For the first time, Việt Nam has had a representative in the Ironman World Championship. Lâm Túc Ngân, 27, from HCM City, qualified for the biggest event after winning Ironman Philippines 140.6’s 25-29 year-old female group and finishing in the top 8 of the women's ranking. She will join powerful athletes from all over the world at the 2022 event in Hawai in early October. Ngân shares her experience and plans for the upcoming race. Lâm Túc Ngân will be the first Vietnamese to compete at the World Ironman Championship in October in Hawaii, the US. Photo from Lâm Túc Ngân facebook Inner Sanctum: Congratulations. You are the first Vietnamese to earn a slot at the Ironman World Championship. How do you feel? Thank you. It is several months to go to the world championship. There are many things to work on. In the last 15 years of the world tournament, there was no one from Việt Nam. Lâm Túc Ngân trains for her world competition. She plans to complete the race … [Read more...] about Woman with an iron will
Wellbeing economy success in a world without growth
Đồng Nai Biosphere Reserve must not be spoilt
Illustration by Trịnh Lập by Nguyễn Mỹ Hà Local residents and environmentalists have been spreading the news that UNESCO Việt Nam has opposed an official letter from the Đồng Nai People's Committee consulting on a contractor's proposal to build a 40km highway with a bridge across the core zone of the Đồng Nai Biosphere Reserve. VnExpress news website reported that UNESCO Việt Nam, in response to the letter, strongly suggested not building a road across the world biosphere for fear the damage would impact flora and fauna in reserve. It added that the full biodiverse ecological corridor would be affected. Vehicles moving on the road could accidentally kill animals crossing it, and the construction process would pollute the soil, air and groundwater. If this happens, the criteria for a world biosphere would not be met, and Đồng Nai Reserve could be crossed off the list of world biospheres. It also cited that building a bridge and a national highway failed to meet Việt Nam's … [Read more...] about Đồng Nai Biosphere Reserve must not be spoilt
Việt Nam among few countries totally re-opening international tourism
Foreign tourists on the express boat trip between Đà Nẵng City and Lý Sơn Island. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — UNWTO's Destination Tracker tool showed that 52 countries have fully reopened their borders to foreign tourists as of June 17, and Việt Nam is one of only four in the Asia-Pacific, said Harry Hwang, executive director of the Asia-Pacific region for UNWTO. The executive director made the announcement at a tourism conference held in the Republic of Korea (RoK) on June 23-26, the Government Portal reported. The Asia-Pacific region is recovering tourism slowly, because many source markets have not yet fully reopened. Experts predict that the recovery prospects of the Asia-Pacific region would also be slower, maybe taking until 2024 to return to pre-pandemic levels. In Việt Nam, foreign tourists do not need to submit health declarations before entry while the domestic tourism market is also witnessing a strong recovery post reopening, said Hà Văn Siêu, deputy head … [Read more...] about Việt Nam among few countries totally re-opening international tourism
Việt Nam-Australia expect brighter future for import-export sector
Having one of the region’s fastest-growing middle classes and a young population willing to spend, Việt Nam represents an important market for foreign goods. — Photo courtesy of Austrade HÀ NỘI — As both Australia and Việt Nam continue to take solid action to make their trade partnerships expand year after year, a brighter future awaits the import and export sector, according to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). Austrade said Việt Nam’s upbeat growth projections have made it an attractive import-export destination. Thanks to several free trade agreements, it has sealed in recent years, Việt Nam’s trade partnerships have grown from strength to strength. It added that having one of the region’s fastest-growing middle classes and a young population that’s willing to spend, Việt Nam represents an important market for foreign goods. As one of Việt Nam’s main trading partners, Australia supplies the Southeast Asian country with an expansive range of … [Read more...] about Việt Nam-Australia expect brighter future for import-export sector
Investment ready for Hà Nội’s relic restoration
Cổ Loa Temple is one of the relics that has attracted the city's attention to invest in its preservation. Photo nhandan.vn Hà Nội's recent decision to mobilise vast financial sources to protect its heritage sites is promising to blow a new breath of life into hundreds of historical and cultural monuments after many years of effort without success. The capital city's authorities have pledged to boost the public investment plan for 2021 - 2025 by pouring over VNĐ14 trillion (US$602 million) into restoring and embellishing a total of 579 relic sites in the area. According to the municipal People's Council, the sum is a significant part of its financial supplementation plans for a five-year term and the allocation for 2022, including investment plans in building and renovating public schools, upgrading the health system, as well as restoring and upgrading heritage sites from 2022 to 2025 and the following years. Vice Chairman of the Hà Nội People's Committee Chử Xuân … [Read more...] about Investment ready for Hà Nội’s relic restoration