Indonesian Independence Day marked in HCM City

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City co-hosted a ceremony on August 24 to mark Indonesia’s 71st Independence Day (August 17).

Addressing the event, VIFA President Le Ton Thanh highlighted fruitful developments of the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries since they set up diplomatic ties in December 1955.

The relationship between HCM City and Indonesia has also developed in recent years, he said, adding that Indonesia is one of the important investors and trade partners of the Vietnamese southern metropolis.

Indonesian Consul General in HCM City Jean Anes said the bilateral ties between the two countries were elevated to a high level with the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2013. The two countries are aiming to raise bilateral trade to 10 billion USD in late 2018 while continuing to consolidate their relations through various cooperation activities, particularly in the fields of economy, culture and social affairs.

The VIFA and the Indonesian Consulate General in HCM City have coordinated with each other to organise a range of cultural, sports and charitable activities to strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Laos wins seventh ASEAN Regional Quiz

The Lao team won the first prize of the seventh ASEAN Regional Quiz that took place in Vientiane, Laos on August 24.

The Philippines came second at the event, which was designed for senior high school students in the 10 ASEAN member countries.

The Vietnamese team included three members from Le Quy Don high school in the central city of Da Nang, who won first prizes in a similar competition in Vietnam.

According to host Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Buangeun Saphuvong, the event this year, the first version after the formation of ASEAN Community, is part of the activities in the framework of the bloc’s Culture – Society pillar.

The competition helps raise the understanding of the regional history, culture, political and economic development among the candidates, while promoting regional cultural exchange.

The competition acts a platform and is a continuing project of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN-COCI), which aims to foster a spirit of healthy competition amongst youths with a friendly quiz on ASEAN cultural, political, economic and social information.

It was first launched in Thailand in 2002. The biennial event has been broadcast in every ASEAN member country’s television.

HCM City: man gets death penalty for drug transporting

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on August 24 sentenced an Australian national to death for illegally transporting 3.5 kg of drugs.

Pham Trung Dung, 39, was captured at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on May 17, 2013 carrying the amount of drugs in his luggage.

Dung confessed that a man named Kien had paid him 40,000 AUD to bring two suitcases to Austria, and hand them to another man named Loi.

RoK food fair to convene in Ho Chi Minh City

The Republic of Korea will introduce its traditional foods at the 2016 K-Food fair to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from September 8-11, heard a press briefing on August 24.

The fair is organised by the RoK Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and the Korean Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT).

A representative from MAFRA expressed hope that the event will help expand markets for Korean food and agricultural products in the ASEAN nations, including Vietnam.

An exchange will be held, bringing 30 Korean exporters and 60 Vietnamese and regional food importers together to discuss ways to access the Vietnamese food market and promote K-food.

Several art shows by Vietnamese and RoK’s artists will be organised during the four-day festival.

The K-Food fair was introduced in 2013 and has been held in many countries, receiving warm response. Similar events are scheduled to take place in other ASEAN nations, such as Thailand and Malaysia, at the end of this year.

Ha Giang prepares for second Mong ethnic cultural festival

The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang is gearing up for the second Mong ethnic cultural festival, which will take place in the locality on November 18-20.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai and Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Duc Quy chaired a meeting to discuss preparations for the event in Ha Giang on August 24.

Deputy Minister Ai said the festival aims to highlight the life and traditional culture of the Mong ethnic group while promote the image of Ha Giang which has the largest Mong population in the country.

Themed “Preserving and promoting cultural identity of Mong people in the country’s renewal, integration and development period”, the event is expected to draw 14 provinces where Mong people are living.

A variety of activities such as an art festival, sports and folk games, a traditional costume display, cultural life will be featured during the event.

Vice Chairman Quy said the festival creates a venue for local Mong artisans, artists and sportsmen to exchange experience with their peers and increase public awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values of the ethnic group.

Present at the meeting, Deputy General Director of Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Le Duy Truyen said the VNA will provide extensive coverage of the festival.

With a population of about 800,000, the Mong is among the biggest ethnic minority groups in Vietnam. Most Mong people live in mountainous areas at a height of 700 metres to 1,500 metres above sea level in the north, north-central and Central Highlands regions.

Doctors donate blood to save child’s life

The life of a badly injured five-year-old child was saved after she received blood donated by doctors at Thạch Thành District General Hospital in the central Thanh Hóa Province yesterday.

The child had been hospitalised after a road accident, with injuries to her internal organs that required immediate surgery and blood transfusion, hospital Director Nguyễn Đình Tam said.

The hospital called for blood donations from hospital staff to save the child’s life, as the hospital had run out of blood group B.

The child was recovering well after a three-hour surgery, he said.

Tam said the hospital usually faced a severe shortage of blood and so had formed a group of employees who voluntarily donated blood in emergencies. The lives of many patients have been saved with the donated blood. 

Affordable homes urged for workers

Local authorities should facilitate private investment in affordable housing for workers at the Tân Thuận Export Processing Zone in District 7, HCM City Party Committee Secretary Đinh La Thăng has said.

The district People’s Committee needs to set standards for workers’ lodging and take radical measures to encourage private investors to build houses for workers, he told a meeting with the zone’s management authority on Tuesday.

Companies in the zone employ more than 63,000 workers, with people from outside the city accounting for 65 per cent, according to Trần Thanh Hồng, deputy general director of Tân Thuận Ltd., Co.

Six apartments blocks were built on the zone, but they provide accommodation for only 7 per cent of the workers, Hồng said.

Most others have to live in boarding houses in surrounding areas paying rents of VNĐ700,000-2.2 million (US$32-99) per room, a huge burden considering their monthly salaries are only VNĐ4-5 million ($178-223).

There is massive demand for schools too but there is only one pre-school, which opened recently, with 17 classrooms that accommodate 510 children this year.

The number of labour disputes has declined to two this year compared to three in the same period last year.

But the risk of disputes breaking out is high since the essential needs of workers as well as their rights remain unmet.

Most disputes occur over benefits including wages and bonuses, a zone official said.

Lê Văn Lâm, deputy head of public security in the district, said trade union officials are also paid by employers meaning their role in protecting the legal rights of workers is limited.

Lê Hòa Bình, chairman of the district People’s Committee, said the administration plans to allocate 10 hectares of land for workers’ housing.

Thăng said the area of the houses should be between 30 and 60 metres to be suitable for single workers as well as families.

The price of a house should be below VNĐ100 million ($44,600) to make it affordable, he said.

Workers can choose to lease, buy outright or pay in instalments, he said.

He also called on the Labour Federation to build the capacity of trade union officials to better protect workers’ rights.

State agencies and organisations must prioritise issues related to workers’ life to ensure an appropriate quality of life for them, including fair incomes, schooling for their children and meeting their spiritual and cultural needs, he added. 

Bus crashes on Quảng Bình bridge

One person died and 10 others were injured early this morning when their coach crashed on a bridge in this central province’s Sen Thủy Commune, Lệ Thủy District.

The coach had sped out of control, crashing into a column of the bridge on National Highway 1A , almost tipping over the side.

Fifteen passengers and five staff were on board when the accident occurred. The front two-thirds of the coach was found hanging over the bridge while its back wheels remained trapped against the bridge column.

Head of the district police Trương Hồng Phong said the injured had been admitted to the district general hospital, and the insurance company representatives had arrived at the scene to complete formalities.

Police are investigating the case to identify the cause of the accident. 

Dance festival for teenagers kicks off

A dance festival for children aged 8-15 will be held for the first time to encourage young people to take up dancing.

Nguyễn Văn Bích, chairman of the Việt Nam Dancers Association, announced the plan to organise the festival at a press briefing yesterday in Hà Nội.

The pieces will be performed in solo, duo and trio, with the participation of famous choreograpgers Trần Ly Ly, Trần Tuyết Minh and Excellent Artist Quỳnh Lan.

The festival focuses on folk, classic and traditional dance. The pieces portray the beauty of dancing art and are accompanied by Vietnamese music composed by Hồ Hoài Anh, Lê Mây and Quang Vinh as well as folk music.

The final round will take place on Saturday at the Kim Đồng Cultural Centre, 19 Hàng Bài Street, Hà Nội.

Hà Nội top medal table at athletics championship

Hà Nội topped the medal table at the National Youth Athletics Championship that ended in Vĩnh Long Province on August 23.

The capital city’s representatives grabbed nine gold, six silver and seven bronze medals over three days.

Coach Lại Phúc Lộc said their first rank was an encouragement for Hà Nội, while focusing on developing track-and-field events as a key sport.

Hosts Vĩnh Long came second with seven gold medals, followed by Military with five medals.

More than 350 athletes from 48 delegations took part in the competition. They competed for 48 sets of medals.

Nhân wins first stage of Cycling Cup

Trần Nguyễn Duy Nhân passed French Desriac Loic in the last dozen metres to win the first stage of the VTV International Cycling Tournament, the Tôn Hoa Sen Cup, yesterday.

Nhân of Military Zone 7 finished the 50km stage, 20 laps, around Đà Nẵng City with a time of 1hr 6.42min.

Loic, of Thailand’s SICT crew, who was angry at the finish line, came second, followed by Trịnh Đức Tâm of Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời.

Nhân also leads the race to the green jersey for the best cyclist with 26 points. Tâm was second with two points less.

SICT topped the team ranking after the first stage. Military Zone 7 came second and AV Việt Mỹ Association HCM City were at third.

Nhân will wear the yellow jersey to start the second stage from Lăng Cô to Huế City for a distance of 96km.

HCMC court upholds death sentence for Australian drug mule

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court on August 24 confirmed the death sentence for a Vietnamese-Australian for drug smuggling after a reinvestigation determined the drug amount was too big to commute the sentence.

Pham Trung Dung, 39, was arrested at Tan Son Nhat Airport in May 2013 when checking in for a flight to Sydney after customs officers suspected he had drugs in his luggage.

He was sentenced to death in April 2014 after police identified the powder as more than four kilograms of heroin.

The Supreme People’s Court later ordered authorities to weigh the heroin afresh, and it turned out there were nearly 3.6 kilograms.

The judges ruled on August 24 that it was “a huge amount” that poses a threat to society.

Dung said he was in Vietnam for a family vacation and a local had asked him to carry the drug to Australia for a fee of US$30,500.

Vietnam has some of the world’s toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty.

The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is also punishable by death.

Seminar on Vietnam-India ties held in Hanoi

An international scientific seminar “Vietnam – India: new context, new vision” took place in Hanoi on August 25 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Independence Day of India and the upcoming visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Nearly 250 scholars and policymakers from the two countries mulled over the prospects of Vietnam-India ties, India’s diplomatic policy and its impacts on bilateral ties, the “Look East” and “Act East” policy.

Reports to the event highlighted bilateral cooperation achievements made in the fields of economy, energy, national defence-security, culture, education-training, science and technology, especially since the establishment of their strategic partnership in 2007.

Participants shared view that the Vietnam-India ties have progressed to an extent that needs to open up a new period.

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh said it is time to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Both countries should be more active to strengthen mutual understanding and share information, including opportunities in business and tourism, thereby connecting the two peoples and businesses in the new context, he said, adding that they need to exchange high-level visits to foster political trust, maintain the effective partnership in national defence-security and work closely together at regional and global forums.

According to the Ambassador, Vietnam should be more active in its cooperation with India in science-technology, culture and education, as well as uphold its role as a coordinator in India-ASEAN ties for 2015-2018.

He expressed his belief that the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and India are seeing many opportunities and prospects ahead.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and India rose five-fold to over 5 billion USD in 2015 from 1 billion USD in 2007. The flow of travellers between them surged six-fold to 120,000 from 20,000 during the period.

Indian investment in Vietnam rose from nearly 200 million USD to 570 million USD.

The seminar also gave scholars an opportunity to analyse the impacts of new developments in the world situation on Vietnam-India ties, as well as the influence of the shift in India’s policy from “Looking East” to “Acting East” on the country’s ties with Vietnam and the ASEAN.

Health sector takes measures to prevent outbreak of diseases after storm

The Ministry of Health yesterday sent its dispatch to its departments in cities and provinces in the northern region where were struck by the storm to order implementation of disease prevention task.

Local medical clinics must disinfect environment and keep close eye on food safety and hygiene in storm-hit localities as well as prevent diseases such as dengue fever, diarrhea and pink eye which are likely to occur after storm.

The province’s healthcare education center should spread information of keeping personal hygiene, eating and drinking boiled food and disinfecting water source to curb diseases. 

Medical workers in these northern provinces must be ready to provide treatment to those in the storm-hit areas, landslide and flash flood. Mobile emergency teams are ready to go to isolated districts for providing medical help. Central medical facilities must have enough medication and equipment to help other counterparts when needed. 

In its dispatch, the Ministry of Health pointed out that the storm has caused devastating property damage and loss of lives. To remedy the consequences of the storm, medical facilities in the mountainous districts should plan of evacuating medical institutes to safer places.

Patients with bizarre skin disease have high liver enzyme

Head of Dermatology unit in the general Hospital in the central province of QUang Ngai Dr. Le Thi Bich Lien said that the health condition two patients with bizarre skin disease has become worse with high liver enzyme.

46 year old Dinh Van Nguyen and 21 year old Dinh Van Hoa in Son Ba Commune in the mountainous district Son Ha had the strange skin disease. They were rushed to the hospital; however, after four day treatment, their health condition did not abate; their liver enzyme increased five-fold higher than normal people. 

Worse, while blood cell increase and coagulation function disorder hence medical workers had to give them blood transfusion. Additionally, their other organs are damaged.

Medical experts from the Quy Hoa Central Dermatology Hospital in Binh Dinh Province yesterday arrived in Quang Ngai to work with local health sector aiming to provide medical check-up to the locals. 

Medical workers advised people to eat safe rice instead of their traditional rice, eat nutritional supplements, vitamins and keep personal hygiene to improve their health condition.

After a hiatus of about three years, the mysterious skin disease has re-occurred in the central Quang Ngai Province’s Son Ha District, with 12 new patients. In the end of 2014, the disease killed 25 people.

Former VNCB chairman asks judge for leniency

Pham Cong Danh, former chairman of Vietnam Construction Bank (VNCB), asked a court judge in HCMC on Monday for leniency, saying he would be able to deal with losses of over VND9 trillion (US$417 million) caused by his credit and financial violations at the bank if he is given a lenient sentence.

Danh said the huge amount of lost money was used to restructure VNCB rather than appropriated by him and his accomplices. Danh said his accomplices did not seek personal gains and proposed reducing penalties for them.  

Danh said when he acquired TrustBank, which was later renamed VNCB, the lender had already suffered hefty losses. Danh added he had strived to restructure TrustBank but failed due to many woes and challenges, which resulted in his credit and financial violations.

The defendant said he wanted to correct his mistakes and would be able to take back all the lost money if he had a chance.

Danh said he spent more than VND3.6 trillion acquiring an 84% stake in TrustBank and properties from a group of people led by Hua Thi Phan and that though he made the money transfer, the seller did not hand over the properties to him.

Danh wanted to recover the amount to deal with the consequences of the incident.

To settle huge losses at VNCB, he suggested using over VND4.5 trillion which was transferred to increase VNCB’s chartered capital from VND3 trillion to VND7.5 trillion and more than VND2 trillion worth of land use rights at Chi Lang Stadium in Danang City. 

Danh said he borrowed VND5.49 trillion from a group of depositors led by Tran Ngoc Bich, director of Tan Hiep Phat Co Ltd.  He said if Bich does not admit this lending-borrowing relation, he proposes the court collect over VND2 trillion which he paid to the Bich-led group to support him to correct his mistakes.

Police seize truck carrying wood of unclear origin

Đắk Nông Province’s traffic police yesterday evening seized a truck that was transporting dozens of cubic metres of logs of unclear origin.

The truck was travelling through a section of the Hồ Chí Minh Highway in Gia Nghĩa District’s Quảng Thành Commune in the Central Highlands province.

After his vehicle was stopped for an administrative check, the truck driver Nguyễn Phúc Ân, 27, from Bình Phước Province, failed to show any documents relating to the vehicle and the logs it was carrying. The police then seized both the vehicle and its cargo to investigate illegal logging and wood trafficking.

The seizure happened after Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reporters informed the police about the suspicious truck, which had set out from the abuttals between Đức Hòa and Đắk Môi communes in Đắk Song District.

The VNA reporters also saw many other trucks allegedly carrying trafficked logs passing through forest management and protection checkpoints without being stopped for checks.

According to the reporters, this situation happens every day. Illegal loggers are openly cutting down forest trees in the area of Đắk Song District for wood and farmland. The land in natural forests is even publicly put up for sale.

The reporters said large parts of the forests had been destroyed right near forest management and protection checkpoints in Đắk Song District’s Đắk Moi Commune.

They said it had been happening for years, but had recently accelerated, with an estimated hundreds of hectares of trees being chopped down. 

Large crack appears in Yên Bái highway

A large crack has appeared in National Highway 32C in the northern Yên Bái Province, which was heavily battered by storm Dianmu last week.

Nguyễn Trọng Tiến, head of the traffic police section under the provincial transport department, said the crack appeared at Km 79+540 in National Highway 32C at about 6am today. Initial survey shows the crack is 32m long, 3m wide and 1.5m deep.

The crack spreads across one-third of the road, posing difficulties for vehicles.

However, vehicles can travel at low speed and there is no traffic congestion.

Tiến said the transport department would temporarily repair the road by filling the crack with soil.

Traffic police are present at the spot to guide vehicles.

Lê Xuân Hướng, a resident of Minh Quân Commune through which National Highway 32C passes, said after discovering the crack, local residents erected bamboo fences to warn oncoming vehicles.

The transport department official said they needed to conduct further research to find the cause of the crack, but suggested that a newly dug pond of a household nearby might have affected the structure of the road. It was also likely that storm Dainmu, which caused torrential rain and landslides in the province over the weekend and till early this week, was the cause, he said. 

Yen Bai shooting reveals weapon loopholes

The recent murder of two leading politicians in Yen Bai Province by a chief forest ranger once again revealed weapon management loopholes in Vietnam.

On August 18, Pham Duy Cuong, secretary of the Yen Bai Party Committee, and Ngo Ngoc Tuan, Chairman of the provincial people’s council, were shot dead by Do Cuong Minh, director of the provincial Forest Protection Agency, who turned the gun on himself and later died in hospital.  

At a discussion on August 23 on the draft law on weapon and explosive management, deputy chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Defence and Security, said that it was unacceptable for Cuong to be allowed to bring his gun into the offices.

Many articles about the use and trading of weapons and explosives and their illegal use have been published in local newspapers.

On August 1, the Vnexpress online newspaper published an article about the quarrel due to the collision between a taxi driver and a soldier. The driver insulted the man and soldier threatened to shot him. The dispute ended when another military officer calmed the situation.

On August 23, Tuoi Tre Newspaper had an article about the case in which a policeman in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, used a gun with rubber bullets to shoot a local man in the back.

At the discussion, many National Assembly deputies proposed tightening controls over the management of weapons and explosives. Weapons should only be provided to those who are on duty. Only individuals who are state employees should be allowed to manage and use weapons.

According to Deputy Minister of the Public Security Le Quy Vuong, after finishing their duty, the weapons should be returned to the management unit, not bring them to their home.

Opinions on the proposed change will be submitted to the National Assembly Standing committee for consideration.

Action needed on affordable housing for workers: HCMC Secretary

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Dinh La Thang called for more homes to be built for workers currently employed at the Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone when meeting with management on August 23.

He said relevant agencies should amend the zone planning to allocate land for building houses so that workers could buy homes at affordable prices or via instalment plans.

According to the zone’s management board, enterprises based in Tan Thuan are employing 63,000 workers, with nearly two thirds of the work force being migrants; as such the demand for housing is fairly high.

The zone has allocated 1.5 hectares to build houses for workers but they can only accommodate a total of 3,200 people, equivalent to just 7% of the demand.

During the meeting, the HCMC secretary also urged the municipal labour union and youth union to redesign their activities in neighbourhoods where there are large numbers of workers to make them more appropriate.

Secretary Thang also noted that it is necessary to enhance the capacity of trade union officials so that they will be competent in protecting the legitimate rights of workers.

Hanoi to honour 100 outstanding valedictorians in Van Mieu

Hanoi will organise a ceremony at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Literature Temple) in Hanoi on August 28 to honour 100 outstanding valedictorians from universities and institutes based in the capital in 2016.

The valedictorians, who are graduates from universities and institutes with impressive academic results, are role-models for students struggling to overcome difficulties to pursue scientific studies, initiatives, as well as practical and effective solutions both locally and internationally.

The event is the 14th of its kind hosted by the Hanoi authorities with over 1,500 students having been honoured over the past 14 years.

Among the 100 honoured valedictorians are 38 males and 62 females; 40 of them have good academic records while 60 received outstanding results.

The valedictorians will participate in a number of activities, including meeting Hanoi’s leaders, joining the ‘Valedictorians Starting up Agriculture’ and ‘Lighting Dreams of Hanoi’s Valedictorians’ programmes, offering incense to commemorate predecessors and signing their names in a golden book at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam.

Vietnamese expatriates in Czech Republic support PCA’s ruling

Overseas Vietnamese and locals in the Czech Republic met in Prague on August 23 to support the recent ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, the Netherlands, on the Philippines’s lawsuit against China’s claims in the East Sea.

Pham Hong Thai, a representative from the event’s organising board highlighted the significance of the ruling, stressing that it rejected China’s claims of “historical rights” for natural resources within the so called “nine-dash line” in the East Sea.

A statement in English and Czech was issued, applauding the PCA’s judgment and supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes.

It called on involved nations to respect and obey the ruling, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, asking China to immediately stop its militarisation of the sea which raises tensions and threatens the safety of fishermen in the area.

Activities to explain the ruling to locals and international visitors were arranged on the occasion with the key speech given by Marcel Winter, a Czech friend of the Vietnamese community.

Winter said that his participation in the meeting aimed to back Vietnam’s effort to safeguard national sea and island sovereignty.

He said he appreciates Vietnam’s policy of peacefully resolving disputes in the East Sea on the basis of international law.

China has to abide by the PCA’s ruling as well as international law, he stressed.

Anti-corruption activities in Lang Son province examined

A working group of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control began inspecting anti-corruption efforts of Lang Son province on August 24. 

At a working session with officials of the northern border province, Politburo member and Chairman of the committee Tran Quoc Vuong said the inspection aims to solidify the resolve to prevent and fight corruption as in line with the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, thereby consolidating the Party’s pureness and strength. 

It is hoped to find out good anti-corruption models as well as shortcomings to seek ways improving anti-corruption activities, he added. 

From now to October 20, the working group will examine 22 agencies in Lang Son in terms of the local Party committees’ leadership over corruption fight, the detection and solving of corruption cases, and stolen asset recovery. 

It will also inspect advisory activities relating to corruption settlement at the provincial Party Committee’s board for internal affairs, along with the implementation of the Politburo’s Directive 50-CT/TW dated December 7, 2015, on enhancing the Party’s leadership over the detection and settlement of corruption cases. 

Seven working groups of the central committee are inspecting anti-corruption efforts in 14 provinces nationwide, namely Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Phu Tho, Son La, and Bac Ninh in the north; Quang Ngai, Quang Nam and Phu Yen in the central region, and Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre, Binh Phuoc, Long An and Tien Giang in the south. 

The groups were established by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in late May.

Prime Minister commemorates late President Ho Chi Minh

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc offered incense to commemorate late President Ho Chi Minh at House 67 in the President Ho Chi Minh relic site in Hanoi on August 23.

The PM expressed his endless gratitude to the late President for the great services he rendered to the national struggle for independence and reunification on the occasion of the late President’s 47th death commemorative anniversary (September 2, 1969) and the 47th year of implementing the late President’s testament.

House 67 in the Presidential Palace is where the great leader lived, worked and passed away. It provides a venue for the Political Bureau’s meetings during the fiercest years of the Vietnam war.

PM Phuc met with the staff working in the President Ho Chi Minh relic site, asking them to pay more attention to popularizing the late President’s heritage to help people of all walks of life and international friends gain thorough understanding of the great leader’s life and career and the country’s revolutionary cause.

Overseas Vietnamese in Europe raise funds for charity

Former Vice President Truong My Hoa made tours to several European countries from August 18-23 to raise funds for the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and the “For beloved Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” club.

In the Czech Republic, she worked with representatives from the Vietnamese Association, and the associations of Vietnamese war veterans, women and Buddhist followers.

She said the scholarship fund and club have worked hard to support students from ethnic minority groups and in sea and island areas.

The “For beloved Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” club built houses for wounded soldiers and presented scholarships to students who were children of naval officers, soldiers and fishermen with disadvantaged backgrounds.

President of the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic Hoang Dinh Thang donated US$2,000 to the fund and the club.

In a meeting with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Slovakia and overseas Vietnamese living and working in the country, former Vice President Hoa praised their contributions to charity in Vietnam.

On the occasion, about EUR1,970 (US$2,225) was raised by overseas Vietnamese in Slovakia to support the fund and the club.

Founded in 1999, the Vu A Dinh fund has so far granted more than 70,000 scholarships to students from ethnic minorities nationwide. It also honours individuals and organisations with outstanding contributions to the development of Vietnam’s ethnic communities.

Tailplane damage causes Vietnam Airlines to cancel flight

A Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321 was grounded for repairs at a central Vietnamese airport on August 23 after technicians found its tailplane was damaged.

The damage was discovered when the plane was preparing for a flight back from Vinh to Ho Chi Minh City in the morning after landing at 8.30 a.m.

The carrier sent another airplane to pick up the stranded passengers.

The Northern Airports Authority said it is investigating the incident.

What caused the damage is still unclear. Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the tailplane might have hit something when the plane was towed in Vinh Airport.

Kite festival to kick off in Danang to celebrate National Day

A colourful kite festival is scheduled to open in Danang city on August 27-28 as part of activities to celebrate the 71st anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2).

The event is expected to attract kite clubs from Hue, Hoi An, HCM City and Da Nang, which will introduce their colourful and unique kites to visitors at My Khe beach, Son Tra district, Da Nang city.

Diverse cultural and tourism activities will take place during the festival including kite and lantern decoration and sand paintings on recycled tyres hosted by young artists from Da Nang fine arts club. Visitors and residents can also participate in interesting folk games such as walking on stilts.

U16 national football team gears up for Asian Cup

22 members of the men’s U16 football team has gathered at the National Sports Training Centre in Hanoi to prepare for the AFC U16 Football Championships in India in September.

The squad and head coach Dinh The Nam will face strong rivals from Japan, Australia and Kyrgyzstan in Group B.

If the team reaches the event’s top four, they will earn a slot to compete in U17 World Cup.

Besides Vietnam, other representatives from Southeast Asia such as Thailand and Malaysia will also join the competition.

Malaysia is in Group C with the Republic of Korea, Oman and Iraq, while Thailand is in Group D with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Detailed map of flash flood inundation should be found soon – Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Trinh Dinh Dung yesterday led a work team  of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention to check the clean-up after typhoon Dianmu in Yen Bai province. 

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and working delegation check the progress of overcoming consequences caused by typhoon Dianmu in Yen Bai province.

The deputy PM checked streamside area of Ngoi Thia in Nghia Lo commune which was located in the landslide area. He also visited some families in Tram Tau district being impacted by previous downpour rains and flash flood.

Mr. Trinh Dinh Dung asked local authority need to remove constructions and households out of damaged areas.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment should continue collaborating with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and ministries of Planning and Investment, Construction, Finance and the Provincial People’s Committees to quickly find a detailed map of flash flood inundation in the northern mountain region, stressed the deputy PM.

Vietnam Red Cross Society yesterday presented VND 200 million to inhabitants in storm hit provinces.

Reserves official vows timely delivery of goods in storm season

Deputy General Director of State Reserves Le Van Thoi has pledged to ensure safe storage and timely delivery of goods as relief aid to localities upon requested. 

As this year’s storm season has begun, the General Department of State Reserves has directed its units to put in place plans on ensuring absolute safety of humans, assets, national reserves goods and storage facilities of the sector, he said. 

The heads of State reserves bureaus in localities must bear the main responsibility for preventing foods and national reserves from disasters, according to the official. 

He added that all the bureaus should devise possible scenarios and work closely with local authorities and search-and-rescue units in order to timely respond to any emergency situation.

Vietnam plans to develop safe food sources: MIT

Vietnam will have 1,300 supermarkets and more than 300 commercial centres in the next 10 years, making an important channel for people to access to safe food sources, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT). 

The ministry's Domestic Market Department said the goods sold at traditional markets have accounted for 40 percent of the country's total goods circulation.

The rate of fresh food accounted for nearly 70 percent at traditional markets. Around 60 percent of supermarkets in the country have been selling food.

The department said most of food sold at supermarkets have clear origin certificates or are sealed with food safety while those at traditional markets have seen risks of untested food.

Le Viet Nga, the department's deputy director told online newspaper plo.vn that the modern distribution channels had been an effective solution for consumption of safe agricultural production models.

The development of supermarket networks nationwide would play an important role in developing trade infrastructure to ensure food safety, Nga said.

She said that the ministry had approved the master plan for the development of markets, supermarkets and commercial centres in the country with an aim to develop a synchronous markets network. The plan aimed to promote circulation of goods, thus enhancing the processing and manufacturing sector as well as the agricultural sector.

She added that the modern distribution channels would see strong development in the next five years.

The department forecast that the amount of agro-forestry and fishery products sold through modern distribution channels would account for 40 percent of the country's total market shares.

She said the management of traditional markets had been a big issue for the ministry.

The biggest difficulty for the building of distribution channel chains is the shortage of capital in rural areas, as much as 76 percent out of 8,660 traditional markets were in these areas. In addition, 86 percent of the total traditional markets have weak infrastructure.

For example, the pilot project on food safety traditional markets model under the national programme on food safety has been halted after implementation in 32 localities out of the country's total 63 localities due to a lack of capital.

In the 2011-15 period, the Government spent 14.5 billion VND (645,000 USD) to build the food safety markets. However, the spending was modest in comparison with the total expected amount of 100 billion VND.

The ministry said the model had increased people's awareness on the business of food safety.

Statistics from the ministry showed that there have some big modern distribution channels in the country such as Metro with 19 units, Big C with 32 units, and Vinmart+ with over 400 units.

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