Liberals planting 2 billion trees

One of the highlights of Hanoi's friendliness is the shade provided by its many trees. Hanoi has made efforts to expand its green cover from the city center to its suburbs and ring roads, which has helped make the capital one of the most tree-covered cities in the world, according to a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). According to the US travel website Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guide platform, "Vietnam's charming capital has aged well, preserving ancient architecture amid modern development. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards, and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi." The website added that Hanoi is a welcoming and modern capital, yet retains ancient cultural values. One of the highlights of Hanoi's friendliness is the shade provided by its many trees. The city boasts old streets with typical trees, such as Phan Dinh Phung and Lo Duc streets, … [Read more...] about Hanoi among cities with most trees in the world

The tree, named Sri Maha Bodhiya, stands in Sri Lanka. It was said to be propagated from the famous Bodhi tree under which Siddhartha Gautama the Lord Buddha was sitting when he gained enlightenment. With permissions from the Sri Lankan Government and the local pagoda housing the sacred fig and support from the South Asian country’s embassy in Vietnam, the sapling was planted in Bai Dinh at a ceremony on March 25. The ceremony followed a pilgrimage starting March 21 by monks and Buddhist followers from the Vietnamese pagoda to Sri Lanka to bring the sapling back to Vietnam. The Bai Dinh pagoda is part of the local Trang An Landscape Complex that was recognised as a World Cultural And Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO./. VNA … [Read more...] about Sapling from world’s longest-living Bodhi tree planted in Bai Dinh pagoda

Many things on Con Dao Island leave deep impression on tourists. However, the first and most impressive one must be century-old tropical almond trees. In 1862, Governor of Cochinchina Bonard signed a decision to build a prison on the island. It was also the time first tropical almond trees were planted there. Since then, the trees have grown up and engraved the island’s history and trace of time. Con Dao’s tropical almond trees impress with their quantity, age and appearance. In Con Dao town, this kind of tree is everywhere: on streets, in Con Dao Prison’s outdoor space, in offices, along the beaches and in parks. These trees are very big with roots looking like giant pythons. In spring, the trees' leaves turn red, adding their color to Con Dao Island as seen from a far distance. When all the leaves fall, the trees with no leaf this time look like giant fossilized skeletons. However, after a short time, new buds appear, turning the trees into giant umbrellas to shade the town from … [Read more...] about In the shade of Con Dao’s tropical almond trees

With the fresh flowers blooming in all parts of Hanoi, Hanoians often remind each other that Summer is just around the corner. March is the time for Hoa Gao or Bombax Ceiba, which literally means "rice flower" in Vietnamese. All the old leaves fall off, leaving the tree with only flowers. The trees now look like a burning torch with hundreds of red flames. The enchanting red color of the blooming flowers reminds Hanoians of their childhood. The quiet happiness of the old days when the street was still almost empty and modern high-rise buildings had not yet obscured the beauty of Bombax Ceiba. Once a year at the end of March, the "rice flower" trees at Thay Pagoda in Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi, bloom, creating a unique beauty for the ancient Buddhist temple. The bright red color of the flower helps to dispel the gloomy weather of the late Spring days and lights a small fire of joy in the … [Read more...] about Bombax ceiba tree blooms in streets to herald Summer in Hanoi

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are considering a plan to install roofs over suitable parts of the walkways of Le Loi Boulevard in District 1 at a cost of up to US$1.27 million to protect pedestrians from sunshine and rain. The municipal Department of Planning and Architecture recently submitted its scheme to the city’s administration aiming to improve the shopping road that was reopened last August after being closed for years due to the construction of the city’s first metro. As the large trees once located alongside the sidewalks were removed for the metro project, a roof system over them should be built to shield walkers and shoppers from the elements, according to the department. Accordingly, the Le Loi sidewalks with an average of 5.5 - 6 meters on each side will have a roof reaching out four meters, a departmental representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Not only do they help block sunlight and rain, the future roofs can also create a lively cityscape for this … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City considers spending up to $1.27mn on downtown street roofing

Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Chukyo region and Yokoi Mould Vietnam Co. , Ltd present 120 sakura trees to Bac Giang (Photo: VNA) Bac Giang (VNA) – A Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange event was held in the northern province of Bac Giang on March 19, as one of the activities in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties. Visitors to the event had a chance to experience an AR (augmented reality) technology cherry blossom (Sakura) garden, enjoy typical cuisine of Japan and Bac Giang, wear traditional Japanese and Vietnamese costumes, visit Tay Yen Tu spiritual - ecological tourism complex, and visit booths showcasing OCOP (One commune-one product) products of the province. On this occasion, the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Chukyo region and Yokoi Mould Vietnam Co., Ltd presented 120 sakura trees to the Vietnamese locality to be planted at the complex. Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Watanabe Shige showed his … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange event organised in Bac Giang

* In particular, military units of Naval Region 4 jointly held a program entitled “Youths of Naval Region 4 join hands to clean up the sea.” After the launching ceremony, military youths and more than 300 youths in Cam Ranh city and Cam Thanh Bac commune collected over a ton of rubbish and cleaned the environment surrounding the beach in Bai Dai area in Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province and the stationed area. According to Senior Colonel Dao Giang Hai, Deputy Political Chief of Naval Region 4, in celebration of the foundation day of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Youth Union organizations of Naval Region 4 implemented various activities, including cleaning up the environment surrounding their barracks, planting shade trees, collecting and processing marine debris, among others. Meanwhile, the units effectively disseminated information via different ways to encourage troops to accomplish all assigned missions. * In Phan Thiet city (Binh Thuan), the provincial Department … [Read more...] about Youths join hands to clean up sea

Can Tho (VNA) – The Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute (CLRRI) on March 24 signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Syngenta Vietnam Limited to research and develop plant varieties , especially purebred rice varieties. Accordingly, Syngenta will finance the institute’s research on the best purebred rice varieties from now till 2025. The two sides will also cooperate in the fields of plant protection, covering the research, testing and evaluation of pesticides. To satisfy requirements in the transformation of the rice sector, the institute has adjusted its research strategy, its Director Tran Ngoc Thach said, adding that apart from productivity, resilience to insects and quality, attention has been paid to issues regarding fertilisers, greenhouse gas emissions and tolerance to the environment during the research of rice varieties. Vietnam exported 7.13 million tonnes of rice for 3.4 billion USD last year, up 13.8% in volume and 5.1% in value year on year, making … [Read more...] about Research institute, agri-business cooperate in developing purebred rice varieties

In Vietnam, local businesses cannot mortgage land use rights (LUR) as security to a foreign lender. But this is allowed in our peer markets, and it is carried out with robust regulation, proper dignity, and thoughtful national protections. So, why are we behind the pack? Darryl Dong-Principal country officer IFC Vietnam Vietnam’s restriction on land security for foreign lenders reduces available funding and increases borrowing costs to local companies. Basically, we are penalising the country and making it less competitive. It also makes it more difficult for the government to supervise foreign financing, since the parties simply find workarounds through complex structures to create security packages for loans because they cannot get on the ground security. In Vietnam, where the non-performing loan (NPL) market is still not developed, this mortgage restriction is a showstopper for foreign NPL investors who want to bring us their capital and expertise. We need to put … [Read more...] about Mobilising international finance for land security

The city will develop models of fruit growing by agricultural processes, which will be highly technological and follow world standards. Hanoi's agribusinesses are developing high-value orchards with a focus on sustainability, using high-tech production, VietGAP and organic farming, and planting area codes. Dien polemo planting area in Nam Phuong Tien Commune, Chuong My District. Photos: Anh Ngoc/ The Hanoi Times Over the years, Hanoi's agricultural industry has made great efforts to ensure pomelo is grown safely and organically. The city has developed two pomelo plantation areas that meet organic standards, which opens up opportunities for Vietnam to penetrate demanding markets such as the United States and the European Union. Hoang Thi Hoa, director of the Hanoi Agricultural Development Center, said the US Department of Agriculture gave the pomelo varieties high marks for quality and taste. After learning the USDA import regulations, the Municipal … [Read more...] about Hanoi develops high-value fruit plantations