Ho Chi Minh City has sought the Government's green light to advance construction of the Thu Thiem Bridge No 2 over the Saigon River by three years.

In a recent petition, the city People's Committee has asked to work on related formalities so that construction can begin next year and finish in 2017.

Early completion of the bridge, one of 14 to span Saigon River approved by the Government, will pave the way for the development of the Thu Thiem New Urban Area.

The city has a transportation master plan for the period through 2020, approved by the Prime Minister in 2013, which says removal of the Ba Son Shipyard – where the bridge will start — is "in the list of priorities for the 2013-15 stage".

A master plan for seaports in the HCM City – Dong Nai – Ba Ria-Vung Tau area envisaged removing the shipyard by 2010.

Construction of the bridge can only start when the shipyard goes.

According to HCM City authorities, the Prime Minister has signed three decisions related to its removal.

Ba Son Co. Ltd., the operator of the shipyard, has built a 200m pier and other facilities at the CaiMep – ThiVai Port in Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

The Ministry of Defence, owner of the shipyard, had asked to delay work on the bridge until 2018 so that Ba Son Corp could achieve its production goals.

Thu Thiem Bridge No 2 will be 19.3m wide and 1.2km long including approach roads at both ends in Districts 1 and 2.

It will cost VND2.3 trillion (nearly US$108.5 million).

Bridges in Son La pose accident risk

Most bridges crossing the Ma River in the northern province of Son La's Song Ma District have deteriorated, posing risks for local residents, particularly during the flood season.

The district has 94 bridges, including 75 suspension bridges and 10 pontoon bridges. Many were built by local residents out of simple materials such as bamboo and wood.

Hundreds of people and vehicles cross each bridge every day.

Bui Thi Chinh, who lives in Chieng Khoong commune, said that when she crossed the commune's handrail-less bridge, it swung from side to side, making her feel terrified.

Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Song Ma District Cam Thi Ngoc Yen said only 25 out of the 94 bridges were safe enough to use.

While local authorities planned to repair 45 and remove 15, the lack of funding made this difficult, she said, adding that they had set up warning signals and signs guiding residents to avoid deteriorated bridges.

Earlier this year, the Government approved a VND931 billion (US$44 million) plan to build 186 suspension bridges in 28 cities and provinces in the northern, central and Central Highland regions. The plan addresses 40 per cent of the more than 1,940 suspension bridges across the country in need of urgent repairs or reconstruction.

Disease prevention awareness still low

People's awareness of disease-prevention measures remains low, the deputy head of HCM City's Health Department said yesterday.

Nguyen Huu Hung said the department had found many water containers with mosquito larvae in Tan Thoi Nhat Ward in the outlying district of 12.

An inspection was conducted following a report of 10 patients with dengue fever in the ward over the last 10 days.

However, since the beginning of the year, the number of dengue fever cases in the city has fallen by 20 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to a report from the municipal Preventive Health Centre.

Still, Hung said that people should not ignore preventive methods.

The department will check disease-prevention measures at other districts on a weekly basis as of next month.

He said the department and local preventive health centres have yet to identify the reason behind the many absences of students at Nguyen Khuyen Primary School.

The Pasteur Institute is testing stool samples taken from students who had symptoms of fever, headache, stomachache or vomiting.

Local health and school authorities are encouraging students at the school to wash their hands and are monitoring food and water supplies, according to Hung.

Since October 21, more than 200 students have been absent from the school. Some of them, however, have recovered and returned to school.

Nationwide campaign expands access to health care services

One million poor and disadvantaged residents of the country's remote, border and island areas will receive free health services under a humanitarian community health care campaign launched here yesterday.

The health services offered under the campaign include check-up, treatment and consultation and will be given to at least one million poor and disadvantaged people every year, according to Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Tien said many residents of poor remote and island districts still had insufficient access to health care services due to traffic congestion and the shortage of infrastructure, medical facilities and human resources of the state health care system.

"The campaign aims to inform and mobilise society to get involved in providing humanitarian community health care to poor and disadvantaged people," stressed Tien.

At the event, Nguyen Thien Nhan, president of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, highlighted the importance of the humanitarian initiative in providing people with health care.

"Through the campaign, many people will be provided health care services, as well as information and knowledge on taking care of their health. Thousands of blood units and health insurance cards will be donated to disadvantaged people," said Nhan.

"The campaign will be an important start for a new movement, with the participation of the entire nation in the coming years," added Nhan.

During the campaign, mobile teams of doctors and volunteers will provide health check-up and treatment services at community or local medical stations.

They will also provide consulting services to strengthen people's awareness of health care, personal hygiene and the environment, as well as accidents, injuries, and disaster, search and rescue operations.

The six-month-long campaign is being organised under the framework of a co-operation programme from 2014-2017. It is being implemented by the Viet Nam Red Cross, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, General Department of Politics under the Ministry of Defence and Viet Nam Young Physician Association, with support from Prudential Life Insurance in Viet Nam.

Law students qualify for Asia-Pacific event

Three law students will represent Viet Nam at the Asia Pacific around of the International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition in Hong Kong next March.

Tran Bich Ngoc, Ho Vu Minh Dien, and Le Ngoc Bao Trang of the HCM City University of Law defeated another team from their university in the final round of the Vietnamese qualifying competition yesterday.

They had earlier defeated eight other teams from seven leading law schools across the country.

The contestants, who had to speak in English, had to argue their cases like lawyers do in the real courts. This year's topic was about international humanitarian affairs.

HCM City hosts robotics competition

HCM City will host the National Robotics (Robothon) Competition for primary and secondary students on November 1.

The competition, to be held at the Military Zone No.7 Stadium in Phu Nhuan District, will feature 62 teams from 16 schools and robotics training centres from the city, Ha Noi, and Da Nang.

The competition, titled "Zero Waste" this year, will require teams to programme their robots to transport waste to recycling plants and biological treatment sites.

The three top teams will represent Viet Nam at the Digital Youth Award-International Robotics Competition in Malaysia at the end of November.

Police seize 13 heroin bricks from drug dealer

The city's police yesterday arrested a 44-year-old man named Mai Quynh Tho, a resident of the Viet Hung commune, and seized 13 bricks of heroin from him.

Tho was caught while he was carrying five heroin bricks. The police found eight more bricks buried in his garden.

Director of the Police Department Bui Quyet Toan said that Tho was the leader of a gang that transported drugs from Son La and Hoa Binh to the Nam Dinh province.

The gang reportedly transported 10 to 20 heroin bricks during each trip. Toan added that Tho had been jailed once for "illegal dealing in and the transport of drugs".

The police are making further investigations in the case.

Quang Ninh Police bust drug trafficking ring

The Quang Ninh Police on Wednesday smashed a transnational drug and arms trafficking ring that extended from China to Viet Nam, in Ha Long City's Viet Hung Ward.

The police seized 7kg of heroin, eight guns, more than 180 bullets and nearly VND2 billion (US$95,200) in cash from Nguyen Van Hai, 38, who was transporting the goods on an automobile.

Seven more guns and more than 170 bullets of different kinds were seized during a police search of Hai's house in the province's Cam Pha City.

Hai's 49-year-old accomplice, named Hoang Vinh Phuc, was also arrested.

The police are investigating the case further.

New grads lack banking skills

Most banks in Viet Nam have failed to provide basic training courses to new graduates.

Vice-director of Ernst & Young Viet Nam, Vo Tan Hoang Van, said his company has spent three to four weeks to retrain students to meet the demands of the workplace.

"The quality of the personnel input that the colleges provide us does not live up to our expectations," Van said. "Vietnamese students tend to have problems with general knowledge. For example, very few banking-finance students really grasp the meanings of the Law on Credit Institutions."

His feelings were backed by Luu Trung Thai, former vice-director of the Military Bank (MB) who said the quality of banking-finance personnel was challenged right at the first step – education and training.

"Lots of students major in banking and finance each year, but not many are capable of adjusting to the workplace. Most need to acquire enough skills and knowledge."

Despite a 250 per cent increase in the number of banking-finance staff over a decade to about 180,000 officers in 2012, the quality of personnel was still relatively low, said Tran Huu Thang, deputy director of the Personnel and Organisation Department of the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV).

"Most new graduates have both skill and knowledge gaps to work at," Thang added.

Students were found to lack such skills as work attitude, teamwork, communication and English. Some had little general knowledge of the banking and finance industry.

A survey by the Institute of Manpower, Banking and Finance (BTCI) and the HayGroup this year showed that only about two thirds of the 32,000 banking and finance graduates in 2013 were recruited, leaving another 12,000 unemployed or unable to get a job inside their major.

Forty per cent of banks said they still did not have enough employeest, according to a report in the first quarter of this yhear by the SBV's Department of Monetary Statistics and Forecasting.

Banks also struggled to recruit executives in specialised fields, especially risk management, general management and investment. The banks have had to use foreign experts to fill the positions, despite the high costs.

Meanwhile, the SBV forecast that the demand for executives would climb to about 94,000 people in 2015.

Korean medical centre to train VN personnel

VINMEC International Hospital and the Korean EWHA Womans University's Medical Centre will work together in oncology, obstetrics and other fields under a Memorandum of Understanding signed yesterday.

The centre, will help VINMEC Hospital train human resources employees and researchers, and improve their women's disease treatment options. The hospitals will also exchange experts and information on women's diseases.

Park project land used as dump site for years

A section of Cau Giay Park Project land that belongs to Cau Giay and Nam Tu Liem districts has been used illegally for the last four years as a construction waste dump site.

Residents said trucks loaded with garbage have been dumping construction waste in the 60-hectare area since 2011. The land is supposed to become part of Cau Giay Park when the project is finished.

"The district ordered local authorities to patrol and monitor the slot for illegal dumping of construction waste, but it was difficult to do due to lack of manpower," said Duong Cao Thanh, chairman of the Cau Giay People's Committee.

Residents still own some of the land, because the city hasn't finished paying out land compensation. This makes patrolling the area complicated, said Nguyen Truong Son, vice chairman of the Nam Tu Lien People's Committee.

Local residents said a gang of thugs used to run the illegal dumping operation. The gang even set up checkpoints to supervise trucks coming and going, and prohibit outsiders from breaking in. City authorities have since shut down the thugs' operations, and they haven't been seen since.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, vice chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee, visited the site last week and ordered local authorities and agencies to stop the illegal dumping immediately and start clearing the ground. Hung ordered the Ha Noi Department of Transport's inspectors to increase patrols, and take away drivers' licences and temporarily confiscate trucks if they were found dumping waste.

The Ha Noi People's Committee also requested that the city police further investigate the gang running the dump site. The city ordered local authorities and police to report the results of their investigations by the month's end.

Electric shock kills 2 while soldering

A couple died yesterday from electric shock while welding an iron frame at their house in Luong Son Commune, Ninh Son District in the northern province of Ninh Thuan.

Neighbors said Le Xuan Cuong, 37, used a soldering iron with uncovered electric wiring to weld. The wiring created an electric shock, the force of which made him stick to the metal frame.

His wife, Ha Thi Mai, 31, tried to pull her husband away, but the frame shocked her as well.

Cuong and Mai were then taken to Ninh Son Hospital, but died in transit.

Lao Cai seizes smuggled goods

The Lao Cai Police and Market Watch on Wednesday discovered goods smuggled in from China.

The police found 6,200kg of dried apples, 24 boxes of sausage covers, 750 sets of clothes, 570m of fabric and other goods transported on a lorry. None of the items had any documentation on their origins.

Enterprise fined for wastewater spill

A company in the southern province of Tay Ninh was fined VND350 million (US$16,600) after its broken wastewater reservoir polluted surrounding homes and farms.

Heavy rains ruptured a waste water reservoir at Do Phu Manufacturing, Trading and Import-Export Co Ltd in Suoi Ngo Commune, Tan Chau District on September 13. The leaks spread polluted water, damaging 56 families' houses, belongings and farms in the surrounding area.

The company spent VND1.3 billion (US$61,900) to compensate victims.

Wildlife thrives in Ca Mau forest

The populations of birds and wild animals have surged in recent times in the U Minh Ha cajuput forest in Ca Mau, according to the province Sub-department of Forest Protection.

There are storks, egrets, cormorants, night herons, water cocks, and many other species.

To protect the birds, the sub-department has carried out several measures, including preventing people from coming into close contact with them and providing them with food and water.

Several rare animals, including monkeys, wild boars, weasels, pythons, and crocodiles, have also been spotted in increasing numbers.

Local forest rangers said, based on their tracks, wild boars probably numbered in the hundreds now after not being seen in the forest for many years.

Herds of animals had been seen looking for food along the sides of roads, they said.

Ca Mau has banned the hunting, transportation, and sale of rare wild animals since 2000.

Authorities have busted 77 cases of hunting and possession of animals and seized turtles, wild boars, deer, and cobras weighing more than a tonne. The animals were later released back into the forest.

The U Minh Ha cajuput forest spreads over more than 80,000ha in Tran Van Thoi, U Minh, and Thoi Binh districts.

250 wheelchairs and bicycles donated to Nghe An’s children

As many as 120 wheelchairs and 130 bicycles were donated to disabled and disadvantaged children in Vinh City, the central province of Nghe An on November 2 by the National Fund for Vietnamese Children’s Nghe An chapter and Vietnam Outreach Australia.

The gifts are expected to boost the children’s morale and help them continue going to school.

Over the past 5 years, Vietnam Outreach, an Australian charity, has presented thousands of wheelchairs and bicycles to children in difficult circumstances and children with disabilities all over the country.

Nghe An province has provided thousands of local children with free medical checkups, medicine and surgeries over the past 20 years.-

Exchange programme boosts Lang Son-Guangxi children friendship

As many as 150 children from Lang Son city in the northern border province of Lang Son and the Chinese city of Chongzao in neighbouring Guangxi province participated in a friendship programme in Lang Son city.

The programme aims to foster and develop connections between youngsters and children on both sides, as well as the relations between the two peoples.

Along with a number of friendship activities, the children took part in a musical exchange on November 1, with songs featuring Vietnam and China, as well as the traditional friendship between the two countries.

As part of the programme, a seminar was held to discuss the friendship between border children in Lang Son and Guangxi.

During the two-day event, the children also paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his monument and visited a number of historical sites in Lang Son.

They also attended a dialogue with teachers and pupils in Vinh Trai primary school in Lang Son city.

Flag pole inaugurated in island off Binh Dinh province

A 22.66m flagpole was inaugurated in Cu Lao Xanh Island, in Nhon Chau commune, Quy Nhon city, central Binh Dinh province, followed by a flag raising ceremony on October 31.

The flagpole, first of its kind in near-shore islands along the country, was built through cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and the Vietnamese Students’ Association.

Speaking at the event, Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of Communist Youth Union Central Committee and Chairman of the Vietnamese Students’ Association highlighted that the flag pole is contributed to affirm the nation’s sacred sovereignty over seas and islands and offers a new attraction for tourism.

Its construction was funded by the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) with a total investment of 1.2 billion VND (nearly 56,500 USD).

Cu Lao Xanh island, also known as Nhon Chau, is about 12 nautical miles from Quy Nhon city, with a population of over 2,100 people.

Association connects Vietnamese students in UK

The Vietnamese Students Association in the UK (SVUK) organised an annual congress on November 1 with the aim of consolidating the organisation to be able to effectively represent more than 8,000 Vietnamese students in the UK.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Van Thao spoke highly of the efforts of the SVUK’s executive committee and said he hopes they will connect Vietnamese students by organising more practical activities.

He suggested the association run activities that support students in their study and organise cultural exchanges to introduce Vietnam to British friends.

The congress heard reports on the SVUK’s activities in the 2013-2014 academic year, such as the photograph contest SVUK InFocus, the fundraising campaigns Any Penny Counts for measles-infected children in Vietnam and Connecting VietYouth 2014, and a football competition.

At the congress, Mai Lan Van from City University London was elected as the new SVUK President.

Last October, the SVUK was officially recognised as a member of the Vietnamese Student Association.

1,000 Japanese cherry trees planted in Dien Bien province

One thousand Japanese cherry trees were planted in the northwestern province of Dien Bien on November 1 to commemorate late General Vo Nguyen Giap and contribute to the Vietnamese-Japanese friendship.

The activity was jointly carried out by Japan’s religious association Dotoku Kaikan and the Dien Bien provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Aoki Takashi, Dotoku Kaikan Chairman, said 2014 marked the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Dien Bien Phu campaign, led by late General Vo Nguyen Giap, which ended French colonial rule in Vietnam.

The planting of the trees in Muong Phang commune, where the battle took place, also demonstrated people’s belief and prayers for peace, he added.

Cherry trees have been grown in Muong Phang since 2006, which is said to have favourable weather and soil conditions for this species.

Apart from Muong Phang commune, Dien Bien’s Department for Agriculture and Rural Development has also piloted planting cherry trees in other areas, such as near the Pang Hoc and Tay Trang border gates.

Central Highlands improve living conditions for ethnic minorities

The Central Highlands provinces have provided financial assistance and language training, and allocated land to local ethnic minority households in a bid to improve their living conditions.

By 2013, as many as 231 households in Krong Nang district, Dak Lak province, which is home to more than 15,000 ethnic minority residents, were given 200ha of farmland and residential land.

Vice Chairman of the district’s People’s Committee, Nguyen Ky, said the move helped stabilise residents’ lives, increasing their incomes and reducing the local poverty rate to 10.37 percent in 2013.

In addition, local residents also received financial assistance and technical guidance on cultivation, husbandry and forest protection.

Since 2002, the Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong have allocated over 30,000ha of land to nearly 80,000 ethnic minority households.

Meanwhile, Kon Tum province has implemented measures to preserve spoken and written ethnic minority languages.

The Central Highlands are home to 6.5 million people, with ethnic minorities accounting for 45 percent of the region’s population, including the Bahnar, Jrai, Ede, and Sedang ethnic groups.

Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces have added Bahnar, Jrai and Ede languages to their primary and high school curricula.

The Central Highlands provinces also worked with ministries and research institutions to publish Ede-Vietnamese and Bahnar-Vietnamese dictionaries and bilingual books that were distributed to local communities.

NGO-funded projects boost Vinh Phuc’s development

International non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have so far poured aid worth 1.4 million USD into the central province Vinh Phuc this year, improving local living standards through a number of social projects.

The NGOs, hailing from the US, the Republic of Korea, France and Japan, invested in education, vocational training, healthcare and the environment.

The Korean KFHI organisation has been running programmes in the province since 2007. During that time, the organisation spent more than 3.6 million USD on supporting 60 poor households with start-up capital for production, helping 1,240 students pay their tuition fees, assisting disadvantaged families in building new homes, and supporting schools in mountainous areas to improve their infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the World Together Organisation continued its support for nearly 100 disadvantaged students in need.

GRET, a French non-governmental organisation, helps improve the living conditions of migrant female labourers in Vinh Yen city by improving their professional skills and awareness of their rights.

Currently, the locality is striving to attract investment in other sectors, including environmental protection and waste treatment, natural disaster prevention and climate change adaption, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.-

Ethnic minority students commended for academic results

More than 110 ethnic minority students were honoured at a ceremony in Hanoi on Nov. 1 for the outstanding achievements they recorded at national academic contests and the university entrance exams in 2014.

The ceremony was co-organised by the Government’s Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs and the Vietnam News Agency in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam Television and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised the great efforts of the students themselves as well as the dedication of their teachers so that the students from disadvantaged areas could have made the accomplishments.

He took the occasion to stress the importance of education in sustainable poverty reduction, especially in ethnic-inhabited and mountainous areas.

Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman of the Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs Nong Quoc Tuan, who is also head of the ceremony’s organising board, said the education and training sector in ethnic and mountainous areas has reaped significant fruits in improving people’s knowledge, training human resources and nurturing talents over the past years.

He reported that the country has a total of 304 ethnic boarding schools, which have cultivated many outstanding ethnic students.

He said the committee will continue partnering with ministries, branches and social organisations to mobilise all resources for investment in education and training in ethnic and mountainous areas in a bid to narrow the gap of education.

Over 300 former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts for missions in Laos got together in Hanoi on October 30 on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of their traditional day to reminisce on what they went through alongside Lao soldiers during the war against the French and Americans.

As part of an agreement between the Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States, armies and peoples, a command unit of the Vietnam People’s Army was tasked with supporting Laos in its fight for national liberation from 1945-1975, during which generations of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and military experts overcame numerous hardships with their Lao comrades, resulting in the success of the Lao revolution.

Nearly 35,000 Vietnamese soldiers died on Lao soil, while 60,000 returned home as war invalids.

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Thanh Cung said in his speech that even though many years had passed, the victory of the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and military experts remained a proud milestone in the history of Vietnam and Laos, as well as their Parties, armies and peoples.

Laos’ Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Chansamon Channhalat, on his part, also acknowledged that the solidarity and special military alliance between the two nations had stood the test of time and reaped many rewards in a number of areas.

Vietnamese, Swedish nationals look back upon friendship

Vietnamese and Swedish citizens met up in Hanoi on October 30 to review their countries’ friendship since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 45 years ago.

Sweden formed diplomatic ties with Vietnam on January 11, 1969 and has since provided Vietnam with extensive non-refundable aid, former Deputy Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Vietnam–Sweden Friendship Association Hoang The Lien said.

The Chairman recalled the movements supporting Vietnam’s struggle for national independence in Sweden, saying that many Vietnamese always think about the late Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme with deep respect and gratitude.

In her speech, Swedish Ambassador Camilla Mellander said Sweden wants to develop trade with Vietnam, and could support Vietnam in green technology and sustainable practices.

Swedish investors are keen to invest in urban transport, health care, clean technology, banking, information technology and communication sector. Two-way trade between Vietnam and Sweden increased by almost 28 percent annually and exceeded 1 billion USD for the first time in 2013, she said.

Participants spoke highly of the continuous and effective support the Swedish government and people offered to Vietnam, mentioning the Bai Bang paper mill, the National Hospital of Paediatrics and Uong Bi general hospital as examples.

The event was part of the celebrations organised on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Vietnam – Sweden diplomatic ties.

Annual run raises funds for kids with cancer, heart disease

Thousands of Hanoians are expected to participate in a run that will raise funds for underprivileged children with cancer and heart diseases.

The annual Ha Noi Run for Children (HRC) on November 9 will begin at the main gate of the Thong Nhat (Reunification) Park on Tran Nhan Tong Street, and go around Thien Quang Lake.

Launched by the Embassy of Canada and other agencies, the HRC fundraising event is now considered a fall tradition in the capital city that draws both expatriates and Vietnamese citizens. The event helps raise about US$500,000 each year.

"People's support and participation contributes to the assurance of a stronger and healthier future generation for Viet Nam. Every child in this country deserves to be strong and healthy, and together we can make that happen." said Canadian Ambassador David Devine.

"Many international friends who live, work in Ha Noi regularly participate in the event with the desire to help underprivileged children with cancer and heart diseases," said Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, secretary general of the Viet Nam-Canada Friendship Association.

This year, the HRC will be held under the patronage of actress Le Khanh and singer Thai Thuy Linh. T-shirts, pop-up food and beverage concessions will be available. All profits will be donated.

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