Dangerous virus found in encephalitis outbreak in Cao Bang

Medical experts from the Ministry of Health have found virus Coxsackie through testing residents in the northern province of Cao Bang’s Quang Lam Commune in Bao Lam District.

From the test result, the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry yesterday arrived at the conclusion saying the cause of the encephalitis outbreak which infected many kids. Deaths from encephalitis were also reported.

Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine Dr. Tran Dac Phu said that the commune had 21 infected kids and seven of them died of the disease.

The first patient had the symptoms of the disease on April 20th and died in the next day at the province’s General Hospital in the northern province of Ha Giang.

All dead kids  are under six month old and experienced slight fever, cried, stopped breastfeeding, digestive problem, some had cough, breathing problem, and then convulsion fits, slept soundly and died. Patients died because the disease developed so fast and they were taken to medical facilities too late.

At present, eight kids are being treated and one in serious condition. As of May 27th, no new case was reported .

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology took 11 samples for test. Test results showed that no kids are positive for influenza virus yet two of samples are positive for virus Coxsackie A6 - digestive virus - which causes dangerous diseases including encephalitis, Myocarditis, hand-foot-and mouth, conjunctivitis.

Kids are usually infected the virus all year round yet there is an increase of the disease in summer and most cases are in the north. Worse, there is no vaccine against the disease while the infection is transmitted through  human to human direct contact with  nasal and oral secretions or faecal contamination of the infected.

Accordingly, to avoid infection of the virus, the Department of Preventive Medicine warned to separate ill kids to prevent transmission, increase personal hygiene and wash hand with soap regularly. People must eat boiled food and water, pay attention to food safety and hygiene.

Adults and kids must be hospitalized if they experience fever and digestive problem.

Vietnam Airlines flights delayed as passenger opens emergency door

Three Vietnam Airlines flights from Ho Chi Minh City were delayed on June 2 after one passenger opened an emergency door on an aircraft that had just landed and released the evacuation slide.

A Vietnam Airlines representative said the Vietnamese passenger, 58, opened the door soon after the aircraft from Hanoi arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

The aircraft was scheduled to fly to Hong Kong next, but that flight had to be delayed, causing damage of nearly US$20,000, according to the representative.

vietnam airlines flights delayed as passenger opens emergency door hinh 0

As the Airbus aircraft had to be pulled out of flight schedule for technical check, two other Vietnam Airlines flights to Danang and Hanoi were also affected.

No penalty has been announced. But opening emergency doors is an act punishable by between VND10-VND20 million under Vietnam’s aviation rules.

Hanoi completes rapid bus stations

Public buses run on Hanoi's Yen Phu Street. A pilot express route running from Kim Ma to Yen Nghia bus stations will be tested in the capital city in the third quarter of 2016.

An overall check was carried out and a document was signed in Hanoi on May 31 to mark the completion of 21 stations designed for the local bus rapid transport (BRT) system.

The station network, managed by the Hanoi Transport & Services Corporation, is expected to be put into operation soon to reduce congestion on the 15-km Kim Ma-Yen Nghia route, which is known for its high level of traffic density.

The stations are located on central reservations, thus they will be heavily affected by the local hot and rainy weather conditions. A number of stations on Le Van Luong Street, whose construction began in 2014, saw rusty spots before their recent revamp.

The express bus system is part of the Hanoi urban transport development project, which was loaned over 155 million USD from the World Bank.

The 90 passenger buses will arrive every three to five minutes, and travel 22 kilometres per hour.

Passengers must buy electronic tickets at the bus stop before getting on board.

All rapid buses will be linked to their control centre through a GPS to make handling unexpected problems more efficient. The system will be connected to traffic lights and give the buses first priority to cross intersections.

The system is set for a test run in the third quarter of this year before officially becoming operational in the last quarter.

Vietnam attends 37th Congress of French Communist Party

Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, expressed his belief that the 37 th Congress of the Communist Party of France (CPF) will help the Party reap more successes, while attending the four-day event.

The official handed over a message of congratulations from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee to the Congress, which will last until June 5 with the attendance of 800 official delegates and about 500 invited guests.

CPF National Secretary Pierre Laurent said the Vietnamese delegation’s attendance at the event was a manifestation of close ties between the two Parties.

On June 1, at a reception for the Vietnamese officials, Laurent congratulated Vietnam on the successes of the 12th National Party Congress and elections for the 14 th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for 2016-2021.

Mentioning the East Sea issue, the host reiterated the CPF’s support for maritime and overflight freedom in the East Sea, the peaceful settlement of disputes, not using force or threatening to use force and observing international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He also voiced his support for the CPV’s handling of the situation.

Both sides agreed that the relationship between the two Parties had developed in various realms, enhancing the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.

While in France, the Vietnamese delegation met with representatives of several communist, workers and left-wing parties and international friends to introduce the Vietnamese Party and State, and discuss regional and international issues.

They also had working sessions with a number of French agencies to learn about their structure while seeking cooperation opportunities with them.

Party official greets Japanese Ambassador

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Dinh The Huynh asked the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam to continue working closely with Vietnamese agencies and localities to strengthen multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

During his reception for Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada in Hanoi on June 2, the Vietnamese official highly valued Japan for its provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in recent times, affirming that Vietnam considers Japan as its important and long-term partner.

He said he hopes the two nations will promote efforts to effectively implement agreements signed between their leaders, especially those reached during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Japan in September last year.

Vietnam and Japan should enhance political trust through maintaining regular high-level visits and meetings, while improving the efficiency of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, boosting economic links and fostering coordination at regional and global forums, Huynh said.

He also took the occasion to congratulate Japan on successfully organising the expanded G7 Summit and praised the Japanese diplomat for his contributions to Vietnam-Japan relations.

For his part, Hiroshi Fukada expressed his joy at the fine development of the Vietnam-Japan intensive strategic partnership, stressing that the Japanese Government attaches special importance to relations with Vietnam.

He hoped to further forge bilateral ties, particularly links between the Communist Party of Vietnam and Japanese parties.

Japan will help Vietnam in developing high-quality infrastructure, the supporting industry and agriculture; adapting to climate change; improving public administrative management and the business climate; and in training human resources, the ambassador said.

He suggested the two nations enhance coordination in regional and global issues.

NA Vice Chairman hosts Laos Justice Minister

National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu received the visiting Lao Minister of Justice Xaysy Santivong in Hanoi on June 2.

During the reception, the host remarked that the Vietnamese NA and Government always support and create the most favourable conditions for the justice ministries of Vietnam and Laos to enhance cooperation and mutual support, thus boosting links between the two nations.

He highlighted the enhanced relations between Vietnam and Laos, saying that this contributes practically to implementing joint statements and high-level agreements signed by the two countries.

Vietnam will do its utmost to deepen bilateral relations, he stressed.

For his part, Xaysy Santivong reported on the outcomes of talks between the two ministries to his host, expressing his hope that Vietnam will continue sharing experience in the judicial field with Laos.

Nghi Son Refinery urged to install waste monitoring system

The central province of Thanh Hoa has urged the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex (NSRP) to install more automatic wastewater monitoring equipment, including cameras, to facilitate the locality monitoring the project.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Dinh Xung said on June 2 that installing the monitoring system would contribute to proper waste treatment, ensuring that the project meets Asian standards on environment protection.

The camera network would facilitate the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s supervision, Xung said.

Director General of the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Company Kazutoshi Shimura pledged that the Company will obey the Law on Environment Protection in 2014 and relevant regulations.

The company will operate in line with the environmental standards of the World Bank and other international financial institutions, he said.

In May, 2015, the Government issued Decree No. 43/2015/ND-CP on building and managing corridors to protect water sources, aiming to deter activities causing water pollution and degradation.

Programme helps int’l friends explore Vietnam

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a programme to explore Vietnam in Hanoi on June 2.

Nearly 70 foreign diplomats, ambassadors, heads of delegations, and international organisations’ representatives participated in the “Learning about Vietnam Session.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said the annual event provides information on the history, culture, economy, society, political system and State apparatus of Vietnam as well as the country’s foreign policy and renewal achievements.

The programme not only helps international friends better understand Vietnam, but also calls for their support for the Southeast Asian country’s cause of national construction, defence and development, he added.

He expressed his confidence that Vietnam and other countries will witness new breakthroughs in their cooperation ties for peace, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

The Philippines ’ Ambassador to Vietnam Noel Servigon shared that he has been in Vietnam for three months now and has studied the country through news articles.

He said he will further explore Vietnam during his tenure to increase the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Moroccan Ambassador to Vietnam El Houcine Fardani said this is the second time he attended the event, and he found it very useful.

Islamic Cham people in Ninh Thuan celebrate New Year

The Islamic Cham people in the central province of Ninh Thuan will celebrate their Ramuwan (Ramadan) New Year festival, the biggest of the local Islamic community, from June 4-6.

During the event, all Islamic Cham families gather to pay respect to their ancestors and pray for happiness, bumper crops and peace.

The festival begins with visits to ancestors’ graves and then each family holds ceremonies at home in commemoration of their ancestors.

In recent years, the festival has attracted lots of tourists in and outside the country who want to explore the special cultural characteristics of the Islamic Cham community in the locality.

On the occasion, delegations from the local authorities, and Fatherland Front committee paid visits and presented gifts to several Islamic Cham locals.

Luu Xuan Vinh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, asked local authorities to work with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to create favourable conditions for Islamic Cham dignitaries at temples and mosques to celebrate their New Year.

Bosch-Lilama deal signed to offer mechatronics training

Mechatronics will become part of thecurriculum at the Bosch Technical Industrial Apprenticeship Training Centre following an agreement signed in Ho Chi Minh City on June 2.

The agreement was reached by Bosch Vietnam, Lilama 2 Technical and Technology College, and the German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam.

Vo Quang Hue, Vice President and Managing Director of Bosch Vietnam Co., Ltd, said Bosch will invest 150,000 USD in equipment for the new training programme which would be conducted in line with German standards.

The funding raises Bosch's total investment in vocational training in the country to 1 billion USD since the programme began in 2013.

Admission to both industrial mechanics and mechatronics courses for the 2016-17 school year is now open, with an annual intake of 12 apprentices per discipline.

Apprentices will undergo 3.5 years of study. Lilama 2 will be in charge of providing theoretical knowledge, while Bosch Vietnam will be responsible for training practical skills.

Bosch also announced its business results on the day, posting a 50 percent growth in Vietnam for fiscal year 2015, amounting to 68 million USD in consolidated sales.

The company plans to invest an additional 22 million USD in its Gasoline Systems plant that makes continuously variable transmission pushbelts in southern Dong Nai province, Hue said.

Operating in Vietnam since 1994, Bosch had 2,400 employees as of December 31 last year.

Projects address health, social issues in Thua Thien - Hue

The central province of Thua Thien- Hue will carry out a US-funded project to provide sustainable solutions to address health and social issues in the province.

The project will use non-refundable aid of 55,000 USD from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) via the Development Credit Authority (DCA).

The two-year project aims to train and engage local youths in community work, such as enhancing public health and environment protection.

Norway’s Phuc’s Fund also provided non-refundable aid of 572 million VND (25,740 USD) to help disadvantaged people in the province.

The amount covers scholarships for disadvantaged students, gifts for poor people, and upgrades to several social facilities.

Vietnam, Turkey’s news agencies renew cooperation deal

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA) inked a new cooperation agreement on information exchange in Hanoi on June 2.

The agreement, which replaces the 2007 cooperation agreement, was signed by VNA Deputy General Director Le Duy Truyen and his AA counterpart Mustafa Ozkaya in the presence of Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Akif Ayhan.

Under the document, the two sides will increase sharing photos and exchanging TV news, aside from the existing exchange of English-language stories, to meet the growing demand for news updates in their respective nations.

Speaking at the talks prior to the signing, Truyen said the enhanced news exchange and use can help the two agencies diversify stories and objectively report on regional and international issues, along with their countries’ domestic affairs.

He added that the VNA has continually strived to provide neutral information in a timely manner and in conformity with Vietnam’s foreign policy of being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member in the international community.

Mustafa Ozkaya said the VNA is a big and important partner of his agency in Southeast Asia. He also thanked the VNA for supporting the AA within activities of the Organisation of Asia–Pacific News Agencies.

Founded in April 1920, the AA currently has about 3,000 employees and representative offices in 86 countries. It provides some 2,200 news stories and 1,900 photos for Turkish and foreign press outlets every day.-

PM demands minimising losses caused by UXO

The Prime Minister has instructed relevant agencies to take measures to minimise the death toll and damage caused by unexploded ordnance (UXO).

According to statistical data, around 30 percent of explosions are triggered through foolish acts by people collecting, storing, trading, sawing or dismantling UXO.

The remaining explosions are unexpectedly caused by those, including children, who live in areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance.

Among recent explosions to have occoured, there was one in the Van Phu urban area in Ha Dong district, Hanoi, on March 19 which killed five people and injured 10 others; or another in Bai Dinh, Ma Voi hamlet, Duc Binh Tay commune, Song Hinh district, Phu Yen cenral province which cost three lives.

In order to minimise the damage caused by unexploded ordnance, the PM asked relevant ministries and agencies, the State Steering Committee for the National Mine Action Programme , also known as Programme 504, and People’s Committees of provinces and cities to mobilise the whole political system to boost communication campaigns to help people avoid accidents caused by UXO, especially in the Central and Central Highlands regions.

The PM demanded disseminating knowledge of unexploded ordnance, laws and forms of violation relating to UXO, and the revision of legal documents, policies and regulations.

Relevant agencies were urged to draw up projects on the clearance of bombs and mines with priority to be given to areas heavily contaminated with unexploded ordnance, especially in the Vietnam-China border areas and border gate economic zones.

The PM asked Programme 504’s steering committee to review and advise relevant ministries and agencies on revising legal documents relating to the State management in overcoming the UXO consequences.

He assigned the Ministry of National Defence to intensify capability and create conditions for the Vietnam Bomb and Mine Action Centre to complete its tasks under Programme 504 and strengthen bomb disposal military forces with training and equipment.

The Ministry of Public Security was urged to instruct local policies to coordinate with governments at all levels and military units to mobilise forces and equipment for collecting, managing and disposing of unexploded ordnance, increase inspection and deal with related violations.

The Ministry of Communications and Information, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnam Television, Radio the Voice of Vietnam were asked to boost communication campaigns to raise awareness of unexploded ordnance and their danger.

Over 45.5 billion VND raised for Truong Sa fund

More than 45.5 billion VND (2.03 million USD) was raised for the “Vi Truong Sa than yeu” (For beloved Truong Sa) fund by May 30, according to the standing board of the Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee.

Of the total amount, 15.5 billion VND (0.73 million USD) was mobilised by the municipal Fatherland Front Committee and 30 billion VND (1.3 million USD) by the committees at lower levels.

Most of the departments, agencies, enterprises and localities actively responded to the fundraising.

HCM City residents experience New Zealand’s culture

Ho Chi Minh City residents are exploring New Zealand’s culture and education opportunities at a festival opened in the city on June 2.

New Zealand’s Consul General in the city Tony Martin said the event demonstrates the close-knit relations between the two countries.

He noted that Vietnam is one of the biggest importers of New Zealand, importing mainly food and beverages.

The festival will last until June 4 on Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, with thousands expected to participate.

The New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam, the organiser, will serve visitors twice per day from 7:30 am to 9:30 am, and from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

The festival also celebrates the first Air New Zealand direct flight between Auckland and Vietnam.

Vietnam ranks second in Southeast Asia in the number of overseas students in New Zealand, with more than 2,000 students.

Five million USD upgrade for ancient Vinh citadel moat

The north-central city of Vinh has approved upgrades to the moat around the ancient Vinh citadel at a cost of 111 billion VND (around 5 million USD).

The task requires moving out 100 households, dredging the old moat, building a wall along the bank, and building a drainage system and two new moats inside and outside the 6,475ha citadel.

The citadel was built in the shape of a turtle in 1804 using traditional eastern design. It was surrounded by a large moat eight metres wide and deep.

Once the work is finished, the citadel will become a historical and public space for local residents to relax and exercise.

Books for Suburban Area Children Festival opens in HCM City

HCM City Books Distribution Co (Fahasa) launched the 2016 “Books for Children in Suburban Areas” festival on June 1 to celebrate Children’s Day at the Cultural Centre in the suburban district of Hoc Mon.

Fahasa is displaying more than 8,000 Vietnamese and foreign-language books including text and reference books, dictionaries, guidebooks and books for children from local and overseas publishers. Office stationary, souvenirs and student supplies are also on sale.

Buyers at the festival can enjoy discounts of 10 to 50 percent.

The festival, which ends on June 5, will be followed by a festival at the Cultural Centre of Cu Chi District from June 8 to 12.

The “Books for Suburban Area” festival, which started in 2008, aims to bring knowledge and cultural values to children in remote areas during summer vacations.

These festivals have been held in HCM City’s suburban districts of Can Gio, Nha Be, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi.-

Vietnamese casualties in Lao bus accident

Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình has asked related agencies to investigate a bus accident in Lao that killed eight Vietnamese guest workers and injured three others on board early yesterday morning.

Deputy PM Bình, who is also head of the National Committee on Traffic Safety, requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese Embassy in Laos to work closely to provide assistance to the victims and repatriate the deceased.

He demanded an urgent investigation by the transport ministry and local authorities of the central provinces of Quảng Bình and Nghệ An towards bus operators that run bus services between the provinces and Lao localities.

He emphasised that prompt reviews on current cross-border traffic regulations and keeping bus operators updated with those regulations would be necessary to reduce similar traffic accidents.

Early yesterday morning, a bus bearing Laos license plates exploded and caught fire while en route to Vietnam, killing and injuring eleven Vietnamese, 15km from central Quảng Bình Province.

According to officials at the province’s Cha Lo Border Gate, a blast and ensuing blaze had taken place at around 4am, incinerating the vehicle. The bus reportedly departed from Laos’ Khamouane Province, heading to central Nghệ An Province in Vietnam.

The bus was driven by the Khánh Đơn bus operator from Nghệ An, the head of the province’s Nghi Lộc District Police, Major Nguyễn Trọng Tuệ, confirmed.

Tuệ told Vietnam News Agency that the deceased were residents of Nghệ An Province’s Diễn Châu and Nghi Lộc districts, who were guest workers in Lao and on the way home.

Three injured people were transferred from Lao to Nghệ An’s 115 Hospital for emergency medical care.

Senior Lt. Col. Hà Trọng Việt, head of Cha Lo border guards said the accident scene investigation showed that the 36-seat bus was loaded with wooden beams and fire crackers.

He suspected the blast had been caused by the crackers and sparked the fire on board later. Phạm Đình Tú, 28, a victim, said the rear part of the vehicle was full of timber.

“I woke up and found the timber beams on my injured body until I was rescued by someone else,” he said. Tú added that the blast had woken him up.

The bus driver and his assistant were unharmed but fled the scene. They were later apprehended in Khamouane for questioning.

Related agencies in Nghệ An Province have managed to establish contact with and provide support to the families of the victims.

Northern tourism promo centres to link-up

Tourism promotion centres from 15 provinces and a city in the north sent officials to Hạ Long on May 31 to discuss mutual co-operation for tourism development.

Establishing links with nearby provinces and developing good quality but unique tourism products in each locality would help boost the whole region’s tourism, they agreed.

The provinces of Quảng Ninh, Hưng Yên, Bắc Ninh, Bắc Giang, Lai Châu, Vĩnh Phúc, Hà Giang, Lạng Sơn, Ninh Bình, Bắc Kạn, Thái Bình, Hải Dương, Thái Nguyên, Tuyên Quang, and Hoà Bình and the city of Hải Phòng also signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen co-operation.

HCM City welcomes 2.1m international visitors

In the first five months of this year HCM City has received 2.1 million international visitors, 13.5 per cent more than in the same period last year.

Tourism revenues topped VNĐ 41.5 trillion (US$1.86 billion), an increase of 4.7 per cent.

This year the tourism industry has a target of 5.1 million foreign and 21.8 million domestic tourists and total revenues of VNĐ103.7 trillion ($4.65 billion).

To achieve the goal, authorities have been trying to develop new tourism products, marketing traditional destinations and improving service quality and safety.

Concert at Hà Nội Opera House

A concert led by conductor Trần Vương Thạch, presenting a new musical piece, and guest pianist Célimène Daudet will be held at the Hà Nội Opera House tonight.

The concert will comprise three pieces -- the new work titled Bong Bóng (Bubble) by Phó Đức Hoàng, concerto for piano in G major by Maurice Ravel and symphony in D minor by Cesar Franck.

Vietnamese composer Hoàng’s work will be premiered at the event.

“The new work by Hoàng is a very good piece,” conductor Thạch said. “It is composed according to a new thought and music writing technique. It will be a surprise for symphony music lovers.”

The piece will be also performed by musicians from the Vietnam National Symphony and Orchestra (VNSO).

At this Hà Nội concert, the VNSO will also get the opportunity to play composer Franck’s symphony for the first time.

It is the most famous orchestral work and the only mature symphony written by the 19th century composer.

“The piece was performed once by the HCM Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) with a French conductor. The musicians and I are eager to play the piece together,” Thạch said.

Thạch is currently director of the HBSO. He gained state recognition by winning the Meritorious Artist in 2007.

Thạch studied music at the Royal Conservatory of Liège in Belgium and the Conservatory of Maastricht in the Netherlands.

The conductor was invited to perform with the Nis Symphony Orchestra in Serbia, the New Prime Symphony Orchestra in Pusan, South Korea, and the VNSO.

He led the HBSO in the Asian Orchestra Week in Tokyo in 2008 and in 2014.

At present he teaches Ensembles and Instrumentation at the HCM City Conservatory. He also orchestrates for television and recording labels.

This is also the first time Thạch will perform with pianist Daudet, whose performance he saw in HCM City a few years ago.

French-Haitian pianist Daudet is a native of Aix-en-Provence, France. She is the winner of four international solo competitions, as well as the International Pro Music Prize with Guillaume Latour, the violinist with whom she has performed as a duo for many years.

As both a soloist and a chamber musician, she has performed throughout Europe and North America. Her first solo album, a tribute to Bach, was released in 2011 under the Arion label.

This is the second time the pianist is performing in Vietnam following her first performance in 2014.

The two-night concert will kick off at 8pm at the Hà Nội Opera House, 1 Tràng Tiền Street.

Veteran VN composer releases CD for children

Love between parents and children is the main theme of a CD for children produced by veteran composer Quỳnh Hợp.

The album Những Ngày Ấu Thơ (Childhood Days) consists of 15 songs with lyrics based on worksk by famous poets like Lê Minh Thu, Nguyễn Thi Mai and Nguyễn Lãm Thắng, and music by Hợp.

The album includes seven songs from Thu’s poems Xinh Ngoan Của Mẹ (Mom’s Little Pretty) and Cánh Diều Nhỏ Của Bố (Dad’s Little Kite), which are about parents’ love for their children. Thu’s other works are Sún Xin Của Bố (My Lovely Toothless Child) and Đảo Mặc Áo Phao (Child in Lifejacket) featuring the love of an island soldier and his child for each other.  

Mai’s poem titled Cây Gia Đình (Family Tree) offers simple and lovely words about family.

All of the songs features the voices of seven-year-old Bào Ngư, who appeared on the album Mùa Xuân Như Thế Đấy (The Meaning of Spring) which consists of 16 songs for children composed by Hợp.

VN advances to Regional Championship semis

Vietnam advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC U14 Girls’ Regional Championship for the ASEAN zone, after their 0-0 match against Malaysia yesterday at the National University Stadium in Vientiane, Laos.

After three matches, Vietnam has five points and ranks second.

Myanmar, who beat Singapore 2-1 at the Chao Anouvong Stadium, topped the group with seven points.

Vietnam will play the winner of Group A tomorrow, while Myanmar will play the runner-up team in the last four rounds.

Flag campaign launched for Trường Sa

A campaign aiming to collect 1,000 national flags to send to the Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelago was launched yesterday in Huế.

Huế University of Pedagogy has called for flag donations from its students to mark the university’s 60th anniversary in 2017. Donations of flags from Vietnamese citizens around the country are welcome as well.

A university official told HCM City’s Pháp Luật, the Law newspaper that the flags would be transferred to DK1’s marine defence platform and several islands on the archipelago, aiming to assert Vietnamese sovereignty in these places.

The transfer is expected to take place in March next year. Experts said the campaign would awaken the spirit of patriotism in the country’s students and youth.

Police investigate explosion in Bình Thuận Province

The Phú Quý Island District Police in the central province of Bình Thuận are investigating the reasons behind the explosion in Quý Hải Village in Long Hải Commune yesterday evening.

The explosion occurred at the house of 34-year-old Nguyễn Văn Bé.

Bé’s house was seriously damaged in the blast. More than 10 surrounding houses were also damaged -- their roofs were blown away and their glass windows were shattered.

No fatalities were reported. Five people were injured and are undergoing treatment in hospital.

The loss due to the explosion is being estimated.

Phú Thọ wins futsal tournament for disadvantaged children

Phú Thọ defeated Hà Nội 2-1 in the final match to win the title of the annual futsal tournament for disadvantaged children.

The event ended on June 1 in the south central province of Khánh Hòa.

In the third-place playoff match, HCM City defeated Cà Mau 7-4.

Phú Thọ’s Giàng A Chờ won the best scorer award with 17 goals. Hà Nội’s Bạch Anh Tuấn won the best footballer award, while Tuấn’s teammate Đỗ Thiên Phú won the best goalkeeper award.

The event drew the participation of eight teams, which were divided into two groups. They competed in a round robin format with the top two teams of each group entering the semi-finals.

The winning team pocketed VNĐ30 million (US$1,300) and the trophy.

The tournament was co-organised by the HCM City’s Police newspaper and the Vietnam Sports newspaper.

Vietnam beat Singapore in AFC U-14 Girls Regional Championship

Vietnam’s U-14 team beat Singapore 1-0 in the second match of the Asian Football Confederation U-14 Girls Regional Championship’s ASEAN zone on June 1 in Vientiane, Laos.

Earlier, Vietnam drew Myanmar 1-1 in the first match. Vietnam will next play Malaysia on June 2.

Vietnam beat Thailand to emerge the winner at the event held in Vietnam last year.

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