Vietnam news in brief - September 30

Japanese spend $53 million buying Vietnamese crabs 

Among Vietnam's 15 seafood exports to Japan, crab has shown the most impressive growth. Photo: New Fresh Foods

Crab exports to Japan in the first eight months of the year reached US$53 million, up 51% year-on-year, accounting for 5.5% of the total export value, said Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) at a conference on export standards to Japan on September 29. Vietnamese crab has shown the most impressive growth among the 15 seafood groups exported to Japan.

In January-August, Japan spent nearly $1 billion to import Vietnamese seafood, down 13.5% year-on-year, but only half the average decline of other countries. Currently, the US, China, and Japan are the three largest markets importing Vietnamese seafood, surpassing $1 billion each.

MoUs signed at Techconnect exhibition

Eight MoUs on technology transfer and innovation were signed at Techconnect and Innovation Vietnam 2023 in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang.

The exhibition, held on September 29-30 in the northern province of Quang Ninh under the theme of innovation and sustainable development, attracted nearly 200 booths from enterprises, research institutes, universities, and provincial departments of science and technology.

Nursing in Japan attracts Vietnamese workers

Vietnam and Japan discussed measures to promote cooperation in training and sending interns and caregivers at a seminar in Osaka, Japan on September 29.

Of 380,000 Vietnamese working in Japan (accounting for about 18% of the total foreign labor force in Japan), about 10,000 Vietnamese workers are engaged in nursing and elderly care, including about 2,000 nurses and caregivers under the EPA (Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement) program.

Vietnam's first carbon trading exchange launched

Multi-sector enterprise CT Group launched ASEAN Carbon Trading Platform JSC on September 29, becoming the first company in Vietnam to operate a carbon trading exchange. The launch of the new business aims to help CT Group meet international environmental protection standards and facilitate the country's commitment to a low-emission, robust green economy.

From October 2023, the 27 EU member states will impose carbon tariffs on all imports from overseas suppliers under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Hanoi Canoe Race to be kicked off on October 7

The Hanoi Open Dragon Canoe Race is held in West Lake. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times

The 2023 Hanoi Open Dragon Canoe Race will kick off on October 7 at West Lake to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Hanoi Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2023). The competition will feature 39 teams in its fifth edition.

Since its debut in 2018, the race has become an important sports event in Hanoi, attracting many Vietnamese and international athletes, and promoting Hanoi's traditional values.

Folk games to be integrated into Hanoi school activities

Folk games will be taught and played in Hanoi schools by 2025, according to a plan drawn up by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training. The plan aims to encourage students to exercise to improve their physical and mental conditions and to preserve folk games as part of Vietnamese traditional culture. Notable folk games in Vietnamese culture include cuop co (win the flag), rong ran len may (dragon and snake), keo co (tug of war), meo duoi chuot (cat and mouse game), and nhay bao bo (bag jumping).

Hanoi - Vientiane to strengthen cooperation in education

Hanoi and Vientiane (Laos) will strengthen cooperation in education, according to a meeting held on September 29 between the Hanoi Department of Education and Training and the Vientiane City Department of Education and Sports.

Since 1980, about 27,000 Lao students have studied in Vietnam. Some schools in Hanoi, such as Nguyen Du Middle School, Kim Lien High School, have also signed cooperation agreements with schools in Laos. Both sides are committed to supporting each other to maintain educational cooperation between the two capitals.