President Sakellaropoulou lauded the important achievements that Vietnam has made during its struggle for independence and present process of socio-economic development. She affirmed that Greece highly valued the increasingly important role of Vietnam in the region and the world, and hoped to foster cooperation with Vietnam in all fields. They assigned the two ministries of foreign affairs to review and speed up solutions to promote the bilateral partnership. President Phuc took this occasion to thank Greece for providing COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam. President Sakellaropoulou said Greece supports Vietnam in strengthening its partnership and comprehensive cooperation with the EU and further optimise the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), thus helping to enhance trade ties between Vietnam and Greece.

Dao Hong Son triumphs the men’s Jujitsu Ne-Waza NOGI 56kg on May 15. (Photo: VNA)Vietnam's Jujitsu artists Phung Thi Hue and Dao Hong Son brought home two more gold medals on May 15 as the 31st Southeast Asian Games ( SEA Games 31 ) carried on.Hue championed the women’s Ne-Waza NOGI 45kg after defeating her Philippine opponent Co Jollirine who was awarded a silver medal. Thailand’s Sakaew Tadaporn and Cambodia’s Mab Sokhouy both finished third.Dao Hong Son beated Tang Yong Siang from Singapore to secure the first spot in the men’s Ne-Waza NOGI 56kg. Tang claimed the silver while Cortez Jan Vincent Cortez of the Philippines and Keadnin Komkrit of Thailand both earned bronzes.It was the last day of competitions for the Vietnamese Jujitsu team. So far, the team won two golds, one silver and two bronzes at the games./.

The festival organised by the EU Delegation to Vietnam will receive the support of the EU Policy and Outreach Partnership (EUPOP), the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reported. Da Nang expects this major market to quickly recover over the remaining months of this year. In 2019, prior to COVID-19, Da Nang welcomed nearly 1.8 million tourists from the RoK, arriving on more than 200 flights a week. Only Incheon - Da Nang flights have resumed so far, with 6 flights a week. Ha, who also served as head of the Halong Bay Management Board of Halong City, Quang Ninh Province, has been accused of abusing his position as chairman of the Halong City People’s Committee for personal gains.

Grandmaster Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (left) wins a gold medal in the men’s stardard chess category while Hoang Thi Bao Tram secures a bronze medal in the women’s group. (Photo: VNA)Quang Ninh (VNA) - Grandmaster (GM) Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son earned the first gold medal for Vietnamese chess on May 15 in the framework of the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31). He beat 11 rivals to triumph in the men’s standard chess category with seven points after nine matches. On the women’s group, Citra Dewi Ardhiani Anastasia and Sukandar Irine Kharisma of Indonesia took gold and silver medals. Chess players will continue with individual men’s and women’s fast chess events on May 16 and 17.

Smart travel cards are also linked and integrated with the "Vietnam Safe Travel" application from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). In 2019, Vietnam Tourism Review (Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) and TikTok signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in promoting Vietnam tourism, and the launch of a programme to promote Vietnam's tourism with video tools, #HelloVietnam programme . This shows that the State's social insurance policy is very interested in the income of pensioners, especially pensioners with low pensions, Vietnam Social Security announced. 583/QD-TTg assigning estimates of revenues and expenditures of social insurance, unemployment insurance, health insurance, and management costs of social insurance, unemployment insurance, and health insurance in 2022. Accordingly, the total revenue of social insurance, unemployment insurance, and health insurance in 2022 will be more than VND464,000 billion.

Pham Tien San won the first gold medal in Duathlon for Vietnam at SEA Games 31. (Photo: VNA)Quang Ninh (VNA) – Athlete Pham Tien San won the first gold medal in Duathlon for Vietnam at the 31st SEA Games on May 15 on Tuan Chau beach in the northern province of Quang Ninh. 31-year-old San had won three silver medals at SEA Games held in 2013, 2015 and 2017. The Duathlon event at SEA Games 31 has two sets of medals for men's and women's individual events. SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, is being held in the capital and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities until May 23.

Politics NA Chairman leaves Hanoi for official visit to Laos National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese legislature left Hanoi on May 15 morning for a three-day official visit to Laos. Politics PM’s trip affirms Vietnam’s commitment to UN: ambassador Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s working visit to the United Nations (UN) sends out a strong message and is an opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its foreign policy and its commitment as a friend and an active and responsible member of the international community, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, has said. Politics Vietnam, Cambodia hold fifth Defence Policy Dialogue The fifth Vietnam-Cambodia Defence Policy Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level was held at the Hoa Lu International Border Gate's border station in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on May 14. Politics Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets Lao counterpart in US Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh in Washington D.C on May 13 afternoon (US time) on the occasion of their attending the ASEAN-US Special Summit.

Politburo member and Chairman of the Central Theory Council Nguyen Xuan Thang and the Vietnamese delegation visit the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation (Photo: VNA)- Politburo member and Chairman of the Central Theory Council Nguyen Xuan Thang made a working visit to Israel from May 10-14, aiming to strengthen the bilateral friendship and cooperation.During the visit, Thang, who is also President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), had a meeting with Mickey Levy, a member of the leadership of Yesh Atid Party and Speaker of Knesset (Israeli Parliament); and held talks with Orna Barbivai, a member of the leadership of Yesh Atid Party and Minister of Economy and Industry .He also held working sessions with member of Yamina Party and Minister of Minister of Religious Services of Israel Matan Kahana; member of the leadership of Ne Hope Party and Chairman of the Israeli-Vietnamese Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Michal Shir Segman.Thang briefed the Israeli side on the situation of Vietnam as well as the country’s achievements in national construction, defence and development, social welfare, COVID-19 control and economic recovery.He lauded the role of Israel and the country’s success in COVID-19 control and economic recovery, expressing his delight at the growing bilateral ties since the two sides set up their diplomatic relations in 1993. He gave a number of proposals to promote the bilateral partnership in the time to come, including increasing delegation exchanges at all levels; enhancing the efficiency of the Inter-Governmental Committee; strengthening cooperation in areas of each other’s strength and potential, and in start-up, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, IT, and AI as well as green growth. He also suggested hastening the signing of a bilateral free trade agreement and a labour cooperation deal.The Israeli side hailed Thang’s visit as an important event that helps foster and deepen the friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries, heading to the 30th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations.They spoke highly of the role and position of Vietnam in the region and the world, and lauded the proposals by Thang, expressing hope to further develop the bilateral partnership and welcome senior leaders of Vietnam in the time to come. Israel hopes to strengthen people-to-people exchange and cooperation with Vietnam in economy, trade, science, agriculture, and tourism, they said, underlining their interest in the signing of a free trade agreement, which is expected to help bolster bilateral trade, investment ties, thus creating a new breakthrough in the bilateral partnership.

Vietnam among 10 countries with unique coffee cultureCanadian magazine The Travel has listed Vietnam among 10 countries with a unique coffee culture in which iced coffee with condensed milk and egg coffee are the best options. The Travel says: “In Vietnam, coffee isn't just a drink to start the day; it's something people enjoy morning, noon, and even night." CNN recently listed Vietnamese coffee among the 10 best in the world. Subianto, who is on an official visit from May 12 to 14, said his country always attaches importance to the relations with Vietnam. They reviewed the outcomes of bilateral defence cooperation, and agreed on cooperation orientations in the future.

Medal-winning artistic gymnasts in the men's team of SEA Games 31 stand at the podium. (Photo: VNA)The men’s gymnastics team of Singapore on May 13 grabbed its first medal since the 2015 SEA Games on home soil.The team scored 297.65 points to secure a bronze at the ongoing SEA Games 31 while host Vietnam triumphed with 331.25 points at the competition held in Hanoi’s Quan Ngua Sports Palace.Captain Terry Tay said regardless of the colour of the medal, it was a feat itself, saying that really has been a journey.He was also part of the team that won bronze in the same event at the 2015 SEA Games but said the two moments could not be compared.Each competition has its own charm and he was happy to have the current team behind him to push together, the Straits Times quoted the gymnast as saying. SEA Games 31 , themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, is being held in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities until May 23.It features 40 sports with 523 events, attracting around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic./.

Vietnamese dragon fruit (Photo: VNA)- Demand for Vietnamese dragon fruit in foreign markets is increasing, with many importers interested in high-quality fruit from Vietnam.The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency , the Department of Industry and Trade of southern Long An province, and the trade offices of the Vietnam ese Embassies in New Zealand and Australia jointly organised an online consulting session on exporting dragon fruits to Australia and New Zealand recently.Speaking at the event opening, Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung emphasised the importance of promoting agricultural cooperation, agricultural product trade and market opening for the strategic partnership between Vietnam and New Zealand.Vietnam wants New Zealand to share its experience and support Vietnam in building an international brand and value chain for the global commercialisation of dragon fruit, following the successful model of New Zealand's kiwi fruit, which is recognised worldwide.Vietnamese trade agencies in Australia and New Zealand shared business practices and consumption habits of the regional market and trade promotion of dragon fruit.They also suggested development orientations, including diversification of derivative product lines such as dragon fruit powder, frozen dragon fruit, dried dragon fruit, and dragon fruit juice to reduce pressure in the main cropping season.Agencies recommended that businesses and localities develop advertising and industry branding strategies on the nutritional properties of their products to enhance consumer awareness and expand customers in addition to the traditional Asian customer group.Deputy director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Chau Thi Le expressed her hope that through the session, dragon fruit producers would have more information, knowledge and opportunities to bring dragon fruit to potential markets such as Australia or New Zealand.Dragon fruit is one of the key plants of the province. Long An ranks second in the country in terms of planting and harvesting dragon fruit with about 11,822 hectares, and the fruiting area is approximately 11,000 hectares.The provincial dragon fruit exports are mainly fresh and frozen to many markets, including China, the Republic of Korea, the US, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and some Southeast Asian countries. The Chinese market accounts for about 80 percent of export volume.However, recently, China's import and export management policy, the complicated pandemic situation, and the increase in dragon fruit growing areas in China have caused many difficulties and losses for Vietnamese growers and export enterprises.In addition to consuming and exporting fresh fruit, enterprises in Long An province also deeply process many products from dragon fruit, such as dried dragon fruit, dragon fruit wine, dragon fruit juice, mixed dragon fruit powder, and dragon fruit syrup for domestic and export demand.The provincial Chau Thanh dragon fruit has also been granted a certificate of geographical indication registration by the Intellectual Property of Vietnam. The Tam Vu dragon fruit trademark has been protected in five countries, including the US, France, Japan, Singapore and China./.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Tram (blue) in a match against Estrella of the Philippines (Photo: VNA)- Nguyen Thi Thanh Tram on May 13 won a gold for the Vietnamese Kurash team at the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), lifting the total number of gold medals in the sport to seven, surpassing the target of five.Tram claimed the gold medal in the women’s under-70kg class.The Vietnamese team also bagged one silver and two bronze medals on May 13 - the third and also last competition day in Kurash, which featured the men’s under-73kg, the women’s under-57kg and under-70kg categories.Head coach of the national Kurash team Nguyen Tuan Hoc attributed the success to the attention of sports authorities, careful preparations over the last two years, and high determination of athletes. SEA Games 31 , themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held in the capital and 11 neighbouring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic./.

The “Experiencing UK” scholarship fund aims to improve students’ ability to integrate internationally, contributing to enhancing cultural and educational exchanges between Vietnam and the UK. Greek President to pay official visit to VietnamGreek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou will pay an official visit to Vietnam from May 15-19. Trial begins for former deputy health ministerThe People’s Court of Hà Nội has begun the first instance trial of former Deputy Health Minister Trương Quốc Cường and 13 other defendants accused of trading counterfeit cancer medicine labeled as Health 2000 Canada. Health ministry proposes to halt COVID-19 testing requirements for arrivalsThe Vietnamese Ministry of Health has proposed to temporarily suspend COVID-19 test requirements for passengers entering Việt Nam by air. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport will continue to coordinate with research agencies to develop a mechanism and overall plan for the project, said An.

Vietnamese fencer Vu Thanh An won gold at the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) after defeating his Thai opponent in the final of the men's sabre individual event on May 13.After going cruising through the group and knockout stages, An defeated Ruangrit Haekerd 15-11 to qualify for the final.His opponent Srinualnad Voragun was overwhelmed with a score of 15-7, with An successfully defending his SEA Games title.Vietnamese fencing coach Pham Anh Tuan said he believes that An will continue to dominate the sport./.

Passengers in Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam (Photo: VNA)Vietnam will drop the COVID-19 test requirement for visitors entering the country starting from 00:00am May 15 as the pandemic has been brought under control.The move came as the number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam has decreased significantly since March 15 this year, according to an official document issued by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on May 14.The document also noted that the country has also seen a decreasing number of COVID-19 deaths, severe cases and hospitalisations. Many countries have also relaxed COVID-19 curbs while existing vaccines are still effective against different variants of coronavirus.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is asked to direct Vietnamese agencies abroad to notify people wishing to enter Vietnam to comply with requirements on COVID-19 prevention and control as per the guidance of the Ministry of Health.Vietnam dropped health declaration requirements for foreign arrivals from April 27 and COVID-19 vaccine certificates, quarantine requirements from March 16 shortly after it reopened tourism for international visitors.Vietnam has to date administered more than 216.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, of which nearly 68.7 million people have been vaccinated with at least two doses.In the past week, the country reported only one COVID-19 death a day on average./.