Remakes excluded from 2017 Kite Awards’ categoriesVietnamese remakes of foreign films and scripts will not be considered for the Kite Awards – the most prestigious cinematographic awards in the country. She said the current number of remakes is enormous, and the awards will not accept nominations for the category. In addition, the 2017 edition of the annual awards will include two more prize categories, which are cameramen of scientific documentaries, and animators. The entries include 13 feature films, 16 TV series, 13 animation films, 34 documentaries, 9 scientific films, and 32 short films. On the occasion, the Kite Awards organising board also runs a conference to review the creation of films and series last year at the headquarters of the Vietnam Cinema Association (No 51 Tran Hung Dao Street) on April 9.

International support for Vietnam in livestock waste treatmentVietnam has carried out a number of international cooperation programmes on animal waste treatment (with FAO, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Belgium ...), with a noteworthy example being the Low Carbon Agricultural Support Project under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). In the country, livestock waste is becoming a problem. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) supports Vietnam in the treatment of animal waste. In the context of climate change, Vietnam has adopted a number of policies and technologies for comprehensive management of animal waste. In addition, Vietnam needs support and technology transfer from developed countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands for large-scale treatment of animal waste into organic fertilizer.

Eight brands and designers to join Vietnam Junior Fashion WeekModel Xuan Lan has unveiled the list of eight brands and designers who will be taking part in the Vietnam Junior Fashion Week (VJFW) 2018. Designer Vo Cong KhanhThe designers include Lalababes, Ruby’s Midu, Huu La La, Rabity, Ao Dai Si Hoang, Tay Clothing, and Love Kids. The renowned fashion designer Vo Cong Khanh will participate in the event for the first time. This is the first time that local designer Vo Cong Khanh has partnered with model Xuan Lan in a fashion show for kids. Khanh has previously worked with Xuan Lan on the Star Make Over project.

Vietnam’s forest coverage ratio reaches over 41%Vietnam has over 14.41 million hectares of forest, of which, standardized area is over 13.71 million hectares, with forest coverage ratio of 41.45%, according to latest statistics announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Accordingly, as of December 31, 2017, the country had 10,236,415 hectares of natural forest, and 4,178,966 hectares of planted forest. After the announcement of statistics on forest situation, the MARD has asked the Vietnam Administration of Forestry to build a database on national forest resources. Localities nationwide are required to use data on forest conditions to review and adjust their forest planning and plans on forest conservation and development each year. The MARD also required localities where areas of natural forest shrank in 2017 to clarify the cause of the fall in natural forest and the responsibilities of relevant individuals and organisations.

HCM City tourism festival to kick off next weekThe Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2018 will get underway at 23/9 Park from April 12-15, offering nearly 60,000 domestic and foreign tour vouchers at 15-16% discount. HCM City promotes tourism links with other localitiesHo Chi Minh City is seeking to enhance connectivity with other localities nationwide to become more attractive to tourists. Director of the municipal Tourism Department Bui Ta Hoang Vu said HCM City is a hotspot for many outstanding tourism products nationwide like MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), shopping-entertainment tourism and cultural-culinary tourism. Trinh Hang, Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, said after years of tourism cooperation with HCM City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau has become a familiar destination for tourists visiting HCM City. More than 85% of visitors to Vung Tau city come from HCM City.

Fifth volume of Czech-Vietnamese encyclopedia releasedThe fifth volume of the six-volume Czech-Vietnamese encyclopedia made debut in Prague, the Czech Republic on April 4. A the launching ceremony, Vietnamese composer of the book Nguyen Quyet Tien recalled his memories of late Dr. Ivo Vasiljev, a Czech expert in Vietnamese studies and his co-author of the fourth volume. Tien thanked Iva Klinderova, another Czech expert in Vietnamese studies, who has assisted him in compiling the fifth volume. He said the last volume of the encyclopedia will be completed within 2018, adding that following the completion, he will begin composing the Vietnamese-Czech encyclopedia. The Czech-Vietnamese encyclopedia’s first four volumes were respectively released in November in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Vietnamese doctor awarded 2018 Nikkei Asia PrizeVietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thanh Liem, a leading paediatric surgeon, has been awarded the 2018 Nikkei Asia Prize in the Science and Technology category. Nguyen Thanh Liem, a leading paediatric surgeon, has been awarded the 2018 Nikkei Asia Prize in the Science and Technology category. — Photo eva.vnLiem is director of the Stem Cell and Gene Technology Institute at the Vinmec Times City International Hospital. This year, Liem has been awarded the prize for his outstanding achievements in scientific and clinical researches on paediatric endoscopic techniques and stem cell transplantation. Established in 1996, the annual Nikkei Asia Prize recognises outstanding achievements and contributions to the region’s sustainable development and creation of a better future for Asia.

First Vietnamese blind completes Ha Long Bay MarathonVietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Huy Viet has became the first Vietnamese blind person to complete the Ha Long Bay Half Marathon (21km). Nguyen Huy Viet (middle) seen in the Ha Long Bay Half Marathon. Led by Giho Kim, a volunteer from South Korea, Viet on Monday reached the finish line in three hours and four minutes. “As I did not have much time to train, I faced problems on the way, such as strained muscles. He now aims to compete in the 42km and even 70km categories in the Ha Long Bay Marathon next year.

Why do real estate developers want to legalize condotels? VietNamNet Bridge - Real estate experts believe that selling condotels can bring huge profits to investors and savings in fees that apartment developers usually pay. According to the Ministry of Construction (MOC), there are 148 ongoing condotel projects developed by 52 investors. At the same time, condotel developers have been repeatedly organizing workshops to lobby policymakers for recognizing condotels as a new type of housing. Many investors, when advertising condotels, give unclear information which does not coincide with the purpose of projects approved by state management agencies.

VN Food Association risks losing rice monopolyFollowing recent criticism of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has reduced the association’s power, with further plans to promote fairness in the rice export field. Vietnam Southern Food Corporation‘s Workers load rice pallets at Sai Gon Port, HCM City. So far, the Decree dictates that the VFA can only allocate rice export quotas under centralised contracts on the basis of agreements between Viet Nam and importing countries. As a matter of fact, Viet Nam is now only under one specialised contract to export rice to Cuba, but only one enterprise was assigned by the Government to implement this. The VEPR said that the association was hampering the development of its members via the use of monopolistic government-to-government contracts.

Vietnam's e-commerce set for strong 2018The e-commerce market has taken off in Viet Nam thanks to booming internet usage and smartphone ownership, along with massive investments from key retail players, local media reported. Logistics is expected to be a game changer for the Vietnamese e-commerce market in 2018. In addition, most Vietnamese e-commerce websites provide only basic services, such as information about products and modes of payment. Such collection points allow customers to pick up their orders at any time, without being required to wait at home. Giao Hang Nhanh Company (GHN) also plans to extend its network of customer collection points in local shops, convenience stores and buildings.

Football for Friendship 2018 kick-starts in VietnamThe sixth season of the Football for Friendship (F4F) international children’s social project has opened in Viet Nam, announced Gazprom, an official partner of FIFA and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Football for Friendship (F4F) international children’s social project involves the young generation throughout the world in promoting the most important human values among their peers - friendship, equality, peace and respect for different cultures and nationalities. Some 32 international teams of friendship were formed during the draw and positions for each player from each country were determined. These 32 teams will compete at the Football for Friendship World Championship on 12 June in Russia, the report said. Football for Friendship gives that opportunity to everyone," noted Viktor Zubkov, chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC Gazprom.

Prime Minister attends MRC Prime Ministerial RetreatPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the Prime Ministerial Retreat at the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on April 5. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (middle) joins other leaders at the Prime Ministerial RetreatPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the Prime Ministerial RetreatAn overview of the Prime Ministerial RetreatMRC holds its summit every four years, starting from 2010PM meets Vietnamese Cambodians in CambodiaPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets overseas VietnamesePrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Cambodians of Vietnamese descent living in the Cambodian province of Siem Reap on April 5 during his trip to attend the third Mekong River Commission Summit. He also required the General Association of Vietnamese Cambodians, Vietnamese representative agencies and businesses in Cambodia to stand side by side with their fellow Vietnamese in the country. Representatives of the Vietnamese Cambodian community wished that the Vietnamese Party and State will provide them with further support so that they can contribute more to Cambodia and the homeland. On the occasion, the PM also presented gifts to poor Vietnamese Cambodian households.

Warning given to officials of Dak Lak Party CommitteeVietNamNet Bridge – Two Dak Lak officials have been reprimanded for hiring too many public school teachers. Many teachers whose labour contracts were terminated gathered at the Krong Pac’s district office to denounce the authority’s violations of labour contracts. — Photo dantri.com.vnDak Lak Province’s Party Committee has warned Nguyen Thanh Dung, Secretary of Krong Pac District and Y Suon Bya, chairman of the district’s People’s Committee for wrongdoings relating to the employment of hundreds of teachers in Krong Pac District. The warning was announced after a meeting of the committee on Tuesday to discuss disciplinary measures for the officials whose violations led to more than 600 teachers being made redundant. On March 9, Krong Pac District’s People’s Committee announced that they terminated the contracts of 600 teachers.

Dynamite fishing blamed for Quang Tri mass fish deathVietNamNet Bridge – Exploding dynamite when fishing is being blamed for the mass of dead fish that washed ashore in the central province of Quang Tri. Dead fish found on a beach in Quang Tri’s Trieu An Commune. Earlier this week, masses of dead fish were found in Quang Tri’s communes of Trieu Van, Trieu An, Gio Ha and Cua Viet Township. Le Van Loi, a fisherman, insisted that the fish washed ashore after being killed by dynamite. He said fishing boats from the central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An sometimes use dynamite for fishing in Quang Tri’s waters.