Vietnamese students won top prizes at Australian video competition

Nine young Vietnamese alumni and students were awarded prizes in the “Australia – Unlocking Potential” Video Competition today. Together with other competitors, they shared personal stories about how Australian education and life had “transformed” them.

The Australian Embassy in Hanoi with established the competition as a forum to reflect on and promote the transformational effect of studying in Australia.  

The videos in this competition reflect a range of experiences, including: how quickly Vietnamese students can adapt to Australian culture and education requirements; how students overcome personal difficulties while living overseas; how an Australian education and cultural experience creates new opportunities for personal growth and development; and how Australian alumni apply what they have learned in Australia to their work in Vietnam.

“I used to do what other people suggested and follow the dreams that other people said I should follow before I was lucky enough to have the chance to study in Melbourne. Now I am a different person. I have my own dream and I am chasing it. Now it’s time for you to follow yours. Thank you Melbourne.” commented Vo Truong Thinh, the 1st prize winner of the competition.

At the Awards Ceremony on 1 August, Australian Ambassador, Mr Craig Chittick said: “I am very proud to know that Vietnamese students treasure their education and life experiences in Australia. We are committed to assisting Vietnam’s human resource development in various ways, including through our continued support for Australian alumni. It is always a pleasure to hear about the valuable contributions that Australian alumni make to Vietnam’s development after returning from study in Australia”.

The Australian Embassy in Vietnam is actively implementing Australia’s Global Alumni Strategy. Education is at the heart of the bilateral relationship. There are more than 20,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia and at least 50,000 alumni in Vietnam. These students and alumni bring to Vietnam a wealth of knowledge, expertise and influence.

Ben Tre strives for sustainable poverty alleviation

The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre has implemented a plan with numerous programmes to help locals develop livelihoods and achieve sustainable poverty elimination from 2016 – 2020.

So far, 8,928 poor and near poor households have joined the plan. After one year, those who have escaped from the poor status are still being supervised to ensure they achieve sustainable poverty elimination.

Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa, Vice President of the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Women’s Union said, 754 out of 1,243 households of poor women have benefited from the plan, worth over 18.5 billion VND (814,000 USD). 60 of them have escaped from poverty.

The Association has encouraged the wealthy ones to lend a helping hand to the poor, and provided saplings, labour force, and vocational training to help its poor members gain stable income.

According to the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the province has 37,541 and 17,395 poor and near poor households, respectively.

The provincial branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has provided preferential loans up to 190 billion VND (8.36 million USD) for these poor and near poor households. In addition, the involved households also enjoyed social services, including health care, education, housing, and water supply.

Nguyen Huu Phuoc, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee said the plan aims to help find suitable livelihoods for every local poor household.

He urged levels, sectors to promote publicity campaign to enhance the awareness and self-respect of the poor to strive to get rid of poverty in the coming time.

They should help locals have more understanding, funding, and suitable livelihood options, he said.

Can Tho oncology hospital building contract signed

The Health Department of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho signed contracts with a joint venture of five contractors on August 8 to begin construction of the Can Tho Oncology Hospital.

The 500-bed hospital will be built by Hungary’s MAGYAR and VMD, Vietnam’s Bach Dang Construction Corporation, Consultant and Inspection Joint Stock Company of Construction Technology and Equipment (CONINCO) and Japan’s AZUSA.

It will cost a total of nearly 1.8 trillion VND (79.2 million USD), including nearly 57 million EUR of official development assistance provided by Hungary’s government.

The hospital aims to provide services for locals and the Mekong Delta region.

Construction will start in late September.

Ca Mau authority urgent to tackle rabies

People’s Committee in the Mekong delta province of Ca Mau yesterday urged its sub-divisions to strengthen preventive measures against rabies because one human rabies death occurred in the province.

Related agencies must increase information of cause of rabies and guidance local people to prevent it.

Three months ago, a man in Ca Mau Town captured and impounded his dog because he suspected his dog has been exposed to an infected animal as it exhibited warning signs of rabies in dogs. Yet the animal escaped the cage. While the man tried to catch it, he was bitten in the hand. Though the dog has the rabies symptoms, the man did not go to medical clinic for vaccination.

Three months later, he displayed erratic behaviors including talking nonsense, sometimes shouting or keeping silent, having convulsion fits.

He was taken to many infirmaries yet his condition did not abate and he died later. Based on his symptoms and medical record, health authority verified he died of rabies.

Medical workers have sprayed chemicals in his house’s premises as well as kept an eye on those who had eaten the meat of rabid dogs.

Opportunities on offer from sustainable management of natural forests

National experts and enterprises presented and discussed their experience, opportunities, challenges, and recommendations for the sustainable management of natural forests while exploring economic opportunities including ecotourism, medicinal plants, and non-timber forest products during a forum held in Hanoi on August 7.

The forum on realizing the economic opportunities on offer from the sustainable management of natural forests was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Party Central Committee for Economics, and the United Nations, with support from the UN-REDD Program and other partners including the Vietnam Private Sector Forum.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the government, ministries, business associations, enterprises, financial institutions, international organizations, and forest owners.

“Forest protection and development is the first important solution that Vietnam needs to and can implement in order to ensure the sustainable development of the national economy,” said Mr. Cao Duc Phat, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee for Economics. He also emphasized that there must be awareness and active participation from the community and businesses.

The forum introduced Vietnam’s Target Program for Sustainable Forest Development for the 2016-2020 Period as well as the National Action Program on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, Sustainable Management of Forest Resources and Conservation and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks (REDD+) by 2030.

One of the main recommendations coming out of the forum relates to the need to develop markets and partnerships for natural forest-based economic models. Financial resources should be mobilized and revenue and expenditure regulations directed towards encouraging businesses to invest in such economic models.

Other recommendations included improving national policies and strengthening the monitoring and evaluation systems at the local and national levels on economic models and forest products.

“A major transformation will be required to build an enabling environment for domestic and international businesses to thrive in and benefit from investing in sustainable natural forest development.” Mr. Kamal Malhotra, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, told the forum.

Forests cover some 41 per cent of Vietnam’s territory, with 71 per cent natural forests and 29 per cent plantations. According to experts, the contribution of forests to the national economy has not been fully captured by the national accounting system. Indeed, forest contribution as currently accounted in national GDP is very modest, at approximately 1 per cent. The country has set targets for increasing the value of forest production to about 3.5 per cent per year, and for forestry to account for 2 to 3 per cent of national GDP.

Natural forests provide valuable timber and non-timber products and offer many invaluable services to critical sectors, including water and soil protection for agriculture, electricity production, urban consumption, and the mitigation of climate change, by capturing CO2.

They also help increase the resilience of vulnerable rural communities in the face of the dramatic impacts of climate change.

The UN-REDD Program, jointly convened by the UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Environment Program (UNEP), and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, has been working closely with the government over the development of relevant policies, mechanisms and overall readiness and action plans for implementation.

“The UN will remain an important strategic and committed partner of the government, to further strengthen the sustainable management of forests in collaboration with the domestic and international business sectors to achieve mutual benefit,” Mr. Malhotra said.

Nearly 470,000 people get free medical check-ups

Nearly 470,000 people were provided with free health check-ups and medicine worth about 120 billion VND (5.3 million USD) in the first six months of 2017.

The provision is part of a community-based medical programme launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Society along with the Ministry of Health, General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army and Vietnam Young Doctors’ Association.

The organising board also opened training courses on providing first aid, tackling natural disasters and joining search and rescue missions.

The programme has been carried out in 10 cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Phu Tho, Hai Duong, Son La, Nghe An, Gia Lai, Phu Yen, Dong Nai, Tien Giang and Soc Trang.

The Vietnam Red Cross Society’s Central Committee provided free health examinations and medicine for nearly 10,000 people, which cost more than 1.5 billion VND (65,985 USD), and presented some 4,000 gift packages worth over 86 million VND (3,783 USD).

Meanwhile, the General Political Department spent nearly 11.6 billion VND (510,284 USD) providing free check-ups for 55,000 people, granted over 10,000 gifts and built 56 houses for policy beneficiary families.

No excuse for hitting cops

Last Saturday, a 24-year-old driver was pulled over by traffic police in Hà Nội’s Cầu Giấy District for a traffic violation.

Nguyễn Hữu Đạt jumped out of his car and attacked the policeman, leaving him slightly injured.

He then got in his car and drove away, only to be stopped by another policeman nearby. This time Đạt grabbed a golf club from his car and hit the cop, whose colleagues subdued and arrested him.

At the police station, Đạt said he was under treatment for depression and claimed a drug he was taking resulted in uncontrolled behaviour. He showed his patient record as proof.

However, the police called Bạch Mai Hospital, where doctors denied that the drug has behaviour altering effects.

If Đạt is found to have lied, he could face up to three years in jail.

Wanted: professional thief

Last month, an unlucky resident of the central province of Nghệ An’s Quỳnh Lưu District came to the local police station to report a robbery.

His house had been broken into and his safe stolen. He said it had contained nearly VNĐ100 million (US$4,399) in cash, 14 taels of gold, 8,000 Japanese yen and several saving books worth more than VNĐ1 billion ($43,990).

Several days later, the police found and arrested the culprit.

Nguyễn Văn Mười, 43, a resident of Anh Sơn District, admitted the theft but insisted he took only VNĐ37 million ($1,627) in cash from the safe.

He said he had carried the safe to a deserted area 70 kilometres away from the victim’s house, and punched a hole in it to take the money out. Thinking there was nothing left, he threw the safe into a nearby river.

Rushing to the area, police salvaged the safe from the riverbed. The money, gold and saving books were still there, albeit slightly soggy.  

School milk programme improves kids’ nutrition

A school milk programme in the central province of Nghệ An has helped cut malnutrition among children, especially those under five years old, according to the provincial People’s Committee. 

Thanks to the programme, malnutrition rates among pre-school children and primary pupils were cut 2.85 per cent and 2.78 percent, respectively, compared to 2010. 

The school milk programme has been implemented in all 21 cities, towns and districts in the province. With support from the State budget, businesses and local authorities, kids receive five bottles of milk per week. 

To date, nearly 312,000 children have registered for milk at kindergartens and primary schools, totaling 69 per cent of total students in the locality. 

The programme has, however, been hampered by poor infrastructure at kindergartens, with inadequate milk storage facilities and a shortage of human resources and capital. 

With the aim of 70 per cent of children benefitting from the programme by 2020, the province plans to build coordination mechanisms among relevant authorities and prioritises support for disabled children. 

The school milk programme was launched nationwide on September 28, 2016. It targets providing all pre-school children and elementary pupils in poor districts with milk by 2020, meeting 90-95 per cent of their energy demand and increasing the heights of school boys and girls by 1.5 and 2 centimetres, respectively

Vietnam, China localities step up cross-border labour management

Vietnam’s northernmost province of Ha Giang and Baise city of China’s Guangxi province will continue to effectively implement the agreement on cross-border labour management, contributing to promoting bilateral relations.

The consensus was reached during talks of officials of the Ha Giang province Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Baise city department of human resources and social welfare in Ha Giang on August 8. 

Since they signed the agreement on February 10, 2017, Ha Giang and Baise have intensified cross-border labour management and regularly discussed policies towards labourers. 

Many labourers have crossed the border in Ha Giang to work in China illegally over the past time, causing difficulties for relevant agencies in the management work and affecting local security and safety.

Can Tho exhibition celebrates 50th ASEAN anniversary

The museum of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on August 8 jointly held a photo exhibition to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The exhibition, which will run until September 30, features 120 photos introducing the establishment and development of the association, along with the socio-economic achievements as well as national cultural identity of Vietnam in the ASEAN community.

Via the lens of VNA reporters, important events throughout ASEAN’s five-decade development are highlighted, including the first ASEAN Environment Forum in Hanoi in September 1999, the opening of the Conference of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information in October 2000 in Hanoi and the 34th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hanoi in July 2001.

Director of the Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Viet Phuong said that the event is part of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and 72 years of the August Revolution (August 19), and the National Day (September 2).

Also on August 8, Can Tho also launched another photo exhibition themed “Sen village – Uncle Ho’s Homeland” showcasing 120 photos on the place where President Ho Chi Minh was born and grew up, as well as the late leader’s visits to his homeland.

Within the framework of the event, the Can Tho Museum also coordinated with the An Giang Museum to run an exhibition on the traditional costumes and accessories of ethnic minority groups in the Mekong Delta region. The event will last until December 15.

PVF, Viettel in U15 semis

Promotion Fund of Vietnamese Football Talents (PVF) and Viettel entered the semifinals of the National U15 Football Championship on Monday.

PVF defeated Sanatech Khánh Hòa 3-0, while Viettel trounced Đồng Nai 12-0 in the last Group B round matches.

PVF, winner of Group B, will play hosts Tây Ninh in the second semifinal on Thursday. Viettel will meet Group A leader Sông Lam Nghệ An in the first match one day earlier.

Both matches will be aired live on VTV6 channel from 4pm.

National art competition seeks talent

Some 100 young traditional artists are performing at the National Traditional Art Talent Competition taking place in the central province of Thanh Hóa. 

The artists from nearly 20 theatres and traditional art troupes of the country are presenting extracts from popular chèo (popular opera) and tuồng (classical opera) performances. 

"The national competition aims to provide young actors a chance to meet, exchange and nurture their passion for traditional art genres," Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vương Duy Biên said. "It also encourages and promotes the young artists to show creativity in art through their roles. We hope to find more talent at the competition."

The competition is being co-held by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Performing Art Department, Việt Nam Stage Artists Association and People’s Committee of Thanh Hóa from August 5 to 14. 

The competition is also an opportunity for cultural managers and heads of art units to review the development of traditional arts during the past years and the work of several traditional artists with a view to creating proper policies to preserve and boost Vietnamese traditional art genres. 

The best performers will be awarded at the competition. 

Funds raised to support flood-hit northern localities

The Party Central Committee’s Office on August 8 raised 421 million VND (18,519 USD) to support locals in northern mountainous localities that have been hit by torrential rains and floods.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, as well as other former Party and State leaders and officials of the Party Central Committee’s Office donated at least one-day salary to the fund.

The same day, the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee also called on State officials and public servants to contribute at least one-day salary to a fund as aid to the flood-hit localities. 

During the day, the VFF raised 105 million VND (4,618 USD), while receiving 50 million VND (2,199 USD) from the National Assembly Office and 450 million VND (19,795 USD) from the Ministry of Information and Communications for the fund.

Hanoi has also offered 4.5 billion VND (197,955 USD) to assist the northern mountainous provinces.

Recent heavy rains and flash floods have taken the lives of 26 people and left 15 others missing and 27 injured in northern mountainous provinces, mostly Yen Bai, Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Cao Bang, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Son La province had the highest number of fatalities with 12 while Yen Bai had the highest number of missing persons with 13.

Torrential rains and floods also swept away and collapsed 231 houses, damaged 245 houses, submerged 338.5 hectares of rice, and made 398 households leave their homes to safer places.

The intense floods also blew away over 25,000 cubic metres of national roads, 117,706 cubic metres of provincial and district roads; damaged 145 irrigation works and 2,072 metres of river dike, causing about over 940 billion VND (41.36 million USD) in economic losses in the provinces.

Vietnamese, Lao women parliamentarians visit Quang Nam

Vietnamese and Lao women legislators attending the conference on the role of women deputies in parliament activities in Hanoi visited the central province of Quang Nam on August 8.

The Vietnamese team was led by NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong, who is also the President of the Women Parliamentarian Group. Meanwhile, the Lao team was led by NA Vice Chairwoman Sysay Leudedmounsone, the leader of the Lao Women Parliamentarian Group.

According to Dinh Van Thu, Chairman of the Quang Nam People’s Committee, the province enjoyed a gross regional domestic product growth of 14.73 in 2016 and 6.36 percent in the first half of 2017. 

The province has also established close partnership with Lao localities, including Sekong, Attapeu and Salavan.

So far, as many as 26 provincial departments, agencies and organisations of Quang Nam have partnered and twinned with those in Sekong province, while all districts of Sekong have set up twin relations with Quang Nam localities, including those along the border.

Quang Nam and Sekong have actively implemented the Vietnam-Lao border regulations as well as the agreement on undocumented migrants and unregistered marriages in border areas. Quang Nam has also supported Sekong in infrastructure building, economic development, security, education and training, culture and tourism.

Thu added that the Quang Nam-Champasak relationship has been fruitful in all fields, with Quang Nam providing scholarships for 103 students from Champasak.

Addressing the event, Lao NA Vice Chairwoman Sysay Leudedmounsone thanked the Vietnamese and Quang Nam side for supporting Lao localities in socio-economic development.

Meanwhile, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said that from one of the poorest localities of Vietnam, Quang Nam has risen to one of the most developed, with ensured security and defence.

Quang Nam is a bright example in fostering ties with Laos, with all-round ties with Sekong and Champasak, she said.

AHA Centre supports Vietnam’s northern flood-hit provinces

The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) has supported flood-hit localities in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam with home supplies worth 230,000 USD.

The supplies include 600 household kits, 3,000 private hygiene kits, 600 kitchen kits, a mobile canvas house for storing goods, a 16KVA generator, and 300 tool kits for house repairing.

The things, which were taken from the Centre’s warehouse in Subang, Malaysia, arrived in Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on the afternoon of August 8. They will be sent to the needy as soon as possible.

This is the first time Vietnam has called for ASEAN’s support for its people who have been heavily affected by natural disasters.

Adelina Kamal, Acting Director of the AHA Centre also sent the sympathy from the centre and the ASEAN community to those people who have been severely affected by floods and landslides in Vietnam’s northern region.

She also thanked the Vietnamese Government for having belief in the centre and calling for the AHA Centre’s support.

The AHA Centre, which is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, is an intergovernmental organization formed by the 10 ASEAN members on November 17, 2011. It aims to create favourable conditions for and coordinating the cooperation between the ASEAN members and international organisations in promoting regional partnership in managing disasters. 

Over the past one months, prolonged torrential rains, flash flood and landslides have affected northern mountainous localities of Vietnam, mostly Son La, Yen Bai, Dien Bien and Nghe An.

According to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, as of August 7, heavy rains and flash floods have taken the lives of 26 people and left 15 others missing and 27 injured. 

Floods also swept away and collapsed 231 houses, damaged 245 houses, submerged 338.5 hectares of rice, and made 398 households leave their homes to safer places.

The intense floods also blew away over 25,000 cubic metres of national roads, 117,706 cubic metres of provincial and district roads; damaged 145 irrigation works and 2,072 metres of river dike, causing about over 940 billion VND (41.36 million USD) in economic losses in the provinces.

Leaders congratulate Singapore on 52nd National Day

President Tran Dai Quang on August 8 sent a letter of congratulations to Singapore’s President Tony Tan Keng Yam on the occasion of his country’s 52nd National Day (August 9).

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also extended congratulations to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the special event.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh sent a letter of greetings Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Vietnam and Singapore established diplomatic ties on August 1, 1973, and their relations have been thriving especially since Vietnam became a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995.

Singapore is currently one of Vietnam’s largest trade partners with bilateral trade revenue reaching 15 billion USD in 2016. Singapore is also among Vietnam’s leading foreign direct investors, with 1,900 projects valued at more than 41 billion USD.

More than 17,000 Vietnamese officials have participated in training programmes under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

Educators call it a 'disaster' as Vietnam sets the bar low for future teachers

Remember our story from last week about how a high school graduate needs a perfect score to enroll in military or police schools in Vietnam? Now it turns out to be much easier if you want to become an educator.

Teaching colleges have announced their minimum entrance scores, and prospective teachers need just a shockingly low nine out of 30 in some parts of the country.

Vietnamese 12th graders took the national exam in June with separate tests in math, literature, English and sciences. Their total scores in three of these tests are used to determine what school, if any, they will be accepted by.

While the average results from students rose from last year and most schools are demanding higher scores, which experts attribute to easier tests, teachers' training institutions are asking for the same as last year or less.

There are basically two levels of teacher training in Vietnam: colleges and universities. While someone who graduates from a university is eligible to teach at a university, those with a college degree are only qualified to teach students up to ninth grade.

Leading teaching universities in Vietnam such as those in Da Nang, Hanoi and Saigon have maintained their entrance scores at between 16 and 26.

But Hue's University of Education has lowered the bar for future math teachers by 5.5 points to 16. The entrance score for chemistry majors has also been cut by three points to less than 13.

Its counterparts in Nghe An, Thai Nguyen and Dong Nai are asking for 17, which means future teachers only need to be average high school graduates.

The standard is much lower at college level.

Colleges from Lao Cai in the northern highlands to Ba Ria-Vung Tau on the southern coast are asking for a combined score of nine or 10, and the National College for Education in Hanoi has set the standard at 13 points.

Vu Thu Huong, a lecturer at the Hanoi University of Education, said she is “concerned” with this year’s enrollment.

Huong, a seasoned educator who is very vocal in the media about educational reform, said she had met graduates who could not understand chemical symbols; who believed that the normal speed of a car was five meters an hour; and who explained to students that islands were the reason there are waves in the sea.

“There is no silver bullet that can save those who have a serious lack of basic knowledge,” she said.

Dinh Quang Bao, the former president of the Hanoi University of Education, also called the low benchmark “a disaster” for Vietnamese education.

“If we set the bar too low, we won't be able to provide quality teachers,” he told Infonet, the information ministry's news website, in an interview on Tuesday.

Bao said that if a school cannot attract good students, it shouldn't run courses because there is already a high unemployment rate among teachers.

Every year, around 4,000 students who graduate from teaching schools are unable to find a job in Vietnam, and the surplus is expected to reach 70,000 by 2020, according to official figures.

That’s possibly the main reason why teacher training schools are being shunned in Vietnam, while their free tuition is supposed to be a major draw compared to the thousands of dollars it costs for a four-year course at any other public university.

Bao said that while educational universities in countries with successful systems such as Japan or Finland attract the best students each year, the good students in Vietnam are turning their backs on education.

He said the system needs to guarantee jobs for graduates in the same way military and police schools do, and the salaries should be enough to give teachers a comfortable life.

Public preschools in Vietnam pay fresh graduates around VND2 million (less than US$100) per month for them to take care of 15-20 toddlers. The average annual income in Vietnam was $2,200 last year.

In Saigon, the country’s most affluent city, many public teachers are paid less than VND10 million (US$440) a month after spending decades in the job, a salary many describe as “just enough for a couple of trips to the grocery store.”

In remote mountainous provinces, many young teachers climb mountains and cross rivers every day for a much lower income.

Separate deadly accidents occur an hour apart at same place

Barely an hour after four people were rushed to a Hoa Binh Province hospital on Sunday, August 6, after two motorbikes collided in the district of Lac Son, another person was fatally killed at the exact same place.

According to the Zing online newspaper, the second accident came at 10:30am when a woman, Bui Thi Hiep, 30, was killed after a speeding truck struck her motorbike head on literally within a metre of the previous accident.

An hour earlier, emergency crews were on that precise spot at 9:30am when two motorbikes collided head on sending four people to the hospital with life threatening injuries.

Full details of the two accidents were not immediately known.

It is also not clear whether debris from the first accident was left on the roadway and contributed to cause the second accident.

Police urged drivers to exercise caution when driving in the area. Their investigation into the crashes continues.

Vietnamese, Lao provinces boost comprehensive cooperation

Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam and Laos’ southeastern province of Sekong agreed to enhance comprehensive cooperation during a high-level meeting in Tam Ky city, Quang Nam, on August 7.

The two sides concurred to complete a road running from Sekong through Nam Giang – Dac Ta Ooc border gate to Quang Nam province and finalise dossiers proposing the two Governments upgrade the border gate to international one in 2018.

They vowed to jointly implement a protocol on Vietnam-Laos borderline and border markers and an agreement on land border and border gate management regulations, while disseminating respective legal regulations among people in their border areas.

Quang Nam and Sekong will coordinate to ensure political security, and social order and safety in the shared border regions, and protect the borderline and border markers. They will also work to organise investment, trade and tourism promotion conferences in Sekong.

In 2018, the two sides plan to kick off construction of houses for officers and soldiers at the Dac Ta Ooc border gate control station with funding sourced from the Vietnamese Government’s official development assistance (ODA) for Laos.

Each year, Quang Nam province pledged to provide full scholarships to teach Vietnamese and other majors to 25 students from Sekong province.

The two sides will also step up collaboration in the field of healthcare.

On this occasion, empowered by the Lao President, Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Sekong Khamphoi Butdavieng granted Isala Orders to nine individuals and Labour Orders to two units in Quang Nam in recognition of their significant contributions to the development of special relations between Vietnam and Laos.

Exhibition features Vietnam’s Hoang Sa, Truong Sa in Binh Thuan

An exhibition of maps and materials, entitled “Hoang Sa, Truong Sa of Vietnam – Historic and legal evidence”, opened in the central province of Binh Thuan on August 7. 

On display are nearly 100 maps and atlases selected from more than 260 ones featuring Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, documents written in ancient Chinese, Vietnamese and French languages and issued by the Vietnamese feudal states and French administration in Indochina from the 17th – 20th century.

There are the Nguyen dynasty’s royal records and administrative documents from 1954-1975 and from 1975 to now, which affirm Vietnam’s exercise and protection of its sovereignty over these islands.

The exhibition also showcases publications and studies by domestic and foreign scholars, including the atlas Universel compiled by Belgian geographer Philippe Vandermaelen in 1827. 

The event will last till August 10.
 
Natural forest development remains unattractive to businesses

Vietnam is facing great challenges in attracting investment in forest-based profitable and sustainable business activities, said Nguyen Van Ha, Vice Director of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at a conference in Hanoi on August 7.

Ha held that social resources account for 70 percent of total capital for the national target programme on sustainable forestry. 

However, mobilising investment from enterprises and individuals hasn’t yet been designed in a synchronic, comprehensive and specific manner, especially in attracting sustainable investment to natural forest.

He noted that over the past years, Vietnam has applied a number of measures to plant and protect forest, thus raising the forest coverage to 41.19 percent in 2016.Vietnam currently has 10 million hectares of natural forest, accounting for 71 percent of total forest area, but mostly newly-restored and poor forest, he said.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Tien, head of the Rural Agriculture Department under the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, said that the building of economic and business models that create opportunities for economic sectors in forest development has remained unattractive to investors.

Ha said that Vietnam has implemented the polity to stop the exploitation of natural forest in order to develop natural forest sustainably, along with collectingenvironmental service fees. However,limited results have been seen.

Ha stressed that it is crucial to build effective policies to optimise the potential of forest, especially natural forest, while promoting the environment value of forest.

Experts at the event also suggested the use of forest for eco-tourism. However, they also pointed to difficulties in finance and long-term benefit.

Joint efforts made to support flood victims

Trade unions of the Presidential Office and the Government’s Office have raised funds in support of north-western provinces hit by the recent floods and landslides. 

The donation has been channelled through the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee. 

Vice Chairman of the Presidential Office Bui Truong Giang said the fund aims to help victims of the natural disasters restore production and soon stabilise their lives. 

On August 7, a delegation of the National Assembly led by Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty, along with Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Son La province leaders, visited flood victims in Nam Pam commune, Muong La district, and those who are under treatment at Muong La general hospital. 

Ty asked local authorities and competent forces of Muong La to promptly search missing people and help locals stabilise their lives. 

On the same day, the Ministry of Information and Communications sent two delegations to Yen Bai and Son La provinces to visit local flood victims. 

Recent heavy rains and flash floods have taken the lives of 26 people and left 15 others missing and 27 injured in northern mountainous provinces.

The victims are from Yen Bai, Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Cao Bang, according to the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

Son La province had the highest number of fatalities with 12 while Yen Bai had the highest number of missing persons with 13. 

Torrential rains and floods also swept away and collapsed 231 houses, damaged 245 houses, submerged 338.5 hectares of rice, and made 398 households leave their homes to safer places.

The intense floods also blew away over 25,000 cubic metres of national roads, 117,706 cubic metres of provincial and district roads; damaged 145 irrigation works and 2,072 metres of river dike, causing about over 940 billion VND (41.36 million USD) in economic losses in the provinces.

Vietnamese, Lao female lawmakers discuss role in NA’s activities

Vietnamese and Lao female legislators met at a seminar in the central city of Da Nang on August 7 to discuss women deputies’ role in National Assembly activities. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the 14th NA records 132 elected women, bringing the total rate of female deputies to 26.7 percent, up 2.3 percent from the previous tenure. 

She said with the establishment of the Group of Vietnamese female lawmakers, members have a chance to exchange and learn from each other’s experience, thereby improving the legislature’s operational efficiency and raising their common voice on policies regarding women, children and gender equality. 

Ngan said the seminar affords participants a chance to share experience in promoting parliamentary activities and gender equality in particular. 

Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Laos Pany Yathotou hailed the significance of the event, saying that it will help institutionalise issues involving gender equality and protection of women’s and children’s rights. 

She called for increased collaboration between female parliamentarians in ASEAN, and those between Laos and Vietnam for mutual development. 

Among 149 Lao NA deputies for the eighth tenure, 41 are women, accounting for 27.5 percent. 

During the day-long event, female lawmakers looked into their role in the NA’s activities, share experience in building laws and overseeing law enforcement.

Singapore’s National Day marked in Ho Chi Minh City

The Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City (VSFA) and the HCM City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO)  on August 7 held a get-together to mark the 52nd anniversary of Singapore’s National Day (August 9). 

Addressing the event, VSFA President Nguyen Ngoc Hoa highlighted the fruitful traditional relations between Vietnam and Singapore, saying the two countries share many similarities in culture as well as concerns over national defence and security, peace and stability in the region and the East Sea as well. 

He also commented on successes of Singaporean businesses and investors in HCM City, which, he said, have demonstrated efforts made by the two countries’ governments to advance the bilateral ties. 

Singaporean firms in HCM City have also actively participated in social activities in the locality while joining hands in people-to-people exchanges, helping enhance mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Singaporean people and strengthen the bilateral relationship, he said. 

Leow Siu Lin, Singapore’s Consul General in HCM City, said the strategic partnership between the two countries has been intensified through the exchange of high-level visits of their leaders over the past time. 

The relationship is thriving across fields, especially in economy with the most noteworthy being seven Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks which are operating effectively in the Southeast Asian nation, she said. 

The diplomat also talked about the two countries’ cooperation in tourism, education-training, and social activities. 

Singapore is currently one of Vietnam’s largest trade partners with bilateral trade revenue reaching 15 billion USD in 2016. Singapore is also among Vietnam’s leading foreign direct investors, with 1,900 projects valued at more than 41 billion USD.

With nearly 1,000 projects worth over 10 billion USD, Singapore is the largest investor in HCM City.