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The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and Ho Chi Minh City’s Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association on November 30 held a meeting to mark the 41st anniversary of Laos’ National Day (December 2).
Addressing the function, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang said December 2, 1975 ushered in a new era for Laos to become a country of peace, independence, democracy, unification and prosperity that has constructively contributed to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.
Congratulating Laos on its great achievements over the past time, the official stressed that Vietnamese and citizens in HCM City in particular will do their utmost to preserve and strengthen the Vietnam-Laos special relationship.
Somxay Sanamoune, Lao Consul General in HCM City, affirmed that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have thrived over the past 41 years despite complex regional and global situations, becoming an invaluable asset of both nations.
Lao people will exert every effort together with Vietnamese to preserve and promote the time-honoured friendship and special solidarity, he said.
More than 1,000 farmers, primarily from Vietnam’s ethnic minority communities, are bringing new chemical-free, donor-funded products to market. Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Hanoi People’s Committee are hosting the Vietnam Regional Specialty fair at Vincom Megamall Royal City in Hanoi from 1-4 December, which features mostly corporate-backed products. But in one corner of the convention centre are a number of items backed by the non-profit sector: rice, ginger, coffee beans, pork, chicken and vegetables.
Supported by New Zealand’sAid Programme, Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and World Vision Vietnam, nearly 1,500 farmers in Huong Hoa and Trieu Phong districts of Quang Tri province learned a strict natural farming methodology that prohibits any use of chemical products, including pesticide, herbicide, chemical fertilizers and preservatives.
With a budget of more than US$ 3 million, the projects targeted the area’s neediest farmers to boost incomes, while ensuringthe country a safe food supply, protecting soil fertility and safeguarding water sources.
“Following this natural farming method, I compost organic fertilizer using agricultural waste and livestock manure. I use ginger, chilli and garlic to prevent pests and treat plant diseases. Although this process requires more efforts, but it is not harmful to my health,” said Nguyen Thi Lan, a farmer in Trieu Phong district.
Tom Wilson, Head of the New Zealand Aid Programme, said: “Our partnership with World Vision is delivering real benefits to coffee, ginger and cassava farmers of Quang Tri. By helping farmers with safe production techniques, and linking them to markets, we are seeing real increases in household income. For example, the coffee farmers have shifted their focus from producing big volumes of coffee to producing the highest possible quality. They take pride in how good and clean their coffee is; they are starting to build a brand based on quality; and they work with reputable dealers and processors. New Zealand is proud to be doing our part in helping the farmer households build a sustainable economic future.”
An additional 1,000 farmers will soon join this production circle to offer more safe and quality agricultural products to the market.
“Sustainable economic development is the key to poverty elimination and in turn, the well-being of children. We constantly seek cooperation with governments, institutions, and the corporate sector to realize this philosophy, replacing temporary traditional aid hand-outs with the provision of tools and market linkages for needy farmers to create lasting impacts,” said Tran Thu Huyen, National Director of World Vision Vietnam.
The organic food industry in Vietnam is still nascent and unregulated, with the country’s first certification standards expected in 2017. Consumer demand for organic products has grown alongside a growing number of news reports on the harmful effects pesticide-laden or tainted food products pose to the environment and personal health.
Vietnam attends charity fair in Slovakia
The Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia has participated in a charity fair in Bratislava together with 38 foreign representative offices and five international organisations based in the capital.
The Vietnamese booth was decorated with the national flag and the images of Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage recognised by the UNESCO, and other famous tourist destinations in Vietnam.
Handicrafts such as Bat Trang ceramics, rattan products and Van Phuc silk were also displayed at the event.
The embassy donated the proceeds to the charity fund of the organising board.
According to organisers, last year’s event collected 75,000 EUR to help orphans and disabled children across Slovakia.
National symposium on sexual health held in Hanoi
In contrast to popular opinion that women and girls can protect themselves by avoiding strangers or unsafe places frequented by criminals, statistics show that 73 percent of assaults on women are committed by acquaintances, and 10 percent are fathers or stepfathers of victims.
The information was declared in the third national symposium on Sexuality, Health and Society with the theme “Cultural and Institutional Barriers to Addressing Sexual Violence in Vietnam” which was launched in Hanoi on November 29.
The two-day symposium attracted nearly 300 participants including legal experts, researchers, programme managers, justice officials, social activists and educators.
Research shows that such criminals are often people considered trustworthy in society such as the elderly, celebrities, teachers and even members of the criminal justice system.
Furthermore, incidents of sexual violence often occur at places which are considered safe such as schools, offices or even the houses of the victims.
Speaking at the symposium, Khuat Thu Hong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), said, “Sexual violence is a serious crime against women and children, violating the most basic right of humans which is to live safely and with dignity.”
Sexual violence leads to serious consequences for the physical, mental and financial health of the victims. Many victims and their families must strive to earn a living as they had to change accommodation to avoid discrimination. Sexual abuse even led to some victims committing suicide, she said.
Astrid Bant, United Nations Population Fund Representative in Vietnam, said, “Part of the problem is that men think they have a ‘right’ to control women’s bodies and sexuality.”
“Sexual violence against women and girls is not a disease for which we need to find a cure. It stems from the way that men and boys look at and value our women and girls,” she said.
During the symposium, representatives discussed victims and sites of sexual violence, sexual education in school, sexual violence and HIV prevention.
Research by the ISDS showed that out of 322 sexual violence cases reported in newspapers during 2011-16, more than 20 percent of victims were aged below 10, and some were as young as 2. As many as 60 percent of victims were aged between 11 and 25. About 13 percent of the cases related to instances of gang rape.
More than 1,000 children are sexually abused per year, equal to about three per day, and the actual number is likely to be much higher, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.-
Flyover coming to unclog roads near airport in HCM City
A massive flyover will be built early next year at the NguyenThai Son-Nguyen Kiem street intersection near HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport to unclog an area which is choked by traffic, the Department of Transport has said.
The N-shaped flyover, which will comprise three separate arms, will cost around 504 billion VND (22.16 million USD), including land cost.
One will go from Hoang Minh Giam street above the roundabout and land on Nguyen Thai Son. It will have a second structure that turns left into Nguyen Kiem. The third will come from Nguyen Thai Son towards the airport and turn left into Nguyen Kiem.
Construction, to be overseen by the department’s Urban Transport Management Authority No.3, is scheduled to finish within eight months.
The roads around the intersection will be widened, equipped with LED lighting and greened with trees.
Indonesia exchange tightens Vietnam-Laos special solidarity
An exchange between Vietnamese and Lao officials working in Indonesia was organised by the Embassy of Vietnam in Indonesia on November 30.
The annual event aims to deepen the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.
At the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Hoang Anh Tuan and Lao Ambassador to Indonesia Phavanh Nuanthasing affirmed that the Vietnam-Laos relation has been nurtured by many generations to become a pride of both countries.
The emphasised the significance of the Vietnam-Laos special friendship and solidarity for their young generations.
On the occasion of Laos’ Independence Day (December 2), Ambassador Tuan congratulated the Lao people on their great achievements in national development, expressing his belief that the country will further develop in the future.
Vietnam, Australia enhance people-to-people activities
The second congress of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association took place in Hanoi on November 30 to increase people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
As many as 50 delegates participated in the event to map out orientations and activities for the 2016 – 2021 tenure.
They agreed to expand the association’s network across Vietnam and cooperate with Australia to host English summer camps and tours for Australian visitors.
Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Bui Khac Son said the association will continuously work to enhance the two nations’ friendship and comprehensive collaboration.
Deputy Head of the Australian Embassy Mission to Vietnam Layton Pike said the embassy supports projects and activities strengthening friendship between Vietnamese and Australian people, including the Australia-Vietnam Young Leadership Dialogue.
The new executive board of the association in the 2016-2021 tenure includes 47 members.
Former Deputy Minister of Education and Training Tran Van Nhung was re-elected as President of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association.
Workshop promotes technology sector development
A workshop was held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 29, discussing ways to promote the technology distribution sector.
The event was held by VietinBank Securities (VietinBankSc) and the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE).
Market research results from GFK Retail and Technology Market Research show that Vietnam’s technology market was worth 154.7 trillion VND (6.8 billion USD) in 2015, up 22.6 percent from 2014.
From 2011 – 2015, the consumption of technology products recorded an annual increase of 15.7 percent. In the first six months of this year, the figure hit nearly 94.5 trillion VND (4.15 billion USD), an year on year increase of 17.4 percent.
Dang Tran Hai Dang from VietinBankSc said the technology distribution chain has five value-added stages, which are logistics, sales, post-sale services, marketing, and market analysis, adding that domestic enterprises have only focused on sales and logistics, the least lucrative stages in the chain.
Digiworld CEO Doan Hong Viet underlined the potential for market developing services, saying that this service is new to Vietnamese distributors.
Seminar looks ways to improve tourism competiveness
Vietnam’s tourism competitiveness is lower than other ASEAN countries, said participants at a seminar focusing on Vietnam’s tourism competitiveness in Ho Chi Minh City on November 30.
According to the World Economic Forum, Vietnam’s tourism stood at the 75th place out of 141 countries in 2015, while the Philippines ranked 74th, Indonesia 50th and Singapore 11th.
Therefore, improving tourism competitiveness is an urgent task, they stressed.
Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Vietnam Institute for Tourism Department Research said that Vietnam failed to optimise its advantages such as beautiful landscapes, long-lasting history, rich culture and locals’ hospitability.
Poor transport infrastructure and lack of preferential policies for tourists are reducing Vietnam’s tourism competitiveness.
Nguyen Thi Khanh from the HCM City Tourism Association emphasised the need for the engagement of all sectors and localities with concrete plans to make tourism a key economic sector.
To raise tourism competitiveness, Nguyen Van Len, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of An Giang province suggested improving transport and telecommunication infrastructure and facilitating tourists’ activities.
Fisherman missing following Chinese ship attack in Vietnam waters
One fisherman is missing after a Chinese fishing boat rammed a Vietnamese vessel while the latter was operating in waters off Hai Phong City on November 29.
A fishing boat carrying eight fishermen from the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa, was attacked by a Chinese ship at around 5:00 am on November 29 in an area some 20 nautical miles southwest of Bach Long Vi Island off Hai Phong, the National Search and Rescue Committee has reported.
The Chinese attackers struck the stern and port side of the boat, causing three crew members, all Vietnamese fishermen, to fall overboard.
Following a distress signal, other ships operating nearby managed to rescue two of the victims but the other remains missing.
Coast guard vessel 8003 has been dispatched to the scene to look for the missing fisherman and carry out the investigation.
Fishing ships sailing in the area were also requested to assist the search and rescue mission.
In a related development, another fishing boat carrying 15 crew members was operating some 55 nautical miles southeast of Con Dao Island, off the southern province of Ba Ria- Vung Tau, when it was rammed by an unidentified vessel on Sunday night.
The collision damaged the bow of the Vietnamese boat.
Competent authorities are working to identify the culprit.
Hanoi promises free Wi-Fi on all buses to pull in passengers
The number of riders keeps falling in recent years, forcing the city to find new ways to make public transport more convenient.
Free internet connection will soon be available on every bus in Hanoi as the city is trying to make public transport more appealing in an attempt to curb traffic congestion.
Hanoi Transport & Services Corporation (Transerco), the state-run bus operator of the capital city, has completed installing devices to provide free Wi-Fi on the first 200 buses. Internet will cover the whole bus network by the second quarter next year.
According to Transerco’s report, in the first 10 months, the number of bus riders in the city reached 270 million, down 10 percent from the same period last year. It is expected to hit 328 million for the whole year.
To attract more passengers, Transerco is planning to upgrade over 300 bus stops with shelters in 2017 and build 525 new ones in 2018.
“We are trying to make sure that residents don't have to walk more than 300-500 meters to catch a bus," said Ha Huy Quang, deputy director of Hanoi Transport Department. He said 60 new routes will be added by 2020.
Hanoi has some 1,000 buses that transport about 500 million passengers each year, equivalent to 15 percent of the total travel demand.
The number of passengers has dwindled down over the past few years due to a rise in personal vehicles.
The city is also building a metro rail system which it hopes can help reduce the number of motorbikes and cars on the streets.
Fight intensified against fake goods
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has ordered ministries to constantly review laws and regulations on trading to consolidate the legal framework for the fight against fake goods.
Addressing a meeting on the Day against Counterfeit Goods in Hanoi on November 30, the Deputy PM also urged the customs and border guard forces to intensify efforts to prevent the import of such goods through both official and unofficial channels.
Businesses should cooperate with relevant agencies in market management, improve their own distribution networks and get ready to provide information to law enforcement forces in order to assist with the detection and punishment of violations, he said.
He requested the Vietnam Association for Anti-counterfeiting and Trademark Protection (VATAP) to contribute feedback and recommendations to the process of building regulations in the field.
According to Dam Thanh The, Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee for fighting smuggling, fake goods and trade frauds, the market management force has carried out 145,000 inspections so far this year and detected 88,000 cases of trading and transport counterfeit goods.
However, smuggling, trade frauds and counterfeit goods are still rampant, causing great concern in society.
Doctors provide Zika counselling
Doctors at obstetrics hospitals and wards in HCM City have been asked to provide counselling on the Zika virus to all pregnant patients. Many of the women who show no viral symptoms are demanding tests for Zika.
Thi Thị Tuyết Nhung, head of the Cultural and Social Affairs Board of the city’s People’s Council, spoke about the issue at a meeting with Từ Dũ Obstetrics Hospital on Tuesday.
Dr Lê Quang Thanh, the hospital’s head, said the proportion of Zika virus transmissions from mother to unborn babies was 1-10 per cent. The virus is not as dangerous as dengue fever and rubella, he added.
He said that some mothers infected with the Zika virus would not pass it on to the child, and that not all newborns infected with the virus would suffer serious consequences like an abnormally small head or nerve damage.
Some pregnant women who receive counselling from doctors at the hospital still demand the test, even though they have no symptoms, while those infected with the virus ask for an abortion.
Dr Tăng Chí Thượng, deputy head of the city’s Department of Health, said a fund for disease prevention and tests was available, but that the Ministry of Health requires that the woman must be showing symptoms such as fever, joint pain and red eyes, and has a doctor’s prescription.
Dr Phạm Anh Hải, head of the Từ Dũ Obstetrics Hospital’s general planning division, said that six pregnant women who had suspected symptoms were tested for the virus in October. One of them tested positive for the virus.
The hospital doctors are also monitoring nine other pregnant women with the Zika virus, he added.
According to the city Preventive Health Centre, 85 people have tested positive to the virus as of November 29, including 11 pregnant women.
Dr Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh Châu, head of the city’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said that a review of 7,000 blood tests that were positive for dengue fever between 2010 and 2015 showed that two of the samples had tested positive for the Zika virus.
Of 22 patients with the Zika virus at the hospital, all of them had a fever for one to three days, and later recovered, he added.
Dr Trương Hữu Khanh, head of the city Paediatrics Hospital No.1’s infection and neurology ward, said that it was important to kill mosquitoes in hospitals and throughout the community.
People should discard water from flower vases and other containers as only a few drops of water can be a favourable environment for mosquito larvae to develop, according to Khanh.
Second meningitis case recorded in HN this year
The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases has received the second patient contracting meningitis in Hà Nội since early this year.
The 18-year-old female patient living on Duy Tân Street in Cầu Giấy District was taken to hospital last Sunday with symptoms of high fever and subsequently went into a coma, the Dân Việt online newspaper reported.
Nguyễn Trung Cấp, deputy head of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases’ Emergency Office, said the patient’s condition had initially shown signs of improvement after a few days of being treated in hospital.
The patient is a student of a foreign language centre in Cầu Giấy, which has some 70 students. Doctors of the hospital have informed the Hà Nội Preventive Medicine Centre to pray chemicals and sterilize the centre and surrounding areas, he said.
Two classmates of the patient, who suffered from high fever for a couple of days, have been isolated for being tested, he said.
Cấp said the meningococcal disease is caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacterium. The bacteria are carried in the throat and sometimes, for reasons not fully understood, can overwhelm the body’s defences, allowing the infection to spread through the blood to the brain.
If not treated in time, the patient can die, he said.
The first patient of meningitis was a 30-year-old male from Bắc Từ Liêm District, hospitalized in March.
Trần Đắc Phu, head of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministry of Health, said meningitis can spread widely, especially in winter and spring.
Phu said vaccination is one of the best preventive measures against the meningococcal disease. He recommended people go to medical stations to be vaccinated against meningitis.
HCM City wins judo championship
HCM City won the top position at the National Judo Championship, which ended on Tuesday in Bắc Ninh Province. Its athletes won five golds, four silvers and four bronzes.
Hà Nội came second with three titles, while Đồng Tháp and Bình Thuận shared the third position with two golds.
This year, the tournament saw the participation of around 200 competitors from 23 teams. They competed in individual and team categories in weights ranging from U-45kg to over-100kg.
Lương, Hà Nội TT sign three-year contract
Hà Nội T&T have decided to retain their talented midfielder Phạm Thanh Lương until 2020, and a three-year contract has been signed to the effect.
Lương, 28, has been one of the senior players of this V.League club for four years, since he moved to the club in 2012.
The diminutive player is currently in Indonesia with the national team, preparing for the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup’s semi-finals. “I am happy to continue playing for Hà Nội T&T. I have enjoyed playing football during the four years here and now I will have more time with the team,” Lương said.
Lương has many titles to his credit: he was the best U21 player in 2005 before winning a National Cup title, two V.League trophies, three Golden Balls for the best player of the year and an AFF Cup title in 2008.
Expenses for frozen seafood tests covered by Formosa
All frozen-seafood testing expenses will be covered by part of the US$500-million compensation paid by Taiwanese Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Hà Tĩnh Steel Corporation.
This was the latest order from Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, who subsequently tasked the Ministry of Finance to make the payment in compliance with current regulations.
After the environmental disaster occurred in the four central coastal localities in early April, more than 5,360 tonnes of frozen seafood have been in stock. And the Ministry of Health had took tests to ensure their quality.
Test results from the health ministry at a meeting on November 8 revealed that 4,402 tonnes of frozen seafood in stock were safe and some 967 tonnes were substandard.
Thus Bình asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to destroy the substandard frozen seafood soon.
He also told the four localities -- Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên Huế -- to strictly adhere to Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s directions on dealing with in-stock frozen seafood.
In a related move, Bình directed the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs to co-operate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to perfect the project undertaken to stabilise the life and production of residents suffering from the environmental incident in the four provinces.
The project should be well designed to fit with each locality’s conditions, he said.
In April, tonnes of fish reportedly died en mass in the four localities. In June, the Taiwanese Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Hà Tĩnh Steel Corporation claimed responsibility for the massive fish deaths and promised to pay $500 million in compensation. By August 30, the company had paid the entire compensation amount to the government.
Danish NGO funds UXO clearance in Quang Nam province
Denmark’s non-governmental organisation DDG is providing a non-refundable aid of nearly 1.29 million USD for phase II of a project on searching for and settling unexploded ordnance (UXO) in central Quang Nam province.
This project, recently been approved the Prime Minister, is scheduled to be implemented in 28 months, from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018.
It aims to minimise UXO’s risks and negative impacts on the local community by searching for and clearing unexploded bombs, landmines and ordnance.
About 800,000 tonnes of UXO are scattered across 6.6 million hectares or 20.12 percent of Vietnam’s land, mainly in the central region, according to the State Steering Committee for the national action programme on settling post-war bomb and landmine impacts.
The US army used more than 15 million tonnes of bombs and mines in the war in Vietnam, four times the amount used in World War II. As a result, Vietnam has been listed among the countries most contaminated with UXO.
UXO claimed 42,135 lives and injured 62,163 others from 1975 to 2000. Vietnam has spent tens of millions of USD every year on UXO clearance and providing vocational training to and resettling UXO victims.
Vietnam attends international exhibition of environmental equipment technologies
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha led a Vietnamese business delegation to attend the opening ceremony of the 27thinternational exhibition of environmental equipment technologies and services (Pollutec 2016) in Lyon, France on November 29.
According to Minister Ha, Pollutec 2016 provided a good opportunity for Vietnam to introduce its efforts to protectthe environment and respond to climate change, as well as its goals of green growth and sustainable development
The minister also noted that Vietnam is entering a new era in its development and that in order to cope with the challenges posed by pollution as well as for the common goal of adapting to climate change, Vietnam has gradually shifted from a development model based on the advantages of natural resources and low labour costs to a development model based on the rational use and conservation of natural resources, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change with the aim of green growth and sustainable development.
Under the theme “Sustainable Development—Platform for Prosperity in Vietnam,” during the four days of the exhibition, the Vietnamese booth will introduce to foreign friends macroeconomic policies for environmental protection and sustainable development to address environmental challenges and climate change with the aim of the development of sustainable cities, sustainable industries and the integrated management of the coastal area. Moreover, there are also other ecological, recyclableand environmentally friendly products; a number of potential projects in the fields of waste management, environmental protection and mitigation and adaptation to climate change that will need investment in the future.
This year, Vietnam has been selected as the country of the year. The organiser acknowledged Vietnam has a promising market environment and energy projects. The country also has remarkable economic vigour and is one of the “Next Eleven” (the eleven countries with the greatest potential after BRICS). It is also the fifth-most exposed to climate change risks. Rising sea levels, erosion, drought and increasing salinity in the Mekong Delta in particular, as well as increasingly violent monsoons are all facts of life that have led the local authorities to adopt climate adaptation strategies.
Pollutec is a world-leading international exhibition on the environment, technology and energy. This year’s exhibition gathered around 2,200 booths from many countries around the world to introduce solutions, technologies and the most advanced services for the prevention and handling of all kinds of pollution and environmental protection.
The main topics at Pollutec 2016 included sustainable urban development, sustainable technologies for the future, the marine environment and sustainable agricultural development. In addition, there are about 400 talks introducing solutions and initiatives to reduce man’s impact on the environment.
Over 1,500 students graduate from RMIT
RMIT Vietnam on November 29 hosted a graduation ceremony for nearly 1,300 students at the Saigon South campus while a similar event is to be held in Hanoi on December 2 for 200 more graduates.
The graduates in HCMC have been attending three ceremonies at Saigon South campus on November 29 and on November 30 to collect a testamur for their newly-acquired academic degrees.
Of the graduates, 426 students receive their Bachelor of Business degrees, 302 earn Bachelor of Commerce, and 111gain Bachelor of Communication degrees.
In addition, three training programs are having graduates for the first time ever, including Bachelor of Design (Digital Media) with 33 graduates, Bachelor of Business (International Business) with eight graduates, and Bachelor of Business Management with nine graduates.
The majority of post-graduate degree qualifiers are receiving a Master of Business Administration degree, with two Doctor of Philosophy, an Honorary Doctorate, and for the first time ever, three Master of International Business degrees also being conferred.
Martin Bean CBE, Vice-Chancellor of RMIT University, told the audience of graduates and their parents that the qualifications students have gained will make them attractive to many employers in big growth industries of on November 30 and tomorrow.
RMIT Vietnam President Professor Gael McDonald told the event on November 29 that RMIT Vietnam has been growing and developing, ensuring that the range of programs continues to reflect the needs of industry and that the school’s teaching is of high quality.
“This year, one area we’ve focused on is fully integrating real world projects into assessments and classroom learning. That’s been part of ensuring you are truly ‘work ready’ upon graduation,” he said.
A highlight of on November 29’s ceremonies was the conferring of an Honorary Doctorate on the current Chair of the RMIT Foundation, Trevor Tappenden, for his outstanding contribution to RMIT University, especially to its Vietnam campus.
As one of the inaugural directors of RMIT Vietnam, Tappenden has been instrumental in the successful development and expansion of RMIT Vietnam’s operations.
RMIT Vietnam’s highly prestigious President’s Award was conferred on outstanding Bachelor of Business (Economics and Finance) graduate Phan Le Thanh Truc, who graduated with distinction and impressive achievements in areas outside her studies.
Truc was involved in numerous student and social activities throughout her time at RMIT Vietnam including being a former president of RMIT Business Club, and current president of Golden Key – RMIT Vietnam Chapter.
A second President’s Award will be presented to Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication) graduate Dang Nghinh Xuan at a ceremony for 225 graduates at the Hanoi Opera House on Friday, December 2.
Hot trends unveiled at Vietnam Designer Fashion Week
The Vietnam Designer Fashion Week (VDFW) Fall-Winter 2016 which wrapped up on November 27 in HCMC was a good chance for local fashion lovers to get updated on new trends.
The three-day event introduced hundreds of latest creations from scores of designers and brands like Li Lam, Nguyen Hoang Ngan, Ha Truong, Truong Thanh Long, Huy Tran, Vo Cong Khanh, Lek Chi, Chaddie, Defined Moment by Tran Thi Thanh Nga, Bui Ross, Maschio, Xita, and Cashew.
The first highlight of the fashion week was the gold and neon colors that are perfect for the upcoming festive season. Audience could find these trendy tones in latest collections by Gold Women, Chaddie and Cashew, from sparkling dresses to neon-color bags and shoes.
Sportswear and urban style have been favorites to people as it is easy to mix and match the costumes for work and daily life. On the occasion, Cashew brand introduced its bomber jacket made from sparkling ruffles and hand-made floral patterns. A ready-to-wear collection by Maschio was suitable for people who wish to show their strong characteristics via black, white, grey and red items made from leather, jeans, khaki materials.
Classic fashion items were found in collections by Li Lam, Truong Thanh Long, Huy Tran, Xita, and Bui Ross with flaring pants, off-shoulder tops with lace and feather patterns of the 60s and 80s styles and big earrings.
Floral patterns were unveiled via designs by Hoang Ngan, Bui Ross and Cashew that brought feminism and elegance to a woman.
Dark-color lip and center hair part styles were also popular on the catwalk of VDFW 2016 via collections of Vo Cong Khanh, Thanh Nga, Li Lam, Huy Tran, Chaddie, and Cashew.
Workshop discusses renewable energy development
Experiences from developed countries have shown that renewable energy cannot be developed without a competitive electricity market in place, heard a workshop in Hanoi on Monday.
Experts attended a workshop to make policy recommendations for boosting the development of renewable energy in a competitive power market, the Vietnam News Agency reports.
Building a competitive power market is an important element of institutional reform, Nguyen Dinh Cung, head of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), told the event held by CIEM.
Pham Duc Trung, deputy head of CIEM’s Committee for Enterprise Reform and Development, said producers of renewable energy should be entitled to preferential treatment in terms of tax, land use fee and access to credit.
The domestic power market has not been made competitive while there are no independent agencies monitoring and regulating the market, making it unattractive to investors, he said.
To spur competitiveness, Trung stressed the need to reform State utility Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and guarantee a level playing field for electricity producers and distributors.
He suggested making the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam more independent, strengthening the capacity of the Vietnam Competition Authority at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and applying a competitive pricing mechanism.
Nguyen Van Vy, vice chairman of the Vietnam Energy Association (VEA), said the Government should adopt incentive investment policy for projects generating and using renewable energy, and give financial assistance to renewable energy research projects.
HCMC to remove 12 more sites from list of flood-prone areas next year
The HCMC Steering Center for the Urban Flood Control Program will implement 51 flood control projects worth over VND2 trillion next year, with 12 more sites to be taken out of the list of flood-prone areas in the city.
Ung Van Khiem, Mai Xuan Thuong, Hau Giang, Le Quang Sung, Cao Van Lau, Hong Bang, Ba Van, Le Thanh Phuong, Mai Hac De, Luong Van Can, Go Dua and Tan Huong streets are often flooded during rains or flood tides. Next year will see them no longer inundated, according to the center.
According to the flood control plans, the city government will spend nearly VND1,000 billion maintaining and upgrading the drainage systems along the flood-prone roads.
The center has this year put flooding under control in nine areas on the roads of Go Dau, Truong Vinh Ky, Tan Quy, An Duong Vuong, Nguyen Xi, National Highway 13, Me Coc 2, Luu Huu Phuoc and Luong Dinh Cua.
“One House”, the second part of the play “Three in one”, featuring the lives of HIV/AIDS patients will be performed at the Kim Ma Theatre in Hanoi on December 1 night to mark World AIDS Day (December 1).
The show, organised by the Vietnam National Dramma Theatre and The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is part of activities during the national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control from Nov 10 - Dec 10, themed “Towards 90-90-90 targets.”
The show will hit several provinces and cities during the month, including the central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Da Nang city, according to the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office.
Other activities include the 5th national press award on HIV/AIDS to be held in Bac Ninh on December 9, and meetings and parades across the nation.
A conference will be held to discuss payment for national procurement of Anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy sourced from health insurance, and provide support for patients treated with ARVs.
According to the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office, Vietnam has reduced the number of people with HIV to below 0.3 percent of the population. In the fist half of this year, as many as 3,684 new HIV cases were detected. In 2015, the figure was about 10,000. HIV-linked deaths also declined from 3,200 to 2,000 during the past five years.
In 2014, Vietnam was the first Asian nation to commit to the “90-90-90 target” set by the UN Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) to end HIV/AIDS in Vietnam by 2020.
The programme calls for 90 percent of all people living with HIV to know their HIV status, 90 percent of all people diagnosed with HIV receiving sustained antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and 90 percent of people on ARV treatment having durable viral suppression by 2020.
USAID began a programme on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam in the 90s.
In June, 2004, PEPFAR began providing aid for Vietnam for combating the disease.
Under the Plan, USAID has coordinated with relevant bodies from Vietnam and the US to realise its goals in the National Strategy on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in Vietnam.
As of June 2015, there were 227,114 people living with HIV in Vietnam, 71,115 of whom had progressed to AIDS.
Vietnamese kids win gold at maths contest
The Vietnamese student team won 20 gold medals at the seventh World Mathematics Team Championship (WMTC) in Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
They also brought home 11 silvers and one bronze medal. All 32 Vietnamese students came from schools in Hanoi with each grabbing at least one medal.
The WMTC is an annual international contest for primary and secondary students. This year’s event featured 73 teams from 11 countries and territories.-
Ha Nam volunteer soldiers honoured with Lao orders, medals
A ceremony was held in the northern province of Ha Nam on November 30 to present Lao orders and medals to volunteer soldiers and military experts in recognition of their contributions to Laos’ revolutionary cause.
Among those awarded, three fallen soldiers were honoured with Laos’ first-class Freedom Order, 30 individuals received first-class Victory Order, and 15 others, anti-American resistance medals.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Xuan Dong said he hopes the recipients will actively contributing to protecting the traditional friendship between the two countries.
He noted that the locality has bolstered comprehensive cooperation with Laos’ northwestern province of Oudomxay in various fields.
Laos decided to present its orders and medals to nearly 9,000 Vietnamese soldiers in 2016.
Deputy PM: Ethnic minority work achieves significant achievements
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh praised localities, ministries, and agencies on their efforts to help change ethnic minority-areas nationwide.
A report at a meeting discussing government Decree No 05/2011/ND-CP on ethnic minority work, indicated that all communes have primary schools and secondary schools and nursery schools have become more available in remote areas.
By 2013, 80 percent of hamlets and villages had medical workers and 75 percent of communes had doctors.
Investments have been made in communications with 98 percent of communes having public phone services.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh affirmed over the five-year implementation of the decree, ministries and agencies have advised the government on issuing and revising policies on ethnic minorities.
The policies have changed many ethnic minority-inhabited areas and the material and spiritual life of ethnic groups, especially in remote areas, has improved. The rate of poor households has plummeted, while defence-security and social order has been ensured.
The Deputy PM, however, pointed out shortcomings like the low rate of ethnic minority people among civil servants, a lack of attention to training ethnic minority officials and the modest number of health centres in communes where ethnic groups live.
The Deputy PM asked ministries and relevant agencies to coordinate in reviewing and revising ethnic minority policies.
The Committee for Ethnic Affairs needs to work with ministries and relevant agencies to research and build new policies for 2016-2021.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment will work with relevant ministries to issue mechanisms and policies to attract investment into development in ethnic minority-inhabited and remote areas.
The Ministry of Finance, meanwhile, was directed to work with ministries to ensure financial resources for implementing ethnic minority policies.
The Deputy PM also asked localities to prioritise resources and integrate programmes and projects in localities with ethnic minority policies, develop infrastructure in disadvantaged remote areas and issue policies to attract more resources to implement ethnic minority policies.-
Vietnam-funded broadcasting project delivered to Laos
A radio and television station in Laos’s Udomsay province worth nearly 108 billion VND funded by Vietnam was handed over to the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism at a ceremony in the locality on November 30.
The project was constructed by Vietnam Television (VTV) using the Vietnamese Government’s non-refundable capital for Laos. It is one of the projects implemented as part of an agreement on cooperation in economy, culture, education and sci-technology between the two countries.
The station was equipped with advanced technologies appropriate for the development plan of Laos’s national broadcasting network, and the broadcasting development roadmap within ASEAN.
It includes technical equipment and basic infrastructure, designed to meet the incorporated development of many broadcasting systems in the future. A two-storey building for the station’s staff with a total area of 540 sq.m, and other facilities were also included.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savankhone Ratsamotry highlighted the importance of the project, saying that it benefits Udomsay province and also Laos’ northern region.
The station is hoped to help expand coverage of Laos’ northern localities, thus promoting dissemination of the Lao Party and State’s policies, laws and socio-economic plans to the Lao people, contributing to enhancing bilateral links between the two sides’ information and communications sectors, he stressed.
In his speech, Governor of Udomsay province Phetsakhone Luangaphay thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their assistance.
Previously, on November 29, Lao Minister of Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdala and General Director of the VTV Tran Binh Minh signed delivery minutes for the project at a ceremony in Vientiane.
On the occasion, VTV was honoured with the Freedom Order – third class, while several units and individuals of VTV were presented with Labour Orders, first and second class of the Lao State, for their efforts in polpularising culture and tourism and contributing to promoting the friendship between the two Parties, States and people.
Vietnamese paintings displayed in China
Eight large paintings by five Vietnamese artists are part of an international exhibition being held in China’s Guangdong Province.
They are among 60 artworks at the exhibition Asian Silk Road, which opened at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts.
The artists are from the host country, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Việt Nam and the Philippines.
The event is intended to bring together artists in the region to share cultural values through painting.
“I sent my paintings to the event because I wanted to share and to learn new things about contemporary art from my foreign colleagues,” said Pham Huy Thông, a 31-year-old artist from Hà Nội.
Thông began his career in 2004 after graduating from the Hà Nội University of Industrial Fine Arts. In 2008, several of his paintings were displayed at the Singapore Art Museum.
He has been invited to participate in exhibitions and creative camps in Hà Nội, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and the US. Most of his works are about social issues.
The event Asian Silk road will close on December 12.
Gas explosion off Bình Định Province, one missing
Five fishermen fell into the sea following a gas explosion on a fishing vessel off Bình Định Province, the provincial Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue has said.
One of the fishermen sustained serious burn injuries and another was missing.
Nguyễn Văn Sượt, 48, from central Bình Định Province’s Tam Quan Bắc Commune, has still not been found following the explosion that occurred at 5am yesterday morning.
Nguyễn Long, driver of the fishing vessel, was seriously burnt and hospitalised for treatment.
The other three fishermen are unhurt.
The fishing vessel is owned by Nguyễn Thể from the same commune.
The committee is continuing its search for the victim.
Court denies Thêu appeal
The Hà Nội People’s Court yesterday upheld a 20-month jail term for Cấn Thị Thêu from Hà Đông District on appeal.
On September 20, Thêu was sentenced to 20 months in jail by Đống Đa District People’s Court, charged with “causing public disorder”.
According to the indictment, on April 8, Thêu and some other people gathered in front of the Citizen Reception Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) on Nguyễn Chí Thanh Street with banners and placards.
At 11am the same day, she and her accomplices hung up the banners and placards, shouted and lay on the street, obstructing traffic. The traffic disturbance also hindered the operation of some MONRE offices and caused public disorder in the neighbourhood.
At court yesterday, Thêu’s lawyers argued that Thêu was not guilty and asked the court to immediately free her.
However, according to the Hà Nội People’s Court, the lower court ruling was appropriate as it correctly evaluated her crime while taking into account extenuating circumstances.
The court also said her laywers’ appeal against the lower court’s ruling was baseless.
The court added that Thêu was a repeat offender as she already had a previous conviction for opposing officials on duty and four previous offences of causing public disorder. That is why it was necessary to incarcerate her to isolate her from society for the sake of rehabilitation and deterrence, it said.
86 people hospitalized after eating bread
84 people were hospitalized after eating bread bought from a local bread shop in Phong Dien district of central province of Thua Thien- Hue yesterday.
All of patients said that they had eaten several kinds of bread sold by Anh Thi bakery's in the district. Patients including workers, students, the old and children experienced symptoms of belly pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
Currently, they are all in stable condition.
Deputy Chairman of People’s Committee in the District Nguyen Van Binh said that staffs from the local preventive medicine center and the province’s Department of Food Safety paid a visit to Anh Thi bread shop, toke food samples for tests.
Health inspectors asked the shop to close in seven days for test results. After test results were announced, inspectors will issue fine to the shop.
At the same time leaders in the district gave VND200,000 to each patient.
Warning of rainfall of 400 mm in central region
After a cold front had pushed from the northern to central region, it caused heavy rains on the large scale on November 30, reported the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center.
An appearance of flash flood, landslide and long- lasting heavy rain will parallel in the local river systems from Quang Ngai to Binh Dinh by December 3.
Because of the strong cold air and turbulence of east monsoon, medium- heavy rains are forecast to shoulder over provinces from Thua Thien- Hue to Khanh Hoa.
The highest rainfall is forecast to reach 200- 400 mm in the central provinces from Quang Nam to Binh Dinh.
At present, the Gulf of Tonkin and the territorial water of mid central provinces experience the northeast wind of level 6- 8.
In following days, the northern and north central region are expected to be cold with the lowest temperature around 11- 17 degrees Celsius.
Underground parking lot to be built in Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee yesterday approved the scale-1/500 detailed zoning plan for Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ben Nghe Ward of District 1.
Following this, the committee agreed on the construction of an underground parking lot for car and motorbike under the zoo that is located at the intersection of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, covering an area of 16,770 hectares with its capacity of 3,000 bikes and 100 cars.
The zoo garden’s all trees shall be preserved during the work- in- progress. Bamboo trees will be planted along roads, near animal cages, the parking area, game areas and restaurants to decrease noise which causes effect to living environment of animals.
Vietnam to join Futsal International Tournament 2016
At an invitation of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Vietnamese Futsal team will compete with three teams from Ukraine, Mexico and China at the 2016 Futsal International Tournament in Jiangsu province of China on December 2- 4.
In order to have a good preparation for the championship, the Vietnamese Futsal players experienced a training month at Thai Son Nam Sport Center in HCMC.
Accordingly, Tran Anh Tu is head of the Vietnam futsal delegation, and Tran Bao Quan is the captain of the Vietnam Futsal team.
Cambodian military alumni in Vietnam meet
A get-together was held in Phnom Penh on November 29 for Cambodian military alumni, who had studied in Vietnam.
The event was part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia in 2017.
Addressing the meeting, Cambodian Defence Minister, General Tea Banh underscored the significance of the meeting, which has helped alumni recall their memories about their study in Vietnam, and contribute to fostering traditional friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
General Tea Bank also reviewed historic milestones in the Vietnam-Cambodia relations, especially the time Vietnamese voluntary soldiers helped Cambodia fight against the Pol Pot regime and turn the nation into a prosperous and stable one.
General Tea Bank also asked the armies of the two nations to further implementing cooperative programs among the two defence ministries as well as co-ordinating in building a borderline of peace, friendship and cooperation at international forums, especially under the framework of ASEAN.
General Nop Ratana, an alumni and the Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army's Artillery, showed his gratitude to the Vietnamese army and people in training and providing assistance in the fight against Pol Pot regime and protecting Cambodia’s territorial sovereignty.
Vietnam has trained more than 15,000 Cambodian soldiers since 1979. Currently, 1,300 Cambodian soldiers are studying at schools and academies of the Vietnam People’s Army.
Vietnam off to slow start in going online with public services
Despite the many benefits of online public services, Vietnamese authorities are taking a slow initiative in adopting the Internet in processing administrative procedures.
According to guidelines laid out by the Vietnamese government, online public services in the country are categorized into four groups, depending on the range of tasks that can be performed digitally.
The first group comprises public services that provide online access to all information regarding the service, including procedures, required papers, deadlines, fees and service charges.
Nguyen Huu Dung and his wife, Le Thi Hong, look up land planning information at the headquarters of Binh Tan District's administration in Ho Chi Minh City, November 28, 2016.
Public services in the second group meet all criteria of the first group, in addition to allowing users to download forms and sample documents to be filled out at home before they are submitted to competent authorities.
The third group includes public services of the second group that also allows online submission of the papers, while still requiring users to pay fees and service charges at the relevant government bodies.
Public services falling into the fourth group are those in the third group that have an integrated online payment system. Processed papers are sent to users via mail or the Internet without requiring their presence at a public body at any stage during the procedure.
While an estimated 1,200 public services in Vietnam have the potential to fully go online, only a limited number have been taken to the Internet in practice.
The Ministry of Transport recently announced that ten of its services had completely gone online, including the licensing of transport services and issuing of International Driving Permits (IDP), license plates, and car badges.
Since its launch late May this year, as many as 3,000 online IDPs have been successfully issued to applicants, according to Vo Minh Tuan, an official at the country’s Directorate for Roads.
Meanwhile, in District 8 and Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City, 20 third-level online public services in the fields of construction, labor, wage, and business establishment have also been launched.
According to statistics provided by the Binh Tan administration, only 135 out of the 3,000 documents it had received over the past two months had been submitted online.
Similarly, only 73 construction permit documents have been submitted online to the District 8 administration since its launch in August.
The discouraging numbers are attributed to the fact that many Vietnamese are still reluctant to perform online tasks when it comes to administrative procedures, Huynh Thi Thuy, deputy head of Binh Tan District's Bureau of Home Affairs, said.
Meanwhile, certain papers are simply too many or too big to be scanned or photographed for online submission, Thuy explained.
Prospects of online public service are brighter in the field of taxation, where over 542,000 businesses have already registered to perform tax duties over the Internet, according to Nguyen Dai Tri, deputy director of the General Department of Taxation.
This number accounts for nearly 97 percent of all businesses operating in Vietnam.
As of October, over VND370.6 trillion (US$16.54 billion) worth of tax had been settled over the online payment gateway, Tri said, adding that the sum made up more than 53% of government revenue.
Christmas concert to ring a bell with audience in Hanoi
A Christmas concert will ring in the festive season at Goethe Institute in Hanoi on December 3.
Compositions by Georg Friedrich Händel and Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as popular Christmas songs will be performed by the Vietnam Bamboo Ensemble Suc Song Moi, the Hanoi Voices Choir and a chamber orchestra will carry audiences into a magical Christmas world.
It is a time of reflection and of gathering. The concert aims to celebrate a successful year 2016 of the Goethe-Institute.
For free invitations, registrations should be made early.
Stamp exhibition introduces Vietnam’s charm to Thai people
The Thailand Post opened a stamp exhibition entitled “Vietnam—Endless Charm” in Bangkok on November 29 to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam and Thailand’s diplomatic relations (1976-2016).
The opening ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Nguyen Tat Thanh, President of the Thailand Post Samorn Terdthampiboon, representatives of Vietnamese and Thai friendship associations and business associations as well as philatelists from the two countries.
Works on display include stamp collections featuring the land, people, cultural traditions and tourist attractions in Vietnam. Prominent among them is a stamp set entitled “Puppetry,” which was recently jointly issued by the Vietnam Post and the Thailand Post on the occasion of the the 40th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic ties.
The exhibition also provides visitors with an overview of Vietnam’s national struggles for independence and reunification, the country’s achievements in economic development and President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary career, as well as Vietnam and Thailand’s friendly relations.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh highly appreciated Thailand Post for hosting the exhibition, which will help Thai people learn more about Vietnam’s struggles in the wartime and its construction process in peacetime in order to become a dynamic economy.
He expressed his hope for further cooperation between the two postal services, which will contribute to the growth of the bilateral strategic partnership.
A stamp exhibition introducing a newly released collection titled “King Rama IX” was also revealed by the Thailand Post the same day in memory of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The two exhibitions will run through December this year at the Thai Philatelic Museum in Bangkok.
Binh Dinh reports additional dengue death
The Health Department of the south central province of Binh Dinh on November 27 announced a five year old boy died from dengue fever, the second death of the cause in the province so far this year.
The patient was from Nhon Hau commune, An Nhon town of Binh Dinh province.
The provincial Health Department guided the Health Centre to exterminate mosquito larvae and spray chemicals in the area around the patient’s house.
According to Binh Dinh province’s Health Department, from the start of 2016 to late November, the province recorded 4,250 cases of dengue fever. There have been 700 new cases in October and November.
Dengue fever has spread to 159 wards of 11 districts, mainly in Quy Nhon city and An Nhon, Phu My, Tay Son and Phu Cat districts.
Provincial health agencies have taken actions to warn locals of the disease and kill mosquitoes while all agencies are required to prepare personnel, equipment, chemicals and take measures to prevent the disease’s spread.
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