Prime Minister hails OVs’ warm sentiment for homeland
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met a delegation of overseas Vietnamese (OVs) joining the annual “Homeland Spring” programme in Hanoi on January 18.
At the meeting, the PM welcomed the expatriates home for the traditional New Year, stating that their participation in the programme reflects their warm sentiment for and close bonds with the home country.
He affirmed that the Party and State leaders highly value the OVs’ contributions to the development of their host countries. The Government leader also lauded the trade and consumption of Vietnamese goods abroad, as well as remittances sent to the country for economic development.
The PM wishes that the OVs will stay united to make further contributions to their host countries and the homeland.
Banquet marks 70th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh speaks at the banquet. (Photo: VNA)
The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam held a banquet on January 15 to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic relations (January 18).
Attending the event, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh affirmed that the friendship, which was nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong and generations of leaders of both countries, has become a valuable asset to the two nations.
Deputy PM Binh stressed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always treasure the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with their Chinese counterparts, and hope the Chinese side will work to develop the ties in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner.
WB releases Vietnam Development Report 2019
The Vietnam Development Report (VDR) 2019: Connecting Vietnam for Growth and Shared Prosperity was co-released by the World Bank (WB) and the Ministry of Investment and Planning in Hanoi on January 15.
Minister of Investment and Planning Nguyen Chi Dung said that with a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional approach, the report provides policy makers and stakeholders with development policy options and investment strategies to enhance Vietnam’s connectivity to promote inclusive development and enhance climate resilience.
The report outlines nine key recommendations across four priority areas regarding global market integration, domestic market connectivity, inclusive connectivity and climate resilience improvement.
Vietnam inaugurates first elite training university
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (first row, centre) inspects the overall paradigm of VinUni’s campus. (Photo: NDO/Minh Hoang)
Vin University (VinUni), invested by conglomerate Vingroup, was officially inaugurated on January 15 in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.
Located at Vinhomes Ocean Park urban metropolis in Hanoi’s Gia Lam District, it is the first university in Vietnam to announce itself as featuring elite training. The tertiary education facility is also the first private non-profit university in the country.
VinUni has been invested with VND6.5 trillion from Vingroup, of which VND3.5 trillion has been spent on infrastructure construction and VND3 trillion for scholarships and financial support for students, as well as acting as compensation for losses for the first 10 years of its operation.
Vietnamese photographers win big at Indian photo contest
Vietnamese photographers have won many prizes at the first International Photography Awards of India’s Apawards.
Photo journalist Viet Van, from Lao Dong (Labour) Newspaper, brought home four prizes, with a Golden Prize for his work “Little Angels” (tourism category).
He also got a Silver Prize for “Energy of Youth” (street category), along with two certificates of Honourable Mention for “Thinker” (portrait category) and “Ritual Practice” (freedom category).
Meanwhile, Nguyen Hong earned one Golden Prize, one Silver Prize, and one Honourable Mention, Doan Hin Hoan seized one Bronze Prize, and Doan Phuoc Sau recieved one Honourable Mention.
Vietnam crash out of 2020 AFC U23 Championship after defeat against DPR Korea
Vietnam U23s (in red) suffer a bitter defeat against DPR Korea. (Photo: Vnexpress)
Vietnam failed to book a place in the knockout stage of the 2020 AFC U23 Championship after conceding a hurtful 1-2 defeat against DPR Korea in their last Group D match at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 16.
The result was heart-breaking for Park Hang-seo’s side, who had been strongly expected to advance further in the tournament to pocket a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
With two draws and one loss, the Golden Stars concluded the AFC U23 group stage in bottom place with just two points, three behind the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Jordan, who played out a 1-1 draw in another clash on the same day to qualify for the quarterfinals as the top two teams of Group D.
Victory Cup 2019: Swimmers named best athletes of the year
The swimming team scored a big win at the 2019 Victory Cup, with swimmers Nguyen Huy Hoang and Nguyen Thi Anh Vien being named Athletes of the Year during a gala in Hanoi on January 15.
Hoang toppled heavyweights in football and archery to take the honour in the Men’s category. At the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the 19-year-old pocketed two golds and one silver, while breaking two Games Records and meeting the A standard for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Meanwhile, the Women category saw Anh Vien surpass track and field star Nguyen Thi Oanh and weightlifter Vuong Thi Huyen to be voted the winner. The result was well deserved for the 24-year-old swimmer following her exceptional SEA Games performance in the Philippines (clinching six golds and two silvers). This is the third time the Can Tho-born athlete has received such a noble individual title.
Tay Ninh province’s cable car station sets Guinness World Record
Ba Den cable car station
Guinness World Records on January 17 announced its recognition of Ba Den Station, of the modern cable car system at the Ba Den Mountain national tourist site in the southern province of Tay Ninh, as the largest cable car station in the world.
The highlights of the cable car system at the tourist site are three different stations with unique designs. Ba Den Station is the departure station of two cable lines with a vast and impressive area of 10,959 square metres.
The central lobby of the station consists of five stylised large pillars resembling five ancient trees that make visitors feel that they in the midst of an immense jungle.
In addition to Ba Den Station, the cable car system consists of Chua Hang Station, which resembles a pagoda, and Van Son Station, with its design inspired by the Holy See of the Cao Dai Church in the province.
