Hanoi, Poland’s capital share experience in urban planning

Hanoi wishes to learn from experience of Poland’s capital city of Warsaw in urban management and preservation of traditional architectures, said a municipal official.

At a working session on March 30 with a visiting delegation from the Warsaw City Council, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Council Phung Thi Hong Ha said Hanoi is also interested in Warsaw’s experience in managing natural resources, minerals and land.

The experience sharing will contribute to strengthening cultural exchange and multifaceted cooperation between the two sides, she noted.

Warsaw representatives said that Poland do not make planning at national level but municipal level, which is valid in only 10 years and adjusted to meet demands.

Regarding measures to develop areas inhabited byethnic minority groups, Nguyen Anh Duong, deputy head of Hanoi’s Department for Ethnic Affairs, said that Hanoi has 37 ethnic minority groups living in 30 districts, with about 70,000 people, accounting for 1 percent of the city’s total population.

The communities often live in areas far from the city downtown with poor economic and infrastructure conditions, he said.

Hanoi has invested about 15 million USD each year ininfrastructure development in ethnic communities, with the involvement of the whole political system, added Duong.

Meanwhile, the Warsaw side shared that the city has 21,000 registered immigrants living in the city centre, including those from Vietnam.

Each year, the city holds programmes and activities to enhance cultural exchangebetween the communities as well as foster solidarity among countries, notably the annual Warsaw Festival that has been run for 20 years.

During the festival, artists from various countries gather and perform in Poland, thus introducing different cultures to immigrants.On the occasion, Warsaw also invited Hanoi’s leaders to attend the festival. 

Vietnamese is the second largest community in Poland. Hanoi also asked Warsaw to continue supporting Vietnamese people in socio-economic and cultural development, while maintaining exchanges between the two cities to boost the Vietnam-Poland partnership.

Thanh Hoa brings rice to over 19,000 needy students

More than 19,400 disadvantaged students in the central province of Thanh Hoa will receive over 1,170 tonnes of rice in the second academic semester this year under a decision of the provincial People’s Committee.

Each student will be provided with 15 kg of rice per month.

The provincial People’s Committee asked the Department of State Reserves in the locality to transport and deliver rice to students in a timely manner and in line with legal regulations. Meanwhile, the provincial Department of Education and Training is required to coordinate with relevant agencies to instruct and examine the distribution of rice to students in districts.

Tens of thousands of disadvantaged students are residing in the province’s mountainous areas. The rice support programme will help reduce burden for students, their families and schools and make significant contribution to maintaining school attendance rate and improving students’ health as well as education quality.

Hanoi hosts 6th Vietnam-US pediatrics conference

The 6th Vietnam-US Pediatrics Conference officially opened in the Bach Mai General Hospital, Hanoi, on March 30, bringing together leading domestic and foreign pediatric experts.

The two-day event serves as a forum for participants to share experience in diagnosing and treating diseases for children relating to pediatric emergency, respiratory, neonatal care, hematological diseases in children and poisoning. 

Prof. Nguyen Gia Khanh, Vice President of the Vietnam Pediatric Association, affirmed the Vietnamese health sector has promoted international cooperation in the field and many advanced technologies and techniques have been successfully applied in Vietnam, contributing to saving many children from fatal diseases. 

The periodic organisation of the conference helped improve the professional ability of Bach Mai hospital’s medical staff and promote connection with the US side, which sees strong development in pediatric treatment. 

Studies presented at the five events have become precious materials for Vietnam, and been applied in medical examination and treatment, and research and application activities in the country. 

Associate Prof. PhD Nguyen Quoc Anh, Director of the Bach Mai hospital, said the hospital’s pediatric ward always closely coordinates with domestic and foreign hospitals to take modern technologies into examination and treatment for children suffering life-threatening diseases. 

The hospital has annually shared experience with delegations of experts from countries with developed medicine like the UK, France, and the US, he said, adding that enhanced coordination among wards in the hospital has also contributed to caring and treating patients.

Late respectable surgeon honoured in a meeting

A solemn meeting to celebrate the 100th of the birth anniversary of former Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hoàng Đình Cầu (1917-2005) was  held in Hà Nội on Thursday to honour his great contributions to human well-being.

Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến said at the event that Professor Cầu was among the country’s most prestigious and respectable scholars. His career and cause laid a strong foundation for the progression and breakthrough of the country’s healthcare system, he added.

Cầu was born in 1917 in central Nghệ An province in an intellectual family and began work as a doctor after his university graduation in 1944. He founded the first-ever surgeon branch in North Việt Nam (at the Saint Paul Hospital in Hà Nội) as well as the first pulmonary surgeon branch of the country. During his career, he successfully operated on 2,000 patients with pulmonary diseases.

He also compiled a French-Vietnamese dictionary of medical terminology and Russia-Vietnamese medical terminology. He also compiled other medical encyclopedias in Vietnamese language.

Apart from a long and distinguished career as a pulmonary surgeon and researcher, Professor Cầu was also recognised by his peers as a leader: he was president of the Việt Nam Medical Association for 17 years. Yet his best-known work in the country remains his chairmanship of the 10-80 Committee, which was set up to investigate the after-effects of the use of chemicals, such as Agent Orange, during the war. During his career, Professor Cầu showed an unending passion for his patients and his mission.

First “Head for the open sea” festival held

The Việt Nam Farmers’ Association hosted the “head for the open sea” festival in coastal Hải Phòng City on Thursday, calling people to join hands in protecting the marine environment and securing sovereignty over the sea and its islands.

The festival, the first of its kind in Việt Nam, included activities like an incense offering ceremony to memorise those who died at sea, a whale worshipping ceremony and the release of baby shrimp/ fish into sea in the city’s Cát Bà Island District.

The farmers’ association and Hải Phòng City People’s Committee teamed up to give local fishermen national flags to fly on their sea trips.

A fleet of fishing boats steamed off to the high seas, traveling around Cát Bà Bay and representing the hope of bumper catches.

President of Việt Nam Farmers’ Association Lại Xuân Môn told Nông thôn ngày nay (Countryside today) newspaper that the festival aimed to honour fishing activities, fishermen and their contributions to the country’s economy and national defence.

“To fishermen, “Head for the open sea” celebrates their life and their pride. During smooth or rough seas, they keep going, not only seeking economic benefits but also affirming Việt Nam’s sovereignty over sea and islands,” Môn said.

The festival is also expected to call on further co-operation among relevant parties including sea guards, navy, marine police and enterprises to support fishermen “head for open sea” and bring home bumper catch, he said.

Môn added that the festival will be held annually. 

Medicinal plants to be country’s valuable items: PM

Vietnamese Prime Minister wanted the herbs will become one of the country’s valuable items, at a meeting with leaders of the Vietnam Material Medical Society yesterday in the government’s office.

Speaking at the meeting, Association Chairman Ta Ngoc Dung said that because the supply is unable to meet the local demand, 80 percent of herbal medicine in the country are imported. 

There has been no planning for local herbs and additionally, domestic production of medicinal plants did not meet the Guidelines on good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) developed by WHO.

At present, just 18 out of 300 kinds of Vietnamese medicinal plants are certified by WHO’s GACP. Loose management threatened consumers’ safety especially high-quality herbs being mixed with substandard ones while inspectors are unable to trace back the origin of the plants.

Stressing to Vietnamese quality, value and brand name, the PM said that it needs to attach plant production with traditional herbal medicine as well as the combination between traditional remedies and modern medicine. 

The PM asked the Ministry of Health and related agencies to work out policies for the orientation of medicinal plant development which will be delivered in the upcoming meeting.

Quang Nam signs cooperation agreement on science & technology

People’s Committee of Quang Nam province and Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology yesterday morning co-signed an agreement about science and technology cooperation in period of 2017- 2020. 

Quang Nam and Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology co-signed an agreement about science and technology cooperation

At the signing ceremony, the locality desired to further cooperate with Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in the fields of organic and high- technological agricultural production.

Director of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology Prof. Chau Van Minh said that the agency will provide ideas, plan and strategy to boost the development of domestic as well as foreign commercialization

Ten geological stations of Academy of Science and Technology were located at Tra My district of Quang Nam to serve measure of earthquakes and epicenter location near the area of Song Tranh.

Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 opens Facebook page for street vendors

The Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 administration has turned a suggestion to having local street vendors meet their customers on the internet, rather than the sidewalks, into a reality.

While an ongoing campaign led by the district’s deputy chairman Doan Ngoc Hai is focused on  reclaiming walking space for pedestrians, the vendors who once operated on the affected sidewalk areas have found themselves with no place to operate.

At a meeting on March 20, Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City administration, tasked District 1 authorities with indentifying a reasonable plan that would allow vendors to continue to earn a living without blocking the pavement.

The official suggested that there should be zoned areas for street peddlers, adding that seeking out ways for street vendors to harness the power of the internet should also be considered, according to Nguoi Lao Dong (Laborer) newspaper.

Just days after Tuyen put the idea forward, a Facebook page named “Am thuc Quan 1,” or District 1 Cuisine, was created, attracting curiosity from local users of the world’s largest social network.

Despite such curiosity, by March 24 morning the page (https://www.facebook.com/phohangrongsg) had only attracted 170 likes and very few posts and photos.

Lam Ngo Hoang Anh, chief of the secretariat of District 1 administration, confirmed to VnExpress on March 24 that the page was created by his office.

The page is meant to promote products from street food sellers and eateries in District 1 who have been affected by the ‘sidewalk clearing’ campaign, Anh told the Hanoi-based newswire.

The official added that it is still ‘under construction’ and is scheduled for an official launch early next month.

“We have tasked members of the district’s Youth Union with promoting the page and helping vendors to open their own Facebook pages to advertise their food,” Anh elaborated.

According to VnExpress, District 1 authorities believe that the Facebook solution will stop people from occupying the sidewalks and generate delivery jobs for the ‘online street vendors’.

However, the street vendors themselves are skeptical about the idea.

Pham Thi Mai, a 75-year-old sweet soup seller near Saigon Square, told VnExpress she does not feel optimistic about relocating from the sidewalk to Facebook.

“I used to sit down under a tree to serve people from nearby offices who want to support an older seller like me,” she said.

“Who will buy my soup if I go online?”

Cuc, who sells grilled bananas near Ben Thanh Market, is worried that no one will help her with delivery if she transfers her operation online.

Saigon looks underground to solve chronic congestion

The city aims to open at least one underground parking lot this year.

Ho Chi Minh City is working on plans for underground development across the city, which will involve public projects such as parking lots and subway stations.

The city’s Department of Urban Planning and Architecture has been ordered to submit a proposal to the prime minister for review next month.

Details have not been discussed but the plan is believed to include a number of underground parking lots. The city aims to complete at least one of them this year.

Investors of private buildings will be encouraged to connect their underground spaces to the public spaces developed by the city, it said.

As the most crowded city in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is home to nearly 13 million people, including migrants. By the end of last year, vehicles in the city had increased to 8.5 million, including more than 600,000 cars, according to official figures.

Travelers are being caught up in heavier and more regular congestion. Public buses in December reported that the average travel speed in the city had slowed to only 18 kilometers per hour.

The city also faces a severe lack of parking space, and this has been exacerbated by the ongoing sidewalk campaign that has banned parking on roadways and sidewalks.

Authorities in the city approved a plan back in 2012 for underground development in District 1, which includes roads, parking lots, bus stations and shopping malls under Le Loi, Nguyen Hue and Ton Duc Thang streets, around Ben Thanh Market and at Me Linh Point near the Opera House.

Chinese tourist influx to Ha Long Bay brings smiles, grimaces

Quang Ninh Province, which prides itself on the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay, has received thousands of Chinese holidaymakers to spend the weekends in March, which has brought both opportunities and challenges to local tourism agencies.

The Mong Cai border gate, the main entrance for Chinese tourists to get to the northern Vietnamese province, normally welcomes 8,000 to 10,000 entries a day, up to 3,000 of which are from China.

However, over the last weekends, the number of visitors passing Mong Cai spiked to 15,000 a day, with Chinese arrivals accounting for up to 70 percent.

On the morning of March 25, a 45-seater tour bus was spotted every two to three minutes at Tuan Chau International Port in Ha Long City, the province’s capital city.

Most of the excursionists were from China.

In less than three hours, more than 250 orders were issued to tourist ships to dock and cater to 5,000 tourists.

The crowds even bulged toward noon.

The waiting lounge teemed with commotion and dialog, mostly in Chinese.

The parking lot was packed with more than one hundred 45-seater buses carrying Chinese tourists.

As observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, most travel firms chose Bai Chay Resort as their guests’ rest stop.

Groups of Chinese tourists are a common sight along Ha Long-Cai Dam Streets in Bai Chay Ward as they take a stroll and do the shopping, particularly in the late evening, when Ha Long Bay is closed to visitors at the end of the day.

According to Dang Tuan Ha, vice-director of Tuan Chau International Port, the locality normally received less than 3,000 tourist arrivals per day in March in previous years.

Vu Duc Truong, one of the tourist accommodation providers in Ha Long City, said Chinese arrivals have surged by over 30 percent against the same period last year.

“Chinese vacationers have booked all of our 300 rooms. They typically check in at around 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm and check out early the next morning,” he added. 

Nam, owner of a boat which usually carries Chinese holidaymakers, noted a 50-percent spike in contracts in March compared to the post-Tet (Lunar New Year) period.

A tourism expert attributed this rise to the soaring travel demand among Chinese nationals, particularly after rumors have circulated that China has banned its citizens from going on trips to South Korea.

“The easy traffic access between Quang Ninh-Hanoi and southern Chinese provinces, lax tourist visa policies, low travel costs coupled with intensified promotion efforts have also resulted in higher Chinese arrivals,” this expert stressed.

Industry insiders have attributed the unusual spike of Chinese arrivals to Quang Ninh to the fact that travel firms in China are offering affordable tours to the Vietnamese province at this time of the year, so middle-income Chinese holidaymakers have grabbed the opportunity to travel.

Trinh Dang Thanh, vice-director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, embraced the influx as a great opportunity to boost the provincial tourism sector and prove its magnet to international travelers.

The surge in tourist numbers will also add a considerable amount in terms of border entrance fees to the province’s budget, and lure investors to build hotels, resorts, offer recreation services and improve traffic infrastructure.

“This will help accelerate the economic shift from the mining industry to tourism, and create jobs for many locals,” he stressed.

Thanh, however, admitted the incursion might bring problems and worsen services without proper management.

“Overcrowding may put pressure on environmental protection, security and order. A number of service providers have not operated properly or adopted ploys to lure guests, marring the overall tourism environment,” he added.

Many shops selling food and souvenirs to Chinese vacationers have also showed signs of dishonesty.

A big issue for local tour operators are the dirt cheap prices offered by Chinese tour organizers that spare the tourists from all costs except airfare.

These organizers will squeeze the remainder from their customers during the actual trip.

Illegal Chinese guides take the tourists to affiliate shops where they are ripped off and the extra money goes into the pockets of the tour organizers and guides.

Many of such Chinese-run shops often change their illegal status and names, while Chinese tour guides use fake guide certificates or none at all, particularly on peak days.

At a recent meeting addressing tourism issues, Nguyen Duc Long, chairman of the Quang Ninh People’s Committee, initiated a campaign to rid the local tourism environment of undesirable activities and restore its image.

Competent agencies will carry out tight inspections on travel firms and impose stringent sanctions on violators.

However, several tourism insiders think Vietnam needs a long-term strategy to tap into the Chinese tourist market.

“We need to clearly define the market and take proper care of Chinese tourists. We should never dismiss them as cheap holidaymakers as they usually book high-class hotels and their overall expenses are high,” one of them said.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre, Ngo Hoai Chung, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, asserted measures must be taken to ensure no discrimination against any group of tourists and all vacationers can enjoy their stay in Quang Ninh to the fullest.

The VNAT had a working session on March 22 with the province’s leaders to better tackle the situation.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Pham Trung Luong, former deputy head of the Tourism Development Research Institute, pointed out that “zero tour packages” offered by Chinese travel firms have contributed little to the local coffers and hardly benefited Vietnam’s tourism industry.

He called for better state control and closer inspection as well as measures to raise awareness among local people and service providers so that they will not collude with fraudulent Chinese counterparts to do harm to their own country’s tourism industry.

Hanoi: International travel mart to offer huge discounts

Sponsors of an international travel mart set to transpire August 6-9 in Hanoi have announced that some 45,000 airline tickets and 15,000 travel packages with huge discounts will go on sale at the event.

Vu The Binh, chair of Vietnam Society of Travel Agents, said so far 650 organizations from 25 countries in the travel sector have registered to set up stalls at the event that expects to draw an estimated 60,000 visitors.  

The event titled VITM 2017 is sponsored by the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents, Hanoi Department of Tourism and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. 

Samsung introduces VNĐ8.5 billion Talent Programme 2017

Samsung Việt Nam officially introduced Samsung Talent Programme 2017, (STP) on a larger scale and with a higher value of VNĐ8.5 billion (US$379,000) compared with the previous years.

For the first time, nine universities and academies in the north have participated in STP, namely Hà Nội University of Science and Technology, Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, University of Engineering and Technology (Việt Nam National University) and Hà Nội University of Industry, as well as University of Transport and Communications, University of Information and Communication Technology, Thái Nguyên University, Military Technical Academy, Academy of Cryptography Techniques of Việt Nam and Thủy Lợi University.

Samsung officially launched STP in 2012 with one university. In 2014, three universities received support from STP, and in 2017, the number of STP participants has increase to nine universities. Within five years, STP has become a valuable supporter for the development of IT and Electronics-Telecommunications (ET) human resources in Việt Nam.

The programme includes a series of activities targeted at significantly contributing to the development of Việt Nam’s IT human resources, such as awarding STP scholarship, supporting algorithm application course and Samsung Mobile Lab, organising "Business Internship" programme for upcoming graduates, funding research projects and holding contests on programming and software.

Samsung Việt Nam is currently working with the nine universities to introduce the programme to students. These workshops will take place from March 21 to April 3.

The annual programme is offering 360 scholarships with total value of VNĐ10 billion for outstanding students and 10 Samsung Labs for nine universities. So far, it has been sponsoring Java, Android, Tizen, Algorithm Application and Korean courses for over 3,400 students and research projects worth more than VNĐ5 billion.

With a desire to accompany the young generation, Samsung has implemented many programmes contributing to promoting knowledge and career orientation, such as programming contest “Samsung Challenge Contest” in 2016 which attracted 1,300 students to register, “Samsung Talkshow” 2015 at four universities with the participation of over 2,000 students, and field trips to Samsung factories – called “Samsung Discovery” -- for 12 universities and 1,000 students.

Ha Giang police arrest 2 with fireworks haul

Police in the province of Hà Giang have arrested two people suspected of illegally selling and storing nearly 650kg of fireworks.

The two suspects, Nguyễn Văn Tùng, 31 from Tuyên Quang Province and Hoảng Văn Phúc, 21 from Hà Giang’s Quản Bạ District were arrested on Thursday.

Earlier, on March 26, the police received information from a local about a suspect shipment at the bus station in Hà Giang City’s Nguyễn Trãi Ward.

Upon inspection, the police detected five cartons containing some 130kg of Chinese-made fireworks.

The investigation agency seized the shipment and issued an urgent arrest warrant for Tùng - the owner of the goods.

Following a further search, police also arrested Phúc and seized 19 cartons containing 500kg of fireworks.

The case is under further investigation. 

Festival marks Vietnam-ROK diplomatic ties

A Vietnam-the Republic of Korea (ROK) festival called ‘We are together’ will take place at Sungnam Arts Centre (ROK) on April 29 to mark the 25th anniversary of Vietnam-ROK diplomatic ties.

This is the first time famous Vietnamese singers including My Linh, Dinh Huong, Uyen Linh, Minh Hang, Hoang Ton, Ta Quang Thang and Trung Quan Idol and comedians will perform at an event in the ROK. Korean artists are also invited.

The ROK has so far held diverse cultural activities in Vietnam such as the Music bank 2015 in Hanoi, Vietnam-ROK food festival and Vietnam-ROK traditional dress show.

Kim Kang Wook, representing the organizing board said the festival is held specially for Vietnamese people who are studying, working and living in the ROK.

The festival will include entertaining games, a talent contest for Overseas Vietnamese, funny comedies, a photo exhibition on Vietnam-ROK friendship, and exchanges with Vietnamese artists  and the concert ‘We are together’. The non-profitable event is expected to attract a large number of Vietnamese people in the ROK to take part in.

The music festival will be broadcast on VTV2 on May 27.

Prime Minister requires Mekong river silt report

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has required relevant ministries to report on danger of lacking silt in Mekong River.

Currently the media report that Mekong River calls for help because silt does not flow down.

According to the information, experts have warned that 95 percent of silt volume from the Mekong River will be blocked by hydropower dams, accelerating disaggregation and subsidence.

The Mekong Delta might be immerged and disappear if the situation goes on, they said. 

The Prime Minister requires the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Mekong River Commission of Vietnam to report on the information. 

Lao Prime Minister highlights financial cooperation with Vietnam

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith applauded the effective and close cooperation between his country’s finance ministry and its Vietnamese counterpart while receiving Vietnam’s financial officials in Vientiane on March 30.

He asked the two sides to increase information and experience exchange, noting that Vietnam’s experience is valuable, especially when Laos is coping with difficulties in budget collection.

Vietnamese Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung thanked the Lao PM and Government for facilitating the two ministries’ cooperation, briefing the host leader about the outcomes of a high-level seminar on the management of taxation, customs and treasury earlier the same day.

Vietnam is ready to share its experience and assist the Lao Finance Ministry to develop the treasury, taxation and customs systems, he added.

Also on March 30, Minister Dung and his Lao counterpart Somdy Duangdy, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister, co-chaired the 13th meeting of the steering board for the two ministries’ cooperation.

The two sides reviewed their partnership in 2016 and discussed cooperation programmes for this year. They also updated each other on their respective countries’ macro-economy and financial and budget management activities.

They agreed to approve the cooperation plan for 2017 and specified cooperation priorities for 2017-2020. 

Accordingly, Vietnam’s Finance Ministry will continue helping its Lao counterpart in institutional reform and overhauling the legal framework for public debt management, budget collection, and organisation of taxation, customs and treasury sectors. 

It will also support the Lao financial personnel to improve their capacity through training courses, including on-the-spot training at the Vietnamese ministry.

Both ministries also concurred in enhancing mutual visits at all levels, continuing infrastructure construction for some schools managed by Laos’s Finance Ministry, and raising the quality of personnel exchanges.

Vietnam, Laos talk financial management experience

Vietnam shared its experience in managing taxation, customs and treasury sectors with Laos at a high-level seminar in Vientiane on March 30.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Somdy Duangdy said the event would look into Vietnam’s experience as well as shortcomings of and orientations for the management of the three sectors in the country. 

These are valuable to the Lao ministry as they will contribute to local socio-economic development, he noted.

Vietnamese Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung briefed participants of the development of the three sectors and the finance ministry’s management of the sectors, which, in his words, helped to regulate budget collection and control budget spending at both central and local levels.

At the seminar, Vietnam’s financial officials discussed and fielded questions and opinions about the taxation, customs and treasury sectors raised by the Lao side.

Also on March 30, the delegation of Vietnam’s finance ministry met with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and held a meeting of the steering board for the two ministries’ cooperation.

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