Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Jason Smith, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the US House of Representatives. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister receives US House of Representatives delegation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for a delegation from the US House of Representatives led by Chairman of its Ways and Means Committee Jason Smith, in Hanoi on August 4.

The PM affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the comprehensive partnership with the US, and welcomed the US’ increased cooperation with Vietnam, respect for political institutions and support for a “strong, independent, self-resilient and prosperous” Vietnam.

In the coming time, Chinh suggested the countries continue promoting bilateral visits and contacts, enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, sci-tech, education-training, innovation, semi-conductor chip production, digital transformation, energy transition, green growth, supply chain diversification and climate change response.

He proposed the US Congress continue increasing support for Vietnam’s efforts to overcome war consequences, and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the US, cited VNA.

The guests spoke highly of Vietnam’s development achievements, especially maintaining high economic growth, guaranteeing food security, energy, healthcare and public finance sustainability.

They said they wish to further promote the two countries’ relations, especially in economy and trade, and affirmed to cooperate with Vietnam in responding to regional and global challenges.

First Ho Chi Minh City River Festival launched

The first Ho Chi Minh City River Festival, which is taking place on August 4-6, will feature a series of tourism, entertainment, culture and sports events, on the Saigon River wharves and main canals in Ho Chi Minh City.

The festival was officially launched at the Thu Ngu Flagpole at Bach Dang Wharf in District, 1 on the morning of August 4.

This is a major tourism event in Ho Chi Minh City this year, to take advantage of economic values from the river system, towards shaping the brand of a river city in the near future, according to NDO.

A sailboat parade on the Saigon River.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai said visitors can experience water tourism programs and the space that recreates the life of residents in Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh through periods, as well as buying local specialties.

People can also immerse themselves in the exciting atmosphere of water sports activities, as well as cultural space and folk games at the Bach Dang Wharf and Lam Son Park.

A highlight of the festival is an art program entitled “The river tells stories”, which will feature the history of riverside life by the Saigon River, with the participation of nearly 700 artists and folk artisans, scheduled for the evening of August 6.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism will also announce 150 tour programs, packages, and promotional products offered by more than 100 businesses for visitors during the festival.

US helps Vietnam improve business environment and private sector competition

The US Mission to Vietnam, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Vietnam’s Office of the Government, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment celebrated their joint achievements in improving the business environment and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the USAID Linkages for SME (LinkSME) project.

The event was held in Hanoi and attended by USAID Mission Director Aler Grubbs, Deputy Chairman of the Office of the Government Nguyen Sy Hiep, and representatives of relevant government agencies, business support organizations (BSOs), and the business community.

“USAID has been a committed partner in Vietnam’s effort to address its key challenges in economic governance, private sector competitiveness, and workforce readiness for the digital economy. The achievements that we have made together through our partnership on the USAID LinkSME project will serve as the foundation for enhancing the capacities of Vietnam’s SMEs and BSOs, facilitating trade, and creating linkages for new successes in the future,” said USAID Mission Director Aler Grubbs.

Since 2018, the USAID LinkSME project has assisted the Vietnam’s Office of the Government (OOG), the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), and its partner ministries and organizations in continuing to reduce and simplify business-related regulations, strengthen administrative reform, and improve one-stop-shop (OSS) and inter-agency OSS mechanisms for handling administrative procedures, reported VOV.

USAID Mission Director Aler Grubbs addresses the event.

As an example, the project has supported more than 70 studies with recommendations and guidelines to enhance the implementation of Resolution 68/NQ-CP, a Government of Vietnam program for cutting and simplifying business-related regulations during the 2020 to 2025 period, leading to 2,352 business-related regulations reduced and simplified across 191 legal documents. These efforts save enterprises’ time and compliance costs as well as facilitate their participation in global supply chains, digital transformation, and access to finance.

“Through the LinkSME project, USAID has supported the Government of Vietnam with many studies, reviews, and recommendations to foster business regulation reforms, improve the business environment and increase the competitiveness of Vietnamese SMEs,” said Deputy Chairman of the Office of the Government Nguyen Sy Hiep.

To enhance the capacity for SMEs to sustainably participate in global supply chains, the project has conducted pre-evaluations and screenings for 180 SMEs, comprehensive audits for 11 SMEs, and provided intensive technical assistance to 41 enterprises to participate in global supply chains. Among 318 purchase orders from lead firms resulting from the project assistance, 280 orders have been successfully delivered and payments made, totaling US$8.6 million. In addition, the project has enhanced the capacity of business support organizations in Vietnam to better support their member SMEs’ linkages with supply chains.

This year, the US and Vietnam celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership. Our close cooperation over the past decades on unlocking economic growth, including through improving the business environment and strengthening private sector competitiveness, is yet another example of how the United States and Vietnam work strategically together to create a better future for our two peoples.

Youngsters passionate in spreading Hanoi’s image among foreign tourists

HanoiKids, a voluntary English tour guide club, has provided free tour guide services for foreign tourists over the past 20 years in the hope of promoting Hanoi tourism to foreign friends.

Established in 2006, HanoiKids voluntary has gathered 80 members who take tourists to every corner of Hanoi, exploring the local culture and local life.

After two years of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HanoiKids has resumed operation with a new generation of volunteers who have been trained carefully.

HanoiKids members at a training session at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

President of the club Hoang Minh Ngoc said that major destinations its members often take tourists to include the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, the Hanoi Old Quarter, Hoa Lo Prison, the National Museum of Ethnology.

Each year, the club recruits volunteers twice before training them on knowledge and skills to introduce major tourists destinations of Hanoi. Only volunteers who successfully pass the course can move on to join such tours, Ngoc said.

In order to make a difference and impress foreign tourists, instead of acting as tour guides, members of HanoiKids react with the visitors as a companion. Along with introducing the tourists to the history, culture and the beauty of each destination, they share their viewpoints and perspectives on life and experiences that they have learnt when visiting the place, said Ngoc.

Ngoc said that by this way, the visitors will become friends of the HanoiKids’ volunteers. Each tour helps them find new friends, especially through culinary tours.

Ngoc said that initially, HanoiKids met numerous difficulties during its operations, which came from the skeptical views of other people, and the painstaking process of training the volunteers and maintaining their passion for the job.

The difficulties were gradually overcome thanks to the volunteers’ shared love for the land and people of Hanoi and the hope to improve themselves by interacting with foreign friends, VNA reported.

These common points unite young people across generations, helping HanoiKids Club mature into a helpful and thoughtful organisation.

Many former members of the club have graduated from colleges and have jobs but remain active in supporting youngsters of the club in the hope of spreading the image of a friendly and hospitable Hanoi to international friends.

Blood donation drive inspires compatriotism among Vietnamese people

The Red Journey blood donation drive 2023 was held widely in 46 provinces and cities across the country. Throughout its 11 editions, the campaign has not only been established as an effective solution to address the shortage of blood for treatment every summer, but has also contributed to inspiring compatriotism, and mutual support for the Vietnamese people.

According to Tran Ngoc Que, Director of the National Blood Centre, under the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, over its 11 editions, the Red Journey programme has received more than 810,000 blood units.

This year’s event was implemented from June 1 to July 30, with over 115,000 units of blood being collected.

Many localities collected more than 1,000 blood units, including Hanoi, and the provinces of Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Binh Dinh, Lao Cai, Kien Giang, Hai Duong, and Lai Chau.

More than 23,000 blood units collected at the programme were distributed to cities and provinces in the Southwest region, which are facing a serious shortage of blood to treat patients.

A total of another 2,500 blood units, which were collected at the Ho Chi Minh City Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, and the Blood Transfusion Center of Cho Ray Hospital, were channelled to hospitals in the Central Highlands region.

Thanks to the sound coordination among functional units, the Red Journey programme has contributed to ensuring the collection, supply and distribution of blood and blood products, to serve emergency and treatment patients nationwide, cited NDO.

The blood donation drive attracts the participation of people from all social strata (Photo: vienhuyethoc.vn)

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the Central Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, and Head of the Red Journey 2023’s organising committee stressed, that the programme has contributed to bringing life to hundreds of thousands of patients and helping the health sector better protect people's health.

In addition to raising public awareness about voluntary blood donation, Red Journey has aroused compatriotism, solidarity, and mutual among Vietnamese people, bringing them together to build a community of compassion and love.

The collection of voluntary blood donation at hospitals and blood transfusion centres is carried out more methodically and professionally. By hosting large-scale blood donation festivals, blood transfusion facilities have improved their organisational skills, mobilised the participation of more blood donors and received larger amounts of blood.

They have also gained valuable experience in improving the quality of blood donation service and the efficiency in the use of the collected blood

To further promote the achievements of the Red Journey, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh proposed the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation to integrate the implementation of the Red Journey with the summer blood donation events, in provinces and cities across the country.

He called on relevant units to enhance human resource training for their staff and accelerate the communication of voluntary blood donation.

The steering committees for voluntary blood donation in the provinces and cities need to be more proactive in mobilising all available resources in organising the Red Journey programme and promoting the application of information technology in the registration of blood donation, as well as in the management and care of blood donors.

Blood donation is not simply a medical term, but also a noble act showing the donors’ kindness and responsibility to society and the community. Every donated drop of blood can save a life. Voluntary blood donation is both a responsibility, an obligation, and an "order" from the heart of each person.

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