Vietnam, Germany enhance cooperation in water, environment studies

Germany has pledged to work with Vietnam to boost cooperation in water and environment-related studies in the face of global climate change, as well as in addressing the challenges of the 21 st century.

The commitment was made by Ulrich Katenkamp, head of the Sustainable Development and Natural Resources Department under the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, at a workshop in Hanoi, on April 5, on the need for research into water, natural resources and sustainable development in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Quoc Khanh said that the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in water and environment-related scientific research in October 2005, opening up a new chapter for the two ministries to strengthen coordination in water resource management, environmental protection and sustainable development.

According to Khanh, within the framework of that MoU, many projects have been carried out and produced positive results, which has contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

He noted that Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by climate change. Long-lasting drought and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta is seriously affecting the lives of locals.

Therefore, the workshop was a chance for managers, scientists and businesses from Vietnam and Germany to exchange notes on the research cooperation programme since 2005, for improving the implementation of future programmes, which will thus help with coping with priority issues like drought and saltwater intrusion.

Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation Forum to be held in July

The Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation (MDEC) Forum 2016 will take place in Hau Giang province from July 11-15 with discussions focusing on integration and sustainable development in the region.

This year’s forum will include a conference themed “Mekong Delta – Active Integration and Sustainable Development”, a business forum, a workshop on bank credit, and another to help enterprises in technological reform.

The MDEC Forum aims to promote the potential and strengths of the Mekong Delta region and boost economic cooperation towards sustainable development.

The forum was originally organised as an annual event in regional localities from 2007 to 2014. The forum was interrupted in 2015, when it was replaced by the Mekong Delta Green Tourism Week.

From 2016, the MDEC Forum will be held biennially.

Training course held for female candidates standing for NA election

Fifty female candidates standing for the upcoming National Assembly (NA) election for the first time are on a training course held in Hanoi from April 4-6.

The course, co-organised by the Vietnam Women's Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Fund, is to provide knowledge and skills needed for the candidates to be successful in the upcoming election.

President of the Vietnam Women’s Union Nguyen Thanh Hoa, who is also a 13th NA deputy and a key lecturer for the course, said that capacity building and providing soft skills to meet requirements of leadership positions would create a foundation for women’s political participation.

The three-day course equips female candidates with an overview of the NA, the Law on Organisation of the NA, women’s role in politics, and gender equality under current laws.

Participants, from the ten northern mountainous localities of Son La, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Phu Tho, Lang Son and Dien Bien, are also introduced to action plans, and how to build compelling action programmes and present the programmes convincingly at meetings with local voters.

Resolution No. 11 by the Politburo in 2007 set the task to strive for having at least 25 percent or more female officers participating in Party committees at all levels and from 35-40 percent women’s representation of elected delegates at the NA and People's Councils at all levels by 2020. The Law on Election of Deputies to the NA and People's Councils at all levels in 2015 also set a target of guaranteeing at least 35 percent of the total number of official candidates running for NA deputy seats are women.

Assistant Director Dennis Curry from UNDP in Vietnam stressed that the participation of women in leadership positions in politics and public administration will ensure the representation of the entire population in key institutions. It is also evidence of women's equal rights and measure to bring about diverse perspectives in policy formulation.

Knowledge, skills and confidence of female NA deputies will enable them to participate more actively in constitutional, legislative and monitoring activities to decide on the country’s important issues.

Dieu Huynh Sang, a NA deputy from southern Binh Phuoc province said that though only accounting for 24.4 percent of 13th NA deputies, female delegates have actively participated in the NA’s operation, with those directly questioning deputies in NA meetings accounting for 29.9 percent; 33.52 percent delivering comments on NA’s supreme thematic monitoring; and 30 percent to 50 percent female delegates participating in laws making.

The course also develops an online learning site at www.sansangdethanhcong.com to support the learners and provide the course’s content for anyone interested.

Mekong Delta farmers need be careful starting new crop

Farmers in the salinity-hit Mekong Delta were advised authority’s guidance on when to start growing rice for the Summer-Autumn crop as the water discharged from China’s Jinghong hydropower station arrived in the region on April 4.

Speaking at a meeting on the drought and saline intrusion situation in the Mekong Delta on April 5 in Hanoi, Nguyen Van Tinh, deputy head of the Water Resource Directorate, said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had requested the directorate and the Department of Crops Production to update farmers with information on where and when fresh water is sufficient for their cultivation.

Meanwhile, farmers in the regions about 30km away from the sea mouth are asked not to start growing rice until it rains.

According to Tran Duc Cuong, Deputy Office Manager at the Vietnam National Mekong River Committee, the total water to the Tien and Hau rivers during this release will amount to 1.44 billion cubic metres by the end of April.

Together with the amount of water released from Laos’ dams, saltwater will be driven back towards the sea by around 20 km.

The Water Resource Directorate has also steered localities to use every way available to store up water – in irrigational canals, channels, ponds, and reservoirs.

It is estimated that drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta has caused freshwater shortages for 1 million locals and losses of about 700,000 tonnes of rice.

Vietnam hosts workshop on gender integration in rural transport

About 80 delegates from 11 countries in the East Asia-Pacific region are gathering in Vietnam from April 4 to 6 to discuss issues relating to gender integration in rural transport operation, according to the World Bank in Vietnam.

The workshop is part of a regional Gender Capacity Programme for Rural Transport projects, including exchange visits, technical assistance to participating countries, and a forum representing rural transport projects to discuss ways to reach male and female beneficiaries effectively.

The event invited technical experts from the social and transport sectors, national gender institutions and policy, and project management levels.

The programme’s objective is to intensify capacity for government bodies in the region to meaningfully tackle issues on gender inequalities in transport projects through learning experiences from in and outside the region.

It will also help participating clients form action plans which are based on suitable practices from relevant lessons from other rural road projects and modify them to fit particular conditions in accordance with individual project development objectives.

The WB is supporting peer-to-peer learning through the contribution of professional ideas that can be transferred, replicated and scaled up for development works.

During the three days of workshops participants will discuss the rationale and implementation for integrating gender in the project design of rural roads; institutionalise effective road maintenance and poverty reduction as well as the gender aspects of issues of road safety.

Examples from countries in the region such as Vietnam, Laos, China, Nepal, India, and the Solomon Islands on integrating gender in project designs are addressed at the event.

Participants will visit the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai to learn firsthand the operation of local women’s road maintenance groups in four communes of Bac Ha district, focusing on communes and village roads.

Vietnam intensifies rights of the disabled

The Prime Minister has approved a project on promoting the rights of persons with disabilities funded by the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID).

The 21.2 million USD project will be implemented over five years by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in the northern province of Thai Binh; the central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh; and the southern provinces of Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh and Dong Nai.

The project aims to increase independent living and better integration for the people with disabilities, while completing policy, law and carrying out supporting plans for them

Additionally, the project is expected to improve therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation services by intensifying the involvement of organisations and people with disabilities in developing, monitoring and evaluating policies and services.

Vietnam’s image popularised in Slovakia

Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Ho Dac Minh Nguyet recently paid a working visit to Trnava city in western Slovakia to popularise the Vietnamese image while enhancing economic-cultural ties with the host country.

During her stay, the ambassador held a talk on Vietnamese development in the context of globalisation and Vietnam-Slovak relations at the University of SS. Cyril and Methodius, drawing the attendance of the university’s rector Jozef Matus and students from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

In a separate talk with ambassador Nguyet, the university’s rector wanted to cooperate with a Vietnamese university through teacher and student exchanges, adding that his university is willing to share experience in public administration management, European studies and social consultancy with Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Ambassador was introduced to Trnava’s potential in agricultural production, car assembly and electronic production during a meeting with Eva Tomankova from the Trnava Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Eva Tomankova hoped to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy to organise a business forum presenting the investment climate in Vietnam as well as Trnava’s high-tech park.

Meeting with First Deputy Mayor of Trnava city Tibor Pekarcik, Ambassador Nguyet was briefed about the city’s history and economic and cultural strengths.

The city hailed the Vietnamese Embassy’s initiative to organise activities popularising Vietnamese people and culture in Trnava.

Vietnam and Slovakia have treasured their traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation over the past 65 years.

Bilateral trade hit over 1.2 billion USD and Slovakia is currently the biggest Central East-European investor in Vietnam.

In 2016, the two countries have agreed to organise the second session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation in the capital of Bratislava.

Khanh Hoa: 9.4 million USD spent on dam upgrades

The central province of Khanh Hoa will splash out more than 9.4 million USD on a project to improve dam safety in the locality.

Of the total capital for the “Dam Rehabilitation and Safety Improvement” project, nearly 3.8 million USD will come from a World Bank loan while the provincial corresponding capital is 0.5 million USD.

The project aims to ensure safety for reservoirs through repairing and upgrading prioritised dams as well as enhancing management and operation capacity to protect local people and socio-economic infrastructure in the lower river basin.

By 2022, repair and upgrades will be made to some reservoirs such as Suoi Trau, Lang Nhot, Dong Bo, Da Mai, Cay Sung, Suoi Luong, Suoi Lon and Ben Ghe.

The province is currently home to 19 large-scale reservoirs with total designed capacity of 248 million cubic metres of water. Due to their ages and degraded conditions, most of them will need to be renovated to serve local demands for agriculture irrigation and industrial production.

The Vietnam Dam Rehabilitation and Safety Improvement project, receiving financial support of 415 million USD from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), will renovate 450 irrigation dams nationwide. This will help protect the safety and livelihoods of 6.8 million people who rely on these dams.

In addition, the project will endorse the Vietnamese Government to implement a sustainable framework for ensuring dam safety across the portfolio of dams. This includes the establishment of technical and regulatory standards, codes, guidelines and norms applied to the dams to ensure that overall dam safety is more standardised, transparent and accountable.

US left-wing party supports Vietnamese Agent Orange victims

The Communist Party USA will continue assisting the alleviation of hardship among Vietnamese Agent Orange victims, Chairman John Bachtell stated during his meeting with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) in Hanoi on April 5.

He said his party will disseminate information on Vietnamese Agent Orange victims’ lawsuit against US chemical companies, particularly to young Americans, and mobilise local support for the case.

At the meeting, Bachtell handed over the VAVA a list of signatures of US citizens backing the Vietnamese victims’ fight for justice.

VAVA Chairman Nguyen Van Rinh expressed his appreciation for the US party’s help that is not only directed toward AO/dioxin victims, but also the protection of Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Both host and guest agreed that the Communist Party USA’s working visit to Vietnam this time will contribute to elevating ties with the Communist Party of Vietnam and boosting relations between the two nations.

About 80 million litres of toxic chemicals, mainly Agent Orange containing dioxin, were sprayed over the south of Vietnam during 1961-1971. Nearly 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to the chemicals and about three million people and their descendants suffer from health problems as a consequence of the exposure until today.

Every year, Vietnam spends 10 trillion VND (450 million USD) on aid programmes for the AO community. In recent years, the US government has supported the Southeast Asia country in mine and toxic chemical clearance.

Vietnam, Laos trade union boost links

President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Dang Ngoc Tung hosted a reception for the visiting President of the Lao Federation of Trade Union (LFTU) Pan Noymany in Hanoi on April 5.

Tung highlighted the fruitful development of the Vietnam-Laos relations in general and connection between the two countries’ trade union organisations in particular.

He said the VGCL and LFTU should continue to take specific actions to effectively implement their cooperation agreement for 2013-2018, which focuses on training trade-union staff, delegation exchange and links in international activities.

Pan Noymany suggested the two trade union organisations further enhance the sharing of experience in their work, and support each other at global and regional forums.

The VGCL and LFTU also need to foster connection in managing migrant labourers in their countries, he said.

Malaysia proposes ASEAN News Agency at regional editors meeting

Malaysian Minister of Communications and Multimedia Salleh Said Keruak has proposed establishing a news agency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the first ASEAN Editors Summit.

Addressing more than 100 delegates who are editors-in-chief of news agencies across the region in Kuala Lumpur on April 5, the minister said the time has come to establish the ASEAN News Agency, which could play a significant role in strengthening ASEAN cooperation in many fronts.

He pointed to the fact that almost every ASEAN member faces cross-border issues relating to security and national sovereignty, and such issues should be reported in a cordial and transparent manner so that it does not further complicate conflicts, both regional and global.

“As such, strong ties among media organisations must be nurtured to maintain regional peace and harmony,” the minister said.

Zulkefli Salleh, General Director of Malaysian News Agency (Bernama), called attention to the fact that the regional integration process in the media field has lagged behind the economic, political and social integration.

He said ASEAN news agencies currently rely on international news agencies for coverage of what is going on in their neighbouring countries as few regional agencies have representative offices in other ASEAN nations, and called for a closer cooperation among agencies.

AKP Mochtan, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General in charge of community and business issues, highly appreciated the idea of the ASEAN News Agency, emphasising that such an agency will contribute to further pushing forward integration and linkage within the bloc.

The 2016 ASEAN Editors Summit will take place for two days, with discussions focusing on boosting the role of the mass media in promoting the ASEAN Community and the bloc’s unique cultural features, among others.

Vietnam eyes 25 percent of communes with new countryside title

Vietnam aims to have about 25 percent of its communes named new-style rural communes this year as the national target programme on new countryside has entered the sixth year.

The country also hopes that around 30 – 35 district-level localities will secure the new-style rural area status by the end of 2016.

The Government-initiated national target programme is meant to give a facelift to rural regions across Vietnam.

Its criteria cover infrastructure, production, living standards, income and culture, among others. A district must have at least 75 percent of its communes meeting all the 19 criteria in order to receive the title of new rural district.

For 2016, the central steering committee for the programme is set to ask localities nationwide to further assist the communes having met less than five criteria and control their infrastructure building loans.

It will also consider making some criteria more flexible for the regions with special socio-economic features. And in the case of communes and districts that have already earned the new countryside title, higher standards to achieve will be set for them.

As of February, as many as 1,761 communes across the nation had met the new-style rural area criteria, accounting for 19.7 percent. On average, each commune met 12.9 criteria, up 8.2 criteria from 2010, and 2.9 criteria from 2015.

Meanwhile, 17 districts obtained the status, according to the Central Coordination Office on New Rural Development.

Vietnam aims to have 50 percent of all communes nationwide meet all the requirements by the end of 2020.

Exhibition on Truong Sa, Hoang Sa opens in Bac Lieu

An exhibition titled “Vietnam’s Hoang Sa, Truong Sa – Historical and Legal Evidence” displaying maps and documentation on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos opened at the provincial Cultural Centre in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu on April 5.

The exhibits, including documents, objects, publications and nearly 100 maps belong to many local and international scholars.

Among the exhibits are four atlases officially published by the Chinese governments through historical periods defining Hainan Island as China ’s southernmost point.

The exhibition shows that Vietnam has explored and exercised sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands in the East Sea . It has been a continuous and long process and has been recorded in many historic materials that belong to Vietnam and other countries – especially documentation and maps drawn and published from the 16th century to present day.

The event, organised by the province and the Ministry of Information and Communications, helps raise awareness among all Vietnamese people, particularly the young generation, on patriotism, national unity and a sense of responsibility.

The event runs until April 9.

Hoang Sa sailors commemorated in Ly Son

A traditional ceremony commemorating sailors of Hoang Sa (Paracel) Flotilla, took place in An Vinh communal temple, Ly Son island district, central Quang Ngai province on April 4.

The annual “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” ((Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers) ceremony is to pay tribute to the soldiers and sailors who sacrificed their lives over the centuries guarding the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.

The event has been observed through hundreds of years by communities in Ly Son islands and many coastal areas in Quang Ngai.

According to Vietnam’s feudal state history, the Hoang Sa Flotilla was set up when the Nguyen Lords began their reign in the south of the country. Thousands of sailors overcame roaring waves and storms to survey sea routes, plant milestones and erect steles affirming national territory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, and mine marine resources under the order of Nguyen Lords. Their missions were full of dangers, and many of them never returned to land. Therefore, before the soldiers left for their mission, a feast was held for them, hence the beginning of the tradition.

Ly Son Island covers an area of less than 10 sq.km but it has nearly 100 relics, most of which are related to the Hoang Sa Flotilla, such as the sacred temple, the empty graves built for those Hoang Sa soldiers who never returned, the communal houses of An Vinh and An Hai Villages, the chambers worshipping Pham Quang Anh and Vo Van Khiet who were captains of the Hoang Sa Flotilla, the showroom displaying the items of the Hoang Sa Flotilla who also controlled Bac Hai and Ba Ri Lagoon. In particular, “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” which is held every April on the island has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the State.

A monument and the memorial house dedicated to the Hoang Sa Flotilla stand near the main road of the island. The exhibits at the memorial house include the mats, identity cards, bamboo splints and rolls of rattan strings, which the militia-soldiers often took with them on each trip to Hoang Sa.

Vietnam, Egypt step up inspection cooperation

Vice Chief Government Inspector Dang Con Huan worked with Chairman of Egypt’s Administrative Control Authority (ACA) Mohamed Erfan on April 4 in Egypt to discuss ways to enhance experience exchange in inspection and anti- corruption.

The Vietnamese guest highlighted recent cooperation between the two countries’ inspectorates, suggesting both sides further strengthen the sharing of experience in the work.

The same day, Huan joined ACA officials at a seminar to share practical lessons in fighting corruption, during which he stressed that the two agencies will enhance exchange of delegations and experts in the coming time.

The activities are expected to help improve efficiency of anti-corruption in both countries, he said.

ACA Vice Chairman Hesham Othmam introduced the guest to organisational structure and function of his agency, expressing his hope for more comprehensive links between the two agencies in the future.

The two sides should regularly organise training courses to improve the quality of their inspectors, he noted.

Othmam shared Egypt’s experience in combating corruption in the fields of investment, aviation, and infrastructure.

During his current working visit to Egypt, Huan and his entourage will have working sessions with representatives from the ACA’s chapters across the country.

Norwegian press agency wishes to cooperate with VNA

The Norwegian News Agency (NTB) wishes to boost cooperation with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), said Pal Bjerketvedt, CEO and Chief Editor of the NTB.

Pal Bjerketvedt made the remark during a reception recently held in Oslo for Vietnamese Ambassador to Norway Le Thi Tuyet Mai.

The chief director said that NTB should learn experiences from the VNA and work toward an information exchange mechanism between the two sides.

At the reception, Ambassador Mai briefed her host on the policies and activities relating to the press sector in Vietnam.

She also took the occasion to express thanks to the Norwegian press agency for its extensive reports on Vietnam, contributing to strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

Founded in 1867, the NTB serves most of the largest Norwegian media outlets.

It has signed information sharing agreements with several news agencies in Asia, including Japan’s Kyodo, the Republic of Korea’s Yonhap, and Chinese Xinhua.

Toll on Dak Lak crops rising as dry season nears peak

Up to 36,961ha of crops in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have suffered from water shortages as of April 4, a figure predicted to continue growing as the dry season is near its peak.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Tuan Ha said the heaviest toll is on coffee with more than 29,348ha affected, increasing by 15,700ha from the corresponding period last year.

Krong Buk district has the largest impacted coffee area (8,588ha), followed by Cu M’gar (6,000ha), Krong Nang (over 5,370ha), and Ea H’Leo (over 4,530ha).

Nearly 4,000ha of land under wet rice and another 1,494ha under pepper have dried up, he said, adding that the total loss due to water scarcity has exceeded 1.11 trillion VND (49.95 million USD).

Additionally, 20,160 families across the province are experiencing a lack of water for daily use.

While about 250 irrigation works and almost all streams and wells in Dak Lak have run dry, the water level of big rivers has receded by 0.4 – 2 metres, Ha added.

Local authorities have advised local residents about using water efficiently and delivered water to residential areas. The natives were also helped to dredge rivers, streams and lakes, dig wells and build concentrated water supply facilities.

Water shortage is forecast to impact more than 80,000ha of crops and 30,000 families in the province by late April.

Tuyen Quang works to handle aftermath of hailstorm

Chiem Hoa district of northern Tuyen Quang province is repairing itself after a hailstorm took its toll across ten local districts on April 3.

As hailstones rained down, 1,722 households saw their properties damaged, with nearly 60,000 roofs broken and 256 hectares of crop-fields battered. The hailstones’ average diameter was between 5 and 10 centimetres, with some having an exceptional size of 15 centimetres.

Authorities in Tuyen Quang have mobilised the whole community to support these areas.

All injured families in Tan Thinh, Phuc Thinh districts and Vinh Loc town, which were hardest hit, were guaranteed shelter and help so they can have their lives and homes back to normal as soon as possible.

The sale of roof boards is being checked in terms of quality and prices to deter businessmen from pushing the cost up.

Competition on environmental protection kicks off in Hanoi

The “Sang tao vi moi truong” (Creative for environment) competition was kicked off in Hanoi, on April 4.

The event jointly organised by the Hanoi-Amsterdam high school for the gifted and Friesland Campina Vietnam aims to provide ideas and standard models on environmental protection and sustainable development in order to raise awareness of environmental issues among young people.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Viet Dung from the Vietnam Environment Administration said the organising board expects the event will help promote the creativeness and passion of young people towards environmental protection work.

Participating works should cover content on environmental protection such as energy saving, environmentally -friendly products, biodiversity conservation, recycling, waste treatment, environmental education, and information technology application in environmental management and protection.

Contestants can submit their works by the end of this June . Some outstanding works will receive funds to realise their ideas.

More information about the competition can be founded at websites www.giaithuongsangtaoxanh.vn; www.vea.gov.vn; www.cetac.gov.vn; www.doanthanhnien.vn; and www.facebook.coom/giaithuongsangtaoxanh.

Mekong Delta to collect fresh water

Water discharged from the upper Mekong River approached the Mekong Delta on April 3, with inflow forecast to peak between April 5 and 7, according to the Water Resource Directorate and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Saltwater is expected to be washed away across areas, whose distance from the sea are between 25 and 40 kilometres, to make way for fresh water starting from April 12.

After the date, inland saline intrusion could recede by 10 – 15 kilometres compared to its current level.

In areas near the West Sea, fresh water from the Hau river is forecast to build up in Kien Giang and Hau Giang provinces from April 4 to 15, before a possible comeback of saltwater.

On April 3, salinity at 4 ppt was recorded in different areas in Vam Co, Tien and Hau rivers as well as along the coast of the West Sea.

VFF leader congratulates Khmer people on Chol Chnam Thmay festival

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Nguyen Thien Nhan has conveyed congratulations to the Khmer community nationwide on the occasion of their traditional New Year festival Chol Chnam Thmay.

He said the VFF appreciates the Khmer people for complying with the Party policies and State laws while actively joining the campaign “The whole people united to build a cultural life in residential areas” and the drive “Vietnamese prioritise Vietnamese goods”, contributing to fulfilling the socio-economic tasks and ensuring social security in localities.

Over the past 30 years of renewal under the Party leadership, the material and spiritual lives of ethnic and religious groups, including Khmer people, have improved, he said.

The VFF leader also expressed his belief that the Khmer ethnic groups will continue upholding their tradition and the campaign “The whole people stand united to build new rural areas and civilised urban areas” launched by the VFF Central Committee, towards the goal “Wealthy people, strong country, democracy, fairness and civilisation”.

Chol Chnam Thmay is one of the most important festivals of the year for the Khmer people. It usually lasts three days and is celebrated mostly in pagodas.

One of the most important practices in Chol Chnam Thmay is the Buddha bathing ceremony. Khmer people also bathe to pray for forgiveness for mistakes made in the previous year.

Various traditional activities such as folk games, dances and singing are also held during the festival.

Vietnamese teacher, students develop water desalination machine to battle historic drought

A physics teacher and his students at a high school in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre have developed a solar-powered water desalination machine to provide precious drinking water for the drought-stricken area.

Physics teacher Truong Huu Dung and his students at Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School in Ben Tre City, the provincial capital, are in the final stage of creating a water desalination machine that costs around VND2 million (US$90) and could produce six liters of fresh water a day.

“Salt water is stored in an insulated bottle made up of two layers of plastic separated by an insulating layer, and then heated by a vacuum tube taken from a water heater machine. The vapor will follow a tube into the distillation pot to be condensed into fresh water,” Dung explained.

Simple as it sounds, the machine is the fruit of a long and arduous process of trial and error by the team, which even included a small explosion caused by high pressure inside the insulated bottle.

The idea for the machine came three years ago when Dung and his student Nguyen Thanh Dat were revisiting the hometown in Thanh Phu District in Ben Tre Province.

Dung recalled how he and Dat had witnessed the hardship of residents living without fresh water in the district, which invariably suffers from drought and salinization six months a year.

“Dat asked me whether there was a way to turn salt water into drinkable fresh water,” Dung said. “With my knowledge of physics, I knew for sure it was possible, so I encouraged Dat to come up with specific ideas.”

With the idea conceived, Dung, Dat, and another student Ho Ngoc Kien Uyen rolled up their sleeves to start developing the desalination machine in 2014.

The initial prototype consisted of a clay pot for storing salt water, a parabolic reflector that turns solar energy into thermal energy to heat the salt water, and a distillation compartment to collect fresh water.

The prototype, however, proved inefficient since it failed to retain heat for a long enough time without constant solar exposure, meaning the amount of distilled water produced was too little.

The group’s project was put on hold when members Dat and Uyen had to attend university in Ho Chi Minh City, and the school’s science budget was too tight.

Dung, however, was motivated to restart the project in mid-2015 after the province suffered from a harsh drought that deprived thousands of its residents of fresh water, while his school struggled to find an affordable desalination machine to provide drinking water for its students.

He said a machine of this type costs over VND60 million ($2,700), which was too expensive for his school to afford.

Currently, Dung and his student team are working on the third prototype of the machine that he expects could be mass-produced for residents in the province.

The team has been spending most of their time after school in the laboratory to finish their machine as quickly as possible given the worsening drought in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.

Nguyen Tan Loi, a junior at Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School and a member of Dung’s new student team, said he and his friends had been busy with the machine, even on Sundays.

“In order for the machine to operate efficiently and the calculations to be precise, we have to monitor the equipment every couple of minutes throughout the day,” Loi said.

Dang Buu Truyen, principal at Nguyen Dinh Chieu High School, said he greatly appreciates the science project that Dung and his team are undertaking, noting that one of the most important missions of the school is to encourage and nurture such ideas among students in order to build a base for their future careers.

Truyen added that his school had made a plan to upgrade its laboratory to facilitate scientific research in the school.

With the near completion of the machine, the team hopes to soon offer residents in their hometown an affordable alternative to get access to fresh water.

A stamp set was released on the occasion of the anniversary of liberation of the central province of Khanh Hoa, on April 2.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Post and the People’s Committee in Khanh Hoa Province released a stamp set to mark the 41st anniversary of the liberation of the province.

Stamp set entitled “Bang vuong” includes two designs and one block featuring the beauty of sea flower – a specific symbol of Truong Sa Archipelago. The stamps created by artists Nguyen Du and Do Lenh Tuan from the Vietnam Post measure 43mm x 32mm each.

Stamp collectors can purchase the stamps via website from April 2 to December 31, 2017.

Eight historic sites to be restored to educate young people of nation’s history

Vietnamese Prime Minister approved eight projects to restore historic sites for the education of young people about the country’s glorious history.

Eight historic sites managed by the Vietnam Youth Communist Union include Nam Oa - an area for talks about Vietnamese patriotic tradition in the central province of Quang Nam with totally cost of VND10 billion (US$ 448.5); a memorial to pay tribute to  a company of Youth Volunteers C283 in Quyet Thang Village in the central province of Quang Binh’s Bo Trach District with estimated spending of  VND30 billion (US$ 1,345.6); renovation of ecological lake in the Dong Loc T crossroads monument costing VND5 billion (US$2,242); histories site to pay tribute to Young Volunteers Xuan Son in Quang Binh Province; a memorial for Young Volunteers in the southern province of Tay Ninh; museum for Vietnamese young people in Hanoi; historic site for Vietnamese young people and memorial to pay tribute to a company of Youth Volunteers 915 in the northern province of Thai Nguyen.

The PM also approved a proposal that the Ministry of Defense will manage the national historic site Central Committee Office for South Vietnam, the agency in charge of making policies and planning in the region during war, in Tay Ninh province.

Vietnamese artists join campaign on enviroment protection

A photo collection displaying a message, “Don’t let pollution affects our living” has been launched nationwide.

8 artists, musicians Thanh Bui and Tien Tien; singers Trong Hieu, Bich Ngoc, Hoang Quyen; actress Diem My, choreographer Alexander Tu, dancer Do Hai Anh jointed the shooting.

The event is part of the campaign titled “I CAN’T” held by the Center of Hands-on Actions and Networking for Growth and Environment-CHANGE; and the global climate movement. 350.org Vietnam that has been kicked off starting March 29-May 2.

The program is expected to raise awareness of young people, local and foreign businesses about climate change impacts, energy and environmental protection.

Ministry fines companies violating quality standard

Inspectors from the Vietnam Food Administration under the Ministry of Health have issued fines to companies violating the law of food safety.

As per the Administration, over 20,000 nutrition supplement products was made in Vietnam and imported by 3,000 companies. Of these, domestically-made products accounted for 60-65 percent. However, through tests and inspection, many violations such as content quantity, wrong advertisement or mold infection were detected.

Worse, most violations are locally-made products. Inspectors also discovered that the company has just representative office with no factory; yet their products were released in the market.

In response to public concern of violations of food safety and hygiene in nutritional supplements, Head of the Administration Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, said that because there has been no regulation to the production of nutritional supplements under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) therefore many private companies being used backward technology have still produced nutritrional supplement products, causing violations of quality standard.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Health  decided to ask private companies to produce the products complying with GMP to protect customers’ health and rights.

10 percent kids still get chicken pox despite vaccination

In three first months, the country reported over 4,000 cases of chicken pox. Worse many of them were vaccinated against the disease before.

The Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health on April 1 said that in three first months of the year, there are over 4,000 cases of chicken pox across the country. The cities and provinces having most cases are Hanoi, the northern province of Thai Binh, Yen Bai, the central provinces of Nghe An, and the highlands provinces of Lam Dong and Kon Tum.

Compared to same period last year, the chicken pox cases have decreased by 70 percent yet head of the Department of Preventive Medicine Dr. Tran Dac Phu fretted that despite decreased number in the cases, infections are higher than recorded cases as infected children are usually kept at home for isolation.

He warned a possible leap of the disease as it often spread in the spring winter. The disease is transmitted through fluids in the blisters in arms, feet. Sick people will feel tiredness, headache, fever, running noses, sore throat and rashes in heads, eyes and body. It is dangerous if pregnant women get chicken pox as it can cause miscarriage or complications for the unborn baby.

Worse, many parents reported that their children were vaccinated yet kids still have the disease, Dr. Phu said that 10 percent of children who develop severe complications from chickenpox disease have compromised immune systems or other health problems.

Health Ministry to open more hospitals for senior citizens

Director of Hospital for  Elderly People Professor Pham Thang said that more hospitals for elderly people will be opened in the future as the number of senior people is escalating drastically.

Vietnamese population is ageing and more senior people suffered disease, the Ministry of Health is increasing preventive measures  against diseases and primary healthcare focusing on prevention chronic disease rather infectious diseases.

Especially, the Ministry will continue improving the healthcare network for senior people by purchasing more medical equipment, training more personnel and building satellite medical institutes for the National hospital for Elderly People as well as provide more medical services for them.

More hospitals will be constructed in cities and provinces ; especially after 2020, two hospitals for elderly people will be built in Ho Chi Minh City and the Central city of Da Nang.

As per the Ministry,  Vietnam is one of the nation having most elderly people in the world. There are over 21 million people aged 60. moreover, people aged over 80 also increased dramatically accounting for 4.16 percent of the country's whole population.

Furthermore, elderly people nowadays usually have non-communicative chronic diseases  such as cancer, heart problems, and depression leading to the surge of treatment cost. It is estimated that the medical cost for an elderly people is 7-10 times higher than young people.

Unfavorable weather drives kids to hospitals

Professor Nguyen Tien Dung, pediatric expert of the hospital said that because the humidity in the air is high plus unpredictable weather, many children were hospitalized, an increase of 20 percent compared to previous weeks.

The hospital’s Pediatric Ward admits  200 children everyday; most of them were taken to the hospital when they had breathing problem and high fever.

The National Children Hospital has also seen a leap of sick neonates recently. Average, the hospital receives over 2,0000 children a day and 60 percent of them suffered respiratory problems. Worse, many of them were treated at homes so they experienced breathing failure and pneumonia accordingly they had put on ventilator.

Miserable weather not only caused children to have respiratory diseases but also infectious diseases namely measles, chicken pox, influenza and whooping cough. Parents need to keep environment in the house clean and dry and take children to nearby medical facilities soon when they have fever and breathing problems. Parents should not buy medications from nearby pharmacies to treat their children at homes.

In these days, the number of hospitalized children in two Pediatric Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City surged drastically. Most of them suffered breathing problem and diarrhea.

The Children Hospital No.1 receives up to 800 neonates having diarrhea a day, three time higher than normal. In addition, parents also take their children to hospitals for respiratory diseases; for instance, nearly 80 percent of children taken to the Children Hospital No.2 have digestive and respiratory diseases.

Dr. Dinh Thac from the Children Hospital No. 1 said that the weather is so hot so food easily turns rotten; parents should pay attention to make food for kids. By statistics, every two children were hospitalized for diarrhea, one of them suffered the disease caused by Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe vomiting and diarrhea among infants and young children.

The disease can be treated if parents know how to treat it; however, many children were taken to the hospital when they suffered complications of diarrhea.

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