The Embassy’s partners in the projects are Oxfam in Vietnam, ActionAid in Vietnam, East Meets West, CARE International in Vietnam, Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Tan Binh Centre, and SCDeaf. Themed “My Vietnam”, the short film competition encourages filmmakers from underrepresented communities to tell the stories of Vietnam through their own eyes. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee presented two certificates of merit and 15 creative youth badges. The information was announced by the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA). Fine arts exhibition promoting “Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space” opensA fine arts exhibition themed “Studying and following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle” opened at the HCMC Fine Arts Association on May 11 to mark the 132nd birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19).

(Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam headVietnam head coach Mai Duc Chung remained calm after his team’s 2-1 victory on May 11 over the Philippines, which are among the favourites to win the gold medal of SEA Games 31 women’s football , according to the Organising Committee. Vietnam and the Philippines will be Southeast Asian representatives at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Midfielder Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung equalised for Vietnam in the 37th minute thanks to an assist by Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy. Vietnam’s No.8 Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang dribbled the ball through Philippine defenders and gave Vietnam the lead in early of the second half. Vietnam are the reigning champions of SEA Games and striving to defend their title at this year’s Games on home soil.

World Malaysia, Singapore to host SEA Games in 2027, 2029 Malaysia and Singapore will host the 34th and 35th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2027 and 2029, respectively, according to the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF). World SEA Games 31: Cambodian cyclists determined to obtain best results The Cambodian Cycling Federation (CCF) has selected outstanding athletes to take part in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) being held in Vietnam. World ASEAN foreign ministers review preparation for ASEAN-US Special Summit Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reviewed preparations for the ASEAN - US Special Summit in Washington D.C on May 11 (local time). World Malaysian expert stresses significance of Special ASEAN - US Summit A Malaysian expert in international affairs has highlighted the significance of the Special ASEAN - US Summit, which will mark the 45th anniversary of the two sides’ dialogue relations.

The Australian government committed more than 14 million vaccine doses, along with medical supplies for the vaccine rollout in Vietnam. During the three-day sitting, members of the committee will debate 11 issues and give opinions in written form on three others. Vietnam to face Laos in League of Legends: Wild Rift-Mobile at SEA Games 31Vietnam will face Laos in the first match of League of Legends: Wild Rift-Mobile at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), according to the Organising Committee. At SEA Games 31, e-sports consists of eight games and 10 events, including League of Legends: Wild Rift-Mobile, PUBG Mobile, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. There will be no athlete village at SEA Games 31, and sports delegations will stay in hotels near competition venues.

World SEA Games 31: Cambodian cyclists determined to obtain best results The Cambodian Cycling Federation (CCF) has selected outstanding athletes to take part in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) being held in Vietnam. World ASEAN foreign ministers review preparation for ASEAN-US Special Summit Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reviewed preparations for the ASEAN - US Special Summit in Washington D.C on May 11 (local time). World Malaysian expert stresses significance of Special ASEAN - US Summit A Malaysian expert in international affairs has highlighted the significance of the Special ASEAN - US Summit, which will mark the 45th anniversary of the two sides’ dialogue relations. World SEA Games 31: Thailand beat Malaysia 6-2 in men’s futsal Thailand crushed Malaysia 6-2 at the opening match of SEA Games 31 men’s futsal which took place in the northern province of Ha Nam on May 11.

All team members underwent COVID-19 tests upon arrival. Later that day, the team held a training session in preparation for the Games. As the venue for table tennis at SEA Games 31, Hai Duong is expected to welcome nearly 100 players, coaches, and representative of organisations from 8 countries: Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. The table tennis competition will take place from 10am to 10pm daily on May 13-20 at the Gymnastics and Sports Stadium in Hai Duong./.

Vietnam ese representatives from King Man and Team Flash (Photo: Organising Committee)– With the progress seen through recent tournaments held both at home and abroad, Vietnamese free fire teams have high hope to bring gold from the 31st Southeast Asia Games ( SEA Games 31 ), according to the games' Organising Committee.Vietnamese representatives, King Man and Team Flash, will compete at the regional sports event with strong passion and high determination.Currently, players of the two teams are training hard with an aim to overcome strong rivals from Thailand and Indonesia for a gold medal. Free fire has become one of the e-sports event at SEA Games for the first time. As scheduled, competitions will take place from May 13-15./.

– A workshop on the roadmap for building a legal system on the prevention and control of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation in Vietnam is taking place in both face-to-face and virtual forms on May 10-12.The event is jointly organised by the national coordinating agency for the prevention and control of WMD proliferation (also known as standing Office 81) and the Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) programme of the US Department of State.The workshop, which sees the participation of representatives from Vietnamese ministries and sectors, and experts from the EXBS and the US Department of Energy, is the first in a series of seminars aimed perfecting the legal system in the field. This workshop demonstrates Vietnam's responsibility in implementing Resolution 1540 on preventing the proliferation of WMD of the UN Security Council in general and in the field of preventing and controlling WMD proliferation in particular, thus contributing to perfecting the country’s legal corridor in this area.Standing Office 81 and relevant units have orientations and detailed work plans for each period and each year, focusing on international cooperation activities to support Vietnam in perfecting its legal system, improving the ability of forces tasked with managing and performing the prevention and control of WMD proliferation.Participants to the workshop are updated on international regulations on strategic trade control stipulated in the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1540; international obligations, treaties and mechanisms related to the prevention of strategic goods and WMD proliferation.They are also discussing and proposing a roadmap for building a legal system on preventing and combating the proliferation of WMD in Vietnam./.

Culture - Sports SEA Games 31: Philippines kickboxing team hopes for gold After victories and luck of the draw on May 10, Philippine officials said they hope their kickboxers will win gold medals at competitions the framework of the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

More than 1,000 traffic police officers from the Traffic Police Department and 12 localities have been mobilised to ensure traffic order and safety during SEA Games 31. Traffic police will be deployed to conduct patrols and lead delegations at the sporting event. A number of other police forces will also be mobilised to ensure traffic order and safety at road checkpoints. The Traffic Police Department recommends that people give way to convoys of vehicles serving the SEA Games, to avoid any traffic jams./.

Vietnam on May 10 secured the gold medal in the men’s beach handball after beating the Philippines 2-1 at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).The hosts Vietnam completely won victory in five consecutive matches, scoring 10 points. Media centre for SEA Games 31 opensThe Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) for the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) officially opened at the National Convention Centre on May 9. Run by Vietnam Television (VTV) with the support of participating countries and international channels, it is the venue for the production of TV programmes for SEA Games 31. Vietnam women’s football team determined to defend titleThe women’s football team of Vietnam are aiming to defend their title at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 31, said coach Mai Duc Chung, according to the national SEA Games 31 organising committee. SEA Games 31: U23 Indonesia defeat Timor Leste 4-1U23 Indonesia defeated Timor Leste 4-1 on May 10 in the qualifying round of group A men’s football at SEA Games 31.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery (red tie) at an exhibition to introduce the project "Reviving a French architectural heritage" to consult experts on the preservation of a villa at 49 Tran Hung Dao street, Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)Villa at 49 Tran Hung Dao street (Photo: VNA)– The French Embassy in Vietnam on May 9 held a press conference launching a project named “ Share and protect Vietnam’s heritage ”.The project receives a funding of 18 billion VND (784,300 USD) for activities during 2022-2024 from the French Government and partners such as museums, localities and universities.Sophie Maysonnave, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Activities at the French embassy, said the project will be carried out in three regions of Vietnam: renovating the Tourist Centre of Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh, supporting for Environmental Education and Communication Centre in Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area in the central province of Quang Nam, and designing and implementing “Story Boxes” for museums in Ho Chi Minh City in the south.The project ’s activities include training courses for museum staffs, which will be taught by experts from France’s famous museums and universities.Cooperation between the two countries’ museums will also be intensified through field trips to exchange experience in the European country.French Ambassador Nicolas Warnery said this project opens up a new stage in a significant cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating both sides’ aspirations to boost ties in the field of natural and cultural heritage, especially in preservation activities.Sharing France’s experience of managing heritage, the diplomat said that the quality and activities of heritage conservation and museums have made an important contribution to making France a leading tourist destination in the world and to the country’s economic growth.Vietnam can take advantage of its culture and heritage to promote economic development, he added./.

The flowers on sale in AEON Mall Makuhari in Chiba prefecture, Japan (Photo: VNA)– Many kinds of flowers of Vietnam have gained a foothold in the Japanese market , and are quite popular among local consumers.Japan now remains one of the important flower export market of Vietnam Talking to the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in Japan, Kaori Sato, head of crop products division of the retail corporate group AEON, said about 40 percent of the flowers on sale in AEON Mall Makuhari in Chiba prefecture are imported flowers.Hiroshi Yamasaki, an office worker in Tokyo, said he often buys flowers to give to his relatives and friends. He especially likes Vietnamese flowers because they are very fresh and beautiful.The latest statistics from the Japan Customs show that in 2021, Japan spent 65.3 billion JPY (528 million USD) on importing flowers, including 45 million USD on imports from Vietnam, or 8.52 percent of the total, ranking Vietnam the fourth among countries and territories exporting flowers to the Asian country.Vietnam’s flower export turnover hit 61.8 million USD in 2021, posting a year-on-year increase of 27 percent.According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan, the Asian country mainly imports carnations, chrysanthemums, lilies, orchids and roses from Vietnam.Although Vietnam's market share in the Japanese flower market has grown rapidly recently, economic experts said that the potential for Vietnamese flowers in this market remains large.There is a big room for Vietnam to further expand its flower export to Japan, Sato said.Vietnamese flower growers and export ers should pay special attention to ensuring the quality of flowers in accordance with their commitments to Japanese partners, and strictly abiding by Japan’s regulations on plant quarantine and using chemicals to preserve or colour flowers, said Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Japan Ta Duc Minh./.

Ju-Jitsu competitions will take place on May 14 and 15 at the Dan Phuong Gymasium in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)- Cambodian Ju-Jitsu star Jessa Khan is a gold hope for Cambodia at the at the 31st Southeast Asian Games ( SEA Games 31 ) that will take place in Vietnam from May 12 to 23.At this SEA Games, she will compete in the 51.5kg category of the Ju-Jitsu event with her teammate Mab Sok Houy.Cambodian-American Khan said she had returned to Cambodia with the full confidence that she would be competing for gold at the biggest regional sporting event.She said she was well-prepared and always ready to compete for gold for Cambodia at SEA Games 31.Her father Peter Khan – a professional Ju-Jitsu martial arts coach – and Cambodian Ju-Jitsu Federation President Seng Bunsong both expect that the Asian and SEA Games gold medalist will shine again.Before these games, Khan won a gold medal in the 52kg class in Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2022 in Floria, the US. She also won a gold at the SEA Games 2018 in Indonesia, and another at the SEA Games 2019 in the Philippines.At SEA Games 31, the event will take place on May 14 and 15 at the Dan Phuong Gymasium in Hanoi./.

Nguyen Binh Nguyen from Nguyen Tri Phuong Middle School is named the national winner of the UPU's 51st International Letter Writing Competition in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)- A ninth-grade student from Hanoi won the first prize at the Universal Postal Union (UPU)’s 51st International Letter Writing Competition in Vietnam highlighting actions against climate change This year’s competition asks contestants to write a letter to someone influential urging he/she to take action against the climate crisis Deputy Minister of Information and Telecommunications Pham Anh Tuan, head of the organising board, said the contest was opened to students nationwide from November 2021 to March 2022, touching on a pressing topic. It was inspired by the 26th UN Climate Change ( COP26 ) conference held in Glasgow, the UK last year, with many heads of state in attendance, Tuan said.The theme provided an opportunity for students to speak about climate change, he said, adding that the organisers had received nearly 1 million letters written by students from 62 cities and provinces nationwide.In his letter, Nguyen Binh Nguyen from Nguyen Tri Phuong Middle School, turns himself into a gust of wind to write to renowned pianist Dang Thai Son, sharing his idea of using music to inspire thoughts and actions on environmental protection.His letter will be translated into French before being submitted to the UPU in Switzerland.The organisers also awarded three second and five third prizes as well as 30 honourable mentions. There were two special prizes for contestants with disabilities./.