Activities to be held to mark 50th anniversary of the Dong Loc victory

A wide range of activities will be held to observe the 50th anniversary of the Dong Loc victory in Ha Tinh province, heard a press conference in Hanoi on June 15.

An arts programme will be held on the evening of July 21 at the Dong Loc T-junction historical site to mark 50th anniversary of the Dong Loc victory

The Ha Tinh provincial authorities have launched a knowledge contest and a song-writing competition on the victory, and will also host a symposium on the historic event.

The song-writing contest has attracted more than 60 entries so far, while the knowledge contest drew the participation of over 400,000 youth union members and students in the province, with five first, ten second and 15 third prizes being presented.

A gathering for war veterans and former youth volunteers, as well as a requiem for fallen soldiers, will also be scheduled.

Gifts will be presented to the families of war invalids and the houses of policy beneficiaries will be upgraded or repaired on the occasion.

Prominent among the activities is an arts programme on the evening of July 21 at the Dong Loc T-junction historical site.

Landslide destroys six houses in Cà Mau

A landslide caused six houses to collapse in the southern province of Cà Mau’s Năm Căn Town on Saturday, causing estimated losses of VNĐ800 million ($35,100).— Photo danviet.vn

A landslide caused six houses to collapse in the southern province of Cà Mau’s Năm Căn Town on Saturday, causing estimated losses of VNĐ800 million ($35,100).

Fortunately, local authorities had already evacuated residents living in the houses to safety before the landslide struck.

The local administration is mobilising forces to fix the situation.

Statistics from the town show there is an additional 16-17 houses located in areas at high risk of landslide.

Landslides not only attack the town but also Đất Mũi Commune in Ngọc Hiển District. A local house reportedly collapsed due to the landslide on Friday night in the commune.

Activities to be held to mark 50th anniversary of the Dong Loc victory

A wide range of activities will be held to observe the 50th anniversary of the Dong Loc victory in Ha Tinh province, heard a press conference in Hanoi on June 15.

An arts programme will be held on the evening of July 21 at the Dong Loc T-junction historical site to mark 50th anniversary of the Dong Loc victory

The Ha Tinh provincial authorities have launched a knowledge contest and a song-writing competition on the victory, and will also host a symposium on the historic event.

The song-writing contest has attracted more than 60 entries so far, while the knowledge contest drew the participation of over 400,000 youth union members and students in the province, with five first, ten second and 15 third prizes being presented.

A gathering for war veterans and former youth volunteers, as well as a requiem for fallen soldiers, will also be scheduled.

Gifts will be presented to the families of war invalids and the houses of policy beneficiaries will be upgraded or repaired on the occasion.

Prominent among the activities is an arts programme on the evening of July 21 at the Dong Loc T-junction historical site.

29-seater buses banned during weekends in Cát Bà

A long line of vehicles wait for hours to reach Gót Wharf to get to Cát Bà Island on April 30. – Photo tuoitre.vn

Hải Phòng City’s Department of Transport has planned to ban passenger buses with more than 29 seats to Cát Bà Island during weekends from June 22.

The move is aimed at easing the traffic load between Gót Wharf to the centre of the island due to a high number of tourists during summer.

Accordingly, buses with a capacity of more than 29 seats will not be allowed on the route from Friday to Sunday.

Trucks will also be banned during peak hours: between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Thursday and between 5am and 9pm from Friday to Sunday.

The department will mobilise staff to support passengers to load and unload their luggage and guide buses to park at the designated parking lot, which is some 500m from the wharf.

The transport department has also asked Hải Phòng Road JSC to provide 20 small buses to transport passengers for free from Cái Viềng wharf to the centre of the island.

Nguyễn Văn Phong, director of Hải Phòng Road and Waterway Traffic Project Management Board, told Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper that the board was upgrading the road leading to Gót Wharf to three lanes from the current two lanes.

The anchoring area of Gót and Cái Viềng wharves will also be upgraded to ensure that four barges can anchor at the same time instead of the present two.

The work will be completed by the end of this month, Phong said.

According to statistics of Cát Hải District’s People’s Committee, 385,000 tourists visited Cát Bà Island in the first five months of this year, an increase of 60 per cent compared to the same period last year. 

Cần Thơ reels from dengue outbreak

Cần Thơ city in the Mekong Delta has reported 213 cases of dengue this year. -- Photo: VOV.VN

The Cần Thơ Department of Health said there have been 213 cases of dengue fever in the city this year and 60 hotspots.

Eighty eight per cent of the victims were people aged under 15 years.

Thạch Minh Đức, deputy head of the dengue fever division at the Cần Thơ Children’s Hospital, said: “The hospital received 200 patients this month. The disease is expected to spread further.”  

The downtown area is among the worst affected, with Ninh Kiều District accounting for 25 cases and Ô Môn for 32, he said.

The department said the southern region is severely affected in the rainy season.

There have been four deaths in the country in the first six months out of 20,552 cases.

In Cần Thơ the number of cases has decreased by 41.4 per cent this year, according to the department.

Huỳnh Minh Trúc, director of the city Preventive Medicine Centre, said unhygienic living conditions are the major cause for the spread of dengue in Cần Thơ and its neighbouring areas.

Besides, local authorities do not educate or warn the public about it, he said.

The city has failed to clean up hotspots like vacant lands where wastewater stagnates, he said.

The department has urged health authorities in other cities and provinces to carry out prevention activities on ASEAN Dengue Day, June 15.

Cần Thơ authorities plan to set up teams of health workers who will supervise activities to combat the disease in key areas together with their counterparts from Mekong Delta provinces.

It includes campaigns to destroy mosquitoes and their larvae especially in hotspots.

Nguyễn Trung Nghĩa, deputy director of the department, said: “We are focusing on completely clearing infection hotspots of dengue-causing mosquitoes.” 

Bến Tre speciality fruit faces crippling decline due to saltwater intrusion

Farmers in Bến Tre Province are cutting down their mangosteen orchards and switching to other crops since saltwater intrusion has devastated yields. - VNA/VNS Photo Huỳnh Phúc Hậu

Many mangosteen farmers in Bến Tre Province have switched to other crops since yields have declined in recent years due to severe saltwater intrusion as local authorities struggled to tackle the problem.

Mangosteen is one of the key fruits of the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province, but its output has been falling since 2016.

Nguyễn Văn Thùy of Chợ Lách District’s Vĩnh Hòa Commune said he cut down his 3,000sqm mangosteen orchard two months ago to grow ochna.

Before 2016, his 20-year old orchard had 120 mangosteen trees and earned profits of VNĐ40 million (US$1,760) a year, he said.

After seawater began to flow upstream during dry months in 2016, he tried many methods to salvage his trees, but they stubbornly refused to fruit or fruited sparsely, he said.

Mangosteen trees can live up to 30-40 years and their yield increases with age.

In the province, the fruit is grown mostly in Chợ Lách, Châu Thành and Mỏ Cày Bắc districts.

But following the persistent saltwater intrusion, profits from mangosteen are unable to match those of other speciality fruits like green skin and pink flesh grapefruit and durian, and farmers are switching to growing and selling seedlings.

In Chợ Lách, the province’s largest mangosteen planting district, the area under the fruit had shrunk from 1,127ha in 2014 to 969ha last year.

Lê Văn Sơn, who owns a 1.1ha orchard in Phú Sơn Commune, said in the past an old mangosteen tree could produce 300-400 kilos of fruits a year.

“This year my mangosteen trees have few fruits.”

His yields begun dropping in 2014-15, and after the saltwater intrusion became severe in 2016, many of his trees stopped fruiting altogether.      

Since then he has gradually cut down around 6,000sq.m of trees and replaced them with mango and durian nurseries to sell saplings.

His new business can fetch profits of VNĐ150 million ($6,600) every two years per 1,000sq.m while mangosteen only provides VNĐ6-20 million ($260 - 880) a year, he said.  

Many farmers in Chợ Lách’s Vĩnh Hòa Commune have cut down part of their mangosteen orchards to grow other trees, but retained a part of their mangosteen trees in the hope things will turn around and they will again bring high profits.

Trần Minh Đức, chairman of the Vĩnh Hòa Commune People’s Committee, said the local mangosteen is famous for its delicious taste, and many farmers have become wealthy by growing the fruit.

Before 2015, the commune produced about 4,000 tonnes of mangosteen a year, but the saltwater intrusion has reduced that by 50 per cent, Đức said.

Many mangosteen orchards in Chợ Lách’s Phú Phụng, Vĩnh Bình, Sơn Định, and Hòa Nghĩa communes have also been affected by the gamboge disorder, which causes yellow exudation of gum on to the fruits’ surface.

The province’s agriculture officials have not had been able to resolve the issues of fruiting and gamboge disorder.

Bùi Thanh Liêm, head of the Chợ Lách Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau, said the tree is sensitive to weather changes and saltwater.

When there is saltwater intrusion, it may not flower or even die, he said.

Mangosteen can only grow well in areas where there is no saltwater and the weather is favourable, he said.

It would be difficult to maintain and expand the mangosteen growing area in future, he admitted.

The area under the fruit in the province fell from 1,627ha in 2015 to 1,016ha in 2016, according to its Sub-department of Plant Cultivation and Protection.

Võ Văn Nam, head of the sub-department, said there is no official data on the current mangosteen growing area, but it is definitely reducing gradually. 

Meeting marks World Day to Combat Desertification

Land affected by drought in the south central province of Ninh Thuan 

A meeting was held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on June 17 to respond to the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCD).

Addressing the event, Pham Van Dien, Vice Director of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry said the administration has been assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate national efforts to implement the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

This year, the WDCD is themed “Land has true value – Invest in it”, with the focus on sustainable land management as a way to regenerate economies, create jobs and revitalize communities. It will call on all involved parties – producers, consumers and policy makers – to make a difference by investing in the future of land.

Dien noted that the Convention to Combat Desertification, with the engagement of 186 countries, has set a target of combating desertification and restoring degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.

Land degradation threatens the livelihood and security of the community, especially ethnic minority groups. The forest plays a significant role in restoring land affected by drought and preventing land degradation.

The implementation of the anti-desertification goal is expected to contribute to completing other Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to climate change mitigation, poverty reduction and natural disaster prevention, the restoration of ecosystem, and food and water security.

Statistics showed that in 2017, Vietnam planted 235,028 hectares of forest, equivalent to 102.4 percent of the yearly target, and nearly 61 million scattered trees. 

As many as 6.12 million hectares of forest were put under the management of the community.

However, the protection and development of forest have seen many shortcomings, including the degradation of forest quality and natural forest ecosystem in many areas, forest fire, and low contribution of forestry to poverty reduction.

Experts held that Vietnam should continue planting trees and boost the sustainable development of forest, contributing to preventing land degradation and meeting the demands of socio-economic development and defence-security.

Following the meeting, participants planted many trees in the locality.

Fourth International Day of Yoga observed in Hanoi

More than 1,200 people in Hanoi join a yoga protocol performance in response to International Day of Yoga (June 21) (Source: tuoitre.vn)

More than 1,200 people joined a yoga protocol performance at Hanoi’s Indoor Athletics Palace on June 16 in response to International Day of Yoga (June 21).

Speaking at the ceremony, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish said that Yoga has been even more popular worldwide since the United Nations General Assembly chose June 21 as the International Yoga Day following the proposal of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Yoga has been a key element contributing to the friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and India, he said, adding that he has witnessed the popularity of yoga in Vietnam in the past two years living there.

Yoga is India’s gift to humanity, he stressed, given that Yoga helps people balance their bodies, mind and soul.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Maholtra said that the UN General Assembly chose June 21 as International Day of Yoga (IDY) with the approval of 177 member states, which demonstrates good effects of yoga on people’s health.

IDY 2018, organised by the Embassy of India in Hanoi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Hanoi, aims to improve health and life quality of Vietnamese people.

Together with Hanoi, the IDY will be observed in 11 other localities until July 15.

Yoga is a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice originating in India, which aims to transform both body and mind 

Vietnam-France cooperation in health proved fruitful

Around 3,000 Vietnamese doctors have received training at France’s hospitals over the past 25 years

Vietnam’s Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has granted insignias “For the Health of the People” to 30 French medical experts for their contributions to Vietnam’s health sector.

The granting ceremony took place within the framework of a conference to review 25 years of the two countries’ cooperation in the care for public health at Sorbonne University in Paris on June 15.

In the past 25 years, more than 20 programmes were held in the fields of doctor training, technology transfer, public and preventive health, and scientific research. Around 3,000 Vietnamese doctors were trained at France’s hospitals, while many French professors taught at medical universities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong city and Thua Thien-Hue province.

Vietnam also contributes three members to the Pasteur Institute network, namely the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

Minister Tien revealed that a new cooperative agreement will be signed between the two ministries in late 2018, with the priority given to training of health workers; scientific research on infections, pharmacy and vaccine; investment in producing drugs and vaccine; health management; and primary healthcare.

Experts at the conference agreed that in 2018, the two countries maintain their diverse cooperation. However, cooperation methods will change due to the appearance of new diseases related to the environment and population aging, bigger expectations of the society for the health sector, and climate change threats.

Khmer-Vietnamese Association becomes part of Cambodia’s ministry

KVA President Chau Van Chi presents the association’s new stamp to its boards and chapters.

Cambodia’s Interior Ministry has issued a decision allowing the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia (KVA) to register for the ministry’s list of associations. 

Under the decision, the KVA will operate in accordance with Cambodia’s Law on Associations and Non-Governmental Organisations and relevant legal documents, and the association’s charter archived at the ministry.

The charter says the KVA aims to gather Khmer people of Vietnamese origin, and Vietnamese in Cambodia together, providing them with spiritual and material support.

The association works to popularise Khmer traditions and Cambodia’s laws, and join hands with the Cambodian Government to push humanitarian work and illiteracy eradication in the country. 

The KVA, based in the Cambodian’s capital city of Phnom Penh, has chapters in 25 cities and provinces of the country. 

On June 16, KVA leaders held a ceremony to present the association’s new stamp to its boards and chapters. 

KVA President Chau Van Chi said the association seeks no profits, says no to racial and religious discrimination and only serves the interests of its members. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh expressed his hope that with the recognition, the association will launch more useful activities, thus contributing to enhancing the traditional friendship between the two countries.

New Zen Buddhist monastery opens in Hau Giang

A new Zen Buddhist monastery is inaugurated in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang on June 17. 

A new Zen Buddhist monastery was inaugurated in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang on June 17.

The Hau Giang Zen Buddhist Monastery covers an area of 4.2 hectares in Vinh Tuong commune, Long My town, accommodating some 250 monks and nuns. It is also served as the head office of Hau Giang’s Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam (BSV).

The construction of the monastery started in 2014 with a total investment of nearly 300 billion VND (13.2 million USD), largely funded by Lien Viet Post Bank.

It will be headed by Venerable Thich Dao Nhu.

In his remarks at the temple’s opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hau Giang Dong Van Thanh said the monastery is important to the preservation and promotion of traditional values of Buddhist culture and a part of the province’s historic and cultural relics.

He expected that the Hau Giang Zen Buddhist Monastery will guide monks, nuns and followers to practise Buddhism, keeping in mind what are beneficial to the country and people and in accordance with the charter of the BSV and state law.

Thanh also urged the monastery to encourage monks, nuns and followers to actively take part in the country’s patriotic movements and local economic development, social welfare, and poverty reduction programmes.

“Red Journey” returns to Can Tho, aims for 1,100 blood units

The Mekong Delta City of Can Tho expects to collect about 1,100 blood units in this year’s nationwide blood donation campaign “Hanh Trinh Do” (Red Journey) held in the city on June 17.

The amount of blood is expected to exceed the goal of 800 blood units set for each city and province during the campaign.

Thousands of people, including many soldiers and students, have donated their blood during the event named “Sac Do Tay Do” (Red Colour of Tay Do) which was held in the city for six consecutive years.

This year’s event attracted a large number of high-school and undergraduate students from across the city; many of whom have taken part in the campaign every year since it was launched in 2013, said President of Can Tho’s Red Cross Society Huynh Thanh Thao. 

They have inspired the love for other beings and sense of responsibility among the young people and further expanded the campaign, she added.

In the morning the same day, the Red Cross Society of Can Tho, organiser of Red Journey campaign and representatives from BIDV visited and presented gifts to 15 impoverished patients suffering from congenital hemolytic anemia in the city’s Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital.

“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, aiming to raise public awareness of the need for blood donation as well as thalassaemia, a genetic blood disorder that can lead to heart failure and liver problems, and to address the shortage of blood for medical use.

Last year, the campaign collected over 38,000 blood units nationwide.

Households escape poverty by harvesting forest products

Many poor households that were given cajeput forests to protect and harvest as part of a local programme in Kien Giang province have escaped poverty.

Located in Can Giao hamlet in An Minh district’s Dong Hung B commune, Forest Unit Area No 34 has more than 1,290ha of cajeput forests which have been allocated to poor households to protect since 2009.  

Vo Van Thach, one of the first farmers given a forested area, said that, besides money from selling cajeput trees, his family now earns an average additional income of 60 million VND (2,600 USD) a year from selling honey, fish and vegetables.

Households who protect forests are allowed to harvest 10 percent of allocated forests a year and have to replant new forests in the harvested area, he said.

When forest-allocated households moved in the area, they were all poor and lived in temporarily thatch-roofed houses, he said.

The area did not have electricity or roads at the time, and there were plenty of mosquitoes.

The low prices of cajeput yielded little income, but the price has increased significantly since 2016.

The price is now 15 million VND - 20 million VND (660 - 880 USD) per 1,000sq.m compared to 3 million VND per 1,000sq.m in 2009. Traders come directly to forests to buy the trees.  

After harvest, more households are planting new cajeput forests.

No fires have broken out as farmers were also asked to ensure protection for the area from fire. 

Besides planting forests, the households breed fish, plant vegetables and lure bees to build hives in their forests to collect honey.

With the income, many household have built houses and bought enough house facilities for their daily lives in recent years.  

Tran Phi Hai, Deputy Director of the Forest Protection Board of An Bien and An Minh districts, said under the policy of the provincial People’s Committee on allocating cajeput forests for poor households to protect, 142 poor households who lived near the Forest Unit Area No 34 and did not have farmland for production were allocated forests for protection in 2009.  

Each household was allocated an average of 5ha and allowed to harvest 10 percent of allocated cajeput forests a year, he said.

The allocated forests were 10 years old at that time.

Quach Thi Diep, one of the forest-allocated households, said previously she was very poor and had to work as a daily hired labourer or a peddler to earn a living. 

Thanks to the policy, she now has a stable life, and has built a new house in the area.

Similarly, Ton Van Roi, one of the households in the programme, now has a house and stable income.

Besides harvesting cajeput forests and replanting new forests every year according to regulations, Rỏi breeds fish, plants vegetables and collects honey to improve income, he said.

He also works an additional job as a cajeput trader to earn more income.  

Since 2017, Forest Unit Area No 34 has had access to the national power grid.

Nguyen Thanh Cong, a secretary for Can Giao hamlet, said the lives of the households in Forest Unit Area No 34 had improved significantly.

Only 60 households in the area are still considered poor, he said.

Vu A Dinh scholarships presented to excellent ethnic students

The Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund presented scholarships to 15 outstanding ethnic students nationwide, who had excellent academic performance during 2017-2018 academic year, at a ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 16.

The event was jointly organised by the management board of the scholarship fund and the Ho Chi Minh City Television.

Lauding the fund’s activities, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Le Quoc Phong underlined that Vu A Dinh scholarships have helped impoverished ethnic students realise their dreams and become good citizens to the society.

On the occasion, the Vu A Dinh awards were presented to nine organisations and 13 individuals, recognising their contributions to the development of the mountainous regions and ethnic minority groups.

At the event, domestic and foreign businesses and benefactors donated nearly 55 billion VND (2.42 million USD) to the scholarship fund.

Last year, the fund handed over nearly 5,000 scholarships to ethnic students across the country. The “Mo duong tuong lai” (Pave the way to the future) project, carried out by the scholarship fund, assisted 50 ethnic female students to attend school. Meanwhile, three schools were constructed for students in Dien Bien and Yen Bai provinces under its “Thap sang tuong lai” (lighting the future) scheme.

The scholarship fund also presented 3,000 scholarships to children of naval officers and fishermen in localities affected by natural disasters. Eleven houses were built for.

The Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, named after a young liaison officer killed during the French resistance war, was set up in 1999 by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to support poor ethnic students in their study.

Seminar talks photo journalism profession in Hanoi

A photo by Ronaldo Schemidt (Source: Organising board)

 

The Vietnamese Journalists’ Association (VJA) and the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam held a seminar themed “Photo journalism profession in contemporary world” in Hanoi on June 16, on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties. 

Speaking at the event, Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Nienke Trooster said together with the World Press Photo Exhibition co-hosted by the embassy and the VJA, the seminar offers Vietnamese press photo correspondents a chance to meet and discuss issues in the field. 

As a judge of many world press photo competitions, Sophie Boshouwers from the World Press Photo (WPP) organisation delivered her presentations on the transformation of photography in the 21st century and ethics in press photo journalism. 

She also discussed ethical issues related to the use of technology to edit photos and the supply of fake information and photos on the mass media. 

Participants said there have been great changes in press photos since the 1960 thanks to digital technology, with the switch from black-and-white photos to coloured ones. With the birth of Internet in particular, the mass media has also increased the influence of press photos. 

Many women have also pursued the profession which was mostly for men in the past. 

Journalists and reporters also viewed photos that won the World Press Photo Awards held in the Netherlands and discussed factors that make a photo impressive. 

WPP was established in 1955 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands with a mission to connect the world to the stories that matter. Its World Press Photo Awards (WPPA) has become the world’s most prestigious photo contest under the auspices of Dutch Prince Constantijn, Canon and Postcode Loterij Netherlands. 

WPPA-winning photos in 2018 were announced in the Netherlands in April 2018, and 130 of them are on display at the Vietnam University of Fine Art in Hanoi from June 16 – July 6.

HCM City meets 42.4 pct of yearly target in international visitors

The number of international arrivals in Ho Chi Minh City has to date this year reached 3.18 million, up 32 percent from last year and meeting 42.4 percent of the yearly target.

Tourism revenue in the period was estimated at over 51.6 trillion VND (2.27 billion USD), an annual increase of 14.8 percent. The figure accounted for 37.4 percent of the yearly target.

The municipal Tourism Department said it will continue boosting the quality of local tourism products and services, with a focus on waterway routes.

According to a survey of a popular room booking website, Ho Chi Minh City has so far secured the highest number of booking as the base for visitors to start exploring Vietnam.

A recent survey jointly conducted by the Tourism Department and the municipal Statistics Office showed tourists both domestic and foreign stay for an average 5 days in the city and spend around 145 USD a day, which showed a reduction in stay duration compared to a survey of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration in 2013 but the spending stays the same.

Foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam in January-May skyrocketed by 27.6 percent year-on-year to more than 6.71 million, according to figures from the General Statistics Office.

Meeting marks anti-drug action month

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the event

A meeting in response to the action month for drug control and prevention 2018 took place in Hanoi on June 16, gathering a large number of students.

The event saw the attendance of representatives from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Vietnam National Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution, and leaders of different ministries.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, said the Government selected “protecting young generations against drug threats” as the theme of the action month this year.

He requested ministries, sectors and localities focus on improving their anti-drug work and increasing communications campaigns targeting young people.

Police should keep an eye on students with suspicious actions related to drugs to promptly inform their schools for early intervention, and clean up areas around schools and dormitories. 

The Deputy PM called on students to stay away from drug.

He recommended the Ministry of Information and Communications and news agencies increase their coverage and special programmes on drug prevention.

According to the Vietnam National Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution, there are about 2,300 drug hotspot across the country.

Reports from localities showed that as of November 15, 2017, the number of documented drug addicts was 22,582, up 11,831 people from 2016. Between 2017 and March 2018, 13 ha of opium poppy plantation were discovered and destroyed.

In 2017, police investigated 22,346 drug cases, arrested 34,494 suspects, and seized 906.7 kg of heroin and 979.487 synthetic drug pills, among other drugs.

Judicial reform committee convenes fifth session

President Tran Dai Quang chairs the fifth session of the Central Steering Committee on Judicial Reform  

The Central Steering Committee on Judicial Reform convened the fifth meeting in Hanoi on June 16, under the chair of President Tran Dai Quang, who is also head of the committee. 

The steering committee discussed a draft project on renewing criminal judgement enforcement proposed by the Central Public Security Party Committee.

The officials also reviewed a draft plan for inspection and promotion of judicial reform submitted by the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs.

Addressing the event, President Tran Dai Quang requested the review of criminal judegement enforcement to clarify good points and shortcomings of the work as well as obstacles in specific areas to look for suitable solutions.

More specific analysis must be given to limitations and difficulties in each matter, especially in the management and imprisonment of death row inmates, the execution of the capital punishment, the imprisonment and rehabilitation of normal prisoners including vocational orientation and training for them, and the monitoring and education of people under suspended sentences, he noted.

The President suggested the renewal of criminal judgement enforcement should have clear orientations, tasks, solutions and roadmap, along with specific agencies responsible for each aspect. 

Concerning the draft plan for inspection and promotion of judicial reform, he stressed the work aims at helping the steering committee have a clear view of the situation and make right assessment on the implementation of the Party’s policy on judicial reform.

Ninh Binh hosts global health event

At the event 

The Global Health Bio – IT Conference-Expo & Nobel Forum took place in the northern province of Ninh Binh on June 16, with leading medical researchers and scientists from Vietnam, Sweden, the UK, Germany and Australia taking part. 

The event focused its discussions on technological application in treating diseases, the process of approving Nobel prize in medicine with the participation of professors from Sweden’s Karolinksa Institute. 

Apart from the goal of linking up domestic and foreign universities, hospitals and research institutes in medical care, education and technology, the event afforded leading scientists at home and abroad a chance to share experience and discuss ways to earn Nobel laureates in medicine. 

Seminars will also be organised on the topics of genes in human reproductive studies, prognosis in big data era: opportunities and challenges, hereditary epidemiology of Parkinson disease, among others. 

Vice Chairman of Ninh Binh provincial People’s Committee Tong Quang Thin said it is an excellent chance for the provincial medical sector to step up research and technological application to further improve health check-ups and treatment. 

On the sidelines of the event, the organising board will hold a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of Dinh Tien Hoang Institute of Medicine, a forum on Nobel laureates in physiology and medicine, debut the Association of Vietnamese Alumni at the Karolinksa Institute, and a race walk for global health.

Three killed in coach accident in Kon Tum province

The coach accident scene in Kon Tum province (Photo: baodautu.vn)

Three people were killed and 15 other seriously injured when their coach fell off the road into a 20m deep abyss at Lo Xo mountain pass on Ho Chi Minh Road in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum on early June 16. 

The dead included two 10-year-old children. 

The coach carrying 44 people was on the way to the southern province of Binh Phuoc when the accident happened. 

The injured victims are being treated at Kon Tum hospital. 

According to Kon Tum’s traffic safety committee, the bus was operated by a company in the northern province of Hai Duong. It lost control and plunged into the abyss at around 2:15 am. By 6 am, rescue forces got all the victims out of the vehicle and took them to the local clinic for first aid. The victims with serious wounds were later transported to the Kon Tum hospital. 

Investigation into the accident’s cause is underway. 

Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee - Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has conveyed his sympathy to the victims and their families and sent a working team led by the committee’s Vice Chairman Khuat Viet Hung to the site to oversee the settlement of consequences. 

Trade union set up in LG Display Vietnam-Hai Phong

Decision to establish a trade union in the LG Display Vietnam-Hai Phong Co.,Ltd is announced on June 16. (Photo: laodong.vn)

The Hai Phong Confederation of Labour and the trade union organisation of the Hai Phong Economic Zone on June 15 announced a decision to establish a trade union in the LG Display Vietnam-Hai Phong Co.,Ltd.

The establishment aims to concretise the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL)’s project to set up trade union institutions for labourers at processing and industrial zones. 

Earlier, the executive board of LG Display’s trade union convened its first meeting to elect a three-member standing committee, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, inspection committee, and head of the inspection committee. To date, 4,283 workers, or 91.2 percent of the company’s total labourers, have applied to join the union.

VGLC Vice President Tran Van Ly said that he was impressed by LG Display’s achievement after one year of operation. He said the trade union in the company will not only help protect labourers’ rights but also make contributions to the firm’s sustainable development. 

Sound settlement of workers’ issues will ensure social order while promoting production and business, and local economic growth, he added.

According to Managing Director of the company Shin Jeung Gon, foreign corporations must have trade unions which operate in line with regulations of the host country. LG-Display Vietnam-Hai Phong will abide by Vietnamese law and work with trade unions at all levels to better protect the legitimate rights of its workers, he said.

LG-Display Vietnam-Hai Phong Co.,Ltd was invested at a total cost of 1.59 billion USD in an area of 54.5 hectares at Trang Due Industrial Park, Hai Phong city. The company began production in Quarter 3 last year. This is a leading project in the locality specialising in OLED (organic light emitting diode) products for televisions and mobile phones.

Currently, the firm has more than 5,000 workers and the number will increase to 15,000 after its second plant comes into operation. It has provided dormitory for 3,800 workers and when construction of the whole 13 dormitories completes, the firm can supply accommodation for 10,000-12,000 labourers.

HCM City to pilot food safety and hygiene programme in schools

HCM City will pilot a food safety and hygiene programme in schools in six districts to prevent food poisoning incidents.

A pilot programme on ensuring food safety and hygiene at all schools in six districts in HCM City will begin in the upcoming school year.

Under the programme, the six pilot districts of 3, 5, 8, 11, Tan Binh and Binh Thanh must ensure that all schools have either met standards of the city’s food safety chain model recognised by the city’s Food Safety Management Board, or have food-safety certificates (such as the global ISO 22000:2005, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practice (Japan-GMP), VietGap and GlobalGap.

If any school unit has not terminated a contract with a food supplier that has not met standards since the 2017-2018 school year, it must do so and report the action to the department.

The Department of Education and Training has told the remaining districts to be ready for the programme as well in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Under the programme, by 2020, all canteens, kitchens and catering services at all district schools would meet food safety standards.

HCM City has more than 2,800 school units from pre-school to tertiary schools providing food services for students.

At least 1,600 schools have kitchens, 880 provide canteen services, and 320 collaborate with catering services.

Local agencies have faced many difficulties trying to prevent food poisoning incidents and controlling the quality of food supplied to kitchens and canteens.

Vietnam wants to further ties with Haiti: Ambassador

Vietnam stands ready to step up relations with Haiti, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba and Haiti Nguyen Trung Thanh affirmed while presenting his credentials to Haitian President Jovenel Moise during his trip to the Caribbean Sea nation from June 11-16.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese diplomat suggested both sides enhance delegation exchanges, bolster cooperation in economy, trade, investment, telecommunications and agriculture as well as coordinate closely at multilateral forums.

On the occasion, he conveyed President Tran Dai Quang’s invitation to the Haitian leader to visit Vietnam.

For his part, Haitian President Moise expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s culture, history and achievements in the Doi moi (reform) process and international integration. He appreciated Vietnam’s good will and expressed his hope to further the bilateral ties with Vietnam.

The President also spoke highly of the telecommunications cooperation project between the two nations. NATCOM, a joint venture between Viettel and the Haitian government, has contributed substantially to the infrastructure development and media connection in the country.

This is a vivid illustration for the practical and effective cooperation of both sides, he noticed.

Meeting with Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, Ambassador Thanh congratulated Haiti on its recent success in economy, society and diplomacy and briefed the host on Vietnam’s achievements in Doi moi and global integration. 

Lafontant committed to creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to effectively and sustainably expand their investment in Haiti, calling for more Vietnam’s investment in agriculture and garment and sharing of experience in response to climate change and sustainable development.

Regarding regional issues, including issues in the East Sea, the Haitian PM said that cooperation is necessary to promote peace, stability, security, and respect for international regulations. All of the disputes, including those at sea, must be handled in a peaceful manner based on international principles and regulations, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, he said.

During his stay, Ambassador Thanh also had meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs Antonio Rodrigue, and Minister of the Interior Jean Marie Raynando Brunet, during which they discussed measures to promote bilateral and multilateral relations in the coming time. They said that both sides should cooperate in potential fields like telecommunications, agriculture, food security, energy and trade.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the operation of a joint committee on trade and investment and kick off negotiations towards signing an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.

HCM City honours voluntary blood donors

Blood donors are honoured at a ceremony held on Friday in HCM City. — Photo qdnd.vn

A total of 896 individuals and organisations in HCM City were honoured on Friday for donating blood and making contributions to the voluntary blood donation movement.

The city Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation Mobilisation organised the annual ceremony to fete blood donors on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, June 14.

The committee hopes to get more humanitarian blood donations to address a shortage of supply for emergency aid and treatment at many hospitals.

Donations have been steadily increasing in the last few years, Nguyễn Tấn Bỉnh, director of the city Department of Health, said.

The HCM City Humanitarian Blood Donation Centre has received more than 112,600 units of blood from voluntary donors in the first six months of this year.

The health sector would continue to do research to separate the various components of blood and improve blood preservation to ensure safe supply, he said.

Nguyễn Ngọc Thành, 59, of District 9, who has donated blood 63 times, said, “I know my blood has saved the lives of some people who were very sick. That makes me and my family really happy.” 

Five casualties in motor canoe-barge collision

The red spot where the collision between a motor canoe and a barge occured in southern An Giang Province yesterday. — Photo googlemap

A motor canoe carrying inspectors in southern An Giang Province collided yesterday with a barge anchored on the Hậu River, leaving one dead, one missing, and three injured.

Initial information showed the motor canoe carrying a team of interdisciplinary inspectors from the provincial Environmental Police, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and other relevant units was traversing the river in Long Xuyên City’s Mỹ Long Ward when it suddenly crashed into the barge.

The injured victims were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Police have restricted access to the scene to facilitate the search for the missing person and to carry out an investigation into the cause of the accident. 

Proactive response needed for depression in East Sea

A low pressure crossed the north of Việt Nam early morning on Friday and will continue to cause heavy rainfall and widespread thunderstorms in the northern provinces. — Photo nchmf.gov.vn

The Standing Office of the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention sent a directive to the local committees for natural disaster prevention, search and rescue of coastal provinces and cities on a tropical depression in the South China Sea (called East Sea by Việt Nam) on Thursday.

The depression is forecasted to hit provinces from northern Quảng Ninh to central Khánh Hòa.

To actively respond to the tropical depression, the steering committees have been asked to inform owners and captains of fishing vessels on the sea about the location and direction of the depression.

They have been asked to take measures to ensure the safety of people and property, to regularly monitor and update the development of depression and to keep communications with vessels at sea.

The steering committees have also been asked to prepare equipment and human forces to be ready for prompt deployment of rescue teams when needed.

They will also organise round-the-clock patrol teams and regularly give updates to the Central Standing Office.

According to the Central Hydrological Forecast Centre, a low pressure crossed the north of Việt Nam early morning on Friday and will continue to cause heavy rainfall and widespread thunderstorms in the northern provinces.

Some places will have moderate to heavy rainfall, including Bắc Hà (Lào Cai Province) and Tam Đảo (Vĩnh Phúc Province), with rainfall of 48mm;Vĩnh Yên (Vĩnh Phúc) 22mm; Bắc Ninh, 22mm; Hải Dương, 38mm; Hà Đông (Hà Nội), 21mm; and Hưng Yên, 19mm.

Due to the influence of the low pressure, the northern region is likely to witness rainfall and thunderstorms from Friday night to Saturday night. The mountainous areas in the region will see moderate to heavy showers.

Thunderstorms are likely to extend to the central region, particularly in Thanh Hóa and Nghệ An provinces receiving moderate to heavy rainfall. They are likely to be accompanied by whirlwinds, hail and gusts.

Rain and scattered thunderstorms, accompanied by whirlwinds and gusts, are expected in Hà Nội until Friday night.

The north of East Sea is currently experiencing strong thunderstorms due to the impact of low pressure with axes at 21-23 degrees north.

In the next two to three days, there will be thunderstorms in the area, with likely occurrence of strong winds of level7-8 and sea waves two to 3.5m high, posing a disaster risk of level 1.

The Gulf of Tonkin is expected to receive rainfall and scattered thunderstorms, which may be accompanied by tornadoes and strong winds.

HAGL score first but lost

Hà Đức Chinh of SHB Đà Nẵng scored his team’s second goal from the penalty spot in the 80th minute. — Photo bongda.com.vn

SHB Đà Nẵng overcame Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) 2-1 in the V.League yesterday at Hòa Xuân Stadium in the central city of Đà Nẵng.

HAGL dominated the opening half of the the 14th-round match, and took an early through Trần Minh Vương in the 9th minute. 

It took SHB until the 60th minute to level matters through Argentinean-born striker Gaston Merlo, who won the Vietnamese Golden Ball – Best Foreign Player in 2012.

The goal sparked his team into life, and they duly took the lead through Hà Đức Chinh in the 80th minute from the penalty spot.

HAGL’s efforts in the final 10 minutes proved fruitless.

The result means HAGL stand in 19th with 17 points, while SHB Đà Nẵng are in 7th with 19 points.

Also yesterday, Sông Lam Nghệ An toppled Becamex Bình Dương 2-1 at at Gò Đậu Stadium in the southern province of Bình Dương Province, while Sanna Khánh Hòa drew with V-League champions Quảng Nam 2-2.

In other games, Hải Phòng defeated HCM City 2-0, Nam Định drew with Than Quảng Ninh 1-1, and Sài Gòn crushed Hà Nội 5-2. 

National junior karate champs kick off in Đà Nẵng

Martial artists compete at the National Junior Karatedo Championship in Đà Nẵng. — Photo baobinhphuoc.com.vn

The National Junior Karate Championships kicked off at the Tiên Sơn Sports Palace in Đà Nẵng today.

The event has drawn the participation of nearly 600 martial artists from 42 teams nationwide.

Male and female participants will compete in eight categories across the kata (performance) and kumite (combat) disciplines in age groups of 14-15, 16-17 and 18-22.

The annual event is a chance for scouts to find talented young artists for the national team to compete at the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.

It is being co-orgnasised by the municipal Department of Culture and Sports and the National Sports Administration.

The tournament will run until Tuesday. 

Little boy struggling with dangerous disease facing death risk

A poor couple in the central province of Quang Tri is calling for the financial support for their little son who is on the verge of death due to a dangerous and rare disease.

Phan Xuan Ky, 10 years old, in Trieu Do Commune, Tien Phong District, has been bed-ridden for months since he was found to contract Adrenoleukodystrophy. 
 
His father Phan Van Bang, 43, said that early last year, he suddenly fainted while coming back home from school. He was then taken to a local hospital, but doctors there couldn’t diagnose his problem.

After that, he was taken to Hue General Hospital. Through many tests, he was diagnosed with Adrenoleukodystrophy.

The treatment was so costly that his parents had to bring him back home. Since then, his condition has become more serious.

The couple continued borrowing more money from different sources to take their son to Hanoi for further examinations. However, doctors there said his condition was very critical and he would face death risk. 

His mother Le Thi Hien, 41, said that he now weighs 12 kilos.

Hue General Hospital sent his tests abroad for analysis for the treatment; however, the chances of him surviving are slim. According to doctors, he could survive when transplanted with stem cells as his condition is too serious for other treatment methods.

The boy’s health has worsened, while his family has been in debt.

His family’s income just depends on farming. His father also tries to earn more by working on a construction site. 

If you can help them please donate through:

1. Code 2966: Phan Van Bang, An Loi Village, Trieu Do Commune, Trieu Phong District, Quang Tri Province 
Mobile phone: 01632.1010.77

2. No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi
Tel: 04. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 04. 3. 7366.490
Email:quynhanai@dantri.com.vn

* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank:

Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 100 194 4487
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM – Thanh Cong Branch

* US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank:

Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 137 195 6482
SWIFT Code: BFTVVNVX
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM

* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank:

Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 201 0000 220 639
With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade – Hoan Kiem Branch

* US Dollar Account information at MB Bank:

Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 0721100357002
SWIFT Code: MSCBVNVX
With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - MCSB ( No.3, Lieu Giai str., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam)

Russian expats clean Nha Trang beaches

Dozens of Russians living in the south-central Vietnamese resort city of Nha Trang have made in their mission to keep the city’s beaches spick-and-span.

​Every morning since the beginning of May, Russian national Natalia Stafeeva and her ten-member group take to Nha Trang’s beaches to clear litter from the sand and sea.

Though their mission is voluntary, the group takes their task seriously – donning goggles and snorkels as early as 6:00 am to clear the beaches waters of debris.

Stafeeva was inspired to join the group on her fourth visit to Vietnam, when she realized the beauty of Nha Trang’s beaches wouldn’t endure if local residents didn’t step up to clear litter left behind by careless beachgoers and pop-up eateries.

​Though Stefeeva believes the Vietnamese people are never short of hospitability, she does admit that their environmental awareness is not so good.

The group’s founder, Aleksander Kulpina, a five-year resident of Nha Trang, has a similar story. 

Before moving to the city, Kulpina had visited Vietnam with his family on seven occasions. 

His love for the coastal city is what convinced him to settle down in the country, but even he admits that beaches have truly become a sight for sore eyes.

Watching locals and domestic tourists casually liter, he says, is causing serious harm to the natural beauty of the beach and the coastal coral reef.

Both Kulpina and Stefeeva have the same message - stop littering on the beaches.

The group hopes that their daily clean-ups will set a positive example for beachgoers and create a much needed change in local habits.

While the Russian volunteers come from all walks of life, they all agree that Vietnam holds a special place in their hearts.

Kulpina also shared that his grandchildren will come live with him in Vietnam in July and hopes they can experience the beautiful beaches he fell in love with.

“We love Vietnam very much. And we will try our best to maintain our group as strong as ever. Garbage will not do on our watch!” he declared.

Bui Thi Khanh Ly, the sole Vietnamese in the group, shared that the group typically divides itself into pairs to focus on specific areas.

“We are now ten-member strong,” Ly explained, “Besides the Russians, there are some Germans and Japanese.”

Heart transport from Hanoi to Hue saves 15 year old child

The Vietnam National Coordinating Center for Human Organ Transplantation has announced to successfully perform a heart transplantation for a 15- year-old kid.

Deputy director of the Center Nguyen Hoang Phuc said that donor of the heart in Hanoi is a young man whoes brain was dead from an accident. His relative agreed to donate his organs to save others.

The Center was quick to connect with other hospitals to find out the most suitable recipient. The heart was transported to save a patient kid in the General Hospital in Thua Thien – Hue.

Surgeons June 13 performed a heart transplantation on a 15-year-old kid having heart failure at the final stage. The kid had been hospitalized for many times in critical condition.

The kid recovered in the next morning under close observation in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

To carry out the transplantation, hospital director Professor Pham Nhu Hiep who attended the National Assembly’s session asked for permission to quit for the transplantation. He directly transported the heart to the hospital along with his colleagues and instructed the operation.

Da Nang to cut water supply citywide for plant upgrade on June 17

A water shutoff affecting the whole city of Da Nang will take place on June 17 for the improvement of a local utility’s capacity, with residents advised to conserve water for use.

Water access in the central city is scheduled to be cut from 7:30 am to 10:30 am, Ho Huong, general director of Da Nang Water Supply Company (Dawaco), announced on June 15.

During that time, the local Cau Do Water Factory will undergo an upgrade meant to increase its capacity, which requires a complete power cut-off.

“The planned blackout means the facility will have to stop water production, so it is expected that the water supply won’t be completely restored until 3:00 pm the same day,” Huong said.

“People should actively conserve water for use during the outage,” the general director advised.

The upgrade project aims to increase the capacity of the 170,000-cubic-meter Cau Do Water Factory by 60,000 cubic meter a day, with a price tag of VND200 billion (US$ 8.8 million).

It will be followed by the second phase, which will send the total capacity of the facility to 290,000 cubic meters a day.

Dawaco is also actively preparing for the construction of Hoa Trung water plant with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters a day by the end of this month.

No betting on World Cup matches in Vietnam

Football fans and punters in Vietnam cannot bet on World Cup matches this year, even though sports betting has been legalized.

Only a few companies have shown interest in operating a betting business in Vietnam, and none of them have actually submitted bidding documents.

The lack of agreement between relevant ministries on how to organize the bidding process is among the reasons for the delay, an unnamed Finance Ministry source told Tuoi Tre.

Limited betting options are another reason. Vietnam only allows betting on international soccer games recognized by the governing body FIFA and approved by the sports ministry. These include the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, Copa America, Champions League and Europa League. These are all short tournaments with limited number of matches, leaving a lot of “idle time.”

Meanwhile, the most popular football leagues in Vietnam, the English Premier League (EPL), La Liga (Spanish League), German Bundesliga, Serie A (Italia) and Ligue 1 (France), are out of the betting pool.

If a bookmaker were to operate for just FIFA recognized tournaments, they would suffer heavy losses, said economist Nguyen Tri Hieu.

According to a government decree that took effect on March 31, 2017, Vietnamese citizens can bet on international football games and horse and greyhound races. Only those above 21 years old are allowed to gamble and bookmakers have to be at least 500 meters away from schools and other public venues for children. The minimum bet value is VND1,000 (4.42 cents) and the daily maximum limit is VND1 million (US$44).

Bookmakers will have to meet strict charter capital requirements: VND1 trillion (US$44.2 million) for horse racing and soccer and VND300 billion (US$13.2 million) for greyhound racing. It is planned that one soccer betting provider will be selected for a five-year trial phase through a bidding process.

On Thursday, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a new law that allows locals to bet on sports events. The law is based on the 2017 government decree. Under the new law, betting will be allowed for other sports when the government approves a decree proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The new law will not come into effect until next year.

Vietnamese are known for their love of gambling. It is estimated that they spend at least US$800 million a year on gambling overseas, mainly in Macau, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Official figures show that Vietnamese citizens spent US$13 billion on the lottery between 2011 and 2015, driving an average 12% gain in annual revenues of lottery companies over that period, according to Nikkei.

The Tuoi Tre report quoted a source from the Ministry of Culture and Information as saying that for now, “It is unclear when soccer betting will start.”