Vietnam news in brief - June 22

Party General Secretary's book on cultural richness launched

A book on building and developing Vietnam's advanced culture imbued with national identity by Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was launched on June 21.

The book collects 92 writings, speeches, lectures, interview excerpts, and letters from the Party leader since 1968. The book emphasizes the development and preservation of Vietnamese culture, combining tradition and modernity.

World Bank announces new loan package to boost Vietnam's waterways

The World Bank has approved a US$107 million loan to improve the capacity, efficiency, and safety of inland waterways in southern Vietnam while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the country's transport sector.

The newly approved Southern Waterway Corridors and Logistics Development Project aims to increase freight volumes and reduce travel times along key east-west and north-south corridors. The project will also link Vietnam's major manufacturing centers to the country's main deepwater seaport, enhancing export competitiveness.

Vietnamese judoist earns 13th Olympic ticket

Hoang Thi Tinh (blue) in the final match. Photo: VietNamNet

Judoist Hoang Thi Tinh on June 22 booked her ticket to the 2024 Summer Olympics after winning the women's -48kg final at the Lima Panamerican Open 2024. With the latest title, Tinh ranks ninth on the Asian Olympic qualifying table and becomes the 13th Vietnamese athlete to compete at the Summer Games, which will be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11.

The other 12 qualifiers include cyclist Nguyen Thi That, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang, shooters Trinh Thu Vinh and Le Thi Mong Tuyen, and weightlifter Trinh Van Vinh.

Vietnam finishes third in Asian Youth Chess Tournament

The Vietnamese youth chess team won 41 medals, including 10 gold medals, to finish third overall at the 2024 Asian Youth Chess Championship held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on June 9-21.

This year's competition gathered more than 640 young players from 32 countries and territories. Vietnam sent 48 players to participate in the games.

Vietnam Airlines trims some $1.7 billion worth of costs in 2020-2023

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has cut a total of VND42.4 trillion ($1.7 billion) in costs over the past four years to recover, Chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa said at the annual shareholders' meeting on June 21. Hoa cited the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical disputes as the main reasons for the airline's poor performance.

In 2024, Vietnam Airlines expects to carry 22.6 million passengers, nearly the same number as in 2019 before the pandemic. The company targets a total pre-tax profit of VND4.5 trillion ($177 million).

First Vietnamese National Park on IUCN Green List

Cat Tien National Park in Dong Nai Province. Photo: VNA

Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai became the 72nd member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Green List. It is the first Vietnamese national park to receive the title.

The IUCN Green List recognizes protected areas with successful conservation records based on 17 criteria in four areas: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management, and successful conservation outcomes.

Thai people prefer Vietnamese lychee

An event was held on June 21 at the Centralworld commercial center in Bangkok, Thailand, to promote the local market for Vietnamese lychee, which is certified with the GlobalGAP label. The event was hosted by Thai retailer Central Retail.

This was the seventh promotion of Vietnamese lychee in Thailand as part of activities to increase bilateral trade between the two economies to $25 billion by 2025.

Vietnam to send 1,000 workers to Australia

About 1,000 Vietnamese workers will be sent to Australia to work in the agricultural sector, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. The workers will be paid between AU$3,200 and AU$4,000 (US$2,130-US$2,660) per month.

Candidates must be proficient in English and other vocational skills and be over 21 years of age. The program is subject to an agreement signed between Vietnam and Australia, which allows Vietnamese nationals to work in the latter's agricultural sector.