Vietnam News Today (Nov. 24): India, Vietnam Strengthen Coordination Capability in UN Peacekeeping Operations

	Vietnam News Today (Nov. 22): Vietnamese, Malaysian Navies Seek Stronger Cooperation
	Vietnam News Today (Nov. 23): South Korean Firms Eye Joint Ventures With Vietnamese SMEs

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man (L) meets with former Cambodian NA President Samdech Heng Samrin in Phnom Penh on November 23. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam prioritizes education for youths on friendship, solidarity with Cambodia: NA leader

Vietnam places high importance on educating young people about the preservation and development of the country’s friendship and special solidarity with Cambodia, said National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man at his meeting with former Cambodian NA President Samdech Heng Samrin in Phnom Penh on November 23.

The top legislator briefed Heng Samrin on the outcomes of his successful talks with Cambodian NA President Samdech Khuon Sudary, who joined him in the inauguration ceremony of Cambodia’s new NA administrative building – a symbol of the two countries’ solidarity and traditional friendship, cited VNA.

He also expressed gratitude to Heng Samrin for his special affection for Vietnam and his confidence in the former leader’s continued contributions to further strengthening ties between the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the NA, and the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland (SFDCM), and Vietnam’s counterparts.

For his part, Heng Samrin, who is also the Honorary President of the CPP and Honorary President of the Cambodian King’s Supreme Consultative Council, echoed the Vietnamese top legislator’s assessments about the bilateral relationship.

He stressed that the shared legacy carefully nurtured by generations of leaders from both nations will be preserved and passed on to younger generations, given the current complicated developments of the world situation.

India, Vietnam strengthen coordination capability in UN peacekeeping operations

The fifth annual Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX 2024) ended on November 22 at the Chandi Mandir cantonment in the Indian state of Haryana.

Held within the framework of the closing ceremony, members of India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) performed rescue activities in the circumstances of earthquake, fire, and flooding, according to VOV.

Vietnamese officers and soldiers at the fifth annual Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise.

Upon addressing the event, Lt. Gen. Rajesh Pushkar, general officer commanding (GOC) of the Kharga Corps, said that the drill, which started on November 4, has further enhanced the shared vision for peace, prosperity, and people. He therefore thanked the Vietnamese side for successfully co-organizing VINBAX-2024 as a means of contributing to the effective enhancement of mutual understanding.

As both sides continue to play an important role in the Indo-Pacific region and in ASEAN, the bilateral relationship is expected to deepen and expand further over the years to come, he added.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Col. Luu Dinh Hien, commander of the Training Center of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that VINBAX is constantly expanding, from the first exercise in the form of tabletop simulation in 2018 to a field exercise in 2022; from the deployment of medical and technical troops in UN missions to the deployment of air force elements and drones during VINBAX-2024.

New phase in Vietnam’s ties with Dominican Republic, Caribbean

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to the Dominican Republic ushered in a new period not only in the bilateral ties but also in Vietnam’s relations with the broader Caribbean region, Dr. Ruvislei González Saez, a senior researcher at Cuba's Center for International Policy Studies, has assessed.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondents in Havana about the significance of the trip, the scholar noted that it underscores Vietnam's attention to deepening the bilateral relationship and reflects the Dominican Republic’s strategic interest related to the Asian nation.

President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader Corona, who has prioritized strengthening relations with Vietnam since taking office in August 2020, acknowledged the complementary nature of the two countries’ economies and industries, with agriculture emerging as a key area of mutual interest.

González Saez said the visit has opened doors for the two sides’ cooperation in new sectors, including defense, telecoms, oil exploration, and tourism. It signifies a decisive moment, bringing the bilateral relations to a new era. They discussed concrete actions such as negotiating agreements to establish a legal framework for comprehensive cooperation, including a free trade agreement (FTA), to promote and protect investment, and to collaborate in culture, tourism, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

Dr. Ruvislei González Saez, a senior researcher at Cuba's Center for International Policy Studies. (Photo: VNA)

Visa exemptions were also tabled to facilitate travel and investment, optimizing conditions for expanded joint work. They also expressed their interest in other potential fields like digital transformation, digital economy, telecommunications, renewable energy, oil and gas, wind and solar power, agriculture, livestock farming, and vaccine production, VNA reported.

Bilateral trade has grown significantly, rising from approximately 30 million USD in the early years to nearly 120 million USD in 2022 and 112 million USD last year. Vietnam’s primary exports to the Dominican Republic include coffee, textiles, footwear, electronic components, and agricultural products. Both sides agreed to enhance investment in industrial, service, and technology development sectors, with a shared goal of increasing bilateral trade to 500 million USD within the next five years by fostering investment and expanding markets for key products.

According to the scholar, the visit presented a significant opportunity to advance the bilateral relations and reflects both nations' commitments to fostering mutual development. It also paved the way for the signing of several agreements in 2025, including potential FTAs or/and other mechanisms that could enhance the presence of Vietnamese companies in the Dominican Republic.

Frost covers Fansipan Mountain peak in Lao Cai

Frost covered the top of Fansipan Mountain, which is the highest peak in Indochina, in Sa Pa town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai early on November 23 as temperatures dropped to 2 degrees Celsius.

According to details given by the Lao Cai Province Hydrometeorological Station, the frost formed a thin layer of ice covering the stone steps, wooden floors, and paths on Fansipan, serving to create a picturesque scene at the peak.

This marks the first time that frost has appeared on Fansipan peak since the beginning of the winter, cited VOV.

The first frost on Mount Fansipan during this year’s winter. (Photo: vtcnews.vn)

It is forecasted that over the coming days, temperatures will remain low, with frost predicted to continue to recur on the peak.

Frost can burn leaves and flowers, as well as damaging fruits. If serious, then plants can be completely killed, causing loss of crop production.

Local authorities and agencies are therefore urgently directing locals to apply all measures in a bid to protect plants and animals from the cold.

CNN names Vietnamese beef pho among world's best soups

CNN has once again spotlighted Vietnamese beef pho, placing it among the top 20 broths globally for 2024.

On November 17, CNN released its 2024 list of the top 20 dishes with exceptional broths, aimed at food-loving travelers seeking gastronomic inspiration for upcoming journeys.

The selection criteria extended beyond the popularity of a dish in its local context. It also considered the broth’s exquisite and unique flavors, as well as its nourishing qualities and health benefits.

The essence of Vietnamese beef pho

CNN editor Jen Rose Smith expressed admiration for Vietnamese beef pho, highlighting its fragrant broth. The broth is slow-simmered for hours with warm spices like cinnamon, star anise, and other aromatics, creating a rich and inviting flavor profile.

While modern menus feature a wide variety of pho dishes, Andrea Nguyen, author of The Pho Cookbook, describes beef pho as the original and quintessential version.

Photo: CNN/Leisa Tyler

Dating back to the early 1930s, Vietnamese cooks began blanching raw beef slices in the broth, serving them alongside flat rice noodles. Today, beef pho remains the most beloved and widely enjoyed version in Vietnam, with variations including rare beef, brisket, flank, and tendon.

Global recognition for Vietnamese pho

This is not the first time Vietnamese beef pho has been celebrated on CNN’s lists. In 2021, it was honored in a similar ranking, and in 2022, CNN included it in the top 50 best street foods in Asia.

Furthermore, the culinary guide Taste Atlas ranked beef pho third among the top 10 meat-based broths globally in 2023, solidifying its place in the international culinary spotlight.

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