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The HCMC Department of Education and Training announces a draft plan on new tuition fees that are expected to be applied from the academic year 2022-2023 in the city. Under the plan, the new monthly education costs will increase from VND60,000 to VND300,000 a student of Thu Duc City and districts across the city; and from VND30,000 to VND100,000 a student in rural residential areas of Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Nha Be and Can Gio. Primary schools are free of charge. The above fee is the basis to support pupils of private primary schools or private students who are eligible for the policy of tuition fee exemption. HCMC has currently spent 20 percent of the State budget on education and training. However, this amount only ensures the basic costs for the teaching staff, but infrastructure investment, and professional activities. The new tuition fees are expected to ensure a fair in the education sector, contribution of families and students, and adjustment of the State … [Read more...] about HCMC proposes new tuition fee from academic year 2022-2023

After nearly 300 years, two whale skeletons in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam have been restored and put on display for public view. It is common practice amongst Vietnamese fishermen to store the skeletons of whales that washed ashore in temples. There, locals worship the bones of these massive sea creatures. In Ly Son District, a string of islands off the coast of central Vietnam, two of these skeletons were recently completely restored for a public display. Grandfather fish Fishermen in Vietnam call whales ‘grandfather fish,’ implying that they are of a high status. In Ly Son, an area which holds whales in particularly high regard, locals are excited for their two recently restored whale skeletons to be put on display. “Very soon everyone will get to see the grandfather fish at the Tan temple,” said 79-year-old Pham Thoai Tuyen. According to Tuyen, whales only rest in peace where people have spiritual faith in them, thus Ly Son is an area of peace. … [Read more...] about Vietnamese whale worshippers rejoice as 300-year-old skeleton restored

ROME -- World number one Novak Djokovic claimed his first title in over six months after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0 7-6(5) to win the Italian Open on Sunday. Djokovic did not drop a set en route to the final in Rome, having picked up his 1,000th tour-level victory by beating Casper Ruud in the semi-final to book a clash with Tsitsipas - a repeat of last year's French Open final, which the Serb won. A sixth-successive win for Djokovic over his Greek opponent looked inevitable as he stormed through the first set with a blistering display of hitting, to which Tsitsipas had no answer. Tennis - ATP Masters 1000 - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 15, 2022 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during the final against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas. Photo: Reuters Tsitsipas's name rung around Campo Centrale in the fourth game of the second set, however, as an unforced error from Djokovic gave the Greek player two break points, the first of which he converted … [Read more...] about Djokovic wins Italian Open to claim first title in over six months

Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – It will be a challenge to keep Consumer Price Index ( CPI ) growth under 4 percent this year, according to an economist. Vietnam's CPI picked up 2.1 percent in the first four months of 2022 , much higher than the same period last year’s 0.89 percent but still lower than that of 2017 (4.8 percent) and 2020 (4.9 percent), commented Dr. Tran Toan Thang, head of the Department of Industrial and Business Forecast at the National Centre of Economic Forecast and Information. April CPI advanced 2.09 percent compared to December 2021 and 2.64 percent year-on-year as a result of an increase in prices of nine out of eleven commodities and services. Prices of transport services surged 16.59 percent last month, causing the overall CPI to gain 1.6 percentage points. As major economies like the EU, US, and UK are seeing inflation climbing to record highs in decades, it still looks okay for Vietnam, he said. However, he warned that … [Read more...] about Keeping CPI below 4 pct this year a challenge: Economist

State officials in District 12 are receiving and processing documents of citizens. (Photo: SGGP) Head of District 8 Home Affairs Division Nguyen Van Cuong informed that in this action month, many administrative procedures of his district have their processing time reduced from three to only one day: changing registered information of family business, re-issuing permit for family business, registering to temporarily stop or resume trading activities of family business before the noticed period, registering to permanently stop trading activities of family business, extracting necessary information about civil status, certifying document copies or signatures. At the end of May 16, 680 documents were successfully processed. Chairwoman of Cu Chi District People’s Committee Pham Thi Thanh Hien shared that in this action month, her district processes 9 administrative procedures within a day, four of which have the processing time reduced from three to one day. Many residents of Tan … [Read more...] about HCMC eagerly welcoming action month to improve administrative procedures

According to Mekong River Commission (MRC), from November 2021 to April 2022 the Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB) was wetter than normal years with rainfall 25 percent above average basin-wide. At Thailand's Chiang Saen, the second uppermost monitoring station in the LMB, the level rose from 1.84 meters on Mar. 2 to 3.25 meters on May 11. The latter figure is lower than the 60-year average until 2021, but notably higher than during the drought years of 2019–21. At the Vientiane station in the Laotian capital, water levels even exceeded the 60-year average. In Cambodia, levels along the stretch from the Stung Treng to Kompong Cham monitoring stations rose by 0.66-2.22 meters, an increase of around 1.5 meters from last year, the MRC said in a statement. The Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) said late last month that the Mekong Delta, where the river reaches the sea, in April received 15-20 percent more water than average. In May and June the … [Read more...] about Mekong flowing at highest in years but drought feared later

A woman shops for fresh fruits at a Winmart store in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet Domestic purchasing power has rebounded after a strong decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. That rebound has facilitated businesses to step up production and seize new opportunities, experts have said. The nation's total revenue from retail trade and services surpassed VND1.77 quadrillion (US$76.2 billion) in the first four months of 2022, up 6.5 per cent year-on-year, the latest report from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) showed. In April alone, the revenue also saw a positive yearly rise of 12 per cent to over VND455 trillion, according to the report. These encouraging figures were attributable to abundant good supply and increasing purchasing power in the domestic market, the MoIT said, adding that goods retail sales saw a year-on-year hike of 7.6 per cent to over VND1.42 quadrillion in the four months. Of this, sales of food and foodstuff rose 13.2 per cent year-on-year … [Read more...] about Four-month purchasing power rebound facilitates business recovery

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his host counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihan on May 16 held  talks. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his host counterpart Saysomphone Phomvihan on May 16 held  talks following an official welcome ceremony for the former. Hue is now in Laos on an official visit. The Lao leader spoke highly of the significance of the visit, the first by a key Vietnamese leader to Laos in the " Year of Solidarity and Friendship " between Viethnam and Laos. The year 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. This is also the highest-level delegation of a foreign National Assembly to visit Laos since the success of the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the beginning of the 9th National Assembly term of Laos. For his part, … [Read more...] about NA leader holds talks with Lao counterpart

The Vietnamese leader appreciated the diplomat’s considerable contributions to the two countries’ ties, which were lifted to a comprehensive partnership in 2019. Thanking the Vietnamese Government and people for helping him fulfill his duties, the ambassador appreciated Vietnam’s efforts to help organize activities of the ASEAN Year when Brunei acted as Chair of the bloc in 2021. The elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive partnership in 2019 and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year have further proved their increasingly substantive cooperation, he noted. He also congratulated Vietnam on successfully holding the SEA Games 31 opening ceremony and receiving sports delegations, including the Bruneian team, showing Vietnam as a thoughtful and trustworthy host. The State leader of Vietnam noted despite COVID-19, bilateral connections have still been strengthened, with trade reaching USD 310 million in 2021 and USD 328 million in the first four months of … [Read more...] about State leader receives outgoing Bruneian ambassador

Hanoi’s economy is recovering Major balances ensured According to a report by the Hanoi People’s Committee, key industries are gradually recovering and developing from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanoi’s gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 5.83 percent, 16 percent higher than the country average (5.03 percent), three times higher than that of Ho Chi Minh City (1.88 percent), achieving the quarterly growth forecast (5.7-6.2 percent). These figures reflect the growth momentum in many industries and fields. Many major balances have been ensured. The total state budget revenue of Hanoi in the first quarter of 2022 exceeded VND102.40 trillion, or 80.2 percent of the revenue estimate, representing a rise of 9.2 percent against the same period last year. Regarding investment capital disbursement, Hanoi disbursed more than VND4.11 trillion, reaching eight percent of the plan (up by 26.7 percent over the same period last year) as of March … [Read more...] about Hanoi makes strides in economic recovery