Viet Nam News Nguyễn Tuấn Anh, Deputy Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Việt Nam (SAV), talks to Vietnam News Agency on his office’s key missions in 2019 Will you please tell us some of the SAV’s major tasks for 2019? In 2019, the SAV will focus its auditing missions on the country’s major projects in the forms of build-operate-transfer (BOT) and build and transfer (BT) like the construction of the Đà Nẵng-Quảng Ngãi expressway, the Nội Bài- Lào Cai expressway, the Bung River hydro-power plant, the Thái Bình thermo power plant No 1 and many others. An overall objective of our auditing missions is to assess the legal compliance of the projects. Following the release to the public of the 2019 State audit plan, the SAV has assigned specific tasks for its agencies nationwide to conduct auditing missions in accordance with their assignments. During their auditing missions, the auditors … [Read more...] about State auditors embrace tech, move into 21st century
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High tech boost vital for Vietnam’s farming in 21st century
(VEN) - While it helps increase productivity, minimize cost and prevent land and water waste, high technology application in agricultural production is limited and must be expanded. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 40 high-tech agricultural enterprises have been certified in Vietnam, including 12 cultivation businesses, 19 seafood companies and nine livestock breeding enterprises. As of June, Vietnam had 35 high-tech agricultural zones, including three zones - Hau Giang, Phu Yen and Bac Lieu - established by the Prime Minister, and the remaining 32 zones by provincial or city people’s committees. Apart from these, eight other high-tech agricultural zones are being developed according to Prime Ministerial Decision 575/2015/QD-TTg on developing high-tech agricultural zones to 2020 with a vision to 2030. They include three zones in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong and Khanh Hoa provinces, which have gone into operation with some relatively … [Read more...] about High tech boost vital for Vietnam’s farming in 21st century
The dark side of FDI in Vietnam
Large corrugated metal roofs, small corrugated metal roofs and farmland. Satellite images of Tan Vinh Hiep Commune in the southern province of Binh Duong don’t show much more, but on the earth, these pictures are worth more than the proverbial thousand words – they tell a thousand stories, and counting. The commune stands just an hour's drive north of Ho Chi Minh City in Tan Uyen Town, and the satellite images are typical of Vietnam's economy in the 21st century. The large corrugated metal roofs are those that cover factories spanning thousands of square meters. Such factories have been the core economic component of both Tan Uyen and the whole province for decades. And most of these factories belong to foreign direct investment (FDI) companies. Surrounding the factories are the small corrugated metal roofs, just over 2 meters wide, dozens of meters long, branching out from the roads and alleyways around the factories. These are the roofs of dormitories for migrant workers … [Read more...] about The dark side of FDI in Vietnam
Hanoi moving trade and services into 21st century
(VEN) - The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade recently issued a detailed plan for developing modern trade infrastructure and services from 2018-2020. A report by the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade indicates that the capital is home to 454 markets, 124 supermarkets and more than 700 convenience stores. Although trade infrastructure planning and development in Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular has reached certain achievements, the infrastructure remains inadequate and needs to be further developed to meet development demands. Over the past five years, both shopping and trade activities in traditional markets have decreased, while those in modern trade centers including modern supermarkets have been growing strongly. More and more foreign-owned convenience stores, including Shop & Go, Family Mart, Favimart, and Ministop were launched in Hanoi. Meanwhile, such big domestic names as Saigon Co.op’s Co.op Food and the Hanoi Trade Corporation’s Hapro … [Read more...] about Hanoi moving trade and services into 21st century
Vietnam’s centuries-old town is where to go on your gap year
Alpha Travel Insurance, a U.K.-based leading provider of low cost holiday insurance for gap years, conducted a research to come out a list of 25 most ideal destinations for a year’s break, based on analyzing 10,000 #gap year photos posted on Instagram and matching them to destinations around the world. To little surprise, Hoi An, one of the country’s most hailed travel destinations, ranked 15th on the list, which was topped by New York, followed by Australia’s Sydney, Bali in Indonesia, Rome in Italy and France’s Paris. 2018 marks a thriving year of Hoi An as the world heritage site has continuously got a bunch of accolades from global travel magazines, helping to retain its popularity on global tourism map. The ancient town in central Vietnam last June ranked second among the list of 10 safest and most exciting places on earth for solo travelers. The list was compiled by travel editors at Momondo, a U.K. based travel site. U.S. travel site … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s centuries-old town is where to go on your gap year
Vietnam watches longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century
The total lunar eclipse was witnessed across Vietnam, but inclement weather spoilt the clarity in many provinces and cities. A partial lunar eclipse at 1.30 a.m. on Saturday in the central province of Tra Vinh, when only a portion of the noon enters Earth's umbra. Moongazers from around the country stayed up all night to see the total lunar eclipse, the longest of the 21st century. However, only some central provinces like Binh Dinh and southern provinces like Tra Vinh and Binh Duong could watch the entire phenomenon. Rain played spoilsport in other areas. Photo by Nhat Vinh The moon turns red as the event gets underway. Photo by Nhat Vinh A blood moon reached its bloodiest at 3.21 a.m. as the moon got closest to the center of the shadow. Photo by Nhat Minh Several astronomy enthusiasts in Bình Dương Town in the central province of Bình Định were able to observe the event in full. Photo by Thành Huy In some … [Read more...] about Vietnam watches longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century
Longest blood moon of century to be visible in Vietnam
Longest blood moon of century to be visible in VietnamThe Saigon Times Daily The moon is shown in eclipse from Los Angeles, California, late April 14, 2014 - PHOTO: REUTERS HCMC - Vietnam and many other regions in the world will be able to witness the longest total lunar eclipse, or blood moon, of the 21st century during the wee hours next Saturday, July 28. According to the local media, the total duration of the eclipse will be one hour and 43 minutes. Dang Vu Tuan Son, president of the Vietnam Astronomy and Cosmology Association, explained that a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon becomes darker and takes on a reddish color upon entering the Earth’s darkest shadow. This kind of eclipse can only occur when the sun, the Earth and the moon are aligned or are close to one another, with the Earth in the middle. The eclipse will be visible throughout Vietnam from 12:14 a.m. to 6:28 a.m. (local time). The penumbral eclipse will begin at 12:14 a.m., followed by the … [Read more...] about Longest blood moon of century to be visible in Vietnam
Vietnam to witness longest lunar eclipse of 21st century
By Pham Huong  July 22, 2018 | 03:16 pm GMT+7 The rare blue moon total lunar eclipse on January 31. Photo by Reuters/Mike Blake People in Vietnam will be able to see a rare total lunar eclipse on July 28 for hours. People in Asia, Europe and Africa can observe the entire phenomenon while other regions can only watch a part of it. The eclipse will last five hours, from 12:14 a.m. to 6:28 a.m., with the total eclipse extending from 2:30 a.m. to 4:13 a.m in Vietnam. “This is the longest total eclipse of the 21st century since it lasts 103 minutes,” said Dang Vu Tuan Son, head of Vietnam Astronomy and Cosmology Association. It is recommended that people arrange to watch the eclipse with binoculars, telescopes or cameras. This is the second lunar total eclipse of the year. The first happened on January 31, when the Earth witnessed the first blue moon total lunar eclipse in over a century. After July 28, Vietnamese will have to wait until May 2021 … [Read more...] about Vietnam to witness longest lunar eclipse of 21st century
Vietnam, Mexico build new partnership in 21st century: Ambassador
Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong (Photo: VNA) Mexico City (VNA) – For over four decades, the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation between Vietnam and Mexico have been reinforced and developed in many fields from politics-diplomacy, economy-trade to culture, education and health care, stated Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong. Addressing a ceremony on May 18 to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-Mexico diplomatic relations with nearly 100 guests, the Ambassador noted that Mexico was among the first Latin American countries to set up diplomatic relations with Vietnam at a time when the Southeast Asian country just won the victory in the fight for national independence and reunification. The diplomat stated that Vietnamese people will forever keep in mind the support of millions of justice- and peace-loving people in the world, including those from Mexico, during the struggle. He expressed his delight at … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Mexico build new partnership in 21st century: Ambassador
CP TPP – a progressive trade direction in 21st century
Representatives of countries joined the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CP TPP) in Santiago on March 8 (Source: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – One year after the US’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the remaining 11 Asia-Pacific countries, including Vietnam, have signed a new Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to remove tariff barriers in the region. This is considered a move towards progressive, open and equal trade, without the threat of trade wars. The signing of the CPTPP has delivered a strong message against protectionism, which is emerging across the world as a barrier to global trade growth. The new deal also marks the endless efforts of the remaining 11 member countries to revive the TPP. Japanese Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Toshimitsu Motegi described the CPTPP as a historic achievement that creates … [Read more...] about CP TPP – a progressive trade direction in 21st century