Expanded Noi Bai-Terminal T1 inaugurated

The expanded Terminal T1 of Noi Bai International Airport was officially put into operation on December 29.

Terminal T1 was inaugurated in 2001 with a design capacity of serving 6 million passengers per year.

However, a two-fold increase in numbers of passengers in recent times forced the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to upgrade the terminal.

The expanded project was built on 25,000 sq.m by ACV at a cost of VND500 billion. It included five departure and two arrival gates.

The same day, nearly 3,000 Jetstar Pacific passengers had their customs procedures cleared at the new expanded terminal.

Jetstar Pacific General Director Le Hong Ha said the new terminal helps save time for procedure clearance and improve the quality of services.

Three die in boat accident

Three women were killed in a boat accident in Tam Ky City in the central province of Quang Nam yesterday.

The boat was carrying six people when it sank in the My Cang River due to strong winds. The boat was too small to withstand the winds. Three people were rescued and sent to hospital.

According to Nguyen Van Lua, chairman of the city's People's Committee, the city will provide compensation of VND3 million (US$141) to each victim's family. He also asked organisations and residents to help them.

Construction inspectors punish violations

The Viet Nam Expressway Corporation (VEC) on Thursday informed the Transport Ministry that action has been taken against 11 persons after substandard poles were found being used in expressway construction.

The ministry's inspectors discovered the substandard concrete poles in a section of the HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway that is currently under construction. VEC is an investor in the project.

The construction team is henceforth banned from participating in all projects where VEC is an investor.

Hanoi workers receive free travel for Tet

About 3,000 workers in industrial and export processing zones in Hanoi will board free buses to return home for the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, the longest and most important festival in the year.

The scheme forms part of the Hanoi Federation of Labour’s efforts to help workers in difficulty enjoy the holiday with their families.

Accordingly, from January 27-29 next year, or the 27th, 28 h and 29th days of the twelfth lunar month, buses will pick up workers at industrial parks and clusters in Hanoi to bring them home.

The federation has worked with businesses to register workers for free travel before December 12, 2013.

Particularly, the federation will organise a year-end party for municipal workers on January 28, 2014.

According to the federation’s Vice President Dang Thi Phuong Hoa, over the past time, the city’s trade unions at all levels has made all-out efforts to protect the legitimate rights and interests of public servants and workers in the capital.

Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway partly opened to traffic

A segment of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway, from Hanoi to the northern province of Vinh Phuc, opened to traffic on December 27.

The 26 kilometre long section, with six lanes, was constructed by Posco Engineering and Construction (POSCO E&C) of the Republic of Korea, with a total investment of over 2.5 trillion VND (over 120 million USD).

It is expected to contribute to reducing traffic on Highway No. 2 and facilitating goods and passenger transportation from Hanoi to Binh Xuyen and Ba Thien industrial parks and spiritual tourism sites in Vinh Phuc province, halving the distance and time to reach these destinations.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai underlined the important role played by the highway in promoting socio-economic development exchange among localities where it runs through as well as between countries in the Mekong Sub-region.

He asked the Ministry of Transport to work with the People’s Committees of relevant localities to address the difficulties encountered during the construction of the project so that the highway will become fully operational in 2014.

The construction of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway started in 2009 with a total investment of over 1.2 billion USD. It has a total length of 245 kilometres and links Hanoi and the northern border province of Lao Cai.

As an important project of the Kunming-Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong road corridor, the Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway is part of a cooperation programme among six countries in the Mekong Sub-region, including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and China.

According to Mai Tuan Anh, General Director of the Vietnam Expressway Investment Corporation (VEC) which is an investor in the project, his company is accelerating the construction of the remaining sections to complete the project in its entirety by the end of June in 2014.

Drug trafficker arrested in Son La

Police in the northern mountainous province of Son La on the night of December 26 arrested a drug trafficker carrying nine cakes of heroin.

The trafficker was Do Thi Thuy, 47, who resides in sub-area 12 in Moc Chau district.

The police also seized two mobile phones and three million VND.

Further investigations are being carried out.

HCM City students enter ASEAN contest

More than 400 students from 72 HCM City high schools are participating in the municipal Department for Education and Training’s Q&A competition on ASEAN and its Charter.

Launched on December 28, the contest is designed to broaden local students’ knowledge about the regional bloc.

Each participating school is represented by three official candidates and two alternatives. The elimination tournament will play out over 18 rounds.

A number of other Vietnamese localities have planned similar ASEAN-themed contests to promote the promise of regional prosperity and solidarity inspiring the establishment of the ASEAN Community.

Ethnic affairs strategy launched

The implementation of a strategy on ethnic affairs until 2020 was launched at a national conference in Hanoi on December 28, during which, ministries, agencies and localities across the country were assigned with key tasks to realise the set goals.

The strategy looks to narrow development gap among ethnic minority communities on the basis of rapid and sustainable socio-economic growth, consolidate the political system and ensure the national defence and security.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged participants to fully grasp the Government-approved action plan on the strategy as, according to him, ethnic work is a responsibility of the entire political system.

He asked the Government’s Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs to devise policies and guide all sides concerned during the implementation.

Each year, it will work with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance and others involved to ensure sufficient funding for the strategy.

Localities were requested to raise public awareness on ethnic affairs, and strive by themselves to escape poverty.

The Deputy PM also noted that the rate of poor ethnic households has been reduced and their living standards improved constantly.

Nearly 2,000 young volunteers respond to environmental protection

On December 29, the Thua Thien Hue provincial Youth Union launched an action program for a green, clean and beautiful environment in collaboration with Hue Beer Company.

As many as 2,000 youth union members and young volunteers from universities and colleges, armed forces and businesses in the central city of Hue took to the streets to participate in environmentally friendly activities.

They also held a bicycle parade to promote the importance of environmental protection and living an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Provincial Youth Union Secretary Nguyen Chi Quang said the aim of the programme is to encourage local youths to become actively involved in environmental protection and consider it one of the key tasks in adaptation to climate change.

4.5 mln water treatment pills donated to flood victims

The Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) on December 26 received 4.5 million water purification tablets worth 800 million VND (37,600 USD) to support flood affected people.

The Aquatabs pills, donated by Zuellig Pharma Vietnam Co., Ltd, will be used to purify 90 million litres of unsafe water for flood victims.

Zuellig Pharma Vietnam Sales Manager Nguyen Thi Hai Binh said her company has conducted many humanitarian activities to aid local people since 2001, and provided 7 million water treatment pills to help the community prevent communicable diseases between 2008 and 2010.

According to VRC Deputy Chairman and General Secretary Doan Van Thai, areas in lack of potable water which were hit by Wutip and Nari storms will be prioritized.

Aquatabs are effervescent tablets which kill micro-organisms in water to prevent cholera, typhoid and other water-borne diseases.

Hanoi urged to quicken first urban railway route

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has urged Hanoi authorities and contractors to work together more closely to ensure the completion of the city’s first overhead urban railway route by 2015.

Deputy PM Hai and officials of relevant ministries and agencies made a field trip to inspect the progress of the project on December 28.

The contractors have been constructing fundamental facilities supporting the 14.5km railway route, between Cat Linh street in the inner Dong Da district and Ha Dong in the outlying Ha Dong district.

They have finished 279 out of 434 bridge buttresses and 70 among 112 posts of the terminals.

During the trip, Deputy PM Hai asked the stakeholders to deploy all means to complete the route in September, 2015 and put it into operation in December.

Japan is the main investor of the project, which is expected to aid Hanoi’s integration and economic growth.

Da Nang’s road named after Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap

The central city of Da Nang on December 28 held a ceremony to name its most beautiful road Vo Nguyen Giap.

The seven-kilometre-long road starts from Nguyen Huy Chuong street and ends at Minh Mang street .

T he selection of the road, lying between the Hoang Sa (Paracels) and Truong Sa (Spratly) roads, to be named after the General who died in October manifests the trust on Vietnam’s undeniable sovereignty over the two archipelagos and gratitude to the former Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army who always fought for the sovereignty.

NGOs grant wheelchairs to disabled people

A Vietnamese and a US non-governmental organisations have donated 75 wheelchairs and 15 walking frames to physically disabled people in the northern province of Ninh Binh on December 27.

The NGOs are the Sustainable Health Development Centre (VietHealth) and the US -based Latter Day Saint Charities.

The gifts, worth over 200 million VND (9,400 USD), will facilitate the beneficiaries’ mobility and help improve their living conditions, Vice Director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Huu Tuyen said.

In the coming time, Ninh Binh will continue to aid local disabled people and increase social allowance in order to better their community integration.

Earlier, the US NGO teamed up with the Ninh Binh Nursing- Rehabilitation Hospital to grant 205 wheelchairs to people with disabilities.

The province is home to more than 26,000 disabled people, including 8,300 who have physical disabilities.

Flood victims receive rice in emergency aid

The Government has asked the Ministry of Finance to provide 3,833 tonnes of rice in emergency aid to flood victims in the three central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Phu Yen.

Accordingly, Thua Thien- Hue, Quang Nam and Phu Yen provinces will receive 1,000 tonnes, 2,500 tonnes and 333 tonnes of rice, respectively.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested the Provincial People’s Committees to allocate rice to right beneficiaries.

Earlier, the Government also directed the finance ministry to support 10,000 tonnes of rice to people in three other central provinces namely Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh in a bid to help them overcome the aftermath of flood caused by the 10 th and 11 th tropical storms.

Dak Nong province supports ethnic minority groups

The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong will invest 500 billion VND (23.5 million USD) in a project designed to improve the capacity of local ethnic minorities on sustainable economic development in 2013-2016 period.

The investment will include official development assistance (ODA) funds worth 400 billion VND from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

This year, the province invested 100 billion VND to build roads, bridges, irrigation canals and water supply facilities to improve living standards for thousands of poor ethnic minority households.

The amount of investment will be 152 billion VND next year.

The project, known as 3EM, is being implemented in 23 poor communes across the province’s five districts. It aims to help improve living conditions for poor ethnic minority households with focus on women.

Telecom group presents scholarships to disadvantaged students

The military-run telecom group Viettel on December 28 provided 76 scholarships worth 300 million VND to disadvantaged students in the central province of Binh Thuan.

A day earlier, Viettel and the Command of Military Zone 7 presented 36 million VND to 18 social policy families in the province.

According to Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, there are 18,000 disadvantaged students in the province, half of them tend to drop school.

Donations would help them continue their study and keep pursuing their dreams, he said.

This year, the Binh Thuan-based Viettel office has contributed more than 1 billion VND to implement projects on social development in the locality.-

“Noble Hearts” programme 2013 takes place in Hanoi

A programme to honour community activities by organisations and individuals in supporting people with difficulties, ethnic minority children, orphans and the elderly was held at the Hanoi Opera House on December 28.

The “Noble Hearts 2013” programme was organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in collaboration with departments, agencies and companies, and was broadcast live on the VTC2 channel.

Within the framework of the programme, the organisers have arranged trips to social centres across the country and presented nearly 4,000 gift sets worth 4 billion VND (188,000 USD) to the disadvantaged.

Students’ Assoc urged to be good environment

The Vietnam Students’ Association (VSA) must be a favourable environment that nurtures and arouses the students’ aspirations, dreams, and enthusiasms for science, technology, culture, and other areas.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung was speaking at the VSA’s ninth National Congress held on December 29 in Hanoi, with the participation of 650 delegates representing their two million students across the country.

Hailing its performance over the past time, NA Chairman Hung asked the association to intensify emulation movements, promote students’ vanguard role and creativity while providing them with necessary support, he added.

At the event, delegates defined main goals, focusing on the development of the students’ association so it is able to adapt to new conditions and operation environment.

The congress adopted numerous documents outlining the association’s tasks for the new tenure and elected a 99-member executive board.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Le Quoc Phong was elected as the President of the association for the 2013-2018 tenure.

As a socio-political organisation with 22 chapters in cities and provinces nationwide, the VSA groups 47 centrally-run school-level chapters, and five abroad in France, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

Efforts needed to promote human resources development

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has asked the national education sector to take responsibility for improving the quality of Vietnamese human resources.

He was speaking at a conference in Hanoi on December 28 that reviewed the implementation of the 8th Party Central Committee Plenum’s Resolution on basic and comprehensive education and training reform in the context of a market economy and international integration, as well as the 2012–2013 academic year.

Approximately half of Vietnam’s human resources are untrained, and as many as 30 percent of tertiary institution graduates remain unemployed, the Deputy Prime Minister was quoted by Radio the Voice of Vietnam as saying.

He was concerned Vietnam risks falling behind its regional competitors, especially in terms of education and training. Vietnam should commit to comprehensive educational reform as soon as possible.

He suggested the education sector focus on bringing Vietnamese tertiary institutional quality up to international standards. Successfully doing so requires concerted effort from relevant agencies, localities, and society as a whole.

Ethnic affairs strategy implementation launched

The implementation of a strategy on ethnic affairs until 2020 was launched at a national conference in Hanoi on December 29, during which, ministries, agencies and localities across the country were assigned with key tasks to realise the set goals.

The strategy looks to narrow development gap among ethnic minority communities on the basis of rapid and sustainable socio-economic growth, consolidate the political system and ensure the national defence and security.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged participants to fully grasp the Government-approved action plan on the strategy as, according to him, ethnic work is a responsibility of the entire political system.

He asked the Government’s Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs to devise policies and guide all sides concerned during the implementation.

Each year, it will work with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance and others involved to ensure sufficient funding for the strategy.

Localities were requested to raise public awareness on ethnic affairs, and strive by themselves to escape poverty.

The Deputy PM also noted that the rate of poor ethnic households has been reduced and their living standards improved constantly.

Cambodian youth delegation visits HCM City

The exchange of Vietnamese and Cambodian young people has contributed to enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

Le Manh Ha, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, made the affirmation while receiving a delegation of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) on December 27.

He said over the past time, HCM City has proactively partnered with the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh in various fields.

The city has always created favourable conditions for exchanges and experience sharing between the municipal young people and their Cambodian peers, the official noted.

In response, UYFC President Hun Many spoke highly of the valuable support from the Vietnamese army and people to Cambodia in overthrowing the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime.

Cambodian youth always keep in their mind the need to uphold the tradition to develop the country, he said.

On this occasion, the UYFC and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s HCM City Chapter exchanged experience in operation and youth gathering.

During their stay in HCM City, the Cambodian delegation also visited Nha Rong wharf and the War Remnants Museum.

Earlier, Hun Many and President of the Vietnam Youth Federation Phan Van Mai signed a cooperative agreement for the 2013-2017 period. Accordingly, the two sides will increase the exchange of delegations, organise meetings for young people and share experience in education, youth mobilisation and voluntary work.

Vice President praises former Truong Son female drivers

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan has praised the great contributions made by former female drivers along the historic Truong Son trail during the resistance war against the US invaders.

Meeting with the regiment of female drivers in Hanoi on December 27 on the occasion of its 45 th founding anniversary (December 18), Vice President Doan stressed that the Party and State always pay special attention to volunteer soldiers, including Truong Son female drivers, through specific guidelines and policies.

She expressed her hope that they will continue to set an example for younger generations to follow in implementing the Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws.

During the resistance war, many women in the North volunteered to drive along the Truong Son trail, braving difficulties and dangers to transport supplies for the South.

They made contributions to the momentous victory of the legendary Truong Son troops, which helped encourage patriotism in Vietnam and other parts of the world.

Work on Long Binh – Chrey Thom bridge to start

Construction of the Long Binh – Chrey Thom Bridge linking the southern province of An Giang and the Cambodian province of Kandal will start next January on the occasion of the 35 th anniversary of Cambodia ’s Victory Day.

An agreement to this effect was signed by representatives of the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport in Ho Chi Minh City on December 27, as part of a credit deal signed between the two Governments on December 26.

Once completed, the bridge will provide the shortest route connecting Phnom Penh capital in Cambodia and Vietnam ’s borderline, thus stimulating economic and trade growth on both sides.

Secretary of State from the Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport Sokhom Pheakavanmony proposed that in addition to the bridge, the two countries should collaborate to build surrounding economic and trade areas, a Vietnam – Cambodia railway and other key transport facilities.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said railway construction will be tabled for discussions at an upcoming meeting between the Vietnamese and Cambodian transport ministers.

Da Nang sets up action programme for global integration

The central city of Da Nang has established an action programme to further promote its international integration in many fields, heard a working session held by the municipal People’s Committee on December 27.

The programme was worked out as part of the country’s efforts to expand its international cooperation.

In addition to emerging issues related to global integration, delegates at the event heard presentations on Vietnam ’s achievements in external relations and guidelines to implement the global integration strategy in a comprehensive manner in the coming time.

To realise the process effectively, the city is broadening and deepening ties with foreign partners to receive other countries’ knowledge and resources. It will also develop a labour force to meet the requirements of the work.

To date, the city has established friendships and collaborations with 32 localities in foreign countries and 150 international organisations, and has economic ties with more than 100 nations and territories.

Global integration has contributed greatly to the city’s growth and the sustainability of its economic restructuring.

Da Nang posted a strong average growth rate of 12.7 percent between 2002 and 2012.

The city’s 2013 GDP growth is estimated at 8.1 percent. It is targeting a rate of 9-9.5 percent next year.-

“Creative Gifts - Sending Love” recognised as national record

The programme “Creative Gifts - Sending Love” initialled by students in the central city of Da Nang has been recognised as a national record in gift wrapping by the Vietnam Records Organisation (Vietkings).

The programme, organised by Dong A University, recorded the participation of 2,000 people, who, including students, teachers and staff, wrapped as many as 1,720 gifts in five minutes for charity on December 27.

This programme aimed to encourage young people and students to take responsibility and pay attention to those who have poor living conditions, said university officials.

On the occasion, the university presented the record-breaking gifts to children living at charity centres across the city.-