Patients who suffer from serious knee-joint distortion will be offered free check ups and consultations from August 21 to 25 in Hà Nội.

The service will be provided by the department of spinal column traumatology orthopedics in Hà Nội’s Bạch Mai Hospital.

Patients with serious knee-joint distortion are advised to replace their hip joint by robotic technology using navigational system. O-arm system provides 3D images with high resolution and higher accuracy and safety for surgeons.

Professor Ton Tran from the orthopaedic surgery department of Monash Health in Australia will join the consultation. He is the leading expert in joint surgery using navigational systems.

The free check up and consultation will be offered from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday at the department of spinal column traumatology orthopedics located on floor 7, building Q of Bạch Mai Hospital.

Patients can register for the check-up at 091353760 or  via email daoxuanthanh@gmail.com. 

Bến Tre warns residents against pig-based pathogen

Medical authorities in the Mekong Delta Province of Bến Tre have stepped up a prevention campaign against Streptococcus suis bacteria, a pig-based pathogen capable of transmission to human beings.

Since the beginning of this year, 12 cases of infection have been recorded in the province, compared with nine up to the same period last year, with one fatality.

The information campaign focuses on communities highly exposed to the bacteria, such as pork farmers, transporters, and fresh pork butchers.

The provincial medical sector warned residents against slaughtering or consuming bacteria-infected pigs, dead pigs and pig blood pudding, raw or underdone pork products.

Those who breed, slaughter or process pork products are advised to use protective equipment.

Doctor Đỗ Tấn Hồng, director of the local Preventive Medicine Centre, warned that people who are in direct contact with pigs or eat uncooked pork and develop symptoms such as high fever, headache and vomitting are advised to seek treatment.

Hồng said the extremely dangerous disease is caused by bacteria in the respiratory system and easily transmitted from pigs to humans. Some 60 per cent of patients risk meningitis, septicaemia and even death if they delay going to hospital.

The disease may leave after effects such as blindness, tinnitus and deafness.

More than 300,000 pigs are bred in Bến Tre Province.

Vietnam-RoK student exchange programme begins

Students from Daegu, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City are taking part in an exchange programme at the university’s campus in Thu Duc district.

During their four-day stay, the delegation of RoK students and officials will learn about Vietnam’s culture and take a tour of the central city of Da Nang and HCM City, including the historic Cu Chi Tunnels.

Earlier, students, lecturers and staff from the Vietnam National University-HCM City took part in an exchange programme in Daegu in early July.

Dr Nguyen Duc Nghia, deputy director of the Vietnam National University-HCM City, said the exchange programme was one of the activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the RoK.

Vietnam has become an ideal destination for students of the RoK to study, according to the Embassy of Vietnam in the RoK.

Each year, around 3,000 students from the RoK enroll in short-term courses or take part in exchange activities at Vietnam National University-HCM City, accounting for 85 percent of its foreign students.

First street football tournament on Hanoi's pedestrian street organized 

Under the sports development program for the youth of Hanoi Sports and Culture Department, Hanoi FC and SCG invite passionate young football players in Hanoi to form teams and take part in an exciting street football tournament called “The Pride of Capital Football” for showing the proud spirit of the capital football. 

Tournament winner will get 20 million VND prize award and an opportunity to train with the top professionals from Hanoi FC. Especially, for the first time, in collaboration with Hanoi FC, SCG will throw a football feast in the middle the bustling walking street of Hanoi, where the tournament’s final match will also be hosted with various mini football games and many free gifts for everyone. 

This is also a rare opportunity for football fans in Hanoi to watch and play along with superstars of the capital including national players like Van Quyet, Thanh Luong and Quang Hai.

“SCG believes that sport has the power to build a stronger and healthier society. Hence, in Vietnam, SCG would like to develop the passion for sports amongst local people, as it is one of the keys for the future better living. With that in mind, SCG has collaborated with Hanoi FC to bring professional football closest to the people by organizing the first-time-ever street football tournament on the iconic walking street of Hanoi. This is an unprecedented effort to excite the capital football fans and players alike”. said Mr. MontriMahaplerkpong, Deputy Country Director of SCG in Vietnam. 

“The passionate young players are invited to join ‘The Pride of Capital Football’ street football tournament to show off their skills and potentials. We believe that this tournament is the playground where junior footballers can show their experience and skills. On the top of that, they are able to be the winner and get trained by Hanoi FC, the top football club in V League. Come and join with us to show your pride of capital football”, he added.

From street to star, ‘The Pride of Capital Football’ Street Football Tournament is where the young seeds of Hanoi football could grow their passions and talents. The tournament happens in the exciting 3vs3 format, applying special street football rules to create a total refreshing atmosphere for football players from 18 to 22 years old. 

The attractive grand prize of 20 million VND and a once-in-a-lifetime training with the top professionals of Hanoi are waiting for the champion. Register now for the qualification round that will take place on August 26 2017 at Hang Day stadium, the newly renovated home field of Hanoi FC. In order to participate, players need to form a team of 6 (six) and submit their information on Facebook Hanoi FC www.facebook.com/hanoifootballclub.vn before August 25 2017.

Do not miss one of the most exciting football event of the year that will emerge in the middle of the walking street of Hanoi - the Football Festival taking place on September 9th 2017 from 5pm until 9:30pm at the area of Ly Thai To Park. 

SCG has become the main sponsor for Hanoi FC for seasons 2017-2018. This sponsorship follows SCG’s successful practice in Thailand as being the title sponsor of Thai League’s leading club SCG Muangthong United. Besides, SCG has also funded the flagship SCG Badminton Academy and supported the top world ranking female golfer, AriyaJutanugarn, amongst other efforts to bring ASEAN to the world. 

30 Lao military officers receive training in Hai Duong

A training course on defence affairs was opened in the northern province of Hai Duong on August 14 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for 30 military officers from Laos.

The Lao officials will be provided lessons on 19 theoretical and practical topics on defence affairs at local levels and how to enhance socio-economic development and strengthen defence and security at the same time.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, deputy head of the MoD’s steering committee for training Nguyen Duy Nguyen underlined the significance of the course and asked lecturers, students and other people involved to overcome difficulties and closely work together for good results.

TV documentary series on national defense aired

The first phase of a television documentary series titled Nhung Trang Su Bien Thuy (Historic Pages of the Frontier), including five episodes, will be aired on HTV9 channel at 8 a.m. from August 15-19.

Filmed in three years ago, the documentary is co-produced by the Television Film Studio (TFS) and the Border Military Command, aiming at marking the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

The documentary has been shot in 44 provinces and cities nationwide having border lines throughout the country, telling tasks of defending national sovereignty and territory. The film also aims to raise awareness among all Vietnamese people on the national pride and patriotism.

The second part of the documentary with 10 episodes will be broadcast at 1.30 p.m. from August 25-September 7.

The final part featuring 12 episodes is expected to be completed in the end of 2018 to celebrate  the 30th anniversary of the All People's Border Guard and the 60th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Border Guard Command.

CDC supports HCMC for HIV/AIDS care and treatment program

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has just approved a project to strengthen and maintain the capacity of HIV/ AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services this year.

The project was donated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC) with total investment capital of VND 35 billion via direct support services for patients.

Accordingly, the project is scheduled to be implemented at the Ho Chi Minh City Health Department, Center for HIV/ AIDS Prevention and Control, the Ho Chi Minh City Preventive Medicine Center, Center for Medical Testing, Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital, the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Children's Hospital No.1, Children's Hospital No.2, Pasteur Institute,  Preventive Medicine Center of districts 1,2,4,8, 10 and Go Vap, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Binh Chanh and Mai Khoi Center. 

It will be started from August, 2017 till April, 2018.

Da Lat - Trai Mat railway line to be upgraded

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung agreed on investment, repair, management, operation and re-exploitation of the Da Lat - Trai Mat railway line following a public–private partnership (PPP).

Accordingly, the vice PM asked Ministry of Transport to urgently fulfill files relating to the project and send to the Ministry of Planning and Investment before summiting for the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s approval.

The seven kilometer Da Lat - Trai Mat railway line  departs from Da Lat station to Trai Mat station.

In the past, it was part of the Thap Cham- Da Lat rail route with the total length of 84 kilometers.

By 1991, it was repaired to serve tourists.

Hanoi proposes projects to connect belt roads

The Hanoi People’s Committee has asked for permission to apply special mechanisms in order to select investors in making the Belt Road No. 2.5, 3.5 and 4 closed circuits, with a total investment capital of over VND66 trillion (US$2.9 billion), in its proposal document recently sent to the PM.

The Belt Road No. 2.5 project features a 0.57km section connecting the end of Trung Kinh Street and Tran Duy Hung Street, costing approximately VND1.15 trillion (US$50.6 million); a 2.53km section through Nguy Nhu Kon Tum Street, Nguyen Trai Street and Dam Hong Lake in Thanh Xuan district, costing VND2.6 trillion (US$114.4 million); and a 0.72km section connecting the Dich Vong New Urban Area and Duong Dinh Nghe Street, costing VND928 billion (US$40.83 million).

The transport projects along the Belt Road No. 2.5 route will be implemented in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) and a Build-Transfer (BT) contract, which are all scheduled to be completed in 2019.

With regards to the Belt Road No. 3.5 projects, Hanoi has proposed the construction of a 4.5km Thuong Cat Bridge at total costs of VND16 trillion (US$704 million), in the form of PPP and BT/Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract (due for completion in 2021); a 4km section from Thuong Cat Bridge to the National Highway 5 at VND1.6 trillion (US$70.4 million) (due for completion in 2020); and a 3km section connecting Thuong Cat Bridge and the National Highway 32 at VND1.59 trillion (US$70.13 million) (due for completion in 2020); among others.

Concerning the Belt Road No. 4, the capital city has proposed the construction of the Me So Bridge (including two roadways at both ends) at roughly VND6.5 trillion (US$286 million) (due for completion in 2020), and the 6km Hong Ha Bridge (including two roadways) at VND9.8 trillion (US$431.2 million). In addition, Hanoi will also implement transport projects, stretching 34 kilometres, from the Hanoi-Lao Cai Expressway (Km3+650) to the National Highway 32 (Km9+500), and from the National Highway 32 to the Phap Van-Cau Gie Expressway, at a total cost of VND19.69 trillion (US$734.36 million).

The capital funds for the abovementioned projects will be raised through the use of land funds in some areas subject to auction across the districts of Cau Giay, Tay Ho, Dong Anh and Gia Lam, or neighbouring localities served by the projects.

In addition, a number of domestic investors have voiced their interest and asked for permission to implement these projects in the form of PPP, BT or BOT. The Hanoi People’s Committee has directed the building of a land use plan in order to ensure the sufficient land funds are available for the projects to be organised in the form of BT.

Culture ministry to tighten management of festivals

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is looking to draft a decree on festival management and organization, in response to public complaints about the commercialization and brutality of some local festivities.

The ministry has requested government directions on its initiative, and will unveil the first draft of the decree before 2018 should the plan be given the green light, said Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Elaborating on its decision, the ministry said some local festivals have recently been criticized for their violent and offensive content.

Chaotic stampedes, brutal rites, widespread panhandling and price-gouging have been named among the issues yet to be solved of many traditional festivals across Vietnam.

Meanwhile, a lack of legal documentation governing the organization of festivals has posed a challenge to authorities in cracking down on them, the ministry pointed out.

In its upcoming draft decree, the ministry will look to sort current and future festivals into four categories, which are traditional festivals; festivals celebrating historical and revolutionary events; culture, sports and tourism festivals; and festivals originating from other countries.

For traditional festivals, organizers will be required to notify relevant authorities at least 20 days prior to their commencement.

Other festivals will require a permit, and only those without brutal rituals or violence will be allowed.

Applications for a permit must include historical evidence of the origin of the festival, according to the ministry’s plan.

No more than two donation boxes will be allowed at each worshipping site inside any festival ground to avoid commercialization of the traditional activity.

Adequate numbers of restrooms and garbage collection points must also be made available to put up with the expected number of participants.

If the plan is approved by the government, Ninh Thi Thu Huong, a culture official, said.

"The ministry would soon welcome public and expert feedback on the decree’s first draft as early as the end of this year," Huong added.

9 alarm fire rips through Vinh City lumber mill

Nearly 100 firefighters battled a 9-alarm blaze at a lumber mill today (August 15) in Vinh City in central Nghe An Province, reported the Zing online newspaper.

The fire broke out just after 6am at the sprawling mill owned by Hoang Ha Linh Company on Nguyen Trai Street near National Highway 1A. The first firefighters on the scene reported heavy flames and smoke. 

The fire was declared under control at about 11am. They were no injuries. Damage was estimated at about US$300,000. The plant is not expected to resume normal operations anytime soon.

SUV slams into multiple motorbikes in city of Quy Nhon

Six people are hospitalized in critical condition after their motorbikes were rear-ended by a Toyota Prado SUV in the city of Quy Nhon in south central coastal Binh Dinh Province, reports the Zing online newspaper.

The crash happened around 7am Tuesday, August 15, on Tran Hung Dao Street.

Police say the driver of a white SUV, Nguyen Minh Hoang, 50, from Quy Nhon was traveling at an excessive speed and he failed to maintain control of his vehicle when it careened out of control and rear-ended six motorbikes.

The photos of the accident clearly show damage to the right, passenger side of the SUV, indicating that Hoang was attempting to pass the motorbikes on their left side and the SUV quite possibly crossed the centre line of the roadway.

Hoang claimed his brakes failed but with the Toyota Prado he was driving that is virtually impossible with its anti-locking braking system, but in any case— the emergency brake would not have failed.

The damages also clearly suggest the SUV was travelling at an excessive speed.

Charges against Hoang are pending, police say.

10 local students advance to finals of Samsung IT contest

10 Vietnamese students have qualified to compete at the grand finale of the Samsung Collegiate Programming Cup 2017 set for August 17 at the Samsung Electronics Seoul R&D campus.

At the event, a total of 38 winners will receive prizes amounting to US$88,000 in cash as well as a leg up on the competition should they apply for a position at Samsung. In addition, the top two finishers will receive opportunities to attend software-related conferences overseas. 

According to a statement by Samsung, roughly 150 contestants from India, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam have qualified to compete at the grand finale of the international programming competition this year.

Dong A University to offer Swiss hospitality education

The Hotel and Tourism Management Institute Switzerland (HTMi) will send teachers and transfer education programmes to the Da Nang-based Dong A University as part of their recent cooperation deal.

HTMi Managing Director Ian R J Larmour and Dong A University Director Luong Minh Sam signed a memorandum of understanding on their partnership on August 14 in Geneva.

Ian R J Larmour said the joint project aims to offer students at the Vietnamese university international-standard training in hotel-tourism at affordable tuition fees.

Luong Minh Sam noted the programme will help develop hospitality human resources in the central region.

The HTMi welcomed first Vietnamese students in the 2000s, with about 150 of them graduating to date.

The HTMi-owned brand Swisstouches Hotels and Resorts has been investing in 2,000-room Swisstouches La Luna Resort in Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa. The project is set to be operational in 2018.

Young Hanoians engage in voluntary work in Vientiane

Forty young Hanoians are going to carry out voluntary activities in Vientiane, Laos, as an illustration of the youth’s efforts to nurture the friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

The Hanoi municipal committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (CYU) and the Hanoi Youth Federation launched the voluntary campaign in the capital city of Vietnam on August 15.

The campaign is held amid the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties, 40 years of the signing of the countries’ Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and 20 years of the singing of a cooperation and friendship agreement between the Hanoi CYU Committee and the Vientiane municipal committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union.

The 40 volunteers are doctors, nurses, experts in livestock farming and outstanding university students in Hanoi.

During the 10-day campaign in Sikhottabong district of Vientiane, they are set to give free medical check-ups and medicine to 1,500 people, instruct locals to prevent diseases and accidents, and transfer livestock farming techniques.

They will also visit disadvantaged families, take part in cultural and sports activities with local residents, and present computers and learning and sports equipment to young people in Vientiane.

This is the 10th straight year the Hanoi CYU Committee and the Hanoi Youth Federation have organised voluntary activities in Vientiane, aiming to foster exchanges and bilateral cooperation in various spheres.

APEC looks to boost dynamic, healthy aging for sustainable growth

Representatives of the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies discussed investment in dynamic and healthy aging for sustainable growth at a multilateral forum opened in Ho Chi Minh City on August 15.

The 250 participants were parliamentarians, government officials, experts, researchers and businesspersons from the APEC economies and international organisations.

The forum took place on the sidelines of the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and related meetings.

Chairing the event’s opening session, Vietnamese Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said population change is currently one of the biggest demographic changes in the world with the rapid growth rate of old people, generating major opportunities and challenges and impacting all economic and social aspects of each country, community and family.

The forum allowed policy makers, management officials, scientists and relevant parties to seek solutions and concrete and practical actions to invest in dynamic and healthy aging towards sustainable development in each economy and prosperity in Asia-Pacific.

Keizo Takemi, a member of Japan’s House of Councillors and Chairman of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, said population aging has become a regional issue that needs close cooperation among multiple parties to work out solutions and actions.

The forum provided a chance for economies to promote cooperation in carrying out multilateral solutions and public-private partnerships to build a healthcare network for the elderly and help improve life expectancy and health, so that the elderly can continue to work and ease the economic burden on younger people.

The APEC economies account for 40.5 percent of the global population, nearly 50 percent of which are the elderly. Most of the APEC members are facing challenges posed by issues of the elderly, especially the economies with big numbers and rates of old people such as China and Japan.

Vietnam has more than 10 million old people, accounting for 11 percent of its population. As a country with fast population aging speed, the elderly can make up 18 percent and 26 percent of the country’s population in 2030 and 2050, respectively. 

The forum in HCM City was held by the Vietnamese Government in coordination with the Japanese Government, the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), HelpAge International, the Japan Centre for International Exchange (JCIE), and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).