Vietnam News Today (Aug. 28): Additional 2,197 Covid-19 Infections Logged in Vietnam

Vaccinating a pupil against Covid-19 a the Tan Linh primary school in Hanoi. Photo: VNA

Additional 2,197 Covid-19 infections logged in Vietnam

Vietnam recorded 2,197 new Covid-19 cases on August 27, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new infections brought the country’s total caseload to 11,401,597, cited VNA.

A total of 13,939 patients were declared to recover from the disease, lifting the total number of recoveries to 10,140,204.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the disease rose to 43,111, accounting for 0.4% of the total infections, after a fatality was reported in the northern province of Ninh Binh on August 27.

So far, more than 255.56 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the country.

Vietnam finding ways to change prejudices on blockchain technology

Due to various misunderstandings about the blockchain technology in Vietnam, it cannot enjoy sufficient investment and development boosts.

Luckily, there have been many conferences on this topic lately to correct the prejudices and promote the appropriate uses of the technology in manufacturing, management, and especially in smart city establishment.

“Many blockchain application developers find it frustrated when the Vietnamese community usually link this technology to games or cryptocurrency only, which has left a rather negative impression. This has become the main obstacle to the growth of blockchain in the country. Not many people can recognize its usefulness in commerce or administration” said CEO Huynh Kim Tuoc of Saigon Innovation Hub (SIHUB, member of the HCMC Department of Science and Technology).

At Blockchain Global Day 2022 held recently in Vietnam, hundreds of blockchain businesses have proved the practicability of the technology in various fields, ranging from healthcare, energy, transportation, and manufacturing. It is expected that from 2023-2027, the blockchain market in the country will witness a considerable rise when people understanding it more and proper resources are successfully mobilized.

The event Blockchain Global day 2022, held in HCMC, is expected to introduce useful blockchain applications for daily operations. Photo: SGGP

In particular, as to waste management in large cities, blockchain can help maintain a clean environment via the monitoring of waste collection and recycling in real time. Regarding public services, the technology aids to reduce unnecessary steps in administrative procedures because it offers transparent and safe database systems. With respect to healthcare, blockchain is used to store medical records of patients, to track disease sources, to solve identity problems in the management of the retired, social security, and expenses of the poor.

Therefore, in the conference ‘Blockchain Contributions to Establishing a Smart City’, held by the Center for Statistics and Science and Technology Information of HCMC (CESTI, member of the HCMC Department of Science and Technology), Standing Vice Chairman of Vietnam Blockchain Association Phan Duc Trung stressed that the implementation of this technology in smart city building should focus on improving the performance of daily operations, SGGP reported.

Acting Director of CESTI Nguyen Duc Tuan said that blockchain has taken part in the construction of a smart city via the three pillars of digital government, economy, and society. Hence, it is necessary to concentrate on developing blockchain applications for these three pillars.

At present, there are many blockchain experts and scientists in Vietnam who are researching for its uses in smart city establishment. The most noticeable of them are Dr. Le Lam Son from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Vietnam National University-HCMC) with his study on a flexible lookup mechanism based on data mining and blockchain technology for level-agreed services in the application ecosystem for a smart city; Dr. Dang Minh Tuan from CMC Technology Institute with his study on using blockchain in managing qualifications; Vietnam Blockchain JSC. with its application for value chain and number identity management for product traceability.

Hoi An hosts cultural exchange event with Japan

The UNESCO world heritage site of Hoi An hosted the 18th “Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange” from August 26 to 28, as part of the series of events of the National Tourism Year - Quang Nam 2022.

The “Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange” includes many activities, such as the opening ceremony of the Japanese culture space, the re-enactment of the wedding of Princess Ngoc Hoa and Japanese trader - Araki Sotaro, reported NDO.

Delegates perform at the opening ceremony of the Japanese Cultural Space in Hoi An. Photo: NDO

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Hoi An City People's Committee Nguyen Van Son said that the Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange is an annual event aimed at promoting cooperation and exchange in the field of culture between Hoi An and Japanese organizations, individuals and localities.

"This event will contribute to diversifying and enriching activities at the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Space (at No. 6 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai), where one of the most beautiful old houses of the architectural complex of Hoi An Ancient Town is located,” said Chairman of the Hoi An City People's Committee Nguyen Van Son.

He expressed his hope that the cultural space will be an attractive new destination, attracting large numbers of people and tourists to enjoy and experience.

The 18th Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange will take place from August 26-28 in Hoi An City, with interaction between residents and visitors through a series of cultural events, sports and cuisine.

Vietnam contributes to enhancing NPT’s role in global security

The 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) concluded in New York in the United States on August after nearly four weeks of working, during which Vietnam contributed to promoting the NPT’s role as part of global security.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, emphasised the nation’s consistent stance on supporting radical nuclear weapon disarmament in order prevent nuclear weapon proliferation. Other contributions include upholding the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, while highlighting the need for the international community to make every effort in order to solve common nuclear challenges.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc speaks at the conference. Photo: VOV

The delegation also shared opinions on issues which are of great international concern, including upholding the role of the NPT, stressing the humanitarian consequences of the potential use of nuclear weapons.

As the vice president of the conference, Vietnam and other countries actively promoted and managed its working agenda.

The Vietnamese delegation also worked alongside ASEAN member states and non-aligned countries as it sought to promote the priorities of these countries, cited VOV.

The conference’s discussions primarily focused on all three elements of the treaty – non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Although member states could not reach a consensus on a final document, they all stressed the importance of the NPT to the global non-proliferation and disarmament mechanism, as well as the need to ramp up efforts to boost this mechanism moving forward.

On-site auctions – prospects for Vietnam’s painting market

The recent organization of a non-selling painting exhibition in Vietnam by Sotheby’s - the world’s largest, most trusted and dynamic marketplace for art and luxury – has demonstrated prospects of this art market.

The exhibition, named ‘Timeless Souls: Beyond the Voyage – Hon Xua Ben La’, featured over 50 works by Le Thi Luu, Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu and Vu Cao Dam, the four renowned early generation graduates from the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (EBAI) who migrated to France in early the 20th century, VNA reported.

A painting of Mai Trung Thu. Photo: VNA

Ace Le, an independent researcher and writer on Vietnamese art who was selected by Sotheby’s to co-curate this public exhibition, this is a unique exhibition for Sotheby's itself, as the auction house mainly organises non-selling ones in Europe. Normally, Sotheby's only exhibits when they buy and sell artworks.

“We are proud to stage Sotheby’s very first exhibition in Vietnam, in the vibrant town of Ho Chi Minh City, where we hope to reconnect the public with its rich cultural heritage through these exceptional and local works of art,” said Nathan Drahi, Managing Director, Sotheby’s Asia.

Ace Le said that international statistics show that Vietnam is the best-growing art market in Southeast Asia.

This exhibition is its strategic investment into the country, said Ace Le. “The exhibition is held to pay tribute to fine art history and Vietnamese collectors and fine art lovers”.

“I hope that the exhibition will contribute to opening the door for international auction houses. They will recognise the benefit of cooperation with Vietnamese experts to develop the Vietnamese painting market,” he added.

Sharing the same view, painter Le Thiet Cuong said that the move of Sotheby’s will have a good effect, making other famous auction houses such as Christie’s not be able to stay still.

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