Vietnam launches electronic traceability for dragon fruit
| The innovative electronic traceability system helps track the origin of dragon fruit grown in Binh Thuan province. Photo: Linh Le/UNDP |
Buyers of dragon fruit from the main production area in the southern province of Binh Thuan will be able to scan the QR code to trace the origin of the fruit throughout the production and distribution process - also known as its "carbon footprint".
This innovative electronic traceability system was first unveiled at the Digital Transformation towards Green Agriculture and Sustainable Development conference on August 17, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This is an important tool to bring Vietnamese agricultural products closer to huge and demanding foreign markets, such as the US, China and Europe, following the tightening of export regulations.
Kazakh President to visit Vietnam this weekend
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev, will visit Vietnam on August 20-22 at the invitation of Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. This will be the first visit to Vietnam by President Kasym since he took office in 2019, and the first visit by a Kazakhstani president in 12 years.
Bilateral relations between Vietnam and Kazakhstan began in 1992. In 2015, Vietnam signed a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Kazakhstan is a member. Bilateral trade has grown by an average of 28% per year to around US$600 million in 2022.
Quang Nam hosts Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival
The opening ceremony of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival in Quang Nam Province attracted more than 2,000 athletes, performers and artisans from nine mountainous districts, and two delegations of athletes from the provincial military command and police.
Themed "Colors of Culture in Western Quang Nam - Aspirations for Development", the event will run until August 21 in Phuoc Son District aiming to feature unique traditional culture, rich identity, customs and daily life of the mountain people. The participating delegations also exhibited the One Commune One Product (OCOP) products, displayed photos of culture and people, and introduced the cuisine of ethnic communities in the mountainous region.
Dental treatment costs in Vietnam cheaper than in the region
Dental treatment costs in Vietnam are significantly cheaper than in many countries, Tran Cao Binh, Director of the Hanoi Central Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology, said at the Vietnam International Dental Exhibition & Congress 2023 held in Hanoi from August 17 to 19.
He emphasized that the quality of services and professional skills of Vietnamese dentists are on par with other countries. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreigners and overseas Vietnamese coming to Vietnam for dental treatment has increased.
Australian Foreign Minister pays second visit to Vietnam
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will visit Vietnam to co-chair the fifth Vietnam-Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting on August 21-24. This is her second visit to Vietnam in two months. Penny's visit comes as the two nations hold activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Vietnam and Australia launched bilateral foreign ministers' talks in 2018.
Gia Lai boosts tourism with weekend gong performances
The "Weekend Gong Performances" program, featuring local artists from the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, has become an attractive destination, with thousands of tourists and locals attending.
This is one of the activities under the project to preserve and promote the value of Gia Lai Gong Cultural Space from 2023 to 2025, in line with socio-economic development, international integration trends and local tourism development.
Travelers advised to check booking information carefully to avoid scams
Travelers should check the booking details of tour packages and discounted room rates to avoid possible troubles or scams during the National Independence Day holiday, which falls from Sept 1 to 4. Reliable service providers can be found at http://csdl.vietnamtourism.gov.vn.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism urges local authorities to strengthen their supervision over hospitality businesses and individuals to ensure the rights and benefits of travelers and improve the quality of the tourism sector. Any violations should be reported to local tourism departments and the Ministry's hotline at 0243.9437.610 and 0904.342.536, and e-mail address at duongdaynong@bvhttdl.gov.vn.
Vietnamese film "Scent of Green Papaya" - first Oscar nominee to be screened in Seoul
The Vietnamese film "Scent of Green Papaya", the first Vietnamese motion picture to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, will be screened three times at the Seoul Botanical Park in Seoul, South Korea on August 19 and 20. The screening is part of a three-day summer event on Vietnamese culture that kicked off on August 18.
Other activities at the event include an open-air market showcasing Vietnamese handicrafts, vegetarian food and raw materials, a book launch, and traditional Vietnamese games.
| Trinh Thu Vinh (third from left) at the 2023 ISSF World Championships taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Photo: Thanh Nien Newspaper |
Air pistol shooter Trinh Thu Vinh has become the second Vietnamese athlete to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics to be held in Paris in July-August 2024. Vinh won the ticket to the Summer Olympics after finishing sixth in the 2023 ISSF World Championships. According to the rules, the first four shooters will qualify for the Summer Olympics, but due to the limited number for China and Greece, Vinh was promoted to the fourth position. In mid-June, cyclist Nguyen Thi That became the first Vietnamese to compete in the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Runner Nguyen Thi Oanh ready for the World Athletics Championships
Runner Nguyen Thi Oanh has arrived in Hungary's capital Budapest to participate in the 2023 World Athletics Championships. She will compete in the 1,500-meter race, which is her specialty. Qualifying will begin on the opening day of the championships on August 19, with a total of 58 athletes competing.
The World Championships is considered an opportunity for Oanh to assess and regain her form before the ASIAD 19, which will be hosted by China in September. During the SEA Games 32 in Cambodia, Oanh won four gold medals, but her performance at the Asian Athletics Championships later was a disappointment.
