133 local COVID-19 cases reported on June 17 evening Vietnam reported 136 new COVID-19 cases, including 133 domestic ones, in the past six hours to 6pm on June 17, according to the Ministry of Health. Bac Giang province and Ho Chi Minh City each logged 62 cases, while Bac Ninh had six, Ha Tinh two and Lang Son one. Of them, 131 infections were found in quarantine facilities and sealed off areas. As of June 17 evening, Vietnam documented a total 12,150 COVID-19 cases, including 10,483 locally transmitted ones. The number of cases since April 27, when the latest resurgence began, amounted to 8,913. On the day, 63 patients were given the all-clear, bringing the number of recoveries to 4,653. The death toll stood at 61. Among active patients undergoing treatment at medical establishments, 407 have tested negative for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once, 114 twice and 65 thrice. Twenty-four provinces have gone through 14 consecutive days without new cases. As of 5pm on June 17, the COVID-19 vaccine fund had received nearly 5.7 trillion VND (248.23 million USD) from 316,466 organisations and individuals, its managing board announced. In a bid to live safely with the pandemic, the Health Ministry has called on citizens to follow the 5K message, including khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering), and khai bao y te (health declaration), to help contain the outbreaks./. Vietnam wins silver at Asian Taekwondo Champs 2021 Anh Tuyet wins a silver medal at the Asian Taekwondo Championships 2021. Vietnamese martial artist Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet on June 16 secured a silver medal during the Asian Taekwondo Championships 2021 which is taking place in Beirut, Lebanon. However, the Vietnamese athlete lost in the final game against an opponent from the Republic of Korea to ultimately finish the competition with a silver medal. The 24th Asian tournament has attracted 337 athletes from 28 countries, …
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The ‘treasure of treasures’ of the Nguyen Dynasty
Royal seals (kim ngoc bao ty) of the Nguyen Dynasty were considered 'treasures of treasures'. Experiencing many ups and downs, most of them have been well preserved. In the feudal time, seals were symbols of the absolute power. Therefore, they were not only made of the rarest materials, but also the crystallization of the talent and wisdom of the most talented craftsmen in the country. All feudal dynasties in Vietnam from Dinh, Ly, Tran, Ho, Le to Nguyen, had seals, but only the Nguyen dynasty had a diverse system of seals. According to historical documents, the Nguyen Dynasty had more than 100 seals, which were cast in gold and silver, called ‘kim bao’, and made from precious gems, called ‘ngoc ty’. At present, 85 seals are preserved at the Vietnam History Museum and eight seals are displayed at the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities. These seals, which were used by the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, the Crown Prince, are truly treasures of treasures. Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Thua Thien-Hue province, former director of the Center for Conservation of Hue Monuments, said that “kim bao” (seals made of metals such as gold and silver) and “ngoc ty” (seals made of gems) have their own functions. The seal named Dai Viet Quoc Nguyen Chua Vinh Tran Chi Bao is considered treasure of the Nguyen family. The two seals named “Phong Tang Chi Bao” and “Sac Mang Chi Bao” were used on “sac phong” (documents conferring a title on somebody). In addition to the seals used in political affairs, some kinds of seals were used to honor titles (usually accompanied by gold books), and for worship (for the deceased emperor) ... According to Hai, among the remaining “kim bao” of the Nguyen Dynasty, the one called “Hoang De Chi Bao” is the heaviest, which weighs nearly 10.5kg. Another special seal is the “Sac Menh Chi Bao”, which is smaller in weight, but its face is the largest (14cmx14cm). For “ngoc ty”, the largest seal …
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Even the big and strong need help now and then
By Nguyễn Mỹ Hà This wave of COVID-19 has been hitting Việt Nam really hard. The country jumped from about 3,500 cases to more than 11,000 in just six weeks, while hundreds of thousands of people have been quarantined. When the Chairman of HCM City People's Committee, Nguyễn Thành Phong, announced the extension of social distancing measures for two more weeks, it was greeted with both applause and concern. "Two more weeks of social distancing, it's hard, but for the safety of our residents, we'll respect it," wrote one Facebook user. Less than two weeks ago, when the COVID-19 vaccine fund was launched , the country returned to empathy mode when news that an elderly lady donates VNĐ400,000 (US$18) from her limited pension to the fund and a schoolboy broke his piggy bank to contribute his pocket money to the fund. In many developed countries, vaccine shots are provided by the government from tax money but in Việt Nam, it's a popular belief that everyone shares this responsibility. Donating even a small sum makes everyone feel healthier and makes them an active fighter in this arduous fight against the deadly virus. Being active and taking part is better for society's positive energy, rather than having people just as vaccine shot receivers. This shows society functions as a community, where everyone's contribution and efforts head towards the common good. So when HCM City reported new positive cases without identifying the sources identified, everyone knew it was time to extend social distancing. It was a surprise when a poem went viral on social media, calling for the rest of the country to give the biggest city and economic driving force a helping hand. "When droughts ravaged the central coastline, when flash floods and tropical storms wreaked havoc on northern towns and cities, HCM City was always the first and most generous helper. "Don't think big guys never feel the pain. "Don't think the rich never cry." Even though …
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