Vietnam rice export to exceed US$4 billion in 2023 

Paddy field in Hanoi. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development forecasts that Vietnam will export about 7.2 million tons of rice in 2023, worth more than $4 billion. In the first seven months of 2023, the country exported 4.48 million tons of rice worth nearly $2.4 billion, up 17% and 28%, respectively.

Vietnam Grand Sale 2023 to take place in December

The national promotion program "Vietnam Grand Sale 2023" will be held across the country from December 4, 2023, to January 10, 2024. The series will focus on nationwide promotion, combining traditional and e-commerce activities to create a ripple effect and attract the participation of businesses in all sectors.

Hanoi allocates US$42.1 million to support ethnic minority

Hanoi will allocate more than VND1 trillion (US$42 million) for the development of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, according to a report on the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas for 2021-2030.

Of this amount, more than VND974 billion ($41 million) will be allocated for basic construction investment in 89 projects.

Remains of Vietnamese soldiers in Cambodia repatriated

The southern provinces of Long An and Kien Giang held a burial ceremony on July 27 for the remains of 149 Vietnamese soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia during the wars. The remains of the Vietnamese martyrs, unearthed last year,  were repatriated through land borders. They were buried at the Vinh Hung - Tan Hung Martyrs' Cemetery in Vinh Hung District, Long An Province and Hon Dat Cemetery in Hon Dat District of Kien Giang. 

The remains of Vietnamese soldiers are repatriated to Kien Giang Province from Cambodia. Photo: Tien Phong

Some 160,000 breaches detected in government cyber network

Between January and June 2023, a total of 160,170 breaches were detected in the cyber systems of government agencies, according to the Information Security Authority. In June alone, the authority detected nearly 50,000 breaches, a 14% increase from the previous month and nearly 26 times more than the previous year. To address the problem, the authority has asked the National Cybersecurity Center to assess the breaches, alert agencies and advise them to upgrade their firewalls.

Hanoi, Cairo sign cooperation agreement

Authorities in Hanoi and Cairo signed a cooperation agreement on July 27 to improve relations between the two capitals. The agreement will strengthen cooperation between the two cities in politics, culture and the arts, science and technology, education, and trade. Witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, the signing is part of a series of activities to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Egypt, which falls on September 1.

Blood donors to be honored for community service

A three-day program to honor the top 100 blood donors of 2023 began on July 27. Of the total, two people donated more than 100 times and eight donated between 70 and 99 times. The oldest donor is 61 and the youngest is 22. The top 100 donors gave a total of 4,500 units of blood. The program, which is organized annually, took place for the first time in 2008. In 2022, more than 1.43 million units of blood were donated, while almost 900,000 units of blood were collected in the first months of 2023.