Tree planting young trees

Phung Ba Hung was recently named amongst the recipients of the Fulbright Master’s Program Scholarship so that he can continue to spread his love for reading in Vietnam. Hung’s passion for reading began when he was a child. It was not until after he graduated from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi with a degree in journalism and media studies that he started sharing his passion with others through the launch of Duong Lieu. Duong Lieu is a private library he opened in his living room designed to create a safe space for neighborhood children to lose themselves in the magic of literature. When Hung, 33, launched Duong Lieu in 2013, the few private libraries that existed in his Hanoian neighborhood were primarily run by retired teachers, veterans, and the elderly. While these libraries were appreciated by many, they were not particularly approachable and child-friendly. “My knowledge of journalism and media has really … [Read more...] about This young man is the backbone of Vietnam’s community library network

The People's Committee of Tra Vinh Province in southern Vietnam on Thursday held a ceremony to kick off a project to build a green hydrogen plant with an estimated investment of VND8 trillion (US$341 million). The project, whose investor is TGS Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Corporation, an arm of The Green Solutions Group, is the largest-ever green hydrogen plant in the Southeast Asian country. It was designed to cover some 21 hectares of land. Once completed, the project will produce green hydrogen through seawater electrolysis, in which renewable energy will be used to split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen will be stored in the form of liquefied gas which is easily transported and used in many heavy industries. The green hydrogen factory will help deal with the redundant output of wind and solar power plants. In the future, vehicles, such as cars, buses, and trucks, are expected to be hydrogen-powered and discharge steam instead of carbon dioxide emissions as … [Read more...] about Work starts on Vietnam’s largest-ever green hydrogen plant

The groundbreaking ceremony for Viet Nam's first and largest green hydrogen factory in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh. — VNA/VNS Photo TGS Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Company, a member of The Green Solutions Group, on Thursday started construction of Viet Nam's first and largest green hydrogen factory in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh’s Duyen Hai District, with the total investment of VND8 trillion (US$341 million). Covering an area of 21ha, the project is expected to become operational after two years, initially producing 24,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 195,000 tonnes of oxygen a year. It would provide direct jobs for 300-500 local residents. Tra Vinh Province's People’s Committee Chairman Le Van Han said the locality always accompanies investors during the implementation, creating all favourable conditions for the project to be completed on schedule and put into operation soon. The investment in a green hydrogen factory project in the area helps the province … [Read more...] about Work starts on Viet Nam’s first green hydrogen plant

Vietnam now sees a sharp increase in rice orders from the Philippines and China. Acccording to Pham Thai Binh, General Director of Trung An Hi-tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, the company has signed an order to export 2,000 tonnes of rice to China and is under negotiation for another batch of 20,000 tons. Statistics from the General Administration of Vietnam Customs show that in the first two months of this year, China imported 152,640 tons of rice from Vietnam worth 90 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 86% in volume and 120% in value. Vietnamese rice exported to China enjoyed an average price of 589.7 USD per ton, 18.3% higher than that of the same period last year. Chinese customers mainly imported Vietnam’s high-quality rice like fragrant rice and sticky rice with high prices. Meanwhile, the Philippines is anticipated to import about 2.8 million tons of rice from Vietnam during the 2022-2023 crop because the country’s rice … [Read more...] about Vietnam expected to export 7 million tons of rice this year: Ministry

"In 2022 the steel industry was going through a difficult cycle. I predicted this at last year's meeting, and honestly it was worse than expected," he said at the 2023 annual general meeting on Thursday. "However, the most difficult period has passed, and the internal strength of Hoa Phat in particular is good, and now it completely depends on the demand side." Steel is an industry that depends on the real estate market and the government's public spending policy. Long said now "everything is very slow." Hoa Phat's January and February results were negative, but the losses were lower than the management had feared, he said. Things have been better in March, he said without providing figures, but promised to announce them at the end of April. Asked about his past assertion that "Hoa Phat cannot make steel forever," he said that applied for the long term and is a path that all large corporations must tread, but not easy to implement in the short term. "In theory, it is … [Read more...] about Worst over for industry: Hoa Phat Steel chairman

The policy was announced by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai at a workshop organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade together with Thai Binh People’s Committee on March 30. The workshop discussed ways to promote investment and create regional business linkages, aiming to consolidate the implementation of Politburo Resolution 30-NQ/TW on the Red River Delta development. The Red River Delta comprises 11 cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Haiphong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh, with Hanoi and Haiphong as centrally governed cities. The delta is in a favourable geographic and political position for socioeconomic development, as it lies between the northeastern and northwestern regions, and between the northern mountainous areas and the central region. The delta is also adjacent to the Chinese market, with access to other northeast Asian countries, helping the northern provinces promote trade with the world. Speaking at the workshop, Minister of … [Read more...] about Promoting interregional linkage in the Red River Delta

Directors and audience hold talks after the screening (Photo: VNA) Paris (VNA) – Documentary films produced by young Vietnamese directors are being screened in a special programme entitled “L’aventure Varan Vietnam” (Adventure of Varan Vietnam ) under the umbrella of the Cinéma du Réel 2023 (International documentary film festival) which is underway in Paris from March 24- April 2. Director Ha Le Diem’s “Nhung dua tre trong suong” (Children of the Mist), Tran Phuong Thao’s “Uoc mo lam cong nhan” (Pomelo), “Chuyen di cuoi cung cua chi Phung” (The last journey of madame Phung) by Nguyen Thi Tham are three among 20 works introduced at the event. The works were created in training programmes conducted by Varan Vietnam Productions since 2004. Speaking at a screening, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang highlighted the significant meaning of the event in welcoming the 50th anniversary of Vietnam- France diplomatic relations and the tenth anniversary of the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese documentary films screened in France

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – Many schools in Laos have been closed as the country is experiencing unprecedented high levels of PM2.5 - airborne particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter - due to wildfires and farmers burning scrubland in preparation for crop planting. All kindergartens in the northern provinces of Bokeo and Xayaboury have been forced to close, while the closure is imposed for all schools in Thaphabat district in the central province of Bolikhamxay from March 28-31. Air pollution has also impacted domestic tourism as a number of visitors have either cancelled their bookings or shortened their vacations. Some flights to northern Laos have also been delayed or cancelled due to the issue. Phu Chi Fa National Park in Thailand ’s Chiang Rai province has been closed to tourists after being ravaged by a forest fire that spread over the border from Laos. Earlier, the Thai province of Nong Khai which borders Vientiane also … [Read more...] about Serious air pollution forces many schools in Laos to close

Representatives of Sao Mai Group, JVC Hightech Energy LTD and J ONE Nuri Company sign an MoU. — Photo nongthonviet.com.vn Viet Nam’s Sao Mai Group and two South Korean companies, the JVC Hightech Energy LTD and J ONE Nuri, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for investment cooperation and technology transfer in agriculture. The cooperation aims to train Vietnamese farmers to master cultivation technologies and support manufacturers with export potential. On behalf of the South Korean delegation, CEO of J ONE Nuri Company Kim Heung-young said that Sao Mai Group can consider his company as a branch in East Asia. He emphasised the two reasons why South Korea chose Viet Nam as a destination, namely, South Koreans' love for Viet Nam and its favourable climatic conditions for agricultural development. The South Korean business delegation expressed their desire to find cooperation opportunities between the two countries in the field of technological application, … [Read more...] about Viet Nam, S Korea firms boost ties on agricultural technology, exports

Speakers at the Vietnam Innovation Forum titled “Sailing the digital sea” in HCM City on Thursday. — Photo Courtesy of NIC Investors hold an optimistic view of the country’s start-up eco-system, according to the 2023 Viet Nam Innovation and Tech Investment Report. Released by the Viet Nam National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Do Ventures at the Vietnam Innovation Forum titled “Sailing the digital sea” in HCM City on Thursday, it was the third annual report. It said: “Despite the turbulent global investment climate, Viet Nam remains a favoured destination for investors due to its sturdy economic growth and skilled young workforce.” The most common advice given to start-ups was to focus on the fundamental aspects of business, utilise capital wisely with a strategic approach and adjust to changes in the economic climate. The country's venture capital developments began to reflect global economic distress. So, despite a strong economic rebound, there was a 56 per cent decline … [Read more...] about Viet Nam remains favoured destination for global investors