Winners of national press award on Party building honoured

At the third Bua Liem Vang press awarding ceremony

The winners of the third Bua Liem Vang (Golden Hammer and Sickle) Press Award were honoured at a grand ceremony at the Hanoi Opera House on January 25 night for their excellent works on Party building.

The awards aim to recognise outstanding works in disseminating information and promoting understanding about the Party’s policies and Party building work.

The jury selected 56 outstanding works from more than 1,800 entries to present four A prizes, 10 B prizes, 15 C prizes and 25 consolation prizes.

Addressing the event, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the awards not only encourage reporters and news agencies to disseminate information and promote understanding about the Party’s policies, but also serve as an opportunity to review Party building tasks over the past year.

The award drew the participation of people from all walks of life, both at home and abroad, showing the increasing attention of the public to the Party’s activities, she said.

The entries reflected Party building tasks over the past year, with many entries reporting on the fight against deterioration in political ideology, morality and lifestyle among a portion of Party members and against corruption and wastefulness.

They also covered the Doi Moi (renewal) cause, the restructuring of the political apparatus and training of officials of different levels.

Many models of good practice and good Party members were also reported.

The top legislator said those press works contributed to Party building and the fight against wrongful and distorted allegations by hostile forces, thus strengthening trust in the Party among people, State cadres and Party members.

The awards also reflect the hard work of reporters and editors, she said.

She took the occasion to praise the contribution of the press towards the cause of national construction in general and in Party building in particular.

Celebrations in Italy, Mozambique to welcome traditional Tet

Vietnamese people in Italy welcome Lunar New Year.

Overseas Vietnamese in Italy gathered to welcome traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) at a celebration held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Rome on January 25.

The event drew the participation of representatives from Italian agencies, international organisations and embassies of ASEAN countries in Rome.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Hue informed the attendees of Vietnam’s socio-economic development in 2018, with GDP growth of 7 percent - the highest level since 2008, and the ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is expected to bring more opportunities for the Southeast Asian country to enhance trade with its partners, including Italy.

She highlighted the Vietnam-Italy ties, saying that both nations organised a wide range of activities in 2018 to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 5th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Last year also saw the signing of mumerous documents between the two countries in the year, she said, adding that thanks to cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Vietnam and Italy have been closer to each other than ever before.

On the occasion, she spoke highly of the Vietnamese people in Italy’s efforts to popularise Vietnamese culture in the southern European country, and hoped that they will further their work to promote the sound Vietnam-Italy relations.

Elsewhere, the Vietnamese Embassy in Mozambique coordinated with the Vietnamese People Association in the country also organised a get-together in Maputo to welcome Tet.

Vietnamese Ambassador Le Huy Hoang conveyed New Year wishes of the Party and State leaders to the Vietnamese expatriates, and talked about the nation’s socio-economic achievements in 2018.

He highlighted important events in the ties between Vietnam and Mozambique during 2018, especially the visit to the nation made by Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, which helped tighten the bilateral relations.

The embassy has proactively worked with competent authorities in Mozambique, contributing to developing the bilateral ties in a more practical manner, he said.

Hailing efforts made by the Vietnamese people to overcome difficulties in Mozambique, the Ambassador said that the Vietnamese Party, State and Embassy are always ready to give timely support to them.

ExxonMobil pledges 80,000 USD to improve child healthcare in Quang Nam

ExxonMobil has pledged 80,000 USD to help improve child healthcare in central Vietnam, contributing 50,000 USD to VinaCapital Foundation’s Survive to Thrive programme and 30,000 USD to Operation Smile Vietnam.

Funds for Survive to Thrive will be used for lifesaving medical equipment at four healthcare centres in Dong Giang, Tay Giang and Nam Giang districts, which are located near the border with Laos and are among the poorest localities in the country.

“ExxonMobil is working to understand and support the needs of Vietnam’s communities, especially in the central area where we operate,” said Greg Smith, president and country manager of ExxonMobil Vietnam.

“We seek projects that have a lasting impact and are pleased that our contributions to VinaCapital and Operation Smile Vietnam have benefited more than a million individuals in central and northern regions to date.”

This is the eighth consecutive year that ExxonMobil has funded VinaCapital’s child healthcare programmes in the central region, with contributions totalling 550,000 USD.

ExxonMobil’s contributions to Operation Smile Vietnam has also funded a dental care mission for students in Tien Phuoc district, providing medical check-ups, consultations, treatments and procedures for over 4,000 children from 16 primary schools in the region.

Over the past five years, ExxonMobil has contributed more than 200,000 USD to Operation Smile Vietnam to support over 550 cleft lip/cleft palate operations and two dental care missions for children in the central and northern regions of Vietnam.

Front forges closer homeland ties with Overseas Vietnamese

VFF President Tran Thanh Man has a meeting with 100 outstanding OVs coming home for traditional Tet.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man pledged that the front will continue forging closer ties between Overseas Vietnamese and the homeland while meeting with 100 outstanding OVs coming home for traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival on January 26.

Participating OVs said they are delighted that the Party, State and the front have given profound care to the Vietnamese community around the world.

They said they are happy to see changes in the homeland and expressed their wishes to contribute their intellectual to the nation building efforts.

They hoped that the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs will continue helping them to tackle the legal status issue, protect and preserve national cultural identity and the teaching of Vietnamese, and make it easier for them to invest in the homeland.

Man said there are more than 4.5 million Vietnamese and people with Vietnamese origin living across the globe. They have participated in socio-economic development, natural disaster aid relief, and charity programmes in the homeland.

The front continues regarding the Overseas Vietnamese affairs its important task, working to gather proposals, aspirations and ideas from the community, and coordinating with other competent agencies to address them, he said.

He affirmed that the front will work closely with the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs to consult the Government policies and measures to safeguard the legal status of Vietnamese people living overseas and ensure that Vietnamese is preserved and taught in the community.

Vietnam Embassy in Laos welcomes Lunar New Year

Scene at the event 

The Embassy of Vietnam in Laos hosted a banquet welcoming the Lunar New Year on the night of January 25.

Minister of Defence of Laos Chansamone Chanyalath, Governor of Vientiane capital city Sinlavong Khutphaythoun, officials from Lao ministries, sectors and localities, Overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese investors and students attended the function.

Addressing the event, Ambassador of Vietnam to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung said though dealing with big challenges in 2018, Vietnam and Laos continued maintaining their socio-political stability, defence and security, and their economic growth was high in the world.

In the year, the special friendship and solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries continued growing to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the globe, he said.

He thanked Laos for always giving wholehearted assistance to Vietnam and prompt support for the Embassy of Vietnam and Vietnamese businesses and people there.

On behalf of the Laos Party, State and people, Minister of Defence Chansamone Chanyalath congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in 2018.

He expressed his profound thanks to Vietnam for always sending timely immense and efficient assistance to Laos in its past struggle for the national liberation and the current nation building and defence.

He said Vietnam’s growing role and position on the regional and global arenas will contribute positively to preserving peace, stability, and cooperation for development in the region and the world at large. 

He wished Vietnamese people would reap greater successes in 2019.

Hanoi mayor pays Tet visits to disadvantaged people

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung presents Tet gifts to Catholic people with disadvantaged backgrounds.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung presented 100 gift packages to Catholic people with disadvantaged backgrounds during his Tet visits to Thai Ha and Cua Bac parishes on January 25.

He extended his Tet greetings and wishes of good health, happiness, and prosperity to the priests and Catholic followers in these parishes.

He said Hanoi allocated over 400 billion VND and mobilized more from other resources to purchase Tet gifts for over 850,000 poor households, social policy beneficiaries, and revolution contributors.

Later on the day, he visited social policy beneficiaries and war veterans in Ba Dinh district.

He expressed his deep thanks to war invalids and veterans for their great sacrifices and contributions to the nation building and defence and wished them a new year of good health, happiness and wealth.

PM advises Hung Yen to develop industrial, urban zones

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and residents in Xuan Truc commune, An Thi district, Hung Yen 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the northern province of Hung Yen to continue creating a better investment environment and developing strongly industrial, service and urban zones during his Lunar New Year (Tet) visit to the province on January 26.

Secretary of the Hung Yen provincial Party Committee Do Tien Sy reported to the PM the locality’s prominent achievements over the years, including the establishment of 10,000 businesses and the attraction of over 1,800 investment projects. The province has set up big industrial zones, like the Hoa Phat and Thang Long II ones.

PM Phuc said he hopes the province will continue to make the full use of its potential, develop agriculture and services, provide the best environment to attract investment, bring into full play the role of businesses, and rally all available resources for its long-term, stable, and sustainable growth.  

The province should make breakthroughs in developing urban areas, trade and services, especially when it hosts the road connecting the Hanoi-Hai Phong and Cau Gie-Ninh Binh expressways, he said.

He agreed with the locality’s proposal to add the Ly Thuong Kiet service and urban industrial zone covering nearly 3,000 ha to its industrial zone planning from now to 2025 and 2030, expecting it will be creating a springboard for the province in socio-economic growth, increasing budget, generating jobs, and addressing social security issues.

On the day, PM Phuc offered incense at the commemorative house for Hoang Thi Loan, mother of late President Ho Chi Minh, in Hong Tien commune, Khoai Chau district, and laid a wreath at the statue of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh.

He presented gifts to Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Nhon in Xuan Truc commune, An Thi district, and 10 social policy-benefited families. 

Top legislator attends Tet gathering in Binh Duong

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presents gifts to disadvantaged workers at the event 

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan joined workers in the southern Binh Duong province in a lunar New Year (Tet) gathering held by the province’s labour federation on January 26.

Delivering a speech to over 200 local workers participating in the event, Ngan affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to caring for the living conditions of labourers, particularly those who work far away from home.

Guided by this policy, trade unions at different levels have organised practical programmes in support of disadvantaged workers, she said, praising efforts made by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the provincial labour federation.

Local businesses, monitoring by trade unions, have treated their employees well, particularly when Tet approaches, Ngan noted, urging workers to adhere to rules of the working places and come up with innovative ideas to boost productivity.

On the occasion, the top legislator presented 100 gifts worth 1.3 million VND (56.33 USD) each to disadvantaged workers, while the provincial Labour Confederation handed over 110 gifts worth 1 million VND (43.33 USD) each and 150 coach tickets to the group.

The gathering runs from January 25 to 27, featuring several musical and entertainment activities. There is also a 25-stall fair selling necessities at discounted prices. The federation distributed 4,400 coupons worth 50,000 VND (2.17 USD) each to participants to buy products at these stalls.

Binh Duong has first wastewater-to-clean water treatment plant

At the inauguration ceremony 

A plant processing industrial wastewater into clean water for daily use and production, the first of its kind in Vietnam, was inaugurated at Song Than 2 industrial park in Di An town, the southern province of Binh Duong on January 26.

The Hang Huu Huynh Wastewater Treatment Joint Stock Company has invested 100 billion VND (4.33 million USD) in the plant, which has a minimum capacity of 10,000 cubic metres and maximum 18,000 cubic metres per day.

At the inaugurating ceremony, Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Hung Dung spoke highly of the modern plant, which is in line with the environment priority in the province’s development strategy.

Currently, all industrial parks in the province have their own wastewater treatment plants that meet national standards, he added.

According to Huynh Uy Dung, Chairman of the Hang Huu Huynh Wastewater Treatment JSC, his company will splash out some 10 trillion VND (433.3 million USD) on building wastewater treatment plants in environmental pollution hotspots across the country during 2018-2021.

Hang Huu Huynh plans to donate 30 percent of its profit from the wastewater treatment plants to charity and 10 percent to environmental science research on wastewater, waste and emissions.

PM pays Tet visits to outstanding intellectuals in Hanoi

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits Prof. Hoang Tuy (Source: VGP)

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 26 visited and extended Tet greetings to scientists and intellectuals in Hanoi on the thresholds of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival 2019. 

Visiting Labour Hero and cultural researcher Vu Khieu, PM Phuc wished Prof. Khieu good health and happiness in the New Year, while appreciating his important contributions to laying foundation for the development of Vietnam’s sociology. 

Prof. Vu Khieu, 103, is the author of hundreds of scientific works in many areas such as philosophy, ethics and culture. 

The PM also visited Prof. and Academician Nguyen Van Hieu, who greatly contributed to the innovation and development of Vietnam's science. 

Hieu said he is researching a project related to flood combat. 

While visiting Prof. Hoang Tuy, PM Phuc praised Tuy’s contributions to Vietnam’s mathematics. 

As Director of the Institute of Mathematics in the period of 1980-1990, Prof. Tuy led the Institute to develop strongly, and affirming his pillar role in the Vietnamese Mathematics. He made numerous contributions to bringing Vietnamese students to in the International Math Olympiads.

Vietnamese embassies celebrate upcoming Lunar New Year

Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tao Thi Thanh Huong at the event 

The Vietnamese embassies abroad celebrated the upcoming Lunar New Year festival on January 26 with traditional music performances and cuisine. 

In Singapore, Vietnamese Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huong said the year 2018 marked an important milestone when Vietnam and Singapore celebrated the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership. 

She expressed her belief that the Vietnamese community in Singapore will make effective contributions to the homeland development and push forward the practical development of bilateral strategic partnership. 

Vietnamese Ambassador in Malaysia Le Quy Quynh affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to overseas Vietnamese in general and those living and working in Malaysia in particular. 

He wished that they would offer mutual support and preserve Vietnamese language to later generations. 

Ambassador in Myanmar Luan Thuy Duong urged the Vietnamese community to prioritise using Vietnamese goods and uphold traditional values, called on the Vietnamese enterprises to give priority to Vietnamese fellows, abide by the host country’s laws and respect its culture. 

In Indonesia, Ambassador Pham Vinh Quang extended best New Year wishes to the Vietnamese community in Indonesia. He highlighted the sound development of the Vietnam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership in the past year, and said that in 2019, the two countries will hold activities to mark 60 years of President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Indonesia and President Sukarno’s trip to Vietnam.

The same events also took place in Belgium, Canada, Japan, and Tanzania.

New Year gifts to Ho Chi Minh City and Tra Vinh residents

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh presents gifts to Cham ethnic residents in Ho Chi Minh City 

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh visited and presented New Year gifts to Cham ethnic group in Ho Chi Minh City on January 26. 

In District 8, as many as 357 gifts, each worth 700,000 VND (30.4 USD) were handed over to Cham ethnic people while 100 scholarships, each worth 1 million VND, were granted to Cham and Khmer ethnic students. 

Speaking at the event, the Deputy PM wished that organisations and businesses would generate more jobs and create products for domestic consumption and exports, and the Cham residents would offer mutual support and preserve their traditions. 

While in Can Giuoc district, neighbouring Long An province, the same day, Binh and philanthropists presented 1,500 New Year gifts, 30 bicycles, 10 sets of computer, two houses of gratitude valued at 1.3 billion VND to Vietnamese heroic mothers, heroes of armed forces, poor students and residents. 

Also in Ho Chi Minh City, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Bui Van Cuong shared joy with 600 families of workers at an event co-hosted by the VGCL and its municipal chapter. 

According to the VGCL, more than 1.6 million workers nationwide received New Year bonuses worth over 1.4 trillion VND, including support in fares for more than 175,000 poor workers. 

Trade unions and businesses offered New Year gifts to over 1.3 million workers and granted 498 houses of gratitude. 

Secretary Nhan visited and handed over gifts to 50 poor workers, each worth 1.3 million VND and 100 poor households, each worth 1 million VND in Chau Thanh district, the southern province of Tra Vinh on January 27. 

Meeting with the provincial authorities, he presented 500 million VND from the municipal Party committee and authorities to Tra Vinh to care for the poor on the occasion of the New Year festival. 

The Saigontourist Holding Company also gave 500 million VND to the province for the same purpose. 

Nhan also visited and extended New Year wishes to lecturers and students of Nguyen Thien Thanh high school for gifted students and attended the inauguration of a hospital under Tra Vinh University.

Peach blossom festival kicks off in Lang Son

An art performance at the opening ceremony 

The second Lang Son peach blossom festival kicked off in the northern province of Lang Son on January 26 with the participation of more than 200 artists.

Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Phuc Ha said the festival displays over 420 peach trees in full bloom.

A wide range of activities such as art performances staged by local and foreign art troupes from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China will be held as past of the event.

The festival will also feature a photo exhibition, traditional Then singing, and lion dances.

According to the organising board, a new highlight of this year’s event is the display of peach trees from the three aforesaid countries at the Chi Lang Park, Lang Son city.

A tour to visit peach gardens in the province will be made available for visitors.

The festival will run until February 16.

PM offers incense to President Ho Chi Minh at temple

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc offers incense to President Ho Chi Minh

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc offered incense in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh at his temple on Ba Vi mountain, the outlying district of Ba Vi on January 27. 

The visit was on the occasion of the 89th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 50th anniversary of delivering on President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament, and the upcoming New Year festival 2019. 

Together with leaders of ministries, agencies and localities, the PM pledged to overcome difficulties, spread the campaign “Studying and following morals and lifestyle of President Ho Chi Minh City”, and bring the country to breakthrough development in 2019, contributing to building a more prosperous country according to the late President’s wishes.

Da Nang targets over 8 million visitors in 2019

The Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills was ranked among the top 100 World’s Greatest Places by Times magazine in 2018

The central coastal city of Da Nang has set the target of welcoming 8.19 million visitors in 2019, including 3.19 million foreigners, a year-on-year rise of 6.9 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

The tourism sector aims to gross 27.4 trillion VND (1.18 billion USD) in revenues, up 13.9 percent against the previous year.

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Ngo Quang Vinh said the department will consult the municipal People’s Committee to promulgate and implement the management plan of activities by travel companies in 2019-2020.

It will manage more effectively low-cost tour packages and pilot the implementation of a set of criteria on professional services at tourist accommodation establishments, he added.

Besides intensifying inspections at tourism businesses, the department will propose local authorities form sea travel services at Son Tra peninsula – a popular destination in the city.

In 2019, the tourism department will coordinate with relevant sectors to create new tourism services such as Than Tai hot spring park and walking streets.

According to Deputy Director of the department Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Da Nang welcomed 7.66 million holidaymakers in 2018, up 15.5 percent over the previous year, including 2.87 million international tourists, a yearly rise of 23.3 percent.

The total revenue collected from tourism activities was estimated at 24 trillion VND, an annual increase of 23.3 percent.

Notably, the city developed a number of activities to draw visitors such as the international firework festival, the sea tourism programme, and the travel contest on Da Nang.

In 2018, the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills was ranked among the top 100 World’s Greatest Places by Times magazine.

Fishermen prepare for Tet trawling expeditions

Thousands of fishermen in the southern central province of Binh Dinh are preparing for a long fishing trip during the coming Tet holiday.

On the morning of January 24, the fishing port in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh, was busy with dozens of boats taking fuel and necessities for their offshore fishing trips during Tet. 

According to fishermen, Tet is the time when tuna fish appear much so it is easier to catch them than usual. Tuna fish prices are quite stable at VND130,000/kilo.

Trawler captain Tran Men, 51, from Hoai Hai Commune, said his trip started on January 24 and would last for 20-24 days.

“It has been familiar with us to be far from home at Tet. I have welcomed Tet at sea for 20 years out of the 30 years I’ve been at sea. At the New Year’s Eve we often turn on the radio to hear the State President’s New Year messages,” Men said.

Le Van Ta, captain of a fishing boat from Hoai Nhon District, said he had celebrated Tet for 17 years on fishing boats. 

Tam Quan fishing port is also busy as many fishermen are preparing for their trawling expeditions.

According to Nguyen Chi Cong, vice chairman of Hoai Nhon District People’s Committee, around 300,000 local fishing boats with a total number of 1,500 fishermen have left for their offshore fishing trips during Tet.

Tran Van Phuc, deputy director of Binh Dinh Province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that local authorities will also try to support fishermen who help to protect the sea and island sovereignty.

Book series on Sài Gòn’s intellectuals released

People view a series of two books titled Nhân sĩ, trí thức Sài Gòn-Gia Định đồng hành cùng dân tộc giai đoạn 1930-1954 (Intellectuals in Sài Gòn-Gia Định Accompany the Nation in period of 1930-1954) released on Friday in HCM City. 

A series of two books on the revolutionary social movement led by Sài Gòn’s intellectuals during the resistance war between 1930 and 1954 was released in HCM City on Friday.

Nhân sĩ, trí thức Sài Gòn-Gia Định đồng hành cùng dân tộc giai đoạn 1930-1954 (Intellectuals in Sài Gòn-Gia Định Accompany the Nation in the 1930-1954 period) was compiled by members of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee in HCM City.

The books consist of around 600 pages. They feature movements by Sài Gòn’s intellectuals in three periods: before 1930, 1930-1945, and 1945-1954.

The periods include the Duy Tân movement (1906-1908) pioneered by patriotic scholars like Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Phan Châu Trinh and Trần Quý Cáp.

The Đông Du (Go East) Movement (1905) was initiated by Phan Bội Châu to encourage Vietnamese students to study in Japan, with the aim of creating talented and knowledgeable personnel for the resistance war against the French.

The books also feature memories of living witnesses who participated in the movements in the former Sài Gòn-Gia Định between 1930 and 1954.

Rare historical documents and photos about the movements are also included.

This is the Fatherland Front’s second publication to honour the city’s intellectuals.

The first publication was a series of two books tilted Nhân sĩ, trí thức Sài Gòn - Gia Định đồng hành cùng dân tộc giai đoạn 1954-1975 (Intellectuals in Sài Gòn-Gia Định Accompany the Nation in the 1954-1975 period) released in 2014.

The books feature memories of well-known intellectuals in Sài Gòn at that time, such as lawyer Nguyễn Hữu Thọ, doctor Dương Quỳnh Hoa, professor Tôn Thất Dương Kỵ and architect Huỳnh Tấn Phát.

Traffic safety enhanced for Tết

The Ministry of Transport has set up four teams to monitor traffic safety at key bus stations, airports and domestic seaports for the upcoming Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The teams will work with local authorities to inspect vehicles and drivers at bus stations, inland waterway wharfs and cargo docks.

The teams will also monitor transport fares to avoid sudden price hikes as well as measures to ensure traffic safety for road projects under construction  and handle black spots of traffic accidents.

They will also ask local authorities to carry out measures to ensure traffic order and safety.

Inspections will start tomorrow. 

Car limit proposed for Hải Vân Pass

Rescuers at the scene of an accident on the Hải Vân Pass.

The Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam (DRVN) has proposed the Ministry of Transport to work with competent agencies to study traffic flow and consider limiting passenger cars and sleeper buses travelling on the Hải Vân Pass.

The move was made after a number of recent traffic accidents, including a coach which plunged into the ravine.

According to a report by the DRVN, the Hải Vân Pass is 19.3km long and very steep in parts, posing risks for road users.

To ensure traffic safety on the pass, the DRVN also proposed the ministry to consider, survey and design more bypasses and stops for technical checks at appropriate locations on the pass.

Raising awareness on traffic safety should also be improved.

The Hải Vân Pass also needs more signs, fences and trees to prevent vehicles from falling into the ravine in the event of an accident.

On January 8, a coach plunged from the road while travelling on the Hải Vân Pass in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, claiming one life and injuring 20 others.

$80,000 set to improve child healthcare in Quảng Nam

Children in Quảng Nam Province’s Tiên Phước district visit the dentist. — Photo courtesy ExxonMobile

ExxonMobil has pledged US$80,000 to help improve child healthcare in central Việt Nam, contributing $50,000 to VinaCapital Foundation’s Survive to Thrive programme and $30,000 to Operation Smile Việt Nam.

Funds for Survive to Thrive will be used for lifesaving medical equipment at four healthcare centres in Đông Giang, Tây Giang and Nam Giang districts, which are located near the border with Laos and are some of the poorest in the country.

“ExxonMobil is working to understand and support the needs of Việt Nam’s communities especially in the central area where we operate,” said Greg Smith, president and country manager of ExxonMobil Việt Nam.

“We seek projects that have a lasting impact and are pleased that our contributions to VinaCapital and Operation Smile Vietnam have benefited more than a million individuals in central and northern regions to date.”

This is the eighth consecutive year that ExxonMobil has funded VinaCapital’s child healthcare programmes in the central region, with contributions totaling $550,000.

ExxonMobil’s contributions to Operation Smile Vietnam has also funded a dental care mission for students in Tiên Phước District, providing medical check-ups, consultations, treatments and procedures for over 4,000 children from 16 primary schools in the region.

Over the past five years, ExxonMobil has contributed more than $200,000 to Operation Smile Vietnam to support over 550 cleft lip/cleft palate operations and two dental care missions for children in the central and northern regions of Việt Nam.

VN-Laos venture presents scholarships to Lao university’s students

Outstanding students of the National University of Laos (NUOL) on January 24 received scholarships from the Lanexang Assurance Public Insurance (LAP) 

Outstanding students of the National University of Laos (NUOL) on January 24 received scholarships from the Lanexang Assurance Public Insurance (LAP), a joint venture between the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Insurance JS Corporation and the Laos Development Bank.

Addressing the awarding ceremony, Director of the LAP Do Dang Khang said the grants aim to encourage and aid excellent students.

Ten scholarships worth 4 million Lao kip (466 USD) each were presented to Vietnamese and Lao disadvantaged students with good study performance of the NUOL. In addition, musical instruments and five dictionaries were handed over to the university.

Rector of the NUOL Somesi Nhophanxay thanked Lanexang for its support for the university’s students, saying that the scholarship not only helps disadvantaged students to overcome their difficulties to continue their study, but also a source of encouragement for other students to strive for better performance in study.

On January 25, the LAP presented accident insurance to nearly 5,000 people and five tonnes of rice totalling 41,000 USD to about 1,000 households in two villages of Paksong and Watluang in Paksong district of Laos’ Champasak province.