Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho province will host its first ever international football match, a friendly between the Vietnam and Myanmar U23 teams, on June 7. — Photo courtesy of VFF Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam and Myanmar national U23 teams will play a friendly match at the Viet Tri stadium in the northern province of Phu Tho on June 7. The Vietnam Football Federation said it was part of its plans to take the national team around the country so that fans could see their idols in person. The match will help both sides prepare for the Southeast Asian Games to be held in November in the Philippines. It will be the first time the 20,000-seat Viet Tri stadium, which received a facelift recently, will host an international match. The VFF has called on the provincial sports department to make sure the stadium meets the standards required for an international game. National teams have so far played in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Binh Duong, and Can Tho apart Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. … [Read more...] about U23 Vietnam, U23 Myanmar to play friendly match next month
Thailand: Performances mark King Rama X’s coronation
The Ministry of Culture of Thailand will hold a week of cultural and arts performances, known as Mahorasop Sompoch, to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. (Photo:thainews.prd.go.th) Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Ministry of Culture of Thailand will hold a week of cultural and arts performances, known as Mahorasop Sompoch, to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. The performances will be broadcast live in 170 countries worldwide. The Culture Minister, Veera Rojpojanarat, presided over a religious rite for the inauguration of Mahorasop Sompocht. The rite was performed by the Brahmin chief priest, Phra Maharajchakru Sriwisutthikun. The Culture Minister said Mahorasop Sompoch said the performances will take place from May 22 to 28 at Sanam Luang in Bangkok and designated venues in 76 provinces nationwide, as a symbol of gratitude and loyalty to His Majesty the King. The event will be … [Read more...] about Thailand: Performances mark King Rama X’s coronation
Bac Ha Plateau Festival to take place in early June
The horse race will feature the competition of jockeys from Lao Cai and the neighbouring provinces of Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang and Lai Chau. (Photo: nhandan.org.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - The Bac Ha Plateau Festival will take place from May 31 to June 9 in Bac Ha town, the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai. The highlight of the festival is a horse race, slated for June 7-8 at Bac Ha town’s stadium, featuring the competition of jockeys from Lao Cai and the neighbouring provinces of Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, and Lai Chau. The festival will also include a street festival, gathering more than 400 artists from communes in Bac Ha district, a bicycle tour through plum-growing areas and flower valley, and a rose and wine fest at Hoang A Tuong Palace. The festival aims to promote the unique cultural value and tourism potential of Bac Ha district to visitors from both at home and abroad, thus lifting Bac Ha as an attractive tourism destination in Vietnam’s northern region. Bac Ha town … [Read more...] about Bac Ha Plateau Festival to take place in early June
Binh Thuan: two jailed for destruction of assets
At the court (Photo: VNA) Binh Thuan (VNA) – The People’s Court of the central province of Binh Thuan on May 21 handed down sentences ranging from 11-17 years to two defendants involved in disturbances of social order in Phan Ri Thanh commune, Bac Binh district. The defendants, namely Dang Ngoc Tan and Pham Thanh, both residing in Phan Ri Cua town, Tuy Phong district, were convicted of “destroying assets” in accordance with Clause 4, Article 178 of the 2015 Penal Code. 19-year-old Tan was sentenced to 17 years in prison while 32-year-old Thanh will serve 11 years behind bars. According to the indictment of the provincial People’s Procuracy, at about 9:30pm on June 11, 2018, a large group gathered on National Highway 1A in Binh Long village, Phan Ri Thanh commune, Bac Binh district, causing disturbances. Local mobile police and authorities used loudspeakers to ask the group to disperse to prevent traffic jams and not to take actions that threaten … [Read more...] about Binh Thuan: two jailed for destruction of assets
Foreign investors buy Vingroup shares worth $250 million
By Minh Son  May 21, 2019 | 08:34 pm GMT+7 Vingroup's Vincom Center is seen in Distrct 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by Shutterstock/Alex W. Over VND5.8 trillion ($247.78 million) worth of Vingroup shares were transferred Tuesday to foreign buyers, whose identities were not revealed. The transfer was registered on Vietnam’s main stock exchange, Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) by the end of Tuesday’s session. More than 51.4 million VIC shares of Vingroup, Vietnam’s biggest private conglomerate, were bought by foreign investors for VND113,000 ($4.83) each. The total value of the shares sold is equivalent to 1.6 percent of Vingroup’s current market cap of VND375 trillion ($16.02 billion). VIC shares are currently the highest market cap stock on Vietnamese exchanges. Last week, South Korean conglomerate SK Group confirmed it will spend $1 billion on acquiring a stake in Vingroup. The group will acquire 205.7 million shares at the price of … [Read more...] about Foreign investors buy Vingroup shares worth $250 million
NA’s second working day focuses on education, architecture laws
Draft revisions of the Law on Education and the Law on Architecture are discussed at the National Assembly's 7th session on May 21. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly (NA) discussed the draft revisions of the Law on Education and the Law on Architecture at the ongoing seventh session in Hanoi on May 21. The majority of lawmakers agreed with the report on the amendments to the draft revised education law presented by Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, and Adolescents Phan Thanh Binh. Twenty-four legislators spoke highly of the efforts made by the compiling board to complete the draft law and gave opinions about several issues, like education philosophy, curricula and textbooks, investors and school councils, support policies for pedagogical students, policies for teachers and education managers, and free compulsory education. Binh went on to explain in detail some of the issues raised by deputies. Concluding the morning session, … [Read more...] about NA’s second working day focuses on education, architecture laws
Vietnamese in Laos celebrate the Buddha’s 2563rd birthday
Following several rituals, including bathing the Buddha statue, the ceremony concluded with the release of birds and balloons to pray for global peace and happiness. (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – A ceremony was held at Bang Long Pagoda in Vientiane, Laos, on May 21 to mark the Buddha’s 2563rd birthday, with the participation of hundreds of Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers from the Vietnamese community in the country. Addressing the ceremony, Most Venerable Thich Tho Lac, a member of the Secretariat of the Executive Council and head of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s cultural department, read a message from the VBS Supreme Patriarch. The VBS was honoured to host the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak in the northern province of Ha Nam from May 12-14, he said, noting that the event was a great success. He called on Buddhist followers and the Vietnamese community in Laos to unite, observe local law, participate in activities organised by Bang Long Pagoda, … [Read more...] about Vietnamese in Laos celebrate the Buddha’s 2563rd birthday
King’s Cup: Vietnam have a centre-back problem
Under coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam became a hard-to-beat team with a solid defense, propelling them to outstanding results, including the AFF Cup 2018 victory and a top eight finish at the Asian Cup 2019. Throughout the AFF Cup 2018 campaign, Vietnam’s centre-back trio of Tran Dinh Trong, Do Duy Manh and Que Ngoc Hai was a sturdy fence in front of the goalkeeper. Together, they struck a good balance between experience, strength and skills. However, after the Asian Cup 2019 concluded, each struggled to recreate their excellent form for their clubs. Que Ngoc Hai, the captain of the national team, was suspended more often than he played for committing dangerous fouls and injuring other players. Que Ngoc Hai was captain of Vietnam national football team at the Asian Cup 2019. Photo courtesy of Asian Football Confederation In the first game of V. League 1 2019, he got a red card and missed the second game. Hai was then suspended four games in March after stepping on the … [Read more...] about King’s Cup: Vietnam have a centre-back problem
Congratulations to Indonesian leaders on re-election
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin (Source: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong as well as Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent congratulations on May 21 to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on his re-election. The same day, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh congratulated Indonesia’s re-elected Vice President Ma’ruf Amin. In their congratulations, the Vietnamese leaders expressed their belief that President Widodo and Vice President Amin will lead the nation and people towards new achievements. They hoped with the effort and determination of the two countries’ leaders, the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership will continue to develop with great strength for the benefit of their peoples and for the peace, stability, and prosperity of the ASEAN Community. –VNA … [Read more...] about Congratulations to Indonesian leaders on re-election
Banks used to launder black money
By Minh Son  May 21, 2019 | 12:50 pm GMT+7 Ninety percent of suspected money laundering transactions in Vietnam are related to the banking system. Photo by VnExpress/Anh Tu Ninety percent of suspected money laundering transactions in Vietnam are linked to the banking system, a new report says. The anti-money laundering department under the State Bank of Vietnam says that the laundering that is happening in the banking sector could be related to embezzlement by high-profile people, gambling and tax evasion. A central bank report says that criminals often use bank accounts of different people to receive illegal money and to conceal the origins of illegal incomes. There is also a high risk of money laundering happening in the real estate and unofficial remittance channels, the report says. Criminals often ask family members to acquire and transfer properties to launder money. These transactions could be made with cash or direct banking transfers without going … [Read more...] about Banks used to launder black money