Summer Camp: young expats visit late President Ho Chi Minh’s homeland

Young Vietnamese expats visit Kim Lien relic site 

Young Vietnamese expatriates on July 14 visited the central province of Nghe An – the homeland of late President Ho Chi Minh who founded and led the Vietnamese revolution to victory – as part of activities of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2018.

In Vinh city, 120 young overseas Vietnamese from 29 nations and territories paid tribute to the late President at his statue. They then visited Kim Lien relic site in Nam Dan district.

On this occasion, participating youths visited and granted 10 gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, war invalids and Agent Orange/dioxin victims in the locality.

Initiated in 2004, the Vietnam Summer Camp has attracted about 2,000 young people from various countries and territories.

This year’s camp which lasts until July 25 features a big programme of activities across 11 localities from the North to the South.

Together with the opening ceremony at the Temple of Hung Kings, the closing event will be held in Buon Ma Thuot city, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. 

The programme also includes visits to historical and cultural relic sites in Hanoi and the provinces of Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Kon Tum and Dak Lak.

Participants also engage in charitable activities in the central provinces of Nghe An and Quang Nam along with exchanges with domestic youths and overseas young entrepreneurs.

Normal life returns to Vietnamese Cambodians affected by blaze

Russey Keo fire scene 

Vietnamese Cambodian people in Russey Keo district in Phnom Penh capital who were affected by a fire on July 10 have gradually returned to normal life.

On July 14, representatives from the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy and the Khmer-Vietnamese Association visited and presented relief supplies to the victims.

The embassy vowed to continue coordinating with Vietnam’s authorised offices, donors and businesses both inside and outside Vietnam to provide more assistance to help them soon stabilise their lives.

Those affected by the fire still face some life-threatening challenges as the area where they have been provided with temporary accommodation is vulnerable to floods from the Mekong River, especially when the rainy season has come. 

The fire broke out in the Russey Keo district of the Cambodian capital city at 3.15 am on July 10, destroying 59 houses completely and causing substantial damages to 67 households, including 57 Vietnamese Cambodian families. 

According to the local police, the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

Hanoi gears towards smart, sustainable urban area

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung. (Source: Ha Noi Moi)

Hanoi aims to become a smart and sustainable urban area in the future, which will also help fulfill some of the city’s growing demands, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung. 

Speaking at a symposium in Hanoi on July 13 as part of the Industry 4.0 Summit and Exhibition, Chung said, like other super urban areas in the world, Hanoi has faced challenges such as rapid urbanisation and migration flows, along with issues regarding planning, traffic, security, health care, education, energy, housing development, and environmental pollution. 

A smart and sustainable urban model must ensure convenience, safety, and hospitality for residents on the basis of the application of major Industry 4.0 technologies, he said. 

Amidst the robust development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is necessary to seek suitable solutions and policies that support the implementation of the model, he said, stressing the important role played by human resources who are able to deal with the trickier sides of smart urban area development. 

Of note, Hanoi, as well as other cities and provinces, need to roll out plans on developing strategies on digital television, digital connectivity infrastructure, cyber security, startup and innovation ecosystems, smart agriculture and tourism, and digital industry. 

Opinions put forth at the event on the creation, application of, and experiences in building smart cities are expected to help Hanoi’s agencies and relevant parties complete policies promoting the development of smart urban areas that are also suitable to Vietnam’s conditions.

New strides in finance-banking in spotlight at Industry 4.0 Summit

New strides in finance and banking in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution came under spotlight at a seminar on July 13 within the framework of the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 in Hanoi. 

In his opening speech, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Ngo Van Tuan said the finance-banking sector is at the forefront of opportunities to join the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With a population of nearly 100 million by 2025, and one of the world’s highest smartphone usage rates, Vietnam is considered one of the countries able to thoroughly modernise finance-banking services. 

The event provides a platform to look into the potential, strengths, opportunities, and challenges of the sector during the Industry 4.0, as well as propose measures and mechanisms needed to tap opportunities, he said. 

According to him, many Vietnamese financial and banking organisations have studied and successfully adopted technologies to improve service quality amidst global integration. 

Reports at the event featured Industry 4.0 impacts on finance-banking; policy recommendations; blockchain potential and application in Vietnam; and active defence of cyber space in financial services. 

Topics up for discussion include database management for financial services and its privacy issues; new ecological systems for cashless payment; challenges in digital transformation; changes in online banking services; and artificial intelligence’s impacts on governance and workforce among others.

Binh Duong looks for innovative ideas to develop smart city

A view of Binh Duong. 

The southern province of Binh Duong is looking for original, innovative, and feasible ideas to build its city of the same name into a smart city in a competition launched on July 13.

Binh Duong has officially joined the World Technopolis Association (WTA) in the hope of becoming a smart city in the future. It is hosting WTA’s events this year, including those celebrating the 20th anniversary of the WTA, according to Director of the provincial Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Quoc Cuong.

The “Smart City Ideas Competition: Binh Duong 2018” is co-held by Binh Duong, the WTA, and Daejeon city of the Republic of Korea as part of events to mark the WTA anniversary, he said.

It will seek, support, and provide all means necessary for the development of ideas to build Binh Duong into a smart city. This move also aims to improve living standards and offer greater convenience to local people.

Eligible candidates must be students at schools, colleges, or universities in Vietnam or the Republic of Korea. Registration can be made in the form of individuals or a team of maximum five people. They are welcome to present their ideas regarding all aspects of smart city but priority is given to the fields of smart urban management, healthcare, culture and travel, smart education, e-government, energy and environment, urban agriculture, and smart production.

The competition is organised with three rounds, the preliminary round and semi-finals will take place in both Vietnam and the RoK, with the final to be held in Binh Duong.

The first prize winner will be awarded 100 million VND (4,400 USD), while the second prize and third prize winners will receive 70 million VND (3,080 USD) and 40 million VND (1,760 USD), respectively. Two winners of consolation prizes will be presented with 20 million VND each.

All winning individuals or teams will receive an additional entrepreneur support package from the Becamex Business Incubator (BBI) at the Eastern International University.

All projects must be submitted online at www.binhduong.wtanet.org/vi/smartcityideas or sent via email, no later than August 20.

Symposium talks readiness of Vietnamese firms for Industry 4.0

At the symposium. 

The readiness of enterprises in Vietnam, and foreign countries in general, for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) was debated at a symposium in Hanoi on July 13. 

The symposium, themed “Smart Production Development: Vision and Solutions for Sustainable Development,” took place within the framework of the Industry 4.0 Summit and Exhibition on July 12-13. 

Delegates at the event also looked into mechanisms and policies which need to be streamlined in order to push ahead with smart and high-tech application in production, and thus improve the productivity and competitiveness of various enterprises and the economy. 

Representatives from the world’s leading technological firms shared their experience in implementing Industry 4.0, as well as building, managing, and operating digital and smart factories. 

The participants said information and communication technologies, plus other new trends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, have generated both challenges and opportunities for business administrators. 

Cao Duc Phat, permanent deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, said smart factories with breakthrough technologies will change traditional production methods, creating new products with outstanding quality. 

The automation and artificial intelligence technology will mean the cheap unskilled labour force may lose some of its advantages in the industrial sector and require a workforce suitable to the new situation, he said. 

Moreover, natural resources have been gradually replaced by new synthetic materials, the official said, noting that major technological progresses in renewable energy production has helped ease the reliance on fossil fuels. 

The symposium is expected to help Party think tanks, State management agencies and the research and business circles set forth guidelines and policies to step up technological application and development.

Expansion of Hai Van 2 Tunnel may lag behind schedule

At the construction site

The People’s Committee of central Thua Thien-Hue province has asked Phu Loc district's authorities to hand over the ground for a project expanding the Hai Van 2 Tunnel before July 15. However, the work may lag behind schedule, the provincial committee has said.

The Hai Van Tunnel 2, which was built as a rescue tunnel for Hai Van Tunnel No 1 in 2005, is being expanded to a two-lane, 6.29km-long tunnel to accommodate increasing traffic on the trans-Vietnam National Highway No 1.

The expansion of Hai Van Tunnel 2, which includes 5.85km-long entrance roads on either side, infrastructure and rescue lanes between the two tunnels, is set to cost 7.2 trillion (317.2 million). It is scheduled to go into operation in 2020.

However, in early July, only 25 percent of the construction of the bridge and tunnel for Hai Van Tunnel 2 was completed - when it should be 38 percent. The reason of the slow progress was that some households obstructed the construction, claiming that the compensation for their land was not satisfactory.

Currently, the investor has received 18 out of 19 hectares of land, reaching 94.2 percent of the project’s site clearance. As many as 18 households have refused to move, claiming that the compensation was low compared to the actual land prices. They have asked authorised agencies to re-calculate and apply a new rate of compensation.

To address this issue, on June 29, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment asked the provincial People’s Committee to consider a new rate of compensation. It would take 20 days to complete the procedure.

The provincial People’s Committee also mentioned the mass fish death in Phu Loc district’s Lang Co town. Last year, fish bred in cages in An Cu Dong 2 died en masse without a clear cause. Farmers blamed the incident on a discharge of wastewater from the overpass of Hai Van Tunnel, and claimed compensation from the investor.

By this May, authorised agencies approved compensation of more than 5.3 billion (233,000) for 25 affected households. However, Phu Loc district’s authorities were slow at checking and paying compensation for these households, leading to protests from those who have not received the money.

The project also affected the water flow of Lang Co and Lap An lagoons, causing landsides for the surrounding areas. Roughly 400 households were reported to be affected, but many have not received financial support.

Local residents have asked authorised agencies to conduct an environmental impact assessment to get proper compensation.

To deal with the issue, the provincial committee has asked the management board of the project to work closely with local authorities to implement site clearance and pay proper compensation to those affected.

Seminar looks to identify major trends of Industry 4.0

Major trends of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and recommendations for Vietnam were the main topics of a seminar in Hanoi on July 13 in the framework of the Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 themed “Vision and Development Strategy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

In opening the seminar, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh stressed that the impacts of Industry 4.0 on Vietnam’s society and economy are becoming more and more visible, thus requiring the Government and business circle of Vietnam to adopt strong reforms to cope with both positive and negative effects.  

He said the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), as the coordinator in designing and promoting the research and application of the Industry 4.0’s key technologies, hopes to receive recommendations from both domestic and international experts on what Vietnam can do to optimise the opportunities brought about by Industry 4.0.

Participants compared opinions on the major trends of digitalisation and opportunities and challenges brought by the digital economy to Vietnam. They suggested fields of technology which the country should develop in the time ahead and policies to facilitate the work. 

They said Vietnam should build a legal corridor for the digitalised economy and make comprehensive preparations for the transition to digitalisation from public governance to business models in a digital economy and society. 

The country is advised to invest in information infrastructure and high-quality workforce while continuing with administrative reform and efforts to enhance competitiveness.

The Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018 took place in Hanoi on July 12 and 13. Themed “Vision and Development Strategy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, the event saw Government officials and nearly 1,800 representatives from localities, domestic and foreign experts, businesses and embassies in attendance.

Nationwide blood donation campaign collects over 42,000 units

People donate blood at the last event of the 2018 Red Journey campaign (Photo: VOV)

The Hanh Trinh Do (Red Journey) 2018 blood donation campaign has organised 100 events across 26 provinces and cities nationwide, attracting thousands of participants and collecting more than 42,000 blood units.

The figures were announced at the last blood donation event of the one-month campaign, which took place in Hanoi on July 14.

The event, a highlight of campaign in Hanoi, featured a camping site, a street parade, and a “Globin Cipher” communications programme to raise community awareness of thalassemia - a genetic blood disorder that can lead to heart failure and liver problems. It was expected to receive 3,000 blood units.

At a conference reviewing outcomes of the “Red Journey” 2018 held as part of the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien praised active response to and participation in the campaign of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, authorities of different levels and hospitals nationwide, among others.

He said the next year’s campaign should focus on boosting communication activities and blood donation in rural and remote areas and on islands. 

“Red Journey” is a cross-country campaign initiated by the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation and the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion in 2013. It aims to raise public awareness of blood donation and thalassaemia, and to address the shortage of blood for medical use.

Over the past five years, more than 120,000 blood units were collected, helping to reduce blood shortages during summer and saves lives of thousands of patients across the country.

In 2017, the campaign collected over 38,000 blood units nationwide.

Tourism sector promotes environmental protection

Young people in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre clean up Con Bung beach in June 

Vietnam’s tourism sector is making efforts to go green and spread awareness via community-based campaigns.

In May 2018, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), ran a large-scale environmental protection campaign, themed “green Vietnamese sea”, in five central coastal provinces. 

Members of the HCYU cleaned beaches and brought clean water to locals affected by drought and saltwater intrusion.

Tourism companies have also taken part in the effort.

In July 2018, the Muong Thanh Group, which owns 53 hotels and hotel projects across 40 provinces, launched its annual “Keep me clean – Keep me saving” campaign. Aiming to protect water resources, about 10,000 staffers and customers of the firm cleaned beaches and river areas throughout the campaign.

Vietravel, which was named ‘Vietnam’s Best Travel Agency’ at the TTG Travel Awards ceremony last year, has developed tours in line with its social responsibility. 

For years, it has run a “For a green, clean tourism environment” campaign, urging people to stop littering. Vietravel’s clients have been at the centre of the campaign as they are best able to spread the environmental protection message across their destinations.

Vietnam has 3,200-km of coast and more than 2,770 islands and beaches. However, climate change and tourism are harming the environment.

Activities to promote Dak Nong’s specialty avocados

Dak Nong will organise a programme on July 18-23 to promote avocados, a specialty fruit of the Central Highlands province.

Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh said on July 12 that this will be the first of its kind, themed “Dak Nong: Ripe Avocado Season”, featuring major events for the opening and closing ceremonies, a workshop on sustainable avocado development, a trade fair connecting the supply and demand of the fruit and other agricultural products, an avocado competition, as well as tours to farms.

The programme aims to popularise Dak Nong avocados among consumers, improve the local fruit’s value, and affirm the position of Vietnamese avocados – especially those of Dak Nong – on the world market.

It will serve as a platform for businesses to seek partnerships with avocado purchasing and processing companies, while connecting with domestic and foreign firms to expand the product’s market.

Through the programme, organisers also look to select high-quality and high-yield avocado varieties to help with local agricultural restructuring, Hanh said, adding that it will also be an opportunity to introduce the province’s advantages and potential so as to attract investment.

Dak Nong is one of the provinces with the biggest avocado farming areas and output in Vietnam. It is currently home to nearly 2,600ha of avocado trees, accounting for some 20 percent of the local fruit cultivating area, with an average output of 10-15 tonnes per ha. Avocado farming is particularly concentrated in Dak Mil, Dak R’lap, Dak Song, and Dak Glong districts, and Gia Nghia town.

With its terrain, climate, and soil conditions different from those of other provinces, Dak Nong is able to plant many avocado varieties bearing fruit from January through to November. Local avocados are also preferred by domestic and foreign consumers thanks to their bigger size, appealing appearance, and rich nutrition, the official noted. 

Exhibition highlights 20-year development of central, Central Highlands regions

Visitors to the exhibition at at the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum 

How the central and Central Highlands regions have changed over the past 20 years is the main focus of a photo exhibition that opened at the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum on July 12. 

On display are nearly 100 photos featuring projects that have helped improve living standards of residents in difficult circumstances in the regions. 

Nobuko Otsuki, chief representative of Japan’s Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR), which co-organised the event, said over the past two decades, her foundation has supported development projects in central and Central Highlands provinces, contributing to giving a facelift to disadvantaged areas. 

Ha Thanh Van, Director of the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum, said FIDR has helped spur socio-economic development, improve living environment and develop craft villages of ethnic minority groups. 

Since its inception in Da Nang in 1998, FIDR has implemented 22 development projects and provided relief aids in such areas in social and livelihood development, education-training, health care and natural disaster combat, among others.

The exhibition runs until July 15.

Man jailed for trying to overthrow people’s administration

Dinh Diem (centre) (Source: Quang Ngai newspaper)

Quang Ngai (VNA) – The People’s Court of the central province of Quang Ngai on July 12 sentenced a 56-year-old man to 16 years in jail for attempting to overthrow the people’s administration.

According to the indictment, Dinh Diem – from Son Ha commune, Son Ha district, Quang Ngai province – is a self-proclaimed pastor of the Evangelical Church of America and Vietnam. He participated in the “Provisional National Government of Vietnam”, a US-based organisation which incites terrorist and destructive activities with the aim of overthrowing the people’s administration. 

During the investigation, relevant agencies collected many documents relating to Diem’s crimes. 

Diem was assigned by Dao Minh Quan, who has proclaimed himself as Prime Minister of the “Provisional National Government of Vietnam”, as Provisional President of the “Hoi dong lien ton” (Interfaith Council) in Vietnam. 

Diem lured a number of religious dignitaries to take part in the organisation so as to develop forces to overthrow the administration. 

On January 5, 2018, under the approval of the People’s Procuracy of Quang Ngai province, the investigation agency of Quang Ngai police decided to launch criminal proceedings against Diem and ordered the detention of Diem on the charge of attempting to overthrow the people’s administration, as well as the seizure of many pieces of evidence. 

In the past, Diem joined the FULRO reactionary organisation and was sent for re-education. 

The “Provisional National Government of Vietnam” is a terrorist organisation in accordance with Vietnamese and international law, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam has announced. 

Binh Thuan: seven imprisoned for disturbing public order

The defendants at the trial on July 12 

The People’s Court of the central province of Binh Thuan conducted a first-instance hearing on July 12 against seven defendants for the charge of disturbing public order in front of the headquarters of the provincial People’s Committee on June 11.

According to the indictment, from 8:00pm-12:00am on June 11, the defendants – namely Nguyen Van Hung (born in 1992), Nguyen Van Manh (1994), Nguyen Van Minh (1966), Nguyen Phuong Dong (1994), Nguyen Dinh Vu (1977), Nguyen Minh Hai (2001), and Tran Thi Ngoc (1968) – gathered in front of the headquarters of the provincial People’s Committee to audibly protest, throwing stones and petrol bombs at police officers on duty.

The defendants were charged with “disturbing public order” by using weapons and assaulting the person who intervenes to maintain public order as stipulated in the 2015 Penal Code.

The jury sentenced Manh, Hung, Dong, and Minh to 30 months in prison each, while Vu and Ngoc received a 24 month jail penalty each. Hai was granted an 18 month suspended sentence as he was still a minor when committing the crime.

For those who offered money to the defendants and incited them to create the social disturbances, Phan Thiet city’s police force decided to separate the case and conduct further investigations.

Exhibition looks back at path to peace in Vietnam

The pens used at the Paris Peace Talks in 1973 are displayed at the exhibition 

Nearly 120 documents, objects, and photos relating to the Paris Peace Accords, signed 45 years ago, are being displayed at an exhibition which opened on July 12 at the Hanoi Museum.

The exhibition, themed “Paris Peace Talks – The Path to Peace”, forms part of an archival cooperation plan between Vietnam and the US. It also marks 45 years since the signing of the 1973 Paris Peace Accords, and 20 years since the  normalisation of relations between the two countries on July 7, 1995. 

With three parts, the event focuses on the Paris Peace Talks, the Paris Peace Conference, and the Paris Peace Accords, as well as their impacts on Vietnam’s struggle for independence, peace, and national reunification. 

Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the Department of State Records Management and Archives Vietnam, said the exhibition gives historical researchers, diplomats, and the public an insight into the treaty events. 

It also helps enhance cooperation between the department and the US’ National Archives and Records Administration, who were the co-organisers of the display. 

David Ferriero, Director of the US’ department, said that among the documents his agency sent to the exhibition are President Richard Nixon’s announcement of his initial acceptance of the agreement to ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam in January 1973, along with a number of faxed documents and photos. 

On January 27, 1973, the Paris Peace Accords – an agreement to end the war and restore peace in Vietnam – were signed between the four governments of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, the Republic of Vietnam, and the United States.

The agreement called to an end the longest and most difficult struggle in the history of Vietnam’s diplomacy, with 202 public meetings held over the war’s four years, eight months, and 14 days.

The exhibition will run until July 20.

Foreign tourists help clean Mui Ne beach

Foreigners and local people join hands to clean Mui Ne beach on July 12 

A foreign tourist group called Keep Mui Ne Nice joined staff from local tourism facilities, organisations, and youngsters in Phan Thiet city in the south-central province of Binh Thuan to collect rubbish along Mui Ne beach on July 12.

Every year in May and June, waste and debris are washed by the tide from the East Sea to the Mui Ne gulf.

This year, the amount of waste was substantial, made up of a variety of items – largely broken fishing nets, plastic bottles, and plastic bags – which are buried in sand along beaches stretching over a kilometre, making it hard to collect.

Kristy Marland, an Australian member of the group who has lived in Mui Ne for six years, said that she is worried about the pollution conditions in Mui Ne. She and her friends often organise cleaning activities on the beach with the hope of raising public awareness of the necessity of keeping the sea clean.

According to locals, many groups have exerted efforts to collect rubbish, especially in areas that waste is concentrated. However, these attempts are not enough against the rising tide of careless rubbish-dumping that is seen across the nation. 

Although campaigns to clean the beach are temporary solutions, they have significantly contributed to raising the awareness of tourism facilities and the community in protecting the sea environment and not releasing waste into the sea. 

Technological development can drive agricultural restructuring: official

Scene at the seminar (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

Vietnam should capitalise on advancements in technology to restructure its agriculture based on three key pillars, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan on July 12.

Tuan made the suggestion as part of his opening remarks at a seminar on the visions of and solutions to a smart and sustainable system of agriculture, which was held in Hanoi and participated in by representatives of the Government, relevant organisations, and enterprises, as well as expert and scientists in Vietnam and abroad.

According to the official, the first pillar is the application of technology, particularly high-tech, to agricultural production on a larger scale. The second is promoting the reorganisation of agricultural production towards forming supply chains, with enterprises placed at the centre, and towards allocating support from farmers and cooperatives in terms of supply, technological application, origin tracing, and trademark building. The third covers serious and practical institutional reform, making business climate transparent, and improving competitiveness to boost domestic and international investment in agriculture.

He said Vietnam exported 36.4 billion USD worth of farm produce in 2017 and the figure is likely to reach 40 billion USD this year. The official also pointed out some of the shortcomings of agricultural development in Vietnam, which include products falling short of potential, scattered production, low value added farm produce, and the low rate of technological application.

Tuan stressed that the seminar welcomes opinions in search of measures helping Vietnam take part in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly in smart agriculture.

The results of the seminar will become a reference point for the policymaking process related to smart agriculture building in Vietnam, he noted.

Participants suggested various ideas surrounding high-tech application in agriculture, which include a smart agriculture management system and a policy on upgrading the value chain of rice towards sustainability and climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta region.  

They also talked about cloud computing and clean energy in farming, while sharing Japan’s experience in managing smart agriculture.

The seminar was one of the activities at the ongoing two-day Industry 4.0 Summit and Expo 2018, held in Hanoi under the theme of “Vision and Development Strategy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”.

Beach cleanup campaign launched in Hanoi

The beach cleanup campaign “Let’s clean the beach” is launched on July 12. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

At least 28,000 people are expected to participate in the beach cleanup campaign “Let’s clean the beach”, which was launched in the capital city of Hanoi on July 12.

The campaign, which runs until August 31, is one of the key events of the Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign 2018. It will go through 28 coastal cities and provinces nationwide to raise public awareness of the ocean’s significant roles in human life.

Speaking at the press conference on July 12, Director of the Vietnam National Volunteer Centre (VNVC) Do Thi Kim Hoa noted that the campaign, initiated by the Vietnam Television (VTV) 24 news centre and the VNVC in 2016, has attracted the involvement of both local and international organisations as well as people from all walks of life.

A string of activities will be held during this year’s campaign, including social security activities to encourage disadvantaged fishermen to continue offshore fishing, she added.

Notably, tourists can join communication work, and garbage collection at public beaches of Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue and Kien Giang provinces, and Da Nang city, according to Hoa.

At the press conference, the VNVC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security, the US Embassy in Hanoi, and relevant agencies launched a contest of “Let’s clean the beach” poster designs and initiatives.

The contest is open for all youths, students, residents, and both local and foreign businesses in Vietnam.

Detailed information on the contest, and entries will be updated on fanpage “Let’s clean the beach’.