Centre supports Vietnamese women married to Korean men

The Women’s Association of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and the Korea Centre for United Nations Human Rights Policy (KOCUN) held a ceremony to launch a centre to support Vietnamese women married to men from the Republic of Korea (RoK) on January 25. 

The “Korea-Vietnam Caring” centre, worth 11 billion VND (485,000 USD), is funded by RoK Huyndai Motor Company, the RoK Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the RoK Relief and Social Welfare Fund.

According to Diep Thi Thu Hong, Chairwoman of the municipal Women’s Association, the centre provides financial aid, legal consultancy, language training and care to Vietnamese women married to Korean men, their multicultural Vietnamese-Korean families and children in Can Tho city and the Mekong Delta provinces.

The centre also includes a Vietnamese-Korean culture library, which is expected to help mixed children integrate into the local community.

Classes on Korean language and on Korean culture and multicultural family assistance policies will be offered to Korean-married migrant women, while providing legal aid on divorce procedures, vocational training and job placement for Vietnamese brides returning home. 

According to the municipal Women’s Association, from 2005 to 2015, 72,830 Vietnamese women from the city married to Korean men. 14,871 of them got divorced and faced financial difficulties. Their children often struggle to integrate into the community in their mother country.

Leaders pay Tet visits to poor people, Buddhist patriarch

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh visited and presented gifts to soldiers and poor people in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on January 24-25 ahead of Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Visiting A Dot border guard station, Thinh spoke highly of the achievements made by border guards and their efforts to care for the life of local ethnic minority people.

The Vice President presented over 60 Tet gifts to officers and soldiers at the A Dot border guard station.

At her working session with leaders of A Luoi district, Thinh expressed her hope that the district will strive to become a new-style rural area and get rid of the status of poor district in the province.

Thinh, who is Chairwoman of the National Fund for Vietnamese Children, granted 250 scholarships to local underprivileged students with outstanding performances, and 300 gifts to poor people. She also handed over four houses to local families.

On January 24, in Phu Vang district, 250 Tet gifts were granted to local households and policy beneficiary families, while 250 gifts presented to children with disabilities and 100 to outstanding students living in difficulty circumstances.

Also on January 25, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man paid a Tet visit to Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), at Vien Minh pagoda in Quang Lang commune in Hanoi’s Phu Xuyen district.

Man highly evaluated Vietnamese Buddhism’s role in the cause of national construction and protection.

He took the occasion to wish Buddhist dignitaries and followers a healthy, happy and peaceful new year.

VN’s U23 team and coach get cash prizes

Local automobile producer Thaco has decided to present a cash bonus of VNĐ500 million (US$22,000) to the Viet Nam U23 football team hours after the team defeated Qatar 4-3 in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals to advance to the final of the Asian Football Confederation’s Under-23 Championship in Changshu, China, on January 23.

Viet Nam U23. Local travel agency, Vietravel, offers two-day tours for local tourists watching the AFC Cup final match on January 27 in China. — File photo

Thaco’s communication director, Nguyen Mot told Viet Nam News that the company’s chairman Trần Bá Dương also donated a car, Kia Optima model, worth VNĐ789 million ($34,000) to coach Park Hang-seo.

Earlier, the company donated a cash-prize of $22,000 to the team for their 5-3 penalty shootout win over Iraq in the quarter-final last week.

According to the Viet Nam Football Federation, nearly $1 million cash-prize was announced by businesses just six hours after the semi-final ended last night.

This tournament is the first time Viet Nam have qualified for the knock out stages.

The biggest result of Viet Nam football was in 2008 when the national team (senior team) won the ASEAN Football Federation football championship, or AFF-Suzuki Cup.

The team will meet Uzbekistan in the final on Saturday.

Meanwhile, local travel agency Vietravel is offering two-day tours to Shanghai, China to watch the final at Changshu Stadium on Saturday.

The tour costs VNĐ19.99 million ($880) per person including the match ticket. 

HCM City helps firms enhance food safety

The Food Safety Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City will accompany local firms to complete procedures and standards on food safety under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the board and the Food and Foodstuff Association of Ho Chi Minh City (FFA) on January 25.

Ly Kim Chi, FFA President highlighted difficulties facing the agricultural sector and Ho Chi Minh City in 2017, in terms of falling agricultural product prices, affecting agricultural production and food processing.

The sector had been hit by increasing costs and fiercer competition between local and foreign firms, Chi said, calling on local enterprises to enhance their competiveness amid intensive integration via free trade agreements.

The FFA in collaboration with sectors has hosted dialogues to support local enterprises in terms of market connection and brand name development, Chi said.

Nguyen Huynh Trang, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade stressed, in 2018, the FFA needs to keep enterprises updated on new food safety criteria while improving staff’s capacity.

Ties among firms should be strengthened, while facilitating access to preferential funding for enterprises and boosting promotion work.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau association helps bolster Vietnam-Russia ties

The Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province will continue serving as a bridge for cooperation between Russia’s localities and socio-economic organisations and the province.

The pledge was made at the association’s fourth congress in Vung Tau city on January 25, during which a new executive board in the 2017-2022 tenure was elected with Doan Huu Mai, Vice Chairman of the provincial Confederation of Labour, voted as the association’s Chairman.

Russian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Popov Alexey Vladimirovich lauded the contributions made by the association to fostering Russia-Vietnam ties.

Activities to disseminate information about Russia, cultural activities and seminars held by the association have helped consolidate the two countries’ friendship and intensify mutual understanding between the two peoples, he added.

Over the years, the association has contributed to the province’s people-to-people diplomatic activities. It worked with provincial authorities to welcome delegations from Russia’s State Duma and Nenets Autonomous Okrug, participated in holding the Nenets Autonomous Okrug Cultural Day in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and held activities to mark the two countries’ historical events and traditional days.

Charity programme raises over 100 billion VND for poor people

“Vong tay nhan ai” (merciful hands), a charity programme aiming to support poor people in Hanoi and 21 localities nationwide, was held in Hanoi on January 25 with the participation of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, leaders of a number of central agencies, Hanoi and the 21 localities.

The event raised more than 100 billion VND (4.41 million USD) to assist the needy in the localities, including Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Son La, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Dien Bien, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh.

Aiming to upgrade houses for more than 4,000 poor households, the capital city offered each family 45 million VND to build new houses or 35 million VND for repairs.

The city also gave 6.84 billion VND in surgery fees for 240 children with heart problems and cleft palate.

The city People’s Committee also provided financial support to 150 poor households whose houses were destroyed during the November 2017 floods in Hoa Binh, Son La and Yen Bai provinces. 

Hanoi presented 13 billion VND to the localities to buy 100,000 chairs for cultural houses and residential areas and 2,000 gifts worth 1 billion VND to students from ethnic minority groups in 10 northern mountainous provinces.

The city also granted 30 scholarships valued at 2 million VND each to poor students in the city, along with 15 million VND sponsorships to 10 poor children with outstanding academic performance.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said the programme is a chance for sponsors and enterprises to work with the city to implement social security policies, support the poor and contribute to poverty reduction.

This is also a good opportunity for the city to care for disadvantaged people and help ease difficulties of poor people in other localities, he added.-

Enabling Boat project closes with resounding success

After a long journey, the “Enabling Boat” project has achieved its goals and created remarkable changes.

The Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development, in co-operation with the Halong People's Committee, has just held the closing ceremony of the "Enabling Boat” project in the northern city of Halong. 

The project was sponsored by leading tech giants Microsoft and Acer and was implemented by the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) in collaboration with Vietnet Information Technology and Communication Center (Vietnet-ICT) and local partners.

The “Enabling Boat” project has been implemented in Halong city in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh since early 2017 with the aim of raising awareness and enhancing the capacity of information technology (IT), computer science, and knowledge related to climate change and environmental protection for adolescents and communities in difficult coastal areas.

It also seeks to raise awareness and provide knowledge on heritage preservation and marine environmental protection, providing soft skills so that young people can actively search for opportunities to improve their lives.

Looking back on the journey of the project, “Enabling Boat” has achieved its goals and created remarkable changes.

Dozens of training sessions were organised for 256 students and young people with limited access to technology on essential life skills, knowledge, and skills in IT and computer science, marine environment, and climate change.

The trainers including teachers and officers from schools and local organisations in Halong city, were trained in innovative teaching methods and the topics of ICT and computer science, as well as marine environmental protection to respond to climate change.

In addition to capacity building and knowledge training, the project has implemented a series of activities to raise awareness of environmental protection and the to protect the Halong Bay heritage, elicit support from parents, local authorities, and local communities for students with limited access to computers, enabling them to study IT and computer science to improve their future lives.

The highlight activities were the contest “Computer Science and Information Technology-Nursing Dreams” for the youth in Halong; the ICT literacy class for youth working on the sea and relocated fishermen in Ha Phong ward; dialogues about the application of IT in Vung Vieng and Cua Van fishing villages; knowledge sharing sessions with teenagers and more than 700 students from Tuan Chau Primary and Secondary School and Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary and Secondary School.

Through creative capacity building activities, meaningful community activities with qualified, deep, and practical content, the project has brought significant changes in awareness and the mindsets of a large number of young people, local students, improving their knowledge and skills in IT and environmental protection, developing skills, as well as nurturing their career dreams.

The project has given a chance for 2,149 people to participate in activities and share information and knowledge with 253,512 people through mass media and social networks.

“The project has achieved remarkable results, completely outperforming the original target,” said  Vu Hong Son, Deputy Chairman of the Halong People's Committee.

“The results cannot only be seen in specific figures, but also in the fun, excitement, and the bright eyes of students and young people participating in the project. With the support of leaders and organisers, we believe that the young generation will have better access to technology and modern life, with better capacity and chances for a brighter future,” Son noted.

At the closing ceremony, the project representatives handed over 25 computers donated by Acer to the local authority for use in local projects to continue implementing IT training and computer science for teens in the near future.

Ho Thi Yen Thu, vice director of MCD, shared her vision for the “Enabling Boat” project, “The results and experience of the project in Halong City will be the basis for MCD to apply this model in other coastal provinces. We will share project materials and practical stories and connect organisations to support online training so that the youth in difficult communities can access practical content.”

Traffic accidents claim 780 lives over 30 days

Vietnam recorded 1,762 traffic accidents in the 30 day period spanning December 16, 2017 to January 15, 2018, killing 780 people and injuring 1,348 others, according to a brief report from the Ministry of Public Security’s Office.

The number of accidents has increased by 3.53% compared to the same time last year, while the number of deaths and injuries rose by 4.84% and 14.4%, respectively.

Road collisions made up the majority of the accidents with 872 cases reported.

According to the National Traffic Safety Committee, a concerted effort towards safer road use has been made following the launch of Traffic Safety Year 2018 themed “Traffic safety for children”, with ministries, departments, socio-political organizations, and localities actively implementing stronger traffic safety measures since the early days of the year, however, the number of accidents has still increased.

In February – the month of traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) and spring festivities, the major focus will be on stepping up communication on traffic safety and traffic injury prevention through mass media, setting up telephone hotlines to report traffic accidents and congestion to provide a timely response, and handling road users’ violations of drink-driving laws.

Vietnam captain says stunning U23 Asian Cup run thanks to 'crazy' fans back home

Vietnam's captain has attributed the football team's success at the AFC U23 Championship in China to the fans back home and promised to return with “a bigger present” from the final.

Luong Xuan Truong said the team's stunning cup run is thanks to the massive support from home.

“Everyone back in Vietnam is going absolutely crazy, and that is one of the best forms of motivation for the players here in China,” Truong said in an interview with the Asia Football Confederation (AFC) after his team beat Qatar in the semifinals on January 23.

vietnam captain says stunning u23 asian cup run thanks to 'crazy' fans back home hinh 0

Luong Xuan Truong (R) during the Vietnam-Qatar match at the AFC U23 Championship on January 23. Photo by VnExpress/Van Khoa

Vietnam had to come from a goal down twice against Qatar to force extra time, before goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung made a double save in the penalty shootout to send the nation into ecstasy.

Millions of Vietnamese fans stormed the streets with flags, including Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam who was seen wearing a red T-shirt, the official color of the Vietnamese team. Foreign visitors were also quick to join in the celebrations.

“I feel amazed,” Truong said, as cited by a report on AFC website.

Before the Qatar march, Vietnamese fans were already walking on air after their team’s victories over strong competitors Australia in the group stage and Iraq in the quarterfinals.

“U23 Vietnam” has been become THE topic of conversation across the country, from cafés and bars to family dinners, and some brands are offering discounts to people with the same names as the players to honor their performances.

Truong said that he can't believe his team has got so far, as he said thank you for all the support.

“We will try to give them a bigger present from the final match.”

Truong, 22, plays in central midfield for Korean club Gangwon FC, where he is on loan from V-League side Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

The team's success has earned its Korean coach Park Hang-Seo plaudits from around the world. The media in his home country has nicknamed him the “Guus Hiddink of Vietnam,” after the Dutch coach who led the Korean national team to fourth place at the 2002 World Cup.

Park said in an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo that his main job is to make sure the Vietnamese players believe in themselves, because they are actually as good as big teams like Japan and the Republic of Korea.

He said his job now is to lead Vietnam to the next step in Changzhou by defeating Uzbekistan on January 27.

Vietjet celebrates Vietnam U23’s success with low-priced tickets

The budget carrier Vietjet is offering 23,000 tickets at prices as low as VND23,000 to celebrate Vietnam’s historic entrance to the final of the AFC U23 Championship.

The promotional programme applies to tickets purchased on three days from January 25 to 27 for all flights during the March 1 - December 31 period this year.

Earlier, the low-cost airline announced plans to add two return flights between Ho Chi Minh City and China’s Changzhou to carry Vietnamese fans who want to watch the final match against Uzbekistan scheduled for January 27.

The VJ2612 and VJ2610 flights will depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 6.35 am and 6.50 am early on Saturday and return home the same day on the VJ2613 and VJ2611 flights from Changzhou at 10.45pm and 11pm local time at the end of the match.

Tet market to be held at Metropole Hanoi hotel

A unique market space featuring the ancient architectural features of Hanoi will be re-enacted in the garden of the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel - a hundred-year-old hotel in Hanoi, from February 3-7.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Vietnamese culture through Cay Neu (Neu Pole) and the images of ‘ong do’ (calligraphy), by writing words, and joining in with folk games and Bac Ninh folk songs.

The space for this year's Tet market is designed based on the creativity and drawings of painter Pham Ha Hai and art consultant Nguyen Manh Duc.

The event also feature the participation of luxury brands such as Ngoc Han Ao Dai, She by Hoa Nguyen, Orfarm, and Liti Florist.

General Manager of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi William J. Haandrikman expressed his hope that the event would be a destination for all guests to come and prepare for the upcoming Lunar New Year.

This is an annual event held by the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi as part of the activities to welcome the upcoming Tet festival, contributing to the preservation of traditional Vietnamese cultural identities.

Front leader visits senior Vietnamese Buddhist patriarch ahead of Lunar New Year

President of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front (VFF) Tran Thanh Man paid a visit to the Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, the supreme patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha on January 25 on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year.

The VFF leader extended his best wishes to the Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue and spoke highly of the role of Vietnamese Buddhists in the cause of national construction and defence.

He also stated that he appreciates the senior Buddhist’s contributions and expects him to continue calling on Buddhist followers to further strengthen the national unity.

For his part, Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue assured the VFF leaders that Vietnamese Buddhists always follow the Party and State’s policies and participate in social activities.

He stated that charitable Buddhist activities aim to strengthen national unity and build a civilised society, while emphasising that Vietnamese Buddhism always accompanies the nation.

Deputy Edu. Minister checks preschool construction in industrial parks

A delegation led by Deputy Education Minister Nguyen Thi Nghia yesterday worked with People’s Committee in the central province of Quang Ngai on the issue of governmental management on preschool in industrial parks.

According to People’s Committee in Quang Ngai Province, the province has six large industrial parks on the area of 10,000 ha with over 258 enterprises. These companies have created jobs for 33,000 laborers; half of them are female.

Most of laborers are locals; just a few workers are from neighboring provinces who rent accommodation outside the parks.

Companies in industrial parks have provided buses to pick up workers everyday. According to survery, these workers have no demand for schools; accordingly, most industrial parks have no plan to build schools and dorms.

Industrial parks have mushroomed lately and located in several districts. At present, only an industrial park in Binh Son District have built dorms for workers.

Most of laborers in industrial parks find it hard to send their children to public schools because they work on short-term contract, seasonal employment and do shift work; consequently, they send their children to private nurseries.

Moreover, public schools admit babies aged 24 months old up while workers are eligible for six month maternity leave.

Head of the Department of Education and Training in Son Tinh District Ly Minh Phung said that there are two industrial parks in the district but having no kindergartens for workers’ kids. 

One facility in the district is keeping 260 kids; more than 150 kids are workers’ children. Other workers send their children to unlicensed daycare centers. He added building kindergartens in industrial parks is very difficult because it costs a big sum.

As a result, many local preschools have been overloaded. 

Deputy chairman of People’s Committee Dang Ngoc Dung said 3,489 teachers are working in the province; of whom, 2,188 ones working in long-term contract while others in short-term; therefore, the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant agencies should make amendment for the government’s approval in order to supply more teachers for the sector to meet the yearly demand.

Ms. Nghia acknowledged the province’s efforts in developing industrial parks sharing its difficulties in recruiting teachers for long-term contract. She promised to have supports on the teaching equipment and upgrading facilities.

Ms. Nghia asked to make report of industrial parks and public and non-public daycare center in the province to send to the Ministry as soon as possible.

Da Nang hosts an exhibition to mark Mau Than Offensive 1968

An exhibiton marking the 50th anniversary of the Mau Than Offensive 1968 oepned at Da Nang Da Museum on January 25.

he opening ceremony is attened by Ms. Ha Phuong Lan, a member of the city’s Former Patriotic War Prisoners’ Association; Mr.Huynh Ngoc Kim, chairman of the Thanh Ke District’s former Patriotic War Prisoners’ Association

he opening ceremony is attened by Ms. Ha Phuong Lan, a member of the city’s Former Patriotic War Prisoners’ Association; Mr.Huynh Ngoc Kim, chairman of the Thanh Ke District’s former Patriotic War Prisoners’ Association

The display themed “Da Nang-Mau Than 1968” aims to raise youth awareness on the national patriotic tradition and glororious history and honor the service, sacrifices and dedication of war veterans who served during Vietnam wars.

The opening ceremony was attened by Ms. Ha Phuong Lan, a member of the city’s Former Patriotic War Prisoners’ Association; Mr.Huynh Ngoc Kim, chairman of the Thanh Ke District’s former Patriotic War Prisoners’ Association; and students of Duy Tan University and Da Nang Tousim College.

Dong Thap Tourism and Culture Week opens

Dong Thap Tourism and Culture Week opened at Phuong Nam Cultural Tourism Area in the province’s Lap Vo District on January 24.

The event themed “Itinerary connecting Phuong Nam (southern region) cultural heritages” includes a lot of activities, such as week of cai luong (Vietnam's southern folk music and stage performance), the 88th death anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's father - Junior Doctor Nguyen Sinh Sac, a green agricultural products trade fair, handicraft village exhibition, Vietnamese high-quality products fair , Mekong Delta – Dong Thap Industrial Trade Fair, food fair and others.

There is also a seminar on tourism development and the introduction of destinations in Dong Thap, such as fruit gardens, Sa Dec traditional flower villages.

The event is an opportunity to promote investment and images of the land and people of Dong Thap to visitors at home and abroad, as well as enhancing the development of the provincial tourism industry.

Province's destinations have recently attracted many travelers, such as the revered Nguyen Sinh Sac grave site, Xeo Quyt relic, Gao Giong ecological tourist area, Tram Chim National Park, Go Thap Archaeological Area, Sa Dec flower village, Huynh Thuy Le's ancient house.

An eco-friendly tour has been launched at Tram Chim National Park in Tam Nong District. Visitors will enjoy a 12km-long route on electric car and a solar-powered boat in 35 minutes.

Tram Chim National Park was recognized as World Ramsar Site in 2012. It is spread over an area of 7,313 hectares and has abundant flora and fauna species with over 130 species of vascular plants and is home to over 100 species of vertebrate animals, 40 species of fish, and nearly 200 types of water-birds.

Meanwhile Huynh Thuy Le's ancient house which was built in 1895 is home of the main character in French writer Marguerite Duras’s novel “The Lover” in Sa Dec town. It has been listed as one of Vietnam’s most impressive destinations by the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations.

Exhibition marks Mau Than Offensive 1968

A photo exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the Mau Than Offensive 1968 opened at the Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library on January 23.

Attending the event were former Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Thanh Hai and major-general Tran Huu Tai of the Military Zone 7.

The display themed “50 years of a historical spring” presents thousands of photos, documents and objects related to the Mau Than Offensive 1968, aiming at honoring the service, sacrifices and dedication of war veterans who served during Vietnam wars.

The exhibition that also celebrates the Communist Party of Vietnam's 88th anniversary (February 3) and the lunar New Year 2018 will run until January 29.

H2H charity bike ride set for late March

The 9th edition of the H2H (Heart to Heart) charity bike ride, an annual event to raise funds for disadvantaged children in Vietnam, will take place from March 31 to April 27, with 21 multi-national volunteer riders attending.

The riders, mostly foreign teachers based in Vietnam, will join the 2,000-km-plus charitable cycling tour between Hanoi and HCMC, Vietnam’s two biggest cities. 

The ride is expected to start at 8 a.m. on March 31 at Ly Thai To Park in Hanoi City and finish at the Central Post Office in HCMC on April 27. British Consul General in HCMC Ian Gibbons will show up at the finish line to congratulate the participants, the organizing committee told the Daily in an email yesterday.

Founded in 2009 by three ILA Vietnam teachers including James Ortmann, Rob Wilson and Sophie Lewis, the H2H ride has to date raised US$283,000 to lend a helping hand to underprivileged children in the country and give them a chance to gain access to sufficient education.

This year, all the proceeds from the event will be granted to five local charities, namely Saigon Children’s Charity, the ILA Community Network, Live and Give Foundation, Know One Teach One (KOTO), and the Blue Dragon Foundation.

Kate Grigg, the 2016 lead rider, says it would be an amazing challenge and a chance for participating riders to bring a better life to Vietnam’s most vulnerable and underprivileged children through cycling.

The volunteers have found their lives enriched in Vietnam, so they want to give something back to the community.