Stone-carrying lorries stir up dust, loud noise

Heavy lorries carrying stones have been driving around the clock and making a terrible and dusty environment in Phú Mãn Commune, in Hà Nội’s Quốc Oai District.

Over recent years hundreds of households in the commune, 30km from Hà Nội’s centre, have suffered from serious pollution, but local authorities have not helped them.

Stone exploitation at local mines was to blame according to local residents; some enterprises have been licensed to exploit stone since 2007.

Before 2007, the environment of the six villages in Phú Mãn Commune was healthy, local residents said. Things started to get worse when stone mining began.

Local people’s daily activities were affected as were schools and health centres by the loud lorries.

The 2.7 km main road linking the commune centre with the villages was seriously damaged, causing traffic jams.

Early last year, Quốc Oai District authorities invested money from the local budget to upgrade the road.       

Local residents complained to the district People’s Committee that owners of stone-trucks didn’t traffic laws.

A 60-year-old local man, Đinh Công Chìu, said “Every day, hundreds of 40-50 tonne- lorries carrying stone from mines drive at high-speeds on the inter-commune road to the district centre.”

“When a lorry goes through, the whole road is covered by white dust.”

Local people have to keep their doors closed all day and even spread canvases to prevent dust.

Although stone mining enterprises watered the road every day, the high volume of lorries meant dust soon covered the road again.

Deputy Chairman of Phú Mãn Commune People’s Committee, Bùi Chí Bền said local authorities recognised how bad the situation was for local residents.

But, commune authorities have no administrative method to solve the problem.

Every year, commune authorities signed documents with enterprises, asking them not to use heavy vehicles, to water the road regularly and must spend money to repair it if was damaged.

Đinh Trần Trung Hiếu, deputy chief of the district’s transport police, said the nine-officer strong police force had to patrol 40km of road so they couldn’t watch Phú Mãn every day.

Lorry drivers intentionally avoided transport police and whenever police were absent overloaded lorries without canvas drove bumper-to-bumper on the dusty road.

Hiếu said commune authorities and the district’s road management board must share the resp to solve violations.

A VNĐ17 billion (US$763,300) project funded from the district budget to upgrade the Phú Mãn Commune road is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.         

Đỗ Quang Huy, an official from the project said the route would help local people travel more conveniently but the noise and dust was still a concern. “If local authorities and relevant offices don’t solve the violation, the new road will be damaged soon,” he said.

FEALAC network of cultural cities to be set up

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue hosted the first meeting of the project on a network of cultural cities in the framework of the Forum of East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) on April 29, drawing nearly 100 representatives from 17 countries.

FEALAC is a cooperation mechanism gathering 36 nations in East Asia and Latin America with the aim to establish an official and regular dialogue channel for the two regions.

The project’s objective is to intensify international cooperation at the local level between FEALAC members in the fields of culture, sports, tourism and development.

At the first session, mayors, experts and representatives of FEALAC cities discussed the relationship between cultural heritage and sustainable development, while considering the establishment of the network of cultural cities.

They also exchanged experience in cultural issues, heritage preservation and sustainable development.

Keiji Maki from Japan’s Kyoto city shared how the locality had involved each citizen in heritage preservation by taking measures to support them.

Meanwhile, Valdes Bolano Sara, a representative from Mexico, stressed the need to raise public awareness of the importance of culture to sustainable development, and strengthen international collaboration in tourism development and cultural diversification preservation.

Delegates then approved a joint statement affirming the importance of cultural to sustainable development in general and urban development in particular, as well as the importance of urban heritage protection in the growing urbanisation.

They also confirmed the vital role of local people in preserving and promoting heritage values in urban areas and major cities.

They reached a consensus on operation regulations of the network, and called on other cities of regional countries to participate in this network.

The next meeting of the FEALAC network of cultural cities will take place in San Salvador, Argentina.

US foundation builds care centre for needy children in Da Nang

The US-based Half the Sky Foundation will sponsor more than 3.4 million USD to build the OneSky care centre and kindergarten in the central city of Da Nang.

The foundation and the municipal Department of Education and Training signed an agreement concerning the funding on April 30.

OneSky will cover 3,000 square metres in the Hoa Khanh industrial park and its construction will take place between 2016 and 2019.

It aims to provide disadvantaged children residing in the industrial site with safe and comprehensive learning environment. It is the first of its kind piloted in Vietnam.

Half the Sky Foundation is a non-governmental organisation dedicating to enriching lives of needy children through its programmes offered at care centres and kindergartens.

American veteran finds peace at former battlefield in Vietnam

Neil Hannan knew he was about to walk a very thin line between life and death when he arrived in central Vietnam in late February 1968, at the age of 19.

Former American soldier Neil Hannan visits the grave of Nguyen Thi Son, a Vietnamese woman he rescued in the Vietnam War in 1968.

But the young soldier did not know that he would have to carry along haunting memories of the war even after half a century later.

Hannan, now 67, recalled that right after his arrival at Chu Lai Airport, he was immediately taken to a base of the US Army’s 196th infantry brigade in Quang Nam Province’s Thang Binh District.

“I was really shocked by what was happening around,” he said.

The number of people being killed and injured just kept rising for both sides.

On the third day, his unit began to move to a village where he could hear painful moans.

Hannan said he rushed into a small house that was burning and found a little girl. She had a severed foot and blood was everywhere.

Neil Hannan hands over gifts to Son's 94-year-old mother, Luu Thi The.

Two adults in the house were horrified when seeing an American soldier with a gun. But Hannan said his worried look might have calmed them down.

He said he did not think twice and quickly carried the girl to his base for treatment.

Nearly half a century later, in 2010, Hannan decided to travel all the way to Vietnam to visit the former battlefield in Quang Nam, together with other vets from the same brigade.

After many efforts, he managed to find the person that he had helped rescue during the war.

At Nguyen Thi Son's house, he cried when hugging her. They recalled memories of the war and the time when they first met.

After returning to the US, Hannan often saved money from his meager pension and farm work to send to Son and helped her repair her small house and cover medical costs.

“Despite being weak due to long time illnesses, my younger sister had motivation to live for two more years,” said Son’s brother Nguyen Van Phung.

She passed away in late 2012, at the age of 57.

"I let Neil know and he was very sad,” Phung said.

In 2015, Hannan visited Son’s grave and was really moved by the image of her mother, 94-year-old Luu Thi The, sitting by the grave.

He has been visiting the mother regularly, bringing gifts and medicine to her.

The veteran said he felt like he owed her a healthy daughter.

May Lis Carlsen, a Norwegian nurse who accompanied Hannan to Vietnam in a recent trip in March, said she was deeply moved by his story.

It could be a very common story during and after the war but the most important thing is that Neil has returned and did what he wanted, because most American soldiers did not have a similar, she said.

Returning from the war, besides injuries, illnesses and difficulties in making a living, they have also suffered from post traumatic stress disorder that can affect the rest of their life, she said.

Hannan knew the terrifying memories of the war may never leave.

But that day in March, sitting next to the grave of the woman he had saved, he finally found some rare moments of peace.

Ninh Thuan looks for more support for children with disabilities

A workshop was held in southern Ninh Thuan province on April 29 discussing ways to support children with disabilities in social integration.

Speaking at the event, delegates shared the view that disabled children should be helped to attend school and they require special support that fit their ages and specific needs. More special centres should also be established to provide them with care, rehabilitation services and social skills.

The participation of entire society, including the community, state agencies, local authorities and the families, is vital for all these things to happen, said Nguyen Anh Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training.

The special centre for social integration is a new concept in Vietnam, with only several facilities having opened so far in ten cities and provinces.

Ninh Thuan launched its first centre in Ninh Phuoc district in December last year. It is also home to two private ones.

The province has about 2,000 people with disabilities and only 26 percent of disabled children are attending schools, Linh noted, adding that it was largely owing to the lack of supporting policies for them as well as special childcare personnel and facilities.

Many parents also lack of confidence on the special schools for children with disabilities.

Government leader hails female entrepreneurs’ contributions to nation

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc appreciated the great contributions made by women, particularly female entrepreneurs, to the country while meeting representatives of Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs (VAWE) in Ho Chi Minh City on April 29.

He affirmed that the Government will continue creating favourable conditions for businesses, including those owned by women.

The Government will steer the implementation of administrative reform, especially procedures related to business registration and start-ups, taxation and customs, in order to create a transparent and clear business and investment environment, he stated.

The PM expressed his hope that VAWE and female entrepreneurs will effectively carry out enterprise restructuring to improve competitiveness and increase labour productivity, and intensify support for each other in business and production activities and in developing markets.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa, who is VAWE President, urged the Government to soon issue a legal document for enterprises headed by women as well as supplementing preferential regulations for these enterprises and those using many female labourers.

Established on October 19, 2014, the VAWE gathers a large number of women entrepreneurs in different economic sectors.

The number of female entrepreneurs have increased incessantly over the past years, from 65,000 in 2010 to 91,000 in 2015.

15 divers get health checks after working in Ha Tinh waters

Divers who worked in contaminated water in Ha Tinh Province will have health checks in Hue City after the death of co-worker.

On April 28, 15 divers from the International Manpower and Construction JSC (Nibelc) that was contracted to work for the Formosa Group to build a breakwater, were sent to Hue Central Hospital along with a Nibelc representative.

According to the divers, this is a regular check-up. However, they admitted that they had chest pains and breathing difficulties after recent dives. Some divers have rashes on their backs. They will receive results for serum biochemistry tests in three days.

On April 26, nine divers working on a Formosa's project also went to Hue Central Hospital for health checks. One diver felt unusually tired and demanded more tests. The results showed that the copper level in his blood was twice as high as normal.

On April 24, a diver died on the way to Bac Quang Binh General Hospital after suffering from chest pains and breathing difficulties. Many suspected that he was poisoned and his co-workers said the water seemed different.

The mass fish deaths along the central coast have badly affected tourism and local businesses. Formosa, a major company in the Vung Ang Economic Zone, became the centre of the scandal after a representative sparked public outrage with callous remarks by stating people must choose between a steel industry or fishing.

Food poisoning fear

The recent mass fish deaths along the central coast have rattled nerves as an explanation given on Wednesday by the environment ministry is inadequate to appease the nervous public. While investigations into the cause of the fish deaths are still underway, another threat is looming large as local residents have been rushing to beaches to collect dead fish to sell to traders even though they do not know what would be done with the fish.

There are growing concerns that the dead fish would be used as animal feed or even human food. This is a scary scenario. Without swift responses from authorities, the consequences would be huge. Now, authorities remain unsure what has caused the death of hundreds of tons of fish in the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue. Dead fish were first found dead in the waters near Vung Ang Economic Zone in Ha Tinh.

By early this week, around 15 tons of marine fish and two tons of farmed fish had been reported dead in Ha Tinh alone. Meanwhile, Thua Thien-Hue had seen 30 tons of marine fish washed up onto beaches.

Local media has sounded the alarm bell over the fact that people in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces have been flocking to beaches to pick up dead fish and sell them on to traders despite repeated warnings against possible food poisoning. A Vietnamnet report says many boats are searching for half-dead fish while people without boats are collecting dead fish washed ashore. Fresh dead fish can sell for VND50,000 (US$2.3) per kilo while the price of rotten fish is around VND20,000. Locals do not know why traders are buying dead fish and what they will do with the fish. However, local authorities have warned people against buying or eating dead fish because of possible poisoning.

A Tuoi Tre newspaper report says that a man was found buying dead fish from fishermen on a beach in the north-central province of Quang Binh early this week. While he was uploading those dead fish onto his refrigerator truck parked on the beach in Quang Tho Commune, environment police officers came.

Nguyen Van Lao, chairman of Thanh Trach Commune, confirms that traders have been buying dead fish from locals in recent days. It remains unclear as to what those traders would do with the dead fish, which might have  been killed by toxic chemicals. There is speculation that the dead fish could make their way to markets in southern Vietnam, including those in HCMC, or be processed into fish sauce.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has banned the use of dead fish in food processing, and ordered relevant agencies to collect and destroy dead fish. The governments of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri have ordered local authorities to collect and dispose of the dead fish to prevent environmental pollution. Quang Tri’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment has shown people how to get rid of the fish. However, the instructions came later than expected.

Delays in tackling the incident would make matters worse. Several ministries met on Wednesday to look into what has caused the death of so many fish but local media felt disappointed by what Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said at a news conference after the intense meeting.

There had been suspicion that Formosa steel complex in Ha Tinh discharged toxic wastewater into the sea, leading to mass fish deaths. Nhan however said there was no clue of Formosa’s responsibility for mass fish deaths but took no questions from reporters. The incident might have resulted from toxins discharged from human activity or a phenomenon known as an algal bloom (red tide), he added.

The ambiguous situation will continue affecting travel firms and local people’s lives as tourists are afraid to come to the central coast this time around until the cause has been identified.

S.Korea unveils statue to commemorate massacres in Vietnam

The Committee for the Establishment of a Korean-Vietnamese Peace Foundation, or Korean-Vietnamese Peace Foundation in short, has introduced a statue meant to commemorate the massacres during the Vietnam War (1955-1975) of Vietnamese civilians by South Korean troops.

Called “Vietnam Pieta,” the statue was created by two Korean artists, Kim Seo Kyung and Kim Eun Sung.

The name “Vietnam Pieta” was inspired from the world-famous 15th-century marble sculpture “Pietà” (Pity) by Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. The famous Pietà depicts the body of Jesus Christ on the lap of the Virgin Mary.

The name of the Vietnam Pieta statue is “Loi Ru Cuoi Cung” (the last lullaby).

The Vietnam Pieta depicts a mother holding her baby as if she were lulling the baby to sleep. This is a tribute to those killed in the massacres, especially babies and mothers who protected their children. It carries a message of apology and repentance of the South Koreans.

Funded by South Korean people, the 150-kilo bronze sculpture is 1.5 meters high and placed on a granite base. It is expected to be located on Korea’s Jeju Island before more copies are made to be put in other places in South Korea and Vietnam also.

At a press conference held on Wednesday to present the statue, the Korean-Vietnamese Peace Foundation did a prayer for peace between Vietnam and South Korea on the occasion of Vietnam’s Reunification Day on April 30.

The foundation’s president, Roh Hwa Wook, said in a statement: “As the relationship between Vietnam and South Korea has kept getting better, we can no longer postpone our repentance for what we did during the war in Vietnam. The foundation will be a bridge to connect the two countries, helping them look at the past together and move on for a brighter future. On a larger scale, the foundation will contribute to building peace among nations in East Asia.”

Founded last year, the foundation has 68 members from different walks of life who come together to make South Korea a peaceful hub in East Asia.

Solutions to waste disposal problem in rural areas proposed

Various waste treatment solutions were proposed at a workshop in Nam Dinh province on April 28 as many rural areas across the country are grappling with environmental pollution.

The function was held by the Central Steering Committee for the national target programme on new countryside. It attracted officials from 12 provinces and cities who shared the concern that environmental pollution in many rural areas has reached an alarming level.

According to the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA), about 67 percent of Vietnam’s population are living in rural areas. They release more than 13 million tonnes of waste, 1.3 million cubic metres of waste water and 7.5 tonnes of plant protection product containers every year.

Over 80 percent of the waste volume has not been collected and treated properly. Meanwhile, about 84 million tonnes of by-products of agricultural activities and chemical fertiliser residue have also contaminated water sources and degraded soil.

In addition, activities of industrial parks, craft villages and urban areas have posed threat to the environment in rural areas as well as local residents’ health, the administration said.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said among the 19 criteria of the national target programme on new-style countryside, the 17 th criterion on environment has been fulfilled by only 42 percent of the total communes nationwide. It is one of the worst performed criteria.

Sharing local experiences, representatives of Hai Hau district in Nam Dinh province said natural gas-powered incinerators were piloted there in 2012, and they realised that such facilities can dispose waste effectively at low expenses.

The Hai Hau People’s Committee has supported each commune and town with 50 million VND (2,250 USD) to install natural gas-powered incinerators. Twenty-five of the 35 communes and towns in the district have used that type of incinerators so far.

In 2014, the VEA’s Centre for Environmental Consultancy and Technology built a dry anaerobic composting system in the form of a digester in Hoi Ninh commune of Ninh Binh province. The facility has proved effective in both environmental and economic aspects.

Former Deputy Director of Agriculture and Rural Development Ho Xuan Hung, an advisor to the new countryside building programme, said no matter which waste disposal methods are chosen, local communities are pivotal to environmental protection. Each person must improve their awareness and practice to minimise adverse impacts on the environment and their life.

Quang Tri: flag raising ceremony held on Reunification Day

The central province of Quang Tri held a flag raising ceremony on April 30 to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the Liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification Day and the 44th anniversary of the liberation of Quang Tri Old Citadel.

Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue joined the province’s leaders and locals in the meaningful event at the historic Ben Hai-Hien Luong site in Vinh Linh district.

The annual event aims to honour the feats and sacrifices of people and soldiers from both the North and the South who were responsible for the April 1975 victory to reunify the country.

In July 1954, after the Geneva Agreement was signed, the 17th parallel at Ben Hai-Hien Luong was set as a temporary military demarcation line dividing Vietnam. After this, Ben Hai-Hien Luong became two different lands, witnessing fierce confrontations in the war for national reunification.

The area was hit by tens of thousands of tonnes of bombs and toxic chemicals from the enemies with an aim of bringing Quang Tri into a "white belt" to prevent the North from assisting the South. But with determination from the people and the army, the national flag in Hien Luong stood still to become a bright symbol of the heroic revolution, reflecting the resilience, indomitability, and courage of the army and people to make the final victory.

Speaking at the event, Quang Tri provincial Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Hung recalled the proud traditions of the military and people of Quang Tri and across the country in general in the cause of protecting the national sacred territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The event was also an opportunity to pay gratitude to the sacrifices of past generations, as well as educate younger generations on the sacrifices of the past.

On the occasion, Quang Tri province organised a photo exhibition entiled ‘Quang Tri - legendary rivers’ and a traditional boat race on Ben Hai River.

In addition to the event in Quang Tri, Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue also visited and paid tribute to heroic martyrs who sacrificed for national independence, freedom and reunification at Truong Son Cemetery, Road 9 Cemetery, and Quang Tri Old Citadel.

Solutions sought to fight drought, salinity

Representatives of the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Mekong Delta provinces met on April 28 to look for ways to mitigate the effect of drought and saltwater intrusion on the region.

Deputy minister Hoang Van Thang told the meeting in Soc Trang Province that 208,800 hectares of the winter-spring and summer-autumn rice crops have been damaged.

In Kien Giang Province alone, roughly 56,000 hectares of rice has been damaged with losses estimated at some VND1 trillion besides other crop and animal losses, according to provincial vice chairman Mai Anh Nhin.

The calamity has also hit around 9,400 hectares of orchards and 258,000 seedlings, mostly in Ben Tre Province.

A high level of saline water has impacted some 2,000 hectares under shrimp farming in the region, In addition, around 225,800 households in the delta lack fresh water for daily use.

The provinces asked for assistance from the Government at the meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

Dung told the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Control, the Southwest Steering Committee and provinces to coordinate with one another to cushion the impact and prioritize clean water supply for local people.

Southern liberation anniversary marked abroad

The Vietnamese embassy in the Republic of Korea (RoK) held a ceremony on April 28 to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the liberation of the south Vietnam and national reunification (April 30).

Addressing the event, Ambassador Pham Huu Chi thanked international friends in general and the RoK in particular for their valuable support in the national construction and defence, affirming that Vietnam always strives to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Chairman of the RoK – Vietnam Friendship Association Choi Young-joo, for his part, hailed Vietnam for its fast economic growth in Southeast Asia after 41 years of national reunification.

Speaking highly of bilateral friendship over the past time, Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Thanh said the RoK has become the largest investor in Vietnam while Vietnam is also one of the RoK’s most important markets.

In Cambodia, the General Association of Vietnamese-Cambodians held a similar event on April 29 to mark the occasion.

An Giang general hospital inaugurated

An 600-bed General Hospital officially began operation on April 29 in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.

With an investment of 1.3 trillion VND (nearly 57 million USD) sourced from the Government bonds and local budget, the hospital is equipped with advanced medical equipment. This is the first hospital in the Mekong Delta region to have a helicopter landing pad.

Construction of the 10-floor facility began in June 2012 on 4.6 hectares.

The hospital aims to provide residents in the province and neighbouring localities with better access to treatment and ease the overload at central level hospitals.

HCM City, Hanoi leaders pay tribute to heroic martyrs

A delegation of leaders from HCM City led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dinh La Thang on April 29 offered incense at the City Martyrs Cemetery and Lac Canh Cemetery on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification (April 30).

The delegation members observed a one-minute silence in memory of heroic martyrs who laid down for national independence and unification.

On the same day, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung led a delegation to offer incense and laid flowers at the two cemeteries.

The delegation included representatives from the Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front chapter of Hanoi.

Also on April 29 morning, a delegation led by Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Tat Thanh Cang paid tribute martyrs at the martyrs cemeteries and the Ben Duoc-Cu Chi Martyrs Memorial Site in Cu Chi district.

In the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, a grand requiem for martyrs who lost their lives in the Central Highlands battles was held at the provincial Martyrs Cemetery on April 29.

Attending the event held by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and its Dak Lak chapter were representatives from the Central Highlands Steering Committee and over 4,000 Buddhist followers, veterans and local residents.

On the occasion, the VBS presented 150 gifts to relatives of martyrs and those who rendered services to the nation in the province.

National clean water week launched in Thai Nguyen

The national week on rural clean water and environmental hygiene was launched on April 29 in Huong Thuong commune, Dong Hy district, northern Thai Nguyen province, by the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD).

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Van Tinh, deputy head of the MARD’s General Department of Irrigation, said that the annual event, annually launched by the Prime Minister from April 29-May 6, has spurred a line-up of activities to protect the environment and water resources for the community’s better health.

Tinh also highlighted that from the end of 2014, El Nino has heated up the country, causing critical drought and saline intrusion in south-central, Central Highlands and Mekong delta regions. Drought is forecast to spread to north-central provinces, affecting local livelihoods, he added.

Themed clean water and environmental sanitation in response to climate change, the event is organised to raise the public awareness of protecting the environment and saving water resources to reduce damage caused by climate change, Tinh stressed.

Meanwhile, Doan Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, underscored that thanks to the National Target Programme on Rural Clean Water and Environmental Hygiene, 85 percent of rural population in the province gained access to hygienic water while 65 percent of the rural households had sanitary toilets and breeding facilities by the end of 2015.

Practical activities will be held in the province during the week such as communication on fresh water, tree planting, street tidying up and construction of clean water supplying facilities.

On the occasion, a clean water supplying work valued at 11.7 billion VND (526,500 USD) was inaugurated in Huong Thuong commune. With a capacity of 400 cubic metres per day, the facility will ensure sufficient water for 900 residents as well as schools, clinics and offices in the locality.

Child cancer patients receive gifts from MoH

The Cancer Patients Assistance Fund under the Ministry of Health on April 29 awarded 100 gifts worth VNĐ1 million (US$45) each for children with cancer.

Health Minister Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến visited patients to ask about their health and give out gifts.

On Wednesday, children with cancer at the HCM City Oncology Hospital attended the 100th pink birthday party to celebrate birthdays of children born in April.

The monthly event is part of Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper’s “Ước Mơ của Thúy” (Thúy’s Dream) charity programme.

Twenty disadvantaged patients received VNĐ6 million ($270) each to pay hospital fees, and a total of VNĐ80 million ($3,600) was raised for birthday gifts and meals for child patients.

Participants were entertained with music and dance performances, magic shows and portrait drawing.

Vương Thanh Liễu, deputy secretary of Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union’s HCM City chapter, said that “Ước Mơ của Thúy” (Thúy’s Dream) charity programme had helped thousands of children with cancer.

Around 550 children are being treated at the hospital, including 150 in-patients, said Phạm Xuân Dũng, deputy director of the hospital.

An average of two to three children have to share one bed due to overcrowding at the hospital, Dũng said.

Residents in Mekong Delta risk becoming environmental refugees: official

Residents in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta could potentially be forced to abandon their homes due to the severe impacts of current drought, salinization, and possible environmental degradation.

The warning was given by Nguyen Van The, Secretary of the Party Committee in Soc Trang Province, at a conference dealing with the serious climatic condition in the region organized in the locality on Thursday.

The severe drought and salinization that have ravaged provinces in the Mekong Delta in the past months could bring about many consequences, including a reduction in land area, The said.

The considerably low income of citizens in some localities, as the result of agriculture being affected by the climatic condition, could force residents into leaving their hometowns and working in other places, the official continued.

Secretary The suggested that the government mobilize local scientists and hire foreign experts, if necessary, to carry out research and re-evaluate the situation in the Mekong Delta.

Based on findings of such research, farming areas in the region should be adjusted to suitable sizes and recommended crops and cattle will be issued for local farmers, he said.

According to the information announced at the conference, the Vietnamese government has disbursed VND250 billion (US$11.2 million) from the national budget for localities to deal with the situation while the Ministry of Finance also paid out VND410 billion ($18.3 million) to provide crops and farm animals for the farmers.

Speaking at the gathering, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat forecast that drought and salinization in Vietnam would reach their climax, urging local authorities to maintain production but with a downsize in farming area.

The government will not let any citizens be deprived of food and clean water, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung asserted.

He ordered local authorities to promptly provide the affected households with financial support as soon as possible to support locating underground water resources as temporary solutions.

In terms of long-term measures, relevant state agencies will cooperate with local authorities to determine suitable restructuring of agriculture and forestry activities to cope with the climate change in the region, Deputy PM Dung said.   

Fahasa opens 84th bookshop in HCM City

The HCM City Book Distribution JSC (Fahasa) opened its Fahasa Hanh Thong Tay Bookshop at the Lotte Mart Go Vap Business Centre in HCM City’s Go Vap District on April 28.

The 300sq.m facility, Fahasa’s 23rd bookstore in HCM City and the company’s 84th bookshop across the country, displays over 50,000 copies of Vietnamese and foreign-language books and some 5,000 office and student supplies, children’s toys and souvenirs, both locally made and imported.

During the opening ceremony, Fahasa announced a 10 percent discount on foreign-language books from well-known publishing companies such as Oxford, Macmillan, Cambridge, Pearson, Cengage, Efuture, Paragon, Penguin, Hachette, and Garnet. The discounts last from April 28 to May 28.

Between May 27 and June 1, Fahasa will launch a book distribution campaign to serve children during the summer vacation, aiming to celebrate International Children’s Day, June 1, 2016.

On this occasion, Fahasa will donate 3,000 gifts worth 500 million VND (22,500 USD) to disadvantaged students who have good academic records.-

Over 10,000 visitors attend Lai Chau Culture-Tourism week

More than 10,000 people have attended the Tourism and Culture Week hosted by the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, which concluded in Sin Ho district on April 30.

They were impressed with a string of cultural activities featuring distinctive old-age customs and rituals of ethnic minorities in the province.

According to the organising board, the week’s events popularised local gorgeous landscapes, cultural values, fascinating history and solidarity among ethnic minorities.

In addition, they sought to raise public awareness of protecting nature and traditional cultures, which helps develop sustainable tourism and eliminate poverty.

Such famous tourist attractions as a complex of caves in the Pu Sam Cap mountain, San Thang and Gia Khau village, Sin Sui Ho communal tourism village and Da O mountain were introduced to the travellers during the festival.

Visitors had chances to immerse into a line-up of rituals, including the Tu Cai festival of the Dao Dau Bang ethnic group, the betrothal ceremony of the Mong ethnic group and the La Hu rainy season festival.

At the closing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tong Thanh Hai thanked the state leaders, local heads, sponsorships, provinces in the vicinity as well as local people for their support.

He hoped that more tourists will come to discover the provincial beauty in the future.

President asserts duty to care for revolutionary contributors

President Tran Dai Quang reaffirmed the duty to care for contributors to the national revolution at his visit to a nursing home in the central province of Quang Nam on the occasion of the 41 st anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day on April 30.

Founded in 1976, the provincial centre is now nursing 35 Vietnamese heroic mothers, war invalids and those who have rendered services to the nation. It also provides services for nearly 4,000 revolutionary contributors in Quang Tri and 500 others from central and Central Highlands provinces every year.

It has recently undergone upgrades at a cost of nearly 28 billion VND (1.26 million USD).

During the visit, the leader reiterated that the Party and State always keep in mind the contributors’ participation in and sacrifices to the struggle for national liberation and independence.

He was delighted that these heroic mothers and revolutionary contributors have been well cared for by the centre’s staff and Quang Nam province in particular.

Greater endeavours should be made in the caring of revolutionary contributors, he said, calling for people nationwide to take practical deeds towards these people.

The same day, President Tran Dai Quang paid homage to late President Ho Chi Minh and martyrs at the Nuoc Oa national historical and cultural relic site in Bac Tra My district, and visited the commemorative house of the late acting President Huynh Thuc Khang.

The Nuoc Oa historical and cultural relic site once served as a revolutionary base of the High Command of Military Zone V during the Vietnam war.

From 1972-1973, the base was chosen as the venue of many important meetings and training courses for leaders and officials of regional provinces following the signing of the Paris Agreement, where they discussed how to lead people nationwide in the struggle for southern liberation and national reunification.

The site won the national historical-cultural status in August 1992.

Films to be screened on national holidays

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with Vietnam Cinema Bureau will screen movies and documentary films across the country from April 29 to May 23.

The movies include Canh rung khong yen a (Not quiet forest) by the People’s Army Cinema, Tren dinh nui phia tay (On the top of the Western mountain) by SAA Production and Communication Company, and documentary film Khi nguoi ta con tre (While still young) by the Central Documentary and Scientific Films Studio and 30- 4 ngay thong nhat (April 30th – Reunification Day) by the People’s Army Cinema, marking the 41st South Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30th, 1975- 2016), the 62nd anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Historical Victory and the 126th birthday anniversary of Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh.

Thailand to receive Vietnamese workers for fishing, construction

Thailand will begin receiving Vietnamese workers to work in the fishing and construction sectors from May, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

The MoLISA and the Thai Ministry of Labour have worked together on the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding on labour co-operation and an agreement on labour recruitment between Việt Nam and Thailand, which were signed between the two countries in 2015.

The deputy head of the MoLISA’s Overseas Labour Management, Tống Hải Nam, who chaired the working session, said the two sides agreed on the procedures and steps to send Vietnamese workers to Thailand, including an estimated fee that workers will have to pay and the lists of businesses and units that are allowed to send Vietnamese workers to Thailand.

There are four state agencies that are licensed to send Vietnamese workers to Thailand -- the MoLISA’s Overseas Labour Centre and the employment service centres under the department of labour, invalids and social affairs of the central provinces of Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh and Quảng Bình.

Besides this, there are five businesses operating that are also permitted to send Vietnamese workers to Thailand -- SONA, TTLC, THINH LONG CORP, HOANG LONG HURESU and VIHATICO. These businesses and state agencies meet the requirements set by the two countries -- they have experience in sending workers abroad in the construction and fishing sectors, and they have Thai partners to co-operate in supplying labourers in these sectors.

Thailand has agreed to provide Việt Nam, at the end of this month, with samples of labour contracts and other essential documents on the education and training activities for Vietnamese workers before they are sent to Thailand, along with lists of Thai agencies that will receive the Vietnamese workers. Under the agreement on labour co-operation between the two countries, Vietnamese workers will work in the construction and fishing sectors. However, based on the results of the agreement, Thailand’s actual demand for workers and Việt Nam’s ability to supply labour, Thailand will then consider receiving Vietnamese workers to work in other sectors.

Long An library brings books to border area

Mobile libraries, titled “The Knowledge Ride”, have brought the joy of reading closer to pupils in Moc Hoa district’s Binh Hoa Tay border area, in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

One mobile library is capable of carrying nearly 3,000 titles to be explored by more than 200 pupils at the Binh Hoa Tay primary and secondary schools.

The Long An Library will work with local schools to coordinate more stops of these special libraries where books are on their journey looking for readers.

It also plans to build bookcases at wet markets to serve shopkeepers. The books inside these cases will be replaced on a weekly basis.

The library is now running book fairs at the provincial culture centre and in some localities in response to the third Vietnam Book Day.

April 21 was designated as Vietnam Book Day under Decision 284/QD-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on February 24, 2014.

The annual event aims to encourage and develop reading in society, while raising public awareness of the significance of books not only as a source of knowledge, but also a way to develop one’s thought and personality.

Lawyers association inaugurates arbitration centre

The Viet Nam Lawyers' Association inaugurated a commercial arbitration centre in Ha Noi on April 21.

The centre, which was licensed by the Ministry of Justice last month, is a non-governmental organisation.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said possible trade disputes would challenge Viet Nam as the country entered the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, although the deal would bring about big opportunities for economic growth and export.

The establishment of the centre was in line with international practices, which showed that arbitration was becoming more and more important in settling trade disputes, he said.

Luong Van Hau, the chairman of the centre, said the organisation could handle cases where at least one party in a dispute had commercial operations.

La Thành Station contractor to be replaced

The Railway Project Management Unit (PMU) has asked the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) general contractor to replace the contractor for the La Thành Station project for failing to meet construction safety requirements and falling short on quality and progress.

La Thành Station is a part of the Cát Linh-Ha Đông elevated railway project.

Inspections by the PMU on La Thành Station found shortcomings in the construction of the station, posing risks to road users.

The PMU and consultant firms have warned of the faults many times. They were included in a report at the scene, but the contractor did not take action to remedy the issues, PMU officials said.

The officials said the station was 40 days behind schedule.

They also said that due to weak financial competence, the contractor didn’t mobilise enough workers per request and failed to procure other materials needed for construction.

PMU officials said the EPC has to take responsibility for the station’s delay.

Construction on the Cát Linh-Hà Đông elevated railway started in October 2011 and is scheduled to open on December 31 this year.

The railway, which will stretch over 13km, will have 12 stations and a depot linking Đống Đa District’s Cát Linh Street and Hà Đông District’s Yên Nghĩa bus station.

Once completed, the trains will be able to serve up to 2,110 passengers with an average speed of 35km per hour and a maximum speed of 80km per hour.

NZ launches tourism promotion contest

The New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam launched the 2016 installment of the “New Zealand - New Horizon” competition at FPT University in Hanoi last week for designing a poster and slogan promoting New Zealand tourism.

The competition also promotes direct flights by Air New Zealand between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City that start in June.

“New Zealand - New Horizon” aims to increase interest and knowledge about New Zealand tourism, its beautiful scenery, exciting adventure tourism, locations of movie scenes from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, unique culture and food, and its relationship with Vietnam.

“Tourism links are a really important strand in the web of connections between two countries,” said New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E Haike Manning.

“Tourism is a significant part of the economies of New Zealand and Vietnam but from the perspective of our broader bilateral relationship tourism has many other important spin offs, such as increasing cultural awareness and understanding, and education links.”  

Air New Zealand’s direct service between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City is a huge opportunity for both countries, the Ambassador emphasized.

Over 30,000 New Zealanders travel to Vietnam each year but the number of Vietnamese traveling in the other direction remains modest.

“‘New Zealand - New Horizon’ is an opportunity for the creative Vietnamese public to share their ideas about New Zealand and how it could be portrayed to Vietnamese tourists,” Ambassador Manning said. “There are some great prizes up for grabs, including a return trip for two to New Zealand.”

Bamboo shoots in HCMC detected to have cancer-causing agent

The Department of Food Safety & Hygiene (FSH) in Ho Chi Minh City under the Department of Health yesterday said that 4 samples of bamboo shoots sold in markets in the city have yellowish artificial coloring agent or diarylmethane (Auramine O).

Before, the FSH took fresh and dried bamboo shoots  from 2 markets in the city for testing. Tests conducted by the Institute of Hygiene and Public Health under the Ministry of Health showed that all of four samples have yellowish artificial coloring agent (Auramine O).

The content of the agent in two dried bamboo shoots exceeds the allowable limit with 11.84µg per kg and 41.35µg per kg while two fresh samples have 17.06µg per kg and 3108.94 µg per kg.

To protect customers’ health, the FSH inspected and investigated the source of fresh & dried bamboo shoots.

At the same time, the Department and the municipal inter-departments of food safety sent a document to the department of Agriculture and Rural Development ordering a strict inspection and issuing penalties to business selling fresh and dried bamboo shoots which use the dangerous agent.

Traders add yellow color to bamboo shoots and vegetable pickles to make them look attractive. Auramine O is a diarylmethane dye soluble in water, which can cause cancer if it is consumed by humans over time.

Police ignore illegal fishing

Along the canals andr lakes in Hà Nội and HCM City, passers-by are used to men gathering in large groups for hours with their fishing rods, patiently waiting for the fish to come.

Sometimes, the street corner is crowded with cheerful noise and claps when someone has a big catch. Their fishing occurs day and night despite big warning signs nearby saying fishing is banned.

Ngô Thị Yến, a resident of Hà Nội’s Tây Hồ District, said that hundreds of residents around West Lake make a living by catching fish. Some even catch up to ten kilograms of fish every day.

The illegal fishing poses possible risks to passers-by. When fishermen cast their fishing lines, passers-by might be injured by the hook.

Fishermen need to spend VNĐ500,000 (US$23) per month to buy a “ticket” for fishing at Thủ Lệ Park in Ba Đình District in order to legally catch fish there.

A fisherman at the park said that he could earn about VNĐ300,000-400,000 (US$13-17) per day from catching fish. Sometimes the profit can reach VNĐ500,000.

Fishermen like him find it very relaxing. Fishing brings them income so he is ready to pay for the fishing fee every month, he said.

A Cầu Giấy District resident, Nguyễn Văn Nhiên, who often runs around the park, said that after the catch, the fish are sold right next to the lake.

These fishermen do not regard fishing as a leisure activity. They are professional and go fishing every day to increase their income, he said.

Meanwhile, the involvement of authorised agencies seems to end with the putting up of ‘fishing banned’ signs. Their appearance can hardly be seen in these areas.

A similar situation is easily spotted along the Nhiêu Lộc-Thị Nghè Canal in HCM City. Once filled with sewage and filth, the canal has been cleaned up while local authorities have released fish into the canal to adjust its eco-system and purify the water.

However, illegal fishing and garbage dumping in recent years might turn the canal back into its previously polluted state, local authorities predicted.

A recent survey conducted by the Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper of over 80 locals living near the Nhiêu Lộc–Thị Nghè Canal showed that three-fourths of the interviewees find the illegal fishing pressing but do not raise their voice.

Nguyễn Đắc Thọ, 72, living in District 1, used to remind young men not to catch fish in the canal. What he received back was threats from these men who said, “It is none of your business.” Since then, he has chosen to stay silent.

Trương Quang Lâm, from District 3, told the Tuổi Trẻ reporter that local police have reminded them for some time but nothing has changed. Reminders are only for people to gain awareness, otherwise, violators must be penalised.

In addition to catching fish, many people also bring chairs, tables and old mattresses to sit and relax while enjoying the leisure of fishing, Nguyễn Văn Khải from District 3 said.

The city’s authorities have come up with measures such as confiscating fishing rods and asking violators to release their catches back into the canal, however, there are not many positive changes.

A Phú Nhuận District resident named Nguyễn Ngọc Anh suggested that local authorities make frequent inspections and confiscate fishing rods for first time of violations. In case of repeated violations, administrative fines must be applied.

Research launched to improve immunisation programme

A 12-month project to improve the governance of immunisation programme for children aged 0-23 months in Việt Nam was launched at a workshop today in Hà Nội.

With US$100,000 in funding from WHO-UNICEF-GAVI, the project will be implemented by the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD) and Departments of Health, Science and Technology of the northern Hà Nam Province.

 “Việt Nam’s healthcare system still has several shortcomings in quality of service, health insurance, food safety and immunisation, especially the after effects that follow the vaccine,” RTCCD Director Trần Tuấn said.

“Our research and analyses showed problems occurred due to policies relating to the operation of the preventive medicine system. That is why we have proposed research on the governance of the immunisation programme for children worldwide, including Việt Nam,” Tuấn said.

Tuấn said the research is expected to improve the system’s governance in Việt Nam, with more transparency, accountability and responsibility in providing immunisation services to children below two years.

The project aims to describe the current system, identify the gaps between free-of-charge and fee-based systems and reach a consensus among stakeholders on the appropriate strategies to improve the country’s immunisation programme.

The outcome of the research is expected to be the foundation to develop strategies to integrate the Expanded Programme for Immunisation Services with the essential health packages covered by health insurance and the immunisation law by 2018.

WFF launches “We Love Cities” comp

Central Huế City has been selected to join 45 other cities worldwide in a global social media campaign called “We Love Cities”, part of World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour City Challenge.

The campaign aims to use an engaging social media platform to connect citizens with local leaders so that they can work together to build climate resilient cities.

For the next eight weeks, people across the globe are invited to vote for their favorite cities, and to share what they love about them through photos and videos on Twitter and Instagram. Voters can also submit suggestions on additional actions they believe cities can take to make a mark on sustainability.

The digital voting lasts from 26 April to 19 June on the campaign’s official site www.welovecities.org. Languages of the participating nations are available, including Vietnamese. The winner of the We Love Cities campaign, along with the national and global winners of the Earth Hour City Challenge will be announced on June 22, 2016.

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