Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong speaks at the press conference on the Vietnam Festival 2018 (Photo: VNA) Tokyo (VNA) – The Vietnam Festival 2018 will take place at the Yoyogi Park in Tokyo between 10 am and 8 pm on May 19 and 20. Speaking at a press conference on the event, which was held in Tokyo on April 23, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the festival is part of activities in celebration of 45 years of the two countries’ diplomatic relations. It is an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to remember their home country and for Japanese friends to learn more about Vietnam, the diplomat noted. After a decade, the Vietnam Festival has become a big draw to both Vietnamese and Japanese living around Tokyo. In 2017, the number of attendees amounted to 180,000. Also at the press conference, General Secretary of the festival’s organising board Aoyagi Youichirou highlighted the significant meaning of the event to … [Read more...] about Vietnam Festival 2018 to run in Japan in May
Madonna loses bid to stop auction of intimate items
Viet Nam News NEW YORK — Madonna lost on Monday a nearly year-long bid to stop an auction of intimate items, including a breakup letter from rap legend Tupac Shakur. A judge ruled that the Material Girl had directed her legal action against the wrong target in going after Darlene Lutz, a New York art dealer who helped Madonna build a collection before falling out with her. Lutz had been the main source for 22 items, including love letters, cassettes and a hairbrush, that were up for sale by auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll until a judge issued an injunction in July. New York Judge Gerald Lebovits, in a ruling based on narrow legal grounds rather than on Madonna’s claims of violations of privacy, agreed with Lutz, who said that her disputes with Madonna were settled by a 2004 legal agreement between the former friends. Lebovits, in a decision dated last week but made public on Monday, also questioned why Madonna was pursuing Lutz and not the singer’s … [Read more...] about Madonna loses bid to stop auction of intimate items
Water purification systems to be built in Quang Nam schools
Former President Truong Tan Sang during the visit (Source: Internet) Quang Nam (VNA) – Water purification systems up to the quality standards of Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City will be built as gifts to two elementary schools in Nui Thanh district, the central province of Quang Nam. The decision was made during a fact-finding trip by former President Truong Tan Sang and a working delegation of the Ho Chi Minh City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients and philanthropists on April 23. The model will be piloted at Le Quy Don elementary school in Tam Hiep commune and Ngo Quyen elementary school in Tam Nghia commune. If effective, it will be spread to other schools to improve health of pupils and teachers. At current, pupils and teachers at the two schools mostly use well water and bottled drinking water. Per academic year, each pupil drinks nearly nine large bottles with a capacity of 20 litres each, costing 90,000 VND. According to the Nui Thanh district … [Read more...] about Water purification systems to be built in Quang Nam schools
Hanoi plants red maple trees around Hoan Kiem Lake
Following the greening up of the streets of Nguyen Chi Thanh and Tran Duy Hung, Hanoi has planted nearly 100 red maple trees around the Hoan Kiem Lake area on a pilot basis. Hanoians can now see hundreds of red maple trees planted around Hoan Kiem Lake. Earlier, the city planted more than 100 red maple trees along the streets of Nguyen Chi Thanh and Tran Duy Hung. With favourable weather conditions, these maple trees have grown rapidly. These first maple tree plantations are expected to be replicated on a large scale throughout the city if they can adapt to the climate of Hanoi. Red maple trees are grown in Japan, Canada, and many European nations. Bright green, young and tender leaves are springing from the maple trees around Hoan Kiem Lake. Hanoians hope that the red maple trees can adapt to Hanoi’s climate and become a highlight of the area around Hoan Kiem Lake. In temperate nations, come … [Read more...] about Hanoi plants red maple trees around Hoan Kiem Lake
Stunning lotus blossom display in NinhThuan
Thousands of lotus flowers are coming into bloom in Ninh Phuoc district in the south central province of NinhThuan, creating a spectacular landscape filled with green leaves and bright pink flowers. Ninh Phuoc is a district in Ninh Thuan province about 11km south of Phan Rang city. Local residents make an income growing grapes, apples, and dragon fruit. Lotus flowers are not grown on a large scale in the region, being mainly seen in tourist sites around My Nghiep village. The lotus field is situated at the centre of My Nghiep brocade weaving craft village. There is free parking in the village. The lotus field covers an area of 5 hectares and has been managed by a Cham family since September 2017. A local resident says lotus flowers usually bloom in the summer from May to October. The fragrant pink petals of lotus flowers create a stunning natural paradise. Entrance to visit the lotus field is VND20,000 during weekdays and VND30,000 at weekends and is free for children under … [Read more...] about Stunning lotus blossom display in NinhThuan
Reference exchange up 15 VND on August 24
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The State Bank of Vietnam set the daily reference exchange rate at 22,522 VND/USD on April 24, up 15 VND from the previous day. With the current trading band of /- 3 percent, the ceiling rate applied to commercial banks during the day is 23,200 VND/USD and the floor rate 21,756 VND/USD. Meanwhile, the opening hour rates at major commercial banks saw slight falls. Vietcombank listed its buying rate at 22,735 VND/USD, down 5 VND from April 23 and the selling rate was kept unchanged at 22,810 VND/USD. BIDV cut 5 VND from both rates, listing the buying rate at 22,735 VND/USD and the selling rate at 22,805 VND/USD. At Vietinbank, the greenback is being bought at 22,733 VND/USD and sold at 22,803 VND/USD, down 4 VND from April 23.-VNA … [Read more...] about Reference exchange up 15 VND on August 24
Kazakhstan crowned champion at AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament
A match of Kazakhstan at the Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament's qualifier (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Kazakhstan triumphed at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament which wrapped up in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 23. The Central Asian team won the championship title after a seismic 2-0 victory over Indonesia in the final match. The winner flew home with a bonus of 2,600 USD while the runner-up received 2,000 USD. Earlier, in the third-place playoff match, Japan crushed Thailand 2-0 to take the third place with 1,600 USD in award. The four-day tournament attracted the participation of 36 players from 18 teams of ten countries and territories. Among them, the host country of Vietnam has three teams, Australia, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand and Thailand have two teams each, while Kazakhstan, Singapore and Malaysia sent one team each. This is the third time the AVC Women’s Beach … [Read more...] about Kazakhstan crowned champion at AVC Women’s Beach Volleyball tournament
SHB to raise capital again this year
A transaction at SHB (Source: SHB) Hanoi (VNA) – The Saigon – Hanoi Bank (SHB) plans to raise its charter capital by more than 1.2 trillion VND (52.8 million USD) to 13.24 trillion VND (582.56 million USD) in 2018. The hike was mentioned by SHB Director General Nguyen Van Le as part of a plan approved at this year’s SHB shareholder meeting in Hanoi on April 23. The bank will increase the capital by issuing additional shares in the form of 10-percent stock dividends to shareholders. SHB expects to have the total asset exceed 315.49 trillion VND (13.88 billion USD) by the end of this year, a rise of 10.3 percent from the beginning of this year. It also aims to reach a pre-tax profit of 2.05 trillion VND (90.2 million USD) and maintain the rate of non-performing loans at below 3 percent. The Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) will be kept at around 0.6-0.8 percent and 10.5-11.5 percent, respectively. In addition, the bank intends to further expand its … [Read more...] about SHB to raise capital again this year
China’s fishing ban in Vietnamese waters valueless: MARD
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has said that China’s temporary ban of fishing activities in Vietnam’s territorial waters is worthless. The ministry made the statement in response to an announcement released by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture which says that the fishing ban will last from May 1 to August 16, 2018, covering the East Sea, including the Gulf of Tonkin and Vietnam’s territorial waters. In a document issued on April 23, the ministry asked competent agencies to inform fishermen about China’s fishing ban. Coastal localities were also requested to encourage fishermen to maintain their normal fishing activities in Vietnam’s waters and go sailing in groups in order to support each other at sea. Of note, fishing boats licensed to go fishing in the shared fishing grounds in the Gulf of Tonkin in 2017-2018 should not operate in the eastern area of the … [Read more...] about China’s fishing ban in Vietnamese waters valueless: MARD
Hanoi welcomes Swedish investors
Participants of the meeting (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy received a visiting Swedish business delegation on April 23 to discuss cooperation potential across fields. Stressing the long-time relations between Vietnam and Sweden, Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg said the visit of Swedish firms is among activities in celebration of 50 years since Vietnam and Sweden established diplomatic relations. Encouraging trade-investment figures recorded between the two countries recently have laid a basis for future cooperation between Sweden and a potential market like Hanoi, added the diplomat. Welcoming the delegation, Quy said collaborative activities between Vietnam and Sweden as well as Swedish localities and Hanoi are on the rise but still fall short of potentials. The official called for Swedish investments in local high-tech and eco-friendly projects in building smart city and infrastructure, … [Read more...] about Hanoi welcomes Swedish investors