Last Sunday morning, Tohru Ninomiya gathered a group of around 20 people, mostly Japanese and Vietnamese, at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square beside Sword Lake. After a few minutes of greetings, everybody put on their gloves to walk around the lake and pick up garbage. Ninomiya came to Vietnam 14 years ago and quickly fell in love with Hanoi and Sword Lake, also known as Hoan Kiem Lake. But he was a bit upset by the garbage he saw strewn around the iconic landmark. "The lake would be even more beautiful without all the trash around it," the 74-year-old Japanese man recalled thinking upon his first visit to the lake in the early 2000s. After living and working in Hanoi through 2011, Ninomiya finally decided it was time for him to "do something to thank Vietnam." He thought about his favorite place in town, Sword Lake, and asked five other Japanese if they would volunteer with him to collect garbage. Tohru Ninomiya stands by Sword Lake in Hanoi, June 2023. Photo by … [Read more...] about Japanese expat group cleans up Hanoi’s Sword Lake
Vietnam national textile and garment group
UNDP one of Vietnam’s most important partners on development path: ambassador
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang (second from right), Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: VNA) New York (VNA) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been and will continue to be one of the most important and trusted partners of the Government and people of Vietnam on the country’s development and integration pathway, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang has affirmed. Addressing an interactive dialogue between the UNDP Executive Board and UN member states held in New York on June 6 on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam - UN relations , the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN pointed out impacts of such global issues as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, geo-political tensions, and food and energy crises. As a speaker at the meeting to share the country’s success story, he said that in this context, the Vietnamese Government has implemented a number of measures to protect people’s health, … [Read more...] about UNDP one of Vietnam’s most important partners on development path: ambassador
Vietnam shows responsible engagement at ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting
Heads of delegations to the 20th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM 20). (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – A high-ranking Vietnamese defence delegation led by Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong attended the 20th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM 20) that opened in Bali, Indonesia on June 7. Addressing the event, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Cuong said that as a responsible member of the international community and ASEAN, Vietnam has joined cooperation activities among militaries of ASEAN countries. He called on relevant parties to continue their commitments in maintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea , while strengthening trust building and fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalising negotiations for a substantial and effective Code … [Read more...] about Vietnam shows responsible engagement at ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting
Implementation of ethnic minority-related policies clarified at National Assembly
Minister-Chairman of the Government Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs Hau A Lenh answers NA deputies' questions at the session. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Minister-Chairman of the Government Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs Hau A Lenh clarified issues related to the attraction of investment in ethnic minority-inhabited areas at the ongoing 15th National Assembly (NA) during the fifth plenary session on June 7. Answering the question by Hanoi representative Vu Thi Luu Mai on a number of documents that do not match the regulations of the law, Lenh admitted that there are still conflicts and overlapping in documents guiding the implementation of policies to encourage investment in ethnic minority-inhabited areas. The Government has asked ministries and sectors to review all the documents to ensure that they are coherent and suitable with legal regulations, he said, adding that ministries and agencies have completed the work. Responding to a question on criteria to … [Read more...] about Implementation of ethnic minority-related policies clarified at National Assembly
Vietnam attaches importance to comprehensive relations with France: Foreign Minister
The minister also had a working session with the French Senate’s Vice President Pierre Laurent, who is also former National Secretary of the French Communist Party. At those meetings, Son affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing its comprehensive relations with France, through all the government, legislature and party channels. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership, the minister suggested Vietnam and France continue boosting friendship exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. The host leaders emphasized the close ties between Vietnamese and French peoples, and expressed their belief that Son’s visit will contribute to deepen the strategic partnership. Larcher spoke highly of the success of the 12th Vietnam - France decentralized cooperation conference, which was held in Hanoi last April, saying the event served as an important cooperation … [Read more...] about Vietnam attaches importance to comprehensive relations with France: Foreign Minister
Modern policy for private hospitals
Stemming from Resolution No.90/CP in August 1997 on the direction and policy of promoting private engagement in educational, medical, and cultural activities, Vietnam has a proud history of crafting policy on the nation’s health. They include legislation on development of non-public service providers, as well as encouraging private investment in education, vocational training, sports, the environment, and lots more. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van De - chairman of the Vietnam Private Hospital Association Over the past decade or two, these policies have been updated and amended in order to strengthen Vietnam’s framework in this area. These policies have created favourable conditions for localities to organise, apply, implement, and have clear and transparent mechanisms and policies, especially administrative reform in attracting investment for health projects. More importantly, we have attracted many resources, specifically from businesses and capable investors both at home … [Read more...] about Modern policy for private hospitals
Power plan a leap in the right direction for 2050 ambitions
The plan introduces several key takeaways for investors and financiers interested in the Vietnamese power sector. One notable aspect is the encouragement of rooftop solar and other renewable energy projects for self-consumption, without the need to connect to the national grid. This presents a favourable environment for investors keen on renewable energy opportunities. Chan Hong and Vi Nguyen Lawyers, Dentons LuatViet In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has been tasked to prepare and submit to the government and National Assembly in 2024 the draft of the amended Law on Electricity, which will reflect and actualise objectives and planning under the PDP8 and the draft of the Law on Renewable Energy. These amendments will address key aspects such as the mechanism of auctions and bidding for the selection of investors and determination of tariffs. Investors shall be prepared and be alerted that the power sector in Vietnam would be entering into a … [Read more...] about Power plan a leap in the right direction for 2050 ambitions
Prime Minister orders solutions to ensure power supply in dry season
In a dispatch sent to the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Chairperson of the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC), the Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of centrally-run cities and provinces, and leaders of Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) and Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), the Prime Minister pointed to problems in power supply in the Northern region. He noted that the severe heat and impacts from El Nino phenomena have led to a surge in power demand, coupled with drought in many Northern localities causing extremely low water level in hydropower reservoirs, thus greatly affecting the supply of electricity in the dry season of 2023. Despite efforts of relevant parties, there are still factors negatively affecting the supply of electricity in the time to come, especially in the Northern region. Amid this situation, the Government leader asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade … [Read more...] about Prime Minister orders solutions to ensure power supply in dry season
Prime Minister seeks electricity supply guarantees
The continuing intense heat and effects of El Niño have increased the demand for electricity in many parts of the country. Due to a dearth of precipitation in the north, water levels in hydropower reservoirs are unusually low, which has had a significant impact on electricity supply. The MoIT is to implement the PM's directive to increase electricity conservation over the 2023–2025 period and subsequent years by concentrating on practical and effective solutions. These are to be to submitted to the PM for approval by June 8. For wind and solar power projects that have been constructed but do not yet satisfy the requirement for employing the feed-in tariff mechanism, it will be necessary to study and advise their handling according to the level of competence in which they are run. It will also be necessary to evaluate the legal framework governing electricity to provide guidance for investment in the power grid. The promotion of public-private partnerships is seen as essential by … [Read more...] about Prime Minister seeks electricity supply guarantees
Canadian wildfires prompt new evacuations, alarm over air quality
OTTAWA - Firefighters battled hundreds of forest blazes on Wednesday as Canada's worst-ever early season wildfires prompted the evacuation of thousands and a blanket of smoky air wafting over U.S. cities. There are fires in nearly all of Canada's provinces and territories, with the eastern province of Quebec among the worst affected. The province, Canada's second-most populous, has suffered four times its 10-year average of wildfires so far this year. "Right now, with the manpower we have, we can fight about 40 fires at the same time. But we have 150 fires so we have to make sure that we focus where the problems are the more urgent," Quebec premier Francois Legault told reporters. South of the border, more than a dozen U.S. states were under air-quality alerts on Wednesday as smoke from the wildfires wafted south, casting a dull gray pallor over the skyline of New York and other big cities. Smoke from wildfires in Canada blankets the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool … [Read more...] about Canadian wildfires prompt new evacuations, alarm over air quality