Vietnam Breaking News

South Africa’s freedom day marked in Hanoi

South Africa’s freedom day marked in Hanoi
The South African Embassy in Hanoi celebrated the 21 st anniversary of the country’s Freedom Day (April 27) with a ceremony on the evening of April 22.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Kgomotso Ruth Magau emphasised the time-honoured friendship with Vietnam since the 1950s and expressed her wish to cement the ties further for mutual economic growth and better living standards for both nations’ people.
Foreign Deputy Minister Vu Hong Nam said Vietnam is proud to be a close friend with South Africa in the struggle for freedom and equality and one of the first countries establishing diplomatic relations with the Republic of South Africa.
He went on sharing his belief that the Vietnam-South Africa partnership for cooperation and development will maintain momentum with effective implementation of commitments made by the sides’ high-ranking officials.
More than 900 million USD in annual bilateral trade revenue makes South Africa the top African trade partner of Vietnam.-VNA
 
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South Africa’s freedom day marked in Hanoi

South Africa’s freedom day marked in Hanoi The South African Embassy in Hanoi celebrated the 21 st anniversary of the country’s Freedom Day ...

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US helps Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking

US helps Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking 
US helps Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking Related image(s) 
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<td>(CPV) – <a href="#">This year’s Earth Day</a> (April 22nd), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the US National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, and the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, launched the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge to reward innovative science and technology solutions that help combat wildlife trafficking.
This global competition will award four prizes of up to USD500,000 for innovative science and technology solutions to fight this increasingly serious crime.
“There has been a sharp increase in the illegal wildlife trade in recent years, and there is growing consensus that traditional models of conservation are insufficient to protect biodiversity and preserve ecosystems. By harnessing the power of science and technology, we hope this initiative hopes to overcome key barriers in the fight against wildlife trafficking,” said USAID Vietnam Mission Director, Mr Joakim Parker.
According to a press release issued by the US Embassy Hanoi today, this competition will focus on four issues in the fight against wildlife trafficking: detecting transit routes, strengthening forensic evidence and intelligence, reducing consumer demand, and tackling corruption. Following the selection of winners, the Challenge Team intends to create a community among innovators, users, and the public that will collaborate on further innovation and dissemination of the results.
Wildlife trafficking has emerged as one of USAID’s highest priorities, as poaching continues to undermine conservation achievements, economic prospects, and security, and the USD10-20 billion annual illegal trade in elephant ivory, rhino horn and other wildlife parts is financing criminal syndicates and terrorist groups. While Vietnam is ranked as the 16th most biodiversity rich country in the world, it is also a major hub for wildlife trafficking, supplying domestic and international markets with a variety of live animals, animal parts and medicinal plants. Vietnam serves as both a major demand country and a key transit hub for rhino horn and elephant ivory, and other endangered species.
USAID has been working closely with Vietnamese government, civil society, and international actors to tackle wildlife trafficking, including through its Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking program, which works to reduce consumer demand for wildlife products, and strengthen law enforcement, regional cooperation, and anti-trafficking networks.
It is also increasing its wildlife trafficking assistance to Vietnam under its Biodiversity Policy, which was launched in July 2014 and identified Vietnam as a priority country for biodiversity programming. The new combating wildlife trafficking activities will work to strengthen the legal framework, increase the capacity for enforcement and implement innovative strategies to reduce the demand for wildlife products./.
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US helps Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking

US helps Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking US helps Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking Related image(s) (CPV) – This year’s E...

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HCM City: 12 dykes made from uPVC sheets inaugurated

HCM City: 12 dykes made from uPVC sheets inaugurated
Twelve of the 14 dykes made of uPVC sheet in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 12, an environmentally sustainable construction material, were inaugurated at a ceremony held by the Saigon Industry Corporation (CNS) on April 22 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The 15.37-kilometre construction, built in 2014 at the total cost of nearly 330 billion VND (15.3 million USD) will help prevent floods and landslides and facilitate travel for local residents, said Tat Thanh Cang, Vice Chairman of the municipal People Committee.
He added that the city has put aside nearly 900 billion VND (41.9 million USD) to construct 32 embankments using uPVC material, 24 of which have become operational.
Cang also asked the CNS to accelerate its close inspection and evaluation of using uPVC sheets in flood-proof initiatives and complete the embankment construction before the flood season.
Replacing ferro-concrete materials, uPVC sheets have been used in dyke constructions in Ho Chi Minh City. The material has been used widely around the world, especially in the EU and the US due to its light weight and durability with the environment.-VNA
 
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HCM City: 12 dykes made from uPVC sheets inaugurated

HCM City: 12 dykes made from uPVC sheets inaugurated Twelve of the 14 dykes made of uPVC sheet in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 12, an environ...

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Binh Duong introduces Vietnam-Oregon Initiative

Binh Duong introduces Vietnam-Oregon Initiative
The “Vietnam–Oregon Initiative” (VOI) was introduced in the southern province of Binh Duong on April 22 in honour of the 20 th anniversary of the normalisation of Vietnam-US ties.
The initiative, co-organised by the provincial People’s Committee and Portland State University in Oregon, the US, aims to create various and more efficient forms of collaboration among Vietnamese offices and organisations with Oregon and other localities of the US.
According to the provincial People’s Committee Chairman Tran Van Nam, the principal purpose of the VOI’s introduction in southern region is to speed up cooperative and investment partnerships between the province and the US state, while developing a cooperative network among Vietnamese individuals and organisations and Oregon in economics-trade, education-training, and public management.
Currently, the US is the seventh largest of 39 countries and territories with investment projects in Binh Duong with 80 projects and total investment capital of over 630 million USD.-VNA
 
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Binh Duong introduces Vietnam-Oregon Initiative

Binh Duong introduces Vietnam-Oregon Initiative The “Vietnam–Oregon Initiative” (VOI) was introduced in the southern province of Binh Duong ...

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New space for French-speaking community opens in Hanoi

New space for French-speaking community opens in Hanoi
The Vietnam Academy of Social Science in collaboration with the Francophone University Association (AUF) inaugurated the Hanoi Campus, a French research and learning centre, on April 22.
According to Head of the Francophone University Association Bernard Cerquiglini, the Hanoi establishment will bring a wide range of advanced educational materials and facilities to French students, postgraduates and lecturers from AUF member schools. It also serves as a communal space for them to study and organise events.
A similar centre will also be opened in Ho Chi Minh City.
Francophone University Association is a global network of more than 800 French-speaking higher-education and research institutions. Its operations aim to support cooperation and solidarity among the global French community.-VNA
 
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New space for French-speaking community opens in Hanoi

New space for French-speaking community opens in Hanoi The Vietnam Academy of Social Science in collaboration with the Francophone Universit...

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Documentary books honour 40 years of national reunification

Documentary books honour 40 years of national reunification
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Illustrative image (Photo:VNA)
The People’s Public Security Publishing House introduced two documentary books in Hanoi on April 22 on the occasion of the 40 th anniversary of South Vietnam liberation and national re-unification.
The book “Nhung ngay o chien truong- Tap 3″ (Battlefield Days – part three) features portraits of public security officers who joined the fighting on the southern battlefield before 1975.
Another book, “Nhung la thu thoi chien Vietnam” (Letters during the Vietnamese war), took 10 years to complete (2005-2015) and introduces over 100 letters of war veterans, invalids and martyrs sent to their families and relatives during the anti-US war. They are among thousands of letters collected by writer Dang Vuong Hung, who initiated a campaign to collect items and documents related to the war.
Speaking at the event, Director-Chief Editor of the People’s Public Security Publishing House Nguyen Hong Thai said the introduction of the books is intended to commemorate former generations who sacrified their lives for the nation’s reunification and enhance the younger generation’s patriotism.-VNA
 
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Documentary books honour 40 years of national reunification

Documentary books honour 40 years of national reunification Illustrative image (Photo:VNA) The People’s Public Security Publishing House i...

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Artists depict soldiers in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago in portraits

Artists depict soldiers in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago in portraits
Several veteran artists have captured the soldiers in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago in lifelike portraits with all their heart during a recent trip there.
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A delegation of 132 members from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee paid an 11-day visit to islands and maritime platforms in the Truong Sa archipelago earlier this month.
Truong Sa is administered by the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa.
Among the delegates were 17 artists from the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and Vietnam University of Fine Arts.
The artists and other delegates spent most of their time mingling with the young soldiers, depicting them in portraits and taking photos of the spectacular seas and islands.
<div id="attachment_1665711" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1IIY1oo"><img alt="A soldier receives a portrait from an artist on Truong Sa Dong Island in the Truong Sa archipelago. Photo:" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="333" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1IIY1oq" width="500" /></a>
A soldier receives a portrait from an artist on Truong Sa Dong Island in the Truong Sa archipelago. Photo:
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Tuoi Tre
Artist Tran Luan Tin, a veteran himself, said that the portraiture brought back his wartime memories.
He fought in a battle during the American war in Vietnam in 1972 in Quang Tri and joined the troops who advanced toward Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City now) right on April 30, 1975.
The country was reunified on that historic date.
He grabbed every opportunity to portray the soldiers, who impressed him most with their weather-beaten faces, and the profound changes they have undergone from carefree youngsters to sensible, sovereignty-aware soldiers.
Despite rough seas, Tin keenly jumped at every chance to set foot on the islands during the trip.
<div id="attachment_1665712" style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://bit.ly/1IIY2ZL"><img alt="Artists sketch the portrait of a soldier on Truong Sa Dong Island in the Truong Sa archipelago. Photo:" class="attachment-medium aligncenter" height="333" rel="lightbox" src="http://bit.ly/1EcSM0t" width="500" /></a>
Artists sketch the portrait of a soldier on Truong Sa Dong Island in the Truong Sa archipelago. Photo:
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Tuoi Tre
Artist Chu Anh Phuong, a lecturer at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, created 15 sketches of the soldiers stationed on such islands as Truong Sa Lon, Da Dong A, Truong Sa Dong, Thuyen Chai, and Nui Le.
Do Van Vinh, a 20-year-old soldier, was deeply moved at his first-ever portrait in his uniform.
“We are all adamant on our mission of safeguarding our country’s sovereignty over Truong Sa, not only for ourselves but also for some 90 million Vietnamese people,” he said.
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Artists depict soldiers in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago in portraits Related image(s) 
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Artists depict soldiers in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago in portraits

Artists depict soldiers in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago in portraits Several veteran artists have captured the soldiers in Vietnam’s Truo...

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