Mekong Delta farmers breed more fish during flood season

Farmer Nguyễn Văn Y in Hậu Giang Province tends his rice field where he breeds fish during the annual flood season. – Photo baohaugiang.com.vn

Farmers in the Mekong Delta are earning more income from breeding more fish and other aquatic species in rice fields during the annual flood season. 

In Sóc Trăng Province’s Ngã Năm Town, farmers began breeding early this year as the delta’s annual flood season began a month earlier this year.

They breed various fish and aquatic species, including snakehead fish, carp, Java barb, tilapia and shrimp.

Phạm Thị Sô, who breeds snakehead fish in Ngã Năm’s Mỹ Bình Commune, said in previous years she had bred about 1,500 snakehead fish, but this year she is breeding 4,000 as flood levels are higher.

She is now preparing tools to catch wild small fish and other aquatic species to feed her snakehead fish.

Farmers normally spend money to buy food for small fish or aquatic species. When they become bigger and floods are high, they then eat natural food in the floodwaters.

To support local farmers, the Ngã Năm Town Economic Bureau in cooperation with the town’s Vocational and Continuing Education Centre has organised two classes in fish breeding techniques for local farmers.

To breed fish and aquatic species in rice fields, farmers use wooden stakes and nets around their flooded fields to contain fish and aquatic species.

Lê Hoàng Khương, deputy head of the Ngã Năm Town Economic Bureau, said: “Farmers catch golden snails and wild small fish in floodwaters to feed their fish so the breeding costs in the flood season have fallen significantly.”

The number of farmers breeding fish in rice fields this year rose compared to last year, mostly in Long Bình, Mỹ Bình and Mỹ Qưới communes.

Farmers who breed about 2,000 fish in the flood season can earn a profit of VNĐ7 -10 million (US$300 – 429).

In Hậu Giang Province’s Phụng Hiệp District, farmers are breeding fish in 2,500ha of rice fields, according to the district’s Agriculture Extension Station.

The fish breeding area in the district is expected to increase as many farmers will complete the release of fries into rice fields by the end of the month, according to the district’s Agriculture Extension Station.  

Phụng Hiệp is a low-lying area, so farmers normally do not reap high profits when planting the third rice crop in the flood season. Therefore, many farmers in the district have switched to breed fish in the flood season in recent years.

The profits from breeding fish in the flood season are higher than that from planting rice, and it fertilises rice fields because floodwaters bring alluvia to the fields and destroy germs that cause rice diseases.

Nguyễn Văn Y, who has bred fish in his rice field during the flood season for three years in Phụng Hiệp Commune, said in previous years he had released 15 kilo of fries for breeding in his 1ha of rice field and earned a profit of VNĐ12-15 million after three months.

This year he and many neighbours ordered fries in advance because of a temporary shortage.

Every year, the Phụng Hiệp District Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau provides farmers with techniques to breed fish and other aquatic species in the flood season to help them improve income.

Nguyễn Hoàng Tâm, deputy head of the Hậu Giang Province’s Fisheries Sub-department’s Aquaculture Division, said that since the flood level was high this year, more farmers were breeding fish in rice fields.

Besides following breeding techniques to avoid losses, farmers should follow the latest market information to breed fish species that sell well. 

Training holds key to supply of human resources in industry 4.0 era: seminar

Female workers of An Hưng Phú Yên Garment Joint Stock Company, Tuy Hòa City in the central province of Phú Yên. Experts discuss measures to improve the quality of human resources to meet the demands of industry 4.0 at a seminar held in HCM City on Friday. 

Human resource training needs to foster gender equality to meet the high demands imposed by the fourth industrial revolution, the rector of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities has said.

Speaking at a seminar on improving training on Friday Ngô Thị Phương Lan said industry 4.0 “requires the training process to provide knowledge of science and technology and also promote creativity in these fields.”

Industry 4.0 would see rapid development in the field of science and technology, which usually has a preponderance of men, she said.

“If we do not remove barriers and allow women to access and catch up with scientific and technological achievements, their presence and quality of human resources in industry 4.0 will be very low.”

Trương Thị Hiền, head of the city Association for Intellectual Women, said advancement of women is a key objective and one of requirements for the country’s modernisation and industrialisation in line with global development trends.

More than 50 per cent of the population comprises women, who participate in social and political activities, work in almost all socio-economic fields and holding important positions in the Party, State and army, she said.

More actions and policies are necessary to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, she said.

Women need to acquire more knowledge and make constant efforts to fight gender inequality and achieve their goals, contributing to their family and country’s development.

Researcher Nguyễn Thị Vân Hạnh said the practical reality shows that women don’t have the skills and knowledge to meet the requirements of future jobs.

A study by the World Economic Forum in 2016 predicted women would face competition not only from men but also robots and artificial intelligence (AI).

Around 99 per cent of jobs will be automated in the next 20 years, including that of librarians, tele-marketers, data-entry workers, freight forwarders, bankers, accountants, sales staff, and cashiers.

Some 86 per cent of workers in Việt Nam’s textile and footwear industries are at high risk of losing their jobs because of the influence of technological disruption caused by industry 4.0, according to the International Labor Organization.

A study by the Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis in 2017 predicted that women’s risk of losing jobs due to automation is twice as high as that of men.

It is estimated that 5 per cent of administrative jobs -- 75 per cent of which are currently done by women -- will disappear by 2020 because of robotics and automation.

Hạnh said, “Education is a decisive factor for future employment opportunities in the digital manufacturing age.”

Meanwhile, globally, women and girls have less opportunity for education than men, she said.

In Việt Nam the number of girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) streams remains low mostly due to social and environmental factors, she said.

To overcome these challenges, women need to be empowered to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills required to advance in fields like automation, she added. 

Hospitals take measures to prevent surgical site infections

A surgery being performed at Bình Dân Hospital. Hospitals in Việt Nam are taking measures to reduce the number of surgical site infections. — Photo courtesy of Bình Dân Hospital

Many hospitals and clinics in Việt Nam are taking measures to prevent and reduce the number of hospital-acquired infections.

Bình Dân Hospital in HCM City, for instance, carries out surveillance and prevention strictly as it performs an average of 150 surgeries a day, Dr Nguyễn Phúc Cẩm Hoàng, the hospital’s deputy director, said at a conference on surgical site infections held on Friday in the city.

The hospital’s department for surveillance and monitoring of hospital-acquired infections also works with its anesthesiology and recovery department to ensure safety in surgeries.  

“Hospital-acquired infections are one of the challenges for the health sector in developing countries,” Hoàng said, adding that infections increase complications, risks of mortality, length of stay, and medical costs.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), surgical site infections are caused by bacteria that enter through incisions during surgery.

They threaten the lives of millions of patients each year and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance. In low- and middle-income countries, 11 per cent of patients who undergo surgery are infected during the process.

But surgical site infections are not just a problem for poor countries. In the US, they contribute to patients spending a total of more than 400,000 extra days in hospitals at a cost of an additional US$10 billion per year.

Dr Lê Thị Anh Thư, head of Chợ Rẫy Hospital’s infection control department and chairwoman of the HCM City Infection Control Society, said that a survey by the Ministry of Health found that surgical wound infections were the second-most common type of hospital-acquired infections in Việt Nam.

At Chợ Rẫy Hospital, the rate of surgical wound infections accounted for 1.24 per cent of the total of hospital-acquired infections last year, according to Thư.

Forty per cent to 60 per cent of surgical wound infections are preventable if regulations about “super clean” operation theatres and disinfected devices for surgeries are closely followed.

Dr Nguyễn Thị Thanh Hà of Phạm Ngọc Thạch University of Medicine said that facilities within hospitals where surgical operations occur are performed in a sterile environment.

Hospitals should set up a central sterilisation division to oversee the prevention of hospital-acquired infections, and operating teams should follow World Health Organisation (WHO) safe surgery guidelines to help reduce surgical infections, according to Hà.

According to WHO, its guidelines are valid for any country and suitable to local adaptations, and take account of the strength of available scientific evidence, the cost and resource implications, and patient values and preferences.

Bình Dân Hospital held the conference in co-operation with the HCM City Infection Control Society. 

Vietnamese-German University marks 10-year operation

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the ceremony marking 10-year operation of the Vietnamese-German University (Photo: vgu.edu.vn)

The Binh Duong-based Vietnamese–German University (VGU) celebrated its 10th founding anniversary (2008-2018) at a ceremony on September 9.

The university’s staff, students and partners were joined at the ceremony by Politburo member and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, and Minister of Science and Arts at the German state of Hessen Boris Rhein.

Speaking at the event, Nhan, who were among the initiators of the idea of establishing the VGU a decade ago, said the facility has trained Vietnamese students in line with European and German standards, contributing to producing a high-quality workforce in science and technology for Vietnam.

Over the past 10 years, the VGU has contributed to raising tertiary education quality in Vietnam to be on par with advanced establishments in the region and in the world, he stated. 

Deputy PM Dam said the university is a symbol of Vietnam – Germany friendship and educational cooperation.

Highlighting the importance of education and training in boosting the national competitiveness, particularly amid the 4th Industrial Revolution, the official urged the VGU to continue improving its apparatus and management, boosting cooperation to build modern and quality training programmes, and developing its human resources.  

He said he expects the VGU’s success will have far-reaching impact on other Vietnamese universities in contribution to the country’s comprehensive educational reform.  

The official thanked the German Government, Hessen state, World Bank, Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City authorities, as well as several organisations and enterprises for their assistance for the development of the university in the past decade.

On the occasion, the VGU awarded individuals who made significant contributions to its development and staff members with outstanding achievements in teaching and social responsibility.

The university also signed a pact on education and training for Industrial 4.0 with Siemens Vietnam Company.

The VGU has partnered with nine leading German universities in providing 11 training programmes at graduate and postgraduate levels. It has to date trained 2,200 students, with 674 of them receiving degrees granted from German partner universities of the VGU.

Asian cities join tourism exhibition in Hanoi

Scene at the opening ceremony of the CPTA exhibition in downtown Hanoi 

Member cities of the Council for the Promotion of Tourism in Asia (CPTA) are promoting their potentials at a tourism exhibition, which opened at the Ly Thai To flower garden in Hanoi’s downtown on September 8.

Stalls run by Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Manila, Jakarta, and Hanoi, feature images on their local charms and cultural-experience activities. Air tickets with attracting prices to these locations are also on offer.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the CPTA Yuji Fujita said CPTA members gather on an annual basis to put forth ideas and conduct tourism promotion activities together.

He hoped Hanoi residents and tourists to the event can find useful information on the destinations they are looking forward to visit.

Tran Duc Hai, Director of the Hanoi Tourism Department, said the exhibition fosters connectivity and experience exchanges for the development of sustainable tourism. 

The 2-day event is held on the sidelines of the CPTA’s 16th meeting, which is taking place in Hanoi from September 6-9. This is the fourth time that Hanoi has hosted the meeting. 

The CPTA gathers the state tourism management agencies of 10 Asian cities, namely Tokyo (Japan), Bangkok (Thailand), New Delhi (India), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Jakarta (Indonesia), Seoul (Republic of Korea), Taipei (Taiwan), Metropolitan Manila (Philippines), Tomsk (Russia), and Hanoi.

Vietnam - Japan music gala to mark bilateral ties

A Vietnam – Japan music gala will be held in Hanoi on September 9 celebrating the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, said General Director of Vietnam Television (VTV) Tran Binh Minh on September 8. 

The music gala, which will be co-hosted by the VTV, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Hanoi, will gather well-known artists from the two countries, featuring not only traditional but also pop music, Minh said. 

The event will be broadcast on VTV1 channel on September 15. 

Vietnam – Japan and Japan – Vietnam Special Ambassador Ryotaro Sugi expressed his hope that the two countries will work more closely together in diverse fields following the gala. 

Vietnamese artists joining the event include singer My Linh, Dong Nhi, Trong Hieu, Yanbi, Duong Tran Nghia, rapper Weeza, Ngoi Sao Nho club, Young Hit Young Beat and The Wings bands. Japanese artists Pikotaro, Godai Natsuko will also stage performances. 

Before the gala the same day, a red carpet programme will welcome Vietnamese high-ranking leaders, the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam and participating artists.

Vietnam festival in Japan draws large crowds

Vietnam festival in  Kanagawa prefecture (Photo: organiser of the festival)

The two-day Vietnam festival was started on September 8 in Japan’s Kanagawa prefecture, drawing large crowds of spectators as it is one of the most expected in the country.

Opening the festival, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the event is being organized to intensify the cultural and economic exchanges between Vietnam and the prefecture. This year’s event is of special importance as it happens while the two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations, he stressed, adding the success of the festival will surely contribute to the pushing up and broadening of the relations between the two countries.

Highlighting the significance of the festival, Kanagawa governor Kuroiwa Yuji described the event as an important bridge to develop the relations between Vietnam and the prefecture. As the number of Vietnamese working, studying and living in Kanagawa is increasing, the event will help the community have more energy and spirit to make further contributions to the development of the prefecture in particular and of the relations between the two countries in general, the governor said.

The festival hosts over 100 pavilions showcasing Vietnam’s gastronomy, handicraft and cultural products. Japanese and other foreign visitors also have a chance to enjoy performances of Vietnam’s folk arts and films.

Cultural exchange event marks Vietnam – Japan relation anniversary

Scene at the event (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

The Hanoi chapter of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Association held a cultural exchange event in the capital city on September 8 to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam – Japan diplomatic relations (September 21, 1973 – September 21, 2018).

Speaking at the event, Chairwoman of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Hanoi Nguyen Lan Huong, who is also head of the mass mobilization department of the Hanoi Party Committee, stressed that over the past 45 years, Vietnam and Japan have become important partners in various areas, including economy, culture, education and tourism. Since its elevation in March 2014, the bilateral relations have seen strong, comprehensive and practical progress, she added.

The official confirmed that over the past years, the union has always paid heed to the strengthening and pushing up of the people-to-people exchange between the two countries, two capitals and localities. She also described the Hanoi chapter as one of the leading in Hanoi’s people diplomacy in the recent past.

Chairman of the Hanoi chapter Vu Van Vien highlighted various activities by the chapter in the field of cultural and economic exchanges, sports and trade promotion aimed at strengthening the mutual understanding and deepening the solidarity between the peoples of the two capitals and the two countries on the basis of equality, mutual respect and joint development.

The chapter has held many activities to mark the anniversary so far this year, most noteworthy are the exhibition of paintings related to Haiku poetry and the reception of 200 cherry blossom trees from the Chukyo Japan – Vietnam Friendship association, he said.

At the event, participants had a chance to have a deeper look into forms of art of the two countries, including the Ikebana flower arrangement, the Origami paper folding and the Haiku poetry of Japan, and the mooncake making of Vietnam.

Urgent repair at black spot of road accidents at Lò Xo Pass

Lò Xo Pass is a black spot of road accidents.-- Photo tienphong.vn

The Ministry of Transport has agreed on four urgent solutions to reduce road accidents on the Lò Xo Pass of the Hồ Chí Minh Trail.

The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum People’s Committee announced the decision on Wednesday, with the work to include an upgrade to the road surface and infrastructure on the pass and co-ordinating with local forces to intensify traffic patrols.

In addition, traffic order and safety violators will be fined and some dangerous road or slope sections will be rebuilt.

Previously, to limit traffic accidents on the Hồ Chí Minh Trail, the Kon Tum Province People’s Committee asked the Ministry of Transport to consider upgrading the road surface and the traffic safety system at Lò Xo Pass, and the water drainage system of the trail’s section in Đăk Glei District.

As part of the first solution, the Việt Nam Road Administration is currently installing speed-limit signs, surveillance cameras, road paint, and protective barriers.

‘Smart’ building launched in Đà Nẵng

A ’smart’ building is launched at Đà Nẵng University of Science and Technology. The building was designed with updated information technology applications for students, lecturers and visiting international students.

The Đà Nẵng-based University of Science and Technology has launched its first ‘smart’ building complex, offering one-stop administrative procedures, an international student guest house and multi-function building with total investment of VNĐ103 billion (US$4.5 million).

The university said the three-building complex, which was inaugurated on May 5, was designed with information technology (IT) applications and services including Wifi, a mobile office, Bulk Short Message Service, tuition payment via SIM cards, cyber security, internet lease line, online library and automated fingerprint identification.

The smart buildings will supply a one-stop service for all procedures and data for students and lecturers at university and international students studying at the university, promoting transparency.

The university was one of four (Science and Technology Universities of Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, HCM City and Hà Nội University of Civil Engineering) in Việt Nam attaining quality recognition by the High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher education (HCERES), an independent administration from Europe, under the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

The university enrols 4,000 regular students each year.

Đà Nẵng has led Việt Nam in developing IT applications in the fields of e-Government, natural resources and environment, agriculture, tourism, building, traffic and public security.

The city plans to be a ‘green’ and ‘smart’ city by 2025.