North welcoming cold air while central and central highlands facing rains

The National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center yesterday warned that a cold front is currently moving from the northern region to the southeastern region which caused the appearance of tropical converge sweeping through the mid central and south central region.

 In addition, the ongoing cold air in companied with the powerful operation of the southwest monsoon and low pressure zone in the southern territorial water of Paracel Island have brought medium-heavy rains on the large scale in the central provinces from Nghe An to Quang Ngai on the large scale by tonight. 

Because of the influence of the four complicated weather patterns, both the Central Highlands and southern provinces will continue experiencing medium-heavy rains in the next two or three days. 

The highest daytime temperature in Ho Chi Minh City will be measured at 24- 31 degrees. By tonight, a flood is forecast to sweep through local rivers from Nghe An to Quang Ngai and the Central Highlands.

Flood level has increased rapidly and alerted at level 1-2 on local rivers, even up to over level 2 on upstream rivers.

Therefore, the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center asked local authorities from Nghe An to Quang Ngai and the Central Highlands need to eye flash flood, landslide and flooding in lower zones.

Meanwhile, the Gulf of Tonkin and the northern territorial water of East Sea will see strong wind of level 5- 7 and sea rough tonight.

The southwest monsoon of level 6- 8 in companied with thunderstorm and big waves of 2- 3 meters is going to shoulder over  the center and southern East Sea from Binh Thuan to Ca Mau including Spratly Island.

Local governments’ support needed to develop heath care system

Local governments play a key role in implementing health care programmes and coordinating the cooperation of stakeholders to help people easily access high-quality, reasonable-cost health care services, stated Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien. 

Along with efforts of health officials and workers, the support of local governments at all levels is crucial to providing better care for the public, the minister addressed a meeting in the central city of Da Nang on September 20 on the development of the local health care system. 

Tien noted that the health sector’s infrastructure has been improved and health insurance has covered 76.52 percent of the population. 

A project to ease hospital overloads has also been underway, with many new health care facilities built, together with a network of satellite hospitals with doctors and medical technology transferred from central hospitals, she said. 

Meanwhile, Shin Young-soo, the World Health Organisation’s Regional Director for West Pacific, spoke highly of the achievements of Vietnam in caring for people’s heath, especially efforts in raising people’s average longevity and enhancing the quality of care services for locals in rural and mountainous areas, and expanding the coverage of health insurance. 

He said the sector should seek measures to eliminate the overload in central hospitals by investing more on infrastructure and equipment for local health care systems, thus meeting the demand of people. 

Shin Young-soo also affirmed that the WHO will back Vietnam in giving heath care services to people as well as realising the country’s goals in heath care development.

Documents on Hoang Sa, Truong Sa on display in Dak Nong

Various documents, publications and maps, including those published by China, which prove Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes are on display at an exhibition in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong. 

According to the organising board, the four-day event is significant to raising public awareness of the responsibility in joining hands in protecting the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, and affirming the country’s sovereignty over the archipelagoes through historical documents. 

At the opening ceremony on September 20, the Ministry of Information and Communications presented all exhibits to Dak Nong province for displaying in seven districts until December 2016. 

The provincial Department of Information and Communications has also planned to annotate the documents and maps in the languages of local ethnic minority groups such as M’Nong and Ede, thus bringing the exhibits to all locals. 

Earlier the same day, the organising board also held a training course on sea and islands for nearly 300 trainees from local departments and agencies as well as local teachers.

Thua Thien-Hue celebrates Buddhist Sangha’s anniversary

The chapter of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)'s Executive Council in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on September 20 held a ceremony marking the 35th founding anniversary of the VBS (November 7, 1981-2016).

A message of the VBS leader presented by Most Venerable Thich Khe Chon, Vice Chairman of the provincial chapter’s standing board, underlined the 2,000-year history of the Vietnamese Buddhism, saying that Buddhism has accompanied the nation throughout history.

The message also highlighted great achievements made by the VBS over the past 35 years, with its chapters established across all 63 provinces and cities also abroad.

The VBS set up four universities, 34 intermediate schools and eight colleges nationwide.

It has been active in charitable activities and culture development.

It successfully organised the United Nations Day of Vesak in 2008 and 2014, and the ASEAN Buddhist Conference in 2016.

In the coming time, the VBS and its chapter in Thua Thien-Hue will continue promoting the great national unity and upholding cultural values of the Vietnamese Buddhism.

On the occasion, the local chapter of t he VBS 's Executive Council was presented with a certificate of merit by the provincial People’s Committee.

Khanh Hoa proactively preventing Zika virus

The health sector of the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has taken measures against mosquito-borne Zika virus at international border gates. 

Cam Ranh International Airport deployed around-the-clock check points and three remote human body temperature thermometers, according to Nguyen Hoa Hoi, Director of the Khanh Hoa Centre for International Health Quarantine.  

The centre has also worked with relevant bodies to distribute flyers to local residents and tourists to help them prevent Zika virus. It has prepared protective gears, chemicals, and praying devices for prompt response if needed. 

Director of the Khanh Hoa Tropical Diseases Hospital Nguyen Dong said the hospital has established quarantine areas for infectious diseases, including Zika virus, and deployed advanced blood filtering machines to treat severe cases. 

Khanh Hoa recorded over 3,600 dengue cases so far this year, and one Zika infection in Phuoc Hoa ward, Nha Trang City in April. 

The Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily through Aedes aegypty mosquito bites and sexual intercourse. 

The symptoms of Zika infection include fever, conjunctivitis, headaches and muscle pains. Zika infection during pregnancy may lead to microcephaly in children, which is responsible for incomplete brain development and an unusually small head. 

A vaccine for the Zika virus has yet to be discovered.

Labour Confederation urged to focus more on protecting workers’ rights

Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee President Nguyen Thien Nhan has urged the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) to improve its performance to better protect workers’ rights

At a working session with the VGCL on September 20, Nhan hailed a project to improve the Confederation’s performance over the next 10 years, adding that it is essential to intensify the protection of workers' rights as Vietnam has joined a number of new free trade agreements, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP).

The VFF leader said, “It’s necessary to focus on communications, promoting democracy, protecting the rights of union members, and supervising the operation of trade unions at various levels. Mass movements should be associated with international integration and improvement of productivity."

Vietnam should lift ban on foreign tour guides: legislator

In a surprise move, a senior lawmaker calls for amending the law and allowing foreigners to work as tour guides in Vietnam.

A senior legislator has called for amending the law and allowing foreigners to work as tour guides in Vietnam, ending a ban that has often been violated.

Foreign guides should not be prohibited from working “if they meet our requirements and pay taxes,” Nguyen Duc Hai, chairman of the National Assembly’s Finance and Budget Committee, said, as cited by radio network Voice of Vietnam.

Hai was speaking at a recent meeting where a panel of top legislators discussed possible amendments to the Law on Tourism.

Vietnam should encourage expats who have lived in the country for years and “have a deep love for Vietnam” to become tour guides, he said.

The current legislation, which only recognizes local tour guides, is too strict and does not reflect the country’s international cooperation, he added.

“We should be open. Foreign tour guides will help make local tourist sites and products more attractive,” Hai said.

The country has recently conducted multiple inspections to weed out illegal foreign tour guides and service providers. His suggestion came as the authorities ramped up efforts to enforce the ban more effectively.

In July, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ordered local police to expel 66 Chinese nationals who had been caught working illegally in the travel industry in the central province of Khanh Hoa. Also that month, Da Nang deported four Chinese tour guides.

The demand for guides is expected to keep growing, considering the booming tourism industry.

The total number of foreign visitors to Vietnam during the January-August period surged 25.4% year-on-year to around 6.45 million. It is all set to meet the target of attracting 8.5 million foreign visitors this year, the government has said.

In 2015, the country received 7.94 million foreign tourists, slightly up 0.9% from 2014.

Work starts on Thach Bich Bridge in Quang Ngai

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 20 for the construction of Thach Bich Bridge in the central province of Quang Ngai. This will be the third road bridge crossing the Tra Khuc River.

The reinforced concrete bridge will be built at a total cost of VND643 billion (US$28.93 million), invested by the Quang Ngai province People’s Committee.

It measures 18 metres in width and over 2.4 kilometres in length, including an 875-metre bridge section and 1.5 kilometres of roadway.

The bridge has its first end at the intersection of Chu Van An Street and Ton Duc Thang Street in Quang Ngai city’s Tran Phu commune, and meets National Highway 24B at Km22+300 in Tinh An Tay commune at the other end.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Van Minh hailed Thach Bich Bridge as being of significance to boosting local socioeconomic development and easing traffic on Tra Khuc 1 Bridge, which was built before 1975.

The bridge is scheduled to be put into use in 2018.

Contest offers young overseas Vietnamese chance to tour nation’s Truong Sa outpost

Overseas Vietnamese youths who won a writing contest on the nation’s sacred sovereignty over its seas and islands launched recently by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Youth Federation will have the opportunity to receive a meaningful reward: a visit to the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago.

The contest was launched with the theme “Overseas Vietnamese Youths and Students with the Task of Protecting National Sovereignty over Sea and Island Territories.” It aimed to promote the dissemination of information on the task of protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It targets overseas Vietnamese youths, educating them on the nation’s tradition of revolution, patriotism and pride, while cheering and encouraging innovations and practical contributions by young Vietnamese abroad to defending its sovereignty over its sea and island territories, in addition to raising their awareness and responsibility for national construction and defence in the context of the new situation.

The competition is being held from July to December 2016 for individuals and groups of Vietnamese aged 16-35, who are living, studying or working abroad.

According to the organisers, submissions which are research projects, essays and journalistic works should be presented on A4 paper in size-14 Times New Roman font. Quotes used in the article should specify sources in both Vietnamese and English (if available).

Submissions with attached illustrations and maps should use the jpg format at a resolution of 300 dpi or higher and should not exceed 5MB. Images should be given clear captions both in Vietnamese and English (if available).

The competition awards a total of nearly VND100 million (US$4,500), including a first prize, two second prizes, three third prizes and five consolation prizes.

The organisers are accepting submissions by post from July 14 to October 31. Submissions can be submitted directly or sent via e-mail to the following address: Office of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Federation, No. 64 Ba Trieu Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi; e-mail: chuquyenbiendaoquehuong@gmail.com.

More information about the contest is available at: www.biendaoquehuong.vn or www.thanhgiong.vn.

Go May Overpass to ease traffic in HCMC

Work started on September 20 on Go May Overpass, which will span the intersection of National Highway 1A, Le Trong Tan Street and Nguyen Thi Tu Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Tan District.

As part of a BOT project upgrading National Highway 1A, the overpass will connect An Suong Intersection in District 12 with An Lac in Binh Chanh District, with the aim of helping reduce traffic pressure for this area.

The Go May Overpass will be built with a total investment of over VND511 billion (US$23 million) by the Vietnam Urban and Industrial Zone Development Investment Corporation (IDICO) alongside Highway 1A, measuring 538m long and 24.2m wide with four automobile lanes and two mixed lanes.

The facility will be also equipped with a surveillance camera system linked with the city’s traffic control centre through fiber-optic signal connection. It is designed for a maximum driving speed of 80kph.

The whole project is expected to be completed by August of next year, while the overpass’s right arm will open to traffic prior to the Lunar New Year.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Van Khoa said that the construction project was a very important project with a special role in reducing traffic congestion in the area, as well as reducing the frequency of traffic accidents. At the same time, the project would also help to promote transport infrastructure development in the region, he affirmed.

Tran Temple Festival commemorates General Tran Hung Dao

The annual Tran Temple Festival opened in Nam Dinh City on September 20 (the twentieth day of the eighth lunar month) to commemorate the 716th death anniversary of General Tran Hung Dao, who was born Tran Quoc Tuan.

The festival opened with an offering of incense followed by cultural and sporting events including lion, kirin and dragon dances; wrestling; cock fighting; and a water puppetry performance.

The activities took place at Tran and Bao Loc Temples and Thap Pagoda in Loc Vuong Ward, Nam Dinh City.

The Tran Temple Festival, one of the largest festivals in Nam Dinh Province, is held to commemorate the exploits of the Vietnamese people’s ancestors and to encourage people to promote the fine tradition of their ancestors’ contribution to national construction and defence.

Born in Tuc Mac Village, My Loc District, Nam Dinh Province, General Tran Hung Dao (1228-1300) was a brilliant military strategist in Vietnam’s history for his leading role in the national struggle against the Yuan Mongol invaders in the 13th Century.

He was also a bright example of patriotism and a man of culture who authored many masterpieces on literature and military matters.

Ca Mau urged to rise strongly

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the southernmost province of Ca Mau to devise effective measures for comprehensive reform to make the locality rise strongly in the Mekong Delta region. 

At a working session with key officials of Ca Mau in Hanoi on September 20, the PM asked ministries and sectors to work closely with the province in the implementation of the measures, while supporting Ca Mau to overcome difficulties, especially climate change impacts to boost socio-economic growth. 

Lauding the development of the province’s aquatic farming with many major Vietnamese firms in the field, the PM held that Ca Mau should promote this outstanding strength and make the sector a spearhead part of the economy. 

He also praised Ca Mau for good performance in ensuring security and social order, as well as in implementing directions and policies of the Party and State, especially in the building of new-style rural areas. 

The Government leader directed Ca Mau to make more comprehensive and effective restructuring of agriculture, focusing on producing products with high quality and economic value. 

Ca Mau should build a planning to make it the country’s leading shrimp farming area with green energy and high efficiency for better competitiveness, he suggested. 

He also asked Ca Mau to make plans to response to climate changes, while maintaining its achievements in building new-style rural areas, prioritising human resources development and administrative reform to attract investors and boost local businesses’ production. 

At the same time, he also pointed to the need to ensure good security for fishermen in their activities, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and back startups to increase the number of firms. 

At the session, the PM also approved in principle the investment in building climate change adaptation works to meet the immediate need in easing drought and saltwater intrusion and ensuring water supply for locals. 

With a coastline of 254km, Ca Mau has a massive fishing ground of over 100,000 square kilometers and rich fishery resources. It has also the leading locality in seafood farming and processing for exports in many years. 

Currently, Ca Mau is also among top localities in building new-style rural area, with the majority of communes fulfilling 13.3 out of 19 criteria of the programme, despite a loss of 53,000 hectares of rice farms due to severe drought and saltwater intrusion. 

However, its administrative reform speed is now ranking 59th among 63 localities nationwide. At the same time, climate change impacts have caused serious landslide in the province.

Czech Party hosts seminar on Vietnam’s development experience

The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) of the Czech Republic held a seminar on Vietnam’s foreign and economic development policies on September 19 with Vietnamese Ambassador Truong Manh Son invited as the only speaker. 

Son informed the participants of his country’s outstanding achievements in economy and external relations after the 30-year renewal process. 

Vietnam has become a middle income country with the GDP per capita of over 2,000 USD a year and an average economic growth rate of 6.6 percent. It is speeding up industrialisation, modernisation and international integration. 

Vietnam has to date established its diplomatic ties with 185 nations, set up its comprehensive and strategic partnership with many major countries, and fostered economic, trade and investment cooperation with 224 markets in all continents. 

It has also participated in over 500 bilateral and multilateral agreements in numerous fields, attracting nearly 260 billion USD in foreign direct investment, Son stated. 

He went on to say that the Communist Party of Vietnam has been tied up with over 200 political parties, including the KSCM. 

The ambassador also briefed the participants on the East Sea situation, affirming Vietnam’s policy of firmly safeguarding the nation’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and addressing disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and regional agreements. 

He then answered the KSCM members’ queries on Vietnam’s current socio-economic situation, and its policies for Vietnamese people abroad, including those in the Czech Republic.

All enterprises invited to build HCM City into smart city

Ho Chi Minh City encourages all businesses and residents to apply high technologies so as to help turn it into a smart city, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen said on September 20. 

He had a working session with Jaroslav Gasinec, Chief Business Development Officer at Asseco – one of the biggest groups on information technology in Europe. 

He said HCM City is determined to become a smart city to improve local living standards, noting that it is conducting surveys to make a smart city design. It aims to meet smart city standards by 2025. 

The southern economic hub of Vietnam is developing an e-government so as to ensure governance efficiency. It is also carrying out many technology application projects to raise the capacity of dealing with environmental, healthcare and traffic problems, he added. 

Jaroslav Gasinec said Asseco Group wants to cooperate with HCM City in building a smart city. Although it is operating in more than 70 countries, its activities concentrate in Europe. The firm wants Vietnam to be its first destination in Asia. 

He also took this chance to introduce several smart city models to officials of HCM City. 

Tuyen said to successfully build a smart city, active participation of enterprises and local residents is necessary. Asseco has opportunities to cooperate with the municipal administration as well as local companies and organisations in applying high technologies here.-

Shrimp farming to drive Bac Lieu’s agriculture

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has given a nod to the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu to set up a high-tech agriculture zone aiming to make shrimp breeding a locomotive of the local agriculture.

At a working session with the provincial leaders in Hanoi on September 20, the PM urged Bac Lieu to accelerate the disbursement of capital for infrastructure, encourage startups and heed human resources development.

Bac Lieu should roll out both short- and long-term solutions to cope with climate change, he said, requesting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to set forth comprehensive solutions to assist the Mekong Delta region and the province in particular in the combat.

To spur economic growth and generate jobs, it is necessary to speed up land clearance for processing and industrial projects, the leader noted, asking the ministry to reduce salt output, avoiding overcapacity of the sector.

The Ministry of Transport was required to coordinate with Bac Lieu in seeking capital for local road transport. Other ministries were also asked to help the province attract major projects promoting local economy.

Bac Lieu is one of the Mekong Delta localities most affected by climate change, which has prompted the province to make aquaculture an economic spearhead over years.

The province boasts the largest aquaculture area in the region with nearly 1,280 sq.km, equivalent to nearly half of its natural land. Its seafood export is expected to hit 3.2 billion USD this year.

Of note, the locality earns about 500 million USD each year from the shrimp farming. With an annual output of some 105,000 tonnes, Ca Mau has become the second largest shrimp producer nationwide with diverse breeding models.

The province’s economy grew by 5.09 percent in the first half of this year. Due to its dependence on agricultural production, the local economy has been seriously affected by the lingering drought and salt water intrusion which have damaged 1,300 hectares of rice and 14,000 hectares of shrimp.

The local rice sector is facing a galaxy of difficulties due to the fierce competition with Thai rivals. Climate change has also exerted serious impacts on local salt industry.-

Kon Tum wastewater facilities inspected

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment inspectors are working with six factories that own 200cu.m and above daily capacity wastewater discharge systems in the Central Highlands (Tây Nguyên) province of Kon Tum.

The inspection, which will last 45 days, started last Friday and involves an assessment of the wastewater discharge system of six factories that are suspected to be causing environmental pollution in the river basin in Kon Tum, according to a ministry official.

The six factories are Phương Hoa Ltd.Co’s tapioca processing factory in Đăk Glei District, Vạn Lợi Ltd.Co’s latex processing factory in Kon Tum City, Quảng Ngãi Foodstuff and Agricultural product Joint-stock Company’s alcohol and tapioca factory in Đắk Tô District, as well as Kon Tum Sugar Joint-stock Company in Kon Tum City’s Vĩnh Quang Commune and Thuận Lợi MTV Ltd.Co’s latex processing factory.

Kon Tum Province People’s Committee has asked the concerned factories and relevant offices to jointly coordinate with the inspectors.

Earlier, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà approved a long-term inspection plan targeting large-scale wastewater discharge projects nationwide.

Under the plan, environmental inspectors examined production factories which have discharged waste into the environment. Inspections mainly focused on industrial production factories having capacity of 200cu.m wastewater and above per day, with a high likelihood of causing sea and river basin environmental pollution in cities and provinces.

Besides this, the minister will issue a decision on establishing three inspection teams for factories having capacity of wastewater discharge from 500cu.m and above per day in 23 provinces.

The inspectors must report the results to the ministry within 15 days from the end date of inspection.

The ministry is likely to hold a press conference to officially announce the inspection results by the end of October. 

Insurance agencies, labour union to deal with insurance debtors

Việt Nam Social Security (VSS) will provide data as evidence for labour unions to sue enterprises that tried to avoid paying insurance for their employees.

This is part of a cooperation agreement signed yesterday by VSS and the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour to ensure the rights and benefits of employees.

Every enterprise with more than 10 employees is supposed to jointly pay for their workers three types of insurance, namely social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance.

However, insurance debts have been reported as enterprises delay or avoid paying insurance for their employees.

VSS’s statistics shows that accumulated insurance debt by the end of July was some VNĐ14 trillion. 

Last year, insurance debt in Việt Nam reached more than VNĐ7.6 trillion (US$339.2 million).

Bùi Văn Cường, president of the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour, said 102,900 enterprises and organisations across the country were reportedly in social insurance debt, affecting 2.66 million employees.

He said labour unions, on behalf of the employees, could sue employers who did not pay for insurance under the Civil Procedure Code approved last year, which came into effect in July this year.

“Data provided by VSS included the list of insurance debtors and their debts, which could be used as evidence to sue employers violating rules,” Cường said.

Previously, social security agencies were empowered to sue insurance debtors, but under the Law on Social Security 2014, which came into effect in January this year, the social security agencies could no longer do so.

Accordingly, in the first six months of this year, almost 1,400 cases related to insurance debts of some VNĐ300 million were taken to court by VSS but had not been resolved.

VSS General Director Nguyễn Thị Minh said suing insurance debtors was an effective measure to curb violations and ensure employees’ rights.

The courts had helped insurance agencies collect 16.3 per cent of insurance debts from enterprises, she said.

HCM City okays road parallel to Long Thành Expressway

The HCM City People’s Committee has approved the feasibility study of a road that runs parallel to the HCM City-Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway.

According to the feasibility study submitted to the committee by a private company, the parallel road will start at Mai Chí Thọ Street and run through the Nam Rạch Chiếc Residential Area to Ring Road No. 2 at the An Phú Interchange.

The construction of the road is expected to start next year under the Build-Transfer contract and is estimated to cost VNĐ900 billion (US$40 million).

The road is expected to reduce traffic snarls and boost socioeconomic development of the area along the expressway.

The municipal committee said the parallel road will boost development of the area in the east of the city and better connect the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area with District 9, Thủ Đức District and neighbouring Đồng Nai Province.

The 55-km HCM City-Long Thành-Dầu Giây Expressway, with total investment of VNĐ20.6 trillion ($923 million), opened last year, reducing travel time from HCM City to Đồng Nai Province.

At present, it takes about one hour to travel from HCM City to Đồng Nai when using the expressway, while it takes three hours when using National Highway No 1.

Kien Giang: afforestation crucial to erosion prevention

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is stepping up afforestation in an effort to reduce erosion and tackle climate change.

The locality boasts 130km of coast from Ha Tien town to An Minh district. However, climate change and rising sea-levels have worsened erosion, directly affecting the lives of local residents. 

On August 30, the provincial People’s Committee declared a state of emergency due to severe erosion in the Xeo Nhau area of Tan Thanh commune, An Minh district. 

More than a half of the forest area in Xeo Nhau has been lost due to coastal erosion. 

Hoang Van Tuan, Deputy Director of the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that to cope with erosion, about 300 hectares of forests were planted in 2015. 

The locality has more than 4,000 hectares of protection forests in its 10 coastal communes, and is looking to expand this area. 

The province is selecting trees appropriate to the local land and climate, and erecting fences to serve afforestation in Nam Thai commune of An Bien district and Binh Giang and Binh Son communes of Hon Dat district. 

The project will be carried out in other communes hit by erosion, especially in An Minh and Hon Dat districts. 

Additionally, communications will be intensified to raise public awareness of forest protection.

Thua Thien-Hue expands community-based drug detox treatment

The central province of Thua Thien- Hue is working to diversify and improve the effectiveness of home- and community-based detoxification treatment for drug addicts. 

The province targets getting 100 percent of addicts undergo detox by 2020; with at least 70 percent receiving home- and community-based treatment. 

In 2013, An Cuu precinct, Hue city was selected to pilot a programme on establishing a consultation unit to get the community and addicts’ families involved in treatment.

Under the programme, the precinct established a detoxification centre which coordinated with the local administration, mass organisations and addicts’ families to encourage the addicts to get treatment. 

The model also helped post-detoxification addicts receive vocational training, loans, find jobs and improve their living conditions as well as preventing them from relapsing. The programme helped 14 out of 18 addicts in the precinct successfully detoxify. 

Following An Cuu, 41 out of the 65 precincts and communes in the province have set up similar units. 

Thanks to the models, 728 drug users in the province were weaned off drug abuse thanks to community-based treatment from 2011 to September 2016, according to statistics of the Thua Thien-Hue Department for Social Evils Prevention. Among them, 67 have received vocational training and reintegrated into the community.

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