New drama theater inaugurated in HCMC

A new drama theater has been inaugurated at 81 Tran Quoc Thao Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3 on November 18.

Quoc Thao Theater is co-invested by the Center of art literature experimenting and training under the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations; and the Th Entertainment Company by actors Quoc Thao and Quoc Thuan.

The theater includes an experimental stage, a practice stage, and a 250-seat main stage. It is a venue for performances and acting courses for drama students.

The first acting class will open in December, said actor Quoc Thuan.

Building preschools for workers’ kids should be expanded nationwide

Building modern preschools for workers’ children in the southern province of Dong Nai should be praised and expanded nationwide because there are not schools for employees’ kids in industrial parks and export processing zones at present. 

When Nguyen Thi Phuong who is a worker hailing from the central province of Nghe An in Dong Nai province’s Xuan Loc District finishes her work at 4PM everyday, she is hurriedly going to pick up her kid in preschool Dona Standard.

She is happy to see the kid playing with classmates. She said that she felt assured sending her child to the preschool. Before, she fretted to send her kid to unlicensed private preschools for fearing accidents and ill-treatment.

US$ 3 million Dona Standard preschool located in Xuan Loc Industrial Park invested by Phong Thai Corporation opened in August , 2016 to take care of workers’ children. The school covers 2.4 hectare of land with tend of class, playground and other rooms. It is keeping 1,000 kids from 6.30 Am to 8 Pm; accordingly, workers feel assured working at the companies in the park. Workers just pay school tuition fee of VND430,000 per month.

Before, Phong Thai Corporation had spent $1 million on building a preschool for workers’ kids in Song May Industrial Park in Trang Bom District. Parents just pay tuition fee of VND300,000 a month.

In 2016, the corporation announced it has invested $14 million for building accommodation for workers and preschools for their kids. A corporation representative said that to help workers feel assured while working, the company builds these schools. It hopes to train good kids for the country’s future also.

Deputy Head of the province Labor Union Nguyen Thi Nhu Y said that as per the Prime Minister’s instruction on beefing up construction of preschools in industrial parks, the People’s Committee facilitated enterprises in building these schools.

She continued that administration called for social contribution in building preschools; accordingly, not only big enterprises in industrial parks but also other small companies in the province poured capital in building schools. For instance, Hwaseung Vina built a VND5 billion school in Hiep Phuoc Commune and planned to build one more VND3 billion school in Long Tho Commune.

Eclat Vietnam Garment and Textile Company also paid VND5 billion for constructing a school in Hiep Phuoc Commune while Hyosung Vietnam asked for permission to build an over VND1 billion school in the commune.

Last year, Tae Kwang Vina invested $43 million building Thai Quang preschool in Agtex Long Binh Industrial Park in Bien Hoa city in the area of 7,500 meter square to take care of 1,000 kids.

In 2013, Pou Chen Vietnam in Bien Hoa Town also opened Green World preschool to keep kids aged 2 to 5.

This helps workers feel assured while working and their children’s education is better. Therefore, it should be expanded in the country.

Forty-eight dutiful children in HCMC honored

The Youth Union and the Women Union in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday jointly held a ceremony to honor filial children in the city. 

Forty-eight people were selected from outstanding sons and daughters. They are those who take heed to take care their sick parents and grandparents and join in movements in localities.

The selection of dutiful children movement receive overwhelming response of all walks of life. This helps change people’s behaviors to parents and raise people’s awareness of children’s duty to parents and grandfathers.

Common eider salvation for Mekong delta farmers in climate change

Saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta due to climate change badly affects poultry breeding. At present, common eider has been becoming major animals which brings good profits for farmers in the region. 

In the meeting named “Developing eider in Mekong delta to adapt to climate change” , experts said that the waterfowls are easily bred in all freshwater, brackish water, salt water and eggs, meat quality is the same with fresh duck in the country.

As per the General Statistics Office (GSO) of Vietnam, total number of duck nationwide is 72 million and 26 millions of duck are bred in the Mekong delta accounting for 37 percent. The number of duck in Tra Vinh Province in Mekong delta dropped from 2.4 million to 1.4 million because of salinity.

According to the Institute for Husbandry, the number of waterfowl would fall in the future because saltwater intrusion continued meanwhile the delta's eight coastal provinces namely Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, and Hau Giang are suitable for farming sea duck.

Some sea ducks had been raised in saltwater intrusion areas in pilot in three years; and the result is quite pleased as the animal was duplicated. Especially, the animal can be bred in brackish water, coastal areas or islets. Sea ducks have also been bred in some drought and salty water-hit areas such as Kien Giang, Tien Giang, and Bac Lieu.

Director of Institute of Animals Sciences for Southern Vietnam under the National Institute of Animals Sciences Duong Xuan Tuyen said that sea ducks, a salt-tolerant animal species, are well-resistant to diseases and adaptable to salty and brackish water environment; accordingly, the center is carrying out sea duck farming in 12 provinces in the Mekong delta in a piloted program.

A sea duck weighs 2.8 kilogram in nine week and they lay 240 eggs a year. However, it needs further studies on the animal to select and duplicate them for breeding in islets and salt water intrusion areas.

The encourage agricultural expansion center in Long An and Soc Trang provinces followed suit to raise the animal for two years realizing that the animal is bred in nature to make full advantage of natural food sources rich in nutrients.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hau Giang Province where raises 2.5 million ducks. In 2016, half of its land was intruded by salt water causing loss for duck breeding.

Therefore, the local authority has piloted to breed sea duck in salt intruded communes generating high profit for farmers. Farmer Mai Van Duong in Tra Vinh is feeding 800 sea ducks saying that egg and meat quality is very good but farmers is facing difficulties in consumption because customers are not used to the new animal.

Many encourage agricultural expansion centers said volatile markets of sea duck get farmers down despite good quality of egg and meat. The government should increase information of the animal to make consumers know more about the animal and work out plan to avoid abundant supply.

In fact, Deputy Head of the Department of Husbandry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Trong said , sea duck has been raised in islands and coastal districts a few years ago in pilot. To have high productivity, the Department has provided technique and baby ducks to farmers. Nevertheless, the piloted program faces difficulties in consuming.

Deputy Chief of the National Encourage Agricultural Expansion center Ms. Ha Thuy Hanh said four years ago, the center piloted to raise the animal in coastal communes in the northern province of Quang Ninh and got success. Price of sea duck egg is sold higher than normal duck in the North and the supply fell behind market expectations. Subsequently, it is potential in the Mekong delta.

Crack appears on Vam Cong Bridge girder

A crack measuring about four centimeters in width and two meters in length has been detected on a girder of the under-construction Vam Cong Bridge connecting Can Tho City and Dong Thap Province, according to a statement of the Ministry of Transport.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Nhat on November 17 chaired a meeting between the ministry’s inspection team and the parties involved to find a solution for the crack on the girder on top of pier P29. 

The ministry asked Cuu Long Corporation for Investment, Development and Project Management of Infrastructure (Cuu Long CIPM), the developer of the bridge, to suspend construction work and take necessary measures to ensure safety.

An inspection team manned by the Transport Engineering Construction and Quality Management Bureau, the Department of Science and Technology and experts has been sent to the construction site to examine the crack and find a coping solution. No specific solution has been announced.

The contractor and supervision agency have examined technical conditions of the bridge, including geometric measurements of girders, piers and cables. Results showed that there are no other cracks or faults on the bridge, and the structure is stable for now.

Vam Cong Bridge crossing the Hau River in the Mekong Delta has a total investment of more than US$271 million, funded by official development assistance (ODA) of South Korea.

The construction work is being supervised by South Korean consortium Dasan-Kunhwa-Pyunghwa, and executed by a consortium comprising GS Engineering & Construction Corp and Hanshin.

With its construction beginning in September 2013, the bridge is nearly three kilometers long and 24.5 meters wide, with six lanes and a maximum speed of 80 kilometers an hour.

Hanoi  to build more overpasses and tunnels

Hanoi has announced plans to develop three overpass and tunnel projects and adjust some other projects to bolster social and economic development, the Government news website reports.

The city will build an overpass between Hoang Quoc Viet and Nguyen Van Huyen streets, and complete work on Nguyen Van Huyen Street. This project costs VND503 billion (US$22.1 million), funded by the city budget.

The second project is to build a tunnel between Ring Road 2.5 and Giai Phong Street in Hoang Mai Province at an estimated cost of VND672 billion (US$29.5 million), also funded by the city budget.

The third is to develop a VND550 billion (US$24.2 million) tunnel from Le Van Luong Intersection to Ring Road 3 under the build-operate (BT) investment format. The investor is Tasco JSC.

The city will also adjust some projects. Four urban railway projects will be financed by the city budget and the local private sector under the BT format, instead of official development assistance (ODA) loans.

But for Urban Railway No.2 from Tran Hung Dao in Hoan Kiem District to Thuong Dinh Street in Thanh Xuan District, and Urban Railway No.3 from Hanoi Station to Hoang Mai District, their investment formats are kept unchanged.

Three BOT projects – Thuong Cat Bridge, Ring Road 4 from National Highway 32 to Phap Van-Cau Gie Highway, Duong 2 Bridge, and a road leading to neighboring Bac Ninh Province – will be developed under either BOT or BT format.

More patients trust district-level, private hospitals

There have been more patients visiting private and district-level hospitals in HCMC for medical examination and treatment, easing the pressure on hospitals at higher levels.

This is evident in a slight fall in patients at city-level hospitals in the first nine months of the year.

According to the HCMC Department of Health, the number of patients visiting city-level hospitals made up 48.3% in the nine-month period, down 2.7% year-on-year, while district-level and private hospitals saw respective increases of 1.1% and 3.1% to 27.2% and 18.7%.

In addition to the hospitals of districts 2, Thu Duc, Tan Phu, Binh Thanh and Binh Tan, patients at Cu Chi District Hospital grew more than 70%, District 11 Hospital 20%, and the hospitals of districts 9, 5, 1, Nha Be and Binh Chanh over 10% over the year-ago period.

More people have come to lower-level hospitals thanks to cooperation between public and private hospitals. For example, Children’s Hospital No. 1 offers medical services at the private Trieu An Hospital and Children’s Hospital No. 2 also has representatives at the private Hong Duc Hospital.

The HCMC Oncological Hospital provides goiter treatment services at the oncological ward of the Hong Duc Hospital and People’s Hospital 115 cooperates with the private City International Hospital.

The examination departments of district-level hospitals providing services at ward-level clinics have attracted more patients. The presence of Thu Duc District Hospital’s examination department at Binh Chieu Ward’s medical center and that of Tan Phu District Hospital at Tay Thanh Ward’s medical center help bring in 100 and 30 patients a day respectively.

Vietnam shines bright at Asian Golf Awards

The 18th Asian Golf Awards were organized for the first time in Da Nang on the night of November 16, where representatives from Vietnam’s golf industry wore a path to the winner’s circle.

In addition to Vietnam itself claiming “Asia Pacific’s Best Golf Destination”, BRG Kings Island Golf Resort overcame Ba Na Hills Golf Club and Montgomerie Links to be named “Best Golf Course in Vietnam”.

“What a night, and what a month,” said Mr. Tim Haddon, General Manager of Ba Na Hills. “For us, these accolades are testament to the hard work and dedication that our team puts into making our guests happy and excited to come back again and again.”

The Asian Golf Awards, which are billed as the regional golf industry’s equivalent of the Oscars, was the final act of the 11th Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS), a three-day conference that attracted leaders from the golf business all around the world.

Representatives from high-profile brands such as Nicklaus Companies, PXG, and Topgolf gave keynote speeches at the forum, which took place at the new Sheraton Danang Resort.

Most of the Asian Golf Awards winners were determined by an online survey conducted over a three-month period, beginning in May. Others were selected based on contributions or achievements deemed worthy of acknowledgment by the program’s owner and producer, the Asia Pacific Golf Group.

This year, 100,024 votes were cast covering 51 categories; all-time records for the Asian Golf Awards - the only continent-wide poll of the golf industry in Asia.

Prime Minister asks information sector to solve existing issues

Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung has conveyed a request from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) to explain and set out measures to resolve four issues.

Minster Dung led a governmental working mission on November 22 to inspect the implementation of tasks set by the Government and the PM at the MIC. Since the beginning of the year, the MIC has been assigned a total of 528 tasks. It has completed 308 tasks, 216 are being implemented while four tasks remain unfinished.

Regarding the state management and planning of the press, Minister Mai Tien Dung pointed out the overlapping condition, the low quality of certain press agencies, and violations of the law and professional ethics by some press agencies and journalists.

Minister Dung also asked the sector to further focus on a number of issues related to the development of IT industry, e-government, digital economy, and the construction of smart cities.

The Ministry was also urged to devise more drastic measures to solve problems related to unregistered SIM cards, and enhance inspection to prevent false information in order to create a clean and healthy telecommunication and internet environment in Vietnam.

The head of the Government Office also mentioned the inadequacies in the regulations on printing activities, the provisions of import licenses for radio transmitters and receivers, among others.

The head of the working group also emphasised that the PM and the people expect more efforts as well as radical long-term measures to solve existing problems.

Dr. Good-for-nothings

Questions and suspicions are awash when the Ministry of Education and Training last week put forth a scheme for improving the quality of lecturers at higher education institutions, the key component of which is to have an additional 9,000 holders of doctorate degrees between now and 2025. In explanations, the ministry states that the scheme is aimed to enhance the quality of education so as to improve the human resource meeting the economy’s greater demands during the new era of globalization when competition is tougher.

Under the scheme, VND12 trillion, or roughly US$550 million, will be spent, with 94% to be sourced from the State budget. If the scheme is realized, the number of doctorate degree holders among lecturers at such education institutions nationwide will reach 35%, still lower than the level in regional countries.

The ministry’s scheme, however, has stirred up controversy, with more objection than approval, according to local media. Criticisms largely center on the quantitative content of the scheme, with many stressing the bigger number of doctorate degree holders does not mean higher quality for the country’s education.

Vietnam has seen “inflation” in doctorate programs, with many a doctorate thesis containing little practical values and having mainly been used as decorations or locked in a folder for good, says Lao Dong. According to the paper, there are over 24,000 doctorate degree holders nationwide, and in the education sector alone, there are over 16,000 doctorate degree holders out of nearly 73,000 lecturers. Despite such a sizeable number of high-degree scholars, Vietnam’s scientific research capacity lags far behind regional countries.

More specifically, Dan Viet, citing the education ministry, says that despite having over 24,000 doctorate degree holders, Vietnam still trails far behind other regional countries in terms of scientific research. The online paper points out that between 1996 and 2005, Vietnamese scientists including doctorate degree holders had 3,456 studies approved for publishing in science journals worldwide, and such a number equaled only one-fifth of Thailand’s, one-third of Malaysia’s, and one-fourteenth of Singapore’s.

Newspapers agree that the quality of doctorate degree holders in Vietnam is low, as training has been centered on the quantity, with little attention paid to the practical value. “Recently, there have been so many questions about the quality of doctorate degree holders,” says Lao Dong. “There have lately been several weird theses defended by doctorate degree holders that have little significance, such as a thesis on ‘Characteristics in commune-level chairpersons’ interactions with citizens’ or a thesis on “Flattering in the Vietnamese language’ or “The art of typography in book cover designs’ among others,” says the paper.

Nguoi Lao Dong, in a commentary, says a doctorate degree should not be a decoration or a passport for gaining material value. Rather, such learned people must have scientific studies useful to society. In 2015 when councils were convened to confer the titles of professors and associate professors, it was revealed that only scholars in three out of 28 councils had been internationally recognized for their studies, all in natural sciences like physics, mathematics or information technology. Meanwhile, there were up to 10 out of 28 councils where none of the scholars had ever had an international-acclaimed study, according to the paper.

The education ministry must “give answers to the public on the contributions of doctorate degree holders to society,” says Nguoi Lao Dong. Otherwise, the sum of VND12 trillion contributed by taxpayers cannot be wasted.

Professor Duong Duc Tien, a lecturer at the Hanoi-based University of Natural Sciences, says on Dat Viet that excessive training of doctorate degree holders in terms of quantity does not help resolve problems facing the country. “Our number of doctorate degree holders is not small, but their contributions to help change the country for the better is minimal, if nothing. It is a shame,” he comments.

Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc of the Vietnam National University in Hanoi asserts on Dan Tri that the education sector must urgently have more scholars to replenish intellectual manpower at universities, but such scholars must have qualifications demanded for by society. The professor says that Vietnam should attend more to training scholars in natural sciences, as the country is facing an imbalance now, with doctorate degree holders for the most part are those in social sciences.

“The number of doctorate researchers in natural sciences is currently equal to only one-fifth of that in social sciences,” the professor is quoted in Dan Tri as saying.

The scheme to have 9,000 more doctorate degree holders in the next few years can be a good vision, if the education ministry can tightly control the quality of academic programs, says Dan Tri, citing experts on education.

According to Tuoi Tre, the public has not approved the education ministry’s scheme due to the low quality of scholars in reality. There have been comparisons between farmers who have managed to have inventions useful for their workaday businesses, and so-called scholars who have created little academic value, says the paper.

Nonetheless, says Tuoi Tre, enhancing the intellectual capacity of lecturers, specifically the aim to have more doctorate degree holders, is imperative to improve the quality of manpower in the coming time, if the country is to grasp opportunities and make the most of scientific and technological advancements.

And, in order to instill public confidence, there should be solutions to provide training for scholars with real talent to benefit the country, rather than to create a huge number of Dr. Good-for-nothings.

Ao Dai collection to be showcased at Vietnam Film Festival

As many as 20 traditional Vietnamese dresses (Aodai) designed by Nhat Dung will be showcased at the 20th Vietnam Film Festival on November 27.

The collection, titled “Vietnam, Land and People”, features Vietnamese culture and natural heritages.

All designs are made of silk with the images of Galaxy Waterfall and Thien Duong Cave in Quang Binh province printed on them.

Various activities will be held during the Vietnam Film Festival, including Golden Lotus Awards,  ASEAN Film Awards, a seminar on Vietnam and ASEAN film industry development, a film screening week, an exhibition on the Vietnamese cinema, and art exchanges.

Can Tho, India seek partnership in agriculture, training

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city Vo Thanh Thong had a meeting with Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Srikar Reddy in the Mekong Delta city on November 20, during which the two sides show hope to forge partnership in agriculture and training.

Thong said that Can Tho is an agricultural hub of the region with high production and quality of farm produce. 

However, the city has still face high post-harvest loss and low price, as well as difficulties in exporting agricultural products to choosy markets, he said, pointing to the need to renovate technology in producing, preserving and processing of the products.

He proposed that the Indian diplomat help connect high-tech agricultural firms between the two sides in biotechnology and variety production.

For his part, Srikar Reddy lauded the development of Can Tho, highlighting that Indian enterprises hope to cooperate with Can Tho in high quality human resource training.

India has supported Can Tho in upgrading professional capacity for the Can Tho University of Engineering and Technology, he noted, expressing his hope that more students of Can Tho would choose India for their further training.

He also pledged to introduce more Indian firms to Can Tho to seek partnership.

According to the Can Tho Department of Foreign Affairs, as of November 2017, Can Tho exported 1.5 million USD worth of goods to India, mostly seafood, garment and textile, agricultural products. The city also imported goods valuing 1.7 million USD from India, including medical material, fabric and chemicals.

Vietnam attends 14th Congress of Brazilian Communist Party

Deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Tran Dac Loi attended the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) which took place in Brasilia on November 17-19.

The congress, bringing together about 700 delegates, discussed global and regional issues and today’s political situation in Brazil. It highlighted achievements and lessons learned from failures of the country’s left-wing government over the past decade, thus setting forth its goals in the time ahead.

The congress adopted the resolution, namely “The Broad Front: The New Path for Brazil – Democracy, Independence, Development and Social Progress”, to prepare for the Brazilian presidential election for the 2019-2022 term.

It also adopted the revised version of the PCdoB’s Charter to reinforce and develop its power in an effort to protect social welfare policies and improve people’s living standard, as well as towards peace, independence, freedom, prosperity, democracy and social progress in Brazil.

Luciana Santos was re-elected as the PCdoC chairwoman.

Speaking at a meeting with Loi, Santos thanked the CPV for sending a delegation to attend the congress and affirmed her hope to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two parties and people of Vietnam and Brazil in the future.-

Leaders send greetings to teachers on Teachers’ Day

President Tran Dai Quang on November 20 sent greeting flowers to two veteran teachers, Prof. Vu Khieu and pianist Thai Thi Lien, on the occasion of the Vietnamese Teachers’ Day.

Prof. Vu Khieu, who is more than 100 years old, is a well-known scholar specialised in Vietnamese culture. During the anti-French resistant war, he served as director of the Culture Department of Zone 10 in Viet Bac and Tay Bac (northern mountainous region). 

After Hanoi Liberation in 1954, Khieu held many important positions, including Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam News Agency.

He was presented with the Ho Chi Minh Award in 1996.

Thai Thi Lien, 94, is one of the first piano teachers of Vietnam and seven founding teachers of the Vietnam School of Music, which is now the Vietnam Academy of Music (VAM). She worked as head of the Piano Faculty of the academy until 1980.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited and extended greetings to some outstanding teachers who have made great contributions to the development of the education and training sector of Vietnam.

Visiting pianist Thai Thi Lien, PM Phuc thanked the artist for training many famous artists for Vietnam, including her two talented offspring, renowned pianists Dang Thai Son and Tran Thu Ha who is former director of the VAM.

During a visit to writer Vu Tu Nam who has been awarded with the State Award of Literature and Art, the Government leader hailed Nam’s effort in nurturing many writers for Vietnam and setting a good example for younger generations.

Meeting Sculptor Ta Quang Bao, another owner of the State Award of Literature and Art, the OM highlighted some significant sculptures by Vietnamese artists, including the statue of Chu Van An, a well-known Confucian teacher of Vietnam.

PM Phuc also affirmed that the Government is seeking suitable policies to support teachers and artists to create more favourable conditions for them to make more contributions to the development of the country’s education-training, literature and art.

Photo exhibition highlights Buddhist achievements

As many as 450 photos featuring standout achievements of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) during 2012-2017 are on display at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Hanoi.

The exhibition, which opened on November 20, is part of the activities to welcome the eighth Congress of the VBS for 2017-2022 tenure.

The VBS’s activities, including Vesak festival, requiems for the peace of the souls of war martyrs, traffic accident victims, and war victims through history and summer retreats, are depicted through the event.

The exhibition also introduced the VBS’s voluntary activities like blood donation and gift presenting to soldiers and locals in Truong Sa island district.

Monk Thich Trung Hau, head of the Culture Board of the VBS Central Committee, highlighted that the sangha has gained numerous achievements in various sectors since its establishment in 1981. 

The VBS now has branches in all 63 cities and provinces nationwide, he said, adding that it has set up associations of Vietnamese Buddhists in many countries and territories.

On the occasion, Buddhist followers in Hanoi also displayed images of Buddhist cultural heritages in India- homeland of Phat Thich Ca Mau Ni (Sakyamuni Buddha).

National Congress of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to open

The eighth National Congress of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) for the 2017-2022 tenure will open in Hanoi on November 21. 

Up to 250 delegates are expected to attend the event, including VBS dignitaries, monks and nuns, leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front, chief representatives of international organisations based in Hanoi, and Buddhist dignitaries from China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea. 

The Congress is due to reach consensus on achieving nine goals for the tenure, review VBS’s activities for 2012-2017 and discuss work for 2017-2022, adopt amendments to the sixth Charter, and elect members to the VBS’s Executive Board for the tenure and several other important issues.

Laos provides relief to Phu Yen’s storm victims

The Government of Laos has provided 20 tonnes of rice and a tonne of dried pork and beef in aid for people hit by Typhoon Damrey in the central coastal province of Phu Yen.

The relief demonstrates the close ties between the people of Laos and Vietnam in difficulties, said Intha Vong Pha Chanh, Lao Deputy Consul General in Da Nang, at an event to hand over the goods on November 20.

Secretary of the province’s Party Committee Huynh Tan Viet thanked the Lao Government for its urgent support and vowed to deliver the relief to those in need as soon as possible.

After the event, all the goods were dispatched to people living in mountainous districts of Dong Xuan, Song Hinh and Son Hoa.

Prior to this, tonnes of goods, including sugar, milk and canned foods, sent by Russia to aid flood recovery in Vietnam have been allocated to districts in the province.

Typhoon Damrey, the 12th major storm in the East Sea, hit Vietnam’s south central coast on November 4, claiming 89 lives and left 18 missing and 174 others injured in central and Central Highlands localities, according to the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

Journalism training course opens in Laos

A training course to improve Lao journalists’ public relations (PR) and professional skills, the 20th of its kind, opened in Vientiane on November 20. 

The five-day course was a joint effort of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, attracting 40 reporters and editors from the Lao central and local press outlets. 

Speaking at the event, Vice Director of the MIC’s Authority of Press Nguyen Thai Phien said the event aims to share professional experience among journalists from the two countries, especially PR skills. 

Director of the Lao Institute of Information, Culture and Tourism Vilaythong Sisanone said after 19 courses with 19 practical themes, hundreds of Lao journalists have been trained and covered helpful news in service of the public. 

He also took the occasion to thank the MIC for assisting the Lao press sector over the past years.

HCM City seeks cooperation with Russia’s Tatarstan Republic

Ho Chi Minh City wishes to cooperate with Russia’s autonomous Republic of Tatarstan in machinery manufacturing and high technology, said Vice Standing Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem. 

At a meeting with Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov in the city on November 20, Liem said the Vietnamese southern metropolis is looking towards a smart city and interested in the manufacturing industry. 

HCM City will intensify investment and trade links with Russia, including Tatarstan, aiming to raise Vietnam-Russia trade value to 20 billion USD in 2020, the official promised. 

Liem emphasised that the attention of the two sides’ authorities will make the bilateral economic and trade cooperation successful. 

HCM City stands ready to step up collaboration with Tatarstan in delegation exchanges and people-to-people diplomacy activities, contributing to enhancing the bilateral economic and trade ties, he said. 

Rustam Minnikhanov held that on the basis of the Vietnam-Russia relationship, relations between Tatarstan and Vietnam in general and HCM City in particular will be tightened, bringing pragmatic interests to people of both sides. 

HCM City and Tatarstan hold a lot of potential for cooperation in economy and trade, he said, adding that the two sides have advantages that can support each other, particularly in high-tech and machinery manufacturing. 

Tatarstan wishes to beef up its diverse cooperation with HCM City, especially in trade, investment, education-training, culture and sports, he said. 

During his stay in Vietnam, Rustam Minnikhanov attended the Vietnam-Tatarstan Business Forum and visited the Saigon Hi-tech Park and a number of historical relic sites in the city.

Capital records fewer dengue fever cases

Half of Hanoi’s 30 districts reported fewer people infected with dengue fever last week, while the figure for the remaining half was unchanged compared to the previous week.

According to the Hanoi Department of Health, the number of new dengue fever cases amounted to 448 from November 13 to 19.

From the beginning of 2017, the capital has recorded 36,793 dengue fever cases, causing seven deaths. The city now has 113 dengue fever outbreaks.

Young Vietnamese army officers join exchange in Cambodia

A delegation of young officers from the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) joined an exchange with staff, lecturers and students of an officer training school for the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) on November 20. 

The delegation was led by head of the Military Youth Board under the VPA’s General Department of Politics Dinh Quoc Hung. 

Both sides recalled difficulties overcome by the VPA and RCA during their struggles for national independence. 

Hung called on the two countries’ young army officers to enhance friendship and exchanges. 

The Vietnamese officers will share experience with several units of the RCA. 

The exchange programme will last till November 25.

Exchange introduces Vietnam to Ukraine students

The Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine held a cultural exchange in Kiev on November 20 gathering 40 teachers and students in Kremenchuk city of Poltava province.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Anh Tuan introduced Vietnam as a country, its achievements and its role in the world arena, especially after the successful APEC Year 2017.

He noted that this year, the two countries have celebrated the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, holding various activities to strengthen ties.

A number of leaders of both sides, including the meeting between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Ukraine President Petr Poroshenko at the Davos World Economic Forum in January 2017, as well as the 14th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee in October showed the efforts of the two countries in forging stronger relations in economy, trade, science-technology, defence and education, he said.

Meanwhile, Andrey Melnik, Director of the Kremenchuk centre for international relations and economic development, lauded the goodwill of the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine and Ambassador Nguyen Tuan Anh in organising the event.

He reviewed activities boosting the partnership between Vietnam and Ukraine this year.

During the event, the embassy also held a photo exhibition and film screening spotlighting the nation and people of Vietnam as well as the life of late President Ho Chi Minh.

Participants also enjoyed music and dance performances by Kremenchuk city students.

Vietnam launches project on alternative care for vulnerable children

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs launched a 12-year project on alternative care for disadvantaged children on November 20. 

Funded by the UK-based organisation Care for Children (CFC), the project consists of four stages, with the pilot stage running in Hanoi and Thai Nguyen in the north for 2017 – 2020.

The organisation will collaborate with local agencies at different levels to provide personnel training for public social protection centres to be in charge of alternative care, including the selection of suitable foster families and assessment of fostering process. Care for Children will also design specific materials and training syllabuses for Vietnam.     

Robert Glover, chief executive of Care for Children, said it aims to bring a better life for children.

He noted that childcare centres are often costly, while the cost of fostering children within the community might be high at first, but will gradually decrease.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan said the point is to replicate the model nationwide.

The United Nations estimated that approximately 8 million children worldwide live in social centres. 

Student art display on Book Street explores UK rivers

Six works of art by students from Hà Nội secondary schools are on display at the Rivers of the World exhibition on Book Street, also known as December 19 Street.

The Rivers of the World project is an 11 year-old UK initiative that has asked schools in 28 countries to spend a year researching and creating art about local rivers. The following year, the schools are partnered with peers in the UK to research British rivers. In 2017, 69 artworks have been produced by 69 schools from Ethiopia; Zambia; Nigeria; Sierra Leone; Nepal; Việt Nam and the UK.

The artwork on display was previously shown at the project’s global exhibition, which was held in London as one of the marquee events at the Thames Festival from September 1 to 30.

In Việt Nam, the British Council has worked with the Ministry of Education and Training to implement the project for two years, bringing local artists to encourage pupils as they learn about local rivers in the first year and their partner’s river in the second.

With instruction from artist Nguyễn Hoàng Giang, pupils from Gia Thụy; Đông Thái; Lương Thế Vinh; Phương Mai; Nguyễn Du and Trâu Quỳ created pieces reflecting current environmental concerns, while drawing on historical events such as The Great Stink of 1858, when the Thames River was severely polluted by sewage.

At Trâu Quỳ Secondary School, the pupils looked at the history of Cutty Sark, one of the most iconic tea clippers in the UK’s trading history. They gathered information about the ship’s figurehead, characteristics and important people in its history. They then produced paper puppets depicting the individuals.

"We learn a lot through researching the Cutty Sark, exchanging ideas with our UK partner school, giving a presentation and certainly making artwork. We are happy that we participated in the project," said pupil Phạm Ngọc Minh.

The UK’s tea culture was chosen by the pupils from Phương Mai Secondary School to be this year’s theme, as tea is enjoyed in both Vietnamese and British cultures. The pupils looked at the history of tea in the UK and cultural practices around this special beverage. They also compared their findings with tea culture in Việt Nam. They assembled paper teapots and decorated them with images of London for their final artwork.

"The River of the World project gave me an opportunity to learn about the UK’s rivers but also their tea culture. I learned that the way they drink tea is a bit different from ours," said pupil Phan Minh Nghĩa.

Following a recommendation from their partner school, Gia Thụy School’s pupils researched the Great Stink of 1858 and its consequences. They watched a short documentary about how improved hygiene conditions resolved the river’s garbage problem. The pupils learned water transfer printing and created their own representations of the polluted Thames using discarded plastic bottles and cups.

“This is the second year that our students participated in the project,” said teacher Nguyễn Thị Hiền. “Throughout the process, our students have learnt a great deal about team work, research and art. But most importantly, the project raised their awareness of the need to protect our environment.”

At Lương Thế Vinh Secondary School, the pupils were inspired by the Thames Barrier, a structure that prevents London from experiencing annual floods. They watched documentaries and produced stencil prints showing London safe from floods due to the Thames Barrier.

The students at Đông Thái Secondary School researched the Thames salmon initiative. They learnt that the Thames was heavily polluted by industrial activities, making it impossible for many fish species, especially salmon, to survive. In recent years, however thanks to some initiatives by the UK government, the water quality has improved significantly and fish have returned to their natural habitats. Taking inspiration from this, the pupils made collages depicting an optimistic future for the health of the Thames.

The exhibition will run until November 30.

Sơn wins fourth stage of cycling race

Hà Văn Sơn took the lead in the final metres to win the fourth stage of the Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Cycling Tournament yesterday.

Sơn of BTV Đại Nam Bình Dương won the 195km stage from Buôn Ma Thuột to Nha Trang City in a time of 5:24.48.

Nguyễn Trúc Xinh of Bến Tre and Sơn’s teammate, Nguyễn Minh Việt came second and third.

Although Trần Thanh Điền of VUS-HCM City didn’t finish in the top three, he retained the yellow jersey for best overall time of 14:46.44 after four stages. Trần Lê Minh Tuấn of Military Zone 7 and Nguyễn Nhật Nam of Domesco Phamarcy Đồng Tháp were the runners-up.

The green jersey for best sprinter went to Lê Nguyệt Minh of HCM City with 42 points. Việt and Điền are behind with 32 points and 29 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Ngô Văn Phương of Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang holds the white jersey as best young cyclist with a total time of 14:49.41.

In the team rankings, Domesco Phamarcy Đồng Tháp lead with a time of 44:29.05, followed by VUS-HCM City and the Military Zone 7.

Today, cyclists will compete in the fifth stage from Nha Trang to Đà Lạt City lasting 98km.

Round 12 sees goalless tie at football championship

Phong Phú Hà Nam tied goalless with Hà Nội 1 in round 12 of the National Women’s Football Championship held in the northern province of Hà Nam.

The Capital team dominated the game, held on November 19, since the referee blew her whistle. The hosts, Hà Nam, encountered many difficulties to break the Capital team’s defence line. However, no goals were scored in the first half.

After the break, Hà Nam made every effort to seek goals, but the visiting side were quick to stop their attacks.

With the sharp attacks of the strikers, Hà Nội 1 had many chances to open the scores but failed to do so.

In another match, Việt Nam Coal and Mineral defeated Hà Nội 2 1-0.

The event’s only goal belonged to Dương Thị Vân in the 23rd minute.

With this win, Coal and Mineral are third in the rankings, with 25 points. HCM City 1 and Hà Nam are on top, with 30 points and 27 points, respectively.