Leafhebank employees call off strike, return to work

Employees of Leafhebank, a leather company based in the southern Dong Nai Province, who had gone on strike on Tuesday, have returned to work after their demands were met.

The employees were protesting against the company's policies.

Before the strike ended, Leafhebank agreed to reduce the number of work shifts for workers during the trial period and to pay workers on the 15th day of every month, as opposed to the company's previous policy of paying between the 15th and the 25th day of every month.

The company also agreed to negotiate with workers, who are pregnant or mothers of small children, with regards to their over-time hours and promised they wouldn't be scheduled for any work without their consent.

The Deputy Head of the district's trade union, Tran Thi Bich Lien, said late payment of salaries last month and increased working hours had forced workers to launch a collective strike.

Landslide in Quang Ngai leaves 1,000 people stranded

Ba To District People's Committee Chairman Le Han Phong said 33 landslide-prone areas were discovered during a two-day spell of heavy rain.

The heavy downpour, which began on Wednesday evening, has left 1,000 local people isolated in two communes.

New landslide-prone areas were found along a 10km road extending from Ba Bich to Ba Nam Commune. At 16 of these spots, landslides caused 60,000sq.m of soil to slide down onto the road.

The eroded road was obstructing traffic of the local people, the chairman said.

Ba To District People's Committee mobilised the local army to clear and open a temporary road for traffic.

A local man said he went to the district centre on Wednesday evening and couldn't return to his Ba Nam village, as large quantities of soil and trees fell onto the road the next morning.

Chairman Le Han Phong said the district People's Committee has asked the Quang Ngai Province to send food for 1,000 needy people andmoney for road repairs.

Supporting sustainable forest plantations in Vietnam

More than 43,000 households in central Vietnam have received access to micro finance and technical support to establish over 76,500 hectares of forest under a World Bank-supported project.

Implemented from 2005 to 2015 in the provinces of Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai, Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa, the Forest Sector Development Project has brought strong social, environmental and economic benefits to local communities.

“Many families have escaped poverty thanks to forest plantations under the project,” said Pham Quoc Chien, Director of the Project Central Coordination Unit.

The project funded efforts to survey land and facilitated the issuance of land use right certificates for about 35,000 households. Farmers use the certificates to apply for low-interest loans from the project’s fund managed by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

“The project is the first, and to date, the only one in Vietnam using the approach of lending to small-holder plantation which proves to be much more sustainable, compared to the country’s traditional approach of subsidizing plantation,” said Nguyen Thi Thu Lan, World Bank Sr. Environmental Specialist, Project Task Team Leader.

Project officers often provided regular training and on-site support for farmers on developing business plans, budget estimates, planting, monitoring and harvesting.

Under the project, a pilot area of 850 hectares received the International Stewardship Forest Certification for meeting strict international technical, social and environmental standards. The price of certified timber is 30% higher than non-certified timber of the same type.

More than 400 km of access track have been upgraded, which has lowered transport costs, significantly increased labor productivity and income as well as generated more employment for local people. The project has also supported the construction of 86 fire watchtowers and 102 information boards across the project area to raise public awareness on forest protection and minimize risks of forest fires and damages.

Although the project was completed in March 2015, the revolving fund, managed by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, will continue to run for 20 more years after the project completion, so many more households will have access to this source of credits.

“The modernization of forestry approaches under the project is an internal part of Vietnam’s efforts to modernize agriculture,” said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam. “I hope that good practice from this project can be scaled up so many more households in Vietnam will have access to credits and modern forest plantation approaches.”

The project received financing of more than US$100 million from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group, the Trust Fund for Forestry, and the Government of Vietnam.

Australia works with Vietnam to improve water quality control

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Hugh Borrowman co-chaired a productive seminar on water quality control in Hanoi on March 26th.

Funded by the Australian Government, this event contributes to public health, the economic and social development of Vietnam, and strengthens inter-sectoral and international collaboration in the water and sanitation sector.

Acknowledging the health and economic impact of unsafe water, senior government officials, academics and international civil society organisations at the seminar discussed the status of water quality control in Vietnam and assessed the barriers and constraints to effective water quality control, including issues related to institutional, financial and human resources.

The Deputy Prime Minister reinforced the Government’s commitment to improving water quality and emphasized the need to raise public awareness, enhance effective regulatory regimes and improve market-oriented incentives.

Australia has been an active partner for Vietnam in the water sector since 1993, and provided AUD122 million, including budget and technical support, through the National Target Program for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation from 2006 to 2015.

Australia has provided technical assistance in key areas such as sector planning, financial risk management and water quality control, as well as promoting private sector participation and Public - Private - Partnership. It has also provided water quality testing laboratories for 15 provinces, assisted the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in developing and rolling out a Water Quality Control Action Plan, and assisted Vinh Phuc, Tuyen Quang, An Giang and Tra Vinh provinces in developing a strategy to address rural household water quality issues.

In the coming years, Australian experts will continue helping Vietnam in promoting water quality treatment technologies (especially low cost options for rural areas), enhancing governance in this area, and developing and promoting private sector participation in providing water services to rural people.

Vietnam has enjoyed increased access to hygienic water sources, from 57% in 1990 to 84.5% in 2014, and increased sanitation access from 37% in 1990 to 62.5% last year. While considerable improvements have been made, the country still faces many challenges that can only be overcome through enhanced efforts.

New Zealand- New Horizon 2015” contest kicked off

The second “New Zealand- New Horizon” contest was launched on March 26 by the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam and the Vnexpress e-newspaper as part of the activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and New Zealand (1975-2015).

Contestants have been asked to express their perceptions of New Zealand in creative and alternative ways. Entries may be in the form of text, photo and video clips.

Those who competed in last year’s event are eligible to participate in this year contest. Information about the event can be found at www.vnexpress.net .

The contest is open from March 31 to April 20. The winner will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to New Zealand.

The event aims to promote New Zealand’s tourism in Vietnam.

The teaching method of Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) is a novel approach to engineering education that meets the demands of the 21st century, professor Johan Malmqvist, dean of education at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, said on Wednesday.

At a three-day CDIO Asian regional meeting that began yesterday in HCM City University of Technology, Malmqvist said that engineering education faces many challenges, including the preparation of future engineers for work in global, multidisciplinary teams; co-development of scientific knowledge and practical skills; and fostering of leadership innovation and entrepreneurship.

CDIO is used in many universities worldwide and in Asia, including Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Viet Nam.

The CDIO network now includes over 100 of the world's leading engineering universities and is continuing to expand.

In Viet Nam, two universities are part of the CDIO network, including Viet Nam National University-HCM City (VNU-HCM City) and Duy Tan University in central Da Nang City.

In 2010, VNU-HCM City began to apply CDIO in five majors in engineering and applied sciences at two of its member universities, Associate Prof Nguyen Hoi Nghia, vice president of VNU-HCM City, said.

It has used the CDIO framework beyond engineering education such as in the field of business and management, Nghia said.

This year, VNU-HCM City is expanding the CDIO for an additional 15 majors, increasing the total majors to 60 at its four-member universities, he said.

It has also adopted the CDIO as a guideline to achieve the following goals, including systematic reform of the curriculum in order to provide students with the knowledge, skills and professional competences desired by stakeholders.

Dr Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, dean of the department for environmental engineering at Duy Tan University, said that CDIO had been applied for four years in the majors of information technology, electrical engineering, environmental engineering and civil engineering.

This year, FPT University will also apply the CDIO framework.

Natha Kuptasthien, assistant to the president of international affairs at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanaburi in Thailand, said that after one year of implementation the CDIO framework had been proven to be the most appropriate framework to produce hands-on graduates.

Major changes and improvements have been made in integrated curriculum development, workspace renovation, teaching and learning methods, faculty member competency enhancement as well as assessment methods.

Pham Cong Xuyen, lecturer at Lac Hong University in Dong Nai Province said that he attended the meeting to learn about CDIO and make plans to apply the framework at his university.

Railway ticket discounts on offer until May 5

Ha Noi and Sai Gon Railway Passenger Transport Companies are offering promotions on routes from Ha Noi to HCM City, Ha Noi to Da Nang and Ha Noi to Vinh.

The price will be cut by around 20 per cent. The promotion will be applied for trips from March 24 to April 20 and from May 5 to May 20. The promotion is available for individual customers only.

Wi-Fi service available at My Son Sanctuary

Wifi service is now available at My Son Sanctuary in the central province of Quang Nam, according to Nguyen Cong Khiet, deputy head of the Management Board of the My Son Sanctuary.

The project started at the end of 2014 at a cost of around VND200 million (US$9,400).

Wifi services are also now available in Hoi An ancient city.

Ministry gives free vaccines to children

The Ministry of Health gave 19.4 million children across the country a combined measles and rubella vaccine in a campaign launched in September.

The six-month campaign provided the combined vaccine free of charge to children between 9 months and 14 years old.

"To date, the country's largest-ever campaign has completed its activities in 50 of 63 provinces and cities nation-wide," said Dang Duc Anh, director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

"Remaining provinces are striving to provide the vaccine to children who missed their routine doses during the past months. We could affirm that the combined measles-rubella vaccine is very safe," stressed the director.

Anh added that no serious adverse reactions were reported. Most side effects were normal, such as fever or swelling at the injection site.

Parents and local authorities have stayed involved in the process, contributing to a high vaccination rate: more than 95 per cent of children in the targeted provinces and cities were given a dose, according to Anh.

A US$34.6-million grant from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) supported the vaccination programme.

Starting in July, the combined measles-rubella vaccine will be put into the EPI's regularly vaccination programme for children at 18 months.

Heavy trucks batter road, worrying builders

Overloaded trucks grunting along the country's longest expressway from Ha Noi to Lao Cai (264km) deeply concern South Korean and Chinese contractors who built it.

Tin Tuc (News) newspaper interviewed concerned agencies was told that many of the daily flow of about 8,000 to 10,000 trucks were overloaded.

Reporters said it was not difficult to find truck carrying excessive load.

Truck owners often have their cargo enclosures heightened to carry more loads, from farm produce to building materials and minerals.

The extra loads often causes engines to heat up and drivers have to stop to splash water on them to cool them down.

On March 17, the Viet Nam Expressway Operation and Maintenance Co.Ltd, the body that manages the road in collaboration with the Directorate for Roads, started holding random checks of trucks on the expressway.

They have inspected a total of about 1,000 trucks to date, but only 28 (or 2.7 per cent) were found to exceed the load limit.

However, one truck (plate number BKS 19C-043.08) carrying chemicals from Lam Thao in Phu Tho Province to Lao Cai Province was found to be nearly three and a half times over the limit.

This case was not the most notorious. Mai Tuan Anh, director of Viet Nam Expressway Corporation, told the newspaper that two months ago, an ore-carrying truck running through Lao Cai Province overturned when one of its tyres exploded.

After cleaning up the mess, the company's workers still managed to gather 90 tonnes of ore in total, which was double the load limit.

Tuan Anh said that vehicles 10 to 20 per cent overweight impacted the road surface 1,500 times stronger than those carrying the legal tonnage.

He said trucks carrying mineral ores from the northern provinces were often found with loads two to three times their limit, adding that this not only damaged the road surface but was also a threat to traffic safety.

Bui Dinh Tuan, VEC O&M director, echoed Tuan Anh's idea. He said that the overloading situation had reached an alarming point, adding that the number of offenders caught was far too low.

Tuan told the newspaper that drivers of overloaded trucks tended to become tricky when they saw law enforcers approaching.

Some would stop their vehicle, lock it and walk away and hide, or they would pretend the vehcile had broken down and could not reach a nominated weigh station for a load check.

All South Korea's Kaengnam, Posco and Doosan groups, China's Guangxi Road and Bridge Construction Company, and Viet Nam's Vinaconex, who built the expressway, are concerned about the rate of damage caused by overloaded trucks.

"No expressway can bear such pressure," VEC agreed.

On March 20, VEC stopped selling tolls to vehicles suspected of being overweight at booths located at both ends of the expressway.

It has also joined hands with traffic police in the five provinces the road runs through, namely Ha Noi, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai to intensify random checks using mobile scales.

Hotlines have even been set up between road management staff and police to report suspicious vehicles.

Traffic police have also been stationed at the Ha Noi and Lao Cai tolls booths around the clock.

Local police have also increased inspections at the sources of many of the loads, mines and warehouses.

Two new weighing stations are also being installed at both entrances to the expressway.

The Ha Noi-Lao Cai expressway, the longest of its kind in Viet Nam, was opened last September, as part of the economic corridor from Kunming (Yunnan, China) to Ha Noi and Hai Phong.

River bamboo traders face a turbulent ride

The scenic Ma River has inspired many Vietnamese poets and writers over the years, but for those whose livelihood depends on it, the beauty comes packaged with extreme danger.

They say that its name indicates its fast current, which is what residents of the western region of Thanh Hoa Province tackle every day to transport luong (dendrocalamus membranaceus munro - a kind of bamboo).

It is used as scaffolding on construction sites, and for making chopsticks, mats and plywood, not to mention some fine art products for export.

The luong that grows in the region is valued because it is straight and plump, whether it is harvested in the valley or on the mountains. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has allowed people to plant and harvest it as a poverty alleviation measure.

However, transporting the luong is a very difficult task, but residents have no choice but to take advantage of the current. They have been doing it for many generations now, and the floating of luong rafts on the Ma River has emerged as a stable, if dangerous vocation.

Ha Van Nhung, a resident of Muong Ly Commune in Muong Lat District, is 68 years old, but he is still entrusted with bringing the luong raft down the river.

Nhung has 50 years of experience in luong rafting and his sons are on the job as well.

"All three of my sons are good at swimming," Nhung said to Suc khoe & Doi song (Health and Life) newspaper.

"They were taught how to swim since they were small children. I have heard of stories of people drowning on this river but it hasn't happened in my hamlet. Most of us know how to conquer the river.

"People know the trade is dangerous and sometimes comes with blood and tears, but they still do it for survival," he said, adding they would not know what else they would do.

When the luong matures, people chop them and drop them at the riverside, said Nguoi, another luong raft rider. These are gathered and joined to make a big raft, combining anything between 700 and 2,000 trees. These rafts will be taken to processing companies or sold to traders from the delta region.

Ha Van Phai, Nhung's son, has some unhappy memories of luong rafting. When he was a young man, he was reckless and suffered several accidents.

In 1990, he had to ride the luong raft, and did so despite his father's warning of a storm brewing. He was thrown into the river. Local residents assumed him dead because they couldn't find him after three days of searching. A week later, he was brought back with a lot of injuries from a hamlet about 20 kilometres away.

"I was swept away by the water, and then I was stuck in a bush before I fainted. I am still alive because a fisherman discovered and rescued me," Phai said.

After Phai's accident, Nhung's sons were determined to learn even better to ride the luong raft along the river and across rapids.

They were thrown into the river many times before they were able to navigate the fast current or cross rapids in ways that a normal person would call extraordinary.

Insurance rules need clarification

There were big difficulties in retrieving money wrongly paid as unemployment insurance and for vocational training, Do Van Sinh, deputy director of the Viet Nam Social Insurance has said.

Sinh told Tien phong (Vanguard) newspaper that due to the lack of guidance, the agency was unable to rectify any irregularities in payments during the transitional period from applying the Law on Social Insurance in 2006 to applying the Law on Employment in 2015.

Sinh said that at present the law did not have any regulations on which office was responsible for collecting unemployment insurance paid to the wrong beneficiaries.

Inspections by the State Audit Office of 32 unemployment service centres in 2013, showed that 23 had made errors. The main one was paying insurance to the wrong beneficiaries.

Sinh said that the State Audit Office of Viet Nam proposed that the Viet Nam Social Insurance should be responsible for paying unemployment insurance instead of employment-service centres.

He said this would avoid cheats who get paid unemployment allowance and are also paid by their companies.

Profiting from unemployment insurance had become quite popular, Sinh said.

For instance, some people who are going to retire quit their job a bit earlier to enjoy unemployment benefits - and the pension.

More than 261,800 people have bought insurance for a total of VND1.3 trillion (US$61.9 million) since the beginning of the year, according to Viet Nam Social Insurance.

Viet Nam Social Insurance paid unemployment insurance to more than 90,400 people and vocational training expenses to nearly 2,500 people with the total fund of VND754 billion ($35.9 million).

Police officers jailed for embezzlement

Kien Giang Province's People Court in the Mekong Delta yesterday sentenced two former police officers to a total of 32 years' jail for embezzlement. Pham Van Manh received 17 years, and Trinh Thi Ngoc Nhung, 15.

Manh, 43 a former Lieutenant Colonel and chief accountant of the Kien Giang police logistics department and Nhung, 38, treasurer in the same organisation, were charged with working together to embezzle money from the provincial police salary fund during September 2009 to November 2013.

The pair exploited a loophole in the accounting software used by the provincial police to calculate salaries. They also fabricated other documents to steal a total of VND13.5 billion (US$635,000).

Maritime service rescues boat in distress

Six crew and over 70 passengers aboard Que Huong 2 Boat along with 40 tons of cargo were rescued following engine failure.

The boat's engine stopped working at around 7p.m. yesterday (March 25), when it was 25 nautical miles off the Phu Quy Island, about six hours after its departure from the southern Phan Thiet Port. The vessel is currently docked at Phu Quy Island.

Binh Thuan's Maritime Service immediately dispatched two rescue boats to steer the vessel to safety.

Police raid gambling den in Cu Chi District

HCM City police arrested 24 gamblers, most of them female, in a raid on a gambling den in the southern Cu Chi District last Friday.

Nguuyen Van Hao, who was running the illegal gambling operation for months, reportedly said he allowed people to gamble in his house for a fee, and that the den was open from 3pm till the next morning. About 20 to 30 gamblers visited his den on a daily basis.

Hao had also set up two slot machines and had hired two persons, Le Van Hieu and Vo Thi Mai Loan, as helpers.

Man charged over smuggling of firecrackers

A man has been prosecuted for illegally transporting 20.5kg of firecrackers, Mong Cai City Police said yesterday in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.

Earlier on Monday, officials found two bags containing smuggled Chinese firecrackers hidden under the seat of a car at a checkpoint adjacent to Dan Tien Port. The bags were in the possession of Le Anh Phap, 25, from the central province of Ha Tinh.

Phap reportedly said he asked a man named Tung in Mong Cai to buy the firecrackers, and then planned to sell them in his hometown.

Market watch team discovers fake fertiliser racket

The Market Watch Team 3 in Bao Loc City discovered 5.5 tonnes of fake fertilisers at a shop run by a local company yesterday afternoon, Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper reported.

The team stormed the fertiliser shop in Lam Dong Province for a random check and found 110 50kg fertiliser bags, carrying the NPK 20-20-15+TE label, a product of the Thien Phu Nong company based in Cu Chi District, HCM City. NPK means a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Comparing it with the real product, the team verified that the fertiliser seized was fake and of substandard quality.

The shop is run by the Phuc Loc Company Ltd, located in B'La, Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province.

Vietnam warns of rising animal disease outbreaks

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has called for local authorities to control and prevent the smuggling of animals given a recent upsurge in animal disease outbreaks.

In a document sent to 16 northern provinces around two weeks ago, the ministry told them to cope with animal disease outbreaks by intensifying vaccination and strictly monitoring cattle transportation, particularly via border gates.

A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak had been detected in the northern upland provinces of Bac Kan and Lao Cai after infected pigs were found to be carried into the country through the border areas or transported from other disease-hit areas, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, provincial animal health agencies have not vaccinated all animals against diseases while farmers have yet to kick the habit of letting their animals freely graze in the field. The current weather conditions are contributing to animal disease outbreaks.

Therefore, the ministry asked local authorities to vaccinate at least 80% of the cattle.

As of October 1 last year, the country had had 5.24 million cows and water buffalos, and 26.8 million pigs, up 1.5% and 2% against the year earlier respectively, according to statistics of the ministry.

The Department for Animal Health under the ministry decided in April last year to suspend cow imports via Lao Bao border gate in Quang Tri Province to prevent the spread of the disease from neighboring countries into Vietnam.

According to the Vietnam National Animal Husbandry Association, if the number of infected areas continues increasing, the ministry should restrict cattle imports via border gates and boost beef shipments from Australia to meet domestic demand.

Thua Thien-Hue province marks 40 years of liberation

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue celebrated the 40th anniversary of its liberation with a ceremony on March 26.

In his speech, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Cao recalled that at 6:30 am on March 26,1975, the “Quyet chien, quyet thang” (Determined to fight, Determined to win) flag of Vietnam was raised at Phu Van Lau (a relic inside the Hue Imperial City), marking the liberation of Thua Thien-Hue.

Contributing to the victory, nearly 19,000 local soldiers laid down their lives, 13,000 suffered injuries and some 5,000 were imprisoned by the enemy, he noted.

The Thua Thien-Hue victory was a milestone of the Hue-Da Nang campaign that, together with the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) and Ho Chi Minh campaigns, freed South Vietnam in 1975 and led to national reunification.

Cao said the province has achieved rapid and sustainable growth with its GDP rising by an average of over 10 percent and tourism revenue accounting for 55.3 percent. Meanwhile, per capita income reached roughly 2,000 USD, reducing the household poverty rate to 5.06 percent.

On behalf of the Party and State, Politburo member Pham Quang Nghi, who is also the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, hailed Thua Thien-Hue’s achievements and contributions to both the war against American imperialists and current national development.

He highlighted the province’s role as a vital link in the war and its significant accomplishments in economics, culture, society, defence and security.

Hue was the first city in Vietnam to be receive the title “ASEAN City of Culture” and “ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City”.

Press urged to safeguard national sovereignty

Nearly 250 delegates from 45 State-run national newspapers gathered at a conference in the central city of Da Nang on March 26 to promote the role of the press in raising awareness of the country’s sovereignty and territory.

Hosted by Da Nang Newspaper, the event particularly promoted Vietnam ’s sea and island sovereignty in the East Sea .

Addressing the conference, Editor-in-Chief of Da Nang Newspaper, Mai Duc Loc, voiced that the Vietnamese media, in all of its forms, contributes greatly to defending national sovereignty and providing people from all walks of life with insight into the policies of the Government.

He argued that the media also helps ensure security and social order, prevents hostile forces from spreading damaging rumours, and strengthens unity across the nation.

Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang City Party Committee, Vo Cong Tri, urged the State-run press to uphold its role as a mouthpiece for the Party and State, actively defending Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in the East Sea.

Central Highlands intensifies fight against cross-border migration

The High Command of the Vietnamese Border Guard held a conference in Dak Lak province on March 26 to discuss plans to prevent illegal cross-border migration in the Central Highlands region.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Commander Hoang Xuan Chien lauded the efforts of the border guard, relevant forces and authorities to maintain political security, social order and safety in the region.

He called for closer coordination between the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands Region and provincial authorities in exchanging information relating to illegal border crossings.

The border guard forces in the region should work with the military and police forces to guard border roads and intensify patrols around vulnerable areas.

Increased focus should also be devoted to raising awareness in the community, especially among ethnic minority groups, to be aware of scams and incitements, said the officer.

Experts discuss response to religious clashes

Religious conflicts and the skills required to solve them were discussed in depth by state officials, religious dignitaries and researchers during a workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 26.

According to Hoang Van Chung from the Institute for Religious Studies, to avoid disagreements among people of different religions, it is necessary to generate mutual understanding and respect between them, as well as with secular groups. Improved education is required to improve this, he said.

He also declared that extremism must first be tackled with non-violent solutions, and called on safe locations to be made available to religious groups holding talks.

Bui Thanh Ha, permanent Vice Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs, stated that Vietnam promises freedom of religion to all citizens and strictly prohibits religious discrimination.

Hanoi: Activities to mark major anniversaries in 2015

Various activities are being held across the capital city of Hanoi to mark several major anniversaries in the next two months, including the 40th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam and national reunification (April 30), and President Ho Chi Minh’s 125th birthday (May 19).

A patriotic emulation campaign has been launched to encourage workers and students to do their best to fulfil the city’s yearly plans.

Many art performances and sport activities—including a national road cycling championship and a run around Hoan Kiem Lake - will be open to the public

On May 18, exhibitions, forums and talks to celebrate 125th birthday of the late President Ho Chi Minh will be held at many sites in the city.

Historic relic sites in the city, particularly those related to Ho Chi Minh’s life and career, will be upgraded on the occasion.

Improved school sanitation reaches 40,000 primary pupils

A project on sanitation in schools funded by the Japanese LIXIL Corporation has benefitted around 40,000 primary students.

LIXIL Corporation and the East Meets West (EMW) handed over new restrooms with sinks at the Tien Du Primary School, Tien Du commune, Phu Ninh district, northern Phu Tho province on March 25.

Three other schools in Phu Tho province and the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have also benefited from the 10 million JPY (83,700 USD) project.

School hygiene education was also provided at 90 primary schools across the country to increase awareness of the importance of safe water among children and promote the adoption of healthy hygiene behaviours.

President of LIXIL Vietnam Ito Shinji said it is one of the community-oriented projects run by the firm to support disadvantaged children and families.

Schools targeted by the programme are located in impoverished areas where students lack access to basic sanitation facilities. The project has facilitated better hygiene conditions and reduced their vulnerability to communicable diseases, added an EMW representative.

The LIXIL Corporation and the EMW are scheduled to present another upgraded restroom to a primary school in Dong Thap province on March 26.

Tay Ninh moves to reduce poverty

The People’s Committee of southern Tay Ninh province has devised a number of measures to reduce poverty and bring the local impoverished household rate to below 2 percent in 2015 from current 2.38 percent.

The programmes are designed to ensure sustainable poverty elimination for more than 1,500 local households within the year, benefitting 42 percent of its total impoverished households.

The province will focus on providing improved social welfare services and financial support for targeted households in border and remote areas.

It has allocated hundreds of billions of VND to provide preferential loans and health insurance services for thousands of disadvantaged households in the locality.

Other efforts aim to provide vocational training, farm land and housing for rural workers and households in a bid to eliminate poverty sustainably for policy beneficiaries.

Rice aid to be distributed in Quang Nam

As many as 1,500 tonnes of rice will be used to alleviate hunger in central Quang Nam province during food shortages occurring between local harvests.

By the end of last year, the province had 48,183 households living under the poverty line, or 12.16 percent. The figure represented a reduction of 2.76 percent from the year before.

Meanwhile, the poverty rate was 49.9 percent in Quang Nam’s six poorest districts, down 5.97 percent from 2013.

The average national poverty rate decreased from 7.8 percent of the households in 2013 to 5.8-6 percent by the end of 2014. Impoverished districts saw the number of low-income families reduce to 33.2 percent from 38.2 percent in 2013.

Earlier this year, similar aid was provided to a number of localities, including Quang Tri, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Tuyen Quang, Binh Dinh and Quang Ngai.-

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