Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha has pledged to submit a plan to the government to promptly launch the second stage of a flood-resistant housing programme in the Mekong Delta.

Ha made the promise during a working session with leaders of An Giang province on April 25, which came following a serious landslide along the Vam Nao river in My Hoi Dong commune, Cho Moi district, pulling down 14 houses and forcing many local people to evacuate. 

At the session, the minister asked the Vietnam Environment Administration to ensure all river dredging and sand mining projects must submit environmental impact assessment reports. 

Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Dang Duc said the province recorded 20 riverside landslides in 2015 and 18 others in 2016, damaging 142 houses and many other assets with estimated annual losses of more than 100 billion VND (4.34 million USD). 

He attributed the landslide in My Hoi Dong commune to a natural disaster and asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to study the flows of the Tien and Hau rivers to seek solutions to the disaster. 

According to him, 90 local houses are now at risk of collapsing while 107 households and a mill have been relocated. Initial loss are estimated at nearly 9 billion VND (391,000 USD). 

The provincial authorities suggested the ministry devise a housing support policy to evacuate 20,000 landslide-prone households in the next five years. They also asked for governmental financial support to deal with the disasters.

Vietnam, Russia enhance communication cooperation

Deputy Director General of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Nguyen Hoai Duong greeted a delegation from the Ministry of Communication and Mass Media of Russia led by its Deputy Minister Alexey Volin in Hanoi on April 25.

Deputy Minister Alexey Volin said RT (Rusia Today) channel is willing to provide VNA materials and videos covering politics, economics and culture of other countries for use on the agency’s Vnews and in other publications. 

The Russian side wanted to receive Vietnamese officials in fact-finding tours of Russia’s journalism, mass media and information technology, he said. 

Duong hailed the cooperation in news supply between VNA and Russian news outlets and hoped for broader partnership in communication and mass media with the Russian side. 

Noting VNA’s interest in Russia’s news transmitting technologies, he said the agency will set up a Russian desk at its News for Foreign Service Department and wished that the Russian government will grant scholarships in journalism and Russian language for VNA’s reporters.   

The Russian official showed his support for VNA’s proposal, suggesting the Embassy of Russia in Vietnam acting as a coordinator in the scholarship issue.

Later on the day, the Russian official had a working session with Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Phan Tam during which they sought to step up exchanging information and ensuring cyber information security. 

The two sides agreed to broaden cooperation in other fields on the basis of the trustworthy relations established by the two countries.

Protestant dignitaries get instructions on religious activities

About 200 Protestant dignitaries in the southern province of Binh Phuoc are receiving instructions on religious activities in line with legal regulations at a meeting in Dong Xoai township.

The conference from April 24-26 is held by the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the provincial Department of Home Affairs.

Participants were updated with an overview of the Protestantism in Vietnam, the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and regulations relating to this religion, instructions on the practice of the Protestantism in line with legal regulations, and external relations of Protestant organisations, followers and dignitaries.

The conference highlighted that the Law on Belief and Religion, which will come into force on January 1, 2018, includes many new regulations compared to the previous ordinance on belief and religion.

The new law addresses shortcomings in existing regulations, aiming to better protect the freedom of belief and religion.

Giving instructions on religious activities is critical to helping Protestant dignitaries thoroughly grasp relevant legal regulations and encourage followers to practice the Protestantism in accordance with law.

There are 33 Protestant sects in Binh Phuoc province at present. Nine of the sects were recoginised by the State while 75 dignitaries and 46 chapters are members of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South).

Forces urged to foster links in fighting drug crime

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has asked for stronger coordination among police, border guard, coast guard and customs forces to effectively fight drug crime in the coming time.

Addressing a teleconference on April 25 in Hanoi to review the implementation of the regulations of coordination among the forces in the work, the Deputy PM requested the sectors to enhance efforts to implement relevant plans, especially strategies and national target programmes set by the Government on fighting drug crime and human trafficking, especially in border areas. 

He also urged the forces to pay attention to combating smuggling, counterfeit goods production and trading, and cross-border illegal goods transport.

The units should jointly give consultations to Party Committees and authorities at all levels on building and consolidating the people’s security and the all-people defence, he said, stressing the need to call for the involvement of the people in the work. 

They should also join hands in investigating and dealing with legal violations as well as in other activities like legal assistance, administrative management, border protection, and customs operation in border areas and in the sea, he added. 

While hailing the cooperation among the forces in recent time, the Deputy PM said he hopes the work will be improved in the coming time. 

He also asked the sectors to do well Party building and prevent the regression of political thought, morality and lifestyle; corruption; and connivance in crimes, he said, asking them to give heed to organising training and exchange programmes to boost unity, towards ensuring security and order in the country in general and in border and coastal areas in particular. 

The conference heard that the coordination among the forces have been strengthened in recent years, helping bring many drug–related cases to light. Many transnational drug trafficking rings have been detected and razed. 

Cooperation with police and security forces of neighbouring Laos, China and Cambodia has been enhanced at all levels, especially with those responsible for fighting drug crime. 

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh said the Vietnamese competent agencies need to foster coordination with their respective forces of neighbouring and regional countries and those worldwide to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, and fight crimes, thus ensuring security and order, contributing to the national defence and socio-economic development. 

On the occasion, the Police General Department, the Coast Guard High Command, and the General Department of Customs signed an agreement on their coordination in combating drug-related crimes in border areas and border gates as well as at sea.

Communications campaign launched for malaria prevention

A communications campaign for World Malaria Prevention Day (April 25) was launched in Ngoc Hoi district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum on April 25.

Themed “End malaria for good”, the event was co-organised by the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology Quy Nhon (IMPE-QN), the World Health Organisation and the provincial Health Department.

IMPE-QN pointed out measures to prevent malaria, including enhancing the quality of vector-controlling measures and treatment of malaria patients in severely-hit areas.

It also suggested strengthening the control of malaria patients through grassroots medical networks and the quality of malaria diagnosis and treatment at all levels, among others.

The launching ceremony was followed by a march along main streets and residential areas to raise public awareness of malaria prevention and anti-malarial drugs resistance.

With efforts of department and agencies at all level, Kon Tum province has seen a decrease in the number of malaria cases while there were no deaths recorded in the locality over the past five years. 

Meanwhile, the Central and Central Highlands region in general recorded two deaths of malaria in 2016 and is facing high risks of epidemic resurgence, especially in remote and border areas.

Workshop seeks solutions to air pollution

The Office of the National Assembly (NA) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany co-organised a workshop in Hanoi on April 25 to seek solutions to air pollution.

The event was designed to provide more information for NA deputies while debating the country’s socio-economic development and making important decisions related to the environmental and climate change.

Deputy Head of the NA Office Do Manh Hung, who chaired the event, reiterated the World Health Organisation’s warnings about Vietnam’s air pollution compared with Asian and Pacific nations, saying that Vietnam has more than a half of the days in a year with poor air conditions.

Studies conducted by the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, showed that air pollution is mainly caused by transport, industrial production, construction, daily activities, agriculture, trade village and waste treatment.

According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam has recorded the highest increase of respiratory diseases, largely caused by air pollution. Air pollution is also a major cause of global issues, including ozone layer depletion, atmosphere warming, and acid accumulation.

Nguyen Van Thuy, Director of the Centre for Environmental Monitoring under the General Department of Environment, said Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City’s air is the most polluted due to socio-economic development activities. Other industrial provinces, such as Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen and Dong Nai are suffering from air pollution.

ISPONRE Deputy Director Nguyen Trung Thang suggested that relevant legal documents should be revised in line with the reality, particularly in urban areas, industrial zones, and trade villages.

Management should be tightened in the sectors that are likely to cause air pollution, such as transport, construction, trade villages, and waste treatment, Thang said, adding that mechanisms are needed to reduce gas emissions while offering incentives for technological application to reduce air pollution.

Participants urged for the prompt promulgation of a law to control air pollution with specific regulations and ensure enforcement of the law, specifying responsibilities and obligations of stakeholders, particularly state management agencies.

Communication campaigns should be promoted to raise the awareness of impacts of air pollution among people and enterprises, thus enhancing environmental protection, they noted.

Students shine at Asia Young Designer Awards

Vietnamese representatives have emerged as one of the top winners at the Asia Young Designer Awards 2017 competition, sponsored by Nippon Paint.

Eu Soon Hean, general director of Nippon Paint unveiled that Nguyen Truc Thi, Chu Dinh Hung and Nguyen Quynh Nghi were selected for top honours in the Design and Architecture category.

More opportunities for students to work, study in Japan

The Việt Nam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) will offer more than 500 opportunities for Vietnamese students to study and work in Japan this year.
This was stated by director of the university’s Centre for Human Resource Supply Vũ Ngọc Huyên, who made the announcement at the Japan-Việt Nam cultural festival, organised by the university on Sunday in Hà Nội to help students from universities across the country obtain information about study and job opportunities in Japan.
Huyên said the festival was also a great chance for Vietnamese students, colleges and universities to interact and exchange experiences.
VNUA also used the opportunity to boost cooperation with partners from Japan and at the same time build the image of the university in connection education and admission counseling in 2017, according to the official.
The event, with a variety of promotion services and cultural activities, attracted the participation of some 30,000 students from colleges and universities in northern Việt Nam.
Huyên said the centre had boosted links with 300 domestic enterprises that regularly recruit students graduating from the university.
To create more employment opportunities for students, the director said, the centre had set up representative offices across the country to introduce agricultural employment to businesses and supply high quality human resources to the domestic labour market, meeting the demands of national agricultural restructuring according to modern orientation.
Last year, Huyên said, the centre sent nearly 300 students to work and study in Japan. 

Đà Nẵng gets community-based child care, education centre

The community-based Child Consultation, Care and Education Centre opened recently at the October 20 Kindergarten in Hải Châu District in Đà Nẵng.
Lý Thị Hằng, deputy head of the Department of Pre-school Education and director of the Việt Nam School Readiness Promotion Project, said, "In reality, the number of children aged below three going to public pre-schools remains modest due to a lack of both facilities and human resources.”
"Providing knowledge and skills to parents with children aged three to 36 months and increasing children’s readiness to attend school are very important," she said.
As a pioneer in the development of public pre-schools, Đà Nẵng is one of four localities selected to pilot the community-based children consultation, care and education model for subsequent replication nation-wide.
The other localities are Lào Cai, Bắc Ninh, and Đắk Lắk.
On the occasion of the launch of the centre, FrieslandCampina Vietnam’s Dutch Lady brand has helped specialist doctors consult parents and share knowledge with them about a healthy lifestyle for children, including adequate nutrition and daily exercise.
Dutch Lady also provides a handbook on nutrition for young children.
The centre will provide free consultation until August using qualified doctors, psychologists and educators. 

Vietinbank’s loss ends hope of defending title

Vietinbank ended their hope of defending their title, the VTV9-Bình Điền Cup, at the International Women’s Volleyball Tournament, after their loss yesterday.

Vietinbank was defeated 28-30, 17-25, 17-25 by the North Korean 4.25 Club in a Group B match at the Tây Ninh Province’s Gymnasium.

The loss means that Vietinbank will stay in the bottom position without a single point after two matches. They have no chance of advancing to the next round.

The first qualifying spot in the semi-finals went to Thailand’s Bangkok Glass, who beat China’s Fujian Club 25-18, 25-22, 10-25, 25-18 in an earlier match.

Second-place 4.25 and third-place Fujian will complete for the second qualifying spot in their meeting on tomorrow.

Today in Group A, VTV Bình Điền Long An will play Lienviet Postbank. The winner will go through to the semi-finals. Kazakhstan’s Altay will play China’s Yunnan in an earlier match.

A fairy tale, no fairly tale ending

What do fairies with wings and halos do? They fly. Or they stand motionless on street corners, wearing masks. Well, sometimes, they might fidget a bit, but not much.

A few days ago, commuters in the capital city were startled to see several fairies standing on small boxes at crowded intersections. They stopped (for the red light) and stared, trying to divine the meaning of this angelic presence. Were the heavens lending a hand to solve traffic jams? Were they fairy godmothers sent to prevent accidents or help accident victims?

The mythical creatures, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural, turned out be creatures of the flesh, hired by a coffeemaker to promote its brand, at VNĐ200,000 (US$9) for four hours.

Was this an airy-fairy marketing strategy cooked up by someone who’s away with the fairies?

Time will tell. For this moment, this story does not have a fairy-tale ending. 

Live blood bank facilitates treatment in Truong Sa archipelago

A live blood bank project initiated by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago has proven effective, helping provide blood for medical treatment on the islands. 

Lieutenant colonel Truong Duc Cuong, head of the army medical station in Truong Sa Lon island, said thanks to the bank, the station successfully carried out operations, saving many patients, who had accidents while working or on duty at sea.

Piloted in 2016, the project has been expanded across islands in the Truong Sa archipelago. 

From April 15-24, High Command Region 4 under the Naval High Command sent a working delegation to visit officers, soldiers and people living and working in Truong Sa island district and Platform DK1 in the country’s southern continent shelf. 

During the visit, doctors from the institute examined and tested officers and soldiers with blood type O to devise a list of people that can donate blood in emergencies on the islands of Song Tu Tay, Nam Yet, Sinh Ton, Son Ca and Truong Sa. 

In recent years, the institute expanded blood banks to many remote localities and islands. 

The model benefits people in Bach Long Vi island of Hai Phong city, Phu Quoc island of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang; Con Co island in central Quang Tri province; Si Ma Cai and Dong Van districts in the north mountainous provinces of Lao Cai and Ha Giang.

Speed the focus of Global Road Safety Week in Vietnam

Vietnam will mark the Fourth UN Global Road Safety Week from May 8 to 14. Launched by the government and the United Nations in Vietnam, the week will focus on speed and what can be done to address this key risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries. 
“Every year in Vietnam, the lives of thousands of families are torn apart by the loss of a child to a road accident that could have been prevented,” said Mr. Jesper Moller, acting UNICEF Representative. “Our own individual behavior as road users can have an impact on stemming the tide of child road injury. Slowing down as a driver is the first thing we can do that can save the lives of children.”
The lives of approximately 1.25 million people worldwide are cut short every year as a result of a road accident. Between 20 and 50 million more people also suffer non-fatal injuries, often resulting in disability and economic hardship, as road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to victims, their families, and to the country as a whole.
According to the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), road traffic accidents claimed nearly 9,000 lives in Vietnam last year and caused tens of thousands of injuries, placing a considerable burden on society through lost or reduced productivity and the cost of treatment for injuries. With over 1,900 children dying every year, traffic accidents are the second leading cause of death and serious injury for children, behind drowning, accounting for 27 per cent of deaths in the 0-19 age group. Among adolescents aged 15-19, traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death, at 50 per cent.
“Speeding is a major risk factor for road traffic crashes in Vietnam” said Dr. Lokky Wai, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Vietnam, highlighting the fact that traffic injuries are largely preventable.
“By slowing down, observing speed limits appropriate for the roads and not speeding, we make roads safer for all,” he added. “Reducing the average speed by just 5 km/h can help cut fatal accidents by 30 per cent.”
The United Nations in Vietnam calls for setting and enforcing more appropriate speed limits in the country. Specifically, it strongly recommends policy makers set a 50 km/h limit in urban areas and 30 km/h for areas where children, pedestrians, cyclists or other vulnerable road users are commonly present, such as residential and schools areas.
Roundabouts and speed humps should be built to support the call.
WHO and UNICEF collaborate closely with the NTSC and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) to raise awareness and promote firm action against speeding and other major road safety risks.    
    
National clean water week launched in Ha Noi

The national week on rural clean water and environmental hygiene was launched on April 25 in Dong Phuong Yen commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi by the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD).

Themed “Clean water and environmental sanitation for the comprehensive development of children”, the event is organised to raise public awareness on the importance of protecting the environment and saving water resources to reduce damage caused by climate change, contributing to protecting the health of children in particular and the whole community in general.

The event, held annually by the Prime Minister from April 15 to May 15, features a line-up of activities to protect the environment and water resources for the improved health of the community.

Over the past years, thanks to the National Target Programme on Rural Clean Water and Environmental Hygiene, about 91.5% of the rural population in the province gained access to clean water while 90% of the rural households had access to sanitary toilets and facilities by the end of 2016.

7 to be prosecuted in Đồng Nai for possessing fake currency

The Đồng Nai Province police are set to file charges against seven people for allegedly using and possessing fake currency bills.

They are Hoàng Văn Hưng, Hồ Văn Sỹ, Phạm Thị Tú Vân, Cao Văn Khoa, Trần Hưng Thành, Nguyễn Thị Kiều Linh, and Trần Thị Ninh. Their ages range from 20 to 37.

On March 20 Sỹ was caught using a fake VNĐ200,000 (US$8.8) note to buy cigarettes at a shop in Biên Hòa city.

The police then found 55 more counterfeit bills of the same denomination at his apartment in the city’s Long Bình Ward.

Vân, who lived there with Sỹ, was also arrested.

An investigation led to the arrests of Khoa, Thành and Linh, who were carrying fake bills.

Khoa told officers he had received fake notes worth VNĐ5-15 million on three occasions from Ninh.

Ninh said she had received VNĐ44 million worth of counterfeit currency notes from Hưng in February in return for which she had to give him VNĐ20 million in real money.

The police said the linchpin was Hưng, who was arrested in Bình An Ward in HCM City’s District 2 on March 23.

Hưng told them he had carried more than VNĐ80 million worth of counterfeit money in VNĐ200,000 denominations from China.

Investigations are continuing.

Tourism-dependent vendors in central provinces to get compensation in Formosa crisis

People earning a living by providing tourism and related services on the central coast who suffered from the severe marine environment pollution in April 2016 caused by Formosa will get VND2.91 million (US$128) in compensation per person per month.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just sent documents announcing the compensation to people in four pollution-hit provinces: Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Ha Tinh and Thua Thien-Hue. People subject to compensation include those doing simple jobs such as selling goods or providing services for tourists, and owners and workers of food and drink stalls in coastal areas damaged by the pollution.

Compensation payments will be completed by June 2017. Those who want to receive the compensation will have to fill in a loss and damage claim form which must be confirmed by local authorities before receiving compensation.

The number of tourists to Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Ha Tinh has taken a nosedive due to the pollution incident caused by Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (Formosa). Damages estimated at trillions of Vietnam dong have been caused to the tourism and tourism-dependent services in these four provinces.

Data of tourism agencies released on October 13, 2016 showed that sea tourism revenue in Ha Tinh tumbled by 90% over the same period in the preceding year and revenue of other tourism-reliant segments also decreased by 40-50%.

In Quang Binh, losses amounted to VND1,900 billion (about US$83.7 million), including travel, accommodation and food-and-beverage services, while the tourism industry of Quang Tri lost about VND250 billion.

Speaking to the Daily about compensation, the owner of a hotel said that management agencies should also compensate large-scale tourism enterprises. Many hotels and local travel companies do not have guests for months but are not included in the list for compensation.

Anniversary syndrome

Budget overspending has long been a big headache for the Government, as the deficit – hovering around 5% or more a year – makes inroads into investment for development. In fact, investment as a percentage of the State budget has been continuously falling over the years because regular expenses have devoured the better part of State coffers. However, a sizeable part of such regular expenses has wastefully gone to anniversaries.

So, when it is unveiled that the provincial government of Vinh Phuc has spent up to VND65 billion on gifts for delegates and residents on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the province’s reestablishment, the province comes under heavy criticism in local media. It is worrying that such wastefulness is not a single phenomenon, since many other State organizations have done similar things in the recent past, despite repeated calls by the Government for all State agencies to practice thrift.

As covered in local media, Vinh Phuc Province’s government admits that authorities have purchased a huge number of ceramic tea sets as gifts for thousands of delegates attending the celebration event last December. All families in Vinh Phuc have also been given one set each.

Bui Minh Hong, manager of Vinh Phuc Province’s Office, says in Lao Dong newspaper that funds used to buy the gifts are from the provincial budget and other private sources, but the provincial government advanced money for districts to buy the gifts for the people. Each of the tea sets given to families in the province is worth VND200,000 while those gifted to delegates attending the 20th anniversary cost VND350,000 per unit, according to Thanh Nien newspaper.

The big worry is that such wastefulness has become commonplace.

Months earlier, Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) had spent dozens of billions of Vietnam dong on silver souvenirs for all its workers. To mark the debt-laden corporation’s 80th anniversary, its management decided to spend over VND70 billion to make souvenirs for its 120,000-strong workforce. Lao Dong newspaper says the majority of Vinacomin’s workers have not been happy with the pricey gift, costing VND640,000 each, and many of them have sold such gifts to other people at a price just a tiny part of the cost.

Criticizing the move, Lao Dong refers to an inspector’s report of Vinacomin’s performance in 2015, pointing out that financial obligations payable at the holding company and five subsidiaries amounted to over VND100 trillion, or roughly US$4.5 billion, including VND37.6 trillion of short-term debts.

Tuoi Tre, in an editorial titled “Don’t let wastefulness become a chronic disease,” says that while anniversaries and festivals are necessary to enrich the spiritual life of the people, wasteful spending to show off one’s achievements or development must be avoided.

According to the newspaper, the State budget overspending is not only caused by revenue shortfalls. Rather, the culprit is the rampant increase in regular expenses, including the huge costs for anniversaries, while investment for development is ever dwindling.

“The Government has to borrow funds to cover the budget deficit… (Therefore), lavish spending cannot be ignored, especially at festivals and anniversaries,” says the paper.

On the same tune, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper says anniversaries have become not only a disease, but a syndrome at many localities and organizations.

Referring to the anniversary at Vinh Phuc, the newspaper says that it seems anniversaries are taking place every week at centrally-governed agencies as well as in provinces and cities, let alone numerous such events at district-level bodies. The paper cites a report years ago as saying that the total number of anniversaries in Vietnam amount to 428. At many anniversaries, the spiritual merits are overshadowed by wasteful decorations.

Early this month, the Government issued a new decision reiterating its stance to fight wastefulness and encourage thrift. Under Decision No. 398/QD-TTg, the Government will tighten the financial-budgetary disciplines this year to ensure that budget spending is effective, and all expenses for festivities such as groundbreaking events, inaugurations, and similar events will be completely choked off, Lao Dong reports.

Echoing on the decision, Tuoi Tre says that there must be tough measures to force all localities to practice thrift. “Localities must be forced to make public all expenses on festivals and anniversaries before executing such festive plans, and this lesson should apply to all other expenses drawn from the State budget,” says the paper.

How to cure the disease remains to be seen.

If a little leak can sink a great ship, then wasteful anniversaries among others can be likened to numerous leaks that can wreck the economy. Budget overspending will remain a hard nut to crack, surging public debt will be a huge problem to solve, and falling investment for development will be a long-term threat to sustained economic growth if thrift is not practiced in the entire country, from grassroots organizations to central bodies.

According to Nguoi Lao Dong, Decision No. 398/QD-TTg can be likened to a bitter pill prescribed by the Prime Minister to prevent the disease from becoming chronic. “The disease has been diagnosed, the medicine has been prescribed, but the problem is whether (localities and State agencies) are willing to take the medicine,” ponders the paper.

HCMC expands numerous roads to reduce traffic congestion

The HCMC Department of Transport has announced plans to expand numerous roads to reduce traffic congestion, especially at the city’s gateways to other provinces.

Specifically, Tan Ky Tan Quy Street (the section between Cong Hoa and Le Trong Tan streets) will be widened from 8 meters to 30 meters to accommodate six lanes while Truong Chinh Street (the section between Cong Hoa and Au Co streets) will be expanded from 10 meters to 30 meters, also with six lanes.

The two projects will require a total of VND2,606 billion (about US$114.8 million), including construction cost of VND374 billion and compensation for site clearance of VND2,232 billion, and is scheduled to get off the ground in early 2018.

Tan Ky Tan Quy and Truong Chinh are the main roads connecting three districts, 12, Tan Phu and Tan Binh, with the city center. The expansion projects are expected to help reduce traffic congestion at the intersections of these streets.

Besides, the HCMC Department of Transport is expanding a number of other roads to ease traffic congestion in the area around Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

These include expanding Hoang Minh Giam Street (the section between Gia Dinh Park and Dao Duy Anh Street) at a total cost of VND166 billion and the VND255-billion project to widen Hoang Hoa Tham Street (the section between the military barrack gate and Cong Hoa Street).

Some alleys which shoulder part of traffic for main roads are also being expanded, including alley number 2 connecting Tran Quoc Hoan and Thang Long streets with a total investment of VND142 billion (US$6.25 million).

Also in the region around the airport, a six-lane road in parallel with Cong Hoa Street will be built on military land. The road will have a total length of 4.3 kilometers and require an investment of about VND1,400 billion.

At present, Urban Traffic Management Unit No.1 under the HCMC Department of Transport is working with relevant agencies of the Ministry of Defense to map out a plan for this project.

Vietnam unveils shortlisted designs of APEC 2017 uniform

Two designs have been shortlisted to become the official uniform that leaders from 21 Pacific Rim economies will wear for their traditional group photo at the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Vietnam.

The designs have been submitted to the host country’s National Secretariat responsible for overseeing the event before either is selected for the APEC leaders to wear in Da Nang City this November.
APEC, or Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is the region’s premier economic forum whose 21 member economies are all inside the Pacific Rim.

The forum serves to promote and support sustainable economic growth, prosperity and free trade in the Asia-Pacific region.

Every year, the heads of government of all 21 APEC members gather for a meeting held in rotation amongst the member economies, usually including the tradition of dressing the attending leaders in the national costume of the host country for a gala dinner and group photo.

This year is the second time Vietnam has hosted the summit, and leading local fashion designers have been invited to submit their design ideas for the outfit, a process which began as early as last year.

Two out of the six submitted designs have been shortlisted, according to Vi Kien Thanh, director of the Department of Arts, Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Both designs feature patterns inspired by the lotus flower, which is considered Vietnam’s national flower, embodying the virtues of its citizens, and both are made from locally produced material.

The first design by Thai Tuan Textile and Garment uses a Jacquard weaving technique to highlight the lotus pattern on the front of the shirt, while the plackets are decorated with checkerboard patterns mimicking those found on a ‘khan ran,’ the traditional headscarf of southern Vietnam.

The crisp woven fabric of taffeta adds to the luxurious look of the costume.

The second outfit, by designer Thu Ha, is made of Vietnamese silk hand-dyed by artisan Nguyen Trong Tu, using his family’s traditional, secret technique.

The hand-dyed colors are elegant and suitable for a high-level summit of great importance.

Traditional Vietnamese silk also guarantees a comfortable and ventilated feel for wearers in the tropical heat of central Vietnam.

A grand embroidered lotus pattern is included on the right shoulder of the men’s shirts, and the left shoulder on the women’s shirts, highlighting the solemnity of the uniform.

Both designs will be reviewed by the APEC 2017 National Secretariat before being submitted to Vietnam’s leaders to make their final decision.

Vietnam has been a member of APEC since 1998, and first hosted the leaders' summit in 2006, where the traditional Vietnamese costume 'ao dai' was chosen to dress world leaders.

Riverbank subsidence scares Mekong Delta residents

Several areas of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta have been affected by serious subsidence along local tributaries while others face the threat of the same thing.

Severe land collapses along the banks of the Tien (Front) River and Hau (Back) River, the two major rivers of the Mekong Delta, as well as other waterways in the region have left many locals homeless.

In the most recent case, a total of 14 houses, not 16 as reported previously, were sunk after a section of the Vam Nao riverbank in My Hoi Dong Commune, Cho Moi District, An Giang Province, subsided last weekend.

About 108 households in the affected neighborhood have been evacuated from their homes for the sake of their own safety.

Local schools, pagodas, and other families have offered shelter for the victims until permanent solutions can be provided.

According to Tran Anh Thu, director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, there were no casualties in the land collapse as the residents had been asked to leave their homes prior to the incident.

The center of My Hoi Dong Commune is now a ‘ghost town’ after the evacuation, while barricades have also been erected to prevent people from entering the dangerous area.

Local experts have asserted that subsidence would persist in the area.

The provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment have warned that 51 other areas in An Giang are also under threat of potential riverbank collapse.

Local authorities have carried out measures to assist the affected households and avoid zoning at-risk areas for the construction of new homes.

In Dong Thap, the province lying along the Tien River, subsidence has been an perennial problem for residents in Binh Thanh Commune, Thanh Binh District.

Several collapses along the riverbank have occurred this month, putting the lives and property of hundreds of residents in jeopardy.

Although no house was sunk by the phenomenon, over 15 families are set to be evacuated from their homes, while the provincial People’s Committee has ordered close monitoring of the situation.

Residents in Long Thuan Commune, Hong Ngu District, have also been eating and sleeping in fear as subsidence occurs every year in the area.

According to Nguyen Huu Hanh, chairman of the Long Thuan administration, measures are sought to assist some 300 households dwelling along the bank of the Tien River.

Authorities in Dong Thap have been cooperating with the Institute of Coastal and Offshore Engineering to figure out measures to cope with the issue.

They have also asked the central government to provide financial assistance for those residents living in the at-risk neighborhoods. 

Located along the Hau River, Phu Thanh and Luc Si Thanh Communes in Vinh Long Province have always been hotspots for subsidence.

Locals often attribute the problem to the excessive exploitation of sand in the river section.

Roan Ngoc Chien, director of the Vinh Long Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the agency is monitoring the affected area as well as considering adjustments to local river dredging activities.

Meanwhile, Vo Thanh Ngoan, deputy director of the provincial agricultural department, stated that the collapse of land occurred naturally, adding that it would continue in the future and be exacerbated during flood seasons.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE