Viet Nam, RoK youth promote environmental education, cultural exchange

Twenty young ambassadors under the Sihwa Lake Youth Ambassador 2026 program joined an international delegation from the Republic of Korea (RoK) on a November 10 visit to Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh province for environmental education and cultural exchange.

The Sihwa Lake Sustainable Partnership, youth foundations from Siheung, Ansan and Hwaseong cities, the Korea Environment Institute (KEI), and Cuc Phuong National Park jointly organised the event.

Representatives of the park's management board and 10 outstanding students from Cuc Phuong Secondary School also took part in the program.

The program is particularly meaningful as it bridges two emblematic ecological sites in the respective countries: the Sihwa Lake basin, a leading example of ecological and hydrological restoration in the RoK, and Cuc Phuong, Viet Nam's first national park, often hailed as the nation's “conservation capital.”

After completing a period of study and thorough preparation in the RoK, the 20 young representatives from the Sihwa Lake area brought to Viet Nam insights on the history of environmental restoration and wetland conservation.

The exchanges between the 20 Korean youth ambassadors and students from Cuc Phuong Secondary School amid the primeval forest created a practical learning environment while promoting the spirit of international solidarity among young people in protecting the planet, reported VNA.

Illustrative photo: VNA

The program featured a range of activities combining ecological knowledge, field studies and creative exchanges. Students from the two countries visited wildlife rescue and conservation facilities, where many of Viet Nam's endangered and rare species are rescued and cared for.

At the Cuc Phuong Museum, the Korean youth ambassadors shared lessons and experience in restoring water quality and the ecosystem of Sihwa Lake, while learning about Cuc Phuong's rich natural history.

The students also took part in environmental-themed painting activities, friendly sports competitions, and cultural and artistic exchanges, strengthening friendship and sharing young people's perspectives on nature.

A representative of the Environmental Education & Services Centre at Cuc Phuong National Park stressed that environmental education is one of the park's key pillars and enduring values.

The gathering of young representatives from the two countries underscored the message that “love for nature knows no borders,” the representative said.

The event also opened up opportunities for broader cooperation in environmental education and biodiversity conservation between Cuc Phuong National Park and international partners in the future.

Seminar seeks export opportunities for Vietnamese goods in UK

Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (UEH) and the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) co-organized a seminar on November 10 focusing on strategies for penetrating the British market through the CPTPP and the UK-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

In the first half of 2026, two-way trade turnover between Viet Nam and the UK surpassed US$5 billion. Of this total, Vietnam’s exports to the UK reached US$4.51 billion, marking a 16.34% year-on-year increase.

Key export items from Viet Nam to the UK include electronic products, phones, machinery and equipment, footwear, textiles and garments, agricultural goods, and seafood.

Despite these figures, Vietnamese goods still maintain a modest market share relative to the UK’s total import scale, which exceeded GBP 945 billion in 2025.

The UK represents a major economy with high purchasing power and rich potential for Vietnamese products. At the same time, it is a demanding market with strict requirements regarding product quality, technical specifications, food safety, traceability, and environmental and social responsibility standards.

The implementation of the UKVFTA alongside the UK’s official accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in December 2024 has brought additional export opportunities and tariff preferences for Vietnamese enterprises. However, utilizing these advantages ultimately depends on the capacity and initiative of individual businesses, cited VOV.

Overview of the seminar.

Master Trinh Huynh Quang Canh from UEH analyzed that the UKVFTA, which officially took effect in May 2021 on the basis of inheriting the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), aims at eliminating 99% of import tariffs between the two sides over a 6-to-7-year roadmap. This mechanism is estimated to save Vietnamese exporters approximately GBP 114 million in tariffs.

Making use of the EVFTA and other trade agreements helps raise the value of Vietnamese goods within global supply chains while improving overall product quality. Once enterprises become familiar with these established market practices and production standards, they can more smoothly adjust their production chains when expanding into other markets such as China, Japan, or New Zealand.

Canh noted that businesses must strictly comply with rules of origin and material provenance while maintaining rigorous quality control. Markets applying the UKVFTA, EVFTA, and CPTPP enforce stringent quality standards, requiring enterprises to strictly follow and adjust their production models to meet these requirements.

Strong cold front grips northern Viet Nam, Hanoi temperatures drop to 16°C

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a strong cold front had reached northwestern Viet Nam, the north-central region and parts of the central region by the afternoon of November 9.

Northern Viet Nam experienced showers and thunderstorms, with heavy rainfall in some areas. Moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms also affected the region from Thanh Hoa to Hue, with exceptionally heavy rainfall in some locations.

At 1pm, temperatures generally ranged from 18-21°C, dropping to 15-18°C in mountainous areas.

Strong northeasterly winds were recorded in several coastal and island areas. Bach Long Vi Island reported force 8 winds, gusting to force 10 on the Beaufort scale, while Co To Island experienced force 6 winds with gusts reaching force 8-9. Ly Son Island also recorded force 6 northeasterly winds.

Cold front expands southward, Hanoi temperatures fall to 16°C

The cold air mass was forecast to continue moving southward during the evening and night of November 9, affecting the remaining parts of the central region and some areas farther south.

On land, northeasterly winds were expected to reach force 3-4, increasing to force 5 along coastal areas, with some locations experiencing force 6 winds and gusts of force 7.

The cold front was forecast to bring chilly conditions across northern Viet Nam and the region from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri. Hue was also expected to turn cooler from the night of November 9.

Minimum temperatures during the cold spell were forecast to range from 15-18°C across northern Viet Nam and the Thanh Hoa-Quang Tri region, with some high-altitude areas in the north dropping below 12°C.

In Hanoi, scattered rain and colder weather were expected.

By the evening of November 9, temperatures in many parts of the capital had fallen by more than 10°C compared with the previous day, accompanied by relatively strong northeasterly winds.

The city's overnight minimum temperatures were forecast to fall to 16-18°C, making conditions feel noticeably colder.

Central Viet Nam braces for rainfall exceeding 500mm

The combination of the cold front and disturbances in upper-level easterly winds was forecast to bring widespread heavy rainfall to central Viet Nam.

On November 9, moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms affected areas from Thanh Hoa to Hue, with exceptionally heavy downpours in some locations.

Between 7am and 3pm, several weather stations recorded rainfall exceeding 100mm. Ky Lac in Ha Tinh registered 222.2mm, while Dong Tam in Quang Tri recorded 151.6mm, VNN reported.

Cold weather becomes increasingly noticeable across northern Viet Nam. Photo: Hoang Minh.

From the evening of November 9 through the morning of November 10, Ha Tinh and northern Quang Tri were expected to experience heavy to extremely heavy rain and thunderstorms, with accumulated rainfall of 60-120mm and more than 200mm in some areas.

From the evening of November 9 through November 11, Hue, Da Nang and eastern areas of provinces from Quang Ngai to Gia Lai were forecast to receive 150-300mm of rain, with some locations exceeding 500mm.

During the same period, southern Quang Tri, eastern Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa were expected to receive 100-200mm, with isolated areas recording more than 300mm.

Meteorologists warned that intense downpours could exceed 100mm within just three hours.

Residents were also advised to remain alert for tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong wind gusts during thunderstorms.

By the night of November 11, Hue, Da Nang and eastern areas from Quang Ngai to Dak Lak were expected to continue experiencing heavy rainfall of 30-60mm, with some locations receiving more than 100mm.

Heavy rainfall across central Viet Nam was forecast to gradually ease from November 12.

The national weather agency warned that prolonged downpours could trigger flash floods in small rivers and streams, landslides on steep slopes and flooding in low-lying areas.

Rough seas forecast, with waves reaching 6 meters

Strong northeasterly winds were also expected to continue affecting several maritime areas during the night of November 9 and throughout November 10.

In the Gulf of Tonkin, northeasterly winds were forecast at force 6-7, occasionally reaching force 8 overnight, with gusts of force 9-10. Waves were expected to reach 4-6 meters, creating very rough seas.

The northern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, was forecast to experience force 7 northeasterly winds, occasionally reaching force 8, with gusts of force 9-10 and waves of 4-6 meters.

In the northern part of the central East Sea and waters stretching from southern Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, winds were expected to strengthen to force 6, occasionally reaching force 7, with gusts of force 8-9 and waves of 3-5 meters.

Meanwhile, the southern part of the central East Sea, waters from Gia Lai to Ca Mau and the western part of the southern East Sea, including waters west of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, were forecast to experience force 5 northeasterly winds, occasionally reaching force 6, with gusts of force 7-8.

Wave heights in these areas were expected to range from 2-4 meters, resulting in rough sea conditions.

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