Vietnam news in brief - May 2

Vietnamese Space presents books and newspapers at the Buenos Aires Book Fair

Buenos Aires Book Fair 2024 attracted a lot of people. Photo: VNA

The Vietnamese pavilion at the 2024 Buenos Aires Book Fair features more than 40 Spanish-language books, newspapers, and magazines on various topics related to President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, the war of resistance against foreign invaders, and the defense of Vietnamese sovereignty. With 430 stands at the La Rural Exhibition Centre, the fair is expected to welcome more than 1,500 publishers, distributors and book agents from over 40 countries. The fair includes various activities such as conferences, workshops, panel discussions and exchanges between writers, journalists, poets and personalities from the world of culture and the arts. The event runs from 30 April to 25 May.

US is Vietnam's largest export market in Jan-Apr

In the first four months of 2024, the US was Vietnam's largest export market, with an estimated turnover of around $34.1 billion, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. China ranks second with an export turnover of US$18 billion, followed by the EU with US$16.4 billion. On the import side, China is Vietnam's largest import market, spending $41.6 billion on Vietnamese goods, followed by South Korea with an estimated $17.1 billion, and ASEAN with $15.6 billion. Total foreign trade reached $238.88 billion, with an export surplus of $8.4 billion.

Community healthcare model for Vietnamese implemented in Japan

On  May 1 in Tokyo, Japan, Mori Pharmacy and Mori Healthcare opened their second pharmacy under the community healthcare model for Vietnamese people in Japan. These are the first two units authorized to provide online medical examination services for Vietnamese people in Japan. For Vietnamese people who are not fluent in Japanese, this model also provides free translation services. The two companies have assisted more than 80,000 patients and offered free Covid-19 treatment to more than 10,000 Vietnamese and foreigners in Japan.

Vietnam's 10th athlete at Summer Olympics

Badminton player Le Duc Phat has become the 10th Vietnamese athlete to earn a ticket to the Summer Olympics, which will be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11. The 26-year-old secured a total of 23,630 points to finish 34th out of 38 players in the qualifying standings.

The other nine Vietnamese athletes who will be competing at the Summer Olympics are Nguyen Thuy Linh (women's badminton), Nguyen Thi That (women's cycling), Trinh Thu Vinh and Le Thi Mong Tuyen (female, shooting), Nguyen Huy Hoang (male, swimming), Vo Thi Kim Anh (female, boxing), Nguyen Thi Huong (female, canoeing), Pham Thi Hue (female) and Trinh Van Vinh (male, weightlifting).

Alibaba plans to build a data center in Vietnam

Alibaba plans to build a data center in Vietnam, enabling the storage of data within the country to meet local regulations, Nikkei Asia reported. The company currently rents space for computer servers from telecommunications companies Viettel and VNPT. It also backs up data at its server farms across the region, from Taiwan to Singapore. By establishing a data center in Vietnam, the company aims to meet the rising demand in one of Asia's fastest-growing economies.

100 Vietnamese trucks detained in China for failing to meet mutual agreements
A total of 100 Vietnamese container trucks have been detained in China for failing to meet storage standards, according to the Lao Cai Provincial Department of Industry and Trade. The department also said the vehicles could not leave for China because Chinese and Vietnamese traders have not yet agreed on compensation.

The Lao Cai authorities suggest that exporters and transporters ensure that their trucks meet the technical standards of export markets and honor contractual agreements with their foreign partners.

Vietnam's big win in world chemistry competition

Ten Vietnamese students won one gold, five silver and four bronze medals at the 58th Mendeleev International Chemistry Olympiad in Shenzhen, China, according to the Chemical Society of Vietnam.

Vietnam finished 3rd overall. Named after the Russian chemist Mendeleev, the inventor of the periodic table of chemical elements, it is the world's largest and most prestigious contest for young chemists. This year's contest attracted 151 participants from 26 countries and territories.