The festival is a great religious banquet for the Great Mother and nine female immortals of the Dieu Tri Palace (Jasper Pond Palace) held annually on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. With the main activities including a procession, a five-fruit banquet offering, and prayer, this year, followers displayed 117 booths of fruits, musical instruments, and decorations, among others, to reenact the tales of the goddesses. In his remarks at the festival, Cardinal Thuong Tam Thanh, Head of the Executive Council of the Cao Dai Church in Tay Ninh, thanked the Party and State for paying attention to and creating favorable conditions for Cao Dai followers to practice their belief and live a happy and peaceful life. He noted that in the past year, Cao Dai dignitaries and followers seriously practiced their religion, act in compliance with the law, actively join charity activities, and build a civilized lifestyle in residential areas. Vice Chairman of the Tay Ninh People’s Committee Vo … [Read more...] about Biggest festival of Caodaism attracts tens of thousands of visitors
State to dutch
GDP growth 6% max this year, ministry predicts
The ministry discussed three potential GDP outcomes for 2023. The lowest prospect mentioned would see GDP growth at 5% for the entire year. In this case, GDP in the last quarter would have to reach 7%, according to ministry analysts. The middle of the road scenario would see GDP round out the year at 5.5%, in which case final quarter GDP growth would need to reach 8.8%. The most optimistic scenario would be GDP growth ending the year at 6%, but in order for that to happen, GDP growth in the fourth quarter must reach 10.6%. This would be a challenge, according to the ministry, as GDP growth in the third quarter reached only 5.33%. Ministry analysts have said that economic growth in the final quarter would depend on how quickly industrial production recovers, especially in manufacturing and processing. Another factor is demand from Vietnam’s major export markets, as well as tourism and spending within the country at the end of the year and for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. … [Read more...] about GDP growth 6% max this year, ministry predicts
Former health minister charged for receiving $2.25M bribes in Covid test kit scandal
Long, along with his former secretary Nguyen Huynh, former director of the Hai Duong Center for Disease Control Pham Duy Tuyen, former head of the Department of Health Equipment and Works Nguyen Minh Tuan, former head of the Department of Financial Planning Nguyen Nam Lien, former head of the Department of Science and Technology Trinh Thanh Hung, were charged with receiving bribes by the Supreme People's Procuracy. Pham Xuan Thang, former Hai Duong Party Secretary, was charged with power abuse. Phan Quoc Viet, general director of the Viet A Company, as well as his subordinate Vu Dinh Hiep, were charged with giving bribes and bidding violations that lead to serious consequences. Phan Ton Noel Thao and Ho Thi Thanh Thao, finance advisor and treasurer of Viet A, were charged with giving bribes. Chu Ngoc Anh, former Minister of Science and Technology, and Pham Cong Tac, deputy minister, were charged with violations regarding the management and use of state-owned property that lead … [Read more...] about Former health minister charged for receiving $2.25M bribes in Covid test kit scandal
Fidel Castro’s historic Vietnam visit solemnly celebrated
Fifty years ago, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and Prime Minister Fidel Castro visited Vietnam, and travelled to Quang Tri province – a newly liberated land in the south of Vietnam. As the first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated zone before the war ended, Fidel Castro’s historic visit became a symbol of faithful and fraternal solidarity between peoples of the two countries with noble ideals for peace, national independence, democracy and progress in the world. Addressing the ceremony, senior officials of Vietnam and Cuba highlighted, and reaffirmed the significance of the special traditional relationship between the two countries. Future generations of the two nations will keep in mind and nurture the special invaluable solidarity forever, they stressed. On the same day, the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam and Cuba and leaders of the central Quang Tri province offered flowers in remembrance of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, at the Fidel … [Read more...] about Fidel Castro’s historic Vietnam visit solemnly celebrated
Lao leaders applaud cooperation between Vietnamese, Lao public security ministries
The meetings were part of an official visit to Laos by a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The delegation also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Academy of Politics of the Lao People's Public Security, a gift from the Vietnamese Government and MPS to the Lao MPS. Lam thanked the Lao leaders for creating conditions for the Vietnamese MPS and its Laos counterpart to cooperate closely and effectively in fighting crimes and safeguarding security and order in each country. He informed his hosts about the two ministries’ cooperation results and the outcomes of their talks held earlier the same day. The Vietnamese official noted the two ministries have affirmed that security - defense cooperation remains one of the three pillars of the countries’ relations, and that they will stay determined and persistent to guarantee peace, stability and development along the Vietnam - Laos border. The two sides also stated that one country’s … [Read more...] about Lao leaders applaud cooperation between Vietnamese, Lao public security ministries
Activities bring joy to children during Mid-Autumn Festival
State President Vo Van Thuong shared the joy with children at a special event in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on September 27. Some 100 children in the province, including 50 who lost their parents from COVID-19 and 50 who are disadvantaged, received Mid-Autumn gifts and scholarships worth 2 million VND (equivalent to 83 USD) each from the President. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and presented gifts to children from disadvantaged backgrounds undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion on September 28. Similar activities have been held in hospitals around Vietnam. “The Hue Central Hospital has held numerous activities to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, so that kids can feel at home. The activities are hoped to cheer them up and encourage them to return to good health,” said Hoang Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Director of the Hue Central Hospital. Over 600 orphans from 20 orphanages and charitable shelters in … [Read more...] about Activities bring joy to children during Mid-Autumn Festival
4 believed-to-be Vietnamese women rescued from refrigerated truck in France
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it is verifying a report that four of the six women discovered and rescued by French police from a refrigerated truck in France are Vietnamese citizens, and is ready for citizen protection measures. The rescue was made in Lyon, a city in southeastern France, on Thursday and the six rescued women included four believed to be Vietnamese and two Iraqi, the ministry said Friday, citing a report from the Vietnamese Embassy in France. After getting notified of the rescue, the embassy has immediately coordinated with local authorities to verify the information and ask for their support to carry out citizen protection measures. Initial information showed that the four believed-to-be Vietnamese women were in stable health condition. The embassy will continue to closely monitor the case and be ready to implement any necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, the ministry stated. … [Read more...] about 4 believed-to-be Vietnamese women rescued from refrigerated truck in France
The Green Economy Forum 2023 to take place in November
The activity will demonstrate the strength of European-Vietnamese cooperation and pave the way for a successful green transition. The Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2023 will take place on November 2 in Hanoi, to strengthen cooperation for the green growth of Vietnam. Delegates at GEF 2023 press briefing. Photo: EuroCham According to the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) , the Green Economy Forum will be held in cooperation with Team Europe partners, including the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, the EuroCham Green Growth Sector Committee, all nine European business associations affiliated with EuroCham Vietnam, and a number of European countries. The event will feature insightful sustainability dialogues, a high-level plenary session and comprehensive conference sessions, bringing together business leaders, policymakers and sustainability advocates from Europe and Vietnam, EuroCham said. At the press conference on September 28, the … [Read more...] about The Green Economy Forum 2023 to take place in November
President praises veteran writers’ contribution to national development
Organized by the Vietnam Writers' Association (VWA), the event brought together around 300 writers and poets, most of whom are over 70 years old. Many of them have been awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize, the State Prize for literature and arts, annual awards of the association and other prestigious awards. The President affirmed that the Party and State always attach importance to the role and position of arts and culture in general and literature in particular in the national liberation cause, construction and defense. He stressed that artists and writers always play a central and decisive role in creating noble spiritual values for society, adding that generations of Vietnamese writers, especially veteran writers, have created many timeless works. President Vo Van Thuong expressed his joy to meet the veteran writers, and at the same time paid tribute to deceased writers, especially those who sacrificed their lives in the great resistance wars for independence, freedom and national … [Read more...] about President praises veteran writers’ contribution to national development
Developing ties with China a Vietnam’s top priority, says Vietnamese FM
The Vietnamese foreign minister made the statement at the reception for Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister and Secretary-General of the steering committee for China - Vietnam bilateral cooperation Nong Rong on September 28 in Hanoi. At the meeting, FM Son hoped that the two sides would continue to concretize high-level common perceptions, increase strategic exchanges between the two countries’ leaders, strongly promote and strive to achieve more specific progress in each field of cooperation. Agreeing with the Vietnamese FM’s opinions, Mr. Nong Rong affirmed that the relationship between the two parties and countries is developing fruitfully. He stressed that China is willing to enhance high-level and all-level contacts with Vietnam, promote the signing of cooperation documents in all fields, bringing in more outcomes for the bilateral relations. Regarding sea-related issues, the two sides underlined the importance of strictly implementing agreements and common perceptions of the … [Read more...] about Developing ties with China a Vietnam’s top priority, says Vietnamese FM