Vietnam news in brief - September 2

Two Vietnamese movies join the ASEAN+3 Film Festival

Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the festival. Photo: VOV

The Vietnamese films "Nhien" by the Hanoi Academy of Theater and Cinema and "Mat biec" [Blue Eyes] by director Victor Vu will be screened at the ASEAN+3 Film Festival in the Czech Republic. The festival, which runs until September 9, is a remarkable outcome of collaboration between the embassies of ASEAN countries and South Korea, Japan, and China in the Czech Republic. It aims to introduce and showcase the beauty and cultural diversity of Asian countries to international audiences.

Vietnamese startups listed among top 100 most promising Asian companies 

Three Vietnamese startups, including Coolmate (direct-to-customer business model), Dat Bike (electric vehicle manufacturing), and KiotViet (consumer technology), have made it to the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2023 list, which highlights small companies and startups on the rise across the Asia-Pacific region.

The list of 100 high-potential businesses includes companies from 13 countries and territories across 11 categories, including biotech and healthcare, e-commerce and retail, and finance. Singapore continues to contribute the largest number of companies with 20.

President of Japan's House of Councillors to visit Vietnam

The President of the House of Councillors of Japan, Hidehisa Otsuji, will be on an official visit to Vietnam from September 4 to 7, according to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly. The visit is at the invitation of Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

Handling of violations related to rooftop solar installations after 2020

Municipalities will submit their reports to the ministry by September 18 for consideration by the prime minister. Photo: EVN

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked local authorities to coordinate with the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to inspect, review, and handle violations in the investment and installation of rooftop solar systems from 2020 to the present. Their reports will be submitted to the ministry by September 18 for consideration by the Prime Minister.

The move comes as a result of recent violations of solar energy by electricity companies in the central and southern regions. The ministry has been tasked with developing mechanisms to encourage the development of rooftop solar systems for self-use without selling electricity to other organizations or individuals.

Hanoi adds construction of eight social housing projects for 2021-2025

Hanoi has approved eight additional social housing projects for the period 2021-2025, with a total investment of about VND8.1 trillion (US$337.7 million). The move is expected to create about 485,120 square meters of floor space, equivalent to 5,572 apartments. The city also updated 122 commercial housing and urban area construction projects in the Hanoi Housing Development Plan for 2021-2025. These projects are designed to provide more than 25 million square meters of floor area with more than 91,000 units (including 11,612 apartments).

Vietnam wins four medals at the Int'l Olympiad in Informatics 2023

All four members of the Vietnamese national team won medals at the 2023 International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), ranking among the top nine countries and territories in the medal tally, the Ministry of Education and Training announced.

The 35th IOI was held from August 28 to September 4 in Szeged, Hungary. This year's competition gathered 351 contestants from 89 countries and territories, awarding 30 gold, 58 silver, and 90 bronze medals.