Hanoi's entire police force ensures safety during Tet​

The traffic police force is requested to increase the number of traffic regulators at the roads connecting to the train and bus stations, and the main junctions.

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Hanoi’s police will mobilize its entire staff to ensure safety during the Lunar New Year or Tet festival, which begins next week, in the capital city. 

The Criminal Police Department cooperates with police in districts and townships to ensure public safety, prevent and strictly handle violations in each locality. 

Moreover, the anti-criminal forces set up teams to perform in the areas of bus and and stations with the task of detecting and immediately handling violations and thefts. 

Besides, they will be disguised at traditional festivals, scenic spots, temples and crowded public places. 

The traffic police force is requested to increase the number of traffic regulators at the roads connecting to the bus and train stations, and the main junctions. 

In suburban areas, traffic police forces will coordinate closely with other professional units to prevent crime on the roads. 

According to Colonel Duong Duc Hai, head of the Traffic Police Department, 24 mobile patrol teams and mixed police groups will work at full capacity during the Tet holiday. 

They regularly patrol at key routes and locations, coordinate with local police in detecting and severely dealing with those who violate traffic safety, public order and crimes on the street, resolutely ensuring disrupt public order in the capital, Hai stressed.

Vietnamese woman reunited with daughter after four years

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen is reunited with her four-year-old daughter after four years

A Vietnamese woman has just been reunited with her daughter after four years after her French ex-boyfriend who is the little girl's father took her away.

Although the HCM City People's Court announced two years ago that Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, 34, would have the legal right to keep her daughter, the mother only received the little girl early this year, four years since the day they were separated.

At a meeting held by the HCM City People's Court on January 30 which was attended by representatives from the city's People's Procuracy, the Child Protection Association, local authorities and police,Huyen was given back her four-year-old daughter, Sarah Thien Kim, from the girl's French father, Stephane Alexandre Azais, 44.

"I am extremely happy that I cried when seeing my little girl immediately running to me despite four years away," Huyen said. "I will try to give her all the best I can to compensate for the time she lived without a mother."

According to the court's report, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen and Stephane started living together in HCM City in 2013. After a time, they separated when Huyen was six months pregnant. After Huyen gave birth, the father hired an apartment in Thao Dien Ward, District 2 for the mother and baby. He visited them two or three times a week and sometimes took the baby to his place. Stephane registered the baby's birth certificate at the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City.

On November 29, 2014, Stephane brought the three-month-old baby to France without saying anything to Huyen. After failing in persuading him to return her daughter, Huyen came to France in 2016 and lodged a lawsuit against him. She won the case at a French court in June 2016 but Stephane did not follow the ruling. He brought the baby back to Vietnam and continued to keep her. 

Huyen logged a lawsuit against Stephane at the HCM City's Court in August 2016 and also won the right to keep the baby but the French man who didn't show up at the court still refused to give her back.

At the meeting on January 30, Stephane gave the baby back to Huyen but didn't give back her passport.

Transport minister issues measures to reduce traffic accidents

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has issued a plan on improving traffic safety for 2019, which details measures to raise public awareness and compliance with traffic rules, among others.

The plan aims to reduce traffic accidents and related casualties by 10 percent compared to 2018. The numbers of deaths and injuries caused by accidents involving motorcycles and coaches are projected to decrease by 10 percent.

To realise the targets, the system of regulations and policies on traffic safety needs to be completed and inspections intensified to ensure effective law enforcement. 

In particular, competent agencies are required to enhance the effectiveness of communication work with the view to building a traffic culture among people from all walks of life.

The Transport Ministry also instructed prompt review and handling of traffic accident “hotspots”, along with tightened protection of the safety corridor for roads, railways and waterways. 

The ministry will continue to implement measures to enhance quality of transport services, while accelerating the construction and upgrade of transport infrastructure. 

In addition, the ministry plans to promote the application of information technology and achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in traffic management. It will work to improve quality in training, testing and issuing driving licences, as well as in the operation of safety management systems in civil aviation. 

According to a report by the National Committee for Traffic Safety, in a year ending on November 15, 2018, a total of 18,736 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, killing 8,248 people and injuring 14,802 others. The figures represent year-on-year decreases of 6.71 percent, 0.4 percent and 13.13 percent, respectively.

Road accidents continued accounting for a high proportion, with 18,490 cases in which 8,079 people were killed and 14,732 others injured.

There were 18 localities posting increases in the number of fatalities. Among them, Kien Giang, Hau Giang and Bac Giang had growth rates of over 20 percent.

Students bring holiday warmth to kidney patients

Am Concert - Le Chauffage drew almost 700 people and helped to raise a total of 250 million VND from ticket sales and donors (Photo courtesy of Am project)

There’s a Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) atmosphere in the air in Hanoi at the moment with shops crowded with customers and loads of peach blossoms and kumquat trees on the streets.

Yet this time of the year can be painful for patients who are stuck in hospitals and can’t return to their hometowns to celebrate Tet with their families.

To ease their pain, a group of high school students who run a charitable project named ‘Am’ (Warmth) hosted a classical music concert to raise funds for kidney dialysis patients in Hanoi.

“Tet is very near and we hope that our small gifts will warm their hearts,” said Pham Van Anh, founder of the project.

Unlike most students who are now enjoying the thought of having a week off from school for Tet, the group is rushing to prepare gifts for more than 120 kidney patients.

‘Am’ hosted a concert named Am Concert - Le Chauffage featuring the young artists pianist Tran Le Bao Quyen who is pursuing professional piano performance major in Germany and her younger brother violinist Tran Le Quang Tien on January 5.

The concert featured a solo piano performance and a duo and attracted almost 700 people, helping to raise a total of 250 million VND (10,800 USD) from both ticket sales and donors.

“Through the concert, we wanted to convey a message of love and giving to the community as well as raise awareness about charitable activities,” said Van Anh.

“Classical music may have a limited audience but we believe the music and passionate spirit of the artists inspire audiences. We really appreciate the devotion and support from local audiences,” she said.

Inspired by charitable trips with her mother, Van Anh founded the project in October last year. “My mother is an inspiration and a big motivation for me,” she said.

The 10th grader’s mother is passionate about charitable activities. She has taken Van Anh with her on trips to pagodas where orphaned kids are raised and cared for to cook for them, as well as to the Children’s Hospital to deliver gifts to kids for the last 10 years.

“I am fortunate that I’ve had the chance to accompany my mother to charitable events since I was small. This helps to nurture a great sense of compassion in me. Last year was when I realised that I had the enthusiasm, capabilities and support from my family and friends, and I was able to start a charitable project by myself,” said Van Anh.

In November last year, the project held a music performance and sold fruit and cakes to raise funds on the pedestrian area near Hoan Kiem Lake.

More than 20 members of the project, most of whom are from specialised high schools in Hanoi, have shown they not only perform well at school but are also socially active and have warm hearts.

This first event they raised 8 million VND (340 USD). At first the students planned to use the money to buy moon cakes for a community of kidney dialysis patients living on Le Thanh Nghi Street, but then a doctor from Bach Mai Hospital who is related to one of the volunteers said that kidney patients should avoid sugar and starchy food. They decided to change to oil, which is an ‘essential for every family’.

The project operates like a professional non-profit organisation with different specialised sections: finance, human resources, content, logistics, media/design and communications – all done by 63 high school students from around Hanoi.

Besides hosting events to raise funds, they make use of their Facebook fanpage, using it as a platform for communications. Every week, well-written stories about cancer patients, orphaned kids or about compassion which go with eye-catching graphic design and photos are posted on the fanpage to ‘raise awareness about charitable deeds for the younger generation’.

HCM City ensures transport for people returning home for Tet

A crowd of passengers wait at the Sai Gon Railway Station in HCM City. (Photo: laodong.vn)

Transport units at coach stations and airports as well as train stations in Ho Chi Minh City are busy meeting passenger demand for travel before and after the Tet (Lunar New year) holiday.

The Sai Gon Railway Station in District 3 has 17-22 trains departing each day between 6am and 11:05pm, carrying 15,000-17,000 passengers from HCM City.

Do Quang Van, director of the station, said the station has added four times the staff and worked with local police forces and public security forces to provide the best services during the holiday.

Because traffic jams often occur on streets leading to the train station on peak days of the upcoming holiday, passengers should arrive at the station at least 30 minutes prior to their departure to avoid late arrival.

About 30 passengers on average were late for their buses during Tet last year, he said.

“If there is availability, the station will consider returning or changing the tickets for late passengers to help them get home for Tet.”

The station will also strengthen control of passengers’ boarding cards and identification papers at the entrance gate.

“Passengers should not buy tickets from individuals outside the station who could be selling fake or invalid tickets,” Van said.

The Mien Dong (Eastern) Coach Station in Binh Thanh district has recently been crowded with a large number of passengers.

According to its management board, about 200 transportation units are now working. As of last Friday, more than 308,000 bus tickets were still available, including 93,000 tickets for buses with beds.

Major transporters such as Phuong Trang, Chin Nghia and Thuan Thao plan to add more buses to satisfy rising demand.

The peak period will run from January 27 to February 2, with the busiest day on January 31.

At Mien Tay (Western) Coach Station in Binh Tan district, the peak period is expected to be February 1-4. It has shorter routes from HCM City to the Southwest, compared to routes from HCM City to the central, Central Highlands and northern regions.

Dang Nguyen Nguyen Huan, deputy director of the Western Coach Station, said the station had asked the Transport Department’s Public Transportation Management Centre to adjust the departure time of bus routes No. 10, 151, 601, 618 and 14 during the holidays.

Transportation units are worried about the volume of vehicles on HCM City-Trung Luong Expressway during the peak period, he said.

The two coach stations are expected to serve 130,000 passengers per day during the holiday.

Facing the same situation, Tan Son Nhat International Airport is already seeing overcrowding at its gates with many overseas Vietnamese returning for Tet.

“It’s not easy to buy airline tickets for domestic routes, especially flights between HCM City and some central provinces and cities such as Da Nang, Vinh and Thanh Hoa,” said Vo Van Phuc, an air ticket sales agent in District 3.

Tickets for the routes, which are priced 3-4 million (130-172 USD) for one-way flights, are almost sold out, he said.

Numerous Tet celebration activities held in HCM City

Visitors at a store in Book Street in Ho Chi Minh City 

A diverse range of activities are being held in the southern largest hub of Ho Chi Minh City in celebration of the traditional Lunar New Year 2019, which is approaching very near.

One of the most attractive events is “Tet Viet” (Vietnamese Tet) festival at the Youth Cultural House in District 1. 

This has become a popular venue for young people and family members to take photos.

The festival is also housing more than 30 pavilions which sell various kinds of Tet decorations.

Meanwhile, a “Ong Do” (calligrapher) street is being organised at the Labour Cultural Palace  in District 3, attracting a large crowd of visitors with nearly 50 booths divided into different sections such as calligraphy, souvenir, gastronomy, and photography.

A big Tet festival is taking place at the Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 with special art and circus performances.

Many activities are also being held at the book street from January 25 to February 10 such as presenting scripts for visitors, printing Tet greeting cards, painting, and introducing new books.

The Youth World Theatre will launch new plays such as Love Shipper, Ghost Village, and The Invisible on this occasion.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc pays tribute to late Party, State leaders

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh pay homage to late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 31 offered incense in tribute to late leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Government as the country’s biggest traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) festival is approaching.

PM Phuc and Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh paid homage to late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, who had served as a Politburo member in 35 years and as Prime Minister in 32 years from 1955 to 1987.

Offering incense to former CPV General Secretary, former Chairman of the Council of Ministers and former Adviser of the CPV Central Committee Do Muoi, who passed away in October 2018, PM Phuc recalled his turning-point decisions and initiatives to strongly develop heavy industries towards national industrialisation and modernisation, thus building an independent and self-reliant economy.

While paying tribute to late Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Nguyen Co Thach, PM Phuc reminisced about his strategic vision that helped the country get out of economic embargo and diplomatic isolation as well as normalise and expand relations with big nations and international organisations.

The same day, PM Phuc and Deputy PM Binh also offered incense to late President Tran Dai Quang who passed away in September 2018.

HCM City’s leader pays pre-Tet visits to religious dignitaries

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (L) and Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on January 31 visited and offered Tet greetings to religious dignitaries and followers in the city on the thresholds of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Visiting Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon, Nhan wished him good health to direct the successful organisation of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2019. 

Nhan highlighted the importance of the event, saying that it will show the position of Vietnam’s Buddhism in the region and the world, adding that the municipal authorities would work to prepare well for the event. 

While meeting with Most Venerable Thich Thien Phap, Permanent Vice President of the VBS Executive Council, Nhan sent best wishes to Buddhist monks and nuns in HCM City and those nationwide on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2019. 

He spoke highly of the VBS’s activities in recent years, especially social and charitable activities, expressing his belief that Buddhist dignitaries and followers will make more contributions to further promoting the SBV’s development. 

The same day, Nhan visited and extended Tet greetings to Auxiliary Bishop of the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese Do Manh Hung and local Catholic dignitaries and followers. 

He thanked and praised contributions of the Bishop and Catholic dignitaries and followers to the city’s development, especially in charitable and environmental protection activities. 

Nhan hoped that they will continue to join hands with local residents to further boost the city’s socio-economic development.

Disadvantaged people supported to enjoy Tet holiday

Ministries and localities nationwide have been implementing various programmes to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds enjoy the Lunar New Year, the biggest and most important holiday in Vietnam.

Specifically, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has directed localities to use local budgets to support needy households.

The ministry has proposed Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approve the provision of more than 9,250 tonnes of rice for more than 562,600 people in Nghe An, Tuyen Quang, Ninh Thuan, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Binh Dinh, Quang Binh, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Phu Yen, Gia Lai, Lang Son, Kon Tum and Hoa Binh provinces.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)’s chapters have joined activities to take care of poor families on Tet holiday such as distributing money from the “For the poor” fund to 53 provinces, and raising 6 billion VND from a text messaging campaign. This money has been sent to some northern and Central Highland provinces to buy blankets and clothes for needy children.

Through the movement “Tet for the poor and Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims”, the Vietnam Red Cross Society raised 51.2 billion VND (2.2 million USD) and received more than two million gift packages to present to poor households, AO/dioxin victims and families affected by natural disasters in 2018, as well as social policy beneficiaries.

Most recently, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, head of the central steering committee for national target programmes in 2016-2020, agreed on the use of 6.3 billion VND raised through the national humanitarian portal 1400 in 2018 for supporting disadvantaged people in remote, mountainous and ethnic minority areas.

Hanoi leader extends Tet greetings to Vietnam Buddhist Sangha

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Nguyen Duc Chung (centre) delivers Tet greetings to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS). 

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi Nguyen Duc Chung extended his Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) while visiting its headquarters at Quan Su Pagoda in the city on January 31.

Wishing Buddhist monks, nuns and followers nationwide a new year with good health and prosperity, Chung spoke highly of their contributions to promoting confidence among local residents, and to the city’s socio-economic development in the past years.

He expressed his hope that the VBS will continue sound coordination with competent the city’s departments and sectors to organise more cultural activities for Hanoians.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Permanent Vice Chairman of the VBS Executive Council, for his part, thanked the municipal Party Committee and People’s Committee for supporting the VBS to successfully carry out a wide range of Buddhist activities in 2018.

The VBS always accompanies the city and local authorities to assist disadvantaged people and those affected by natural disasters, he said, adding that it joined hands with the Vietnam Red Cross Society at all levels to ensure a warm Tet 2019 for local residents as well as people in remote areas across the country.

The Most Veneraable wished that Hanoi city will further develop to deserve its title as a City of Peace.

Vietnamese expats in Czech Republic, Algeria celebrate Tet festival

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan

Overseas Vietnamese and international friends in the Czech Republic gathered at a get-together hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy on January 30 night to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ho Minh Tuan briefed the guests of Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in 2018, and spoke highly the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

Two-way trade reaching nearly 1.2 billion USD in 2018, almost doubling the amount in the previous year, he said, stressing that both nations are discussing measures to promote tourism and send more Vietnamese labourers to the Czech Republic. 

As the two countries are heading towards the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2020, bilateral activities of senior leaders will be increased, thus serving as momentum to elevate the bilateral ties to a new height, the Vietnamese diplomat said.

On the occasion, Tuan expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnamese people community in the Czech Republic, saying that they have integrated deeply into the host society and made significant contributions to their homeland and the relations between the two countries.

The embassy will join hands with the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe (UVAE) and the Vietnamese people community in the Czech Republic to organise various programmes to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the Vietnamese People Association in the Czech Republic in 2019, he added.

Hoang Dinh Thang, UVAE Chairman and Honourable Chairman of the Vietnamese People Association in the Czech Republic, said that with the support from the embassy and the UVAE, overseas Vietnamese in the host nation held many activities to promote connections with those in other European countries as well as preserve traditional cultural values.

He hoped that the UVAE would receive further assistance from the embassies in the Czech Republic and other European coutnries to build a strong Vietnamese people community.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria organise a similar event to welcome Tet. The event drew the participation of foreign guests like Algerian diplomats, representatives of organizations, the press, and embassies of ASEAN member states, China, Cuba, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Disadvantaged people assisted to return home for Tet

Coaches line up in early morning, ready to carry workers from Hanoi to their hometowns (Photo: congdoanhanoi.org.vn)

Businesses, industrial zones and hospitals nationwide have been getting into the Tet (Lunar New Year) spirit and providing free transport to allow workers and patients travel home to spend the holiday with their families.

The Labour Federation of southern Binh Duong province on January 31 arranged free-of-charge coaches to take 1,000 poor workers to their hometowns. They are among 5,000 workers to get free bus travel to their hometowns in the province.

Tran Van Nam, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, said the province is  populated by more than 2.3 million people, and more than a half of them were workers coming from other provinces.

“Thus provincial leaders always try our best so that all workers have better physical and mental lives,” said Nam.

Nguyen Thi My Thu, from the central province of Quang Binh, has worked in Binh Duong for eight years.

“When Tet holiday is coming, people living far from home like me want to go back home. Understanding our desire, the provincial labour federation supported us and also gave us meaningful presents,” she said.

Truong Thi Bich Hanh, chairwoman of the federation, said trade unions in the province also gave free meals for workers for their journeys home.

It is the 10th year the provincial labour sector has provided free coaches for workers for the Lunar New Year holidays. As many as 25,000 workers have benefited from the programme.

Also on January 31 morning, 20 free buses took more than 600 poor cancer patients from the K Hospital in Hanoi to their hometowns to enjoy the holiday.

The programme was organised by the K Hospital, in coordination with the Cancer Patient Support Fund, the Vietnam Young Doctors Association and other partners.

Pham Trung Tuyen, a patient, said that he used to be the bread winner in his family, but contracted stomach cancer. His family has struggled to make ends meet during his two years of treatment.

“The free bus and presents from hospital leaders make all of us happy,” he said.

Other hospitals including the National Burn Hospital, the National Paediatrics Hospital and Bach Mai Hospital have helped patients return home.

Earlier on January 30, the HCM City Labour Federation worked with trade unions of the municipal industrial zones to arrange 36 coaches to take more than 1,500 workers home.

Dang Thi Toan, went together with her small daughter from the Linh Trung 1 Export Processing Zone where she works to her home in the northern province of Thai Binh.

“I could not sleep during the previous night because I wanted to come home. The feeling is difficult to express,” said Toan.

Dinh Thi Thanh Tam, from the central province of Thanh Hoa, said she hadn’t been able to go home for four years.

“Thanks to the programme, I can go to my hometown. I’m really excited all the time,” she said.

Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, chairwoman of the city labour federation, said municipal leaders hoped all workers could go home safely, happily and would come back to work on time after the holiday.

Huynh Van Tuan, Chairman of the HCM City Industrial Zone and Processing Zone Trade Union, said the city would organise a total of 96 buses to take more than 4,000 workers to their hometowns.

On February 1, the Hanoi Federation of Labour also hired 36 coaches to carry 1,600 disadvantaged workers to their homes in central Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces to welcome Tet.

Nguyen Thi Tuyen, chairwoman of the Hanoi Federation of Labour, said the free-of-charge coach programme has been organised for 11 consecutive years so far. 

The programme has helped disadvantaged workers to save money and have a strong attachment to their companies, she added. 

The same day, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) arranged more than 100 coaches to take 5,000 workers home for Tet. The corporation will also send coaches to bring the workers back to work at the end of the holiday.

Trade unions at different levels across the capital together spent more than 30 billion VND (1.28 million USD) on supporting workers on Tet. Of the sum, the municipal labour federation contributed some 7.46 billion VND (320,000 USD). As a result, about 2,000 coaches brought more than 80,000 workers home, and over 65,000 gifts were presented to the targeted workers.

Reburial service for remains of fallen soldiers held in Kien Giang

At the memorial and reburial ceremony 

A memorial and reburial ceremony for 39 sets of remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers was held on February 1 in the southern province of Kien Giang.

During the resistance war, thousands of students registered to join the army, including secondary school students from the central radio post office. They were enrolled in Company 4, Battalion 20, Division 338.

When marching to the battlefield of the south west, the unit was renamed to T70 line of Military Region 9.

In May 1971, while moving to Kenh Xang area (also known as Tram Duong area) in My Lam commune, Hon Dat district, the unit was surrounded by the enemy and 39 soldiers laid down their lives.

While delivering the funeral oration, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Do Thanh Binh expressed his gratitude to the soldiers who scarified their lives for the nation’s independence and freedom.