Asceneofaseriousaccidentearlierthismonth.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–Therewere12,321trafficaccidents,resultingin5,255deathsand9,599injuriesnationwideinthefirsthalfthisyear,reportedtheNationalTrafficSafetyCommittee.Althoughthenumberoftrafficaccidentsacrossthecountryincreased,thenumberofdeathssignificantlydecreasedcomparedtothesameperiodlastyear,thecommitteesaid.Comparedtothefirstsixmonthsof2023,trafficaccidentsincreasedby1,842cases,up17.58percent,deathsdecreasedby702people,down11.78percent,andinjuriesincreasedby2,707people,up39.28percent,saidTr?nH?uMinh,thecommitteeshead.Outofthese,therewere12,225roadtrafficaccidents,causing5,191deathsand9,584injuries.Railwaysexperienced66accidents,resultingin48deathsandteninjuries,waterwayshad27accidents,leadingto15deathsandfiveinjuriesandatsea,therewerethreeaccidents,causingonedeath.Thisyearalone,from15Mayto14June2024,therewere1,894accidentsacrossVi?tNam,resultingin849deathsand1,373injuries,anincreaseof140cases(up7.98percent),adecreaseindeathsby92(down9.78percent)andanincreaseofaccidentscausinginjuriesof194(up16.45percent),respectively,comparedtothesameperiodlastyear.VNS

Studentsexplorethetopicofprotectingchildrenonlineatthe2023ChildrensForuminC?nTh?City.—VNA/VNSPhotoTrungKiênHàN?I—TheDepartmentofChildAffairsundertheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs(MOLISA)emphasisedtheurgencyofimprovinglegalregulationsonprotectingchildrenintheonlineenvironment,whichisessentialtosafeguardchildrenfromthehighrisksposedbycriminalgroupsontheinternet.Vi?tNamhas24.7millionchildren,mostofwhomhaveaccesstotheinternetanddigitaldevicesfromaveryyoungage.TheaverageageofVietnamesechildrenusingtheinternetisnineyearsold,fouryearsearlierthantheglobalaverage.SurveydatafromtheMOLISAin2023showsthat89percentofchildrenaccessandusetheinternet,with87percentofthemusingitdaily.Apartfromtimespentonstudying,childrenspendaverage5-7hoursperdayonsocialmedia.Healthorganisationsrecommendthatchildrenshouldonlyspendbetweentwoandthreehoursperdayonline.Additionally,statisticsfromtheCentreforCreativeInitiativesinHealthandPopulationrevealedthatnearly36.5percentofchildrenhaveencounteredinformationandimagesrelatedtoviolenceontheinternetandmorethan13percenthavebeenexposedtounwantedpornographicmaterial.Therearenumerousreasonsforthehighrateofchildabuseontheinternet,withalackofknowledgeandskillsinsafeinternetusagebeingamajorfactor.Childrenoftendonotfullyrecognisethepotentialrisksonlineandcaneasilybecomevictimsofscams,sexualexploitationandbullying.N.V.H.,afatherofa12-year-olddaughterinHàN?isHà??ngDistrictnoticedthathisdaughterwasspendingalotoftimeonhermobilephone.Uponcheckingherphone,hewasshockedtofindthatshewasinvolvedinmanyinappropriategroupsandchatsonsocialmedia.Shewasinvariouschatgroupsdiscussingwaystoskipclassesandevenmoredangerously,somegroupstalkedaboutadult-sensitivetopicsandsharedexplicitinformationandimages.Ihadtotakestrongmeasuresbybanningherfromusingthephoneforawhileandexplainingthedangersofparticipatinginsuchgroups,hesaid.Anationalreportonpreventingharmfulbehaviourandevidenceofchildexploitationandsexualabuseonline,showedthat23percentofchildrenaged12-17hadunintentionallyseensensitiveimagesorvideosonline,while5percenthadreceivedunwantedsensitiveimages.Additionally,8percenthadreceivedinappropriatecommentsaboutthemselvesand2percenthadbeenaskedtodiscusssexualtopicsagainsttheirwill.However,43percentofchildrendidnotreporttheseincidentstoanyone,believingthatdoingsowouldnotresolvetheissue.StatisticsfromtheMinistryofPublicSecurityshowthatoverthepastthreeyears,lawenforcementnationwidehasprosecutedmorethan380casesinvolvingover550individualsforcrimesrelatedtochildabuseandthedistributionofobscenematerials.Policehavealsoblocked30,000websiteswithcontentthatviolatesthelaw,includingscams,harmfulviolence,childsexualabuseanddefamatorymaterial.Tensofthousandsofharmfulcontentlinkshavebeendisabled.Thenationalchildprotectionhotline,111,hasrecorded1,500interventionsupportcalls,including419reportsofonlinechildabuse.LeoTh?L?ch,astandingmemberoftheNationalAssemblysCouncilofEthnicMinorities,notedthatwhileinternetcoverageinmountainousandethnicminorityareasisincreasing,childrenintheseregionsarenotadequatelyprotectedfromonlineexploitation.ArecentincidentinL?cNg?nDistrictinB?cGiangProvince,involvedagirlintheseventhgradewhometanddevelopedarelationshipwithaboyonsocialmedia,resultinginpregnancyandchildbirthwithoutherfamilysknowledge.SafeenvironmentforchildrenTheMinistryofInformationandCommunicationsisdraftinganamendmenttotheGovernmentsDecree72issuedonJuly15,2013,onthemanagement,provisionanduseofinternetservicesandonlineinformation.Thedraftemphasisestheresponsibilitytoprotectchildrenandadolescentsonlineasacrucialmeasureforinternetdevelopment.Itincludesadditionalregulationsonsocialmediamanagement,limitsonchildrenssocialmediause,warningsaboutharmfulcontentforchildrenandtheresponsibilitiesofagencies,organisationsandeducationalinstitutionsinpreventingharmfulinformationandmonitoringandprotectingchildrenonline.Nguy?nTh?Nga,DeputyDirectoroftheMOLISAsDepartmentofChildAffairs,highlightedthatVi?tNamhasactivelybuiltandperfectedthelegalsystemtoprotectchildrenonline.ThisincludesDecreeNo.56/2017/ND-CPissuedonMay9,2017,detailingcertainprovisionsoftheLawonChildren;DecisionNo.830/QD-TTgissuedonJune1,2021,approvingtheprogrammetoprotectandsupportchildrenforsafeandcreativeinteractionsonline;andDirectiveNo.23/CT-TTgissuedonMay26,2020,onstrengtheningmeasurestoensurechildrensrightsandprotectchildren.Ngasaiditisessentialtoenhanceeducationandraiseawarenessamongchildrenaboutonlinesafetysothattheyhavetheknowledgeandskillstoprotectthemselvesfromonlinerisks.Authorities,schoolsandfamiliesneedtocollaboratetoguidechildreninusingtheinternetsafelyandhealthily.Theexpertemphasisedtheneedforclosecooperationbetweenagencies,organisationsandcommunitiestocreateasafeonlineenvironmentforchildren.Technologycompaniesshoulddeveloptoolsandsoftwaretomonitorandfilterinappropriatecontent.Creatinghealthyandcreativeonlineplaygroundsforchildreniscrucial.Giventheincreasinglycomplexandriskyonlineenvironment,buildingasafeandhealthycyberspaceforchildrenisatopprioritythatrequiresthecollectiveeffortofsociety,shesaid.—VNSDoctorsattheendoscopyroomatQuánS?Branch,HospitalKinHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—TheNationalCancerHospital(HospitalK)willsoonopenanewbranch,itsfourthsite,inH?uHoàCommune,ThanhTrìDistrict,HàN?i.ProfessorLêV?nQu?ng,directorofthehospital,announcedonWednesdayafternoonthatthisfourthbranchwillhousetheProtonTherapyCentre,aradioisotopeproductionareaforon-siteuse,andtreatmentbeds.TheProtonTherapyCentre,thefirstofitskindinnorthernVi?tNam,willspecialiseintreatingnervoussystemcancers,particularlyinchildren,aswellaslungandprostatecancers.Theinvestmentinthishigh-qualitycancertreatmentcentre,equippedwithadvancedradiationtherapysystems,aimstoenhancecancertreatmentforVietnamesepatientsdomestically,eliminatingtheneedforoverseastreatment,hesaid.TheHàN?iadministrationhasgrantedpreliminaryapprovalforthehospitalsfourthbranchtobelocatedonan8.6-hectaresite,nearlyoneandahalftimeslargerthanthehospitalsthirdbranch.Constructionisexpectedtocommenceinthethirdquarterofthisyearoncethelandtransferiscompleted.WiththeadditionofthisnewbranchinH?uHoàCommune,ThanhTrìDistrict,thehospitalwilloperatefourfacilities:thefirstbranchatNo.43QuánS?Street,HoànKi?mDistrict;thesecondbranchatT?uLi?t-TamHi?pStreet,ThanhTrìDistrict;andthethirdbranchatNo.30C?uB??uStreet,ThanhTrìDistrict.Currently,thecapacityofcancertreatmentfacilitiesmeetsonlyabout20percentofdemand.Theadditionofmoderntreatmentfacilitiesisexpectedtoalleviatepressureonexistingspecialisedcancerhospitals.ProfessorQu?ngsaidthatafterlegalproceduresarefinalisedbytheMinistryofHealthandtheHàN?iPeoplesCommittee,landclearancewouldbeginaroundSeptembertoOctoberthisyear.Statisticsshowedthatinthefirstsixmonthsofthisyear,thehospitalreceivedandtreatedatotalof209,887patients,bothoutpatientandinpatient.Thehospitalhasimplementednewtechniques,particularlyinsurgicaloncology,suchassingle-incisionendoscopicsurgerycombinedwithbreastcancerreconstructionandroboticendoscopicsurgeryfordigestive,renal,andthyroidcancers.Thehospitalhasalsoorganisedonlineconsultationprogrammesandremotehealthcareservices,whichhavegarneredhighpraisefromcolleagues,patients,andthepublic.—VNS4o

PolicearedeployedoutsidetheGrandHyattErawanHotelinBangkok,Thailand,wherethebodiesofVietnameseindividualswerediscoveredon.—XINHUA/VNAPhotoHàN?I—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhhasinstructedtheMinistryofForeignAffairstocloselycoordinatewithThailandininvestigatingthedeathsofsixindividuals,includingfourVietnamesecitizens,discoveredattheGrandHyattErawanHotelonTuesday.MeasureswillbeimplementedtoprotectthelegitimaterightsandinterestsofVietnamesecitizens.ThisdirectivefollowsthePrimeMinistersissuanceofCircularNo.69/C?-TTg,datedJuly17,2024,concerningthedeathsofVietnamesetouristsinBangkok,Thailand.ThecircularwassenttotheMinistersofForeignAffairs,PublicSecurity,andtheAmbassadorofVi?tNamtoThailand.ThaipolicefoundsixfatalitiesattheGrandHyattErawanHotelinPathumWanDistrict,Bangkok,includingfourVietnamesecitizensandtwoofVietnamesedescent,suspectedtohavebeenpoisoned.Thaiauthoritiesarecontinuingtheirinvestigationtoclarifytheincident.ChínhhasalsoinstructedtheMinistryofForeignAffairstoproactivelymanagediplomaticissueswithThailandandprovidetimelyupdatestothepressandpublicregardingtheincident.TheMinistryofPublicSecurityhasbeenassignedtocoordinatewithThaiauthoritiestoinvestigatetheincidentandshareinformationaboutthevictimsfamilieswiththeMinistryofForeignAffairsforcitizenprotectionpurposes.TheVietnameseAmbassadortoThailandistaskedwithcloselymonitoringthesituation,reportingontheprogressoftheinvestigation,andcarryingoutcitizenprotectionmeasures.Thisincludesprovidingassistance,guidance,andsupporttothevictimsfamiliesinaccordancewithregulations.—VNSLecturerLêQuangPhonginstructshisstudentsontheirexperimentswiththeecofoodwrap.Photogiaoducthoidai.vnHCMCITYAteamofstudentsattheVietnamNationalUniversity(VNU),HCMCityhasinventedfoodwrapfromagriculturalbyproductsthatcanchangeitscolourwhenfoodspoils.DragonfruitandpassionfruitpeelshavebeenusedbyNguy?nHoàngKimLong,Nguy?nNg?cThùyD??ngandLêThùyLinhfromtheDepartmentofBiotechnology,VNUInternationalUniversitytomakethewrap.Longsaidtheyrealisedthatfarmersmostlyfocusoneconomicvaluesoffarmproduceandignoreitsbyproducts,whichcanberecycledtomakeenvironmentally-friendlyitems.Learningthatpassionfruitpeelcontainsalotofpectin-anaturalfibreoftenusedtoimproveconsistencyandcreategelinmanydishes-theystartedtoexperiment.ThankstotheinstructionoflecturerLêQuangPhong,headoftheAppliedChemistryDepartment,InternationalUniversity,infourmonths,thestudentsconductedteststocheckthegrowthrateofmicroorganismsandqualitymanagementtoprovethesafetyoftheproduct.D??ng,oneofthestudents,saidtheprocessofcreatingfoodwrapincludescollecting,cleaninganddryingfruitpeels.Throughtheextractionprocess,pectinfromthepassionfruitpeelandbetacyanininreddragonfruitpeelareobtained.Theseextractsaremixedwithwaterthenpouredintomouldsanddriedat60degreesCelsiusfor24hours.Afterobtainingthefinishedproduct,itwillbelaminatedandshapedtocompletethebiologicalfoodwrap,shesaid.Thisprocesslastsaboutseventotendays.Thehighlightofthebiologicalfoodwrapdevelopedbytheteamisitsabilitytochangecolourwhenfoodisdamaged.ThebetacyaninpigmentinreddragonfruitpeelhastheabilitytochangecolourbasedonthepHoftheenvironment.Iffoodssuchasmeat,fisharespoiled,thepHlevelwillgraduallydecrease.Whenfoodbeginstospoil,thewrapwillgraduallychangefrompinkishredtoyellowortransparent,shetoldGiáoD?cTh?i??i(EducationandTimes)newspaper.Justbyobservingthefoodwrapscolour,userscanrecognisetowhatextentthefoodisspoiled,therebypreventingfoodpoisoningcases.Thefoodwrapalsohasgoodantibacterialandantioxidantproperties,helpingtoextendfoodlife,D??ngsaid.With200gramsoffruitpeel,theteamcancreatea20-metrerolloffoodwrapwithanestimatedcostofVN?70,000perroll.Comparedtoplasticwrap,thisproductismorecostly,butcomparedtoothertypesofbiofilmonthemarket,theirecofoodwraphasamorecompetitiveprice.D??ngadmittedthatherwrapisnotassmoothasnylonwrap.Theproducthasashelflifeofthreetofourweeksunderlowtemperatureconditions(inarefrigeratorenvironment)andmustavoiddirectexposuretosunlight.Iftheaboveconditionsarenotmet,thewrappingfilmwillloseitscolourandchangefeatures,shesaid.D??ngsaid:Ourteamwantstobeabletosolvewastepeelsinfarming,helpingfarmershaveanewsourceofincomefromdiscardedproducts.Wealsohopethatpeoplecanreduceplasticwaste,changelivinghabitsandusefriendlyproductstomaketheenvironmentgreener.LecturerLêQuangPhongsaidtheprojectwascreativeandthestudentsknewhowtouserenewableandorganicmaterialsthatarefriendlytohumans.Thegrouptookadvantageoffruitpeelstomakeproductswithhigheconomicvalue,supportingfarmersandmeetingconsumerneeds.Today,consumersareveryconcernedabouthealthandtheenvironment,sothereisahighdemandforgreenproducts.Theecofoodwrapiscompletelycapableofbeingcommercialisedandsoldtothemarket,hesaid.VNSAsoursoporchardinH?uGiangProvincesLongM?Districtwithanautomaticirrigationsystem.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?ngTháiH?UGIANG—H?uGiangProvinceisdevelopingnature-basedagricultureandapplyingadvancedtechniquestoincreaseefficiency.TheC?uLong(Mekong)Deltaprovinceisaffectedbyclimatechange,especiallysaltwaterintrusioninitsriversinthedryseason,whichimpactsagriculture.Tocope,ithasrestructuredcultivationanddevelopednature-basedfarmingmodelssuitableforeachlocality.LongM?Districtnormallysuffersfromashortageofirrigationwaterinthedryseason,andsolocalauthoritiesencouragericefarmerstoswitchtodrought-resistantcropssuchassoursop.InthedistrictsThu?nHoàCommune,thesoilwasseverelycontaminatedbyaluminthepastandfarmerscouldonlygrowcajuput.Afteranirrigationnetworkwascreatedinthecommune,farmersswitchedtoricebutyieldswerelow.Inthelast10yearstheyswitchedtosoursopbecausethefruitisresistanttodroughtandsaltwater.V?V?nQuang,whohasa1hasoursoporchardinThu?nHoà,saidthelivesoflocalshaveimprovedsignificantlyaftermakingtheswitch.MyfamilyearnsVN?80-100million(US$3,100-3,900)ayearfromgrowingsoursop.Theprovincehasdevelopedmanynature-basedfarmingmodelstocopewithnaturaldisasters,accordingtoitsDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.Inplacesaffectedbyalumandsaltwaterintrusion,itrecommendsaswitchtovegetables,livestock,aquaticspecies,andrice-aquaticspecies,andseekstodevelopecotourism.Wherericeremainspredominant,itdevelopslarge-scalericefieldsbypoolingsmallerholdingsandincreasestheuseofadvancedfarmingtechniquesandmechanisation.Wherefarmersgrowvegetablesandfruits,itseekstouseefficientautomaticirrigation,researchesandcreatesplantvarietiesthatcangrowinsaltwater-anddrought-affectedareas.Itpropagatesgreateruseoforganicfertilisersandcreationofditchesinorchardsandfieldstostorewaterforirrigation.Ng?MinhLong,directorofthedepartment,saidtorestructureanddevelopnature-basedagriculturetoproducehigh-qualityanddiverseproducts,hisagencyisdevelopinghigh-tech,cleanandsmartagricultureadaptedtoclimatechange.Itwouldresearchandapplytechnology,identifysuitablecropsforeachlocality,developconcentratedfarmingareas,andteachfarmersgrowingprocesses,hesaid.Itwouldprioritisecropvarietieswithhighqualityandyieldsthatcouldadapttoclimatechange,hesaid.Itwouldconvertfieldsthatgrowjustriceintoonesthatalternatethegrainwithvegetablesoraquaticspeciestoadapttoclimatechange,hesaid.Farmlandsaccountfor86percentoftheprovincestotalarea.TheprovinceispartoftheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentsprojecttosustainablydeveloponemillionhectaresofhigh-qualityandlow-emissionricecultivationassociatedwithgreengrowthintheMekongDelta,andaimstohave46,000haunderriceby2030undertheproject.Itproduces1.1milliontonnesofpaddyayearandriceaccountsfor40percentofitsagriculturalproductioninvalueterms.Itsfruitsincludeseedlesslime,greenskinandpinkfleshgrapefruit,soursop,andjackfruit,alotofitgrowntoVietnameseandglobalgoodagriculturalpracticesstandards.Farmersalsogrowvegetablesinnetandpolygreenhousesequippedwithautomaticirrigation.Theprovincehas32companiesand38co-operativesthathavelinkedwithnearly40,000farmersowningatotalof38,656ha.OCOPproductsTheprovincehasembracedthenationalOneCommune–OneProduct(OCOP)programmetoimprovevalue,agriculturalefficiencyandthelivesofruralpeople.Ithas266OCOPproductsratedbetweenthreeandfourstars.Thehighestratingundertheprogrammeisfive.Theseproductsaresoldnationwide,throughmanysupermarkets,andexported,accordingtotheDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.Long,itsdirector,saidtheprovincehasdevelopedmorethan20agriculturalandruraltourismsitesthatintroduceandsellOCOPproducts.InPh?ngHi?pDistrict,thenumberoftourismsiteshasincreasedfromeighttwoyearsagoto10now.TheyhavelinkedupwithtraditionalcraftvillagesandOCOPproducingestablishmentstooffertourismservices.Theyattracted240,000touristslastyear,upfivetimesfrom2022.ManyOCOPmakingestablishmentsalsoofferexperiencetourismforadditionalincomes.TheNg?c?àoGoatMilkFarminChauThànhADistrictsTanHoàCommunehassixfour-starOCOPproducts–pasteurisedgoatmilk,freeze-driedgoatmilkyogurt,freeze-driedfermentedgoatmilk,andfreeze-driedfermentedgoatmilkwithjackfruit,durianandmango.Thefarmraisesaround350goatsandproduces1,000litresofgoatmilkamonth.Ithasbeenofferingtourismservicessince2018andvisitorscantrytheirhandsatfeedinggoatsandwatchtheprocessesofmakingproductsfromgoatmilkandalsotrythem.T?ThanhTùng,ChairmanoftheTanHoàPeoplesCommittee,said:Ng?c?àoGoatMilkFarmisthecommunesonlytourismsiteandattractsmanytourists.Intheabsenceofothertourismsitestolinkwiththefarm,itcouldnotpromoteitsecotourismstrength,hesaid.Ithaspetitionedthedistrictandprovinceauthoritiestoinvestindevelopingmoretourismsitesinthecommuneandintransportinfrastructurefortourists,headded.—VNS

AviewofHu?City.ThecentralprovinceofTh?aThiênHu?wantsinvestmentfundstodevelopurbanandhealthcareserviceprojectsin2025-30.PhotocourtesyofV?ThiTH?ATHIêNHU?—Thecentralprovincehasproposedaseriesofkeyinvestmentprojectsincludinganewurbanandhealthcareservicein2025-30,callingforaninvestmentofmorethanVN?6.3trillion(US$252million)fromtheStatebudget,ODAandpreferentialloans.Theprovincesaidtheproposals,alreadysenttothegovernmentforapproval,willmeanacompletefaceliftforthelocalareahelpingittonewgrowthfordecades.ItalsosaidaconsortiumofDojiGoldGemGroupandDojiLandcompanyhaswonthebidforanewluxurytrade-service-housingcomplexprojectinthenewAnVanD??ngurbanarea.TheDojiconsortiumwillbedevelopingthecomplexacrossan18.2haarea,withaninvestmentofVN?4.6trillion,providingaccommodationandservicesfor9,000people.Theprovincealsoplanstobuildaresearch-trainingandclinicalmedicalcentreintheHu?CentralHospital.Itwillusenon-refundableODAsourcedfromtheKoreaFoundationforInternationalHeathcare(KOFIH),withaninvestmentofVN?250billion($10million).AnexpansionandconstructionoftheHu?CentralHospitalNo2projectinPhong?i?ndistrictwillgivethedistrictafurther500hospitalbeds,easingoverloadofthedowntownhospital.DoctorsandnursesworkatHu?CentralHospital.Thekeyhospitalwillbeexpandedandupgradedwithnewhi-techservicesin2025-30.PhotocourtesyofTh?aThiênHu?PortalTheprojecthasbeenlookingtoaninvestmentofVN?351billion($14million)fromtheEconomicDevelopmentCo-operationFund(EDCF)throughtheExport-ImportBankofKorea(KEXIM).Thecurrentdowntown-basedHu?CentralHospitalalsoplanstobuildanew900-bedhi-techanesthesiaandstrokecentre,withtotalinvestmentofVN?1.1trillion($44million).Theprovincesaidthehugeinvestmentinthehospitalandthenewurbanproject,ispreparingthegroundtoitbecomingacentralgovernment-managedurbanareafrom2025.Th?aThiên-Hu?isdesigningitasa‘smart,alowcarbonanda‘zeroplasticwastemetropolis.AeonMallVi?tNamsaiditplanstobuilditsfirsttradingarea,AeonMallHu?,withaninvestmentof$170millioninAnVanD??ngnewurbanarea.Hu?hasbuiltsixindustrialzoneson2,600ha,creatingasmoothspacefordomesticandforeigninvestors.The$104million-investedGilimexIndustrialPark–thefirst‘greenandcleandestinationfordomesticandforeigninvestors–hasbeenunderdevelopmentreadytohostkeyhi-techinvestorsfrominternationalanddomesticsources.Th?aThiênHu?hasalreadygrantedlicencesto19newinvestmentprojects,worth$208million,includingeightFDIprojectsworth$33.2million.VNSBANGKOK—MedicsattheKingChulalongkornMemorialHospitalofThailandonJuly17confirmedthatthefourVietnameseandtwoAmericansfounddeadintheGrandHyattErawanHotelinBangkokdiedfromcyanidepoisoning.Theysaidthesixdeathsappearedtohaveoccurredabout12to24hoursbeforepolicearrivedonthescene.Thebodiesshowedtracesoftherapid-actingchemicalandhadpurplelips,indicatingalackofoxygen,ChulalongkornHospitalsKornkiatVongpaisarnsintoldreporters,addingmoretestswerebeingconducted.Atapressconferenceheldearlierthesameday,Thaipolicealsosaidcyanidewasfoundinallcoffeecupsatthescene,andoneofthesixisbelievedtohavepoisonedtheothersoverdebtissues.ItwasconfirmedthatonlythesixenteredandleftRoom502ofthehotel,accordingtoPolMajGenNoppasilpPoolsawat,deputycommissionerofMetropolitanPoliceBureau.Amongthesix,whotravelledtoThailandfromJuly4-12,isacouplefromHCMCity,buttheydidnotcheckintothehotelatthesametime.Noppasinsaidthecaseappearedtobepersonalandwouldnotimpactthesafetyoftourists.Alsoatthepressconference,policesaiddebtissuesarethemotivebehindthecrime,andthattheseventhpersonwhowaspartofthehotelbookingleftThailandforVi?tNamonJuly10.—VNS

TheCivilAviationAuthorityofVi?tNam(CAAV)hasacceptedarequestofC?nTh?InternationalAirporttoextenditsoperatinghours,amovedesignedtohelptheairportmeetgrowingdemand.—Photobybaochinhphu.vnC?NTH?—TheCivilAviationAuthorityofVietnam(CAAV)hasacceptedarequestfromC?nTh?InternationalAirporttoextenditsoperatinghours,amovedesignedtohelptheairportmeetgrowingdemand.Operatinghourswillbeextendedbyfourhourseveryday,from5amto11:59pm,effectivefromJuly13toSeptember4.TheCAAVhasalsorequestedtheairportinformrelevantagenciesandunitsoftheairport,aswellasrelatedparties,tocoordinateoperationsandensuresecurity,safety,andefficiency.TheVi?tNamAirTrafficManagementCorporationwillcollaboratewiththeairporttoprovideinformationinaccordancewithregulations.Additionally,theCAAVhasaskedVietnamesecarrierstoincreaseflightstoC?nTh?,especiallyontheHàN?i–C?nTh?route,andtoexpandnewdomesticandinternationalroutestoC?nTh?.TheCAAVwillcontinuetostudypoliciestofacilitateoperationsofVietnameseairlinesandforeignairlinestoC?nTh?.Currently,therearefiveflightroutestoC?nTh?fromHàN?i,Vinh,H?iPhòng,?àN?ng,andC?n??o,withatotalof11-12roundtripseachday.VNS

TheconvictsattheappealtrialonJuly17.—VNA/VNSPhotoPh?mKiênHàN?I—SevenconvictsinthenotoriousVi?táCasewereproposedforsentencereductionsduringanappealtrialonJuly17.PhanQu?cVi?t,Vi?tácompanysformerGeneralDirector,isamongthoseappealingforreducedprisonterms.Hewassentencedto25yearsbehindbarsduringthefirst-instancetrial,forbribingseveralgovernmentofficialstoobtainlicencestosellCOVID-19testingkitsathighpricesduringthepandemic.Duringtheappealtrial,heardbytheCentralMilitaryCourt,theprosecutorarguedthatthepaymentofVN?200million(US$7,890)incompensationfordamagesbyVi?táandhisroleinthefightagainsttheCOVID-19pandemiccouldbeconsideredanextenuatingcircumstanceinhisfavour.Theprosecutor,accordingly,proposedreducinghissentencefrom25yearsto22years.Tr?nhThanhHùng,formerDirectoroftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologyforEconomic-TechnicalSectorsandH?AnhS?n,formerDeputyDirectoroftheMilitaryMedicalAcademysInstituteofBiomedicineandPharmacy,areotherconvictswhohavefiledappealsseekingsentencereductions.HùngandS?nwerefoundguiltyofabusingtheirpowersastheycollaboratedwithVi?ttoenlistVi?táastheAcademysprojectpartner,enablingittosecurelicencesfortestkitmassproduction.TheprosecutorproposedareducedsentenceforHùng,from15yearsto13yearsinprison,onthegroundsofaDeputyMinisterofScienceandTechnologysrequest,hiscompensationfordamagesandhisroleinthefightagainsttheCOVID-19pandemic.Similarly,theprosecutorproposedS?ntobesentencedto10yearsimprisonment,downfromhisoriginal12-yearterm.Anotherconvict,Nguy?nV?nHi?u,formerHeadoftheAcademysEquipmentandSuppliesDivision,wasalsorecommendedforareducedsentence.Hi?uwasconvictedofviolatingbiddingregulationstohelpVi?táwinbids,becomingthetestkidsupplierfortheAcademy.Vi?tpaidHi?umorethanVN?3.5billion(US$138,000)forthehelp.Afterweighingthemitigatingfactors,theprosecutorproposedHi?ubeunderlockandkeyforfiveyears,insteadofsevenyearsasruledinthefirst-instanceverdict.ThreeotherconvictsrecommendedforreducedsentencesareV??ìnhHi?p,Vi?tásformerDeputyGeneralDirector,LêTr??ngMinh,formerHeadoftheAcademysPharmaceuticalChemistryDepartmentandNg?AnhTu?n,formerHeadoftheAcademysFinanceDepartment.Hi?p,convictedofbribinggovernmentofficialstowincontractswithvariousCentresforDiseaseControl,andMinh,accusedofforgingdocumentstohelpVi?táwinthebids,wererecommendedtohavetheirsentencereducedfromsixyearstofouryearsinprison.Tu?n,foundguiltyoftakingVi?tsmoneytoassisthiminhisschemeisappealingforatwo-yearjailtermwiththesentencesuspended.Hewassentencedtofouryearsatthefirst-instancetrial.—VNSAmodelondisplayatthe2023VietnamInternationalInnovationExhibitionatHàN?isHoàL?cHi-TechPark.VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhHàN?IVietnamesebusinessesneedtoproactivelyapplyscienceandtechnology,aswellasintellectualpropertyasaleverintheirdevelopmentstrategytopromoteproductioninagreenandenvironmentallyfriendlydirection,saidL?uHoàngLong,directoroftheDepartmentofIntellectualPropertyundertheMinistryofScienceandTechnology.Innovationtowardsnetzeroisgraduallybeingtargetedbythebusinesscommunityinthecontextofcomplexclimatechangedevelopments.Thejourneytowardsnetzeroaffirmstheurgencyinapplyingscienceandtechnologytobusinessesproductiontocontributetoimplementingcommitmentsatthe26thConferenceofthePartiestotheUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononclimatechange(COP26).Longsaidinnovationisaprocessofcontinuousmovement,whileintellectualpropertyistheresultoftheinnovationprocess.Italsoservesasacatalystandaninputtopromoteinnovation.Intellectualpropertyisthefoundationandusedasatooltoencourageinnovationineachcountry,leadingtodifferentdevelopmentsdependingoneachcountrysfactors.TorealiseVi?tNamsnetzerocommitmentby2050,itisnecessarytocreatepolicymechanismsthatdirectlyimpactbusinessesonthejourneytowardsnetzero,hesaid.Nguyê?nQuan,chairmanoftheVietnamAutomationAssociation,saidsmartandgreenproductionalongwithinnovationarenotjusttrends,butalsokeyfactorsforbusinessestosucceedinthedigitalera.Thankstothecombinationofoperationaltechnologyandinformationtechnology,smartmanufacturingandgreenmanufacturinghavehelpedbusinessesincreaseefficiency,optimisegreenproductionprocessesandenhancetheircompetitiveposition,hesaid.Thenetzerocommitmentisthekeyforbusinessestotransitiontosustainablebusinessmodels.Thisisalsothepremiseforeachbusinesstoimproveitscompetitivenessandmeettherequirementsofinternationaleconomicintegration.Commitmenttosustainabledevelopmentofbusinessesandapplicationofdigitaltechnologyisanimportantpremisetoensurethattotalnationalgreenhousegasemissionsreacheszeronetemissionsby2050,hesaid.AccordingtoLong,ineachcountry,intellectualpropertybringsbothchallengesandopportunitiesforinnovationactivities,directlyimpactingtheimplementationofsustainabledevelopmentgoals.InVi?tNam,policiesandlawsonintellectualpropertyhavebeenbasicallycompleted.TheLawamendingandsupplementinganumberofarticlesoftheIntellectualPropertyLawcontributestopromotinginnovationbasedonintellectualpropertyrights,improvingthecapacitytoexploitintellectualpropertyrights.Manyprovinces,cities,universities,researchinstitutesandlargeenterpriseshavepoliciestosupportandpromotethedevelopmentofintellectualpropertyandencouragethecreation,protectionandapplicationofnewtechnicalsolutions.ThathasincreasedthenumberofpatentapplicationssubmittedtotheIntellectualPropertyOffice.VNS

Fishingportsystemsandshelterareasareplannedby2030.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nL?uQuanghassignedadecisiontoapprovetheplanningofamaritimeportsystemandstormshelterareasforfishingboats.Accordingtotheplan,portsandstormshelterareasforfishingboatsareidentifiedascriticalcomponentsofthefisherysectorinfrastructure,botheconomicallyandsocially.Theyareconsideredoneofthreestrategicbreakthroughs,requiringinvestmenttoensureefficientfisheryexploitation,economicandsocialdevelopmentandsocialsecurity,whileimprovingthematerialandspirituallifeofthepeople.Theplan,fortheperiod2021-2030,withavisionto2050,isallpartofworktomodernisethefishingindustryinfrastructure,tobettermeettheneedsoflogisticsservicesandensurefoodhygieneandsafety.Itshouldreducepost-harvestlossesandguaranteethesafetyforfishingvesselsandfishermen,aswellasimprovetheeffectivenessoffisheriesmanagement,enhanceinternationalintegration,adapttoclimatechangeandprotecttheenvironmentandmarineecosystemandcontributetoensuringnationaldefenceandsecurity.Thespecificgoalisthatby2030,therewillbeacompletesystemofportsundereffectiveoperationandstormsheltersforfishingvesselsonanationwidescale.Theindustrialisedandmodernisedsystemneedstomeettheneedsofanchorage,fisherieslogisticsservicesandhastobedevelopedinanintegrateddirection,increasingthevalueofexploitation.Thefishingportsystemensuresathroughputof2.98milliontonnesofseafoodperyear(including100percentofexploitedseafoodoutputandapartofmarineaquacultureoutput),ensuretheimplementationoffisheriesmanagement,meetingtherequirementsfortracingtheoriginofexploitedaquaticproductsandpreventingillegalfishingactivities.Thesystemofsheltersforfishingvesselsensuresthatover83,600fishingvesselswillbeabletosafelyanchorandbeprotectedfromstorms.AllfishingportsandshelterareasmustbeallocatedlandandwateruseaccordingtoArticles78and84ofthe2017FisheriesLaw.Additionally,keydomesticandinternationaltradehubswillbesetuptodrivethedevelopmentoffisheryindustrialzones,coastaleconomiczonesandmajorfishingcentreslinkedtokeyfishinggrounds,enhancingthefisherysectorsefficiencyandsustainability.Infrastructureandcapacityoffishingportswillbeimprovedtomeettheneedsoffisherieslogistics,ensurefoodsafetyandhygieneandintegrateeconomicdevelopment,tourism,culture,society,environmentalsanitation,newruralconstructionandnationaldefenceandsecurityinappropriateplaces.AlltypeIfisheryportsinmajorfishingcentrestobebuiltwithcomplete,moderninfrastructurewith90percentmechanisedcargohandlingsystems.AlltypeIIfisheryportstohavesynchronisedinfrastructurewith70percentmechanisedcargohandlingsystems.DigitalmanagementFromtheperiod2021-2025,theplanwillfocusoncompletingtheinfrastructureoftypeIfishingportsatfivemajorfishingcentresandstormsheltersforregionswheremostvesselsarefrequentlyanchored,fishingportprojectsandstormsheltersforfishingvesselsonislandsandprojectsassociatedwithnationaldefenceandsecurity.By2050,amodern,comprehensivefisheryportsystemcomparabletomajorportsgloballywillbedevelopedmeetinggreenportcriteria,withtypeIfisheryportsinmajorfishingcentresactingasinternationalgatewaysandkeylinksintheglobalfisheryvaluechain,withhighcompetitiveness.Accordingtotheplan,thefivemajorfishingcentreswillbedevelopedin:H?iPhòngCitylinkingtotheGulfofTonkinfishinggroundinL?pL?andTh?yNguyêndistricts;?àN?nglinkingtotheEastSeaandHoàngSafishinggroundinTh?QuangWard,S?nTràDistrict;KhánhHòaProvinceconnectingtotheSouthCentralCoastandTr??ngSafishinggroundinC?mLinhWard,CamRanhCity;BàR?a-V?ngTàuProvincelinkingtotheSoutheastCoastfishinggroundinLongS?nCommune,V?ngTàuCity;andKiênGiangProvincelinkingtotheSouthwestCoastfishinggroundinTayYênACommune,AnBiênSistrict,andBìnhAnCommune,ChauThànhDistrict.By2030,thecountryshouldhave173fisheryports,including39typeI,80typeII,and54typeIIIports,withatotalcapacityof2.983milliontonnesoffisheryproductsannuallyand160stormshelterareasforfishingboats,including30regionaland130provincial-levelshelters,withharbourspaceforabout90,600fishingboats.Spendingontheplanwillcomefromcentralandlocalbudgetsandprivateinvestment.VNSAbranchofSacombankinHCMCity.—VNSPhotoB?XuanHi?pHCMCITY—AlocalcourtinKhánhHoàProvincehasruledagainstaprivatebankafteruncoveringmultipleunauthorisedwithdrawalstotalingVN?46.9billion(US$1.83million)fromaclientsaccount.Thefirst-instancecourtonThursdayorderedSacombanksCamRanhbranchtoreimburseVN?36.2billion,includingaccruedinterestandcompensation,toH?Th?ThùyD??ng,theplaintiffinthelegalcase.ThesumincludestheprincipalamountofVN?26.9billionafterdeductingthepreviouslyadvancedVN?20billionattheplaintiffsrequest,aswellasaccruedinterestofVN?7billionandcompensationofVN?2.3billionfordamagessufferedbytheplaintiff.Thecourtalsoorderedthebanktoreturntwolandownershipcertificatesthatwereheldascollateralforthepreviouslyadvancedamount.Theplaintiffinitiatedlegalactionagainstthebankinmid-2022afterthefundsfromheraccountatthebanksCamRanhtransactionofficedisappearedundersuspiciouscircumstances.Thewomanhadsoughtthefullreturnoftheamountalongwithaccruedinterestandcompensationfordamagesincurred.AninvestigationbytheKhánhHoàprovincialpoliceuncoveredatotalof12unauthorisedwithdrawaltransactions,includingcashwithdrawalsoutsideofbusinesshoursandinternetbankingtransferstounknownrecipients,allwithouttheaccountownersconsent.Theplaintiffdeniedanyinvolvementinthesetransactions,assheandherfamilyweretravelinginPhúQu?catthetime.TheProcuracysupportedtheplaintiffslawsuit,seekingthereturnoftheprincipalamount,accruedinterest,andthetwolanduserightscertificates,citingtheunauthorisednatureofthetransactionsanddeficienciesinthebankswithdrawalprocedures.Thebankrejectedtheruling,claimingtheplaintiffhadsignedall12withdrawaldocuments,aclaimrefutedbytheplaintiff.ThebankdefendedtheadvanceofVN?20billionasassistanceinresponsetotheplaintiffsfinancialdifficulties.FollowingembezzlementchargesagainstfourofficialsfromSacombanksCamRanhbranch,multiplecustomers,includingD??ng,havereportedinstancesoffinancialfraud.TheVietnamesebankingsectorhasbeenfacingcriticismforinadequatemanagement,leadingtocustomerlossesfromunexplainedfunddisappearances.Bankstypicallydisclaimresponsibilityforsuchlossesandadvisecustomerstoawaitpoliceinvestigations,alengthyprocessthatoftentakesmanyyears.—VNS

Caption:Acustardappleorchardthathasadoptedhigh-techfarminginTayNinhProvincesTanChauDistrict.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?ng??tT?YNINH—ThesoutheasternprovinceofTayNinhistakingmeasurestohelpitsfarmersadopttechnology.Thelocalityplanstodevelop22high-techagriculturalzonesspreadover15,000-20,000haeachbetweennextyearand2030,accordingtoitsDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.Nguy?n?ìnhXuan,itsdirector,saidthezoneswouldgrowvegetablesandfruitsinconcentratedandspecialisedfarmingareas.Theprovincetargetshigh-techagricultureaccountingfor50percentofproducevalueandyieldingVN?180million(US$7,000)worthofoutputperhectareperyearby2030,hesaid.Withitslargetractsoffarmlands,abundantwaterfromtheSàiGònandVàmC???ngriversandD?uTi?ngReservoir,thecountryslargestforirrigation,theprovincehasidealconditionsfordevelopinghigh-techagriculture.Ithassupportpoliciestoassistfarming,encouragecompaniestoinvestinagricultureandsupportthedevelopmentofsmallirrigationworksandefficientirrigationandseedproduction.Italsoprovidessoftloanstofarmerstoimplementgoodagriculturalpracticesandhigh-techagriculture,andhelpsthemlinkupwithotherstakeholdersinthesupplychaintoselltheirproduce.LêTh?MaiHuy?n,ViceChairwomanoftheTayNinhBusinessAssociation,saidtheprovincehasmanypoliciestohelpfarmersadopttechnology,butsincetheyarenotcoordinated,theareaunderhigh-techfarmingisnotlarge.Thelinkagesbetweencompaniesandfarmersarenotclose,andproductioncostsarehighasaresult,whichmakesfarmersreluctanttochangetheirproductionmethods,sheadded.Accordingtothedepartment,thelinkagesremainmodestbecausefarmerslackthehabitoflinkingwithcompanies,andthecapacityofcompaniesandco-operativeswithwhomtheycouldpotentiallylinkisstilllimited.Nguy?nNg?cánh,ViceChairwomanoftheTayNinhFarmersAssociation,saidlinksbetweenstakeholdersinhigh-techagricultureofferbenefitstofarmers,whoareimportantstakeholders.Farmersshouldparticipateinco-operativesandco-operativegroupstoachieveeffectivelinkages,andauthoritieswouldoffersupportforseedsandotherinputs,shesaid.Participatingfarmerswouldbeinstructedinadvancedfarmingtechniquestogrowproducethatmeetmarketrequirements,sheadded.Thedepartmentsaidonly14.5percentofagriculturaloutputbenefitsfromsuchlinkages.Theprovincehasdevelopedlinkagesforkeyproductssuchaspig,chicken,cattle,sugarcane,custardapple,banana,rice,anddurian,itsaid.Theprovinceplanstostrengthenadvocacyaboutthelinkagesandthebenefitsofcreatingthem,itsaid.Moreandmorefarmersintheprovincehaveadoptedadvancedtechniquesinrecentyearstoimprovetheirefficiency.Theyhaveappliedautomaticirrigationforpolygreenandnethousestogrowvegetablesandhoneydewmelonon35haand20ha.Theprovincehas1,503haundergrapefruit,banana,custardapple,mango,longan,jujube,avocado,andotherfruitswithorigintraceability.Ithasgrantedproductioncodesfor100fruitgrowingareastoexporttotheEU,theUS,Australia,NewZealand,andChina.Ithasattractedinvestmentsinlargeagriculturalprojectsinrecentyears,including146animalbreedingprojectsthatareoperational.Itsagriculturalsectorhasbeengrowingat3-3.4percentayearinrecentyearsandaccountsfor20percentofitseconomy.—VNSAfriendshippinegardenisinauguratedatHCMCityDistrict9sSu?iTiênThemeParkonSaturdaytocelebratetheHCMCityUnionofFriendshipOrganisations35yearsofestablishment.VNSPhotoGiaLinhHCMCITY–TheHCMCityUnionofFriendshipOrganisations(HUFO)hasinauguratedafriendshippinegardenatSu?iTiênThemeParkinHCMCitysDistrict9tocelebrateitsupcoming35thanniversaryofestablishment(July29).Theinaugurationceremonyheldyesterdayattheparkwasattendedbyrepresentativesof25ConsulateGeneralsand30friendshiporganisations.Thegardenispartofa10,000sq.mpineorchardandhas35trees,eachhavinganametagtorepresentacountry.ItislocatedontheLinhCungTh?pNh?GiápandthePhúcCungTamPh??chills.Pinetreesareasymbolforpassion,resilience,andhopeforabetterfuture,allofwhicharealsoVi?tNamsgoalsindeepeningforeignrelations,promotingpeaceandsustainablegrowth,andboostingpartnershipwithothercountries,BùiTh?T?Trinh,deputydirectoroftheSu?iTiênThemePark,said.Thelongevityofpinetreesstandsforstrong,sustainablegrowth;hard,spine-likeleavesareasymbolforresilience;andpineconeswithmultiplelayersrepresentunitybetweencountriesworldwide.ConsulGeneraloftheNetherlandsinHCMCityDanielCoenraadStork(firstfromleft)withthepinetreethatrepresentshiscountry.VNSPhotoGiaLinhLaoConsulGeneralPhonesyBounmixayspokewithhighregardforHUFOseffortsinstrengtheningthetiesbetweenpeopleinthecity,inVi?tNamandinothercountries.Hesaidthegardenisasymbolforstrongforeignrelationsandthejointeffortsofcountriesinstrengtheninginternationalcooperation,andhehopeditwouldfurtherexpand.TheceremonyispartoftheparksongoingSouthernFruitFestivalthatlastsuntilAugust31.Thefestivalfeaturestropicalfruits,honoursfarmers,andhostsanabundanceofexcitingfestivities.–VNS