HCMC lauds good medical workers

113 teams and individuals of medical clinics in Ho Chi Minh City were lauded for their achievements in the patriotic emulation movement for 2010-2014.

The municipal Department of Health held a meeting on February 12 to appraise 26 teams and 87 individuals for their good performance in the health sector’s emulation movement.

At the meeting, the Department also launched the patriotic emulation movement for the next period from 2015 to 2020. The movement will focus  on following Uncle Ho’s teaching that a good doctor must be a good mother to fight negative acts in treatment and examination.

The movement also aims to improve curing and treatment quality, strengthen capability for district medical clinics to reduce overloading in big hospitals and implement the Ministry of Health’s programs.

Da Nang flyover work to continue during Tet

The Trung Nam Group installed the final span to complete the second flyover at the three-level stack interchange at Hue–Da Nang in Da Nang City yesterday.

The ceremony held for the final span installation, attended by Vice Transport Minister Le Dinh Tho, marked the completion of 92 per cent of the project work.

Started on September 28, 2013, the 16-month long work on the flyover has involved more than 1,000 workers, working three shifts per day continuously, said Nguyen Tam Tien, chief executive officer of the group that is building the flyover.

Tien added that work on the bridge, considered to be an additional landmark that highlights the city's urban landscape, will continue during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, so that it can be opened as scheduled on March 29, the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the city (March 29, 1975).

The opening of the flyover will help ease traffic congestion at this grade-separated junction, which has been branded as an accident blackspot, said Tien.

Hai Phong police bust cigarette smuggling ring

The Thuy Nguyen District police and the Hai Phong Border Guards busted a tobacco smuggling ring, and seized more than 3,000 cigarette cartons yesterday.

The authorities caught Do Xuan Trung, 37, while he was transporting 1,320 cigarette packs in Hamlet 2, Kien Bai commune, Thuy Nguyen District in Hai Phong Province in the morning. Trung could not produce any invoice or documents related to his cargo.

In another case, the authorities seized 2,446 cigarette cartons from the house of Do Xuan Vinh in the same hamlet.

Trung stated that he had bought the cigarettes from a man named Hung in Quang Ninh's Mong Cai City, for VND160,000 to VND220,000 (US$7-$10) per carton. Trung transported the smuggled tobacco with the aim of selling them in Hai Phong and other neighbouring cities.

The authorities are investigating the case further.

Container car catches fire while being driven

A container car being driven on the National Highway 1A, from HCM City's Suoi Tien Amusement Park to the Dong Nai Province, suddenly caught fire on Thursday.

At around 11:30pm, the driver detected smoke rising from the chassis as he reached the area bordering Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai. He quickly stopped the car and jumped out before the fire burst into flames.

The sudden explosion in the middle of the road caused vehicles to avoid passing through the area and also led to a traffic jam that lasted for hours. Despite efforts made by many residents and other drivers to use a fire extinguisher, the fire engulfed the front portion of the car.

The fire was later put out by the Fire Prevention and Control Police Department from HCM City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai Provinces.

Although no casualties were reported and the fire charred the front portion of the car, the container was recovered intact.

The reason behind the fire breaking out is being investigated.

Some 2.7kg of drug seized at Noi Bai Airport

Customs officers at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi have freshly seized 2.7kg of synthetic drug and cocaine destined for Australia via express service.

The drug, sent from Hanoi on February 11, was hidden in three cosmetics boxes.

A customs officer said that the sender used a fake name and address.

The case is under further investigation.

The trafficking of drugs by air has recently been on the rise, mainly uncovered in Ho Chi Minh City.

During January-September, 2014, over 20 drug trafficking cases were brought to light at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, resulting in the seizure of 14 suspects, 7.7 kilos of heroin, 13 kilos of cocaine, 4 kilos of meths and nearly 40 kilos of drug precursors.-

HCM City preparing for elated Tet

Ho Chi Minh City’s people are looking forward to a happy, joyous Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which will last nine days starting from February 15.

Decorative touches have made the City’s main streets such as Ham Nghi, Dong Khoi, Le Duan, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, and Ton Duc Thang, welcoming places for visitors, lightened by millions of LED bulbs forming the shapes of flowers and doves switched on.

The Thanh Nien (Youth) Cultural House and the Lao dong (Labour) Cultural Palace in District 1 are hosting young people to pose for photos with various kinds of flowers, especially apricot and peach blossoms, which are typical decorative flowers for Tet, or to seek a piece of calligraphy, which is considered an art of spirit, involving both external and internal beauty.

The facilities have planned to house such festive activities as music performances and traditional martial arts festivals.

Meanwhile, Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 is preparing for entertainment activities during Tet and after. In the meantime, it is prevailed by a pre-Tet atmosphere of all regions, with the Love Market in northern Sa Pa town, bustling fishing village activities and Bai choi singing of the central region, and floating market trading of the southwestern area in place.

A book-featuring garden and a 2,000m2 playing ground for children will also be opened at the park on this occasion.

Meanwhile, Thao Cam Vien (zoo and botanical garden) in District 1 will become atmospheric with ornamental plant and flower displays, lion and dragon dance shows, and circus performances. Specimens of more than 160 rare creatures will also be showcased here.

On New Year’s Eve on February 19, singing and dancing performances will be oragnised at various places around the city.

More Heroic Mothers honoured in Dak Lak

The People’s Committee of the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak presented the State title of Vietnamese Heroic Mother to 64 mothers whose husbands and children sacrificed their lives in the past wars for national independence on February 13.

A total of 469 women in the province have been honoured with the title, with only 53 of them still alive.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the local People’s Committee Y Dham Enuol said the recognition aims to express gratitude towards people who made valuable contributions to the cause of national independence.

The same day, several officials and units in the province were also awarded the Independence Order and the Labour Order for their outstanding achievements in national building and protection.

Deputy PM inspects waste treatment in Hanoi

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has suggested that Hanoi research technology to produce electricity from waste treatment.

The Deputy PM proposed the idea during a working session with Hanoi authorities focusing on waste collection and treatment in the capital city on February 13.

He said the city should invest more in improving infrastructure for dumping grounds and seeking investments from different economic sectors in waste treatment.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Hong Khanh reported that around 5,400 tonnes of waste are discharged each day in Hanoi. Most of the waste is collected and treated using several methods such as burying and burning.

He stressed the importance of the Nam Son waste treatment complex in Soc Son District, which began operation in 1999, adding that the city is investing in expanding the facility. In particular, a system treating industrial waste to produce electricity is slated to be put into operation at the complex in the third quarter of 2016, which is built with aid from the Japanese Government.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Hai presented gifts to three poor households in Soc Son and workers of the Nam Son waste treatment complex.

State support comes to special groups on Tet

President Truong Tan Sang sent presents to officials, soldiers and the locals in Truong Sa (Spratly) island district in the central province of Khanh Hoa in honour of the upcoming lunar New Year (Tet).

The officials and solders wrote a thank-you letter to the President vowing to do their utmost to fulfill the mission of guarding national sovereignty over the sea and islands.

Disadvantaged people and religious communities across the country are also having a warmer Tet with practical support from the Government and many organisations.

On February 12 and 13, Hanoi People’s Committee in collaboration with the Vietnam Join Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) handed over 70 houses to poor people, including many from ethnic minority groups, in Ba Vi and My Duc districts.

The same days, representatives of local authorities in southern Tay Ninh province visited and presented gifts to local religious organisations such as the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the Caodai Church and Catholic, Protestant and Islamic communities.

On February 13, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union organised a New Year party for needy children with a fest, musical performances and gifts presented.

In northern Lai Chau province, more than 34,500 presents worth over 14.4 billion VND (671,078 USD) came to welfare policy beneficiaries and households living under the poverty line.

Lunar New Year celebrations in China, Denmark

More than 200 Vietnamese expatriates and students in Beijing gathered at a New Year party thrown by the Vietnam Embassy in China on February 13.

The party offered cheerful atmosphere with music performances and the homeland’s traditional dishes. Partygoers received gifts, including a pair of Chung cake (square glutinous rice cake), the most distinguishable feature of Tet (Lunar New Year) in Vietnam.

On the occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Tho extended greetings to his fellow countrymen, adding that the Government and Party always pay attention to the life of the Vietnamese abroad and highly appreciate their contribution to the development of the national construction cause.

The Vietnam Embassy and overseas Vietnamese communities in Denmark also celebrated the approaching Year of the Goat with a feast on February 7.

There are around 4.5 million Vietnamese living and working across 109 countries and territories. They form an indispensable part of the nation and play an important role in intensifying cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and the rest of the world.

President presents Tet gifts to the poor in Hung Yen, Ha Nam

President Truong Tan Sang extended New Year greetings and presented Tet gifts to disadvantaged people in the northern provinces of Ha Nam and Hung Yen on February 13.

He paid a visit to Giai Pham commune, which stood out in the new-style rural area building programme in Hung Yen province, and handed over 100 gifts to impoverished households and policy beneficiary families.

Meeting with Hung Yen provincial leaders, the President praised the remarkable achievements made by the locality and people over the past year despite confronting a number of difficulties.

The province experienced a 7.2 percent economic growth while injected investments were consistently maintained. It has met 13 out of the 19 new-style rural area criteria.

In line with the tradition of the Lunar New Year, he offered incense to generations of Vietnamese heroes worshipped in the two provinces.

In Ha Nam province, President Truong Tan Sang attended a ceremony to inaugurate a memorial house for Nguyen Huu Tien, who designed the National Flag.-

Tet gifts presented to needy people, policy beneficiaries

Additional gift packages are being presented to people from disadvantaged backgrounds and social policy beneficiaries on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

Delegations of local authorities in th Central Highlands province of Lam Dong visited and presented gifts to thousands of ethnic minority households, impoverished individuals, and welfare beneficiaries across the locality, worth a total of nearly 19 billion VND (890,000 USD).

The province funded the construction of communal works, each worth 500 million VND (23,000 USD), for 12 outstanding communes in the locality.

In the neighbouring Dak Lak province, nearly 800 tonnes of rice were distributed to 15,000 underprivileged households in the 12 districts and towns of Buon Ho, Krong Buk, Krong Nang, Ea H’leo, Buon Don, Ea Su’p, Krong Ana, Krong Bong, Krong Pak, Ea Kar and M’Drak, according to Director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Quang Truong.

Additionally, nearly 40,000 needy individuals across the province covered by social security will receive gifts on February 14, worth a total of more than 10 billion VND (470,000 USD).

In the Mekong Delta provinces of Soc Trang and Vinh Long, thousands of gift packages, each worth between 300,000 - 500,000 VND (14-23 USD), were given to local disadvantaged workers from February 10-12.

Similar activities were also held in other provinces across the country, including southern Binh Phuoc, northern Ninh Binh and central Thanh Hoa provinces, and northern mountainous Tuyen Quang province to ensure a warm and enjoyable festival for all.

Response activities to incidents, calamities, search-rescue

The Prime Minister has issued to implement a master plan on response to natural disasters and calamity and search and rescue operation through 2020.

Accordingly, relevant ministries and agencies have been asked to design plans for specific cases, invest in infrastructure, and purchase specialised equipment for responsible organisations to ensure adequate preparations for all contingences.

From 2015-2020, the Ministry of Defence will work closely with involved agencies to establish relief aid groups and search and rescue centres in Co To (northern Quang Ninh province), Con Dao (southern Ba Ria- Vung Tau province), Tho Chu (southern Kien Giang province), Hon Khoai (southern Kien Giang province) and Song Tu Tay (central Khanh Hoa province).

During 2015 and 2016, related agencies will draft national response plans for ship accidents, high-storey building fires, radiation leaks, earthquakes, tsunamis and traffic accidents in the residential and industrial areas.

Hospitals to tighten measles prevention measures

The health ministry has asked hospitals and medical units nation-wide to strengthen disease prevention, especially against measles.

Director of the ministry’s Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department Luong Ngoc Khue said that the measles situation continues to be complicated.

The health sector reported a total of 35 confirmed measles cases among 123 suspected cases in 25 provinces and cities since the beginning of this year, added Khue.

The ministry's instruction was released on February 12, following increasing number of measles cases being reported from across the country.

The health sector asked provincial and city health departments to tighten patient classification and examination for early detection of measles cases inpatient check-up centres.

Hospitals and medical units have been requested to arrange for experienced staffs working at the check-up centres for receiving and examining patients.

Suspected measles patients are required to be hospitalised in the infection wards or isolation areas of hospitals and medical units, before tests are conducted for confirmation of the disease.

Medical staffs have been asked to strictly follow the instructions for preventing the transmission of diseases, and guide patients and their families to also follow the instructions.

Deputy PM receives Buddhist, Catholic dignitaries

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received delegations of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Central Committee and the Vietnam Catholic Church’s Episcopal Council on the occasion of the lunar New Year in Hanoi on February 13.

The Deputy PM hailed the VBS’s religious activities during the past year, particularly the success of the 2014 United Nations Vesak Festival in Bai Dinh pagoda, the northern province of Ninh Binh, with nearly 1,500 foreign delegates from 95 countries and territories taking part.

He expressed hope that the VBS will continue to uphold the motto of “Religion-Nation-Socialism”, encouraging monks and nuns and followers nationwide to contribute more to the nation.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu wished that the government will lead the country to fulfil the goals of wealthy people, a strong country and a fair, democratic and civilised society.

At a separate meeting with the Vietnam Catholic Church’s Episcopal Council Vice President, Archbishop Le Van Hong, Deputy PM Phuc said the Party and State recognised the great contributions that the Catholic community have made to the national construction and defence cause.

He reiterated that the Party and State always respect and ensure the people’s right to religious and belief freedom, and pursue the consistent policy to meet the legitimate rights and interests of religious followers.

Archbishop Hong said the government has, over the past time, done a lot to bring happiness to the public, including the Catholics. He wished the Deputy PM good health in the new year.

The same day, Phuc met and offered New Year greetings to the staff of the Ministry of Public Security’s General Department of Security.

He praised them for their good job in ensuring political security and social safety and order last year.

The Deputy PM stressed an important task for the department in the time to come which is to ensure security for the 12 th National Party Congress.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan visited Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, and other Buddhist dignitaries, in Hanoi on February 13 ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet), the country’s biggest holiday.

Over past years, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has always been an active member of the VFF, Nhan stated.

He expressed hope that the VBS will continue accompanying the nation in the path towards industrialisation and modernisation.

Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue extended a happy and prosperous New Year wish to the VFF’s Standing Committee’s members.

More Tet gifts for child patients

The South African Honorary Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vien Dong Assurance Corporation (VASS), and student volunteers have presented Tet gifts worth VND40 million for child patients at Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The programme is part of the “Tet den moi nha” (Tet for every home) programme which was launched in January.

So far the programme has helped hundreds of children, the elderly, and poor households have a happy Lunar New Year (Tet holiday).

The South African Honorary Consulate and VASS have recently visited and presented more than 800 warm winter clothes to students living in two border communes of Hua Bum and Nam Ban in Nam Nhun district, Lai Chau province.

Central Highlands focuses on sustainable poverty reduction

The Steering Committee for the Central Highlands has raised hundreds of billions of VND for sustainable poverty reduction initiatives across ethnic minority households in the region from thus far this year.

As many as 16,000 gifts, worth a total of eight billion VND (380,000 USD) were distributed to impoverished ethnic minority households in the region and neighbouring provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Binh Phuoc, Khanh Hoa, and Ninh Thuan in honour of the traditional Tet festival.

U nderprivileged people in the targeted localities will also receive houses and breeding cows donated by the VinGroup, Vietcombank, and Maritime Bank.

Between 2013 and 2014, local businesses pledged to donate more than 207 billion VND (9.6 million USD) to build houses, schools, and communal houses across the central Highlands provinces, according to the Committee.

As many as 5,000 breeding cows were offered to ethnic minority households in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong and Lam Dong.

Vocational training benefits Kien Giang

Vocational training centres in the southern province of Kien Giang provided job training to more than 21,000 young labourers in 2014.

About 50 per cent of them involved agricultural work and the rest was in industrial production.

Deputy chairman of Kien Giang Province's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Le Huu Hung, said vocational courses had provided labourers with higher paid jobs.

Seventy five per cent of vocational course graduates found new jobs immediately, Hng said.

In recent years, authorities in Giang Thanh District, which largely contains Khmer ethnic people, sped up vocational training and provided economic models for rural people.

Ta Van Tham, deputy chief of the district's labour and social affairs office, said his office and grass-roots authorities had met the demand for apprentices.

Le Thi Diem, mother of two, living at Vinh Phu Commune, said after a two-month vocational course, she opened a tailor shop in her home and soon had a much better life.

The 40-year-old woman is not alone. Giang Thanh District has provided 15 vocational courses in tailoring, poultry and pig breeding and aquaculture for 400 labourers. Nearly half had found jobs.

Tham said trainees who were farmers and aquaculture breeders, immediately applied lessons from the courses and quickly improved their incomes.

Seminar spotlights proposals for water pollution law

The ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Rural Development, among other organisations, discussed proposals for a law on water pollution control at a conference in Ha Noi on Monday.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Ngoc Ly, director of the Centre for Environmental and Community Research (CECR), said the proposals need to have specific regulations, such as strong penalties for violations by social and community organisations; must set a good example; and must make specific provisions for technology, the media and the accountability of agencies and businesses.

The coalition will prepare a draft of the proposed law with the aim of reaching a consensus on its principles, document reviews, and specific activities.

At the conference, the participants also agreed to set regulations for the process of controlling water pollution.

In addition, a pilot project and management mechanism will be rolled out on a trial basis in some areas, they added.

The legal text on Water Resources and Water Pollution Control currently lacks specific guidelines, has overlapping regulations, and lacks co-ordination between the management units.

The coalition has also submitted draft proposals of the law to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's environment department with the aim of overcoming and controlling the serious water pollution issue.

Tet gifts may mask bribery, corruption

Gifts at Tet and other special occasions are being used to mask bribes, and authorities need to take earnest steps to curb corruption, experts say.

Associate Professor Dang Ngoc Dinh, of the Centre for Community Support Development Studies, said excessive gifts on special occasions, such as Tet, and at weddings and funerals, are becoming symptomatic of the complicated corruption situation in Vietnam.

The government inspectorate recently launched a hotline for reporting cases of bribery and corruption during Tet.

Dinh said that while such a measure was welcome, it would not necessarily be effective because a bribe could easily be passed off as a legitimate gift.

"Only the givers and receivers would know," he said. "But we can generally understand that normal gifts are more symbolic while bribes would be more expensive. When corruption can't be curbed, people will continue giving bribes during special occasions."

Dinh said that while a gift might not be cash, the gift given was often chosen so it could easily be converted into money.

Historian Le Van Lan and economist Ngo Tri Long said the custom to give gifts during Tet has been corrupted.

Long said the government should direct agencies and officials to refuse gifts, but the practice is so commonplace and reaches down to the lowest levels of society that the opportunity for corruption can only grow worse.

Lan said, "Don't let this custom become a burden for many people, especially poor people."

Huynh Phong Tranh, the chief of the Government Inspectorate, said corporate sector corruption remains a serious and complex problem, especially in finance and banking, land and natural resources management and exploitation, and public investment.

The Corruption Perceptions Index 2014, released by Transparency International, showed that Vietnam ranked 119 out of 175 countries. Vietnam’s CPI score has remained unchanged for three years.

In 2014, Vietnam stepped up its fight against corruption, prosecuting a number of corporate entities for corruption, with several high-profile trials leading to death sentences, as in the case of former Vinalines chairman Duong Chi Dung, who was convicted of buying an outdated floating dock, causing a loss of VND700bn to the state.

Peach blossom plants in south

As the Lunar New Year, or Tet, is drawing near, all people look busy doing some frantic shopping in preparation for the biggest traditional festivity of the year. The things they buy most these days include foodstuffs and decorative items, especially flowers.

Hundreds of species of flowers and ornamental plants have been put on sale at shops and farms in HCMC, including peach blossom trees, which can only be grown in the northern region and which are a favorite of northerners.

Of late, the pinkish color of the peach blossom trees adds yet another touch to the festive atmosphere in the southern region which is famous for such ornamental plants as apricot blossom, kumquat, chrysanthemum and orchid.

Scores of stands in Hoang Van Thu Park have been set up to sell peach blossom plants. Dang Van Duy, a stand tenant, said, “I have transported more than 400 peach blossom trees here from farms in Nhat Tan, Hanoi. This kind of peach blossom has a lot of petals in big flowers and an exotic pink color. The Nhat Tan peach blossom trees are the most preferred among many species of the same type.”

According to him, the peach blossom plants from Nhat Tan can stay fresh for up to a month and bear fruit after flowers fade.

Peach blossom prices are affordable despite high transport cost and special care. It costs VND1.2-2 million per branch, and VND3-8 million per tree including a pot that is 1.5 to 5 meters high.

There are some big peach blossom trees formed into beautiful and sophisticated shapes but their prices are high, at dozens of millions of Vietnam dong.

Though the country’s south is known for the apricot blossom with brightly yellow flowers, more southerners have a preference for peach blossoms.

Vietnamese expats gather for Tet celebrations

About 300 overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gathered on February 12 cheering the homeland’s Lunar New Year (Tet) at a get-together organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE.

Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UAE Pham Binh Dam reviewed the prominent events of the two countries in 2014.

He expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in the UAE will maintain their unity and do more for the homeland’s development while reiterating the State’s policy of treating OVs as an inseparable part of the nation.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria hosted a Tet gathering for the Vietnamese community there.

Ambassador Vu The Hiep praised contributions made by the Vietnamese community to the homeland and to the friendship between Vietnam and Algeria and extended a great New Year wish to the OVs.

A similar function was organised in Mexico on February 12.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan described 2015 as a special year for the Vietnam-Mexico relationship with numerous important activities, especially those to mark to 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Nguyen Huu Dong, representing the expats in the country, pledged that the Vietnamese community will bring into full play the solidarity to make more contributions to the homeland and the relationship between Vietnam and Mexico.

Overseas Vietnamese welcome Tet in Czech, Indonesia

Vietnam’s Embassies in the Czech Republic and Indonesia on February 12 held meetings for the Vietnamese communities there to welcome the 2015 Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Truong Manh Son, emphasised that Vietnam will mark many important events in 2015 such as the 40th anniversary of the country’s unification and the 70th national day as well as State President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to the Czech Republic.

He called for the Vietnamese community to welcome those events with practical acts.

Hoang Dinh Thang, Chairman of the Vietnamese Community in the Czech Republic, said he hoped achievements in the strengthening and development of the friendship between Vietnam and the Czech Republic would move to a new level.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Nguyen Xuan Thuy, affirmed the State and Party’s consistent policy of considering overseas Vietnamese an inseparable part of Vietnamese people.

Thuy expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in Indonesia continues staying united, supporting each other, preserving national identities and together building the home country.

He also encouraged the Vietnamese in Indonesia to act as a bridge to further promote the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

Trade between Vietnam and Indonesia reached US$5.3 billion in 2014, exceeding the target of US$5 billion set for 2015, Thuy said.

Sugar smugglers arrested in Delta

The Ministry of Public Security police have indicted six members of an alleged sugar smuggling gang in the Mekong Delta after raids last week unearthed hundreds of tonnes of sugar and vehicles thought to be used for smuggling in their possession.

The six include the alleged kingpin of the large gang, Vy Nguon Thanh, 48, of Chau Doc city in An Giang Province.

The other five arrested are all An Giang residents, namely Tran Thi Thu Hong, Le Tong Quang, Tran Thi Hoa Phuong, Huynh Trung Hoa, and Nguyen Van Tung.

On February 7, officers raided several warehouses in Chau Phu A Ward in Chau Doc thought to be used to store contraband sugar from Thailand.

They arrested Thanh and nearly 40 others for allegedly illegally transporting goods across the border and trading them, and seized 754 tonnes of sugar, eight lorries, two motorboats, and VND40 million in cash.

On the same day warehouses owned by Thanh's family in nearby An Phu District were searched and nearly 200 tonnes of sugar were seized.

Sugar currently costs VND16,500-17,000 per kilogramme in the market while Thai sugar sells for a mere VND12,000 along Viet Nam's border with Cambodia, according to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Last year authorities in An Giang Province seized 790 tonnes of contraband sugar, 3.6 times the previous year's figure.

Nguyen Thanh Long, chairman of the Viet Nam Sugar and Cane Association, said sugar has been smuggled into Viet Nam over the Cambodia border for several years, with some 500,000 tonnes brought in a year, representing a third of Viet Nam's own output.

Apart from the loss caused to local farmers, the smuggling also denies some VND700 billion (nearly US$33 million) in tax revenues to the state coffers.

Since early January police and market watch forces in An Giang have been carrying on a campaign against smuggling in border areas.

While the police are trying to combat the problem, the smuggling is becoming more sophisticated and rife with Tet approaching and demand for various products increasing. Gold, electronics, wood, and wine are some of the most popular items with smugglers.

They often bring the goods in the middle of the night or early in the morning to get them over the border easily, Phan Loi, head of the An Giang Market Watch Agency, said.

They also disguise the products and change locations to make it more difficult for authorities to find them, he added.

Seed reserves to supply local farmers

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Thanh Nam has issued an official copy of 2015's national seeds reserve, with the goal of providing enough seeds and seedlings for nationwide agricultural production.

Farmers nationwide will receive 1,667 tonnes of plant seeds, 1,400 tonnes of rice seeds and 267 tonnes of maize seeds. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) asked reserve units to supply the seeds and seeds free of charge.

The central seeds company will provide 790 tonnes of rice seeds and 190 tonnes of maize seeds, while the southern seeds joint-stock company plans to supply 280 tonnes of rice seeds and 42 tonnes of maize seeds. Thua Thien-Hue domestic animal and seedling joint-stock company will provide 330 tonnes of rice seeds and 35 tonnes of maize seeds.

The ministry's farming department will be in charge of distributing seeds to the provinces that need them.

The ministry also asked the Central Fruit and Plant Seeds Company to supply 13.7 tonnes of vegetable seeds from the national reserve fund. This includes 3 tonnes for the northern province of Lang Son, 8 tonnes for Quang Tri, 1.5 tonnes for Phu Yen and 1.2 tonnes for Khanh Hoa.

Local authorities will be responsible for allocating seedlings to farmers and report to the ministry every month.

Tran Manh Bao, general director of Thai Binh seedlings joint-stock company, said the Government should set up a law on seedlings and improve administrative procedures to recognise new seedlings.

A strategy to develop the agricultural seedling sector is in the works. Currently, 65 per cent of hybrid rice seeds are imported.

Cancer patients receive gifts for Tet

The VTV fund for cancer patients and CVI Pharmaceutical Company donated 400 gifts to patients at the Tan Trieu National Cancer Hospital in Ha Noi yesterday.

The gifts, each worth VND600,000- 900,000 (US$30-45), included cancer handbooks, medicine and confectionery.

The hospital currently has around 3,000 patients, of which around 400 serious patients have to stay at the hospital during Tet for treatment.

Viet Nam reports 200,000 new cancer cases yearly, 80 per cent of which were discovered in the late stages, according to the National Cancer Prevention Programme.

Japan provides aid for healthcare projects

The Japanese Government yesterday signed a contract providing non-refundable aid worth more than US$307,690 for three projects on healthcare and education in Viet Nam.

The aid will be divided into three parts. The first part of nearly $101,700 will be used to build a primary school in Ngoc My Commune in northern Vinh Phuc.

The second part of $103,000 will be used to supply medical equipment to northern Ha Nam Province's Eye Hospital.

The last part, with the same amount of money, will be used to purchase learning equipment for vocational training in the province's Phu Ly City.

Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada said the aid would bring hope to patients with eye diseases, a better studying environment for primary students and career chances for young farmers.

Cost of relief house helpers up this Tet

Seasonal home helpers are earning more than double the usual daily rate as many regular household employees take time off during the Tet holiday, agencies say.

Cost of relief house helpers up this Tet

Home help agencies are reporting a hike in daily rates in Hanoi of up to four times the normal rate as regular home helpers take time off to head home for the holiday.

"The price of house help for Tet is between VND400,000-500,000 a day," one broker said, adding that the usual rate was about VND200,000.

An agency in Cau Giay District is broker helpers at VND520,000.

"Families are very careful when choosing house helpers," a representative said.

Most relief helpers at this agency were middle-age woman from rural areas experienced in seasonal domestic work and with good references.

Phuong, a manager at a broker agency in My Dinh Commune, said she had been inundated with dozens of calls and internet messages seeking relief workers during Tet.

Nguyen Duc Hung in Hanoi said he was looking for someone who was familiar with household electrical equipment and every year he needed to find a casual house helper.

"The prices differ each year, but this year prices are especially high, staying at around VND500,000 a day for a helper," he said. "We also have to pay a broker fee of VND800,000."

Nguyen Thi Dinh, a seasonal helper from Thanh Hoa Province, said, "It's normal the price during Tet is higher since the workload will increase.

"I can earn tens of millions of VND during Tet," she said.

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