Nguyễn Thị Mai Hoa, deputy head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education. – VNA/VNS Photos

For the academic year 2024 – 2025, Hà Nội is expected to have more than 51,000 students unable to enrol in public high schools. Nguyễn Thị Mai Hoa, deputy head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education, spoke with the online newspaper Tin tức (News) about this issue.

Parents lining up for many hours to find a place for their children in private schools after failing to get into public high schools is an increasingly common situation in big cities. Can you tell us the reasons for this situation?

The first reason is the issue of supply and demand. The demand for children to complete secondary education is very high. Still, since high school is not compulsory education, the public high school system can only accommodate around 60 to 70 per cent of students admitted to grade 10. Thus, every year there will be about 30 – 40 per cent of students who will not have a place in public high schools.

For the academic year 2023-2024, it is estimated that the whole city will have about 133,000 students graduating from secondary education. According to the plan approved by the city People’s Committee, the expected quota for enrolment in public schools is about 81,200 students. The remaining 51,800 students will be admitted to private schools, vocational or continuing education centres.

The second reason is that we are implementing the diversification policy after secondary education, whereby students will have many other options besides continuing to high school. However, many parents still want their children to complete the general education programme.

The third reason is that the conditions provided in the public high school system are quite good, as they are funded from the State budget while the difference in tuition fees between public and private schools is often huge. The desire for children to attend public schools to have more affordable tuition fees is a legitimate aspiration, especially for economically disadvantaged families.

As the population density in major cities like Hà Nội and HCM City continues to be high, the pressure for increased capacity at public schools will increase. Although Hà Nội has conducted reviews and implemented solutions such as dividing classes and growing class sizes, these are only temporary solutions to the current situation.

What are the fundamental solutions to address this issue?

This is indeed a difficult problem, and addressing it only by increasing classes and student numbers can only be a short-term solution.

Comprehensive and coordinated planning is needed in the long run. For large cities, urban development planning must be synchronised with education and healthcare services to meet the population’s educational and healthcare needs.

Secondly, it is necessary to improve the data system to have rational regulation in education investment. For example, rural areas are currently experiencing the trend of merging schools and classes due to the increasing number of labourers migrating from rural to urban areas, leading to a gradual shift in demand for educational services towards urban areas.

Therefore, it is necessary to consider regulatory solutions for teachers and investment in infrastructure, transferring schools and classes from rural to urban areas. This means there must be a data system for careful analysis and forecasting to solve this problem.

Students take the national high school graduation exam in Hà Nội.

Thirdly, it’s about streamlining. This is a correct policy. In developed countries, streamlining is relatively easy. It is necessary to persuade people that their children have more choices in their education. However, to achieve this, there must be a system of high-quality vocational schools and a diverse labour market, ensuring stable and sustainable incomes.

If the target of streamlining into vocational schools is achieved by limiting students’ access to public high schools, this policy will not be effective. Worse, it may even affect students’ right to complete high school education.

In addition, to reduce the pressure on public schools, we need to mobilise social resources more effectively to develop a system of non-public high schools for different segments, including high-quality private schools with varying tuition fees.

The key is that the State must take responsibility for investing in policy mechanisms and resources to develop an education system that ensures quality and meets human resource needs. The State also needs to encourage the expansion of the labour market with various segments. At the same time, it should communicate well to change the public perception about education, training, and employment.

I believe it is necessary to implement many synchronised solutions with the participation of the State, localities, educational institutions and students’ families. Only then can we fundamentally solve the pressure on admission to public high schools as in recent years.

What specific actions has the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education taken to implement the fundamental solutions mentioned above?

During this period, we have focused on monitoring the implementation of legal provisions in the field of education. Our monitoring activities have revealed some difficulties and obstacles, such as the issue of forecasting the demand for school places.

According to statistics, as of June 1, 2023, the population of HCM City is nearly 8.9 million people. If we include those who reside without registering their households, the city’s population reaches almost 14 million. Therefore, the data did not accurately reflect the reality of the population, making it difficult to forecast the needs for school planning and ensure sufficient places for preschool and general education.

The committee has made many recommendations and proposals to the government, state management agencies, and local authorities regarding the implementation of the education law and the vocational education law. Additionally, the committee has participated in improving the legal system and policies regarding education, prioritising budget investment, credit policies, tuition fee policies, and institutionalising the policy of socialisation of education with preferential tax and land policies to create conditions for developing private schools to better meet the needs of students. — VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Tôn Ngọc Hạnh, vice president of the Vietnam Women’s Union. VNA/VNS Photo

Tôn Ngọc Hạnh, vice president of the Vietnam Women’s Union, speaks to Vietnam News Agency about assisting women in digital transformation.

In recent years, Việt Nam has taken bold steps in digital transformation. Could you assess the advantages Vietnamese women have reaped from the digital transformation?

In recent years, digital transformation has been given attention and implemented by authorities at all levels, sectors, and people at three pillars: Digital Government, digital economy, and digital society.

This process has resulted in practical benefits to people, including women.

The advantages have been amply demonstrated. In addition to enjoying services like public administration, healthcare, education and transportation equally, swiftly, and with higher quality, women and people can also use more advanced and current technologies.

That enhances living quality and saves time and effort. All women, even those with more challenging access circumstances like older women, women farmers and women living in distant places, have the chance to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain advanced services and knowledge.

Women now have easier and faster access to the market thanks to the digital economy.

Trading floors and information technology have helped many women grow their enterprises and increase their income.

Women used to work in traditional ways, but thanks to information technology, they can now quickly start their work anywhere in the nation or the world with the touch of a button.

In production, applying information technology in watering plants only requires using a smartphone, installing modern equipment and quickly pressing the control button. Click on and off during the stages of watering plants helps monitor the production of products and workers. Digital transformation brings many conveniences and benefits.

This progressive, modern change is important and necessary for everyone, including women.

Women often access technology and techniques slower than other groups. However, I think that in recent years, with this development trend, women have adapted quickly, gradually met society’s requirements, and promptly kept up with growth. This has allowed them to take better care of their material and psychological needs as well as work more effectively.

In addition to reaping the rewards, people, especially women, also play a role in digital transformation.

Women, who make up over 50 per cent of the population, play a significant role in advancing the digital transformation process.

Numerous female leaders, scientists, digital technology professionals, and entrepreneurs are actively involved in digital transformation, contributing and taking on new projects.

Women are working to become tech-savvy and adaptable in all sectors and regions.

Women in remote areas scan banking QR code for payment. VNA/VNS Photo Trần Việt

How have women across the country kept up with digital transformation?

The grassroots associations of the union have organised hands-on events to promote the use of IT and involvement in the digital revolution.

The local organisations arranged training sessions and enhanced the IT application skills of group leaders, presidents and vice presidents, teaching them how to utilise membership management, statistics and synthesis software, among other applications.

The organisation has encouraged the use of IT in communication by implementing multimedia communication, using IT to cast votes and gather official and member opinions, and disseminating positive role models and ideals among women.

However, women also face numerous challenges. In rural areas and among ethnic minorities, women still have restricted access to information technology, knowledge, and skills. Their IT applications operate more slowly because they lack smartphones, technology, and reliable internet access.

The union has offered training for underqualified individuals. We are working on the national digital transformation project right now, hoping to get it authorised this year and help women in remote areas.

What has the Vietnam Women’s Union done to support women accessing and adapting to digital transformation?

We have encouraged those who can equip themselves with smartphones for multi-purpose use – for work, daily life and online public services.

Women in challenging circumstances will receive financial assistance to purchase new ones.

I am aware of the abundance of helpful programmes. To support people in digital transformation and their participation in convenient online public services. The Ministry of Information and Communications, for instance, has started projects to provide smart devices to remote and border areas. This initiative aims to promote the digital economy, digital transformation and the development of a digital society.

In order to create a digital society, all citizens—including women—must have access to more services and more potent tools than just cutting-edge technology.

Even with the best current technology, efficiency and quality may not be achieved if people do not use it or use it to the fullest extent possible.

Our core staff at the Women’s Union is prepared to travel to any location in order to support localities, help with IT training, and assist women in becoming skilled with today’s software.

Could you share solutions to prevent risks and support women to adapt to digital transformation?

The Vietnam Women’s Union has always paid attention to how women can be more sensitive and alert to adapt and use technology effectively and with high quality, to serve themselves and their lives, and avoid risks.

The union has provided numerous training sessions on IT knowledge and skills, IT applications and cyber-risks related to data loss or exposure.

In order to prevent unfavourable outcomes, women should be aware of these dangers.

Data from the November 2023 workshop co-organised by UN Women and the Ministry of Public Security revealed that up to 90 per cent of victims in cyberspace are female.

Criminals’ tricks are increasingly sophisticated. Due to the fact that legal regulations have not kept up with the rapid development of technology, there are subjective reasons behind that, such as lack of knowledge and skills and not having enough information about the field of digital transformation or credulity.

These are the main things that we believe women should be informed about.

Many steps must be taken to reduce the risks for women, including enhancing institutions, tightening penalties for fraud, and stepping up information sharing to help women understand the benefits and potential risks of the digital transformation and feel empowered to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Women need to be assisted in responding quickly to risks by hotlines, consulting advisory groups, technical assistance and legal counsel, among other means.

Every woman must actively seek out opportunities to learn and advance her skills. VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Associate Professor Dr. Bùi Hoài Sơn, a Permanent Member of the Cultural and Educational Committee of the National Assembly. Photo quochoi.vn

In the ongoing efforts to bolster the nation’s soft power and amplify Việt Nam’s presence and reputation globally, Associate Professor Dr. Bùi Hoài Sơn, a Permanent Member of the Cultural and Educational Committee of the National Assembly, emphasises the need for the diplomatic sector to vigorously enhance the promotion of Việt Nam’s culture through diplomacy in the years ahead.

Could you explain the importance of cultural diplomacy for the country’s politics?

Cultural diplomacy holds significant importance for a nation’s politics on various fronts. Firstly, in the broader spectrum of human existence and international relations, culture serves as a vital conduit. It operates as a form of soft power, exerting a profound and enduring influence across generations. In the context of globalisation, cultural diplomacy assumes heightened importance. While countries navigate the currents of globalisation, preserving their unique cultural identities becomes paramount. This preservation not only fosters national pride but also facilitates the achievement of national development goals by fostering mutual understanding and respect.

Cultural diplomacy is integral to Việt Nam’s foreign policy framework, standing alongside political and economic diplomacy as one of its three pillars. The adaptability and flexibility of cultural diplomacy enable it to effectively complement these pillars, forming a comprehensive foreign policy strategy. Particularly in today’s era of deep and comprehensive integration, global appreciation of Việt Nam’s culture, people and policies is essential for enhancing the nation’s international standing and image. Therefore, cultural diplomacy plays a crucial role in advancing Việt Nam’s political objectives on the world stage.

Indeed, cultural diplomacy has played a pivotal role in Việt Nam’s political landscape, contributing significantly to the nation’s modernisation, cultural preservation, and integration of international influences. Activities such as international cultural exchanges, hosting cultural events abroad, and organising Việt Nam Days overseas have been actively pursued and highly valued by both the Party and the state. These endeavours have not only promoted Việt Nam’s image but also elevated its standing on the global stage.

The growing interest and understanding of Việt Nam from countries worldwide serve as a testament to the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy efforts. Recognising its importance, the organisation and implementation of cultural diplomacy strategies have become a focal point of concern raised by National Assembly delegates.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn emphasised the importance of cultural diplomacy activities in enhancing the promotion of the country’s image and its people to the world. What significance does this hold? How do you assess the cultural promotion efforts of the country in recent years?

Cultural diplomacy serves as a crucial instrument for fostering mutual understanding and strengthening political relations with other nations, thereby contributing to global peace, stability and elevating Việt Nam’s international standing. Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn’s acknowledgement underscores the profound significance of such endeavours.

In recent years, Việt Nam has made commendable strides in cultural promotion, spreading soft power, instilling confidence in Vietnamese culture and its people and establishing brands for Vietnamese cultural and artistic products. These efforts have been instrumental in supporting the country’s socio-economic development and enhancing its global reputation. Through cultural diplomacy, Việt Nam has effectively showcased its rich cultural heritage and hospitable people to the world, fostering goodwill and forging positive relations with other nations. These initiatives have laid a solid foundation for international cooperation and trade, while also attracting investment and stimulating economic growth.

The dissemination of soft power enables Việt Nam to actively engage in international forums and address pressing global issues such as climate change, sustainable development and global security. By doing so, Việt Nam contributes to the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous world.

Simultaneously, it cultivates interest in tourism and exploration of Việt Nam’s landscapes, culture and people, fostering the growth of the tourism industry and spreading benefits across various economic and social sectors. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in enhancing the economic and cultural development of localities and tourist destinations.

Over the years, promoting Vietnamese culture has emerged as a pivotal task, evident in numerous congresses, resolutions and policy documents. Notably, in the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy until 2030, cultural promotion stands as a key focus. The objectives outlined therein emphasise the promotion of cultural values, the country’s image, and the Vietnamese people. This involves highlighting the values and ideologies of President Hồ Chí Minh and UNESCO-honoured figures, nurturing the development of the cultural industry, expanding the market for Vietnamese goods and services and establishing Việt Nam as a compelling destination for international cultural exchanges while promoting local brands.

Assessing the promotion of the country’s culture in recent years, we observe significant efforts from various ministries, sectors and localities. Through diverse diplomatic channels and participation in numerous domestic and international events, these efforts have rendered the image of Việt Nam and its people more familiar and appealing to international audiences, thereby providing additional resources for the country’s development.

In my view, the foremost challenge lies in the realm of resources. We face shortages in terms of financial, infrastructural, and human capital resources for cultural promotion endeavours. Financially, the current budget allocation mechanism presents numerous hurdles for organising cultural promotion activities. Notably, major events like the World Expo encounter obstacles and even smaller-scale initiatives such as inbound and outbound delegations face financial regulation issues. External resource mobilisation also encounters challenges due to constraints within public-private cooperation mechanisms or the management and utilisation of public assets.

In terms of infrastructure, despite concerted efforts, cultural and sports facilities still lack the requisite conditions to host large-scale events in Việt Nam. This deficiency prevents Việt Nam from becoming a priority or optimal destination for major cultural and artistic events worldwide, thereby impeding our ability to promote our culture within our own borders.

We face a shortage of cultural and tourism promotion centres abroad. Despite setting targets, for many years, we have only established Việt Nam Cultural Centres in France and Laos. Tourism promotion centres encounter even greater difficulties in this regard.

Human resources indeed constitute the most critical aspect. We must acknowledge that the workforce involved in cultural promotion across various ministries, sectors, and localities has not fully met the demands of this vital mission. Our compensation policies lack attractiveness, failing to draw in talented individuals to engage in promotional activities. These challenges, coupled with issues like inadequate coordination in promotional strategies or other policy and mechanism-related matters, are paramount. It is only by surmounting these obstacles that our cultural promotion endeavours can yield the desirable outcomes we aspire to achieve.

What specific activities should the diplomatic sector prioritise in order to effectively promote Việt Nam’s image and elevate its position among international friends?

To effectively promote the country’s image and enhance Việt Nam’s standing in the eyes of international friends, the diplomatic sector should prioritise several key activities in the near future.

It is crucial to ensure the effective implementation of both the Cultural Diplomacy Strategy and the Foreign Cultural Strategy until 2030. This involves building and refining mechanisms and policies to support the promotion of national art and the export of cultural products abroad. By doing so, we can proactively expand cultural cooperation with other countries, diversify forms of cultural promotion and deepen international cultural relations to achieve practical effectiveness. Selectively absorbing the world’s cultural essence will enrich our national culture and strengthen our cultural diplomacy efforts.

Additionally, we must further harness the talents and dedication of Vietnamese intellectuals and artists residing abroad to promote the country’s culture. They can serve as bridges in promoting the image of Việt Nam, its culture, and its people on the global stage. Establishing several Việt Nam Cultural Centres abroad and translation and cultural promotion centres for Việt Nam will facilitate these efforts.

All these activities necessitate collaborative efforts from various sectors of society, including the state, enterprises, private individuals, both domestically and internationally. Through collective action, we can confidently envision a bright future for cultural promotion activities, contributing to the realisation of our aspirations to build a prosperous and happy country. VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Director of the Drug Administration of Vietnam Vũ Tuấn Cường. Photo vtv.vn

Director of the Drug Administration of Việt Nam, Vũ Tuấn Cường, spoke to with Vietnam Television regarding the future development trajectory of the pharmaceutical industry.

As the leading advisory body on pharmaceuticals and cosmetics legislation for the Government and the Ministry of Health, could you assess the notable achievements of the pharmaceutical industry in recent years?

Over the past few years, with the guidance of the Party Committee and the Minister of Health, the pharmaceutical industry has made significant strides forward. Foremost among these achievements is the consistent provision of quality medicines at reasonable prices to the populace.

Especially amid the recent challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have successfully procured over 250 million doses of vaccines and tens of millions of doses of medication, bolstering public health efforts.

The industry has diligently constructed a robust legal framework, pivotal for its sustained growth. We’ve played a pivotal role in advising on the enactment of 31 legislative instruments, including the Pharmaceutical Industry Development Strategy, Pharmaceutical Industry Development Project, and an array of legislative statutes, thereby fostering an environment conducive for production, trade and advancement.

We’ve prioritised administrative streamlining, reducing regulatory hurdles, and catalysing digital transformation. Substantial transformations have been witnessed across all facets of the industry. Presently, retail systems interlink 61,000 pharmacies and 100 per cent of public service procedures have achieved Level 4 status. Notably, drug quality is rigorously assured, with the incidence of substandard drugs consistently held below 1 per cent.

Could you please outline the strategies to enhance the utilisation of domestically produced and exported drugs in Việt Nam in the foreseeable future?

We advocate for a comprehensive approach. Firstly, it’s imperative to bolster the capabilities of domestic production entities. Presently, we’ve attained over 50 per cent domestic drug production.

Effective communication campaigns are essential to underscore the quality of domestically manufactured drugs, thereby fostering increased adoption. Additionally, we must incentivise investment and foster a conducive environment for the growth of localised pharmaceutical industries.

Strategically, we need to formulate policies that prioritise the procurement of domestic drugs, aiming to achieve an 80 per cent domestic drug usage target by 2030.

What strategic directions and initiatives are imperative for the future advancement of the pharmaceutical industry?

Confronted with global adversities, our pharmaceutical sector encounters challenges such as disrupted supply chains and the deficiency in producing certain specialised drugs.

Our reliance on imported raw materials underscores the necessity for strategic interventions for future industry development.

Primarily, we must intensify efforts to attract investment and facilitate technology transfer, crucial for mitigating our reliance on imported raw materials.

We must leverage our indigenous herbal resources and prioritise the development of herbal-based pharmaceutical products.

Strategic integration into the global value chain, coupled with the promotion of drug exports where Việt Nam holds competitive advantages, is paramount.

Lastly, continuous administrative reforms, digital transformation initiatives, and the enactment of investor-friendly policies are vital to propel our industry towards the goal of achieving parity with advanced regional counterparts by 2030, attaining a Level 4 classification per the World Health Organization’s pharmaceutical industry development scale.

Could you elaborate on the key policies proposed in the upcoming amendments to the Pharmacy Law?

In our efforts to amend several articles of the Pharmacy Law, we have made the draft available on both the Government and Ministry of Health websites, adhering to the timeline for submission to the National Assembly by May 2024. It is anticipated that the Assembly will review and potentially approve it during the October 2024 session.

The forthcoming amendments to the Pharmacy Law will centre around five pivotal policies aimed at fostering administrative procedural reforms and enhancing the investment climate, propelling the pharmaceutical industry towards greater growth and development.

Concerning registration procedures, our focus will be on facilitating the automatic renewal of conditional registration numbers, fostering a conducive environment for businesses to seamlessly access the Vietnamese market.

We will introduce a dedicated chapter on pharmaceutical industry development, outlining comprehensive preferential policies pertaining to technology, taxation and innovation. Notably, emphasis will be placed on policies incentivising the production and sourcing of raw materials for pharmaceutical chemistry, ensuring a robust and self-sufficient supply chain for the future development of the pharmaceutical sector. VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Nguyễn Thị Kim Thoa, former director of Department of Criminal and Administrative Legislation. VNS Photo Khánh Dương

Nguyễn Thị Kim Thoa, former director of Department of Criminal and Administrative Legislation under the Ministry of Judicial Affairs, speaks to Việt Nam News reporter Khánh Dương on citizens’ rights to access land information, which have been regulated in the Land Law 2024.

The Land Law 2014 has laid out regulations on citizens’ rights to access land information including land master plan and land pricing. Could you elaborate on the importance of disclosing land information to the public?

Learning land information about the places where people live is the basic right stated in the Constitution’s Article 25. It is said that information is the oxygen of life. In the environment where they are living, they must be aware of the level of air pollution or water standards.

Land information is the information that citizens have the right to ask for. It is important information as it is linked to citizens’ properties.

If you want to make an investment, establish a new factory, you have to own land and you must know the district’s land master plan. We must know which land is classified as forest land, which is production land or residential land, to avoid using the land lot for the wrong purpose.

The United Nations Development Programme in Việt Nam and its partners recently published a review on the disclosure of land information by local authorities in Việt Nam from 2021 to the present. The review highlights significant improvements in the transparency of disclosing land use plans and land pricing frameworks on the web portals of provincial and district governments. Could you comment on these results?

According to the review, about 73 per cent of provinces and central-level cities in Việt Nam have disclosed land pricing frameworks on their web portals as of October 2023.

Out of a total of 705 district units nationwide, 65.4 per cent have disclosed district-level land use master plans for the 2021-2030 period.

I feel optimistic as the level of disclosing land use plans and land pricing has been increasing. That is extremely important to citizens as they need lots of information including land information.

If they have the capital to make an investment, they need to know how their land lot is to be used.

I think transparency in disclosing land use plans and land pricing also helps avoid corruption and bribery. Instead of giving bribes to get access to land information, now citizens can access open information as stated by the law.

Do you have any recommendation for State management agencies to improve citizen’s rights of accessing land information?

The most important thing is whether citizens are aware of their rights to access land information. That will encourage the transparent disclosure of land use plans and land pricing frameworks.

We need to collect feedback of public employees who are directly in charge of land information disclosure at the provincial and district levels, as well as ask for citizens’ feedback to know which areas still have shortcomings, which have not been properly implemented, to make improvements.

We have to agree that the enforcement of the land information access law must be included in the professional land law.

The information access law only acts as a supplement to regulate procedures of disclosing land information, in cases where the information is to be disclosed.

Meanwhile the land law covers which type of information should be disclosed and at which time.

Public employees in charge of land information disclosure must read and learn professional land law in their areas while citizens must understand land law in their sector and not miss any single document. VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Vietnam Internet Association chairman Vũ Hoàng Liên. — Photo baotintuc.vn

Vũ Hoàng Liên, Chairman of the Vietnam Internet Association, spoke to Tin tức (News) newspaper about the execution of the 2021-2030 plan for information and communications infrastructure with a vision to 2050, and the opportunities for internet development in Việt Nam. 

How do you evaluate the information and communications infrastructure planning for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050?

Planning is of great importance to all sectors. The recent development of the information and communications sector is highly regarded with multiple achievements being seen.

In the future, the information and communications infrastructure will encounter great challenges due to the exponential growth of digital technology and applications. The rights of communities and consumers will increase and change from in the past, in addition to the on-demand customisation in accordance with the location, sector and population. 

Therefore, information and communications development planning in the near future will take on a different perspective than before and must stay ahead of the curve in technology and culture. 

Internet development also needs to be transformed to respond to the needs of communities, businesses and the people. In the face of the immediate changes, internet planning must be bold in terms of scale, technology and depth. If the criteria in this plan are met, a new dimension will open up for internet development in Việt Nam. 

How do you think the plan should be executed to achieve these criteria?

To meet the criteria set out in the plan, I believe that purposeful solutions are of utmost importance. The plan can serve as a landscape, but without specific solutions, the paths will not be clear. An important factor in the plan is demand forecasting, yet the demands in this sector are multi-dimensional, changing rapidly and affected by numerous factors.

The planning must forecast the consumption demands and future fluctuations in alignment with technology and lifestyle trends. In this way, solutions and options can be put forward for implementation. I believe that solutions can engage resources. From the general plan, we can divide it into different categories and sectors.

The indicators in the plan are carefully crafted and achievable, in my opinion. The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) acts as the advisor for the plan development, but that doesn’t mean that the plan execution is solely the responsibility of the MIC. That is the collective responsibility of the society, communities and national economy. These goals are achievable, if well-organised.

A new landing station for the cable system was built in the coastal Quy Nhơn City of Bình Định Province. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

This infrastructure plan set out to develop at least three multi-purpose database clusters at the national level in addition to four to six undersea fibre optic cables. Do you think this goal can sufficiently meet the infrastructure demands for internet development?

It is necessary to increase the number of undersea cables to develop the internet infrastructure in Việt Nam and respond to the enormous demands of the people. Investing in undersea cables is one of the aspects and solutions very worth noting. 

This will concern the network capacity, routing, technology used and responsibilities of various stakeholders during operation. I think that for the undersea cable aspect alone, there is a significant need for capacity, much larger than the current level. 

As for databases, this will be an important digital infrastructure, especially with the development goals for e-government, digital economy and society. There is potential to build national-level data centres. However, supporting policies are required to determine the role and position of these data hubs.

Data centres need significant investment capital but their potential will be immense. Databases, undersea cable and wireless bandwidth, among others factors, will contribute to an interconnected, comprehensive infrastructure for a digital framework that can meet huge demand in the near future. 

Internet development also requires connection with the core of the associated digital infrastructure, which should be developed in parallel with digital applications and content as well as online services. 

Therefore, this plan will act as a driving force and attract various stakeholders, while also promoting the country’s digital infrastructure to develop the digital economy and other socio-cultural aspects. — VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Võ Thanh Tùng, energy advisor of PtX Outreach Project of German Agency for International Cooperation. Photo courtesy of GIZ

Việt Nam News reporter Khánh Dương speaks to Võ Thanh Tùng, energy advisor of PtX Outreach Project of German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) about Việt Nam’s national strategy on hydrogen energy development.

Việt Nam has recently approved the Hydrogen Energy Strategy to develop the energy industry in a green, clean and sustainable manner. How do you assess Việt Nam’s potential in achieving this?

Việt Nam possesses great potential to develop the hydrogen industry. With abundant renewable energy sources such as solar power up to 300 GW or offshore wind power up to 600 GW, we can take advantage to promote the green hydrogen industry’s development through the application of advanced technologies such as water electrolysis.

Recent advances that allow the production of hydrogen from seawater are extremely important factors, creating favourable conditions for us to build complexes for offshore wind power production and at the same time provide electricity for electrolysis equipment to produce hydrogen from seawater.

Currently, the annual hydrogen output produced for the domestic market is about 500,000 tonnes. But hydrogen is produced mainly from fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas.

Việt Nam not only needs to produce low-emission hydrogen to replace current market demand, but also must expand the market and boost demand from difficult-to-develop industries such as electricity, transportation (including aviation, waterways, road transport), heavy industry such as metallurgy, petrochemical refining or chemical production. This is also an important key to developing the hydrogen industry.

Việt Nam can also make good use of its geographical location to provide green hydrogen to global and regional markets, meeting the needs of countries wishing to import hydrogen products.

These are important directions that are also mentioned in the new national hydrogen energy strategy approved by the Prime Minister.

These important policy directions will serve as important premises to help management agencies and investors take appropriate steps to concretise potential into high-tech projects with commercial and economical efficiency.

Green hydrogen is produced through water electrolysis, in which electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Photo ontario.ca

How important is hydrogen in helping Việt Nam realise the green energy transition goal and net zero emission target by 2050?

Green hydrogen plays an important role in the energy transition, realising the commitment to carbon neutrality by mid-century.

According to estimates by a number of reputable organisations, the proportion of renewable energy has continuously increased in the global electricity system. However by the end of 2022 this proportion was estimated at approximately 30 per cent and the process of reducing emissions has achieved limited results.

That’s simply because the electricity industry only contributes about 40 per cent of global emissions while the remaining 60 per cent comes from manufacturing and processing industries such as metallurgy, chemical manufacturing or transportation including aviation and waterways.

That’s why the world is considering the green hydrogen industry as one of the important solutions to solving the carbon neutrality problem by mid-century.

Việt Nam is in a similar situation. We will not be able to achieve the carbon neutral goal if we do not promote the hydrogen industry in order to provide products for industries that are difficult to emit emissions such as transportation, heavy industries (metallurgy, chemicals and petrochemical refining).

Key objectives set out in Việt Nam’s hydrogen energy strategy. Infographics Vietnamplus.vn

What are the key challenges Việt Nam will face while developing hydrogen?

To develop a new industry like hydrogen, of course there will be numerous challenges that we will encounter. I only mention a few main challenges.

First of all, that is market development. Because it is a completely new industry, there is currently no demand for the product. Of course, investors will consider choosing whether to participate in the market or not, especially when it is difficult for new products to immediately compete with traditional fossil fuels such as oil and coal in terms of price.

In many countries, to promote the market, governments need to have appropriate mechanisms to support businesses and investors to participate in the market and help shorten the gaps of green hydrogen production costs and increase competitiveness with other fuels.

Amid domestic market’s various limitations and uncertainties, promoting exports is a reasonable direction, aiming to access potential markets with great demand.

The State needs to have appropriate policies to promote and encourage domestic and foreign investors to participate in the export-oriented market.

Pioneering export enterprises are also the driving force to promote the domestic market’s development, creating products suitable to the needs of the domestic market in the future.

I also want to mention infrastructure. Việt Nam now only has infrastructure for the gas industry, but not for the hydrogen industry.

To develop this industry, it is clearly necessary to build a synchronous infrastructure system, from power supply, to transportation, storage, and warehouses. Building an infrastructure system is an especially important task when we know the cost of transporting hydrogen is very high.

Effective planning, increasing the ability to connect between production areas and consumption areas play a decisive role in the industry’s development.

Taking advantage of the oil and gas industry’s current infrastructure system is also a problem that needs an early solution to help minimise investment costs and ensure the rapid growth of the hydrogen industry.

Policy mechanisms are also important.

The launch of the hydrogen strategy has opened up an important direction for the industry to develop sustainably, effectively, and competitively.

Việt Nam needs to have consistent and reasonable policies to attract investment, develop markets, and build infrastructure. This is both a requirement and an important challenge that the hydrogen industry needs to address, eliminate bottlenecks, and clear capital flows for development.

Việt Nam’s first and largest green hydrogen factory was inaugurated in March 2023 in the Mekong Delta province of Trà Vinh’s Duyên Hải District, with total investment of VNĐ8 trillion (US$341 million). Covering an area of 21ha, the project is expected to become operational after two years, initially producing 24,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 195,000 tonnes of oxygen a year. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Hòa

The Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên has highlighted the roles of international partners in sharing experience, technology and training human resources for hydrogen development in Việt Nam. How has GIZ supported Việt Nam in energy transition and implementing the Hydrogen Energy Strategy?

We, as the German Agency for International Cooperation, have accompanied the Vietnamese government to develop the hydrogen industry.

Over the years, we have supported the organisation of training programmes to improve professional knowledge at Government agencies, State-owned enterprises and private companies.

We have also carried out a number of research consulting activities, thereby seeing the potential benefits of the industry not only in environmental issues but also in economic development.

We will continue to accompany the Vietnamese Government to support policy framework development, capacity building, knowledge and technology enhancement as well as support businesses in building strategies to promote the energy transition process as well as develop a sustainable and effective hydrogen market. VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Darrell Wade, Chair and Co-Founder of Intrepid Travel.— VNS Photo Nguyễn Hằng

Darrell Wade, Chair and Co-Founder of Intrepid Travel, the world’s largest adventure travel company and a pioneer in responsible tourism, talked with Việt Nam News reporter Nguyễn Hằng about the potential of the Vietnamese tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic

How do you evaluate the potential of the Vietnamese tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic?

I think the first thing to say about Việt Nam tourism is to take it in historical context. Over the last 20 years, it has grown very regularly. Therefore, we see no reason for that to stop. The natural attractions within Việt Nam are diverse and really what the world is looking for. We see that in the next five, 10 or 20 years, Việt Nam tourism will continue to grow. In that long term context, to be honest, I do not think COVID-19 is relevant. We are going to forget about COVID-19 really quickly. It is just something that happened. The country will continue to grow and prosper through tourism.

The potential for Việt Nam tourism is really, I think, in the diversity of the country. You have great cities here that are attractive to foreign markets, great beaches, great adventures activities and also great touring options. It is not like some place where you just fly and you drop, that is your destination. Việt Nam has a depth of experiences right through the country, which really encourages a longer-term stay and repeat visits. We see a lot of people coming back to Việt Nam year after year because they want to experience different aspects of the same country. That is a unique characteristic of Việt Nam that not many countries have. It will really drive the long-term growth of the country.

The scene inside Sơn Đoòng Cave in the coastal central province of Quảng Bình. —VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Trung

Compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, how do you rate Việt Nam’s tourism competitiveness?

If you look at other countries that do really well in tourism, Thailand, Indonesia (Bali) and Singapore, the variety of attractions in Việt Nam is more significant. It really does offer that chance for repeat business and continued growth in the market. Plus, the value proposition of Việt Nam is still really strong. The price that a western tourist pays in Việt Nam is lower than in many of the competing countries. That is a really important function because it drives that competitive advantage. You can do more, you do more variety of things and you pay less. That is a really strong proposition.

The quality of the tourism services in Việt Nam is actually good. I think it is competitive on the global stage. I would not have said that about Việt Nam ten years ago, but today, definitely, the quality of food and beverage service, hotel service and touring is all approaching world class. At the price you are paying, it is exceptional. So, there is no problem with the quality of the tourism service in Việt Nam.

One of the best-selling features of Việt Nam is the value. Việt Nam offers incredible value to customers. You can walk down the street, eat at a really nice restaurant and pay, by international standards, a low price, but it is a world class product. It is not like you pay a little bit and you get a little bit. No, you pay a little bit and you get a lot. That is real value. I think Việt Nam should not forget the fact that value is a competitive advantage.

Việt Nam is considered a “paradise” for foreign elderly people to enjoy their retirement. What are your thoughts on that?

It is an interesting market segment. There are definitely in certain western markets, elder people who want to take longer holidays in the destination. In fact, my own brother comes to Hội An Ancient Town for a month every year. He does not go anywhere else, he just goes to Hội An. He gets a villa near the beach. He loves it with a passion because of great food, great weather, great beach, lovely people and good value. He told me: why would he go anywhere else?

That long-term stay of one month or two months is something we were not seeing ten years ago anywhere in the world. Now, it is seen as a viable holiday option each year and I think Việt Nam is very well placed for that. By the way, visas are still a sticky point in Việt Nam. From a traveller’s or a tour operator’s perspective, ease of access into the market through good air connections and favourable visa policies is a critical factor in the success of the country’s long-term tourism strategy.

Tourists at Hội An Ancient Town in the coastal central province of Quảng Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Trần Tĩnh

Could you talk about the role of tourism sustainability in a country’s competitive advantage?

First of all, I think sustainability is so critical for the future that it does not matter what market segment you are talking about. You have to get sustainability right. Whether that is premium or backpacker, it does not matter. The market is increasingly wanting to see sustainability delivered. What are you doing with plastic? What are you doing with energy? What are you doing with labour? All sorts of factors are very important in the client decision these days on where they are going to travel, how long they are going to stay, and how happy they are in that destination.

Everyone in the supply chain, hotels, transport companies and tour operators, we all have to consider sustainability and how we are going to improve that in the longer term. Because I strongly feel that sustainability now is becoming a competitive advantage between countries. Certain countries will do it really well. Certain countries will not do it well. Those countries that do it well will benefit in the long term. Their tourism industry will be really strong and prosperous for many years. Countries which do not will get less prosperous over time. In the old days, it was just a nice beach and a cheap holiday. That was enough. These days, that is not enough. You have to really build sustainability in as a part of the product.

What is the role of Việt Nam’s market for your company?

For us as a company, Việt Nam is incredibly important. We started here, operating our first trip in 1993. So we have a really long heritage in Việt Nam. Today, Intrepid operates in 120 countries around the world, but Việt Nam was country number five. We came here early.

Back in the early 90s, tourism in Việt Nam was a very small thing and very different than today. In many ways, we have grown up with the country in tourism. Việt Nam is an incredibly important destination for us. It is still our number one destination globally. And apart from the size, Việt Nam is also one of the countries with the very highest level of traveller satisfaction. We measure the Net Promoter Score (NPS) across all our destinations and Việt Nam is always in the top two or three destinations.— VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

Illustrative photo VNA?VNS Photo

 HÀ NỘI – The newly elevated relationship between Việt Nam and the US to the comprehensive strategic partnership not only deepens the two countries’ diplomatic relations but translates as an opportunity for Washington to upgrade Việt Nam’s recognition as a market economy, said James Borton – a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute (FPI) of the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

In an article published on geopoliticalmonitor.com on March 11, Borton said the market status recognition will bring many economic benefits to both countries.

He wrote that with the burgeoning trade flows between the two countries and the White House’s push for the establishment of the partnership agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), market status recognition would help Vietnam expand its trade and investment with the US.

The bilateral benefits for US companies derived from recognition of Việt Nam as a market economy include market access and export opportunities, namely in agriculture, machinery, aircraft, and pharmaceutical products, all of which contribute to the development of a supply chain that suits the US’s interests.

Market-status recognition would also contribute to a reduction in trade barriers, making it easier and cheaper for US businesses to export goods and services to Việt Nam, according to Borton.

Furthermore, the US’s recognition of Việt Nam as a market economy could further incentivise US companies to diversity their supply chains. Additionally, lower import prices and improved market access could enable US companies to increase their output and production in Việt Nam. This offers the potential to generate increased sales revenues and profitability for American companies operating in Vietnam

According to Borton, telecommunications, information technology, power generation, transportation infrastructure construction, environmental project management, and technology will continue to offer promising opportunities for US companies.

Việt Nam’s efforts in creating favourable business environment and equality for international investors are also mentioned in the writing. The author cited the World Bank’s “Doing Business 2020” report which placed Việt Nam at the commendable rank of 70th out of 190 economies, reflecting its commitment to nurturing favourable conditions for business operations. Furthermore, US News and World Report ranked Vietnam seventh among 78 countries in which to start a business in 2021, up 5 spots from a year earlier.

A total of 72 countries have recognised Việt Nam as a market economy including the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan. VNA/VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News

PM Phạm Minh Chính and his spouse say goodbye to representatives of Vietnamese people in Australia before leaving Canberra for an official visit to New Zealand on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

SYDNEY — The establishment of the Việt Nam – Australia comprehensive strategic partnership during Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s official visit to Australia, which concluded on Saturday, has attracted attention from Australian experts and scholars.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s resident correspondents in Australia, Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy, the University of New South Wales, said the upgrade of the bilateral ties to the comprehensive strategic partnership reflects the mutual respect for each other’s political regimes. Economic benefits have brought the two countries closer together for the sake of a broader strategic interest.

The new partnership will generate opportunities for more intensive discussions about various issues between Việt Nam and Australia, he said, noting that the majority of Australian people support the reinforcement of the ties with Việt Nam, especially in education.

The scholar held that Australia will prioritise cooperation with Việt Nam and promote dialogue. The two sides can jointly put forth and share ideas at different dialogue levels. All of these will serve the two countries’ shared future amid such challenges as climate change, economic uncertainties, and superpowers’ competition facing the world and the region.

Both sides will jointly gain benefits if they understand those challenges and find out the best ways for promoting the most effective cooperation via bilateral and multilateral mechanisms in which Việt Nam engages and has a strong role to play, Thayer added.

Greg Earl, former member of the Australia – ASEAN Council and former Southeast Asia correspondent at the Australian Financial Review, perceived that the elevation of the bilateral relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership will create a prerequisite for Việt Nam and Australia to enhance diplomatic ties more strongly and hold dialogues on regional issues.

In fact, he noted, the two countries have found out ways to build closer and closer relations, which are based on complementary economic policies and the large Vietnamese community that has helped deepen Australia’s understanding of the Southeast Asian nation.

The ties with Việt Nam form one of the fastest growing foreign relationships of Australia over the recent past. Despite different political regimes, the two countries share many similarities in their foreign policies towards the region.

In addition, Việt Nam is investing in resources of Australia, which in turn is importing more products from Việt Nam. This has helped Australian businesses become more familiar with Việt Nam, according to Earl.

Voicing his delight at the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, Hal Hill, Emeritus Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, described this as a positive sign for the future of both countries. Though they are not geographically close to each other, they can seize this opportunity to develop durable relations and mutual understanding in all aspects.

He said Việt Nam has enjoyed sound relations with most countries and secured an important stature in the international arena, setting an example for other countries to follow.

Besides, Việt Nam is considered as an economic “star” in Southeast Asia and the most successful country in this region in terms of entering the global production network – the fastest growing part of international trade. Many multinationals have come to Việt Nam and carried out production activities here.

Given this, Hill held that Việt Nam is a great opportunity for Australia.

The professor said in terms of political and social aspects, Việt Nam is a dynamic and active country which used to be one of the poorest in the world in the 1980s but thanks to Đổi mới (Renewal) course, it has established itself as a diverse economy with large rice exports and successful agriculture and fisheries.

With PM Chính’s visit and such optimistic signs, a new era has opened for closer relations between Việt Nam and Australia, he remarked. — VNS

This article was first posted on Vietnam News