December 20-26: President pays State visit to Cambodia

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

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni (Photo: VNA)
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni (Photo: VNA)

President pays State visit to Cambodia

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid a State visit to Cambodia on December 21-22 at the invitation of Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni.

During the visit, President Phuc met King Norodom Sihamoni, paid a courtesy call to Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, and held bilateral meetings with Cambodian leaders.

Both sides agreed to enhance the exchange of all-level delegations, encourage people-to-people exchange activities toward mutual recognition of vaccine passports and vaccination certificates.

The success of his visit once again affirms the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s determination to foster fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between the two countries, contributing to consolidating political trust and further deepening bilateral all-around ties.

Vietnam establishes circular agriculture association

The convention to establish the Vietnam Circular Agriculture Association

A meeting was held in Hanoi on December 19 to establish the Vietnam Circular Agriculture Association and hold the first convention of its 2021-2026 tenure.

The association will work for the development of Vietnam’s circular agriculture, towards making it a driver of the circular economy while contributing to sustainable development.

The establishment of the Vietnam Circular Agriculture Association is highly significant as Vietnam is implementing projects to restructure agriculture and develop organic agriculture for the 2020-2030 period with a goal of enhancing added value and sustainable development.

Winners of contest on compiling Vietnamese language learning materials for OVs honoured

Winners of a contest on the compilation of Vietnamese language learning materials for overseas Vietnamese were honoured at an award ceremony held on December 24 by the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The contest was held from September 2020 until this December. As many as eligible 28 entries comprising a total of 62 books and documents were sent to the organising board. Contestants included those from Ukraine and Poland.

The award-winning works will be digitalised and widely introduced to serve teaching and learning of Vietnamese language free of charge for OVs.

Vietnamese students win four golds and two silvers at Junior Science Olympiad

Vietnamese students win four golds and two silvers at Junior Science Olympiad

Vietnamese students won four gold and two silver medals at the 18th International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO), which were held in the UAE from December 12-22.

The winners were from Grade 10, specialising in Chemistry, Physics and Biology at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted. The gold medallists were La Chau Giang, Bui Tuan Kien, Nguyen Phuong Thuy, Trinh Anh Minh while the silver medal winners were Nguyen Trinh Bao Nhu and Trinh Ninh Ngoc Mai.

Nearly 400 students aged 15 years and younger from 59 countries and territories around the world have met both in direct and online forms during the 18th IJSO to test their knowledge and skills in physics, biology and chemistry.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang among top 39 destinations for 2022

The US travel magazine AFAR has listed Phong Nha – Ke Bang, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the central province of Quang Binh (Vietnam), among its 39 best destinations to visit in 2022.

According to AFAR, it’s easier than ever to dive deep into the gigantic caves of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, a geologically notable site in central Vietnam, has tempted daredevils since 2013, when Son Doong, the biggest cave on the planet (large enough to hold a Boeing 747), opened for multiday tours.

The magazine also cited that on the new Hang Ba tour (still in development), the guides will lead spelunkers through upwards of five caves with gigantic limestone chambers and dangling stalactites. When cavers aren’t crawling, swimming, or paddleboarding, they’ll be camping and trekking through jungles.

Vietnam’s representative crowned Miss Eco Teen International 2021

Bella Vu Huyen Dieu was crowned Miss Eco Teen International 2021. (Photo: the organising board)

14-year-old Bella Vu Huyen Dieu from Vietnam, triumphantly overcame 60 contestants from various countries around the world, to be crowned Miss Eco Teen International 2021 at the finale held on December 20 in Egypt.

Representatives from the Philippines, the US, Belgium and Egypt were named as first to fourth runners up, respectively.

In addition to the title of Miss Eco Teen International 2021, Bella Vu Huyen Dieu also entered the top ten for the Talent competition and won first prize in the category of costume on environment, which helped her secure a ticket to the Top 10 in the final of the pageant.

Martial artist wins gold medal at 2021 Asian Karate Championships

Hoang Thi My Tam on December 20 clinched a gold medal at the 2021 Asian Karate Championships held in Kazakhstan.

The 18-year-old martial artist defeated N. Penpisut of Thailand in the final of the women’s kumite 55kg in the U21 championship. Earlier, she won against rivals from the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

The 2021 Asian Karate Championships are the 17th edition of the Senior Asian Karate Championship and 19th edition of the Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships, with the participation of nearly 500 competitors from 23 countries and territories.

Giang Brothers break own world record in Spain

The Giang brothers performed a head-to-head balancing act climbing 100 stairs within 53 seconds, breaking their own world record.

Vietnamese acrobat duo Giang Quoc Co and Giang Quoc Nghiep broke their own world record by doing a head-to-head balancing act and climbing 100 stairs of the Girona Cathedral in Catalonia, Spain on December 23.

The duo originally set a world record in 2016 when they climbed 90 stairs of the cathedral in 52 seconds.

Guinness World Records proposed adding 10 more steps this time and the Vietnamese duo agreed to take on the new challenge.

Quoc Co started practicing circus at the age of 4, Quoc Nghiep began at the age of 5. The two have been professional performers from 1999 to present.

Vietnam out of 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup

Vietnam were eliminated from the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup after a goalless draw with Thailand in the return leg of the semifinals, which took place on December 26 at the National Stadium of Singapore.

The squad lost to Thailand 0-2 in the first leg three days ago.

Vietnam went on full attack from the beginning of the match. However, they could not capitalise on their chances and failed to find the rivals' net.

The defending champions came second in Group B of the tournament’s group stage, with three victories against Laos, Malaysia and Cambodia, and one goalless draw with Indonesia.