The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs convened a conference today (June 10) in response to the Action Month on Drug Prevention and Control and the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26).

Speaking at the conference in Bac Giang Province, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung of the Ministry noted there were more than 210,000 drug addicts in the country, over 70% of whom are under 35 years of age, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The number of drug traffickers and users had increased sharply over recent years, Minister Dung added.

During this year’s action month, the party, government, ministries and localities must reaffirm their commitment to join hands to further strengthen the fight against illegal drug use and reach out to illegal drug users and help them better reintegrate into society.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh in turn said drug-related crimes and drug addiction are rampant in Vietnam. Past actions undertaken to combat illegal drug use and their sale have not proven effective.

 ministry responds to fight against drug trafficking and addiction hinh 1 To raise their efficacy, the Deputy PM requested ministries and departments comprehensively revaluate their approach to improving public awareness of drug-related crimes and their negative impact on society.

Local communities must get more involved in the struggle to contain the problem by strengthen monitoring of drug addicts and help them re-join mainstream society by finding gainful employment and live a normal life, Mr Binh underscored.

Police bust major China-to-Vietnam drug ring, arrest 16 people

Sixteen Vietnamese residents of the cities of Ha Long and Cam Pha are accused of being part of a drug ring that smuggled major quantities of illicit drugs into the northern Vietnam region from China.

These are very well-organized criminal enterprises, said Quang Ninh provincial law enforcement officials that made the busts at a June 9 news conference.

These individuals are responsible, we believe, for importing enormous amounts of drugs including heroin, crystal meth, ketamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia into Vietnam, they noted.

In connection with the arrest of the 16 suspects law enforcement authorities seized untold amounts of crystal meth, three kilos of ketamine along with an estimated 100 boxes containing shisha and other items including many weapons.

Contaminated water main suspect in fatal dialysis complication in northern Vietnam

Contaminated water has risen to the top of the suspect list behind the deaths of eight patients whose condition became critical after receiving dialysis at a hospital in northern Vietnam recently.

The victims were among 18 patients who became seriously ill after undergoing dialysis at Hoa Binh General Hospital in northern Hoa Binh Province on the morning of May 29. 

Dialysis is the process of artificially removing waste and excess water from blood in people who have lost their kidney function.

Hoa Binh’s Department of Health held a press briefing on June 8 to announce their early findings on the fatal complications, directing their suspicion towards the reverse osmosis (RO) water system, the only shared aspect of each patient’s dialysis.

“After a comprehensive review process, the province’s council of experts has determined that all 18 patients suffered from acute poisoning due to the same contaminant entering their bloodstreams, with symptoms of multi-organ dysfunction,” the Department announced.

After nearly ten days of treatment at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, Pham Ngoc Trung, 56, was still pale and having difficulty breathing and finishing sentences.

Trung was among the survivors of the medical complication in Hoa Binh before he was transferred to Bach Mai Hospital for intensive care.

“I started feeling nauseated, had difficulty breathing, and digestive issues just over 30 minutes into dialysis,” Trung recalled of the haunting experience he and 17 other patients had gone through.

According to Duong Duc Hung, all ten surviving patients were transferred to Bach Mai Hospital from Hoa Binh and are now in stable enough condition to be discharged.

The patients will continue with their regular dialysis in Hanoi until the renal replacement therapy unit at Hoa Binh General Hospital can resume operations which have been indefinitely suspended pending an investigation, Hung said.

According to the council of experts put together by Hoa Binh’s Department of Health to investigate the incident, contamination of the RO water is the primary suspect.

Tran Quang Khanh, director of the provincial Department of Health, said there must have been a serious human error involved in the medical complication.

The RO water purification system at Hoa Binh General Hospital underwent regular maintenance only one day prior to the incident, and the 18 patients affected by acute blood poisoning were the first to receive dialysis after said maintenance.

Established medical protocols dictate that the purified water must be tested after each maintenance before use on patients, though that doesn’t seem to have been the case, said Khanh.

According to Khanh, medical workers at the hospital ran the dialysis machines before receiving the handover minutes from the maintenance company.

Nguyen Gia Binh, head of the intensive care unit at Bach Mai Hospital, said he suspected that chemical residues in the RO machine could have contaminated the water, leading to the complication.

“Maintenance technicians could have been careless enough to have misused the chemicals that disinfect the machine’s tubes,” Binh asserted.

Meanwhile, Truong Quy Duong, director of Hoa Binh General Hospital, along with two other employees, has been suspended for further investigation into the negligence and irresponsibility that led to the incident.

HCM City considers relocating residents in 40 subsiding areas

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are considering the relocation of households in 40 locations at risk of riverbank subsidence.

Statistics released by the municipal Department of Transport show that 40 locations across eight Ho Chi Minh City districts are facing potential subsidence, 23 of which are considered particularly at-risk. 

Nha Be District houses the highest number of at-risks locations, with 16 areas, followed by District 2, Thu Duc District, and Can Gio District.

According to Nguyen Van Tam, deputy director of the city’s transport department, competent authorities have been ask to post warnings along sections of riverbank identified as being threatened by potential collapse.

Regular inspection will be carried out to monitor the situation, Tam said, adding that relevant agencies will work to determine the cause of the subsidence and identify possible solutions.

The People’s Committees in the affected districts were also asked to plan for the relocation of residents in the affected areas.

Embankment projects are being carried out at 35 locations, Tam stated, before adding that the construction has met myriad difficulties regarding the area clearance process, sluggish execution, and limited capital investment.

The Department of Transport has urged to Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee to provide financial assistance for the early completion of these projects.

Embankments at the other locations are expected to be built during the 2017-18 period, the official stated.

According to another official from the transport department, only eight households along Rach Tom River in Nha Be District agreed to be relocated after a large crack appeared in the neighborhood on May 30.

Local authorities are encouraging other residents in the area to move to a safer place.

The Nha Be administration has also been working with the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research to temporarily deal with the subsidence, said Bui Hoa An, vice-chairman of Nha Be administration.

A 500-meter embankment will be proposed as a long-term measure against bank collapse along Rach Tom River, An stated.

UNESCO launches drawing contest for school children

The UNESCO Centre for Culture and Education in collaboration with the Top Art Centre in Ho Chi Minh City launched a drawing contest today (June 9) asking children to make a drawing of how they see Vietnam.

The best 500 drawings will be displayed publicly on October 8, 2017, as part of an exhibition and auction to raise funds to support Vietnamese children who live in the remote mountainous regions of the country. 

Thai Le Hang, head of the executive committee overseeing the competition, says the contest provides an opportunity for students and teachers to see the high standard of art produced in today’s schools.

It helps kids gain an understanding of what is required to achieve excellence. It is also a terrific opportunity for members of the public to see the high quality of art being created in Vietnamese schools.

More than 90 awards and prizes valued at US$26,000 will be presented to the top drawings.

For further information please contact Thai Le Hang or other members of the executive board via either the UNESCO Centre at http://www.unesco-cep.org.vn or Top Art at  https://topartvn.com/.

Cool Cats presents Alemay Fernandez & Richard Jackson

This coming June 9-10 Hanoians will be able to treat themselves to the beauteous jazz collaboration that is Alemay Fernandez (Beauty World, Fried Rice Paradise) and Richard Jackson.

With Alemay’s sultry bluesy tone, Richard’s vocal trombone and a palpable chemistry, their brand of soulful jazz is guaranteed to warm the hearts of Hanoi audiences at the Cool Cats Jazz Club located in the JW Marriott Hanoi Hotel.

Enjoy classic cocktails and exquisitely hand-crafted cuisine while taking in the cool experience of a swinging jazz club from 7pm till late with the special jazz artists making their debut in Vietnam accompanied by the Joshua Lebofsky in-house trio.

Quang Ngai promotes tourist potential

The central coastal province of Quang Ngai, nearly 900 km south of Hanoi, is home to several relics and scenic spots boasting great potential to develop ecological, religious and historical tourism.

Quang Ngai province has great advantages for sea tourism with beautiful unspoiled beaches and spectacular landscapes. Its 150 km-long coastline has potential for building sea resorts. 

My Khe beach in Son Tinh district, 12 km from Quang Ngai city, is outstanding with a long sandy beach, warm weather, and a forest behind it. Many beautiful hotels have been built along the beach enabling tourists to enjoy pure air from the sea and relieve tiredness.

Phung My Loan from Hanoi said “I have been to many places, but this unspoiled natural landscape is unique. Under the sunlight, the scene is wonderful. I love to admire the sea in the afternoon. At that time, I feel really good. My family and I will come back to this place.”

Sa Huynh beach in Duc Pho district, 60 km south of Quang Ngai, is famous for its beauty thanks to sparkling golden sand. There are numerous islands of different sizes off Sa Huynh beach showing the local great potential for sea tourism. 

Nguyen Tan Tan, an official of Duc Pho district said “Duc Pho has a 40-km beach with two estuaries: My A and Sa Huynh. The district also has a mountain range running to the sea which has underground rocks. These create beautiful landscapes and rich marine resources. The district will exploit these scenic spot to develop tourism and the local marine economy.”

Trang (White) waterfall in Minh Long district is one of the most famous destinations in Quang Ngai. Located 20 km southeast of Quang Ngai city, the waterfall with a large lake underfoot is an ideal destination for adventurers. In recent years, the waterfall has attracted a lot of tourists. 

Dinh Thi Hoa, an official of Minh Long district said “In previous years, the waterfall was quiet. It’s a beautiful waterfall. We have invested in upgrading the infrastructure to attract tourists.”

With its unspoiled nature and numerous relics and scenic spots, Quang Ngai has focused on upgrading its tourism infrastructure to attract more visitors.  

Sand mining ban needed to rescue Hoi An from watery grave

Experts have urged authorities in Quang Nam Province to ban sand mining in a bid to protect the popular tourist town of Hoi An from erosion, local newspapers reported.

At a two-day conference that started on May 25, nearly 100 Vietnamese and foreign experts discussed the threat of erosion that has been engulfing the 8-km (5-mile) coastline of the UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site.

The historic town plays a vital role in the province's economic development and is famous among tourists around the world.

Erosion has eaten into 10-15 meters of land along a 2-km stretch of Hoi An's sandy beach, a problem largely caused by falling river sediment, sand mining and strong waves, provincial officials and a research group said at the conference.

Authorities should impose a ban on all forms of sand mining along Thu Bon River and around Cua Dai Beach, Quang Nam newspaper quoted Dr. Nguyen Kim Dan from the Saint Venant Hydraulic Laboratory, a France-based research unit, as saying. 

A 6,500-meter embankment should be built along the coast to mitigate the impacts of big waves and reduce erosion, Dan said.

The group's report showed that more than half of the sediment to Cua Dai is being held up by two hydropower reservoirs located upstream the Thu Bon River.

It also found that a higher number of sand mining operations, along with the construction of buildings near the coastline, have deviated sea currents and pushed the sediment further south, reducing the volume that holds the north of the beach together.

A change in wave patterns and the increasing number of high waves in recent years have also contributed to the issue, the report said.

The project implemented by Dan's group has received endorsement from the French government, which agreed to finance nearly EUR300,000 (US$335,000) in addition to VND5 billion (US$220,000) pledged by Quang Nam.

In 2014, strong waves demolished the concrete embankment on Cua Dai Beach and ate into nearly 200 meters of land along a three-kilometer stretch of coastline. Scientists blamed the upstream hydropower plants for blocking the sediment.

Local authorities have since then spent around VND70 billion to build a new embankment, installing iron pilings and pumping sand into the area to revive Cua Dai, although it will take another year to see if enough has been done to save the beach, officials said.

The investment by Vietnamese and French authorities is the latest development in the revival process of Cua Dai. Bertrand Lortholary, French Ambassador to Vietnam, told the Sai Gon Giai Phong daily that the French government regards Hoi An as one of the world's cultural heritage sites and pledged to help the Vietnamese government protect the town's iconic beach.

Lortholary said he would call for funding from other sources to build a system of mangroves to protect the coastline.

More tourists have been returning to Cua Dai Beach in recent years as it slowly recovers from the erosion that robbed the beach of its sand and visitors for nearly three years.

While some are taken by surprise by the rejuvenated seafront, many admit that they are still haunted by the fierce waves crashing onto the shore and threatening to breach hotels and restaurants.

Soc Trang, RoK cooperate to study coastal ecosystem, water quality

A workshop was held on June 9 to review the project on coastal ecosystem research and water quality analysis in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang with help from the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The event was organised by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE) and the Republic of Korea’s Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM).

The project, started in July 2015, comprises three components - coastal water quality analysis and assessment, coastal ecosystem research, and enhancement of the management capacity of officials in the environmental sector.

Participants discussed the establishment of a sea preservation zone and strengthening ecosystem monitoring in Soc Trang.

They suggested promoting coastal biodiversity preservation and ecotourism in the province in order to minimise negative impacts of public tourism on the nature, and improving social welfare and locals’ livelihood.

Koh Byoungseol from KOEM said the province needs to develop biodiversity protection strategies and zone off areas for creature preservation, while ensuring continuous management in the project’s targeted areas in Cu Lao Dung district, Tran De district, and Vinh Chau town.

According to Tran Van Thanh, DoNRE Deputy Director, said the outcome of the project will lay a foundation for the province to make plans for ecosystem management and the development of the coastal areas.

The agency will continue implementing the project, Thanh said, expressing his hope that the RoK will continue provide its support for the locality in the work.

Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific promote tourism in Japan

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget airline Jetstar Pacific, in conjunction Hanoi city, hosted a workshop in Saitama prefecture on June 6 to promote Vietnam’s tourism potential in the Japanese market.

During the event, the two carriers introduced tourism potential of Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general, as well as direct flights between the two nations. 

Vietnam Airlines is the largest carrier operating direct flights between Vietnam and Japan with an average of 70 trips per week on 10 routes connecting Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang with Haneda, Narita, Kansai (Osaka), Centrair (Nagoya) and Fukuoka.

Since its first flight in 1994, Vietnam Airlines has served 10 million people, accounting for 65 percent of the market share. 

Meanwhile, Jetstar Pacific announced to operate two direct routes linking Ha Noi and Da Nang with Osaka, becoming Vietnam’s first low-cost airline to offer direct service to Japan.

The first flight is schedule to begin in early September this year with four round-trips per week using 180-seater Airbus A320. 

Both carriers are implementing a dual brand strategy to diversify products to meet customers’ demand and enhance their popularity in both domestic and foreign markets.

Quang Ninh improves quality of administrative services

Quang Ninh province has taken the lead in Vietnam’s Provincial Competitiveness Index. But its Public Administration Performance Index remains low.

To become a ‘friendly service’ administration, Quang Ninh has implemented several measures to improve its public administrative services.

In 2016, Quang Ninh ranked 2nd of 63 cities and provinces on the PCI, but its low Public Administration Performance Index motivated the province to try harder to improve public satisfaction.

Mr Nguyen Duc Long, Chairman of the Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee said “Quang Ninh province is determined to improve public satisfaction with administrative services, especially at the commune level.”

In response to the Prime Minister’s call for a ‘friendly service’ government, Quang Ninh authorities have focused on improving the staff who serve the public. 

Doctor Bui Phuong Dinh, Director of the Institute for Leadership Studies and Public Policies of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said “We call it ‘administration marketing’, which means building a friendly administration to serve the people. This is a strategy in which people and enterprises are beneficiaries of services and the administration is a service supplier who needs a friendly image to be effective.”

14 administrative agencies in Quang Ninh province have signed a commitment to implement measures to improve their governance and public administration performance. 

They have reviewed and restructured their organizations and publicized recruitment for public agencies. Agency heads are tasked with the primary responsibility for administrative reforms. 

The province periodically surveys the public’s evaluation of public services and has identified improvement of its Public Administration Performance Index as a key to sustainable growth.

Outstanding commander in Truong Sa

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Minh Son, Commander of Nam Yet island in Truong Sa (Spratly ) archipelago, is one of 40 individuals honored this week for excellence in defending national maritime sovereignty.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Minh Son has been in the Naval Service for 25 years, mainly working on islands. 

He said, “I have been stationed on Nam Yet island since 2015. I have many beautiful memories. Though soldiers on the island come from different localities, we have a special comradeship and brotherhood.”

Son is close to soldiers, supporting them both in their work and in their personal lives. Under his command, Nam Yet island was honored by the Naval Service and the Ministry of Defense. 

Son is a role model for young soldiers, said soldier Nguyen Thanh Phong, who has been on Nam Yet island for four months: “The commander is very kind and gentle. He gives us detailed instructions. It’s a great honor for us to work with him. He is a good commander.”

Having worked in harsh condition on the island for several years, Son has developed a scientific working style. He has introduced a number of training initiatives to help his unit fulfill its tasks. 

Colonel Dao Giang Hai, Deputy Political Commissar of Navy Region 4 Brigade, said, “We highly value Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Minh Son’s leadership ability, especially in combat training and dealing with difficult situations. He is the most outstanding island chief on the Truong Sa archipelago. Despite the difficulties involved in working on an island, he has encouraged and shared with his soldiers to help them accomplish their mission of defending national sea and island sovereignty.”

Before Nam Yet, Son was stationed on Da Lon and Da Dong island. He said “Having held different positions, I have learned from my predecessors and soldiers to improve my political stance in order to accomplish my duties.”

Vietnam forms special police force for Phu Quoc Island

The High Command of Mobile Police Force under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has formed a new special police force tasked with ensuring security on Phu Quoc Island, off the southern province of Kien Giang.

The Special Police No.2 (E21), under the command of the Mobile Police’s Southwestern Regiment, is an elite force with high alertness, ready to respond to protect the island from terrorists, hijackers, kidnappers and other dangerous criminals.

“Phu Quoc is considered a special administrative-economic unit so ensuring political security for the island is a crucial task,” Lieutenant-General Pham Quoc Cuong, chief of the High Command of Mobile Police Force, said at the unit establishment ceremony on May 26.

“This is why Minister of Public Security To Lam has decided to establish the E21 on Phu Quoc.”

Lt. Gen. Cuong expressed his belief that the young officers under the E21 force will fulfill all assigned tasks with the best results.

Phu Quoc chairman Dinh Khoa Toan also hailed the special police establishment as a timely decision, at a time when crimes are on the rise on the island.

“Phu Quoc authorities and residents are all happy to see the Minister of Public Security taking action to help ensure security for the island,” he said.

Addressing the E21 officers, who are newcomers on the island, Toan said Phu Quoc authorities will create conditions to them to feel like home and effectively fulfill their duty.

Thanh Hoa prevents forest fires during hot weather

The north central province of Thanh Hoa is taking measures to prevent forest fires during hot weather.

The locality is home to 32,680 hectares of forest in 162 communes, with high risks of wildfires in the mountainous districts of Muong Lat, Quan Son, and Quan Hoa, and delta areas of Ha Trung, Hoang Hoa and Hau Loc districts.

Deputy head of the provincial forest protection department Mai Huu Phuc said the districts have prepared hundreds of fire fighting and prevention measures. 
The department has also regularly examined fire fighting equipment and is piloting software to early detect forest fires. 

Forest rangers also worked with local authorities to increase around-the-clock inspection at fire hotspots.

Muong Lat, Quan Son and Quan Hoa districts strengthened cooperation with Laos to build remote fire prevention solutions.

Since the beginning of this year, Thanh Hoa has held nearly 500 conferences to raise public awareness of forest protection and wildfire prevention at the communal level, with more than 24,300 people participating.

Dak Nong works to prevent drowning among children

Promoting communication and improving reservoir management are part of the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong’s efforts to stop children drowning.

According to a report from the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, 15 children drowned in the locality from the outset of the year.

Recently, the province was saddened by news that during just two days-May30-31, four children, aging from one years old to 11, drowned in Duc Xuyen commune (Krong No district), Quang Son commune (Dak G’Long district) and Dak Buk commune (Tuy Duc district).

Drowning cases in the province have increased, with most of the victims primary and secondary students.

Child drowning is of grave concern to local parents and provincial authorities, especially with the school summer holiday having begun with some localities short of playgrounds for children.

The provincial People’s Committee said a lack of adult supervision is one of the main causes of drowning among children.