Woman suspending cancer treatment to save her kid passes away

Sub-Lieutenant police officer Dau Thi Huyen Tram, 25, who refused to receive cancer treatment to save her unborn baby passed away yesterday after two week struggling with her cancer.

She was diagnosed to have last stage lung cancer which spread to liver. Doctors proposed that she should postpone pregnancy for cancer treatment, but she insisted on keeping her baby.

During her pregnancy, Tram refused to have treatment methods to keep her unborn baby despite pain. Until the pregnancy is 29 weeks and three days when her illness got worse, doctors performed a C-section surgery to save the baby. Her baby boy weighed 1.2 kilogram and he is being taken care of in the National Maternity Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Two die of dengue fever in Highland province

The Preventive Medicine Center in the Highland Province of Kon Tum yesterday said that dengue fever outbreaks re-occurred in the province, affecting 1,387 people and killing two.

Districts having most cases of dengue fever are Dak To with 495 cases; Dak Ha with 441 cases and Kon Tum city with 264 cases. However, the figure in statistics by health officials is thought to be less than the real number in localities because many inhabitants go to nearby drugstore to buy medication without doctor prescription rather than going to medical clinics for treatment.

According to the province’s Preventive Medicine Center, residents’ neglected behavior to the disease is the major cause for dengue fever outbreaks. Residents are not willing to kill mosquitoes, its larva, throw away water containers where mosquitoes usually lay eggs into

On the same day, the Ministry of Health said that the dengue fever is develop complicatedly with escalating number of infection cases. In July only, the country has over 5,560 cases of dengue fever with two deaths. Since the beginning of the year to now, around 45,000 dengue fever cases in 46 cities and provinces including 14 deaths. Worse, this year figure increased 2.6 times higher than the same period last year which is considered the peak season of the disease with nearly 40,000 infection cases.

Head of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Medicine Department Tran Dac Phu said that the Ministry asked locality authorities to launch campaign to kill mosquitoes and its larva  as well as spray chemicals in households in a bid to curb spreading of the disease.

Over 54,000 labourers work abroad in H1

The Department of Overseas Labour (Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs) has reported that 54,131 Vietnamese labourers went to work abroad in the first 6 months of this year, accounting for 54.13% of the year’s plan.

The Department  said that, Taiwan (China) is the market receiving the largest number of Vietnamese laborers (over 29,200 laborers), followed by Japan (over 15,600), the Republic of Korea (over 4,000), Malaysia (over 1,600), Saudi Arabia (over 1,700 laborers), and others.

The first half of the year saw positive signals in labor export to new markets such as Thailand and Australia. The Government of Australia has announced to grant 200 visas for Vietnamese citizens to go to the country for tourism, but also allowing work for up to 12 months.

Meanwhile, Thailand and Viet Nam are working together to recruit Vietnamese laborers to work in Thailand in the construction and fishing sectors.

In particular, the signing of a memorandum of understanding on sending Vietnamese laborers to the Republic of Korea has also opened up opportunities for Vietnamese laborers.

From the outset of this year, growth has been seen in the export labour market, with opportunities for Vietnamese workers in new markets such as Thailand and Australia.

This year, a maximum of 200 Vietnamese labourersare expected to get visas for visiting and working in Australia for 12 months.

Thai Cultural Days in VN

Thai Cultural Days in Viet Nam will be organized in Ha Noi and the northern province of Quang Ninh from July 27-August 1 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Viet Nam-Thailand diplomatic ties.

The event is co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Thai Ministry of Culture and the Thai Embassy in Viet Nam.

A series of activities are held such as art performances and exhibitions on handicraft products from Thailand.

Thai Deputy PM, Minister of Culture and Minister of Tourism and Sports will visit Viet Nam and attend the event.

The event is aimed at advertising Thai nation and people as well as creating opportunities for the two nations to meet and exchange culture and tighten their relations.

Vietnamese Cultural Days in Thailand will take place from August 9-14 with artistic performances and exhibitions introducing Viet Nam’s cultural characteristics.

VUS promotes new teaching methods in TESOL conference

The Vietnam-USA Society English Centres discussed post-methods language teaching in its recent conference for educators.

The conference, which is now in its 11th year, is themed “Eclecticism in English language teaching in the post-methods era”. During the one-day conference, more than 2,000 English teachers from Vietnam and overseas have exchanged ideas on combining different English teaching trends to fit with specific contexts.

Topics ranged from teaching in a mixed-ability classroom and integrating multimedia tools to developing verbal and non-verbal skills in learners. Speakers were academics from the City University of New York, Oxford University, Cambridge University and leading publishers such as Macmillan and National Geographic Learning - Cengage Learning.

VUS is the first English language training institute in Vietnam to host the annual conference for Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL).

“Eclecticism in post-methods teaching encourages teachers to draw upon multiple pedagogical theories and ideas to achieve a combined impact, rather than sticking to one rigid scheme.

The participants have examined and discussed this topic in depth, and we hope that our conference will help bring improvements to English classrooms in Vietnam,” noted the Academic Board of VUS.

Also last week, VUS held a graduation ceremony for its 842 students, who had achieved high scores in international English tests like IELTS and TOEFL iBT.

A separate awards ceremony was organised for the VUS Summer: Be A Star contest, in which VUS students showcased their English, singing and photography skills.

HCM City to keep close eye on chemical business after food hygiene scares

In a new effort to address persistent food safety problems, Ho Chi Minh City authorities reportedly plan to tighten control over distributors of chemicals, who are accused of supplying toxins used in many of local foods.

The city will establish an 11-hectare center in District 8 to house more than 600 chemical shops next year, reports said, citing a plan which was discussed at a municipal meeting on July 26.

A majority of the targeted stores are in Kim Bien, a District 5-based wholesale market dubbed "death market" after its exposure by the media as the supplier of dangerous substances in numerous food safety scares.

Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, was quoted as saying at the meeting that removing the chemical business from Kim Bien is not only to secure the market's fire safety.

The "most important" thing is that only when the stores are brought to the center and thus under better oversight would local authorities be able to ensure food safety and hygiene, he said.

HBSO presents Opera Gala Night

The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will organize an “Opera Gala Night” at the municipal Opera House on July 29.

The concert will present to music lovers excerpts and arias from Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” and “Le Nozze di Figaro”, Rossini’s “William Tell”, Bizet’s “Carmen”, Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Mascagni “Cavalleria Rusticana.

The event led by conductor Tran Vuong Thach will be performed by artists, such as Pham Khanh Ngoc, Pham Duyen Huyen, Pham Trang, Tran Duy Linh, Mer. A Tran Hong Vy, Vo Thuy Ngoc Tuyen, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, Dao Mac, Nguyen Vo Thanh Tam, Ly Hoang Kim, Nguyen Thu Huong and the HBSO Symphony Orchestra and Choir.

Ticket will be cost VND200, 000.

Experts warn of increased HAI

Medical experts warned of hospital-acquired infection (HAI) — also known as nosocomial infection — is an infection that is contracted from the environment or staff of a health-care facility which not only caused higher treatment cost and longer stay in hospital but also drug resistance.

Meantime awareness and controlling nosocomial infection are low even doctors neglect washing their hand after and before examining patients.

At a meeting to implement the national action plan on hospital-acquired infection in medical clinics in the period 2016-2020 lately, Deputy Head of the Health Ministry’s Department for Medical Examination and Treatment Dr. Hoang Van Thanh fretted upon increased hospital-acquired infection and its economic consequences. Dr. Hoang said that according to a study on over 9,345  patients in 10 hospitals, it showed that the rate of HAI is 5.8 percent.

Meanwhile, as per a study conducted by the Department of Health in Ho Chi Minh City in state hospitals, the rate of HAI is 6.4 percent. Noticeably, pneumonia patients is vulnerable to HAI with 54.3 percent, next is patients suffering urinary tract infection with 12.3 percent. Dangerously, 10 percent of patients undergoing a surgery all have infection at their incisions.

In many medical clinics, HAI increased complicatedly partly because of overloaded hospitals. Additionally, unhygienic state of many hospital is also a cause of HAI. The Institute of Hygiene and Public Health reported that out of 33 air samples collected by 13 hospitals in HCMC, 26 samples have the proportion of microorganism with six times higher than normal. Worse, the rate of microorganism in big hospitals is even higher.

Consequently, drug resistance especially antibiotic resistance happened leading to complicate treatment. According to a study of Gia Dinh People’s Hospital, more than 93 percent of patients have antibiotic resistant pathogen. The Health Ministry’s Department for Medical Examination and Treatment said that HAI caused longer stay in hospitals and increased treatment cost.

Head of Department for Medical Examination and Treatment Professor Luong Ngoc Khue said that HAI is the major cause of drug resistance, longer stay in hospitals, escalating medical cost and increase mortality rate.

The National Tropical Disease Hospital studied on 3,671 patients in 15 intensive wards of hospitals in the North, the Central and the South and the result showed that the rate of HAi is 27.3 percent and the rate of antibiotic drug doctors’ prescription fluctuate from 60.5 percent to 99.5 percent.

it is clear that HAI causes consequences and financial burden for patients yet HAI prevention task is not good as expected. Overloaded hospitals is not excluded from the cause of HAI. Measles epidemic in 2014 caused 100 deaths for kids was considered as main reason as kids got infection from seriously diseased kids.

Photo exhibition raises funds for disadvantaged children

A photo exhibition entitled ‘Light from the Heart’ is scheduled to take place in Hanoi from August 8-15 to raise funds for disadvantaged children.

The exhibition features 88 photos by a number of journalists and photographers such as Bui Hoa Tien, Nguyen Quang Tuan, Hoang Manh Cuong Tran Thiet Dung, Tran Cao Bao Long, Nguyen Hong Vinh, Kim Manh and Chu Thu Hao.

The photos capture various beautiful moments of the land and people of Vietnam.

Each photo is expected to be sold for VND1 million (nearly US$45). All proceeds from the exhibition will be presented to disadvantaged children living in remote localities.

The week-long event will be held at Hanoi Book Centre at No.4 Dinh Le street.

Japan festival in HCMC set for Nov

Locals and expats will be able to get a glimpse of Japanese culture and ties between Vietnam and Japan at a fourth annual Japanese festival which will take place between November 18 and 20 in HCMC.

The Japan-Vietnam Festival 2016 at the September 23 Park is a cultural exchange program aimed at promoting tourism for Vietnam and Japan. Apart from art and entertainment performances, the festival will feature investment and trade events.

Takebe Tsutomu, a special advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance and head of the organizing committee, said he expected the number of visitors to the upcoming festival to reach 180,000, up from 150,000 last year.

HCMC to build flood control sluice

HCMC is proceeding with a project to build a sluice worth VND230 billion (US$10.3 million) in districts 1 and 4 to control flood tides in the center of the city.

The sluice is envisaged going up in Ben Nghe Canal which stretches 3,100 meters from the Saigon River to Doi Canal, according to the city government’s decision that approves the plan and cost of a contest to be organized to seek the best design for the tide sluice.

The sluice project includes a dam, water control valves, a management area, and embankments that protect works in the downstream area. The valves will be closed when the river water level is higher than 0.6 meter in the rainy season and tides are one meter high.

As the sluice is planned near the city’s landmarks like the State Bank of Vietnam building, Mong Bridge, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and Thu Ngu Flagpole, the city wants to choose a design which meets requirements for flood control and cityscape via the contest.

Preparations for the contest are now underway.

According to an approved master zoning plan, the city would have a dozen sluices to control floods but only one of them has been put into use in Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal.

VND95 trillion sought for flood control projects in five years

The HCMC Department of Planning and Investment has estimated that the city will need nearly VND95 trillion to execute flood control projects in the next five years.

The department gave the number in a recent report sent to the HCMC government. Of the projected amount, VND79.69 trillion would go to those projects belonging to a master zoning plan for the development of the city’s drainage system approved by the Prime Minister. The remaining VND15.22 trillion would be used for a zoning plan for irrigation and flood prevention programs.

HCMC has already arranged VND22.95 trillion for the second phases of Binh Hung wastewater treatment plant and a water hygiene environmental project, and Tham Luong-Ben Cat wastewater treatment facility.

Therefore, the city will need VND71.96 trillion for other projects. The total includes nearly VND7 trillion from the city’s coffers, over VND10 trillion from State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), VND36.4 trillion from official development assistance (ODA) loans, more than VND2.2 trillion from the central budget and VND16.4 trillion from other sources.

Last month, Trung Nam Group commenced work on phase one of a project worth nearly VND10 trillion to control flood tides and adapt to climate change. Scheduled for completion in 2018, the project is expected to benefit 6.5 million citizens in an area of 570 square kilometers.

Other projects funded by private firms comprise 23-hectare Go Dua and 4.8-hectare Khanh Hoi flood control reservoirs, dredging 8.2 kilometers of Xuyen Tam Canal and landscape improvement for an area of 703 hectares at a cost of VND5.1 trillion and rehabilitating Bui Huu Nghia Canal worth VND430 billion.

More remains of voluntary soldiers repatriated from Cambodia

The Mekong Delta province of Long An on July 27 held a ceremony to repatriate the remains of 20 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers who laid down their lives in Cambodia at different periods.

The sets of remains were uncovered and brought back from Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province by Group K73 under the Long An Military Headquarters in the 2015-2016 dry season, with the support of Cambodia.

A commemoration ceremony and burial service for the soldiers was also held at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Vinh Hung district, with the attendance of leaders of Svay Rieng province, the Steering Committee of the Southwestern Region, the Military Zone 7 Headquarters, and Long An province, as well as a large number of locals.

Since 2011, Group K73 has search for and repatriated 2,058 sets of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers from Cambodia to lay to rest in Long An.

The same day, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang also held a burial service in Hon Dat district for the remains of 49 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia as well as two martyrs who laid down their lives during the Southwestern border war.

Among the martyrs, the name of only one has been verified.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mai Van Huynh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee and head of the Kien Giang’s committee for martyr’s remains repatriation, conveyed thankfulness to the martyrs for their sacrifice for national independence and freedom.

Since 2011, K92 Group of Kien Giang has searched for and brought home nearly 1,900 sets of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts’ remains.

Meanwhile, a solemn ceremony was held in Tam Nong Martyrs’ Cemetery in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap to commemorate and re-bury the remains of 63 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers who died in Cambodia and 24 martyrs who fell down in Vietnam.

Rural sanitation campaign launched in Đà Lạt City

A rural sanitation and clean water programme for the Central Highlands and central southern provinces was launched yesterday in Lâm Đồng Province’s Đà Lạt City by the agriculture and rural development ministry (MARD) and the World Bank (WB).

The programme will be conducted in Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk and Đắk Nông provinces, besides Lâm Đồng in the Central Highlands, as well as the southern provinces of Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận.

The programme was earlier conducted in 14 northern provinces of Việt Nam.

The WB committed to give Việt Nam US$200 million for construction work and raising residents’ awareness about using clean water and toilets, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The funds will be given to provinces after their work is completed and will be accessed by a separate organisation.

One positive element of the programme is that all provinces are conducting the national target programme on clean water and sanitation in rural areas, and so have enough manpower and methods to do their work.

The provinces will receive some funds in advance to carry out their work, which will be checked annually.

Phạm S, deputy chairman of the Lâm Đồng People’s Committee, said the province had pledged to implement the programme well to join hands with the whole country in achieving sustainable development and the millennium development goals.

At present, about 43 to 85 per cent of the seven provinces have clean toilets. Gia Lai Province has the least number of clean toilets.

About 20 million people in the country do not have access to clean toilets.

Cuban band brings Latin rhythms to city’s downtown

Living Cuba, a Latin fusion band, will perform at Caravelle Hotel’s Saigon Saigon Bar this summer.

The band, consisting of five musicians who have studied music in Cuba, perform famous songs with their own special approach.

“A real Latin party: that’s what we promise our audiences,” said Joel Rodriguez, leader of Living Cuba.

The band has performed in Venezuela, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, among other countries.

Living Cuba will play from 9pm until late from Tuesday to Sunday. The hotel is located at 19-23 Lam Sơn Square in District 1.

Đinh Mạnh Ninh to live stream show online

Singer Đinh Mạnh Ninh, ex-member of band M4U, will live stream his upcoming concert at Công Nhân Theatre on July 30, taking a pioneering step in Việt Nam’s contemporary music industry.

Entitled Đinh Mạnh Ninh Live!, the special concert will be performed live, recorded and watched online with the highest sound and image quality. Not only will the hundreds in the audience at the theatre enjoy the show in ‘real time’, but also an online audience that has access to TV or digital devices like smart phones or tablets connected to the internet.

The 27-year-old singer’s musical project is conducted by musical producer Mỹ Thanh under the artistic direction of songwriter Hồng Kiên.

“We have spent much time studying the models and experience of many world famous music producers from South Korea, Singapore, England and the US”, said Mỹ Trang, a representative of the music producer.

“Many international artists have caught up with the dramatic developments in technology. The release of CDs or VCDs does not drawn much attention like it used to, and even the music download is on the decline. Now, the most powerful ‘weapon’ capable of surpassing any traditional musical release is streaming, especially on Facebook,” she added.

Ninh said the new form of concert brought him much inspiration and also palpitations as never before.

“When performing in a normal live show, I just have to satisfy the audience at the theatre. In my upcoming musical show, my duty will be double because I also have to perform for the audience across the country who will be watching it live through streaming,” he says.

The singer revealed that he would perform 12 songs, two of which he had already performed, and one being a mashup of four old songs. All the other songs are new.

Đinh Mạnh Ninh Live! draws in the participation of singer Văn Mai Hương, rapper Hà Lê, an orchestra and dancers. All tickets are available for free by calling 0982 586 656, and the project’s turnover will be collected from its views and downloads on the Internet. Online audiences can watch the concert via either the FPT Play application or FPT Television.

After releasing the music video of the concert, its producers will pick out Ninh’s most excellent songs to enter in the upcoming Asia-Pacific music competitions.

As a singer and songwriter who pursues pop and RnB, Ninh has been highly appreciated for his talent. Some of his popular songs include Bài Ca Tình Yêu (Love Story), Xe Đạp (Bicycle) and Mưa (Rain).

Vietnam builds school for OV children in Tonle Sap Lake

The Vietnam Consulate General and the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Battambang province, Cambodia on July 26 inaugurated a school for OV children in KaohChiveang village, Aek Phnom district which is located on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake.

The school is a home to around 120 pupils – children of 259 OV families, who are long-term residents of KaohChiveang village, Aek Phnom district but unable to afford a school for their children.

The construction was funded by Ho Chi Minh City and granted by the city’s Party Secretary Dinh La Thang during his visit to Cambodia in June.

On the occasion, the Vietnam Consulate General offered books, notebooks and three tons of rice to the OV there.

Vietnamese babies returned to parents 3 years after switched at birth

Two girls accidentally switched at birth three years ago were returned to their parents in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on July 25.

The hospital responsible for the mistake now faces possibilities of a lawsuit.

Local authorities have pledged to help both families change relevant identity papers for their children.

Vu Dinh Khien said he had been waiting to get his daughter back, but added that he would continue to support the other child.

Hoang Van Thanh, director of Binh Long Town General Hospital, have apologized to the two families.

The mistake caused serious consequences and the hospital would offer each family VND20 million (US$890) and cover fees for previous DNA tests, he said.

Both families have rejected the offer, without specifying their demand.

The other father, Hoang Van Tuan, said the meager amount is insufficient for the damage caused to both families in the past years.

“I will file a lawsuit against the hospital,” he said.

On January 10, 2013, Khien’s wife, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, and Tuan’s wife, Thi Lien, gave birth to two baby girls at the hospital.

Both weighed three kilograms and were mistakenly handed to the wrong mother.

In May, 2016, Trang’s father visited a nearby village and saw a baby who looks exactly like his daughter.

Both families then filed complaints to the hospital after learning the truth.

Khien admitted that he had doubted his wife’s faithfulness over the past years because the baby girl that they came home with has no resemblance to his family.

Vietnam plans early release of 20,000 inmates by 2018

A plan to release 20,000 inmates by 2018 has been approved by the Vietnamese prime minister, reducing government spending by VND200 billion (US$8.93 million) each year.

The plan is set to be carried out over the next two years, during which those inmates who qualify will have their jail time cut short.

According to the Penal Code of Vietnam, first-time offenders who have been jailed for non-severe crimes and have served at least half of their jail time are eligible to apply for an early release, which will be evaluated on an individual basis by a committee set up by the prisons.

The early releases of inmates who qualify will be organized every three months in the next two years by the Ministry of Public Security and the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam.

Some 20,000 inmates are expected to be released by 2018 following the plan, which translates into two to three inmates per commune-level administration across the country.

With the current annual cost for each inmate at nearly VND10 million (US$446), the plan will cut government spending by around VND200 billion (US$8.93 million) a year, while downsizing prisons in the country by 3,000 officers and wardens.

Those released would enjoy the basic rights of ordinary citizens, except for those that have been restricted in the pronounced judgment, and will be put under monitor by local authorities where they live.

Hanoi Museum unveils major folk art exhibition

The Hanoi Museum has announced that an extraordinary exhibition of folk paintings will open at 5:30 pm on August 18 at its gallery that promises revelatory insight into the world of ethnic art.

The event, held in collaboration with the Hanoi Ceramics Museum, will provide art lovers, history buffs, and culture enthusiasts a fascinating look at paintings and sculptures created when few people had access to institutional learning and were self-taught.  

These citizens—our Vietnam forebears—left behind a visual legacy that serves as the foundation of the art world we experience today.

Among the many paintings are 12 by collector Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa; many ancient Buddhism pieces; maps, posters and print art; and glass paintings of churches and temples that will open guests eyes to the expressive power of art.

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