Vietnam News Today (Mar. 4): Vietnam Nominated as Chair of 35th Meeting of State Parties to UNCLOS

	Vietnam News Today (Mar. 2): Slovakia Regards Vietnam as Key Partner in Asia-Pacific
	Vietnam News Today (Mar. 3): Vietnam-Laos Trade Sees Impressive 66.5% Growth in January

Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu speaks at the UN meeting on UNCLOS. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam nominated as Chair of 35th meeting of State Parties to UNCLOS

The Group of Asia-Pacific states at the United Nations (UN) last weekend agreed to nominate Vietnam for the position of Chair of the 35th meeting of the States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS).

The position will be officially elected just before the meeting slated for June 23-27 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The nomination reflects the high trust and recognition from the international community for Vietnam’s leading efforts in implementing and strengthening the universal values of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as its positive contributions to the work of the UN since it joined the convention in 1994.

Holding the position will be an opportunity for the country to continue asserting its role as a responsible member state of UNCLOS and to make a meaningful contribution to global efforts in ocean governance.

Over the past years, Vietnam has considered UNCLOS as the Constitution of the Oceans and a crucial basis for implementing maritime cooperation activities. It has achieved significant accomplishments in solving maritime delimitation issues with neighboring countries such as Thailand, China and Indonesia, enriching the practical application of the convention’s provisions.

Vietnam has also actively participated in UNCLOS-related activities, such as holding its membership at the Council and the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority. It was an active participant in negotiations and one of the first countries to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the most recent international document related to the implementation of the Convention, cited VNA.

It has nominated experienced and highly skilled experts to various UNCLOS-established bodies, including a candidate for the position of judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026-2035 term. At the UN, Vietnam co-founded the UNCLOS Group of Friends with over 100 member countries from all regions to promote the universality of the Convention and enhance its effective implementation.

UNCLOS that regulates all maritime activities was adopted on December 10, 1982, and officially came into force on November 16, 1994. Vietnam was one of the first 107 countries to sign and later ratify the Convention on June 23, 1994. At present, it has 170 member states.

SPLOS is an annual conference convened by the UN Secretary-General under the provisions of UNCLOS. It is an essential forum where all member states review the implementation of the Convention, discuss emerging issues in its application, and make decisions on necessary measures to enhance its enforcement and global ocean governance.

TasteAtlas picks 12 Vietnamese dishes among Top 16 SEA sandwiches

A total of 12 local dishes have made the list of the Top 16 Southeast Asian sandwiches and wraps, as compiled by international food website TasteAtlas.

Scoring 4.6 out of five points, Banh mi (baguette) tops the list. With their cult-like following and savory Vietnamese fillings, these sandwiches crossed the borders of their native country long ago, and Banh mi shops are still popping up all over the world, TasteAtlas wrote.

The Top 5 of the list are dominated by other three Vietnamese dishes, with Banh mi thit (meat and cold cuts Banh mi), Banh mi heo quay (roasted pork belly Banh mi), and Banh mi dac biet (Cold cut Banh mi) come in at second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.

Bánh mì (baguette) tops the list of the Top 16 Southeast Asian sandwiches and wraps. (Photo courtesy of TasteAtlas)

TasteAtlas highlights several dishes that can be enjoyed throughout Vietnam and can be purchased from street food vendors, including Bo bia (spring rolls with sausage), Banh mi ga nuong (grilled chicken Banh mi), and Banh mi op la (fried egg Banh mi), placed in sixth, seventh, and eighth positions on the list.

Other Vietnamese dishes originated from Banh mi also feature on the list, namely Banh mi xiu mai (meatball Banh mi) in 10th regionally, Banh mi cha lua (pork sausage Banh mi) in 12th, Banh mi gio thu (head cheese Banh mi) in 13th, Banh mi cha ca (fish cake Banh mi) in 14th, and Banh mi ca moi (sardine Banh mi) in 15th.

In Southeast Asia, apart from Vietnamese dishes, Kaya toast of Singapore, Popiah (fresh spring roll) of Malaysia, Roti John of Singapore, and Khao phan phak of Thailand came fifth, ninth, 11th, and 16th, respectively.

Vietnam eyes stronger cooperation with Venezuelan localities

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My paid a working visit to Trujillo State from February 28 – March 2 to explore cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and the Latin American nation, especially in trade and agriculture.

The Vietnamese diplomat had a working session with Governor of Trujillo State Gerardo Marquez, during which he highlighted Vietnam's economic, trade, and investment achievements over nearly 40 years of its “Doi moi” (renewal) process.

With appropriate and well-directed reform policies, Vietnam has recorded remarkable development in many fields, with its GDP increasing by an average of 6-6.5% over the past three decades, My noted.

According to the diplomat, thanks to incentives, Vietnam has become a top investment destination among emerging economies, attracting thousands of businesses from over 100 countries. Notably, nearly 38.23 billion USD in FDI flowed into the country in 2024, placing it among the 15 largest FDI recipients among developing nations worldwide.

Emphasizing the role and responsibility of Vietnam’s representative office in Venezuela in supporting industries, localities, and businesses with a people- and business-centred approach, My said he will do his utmost to promote economic and trade ties between the two countries, especially agriculture cooperation between Trujillo and other localities of Venezuela, and Vietnam.

For his part, Marquez said the visit marks an important milestone in strengthening the friendship between Venezuela and Vietnam, and between Trujillo state and Vietnam in particular, according to VNA.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My (R) meets with Governor of Trujillo State Gerardo Marquez. (Photo: VNA)

As one of Venezuela’s three highland states on the Andes plateau, Trujillo has a strong agricultural sector, he noted, adding that in line with the government's green and sustainable development policy, the state has prioritised developing agriculture through high-microorganism organic products, which help regenerate soil and control viruses and pests.

He also showed his deep admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, particularly in agricultural production.

The Vietnamese delegation also had meetings with Mayor of Valera city Angie Quintana, President of the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship Group in Trujillo Carlos Fonseca, and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce of Trujillo and the association of local small- and medium-sized enterprises. They also made field trips to exemplary specialized farming models in the locality.

Vietnamese tourists to RoK second highest in Southeast Asia

Vietnam became a major tourism market for the Republic of Korea (RoK), with the number of Vietnamese holiday makers visiting Korean destinations ranking second in Southeast Asia, according to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam.

KTO statistics show more than 511,000 Vietnamese travelers visited the RoK last year, representing a year-on-year rise of 21.7% and equivalent to 92.4% of the overall number of Vietnamese tourists traveling to the RoK in 2019, the period before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

As a result, Vietnam ranked second in Southeast Asia in terms of the number of visitors to the RoK, after the Philippines at 515,000 arrivals, VOV reported.

Photo: VOV

Meanwhile, the RoK was Vietnam's largest source of international tourists last year, with about 4.56 million arrivals.

The KTO pledged that it would continue to support its partners in Vietnam to improve the quality of tours and strive to diversify tourism products in order to bring more memorable Korean trips to Vietnamese tourists.

The RoK has also devised plans to host a large number of spring festivals until June, providing many opportunities for Vietnamese tourists to experience Korean culture.

Park Eun Jung, head of KTO in Vietnam, said that with diverse tourism activities, the RoK will be a wonderful destination for many Vietnamese tourists to come and enjoy nice memories. She also expressed hope that tourism activities between the two countries would florish in the year ahead.

Vietnam weather update: Drizzle in Hanoi, sunshine in the South

The weather forecast for March 3, 2025, indicates that Hanoi will continue to experience drizzle, fog, and high humidity. Meanwhile, from Da Nang southward, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected in the evening and nighttime, with sunny conditions during the day. In some areas of Southeast Vietnam, hot temperatures will persist.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the weather trend from now until March 4 is as follows:

In the Northwest region, the nighttime will bring light rain in some areas, with morning fog in certain locations. The day will be mostly sunny, with the western part of the region experiencing hot weather. The nights and early mornings will remain chilly.

In the Northeast region, light rain, drizzle, and fog will be scattered throughout the night and morning, with more widespread drizzle expected on March 4. The nights and early mornings will be cold.

In North Central Vietnam, light rain will occur in some areas, with fog and light mist in the early morning. The afternoon will bring sunshine, and the night will be chilly.

Other regions, including Central and Southern Vietnam, will experience scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening and at night, while the daytime will be sunny. In some parts of Southeast Vietnam, hot weather conditions will persist.

Hanoi’s humidity remains high

During this period, Hanoi’s nighttime and early morning temperatures will hover around 20-21°C (68-70°F), while afternoon temperatures will reach 26-28°C (79-82°F).

Humidity levels will remain high, between 80-90%, leading to persistent dampness. This type of weather can cause interior surfaces to feel wet, damage electronic devices, promote mold growth, and increase the risk of respiratory and digestive illnesses.

The current damp conditions in Hanoi may subside after a weak cold front arrives on March 5-6. This front will bring northeasterly winds at speeds of 10-15 km/h (6-9 mph), VNN reported.

Drizzle and high humidity in Hanoi are expected to last until March 4. Photo: Minh Hien

A stronger cold wave is expected on March 7-8, which could bring significant drops in temperature, leading to a cold spell from March 7-10.

Coastal high tides in Southern Vietnam

Meanwhile, meteorological agencies have reported that the eastern coastal areas of Southern Vietnam are experiencing high tides. The highest water level recorded at the Vung Tau monitoring station was 415 cm (13.6 ft) at 2:30 AM on March 2.

On March 3, tidal surges are expected along the coastline from Vung Tau to Ca Mau, with peak water levels between 410-420 cm (13.4-13.8 ft).

Low-lying areas outside protective sea dikes may face localized flooding due to the high tides, particularly in the late afternoon and nighttime.

National weather forecast for March 3, 2025

Hanoi: Cloudy skies with scattered light rain, drizzle, and fog in the morning and at night. Light winds. Chilly conditions in the morning and night.

Low: 20-22°C (68-72°F)

High: 24-26°C (75-79°F)

Northwest Vietnam: Partly cloudy, sunny during the day, with some hot spots in the western region. Light rain and fog in some areas at night and early morning. Light winds. Cool at night and in the morning.

Low: 19-22°C (66-72°F), in the western mountains 15-18°C (59-64°F)

High: 25-28°C (77-82°F), in some western areas 31-34°C (88-93°F), exceeding 35°C (95°F) in certain locations

Northeast Vietnam: Cloudy with scattered light rain, drizzle, and fog in the morning and at night. Light winds. Cool morning and night temperatures.

Low: 19-22°C (66-72°F), in mountainous areas below 17°C (63°F)

High: 24-27°C (75-81°F), exceeding 27°C (81°F) in some places

North Central Vietnam (Thanh Hoa - Hue): The northern part of this region will be cloudy, with light rain and morning fog. The sky will clear in the afternoon with some sunshine. The southern part will have partly cloudy conditions, with sunshine during the day and scattered light rain at night. Light winds. Cool temperatures at night.

Low: 20-23°C (68-73°F)

High: Northern part 26-29°C (79-84°F), southern part 30-33°C (86-91°F)

Central & South Central Vietnam (Da Nang - Binh Thuan): Partly cloudy, sunny during the day, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening and nighttime. Light winds.

Low: 21-24°C (70-75°F)

High: 29-32°C (84-90°F)

Central Highlands: Partly cloudy, sunny during the day, with some areas experiencing hot temperatures. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening and nighttime. Light winds.

Low: 17-20°C (63-68°F)

High: 31-34°C (88-93°F), in some areas above 35°C (95°F)

Southern Vietnam: Partly cloudy, sunny during the day, with some areas experiencing hot weather. Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evening and nighttime. Light winds.

Low: 22-25°C (72-77°F)

High: 31-34°C (88-93°F), with some areas above 35°C (95°F)

Hanoi’s humid weather is expected to persist until March 4, with relief arriving through a weak cold front by March 5-6. A stronger cold spell between March 7-10 may bring noticeably cooler conditions. Meanwhile, Southern Vietnam will continue to experience high tides and localized flooding risks, with hot and dry weather prevailing in several areas.

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