Tet gifts, supplies arrive for soldiers on Truong Sa archipelago

A cargo ship brings Tet gifts and supplies from mainland to Truong Sa archipelago.

Three cargo ships, the Truong Sa 571, Truong Sa 561 and KN 491, docked at Cam Ranh port in the central province of Khanh Hoa on January 22, completing their voyage to deliver gifts to soldiers and islanders on Truong Sa archipelago ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

The ships have brought early traditional Tet atmosphere to soldiers and islanders with thousands of tonnes of Tet gifts and supplies from all parts of the country to 21 islands of the archipelagos. 

Besides rice, Dong leaves to wrap the traditional cake of Tet – Banh Chung (square glutinous rice cake), pigs and chickens along with ornamental trees were also transported to the islands.

It has become a tradition for people across the country to send their gifts to the archipelago, some 300 nautical miles off Khanh Hoa province’s coast, just before Tet holiday. The gifts bring not only the Tet atmosphere from mainland but also encouragement to those who defend their nation’s territories days and nights regardless of hardship. 

This year, 117 journalists and writers joined the 20-day voyage on the three vessels to Truong Sa, with the mission of reporting back home the daily life of soldiers and people on the islands. They also imparted to soldiers and islanders understanding about historical and legal proof affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos.

According to Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Dac Tai, the ships carried spring and traditional Tet to Truong Sa, helping tighten solidarity between mainland people and soldiers and locals on the islands.

The commander of Sinh Ton Dong Island Captain Dinh Ngoc Sang said he and his soldiers are deeply moved by the support from the mainland, saying that officers and soldiers on the island will try their utmost to fulfil the missions entrusted to them by the nation.

On Nam Yet island, 20 nautical miles from Sinh Ton Dong, Tet was really around the corner with Banh Chung, flower decoration, and art performances. Commander of the island Lieutenant Colonel Dao Van Kha said: “This is the third consecutive year I have welcomed the New Year on the island. I feel at home here because we have all the same food and traditional things for Tet as in the mainland”.

Australia Day celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City

At the event (Source: VOV)

A get-together was held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 22 by the HCM City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) to celebrate the 231st anniversary of Australia Day (January 26, showing the friendship and solidarity between the city’s people and their Australian counterparts.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association (VAFA) of HCM City Luong Van Ly stressed that cooperation between the two nations has been on the basis of mutual benefit and respect towards development, peace, and prosperity. 

Since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership in September 2009, the bilateral relations have been strengthened and developed across a range of fields in a practical and rapid manner. 

Vietnam-Australia relations were officially upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in March 2018, laying the foundation for the two sides to enhance mutual trust and understanding, thus deepening bilateral ties and contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. 

Ly said the two countries boast great potential to further expand their relations in the coming time.

The VAFA hopes to cooperate with the Australian Consulate General, Australian Business Group, friendship and non-governmental organisations of Australia, and the Australian community in order to promote people-to-people exchange and cultural-sports-tourism collaboration, as well as to tighten the solidarity and friendship between the city’s residents and their Australian people, he said. 

Australian Consul General in HCM City Julianne Cowley highlighted the significance of the get-together, saying that it shows the increasing development of relations and closer cooperation between Australia and Vietnam in general and HCM City in particular. 

Australia wants to promote multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially in education-training, infrastructure development, and agriculture, which are areas that Australia has strengths in and Vietnam holds demand for. 

She expressed her hope that the HUFO and VAFA will enhance their cooperation and support the Consulate General in organising activities to boost mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries, thus bringing benefits to their people. 

Statistics show that two-way trade between Vietnam and Australia has recorded the annual growth of 7 percent in recent years. Australia is a major provider of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in reforming the economy, improving competitiveness, and promoting gender equality.

Truck driver prosecuted for deadly crash

The scene of the accident in Hai Duong province that killed eight people on January 21. (Photo: nguoiduatin.vn)

The Investigation Police Agency of Hai Duong province has decided to prosecute a truck driver following a deadly crash on January 21 that killed eight people and injured seven others.

The accident occurred when the truck slammed into pedestrians walking on the side of National Highway 5A in Kim Luong commune, Kim Thanh district.

The eight victims were state employees, veterans and other elderly officials of Kim Luong commune, who were returning home after visiting the local martyrs’ cemetery.

The driver, who was identified as Luong Van Tam, 28, temporarily residing in Hanoi, fled the scene after the accident. He turned himself in to police yesterday evening.

Tam tested positive for meth. He admitted that he was drowsy at the time of the accident. He also admitted to using methamphetamine before.

Vietnam, Cambodia military hospitals foster cooperation

Cambodia's Preah Ket Mealea Hospital and Military Hospital 175 of Vietnam seek measures to foster cooperation (Photo: quandoinhandan.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation from Preah Ket Mealea Hospital of Cambodia’s Royal Army led by its Deputy Director Lieutenant General Chao Sambath paid a working visit to Military Hospital 175 run by the Ministry of Defence of Vietnam on January 22.

During the visit, the two sides briefed each other on their operations and discussed the outcomes of their coordination in personnel training as well as hospital admission and treatment for Cambodian officers over the years.

The Cambodian delegation highly valued the support in all fields that Military Hospital 175 has given to the Cambodian military hospital throughout decades.

They sought measures to enhance the efficiency of their cooperation in personnel training and the admission of patients sent from Preah Ket Mealea Hospital to Military Hospital 175 for treatment.

They also discussed ways to increase in-depth technology transfer between the two hospitals.

On the occasion, the leader of the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital also extended New Year wishes to doctors and officials of Military Hospital 175 on the occasion of the upcoming traditional New Year of Vietnam.

Thanh Hoa province: police bust two drug rings

Police in the central province of Thanh Hoa said on January 22 that they had busted two drug rings from Laos, seizing more than 6,000 methamphetamine pills, a brick of heroin (350g), one kg of crystal meth and weapons. 

On January 19, police of Quan Hoa district caught 40-year-old Hoang Ngoc Bang from Muong Ly commune, Muong Lat district, selling a packet of heroin and a meth pill in Trung Son commune.

Searching the man’s house, they seized 10 plastic bags containing 2,020 meth pills.

Bang has three previous drug convictions. After completing previous jail terms, he trafficked drugs from Laos to Muong Lat and Quan Hoa districts of Thanh Hoa province. 

The same day, Quan Hoa police also arrested 36-year-old Vi Van Dong from Ta Ban hamlet, Trung Son commune, for drug trafficking and storage. 

They found 4,200 meth pill, a brick of heroin, 1 kg of crystal meth, a homemade gun and knives, swords and other tools in his house. 

Earlier this month, Thanh Hoa province police seized two men attempting to smuggle 17,133 meth pills and 2 kg of methamphetamine.

The arrestees are Bui Khac Tho, born in 1980 and residing in Tinh Gia district of Thanh Hoa; and Nguyen Dinh Tho, born in 1996 and from Ky Anh district of central Ha Tinh province.

Hanoi launch tree plan this year

Hanoi has set a target to plant around 400,000 trees in the city’s urban areas and 70 hectares of forest this year.

The municipal authorities have recently announced a plan on growing trees in 2019. 

According to the plan, some 400,000 trees will be grown on streets in the city’s urban areas, including 150,000 to be planted on the upcoming Tet Holiday.

Under the instruction by the city people’s committee, localities need to select trees which are suitable for Hanoi’s climate condition and have to ensure technical requirements for planation to avoid waste.

The city has also aimed to plant 70 hectares of forests and boosted the forest management and protection in the year.

Over the past three years, the city has planted one million trees at a cost of VND256bn (USD11 million).

Vietnam Airlines set to start direct flights to Dubai for Vietnamese football fans

Vietnam Airlines will work in collaboration with Masan and Vietravel to organise direct flights for Vietnamese football fans to travel to the AFC Asian Cup 2019 quarterfinals in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) .

The flights set to carry the Vietnamese supporters will depart from Hanoi to Dubai at 7:30am on January 24, 2019 and return to Hanoi early in the morning the following day. The national flag carrier will use A350-900 wide-body aircraft for these flights with service quality in accordance with international 4-star standards.

The flights are expected to travel a distance of 5,400 km from Hanoi to Dubai, and carry more than 300 Vietnamese football fans to support the national squad during the AFC Asian Cup 2019 quarterfinals.

Vietnam Airlines, Masan, and Vietravel had previously co-ordinated together to arrange flights for Vietnamese football fans to support the players in the match against Yemen on January 16.

Fire causes panic among apartment residents in capital

The fire caused panic among residents at the Linh Đàm apartment complex in Hà Nội’s Hoàng Mai District on Monday. — Photo giaoducthoidai.vn

A fire broke out last night on the 15th floor of an apartment complex in Hà Nội’s Hoàng Mai District.

A witness said the fire broke out at 21:45 on the 15th floor of HH3A builing.

The electricity in the building was cut off and the elevators stopped working causing panic among residents, who started to flee.

The fire was contained within an hour, according to local police.

Fortunately, there were no casualties. 

Lao drug traffickers arrested in Hà Tĩnh

The traffickers at a police station in Hà Tĩnh Province. — Photo baovephapluat.vn

Two drug traffickers were arrested on Monday by police in the central province of Hà Tĩnh.

The traffickers, from Borikhamxay Province in Laos, were stopped in Sơn Bằng Commune, Hương Sơn District with over 2,000 synthetic pills.

Both confessed to buying and transporting the drugs from Laos to Việt Nam.

The case is under further investigation. 

Vietnamese expats in Hong Kong, Macau gather for Tet celebrations

At the celebration in Hong Kong

Overseas Vietnamese in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region gathered to welcome Lunar New Year (Tet) at a celebration held by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau on January 20.

Vietnamese Consul General Tran Thanh Huan informed attendees of Vietnam’s socio-economic development as well as diplomatic achievements in 2018, saying they were significantly contributed to by Vietnamese expatriates worldwide, including those in Hong Kong.

The Vietnamese Party and Government attach much importance to overseas Vietnamese’s role in national construction and protection, he said.

He highlighted the Vietnam-Hong Kong ties, saying the two economies have enjoyed thriving relations over the years, with two-way trade reaching 19.8 billion USD in 2018, up 9.4 percent from the previous year. Hong Kong is the 6th largest investor in Vietnam, with 19.3 billion USD in 1,401 projects in the Southeast Asian country.

The two sides joined hands to organise various economic-trade activities, and worked to handle immigration issues, he said, adding that Hong Kong has exempted Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements, and will consider providing more favourable conditions to grant visas to Vietnamese visitors.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Consulate General held a similar celebration in Macau Special Administrative Region on January 19, during which Huan highlighted the Vietnamese expats’ contributions to building their homeland into a more prosperous nation.

At the celebrations, Huan presented certificates of merit to individual, honouring their efforts to develop the Vietnamese communities in the Hong Kong and Macau.

Art performances to welcome Tet were delivered on the occasion. 

Project on eliminating gender-based violence launched

Artist Dang Tri Duc uses sand drawing to portray life stories of sexual violence survivors at the launching ceremony of BRAVE - PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ORGANIZER

The Building Responsibility and Accountability for Gender-Based Violence Elimination (BRAVE) project was launched at an event called “Because you are trusted” in Hanoi last week.

BRAVE works to change the culture of victim blaming in societal attitudes and in media reporting of violence against women and children in Vietnam.

At the launching ceremony, speakers emphasized that everybody has a responsibility to be non-judgmental in attitudes towards victims. With journalists, non-governmental organizations and gender-based violence activists in attendance, the event featured artist Dang Tri Duc who used sand drawing to portray the life stories of two survivors of sexual violence.

The organizers also presented the findings of an in-depth analysis on victim-blaming in press and social media that will be published next month.

BRAVE is implemented by a consortium of three non-governmental organizations including CARE International, the Institute for Studies of Society, Economics and Environment (iSEE) and the Center for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Family, Women and Adolescents (CSAGA), with funding from the Australian government.

According to CARE International, more than half of Vietnamese women reported experiencing at least one type of physical, sexual and/or emotional violence in their lifetime.

Victim blaming, together with social and cultural norms, makes it particularly difficult for survivors to speak up and advocate for their rights. As a result, harmful gender stereotypes about women’s and men’s roles, social expectations that encourage silence from victims, and a culture of gender-based violence that normalizes perpetrators’ violence continue to prevail.

BRAVE includes various activities such as a public campaign that focuses on the voice of survivors and the call to change behaviors that justify, condone, or ignore gender-based violence as well as to promote peer support among survivors.

The three-year project will also form a BRAVE network of survivor leaders and their community-based  organizations and provide training and networking opportunities for the network to equip them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to speak out against gender-based violence and victim-blaming and to support their peers.

Delta farmers reap high profits from breeding giant river prawn

Farmers harvest giant river prawn bred in a rice field in Cà Mau Province’s Thới Bình District.

Farmers in the Mekong Delta have had a bumper harvest of giant river prawns at good prices because of favourable weather conditions and high market demand.

Under a special cultivation model, farmers breed the giant prawn and grow rice on the same field without using chemicals. The prawns eat natural food in the rice fields.   

In Sóc Trănng Province, shrimp–rice farmers are now entering the peak harvest season.

Lê Việt Thắng, who has a one-hectare rice field in Sóc Trăng’s Phước Long District, said he had a rice yield of seven tonnes per hectare, higher than in the past.

The profit from harvesting prawn and rice this year was about VNĐ50 million (US$2,150) per hectare, he said.

Trần Văn Ân, deputy chairman of the Phước Long District People’s Committee, said the rainy season ended late, so there was enough freshwater for the rice fields.

Local farmers used quality seeds and followed proper plant scheduling, which helped to increase yields.

The environmentally friendly shrimp – rice model reduces production costs, increases yield and profit.

In the rainy season, Bạc Liêu has nearly 36,000ha of fields allocated for the shrimp – rice farming model, up nearly 3,000ha against the previous rainy season.

Of the figure, farmers have harvested more than 20,000ha so far.

The cultivation model has an average prawn yield of 250 – 300kg per hectare per crop and 4 – 4.5 tonnes of rice per hectare per crop, according to Bạc Liêu authorities.

In Cà Mau Province, farmers in Thới Bình District, which is the province’s largest giant river prawn producer, has about 12,000ha of giant river prawn – rice farming fields.

Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, who lives in Tân Bằng Commune’s Kênh 6 Hamlet in Thới Bình,  has harvested giant river prawns in his one-hectare rice field and earned a profit of VNĐ20 million ($862).

He began to release about 20,000 giant river prawn fry into rice fields in June this year and harvested about 250kg of giant river prawns after breeding for six months, he said.

Huỳnh Văn Dũng, head of the Kênh 6 Hamlet Farmers Association, said: “The model has high economic efficiency, is easy to implement and is sustainable, so many farmers have done it.”

Farmers buy giant river prawn fry in Cà Mau and other provinces such as An Giang Province and Cần Thơ City for breeding, he said.

Traders buy the market-size giant river prawns at a price of VNĐ100,000 – 130,000 ($4.3 – 5.6) a kilogramme.

The price may increase significantly near Tết (Lunar New Year), which falls on February 5 this year, according to traders.

In Trà Vinh Province, farmers began harvesting giant river prawns in rice fields early this month.

Châu Thành, Cầu Ngang, Trà Cú and Duyên Hải districts and Duyên Hải Town are Trà Vinh’s major giant river prawn breeding areas. 

Châu Thành has more than 1,100ha of rice fields in which farmers breed all male giant river prawns, the largest in the province.

Nguyễn Thanh Thưởng, deputy chairman of the Long Hòa Commune People’s Committee in Châu Thành, said this is the sixth year that many farmers in the commune have bred giant river prawn and organic rice on one field.

Many aquaculture farmers have also switched from breeding two black-tiger shrimp crops a year to one black-tiger shrimp crop and one giant river prawn crop a year, he said.

Investors who produce shrimp seeds, including male giant river prawn seeds, can take advantage of the province’s preferential policies.

The model of breeding all male giant river prawns yields a higher profit than that of breeding mixed gender giant river prawns. The former has a higher survival and growth rate.

Seminar discusses labour dispute settlement

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held a consultation seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on January 21 to discuss labour dispute settlement models.

The event aimed to seek effective solutions to labour dispute settlement, ensuring legitimate rights and interests of employees and employers. 

The MoLISA reported that individual and collective labour disputes have increased over the past years, resulting in mass absence from work, thus hurting production and business. Most of the cases were brought to court in major economic and industrial zones in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Da Nang and Hai Phong. 

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep said the dispute settlement model should function as a mediator and be established in cities and provinces with 500,000 workers and more. 

Andrea Price from the ILO, head advisor of the New Industrial Relations Framework project, suggested six criteria for the labour dispute settlement model, including fairness, efficiency, stance, legal authority, governance and law. 

She recommended adopting such criteria for existing and new systems based on experiences from many countries. 

Delegates also proposed forming systems in charge of labour dispute settlement in localities, improving the efficiency of labour inspection, and holding training courses on industrial relations.

State support for disadvantaged people ahead of Tet

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (centre) and representatives of Luc Nam district of Bac Giang province at the programme presenting Tet gifts to local disadvantaged people

Disadvantaged people in remote areas across Vietnam have received support from the State ahead of the upcoming traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

On January 22, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue visited social welfare beneficiaries, revolution contributors and Agent Orange victims in northern Bac Giang province.

In Lang Giang district, he presented 50 million VND (nearly 2,160 USD) while the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs presented 30 million VND to the Lang Giang centre for war invalid care. Bac Giang authorities also offered 48 gift packs to war veterans there.

Visiting Luc Nam district, the Deputy PM presented 100 gift packs to low-income earners and Agent Orange victims, wishing them health and happiness in the New Year.

He said Party committees and authorities have always cared for all people, especially those with disadvantages during Tet.

A text message campaign launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Society to raise support to the poor and Agent Orange victims has received about 6.5 billion VND so far. Less privileged families and residents in border and remote areas of 13 provinces, mostly in the northern region, will benefit from this programme, Hue added.

The same day, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh joined residents in A Ngo commune of the mountainous border district of Dakrong, central Quang Tri province, in a Tet celebration. 

She asked local authorities to better link the Party and State with people while encouraging ethnic minority people to further engage in patriotic emulation movements and border security, eradicate backward customs and uphold fine cultural identities. 

Thinh also called on locals to strive for a better life, stay alert to plots taking advantage of religious and ethnic issues to incite illegal migration and drive a wedge among ethnic groups, and nurture the Vietnam-Laos friendship.

The Vice President presented scholarships to 150 students with disadvantages at the event.

Thinh also visited and offered Tet greetings to border guards of the La Lay International Border Gate in Quang Tri.

Also on January 22, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien visited Huoi Luong and Ma Ly Pho communes of Phong Tho district, the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau.

He presented gifts to the local administration and people, wishing them health, happiness and success in the New Year.

During his stay in Lai Chau, Hien paid pre-Tet visits to the Huoi Luong border guard post and border guards at the Ma Lu Thang border gate.

Rice allocated to northern, central provinces ahead of Tet

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to provide rice as food aid for people in northern and central provinces ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays.

The PM asked the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to allocate more than 3,700 tonnes of rice from national reserves for poor households in the provinces.

The rice will be distributed among the northern provinces of Ha Giang (359 tonnes), Yen Bai (380 tonnes) and Cao Bang (603 tonnes), the central provinces of Phu Yen (399 tonnes), Binh Dinh (1,000 tonnes) and Quang Binh (1,000 tonnes).

The provincial People’s Committees will be responsible for distributing the rice to the targeted residents.

The General Department of State Reserve under the MoF provided 120,428 tonnes of rice worth about 1.18 trillion VND (50.74 million USD) to needy people in localities nationwide in 2018.

Each year, about 16 provinces send requests for rice to help locals ahead of Tet and in between-crop periods. The total requested volume averages 12,000 tonnes per million people.

A representative of the reserve said the rice will reach the needy within three days of the Prime Minister issuing the decision.

Tet gifts continue to reach hands of disadvantaged people

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong visits policy beneficiaries in Cam Thuy district 

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong on January 22 visited and presented gifts to poor people and policy beneficiaries in mountainous Cam Thuy district in the central province of Thanh Hoa ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Phong granted 10 present packages each worth 2 million VND (86 USD) to heroic mothers, veterans, and policy beneficiaries; 200 overcoats to poor students; and a total of 150 million VND in cash to households living in underprivileged circumstances.

She spoke highly of the province’s socio-economic development situation and efforts to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, while appreciating its level of care for those in need during the Tet occasion.

On the same day, a delegation from the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, led by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong who is also deputy head of the committee, inspected the settlement of flood aftermaths in Muong Lat district of Thanh Hoa province.

He presented gifts to 85 households in Muong Chanh, Tam Chung, and Quang Chieu communes; handed over books to Muong Chanh Secondary School; and provided 245 Tet gifts to local students, with a combined value of 210 million VND (9,000 USD).

Many localities in Thanh Hoa province suffered following a historic flood in August 2018. According to statistics, the flood left 12 people dead and missing, while 13,000 houses were inundated and 800 others swept away, collapsed, or severely damaged. Thousands of hectares of crops were submerged in floodwater, and hundreds of heads of cattle and poultry were killed.

Also on the day, a delegation from the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, led by VFF Vice President cum General Secretary Hau A Lenh, visited Yen Bai province’s social work and social welfare centre, and poor households in Van Yen district.

On behalf of the VFF Central Committee, Lenh granted 20 million VND in cash and a gift box worth 1 million VND to the centre, together with 150 gifts worth 1.3 million VND each to poor households in An Thinh, Dai Son, and Yen Hop communes.

On this occasion, the VFF also handed over 400 million VND, raised from a texting campaign, to the province to buy clothes for children in extremely disadvantaged communes.

Lai Chau border force presents scholarships to poor students

The Border Guard of the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau has presented 166 scholarships worth a total of 500 million VND (21,500 USD) to poor students in the province’s border localities.

According to Colonel Nguyen Tat Hau, the scholarships are part of a programme launched by the Border Guard High Command to support local disadvantaged children in continuing with their studies.

The programme has called on each border post, unit, and provincial Border Guard Headquarter leader to sponsor at least two students, who will receive 500,000 VND to 1 million VND each month.

Furthermore, the provincial Border Guard Headquarters has mobilised assistance from social organisations and donors both within and outside the province to build classrooms and boarding houses, and buy equipment for students in these areas.

According to the unit, by the end of 2018, the Border Guard force of Vietnam sponsored 2,546 students, with the Border Guard of Lai Chau taking care of 61 students.

Since 2014, the programme has supported the construction of 17 classrooms and five boarding houses for local students, as well as an access bridge with the total cost of 3.9 billion VND, in addition to many studying supplies, playground equipment, and blankets for students in border-area schools.

Child cancer patients in need of greater support: NA Chairwoman

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (second from left) presents gift packages to child cancer patients 

Child cancer patients from disadvantaged backgrounds need more treatment assistance, said National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan while visiting the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital in Hanoi on January 22.

The top legislator expressed her concern over the fact that most cancer patients, over 70 percent, do not come in for treatment until the later stages of the disease.

There are a great number of cancer patients, especially those without health insurance cards, in need of urgent help, Ngan said.

She added that for those children with cancer who do look to undergo treatment in the long run, many come from disadvantaged backgrounds and families that cannot afford the costs.

As such, many health workers have donated their money to help support their patients, Ngan said.

The NA Chairwoman hailed the hospital’s Supportive Fund for Cancer Patients – Bright Future, which has been used effectively over the past seven years.

Through the fund, the hospital has supported treatment and presented gifts worth over 24 billion VND (one million USD) for more than 24,000 disadvantaged cancer patients across the country.

The fund provides medicine for cancer patients at a total cost of over 400 billion VND (17.2 million USD). 

In 2018 alone, the hospital provided medical checkups for more than 1 million child patients and treated almost 100,000 child inpatients.

Last year, Vietnam reported around 164,000 new cancer cases nationwide, 1.5 percent of which are children, and 114,000 resulting in death.

On this occasion, 100 child cancer patients undergoing treatment at the hospital were presented with a gift package and 1 million VND each, sponsored by the Supportive Fund for Cancer Patients – Bright Future.

Community reports help HCM City tackle officials’ violations

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (Photo: tienphong.vn)

Information provided by the public, the media, and voters have helped Ho Chi Minh City discipline 97 Party members who committed violations, receiving punishments ranging from warnings to being expelled from the Party, said Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Sharing the city’s measures to prevent and fight corruption at a conference on January 22, Nhan said that in 2018, the city’s party and government system, as well as the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels, received more than 3,500 reports of wrongdoings among public officials. So far, 3,000 reports have been verified.

He said that 142 public servants were given warnings or dismissed from their position.

Nhan attributed the results to the city’s efforts in strictly implementing Regulation No.1374 on the responsibility of the Party Committee and Government in listening to people’s reports on the risk of violations among officials and public servants.

The reports are gathered through the Vietnam Fatherland Front, National Assembly deputies, the People’s Council, meetings with voters, and denunciations and complaints reported by the media.

However, Nhan pointed to the loose coordination among inspection, examination, and supervision programmes, which has led to several cases either overlapping or being missed out.

In 2019, the city will assign the Party’s inspection agency to collect the supervision plans of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the People’s Council, and the Party Committee for revision, aiming to enhance efficiency.

He noted that the city has seen 12 stagnant cases whose settlement has become prolonged for several years. He admitted that weakness still remain in the operation of municipal management agencies.

Remains of 11 unknown martyrs reburied in Ha Giang’s cemetery

A ceremony was held to rebury remains of 11 martyrs (Source: nhandan.com.vn)

A ceremony was held at Vi Xuyen National Martyrs’ Cemetery in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang on January 22 to rebury the remains of 11 martyrs who laid down their lives to safeguard the northern border.

Colonel Nguyen An Phong, Political Commissar of the provincial Military High Command, said that after an extended period of searching, the province’s search team gathered the remains of 11 unknown martyrs in the villages of Nam Ngat and Giang Nam, of Thanh Thuy commune, Vi Xuyen district.

They include officials and soldiers from around the nation who stood side-by-side with Ha Giang’s army and local people in resolvedly protecting the national territory in the northern border defence war in 1979. 

They will be remembered for devoting their whole lives for the cause of national independence and freedom.

Top legislator meets writers, artists on Lunar New Year

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) greets writers and artists at the meeting on January 22 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with representatives of writers and artists on January 22 on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. 

Wishing the writers and artists a happy new year, the NA leader took the occasion to praise the cultural sector for its role in enhancing the people’s spiritual and cultural life and promoting Vietnam in the world. 

She noted that 2018 was a busy year for writers and artists. Thousands of art and literature works have been published or exhibited. Many authors and artists won awards at local, national, regional and international contests. The Vietnam Writers’ Association, the Vietnam Musicians’ Association and the Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association held a number of international exchanges which left good impression on international colleagues. 

NA Chairwoman Ngan recalled the teaching of President Ho Chi Minh that culture and arts are also a front, with writers and artists being soldiers on that front. The President also said culture and arts, just like all other activities, cannot stand outside economics and politics. 

The legislator stressed that the Party and State are deeply aware of the great role and contribution of culture and arts, thus attaching importance to building specific mechanisms and policies for the development of culture and arts, which respect the freedom of creativity of artists and writers and facilitate their work.  

She reiterated the important role of writers and artists in conveying the policies of the Party and laws of the State to the people, and in educating the young generations. She added that in the country’s renewal cause and international integration, amidst the rapid development of information technology, writers and artists must work to reform themselves, adopt new outlooks and ways of thinking and seek new forms of expression in creation. 

The NA leader also urged the writers and artists to work to preserve the national cultural identity, develop fine traditional values and prevent the negative impacts of the market economy and international integration. 

Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Literary and Arts Associations (VULAA) Huu Thinh said the union will coordinate with the National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education,  Youth, Adolescents and Children and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to create mechanisms facilitating the creative work of writers and artists.