Vietnam news in brief - June 24

Hanoi drowned by heavy rains on the first day of the week

Water management workers drain a street at Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi this morning. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The streets of Hanoi were flooded by heavy rains early this morning (June 24). The highest rainfall recorded in the capital's main districts was 82.5 mm, causing numerous problems for commuters. Local water management units immediately dispatched staff to the most critically submerged areas and prepared measures to drain the streets.

According to the weather forecast, the heavy rains will continue today (June 24), flooding urban areas of the capital.

Israel-based Vietnamese embassy advises expats to stay safe amid Israel-Hezbollah fighting

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has warned Vietnamese nationals to be aware of potential risks and dangers amid rising tensions between Israel and the armed non-state group Hezbollah. The embassy recommended that overseas Vietnamese avoid traveling to unsafe areas and keep up to date with government announcements on the conflict.

Since June 11, the Israeli military and Hezbollah have been firing rockets and missiles at each other in the border area with Lebanon, causing many casualties and material damage.

Vietnamese culture and tourism festival to be held in Korea this weekend

A festival to promote Vietnamese culture and tourism will be held in South Korea from June 29 to July 3, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The festival will feature a number of activities, including a forum to discuss Vietnamese and Korean cultures, a business matchmaking session, and an expo to promote Vietnamese specialties and art performances.

In 2023, the total number of travelers between Vietnam and South Korea reached four million, or 83% of the pre-pandemic level (in 2019). Popular destinations for Koreans include Nha Trang, Danang and Hoi An.

Binh DinhPprovince fines local fishermen $177,000 for illegal fishing

Authorities in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh have fined five locals a total of VND4.5 billion (nearly US$177,000) for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The five locals are all residents of Phu Cat District.

According to the local government, the five were arrested in mid-May for lending their fishing boats to unlicensed fishermen to fish in foreign waters.

Koreans have most active FDI projects in Ha Nam

With 128 projects, South Korean investors are the largest foreign investment community in the northern province of Ha Nam, according to provincial authorities. Korean companies are also the second largest investors in terms of capital, having poured more than $1.6 billion into the province. This figure accounts for 30% of the province's total FDI capital.

First Vietnamese professor to become European academician

Professor Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, a Vietnamese national working at University College London in the United Kingdom, has been elected an academician of the Academia Europaea. The appointment was made in April, making Thanh the first Vietnamese ever to join the European institution.
In November 2024, Thanh will present a report at the academy's annual meeting in Wroclaw, Poland.