Families evacuated from landslide-prone area in An Giang

One of the fourteen households affected by ground subsidence which were evacuated quickly for safety reasons. — Photo baoangiang.com.vn

Fourteen households in a landslide-prone area in Mekong Delta An Giang Province were evacuated to safer areas after a landslide left a 230m-long crack on a riverbank, according to local authorities.

Vũ Minh Thao, deputy chairman of the province’s Chợ Mới District, said that aside from the relocation, which came after a landslide in the district’s Hòa An Commune left a 230m-long crack on the riverbank last Friday, local authorities were co-ordinating with relevant agencies to reinforce roads and regulate traffic by restricting the number of vehicles and people travelling through the affected areas to prevent further damage.

The landslide directly affected 14 households, many of which suffered subsidence of nearly 1m.

Thao also said land plots have been set aside for seven households which were up for relocation due to subsidence.

New roads would also be built in the areas that were heavily damaged, he said. 

Authorities salvage wrecked ships in Quảng Ninh

Authorities in northern Quảng Ninh Province are attempting to salvage three ships that sank off the coastal city of Cẩm Phả. 

The ships sank in two separate incidents last weekend in Quảng Ninh. There were no casualties reported.

On Sunday, the ship Bảo Khanh 19, which was headed for central Hà Tĩnh Province, collided with the ship NB-6589, causing the latter’s hull to crack.

Bảo Khanh 19 crashed into two other boats after colliding with NB-6589. One boat sank on the spot, while the other capsized while trying to head for the shore. The crew members of both ships were rescued successfully.

One day before the collision between the two vessels, a Chinese ship carrying frozen buffalo meat also sank after leaving Vạn Gia port in Quảng Ninh Province. Authorities rescued two crew members and salvaged 540 out of the total 4,650 packs of goods.

The Quảng Ninh Province’s People’s Committee has ordered relevant agencies to co-operate and tackle the situation in the aftermath of the incidents.

Agribank helps Ly Son district build national-standard kindergarten

The district People’s Committee of Ly Son held a ceremony on June 25 to receive the money from the bank (Source: http://www.sggp.org.vn/)

Quang Ngai (VNA) – The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank)’s branch in Quang Ngai has funded 5 billion VND (219,750 USD) for the central coastal province to upgrade the Ly Son kindergarten to meet national standards.

The kindergarten was built in 2007 in An Vinh commune, Ly Son island district. It was designed with eight classrooms to serve 260 children annually.

The district People’s Committee of Ly Son held a ceremony on June 25 to receive the money from the bank.

Apart from the bank’s funding, the committee will provide more than 1 billion VND in corresponding capital for the construction of a two-storey building for administrative management and children’s eating room.

The construction of the building began in June 2018 and will be completed in December this year.

Ly Son island district in Quang Ngai province consists of three islands: Dao Lon (Big Island), Dao Be (Small Island) and Hon Mu Cu (Mu Cu Islet).

Located 30 km from the mainland, the island district is famous for growing garlic and has a growing reputation among tourists..

Volcanic eruptions have formed various beautiful features on the islands such as Hang Cau (Cau Cave), and the Thoi Loi volcano mouth, which boasts a beautiful lake, and an aerial view of the entire island district.

VN Red Cross hailed for two decades of Tet relief for the poor, AO victims

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a letter of appreciation to the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS), praising the efforts of volunteers and staff to aid less fortunate people over the last two decades.

The VRCS’s charitable works have brought a warmer Tet holiday (traditional Vietnamese New Year) for poor people and AO/dioxin victims under the programme “Tet for the poor and AO victims.”

In the letter, Phuc said he was happy and touched to know that the programme “Tet for the poor and AO victims”, launched by the VRCS in 1999, has presented gifts, worth more than 6.67 trillion VND (293.5 million USD), to more than 22 million AO victims, impoverished and vulnerable people.

It shows the solidarity among people to promote the nation’s long-standing humane values, the PM added.

“I highly value and warmly praise and congratulate the VRCS for its achievements in the programme ‘Tet for the poor and AO victims’ in recent years,” he said.

The leader moved on to ask Party committees and government units to facilitate the operation of the programme. He also asked VRCS volunteers and staff to keep up their good work to make it a charity movement involving all of society.

He believed the programme will further expand and bear greater fruits for the VRCS to accomplish its missions.

Vietnam Red Cross grants aid to flood victims

The Vietnam Red Cross Society will provide nearly 11,000 USD in cash to flood victims in the northern mountainous provinces of Lai Chau and Ha Giang which were hardest hit by the natural disaster. As of 17:00 on June 25, the death toll in flood and landslides rose to 14 in Ha Giang and Lai Chau.

Accordingly, Lai Chau will receive over 6,500 USD and Ha Giang 4,300 USD to distribute to families of victims who were dead or injured during the flood.

The society will sent working groups to Lai Chau, bringing along relief for local residents.

After traffic is resumed in the two provinces, the society will organize teams to transport necessities and clean water to flood-hit areas.

Heavy rains over the past few days caused massive floods and landslides in the northern mountainous region, with Lai Chau and Ha Giang being the hardest hit. As of 6 am on June 25, the death toll in flood and landslides rose to seven, with five in Lai Chau and two in Ha Giang.

At the same time, eight people in Lai Chau went missing and five were injured.

Floods and landslides also destroyed and damaged hundreds of houses, hundreds of hectares of rice and crop.

Total losses are estimated to reach over 3 million USD, with Lai Chau being the hardest hit.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued a dispatch asking relevant ministries, sectors and localities to focus resources on search and rescue along with activities to overcome flood consequences.

Book commemorating PM Phan Van Khai released

A book titled “Prime Minister Phan Van Khai- the whole life devoted to the country and Vietnamese people” has been released by the Department of Propaganda and Training of the HCMC Party Committee.

The literary work aims to celebrate 100 days since passing of former PM Phan Van Khai.

The book introduces to readers stories and over 100 photos featuring outstanding events during the life and career of the late PM who spent more than 60 years of revolutionary activities.

On this occasion, a delegation of HCMC officials led by Head of the Department of Propaganda & Education of HCMC Party Committee, Than Thi Thu visited and offered flowers to PM Phan Van Khai at his house, marking the 100th day after death of the late PM.

An Giang leaders congratulate Hoa Hao Buddhism founding anniversary

Leaders of An Giang province congratulate the Central Executive Committee of Hoa Hao Buddhism Sangha on June 25 

Authorities of the southern province of An Giang have visited and congratulated the Central Executive Committee of Hoa Hao Buddhism Sangha on the occasion of the sect’s 79th founding anniversary.

Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Vo Anh Kiet, on behalf of the An Giang authority, extended greetings to the Hoa Hao Buddhism’s followers on the anniversary.

Kiet briefed the Central Executive Committee of Hoa Hao Buddhism Sangha on the local socio-economic achievements in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 while recognising contributions by the sect’s followers, especially in social welfare, bridge and rural road building.

The official wished the Central Executive Committee of Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha and its chapters will continue guiding and educating Hoa Hoa Buddist followers to promote fine traditions and solidarity in the community.

The Hoa Hao Buddhism, together with other religions, should build the great national unity bloc and abide by the Party and State’s policies and laws, contributing to local socio-economic development and national building, he added.

There are 397 local executive committees of Hoa Hao Buddhism in 17 provinces and cities at present, according to the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha.

Regulation revisions needed to promote child labour eradication

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said “Generation Safe & Healthy” is the theme of World Day Against Child Labour (June 12) in 2018. It is a practical theme when the whole world has committed to preventing child labour.

She noted Vietnam has promulgated a number of regulations and carried out many solutions to prevent child labour and realise the Sustainable Development Goals, including Target 8.7 of eradicating forced labour, ending modern slavery and human trafficking, and securing the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

However, the solving of the child labour issue, especially protecting children from strenuous, hazardous and dangerous labour, needs active participation and close coordination of all partners in society, from State agencies, businesses, trade unions, social organisations to families and the community, Ha added.

Minoru Ogasawara, chief advisor of the project “Technical Support for Enhancing the National Capacity to Prevent and Reduce Child Labour in Vietnam” (ENHANCE), said to eliminate child labour, it is necessary to have a solid legal foundation, regularly update the list of dangerous and hazardous jobs, consolidate the law enforcement mechanism with the engagement of relevant sides, and strengthen occupational safety and health management.

Programmes to educate occupational safety and health at schools are also needed to educate students on occupational risks, he said.

Suggesting child labour prevention measures, Chief of the child protection section at UNICEF Vietnam Le Hong Loan said the country should improve educational quality to reduce the dropout rate among children while increasing intervention measures and support for low-income families since poverty is one of the main causes of child labour.

She also called for a legal framework and policies built in line with international standards, all the worst forms of child labour banned, and policies with multidimensional approach made.

At the workshop, Director of the labour ministry’s Department of Child Affairs Dang Hoa Nam said in the time ahead, the ministry will revise the regulations on child and adolescent labour in the Labour Code, continue the national survey on child labour, and push ahead with the Government’s programme on child labour prevention and elimination and the ENHANCE project.

Child labour is currently a global issue. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that there are about 152 million child labourers in the world at present. 

Working at an early age has been leaving serious consequences, including affecting children’s physical and mental development and preventing their access to suitable education. It also negatively influences socio-economic development, especially the quality of future human resources.

In Vietnam, the national survey of child labour in 2012 showed that there were about 1.75 million child labourers nationwide, accounting for 9.6 percent of children aged between five and 17.

GEF 6 enters third working day with sideline events

At the 54th GEF Council Meeting held in Da Nang city 

Fifteen events were held on the sidelines of the third working day the sixth Global Environment Facility Assembly (GEF 6) in the central city of Da Nang on June 25.

They focused on efforts to reduce deforestation, biodiversity, sustainable rice production, eco-industry, policies on chemicals and wastes and small assistance programmes.

During the day, the 54th GEF Council Meeting continued taking place. 

The GEF Council Meeting, which lasts until June 26, looks into the updated co-financing strategy, the GEF partnership, rules for the System for Transparent Allocation of Resources, the 2019 GEF Business Plan and Corporate Budget and the seventh replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund (GEF-7).

On the forth working day, some sideline events will be also held by the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. They will focus on a programme on joining hands to protect ocean, ocean plastic management, biodiversity preservation and sustainable tourism, and achievements and orientations for Vietnam-GEF cooperation toward cooperation for sustainable growth goals.

Vietnamese youths join hands in caring for AO/dioxin victims

An overview of signing ceremony between  Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (Source: hanoimoi.com.vn)

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee and the Vietnamese Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) signed a programme on coordination for the 2018-2023 period in order to encourage the involvement of youths in care for dioxin victims on June 25.

VAVA President Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Van Vinh hailed the significance of the programme as it helps tighten the relationship between the two organisations and step up coordination in activities promoting the role of youths in caring for and protecting the rights and legitimate interests of AO/dioxin victims.

Permanent Secretary of the HCYU Central Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan said that contribution to the care for AO/dioxin victims is not only responsibility but also aspiration of the youth union and young Vietnamese people.

He asked the HCYU’s units to carry out activities to promote the strength and creativeness of young people, particular in digitalising addresses of AO/dioxin victims to facilitate the dissemination and mobilisation of assistance from the entire society and international community for them.

According to VAVA Vice President Nguyen Van Khanh, during 2018-2023, the two offices will coordinate in stepping up disseminations on dioxin catastrophe in Vietnam as well as the Party and State’s policies to address consequences of the toxic chemical used by the US during war in Vietnam.

They will collaborate in organising events during festivals, providing vocational training and jobs for AO/dioxin victims and their families, and expanding external activities to make foreign youths understand more the struggle for justice for the victims.

The US army sprayed some 80 million litres of toxic chemicals from 1961 to 1971, 61 percent of which was Agent Orange containing 366 kilograms of dioxin, over nearly one quarter of the total area of South Vietnam.

Preliminary statistics showed that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin, and about 3 million people became victims. Tens of thousands of people have died while millions of others have suffered from cancer and other incurable diseases as a result. Many of their offspring have also suffered from birth deformities.

Vietnam wants to promote social forestry in ASEAN: official

Trees are planted in a protection forest in Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City 

Vietnam wants to promote social forestry among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to create favourable conditions for the involvement of private and non-governmental organisations, community and people in forestry activities, said a local official.

Dr. Nguyen Phi Hung, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation - the Vietnam Administration of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, made the statement at the 7th Annual Meeting of CSO Forum on Social Forestry in ASEAN held in the central coastal city of Da Nang on June 25.

With the theme “Sustaining collaborative and innovative people-centered actions and contributions in NDCs and the sustainable development goals”, the event aimed to discuss and realise experience shared by civil society organizations (SCOs), Indigenous People’s Organisation (IPO) and relevant sides in social forestry and climate change. Social forestry in the countries was also evaluated at the meeting.

According to PanNature Director Trinh Le Nguyen, the 7th meeting targeted to provide a venue to share social forestry knowledge, develop forestry report card, and measures to respond to challenges.

Participants also worked to develop and shape important messages and recommendations for the 12th annual meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry and relevant organisations in the ASEAN.

Activities of social organisations in public management of forestry and Vietnam’s measures to ensure safety in greenhouse emission were highlighted at the event.

The CSO Forum on Social Forestry in ASEAN was established in 2012, and is participated in by CSOs and community-based organizations, indigenous peoples’ networks and membership organizations who are present in ASEAN and are implementing capacity building, awareness raising, and technical support programs on forest and NTFP livelihood and marketing, forest tenure and access rights, and traditional and indigenous knowledge systems on natural resources, and a few projects in REDD+. 

It is a platform to distil, consolidate and relay key messages from CSOs and communities to ASEAN member states through the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWGSF).

ASEAN Inline Freestyle Skating Championship wraps up

Eddie Chua, President of the International Federation of Roller Sports, presents medals to winners (Photo: baobariavungtau.com.vn)

The fifth ASEAN Inline Freestyle Skating Championship wrapped up on June 24 at Hera Palace Convention Centre in the south central province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau after three days of competition.

Winners of 44 sets of medals were named among 120 skaters aged between 7 and 25 from Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, China and host Vietnam.

Competitors competed in various events, including Speed Slalom Asian, Speed Slalom Open; Slalom Classic Asian, Slalom Classic Open; Slalom Battle Asian; Slalom Battle Open; Slalom Pair Open; Slide Asian, Slide Open; Roller Cross; and Open.

All categories are in line with international skating rules set by the International Skating Union and the Skating Technical Committee.

Eddie Chua, President of the International Federation of Roller Sports, thanked the Vietnam Sports Administration, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and Viet Passion JSC for creating favourable conditions and successfully organising the tournament, which drew a large number of audiences, most of whom are youngsters.

He expressed his hope that after the tournament, skating will become more popular in Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Vietnam in general.

Viet Passion has formed Team Freestyle Vung Tau, gathering seed skaters of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province who share wishes to promote the development of skating.

Bạc Liêu begins construction of new $60m general hospital

Construction on Bạc Liêu–Sài Gòn General Hospital began on June 24. 

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bạc Liêu has started construction on the Bạc Liêu – Sài Gòn General Hospital, a VNĐ1.37 trillion (US$60 trillion) project which is expected to reduce patient overcrowding at local medical facilities.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony last Sunday, Vương Phương Nam, the deputy chairman of the province’s People’s Committee, said the province has local hospitals, healthcare facilities and 12 other medical establishments facing patient overload.

Covering an area of nearly 38,000sq.m in Bạc Liêu City’s Ward 1, the Bạc Liêu - Sài Gòn General Hospital will have a total of 10 floors and 400 beds, with modern medical equipment.

The construction project is divided into two phases and will be completed by 2020.

More than VNĐ992 billion ($43.5 million) will be invested in the first phase and the second phase VNĐ376 billion ($16.5 million).

The project’s investor, Bạc Liêu – Sài Gòn General Hospital Joint Stock Company, must ensure the quality and progress of the project, and the provincial administration and departments should create optimal conditions for implementation, Nam said. 

HCM City adjusts co-efficients for land compensation calculation

HCM City has made the annual amendments to land price co-efficients – used to calculate compensation in case of acquisition -- in districts 2, 8 and Bình Tân. — Photo plo.vn

The HCM City People’s Committee has announced the new coefficients used for calculating land prices in some areas for paying compensation this year.  

To calculate the compensation to be paid, the land price fixed by the city is multiplied by the current coefficient for a location. They are adjusted every year.

The prices currently in use are fixed for the period from 2015 to 2019.

Thus, to acquire and pay compensation for land for the upgrade and widening of Trần Não Street, District 2, a coefficient of 2.72 is multiplied by the price of VNĐ22 million (US$960) per square metre to arrive at VNĐ59 million (US$2,577).

For Street No 60 in Thảo Điền Ward, District 2, the coefficient is 6.66. For Street No 40, it is 6.16.

The coefficients for agricultural land in these places range from 21.05 to 26.31.

The city has also announced the new co-efficient – 4.97 – for landslide-prone Bông Sao Street in District 8. Households there are set to be relocated.

On National Highway No 22 near the An Sương intersection, the coefficient for non-agricultural land used for religious purposes is 4.07.

For the second stage of clearance of the Bình Hưng Hoà cemetery in Bình Tân District, the coefficients for Tân Kỳ Tân Quý Street and Bình Long Streets are 3.61 and 3.66.