Green trees neglected in Ho Chi Minh City

While some of the city’s trees have become common dumping grounds for local garbage, others are suffocating from cement poured over their roots.

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, trees along D2 Street in Binh Thanh District have had their roots buried under a layer of cement, making it difficult for the plants to be taken care of or watered.

“They are still growing just fine. I protect these trees from being chopped down,” a resident explained.

Several trees on the promenades of Hoa Hao Streets in District 11 have also been subjected to such neglectful treatment.

“The concrete surrounding their roots has been damaged, causing soil to be washed into our houses,” a local said.

“Since authorities have been unable to deal with the problem, we decided to fix it ourselves,” he continued.

Meanwhile, green trees on a section of Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District have become garbage dumping hotspots for local vendors.  And the pollution is piling up.

“The trash causes an unpleasant smell on sunny days. When it rains, rubbish and leftovers often wash onto the sidewalk,” Bao Tran, a university student, stated.

Countless plants along Pasteur Street in District 3 and To Duc Thang and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Streets in District 1 are suffering a similar fate.

According to Nguyen Thanh Son, an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Greenery Parks Company, dumping garbage and wastewater onto tree roots can seriously harm their development. 

Cement covering tree roots can hamper the growth process and eventually kill the tree, Son added.

Nguyen Vinh Ninh, director of the Urban Traffic Management Unit No.1, the authority responsible for the management of local green trees, admitted that the situation is rampant in neighborhoods across the southern hub.

The agency has called for support from local authorities to help raise residents’ awareness of tree protection.

Several teams of officers have also been tasked with removing cement and garbage from green trees in the city, Ninh said.

Thoi Son residents do eco-tourism

Thoi Son Isle, also known as Lan or Unicorn Islet, is located in the lower section of the Tien River and is administrated by Thoi Son commune in Tien Giang province.

The isle is a famous fruit growing area and a great destination for a weekend vacation.  

Since 1998 Thoi Son Island has been a popular-tourist destination in the Mekong Delta. Hinh Thanh Khoa, a tour guide with Vietnam Adventure Tours, is guiding a group of foreign visitors to Thoi Son.

Arriving at Thoi Son Island after a scenic boat ride, you walk along winding gravel road, breathing the fresh, cool air of lush green orchards in an atmosphere of utter tranquility.

The island’s houses retain their ancient beauty. Tam Cho’s house is a typical southwestern house. It’s furnished with a carved altar, delicate tables and couches, and other antiques and is surrounded by strange, beautiful bonsai trees. 

Mr. Tam's house is a famous attraction on the island. Mr. Tam has worked with travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City to attract domestic and foreign visitors who, during a 30- minute stopover, are served tea and fruit, and enjoy a performance of Don Ca Tai Tu, a traditional form of music of southern Vietnam recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

Leaving the garden of Mr. Tam Cho, you come to the lush orchard and house of Le Hoang Son. Son’s orchid garden covers 2,700 m2 and contains 10,000 trees.

Son said, “In the past, it used to be a ‘Xuong com vang’ longan garden. Then my daughter suggested growing orchids, and cutting branches for sale. It wasn’t very profitable so we decided to do tourism. We suffered a loss for 3 years. The high tourism season is from September to April when fruit gardens are at their most beautiful. When you are hosting tours, you have to take care of your orchid garden carefully.”

In addition to the orchid garden, Son has a honey production workshop called Lan Thao Nguyen, where visitors can smell the flowers, take photos, and taste some forest honey.

Son explained further: “500 hectares of Thoi Son is under cultivation. The locals mainly grow different varieties of longan and sell dried longan. Using new farming techniques the farmers can now make longan trees bear fruit all year round, which is good for the bees.”

Son has lived on Thoi Son Island half his life. He says local living standards have greatly much improved thanks to eco-tourism. 

Many households there are now keeping bees, providing services like operating ferry boats, or making fine arts souvenirs. Eco-tourism on Thoi Son attracts half of the tourists who visit Tien Giang, 1,500 to 3,000 people each day.

HCM City hosts art performance marking National Day

Hundreds of artists and singers joined a special art performance show in Ho Chi Minh City in the evening of September 2 to mark the 72nd anniversary of National Day.

The artists and singers performed a series of songs, dances and scenes at the Ho Chi Minh Monument Park to re-enact the country’s struggle for independence and post-war efforts for national development and integration.

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong were among those attending the event.

On the occasion, a 15-minute firework display took place at Dam Sen Park in the city’s district 11.

Vietnamese expatriates in Laos observe Vu Lan festival

Overseas Vietnamese in Laos held a Vu Lan festival in the central province of Savannakhet on September 2 to express their deep gratitude towards parents.

Hundreds of Vietnamese Buddhist followers and monks were present at the event, which also aims to commemorate soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s seas and islands, and pray for national peace and prosperity.

The Vu Lan festival falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. On this month’s full moon, wandering souls are believed to return to their former homes.

The festival is based on the legend that once when mediating, a Buddha’s disciple named Muc Kien Lien saw his mother suffering hell’s tortures.

Following Buddha’s advice, on the seventh full moon of the year, Lien gathered monks and devotees to pray for his mother. 

Therefore, the festival is also an occasion for children to express their gratitude towards their parents (especially mothers) and help ancestors’ souls find their way back to the earth.

On the occasion, overseas Vietnamese people in Savannakhet often flock to Bao Quang pagoda, one of the three biggest pagodas of Vietnamese in the Lao province, to observe the Vu Lan festival.

Venerable Thich Tanh Nhiep explained the meaning of the festival in Buddhism and called on the Vietnamese community in Laos to strengthen solidarity to nurture the Vietnam-Laos close relations.

As planned, Vietnamese Buddhists and monks will gather at Trang Nghiem pagoda in the southern province of Champasak on September 3 to observe the festival and pray for national peace and prosperity.

Vietnam’s National Day celebrated abroad

The Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania organised a ceremony on September 2 to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution Day (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

Speaking at event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania Nguyen Kim Doanh recalled the nation’s glorious days 72 years ago when the country rose up against the French colonialists to gain independence under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh.

He also informed overseas Vietnamese in Tanzania of the country’s economy, politics-security and external affairs in the first half of the year, as well as new development steps in Vietnam-Tanzania relations.

The ambassador lauded efforts made by the Vietnamese community to overcome challenges in the host nation while expressing his hope that more Vietnamese businesses will set foot in this potential market following achievements of Viettel Tanzania.

Historical images of President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square 72 years ago, officially giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, was screened on the occasion.

A similar ceremony was held by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Vladivostok city, Russia, on September 1, with the attendance of 200 guests and Russian frends.

Meanwhile, a football tournament called Vientiane Cup 2017 was organised on September 2, aiming to raise funds for disabled children, lonely elderly people and disadvantaged households in Laos. The move helps create good images of Vietnamese community among Lao friends.

Hue imperial relic site welcomes 25,000 visitors on National Day

About 25,000 tourists visited the Hue imperial relic site in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on National Day (September 2), according to Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre Phan Thanh Hai.

Free entrance tickets were offered to Vietnamese visitor at the imperial palace and monuments on the day. Meanwhile, local residents received a discount of 50 percent from September 1.

A string of royal activities have been restored on the occasion, including “doi gac” (changing working shift) festival and ceremonial music performance, Hai stressed.

The Vietnamese cultural heritage has been also nudged closer to visitors through exhibitions and royal art programmes, which feature cultural and historical values of the site.

The imperial relic site was recognised by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1993. So far, nearly 150 facilities at the site have been upgraded with total investment of 1.2 trillion VND (52.7 million USD), comprising Ngu Phung pavilion, Long An palace, The Mieu temple, Tu Duc tomb and Phu Van Lau pavilion.

By the end of August, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center welcomed 2.2 million visitors, including over 1.1 million foreigners. The centre earned 222 billion VND (9.8 million USD) from tourism services in the period.

The Hue Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi) has been in top seven tourism attractions of Vietnam in 2017. It has attracted a throngs of visitors thanks to the tour “Hue-One destination- Five heritages”, including the complex of Hue ancient capital, Hue royal court music, moc ban (wood blocks) and chau ban (royal official documents) of Nguyen Dynasty, and poetry in Chinese-language scripts on Hue royal architecture which was recognised as world documentary heritage by UNESCO.

On the occasion of the National Day, Da Nang city also organised a line-up of cultural, entertaining and tourism activities.

Along with renowned destinations like Ngam Doi, Suoi Hoa, Hoa Phu Thanh, Than Tai Mountain and Ba Na Hills, tourists can choose Lai Thieu Da Nang eco-tourism site to spend their holiday. For spiritual tourism aficionados, Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountain) tourism site will be an ideal place to pay tribute on Vu lan (Ullambana) festival.

Exhibitions and antique fair are also underway in the city.

According to Vice Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Tran Chi Cuong, the city expects to receive 14,000 international visitors from September 2-4.-

Thirty to sing in Sao Mai’s final round

The final round of Sao Mai (Morning Star) contest will start this month with the participation of the 30 best contestants.

The singers from Vietnam’s northern, central, and southern regions and expatriate communities in China and Russia will compete across the three genres of chamber music, folk music, and pop.

The finales of chamber music performances are scheduled for September 9, folk performances on September 16, and pop on September 23.

The organising board will select four contestants in each of the three genres to enter the final round.

The competition’s finale and awards ceremony will be broadcast live from FLC Sam Son Resort in central Thanh Hoa province on October 7.  

The contest was organised in three regions across the country since July to select best singers for the final round.

This year, a gala night will be held on September 30 to celebrate the contest’s 20th anniversary. It will gather famous singers who have won awards in previous Sao Mai competitions, such as Khanh Linh, Ho Quynh Huong and Ngoc Khue.

Sao Mai is a prestigious contest and the only one that gathers three genres: chamber music, folk music, and pop, said Trinh Le Van, head of the organising board.

“The contest seeks new talents and supports them to develop their careers as professional singers,” he said.

Nguyen Hong Ngoc, a student of the National University of Art Education, said although there are many singing contests organised like The Voice and Vietnam Idol, Sao Mai is still the most prestigious contest that all music students want to join.

“I want to try my best at the contest because I know the jury board requires much from contestants,” said Ngoc. “Through the contest, we have a chance to learn how to face challenges and pursue the professional singing career.”

Sao Mai singing contest, first conceived as the National Television Singing Festival, is held every two years. Well-known Vietnamese singers in chamber music, folk music and pop have emerged from the contest.

Japanese style-kindergarten opens in Da Nang

In a sign of growing ties between Da Nang and Japan, this school year, a Japanese-led kindergarten will open its doors to children ages 1 to 6 in the central city.

The kindergarten, COHAS Da Nang, or Smile School, was built by the Japanese JP Holdings Group with an investment of 300,000 USD. It will enroll 200 children and provide education programmes in English, physical training and music and Japanese culture.

President of JP Holdings Group, Ogita Kazuhiro, said it’s also the group’s first kindergarten project in Southeast Asia and Vietnam.

He said the project would contribute to the socio-economic development in Da Nang and Vietnam by releasing a high quality education at kindergarten level.

The project will be unrolled in three phases between 2017-2019, and provide education facilities for 600 kids with an international education standard.

JP Holdings focuses on investment in high quality education. It has developed 220 education projects so far.

The Japanese language has been taught at some junior secondary schools according to the city’s foreign language teaching programme for 2012-20.

Last year, Leave a Nest, an education organisation from Japan, in collaboration with the Self Wing Vietnam Company, began a pilot project on nature research education for students at junior secondary schools in Da Nang.

The city is home to 160 Japanese investors and 37 representatives with a total investment of 500 million USD.

Route Inn Group from Japan is also developing a coastal resort, the first of its kind in Vietnam, with total investment of 18 million USD.

The city has already launched a direct air route connecting Da Nang to Narita, Japan in 2014 with seven flights a week, and a direct Da Nang-Osaka route with four flights a week.

In a recent meeting with the city’s leadership, newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio said Japan plans to open a Consulate Office in Da Nang City as a way of boosting tourism and exchange between Japan and the central city in the future.

Late President Ho Chi Minh commemorated

Nearly 15,000 domestic and foreign visitors queued up to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi on September 2 on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution Day (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

The same day, thousands of people across the country flocked to the Kim Lien special national relic site - the hometown of late President Ho Chi Minh, to pay tribute to him.

President Ho Chi Minh was born into a family of patriotic Confucian scholars in Nam Dan District, in the central province of Nghe An, on May 19, 1890. 

He was a talented leader, a great master of the Vietnamese Revolution, a national hero and a world cultural celebrity, who devoted all his life to the national independence and freedom and happiness of the people while tirelessly striving for peace and progress in the world. 

The President led the nation to success in the struggle for national independence.

On September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, declaring to the world the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

H’Mong pan-pine festival opens in Ha Giang

The H’Mong pan-pine festival opened in Dong Van district, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, on September 1, attracting hundreds of artists. 

Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee Nguyen Trung Ngoc said H’Mong pan-pine was recognised as the national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015, adding that the event was meant to honour, preserve and uphold cultural values of H’Mong ethnic group. 

The event also afforded ethnic minority groups and H’Mong ethnic group in particular a chance to exchange and tighten solidarity as well as enrich their cultures. 

Visitors to the event could enjoy pan-pine melodies, folk songs and games of ethnic minority groups on Dong Van Karst Plateau.

Tourists invited to explore unique ethnic culture in Y Ty

An autumn festival opened in Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, the northwestern mountainous province of Lao Cai, on September 1, inviting visitors to explore unique and pristine cultural identities of local ethnics.

The two-day festival, part of the National Tourism Year 2017 themed “Colours of the Northwest”, features various activities demonstrating the special culture of ethnics in Bat Xat.

Visitors to the event can learn more about “trinh tuong” (earthen) houses of the Ha Nhi ethnic group and daily activities of northwestern people such as weaving and making “banh day” (a kind of glutinous rice cake) and liquor.

Aside from folk games, songs and dances, tourists can also experience local farmers’ life, buy souvenirs and taste the mountainous cuisine at a market.

Coming to Y Ty on these days, people have a chance to enjoy beauties of the The Pa terraced rice field valley – a national tourist attraction – and the primary forest.

On September 1, a mountaineering contest was held with Mount Lao Than, 2,860 metres high, challenging climbers.

Chairman of the Bat Xat district People’s Committee Hoang Dang Khoa said the festival aims to honour, conserve and promote local tangible and intangible cultural values, thus helping to strengthen tourism connectivity and encourage the creation of unique tourism products.

About 2,500 visit Ly Son island district on holiday

Nearly 2,500 tourists visited Ly Son island district offshore the central province of Quang Ngai during the first day of the National Day holiday (September 2), said an official. 

Director of the Sa Ky port management board Le Tan Hai said the board deployed additional eight boats, raising the total to 13. Each pair of boats from the mainland and the island will depart every 30 minutes, down half from usual days. 

Pham Thi Huong, Vice Chairwoman of the district People’s Committee, said the province has requested guest houses, hotels, homestay lodging facilities and restaurants not to raise prices during the period to prevent fines. 

Local public security and border guard forces were also asked to ensure security, social safety and order, she said, adding that accommodation support will also be provided for visitors in case of bad weather conditions. 

Tourist arrivals in Ly Son are forecast to top 5,000 during the three-day holiday.

Located to the north-east of Quang Ngai province, about 15 nautical miles (27km) from the mainland, Ly Son island is home to three cultures of Sa Huynh, Champa and Viet with numerous relic sites in in Oc hamlet, Chinh spring, Gieng Tien crater, Hang pagoda, An Vinh communal house, among others.

The island also preserves historical proof of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. Besides, Ly Son boasts unique geographic conditions which are highly valued by researchers.

Quang Ninh opens fifth One Commune, One Product programme

The northeastern province of Quang Ninh opened the fifth One Commune, Once Product (OCOP) fair on September 1 under the theme “Quang Ninh OCOP products – Vietnamese people’s brand”.

The event features 224 pavilions offering various kinds of locally-made goods such as farm produce, beverages, medicinal herbs, home decoration, souvenirs, garment-textile, and tourism products.

Businesses from Laos, Thailand and the Republic of Korea also set up their own booths.
 
The fifth OCOP fair will run until September 5.

The OCOP programme was initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2008.

The country now has 11,000 communes with a lot of unique and competitive products.

Quang Ninh was the first locality nationwide to implement the project from 2013.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, Quang Ninh has attracted 180 businesses to join the programme and implement 103 projects to support the manufacture of OCOP products.

As many as 210 local products have registered to join the programme, 99 of which met 3-5 star standards and 39 others received food security certifications.

As part of the event, a workshop to seek solutions to promoting products of the programme was held on September 2. It also reviewed the programme’s implementation.

Tien Giang spends $1 million on flood prevention

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has allocated nearly 23 billion VND (over 1 million USD) since the start of the year for flood prevention and natural disaster mitigation projects.

Nguyen Thien Phap, head of the irrigation and flood and storm prevention division under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the projects have focused on reinforcing dykes and dredging irrigation canals.

Accordingly, 11 dykes and dams in Cai Lay, Chau Thanh and Tan Phuoc districts and Cai Lay town have been strengthened with a total budget of over 3.3 billion VND (145,200 USD).

Since 2003, Tien Giang has spent about 92 billion VND on consolidating 1,122 temporary dykes and dams in its western areas, where frequently affected by flood. In addition, it has dredged 121 irrigation canals with total length of 128,000m to ensure water supply for crops.

Ahead of this year’s flooding season, the province invested an additional 3.3 billion VND to build four dykes with steel frames, aiming to prevent floods and protect farming land for fruit trees with high-economic value in Cai Lay district.

This year, Tien Giang has strived to harvest more than 1.2 million tonnes of rice, over 1 million tonnes of vegetables and 1.38 million tonnes of fruits. It has also sought ways for local farmers to grow crops adaptive to climate change.

Congratulations on 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man has sent a congratulatory message to President of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane on the occasion of the 55th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties (September 5, 1962).

Man also congratulated his Lao counterpart on the 40th year of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation (July 18, 1977).

Since Vietnam and Laos set up diplomatic ties in 1962, the bilateral cooperation has flourished, especially in economy, trade and investment.

To fulfil the target of 4 billion USD in two-way trade by 2020, the two sides will launch new cooperation projects in Laos and assist existing projects, while carrying out the agreement on border and border gate management and the protocol on borderline and national border markers.

Party leader offers incense to late President Ho Chi Minh

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to commemorate late President Ho Chi Minh at House 67 in the presidential historical relic site in Hanoi on September 2.

The activity took place on the occasion of celebrating the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution Day (August 19), National Day (September 2, 1945), and 48th death anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (September 2, 1969).

The Party chief expressed his deep gratitude to the late President for devoting his whole life to the national independence and liberty as well as people’s happiness.

While meeting with the relic site’s staff, the Party leader told them to continue introducing both domestic and foreign visitors about the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh.

House 67 in the Presidential Palace is where President Ho Chi Minh lived, worked and passed away. It provides a venue for the Political Bureau’s meetings during the fiercest years of the Vietnam war.

On September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, declaring to the world the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Over the past 72 years, the country has gained significant achievements in various fields such as economics, trade, defense-security, external affairs, and international integration.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits war invalid-run firm in Hai Phong

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited an enterprise set up and run by war invalids in Ngo Quyen district, Hai Phong northern port city, on September 1.

The Prime Minister said the Party, State and people always keep in mind the sacrifice that war martyrs and war invalids have made for national liberation and reunification.

He lauded the firm for well implementing social welfare policies for its employees, while expanding its operation and investment nationwide.

The PM expressed his hope that the company’s Director Board, employees, particularly the war invalids will continue promote the tradition and good virtues of Uncle Ho soldiers and national heroes in production.

He also asked local authorities and relevant bodies to facilitate the firm’s operation.

Established on June 5, 1996 with initial capital of just 250 million VND (11,000 USD) and a staff of 35 war invalids, the Quang Minh War Invalid Enterprise now has hundreds of employees, in which more than half are war invalids, veterans, relatives of policy beneficiaries. The firm’s capital now has reached 500 billion VND (22 million USD).

Besides the headquarter in Hai Phong, the enterprise has three branches in Ho Chi Minh City, the northern province of Quang Ninh and Hanoi. In 2016, it earned 140 billion VND (6.16 million USD) in revenue. Its workers earned 4.2 million VND (184 USD) per month on average.

The firm plans to invest in four factories producing non-fired bricks, ground clinker, activated Calcium Oxide, asphalt concrete, worth a total of 1.2 trillion VND (52.8 million USD).

Leaders of Indian communist parties receive Vietnamese delegation

Leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the CPI – Marxist (CPI-M) hosted a reception on September 1 for a Vietnamese delegation who have been in New Delhi to attend the 9th Vietnam-India People’s Friendship Festival.

During the meeting, CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy and CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury briefed the guests on the development of the two parties and India as a whole.

They expressed their hopes that the two nations will make more efforts to promote cooperative relations, particularly after Vietnam and India upgraded the bilateral relationship to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Indian party leaders also expected that under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Vietnam would reap greater socio-economic achievements in the future.

Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Bui Khac Son, who is head of the Vietnamese delegation, highlighted the traditional friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the CPV and the CPI as well as the CPI-M, which have continuously nurtured over generations.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam always keep in mind the precious support the communist parties and people of India have provided for Vietnam during the past struggle for national liberation and the current cause of national construction and development, Son said.

Son took this occasion to call on the CPI and CPI-M to continue backing the Vietnam-India multifaceted cooperation and comprehensive strategic partnership.

He also expressed his hope that more people’s delegations and businesspeople from India will visit Vietnam in the coming time.

Previously, Vietnamese entrepreneurs joining the delegation held a meeting with representatives of Indian firms, where they discussed cooperation opportunities, particularly in trade, tourism, and training.

The visit is made at a time when Vietnam is celebrating the 72nd anniversary of National Day (September 2) and the two nations are marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the 10th founding anniversary of the Strategic Partnership and one year of establishing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

First volume of Complete Works of Ho Chi Minh translated into Lao

The Lao version of the first volume of the Ho Chi Minh Complete Works were introduced at a ceremony in Vientiane on September 1.

The book was the initial result of a joint project between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration to translate the complete works from Vietnamese into Lao. 

The project, which also aims to compile a dictionary for Ho Chi Minh studies, is part of the cooperation agreement secured by the two countries’ parties and governments.

It was started in May 2016 and is projected to complete in 2018, with 700 copies of the 10,000-page Complete Works to be printed.  

Speaking at the ceremony, Thongsalith Mangnomek, Director of the Lao academy, said besides the published first volume, the two academies have basically completed the translation of the second to eighth volumes.

He said the debut of the first volume not only serves the study and research at Lao educational establishments, but also is part of practical activities in celebration of the Vietnam – Laos Friendship Year 2017.

In 2011, Vietnam’s National Political Publishing House launched the third edition of the complete works, which includes 15 volumes containing 3,300 pieces of written works by President Ho Chi Minh. 

It reflects the process of national salvation and the writer’s profound and comprehensive viewpoints on fundamental issues of Vietnam’s revolution.

Global campaign “For all children” launched in Hanoi

“Thoi dai” Newspaper of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Save the Children International jointly launched a campaign in Hanoi on September 1 to call for support to children, especially those from ethnic minority groups.

The campaign entitled “For all children” aims to join efforts with the Government, relevant organisations, the community and parents to enhance the public awareness of challenges facing ethnic minority children in accessing quality education.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Country Director at Save the Children Vietnam Dragana Strinic said the organisation has worked with its partners to improve living conditions of ethnic minority children in Vietnam over the past years.

The organisation has also joined hands with the education sector at all levels to enhance reading and writing skills of the targeted children through education tools, which have been proved effective at nursery and primary levels, she said.

Le Nhu Xuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Education for Ethnic Minorities under the Ministry of Education and Training, said the ministry is always committed to ensuring equal education for all children in Vietnam, particularly those from ethnic minority groups.

Great improvements have been seen in supplying quality education for ethnic minority children, with criteria to better realise the UN’s goal on sustainable development, which is designed to ensure integral, equal, quality education and life-time study opportunity for all people, he said.

Xuyen highlighted disadvantages facing ethnic minority children in education and development, saying that numerous practical activities will be implemented thanks to the partnership with the Save the Children International, helping to improve the quality education system.

Singer Do My Linh, who was selected as the ambassador of the campaign, talked about difficulties and hardships facing by ethnic minority children in Bat Xat district in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai as they have to walk nearly 10 kilometres of bumpy roads to go to school.

During the event, a documentary was screened, featuring hardships and challenges facing ethnic minority children in pursuing study in Vietnam’s remote and isolate areas.