An overview of the meeting summarising the activities of the Asia Pacific Group at the UN in April (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam fulfills Chairmanship of Asia Pacific Group at UN for April

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnam's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), as Chair of the Asia Pacific Group (APG) at the UN for April, has presided over a meeting summarizing the activities of the group last month.

Attending the meeting were representatives of delegations from more than 50 APG member countries.

In the summary report, the Vietnamese diplomat reviewed the large amount of work the Vietnamese delegation handled in April when assuming the APG Chairmanship, especially in coordinating and collecting proposals and information related to nominations of APG member countries as well as promoting consensus on the group's candidacies for positions at UN agencies, cited VNA.

Assuming the APG Chairmanship, Vietnam also drafted and presented a number of joint statements on behalf of the group, including the first joint statement of the group on issues relating to indigenous people at the high-level event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the World Conference on the topic, he said.

Speaking at the meeting, representatives of many member countries thanked Vietnam and appreciated its management and coordination as APG Chair in April.

At the end of the meeting, Giang officially handed over the APG Chairmanship to the representative of the Vanuatu Permanent Mission to the UN.

Cold spell breaks early summer heat in northern Vietnam

A weak cold spell hit northern localities of Vietnam on May 1, helping to reduce the intense heat in early summer that has baked the northern and central regions for the past few days.

The cold airwave hit northern border localities early on May 1 and is spreading across other localities in the northern and central regions in the afternoon and evening of the same day.

When the cold front moves further inland, it will bring rain, sending temperatures tumbling sharply.

Several northern localities recorded rainfall of between 50 and 60mm in the early hours of May 1, including Bac Kan (57mm), and Ha Giang (60mm).

The weak cold air combined with wind convergence above 1,500m is forecast to cause thunderstorms in the northern and north-central provinces in the evening.

The weak cold spell brings rain, helping to break the early summer heat that has baked northern and central regions for the past few days.

Notably, temperatures are anticipated to drop sharply to 23 – 31 degrees Celsius, or even to below 22 degrees in the mountainous area. Only North-western localities continue to suffer the early summer heat, with temperatures ranging between 34-36 degrees.

The cold air wave is a much-awaited weather pattern as heat waves have baked all three regions of the country for the past few days, especially in the northern and central regions, with temperatures rising to 42-44 degrees, according to VOV.

Rain will continue to pour in northern and north-central localities in the coming days before the summer heat returns on May 4.

Meanwhile, the heat wave continues to bake central provinces from Ha Tinh to Phu Yen on May 1 before it decreases in intensity the following day.

Common temperatures in these localities remain high at between 37 and 40 degrees, or even 41 degrees on May 1, before falling slightly to 35-39 degrees on May 2.

The ongoing heat wave is set to decrease in intensity in the Central Highlands and southern localities from May 4 onwards.

Vietnam's National Reunification Day was marked worldwide

The Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela on April 30 held a ceremony to mark the 49th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification and a photo exhibition on bilateral relations in collaboration with the Vietnam News Agency.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Vu Trung My noted that Vietnam’s victory on April 30, 1975, was a great achievement in the cause of national liberation led by the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh.

PSUV Vice President in charge of foreign affairs Rander Peña said that this is a victory for justice, progressive forces, and peace-loving people around the world, including the Venezuelan people.

The historical event has been and will continue to be a source of inspiration for people around the world to fight for independence, freedom, self-determination, justice and social progress, he added.

The same day, the Vietnamese Veterans’ Association in Russia also held a ceremony in Moscow to mark the event.

On the occasion, Mexican and Argentinian media ran articles highlighting the April 30, 1975 victory of the Vietnamese people.

Mexico’s Regeneración underscored the historical meaning of the victory as well as the Southeast Asian country’s socio-economic achievements and its position on the international arena over the past decades, VNA reported.

Participants at the ceremony in Venezuela to mark the 49th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (Photo: VNA)

The newspaper wrote that from 2016-2019, Vietnam was in the group of 10 countries with the highest economic growth rate in the world and one of the 16 most successful emerging economies. Specifically, its GDP grew by 8.02% in 2022, the highest level since 2011, 5.05% in 2023, and is forecast to reach 6-6.5% in 2024.

Currently, Vietnam is also one of the important destinations for international investors. In 2023, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam reached 36.6 billion USD, up 32% compared to 2022.

Vietnam has so far established diplomatic relations with 193 UN member states and boasted comprehensive strategic partnerships, strategic partnerships, and comprehensive partnerships with more than 30 countries, including five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, the website AcercandonosCultura of Argentina recalled that on that day 49 years ago, at 12:15, the flag of the liberation army flew on the roof of the Independence Palace, marking the complete collapse of the US imperialism and its puppet government in South Vietnam, as well as the complete victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

Since then, Vietnam has been determined to move forward on the path of national reconstruction and development. It has achieved impressive economic growth and opened its door to the world over the past decades.

Times Higher Education honors six Vietnamese universities

Vietnam has six representatives out of a total of 739 institutions from 31 countries and territories in Asia honored by Times Higher Education in the Asia University Rankings 2024.

Ton Duc Thang had the highest position among Vietnamese institutions as it was named among the top 200.

It was followed by Duy Tan University (group 251 - 300), Hanoi University of Science and Technology (group 501 - 600), Hanoi National University (group 501 - 600), and both Hue University and Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (group 601+).

Elsewhere, Tsinghua University (China) and Peking University (China) retained their first and second positions for the fifth year in a row.

They were followed by National University of Singapore in third position and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) in fourth position, cited VOV.

A panoramic view of Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Ton Duc Thang University)

The University of Tokyo jumped to fifth place this year, three notches up from last year’s position.

With 119 universities rated, Japan was the most-represented nation this year, while India followed with 91 institutions.

The Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2024 use the same 18 performance indicators as the THE World University Rankings, but they are recalibrated to reflect the attributes of Asia’s institutions.

The universities are judged across all their core missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook – to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons available.

Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat airports see over 200,000 passengers as holiday ends

Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports saw more than 200,000 passengers on Wednesday as people returned to the cities after the April 30-May 1 national holiday.

According to a representative of Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, 538 flights (303 domestic and 235 international) landed carrying approximately 94,000 passengers in total, which was the most traffic during the five-day holiday.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City saw more than 690 flights with 110,237 passengers onboard, 60,528 arrivals and 49,709 departures, VNS reported.

Passengers at the domestic terminal of Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi. Photo: VNS

The two major airports of the country had made necessary preparations to ensure transportation flows and increase the use of technology as well as law enforcement to help regulate traffic.

They also recommended passengers use public transport instead of personal vehicles for drop-off and pick-up to reduce congestion at parking lots.

Accidents on the rise

Meanwhile, the April 30-May 1 holiday saw more than 277 road accidents nationwide, killing 109 and injuring 236 people, according to statistics from the National Traffic Safety Committee as of Tuesday.

These figures have increased compared to the same period last year (129 accidents with 67 fatalities and 90 injuries in the 2023 holiday).

According to reports from the Ministry of Public Security, more than 17,000 traffic violations were handled on Tuesday with the total fines amounting to VND38 billion (US$1.5 million).

Among these cases, 4,390 were driving under the influence of alcohol, 4,913 speeding violations, 113 overloading vehicles, 51 size violations, 15 cases related to illegal drug use and six unauthorized modifications of vehicles.

The traffic police also handled 157 violations on inland waterways and six on railways, with total fines of VND146 million (US$5,760).

A collision between a tractor-trailer and an unregistered motorbike at midnight Tuesday in Vinh Phuc Province was one of the most serious accidents that happened during the holiday.

Two victims on the motorbike died at the hospital, while the tractor driver fled the scene. Further investigation is being carried out.

On Wednesday morning, two passenger coaches collided on National Route 25 in Gia Lai Province, killing one and injuring eleven others.

Both drivers had valid licenses and tested negative for blood alcohol concentration and drug use. Investigations are ongoing.

Vietnam News Today (Apr. 29): Vietnam, Germany Bolster Legal And Judicial Cooperation Vietnam News Today (Apr. 29): Vietnam, Germany bolster legal and judicial cooperation; Khanh Hoa province seeks tourism partners in Thailand; Vietnam Festival in Osaka helps ...

Vietnam News Today (Apr. 30): Vietnam Secures Remarkable Economic Successes Since National Reunification Vietnam News Today (Apr. 30): Vietnam secures remarkable economic successes since national reunification; Four-month foreign arrivals rise nearly 70% year on year; Vietnamese, Chinese, Lao ...

Vietnam News Today (May 1): Vietnam Chairs UNCTAD’s 14th Session In Geneva Vietnam News Today (May 1): Vietnam chairs UNCTAD’s 14th session in Geneva; Vietnam secures two more tickets to Paris 2024 Summer Olympics; Exports remain bright ...