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National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (sixth from left) and other delegates at the IPU-150 opening ceremony in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on April 5 evening. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator of Vietnam attends opening ceremony of IPU-150

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man attended the opening ceremony of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-150), themed “Parliamentary action for social development and justice”, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on April 5 evening (local time).

Aside from host leaders, the opening ceremony saw the presence of 49 chairpersons, 46 vice chairpersons, and more than 700 legislators of nearly 130 member parliaments.

In their welcoming remarks, President of the Senate Tanzila Narbaeva and Speaker of the Legislative Chamber Nuriddinjon Ismailov of Uzbekistan highlighted the significance of the first-ever IPU Assembly held in a Central Asian country, as well as the highly relevant theme of the meeting amidst numerous challenges to social development around the world, especially armed conflicts, competition between superpowers, political uncertainties, along with undermined commitments and resources for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring social justice and assistance for vulnerable groups.

The hosts appreciated the participation of IPU members, especially parliamentary leaders, in the event, which they said reflect the strong vitality of the IPU, the unanimous support for multilateralism, and joint efforts by parliaments of all countries for noble goals and people of each country, cited VNA.

President of the IPU Tulia Ackson emphasised the historic importance of the IPU-150 and the crucial role of the IPU and member parliaments in promoting persistent and continuous efforts to enhance democracy and international cooperation to build a more peaceful world and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

She perceived that the IPU and member parliaments should take the lead in creating legal frameworks, serve as the bridge for ironing out differences, and adopt practical actions to foster social development in the three pillars of peace, justice, and an equitable and better future for all, thereby contributing to the success of the Second World Summit for Social Development, slated for this November in Doha, Qatar.

Meanwhile, IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong stressed the role of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting peace, cooperation, and development in regions and the world at large, as well as in better ensuring people’s lives through constructive dialogue, trust building, and experience sharing.

He called on the assembly to discuss and adopt two important resolutions on the role of parliaments in promoting the two-state solution in Palestine and in minimising conflicts’ impact on sustainable development.

The IPU-150 is scheduled to take place until April 9. Chairman Tran Thanh Man is set to deliver an important speech at the general debate of the event.

Vietnam, Uzbekistan forge legislative cooperation during NA leader's visit

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man held talks with President of the Senate of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva in Tashkent on the afternoon of April 5 (local time), following an official welcome ceremony.

Narbaeva warmly welcomed Man on his official visit to Uzbekistan, highlighting the significance of this first visit by a Vietnamese NA Chairman since the establishment of diplomatic ties . She expressed confidence that the visit will open up new cooperation opportunities and contribute positively to the development of both countries.

The Senate President described Vietnam as one of the most dynamically developing countries in Asia and a close friend of Uzbekistan, bound by a time-tested traditional friendship. She affirmed that geographical distance would not hinder the development of bilateral ties and recalled fond memories of meeting Vietnamese students in Tashkent during her youth.

Chairman Man, representing Vietnamese Party and State leaders, expressed his pleasure in leading a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA to visit Uzbekistan and attend the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-150). He thanked Narbaeva and the Uzbekistan side for the warm reception and shared memories of Vietnam's longstanding ties with Uzbekistan.

On the occasion, the top NA leader congratulated Uzbekistan on its impressive development achievements and its growing role in the region and internationally, as well as for hosting IPU-150, which underscored the country’s increasing global standing.

Recalling the visits to Uzbekistan by President Ho Chi Minh in 1959 and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2011, Man reaffirmed Vietnam’s appreciation for the long-standing friendship and expressed a desire to step up cooperation across all areas. He emphasized Vietnam's enduring gratitude for Uzbekistan's past support in the country's struggles for national liberation and current development efforts.

Sharing Vietnam's socio-economic achievements over nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (renewal), Man noted that the country is now striving to fulfill the goals of the 2021-2025 development plan, aiming to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2045, on the occasion of its 100th founding anniversary.

Narbaeva expressed admiration for Vietnam’s remarkable transformation under the leadership of successive generations and greatly valued the country's development goals, especially efforts to improve citizens' incomes and living standards, according to VOV.

President of the Senate of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva (R) welcomes National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

She affirmed her nation’s high regard for its traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, identifying Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia. Narbaeva also outlined Uzbekistan's ongoing institutional reforms and socio-economic development priorities, which share a people-centered focus with Vietnam.

In a spirit of trust and openness, the two leaders welcomed the establishment of the Vietnam-Uzbekistan and Uzbekistan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Groups and agreed on the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation across all channels, including Party, State, legislature, and people-to-people exchange.

They underscored the need to boost delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits, ramp up cooperation between committees, friendship groups, young and women parliamentarians, and promote parliamentary oversight of the implementation of signed cooperation agreements, particularly those aimed at economic and trade ties. The two sides pledged to support each other in expanding inter-parliamentary relations within the region.

Recognizing untapped potential in economic and trade cooperation, both leaders consented to focus on key directions for mutually beneficial collaboration. They laid stress on the need to intensify policy and market information exchange, facilitate trade and investment promotion activities, and boost cooperation in energy and oil and gas, sectors where both countries have strong demand and potential, especially in light of investment diversification efforts.

They also stressed the importance of cooperation in agriculture, textiles, health care, culture, tourism, education and training, transport, local-level collaboration, and people-to-people exchanges. They called for greater educational cooperation and student exchanges, and welcomed the launch of direct flights between Khanh Hoa and Tashkent, set to start in June 2024.

The leaders also agreed on the importance of boosting coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and other international organizations to which both countries belong.

As an active member of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), Vietnam pledged to serve as a bridge for Uzbekistan to expand cooperation with ASEAN, AIPA, and other member parliaments. Man also called on Uzbekistan to support ASEAN and Vietnam’s positions on peacefully resolving East Sea disputes based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Narbaeva agreed with Man's proposal to pay attention to and support the Vietnamese community living, studying, and doing business in Uzbekistan, while enabling them to stabilize their lives and further contribute to the host country and bilateral ties.

The top Vietnamese legislator extended an invitation for Narbaeva to visit Vietnam. She accepted the invitation and confirmed that a delegation comprising representatives from the Senate and the Legislative Chamber will pay a working visit to Vietnam.

Following the talks, host and guest signed a cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies.

Hung Kings' Commemoration Day: Returning to the roots

Every year on the 10th day of the third lunar month, many Vietnamese from all walks of life join a pilgrimage to the ancestor land in Viet Tri city of Phu Tho province.

The Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day is viewed as a celebration of great importance among Vietnamese people. It also acts as a symbol of cultural value, great solidarity, and sense of gratitude and worship of the ancestors of Vietnamese people.

Nguyen Thi Huyen Trang, a local resident of Phu Ninh district, Phu Tho province, said that her family traditionally visits the Hung Kings Temple to offer incense on the day. “This year, we decided to take a night tour to the temple to fully embrace the sacred and peaceful atmosphere of this holy land,” she said.

Hoang Thi Xuan, a visitor from Hanoi who has come to the Hung Kings Temple multiple times, shared that climbing to the Thuong (Upper) Temple at night to pay homepage to the Hung Kings gave her a deeper sense of reverence for the space and the spiritual essence of the ancestral worship tradition.

Nguyen Huy Thang, a Vietnamese expatriate from Germany, echoed this sentiment, saying that the pilgrimage to the ancestral land is a meaningful way to reconnect with the cultural identity of the homeland and to teach future generations about their origins.

According to Nguyen Manh Dong, Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day is a national holiday in Vietnam and holds great cultural and emotional importance for Vietnamese communities abroad. Each year, Vietnamese embassies and community organisations worldwide organise celebrations to mark the occasion.

Currently, Phu Tho province is home to 345 places of worship dedicated to the Hung Kings. The Hung Kings Temple Historical Complex, covering over 800 hectares, has been developed into the nation’s largest spiritual-cultural park. It serves as the central hub for worship of the Hung Kings with solemn and respectful ceremonies, VNA reported.

A performance of Xoan singing in ancient villages at cultural relic sites in Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province (Photo: VNA)

The Hung Kings’ Commemoration and the Cultural and Tourism Week of the Ancestral Land 2025 will take place from March 29 to April 7 (the 1st to the 10th days of the third lunar month), featuring around 30 activities at the Hung Kings Temple Complex.

Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho provincial People's Committee, described the festival as a “golden opportunity” to promote the cultural heritage of Phu Tho and attract tourists from across the country.

The Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day will be solemnly and respectfully held in accordance with national cultural traditions. Meanwhile, the event will include a wide variety of cultural, sports, and tourism activities, creating a joyful and vibrant atmosphere infused with the spirit of ancestral culture.

The event will feature a special exhibition featuring historical documents and artefacts from the Hung Kings era, a banh chung (square sticky rice cake) and banh day (round glutinous rice cake) making contest, folk music performances, and various recognised intangible cultural heritage displays such as xoan singing, chau van (Vietnamese Spiritual Singing), love duet folk singing and cheo (Vietnamese traditional opera).

Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, emphasized that the organising committee is committed to ensuring safe, respectful, and memorable experiences for all attendees, contributing to widespread public engagement and satisfaction.

One of the standout features of this year’s celebration is the “Ancient Village Xoan Singing” program, a unique cultural offering that has been part of the Hung Kings Festival since 2013. Now a beloved tradition, it has become a spiritual and artistic highlight for visitors from near and far.

Vietnam makes substantial contributions to UN Human Rights Council

The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) concluded on April 4 (local time), marking Vietnam’s active participation and substantial contributions, including leading a joint statement and delivering many statements that benefit the international community.

The notable outcomes after six consecutive weeks of the 58th session include: (i) The High-Level Segment held in the first week with the participation of four heads of state, six vice presidents/vice prime ministers, 95 ministers and deputy ministers from UN member states, the President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, leaders of international intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations based in Geneva; (ii) 32 resolutions adopted; (iii) nine thematic discussions on integrating human rights, the issue of the death penalty, early warnings and preventing genocide, responding to HIV and leaving no one behind, realizing labor rights and social security rights in the informal economy, the rights of persons with disabilities, children's rights with a focus on prioritizing a child rights-based approach to the development of young children, children's rights in emergencies: putting children's rights first; (iv) discussions on 80 thematic reports; (v) discussions and dialogues with 41 special procedures of the UNHRC and UN human rights mechanisms; (vi) discussions and dialogues on the human rights situation in several countries; (vii) completion of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle IV of 13 countries.

As part of the 58th session, Vietnam led the construction and presentation of a joint statement on promoting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve gender equality, which received widespread support from many countries.

The joint statement emphasized the importance of fully and swiftly achieving the SDGs for gender equality, including priorities such as enhancing the participation of women and girls in decision-making, promoting their leadership roles in science and technology, ensuring equal participation in peace and security processes, and increasing capacity and budget to mainstream gender in policies. Empowering women and girls is key to protecting human rights and ensuring sustainable development.

Throughout the 58th session, the Vietnamese delegation actively engaged in discussions, consultations, and exchanges with delegations from other countries as a contribution to the drafting of documents and co-sponsoring numerous initiatives based on dialogue and cooperation. A standout achievement was the co-sponsorship of the joint statement backed by 65 countries.

These efforts demonstrate Vietnam's consistent policies and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights, aligning with other countries to ensure that the UNHRC’s work adheres to the fundamental principles of international law, VOV reported.

Vietnam delegation attends 58th session of UN Human Rights Council. (Photo:VNA)

The Vietnamese delegation also made contributions during various sessions and discussions on high-priority topics such as realizing labor rights and social security in the informal economy, children’s rights, responding to HIV and leaving no one behind, cultural rights, food security, rights of persons with disabilities, the Palestine issue, and the situation in occupied Arab territories.

In these remarks, the Vietnamese delegation reaffirmed the country’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights for all individuals, shared the steps taken to safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups, and underscored the importance of resolving political divides, bolstering cooperation, and building trust through dialogue, in line with international law and the UN Charter. Alongside ASEAN member states, Vietnam also issued joint statements on shared regional concerns, such as technical cooperation and capacity-building.

Vietnam’s active participation at the 58th session of the UNHRC shows its dedication and responsibility during the first session of its final year as a member of the UNHRC for the 2023-2025 term, setting a strong foundation for Vietnam’s preparation to run for re-election to the UNHRC for the 2026-2028 term.

Weather update: Hanoi drizzles, Southeast scorches in early April

As a mild cold front causes prolonged rain in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City faces scorching conditions and widespread heat warnings.

Under the influence of a weak and easterly-leaning cold air front, northern Vietnam is experiencing consecutive days of rainfall, with localized heavy showers in mountainous regions.

Meanwhile, the Central, Central Highlands, and Southern regions continue to see sunny days and occasional showers at night, with particularly intense heat affecting the Southeast.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of April 5, scattered showers and thunderstorms have been recorded in the northern region.

Tonight and tomorrow (April 6), the northern mountains are expected to receive scattered rain and thunderstorms, with some areas experiencing heavy rainfall of 15–30mm, and possibly over 50mm in isolated locations.

Due to the ongoing impact of the weak, easterly cold air, more rain is forecast for mountainous areas from the night of April 6–7. Showers and scattered thunderstorms will continue, with localized heavy rain. From April 8 onward, rainfall is expected to subside, with morning fog in some areas and sunshine returning by midday.

From now through the night of April 7, the Red River Delta and North Central Coast will continue to see light rain or drizzle. From April 8, the region will experience light rain in some areas, accompanied by scattered morning fog or mist. In the lowland and coastal areas, light rain, drizzle, and fog are likely in the evening and early morning, VNN reported.

Hanoi sees constant drizzle throughout April 5. Photo: Nam Khanh

From April 8, the North Central region will see isolated light rain and morning fog, with sunnier conditions by midday. Between April 10–12, some areas may experience hot weather.

According to the forecast, Hanoi will face continuous light rain in the coming days, with fog expected on April 9. From April 10 onward, sunshine will return, but showers are still expected. As the cold air is weak, temperatures are not expected to drop significantly and are likely to rise quickly again.

From the Central Coast to the Southern region and Central Highlands, the weather pattern will remain unchanged, with showers and occasional thunderstorms in the evenings and nights, and hot sunny days. In the Southeast, hot weather is expected to intensify from April 8, becoming widespread and lasting through around April 10.

The national weather agency warns that thunderstorms across the country may be accompanied by whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong gusty winds.

Additionally, the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Center reports increasing heat in Ho Chi Minh City, with temperatures reaching 34.4°C in Nha Be and up to 36°C at Tan Son Nhat.

Forecasts for April 6–7 indicate widespread heat in the region, with maximum daytime temperatures ranging from 35–37°C and minimum relative humidity between 40–45%. The hottest period will occur between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

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