HCM City court upholds sentences in AgriBank case

The People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City on May 12 upheld a life sentence for Duong Thanh Cuong for swindling to appropriate property at the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (AgriBank)’s branch in Binh Chanh (AgriBank Binh Chanh).

The court also upheld the compensation level of 33 billion VND that Cuong, ex-Director of the Binh Phat company, has to pay for the AgriBank Binh Chanh.

Duong Thanh Cuong and other ex-Agribank Binh Chanh officials filed appeals after the first court held on November 5, 2015.

The court also kept imprisonment punishments imposed on other defendants, including Nguye n Van Loi, former Deputy Director of AgriBank Binh Chanh 8 years, Hoang Nhu Bich 7 years, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga 8 years, Tran Thi Hoang Yen 7 years, for breaching regulations on lending in credit organisations’ activity.

According to indictment, Cuong used the Tan Dai Phat and Thanh Phat companies as legal entities to forge fake documents to appropriate 15 billion VND (660,000 USD) loaned from AgriBank Binh Chanh.

The Thanh Phat Company still owes 33 billion VND (1.45 million USD) to Agribank Binh Chanh when the defendants were prosecuted.

Earlier, Cuong also received a life sentence in other case at the AgriBank’s branch 6 in a court held on May 11.

VFF provides billions of dong in aid to disaster-affected localities

The Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organisations have provided 50.8 billion VND (around 2.3 million USD) in aid to provinces hit hard by drought, saltwater intrusion and unusual mass fish deaths.

The provision of aid was reported at a meeting of the VFF Central Committee’s Standing Board and member organisations in Hanoi on May 12 under the chair of VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Of the amount, 7.5 billion VND was channeled to nine provinces in the Mekong Delta, the Central Highlands and south central coastal region to help them overcome the severe damages caused by prolonged droughts and saline intrusion.

Meanwhile, four central coastal provinces, where mass deaths of fish occurred, received a total four billion VND in aid.

The aid funding came from various sources, with the VFF chapter in Hanoi donating 19 billion VND and the Ho Chi Minh City chapter contributing 20 billion VND. Dien Bien province presented 100 million VND to the Mekong Delta provinces while Da Nang City helped the drought-hit Kon Tum province with 200 million VND.

At the same time, the Vietnam Red Cross Society, in coordination with the National Humanitarian Information Portal 1400, the Ministry of Information and Communication and HCN City-based Tuoi Tre Newspaper, launched a charity SMS campaign to raise funds for people affected by drought and saline intrusion.

The VFF Central Committee’s Standing Board reported that the drought and saltwater intrusion wrought havoc on over 426,000 ha of rice and food crops and 5,703 ha of aquacultural farms with total damages amounting to nearly 6.4 trillion VND. In addition, more than 424,000 households lack fresh water for daily activities.

Meanwhile, the abnormal fish deaths cost Ha Tinh province 260 billion VND, Quang Tri province – 135 billion VND, Quang Binh province – 175.3 billion VND and Thua Thien-Hue province – 11 billion VND, not to mention losses from the suspension of coastal fishing activities, fishing services and tourism.

Participants at the meeting noted the need for long-term solutions to help secure the livelihoods of people in affected provinces besides short-term assistance such as donating rice and water.

Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women’s Union suggested calling on banks to provide preferential loans for farmers to resume production, while Vice President of the

Vietnam Red Cross Society Tran Thi Hong An proposed giving water tanks to drought victims and buying health insurance for fishermen. She noted that the provision of seedlings and animals to farmers is not suitable at this point of time as the drought and salt intrusion is not yet over.

Representatives from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Farmers’ Union underlined the need to find ways to store water in the long run.

VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan applauded the help contributed by VFF chapters and member organisations while stressing that the distribution of aid should be done in a fair manner. He agreed to short-term assistance measures including providing fishermen with health insurance cards and water tanks to drought victims.

Nhan also asked the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to research further the building of saltwater filtering stations to address water shortage in areas affected by saline intrusion.

Vietnam memorial in Cambodia undergoes restoration

A monument commemorating Vietnamese soldiers installed in Battambang City who were classified as missing in action from the past war helping Cambodia escape from the Pol Pot genocide is being restored to its original finish.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the project on May 12, Governor Chan Saphol of the Battambang Province, said the memorial keeps alive memories of one of the greatest challenges to Cambodia’s independence.

We are two nations that love our heroes and hate wars, said the Governor. The Cambodian people shall never forget the ultimate sacrifice and support of Vietnamese soldiers and volunteers during our time of need.

The project is part of an effort begun in 2013 to refurbish all friendship monuments in Cambodia between the two nations that was approved by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

The monument spans an area of some 10,000 square metres and is being renovated at an estimated budget cost of US$500,000 –  all of which is being funded by the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam.

Free swimming class for disabled children opens in Tien Giang

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on May 12 opened a free swimming class for 106 children with disabilities in an effort to reduce child drowning accidents.

They are kindergarten and primary students from Nhan Ai School for Children with Disabilities in My Tho city.

The nine-month course at the city’s sport centre will equip the children with skills to save themselves and others from drowning.

It is also intended to help raise their confidence and better integrate into the community.

According to Vo Thi Tuyet, Secretary General of the Tien Giang Union of Friendship Organisations, the class, the first of its kind in the province, is supported by Australian volunteers from the Australian Water Safety on the Mekong (AWSOM) Project.

The project and sponsors from Perth, Australia have donated more than 5,200 USD to the class, she said.

Binh Thuan achieves preschool education universalisation

The central province of Binh Thuan has fulfilled the target of universalising preschool education for five-year-old children, said a working team from the Ministry of Education and Training on May 12.

Since 2011, the locality has mobilised all resources to build nursery schools, upgrade equipment and improve education quality.

The province now houses 182 kindergartens covering all of its communes, wards and towns, compared to 168 in the 2010-2011 school year, with nearly 1,700 well-constructed classes.

Notably, the number of children attending schools is on the rise with nearly 49,700 enrolled in the 2014-2015 academic year, compared to about 45,000 in 2010-2011.

The locality has paid attention to supporting children from ethnic minority groups and those in disadvantaged areas, as well as teacher training.

Tien Giang aims to expand health insurance coverage

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang will take numerous measures to have more than 1.3 million people with health insurance this year, accounting for 75 percent of the population.

To realise the targets, the province will strive to provide the service for additional 207,000 people, said Deputy Director of the provincial Social Insurance Office Pham Thi My at a May 12 conference on the implementation of health insurance tasks in the province in 2016.

Communication work will be promoted to raise the awareness of the Law on Health Insurance among labourers and enterprises.

The network of agents will be developed in all communes, wards and townships as well as at post offices and health clinics across the province.

By March, Tien Giang had over 1.1 million health insurance card holders, or 63.32 percent of the population, a fall of 2.73 percent from late last year.

The revised Health Insurance Law stipulates that as from January 1, 2016, people with health insurance cards at district level can access check-ups or treatment at any district-level health facility they want within their province, without requiring referral papers as before. They will also get full insurance cover for hospital expenses.

Ca Mau supports farmers to prepare for summer-autumn crop

The People’s Committee of the southernmost province of Ca Mau has allocated 86 billion VND (3.7 million USD) to help farmers who are suffering from losses due to the recent drought and saline intrusion prepare for the summer-autumn crop.

Accordingly, households with 30-70 percent of rice fields damaged will receive around 1-1.5 million VND (45-67.5 USD) per hectare in cash. Those who suffered losses of above 70 percent will be provided with 2-3 million VND (90-135 USD) per hectare.

In order to deal with the drought and saline intrusion, especially during the summer-autumn crop, the province has planned to dredge canals and secure more fresh water sources as well as consolidate dykes to prevent flood tides.

According to Deputy Head of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Tranh, Ca Mau needs about 39 billion VND (1.7 million USD) for the dredging of 37 canals and ditches.

Statistics showed that 36,000 households in 44 communes in Ca Mau have been seriously affected by the recent drought and saline intrusion, which damaged nearly 53,000 hectares of rice.

More volunteer soldiers laid to rest in Road 9 Cemetery

A memorial service was held at Road 9 National Martyrs Cemetery in central Quang Tri province on May 12 for 37 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts whose remains had just been brought back to Vietnam from Laos.

In his remarks at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Thuc said the soldiers have laid down their lives for the people of Laos and Vietnam to live in peace and together rebuild the countries.

The sacrifice has embellished the victory of the two nations and helped tighten their long-standing friendship, he noted.

Since 1993, Quang Tri province and Laos’ Savannakhet province have joined hands to search for and repatriated the remains of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died during the war in Laos.

The same day, the remains of three unknown soldiers who died in the war against the US were laid to rest at the War Martyr Cemetery in Kon Tum City, the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

The remains were found by Kon Tum city’s Military Headquarters at Ngoc Bay Mountain in the city together with several guns, bullets, and personal belongings including

hammocks, bowls, water canteens and three pens with names engraved.

Programme promotes youths’ engagement in sea protection

A voluntary programme was launched in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on May 12 to enhance young people’s participation in protecting the marine environment.

Under the programme, entitled “Clean up the sea”, 1,500 youngsters collected rubbish along Thuan An beach in Phu Vang district, Vinh Hien and Lang Co beaches in Phu Loc district.

Communication campaigns were also held to raise locals’ awareness of protecting the marine environment and responding to climate change.

In the first phase, the programme is carried out in four central provinces hardest hit by the recent fish death incident, namely Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua

Thien-Hue, said Do Thi Kim Thoa, Deputy Director of the National Volunteer Centre under the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.

It aims to promote the role of youth union members and young people as pioneers in coping with climate change as well as preventing natural disasters and protecting the environment, she added.

On the occasion, the programme presented 1,000 gifts worth 500 million VND (22,000 USD) to disadvantaged fishermen in Phy Vang and Phu Loc districts.

Thua Thien-Hue: aid given to fishermen affected by unusual fish death

More than 36,000 local household members and the owners of 3,080 fishing vessels, suffering losses from mass fish deaths in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, will receive support from local authorities from May 12, said Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Cao.

Financial aid will be given to the owners of inshore fishing vessels. Up to 5 million VND (224.3 USD) will be offered to fishing vessels with capacity below 90 CV, which are forced to temporarily stop going out to sea.

The province will provide 15 kilogrammes of rice per capita per month for one month and a half to members of families of the ship-owners and workers working on vessels as well as households providing fishing logistic services.

The locality requested 800 tonnes of rice from the State to support those people.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee’s chapter in Thua Thien-Hue set aside 8.4 billion VND (376,766 USD) to support local fishermen, 3 billion VND (134,600 USD) of which will be delivered to households who breed fish.

Mass fish deaths in the locality from April 15-May 4 caused huge losses to local production. It is estimated that the province suffered a total loss of 135 billion VND (6.05 million USD).

From May 1, the province has granted 149 certificates of origin for local fishermen’s offshore aquatic products while setting up stores to sell fresh fish at shopping centres and markets.

Although there have been no reported mass fish deaths in the province from May 5, the province asked relevant agencies to monitor the situation in coastal areas and prepare a plan to quickly halt fishing activities within 20 nautical miles of shore.

Along with checking more water samples, the province will release water from the Thao Long dam to ensure a stable environment for fish breeding in Phu Vang district.

Exhibition to mark 75th founding anniversary of Viet Minh Front

An exhibition on Viet Minh Front, an organisation that united Vietnamese people from all social strata for the ultimate goal of national independence, will open in Hanoi on May 18.

The display at the Vietnam National Museum of History is held on the occasion of the 75 th founding anniversary of Viet Minh (May 19, 1941).

Viet Minh had the full name of Viet Nam Doc Lap Dong Minh Hoi (League for the Independence of Vietnam) and existed until 1951.

The first section of the exhibition will introduce the historical background for the establishment of the front. Meanwhile, the second one will feature objects and photos relating to the establishment of Viet Minh and the role of late President Ho Chi Minh, known as Nguyen Ai Quoc then, in the foundation.

Other items on display will focus on the role of Viet Minh in raising national unity to prepare for the August Revolution to gain independence in 1945, and the resistance war against French colonialists in the following years.

Exhibits on the great national unity bloc during the Doi moi (Reform) period since 1986 will form the last section of the event.

The exhibition will remain open until August.

Vietnamese water puppetry comes to Egypt

Egypt will stage its first Vietnamese water puppet show on May 12, heard a press conference in Cairo on May 11.

Held by Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, National Theatre and Cairo Opera House, the conference drew more than 60 correspondents from press agencies in Egypt.

Political counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt Nguyen Hong Son attended the event.

Director of the Egypt National Theatre Fatouh Ahmed said the “Isis and Osiris” play will be staged through water puppetry – a unique art form of Vietnam .

It is part of cooperation between Vietnam ’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Egypt ’s Ministry of Culture, he said.

He revealed that the play, performed by artists from the Cairo Opera House, will be staged in the capital on May 12 before going to other Egyptian localities.

Artist May Mohab from the Cairo Opera House brought Vietnamese water puppetry to Egyptian audiences. During the completion of his MA thesis, he and coworkers endeavoured to boost cultural cooperation between Vietnam and Egypt in and between the Cairo Opera House and Thang Long Water Puppetry Theatre.

With the assistance of Vietnamese artists, the bilateral cooperation project has been nearly completed after more than three years of implementation.

May Mohab said that he is very happy his dream has come true, saying water puppetry is a unique art form with a lot of potential to develop in Egypt.

He thanked the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt , especially former Ambassador Dao Thanh Chung and his successor Do Hoang Long as well as Vietnamese artists and students for supporting him.

The Vietnamese art form is expected to come to people across the Middle East and Northern African region in the near future.

Orbis flying hospital to give free eye care to Mekong Delta people

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, which owned by the international non-governmental humanitarian organisation Orbis, said it will provide free eye check-ups and operations for people in Can Tho city and some other Mekong Delta localities.

During a working session with leaders of the municipal People’s Committee on May 12, Bui Thi Van Anh, a representative from the Orbis Vietnam, said the hospital’s medical staff will work with their counterparts from the Can Tho Eye and Odonto- Stomatology Hospital to run a free surgery programme for patients living with eye-related diseases that can cause blindness in the locality in 2017.

A training course of ophthalmology will also be arranged for doctors from the Vietnamese hospital, aiming to improve their surgical skills of congenital cataract and refraction, she stated.

According to Anh, the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital project has visited 92 nations worldwide. In Vietnam, the project has successfully implementing its free eye surgery programme in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hue, contributing to bettering the skills of local medical workers in eye caring.

Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee Le Van Tam said the city will create the most favourable conditions for the Orbis hospital to effectively operate in the locality.

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is the world's only airborne ophthalmic surgical and training facility, while ORBIS is working to support developing countries in preventing blindness and protecting eyesight for their people.

In Vietnam, ORBIS helped form five pediatric eye care centres in Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Can Tho and Binh Dinh, with a view to preventing and early treating diseases that can cause blindness for children.

Statistics of the Orbis Vietnam show that Vietnam has about 3 million children living with impaired eyesight, and over 23,000 others are blind in both eyes.

1 killed, 18 injured as bus flips over

One person was killed and 18 others were seriously injured when a shuttle bus carrying workers flipped over and rolled over several times in Long An Province on Tuesday night.

The accident occurred at 8pm on Provincial Road 824 in Bến Lức District when the bus crashed into the pavement and turned turtle.

Twenty five workers -- of Bethel Vina Company -- were stuck inside unable to get out until local residents and rescuers arrived.

According to Phùng Văn On, deputy head of the Long An Province’S Traffic Safety Committee, it was hard for the rescuers since it was dark and there were no road lights in that section.

It took until 11pm to pull the occupants out, and one of them, an unidentified male worker, was found dead.

The injured people were rushed to Hậu Nghĩa General Hospital in Đức Hòa District.

Most of the workers are residents of Đức Hòa and Đức Huệ districts in Long An.

Vietnamese market in Berlin catches fire

A fire has broken out at Dong Xuan Centre, a major trade centre of overseas Vietnamese in Berlin, Germany, at midday on May 11.

Witnesses said large columns of smoke were seen as far as several kilometers from the centre.

No fatalities were reported in the inferno, which was said to start at a store owned by a Turkish in the centre, and the cause remains unclear.

The city’s rescue force, fire department, specialised vehicles and helicopters have been sent to surmount the incident. However, flammable goods, big winds and hard-to-enter design of the warehouse have caused difficulties in stamping out the fire.

Other buildings and warehouses in the centre are still opening.

Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung and officials from the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany visited the site and offered sympathy to traders who were affected by the fire.

Covering an area of more than 40,000 sqm with four commercial blocs, the Dong Xuan centre is home to more than 4,000 Vietnamese nationals and it has become a popular place for the Vietnamese community in Germany.

The market stocks goods including textiles, electronics and groceries.

HCM City’s District 7 declared Zika-free

There are no Zika patients in District 7, where a South Korean woman found to have the disease had lived and worked, the HCM City Preventive Medicine Centre said on Tuesday.

The centre and other relevant agencies carried out epidemic investigations to detect the potential source of infection of the 25-year-old Korean woman.

She had been working at the Korean International School from April 10 to 30 when she developed rashes, and on May 4 was diagnosed with the Zika in Korea.

But the centre reported that the patient’s apartment in Sky Garden 2 and the Korean International School are free of mosquitoes.

Though the source of infection has not yet been identified, city authorities said they would continue with necessary measures to prevent any possible outbreaks in the district.

More investigations would be done covering places she often visited, they said.

They promised there would be regular updates on Zika-related information.

Zika symptoms include mild fever, joint and muscle pain and pain behind the eyes.

Dak Lak: reburial for remains of fallen soldiers found in Cambodia

A ceremony was held at a martyr cemetery in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on May 11 to rebury the remains of 15 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who died in the Cambodian battlefield during wartime.

The remains were found in Cambodia’s Mondulkiri province in the 2015-2016 dry season by Squad 51 of the Dak Lak provincial Military Command.

Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee H’Yim Kdok said that the search for and reburial of remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Cambodia reflect the great gratitude for the martyrs as well as meet the wish of their families.

Since 2001, the Squad 51found and repatriated 626 sets of remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts from Cambodia.

Drought impacts to be discussed at Mekong Delta forum

Impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion along with countermeasures will be added to the agenda of the Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation (MDEC) forum, slated for this July in Hau Giang province.

The inclusion of the drought and saline encroachment problem is because they have become pressing issues facing local residents, Nguyen Phong Quang, Deputy head of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region, said at a press conference in Can Tho city on May 11.

The forum will take place from July 11 – 15 under the theme “Mekong Delta – Active Integration and Sustainable Development”.

It ultimately aims to promote investment, cooperation, science-technology development and international economic integration, he noted.

The MDEC forum will feature a workshop on bank credit for the region’s socio-economic development, a business forum, a workshop on hi-tech agriculture, and a seminar on supporting technological innovation.

On this occasion, the host province will hold events directly relating to itself such as a conference promoting investment into Hau Giang, ceremonies to start the construction and inaugurate some facilities, and activities to introduce local craft villages and specialties.

The Mekong Delta comprises Can Tho city and the 12 provinces of An Giang, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, Soc Trang, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh and Vinh Long. It is located in the southwest of Vietnam.

The Delta is a major aquaculture region and the largest rice production hub of Vietnam.

Workshop promotes women capacity in financial policy making

A training workshop strengthening capacity of gender mainstreaming in financial policy making was opened in Hanoi on May 11.

The event was jointly organised by the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, and the Institute of Strategic and Financial Policies under the Ministry of Finance.

UN Women Chief Representative Shoko Ishikawa said Vietnam should promote the integration of gender into financial policies, including State budget collection, distribution and expenditure ones, to ensure gender equality and sustainable development.

She said budget issue touched every field of the Government’s concern from occupation, health care, education, and violence to poverty, people with disabilities, telecommunication, pension and social welfares.

The Ministry of Finance is responsible for measuring expenditures and benefits of all budget collection and spending programmes as well as ensuring policies and laws not to increase gender inequality, she added.

Director of the Institute of Strategic and Financial Policies Nguyen Viet Loi said the training workshop creates a good opportunity for officials, especially those from the Ministry of Finance, to raise the significance of gender equality and the necessity of integrating gender into financial policies.

The event, which lasts until May 13, also helps participants to learn from international experience in establishing, monitoring and evaluating gender-based financial policies, he added.

As a member of the UN, Vietnam has approved sustainable development goals and joined the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination againsts Women (CEDAW) and Beijing Platform for Action.

Passive smoking reduces at both home, workplaces

The rates of passive smoking both at home and workplaces in Vietnam declined from 73.1 percent and 55.9 percent in 2010 to 59.9 percent and 42.6 percent last year, respectively.

The figures were reported at a conference on the implementation of the national tobacco harm prevention programme in 2016 held by the Ministry of Health in Hanoi on May 11. This is the result of a survey in 2015 jointly conducted by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Vietnam’s General Statistics Office and the Hanoi University of Medicine.

The survey also showed the rate of people exposed to tobacco smoke at schools decreased from 22.3 percent to 16.1 percent during the period while the exposure rate in public transportation means fell from 34.4 percent to 19.4 percent.

The rate of smoking among the 13-15 age group decreased from 3.3 percent in 2007 to 2.5 percent in 2014, with 90 percent of the young smokers expressing intention to stop.

However, Vietnam is still among countries with the highest male smoking rate.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan, the steering committees on tobacco harm prevention have been established in 62 cities and provinces.

Counselling for smoking cessation has also been provided at six hospitals across the country, including Bach Mai Hospital, which received more than 10,000 calls seeking help to quit smoking from July to December 2015, Tuan said.

The ministry called on ministries, local authorities and media agencies to join activities in response to the World No Tobacco (May 31) and the country’s No Tobacco Week (May 25-31).

The local authorities were urged to inspect the compliance of the Law of Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and to raise public awareness on the issue and promote smoke-free workplaces.

RoK presents scholarships to Thua Thien-Hue students

Kyungdong University of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on May 11 granted scholarships worth 26 billion VND (1.17 million USD) to 42 high-school students in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue who are going to learn at the university.

Among these students, five received full-tuition scholarships, while 28 are provided with 70 percent of tuitions and nine with 50 percent of tuitions in four years.

The first exam for Kyung University scholarships was organised in July 2015 for students across Vietnam.

Through this exam, the university chose 568 outstanding students to receive scholarships totaling over 91 billion VND.

The scholarship granting aims to intensify the Vietnam-RoK relations and boost the bilateral cultural and educational cooperation.

About 4,500 Vietnamese students are currently pursuing education in the RoK.

Kumho Tire extends funding for Vietnamese people’ activities in RoK

Kumho Tire Co., Inc will continue to sponsor activities of the Association of Vietnamese People in the Republic of Korea (RoK) under an agreement signed between the two sides in Seoul on May 11.

Accordingly, Kumho Tire will provide 140 million won (about 120,000 USD) for the association’s operations and organisation of cultural events in two years, starting on April 1.

The sponsorship agreement was inked by representatives of the association, Kumho Tire and the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK.

This is the third time the company has funded the association’s activities, after 2012 and 2014 (also with 140 million won apiece).

At the signing ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Huu Chi appreciated Kumho Tire’s assistance and pledged that the funding will be used for the right purpose in an effective manner.

For his part, Kumho Tire co-CEO Lee Han-seop said although the total value is not big, the sponsorship is very meaningful to his company. He hopes that the money will help the Vietnamese association conduct practical activities in the time ahead.

About 137,000 Vietnamese people are living in the RoK, statistics show.

Quang Binh reburies Vietnamese martyrs’ remains found in Laos

Thirty five sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos were reburied in a martyr cemetery in Bo Trach district of the central province of Quang Binh on May 11.

The remains were collected by Team 589 of Quang Binh’s Military Command in Khammouane province during the 2015 dry season. It was the 37 th time Quang Binh province had received the remains of fallen soldiers from Laos.

Speaking at the reburial ceremony , Somchay Phetsinouane , Vice Governor of Khammouane province and Head of the provincial Special Task Board, affirmed that the Lao people forever remember great contributions of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts to their country’s independence.

Vice Chairman of the Quang Binh provincial People’s Committee Tran Tien Dung also highlighted the services of the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of Vietnam and Laos.

The collection of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos has been co-implemented by the two countries’ Special Task Board in conjunction with the Departments of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Quang Binh and Khammouane provinces.

Psychiatric patients relapse due to HCM City heat wave

As an intense heat spell continues to cook Ho Chi Minh City, more people suffering from mental disorders have relapsed after making improvements in their conditions.

Doctors from the Ho Chi Minh City Mental Health Hospital said that about 3,600 cases are now being treated at the facility while there were 2,800 cases a week ago.

D.T.A.T., 44, whose mental health had stabilized for years after medical treatment relapsed into schizophrenia, according to her older sister.

“Recently, T. has no interest in eating and is suffering from insomnia again,” she said, adding that she took T. to the hospital when the patient told her that the voices in her head had reappeared.

After hearing what the patient’s family had to say about T.’s condition, Luu Quoc Thai, head of the Diagnosis Department and also the doctor treating T., wrote out a prescription doubling her medicine.

“The extreme weather has causd the symptoms of mental health patients to recur,” Dr. Thai said, adding that lots of patients have been transferred to the hospital as they had relapsed into depression, anxiety disorders, and psychosis due to the hot climatic conditions.

“I have had to double the medications and arrange follow-up examinations for several severe cases including those who wake up at midnight, show no interest in food, hear voices, feel irritated, or scream persistently,” the doctor said.

Dr. Thai recommended that mental health patients’ family members always be by their side to support and keep an eye on them.

“When the weather is hot, people’s bodies have to moderate their own temperature to keep them at 37 degrees Celsius. This makes people tire easily, especially those who suffer from mental illnesses, and can cause them to relapse,” he explained.

“Family members should have patients with mental health problems drink over two liters of water a day to keep their body hydrated,” Dr. Thai insisted, adding that they should stay in airy and cool areas.

“It is crucial to notice any potential symptoms signaling a relapse including eating and sleeping less, feeling anxious, and more, ” Dr. Thai noted, suggesting that patients must be hospitalized to receive immediate intervention and prevent them from acting out fatal behaviors.

“Those suffering from anxiety disorders may run onto the road without noticing traffic, while people with schizophrenia may hit and injure others, both of which carry a high risk of fatality,” he said.

Dr. Thai also warned that sharp and flammable objects should be kept out of the patients’ reach for their own safety.

The scorching climate, which has engulfed the city since March, has also caused local children to suffer from respiratory disorders and gastrointestinal problems.

The climatic event is forecast to dissipate by May 12, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Police apprehend four for trafficking Vietnamese minor to China

An underage girl in north-central Vietnam has been rescued from being sold at VND100 million (US$4,487) from Vietnam to China, local police said.

Police officers in Ky Son District, Nghe An Province, said on May 10 that they were initiating legal proceedings against four individuals for child trafficking.

Moong Van Tuyen, 44, his wife Vi Thi Hong, 42, Moong Me Pheng, and Luong Me Kham in Ky Son were captured as they attempted to traffic L.T.P., 15, to China.

Pheng is P.’s sister-in-law, while Kham is the victim’s older sister, police said.

The human traffickers attempting to sell a 15-year-old girl to China are being kept in the police office of Ky Son District, Nghe An, a north-central province of Vietnam.

Tuyen was caught red-handed at 7:30 pm on May 7 when he was taking P. from Bao Thang Commune, Ky Son, to Mong Cai City in Quang Ninh, a northeastern province near the border with China.

Investigators also found Hong, Pheng, and Kham involved in the crime after a further probe.

Tuyen confessed that knowing V.T.Y., who was living in China, wanted to buy a girl at the said price, he inked a deal with Y., according to initial police reports.

Tuyen and his wife then traveled to Bao Thang to ask to buy P. from Kham and Pheng.

The two women agreed to the offer, the reports said, adding that Tuyen was captured when traveling to Quang Ninh to sell P.

VNA’s passengers fly to Southeast Asian countries with US$ 50 return tickets

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has launched a promotional program for passengers to Southeast Asian countries under the theme of “Southeast Asian countries in reach”.

The preferential program will offer passengers planning to travel to the countries from May to November 11, 2016. They should book tickets before their scheduled flight at least three, seven or 14 days based on its detailed condition of each fare level.

A return ticket will be sold at VND 1, 15 million (US$ 50) for economy class and VND 6, 45 million (US$ 279) for business class.

Besides, VNA also launched another preferential program for two passengers using business class tickets offered at VND 5, 5 million (US$ 239) per person. The ticket will be sold to passengers traveling from now to March 31, 2017.

Quang Ninh to host exhibition on ASEAN photos and documentary films

An exhibition of photos, reportage and documentary films on peoples in the ASEAN Community is scheduled to be held from May 14-17 in the Tuan Chau Island Tourism Complex in the city of Ha Long, northern Quang Ninh province, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The exhibition will feature over 300 photos and nearly 60 reportage and documentary films on peoples in the ASEAN Community that were awarded at the festivals of photos, reportage and documentary films on ASEAN held in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

The photos, reportage and documentary films reflect the cultures, costumes, traditions, languages, health, education, industries, agriculture, and environments of the peoples in ASEAN nations.

The event aims to promote the real-life images and achievements of ASEAN peoples in terms of culture, the economy, society and religion, as well as reflect a united and dynamic ASEAN with great potential.

It also aims to raise the awareness of people on the formation of the ASEAN Community.

Vietnam together with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Students with disabilities participate in sports event

More than 750 students with disabilities from ages 16 to 21 in HCM City took part in a charity Sports Day recently.

Organised by the city’s Department of Education and Training and sponsored by FrieslandCampina Việt Nam, it was aimed at providing a place for children with disabilities to play.

They took part in athletics events such as tug of war, table tennis and traditional games.

Winning participants would be trained for national and international competitions, said Nguyễn Tiến Đạt, the department’s deputy director.

Vietnamese students go wild at Obninsk Summer Camp in Russia

Vietnamese students studying nuclear power in Obninsk, a city in Kaluga Oblast, Russia, enjoyed activities at a Obninsk Summer Camp 2016 held at the Pine River Entertainment Park.

The May 7-9 event attracted nearly 500 students from 43 universities across Russia. They came to talk, take part in artistic performances, and play various team games.

The event also marked the graduation of the first class, potential future employees of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant in the south central province of Ninh Thuan, after six years of studying.

Vietnamese commandos join int'l counter-terrorism exercise

Commandos from Vietnam had the opportunity to participate in an international anti-terrorist drill along with several other nations in Singapore on May 9.

Commando units and task forces from all member nations of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) joined the final phase of their maritime security and counter-terrorism exercise for 2016.

ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-member organization including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, India, Russia, Australia and New Zealand, to strengthen security and defense cooperation in the name of peace, stability, and development in the region.

The first phase of the training exercise commenced on May 1 with Vietnamese warship 381 and naval vessels from other member states gathering at the Muara Port in Brunei.

In the second phase of the drill, which ran from May 5 to 6, the Vietnamese warship joined in tactical formations with counterparts from Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Russia, and Thailand to carry out field training exercises (FTX), information exchange, and search and rescue practice.

The anti-terror drill was attended by Singaporean Minister of Defense Ng Eng Heng, and Vice Admiral Pham Ngoc Minh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, along with other military officials from the member nations.

This is the first time that Vietnamese commandos have taken part in such multi-national training sessions, and successfully completed all missions appointed by the organizers.

The drill was conducted based on a pre-designed script, in which the commando units carried out raids on a mock terrorist stronghold, requiring tight cooperation between all teams in order to optimize their attack as well as minimizing casualties.

Colonel Bui Tien Dung, deputy commander and chief of staff of the Vietnamese commando unit, expressed his satisfaction with the results of his team after the execrcise.

The script set up by the Singaporean organizers was very realistic, Col. Dung said, adding that its level of difficulty was high, demanding skillful execution and sound strategies from the participants.

Vietnam Emerging Designer contest launched

Organizers of Vietnam International Fashion Week and Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ) are inviting entries for a Vietnam Emerging Designer contest until May 26 to look for local fashion talent.

The contest comes with four phases. In phase one, each contestant will submit five watercolor sketches for the Fall-Winter season, accompanied with samples of fabrics for their mini collection.

Fifteen designers with the highest scores will be announced in the second phase in early June to search for five finalists to compete in July.

The winner will have the opportunity to unveil his/her collection at the Vietnam International Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2016 in Hanoi from October 2-6 and a cash prize of VND200 million from PNJ.

A valid entry must consist of a resume, two colorful portrait and full body pictures, a registration form which is downloadable at the Facebook page of the contest, and a collection of five sketches, including fabric samples.

Entries should be mailed to Multimedia JSC at Unit 210, Building 133 on Thai Ha Street, Hanoi or Level 2 of the building at 16 Truong Dinh Street, District 3, HCM City.

Dau Tieng to release more water into salination-affected river

Dau Tieng Reservoir is expected to discharge an additional 50 million cubic meters of water into the Saigon River in the coming months to dilute saltwater.

The water discharge will allow Tan Hiep water treatment plant to take sufficient crude water for processing.

Nguyen Anh Thai, head of the irrigation management department at Dau Tieng-Phuoc Hoa Irrigation Co, said after nine times of discharging water into the river, the water level in the reservoir is only 18.47 meters, 2.2 meters lower than in the same period last year. The remaining volume of water in the reservoir totals only 619 million cubic meters.

Though it has almost touched the lowest water level permissible of 17 meters, the reservoir will release about 30 million cubic meters into the Saigon River in May and another 20 million cubic meters next month if it does not rain in this city. The objective is to help stabilize crude water supply for Tan Hiep plant with a daily capacity of 300,000 cubic meters and water supply for agricultural irrigation in the summer-autumn crop in downstream areas.

The total volume of water discharged for diluting saltwater in the Saigon River has reached 100 million cubic meters this year, more than double the average of previous years, Thai said. The water level in the reservoir is forecast to fall to 17.61 meters this month.

In 2010, the water level in the reservoir in Tay Ninh and Binh Duong provinces fell to the bottom level of 17 meters due to a series of water discharges for irrigation and saltwater dilution purposes.

Currently, Dau Tieng Reservoir supplies water for agricultural irrigation and daily household use in Tay Ninh, Binh Duong and Long An provinces and HCMC.

Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco) said that since the beginning of 2016, a number of water plants including Tan Hiep, Binh An, Thu Duc and BOO Thu Duc have several times stopped taking crude water or had taken little crude water from the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers due to high levels of saline water.

According to Sawaco, due to the severe impact of drought triggered by El Nino and low water reserves of upstream reservoirs, water shortages and saltwater intrusion may continue until the end of the dry season, thus affecting water supply in the city.

Water supply for HCMC’s citizens is affected by not only saltwater intrusion in the two rivers but also untreated and poorly-treated wastewater from residential and industrial areas.

NA deputies – central force in legislative activities

The quality of National Assembly (NA) deputies has contributed to improving the efficiency of NA activities in making laws, implementing supervision and giving decisions on important issues.

According to former NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, deputies who served in the 13th NA demonstrated a high sense of responsibilities for the Nation and people and they became central in the NA’s activities.

He said they regularly listened to voter’s opinions, changed working methods to effectively do their duty and frankly presented their views.

The full-time NA deputies also performed a key role in agencies under the legislature, legislative activities, and NA deputations.

Many law makers and voters nationwide hoped that in the new tenure, the NA will continue to promote law-making activities and enhance efforts to improve the quality of decisions on important issues, and the efficiency of NA supervision.

To meet their expectations, improving the quality of NA deputies is considered an urgent task at present.

The Law on the NA Organisation revised in 2014, which took effect on January 1 this year, contains many regulations to enhance the quality of NA deputies, including a stipulation requiring deputies who are not full time must devote at least one third of their working time in a year to perform NA tasks and obligations.

During preparations for the upcoming 14 th NA and all-level People’s Council elections, which will take place on May 22, quality of candidates also receives special stress with the goal of selecting worthy representatives of the people to the highest state power organ.

Exhibition on humanitarian spirit opens in HCM City

An exhibition titled Nhân Đạo (Humanitarian Spirit) has opened at the War Remnant Museum in HCM City.

The event, organised by the museum in collaboration with the Việt Nam People’s Army Logistics Museum, showcases 87 photos, documents and objects.

Photos and documents show the attack of the US Air Force and Navy on northern Việt Nam from August 1964 to December 1972.

It also reveals the overview of life of imprisoned American pilots during their detention in Việt Nam, and the release of American war prisoners at Gia Lâm Airport in Hà Nội in 1973.

Photos featuring the formal normalisation of diplomatic relations between the US and Việt Nam are on display as well.

Huỳnh Ngọc Vân, director the War Remnants Museum, said: “The exhibition is a chance for both local and foreign visitors to understand the humane spirit of the Party, Government, military and people of Việt Nam during the war and today.”

“On display are photos and objects that will teach younger generations about the Vietnamese tradition of humanitarian efforts, as well as send a message of peace and friendship of Vietnamese people to the world.”

The exhibition remains open until May 31 at 28 Võ Văn Tần Street in District 1.

Fire in Berlin-based Dong Xuan centre causes huge economic loss

A fire ripped through the Dong Xuan Centre, a major centre of overseas Vietnamese in Berlin, Germany on May 11.

Although no fatalities were reported, total economic losses have been estimated at millions of Euros.

The blaze broke out in an Indian-owned warehouse that is rented by 23 traders, including Indian, Pakistani, Turkish, and the majority Vietnamese.

Up to 12 Vietnamese traders had goods destroyed in the fire and many suffered damage amounting to hundreds of thousands of Euros. Many of them faced a complete loss as they had not insured their goods.

The fire was suspected to have started from oxyacetylene welding in the store, resulting in gas explosions which engulfed the entire facility.

The city’s rescue force, fire department, specialised vehicles and helicopters arrived to tackle the incident. However, flammable goods, high winds and difficulties entering the warehouse hindered efforts to stamp out the fire. The rescue work was ongoing by mid-night of May 11.

Other buildings and warehouses in the centre are still open.

After learning about the incident, Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung and officials from the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany visited the site and offered sympathy to traders affected by the fire.

Covering an area of more than 40,000 sqm with four commercial blocs, the Dong Xuan centre is home to more than 4,000 Vietnamese nationals and has become a popular place for the Vietnamese community in Germany.

The market stocks goods including textiles, electronics and groceries.

Vietnam Festival 2016 to foster ties with Japan

The Vietnam Festival 2016 will take place in Tokyo, Japan from June 11-12, as heard at a press briefing in the city on May 11.

Vietnamese Deputy Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Truong Son underscored the significance of the festival, saying that it helps enhance relations between the two nations and forge solidarity among overseas Vietnamese in the country.

The festival will also be held in various localities across Japan, besides big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Son said.

Secretary General of the organisation board Yoichiro Aoyagi said that the festival will strengthen mutual understanding and ties between the two nations.

According to the event’s organising board, Vietnamese and Japanese culture will be introduced through 110 booths featuring cuisine and handicraft products.

The annual festival, the ninth of its kind, is expected to attract 180,000 visitors this year.

Sasuke Vietnam to feature int’l players

Season 2 of the popular TV game show No Limit, the Vietnamese version of Japanese show Sasuke, will be aired from May 19 with the participation of international contestants, the organising board said at a press briefing in Hanoi on May 11.

A highlight of this year’s programme is the participation of players from the US, England, the Netherland, Japan, Taiwan, China, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Vietnam is the only place in the world allowing international participants to compete in the game on an equal footing with domestic peers.

According to the organising board, more than 1,500 players joined the qualification rounds in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Binh Duong, 183 of whom entered the final rounds.

In addition, many local celebrities will attend as invited guests in the show.

The outdoor stage will cover nearly 22,000 square meters with 18 cameras installed to record the players.

The winner of the 2016 “Sasuke Vietnam – No limit” game will receive 800 million VND (nearly 36,000 USD) in cash.

Sasuke Vietnam’s first season quickly became a must see television programme, which prompted waves of Sasuke-styled training across the country.

The game show was first held in Japan from 1997, and to date 31 seasons have aired. It is one of the most popular TV shows in Japan.

The programme has been produced in more than 20 nations and aired in 160 countries.

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