Fact-finding trip to newly-discovered tunnel in Quang Tri

Inside the tunnel

Authorities of the central province of Quang Tri on March 11 made a fact-finding trip to a tunnel which was recently unearthed at Cua Tung border station.

With two gates to the north and the south, the Y-shaped tunnel stretches 200m in length, 1.8m in width and 1.8m in height. It also connects with another which was also dug by the armed police force over four years starting from 1962.

Several artefacts were found inside the tunnel.

According to witnesses, the two tunnels were filled up during a bomb attack in 1968. Three guerilla soldiers were buried alive in the tunnels.

The body of one soldier was discovered and buried. The remaining are still inside the tunnel.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Thuc suggested devising a plan to develop spiritual tourism at the site.

Vietnamese films to be screened for free

A series of seven Vietnamese films will be screened for free at the National Cinema Center (NCC) at 87 Láng Hạ street, Hà Nội on March 14 and 15.

The event was jointly organized by NCC and many film production and distribution companies in Vietnam. The film series celebrates the 63rd anniversary of Vietnam Cinema Day on March 15.

Two films which won awards at the 19th Vietnam Film Festival last December will be screened: Tôi thấy hoa vàng trên cỏ xanh (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass) and Cuộc đời của Yến (The Life of Yen).

Audiences will also enjoy screenings of popular movies, including Em là bà nội của anh (Sweet Twenty), 49 ngày (49 Days),  and Quyên (Quyen).

There will be seven free shows each day. Tickets to the film screenings will be distributed on March 12 and 13 at the NCC.

Last December, all tickets to the Vietnamese film screening program were distributed to hundreds of people to celebrate the 19th Vietnam Film Festival.

Thai trade festival to mark 40 years of friendship with VN

A Thai-themed fair introducing the culture of Thailand will be held in HCM City on March 25-27 to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Việt Nam.

A Thai Village in HCM City will be among several events to commemorate the long-lasting friendship of 40 years. It will include Thai trade fairs, a CEO night, book fair and student exchange programme.

“These activities demonstrate the multi-faceted relationship that our two countries have shared for the past four decade,” said Royal Thai Consul –General Panpimon Suwannapongse.

The festival will take place at the September 23rd Park in downtown HCM City. It will include a trade fair, cultural performance, and exhibition of Thai private business sector that have contributed to the growth of Việt Nam’s vibrant economy.

There will be three main areas, including the trade fair for Thai products available in Việt Nam, an exhibition hall for the Thai private sector, and a restaurant zone where people can sample authentic Thai cuisine from leading Thai restaurants in HCM City.

An on-stage cultural performance of Thai and Vietnamese artists will be organised every night.

“The three-day event will be a great opportunity for the Vietnamese public to learn more about Thailand as well as the bonds between our two nations,” she said.

The event, which will see the attendance of Thailand’s Minister of Culture and leaders of HCM City, will be free and open to the public. Money raised during the event will be donated to charity.

Đà Nẵng to open book street for readers and to attract tourists

A book street will be implemented and put into operation in the central city of Đà Nẵng on September 2.

After visiting and finding information about book streets held in Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Nẵng’s leaders had a meeting to discuss the implementation of one in the city on March 10.

The book street is expected to include 20 stalls with the participation of nearly 15 publishers.

Besides, there will be some food and drink stalls, coffee shops, souvenir stalls, and cultural activities to attract more readers.

Some ideal locations, which will determine the success of this project, have been suggested such as Lê Đình Dương, Bạch Đằng or Lê Thánh Tôn Street.

It is expected to create a meaningful cultural activity, contributing to meet the readers need; attract writers and researchers of the country as well as promote the development of tourism.

Buôn Đôn holds cultural festival

The Buôn Đôn District ethnic cultural festival in the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) province of Đắk Lắk will begin on March 12.

The three-day event will feature several cultural activities including a water wharf worshipping ceremony of the Ê Đê ethnic minority to pray for clean and pure water and good health, a buffalo sacrifice ceremony to pray for bumper crops, the Tây Nguyên Gong festival, ethnic costume performances, elephant contests and exhibition on tools to catch and tame wild elephants.

In the elephant contests, 18 strong elephants aged 18-45 will present for 18 ethnic minorities in Buôn Đôn District. The elephants will participate in a race, a soccer competition, and swimming race across the Sêrêpốk River.

The festival is held every two years to preserve ethnic traditional cultures and promote tourism in the district, which is famous for hunting and taming elephants. At the district, visitors can ride an elephant at the Yok Đôn National Park.

Ngã Năm floating market attractive shopping destination

The Ngã Năm (five-way intersection) floating market in Sóc Trăng Province’s Ngã Năm Town is one of the oldest and most attractive floating markets in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta.

About 60km away from Sóc Trăng City, the market got its name from being located on the five-way intersection of the Quảng Lộ - Phụng Hiệp, Xáng and Xẻo Chính canals.

Hundreds of big and small boats sell and buy all types of goods at the market every day. Each boat will hang a few samples of the products it sells on a bamboo pole so buyers can clearly see them.

The ideal time to visit Ngã Năm floating market is early in the morning, as the boats are full of goods and ready for trading.

Photography project promotes beauty of Vietnamese landscape

A non-profit project, Our Việt Nam, which will feature the beauty of Việt Nam and its people, has been launched in HCM City.

The project has attracted dozens of young people, who will travel to remote areas across the country to capture images of landscapes, people and children in daily life.

“We share a love for photography. We hope our project will encourage young people to learn more about the art,” movie director Tùng Phan, head of the project, said.

Phan also said that his group would display their photos online after every trip.

The first collection of photos will feature Tha La and Châu Đốc of An Giang Province. It is expected to be on display later this month. 

Japanese special advisor shares development experience

The southern province of Binh Duong wants to acquire Japan’s development experience to build a civilised and modern locality, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Thanh Liem has said.

Hosting special advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Tsutomo Takebe in the province on March 11, Liem said he appreciates his guest’s proposal to develop a trans-regional public transport system and urban agriculture, and promised that a bus service, supplied by Becamex Tokyo IDC (Binh Doung) bus manufacturers, connecting Binh Duong with Ho Chi Minh City will be launched in the future.

The province has adopted hi-tech and urban farming models which have yielded good initial results, he revealed.

The host hoped that Takebe, with his high-profile political role and personal prestige, will help further promote cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.

Takebe, said while riding on a Becamex Tokyu bus, he is delighted at the positive transformation of the province.

As advisor to the Tokyu Corporation’s research centre, Takebe suggested that Binh Duong’s public transport should connect with adjancent localities, especially Ho Chi Minh City.

With his experience as former Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Takebe also shared Japan’s know-how to develop urban farming models that suit realities.-

Quang Tri: drug smuggling busted on Vietnam-Laos border

Authorities in the north-central province of Quang Tri on March 11 busted a transnational drug smuggling operation across the Vietnam-Laos border.

Quang Tri border guards, in coordination with police in Laos’ Savannakhet Province and relevant agencies arrested 24-year-old Sipasoth Anouvon, 36-year-old Keomalatsi and 44- year-old Khanphet Khambutsaba, all Lao nationals.

At the scene, officials confiscated 42,000 pills, four bricks of heroin and a Mazda car.

The suspects declared the drugs were being delivered to Vietnam from Laos . It was the largest drug smuggling case so far this year.

The three suspects were transferred to Lao police for further investigation.

Preparations for building clean water system in Mekong Delta approved

The Prime Minister has given the green light to a preparation list for a World Bank-funded project to supply safe drinking water in the Mekong Delta.

The list focuses on research to design a suitable system capable of providing the region with clean water.

It will compile papers for the building and upgrade of the local water supply system in line with Vietnam’s law and requirements from project sponsors.

Mechanisms for the project’s implementation and management of the water system will also be devised alongside construction site designs and reports on the project’s feasibility.

The project will be carried out in the provinces of An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Kien Giang and Can Tho City.

Seminar discusses regulations on gender equality for guest workers

A seminar looking at the labour law in relation to contracted guest workers’ gender equality was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 11.

There are 500,000 Vietnamese working overseas across 40 countries and territories. Among them, the rate of female labourers increased from under 20 percent in the 1990s to 35 percent in 2010. Most of these women work in factories, and some do household works or take care of old and ill people. They normally have lower social positions, earn less than their male peers and are not legally protected by the host countries.

Participants said Vietnam has yet to devise any policies supporting female citizens working abroad.

Despite their increasing number and significant contribution to home development, they face labour exploitation, sexual harassment, abuse and lack of payment overseas. Upon returning home, their difficulties continue with family problems and unemployment.

Participants urged the Government to issue guidance that will be used by labour-export companies to equip their contracted female workers with essential knowledge.

They stressed the need for a relevant legal framework to ensure safe labour export and welfare benefits for migrant workers.

According to Deputy Head of the Overseas Workers Management Department Pham Viet Huong, the law on gender equality states that law building and enforcement are required to include gender equality.

However, all legal documents guiding the implementation of the 2006 law on contract workers working overseas have failed to follow the regulation.

Assessments of and amendments to laws and legal documents from the perspective of gender equality can protect and empower female labourers who are more vulnerable aboard, he said.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ Overseas Workers Management Department and UN Women co-organised the seminar.

UN Women is also collaborating with the UN Development Programme to launch a campaign that urges young people to act against gender stereotypes and violence. The campaign runs from March 11 to 13.

Vietnam offers preferential loans to medical graduates

The Government has planned to spend about 317 billion VND (14.2 million USD) yearly on offering preferential loans to disadvantaged medical graduates during their apprenticeship at hospitals before medical exams and treatment practice.

Under the Law on medical examination and treatment, medical graduates can either take an apprenticeship lasting from nine to 12 months as a midwife, nurse or medical technician or from 12 to 18 months as a physician before they are granted professional practice certificates.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung decided to expand the student loan programme where disadvantaged medical graduates could borrow up to 1.25 million VND (56 USD) per month with preferential monthly interest of 0.65 percent from Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

Orphaned medical graduates or graduates with only one parent who is unable to work are eligible for the loans, as are graduates from poor families or those with financial difficulties due to diseases, natural disasters or accidents.

To apply for the loan, borrowers must show confirmation from healthcare institutions proving that they are taking apprenticeships there.

Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) will offer loans tailored to borrowers based on the apprenticeship cost and average living cost.

According to Finance Ministry, by 2019, about 74,000 medical students could benefit from the policy which takes effects from May, 2016. The programme needs funding of more than 1.58 trillion VND (71 million USD).

In 2007, Vietnam launched a student loan programme helping students from poor, near-poor families or those with temporary financial difficulties to study at universities, colleges and vocational schools.

Deputy General Director of VBSP Nguyen Van Ly said that in the last eight years, the bank offered loans of about 55 trillion VND (2.5 billion USD) to more than 3.3 million students.

He said that the bank suggested Government to increase monthly loan to 1.5 million VND (67 USD) per student to match increased living costs, particularly higher tuition fees.

Social determinants of gender inequality in Vietnam

Traditional perceptions of men’s and women’s roles in society are the underlying causes of gender inequality in Vietnam, according to a study by the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS).

Released in Hanoi on March 7, it analysed “social factors determining gender inequality in Vietnam ”. ISDS collected the data from 2012 to 2015 with support from the Ford Foundation, Oxfam Novib and the Australian government.

It includes a national survey of 4,212 women and 4,212 men between 18 and 65 from nine cities and provinces: Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City , Da Nang , Thai Binh, Phu Tho, Lam Dong, Binh Thuan, Vinh Long and Tay Ninh, and qualitative research undertaken in Hanoi , Hung Yen, Ho Chi Minh City and Long An.

The study revealed that Vietnamese men and women across all social strata see women as the family caregiver. This perception hinders women’s access to education, employment, and social and political positions.

Women have significantly lower levels of education than men. They are more likely than men to have a lower-secondary school education or lower (70.78 percent and 60.28 percent, respectively), while less likely to graduate from upper-secondary school or higher levels of education (29.22 percent and 40.33 percent, respectively).

Notably, more than 20 percent of women covered by the survey did not work because of household chores, compared with 2 percent of men.

Moreover, women are more likely to work in agriculture or in the informal sector. As a consequence, women are more likely to pay their social and health insurance out of their own pocket.

The study suggested Vietnam enforce gender-related laws, improve key social services to reduce the burden of housework, and develop and implement a policy to facilitate women’s access to career opportunities through professional training.

ISDS Director Khuat Thi Thu Hong said the study explained why progress made in gender equality is not on par with the country’s socio-economic achievements.

A large number of highly educated Vietnamese in urban areas still have unequal perceptions of gender roles, she added.

Bui The Duc, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, said his agency will take the survey’s recommendations as references to orient communication work and promote the effectuation of gender equality policies and laws in order to fulfill the sustainable development goal on gender.

Furniture design prizes handed out

Huynh Tan Anh Tuan won first prize in the Hoa Mai Prize 2015-16, a furniture design competition, with his art work Workspace Desk, the organiser announced on March 8.

Tran Nguyen Bao Khoi and the LR group took the first and second runner-up prizes with art works Yak Table and Earth Table, respectively.

The Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (Hawa), the organiser, also presented five consolation prizes to contestants having the best application, the most creative, the most environmentally friendly, the most commercial and the most aesthetic designs.

Winning works are on display at the Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair 2016 (VIFA EXPO 2016) at the Saigon Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Launched in October last year, the 13th edition of the competition, which aims to discover and foster Vietnamese talented designers to develop the domestic furniture industry, attracted 238 entries from universities, colleges, students at professional schools, company staff and freelance designers nationwide.

Hawa has chosen winning works from previous editions of Hoa Mai prize to display at the International Furniture Fair of Singapore (IFFS) from March 10 to 13.

This aimed to promote Vietnamese furniture designs abroad as well as create opportunities for young Vietnamese designers to exchange information with famous international designers.

Vietnam to observe Int’l Francophone Day

A ceremony will be held on March 18 in Hanoi to celebrate International Francophone Day (March 20).

The event will be jointly organised by the Foreign Ministry, the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) and the group of Francophone embassies, missions and organisations (GADIF), said Jean Lesly Benoit, Haitian Ambassador to Vietnam and GADIF Chairman at a press conference on March 10.

With the theme “the power of language”, this year’s Francophone Day aims to raise the public awareness on the importance of the French language in various fields, including politics, diplomacy and economics.

Honorary and Francophone youth awards will also be presenting during the ceremony, according to Benoit.

Vietnam was one of the founder countries of the Francophonie in 1970.

Over the last years, the OIF has maintained an active cooperation with Vietnam, featuring the exchange of training and technical expertise in a number of fields.

French is spoken by 220 million people across the world.

Programme calls for practical support for Truong Sa people

The “Truong Sa xanh” (Green Truong Sa) programme is seeking solutions to producing more varieties of sea weather-adaptable vegetables for people and soldiers on Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Navy, it is also looking for support from scientists to develop bio-technologies to treat wastes on the archipelago.

It also plans to pilot the manufacturing of Bio-Toilet VT30 for the islanders to use in 2016, as reported at the launch of the programme on March 10.

Also in 2016, more sea water desalination facilities will be installed in islands belonging to the archipelago while portable seawater filters will be studied for use on fishing and naval vessels.

Individuals, publishers and organisations are called on to donate books for Truong Sa people.

A photo book titled “Sac Mau Truong Sa” (Truong Sa’s colours) is expected to be published this year to promote the landscape beauty and the daily life on the islands.

Through these practical works, the programme organisers aim to raise the sense of patriotism, solidarity and responsibility to defend the national sovereignty over sea and islands among people, in particular the teenagers.

An Giang aims to form more new-style rural areas

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang is striving for over 50 percent of its communes (or 60 out of 119 communes) to meet all 19 criteria required for being recognised as new-style rural areas by 2020.

Speaking at a conference in the locality to review outcomes of the national target programme on building new-style rural areas over the last five years, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Anh Thu said the locality mobilised more than 6.2 trillion VND from various sources for the work.

The sources helped An Giang build and upgrade transport infrastructure and irrigation work, and promote rural economic development models, he noted.

An Giang has so far had 13 communes recognised as new-style rural areas, accounting for 10.92 percent of total communes in the province, Thu said.

He added that the movement contributes to promoting socio-economic development in ethnic minority and border areas.

The rates of poor and near-poor households have dropped rapidly, to less than 8.45 percent, and 5.15 percent respectively.

At the conference, the Steering Committee proposed a series of measures to realise the goals set, including promoting communication work, and the restructuring of agriculture with a focus on the application of hi-technologies in the field.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vuong Binh Thanh praised efforts made by authorities at all levels, relevant agencies and locals in forming new-style rural areas, calling on them to continue with the great work.

On the occasion, 44 organisations and 132 individuals from the locality were presented certificates of merit for their contributions to the movement.

The national target programme on new-style rural areas, initiated by the Government in 2010, sets 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics and defence, aiming to boost the development of rural regions.

The list of criteria includes the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacity, environmental protection and the promotion of cultural values.

ASEAN and China-US ties featured at seminar in Hanoi

An international seminar themed “ASEAN and China-US relations: new movements and implications for the region” was held in Hanoi on March 10.

Opening the event, acting Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) Nguyen Vu Tung said the China-US relationship is one of the top priorities of researchers, strategy analysts and policymakers in Asia-Pacific.

The seminar, co-hosted by the DAV and the Konrad Adenauer Stifttung Institute, affords a chance for participants to look into the recent developments in the China-US ties and forecast the direction of the ties in the time to come, he said.

Tung added that the discussions are also expected to give participants gain an insight into the regional situation, opportunities and challenges.

Le Hong Hiep from the Singapore Institute of Southeast Asian Studies said ASEAN needs both the US and China to ensure security and develop the economy. The key issue here is that ASEAN must continue maintaining and upholding its central role in the regional security architecture, he said.

Australian Professor Carlyle A.Thayer called on ASEAN to partner with parties concerned in the East Sea issue to promote a maritime transparency initiative, and to continue fully abiding by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea while working towards the signing of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

He also suggested increasing coordination in environmental protection, disaster recovery and climate change mitigation.

The event was divided into four sessions featuring new movements in China-US relations in Asia-Pacific, China-US relations’ impacts on the regional security environment, ASEAN’s central role in the regional security mechanism, and how ASEAN balances ties with China and the US in the new context.

Rehabilitation centre for AO/dioxin victims in Hanoi

A rehabilitation and nursery centre for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims was put into operation in Hanoi’s Thach That district on March 10.

President of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) Nguyen Van Rinh said the centre serves as a common roof for AO victims, giving them more energy to integrate into the community.

He called on all-level sectors as well as organisations and individuals at home and abroad to support the centre.

He asked the staff to serve the victims with the highest responsibility and improve the centre’s operational efficiency.

The construction of the centre commenced in 2014 with a total cost of 41 billion VND (1.8 million USD). It now has a 70-room nursery house for victims, a detoxification and rehabilitation house, and a dining room for about 150 people.

The project is still underway with the building of a nursery house for AO victims’ families, an exhibition hall, an amusement park, and a commemorative house for people who died of the toxic chemical.

VAVA took this occasion to honour groups that made significant contributions to the building of the centre.

Five fishermen aboard sunken boat rescued

Five Vietnamese fishermen aboard the fishing boat KH 96640 TS which sank in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago waters have been rescued, the ship owner, Le Thi Hang said on March 10.

Hang, a resident in Phuoc Dong commune, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa province, said the fishermen were saved by fishermen on board the fishing boat KH 96386 TS.

Tran Quang Minh, Director of the Nha Trang Coastal Information Station, confirmed the information.

At 9:50a.m on March 8, the station was informed by a fishing boat coded KH 98299 TS that fishing boat KH 96640 TS of central Khanh Hoa province was rammed and sunk by an unnamed ship while conducting fishing activities in waters off Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

The fishermen moved to a woven bamboo basket boats and drifted at sea.

The Vietnam Maritime Communication and Electronics LLC notified search and rescue agencies of the incident and asked boats operating in the said area to support the distressed boat and its five fishermen.

Vietnam, Kuwait agree loans for medical equipment project in An Giang

The Ministry of Finance and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed on March 11 in Ho Chi Minh City a loan agreement for a project to supply medical equipment to the Chau Doc General Hospital in An Giang.

The 11.55 million USD project will focus on developing a comprehensive and modern medical system and enhancing health care quality for the Mekong Delta province.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Deputy Finance Minister Truong Chi Trung said the Kuwait Fund has helped Vietnam implement its National Target Programme on Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction, and has contributed to improving the living conditions of local residents.

The Chau Doc General Hospotal serves more than 811,000 people, including local Khmer and Cham ethnic minorities as well as foreigners from neighbouring areas, said Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh.

According to Deputy Director-General of the Fund Hesham Al-Waqayan, the fund has to date provided Vietnam with 159.45 million USD in loans for 13 projects.

The projects are focused on small irrigation and traffic works in poor provinces. Of which, the Dau Tieng and Van Dinh irrigation projects and the Dac Ta-Ngoc Linh road have been put into operation.

French books on southern history released in Vietnamese

More than 12 new titles of ancient books featuring the history of South Vietnam have been published by the Tre (Youth) Publishing House to celebrate the house’s 35th birthday.

The books were written in French by members of the Indochina Scientific Research Association. They were translated into Vietnamese by a group of translators led by Nguyen Nghi.

The books feature information and documents related to the history and development of Gia Dinh, Ben Tre, Chau Doc and Vinh Long.

More than 600 titles of books written by famous Vietnamese authors and cultural researchers have also been republished.

Featured books are about the South’s culture and lifestyle, written by researchers such as Vuong Hong Sen, Nguyen Dinh Dau and Nguyen Dong Chi.

Conference accelerates new-style rural area building programme

A conference was held on March 11 in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho to discuss ways to accelerate the implementation of the new-style rural area-building programme across the nation from 2016 to 2020.

The event was organised by the Central Coordination Office on New Rural Development and the municipal People’s Committee.

The Office aims to take measures to boost the development of disadvantaged communes, thus narrowing the gap among regions.

They include focusing on chain-oriented production, strengthening cross-sector management, and monitoring and supervising the use of resources.

Another priority is enhancing the localities’ abilities to build new-style rural areas at all levels.

Participants discussed the legal framework and investment policies for the disadvantaged communes to boost production and tourism in rural areas.

Localities also shared their experience implementing the programme over the past few years.

By 2020, 50 percent of communes should be recognised as modern rural areas. At least one district in each province and central city has the status.

On average, each commune will meet 15 criteria, with a focus on public facilities like rural roads, electricity, water, schools and health care.

In 2016, more than 263.1 trillion VND (11.75 billion USD) is expected to be mobilised for the programme. Of this, nearly 7.4 trillion VND (329.2 million USD) is sourced from the central budget.

According to the office, as of February, as many as 1,761 communes across the nation have met the new-style rural area criteria, accounting for 19.7 percent.

On average, each commune has met 12.9 criteria, up 8.2 criteria from 2010 and 2.9 criteria from 2015.

Seventeen districts have been given certificates by the Prime Minister. Seven district-level localities are seeking the status.

The national target programme on new-style rural areas, initiated by the Government in 2010, has set 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics and defence, aiming to boost the development of rural regions.

The list of criteria includes the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacity, environmental protection and the promotion of cultural values.

First steel fishing vessel launched

The first steel fishing vessel was launched yesterday in central Đà Nẵng City’s Âu Thuyền Thọ Quang area. The ĐNa–90777 vessel, built under Decree No.67 issued by the Government in 2014, is 30.8m long and 7.5m wide, with a loading capacity of about 300 tonnes. The decree aims to support fishermen in building or upgrading offshore fishing vessels that can withstand attacks by unknown vessels or pirates. It is estimated that 385 offshore fishing vessels have been built so far in the country following the decree.

HCM City collects new poverty data

HCM City conducts a survey to collect data on poverty from March 10 to April 29, according to the HCM City Steering Committee for Poverty Reduction and Increase of Better-off Households.

The survey will be supplemented with questions to collect data on income of citizens as well as five dimensions of what is called multi-dimensional poverty. These include education-training, housing-clean water, healthcare, employment, social insurance and access to information.

Around 400,000-450,000 households with a permanent residence or temporary residence registration (KT3), which accounts for 20 per cent of the city’s 2 million households, are expected to be polled, said Trương Văn Lương, chief of the steering committee secretariat.

Households with an income of VNĐ21 million (US$940) per person per year and below are identified as poor households.

Near-poor households are those with income of VNĐ21-28 million (US$940-1,255) per person per year.

It is estimated that the city has about 130,000 poor families and 80,000 near-poor families.

The city is the first locality in the country to adopt a multi-dimensional approach in evaluating poverty for the 2016-2020 period.

Bus drivers jailed for robbery

The Hà Nội People’s Court yesterday ordered the imprisonment of several bus drivers of the Thăng Long Bus Enterprise for robbery.

Lê Minh Hưng, 40, a resident of Hà Nội’s Thanh Oai District, and Lê Quang Minh, 44, from Hà Nội’s Đống Đa District, were each sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. Nguyễn Mạnh Thắng, 43, from Hai Bà Trưng District, was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment. Dương Xuân Ích, 33, a resident of Hoàng Mai District, and Nguyễn Văn Quân, 30, from Hoàng Mai District, received 14-year jail terms.

Hưng, Minh and Thắng had often visited the boarding house of Nguyễn Thanh Chúc, 38, who was also a driver of the bus enterprise, to do gambling.

When Hưng, Minh and Thắng lost a lot a money at gambling, they thought Chúc had tricked them to win VNĐ300 million (US$13,300) from them.

On November 24, 2014, the three men went to Chúc’s boarding house, beat him up and stole several items such as television, computer, air-conditioner and an Air Blade motorbike. They hid the stolen goods at Quân’s house.

On the afternoon of the same day, the three men and Ích returned to Chúc’s house to again demand payment of the ‘debt’. They also required the latter to write an acknowledgement of debt.

Chúc could not bear the beating and so said he accepted their demand.

Hưng, Minh, Thắng, Ích and Quân were seized by Hoàng Mai District Police the next day.

Traffic safety shortcomings blamed for accidents on Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway

Poor traffic safety awareness has been blamed for the accidents plaguing the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway, according to Do Chi Chung from Vietnam Expressway Company, the highway's investor.

A video clip posted online on March 8 showed a bus running on wrong lane narrowly missing on-coming vehicles. The National Traffic Safety Committee asked local authorities to find the bus and apply punishment accordingly.

Last year, there were four serious accidents on the highway which killed six and injured two people. In February 26, a driver lost control of a passenger bus after a turn, hit the barrier and caused the bus to turn over. Six out of 10 passengers were injured.

Do Chi Chung said that the company often had to repair the barriers damaged by people who let their cattle wander onto the road. He often cited problems with locals who stand dangerously on the side of the road to wait for buses or try to cross the road with their vehicles. At some location, the barriers have been repaired up to 14 to 18 times. After the highway was opened to traffic on September 21, 2014, many people opened food stalls along the way, sometimes using the road. Vehicles, especially buses, often violate parking regulations to pick up passengers.

The company reported and asked local authorities and police to deal with the situation. However, the problem has not been resolved.

The Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway runs from Hanoi’s Noi Bai through the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Yen Bai to Lao Cai. It has helped shorten the travel time from Hanoi to Lao Cai to 3.5 hours and eased traffic density on national highways 2, 2B, 32C and 70. It is part of the China’s Kunming-Vietnam’s Hai Phong Transport Corridor and belongs to the Greater Mekong Sub-Region Co-operative Programme that links Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China.

Protest lodged over fishing vessel attack at Paracel Islands

Quang Nam Province Fisheries Association has sent document to Vietnam Fisheries Association to register their protest by an attack they claim was carried out by a Chinese coast guard ship on local fishermen near the Paracel Islands on March 7, said Ngo Tan, chairman of the association.

"We asked the Vietnam Fisheries Association to protest against the barbaric actions taken against Vietnamese fishermen and have asked the Chinese government to compensate for the damage caused to Vo Quang Thai's boat," the document says.

Quang Nam Fisheries Association also asked local authorities to develop support policies for those attacked by foreign ships.

The fishing boat directed by captain Vo Quang Thai and 10 other crew members was at latitude 16.55N, longitude 111.50E near the Paracel Islands when a Chinese coast guard ship, numbered 46101 arrived.

Thai said their food and fuel were stolen while their equipment was damaged. They also were forced to sign on some kind of document. According to Thai, two people spoke Vietnamese and threatened him that if he didn't leave the Paracel Islands area, they would damage the boat.

It is estimated that the damage cost VND300m (USD14,300). Thai and his crew safely returned home at 10pm on March 7.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri