Vietnam getting tough on harmful online info

Social media will be required to come up with solutions to remove information harmful to the State of Vietnam and fake news, according to a new Government decree.

Decree 27/2018/ND-CP, which will replace Decree 72/2013/ND-CP on management, provision and use of Internet services and online information, will come into force on April 15.

According to the new decree, social networking and other websites are obliged to develop mechanisms to delete violating content within three hours after they receive requests from the Ministry of Information and Communications, and other competent agencies.

Individuals and organizations are forbidden from taking advantage of the Internet to spread information that is against the State of Vietnam and does harm to national security and social order and safety, promotes wars and terrorism, stirs hatred and conflicts between peoples and religions, and incites violence. Disclosure of State and military secrets and dissemination of fake news are also banned.

Social networks are required to take measures for protecting the privacy of their users.

They must also have at least one employee responsible for managing content on their sites. Staff must be Vietnamese citizens or foreign nationals who have a temporary residence permit valid for at least six months.

Can Tho to hold southern traditional cake festival 2018

A southern traditional cake festival will take place in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho from April 25 - 29.

Themed “Origin of the homeland cake”, the festival will feature 100 booths which will introduce traditional cakes of the southern region while the remaining will feature specialties from other regions and foreign countries.

Highlights of the festival will include cake-making performances and contests, folk games, southern folk music and dances.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Van Tam noted that relevant agencies need to cooperate to ensure food origin and quality, along with traffic safety and accommodation for tourists.

More than 160,000 visitors are expected to attend the event.

Sport games for disabled students to be organized

The Department of Education and Training will organize the annual sport games for students with disabilities in early April.

All disabled students in high schools in the city aged less than 18 are eligible for the games. In addition to official sports including tracks and fields, chess, table-tennis, students can take part in other activities such as team games, boat race in land and folk games.

The games were held for the first time in 2013, aiming to help special students to integrate with their peers.

Medical workers warn re-emergence of measles

Medical workers warned the re-emergence of measles because of its peak of three-five year period after Ho Chi Minh City Department of Preventive Medicine affirmed three cases of measles in two past weeks

Through epidemiology, no link between source of illness amongst three above-mentioned inpatients including kids and adults.

According to health experts, changing weather results in weak resistance amongst children, enabling viruses to grow strongly and cause many diseases including measles, therefore, they often ask parents to take heed to seasonal deseases.

To avoid catching measles, the center warned parents to take children to infirmaries for vaccination.

When people experience symptoms such as fever, rash, pink eye and running nose, they should go to nearby medical clinics for check-up and Infected patients must be isolated to curb transmission, the center warned.

Scrapyard fire leads to school evacuation

A huge fire ripped through a scrap warehouse near a school on Tan Thanh Street, Tan Binh ward, Di An town, in the southern province of Binh Duong on March 14, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of students.

The warehouse stored flammable objects which erupted in flames before spreading to two nearby houses. Despite the great efforts of local residents in tackling the fire it continued to spread. 

The fire brigade of Di An commune dispatched five fire engines and dozens of fire fighters to the scene to extinguish the blaze. However, fire fighters encountered difficulties in combating the flames which quickly spread to nearby dwellings.

A primary school evacuated hundreds of their students to ensure their safety from the growing inferno.

No fatalities were reported from the fire but huge property damage is estimated. Local authorities are making further investigations into the cause of the incident.

Tumour removed from 6-day-old child

A giant tumour weighing over 1kg was removed from a 6-day-old infant at HCM City Hospital for Children on Wednesday afternoon, the hospital announced on Thursday morning.

The baby, weighing 3.8kg, was born on March 9 in the 37th week of pregnancy through C-section at Từ Dũ Hospital, while the tumour was found a few weeks ago.

The surgery to remove the tumour lasted three hours. Post surgery, the condition of the child was said to be stable. However, doctors are concerned that the massive tumour surgery in the infant’s tailbone area may affect its urinary function later in life because the surgery may affect the dominant nervous system. Patients suffering from similar conditions are typically monitored over the long term.

The surgery was the result of successful co-operation between Từ Dũ Hospital - a leading maternity hospital in the south - and the Hospital for Children. More than 20 cases of neonatal deformities have been transferred from Từ Dũ Hospital to Children’s Hospital so far for timely intervention.

World Bank-funded project to upgrade reservoirs in Quang Tri

The World Bank will fund a project to help the central province of Quang Tri make its reservoirs safer.

The targeted reservoirs are in the districts of Vinh Linh, Gio Linh, Cam Lo, Huong Hoa, Hai Lang and Dong Ha city.

The project will cost more than 10 million USD, of which 9.5 million USD will come from the World Bank, the rest being local capital.

It aims to repair and upgrade damaged reservoirs and improve the operation of the reservoirs to protect residents and infrastructure downstream.

In 2018, the province will complete reports on the safety of local reservoirs, enact socio-environmental policies and produce designs and projections for the project.

Land clearance, compensation and resettlement will also be completed within the year to serve the project.

According to Ho Xuan Hoe, Vice Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the project will upgrade 14 reservoirs by 2022.

Currently, Quang Tri has 131 reservoirs, providing water for more than 25,000 hectares of cultivation land, aquaculture, daily use and industry.

Of them 48 are damaged, posing threats during rainy season.

Price drop forces farmers to leave vegetables unharvested

Farmers in the central provinces of Hà Tĩnh and Thừa Thiên- Huế are in deep sorrow as their vegetables have remained unconsumed for weeks due to a price fall.

In Hà Tĩnh, farmers are harvesting their vegetables to feed pigs and cattle. Others have let the plant wither in the fields.

Nguyễn Đình Dũng, a farmer in the province’s Thạch Liên Commune, said he had fed his vegetables to his cows as no traders came to his field after Tết (Lunar New Year).

Nguyễn Thị Yến, another farmer in the province’s Thạch Hưng Commune, said she has been so depressed from the vegetable price fall that she has left the plant on the field to save the effort of harvesting.

Farmers said in a report by the online newswire infonet that price had plunged abruptly. Cabbages, for instance, previously cost VNĐ20,000 (87 cents) each but have now dropped to VNĐ3,000 each.

“No traders have come despite that low price,” said Dũng.

Nguyễn Sỹ Dần, chairman of Thạch Liên Commune, said favourable weather at the end of last year resulted in a bumper crop of mustard, cabbage, turnip and lettuce. But as always, a bumper crop meant a price fall as supply exceeded consumption, he said.

Farmers in Thừa Thiên- Huế experienced a similar situation. Vegetables produced by farmers in the province could not be consumed either due to a similar price fall.

Local farmers said the cost for each kilogramme fell from VNĐ25,000 (US$1.1) to VNĐ2,000, driving traders away from their VietGAP (Vietnamese Good Agriculture Practice) produce.

Trương Hào, a farmer in Quảng Thành Commune, said he had to harvest the mature lettuce to feed pigs and attempt to keep the younger plants until a price increase.

Hoàng Vọng, deputy head of Quảng Điền District’s agriculture division, said local vegetables could not compete with vegetables imported from the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng, leading to a price fall due to low sales.

Unconsumed vegetables also occurred in other communes of Phong An, Điền Hòa, Điền Lộc, Hương Xuân and Quảng Thọ.

Agriculture authorities have been struggling with the question of low prices during a bumper crop of agricultural products for years, but there is no sign that they have found a way out.

Training workshop on corruption, regional cooperation launched

A training workshop to improve the capacity of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies in the use of techniques and tactics to investigate corruption cases was launched in Hà Nội on Wednesday. 

The three-day workshop was held by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security.

The workshop attracted more than 50 participants from corruption prevention agencies, law enforcement agencies, and investigating bodies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Việt Nam.

The training workshop will cover a wide range of investigative skills for corruption cases, ranging from the gathering of evidence and documentation to witness interviews, electronic surveillance and the use of scouts.

The workshop will also introduce indirect methods to demonstrate the origin of corrupt behaviour and good practices in investigating corruption.

An important objective of the workshop is to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to file and submit requests for judicial assistance to the central offices of other countries to gather evidence.

Speaking at the workshop, senior lieutenant-colonel Lê Đức Tuyến, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Department, under the Ministry of Public Security, said that during the past years, crimes related to corruption and money laundering had increased triggering losses, threatening stability and development in all sectors, including economy, society, politics and national security.

Statistics provided by the World Bank has shown that the world lost some US$1 trillion annually because of money laundering, he said.

“Co-operation in preventing money laundering and corruption is necessary and indispensable,” said Tuyến.

Việt Nam is striving to prevent corruption, but still faces obstacles and needs closer cooperation with other countries in the area, especially in the great Mekong region, and international agencies, including the UNODC.

“Together by completing the legal framework, Việt Nam can better implement its international role in corruption prevention,” said Tuyến.

Attending the workshop, Francesco Checchi, an anti-corruption adviser from the UNODC, said that corruption had been recognised as a threat to national security, and social and economic development globally.

It negatively affected public service delivery, such as access to health care and education, as well as to justice, he said.

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Việt Nam share common or close border, and so criminals and proceeds of crime often travel across borders throughout the region.

“Regional coordination and cooperation is essential for the detection and successful prosecution of corruption and money laundering, as well as for the recovery of stolen assets,” he said.

“I really hope that this event will help the development of mutual understanding and enhance cooperation for addressing corruption in the Mekong region, with the ultimate goal of making the region a safer, wealthier and more just place,” he said. 

Japan helps Vietnamese companies improve workplace satisfaction

Experts from Japan Productivity Centre and Việt Nam National Productivity Institute have supported 12 companies in the north to improve their employee satisfaction and workplace environment to increase productivity.

The two centres have been supporting the companies for the past two years.

This is part of the project for “Improvement of employee satisfaction and work environment”, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from May 2016 to April 2018.

The project, also known as the WISE Project, has helped companies identify factors that hinder their productivity and develop solutions to common industry problems.

Almost all the Vietnamese companies, especially small-scale enterprises, are considered to be seriously lacking in practical consulting skills and human resources that could improve business and workers’ welfare.

Under the project, companies are instructed to apply the 5S - a workplace organisation method that uses a list of five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke. Their translations from Japanese are “sort”, “set in order”, “shine”, “standardise” and “sustain”, respectively.

The list describes how to organise a work space for efficiency and effectiveness by identifying and storing the items used, maintaining the area and items and sustaining the new order. The decision-making process usually comes from a dialogue on standardisation, which builds an understanding among employees of how to work.

Đỗ Văn Dũng, deputy director of Yamaguchi Việt Nam, major producer of auxiliary mechanic, lab equipment and factory supplies, said before joining the WISE Project, the flow of product lines in the company was not effective.

He said the company had no standard, no specific regulations, no training policy, no check-sheet for machine maintenance and no periodic maintenance plan.

He also admitted that previously, communication to staff at the company was not good.

But this changed with the WISE Project, Dũng said.

The company restructured and redesigned the flow of products (for example, raw material, completed product, quality test) so that distances between the stages of production were narrowed, helping save time and labour, and increasing connectivity.

Yamaguchi worker Hà Thị Linh said after learning about and practising the 5S method, workers put office equipment in an orderly manner and the work place became cleaner and brighter.

Trần Đình Trung, a worker of ALS Cargo Terminal at Aviation Logistic, another participant in the WISE Project, said there were visible changes after the project’s implementation. With a clean working environment, everything is easier to find, thanks to 5S, he said.

“For build-up work, I do not have to wait for a forklift or for material as much as before. Jobs are assigned clearly. This has helped increase productivity,” Trung said.

Lê Thị Thu Hương, Administrative and Human Resource Director at ALS, said one of the causes of Việt Nam’s low productivity was that Vietnamese workers carried out tasks quickly but not carefully and meticulously.

Other causes included unreasonable work organisation, lack of funding for updated technology and a training system relying heavily on theory instead of practical skills.

Once the problems were solved, productivity increased, which also led to better income for employees, Hương said, adding if the employees were satisfied with the working environment and income, they would be with the company for further growth.

Kobayashi Ryutaro, a senior representative of JICA Việt Nam Office, said: “Improvement in the work environment and increasing labour satisfaction are very important for Vietnamese enterprises, which are facing limitations in terms of capital, technology and human resource. I do believe that in near future, Vietnamese enterprises will receive high-quality support and consultation by ‘made-in-Việt Nam’ experts.”

100 Son My massacre artefacts recovered

The management board of Son My Relic Site in Tinh Khe commune, central Quang Ngai province has unveiled that it has recovered nearly 100 more items related to the Son My massacre.

100 son my massacre artefacts recovered hinh 0 The objects and items are the remnants of the daily lives of Son My residents left in the wake of the 1968 massacre, in which 504 villagers were brutally slaughtered by American soldiers. 

Ms Cao Thi Hong Hanh, director of the management board of Son My Relic Site (or My Lai Relic Site) said that the site has so far preserved 1,400 artefacts related to the Son My massacre, of which, 400 items and photos are on public display.

"Visitors will have the opportunity to view the collection of items from the massacre at the relic site and learn more about the daily life of Son My residents in the past. We have stored other items for conservation and preservation to ensure they are kept for the next generation," Hanh said.

HCM City to trial insurance of cows

HCM City has sought the Government’s approval for a three-year trial in 2018-20 to insure cows raised for milk and meat.

Cow breeding is part of the city’s plans to develop agriculture, but the animals face risks of epidemics such as foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax.

The insurance programme is meant to ensure producers have peace of mind and reduce their risks.

It is also expected to help improve farmers’ awareness of modern production and farming methods.

The city subsequently plans to apply the insurance programme to rice and seafood.

Police seize 40,000 synthetic drug pills in Laos

Three heroin traffickers were caught red-handed on Tuesday by Việt Nam and Laos’ criminal police in a province in Laos.

The three traffickers were caught selling and buying heroin at a motel in Mường Khoa town in Phong Sa Lỳ Province.

Besides the 40,000 synthetic pills, 60 cakes of heroin, a K59 gun, seven bullets, two cars and eight mobile phones were confiscated. The police also collected some other evidences.

All three arrested are residents of Laos. They have been identified as Giàng A Tú, 33, from Xiêng Khoảng Province; Bun Hoong, 53, from Vientiane City; and So Viêng Say, 49, also from Vientiane City.

They are part of a heroin trafficking ring that transported heroin from Laos’ Bo Kẹo Province to Mường Khoa Town to sell to the Vietnamese.

The ring was discovered by border guard police of Việt Nam’s northern province of Điện Biên in January. Vietnamese policemen were sent to Laos to keep a watch on the ring.

The police began tracking Giàng A Tú and Bun Hoong on Monday after receiving information that they were transporting a large amount of heroin to Mường Khoa for storage and sale. 

Registration open for ‘Start-up Francophone’ contest

Young people from Việt Nam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand are invited to take part in the “Start-up Francophone 2018” competition, which will be open from March to September.

The University of Hà Nội and l’Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (Francophone University Association, AUF) in Asia-Pacific have jointly launched the competition targeting youth under 35, studying or having graduated from AUF member universities in Việt Nam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.

The contest is also organised by the alumni network of the French Vietnamese Centre of Management and Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship-National Economics University. 

The competition aims to create links between the academic world and socio-economic actors in the region as well as to reward innovative business projects by French-speaking students and young graduates. It allows young participants to benefit from experts’ support.

Registration is open until March 31. Online registration form is available at https://goo.gl/forms/QXn53MDBmwZNcDDK2.

In July, individuals or groups of individuals with the 20 best business ideas will get the opportunity to participate in a training workshop on business foundation to perfect their business plan. They will also have the opportunity to participate in start-up visits, seminars and discussions with professional experts who will lend their rich expertise to setting up business projects.

The top four teams will compete in a regional final in Hà Nội, scheduled for late September. They will present their business plan to a jury of entrepreneurs. The first prize of the contest is 1,000 euros (US$1,230), the second prize is 500 euros ($620) and the third 250 euros ($310). The winners will get the chance to do internships in French-speaking companies in the region and meet French and Vietnamese investors.

The competition was organised for the first time in 2017 by the Foreign Trade University (FTU) in partnership with AUF. In the 2017 final, FTU’s TrueStack team beat three competitors to win the first prize with their original idea of ​​creating a platform to help start-ups find funding and develop their products.

Commune official criticised over deforestation

Chairman of Rạch Chèo Commune People’s Committee Lý Văn Gặp has been criticised by Tân Phú District People’s Committee for mismanaging the deforestation of trees along the Bảy Háp River.

Late January, it was reported that hundreds of square metres of mắm (Avicennia) forest along the river were chopped down by locals. They used machines to dredge mud on the riverside area to expand their oyster farms.

The commune People’s Committee leased 19,500 q.m water surface to three local households to grow oysters on the Bảy Háp River.

However, the contracts with two households – Ngô Trường Sơn and Nguyễn Dũng Hà – became invalid on October, 17, 2017 and February, 1, 2018, respectively.

The other contract with Nguyễn Văn Lăng, who rented 9,000sq.m of water surface, experies in November. However, as Lăng destroyed riverside forest to expand his oyster farm, the contract is now invalid.

The commune People’s Committee has asked the three households to remove the farm.

An Sương intersection tunnel opens in HCM City

One of the two tunnels at the An Sương intersection located between HCM City’s District 12 and Hóc Môn District opened on Wednesday after nearly 13 months of construction.

Work on the tunnel No 1 began on January 19 last year with a total cost of VNĐ149.9 billion (US$6.6 million).

The tunnel extends from downtown to Củ Chi District and Tây Ninh Province. It is above ground on Trường Chinh Street for a distance of 140m, and on National Highway No 22 for 180m.

The two-lane tunnel is 445m long, 9m wide and 4.75m high.

Trịnh Linh Phương, deputy director of the Urban Transport Management Zone No 3, said: “This tunnel is expected to reduce traffic congestion at the city’s northwest gateway.” The maximum speed for automobiles in the tunnel is 50km per hour.

The tunnel, which has a life span of 100 years, can resist earthquakes measuring seven on the Richter scale.

Nguyễn Đình Trung, 46, a resident in District 12, said several serious traffic accidents had occurred at the An Sương intersection. “I hope the tunnel will solve the traffic problems there.”

Nguyễn Văn Quốc, 41, a truck driver in District 12, said that traffic gridlock during peak hours occurred at the intersection regularly. “The tunnel should ensure the smooth flow of traffic,” he said.

Construction on the second tunnel No 2, extending from Củ Chi District towards the city’s downtown, is expected to begin this year.

Tiền Giang develops freshwater aquaculture

Freshwater aquaculture has prospered in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Tiền Giang recently because of advanced farming methods and good prices, according to the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The price of tra fish increased significantly last year, reaching VNĐ32,000-34,000 (US$1.4 - 1.5) a kilogramme at certain times, resulting in the revival of tra fish farming and nurseries.

Nguyễn Văn Năm, who has a 20ha tra fish farm beside the Tiền River in Cai Lậy District’s Tân Phong Commune, said at these prices tra farmers could make profits of VNĐ10,000 per kilogramme.

The revival of tra nurseries is also due to a resumption in exports, he said.

Lê Văn Hoàng, who breeds around 100 tonnes of tra fish fries a year in Thạnh Lộc, another commune in Cai Lậy, said the price of tra fry has increased sharply because of high demand.

The price is VNĐ60,000 – 70,000 ($2.6 - 3) for a kilogramme of fry of the type that has 40-45 to a kilogramme.

Hoàng said he earned a profit of VNĐ3 billion ($132,000) last year.

In Cái Bè District’s Hậu Mỹ Bắc A Commune, the province’s main area for the fish-rice farming model, many farmers have earned big profits from producing fries of various fish species.

Âu Văn On, head of the Hậu Mỹ Bắc A Commune Fisheries Union, said the production of fries of various freshwater fish under the rice-fish farming model fetches farmers hundreds of millions of đồng per hectare a year.

The rice they grow provides them with a further income, he said.

The province plans to have 5,830ha of freshwater fish farming this year, according to the department.

Shrimp and fish are bred mostly in rice fields in flood-prone areas, tra fish in ponds along the Tiền River, and tilapia and red tilapia in cages in the river.      

Frogs, eels and other freshwater species are also bred under various farming models, including the horticulture-aquaculture-animal husbandry model.

Cao Văn Hóa, deputy director of the department, said the province has a dense network of rivers and canals and flood-prone areas in the upstream of the Tiền River and the Đồng Tháp Mười (Plain of Reeds) region for breeding high-value freshwater species.

Freshwater aquaculture provides work and income for farmers when there are no crops, he said.   

The province has designated freshwater aquaculture areas, including rice-fish farming areas in Cái Bè District, fish cages in the Tiền River in Mỹ Tho City and Châu Thành and Cai Lậy districts, and fish fry nurseries in the Đồng Tháp Mười (Plain of Reeds) region.

It has 68ha of fish bred under good agricultural practices (GAP) standards, including 6.4ha under Global GAP standards.

The province also has around 1,190 fish cages to breed mostly red tilapia in the Tiền River.

Teaching of Gac Ma battle helps infuse patriotism to young people

The battle to defend Vietnam’s Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef on March 14, 1988 will be officially included in the high school curriculum, an act to pay tribute to the 64 Vietnamese martyrs and help infuse their unyielding spirit into future generations.

The remark was made by Prof. Pham Hong Tung, chief author of the high school history curriculum, in an interview with Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the sea battle.

Tung, who is also head of the history faculty of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University Hanoi, said in the new high school curriculum, the Gac Ma incident will be taught at different levels using different methods according to school grades.

Explaining why the Gac Ma battle is only included in the curriculum after 30 years since it happened, the Professor said that historians need a certain period of time to collect sufficient documentation and thoroughly study a historical event, especially the complicated ones relating to the country’s internal and external relations, before official information can be publicised and taught at school.

They need even more prudence if the teaching of those events may affect the understanding and thinking of future generations, he said.

“The inclusion of the Gac Ma battle on March 14, 1988 in history textbooks is the way that we, as historians (and I believe that people nationwide also agree with us), pay a tribute to the 64 soldiers who sacrificed their lives in that fight to protect the homeland’s sea and island sovereignty and protect the sacred territory of the fatherland,” the historian said.

According to him, the event will be mentioned four times in the new high school curriculum. He said that it will be part of the history of Vietnam, Southeast Asia and the world in the 8th and 9th grades at junior high schools. Students will learn about the East Sea and islands of Vietnam, from geography, economy, environment and geo-politics to the sovereignty and all the struggles to protect the country’s sea and island sovereignty on the basis of legal and historical evidence of Vietnam and international conventions.

That will help future generations be aware that the fight to defend and affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos and the East Sea has sufficient legal foundation, and that in the battles to defend Hoang Sa in 1974 and Gac Ma in 1988, justice is on the side of the Vietnamese army and people, Tung said.

In the curriculum for senior high school level, the Gac Ma incident will be among the battles to liberate and protect the country’s territorial integrity, and mentioned again in lessons about the East Sea and islands.

The professor affirmed his viewpoint that the teaching of the Gac Ma battle must firstly respect the truth, but it must not rekindle feud or disagreements of the past.

The most important thing is that the teaching must educate students to promote peace and cooperation with not only the Chinese people but also people around the world.

Tung added a scientific and humane approach toward peace and cooperation are the consistent viewpoint in the teaching of the wars protecting the northern and southwestern borders and the marine sovereignty of Vietnam in the high school curriculum.

Khanh Hoa authorities commemorate 64 Gac Ma naval martyrs

The authorities of the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa and local armed forces gathered on March 14 to pay tribute to 64 naval officers and soldiers who lost their lives in a battle to protect Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago three decades ago.

They offered flowers and incense at the monument dedicated to Gac Ma soldiers built in Cam Lam district to show their gratitude to the heroes who bravely defended Vietnam’s sacred sea and island sovereignty and died with honour on March 14, 1988.

The monument lies at the centre of the 2.5-hectare memorial complex dedicated to 64 naval soldiers inaugurated in 2017. It features the naval soldiers standing holding hands in an “immortal circle” around the fatherland’s flag to protect it as an action to affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago.

The delegation then visited the complex’s wind tombs and underground museum where the soldiers’ artifacts and personal items are displayed to tell visitors about their life and unyielding spirit.

At this site, around 200 young people from Cam Lam district, Cam Ranh city, and Truong Sa district listened to Vu Duy Khanh, an officer from Brigade 146- Naval Zone 4 recalling the heroic fight on Truong Sa waters as well as the 1988 Gac Ma battle.   

The province’s leaders have visited and presented gifts to relatives of local martyrs in commemoration of the historic battle.

Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia joint campaign curbs rise in human trafficking

The joint campaign of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to fight and suppress trans-national human trafficking crime in 2017 has contributed to reducing the rise of the crime, heard a conference in Laos. 

The conference took place in Champasak province of Laos on March 14  with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Security and  the General Department of Police of Laos; the General Department  of National Police under the Cambodia’s Ministry of the Interior; and the General Police Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security. 

Participants stressed that human trafficking remains a serious problem in the region and the world, with increasingly sophisticated and cunning methods and tricks.

Human traffickers have taken advantage of the open-door and international integration policies of the three countries as well as the close socio-economic relations of communities along their shared borderlines, to organise human trafficking activities, they noted. 

Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have also become transit places for taking victims to third countries. Human-trafficking rings and gangs mainly operate in areas bordering China. 

In the joint campaign, Vietnamese police uncovered ten cases of transporting Cambodian women to China through Vietnam. 

At the same time, participants said coordination between the three countries in border areas has remained limited, so many violations related to illegal immigration and cross-border human trafficking have not been detected and handled strictly. The situation has increased the risk of cross-border trafficking crime between the three Indochinese countries. 

They agreed to extend the campaign in 2018, focusing on raising public awareness of the work and measures to combat the crime, and further promoting cooperation among relevant agencies of the three countries in the work. 

It was also agreed that police forces of border provinces and districts in the three countries will hold bilateral or trilateral meetings to seek effective ways to fight the crime.

The conference to review the 2018 work will be held in Vietnam.

Requiem in Poland commemorates fallen soldiers in Gac Ma battle

The Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Poland held a requiem in Warsaw on March 13 to pray for 64 soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend Vietnam’s Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef 30 years ago.
The event was attended by representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland and a large number of Buddhist followers and overseas Vietnamese in the European country.

A representative of the organising board recalled the main developments of the Gac Ma battle on March 14, 1988, and underlined the significance of the requiem in commemoration of soldiers and compatriots, especially the 64 combatants, who laid down their lives to protect the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea.

The participants carried out rituals to pray for the souls of the fallen soldiers and offered incense and flowers in tribute to the deceased.

Candles were lit up, shaping into the Vietnamese map, showing the locations and names of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, thus reminding each other of the country’s sacred sovereignty over the seas and islands.

Dien Bien: war-left bomb safely deactivated

The Military Command of Dien Bien city and sappers from the Military High Command of the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien on March 14 safely detonated an about 150-kg bomb dropped by the US troops during the war in Vietnam.

The bomb was discovered on March 6 in the foot of a hill between the two residential areas in Him Lam ward, Dien Bien Phu city, by a construction unit.

This is the second bomb found in the province in 2018. On March 2, an over 300-kg bomb, which was discovered by a local man in the foot of a hill near a residential area in Him Lam ward, was deactivated. 

According to the Technology Centre for Bomb and Mine Disposal under the Engineering Command, up to 7,645 of the 8,686 communes in Vietnam’s 63 provinces and cities are polluted with unexploded ordnance (UXOs). 

The US army used more than 15 million tonnes of bombs and mines in the war in Vietnam, four times the amount used in World War II. As a result, Vietnam has been listed among the countries most contaminated with UXOs. 

According to the National Steering Committee for Recovery over Postwar Bomb and Landmine Impacts, about 800,000 tonnes of UXOs are scattering across 6.6 million hectares, or 20.12 percent of the country’s land, mainly in the central region, putting people in danger every day. 

Vietnam has cleared hundreds of thousands of hectares of UXOs so far.

Eight fishermen rescued at sea off Nghe An

A group of eight fishermen from a fishing boat coded NA 90909 TS were saved, and their vessel was towed to safety, off the coast of Nghe An province on March 14.

According to the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (Vietnam MRCC), the fishing boat is owned by Tran Quang Thai from Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province.

The boat’s engine broke when it was approximately 90 nautical miles to the east of the northern province of Nghe An. There was strong wind and rough seas.

The centre immediately sent its rescue ship SAR 411 to the location to deploy the rescue mission.

The rescued fishermen were then brought to Cuu Lo seaport at 2.30pm on March 14 before being rushed to hospital.

Press contest launched on anti-tuberculosis efforts in Vietnam

The National Anti-Tuberculosis Programme and the Vietnam National Lung Hospital have launched a press contest, with the theme of “Let’s join hands to terminate tuberculosis (TB) in Vietnam,” in response to World TB Day (March 24).

Through the competition, the organising committee would like to encourage and honour good people and good deeds, the silent sacrifice of doctors, active social activists, and pioneers in TB prevention and control, in addition to mobilising the whole of society to joint hands and resources towards the goal of ending TB in Vietnam in the near future.

The contest is open to anti-TB officials, physicians, patients, relatives of patients, caretakers of TB patients; journalists, correspondents, and editors from national press agencies; Vietnamese citizens and overseas Vietnamese living and working in and outside the country; and foreigners living and working in Vietnam.

The entries should be presented in the form of articles, or videos/reports that reflect many facets of the fight against TB. The organising committee encourages the entries to focus on the following contents: outstanding examples of overcoming difficulties in TB treatment; memories and lessons learnt from TB patients, their relatives, and caretakers; the outstanding efforts made by TB-related officials in raising public awareness on TB and reducing the stigma toward TB patients; community-based initiatives on effective TB prevention and control; and Vietnam’s achievements, difficulties, opportunities and challenges in TB prevention and control.

All articles submitted to the contest should not exceed 1,500 words in length and should be enclosed by a representational photo of good quality, while a series of articles should not exceed five episodes. The articles and photos can be either in soft copies, discs or hard copies.

Meanwhile, a video/report should be a maximum length of 10 minutes, enclosed by its title, comments and subtitles to reflect the content of the story. Contestants can send the files directly via email or upload the videos to the YouTube social network and send the link to the organising committee.

Entrants must take full responsibility for the authenticity of the contents of their submissions, as well as the issues of copyright and intellectual property. The deadline for submission is January 1, 2019.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on March 24, 2019.

Vietnamese custom of burning ritual papers

Most Vietnamese people are familiar with the custom of burning ritual papers for their ancestors and gods on their death anniversary and festivals from a young age.

Vietnamese people have always believed that the deceased have supernatural powers. Therefore, through burning ritual papers, the living not only show their deep gratitude to the gods and their relatives who had passed away but also wish to please them and ask for their blessing.

The Viet Khe boat tomb, a valuable artifact regarding this custom’s origin, is on display in a prominent location at the Vietnam Museum of History. The boat tomb is one of the featured burial forms of the Dong Son culture (1,000BC-100AD), giving precious evidence for studying the funerals of this culture and has been recognised as a national treasure.

The boat tomb has a large amount of inhumation utensils stored within it. All things used in fighting, production and living, such as swords, spears, daggers, axes, knives, jars, peaks, trays, lights and buttons, were buried along with the deceased.

It can be seen that burying the belongings of dead people was a custom of the ancient Vietnamese people. Therefore, many artifacts were made solely for the purpose of the funeral, with the mini bronze drum being a typical example.

Afterwards, paper objects gradually began to appear for worshiping the dead, instead of real things, as they were considered less costly and more civilised.

The custom of burning ritual papers for the deceased has been preserved so far. However, its form has changed to adapt to modern life. In the past, people went horseback riding, so the living burned paper horses. Today, the ritual papers burned on the death anniversary are motorbikes, bicycles, televisions, telephones, air-conditioners, money and clothes. The living hope that the dead ‘live’ happily in the afterlife.

Ritual papers are associated with traditional customs and the spiritual life. Therefore, the burning of ritual papers is developing strongly.

Well-off families can spend a lot of money, even millions of Vietnamese dong, to buy ritual papers to worship their gods and ancestors. Many people have said that they feel relieved when burning ritual papers for the gods and their deceased relatives.

In contrast, many others think that they only feel happy and peaceful if their relatives are still alive, not through burning ritual papers for the dead. Living with an inclination to perform good deeds and support disadvantaged people in society is also a way for many people to seek peace of mind and heart.

Essentially, in modern life, people should reconsider the burning of ritual papers in order to avoid wastefulness and environmental pollution.

Traditional methods not effective for chickenpox: doctors

Traditional treatment methods are not a solution to cure chickenpox, doctor Truong H?u Khanh, head of HCM City’s Paediatrics Hospital No.1’s infectious and nervous diseases department said.

Drinking or bathing in liquid made from rice stubble roots does not treat chickenpox. Sometimes it even may cause itchy and infected skin. Drinking too much of the liquid may result in poisoning, he said.

He warned parents not to treat the disease by themselves. These methods may make the disease more serious.

According to doctors, chickenpox can be treated with a type of drug called Acyclorvir along with other methods such as fever release, applying anti-bacterial medicine, and cleaning the skin.

“Chickenpox can be prevented by an injected vaccine. Children can be immunised from 18 months old. Women who are about to have a baby should be vaccinated at least two months before the pregnancy,” he said.

The number of chickenpox patients admitted to hospitals in northern and southern regions has increased in recent months. The disease may cause complications and even death if patients are not treated correctly.

Doctors advise that patients should avoid taking drugs without a prescription and go to a health clinic if they notice symptoms.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau races to combat IUU fishing

The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, along with other Vietnamese localities, is racing to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as there is only more than a month left before the deadline to show progress to the European Commission (EC) in solving the problem.

In September 2017, the EC issued a yellow card warning Vietnam for failing to progress in fighting IUU fishing. The EC also proposed nine recommendations that Vietnam should implement. The "yellow card" is followed by a "green card" if the problem is resolved or a "red card" if it isn’t. A “red card” can lead to a trade ban on fishery products.

The EU will assess Vietnam’s efforts to fight IUU fishing in April.

Tran Van Cuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, said localities in the province have used many different measures to raise local fishermen’s awareness while strictly punishing violating boats and fishermen. 

The department issued a written order requesting fishing and logistics boats be equipped with tracking devices. It does not license or extend the fishing license for boats without this system.

Meanwhile, boats which used to violate foreign waters must have all necessary documentation, fishing records and certificates under European standards, or they will be banned from fishing.

He added agencies have requested fishing boats at sea keep communication devices on around the clock so supervisory agencies can warn the vessels if they enter foreign seas.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau is also enhancing cooperation with regional countries so local boats and fishermen can fish in other countries’ waters.

In 2018, it will send seven businesses and cooperatives to negotiate with Brunei about fishing in this country’s waters, Cuong noted, adding that new regulations on fisheries development and boat building and repair will also be made.

Meanwhile, local businesses are also joining authorities in solving IUU fishing.

Huynh Minh Tuong, Deputy Director General of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Seafood Processing and Import-Export JSC (Baseafood), said Baseafood products have been exported to 40 countries and territories around the world. To ensure its prestige, the firm has carefully examined material origin through fishing records and food safety certificates before buying materials. It also only purchases imported materials with certificates of origin.

Implementing anti-IUU fishing regulations protects the prestige and interests of the company, he said.

Le Van Khang, Chairman of the Con Dao Sea Products and Import – Export JSC (Coimex), said his business had paid attention to seafood origin long before the EC issued the warning.

All of its materials are sourced from Vietnam, so to meet import markets’ requirements, all materials must have clear origin before they are delivered to Coimex’s warehouse, he noted.

Businesses commit to rejecting seafood with unclear origin firstly to protect their brand names. However, it is more important that State agencies take actions to prevent fishing boats from violating foreign waters so that the management of material origin is effective, he added.-

US professors visit Vietnam

President of the Vietnam – US Society Nguyen Tam Chien had a working session with a delegation of the US’s Vassar University led by Prof. Dr Robert K. Brigham in Hanoi on March 13. 

Chien briefed the delegation about people-to-people exchange activities of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations as well as pro-peace activities of the two peoples. 

He reviewed major milestones of bilateral diplomatic ties in peacetime and the role of the Vietnam – US Society and mass organisations in boosting bilateral friendship. 

The host also mentioned celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the bilateral comprehensive partnership in July 2018, towards the 25th anniversary of the bilateral relations by 2020. 

He also answered questions regarding bilateral diplomatic ties, war landmine and unexploded ordnance overcoming efforts, Agent Orange/dioxin victims and exchange of delegations. 

Brigham, for his part, said the visit affords the delegation a chance to learn about Vietnam. 

The delegation comprising of 27 members, including professors, lecturers, former students of Vassar University and relatives are in Vietnam from March 12-23. 

Brigham is a prestigious professor in history and international relations and an expert in the US’s external relations history, particularly the Vietnam war. He accompanied a delegation led by former US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara to attend the seminar “Vietnam – US relations: missed opportunities” in 1998.

Hanoi calls for Finnish investment in garbage, wastewater treatment

Hanoi is willing to create all fabourable conditions for Finnish enterprises to make investment in and provide equipment for garbage and wastewater treatment in the city.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung made the statement at a reception for visiting Deputy Foreign Minister of Finland Elina Kalkku in Hanoi on March 14.

The two sides underlined the need for increasing the presence of Finnish firms in Hanoi to help the city address garbage and wastewater issues.

Elina Kalkku highlighted the long-term relationship between Vietnam and Finland in numerous fields, particularly in clean water supply and wastewater treatment.

The “Vietnam Water” programme, funded by the Government of Finland, was first implemented in Hanoi and then expanded to 25 communes, wards and townships in northern provinces and cities, she said.

Finland has effective solid waste treatment technologies, particularly those turning waste into energy, she said, adding that the Finnish Embassy in Vietnam will organise a workshop on the issue, with a hope to see the participation of representatives from the municipal People’s Committee.

Hanoi authorities and people always keep in their mind the support the Government and people of Finland have provided for the capital city, Chung noted, elaborating that the country has provided assistance for the city to build its water supply and processing plants.

Hanoi is focusing on developing a clean water supply system meeting European standards, the city mayor said, calling on private investors to use surface water treatment technology instead of exploiting underground water.

The city also encourages investors to update filtering technology up to European standards, while revising its plan on clean water supply for its residents.

Currently, treatment of wastewater in the industrial parks and clusters is an urgent issue to Hanoi as the rate reached only 57 percent. The rate of domestic wastewater treatment was just 35 percent, much lower than nearby localities.

By 2020, all local industrial parks and clusters, and 1,300 craft villages are expected to have wastewater treatment stations.

War veterans recall Gac Ma battle

Nearly 500 war veterans who struggled to defend Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago met in Hoa Vinh town, Dong Hoa district, the central province of Phu Yen, to recall the Gac Ma battle 30 years ago.

The meeting, held by Phu Yen’s Truong Sa soldier liaison committee, gathered war veterans hailing from different cities and provinces across the country.

 The same day, the war veterans and families of martyrs Phan Tan Du and Truong Van Thinh who had fallen down during the battle commemorated the death anniversary of the two martyrs.

 On this occasion, the Truong Sa soldier liaison committee mobilised donors to present 16 gift packs, each worth 440,000 VND (19.3 USD), to families of Truong Sa soldiers in difficult circumstances.

 The Phu Yen Confederation of Labour also handed over ten gift packs, each worth 300,000 VND (13.17 USD), to families of Truong Sa war invalids.

 The same day, the Thai Binh province Association of War Veterans held a meeting with relatives of martyrs and war veterans who fought during the battle.

 Among the 64 naval soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend Vietnam’s Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef 30 years ago, nine come from the northern province of Thai Binh.

Japan funds Vietnam’s education, health care projects

The Japanese Government will provide over 403,600 USD in non-refundable aid for five projects in health care and education in Vietnam under contracts signed in Ho Chi Minh City on March 14.

The money will be spent on building classrooms at Vu A Dinh primary school in Dak Drong commune, Cu Jut district, Dac Nong province, and at Tri Thuy primary school in Tri Hai commune, Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province. It will also be used for the construction of a health infirmary in Cong Hai commune, Thuan Bac district, Ninh Thuan province, and purchase of medical equipment for health centres in Cho Lach district, Ben Tre province, and Moc Hoa district, Long An province.

At the signing ceremony, Japanese Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Kawaue Junichi said that as a leading provider of non-refundable aid for Vietnam, Japan will work for the sustainable development of the Southeast Asian nation.

He expressed his hope that once completed, the five projects will help improve living conditions of residents in those provinces.

The contracts are part of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) Programme, which sponsored 174 projects, mostly in education, health, agriculture and rural infrastructure, across 26 southern Vietnamese provinces between 1995 and 2016. Total funding amounted to over 13.87 million USD.

Measures sought for sustainable development in Mekong River basin

Representatives from 17 cities and provinces of the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands gathered in Pleiku city, Gia Lai province, on March 14 to seek ways for sustainable development of the Mekong Basin.

Five Central Highlands provinces has been included in the Vietnam National Mekong Committee, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, who is also the committee’s Chairman, told the committee’s plenary session, the first of its kind in 2018.

Amid the climate change, the rise and fall of rivers’ water levels in dry and flooding seasons cause serious impacts on the living and economic development of regional localities, he said, adding Vietnam has responsibility to work with Mekong River upstream nations on consultation on major policies and legal issues while implementing urgent projects and tasks related to the region, particularly the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands.

According to the Committee, the year 2018 is forecast to see variations in terms of hydrometeorology in the Mekong River basin. Climate change and extreme weather patterns will continue posing challenges for socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands localities.

The Committee needs to review its tasks, study impacts of hydropower projects in the mainstream of the Mekong River, and develop adaptive measures for the situation.

Proposals will be submitted to the Government to prepare for the third Summit of the Mekong River Commission, slated for April in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

The Mekong (Cuu Long) Delta region in the lower Mekong basin has a total area of nearly four million hectares, accounting for 12 percent of the nation’s land area and five percent of the Mekong River basin. It contributes 50 percent of food, nearly 70 percent of aquatic product export, and 90 percent of rice export of the nation.

The Se San and Srepok Rivers in the Central Highlands are the two tributaries of the Mekong River. The basin of the two rivers, spanning the five regional provinces, provides water irrigation, industry, and daily life use, contributing to boosting local economic development and improving the living condition of residents.

Fallen soldiers in Gac Ma battle commemorated in Da Nang

Nearly 200 war veterans who once stationed on Gac Ma (Johnson South) Reef in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago attended a ceremony held in central Da Nang city on March 14 to commemorate 64 soldiers who laid down their lives while defending the island on March 14, 1988. 

The event, which was organised by the Truong Sa Soldiers Liaison Committee, also saw the attendance of representatives of relevant agencies and families of the fallen combatants.

The participants offered incense and flowers in tribute to the Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed during the Gac Ma battle 30 years ago.

They looked back on history and developments of the battle and expressed their gratitude to the heroic sacrifice of the soldiers for territorial integrity and national sovereignty.  

On this occasion, the liaison committee presented gifts to veterans and families of the fallen soldiers.

Last year, a memorial site dedicated to the 64 martyrs was inaugurated in Cam Hai Dong commune, Cam Lam district of the central province of Khanh Hoa.

The highlight of the site is a monument featuring the naval soldiers holding hands in an “eternal circle” to safeguard the national flag symbolising the national sovereignty on Gac Ma island. 

The work was built with money contributed by workers and public servants nationwide through trade union organisations under a programme launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.

Workshop on the body and emotion

A workshop on connecting with the true self through body movements will take place tonight at The Learning Hub, 14 Ngô Quyền Street.

Have you ever been surprised by the intelligence of your own body? The flexibility of your forearm? The multiple uses of your neck?

If the answer is “no” (or “what on earth is going on?”), then you can join Động – Body in (e) Motion, a workshop that will help you feel the intimate mind-body connection.

Facilitated by a couple of young friends who have plenty of experience and passion for the body and its motions, this workshop will combine movements and conversations, feet and hearts, movement and stillness. Participants will leave knowing yourself and others in a different way.

The workshop is for anyone interested in reconnecting with their body. The workshop also welcomes anyone who often feel shy with strangers and would like a chance to be bolder.

The workshop will take place from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Suggested donation: VNĐ50,000/person. 

FVH discover Hà Nội city walk

The Friends of Vietnam Heritage will hold a city walk to discover the St Joseph’s Cathedral and the surrounding area on March 17.

Taking place from 2.30pm until 5pm, the English-speaking tour will commence at the cathedral and travel through some of the streets in the Old Quarter, including Lý Quốc Sư, Yên Thái, Hàng Quạt and Hàng Trống. The tour will also include visits to two pagodas and temples, and two communal houses.

The group, which will not exceed 10 people, will gather in front of the cathedral, at the corner of Nhà Thờ and Nhà Chung streets. Tickets cost VNĐ70,000 and can be secured by emailing phuongloan2704@gmail.com. 

Ladies Night at Piu Piu Bar with DJ Sara Mapa

Piu Piu Bar will host Ladies Night on Thursday from 9pm until late at 97 Hai Bà Trưng Street in HCM City’s District 1.

The special guest DJ Sara Mapa from Saigon’s own new school Hip Hop will perform R&B vibes all night long.

Entrance is free, with free cocktails for women.

Laos Day to open at Đà Nẵng museum

An exhibition and performance introducing the lifestyle and culture of Laos, Laos Day 2018, will be opened at the Đà Nẵng Museum at 24 Trần Phú Street on Saturday (March 17), marking the traditional Lao New Year, Songkran or Pii Mai, and the 56th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The event, which starts at 8.30am, will include a photo contest on Laos’ land and people; a performance of Lao dances and costumes; a display of Lao musical instruments and cuisine tasting at the museum.

Tourists can enjoy the traditional customs of Lao people when visitors are invited to wear threads on their wrists and see how Lao women twist their hair in a bun.

Đà Nẵng has built relationships with provinces in southern Laos such as Vientiane, Savannakhet, Champasak, Sekong, Salavan, Attapu, Bolikhamsay and Xaynhaburi.

More than 700 students from Laos are enrolled at colleges and universities in Đà Nẵng

The city and Savanakhet in Laos launched a caravan service in 2006, and a direct flight route between Pakse, Savanakhet and Đà Nẵng was opened in 2012.

Last month, the Laos-Việt Nam Friendship Association of Vientiane donated rice and clothes to six central localities including Đà Nẵng City hit by typhoon Damrey last year.

Junior athletes to compete in Dunlop Cup

The first youth tennis championship, Dunlop Cup, will be organised from March 16 to 23 in Hà Nội.

Some 150 athletes from 23 teams will take part in the event held by the Việt Nam Tennis Federation’s junior tour. They will compete in the boys’ and girls’ singles categories for ages ranging from U10 to U16 and in the doubles pools for U14 and U16.

The competition will be held at Quan Hoa Tennis Club in Cầu Giấy District.

Apart from awards, athletes will be able to collect points to improve their national ranking.