Southern region continues suffering severe salinity although rainy season starts

Drought and high- level salinity continue hitting southern provinces of Vietnam although the rainy season is coming, reported the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center on May 16.

Current water from upstream in the Mekong River is measured higher than yearly average at 0, 5- 1 meters meanwhile water level in Mekong Delta's downstream rivers is lower than annually average at 0, 1- 0,3 meters.

At present, water level in upstream of Mekong River is changing following tide.

By next week, water level at Tan Chau and Chau Doc Station will change a little such as reaching respectively at 2, 200- 3, 000 cubic meter per second and 400- 600 cubic meter per second.

While water level on Tien and Hau River is forecast to be lower than same period last year from 0, 15- 0, 25 meters. Particularly, the highest water level at Tan Chau Station will reach at 0, 9 meters, 1, 05 meters at Chau Doc Station.

Current tide level at Sai Gon, Dinh An and Vung Tau stations has reduced sharply and salinity will increase higher than same period last year at the southern region’s downstream rivers until now to May 20.

Disaster risks to northern rural infrastructure assessed

Landslide and flash flood risks to 10,837 rural infrastructure facilities in the north of Vietnam have been assessed in a bid to boost their climate resilience.

The assessed facilities, including roads, river embankments, reservoirs, canals and spillways, are located in 15 northern mountainous provinces, according to a May 17 workshop on methods of mapping landslide and flash flood risks for rural infrastructure.

The function was held in Hanoi by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility.

Building maps of landslide and flash flood risks to rural infrastructure is part of a project on promoting climate resilient rural infrastructure in Vietnam’s northern mountainous provinces. The project is supported by the UNDP and the Asian Development Bank.

Bui Quang Dung, a representative of the project, said maps will be created after landslide and flash flood risks to rural infrastructure amidst climate change are assessed.

Maps scaled at 1:500,000 will be drawn for climate change scenarios at present, in 2025 and in 2050 for the mountainous provinces. The road, embankment and irrigation systems will have their own maps.

Dung said the risk maps will provide a vision of rural infrastructure’s vulnerabilities currently, and in the next 10 and 35 years. It can help policy makers and local authorities determine the priorities to carry out.

Echoing the view, Pham Duc Dung, deputy head of the sub-department for irrigation and disaster prevention of Lao Cai province, said the maps will serve as a basis for local authorities to steer anti-disaster and climate change response activities.

Vietnam is one of the five countries most affected by climate change. More than 220 people died or went missing, while damage totaled 660 million USD a year due to unseasonal rains, landslides, erosion, whirlwinds and lightning between 2011 and 2015, according to the central steering committee for natural disaster prevention and control.

Vietnamese food introduced in Indonesia

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Hoang Anh Tuan and Director of Semarang Department of Culture and Tourism at the inaugural ceremony.

Fine Vietnamese dishes are being presented to international friends at the Vietnamese Food Week, which is underway in Semarang, capital of Central Java, Indonesia from May 16-28.

The event, jointly held by Indonesia’ Ciputra Semarang Hotel, the Vietnamese Embassy and the Swiss-Belresort Tuyen Lam Da Lat Hotel of Vietnam, is a part of a cuisine and tourism exchange programme between the two countries.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Hoang Anh Tuan lauded the initiative, saying its success would open up a string of events to disseminate Vietnam’s cuisine, culture and tourism in the “land of a thousand islands”.

The diplomat also hoped such activities would contribute to bolstering mutual understanding between the two countries’ people, creating a firm foundation for bilateral relations to thrive in the future.

After this event, Indonesian cuisine will be introduced in Vietnam for two weeks.

Hanoi, France’s Normandie reinforce tourism link

The capital city of Hanoi and the Normandie region of France have agreed to foster cooperation in tourism and human resources training effectively and sustainably.

It was reached during a working session in Hanoi on May 17 between Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung and Vice President of Normandie region Francois Xavier Priollaud.

Chung said Hanoi targets to develop tourism into its spearhead economy on the back of over 1,000 historic and cultural sites. However, the city’s tourism sector has yet to fully tap its advantage.

The city has devised a tourism development scheme, with a focus on transport upgrade and connectivity with cities, provinces and tourist landmarks at home and abroad, he said.

The host also pledged the best possible support for joint work for the long-term benefit of the two sides.

Priollaud, for his part, described Normandie as a famed tourist destination during the second World War with a long and beautiful coastline. Additionally, the region is also strong in hi-quality workforce training with the 140-year-old EM Normandie School.

He wished that both sides would intensify bilateral links across human resources training, planning consultation and Hanoi tourism development.

Twenty three to stand trial for drugs

An investigative police unit under the Ministry of Public Security asked the Supreme People’s Procuracy to prosecute 23 defendants for trafficking 1,200 cakes of heroin. A cake of heroin is equivalent to 350 grammes.

The defendants were accused of hiding military weapons, illegally trafficking in drugs and not denouncing criminals.

According to documents, police caught Trần Đức Duy (30) red-handed in January. He was transporting 94 cakes of heroin in a car traveling from northern Hòa Bình Province to Hà Nội. Police also seized weapons from his car.

According to Duy’s declaration, the investigative police unit eventually arrested 22 other relevant members of the traffick ring, which had a rather large scale operation. Members of the ring always carry weapons with them to attack authorities, if discovered.

The ring succeeded in trafficking more than 1,200 cakes of heroin, with a total weight of 445kg. The head of the ring, Nguyễn Thanh Tuân, is still on the run.

New general hospital opens in Đồng Nai

A general hospital officially opened to patients in the southern province of Đồng Nai’s Long Khánh Town on Monday after receiving investment of VNĐ750 billion (US$33.6 million).

The new hospital, which covers 61,000sq.m, will not only provide health checkups and treatment to the local people but also to patients from neighbouring provinces of Bình Thuận and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu. With a 600 bed-capacity, the hospital will strive to provide excellent quality of care to many residents.

Hospital Director Sử Sơn said the old hospital in Long Khánh was built in 1958-60 and although it had deteriorated it still received an average of 1,200-1,600 people each day. The number of patients needing inpatient care was between 450 and 500.

The new hospital will create better conditions for health checkups and treatment, he said.

Disadvantaged kids futsal comp to begin in Khánh Hòa

The annual futsal (indoor football) tournament for disadvantaged children, Tôn Hoa Sen Cup, is scheduled to kick off  on May 28 in the south central province of Khánh Hòa,

The event attracts the participation of eight teams divided into two groups. They will compete in a round robin, the top two teams of each group will play in the semi-finals.

The winning team will pocket VNĐ30 million (US$1,300) and a cup.

The tournament is co-organised by the HCM City’s Police newpaper and the Việt Nam Sports newspaper.

Three accidents involving trailer trucks have happened across Vietnam, killing five.

On May 16, the first accident occurred in front of Nong Lam (Agriculture-Forestry) University in Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, in the morning.

Nguyen Duc Tinh, 26, was driving a motorbike with his distant cousin Nguyen Ba Tin, 20, riding pillion on National Highway 1 heading from An Suong Intersection in District 12 to Suoi Tien Amusement Park in District 9.

The two were reportedly taking a left turn before Nong Lam University when they collided with a trailer truck running in the opposite direction.

The collision killed Tinh on the spot, while severely injuring Tin, who later died on the way to hospital.

The second accident took place on DT741 Street in Ben Cat Town in Binh Duong Province, where two motorbike riders Truong Van Thanh, 49, and Lam Van Hanh, 44, were hit from behind by a trailer truck running in the same direction, which dragged the victims along the street for ten meters, killing them instantly.

The victim of the third accident is 60-year-old Bui Thi Hanh Dung, who was driving a motorbike on April 30 Street in Binh Duong when she was run over by a trailer truck in a similar manner to the second accident.

Art program to welcome general election day

An art program will be held in Hanoi on May 21st to welcome the election of deputies to the 14th national Assembly and People’s Councils for the 2016-2021 term.

The program hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will involve 200 artists.

Performances will encourage voters to exercise their rights and duties to elect their representatives at the highest state agencies.

Another art program is set to take place in the capital city to praise the contributions of the National Assembly to national construction and defense.

Salination-hit Mekong Delta still struggling

Hot weather and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta are on the wane but the worst is not yet over, according to the national weather center.

The center said unfavorable weather patterns lessened from May 14 to 20 but salination is still impacting agricultural production in the region.

According to the center, the highest levels of saline water at Tan An station in Long An Province, Hoa Binh station in Tien Giang Province, Tra Vinh station in Tra Vinh Province, Tran De station in Soc Trang Province and Phu Khanh station in Ben Tre Province have gone down significantly compared to the previous week.

However, salination at most stations in the delta is still higher than in the same period last year and the average of previous years, the center said.

The heat wave has eased against the week before. Temperatures are forecast to average 25-27

degrees Celsius at the lowest and 33-36 degrees Celsius at the highest while the respective figures of the previous week were 26-28 degrees Celsius and 35-37 degrees Celsius.

The center predicted it would rain in more areas in the region with higher rainfalls, at 40-70 mm.

Data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed drought and saltwater intrusion had hit nearly 94,000 hectares of paddy in the winter-spring crop, 9,400 hectares of orchards, and around 2,000 hectares of fish as of May 10.

Around 225,800 households are facing a lack of clean water for daily use due to extreme weather.

Photo exhibition marks general election in Hanoi

Nearly 200 photos depicting past general elections are being showcased at the Ly Thai To Monument Flower Garden in Hanoi.

The exhibition that opened on May 17 aims to raise public awareness of the significance of voting, the roles of the NA and People’s Councils and their members.

The exhibits also features the preparation work in Hanoi for the upcoming general election of members to the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-2021 term.

Other exhibits include books, newspapers, and historical documents on the Party, the NA and the municipal administration.

A number of art performances will be held during the event, which runs until May 23.

Maps, documents on Hoang Sa, Truong Sa on display in Tay Ninh

Maps, documents and publications on the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos are on display at Tay Ninh city in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

The exhibition, opened on May 17 is entitled “Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa: Historical and legal evidence” and jointly organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication and the provincial People’s Committee.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hong said the exhibition gives the Vietnamese people and foreigners a better understanding on the history of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa as well as Vietnam’s ownership of the two archipelagos.

It also hopes to raise patriotism and the sense of responsibility of national protection among the Vietnamese, he added.

All of the exhibits will be given to the locality. The exhibition runs until May 21.

ASEAN+3 foster labour cooperation

ASEAN labour ministers and their counterparts from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) agreed to strengthen co-operation in the fields within their remit during a meeting in Vientiane, Laos, yesterday.

The ninth ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting took place as part of the 24th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting.

The officials shared their viewpoints and proposed measures for supporting the transition from informal to formal employment.

They hailed efforts to promote labour cooperation between ASEAN and the three partner countries as a whole as well as between ASEAN and each of them individually, especially in workforce training, labour relations and occupational safety.

The ministers agreed to enhance ASEAN+3 co-operation so as to promote vocational training quality, develop human resources, and build up the information system for the labour market, ultimately narrowing the development gap among the regional countries.

Vietnamese Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Đào Ngọc Dung, told the Vietnam News Agency that the regional ministers issued a joint statement on the transition from employment information to formal employment towards decent work promotion in ASEAN. It is like a commitment to create jobs for ASEAN workers, including Vietnamese.

At present, more than 60 per cent of Việt Nam’s workforce are informal labourers. If the country succeeded in complying with the statement, it can provide jobs for another 6 million people by 2020, he said.

However, it was important to boost mutual sharing, support and interaction among the ASEAN member countries, Dung added.

Early rain dilutes salinity in Hau Giang

Early downpour before the upcoming rainy season has cut down the salinity content from 2 to 4 times in rivers and agricultural land in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang.

According to salinity-measurements, salinity levels were down in nearly all districts and towns in the province. Salinity was under 5 parts per thousand in Vam Cai Su, Save Church, Vinh Cheo and Nang Mau in Vi Thuy district. The decline was also seen in Vi Thanh city and Long My town.

Heavy rains lasting from one to two hours in recent days were the cause of the decline in salinity.

According to Le Phuoc Dai, Head of the Hau Giang Irrigation Department, the saline intrusion might last until June given that heavy rain did not reach some localities.

The province’s agricultural sector has warned commune and town governments to monitor the drought and saline intrusion and close more temporary dams if salinity levels continue rising.

In early May, Hau Giang announced a saline intrusion disaster at Vi Thanh City, Long My and Vi Thuy districts and Long My town.

According to Hau Giang’s agricultural sector, saline intrusion reached 80 percent of agricultural land, damaging 1,200 hectares rice by at least over 30 percent and making 6,000 hectares of rice unusable for cultivation in the Summer-Autumn crop.

Vietnam an important ’highway’ to transport ASEAN goods globally

Việt Nam will be an important ’highway’ to transport goods from ASEAN countries to Kazakhstan and European countries.

It was one of potentials for Việt Nam pointed out by Kanat Alpysbayev – the vice-president of Logistics of Kazakhstan Railways at a business forum about transport co-operation among Việt Nam, Kazakhstan, and Eurasian Economic Union held yesterday afternoon in Hà Nội.

The potential came after Việt Nam and other member states of the Eurasian Economic Union, including Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, officially signed the Việt Nam – Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement in Kazakhstan last May.

Kanat said Kazakhstan recommended Việt Nam to pilot of carrying goods via railway from Việt Nam to China, Kazakhstan and European countries in the coming time.

Kazakhstan’s railway sector would support Việt Nam and other member states under the agreement to ensure smooth circulation of goods among the countries, he said.

Phan Quốc Anh, deputy general director of Việt Nam Railways talked with local media on the sideline of the forum that the demand of goods transporting among the countries would largely increase following the agreement.

Therefore, the domestic railway sector should take advantage of the opportunity. Competitiveness of the railway sector is safe and on-time delivery. It could carry heavy goods with favourable customs procedures, Anh said.

Kazakh Ambassador to Việt Nam Beketzhan Zhumakhanov said Kazakhstan scheduled to soon send a team to visit northern mountainous Lào Cai Province to assess the transport infrastructure and the transporting potential there.

Speaking at the forum, deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoàng Quốc Vượng said that transport co-operation among Việt Nam and member states of the Eurasian Economic Union played a key role to the effectiveness of the agreement’s implementation.

“So, a smooth-transnational transporting route is really necessary,” he said.

VFF leader extends greetings on Buddha’s birthday

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on May 17 visited the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council on the occasion of Buddha’s 2560 th birthday.

The VFF leader stressed Buddhism’s long-lasting tradition within the nation and its contributions to the tradition of patriotism as well as to national construction and defence.

Vietnam is now home to more than 48,000 Buddhist monks and nuns who are practicing the religion in over 17,000 Buddhist worshipping sites with each receiving up to 1,000 followers annually, Nhan noted.

Many monks have sat as National Assembly deputies, helping convey the voice of Buddhists nationwide to the legislature, he said, adding that Buddhism’s strong development has mirrored religious freedom in the country.

Recalling Vietnam’s hosting the UN Day of Vesak (the Buddha’s birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away) in 2014 and 2008, Nhan said through the event, international friends understand more about Buddhism as well as the Vietnamese land and people.

The VFF President also highlighted Buddhists’ contributions to humanitarian activities, especially their support for people affected by natural disasters.

In 2015, 40 religious organisations and the VFF signed a cooperation programme for the first time, under which they committed to join hands in protecting the environment and coping with climate change during 2016-2020.

On the occasion of Buddha’s 2560 th birthday, the VBS’s Supreme Patriarch has also appealed to Vietnamese Buddhist followers to engage in environmental protection and climate change response, he said.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, permanent Vice President of the VBS’s Executive Council, reassured that the council and Buddhist followers at home and abroad will always unite with each other to carry forward the fine traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism, and make more contributions to national construction and defence, environmental protection and climate change combat.

Photo exhibitions highlight late President’s moral, ideological legaci

Two photo exhibitions opening in Ho Chi Minh City on May 17 will centre on President Ho Chi Minh’s moral and ideological legacies.

The exhibitions are part of a series of events marking the 126th birthday anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh - founder and first President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 105 years since the late President left the country to find the path for the country’s independence, and the 40th anniversary of Saigon – Gia Dinh - HCM City.

Recalling the great life and career of the late President, Than Thi Thu, Head of the Information and Education Department of the municipal Party Committee, affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh is a noble symbol of authentic patriotism mingling well with proletarian internationalism.

He was the soul of the struggle for national liberation and the source of light leading Vietnamese people to great victories and the nation to a bright future, she said, adding that his ideology and noble moral example are forever the priceless assets of the Party and the country.

The “President Ho Chi Minh – Vietnamese people’s venerable leader” photo exhibition on Nguyen Hue street displays selected photos on the life and great contributions of the late President to the Party’s and the country’s revolutionary cause as well as his moral and ideological legacies.

The exhibition also highlights the noticeable achievements the HCM City authorities and people have made obeying Uncle Ho’s words, with the determination to turn the city into a modern, civilised and friendly one.

Meanwhile, the “President Ho Chi Minh’s moral – the example for the young generation” exhibition in Dong Khoi street is exhibiting precious photos and documents introducing President Ho Chi Minh’s moral and ideological legacies.

The exhibitions will last until May 27.

Quang Tri supports farmers affected by mass fish deaths

The People’s Committee of the central province of Quang Tri has made a decision on urgent aid for farmers in the coastal districts of Trieu Phong, Vinh Linh, Gio Linh and Hai Lang, which are affected by mass fish deaths.

Accordingly, they will receive between 4-10 million VND (180 USD – 450 USD) for each hectare of their affected fish and shrimp farming areas.

The province will also provide 15 kilogrammes of rice per person per month for a month and a half to households with fishing vessel owners or workers who are suffering losses caused by mass fish deaths.

Each fishing vessel will also receive aid of 3.5 million – 5 million VND (150 USD – 220 USD) for suspending their fishing offshore.

The central bank will provide a preferential interest rate on loans disbursed from May 5 to June 5 for the affected enterprises.

Additionally, other support will be provided in terms of environment clean up, health check-ups for local residents and food safety.

Earlier last month, massive fish deaths were reported along beaches in four coastal central provinces - Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, aquacultural farms reported 67 tonnes of dead fish while the volume of natural fish found dead was estimated at 100 tonnes.

Investigation is underway into the cause of the phenomenon, which the Government describes as a serious environment accident.

NA Chairwoman welcomes first new-style rural district in Can Tho

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan congratulated Phong Dien on being the first new-style rural district in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho at a ceremony held on May 17 to announce the status.

She lauded local authorities’ effective initiatives for planning and infrastructure development.

In addition to large-scale agricultural production, the city has organised farm trips for tourists, helping retain the beauty of local villages, she said, considering the model an example for other localities.

Ngan noted that Phong Dien has utilised available financial sources to invest in rural infrastructure, adding that future action plans and programmes designed by local authorities ought to include particular tasks and standards to improve the quality of criteria for a new-style rural area rather than just fulfilling the criteria.

In the last five years, Phong Dien has mobilised more than 1.8 trillion VND (81 million USD) for new-style rural development, of which over 25 percent came from residents and businesses – well above the national average.

Currently, five out of six local communes have realised all the criteria, with Nhon Nghia commune fulfilling 17 out of the 19 national specifications. In 2016, all resources will be focused on helping Nhon Nghia complete its process.

The National Target Programme on New Rural Development, launched in 2010, set out 19 criteria for new-style rural areas covering infrastructure, production, living standards, income, culture and others. A district must have at least 75 percent of its communes meeting all the 19 criteria in order to receive the title of new-style rural district.

As of February, 1,761 communes across the nation had met the new-style rural area criteria, accounting for 19.7 percent. On average, each commune met 12.9 criteria, up 8.2 criteria from 2010, and 2.9 criteria from 2015.

Meanwhile, 17 districts obtained the status, according to the Central Coordination Office on New Rural Development.

Vietnam aims to have 50 percent of all communes nationwide meet all the requirements by the end of 2020.

Nắng Sông Hồng Eco JSC was asked to stop its business operations on the Hồng (Red) River bed in Bồ Đề Ward and dismantle its construction works before June 30.

The People’s Committee of Hà Nội’s Long Biên District yesterday assigned the Bồ Đề Ward’s People’s Committee to ensure that the river bed which had been encroached upon by the company was cleared. The results of the incident would be reported to the committee before July 30, it said.

The request was made following the violations of the Nắng Sông Hồng Cultural and Tourism Village. The project, which was built in the model of eco-tourism site with aquaculture, fruit trees and ornamental plants, was located in the area of nearly 5.3 hectares on the right side of the Hồng River in July, 2013.

During the construction process, the project owner had renovated and rebuilt a number of projects which were in violation of the approved design plan.

Nguyễn Văn Luyện, deputy chairman of the committee said that most of construction  with regard to the project were in line with the approved plan. However, the structure was changed, which did not use bamboo or leaves as committed, but brick, concrete, glass and aluminium or steel frames.

A representative of the project said that the company had stopped operations since May 10, and would have to explain to the authorised agencies about the incident.

Popular Thai actor comes to Vietnam to promote tourism

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has invited popular actor and Thailand Tourism ambassador Mario Maurer to Vietnam to promote the country’s grand sale from June 15 to August 18.

According to Napasorn Kakai, director of TAT in HCMC, TAT invited the actor to Vietnam to pay tribute to the love of Vietnamese audiences for Mario’s leading role in Thailand’s highest grossing film of all time, Pee Mak (in Vietnamese: Tinh nguoi duyen ma), as well as to promote the culture and people of Thailand.

Vietnam is the first leg of his Asia tour to promote Thailand’s tourism, which also takes in China, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Napasorn Kakaim, director of TAT, said that last year Thailand attracted 30 million tourists, nearly 700,000 of them Vietnamese. Around 800,000 Vietnamese tourists are expected to come to Thailand this year.

Highlights of this summer’s promotion are tours to discover beaches and islands, including Phuket, Krabi and Hua Hin and tours to Khao Yai in the northeastern region of Thailand that is suitable for all members in a family to enjoy a newly-established water park, a national forest and farms.

AO-infected veterans gain aid from support policies

Policies supporting veterans affected by toxic chemicals during wartime have shown encouraging initial results, Politburo member Truong Thi Mai said.

At a working session with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin (VAVA) on May 17, Mai, who chairs the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, praised the VAVA’s efforts in caring for victims.

The policies designed for the affected veterans must be carried out with the coordination of all sectors and social organisations, she added.

The VAVA has 360,000 members, with chapters across Vietnam. Funds for AO/Dioxin victims have been set up in 38 provinces and cities.

The VAVA raised almost 1.15 trillion VND (51.6 million USD) by October 31, 2015, to help the victims and their families. Care centres have been established in more than 20 provinces and cities.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnam has provided benefits for about 250,000 war veterans contracting toxic chemicals as of early 2015.

However, that number accounts for only 12 percent of those suffering from the AO that the US sprayed during the war in Vietnam.

VAVA Chairman Nguyen Van Rinh admitted shortcomings in assisting the AO victims included modest benefits and limited activities of VAVA chapters. Additionally, the enforcement of Directive 43, issued by the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat in May 2015, on promoting Party leadership on the issue has not been fully implemented.

About 80 million litres of toxic chemicals, mainly Agent Orange containing dioxin, were sprayed over the south of Vietnam by the US from 1961-1971. Nearly 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to the chemicals and about three million people and their descendants still suffer from health problems as a consequence.

Vietnam spends about 10 trillion VND (450 million USD) annually on aid programmes for the AO community. In recent years, the US government has supported the Southeast Asia country in mine and toxic chemical clearance.

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