Bien Hoa officially recognized as first grade city

Bien Hoa city in the southern province of Dong Nai on February 3 held a ceremony to receive the Prime Minister’s decision recognizing the city as first-grade urban area under the province’s management.

On December 30 last year, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed decision No. 2488 recognising Bien Hoa as first-grade city after 22 years being classed a second-grade urban area.

Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee Le Van Danh said the city is a major political and economic centre with a population of over 1 million.

It is one of the country’s biggest industrial centres and an important transport link in the southern key economic region, he added.

Pham Anh Dung, acting Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said that Bien Hoa is striving to become a sustainable first-tier urban area, that will advance to be a centrally governed city.

In order to obtain the goal, the city will develop modern metropolitan infrastructure and public facilities as well as improve people’s standard of living.

Fight stepped up against illegal trade of petrol at sea

Border guards and marine police must step up efforts to crack down on the illegal trade of oil and petrol at sea, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.

Phuc, who is also head of the National Steering Board on the Prevention and Control of Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Fake Commodities or Steering Committee 389, requested the involved authorities to increase information exchanges and devise prevention plans in the field.

According to the Ministry of National Defence, the hotspots cover the south-west exclusive economic zone, and the coastal localities of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Nghe An, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Soc Trang, Kien Giang, and international seaports.

The marine police and border guards commenced criminal proceedings against two cases, involving 15 defendants, for allegedly trafficking nearly 650,000 litres of DO oil, from early December 2012 to late September 2015. They also confiscated over 21 million litres of petrol and oil and collected administrative fines of over 270 billion VND (12.15 million USD) to the State budget.

The Ministry of National Defence proposed that the Prime Minister entrust relevant ministries and sectors to promptly promulgate documents guiding the criminal settlement of illegal cross-border trade in goods in accordance with Articles 153 and 154 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Security should enact measures against the illegal trade of oil and petrol at home, as well as measures to detect suspicious cases of foreign currency transfers abroad to buy contraband products.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade must regularly examine oil and petrol businesses to detect any violations, while revising normative legal documents to strictly punish traffickers.

The Ministry of Finance should direct taxation agencies to increase investigation and management of bills to prevent oil and petrol of illegal origin from entering the country.

The Steering Committee 389 will direct relevant authorities to equip forces with necessary means to prevent trafficking, while devising policies to honour outstanding individuals and units in the field.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed with the aforesaid proposals of the Ministry of National Defence and asked relevant ministries, agencies and localities to report to him the outcome of implementing these proposals in the second quarter of 2016.

Lao Cai airport to handle big aircraft

The Ministry of Transport is considering revising a master zoning plan for Lao Cai airport in the northwestern province of the same name until 2020 with a vision towards 2030 in a view to enable the domestic airport to handle bigger aircraft.

As reported by Aviation Design and Construction Consulting Co Ltd, the consultant of the airport project, it is necessary to adjust the zoning plan to make it possible for Lao Cai airport to handle Airbus A320s and A321s or equivalent aircraft and meet 4C standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The airport is located at Cam Son Commune in Bao Yen District in the province home to the renowned resort town of Sapa. It is expected to serve flights linking Lao Cai, Cat Bi, Vinh, Danang and HCMC as well as services between Lao Cai and airports in the southwestern region of China and Northeast Asia.

The consulting firm said building a runway at Lao Cai airport for big airplanes will help boost tourism and trade between Lao Cai and other parts of Vietnam as well as between Vietnam and China.

Earlier, the Ministry of Transport planned to build Lao Cai airport on an area of nearly 140 hectares at a total cost of VND1.3 trillion (US$58.3 million). The airport was designed to handle ATR72 aircraft or airplanes of same capacity to meet demand of passengers to travel to and from Sapa.

In 2013, the ministry reviewed zoning plans for airports nationwide to prioritize highly viable projects. The ministry decided to add Tho Xuan airport in Thanh Hoa Province in the implementation plan until 2020 and delay the construction of Lao Cai airport until after 2020.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) explained that demand of people to travel between the north-central region and HCMC increased while demand for air travel to the northwestern region was not high at that time. This was the reason behind the delay of investment in small airports including Lao Cai, Lai Chau and Quang Ninh until after 2020.

But at a tourism investment promotion conference for the northwestern region held in HCMC in November 2015, Sun Group pledged to invest over VND20 trillion (US$897.2 million) in Lao Cai including in Lao Cai airport worth over VND5.6 trillion (US$251.2 million). Therefore, the ministry will consider adjusting its plan to build Lao Cai airport earlier than planned.

Vietnam will have 26 operational airports by 2020 in line with the master zoning plan for airport development approved by the Government. They include 10 international airports – Noi Bai, Cat Bi, Phu Bai, Danang, Chu Lai, Cam Ranh, Tan Son Nhat, Long Thanh, Can Tho and Phu Quoc, and 16 domestic airports – Dien Bien Phu, Na San, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Gia Lam, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Phu Cat, Tuy Hoa, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot, Lien Khuong, Rach Gia, Ca Mau, Con Son, and Vung Tau.

Markets picked for city’s pilot food safety program

The HCMC Department of Industry and Trade has sent the municipal government a pilot scheme to implement a food safety program at Hoc Mon wholesale and Ben Thanh retail markets this year.

Under the program, the markets will sell products including vegetables, fruits, pork and beverages meeting food safety requirements.

Hoc Mon is one of HCMC’s three farm produce and food wholesale markets and supplies 50-55% of total pork consumed in the city. Product origins and pork quality at the market in the northwest of the city are strictly controlled.

Meanwhile, Ben Thanh is a well-known traditional market in HCMC and an attractive destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. This market is open from 4a.m. to 7p.m.everyday to meet the needs for sightseeing and shopping of citizens and tourists. It welcomes an average of over 10,000 visitors a day.

Also according to the department, there are 240 operational markets in HCMC. Of them, seven markets specialize in trading household appliances, building materials, cosmetics, fabric, and car parts, while the remaining markets offer food and other products.

The city has three agricultural product wholesale markets, namely Thu Duc selling fruits, Hoc Mon wholesaling pork and vegetables, and Binh Dien selling seafood, cattle, poultry, vegetables and fruits. The wholesale markets supply around 8,000 tons of goods a day.

However, not all markets in HCMC have met requirements for food safety due to deteriorating infrastructure  and problems with parking areas, restrooms and food warehouses.

The department said the city will consider expanding the pilot food safety program to other markets in the city after it is launched at Ben Thanh and Hoc Mon markets.

Compulsory micronutrients on food introduced

Iodine, iron, zinc and vitamin A are four compulsory micronutrients that need to be fortified in food, according to a recent decree on food fortification approved by the Prime Minister.

The four micronutrients should commensurate with national technical standards and regulations on food safety.

Salt must be fortified with Iodine. Iron and zinc must be added to wheat flour, while vegetable oil which contains one of such elements as soybean oil, coconut oil, canola oil, and peanut oil is required to have vitamin A – excluding vegetable oil used in industrial food processing.

Iodine helps to prevent and combat serious diseases such as basedow, and deficiency disorders .

Iron helps prevent and combat anemia, and malnutrition.

Zinc helps to improve height. It also prevents and combats metabolism and cell disorders, bacterial diseases, and bone development disturbances.

Vitamin A helps prevent exophthalmia, blindness and malnutrition. It also helps build resistance to bacteria.

The decree will take effect from March 15, 2016.

Dong Nai launches water supply plan

The Dong Nai Province's People's Committee has launched a clean water supply project for rural areas through 2020.

It includes 41 water supply projects that will provide clean water for all families living in rural areas.

Total investment capital is VND3.3 trillion (US$147 million), including VND700 billion ($31 million) from the state budget and the remaining from other sources.

Ring in the Lunar New Year in style

Say farewell to the Year of the Goat and welcome in the Year of the Monkey with a countdown party taking place on August Revolutionary Square in front of the Ha Noi Opera House on Sunday night from 9.30pm.

A special music performance featuring Viet Nam's top emerging artists such as Ha Anh Tuan, Dong Nhi, Khac Viet and DJ Slim V will heat up the party.

A stunning 3D mapping show, using the projection technology used to turn objects into the façade of the Opera House for video projection, will take party-goers on a virtual tour through Viet Nam's famous spots such as Hue royal citadel's Ngo Mon Gate, Ha Noi's Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and HCM City's Reunification Palace.

People can also cheer the Lunar New Year in style at one of the city's high-rises. Sofitel Plaza Hanoi's Summit Lounge on the 20th floor and Le Panorama on the 19th floor is a great place to enjoy a panoramic view of the breathtaking fireworks on Lunar New Year's Eve.

Le Panorama will offer families an exciting event featuring drinks, canapes for the parents as well as ice cream, snacks and juice for the kids.

Tickets for party on Summit Lounge cost VND780,000++/person, while the party at Le Panorama costs VND580,000++/adult, and VND380,000++/child.

Rooftop bar One 36 at the Apricot Hotel, located by Hoan Kiem Lake, will host countdown party entitled Fire Up The Night from 9pm onwards. Tickets cost VND580,000++/person, including a glass of wine or champagne, and free flow of soft drinks.

RSVP: (04) 3828 9595 or 0901787814.

Social network sharing makes users easy target for cybercriminals

Almost 30 per cent of social network users share their posts, check-ins and other personal information with everybody who is online, not just their friends, which leaves the door wide open for cybercriminals to attack since users are unaware of just how public their private information can be on these channels, Kaspersky Lab has warned.

To ensure social network sharing does not cause danger, Kaspersky Lab advises internet users to be cautious about whom they befriend and trust. - Photo spavietnam.com

Though over 78 per cent of internet users have a social media account, the study found a distinct lack of awareness amongst them.

One in nine respondents did not think people not on their friends list could see their pages or posts.

The research found that users are putting themselves in danger by adding friends, with a surprising 12 per cent admitting they add anyone to their list regardless of whether they know them or not.

Thirty-one per cent will also accept connections from people they do not know if they have friends in common, again exposing them to unknown people – even cybercriminals.

The study found that a quarter of those surveyed would have no hesitation to click on a link sent by a friend without asking what it is or considering the possibility that the sender's account has been hacked.

To ensure social network sharing does not cause danger, Kaspersky Lab advises internet users to be cautious about whom they befriend and trust.

It is also essential that privacy settings are at their highest to ensure status updates are only shared with real friends, the company said.

Human resource development to cope with demand for skilled labor in ASEAN

As the ASEAN Community has already come into being, the demand for skills has grown. Thailand is accelerating the development of its human resources, so that Thai workers will be equipped with more skills to cope with the demand for skilled labor in this region.

Director-General of the Thai Department of Skill Development (DSD) Kreeta Sopchoak said that emphasis would be placed on cooperation with the private sector, under the mechanism of "state of the people,” which encourages government agencies to work in close cooperation with other sectors.

The DSD aims to increase labor productivity. It believes that, with greater skills, Thai workers will be able to increase labor productivity, and this would reduce production costs. A target has been set to develop skills for 100,000 workers to accommodate the ASEAN Community through various training projects, such as those concerning languages, tourism, and services.

In special economic zones, the Department will provide skill training for 15,000 workers. It is also preparing to set up two additional skill development centers, one in Mae Sot, Tak province, and the other in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo province.

Meanwhile, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board is working on the five-year 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan, to be implemented from October 2016 to September 2021. The development of human resources is cited as the most crucial part of the 12th National Development Plan, which also attaches great importance to maximizing opportunities for beneficial regional integration.

The current 11th National Development Plan also focuses on human resource development, aimed at increasing resilience to change. Skills for lifelong learning will be developed, as well, with an emphasis on knowledge, innovation, and creativity.

Permanent Secretary for Labor M.L. Puntrik Smiti said that the Ministry of Labor had worked out its labor strategy, 2015-2016, in line with the 11th National Economic and Social Development Plan and the framework of the 12th National Development Plan, as well as the Master Plan on Labor, 2012-2016.

Smiti added the labor strategy consists of four strategic plans. The first plan seeks to promote employment for Thai people. The second plan seeks to enhance Thai labor skills to international standards. In the third plan, labor protection will be developed to international standards and workers will be ensured of job security. The fourth plan involves labor management with international cooperation.

She said that these strategic plans were worked out from an analysis of changes in demographic, labor, and economic structures, as well as the formal establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Other issues that were taken into consideration were impacts from the freer movement of skilled labor in this region and human trafficking, so that Thailand would be able to deal effectively with the new situation.

AO, Parkinson-affected Vietnamese man crafts drums from bomb shells

A former software engineer who worked overseas, Khoa is now an AO victim and ailing Parkinson’s patient, turning bomb shells into unique music gifts for locals and tourists in the UNESCO-recognized Hoi An Ancient Town.

Pham Nhu Khoa, 56, who lives in Hoi An Ancient Town, a popular tourist attraction in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam, has so far crafted nearly 400 ‘trong troi’ (aerial drums) from bomb and bullet shells.

Born in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City now), Khoa moved with his family to France at the age of nine.

Wartime scars never cease to haunt the young boy, who suffers birth defects resulting from the toxic defoliant Agent Orange sprayed by the U.S. military over vast swathes of Vietnam.

Following his university graduation in France, he worked as a software engineer with several companies in France and later Israel.

At 40, Khoa came down with the debilitating Parkinson’s disease, which rendered him too weak to work.

He later quit his job and left France for Hoi An Ancient Town, which he has been head over heels in love with for its landscapes and tranquility.

Drums from the sky

Back in Vietnam, Khoa hangs around markets and scrap stores buying bomb and bullet shells before having them melted and shaped into drum moulds at the Phuoc Kieu bronze casting village, located in Dien Ban District.

The artisan revealed that it takes painstaking work to build a ‘trong troi.’

The most important thing is a refined appreciation of sound to create notes on the drum surface.

Each drum has its own note set, which ranges from Indian, Chinese, and Japanese to Vietnamese Central Highlands.

“If the notes do not sound properly, the drum will go to waste,” he said.

After repeated failures, his efforts finally paid off when his first ‘trong troi’ came into being in early 2013.

The percussion instrument, which measures around 20 centimeters in diameter and adopts an Indian note set, was crafted from B52 bomb casings.

The drum produces refined, bell-like sounds just as he wanted.

The hard-earned success has inspired him to build more drums which come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and note sets.

All of his drums, which he names ‘trong troi Hoi An’ (Hoi An aerial drums), boast eight to 32 notes, Khoa revealed.

The middle-aged man limping with shaking hands has been a common sight in streets and cafés around Hoi An Ancient Town, where he also plays music on his prized items.

Amazingly, his hands, which tremble uncontrollably due to Parkinson’s disease, move deftly on the drums to produce haunting melodies.

“[Khoa’s] ‘trong troi Hoi An’ emit eerily compelling sounds and tunes, which vary in pitch and tone and deeply move audiences,” Ivanov Shapova, a Russian tourist, remarked.

Intrigued tourists have insisted he build some for them to take to their country.

He has crafted and sold to tourists from around the world a total of nearly 400 drums, which fetch US$400-1,500 each.

Khoa has also been invited to perform on his hand-made instruments at different venues in France, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Vo Phung, director of the Hoi An Center of Culture and Sports, said that Khoa and his drums have added to the allure of Hoi An Ancient Town.

Power projects in remote areas researched

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has approved a plan to research the feasibility of 22 projects to supply electricity to 262,500 households in rural areas and islands across the country until 2020, according to Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN).

The scheme aims to ensure that most households in rural and remote areas will have access to power by 2020.

In the 2016-20 period, EVN will continue to invest VND632 trillion ($28.21 billion) for electricity infrastructure. EVN has invested VND491 trillion ($21.96 billion) in power projects.

$80m upgrade for national highway

The Ministry of Transport and the People's Committee of Ben Tre Province on Wednesday began a project to build, upgrade and widen four sections of National Highway 60 between Rach Mieu and Co Chien bridges in the Mekong Delta province.

The work involves over 22km, will cost VND1.8 trillion (US$80 million) and be completed in the last quarter of next year.

Da Nang mulls cameras at tourist spots

The Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has suggested that the city People's Committee should install cameras at key tourist spots like Bach Dang Street and Bien Dong Park where there are a lot of hawkers and beggars.

Last year the city warned street vendors for more than 2,290 violations involving hassling tourists to buy, and slapped fines of VND100 million (US$4,400) in 365 cases.

 Excess sugar output seen at 200,000 tonnes

The sugar inventory in 2016 is expected to exceed 200,000 tonnes, double the amount of last year, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Total sugar consumption this year is estimated at 1.5 million tonnes while total supply is predicted to be 1.735 million tonnes, including local production output of 1.5 million tonnes, an inventory of 100,000 tonnes and imports of 135,000 tonnes.

Cases of river encroachment unsolved

As many as 279 cases of encroachment on rivers and canals in HCM City have yet to be solved, according to the HCM City Inland Waterway Region.

Authorities cleared 118 cases last year but 33 new cases were identified.

Encroachment affects the drainage system of the city, especially in the rainy season, according to the HCM City Urban Drainage Company.

Chemicals of unknown origin produce syrup

The Environmental Crime Prevention Police (PC49) of the HCM City Police on Monday seized 535kg of unknown origin chemicals to produce syrup.

The chemicals were confiscated in an unscheduled investigation of PC49 to two syrup-production firms, Thanh Huong and Trinh, in Binh Tan District and District 11, respectively. The firms' owner said the chemicals could be used as a thickener, flavourer or preservative.

Power projects receive $1.3b in ODA

The National Power Transmission Corporation under the Electricity of Viet Nam in the 2011-15 period mobilised about US$1.3 billion in Official Development Assistance for its transmission projects.

Last year, the corporation completed procedures for a co-financed loan of $304 million from the Asia Development Bank (ADB) and from Germany's Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (Reconstruction Credit Institute) (KfW), as well as a $340 million loan from ADB.

The corporation also received a loan of $38 million from the French Agency for Development (AFD) and negotiated with the KfW on a new EUR95 million loan.

Ly Son improves tourism services

Accommodations and other services for tourists on Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai are improving ahead of Tet (the Lunar New Year).

Local authorities have instructed owners of guesthouses and hotels to create the best conditions for tourists to visit sightseeing places on the island.

The island has 17 guesthouses, two hotels, and 38 houses providing homestay services. The island has accommodations for more than 1,000 visitors.

New co-operative model proves effective

A new model for co-operatives in which farmers work together and with companies has helped farmers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta find stable sales outlets and higher profits.

Co-operative members are taught farming techniques, including Vietnamese and global good agriculture practices, and can also buy inputs and services at lower prices.

Youth honoured for rescuing two people

Vinh Long Province's Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Executive Committee on Tuesday conferred a Brave Youth badge on Tran Dinh Duy, 22, of Vinh Long city for rescuing two people from drowning.

On December 23 Duy was sitting on the bank of the Tien River and heard calls for help from Nguyen Thanh Khoa, 48, and Bui Thanh Hien, 44, whose boat had sunk in the river.

Despite strong currents, Duy swam 200 meters to the middle of the river to rescue the two men.

Hue welcomed 1m foreigners last year

The imperial city of Hue, a UNESCO world heritage site, received more than a million foreigners last year, the first time it has happened, Phan Thanh Hai, director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, said.

There were also 1.3 million domestic visitors.

Revenues from tourist entry tickets were worth VND207 billion (US$9.4 million), or 122 per cent of the province's target.

 Some petrol stations to sell biofuel

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has told eight provinces and cities to begin selling E5 biofuel at all retail petrol stations by June. The areas included are the provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Can Tho and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and cities of Ha Noi, Hai Phong Da Nang, and HCM City.

Remaining provinces and cities in the country are required to have at least 50 per cent of retail petrol stations sell E5 biofuel.

Windpower plant to be built in Ca Mau

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a project to build a wind power plant in Khai Long Tourism Area in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau.

It is expected to be completed in 2018. The 2,156-hectare plant will have capacity of 100MW.

Oncology centre opens in Hue

Hue Central Hospital last Saturday placed one oncology centre into use in order to provide healthcare services to cancer patients in the central region. With total capital of nearly VND200 billion (US$8.9 million) from government bonds, the centre has areas for diagnosis, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, nuclear medicine and palliative care.

At the launch ceremony, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien approved construction of one obstetrics centre with 300 beds.

HCMC to build new Eastern Bus Station

Work will start on the new Eastern Bus Station in HCM City this year, according to Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation (SAMCO).

The 16.03ha station will be located on the border between District 9 and Binh Duong Province's Di An county town, having a total cost of around VND4 trillion (US$178.5 million). The new station will connect to the new Metro Line No.1 from Ben Thanh market in District 1 to Suoi Tien entertainment area in Thu Duc District, said Tran Quoc Toan, general director of SAMCO.

The corporation is also seeking approval for a project to build a new 17ha Western Bus Station in Binh Chanh District this ear.

HCM City to improve quality of growth

HCM City will focus on improving the quality of economic growth by increasing the ratio of competitive, knowledge-based and technology industries and reducing that of labour-intensive ones.

To that end, a programme called "Solutions for developing supporting industries" will be submitted to the city People's Committee for approval early next month.

Lawsuits help social insurance recover $9m

In 2015 the HCM City Social Insurance sued over 1,900 enterprises that owed it VND530 billion ($23.6 million) in premiums for their workers and recovered nearly VND200 billion ($8.9 million).

It was for the second year it sued enterprises and has so far recovered 65 per cent of back premiums.

But it remains a difficult mission because many debtors have already gone bust, sold their assets or fled.

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