The Hanoi police said on August 4 afternoon that it was collecting evidence related to a building collapse at No.43 Cua Bac street in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district, which claimed two lives, to consider a possible prosecution. 

The three-storey building, which housed the Nem Xuan Dan restaurant, collapsed at about 3:30am of August 4 while 12 people were sleeping inside. 

Four people luckily got out of danger, while six others were also brought to safety. 

Initial reports by the Truc Bach Ward Police in Ba Dinh district showed that the structure collapsed because it was very old and had a poorly constructed foundation. 

The re-construction of the adjacent house was said to possibly affect the stability of the building. 

In the wake of the collapse, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has asked for an inspection of old houses located near the building No.43 to help residents avoid any danger. 

On September 22, 2015, the collapse of an ancient French villa in Hanoi’s Tran Hung Dao street also killed two people. 

Following the incident, the Ministry of Construction requested localities nationwide thoroughly check and discover unsafe and outdated buildings, especially ancient villas and structures.

NA deputies of Can Tho vow utmost efforts to fulfill tasks

National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, on behalf of other NA deputies of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, has promised they will make concerted efforts to fulfill their tasks in the parliament’s 14th tenure.

She met on August 4 with local voters who applauded the results of the election of deputies to the 14th NA and all-level People’s Council for the 2016 – 2021 tenure, along with the outcomes of the new parliament’s first session, especially the election of the NA, State and Government leaders.

Many constituents voiced their concerns about an array of pressing issues, including investment into the Mekong Delta, farm produce prices, the planning of industrial zones along the Hau and Tien rivers in relation to the environment, marine sovereignty protection, food safety and corruption.

The NA Chairwoman said the new legislature will strive to make laws with better quality, transparency and feasibility that can create stable and long-term legal frameworks.

It will overhaul policies and laws to ensure the sense of responsibility will be upheld in all projects that relate to people’s livelihoods, and the country’s sustainable development and security, regardless of being invested in by the State or foreigners, she added.

She acknowledged that investment in the Mekong Delta is still modest. Hence, the NA and the Government will review general plans for the Mekong Delta, including those on transport infrastructure, so as to reduce the development gap among regions.

Vietnam does not exchange the environment for economic growth, the chairwoman reiterated, adding that the NA will keep a close watch on the clarification of responsibility and handling of violators in the recent marine pollution along the central coast.

Japan welcomes record number of Vietnamese

Japan received a record number of 183,000 visitors from Việt Nam last year, nearly double the previous year’s figure.

In the first five months of this year 106,000 Vietnamese visited Japan, according to figures released at a seminar to introduce the country by the Japan Travel Agency (JTA) held in the central city of Đà Nẵng on July 28.

Nhan Phượng, JTA’s representative in Việt Nam, said Japan is one of the most attractive destinations for Vietnamese travellers while Việt Nam is considered a potential market by the Japanese tourism industry.

The easing of visa conditions for Vietnamese, the increase in the frequency of flights to Japan from Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng and HCM City and the depreciation of the yen are behind the increase for Vietnamese to travel increasingly to Japan, he said.

Chinese consulate general in Da Nang boosts local exchanges

China’s opening of a consulate general in Vietnam’s central city of Da Nang aims to step up economic and trade cooperation and friendship exchanges between its localities and Vietnamese peers in the central region.

Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Le Hai Binh made that statement at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on August 4.

He added that the Chinese consulate general will also work with Vietnamese relevant agencies to tackle consular issues between the two countries.

At present, some countries have opened their consulates general in Da Nang city, the diplomat added.

Thua Thien – Hue to continue human resources training for Lao locality

Authorities of the central province of Thua – Thien Hue have agreed to continue training human resources for Laos’ Champassak province. 

At a meeting with a delegation from the Lao province in Hue city on August 4, local leaders said Thua Thien – Hue will offer 10 scholarships for Champassak students this year. 

Since 2003, the central province has provided training for 163 students from Champasask and 53 of them have graduated. 

The Lao province has also offered long- and short-term scholarships on Lao language training for two students from Thua Thien – Hue per year. Particularly in 2011, it granted six nine-month scholarships of its kind for the Vietnamese province’s officials. 

Hue University and Champasak University have signed a cooperation agreement on experience sharing, curricula development and post-graduate level training. 

On the occasion, leaders of the two provinces also agreed to foster friendship and cooperation in health care, culture, sports, investment and labour. 

They will jointly organise cultural exchanges, and trade, investment and tourism promotion events to fully tap tourism potential in the East – West Economic Corridor. 

The two provinces will also share experience in maintaining and developing their cultural values.-

Vinasun issues penalty to irresponsible driver

After Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper released the news on July 31 that taxi driver abandoned pregnant who nearly gave birth, Deputy Head of Vinasun Corp Ta Long Hy said in a letter to the newspaper that the driver has written a letter acknowledging his wrongdoings and received penalty.

Mr. Hy said that the driver has violated the company’s regulation, the company will eliminate the contract with him or fire because his act badly affects the company’s image.

Driver Dinh Van Cuong explained that he was so fearful seeing the pregnant woman nearly gave birth and her relative shouted loudly; accordingly he stopped at a company in street and left soon. "Now I feel ashamed for my act", said Cuong.  

Leaders of Vinasun Corp August 2 arrived in the Medicine University Hospital to visit and presented gifts to Ms. Ly Cam Mai who took the taxi. Taxi company leaders apologized for the driver’s irresponsibility. Before driver Cuong visited Mai and gave apology to Mai.

On July 31, pregnant Ly Cam Mai was abandoned before Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper when she broke her water.

Fortunately, two employers of a nearby bank helped her to deliver the baby in the newspaper. And later the woman and her baby were rushed to the Medicine University Hospital which is some hundred meter far from the newspaper.

More fish die in HCM City canal, toxic gases suspected

Toxic gases and floating particles of unknown origin have been suspected to have caused fish deaths along a major canal in Ho Chi Minh City, as experts urge the completion of a wastewater treatment plant in the city aimed at improving water sanitation.

Dead fish were again found on August 2 at intervals along a section of the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal that runs through Phu Nhuan District.

With a total length of 8.7 kilometers, the canal snakes its way through five districts of Ho Chi Minh City, having received a facelift in 2012 as part of a series of actions taken by authorities to tackle worsening pollution in the waterway.

The water in the canal in Phu Nhuan was visibly murky, and thick bubbles could be seen at the surface along with toxic gases and sludge from the canal bed.

Plastic bags, water cartons, and plastic bottles were also seen floating on the canal’s surface despite constant collection efforts by sanitation workers.

Results of water quality monitoring revealed evidence of poor water quality, increased turbidity, and a decline in dissolved oxygen levels, according to Tran Dinh Vinh, manager at the Branch for Quality Control and Protection of Fishery Resources under the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Vinh said the accumulation of sludge and unprocessed litter from sewage systems at the canal bed was to blame for the observed surfacing of gas and mud.

Dr. Tran Huu Loc from Nong Lam (Agriculture-Forestry) University in the city said toxic gases like ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfide that had been spread along with the gas movement were among the causes of the fish deaths.

Loc added the problem could be dealt with by dredging the bed of the canal to get rid of the accumulated sludge.

Tons of fish were found dead in the same canal in May following a downpour that washed toxic gases into the canal.

In response to recent fish deaths in the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem urged the municipal Department of Transport to speed up the completion of a wastewater treatment plant in the city.

Liem added that the committee had also tasked the municipal inland waterways authority to carry out the dredging of the canal bed.

Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2016 launched nationwide

The 5th Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards 2016 themed “Rivers of Vietnam”, has just been launched for local and foreign photographers living in the country on August 2.
 
The competition, organized annually by the Vietnam Heritage Magazine with the support of Cannon Vietnam, aims to look for photos of Vietnamese historical, natural and cultural heritages.

Participants can send their colorful or black and white single photos or a collection to cuocthianhdisanvietnam@gmail.com . Each submission must contain caption, venue, characters, title of work and name of the photographer and a brief description of the photo.

The organization board will present 100 photos to a community-based charity program that builds flood-resistant houses in disadvantaged areas.

100 best pictures will be chosen for a display from October until the end of the Lunar New Year festival at tourist attractions, museums and universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Hanoi. 

The awards ceremony is scheduled for November in Ho Chi Minh City. 

250 misleading maps seized

Police in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế have seized hundreds of maps that indicated the East Sea (South China Sea) was named the "China Sea".

Local hotel Beach Bar Huế and Villa Louise, located near Thuận Hải Beach, had allegedly designed and printed the maps, which were distributed free of charge to the hotel’s guests, according to the police.

The maps triggered a protest from local tour guides and Vietnamese tourists, who later filed a police complaint.

A representative of the hotel told online Dân Việt newspaper that the hotel had managed to recover some 250 of the 500 maps and had handed them over to the police.

The owner of the hotel is a French citizen.

Last week, the neighbouring Đà Nẵng also seized dozens of posters that had illegally referenced the local beach as "China Beach". The posters were in the possession of a tour services company.

British DJ to perform at Observatory

Bill Brewster, British writer and DJ, will present a performance at The Observatory on August 5.

Brewster, born in 1959, began DJing in the 1980s. His music genres include deep house, disco, funk, hip hop and trip hop. The artist has appeared on various labels like Twisted UK, Forensic, Disco Sucks and Anorak.

He co-wrote the book Last Night a DJ Saved My Life with his partner Frank Broughton in 1999, and then they launched Djhistory.com.

The show will start at 10pm at 5 Nguyễn Tất Thành Street in District 4. Entrance is free before 10pm, and VNĐ150,000 after 11pm. 

Photo contest highlights beauty of VN’s rivers

The fifth annual Việt Nam Heritage Photo Awards is accepting submissions from amateur and professional photographers living in Việt Nam and abroad.

The contest, themed Những Dòng Sông Việt Nam (Việt Nam’s Rivers), aims to highlight the beauty of rivers across Việt Nam, as well as the life of people living along rivers.

Lê Thanh Hải, editor-in-chief of Vietnam Heritage Magazine, which is organising the contest, said: “The contest aims to find and preserve beautiful images of the country, as well as introduce them to the community, especially young Vietnamese and foreigners.”

Hải said she hoped the photos would raise people’s awareness about preserving Vietnamese cultural heritage.

Participants can submit their works in two categories of single photo and photo essay to cuocthianhdisanvietnam@gmail.com by September 30.

The contest entries will be judged by photographers Hoàng Trung Thủy and Đoàn Thi Thơ, and director Nguyễn Quốc Hưng.

The organisers will give 16 prizes worth VNĐ200 million ($9,000).

The winners will be be announced on November 23 in HCM City to celebrate Việt Nam Heritage Day.

The top 100 photos in the competition will be displayed at tourism agencies, museums and universities in cities and provinces, including HCM City, Phan Thiết, Nha Trang, Đà Nẵng, and Hà Nội, from October to February.

All the photos will be given to Nhà Chống Lũ (Flood Resistance House), a programme that raises funds for people affected by floods and storms.

Thanks to the programme, 274 houses have been built in the provinces of Quảng Ninh, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình and Quảng Nam since 2013.

Began in 2012, Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards has received more than 17,000 photos. The organiser has hosted 54 exhibitions in 17 cities and provinces across Việt Nam to showcase the photos.

HCM City summer book fair offers discounts

A wide range of books are on discount at the Summer Book Fair 2016 that opened yesterday at the HCM City Exhibition House in District 1.

More than 10 publishers, including Nhã Nam, First News, Thái Hà, Đinh Tị, Văn Việt and Trẻ (Youth) publishing houses, are taking part in the fair.

The fair features titles of various genres and subjects, including economics, education, science and technology, start-up businesses and children’s books. 

Many new translated books are on display such as Hillary Clinton — Bí mật quốc gia và sự hồi sinh translated from HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump - Đã đến lúc phải cứng rắn translated from Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again.

The publishing houses are offering a discount of 20-50 per cent on all books at the fair as well as books at a fixed-price counter costing VNĐ5,000-30,000.

Alpha Books Joint Stock Company, the organiser, plans to present 5,000 children’s books to young readers.

The fair will run through Sunday.

Saigon Classical Music Group to play concert at museum

Saigon Classical Music Group will present the concert “Northern Lights” at the HCM City’s Southern Women’s Museum on August 6.

The first part of the concert will highlight compositions by Schubert, Handel, Mozart and Gerigt, while the second part will include works by Kreisler, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Chopin and Ravel.

The performance will feature young musicians and vocalists Phạm Khánh Ngọc, Trần Mai Hồng and Lê Hoa Phong Lan.

Established in 2005, the group aims to offer free performances to the public, as well as support new music talent.

The concert will take place from 7-9:30 pm. The museum is at 202 Võ Thị Sáu Street in District 3. Free tickets can be requested at www.goo.gl/LlnzAS.

Hà Nội to host tennis tournament for teenagers

The national tennis tournament for teenagers is scheduled to begin on Friday in Hà Nội.

Players will compete in the age groups of U10, U12, U14 and U16, besides U18.

The event, which is held by the Việt Nam Tennis Federation, will run till August 13.

The best players will be chosen for the national junior tennis team.

HCM City ceremony marks Singapore’s 51st National Day

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations and the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association’s Ho Chi Minh City chapter jointly held a ceremony in the city on August 3 to mark the 51st anniversary of Singapore’s National Day.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the chapter Dinh Khac Duy highlighted the strong development in the two nations’ relations, especially in investment, trade, education and tourism.

He also underlined the huge potential for bilateral cooperation, saying that Vietnam and HCM City in particular continually welcome and provide all possible conditions for investors from Singapore.

The chapter wishes to work closer with the Singaporean Consulate General, the Singaporean Business Association and Community in Ho Chi Minh City in order to enhance bilateral collaboration, he said.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Leow Siu Lin reviewed the friendship and cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam over recent years, noting that bilateral ties have strongly developed in all fields.

In September 2013, the relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership, marking a new development in bilateral ties, she said.

She also expressed belief that the bilateral cooperation between the two nations as well as the ties between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City will prosper in the future.

As of April 2016, Singapore ranked third among foreign investors in Vietnam, with a total investment exceeding 36 billion USD in 1,600 valid projects.

The Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) is among the most effective projects in the country.

Hai Phong should intensify environmental protection: PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stressed the need for the northern port city of Hai Phong to protect the environment to maintain the living standards of locals as it boasts strong industrial economic development.

Meeting with the city’s voters on August 3, PM Phuc affirmed the Government’s viewpoint of not swapping the environment for development, as well as its determination to strictly punish environmental violations.

Mentioning the environmental incident in the central coast, which is attracting much attention from people nationwide, he stated that the Government had directed ministries, agencies and localities to implement measures to address the incident’s consequences, and asked the Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company to fulfil its commitments.

The Government will clarify the responsibility of and strictly punish organisations and individuals involved in the incident, he added.

PM Phuc also clarified several issues of concern to voters, including the concept “the Government designing and spurring growth”.

According to him, a Government that designs and spurs growth is a Government that can do State management well, by effectively using tools to spur growth such as the improvement of institutions, policies and laws, and environmental protection to serve the demands of people and enterprises.

Regarding the new-style rural area building programme, the Government leader stated that the Government gives high priority to the programme and provides great resources for it.

Agreeing with voters’ proposal on upgrading the city’s transport infrastructure, particularly its railway, he said that this conforms with the target of boosting the city’s socio-economic development and increasing connectivity between the city and other localities.

He expressed his hope that Hai Phong will strive to become one of the localities leading the nation in education and training.

He shared voters’ worries about food safety and hygiene, confirming that the new tenure Government will pay special attention to combating unsafe and poor quality food.

The Government requires ministries, agencies and localities to carry out specific measures to change the awareness of production and processing enterprises, and also of households, of food hygiene and safety, he said, adding that the Government will intensify inspections and strictly punish any violations.

On another matter, the PM stressed that sea and islands are a sacred and integral territorial part of the nation, and safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is the responsibility of each Vietnamese citizen.

He requested Hai Phong’s forces to continue increasing vigilance to protect the national sea and islands.

The Government leader continued by saying that the Government is determined to fight against corruption and wastefulness.

Northern localities surmount disaster consequences

Local authorities of the northern mountainous provinces of Son La and Bac Kan were requested to focus on overcoming the consequences of typhoon Nida, which had a severe impact on northern localities.

Reports from the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Son La province’s Quynh Nhai district said a local was struck dead by lightning.

The typhoon caused a whirlwind and hail in the evening and night of August 2, which blew the roofs off 24 houses, sank 13 boats, damaged 43 fish pens and 34,400 sq.m of corn farm.

According to the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Bac Kan province, Na Ri district suffered the most heavy losses from the disaster estimated at 1.5 billion VND (67,500 USD).

The province still recorded heavy rain in the afternoon of August 3. 

Authorities of districts and relevant departments and sectors were asked to keep close watch on the rain and flooding in the locality to provide timely information and directions to local authorities and people, helping them take specific measures to cope with any circumstances.

The provincial Department of Transport was ordered to arrange guard forces in spillways and flooded road routes, and those roads vulnerable to landslides, aiming to ensure safety for people and transport.

Rice aid comes to affected fishermen in Quang Tri

As many as 40 tonnes of rice were provided to 2,000 fishing households in the central province of Quang Tri who were affected by the recent marine environmental incident.

The aid was delivered on August 3 by the Red Cross Society of Quang Tri province and the Presbyterian Church of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City.

Accordingly, fishing households in Trieu An commune (Trieu Phong district), Gio Viet commune( Gio Linh district), Vinh Giang, and Vinh Thai communes , Vinh Thach and Cua Tung town (Vinh Linh district) received 20 kg of rice each.

The 40 tonnes of rice was donated by Overseas Vietnamese in the US and Canada via the Presbyterian Church of Vietnam.

Pastor of the Prebyterian Church of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Bao said the church will continue to coordinate with the provincial Red Cross Society to organise support activities for households affected by the recent environmental incident.

Since the massive fish deaths caused by the envinmental incident in the central coast in April, many organisations, units, enterprises and associations have carried out pragmatic activities to support affected fishermen to stabilise their lives.

“ASEAN - Cultural Colours” exhibition opens in Hanoi

The Foreign Ministry and the Vietnam Women’s Union on August 3 jointly held an exchange programme and exhibition themed: “ASEAN – Cultural Coulours”, to mark the 49th anniversary of ASEAN (August 8, 1967-2016).

Attending the event were Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, Honoury President of the ASEAN Women’s Circle in Hanoi, Bui Thi Hoa, Vice President of the Vietnam Women’s Union and wives of the ASEAN countries’ ambassadors, as well as representatives from international organisations in Hanoi.

Opening the exhibition, Ambassador Nga highlighted the significance of the event that celebrates an important anniversary of ASEAN – a successful model of regional connectivity, solidarity, dynamism and self-reliance.

The confidence in the strength of the spirit of solidarity and the “unity in diversity” is key for the connections between nations in Southeast Asia under the common roof of ASEAN, she said, adding that similarities in history, tradition and culture have brought ASEAN nations closer together.

She held that the diversity and uniqueness of the cultures have made an attractive identity for the ASEAN Community and bring the association to flourish beyond the region.

The exhibition, which introduce the nations, people and cultures of the 10 ASEAN members, is expected to provide visitors with a vivid picture of the diverse cultural colours of the Southeast Asian nations, she added.

Meanwhile, Vice President of the Vietnam Women’s Union asserted that the activity will help women in ASEAN member countries to become closer, thus boosting their links, friendship and mutual understanding, while promoting the role of women’s organisations in the community in each country and the ASEAN Community.

Vadsana Phomvihane, Vice President of the ASEAN Women’s Circle in Hanoi , lauded the coordination of ministries and sectors of Vietnam in holding the event which helps women in ASEAN foster their friendship.

During the event, ASEAN member countries displayed their country’s typical handicraft products, including those made by women.

On the occasion, ASEAN diplomats’ wives also presented gifts to poor women in Hanoi.

Asian Youth Forum opens in Da Nang

The 14th Asian Youth Forum kicked off in the central coastal city of Da Nang on August 3.

The event was held by the University of Foreign Language Studies under the University of Da Nang and the Japanese organisation Balsamo Outreach for Learning and Teaching (BOLT).

Themed “Developing leaders for the 21st century”, the one-week forum attracted nearly 100 students from Asia and Vietnam.

The youngsters will engage in group discussions in central Hue and Da Nang cities, focusing on social responsibilities, Vietnamese and foreign languages, and art and culture exchanges.

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