Responsible alcohol service certificate

Ngo Hong Nam, 40, head of a medical station of Ben Tre’s Ward 8, was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months in prison on Thursday for "fabricating an organization's seal or documents and use thereof." The Ben Tre People’s Court also handed 48 other people involved either prison terms or probation on the same charge. From 2016 to 2020, Nam bought 61 fake English and computer literacy certificates for himself and 48 others, according to the verdict and sentencing. The certificates cost VND900,000-2.5 million ($38.26-106.27) each. By hiking the price and charging a "bonus fee," Nam earned himself VND9.7 million in total. Since then, doctors, pharmacists, nurses and teachers have used these fake certificates to earn employment and promotions, according to authorities. … [Read more...] about 49 sentenced for faking English proficiency certificates

Unlicensed tourism services have remained rampant by Luong Stream in the central city of Danang’s Lieu Chieu District despite being banned. Currently, more than ten tourism facilities are illegally operating there. People have even blocked the flow of the stream to build facilities, using large rocks and concrete. The construction is also carried out on the two banks of the stream. Work on a facility is still underway on the stream. The illegal construction on the stream has created lakes which pose dangers, particularly during the rainy and flooding season. The area was severely eroded following torrential rains in October last year. The unlicensed construction has worsened the situation. After the flooding in October last year, local authorities decisively prohibited tourism business activities, but people have ignored this. According to an official from Lieu Chieu District, more drastic measures will be applied to deal with the … [Read more...] about Illegal tourism services rampant by Danang stream

The MIC called for a level playing field for domestic and foreign companies. Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) is seeking Government approval for a proposal to regulate over-the-top (OTT) interpersonal communication, which would bring popular messaging apps such as Zalo, Viber, and Telegram under the Telecommunications Law. The ministry believes that over-the-top service platforms such as Zalo, Viber, Telegram, and WhatsApp are replacing mobile phone services. However, there are currently no legal provisions governing these platforms, and there is no way to protect users and information security, the MIC stressed. Over-the-top media services, like Zalo, Viber, and Telegram, are displayed on a smartphone. Photo: Anh Quan Some world governments (in Europe, China, and South Korea) have classified this service as a telecom service and regulated it in accordance with the Telecommunications Law, it added. The ministry also called … [Read more...] about MIC to regulate OTT communication in Vietnam

Australian tourist Melissa had planned to fly her family to Vietnam from Bali on December 21 last year. So, she applied for e-visas 10 days in advance. After completing the application, the official Vietnam Immigration Department website stated that "your e-visas will be processed within three working days." A week later, Melissa's application was approved, but the applications for her husband and two children were refused. They were asked to submit new portrait photos. Melissa's family then sent new photos and postponed their travel plans until December 24. But by their new travel date they had yet to receive a response from the immigration department. They decided to still go to the airport on the day of their tickets hoping to get to Vietnam. But the family was refused entry without visas. "The response time is too long. I sent the photos back long ago and today (March 2023, three months since the application) we still haven’t received a reply," she said. Melissa's family … [Read more...] about Travelers struggle with Vietnam’s e-visa procedures

E-commerce activities continued to grow by double digits, reaching 28 per cent in 2022. — Photo tapchitaichinh.vn The E-Commerce Industry 2023 Report shows that sustainability will be the development trend of Viet Nam's e-commerce in the future. According to this report, with the theme of Sustainable E-Commerce: Driving the Digital Economy, recently released by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Lazada, e-commerce is an indispensable activity, playing the role of narrowing the gap between people, businesses and localities and optimising intermediate costs to promote production and business. E-commerce is entering the stage of sustainable and responsible business, experts said in the report. VCCI vice chairman Nguyen Quang Vinh was quoted by the Dien dan doanh nghiep (Business Forum) newspaper as saying that "Business today must create new values, not only economic values. Enterprises need to think beyond economic issues, being social and environmental … [Read more...] about Viet Nam’s e-commerce industry changes towards sustainable development: report

The National Assembly approved the 2023 budget of VND712 trillion ($30 billion), a significant increase from more than VND130 trillion ($5.5 billion) in 2022. The effective performance of public investment should be considered as a top political task for all levels and sectors in order to ensure a strong push for the socio-economic recovery of the country. The construction of Ring road No.2 section Vinh Tuy - Nga Tu Vong in Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the view in Directive No. 08 on missions and tasks to promote public investment and economic development in 2023. This year, the Government set a target to disburse at least 95% of the public funds allocated for this year, which is more than VND676 trillion (US$28.47 billion). For the current year, the National Assembly has approved a budget of nearly VND712 trillion (US$30 billion), a significant increase of more than VND130 trillion (US$5.5 billion) over 2022 and VND250 … [Read more...] about Effective public investment as a top political mission: PM

The episode named “Two hearts beat as one,” was handed over to the Cuban side by a delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense at the headquarters of the Cuban ministry in La Habana capital and screened at the ceremony on March 20. Speaking at the event, Three-star General Alvaro Lopez Miera, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Two-star General Victor Rojo Ramos, Chief of the Political Directorate of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, highly valued the quality of the episode, affirming that the episode honestly featured the history and had a profound content and educational significance for the two peoples and militaries. The two Cuban officials underlined the special political meaning of the documentary film and hoped that the remaining episodes will soon be completed. The documentary film is one of the five products of the dossier about the 60-year history of defense relations between Vietnam and Cuba. For the Vietnamese part, Senior Lieutenant … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Cuba enhance cooperation in historical memory preservation

Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and his Lao counterpart Lieutenant General Vongkham Phommakone co-chaired the event. At the dialogue, the two sides shared a common perception on the impacts of regional and global situations, the rise of non-traditional security challenges, major power’s growing competition for influence in Asia-Pacific. They agreed that in that context, ASEAN has continued to promote its centrality in the region, enhance dialogues and cooperation among ASEAN member states and other partners for regional peace and stability. The two sides spoke highly of the outcomes of their bilateral defense cooperation over the past time, especially the successful organization of nearly 30 big and meaningful activities in the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship in 2022. They also praised the two sides’ agencies and units for their great efforts and close coordination to fulfill the cooperation plan for … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Laos hold 3rd defense policy dialogue

The maximum airfare on four out of five flight distances will rise in the second or third quarter, according to a recent price report of the Ministry of Finance. The biggest increase will be 6.67% (to VND4 million or $170) for one-way tickets on flights of 1,280 kilometers (Hanoi to Phu Quoc Island) and longer. Flights between 1,000 and 1,280 kilometers will see their ticket cap price rise 6.25% to VND3.4 million. Flights of smaller distances will see their maximum price rise by between 2.27% and 3.58%. Flights under 500 kilometers will see no ceiling change. Their prices will remain at a maximum of VND1.7 million per one-way ticket. The cap price increase will likely bring Vietnam’s 2023 Consumer Price Index up by 0.07% points. Earlier this year, Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways proposed increasing the cap ticket price to take into account rising in costs. The airfare price cap was last increased in 2015. By November last year, fuel costs had surged more than 80% … [Read more...] about Vietnam to raise air ticket price cap

Le Viet Anh, director general of the MPI's Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment In attendance at the Voluntary National Review (VNR) workshop were delegates from ministries and state agencies; the business and media sectors; and national and international organisations. The 2030 Agenda was adopted by United Nations member states in September 2015 with a focus on the 17 SDGs. The VNR is a mechanism to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the agenda on a global scale. VNRs are presented annually to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) of the United Nations. Vietnam first presented a VNR in 2018, and will present a second, along with 41 other countries, later this year. In his opening remarks, Le Viet Anh, director general of the Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment at the MPI said, "Vietnam wishes to share our achievements and progress in the implementation of SDGs, to discuss the … [Read more...] about MPI and GIZ hold workshop on SDGs