Synthetic drugs seized by Quang Binh forces

The Quang Binh provincial Border Guard Command yesterday seized synthetic drugs from Laos at the Cha Lo International Port in the province.

The 500 ectasy pills were being carried on a passenger bus driven by Dau Xuan Cuong, 24, from Nghe An Province.

Cuong alledgely told police the drugs were being sent from Thakhek Town in Laos to Nghe An Province.

Call centre to handle driving licence renewals

Starting from March 9, HCM City will allow driver to make appointments to renew their licences by calling a new phone centre on 1081.

Senior official from the city's transport department, Vo Trong Nhan, told vnexpress.net the service was intended to make the process more convenient and shorten the required time to issue a new licence.

"People will be able to call the centre and make appointments that suit their schedule. They will be notified later once a time slot is available, which will eliminate the need for them to book at an office," he said.

The centre will require citizens to provide information such as ID numbers, addresses and contact details.

Applications must include a valid health certificate, and in some cases, citizens will be asked to bring along their house books if they no longer reside at the addresses shown on their ID.

The city runs eight driving licence offices, but for the time being, requests handled by the centre will only be processed at 252 Ly Chinh Thang in District 3.

After Tet, the offices have noted an increase in the number of renewal requests, as the country is in the process of switching to new plastic licences, rather then the old paper ones.

Nhan said the city's transport department had plans to open another office. In the meantime, it has asked existing offices to work extra hours during weekdays and remain open on Saturday in order to handle the high number of requests.

Confiscated bikes set for charity sale

The National Traffic Safety Committee plans to sell motorbikes and bicycles driving on expressways that have been banned for their use.

Under the plan, confiscated bikes would be auctioned and the money given to the poor.

Safety Committee vice-chairman Khuat Viet Hung told the online newspaper Vnexpress that the new regulation would be an upgrade of Government Decree 171. This is aimed at stopping motorbikes and bicycles illegally entering expressways.

The decree already sets out the fines for drivers of motorbikes and bicycles entering highways which have signs banning their access.

Drivers can be fined between VND200,000 and VND400,000 (US$ 9 - $18). If they cause a traffic accident, they can also lose their driving licences for two months.

Hung said that during the nine-day public holiday for Tet (Lunar New Year) from February 15 to February 24, more than 7,000 motorbikes were detained throughout Viet Nam because they broke the rule.

He added that motorbikes were the main cause of serious traffic accidents throughout Viet Nam.

This New Year, Vnexpress reported that on several expressways, including Thang Long Boulevard (also called Lang-Hoa Lac), National Highway 1A, Phap Van-Cau Gie and even the newly opened Noi Bai-Lao Cai, despite prohibitory signs, motorcyclists were still illegally driving.

They also reported that when they saw traffic police, the drivers would either make a quick U-turn and speed off.

Others decided to try and haggle with law enforcement officers.

Healthcare sector awarded Independence Order

The health sector has been awarded Independence Order, first class, in recognition of its great contributions to the cause of caring for people’s health as well as comprehensive progresses it has made over the years.

The distinction was handed over by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam during an art programme co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and the Vietnam Television featuring the sector’s 60-year growth in Hanoi on February 27.

Deputy PM Dam requested the whole sector to exert more efforts to continue fulfilling its task of improving public health, as well as building a progressive health system.

The sector should strengthen its network at lower levels, especially in far-flung areas, expand the coverage of health insurance and mobilise investment resources from society for its accelerated growth, he suggested.

Over the past six decades, the health system has been improved continuously. Vietnam is one of the nations receiving the United Nations’ and international community’s praise for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals involving healthcare, notably the decreases in

malnutrition rate among under-five children and the fatality rates of mothers and newborns.

The country’s current average life expectancy is double that of 1945, and dangerous diseases have largely been put under control. The sector has also worked to meet over 50 percent of the medicine demand and is taking the initial steps towards producing medicine for export.

The technical skills of Vietnamese doctors are on par with those in the region and around the world, especially in kidney, liver, and stem cell transplants, and heart surgery.

In recent days, a lot of activities have been organised across the country to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors’ Day.

Water-resource security a key mission this year

Ensuring water-resource security and balancing supply and demand of using water was identified as key missions this year for the National Council on Water Resources.

These are challenges facing the country, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, chairman of the council, said last Friday at a meeting held in Ha Noi.

The missions were targeted in the context that the country's water sources have been in decline due to over-use, according to the Centre for Planning and Survey National Water Resources.

Population growth has caused an increase in demand for water in recent years, the centre said.

Hai assigned the council to build proper long-term management plans for using water in the future in order to implement the plans.

The council was also asked to focus on minimizing adverse impacts caused by water, he said.

At the meeting, participants discussed building a system of legal documents to manage water resources, establish river-basin management organisations and research the impacts of hydro-electric works on river basins.

The participants also gave their comments on building monitoring systems along Viet Nam-China and Viet Nam-Cambodia shared waterways, as well as hydro-meteorological and water-resource observation networks.

Head of the ministry's Department of Water Resources Management Hoang Van Bay said that a lack of capital was blamed for delays in several projects, such as observing fluctuations of water resources or making plans to provide water nationwide due to climate change.

The National Council on Natural Resources was set up in 2000 to consult with the Government in making decisions about water resources.

In a related move, Hai recently ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to review water resources throughout the country and send a report to the Government.

Statistics show that Viet Nam's total volume of surface water reaches 830 – 840 billion cubic metres, about 63 per cent of which originates in neighbouring countries.

Under the National Strategy on Natural Resources, by 2020 the country will have some 2,370 rivers. Nine major rivers, including Hong, Bang Giang - Ky Cung, Ma, Ca, Dong Nai and Cuu Long, and four sections of rivers of Da, Lo, Se San and Sre Pok, have created river basins of more than 10,000 square kilometers, accounting for 93 per cent of the total river-basin area in the country.

Ha Giang to build 293 reservoirs by 2020

The northernmost province of Ha Giang have set the goal of building 293 water storage reservoirs by 2020 to serve local people’s need for water for daily use.

The combined volume of these reservoirs will be enough to supply water for all residents in four districts - Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac - in the water-scarce Dong Van Karst Plateau.

The costs of building these reservoirs will come from the Stage budget, the local budget and loans from international financial organisations like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Since 2007, 84 reservoirs with a combined volume of 406,000 cu.m have been put in operation or are being under construction in the four districts. They are capable of supplying water for 52,522 people or 20.6 percent of the four districts’ combined population.

The number of reservoirs will be raised to 99 reservoirs by 2017 and 293 by 2020.

The four districts have a total area of 2,350 sq.km and are home to 17 ethnic minority groups.

Youth Union launches Month of Youth

The Month of Youth was launched by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on February 28 at Kim Binh historical relics site in Chiem Hoa district in the northern province of Tuyen Quang.

The tree-planting festival was also held at the same venue where many historically important events during the fight against colonialist French took place.

Addressing the event, Nguyen Thien Nhan, C hairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, praised the pioneering and voluntary spirit of the young people in maintaining the tradition of the tree-planting festival.

On the day, more than 100 erythrophloeum fordid trees and 1,500 Cedrela odorata trees were planted in the Kim Binh relic site and areas around Kim Binh commune.

On the occasion, 20 scholarships, worth 500,000 VND each, were given to disadvantaged students in the commune.

Russian official honoured for 10-year dedicated services

Director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Hanoi Lavreniev Alekxei Iurievich has been awarded with Vietnam’s Friendship Medal for his 10-year dedication to developing ties between the two countries.

Since taking office in 2004, Iurievich has actively worked with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association and other Vietnamese units concerned to hold political, cultural, arts, science-technology and education activities in Vietnam, which has helped bring the image of Russia and its people closer to the Vietnamese people and strengthen the bilateral relationship.

VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong, in his speech, stated that Iurievich, in his new position, would continue developing the Vietnam - Russia friendship and cooperation.

Iurievich, for his part, expressed his honour to be given the distinction and thanked the Vietnamese agencies for their support during his tenure.

Video evidence catches bus violations

The National Traffic Safety Committee ordered Ha Noi's traffic police and transport department on Saturday to investigate passenger coaches operating on prohibited roads based on evidence collected by video cameras carried in private cars.

A video clip submitted to the committee showed coaches belong to Doanh Ly transport business, which operated on Ha Noi - Thanh Hoa route, to pick up passengers on a prohibited road last Thursday near the Giap Bat Bus Station in Ha Noi.

It was later uploaded on the committee website at antoangiaothong.gov.vn.

In addition, the Thanh Hoa transport department inspected all footage collected from other cameras placed on Doanh Ly buses for evidence of other safety violations.

This is the second time since the beginning of February the committee has handled a traffic safety violation revealed by private video cameras.

In another case, a private camera revealed a truck travelling the wrong way down the Nhat Tan Bridge on February 19.

The truck was identified and tracked down by the police. The driver was fined with the help of a citizen's traffic video footage.

Cycling race escort dies in accident

A member of a motorbike escort group for the Binh Duong Open International Women's Bike Race died yesterday after being hit by a motorbike tour group.

The racers started their second round yesterday morning from Dinh Quan District in Dong Nai Province to Bao Loc District in Lam Dong Province. The escort group was travelling along with the racers at a speed of about 40km per hour.

Reports say a group of seven motorbikes then tried to pass the escort group at high speed.

One of the group then collided with a member of the escort group, breaking the escort driver's leg. Another member of the group, Lin Ma Sang, fell off his motorbike and was hit by another motorbike. He died on the spot.

Workshop on traditional values in a modern context

During the process of industrialisation, modernisation and international integration, it is essential to promote the traditions that have been nurtured for thousands of years while adopting modern values in the new circumstances.

The statement was made by Prof. Dr. Phung Huu Phu, permanent Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Theoretical Council, at the council’s February 27 workshop on improving personal and societal values in the changing context.

During the process of reviewing several theoretical and practical issues after 30 years of Doi Moi (reform), he emphasised the need to study and design a set of Vietnamese values.

Accordingly, delegates ultimately proposed 11 priority values that should be promoted in the current era.

A survey on changes in the traditional set of values revealed that the most important personal value is family happiness, selected by 82.9 percent of the surveyed, followed by stable employment (75.4 percent) and social equality (53.4 percent), while the best virtues are patriotism (70.8 percent), unity (68.3 percent) and hospitality (66.3 percent). Corruption, bureaucracy, and bribery were considered the most serious social evils.

Discussions and outcomes of the workshop will be consolidated into a report to be submitted to the 12th National Party Congress.

Once completed, the set of values will be included in school curricula and disseminated widely.

Sci-tech role key in VN development

Science and technology play an important part in a country's development and modernisation, especially a developing country, such as Viet Nam, said Dr. Tran Chi Thanh.

Thanh is the head of the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

He added that the institute intends to step up efforts in research and development, as well as science and application in the field of atomic energy in 2015.

During previous years, VINATOM had established various priority research groups and human resource development programmes, despite the numerous limitations it faced in terms of lack of equipment and funding.

The institute's research and development efforts will focus on realising strategic aims during the 2015 to 2020 period.

Projects should therefore have clear objectives and a timeline for completion, as well as secure sources of funding, Thanh noted.

Human resource development will continue to remain the institute's primary mission, while measures will be taken to attract leading experts.

Thanh stressed on the importance of building a network of Vietnamese consultant experts and knowledge transfer in the field of atomic energy.

"No country in the world can afford to skip the development of science and technology on its way to achieve prosperity," he pointed out.

Some of the institute's key objectives for this year include developing medical applications for atomic forces, along with other uses of atomic energy in agricultural and industrial production.

Vietnam-funded repair shop opens in Cambodia

A repair shop for tanks and armoured vehicles, constructed with funding from Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence, was inaugurated and commissioned in Battambong province, Cambodia on February 27.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Commander of the Cambodian Royal Army General Meas Sopheas hailed the effective assistance of the Vietnamese ministry for its Cambodian counterpart across sectors, enabling Cambodia’s army to meet the defence and security demands of the country.

The inauguration of the workshop is expected to support the Cambodian army in maintaining, repairing and upgrading equipment and military weapons, ultimately contributing to improving its capacity, said Meas Sopheas.

The shop’s construction required 80,000 USD, sourced from a 2.4-million USD aid package for basic construction funded by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence as part of the cooperation protocol between the two ministries in 2014.

Colonel Nguyen Anh Dung, Vietnamese defence attaché to Cambodia, said the Vietnamese ministry plans to increase basic construction assistance for its Cambodian counterpart to 3 million USD in 2015.

Last year, Vietnam provided 21 million USD to Cambodia in defence aid, Dung noted.

Celebrations mark Lunar New Year in Europe

Vietnamese expatriates gathered at separate events in France and Belgium to celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 28, the tenth day of the first lunar month.

The event in Nogent-sur-Marne, a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, attracted more than 1,000 overseas Vietnamese from across France. It became lively with unicorn dancing, “xam” singing, and piano performances along with folk games.

Dang Ngoc Chan, a member of the standing board of the Vietnamese People’s Association in France, recalled outstanding achievements of the Vietnam Year in France 2014 which were partly contributed by expatriates, helping strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation.

He said he believes the two countries’ relations will be further enhanced through the Vietnam visit by French President Francois Hollande in 015.

Addressing about 350 overseas people at a similar celebration in Brussels, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg Vuong Thua Phong said last year, Vietnam continued to push forward international integration with a highlight being Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s Belgium visit last October.

Vietnam and the European Union (EU) recently wrapped up the 11th negotiation round on a bilateral free trade agreement, and the next round is about to take place in Hanoi.

He noted that both sides are resolved to conclude the talks as soon as possible. The deal, once it is signed, will bring about numerous economic benefits to the Southeast Asian country.

The diplomat said he hopes expatriates will actively engage in activities marking the 25th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-EU relationship this year.-

President meets with outstanding health workers

President Truong Tan Sang hosted a reception for outstanding health officials on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Vietnam Doctors’ Day in Hanoi on February 27.

The State leader congratulated the officials and extolled the significant achievements of the heath sector over the past six decades, including fulfilling many of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

The remarkable achievement is attributed to the tireless efforts of health workers, including those who sacrificed their lives for the national safeguarding cause and those who have devoted their career to working in remote areas, he said.

Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien reported that in the Doi Moi (reform) process, the health industry has successfully applied modern technology and improved the health index of Vietnam , bringing it to stand above that of countries with similar incomes and development stages.

The current average life expectancy in Vietnam is double that of 1945, and dangerous diseases have largely been under control. The sector has also worked to meet over 50 percent of the medicinal demand and is taking the initial steps towards producing medicine for export.

The technical skills of Vietnamese doctors are on par with those in the region and around the world, especially in kidney transplants, liver transplants, heart transplants, stem cell transplants, and heart surgeries, the minister added.

President Truong Tan Sang asked the ministry to expand effective health care models and honour outstanding figures in the field.

He expressed his belief that with comprehensive social engagement and developed medical skills, the health industry will continue to reap impressive results in the future.

Jetstar Pacific changes flights schedule due to bad weather

The low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific on February 27 said it had to change the schedule of several flights due to bad weather.

The flight BL510, which took off from the Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport at 6:45 am on the day, had to land at the Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport instead of its original destination - the Cat Bi international airport in the northern port city of Hai Phong.

The same day, the carrier had to adjust the schedule of two other flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong city for the same reason.

Flight BL516 departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 5:40 pm was directed to land at Noi Bai airport, while passengers of Flight BL517 scheduled to depart from Cat Bi had to move to Noi Bai for their flight to HCM City.

Passengers can call 19001550 for further information support.-

Bids approved for mineral exploitation rights

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has approved a plan on the first biddings for mineral exploitation rights in 2015, which include minerals in four areas.

The approved minerals are iron in Khe Bang Mine in the northern province of Phu Tho's Thu Cuc Commune, metacarbonate rock – which is used in brick patterns – in the northern province of Yen Bai's Suoi Giang Commune, gold in the central province of Quang Binh's Xa Khia Commune and fluorite in the northern province of Cao Bang's Binh Duong Commune.

The bidding plan is a move to better manage, exploit and use the mineral resources, as well as reduce the impact on the environment.

The General Department of Geology and Minerals of Viet Nam has been assigned to provide bidders with all necessary information.

Animal hunters face criminal charges

The management board of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh issued two documents last week outlining legal proceedings against violations of regulations on protecting animals on the list of rare species.

Of the two accused cases, Doan Xuan Hoa from the Bo Trach District was discovered in December last year to be transporting a dead wild animal weighing eight kilogramme and was unable to produce documentation proving a legitimate origin for the animal.

The animal was found to be a Ha Tinh langur (Trachypithecus hatinhensis) - an endangered primate species included in Viet Nam's red book.

One month later, the local forest rangers found three men from Bo Trach District carrying three bags containing 52 kilos of meat, leather, bone, internal organs and legs of wild animals, which was then identified to belong to the forest's chamois. The animals are listed as being forbidden to be hunted and killed in the Penal Code.

Plan for waste treatment in Nhue-Day basin

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a plan to treat solid waste in the Nhue-Day river basin through 2030, in which 18 treatment plants will be upgraded or built.

The total budget for the project was set at VND7.6 trillion (nearly US$362 million) and covers the entire Nhue-Day River basin in the northern provinces of Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Nam Dinh and Ha Noi city, with a total area of 7,665 sq.km.

Further, it has been proposed to develop systems for the basin with collection and treatment facilities in residential areas and industrial zones.

The scheme's 18 solid sewage treatment plants include nine for Ha Noi, five for Nam Dinh province, and two each for Ha Nam and Hoa Binh provinces.

Water hyacinth blocks barges in polluted Tay Ninh river

For more than a week, the surface of Vam Co Dong River in the southern province of Tay Ninh has been blanketed with water hyacinths, due to pollution.

The early appearance of the free-floating plants on the 150-km Vam Co Dong river – one of the most important in the province's river system – has also caused difficulties for area transport, as it blocks the waterway.

Local authorities estimate that up to 3 million square metres of the river's surface had been covered by water hyacinths. The plant has covered up to 90 per cent of the surface of the river section from Hoa Thanh District's Long Thanh Nam Commune to Go Dau District's Cam Giang Commune. Also, many river ports have become isolated as barges and boats cannot travel in the area.

Thirty-year-old Nguyen Huu Danh, a resident in Long Thanh Nam Commune, said that before the Tet (Lunar New Year) vacation, he saw water hyacinths floating on the surface water, though there were not many of them.

"During Tet, the plant grew so fast that now the river has turned into a green carpet," he said.

Danh added that he faced many difficulties in traveling in his boat to the other bank of the river to reach his rice field.

"Though the two banks are just 40 metres apart, it takes me at least two to three hours to go to the other side by motor-boat," he said.

According to Danh, water hyacinths normally grow rapidly in early April, but this year the spread of the plants started earlier, indicating that the water has become seriously polluted.

Meanwhile, Trinh Van Lo, deputy director of the provincial Department of Transport, said that the more polluted the water was, the stronger the plant grew.

"The reason for the fast growth of water hyacinths is pollution caused by waste water discharged from factories, including those processing cassava flour and rubber latex on two banks," he said.

Nguyen Dinh Xuan, director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that besides waste water from factories, another source of the river's pollution came from waste water discharged by residents in urban areas of Tay Ninh City, Chau Thanh, Go Dau, Hoa Thanh and Duong Minh Chau districts.

Handling the fast growing water hyacinths has been difficult for local authorities, despite efforts, such as removing them from the river or blocking plants floating from the upper stream.

Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said that the province would pilot the scheme of hiring residents along the river to fish out the water hyacinth.

"By doing this, we hope to clear the plant and, at the same time, create jobs for poor local residents," he said.

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