The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is preparing to host an annual free Vietnam-Lao cultural festival July 5-7 in the city of Son La in northwest Vietnam, featuring international dance, dress, music and food.

This is the second annual event, said the Ministry. It aims to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of provinces along the borders of the two countries.

48 hour film project 2017 re-launched in Vietnam

The 48 hour film project has been re-launched and attracted nearly 100 short films of over 300 young amateur film makers in the country.

The short films must be started and finished within 48 hours. Mr. Ross Stewart, project producer in Vietnam said the organizers will select excellent films in Vietnam to take part in the International Short Film Festival which is scheduled to take place in March 2018 in Los Angeles (U.S).
The screening of winning films this year will be taken place from July 24 to 27 in Hanoi and HCMC and the award ceremony will be held in August.

The jury includes director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, young director Phan Gia Nhat Linh, producers Jenni Trang Le and Bao Nguyen.

Another jackpot won in Vietnam

A resident of the southern province of An Giang was the lucky owner of the latest winning lotto ticket for the jackpot worth US$3.3 million.

The winners received their check at a ceremony held today (June 20), said Vietlott, operator of the lottery. The name of the winner is not being released, purportedly at their request, Vietlott represented.

Vietnam’s economic presence assists Cambodia’s growth

Vietnam’s economic presence in Cambodia has contributed greatly to the country’s economic development, particularly in investment, trade and tourism.

According to the Council for Development of Cambodia (CDC), Vietnam is the fifth largest investor in Cambodia, operating approximately 200 projects, worth about 3 billion USD. About 70 percent of Vietnamese investment landed in agro-forestry, including rubber cultivation, while 9.4 percent and 7.5 percent were poured into finance and banking, and telecommunication, respectively.

Statistics by the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed two-way trade between Vietnam and Cambodia in the first two months of 2017 hit 624.1 million USD, up 21.2 percent from the same period last year.
 
In the field of tourism, Vietnam has been the largest source market of Cambodia for eight consecutive years. About one million Vietnamese, among the total of 5 million foreigners, travelled to Cambodia last year.

Sok Chenda Sophea, Cambodian Minister attached to the Prime Minister and CDC Secretary General, said Vietnamese investors have contributed substantially to Cambodia’s economic development, poverty reduction and social security. They created jobs for the locals and involved in many charity works in Cambodia, he added.

Cambodia has four key industries – clothing, footwear, agriculture and real estate, the minister said, noting that these sectors have not received equal attention from Vietnamese enterprises that have focused a majority of their investment in rubber planting and processing.

The Government of Cambodia has provided Vietnamese investors with favourable conditions in recent years, but many firms still worried about doing business in Cambodia due to its unstable policies and unpredictable business environment, said Vietnamese trade counsellor to Cambodia Nguyen Bao.

He suggested the two governments should soon sign bilateral agreements in trade and investment and increase cooperation between their relevant bodies in investment promotion and state management of Vietnamese investors in Cambodia.

The two sides need to provide more updates on investment projects as well as better support to the investors, he added.-

Quang Ninh’s communes build friendly relations with Chinese town

Hoanh Mo and Dong Van communes, Binh Lieu district, in Vietnam’s northeast province of Quang Ninh, have inked an agreement to set up friendly relations with Chinese town of Dong Zhong in Fangchenggang city, the southern province of Guangxi.

They are the first administrative units at the commune-town level on the Vietnam-China land border line to sign the agreement.

At the signing ceremony in Dong Zhong on June 20, the two sides agreed to set up friendly rapports based on the principle of equality for mutual benefits.

They concurred to conduct cooperation exchanges in Party organisation, culture, border gate building, and border trade as well as promoting economics and implementing projects.

Both sides were unanimous to boost awareness-raising campaigns for residents living in the shared border areas to protect the border landmarks, to not change the flow of cross-border rivers and streams, and to seriously implement the agreement on Vietnam-China land border management regulations and three legal documents on border protection and management.

At the same time, the two sides will be enhancing coordination in cross-border crime prevention and maintenance of border order and security.

The diplomatic activities between Binh Lieu district and Fangchenghang city have been reinforced and developed over the past time. Seven hamlets in Binh Lieu have established twin ties with four hamlets in Fangchenggang.

HPV test recommended as primary test in cervical cancer screening

More than 500 doctors and health officials participated in a series of recent seminars on updates on national guidelines on cervical cancer screening.

“Cervical cancer is a serious disease, but we can prevent it, reduce the mortality and medical burden for patients, their family and society if the disease can be detected early,” Assoc Prof Lưu Thị Hồng, general secretary of the Việt Nam Association of Gynecologists and Obstetrics, said.

The Ministry of Health has issued a recommendation to use HPV as the primary screening test for cervical cancer to help women prevent the disease and have an entire healthy and happy life, she said.

“It is also a mission of healthcare authorities, healthcare organisations and whole community.”

In response to a national action plan for cervical cancer prevention and control in 2016-25, Roche Vietnam in collaboration with medical organisations and local and international healthcare experts organised the seminars on “HPV DNA primary testing: From recommendations to clinical practice” from June 15 to 17 in Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, and HCM City.

Cervical cancer can be prevented if detected early, and HPV testing reveals in the early stages if someone is at risk.

According to the guidelines issued by the ministry, HPV testing has been recommended as a primary test in cervical cancer screening since 2016.

An HPV test can detect high-risk HPV and help doctors evaluate whether a woman is at risk of cervical cancer so that she can be monitored and treated appropriately and in time.

It is estimated that around 500,000 women world-wide are diagnosed with the disease every year and half of them die, with the vast majority of deaths occurring in developing countries.

In Việt Nam, there are more than 5,000 new cases of cervical cancer annually and more than 2,500 deaths.

Cervical cancer is the second most common gynaecological cancer and a main reason is due to persistent infection by the human papilloma virus (HPV).

There are over a hundred different HPV types. Of them, 14 are considered to be high risk, causing more than 99 per cent of cervical cancers. And two of them posing the highest risk are HPV 16 and HPV 18, which cause more than 70 per cent of cervical cancers.

Women infected with HPV 16 and/ or HPV 18 have a 35 percent higher risk of developing cervical cancer.

Health officials: Dengue fever spreading ‘explosively’

The General Department of Preventive Medicine says the number of reported cases of dengue fever has exploded to 36,000 so far this year with 10 deaths reported nationwide, reports the Vnexpress Online Newspaper.

Dengue fever, is a mosquito-borne viral infection, that is transmitted by two distinct species.  In urban areas, it is predominantly transmitted by a type that prefers to lay its eggs in water containers.

In rural areas, a second type that prefers to lay its eggs in stagnant waters is the main cause of the outspread of the disease.

There are two clinical forms of the disease referred to as dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever. Dengue fever has symptoms like malaria that includes headaches, fevers, joint pains, fatigue, muscle pains, skin rash, pain behind the eyes and vomiting.

While dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more serious form of the disease that causes bleeding that initially appears as tiny spots of blood on the skin and grows into larger patches. This causes shock that can prove fatal.

Dengue fever is mostly an urban disease driven by human behaviours of storing water in open containers inside or around homes. These are excellent breeding grounds and the proximity to human beings increases the risk of getting the disease.

The capital city of Hanoi in northern Vietnam has reported a nearly 3-fold increase in the number of cases this year, principally in the districts of Dong Da, Hoang Mai, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan and Ha Dong.

In periods of warm and wet weather as has been experienced in northern Vietnam this year, the mosquito population increases rapidly and the virus in the mosquito also develops very quickly, says the Department of Preventative Medicine.

There are no specific treatments for dengue so it's managed by treating the symptoms.

Things that should be done includediscarding all unnecessary water containers and securely covering allnecessary water storage containers to prevent the development of breeding habitats.

In addition,spraying the interior and exterior walls of houses and other structures with insecticides has proven to be a successful strategy to controlling mosquitoes. Utilizing mosquito nets at night when sleeping and wearing long sleeved clothing and mosquito repellent is also encouraged, says the Department of Preventative Medicine.

Prompt medical attention should be sought by parents at the earliest for childrenor elderly who report complaints of unusual headaches, fevers, joint pains or vomiting.

Dengue symptoms are like those of malaria. However, the presence of pain behind the eyes and a skin rash suggests a viral infection. A malaria test should be carried out to rule it out.

Dengue symptoms can be managed by pain killers, increasing fluid intake and having plenty of bed rest, says the Department of Preventative Medicine. Aspirin should be avoided because it increases the risk of bleeding.

In all cases where dengue fever is suspected, medical attention should be obtained urgently.

Lang Son records breakthrough in forest development

The northern mountainous province of Lang Son has raised the forest coverage to 60 percent thanks to its efforts in calling for the engagement  of businesses and residents in forest development.

Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Thi Thanh Nhan said that in the first six months of 2017, the province focused on forest planting with survival ratio of over 90 percent.

The forestry sector has attracted many enterprises and individuals. Forest area planted by businesses and locals increased to 47 percent of the total figure as of June this year from only 20 percent in 2014.

Since 2015, nearly 30,000 hectares of additional forest area have been planted, raising the ratio of forest coverage to over 60 percent.

Many households in Loc Binh and Dinh Lap districts have risen out of poverty thanks to pine tree planting, with many earning over 100 million VND (4,400 USD) per year.

A number of regions growing industrial forests have also been formed. Currently, the province is expanding a cinnamon tree area in Binh Gia, Bac Son and Trang Dinh districts.

Thanks to the forestry sector’s growth, many processing companies have been operating efficiently, including Lang Son hi-tech wood processing factory in Huu Lung district with capacity of 140,000 cubic metre per year, and a plant in Loc Binh district processing 4,000 tonnes of pine resin per year for export to Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Lang Son has merged the Forest Management Division and the Forestry Ranger Division for more effective operation, while handing over two forestry companies of Dinh Lap and Loc Binh to the Vietnam Forestry Corporation for reform.

Israel Embassy to offer wheelchairs to children with disabilities

The Embassy of Israel in Vietnam on June 20 said it will offer 100 wheelchairs to children with disabilities in several provinces and cities in Vietnam, using the budget allocated for the 69th anniversary of the country’s Independence Day (May 14, 1948 – May 14, 2017).

The same day, the first 20 of the 100 wheelchairs, which are especially designed for children by Wheelchairs of Hope, an Israeli non-governmental organisation, were presented to children at the Vietnam – Republic of Korea Centre for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in Hanoi.

The remaining wheelchairs will be delivered to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, the Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Centre in Can Tho, the Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Department of Ben Tre province and the Children Sponsorship Fund of Ha Giang province.

Audi Vietnam launches Mobile Service for APEC 2017

Audi Vietnam has launched Audi Mobile Service in the north, central and south to serve APEC 2017 in the country, Audi Vietnam General Director Laurent Genet said.

Genet said the service will be available in Hanoi, the central city of Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to provide the fastest repair to Audi vehicles carrying delegates to APEC events. 

Each Audi Mobile Service vehicle could carry five technicians along with repair tools and spare parts. 

This December, Audi Vietnam users nationwide could enjoy this service via the hotline 0909 677 688.

USAID-funded project helps promote green construction

The Green One United Nations House in Hanoi was awarded in May a Platinum Lotus certification, the highest level in the market-based green building rating system (Photo: UN Vietnam)

Hanoi (VNA) – The USAID-funded project to promote energy efficiency in buildings was reviewed in Hanoi on June 20.

The project, part of the USAID Vietnam Clean Energy Programme (VCEP), has been carried out in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Can Tho over the past three years.

The project is managed by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment under the Ministry of Construction (MoC), said Deputy Minister Phan Thi My Linh.

The outcomes of the project have contributed significantly to promoting energy saving and efficiency in the ministry’s construction works.

With the outcomes of the project, the ministry launched an action plan on green growth by 2020, with orientations through 2030 in the sector, with focus on energy saving and efficiency in constructions.

USAID Vietnam Director Michael Greene said buildings account for 30 percent of the energy consumption globally, suggesting that Vietnam pay special attention to this energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission because of its fast development and urbanisation. 

Statistics show that the energy consumption in construction, including civil engineering, accounts for 36-37 percent of the nation’s total energy consumption.

The average annual increase of energy consumption is estimated at 10 percent from 2016 – 2020, which also leads to increase in energy use in construction and greenhouse gas emission.

The MoC has received active support from international organisations to promote energy consumption and efficiency in its projects via technical assistance, including the International Finance Corporation under World Bank (IFC – WB), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO); the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Thuan Hoa hydropower plant inaugurated in Ha Giang

The Thuan Hoa hydropower plant on Mien river was inaugurated in Vi Xuyen district, the northern province of Ha Giang on June 20. 

Built in October 2014 at a total cost of nearly 1.3 trillion VND (56.5 million USD), the plant has a total capacity of 38MW with two turbines. 

Nguyen Quang Dao, Chairman of the board of directors of Thuan Hoa hydropower company, said the plant will generate more than 150 million kWh of electricity worth nearly 200 billion VND each year, contributing nearly 30 billion VND to the local budget and generating jobs to around 100 ethnic minority workers. 

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ha Thi Minh Hanh, asked the plant to seriously comply with operation procedures and ensure the safety of the national grid. 

Relevant units and investor were required to regularly inspect dam safety, devise firefighting and flood prevention plans, develop aquaculture and ecological tourism models in the plant’s reservoir in combination with environment protection.

Dien Bien preserves biodiversity

Lying in the north-eastern mountainous region, Dien Bien province boasts rich natural resources with more than 760,000 ha of forest, making up nearly 80 percent of the local total natural area of 956,290 hectares.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 41 local floral species are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

Dien Bien is home to 55 species of mammals, 188 species of birds, 38 species of reptiles, 14 species of amphibians, and 175 species of fish.

However, rapid population growth and unplanned migration are posing serious threat to biodiversity, as more and more forests are being cut down for rice fields or for reservoirs and hydropower plants. 

Recognising the significance of natural resources protection, local authorities have integrated biodiversity conservation into socio-economic development programmes.

The province has approved a number of forest protection and development projects in nine districts, towns and cities, along with many policies and legal documents on biodiversity conservation such as the detailed planning scheme for the Muong Nhe nature reserve, an action plan on biodiversity conservation through 2015 with a vision towards 2020, and Decision No/837 QD-UBND on establishing the management board of Muong Phang historical relic site. 

Dieu Mong Hai from the provincial office for environmental protection said Dien Bien is taking measures to improve the legal system and management institutions under the biodiversity conservation plan in the period 2015-2020. 

The locality is also mobilising capital from central and local budgets to carry out sub-projects in the plan, while conducting surveys and studies to evaluate the level of biodiversity.

It will apply science-technology in forest protection and raise public awareness of the need to preserve forest and biodiversity, he said, adding that the forest ranger force will closely coordinate with local authorities to promptly discover and prevent law violations in the field.

China, Laos, Vietnam set up more drug control office

China, Laos and Vietnam jointly established a drug control cooperation office in the border county of Jiangcheng in China's southwest Yunnan province on June 20.

The office looks to strengthen cooperation among the three nations on combating cross-border drug crime.

China has kept good cooperation with Laos and Vietnam on narcotics control, according to Wei Xiaojun, Deputy Director of Narcotics Control Bureau of Ministry of Public Security.

Since 2002, 10 such cooperation offices have been set up by China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, covering the most serious drug-plagued regions along the borders.-VNA

Dien Bien police move to prevent human trafficking

In Nam Chua 1 village, Nam Nhu commune, Nam Po district, more than 10 local women have been reported absent for a long time.

Of them, only Vang Thi Chu, 17, has returned.

However, Chu’s mother and five older sisters have been reported missing for a long time for unknown reasons.

Police said in the first six months of this year, 12 women and children in Nam Po district were reported absent for a long time for unknown reasons, four others were suspected of being trafficked and five were the victims of trafficking cases.

So far this year, the police of Nam Po district have smashed three human trafficking cases, having arrested five traffickers and rescued two victims. Victims of the human trafficking rings are mainly women and children in difficult and remote areas.

 Nam Po district police said that in the coming time, more training will be provided for local police officers to raise their capacity in fighting the crime. In addition, more officers will be sent to localities to timely detect and prevent human trafficking.

Children with disabilities in Dien Bien get free surgeries

As many as 180 children with different deformities in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien have been receiving free medical checks-up and surgeries under a charity programme from June 18-24.

Organised by Centre II of the Vietnam Relief Association for Handicapped Children, the provincial Dien Bien General Hospital and the Vietnam Children Sponsor Fund, the programme benefited children with cleft lips and palates, and those with mobility impairments and post-burn sequel, defects in ears, eyes, genital tracts and benign tumors.

Expenses for the operation programme were provided by the Child Surgery Vietnam organisation, while other costs were paid by the Vietnam Children Sponsor Fund of Dien Bien province. 

Centre II Director Dong Van An said the activity is part of the programme to assist disabled children in five northern mountainous provinces, namely Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai and Lang Son. Initiated in 2006, the programme has benefited 4,000 local children. 

A programme to provide free medical advices for infertile couples in central localities was held recently in the Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Phuong Le, director of the hospital’s infertile ward, the programme helped beneficiaries get more understanding about and access to effective, safe, and modern reproduction assistance methods.

The hospital began the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) service in March 2014 and reaped encouraging results. Its infertile ward receives about 12,000 time-patients each year, and more than 100 babies were born thanks to the method.

Int’l cooperation in foreigner-related cases needs to be intensified

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), on June 20 held a workshop seeking ways to deal with difficulties in implementing prosecution and procuracy over investigations and first-instance trial of criminal cases related to foreigners in the city.

According to Department No.2 of the municipal People’s Procuracy, from 2014 to 2016, the agency exercised its prosecution and investigation procuracy on 108 cases involving in 146 people from 25 nations and territories who violated 18 different law articles.

Of the total, the municipal People’s Court sentenced seven defendants to death, and four to life imprisonment, while eight others were given at least 15 years in prison.

In these cases, the agency faced numerous difficulties in language, and specification of criminal record of the arrestees and defendants.

At the workshop, participants agreed that it is necessary to intensify international cooperation in tackling cases which involve foreigners.

Vu Xuan Nhue, deputy head of Department No.2, stressed the need to boost the signing of judicial assistance agreements with other countries and foster collaboration with foreign litigation agencies in providing information and documents to strictly punish ringleaders.

Sharing the same view, Vu Thanh Lam, Deputy Chief Justice of the Criminal Court of the municipal People’s Court, said that it is essential to strengthen connection with international organisations such as the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to receive their support right from the investigation process.

He also proposed early launching general solutions to cases in which criminal records of arrestees and defendants cannot be specified.

Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties marked in Can Tho

A ceremony was held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho city on June 20 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967). 

The event, co-organised by the municipal People’s Committee, the Department of External Affairs and Can Tho University, saw the participation of city leaders, representatives of departments and agencies, and more than 1,000 students. 

In his remarks, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam said with the motto of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and sustainable long-term comprehensive cooperation,” the Vietnamese and Cambodian Governments have deepened the bilateral cooperation across fields, bringing pragmatic benefits to their people. 

The Party, authorities and people of Can Tho have always given attention and special sentiments to Cambodian land and people, through a range of practical activities involving education, economy and health care, he said. 

Can Tho has helped 50 Cambodian students in the locality with health insurance, study tools and part of tuition fees. 

Nam also highlighted a programme to provide free health check-ups, medicines and gifts for Cambodian patients, benefiting more than 20,000 Cambodians. 

Economically, Can Tho inked a cooperation agreement and established twin ties with Kompong Chahnang and Battampang provinces of Cambodia to promote affiliation in industry, agriculture, tourism and services, he added. 

Can Tho will continue to consolidate and expand long-term cooperation with more Cambodian localities, the official affirmed.  

A representative from the Cambodian Defence Ministry stressed that the Cambodian authorities and people always consider the time-honoured friendship and solidarity with Vietnam an important external factor in the country’s international relations. 

He suggested the two countries’ competent agencies intensify the operation of the Vietnam-Cambodia Committee on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation and conferences on cooperation between border provinces.

Focus will be put on on boosting comprehensive cooperation with Can Tho which is expected to be a long-term strategic partner of Cambodia in various fields, especially in the protection and sustainable use of the Mekong River water resources, he said.

Offshore fishing households await insurance benefits

The extension of an insurance subsidy scheme for offshore fishing households until the end of this year has failed to benefit anyone.

Officials say this has happened because a new legal corridor has to be enacted by the Government before implementation can begin.

Two years after the Government introduced the offshore fishing insurance scheme with Decree No 67/2014/NĐ-CP, just 7,500 fishing households in the country had participated in it.

Under Article 5 of the Decree, the Government would provide financial support to all offshore fishing household co-operative members participating in the Government’s insurance scheme.

The Government would support 70 percent of the insurance payment for fishing boats with 90 CV to 400 CV engines; and 90 percent of the insurance value for boat having engine power from 400 CV up wards. However, the Decree expired by late 2016.

At a year-end meeting in December 2016, the Government decided to extend implementation of the Decree for another 12 months until December 31, 2017.

However, the decision is yet to be implemented.

Meanwhile, many fishing households have complained that changes in the banks’ lending policies have made it very difficult for them to obtain credit.

They’ve also expressed their hope that during the extension period, more insurance companies would join in the scheme so that they would have more choices.

They also want the Government to extend the fishing grounds under the cover of the insurance scheme.

For the extension period of Decree 67/2014 till December 31, 2017, the Bảo Minh Insurance Corporation has been appointed to act as the sole insurance agency.

To speed up implementation of the extension, Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has asked the Ministry of Finance to oversee the selling of insurance schemes to project beneficiaries.

Project helps facilitate construction management

Representatives from construction enterprises and contractors were introduced to two outputs of a national technical collaborative project with Japan on managing construction projects in Hà Nội on Friday.

Implemented from the second quarter of 2015 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Construction (MOC), the project focusses on enhancing capacity in cost estimation, contract management, and quality and safety in construction investment projects in Việt Nam, with an aim to managing those projects according to international standards and regulations and increasing the effectiveness of public investment as a result.

After two years of implementation, the project has analysed and compared contractor capacity evaluation methods in Việt Nam, Singapore and Japan. It has come up with recommendations to improve Việt Nam’s assessment of contractors, their practising certificates, construction classification system and contractor rating system.

The project also provides Vietnamese enterprises with a guiding document on construction contract management and adjustment with international standards, which would help clients and contractors review bidding documents and contract documents, simplify evaluation procedures for incurrences/changes, as well as standardise the periodical payment process, and check inspection process of management agencies and assess damages.

“The improved contractor capacity evaluation method would not only help clients to select highly capable contractors but also encourage the less capable ones to improve their competency,” said Phạm Khánh Toàn, director-general of MOC’s Department of International Cooperation at a training workshop on the project’s outputs on Friday.

The contract management guide, developed by MOC and JICA experts, has incorporated terms from contracts developed by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC contracts) and other international references, which would be a reliable guidance for construction enterprises throughout the construction process, from the bidding period to the completion and warranty period of the constructions, he said.

Similar workshops on the outputs of the project will be held for clients and contractors in HCM City and Cần Thơ City on June 22 and June 23, respectively.

The project is expected to be completed by March 2018.

Many sections of Quảng Điền dyke damaged

Many sections of Quảng Điền dyke, worth VNĐ312 billion ($13.7 million), in Central Highlands Đắk Lắk Province’s Krông Ana were severely damaged after a flood hit the locality late May.

The concrete covering the 1-km stretch from pump station T21 to pump station T22 was sloughed and several holes having diametres ranging from 30cm to 40cm have appeared on this section. In the next 1-km section, the dyke was severely eroded, the Voice of Việt Nam online newspaper reported.

Lê Văn Sơn, a local resident said, he suspected the quality of the dyke was poor.

“The proportion of sand and stone used to build the dyke was probably higher than the proportion of cement, so the dyke was vulnerable to the flood,” he said.

Sơn said he worried that another flood would totally destroy the dyke.

Y Hương Niê, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the dyke’s erosion was triggered by the prolonged flood that lasted nearly a month late last year.

Another prolonged flood early this year exacerbated the situation, he said.

Data from the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development showed that erosion had occurred at 30 places due to the flood last November, including 20 spots that had suffered from severe erosion.

The department said it had consulted the committee to fix the situation before the rainy season this year.

Mai Trọng Dũng, deputy head of the agricultural department, said that in the short term, the provincial administration had started repairing the most damaged sections of the dyke.

In the long term, the department has submitted to the People’s Committee of the district the requirement for more funds to fix the situation soon, he said.

The dyke, which started construction in 2009 and became operational in 2014, was designed to protect over 3,000ha of crop and transport infrastructure in the locality.

Cao Bằng children did not die of encephalitis-meningitis

Experts have confirmed that three children from Cao Bằng Province’s Đa Thông Commune did not die of encephalitis-meningitis.

The samples collected from the children were found to be negative for the Japanese B Encephalitis virus and Meningococcal bacteria. They are the two agents causing encephalitis-meningitis that is currently circulating in the country.

The initial results of the tests were revealed by the Ministry of Health’s General Department of Preventive Medicine on Thursday.

Trần Đắc Phu, head of the department said the results meant the children did not die of encephalitis after eating litchi fruit, as local residents believed. The residents thought that the Japanese encephalitis virus was carried by birds. During litchi season, the birds eat the fruits and leave the virus. The children then ate the fruit and were believed to be exposed to the virus.

But it was not the case.

The ministry reported that three children from one family, including two girls, were taken to Cao Bằng General Hospital on June 9 showing symptoms of vomiting, headaches, trauma and convulsion. Two died soon after being hospitalised, while the other is still recovering.

Previously, another child from the same family was found dead at home with the same symptoms on June 9.

Lý Văn Dẩu, the father of the children, told Dân Việt (Vietnamese People) online newspaper that he found the children vomiting and complaining of headaches after he and his wife returned from working on their field on June 8. He thought the children had caught a cold.

However, when one of his children was found dead on the morning of June 9, he quickly took the other three children to Thông Nông District’s General Hospital. Soon after, the children were moved to Cao Bằng General Hospital for further treatment.

Nguyễn Văn Lê, deputy head of the provincial Health Department, said no new cases have been reported in the commune so far.

The local health sector is keeping a close watch on the situation to avoid unexpected incidents. It has already warned local people to go to the nearest hospital if they suffer from vomiting and headaches, he said.

The health ministry will announce the official cause after conducting further tests.