Ca Mau: Coastal residents to benefit from disaster risk reduction project

A coast section is eroded in Song Doc town of Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province 

More than 24,000 people in Ca Mau province are expected to benefit from a community-based disaster risk reduction project in vulnerable areas in the Mekong Delta, heard a workshop on January 29.

The Ca Mau project, funded by Save the Children Korea, will be carried out from now through to 2020 at a total cost of nearly 10 billion VND (432,300 USD). The coastal communes taking part are Tam Giang Tay and Vien An of Ngoc Hien district, and Nguyen Viet Khai and Phu Tan of Phu Tan district.

Project coordinator Doan Thi Ngoc Ha said over 8,700 residents in the four communes will directly benefit from this project, which is also set to bring indirect benefits to more than 15,300 others through information sharing workshops and public address systems.

In the next two years, the project is hoped to help 80 percent of the targeted households access early warning information and gain better awareness of disaster response procedures. It is set to improve water quantity and quality for low-income families and increase the number of households using flood-proof toilets and waste management models.

Notably, the project will build and implement disaster risk reduction plans with the participation of schools so as to create a safe learning environment, Ha added.

Chairwoman of the Ca Mau Women’s Union Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong said Ca Mau has been one of the localities hardest hit by climate change in recent years. Relevant agencies estimate that the province has lost over 8,000ha of coastal forest land over the last 10 years, and this figure is still rising.

With a view to promoting the community’s preparedness and response to natural disasters, the project will help the coastal communes gain sustainable access to water sources, improve sanitary conditions, and create a safe learning environment at local schools, she noted.

Executive of Thu Thiem project management board dies

A deputy head of the planning management division under the Thu Thiem New Urban Area Management Board was found dead today, January 28.

He reportedly fell from the ninth floor of the management board’s head office at 255 Tran Hung Dao Street in District 1, Tuoi Tre Online newspaper reported.

Other executives of the Thu Thiem New Urban Area Management Board found the deceased’s notebook near the staircase banister of the building’s ninth floor.

A representative of the management board stated that the deceased had shown signs of depression before his death. He had repeatedly tendered his resignation from the Thu Thiem New Urban Area Management Board due to personal reasons.

The police of District 1 is carrying out an investigation into the cause of his death.

Ninh Binh flower market bustling before Tet

Dong Son village, Tam Diep city, Ninh Binh province is known for peach blossoms. For years, Dong Son peach blossom has been sought after by merchants nationwide, and the plants have been a major economic boon for local people.

Vu Thi Vi’s household has had years of experience planting peach blossom. Her garden has many peach blossom plants of up to seven years old, all full of buds with price up to 4 million VND each.

Merchants and consumers far and wide are coming to buy the ornamental plant here. Pham Xuan Thuy’s household has even prepared for next year’s peach blossom season already.

Dong Son village has the largest area for growing peach blossom trees in Ninh Binh province, with up to 800 households growing and selling these ornamental plants over 120 hectares. Thanks to these ornamental plants, the livelihood of people has been improved remarkably, with per capita income exceeding 42 million VND per year year. In the coming years, Dong Son authorities will continue to support growers on capital, training classes on techniques to help improve the quality of Dong Son peach blossom plants.

Officials of Cambodian provinces pay pre-Tet visit to Tay Ninh

The meeting between officials of Cambodian provinces and Tay Ninh province on January 29 

Officials from some Cambodian provinces offered greetings to authorities and people of southern Tay Ninh province during a visit on January 29 ahead of Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Governor of Prey Veng province Chea Somethy, on behalf of the Cambodian provinces of Tboung Khmum, Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham and Oddar Meanchey, wished leaders and people of Tay Ninh health, happiness and good luck in the New Year.

He noted that thanks to the two Governments’ attention, the Cambodian provinces sharing the borderline with Tay Ninh have inked comprehensive and long-term cooperation agreements with the Vietnamese side. 

They have recorded encouraging results in economic, trade and social partnerships and in ensuring security and order in border areas, thus bringing a number of benefits to their people, especially border residents, he added.

Chairman of the Tay Ninh People’s Committee Pham Van Tan thanked the Cambodian provinces for their Tet greetings.

In 2017 and 2018, Tay Ninh and the Cambodian provinces of Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Tboung Khmum and Kampong Cham officially inked cooperation deals and carried out many programmes to boost bilateral economic and trade ties.

He asked the relevant sides to keep cooperation under the signed agreements so as to enhance the solidarity, friendship and collaboration between the two countries, as well as between Tay Ninh and its neighbouring provinces in Cambodia.

In memory of bustling market ahead of Tet in Hanoi’s suburban areas

Periodical markets are places where one can buy products made and raised directly by sellers 

Housewives today can spend a few hours shopping for all the necessary food and supplies for Tet (lunar New Year) holiday. However, many of them still go to outdoor markets in suburban areas to buy indigenous specialties and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere ahead of Tet.

Hanoi’s downtown now has many supermarkets and shopping centres, which are full of shoppers during the last days of the lunar month to collect all of the necessary items to prepare for Tet. For those who are too busy, they can just make a call or go online and then ‘chung’ cakes, boiled roosters, and branches of peach flowers will be shipped to their houses.

However, there are also periodical markets in the outskirts of Hanoi. Nguyen Thi Hoa from Kim Lien Apartment Block in Dong Da district revealed that some of the largest periodical markets in Dong Anh district include Sa market in Co Loa commune and To market in Uy No commune, which open for shoppers six times a month.

During the markets’ last session of the year, not only traders but households in the localities gather there to sell their specialities and products. The markets these days are bustling with a cheerful atmosphere as everyone is excited to prepare for Tet.

There are many more popular periodical markets which are held twice every week across Hanoi, including Sa, To and Dau markets (Dong Anh district), Thanh Nhan market (Soc Son district), Nua market (Thach That district), Cao market (Thanh Oai district), Goi market (Dan Phuong district), and Phu market (Quoc Oai district). A few of them are hosted inside spacious buildings but most of them are staged in old tents in an open-air space.

On the last two sessions of 2018 of Sa market in Dong Anh district, a seller was advertising green ‘dong’ leaves, which are used to wrap ‘chung’ cakes, while manually splitting bamboo poles into thin strings. In a tent next to hers, sticky rice was preserved on a large cast-iron pot, shoppers picked up a double handful of rice to test the rice quality and aroma. Vermicelli, black fungus, dried bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and other specialties were also on sale at the market.

The market was crowded with traders and shoppers and full of noise as people were chatting with each other and bargaining with sellers for a more reasonable price. Although supermarkets can offer buyers a wide range of indigenous products, the interaction between buyers and sellers at outdoor markets is so unique that it can bring them closer.

Periodical markets are places where one can buy products made and raised directly by sellers: a bunch of green bananas, chickens, flowers, vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products. There are also many daily utensils that are not popular any more in big cities, such as baskets and racks made from bamboo.

Despite living in Hanoi for many generations, most Hanoians are rooted from rural villages. Therefore Hanoians still remember their roots so that the traditional cultural practices are still preserved and handed down to younger generations.

Once a cause for celebration, Tet is now expected with dread

Society has changed and celebrating Tet also needs to change. (Photo: The thao - Van hoa) 

It is less than three weeks before the Lunar New Year, or Tet, formally arrives and as usual a repeated call for combining Tet with the Western New Year has re-emerged, with some even moaning “Everything is perfectly OK, why does Tet come about?” For a growing number of Vietnamese people, Tet is becoming somewhat of a reluctant occasion.

Tet used to be an eagerly anticipated event when people sat beside the banh chung pot and enjoy the sacred atmosphere at the turn of a new year. But now the fear for Tet is becoming prevalent among quite a lot of people. In the lead-up to the Lunar New Year, the streets in big cities are always teeming with people driven into a shopping frenzy for Tet goods.

Tightness could be seen on the faces of almost everyone jostling to get out of the crowd stuck in a traffic jam, which is all too common these days. Tet is going to dump piles of other jobs on the shoulders of the people who are already too busy on a normal day.

Buying gifts for the paternal family, the maternal family, the teachers, the boss, those we need to thank and those we haven’t met for a long time; everyone is worried that they might accidentally miss something. Tet is only once in a year and a little slip could easily invite criticism.

When all the gifts are in place, then comes the headache of what to eat and what to decorate. In the past, eating was the main thing, hence why celebrating Tet is called “ăn Tết” (eating Tet) in Vietnamese. Today when food is abundant all year round, traditional foods such as gio lua, gio xao, banh chung and chicken have fallen out of favour since they are too energy-rich and take a great deal of time to prepare.

That is why time is now spent on scouring the web in the search for new specialties which do not make people feel sick and gain weight. What’s next? The difficult choice of which clothes to put on and how to decorate the house. Such headaches are not exclusive to not-so-rich people, better-off ones are also tired of weighing up one option against another.

In the run-up to Tet, people have to work harder than usual so as to ensure the daily work runs smoothly and Tet preparations are made adequately. The Tet holiday is a time when people are off from their paid jobs, but they must still take on other jobs: eating, drinking, wishing and socialising.

Alcoholic drinks are part of Tet get-togethers and hard to turn down when being plied with. It is why road accidents usually shoot up during the Tet holiday.

For those whose homes are in the countryside but work in town, another of their questions is using which vehicle to go home. And then comes lucky money which is now an obligation.

Those who dread Tet the most are perhaps managers. Tet is still a long way to go but the ambience of Tet is already in the air. The Tet holiday is officially 9 days, but the festive atmosphere could be sensed from the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month when the Kitchen Gods will travel to the Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor what has happened in the past year.

And Tet is not yet over after the final day of the 9-day holiday, it lasts well into several days after people get back to their normal work. The days after Tet are all wishes again and then temple visits. Who dares to say their work is not affected by Tet.

Many choose to get away from Tet by travelling. The first time when leaving Tet behind at home to go somewhere else they could get lectured. But everyone is eventually getting used to it, especially when more and more people are calling upon one another to escape together.

Tet was born in an agricultural society when life was not easy all year round. People used to look forwards to Tet because they would be able to eat good food and wear nice clothes. Tet also coincided with the time of the year when there was little or no farming activity, so people had plenty of time to visit one another.

But Vietnamese society today has changed fundamentally. Life is now faster and busier. In the past, family, clan and village relationships were of great importance and one would be chided if they failed to visit their relatives during Tet. With this custom, the scene of a procession of people in a family going from one house to another to offer their greetings was considered a symbol of a warm Tet.

In today’s society, the self is given more emphasis. People pay more attention to the small family than the large clan. After a year of hardship, many want to spend the Tet holiday for themselves. Nevertheless, the old mentality of Tet is still retained by many people. They still try to carry out all the duties of Tet towards others for fear of getting a bad name.

Certain customs are good, but some have become a burden when society has already changed. Tet in a new age also calls for a new spirit. It is still when people look back to their origins and send wishes to one another, but with a more open and sympathetic mind.

The identity does not necessarily have to be manifested in the form of customs, but of the spirit, especially when such customs have mutated into obligations to fulfil.

Cambodian officials share New Year joy with Soc Trang province

Military officers of Cambodia's Kep province and Soc Trang officials pose for a photo at the meeting on January 29 

Officials from Kep province of Cambodia visited and offered greetings to authorities and people of the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang on January 29 ahead of Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year festival.

Briefing his guests about local development, Vice Secretary of the Soc Trang Party Committee Huynh Van Sum said his province recorded an economic growth rate of 7.2 percent, along with surges in rice output and exports-imports in 2018. 

Soc Trang has always paid attention to enhancing development in local ethnic communities, especially Khmer people, he noted, adding that the Party and State’s policies targeting ethnic minorities have been implemented well. Ethnic households have been provided with houses, residential land, capital for economic activities and social welfares, thus helping with poverty elimination and new-style rural area building.

Additionally, Khmer people’s spiritual life has been improved. Soc Trang has worked to preserve and develop their traditional Ok Om Bok (moon worship) and boat racing festival into a national-level activity, the official noted.

For his part, Chhum Khmao, Deputy Commander of Cambodia’s Military Region 3 and Chief of the Kep provincial military sub-region, also informed Soc Trang officials about his country’s achievements last year.

He appreciated the precious support that Vietnam as well as Soc Trang province has given to Cambodia, including Kep province. He particularly highlighted Vietnam’s assistance for his country in the fight against the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

At the meeting, the officer wished authorities and people of Soc Trang many successes in the New Year.

Traditional Cham musical instrument courses conclude

Nearly 40 children have a chance to learn how to play traditional Cham musical instruments during the courses - PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ORGANIZER

Two courses on how to safeguard Vietnam’s cultural heritage, with a focus on traditional Cham musical instruments ginang and paranung drums and saranai flute, have wrapped up in Binh Nghia and Bau Truc villages of Ninh Thuan Province.

Started in mid-October 2018, the courses took place every weekend by Cham master musicians for nearly 40 local school-aged children.

In the same manner, the community film club with young participants from Binh Nghia Village also completed its first three short documentaries on participants’ views on their own heritage.

These programs were carried out by the British Council in Vietnam to ensure that communities of heritage owners benefit from community-based efforts to safeguard and promote their cultural heritage.

Press competition on Party building launched abroad

Winners of third national Bua Liem Vang Press Awards honoured

The Party Committee of overseas Vietnamese representative offices on January 28 launched the fourth Bua Liem Vang (Golden Hammer and Sickle) Press Awards, calling for entries on Party building.

The competition aims to encourage Vietnamese people to get involved in disseminating information and promoting understanding about the Party’s policies and Party building work.

The third edition of the competition received warm response from Party organisations in overseas Vietnamese representative offices as well as Party members and Vietnamese people living abroad.

The organising board received a total of 52 entries, a 6.5-fold increase compared with that of the previous edition. The Party Committee selected 26 outstanding works to present two A prizes, four B prizes, eight C prizes and 12 consolation prizes, and sent eight of them to the preliminary round of the third national Bua Liem Vang Press Awards, with one entering the final round of the national competition.

The third national Bua Liem Vang Press Awards honoured four A prizes, 10 B prizes, 15 C prizes and 25 consolation prizes, which had been selected from more than 1,800 entries.

The award drew the participation of people from all walks of life, both at home and abroad, showing the increasing attention of the public to the Party’s activities.

Many entries reported on the fight against deterioration in political ideology, morality and lifestyle among a portion of Party members and against corruption and wastefulness.

They also covered the Doi Moi (renewal) cause, the restructuring of the political apparatus and training of officials of different levels.

Many models of good practice and good Party members were also reported.

Bac Lieu to build more large-scale model fields

The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu will be launching a project to encourage the consumption of farm produce and restructure its agricultural sector towards sustainable development this year. 

Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Luong Ngoc Lan said Bac Lieu will build five large-scale model fields and a production chain on a site of 25,000ha in 2019; six large-scale model fields and a production chain on 31,000ha in 2020; and 10,000ha of rice fields up to VietGAP standards and organic rice by 2025. 

In order to achieve such targets, the province will refine infrastructure, build a system of cooperatives and working groups, and adopt modern technology and comprehensive mechanisation in production. 

Major firms are encouraged to invest in infrastructure in order to expand rice production. 

The department also suggested the provincial People’s Committee allocate capital to build VietGAP and organic rice production models, improve the quality of local rice specialties, and choose high-quality varieties that are adaptable to climate change. 

Last year, Bac Lieu built 21 large-scale model fields with a cultivation area of roughly 11,400ha, out of the total of about 34,200ha.

Vice President attends celebration of Party anniversary in Vinh Long

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (in black) presents bicycles to poor students on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Source: baovinhlong.com.vn)

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh attended a ceremony marking the 89th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930-2019) in the southern province of Vinh Long on January 29. 

At the ceremony, the Vice President presented the noble titles that the President had conferred on collectives and individuals in the province.  

On the occasion, 19 local mothers with family members sacrificing their lives during the national liberation war were awarded, some posthumously, with the title “Heroic Vietnamese Mother,” and 17 families with members killed during actions in the liberation war were presented with the third-class Independence Order. Seven collectives and individuals were conferred with the Labour Order for their outstanding contribution to national construction. 

The provincial Party Committee also presented 70-year, 65-year, 60-year, 55-year and 50-year membership Party badges to some Party members.

Addressing the ceremony, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Tran Van Ron underlined the contribution made by the Party organisation and people of Vinh Long to the victory of the Party and the nation. In the cause of Doi Moi (renewal), the provincial Party organisation has successfully mobilized the people to work together to develop the province. 

In 2018, for the first time the provincial Party organisation achieved and surpassed all 24 key targets, including a GDP growth of 6.17 percent and per capita GDP averaging 44.8 million VND (around 1,940 USD). The province has fulfilled the goal on building new-style rural areas two years ahead of schedule, with 45 out of 89 communes winning the title. 

The same day, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh visited and delivered 50 gifts to workers and needy people, along with 50 bicycles to poor students on the occasion of the Lunar New Year.

Cambodian officials extend New Year greetings to Long An

Officials from the Cambodian provinces of Svay Rieng and Pray Veng visited Vietnam’s southern province of Long An on January 29, on the occasion of the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. 

Svay Rieng’s Governor Men Vibol and Chairman of Pray Veng’s Council Sbong SaRat extended their New Year greetings to the Party Committee, authorities, and people of Long An province. 

They lauded the achievements the Vietnamese locality recorded in 2018 and expressed their wish that the solidarity and friendship between the two countries, and especially amongst provinces which share a common border line, will be tightened. 

Tran Van Can, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Long An province, also expressed his hope that the localities will continue to cooperate effectively in 2019 and the years to come, especially in border trade and services. 

He called for joint efforts in accelerating border demarcation and marker planting, thus building a common border line of peace, friendship, and mutual development. 

In 2018, Long An and the two Cambodian provinces worked hard to deepen the traditional friendship and cooperation, contributing to spurring local socio-economic development. 

Long An’s economy grew by 10.36 percent and its annual per capita income reached 68.62 million VND (2,968 USD). Progress has also been made in social welfare, national security and defence, and external affairs. 

In early 2019, Long An held many activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the victory of the southwestern border safeguarding war as well as the Vietnam-Cambodia joint victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime (January 7).

Hau Giang: Gifts presented to help all enjoy happy Tet

President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man (R) presents gifts to social policy beneficiaries in Thanh Xuan commune of Chau Thanh A district, Hau Giang province, on January 29 

Officials of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) offered Tet (Lunar New Year) greetings to disadvantaged workers, social welfare beneficiaries, and low-income people in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang during a visit on January 29.

At the Nha Be Garment Corporation in Vi Thanh city, President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man presented gifts, including 1 million VND in cash and necessities, to 50 underprivileged workers.

The Hau Giang Confederation of Labour and the company itself also handed over gifts to 200 workers in the spirit of a merry Tet, Vietnam’s biggest traditional festival.

Man offered Tet greetings to all workers and encouraged them to overcome difficulties to fulfil production and business targets, thus contributing to local development. He also valued the efforts of local authorities in caring for the wellbeing of labourers.

Visiting Thanh Xuan commune of Chau Thanh A district, Man presented Tet gifts to 100 social welfare beneficiaries and low-income people. He also asked the local administration to increase support for underprivileged families and revolution contributors.

On this occasion, the VFF Central Committee presented 330 million VND (nearly 14,300 USD) and the Ho Chi Minh City VFF Committee donated 500 million VND to the Hau Giang Fund for the Poor.

Also on January 29, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh visited and sent Tet greetings to officers and soldiers of the Central Military Court, the Central Military Procuracy and the Criminal Investigation Office under the Ministry of National Defence.