Da Nang to set off fireworks to welcome Lunar New Year.

Hanoi, Da Nang to welcome Lunar New Year with epic firework shows

The Hanoi municipal administration has decided to hold a series of firework displays at 31 venues across the capital to welcome in the Lunar New Year on the evening of January 21.

Fireworks will last for a total of 15 minutes and are set to start at midnight on January 21. Funding for the show will be contributed by a group of local businesses.

This will be the first time in three years that the capital’s authorities have planned to organise the firework shows in order to usher in the Lunar New Year in all districts and towns in Hanoi, just as they did before the onset of Covid-19.

This comes after Hanoi canceled the New Year fireworks and countdown celebrations back in 2021 due to the complicated developments relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The capital had previously put on a series of fireworks display at Thong Nhat Park as the only one venue to welcome the 2022 Lunar New Year.

Elsewhere, Da Nang will celebrate the arrival of the Lunar New Year with immense joy and spectacular firework shows on the evening of January 21, cited VOV.

The upcoming 15-minute firework displays will take place on Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, at the Phuong Trang commercial high-rise complex, and at the Hoa Vang district administrative centre area.

The 2023 Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam will last from January 20 to January 26, according to the Prime Minister’s decision.

This means that the national holiday, also called Tet, which is the biggest traditional festival for Vietnamese people, will be from the 29th day in the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Tiger to the fifth day in the first lunar month of the Year of the Cat.

National Covid-19 caseload rises to 11,523,161

Vietnam's Covid-19 caseload rose to 11,523.161 with 234 new cases recorded on December 19, according to the Ministry of Health.

Covid-19 treatment drug Monulpiravir. Photo: VNA

With 24 patients given the all-clear on the day, the number of recoveries rose to 10,610,290.

Meanwhile, there are 47 patients needing breathing support, according to VNA.

One death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours, raising the total fatalities to 43,180.

With 3,251 doses administered on December 18, the total number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines injected have so far risen to 265,168,684.

HCM City named among top places to go in Asia in 2023: US magazine

Ho Chi Minh City has been listed among the leading places to visit in Asia for 2023, as compiled by magazine Fodor’s Travel of the United States.

According to details given by the magazine, as the centre of the Vietnamese economy and the country’s largest city, Ho Chi Minh City offers plenty to see and eat, ranging from the buzzing District 1 with its cultural attractions to delicious street food found in District 4.

It noted that the southern city consists of a number of preserved historical sites, including the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, which was originally built by French colonialists in the late 1800s, and Cu Chi Tunnels, a series of tunnels built by local residents and soldiers using simple tools from 1946 to 1968 as shelters from US and Saigon troops during the war. This is along with the War Remnants Museum, which contains machines and other artifacts used during the conflict.

“In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City’s burgeoning food and drink scene has begun drawing visitors to stylish rooftop bars and street-side cocktail carts alike,” says Fodor’s Travel.

Photo: NDO

The magazine also suggested that visitors should sample the delicious banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich, a popular street food that can be found at every street, as well as experiencing the coffee culture found on Saigon’s sidewalks or from vendors’ tricycles.

“Browse the wares and snacks at Ben Thanh Market, walk along the Saigon River - or take a nighttime cruise for a chance to see the city in a different light,” it added.

Rounding off the list of top places to go in Asia is Ayutthaya of Thailand, Bangladesh, Madhya Pradesh of India, Palawan of the Philippines, and Si Phan Don of Laos.

Vietnam attended Special Ministerial Meeting of Group of 77 and China

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Hang has called on G77 coutnries to join hands to overcome current difficulties and challenges, propel post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and sustainable development in the spirit of upholding multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation.

From December 15-16, the Special Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 and China was held in New York. Addressing the Meeting, Assistant Minister Hang, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, highlighted the driving role of trade and investment in promoting economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development, and fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Accordingly, it is necessary to accelerate World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform, speed up market opening, and mitigate unnecessary trade barriers, she said.

Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Nguyen Minh Hangattended Special Ministerial Meeting of Group of 77 and China. Photo: WVR

As science, technology and innovation play a key role in sustainable, inclusive and people-centred development, she urged intensifying cooperation in science, technological transfer and provision of preferential financing for development in tandem with renewing financial mobilisation methods through public-private partnership and building mixed financial models.

Vietnam, as a founding member of G77, has actively joined its activities, contributing to ensuring common interests of developing countries, promoting South-South cooperation while guaranteeing Vietnam's development priorities and interests in accordance with its policy of raising the level of multilateral diplomacy.

The event drew the participation of more than 300 delegates, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors-Heads of delegations from 131 G77 member states and representatives of the UN agencies.

They adopted a document highlighting a need to take immediate actions to achieve SDGs in the motto of leaving no one behind, WVR reported.

On the sidelines of the event, Assistant Minister Hang greeted and talked with representatives of Cuba, Azerbaijan, Colombia and Pakistan. They spoke highly of Vietnam's socio-economic performance in 2022, and its role and contributions at multilateral mechanisms, especially the UN.

Vietnam wins gold at Global Esports Games 2022

The Vietnamese team bagged a gold medal in the PUBG Mobile event at the Global Esports Games (GEG) 2022 which concluded on December 18 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The local team earned a total of 102 points after six matches, followed by second-placed Saudi Arabia with 97 points.

The third, fourth, and fifth positions went to Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, and Nepal, respectively, cited VNN.

Photo: VNN

The tournament got underway in Turkey between December 14 and December 18, with the event featuring the participation of strong teams which are members of the Global Esports Federation (GEF).

This year e-sports tournament attracted 350 players from 65 countries and territories globally competing across four categories, including DOTA 2, Efootball, PUBG Mobile, and Streetfighter V.

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