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| Illustrative photo (Photo: vneconomy.vn) |
This is also the first month in the year the sector’s exports have exceeded the 4 billion USD mark, the highest figure since August, 2022.
The first seven months of the year witnessed export revenue of the garment and textile sector surge by 5.9% on-year to 23.9 billion USD.
Furthermore, fibre and yarn exports during the January to July period rose by 3.5% on-year to 2.53 billion USD, while that of fabrics also soared by 18% to 458 million USD.
Currently, Vietnam exports textile and garment products to 113 countries and territories. The main export markets for Vietnam's textile and garment industry are the US, the EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and China.
The country’s garment and textile exports reached 39.5 billion USD in 2023, an annual drop of 10%. This year the sector has set an export turnover target of 44 billion USD.
Ethnic minority children benefit from free English classes
Twice a week, small children in Vi Thanh city, the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang, come to Po Thi Rang Say (Tram Cua) Pagoda to enroll in a free English class that gathers about 20 ethnic minority students, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| A free English class for ethnic minority children at Mahamankolransaykhu Pagoda in Ward 3 of Vi Thanh city, Hau Giang provisnce (Photo: VNA) |
Each lesson has a different topic and features various activities such as group work, quizzes, and outdoor sessions to help students improve their vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, along with soft skills.
Danh Thi Diem My, a student from Ward 4 of Vi Thanh, said they have more spare time in summer, so apart from learning the traditional script of their Khmer ethnic group at Po Thi Rang Say Pagoda, they also join in the free English class taught by members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU).
All are excited at the quiz with prizes held in every lesson which helps them learn new words quickly, she said.
Le Hoang Phi Long, another student from Ward 4, said English is his favourite subject. Each lesson helps him learn new words of a different topic, from animals, vehicles, transport, and continents to daily objects. At home, he writes new words repeatedly to remember meanings and speaks out loud to memorise pronunciation.
Meanwhile, to HCYU members and volunteers, teaching English for free is a greatly meaningful activity and an impulse for them to reach out to children in remote and ethnic minority areas. It not only helps local children to enjoy a worthwhile summer but also equips them with much useful knowledge before entering a new school year.
Doan Nhu Huynh, a student at the Hau Giang Community College, shared that this is the first time she has taken part in teaching English to ethnic minority children whose intelligence and amiability have left unforgettable impression on her.
Huynh said she hopes to participate in more English classes for children, especially those in remote and ethnic minority areas.
So far, the HCYU Committee of Vi Thanh city has organised three English classes for ethnic minority children taught by volunteers from universities and colleges in Hau Giang and other localities.
Vice Secretary of the Vi Thanh HCYU Committee Vo Thi Thuy Bang noted that the committee has publicised the courses on foreign language skills and international integration so as to attract more young people, especially ethnic minority children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The HCYU Committee of Hau Giang province said the opening of free classes for children is one of the pioneering activities of the local youth in the 2024 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign. The courses aim to equip children with more foreign language skills and create a space for them to take part in extra-curricular activities.
Forty-seven free English classes across the province are enrolling more than 1,450 students of different ages. The activity reflects the close ties among the HCYU, all-level administrations, and parents of the children. It also reveals the social consensus on support for the young in remote and ethnic minority areas to acquire knowledge and cultural values, according to the provincial HCYU Committee.
New Vietnamese horror-comedy movie soon to be released abroad
A new horror-comedy movie will be soon released in five Asian countries and territories, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| From left: Actor Tuan Tran (as Lanh), Diep Bao Anh (as the Ghost), and movie director Nguyen Nhat Trung seen at the launch of the movie Lam Giau Voi Ma (Betting with Ghost) on August 7. (Photos courtesy of Bluebells Studios) |
Entitled "Lam Giau Voi Ma" (Betting with Ghost), the movie will be launched in cinema theatres nationwide on August 30, right before the National Day holiday, before being screened in Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Produced by Bluebells Studios, the movie tells a humorous story of a wealth-making deal between a man and a ghost. Added to the narrative of actual deal, it reveals many secrets of a father-and-son relationship between Lanh and Mr. Dao.
Creative producer Vo Nguyen Dan has revealed that the inspiration for the movie stemmed from the unique role of a coffin bearer. These individuals are responsible for caring for and decorating the deceased, ensuring they reach their final resting place with dignity, but they are also believed to possess the ability to connect with the underworld.
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| The poster for the movie Lam Giau Voi Ma (Betting with Ghost) that will soon be on release. (Photo: VNA) |
The film delves into these spiritual elements, exploring the quest for wealth through supernatural means. However, this journey comes with significant challenges and the protagonist, Lanh, faces a series of arduous trials, underscoring that every pursuit has its price.
Director Nguyen NhatTrung said that he wanted to create a ghost character that is relatable and emotionally compelling for the audience, rather than a typical supernatural entity. By imbuing the ghost character with human-like emotions and an authentic, natural performance, the filmmaker hopes to get the audience to see the ghost as a sympathetic figure.
The distributor of Betting with Ghost for international markets is Mockingbird Pictures – a HCM City-based film production and distribution company, which has had several Asian hit movies in Vietnam, including the Thailand’s Death Whisperer (Tee Yod), the Republic of Korea’s Concrete Utopia, Exhuma and Honey Sweet.
Khanh Hoa to host top film award
The Golden Kite Awards 2024 will take place in Nha Trang city in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on September 3-10, reported the Voice of Vietnam based on the announcement by the Vietnam Cinema Association (VCA) at a press conference in Hanoi on August 10.
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| At the August 10 press conference 10 to announce the Golden Kite Awards 2024 (Photo: The organising board) |
According to VAC President Do Lenh Hung Tu, 161 cinematic works have registered for the festival, including 16 featured movies, 18 TV series, 41 documentaries, 18 scientific films, 14 animated movies, 50 short films, and four theoretical and critical works.
This year's event records the highest number of films registered, affirming the increasing reputation of the Golden Kite Awards, Tu said.
Nguyen Van Nhuan, Director of the provincial Department of Culture and Sports, said the event offers a great chance for Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa to promote the image, potential, and strengths of tourism.
It will feature a diverse range of activities, such as film screenings of participating movies on September 3-9, talk shows, and a seminar on Vietnamese movie industry since the national reunification.
The organising board will present titles including Golden Kite, Silver Kite, and Certificate of Merit to the best works of categories of featured movies, TV series, documentaries, scientific films, animated movies, short films, and theoretical and critical work.
Additional awards from the VCA will be also presented to debut films, audience-favourite films, films that vividly reflect a thematic series, as well as for promising actors and actresses in feature films and television series./.