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./.

(Photo: VNA)Hanoi is holding a myriad of events and tours to capitalise on the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) to popularise images of the capital and Vietnam as a whole among international friends. SEA Games 31: Numerous special events, tours in Hanoi to promote tourismHanoi is holding a myriad of events and tours to capitalise on the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) to popularise images of the capital and Vietnam as a whole among international friends. U23 Laos must not lose if it wants to go further in SEA Games 31. Established in 2020, the team has dominated FIFA Online 4 competitions in Vietnam with championships at the FIFA Online 4 Vietnam Pro League 2021, FIFA Online 4 Vietnam National Championship 2021 Season 1, and FIFA Online 4 Vietnam National Championship 2020. Saola, a rare mammal from Vietnam, was selected as the mascot for the Southeast Asian Games 31.

Videos Artisan makes SEA Games mascots from jackfruit wood An artisan in the ancient village of Duong Lam in Son Tay town, Hanoi, has handcrafted a collection of 31 mascots for SEA Games 31. Videos A new look from the top of Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Some 110 km from Ho Chi Minh City in the southern province of Tay Ninh stands Ba Den Mountain. Videos Hanoi citizens gear up for SEA Games 31 As host of the SEA Games 31 opening ceremony and many sports, Vietnam’s capital Hanoi is making meticulous preparations for the region’s largest sporting event, which is now only a week away, to create a lasting impression on both domestic and international friends. Videos Historical tourism attracting visitors to Dien Bien The northern mountainous province of Dien Bien has long been famous for the glorious Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954, which played a decisive role in ending French colonialism in Vietnam. During the four-day holiday for the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day and May Day, many tourists flocked to Dien Bien.

Singapore's swimmer Joseph Schooling won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Photo: VNA)Singapore (VNA) – After enduring a challenging year, Olympic swimming gold medalist Joseph Schooling is aiming to win a gold medal at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) which takes place in Vietnam in May. Schooling rose to fame at the 26th SEA Games held in Indonesia in 2011 where he won two gold medals. Schooling is one of the most talented athletes in the history of the SEA Games, grabbing 31 medals, including 27 gold medals across five Games. "I may have taken the SEA Games for granted maybe two or three times.

World Vietnam attends 18th congress of World Federation of Trade Unions in Italy A delegation of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) attended the 18th congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) that took place in Rome, Italy, from May 6 to 8. World Thailand Post issues commemorative stamp for APEC 2022 The government has announced that Thailand Commemorative Stamps will be available for purchase at Post Offices nationwide on May 9. World US senators introduce resolution welcoming US-ASEAN Special Summit A new Senate resolution has been introduced by the US ahead of the US-ASEAN Special Summit next week to welcome the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN and urge continued cooperation to advance mutual interests. World SEA Games 31: Indonesia’s U23 key players absent in opening match Two talented players of the Indonesian U23 men’s football team, Asnawi Mangkualam and Elkan Baggott, have not yet landed in Vietnam so they will definitely miss the match against the Vietnamese U23 team on May 6.

Phu Tho (VNA) – Myanmar’s U23 team gained three points after winning Timor Leste 3-2 in a match on May 8 at Viet Tri Stadium, the northern province of Phu Tho, in the framework of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31). However, Timor Leste showed strong resilience and balanced the game by scoring two goals in the second half. Aung Wunna Soe became the hero of U23 Myanmar after he scored a decisive goal in the last seconds of the extra-time to help his team snatch a 3-2 win over U23 Timor Leste. Earlier, Timor Leste lost 0-4 against the Philippines during their game on May 6. Timor Leste will face U23 Indonesia on May 10 and U23 Vietnam on May 15/.

Ngo Phuong Mai (in red) becomes the first medalist for Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)Ngo Phuong Mai became the first medalist for Vietnam at the ongoing 31st Southeast Asian Games ( SEA Games 31 ) in the country after winning a bronze medal in diving on May 8.After the five dives in Hanoi, Mai scored a total of 224 points after Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Kimberly Bong, both of Malaysia, who scored 290.45 and 230 points, respectively.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.Featuring 40 sports with 526 events, it is expected to attract around 10,000 participants./.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Phù thủy tối thượng trong đa vũ trụ hỗn loạn) đã lập thành tích khủng trên khắp thế giới, trong đó có Việt Nam ngay sau khi ra mắt.

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has approved reforms to the tax system. The strategy aligns Vietnam’s tax policy with international practices to meet resource requirements and realise the 10-year socio-economic development strategy to 2030. It will help stabilise State budget collections from taxes and costs in association with socio-economic development strategies for 2021-25 and 2026-30. Taxpayer satisfaction with tax agencies is hoped to reach at least 90 percent by 2025, and support for people paying taxes electronically to top 70 percent. At a tax agency (Photo: VNA)The strategy also looks to fine-tune regulations related to value-added taxes on exports and services, and amend those on tax exemptions and refunds in a simple, transparent and concerted manner with related laws.

The festival bring together more than 11,000 young people from the 11 regional countries and volunteers of SEA Games 31. At the Vietnam National Day celebration in London in September last year, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK honoured the professor for his provision of policy advice for Vietnam’s COVID-19 prevention and control. This is the second time Vietnam has hosted a SEA Games, after the first in 2003. Vietnam Fatherland Front petitions for history to be compulsory subjectThe Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front petitioned that History should be a compulsory subject, not an elective subject. With the utmost support from Gia Dinh People's Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, the Vietnam National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation, and the HCMC traffic police, the national carrier Vietnam Airlines created favorable conditions to help transport the heart as quickly as possible.

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam recently signed a directive regarding e-Government development towards digital governance and transformation. Despite recent positive results, major bottlenecks remain in the implementation of the work, with data sharing being one of the main issues. People work with digital technology (Illustrative photo: baochinhphu.vn)They have been instructed to use data for the implementation of online public services by December. The evaluation of digital Government and digital transformation progress at agencies and organisations should be conducted in December annually. The development and use of ‘Made-in-Vietnam’ digital products and services must be promoted, with the deadline for assessment set in December each year./.

Surveys were conducted in five northern localities of Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho and Hanoi late March. The association plans to build a list comprising 1,000 dishes next year to create a database of Vietnamese food map. The digital food map is projected to complete by 2024, towards the building of a Vietnamese cuisine museum in Hue former capital city. The project is hoped to promote Vietnamese cuisine and attract visitors to Vietnam, as gastronomy may serve as a core value of the country’s tourism./.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Trade turnover between Vietnam and Brazil reached 6.35 billion USD last year, the highest value so far, said Ngo Xuan Ty, Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office in Brazil.In the first three months of this year, the figure stood at 1.7 billion USD, up 11.9 percent year-on-year, of which Vietnam’s export revenue was 533.2 million USD, a rise of 3.5 percent, Ty told a consulting session on export to Brazil held by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency at the Ministry of Industry and Trade on May 6.The official said Vietnamese rice noodle has been favoured by local consumers as well as Asian people in Brazil , and suggested Vietnamese businesses increase the export of other products like garments-textiles and footwear.To access the market, the firms should pay attention to product quality, packaging and price, while stepping up trade promotion, especially through major fairs in Brazil, he continued.Pointing out the complicated tax system in Brazil, Ty asked Vietnamese enterprises to carefully study products, saying they should seek local partners or consulting firms in this regard./.