Urban flood control remains urgent issue in Vietnam

The main cause of waterlogging in heavy rain is because the drainage infrastructure has become obsolete, overloaded and of poor quality.

Vietnam’s large urban areas are frequently flooded when heavy rain occurs as the drainage system is obsolete and overloaded, making urban flood control a pressing issue in the country.

Solutions to this issue were discussed by leading experts in this field at the workshop "Urban storm water management and flood control" held by the Ministry of Construction and JICA (Japan) in Hanoi on November 15.

At present, in Vietnam’s urban areas, drainage infrastructure is mainly built in urban centers of all 63 provinces and cities.

The drainage system is used  for wastewater and rainwater interchangeably. Most of the drainage systems are self-draining, so they often experience waterlogging in case of heavy rain.

Statistics from the Department of Technical Infrastructure under the Ministry of Construction shows that Ho Chi Minh City has the most flooded sites in the country with about 220 points, Hanoi with nearly 190 points, Can Tho City with 107 points, Da Nang City with 50 points.

The main cause of waterlogging in heavy rain is because the drainage infrastructure has become old, overloaded and of poor quality. In Hanoi, for example, the sewer rate is 0.46m/person compared to the world average of 2m/person.

To date, all provinces and cities in Vietnam have implemented drainage and wastewater treatment projects. There are 44 large-scale drainage and wastewater treatment projects in operation and over 50 projects are under construction.

Speaking at the workshop, Head of Wastewater and Sewerage Management Department under the Ministry of Construction Tran Thi Thao Huong has proposed solutions to solve the issue by attracting investment resources, mobilizing capital from ODA, PPP to accelerate the implementation of projects as planned.

In addition to the government, Vietnamese people have to raise their sense of responsibility. They themselves have to directly participate in protecting the drainage system, such as throwing garbage in right places, building houses in accordance with the law, Huong added.

For their part, Japanese experts presented their experiences of water drainage and urban flood control in Yokohama, Osaka, focusing on coordination between the government and the private sector, increasing the participation of private enterprises in infrastructure investment and waste water management.

NA Chairwoman attends ceremony marking teachers’ day

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the ceremony. 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on November 18 attended a ceremony to mark the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day (November 20) at the Finance Academy in Hanoi, urging the establishment to base itself on the Party’s advocates and State’s policies on finance to work out curricula suitable to the new context.

Finance is holding the key role in the national economy, so the academy needs to continue bringing into full play the achievement it has recorded so as to successfully build a healthy national finance that can ensure financial and monetary safety and security, especially in the current trend of globalization and international integration and cooperation, the NA leader stressed.

The top legislator expressed her belief that the academy will continue to develop itself, and create positive changes and breakthroughs in its teaching and conduct scientific research, thus helping settle the problem of building an integrating, healthy and stable finance for Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Director Nguyen Trong Co recalled the academy’s 55 years of history since its founding in 1963. Over the period of time, it has trained over 8,000 doctors and associate doctors, and nearly 100,000 graduates for not only Vietnam but also Laos and Cambodia. The establishment is implementing seven training and scientific research programmes with its counterparts in the UK, Australia, France and New Zealand.

For his part, Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung congratulated lecturers and students of the academy on their achievements. He also detailed the key tasks for the establishment in the time to come to realized what Mme. Ngan pointed out.

A representative of the students of the academy affirmed their determination to intensify their work so as to become intellectuals who can considerably contribute to the national development in the time to come.

On this occasion, NA Chairwoman Ngan handed over the Labour Order, First Class, to the academy in recognition of its achievements.

HCM City: 24,000 people join 22nd Terry Fox Run

More than 24,000 people take part in the 22nd Terry Fox Run (TFR) in Ho Chi Minh City on November 18 to raise funds for cancer patients in Vietnam. 

More than 24,000 people took part in the 22nd Terry Fox Run (TFR) in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on November 18 to raise funds for cancer patients in Vietnam.

The 5-km run was held by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in HCM City. 

In his opening remarks, TFR Vietnam Co-chair Kelly Wong said founded in Canada, the Terry Fox Run has been organised in more than 60 countries around the world. It is a non-competitive community sport event so all individuals, families and groups are welcomed to join by walking, running or cycling, he said.

“I see many people suffering different types of cancer in Vietnam and the TFR Vietnam is an important event to support research and treatment of the disease," said one of the runners, Nguyen Thi Lien from Thu Duc district.

She said she hopes that the money collected will be used to help cancer patients and improve medical facilities for hospitals to deliver better services.

This year’s TFR raised nearly 3 billion VND (130,000 VND) in funding for an international pediatric oncology hematology programme in Vietnam.

The programme supports the children’s hospital system throughout the country via the HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy and international experts, and their university hospitals.  It also aims to establish clinical and research capability within the Vietnam system for children with cancer. 

Cancer is one of the most common diseases in Vietnam, with an increasing number of young patients, including children. Vietnam each year detects more than 126,000 cancer cases, and sees 94,000 deaths from the disease, according to the Ministry of Health.

Last year, TFR Vietnam was again the biggest international TFR in the world, attracting more than 22,000 participants and raising over 2.6 billion VND (112,000 USD).

It is a day of celebrating Terry’s legacy and helping to keep alive his dream of finding a cure for cancer. To date, over 750 million USD has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry’s name. 

Terry Fox grew up near Vancouver, British Columbia. As an active teenager involved in many sports, Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated 15cm above the knee in 1977. 

While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them children, that he decided to run across Canada from coast to coast to raise money for cancer research. 

He called his journey the Marathon of Hope. Terry Fox ran almost 42km a day through eastern Canada, Quebec and Ontario. 

However, after 143 days and 5,373km, Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because his cancer had returned. He passed away in 1981 at the age of 22. 

Vietnam-RoK literature exchange held in HCM City

The exchange sees the attendance of Vietnamese writer Do Tien Thuy with a novel titled “Con chim Joong bay tu A den Z” (Bird Joong flies from A to Z) and her RoK colleague Eun HeeKyung, the author of “A Gift from a Bird.” (Source: qdnd.vn)

A Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) literature exchange was held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 18, giving an insight into the literatures of the two nations.  

The exchange saw the attendance of Vietnamese writer Do Tien Thuy with a novel titled “Con chim Joong bay tu A den Z” (Bird Joong flies from A to Z) and her RoK colleague Eun HeeKyung, the author of “A Gift from a Bird.” The writers shared their views on the life, especially in the post-war time. 

Speaking at the exchange, Eun HeeKyung said RoK readers have found it hard to access the Vietnamese literature as there are only few Vietnamese literal works are translated into Korean. 

The writers expressed their hope that the Vietnamese and RoK literal sectors will come closer to each other in the time ahead through experience exchange.

Run for Traffic Safety marks Vietnam – Japan relations

The Kizuna Ekiden Relay Run for Traffic Safety 2018 takes place right in the heart of Hanoi on November 18. (Photo: baodautu.vn)

The Kizuna Ekiden Relay Run for Traffic Safety 2018 was held right in the heart of Hanoi jointly by the Ministry of Public Security and the Mainichi Shimbun Group of Japan on November 18.

Attending the opening ceremony of the event, which came within the framework of the activities to mark the 45the anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, were representatives of the ministry, the Japanese embassy, the Japanese police, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the municipal People’s Committee, and the Mainichi Shimbun Group, among others.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Thanh stressed that over the years, the relations between Vietnam and Japan have been unceasingly developing intensively, extensively and effectively. This can be seen in various aspects such as politics, economy, culture, national defence – security, he said.

The official described this event as one of great significance on this occasion, as it created a chance for the police and enterprises of the two countries to enhance their cultural and sport exchanges, thus consolidating and strengthening their solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding.

Thanh held that the holding of the event right on the day of the world’s remembrance of the victims of traffic accidents helps popularize the need to abide by the traffic law, as well as improve the sense of responsibility of the forces in ensuring traffic safety and order.

Participants from the two countries competed in a 14km relay around the Hoan Kiem Lake, and the organizing board gave away many prizes.

Vietnamese Buddhist Association – spiritual support for OVs in Japan

The Vietnamese Buddhist Association in Japan has so far served as a spiritual support for Vietnamese studying, working and living in Japan.

The remark was made by nun Thich Tam Tri, head of the association, at a ceremony at Dai An pagoda, Honjo city, Saitama prefecture on November 18 launch its 117-member executive board and 25-member standing board for the 2018-2023 tenure. 

The association will continue to guide Vietnamese in Japan to practise Buddhism in line with the Charter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Vietnamese and Japanese laws and its regulations, she said.

Established in 2011, the association has organised Buddhist activities in the four main pagodas of Nishikutsu and Tinh Tan Hamamatsu in Tokyo, Dai An in Saitama prefecture and Phuoc Hue in Aichi prefecture.  

It has also launched volunteer programmes in support of victims of natural disasters in both Japan and Vietnam. 

Of note, since 2012, the association has held requiems for more than 80 Vietnamese who were killed in Japan and Vietnamese martyrs, and seminars on Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

Tra Vinh Province builds Khmer culture and tourism village

Boat race is the main activity of Khmer people’s Ok Om Bok festival

The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has begun work on a Khmer culture and tourism village project worth nearly VND26 billion (about US$1.1 million).

VND8 billion of the amount will come from the province’s budget and the remainder from the private sector.

The project is located in Ward 8 of Tra Vinh City and Luong Hoa Commune of Chau Thanh District. It is scheduled for completion in 2020, according to Vietnamplus news website.

The village will comprise seven main areas, including Ba Om pond, Ang pagoda, Khmer ethnic cultural museum, Tra Vinh Pali Khmer school, Khmer cultural village, Lo Gach pagoda, Oc Eo relic site, a parking area, and a night market.

According to Duong Hoang Sum, head of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province is home to over 300,000 Khmer people, accounting for about 32% of the population.

The province has more than 140 Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas, and Ok Om Bok, Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay festivals. Ok Om Bok festival has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Ahead of the Ok Om Bok festival this year, which falls on November 22, the province will inaugurate a mural road, the first component of the Khmer culture and tourism village on November 16. The road features 29 paintings by five artists, depicting the cultural, social and religious life of Khmer people in Tra Vinh.

Sum said the province served more than 652,000 visitors last year, up over 23% compared to 2016, including 15,780 foreigners. It earned more than VND210 billion from tourism in 2017, VND53 billion higher than in the previous year. By promoting the unique culture of Khmer people, Tra Vinh aims to lure more tourists and turn tourism into a key sector by 2025.

Disease control along Lang Son-China border to be enhanced

Customs procedure at Lang Son's Huu Nghi border gate 

The management board of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Health Security Project in Lang Son will work to enhance information sharing and coordination against diseases with China along the shared border by the end of 2018.

The information was revealed at an inter-sectoral meeting on disease control and prevention in 2018 held by the board in the northern province on November 16. The event brought together representatives from the province’s Department of Health, Centre for Disease Control and General Hospital alongside ten districts participating in the project.

At the meeting, Dao Dinh Cuong, Director of the Centre for Disease Control and the board’s deputy director, gave the attendees a brief overview of the GMS Health Security Project and its action plans in Lang Son this year.

Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through an 84-million-USD sum, the project will be carried out in 36 provinces in Vietnam, including Lang Son, from 2017 – 2021.

It aims to strengthen health security in the GMS nations, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, by improving district and provincial health services for diagnoses, response and treatment of communicable diseases, minimizing risks of entry of emerging diseases into the four countries, and reducing the number of death and those infected by the diseases in the region.

In Lang Son, the project will finance purchase of medical facilities and equipment for district medical service providers, enhance the province’s capacity to control communicable diseases and hospital-acquired infection, and to prevent cross-contamination and disease outbreak at the communities. It will also provide capacity building for local healthcare workers in disease prevention and control.

For the remaining months of this year, the project’s management board in Lang son will hold meetings between medical authorities and related agencies of the province and China to step up information sharing between the two sides and strengthen cooperation on disease prevention along their shared border.

The attendees discussed plans on active prevention against human communicable diseases in 2018 and on inter-sectoral cooperation in prevention of diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Photo exhibition marks 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Netherlands ties

At the photo exhibition held to mark 45th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands 

More than 100 photos featuring Vietnam- Netherlands diplomatic relations and friendship as well as Vietnamese land and people are being displayed at an exhibition which opened at the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands on November 15.

The event, jointly held by the embassy and the Ministry of Information and Communications, is part of activities to celebrate 45th anniversary of the diplomatic ties.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Hoang Vinh Bao praised the all-round cooperation between the two countries over the past 45 years. 

Vietnam and the Netherlands have become friends and partners in many fields as they share a lot of similarities, he said, adding that achievements in the cooperative ties are the continuation of the trade relations between the two sides that date back 400 years ago when Dutch ships docked at Hoi An port in central Vietnam to exchange goods for rice and pepper.

Director for Asia-Pacific at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Peter Potman spoke highly of the exhibition, saying that the photos are vivid illustration for the sound Vietnam- Netherlands relations over the past more than four decades.

Also, he expressed his impression on Vietnamese culture, cuisine and stunning landscapes.

Together with the three-day photo exhibition, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands organised a food festival on November 17 to introduce Vietnam’s traditional dishes to international friends. 

Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam marks 50th founding anniversary

At the celebration to mark 50th founding anniversary of the Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam

The Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV) on November 16 organised a ceremony to mark its 50th founding anniversary.

At the event, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and deputy head of the VUFO’s Committee on Foreign NGO Affairs Don Tuan Phong highlighted the fact that the MCNV is the first foreign non-governmental organisation to operate in Vietnam when the country was struggling to gain independence, supplying the country with medical equipment, medicine and medical experts. 

The committee’s assistance to Vietnam has continued until today, with a focus on poverty alleviation and sustainable development in the past ten years, he said.

For his part, Pieter van den Bergh, representative from the MCNV’s advisory board, said that the committee has carried out a line-up of projects to support the poor, ethnic minority groups and women with HIV/AIDS. Since 2017, it has expanded the scope of work to climate change adaptation and development of businesses and value chains. 

He added that the MCNV has been active in 14 cities and provinces across the country.

With such significant contributions, the committee is to date the first-ever international organisation to be conferred with four Friendship Orders by the Vietnamese President. The orders were presented to the MCNV in 1977, 1993, 2004 and 2018.

At the celebration, the committee organised a conference revolving on sustainable development in the new context, drawing the participation of representatives from the United Nations as well as Vietnamese experts.

The Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam was founded by a group of Dutch medical doctors, namely Professor Jaap de Haas, Dr. Nick van Rhijn and Dr. Fred Groening founded. They were indignant about the Americans’ technological warfare in Vietnam and distressed by the suffering of the Vietnamese people. MCNV’s goal was to offer large-scale medical help to the worst hit areas in Vietnam.

In 1973, MCNV had 67,000 donors, who had already donated a good 4 million euros. The aid initially consisted of sending medical supplies and medicines. After the Vietnam war ended in 1975, relief aid was provided for a few more years.

In 1973, under the leadership of Nick van Rhijn, MCNV made the first plan for donating a hospital to Qunag Tri, the province hardest hit by the war. With the support of Dutch donors, the Minister for Developing Countries Jan Pronk and all the Dutch universities, building could begin in 1974. In 1977, the Holland Hospital in Dong Ha was officially opened.

Postwar notable contributions of the committee were its efforts to fight tuberculosis in 1983 and malaria in 1987.

Currently, the committee is working with the Handicap International to carry out a project to help Vietnam build quality human resources for health care and rehabilitation.

Vietravel to arrange chartered flights for outbound travelers

Local tour operator Vietravel said it will conduct 27 chartered flights to serve Vietnamese travelers who want to visit Japan, Bhutan and China during the coming Tet holidays of 2019. Some flights to Japan will last until May 2019.

Twenty-three of these chartered flights will take some 4,500 travelers to the Japanese city of Fukushima. The lowest price of the five-day tour is VND24 million per person and the highest (during peak season) is VND30 million per person, some 30% cheaper than regular prices.

Vietravel claimed it has conducted 19 chartered flights to Fukushima for Vietnamese travelers since February this year.

For the routes to Bhutan and Ningpo (China), the company plans to organize four chartered flights to serve those who want to travel in the spring. Prices for five-day tours in Bhutan are some VND42 million per person and to Ningpo (China) are VND19 million per person.

Vietravel said, since 2017, it has conducted 80 chartered flights to take local travelers to Phuket, Chiang Mai (Thailand), Jeju (South Korea), Bodh Gaya (India) and Myanmar.

From November 15, the company started selling tours for Tet 2019 under a promotional program. Accordingly, those who book tours from November 15 to 18 will be offered discounts worth VND500,000 to VND3 million, depending on the value of the tour.

Vietravel expects to organize some 300 inbound and outbound tours, attracting some 110,000 travelers from now until February 20, 2019.

FV Hospital invests US$5.3m in Hy Vong Cancer Care Center

Modern equipment is seen at Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre

FV Hospital on November 15 introduced the new look of Hy Vong Cancer Care Centre, with investment of more than US$5.3 million, and announced its collaboration with HCG, a provider of cancer care in India with a network of more than 20 comprehensive cancer centers across India and Africa.

Hy Vong is the cancer treatment center of FV Hospital, offering modern facilities and providing comprehensive diagnostic, disease identification and treatment services. Over 15 years of operation, the center has provided treatment care for some 80,000 cancer patients.

With investment of more than VND120 billion this time, FV Hospital plans to develop facilities and expand capacity to accommodate 80-100 patients per day, receiving direct consultations with treatment experts.

The chemotherapy treatment area consists of 17 sets of treatment chairs and beds for up to 25 patients per day. Most of the invested funds are being used to equip one of the most modern and advanced radiotherapy systems in the world to increase capacity to 80 patients per day, who can get radiation therapy at Hy Vong Center.

Comprehensive treatments offered by the center include the use of the modern digital linear accelerator, Elekta Infinity, which applies VMAT technology to provide accurate treatment of tumors in optimal doses, at high speed and in a way that is harmless to the surrounding healthy tissue.

Also on offer is the latest CT simulation, GE, which accurately identifies and simulates the location and size of the tumor, and the latest generation of spectrophotometer systems, the Spect City 2018, from Nuclear Medicine, which yields precise reports on the progression and bone metastases of cancer patients.

Besides comprehensive equipment and convenient facilities, Hy Vong Cancer Treatment Center manages an expert team, including internal medicine doctors, physicians, technicians and nurses and French and Vietnamese staff, who are well trained and experienced with working in both domestic and foreign hospitals.

HCMC approves hire of pumping machines to cope with street flooding

Deputy chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen has approved the hire of giant pumping machines to cope with flooding at Nguyen Huu Canh street, District 1 in accordance with conclusions by the standing board of the city’s Party Committee and People’s Committee.

According to an announcement from HCMC People’s Committee Office on November 15, the city approved Steering Center for Urban Flood Control Program to hire the pumping system from Quang Trung Industry Joint Stock Company at the price of nearly VND10 billion (US$429,000) a year.

The center will use the city's maintenance fund this year to pay the rents. The Department of Finance, State Treasury in HCMC and the Department of Transport are responsible for guiding the center to do procedures to make payments according to current regulations.

Binh Tay market resumes operation in HCMC

Binh Tay market was inaugurated on November 15 after two years of upgrading and repair in District 6, HCMC. 

Thousands of traders have returned their old positions in the market to facilitate their business just few months ahead of the Tet holiday. They temporarily operated in Thap Muoi street during the market's repair time.

Ms. Ung Thi Kim Lien, trading confectioneries in the market, said that stalls are arranged scientifically, making the market more clean and beautiful than before.

Chairman of the People’s Committee in District 6 Ngo Thanh Luong said that the new market ensures fire safety and preserves ancient architecture. 

Binh Tay market trades and distributes wholesale and retail goods for residents in HCMC and neighboring provinces. It is also a tourist destination for local and foreign visitors.

HCMC Children Hospital saves two serious HFM kids

Yesterday, the Ho Chi Minh City Children Hospital 1 announced it has saved two serious hand-foot-mouth kids.

The two kids who were suffering cardiovascular collapse and shock were transferred from a local infirmary in Mekong delta. They were at risk of dead without timely treatment.

The 2-year-old toddler hailing from the Mekong delta province of Ca Mau who was receiving treatment in Cai Nuoc Hospital but his condition did not abate.

He suffered complications in brain, respiratory system, and heart. Because his condition developed worse, Cai Nuoc Hospital transferred him to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital.

Soon, doctors put him on him ventilator and filtered blood. After six hours, his condition was stable. He is now conscious and in intensive care unit.

The second kid from Can Tho City was rushed to the city’s Children Hospital when having breathing problem and rash. After receiving treatment, he is now in good condition.

Head of the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit Dr. Pham Van Quang said that the two cases are very severe yet doctors were successful in saving them.

200,000 Vietnamese people have stroke annually

Annually, 200,000 Vietnamese people have stroke, a "brain attack”. Male and female stroke death incidence rates are 18 percent and 23 percent in Vietnam.

It occurs when blood flowing to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die without timely emergency treatment.

As per the World Stroke Association’s figure, one in six people in the world will suffer a stroke.

The illness will badly affect financial situation and spirit of patients’ relatives.

Stroke patients who reach the hospital within one hour of symptoms to receive a clot-busting drug will have higher chance of recovering than those arrive at clinics later. Researchers call the first hour of symptom onset "the golden hour."

To provide more information of the ailment to residents, a seminar on updates of stroke treatment methods will be taken place on November 17 in HCMC with the participation of leading experts who will talk about how to find out a people having stroke and golden hours as well as advanced treatment methods.