November 15-21: Party leader joins great unity festival in Hanoi's Yen So Commune

Nhan Dan Online reviews the notable events that made headlines over the past week.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Lee Cheng Kun (Photo: VNA)
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Lee Cheng Kun (Photo: VNA)

President hosts Ly descendant in ROK

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 17 for Ly Xuong Can, a descendant of King Ly Thai To in the Republic of Korea and Vietnam's Tourism Ambassador to the RoK.

The host wished the 31st generational descendant of King Ly Thai To to make further contributions and ties between the two nations. He assigned the Foreign Ministry, ministries and agencies concerned to assist Lee Cheng Kun in tourism and investment activities in Vietnam.

Lee, for his part, vowed to further strive to serve as a bridge for Korean tourists to travel to Vietnam and vice versa.

Vietnam wins election to UNESCO Executive Board for 2021-25 term

Vietnam has become a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for 2021-25, with 163 votes out of the 178 members, or 92 percent, during the 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO held on November 17 in Paris, France.

This is the fifth time Vietnam has been elected to be a member of the UNESCO Executive Board.

Vietnam’s membership in the UNESCO Executive Board offers good opportunities for Vietnam to show ‘dual responsibility’ in protecting national interests, capitalising on UNESCO’s ideas and initiatives to serve the national construction and development in a sustainable, concerted and comprehensive manner. At the same time, Vietnam will have chances to contribute to international issues that UNESCO is paying attention to.

Vietnam’s first sapper unit joining UN peacekeeping operations makes debut

At the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s sapper unit No. 1 and level-2 field hospital No. 4 joining the UN peacekeeping operations made their debut at a ceremony held by the Ministry of National Defence in Hanoi on November 17.

With 203 members, including 21 female sappers, the unit is expected to be sent to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Along with the field hospital, the unit will play a role in providing humanitarian aid, helping UN peacekeeping missions complete their tasks, contributing to peacekeeping, national reconstruction and bringing about a peaceful, stable life to host countries.

13th international scientific workshop on East Sea held in Hanoi

The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) held the 13th international conference on the East Sea/South China Sea under the theme "Looking back to a brighter future" in Hanoi on November 18.

The two-day event features eight sessions with various topics such as the East Sea in the changing global context, consolidating legal order in the East Sea over the past five years, ASEAN and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in regional architecture, promoting diplomatic science for common benefits of oceans, and transparency via supervision technology, among others.

In addition, three young leaders' sessions were held to provide a platform for young generations to raise their voices about the East Sea issue. Following the conference, there were commentary sessions with the participation of leading Vietnamese experts.

VinFast launches two electric cars in US

Vietnamese automobile manufacturer VinFast officially launched its global electric vehicle brand including two electric SUV models, the VF e35 and VF e36, at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show on the morning of November 18 (Vietnam time), marking VinFast’s entry into the US market.

The event was livestreamed and attracted about 334,000 views on Facebook alone with nearly 16,000 interactions. Many international newspapers also reported on this event.

Vietnam attends 50th SGATAR annual meeting

Vietnam attends 50th SGATAR annual meeting

A delegation of Vietnam’s General Department of Taxation Director led by General Director Cao Anh Tuan attended the 50th Study Group of the Asian Tax Administration and Research (SGATAR) Annual Meeting on November 16-17.

Delegates at the two-day event focussed their discussions on major topics including digitisation in tax administration and bilateral assistance in tax collection. They also got updated on tax policy and administration in SGATAR member countries and territories.

SGATAR was established in 1970 as an annual forum for tax administrators to enhance cooperation, improve administration and discuss issues related to tax administration.

National Great Unity Week opens in Hanoi

National Great Unity - Vietnam Cultural Heritage Week 2021 kicked off on November 18 at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Dong Mo Tourism Area in Son Tay Town, Hanoi, in the presence of National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

The week, jointly held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, is among a series of activities to celebrate the VFF’s 91st traditional day (November 18, 1930 - 2021) and the 76th Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23, 1945 - 2021).

The event aims to honour exemplary models from ethnic minority communities throughout the country as well as the efforts to preserve and promote ethnic cultural identities while promoting traditional culture and the spirit of mutual support and patriotism among Vietnamese people at home and abroad.

Phu Quoc welcomes first international tourists on November 20

As many as 209 tourists from the Republic of Korea (ROK) will come to Phu Quoc on a Vietjet flight. (Photo: Vietjet)

Phu Quoc island city in the southern province of Kien Giang welcomed the first international tourist group arriving in Vietnam on November 20, after nearly two years of the country’s “freezing status” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As many as 209 tourists from the Republic of Korea (ROK) came to Phu Quoc on a Vietjet flight, having a 4-day-3-night package tour covering everything from flights to accommodation and a series of high-class tourism – resort – entertainment activities at Phu Quoc United Center.

The tour’s whole itinerary has been coordinated by Vinpearl’s strategic partner, Highland Marketing Tourism Company and Vietjet Air to bring the Korean tourists, who have “vaccine passports”, to the Phu Quoc United Center following the international arrival guidelines of Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Kien Giang province.