World Vision to launch development projects in Quang Tri

The World Vision International (WVI) in Vietnam will launch development projects worth nearly 8 million USD in its non-refundable aid in the central province of Quang Tri from 2018 to 2022. 

Under a cooperation agreement signed with the provincial People’s Committee on October 26, the regional development programme worth over 5.3 million USD will offer child protection, nutrition and health care, especially for vulnerable children. 

Meanwhile, the 2.6 million USD micro-finance programme will provide credit, savings and insurance for locals to expand production and trade. 

From 2017-2019, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the WVI in the Republic of Korea, via the WVI in Vietnam, granted a fund of nearly 1 million USD to the province’s Trieu Phong district to develop a value chain of natural farming-based produce. 

The project benefited 1,000 poor households in five communes of Trieu Trung, Trieu Tai, Trieu Son, Trieu Trach and Trieu Thuong, thereby increasing farmers’ income.

US aid to help conserve UNESCO-recognised citadel

The southern gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel 

The Fund for Cultural Preservation of the US Embassy in Vietnam on October 26 presented an aid worth 92,500 USD for a project repairing the dome and southern gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel in the central Thanh Hoa province.

The project, one of the 33 conservation projects selected out of the 106 proposals across the world, aims to raise awareness of local people about the conservation of the heritage. 

Speaking at the ceremony to announce the aid, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Dang Quyen said the selection of the project showed a positive result in the cultural heritage preservation cooperation between Thanh Hoa province and the US Embassy in Vietnam.

It also consolidates and deepens the Vietnam-US friendship, he added. The project will run through mid-June 2019.

The southern gate, measuring 34.85m in length, 15m in depth and 10m in height, was built of large rectangular and crescent stones. It is one of the most attractive tourist destinations of the Ho Dynasty Citadel.

However, after 600 years, the area is facing serious erosion. At sites of erosion, large slabs have slid dozens of metres from the base of the wall. 

The Ho Dynasty Citadel in Vinh Loc district was Vietnam’s capital under the Ho Dynasty (1398-1407). The dimensions of the citadel, which was built in 1397, are 870m by 883m.

It is the only in the country built entirely of stone that has remained nearly intact throughout the nation’s history.

According to experts, the structure is an outstanding example of a new style of construction for a Southeast Asian imperial city. It was recognised as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 2011.

Drunken driver involved in fatal accident may spend years behind bars

A drunken female driver who caused a deadly road accident that left one person dead and several others injured in HCMC’s Binh Thanh District last Sunday night may be facing a jail term of three to 15 years, Lao Dong newspaper reported, citing lawyers from Hanoi City.

Lawyer Quach Thanh Luc said that after the competent authorities issue the results of the injury appraisal for the injured victims, the female driver could be prosecuted and may spend a maximum of 15 years in prison, based on Clauses 2 or 3 of Article 260 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended in 2017.

Regarding civil responsibility, the driver, identified as Nguyen Thi Nga, 46, a District 12 resident, will have to compensate the victims upon their request. In particular, she must pay them for the cost of replacing the damaged property, treatment of their injuries, funeral costs as well as mental anguish.

Apart from that, if the dead victim’s children are still minors, the driver will have to provide financial aid for them until they turn 18, Luc added.

Meanwhile, according to lawyer La Van Thai, the driver was under the influence of alcohol during the accident, with an alcohol level of 0.94mg per liter of breath, exceeding the breath alcohol limit of zero milligrams per liter. Accordingly, she will face three to 10 years in prison based on Clause 2 under the 2015 Penal Code.

However, if the victims’ injury appraisal results exceed 201% in total, Nga will face being sentenced to seven to 15 years, Thai added, citing Clause 3 of the Penal Code.

Khuat Viet Hung, vice president of the National Traffic Safety Committee, proposed that drivers whose breath alcohol levels exceed the limit should have their vehicles confiscated by law enforcement agencies. In addition, the violators should be given other penalties such as community service or retaking courses for new driving licenses.

Commenting on the fatal accident, the district investigative police said they were gathering the relevant paperwork to prosecute Nga for violating road traffic regulations.

At around 11:15 p.m. on October 21, the drunken driver spun out of control and smashed her car into five motorbikes waiting for the green light at Hang Xanh Intersection, while she was on her way home, driving along Dien Bien Phu Street toward Saigon Bridge. 

The crash left Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, 38, coming from Dong Nai Province, dead at the scene as she was trapped under the car and dragged for a few meters along the street. Many others were injured as well. The car then hit a taxicab before coming to a complete stop.

HCMC launches anti-littering campaign

The standing board of Vietnam Fatherland Front in HCMC yesterday launched the campaign “HCMC residents do not litter in roads and canals for a clean city and flooding reduction.”

Chairman of Vietnam Fatherland Front in HCMC To Thi Bich Chau said that HCMC authorities and residents have made medium and long term efforts to protect the environment. However, surveys by the city People’s Council showed that the city has been polluted in most environmental fields comprising surface water, underground water, wastewater, air and noise with many problems in urban environment, residential area and solid waste management.

That required the city’s government and agencies, the community, households and individuals to join hands in waste treatment, she said.

HCMC Party Committee leader Nguyen Thien Nhan said that depositing trash in the right places would contribute in preventing garbage from choking sewers and canals and reducing flooding during heavy rains.

Hence, the effective and important solution for a clean city is that each person should not litter indiscriminately, clean up their houses and canals behind their houses.

Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said that the city for the last past has implemented many projects to improve the environment and reduce pollution such as increasing tree plantation, functioning major environmental improvement projects, upgrading infrastructure in existing residential areas, constructing new urban areas with synchronous and environmentally friendly infrastructure and building waste treatment sites. These efforts have gradually improved the city’s environmental quality.

However environmental pollution has been regular and alarming in residential areas, construction sites, roads and public places because of the low awareness of a group of residents. Littering is still a social problem. Agencies and districts have not coordinated together synchronously in a timely in environmental protection.

Therefore, Mr. Phong proposed party committees and city authorities to intensify guidance and improve management efficiency in environmental protection. Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and political social organizations should speed up propaganda, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment should work with district people’s committees to review garbage collection spots to have adjustments suitable with local conditions, seriously carry out plans to renew garbage trucks and increase public rubbish bins.

People’s committees of 24 districts should rearrange private garbage collection units and mobilize them to change into businesses or cooperatives, required wards and communes to tackle black spots of garbage.

On behalf of HCMC authorities, Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong called on residents to join hands in protecting the environment with practical things such as not littering, not using nylon bags, taking 15 minutes a day to clean up the area in front of their houses and mobilizing neighbors to protect the environment.

The standing committee of HCMC People’s Council and the standing board of Vietnam Fatherland Front signed a coordination plan in urban environmental protection and waste management in the city.

Right after the launching ceremony, city leaders together with young activists and waste collectors cleaned up city’s canals, built playgrounds for kids with recycled materials and increased garbage bins for households in Ward 12, Binh Thanh.

Nearly 157,600 train tickets were sold for Lunar New Year 2019. 

As many as 160,565 train tickets for 2019 Lunar New Year holiday were booked from October 1 to 3pm on October 22, including 157,582 sold successfully.

Accordingly, 108,696 tickets were ordered via the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VRC)’s website with 34,753 made online payment; 72,028 postpaid at ticket posts, VIB Bank and VNPost; and 1,915 waiting for payment.

In addition, 6,958 tickets were bought at the VRC’s agents; 43,843 tickets were bought at the railway stations under the VRC.

The VRC announced that there are still around 115,000 blank seats for the trains on the north – south route.

The Vietnam Railway will also operate extra trains on other routes across the country to serve the increasing demand during the Lunar New Year holiday.

South Korea aids Hanoi in ensuring traffic safety

Vice Chairman of the National Road Safety Committee Khuat Viet Hung spoke at the workshop

South Korean experts have thoroughly studied Hanoi’s traffic safety situation.

South Korea is supporting Hanoi in applying comprehensive solutions to ensure traffic safety, said a transport official at the final report workshop on “Master plan of road traffic safety in Hanoi” held on October 23. 

The workshop was jointly organized by the National Traffic Safety Committee, Ministry of Transport and the Hanoi People's Committee, with the participation of South Korea’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Land and Transport.

Speaking at the workshop, Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee Khuat Viet Hung said that in the past few years, with the efforts of agencies and units throughout the country, Vietnam has witnessed positive changes in traffic order and safety.

It is most noticeable that the number of traffic accidents has decreased in all three categories: the number of accidents, the number of deaths and the number of injured people, Hung added.

However, he affirmed that there has not yet a comprehensive model to develop a traffic safety plan at provincial level, and that is the reason South Korea’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Land and Transport and South Korea’s leading transportation experts want to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure road safety in Hanoi.

Hung noted that after more than a year with numerous efforts, overcoming the challenges, the team of experts have set a target that deaths in traffic accidents in 2022 will decrease by 20% compared to 2016.

Hung said the assessment showed that South Korean experts have thoroughly studied Hanoi’s traffic safety situation. 

The research team has identified key groups to ensure Hanoi’s traffic safety such as infrastructure, environment for traffic safety, issues of education, enhancing transport managers’ capability, Hung stressed.

In the framework of the workshop, South Korea’s experts made presentations on road traffic in Vietnam in general and in Hanoi in particular, as well as offered many basic measures to improve management for Hanoi’s road traffic safety.

Quang Nam to celebrate UNESCO recognition of Hoi An, My Son

A view of Hoi An ancient town (Source: Internet)

The central province of Quang Nam has unveiled a plan to celebrate the 20th anniversary of UNESCO’s recognition of its Hoi An ancient town and My Son Sanctuary as world heritage sites next year, Nhandan online reported.

The two sites were honoured by the United Nations’ cultural body in 1999.

Quang Nam’s plan also aims to mark the 10th anniversary of Cu Lao Cham’s recognition as a biosphere reserve.

Events will be held in May, September and December 2019, including anniversary ceremonies, a conference to review the conservation of Hoi An and My Son over the past 20 years and a workshop on the role of local communities in preserving the heritage sites in Quang Nam province.

In the ancient town of Hoi An, there will be a photo exhibition on Hoi An in the past two decades, a display of local handicraft products and an exhibition of books on the world heritage town.

Meanwhile, in Duy Xuyen district where My Son Sanctuary is located, there will be My Son-inspired arts performances and a display of photos and artefacts of the relics in the My Son complex.

Other sporting and entertainment activities have also been planned, such as a beauty contest for contestants from regions with heritage sites and the VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup will take place in the province. 

Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards’ winners announced

At the ceremony (Source: nhandan) 

The winners of the 2018 Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards were honoured at an awards ceremony held in Hanoi on October 25.

The photo ‘Huong Tet’ (Tet Flavour) by Le Viet Khanh and photo series ‘Le Wa Ha’ (Wa Ha Festival) by Hoang Thach Van won the special prizes for cover photo and collection photo categories, respectively.

With a fully constructed layout, the work ‘Huong Tet’ highlighted the traditional features of Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year Festival); meanwhile the series ‘Le Wa Ha’ reproduced a traditional festival of Cham Bani people in the South-Central region.

This year’s contest attracted 194 photo collections and 532 single cover photos.

The most outstanding works, including nine collections and ten covers, as well as 30 photos created during three photo tours under the framework of the 2018 contest, are being displayed at an exhibition from October 25 - 31.

The annual event aims to call on people to preserve and promote cultural and natural heritages in Vietnam, particularly world heritages. 

Roads in Cao Bang damaged by heavy rains, floods

Many areas in National Road 34 from Cao Bang to Ha Giang province are damaged 

Torrential rains and floods from October 20 to 26 destroyed many roads in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, severely affecting transport and local people’s lives.

According to initial statistics of the provincial Department of Transport, six traffic spots of the province were damaged.

In addition, landslide occurred on the morning of October 26 in Bac Hop commune in Nguyen Binh district, which buried the roads and later caused severe traffic jams.

Landslide in Provincial Road 216, spanning from Hoa An to Thong Nong districts, also resulted in congestion.

The same day, Director of the department La Hoai Nam said the province’s transport sector has arranged personnel and vehicles to handle the problems.

The department has worked to repair and strengthen drainage system, he added, announcing that many areas are still in danger of landslides.

The Office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested authorities in northern localities to keep a close watch of the weather and take preventive measures against floods and landslides.

Kien Giang: 12 sea turtles returned to nature

The rare turtles are released back into the ocean 

As many as 12 turtles were released back into the ocean in Phu Quoc island district of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on October 26.

The rare raptiles were previously raised among local households in Bai Thom commune of Phu Quoc for years. 

In accordance with the Prime Minister’s decision on aquatic resources protection and development by 2020, the steering board on aquatic resources protection in Phu Quoc and relevant agencies have discovered and encouraged the locals to voluntarily set the animals free.

Since the beginning of this year, the district has released nearly 40 turtles into the sea, including those weighing over 50kg. 

Earlier this month, in the central coastal province of Quang Binh, a rare turtle was found and released back into the ocean by locals on Bao Ninh beach, Dong Hoi city.

A group of workers at a construction site near Bao Ninh beach on the same day found the turtle that became stuck on shore. It weighs nearly 15kg and measures 70cm in length and more than 50cm in width.

The turtle, scientifically known as Lepidochelys olivacea, is included on the red book of threatened species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, indicating that it is an endangered species.

Vietnamese laws prohibit the hunting, trading, transporting, storing, and killing of wild animals. 

Symposium discusses Cuba’s fight against US embargo

At the symposium (Source: VOV)  

A symposium discussing measures to mitigate losses caused by the US’s embargo on Cuba was held in Hanoi on October 26. 

The event was co-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP), the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations’ Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association. 

In his opening speech, HCMNAP Deputy Director Nguyen Viet Thao said despite embargo over the past years, Cuba’s human development index has surpassed developed nations’, including the US. 

The Vietnamese people always stand side by side with Cuban fellows in the fight against the embargo, he said, expressing his belief that Cuba will receive strong support from international community in the process, including Vietnam. 

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera said the US’s embargo on Cuba started in October 1960, the longest one so far, causing a loss of over 933 billion USD to the country. 

She said on October 31, Cuba will submit a draft Resolution to the UN General Assembly for the 27th time underlining the need to end the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US. 

She hoped that the draft resolution would continue to be welcomed by the international community, including Vietnam. 

Editor-in-Chief of the HCMNAP’s Party History Magazine Dang Kim Oanh said via the media, the Vietnamese people are delighted to learn that the Cuban people are still optimistic despite negative impacts of the embargo. 

She expressed her support for the fight of Cuban people and hoped that they would keep staying firm amid challenges. 

Participants discussed ways to deal with difficulties caused by the embargo, pool the support of the international community and fraternal countries, and promote solidarity between the two peoples.