Explosive and toxic remnants of war on display in HCM CityThe War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City has opened a display of around 190 items, documents, and photos related to the US army’s use of bombs, mines, and toxic chemicals during the past war in Vietnam, as well as activities to treat the environmental pollution caused by the residues of toxic chemicals left over from the war. According to statistics, approximately 15 million tons of bombs, mines, and explosives were dropped on Vietnam from 1945-1975, four times the total amount used by all sides in World War II. Toxic chemicals have affected 4.8 million people, more than 3 million of whom are Agent Orange/Dioxin victims. Chau Phuoc Hiep, vice director of the War Remnants Museum, said the exhibition features silent work by people who reconstruct the dead land. The exhibition runs until August 20 at the Museum in District 3.

Hung Yen prepares list of 13 pollution-causing enterprisesThe northern province of Hung Yen has prepared a list of 13 enterprises that need improvement for causing environmental pollution last year. The Phu Sy Nutrition Co Ltd in An Thi District is in the list of 13 enterprises that need improvement for causing environmental pollution last year. Tests conducted by the Hung Yen Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the provincial Police Environmental Crimes Unit showed that these 13 enterprises discharged waste exceeding the regulated levels from two to 80 times. The provincial people’s committee has asked these enterprises to strictly implement measures to prevent pollution before the end of July. Enterprises completing the pollution improvement process will be removed from the list based on current regulation.

Vietnam welcomes over 4.2 million foreign visitors in Q1According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO), more than 4.2 million foreign tourists travelled to Vietnam in the first three months of this year, a 30.9 percent year-on-year increase. Vietnam welcomes over 4.2 million foreign visitors in Q1In March alone, Vietnam welcomed over 1.3 million tourists. Of which, more than 3.1 million visitors are from Asian market. The number of visitors from China increased most by 43 percent, South Korea 69 percent and Japan 7 percent. Visa exemption program has raised the number of visitors from the European market to Vietnam by 15.4 percent.

The national costume is meticulously tailored by local designer Le Thanh Hoa, who draws inspiration from the legend titled “Children of Dragon, Grandchildren of Fairies” featuring the origin of the Vietnamese people. The gold coloured costume weighs more than 40kg and takes Thanh Hoa over two months to create. The armour is made from gilded bronze and is decorated with unique patterns. Minh Trung has been very careful to preserve the ornate costume for the Mister International 2018 contest in Myanmar. Trung says his rivals come from many different nations around the world but he will do his best to have a successful event.

Car parking banned in all school premisesVietNamNet Bridge – National Committee for Traffic Safety has ordered the Ministry of Education and Training to direct all schools nationwide to ban car parking in school premises or on pavements near schools. The car that the teacher of Van Ho Primary School reverses and kills one student last Thursday.— VNA/VNS PhotoThe order is to be enforced during school hours. The move comes in the wake of the death of a primary school student and injury of another when a teacher was reversing her car, with the registration number 26A-054.29, in Van Ho Primary School in the northern mountainous province of Son La last Thursday. In December 2016, a second grader in Hanoi’s Nam Trung Yen Primary School was hit by a taxi while playing on the school grounds. The Ministry of Transport has also been asked to co-operate with localities to install more road signs around schools to ensure students’ safety.

Ash generated from thermal power plants up to 12.2 million tonnesVietNamNet Bridge – The country’s thermal power plants generated up to 12.2 million tones of coal ash last year, while treating only 4 million tonnes, meaning inventory rose to 25.2 million tonnes, according to the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment (DISE) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. To produce 1kWh of electricity using coal dust, from 0.9 to 1.5kg of coal ash will be emitted. Thus, coal ash generated annually from the 23 operational thermal power plants measures about 12.2 million tonnes. The first reason was that most people and construction enterprises are wary of the quality of unburnt brick made from coal ash. For example, at the Dong Trieu Thermo Power Plant in Quang Ninh, the average annual output of Mao Khe Thermal Power Plant is about 650,000 tonnes of ash.

Increasing malaria in disadvantaged areas threatens Vietnam’s progressVietnam has been making great strides to move from malaria control towards elimination of the disease, but increasing malaria in disadvantaged areas is threatening the country’s overall progress. According to the World Malaria Report 2017 by the World Health Organisation, the global progress against malaria appeared to have stalled after many years of great public health achievements in response to the disease. Without urgent action, countries risk going backwards and missing the global malaria targets for 2020 and beyond. In 2017, the number of malaria cases dropped by 35.4 percent from 2016. Binh Phuoc was the country’s most heavily-affected province with 738 malaria cases, up 70 percent from the same period of 2017.

A Kite festival at LePARC entertainment complex in Yen So Park gives visitors a chance to play around with giant kites. This is the most exciting event as part of activities for the upcoming national holidays this year. What promises to be a highlight of the event are the wresting games, in which visitors can face off in inflatable Sumo wrestler costumes. The recycling garden is a unique corner of the park where visitors can take photos with lovely animated characters. Visitors can also participate in exciting activities like playing folk games, making handmade products, skateboarding, and purchasing souvenirs from pavilions at the event.

VN, Sri Lanka strive for US$1 bln in bilateral tradeNational Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan expected that Viet Nam and Sri Lanka will actively and effectively realize the agreements signed during the Sri Lankan PM’s official visit to Viet Nam in April 2017, striving to raise the two-way trade value to US$1 billion in the upcoming time. Ms. Ngan hailed Sri Lanka’s achievements in socio-economic development and the nation’s contributions to peace, stability and development in the region. Viet Nam attaches importance to the traditional relationship with Sri Lanka, asserted the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman, adding that the Vietnamese NA is willing to enhance close cooperation with the Sri Lankan Parliament. Ms. Ngan urged to strengthen investment promotion and trade connection activities and propose measures to launch the bilateral investment protection and encouragement deal. Ms. Ngan expressed her hope that Sri Lanka will advocate Viet Nam's and ASEAN’s standpoints, especially contents related to freedom of navigation and aviation.

Vietnamese, Sri Lankan top legislators hold talksVietnam and Sri Lanka have agreed to maintain and intensify the exchange of all-level delegations of their legislative bodies, particularly special committees, in order to share information and experience in parliamentary activities, law making and supervision. At the talksThe consensus was reached by Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Karu Jayasuriya during their talks in Hanoi on April 24. The talks were held following a welcome ceremony for the Sri Lankan top legislator, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from April 23-27. Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuria expressed his hope for affiliation between the police academies of the two countries, and the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman also voiced her support of the partnership. NA Chairwoman Ngan is hosting a banquet for the Sri Lankan parliament speaker and his entourage later the same day./.

Foreign automakers switch to trading as Vietnamese scale up productionVietNamNet Bridge - While foreign-invested manufacturers have shifted to importing cars for domestic sale, Vietnamese enterprises have increased investments and expanded production, vowing to develop a domestic automobile industry. On the same day, Thaco opened the Japan – Chu Lai international maritime route and received APL’s first ship from Hiroshima docking at the Chu Lai Port. While foreign-invested manufacturers have shifted to importing cars for domestic sale, Vietnamese enterprises have increased investments and expanded production, vowing to develop a domestic automobile industry. The newly inaugurated Thaco Mazda is equipped with the most advanced automatic production lines. VinFast, another Vietnamese automobile brand, also is thinking big with its plan to become the leading automobile manufacturer in South East Asia with the capacity of 500,000 products by 2025.

Vietnam Mobile Day 2018 on wayAlong with the development of mobile infrastructure, businesses have invested more in business on the new platform, from upgrading mobile-friendly websites to developing apps. A survey by the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) in early 2017 found that 19 per cent of businesses have developed websites that are compatible with the mobile platform. The breakthrough in user growth creates a solid foundation for the technology industry in general and the mobile industry in particular. For that reason, Vietnam Mobile Day (VMD) 2018, the largest and most prestigious event in technology and especially mobile technology, with the mission of engaging the tech-loving community, will return in June. Capturing the prominent mobile technology trend, VMD 2018 will discuss 100 of the hottest topics and is expected to attract more than 10,000 participants and over 400 tech startups.

The palanquin and offering procession was organised by seven communes and wards surrounding the Hung Kings Temple Complex in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 23. The palanquin and offering procession was organised by seven communes and wards surrounding the Hung Kings Temple Complex in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 23. The palanquin and offering procession was organised by seven communes and wards surrounding the Hung Kings Temple Complex in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 23. The event forms part of activities to celebrate the annual Hung Kings Temple Festival this year to pay tribute to the nation's founders and ancestors. The event forms part of activities to celebrate the annual Hung Kings Temple Festival this year to pay tribute to the nation's founders and ancestors.

Power project to begin operations ahead of scheduleThe US$1.75-billion Vinh Tan 1 thermal power project will begin operations ahead of its schedule owing to concerns about the risk of power shortage in the southern provinces in future. Vinh Tan 1 thermal power plant. According to latest reports, the first unit of the project will begin commercial operations in July 2018, five months earlier than its schedule. On April 18, the first unit of Vinh Tan 1 successfully connected to the national grid for the first time and met all standards during a test. The 1,240MW project is the first thermal power plant in Viet Nam to apply the pulverised coal combustion technology.

Vietnamese travelers prefer local attractive tourism destinationDa Nang will be the “place to be” for travellers in Viet Nam in the forthcoming extra-long weekend according to global online booking platform Agoda. Da Nang will be the “place to be” for travellers in Viet Nam in the forthcoming extra-long weekend according to global online booking platform Agoda. — Photo danangxanh.comThe largest town in central Viet Nam will also be hosting its annual International Fireworks Festival between 30 April and 1 May, giving guests yet another reason to visit the seaside town. Neighbouring Hoi An also finished in the top 15, promising a bustling weekend away in the area. For those travelers from Viet Nam looking beyond the borders, the bright lights of Bangkok (No 7), Singapore (No 8) have proven the most popular destination, followed by Seoul (No 10) and Taipei (No 12).