Pacific Angel 2017 comes to central Quang Nam province

The Pacific Angel (PACANGEL) 2017, a humanitarian programme funded by the US Pacific Command, has come to the central province of Quang Nam for the first time with various activities.

Running from September 4-18, the programme has offered free medical checks-up and treatment for local residents, repaired some healthcare and education facilities and held healthcare conferences.

In Tam Thai commune, Phu Ninh district, 150 Vietnamese and US doctors gave free checks-ups, treatment and medicine to over 1,300 locals who have dental, ear and throat problems.

The PACANGEL 2017 also assisted six pre-schools, primary schools and two healthcare stations in Tam Dan commune in Phu Ninh district and Binh Dinh Nam commune in Thang Binh district in installing iron roofs, lighting and clean water systems.

Doctors of the programme also share professional experience with their Vietnamese counterparts in controlling and treating a number of diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and maternal and child healthcare.

Head of the programme, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Doyle said that the PACANGEL was launched 10 years ago, aiming to promote the cooperation and friendship among countries through humanitarian activities.

This is the sixth time the programme has come to Vietnam.

Can Tho, Hiroshima cooperate in environment treatment

Authorities in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho had a working session on September 13 with a visiting Japanese delegation from Hiroshima Prefecture to discuss environmental treatment.

Kawaguchi Kazunari, head of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of Hiroshima, said a recent conference on Mekong Delta – Japan cooperation in the sector hosted by Can Tho helped firms from both sides form partnerships in using new technologies in environmental treatment in industrial and agricultural production.

The conference took place on September 12, attracting 60 local government officials and representatives of more than 80 firms from 13 Mekong Delta localities and eight Japanese firms specialised in waste and wastewater treatment for irrigation, aquatic farming, agriculture, husbandry and chemicals.

At the meeting, the Japanese delegation suggested Can Tho help Hiroshima enterprises operate in the local waste treatment and recycling industry through building lean administrative procedures and a Japanese-speaking workforce.

Can Tho welcomes Hiroshima investors, stated Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung.

He said local authorities will assist firms from both sides in promoting trade and transfering technology and asked Hiroshima to do the same.

Japan is currently investing 10.5 million USD in 13 projects in Can Tho.

Programme calls for joint efforts to ensure that children do not grow up alone

A programme entitled ‘A Jar of Love’ was launched in Ho Chi Minh City, on September 12, by the Vietnam SOS Children’s Villages to call for joint efforts to ensure that children don’t grow up alone.

The programme, the second of its kind, targets seeking long-term patrons and patronesses for more than 3,000 orphans, abandoned children and children living in difficult circumstances, who are being raised at 17 SOS children’s villages in 17 cities and provinces across Vietnam.

The patrons and patronesses are encouraged to provide financial support of VND 300,000 per month for each child and to keep in touch with the child through letters and postcards. They will receive regular reports on the activities and growth status of the child.

The money will be used to buy food, cloths and textbooks for children and to pay for healthcare services and other activities.

Speaking at the event, Do Tien Dung, Country Director of Vietnam SOS Children's Villages, called on Vietnamese benefactors to contribute to caring for needy children in the villages.

At the lauch ceremony, Amway Vietnam Co . Ltd signed a cooperation agreement on donating VND 350 million (US$ 15,400), marking the first year the company has cooperated with the Vietnam SOS Children’s Villages so far.

Under the agreement, Amway will sponsor 20 children for one year, host outdoor activities and present gifts for children at the villages.

The signing of the agreement aimed to realize the company's commitments to contributing to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and doing its long-term investment to the country while affirming corporate social responsibilities in Vietnam.

The launch ceremony also received enthusiastic response from many Vietnamese celebrities, including MCs Phan Anh, Thuy Hanh, Hoang Oanh; super models Xuan Lan and Vo Hoang Yen and singer-songwriter Hoang Bach.

MC Phan Anh, the ambassador of this year’s event, shared that, contrary to the common mind-set that charities do good deeds for others, he thinks that the charity is also a good treatment for himself. By sowing a seed of kindness, what I gain back is happiness in life, he said.

Individuals, organisations and businesses who wants to be a part of the programme can submit their registration via website http://sosvietnam.org or call the hotlines at 0989.73 77 33 and (028) 6682 2068.

Vietnam SOS Children’s Villages are now home to 5,800 orphans, abandoned children and disadvantaged children.

The 2016 programme drew the participation of 619 benefactors, who are willing to sponsor 1,200 children in SOS children’s villages.

Thai Embassy aids flood-hit northern provinces

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee on September 13 received 92,300 USD from the Thailand Embassy in Vietnam to support local residents in northern provinces who were affected by floods in August.

Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Manopchai Vongphakdi handed over the money, donated by the Thai Embassy and Thai businesses in Vietnam, to President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man.

Man thanked the Thai Government, people and enterprises for supporting flood victims, saying the assistance reflects their sentiments to Vietnamese counterparts and the spirit of Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership. 

The official also expressed his belief that the people of the two countries, which are both frequently affected by natural disasters, would continue supporting each other to overcome difficulties and stabilise their lives.

Vongphakdi said after having information about the flood consequences, the embassy called on Thai expatriates and businesses in Vietnam to raise funds in support of the affect people and the campaign received good response from the Thai community.

The embassy is always willing to work with the VFF Central Committee to help Thai nationals and enterprises in Vietnam and overseas Vietnamese in Thailand stabilise their lives and foster economic development, the diplomat said.-

PM urges Defence Academy to reform training programme

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the National  Defence Academy to continue reforming its training programme in conformity with combatant objects and the world’s current military tactics.

PM Phuc made the request at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 13 to start the academy’s new school year 2017-2018. 

National defence and security is a great cause of the nation, he said, adding that it has been defined as an important and regular mission of the entire Party, State, people, and army.

While highlighting rapid changes in the world as well as traditional and non-traditional security challenges facing the international community, PM Phuc said the situation is posing new issues in terms of national defence, security and protection.

The current situation also requires the country to well implement a policy of combining national construction and defence with socio-economic development and external affairs, he added.

The government leader called on the academy to step up the research work to anticipate plots and tricks of hostile forces and seek measures to crush all “peaceful revolution” and riot schemes.

PM Phuc also requested the academy to study defence and military strategies and new methods of warfare, and exactly forecast the situation related to national defence and security, thus promptly advising the Party and State on measures to safeguard the nation.

Should Vietnam open red light districts?

A Vietnamese lawmaker made a bold proposal on Monday (September 11) about opening red light districts in special economic zones.

If the proposal goes through, prostitution, alongside gambling, will be allowed in three special economic zones in the northern province of Quang Ninh, the central province of Khanh Hoa and the southern resort island of Phu Quoc.

Prostitution is already legal in some 70 countries worldwide and a large body of evidence suggests banning sex work has failed to deter it and actually increases the risks of human trafficking and sexually transmitted diseases.

While the global debate is leaning towards legalization, Vietnam is still a largely conservative country. 

Even though Vietnam's attitude is changing - sex workers are no longer sent to re-education camps - prostitution, alongside gambling, are still largely considered social evils as dictated by Confucian social mores.

Tran Chi Dung, the director of the tourism department in Kien Giang Province, which is home to Phu Quoc Island, said the proposal is a "sensitive matter".

The debate should also take into account Vietnam's tourism strategy, which aims to turn the sector into a major contributor to GDP. 

At the same time, Vietnam wants tourism development to go hand in hand with preservation of cultural values and social stability.

‘Water taxi’ among award-winning solutions to solve Hanoi’s traffic nightmare

While local media and the public were unhappy that the prize-winning entry of a contest seeking solutions to Hanoi’s traffic congestion was undisclosed, they may be surprised to find out what the solution is.

The contest, launched by the Hanoi administration and transport department in January, found no winner for its whopping grand prize of US$200,000 and awarded only the second prize which went to a joint entry submitted by a Vietnamese entity and two Japanese partners.

Five other shortlisted submissions received US$25,000 in support each.

The contest organizers held an awards ceremony in secret at Hanoi’s administration headquarters last Friday, with the public kept in the dark on details of the winning entry.

Amongst disagreement from local media and the public, details about the second-prize winner, jointly proposed by the Vietnam Institute for Urban and Rural Planning (VIUP), Nikken Sekkei Civi Engineering LTD (NSC), and Nikken Sekkei Reseach Institute (NSRI), were finally publicized on Tuesday.

The three-member team proposed a set of solutions, including developing a ‘water taxi’ service, building a new belt road and improving the city’s existing bus system.

According to the proposal, the ‘water taxi’ service will run only on the Ho Tay (West Lake), reducing traffic pressure when traveling between the lake’s northern and southern sides and adding to the capital’s tourism offering.

Several ‘water taxi’ stops are proposed at squares, parks and public places around the 550-hectare lake. The stations will be situated at least one kilometer apart from each another. If people want to walk between two stops, the real distance around the lake will be five kilometers, according to the proposal.

Young Vietnamese, Cambodian military officers hold exchange

Young officers of the Ho Chi Minh City High Command and the Special Military Region of Cambodia took part in a seminar in HCM City on September 13 with discussions focusing on solidarity, friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between the two nations.

In his opening speech, Major General Ngo Tuan Nghia, Political Commissar of the HCM City High Command, affirmed that young officers and soldiers of the HCM City High Command and Special Military Region of the Royal Cambodian Army share a common duty of cementing the solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.   

Nghia said the seminar is an opportunity for young officers from the units to learn from each other’s experiences and tighten relations between the HCM City High Command and the Special Military Region of the Royal Cambodian Army.

Major General Sok Yoen, Deputy Commander of the Special Military Region of the Royal Cambodian Amry, said the seminar is a practical event showing the spirit of exchange and comprehensive collaboration in all fields between the two units.

He took this occasion to thank the Military Zone 7 High Command of Vietnam for providing training for young Cambodian officers, saying effective cooperation between the two armies has contributed to reinforcing the friendship and solidarity between Cambodia and Vietnam.

At the seminar, young Vietnamese and Cambodian officers agreed to implement defence diplomacy to build mutual trust and deter any activities aiming to sabotage Vietnam – Cambodia relations.

They proposed organising more exchange programmes between the two units and holding more language training courses to improve their Vietnamese, Cambodian and English skills.

VWU Chairwoman meets Cambodian leader

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) Le Thi Thu Ha met acting Head of State, President of the Senate and Vice Chairman of the Cambodian People’s Party Samdech Say Chhum in Phnom Penh on September 13. 

Ha said the year 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and highlighted Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen’s visit to Vietnam in June and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Cambodia in July. 

She affirmed that the two countries’ signing of  a joint statement on strengthening Vietnam – Cambodia friendship and cooperation for the first time has taken bilateral relationship to a new stage. 

The women’s union leader particularly underscored the considerable contributions of the two countries’ women to people-to-people diplomacy. 

Say Chhum, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese people for helping Cambodia escape from the Pol Pot genocide regime in the past and develop into the present country.  

He affirmed that Cambodia and Vietnam are good neighbours and good friends, and the close cooperation between the two Governments and peoples contribute to peace and development of not only each country but also the region and the world as a whole. 

He said the fine relations between the Vietnamese and Cambodian women’s unions will help further tighten the traditional relations between the two peoples.

Vietnam-China Bac Luan Bridge II inaugurated in Quang Ninh

The Vietnam-China Bac Luan (Beilun) Bridge II was inaugurated in Mong Cai city, Vietnam’s northern province of Quang Ninh, on September 13. 

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong. 

Addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Long said after Vietnam and China complete customs clearance procedures of goods and passengers at the Bac Luan Bridge II, economic and trade ties between Quang Ninh and China’s Guangxi province, as well as between the two countries in general, will advance. 

The two sides are also preparing for the formation of a bilateral economic cooperation area at one end of the Bac Luan Bridge II, the connectivity between the Mong Cai border gate economic zone and the Dongxing National Key Development and Opening-up Experimental Zone of China, and trade between Vietnam and China and Northeast Asia, he said. 

Long highlighted the expressway connecting Hanoi with the northern city of Hai Phong and Ha Long and Mong Cai cities of Quang Ninh to the Vietnamese side, and China’s expressway system, as favourable conditions for the bilateral trade. 

The Bac Luan Bridge II project was approved under Decision No. 3325/QD-UBND dated December 6, 2012 of the Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee. 

It aims to ease traffic burden of the Bac Luan Bridge I, promote trade and tourism cooperation between Quang Ninh and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, gradually complete the external transport system, and create a development momentum for Mong Cai city. 

The four-lane bridge measures 154.5m long in the Vietnamese side and 463.5m in the Chinese side, and 27.7m wide. 

Built at a cost of 336 billion VND (nearly 14.8 million USD), the Bac Luan Bridge II is the largest arch bridge in Vietnam. The construction of the bridge and an 800-m linking road has been completed so far. 

Over the past years, trade, investment and tourism cooperation between Vietnam and China has made new strides. Vietnam is China’s biggest trade and tourism partner in ASEAN with two-way trade reaching 47.21 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, up 12.36 percent year on year. Of the figure, export revenue stood at 15.62 billion USD, up 14.4 percent, and import turnover was 31.59 billion USD, up 11.5 percent. 

Vietnam ran a trade deficit of 15.97 billion USD with China, a decrease of 3.03 percent against the same period last year. 

In 2016, China continued to take the lead in the number of holiday-makers to Vietnam, with 2.7 million, a year-on-year surge of 51.4 percent. Meanwhile, Vietnam had the largest number of visitors to China among ASEAN nations with 2.2 million. 

Between January and August this year, Vietnam welcomed more than 2.65 million Chinese tourists, a rise of 51.4 percent over the corresponding time last year. 

Vietnam’s front leader extends sympathy to Cuba over hurricane Irma

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man sent a message of sympathy to Carlos Rafael Miranda Martinez, President of the Cuban Committee for the Defence of the Revolution over losses caused by the devastating hurricane Irma.

The disaster, the strongest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, ravaged Havana capital and all Cuban localities, leaving many people missing and injured, while affecting the infrastructure and property of the State and people of Cuba.

Earlier on September 11, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also extended their sympathy to Raul Castro Ruz – First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba over the disaster in the Caribbean country.

Another company joins Global Forestry and Trade Network

Bao Chau Private Enterprise, a forest manager in central Phu Yen province, on September 13 joined the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiative linking more than 300 companies worldwide that are committed to responsible forestry.

The GFTN was launched in 2005 to combat illegal logging and improve forest management.

Bao Chau is Vietnam’s tenth company to become a GFTN member, said GFTN Vietnam Coordinator Le Thien Duc.

According to Duc, GFTN members in Vietnam will receive technical training and information about the timber market, new timber products-related requirements from Vietnam and buying countries, such as EU Timber Regulation and Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade for the EU, and the Lacey Act for the US. 

The network also connects responsible buyers and suppliers, and provides technical support in purchasing certified wood materials.

Firms must put effort into sustainable forest management and forest-related business following global standards, said Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Huu The. 

He vowed to provide good conditions for businesses to manage their woodland sustainably and to help them access markets like the US, EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea and more in the future.

Bao Chau manages more than 2,000 hectares of forest in Phu Yen. Under support from the GFTN, the company plans to increase area of sustainably managed forest to 5,000 hectares by 2020. It has started building a wood processing factory for export.

‘Run to Give’ to support child in difficult areas

Sheraton Hanoi Hotel and JW Marriott Hanoi Hotel are holding a charity race on September 24. Entitled ‘Run to Give 2017’, the event is an annual charity programme hosted by the two hotels.

Participants can purchase the “Run to Give” t-shirt, costing VNĐ200,000 and run in the 3-km run to support the programme. All money raised at the event will be donated to the Aid for social protection Foundation Vietnam’s Child Sponsorship Programme for developing education and child care quality.

Prizes will be awarded to the fastest male, female and kids, bringing some competitiveness to the event.

To register and buy the t-shirt, please contact Hoài Anh on 0989 187 033 or Phương on 0982 219 189.

The event will take place from 7am until 11am on September 24 on Đỗ Đức Dục Street, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm District.

Tet Shoeboxes fundraising event to light up poor community

Tet Shoeboxes Project, a Hà Nội-based charitable project, are hosting a special fundraising event – Share the Light – this Saturday at The Grove Garden Bar in Tây Hồ District.

All funds raised will go directly towards helping the Phao Village, an isolated and poor floating community living on a section of Red River under the Long Biên Bridge in Hà Nội, increase their running electricity from one hour a day to eight.

Featuring workshops, a flea market, yoga, face painting, spoken word, live art and music performances, the family-friendly event also includes some of Hà Nội’s best DJs to close the event, which runs from 10am until late.

Prizes are also available in a day long raffle, including free facials, furniture, bar and restaurant vouchers and more.

Entrance costs VNĐ50,000 and any additional donations to the project are welcome. The Grove is located at 16A Đặng Thai Mai Street, Tây Hồ District. More information is available at the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TET.shoeboxes

Program to raise money for children with cleft lip and/or palate

Vietnam Internet Fund (VNIF) under VNG Corporation has launched a charity program to raise money for children with cleft lip and/or palate.

The event is aimed to call for donations starting September 1- October 10 to help 40 children born with a broken upper lip. VNIF will cooperate with the Operation Smile Vietnam to provide them free cleft lip surgeries.

People can donate through the following bank account No. 119002632387 at VietinBank; or visit Facebook web address: https://www.fafcebook.com/VNGCorporation.Page for further information.

In addition, the Operation Smile Vietnam has also cooperated with the Vietnam Children's Fund and HCM City Medical University Hospital to provide free surgeries for about 100 children with cleft lip and/or palate from September 16-23. People can contact with the organizer by calling (08)22221008 (HCM City), (04)39365426 (Ha Noi) or 0904885555 (national hotline).

HCMC seeks PM’s approval to extend second metro line till 2020

The HCMC People’s Committee has proposed the Prime Minister to consider extending implementation of second metro line Ben Thanh-Tham Luong until 2020. 

According to the committee, the search for the PM’s approval is the basis to extend current loan agreements to carry out bid packages as per commitments with sponsors of the project.

HCMC will pay all costs resulting from the extension of signed loan agreements and not use loans of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for site clearance and compensation. The city will arrange its budget for these items instead.

Ben Thanh-Tham Luong metro line is 11.3 kilometer long with 9.3 kilometers underground, approved in 2010 with initial investment capital totaling US$1.3 billion.

At the end of February this year, the HCMC People’s Committee submitted to ministries adjusted documents of the project with the capital expected to top $2.1 billion, increasing 51 percent compared to the original.

More kids have pneumonia caused by virus RSV

The National Children Hospital in Hanoi said that lately, more neonates have pneumonia due to virus RSV. 

Each day, the hospital carries out tests on 80 - 120 and 30 – 40 percent of those who are infected with the virus. The virus is a cause of lower respiratory tract disease in neonates and in infants younger than 6 months.

Deputy head of the Neonate Intensive Care unit Dr. Trinh Thi Thu Ha said that of 200 inpatients, 60 have pneumonia because of virus RSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and children and the second most common viral cause of pneumonia in adults. In tropical climates infection is most common during the rainy season

Medical workers warned pneumonia caused by virus RSV has similar symptoms with normal cold including running nose, cough, slight fever, vomiting and poor appetite. Infants with serious condition may experience breathing problems, or even worse, they turns blue or stops breathing for longer stretches of time. Infants can recover after one or two week treatment.

RSV can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get infected if you get droplets from the cough or sneeze in your eyes, nose, or mouth, or if you touch a surface that has the virus on it, like a doorknob, and then touch your face before washing your hands.

Additionally, it can spread through direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child with RSV.

Parents are encouraged to take their kids with above-mentioned symptoms to nearby infirmaries for timely treatment.

More special policies for preschool teachers

In its guideline to schools on September 9, the Department of Education and Training in Ho Chi Minh City included some special policies for preschool teachers.

As per the guideline, to ensure enough teachers in preschools and kindergartens in accordance with the Ministry of Education and Training's regulation, from September, 2017, city education authority gave the green light to schools to recruit more teachers with salary of VND3,750,000 ($165) a month per teacher in the school year ( or nine months).

Teachers’ salary is covered by the city state budget.

Additionally, each teacher with long-term contract will receive support of VND650,000 per person a month in nine months.

Apart from this, teachers with master degree, university degree and college will receive additional amount. For instance, those with master degree will get support of VND1,500,000 a month a person in 12 months, those with university degree will have additional bonus of VND900,000 monthly per person in 12 months and each college degree holder will get VND550,000.

This year is the first year, HCMC announced to recruit teachers who are not the locals.

To reduce pressure on teachers, preschool managers are allowed to recruit contracted teachers who prepare meals for kids and they will receive minimum wage of VND2,000,000 a month per person. City state budget covers half of contracted teachers’ salary and social contributions cover half.

Member list of National Committee on Children approved

The PM has recently approved the member list of the National Committee on Children, with Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam serving as the President.

The Vice Presidents are Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (Standing Vice President); Phung Xuan Nha, Minister of Education and Training; and Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, Minister of Health.

The National Committee on Children also include 18 other members, who are leaders of some ministries, sectors and central agencies.

According to the PM’s Decision No. 856/QD-TTg dated June 15, 2017 on the establishment of the National Committee on Children, the committee is tasked with helping the Government and the PM to research, direct, encourage and regulate  ministries, sectors and localities, in order to deal with child-related issues and exercise children's rights.

It is also responsible for recommending directions and solutions to implement child-related issues and promote the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In addition, the National Committee on Children will work with the National Assembly’s bodies, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, social organizations and social-occupational organizations, in exercising children’s rights and resolve child-related issues.

It is also tasked with directing and encouraging ministries, sectors and localities to report to the National Assembly on the outcomes of the implementation of child-related rights and duties as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, whilst fulfilling other tasks assigned by the PM and authorized agencies.

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is the standing body of the National Committee on Children, taking the responsibility for ensuring the operational conditions for the committee and using its apparatus in order to organize the implementation of the Committee’s assigned duties.

Talented Vietnamese poet dies at 83

Renowned Vietnamese poet Thanh Tùng passed away in his home here on Tuesday.

The 83-year-old poet had been suffering from stomach cancer for over a year.

He was best known for his poem Thời hoa đỏ (The Time of the Red Flowers), written in 1972. The poem was adapted into a song by musician Nguyễn Đình Bảng. The song focuses on the regrets of a couple over their lost love.

He said he composed the song after he received the news that his ex-wife had died and went to Quảng Ninh Province to pay his respects.

He was also famous for other poems adapted into songs by musician Phú Quang, including Người về (Lover comes back) and Hà Nội ngày trở về (Hà Nội, the day I come back).

Thanh Tùng’s real name was Doãn Tùng. He was born in 1935 in Mỹ Lộc District of Nam Định Province. Having lived in Hải Phòng City during his youth, he moved to HCM City in 1995.

During his lifetime, he worked at various jobs to earn a living, including working as a porter and boat builder. In 1997, he visited Greece as Việt Nam’s representative to read poetry with his peers from other countries.

National assessment for solar photovoltaic development workshop held

Experts shared the methodology and preliminary calculation of the national potential of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic in Việt Nam at a workshop held on Thursday in Hà Nội.

The workshop “National assessment of development potential of grid-connected solar photovoltaic projects in Việt Nam until 2020 with a vision to 2030” attracted 50 representatives from 12 provincial government, investors and other stakeholders.

The workshop has been organised within the framework of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (4E) Project, which is jointly implemented by the Power and Renewable Energy Agency, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Preliminary results were calculated using geographical information system software, applying different criteria such as solar radiation, land use, road and grid networks.

“The national assessment of development potential of solar energy in Việt Nam is crucial as it will not only enable us to have a better understanding of the potential, but also help us to know where solar project developers are working,” Sonia Lioret, head of GIZ’s 4E project, said.

At the same time, it will facilitate the work for investors and provide inputs for the government to develop the national solar development plan, she said.

During the workshop, experts shared experiences on solar energy planning and the booming solar industry.

According to the government’s targets, solar photovoltaic is expected to be the main renewable energy source with installed capacity to be increased from some 6-7MW by the end of 2015 to 850MW by 2020 – equivalent to 1.6 per cent of the country’s power generation – and 12,000GW by 2030 – equivalent to 3.3 per cent of the country’s power generation.

Since April this year, with the publication of Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s Decision 11/2017, solar power projects have been allowed to sell electricity at a fixed price of US$9.35 cents/kWh.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade on September 12 published the circular required to begin implementing the decision.

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