The police arrested 52 people for practicing usury, with a total amount of over VND1 trillion ($43.5 million) with over 10,000 victims in many provinces and cities.

According to the police, the ring has provided loans with high interest rates of up to nearly 200%/year. As many as 56 bank accounts have been frozen for investigation.

Tan Tin Dat Finance Company was formed by Nguyen Sy Dung, 39, in Vinh city, Nghe An province as a financial service company but it actually practiced usury in 30 provinces and cities nationwide. 

Tet gifts worth US$18.6 million to be presented to deserving people

The government has asked the President’s approval for a plan to present gifts to deserving people on the occasion of the upcoming lunar New Year (Tet), with a total value of more than VND435 billion ($18.6 million). The government proposes two levels of gifts, worth VND600,000 (nearly $30) and VND300,000 (nearly $15) each.

Japan offers training support for Vietnam Coast Guard

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in cooperation with the Japan Coast Guard organized an online training course for the Vietnam Coast Guard on December 13-15. The training course is part of a technical cooperation program entitled "Capacity building training for the Vietnam Coast Guard", organized for 10 trainees who are officers of the Vietnam Coast Guard. The program contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals N0.14 and N0.16, and to the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Hai Duong: 2 people die, 1 loses eyesight after drinking alcohol

A small-scale alcohol production facility in Thuong Dap village, Nam Hong commune of Hai Duong Province has been closed for investigation after many alcohol poisoning cases were reported.

Two people died, one lost his eyesight completely, and many others partially lost their eyesight after drinking alcohol produced by this facility in the past two weeks.

The health authorities said the people all showed signs of alcohol poisoning.

In November, Hai Duong province recorded four other people suffering from alcohol poisoning. They had to go to hospital and one resident in Dong Lac commune, Nam Sach district, died.

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launches domestic tourism program

The Safe and Attractive Tourism Program launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 16 aims to gradually restore domestic tourism under the government’s Covid safety policy.

With the theme "Safe Tourism - Full Experience", the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has asked provincial Departments of Tourism to advise local governments to offer safety measures and open their door
to tourists from other localities based on the epidemic level in these areas.

HCM City needs 3,000 doctors, nurses from other provinces

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has asked the Ministry of Health to send 3,000 additional health workers to the city to assist in the fight against the Covid epidemic.

The request was made as the number of new cases is rising. The city is still maintaining field hospitals and Covid-19 resuscitation centers. However, some of them need additional staff to expand operation.

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City proposed that the Ministry of Health send 1,000 doctors and 2,000 nurses to the city, including 300 doctors and 600 nurses specializing in emergency resuscitation.

Previously, the city asked the Ministry of Defense to support human resources for mobile medical stations in the city, which are responsible for taking care of Covid patients at home. The city needs 537 military health workers for 179 mobile medical stations.

PV

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES DECEMBER 16

PM orders solutions to reduce critical Covid cases, deaths