Nhan dan newspaper launches online Spanish version

At the event 

The Nhan dan (People) newspaper officially debuted its online Spanish-language version at es.nhandan.org.vn and es.nhandan.com.vn in Hanoi on January 25. 

Speaking at the event, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Vo Van Thuong said the publication of newswires in Vietnamese, English, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish languages has proved the creativity and activeness of Nhan dan newspaper – an organ of the Party Central Committee and mouthpiece of the Party, State and people in external information work. 

Amid complicated and uncertain regional and global developments, the Spanish language version serves as an important information channel to provide the Spanish-speaking community worldwide with up-to-date, comprehensive and timely mainstream information on the Vietnamese situation, he said. 

Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper Thuan Huu, who is also deputy head of the commission and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association, said the new version targets foreign readers and the Vietnamese community worldwide, especially those from Spanish-speaking countries. 

It will offer timely and correct information about domestic affairs, achievements in renovation process, the Party policies and guidelines, State laws and Vietnam’s stance on regional and global issues, apart from images of Vietnamese culture, history and people, contributing to rejecting wrongful and distorted allegations on the Vietnamese situation. 

 

The newswire features columns on socio-political and economic affairs, culture, international affairs, sports, tourism along with photos and videos, and a special column entitled “Accompanying Spanish-speaking countries”. 

It will also have links to other online versions of Nhan dan newspaper in Vietnamese, English, French, Russian and Chinese languages as well as websites of several major newspapers and radios.

Youths in Vietnamese, Cambodian localities intensify cooperation

A delegation from Cambodia’s Kampong Speu province, led by its Deputy Governor Sor Soputra, on January 25 paid a Tet (Lunar New Year) visit to the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Vinh Long province.

Sor Soputra extended his New Year wishes to the provincial youth union, affirming that the long-standing solidarity and friendship between the two countries in general and the two provinces in particular look to stand the test of time.

On the occasion, both sides discussed and agreed that a friendship exchange programme between the two localities’ youths will take place in March in the Vietnamese province.

Activities of the programme will include the signing ceremony for a coordination programme for 2019-2022 between the two provinces’ youths; cultural and sports exchanges; a ceremony to debut the Cambodian Students’ Club in Vinh Long province; the granting of scholarships to young Khmer ethnic minority students; and tours to several cultural and historical sites in the Vietnamese province.

Secretary of the provincial Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Nguyen Huynh Thu said that the friendship exchange programme will aim to enhance the solidarity and friendship between youths of Vietnam and Cambodia in general and the two provinces in particular.

Activities within the framework of the event will help youths improve their understanding of each other’s lives, thus intensifying exchanges and support for each other in implementing the youth development strategy and boosting cultural cooperation between Vinh Long and Kampong Speu, Thu added.

Project raises children’s awareness of food safety

Food fair in Ly Thai To primary school 

The Vietnam Cooperative Union for Safe Agricultural Consumption (UCA) and Ly Thai To primary school in Hanoi jointly held a Spring fair on January 25 to start the “From farm to school” project that aims to strengthen children’s awareness of food safety.

UCA Chairman Pham Anh Tuan said that the alliance is working to develop a strong network of safe agricultural production and sales to ensure better health for consumers.

However, Tuan held that the target will only be reached with the long-term and joint efforts of the whole community, stressing the significance of higher public awareness of the matter, especially amongst producers and consumers, starting from young children.

Nguyen The Phuong, Vice Director of the project said that along with holding fairs such as these, the project will offer children and teachers the chance to experience the production of farm produce to give them insight into the practicalities of safe food through farm trips.

Moreover, it will connect production facilities that meet food safety requirements with local schools, he said.

Phuong called for the support of ministries, sectors, and agencies during the implementation of the project, thus developing Vietnam’s safe agricultural market and strengthening public health.

Vietnamese expats in Cambodia enjoy warm Tet

Scene at the event 

Vietnamese expatriates in Cambodia gathered to celebrate the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) at a ceremony at the Vietnam Embassy on January 25.

In his speech delivered at the event, Ambassador Vu Quang Minh reviewed the past year. He said 2018 witnessed the host nation making important socio-economic achievements and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

The year also marked records made in the development of Vietnam-Cambodia comprehensive cooperation, Minh stressed, noting that bilateral trade hit some 4.5 billion USD, up 18 percent annually.

The Vietnamese community in Cambodia has made significant efforts to overcome difficulties, improve their living standards and legal status, and contribute to socio-economic growth in their second home country, the diplomat noted.

According to him, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior approved the Cambodian Vietnamese Association’s registration following the country’s new law on socio-political organisations. The association has been renamed the Khmer-Vietnam Association and has come out with a new set of principles and logo. Meanwhile, a club for Vietnamese entrepreneurs was launched for the first time in Cambodia.

He said the Vietnamese embassy and general consulates have worked closely with the Khmer-Vietnam Association and Vietnamese investors in Cambodia to conduct several measures to support the expatriate community, particularly in boosting their legal status.

On the occasion, the embassy presented Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh’s decision on awarding expat individuals and groups in recognition of their significant contributions to developing the community. Minh also handed over certificates of merit to outstanding Vietnamese students at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Hung Ha bridge connecting Hung Yen, Ha Nam to open on Jan 26

Hưng Ha Bridge connecting Hung Yen and Ha Nam provinces will open to traffic on January 26.  (Photo: baogiaothong.vn)

 

The Hung Ha bridge, linking the Red River delta provinces of Hung Yen and Ha Nam, and connection roads to Hanoi-Hai Phong expressway will be open to traffic on January 26, according to the project investor - the Management Board of Thang Long project.

The project is part of a larger one to build roads connecting the Hanoi – Hai Phong and Cau Gie – Ninh Binh expressways, with total length of 47.7km, which includes the Hung Ha bridge with a length of over 2.1km and two approach roads with a total length of nearly 4km.

The bridge, crossing the Hong (Red) River, begins at Phuong Chieu Commune, Hung Yen city and ends at Bac Ly Commune, in Ly Nhan district of Ha Nam province.

The project is expected to help Hung Yen and Ha Nam provinces attract investment and improve socio-economic growth.

According to a representative of the investor, the project started in May 2016. Under the contract, the project was to be completed in 36 months, in May 2019. However, with the direction of the Ministry of Transport and support from local authorities, all work has been completed and the bridge can open to traffic five months ahead of schedule.

The bridge, which is 22.5m wide with six lanes, has total investment of over 2.96 trillion VND (126 million USD), with 2.5 trillion VND coming from the Republic of Korea’s Economic Development Co-operation Fund and the rest from the Vietnamese government.

It helps shorten the distance from Hung Yen to Phu Ly city of Ha Nam to only 20km with travel time of 20 minutes instead of the current 40 minutes.

The bridge will enhance the transport capacity of the two national highways and stimulate the socio-economic development of the Red River Delta region. At the same time, the project will contribute to easing traffic pressure on highways No.1 and No.5 as well as in Hanoi.

HCM City to open six cattle slaughterhouses

This year HCM City plans to open six slaughterhouses in Củ Chi and Hóc Môn districts, and shut down all the traditional slaughterhouses to ensure food safety.

The HCM City’s People Committee will open six modern industrial-scale cattle slaughterhouse plants this year.

From now to September 30, the city will open at varying times the six facilities, which will have a total capacity of 13,000 animals per day.

Hóc Môn District will have two slaughterhouses, including the Xuân Thới Thượng and Tân Hiệp Food Processing plants, with the capacity of 2,000 and 3,000 animals per day, respectively.

Củ Chi District will have four facilities in Tân Thạnh Commune with the capacity of 2,000 animals per day, Tân Phú Trung Commune with the capacity of 3,000 animals per day; one on Võ Văn Bích Street with the capacity of 2,000 animals per day and another in Phước Thạnh Commune with the capacity of 1,000 animals per day.

In addition, the Vissan Joint Stock Company will open one slaughterhouse in their food processing industrial complex located in Bến Lức District in Long An Province, with the capacity of 2,500 to 4,000 animals per day.

When these slaughterhouses put into use, the city will shut down all traditional slaughterhouses where hygienic standards are often flaunted, except the Trung Tuyến slaughterhouse located in Cần Giờ District.

The city now has 11 slaughterhouses with total capacity of 6,330 pigs and 82,000 poultry per day.

Also, by the end of this year, the city expects to put into use two slaughterhouses belonging to Phạm Tôn Co. Ltd and Sài Gòn Agriculture One Member Co. Ltd in Củ Chi District.

The city expects that by 2020 the total capacity of these plants will reach 15,530 pigs, 300,000 poultry and 300 cows per day.

The city has ensured food safety and strengthened inspection and management in hygiene and animal product chains, and supported slaughterhouse businesses to build their brand and promote their products to consumers. 

Flower farming increases over 9% in Dong Thap

Floriculture is a sector the southern province of Dong Thap has focused on under its agriculture restructuring programme. Dong Thap’s floriculture production is mostly in Sa Dec city.  Last year, its production increased by 9.5 percent year-on-year to reach approximately 64.5 million USD.

Sa Dec ornamental plants and flowers are now sold nationwide, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. The locality’s total number of floriculture establishments reached 60 in 2018. They are located mostly in Tan Quy Dong ward. On average, selling 1,000 flower baskets earns these businesses more than 430 USD.

Sa Dec now has more than 90 hectares of ornamental plants and flowers to serve Tet (lunar New Year) festival. As many as 3 million flower baskets are expected to be sold during the festival.

In addition to supplying flowers, Sa Dec flower village annually attracts as many as 300,000 visitors during Tet.

Three drug dealers arrested in Ha Tinh

Police in Ha Tinh province, working in collaboration with border guards on the Cau Treo international border gate, foiled a major drug trafficking ring from Laos on January 23, seizing a large quantity of drugs in the process.

Upon approaching the border gate at 16:40, police stopped a suspicious car and conducted a search, leading to the discovery of 120 bricks of heroin.

The discovery lead to the arrest of three Vietnamese nationals residing in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. 

The suspects confessed that they had been transporting the drugs from Laos to Vietnam in order to distribute them. A further investigation into the case is underway.

Workshop fire leaves one dead and three injured in Binh Duong

A huge fire broke out, engulfing a workshop belonging to Moashterprise JSC in Thu Dau Mot city, Binh Duong province, on January 24.

The accident took place at midday and left one dead with three more people seriously injured.

According to initial reports, an explosion rocked the workshop immediately before the outbreak of the fire. 

Local workers attempted to extinguish the blaze but their efforts were in vain as the flames grew in ferocity, eventually engulfing the workshop.

After the alarm was raised, three fire engines along a crew of firefighters were mobilised to the scene to battle against the inferno. As of 14:00, the blaze was still ongoing.

An investigation into the incident is still now underway.

Disabled kids to learn about nature at Sơn Trà Reserve

A volunteer shows a book to disabled children during a trip in Đà Nẵng. 

The Centre of Biodiversity Conservation and GreenViet plan to offer free nature lessons at the Nature Education and Experience Centre and field trips to the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve for disabled children in 2019.

Director of the GreenViet-owned Nature Education and Experience Centre, Nguyễn Hoàng Chương, told Việt Nam News the programme was part of an agreement with the city’s education and training department to help rehabilitate disabled children.

Chương said each trip would involve groups of 40 children with different disabilities including depression, hyperactivity and autism from junior secondary and primary schools in the districts of Hòa Vang, Thanh Khê and Liên Chiểu.

He said the children would have the chance to explore the reserve while developing skills such as making eye contact, communication and teamwork.

Chương said the children would be able to see red-shanked douc langurs, an endangered primate species, during the field trips.

Last year, nearly 300 disabled children from the city visited the reserve as part of the programme.

The Nature Education and Experience Centre is the only one offering free education and nature experiences for school and university students in the city.

GreenViet plans to offer free nature education and environmental and wildlife protection programmes for more than 3,000 students and 500 disabled children at the centre in 2019.

The centre, which is close to the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve, also hosts field trips into the jungle for students and nature lovers including wildlife studies, painting contests, clean-ups and planting trees on the peninsula.

More than 25,000 school students and 3,000 local residents took part nature education activities in the reserve between 2012 and 2017, while 300 teachers from junior secondary schools in the city participated in nature and wildlife protection activities at the reserve in 2018. 

Nearly 55 bln VND for Quang Tri offshore fishing vessels

The central province of Quang Tri has decided to allocate nearly 55 billion VND (2.3 million USD) to support owners of fishing vessels with a capacity of 90CV and above this year.

The move is in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Decision No.48/QD-TTg on encouraging offshore fishing. 

Accordingly, about 51.6 billion VND will be used to subsidise fuel for 200 vessels which have a capacity of 90 – 700CV and regularly go fishing offshore. 

The province will also equip 25 vessels with remote communications devices at a total cost of 700 million VND, offer insurance to 200 high-capacity vessels at a cost of 2 billion VND, as well as insurance worth 480 million VND to 1,600 crewmen. 

Last year, Quang Tri offered an aid worth over 46 billion VND to fishermen.

In line with the Government’s Decree No.67/ND-CP on several fishery development policies, provincial authorities approved loans valued at about 550 billion VND to build 32 and upgrade 118 fishing vessels, nearly 437 billion VND of which has been disbursed. The sum was used to build and put into operation 25 high-capacity fishing vessels. 

Quang Tri netted nearly 24,200 tonnes of aquatic products last year thanks to the recovery of marine environment following the incident in April 2016 as well as effective policies on offshore fishing support.

“The Magic of Cinema” movie month screens ‘The Majestic’

Jim Carrey stars as Pete, whose life turns upside down when his name surfaces in investigations of suspected communists. — Photo movieberry.com

The Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents (TPD) will continue its “The Magic of Cinema” movie month with a screening of The Majestic on the night of Friday, January 27.

The romantic drama was produced and directed by Frank Darabont in 2001.

Set in the 1950s, the film tells the story of protagonist Pete (Jim Carrey), whose successful life as a rising Hollywood screenwriter is flipped on its head when his name is blacklisted in investigations of suspected communists. After a drunken car accident, he wakes with amnesia near a small town, where he’s mistaken for long-lost local boy Luke Trimble. Peter works with Luke’s deluded father (Martin Landau) and old sweetheart (Laurie Holden) to re-open the town’s movie theatre, and begins to question his identity.

The movie will be presented in original English language with Vietnamese subtitles. The screening will start at 7pm. Requested donations at the door from VNĐ20,000 per person. TPD is at 54 Trần Hưng Đạo Street, 4th floor. 

Dengue fever persists in coastal Phú Yên Province

Dengue fever patients at Sông Hinh District hospital in Phú Yên Province. — Photo dantri.com.vn

Cases of dengue fever have been increased in the central coastal province of Phú Yên, reported Vietnam News Agency.

Since late last year and in first month this year, there were nearly 1,400 cases of dengue fever reported. The mountainous district of Sông Hinh had 539 cases, 91 per cent more than in the same period last year.

Notably, many people were not aware of the disease’s danger so they chose to self-treat at home, only seeking hospitalisation when the condition became severe.

For example, Lê Thị Kim Hoa, a resident of the district’s Riêng Hai Township, was hospitalised in serious condition with a high fever. Another case was K’Sor Y Quý from Ea Ba Commune, who was initially treated at home with medicines not prescribed by a doctor. He was hospitalised when his condition became worse.

These are just two of the 24 severe cases of dengue fever treated in Sông Hinh Gereral Hospital.

In Phú Yên Province, the disease continues to spread and there is no sign of stopping.

The current weather pattern – alternating rain and sun – promotes mosquitoes that transmit the disease.

Along with the health sector’s efforts, people need to become aware about killing mosquitoes and larvae.

Dr. K’Sor Sư, deputy director of the Sông Hinh Healthcare Centre, said: “The difficulty is how to raise people’s awareness of the disease as well as how to change habits at home such as the use of open water tanks which are a favourable environment for mosquitoes and larvae.”

“The district’s healthcare centre should institute measures to wipe out dengue fever before the Tết holiday,” said Dr. K’Sor Sư.

Large bombs found in Quang Tri, Binh Duong provinces

Two bombs which have a total weight of 413 kilos have been detected at a construction site in the provinces of Quang Tri and Binh Duong.

While workers were levelling the ground for expanding Lao Bao Border Gate in the central province of Quang Tri, they suddenly found a bomb which is 1.2 metres long and weighs 113 kilos.

On Wednesday, the provincial sappers and Lao Bao border military officers jointly defused the bomb and move it to a safe place. 

Bombs have previously been unearthed at Lao Bao Border Gate area.

Meanwhile, at a construction site in Bau Bang District in the southern province of Binh Duong, workers also detected a 300-kilo bomb with the detonator and explosive.

Also on Wednesday, the local sappers defused the bomb. 

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, it is estimated that more than 6.1 million ha of land or 18.71 percent of Vietnam’s total area are contaminated with about 800,000 tonnes of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnance, which are scattered over all 63 cities and provinces in the country, with the central region the hardest hit.

During the 2016-2025 period, the government aims to clear about 800,000 ha of bomb-and mine-polluted land, while calling for domestic and international resources for the implementation of the programme.
Hotlines to report transport violations open during Tết

Coaches at the Eastern Bus Station in Bình Tân District. HCM City has announced three hotlines for the public to call about problems in transport infrastructure and passenger and traffic safety during the Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday. 

Three hotlines to report traffic violations will be open in HCM City during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, according to the Department of Transport.

Trần Quang Lâm, deputy director of the department, said people can complain about fares by calling 028.3830.0701 or 0913.880.906 and speaking with inspectors.

Problems related to transport infrastructure problems or traffic safety should be directed to the hotline of the Management Centre of Sài Gòn River Tunnel, 0388.247.247.

People can also contact the hotlines through Viber or Zalo apps.

Trần Quang Lâm said the inspectors of the department had been working with traffic police on handling violators.

The department will strictly fine coaches that carry more than the prescribed number of passengers or install more seats on buses.

The department will also closely inspect Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, Sài Gòn Railway Station, and bus terminals such as An Sương, Western Station and Eastern Station.

The city has provided enough coaches and buses to meet passenger demand during the peak holiday season, according to Lâm.

In addition, the city’s Management Centre of Public Transport has adjusted the number of trips on some bus routes to meet demand. In particular, the centre has added 10 more buses with 30 seats to serve passengers at Western Bus Station. It has also temporarily stopped some bus routes that will see a decrease in passengers during Tết. 

Hanoi’s Soc Son district urged to relocate residents affected by landfill

A photo of Soc Son district (Photo: laodong.vn)

 

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has ordered authorities of Soc Son district to accelerate land clearance and compensation for residents affected by the Nam Son Waste Treatment Complex or Nam Son dumping ground.

Earlier this month, local residents blocked garbage trucks attempting to carry waste to the dump to protest the sluggish process of land clearance and compensation for a relocation project.

In 2017, due to pollution caused by the Nam Son dump, local authorities approved a project to relocate more than 1,000 households of three communes - Bac Son, Hong Ky and Nam Son, out of the affected areas which are located less than 500m from the dump.

Chung assigned tasks to the People’s Committee of Soc Son district to complete work on compensation and resettlement assistance for the affected residents. The committee was ordered to approve compensation and use the budget correctly.

The budget for compensation will be sourced from the city’s investment fund for development.

Earlier city and district authorities held meetings with residents living around Nam Son dump to discuss solutions on land clearance and compensation. After the talks, protesters agreed to dismantle tents and clear the way leading to the dump.

Set up in 1999, the Nam Son garbage dump, covering an area of 83ha, receives more than 4,000 tonnes of waste per day from four of Hanoi’s inner districts.

The authorities approved a three-floor waste incinerator to reduce the amount of garbage and planned to close the dump by 2021.

In a related move, the municipal People’s Committee asked Soc Son district’s authorities to review violations of illegal construction on agricultural land and make a list of violations cases in five communes – Xuan Khu, Kim Lu, Dong Xuan, Phu Lo and Phu Minh.

The district authorities were urged to step up supervision on construction work and stiffen penalties on violators.

They were asked to review abandoned agricultural and public land and deal with violations related to handing over, leasing land or switching land-use purposes.

The city’s inspectorate and Department of Natural Resources and Environment were assigned to establish working teams to inspect illegal construction on agricultural and public land.

The orders were issued after 27 constructions including houses, villas and even an eco-tourism area with a swimming pool, stilt houses and concrete roads were found to have been illegally built on forest land in Soc Son district over the past two years.

The municipal People’s Committee asked the house owners to take the buildings down.

State, organisations join hands to ensure a happy Tet for all

 Chairman of the Presidential Office Dao Viet Trung (sixth, from left) visited and presented Tet gifts to disadvantaged workers of the GGS Vietnam Co., Ltd., in Hoa Binh city 

More support from the State and general public has been offered to low-income earners and disadvantaged people across the nation, as the country’s biggest traditional festival, Tet (Lunar New Year), approaches.

On January 25, Chairman of the President’s Office Dao Viet Trung visited and presented Tet gifts to disadvantaged workers of the GGS Vietnam Co., Ltd., in Hoa Binh city, in the northern province of Hoa Binh.

He highly valued local authorities’ care for workers through the various activities organised every Tet, adding that they have become part of the annual traditions.

In the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, authorities, border guard posts, and various other organisations will make somewhere between 3,500-4,000 chung cakes – a signature Tet dish – for state welfare beneficiaries, poor families, and border defence contributors in 29 border communes.

Col. Nguyen Thanh Diu, Political Commissar of the Dien Bien Border Guard High Command, said border guard units have encouraged philanthropists and charitable organisations to join hands to offer support by presenting gifts, clothes and food, or helping with house repair to underprivileged families in border areas for the Tet holiday.

Meanwhile, the pre-Tet campaign to call for support for those in need in the northern province of Thai Nguyen has obtained practical results, according to Chairman of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Pham Hoang Son.

He noted that the campaign raised over 27 billion VND (1.16 million USD), which has been spent on 22,800 gift packages and 93 houses, along with many other types of material aid, to the disadvantaged. Free medical check-ups and treatment have also been given to local poor people.

Also on January 25, Tet gifts were given to 800 members of the Association of Quang Tri Ancient Citadel’s Soldiers in central Quang Tri province who are living in difficult circumstances.

Meanwhile, the province’s association of people with disabilities and Agent Orange victims presented nearly 1,000 gift packages to their targeted groups and 22 scholarships to students with disabilities.

Local organisations and businesses have also joined efforts to ensure a merry Tet for residents in remote and ethnic minority areas.

The same day, officials of southern An Giang province paid pre-Tet visits to workers in local businesses and industrial parks.

Tuyen Quang province upgrades relic site of first Party cell

The ceremony marking the completion of upgrades to the first Party cell's relic site 

A ceremony was held on January 25 to mark the completion of upgrades to the place where the first cell of the Communist Party of Vietnam in northern Tuyen Quang province was established.

The Mo Than Party cell was set up on March 20, 1940 at a house in Mo Than hamlet, now Group 40 of Minh Xuan ward in Tuyen Quang city, with seven Party members.

Under the Party cell’s leadership, the revolutionary movement in the Mo Than area developed and expanded to nearby areas. The establishment of this Party cell marked a step of development of the local revolutionary movement at that time.

Work on the relic site began on February 3, 2018, upgrading and building a stele shelter, a wooden exhibition house and some other facilities.

Standing Vice Secretary of the Tuyen Quang provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hong Thang said this is a valuable historical relic site whose values need to be maintained and promoted so that it can become a place for educating the revolutionary tradition to younger generations.