AnoverviewoftheVanPhongEconomicZone.—VNA/VNSPhotoHuyHùngKHáNHHòA—TheVanPhongEconomicZoneinthesouth-centralprovinceofKhánhHòaisattractingdozensoflarge-scaleprojects,whichmeansmorethan4,200householdswillneedtorelocatetoaccommodatetheseprojects.Accordingtotheplan,about2,500householdsintheB?cVanPhongareaofV?nNinhDistrictand1,700householdsintheNamVanPhongareainNinhHòaTownwillhavetomove.Toarrangeresettlementforhouseholdsaffectedbytheprojects,theNinhHòaTownPeoplesCommitteerequestedthattheprovincialPeoplesCommitteetocompleteinfrastructureoftheNinhTh?yresettlementarea,withatotalareaof??morethan100ha,aswellasbuildtwonewresettlementareasinNinhDiêmWardandNinhVanCommune.InV?nNinhDistrict,theVanPhongEconomicZoneManagementBoardaskedtheprovincialPeoplesCommitteetoupgradeandexpandtheV?nhYênResettlementArea,andconstructthenewV?nTh?ngResettlementAreawithanareaalsoexceedingonehundredhectares.TheKhánhHòaPeoplesCommitteerequiresdepartmentsandlocalitiestourgentlyreviewandcompareongoingresettlementareaswithapprovedplans.IntheV?nTh?ngResettlementArea,investmentproceduresmustbecompletedtostartconstructioninNovemberthisyear.Nguy?nT?nTuan,ChairmanofKhánhHoàProvincePeoplesCommittee,saidthatbuildingresettlementareasmustbeassociatedwithvocationaltrainingandjobcreationforaffectedpeople,especiallyworkersinthefisheriesandagriculturalsectors.Strategicinvestorsmustalsoberesponsibleforcontributingapartinbuildingmodernresettlementareas,similartothoseinthemodernurbanareas,saidTuan.—VNS

HàN?I—CustomsauthoritiesandthepoliceinHàN?ihavesuccessfullyinterceptedalargeshipmentofsyntheticdrugs,markingthelargestseizureofitskindviaairtransport.Theoperation,codenamedHP524,wasinitiatedonMay30,followingintelligencegatheredthroughsurveillance,investigationsandextensiveexperienceincombatingdrugtrafficking.TheoperationspecificallytargetedasuspecteddrugtraffickingringsmugglingMethyl?enedioxy?methamphetamine(MDMA)fromGermanyintoVi?tNamthroughN?iBàiInternationalAirport.Theswiftresponseoftheauthoritieshasultimatelyledtothearrestoffoursuspectsandtheconfiscationofapproximately179kgofthesyntheticdrugcommonlyknownasecstasy.Lastweek,thepolicesaidlegalproceedingswereunderwayagainst961suspectsaccusedofproducing,trafficking,storingandusingdrugsfollowingayear-longinvestigationintothecaseofflightattendantsillegallytransportingdrugsfromFrancetoTanS?nNh?tInternationalAirport.ThepoliceannouncedthattheyhavesuccessfullybrokenuphundredsofdrugtraffickingringsinHCMCity,BìnhD??ngProvinceand??ngNaiProvince.179kilogramsofMDMAsyntheticdrugsconcealedwithin46packages.—Photoanninhthudo.vnSuspectscutopenapplejuicecanstohidetheillicitdrugs.—Photoanninhthudo.vnSomeoftheconfiscateddrugs.—Photoanninhthudo.vnRescueforcesatthesiteoftheincidentonSundaynight.—PhotocourtesyofB?cK?nPoliceB?CK?N—OnemanhasbeenrescuedafteracavecollapsedinthenorthernB?cK?nProvince,withanotherinjuredandoneotherstillmissing.Themanwastrappednearthecavesentranceandsustainedminorinjuries.AnotherpersonsustainedabrokenarmfromthecollapseandwastakentoB?cK?nProvincialGeneralHospitalfortreatment.Theaccidentsiteislocatedabout500mfromthemainroad,whichhascauseddifficultyforrescueforces.Theyareusinghydraulicjackstoremoverocksandlocatetheremainingpersontrappedinthecave.Accordingtolocalauthorities,thecollapseoccurredaround5.30pmonSundayandissuspectedtobeanillegalgoldminingcase.B?cK?nProvincialPeoplesCommitteemobilisedrescueandpoliceforcestothescenetocarryoutanurgentsearchoperationforthevictimsuponlearningabouttheaccident.—VNS

AfamilyparticipatesinAEONEkiden2024atAEONLongBiêninHàN?i.—PhotocourtesyofAEONVietnamHàN?I—Buildingonthepasttwoyearssuccess,theAEONEkidencombinedwiththeVietnam-Japanculturalfestival,beganitsthirdseason,promisingtobringexcitingexperiencesforfamiliesandrunningenthusiastgroups.WiththethemeRelayRoad,TogetherHaveFun,thisyearsAEONEkidencontinuestodemonstrateitscommitmenttosustainabledevelopmentthroughuniqueelementssuchasmedalsmadefromrecycledplasticandeco-friendlyhandfans.Morethan3,000enthusiastsranthefirststageoftheAEONEkiden2024race,whichstartedatLongBiêninHàN?ionJune30andwillmovetoAEONBìnhD??ngCanaryonJuly28andAEONTanPhúCeladoninHCMCityonAugust25.AEONVietnamnotonlyservesconsumerswithqualityproductsandservices,bringingpeaceofmindandsafetytodailylifebutalsostrivestomakeeverypaymenttransactionwhencustomersshopatAEONVietnamthroughitssustainabledevelopmentstrategy.Indoingso,AEONVietnamaimstocollaboratewiththecustomerstocreateasustainablefuturethroughenvironmental,socialandeconomicaspects.Aspartofthesocialsustainabilitycommitment,throughtheAEONEkidenrace,AEONVietnamaimstopromoteahappylifestyleandbuildadiverseandinclusivecommunity.CollaboratingwithlocalcommunitieswhereverAEONVietnamispresent,thecompanytirelesslyorganisesactivitiestoenhancementalandphysicalwell-being.DeputyGeneralDirectoroftheOfficeDivision,AEONVietnamTakeuchiTakashispeaksattheevent.—PhotocourtesyofAEONVietnamSince2022,theAEONEKIDENrelayracehasbecomeanannualandiconiceventforlocalcommunity.TheeventwasorganisedacrossthreelocationsinVi?tNamwithnearly4,000participantsrunningtogether,bonding,andcreatingmemorablemomentswiththeirfamiliesandfriends,saidTakeuchiTakashi,DeputyGeneralDirectoroftheAEONVietnamOfficeDivision,attheceremony.AEONEkidenisnotjustaregularrace,butauniquecombinationoftwoelements:sportsandculturalexchange.Itaimstobringparticipantsinterestingandmeaningfulculturalexperiencesthroughtwomainactivities,thethree-centreraceandaVietnam-JapanCulturalFestivalheldinthemorning,alongwiththeAEONCosplayFestivalheldintheafternoon.TheVietnam-JapanCulturalFestivalhasspecialappealforfamilieswithyoungchildrenandanyone,especiallytheyoungergeneration,interestedinlearningmoreaboutthetraditionalandmodernculturesofthetwocountries.ThiseventaimstoenrichthecommunitysexperiencesandstrengthenrelationsbetweenVietnamandJapan.ThewinnersofcosplayperformancecompetitionsaspartoftheAEONCosplayExpo2024.—PhotocourtesyofAEONVietnamAEONCosplayFestivalisaplaygroundthatconnectsyoungpeoplewiththesamepassion,promotingthespiritofpursuingpassionamongtheyouthandunderstandingJapanesecultureintheVietnameseyouthcommunity.Attheevent,participantshadchancestoexperienceVietnameseculturewithVietnamesefolkgameslikeTòHe(clayfigurines)andT?T??ng(claysculpture)andalsotoexploreJapanesefolkculturebroughttoVi?tNamthroughDarumadollsorluckycharms.—VNSForeigntouristsintheHoànKi?mwalkingstreetarea,HàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoThanhTùngHàN?I—Vi?tNamhaswelcomed8.832millionforeigntouristsinthefirstsixmonthsof2024,upby58.4percentyear-on-year,accordingtotheH1reportfromtheGeneralStatisticsOffice.Thenumberalsorepresentsaslightincreaseof4.1percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2019,beforethedisruptionscausedbytheCOVID-19pandemic.Favourablevisapolicies,andstrongeffortsintourismpromotioncampaignsbylocalitiesacrossthecountryhaveattractedaratherhighnumberofinternationalguestscomparedtolastyearsnumber,theGeneralStatisticsOffice.explainedontherise.InJune,1.2millioninternationaltouristsvisited,risingby28.1percentcomparedtolastyears,butlowerthanthegrowthpaceof51percentthatMaysaw.Amongthe8.832millionvisitorssofarthisyear,arrivalsbyairaccountfor83.8percent(7.4million),14.3percentbyroad(1.3million)and1.9percentbysea(164,900).Vi?tNamreceived6.944milliontouristsfromAsiancountries,markinga65.7percentincreaseyear-on-year.Europecontributedover1million,showinga52.4percentincrease.TheAmericasaccountedfor536,800tourists,ariseof13.4percent.FromOceania,therewere266,600tourists,upby31.8percent.WhileAfricasaw25,300tourists,thehighestincreaseat104.4percent.SouthKoreacontinuestoleadinnumberofvisitorstoVi?tNamwith2.28million,followedbyChinawith1.89million.Theothermarketsinthetop10includeTaiwan(China),theUnitedStates,Japan,Malaysia,Australia,India,CambodiaandThailand.Thetourismsectorhassetoutthetargetofreceiving17-18millionforeigntouriststhisyear,muchhigherthanthetargetof12.6millionin2023.ThepeakofinternationaltourismforVi?tNamstartsfromaroundSeptembertonextyearsMarch-April.DatafromtheGeneralStatisticsOfficealsoshowsthatserviceexportturnoverisestimatedtoreachUS$11.25billion,anincreaseof20percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023.Ofthis,tourismservicesaccountedfor$6billion(53.1percentofthetotal),anincreaseof40.1percentcomparedtothesameperiodlastyear.Serviceimportturnoverforthefirstsixmonthsof2024reaches$16.11billion,upby22percentyear-on-year.Ofthis,transportationservicesaccountedfor$6.9billion(42.7percentofthetotal),anincreaseof18.6percent;andtourismservicesaccountedfor$4.9billion(30.4percentofthetotal),anincreaseof52.9percent.Inthefirsthalfoftheyear,2.6millionVietnamesehavegoneabroad,upby11.4percentyear-on-year.SomelocalitiesthathavepostedgoodtourismresultsincludethecapitalcityofHàN?iwith14milliontouristssofarintheyear,withinternationalarrivalsupby5.2.6percent;thecentralprovinceofThanhHoáwith9.8millionvisitors;thecoastalprovinceofKhánhHoàwith5.2millionstayingvisitors,upby88percentcomparedtolastyear.TheVi?tNamNationalAdministrationofTourism(undertheMinistryofCulture,SportsandTourism)hasbeenactivelypromotingandadvertisingtocontinueattractinginternationaltourists.FromJune24toJuly2,theadministrationhasheldeventsinParis(France),Milan(Italy),andFrankfurt(Germany)topromoteVi?tNamstourism.EuropeisakeymarketforVietnamesetourism,withtouristsoftenchoosinglongvacationsandhighspending.Additionally,fromJune29toJuly3,theministryisalsoholdingtheVi?tNamTourismandCulturePromotionFestivalinSouthKorea2024.ThefestivalintroducedthecountrysimageandpeopleandpromotedVi?tNamstourismbrand,destinations,services,andtourismpotentialtotheKoreanpublicthroughculturalandtourismactivities.TheadministrationreportedthatSouthKoreahasalwaysbeenatoptargetmarketforVietnamesetourism.ThenumberofSouthKoreantouriststoVi?tNamincreasedfivefoldfrom2014to2019,withanaverageannualgrowthrateof38percent.In2023,SouthKoreawasthelargestsourcemarketfortouriststoVi?tNam,with3.6millionvisitors.Vi?tNamwasalsotheleadingsourcemarketfortouriststoSouthKoreainSoutheastAsia,withabout420,000Vietnamesevisitors.—VNSResidentscasuallycrosstherailwaytoshopatthemakeshiftmarketnexttothetracks.Photokinthtedothi.vnHàN?I-Despitetheeffortsoftheauthorities,theviolationofrailwaysafetycorridorscontinuestooccurdailyinHàN?i,especiallyindenselypopulatedareas.AccordingtotheMinistryofTransport,from2019to2023,therewerestillover3,000unauthorisedrailwaycrossingsnation-wide,primarilyinurbanareaswithhightraintraffic.Despiteworktostopdangerousrailtrackcrossingsandclose-to-the-trackbuilds,overthepastfiveyears,only777outof4,093(lessthan20percent)prohibitedcrossingsindenselypopulatedareashavebeeneliminated.Commonviolationsincludetheconstructionofshacks,businessesoperatingnearrailwaytracks,illegalcrossingsandignoringwarningsigns.Theseactivitiesarewidespread,posingsignificantrisksofaccidents.Residentscrossingrailwayareaswithoutbarriersfacesignificantrisks.Photokinhtedothi.vnNotably,inHàN?i,alongtherailwayroutesthroughB?cT?Liêm,ThanhTrì,andTh??ngTíndistricts,violationsofrailwaysafetycorridorsareprevalent.Forexample,atalleyNo.119inC?Nhu?StreetofB?cT?LiêmDistrict,anunofficialmarkethaslongbeenestablishedparalleltotherailway.Residentscasuallycrosstherailstoshopatthemarketadjacenttothetracksandthismarketcausestrafficcongestionandposesseriousriskstorailwaysafety.Therailwaycorridorisalsousedfordryingclothes,despiteprohibitorysigns,creatinganuntidyandhazardousenvironment.??Ph??ngTh?o,aresidentinthearea,toldkinhtedothi.vn:Themarkethereposesariskofaccidents.Ifatraincomesandpeopledontmoveintime,theconsequencescouldbedire.Inthesamearea,therailwaysectionpassingthroughAlleyNo.104inC?Nhu?Streetlacksbarriersseparatingtheroadfromtherailway,leadingresidentstocrossthetracksrecklessly.LieutenantD??ngThanhKhánh,atrafficpoliceman,said:Thewardpolicefrequentlyaddresstheseviolations,preventingstallswithintherailwaysafetycorridor.WehaveproposedthatthedistrictauthoritiesandHàTháiRailwayCompanyerectprotectivefencesalongthecorridor.Meanwhile,westrivetomaintainorderandsafety,butitischallengingtomonitorconstantly.AlongNg?cH?iStreet,seld-madepathsacrosstheraillineappearcontinuouslyandbusinessisconductedrightnexttothetracks.Photokinhtedothi.vnUnauthorisedcrossingscuttingthroughrailwaytracksareaprimarycauseofmanytrafficaccidents.AlongNg?cH?iStreet,fromsectionatT?K?PagodainHoàngLi?tWard,HoàngMaiDistricttoV?n?i?nTown,ThanhTrìDistrict,numerousunauthorisedcrossingsareseeneveryfewmetres.Thesecrossingslackproperbarriersandwarningsignsandresidentscrossthetrackscarelessly.Shopsareopenedclosetotherailwaytracks.Nguy?nTh?Trí,aresidentlivinginV?n?i?nTownsaid:Residentsarequitenegligentwhencrossingthetracks.Onlyoneortwocrossingsshouldbeopenforresidents,asmanyunauthorisedonesaredangerous.Evenasatrainapproachespeople,includingtheelderlyandchildren,stillcalmlycrossthetrainline.Itisverycommonandisaterrifyingsight.Mostofthesecrossingsarecreatedillegallybyresidentswithmakeshiftconcreteslabs.Overtime,theseshortcutsbecomepermanentpaths,convenientbutrisky.Nguy?nTh?H??ng,chairwomanofthePeoplesCommitteeofV?n?i?nTown,said:Wehavereviewedandinstalledwarningsignstoalertresidentswhencrossingthetracks.Atcertainaccident-pronespots,thetownmobilisesgroupstomonitorduringpeakhours.However,manpowerisstilllimited.Thelocalauthoritieshaveclosednineoutoffifty-nineunauthorisedcrossingswithoutaffectingtheadjacenthouseholdstraffic.H??ngemphasisedthattoresolverailwayaccidentsdefinitively,allunauthorisedcrossingsmustbeclosed.Forthistohappen,aprojecttoconstructparallelroadsforresidentsmustbeinitiated.Thelocalauthoritiesarereviewinglandalongtherailwaysafetycorridortoproposethisprojecttothehigherauthorities.Violationsofrailwaysafetycorridorsprimarilystemfromalackofawarenessamongsomeresidentswhofailtorecognisethesevereconsequencesoftheiractions,saidthechairwoman.Moreover,localauthoritiesneedtotightenmanagement,collaboratewiththerailwaysectorandenforcetheremovalofviolationstopreventre-encroachment.Atparticularlytroublesomespots,constructingparallelroadsforresidentsisessentialtoensuresafeandconvenienttravel,sheadded.VNS

Socialhousingforworkersandlow-incomeearnersin??nhHoàCommune,Th?D?uM?tCityinBìnhD??ngProvince.VNA/VNSPhotoChíT??ngBìNHD??NG—BìnhD??ngislookingforcreditofatleastVN?65trillion(US$2.55billion)todevelopapproximately160,300socialhousingunitsforworkersandlow-incomeearnersfromnowuntil2030.Thisplanaimstomeetthehousingneedsofabout552,458people,farexceedingthetargetsetbytheGovernment.Thatwasfor86,877socialhousingunitsduringthe2021-2030period.However,undertheapprovedSocialHousingandWorkerHousingDevelopmentProjectforthe2021-2025period,withavisiontowards2030,theprovincehasraisedthisandisplanningtobuildatotalof160,325units.ThisprojectfollowedthePrimeMinistersapprovalofaplantobuildatleastamillionsocialhousingapartmentsforlow-incomeearnersandindustrialparkworkersby2030.Undertheplan,BìnhD??ngwillinvestin155,289apartmentsand5,036houses,withabout32,065unitsdesignatedforrental.Thetotallandareaforsocialhousingdevelopmentisabout470.4hectares,withanestimatedconstructionfloorareaof9,253,924squaremetres.ThetotalinvestmentforthisprojectisestimatedatVN?84.75trillion($3.32billion),surpassingtheGovernmentstarget.OverfouryearsBìnhD??ngwillallocateabout136.1hectaresoflandandinvestincompletingapproximately42,440socialhousingunits,meetingtheneedsofabout138,326people,withatotalinvestmentofaboutVN?23.81trillion($935million).Inthe2026-2030period,theprovincewillallocateabout334.3hectaresoflandandinvestincompletingapproximately117,880socialhousingunits,meetingtheneedsofabout414,132people,withatotalinvestmentofaboutVN?60.93trillion($2.39billion).TherapiddevelopmentofindustrialzoneshasattractedalargenumberofresidentstoBìnhD??ngforlivingandworking,increasingthedemandforhousing;however,owningahomeremainsbeyondmanylocalincomes.V?HoàngNgan,DirectoroftheprovincialDepartmentofConstruction,statedthatdevelopingsocialhousingandworkerhousingisanimportantpartofBìnhD??ngssocio-economicdevelopmentpolicy.Thisaimstofacilitateaccesstoaffordablehousingforworkers,labourersandvulnerablegroups,aligningwiththeirabilitytopayandthereforeattractingahigh-qualityworkforce.Theprojectalsoencouragesvariouseconomicsectorstoinvestinthedevelopmentofsocialhousingandintroducessupportivehousingpoliciesforlow-incomeurbanresidentsandindustrialparkworkers,hesaid.DuringtheinspectionoftheprogressofsocialhousingconstructionattheChánhM?EcologicalUrbanAreaprojectinChánhM?Ward,Th?D?uM?tCity,Nguy?nV?nL?i,SecretaryoftheBìnhD??ngProvincialPartyCommittee,requestedlabourunionsreviewworkersneedsforsocialhousing.Healsourgedrelevantdepartmentsandinvestorstoresolveanydifficultiesandobstaclestoensuretheprojectsearlycompletionandeffectiveoperation.L?iacknowledgedthechallengesfacedbyinvestorsduringtheprojectsimplementationandappreciatedtheprogressmade.Henotedthattheprojecthaslargelycompletedthenecessarylegalproceduresandemphasisedtheneedtofocusonpoliciesforcompensation,resettlementandensuringtherightsofresidentsintheclearedareas.TheChánhM?EcologicalUrbanAreaprojectallocatesmorethan27hectaresforsocialhousing,includingsix12-storyapartmenttowerswith978apartmentsrangingfrom38.5squaremetresto63.5squaremetres.Whilethesocialhousingisunderconstruction,around1,200applicationshavebeenregisteredbythoseinterestedinpurchasinganapartment.Phase1oftheproject,withthehandoverofthreetowerswith456apartments,isforecasttobecompletedinthethirdquarterof2025.—VNSPeopleofJraiethnicminoritygroupintheCentralHighlandsprovinceofGiaLai.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?ng?i?pHàN?I—Asocio-economiccensusamong53ethnicminoritiesinVi?tNamwillbecarriedoutbytheGeneralStatisticsOffice(GSO)andtheCommitteeforEthnicMinorityAffairs(CEMA)startingMonday.GSOdeputydirectorgeneralNguy?nTrungTi?nsaidthatthecensusholdsgreatsignificanceindefiningthenationalstatisticalindicatorsystems,whichwillserveasthefoundationforsocio-economicdevelopmentpoliciesforethnicminorityareasinthe2026-2030period.TheGSOandCEMAconductedtwosimilarcensusesin2015and2019.SurveyswillbecarriedoutfromJuly1toAugust15thisyearin54citiesandprovincesacrossthecountry.Enumeratorswillgodoortodoor,directlycollectingdataondemographics;education;migration;marriage;healthinsurance;employment;pregnancyhistoryanduseofcontraceptionamongthefemalepopulationaged10to49;aswellasinformationonthedeceased;housingandlivingconditions;residentialandproductionland;maintypesoflivestock;andaccesstopublicservices.Thecensuswillalsotakeintoaccountcommune-levelPeoplesCommitteesthroughinformationonthecommunesspecificfeatures;useofelectricity,roadsandtraffic;schoolsandteacherqualifications;commonculturalhouses;healthandsanitation;marketsandindustrialzones;qualificationsofcommune-levelpublicofficialsandemployees;religionsandbeliefs;aswellasmobileandinternetcoverage.Thecriteriaforsamplesizeshavealsochanged,witheligiblelocalitiesdefinedaswhereethnicminoritiesaccountforatleast15percentofthetotalpopulation,insteadof30percentinthepreviousroundsofthecensus.GSOdeputydirectorgeneralTi?nsaidthatamajorityoftheselocationsareinremoteareaswithdispersedpopulations,makingitchallengingfordatacollection.Withthedirectsurveysconductedin45days,localstatisticofficeshaveworkedoncarefulpersonnelselectionandtraining,prioritisingthosewithahighsenseofresponsibility,goodexpertiseanddigitalliteracy(forcomputer-assistedpersonalinterviewing,orCAPI).Theymustalsohaveagoodunderstandingofethnicminorityculturesandtheareastheyareassigned.Significanteffortsarealsogiventocommunicationtowardsethnicminoritygroupssothattheyunderstandthepurposeandmeaningofthecensusandprovideaccurate,completeandupdatedinformationtoenumerators.Thesurveyresultswillbepromptlyprocessedtoensurecredibilityandaccuracy,servingasimportantinsightsforthePartyandthestatetopromulgatesuitablepoliciesforrapidandsustainablesocio-economicdevelopmentpoliciesforethnicminorityareasforthe2026-2030period,leavingnoonebehind,saidTi?n.—VNS

PeopleinB?cGiangProvinceuseIDcardsforhealthinsurancecheck-ups.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?IForthefirsttime,VietnamesechildrenundertheageofsixcanbeissuedIDcardsuponrequestastheLawonIdentificationcomesintoeffectonJuly1,2024.Thelegalrepresentativeofthechildmustcompletetheprocedurethroughthepublicserviceportalornationalidentificationapplication.Authoritiesdonotcollectidentificationandbiometricinformationforpeopleundersixyearsold.ThelawhaschangedthecitizensIDcardandremovedinformationonhometown,placeofpermanentresidence,fingerprintsandidentifyingcharacteristicsreplacingthemwiththecitizensplaceofbirthregistrationandplaceofresidence.Vietnamesecitizensunder14yearsoldcanbeissuedIDcardsuponpersonalrequest.IfthecurrentresidenceinformationofVietnamesecitizenswhoarenoteligibletoregisterforpermanentortemporaryresidenceisupdatedintheNationalPopulationDatabase,theywillalsobeissuedIDcards.FromJuly1,authoritieswillissueidentitycertificatestopeopleofVietnameseoriginwhosenationalityisunknown.ThisisanidentificationdocumentcontaininginformationabouttheidentityofpeopleofVietnameseoriginwhosenationalityisunknownandwhohavebeenlivinginVi?tNamfor6monthsormore.ThecertificatesproveidentitytocarryouttransactionsandexercisetheownerslegalrightsandinterestsintheterritoryofVi?tNam.ThenewIDlawhasintegratedhealthinsurancecards,socialinsurancebooks,driverslicences,birthcertificatesandmarriagecertificatesintotheIDcard.Accordingtothenewlaw,eachVietnamesecitizenisissuedanelectronicIDcard,whichwillbecreatedbytheMinistryofPublicSecuritysidentificationmanagementagencyimmediatelyaftercitizenscompletetheproceduresforalevel2electronicIDaccountontheVNeIDapp.OtherlawstakingeffectfromJuly1NineotherlawswillalsocomeintoforceonJuly2024:theLawonForcesParticipatingintheProtectionofSecurityandOrderattheGrassrootsLevel,theLawonCreditInstitutions,theElectronicTransactionLaw,theTelecommunicationsLaw,thePriceLaw2023,theLawonConsumerRightsProtection,theCivilDefenceLaw,theCooperativeLaw,andtheWaterResourcesLaw.TheLawonForcesparticipatingintheProtectionofSecurityandOrderattheGrassrootsLevelstipulatesthattheforcesarearrangedinvillagesandresidentialgroupsandactasthecoresupportingthecommune-levelpolicetohelpthePeoplesCommitteeatthesamelevelinprotectingsecurityandorderandbuildingthenationalsafeguardingmovement.ThehighlightofthenewLawonCreditInstitutionsistoprohibitthesaleofoptionalinsuranceaccompanyingloans.Thelawprohibitscreditinstitutions,foreignbankbranches,managers,executives,andemployeesofcreditinstitutionsandforeignbankbranchesfromsellingoptionalinsuranceproductsalongwiththeprovisionofbankingproductsandservicesinanyform.TheLawonElectronicTransactionssupplementsregulationsandprohibitedactsinelectronictransactionsincludingtakingadvantageofelectronictransactionstoinfringeuponnationalinterests,nationalsecurity,order,socialsafety,publicinterests,legitimaterightsandinterestsofagencies,organisationsandindividuals.ItemsthatdonotapplythePriceLawinclude:land,housing,electricityandelectricityservices,medicalexaminationandtreatmentservices,tuition,servicefeesandpriceseducation-trainingandvocationaleducation.AccordingtotheLawonConsumerProtectionofConsumerRights,multi-levelmarketingorganisationsandindividualsarestrictlyprohibitedfromactssuchasrequiringotherstodeposit,payasumofmoneyorbuyacertainquantityofgoodstoparticipateinmulti-levelmarketing.Theyarealsobannedfromprovidingfalseandmisleadinginformationtoconsumersandindividualsparticipatinginmulti-levelmarketing.VNS

CountingtheshipmentofdrugshiddenintoothpastetubesseizedfromtheluggageoffourflightattendantsinTanS?nNh?tInternationalAirportinHCMCityinMarch2023.VNA/VNSPhotoHCMCITY—Legalproceedingsareunderwayagainst961suspectsaccusedofproducing,trafficking,storingandusingdrugsfollowingayear-longinvestigationintothecaseofflightattendantsillegallytransportingdrugsfromFrancetoTanS?nNh?tInternationalAirport.ThepoliceannouncedthattheyhavesuccessfullybrokenuphundredsofdrugtraffickingringsinHCMCity,BìnhD??ngProvinceand??ngNaiProvince.Thepolicealsoseizedmorethan319kilogrammesofvarioussyntheticdrugs,12firearms,67bullets,threegrenadesandnumerousrelatedexhibitsduringtheinvestigation.Theinitialinvestigationsresultsalsorevealedthatpriortotheirarrest,thesuspectshadillegallytradedhundredsofkilogrammesofdrugs,amountingtotransactionsvaluedatoverVN?28trillion(US$1.09billion).ThecasebeganonMarch16lastyearwhenTanS?nNh?tcustomsdetectedsuspiciousitemsintheluggageoffourfemaleflightattendantsreturningfromFrance.CustomsofficersnotifiedtheDrugCrimeInvestigationPoliceDepartment(C04)undertheMinistryofPublicSecurityandtheDrugCrimeInvestigationOffice(PC04)undertheHCMCitysPoliceDepartment,wholaunchedaunitedandcoordinatedinspection,leadingtothewideroperationbeingrevealed.Subsequentexaminationrevealedthatofthe327toothpastetubesintheattendantsluggage,almosthalf,157tubes,containedover11.2kilogrammesofsyntheticdrugs.Throughouttheinvestigation,authoritiessaidthattheairlinestaffinsistedthattheywereunawarethatthegoodstheytransportedfromFrancetoVi?tNamcontaineddrugs.—VNSHCMCityssmarttrafficmonitoringandoperationcentre.—VNA/VNSPhotoTi?nL?cHCMCITY—HCMCityisimplementingsolutionstoensureinformationsecurity,includingafour-layerprotectionmodel.Lam?ìnhTh?ng,directorofthecitysDepartmentofInformationandCommunications,answeredquestionsfromdelegatesatthe17thsessionofthemunicipalPeoplesCouncilmeetingonMonday,focusingonthecityssocio-economicanddefense-securitysituation.Hesaidthecityiscarryingoutasurveillancesystemopen24hoursadayandsevendaysaweek,andbuildingabackupdatabasecentre.Itsetsatargetofreviewing100percentoftheinformationtechnologyinfrastructureandensuringconnectivityamongthecity,districts,wards,communesandtowns.Thedepartmentiscollaboratingwithrelevantunitstoreviewandidentifytheneedforinvestmentinover3,000devicesforunitsandlocalitiesofVN?150billion(US$5.9million).Regardingslownetworkaccessinlocalitiesaffectingtheinteractionbetweenresidentsandauthorities,thedepartmentgavethreereasons,includingoldanddegradedcomputerinfrastructure;hugedemandfordigitaltransformationandthearisingrequirementstriggeringdifficultiesforplatformmanagement;andsoftwareandplatformsofministriesandagenciesnotinaccordancewiththecity.Regardinginformationsecurityandnetworksecurity,thecityisimplementinganumberofsolutionssuchasplacingalldatainthecitysdatacentre,whichismonitored24hoursadayandsevendaysaweek.Thecityisresearchingandbuildingabackupdatacentreproject.Itisdeployingthefour-layerinformationsecurityprotectionmodelatagenciesandunits,adatabasecentre,ateamofindependentassessmentexpertsandsystem-to-systemconnectionensuredbycentrally-runagencies.Thecityalsohasaninformationsecurityresponsenetworktosupportunitswhenincidentsoccur.Asfordatasharing,thecitysdatabasesystemhasbeenlinkedtoanintegratedandshareddigitaldatabaseplatformsuchasasystemforhandlingadministrativeprocedures,receivingandresolvinginformationviaswitchboard1022,andaunifiedsystemforresolvingcomplaintsanddenunciations.Intheupcomingtime,thecitywillputintooperationsystemsforlandmanagement,constructionlicenses,electronicschoolrecordsandelectronicmedicalrecords.—VNS

BikelaneshavebeenbuiltonpavementsonsomeofHu?smostcongestedstreetstoimprovetrafficsafety.—Phototuoitre.vnTH?ATHIêN-HU?—Hu?CityisthefirstlocalityinVi?tNamtobuildbicyclelanesonpavements,withtheworkbeinginitsfinalstage.Theyspanthecitysmainroadsandrunforovereightkilometres.OncongestedstreetssuchasV?NguyênGiápandT?H?u,twolanesarebeingcreated.BikelaneshavealsobeenbuilteachinthenewAnVanD??ngurbanareaandPhúXuanWard.Thebikelanes,aroundametrewide,ispaintedgreeninthemiddleandyellowintheedges.AbikelaneintheAnVanD??ngurbanarea.—Phototuoitre.vnLêThànhB?c,deputyheadofthebikelaneconstructionmanagement,saidcreatingbikelanesonpavementswouldimprovetrafficsafety.Butsomelocalsareunhappywiththenewplan.N.T.H.toldTu?iTr?(Youth)newspaperitisnotsafeforpedestriansandcycliststosharethepavement.Pavementsareusuallyusedtoparkmotorbikes,meaningthereisalreadylittlespaceforpedestrianstowalksafely,andtherewouldbeevenlessifbikelanesareadded,hesaid.TheworkispartofaVN?1.7trillion(US$66.976million)plantoimprovetrafficinfrastructureandreduceflooding.ItisalsopartoftheSecondaryCitiesDevelopmentProjectII(GreenCities)forthreesmallercities,HàGiang,Hu?andV?nhYên.VNSNguy?nTh?H?ng(secondfromleft),formervicechairwomanofHCMCity,andotherex-officialsattheVietnamRubberGroup,havebeenarrestedfortheirinvolvementinascandalattheVietnamRubberGroup.—PhotocourtesyofthepoliceHCMCITY—TheformerViceChairwomanofHCMCityPeoplesCommitteeNguy?nTh?H?nghasbeenarrestedforallegedabuseofpowerduringherofficialduties,thepolicesaidonWednesday.ThearrestispartofanongoinginvestigationintoaccusationsofbriberyandpowerabuseattheState-ownedVi?tNamRubberGroup(VRG),andotherrelatedentities.H?ngisalsofacingallegationsofmisconductregardingapropertydevelopmentprojectinHCMCitysDistrict4.H?ng,69,previouslyheldthepositionofdirectorofthecitysDepartmentofFinanceandlaterservedasdeputychairwomanin2005beforeretiringafteradecadeinoffice.Currently,atotalof16individualsimplicatedinthecasehavebeenprosecuted,includingvariousex-officialsatthegroup,foracceptingbribesandbreachingregulationsonthemanagementofStateassets,resultinginlossandinefficiency.TheseactionshavebeensanctionedbytheSupremePeoplesProcuracy.Theinvestigationintothescandalremainsongoing.—VNS

BangkokpolicecommissionerThithiSaengsawangspeaksatthepressbriefingonthecase.—GETTY/VNAPhotosHàN?I—ThaipoliceonWednesdaymorningannouncedthepreliminaryresultsoftheinvestigationintothecaseofsixpeoplefounddeadattheGrandHyattErawanHotelinBangkok.Accordingtothepolice,onepersonkilledfiveothersintheroomthentooktheirownlife.Itisunderstoodthekillingsstemfromdebt-relatedissues.Thaipolicehavealsoidentifiedaseventhperson,whopresumablycheckedintothehotelroomswiththeothers,butthatpersonisyettobeapprehended.Policedidstressthatwomanisunlikelytobeconnectedtothedeaths.TwoofthedeceasedwereidentifiedasSherineChong,56,andDangHungVan,55,bothcarryingUSpassports.IthasbeenreportedthatitwasChongwhocarriedoutthemurdersbeforetakingherownlife.FourotherswereVietnamesenationals,includingNguyenThiPhuongLan,47,PhamHongThanh,49,TranDinhPhu,37,andNguyenThiPhuong,46.InitialinvestigationsonTuesdayevening,whenthevictimswerefound,showedthattheirroomwaslockedfromtheinsidewithnotraceofphysicalviolence.TheirbodiesweretransportedtoanearbyhospitalwhiletheluggagewasmovedtotheLumpiniareapolicestation.PoliceattheGrandHyattErawanHotelinBangkokonTuesdayevening,wherethebodieswerefound.InanannouncementonWednesdaymorning,ThaiPrimeMinisterSretthaThavisinconfirmedthatagroupoftheUSFederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI)agentswillarriveinThailandtoassistinfurtherinvestigation,astwoUScitizenswereamongthedeceased.UnderthedirectionoftheVietnameseMinistryofForeignAffairs(MoFA),theEmbassyofVi?tNaminThailandisworkingcloselywithThaiauthoritiesonthecase,saidtheministrysspokespersonPh?mThuH?ngonWednesday,whileextendingcondolencestothevictimsfamilies.TheVietnameseembassywillalsoprovideallnecessaryhelpforinvestigationsandcoordinatewithrelevantdepartmentsinVi?tNamtoprovidesupportforthevictimsfamiliesandadoptnecessarycitizenprotectionmeasures.TheVietnameseMoFAandtheMinistryofPublicSecurityarealsotakingurgentactiontoverifytheidentitiesofthefourVietnamesevictims.Onceconfirmed,theirfamilieswillbenotifiedandassistedincompletingnecessaryprocedurestorepatriatetheremainsassoonasThaiauthoritiesallow,saidVietnameseAmbassadortoThailandPh?mVi?tHùng.HeappreciatedthepromptresponsefromThaiPMThavisinandhigh-rankingThaipoliceofficials,whowerepresentatthesceneandheldanurgentpressbriefingonthecase.—VNSThanTh?Thànhandevidenceseizedinthesmugglingcase.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàT?NH—PoliceinthecentralprovinceofHàT?nhhavedetainedtwowomenallegedlyinvolvedinacross-bordercurrencysmugglingscheme.ThanTh?H??ng,54,andhersister,ThanTh?Thành,47,bothresidentsofS?nTayCommune,H??ngS?nDistrict,havebeenchargedwithsmugglingandtheillegaltransportofcurrencyacrosstheVi?tNam-Laosborder.OnNovember28,inHàTraiHamlet,S?nKim1Commune,policesaidtheystoppedacarwithLaoregistrationplate2079drivenbyNguy?nV?nB?ng,36,alsofromS?nTayCommune.AccompanyinghimwasThành.AsearchofthevehicleallegedlyuncoveredUS$230,000(VN?5.8billion)hiddenamongothercargo.Subsequentraidsonthehomesofthetwosistersallegedlyyieldedanadditional$7,700aswellas570,000Japaneseyen,191,120,000Laokip,and142,000Thaibaht,withatotalvalueofapproximatelyVN?450million.InvestigatorsdeterminedthatH??nghadbeensmugglingforeigncurrenciestoLaosforprofit,whileThànhactedashercourier,accordingtopolice.Thesistersadmittedtotransportingover$4.5million(VN?100billion)sinceJuly2023,exploitingexchangeratedifferencestogenerateincome.—VNS