Workshop raises public awareness of environmental protection

A workshop on plastics, garbage and the life cycle of a product was held in Hanoi on January 26 to raise public awareness of environmental protection. 

Director of the Live & Learn Centre Do Van Nguyet said the event provides a platform to review changes in waste treatment, green practices and environmental protection initiatives. 

Chau Ngoc Cam Van, Vice Secretary of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, told a story about a journey to save paper milk boxes, which were collected by young people to transfer to a recycling plant to produce pulp and ecological roofing sheets from aluminum and plastics. 

Some 15 billion paper milk boxes are used nationwide each year, equivalent to 150,000 tonnes which could be recycled into books and notebooks, print papers and carton boxes. However, due to their low value and foul smell, recycling remains limited, she said. 

Le Hoang Phuong from the Transport Ministry’s project 6 management board said due to technological development, e-waste has increased, including televisions, printers and mobile phones, which contain toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, copper, aluminium, iron and zinc. Without proper treatment, they could pollute land, water and air. 

In Hanoi, free e-waste collecting points have been put into operation in Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh and Cau Giay districts, she said, suggesting that e-waste should be classified at home to make recycling easier. 

Hosted by the Live & Learn Centre, the French Cultural Centre L’ Espace and Vietnam Youth Parliament, the event was part of the Clean Air – Green City project funded by the US Agency for International Development which aims to benefit children, youths and residential areas, especially those affected by pollution in Hanoi.

First cruise tourists land in Thua Thien-Hue in 2019

Luxury cruiser Celebrity Constellation docked in Chan May port in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on January 28, bringing the first cruise tourists from the US, Canada, UK and France to the locality in 2019. 

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Nguyen Van Phuc said the welcome ceremony is part of a series of activities this year to popularise Vietnam, its country and people and Thua Thien-Hue in general. 

Tourists later visited Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An. 

Last year, Thua Thien-Hue welcomed more than 134,000 tourists and crewmen aboard Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Tui Cruises, Costa Criere, Viking Ocean Cruises, Small Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, introducing them to Hue heritage sites and destinations in the central region. 

The provincial tourism sector strives to welcome 4.5-4.7 million visitors in 2019, up 8 percent from 2018, 40-45 percent of them are foreigners.-

Make food safe not just for Tet

As the Lunar New Year, or Tet, draws nearer, market monitors are intensifying their inspections to ensure food hygiene and safety.

The Department of Food Safety under the Ministry of Health has sent a correspondence to all provinces and cities nationwide asking them to launch focal inspections into vendors and producers of foods and drinks to ensure safety for consumers during the Tet holiday when demands for such products surge. The central interdisciplinary steering committee on food safety has also organized six task-force groups to carry out inspections in 12 major localities between January 1 and March 23, 2019.

Localities have also stepped up their screening to minimize risks for consumers during the biggest holiday of the year. In HCMC for example, as many as 12 special teams have been organized with the mandate to ensure food safety during Tet. This month alone, market monitors have conducted inspections into hundreds of sellers and producers of foods and drinks, seizing over 43 tons of dried food and confectionery without clear origins or brands, most of which are from China, including those items that expired long ago, according to Nguoi Lao Dong.

Last Wednesday, inspectors at Binh Dien Wholesale Market uncovered two trucks transporting 1.2 tons of unquarantined pork to the market, and had the batch destroyed, says Pham Khanh Phong Lan, head of the HCMC Food Safety Management Board. As pork is much sought after during Tet, many traders disregard the consumer’s health safety, sneakily selling substandard pork including diseased pigs to traditional wet markets, she warns.

Tightened control over food safety during the festive season like now is certainly a positive move by authorities to bring joy and assurance for consumers, given the fact that instant foods and drinks for Tet are for the most part processed manually by household businesses without proper safety procedures.

However, such inspections have largely been a seasonal movement that often subdues after Tet, and food safety remains the biggest risk to community health throughout the year. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that last year through to the end of October, the country had seen 91 massive food poisoning cases that struck over 2,000 people and killed 15. Unsafe food has also been pinpointed as the major reason behind the rising number of cancer patients.

Despite the severity of the problem, the punishment against violators has been lenient. Authorities last year imposed fines totaling VND6 billion on 99 vendors and producers, averaging out at VND60 million against each violator, which is a trivial sum compared to the illegal profit or the damage to the people’s health. Prevailing regulations allow for an administrative fine of up to VND100 million and VND200 million against an individual or an enterprise violating food safety rules, respectively, and in serious cases, a fine seven times the value of the illegal trade, but such tough sanctions have rarely applied.

As food safety remains one of the biggest concerns for consumers, relevant agencies need to organize regular inspections and slap tough fines on violators to enforce compliance. Consumers need safe food throughout the year, not just for Tet.

Vietnam Journey launches two TV serials for Tet

The Vietnam Journey, a TV channel focusing on Vietnamese tourism and culture, launched two TV serials on January 25 – “Vuong to” (Falling in Love) and “Ben bo yeu thuong” (Destination of Love).

The films feature the traditional cultural identities and the efforts to preserve them, as well as family values, craft villages, and the triumph of human love amid a changing and tumultuous society.

Addressing the launch ceremony in Hanoi on January 25, VOV President Nguyen The Ky said, “In the future, the channel will focus on the culture of Vietnam, family, clans, villages and their crafts, as well as urban areas. We should nurture culture because culture is the foundation of society, each family and individual.  Vietnamese traditional culture is diverse and rich. That’s why we have decided to work on TV serial production, laying a foundation for the development of feature films and dramas at VOV.”

The two serials will be screened on the VOV Vietnam Journey and VTC channels from the first to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, February 5-9. 

More efforts needed to preserve border areas’ ethnic culture

Vietnam has consistently attached great importance to preserving and promoting ethnic culture, especially in border areas, considering it an important task of national development.

Ethnic culture in border areas is unique but prone to being lost due to influence by those of neighboring countries. Hoang Thi Anh Tuyet, a Tay ethnic in Cao Bang province, said it’s necessary to create a more favorable environment for young Tay people to practice and promote their traditional Then singing.

"The majority of our hometown’s population are ethnic people. We must protect and promote our traditional cultural values, customs, and religions," said Tuyet. 

Bordering China, Cao Bang province’s Trung Khanh district is a popular tourist destination. In addition to its diverse specialties, Trung Khanh is famous for its traditional Then singing of the local Tay and Nung ethnic people. The local authorities have focused on raising people’s awareness on preserving their ancient Then singing versions while organizing regular exchanges to promote Then singing’s unique values to both domestic and foreign visitors.

"We have cooperated with the provincial association of protecting folk songs to organize performances and exchanges to promote Then singing. We have also organized training classes on playing the Tinh musical instrument which accompanies Then singing.

This aims to better preserve the traditional art form while providing tourists a deeper understanding of it," said Mong Van Luc, Deputy Chairman of Trung Khanh district's People's Committee. 

Then singer Nguyen Van Tho of Tay ethnic in Lang Son province told VOV "I hope authorities at all levels and concerned parties will devise policies to create better conditions for the artists to introduce our traditional art forms to a wider public.

Those who contribute to promoting national cultural heritages should be honored and well taken care of."

"Communications should be boosted to give the public an insight into Then singing’s uniqueness. The provincial folk song association has been very active in organizing training classes on the art form as we aim to establish folk song groups in every district in the coming years," said  Nguyen Hong Van, Deputy Director of the Cao Bang provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Man to be fined for damaging stone bank

The Bình Thạnh Ward People’s Committee will pose an administrative fine on a man who encroached on the province’s seven-colour stone bank, said Huỳnh Văn Điển, chairman of the Tuy Phong District People’s Committee.

As well as the administrative fine, Cao Văn Cư, who lives in Village 1, was forced to restore the stone bank to its original state.

Điển said that local authorities and residents considered the seven-colour stone a valuable natural feature, so it must be respected and maintained.

All violators would be punished based on existing laws, he said.

On January 1 this year, the Bình Thạnh Commune People’s Committee discovered Cư had leveled the land without asking for permission from local authorities. Cư dumped the redundant soil in the sea, affecting a 100-metre section of the stone bank.

The seven-colour stone bank is located on Cổ Thạch Beach. It was formed naturally by the effect of tides, sea currents and brine. The stone bank is about 1km long and about 200-300m wide. 

Rice supply for poor households in Ninh Thuan ahead of New Year

More than 797 tonnes of rice from the national reserves have been granted to poor households in the central province of Ninh Thuan from January 24-26 ahead of the (Tet) Lunar New Year holiday. 

Dang Thi Phan, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said more than 13,200 households in Thuan Bac, Thuan Nam, Bac Ai, Ninh Hai, Ninh Son and Ninh Phuoc districts received the rice. 

An official from the Bac Ai district People’s Committee said due to climate change, poor households and ethnic minorities met difficulties in farming. Nearly 3,000 local households received more than 205,000kg of rice from the Government.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also decided to provide rice as food aid for people in northern and central provinces ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays.

The PM asked the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to allocate more than 3,700 tonnes of rice from the national reserves for poor households in the provinces of Ha Giang (359 tonnes), Yen Bai (380 tonnes) and Cao Bang (603 tonnes), the central provinces of Phu Yen (399 tonnes), Binh Dinh (1,000 tonnes) and Quang Binh (1,000 tonnes).

Leaders extend greetings to Australia on National Day

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc have extended their greetings to Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, respectively, on the 231st National Day of Australia.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has also sent her greetings to President of Australia’s Senate Scott Ryan and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith.

On the same occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has cabled his greetings to Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

In their messages, Vietnamese leaders complimented important achievements that Australia has gained in national development over decades, especially in economy, defence, security, education, and science-technology.

They lauded the increasingly active role of Australia and its contributions to the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, affirming that Vietnam will continue coordinating closely with Australia to realize the bilateral strategic partnership that was set up in March 2018.

Overseas Vietnamese across continents welcome Year of the Pig

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc and his spouse in a performance at the embassy's Tet celebration event in Washington DC 

Vietnamese communities all over the world are organising celebrations of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), the most important festival in a year for Vietnamese. 

The Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane, Laos, in coordination with the local Vietnamese association, hosted a gathering to welcome the arrival of the Year of the Pig on January 27. 

Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung took the occasion to highlight the development of the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation in 2018, particularly the positive growth of economic ties, with two-way trade increasing by 14 percent year on year to more than 1 billion USD. 

The ambassador affirmed that the embassy and other Vietnamese representative agencies in Laos are always ready to support the overseas Vietnamese. 

In Germany, the Tet gathering, held on January 26 by the Vietnamese Embassy at the headquarters of the Berlin State’s Ministry of the Interior, was attended by 500 guests, including representatives from the German federal parliament and the Federal Foreign Office, and diplomats from ASEAN countries’ diplomatic missions in Germany. 

In his speech, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu informed the guests and the overseas Vietnamese on Vietnam’s impressive socio-economic achievement in 2018, to which the overseas Vietnamese community had made significant contributions.  

The event featured Vietnamese music performances and traditional Tet activities such as wrapping Chung cake and calligraphy. Visitors also enjoyed Vietnamese dishes and had a chance to buy Tet goods.

In the US, a Tet celebration took place at the Vietnam House in Washington DC on January 25 with the attendance of around 200 Vietnamese and US friends.   

Ambassador Ha Kim Ngoc talked about the sacred meaning of the traditional Tet for Vietnamese, and made a brief overview of Vietnam-US ties in 2018. 

The diplomat urged the overseas Vietnamese to continue contributing to the development of the motherland and working to promote bilateral ties.

More quality books are needed: experts

Young people choose books at the HCM City’s 10th biennial Book Expo last March. 

Local publishers and book distributors should release more quality books and expand their market to rural areas, border areas, islands and abroad to serve more readers, speakers said at a recent conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hoang Vinh Bao, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, said: “Publishing houses and book distributors should focus on books highlighting the country’s history and culture, and fight against books on wrong political views.”

Bao asked local authorities to work with publishers and book distributors to prevent, discover and solve violations in publishing sector.

At the meeting, over 60 publishers and distributors in the country shared their experiences and achievements in 2018.

Last year, the publishing sector printed 33,087 book titles with more than 430 million copies. Total revenue of the sector reached more than 2.5 trillion VND (107 million USD). 

HCM City’s 10th biennial Book Expo in March was a success last year, with more than 180 international and Vietnamese publishers, distributors and other companies, which offered 300,000 titles in all fields.

The expo earned more than 60 billion VND (2.6 million USD) in revenue, an increase of 20 percent compared to the last event.

It welcomed one million readers from the city and neighbouring provinces during its seven day opening, an increase of 10 percent compared to the previous event.

Le Hoang, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Publishers Association, said despite great achievements in 2018, the publishing sector faced challenges promoting the people’s reading habits.

“Vietnamese people do not have the reading habit. Except for reference books at school, each person reads only one book a year,” he said, adding that promoting reading should begin in schools. “Good books will help evoke students’ interest in reading.”

The association plans to work with publishers and distributors to compile a list of good books for students and will submit it to the Ministry of Education and Training for approval.

 

The Hanoi Press Festival attracts a large number of visitors. (Photo: qdnd,vn) 

The 2019 Hanoi Spring Press Festival officially opened at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Labour Cultural Palace on January 25, featuring 25 pavilions by numerous press agencies in the city.

The Spring Press Festival has become an important political and cultural event of both the central and local press agencies in the capital.

The publications, including magazines, printed and pictorial editions, audio and television products and online newspapers, are presented vividly with diverse contents.

They highlight the outstanding achievements of the country and the capital in all fields: economics, politics, society, security, defence, culture and external affairs, as well as forecasts and orientations for 2019.

At the opening ceremony, the Hanoi Journalists’ Association presented 2018 Ngo Tat To Press Awards to the most outstanding journalists, including two first, three second, four third and 20 consolation prizes.

The two-day event offers a good opportunity for the central and capital press agencies to meet and review their development over the past year.

Wild cat rescued from sale in Lao Cai

The cat is displayed for sale on a road in Lao Cai Province on January 23

A rare wild cat which belongs to the species listed in the Red Book in need of conservation has been rescued while being sold on a road in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai.

The animal was displayed for sale on National Highway 4D linking Lao Cai City and Sapa District on January 23.  

Nguyen Thi Hong from Coc San Commune, Bat Xat District who was travelling through the road, bought the cat for breeding at her house. After that she realised that the animal was a rare kind, so she handed over it to the Hoang Lien Centre for Animal Rescue and Conservation.

The female cat weighed 2.7 kilos and had an injured leg. It has the scientific name of Felis silvestris. After being rescued, the animal will be released back into the wild.

The centre is currently caring for dozens of wild animals handed over by people.

Support for low-income cancer patients ahead of Tet

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man (L) presents gifts to patients at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi on January 27 

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man visited low-income cancer patients at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi on January 27 ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Presenting gifts to 100 patients, Man, also a member of the Party Central Committee, spoke with them and expressed his sympathies for their difficulties, especially having to stay in hospital for treatment during Tet – a time for family reunions.

The gift presentation was an activity of the Support Fund for Cancer Patients – For a Bright Future that aims to offer aid to cancer patients.

The official hailed the fund’s work over the last seven years to provide more than 24,000 patients with cash and anti-cancer drugs worth some 400 billion VND (17.35 million USD) in total.

Such assistance has helped assure patients they are not alone in the fight against cancer, he added.

He said he hopes the fund will continue developing across the country and boost connections with localities, hospitals and the Vietnam Medical Association.

Man also praised efforts by staff of Bach Mai Hospital during its 108-year history to become a leading healthcare establishment.

Over 3,000 join Sun Life Vietnam Resolution Run 2019

More than 3,000 people took part in the Resolution Run 2019 organized by financial solution provider Sun Life Vietnam in Phu My Hung urban area in District 7, HCMC on January 27.

The organizer donated VND100 million from registration fees to the HCMC Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients to help patients with diabetes.

This was the second year the international event had been held in Vietnam to raise public awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and encourage people to be physically active, according to Larry Madge, general director of Sun Life Vietnam.

The event featured two distances – 5 kilometers starting at 7:10 a.m. with over 1,700 runners competing and 10 kilometers beginning 10 minutes later with over 1,300 runners attending.

Besides Vietnam, the Resolution Run is held in other Asian markets where Sun Life operates, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

Established in January 2013, Sun Life Vietnam provides financial services to individual and corporate customers. The company is committed to helping clients achieve lifetime financial security and have a healthier lifestyle.