National Highway 6 section cuts Son La-Hanoi travel time

National Highway No 6 section linking Mộc Châu District of northern mountainous province of Sơn La and Sơn La City was open to traffic on August 24.

The project is part of Vietnam Road Asset Management Project (VRAMP) funded by the World Bank.

VRAMP, aiming to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the road asset management and maintenance practices performed by Ministry of Transport on national roads, is worth a total investment of US$301 million, including $251 million funded by the World Bank and $50 million of counterpart capitals. 

The total length of maintenance of the National Highway No 6 section Km193+000 to Km303+000 covers 110km with total investment of about VNĐ537 billion ($23.4 million).

National Highway No 6 is a key route connecting northwest region with Hà Nội.

Cầm Ngọc Minh, Chairman of Sơn La Province’s People’s Committee said that the road upgrade from Mộc Châu to Sơn La City and from Sơn La City to Hà Nội has reduced travel time by almost one hour, facilitated travelling and contributed to local socio-economic development.

Fire breaks out at Hà Nội Port

A fire broke out around 8.45am on Monday at a goods storehouse in Hà Nội Port on Bạch Đằng Road in the capital city’s Hai Bà Trưng District.

Workers at the store, located in Thanh Lương Ward and owned by VNT6 Design and Consultants Joint Stock Company, called the fire department after they were unable to put out the blaze.

Around 20 fire engines were deployed to the site, and firefighters are fighting to prevent the blaze from spreading but the fire is not stopped completedly. Losses incurred are being estimated.

In another incident, around 8pm on Sunday, a fire broke out at Paldo Vina Co Ltd, a South Korean company that makes instant noodles, in Phù Ninh District’s Đồng Lạng Industrial Zone, in the northern province of Phú Thọ. It was doused at 11pm. No fatalities were reported. The police are investigating to determine the cause of the fire.

Agencies asked to help mountainous localities to respond to natural disasters

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has assigned the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with other ministries and localities concerned to build a master plan on prevention and control of natural disasters for mountainous areas.

The move aims to fix problems still existed in the prevention and control of natural disasters, said the Deputy PM at a conference discussing response to the seventh storm and post-storm floods and rains in Hanoi on August 27.

The master plan is requested to prevent landslides and flash floods in combination with restructuring residential areas and mainstreaming the efforts to ensure sustainable livelihoods with that to protect and develop protective forests in key areas. It is asked to be submitted to the Prime Minister.

The Deputy PM asked localities to keep a close eye on the movements of the seventh storm (internationally known as Pakhar) and its possible threats to minimize its losses.

By the noon of August 27, typhoon Pakhar landed the southern part of Guangdong province, China, bringing gales of up to 33 meters per second. It is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression and likely cause torrential trains.

He asked localities prone to rains and floods to continue reviewing areas vulnerable to flash floods and landslides and proactively design plans to evacuate residents while the national committee for search and rescue prepares forces and vehicles to support localities. 

In the long term, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs to work on a map on geographic accidents in general and landslides in particular. The Ministry and Agriculture and Rural Development is asked to coordinate with professional agencies to soon organize a seminar on geographic accidents and build a project to develop a weather monitoring system in areas vulnerable to natural disasters.

Natural disasters have so far this year left 116 people dead and missing, destroyed 1,030 houses, and caused economic damage worth over 5.6 trillion VND.

Vietnam Airlines delays flights to China due to storm Pakhar

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines decided to adjust the departure time of its flights from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong/Guangzhou of China on August 27 to ensure safety for its passengers as storm Pakhar landed China’s Guangdong early on the morning of August 27.

Accordingly, the carrier delayed flights VN502/503/506/507 from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Guangzhou, and flights VN592/593/594/595 from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong.

The new departure time of these flights are postponed from three to four hours. 

In addition, several domestic flights are delayed as well.

Vietnam Airlines recommended passengers to keep a close watch on China’s weather and the carrier’s information if they have plans to go or leave the country.

For more specific information, passengers can access the carrier’s website www.vietnamairlines.com, contact its ticket offices, or call its hotline 19001100.

Musical performance fosters Vietnam – Laos ties

An art troupe from Vietnam’s Military Zone 9 had a friendly music exchange on August 26 at Laos’ Ministry of Defence in the capital city of Vientiane, celebrating the “Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017”.

Speaking at the event, Lieutenant General Saisamon Salapxeng, head of the Lao Defence Ministry’s Department for Popularisarion and Training, highly valued the musical event, stressing that music exchange is an effective bridge between the two countries. 

He added that the “Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017” helps Lao soldiers and people understand better about the special solidarity with Vietnam as well as their roles and responsibilities for preservation and development of the two countries’ relations.

For his part, Head of the Vietnamese Military Zone 9 ensemble Doan Thanh Xuan expressed his happiness to perform in Laos, saying music will connect cultures, thus promoting friendship and solidarity between the two countries. 

The event consisted of various performances including singing and dancing, celebrating the traditional friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.

Communist Parties of Vietnam, Japan hold theory exchange

The Communist Parties of Vietnam and Japan held their seventh theory exchange in Tokyo on August 26-27, discussing changes in the regional and world situations as well as challenges and prospects for the two countries.

Speaking at the event, Politburo member and Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Head of its Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh said that amid complicated developments in the global situation, the two parties need to have correct assessments and forecasts to carry out appropriate policies and solutions.

He stressed the importance of coordinating in studying and sharing viewpoints on the international situation to help the two parties enhance trust, mutual understanding and collaborate more effectively at international forums for a goal of building a world of peace, stability, prosperity and development.

The exchanges like this have contributed to perfecting Vietnam’s theories on the roadmap to socialism and to drawing up the country’s policies.

Chinh expressed his belief that through this event, the friendship, cooperation and trust between the two parties will be consolidated and intensified, thus contributing to developing the Vietnam-Japan relations.

Former President of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Fuwa Tetsuzo, who is director of the JCP Social Sciences Institute, said that at present the JCP only conducts the theory exchange systematically with the Communist Party of Vietnam.

He stated he believed this exchange will help strengthen the two parties’ operations.

Three discussion sessions are scheduled to take place at the two-day exchange.

Vietnam-RoK cultural exchange organised in Seoul

A Vietnam – Republic of Korea (RoK) cultural exchange festival was held in Seoul on August 27 to celebrate Vietnam’s 72nd National Day (September 2, 1945) and the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (December 22, 1992).

Vietnam’s Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tu said more cultural and people-to-people exchanges have been held between the two countries, contributing to stepping up the bilateral friendship and mutual understanding. 

President of the Vietnamese Women’s Association in the RoK Mai Thi Hong Ngoc said that the event aimed at promoting Vietnam’s culture and people to Koreans and international friends.

She expressed her hope that through art performances and Vietnamese cuisine, the festival will help tighten the friendship between the two countries which hold a lot of cultural similarities.

Kim Hae-ryon, a representative from the Seoul city council, appreciated the contributions made by the Vietnamese community to her country’s development.

She vowed to do her utmost to support the Vietnamese community and nurture the two countries’ relations.

Some 150,000 Vietnamese people are living and working in the Republic of Korea.

Japanese Communist Party leader welcomes CPV delegation

Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Shii Kazuo hosted a reception for Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and his entourage in Tokyo on August 27.

Chinh congratulated the JCP on its new progress after its 27th congress as well as its success in the Tokyo council election.

He briefed his host on Vietnam’s current situation and the seventh theory exchange between the JCP and the CPV, while discussing measures to consolidate relations between the two parties.

For his part, Shii Kazuo expressed his delight at the fruitful results of the seventh theory exchange as well as the growing partnership between the two parties over the past years.

He thanked the CPV for its support for the JCP, expressing his hope to further strengthen the solidarity, trust and cooperation between the two parties in the future.

On August 26-27, the CPV delegation led by Pham Minh Chinh conducted the seventh theory exchange with the JCP led by Fuwa Tetsuzo, former JCP Chairman and head of the JCP’s Social Science Institute.

During the exchange, the two sides informed each other of the situation of each party and country, while discussing the world and regional issues.

Hoa Binh intensifies cooperation with Laos’s Luang Prabang

The northern province of Hoa Binh and the Lao province of Luang Prabang have agreed to strengthen their friendship and cooperation.

The consensus was made at the working session on August 26 between Secretary of Hoa Binh’s Party Committee Bui Van Tinh and visiting Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Luang Prabang Khamkhanh Chamthavisouk.

They also agreed to intensify cooperation in tourism, agriculture, hydropower generation, and build an information exchange mechanism.

At the meeting, the two leaders informed each other of their provinces’ 2016-2017 socio-economic development.

Within the framework of their working visit, Lao officials visited a historical relic site in Hoa Binh’s Military High Command where a preparatory meeting of the second National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party took place.

Hanoi’s Vietnam-France Friendship Association bridges capitals

The Vietnam-France Friendship Association’s Hanoi chapter convened its fifth congress on August 27, during which it set to strengthen the introduction of the city’s culture and people to foreign friends.

In the 2017-2022 term, the association will expand its external relations and international cooperation as well as cultural exchanges to promote the city’s image.

The association will also act to boost economic, cultural, sport and tourism connections between Vietnam and France as well as the two capital cities.

At the same time, the association will organise humanitarian events to help the needy.

At the congress, the association elected a 30-member Executive Committee for the 2017-2022 tenure headed by Nguyen Lan Trung, Vice Standing President of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association’s Central Committee.

Addressing the event, Trung said that despite difficulties, the Vietnam-France Friendship Association in Hanoi effectively implemented its plan, contributing to the people-to-people relations of the city.

Along with joining people-to-people diplomatic activities, the association also engaged in friendship events to introduce Hanoi to international friends in general and in France in particular, while helping French friends to study the culture, architecture and socio-economy of the capital city.

The association was formed on August 2, 1996. It has 18 chapters with thousands of members.

Toyota Vietnam recalls over 20,000 cars for airbag issue

Toyota Vietnam will start recalling 20,015 cars, including Vios and Yaris models, across the country from August 28 to replace airbags produced by the Japanese firm Takata, said the car manufacturer.

The Japanese automobile maker will recall 18,138 of its Vios models assembled in Vietnam from January 5, 2009 to December 29, 2012 and 1,877 Yaris units imported into the country from September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2012.

According to the manufacturer, the propellant used in Takata air bag inflators may deteriorate if it is exposed to temperature variations in humid climates over a long period of time, causing the inflators to explode and spray shrapnel into passengers.

Toyota Vietnam said it will check and replace the airbags free of charge at all of its branches across the country. 

Previously, on July 20, 2015, Toyota Vietnam announced a recall of 3,958 of its Corolla and Vios models over an airbag fault. 

Joint Vietnam-Japan circus performance to entertain Vietnam audience

Vietnamese audiences will be dazzled with a special circus programme jointly held by the Vietnam Circus Federation (VCF) and the Happy Dream Circus Japan from September 1.

The programme, organised to mark 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties (1973-2018) and celebrate Vietnam’s National Day (September 2), will be in Hanoi until December 1 and then travel to several other cities and provinces from December 2 to April 1, 2018. 

At a press meeting on August 25, VCF Director Ta Duy Anh said that the programme will enhance mutual cultural understanding between Vietnam and Japan. 

Top Vietnamese circus artists will perform in the programme along with 13 performers of Happy Dream Circus Japan, he said. 

Hanoi: new dengue fever cases drop

The number of new dengue fever cases in Hanoi has dropped in the recent two weeks but is still high, heard a meeting of the Steering Committee on Epidemics Prevention and Control in Hanoi on August 25.

A report from the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health showed that Hanoi tops the list of 10 localities with highest dengue fever cases nationwide.

The municipal Department of Health reported 19,962 dengue fever cases with seven deaths from January 1 to August 22. The virus was found in all 30 districts and wards, mostly in inner city. 

Hanoi has conducted large-scale spraying of anti-mosquito chemicals, while promptly tackling small and newly-detected outbreaks.

Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine Tran Dac Phu said that in the coming time, the health sector will focus on killing mosquitoes in outskirt localities and adjacent provinces.

Since early this year, as many as 100,417 dengue fever cases have been reported nationwide, a rise of 47.9 percent year on year, with 26 deaths, 9 more than the same period last year.

The southern region accounted for 52.7 percent of dengue patients, northern region had 29.1 percent, and the central region 14.9 percent.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the two leading localities with highest cases and deaths.

Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long asked Hanoi and other localities to roll out stronger measures to suppress dengue virus on the threshold of the new academic year.

He also called for cooperation from ministries, sectors and the community in the work.

Children raise voice against violence, abuse

As many as 200 children aged between 9 and 15 from 48 cities and provinces nationwide voiced their concern about violence and sexual abuse against children at a dialogue held in Hanoi on August 26.

The dialogue was part of the fifth National Children’s Forum jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and relevant ministries and foreign organisations.

The children also expressed their opinions about how to reduce child labour and prevent cyber violence and abuse against children. 

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan affirmed that the children’s opinions will be taken into account during the building of legal documents, planning and projects related to children.

Regarding child participation rights, an official from the MoLISA said that parents need to enhance their own knowledge about children’s rights and understand their wish. Children should be given opportunities to contribute their opinions about relevant documents and policies through forums and public media.

Communication works for children must be renovated to suit children’s psychology and the relations between teachers and students at school should be improved, the official added.

Meanwhile, Chief of Social Policy and Governance at UNICEF Vietnam Yoshimi Nishino said that individuals and social organisations should join hands to prevent violence against children, which leaves negative psychological and physical impacts on them.

A good legal framework will create foundation to enforce children’s rights, she said, adding that outdated traditions or practices affecting children must be abolished.

ASEAN Golden Festival opens in Hanoi

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Women Community’s Circle in Hanoi (AWCH) jointly held the ASEAN Golden Festival in Hanoi on August 26 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN.

Attending the event were Tran Nguyet Thu, the spouse of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Nguyen Nguyet Nga, , representatives of Foreign Ministry and Hanoi, and ambassadors from ASEAN countries and other countries in Hanoi.

Addressing the event, AWCH Honorary President Nguyen Nguyet Nga, who is the spouse of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, said that from a divided region with conflicts and poverty, ASEAN has become an area of peace, unity and prosperity, a community of self-reliance, dynamism and solidarity, a family with shared vision and a common identity.

She highlighted that ASEAN is now playing a central role in the region with a rising position in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

On behalf of ASEAN countries’ embassies in Hanoi, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Noel Servigon said that the festival is an important event that helps improve public awareness on the diverse cultures of ASEAN members through the introduction of their music, dances, games and foods.

At the event, participants enjoyed an art performance featuring ASEAN countries’ cultural identities, and joining traditional games and foods.

A photo exhibition at the festival also impressed visitors with photos showing the nation and people of ASEAN.

Milk gifted to schools in flood-hit provinces

The Ministry of Education and Training and Dutch-owned dairy company FrieslandCampina in Vietnam have donated 30 tonnes of milk to schools in northern provinces, which were badly affected by floods that began at the end of July.

The schools are in the districts of Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai Province, Muong La in Son La and Tan Son in Phu Tho.

At the handover ceremony, Colonel Hoang Van Tong, deputy head of the ministry’s department of national defence, encouraged staff and students at the schools to try and overcome their difficulties caused by the floods.

Kindergarten and primary school students in disadvantaged areas in the provinces of Son La, Dien Bien and Ha Giang also received 12 tonnes of milk earlier.

The Ministry of Education and Training  conferred a Certificate of Merit on FrieslandCampina Vietnam for providing nutrition to children, especially in disadvantaged border areas.

HCM City prepares for world cultural festival with Gyeongju

Ho Chi Minh City is committed to creating best possible conditions for the organisation of the HCM City–Gyeongju World Cultural Festival 2017, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem.

Liem made the remark at a meeting with Joo Joong Chul, Deputy Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do province in the southern economic hub on August 25. Gyeongju is a city in the Republic of Korea’s Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Liem said HCM City always listens to feedback and opinions from the RoK’s side during their joint preparation for the festival. 

Joo Joong Chul thanked the city authorities and relevant agencies for their assistance and cooperation goodwill, and asked for further support to ensure the success of the festival.

Reporting on preparation progress, he requested HCM City leaders to help extend the use duration of land used for materials storage serving construction of facilities for the festival, particularly in key areas like the 23/9 Park and Nguyen Hue Street. 

He also asked for more intensive promotion of the festival on the local media and across streets.

Taking into account his guest’s recommendations, Liem tasked relevant agencies with working with the RoK side to promptly tackle these issues and ensure preparation process to run on schedule.

The HCM City- Gyeongju World Cultural Festival 2017 is set to kick off in mid-November and last for 25 days. Featuring a host of cultural-art events, sport and youth exchanges as well as trade cooperation activities, it will take place across popular public gathering sites such as the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, 23/9 Park, and Ben Thanh theatre.

Painting contest promotes Vietnam-Denmark friendship

All Vietnamese primary pupils can paint their dreams and send their works to a painting contest launched by the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam in Hanoi on August 25.

The initiative is part of the annual cultural exchange themed “Denmark in our eyes” which aims to promote the Vietnam – Denmark diplomatic ties.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Christian Brix Moller said over the past ten years, Denmark has supported student-centred art teaching at primary schools in Vietnam. 

How the new teaching method inspires creativity among children will be seen through the contest, he said.

According to Cultural Counsellor of the embassy Ane Kirsten Andersen, the event presents an opportunity for primary students to develop their creativity and imagination while contributing to enhancing the friendship and cultural understanding between the two countries’ people, especially young generations.

Candidates can send their entries to the Vietnam – Denmark Friendship Association at 105 A Quan Thanh street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi from August 25 to October 6.

The award ceremony will be held in November. A special prize winner will receive a Canon camera and a lego kit.

Vietnam seeks trade links with Algerian locality

Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Pham Quoc Tru recently visited Tlemcen province from August 22-24 to promote economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the province.

During a working session with Benyaiche Ali, Governor of Tlemcen, the Vietnamese diplomat highlighted the relations between Vietnam and other nations, particularly Algeria, and expressed his hope to bolster the multilateral cooperation between the two sides, including at local level.

Tru pointed to the good potential for partnership between Tlemcen, which is a leading cultural, tourism hub of Algeria, and Vietnamese localities. He asked the province to coordinate with him to promote links with Vietnam’s localities.

Benyaiche Ali valued the traditional friendship between the two nations, and expressed his hope to develop the relationship between the locality with Vietnam, particularly the possibility to develop twinning relations with a province or city of Vietnam.

During the stay, Tru also had a working session with the provincial Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local firms.

The two sides briefed each other their own potential and market, and exchanged measures to promote cooperation and connection between businesses of Tlemcen and Vietnam.

The Chamber called on Vietnamese firms to invest in producing consumer goods, textiles, footwear, mechanical manufacturing, electronics, agriculture and construction in Tlemcen.

He also proposed establishing links between his organization and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that a delegation of local firms may attend the Vietnam Trade Fairs (Vietnam Expo) in November.

Project to end violence against women, girls launched in Da Nang

The women’s union of Da Nang and UN Women jointly launched a Asia-Pacific regional project on enhancing measures to end violence against women and girls in the central city on August 25.

The Vietnam component of the project, which aims to mobilise the community’s engagement in preventing violence against women and girls, will be implemented from 2017 to 2020 with financial support from the Australian Government.

The project is to create changes directly benefiting women and girls, enhance knowledge to end violence, and share evidence and practice across the Asia-Pacific region.

It also targets changing prejudices and increasing accountability of regional and national organisations to implement policies to end violence against women and girls.

According to Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh, in Vietnam, six out of ten women are victims of domestic violence. She cited the UN’s estimates as saying that domestic violence in Vietnam caused economic losses equivalent to 3.2 percent of the country’s GDP.

The municipal authorities and people will actively engage in fighting violence against women and girls, thus building Da Nang into a safe and friendly city, he stressed.