ADB helps Ha Giang develop infrastructure for development

The Asia Development Bank (ADB) will provide technical assistance for the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang to implement a basic infrastructure project for comprehensive development.

During a working session with officials from the provincial People’s Committee on July 15, Lindsay Saunders, head of the ADB’s consultation and technical assistance group, spoke highly of Ha Giang’s potential, advantages and policies to call on investment, saying that these will help create momentum for the locality’s economic growth.

He stressed the need for the local authorities to pay more attention to implementing recommendations of the group in order to complete the project’s documents soon and submit them to the ADB for approval.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Son presented the locality’s socio-economic achievements in recent years, and highlighted great contributions of the ADB to Ha Giang’s development.

Ha Giang hopes the ADB continue coordinating with ministries and sectors at the central level to effectively implement the project in the locality, he said.

As part of the ADB-funded project to develop technical infrastructure in some northern localities, the Ha Giang sub-project is expected to directly bring practical benefits to local ethnic minority groups by helping the local authorities develop transport and clean water infrastructure, and promote the locality’s strength as well.

Other beneficiaries of the project include Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Lang Son.

Fishermen hit by Philippine vessel return home safely

Seven fishermen in the central province of Quang Binh returned home safe and sound on July 17 after their ship was hit by a Philippine cargo vessel and sunk near the waters of Con Dao island in central Quang Tri province on July 4.

Nguyen Ba Luc, 20, said the Philippine cargo vessel conducted search and rescue work right after the incident and brought the Vietnamese fishermen on board where they were provided with food and medical checks.

The fishermen from Quang Binh’s Canh Duong commune, Quang Trach district, stayed on the Philippines vessel for four days in service of a local investigation.

They later completed necessary procedures to travel through Malaysia and fly home.

Ministry accused of going light on incompetent firm

Lawyers have complained about the Ministry of Public Security’s decision not to prosecute the company that constructed the substandard Da River water pipeline.

The pipeline broke for the 18th time on July 11, prompting massive public anger.

The pipeline went into operation seven years ago, but it has broken multiple times. The Ministry of Construction said the material used in the construction was unsuitable for supplying such a huge amount of water to the city. Vinaconex invested VND1.5 trillion (USD71.4 million) in the project, and its affiliate, the Vinaconex Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester Pipe Company, supplied the pipes.

Seven officials of Vinaconex Glass Fibre were investigated for regulatory offences last year. However, according to the Ministry of Public Security, they were of ‘good reputation’, and fully co-operative during the investigation. It also cited that they had ‘made contributions to the country’ and there was no evidence of corruption so the authorities didn't carry out prosecution.

Truong Thanh Duc, chairman of Basico Law Firm, said the ministry's reasons to not prosecute violators were unreasonable. Each time the pipeline broke it had caused massive damage to businesses and affected the lives of thousands of people in Hanoi. Even initial investigation showed that the officials had violated regulations.

"I think we need to prosecute those leaders. Having a ‘good reputation’ or ‘making contributions to the country’ should only help to lighten the punishment," he said.

Le Dang Doanh, former head of the Central Institute for Economic Management, also agreed, saying that if this case was not dealt with seriously, it would set up a bad precedent. "Firms can go on causing damage without fear. Lawyers should be invited to give opinions and we need to file the case," he said.

From February 2012 to September 2015, the pipeline broke 14 times, affecting 177,000 households.

Last year, two hospitals, Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital and Hospital 198 had to face major difficulties after the water pipeline broke. Nearly 900 patients and 800 employees at Hospital 198 have had to find ways to work around the water shortage.

Hanoi authorities have begun planning a second pipeline to bring water from the Da River.

American man found dead in Da Nang hotel

Police in the central city of Da Nang are investigating the death of an American man whose body was found in a hotel room on July 17.

He was identified as Willard Raymond Wiltse, 78. His roommate, Alan Wayne Short, 54, reported to the police about his death at 6 a.m. on July 17.

Wiltse traveled to Da Nang 15 months ago and bought a house in Thanh Khe District, according to the police.

As Wiltse planned to return to the US, he recently sold the house. He moved to Khanh Nhi Hotel, also located in Thanh Khe, on Saturday night, police said.

Wiltse’s body will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of his death, the police said.

Vietnamese television halts Chinese movie starring actor who protests int'l court ruling

The Binh Thuan provincial television has announced it will stop broadcasting the movie “Shanghai Bund” because Huang Xiaoming, the leading actor, has protested the recent ruling by an international tribunal court that dismissed China's expansive territorial claims.

The suspension took effect on July 16. The station has already screened the 19th episode of the 40-episode television series, Cong An Nhan Dan (People's Police) newspaper reported on July 16, citing a statement from Binh Thuan Television.

The Republic of Korea's movie "East of Eden" will be broadcast in lieu of "Shanghai Bund".

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on July 12 ruled in favor of the Philippines, which brought the case in 2013, by dismissing Beijing’s expansive claim to sovereignty over the strategically important and resource-rich South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea.

After the court’s ruling, many Hong Kong and mainland Chinese celebrities, including Huang Xiaoming, posted patriotic messages and a map that included the waters China claimed sovereignty on their social media to object to the ruling.

"Shanghai Bund" is a 2007 Chinese television series and a remake of the 1980 Hong Kong television series The Bund, produced by Hongkong-based TVB. The series starred Huang Xiaoming, Betty Sun, Li Xuejian and Huang Haibo in the leading roles.

In May 2014,  the Binh Thuan Radio and Television Station also cancelled all Chinese movies to oppose Chinese deployment of an infamous oil rig to Vietnamese waters in the Paracels, an island chain in the East Sea.

HCMC honors 360 outstanding students

People’s Committee in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday held a meeting to honor 360 outstanding students for the academic year 2015-2016 in the Thong Nhat Hall.

These students have achieved good prizes in international competitions, the national contests and the city’s contests.

Twelve grader Tran Tan Phat from the school for gifted students under the HCM City National University, captured the Silver Medal in the Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad; Nguyen Hoang Ngan and Pham Thanh Truc from Senior High School Le Hong Phong won the three prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2016 (Intel ISEF 2016), organized by Intel Corporation.

Additionally, HCMC students won 314 prizes from the national contests including technical and engineering. Apart from that, the city has 3,782 good students and the city Math. Education leaders not only lauded good students but also teachers and parents’ efforts who have devoted to students.

Highly speaking of 360 students, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thu stressed they are good seeds for the city’ development in the future. Ms. Thu ordered education sector to find gifted students and nurture them to be good seeds.

Formosa catastrophe takes toll on tourism in Vietnam province

The tourism industry of Quang Binh has been squeezed by the toxic disaster caused by the Vietnam unit of Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group in Ha Tinh Province, a senior local official has said.

The number of tourists to the central province has recorded a 20% year-on-year decrease, plummeting to 1.3 million, Tran Tien Dung, Quang Binh's vice mayor, said on July 15.

“Construction on several new hotel and restaurant projects in the province has been temporarily shelved," Dung said. "[Investors] are waiting for the situation to improve to resume their works.”

Many travel companies and hotels in Quang Binh have to reduce staff to cut cost due to fewer tourists. Various measures by the provincial government and local companies have failed to reverse the decline in tourist arrivals, Dung said.

He asked the central government to deal with the Formosa incident to help recover the maritime economic operations and travel industry in the central region.

In early April, large quantities of fish washed up dead near the Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh Province.

The disaster stretched 200 kilometers (124 miles) along the central Vietnamese coast, as far south as Thua Thien-Hue, resulting in the death of more than 70 tons of sea fish and 35 tons of farm-raised fish.

Especially hard hit were Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Thua Thien Hue provinces where thousands of fishermen lost customers or were forced to sell at a loss.

In late June, Formosa Ha Tinh Steel admitted its US$10.6 billion steel plant had been responsible for the massive fish deaths, pledging US$500 million in damages.

The central government has assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to develop a blueprint that earmakrs tourism as a key economic industry of the country.

Quang Binh has several beautiful beaches and a variety of tourist staples including Son Doong, which was named  the world's largest cave by the British Cave Research Association in 2009 and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2003.

Vietnam’s Chuon Marsh flooded with trash

A well-known natural landscape in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has become inundated with trash, threatening the local environment.

The Chuon Marsh, located in Phu An Commune is being threatened by severe pollution, despite only recently gaining a foothold as a budding tourist destination due to its unique natural habitats.

A lack of official garbage dumpsites in the area has led to piles of trash left by local residents along the main highway to be blown into the swamp.

Clusters of household and commercial waste, mainly plastic bags, are sent drifting through the algae and weeds growing in the swamp before becoming entangled along embankments, blanketing the area with unnatural odors, witnessed by Tuoi Tre (youth) newspaper reporters.

Phan Quang Huy, deputy chairman of the Phu An People’s Committee, said that local authorities are considering food vending activities at Chuon Marsh, along with a lack of official garbage dumpsites, as part of the problem.

Huy also says the committee is looking at effective approaches to cleaning the swamp.

“But increasing local awareness plays the most important role in saving the regional environment,” he concluded.

Art exhibition in HCM City showcases ASEAN talent

'Rooted in the Past, Looking into the Future,' the 'Bold. Art Exhibition' is set to feature masterfully designed pieces created by artists from six ASEAN countries before moving to Hanoi next month.

The exhibition presents 12 patriotic sculptures by six artists from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam from July 15 to 21 at Saigon House at 77 Nguyen Hue, District 1.

The Hanoi edition will be held from August 12 to 18 at Toong at 98 To Ngoc Van Street, Tay Ho District.

Both events will offer free admission.

Three young artists, Ho Thi Ngoc Suong, Pham Thien Phu, and Trang Nhon Khoa, will also have works featured at the events in honor of receiving top prizes in a Vietnamese cultural pattern design contest in early June.

'Bold. Art Exhibition' was founded in 1974 by Kohler Co. in the US as a way for the American furniture manufacturing company to support aspiring artists.

The event first came to the Southeast Asian region last year, during which Thailand was chosen as the host country.

Vietnamese songs honoured in France

As many as 11 Vietnamese epics featuring patriotism and the country’s gorgeous landscapes were performed for the first time in Rouen city, the capital of the Normandy region, on July 8-9.

The performance was delivered by a choir of nearly 30 singers together with professional musicians, representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in France, the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in France and overseas Vietnamese in Paris and contiguous regions.

This was a cooperation programme between the Rouen symphony orchestra and Hop Ca Que Huong (The Homeland Choir) in Paris to produce a high-quality CD with such famous national epic pieces as Ca ngoi To quoc (praising the country), Vietnam que huong toi (Vietnam-my homeland), To quoc goi ten minh (country calls my name) and Du kich song Thao (Guerrillas of the Thao River).

The programme aims to present Vietnamese classical choruses – billed as the country’s intangible cultural heritage – to international friends. Also, it contributes to protecting the country’s sovereignty.

Since its establishment in 2009, Hop Ca Que Huong have introduced Vietnamese songs to various localities in France on the occasions of Vietnamese National Day and Lunar New Year.

Ability reassessment proposed for education management officials

Deputy director of the National Institute of Education Management Nguyen Manh Hung has proposed to reassess educational and school management ability of over 120,000 officials in the national education system and public and non-public schools.

He made the proposal to Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha during his working session at the institute yesterday.

Mr. Hung suggested the minister to assign the institute to build an independent reassessment project.

Basing on that, the institute would consult for the ministry about organizing training courses for educational management officials to effectively implement school management models in the new context, he said.

Minister Phung Xuan Nha asked the institute to map out a plan to terminate bachelor and master training and focus on doctoral training.

The main product of the institute is major consultancies about education management and training programs to meet the standards of leadership positions, he said.

Vietnamese cook to participate in Korean int’l cooking contest

Cook Nguyen Dang An, an owner of a restaurant in Thanh Hoa Province won the first prize at a Korean cooking contest held by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Hanoi.

The Korean cooking contest in Vietnam opened for chefs and students of cooking schools who love Korean food.

At the contest, the competitors showed cooking skills for typical Korean foods, including  Bibimbap, Japchae, Bulgogi, and Tteokbokki.

An triumphed over nine competitors with the japchae dish.

An will have a chance to enjoy a 9-day Korean cooking class and  travel to the Republic of Korea (RoK) to take part in the international cooking contest in Seoul from July 22-23.

He will have to compete against competitors from 20 countries, such as Malaysia, China, Japan, Indonesia, the US and others for a 10,000-USD cash prize. Apart from that, the contest’s winner will become an honorable Ambassador promoting Korean gastronomy to the world.

Hanoi photo winner found to have photoshopped image

The Vietnam Photography Association has just revoked the first prize of a Hanoi photo contest after finding the work was photoshopped.

The first prize of the artistic photo contest 2016 in Hanoi was presented for the work portraying Vietnamese famous artist Phan Ke An by photographer Nguyen Dac Nhu.

However, just some days after receiving the prize, the photo was criticised for being edited and photoshopped, violating the contest regulations.

Speaking with reporters, Vu Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Photography Association said that the organising board had issued strict regulations about the contest and completely trusted the photographers' honesty. So, they had not checked the original photo that Nhu sent to them before announcing the prize.

According to Khanh, photographer Nhu admitted his mistake, explaining that he had not checked the contest regulations carefully. Nhu has voluntarily returned the first prize to the organising board.

Khanh noted that the case had provided the association with valuable experience in selecting work for its future contests.

Nhu's work was selected among the 1,875 photos sent entries.

Dien Bien asked to optimise agro-forest advantages

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has asked the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien to continue tapping its agricultural and forest advantages to boost socio-economic development at his meeting with provincial leaders on July 16.

Dien Bien is home to 550,000 people from 19 ethnic groups. It borders Laos and China with a total length of over 400 km.

The province’s average economic growth rate exceeds 9 percent a year, with per capita income reaching 23.6 million VND (1,038 USD) in 2015.

However, the province remains one of the poorest localities, with the poverty rate of 28 percent.

The Party leader urged the locality to speed up economic restructuring, infrastructure construction and administrative reform, and attract more investment, suggesting it encourage the involvement of locals in these works.

The province was requested to pay more attention to improving the intellectual standards of locals, and boost education and vocational training.

Located in a strategic defence position of the northwestern region, Dien Bien needs to intensify defence security, maintain social order and safety, and better external, ethnic and religious affairs, he stated, adding that it is necessary to prevent local ethnics from being incited by incorrect propaganda allegations.

He also reminded the province to intensify Party building work and the building of a transparent and strong political system.

The Party chief then visited the border post of the Tay Trang international border gate in Na U commune of Dien Bien district, which is tasked to manage the 24km borderline with Laos.

He required the border guard force to help maintain security order along the borderline, and fulfil the tasks assigned by the Party, State and people, for peace, independence and sovereignty of the nation, and for happiness of the people.

He paid a visit to Pom Lot commune in the district, and presented gifts to several war invalids in the commune.

He also visited the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum and planted a tree there.

Earlier on July 15, the Party leader inspected the implementation of the Lai Chau hydropower plant project in Lai Chau province.

With a total investment of 35 trillion VND (1.54 billion USD), the plant is the nation’s important facility having the main purpose of providing electricity for the national grid.

State leader meets outstanding veteran entrepreneurs

President Tran Dai Quang appreciated the working spirit of veteran entrepreneurs and their contributions to society at his meeting with outstanding veteran entrepreneurs nationwide in Hanoi on July 16 on the occasion of the 69th National War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27).

Established in April 2013, the Vietnamese Veteran Entrepreneurs’ Association gathers a large number of war veterans, who are running business.

The nation currently has over 6,400 enterprises and nearly 60,000 cooperatives and farms owned by veterans, which are generating jobs for 800,000 people, mainly veterans, their children and poor people.

President Quang stated that he was touched by charitable activities of the veterans, who recently announced to present nearly 1,000 houses for policy beneficiaries and disadvantaged people in 2016 and early 2017.

He expressed his hope that they will continue to do more for the nation-building cause.

The leader also requested Party organisations and local authorities to facilitate the operations of the Veterans’ Associations and the Veteran Entrepreneurs’ Associations at all levels.

On the same day, an art programme was broadcast live on VTV1 channel of the Vietnam Television, with numerous performances praising patriotism, soldiers and war veterans.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Vietnamese Veterans’ Association Central Committee Nguyen Van Duoc said that during 2012-2016, the association and the Vietnamese Veteran Entrepreneurs’ Association have rebuilt 37,452 houses, and built hundreds of new ones for veterans nationwide. The association contributed over 100 billion VND (4.4 million USD) to study encouragement funds and charitable funds.

However, due to consequences of the war, many of veterans are still living in difficulties and need support from society.

Therefore, Duoc called on people, especially businessmen veterans, to provide physical and spiritual assistance for them to overcome difficulties.

Khanh Hoa: 2,000 people join blood donation festival

An estimated 2,000 people joined a blood donation festival, which kicked off in Nha Trang City, the central province of Khanh Hoa on July 16.

According to the Khanh Hoa Steering Committee for voluntary blood donation, about 2,000 units of blood were collected in the first day of the festival.

As part of the Red Journey Programme 2016, which has been arranging across the country with the serve of 130 volunteers, the event aims to meet increasing demand of blood in the summer, and promote exchange among volunteers in the blood donation work.

Jointly organised by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Nhan Ai Vong Tay Viet JSC and the VTV24 News Centre of the Vietnam Television since 2013, the Red Journey Programme has gone through 40 provinces and cities nationwide, collecting nearly 60,000 units of bloods.

It also contributes to raising public awareness of the significance of voluntary blood donation.

Hanoi school of public health’s headquarters inaugurated

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on July 16 cut a ribbon to inaugurate the new headquarters of the Hanoi School of Public Health in Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi.

Relocated in the form of the build-operate-transfer (BOT) on an area of 8.8 ha, the school is equipped with modern facilities and devices. It is expected to provide training for about 6,000 students.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien highlighted the significance of the project, saying that it will contribute to improving health care for the people in general and the training of preventive medical personnel and health managers in particular.

As part of the Government’s plan to move educational institutions in the downtown to outlying areas, the project aims to meet the increasing demand of healthcare services and medical training, and reduce traffic and population pressure in the centre of Hanoi.

The Hanoi School of Public Health is among 26 universities and colleges in inner Hanoi, where a large number of students are pursuing their study.

This is the first relocated project of the health sector under the BOT form.

Excellent song, circus acts, magic, dance and martial arts were performed by street artists on Saturday in a gala evening held at September 23 Park in HCM City’s District 1.

They were chosen from a Street Art Contest which attracted more than 150 individuals and groups. The contest had been organised by Tuổi Trẻ newspaper in co-operation with the HCM City Movie and Performance Organisation Centre and Sen Vàng Company since December 18 last year and will continue until October 15.

They perform on the street, coffee shops, parks and other public sites to earn a living every evening. They are poor young people and people with disabilities, many of them from south central provinces.

The gala evening was broadcast live on tuoitre.vn, tv.tuoitre.vn and Fanpage of Truyền hình báo Tuổi Trẻ.

Lưu Văn Dự of the HCM City, 64, who has a physical disability due to polio, is one of the contest’s attendees and was chosen to perform at the gala evening.

Once, he watched an American artist use his teeth to play guitar. He liked it and had interest in doing that same thing. He practiced every day. Although his mouth bled, he did not give up. The result of his hard working is to get proficient at playing guitar by his teeth.

The Việt Nam’s Guinness Book of Records presented him a certificate for being a unique artist playing guitar by teeth in the country in 2009.

Another performer was Lê Xuân Tùng of Đồng Nai Province who made a sketch of a portrait of President Hồ Chí Minh by fire and glutinous rice powder, which is used to make traditional toys for children in Việt Nam.

He often performs at the Culture House in the province’s Trảng Bom District.

Master Hiền bags silver at national chess competition

World U8 champion Nguyễn Lê Cẩm Hiền earned a silver medal at the National Youth Chess Championship’s girls’ U9 category yesterday in Đà Nẵng.

Hiền, from Quảng Ninh Province, grabbed 7.5 points and came in second in the standard chess event.

Thái Ngọc Tường Minh of Đồng Nai won a gold medal with 8.5 points.

Earlier, Hiền claimed a bronze medal in rapid chess and finished sixth in the blitz event.

In other standard categories, Vương Trung Hiếu topped the boys’ U20; Nguyễn Hoàng Anh won the girls’ U20; Phùng Thị Quỳnh Trang triumphed in the girls’ U17, and Lê Minh Hoàng claimed the boys’ U17.

Photographers help poor Vietnamese students stay in school

Two young men in California are running a free photo service to raise money for students in poor communities in Vietnam.

Thuyet Nguyen and Sonny Bui, alumni of the University of California, Los Angeles, founded the site Fotohearts last May to provide free graduation photos to UCLA students in return for donations.

A post on the university's news website Daily Bruin said Nguyen and Bui met in 2012 and found that they shared the same passion and love for photography and their Vietnamese heritage.

“As passionate photographers, we believe we can do wonderful things behind the camera and help the community along the way,” said a statement on the group’s website.

Nguyen said he came up with the idea of combining photography and philanthropy after two trips to Vietnam in 2010 and 2013.

He said he noticed children in rural areas did not have enough school supplies and many of them dropped out.

According Fotohearts Facebook page, the group is also receiving applications from students in central Vietnam to provide scholarships to.

They will continue to provide free graduation photos next year and plan to expand the project to other campuses in the United States.

Anh Duong Vietnam Joint Stock Company, better known as Vinasun, has got the go-ahead from the Ministry of Transport to launch a new taxi-hailing app similar to that of GrabTaxi already available on the market.

Hailing a taxi by the Vinasun app, passengers can travel on vehicles without taxi signs and phone numbers if requested.

The HCM City Department of Transport confirmed on July 14 that Vinasun had been permitted to pilot the new service using vehicles of up to nine seats in the city. Vinasun will test provide the new service in Danang, Can Tho, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa and Dong Thap as well.

Ta Long Hy, deputy general manager of Vinasun, said 200 Camry and Fortuner cars would be used for the new V.CAR service in the initial time with the same fares as those for normal taxi services. Hy said Vinasun plans to increase the number of V.CAR cars to 500-700.

Customers are advised to install the Vinasun App on their smartphones to hail V.CAR cabs. Passengers will know fares when a request is sent and data about their trips will be saved to help them easily contact and find any lost belongings.

Vinasun App users can hail both normal and V.CAR cabs. Passengers can also call a V.CAR car by phone as well.

HCM City to build bridge exits to ease congestion

The Saigon River Tunnel Management Center will start work on two exits for Nguyen Van Cu Bridge in HCM City by the end of this quarter and they would be ready in quarter two next year, thus reducing heavy traffic at the intersection of Tran Hung Dao Street.

The two exit roads will be built at a cost of VND168 billion (US$7.5 million). Opened to traffic more than six years ago, Nguyen Van Cu Bridge links downtown HCMC with the south of the city.

As the bridge has no exit to Vo Van Kiet Boulevard, vehicles from district 4 and 8 on one side of the Ben Nghe Canal must pass through Tran Hung Dao-Nguyen Van Cu Intersection to enter the boulevard, thus causing traffic conflict. Once in place the two exits will help reduce congestion at this intersection.

Regarding infrastructure projects in the southern part of HCM City including districts 7 and Nha Be, the city government has picked Tan Thuan Industrial Promotion Co Ltd (IPC) to implement phase one of Nguyen Van Linh-Nguyen Huu Tho intersection in District 7 and the firm will advance capital to carry out the project.

IPC has been assigned to draw up an investment plan for a north-south road from Hoang Dieu Intersection to Ba Chiem Bridge under the build-transfer (BT) format. The firm has got the city government’s nod to form a consortium to take over management of a tollgate on Nguyen Van Linh Parkway.

Vietnam Coast Guard builds muscle wit

The Vietnam Coast Guard has received two high-speed patrol vessels and a multi-purpose transport ship in a bid to strengthen its capacity to defend the country’s maritime sovereignty, the Vietnam Coast Guard said on its website on July 16.

The three ships are part of a seven-boat scheme the National Assembly, Vietnam’s legislature, approved in 2014.

The two high-speed patrol vessels, CSB-4038 and CSB-4039, can operate at a maximum speed of 35 nautical miles per hour in 30 days at sea, Vietnam Television reported on July 16.

The 90m long multi-purpose transport ship, meanwhile, will be used to refuel and supply logistics for other Vietnam’s vessels operating at sea. The 2,900 ton vessel can operate in up to 60 days at sea.

All the three ships are built by Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company, which is under Vietnam’s General Department of Defense Industry.

Just last month, the Vietnam Coast Guard conducted technical inspections before receiving another four high-speed patrol boats, which are part of a 12-boat deal the Vietnam Coast Guard has hired James Boat Technology Joint Stock Company to build this year.

The Vietnam Coast Guard was established in 1998 and is a branch of the Vietnam People’s Army. It is responsible for maintaining maritime security and protecting the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Festival features popular symbols of Japanese culture

Iconic characteristics of Japanese culture, including Mount Fuji, Hello Kitty, ninjas, and Geishas, are being featured at the Feel Japan Festival that opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 16.

Under the theme ‘Bringing Japan closer to Vietnamese people’, the festival attracted a large number of visitors, particularly youngsters and students, on the opening day.

Visitors to the event can explore traditional performances by Maiko (apprentice Geisha) and Geiko (called Geisha in Kyoto) from Kyoto, as well as songs and dances by young famous Vietnamese singers including Chi Thien, Bao An, and boy band 365 Daband.

Participants are also invited to take photos and discuss Hello Kitty, a famous fictional cat with a red bow that is famous around the world.

Entertainers of the Ninja and Oiran troupes from Edo Wonderland, a theme park in Tochigi where the culture and life of the Edo period is reproduced, are holding Japanese martial arts performances.

A total of 50 booths are set-up for the event, showcasing the products and services from Japan’s leading brands in fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food and electronics at discounted prices.

The festival, supported by the Japanese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, will run until July 17 at Gem Center, 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in District 1.

Concert to raise money for “Thien Nhan and friends” program

A choir perfromance titled “Look at the World” raising fund for the program “Thien Nhan and friends” will be held at Hanoi Opera House on July 20.

The project is organized each two years parallel with two surgeries within the program “Thien Nhan and friends” including choir performance, art exhibition and among.

“Look at the World” is a cultural meeting for art lovers, presenting a way to exchange hopes and reduce pains.

All the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the program “Thien Nhan and friends” that provides free genital reconstruction surgery to unfortunate children.

Thien Nhan is an abandoned boy who his right leg and genitals were taken by wild animals. He was abandoned by his teenage mother in a deserted garden for three days by after birth in Quang Nam Province. Tran Mai Anh, a young mother of two in Ha Noi, adopted him when he was two years old. She took him too many reconstructive doctors in Vietnam and abroad for operations. Now, Nhan has a chance at being a healthy boy and studies at a primary school in the capital.

Vietnam to host Asia-Pacific co-operative ministers’ conference

The Vietnam Co-operative Alliance (VCA) will host the 10th Asia-Pacific Ministers’ Conference scheduled for April 18-21 next year in Hanoi.

The VCA said that the conference is a significant event to boost co-operation between Governments and the co-operative sector in the context of deep regional and global integration.

Earlier, leaders of regional cooperatives gathered at consultation conferences, discussing five main issues, namely food sovereignty and security, new approaches to co-operatives, the informal economy and transitions to formality, regional and global participation of co-operatives, and a fair environment in terms of legal framework and policies.

The conferences adopted 16 conclusions and nine recommendations, to be submitted to the ministers’ meeting.

According to the VCA, the overriding priorities were placed on youth member’s involvement in cooperatives, access to food and socio-economic services, green economy and public-private partnership.

The previous Asia-Pacific Ministers’ Conference was hosted by Thailand in 2012.