Twelfth graders of the Việt Đức High School are pictured with their teacher on the graduation day. VNA/VNS Photos Thanh Tùng The special school year of 2021-2022 has just ended, leaving many emotions among students, particularly the 12th graders. They are both happy to be about to embark on a new journey of life but also sad to say farewell to their beloved school, teachers and friends with whom they have not unfortunately had much time to share due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "I will desperately miss the short time my classmates and I spent studying together. Though we had three years of high school, we only had about a year and a half being together, due to the prolonged pandemic," said Thanh Uyên from Phan Đình Phùng High School. Another student, Nhật Minh, added: "We feel very sad when we have to say goodbye after such a short period of time. We hope we will always remember the good times studying together." This photo essay introduce to readers such … [Read more...] about Students say farewell to their high school years
Second year high school age
Hanoi parents brace for tuition hikes
After a year of not raising tuition fees due to the impacts of Covid-19, the Hanoi people's council passed a resolution on May 20 to hike public preschool and high school tuition fees for the 2022-23 academic year. The fees would double at first and subsequently increase by 20-40 percent every year. Sen, 43, lives in Hanoi’s Ha Dong District with her husband and two daughters, the other in 10th grade. She cleans houses for hourly wages while her husband is a laborer. They pay the highest tuition rate since their household registration is in Region 1, which comprises the capital’s inner districts. In addition, she may be required to pay VND300,000 ($12.93) per child per month for the following academic year, which is 1.4-2 times the current fee. Tuition fees for middle and high schools in Region 1 will gradually rise over the next three years to VND410,000, VND530,000, and VND650,000, respectively. Meanwhile, Sen and her husband's incomes fluctuate every month: Sometimes … [Read more...] about Hanoi parents brace for tuition hikes
Lao leaders appreciate Ho Chi Minh City-Vientiane cooperation
During the meetings, Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavan, National Assembly Chairman Xaysomphone Phomvihane and President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Xinlavong Khoutphaythoun all spoke highly of the cooperation between the Vietnamese southern hub and Lao capital Vientiane as well as other localities of Laos. They affirmed that the Lao people are always grateful for HCM City’s support for and cooperation with not only Vientiane, Savannakhet and Champasak which have twin relations with the city, but also other Lao localities. The visit of the HCM City delegation will contribute to deepening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, the Lao leaders said. They expressed a wish that HCM City will continue to share its experience in economic development with Vientiane and other Lao localities. The visiting HCM City official expressed … [Read more...] about Lao leaders appreciate Ho Chi Minh City-Vientiane cooperation
Green Tourism – An ideal way to spread Muong ethnic culture
That is the statement of Le Quoc Thinh, Director of Cuc Phuong Tourism Services Joint Stock Company (Vedana Resort) when introducing events aiming at promoting Cuc Phuong and Ninh Binh tourism after a long period of shutdown due to COVID-19. According to Chairman of Nho Quan district People’s Committee Hoang Khac Tiep, “Nho Quan is endowed with many historical relics and landmarks such as Van Trinh cave, Yen Quang lake, Dong Chuong lake, Cuc Phuong hot mineral water.” In particular, with the natural reserve area and new-stone-age cultural relics, Cuc Phuong National Park has received the title of Asia's leading national park for two consecutive years (2019, 2020) rated by World Travel Awards. It is worth mentioning that Nho Quan has nearly 30,000 ethnic people living in Muong villages. The strategy set by the district is to exploit existing indigenous cultural elements to combine with the trend of ecotourism, which is thriving in Ninh Binh province. Tourists have opportunities to … [Read more...] about Green Tourism – An ideal way to spread Muong ethnic culture
Vietnam’s long-term credit rating upgraded to “BB+”: S&P
S&P forecast Vietnam’s GDP will grow 6.9% in 2022 before settling closer to its long-term trend of growing 6.5%-7% from 2023 onward. S&P Global Ratings on May 26 raised its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Vietnam to 'BB+' from 'BB'. S&P expects Vietnam's economy to continue its upward trend. Source: S&P The rating agency also affirmed the country’s short-term rating at ‘B’ with a stable outlook. “The stable outlook reflects our expectations that over the next 12-24 months, Vietnam's economy will continue to recover from the challenges posed by the pandemic over the past two years. This will support the external position and rein in fiscal deficits,” it noted. S&P added it could raise the ratings if Vietnam's institutional settings improve considerably, in ways that augment policy predictability and transparency. Such favorable changes in the policy environment could bolster investor confidence in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s long-term credit rating upgraded to “BB+”: S&P