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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA) Binh Dinh (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged the north-central and central coastal regions to create more breakthroughs in development to match their potential and advantages while addressing a conference in Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province, on February 5. The conference touched upon the implementation of the Government’s action plan to materialise the Politburo’s Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated November 3, 2022 on orientations for socio-economic development and national defence and security in the two regions by 2030 with a vision towards 2045. It was also intended to promote investment in the regions with the theme of “Linkage - Breakthroughs from maritime economy - Rapid, sustainable development.” The regions hold strategic positions and roles of special significance in terms of economy, especially maritime economy, politics, culture, social affairs, environment, external relations, … [Read more...] about PM asks north-central, central coastal regions to create development breakthroughs

During their meeting, FM Son and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn were pleased with the fruitful developments of the bilateral relationship in recent times, and agreed to continue promoting the exchange of high-level visits via all channels, enhancing people-to-people exchange; maintaining and optimizing the effectiveness of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms; fostering economic connections; strengthening cooperation between localities, especially those that share borders; and exerting effort to speed up tourism recovery. They also agreed to accelerate negotiations towards completing the remaining 16% of the land border demarcation and marker planting in order to build a common borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development between the two nations; and closely coordinate at regional and international forums as well as sub-regional mechanisms, and support each other's candidacy to multilateral organizations. Sokhonn … [Read more...] about Foreign Minister meets Cambodian, Philippine, Malaysian counterparts

According to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, the meeting had substantive discussions on key issues, focusing on evaluating the implementation of ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar; regional and international issues; and the relations between ASEAN and partners. Regarding Myanmar, Indonesia, as the ASEAN Chair in 2023, mentioned the implementation of 5PC, emphasizing that the consensus has important significance and demonstrates ASEAN's unity in solving issues related to Myanmar. ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirmed a unified approach to the implementation of the 5PC in order to settle the political crisis in the bloc’s member nation as well as to ensure humanitarian assistance programs for Myanmar people, especially the Rohingya Muslims. Regarding the theme of the meeting “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” ASEAN member countries agreed on important contents to push towards positive outcomes, and mobilize resources to develop ASEAN Blue Economy Framework as … [Read more...] about ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat wraps up

The annual Nguyên Tiêu Festival on the 15th of lunar January in Hội An has been recognised as a National Intangible Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Lanterns are used to decorate Hôi An every full moon. The tourism hub also lights up lanterns on weekends. — VNS Photo Công Thành The festival celebrates the full moon of the first lunar month of the year. The city’s Centre for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation confirmed the certificate was handed over on February 5, marking the fifth national intangible heritage after Thanh Châu bird's nest, Thanh Hà Pottery village, carpentry of Kim Bồng village and Trà Quế vegetable garden. The centre said the festival was a major event in a series of cultural and ritual activities among local people held during the first lunar month. Local people often prepare for the festival from the seventh day of the month with ancestor worship and praying for peace at the communal houses of Cẩm Phô, … [Read more...] about Ancient town’s full moon festival named intangible heritage

Located in the northern highlands province of Yen Bai, Mu Cang Chai, home to ethnic minority groups, primarily the Hmong people, is around a seven hours drive northwest of Hanoi. The remote rural district is famous for its terraced rice fields which change color depending on the time of the year, from green in late spring and summer to golden yellow in October during the harvest season. "These rice paddies in Vietnam’s isolated northern reaches have gained Instagram fame for their impressive angles in a topographically challenging region," Condé Nast Traveler said. The magazine urged visitors to explore the rice paddies in early October when the rice harvest begins, and to stop by the fields twice in a day: once early in the morning before the crowds arrive, and a second time at sunset. Around 500 kilometers from Mu Cang Chai, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, in Quang Ninh Province, is well known for its "blue-green water, and spectacular limestone karst … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay, Mu Cang Chai among world’s 40 most colorful destinations: US magazine