Crane driver arrested after fatal accident

Police in southern Dong Thap Province have arrested Nguyen Thai Huynh, 29, driver of a crane that fell onto a road in Hong Ngu Town, killing a woman and her two children.

Lieutenant-colonel Che Thi My Trang, representative of the provincial Police Department, said that regulations stipulated that crane drivers must be in possession of professional qualifications, as well as a safety certificate for operating a crane and a licence to operate a crane in construction work.

However, Huynh only had the professional qualification certificate.

Trang said Huynh's behaviour resulted in his unintentionally killing three people. The police are investigating and will prosecute if the evidence points to a crime having been committed.

On Tuesday morning, Huynh, from central Nghe An Province, was driving the crane on Provincial Road No 842 when it crashed down onto a woman carrying her two children on the road.

All three pedestrians were killed.

An initial investigation showed that Huynh might have caused the crane to collapse due to mistakes while operating it.

The provincial Department of Transport had asked Truong Loc Construction JSC, the contractor of the project, to halt construction and evaluate the actions of those who were involved in the accident.

Yesterday, Nguyen Thanh Hung, vice chairman of the provincial People's Committee, apologised to the victims' family and pledged to determine the cause of the accident.

Dong Nai deals with illegal river wharves

The People's Committee of the southern province of Dong Nai held a meeting yesterday with various departments and localities to find solutions to deal with river wharves that are operating without a licence.

Of the province's 96 wharves, 63 specialise in transporting building materials. Most of them are located in Bien Hoa City and in the Nhon Trach and Long Thanh districts.

Local authorities report that they have faced many difficulties in inspecting and handling illegal wharves because they conduct trading activities at night and most of them have a business licence for building materials, so they are permitted to store their goods at these wharves.

Several residents living near wharves in the Tan Hanh commune have reported that illegal sand exploitation of the Dong Nai River has been underway for many years.

At night, many lawbreakers use boats to quarry sand and transport it to illegal wharves in the Tan Hanh commune.

Nguyen Van Minh, a resident here, said wharves without a licence provide sand taken illegally from the Dong Nai River. If illegal quarrying continues, the stability of the river bank will remain in jeopardy, Minh said.

If a violator is caught, the fine is only VND2.5 million per violation. This is not enough to deter violators, Tran Van Vinh, vice chairman of the committee, said.

The committee has asked departments and sectors co-ordinating with locals to check for violators operating without licences and to stop their operations.

This action aims to prevent the illegal exploitation and transportation of natural resources.

In 2014, the inspection team of the provincial Transport Department investigated 35 wharves operating without a licence.

Demand for inspection after accident kills 6

Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN) has requested HCM City's Transport Department to conduct a comprehensive inspection of Trung Nam Passenger Bus Cooperative's compliance with transport trading regulations.

The move comes after a bus belonging to Trung Nam Passenger Bus Cooperative met with an accident in central Da Nang on April 29, causing the death of six people.

The DRVN has asked the transport department to examine all the passenger buses of the cooperative to ensure that they met all safety requirements.

Buses that do not transfer recorded data from black boxes to the DRVN's servers and buses that are found speeding and causing accidents will have their registration badges revoked.

The result of the inspection must be reported to the DRVN before May 15.

On April 29, a sleeper bus carrying 30 people crashed into a 4-seater car at the intersection of a bypass on the southern side of the city's Hai Van Tunnel.

Four of the seven people in the car were killed on the spot, while two were reportedly dead after being hospitalised and one was seriously injured.

All 30 passengers on the bus were reported safe.

The car was thrown about 100 metres from the collision site and deformed.

The bus was en route from Quang Tri Province to HCM City while the car was on its way back to Da Nang centre from a trip to the Ba Na Hills Resort.

The DRVN's initial inspection of the bus's black box revealed that the bus was driving at a speed of 85kph when the collision happened. Speed limit for that point was 50kph.

The DRVN also conducted an inspection of 143 passenger buses of the cooperative. Some 27 buses were found to have failed to transfer data from the monitoring device to the DRVN's servers and 91 were found to cross speed limits.

Gas explosion kills one person in Binh Duong

One person was killed and two others were seriously injured in a gas explosion this morning in the southern province of Binh Duong.

The explosion happened at 8am in Thanh Nha Trade Ltd Company in Phu Tho district of Thu Dau Mot City.

The two seriously injured persons were admitted to Binh Duong General Hospital.

A resident living near the company said the blast was huge, with debris falling everywhere, creating panic among the residents.

One inspector said the cause of the blast could be the company workers' negligence while filling gas in the gas holder of an air conditioner.

New water pipeline's construction to begin in August

The construction of a 28km-long pipeline, running parallel to the current one to transport water from the Da River to Ha Noi, will begin this August.

The construction was nearly a year behind schedule, the Vietnam Construction Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation (Vinaconex) said yesterday.

General Deputy Director of Vinaconex Than The Ha said at a conference yesterday that the corporation had promised the city authority to focus on building the pipeline, which would extend from National Highway 21 to Ring Road 3, to provide water supply to Ha Noi's residents, in case the existing one breaks.

The VND1.2-trillion (US$55.2 million) project had been scheduled to start last September and be ready by early September this year.

The current water pipeline broke 10 times during the past four years, affecting about 70,000 households in Ha Noi, especially during hot summer days.

Ha said the construction of the new pipeline was very urgent. The corporation had asked the government to skip administrative procedures so that work could begin immediately, but the suggestion was rejected.

The corporation had to implement procedures as required, leading to the delay.

Ha said the corporation would submit the design of the pipeline to the construction ministry next month. After it is approved, the corporation will start building the pipeline, expectedly in August.

The work would be complete by the middle of next year, he said.

The construction work is part of the second phase of the project on upgrading the Da River's clean water supply, with the investment capital of VND4 trillion ($189 million). The project will raise the water supply capacity from 300,000cu.m to 600,000cu.m per day.

During the past four years, the pipeline that transports clean water from the Da River Water Plant in the northern province of Hoa Binh to Ha Noi broke or leaked 10 times.

The latest incident took place on January 15, when a part of the pipeline in Quoc Oai District broke at 8am, causing water shortage to tens of thousands of households in Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Ha Dong and Cau Giay Districts.

The pipeline operator, Vinaconex Water Supply Joint Stock Company (Viwasupco), sent workers, specialised machinery and equipment to the site. The water supply resumed after 12 hours of repair work.

The authorised agencies blamed the breakage on the installation of the pipeline, which had not met technical standards and was not monitored closely.

Quang Ninh: two captive bears moved to rescue centre

Two bears, raised in captivity in Ba Mun Island within the Bai Tu Long National Park in northern Quang Ninh province, were transferred to Tam Dao Bear Rescue Centre on May 6.

The centre will help the bears prepare for a return to the wild, according to Dr Tuan Bendixsen, chief representative of Animals Asia in Vietnam.

Following the transfer, the 36 remaining captive individuals will also be moved to the rescue site by the end of June, as determined by the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry in a bid to improve national bear protection.

A March report from a private farm owner in the province's Ha Long City on the death of four captive bears resulting from acute pneumonia and inflammatory bowel disease led to thorough inspections by the provincial Forest Protection Sub-Department.

The agency filed a report that revealed with the recent deaths, plus the death of four other bears on a farm in January, the number of bears in captivity has fallen from several dozen to only five.

Local officials noted the ongoing spate of bear deaths began in 2014 with 106. So far this year, dozens more have died.

In several reports, it is clear that even after exploiting the bears for years, taking bile from their gall bladder that tourists flocked to consume, farm owners are not willing to hand the exhausted animals over to the authorities for adequate care. The pressing issue now requires drastic measures from local authorities to address.-

Vietnamese silk embroidery finds way to Japan

A group of embroidery artisans in central Thua Thien-Hue province has long embraced the demanding Japanese market, with more than 2,000 embroidered kimonos exported to Kyoto each year.

The head of the groups, Le Van Kinh, who has 70 years of experience and is now in his nineties, noted the handicraft work on kimonos requires highly skilled craftsmen and it takes almost a month to complete a single product.

The double sided embroidery technique, in which stitching takes place on both sides of a single transparent silk fabric so that the designs are shown perfectly in the front and reverse, is employed here with an elegant colour blend from white to grey and vice versa, he said.

He went on to reveal that once finished, a traditional piece of the Japanese clothing is valued at over 50,000 USD.

According to Ida Atsushi, Director of Japan’s Sheui company, his business used 20 kimonos and eight belts embroidered by Kinh’s group, which were as fine as the Japanese creations, to showcase at the recent 2015 Hue Traditional Crafts Festival.

Besides kimonos, Le Van Kinh has long been renowned for embroidering poems on silk. Many of his artworks feature text from “Cao Tat Thi Chung” by Zen master Man Giac in up to 14 languages, including English, French, German and Russian. These have been presented at several exhibitions in and out of the country.

Until now, the artisan has passed down the traditional handicraft for more than 100,000 others; and many of them are very well-known across Vietnam.

Le Van Kinh has been honoured with Eminent Artisan title in 2013.

From its heyday during the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue’s embroidery has stood out for its uniqueness and professional character.

When foreigners first set foot on Vietnam, they brought advanced techniques from Western countries, leading to greater variety in Hue’s embroidered products – with some using traditional techniques and others embracing French-style plain embroidery.-

International conference on Vetiver grass opens in Da Nang

The sixth international conference on Vetiver grass with the theme “Vetiver System: Empowering Sustainable Development” opened on May 6 in central Da Nang City.

Vetiver grass is a naturally-occurring tropical plant. In Thailand, vetiver grass can be found growing in a wide range of areas in various soil conditions.

If planted along contours across a slope, a clump above the ground will produce tillers, forming a green hedge. The grass is then able to trap crop residue and silt eroded by runoff, naturally forming an earth embankment.

Growing vetiver grass can strengthen and sustain farming systems in high rainfall areas and can be applied in other areas for preservation and conservation of land and water resources, such as along the banks of the irrigation canals, reservoirs or ponds along road shoulders, bridge approaches and in forests.

The conference, first held in 1996 in Thailand, presents opportunities for participants to talk about the utility of vetiver in reducing soil and water loss, waste water treatment, and climate change response, among other values.

Participants to this year’s three-day conference include the Vetiver Network International’s (TVNI) Patron, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindihorn of Thailand, local authorities and representatives from Da Nang University and businesses.

Participants were briefed of the operations and development of the TVNI and discussed the application of vetiver in biotechnology and natural disaster relief as well as its significant economic, environmental and social benefits.

They are scheduled to make field trips to study the growing of vetiver to prevent landslide and also for decoration purpose at the Da Nang College of Technology and the Laguna Lang Co resort in central Hue city.

According to Tran Tan Van, President of the TVNI-Vietnam, Vietnam has played an active role in the network by hosting the conference for the first time.

Since the establishment of the TVNI-Vietnam in 1999, vetiver has been widely used across the country in mitigating disasters and protecting infrastructure facilities.

The organisation received a number of international certificates for its efforts in developing the system, including the Vetiver Champion for disaster mitigation at the fourth conference held in 2006 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Dong Nai to build 625 housing units for the needy in 2015

The Central Highlands province of Dong Nai will complete construction on and hand over 625 housing units worth nearly 500 billion VND (23.1 million USD) to local disadvantaged and people who rendered services to the nation by the end of this year.

Head of the Provincial Department of Construction Nguyen Thanh Lam said the locality has finished 23 projects and is working on 50 others covering 400 hectares.

Simultaneously, the province has reclaimed 57 sluggish social housing projects, he said.

So far, 8 of 22 projects to provide accommodations for students have been completed, housing more than 4,000 students, said Lam, adding that in the past two years, 960 houses were built and upgraded for people who rendered services to the nation at a cost of 24 billion USD (1.42 billion USD).

However, he revealed that nearly 760 preferential policy beneficiary families still need improved housing.

At a meeting on May 6 with local departments and localities to seek measures to speed up progress of the projects, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee Tran Van Vinh asked districts to make public all available land resources for social housing to call for more investors.

He also urged the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to make sure all Heroic Mothers residing in the locality benefit from the projects.-

Irish adoptive families rekindle Vietnamese culture

A number of Irish adoptive families are not only caring for Vietnamese children, but also striving to keep them familiar with and close to Vietnamese culture.

As members of the 1993 The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption, Vietnam and Ireland have intensified joint efforts in this regard.

With the signing of a memorandum of understanding on legal and judicial cooperation in child adoption in 2012, the number of Irish families adopting children from Vietnam has grown.

The Vietnamese Irish Network of Adoptive Families (VINAF), a 200-strong voluntary support group established in 2001, has provided support and a social network for families in Ireland that have adopted or are thinking of adopting from Vietnam.

As part of its activities, it organises two or three social gatherings in a year, usually coinciding with important Vietnamese cultural events like the lunar New Year that falls in January or February and the Mid-Autumn festival celebrated by children in September.

It also holds annual trips to the home country and opens Vietnamese classes for adopted children.

Vietnamese Ambassador to UK and Ireland Nguyen Van Thao hoped that Irish adoptive parents would continue serving as friendly bridge between the two countries.

Vietjet Air to offer Hai Phong- Da Nang flight route

Budget airline VietJet Air will officially open its Hai Phong-Da Nang flight route on June 1 t .

Flights from the northern port city of Hai Phong will take off at 11:25 and return from the central city of Da Nang at 13:20 with an estimated flight time of about one hour and fifteen minutes.

The low-cost carrier will offer air tickets starting at 480,000 VND (22.8 USD) for return flights.

Tickets are available on the VietJet website and selling channels with “golden hour” promotion programmes every day.

VietJet Air’s network currently comprises over 27 domestic and international routes. In Vietnam, the carrier operates flights to most major cities and famous tourism destinations. The company has expanded its network internationally to reach Bangkok (Thailand), Singapore, Seoul (the RoK), Cambodia, and Taiwan (China).

Vinh Long, RoK step up education collaboration

Tongmyong University in the Republic of Korea (RoK) will help students, lecturers and education managers in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long further their study in the RoK, as stipulated in a memorandum of understanding signed on May 6.

Accordingly, their collaboration will focus on facilitating access to academic exchanges and scholarships, especially for post-graduates.

Tongmyong University will also send teachers to help with Korean language classes in Vinh Long while cultural exchanges will be held to enhance mutual understanding.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thanh said there remains substantial room for cooperation between two sides.

He expressed his hope that Tongmyong University would proactively share experiences and latest advances in education with the province in the future.

Vinh Long is currently home to three universities, three colleges, four vocational schools with over 10,000 high school graduates per year.-

Youth union sets off for national sea, islands

More than 100 young people from across the nation departed from the Cat Lai port in Ho Chi Minh City for the Truong Sa (Spartly) archipelago on May 6 as part of the “Youth Journey for National Sea and Islands ” programme.

The 12-day trip was organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Vietnam ’s Navy on the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Navy (May 7, 1955).

The programme aims to raise the sense of patriotism and responsibility to defend the national sovereignty over sea and islands among the teenagers.

The participants are students, businessmen, artists, doctors and reporters who will join a number of activities such sailing, offering incense to fallen marine soldiers, and experiencing the life of naval officers at sea day and night to safeguard national sovereignty.

The youths are scheduled to visit islands in Truong Sa archipelago and the platform DK1–an important economics-science-service complex—as well as visit, present gifts, and join sports-culture exchanges with island officers, soldiers and people.

The organisation board said the total money raised by individuals and organisations to support Truong Sa soldiers and residents has reached nearly 3 billion VND (140,000 USD).

On the occasion, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union held a ceremony to present awards to 42 individuals and groups in the national sea, islands and naval soldiers contest.-

Salt water filters supply fresh water to Khanh Hoa islanders

Salt water filtration systems installed in the island of Song Tu Tay, off the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, have proven effective in bringing fresh water to local islanders.

As part of a clean energy project for Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago and the DK platform, the pilot project aims to install reverse osmosis (RO) technology-applied sea water desalination systems using solar, water and wind energy, meeting international quality standards.

Invested by the Navy High Command, the project was funded by the National Oil and Gas Group and was implemented by the Back Khoa Solar Investment JSC (SolarBK) and the Electronic, Informatics and Chemical JSC.

At present, the filter systems generate a total volume of 18,000 litres each day, helping 100 percent of inhabitants and soldiers living in Song Tu Tay to enjoy fresh water.

Previously, fresh water was scarce in the island, mostly transported from the mainland.

The project, which will be expanded to islands and platforms in Truong Sa Archipelago, also plays an important role improving the environment.

Waste importers to pay security deposits

Individuals and organisations that import waste materials for production purposes must pay security deposits up to 20 per cent of the imported goods' value from the middle of next month.

This is part of the newly-approved government decree 38/2015/ND-CP on the management of waste and waste materials that will take effect on June 15.

The security deposit should be sent to the Viet Nam Environmental Protection Fund or commercial banks where importers have accounts, at least 15 working days before the customs clearance.

The deposit will be returned to importers five days after they submit the notarised copy of the customs declaration with the clearance seal or of re-export decision.

If the goods are not granted customs clearance or a re-export decision, the deposit will be used to cover the costs of handling the imported waste materials.

The security deposit is expected to make importers take responsibility in case risks of environmental pollution caused by the waste materials arise.

Those importing less than 500 tonnes of waste iron and steel have to pay security deposits worth 10 per cent of the goods' value.

The rate is 15 per cent for volumes between 500 tonnes and less than 1,000 tonnes.

If the volume is more than 1,000 tonnes, the rate is up to 20 per cent.

The rate for used paper and plastic importers is 15 per cent for volumes less than 100 tonnes, 18 per cent for volumes from 100 tonnes to less than 500 tonnes.

If they import more than 500 tonnes of used paper or plastic, they have to pay security deposits worth 20 per cent of the goods' value.

A rate of 10 per cent will be imposed on other kinds of waste materials.

General Director of Sai Gon Paper Joint Stock Company Cao Tien Vi told Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper that it was necessary and reasonable to prevent waste materials and industrial waste from being imported in Viet Nam.

However, he said instead of security deposits, the licences of importers should be revoked if they violate any laws.

"A security deposit can be a burden for importers as many of them have to borrow working capital to buy materials, and they find it difficult to spend a large sum for the security deposit," he said.

Security deposits of 50 to 80 per cent of the imported goods' value had been proposed when the draft of the revised Law on Environmental Protection was discussed. The revised law was passed last September and the security deposit rate was reduced.

‘Miracle' grass facilitates sustainable development

Over 40 provinces and cities have been planting vetiver grass to mitigate a spate of environmental problems, experts said at a conference yesterday.

They said the grass helps deal with water and soil pollution, desertification, climate change and disaster mitigation as well as prevention of erosion and stabilising river banks and sea dykes, in Viet Nam's fighting against serious global climate change in the future.

On the sidelines of the 6th International Conference on Vetiver System (ICV-6) held in the central city of Da Nang, geologist Tran Tan Van said the grass (Vetiveria Zizanioides) has been used to protect highway dykes, cover waste dumps at coal mines, and on dioxin contaminated soil.

"It's a mass application for solving the worst environment pollution and for protecting infrastructure projects and beaches from erosion.

"Vetiver was used to ease dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa Airport, one of three worst chemical contaminated sites in Viet Nam after Da Nang Airport and Phu Cat Airport in Binh Dinh Province," he said, adding the grass can be used for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the future.

Van, who is director of Viet Nam Institute of Geo-sciences and Mineral Resources and Director of Viet Nam Vetiver Network, said Viet Nam has yet processed the grass as material for craft, textile and oil production.

Participating in the conference, titled "Empowering sustainable development," was Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn from Thailand.

The Princess, chairwoman of His Majesty the King of Thailand's Chaipattana Foundation, also granted US$15,000 from the foundation for ‘The King of Thailand Vetiver Awards' given to six most outstanding vetiver works.

Dick Grimshaw, founder of the Vetiver Network International, said the "miracle grass" could protect the earth by solving serious environment problems including soil erosion and climate change impacts at low cost and in a sustainable way.

In 2001 and 2003, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Transportation allowed the use of Vetiver in disaster mitigation and infrastructure protection such as slope of Ho Chi Minh Trails and river banks and sea dyke in An Giang, Quang Ngai and Nam Dinh provinces.

La Van Hieu of the Da Nang-based Construction Advanced Technology Limited company (SBTV) said planting the grass in infrastructure projects costs only a seventh of concrete structures.

"A square metre of vetiver in protection of upper road sides costs only VND100,000 (US$4.7) and just takes a few months. Meanwhile, one square metre of concrete cast walls costs VND700,000 ($33).

"From 2011 onwards, we had grown vetiver on a 4,000sq.m slope on Son Tra Mountains to prevent landslides during the rainy seasons. When the powerful Nari Storm hit in 2013, the green vetiver layer kept the road wall stable," he said.

"Vetiver coverage on a 600sq.m roadside slope at the Laguna Resort in Hue and various projects in Dak Lak, Quang Nam have been at least 25 per cent cheaper than concrete solution."

He also said a 5ha vetiver nursery in Da Nang, recognised by the Vetiver Network International, could provide saplings for protecting roadside slopes as well as mountainsides in the near future.

A vetiver farm in the Green Islet on the Son Tra peninsula has helped ease water pollution, the conference heard.

Experts said at the conference that vetiver offered an effective bio-engineering solution in Viet Nam, offering itself of craft work as well as feed for cattle.

Vetiver-made textile products and souvenirs from Thailand were displayed at the two-day conference.

The conference was an opportunity for researchers from Asia, Africa, Australia, America and Viet Nam to exchanging experiences in widening application of the grass world-wide.

Hundred children in Hung Yen Province exposed to lead

A study announced by the National Institute of Occupational Health and Environment belonging to the Ministry of Health yesterday shows that environment in Dong Mai Village of the northern province of Hung Yen is seriously polluted with lead, effecting health condition of inhabitants, especially children.

The village is located in Van Lam district where most of residents earn for life by collecting battery and recycling lead, making lead dust spread into environment and water source.

As per the study, content of heavy metal of soil surface in the village is 10,511 μg/g while the amount in the underneath is 7,624 μg/g. Content of lead in third of ten soil surface samples and third of eleven underneath samples has of over 500 μg/g; in addition, six of thirteen samples of air has content of lead exceeding the allowed amount.

Multiple urine specimens were collected and tested for the presence of delta aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in a group of 500 primary and junior high school children in Chi Dao Commune.

Test results showed that 45 percent of children have concentration of delta larger than10mg/l; accordingly, the height of children in the commune is 1-5cm shorter than their counterparts in neighboring commune.

Director of the Preventive Medicine Center of Van Lam district Khuc Chi Thong said that the study showed 209 children exposed to the heavy metal, including 33 of them having lead in blood over 70mg/dl. They need to receive treatment to lower impact of lead exposure soon.

Moreover, though the commune has fresh water supply, only 45 percent of inhabitants in the village use while most of residents use well water in their houses.

The Department of Health said that it liaised with related agencies to urgently detoxicate lead exposure in 33 children. Moreover, health sector in the province will increase information to residents, especially parents of children below 2 year old, women in child-bearing age and people who directly contact with the metal. These people will be under observation to screen lead in blood; accordingly medical workers can have proper treatment.

After hearing the reports of polluted environment and lead exposure in Chi Dao Commune, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai asked the provincial People’s Committee to check the lead pollution and submit solution to the government before May 15, 2015.

Angry residents near polluting power plant to be relocated

Angry residents who blocked a highway in protest against pollution from a thermal power plant in Binh Thuan Province are to be moved to a cleaner location.

Authorities have been instructed to find a new home for the residents living near Vinh Tan Thermal Power Plant 2.

Le Tien Phuong, the chairman of the Binh Thuan People's Committee, ordered a new settlement be built for residents of Hamlet 7.

Phuong urged operators of the power plant to take measurable steps to prevent pollution, allow local monitoring of those efforts, and to provide more jobs for local people.

An issue is waste coal ash from the power plant. The ash is not contained and is carried on the wind, covering everything and everyone around it, and causing respiratory problems for residents.

The Provincial Department of Natural Resource and Environment and relevant agencies will inspect the power plant and report to the Binh Thuan People's Committee.

Thien Thanh Son, the deputy head of Vinh Tan Thermal Power Plant 2 said, "We are speeding up the construction of a tunnel connected to the plant. It will be completed by May 15. Coal ash will be transported through this tunnel instead of on Highway 1A."

Son said more water would be allocated to the waste dump to keep the ash damp, and a recycling project would be launched to reuse the ash and prevent air pollution.

The Vinh Tan Thermal Power Plant 2 began operation six months ago and is part of the Vinh Tan Power Centre.

Local residents complained to local authorities about the uncontrolled discharge of ash and smoke. Nothing was done and, on April 14, thousands of people joined a demonstration against the plant, blocking a section of the National Highway in Binh Thuan Province for 10 hours.  

'Missing' guardrail bolts threaten safety on Hanoi highway

Faulty guardrails along the Hanoi-Lao Cai Highway pose a serious traffic safety threat, with at least one person killed, after hundreds of bolts were found to be missing on many sections of the route, but highway management denies any responsibility.

DTiNews examined sections of guardrail on the A1, A2 and A3 sections and found hundreds of bolts to secure the railings were missing, with only one bolt holding the guardrail where nine should have been present, rendering them ineffective in the event of an accident.

The issue came to light on February 27, when a car crashed into a guardrail. A section broke loose and smashed through the windscreen, emerged through the back window, and killed an occupant.

A spokesman for the Hanoi-Lao Cai Highway management board told DTiNews the bolts were in place before the section was opened to traffic. But bolts have been found to be missing along many other sections.

The spokesman said the board was checking affected sections to determine how many bolts were missing and take action to fix the problem.

The Hanoi-Lao Cai Highway runs 265km through Hanoi and the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai. It connects with China's Kunming-Hakou Highway.

The project was started in the third quarter of 2008 and finished in September 2014, with total investment of USD1.46bn, funded mainly from ADB loans.

Catching crabs on the field

After some rain, certain Saigonese have reason to pack their stuff and head for the outskirts of the city to catch crabs on the field.

On a weekend morning in Tan Hiep Commune, Hoc Mon District, dozens of people gather around Xang Canal to catch crabs. Unlike fishing, crab catchers do not need bait but a fishing rod and several hooks bound together to trap crabs.

A crab catcher named Thanh says although he does not need bait, he still has to lure crabs by food, which is a mixture of roasted rice and wine dregs. When crabs get near the area of the food, catchers will simply lower their fishing rods into the water and wait for them to walk into the hooks.

The whole process sounds simple and takes a shorter time than fishing but it is not easy to ensure that crabs walk into the hook clusters. Therefore, it requires catchers to have certain skills.

In order to catch the crab, people choose ponds or still canals, says crab catcher Bao.

Ponds and canals in Cu Chi District are home to many crabs as the district has a lot of grass fields which keeps rainwater and creates a perfect living environment for crabs.

Actually, crabs will lay eggs when the rainy season starts and will get out of their nests to look for food, he says.

According to some people, apart from catching crabs for fun, some catchers sell crabs to earn a living. Currently, one kilo of field crabs costs VND70,000 (US$3.23) to VND80,000 and one person can catch 1 to 1.5 kilos of crab a day.

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