Unregistered boats rampant on Ha Long Bay

Fishing boats are turning themselves into unregistered tourist craft, willing to take holidaymakers around the famed Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam despite failing to meet any of the safety or basic operational standards.

Willing tourists do not have to buy a ticket to board these boats, all they need to do is negotiate a price with the boat owners, then step onto the vessels that have no life jackets, and captains who have no boat operating licenses, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper reports.

The boats operate out of the Bach Dang fishing port in Ha Long City, off Quang Ninh Province.

Duy, who owns and operates a wooden boat, said a full-day tour around Ha Long costs VND3 million (US$134) and he was taking tourists anywhere they want.

For shorter journeys, the price is VND500,000 (US$22.3) per hour. Local fishermen are also willing to take tourists around the bay on their paddling boats for VND200,000 (US$8.9) an hour.

A Thanh Nien correspondent chose the hourly rate and was asked to step onto an old, deteriorating boat bearing no registration number.

Upon filling the 30-seater vessel with fellow tourists, Duy started the engine and steered the boat away from the port, leaving the smell of black smoke and oil behind.

Asked why there were no life vests, Duy reassured that the boat would never sink. “Even when it does, I will jump down and rescue you,” he said.

The ‘captain’ also made no secret of the fact that he had no boat operating license.

“This ship is home-run, no need for a license,” he said.

“My dad taught me to operate it; no need for classes.”

The boat then spent more than an hour negotiating rough seas around several areas of Ha Long, with passengers breathing sighs of relief whenever they arrived to shore safely.

There were many other unregistered boats operating on the bay at the same time, some carrying foreign tourists, none of whom were wearing life jackets, according to Thanh Nien.

In addition to the wooden boats, several speedboats with a capacity of up to ten passengers were offering sightseeing tours around Ha Long for about VND15 million (US$670).

The Ha Long administration confirmed that these tourist boats have become rampant in fishing ports such as Bach Dang, Hong Ha, Ha Tu and Ha Phong over the last two years.

Last year the city’s police recorded 600 sea transportation offenses, including 20 cases of fishing vessels operating as tourist boats.

Four unregistered boats have been fined in May this year alone, while local authorities are intensifying checks to curb their operations, according to the Ha Long Bay management board.

However, Thanh Nien reported that the boats were still operating publicly when the newspaper's reporters visited the Cot 5 port and Bach Dang fishing deck as recently as Sunday.

Cambodia repatriates remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers

Authorities of Cambodia’s Kampong Chhnang province and Vietnam’s Military Zone 9 held a ceremony to repatriate remains of 24 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia on May 16. 

It was the 16th repatriation of the remains unearthed during the 2017-2017 dry season. 

Speaking at the event, Vice Governor Cheng Nhann and Major General Chhon Thoeun of Kampong Chhnang province expressed their gratitude to Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts for laying down their lives to save Cambodian people from genocide. 

They pledged all possible support for the search, reburial and repatriation of the Vietnamese martyrs in Cambodia. 

As scheduled on May 17, the Cambodian Royal Army, authorities of Kandal province and Military Zone 9 will make the hand-over of remains of 27 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts. 

Since 2002, the Military Zone 9, and authorities, armies and peoples of Kampong, Chhnang, Kandal and Kampong Speu have jointly found 6,849 remains of Vietnamese martyrs.

The same day, a re-burial ceremony was held in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak for 14 remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives on the battlefields in Cambodia.

Vietnam attends maritime defence exhibition in Singapore

Vietnamese exhibitors are taking part in the 11th Asian Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX ASIA 2017) at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore, which opened on May 16.

The biennial event saw the participation of naval and coast guard commanders and defence officials from 44 countries and leading defence industrial groups worldwide.

As a regional leading exhibition for displaying naval equipment and technologies, the event also serves as a forum for participants to discuss maritime security-related issues.

As many as 230 companies from 29 countries are exhibiting and introducing products and technologies serving maritime defence at the three-day exhibition, including warships, military weapons, unmanned systems and naval network security solutions, among others. 

In his opening speech, Singaporean Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen highlighted the importance of maritime trade for the Asian region, affirming that strengthened cooperation among countries will help ensure navigation security and safety in the region. 

Singapore’s naval force is playing a vital role in fostering efforts to address regional maritime security threats through participating in joint patrols with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in the Straits of Malacca, as well as sharing information to support the regional effort to fight maritime terrorism.  

By 2030, the whole Asia Pacific region will have more 800 warships, Ng Eng Hen quoted data of the AMI International - a UK firm that specialises in providing countless turnkey solutions for navigation and safety equipment. 

He said regional countries should strengthen their naval power and multilateral cooperation to deal with new challenges at sea.

In the framework of IMDEX ASIA 2017, a series of relevant conferences were organized, including the 5th International Maritime Security Conference and the 3rd International Naval Engineering Conference, which focused on maritime security and updated latest technological trends for the naval field. 

For the first time, a forum on network security for maritime trade activities was held, debating risks threatening modern navigation security and the possibility of cyber attacks on fishing ships with high value.

Australian and Vietnamese young leaders share innovation at AVYLD

20 of Vietnam and Australia’s brightest young leaders representing the arts, finance, technology, philanthropy, business, start-up, education and healthcare industries have converged in Sydney, sharing ideas and innovation for the inaugural Australia-Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue (AVYLD).

The Dialogue, which will last until May 18, aims to facilitate a deeper understanding and collaboration between Australian and Vietnamese young leaders to enhance the economic, social and cultural prosperity of both Australia and Vietnam.

An impressive number of successful delegates have emerged from the start-up space and business sector, showcasing Vietnam’s ever-rising skilled workforce and talent which Australia could benefit from.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Thao Nguyen, Co-founder and Board Chair of AVYLD “Australia has traditionally overlooked business and trade opportunities with Vietnam in comparison to its focus on other larger Asian markets. It is the only country other than China, to grow consistently on average above 6% per year for over a decade. Vietnam has been emerging as a tiger. It is time Australia took more notice.”

Nguyen highlighted young talent selected to share their knowledge: “The inspiring delegates include Hoang Dao, who studied at the University of Technology Sydney and is creator of Monkey Junior, an early childhood reading app. This app is the most downloaded education app in the App Store and Google Play in the US, Canada and Vietnam. This Dialogue will demonstrate the exciting potential of the bilateral relationship.”

Chair of the Board for UTS:INSEARCH, Emeritus Professor Ross Milbourne AO, said that higher education is an important area in which Australia and Vietnam can collaborate for mutual benefit. “Developing greater cultural awareness, a global mindset and international connections are some of the benefits we see when Vietnamese and Australian students learn together. 

The Dialogue will offer this experience to a group of impressive young leaders who can drive innovation between both countries in the future.”

One of these young leaders is Vietnamese AVYLD delegate Dat Pham, who was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 Vietnam 2016 is Founder & Director of HATCH!, an entrepreneurial and start-up accelerator program. Pham said: “Tens of thousands of entrepreneurs have already come through our program since we began in 2012. There is a huge appetite from young Vietnamese to become the international success stories that past generations could only have dreamed of. That drive and that determination is what creates this modern-day success story which I hope will inspire others.”

Rachel Bui, CEO and Co-founder of AVYLD, and founding team member at Telstra’s startup accelerator, muru-D added: “Now is the time to tap into the emerging talent and entrepreneurial mindset of the younger generation who are driven with ambition to build bridges, create change and lead innovation to the benefit of their respective countries.”

The Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Craig Chittick, said: “Australia's future relationship with Vietnam will be characterised by dynamism, innovation and deep personal linkages. The first group of participants are outstanding leaders in a range of fields and their contribution to building a strong partnership between Australia and Vietnam will be felt for years and decades to come.”

The inaugural four-day dialogue aims to facilitate deeper cross-cultural understanding and collaboration through discussions and workshops with speakers and peers. It will focus on “innovation” as an overall theme in areas such as leadership, education, business and national development.

Conference seeks ways to ensure sustainable energy for Vietnam

More than 30 Vietnamese and foreign researchers in environment, information technology and energy gathered at a conference in the Mekong city of Can Tho on May 15 to develop research programmes on ensuring sustainable and safe energy resources for Vietnam.

Participants pointed to shortcomings in managing and exploiting energy resources in Vietnam. Currently, the country mostly generates energy from non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal and oil, which are also exported at low prices.

This has depleted national resources, while resulting in environmental pollution, they said, suggesting that Vietnam can replace the fuels with renewable resources such as solar, wind, rain, tide, trees, and geothermal energy.

Meanwhile, researchers from the UK’s Salford University proposed a long-term cooperation strategy with their Vietnamese peers in using modern technology to develop sustainable and safe energy. 

The programme calls for the exchange of lecturers and students between Can Tho University and Salford University.

At the same time, Tran Ha Dong Quan from the Can Tho-based Korea-Vietnam Incubator Park revealed that businesses in the park have seen results in creating advanced technology for agriculture and environmental protection, including technology to turn waste into organic fertiliser, and energy-saving lighting for gardens.

The conference will run until May 17.

Startup contest for young people kicks off nationwide

The annual contest Startup Wheel 2017 was launched on May 16 in Ho Chi Minh City to encourage startup spirit among students and youth aged 18-35 across the country.

The contest, which runs through August 2017, is co-held by the HCM City Youth Federation’s Business Startup Support Centre (BSSC), the HCM City Young Business People Association (YBA) and the municipal Department of Sciences and Technology.

It is divided into two categories, the first for people who have a startup idea but yet to establish business and the second for those who have run businesses under five years. 

Some 100 semi-finalists will go through challenges of writing their business plans, designing their trademark recognition tools or promoting their products and joining the Startup Exchange. The best 10 projects will compete in the finale for the championship.

The event aims to look for long-term startup models, thus proving startup is not a trend, but a race with consistency and relentless efforts, said Truong Ly Hoang Phi, Director of the BSSC. 

A series of events including programmes on sharing startup ideas, experience and skills will be held during the contest to connect communities and startup ecosystem and help project planners seek partners and co-founders.

Started in 2013, the Startup Wheel has drawn more than 2,100 startup ideas, models and businesses, of which many projects have obtained initial achievements, such as Cheap Tickets - website for selling tickets online, Luckytel - intelligent queuing and Monkey in Black – creative café. 

HCM City doctors raise fund to support Cambodian child

The staff of the Children Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City have raised about 100 million VND (4,409 USD) to cover the treatment for Sock Ly Hua, a six-year-old Cambodian from a poor family, who is suffering from acute renal failure.

Sock Ly Hua was taken to the Children Hospital 1 on April 27 in serious conditions. According to his family, he fell down from a tree and broke his right thigh bone. He was first rushed to a hospital in Phnom Penh and then transferred to the HCM City hospital due to complications.

Currently, Sock Ly Hua no longer needs intensive care but receives treatment to fix his broken bones.-

Dong Nai suffers from fruit losses

Tens of thousands of hectares of fruits in the southern province of Dong Nai have been hit by off-season rains in recent time.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, Dong Nai is home to nearly 40,000 hectares of cashew, of which 34,500 hectares were seriously damaged.

Among 11,500 hectares of mangoes, nearly 9,500 hectares were spoiled while close to 80 percent of durian areas were affected.

As a result, the cashew and mango productivity dropped by 10-70 percent.

Climate change and off-season rains have also caused some diseases on plants.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed the People’s Committee support 2-4 million VND (88.1 USD - 176.3 USD) per hectare for farmers with damage of 30-70 percent.

Vietnamese mega-cities scouring for mega-funding on infrastructure drive

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are seeking funds worth a combined VND105 trillion (US$4.6 billion) to invest in roads and bridges in an attempt to ease traffic jams and protect the environment.

Vietnam's infrastructure is struggling to keep up with economic growth of more than 6 percent a year, while its public debt has already exceeded a ceiling set by the country's legislative body.

Hanoi is looking to borrow VND53 trillion (US$2.3 billion) through the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) to develop key metro lines, the city said in a proposal to the planning and investment ministry. Approval is still pending.

The funds will pay for two metro lines which require a total investment of US$2.7 billion, a large part of which will come from the ADB and Japanese aid, while the rest will be covered by the city's budget.

Ho Chi Minh City is also looking for about VND52 trillion to resolve the city's chronic traffic congestion and flooding, the municipal government said.

At least VND24 trillion will be allocated to flood management projects, including renovation work on key canals and low-level streets, while another VND8 trillion would go to the environmental sector, based on the city's proposal to the the ministry.

The city said it will prioritize the allocation of ODA funds for the rehabilitation of its main canals and a city-wide sanitation campaign.

Ho Chi Minh City needs VND500 trillion to invest in urban infrastructure between now and 2021, and a similar amount for the next five years, according to local consultancy firm the HCM City Financial Investment Company.

Son Tung M-TP to rock Viral Fest Asia 2017

Four Vietnamese stars, including hitmaker Son Tung M-TP, will join a host of Asia’s top artists at Viral Fest Asia 2017 (VFA 2017) to take place in Thailand next month.

Son Tung will represent Vietnam in the all-star night on June 3 alongside South Korean superstar Bi Rain, while three other Vietnamese artists will perform at an event dedicated to rising stars of the region one night earlier.

All will converge on Bangkok’s SHOW DC entertainment venue for the event.

Son Tung M-TP, born Nguyen Thanh Tung in the northern Vietnamese province of Thai Binh, launched his career in 2012 after his debut album Con Mua Ngang Qua (Passing Rain) proved an instant hit, winning several awards.

Tung became Vietnam’s first celebrity to reach one million Youtube subcribers in January, with his most popular hit Lac Troi (Lost) having garnered nearly 135 million views as of Tuesday.

Joining him in Vietnam’s convoy to VFA 2017 are female singer Bich Ngoc, runner-up at the 2015 Vietnam Idol reality television singing contest, Min, former member of pop band St.319, and Lynk, a young singer also known for his talent as a composer.

The singers will perform alongside their colleagues from Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, India and the Republic of Korea.

Viral Fest Asia is an annual festival celebrating “the best in music and video content from Asia,” according to the event’s description on its website.

With the theme ‘Everybody’s Going Viral’, VFA 2017 follows up on last year’s highly successful inaugural concert in Bali, Indonesia.

The performances will be accompanied by live firework displays and 3D Mapping performances.

Book on President Ho Chi Minh launched in Canada

A ceremony has been held in Toronto, Canada to introduce a Spanish version of a book on the life and career of late President Ho Chi Minh on the occasion of his 127th birthday anniversary.

Dr. Nguyen Dai Trang introduced her book “Ho Chi Minh: Humanity and Development”.

This is her second book about President Ho Chi Minh. The earlier works were written in Vietnamese and English.

Alma Farias, who participated in the launch event, said she was thrilled for the book to be translated into Spanish.

She noted that many Latin American countries hope to learn about Ho Chi Minh’s principals as well as Vietnam’s experience in building the nation after wars.

Farias said she will contact the Spanish trade promotion department in Toronto to introduce the book while encouraging members of the Spanish-speaking community to read it.

Elizabeth McInnich from the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council, who helped Trang edit the book, said readers can see a person of peace, gender equality and who loved children.

Visitors were also invited to join a photo exhibition featuring President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese land and people.

The same day, the Vietnamese community in the UK gathered in London to celebrate the 127th birthday anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh.

Tra Vinh seeks sustainable poverty reduction solutions

A host of solutions for the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh to ensure sustainable poverty reduction have been proposed at a seminar on May 16.

The provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs suggested implementing lending policies, cutting tuition fees, granting health insurance, creating more jobs and investing in infrastructure in poor districts.

Duong Quang Ngoc, Deputy Director of the department, underlined the need for Tra Vinh to raise awareness among the poor, helping them become independent of the support of the State and the community.

Effective poverty reduction models should be duplicated across the province, the official said.

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc De from the Rural Development Department under Can Tho University said farming land accounts for nearly 80 percent of Tra Vinh’s total area.

However, he said, large-scale production and capital shortage have hindered local farmers from applying technological and scientific advances.

Moreover, they have to face risks in production due to the limited access to market information and impacts of climate change, De said, stressing that in 2016, saltwater intrusion destroyed nearly 30,000 hectares of rice and 1,273 hectares of crop, and affected more than 2,700 households.

The Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs reported that during 2011-2015, nearly 52,000 households in Tra Vinh escaped from poverty but an additional 14,000 other households slipped into destitution.

A recent survey reveals that nearly 8,900 local households lack capital for production, over 12,000 have no land for cultivation and 2,137 others face the lack of production equipment. 

The Khmer ethnic group makes up nearly 32 percent of the province’s total population. At the end of 2016, 18,000 out of more than 30,000 poor households in Tra Vinh belong to the group.

Thua Thien-Hue: remains of fallen soldiers in Laos reburied

A solemn commemoration ceremony was held for 16 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts, who laid down their life in Laos during wartime, at the Hue martyr cemetery in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue on May 16.

The remains of these martyrs, found in Laos’ Salavan and Sekong provinces and brought home by the 192 of the Thua Thien - Hue Military Command during the 2016-2017 period, were re-buried at the cemetery. 

Provincial leaders and representatives from the State and from Salavan and Sekong attended the ceremony.

They laid wreaths and offered incense to pay tribute to the martyrs.

Delivering a speech at the event, Nguyen Hong Son, commander of the provincial High Command, highlighted the sacrifice of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts as contributing to cementing Vietnam-Lao special friendship and solidarity.

Representative from the Salavan Military High Command stressed the province will continue educating young generations on the sacrifice of the Vietnamese soldiers and experts in Laos.

He vowed to boost cooperation with Thua Thien – Hue, particularly in searching for the martyrs’ remains.

Over the last decade, along with the assistance of the Lao Party, Government and people, Team 192 found and repatriated over 800 sets of remains of the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts died in Laos.

Share EUr story essay competition launches in Vietnam

Do you have a tale you’ve been longing to tell? A message to convey? An idea to express? Now is your chance to be heard.

The Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam is giving you the chance to share your thoughts, stories and experiences with the globe. 

The EU Delegation is hosting What's EUr Story?, an essay competition that aims to shine the spotlight on European experiences and its influence of young Vietnamese.

All you need is to share your personal experience, that of a friend or even the adventures of a family member in the EU or write about your involvement with European nationals in Vietnam.

It could be a tale about how you may have worked with any of the NGO or Civil Society Organizations of the EU or just simply how one or a group of Europeans made an impact on your life.

Another option is that you could write about how European culture has inspired you in your studies, work, or personal life in some respect.

Share your story and get the chance to win prizes and the opportunity to have your work published in Vietnam and in the EU.

The competition is open to all Vietnamese citizens aged 16 to 35 and is divided into three categories: High School Students, College Students and an Open Category.

Entries must be limited to a maximum of 1,000 words and submitted on or before May 31, 2017 at email antuongeu@gmail.com or post at the Sinh Vien Newspaper 29D Cau Giay New Residential Area, Yen Hoa District, Hanoi.

Three works will be selected from the finalists in each category, and included in a compendium of the best essays submitted in the competition. The compendium will be registered under the Publications of the European Union.

Three winners will receive weeklong all-expense paid round trips to Rome, Paris or Brussels. All the winners will be honoured at an awarding ceremony to be announced by the EU Delegation.

For more information please contact 04. 62735735.

Sen village festival marks President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday

The central province of Nghe An is running the Sen Village Festival from May 16-19 in Sen Village in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh, as part of activities to celebrate his 127th birthday.

Major activities of the festival include a traditional music festival, a ceremony to pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his statue in Vinh city and an incense offering ceremony in Kim Lien Relic site in Nam Dan district, a youth festival and a sport competition.

On early May 16, a volleyball tournament was launched with the competition of 15 teams from localities across the province. The event aims to encourage locals in strengthening physical exercise following the example of President Ho Chi Minh.

Also the day, a film on President Ho Chi Minh was screened in Nam Phuc commune, Nam Dan district.

MRT meeting to review deployment of APEC priorities

As one of the most important ministerial meetings held annually, the 23rd Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT 23) in Hanoi on May 20-21 will review the implementation of the theme and priorities in the APEC Year 2017.

Following discussions and getting support from other APEC member economies, Vietnam already defined the theme of “Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future” for the APEC Year 2017.

To realise the theme, Vietnam also proposed four priorities, namely promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; deepening regional economic integration; strengthening MSMEs’ competitiveness and innovation in the digital age; and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change.

In addition, MRT 23 will also give instructions on economic-trade activities within the process of regional economic integration and APEC’s efforts to support the multilateral trade system which is represented by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), towards the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place in Argentina from December 11-14.

The meeting will also touch upon initiatives on promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; developing human resources in the digital age, and strengthening MSMEs’ competitiveness and innovation in the digital age.

The instructions by MRT 23 will lay a foundation for Vietnam and other APEC members to improve proposals and initiatives for submission to the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in the central city of Da Nang in November.

President Tran Dai Quang meets outstanding policewomen

President Tran Dai Quang met female police role models of 2016 in Hanoi on May 16, during which he highlighted the important contributions by generations of Vietnamese women to the country’s achievements.

He expressed his delight at the results of the 2012-2016 emulation movement on “policewomen study and follow late President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example, work for national security and build a happy family.”

He praised the feats of arms as well as achievements made by female police during the movement, while asking police offices’ leaders to continue supporting and creating all favourable conditions for them.

The State leader also expressed his hope that the policewomen will continue their contributions to the country’s development.

Khanh Hoa province supports offshore fishing activities

The south central province of Khanh Hoa has provided local fishermen with more than 440 billion VND (19.4 million USD) so far this year to support their offshore fishing activities.

More than 414 billion VND (18.26 million USD) of the sum was to cover diesel oil expenses in over 6,370 offshore fishing trips.

Nguyen Thuan, a 37-year-old fisherman of the fisheries trade union in Vinh Tho ward of Khanh Hoa’s Nha Trang city, said he has four fishing trips each of which is provided with 100 million VND (4,400 USD) to cover diesel oil costs each year.

The aid is provided under Decision 48/2010/QD-TTg, issued by the Government in 2010, on some policies encouraging and supporting offshore fishing and aquaculture.

Other assistance has also been given as in line with this decision and the Government’s Decree 67/2014/ND-CP on some policies for fisheries development.

In particular, Khanh Hoa has supported local fishermen with 450 communication devices worth over 13.1 billion VND (577,700 USD) while spending about 5.8 billion VND (255,700 USD) on ship captain and machine operator training.

Meanwhile 10.3 billion VND (454,100 USD) was used to support buying insurance for nearly 1,380 boats, and another 2.3 billion USD (101,400 USD) was spent to help buy insurance for about 6,900 crew members.

Other support includes training courses and formation of fishing teams and fisheries trade unions.

The province is also accelerating the approval of fishermen’s dossiers seeking concessional loans for building and upgrading fishing boats and logistics vessels under Decree 67/2014/ND-CP.

More than 1,200 of about 10,000 fishing boats in Khanh Hoa do offshore fishing activities at present.

Two opium smugglers detained in Son La

Police in the northern mountainous province of Son La on May 16 arrested two people accused of trafficking 16 kilograms of opium.

The arrested are Quang Van Duong, born in 1983 and Le Van Thuy, born in 1992. Both reside in Song Ma district.

They confessed that they bought the opium at a border area to sell, then were caught while transporting the opium to Chieng Cang commune in Song Ma district.

Authorities also seized two motorbikes, two mobile phones and other objects.

Da Nang supports poor women to build storm-proof houses

The Women’s Union of the central coastal city of Da Nang held a conference on May 16 on a project building climate change resistant houses for needy people in urban areas.

Chairwoman of the union Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said the union was working with the Norway Vista Analysis Institute and the US Institute for Social and Environmental Transition to carry out the project from April 2016 to September 2018.

The Nordic Development Fund is providing nearly 900,000 EUR to build some 160 houses for impoverished women across the city.

Da Nang is regularly affected by climate change, especially increasingly frequent and intense storms.

The housing scheme provides loans of 10-30 million VND (440-1,322 USD) for vulnerable families to build or repair their houses.

The US Rockefeller Foundation has also supported Da Nang to build storm-resistant houses since 2011.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE