For his part, Sinyavsky, who is on a working visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam, said that Belarus always treasures its traditional friendship and cooperation with Vietnam. Welcoming the guests, Lam underscored that Vietnam always values its traditional friendship and cooperation with Belarus. They also include documents preserved by the Vietnam National Museum of History and the Institute of Monuments Conservation. The celebration was attended by the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Vietnam, Kees van Baar, representatives of ministries, sectors, management agencies, research and training institutions, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, and Dutch businesses in Vietnam. Italy helps Vietnam improve statistical capacityThe project "Vietnam – Improvement of National Statistical System”, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), was completed with all project targets achieved since its launch nearly five years ago.

Politburo member and Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam (R) and Belarusian Minister of Emergencies Vadim Sinyavsky review the honour guard of the Vietnamese people's public security force. (Photo: VNA)– Politburo member and Minister of Public Security To Lam on April 19 held talks with a visiting high-level delegation from the Belarusian Ministry of Emergencies led by Minister Vadim Sinyavsky.Welcoming the guests, Lam underscored that Vietnam always values its traditional friendship and cooperation with Belarus. In recent years, the countries’ collaboration in politics, economy, culture, society, defence, and security have been increasingly fortified, contributing to their stable and sustainable development, he said.Praising Belarus’s progress in socio-economic growth and political stability, the minister expressed his confidence in the Eastern European nation’s further development across all aspects.Being well aware of unpredicted and severe damage caused by natural disasters and climate change, the Vietnamese Party and Government have issued many policies in natural disaster prevention and control, as well as intensified police’s participation in related search and rescue activities, Lam noted.The official informed his guests that the Vietnamese people’s police force has therefore actively improved its capacity and learned from foreign partners, with its cooperation with the Belarusian ministry obtaining many important results.At their talks, the two ministries agreed that immediately after their signing of a cooperation pact, they will build specific plans to implement it. The sides are set to enhance their exchange of delegations at all levels for cooperation and experience sharing on emergencies warning, prevention, and response; exchange experience in building a center for early warning of fire and natural disasters; and introduce, share, transfer technology, and link their production of modern firefighting and rescue means./.

A performance of Hue court music, a UNESCO-recognised world intangible cultural heritage (Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn)Chief of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section of UNESCO and Secretary of the 2003 Convention Tim Curtis (Photo: VNA)– Vietnam has played an active role in implementing the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage ( 2003 Convention ) in both international and national scales, stated Chief of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section of UNESCO and Secretary of the 2003 Convention Tim Curtis In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency's correspondent in Paris, Curtis said that Vietnam is currently home to 15 recognised intangible heritages and the first country to switch some heritages from the list of urgent protection to the list of the common heritage of the humanity.The country has also showed its active role through its engagement in the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage twice.Vietnam has supplemented the Cultural Heritage Law 2009 with a number of new cultural policies, including the recognition of intangible cultural heritage.Currently in Vietnam, intangible cultural heritages are recognised not only in national policies but also by all regions, all localities and all ethnic groups, he said, hailing Vietnam’s strong efforts in the work.Vietnam has been aware of the role of culture in the sustainable development and has put culture at a high position in its national development policy, he stated, underlining that this is an important message that the country is spreading.According to Curtis, the 2003 Convention, which has taken effect for 20 years, has been ratified by 181 UNESCO member countries, showing that the convention is meaningful for all.Regarding measures that Vietnam should take to protect its intangible cultural heritages, Curtis said that the protection of intangible cultural heritage takes place through the transfer between generations which must ensure its continuity.It is necessary to design new mechanism, while working with communities and integrating knowledge on heritage into education and paying more attention to young people, as they are the person who will transfer the knowledge to future generations, he said.Overall, the protection of intangible cultural heritage should aim at achieving sustainable development goals either in agriculture, education or poverty reduction, he said, adding that intangible cultural heritage matters should also be integrated into development policies. Vietnam has so far shown strong performance in the work and should continue to follow this direction, he stated./.

The defendants stand accused of causing more than VNĐ53.6 billion (US$2.2 million) in damages to Hà Nội Heart Hospital and the Social Insurance Fund. Afterwards, the defendants at Hà Nội Heart Hospital colluded with the defendants at AIC Company to issue appraisal certificates at the request and a fixed price of Hà Nội Heart Hospital, which Nguyễn Quang Tuấn approved. The UK and the EU are ready to support Vietnam in technical expertise, technology as well as methods of mobilising necessary resources from global partner countries, he added. It was ranked by the Vietnam Tourism Association as one of the four most attractive community-based tourist attractions in Vietnam in 2020. HCM City to name part of Hà Nội Highway Võ Nguyên Giáp StreetAuthorities have proposed to name part of Hà Nội Highway, from the Sài Gòn Bridge to Thủ Đức intersection, Võ Nguyên Giáp Street.

Illustrative image (Photo: Hanoi Melody Residences)- The Ministry of Construction has proposed the Government allow foreigners to buy and own houses in Vietnam in the draft Housing Law (amended).However, in the draft law, expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and discussion at its 5th session in May and approval at its 6th session, foreigners are not permitted to own houses associated with land use rights.The ministry also proposed the abolishment of regulations on a fixed term of apartment ownership in the draft law, and the supplementation of regulations related to the term of use and the demolition of old apartment buildings.It stressed the need to clarify responsibilities of relevant parties in the demolition, renovation and reconstruction of apartment buildings.According to experts, the regulations on the apartment ownership term should not be included, because it greatly affects the interests of people and the operations of real estate businesses and the market.Regarding social housing, the draft law removes the requirement that 20% of the land areas of investment projects to build commercial houses and urban areas must be used for social housing construction. The draft law stipulates additional authority of the provincial People’s Committees in using the money to invest in the construction of social housing projects for sale, lease, or lease purchase and housing for workers to rent in the area.In the real estate market, social housing is currently one of the segments of special interest. Statistics from the Ministry of Construction show that the country has completed 301 social housing projects with 155,800 apartments in urban areas. Currently, 401 projects with 454,360 apartments are underway./.

Vietnam is sending a 1,003-strong sport delegation to SEA Games 32. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is sending a 1,003-strong sport delegation to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32), about 700 of them athletes, together with coaches, doctors and experts. The Vietnamese U22 men's football and women's football squads have not yet finalised the official list to partake in SEA Games 32. SEA Games 32 will be held in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, and Kep in Cambodia from May 5 to 17. As host of SEA Games 31, Vietnam topped the medal table with 205 golds.

The fairy tale “The Wild Swans” written by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen will be performed in a musical version in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in May 2023. The show will feature artists from the private IDECAF (Institute of Cultural Exchange with France) including Vietnamese performers, Mỹ Duyên and Hữu Châu playing the leading roles. According to Vietnam News, the musical is part of a long-term theater programme called Ngày Xửa Ngày Xưa (Once Upon a Time) launched by IDECAF in 2000. “We have worked hard and have enough resources to stage quality drama plays and musicals to entertain young audiences,” said Tuấn, founder of IDECAF. The first show of the musical The Wild Swans is scheduled to be staged on 28 May 2023 at Thánh Tôn Street, District 1.

Eastern Sarus cranes in the Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province. (Source: VNA)- The Vietnam Zoos Association has partnered with the Zoological Park Organisation (ZPO) of Thailand to increase the population of the Eastern Sarus Crane in Vietnam.The agreement, signed through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), also involves cooperation from the People's Committee of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap and the International Crane Foundation.The ZPO has been reintroducing the Eastern Sarus Crane to Thailand since 2009, with breeding and release into the natural wetlands of Buri Ram province.ZPO Director-General Attapon Srihayun said the organisation is striving to bring them back from the brink of extinction into their natural habitat.The population of the bird in Vietnam is still at risk of extinction, which is why the MoU aims to restore their number in the Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap province.The partnership will involve breeding and transferring captive-reared juvenile sarus cranes from the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo for release in Vietnam, as well as training staff and developing captive-rearing facilities and a release and monitoring system./.

President Thuong congratulates Vovinam masters and trainees on their efforts and success in practicing and promoting the Vietnamese national martial arts spread globally. Cuong emphasised the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development, which are among topics of Vietnam's national development policies and decisions. Forum discusses cultural tourism development in VietnamA forum on Vietnam’s cultural tourism development took place in Hanoi on April 14, with participants sharing their experiences in effectively building, developing, and exploiting this potential field. Cultural tourism is also named among 13 cultural industries of Vietnam, he added. The forum was part of the ongoing Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) in Hanoi, also themed “Cultural tourism”.

An art performance at the event (Photo: VNA)Visitors at a booth of France's food. (Photo: VNA)– An art performance celebrating the ongoing 12th Vietnam-France decentralised cooperation conference was held at the pedestrian spaces in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem district on April 14 night.Two other events with pavilions featuring the two countries also took place on the occasion as part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 10 years of their strategic partnership.They carried the message of cooperation, peace and development, towards the future, said Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen at the opening ceremony.French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery noted that with hundreds of pavilions and various activities, the events have demonstrated the strength of the Vietnam-France relationship.After the art performance , which saw the participation of 150 artists, delegates visited the booths capturing culture, tourism and products of Vietnam, as well as cooperation between the two countries, along with France’s restaurants, hotels, agriculture and food.Cooperation between Vietnamese and French communities date back to the 1990s. The above-said conference has been held every two or three years since 1996, with Vietnamese and French localities taking turns to host the event. It is a chance for both sides to discuss difficulties, evaluate the results in bilateral relations, and deliver feasible solutions to foster their partnerships, thus strengthening the diplomatic ties between the two countries./.

Panellists discuss digital transformation in Vietnam at the Australia-Vietnam Tech Forum that opened in HCM City on April 12. Vietnam has a national agenda for utilising “Industry 4.0” technologies to improve productivity and accelerate economic growth. Rebecca Ball, senior trade and investment commissioner at Austrade, said the Australian Government supports ASEAN in its development of sustainable smart cities, including Vietnam. The seminar concentrated on evaluating research and knowledge transfer in Vietnam, as well as measures to develop an excellent framework for this work to be suitable for the higher education context in Vietnam. Participants were treated to musical and martial art performances, traditional dishes, traditional calligraphy and tea ceremony of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

The WB recommended that the slowing economic growth in the first quarter needs close monitoring. In the first quarter, the services sector grew by some 7% and contributed 2.9 percentage point to the GDP. This was the 13th consecutive month in which retail sales recorded year-on-year double digit expansion. Both exports and imports contracted by 11.8% and 14.6%, respectively, in the first quarter, the second consecutive quarter of contraction in merchandise trade. In order to support the economy, the State Bank reduced the operating interest rate twice in March, leading to a reduction in deposit and lending rates of commercial banks./.

Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.

The Smart City Asia International Expo and Forum 2023 was launched at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Thursday, 13 April 2023 and will go on until 15 April, reported Vietnam News. The event has nearly 300 local and foreign exhibitors from Korea, Finland, the UAE, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, etc. coming to present advanced technologies and solutions for public lighting, smart cities and smart homes, urban planning and public administration. Here, management agencies, domestic and foreign experts could come to discuss strategies, solutions and practical management tools for smart city development in several seminars, said Phan Văn Mãi, chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee. The event’s organizers shared that they expect to receive more than 10,000 visitors that are interested to learn more about smart city development suitable for Vietnam the most.

The festival will feature renowned foreign artists such as German conductor Alexander Mickelthwate and bassoonist Sebastian Chaves, along with local artists and teachers of the Vietnam National Academy of Music. The annual event aims to respond to the Prime Minister’s decision of selecting April 21 as Vietnam Book Day. Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day seeks to honour the role and importance of books in education and social life, as well as promoting reading culture in the nation. Long was a coach of the Vietnam national karate team, the Hanoi karate team and the People's Police Karate team. Young writers’ comic on Vietnamese history releasedA comic series on Vietnamese history during the Trịnh and Nguyễn dynasties have been released by the Thanh Niên (Young People) Publishing House.