Photo: VNA

Vietnam eyes 15-day visa exemption from Russia

Vietnam's Trade Counsellor in Russia Duong Hoang Minh has proposed the Russian Government consider exempting visas for Vietnamese tourists for 15 days, in the context that it has exempted visas for visitors from Laos and Thailand for 30 days.

Speaking at the third Saint Petersburg-Vietnam Tourism Forum, which was held in a hybrid format on May 17 within the framework of "Vietnamese days in Saint Petersburg", Minh noted that Vietnam always creates the most favourable conditions for Russian tourists such as offering a 15-day visa exemption for those to Vietnam and 30 days for those on direct flights to its Phu Quoc island.

He also added that the two countries still have great potential in tourism cooperation, but have not yet taken advantage of all the possibilities for development, including attracting more Vietnamese tourists to Russia.

Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Le Phuc said that Vietnam has simplified many procedures to attract tourists to Vietnam, including those from Russia, such as visa exemption for different periods, and the gradual simplification or removal of quarantine measures, cited VOV.

Organising the event showed the two sides’ determination to promote tourism after the pandemic, Phuc stated, expressing his belief that the number of tourists to each country will increase in the coming time.

Head of the international cooperation bureau under the Federal Agency for Tourism Demyan Olegovich and Vice Chairwoman of the Saint Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development Nana Gvichia Magrushevna affirmed that they will make efforts to meet the needs of Vietnamese tourists, and ensure security for them.

The representative from Saint Petersburg stressed the need to restore direct flights, simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese tourists as well as to diversify tourism products.

Vietnam tops medal tally, exceeding gold medal target at SEA Games 31

Vietnam remained on top of the ongoing SEA Games 31, earning additional 27 gold medals on May 19 and surpassing its initial target of winning 140-150 at the event.

As of 9pm of the same day, the host nation had bagged 152 gold, 76 silver and 74 bronze medals, followed by Thailand with 53 golds and the Philippines with 37.

On the day, three golds came for Vietnam in athletics, two each in shooting and canoeing, and one each in chess, billiards, and cycling, among others, according to VNA.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc, gold medallist in the women's 20km walk and her brother Nguyen Thanh Ngung, bronze medallist in the men's 20km walk, pose for a photo. Photo: VNA

Both the women’s and men’s football teams of Vietnam have qualified for the finals, where they will face their Thai rivals on May 21 and 22, respectively.

SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, is being held in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities until May 23.

It features 40 sports with 523 events, attracting around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

HCM City, Cuba bolster co-operation in diplomacy, youth and cultural exchanges

Phan Van Mai, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and new Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen have agreed to bolster bilateral co-operation in diplomacy, youth, and cultural exchanges.

At a recent reception held for the Cuban diplomat, the municipal leader pledged his best efforts to develop the relationship between the nation and Cuba.

In line with this, Ho Chi Minh City will offer up to 50 scholarships for students from the Caribbean country to visit and learn in the southern city each year, as well as support the exchange of students between the two sides, he said.

Phan Van Mai, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee hosts new Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillent. Photo: sggp.org.vn

Mai suggested that the Cuban Ambassador take heed to specific collaboration projects with the southern metropolis in the fields of healthcare and teaching Spanish, as a way of intensifying cultural exchanges.

Moving forward, Ho Chi Minh City plans to hold several meetings this year to introduce potential co-operation areas between Cuba and the city, he said.

In response, the Cuban Ambassador said there is ample room ahead for broader co-operation, with the diplomat voicing his hope that Ho Chi Minh City will facilitate stronger collaboration between the two sides in the future, reported VOV.

At present, Cuba is in the process of adopting numerous policies that can open up greater investment opportunities, he said, noting the hope that more businesses in the southern city become interested in investment in the Caribbean nation.

The diplomat also invited firms from Ho Chi Minh City to attend the forthcoming international conference which is slated for this November.

Ambassador Guillen affirmed that he will serve as a bridge to augment all-around co-operation between Cuba and Ho Chi Minh City in education and healthcare.

Various activities held to mark President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday

Various activities are being held nationwide to celebrate the President Ho Chi Minh's 132nd birthday.

The Vietnamese Embassy in France coordinated with the Montreuil City government to hold a ceremony to mark the President Ho Chi Minh's 132nd birthday (May 19, 1890-2022), on May 19.

Addressing the ceremony, Florian Vigneron, deputy mayor of Montreuil, emphasised the important role and imprint of President Ho Chi Minh in France, including his participation in the founding of the French Communist Party at the Tours Congress in 1920.

On behalf of the Vietnamese representative agencies in France, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang expressed his emotion and thanked the city government for coordinating in organising a flower offering ceremony in May every year in front of the statue of President Ho Chi Minh placed solemnly in the city park.'

A ceremony held in Montreuil City to celebrate the President Ho Chi Minh's 132nd birthday. Photo: NDO

Also, on the morning of May 19, officials and employees of the representative agencies of Vietnam in France came to lay flowers at House 9, Congpoanh Alley, District 17 in Paris, where President Ho Chi Minh used to live and work during the revolution from 1921 to 1923.

* On the same day, the Vietnamese association in Thailand's Udon Thani Province also organised an incense offering ceremony to celebrate the President Ho Chi Minh's 132nd birthday at the relic named after him in Noong On Village, Muong Town, cited NDO.

* On the afternoon of May 19, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Thap Province held an inauguration ceremony for the exhibition house "President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese Revolution". The project commenced in 2018 on the premises of the Nguyen Sinh Sac relic site.

The project has received a total investment of more than 9.5 billion VND, with a display area of 600m2 featuring more than 200 images and artifacts displayed in 6 themes that systematically reflect the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh.

The exhibition house was put into use to contribute to better serving the needs of visiting, studying, learning and researching about President Ho Chi Minh's homeland, family, childhood, and great contributions to the Vietnamese revolution; and actively contribute to the education of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, style, revolutionary historical tradition and patriotism among the young generation.

* On the occasion, on May 19, at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Thua Thien Hue Province, the provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province and Hue City held a flower offering ceremony to President Ho Chi Minh and opened an exhibition themed 'Simple and Noble Examples'.

With more than 250 images, articles and artifacts, the exhibition introduces typical collective and individual examples in "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's thoughts, morals and style" from all regions of Vietnam.

* On the afternoon of May 19, Ha Tinh City held an open men's boat racing festival to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Uncle Ho's visit to Ha Tinh (June 15, 1957 - June 15, 2022) and the 15th founding anniversary of Ha Tinh City (May 28, 2007-May 28, 2022).

This year's boat racing festival also featured the participation of athletes from the boat racing team of Pac Xan District, Bolykhamsay Province (Laos).

UN promises support for Vietnam’s energy transition scheme

The United Nations (UN) has affirmed its willingness to support Vietnam in establishing a partnership on energy transition with the Group of Seven (G7) nations in a letter of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Climate Action Selwin Hart handed over the letter to Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN at a meeting in New York on May 18, VNA reported.

Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Climate Action Selwin Hart handed over the letter to Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang. Photo: VNA

In the letter, the UN Secretary General applauded Vietnam’s decision to make a strong commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 and reducing domestic coal-fired electricity consumption at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), affirming that the UN fully supports Vietnam's efforts to phase out coal-fired power by 2040.

Guterres welcomed G7 nations’ recent agreement to prioritise the establishment of partnership with Vietnam on energy transition.

Ambassador Giang thanked the UN and the Secretary General for the support for Vietnam, saying that he will soon send the letter to PM Chinh and will continue to work closely with the special adviser and UN agencies in this issue.

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