Major drug ring busted, seizing nearly 40kg of drugs

Nguyen Nhat Truong (R) and Pham Duy Minh arrested 

Ho Chi Minh City Police’s investigation agency announced on November 20 that the agency had begun legal proceedings against and put in temporary detention two men for illegal drug smuggling.

Specifically, on November 7, the agency, in collaboration with the municipal Police’s Da Phuoc traffic police squad and Binh Chanh district’s police, arrested Nguyen Nhat Truong, born in 1986 and residing in Go Vap district, seizing nearly 1kg of crystal meth.

On the same day, a working group burst into the house of Pham Duy Minh, born in 1979, in Binh Chanh district, seizing 980.6gr of Ketamin.

Searching the two men’s houses, the police detected nearly 40kg of drugs of all kinds, seizing two motorbikes, three automobiles, 440 million VND (18,700 USD), and equipment for drug use.

Further investigation on the case is underway.

Japanese cherry trees planted in Da Lat city

Up to 125 Japanese cherry (sakura) trees planted in Da Lat city 

Up to 125 Japanese cherry (sakura) trees were planted in Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on November 21.

The trees are the gift from the Himeji Flower Auction Co., Ltd of Japan on the occasion of the 125th founding anniversary of Da Lat city that is famed for its four-season-in-a-day climate and floriculture. 

Among these trees, 100 were planted on International Hill in Da Lat City Flower Park, while the remaining grown at Muoi Loi garden which belongs to a renowned floricultural artisan in the city.

Chairman of the Da Lat People’s Committee Ton Thien San said that the local authorities have coordinated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japanese company in carrying out a project to popularise the use of Japanese technologies for the development of high-quality flower production areas through the modernisation of nursery and production facilities in Xuan Tho commune.

The tree planting ceremony is one of the significant activities in celebration of the 125th founding anniversary of the city as well as the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties, San added.

Beautiful art works displayed at National Assembly House

The multi-material works covered more than 500 meters in length in a large space, designed along the terrain of three areas in the tunnel of the National Assembly (NA) House.

The Office of Vietnam NA in collaboration with the Hanoi People's Committee held a reception ceremony for beautiful works of art displayed at the NA House.

The ceremony saw the attendance of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, among others.

Based on NA Chairman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan’s idea and Hanoi leaders’ support, especially Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung and the good will of donors, the efforts of 15 artists and more than 100 technical assistants and skilled workers from Hanoi, Thai Binh and Thua Thien - Hue, the works of art at the tunnel of the NA House were completed on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the Capital Liberation Day to welcome the opening of the sixth session of the 14th National Assembly.

The multi-material works covered more than 500 meters in length in a large space, designed along the terrain of three areas in the tunnel of NA House. Basing the idea of ​​using a diverse approach to contemporary art forms, the 15 artists of the project have used their work as a dialogue effort and reflect creative vision with values of culture, art and architecture heritage throughout the nation’s history.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the NA Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc said that the Office plans to use this art space as the first destination for the NA House’s visit in the future.

Along with that, it is necessary to enhance management, promote the value of the works of art and create a tourist site for Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general, Phuc added.

At the ceremony, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan thanked Hanoi Party Secretary Hoang Trung Hai, Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung and Hanoi People's Council Chairman Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc.  

Hanoi Party Secretary Hoang Trung Hai presented the Certificate of Merit to the artists and project sponsors. NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu presented souvenirs to artists.

Head of the NA Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung presented Certificate of Merit to 17 individuals who have outstanding achievements in implementing the project.

Terry Fox Run raises funds for cancer treatment

More than 24,000 people participated in the 22nd Terry Fox Run – a charity event to raise funds for cancer treatment and research in Việt Nam. — Photo nld.com.vn

Over 24,000 people participated in the 22nd Terry Fox Run – a non-competitive five kilometre charity run – in HCM City on Sunday.

The event raised nearly VNĐ3 billion (US$129,000) which will be donated to cancer research and developing cancer facilities for Việt Nam’s hospitals.

According to Kelly Wong, co-chairman of the Terry Fox Run Việt Nam Fund, the event unites tens of thousands of people each year to raise funds and support Terry Fox’s dream of finding a cure for cancer.

Starting in Canada in 1981, the charity run is named after Terry Fox, an athlete who ran across Canada in the Marathon of Hope in 1980, aiming to raise funds and community awareness about cancer treatment. Fox was a cancer patient, and ran with an artificial leg. Terry Fox Run is now held in more than 60 nations worldwide.

As a non-competitive community event, Terry Fox Run Việt Nam is open to every individual, family and group, regardless of age. People can choose to participate by walking, jogging or cycling.

“Two of my children and I registered in the run to contribute our small part to cancer research and treatment in Việt Nam,” said participant Trần Thị Thanh Hào, a resident of District 7. “It is also a chance for my children to learn about the meaning of charity.”

Held in Việt Nam for the past 22 years, Terry Fox Run has become one of the biggest charity events in Việt Nam. Last year, the run attracted 22,000 participants, raising over VNĐ2.6 billion ($112,000) in donations. 

Photo contest to point out inequality in society

The photo contest will point out inequality between men and women, adults and children, disabled and normal people, the rich and the poor, and the immigrants and urban citizens. — Photo courtesy of Oxfam Việt Nam

 A photo contest aimed at highlighting inequality has been opened by Oxfam Việt Nam in collaboration with the US Embassy to Việt Nam.

The event is part of the Even It Up Campaign launched in Việt Nam in 2016.

Oxfam in Việt Nam is part of a global network of Oxfam affiliates and development projects working in more than 90 countries. With partners, allies and local communities, Oxfam helps people to claim rights for themselves.

Through the photo contest, Oxfam promotes public debate on the need to combat extreme inequalities, raising public awareness and contributing to the formulation of policies that address inequalities.

The Even It Up campaign focuses on the state budget and national tax system, looking at how a fair and effective collection of revenue and spending of the State budget can help finance high-quality and equitable public services.

The campaign also addresses gender inequality and promotes women’s leadership, linking with existing Oxfam projects.

Participants are encouraged to reflect the inequality through their lens with specific subjects such as inequality between men and women, adults and children, disabled and normal people, the rich and the poor, and the immigrants and urban citizens.

The judges include freelance photographers Maika Elan, Phạm Bá Lĩnh, Nguyễn Thanh Dương from Việt Nam Street Photography Club, Hoàng Lan Hương from Oxfam Việt Nam and Lê Quang Bình from ECUE, a social enterprise for consultation, research and communications.

Entries should be sent before November 30.

The winning photos will be displayed at an exhibition held on January 13 next year. 

Thanh Hóa approves $1.4m for dyke repairs

Part of the dyke along the Mã River in central Thanh Hóa Province has become seriously eroded. — Photo dantri.com.vn

The People’s Committee of central Thanh Hóa Province has approved VNĐ34 billion (US$1.46 million) for repairs on the dyke system along the Mã River, which has sustained serious damage after storms and flooding over recent years.

The committee said the repairs and rebuilding of the 188m eroded dyke in Hàm Rồng Ward, Thanh Hóa City was a priority in preparation for the upcoming rainy season. 

The total cost of the repair work will be allocated from the State budget and provincial funds. 

Nguyễn Đức Quyền, deputy chairman of the committee, said the committee has asked the investor of the project to strictly follow regulations on the dyke system when carrying out the repair work.

The 1.4-kilometre-long dyke was built in 2011 with total investment capital of more than VNĐ100 billion ($4.29 million). After just one year, part of the dyke passing Hàm Rồng Ward showed signs of erosion. In particular, a 60-metre-long section has been eroded, forcing local authorities to restrict access to the area to ensure locals are safe.

Heavy rainfall and flooding over the past two years has been blamed. Results of the inspection by the provincial forces showed that the two rows of concrete piles, used to reinforce the dyke, had been swept away. No alternative solution has been made so far.

The provincial People’s Committee has requested the Sub-department of Dyke and Storm and Flood Control and the consultancy units to clarify the responsibilities of those involved.

Thái Nguyên urged to complete land clearance on Hồ Chí Minh expressway

Some households have not handed over land to local authorities of Thái Nguyên Province for the construction of the Hồ Chí Minh National Expressway. 

The Ministry of Transport has urged the People’s Committee of northern Thái Nguyên Province to accelerate land clearance work for the section of the Hồ Chí Minh National Expressway running through the province.

The first phase of the section running though Mới Market – Trung Sơn crossroads was inaugurated in 2016 and so far 98 per cent of the construction work has been completed.

The land clearance has been delayed for a number of reasons, including the fact that residents have not agreed on suitable compensation. Others have not moved out after receiving compensation. Electricity in Phượng Tiến Commune has also not been cut off.

According to the ministry, delayed land clearance work means the construction of the expressway may miss its deadline and impact the investment efficiency of the project.

One project investor said that the section would not be completed this year as scheduled if the land clearance work is not finished in the next ten days.

The Hồ Chí Minh Expressway running though Mới Market – Trung Sơn crossroads covers 17km with total investment of VNĐ926 billion (US$39.4 million). 

IT application ensures high-quality 2019 census: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue chaired the first meeting of the national steering committee on national census on November 19. 

Capitalising on the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s advantages and applying information and technology (IT) are significant to running a streamlined and high-quality national census in 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has said.

The official, who is head of the national steering committee on national census, made the statement while chairing the first meeting of the committee on November 19.

As advanced technologies create both convenience and systematic risks, he asked the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Public Security, the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to anticipate risks and ensure information safety.

The population and housing census is executed every 10 years, with the country’s fifth scheduled for April 1, 2019. It is important to the Party, Government and National Assembly to evaluate people’s living conditions and housing growth.

Besides serving the need for information to assess and work out socio-economic plans, the census will provide a basis for initial assessment of the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc inked Decision No.772/QD-TTG on the national census on April 1, 2019. Accordingly, the census will investigate general population information, migration status, academic attainment level, technological specialisation, disability rate, marital status, birth and death rate, population growth, labour-occupation, residency and local basic living conditions.

According to GSO Deputy General Director Pham Quang Vinh, the survey will be made at a smaller scale compared to that 10 years ago, and there will be a breakthrough in data collection, which will be made via CAPI (electronic forms installed on handheld electronic devices like tablets and mobile phones) and web forms. 

The census will cost more than 1.5 trillion VND (64.5 million USD), triple the amount spent in the previous survey, Vinh said, explaining that this is due to IT costs and an increase in working hours.

He underlined that as the census is used to evaluate development, information on population and housing should be updated yearly, instead of 10 years as usual.

Collection modes should be improved as traditional paper-based methods have a huge burden of expenditure and time, he added.

LabelFranceEducation awarded to two Vietnamese schools

The French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City presented LabelFranceEducation to two high schools in the city for their French teaching quality in the bilingual curricula.

The awardees are the Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School and the Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted.

Speaking at the ceremony, French Consul General to HCM City Vincent Floreani said the granting of LabelFranceEducation to the schools in Vietnam reflects the French Government’s wish to build a long-term relationship between the two countries.

Established in 2012, LabelFranceEducation is a seal of quality awarded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to schools with the best French teaching quality in the bilingual curricula. The label helps the schools affirmed their prestige in the national educational system and continue to contribute to developing the French language and culture. 

To date, 285 schools at all levels throughout the world, with nearly 110,000 French learners, have been awarded with the label. 

LabelFranceEducation provides opportunities for teachers to join high-quality training programmes during which they will access teaching methods and documents of the French Institute under the Agency for French Education Abroad and CIEP, a centre dedicated to education and to French language worldwide.-VNA

Vietnam Red Cross Society offers urgent aid to disaster-hit locals in Khanh Hoa

Many houses were destroyed in Phuoc Dong commune of Nha Trang city

The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) Central Committee has decided to offer urgent support in the shape of over 106 million VND (4,558 USD) in cash and goods to locals affected by severe rains and floods in the south central province of Khanh Hoa.

Torrential downpour caused by a tropical depression killed 14 people and injured 11 others in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, while four people were reported missing as of 2pm on November 19.

The tropical pressure originated from the weakened Storm Toraji. The rainfall in Khanh Hoa was measured at between 30-200mm on November 17-18. In particular, Nha Trang city reported rainfalls of 380mm. 

A total of 43 houses were pulled down or damaged by the severe floods.

The VRCS will provide 3 million VND to the families of each deceased victim, 1 million VND to an injured victim, 3 million VND to each family with a destroyed house, along with 10 packages of household necessities.

At the same time, the VRCS Central Committee will send a team, led by its President Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, to directly visit and deliver aid to the needy.

According to the committee, immediately following the disaster, the Red Cross Society of Khanh Hoa offered 70 million VND in support for the families of deceased or missing victims.

The Red Cross Society of Nha Trang city also gave 1 million VND to each family. 

US organisation honoured for post-war recovery in Vietnam

Clearing bombs and mines left over from the war 

The US’s Roots of Peace (ROP) organisation was honoured with the Earth Ethics Prize by the United Earth during a ceremony in Hanoi on November 19. 

Speaking at the event, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Don Tuan Phong said the event aims to honour ROP’s efforts in assisting people worldwide, including those in Vietnam, in recovering from the consequences of war and environment clean-up. 

Phong expressed his thanks to the United Earth, ROP and sponsors for providing support for war-hit areas in Vietnam via effective projects, saying that these areas have developed stably and sustainably, especially in the central province of Quang Tri. 

Founded and managed by Heidi Kuhn, ROP has launched its activities in Vietnam since 2009 via collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of International Cooperation to pilot the programme “Agriculture in mountainous Vietnam” in the central provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Tri. 

In Quang Tri, ROP has made efforts in overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines, turning the province into a clean land site and creating livelihoods to local residents. 

Via the programme, hundreds of farmers in localities were trained in cultivation techniques and post-harvest preservation. Their incomes have also improved thanks to bamboo tree planting and fish farming in poor areas. 

In Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue, ROP has built cajuput and rattan tree gardens and a wood processing factory, as well as sought markets for paper products in Europe and the US. 

The non-profitable United Earth organisation was established in 1974 by Claes Nobel, descendent of Nobel Prize creator Alfred Nobel. The Earth Ethnics Prize is meant to honour organisations in environment and outstanding philanthropists worldwide.

Vietnam Fatherland Front sends aid to flood victims in south central region

The standing board of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee has extended sympathy along with aid in cash to victims of floods in the south central provinces of Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Phu Yen. 

Floods caused by torrential rains as a consequence of storm Toraji claimed 13 lives, and caused the missing of four others while injuring 48 persons in the south central and central highlands regions as of early November 19, according to reports of the office of the Central Steering Committee for natural disaster control.

In addition, hundreds of houses were destroyed or damaged, and hundreds of hectares of food crops were inundated.  

The board asked the VFF chapters in the provinces, in coordination with the local authorities and steering committees for natural disaster control, to count the number of fatalities, injured victims and damaged houses and report to the VFF Central Committee, so as to devise measures to assist the affected people. 

The board sent 5 million VND in cash to each family of dead and missing victims and 3 million VND to each victim with serious injury.

Mekong Delta’s eastern coastal sub-region boasts huge potential for tourism

Boasting a coastline of more than 162 kilometres with criss-crossing canals, lush carpet of orchard gardens and kaleidoscope of ethnic cultures, the Mekong Delta’s eastern coastal sub-region has huge potential to develop tourism, heard a recent conference held in Tra Vinh province.

However, more than 200 experts at the November 17 event held that local tourism development is a far cry from its natural advantages. 

Last year, the sub-region welcomed only 4.93 million out of 34.5 million visitors to the Mekong Delta, with tourism revenue accounting for 23.3 percent of the region’s total 11.3 trillion VND (488.78 million USD).

Tenuous connection within the tourism sector as well as shortage of professional human resources and attractive policies to attract domestic and foreign investments should be handled to boost the non-smoke industry’s development in the sub-region, they said.

According to Assoc. Prof. and Dr. Bui Van Trinh from the Can Tho University, besides investing heavily in infrastructure, provinces in the eastern coastal area should pick out their tourism staples. In addition, they should work together to pen a popularisation campaign for their quality products to attract visitors.

Capitalising on spiritual tourism will help local tourism take off, M.A Duong Duc Minh from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities suggested, saying that this is a distinct advantage that not many places have.

Meanwhile, M.A Bui Hoang Tan from the Can Tho University laid stress on the tourism connectivity between the east and the west sub-regions as it is significant for the whole region to branch out sea, waterway, eco-agricultural and spiritual tourism to lure more travellers.

“One Commune One Product” fair opens in Hanoi

A wide range of craft products are being placed on display at the ongoing “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) fair, which opened in Hanoi on November 17.

The 150-pavilion event, held by the Trade Promotion Centre for Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is organised to honour traditional craft villages which make jewelry, ceramic, glass and rattan products, among others.

A special area has been zoned off for excellent artisans to show off their skills in making conical leaf hats and weaving.

Joining the fair, businesses and localities have a chance to introduce their staples.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang, the country is currently home to 5,407 operating craft villages, 1,748 of them recognised by the Government and generating jobs for 10 million labourers. The villages have improved rural livelihood, preserved traditional cultural values and contributed to the building of new-style rural areas.

Thang expressed his hope that through the fair, artisans, villages and enterprises will have opportunities to popularise their products while joining in traditional craft value chain in accordance with socio-economic development trend.

An international OCOP conference is scheduled for November 20, one day before the fair closes.

Poverty rate for ethnic minority households in Cà Mau falls by 3 per cent

The southernmous Cà Mau Province plans to reduce the proportion of poor households to 1.46 per cent by 2020. 

The poverty rate of ethnic minority households in Cà Mau Province fell by more than 3 per cent each year after three years of implementation of its national target programme on sustainable poverty reduction that began in 2016.

Under the multi-dimensional poverty assessments which have been used since 2016, the province now has more than 17,750 poor ethnic minority households and nearly 10,500 near the poverty line.

However, the provincial People’s Committee said the rate of poor and near-poor ethnic minorities in several areas remained high.

Most of these families do not have a sustainable job, have a low academic level, and also lack capital. 

Trần Hồng Quân, the province’s vice chairman, said the province would continue to help them find jobs and would try to connect enterprises from other provinces and cities with ethnic-minority manufacturers.

The province will also review preferential policies, especially those aiming at dealing with financial difficulties, and available land for production.

In addition, settlement policies for ethnic minority people will be improved.

The province has allocated VNĐ22 billion (around US$946,000) to build 28 roads for rural communes in difficult economic conditions in U Minh, Đầm Dơi and Trần Văn Thời districts.

Another VNĐ40 billion from the Government’s budget has been allocated to build 146 traffic, irrigation and cultural works.

The province has provided vocational training courses to 2,300 ethnic minority people, with total capital of VNĐ7 billion.

Since 2009, more than 2,700 ethnic minority people have found jobs thanks to the province’s introductions.

The province has 14 ethnic minority groups with a total of 44,289 people.

Ethnic Khmer have also benefited from many programmes and policies on poverty reduction.

The province has provided land to nearly 500 poor Khmer households and funds for vocational training to more than 800 Khmer.

It has also helped more than 2,000 other Khmer households shift to better jobs.

In addition, as many as 5,000 Khmer households have been provided houses, while Khmer students have attended universities, colleges and vocational schools for free.

The number of poor households accounts for 5.9 per cent of the total number of households in the province.

U Minh, Đầm Dơi and Trần Văn Thời districts have the highest number of poor households.

The province plans to reduce the proportion to 1.46 per cent by 2020.

Trương Linh Phượng, head of the province’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that many programmes have been held to raised awareness about assistance policies such as loans for poor households.

In the province, local farmers’ associations have provided loans, animal breeds and farming techniques to help farmers in their agricultural production and improve the economic structure of the province.

Ceremony commemorates victims of traffic accidents

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh speaking at the ceremony 

A national remembrance ceremony for traffic accident victims in 2018 was held in Hai Duong city and broadcast live on November 18.

The ceremony was organised in response to the programme titled "A decade of action for road traffic safety in the 2011-2020 period".

Speaking at the ceremony, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh cum Chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, emphasised that traffic accidents are causing enormous losses of people and property while affecting the future and threatening the sustainable development.

He suggested that everyone should strictly abide by traffic laws and adults must be good examples to protect their children when participating in traffic.

He also sent his deepest condolences to families of victims of traffic accidents in Vietnam.

Despite the decrease in the number of traffic accidents and fatalities, traffic safety situation remains unpredictable. Vietnam posted traffic fatalities of 6,674 and a further 11,549 injured people in the first 10 months of 2018, including 962 children.