Cao Bang on its path to develop signature local tourist products

A view of Ban Gioc Waterfall, which is part of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark 

Located in a mountainous border region, Cao Bang province is home to the diverse culture of local ethic minority groups, as well as historical sites and stunning tourist attractions. The local authorities have rolled out every effort to utilise these advantages in the building of signature tourist products in a bid to foster the local hospitality sector.

Cao Bang province is the cradle of Tay, Nung, H’Mong, Dao, San Chi, Lo Lo and other tribes, each possessing a unique colour of its own indigenous culture.

The province is the homeland of many popular festivals and rituals, including the Long Tong festival (Going to the Field), and the cap sac ritual (a rite of passage declaring the coming-of-age of Dao men within the community) as well as the charming melodies of folk singing, such as then, sli and luon singing.

Cao Bang has also been bestowed many fantastic tourist attractions by Mother Nature, including Ban Gioc waterfall, Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park, and Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark.

Aside from its natural values, the land of Cao Bang also attracts visitors to explore its tangible and intangible cultural heritages and historical revolutionary sites.

Prominent among them include the special national relic site of Pac Bo, where President Ho Chi Minh returned in 1941 to lead the revolutionary movement after spending over 30 years in other countries to seek ways for national salvation; and the special national relic site of Tran Hung Dao Forest, where then General Vo Nguyen Giap established the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army in 1944, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army today.

Thanks to the vast advantages, Cao Bang has become an unmissable place for visitors that are interested in experiencing local culture and exploring natural and wild scenery.

At the end of 2015, the Cao Bang provincial authorities established the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, designing it as a model for sustainable socio-economic development, environmental protection, and traditional cultural preservation. The move also aimed to effectively bring into full play the available advantages of culture, eco-tourism and community-based tourism of the site.

Two years after the establishment of the geopark, which covers more than 3,000km² in nine districts and hosts over 130 geological, cultural, historical and natural sites, three tours were set up within the territory of the park. The first tour explores the Phia Oac mountain peak, the second one introduces visitors to the historical sites of Cao Bang, and the third one invites tourists to experience the indigenous culture of the locals.

In April 2018, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark was recognised as a global geopark by UNESCO, creating considerable momentum for the locality’s tourism development.

According to Truong The Vinh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, UNESCO’s title has affirmed that the cultural identity, the land and people of Cao Bang have attracted great interest from both domestic and foreign visitors.

Cao Bang welcomed around 952,000 tourists and earned approximately VND189 billion in the tourism sector in 2018. The locality was visited by more than 8336,000 tourists in the first eight months of this year, including nearly 71,000 international arrivals, up 98.6% against the same period last year. Meanwhile, revenue from tourism reached VND219 billion, up 65.65 year on year.

The provincial hospitality sector has set a target of receiving more than 1 million holiday makers in 2018.

According to Trinh Huu Khanh, Vice Chairman of provincial People’s Committee, a number of solutions have been taken to realise the task, while developing tourism in a sustainable way, including developing a signature tourism brand, enhancing human resources, improving the infrastructure system, and diversify tourist products to meet the increasing demand of visitors.

The provincial authorities have implemented favourable policies in support of businesses operating in hotel and restaurant units, while stepping up tourism promotion programmes outside the province, mobilising investment in tourist activities, encouraging local people’s participation in boosting tourism, and raising public awareness of heritage conservation.

Priorities have also given to safeguarding and upholding the value of the UNESCO-recognised Non Nuoc Cao Bang geopark, and introducing the three tours to introduce the park to more visitors.

Hanoi plans second sports complex for SEA Games 2021

Hanoi plans to upgrade the Hang Day stadium into an international sports complex for the SEA Games 2021.

Capital city authorities have outlined this plan in a recent report to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, saying the upgrade is required because the condition of Hang Day stadium on Trinh Hoai Duc Street has severely deteriorated in recent years.

The new complex would cost over VND6.3 trillion (US$270.4 million), with funds raised from investors who operate the stadium for 50 years, the report said.

The sports complex will be built on an area of 32,000 square meters, expanding the current area of 22,000 square meters.

A deal for the upgrade was signed in March by domestic private firm T&T Group which manages the stadium, and French firm Bouygues Construction.

The headquarters of the city's Department of Planning and Investment nearby will be moved to another location to make space for the new complex.

The new stadium will have a capacity of 20,000 people, with several additional facilities including cinemas, event centers, parking basements and convenience stores.

It will be the second international sports complex in Hanoi, after the My Dinh stadium in Nam Tu Liem District.

The Hang Day stadium is a multi-purpose facility which was first established for Hanoi's École d'Education Physique (Hanoi's School of Physical Education) in 1934. It was later expanded in 1958. 

In 2017, it was placed under the management of T&T Group, a corporation involved in finance, real estate and agriculture sectors. 

Hanoi will host the 31st edition of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), which is scheduled to last 17 days, as well as the Para Games, for 11 days, from October to December in 2021.  

A total of 16,000 people are estimated to participate in the event, 11,000 of them athletes.

This is the second time that Vietnam will be hosting the SEA Games after the first instance in 2003.

Fire destroys fishing vessel in Phu Quoc

A fishing boat caught fire at 19:00 on October 9 while anchoring at Bai Xep beach, An Thoi Town, Phu Quoc district, Kien Giang province.

The boat was engulfed in flames within two hours The vessel, coded KG 93218TS was carrying 10,000 liters of oil and 2 big gas cylinders.
According to a local authority, shortly after the incident, 14 border guards were mobilized to tackle the blaze. However, they could not access the scene due to the fury of the fire.

The boat was engulfed in flames within two hours. The huge fire destroyed property on the vessel worth more than VND13 billion. 

Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
HCM City speeds up compensation, site clearance for Beltway No 3 project

HCM City will spend VNĐ3 trillion from its budget to speed up compensation and site clearance for the Beltway No 3 project. 

HCM City will allocate VNĐ3 trillion (US$128 million) from the city’s budget to speed up compensation and site clearance for a section of the Beltway No. 3 project, which has been delayed due to a lack of investment, according to Trần Vĩnh Tuyến, deputy chairman of the city’s People’s Committee.

Other provinces and the Cửu Long Corp for Investment, Development and Project Management of Infrastructure will also allocate funds as well. 

Bình Dương Province will spend VNĐ2 trillion ($85 million), while Long An Province will allocate VNĐ639 billion ($27 million) for Beltway No. 3.

The project was approved by the Prime Minister in 2011.

The 90-km long beltway is expected to be divided into four sections: from Nhơn Trạch to  HCM City, Mỹ Phước to Tân Vạn, Bình Chuẩn to National Highway No 22, and National Highway No 22 to Trung Lương expressway..

The beltway will have four to eight lanes, and a designed speed of 100km per hour

The road project is expected to divide traffic flows into the city, and reduce congestion in the inner city.   

Complaints filed over half-finished Hoa Binh bridge

The half-finished bridge in Hoa Binh

Chao Village in Hoa Binh Province is often isolated during flood season but the only bridge to the outside lies half-finished and abandoned.   

The unfinished bridge is in Chao Village, Kim Tien Commune. Many people are upset at seeing the bridge deteriorate over time while the village still remains isolated from the outside world during floods. Children can’t go to school and sick people have no way to go to hospitals.

Kim Boi District People's Committee said in an official document issued in 2014 that the bridge across the Roc River was an urgent construction would connect Bo Town to the Sun Waterfall, serve over 1,000 households and boost local tourism.

In 2016, the project was transferred to Kim Boi Construction Projects Management Board. Huy Ha Company became the contractor of the VND11bn (USD473,500) project. In the following year, the district authorities approved a VND16bn plan to build connecting roads to get up to the bridge.

Kim Boi district authorities said that their budget was too small but promised to continue the construction in early 2018. However, the materials were merely dumped near the bridge and construction is still incomplete. 

Bui Van Dum, chairman of Kim Boi People's Committee, said they had urged contractors to speed up the process but due to rain the work was delayed and there might be a reduction on the construction quality. 

Meanwhile, many people said that investors needed to take responsibility for the situation. The local authorities have been blamed for not starting construction in early 2018 but instead in late June when the rainy season started.

Hoa Mai’s wooden interior design competition launched

The Hoa Mai competition on wooden interior design 2018-2019 was launched by the Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Wood Industry Association (HAWA) on October 8. 

The annual event aims to seek talented designers and unique wooden furniture designs. Competitors also have a chance to receive technical support from prestigious experts and enterprises to materialise their ideas. 

In the first round, the organising board will receive entries from October 10 to November 22, 2018 via the website www.giaihoamai.hawa.vn. 

Contestants will produce sample products in the second round from December 1, 2018 to January 20, 2019. 

The awards ceremony and display of products will be held at the Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair in March 2019. 

HAWA Chairman Nguyen Quoc Khanh said Vietnam’s exports of wood and forestry products hit 8 billion USD for the first time in 2017. The sector has set the target of earning 9 billion USD from exports this year, becoming one of the top seven currency earners for the country. 

It targets 20 billion USD in export earnings by 2025, switching from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to Original Design Manufacturer, making Vietnam a legal and prestigious wooden furniture manufacturing centre.

Heroin trafficker arrested in Son La

Tong Van Cho at the local police station 

The police of the northern mountainous province of Son La have arrested a suspect who was illegally transporting four bricks of heroin and 2,000 synthetic pills in Na Ot village, Na Ot commune, Mai Son district. 

Tong Van Cho, born in 1976 and residing in Na Nghiu 2, Na Nghiu commune, Song Ma district was caught red-handed while attempting to transport the drugs on October 7. 

At the local police station, Cho confessed that he was hired to transport the drugs. 

Along with the narcotics, the authorities also seized a number of relevant exhibits.

The case is under further investigation.

Khmer community in Hau Giang, Soc Trang celebrate Sene Dolta festival

A ceremony held as part of Sene Dolta festival in Vi Thuy district of Hau Giang province 

The Khmer community in the southern provinces of Hau Giang and Soc Trang are celebrating their Sene Dolta festival, a major event of the ethnic group to remember ancestors, with both traditional rituals and social activities. 

The festival is held between the 29th day of the 8th lunar month to the first day of the 9th lunar month, which fall on October 8-10 this year. 

Before the festival, Khmer families clean their houses and prepare ingredients for offerings, which are usually traditional cakes and dishes. The festival is an occasion for all members of families to gather to pay tribute to ancestors

Local Buddhist pagodas also got a facelift as they are the place where praying and tribute rituals are held. 

On the occasion, local authorities hold art and sports activities to add to the festive atmosphere. Local officials also visit pagodas and poor Khmer families to present gifts and share the joy of the community. 

Soc Trang is home to more than 400,000 Khmer people and Hau Giang has more than 26,000.

ASEAN project development course opens in HCM City

A two-day training course on developing ASEAN quality project proposals is being held from October 9-10 in HCM City. 

The ASEAN project development training course for Việt Nam, which aims to improve the quality of project proposals, kicked off yesterday in HCM City.

The two-day course, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ASEAN Secretariat, attracted 90 participants who are officers of government ministries, departments, agencies and institutions from central and southern provinces and cities.

Dương Hải Hưng, deputy head of the ASEAN Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the course would help officials fully understand procedures and techniques to write project proposals.

The course addresses the general lack of awareness at the national level about ASEAN cooperation projects, available resources, and the use of available funds.

The training also demonstrates how to fill out a project proposal template and strengthen linkages among institutions and participants to pursue an ASEAN Cooperation project proposal.

Dameria Rimta Silangit, head of ASEAN Secretariat’s Programme Cooperation and Project Management Division, said: “At the end of the training, the participants will have deeper knowledge and understanding of ASEAN’s on-going initiatives and platforms, ASEAN development cooperation and its project cycles, result-oriented project formulations, and implementation, monitoring and reporting.”

About 70 funds and cooperation projects exist within ASEAN, strengthening connectivity, narrowing the development gap and responding to common challenges.

The training course was successfully organised in Hà Nội in October last year. 

Medical facilities urgded to isolate patients to prevent cross-infection

The Health Ministry's Department of Medical Examination and Treatment yesterday sent its dispatch to medical facilities, asking to isolate measles and dengue patients to protect patients from the risks of cross-infection and reduce death.

As per the document, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment ordered infirmary managers to instruct its staff to spread information of the disease to patients and relatives, interns.

Additionally, infirmaries warned measles patients must wear facemask when waiting to see doctors at hospitals. For kids, parents must keep a handkerchief on their kids’ nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.

Parents of hand-foot-mouth kid patient must wash their hands when taking care of kids and dengue patients must sleep in mosquito-nets.

Importantly, infirmaries must isolate patients and set up separated wards for measles patients and hand-foot-mouth patients. Hospitals will admit serious cases of measles, dengue and hand-foot-mouth as well as provide consultation to slight patient relatives at home to cut treatment cost and prevent cross-infection and patient overload.

Infirmaries must prepare drugs and equipment as per the Ministry of Health. Besides, they must follow treatment guidance of the Health Minister.

Besides, infirmaries must arrange more staff for crowded ward to reduce work overload as well as arrange beds for contagious patients not let two or three people in a bed.

Medical workers in big hospitals must be ready to provide consultation to their peers in district institutions.

The Ministry of Health said that measles, hand-foot-mouth dengue are running rampant resulting in patient overload and cross-infection especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Until October 8, the country reported over 1,093 measles cases including one death; 61,821 hand-foot-mouth cases including six deaths and over 67,400 dengue cases including 11 deaths.

Social innovation lecture tour with Dr. Belinda Bell

The British Council in Vietnam is working in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training to organize a social innovation lecture tour with Dr. Belinda Bell, program director of Cambridge Social Ventures, part of the Cambridge Judge Business School Center for Social Innovation.

Following the success of the similar event in Hanoi on October 8, innovation lecture tour with Dr. Belinda Bell will take place at University of Danang - University of Economics today and at University of Economics HCMC tomorrow.

The event is part of the “Inspire Me” series of activities celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam and on the occasion of 25 years of the British Council’s work in Vietnam.

Dr. Belinda Bell is a social entrepreneur, a consultant and an experienced scholar. At the fifth annual awards of the Social Entrepreneurs’ Exchange, she was honored with the “highly commended” award for Social Entrepreneurship Champion of the Year 2017.

Dr. Belinda Bell works actively to support the development of social enterprise, by having laid the foundation for a great deal of research on social innovation and social enterprise, as well as establishing the Master of Social Innovation program at the University of Cambridge.

This event is for university students who want to find out more about learning opportunities and practical steps to become social entrepreneurs, or work in the social innovation sector in the future; university lecturers and researchers who want to learn more about teaching programs and case studies in creating social impact through social innovation and social enterprise initiatives; and incubation hubs wishing to connect and learn more about training and incubation experiences from social enterprise program in the UK.

Social entrepreneurs who want to share and learn more about international experience in the social innovation and social enterprise sectors, and discover opportunities to connect and collaborate with the social enterprise ecosystem in the UK are also encouraged to join.

At the event, Dr. Belinda Bell will discuss a number of topics, including: What does social innovation really mean? How can we differentiate social innovation and social enterprise? What is causing the upsurge in interest in social innovation? How does social entrepreneurship work in practice? Where are the overlaps between social innovators and other sectors of the economy and society? and learning and research opportunities in social enterprise and social innovation at the University of Cambridge and other universities in the UK.

For further information, contact +84 1800 1299 (ext. 1906) or hai.doan@britishcouncil.org.vn.