Strict punishment for poachers in Quang Tri: PM

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked central Quảng Trị Province’s authorities to continue investigating the deforestation of a protected forest in Vĩnh Linh District and strictly penalise the violators.

Last month, the provincial agricultural sector confirmed deforestation was taking place after the local police investigated the case, following a series of articles published by the Lao động (Labour) newspaper on August 3 and 4.

According to the Lao động newspaper, ignoring Prime Minister Phúc’s order to close all natural forests in the country from June 20, poachers illegally chopped and transported trees from the protective forest in Vĩnh Linh District. Local forest wardens allegedly assisted the culprits.

The police discovered that trees had been cut down in the Vĩnh Ô and Vĩnh Hà communes. In Vĩnh Ô Commune, the police seized nearly 8cu.m. of timber of groups V and VI, used to make furniture or in construction.

In Vĩnh Hà Commune, the police caught two suspects in the act, illegally chopping 21 trees.

The deforested areas, located some 10-15km away from the residential areas, are under the management of Vĩnh Linh District’s forest management, Bến Hải River Basin’s protective forest management board and Quyết Thắng Farm.

Poor management was blamed for deforestation in the two communes, the police said.

Võ Văn Hưng, director of the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department, asked the police to identify the culprits and the wrongdoers in the management agencies so that they could be strictly disciplined.

Hưng told forest rangers to intensify patrolling and spread awareness among locals against destroying forests in an attempt to bring the situation under control soon.

PM Phúc also told the People’s Committee of Quảng Trị Province to strictly punish organisations and individuals involved in the incident in line with the current regulations and implement measures to prevent a reccurrence of such incidents.

Last month, right after the Lao Động newspaper published the articles, PM Phúc ordered the provincial People’s Committee to quickly investigate the incident and report to the government.

Upgrade for Oc Eo relic site approved

The Prime Minister has recently approved a project on building several works within the Oc Eo-Ba The relic site in the southern province of An Giang. 

The project will be carried out between now and 2020 at a total cost of more than 6.74 billion VND (300,000 USD) sourced from the local budget. 

The construction aims to upgrade infrastructure for the special national relic and complete a dossier to submit to the UNESCO for recognition as a world cultural heritage. 

The 450ha Oc Eo relic is located in the area of Sap – Ba The Mountain, Thoai Son district. 

This is a well-known relic, first excavated by French archaeologist Louis Malleret in 1944, which is believed to have been a prosperous commercial port of the once-powerful Phu Nam kingdom 2,000 years ago. 

Artifacts found in this area are clear evidence of an advanced civilisation with developed arts and crafts including jewellery and pottery making. 

There were also a system of canals and various temples and tombs built with bricks and stones in this area, which were the combination of ancient civilisations in the region and the local culture.

Lao Red Cross officials trained in Hanoi

Twenty officials from the Lao Red Cross (LRC) are attending a three-month training course in Hanoi as part of the cooperation agreement signed between the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) and its Lao counterpart.

The trainees will learn about the VRC’s Development Strategy by 2030, the viewpoints of the Vietnamese Party and State on humanitarian work, models of disaster prevention and response, and humanitarian diplomacy. 

Opening the course, the third of its kind, on September 12, Bounma Xaya Souk, who led the Lao delegation, spoke highly of the cooperation between the two organisations over the past year. 

He also underlined the efficiency of the last two training courses, saying that the Lao officials have been helped to implement the “Cow bank” project in four provinces and cities in their country. 

In this training course, the Lao trainees wish to learn from experience in calling for voluntary blood donations, which has been effectively carried out by the VRC. 

He highlighted the support the VRC has provided for its Lao counterpart in building the Law on Red Cross, saying that the LRC will soon complete and submit the law to the Lao National Assembly for approval. 

VRC President Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu expressed hope that upon the completion of the training course, the trainees will improve their ability to better organise charitable activities. 

Such training courses will contribute to consolidating the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos in general and the two organisations in particular, Thu said.-VNA

Numerous activities to mark 60 years of Vietnam Youth Federation

A wide range of activities will be held to mark the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam Youth Federation (VYF) (October 15, 1956-2016), the VYF Central Committee said at a press conference in Hanoi on September 12.

A celebration programme from September 5 to October 15 will feature a festival dubbed “I love my motherland” at Lung Cu flagpole in Dong Van district, the northernmost province of Ha Giang and at the Dat Mui eco-tourism site in Ngoc Hien district, the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

Participants will visit and present gifts to disadvantaged and social welfare families as well as provide free health check-ups and medicines for 600 people in the two provinces.

They will also join in cleaning up beaches at the Dat Mui eco-tourism site and a festival to increase traffic safety culture.

The VYF Central Committee will launch the construction of 60 schools and 30 boarding houses for students in underprivileged areas nationwide while carrying out a programme to light up rural roads in 20 provinces.

The commemoration and award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Hanoi on October 12.

Chairman of the VYF Nguyen Phi Long said the activities aim to promote patriotism among youngsters.

10th anniversary of SOS children’s village in Thanh Hoa marked

A ceremony celebrating the 10 th founding anniversary of SOS children’s village in Thanh Hoa was held in the central province on September 11. 

On the occasion, the village received a certificate of merit by the Prime Minister while five collectives and individuals who made positive contributions to the village were also honoured by the provincial People’s Committee and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. 

Since it was built in 2003, the 2.4ha village has been home to 229 children, some of them won national academic prizes and were admitted to universities. 

Statistics showed that up to 31 are pursuing education in universities, colleges and vocational training schools nationwide. The rate of children who passed university entrance exams surpasses 80 percent. 

In the near future, the village will pay attention to vocational training for children. 

At the ceremony, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs presented gifts to children living in the village on the occasion of the upcoming mid-autumn festival.

Hospital quality improvement discussed at seminar

A seminar discussing how to improve hospital quality management took place in Ho Chi Minh City on September 12-13. 

Addressing the event, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said a number of hospitals have reduced waiting time for health check-ups, applied technological advances in examination and treatment, and cleaned up toilets. 

The Health Ministry has issued a circular guiding the management of health check-ups and treatment quality at hospitals, a decision on adopting the national action programme on improving the capacity of check-ups and treatment between now and 2025. 

Hospitals have also applied a code of norm to improve quality, which received financial and technical assistance from the European Union (EU). 

Luong Ngoc Khue, Director of the ministry’s Medical Services Administration, hailed the quality of hospitals in the south, which he said is better than that in the northern and central regions. 

In the near future, the ministry will announce the result of assessing hospital quality in line with the code of norm and the rankings of outstanding hospitals while devising a circular guiding the appraisal of hospital quality for 2017. 

At the event, co-hosted by the ministry and the EU, participants proposed hospital management models suitable for Vietnam.

Vessel detained for discharging waste into sea

The border guard force of the central province of Nghe An has detained a ship found to have discharged suspect toxic waste into the sea.

At around 7pm on September 8, local residents informed the border guard force of a vessel which was moving from the direction of Nghi Son Port in Thanh Hoa Province to the area between Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. The vessel discharged what seemed to be hazardous waste into the sea area.   

After receiving the information, four guards were sent to the area. More than an hour later, the taskforce approached and detained the vessel, and the three crew, including one woman.

Boat owner Huynh Sam Ral, 35, from Hon Dat District in the southern province of Kien Giang was held, while the others failed to show their personal papers.

At that time, the guards found two holds with waste still on board, while the waste in the ten other tanks had already been discharged.  

According to the ship owner Huynh Sam Ral, they were workers from Hiep Thanh Ltd. Co. headquartered in HCM City, while the waste was mud from Nghi Son Iron and Steel International General Terminal.

Bach Hung Tu, deputy head from Nghe An Province's environmental protection board, said that samples of waste had been taken for being tested.

Ballet show celebrates anniversary of Hanoi-Toulouse ties

A ballet show performed by troupes from Capitole Concert took place in Hanoi on September 12, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of bilateral ties between Hanoi and the French city of Toulouse.

Classical ballet shows, directed by Kader Belarbi, were staged.

Vietnamese artists from the Hanoi College of Art also performed with the Capitole Concert troupe.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi City People’s Committee Ngo Van Quy said over the past 20 years, Toulouse has assisted Hanoi in major projects, including the preservation and maintenance of Hanoi Old Quarter, urban planning and management, and cultural and art exchanges.

The two governments have hailed Hanoi – Toulouse ties as an effective cooperation model, he said, adding that the city wished to continue receiving assistance from France.

Vice President visits children patients on moon festival

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh visited children cancer patients receiving treatment at the K Hospital in Hanoi, bringing them gifts on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival. 

She joined the children in playing folk games, watching music performances and sharing cakes and fruits in the fruit tray traditionally arranged for the season. 

The Vice President commended the Fund “For a Bright Tomorrow” for its initiative to organize the celebrations for children patients. 

Besides the gifts for the children, the Vice President donated 50 million VND to the Fund. 

The same day, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien visited children patients at the Tumor Department, the Central Paediatric Hospital, in Hanoi. 

The minister and the head of the Fund “For a Bright Tomorrow” presented 70 gifts to all children under care at the department. 

The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam, which takes place on the 15th of the eighth lunar month, is traditionally a celebration for children.-

Book on An Giang Oc Eo cultural heritage debuts

A book featuring Oc Eo-Ba The cultural heritage in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang has been published as an effort to preserve and promote the local cultural value.

Acting Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts Studies ( VICASA) Tu Thi Loan underlined the value of the Oc Eo Culture in the history of the south, at a press briefing to introduce the book held in An Giang on September 12.

Nguyen Chi Ben, former Director of VICASA, said the book is a collection of research on the Oc Eo – Ba The relic site from domestic experts.

The 450ha Oc Eo relic is located in the area of Sap – Ba The Mountain, Thoai Son district.

The relic was first excavated by French archaeologist Louis Malleret in 1944 and is believed to have been a prosperous commercial port of the once-powerful Phu Nam kingdom 2,000 years ago.

Artifacts found in the area shown an advanced civilisation with developed arts and crafts including jewellery and pottery.

There were also a system of canals and various temples and tombs built with bricks and stones, which were a combination of ancient civilisations and the local culture.

“Da Co Hoai Lang” Festival 2016 opens in Bac Lieu

The 2016 Cai Luong festival titled "Da co hoai lang" (Awaiting One's Husband at midnight) opened in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu on September 12.

The event features many cultural activities, such as a ceremony honoring cai luong’s ancestors, offering incense and flowers to cai luong musician Cao Van Lau, cooking contest and among.

"Da co hoai lang" is an immortal Cai Luong piece written by musician Cao Van Lau in 1919 which tells the story of a wife who waits for her husband to return from the battlefield. The song never fails to leave a deep impression on millions of devotees. The cai luong composer was born in December 22, 1892 in Long An Province and moved to Bac Lieu at the age of four, and died in 1976.

A festival of Don Ca Tai Tu Nam Bo (southern amateur traditional music) will be also organized with the participation of Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Ca Mau provinces from September 13-15.

The festival which is part of a series of activities responding the 2016 national tourism year program themed “Phu Quoc- Mekong River Delta- Exploring the Southern Land” will run until September 15.

Viet Nam Railway to sell Tet tickets from October

The Viet Nam Railway Corporation (VNR) will sell train tickets for the upcoming Lunar New Year season begining October 1.

The tickets for trains, scheduled to run between January 17 and February 12 next year, can be purchased online at www.dsvn.vn, vietnamrailway.vn and vetau.com.vn, or at the train stations nationwide.

About 20 per cent of the train fares will be sold to groups from September 25-30.

Railway passengers will buy tickets through the e-ticket selling system that they can book seats, make an online payment and print tickets without having to buy the ticket at the station. 

VNA’s flights to Buon Ma Thuot canceled due to bad weather

The Vietnam national flag carrier-Vietnam Airlines yesterday cancelled and adjusted its flight schedules on Hanoi to Ban Me Thuot route because of the influence of monsoon rains and the tropical low pressure. 

VietjetAir also canceled its flights due to the storm.

Due to the bad weather condition, Vietnam Airlines made a decision to stop exploiting seven flights to and from Buon Ma Thuot airport, including VN1416/1417, VN1414/1415 from Buon Ma Thuot to HCMC, VN1600 from Buon Ma Thuot to Hanoi and VN1911/1910 from Buon Ma Thuot to Da Nang. 

Vietnam Airlines will support travel fee by road for HCMC to Buon Ma Thuot route, and exchange free ticket into the same routes in the other days. 

The tropical low depression has also affected to the exploitation of domestic flights to and from Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat and Pleiku airports.

Fatherland Front leader visits Theravada Buddhist institute

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Nguyen Thien Nhan on September 12 called on the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Institute, which is situated within Pothi Somron Temple, as part of his visit to the southern city of Can Tho.

The Khmer Theravada Buddhist Institute in Can Tho opened in 2007 and is the fourth Buddhist institute run by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

To date, 87 monks have graduated from the institute while another 40 are still in training, according to Most Venerable Dao Nhu, deputy director of the Buddhist establishment.

In addition to Buddhist studies, student monks are also offered courses in Vietnamese history, religious policy, national defence and other issues, added Most Venerable Dao Nhu.

The VFF president said he recognised the institute’s significant contributions to training talented monks for the sangha and senior Buddhist leaders’ part in building national unity.

He suggested including lectures on other religions in Vietnam as a way of further promoting national unity while offering knowledge on information technology to students to keep them abreast of the country’s development.

The Front leader also welcomed the institute’s collaboration with Can Tho University and the provincial Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs to help students acquire more in-depth knowledge of religious affairs.

Minister stresses priority for improving health check-ups and treatment quality

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has stressed that improving health check-ups and treatment quality to satisfy patient was a priority for the healthcare sector.

The minister made the affirmation while addressing the Third National Hospital Quality Forum, which was opened in Ho Chi Minh City on September 12 by the Ministry of Health and the European Union in Vietnam.

Despite some remaining weak points, she said that the sector’s service quality had seen major improvements in recent years, earning much appreciation from the public.

A number of hospitals have taken measures to shorten the amount of time patients wait to be treated while applying information technology in their operation and bettering hygienic conditions, she noted.

The ministry has promulgated documents on improving the quality of health check-ups and treatment at hospitals. A set of criteria to assess hospitals was also issued three years ago thanks to financial and technical support from the EU, helping improve many hospitals around the country.

Delegates to the two-day forum shared their opinions on improving the quality of hospitals and suggesting hospital management models they thought suitable for Vietnam’s conditions.

Their opinions will help the Health Ministry to make adjustments to hospital quality management in a bid to win the trust of patients in the sector.

Korean passenger fined for kicking seats aboard Hanoi-bound flight

A Korean passenger who flew business class has been fined by a Vietnamese airport operator for disturbing a Korean Air flight that landed in Hanoi last week.

The 34-year-old entrepreneur was about to arrive in the Vietnamese capital city from Seoul on flight KE679 on September 8 when he asked a flight attendant to serve him more alcohol, Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper reported on September 12.

With the passenger previously ordering a shot of liquor, the flight attendant rejected the request.

Angered, the Korean man began repeatedly kicking the nearby row of seats, eventually damaging the seat-back valets on the seats numbered 9D, 9E, and 9F, according to Nguoi Lao Dong.

As it was a long-haul flight, the valets contained not only in-flight manual and airsickness bags, but also several accessories such as sleeping masks, earplugs, brushes and tubes of toothpaste.  

The cabin crew immediately booked the case, which would be reported to the airport operator in Hanoi for the final decision. 

According to international aviation practices, all issues arising during an international flight will be handled by authorities in the destination country.

The Northern Airports Authority therefore dealt with the case and decided on September 11 to fine the man VND4 million (US$179) for damaging the plane seats.

The Korean man paid the fine and was allowed entry shortly after.

OVs in Czech Republic enjoy mid-autumn festival

Hundreds of overseas Vietnamese and their children in Prague, the Czech Republic have gathered at the Asian Trade Centre Sapa to celebrate the mid-autumn festival.

The event offered an opportunity for the OV children in the Czech Republic to learn more about the Vietnamese culture.  

Nguyen Van Son, President of the Vietnamese Association in the Trade Centre emphasised that the organizers have prepared 600 gifts and 100 rewards for children, who have achieved outstanding academic results.

Nguyen Thi Dung, an overseas Vietnamese in the Czech Republic said after school, the children spend very little time on Vietnamese traditional festivals or games. The event was a good opportunity for them to meet one another, play folk games and nurture their love for homeland.   

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, who has resided in the Czech Republic for 10 years, said she wants her children to preserve their cultural roots, especially the Vietnamese language through mid-autumn festival and other Vietnamese songs.

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