Viet Nam, a lively and culturally rich nation, has been an active participant in the cultural integration within the ASEAN community, with its diverse traditions, ethnic groups, and historical heritage, Viet Nam has made significant contributions to the collective culture of the region.
Viet Nam’s cultural integration in ASEAN can be seen through various aspects. One significant area is the promotion of cultural exchanges and collaboration. Vietnamese artists, musicians, and performers have taken part in regional festivals, exhibitions, and cultural events, showing the beauty and depth of Vietnamese arts and traditions. These cultural events have not only showcased Vietnam's artistic talents but have also created platforms for cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. Viet Nam’s cuisine, with its distinctive flavours and culinary traditions, has also played a role in cultural integration. Vietnamese dishes such as pho, banh mi, and spring rolls have become well-loved and recognized in the region. The popularity of Vietnamese cuisine has led to the establishment of numerous Vietnamese restaurants across ASEAN countries, serving as informal cultural ambassadors. Furthermore, Viet Nam’s cultural integration in ASEAN has been strengthened through educational and youth exchange programs. Vietnamese students and young professionals have participated in academic and cultural exchange programs, fostering friendships and connections with peers from other ASEAN countries.
Through cultural integration, Viet Nam has gained a better understanding and appreciation of the cultures of other ASEAN countries. Vietnamese people have also had the opportunity to showcase their cultural heritage and connect with others in the region. It has fostered friendship and cooperation among ASEAN member countries. By sharing their cultural practices and learning from others, Vietnam has played an active role in promoting unity and harmony within ASEAN.
(Adapted from Global Success exercise book)

Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature. Though this warming trend has been going on for a long time, its pace has significantly increased in the last hundred years due to the burning of fossil fuels. As the human population has increased, so has the volume of fossil fuels burned. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas, and burning them causes what is known as the “greenhouse effect” in Earth’s atmosphere.
The greenhouse effect is when the sun’s rays penetrate the atmosphere, but when that heat is reflected off the surface cannot escape back into space. Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels prevent heat from leaving the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, water vapour, methane, and nitrous oxide. The excess heat in the atmosphere has caused the average global temperature to rise overtime, otherwise known as global warming.
Global warming has presented another issue called climate change. Sometimes these phrases are used interchangeably, however, they are different. Climate change refers to changes in weather patterns and growing seasons around the world. It also refers to sea level rise caused by the expansion of warmer seas and melting ice sheets and glaciers. Global warming causes climate change, which poses a serious threat to life on Earth in the forms of widespread flooding and extreme weather. Scientists continue to study global warming and its impact on Earth.
Source: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/global-warming/

Viet Nam is strengthening its collaboration with Laos and Cambodia to promote cross-border eco–tourism as part of existing ASEAN frameworks on sustainable tourism. The cooperation builds on the “Cambodia–Laos–Viet Nam (CLV) Development Triangle Area,” a real regional programme established to support green growth, cultural exchange, and responsible travel. Officials from the three countries have recently highlighted eco–tourism as a priority sector, given the region’s rich rainforests, river systems, and diverse ethnic cultures.
Environmental protection has been a central theme in CLV cooperation. Viet Nam and Laos already coordinate forest conservation in areas such as the Annamite Mountains, while Cambodia and Viet Nam jointly manage biodiversity around the Mekong and its wetlands. These shared ecosystems provide opportunities for eco–tourism activities like birdwatching, forest trekking, and community-based homestays. ASEAN’s “Sustainable Tourism Standards,” officially launched in 2022, are being adopted by Viet Nam to ensure eco–tourism sites minimise waste, protect wildlife habitats, and promote low-impact travel.
Community-based tourism is another area of active cooperation. Several Vietnamese provinces—Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, and Quảng Nam—have established links with neighbouring Lao and Cambodian localities to develop cultural routes featuring traditional crafts, gong performances, and village festivals. These programmes aim to generate income for ethnic minority communities while preserving indigenous knowledge. Viet Nam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirms that cross-border cultural exchanges and joint training for local guides are ongoing efforts supported by ASEAN funds.
ASEAN tourism officials expect eco–tourism to remain a key pillar of regional cooperation, especially as travellers seek nature-based and culturally authentic experiences. Viet Nam has committed to expanding green tourism models and improving transport connections to border provinces, allowing smoother travel between the three countries. While no single “eco–tourism trail” has been officially launched, existing CLV programmes and ASEAN sustainable tourism policies are laying the groundwork for future cross-border eco routes. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to protecting natural heritage and promoting responsible tourism across mainland Southeast Asia.
(Adapted from oecd)

The costs and benefits of global warming will vary greatly from area to area. For moderate climate change, the balance can be difficult to assess. But the larger the change in climate, the more negative the consequences will become. Global warming will probably make life harder, not easier, for most people. This is mainly because we have already built enormous infrastructure based on the climate we now have.
People in some temperate zones may benefit from milder winters, more abundant rainfall, and expanding crop production zones. But people in other areas will suffer from increased heat waves, Coastal erosion, rising sea level, more erratic rainfall, and droughts.
The crops, natural vegetation, and domesticated and wild animals (including seafood) that sustain people in a given area may be unable to adapt to local or regional changes in climate. The ranges of diseases and insect pests that are limited by temperature may expand, if other environmental conditions are also favorable.
In its summary report on the impacts of climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated, ‘Taken as a whole, the range of published evidence indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and to increase over time.”
(Source: Adaptedjrom the National Assessment Report by ihe U.S. Global Change Research Program)