Free wifi provided to workers in industrial, export processing parks

Employees in industrial parks and export processing zones in Ho Chi Minh City can access wifi as companies roll out nearly 1,000 free Wi-Fi in these places. 

In the worker dormitory of Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in District 7, Wifi operators yesterday began running free wifi in workers’ condos with a bid to help reducing daily activity cost for workers and easily surfing internet to broadening their knowledge and entertain.

War Invalids and Martyrs Day marked in Germany

A ceremony was held in Cottbus city of Germany on July 30 to mark the 70th anniversary of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27). 

The event, organised by the Tan Trao Society and veterans, families of war invalids and martyrs in Cottbus city and neighbouring regions, was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung, Vietnamese Defence Attaché Trinh Quoc Viet and the embassy’s staff.

Addressing the event, Nguyen The Hung, head of the organising board, said that war invalids and family member of fallen combatants, including those in Germany, have set good samples in the cause of national construction and development in the peaceful time.

He expressed his hope that the ceremony, together with other activities, would help young generations better understand and remember the sacrifices of heroic martyrs and wounded veterans.

Over the past years, the society has mobilised resources to build houses of gratitude for disadvantaged families at home, Hung said. 

Ambassador Dao Xuan Hung called on the overseas Vietnamese community to provide practical support for needy families of fallen combatants and war invalids in Germany, and expressed his hope that they would unite with each other to contribute to the development of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany.

During the event, a number of wounded veterans and families of fallen soldiers were honoured with insignias by the society.

Previously, a similar ceremony was co-organised by the Embassy and the Vietnamese War Veterans’ Club in Berlin-Brandenburg at Dong Xuan Trade Centre in Berlin to mark the occasion.

Da Nang: More transformer station serving APEC operational

The Ngu Hanh Son 110kV transformer station in Da Nang was put into operation on July 31 to ensure sufficient power supply the APEC Leaders’ Meeting and related events to be held in the central city in November.

The station, the eighth and last of its kind to serve APEC meetings in the city, is located in Khai Tay 2 hamlet, Hoa Quy ward, Ngu Hanh Son district. The automated station has a capacity of transformer up to 80 MVA.

It is expected to ensure safe, continuous, and stable electricity supply for socio-economic development in Ngu Hanh Son district, while assuring adequate power for coastal resorts, FPT urban area, buildings and Da Nang University.

In order to better serve APEC meetings, the Da Nang Power Company will complete 22kV works. Continuous power supply will be ensured for the entire city from October 25 through November 15.

Workshop discusses sustainable energy development

Coal-fueled electricity plants have still failed to meet power demand in Vietnam, which is forecast to grow 10 percent annually during the 2010-2030 period.

Experts shared the view at a workshop themed “Sustainable energy development - Technology perspective” in Hanoi on July 31.

Currently, many coal-fired power plants in Vietnam have yet to reach its maximum capacity, while others have operated for nearly half a century with outdated technologies.

Tran Dinh Sinh, Vice Director of the Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID), suggested that once new plants are built to replace old ones, they should use advanced technologies to reduce environmental pollution.

In addition, Vietnam should pay due attention to efficient management, development and exploitation of energy sources, he added.

The country expects to generate 265 billion kWh of electricity in 2020 and 572 billion kWh in 2030, thus the development of new power sources and renewable energy are a must apart from thermal power.

To Quoc Tru, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Energy Science Council, proposed increasing the production of renewable energy to limit the use of coal-fired power.

Participants said sustainable energy development is common trend on the globe. Thereby, they recommended the issuance of regulations that force investors to use advanced technologies to reduce environmental pollution.

Cambodian leaders receive Vietnamese delegation

Cambodian leaders have received a delegation of former voluntary soldiers, experts and policy beneficiary families led by President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association (VCFA) Vu Mao, who is in Cambodia from July 28 – August 3 at the invitation of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA). 

At a reception on July 29, President of the Senate of Cambodia Samdech Say Chhum affirmed that Cambodia and its people always bear in mind support by Vietnamese officials, experts and voluntary soldiers in toppling the Pol Pot genocide regime and fueling development in the country at present. 

He spoke highly of the VCFA’s contributions to raising young generations’ awareness about the bilateral friendship and solidarity and how to promote such relationship in the future. 

Vietnam is helping Cambodia train thousands of students, which provides an important workforce source for Cambodia’s future development, he said. 

Meeting the delegation on July 31 morning, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and CVFA President Men Sam An wished that the VCFA would serve as a bridge linking the two peoples, particularly young generations together, in order to further foster bilateral traditional friendship. 

Vu Mao briefed the hosts about the VCFA’s activities over the past years, adding that the association is launching the campaign “Nurturing Friendship” among Cambodian students in Vietnam. 

He said former Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, experts and policy beneficiary families always look forward to returning to Cambodia and are delighted to witness positive changes in the country. 

The delegation is scheduled to offer incense and lay a wreath at the Vietnam-Cambodian Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh, meet Great Supreme Patriarchs Tep Vong and Bour Kry, and visit several tourist attractions in the capital city.

Ho Chi Minh City develops social housing

Ho Chi Minh City aims to build about 20,000 social houses, 35,000 concentrated residential places for workers at industrial parks and 10,000 others for students during 2016-2020. 

To that end, the city will classify subjects to social housing, targeting revolutionary contributors, low-income earners, the poor, those near the poverty line, workers in and outside industrial and processing zones, and officials, according to Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee.

The houses will be built in different areas to serve different purposes and sold at prices ranging from 300 million VND (13,200 USD) to about 1 billion VND (44,000 USD), he said. 

At the same time, the locality will adjust the State budget for social housing, accelerate administrative reform to make it easier for relevant investment procedures, and publicise the list of eligible social housing projects. 

The national housing development strategy targets 12.5 million sq.m of social and affordable housing by 2020.

Contest teaches kids skills against sexual abuse

Inmates aged between 10 and 20 living in HCM City’s shelters and disadvantaged children taking part in welfare projects were taught how to protect themselves from sexual abuse in a contest held on Sunday.

The contestants performed plays, songs, and fashion shows on the topic of protecting children.

The most impressive play was staged by children from Hoa Hồng Nhỏ Shelter in District 7.

It was about a woman who borrowed money to gamble. After running up large loans, she tries to force both her two daughters, one a child, to have sex with lenders.

The older sister refuses to accept this and the two complain to the police.

The play’s message is that when anyone faces a risk of sexual abuse, they should not hesitate to report to the authorities.

Sexual harassment on public transport and ways for children to protect themselves was highlighted through the plays in the contest.

The contest also told the children about their rights under the new Law on Children, which came into effect in June.

A 15-year-old boy who takes part in the HCM City Child Welfare Association’s Tre Xanh project -- whose beneficiaries are orphans and people whose parents are in prison -- said in real life he often faced the situations highlighted in the plays.

The contest had taught him how to recognise and avoid the threat of sexual abuse, he said.

Lương Thị Thuận, chairwoman of the HCM City Child Welfare Association, said: “Relevant agencies are paying close attention to helping children protect themselves from abuse. The whole community is joining hands for this task, but it is important for children to know how to protect themselves."

The contest was held in co-operation with Dynamo International-Street Workers Network.

New State budget rules start today

Starting today, establishments that draw funds from the State budget will have to publicise their budget estimates and balance every quarter under a new Circular of the Ministry of Finance.

Establishments can publicise the information at meetings, post the information at their headquarters or issue publications on their budget estimates and balance.

Budget-related information can also be publicized through the media or on company websites.  

Relevant ministries, agencies and People’s Committees at all levels are responsible to examine the publication of State budget estimate and balance of establishments within their jurisdiction.

Violators will be punished in line with current regulations.

The publication of information must be done no later than 15 days after the end of the quarter and the six-month period.

In another regulation that kicks in August 15, the Electricity of Việt Nam will be allowed to adjust the average electricity retail price every six month under a decision issued by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. The price change must be done transparently, publicly and within the price framework regulated by the Prime Minister.

If the electricity price is increased 10 per cent higher than the current rate or affects the macro-economy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Finance to inspect and review the price adjustment to submit to the PM for consideration.

Also from August 15, monthly pensions, social insurance allowances and social allowances will increase by 7.44 per cent for eight groups, including public officials, workers, soldiers, police and those receiving pensions for occupational accidents and diseases.

Malaysian fisherman sent home

The Border Guard High Command of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung tau on August 1 handed over a Malaysian fisherman, who was in distressed in Vietnam’s waters, to the Malaysian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Suhaimi Bin Muhamad, born in 1976, was rescued on July 23 by fishing boat coded BV 96868 TS when he was drifting at sea in bad health condition. 

He was then taken ashore by a rescue ship of the Maritime Rescue Centre Zone 3 before being handed over to the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Border Guard High Command.

Zahirudin Abd Wahid, Vice Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City, thanked the Vietnamese side for rescuing and caring for the Malaysian national.-

Children prove talent combining mathematics and fine art

The most creative children were awarded in the final round of the contest titled “Critical thinking through painting 2017”, which was held on Sunday at the Việt Nam University of Fine Arts in Hà Nội.

The contest was organised by Mathnasium Vietnam, a centre that aims to introduce children to new and creative methods in learning mathematics.

In the final round of the contest, children had to draw paintings which include a circle, square, rectangle, logenze, trapezium and other shapes.

The first, second and third prize went to children whose paintings have the most original idea, the most interesting style and the most variation in colours.

Eleven-year-old Lê Phương Thảo from Hà Nội won first prize for her painting with the most original idea.

This final round attracted the participation of 200 candidates aged 5-15, from Hà Nội, Hưng Yên, Hải Phòng and Đà Nẵng, out of 2,000 contestants participating since the eliminator round in mid July.

Besides this, there were 10 consolation prizes for creative drawings and 10 hope prizes for the drawings that were the most amusing.

Organisers said the contest aims to affirm that mathematics is not so “dry”, and that it can even be very “artistic”. Through the contest, children can develop different skills including creation and logical thinking that are important for their success in the future. It can help children be more confident, more creative and continue to apply to logical thinking in mathematics as well as in arts and in life.

This is the second year Mathnasium Vietnam has organised this contest for children in the north of Việt Nam. In the first edition of this contest in 2016, thousands of children competed in different rounds.

The contest is highly appreciated by parents because it created an interesting playground for children.

“I thought that my daughter didn’t want to learn mathematics because this subject is difficult. But through the contest, I found that mathematics has high practicality, not only in life but also in the arts, in particular in painting,” Vân Anh, a mother of a girl who participated in the contest, said.

“While participating in this contest, my daughter could paint her dreams in vibrant colours. I hope that the contest will be organised in the coming years, so the children can prove their talent in painting and in learning mathematics.”

The total value of the awards at the contest goes up to VNĐ100 million (US$4,400). Mathnasium Vietnam began operating in HCM City in March 2011. Mathnasium currently has 34 centres in the country with 10,000 students studying. Mathnasium first appeared in the United States and was developed by mathematics professor Larry Martinek.

Photo exhibition on Vietnam-Laos relations opens in Xiang Khouang

A photo exhibition highlighting the fine relations between Vietnam and Laos and between Ho Chi Minh City and Xiang Khouang province opened on July 31 in the Lao province.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang said that the bilateral friendship was founded by late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and his Lao counterpart Kaysone Phomvihane and has been nurtured by generations of Party and State leaders and peoples.

The relations are a precious asset and an important factor for each country’s revolutionary triumph and development, he affirmed.

The official, who is also President of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association’s Ho Chi Minh City chapter, said that the exhibition and the launch of a children’s reading room at the library of the Xiang Khouang province are gifts from the city to Xiang Khouang, thus helping the two peoples understand more about the close relationship between the two countries.

The library of the Xiang Khouang province was a gift from former Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and was constructed by Ho Chi Minh City and the Lao province.

Over 5,000 people to walk for AO victims, disabled people

More than 5,000 people are expected to join a charity walk at Dam Sen park in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of August 5.

The event is organised by the municipal Red Cross in support of agent orange (AO)/dioxin victims and disabled people.

Last year, a similar walk helped the organisation raise more than 1.3 billion VND (57,200 USD) to aid about 2,800 AO/dioxin victims and provide nearly 750 million VND (33,000 USD) worth of wheelchairs for the disabled.

US National Defence University delegation visits Vietnam

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 31 for a delegation from the US National Defence University (NDU). 

At the meeting, Nam expressed his hope that through this trip, the US officers will learn about Vietnam and the VPA, thus contributing to cooperation between Vietnam and the US as well as between the two armies. 

General Gregory S.Martin, a senior lecture of NDU’s Capstone Course, who is also head of the delegation, said the visit is an important part of the Capstone Course’s curricular, helping the members to learn more about the regional situation and Vietnam’s concerns and priorities. 

At the meeting, Nam answered the US officers’ questions regarding the regional situation, Vietnam’s foreign and defence policies and potential for defence cooperation between the two countries.

Austria – the fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in the EU

Austria is 5th largest trade partners of Vietnam from the EU, with a trade value of US$3 billion last year and US$1.5 billion in the first half of this year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

austria – the fifth largest trade partner of vietnam in the eu hinh 0 During the first half of this year, Vietnam’s imports from Austria were worth US$192.7 million, while exports reached US$1.3 billion.

Telephones and components ranked first among major export products to Austria with US$1.1 billion, accounting for 81.5% of total export value and up 16.32% compared to the same period last year. Machines, equipment and tools came second among export items, however they saw a high growth of 73.03% to US$20 million, followed by garments at US$19.9 million (up 32.64%).

It is noteworthy that ceramic goods were new among products that shipped to the European country in this period.

In general, most export products to the market in the first half of this year enjoyed a positive growth (66.6%), and only 33.3% suffered a decline, of which, wood and timber products saw the deepest fall at 31.12%. 

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City battle dengue fever

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are in a battle against a dengue fever epidemic that has already affected tens of thousands of people across the country.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are in a battle against a dengue fever epidemic that has already affected tens of thousands of people across the country.

Despite a large number of patients, experts have warned that the mosquito-borne disease has yet to enter its peak season.

Over 5,000 cases have been recorded in Hanoi, two of which have been fatal.

Several districts in the capital have seen a ten-fold increase of patients compared to the same period of last year.

According to Nguyen Van Kinh, director of the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, over 250 people are admitted to the infirmary for dengue fever on a daily basis.

“We have added 1,000 beds and 280 doctors and nurses to provide treatment for patients suffering the disease,” Kinh said.

The Hanoi Center for Preventive Medicine under the municipal Department of Health has sent employees to spray mosquito repellent at locations at high risk.

In Ho Chi Minh City, major clinics including Children’s Hospitals 1 and 2, and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases are close to being overloaded by the large number of patients from the metropolis as well as other southern provinces.

About 11,195 cases have been recorded in the southern hub as of July 29, up by 24%, the municipal Department of Health reported, adding that four people have been killed by the disease this year.

Families have taken all types of measures to prevent mosquitoes from reproducing as a way of protecting themselves against the illness.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City battle dengue fever

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are in a battle against a dengue fever epidemic that has already affected tens of thousands of people across the country.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are in a battle against a dengue fever epidemic that has already affected tens of thousands of people across the country.

Despite a large number of patients, experts have warned that the mosquito-borne disease has yet to enter its peak season.

Over 5,000 cases have been recorded in Hanoi, two of which have been fatal.

Several districts in the capital have seen a ten-fold increase of patients compared to the same period of last year.

According to Nguyen Van Kinh, director of the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, over 250 people are admitted to the infirmary for dengue fever on a daily basis.

“We have added 1,000 beds and 280 doctors and nurses to provide treatment for patients suffering the disease,” Kinh said.

The Hanoi Center for Preventive Medicine under the municipal Department of Health has sent employees to spray mosquito repellent at locations at high risk.

In Ho Chi Minh City, major clinics including Children’s Hospitals 1 and 2, and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases are close to being overloaded by the large number of patients from the metropolis as well as other southern provinces.

About 11,195 cases have been recorded in the southern hub as of July 29, up by 24%, the municipal Department of Health reported, adding that four people have been killed by the disease this year.

Families have taken all types of measures to prevent mosquitoes from reproducing as a way of protecting themselves against the illness.

Lotus design for Hanoi's new largest theater not everyone's cup of tea

Hanoi has revealed the design for its largest theater – a six-story building with six giant lotus flowers rising up from a lake.

In a country where more than half of the population is online most of the day, the project has once again started a lot of chatter.

A common theme seems to be people asking if the spending is necessary, or if the money should be used for schools, hospitals and roads.

But this time, there’s a new debate that can be summed up in one word: “Again?”

The public appears to have had enough of lotus-inspired constructions.

The transport ministry has also chosen a lotus-themed design for Long Thanh Airport, a multi-billion dollar international airport in the southern province of Dong Nai that will be the largest in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City’s tallest skyscraper, Bitexco, also bears the image of a lotus bud.

And that's just to name but a few.

Members of the public say that the image is being “abused” and is getting “boring”, adding that designs that copy a real object are uncreative and dated.

Experts are also objecting to the latest idea.

Tran Nhat Khoi, a university lecturer in Hanoi, said designs are often based around a traditional icon, but "it does not have to be a lotus every time,” he told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

His colleague Khuat Tan Hung said the designers are applying a biomimetic design, which is not a good idea.

He said a successful design should be inspirational, like the Sydney Opera House.

The theater in Cau Giay District, originally named "Lotus", will cover four hectares (10 acres). The main audotorium is designed to hold 2,000 people, while the entire building will be able to host 25,000 guests.

Officials said construction is expected to be completed next year. The estimated cost has not been revealed.

The city hopes that the theater, together with four horse race track which will be started later this year, will bring in more tourists.

Hanoi aims to attract 4.3 million foreign visitors this year, up 7.5% from 2016.

Policies needed to ensure sustainable livelihoods for disadvantaged group

Policies to ensure sustainable livelihoods for disadvantaged labourers must be resilient and not depend on outside support, heard a conference held by the Institute for Workers and Trade Unions in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31.

According to Vu Minh Tien, Deputy Director of the Institute for Workers and Trade Unions, disadvantaged workers, who find it difficult to secure stable jobs, account for 25 percent of total labourers in the country. 

By the end of 2016, there were 13 million disadvantaged labourers, including 4.2 million people with disabilities, 6.5 million impoverished labourers, 1 million migrant workers, 180,000 labourers with HIV/AIDS and 190,000 drug addicts and prostitutes. Eighty percent of them live in rural areas and have received little education or vocational training.

Although disadvantaged labourers in rural areas can access state loans, they were still trapped in poverty, said Vo Van Tan, Chairman of Can Gio district’s trade union.

Vu Van Hieu, lecturer from Ton Duc Thang University, stressed that residence registration rules have been a barrier to migrant workers. They should not be used to distinguish between local people and migrants, which hampers migrant labourers’ access to job opportunities and other social services, he added.

For her part, Le Thi Nhung, lecturer of the University of Labour and Social Affairs, underlined that capacity, health, competence and public discrimination hampered disabled workers from finding work.