Hà Nội discovers 499 illegal parking lots

Standing deputy chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety Khuất Việt Hùng (centre) gives certificates of merit to individuals from the Steering Committee 197 with excellent achivements. – Photo baogiaothong.vn

Hà Nội police last year discovered nearly 500 illegal parking lots, 193 illegal temporary markets and more than 600 restaurants operating after midnight.

This was announced on Wednesday at a conference summing up work of the Hà Nội Steering Committee 197, which was tasked with the implementation of traffic order and safety.

Speaking at the conference, major general Đinh Văn Toản, deputy director of the Hà Nội police, praised the Steering Committee 197 for its achievements last year.

The committee discovered more than 4,800 criminal cases, conducted an investigation on more than 4,500 cases and caught more than 8,300 wrongdoers. It destroyed more than 16,200 illegal kiosks and re-arranged more than 90 markets.

The traffic police granted administrative fines to more than 650,000 people, with a total fund of VNĐ201 billion (US$8.9 million). The committee also conducted a number of education programmes to raise residents’ awareness on traffic and public safety.

However, Toản said the committee needed to improve shortcomings the next time around.

The problem of encroaching roadways and pavements was repeated and not resolved completely.

Traffic accidents decreased, but the number of fatalities and injured people remained high.

The amount of personal vehicles increased sharply, creating difficulties for management.

Attending the conference, Khuất Việt Hùng, standing deputy chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, highly appreciated the Steering Committee 197’s achievements.

Hùng said that 2017 was the year with the lowest number of traffic accidents, deaths and injured people. The number of deaths decreased by more than 400, compared with 2016.

Northern, north central localities asked to brace for cold snaps

Northern provinces and localities from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue are forecast to continue to face the cold snap until February 7. 

The Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disasters Prevention and Control has asked northern and north central localities to update developments of cold spells on means of communications to help people, especially those in mountainous areas, take countermeasures. 

In a notice sent to the municipal and provincial steering boards for natural disaster prevention and search and rescue on February 1, the office urged the agencies to intensify communication work to guide farming households how to consolidate breeding facilities, keep animals warm and reserve cattle feed during cold snaps. 

At the same time, farmers should follow production schedule of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and protect crops from impacts of the severe weather, the office said. 

Over 2,160 cattle were killed or starved to death as of January 30 as a result of the cold spell that was raging across mountainous areas of the north, central and Central Highlands regions, according to the ministry.

Northern mountainous localities have been suffering the greatest damage, especially Cao Bang and Lao Cai provinces, which have lost 666 and 440 head of livestock, respectively. They are followed by Dien Bien province with 400 cattle and Hoa Binh with 250 cattle.

A cold wave which hit the northern region on January 28 has lowered temperatures in the northern and northern central localities. The cold snap is expected to last for 10 days. 

Another intense cold spell hit the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on January 31 with the temperature going down to 1.2 degrees Celsius. At 8:00 am on January 31, snow started to fall on the Fansipan mountain, which is the highest in Indochina at 3,143m, then on the area of Bac (Silver) waterfall – about 12km from Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, northern provinces and localities from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue are forecast to continue to face the cold snap until February 7, with temperature dropping to 8-11 degrees Celsius in the delta and 5-8 degrees Celsius, even 3 degrees Celsius, in mountainous areas. 

Photo exhibition on APEC Year 2017 opens in Da Nang

More than 60 photos on activities within the APEC Year 2017 are being displayed  at the Da Nang Museum in the central city of Da Nang, which hosted the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week from November 6-11. 

The photos capture major APEC events in the year such as APEC Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOMs), the APEC Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM), the Vietnam Business Summit, the APEC CEO Summit, the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting, welcome ceremonies for APEC leaders and other sidelines activities. 

Director of the Da Nang Museum Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien said the exhibition reflects the common interest of APEC member economies in seeking new momentums for regional integration, linkage and economic growth and in fostering a shared future of peace, stability, development and prosperity.

It also contributes to affirming the prestige and position of Vietnam in general and Da Nang city in particular in regional and international arenas, especially Asia-Pacific, he added. 

The event, co-organised by the Da Nang city Department of Culture and Sports and the Da Nang Union of Literature and Arts Associations, runs from February 1-5. 

This was the second time Vietnam had hosted the APEC Year, with the peak being the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang city. 

Hosting the APEC Year 2017, Vietnam was the first country to welcome Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping right after the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China, and US President Donald Trump in his first year of office. 

On the occasion, the country established comprehensive partnership with Canada, held nearly 50 meetings and exchanges with leaders of APEC member economies to continue upgrading bilateral ties. 

Foreign friends praised outstanding activities during the APEC Year 2017 hosted by 10 cities and provinces nationwide, which afforded them a chance to learn about local culture, people and specialties in the country. 

As many as 20 documents were adopted during the year, eight of them were approved during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.

In particular, the Da Nang Declaration on promoting free and open trade and investment and supporting multilateral trade reaffirmed APEC’s key role as growth dynamism that initiates economic connectivity initiatives and a leading economic cooperation mechanism in the region, according to Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, who is also Deputy Chairman of the APEC National Committee 2017 and Chairman of the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting 2017.

During the event, Vietnam held a dialogue between APEC leaders and ASEAN for the first time, thereby facilitating collaboration between the two mechanisms to create a new driving force for regional growth and connectivity. Vietnam was also the first host country to be invited by G-20 to join all activities during the year.

Hanoi honours 10 outstanding youths in 2017

The Hanoi chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) on February 1 held a ceremony to honour 10 outstanding young people of the city in 2017. 

They include Dinh Quang Hieu, a student of the University of Natural Sciences, the Vietnam National University – Hanoi and Vu Huy Cang, a student of the Electricity Power University. 

Hieu won two gold medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad in two consecutive years of 2016 and 2017. Notably, in 2017, he was ranked ninth among 297 contestants with 92.13 points, contributing to the highest achievements that Vietnam has obtained at an International Chemistry Olympiad.

Meanwhile, Cang, when working as a motorbike taxi driver, earnestly gave back a sum of 320 million VND (14,070 USD) left out by his customer. 

In addition, some 16 outstanding start-up young entrepreneurs of Hanoi in 2017 were honoured at the event. On the occasion, a start-up consultation group was launched by the Hanoi chapter of the HCMCYU, which will provide support and counselling for young people in the city.

Five players of the Vietnam U23 team, who are members of Hanoi’s football clubs, were also honoured at the event. They received 20 million VND (about 879 USD) each for their outstanding performances at the freshly concluded Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship.

The Vietnamese football team became the runner-up at the AFC U23 Championship 2018 held in China after losing 1-2 to Uzbekistan in the final.

The team defeated Australia 1-0 in the group stage. They won over Iraq in the quarterfinals and Qatar in the semifinals with penalty shootouts.

Abbott funds project on preventing diabetes in pregnant women

Representatives of the Health Ministry and Abbott Vietnam Company signed a memorandum of understanding on a project to prevent and control diabetes in pregnant women in Hanoi on February 1.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Viet Tien said, preventing and controlling diabetes during pregnancy help reduce obstetrical accidents and mother and infant fatality, contributing to implementing the national strategy for preventing non communicable diseases for 2015-2025, and the national strategy on population and reproductive healthcare for the 2011-2020 period.

Tien said the project on preventing and controlling diabetes in pregnant women will benefit all people as well as health workers, adding that the project and other health schemes funded by Abbott have proven the effective cooperation between the two sides.

According to the MoU, Abbott Vietnam will help the Health Ministry develop a national guidebook on preventing and controlling diabetes during pregnancy, which will serve as the basis for the compilation of relevant training curricula and materials for the medical sector. 

Under the project, publicity campaign will also be conducted to raise the awareness among community and obstetrical doctors of preventing and controlling diabetes during pregnancy.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 346 million patients with diabetes in the world. Without intervening measures, the figure may double by 2030.

In Vietnam, over 70 percent of people with diabetes are not diagnosed and treated early, including pregnant women.

Diabetes during pregnancy without treatment can result in the death of mothers, fetuses and newborns.

Nation takes care of the disadvantaged as Tet approaches

Authorities and labour federations at all levels are busy distributing gifts to the disadvantaged in order to help them celebrate the year’s most important traditional festival – the Lunar New Year (Tet) – in comfort and happiness. 

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on February 1 visited the areas seriously affected by floods and landslides last October in Da Bac district, the northern province of Hoa Binh, where he presented warm blankets, water filters and cash to schools in Hien Luong commune. He also presented 300 million VND raised by his ministry’s trade union to Hoa Binh province’s Fund for the Poor to distribute to local needy people. 

The day before, the minister brought gifts to residents in landslide-prone areas in Phuc San commune, Hoa Binh’s Mai Chau district. 

Also on February 1, the Labour Federation of the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien organized a Tet programme for local workers. On the occasion, the federation distributed 160 gifts, each worth 700,000 VND to needy trade union members.  

The same day, Labour Federation of the northern province of Ninh Binh hosted a similar programme and presented 70 gifts for workers in specially disadvantaged circumstances. The province’s youth union also gave out 35 gifts. 

In the central province of Quang Nam, more than 2,200 households will have electricity before Tet, which will fall on February 16. 

The central city of Da Nang has allocated 44.5 billion VND (1.97 million USD) to buy Tet gifts for beneficiaries of State preferential policies and poor labourers.

Film week celebrates patriotism

The Department of Cinema will organise a film week introducing films on the topics of war, patriotism and revolution.

The special film screenings will be held from February 3-18 across the country to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party (February 3, 1930-2018).

The organising board selected many significant documentaries and films such as Cao Hơn Bầu Trời (Higher Than the Sky), directed by Xuân Cường, honouring the victory of the Vietnamese army and people in Hà Nội during the 12 days and nights fighting an onslaught from the US Air Force in 1972. The film is highly regarded by cinematic experts.

Other films include Đỉnh Cao Chiến Thắng (Climax of Victory) about the Linebacker 2 campaign in 1972, Đường Tới Độc Lập Tự Do (Way to Independence, Freedom) directed by Lê Phong Lan, Đừng Đốt (Don’t Burn) directed by Đặng Nhật Minh and Nhà Tiên Tri (The Prophecy), a biopic of President Hồ Chí Minh directed by Vương Đức.

The film week will be chaired by the Department of Cinema, in collaboration with other relevant departments and film companies.

The establishment of the Communist Party of Việt Nam in 1930 is considered a milestone of national salvation. It stressed the Party’s work to build its institutions, prevent ideological, ethical and lifestyle degradation and bolster the phenomena of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the Party.

Communist leader commemorated in home town

A scientific workshop on distinguished communist revolutionary Nguyễn Đức Cảnh (1908-1932) was held yesterday to commemorate the 110th anniversary of his birth in his homeland in the northern province of Thái Bình.

The workshop gathered dozens of scholars from the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, the Central Propaganda and Training Commission and leaders of Thái Bình Province.

Addressing the worshop, Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, director of the academy, confirmed that Cảnh is one of the initiators of the Việt Nam Communist Party.

“He is a brave communist, a moral leader of Việt Nam’s workers movement and trade union,” he said, “He is among the best students of President Hồ Chí Minh. His revolutionary life has engraved a deep mark on the revolutionary cause of the whole people, working class and the Việt Nam Communist Party.”

Though he led a short life of 24 years, he worked for the revolution for seven years, during which he adhered to communist ideals, always represented Việt Nam’s working class and devoted his whole life to the Central Party’s revolutionary cause for independence, national freedom and people’s happiness, Thắng said.

Thái Bình Provincial Party Secretary Phạm Văn Sinh said the workshop is a chance to review Nguyễn Đức Cảnh’s great contributions to the people’s revolution.

The workshop also helps evokes the patriotic tradition and nurtures revolutionary thoughts for people of various ages, he said.

At the workshop, scholars analysed the stages of the short life of the revolutionary and his place in Việt Nam’s revolution. They addressed topics such as Nguyễn Đức Cảnh as a typical veteran leader of Việt Nam’s Party and revolution; Nguyễn Đức Cảnh as a distinguished leader of the working class movement and trade unions; Nguyễn Đức Cảnh as an excellent student of Hồ Chí Minh and Nguyễn Đức Cảnh – an eminent person born in Thái Bình Province.

Cảnh was born on February 2nd, 1908 in Diêm Điền Village, in today’s Thái Thụy District of Thái Bình Province.

Being enlightened by the revolutionary ideology, he joined various patriotic movements in 1925-26 when he was studying in Thành Chung Nam Định High School. Then he joined the Việt Nam Youth Revolution Association, which was a turning point in his revolutionary life.

In 1928, he was assigned to work as Hải Phòng Party Secterary. In 1929, the working class movement had developed well and Cảnh had made lots of contributions to Tổng Công Hội Đỏ Bắc Kỳ (the early organisation of the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour).

In March 1929, at House No 5D, Hàm Long Street in Hà Nội, the first Communist unit in Việt Nam was established with eight members including Cảnh.

In June 1929, he was elected to be a provisionary member of Central Party of the Indochina Communist Party.

In April 1931, he was captured by the French. Though he was tortured by the invaders, he did not reveal any secrets of the Party. He was sentenced to death by the French and was killed in July 1932.

The province on the same day organised a worship ceremony at the museum dedicated to the leader in Diêm Điền Town.

Two more clinics face revocation of license because of law violations

Inspectors from the Department of Health in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday said that People’s Committee decided to revoke licenses of two clinics for law violations

The two clinics are the general clinic at 1503-1509 street 3/2 in district 11 and Thanh Thai general clinic in 87-89 Thanh Thai street in district 10.

In addition to facing revocation of license in six months, the first one was also fined VND210 million because it has provided unlicensed medical services and doctors have no permits of practice. Moreover, its facility failed to meet the requirement.

Thanh Thai clinic has been suspended from operation in four months and half for providing illegal medical services, not fully writing patients’ record as per the regulation. The clinic’s doctors are not fluent in speaking Vietnamese while providing examination and treatment. The clinic paid fine of VND160 million ($7,044)

The health authority asked inspectors to issue harsh punishment to clinics with foreign medical workers which failed to meeting treatment regulations as well as penalties on Vietnamese and foreign doctors who are responsible for operation of clinics.

Fifteen percent of students in HCMC to use bus in 2020

The municipal departments of Transport, Education and Training and Finance agreed in a recent meeting that they would encourage fifteen percent of students in Ho Chi Minh City will go to schools by bus.

To carry out the set target, this year, the three departments have proposed the city People's Commttee to increase subsidization for bus and increase more buses to pick up students in outlying districts.

Moreover, the departments have also suggested having more kinds of transport, improving bus quality and information of benefit of using bus to students and parents.

Actress Hoang Ny crowns Mrs Int'l Global Ambassador 2018

Vietnamese MC, actress Hoang Ny crowned Mrs International Global Ambassador 2018 held in Kua Lumpur, Malaysia.

She received also two other awards: Best Evening Wear of the Year and Mrs Beauty Icon at the competition.

The winner said she would continue contributing in community and social activities with new role of Mrs. International Global Ambassador.

Traffic obstruction at BOT tollgates faces sanctions

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam has ordered the erection of traffic signs banning vehicles from pulling up in more than five minutes at build-operate-transfer (BOT) road toll stations.

Relevant signs were to be set up at tollgates before January 25. BOT road investors have been told to install surveillance cameras at their tollgates and inform the directorate of any disruptive behaviors.

The directorate has also told road management units and local transport departments to step up inspections and coordination with police and investors to regulate traffic and handle violations.

To ensure security and order and prevent traffic congestion at BOT tollgates, local law enforcement agencies should strictly observe Official Order 82/CD-TTg which the Prime Minister issued on January 18, 2018 to order tight security at BOT tollgates.

Police of cities and provinces where there are BOT tollgates should give advice to local governments on how to maintain social security and traffic safety. 

In major places where BOT toll stations have become hotspots due to driver protests, police should work out solutions to make sure social security and traffic safety are maintained, quickly deal with any complicated situations and prevent them from worsen.

Cambodia’s royal army offer incense to fallen Vietnamese volunteers

A high-ranking delegation from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) on January 29 offered incense to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, who died when supporting the Cambodian people to fight the Pol Pot genocidal regime, at the martyrs’ cemetery in Duc Co district, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

The event was organised as part of activities to mark 39 years since the fall of the brutal regime in Cambodia.

At the ceremony, a representative from the RCAF affirmed that Cambodian people have been eternally grateful for the Vietnamese Party, Government and volunteers’ support, which helped the country topple the genocidal regime.

Nearly 1,600 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, which were repatriated by the K52 search team under the Gia Lai provincial Military High Command, were laid to rest in Duc Co martyrs’ cemetery.-

Vietnamese expats in Laos work to strengthen solidarity

Representatives of the Vietnamese people in Laos on January 28 looked back on their activities in 2017, sharing the view that the community did to strengthen their solidarity and reinforce the two countries’ special friendship and solidarity.

The meeting in Vientiane saw the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung, Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese people in Laos Nguyen Duy Trung, and representatives of 12 municipal and provincial chapters of the association.

They highlighted their active performance last year, including helping expatriates to make personal papers, welcoming Vietnamese leaders to Laos, and making donations to support residents and soldiers in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, flood victims in the two countries, along with Agent Orange victims and people with disadvantages.

Participants said those activities helped the Vietnamese community in Laos strengthen their solidarity while contributing to the special friendship and solidarity of the two countries.

They also admitted shortcomings in the association’s operations such as failing to fully understand expatriates’ aspirations, lacking concrete plans on activities, and having unspecified working regulations.

The meeting also paid attention to the teaching and learning of Vietnamese language among Vietnamese children, noting a shortage of experienced teachers, schools, and textbooks.

They agreed that the community will cooperate with the Vietnamese Embassy to consolidate Vietnamese organisations, increase coordination with Laos’s relevant agencies, and work with the Ministry of Education and Training and relating sides to soon complete textbooks on Vietnamese language.

Hydrofoil route helps shorten travel time

The Mỹ Tho-Vũng Tàu hydrofoil route was opened for use on Sunday in the southern province of Bến Tre.

With the hydrofoil route, it will take over two hours and 15 minutes to travel from Mỹ Tho City to Vũng Tàu City, which is over two hours less than the time taken to travel via road.

The hydrofoil thus creates a good condition for residents to travel and tour.

The harbour in the southern province of Bến Tre is placed at the Rạch Miễu Port in Tân Thạch Commune, Châu Thành District, whereas the harbour in Tiền Giang southern province is placed on the Tiền River in Ward 1, Mỹ Tho City.  

The hydrofoil has two engines, a speed of 28 nautical miles per hour and can contain 132 passengers.

The hydrofoil has a camera system connected with the operation centre, positioning system and rescuing equipment.

The hydrofoil runs two times per day. The highest price is VNĐ250,000 (US$10) and the lowest price is VNĐ140,000 ($6).

Residents in Tiền Giang and Bến Tre provinces are happy with the new hydrofoil.

Đặng Văn Tùng, owner of the Làng Bè Tourism Site in An Khánh Commune, Châu Thành District, the southern province of Bến Tre, believes that many residents would buy tickets to use the hydrofoil as it was novel and quicker. Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and people with disabilities can use the route free of charge.

French serial to be screened in Hà Nội and HCM City

The first episode of the French political television thriller Le Bureau des Legendes (The Bureau) will be screened at French Cultural Centre L’Espace, 24 TràngTiền Street, at 6pm on January 30.

It will also be screened at BHD Bitexco and Nest by AIA, Bitexco in HCM City on February 1.

The series revolves around the lives of agents of DGSE (General Directorate of External Security), France’s principal external security service.

The Bureau features intelligence officer Guillaume Debailly, codenamed “Malotru”, who returns to Paris after staying undercover in Damascus for six years. He faces the challenge of reconnecting with his daughter, ex-wife, colleagues and even his old self. But his return to “normal life” proves difficult, especially when he discovers that Nadia, his love interest in Damascus, is also in Paris. 

Originally aired in France on April 27, 2015, the thriller was introduced in the United States and Canada on iTunes on June 1, 2016, under the category of new international “Episodic Cinema”. It quickly reached the Top Five. In the United Kingdom, the series was released exclusively on Amazon Prime on June 17, 2016.

The first season received positive reviews in both France and other countries and won several awards. The second season too had been universally acclaimed and was regarded by some as the best television series ever produced in France. The show was renewed for a third season and it began airing in France on May 22, 2017. Shooting for the fourth season was scheduled to begin in September 2017.

According to a representative at L’Espace, The Bureau is a blockbuster TV series and a typical example of innovation in French film production. Notably, its script follows the format of American action films.

After the screening, the audience will have a chance to talk to one of its executive producers, Alex Berger, who will reveal the backstage stories and talk about the necessary skills for writing television scripts.

Quảng Ngãi gets solid waste treatment plant

A solid waste treatment plant was opened for public use on Sunday in Đức Phổ District in the central province of Quảng Ngãi.

The plant aims at treating solid waste in the district completely and effectively, improving environmental pollution and bettering the quality of life of residents.

MD Trading and Environmental Technology Co Ltd invested some VNĐ60 billion (US$2.7 million) into the plant.

The plant, which covers an area of more than 20,000sq.m, has the capacity to treat 50 tonnes of rubbish per day and night. It is expected to treat all the rubbish discharged from 15 communes and towns of Đức Phổ District.

Besides treating rubbish, the plant will produce seven tonnes of organic fertiliser per day from the treated rubbish on an average.

Director of the plant Lê Thị Mỹ Diệp said that due to socio-economic development, the amount of rubbish in the district was increasing, while the district did not have any rubbish treatment plant; so the rubbish discharged from residential quarters and industrial zones was not treated, leading to serious pollution and directly affecting residents’ health, she said.

“The plant uses technology of an incinerator, so the waste will not only be tackled completely, but the expenses to operate it will also be reduced compared with other technology,” she said.

It will help decrease pressure for the power sector, maintain energy security and limit environmental pollution, said Diệp.

HCMC authorities call for 230,000 voluntary blood donors

In a bid to have enough blood for treatment and emergency in Ho Chi Minh City in 2018, city authorities required all sectors and unions to encourage people to give blood voluntarily

The municipal People’s Committee ordered government agencies, district people’s committees, social unions, companies, schools and military units to increase information of voluntary blood donation so that 230,000 voluntary donors will give their blood with safe blood reaching 94 percent to meet the demand for treatment and emergency.

As per the authority, departments and sector should encourage at least 30 percent staffs, union members and students to give their blood in 2018. Units should liaise with Humanitarian Blood Donation center to organize blood donation in departments or companies.

Medical workers are responsible for testing donors’ health condition and select eligible donors so that the city will enough 120,000 donors in the year.

Additionally, the center and blood donation steering boards in districts ad communes also encouraged 110,000 people in localities to give blood.

HCMC expects to collect VND13 billion for poor farmers on Tet

The annual charity program raising money for poor farmers on the Lunar New Year will be broadcast live on Ho Chi Minh City Television channel on January 28, announced the organization board.

According to the organizers at the press conference held by the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Farmers in cooperation with the Ho Chi Minh City Television and Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) on January 24, the program called "Tet lam dieu hay" (Doing good things duirng Tet) received nearly VND8 billion which is supported by 33 businesses and individuals, local authorities and Associations of Farmers of district in the city.

This year’s event is expected to offer 2,000 Tet gifts, 1,500 scholarships, 300 labor equipment to farmers, 100 savings books and 50 charity houses at a total capital of VND13 billion.

The annual charity program “Tet lam dieu hay” has collected more than VND79 billion over the past 10 years. The amount was used for building and repairing charity houses for poor farmers and social welfare policy beneficiaries, offering medicine insurance cards and savings books.

4,800 free bus tickets for Tet handed over to workers

The Labor Union of Ho Chi Minh City on January 27 held a ceremony at Children’s Cultural House Thu Duc District to hand over 2,326 bus tickets to workers of industrial parks of Binh Chieu, Linh Trung 1 and 2.

The Labor Union of the city also offered 2,490 bus tickets and gifts to workers in Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, Saigon Hi-tech Park, industrial parks of Hiep Phuoc, Tan Tao, Tan Binh, Vinh Loc and Tay Bac Cu Chi.

The program aims to support employees to return to their hometowns during the coming Tet holiday season.The annual charity program had handed over 224,224 bus tickets to poor workers over the past 10 years with a total capital of around VND135 blillion.

Labor unions, organizations and businesses across the city have presented Tet gifts costing a total capital of more than VND22 bilion to over 58,000 workers, as well as giving bus tickets to nearly 11,000 employees with a a total capital of VND7.7 billion.

On the same day, the Labor Union of District 3 and HCM City Youth’s Cultural House also gave hundreds of Tet gifts and bus tickets to disadvantaged employees and students.

Vietnamese expats in Singapore celebrate Lunar New Year

Vietnamese expatriates in Singapore celebrated the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival at a get-together recently held by the Vietnamese Embassy in the host country and the Liaison Committee of the Vietnamese Community in Singapore.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Nguyen Tien Minh delivered Tet greetings to the overseas Vietnamese, wishing them a new year of health, happiness and luck. 

Tet holiday is an important event which helps preserve traditional values and allows Vietnamese people to meet and support each other in the host nation, he noted.

The Vietnamese diplomat expressed his belief that the expats will continue their efforts to contribute to national development and deepen relations between Vietnam and Singapore.

At the event, Minh also detailed notable events in the country in 2017 and activities to bolster ties between the two countries.

Participants were also treated to art performances and traditional cuisine.

Thua Thien-Hue beef up cooperation with RoK localities

Vietnam’s central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue is cooperating with localities in the Republic of Korea (RoK) in various fields such as planning, health, tourism, and industry.

According to Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Cao, the RoK led foreign markets in the number of tourists visiting Thua Thien-Hue with 207,783 visitors, making up 25.5 percent of the total number of foreign holidaymakers.

Thua Thien-Hue is also an attractive destination for many Korean investors, he said, adding that a signing ceremony was recently held in Hue city to set up twinning ties between the province and Wando district in South Jeolla province.

Accordingly, the two sides will cooperate in people-to-people exchanges, economics, culture, art and sports. Particularly, the sides will exchanging new aquaculture techniques and collaborate in seafood processing, tourism and labour supply.

The provincial External Relations Department and Wando district’s office are responsible for supporting partners of the two localities to build cooperation programmes and projects within the framework of the signed agreement – which will be valid for five years since the signing day.

Earlier, Thua Thien-Hue and the Korean Traditional Craft Association reached an agreement to boost cultural exchanges. 

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Dung said the two sides will hold mutual visits and establish an exhibit house of Korean traditional technologies in Hue city.

The Korean association will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hue University to provide scholarships for excellent students, and cover all expenses for the province’s students who aspire to study in the RoK.

The RoK will also offer an aid package of 6 million USD from its government’s non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) to carry out a planning scheme for the two banks of Huong river toward preserving the cultural, historical values and tourism development.