Vietnam news highlights for May 5, 2023

Stranded whale rescued

A four-meter-long whale weighing nearly 300 kilograms was rescued on the afternoon of May 4 off the coast of La Gi District in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan. Dozens of people worked together to push the whale back into the sea.

The whale is among the smartest and friendliest animals on earth, often offering help to seafarers and fishermen. In the central coastal and southern regions of Vietnam, the whale is worshipped by local fishermen as a wish for good luck during their travels. On April 30, a five-ton rotten whale body was found on the beach of Hai Trieu Commune, Hai Hau District, in the northern province of Nam Dinh.

Actions taken to protect train cars

Graffiti paintings are cleared off the Metro No.1 cargo in HCM City. Photo: MAUR

HCM City's authorities will install more surveillance cameras and lights to better monitor the 17 trains of the Metro No. 1 project. The move comes after graffiti was found on the trains on April 30. The paintings have now been removed from the cars.

The police are investigating the case to find those responsible for the graffiti. In June 2022, the Project Management Unit also discovered that some carriages were covered with graffiti paintings. The 17 trains arrived at the project's Long Binh depot for test runs in May 2022.

Vietnam’s PMI below 50.0 threshold for second month

Vietnam's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) remained below the 50.0 thresholds for a second month as local firms struggled to secure new orders amid weakening market demand, research firm S&P Global reported on May 4. The index slipped to 46.7 in April from 47.7 in March, indicating a contraction in business activity.

According to S&P Global, factory output and new orders fell faster for the second month in a row, leading to a decline in input purchasing activity and staffing levels. However, companies remain optimistic about the near future, with signs of easing cost inflation and soft material price increases.

Two Vietnamese athletes expected to shine at 32nd SEA Games

Runner Nguyen Thi Oanh and boxer Nguyen Thi Tam are the two Vietnamese athletes expected to shine at the 32nd SEA Games hosted by Cambodia from May 5 to 17, AFP reported. The two athletes are among eight individuals expected to be the highlights of the Games and defend their titles.

Twenty-seven-year-old runner Nguyen Thi Oanh won three gold medals at the 31st SEA Games hosted by Vietnam in 2022. Meanwhile, boxer Nguyen Thi Tam, born in 1994, became the first Vietnamese fighter to win a silver medal in a world boxing championship. Tam has also won gold medals in the past two SEA Games and is heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

State President visits overseas Vietnamese in UK

State President Vo Van Thuong meets overseas Vietnamese in the UK on May 4 (local time). Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam's State President Vo Van Thuong met with compatriots living in the UK on May 4 (local time). He was pleased to see that overseas Vietnamese in the UK have made great progress in recent years, raising the status of Vietnamese people in the development of both the UK and Vietnam, especially in supporting their homeland in the fight against Covid-19 spread.

According to the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, Nguyen Hoang Long, there are about 100,000 Vietnamese living in the UK. He called for more support from Vietnamese authorities and businesses to develop local activities and promote Vietnam-UK relations.

Meeting hosted for Vietnamese businesses participating in the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit

The Embassy of Vietnam in Washington DC, United States, hosted a meeting on May 4 (local time) with Vietnamese businesses participating in the 2023 SelectUSA Investment Summit. The event will bring together about 30 business leaders representing 20 Vietnamese enterprises that have established or intend to set up operations in the US. The companies operate in a wide range of industries, including electric vehicle and battery manufacturing and assembly, software, construction and interior design, logistics and transportation, and food processing and packaging.

At the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung expected Vietnamese businesses to contribute to improving bilateral relations. Meanwhile, the US government promised to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to operate locally.

Vietnamese electrical engineers awarded ASEAN certificate

More than 120 Vietnamese electrical engineers working in the central and southern regions were recognized as ASEAN Engineers at a ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 4. To be recognized, engineers must meet professional qualifications and standards of English proficiency, experience, and work ethics set by the ASEAN Engineering Register (AER).

According to the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), the AER provides an opportunity to share knowledge, expertise, and technology and sharpen their skills to a higher level. Achieving ASEAN certification is a milestone in the career development of engineers, which will encourage them to pursue those at Asia-Pacific and international levels.