Authorities bust traffickers for transporting firecrackers

Several individuals were caught transporting forbidden commodities over the past few days, alerting authorities to the worsening problem of trafficking during the days approaching Tet (lunar new year).

In Quang Ninh Province's Ha Long City yesterday, a team of economic and traffic police caught container driver Tran Van Dang transporting 17kg of made-in-China firecrackers.

The Hai Duong Province resident said he purchased the goods in Mong Cai City for VND800,000 (US$37) and intended to resell them for profit.

City police are completing the necessary documents to charge Dang with transport of forbidden goods.

On Wednesday, the General Department of Viet Nam Customs's Department of Investigation and Anti-Smuggling and Quang Ninh Province's Mong Cai Border Gate customs officers dispatched forces to watch for firecracker smugglers. Although the smugglers escaped, they left behind four jute bags containing 30 strings of firecrackers printed with Chinese characters.

Three people illegally storing firecrackers were caught red-handed by provincial police and border guards on Monday in the central Ha Tinh Province city of Ha Tinh's Thach Trung Commune. The authorities seized 32 strings of firecrackers, a box of six long firecrackers and three mobile phones.

Also on Sunday, Can Loc District resident Tran Viet Dung was caught transporting 132 Chinese fireworks on National Highway 1A, which runs through Thach Ha District.

At least four more cases were found on Wednesday.

The Lao Cai provincial police reported that their anti-drug trafficking force caught 33-year-old Lau A Su, a ranger from Lai Chau Province's Tam Duong District, transporting 30 heroin bars on Wednesday.

Su said that during a visit to his relatives in Dien Bien Province's Dien Bien Dong District, his uncle Sung A Dau hired him to bring the heroin to Lao Cai. Su was tempted by his promised pay of VND200 million (about US$9,300).

Further investigation will continue.

Nam Dinh Province police reported that they co-ordinated with the Viet Nam Marine Police on a major drug bust. The joint force arrested Hai Phong resident To Cong Dinh, born in 1959, and seized 0.5kg of crystal methamphetamine, 1,000 tablets of synthetic drugs and related items.

Relevant authorities in HCM City inspected and seized a container storing more than 2,000 boxes of Ensure-branded liquid milk that was illegally imported into the country through Cat Lai Port.

The Ha Noi-basedThien Kieu Ltd. Co was found to be producing beauty products under the Snow White and Laurel brand names without any licence. Located in Hoang Mai District's Linh Nam Ward, the establishment is owned by 30-year-old Ha Nam Province resident La Thuy Kieu.

The police seized 7,000 finished bottles and thousands of empty bottles, cartons and raw materials.

Nuclear power is on the agenda in Hanoi

The 3rd Asian Nuclear Power Briefing 2015 has gotten underway in Hanoi with key stakeholders from the East Asia region’s government’s agencies and utilities in attendance.

The two day briefing on January 22-23 aims to provide an overall picture of the challenges that are associated with nuclear and how countries in the region are addressing key issues such as climate change, financing, safety, transparency and infrastructure development.

Vietnam has the 2nd largest market, after China for nuclear power development in East Asia in what is a US$10 billion market today and expected to grow into a US$50 billion market by the year 2030.

Speaking at the briefing, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh said Vietnam intends to develop up to 10,000 MW of nuclear energy capacity by 2030, with the first reactors starting construction soon.

Thanh added that it is anticipated by 2050, 25% of Vietnam's energy needs will be met by nuclear power.

Vietnam has signed several agreements for nuclear cooperation and information exchange with the USA, Russia, France, China, the Republic of Korea,Japan and Canada.

Russia and Japan have already agreed to build and finance Vietnam's first 4 nuclear power units - 2 Russian designed VVERs at Ninh Thuan and 2 Japanese reactors at Vinh Hai.

Vietnam attends Global Young Scientists Summit

Young scientific researchers from Vietnam joined with over 300 others and 20 leading scientists from around the globe, including 13 Nobel laureates, in Singapore for the opening of the second Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS).

The researchers were all under the age of 35 who were nominated to attend by their universities, research institutes, and corporate laboratories. Plus, another 150 guests were there from Singapore’s technology community.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, which runs January 19-23, Vietnamese Professor Ngo Bao Chau said young scientific researchers should strengthen international exchanges in spite of all the difficulties they present.

He stressed that young scientists both at home and abroad face numerous challenges organising and attending exchanges due to all the time, effort and costs involve. However, he said the advancement of science is dependent on the exchange of ideas by them.

The professor expressed his hope that young researchers never lose their passion for scientific research in spite of the difficulties.

VFF tightens ties with German social equality federation

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)’s Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and Chairman of the German federation of social equality Rolf Rosebrock have consented to intensify reciprocal exchanges between their member organisations.

The agreement was reached during their talks in Hanoi on January 22 during which they agreed upon several contents for their coordination in the time ahead with the aim of boosting the friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany in observance of the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The VFF President suggested both sides organize workshops and conferences to share experience in social welfare services, adding that Vietnam hopes to learn from German experience in training social welfare workers.

Rolf Rosenbrock in turn vowed to assist in finding qualified partners for bilateral experience exchange.

Vietnamese, Lao provinces strengthen cooperation

Vietnam’s northwestern province of Hoa Binh and Laos’s northeastern province of Houaphan on January 22 inked a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in health care, trade, investment, agriculture, and tourism.

The document was signed during the visit to Hoa Binh by Houaphan Governor Khamhung Huongvongsi, who is also Secretary of the provincial committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

Accordingly, the provinces consented to intensify their friendship and collaboration on the basis of mutual respect and equality in conformity with each country’s law and policy and international conditions approved by the two countries.

Hoa Binh will also partly assist the Lao side in upgrading the latter’s general hospital.

During their working session, officials briefed each other on their socio-economic status in 2014. Houaphan, which borders Vietnam, saw a fair economic growth and it owns potential for the development of hydropower, mining, industrial trees, and animal husbandry.

Meanwhile, Hoa Binh, neighbouring the capital city of Hanoi, enjoyed an average annual growth of 10.3 percent and has advantages in agro-forestry products, building materials, and ecotourism.

Poor southerners to enjoy happy Tet holiday

More than 12 billion VND (570,000 USD) is expected to be raised during a programme entitled “Xuan yeu thuong” (the beloved Spring) scheduled for February 10 in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho to help local needy soldiers and poor households enjoy a warm and happy Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Revealing the scheme on January 22, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region (SCSR) Nguyen Phong Quang said the event shows the great care of the Party and the State for the poor during the nation’s traditional holiday, which will run from February 15-23.

The programme, jointly organised by the SCSR, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the municipal People’s Committee and the Vietnam Television Centre in Can Tho, will feature a speech by a deputy prime minister, a gift presentation ceremony and an array of art performances.

In a similar move, Ho Chi Minh City expects to mobilise 100 billion VND (4.7 million USD) for poor residents in 2015, with the first priority given to providing them with a warm Tet holiday.

A campaign will also be launched by the municipal Fatherland Front Committee to collect around 30 billion VND (1.4 million USD) for officers and soldiers working in border areas and islands, among others.

Tet gifts to be presented to Agent Orange victims

The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) plans to deliver nearly one million gift packages to Agent orange/dioxin victims to help them enjoy a warm Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival 2015.

Of those gifts, to be given from February 5-16, 250,000 are from the State President and 700,000 are from provincial and municipal VAVA chapters, according to VAVA President Nguyen Van Rinh.

VAVA itself will also present 1,000 gift packages, worth 500,000 VND each, and seven houses to victims without shelters in the two Northern mountainous provinces of Cao Bang and Bac Kan.

For victims in remote areas, the association will send representatives to deliver the gifts directly.

Rinh said that donations will be sourced from philanthropic agencies, organisations, and individuals.

On January 22, VAVA received 3,500 gift packages consisting of warm clothes for AO victims from Decathlon Vietnam, a British-owned sports retailer. These gifts will be given to victims in over 30 provinces and cities bearing the brunt of this year’s winter.

On the same day, VAVA and Decathlon Vietnam representatives visited and presented 30 gifts to extremely disadvantaged AO victims in Hanoi.

Dak Lak to expand power grid to remote areas

The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak targets to have more than 97.5 percent of its ethnic minority households accessing the national power grid in 2015.

The locality also aims to ensure all of its communes and residents are connected to the network by 2020 through mobilising various resources to accelerate power supply installation in non-electrified hamlets and villages.

Other projects have been also carried out in the province, including building and upgrading facilities to ensure stable connections to a power supply for 12,536 ethnic minority households in 80 communes across 13 districts, townships and cities at total cost of about 193.5 billion VND (9 million USD).

Additionally, communication activities have been enhanced across remote and border areas to raise their awareness of safe and efficient electricity usage.

In 2014, the Dak Lak Power Company is commercial power output reached more than 1 billion kWh, up 11.2 percent from the previous year.

The province currently leads the region in access to power with all communes tapping the national grid. As many as 96.8 percent of its ethnic minority households accessed the national power grid.

Covering more than 13,000 sq.km of land in the heart of the Central Highlands, Dak Lak is home to approximately 1.8 million residents, with over 1.3 million people living in rural areas and more than 30 percent of the population being ethnic minorities.

Conference discusses science, technology development in enterprises

A conference was held by Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Science and Technology on methods to promote the formation of science and technology development funds in businesses in the southern city on January 22.

Participants underscored the need to raise the minimum amount of money invested in establishing technology development funds from 3 percent of pre-tax enterprise profits to 5 percent.

According to State regulations, state-owned enterprises are required to spend 3-10 percent of their pre-tax profit to forming funds, while private firms may only invest up to 10 percent.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Khac Thanh said the number of enterprises allocating resources to establish funds remains low, especially among private firms.

So far, only 85 enterprises operating in HCM City have established their science and technology development funds, which have spent a total of 139 billion VND (over 6.5 million USD) on technology renovation activities. Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Manh Ha highlighted the importance of establishing technology development funds in enterprises, citing improvements in the efficiency of firms’ production and business.

He suggested the science and technology sector assist enterprises in establishing and effectively using funds, adding that local authorities are accelerating the restructuring of state-owned businesses which will strengthen investments for technology renovation.-

American prepackaged caramel apples not yet registered in Vietnam

Concerning to a warning of American-imported apples and prepackaged caramel apples contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Food Administration of Vietnam said that there had not been the products registered in Vietnam since January, 2012.

The Ministry of Health has asked the National Department of Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance to check importers of American apples and put poisoning cases under close observation to have good treatment.

The Department of Plant protection was asked to tighten control in border gates in the northern province of Hai Phong, the central city of Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Following the warning issued on Jan. 20th by International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), as of January 10, 2015, there were 31 people infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes in 11 states of the United States. At least three deaths were reported. Ten illnesses were pregnancy and one illness resulted in a fetal loss. 25 out of 28 people interviewed said that they had eaten processing and prepackaged caramel apples.

Musician's family complains of poor care at Hanoi French Hospital

The family of a Vietnamese musician has alleged life-threatening sub-standard medical care was provided by French Hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam and that it hindered attempts to have the musician transferred to another facility.

Thanh Tung's family is lodging a complaint with Hanoi medical authorities in relation to an incident in late 2014, when the musician was under the care of the French Hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam for a slight fever. After an initial medical examination, doctors said there was no serious problem, wanted to keep Tung overnight for observation.

When Nguyen Thanh Thong, the musician’s son, came back the following morning, he was informed his father was in critical condition and might not recover.

Thong said Dr Nguyen Ngoc Tho, head of the hospital’s Positive Care Ward, "told me that my father might not be able to recover and that we should prepare for the worst situation. I found it hard to understand such a sudden change overnight."

He sought Tho’s approval to move his father to Bach Mai Hospital, but was refused because there was no ambulance available for transportation. Thong alleges Tho told him the musician should remain under the hospital's care.

“When I tried to persuade him, he did not agree," Thong alleged. "We quarrelled. He shouted at me and threatened to record our conversation. I felt helpless."

Thong sought the help of influential friends, who managed to secure Tung's transfer to Bach Mai Hospital.

He said doctors at Bach Mai Hospital told him his father had rice gruel in his lungs, possible inhaled while he was being fed by nursing staff at the French Hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam, which triggered a critical response.

Tung recovered after a week's treatment at Bach Mai Hospital and was released in good health.

His family felt aggrieved by his treatment at French Hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam and reported the incident to the hospital's leaders.

Tho has issued an apology to the family.

“I’m sorry for my impolite behaviour and for losing my temper," he said.

French Hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam's Director Louis Cador sent a report to the family in which he said Tho had been disciplined.

Thong said he was not satisfied with the response of the French Hospital of Hanoi, Vietnam, nor Tho's apology, and will take his complaint to the municipal Department of Health.

Luggage theft plagues Vietnam airports

Passengers are complaining of luggage theft by staff at Vietnam airports, raising concerns about airport safety and the reputation of Vietnamese employees.

Le Nhat Linh, a resident in HCM City, was told the airline lost her bags after a flight from France last year. But when Linh's bags were located, she found most of the items inside them were gone. No reasonable explanation was given.

Another resident of HCM City, Nguyen Vu Nam, said he was in the same situation twice. Someone opened his bags and removed many items, including clothing. Nam has resorted to using duct tape to seal his bags when travelling.

"This is just unacceptable," Nam said. "The carriers and airport must deal with this problem of their employees."

Several foreign visitors have been victims of theft, but their complaints have been largely ignored because claims for lost or stolen baggage are long and complicated.

Pham Chi Cuong, head of the Department of Safety, Quality and Security at Vietnam Airlines, said, "This is a serious problem that badly affects the reputation of all airlines. Even though protocols are tight at the storage area, there may be some holes in security."

Cuong said agencies and airlines should work together to deal with the problem, with closer monitoring of baggage between unloading from an aircraft to delivery to baggage carousels.

"We always advise passengers not to put valuable items in their bags," he said, conceding that several staff had recently been caught stealing from bags.

"All processes must be closely monitored and employees' awareness must be raised," Cuong said.

Labor, Social Affairs sector completes set target in 2014

At an online meeting held in Ha Noi by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs yesterday, aiming to set up the task implementation for 2015, the ministry reported, 1.6 million people were offered jobs achieving the set target of 2014.

In addition, 1,495,000 people were offered jobs in the country and 160,000 people worked abroad, added the ministry.

Last year is the first time that over 100,000 Vietnamese laborers worked in foreign countries helping unemployment rate decrease and increase income as well as poverty elimination, said Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hoa.

Upon vocational training, in 2014, around 1,899,000 people were offered the training across the country contributing to raise the proportion of skilled laborers to 49 percent. The Ministry continued implementing policies favored for families in serving the cause of the nation’s revolution.

In addition, the online meeting also showed that the rate of poverty households fell to 5.8 percent (or down by 1.8-2 percent compared to 2013).

Lauding the sector’s achievements, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam stressed that in 2015, the sector needs to complete legal documents and policies relating to labor and law. In addition, Mr. Dam said that the sector should focus on vocational training more to raise workers’ skills and develop labor markets as well as labor centers and exchange floor. The sector must pay attention to handling drug and prostitution-related issues.

Mr. Dam also proposed the labor, invalids and social affairs sector to pay more respect to families in serving the cause of the nation’s revolution, war victims and disadvantaged people to improve people’s living condition more.

On the same day, at a meeting of the Department  of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee said that the city has sent nearly 1,850 homeless drug addicts across the city to compulsory detoxification centers. The ongoing campaign to collect drug addicts into rehabilitation centers in Ho Chi Minh City has helped improve the crime situation in the city.

HCMC promotes building preschools to meet increasing demands

One of breakthroughs in promoting building preschools in Ho Chi Minh City is that the municipal People’s Committee has issued many policies benefitting investors and the city authority undertakes paying investors’ interests to banks.

As per the People’s Committee’s decision on mobilizing fund for building preschool in the city, total amount for the preschool investment program is estimated around of VND2,700 billion (US$ 126,468,000).

Many projects are carrying out in districts Cu Chi, Binh Thanh, Can Gio and Binh Tan with 14, 7, 7 and 9 respectively.

Nguyen Dinh Thai Chau, head of the department of Education and Training’s Division of Finance, said that this is one of moves to manifest the city authority’s determination in promoting preschool building progress to meet residents’ demand.

Phan Thi Thang, deputy head of the Department of Finance said that in 2014, the city had 117 projects which need capital while the state budget faces many difficulties in balancing the fund to satisfy all projects.

Therefore, the city decided to connect with banks in the city to offer more capital to investors. However, above all, it needs the district authority’s determination, Ms. Thang added.

According to an inter-departments draft, investors with the loan contract of maximum 8 years must finish building preschool within 24 months. After the deadline, investors must pay the principal debt and interest two times a year on March and September.

Australia Independence Day marked in HCM City

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony to mark the 227 th anniversary of Australia ’s Independence Day (January 26, 1788) in the city on January 23.

Chairman of the association Luong Van Ly said despite geographical distance and cultural and historical differences, Vietnam and Australia boast a close relationship based on mutual interest and respect, jointly developing in peace and prosperity.

Since the two countries established bilateral diplomatic ties over four decades ago, with many historical ups and downs, the friendship between their people has been continuously consolidated and enhanced.

With a comprehensive strategic partnership set up in September 2009, the relationship has developed widely and deeply in all realms, he noted.

Ly also hailed the great contributions by the Vietnamese and Australian communities in respective countries to the development of multi-faceted bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of politics, economy and culture.

He affirmed that together with the whole nation, Ho Chi Minh City wishes to further tighten the solidarity between the two peoples.

For his part, Australian Consul General to HCM City John McAnulty said Australia and Vietnam have enjoyed close relationship over the past 40 years in various fields, ranging from education, development support, trade and investment to border security, defence, cross-border crime prevention and human right.

Australia is also a leading destination for Vietnamese students who now number 25,000, he said, adding another 16,000 are studying Australian programmes in Vietnam .

Vietnam is currently one of the top partners of Australia in the Asia-Pacific region and the latter is doing its utmost to help the former build necessary infrastructure for development, he added.

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