Lightning strikes kill one, injure another in Dak Lak

Lightning occurred in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on May 29 , killing a woman and seriously wounding a man.

At 1.30pm, Ms. H'goc Kmam , 45, was killed after being struck by a lightning while working on a paddy field at Yok Don village, Yang Tao commune.

About an hour earlier, Y Nar H'long was found with serious burns caused by a lightning on a paddy field at Dong Bac village, Yang Tao commune. He was immediately rushed to Dak Lak General Hospital for treatment.

The press urged to raise public awareness of sustainability reports

Jonas Grunder, deputy head of cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam, speaks at the workshop in Hanoi on May 29 

A workshop was held in Hanoi on May 29 to help the press learn about sustainable development issues for businesses, calling for their help in raising public awareness of enterprises’ sustainable development reports.

Jonas Grunder, deputy head of cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam, said in 1992, the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, listed 27 principles of sustainable development. In 2012, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro decided to establish a global high-level political forum for sustainable development.

Sustainable development is being integrated into activities of many international organisations such as the World Bank (WB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), he noted.

Nguyen Cong Minh Bao, from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Vietnam, said in December 2010, the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development was established. It currently has 47 members which are groups, corporations, domestic companies and multinational firms operating in various fields and committing to promoting sustainable development in the country.

He noted that sustainable development has become an important development trend in the world and Vietnam, and businesses have played a growing role in this issue. However, as sustainable development consists of many areas, the measurement of businesses’ efforts is a problem for all relevant parties, Bao added.

Some businesses have built and applied sustainable development reports in their operations as a tool to carry out measurement and manage changes to become more sustainable. These reports show companies’ positive or negative impacts on the environment, society and economy, so they not only help ensure information transparency but are also a management tool for businesses and a monitoring tool for state agencies.

In Vietnam, conducting sustainable development reports is relatively new among local businesses. It has been carried out mainly by multinational or major companies like Bao Viet or Vinamilk.

At the meeting, reporters were provided with an overview of sustainable development reports and information about businesses’ attitude, the press’s coverage of enterprises’ sustainable development reports and the press’s role in improving public awareness of this issue.

Hanoi welcomes 3 million foreign tourists in five months

Tourists visit Hanoi's Temple of Literature 

Hanoi served more than 13 million tourists in the first five months of 2018, a year-on-year rise of 10 percent.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, the capital city welcomed some 3 million foreign visitors in the period, up 26 percent year on year. They came from nearly 190 countries and territories with China, the Republic of Korea and Japan topping the list.

Tourist attractions in Hanoi include Huong Son relic site, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ngoc Son temple.

The department attributed the increase to development investment and planning of tourism products, expanded tourism promotion and improved quality of tourism products.

From now to the end of 2018, the sector will hasten the upgrading of infrastructure and plans to develop Bat Trang pottery village and Van Phuc silk village, and carry out a planning scheme to turn Ba Vi-Suoi Hai site into a national tourism site by 2025.

The department will also support businesses in tourism promotion both inside and outside the country, while inviting travel agencies to participate in domestic and international tourism events.

This year, Hanoi expects to serve more than 25.4 million holidaymakers, including 5.5 million foreigners, and gross some 75.78 trillion VND (3.33 billion USD) in revenue.

Last year, the capital city welcomed nearly 5 million foreign vacationers, up 23 percent against the previous year.

Book on Chợ Lớn lifestyle released

Lifestyle of Hoa living in Chợ Lớn ( Big Market) in HCM City 

Author-journalist Nguyễn Đình’s Chuyện Nhỏ Ở Chợ Lớn (Stories of Big Market), a book on the Old Quarter, known as Chợ Lớn (Big Market) in HCM City, was released last weekend.

The 309-page book features the 200-year old history, culture and lifestyle of Chợ Lớn, which lies on the west bank of the Sai Gon River. It includes the western half of District 5 (former Chinatown) and several adjoining neighborhoods in District 6.

The book focuses on traditional festivals, calligraphy, dragon dance, architecture and lifestyle of the ethnic Hoa people (Vietnamese of Chinese origin). Around 440,000 Hoa account for 4 per cent of the city’s population.

Chinese architecture and old buildings, including Bình Tây Market, are also highlighted

Bình Tây Market, one of the city’s favourite tourist destinations, was built in 1928 by a Chinese businessman named Guoyan (also known as Quách Đàm), who hired a French architect to design the building.

It is one of the biggest wholesale markets in HCM City, offering a wide range of goods. It was renovated in 1991 and 2006.

The book also has photos and other images.

Writer Đình has spent more than 20 years researching, collecting and capturing information and images of daily life of the Hoa people in Chợ Lớn.  

The book Chuyện Nhỏ Ở Chợ Lớn  is published by the Thế Giới Publishing House and Phương Nam.

Trapped animals rescued, released in wild

A macaque is released in the wild in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. — Photo courtesy of the park

Authorities at the Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in central province of Quảng Bình released five wild animals in the park on Monday.

With their release, the animals now have a chance to live in their natural habitat.

They include two Asian palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites) and two rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), all of which are recognised as least concern species by IUCN.

The fifth is a stump-tailed macaque (Macaca arctoides), listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN’s red list.

According to the park authorities, the animals were handed over to park rangers after being rescued from nearby residents who had trapped or caged them illegally.

The authorities believe the animals will soon adapt to the natural environment in the park, thanks to a process of rehabilitation before their release.

In May, the authorities released 22 animals in the wild. However, they did not mention if they had attached chips on the animals for monitoring.

Laws prohibit the hunting, caging, transporting and killing of wild animals in the country.

GE opens second Anesthesia and Intensive Care Simulation Center in Vietnam

GE Healthcare and VietMedical have partnered with University Medical Center (UMC) to launch the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Simulation Center in Ho Chi Minh City on May 29, aimed at providing training to healthcare professionals in the Southern Vietnam.

This center is the second of its kind in the country, following the successful model called the Simulation Lab for Anesthesia and Intensive Care launched at Viet Duc Hospital in Hanoi in July 2016, which is under the management and administration of the Vietnam Society of Anesthesiology (VSA).

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Hoang Bac, director of UMC said, “We are glad to welcome doctors, students and anesthesiologists to study and practice at the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Simulation Center.

This is where we will have the chance to interact with international trainers, exchange domain expertise and simulate crisis scenarios that although rare, will demand the most of a doctor’s skill and expertise in the most critical moments.

It will help medical staff be well-prepared for unexpected situations, resulting in safer surgery and better patient outcomes for the Vietnamese community.”

The new Anesthesia and Intensive Care Simulation Center in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to train at least 400 doctors, specialty trainees and students each year by supporting the simulation training and teaching of anesthesia and intensive care techniques, as well as promoting knowledge sharing in the field through demonstrations and equipment showcases.

As a part of this collaboration, GE Healthcare will develop the training plan, content and organise training courses tied to international best practices with the support from experts.

Meanwhile, VietMedical, GE Healthcare’s authorised distributor in Vietnam, will be responsible for providing a suite of innovative equipment including anesthesia machines, patient monitors, ventilators, information connecting systems, monitor systems, ECG carts, ultrasound machines and simulator.

These cutting-edge technologies cover advanced features of low flow anesthesia, target controlled infusion, balanced anesthesia, pulmonary mobilization in general anesthesia, as well as high-level hemodynamic parameters.

The anesthesia system also includes basic anesthesia machine which is suitable for provincial hospitals. The trainees, hence, will have the chance to practice in a professional medical environment with full package of equipment to upskill and update innovative anesthesia technologies.

"Through the practical support of clinical application training for hospitals in recent years, we have recognized the lackage of simulation training by which students and physicians could improve their knowledge, personal skills and teamwork through hypothesised situations, avoiding medical errors in patient treatment.

Additionally, medical technologies are constantly evolving day by day, requiring healthcare provider to master and use them safely and effectively. Therefore, we are determined to invest the most modern package of equipment for this Anesthesia and Simulation Training Center ”, said Do Lan Phuong, president of VietMedical.

Vietnam’s healthcare system is facing numerous challenges, one of which is the lack of skilled doctors working in anesthesia.

According to a report by VSA, the ratio of anesthesiologists in Vietnam is 1:96,491 people while it is 1:24,748 in Singapore and 1:28,118 in the Philippines.

“Human capacity and technology are the key to enhancing healthcare systems sustainably.

Well-trained anesthesiologists deliver safer and better patient treatment, while advanced equipment supports them to make decisions faster and accurately.

These are our key goals to facilitate safe anaesthesia administration in Vietnam to sustainably improve healthcare outcomes,” said Nilesh Shah, general manager for Clinical Care Solutions, ASEAN, Africa and South Asia, GE Healthcare.

Kid activities at Hanoi’s book street

Film shows and exciting performances will be held at Hanoi’s 19/12 Book Street near Hoan Kiem lake on May 31 -June 3 to mark International Children’s Day (June 1).

At the pavilion of Alpha Books Joint Stock Company, children will have the chance to enjoy robot performances and 3D drawing and printing technologies by Creative Technology Institute TEKY.

On June 1, on the main stage of Hanoi’s Book Street, students and audiences will join a fun English game to learn about insects’ life cycle , which is organized the Women’s Publishing House.

Especially, at 4pm on June 3, football fans will join an exchange on the introduction of the autobiography written by Vietnamese Football Star Le Cong Vinh.

Kids will also get access to a wide range of interesting books introduced by Kim Dong and other publishing houses. Especially, Alpha Books Joint Stock Company will offer discounts on several books during the event.

Other bookstores and publishing houses also offer discounts of up to 50% for children’s books and smart toys and study tools.

Vietnam’s 500kV transmission line listed as critical to national security

Workers are repairing the 500kV transmission line. 

The 500kV power transmission network, which runs through 42 provinces and cities throughout Vietnam, has been classed as a critical project to national security by the Prime Minister.

The decision was announced by the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Industry and Trade and the national power utility company, EVN, on May 29.

Stretching along the length of the country, the 500kV transmission system plays a crucial role in transmitting electricity from the major power centres of Son La, Lai Chau, Quang Ninh, Mong Duong, Vung Ang, Vinh Tan, Phu My and Duyen Hai.

It is the backbone that connects Vietnam’s regional electricity networks and provides power for national socio-economic development.

The north-south 500kV high-voltage transmission system was officially put into operation in 1994, following two years of construction.

Over 1,200 elementary pupils join free Google programming project

The "Programming Future with Google" educational project was launched on May 29. 

Tech giant Google officially announced its education programme offering free computing knowledge for elementary school children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh Long and Tien Giang, on May 29.

The project is funded by Google Asia-Pacific, with technical assistance provided by the Mekong Community Development Centre and Dariu Fund.

The "Programming Future with Google" supports over 10,000 hours of Scratch free programming for more than 1,200 elementary school students, aimed at equipping them with basic programming knowledge and developing creative thinking for children.

Lasting until the end of August, it will offer training for 30 teachers in ten public primary schools.

The Scratch-oriented programme targets children, helping them to develop visually-interactive logical knowledge. Instead of writing command lines, they just need to think logically and choose to drag and drop blocks of various colours to assemble them into scripts that control objects on the computer screen.

Through technical support and laptops provided by the Dariu Foundation, the project is being deployed in each computer room in the central and suburban districts of HCM City, as well as in the two Mekong Delta provinces of Vinh Long and Tien Giang.

Grand ceremony in Hanoi marks Buddha’s birthday

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh joins Buddhist dignitaries in the Buddha bathing ritual. 

The Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha (VBS) held a grand ceremony on May 29 at Quan Su Temple in the capital of Hanoi to celebrate the 2,562nd anniversary of the birth of the Buddha.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh, President of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Tran Thanh Man, as well as Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and laypeople.

Reading a message by the VBS’s Supreme Patriarch, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu highlighted the achievements recorded by the sangha in recent years and called on Buddhists to uphold their traditions to further strengthen national solidarity and make greater contributions to the country.

For his part, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh restated the Party and State’s commitment to guaranteeing the freedom of religion while hailing the close bond between Buddhism and the nation throughout history.

He expressed his belief that the VBS would continue to keep their vows of engagement with worldly affairs and take serving the people as its core principle.

Earlier on May 28, the VBS staged a procession of floats carrying flowers and the Buddha’s relics through streets of central Hanoi, while a ritual was jointly held by the VBS and the General Department of Fisheries to release fish into the river.

Ceremonies were also held at Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout Vietnam to commemorate the Buddha’s birthday, also known as Vesak Day.

Hanoi Secretary visits leader of Vietnamese Buddhism

Hanoi Secretary Hoang Trung Hai visits Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha  

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai paid a visit on May 28 to Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha (VBS), at Vien Minh Temple on the outskirts of Hanoi.

The visit was made on the 2,562nd anniversary of the birth of the Buddha.

Secretary Hai stated that under the leadership of the Supreme Patriarch, Buddhist monks, nuns, and laypeople in the capital city have participated in patriotic movements and made important contributions to the city and the country.

He expressed his wish that the Supreme Patriarch and the VBS would continue to serve the people and the nation.

For his part, Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue thanked the Hanoi authorities for their support and affirmed that he would continue to encourage Buddhists to abide by the Party and State’s policies.