Bad fuel hits cars in HCMC

Numerous cars have broken down in Ho Chi Minh City over the last week and the culprit appears to be A95 fuel.

Mercedes-Benz Vietnam (MBV) and Lexus point out the problem has only been found in Ho Chi Minh City. A representative from MBV said it had analyzed the breakdowns and concluded the fault lies with the fuel.

Mr. Dang Duy Quan, Deputy Director of Petrolimex Zone II, who supplied the A95 fuel, said it has received around 50 complains over the last week. A batch of fuel distributed on January 21 was of inferior quality, he said. Most of the problems were with new cars and the company has sent A95 samples away for testing.

Those who bought the gasoline from Petrolimex and had problems can contact the company for a refund and it will also cover the cost of any repairs.

Ha Noi to provide 6,000 Pentaxim vaccine doses

As many as 6,104 doses of the five-in-one Pentaxim vaccine will be distributed in Ha Noi for the second phase of the serviced vaccination programme, beginning this Thursday.

According to the Ha Noi Centre for Preventive Medicine, registration for the vaccine will only be accepted online at the centre's website at www.ytdhanoi.gov.vn from 9am tomorrow.

The vaccination period is scheduled from February 4 to March 3 this year, except for Saturdays and Sundays. The vaccination booth will only be open in the morning during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, which falls between February 8 and 14.

Children born between March 1, 2014, and December 3, 2015, are eligible for the vaccine.

Pentaxim is a five-in-one combination vaccine, used to immunise patients against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, as well as Haemophilus influenzae Type B.

Severe cold snaps likely to hit northern Vietnam in Feb

Northern Vietnam is likely to be hit by four to five cold spells during February, including one or two severe cold snaps which may occur in the first half of the month.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, average temperature across the North and the North Central Coast this month will be 0.5 – 1 degree Celsius below those of previous years.

The South Central Coast, the Central Highlands and the South may see a year-on-year decrease in average rainfall to less than 5mm, the centre said, warning that water shortage and saltwater intrusion will continue along coastal areas.

The average temperatures in the three regions are forecast to be 0.5 – 1 degree Celsius higher than those of previous years.-

Vietnam tightens control travelers from Mers-CoV hit nations

Since the MERS-CoV, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome caused by the Corona virus that has spread to over a dozen countries in the world and may penetrate into Vietnam, the Ministry of Health yesterday sent an urgent dispatch to Pasteur Institute and medical facilities asking to increase prevention.

As per the dispatch, Pasteur institute, institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology were asked to enhance supervision on suspected cases and take blood samples for tests. Institutes must be ready to assist localities in prevent the disease when necessary.

The Ministry of Health also urged municipal and provincial departments of health to strictly supervise travelers from Mers-CoV hit nations on Tet holidays (Lunar New Year) and screen in order to early detect ill people who will be quarantined as per the regulation.

Nobel laureates to attend scientific conference in Vietnam

Around 150 domestic and foreign scientists, including several Nobel laureates, will attend a conference on fundamental sciences and society scheduled for July at the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education in central Binh Dinh province.

The information was revealed by  internationally recognised Vietnamese-French Professor Tran Thanh Van who is in Vietnam now.

Professor Van said the conference will create a platform for leaders, scientists and businesses to discuss measures to develop fundamental sciences in Vietnam’s current socio-economic development process.

According to Professor Van, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam will present the country’s scientific development roadmap in his opening speech. Five Nobel laureates, Professor Ngo Bao Chau, Professor Dam Thanh Son and many renowned scientists have accepted the invitation to attend the event.

Border guards rescue fishing boat

A fishing boat with six fishermen on board was rescued by the Ba Ria – Vung Tau border guard command after its engine broke down yesterday off the Vung Tau coast.

Rescue ship BP 13-12-01 immediately rushed to rescue fishing boat KH 90494 after receiving its call for help at about 6.30am yesterday.

The border guards helped the fishermen to bail water from the boat and then towed it safely to Cau Da Port in Vung Tau City.

The fishing boat was going from Con Dao to Vung Tau City when its engine broke down. The winds blowing on the surface of the sea were of level six to seven, making it difficult for the fishermen to control the boat.

Fatherland Front leader pays pre-Tet visit to VBS Supreme Patriarch

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on February 1 visited Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), and other Buddhist dignitaries ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

At the meeting at Vien Minh Pagoda in Hanoi ’s Phu Xuyen district, Nhan wished the Most Venerable good health to continue leading the VBS, contributing to national development.

The VBS has been an active member of the VFF, the Fatherland Front leader said.

He recalled the national conference on religions’ role in environmental protection and climate change response in December. Forty religious organisations from 14 religions signed a cooperative programme on environmental protection with the VFF, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Buddhism is an important player in the campaign, Nhan stressed, noting his hope that the VBS will make more contributions to building the national great unity bloc.

Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue extended wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year to members of the VFF’s Standing Committee.

According to a survey conducted in 2009, Buddhism constitutes the largest religious community in Vietnam with more than 6.8 million followers and almost 15,000 temples, monasteries and other places of worship.

Hospitals collect enough blood for treatment on Tet

Director of Humanity Blood Donation Center in Ho Chi Minh City Tran Thi To Nhu yesterday said that the center is continuing to collect blood from volunteers until February 5 (or 27 December as per Lunar Calendar) and then re-starting on February 13 ( or January 6 as per Lunar Calendar ).

From January to early February, the center has received over 17,000 blood units from volunteers. This amount is enough for treatment in hospitals in the city. Additionally, thousands of people are ready to donate their blood as there is urgent demand.

Dr. Tran Thi To Nhu said that voluntary blood donor mainly supply 350ml or 450 ml. the rate of blood infecting with disease is quite low with just 2 percent.

Ho Chi Minh City is still leading the country with large number of blood donors.

Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway’s IC9 interchange launched

The Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) has announced on February 1 that the IC9 interchange of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway was officially put into operation.

The interchange was built at Km66+305.50 IN Ha Loc commune, Phu Tho town starting on June 3, 2014 with the total investment of VND81.3 billion (US$3.6 million). The dual trumpet interchange is connected to the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway and Ho Chi Minh Highway, connecting Phu Tho town to Highway No.2 and Ho Chi Minh Highway to ensure social welfare and economic development of Phu Tho province.

According to VEC General Director Mai Anh Tuan, the interchange will improve the effectiveness of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway, facilitate trade links, socio-economic and cultural development and ensure national defence and security for the province.

However, the connecting road between Viet Tri city, Phu Tho town and the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highway has not been completed, thus the interchange is temporarily linked with the locality’s current inter-commune road. To ensure safety and convenience, vehicles with tonnage lower than 10 tonnes are advised to run through the interchange.

The VEC has been ready to collect transporation fees, which are published at the interchange.

Plan for Lao Cai Airport's location proposed

Cam Con Commune, Bao Yen District, has been proposed as the location for Lao Cai Airport, which had to adjust its plans to include A320 and A321 aircraft.

The plan was submitted by MTV Limited Company, the airport's consulting unit, at a meeting with the Transport Ministry last week.

The adjustment was considered necessary and relevant for development activities in the upcoming period, a representative of the company said.

The airport will be constructed following the International Civil Aviation Organisation's 4C airport standard and will be developed into a military airport level 2.

Once completed, the airport will have direct links with major political, economic and cultural centres around the country such as Cat Bi Airport of northern Hai Phong City, Vinh City of central Nghe An Province, central Da Nang City and HCM City.

The airport is also expected to connect airports in China's southwest and the northeast region.

Transport Deputy Minister Nguyen Nhat asked the consulting company to work with the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam to finish the report on the plan adjustment.

According to the Transport Ministry's plan for the period up to 2020 with an orientation up to 2030, the airport will be built 20km to the south of Lao Cai City on 140ha of land with an investment of VND1.3 trillion (USVND1,284,316million).

The plan calls for a 1,800m runway with a width of 30m. It is expected to serve 200 passengers during peak time.

HCMC health sector prepares for Tet holidays

Ho Chi Minh City health sector prepared everything for examination and treatment of emergency cases in Tet holidays that are nearly coming.

All hospitals are ready for treatment of emergency case in these holidays. Especially hospitals allocated medicines and ventilators for victims of traffic accidents and food poisoning cases that often occur on these days.

Though it is not peak time of dengue fever, the city has several cases of dengue fever in residential blocks. According to the municipal Department of Health, in three first weeks of January, 2016, the city had 679 hospitalized dengue fever cases, a decrease of 24 percent compared to these average cases of 4 weeks before with 896 cases. No death was recorded.

However, director of the Department Dr. Nguyen Tri Dung said that the health sector would increase calling for the public attention to the disease and prevention in these wards having same cases of dengue fever compared to month before. On the other side, the sector will have differently proper prevention ways based on specific situation. Meantime, there have been scattered cases of hand-foot-mouth disease.

Through observation in three first weeks of the year, there have been 65 hospitalized cases of hand-foot-mouth across the city, a decrease of 40 percent compared to 4 weeks before with 108 cases. To control the disease, the city health authority kept control the disease in preschools and increased public awareness of the disease as well as manage cases in residential quarters.

Along with this, medical experts fretted about the complicated development of Zika virus in Brazil which widely spread in many countries in the world. HCMC is one of the city with large number of tourists; therefore, it is highly likely that the virus could enter into the country.

Additionally, the Ministry of Health ordered local governments to control bird flu and other influenza since there are as many 62 as outbreaks of bird flu caused by viruses A/H5N1 and A/H5N6 in some cities and provinces.

Hospitals arranged more medical workers for Tet holidays as there are many cases of traffic accident injuries in Tet holidays and hospitals’ Haematology and Blood Transfusion collected as much as blood for emergency cases.

To ensure best treatment for people during Tet holidays, the municipal Department of Health has sent a document asking all medical facilities in the city to work around the clock. In cases of fire or explosion, the Department with other related agencies will support the hospitals. The hot line for medical emergency must be through so that residents can call when necessary.

Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theater prepares for Tet

Ho Chi Minh City’s Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theater will offer a serious of performances during Tet holidays.

Performances featuring popular cai luong songs and plays will be held in District 9, 12, Binh Tan, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh, Nha Be and Can Gio in the city’s suburb.

In addition, artists of the theater will also visit and join shows at nursing homes for the elderly in provinces, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Dong Thap.

A construction project  of Tran Huu Trang Theater has completed but not yet been put into operation because the approved capital was only VND60 billion ($2.7 million), but during construction, the design and facilities were adjusted, causing the construction costs up to VND132 billion (US$5.9 million). The HCM City People’s Committee has instructed inspectors to check the implementation of the project.

Vietnamese farmers show their love on fruits

A group of farmers in the Mekong Delta has successfully grown pomelos with the Vietnamese map on the green skin.

“This year, we are growing about 300 pairs of this special pomelo,” said Vo Trung Thanh, chairman of Phu Tan Commune Pomelo Farmers Club in Hau Giang Province.

The fruit is a mainstay in most Vietnamese families during traditional holidays, especially the Tet Lunar New Year. It is often displayed in pairs.

Thanh’s club has been famous for growing fruits in various shapes and with special patterns.

The pomelos with the national map, clearly showing Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, are highly sought after this season, he said.

Vietnam has long affirmed its sovereignty over the islands in the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea. China has been criticized for recent aggressive activities to claim sovereignty over the islands.

“We created this special pomelo to show our love for our country and hope that we can all contribute to developing a prosperous country,” Thanh said.

He added that the special pomelos will be available during the coming Tet, which falls in the second week of February, at around VND2.5 million (US$112) a pair.

Man dies in bike-lorry collision

A man was instantly killed when a lorry crashed into a motorbike today morning in Vinh City in the central Nghe An Province.

Nguyen Quang Vinh, 56, was going from Vinh Market to Cao Xuan Huy Street in Hong Son Ward, when a lorry hit his motorbike.

Witnesses said the road was slippery as it was raining when the incident took place, while the lorry was speeding.

Another accident occurred at 10.30pm yesterday on Highway 1A, which goes through Binh Hiep Commune in Binh Son District in the central Quang Ngai Province.

Nineteen of the 30 passengers on the coach were injured and were being treated at the provincial hospital. Most of them are workers in HCM City and were returning to their hometown for the Lunar New Year festival.

The driver of the 45-seater coach lost control of his vehicle as he tried to avoid a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, causing the coach to flip over.

The coach was badly damaged.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

Women advancing well in Vietnamese society

Viet Nam has reaped positive results in promoting gender equality and the advancement of women, contributing to the country's socio-economic development, heard a conference in Ha Noi yesterday.

Reports presented at the event, organised by the National Committee for Women's Advancement, showed that the implementation of targets of the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2011 to 2020 has generated a good performance.

As much as 48 per cent of females eligible for work nationwide were able to find jobs. The rate of female leaders and owners of enterprises is 24.8 percent, while that of women joining Party organisations, State agencies and local authorities at all levels is on the rise.

In 2015, works related to women received due attention from ministries, sectors and localities, while communication campaigns and training courses on gender equality and advancement of women were enhanced with various activities.

Guidelines of the National Committee for Women's Advancement have been timely, and have facilitated the methodical and effective operation of its chapters in ministries, sectors and localities.

Several solutions were devised to help women promote their capacity, with focus on training and communication work to raise public awareness of gender equality. Apart from those positive achievements highlighted at the conference, the work still shows some shortcomings, said participants.

Nguyen Trong Dam, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Women's Advancement said the committee will promote its work to increase the rate of women joining people-elected agencies in 2016 to 2021.

Campaigns to raise public awareness of gender equality and advancement of women will be expanded, focusing on improving the efficiency of the communication work.

The committee will also pay more attention to its inspection in order to grasp relevant information quickly, thus outlining appropriate solutions for the work, Dam stressed.

Workers rush to complete two key Cuu Long (Mekong) delta bridges

Construction progress of two key transport projects in Mekong River Delta region, the Cao Lanh and Vam Cong bridges, are underway and authorities and contractors expect they may finish ahead of schedule.

The two bridges are among transport projects connecting HCM City and the southeast provinces of the Cuu Long (Mekong Delta) region. The aim of the projects is to improve basic traffic services in the region.

After 27 months under construction, the Cao Lanh Bridge project in Dong Thap Province is 60 per cent complete.

The contractor has completed building 32 of 34 pillars and 14 beams.

The construction is expected to be finished in April.

Victoriano L. Hamling, the chief supervision consultant of Cao Lanh Bridge project's said at present, the progress and quality of the work met all requirements with construction being undertaken very smoothly under a close supervision.

To complete ahead of planned schedule, the main and sub-contractors needed to co-operate closely to prepare enough materials, equipment and qualified human resources. They also need support from the investor, according to the consultant.

In the construction of Vam Cong Bridge which links Dong Thap Province with Can Tho City, workers have finished 61 per cent of the workload, exceeding by 3.5 per cent the initial plan.

The contractor hopes that after Tet (Lunar New Year), engineers and workers will concentrate on completing the main works of two posts and the bridge's steel beam.

To achieve progress as expected, the main contractors of Cao Lanh Bridge project, CRBC Joint-Venture and Vinaconex E&C, will mobilise 500 workers who will be divided to work in three shifts around the clock.

Tran Quang Tien, deputy managing director of Cao Lanh Bridge project said the two main contractors, South Korea's GS Company and Viet Nam's Cuu Long Corporation for Investment Development and Project Management of Infrastructure, were actively urging workers on to ensure the proposed schedule.

Contractors of the two projects expected that they would finish at least 85 per cent of the workload by the end of this year. And the two bridges will be put into use in September, 2017.

Farmers need financial help ahead of more cold weather

Authorities urged financial support be provided to farmers affected by the last historic cold spell before yesterday's chilly northern weather, 11 degrees Celsius in Ha Noi, damaged their businesses further.

A report by the Office of the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Rescue showed that recent chilly weather killed nearly 57,272 farming livestock, of which poultry accounted for about 77 per cent.

More than 800ha of fish farms and another 35ha of aquaculture products were damaged in the cold snap, costing farmers thousands of tonnes of fish as temperatures plunged to below six degrees Celsius early last week.

The Office also reported that nearly 30,000ha of paddy fields and vegetables were destroyed by the cold.

Nghe An Province was the hardest-hit locality in terms of total damage, with more than 40,000 poultry killed in the province and 6,697ha of paddy fields ruined in the strongest cold snap to hit the country in the last two decades.

While urging the Government provide support to the affected farmers, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat proposed that banks temporarily delay loan payment deadlines for farmers.

Many Vietnamese farmers used loans to buy livestock or seeds, which put many at risk of bankruptcy as the record cold snap gripped the northern half of the country and caused devastating losses.

The banking system, meanwhile, was requested by the Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to make more loans accessible to the affected farmers in order to help them resume production quickly.

The PM in a regular Government meeting on Friday also asked the Ministry of Finance to urgently distribute relief funds to affected provinces.

Fears of another cold snap were raised when the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting announced more cold weather would yesterday hit the northern region and last until Sunday February 7th.

Temperatures in the delta areas are predicted to drop to about 10 degrees Celsius and to as low as two in the mountainous areas today and tomorrow where most of the cattle losses were reported in the previous cold snap.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development asked its local departments to come up with measures to help residents protect their animals and crops from the cold.

Ha Noi takes action against illegal phone numbers

The Ha Noi Department of Information and Communications has asked local telecom providers to disconnect 40 illegal phone numbers that kept annoying people by sending classified advertisements.

This is the first such order to be issued this year and the 51th since the beginning of 2010, raising the total number of banned phone numbers in the city to 8,733.

The order aims to remove classified advertisements from public walls and electricity poles, which negatively impact the aesthetic beauty of the city.

The illegal numbers were discovered by inspectors of the municipal department of culture, sports and tourism, and the departments of culture and information of Ba Vi and Dong Anh districts.

The illegal advertisements comprise promotions of apartments, villas, loans and spring flower markets to Internet and cable TV installation services.

Expatriates celebrate traditional Lunar New Year

Vietnamese diplomatic representative agencies in many countries have hosted a myriad of activities to join expatriates in celebrating the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet), which is only one week away.

In London, more than 300 Vietnamese people, including businesspersons and students, and their British friends gathered at an event held by the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK on January 31.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao said the homeland reaped a number of massive integration and development achievements last year, which were greatly contributed by overseas Vietnamese.

He asked the expatriate community to expand their efforts to consolidate solidarity, integrate into the local society, popularise Vietnam’s images, and deepen the Vietnam – UK strategic partnership.

Participants at the gathering enjoyed traditional Tet dishes and spring-themed songs performed by Vietnamese students.

At a similar function in Jakarta on January 31, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Hoang Anh Tuan reviewed highlights in bilateral relations, including two-way trade at 5.4 billion USD in 2015, which is expected to hit 10 billion USD in 2018.

The same day, Vietnamese people in China’s Hong Kong and Macau shared the Tet joy at a celebration in Hong Kong under the host of the Vietnamese Consulate General.

On January 30, expatriates in Singapore also marked the year’s biggest festival at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy. The embassy and the Vietnamese people’s liaison board there used the occasion to launch a programme calling for spiritual and material support for soldiers on Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Pre-Tet get-togethers were also held by the Vietnamese embassies worldwide, including in Italy, Slovakia, Israel, Austria, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada.

Ky Lo River Bridge opens to traffic

The Ky Lo River Bridge in La Hai Town in Phu Yen Province's Dong Xuan District opened yesterday, allowing travel between the mountainous and delta areas in the rainy season.

The project was launched in the central province in July 2014 with a total investment of VND104 billion (US$4.7 million) from the state budget.

The concrete bridge is more than 1km-long, comprising a 12m-wide bridge and 15m-wide roads leading to it at either ends.

The new bridge replaces the La Hai Bridge, which was seriously damaged and used to be flooded on rainy days, causing traffic jams.

Le Van Truc, vice-president of Phu Yen People's Committee, said the new bridge would allow transport of goods and safe travel by local people.

The project, along with other bridges on National Highway 19C, allows clear movement of traffic, connecting the mountainous area with the delta regions in Phu Yen Province as well as the central and western highlands provinces.

PM asks HCMC to review metro cost

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the HCM City administration to review and complete a report on adjustments of the Metro Line No. 2 section from Ben Thanh in District 1 to Tham Luong in District 12 as the investment costs have surged by more than 50 per cent.

According to the Government Office, the Transport Ministry will report to the National Assembly's Standing Committee.

Meanwhile, the city government will have to seek official development assistance (ODA) loans to finance the additional cost.

The Ben Thanh-Tham Luong metro section is 11.33 kilometres long and was set to be implemented from 2010 to 2018 at a cost of VND26.1 trillion (US$1.3 billion).

The amount included $540 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), $313 million from the German Development Bank (KfW), $195 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and over $326 million from Viet Nam's reciprocal capital.

However, the project's investments surged by 51 per cent to $2.07 billion last year after design revisions. This amount does not cover Ben Thanh Station and operation and maintenance costs.

The HCM City Management Authority for Urban Railways attributed the mounting investment to inflation ($239.98 million or 17.5 per cent) during the last five years (2010-15), higher prices of materials and wages, and increased workload ($460.32 million or 33.5 per cent).

Due to adjustments for site clearance and compensation for construction of stations, work did not begin on the section's final station and control building until early last year.

Taxi drivers fired for drugs, cheating

Taxi firms in HCM City fired 642 drivers last year found guilty of using drugs or cheating passengers.

Ta Long Hy, chairman of the HCM City Taxi Association, said member companies disciplined 3,535 drivers found violating regulations, including the sacked ones, and honoured 8,027 for returning belongings left behind by passengers.

Of the latter, 17 were also conferred merit certificates by the city People's Committee.

The value of the properties returned was more than VND1 billion (US$45,400).

Several drivers also helped capture thieves and assisted people faced with emergency situations.

Hy said several taxi operators have begun to use IT to manage drivers and improve passengers' convenience.

Vinasun, Vinataxi, and Hong Long have already done so while Mai Linh Taxi plans to do so in the first quarter of this year.

This is a significant step in improving service quality, and opens new opportunities for development, he said.

The association organized training courses for 8,900 drivers last year as part of efforts to improve service quality.

According to the city Department of Transport, HCM City has 10,699 metered taxis and 4,700 others under the Uber flag.

Nguyen Ngoc Giao, deputy head of the department's Transport Management Section, said taxis carried 240 million passengers last year, or 41 percent of all passengers using public transport, an increase of 6 percent from 2014.

The city has 30 taxi companies.

HCM City offers gifts to poor for Tet, enforces traffic safety

Officials in HCM City have ensured a happy Tet (Lunar New Year) for the poor and others who are under priority social policies through special activities.

Speaking on the Listen and Discuss TV talk show on Sunday, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thu said the city had given Tet gifts to heroic mothers and disadvantaged children.

The city has also held activities for workers who cannot return to their hometowns for Tet.

Lam Dinh Thang, deputy secretary of the city's Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, said the union had mobilised more than VND20 billion (US$900,000) from philanthropists for Tet activities for the elderly, island soldiers, youth and workers.

The union has also given 6,000 bus tickets to disadvantaged students and workers to return home during Tet, he said.

Thang said the union had also offered part-time jobs to 9,000 students and workers who were not returning home for Tet.

The union has also organised 150 art performance and cultural programmes to serve people in rural and remote areas, industrial parks and export processing zones, he said.

On Saturday, Vo Van Thuong, deputy secretary of the city's Standing Party Committee, led an official delegation to visit the Youth Social Centre No. 2 in Cu Chi District's Pham Van Coi Commune.

The centre provides treatment for 719 youths, including 600 drug addicts who do not have a permanent housing.

Thuong also paid a Tet visit to Vietnamese heroic mother Nguyen Thi Ghi, who is 100 years old, and two poor families in Cu Chi District.

On the same day, Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam also paid a Tet visit to the city's Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Department's Rescue Division, District 2's Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Bureau and several poor families in District 2.

Under the municipal People's Committee's decision, poor households were given Tet gifts each worth VND950,000 ($43).

Tran Duc Tai, deputy director of the city's Police Department, said the department had made plans to ensure social order and security during Tet.

The department will also co-operate with the city's Department of Transport to ensure traffic safety. The city had 14 traffic accidents during the nine days of Tet in 2015, leaving 12 people dead, he said.

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