Cao Bang’s last remote commune accesses power

Son Lap commune in Bao Lac district has become the last commune in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang to access electricity from the national power grid.

Total investment for the project to supply power to the remote commune is VND23.83 billion (US$1.05 million). The project includes 6.738km of 35kV middle-voltage transmission line, three transformer stations with a total capacity of 300kVA, and 9,379km of low-voltage line.

Located about 140km from Cao Bang city, Son Lap commune covers over 4,000 hectares with many high rocky mountains. Its residents are mostly from ethnic minority groups, including Mong, Dao, Tay and Nung.

The majority of local households are poor, with backward customs and low literacy.

The project, invested by the Electricity of Vietnam’s Northern Power Corporation (EVN NPC), is expected to improve socio-economic situation in the localities, while enhancing political-social awareness of locals.

Hanoi plans second rapid bus route in push for public transport

The much-touted BRT system had a rough start at a middling speed, but passenger numbers are picking up.

Soon after Hanoi launched its first rapid bus service to mixed results, officials have announced that a new route will be added, reaffirming the city's push for public transport to curb congestion.

Nguyen The Hung, vice chairman of the People's Committee, said the largest bus operator Transerco will develop the second route to connect Kim Ma, a downtown neighborhood, with the suburban area of Hoa Lac.

He did not give more details, but added that lessons will be learned from the operation of the first route.

Last month the capital city launched its much-anticipated bus rapid transit system (BRT), with the first route running 14 kilometers between Kim Ma and Yen Nghia, two of the city's most populated areas.

The BRT system is based on the idea that buses can travel faster and more efficiently on exclusive lanes of their own. However, during rush hours many cars and motorbikes can be seen taking over these lanes, and as a result the new buses are not as fast as expected.

In what seems to be a good sign, Nguyen Thuy, director of Hanoi BRT Company, said that passenger numbers for the rapid buses have increased.

On January 1, the system served over 8,300 people, but on January 5 and 6, the daily number reached 12,000.

Bus riders can try the new service out for free until the end of January. After that, one-way tickets will cost VND7,000, or around US$30 cents.

Vietnam urged to consider visa-free travel for Australian, Indian tourists

Tourism businesses say the visa waiver program for select countries from Europe has proved effective and should be extended.

Vietnam should extend its visa waiver program for tourists from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K., and consider adding India and Australia to the list soon, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association has suggested. 

The country has offered single-entry visa exemption to citizens of these five European countries since mid-2015. The relaxed visa policy, which allows the eligible visitors to stay up to 15 days in Vietnam, is expected to expire by the end of this July.

“We suggest the government continue to extend the policy, at least through June 2018,” Nguyen Khanh Phuong, vice chairwoman of the tourism association in Ho Chi Minh City, told the Saigon Times.

She said the government should make the decision soon so that the industry can have enough time to get ready for any policy change.

The government should also waive visa requirements for tourists from other potential feeder markets, including Australia and India, Phuong said.

Currently Vietnam is also offering visa-free entry for tourists from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

International arrivals in Vietnam reached a record high of 10 million last year, up from nearly 8 million in 2015, official data showed.

Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the national tourism administration, attributed the impressive surge to the government’s efforts to relax visa policy.

The government has also approved the much-touted online visa system for travelers on short holidays or business visits. The new visa rule, which is expected to come into effect in February, will not apply to all visitors but will be limited to those from Vietnam’s top tourist markets.

Tourism made up around 6.6% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product last year.

Vietnamese boy, trafficked into China by Taiwanese man, returns home

A three-year-old boy from Ho Chi Minh City has been safely returned to his family after he was abducted and brought into China by a Taiwanese man, who was a friend of his mother’s.

The victim, K., was handed on January 6 back to Vietnamese authorities by China’s Dongxing City Police through Mong Cai Border Gate in northern Vietnam’s Quang Ninh Province.

The three-year-old and his mother Nguyen Gia Bao, also known as Nguyen Thi Doan Trang, 33, reside on Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

According to police files, Bao invited Taiwanese man Chuang Kuo Jen, a long-time acquaintance of hers and a master of feng shui, the Asian practice that discusses architecture in harmony with the surrounding environment,  to ‘read’ the headquarters of her company on December 2.

The same evening, Bao and K. were seeing the feng shui master off at his hotel on Vo Truong Toan Street in District 2 when Chuang suggested that K. be left in his care for the night so he could hang out with the boy the day after.

Confident in her long-time friend, Bao agreed to the suggestion.

On December 4, Bao returned to the hotel to pick up her son only to learn from the hotel staff that Chuang had checked out on the night of December 2 together with her son.

The Taiwanese kidnapper reportedly used a fake birth certificate for K., asking a Vietnamese accomplice, Le Tran Xuan Thy, to play as the boy’s mother.

Chuang managed to fly K. to Hanoi before crossing illegally into China through unofficial ways.

Upon learning of her son’s abduction, Bao reported it to Vietnamese police, who worked with their Chinese counterparts to identify the kidnappers and locate the missing boy.

K. was later found in a neighborhood in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, and was rescued by Chinese authorities.

A further investigation into the case is being carried out by Vietnam’s Criminal Police.

Vietnamese students in Cambodia welcome Lunar New Year

Vietnamese students met on January 7 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to welcome the Lunar New Year festival or Tet.

The event was also attended by embassy staff and overseas Vietnamese people.

Student Le Trung Kien said, “We always receive support of from the Vietnamese Embassy, representative offices, and entrepreneurs, while we are studying in Cambodia. We promise to study hard to contribute to our home country, Vietnam, in the future.”

90 Vietnamese are currently studying at Cambodia’s universities.

Ha Giang expands bridge construction to ease traffic jam

The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang held a ground-breaking ceremony to start the construction of the Yen Bien bridge in Ha Giang city on January 8.

Spanning the Lo River, the steel-reinforced concrete bridge is designed with three lanes and has a total length of 114m and a width of 15m. 

It is scheduled to be completed in August 2017 with a view to easing traffic congestion and ensuring traffic safety in the city.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Son said the sub-project worth over VND40 billion (US$1.7 million) is part of the transport sector loan for national road improvement project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to reconstruct deteriorated bridges.

He asked all relevant units and sectors to focus on land clearance to facilitate the construction of the bridge.

The official also requested contractors to ensure progress and quality of the project as well as labour safety and environmental protection.

The Ministry of Transport was the investor of the project while contractors include the Bridge 14 Joint Stock Company and Thang Long Mechanized and Construction Joint Stock Company.

For Vietnamese workers, how much overtime is too much overtime?

As the country weighs the pros and cons of a higher limit for extra hours, take a look at the rules in other countries.

How many extra hours should a Vietnamese employee be allowed to take? That's the question labor authorities are trying to figure out.

Under a proposed Labor Code amendment, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is seeking to double the overtime limit that an employee may work, to a maximum of 600 extra hours per year. Another option is to scrap the annual overtime limit altogether, but restrict employees to a daily cap of 12 hours.

This week the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, which represents unions across the country, has spoken out against the proposal, arguing that such a move will lead to many workers becoming exhausted. Opponents of long hours warn that too much overtime can also result in more workplace accidents and potentially more strikes.

Compared to other countries, Vietnam currently has a low overtime limit.

In the U.S., there is no limit on how many hours employees can work. Generally they must receive overtime payment for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Meanwhile in the U.K., employees are allowed to opt out the conventional 48-hour week. Some employers choose to give their employees time off instead of paying for overtime, which is known as "time off in lieu."

Many Vietnamese workers want to exceed the weekly 48-hour limit to earn more money, according to a recent survey conducted by the national broadcaster VTV. Normally the pay rate for overtime is at least 150% of the regular rate, and can hit 300%  if the extra hours fall on a public holiday.

In terms of paid leave, each year, Vietnamese workers are offered 12 annual days off for 12 months working, which is respectively higher compared to some other Asian countries.

Tet peach blossom gives reason for cheer

Though Tet (Lunar New Year) is still three weeks away people are making a beeline to gardens to place orders for their favourite kumquat trees.

Gardeners in Nhat Tan and Tu Lien wards in Hanoi’s Tay Ho district are taking special care of their peach blossom and kumquat trees to get good prices during the Lunar New Year. The areas are bustling as a result.

“Due to this year’s abnormal weather, we have to take very good care to make the flowers blossom in time,” Tuan Viet, owner of a peach blossom garden in Nhat Tan, told the media.

A three-metre peach blossom tree at Nhat Tan would be priced at 25 million VND (over 1,100 USD) to 30 million VND if it blossoms in time, while kumquat would cost 500,000 VND for a small tree and 2.5 million VND for a big one, a farmer in Nhat Tan said.

Vietnamese films screened in India

The Vietnam film festival opened in New Delhi, India, on January 5, in celebration of the 45-year ties between the two countries (January 7 1972 – 2017).

The seven-day festival is screening seven Vietnamese films, including Cuoc doi cua Yen (Yen's Life) directed by Dinh Tuan Vu, Canh dong hoang (The Abandoned Field: Free Fire Zone) by Nguyen Hong Sen and Mua oi (The Guava House) by Dang Nhat Minh.

It also features a contemporary photo and painting exhibition and art performances by a Vietnamese troupe.

At the opening ceremony, Rakesh Kacher, director of the India Habitat Centre where the festival is taking place, said he expects for more Vietnamese films to be screened here.

Amrendra Khatua, head of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, said he believes the event will contribute to boosting Vietnam – India cultural ties in cinematography.

He noted that there will be more join activities held to mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral relations.

Vietnam is home to about 400 film production companies that make approximately 100 films annually.

Vietnam-India Culture Week opens in HCM City

The Vietnam-India Culture Week was opened on January 7 in Ho Chi Minh City as an interesting start for celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-India diplomatic ties and 10 years of bilateral strategic partnership.

The week-long event include various activities, including a photo exhibition highlighting the friendship between the two countries, an exhibition introducing the nation and people of India, a Yoga day, a fashion show, an Indian film festival, and a food exhibition.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Nguyen Van Manh, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations in Ho Chi Minh City, spotlighted the similarities of Vietnam and India in culture, history and religion.

The traditional friendship between the two countries have been nurtured by leaders and people of both countries for years, with strong mutual trust and diverse cooperation between sectors and localities of both sides, benefiting both peoples, he said.

Manh held that the Vietnam-India Culture Week will help introduce the culture, food, nation and people of India to locals in Ho Chi Minh City, thus strengthening mutual understanding between the two peoples and fostering the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. 

Meanwhile Smita Pant, Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, noted that Vietnamese and Indian people have set up their friendship and trade relations for thousands years, overcoming geographic distance to reinforce the sound brotherhood.

She reviewed bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, culture, science and technology over the past years, as well as partnership in human resource development which contributes to the socio-economic growth of both countries.

Jade Buddha statue comes to Soc Trang

The “Jade Buddha for Peace” statue is being exhibited in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang from January 7-13.

A welcome ceremony for the statue was held on January 7, drew the participation of thousands of Buddhist followers and tourists far and wide.

The statue is placed at a tourist destination of Tan Hue Vien Company in Chau Thanh district of Soc Trang province.

A number of activities will be held along with the display of the statue, such as sermons on Buddha’s teachings and rituals.

The statue, 2.7m tall and over 4 tonnes in weight, was carved from an 18-tonne block of gemstone-quality jade discovered in northern Canada. 

It has toured over 20 countries worldwide and was brought to Vietnam for the first time in 2009.

After finishing its trip to other localities of the country this time, the statue will be permanently placed in Australia.

Cambodian media stress Vietnam’s role in victory over Khmer Rouge

Press outlets in Cambodia have carried many stories about the country’s victory over the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime 38 years ago, highlighting Vietnam’s role in that triumph.

The Kampuchea Thmey Daily quoted President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, who is also Honorary President of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), as saying that the rule of the Pol Pot genocidal regime was a dark period in the country’s history. 

He underlined his country’s changes in all fields since the victory was made on January 7, 1979, noting that without that triumph, the current achievements would not have been attained.

The story also repeated his appreciation of enormous assistance from Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who responded to the call of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, an organisation representing the Cambodian people’s will, in the struggle against the Khmer Rouge.

News websites of Cambodia such as the Voice of Democracy (VOD) and the Women’s Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC) also posted similar stories which read that the historic victory on January 7, 1979, was partly attributable to Vietnam’s support.

At a recent celebration of the triumph, Cambodian Prime Minister and CPP President Samdech Hun Sen said that glorious victory timely saved Cambodia and helped its people retake all human rights and become the master of their own life.

Thanks to that victory, the country closed the darkest chapter in its history and opened a new era of independence, liberty, democracy and social progress, actively contributing to peace and security in the region, he noted.

Mock youth parliament promotes youngsters’ role in lawmaking process

A Mock Young Parliament, hosted by the Vietnam Youth Parliament (VNYP), opened at the Hanoi Law University on January 8.

One hundred excellent students from 62 universities in Hanoi take part in the project, which aims to improve young people’s awareness and role in the country’s law and policy making process. 

The VNYP’s project won the 2016 exchange alumni small grant competition held by the US Embassy and will run until April this year. 

Main activities include training sessions, discussions with specialists, extracurricular activities and a plenary session. They will focus on education, culture, environment, economy, law, diplomacy, science-technology, and health care.

At the opening ceremony, Vice Rector of the Hanoi Law University Chu Manh Hung said the project is meaningful for young people, especially enabling the 100 participating students to become active players in connecting activities of State agencies, including the National Assembly, with social affairs of young people’s interest.

Nguyen Thi Ha Duong, deputy head of the project’s executive board, pointed out the fact that many young Vietnamese people haven’t paid attention to the country’s important policies. With 42 percent of the population in the 15-25 age group, this lack of attention has partly made the policy issuance and enforcement ineffective.

It is of critical importance for the youth to engage in the policy making process. Through the Mock Young Parliament, the project’s founders and those who are interested in national development want to inspire youngsters’ aspiration for a more developed and civilised society, she noted.

By participating in the project’s activities, participants will be equipped with basic knowledge about the National Assembly and necessary skills, gain a better understanding of their rights and responsibility in contributing to the law and policy making process, and discuss many issues of their concern with specialists, she added.

Sunday blood donation programme launched

The Red Sunday programme for blood donation was launched across 25 cities and provinces on January 8.

Addressing the launching ceremony in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh cited the health ministry’s data that since the campaign kick-started in January 1994, donors have currently provided 98 percent of the blood collected.

In 2016, the country collected nearly 1.2 million blood units, which were equivalent to 75 percent of blood demand for surgery, treatment and provision nationwide, he noted.

He hoped such blood donation events as “Chu Nhat Do” (Red Sunday), “Xuan Hong” (Pink Spring) festival, and “Hanh trinh Do” (Red Journey) will be expanded across the country in the coming time.

More than 40 blood donation festivals are scheduled to take place during the Red Sunday programme with the hope of collecting nearly 25,000 blood units.

Many cities and provinces strive to collect over 1,000 units of bloods, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dak Lak, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam and Hai Phong.

Flood victims in Quang Ngai receive financial aid

People in the flood-hit central province of Quang Ngai continue to receive support from organisations and agencies.

On January 8, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and Secretary of the Quang Ngai Party Committee Le Viet Chu presented financial aid to 20 families with severely damaged houses in 7 districts and cities. 

Accordingly, each family in lowland areas received 40 million VND (1,776 USD) while households living in mountainous districts received 50 million VND (2,220 USD) each.

Speaking at the event, Anh said that the Ministry has appealed for more donations to support the victims ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year.

This is the first phase of the social welfare and flood relief programme for Quang Ngai’s people, which was launched by the National Assembly delegation of the province.

The programme has received over 7.5 billion VND (333,000 USD) from major companies such as the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and the Vietnam Electricity (EVN). 

Flood victims of the province have received 200 packages of gifts, worth one billion VND (44,400 USD). The remaining money will be transferred to the poor and flood-affected people by the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Quang Ngai chapter.

A day earlier, the provincial VFF chapter received 250 million VND (11,100 USD) from the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) Steering Committee to support flood victims.

To date, the provincial VFF chapter has received more than 25 billion VND (1.11 million USD) from organisations, agencies, individuals and businesses nationwide. The sum has been delivered to the affected people for prompt re-building efforts.

Quang Ngai was among localities hard hit by floods in December 2016. On December 9, it was reported that floods killed 10 people in the province, leaving four missing and inundated 1,800 houses. More than 700 hectares of rice fields and over 3,500 hectares of crop were damaged. National Highway 24 and 24C as well as many provincial roads were also affected.

HCM City assists poor, AO victims in Ninh Thuan

The Vietnam Red Cross and a group of HCM City officials led by municipal Party Committee Secretary Dinh La Thang visited and presented the Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts to poor households and Agent Orange (AO) victims in Ma Noi mountainous commune, Ninh Son district, Ninh Thuan province on January 7.

Sharing difficulties and damage on natural disasters the south central province had to experience in the past time, Thang wished people to have a warm and joyous Tet festival. He hoped poor households will make more efforts to improve their life.

On the occasion, the city handed Ninh Thuan one billion VND (45,000 USD) to take care for poor people and AO victims.

The Vietnam Red Cross presented 200 Tet gifts worth 1.1 million VND (50 USD) each (including cash and necessities) to poor households and families of AO victims, revolutionary families, families heavily affected by natural disasters, orphans, and the disabled in Ninh Thuan province.

Cao Bang’s last remote commune accesses power

Son Lap commune in Bao Lac district has become the last commune in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang to access electricity from the national power grid.

Total investment for the project to supply power to the remote commune is 23.83 billion VND (1.05 million USD). The project includes 6.738km of 35kV middle-voltage transmission line, three transformer stations with a total capacity of 300kVA, and 9,379km of low-voltage line.

Located about 140km from Cao Bang city, Son Lap commune covers over 4,000 hectares with many high rocky mountains. Its residents are mostly from ethnic minority groups, including Mong, Dao, Tay and Nung.

The majority of local households are poor, with backward customs and low literacy.

The project, invested by the Electricity of Vietnam’s Northern Power Corporation (EVN NPC), is expected to improve socio-economic situation in the localities, while enhancing political-social awareness of locals.

Hai Phong starts work on key bridge

The northern port city of Hai Phong started construction of Hoang Van Thu Bridge across Cam River on January 6, a key work to help the city expand to the north. 

The 2.5 trillion VND (115.2 million USD) bridge will connect the old inner city area with the future administrative area of Hai Phong in the other side of Cam River, in line with the city’s master plan to 2025 with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime Minister. 

The Hoang Van Thu bridge is more than 1,570m long and 33.5m wide with four lanes for motorized vehicles, two lanes for other vehicles and pedestrian path. 

It is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.

Project to end violence against children kicks off

A project titled “End Violence against Children” of the World Vision Vietnam was launched on January 6.

Vietnam is among four Mekong countries benefiting from the four-year project, as an effort to end violence against children.

With a budget of over 1.5 million USD, the project will be implemented in four districts of the northern mountainous provinces of Yen Bai and Dien Bien.

The project aims to create an environment in which vulnerable children and youth from age 12 to 24 will be cared for and protected with the support of their families and communities.

The target children and youths will be equipped with necessary knowledge and skills to protect themselves and prevent human trafficking through club activities, vocational training, small-scaled start-ups and personal assistance.

Hanoi to have new rehabilitation centre for disabled children

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs began the construction of Thuy An functional rehabilitation centre for children with disabilities in Hanoi’s outlying district of Ba Vi on January 6. 

The centre, scheduled for completion in June 2018 at the cost of 80 billion VND (3.47 million USD), will accommodate a care facility for children with autism, a vocational training area, a health check-up and functional rehabilitation area, and a dining hall. 

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said the multi-functional centre will serve as a hospital, a school, a rehabilitation and vocational training facility. 

In the next five years, it is expected to become a model centre in the north. 

Established in July 27, 1976, the centre has offered care to the disabled, children living in need, the elderly, and ex-revolutionaries. 

It has treated more than 2,000 living with disabilities and offered health check-ups to over 10,000 people.

Ceremony marks 38th anniversary of victory over genocidal regime

The Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association (VCFA) and the Liaison Committee of Former Vietnamese Experts in Cambodia hosted a ceremony in Hanoi on January 6 celebrating the 38th anniversary of the victory over the genocidal regime in Cambodia (January 7, 1979-2017). 

Speaking at the event, VCFA Chairman Vu Mao said the victory over the genocidal regime in Cambodia is a triumph of a just cause and the fighting solidarity between the Vietnamese and Cambodian nations, which share a time-honoured traditional friendship and mutual support particularly during hard times.  

He stressed that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia has become an invaluable and sacred common asset of the two nations, helping cementing the bilateral ties in the new stage. 

This year, the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (June 24) – a grand event in their ties, Mao said, adding that the two peoples, especially young generations, need to value and foster bilateral ties. 

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Prak Nguon Hong, for his part, expressed his joy at the development of the Cambodia-Vietnam relation. 

He thanked the VCFA for organising the ceremony to look back at the great sacrifice of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers to liberate Cambodian people from the genocidal regime, rescue the Cambodian nation and revive Cambodia.

The Ambassador expressed gratitude to heroic soldiers and patriots for sacrificing their lives in the cause of liberation of Cambodia and conveyed his profound thanks to voluntary Vietnamese soldiers for their support during the cause. 

At the event, former voluntary Vietnamese experts and soldiers recalled their memories during their time serving in Cambodia.

Red Cross Society of China supports Vietnamese flood victims

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has presented 100,000 USD to help flood victims in Vietnam’s central region. 

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong handed over the sum to the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) in Hanoi on January 6. 

It is the second time the RCSC has offered support to Vietnamese flood victims. Previously, it also donated the same amount in early November 2016, after the VRCS issued an urgent appeal at home and abroad for help to residents in central localities hit by serious floods since mid-October 2016. 

The VRC has so far raised 48.4 billion VND (2.1 million USD) for flood victims. 

Also last year, the RCSC provided 50,000 USD for residents hit by drought and saline intrusion in Vietnam’s central region, the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta. 

Over the past years, the RCSC has maintained cooperation with the VRC via personnel training. 

Recently, it offered 700,000 Chinese yuan (100,900 USD) to the VRC to help with the building of a model to enhance community capacity of dealing with health contingencies, improve clean water supply and response to climate change.

Hanoi strengthens food safety inspection

The Hanoi People’s Committee has directed the strict control of food origin and production to ensure food safety.

Accordingly, all stages, from production to distribution, will be inspected. Food sellers are required to have means to preserve their products.

The city will continue realising the Prime Minister’s instruction on strengthening the State management responsibility over food safety, consolidating food safety inspection teams at local levels and increasing certification of food safety and food safety facilities.

Management of local wholesale markets will be tightened while the role of inter-sector inspection teams in ensuring food safety in collective canteens, and street food will be enhanced.

The municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has been asked to control production input and grant food safety certificates for eligible facilities.

Hanoi has 7.5 million people, 20 trade centres, 12 super markets, 460 traditional markets and 454 wet markets. Around 800 – 1,000 tonnes of meat, 340 – 400 tonnes of aquatic products, 2,500 tonnes of fruit and vegetable are consumed everyday. However, local production can only meet 60 percent of food demand and 18 percent of fruit and vegetable demand. The rest is filled by goods from other localities and imports.

Many suburban areas have been zoned off for producing safe vegetables for inner-city areas. However, shortcomings remain in management of safe food production, distribution and consumption.

Inspection results show that pesticide residues have been found in 11 vegetable samples in 110 production facilities across Hanoi.

City leaders consult creative community about arts improvement

Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Đinh La Thăng and other city leaders on Thursday met with more than 300 delegates and artists who work in the theatre, film and arts field to discuss how the city can better support the arts.  

“The city government will create stronger policies to support artists so we can keep our traditional culture and art alive among more than 10 million citizens here in HCM City,” Thăng said, adding that artists play an important role in the city’s development.  

Delegates from art troupes asked the city government to spend more on upgrading and building theatres to meet the market’s high demand. 

People’s Artist Trần Ngọc Giàu, Chairman of the HCM City Theatre Association, said that local authorities should spend more on theatres because “the industry has had increasing prosperity in recent years”.

Outdated theatre systems owned by the Government represent one of the biggest challenges facing the theatre industry. 

Dr Văn Thị Minh Hương, former director of the HCM City Music Conservatory, said: "We also need to improve our management after upgrading and building quality theatres with quality facilities and beautiful decoration.”   

During the meeting, Hương talked about a new project, the Centre of Training and Experimentation on Literature and Arts, which was created by the HCM City Union of Literature and Arts Association.

After its opening, the centre will offer training in theatre and arts for talented youth and organise entertainment events for the public.    

The centre will also offer consulting services to local and foreign organisations in the industry, who want to invest in the city.

Painter Trần Thanh Cảnh, head of the Fine Arts Association’s Club of Young Painters, said the main problem for art clubs and private art troupes was the lack of financial support from the city.

“To resolve the problem and attract investment to the sector, new policies on training, taxes and building theatres should be the top issues,” he said.

Young writer Trần Nhã Thụy of the HCM City Writers Association asked the city to launch an award in literature and arts to discover talented young people.

Secretary Thăng said that the city authorities would consider the artists’ proposals and do their best to improve the situation. 

SCG sponsors Hà Nội Football Club

SCG, one of the leading conglomerates in ASEAN, on Thursday inked a two-year agreement to sponsor the capital’s football team Hà Nội Football Club (Hà Nội FC).

In the 2017-2018 season, SCG logo will be incorporated on the team’s jerseys and other outfits. The Thailand company will also bank on the club to strengthen the management, improve technical quality besides promoting the image of the club.

As part of the agreement, the two sides will also co-operate to bring Kick and Share activities to help the youth in Việt Nam learn about the foundations of football. Through these football clinics, the youngsters in various communities will be inspired to practise the sport and use the free time effectively.

“The partnership with Hà Nội FC underlines SCG’s determination to support Việt Nam professional football through enhancing football standards,” SCG Executive Director in Việt Nam Dhep Vongvanich said, adding that this is the company’s first sports sponsorship in Việt Nam.

“With the support of SCG, Hà Nội FC will be more motivated to reach the new heights, setting our goals in both regional and local playgrounds,” the club chairman Nguyễn Quốc Hội said.

Police seize foul-smelling animal organs

Police in the southern province of Đồng Nai’s Biên Hòa City on Thursday stopped three trucks carrying some five tonnes of foul-smelling animal organs towards the Cái River.

According to initial information, the organs were being transported to fish farmers who breed fish in cages in the Cái River, a tributary of Đồng Nai River.

These drivers were unable to show any quarantine papers for the goods, police said.

The police confiscated the entire haul to destroy it.

Authorities said the environment surrounding the river would get extremely polluted if these organs were thrown into the river.

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