Authorities in the southern province of Binh Duong had a working session with officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on November 7 to review a joint project on developing local public transport.

At the function, Takagi Michimasa, who led the JICA delegation, said the project aims to build urban bus systems in Thu Dau Mot city, and Thuan An and Di An towns, improve bus services, and carry out communication campaigns to encourage residents to use public transport.

Most tasks of the project have been running smoothly, he said.

As heard at the event, the provincial Transport Department and JICA will expand their joint work, including the operation of more routes using Kaze Shuttle buses between Thu Dau Mot city and New Binh Duong city.

They agreed to open three more bike parking areas at intersections and bus stops in Phu Hoa, Phu Loi and Hiep Thanh wards.

Bus services, such as customer services and monthly electronic tickets will be also improved.

Tran Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, called on relevant agencies to promote the use of buses at schools and in residential areas.-

Foreign ministry congratulates embassy on Cambodia’s national day

A delegation of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to the Cambodian Embassy in Hanoi on November 7 to extend congratulations on the 63rd National Day of Cambodia. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy congratulated the State and people of Cambodia on their massive development achievements over the past 63 years. 

Vietnam and Cambodia boast a time-honoured and fine friendship - a pride and also a priceless asset that they should treasure, he noted, highlighting his country’s consistent policy of prioritising the amity and all-faceted cooperation with Cambodia. 

He wished the Cambodian people would obtain even greater accomplishments in the near future. 

Quy also spoke highly of the close cooperation between the Cambodian Embassy and the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, which has actively helped to solidify the two countries’ solidarity, friendship and partnership.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Ambassador Prak Nguon Hong thanked the ministry for working closely with his embassy, stressing that the entire embassy staff will continue exerting efforts to foster bilateral relations in all spheres, thereby meeting expectations of the two countries’ people.

They are working to prepare for the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic ties in 2017 and consider it an important occasion to educate the countries’ younger generations about the durable values of bilateral relations, he added. 

The diplomat said with the goodwill and efforts from both sides, the Vietnam-Cambodia amity and comprehensive cooperation will be thriving. He also asked for further assistance from and coordination with the Vietnamese ministry.

Electricity resumed in disaster-stricken provinces

Electricity has been resumed in disaster-stricken central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Quang Nam, said the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) on November 7. 

However, some localities have yet to access electricity due to inundation.

In Phu Yen, several parts of Phu Hoa, Dong Xuan, Song Cau, Dong Hoa, Tuy An districts and Tuy Hoa city remain under water. 

In Khanh Hoa, one transformer has been isolated due to flooding from November 5. 

Meanwhile in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, the provincial power company resumed power supply in all Krong Nang and Krong Ana districts. 

As of 8am on November 7, eight hydropower reservoirs were draining away water. 

The EVN’s hydropower plants and local authorities have worked closely together to follow reservoir operation regulations and flush water away as directed by local steering committees for disaster prevention and control.-

Quang Ninh province moves to prevent Zika virus

The northern province of Quang Ninh is ramping up anti-Zika efforts given that it is a popular destination among tourists. 

Asides from increased examination of tourists from Zika-infected areas, the province has combined anti-Zika activities with dengue fever prevention efforts and stepped up communications to raise public awareness of preventive measures. 

The local health sector said it has geared up necessary medicine and chemicals, gave intensive training to healthcare staff, and carried out testing immediately after any suspect Zika case was reported. 

All suspect cases have been tested negative for the mosquito-borne virus so far, according to the provincial preventive medicine centre. 

Ninh Van Chu, Director of the centre, said most of Zika patients have light fever and rash, some can have conjunctivitis, muscle pain, and arthralgia . These symptoms can be over within two or seven days. As clinical signs can be mistaken for those of dengue fever, testing is the only way to confirm Zika infection. 

The preventive medicine centre is now capable of testing for Zika, he said, telling people not to worry and follow medical workers’ advice. 

Thirty-six Zika cases have been recorded across Vietnam with 29 patients in Ho Chi Minh City and others in Dak Lak, Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, and Long An provinces.

Natural resources minister pledges more transparency

Enhancing transparency in the natural resources and environment sector was a message that Minister Tran Hong Ha has sent to people, enterprises and his employees in an online exchange on November 7. 

The exchange focused on perfecting policies and laws on natural resources and environment to remove difficulties for people and businesses. 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment always pays attention to improving institutions, policies and laws on the field as well as simplifying procedures to create favourable conditions for people and enterprises and cut costs. 

For example, Ha said, the sector reduced 30 procedures in land management in areas with the land registration office and nine in areas without the office, and 40 percent of procedures in the mining field. The time to complete procedures was also cut down on all types of procedures.

However, he admitted shortcomings in some current policies and mechanisms, especially those in land and water resources management and the environment.

By 9am on November 7, the ministry and its 63 provincial and municipal departments received 462 questions with half of them related to land. 

Firstly organised in 2005, the online exchange has become one of the important information channels to receive and answer questions from people and businesses, thus promptly removing their difficulties and fixing shortcomings in natural resources management and environmental protection.

Vietnam communist youth union treasures ties with Chinese counterpart

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) always treasures the friendship and cooperation with the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), Secretary of the HCMCYU Central Committee Le Quoc Phong has said. 

He met with First Secretary of the CYLC Central Committee Qin Yizhi in Hanoi on November 7, in the framework of the third Vietnam-China Youth Festival from November 7-10. 

The festival takes place in coincidence with the 66th founding anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations, Phong said, stressing that Vietnamese young people are well aware of their responsibility to maintain and develop the bilateral friendship which has been nurtured by both countries’ leaders and people throughout history. 

He asked both sides to do a good job of implementing the agreements and joint statements reached between their countries’ Party and State leaders, along with existing cooperation programmes and activities. 

They should continue increasing exchanges and personnel training, and encourage young entrepreneurs to share experience and seek investment opportunities in each other’s countries. It is also necessary to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Chinese border localities to conduct more exchanges between their youngsters, he said. 

Phong also suggested further joint activities between young reporters and press officials of the two youth organisations. 

At the meeting, First Secretary Qin said this year’s festival is an opportunity to augment the two neighbours’ time-honoured amity, with youth exchanges serving as a booster of the bilateral ties. 

He affirmed the CYLC always works to promote the countries’ sound cooperation. 

He expressed support of the Vietnamese side’s suggestion on ways to bolster cooperation, laying emphasis on exchanges between border provinces, personnel training and partnership between young business people.

Forum promotes VN-China youths’ role in preserving culture

A forum highlighting the role of Vietnamese and Chinese youths in preserving cultural identities and developing tourism was held in the northern province of Phu Tho on November 7 as part of the ongoing 3rd Vietnam-China Youth Festival.

At the event, 200 delegates had a chance to understand more about the Vietnam-China traditional friendship as well as promote their pioneering role in conserving cultural values and fostering tourism development in the integration period.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Phu Tho chapter Pham Thanh Tung, stressed the forum provides participants with a good opportunity to learn about history and cultural values of both Vietnam and China, contributing to nurturing the friendship and time-honoured relations between the two Parties, States and their people.

Deputy Director of China’s International Youth Exchange Centre Hong Guimei, said the event helped foster links between Vietnamese and Chinese youths, thus strengthening the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Attendees were introduced to cultural and natural heritages of the world in Vietnam like Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary, the Complex of Hue Monuments and Ha Long Bay among others.

Chinese delegates also introduced their country’s cultural identities to Vietnamese peers.

After the forum, the Chinese youth delegation paid a courtesy visit to the provincial leaders.

The two countries’ youths also joined together in an art exchange programme in Hung Vuong University later the same day.-
 
Dong Nai marks 20th anniversary of ties with RoK province

The southern province of Dong Nai marked the 20th anniversary of its partnership with Gyeongnam province of the Republic of Korea at a ceremony on November 7. 

Speaking at the event, Tran Van Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee, appreciated the cooperation and results the two sides have achieved. 

Investment of RoK businesses in Dong Nai has become the solid foundation for the bilateral cooperation for the interest of people and the development of each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, said Vinh. 

On his part, Ryu Soon Hyun, Vice Governor of Gyeongnam province, said the relationship between Dong Nai and Gyeongnam has developed comprehensively. 

He expressed thanks to Dong Nai authorities for facilitating the operation of RoK businesses in general and Gyeongnam’s in particular in the province, and pledged to boost bilateral ties in culture and other fields. 

Dong Nai and Gyeongnam signed the Memorandum of Understanding on establishing friendly and cooperative relationship in 1996, under which the two sides frequently organise activities and exchange visits. 

According to the RoK General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai attracted 5.95 billion USD of investment from the RoK as of the end of 2015. At present, 260 RoK enterprises are operating in this southern province.

Women need support to tackle domestic violence

Vietnam has made progress on its gender equality targets. The revised Constitution adopted in 2013 and the 2006 Gender Equality Law explicitly prohibit gender-based discrimination, and the policy and legal framework to promote gender equality and empower women and girls is now stronger.

However, discriminatory laws, policies and practices are still prevalent. 

In a statement sent to Vietnam News, the English language daily of the Vietnam News Agency last week, UN Women said 58 percent of women experienced at least one type of violence at some point in their lives.

Further, the frequency, mostly of domestic violence, was estimated to cost 3.2 percent of Vietnam’s GDP by calculating the total productivity losses and potential opportunity costs. At the same time, women who experience domestic violence earn 35 percent less, on average, than women who experience no violence. 

Conviction rates of violent offenders against women are extremely low. While 43 percent of violent crimes come to the attention of police, only 12 percent of reported cases result in criminal charges, and only 1 percent of reported cases lead to convictions. 

The overuse of reconciliation measures limit women’s capacities to seek formal protection, redress or justice, leaving survivors exposed to repeated violence during their lifetimes. 

Beyond violence that includes domestic violence, there are gaps in evidence, policies, laws and awareness about other forms of violence against women, such as dating violence, cyber violence and violence in public spaces. 

Women continue to face discrimination in both public and private spheres, ranging from women’s low political representation, unequal access to educational and economic opportunities, violence and lack of access to justice. 

The root cause of gender-based discrimination is the prevailing patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes that privilege men over women. These negative social norms held by law and policy makers, media, and the general public continue to accept discrimination against women and girls. It remains common for violence survivors to be blamed for causing their partners to be violent.

Vietnamese, Chinese youths exchange experience

More than 200 Vietnamese and Chinese youths convened a forum on their involvement in socio-economic development in Lao Cai city, the northern province of same name, on November 7.

Opening the forum, Giang Quoc Hung, Deputy Secretary of the Lao Cai chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, said the event is a platform for young people to discuss start-up achievements in their respective countries.

Participants presented reports on their involvement in voluntary and economic activities as well as environment protection. They also exchanged experiences in boosting their performance in economic development.

Zhao Guoliang, deputy secretary of the youth union of China’s Yunnan province, stressed the importance and practical impact of the event, hoping the youth to closely work together in making socio-economic progress in both countries.

Li Haiming, secretary of the youth union in China’s Dong Wen Quan town in Banan district, Chongqing city, highlighted tourism cooperation potential between Lao Cai and Yunnan and other Chinese localities.

The Vietnamese city should also increase its imports to the Chinese market, he said.

The forum was part of the third Vietnam-China Youth Festival, slated for November 7-9, with the participation of over 100 Chinese representatives.

Vietnam Buddhist Sangha marks 35th anniversary

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) marked the 35th anniversary of its establishment (November 7, 1981 – November 7, 2016) at a grand ceremony in Hanoi on November 7. 

President Tran Dai Quang sent a bouquet of flowers and his greetings to the VBS on the occasion. 

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang , Deputy Patriarch of VBS, read a message of the Supreme Patriarch sent to monks, nuns and followers inside and outside the country. 

The message stressed that upholding the spirit of living real life and inheriting the essence of 2,000 years of Vietnamese Buddhism’s standing shoulder to shoulder with the nation, all activities and work of the VBS follow the motto: Buddhist principles – Nation – Socialism. 

In the 35-year history of growth and development, the VBS has achieved many big achievements in promoting Buddhism, with monks and nuns assigned to all pagodas across the country. 

The VBS has built a complete education system from elementary to university levels, with four institutes offering graduate and post-graduate training in Buddhism, supplying high quality human resource for the Sangha 

The VBS has affirmed its position in the world’s Buddhist community through proactive integration efforts. 

The message reminded the VBS on further promoting the tradition of supporting the nation and boosting national unity, while increasing external activities and taking care of the spiritual life of overseas Vietnamese. 

Reviewing the VBS’s achievements over the past 35 years, Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, General Secretary of the VBS’ Executive Council said the Sangha is currently managing 49,500 monks and nuns, 17,376 pagodas and monasteries. 

The VBS sent 476 monks and nuns to other countries for study, 115 of them have earned Master’s and Doctor degrees and returned to the country to work for the Sangha. The VBS is now also training postgraduates at its academy in HCM City. 

Charity and social security has been one of the priority tasks of the VBS, which is running 50 facilities for orphans, lonely old people and the disabled. The Sangha also funds the operation of 150 schools and 656 clinics which treat tens of thousands of poor patients. 

The VBS always provides timely help to people suffering from natural disasters and flooding and actively participates in poverty alleviation through giving gifts to the poor, building bridges and roads for remote areas, promoting blood donation and raising fund to support soldiers at outpost islands. 

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam affirmed that throughout the course of 2,000 years, Buddhism has integrated into the life of most Vietnamese and become an indispensable spiritual need of the Vietnamese as well as an important component in Vietnam’s rich and unique culture. 

Since the establishment of the SBV, Dam said, Buddhism in Vietnam has made clear progresses in all aspects, not only contributing to socio-economic development and the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage but also helping enhance Vietnam’s position on the international stage via the successful organisation of the United Nations Vesak and the ASEAN Buddhist Conference. 

The Deputy PM expressed his belief that the VBS will continue using its important position and sacred mission to spread the teachings of the Buddha to everyone and very where, so that all people will join hand in doing good deeds. 

On behalf of the State, Deputy PM Dam presented the Labour Order, first class, to the VBS in recognition of its contributions to the nation and the cause of socialism construction and national protection.

Quang Ninh hastens administrative reform up to public expectations

Chairman of northern Quang Ninh province Nguyen Duc Long has directed building and operating the local e-government up to public expectations, which has saved 40 percent of time and tens of billions of dong. 

In March 2014, the province put into operation a provincial public administration centre specialised in receiving and handling administrative procedures, which has so far dealt with more than 90 percent of procedures from 24 departments and agencies. 

A year later, it inaugurated 14 similar ones at the district, communal and city level in localities, which allow for downloading and filing documents to send to concerned parties via post – known as second-grade service. 

Upward 80 percent of procedures were filed and submitted online – or third-grade service, with the results being released at the provincial administrative centre. This kind of service was launched in 15 departments, agencies, Ha Long and Cam Pha cities, and Quang Yen township on July 1. As many as 228 files have so far been submitted online. 

Ngo Quang Hung, Deputy Director of the provincial public administration centre, said in the first 10 months of this year, the centre at all levels received 20,000 files, more than 97 percent of which were handled ahead of schedule. 

In 200 questionnaires sent to businesses, over 99 percent of respondents praised the open and fast handling of procedures by friendly and professional staff. 

Up to 96 percent of surveyed individuals and businesses were satisfied with the service quality at the provincial centre. 

The district-level centres endeavor to satisfy 95 percent of local citizens. 

In the second stage of the provincial e-government scheme for 2017-2020, Quang Ninh targets supplying online public services from the third grade above, ensuring openness and transparency. 

In order to achieve such goal, the province will adopt more technological advances in internal activities, improve the operating efficiency of State agencies and training of IT staff, as well as raise public awareness of e-government administration.

Pyramid schemers fined $25,000

The Vietnam Competition Authority (VCA) has decided to fine a multi-level marketing company a quarter of a million dollars for multiple operational infractions.

The HCM City-based Thiên Lộc Franchise JSC, Co, founded in 2015 by Nguyễn Đức Lộc who acted as the company’s president, was alledged to have provided “spinned or confusing information” on the benefits of working for the company in order to lure people into a pyramid scheme, according to the VCA.

In addition to its HCM City headquarters, Thiên Lộc has two Hà Nội branches.

The VCA also charged Thiên Lộc with misleading customers with “false information” about the use of their products.

An August investigation by the VCA and the police found that the company’s three most popular products – shiitake cereal, black bean yam gruel, and Baby Vườn Việt shower herbs – featured labels documenting ingredients different from those the company initially registered with authorities.

Thiên Lộc committed several administrative oversights, such as failing to change or supplement its registration certificate of multi-level marketing activities or to report to the Departments of Industry and Trade of the localities where it held PR conferences and training workshops as regulated by law.

The company was also said to have operated multi-level marketing schemes in cities under central control - such as Hà Nội - without the required approval of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade.

Some 2,000 members of Thiên Lộc’s multi-level network were not properly trained and were never granted certification in multi-level marketing, either, which was against the country’s regulations.

The VCA said Thiên Lộc would have up to 30 days to appeal the VNĐ570 million (US$25,300) fine.

Thiên Lộc was just the latest pyramid scheme. So far, 24 companies were inspected and have had their business licences withdrawn by the VCA this year, due to operational violations. The associated fines levied totalled about VNĐ3.7 billion. 

Russia’s October Revolution commemorated in Hanoi

A delegation of Hanoi authority on November 7 laid a basket of flower at the statue of Vladimir Ilych Lenin in Ba Dinh district’s Chi Lang Park to mark the 99th anniversary of the Russian October Revolution (November 7, 1917). 

The delegation was led by Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung. 

The city’s leaders also expressed their respect for Lenin for his great contributions to the world’s revolutionary cause. 

The same day, other institutes and agencies in the city also commemorated the event. 

It is an annual activity of Hanoi to express gratitude to Lenin, who is one of the leading political figures and revolutionary thinkers of the 20th century. He masterminded the Bolshevik take-over of power in Russia in 1917 and also was the architect and first leader of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).-

Third Vietnam-China Youth Festival kicks off in Lang Son

The third Vietnam-China Youth Festival kicked off at the Huu Nghi (Friendship) International Border Gate in Vietnam’s northern province of Lang Son on November 7, bringing together thousands of young people from the two countries.

Addressing the ceremony, Standing Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee (HCYUCC) Nguyen Manh Dung hailed the Vietnam-China friendship, which was nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong together with generations of revolutionaries, leaders and people of the two countries, as a shared valuable asset.

The bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has overcome multiple challenges to gain achievements across fields, including youth collaboration, he said.

The cooperation and friendship between Vietnamese and Chinese young people have been deepened pragmatically, contributing to fostering the relationship between the two countries, Dung noted.

He added that the youth festival has contributed to enhancing mutual understanding and trust, becoming a friendship bridge in the two countries’ people-to-people diplomacy.

Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China Wang Hongyan stressed that the Chinese Party and Government attach importance to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries’ young people.

According to the official, Chinese delegates to the festival are outstanding representatives of different sectors like politics, economy, education, communications, science-technology and culture.

The festival will give the Chinese young people a chance to learn about Vietnam’s rich history and culture and witness the achievements of Vietnam’s 30-year renewal cause, he said.

The two sides will also learn about the history of the long-standing friendship between the two countries, thus contributing to developing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the time ahead.

The festival’s major activities will take place in the Vietnamese provinces of Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho and Lao Cai with the focus on youths’ role in environmental protection, sustainable development, cultural protection, tourism development and socio-economic development. After participating in activities in other localities, the 1,000 Chinese delegates will join their peers in Hanoi capital city for a closing ceremony.

The first Vietnam-China Youth Festival was organised in Guangxi province, China, in August 2010, and the second took place in the Zhuang Autonomous Region in Guangxi province, in November 2013.-

Royal Thai Airforce win men’s title at Việt Nam hockey festival

Royal Thai Airforce hockey club beat Việt Nam Tornados 1-0 in the men’s finals to claim the ninth Việt Nam Hockey Festival 2016 title on November 6.

The match, held in the southern province of Long An, saw national players from both teams competing with each other.

In the women’s finals, Eagles HC from Singapore forced Indonesia’s ISCI hockey club into a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw and won 3-2.

In the mixed category, Mucha Caliente of Singapore retained their title after a 1-0 win over the plucky Vietnamese team. Mucha Caliente are now gunning for a hat-trick in 2017.

The two-day festival, an international six-a-side hockey tournament, was held at the Việt Nam Hockey Centre in Bến Lực town. The event featured 31 teams from Asia and Australia. In all, 20 men’s teams, six women’s teams and five mixed teams took part.

Đồng Tháp hit by dengue fever

More than 3,300 dengue fever cases have been reported since the beginning of the year in southern Đồng Tháp Province, a year-on-year increase of over 33 per cent, health authority said.

Two people have died, according to the provincial Preventive Medicine Centre.

From the last week of October till early November, 62 cases were recorded in the province, mostly in the districts of Thanh Bình, Cao Lãnh and Cao Lãnh City.

"This year is the incipient of the outbreak of dengue fever following the cycle of the disease over the previous 4-6 years. It is estimated that the situation will get more complicated in 2017,” said Dương Ân Hận, the centre’s deputy director.

Abundant rainfall in the region has increased the mosquito population, resulting in a rising number of dengue cases and the risk of an outbreak, he said.

The health centre has told local health officials to step up epidemiology efforts in wards and communes and spray anti-mosquito chemicals at hot spots which are at high risk of an outbreak, Hận said.

The centre has also advised the public to get rid of mosquitoes and larvae to prevent infection, he added.

Health authorities have advised people with suspected cases of dengue fever to get hospitalised at the earliest.

Victims often display symptoms of high fever for over 3-4 days, fatigue, dizziness, stomach aches, vomiting and rashes. 

There is no vaccine for dengue fever, which is transmitted through mosquito bites.

Can Tho city given Asian Townscape Award

Can Tho has received 2016 Asian Townscape Award from the Asia-Pacific regional office of the UN Human Settlements (UN-HABITAT) program at a recent ceremony in China’s Yinchuan city.

The award will motivate Can Tho’s development while ensuring a good living environment for the people. 

The annual Asian Townscape Award was first given in 2010 through under the collaboration of the UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the Asian Settlement Commission, the Asian Landscape Design Organisation, and the Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Centre. 

Aiming to ensure a sufficient and happy living environment for people in Asia, the contest honors cities, regions, and projects for improvement, revitalization, or creation of a beautiful and harmonious townscape that is safe and sustainable and respects history and local culture. 

The contest awards an Asian Townscape Prize and a Jury Voting Prize. This year the organizing board received 41 dossiers of which 12 dossiers won Townscape Prizes and 3 won Jury Voting Prizes. 

The award is based on 5 key criteria: harmonious coexistence with the regional environment; safety, convenience, and sustainability; respect for regional culture and history; high aesthetic quality; contribution to local development, and the potential of becoming a model for other cities.

The dossier “Can Tho – a river city in the Mekong Delta”, which won a Jury Voting Prize, introduced pedestrian bridge at Ninh Kieu wharf, the Can Tho river dyke, and the Cai Rang floating market. 

To further the goal of creating a better living environment for Asian people, winning cities and projects must be closely aligned with the UN Millennium Development Goals. 

This award will help Can Tho attract international cooperation and promote its image to the world. 

The award will generate momentum for Can Tho city to improve its townscape in keeping with its role as the premier river city in the Mekong Delta.

Can Tho plans to expand and upgrade its river dykes and parks as a public space for local residents and tourists. 

A World Bank-funded project to improve Can Tho’s adaptability has targeted resilient development in the face of climate change.

Saigon to close iconic Chinatown market for US$4.6 million renovation

Ho Chi Minh City will close its 88-year-old Binh Tay Market in Vietnam’s biggest Chinatown for a year for renovation.

Le Tan An, vice mayor of District 6 (where the market is based), said at a meeting on November 3 that it would close the wholesale market, the busiest in the city, from November 15 as it has been deteriorating after nearly a century in use.

An said the project will overhaul most parts of the market and add new toilets.

The repair work is expected to cost more than VND104 billion (US$4.66 million). The city will fund the project with advance payments from tenants for the next 10 years.

More than 1,000 shops will be relocated to a temporary market right in front of the old one on Thap Muoi Street. The temporary booths will open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. every day.

An said the facelift project will preserve the original architecture.

Binh Tay Market was built in 1928 by a rice trader from China. The 25,000-square-meter market is appreciated for its bagua-shaped design. 

Bagua is a Chinese religious motif that incorporates eight trigrams such as the sky, fire and wind and the trigrams are arranged around a circle symbolizing yin and yang.

Binh Tay, also popular for its clock tower and a central courtyard, receives more than 120,000 foreign visitors every year.

Ok Om Bok 2016 festival promises exciting boat race

The ethic Khmer people in the southern province of Soc Trang are looking forward to their traditional Ok Om Bok festival from November 13-14, particularly the Ghe Ngo (Khmer boat) race. 

According to Ly Binh Cang, Head of the provincial’s Ethnic Affairs Board, many boat rowing teams have been practicing for the race for over two months. The participation of many new and young rowers promises an exciting event, which is considered the key even of the festival. 

The province will construct an extra stand of 300 seats, opposite to the main stand of 2,000 seats beside Maspero River, to better serve locals and visitors, thus promoting the largest festival of Khmer people. 

It is noteworthy that a competition of repairing Ca Hau boats, which are used by pagodas to carry pagodas’ dignitaries, monks, organisation board members and food for rowers during Ghe Ngo races, will be held for the first time in 20 years. 

Cang said the competition aims to teach young ethnics about Ca Hau boats, many of which have been damaged or discarded. 

In addition, the organisation board has doubled prize value with the highest one worth 100 million VND (4,494 USD). 

This year’s festival will see the competition of 50 boats of Soc Trang, which has the largest number of Ghe Ngo among Mekong Delta provinces, and other provinces such as Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Hau Giang and Vinh Long. 

Ok Om Bok (worshipping the moon) is one of the three main festivals of Khmer people – along with Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay – which takes place under the full moon in the 10th lunar month annually. The Khmer believe the moon is a God who controls the weather and crops throughout the year. 

On this occasion, Khmer people provide offerings to thank the God’s blessing for favourable weather and their bountiful harvest. 

The festival has been recognised as part of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

FPT launches technology contest for students

PT corporation, the country’s software giant has launched a technology contest with the theme “unmanned vehicles,” aimed at offering students opportunities to experience the challenges of high technology.

The contest, which will take place from November 2016 to April 2017, is open to all students nationwide. This is also a programming contest for unmanned vehicles and the vehicles will race in a Vietnamese street simulation facility. 

Bùi Quang Ngọc, general director of FPT, said the largest goal of this contest is to help students build a solid foundation to embrace opportunities and successes in the digital revolution taking place all over the world.

The total value of contest prize money will be up to VNĐ700 million. The first prize worth VNĐ450 million will include a visit to Silicon Valley in the United States. 

Students can register at the website http://cuocduaso.fpt.com.vn or http://digitalrace.fpt.com.vn.

Vietnam’s sustainable poverty reduction is to implement MDGs

From 2011 to 2015, the number of poor households in Vietnam declined 2% a year.

This contributed to Vietnam’s goal of achieving sustainable economic growth while ensuring social security and improving people’s lives in remote, disadvantaged areas. 

The Vietnamese government has approved a national target program on sustainable poverty reduction from now until 2020, which will cost more than US$2 billion. 

The program has set a target of reducing the national poverty rate 1 to 1.5% each year based on multi-dimensional poverty criteria.

It will also try to increase the per capita income of people living under the poverty line to 50% above what it was at the end of 2015.

One of new program’s initiatives is to merge the existing national poverty reduction program supporting rapid and sustainable reduction of poverty in 61 poor districts (known as program 30a) and the program on socio-economic development in extremely poor communes in ethnic minority and mountain areas (program 135).

The poverty line is based on a number of criteria, with income as the main criterion. Under the program, support will change from free allocation or supply to provisional support in order to increase the sense of responsibility the poor have for working to escape poverty.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said, “Sustainable poverty reduction is one of Vietnam’s primary policies. The State encourages poor people to be determined to escape poverty, narrowing the wealth gap between regions and social strata. The effort will be successful only when all people and the political system are mobilized with the help of the international community.”

Since 2011 the Vietnamese government has promulgated many guidelines, policies, and national poverty reduction programs which ensure social security and boost economic growth.
The poverty rate nationwide decreased from 14.2% in 2010 to 4.25% last year. On average, it declined 2% per year.

Per capita income of poor households throughout Vietnam increased 6 folds compared to late 2011.  

Trieu Thi Huong, a farmer engaged in a program to grow safe vegetables to reduce poverty in Bac Kan province, said, “The program aims to reduce poverty for participating families first, then for the community. When participating farmers are supported by the project, it’s not necessary to grow any special types of vegetables, just locally available vegetables. Selling prices are high and product outputs are guaranteed, so we feel more secure and our income has improved. Poverty reduction becomes really sustainable if we can stand on our two feet."

Financial resources are the key to realizing poverty reduction policies and programs. 

Ngo Truong Thi, Chief of the National Office for Poverty Reduction of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, said, “We have maps to illustrate the poverty level of each region and each province based on which agencies involved in policy- making can work out appropriate measures. The allocation of resources should recognize areas that still have a weak approach and give them more help in infrastructure investment and health insurance.”

The successful implementation of the socio-economic development and poverty reduction strategy has helped the poor access basic social services and has strengthened the infrastructure of poor districts and communes.

Vietnam’s achievements in poverty reduction have been recognized internationally and its sustainable poverty reduction demonstrates Vietnam’s determination to achieve its UN Millennium Development Goals.

Doctors successfully perform endoscopic microsurgery for herniated cervical discs

Head of the Spinal Surgery Association Nguyen Van Thach said that for the first time, surgeons of Viet-Duc Hospital have performed a successful endoscopic microsurgery in herniated cervical discs.

Patient Duong Thi Mien, 52 years old, living in the northern province of Nam Dinh has pain neck, nape and right arm for years. Nearly one recent year, she was treated in the province’s hospital yet her pain did not abate.

The patient came to Viet-Duc Hospital where she was diagnosed with herniated cervical discs. Doctors advised her to undertake an endoscopic surgery. The successful operation took 45 minutes.

Mien felt better after the operation and she was discharged one day after the surgery.

Dr. Thach said that endoscopic microsurgery in herniated cervical discs is a complex technique because neck has giant blood vessels, nerves and windpipe. Before, patients with herniated cervical discs had to undertake open operation which left complications after.

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