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| Vietnamese pho (R) and nem are served at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo: VNA) |
According to Seasia, an independent and trusted premier source of news about Southeast Asia, in the Asian pavilion, pho is served in three main meals, with its nutrition information published on the official system.
The organising committee also gives special favour to nem, which is introduced as “Vietnamese cuisine” and written in Vietnamese instead of using the popular name of spring rolls.
Approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 countries and territories across the globe are competing at the world’s leading sports competition from July 26 to August 11.
Vietnamese manufacturing continues improving in July
The Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) hit 54.7 in July, reaching above the 50-point threshold for the third consecutive month, reported the Voice of Vietnam.
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| Illustrative photo (Source: VOV) |
According to S&P Global, the world’s foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, the figure has remained at its highest level since May, 2022.
In a report released on August 1, S&P Global revealed that new orders witnessed growth for the fourth consecutive month, with the expansion rate being slightly slower than the near-record pace recorded in June.
New export orders also increased, though much softer compared to the total amount of new business. Consequently, manufacturers moved to ramp up production, with the rate of expansion being the second-fastest on record.
It is said that firms had worked to expand capacity by boosting both purchasing activity and employment. Input buying surged, reaching its steepest pace since May, 2022, while staffing levels also grew modestly and slower in comparison to June.
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| Transporting import and export containers at Gemalink International Port in Phu My town, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province (Photo: VNA) |
In terms of prices, input cost inflation was only slightly weaker than the two-year high recorded last month, thereby pushing output charges to rise for the third consecutive time, S&P Global reported.
Lastly, expectations of continued growth in new orders over the coming year served to bolster confidence in the production outlook, although sentiment eased to its lowest level since January, it added.
The S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index measures the performance of the manufacturing sector and is derived from a survey comprising of 400 manufacturing companies.
The index is based on five individual indexes with weights such as new orders at 30%, output at 25%, employment at 20%, suppliers’ delivery times at 15%, and stock of items purchased at 10%, with the delivery times index inverted so that it moves in a comparable direction. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion of the manufacturing sector compared to the previous month; below 50 represents a contraction; while 50 indicates no change.
Vietnam-Germany Hospital successfully performs heart transplant on seven-year-old girl
Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital has announced the successful completion of a heart transplant for a seven-year-old girl diagnosed with end-stage heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| The 7-year-old patient's body adapts to the new heart only one week after the heart transplant. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnam - Germany Friendship Hospital) |
This marks the 10th pediatric heart transplant performed at the hospital.
Three years ago, the patient, T.T.D.L., was diagnosed with a condition where the heart muscles became enlarged and weakened, and she subsequently received conservative treatment with specific medications at the Hanoi’s Central Pediatric Hospital.
Recently, her heart failure progressed rapidly and severely, showing poor response to conservative treatments. The child was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure, and heart transplantation was determined to be the optimal treatment option.
Heart experts at the hospital’s Cardiovascular and Thoracic Centre noted that only a few cases of brain-dead organ donors are available each year nationwide, making it extremely challenging to find a suitable donor for pediatric heart transplants.
The child's end-stage heart failure caused significant breathing difficulties, requiring bed rest, and showed poor treatment response. Without a heart transplant, her chance of survival after one year was very low.
Fortunately, the patient received a heart donation from a brain-dead donor, which revived her life.
The donor's organ and the recipient's organ were a perfect match, although the donor's body size was 3.5 times larger than that of the recipient. This significant difference in body size presented numerous challenges for surgery and post-transplant recovery, posing a challenge for both domestic and international transplant centres.
At the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital, with experience from nine previous pediatric heart transplants, the medical team anticipated these challenges and developed an aggressive treatment protocol for the patient.
One week after the heart transplant, the child's body began to adapt to the new heart.
After three weeks of post-surgery, the patient is recovering very well. She is engaging in daily activities, meeting the criteria for discharge from the hospital.
Famous Italian opera to be performed in August
The opera 'La Traviata' co-invested, staged, and produced by the Ho Guom Opera and the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB), will be performed on August 9-10 evening, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Soloists To Loan (R) and Truong Linh in the opera 'La Traviata' (Photo: hoguomopera.com) |
Having been performed very successfully worldwide, this will be the first time it is staged in entirety in Vietnam.
The original was authored by Italian composer Francesco Maria Piave based on the novel 'La Dame aux Camélias' (1848) by French writer Alexandre Dumas. It tells the story of a French courtesan named Violetta living in the 19th century, a time when women were treated very harshly as they were unable to own property, receive an education, or hold a position in society.
The performance will feature soloists To Loan, Lan Nhung, Truong Linh, Thanh Binh, and Huy Duc, and artists from the Vietnam National Opera & Ballet, the VNOB Belcanto Chorus, and the Hanoi Voices International Choir.
Director of the opera Beverly Blankenship said this is the first time she has staged "La Traviata", a world-class musical masterpiece, expressing the hope that Vietnamese audiences can enjoy an emotional and impressive “La Traviata”.
The opera is a highlight marking one year since the inauguration of the Ho Guom Opera, Director of VNOB Phan Manh Duc said./.