The 12th Vietnam-France Decentralization Conference opens in Hanoi

Today, the annual event takes place in Hanoi to boost cooperation between the two countries' localities.

The event marks an important milestone in the partnership of the areas in both countries, especially Hanoi and some French regions like Toulouse and Île-de-France, the most populous of the 18 regions in France. 

Organized in the framework of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Vietnam, the event focuses on four main fields: Culture, Tourism and Heritage, Environmental Issues, Digital, and Sustainable City. 

The 12th Vietnam-France Decentralization Conference opens in Hanoi on April 13-15. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Netflix removes MH370 docuseries untrue about Vietnam

Netflix on April 13 removed the first episode of "MH370: The Plane That Disappeared", a three-episode British documentary, from its storage in Vietnam. 

The move follows the assertion that Vietnam did not support the search for the missing plane nine years ago, causing public discontent. A spokeswoman of Vietnam's Foreign Minister affirmed that Vietnam swiftly took the initiative to make a response plan immediately after learning that the plane might have vanished in its waters. 

Vietnam deployed 10 ships and 11 aircraft working for more than a week in an area of 100,000 square meters before stopping the searching efforts.

Vietnam boosts aviation capacity for upcoming vacation

The Ministry of Transport has asked its Civil Aviation Authority to take drastic measures to strengthen security control and flight safety while increasing flight frequency during the vacation later this month. 

Airlines are asked to operate night flights and minimize delay or cancelation to serve the needs of traveling in the five-day vacation, which will fall April 29-May 3. This vacation combines Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day, and May Day. 

Vietnam Book Day opens for a week nationwide

Visitors at Vietnam Book Day in Hanoi. Photo: Lai Tan/The Hanoi Times

The Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day will last a week from mid-April in some big cities nationwide, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Danang. 

This year's event becomes remarkable with the participation of well-known writers and celebrities who help promote the reading culture. Researcher Nguyen Dinh Tu, 103, and 1st runner-up Thuy Van are among the ambassadors of Vietnam Book Day, which displays hundreds of thousands of books and marks a series of activities joined by a large number of people. The event was held nationwide for the first time in 2014.   

More caves found in Quang Binh

New cave in Quang Binh. Photo: BCRA

The British Cave Research Association (BCRA) has discovered a group of 22 caves in Vietnam's Central Province of Quang Binh, home to the world's largest cave Son Doong. 

The newly-discovered caves total 11.7km, including two in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. 

Howard Limbert, BCRA's cave exploration head, said the search this time involved explorers from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand in three weeks.

English center APAX scandal unsolved

A Ho Chi Minh City representative has said the local government considered suspending 40 out of 41 APAX centers citywide for violating operation regulations. 

More than 1,700 learners in Ho Chi Minh City and thousands in other localities across the country have demanded APAX refund their tuition due to closure without a refund. The APAX case is under investigation by the city's police. 

Since September 2022, APAX has received complaints from learners in some cities and provinces like Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and Dak Lak for stopping lessons without refunding tuition. Established in 2015, this English center has the biggest network in Vietnam.