percent of its total power capacity. In 2021, electricity output from renewable energy sources hit 30 billion kWh./.

In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam’s total import-export value hit 176.35 billion USD, up 14.4 percent year on year(Photo: vietnamnet.vn)MoIT Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai addresses the conference (Source: MoIT)– The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on April 5 held a conference to evaluate trade promotion activities in the first quarter of this year and seek ways to help localities, economic sectors and businesses surmount difficulties and build strategies to expand international trade activities in the new situation.Addressing the event, MoIT Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai highlighted positive signs in foreign trade so far this year, noting that in the first quarter of this year, Vietnam’s total import-export value hit 176.35 billion USD, up 14.4 percent year on year, with exports rising 12.9 percent and trade surplus reaching 809 million USD.However, he noted that domestic enterprises are under a double impact of continued complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia - Ukraine tension, which have caused disruption in supply chains including energy and pushed transport costs up. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese economy depends greatly on foreign trade.Therefore, the conference was held with the aim of assisting localities, economic sectors and businesses in building their strategies and applying suitable measures to expand import-export activities in such a situation, Deputy Minister Hai said.Ngo Sy Hoai, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFORES) said he hopes Vietnamese Trade Offices abroad will help promote the image of Vietnam as a world leading hub of wood processing and export with resolute determination to develop the wood sector sustainably using green and legal material sources. He asked the Vietnamese Trade Office in the US to give early alert on trade remedies in this market, so that domestic firm can prepare response measures.Meanwhile, Dinh Quoc Thai, General Secretary of the Vietnam Steel Association suggested that the MoIT provide information of import countries’ trade defence investigations against steel products.At the event, representatives from trade associations proposed that the MoIT conduct more activities to connect domestic firms with their peers in foreign markets, and strengthen support to enterprises in joining trade fairs abroad.Le Hoang Tai, Vice Director of the MoIT’s Trade Promotion Agency said that this year, the agency will continue to organise many activities to support the export of Vietnamese products to foreign markets. This year, the national programme on trade promotion will spend 80.41 percent of its budget for export promotion.He said that the agency hopes for closer coordination from Vietnamese Trade Offices abroad in providing updated information on foreign market as well as technical barriers and risks of anti-dumping lawsuits and preferential policies given by foreign countries to Vietnam.The trade offices abroad were also urged to assist with the popularisation of trade promotion events held in Vietnam and programmes to introduce national trademark, and help invite foreign firms to join trade connectivity events online./.

– Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held talks with his Panamanian counterpart Érika Mouynes in Hanoi on April 5 to discuss ways to strengthen partnership between the two countries across all fields including politics, diplomacy, economy, trade and agriculture as well as bilateral coordination at international and multilateral forums.The two FMs expressed their wish to promote bilateral cooperation in promosing areas such as maritime transport, climate change response, and renewable energy.They agreed on the viewpoint of settling international disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of international law.They shared their delight at the growing ties between Vietnam and Panama, especially through the implementation of cooperation mechanisms. They concurred to continue to effectively promote the deputy ministeral level political consultation and Joint Committee on economic, trade and investment cooperation mechanisms, as well as face-to-face and online meetings between the two countries.Vietnam and Panama have seen positive results in economic partnership, with Panama always being among Vietnam's 10 biggest trading partners in Latin America. Two-way trade between the two countries has risen from 250 million USD in 2014 to 467 million USD in 2021. Particularly, trade between the two countries surged 45.5 percent year on year in 2021 despite COVID-19 impacts.FM Son proposed that Panama support the protection of the interests of Vietnamese citizens living, studying and working in Panama, and effectively coordinate to make the country a transit place for Vietnamese products in the Latin American region. Vietnam will acts as a bridge for Panamanian products to enter the Southeast Asian market, he added.Son affirmed that Vietnam is keen on bolstering the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation with Panama in a substantive and effective manner.For her part, Minister Mouynes spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in implementing the “Doi moi” (Renewal) process, saying that the Panamanian Government always treasures and hopes to strengthen ties with Vietnam.She agreed that the two countries continue to work closely together to reinforce bilateral cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, for benefits of the two countries' people, and for peace, stability and development in the two regions and the world as a whole.Within the framework of her visit to Vietnam from April 5-6, the Panamanian FM paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi, met Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and had a working session with Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien./.

Bikes are produced at Thong Nhat JSC in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)- The index of industrial production (IIP) in the first quarter continued to flourish with a year-on-year increase of 7.07 percent, the General Statistics Office said.The positive rise, much higher than the 6.44 percent seen in Q1/2021, contributed 2.42 percentage points to the economy's growth in Q1 /2022.The processing and manufacturing industry had a yearly IIP rise of 7.79 percent.Meanwhile, the IIP growth of the electricity production and distribution industry stood at 7.42 percent, and water supply and waste and wastewater treatment and the mining industry reached 6.54 and 5 percent, respectively.Key industries that recorded high increases in Q1 include clothing (up 24.1 percent); machinery and equipment (16.2 percent); metal production (10.1 percent); electronics, computers and optical products (9.4 percent) and other non-metallic mineral products (8 percent).On the contrary, several industries saw a decline in industrial production, such as rubber and plastic products, down 15.5 percent; repair, maintenance and installation of machinery and equipment (12 percent); coke and refined petroleum products (11.7 percent) and crude oil and natural gas (2.2 percent).Among industrial products with strong IIP increases were telephone components with 19 percent, automobiles (13.4 percent), aluminium (12.6 percent), and steel (11 percent).Some products decreased compared to the previous year, including televisions (23.3 percent); gasoline and oil (12.5 percent); aquatic feed (11.7 percent); mobile phones (9.3 percent); NPK fertiliser (6.6 percent) and paint (5.7 percent).The GSO also said the consumption index of the processing and manufacturing industry in Q1 rose 6.6 percent compared to last year's corresponding period. In March, the index increased 19.1 percent month-on-month and 11.2 percent year-on-year.The average inventory rate of the processing and manufacturing industry in the first three months was 79.9 percent, higher than the 75.1 percent recorded last year.As of March 1, the number of employees working in industrial enterprises rose 2 percent month-on-month and 3 percent year-on-year.Labourers in State-owned enterprises decreased 3.3 percent year-on-year, while those in non-State firms slumped 3 percent, and foreign-invested businesses increased 4.3 percent.The Ministry of Industry and Trade said it was necessary to ensure an adequate supply of raw materials for energy production, business recovery, and socio-economic development in the coming months.The ministry recommended removing obstacles to important industrial projects and maximum support for factories to maintain production, keep orders, and maintain the supply chain.The industry and trade sector would also effectively implement the Government's solutions to remove difficulties for businesses and help them restore financial and labour resources.The ministry said it would speed-up large public investment projects, especially projects on energy and infrastructure for industrial development, developing markets for several key manufacturing industries such as steel, engineering, construction materials and automobiles./.

Representatives of the martial arts tournament's organising board during a training for referees (Photo: VNA)Algiers (VNA) – The Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts World Championship 2022 is set to take place in Algiers capital of Algeria from July 16-21. Nearly 20 teams across the world have signed up for the competition, including those from France, Germany, Switzerland, Cameroon and Senegal. The host - the Federation of Vietnamese Traditional Martial Arts in Algeria - and relevant agencies in the African nation have exerted efforts to prepare for the tournament, particularly training for referees. Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Nguyen Thanh Vinh underlined that the martial arts event, viewed as a major one of Algeria and the World Federation of Vietnamese Martial Arts, was initially planned to take place two years ago but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Embassy of Vietnam has actively joined in preparing for the tournament and will organise activities on the sidelines of the event that promote Vietnamese cultural and cuisine, he added./.

Besides practical measures to deal with the consequences of landmines in the country, Vietnam actively participates in international joint efforts on this work. He thanked international partners and friends for their valuable support and assistance for Vietnam in this work. Delegates emphasised that terrible impacts of landmines and UXO are still a burning problem in many countries and regions around the world. In recent years, besides practical measures to deal with the consequences of landmines in the country, Vietnam has actively participated in international joint efforts on this work. It also aims to review achievements by UN member states since the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention took effect in 1999./.