US$41 million pedestrian bridge over Saigon River to begin construction by 2025

La Saigon Bridge designed by the joint venture of Takashi Niwa Architects-Chodai Japan and Chodai Kiso-Jiban Vietnam. Photo: The joint venture

Work on the pedestrian bridge over the Saigon River, costing an investment of VND1 trillion (US$41.2 million), will begin in April 2025. The funding will be funded by Vietnam Nutifood Nutrition Food JSC (Nutifood), according to an agreement signed between the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation and Nutifood on December 4.

Run to stop violence against women and children

Nearly 1,700 Vietnamese and international athletes ran around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi on December 3 to raise support for a Vietnam free from violence against children and women. The running event aims to respond to the National Action Month on Gender Quality and Violence Prevention (November 15-December 15).

The race was co-organized by the Center for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Family, Women and Adolescents (CSAGA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam in cooperation with the Australian Government. The first edition was held in 2022.

Hanoi launches cashless street 

The inauguration ceremony of "Cashless Street" on Tran Van Lai Street in Nam Tu Liem District was held on December 3 to promote cashless payment, the rapid transition to digital payment and the development of the digital economy.

The district will expand the cashless street model after the pilot.

Week-long event to introduce Cambodian values in Vietnam

The Cambodian Cultural Week in Vietnam kicked off on December 3 in the southern province of Soc Trang to promote Khmer cultural values among Vietnamese and strengthen relations between the two nations and peoples.

The week-long festival consists of folk singing and dancing, music and song performances by Vietnamese and Cambodian artists.

Vietnam, Italy to strengthen people-to-people exchanges

The Vietnam - Italy Friendship Association will expand its activities and cooperate with Italian counterparts to improve people-to-people exchanges and enhance the two nations' comprehensive relations, Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), said on December 3.

Son made the remarks at a meeting between the VUFO and the Italian Embassy in Vietnam to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973-2023).

Vietnam to reduce working week to less than 48 hours

The Vietnamese trade union proposes the reduction of the working week for private sector workers to less than 48 hours. This proposal and eight nationwide recommendations from workers were presented at the 13th Trade Union Congress on December 3.

The organization said reducing working hours allows workers to rest and care for their families.

Hanoi to create more than 200,000 jobs in Jan-Nov 

Hanoi created jobs for 200,280 workers in the first 11 months of 2023, achieving 123.6% of the annual plan. The Hanoi Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs estimates that Hanoi will create new jobs for 212,000 workers in 2023, reaching 130% of the annual target.