Spring Photo Contest 2021, hosted by HCMC Photography Association (HOPA), attracted 374 participants with 3,480 photos. With the theme “Vietnamese Spring”, the jury selected 80 photos for exhibition, including one first prize, two second prizes, three third prizes and five consolation prizes. The award ceremony took place in early February in Ho Chi Minh City. “Spring Love” by Tran Anh Tuan won first place. Tuan said he took the photo when he met an old couple chatting joyfully while carrying a peach blossom branch home to celebrate Tet in Duong Lam ancient village, Hanoi. The second prize winner is Ho Van Thai Hoang's “Spring Sunshine”, taken in District 5, HCMC. “On a spring day, I was going out with my camera as usual. When I heard the sound of a drum at a temple from afar, I quickly went there, observed the activities and decided to shoot from a high angle. That feeling is special,” Hoang said. Another second prize is Nguyen Son Tung's “Tet Gathering”, taken in Ai Quoc Commune, Loc Binh District, Lang Son Province. The author said the Tet reunion has an important meaning that everyone cherishes. This is a day to reunite with your loved ones. Tet (Lunar New Year), Vietnam's biggest holiday, peaks on Feb. 12 this year. “Trieu Khuc Village Festival” by Bui Dang Thanh won the third prize. The festival in Thanh Tri District, Hanoi was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019. The festival is held on lunar Jan. 9-12 every year, to commemorate national hero Phung Hung, a chief and military leader during the 8th century. A highlight of this festival is when boys dress up in colorful women’s clothes, and with chalky cheeks and lipstick, perform a traditional dance. “Simple Happiness” by Le Hong Duc won the third prize. In the photo is a H'mong family of Lao Xa Village, Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province. “Spring Afternoon” by Tran Ngoc …
Awards ceremony dresses
VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES MARCH 3
Clip expresses gratitude toward doctors in COVID-19 fight A video clip comprising a series of paintings by children on doctors, who are called intimately as white blouse warriors during the COVID-19 fight, has been published recently by the Ministry of Health. The paintings by child artists are part of a campaign initiated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). They depict doctors as white-blouse soldiers who have relentlessly fought against the pandemic, through which children’s gratitude toward health workers is expressed. The video also conveys a message of solidarity in the fight against COVID-19./. 110 foreign experts to be isolated for COVID-19 combat The administration of Quang Ngai province, central Vietnam, has outlined plans to put a total of 110 foreign experts into isolation in concentrated places in an effort to prevent the potential spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The foreign experts are scheduled to pass though Huu Nghi international border gate in the northern province of Lang Son and then travel to Quang Ngai to work for Hoa Phat Dung Quat Iron and Steel Integrated Complex. The provincial administration requested relevant agencies to create favourable condition for the experts during their travel and quarantine back in Quang Ngai. At present, Quang Ngai is yet to record any positive COVID-19 cases this year, although local authorities have advised relevant agencies to closely control people entering from COVID-19 hotspots in the fight against the virus. Cases that violate the Health Ministry’s COVID-19 prevention and control measures will be punished, whilst local medical workers will take samples for testing of relevant cases, especially foreigners currently working in Quang Ngai. Daily Mail hails Vietnamese driver as hero after saving life of local girl The Daily Mail newspaper of the UK has posted an article hailing the bravery of a local delivery …
VIETNAM NEWS FEBRUARY 9
PM gives Tet present Vietnam football head coach Coach Park Hang-seo The head coach of the Vietnamese national football team, Park Hang-seo has just received a present from PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc for the Lunar New Year Festival. The head coach of the Vietnamese national football team, Park Hang-seo has just received a present from PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc for the Lunar New Year Festival. Coach Park Hang-seo said that he would come back to work soon and try to work hard to improve the national team’s results. Coach Park Hang-seo arrived in Hanoi on February 3 after a holiday in his home country of South Korea. He was now on a 21-day quarantine period for Covid-19 prevention following regulations from the Vietnamese government. Under the leadership of coach Park Hang-seo, the Vietnamese national football team finished as runners-up at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship, champions of the AFF Cup 2018, qualified in semi-finals of the 18th Asian Games and made the 2019 Asian Cup quarter-finals. PM calls for strong local COVID-19 response Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and other major cities where COVID-19 cases have been confirmed should take strong measures to effectively prevent the spread of the pandemic within the community, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on February 8. Such measures include social distancing in line with the PM’s Directives No 15 and 16 in case of a worsening situation, the PM said at an online meeting of permanent Cabinet members. The Ministry of Health (MoH) pointed out the high risk of the pandemic spreading as there remain sources of infections yet to be detected in major cities, especially in baggage and cargo handling services at HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It reported that all 7,300 employees at the airport have been tested and five of them were positive for the coronavirus. Twenty-four related cases were also found later. The pandemic has been basically contained in …
