Second mosquito-killing campaign launched

The Health Ministry launched a mosquito-killing drive across the country on October 21 in the context of dengue fever spreading in central and southern regions and the discovery of the 7th infection of Zika virus. 

The campaign, the second of its kind, will be conducted through October and November with the goal of getting local authorities, all agencies and every resident involved in disease prevention measures. 

The Health Ministry asks provincial health departments to guide locals in how to stop mosquito from breeding by keeping their water containers clean and advise local authorities on imposing administrative fines on individuals and organisations who refuse to take preventive measures against the diseases. 

Communication work needs to be promoted via mass media and in all daily public activities to raise public awareness about their role in disease prevention. 

The health sector will strengthen their monitoring and supervision of patients and quarantine work at border gates, while collecting more samples of suspected cases for tests. 

Zika is mainly transmitted through the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which also carries dengue fever. The virus causes only mild symptoms in most, including fever, sore eyes and a rash. But pregnant women infected with the virus risk giving birth to babies with microcephaly. 

As of October 17, seven cases of Zika infection were confirmed in the central provinces of Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen, Binh Duong province and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

Nearly 2,400 counterfeits of world famous brands destroyed in Hanoi

Inspectors from the Ministry of Science and Technology in coordination with the Hanoi Police Department destroyed 2,349 counterfeits of famous fashion brands in the world this morning.

The counterfeited brands include Dior, Hermes and Louis Vuitton. The destroyed goods comprise 726 handbags, 1,075 wallets, 39 waistbands, 6 watches, 19 bangles and 290 logos of famous brands.

During the first nine months this year, the ministry’s inspectors deployed 48 investigations over industrial property and  detected many violations in invention, industrial design, brand, commercial names and unhealthy competition.

They issued a total penalty of VND1.4 billion (US$63,000) and destroyed 205,444 violating products.

Polluted water causes fish deaths in Binh Thuan

Newly-released test results prove that polluted water caused mass fish deaths in the middle of June at farms in south central Bình Thuận Province.

The deaths occurred around Kê Gà Lighthouse in Tân Thành Commune of Hàm Thuận Nam District.

The results released by the province’s Standards, Metrology and Quality Division showed that the water that was used to raise fish contained excessive arsenic – 0.5 times higher than the national standard – and too many organic substances as the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 2.5 times higher than the standard.

The wastewater from a fish-steaming establishment near the farms was also tested as the establishment was found to be illegally discharging its waste water into the sea soon after the mass fish deaths.

The wastewater’s nitrogen concentration was 15.17 times higher than the standard, phosphorus level was 7.2 times higher than the standard and COD was 40.62 times higher than the standard, the test results revealed.

The establishment’s operation was halted and its owner was asked to remove the wastewater pipe.

Massive bomb found on Quang Tri river bank

An unexploded ordnance clearance team of PeaceTrees Vietnam, a US-based non-profit organization, has successfully deactivated a bomb weighing 227 kilograms in Quang Tri Province.

PeaceTrees, said the massive bomb, 2.17 metres long and 30 centimetres in diameter, discovered on the banks of the Se Ming Hieng River in central Quang Tri Province by local people, could have exploded anytime.

Quang Tri, which straddles the former Demilitarized Zone that formed the de facto border between north and south Vietnam during the war, is the country's worst-affected province for unexploded ordnance.

More ordnance was dropped on Quang Tri than all the bombs dropped in Europe in World War II, said PeaceTrees. There's tons of the stuff still under the ground, everything from pear-size M-79 rounds to 500-pound bombs.

PeaceTrees has established a centre in Dong Ha, the Quang Tri capital, to educate children and adults about the dangers. At the same time, PeaceTrees and two European groups are working to remove mines and unexploded ordnance throughout the country.

Blindness due to diabetes increases

Head of the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hiep said that in 2015, hospitals nationwide examined 23,327 people having diabetes and detected 12,778 of them with eye disease.

Dr. Hiep said this at an Ophthalmology conference on October 20 held in the Mekong delta City of Can Tho with the participation of 1,400 Vietnamese and international eye experts.

2,888 patients had received treatment; accounting for 2.52 percent of total diabetes patients having eye diseases.

According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hiep, Vietnam has set its target to reduce of avoidable blindness rate. Meanwhile the rate of people with corneal scarring because of trachoma decreased, retinal disease due to diabetes has leaped.

As per the latest survey carried out in 14 cities and provinces, showing that the rate of blind people aged more than 50 years old accounts for 1.8 percent, a drastic decrease compared to 4.1 percent in the period 2000-2002.

The number of blind people also dropped from 443,700 in 2000 to 329,300 in 2015. Of 329,300 people are blind in both eyes, 243,700 people are blind due to cataracts; additionally, 13,173 people are blind due to glaucoma and 13,502 people are blind due to corneal scarring from different causes. 

The rate of blind people due to diabetes rose because endocrinology and internal medicine loosely connect with ophthalmology in treating diseases as well as monitoring complications in eye among diabetes patients.

Dr. Hiep added that the country is striving to reduce the rate of avoidable blindness from now to 2020 among people aged 50 to 1.6 percent. The health sector is increasing information of the disease to the public as well as adopting measures to prevent blindness. Especially, the pilot examination and treatment retinal disease caused by diabetes will be provided in major eye centers.

At the conference, the international Orbis organization and Diabetes Fund sponsored a project to care for eyes of diabetes patients in the period 2016- 2020 in Eye Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, the Eye Hospital, the General Hospital in the Mekong delta province of Tien Giang and the General Hospital in Tien Giang Province’s Cai Lay District, Eye ward in Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital in HCMC. 

The country has 378,700 blind people of all ages.

Cracks visible in walls of Flora Anh Dao apartment

Cracks have been visible in the walls of apartment 1.14 at Flora Anh Dao apartment block, Do Xuan Hop street, Ho Chi Minh City’s District 9 after the project’s investor handed over the apartment to a customer in June.

Owner of the apartment Nguyen Thi Phuong Hong said that she signed contract with the investor to buy the 59.39 square meter apartment in November last year at the price of VND1.2 billion ($54,000).

The investor said that the 16 storey project comprises 500 apartments meeting Japanese quality standards and it has received an award for the best apartment quality in Vietnam.

In March, investor Nguyen Phuc Real Estate Company said that the project was attended by two Japanese investors Hankyu Realty and Nishi Nippon Railroad who had bought 50 percent shares of the company.

Ms. Hong said that when receiving the apartment in June, she saw tiny and unclear cracks and reported the situation to the investor, who then repaired the cracks.

A month after moving in the apartment, Ms. Hong found visible cracks occur and broaden.

The project’s contractor An Phong, supervisor Delta and investor Nguyen Phuc, a subsidiary of Nam Long Investment Corporation, and the Southern Building Science and Technology Sub-Institute have surveyed the apartment.

In a letter to Ms. Hong on September 23, director general of Nguyen Phuc Company Nguyen Ngoc Huyen, announced the survey’s conclusion, saying that the cracks have occurred in room dividers not load bearing walls. That proves the apartment buildings' safety.

In addition, the company promised to repair the apartment and arrange another accommodation for her during the repair time.

However, she has not accepted the above solution and asked the investor to bring out reasons of the cracks and make clear if they recur after repair. Her requirement has not been responded.

Contractor An Phong has proposed to purchase the apartment at a price which is VND634 million ($28,000) higher than the amount Ms. Hong paid formerly, she told. 

In return, the company asked her to keep the case’s information secret and not to buy any other apartment of the project, she revealed. Still, she refused the proposal and filed a complaint to the HCMC Department of Construction on October 10.

The agency has sent a document to Nguyen Phuc Company asking it to quickly repair the cracks, report reasons of the cracks as well as solutions to remedy them and negotiations with the apartment’s owner.

The company has been asked to consider assisting Ms. Hong in case long lasting repair affects her daily life.  However, it has showed no sign in response to the requirements.

Danang calls for support to flood hit provinces

The National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center said Haima typhoon, called the 8th typhoon in the country, entered north of the East Sea with a speed of 13 to 16 and moving toward Guang xi (China) yesterday.

On October 21, the typhoon was away from the Spratly Island of 720km in the East-EastNorth. The typhoon made lanfall of Guang xi (China) with a speed of 12 to 15.

On the other hand, yesterday, the central city of Da Nang Party Committee called for support to flood hit people in the central provinces. The city delegation led by deputy chairman of the People's Council Nguyen Nho Trung visited and handed over VND 2.5billion for flood hit people.

Of these, the city offered VND 1billion to Quang Binh province and VND 500million each to Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri.

Vice chairwoman of Ha Tinh Fatherland Front Nguyen Thi Mai Thuy said nearly 70 delegations nationwide visited the province to support flood hit areas and donated VND 12billion for local people. Besides, local residents received gifts, valued at around VND 5billion.

HCMC authority honors 83 valedictorians

Vietnam Student Association in HCMC yesterday opened a ceremony to honor excellent students for the third times.

The event was held with the participation of Deputy Standing Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party’s Committee Tat Thanh Cang who extended congratulations to the valedictorians.

35 of them came first in university and college entrance examinations and 48 are best new graduates from universities. They have not only overcome their difficulties and passed the exams with excellent results, but also well undertake activities in movements in schools.

Speaking at the vent, Mr. Cang believed that students will continue have more achievement in studying, master the knowledge and participate in activities of the Youth Union. He added that the good students should contribute more to the development and integration of the country.

Mr. Cang hoped that youth communist union members who are also good students apply their skills and knowledge into real life. Additionally, the students need to foster spirit of volunteer contributing to build up a civilized, modernized city.

Smart city must have no disease: HCMC Party Secretary

Following updates of complicated development of Zika virus disease yesterday, Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Dinh La Thang said the city is attempting to become a smart city and it should have no disease.

He was quoted as saying at a meeting with leaders from the Ministry of Health, Pasteur Institute and relevant agencies on epidemic preventive measures yesterday.

Head of Pasteur Institute Professor Phan Trong Lan said that one more case of Zika virus infection was detected in HCMC’s District 5, bringing the total cases in the city to five. Prof. Lan said that the institute has updated the development of the disease in the globe as well as conduct tests on over 800 samples sent from health facilities in the city and other provinces.

Speaking about monitoring and epidemiology survey, the professor said that his institute has provided training to medical facilities and preventive medicine centers in districts, complaining that test equipment is out-of-date; hence, the institute needs more investment.

Speaking at the meeting, Director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh said that in addition to setting up inspection teams, the health sector divided the city into different areas such as vulnerable areas. Major districts with high risk include Binh Chanh, Thu Duc, Hoc Mon; less dangerous districts include district 8, Tan Phu, and Tan Binh.

Being a health manger, deputy health minister Nguyen Thanh Long said that the ministry has predicted the development of the virus adding that more cases of Zika virus infection will be recorded and inborn defects among babies is unavoidable. He fretted that the virus causing microcephaly in the highlands province of Dak Lak is also the same strain circulating in HCMC; accordingly it is highly to have same defects in babies in HCMC if the health sector did not work well.

Professor Long urged local administrations and health facilities to implement anti-mosquito campaign to kill the insect and its larva as well as more investment should be poured into preventive medicine centers to raise its capability. HCMC is very vulnerable to diseases in the world and always the first place in the country to have new disease; Mr. Long said. Currently the cases of Zika virus disease account for 15 percent of the country’s total cases.

On the same day, deputy chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thu presided a meeting with related agencies and major health facilities on implementation of preventive measures. The Department of Health said that 30 major hospitals in the city have screened suspected cases in 30 big hospitals. In addition, to prevent microcephaly, the health sector concentrated to detect pregnant women with Zika virus symptoms and keep an eye on newly-bon babies.

Deputy Chairwoman Thu asked district administrations to increase cleaning the environment and carry out quick tests in local preventive medicine centers to reduce pressure for big hospitals. She noticed that names and addresses of patients will not be publicized to avoid discrimination. Most of all, Thu said the district should clean the environment to kill mosquitoes and its larva as well as increase people’s awareness of the epidemic.

Appraising the close co-ordination between the municipal health sector and the Ministry of Health in preventing the epidemic, Party Secretary Thang stressed more effective measures should be applied because HCMC is building up a smart and good city. People’s Committee must be more determined in the fight and the entire machinery of state must mobilize to clean the environment and kill mosquitoes and its larva. The health sector must undertake well people’s health condition and visitors.

Dak Lak has three more babies with microcephaly

Yesterday, head of the Preventive Medicine Center in the highlands province of Dak Lak Dr. Pham Van Lao said that three more babies suffering micrcephaly had been detected in the province.

The preventive medicine center October 8 discovered a four-month old bay girl in Krong Buk District to have small head. Medical workers suspected she has microcephaly. Next on October 18 two more cases of microcephaly were detected in Ea Dah Commune in Krong Nang District.

The Department of Health had taken samples of blood and urine to test for verification.

Performance’s circus artists mark 15-year career

A Circus art & contemporary dance performance marking the 15-year career of circus artists Giang Quoc Co and Giang Quoc Nghiep of Ho Chi Minh City Circus Troupe will be organized at Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on November 3. 

The show will honor the beauty of the country, Vietnamese people, love for the country, brotherhood as well as highlighting national pride, unity and solidarity.

Artist brothers Giang Quoc Co and Giang Quoc Nghiep were born into a circus family. They have performed in more than 30 countries and territories throughout the world and receive many local and international circus awards.

The event also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the “Power of the Arm” performance by circus artists Giang Quoc Co and Giang Quoc Nghiep.

“Power of the Arm” performance was invited to participate in the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival in January 2013.

It triumphed over many contestants and won the Grand Prix Award at the 10th International Circus Festival ‘Circuba 2011’ in August in La Habana in Cuba.

The performance also won three prizes at the 13th International Circus Festival in Italy from October 13-17, which included a silver medal and two minor titles awarded by the world’s leading circus groups- - Monte Carlo Circus and Cirque du Soleil.

‘Power of the Arm’ got the Silver Lion Award on October 31, 2011 at the 13th Int’l Circus Festival in Hebei Province in China.

The item also took first prize at the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia young circus talent competition in 2009 and a gold medal at the Hanoi International Circus Festival in 2010.

Local youth gear up for Science Film Festival 2016

Children and teenagers across Vietnam have a chance to enjoy short films, experiments and educational games about nature, environmental protection and new technologies at the Science Film Festival 2016 which takes place in Vietnam and 15 other Asian countries from now until December 18.

This year’s festival with its theme of material science features a selection of 14 movies from seven countries with an aim to support the scientific consciousness among young people regardless of their ages and origins.

The festival will come to schools in HCMC and other locations in Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Danang, Hue, Quang Tri, Hoi An, Tam Ky, Quang Nam, Daklak, Bac Lieu, Dalat, Soc Trang, Vinh Long and Dong Thap until December 18.

People can get free tickets at Goethe Institut HCMC at 18 Road No. 1, Do Thanh Condo in HCMC’s District 3 to enjoy a screening at the Cinestar Theater in HCMC’s District 1 on Sunday, October 23 at 4 p.m.

Last year, there were over 300 screenings and the festival reached over 36,200 people in the whole country. According to Goethe Insitut, the organizer, this is an amazing success which underlines the importance of the Science Film Festival and how it contributes to the support of scientific education in Vietnam.

Government proposes more agricultural tax exemption

National Assembly deputies scrutinised a report on the draft resolution on revising and supplementing some articles of Resolution No. 55/2010/QH12 on exempting and reducing agricultural land rent during a plenary working session of their second meeting in the morning of October 21. 

According to Resolution No. 55/2010/QH12, almost all farming land users have enjoyed tax exemptions or a 50 percent tax reduction. 

More than 10.2 million hectares or 38 percent of the country’s total agricultural land are entitled to agricultural land use tax in line with the Law on Agricultural Land Use Tax. Of which, 68 percent are subject to tax exemption and reduction under the resolution. 

The exemption and reduction aim to help farmers re-invest in agricultural production as well as scientific and technological applications in order to churn out higher quality products and raise productivity. 

The draft resolution suggested further tax reductions and exemptions for farming land users, cutting the amount collected from agricultural land use tax from nearly 61.1 billion VND (2.7 million USD) to 5.7 billion VND (257,000 USD). 

Accordingly, 93,917 hectares of farming land and 77,136 tax payers are expected to enjoy tax exemption. 

The majority of opinions of the National Assembly’s Committee for Finance and Budget agreed with the Government’s report when verifying it, saying the tax exemption will help accelerate the effectuation of Party and State policies on rural areas, agriculture and farmers. 

The annual tax exemption for agricultural land use is worth just 34.3 billion VND (1.5 million USD) which will not exert significant impacts on State budget collection, they said. 

The committee underlined the need to set forth more preferential policies to encourage different economic sectors to invest in agricultural production and business. 

The committee’s members shared the view that tax exemption will contribute to improving the competitiveness of the sector in the time ahead in the context of international integration. 

They also agreed with the Government’s proposal to expand the date for tax exemption for additional subjects to December 31, 2020 in order to create a stable legal basis and demonstrate the consistent policy on rural areas, agriculture and farmers of the Party and State. 

The committee urged the Government to instruct ministries, agencies and localities to seriously observe the Land Law and build a roadmap on addressing the use of agricultural land for ill purposes.

Vietnam, Laos foster cooperation in social science

The Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Vietnam Academy of Social Science and Laos’ National Academy of Politics and Administration and Academy of Social Science have signed a cooperation agreement allowing the four agencies to foster scientific exchanges.

The deal also aims to strengthen the coordination and mutual support of the parties in implementing scientific projects and organising conferences, as well as in providing scientific bases for the building and development of the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. 

The agreement focuses on enhancing the capacity of officials and lecturers, meeting requirements of domestic development and international integration, while promoting social science research achievements of each country. 

Under the deal, the agencies will share experience in theoretical and practical issues related to the national development and international integration of Vietnam and Laos , while assisting each other in personnel training and conducting joint projects in the shared border, as well as increasing documentary exchanges and translating and publishing of scientific works. 

Addressing the signing ceremony in Vientiane on October 21, Assistant Prof. Dr. Thongsalit Mangnomek, Director of Laos’ National Academy of Politics and Administration, underscored the significance of the deal as the two countries are implementing important resolutions of the Parties and Governments. 

He held that the deal will contribute to strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples 

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said that the signing of the agreement is a new step forward in cooperation between the four agencies.

Diabetes patients in the south to get free eye care

Diabetes patients in Ho Chi Minh City and a number of Mekong Delta provinces will be provided with free eye care under a project worth 734,000 USD jointly funded by the international non-governmental humanitarian organisation Orbis and the World Diabetes Foundation.

The funding was handed over to the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital at a conference on ophthalmology in Can Tho city on October 21.

The project will be implemented from October 2016 to September 2020 by the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, the Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital in HCM City, the Tien Giang General Hospital, the Tien Giang Eye Hospital, and the Cai Lay district Hospital in Tien Giang province.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Hue, manager of Orbis’s programme in the southern region, said the project aims to help diabetes patients prevent the loss of vision caused by diabetic retinopathy through building care models in HCM City and adjacent localities.

Accordingly, it will develop a pilot model to provide scanning services for early detection and timely treatment for diabetes patients.

Hue said scanning and treatment services will be built on the basis of existing medical establishments on endocrine and ophthalmology in Vietnam, adding that the model will be expanded in other localities nationwide in the future.

The Department of Examination and Treatment under the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Ophthalmology and the National Hospital of Endocrinology will also join the project, helping examine policies to support scanning service of diabetic retinopathy.

They will also closely work to build coordination mechanisms between the ophthalmology and endocrinology sectors, recommend insurance policy, and run campaigns to raise public awareness of the importance of early detecting diabetic retinopathy.

The number of people living with diabetes and those at high risk for diabetic retinopathy in HCM City and Mekong Delta localities is on the rise. However, most of them have not been examined and scanned for early detection.

The project is expected to significantly contribute to strengthening the capacity of Vietnam’s ophthalmology sector.

5B Theatre stages experimental play at Opera House

The 5B Võ Văn Tần Theatre will stage a new experimental play Giấc Mơ (Dream) at the Opera House on October 26.

The play is a combination of drama, tuồng (classic drama), contemporary dance and traditional music.

Meritorious Artist Mỹ Uyên, the theatre’s director, said: “We want to invest VNĐ200 million (US$9,000) in staging the play and serve audiences who still care about drama.”

Giấc Mơ is a screenplay by poet Nguyễn Đình Thi, which focuses on love, hope and desire for a peaceful life.

The play features a soldier who denies following Death after he dies because he thinks that he has not done anything for the country. But his love for his country and desire for devotion convinces Death.

Along with the theatre’s young actors, the work stars Trung Dũng who plays the solider and Bạch Long who plays Death.

“The play is a challenge for me and young performers, but I believe that our passion can touch audiences’ hearts,” said Dũng.

The play’s director, Thái Kim Tùng, who graduated in acting and directing from the HCM City University of Theatre and Cinematography in 2012 and 2016, said: “I have been obsessed with Giấc Mơ for two years.”

“I have tried to find a way to stage the play and make it close to young audiences,” said Tùng, who has played numerous roles and directed many plays for the city’s famous theatres, including 5B Theatre and Hoàng Thái Thanh.

As for experimentation, Tùng decided to use a round stage without props, and visual effects to change scenes. He will use traditional Vietnamese music and costumes to highlight national culture.

Tùng invited musician Nguyễn Nhật Minh and designer Sĩ Hoàng to join the project.

“I hope it will get the attention of young people. We want to send messages about love for country and life,” Uyên said.

She said after the premiere in HCM City, the play will be presented at the International Experimental Theatre in Hà Nội next month, which includes 20 plays from famous theatres around the world.

Giấc Mơ will begin at 8 pm at the Opera House at 7 Lam Sơn Square in District 1. Tickets are available at www.ticketbox.vn.

Denmark fetes 45 years of bilateral relations with Vietnam

The Embassy of Denmark in Hanoi has announced a series of cultural activities to take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in connection with the 45th Anniversary of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Denmark.

“Our bilateral partnership has developed into a broader based relationship building on trust and mutual respect under the framework of our Comprehensive Partnership Agreement”, said Ambassador Charlotte Laursen, at a press conference on October 21 unveiling the activities. 

“The presence of Danish businesses, and Danish as well as Vietnamese artists at this press conference exemplifies our commitment to enhancing bilateral ties between the two countries’ governments, businesses, and people.”

On October 21, the Danish band Saveus performs at the Monsoon Music Festival by Tuborg in Thang Long Citadel, Hanoi. The Embassy has supported this festival since its debut in 2014.

In addition to bringing Saveus to Vietnam this time, the Festival also includes a performance slot for young uprising Vietnamese artists called Lucky Duck, inspired by Danish fairy tales.

On October 25, the Danish Embassy hosts a Gala Performance at Hanoi Opera House directed by artist Quoc Trung, for the embassy’s counterparts and the Danish Community in Vietnam.

At the event, renowned Vietnamese and Danish artists such as Thanh Lam, Tung Duong, Le Cat Trong Ly, S.I.N.E., Saveus and UpperCut, will perform.

From November 19-25, Danish Film Weeks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City introduces the Danish contemporary film industry to the Vietnamese public. Denmark has created a vast amount of talented actors and film makers with worldwide reputation.

A competition will launch on the Embassy’s Facebook in November providing an opportunity for the audience to win tickets.

On November 26, Danish Footprints, a community event for Danish companies, their counterparts, employees and families follows in Ho Chi Minh City. At this event, Danish companies will showcase their CSR initiatives and engage in a series of activities, including jogging/running and a street art workshop.

The events in celebration of 45 years of bilateral ties are sponsored by Danish companies – Carlsberg, Copenhagen Delights, Danmon, DHI, Julie Sandlau, Jysk, Lego, Mascot, and Novo Nordisk – the Ambassador noted.

Vietnam pays due heed to sustainable development

The Vietnamese Government always considers sustainable development a goal in the national development strategy, said President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan.

The country has enthusiastically partaken in relevant seminars and committed to translating sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030, the official said at an international workshop on SDGs in the Mekong Sub-region in Vientiane, Laos, on October 20.

Vietnam is one of the countries that have actively implemented the Agenda 21 on sustainable development and the country adopted a sustainable development strategy for 2011-2020 he said.

Thuan added that the country has also been praised for its successful realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), creating marked changes in reducing poverty and raising people’s living standards.

Participants at the workshop discussed smart agriculture as well as specific measures to implement actions and projects combined with the 2030 Agenda and SDGs in the Mekong Sub-region countries, with attention paid to a smart agriculture in the context of climate change, poor technologies and limited capital.

In his speech concluding the conference, President of the Lao National Institute for Social Sciences Soukkongseng Sayaleuth stated that participants have worked effectively despite restricted discussion time.

They exchanged ideas and solutions to smart agriculture development and the realization of sustainable growth goals, he said, adding that upbeat outcomes of the event will open future cooperation opportunities in smart farming for sides involved.

Representing Cambodia – the host of the next conference, President of the Royal Academy of Cambodia Khlot Thyda announced the 2017 theme as food security and water resources management in the Mekong sub-region.

Quang Ngai improves education for ethnic students

The central province of Quang Ngai plans to build 20 new boarding schools for ethnic students by 2020.

The move will raise the total number of local boarding schools to 39. 

There are more than 45,000 students across mountainous districts in the province, 2,000 of whom are studying at seven boarding schools. 

Expanding the boarding school network is expected to facilitate ethnic students’ access to receiving education. 

The locality will also provide financial aid for tuition fees and accommodation, school supplies and 15kg of rice per month for ethnic students. 

Vietnamese and ethnic languages will be taught at the schools, among other activities to improve learning and teaching quality. 

In the 2015-2016 school year, investment for education in the province reached nearly VND12.5 billion (US$562,500), almost double that of the previous school year, at VND7.5 billion (US$337,500).

Central Highlands upgrade irrigation network

Provinces in the Central Highlands are investing dozens of billion VND to upgrade irrigation works to ensure water supply for winter–spring crops.

Dak Lak Province has more than 770 irrigation works, the most among Central Highlands provinces, but 80 of which have been damaged to different levels. The province has conducted reparation on several big- and medium-sized irrigation systems, such as Buon Yoong, Krong Buk, upper Ea Sup, and lower Ea Sup reservoirs. 

Dak Nong Province has also invested in upgrading more than 50 irrigation works, including the Thuan An and Dak Sak reservoirs to ensure water for coffee farms in Dak Min district. 

Similar efforts are underway in Kon Tum Province. 

Currently, the region has 2,352 irrigation works of all sizes, serving 215,765 hectares of winter – spring crops, mostly wet rice, and 21 percent of the local coffee cultivation area. 

The Tay Nguyen Central Highlands comprises five provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Lam Dong. 

Situated at an average altitude of 500m, the region’s soil is mostly basaltic, suitable for planting coffee trees, rubber, pepper and other industrial crops, with coffee the most important product.

Free bus service connects industrial zone-packed provinces

A free high-quality bus service has recently been put into operation for commuters traveling on National Road No.13 between Binh Duong and Binh Phuoc provinces in southern Vietnam.

The fleet of 11 50-seater buses, owned by Binh Phuoc Infrastructure Construction Investment JSC, is piloted to serve passengers for free until the end of this year.

This is also the first high-quality bus service in the province.

The buses are scheduled to carry passengers between 5:00 am and 5:30 pm in two routes: one from Bang Lang-Bau Bang intersection in the southern province of Binh Duong to An Loc Plaza in Binh Phuoc, and the other from An Loc Plaza to Loc Ninh Intersection in Binh Phuoc.

Featuring Wi-Fi access and other modern highlights, the buses provide passengers with safe and relaxing experience of traveling.

“The goal is to ease travel experience for workers to work in the industrial zones along the street and surrounding areas and for local residents,” Huynh Thanh Chung, director of the construction company said at the inaugural ceremony on October 18.

He also hoped that the bus service can greatly contribute to traffic accident reduction and boost the economic growth across districts along the street.

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