Sympathies to Indonesia on heavy losses in earthquake

President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc offered sympathies on December 8 to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on heavy human and property losses caused by an earthquake in Aceh province.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also extended sympathies to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

The 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province on December 7 morning, killing at more than 100 people and injuring hundreds of others.

HCM City readies supports for disadvantaged students during Tet

The Student Assistance Centre of Ho Chi Minh City is set to carry out activities to support disadvantaged students during the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet).

Up to 5,000 coach tickets will be presented to less privileged students, as well as workers, to help them reunite with their families in central, Central Highlands and southwestern regions.

The programme targets university students and workers whose hometowns are the central provinces suffering from recent floods.

Meanwhile, gatherings and arts activities will be held for those who are unable to leave or want to stay in the city during Tet – the biggest traditional festival in Vietnam. About 2,000 gift packages will be given to students with disadvantaged backgrounds.

The assistance centre said it will liaise with local businesses to provide 5,000 part-time jobs for university students during Tet.

Homeless children, orphans and primary students in outlying areas will also receive Tet gifts, the centre noted, adding that student volunteers will invite locals to donate gifts to the underprivileged.

HCM City association celebrates Japanese Emperor’s birthday

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations and the municipal Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association co-held on December 8 a get-together to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Akihito (December 23).

Japan’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Nakajima said the relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Japan have been strengthened in a practical manner through visits by local officials and people-to-people exchange activities.

Nakajima noted that the first visit to Vietnam by the Emperor and the Empress in the coming time will create a great driving force to intensify the two countries’ strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.   

Nguyen Cong Tanh, President of the municipal Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, said exchange activities held between students and people of Ho Chi Minh City and Japanese localities have promoted mutual understanding, solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

Japan is currently an important partner of Ho Chi Minh City in economy, trade, investment, culture, and education. 

It has provided a significant source of ODA for the City’s urban transport and water environment sanitation.

Japan ranked sixth among countries and territories investing in Ho Chi Minh City, with a total investment of over 3 billion USD.

Quang Ninh aims to eradicate extreme poverty by 2020

The northeastern province of Quang Ninh is determined to eradicate extreme poverty in all communes and hamlets by 2020.

The province is expected to allocate about 1.3 trillion VND (59.2 million USD) to improve living conditions for poor people. The sum consists of more than 67 billion VND (2.9 million USD) from the State budget, over 968 billion VND (42.8 million USD) from provincial budget, with the remainder from capital mobilisation.

Quang Ninh is prioritising boosting production and improving living standards. Infrastructure investment is also necessary.

The province hopes that income per capita in 2020 will be double the figure of 2015.

Quang Ninh currently has 22 communes and 11 hamlets in extreme poverty.

Vietnam, Finland strengthen friendship

The Vietnam – Finland Friendship Association and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development jointly held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 7 to mark the 10th founding anniversary of the Association.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister Ha Cong Tuan, who is also President of the Association, hailed the long tradition of the Vietnam – Finland friendship.

Over the past 10 years, the Association has actively mobilised resources to organise annual friendship activities, contacts and information exchange between the two countries.

It has also worked with the Embassy of Finland in Vietnam and the Finland – Vietnam Association to boost people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The Association will organise more practical activities to welcome the upcoming significant events, such as the 100th anniversary of the National Day of Finland in 2017 and the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam – Finland diplomatic ties in 2018.

Chief advisor of the Finland-funded project “Development of Information Management Systems for the Forestry Sector” (FORMIS) Tapio Lepannen highlighted the fruitful cooperation in forestry between the two nations.

Numerous Finnish enterprises are willing to cooperate with Vietnam in forestry, he added.

Funded by the Government of Finland, the second phase of FORMIS is under implementation, aiming for better management of forestry sector.

Thai Nguyen hosts Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam Culture Week

The Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam Culture Week kicked off on December 8 at the Museum of Cultures of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, featuring more than 100 artists from the three countries.

The event, held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is part of cultural exchange activities within ASEAN.

Fine arts, handicrafts, vegetarian cuisine and folk performances are in the spotlight, helping visitors gain insights into the diverse cultures of ASEAN countries.

Exhibitions on traditional paintings of the three countries and Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea and islands were held before the opening ceremony.

During the event, countries’ representatives will visit a tea growing area in Thai Nguyen and attractions in Hanoi.

The activities will continue until December 11.

WB to fund Hanoi environmental project

The World Bank will fund a project to develop an air-monitoring system worth 500,000 USD in Hanoi, according to Madhu Raghunath, leader of the WB’s Program for Sustainable Development.

During a meeting with Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung in Hanoi on December 8, Raghunath said Hanoi is one of seven cities across the world chosen to pilot the project.

The project aims to evaluate air quality, identify polluted areas and build capacity for technical staff involved in the work.

Hung expressed hope that the project will help Hanoi plan air-sampling systems in the most effective manner, and develop legal framework tackling air pollution in the city.-

Preparations for the model city project in the deep south

Deputy Defense Minister and Head of Government’s Special Representatives in Solving Problems in the Southern Border Provinces, General Udomdej Sitabutr, has inspected three southern border provinces to prepare for project on model cities in 'Triangle of Stability, Prosperity, and Sustainability.'

The Government has a policy to develop three districts in Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala as model cities for economic development. 

The three districts include Nong Chik in Pattani, Su-ngai Kolok in Narathiwat, and Betong in Yala. Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha stressed that the model city project must be carried out by 2017.

General Udomdej said that in his recent meeting with Narathiwat Governor Sittichai Sakda, he exchanged views with him on local development and learned about various obstacles and problems that would have to be dealt with.

As for the Su-ngai Kolok city model, he said, emphasis would be placed on international border trade in order to stimulate the local economy. Projects to be implemented also include infrastructure development, such as the construction of the second Kolok Bridge and a product distribution center.

Narathiwat province has proposed six projects involving a budget of 2,296.1 million baht for the development of the model city. Out of the projects, three were approved by the Cabinet. They involve a budget of 532.7 million baht and will be implemented in the 2017 fiscal year.

Narathiwat has set up a committee to push for the model city project. The committee, during its meeting on 15 November 2016, agreed to improve and upgrade the Su-ngai Kolok Railway Station and support the construction of a warehouse. 

General Udomdej said that the Chairman of the Narathiwat Chamber of Commerce had given his views on trade promotion and suggested that local border trade checkpoints be improved.

He also discussed the Yala model city with Yala Governor Doldej Padhanarath. Yala will carry out seven projects, involving a budget of 111.64 million baht, in the 2017 fiscal year to develop the model city for self-reliant development on a sustainable basis. 

Among the projects are the promotion of alternative energy and energy conservation, the establishment of a comprehensive processing plant for agricultural products, the installation of diesel electricity generators, career promotion, and skill development for tourism.

In Pattani, Nong Chik will be developed as a model city for agro-industry. Processed agricultural products will be developed as items under the "One Tambon, One Product,” or "OTOP,” program. Pattani Port and local roads will be improved, as well.

The Triangle of Stability, Prosperity, and Sustainability project aims to generate more employment and income and upgrade local people’s quality of life.

Long-stay visa for senior tourists and new visa measures

The Cabinet, during its meeting on 22 November 2016, approved the extension of long-stay visa for senior tourists.

At the same meeting, it also approved measures to attract tourist arrivals by waiving the visa fee and reducing the visa-on-arrival fee for tourists from many countries.

The Ministry of Public Health reported to the Cabinet that the number of foreign senior citizens seeking to stay in Thailand for a long period is on the rise. 

These senior tourists have applied for the non-immigrant visa (long stay). They have stayed mainly in major tourist provinces, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, and other famous seaside provinces.

As Thailand aims to develop itself as a Medical and Wellness Tourism Center, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in their joint meeting agreed to extend the long-stay visa from one year to 10 years. 

The extension will be offered for tourists from 14 countries, namely Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Eligible foreign senior tourists must be 50 years old and over and they are required to seek the non-immigrant visa (long stay) at the Office of Thai Consul-General overseas. 

For those with other types of visa and wish to change it to the long-stay visa, their visa must be valid initially for five years and can be renewed for another five years in the form of a multiple entry visa.

This long-stay visa fee has been set at 10,000 baht. Eligible foreign tourists should have a monthly income of at least 100,000 baht, or a bank deposit of at least three million baht, which must be maintained for at least one year after the visa is granted.

They should also have a medical insurance coverage for one year, with at least US$1,000 for out-patient care and US$10,000 for in-patient care each time. They must also report to a designated immigration office every 90 days.

As for new visa measures, the Cabinet agreed to the proposal by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to waive the 1,000-baht visa fee temporarily at the Royal Thai Embassy, or the Office of Thai Consul-General.

It also agreed to reduce the fee of the visa on arrival from 2,000 baht to 1,000 baht for tourists from 19 countries, namely Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

The reduction will take effect for three months, from 1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017. It is intended to stimulate tourism and encourage foreign tourists to visit Thailand during the high season.

Baby cow with 7 legs astonishes Vietnamese villagers

A farmer in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong said one of her cows had given birth to a calf with seven legs and with both male and female sex organs.

Ka Ban said the baby cow was born on December 6. Most of the legs look normal, except for one which is only 20 centimeters long.

The cow is healthy but it cannot move around easily.

Locals have flocked to Ka Ban’s farm to get a glimpse of the rare animal.

In October, Nguyen Ba Hien, 56, a farmer in the central province of Nghe An, also reported that one of his sows had given birth to a piglet with two heads, four eyes and four legs.

200 rare turtles die on smugglers' boat heading from Malaysia to Vietnam

Maritime officials in Malaysia have seized 1,400 turtles from a local fishing vessel which was en route to sell them as food in Vietnam, but it was already too late for 200 of the endangered animals.

The turtles are a protected species in Malaysia.

They were to be sold in Vietnam for around US$9,500 and marketed as an “exotic dish”, officials from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said, as cited by the New Straits Times.

Six people on the boat, aged between 23 and 44 years old, have been detained for questioning under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment.

Two of them are Malaysians while the others failed to produce identification papers.

Quang Ninh aims to eradicate extreme poverty by 2020

The northeastern province of Quang Ninh is determined to eradicate extreme poverty in all communes and hamlets by 2020.

The province is expected to allocate about VND1.3 trillion (US$59.2 million) to improve living conditions for poor people. 

The sum consists of more than VND67 billion (US$2.9 million) from the State budget, over VND968 billion (US$42.8 million) from provincial budget, with the remainder from capital mobilisation.

Quang Ninh is prioritising boosting production and improving living standards. Infrastructure investment is also necessary.

The province hopes that income per capita in 2020 will be double the figure of 2015.

Quang Ninh currently has 22 communes and 11 hamlets in extreme poverty.

In Vietnam, street artists told to quit impromptu gigs for planned events

While spontaneity is the spirit of street art, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City authorities are demanding that they be briefed in advance on any performances that take place on local walking streets.

The decision, which the regulatory bodies say is to ensure security and order at the pedestrian venues, has caused uproar among local street artists and stripped the walking streets of a core attraction.

The Nguyen Hue walking street in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City and its counterpart in Hanoi near the iconic Ho Guom (Sword Lake) are hot spots for locals and tourists to spend evenings, particularly to take in the groups of street artists and performers who flock to each arena to showcase their skills.

Most of the gigs are unplanned, with spectators gathering around the performances with excitement.

However, the Hanoi culture department has recently enacted decree No.79, stipulating that it be notified of the content and time of street artists planning to perform in the capital at least five days in advance.

Artists opposing the decree say that their performances will lose authenticity if they are forced to seek approval from regulatory bodies.

“Street art is all about spontaneity,” Nguyen Viet Hoang, chairman of a street magic club in Hanoi, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Hoang said his club members never plan their performances.

“On any given day we head to the walking street to showcase our skills if we can gather five to six members who are in the mood to perform,” Hoang said. “Nothing is planned at all.”

Hoang said the new rule will discourage street artists who are not used to planning their shows in advance.

“Street art will lose its impromptu nature if we are forced to seek approval,” he said.

Hoang added that street artists are not professional performers, so paperwork is unnecessary, not to mention that “we have other stuff to do so there is no time for the red tape.”

Though he acknowledged the need to ensure security for the walking street, Hoang mentioned that “this needs to be done in a more appropriate way than the current rule.”

In Ho Chi Minh City, the situation is no brighter for street artists and their audiences.

Thai Duc Do, head of the Nguyen Hue walking street’s management board, said any performances at the venue must have their contents approved by the municipal culture department.

“Street artists must come to the department to seek permits for their performances... any unlicensed shows will be deemed illegal and the performers will have to work with police,” Do warned.

The tough decision hit the city’s street art scene hard, with fewer performances taking place each night on Nguyen Hue.

“I am really disappointed when the street performers are all gone,” a local visitor said.

Some street art groups said they had no choice but to ‘forget’ Nguyen Hue, as they will be frequently checked by security staff and asked to leave.

“The walking street is the best place for street art as artists are greatly inspired by the crowds,” Phi Khanh, a member of Acoustic TCK, said after his group relocated to another venue for their performances.

Vinh suspends 17 construction projects

The People’s Committee of central Nghệ An Province’s Vinh City has suspended the construction of 17 building sites, at which tower cranes were used without licensed or cranes that were operating outside specified construction areas.

The 17 building sites flouting regulations were among 21 on-going construction sites that the committee had inspected since early this month.

The move aimed to tighten control over the operation of tower cranes in the city and ensure the safety of people.

The committee has asked the investors of these projects to remove the tower cranes. The possibility of resuming operation of the construction sites would be considered, it said.

On November 14, a tower crane collapsed on a high school in Vinh City, killing one student in the playground and destroying a part of the school’s roof.

Healthcare project launched for mothers, infants in Yên Bái

Save the Children and GlaxoSmithKline on Thursday announced a healthcare project in the northern mountain Yên Bái Province, to improve facilities for mothers and newborns among ethnic minorities and reduce mortality rates.

The US$356,000 three-year project, launched at a ceremony in Hà Nội, will focus on increasing community awareness about healthy practices for the care of new mothers and infants, and improve availability, accessibility and utilisation of basic medical services in commune health facilities.

It also aims to improve the functioning of two newborn care units in Nghĩa Lộ General Hospital and Trạm Tấu district hospital as well as establish Kangaroo Mother Care units in district and provincial hospitals.

“In Việt Nam, around 18,000 newborns die every year. This situation is even more serious in remote areas where it is hard to access advanced healthcare services,” said Dragana Strinic, Country Director, Save the Children Việt Nam.

 “That’s why the project to save children’s lives in vulnerable communities is a practical way of reducing mortality rates. We want to ensure thate every child coming into the world is safe and heatlthy,” said Strinic.

Lương Kim Đức, the deputy director of Yên Bái’s Health Department, said that mothers and newborns from ethnic minorities are considered the most vulnerable group in the province. Most of these groups have difficulty accessing healthcare services because of factors such as inadequate living conditions, limited transportation, dissatisfying health infrastructure as well as limited knowledge.

“Through the project, we hope the health of mothers and newborns in the province will improve, and that we can reduce the number of deaths. We hope the project is successful and that it can be expanded to other areas in Việt Nam in the future,” said Đức.

Research conducted by Save the Children in 2014 in six communes of Trạm Tấu District in Yên Bái showed that up to 91 per cent of women gave birth at home without skilled attendants. This was in contrast to a survey by Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey on mother and children situation, MICS Việt Nam, in the same year, which stated that in the past two years, 93 per cent of births in the nation were attended by skilled health personnel. It was a clear indication that the region was lagging behind in comparison to the progress being made in healthcare nationally. 

CD, VCD with singers’ signatures published

For the first time, some 30 music CDs and VCDs with signatures of noted singers have been released at Phương Nam CD Fair, which is being held at HCM City’s Labour Culture Palace between December 8 and 11.

The signatures by Vietnamese singers living in and outside the country include those by Khánh Ly, Bảo Yến, Tuấn Ngọc and Họa Mi, as well as Phương Thanh, Đức Tuấn and Hồ Quỳnh Hương.

The fair will continue until December 31, offering limited copies of the best-selling CDs and VCDs of all time that are no longer available in the market.

APEC souvenir design contest launched

Đà Nẵng has launched a souvenir design contest for 2017 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Summit running from this December to next March.

The city said Vietnamese and foreigners are eligible and the top 50 samples will be selected for final awards.

The winning design samples will be mass produced for gifts to delegations and deputies participating in 2017 APEC in Đà Nẵng next November.

The winner will take a cash-prize of VNĐ50 million (US$2,200), while the runner-up will get VNĐ25 million ($1,100), and two third place finalists will receive VNĐ15 million ($666) each.

The contest’s organising committee also give 10 encouragement prizes for finalists.

According to Đà Nẵng City’s administration, the souvenirs must make an impression among participants at the APEC and communicate the city’s commitment to protecting the environment and building a ‘green city’ by 2025.

Local artist Lê Nguyên Vỹ, whose photography printed on stone and leaf was chosen as one of five typical gifts of the city, plans to create portraits of leaders of economy members at 2017 APEC on shells.

At the Asian Beach Games in October, the city also presented mascot of the red-shanked douc langur (Pygathryx nemaeus) as gifts for sport delegations participating in the Games.

The city has chosen the red-shanked douc langur (Pygathryx nemaeus) as Đà Nẵng’s official mascot at the 2017 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Summit.

In 2015, the city’s administration, in collaboration with the Centre of Biodiversity Conservation, GreenViet, issued lucky money bags as part of a communication campaign to protect the red-shanked douc langur and the biodiversity in the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve.

The 2,500ha Sơn Trà Nature Reserve, 10km away from the city’s centre, shelters nearly 300 red-shanked douc--a kind of langur that was declared endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2013.

Orchid Tree festival to be organised in Điện Biên

The Fifth Orchid Tree Festival will be held from March 11 to 14 next year in northwest Điện Biên Province.

The opening ceremony with an art performance and a 15-minute fireworks performance is expected to be held on the evening of March 12.

The festival will also feature an exhibition of traditional culture of Điện Biên’s ethnic groups, folk singing and dancing festival, traditional folk culture demonstration, book and photo exhibition and a sports performance. 

Miss Orchid Tree will also be held with the participation of eight northwest provinces -- Điện Biên, Lai Châu, Sơn La and Hòa Bình, as well as Yên Bái, Lào Cai, Phú Thọ and Hà Giang, with a costume performance and talent contest. 

Orchid Tree Festival is an annual cultural event of Điện Biên Province, which began in 2014 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ’s victory. The festival is to preserve and promote the cultural values of Điện Biên’s ethnic groups and introduce and promote the image of Điện Biên Province and orchid tree, the characteristic tree of the northwest region of Việt Nam. 

March 13, 1954, was the opening day of the Điện Biên Phủ Battle and the date was selected as the opening day of the annual orchid tree festival of Điện Biên. However, next year, March 13 is a Monday; therefore the organising team plans to open the event one day earlier to make it more convenient for festival goers.

Director using tear gas gun to threaten woman arrested

Police investigators in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Binh District yesterday urgently arrested 46 year old man in Cu Chi District ,  after a video clip in internet captured him firing a tear gas handgun into the air as an apparent threat to a nearby woman during a heated quarrel.

The man in the video clip is Bui Duc Phuong who is the director of Viet Nhat Safeguard Company. 

The 2 minute long clip was posted in social network showing an angry argument between Phuong and a woman and then Phuong shot into the air to threaten the woman and kicked her.

Police said that Phuong had use German-made tear gas gun number RG88 which is licensed to use the firearm under approved circumstances by the police department of administrative management (PC64) until July 15, 2021.

Being a head of the security firm, Phuong was able to obtain and carry the tear gas gun legally as a support tool.

Additionally, through searching for Phuong’s car, police detected an ID and police ID with Phuong’s name and photo which claimed he was an officer in the criminal police division at the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department. After verifying, police officers said the police ID is a fake ID.

Accordingly, police soon arrested the director for further investigation of making fake document. As per his statement in police station, Phuong said that he made fake police ID because he wanted to show the power to others.

HCMC records Zika cases in 20 out of 24 districts

HCMC has recorded 103 cases of Zika including 13 pregnant women in 20 out of 24 districts so far, said HCMC Preventive Medicine Center this morning December 7.

Of the confirmed cases, 20 come from Binh Thanh district, 15 from District 2, 11 from District 12 and 10 from Tan Phu. 

The HCMC Department of Health has implemented measures to consult for Zika patients, supervise their health and launch pregnancy care in accordance with regulations by the Ministry of Health. 

Doctor Le Hong Nga, head of the center's Communicable Diseases Control Division, said that the center has piloted Singaporean thermal spraying technique in dormitories and universities in Districts 9 and 2 to kill mosquitoes. 

The center is waiting for the Department of Health’s estimation before expanding the use of the technique in other districts to cope with Zika virus. 

According to Ms. Nga, the spraying technique can kill flying mosquitoes with visible thick fog streams. Sprayers can control the volume of chemical released into the environment.

However these fog streams might hinder traffic and activate fire alarm systems in buildings, she added.

First endoscopic surgery performed by robot in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Dinh La Thang today paid a visit to Binh Dan Hospital in HCMC, the first infirmary in the country and in the Southeast Asia to perform endoscopy surgery for adults by using robots for the application of the new technique.

Hospital Director Dr. Tran Vinh Hung said that the application of robot technique into endoscopy surgery will improve treatment because many patients with serious diseases need complex operations which only robot can perform precisely. 

The implementation of endoscopy operation by using robot aims to build high-tech model in the health sector and next it will develop a training center to transfer complicated surgeries by robots to hospitals in the country and the region.

Party Chief Thang highly appreciated the hospital in investing and implementing the new and advanced technique; accordingly patients will benefit from this method.  It also helps strengthen medical status in the world. 

As per the plan, the hospital will use robot in treating cancers such prostate gland cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, cutting bile duct follicle.

Street officially named after National Resistance Day

Hanoi has officially named Street 19 Thang 12 (December 19) to celebrate the 70th anniversary of National Resistance Day.

19 Thang 12 connects Ly Thuong Kiet and Hai Ba Trung streets.

There are several streets and gardens without any sign posts in the capital and some of the most notable cases are the Doc Lap (Independence) and 19 Thang 12 (December 19) streets.

Doc Lap Street had been mentioned a lot as the coffin of General Vo Nguyen Giap was carried through it during his funeral in 2013. The street finally had its sign in 2014 after Dan Tri published an article on the many locations without sign posts, including Ba Dinh Square.

Another street with no sign post is 19 Thang 12. This is where the French buried the Hanoians who died in the Battle of Hanoi on December 19, 1946.

After October 1954, Hanoi’s authorities built a wall with description sign. But it was dismantled after reunification day and a market was built in the small street. The official name of the market is 19 Thang 12 but people often refer to it as the Am Phu (Hell).

There are opinions that the city authorities should also put up a memorial stone for the place.

PM's no Tet gifts anti-corruption instruction

At the November cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced a ban on government officials and civil servants offering gifts to their superiors during the Lunar New Year, or Tet.

"In the run-up to Tet, I have instructed government officials from central to local levels not to pay any visits to the prime minister or other senior government, ministry and agency officials," the PM told the meeting. "Any kind of Tet gifts are also prohibited."

This new instruction from the government leader was issued as the country is making efforts to curb corruption, especially as the Tet holiday nears on January 28.

It has become a tradition for Vietnamese people to offer gifts to friends, relatives or bosses during festivals, especially Tet. But in many cases, these gifts are merely bribery that people use to curry favour with their bosses in order to get help, support or promotion at work.

Therefore, the Tet holidays are becoming a hard time for many people trying to think of and find a proper gift for their bosses.

Meanwhile, those who hold high positions are not always happy receiving the gifts from their staff because this would mean they owe something to the givers. It is said that many bosses have to avoid meeting and receiving gifts from staff as they can’t give the help or support that they know the givers are expecting.

Therefore the instruction from the PM is expected to help curb the wrongful promotions that are rampant at local state-owned enterprises.

The PM’s continuing efforts to combat corruption and build a transparent government have been widely welcomed by the public. And the public are also expecting the PM's instructions to be closely monitored and followed, and are not just a call.

The anti-corruption bureau under the Government Inspectorate last year also encouraged citizens to report instances of corruption that usually happen at the end of the year such as bribery in the form of Tet gifts, unauthorised use of state-owned vehicles and highway bribery via three hotlines.

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