Việt Nam, Singapore launch haemodialysis care project

More than 5,000 kidney patients in the north of Việt Nam will benefit from a healthcare training project launched on Monday by the Hà Nội Medical University (HMU).

The project has been launched in collaboration with Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

The haemodialysis care project aims to improve the overall quality of haemodialysis care and help meet the increasing demands of haemodialysis care in the north of Việt Nam.

“We are pleased to partner with SIF and TTSH in our continuous efforts to improve the standards of healthcare, especially haemodialysis care in Việt Nam,” Professor Nguyễn Đức Hinh, rector of the Hà Nội Medical University, said.

“Singapore is among one of the leading nations in advanced healthcare training and services. By working together with the Singaporean team, our medical staff will benefit from new perspectives in this field. We look forward to building stronger professional and personal ties with our Singaporean counterparts in the coming years,” said Hinh.

“Through this project, we will bring together our Singapore International Volunteers (SIV) and their Vietnamese counterparts to share insights and impart ideas, skills and resources with each other. We hope to collectively enhance haemodialysis care in the region for long-term sustainability,” SIF Chairman Ong Keng Yong said.

The 30-month project will focus on activities to enhance the training of Vietnamese caregivers to ensure the delivery of safe healthcare practices to kidney patients and update caregivers on the current standards of care in this speciality.

The project will have five components, including clinical training workshops and lectures; leadership engagement sessions; a study visit to Singapore; a symposium; and the development and distribution of professional guidelines on haemodialysis care.

The collaborative project will see a specialist team of SIV, including TTSH doctors and nurses from the department of renal medicine, working together with healthcare professionals from HMU, Bạch Mai Hospital, Việt Đức Hospital and other dialysis centres in Hà Nội. The SIVs will share their experience, knowledge and skills with their Vietnamese counterparts to train a core group of 60 master trainers.

Since 1994, the SIF has collaborated in projects with various institutional and individual partners in Hà Nội and HCM City in the fields of healthcare, education, arts and culture, and social entrepreneurship.

Construction of a Truc Lam Zen Monastery and a tower began in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on January 21.

Locating in Go Thap national relic site in Tan Trieu Commune, Thap Muoi district, the 21-storey tower is set to be 99 metres high.

Ven. Thich Dat Ma Pho Hoa, head of the Thap Muoi Truc Lam Zen monastery said the Go Thap relic site is an important spiritual and cultural site, with a renowned 10-storey tower of Oc Eo culture.

The historical site also draws scientists, archaeologists, Buddhist followers and tourists.

Meanwhile, Doan Tan Buu, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee underlined the religious, historical and architectural value of the work.

The new monastery and tower will help preserve traditional and cultural values while developing local tourism, he said.

Dong A College, Japanese company sign training deal

Japan's LEOC company and the Da Nang-based Dong A College have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Japanese language training, vocational skills and manpower enrollment.

Chairman and CEO of Dong A College Nguyen Thi Anh Dao said the MoU, which was signed last week, would enroll 1,000 graduated students at the college to work in Japan in 2022.

Dao said the partner would boost cooperation in Japanese language training, culture, nursing, information technology, electronics and hospitality management.

LEOC, a contract food services company, will offer internships and part-time jobs at companies in Japan.

Last year, Route Inn Group from Japan began an enrollment programme of students from Dong A college to work at its resort in Okinawa following a training agreement signed in 2015.

Japan’s Linux Professional Institute (JPI) and the Evolable Asia company have also established an information technology human resource training programme with the Da Nang-based college, while the Japan of Asia organisation agreed cooperation for nursing that serve the Japanese market.

In 2016, the college and 20 automobile businesses agreed on the establishment of practical courses at automobile factories for students.

Can Tho city welcomes 7.5 million tourists in 2017

The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho enjoyed strong growth in tourism last year due to a series of international political and cultural events and traditional festivals, according to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The number of tourist arrivals surged 40 percent to 7.5 million, while tourism revenues rose 61 percent to 2.9 trillion VND (127.6 million USD).

The political, cultural and tourism events the city hosted included the APEC Food Security Week, Vietnam-Japan Culture and Trade Exchange, and the Southern Traditional Cake Festival.

The tourism sector is focusing on developing river-based tourism, especially upscale products such as three- to five-star cruise ships, Le Minh Son, deputy director of the department, said.

It is encouraging investors to develop inter-provincial and international river-based tours, he said.

The tours are designed to take in historical and cultural relics, traditional craft villages, and ecological and spiritual destinations.

Last year the neighbouring province of An Giang attracted 7.3 million visitors, up 12 percent, earning revenues of 3.7 trillion VND (162.8 million USD).

The province is the centre of spiritual tourism in the south, with people flocking especially to Ba Chua Xu Temple in Chau Doc town.

Kiên Giang province, with its beautiful landscapes, islands such as Phu Quoc, archipelagoes such as Nam Du and Ba Lua and the U Minh Thuong National Park, attracted more than six million visitors last year.

The province’s tourism revenues were worth more than 4.58 trillion VND (201.52 million USD), the highest in the delta.

Red Cross sets up Foodbank Việt Nam to feed indigents

A charity organisation called Foodbank Việt Nam was launched on Saturday to distribute food to deprived people and reduce food wastage.

Foodbank is a programme by the Việt Nam Council of the Red Cross in collaboration with the Youth Social Welfare Centre, C.P. Việt Nam Livestock Corporation, and DSF Việt Nam Co.Ltd.

It operates along the lines of food banks around the world, soliciting donation of food from companies and organisations and handing over whatever it gets to needy people.

To start with, Foodbank Việt Nam is providing free food to 10 social welfare centres and shelters in HCM City. It will soon expand throughout the country.

It also plans to set up a chain of standard food stalls which will sell to poor and disadvantaged people at low prices.

There will be activities to educate people about not wasting food.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, hunger is still one of the most urgent development challenges though the world is producing more than enough food.

One third of food produced for human consumption, amounting to around 1.3 billion tonnes, is lost or wasted every year, FAO had said in 2011.

Food losses represent a waste of resources used for production such as land, water, energy, and farm inputs and a needess increase in green gas emissions, it had said.

Việt Nam ranked second in the food waste index in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a survey conducted by Electrolux.

Chinoros Benjachavakul, deputy general director of C.P. Việt Nam Livestock Corporation, said the food bank would help prevent wastage of food in Việt Nam.

HCM City authorities ensure a warm Tết

The HCM City People’s Committee has asked district people’s committees, departments and other agencies to ensure everyone has a “warm and sufficient Lunar Tết”, which falls on February 16.

The city’s Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs has plans to allocate nearly VNĐ1.3 trillion (US$57.2 million) from the city budget for these programmes. 

Trần Công Khanh, head of the labour affairs division at HCM City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Authority (HEPZA), said that 400 enterprises in HCM City’s 15 industrial parks and export processing zones will spend more than VNĐ73 billion (US$3.2 million) for free tickets, gifts and year-end parties for poor workers, ethnic minorities, and workers at companies that have been closed because of bankruptcy or a slowdown in production.

Workers who cannot return to their hometown for Tết holiday will benefit from HEPZA and their company’s social welfare programme.

HEPZA has called for nearly 6,000 free bus tickets for workers who are trade union members and have financial difficulties, and want to return to their hometown for Tết but cannot afford to buy tickets.

Workers affected by floods and storms last year will be given priority to receive tickets on January 27.

Trade unions at the city’s industrial parks and export processing zones will present 3,000 gifts to workers who have lost jobs due to their company reducing or stopping production.

Enterprises and other agencies in the city’s industrial parks and export processing zones will organize a Spring Fair to help workers buy standard goods for Tết at proper prices.

The 400 enterprises unveiled bonuses for their employees, with the highest of VNĐ950 million awarded by a domestic company and VNĐ359 million by a foreign-invested company.

Most employees of all companies in the city’s industrial parks and export processing zones will receive one month salary as a bonus from VNĐ6.2 million each at domestic companies and VNĐ 7.8 million at foreign invested firms.

The city’s Women Union has plans to spend more than VNĐ2 billion for gifts for its poor members and ethnic minorities, poor residents on the country’s islands and those from other provinces who are not returning to their hometown for Tết holidays.

The Trade Union for the city’s Department of Education and Training this year has unveiled its welfare plan for teachers. Teachers whose wives or husbands have had a labour accident or have an incurable disease will be presented VNĐ500,000 each.

Nearly 3,500 Vietnamese take Apple to court over slowing iPhone

Thousands of Vietnamese consumers have joined in a class-action lawsuit against Apple Inc., accusing the US tech company of intentionally slowing their iPhones without consent.

Lawyers Tran Manh Tung and Nguyen Ngoc Hung filed the case against Apple Vietnam Co. Ltd. with the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on January 12 on behalf of some 3,500 local iPhone owners.

“We are waiting to see if the court will require us to submit any additional documents in order to officially launch the lawsuit,” Tran Manh Hung, has confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Both Tung and Hung work for the Ket Noi law office under the Hanoi Bar Association.

The 600-page case file accuses Apple of using a software update to deliberately slow the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone SE without notifying users beforehand.

The lawyers demand that Apple provide a fix for the issue, compensate the affected users, and prevent software updates and upgrades from causing damage to iPhone products distributed in Vietnam.

Both attorneys say they hope the lawsuit can serve as a mechanism to raise awareness that the rights and interests of Vietnamese consumers are under attack.

“This is why we demand that Apple take responsibility for Vietnamese consumers [of its products] rather than only those who have joined our class-action lawsuit,” Tung explained.

Apple confirmed in mid-December that it purposely slowed down some older iPhone models through a software update which it claims was meant to “smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the [devices] from unexpectedly shutting down.”

The smartphone maker cited lithium-ion batteries, the power source in iPhones, as the reason for the persistent issues.

“[Lithium-ion batteries] become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge, or as they age over time, which can result in the [devices] unexpectedly shutting down to protect [their] electronic components,” Apple said, claiming that the software update was meant to prevent the issue.

As iPhone users in some countries began to file lawsuits against Apple after the confession, the company issued an official apology later that month and offered to correct the mistake with a battery-replacement program.

From January 2018 until the end of the year, anyone who owns an iPhone 6 or newer model can purchase a phone-battery replacement for just US$29, instead of the normal price of $79.

Apple made up only 9.2% of the Vietnamese smartphone market in 2017 in terms of sales, but its revenue accounted for approximately 24.1%, considering that the iPhone is considered a high-end product.

The company’s latest smartphones, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, now start at VND21 million (US$925) and a whopping VND30 million (US$1,320), respectively, in Vietnam.

Despite the price tag, Tung says users in Vietnam receive little after-sales technical support from Apple.

“Apple is to blame for this and should have offered to replace battery for affected users free-of-charge, instead of only doing so at a discounted price,” he added.

PwC Vietnam and UEL form strategic partnership in career orientation and training

PwC will support University of Economics and Law (UEL) by assessing and monitoring the performance of students on their internship programmes as well as supporting lecturers and students with learning resources.

PwC Vietnam and UEL have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch their strategic partnership in career orientation and training with the aim of improving the skills and abilities of UEL students.

According to the MoU, PwC will support UEL by assessing and monitoring the performance of students on their internship programmes. PwC will also provide UEL with learning resources for lecturers and students. The parties will collaborate on developing curricula focused on information technology (IT), IT risks, IT controls, IT auditing, information security, and data analytics.The aim is to support graduates in their transition from university to a professional working environment and to help them adapt to the challenges of the fast-changing digital age.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, PwC Vietnam partner Nguyen Hoang Nam said “As the leading service provider of IT auditing and controls, and as part of a global network of experts, we are confident that our partnership with UEL will bring positive changes to workforce development in new industries. We anticipate that the partnership will help the future workforce to prepare for the upcoming waves of digital transformation in the sectors that are most affected.”

Dr Nguyen Tien Dung, rector of University of Economics and Law, commented “We believe that the partnership with PwC Vietnam will benefit UEL’s operations in line with our mission to enrich students’ practical know-how and help them secure the best job offers by expanding our corporate relations with top firms.”

“The two parties will co-ordinate to organise conferences, seminars, and study session in common areas of expertise. By keeping themselves up-to-date with new knowledge, students will be able to access a greater range of career opportunities in financial institutions, credit institutions, and foreign companies in Vietnam, especially in the ‘Big 4’ firms,” added Nguyen My Hanh, PwC Vietnam’s IT Risk Assurance director.

Following the MoU signing, PwC Vietnam and UEL organised a conference on “Business information systems and modern human resource demands,” which attracted more than 500 students and experts in IT auditing.

PwC Vietnam provided students with essential information about IT auditing careers, recruitment demands, and the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) qualification—the most well-known certification recognised by all of the top IT auditing firms. This was a chance for students to determine the right direction for their studies and personal development in order to pursue a career in IT auditing.

Milestone strategic co-operation in Vietnamese healthcare

On January 11, 2018, Sanford World Clinic (SWC) and Victoria Healthcare (VHC) signed a comprehensive strategic co-operation agreement to deliver healthcare in Vietnam. This is the first agreement in Southeast Asia for SWC.

This represents the beginning of co-operation and professional support to VHC from one of the leading healthcare systems in the United States.

SWC is announcing several strategic partnerships this month, including Costa Rica, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa. An international ceremony will be held at Sanford Health World Headquarters in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the US.

After more than 12 years in operation, Victoria Healthcare has developed four branches in Ho Chi Minh City, serving more than 1.5 million patients with international standards of quality and becoming a trusted and beloved healthcare brand in Vietnam.

Signing a comprehensive strategic co-operation with SWC is a new step for the Vietnamese healthcare industry. This strategic partnership represents a hands-on approach to a healthcare system with American input.

Sanford Healthcare is considered a leading US healthcare organisation. It has 45 hospitals and 300 clinics in nine states in the US. Its international branch, SWC, has branches in Ghana, Germany, and China. Overall, the organisation has more than 1,500 doctors and 29,000 employees.

SWC and VHC will team up to improve the knowledge, skills, and qualifications of medical professionals and managerial staff in Vietnam. Practical training through SWC and the sharing of knowledge and best practices will help provide higher quality services and guide development.

“We believe in the quality of services, procedures, systems, and business strategies of VHC in Vietnam,” said Dr. Daniel Blue, executive vice president of SWC. “This partnership will bring more value to Vietnamese people through our combined efforts in the healthcare industry.” 

Art programme collects VND96 billion for disadvantaged children

The National Fund for Vietnamese Children (NFVC) has received nearly VND96 billion (US$4.2 million) from 40 organisations, individuals, businesses and philanthropists to support disadvantaged children nationwide.

The information was given after the eleventh art exchange programme named ‘Spring for Kids’, which was organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) on January 21.

The programme saw the presence of Politburo member, Secretary of Party Central Committee (PCC) and Head of the PCC's Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai; Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, President of the NFVC and leaders from ministries and sectors, and donors who have made numerous contributions to the cause of protecting, caring for and educating children.

The programme aims to help disadvantaged children with meaningful gifts as the lunar New Year approaches. It is also an annual event for the community to work together for children’s rights.

On the occasion, the MoLISA also honoured outstanding individuals and organisations who have supported disadvantaged children and exchanges for disadvantaged children which have brought about outstanding achievements in studying and daily life, in 2017.

Earlier, VP Thinh met with outstanding donors to honour their support towards disadvantaged children.

In 2017, the NFVC mobilised over VND79 billion (US$3.4 million) to help disadvantaged children nationwide.

TV programme recounts great significance of Spring 1968 Uprising

A live television programme was held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 21 to highlight the historical significance of the General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1968.

The event, bringing together nearly 650 artists and actors, was attended by Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, revolutionary veterans, Vietnamese heroic mothers, and war veterans.

Songs and dances at the programme recounted the undaunted fighting spirit and bravery of the city’s soldiers and people during the struggle for national independence and freedom, particularly during the 1968 General Offensive and Uprising, which contributed to the victory of the Ho Chi Minh campaign in 1975, thus liberating the South and reunifying the nation.

Participants also listened to talks shared by historical witnesses, who directly involved in the General Offensive and Uprising. Their stories recalled parts of occurrences of the historic event and exemplary soldiers during the fighting.

High-ranking delegation of HCMC visits Laos & Cambodia

Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan led a high- ranking delegation to visit and work in the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia this morning. 

Accordingly, this is the first visit of the city Party chief under a role of the Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee.

Its target contributes to promote and tighten further the solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, and good neighboring relations, sustainable traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia. 

Additionally, the visit is also to strengthen and consolidate the friendship cooperation relationship with the localities of Laos and Cambodia including Vientiane capital, Champasak, Savannakhet provinces and Phnom Penh capital.

The delegation included Director of Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Standing Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem, Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council and senior leaders.

HCMC establishes International Integration Support Center

Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong has signed a decision to establish Ho Chi Minh City International Integration Support Center (CIIS).
The center has been established on the basis of former HCMC WTO Affairs Consultation Center.
The new center headquartered at 148 Pasteur, Ward 6, District 3 is directly under HCMC Institute for Development Studies, responsible for offering professional advises and giving assistances to implement international integration activities in HCMC.
The center’s director and deputy director will be appointed by the head of the Institute for Development Studies according to regulations.

Gov’t chief asks for tough measures to fulfill socio-economic norms

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc tasked ministers, ministerial-level leaders, chairmen of provincial and municipal People’s Committees, SOEs General Directors to fulfill socio-economic development plans in 2018.

In 2018, the five-year socio-economic development plan from the 2016-2020 period will be realized. Resolution 01/NQ-CP was introduced on January 1, 2018 on major tasks and solutions guiding the implementation of socio-economic development and State budget estimate for 2018 and a ten-word motto of the Government as follow “Discipline, integrity, action, creativity, and efficiency.” Thus, the Government tasked ministers, sectors, and localities to take drastic, synchronous, and effective measures and solutions as follow: 

Firstly, promptly and drastically issuing and implementing specific programs and action plans to implement the Government’s Resolution 01/NQ-CP especially to promote production and business before and after the Lunar New Year Festival;

Secondly, taking synchronous and effective action plans to realize Resolution 4,5,6 of the 12th CPV Central Committee and National Assembly’s Resolutions especially conducting strategic breakthroughs; restructuring the economy in combination with transformation of the growth model; raising labor productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness;

Thirdly, upholding the achievements in 2017; taking drastic and innovative steps to accomplish the assigned tasks; focusing on economic development in combination with social and cultural development, better living standards, environmental protection, natural prevention, natural disasters, climate change response, national defense, national security;

Fourthly, strengthening discipline and law enforcement; improve administrative reform; and combat corruption;

Fifthly, keeping a close watch on and regularly inspecting and making reports on the implementation of the action plan  monthly  and quarterly;

Sixthly, assigning the Working Group of the PM, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Home Affairs to work with relevant ministries and agencies to investigate and assess the implementation of the assigned tasks and timely report to the PM.

28 Vietnamese scholars heading to New Zealand to study in 2018

The latest recipients of the prestigious ASEAN New Zealand Scholarships provided by the New Zealand government—the 28 finest Vietnamese students—are heading to New Zealand to start their postgraduate studies in February.

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E Wendy Matthews, on January17 hosted a pre-departure briefing and reception for the scholars, the ten new awardees of  New Zealand’s longstanding English Language Training for Officials (ELTO) programme, and 24 students visiting from New Zealand under the Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs) initiative.

“I congratulate each of the 28 successful Vietnamese scholars. The ASEAN New Zealand Scholarship is designed to support the next generation of leaders in Vietnam and the region,” she said.

“Over the last 24 years, many New Zealand ASEAN scholars have gone on to become respected leaders in Vietnam. New Zealand ASEAN scholars grow academically, professionally, and personally during their time in New Zealand. They also carry a strong sense of pride and responsibility as part of the New Zealand ASEAN Scholars and Alumni network. I am thrilled to see how this opportunity transforms lives,” added the ambassador.

The education co-operation between Vietnam and New Zealand is reportedly on the rise every year. In 2017, first-time student visa applicants from Vietnam to New Zealand increased by nearly 60 per cent. Institution-to-institution links are also strengthening and growing.

More than 270 Vietnamese students have received these awards since the scheme started in 1994. The scholarship represents a significant investment from the New Zealand government towards the development of Vietnam’s future leaders.

Every year, successful scholars are selected from hundreds of applicants to receive full tuition fees, airfares, living allowances, insurance, and assistance with research and thesis costs for their time in New Zealand, while gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

Applications for 2019 scholarships will open on February 1 and close on March 14, 2018.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the areas where New Zealand holds particular expertise and those prioritised by  the Government of Vietnam: agriculture, disaster risk management, renewable energy, public sector management, and private sector development.

For more information, please visit: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/scholarships/who-can-apply-for-a-scholarship-3/viet-nam-scholarships-2/ or email to nzembassy.hanoi@mft.net.nz. More updates and useful experiences shared by previous scholarship winners can be found on the Embassy’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/nzembassyvietnam.

The New Zealand-ASEAN Scholarships are a regional initiative providing postgraduate awards for courses that align with sectors of relevance for New Zealand and the ASEAN. Up to 30 scholarships are available to Vietnamese students each year. Since 1994, 274 Vietnamese students have been awarded this prestigious scholarship.

The 10 awardees of the English Language Training for Officials (ELTO) programme will go to New Zealand for 22 weeks to study English, with each intake having a special theme. To date, more than 485 Vietnamese officials have participated in the highly successful ELTO programme in New Zealand.

Established in July 2017, the three government-funded Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs) aim to enhance New Zealand’s cultural understanding of and business engagement with Southeast Asia, North Asia, and Latin America. The CAPEs harness academic expertise, evidence-based research, and stakeholder experience and industry acumen to help ensure best practice engagement with these regions.