Hai Phong rewards police for drug bust

Authorities in the northern port city of Hai Phong yesterday rewarded a police team VND20 million ($948) for seizing more than 6kg of methamphetamine in a drug bust.

On Wednesday, the police team arrested two drug dealers and seized the methamphetamine after a raid on the Hoang Thach Hotel in the city's Hong Bang District. The value of the seized drugs is estimated at VND7 billion (US$332,000).

The arrested drug dealers have been identified as Nguyen Thanh Quan, 31, and Vu Nhu Tung, 37.

Drowned girl's body found after six months

Fishermen in Ya Chim commune in the Central Highland City of Kon Tum on Wednesday discovered the body of a child who was deemed to be swept away by a flood six months ago.

The body of Y Tam was found under the reservoir of Yaly hydropower plant, 4km away from the place where the 9-year-old girl was reported to be missing.

A search is being carried out for another girl who was also swept away by the flood.

The two girls fell into a canal and were swept away by the flood on September 25 last year.

One dead in Da Lat truck-bike collision

A man died and a woman was injured in a motorbike accident in Prenn mountain pass in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong's Da Lat City yesterday.

The accident happened when the motorbike collided with a truck on the way from Da Lat to HCM City. Although all trucks are banned from crossing the mountain pass – the main road entering Da Lat City – the truck tried to break the regulation.

The injured victim is being treated at Lam Dong hospital.

The case is under investigation.

Woman found with 70kg of explosives

A 34-year-old woman from Quang Ninh Province's Ha Long City was detained yesterday for carrying 70 kg of explosives and 100 detonators on a motorbike.

The woman was detained near the city's Ha Khau road. According to police, the woman said she had bought the explosives from a man in Mao Khe town for VND11.5 million (US$535) and was intending to resell the goods at a premium.

She has been transferred to the Quang Ninh Provincial Police Department for further investigation.

Wild animals rescued from Da Nang cafe

Forest rangers and police in the central city of Da Nang have rescued 12 wild animals from a cafe in Cam Le district, agency head Tran Van Luong confirmed yesterday.

The captured animals, including monkeys, a hawk, peacocks, a red-billed blue magpie and a tiger, all listed as endangered and critically endangered species in Viet Nam. The case is under investigation.

Bus fares go on a holiday hike

HCM City's bus stations have announced a 40 per cent hike in inter-provincial bus fares during the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holidays.

Le Cong Tam, an official at the Mien Tay (West) bus station, said the number of passengers travelling on these days from HCM City to most of the Mekong Delta provinces is likely to increase significantly.

The bus station is set to operate extra buses to meet the rush during the holidays, which will last five days this year.

Ticket prices will be hiked from April 29 to May 1.

Thuong Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Mien Dong (East) bus station, said the number of passengers travelling to the south-eastern, Central Highlands, central, and northern regions during the holidays is expected to increase to 40,000 a day from around 18,000 on normal days.

The increase in fares is aimed at making up for lost revenues when coaches return from their trips with few passenger, he said.

Because of the surge in demand and, thus, traffic during the holidays, the East station has urged the Department of Transport to co-ordinate with competent agencies to regulate traffic on main routes and urban areas to prevent traffic jams, he added.

It has also urged authorities to penalise bus operators who illegally pick up passengers on National Highway No. 13 and Ha Noi Highway.

Two workers suffocated to death in industrial accident

Two workers are dead and four others in critical condition following a tragic labour accident in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on April 11.

The accident happened at around 10.20am at a paper mill of Vinh Phat JSC in the Phu Bai industrial zone.

A worker was said to inhale methane in an underground paper pulp settling tank and scream for help. Five other workers jumped down and they were all suffocated with the toxic gas, without wearing safety goggles or breathing masks.

Rescue workers were called in to pull the six victims out of the tank and bring them to the centrally-run Hue hospital.

Colonel Le Quoc Hung, Deputy Director of the Thua Thien Hue provincial Police Department, said two workers were dead at the scene and four others currently remain in critical condition.

Relevant agencies are conducting further investigations into the accident.

Over 4,000 cases of smuggling detected in Q1

The General Department of Customs reported that 4,095 cases of transnational smuggling were detected in the first quarter of 2014, involving a total property value of VND78 billion (nearly US$4 million).

The figures represented a slight decline in volume but a substantial increase in value compared to the same period last year.

Many of the detected cases involved goods illegally entering Vietnam from China via border gates as well as the seaports in Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh. Commonly smuggled goods seized by authorities included drugs, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.

Recently, customs officers confiscated a large volume of fake monosodium glutamate illegally transported from Chinese and Thai markets. These products did not have clear origin and the motivation for illegally bringing them into the country was attributed to tax evasion.

The General Department of Customs is coordinating with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to strictly inspect and tightly control the quality of imported products. Any violation cases will face harsh punishment.

Military parade to celebrate Dien Bien Phu victory

A wide variety of activities, including a huge military parade, will be held on May 7 in the north-western province of Dien Bien to mark the 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory.

The information was announced at a press conference in Hanoi on April 10 on commemorative activities of 60-year anniversary of the resounding victory that put an end to the French colonial rule in Vietnam.

Nearly 15,000 people and military officers will take part in these events to honour the historical event and educate younger generations about the importance of national patriotism and assist international friends in understanding more about Vietnam’s glorious history.

Addressing the press conference, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai emphasized the significance of Dien Bien Phu victory and revealed specific plans for the celebrations that include meetings, processions, military parade, and music and dance performances.

Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee Mua A Son said that a 7-km road section will be renamed to Vo Nguyen Giap in commemoration of the legendary General.

Dien Bien province is making necessary preparations to welcome 3.000 – 4,000 visitors daily on this occasion, he added.

Electric cars need control: Ministry

The transport ministry has proposed that the public security ministry oversee the registration of all electric cars. At present, they do not come under any control.

Deputy Minister Le Dinh Tho said that the electric car should be recognised as a mean of passenger transport subject to Road Traffic Laws.

He said that all electric cars must be registered with police and given number plates for better management.

The same rules would apply to drivers of electric cars and fuel-driven cars with the same number of seats.

A ministry pilot programme on the use of electric cars was adopted three years ago in Ha Noi.

Now, 621 electric cars serve tourists in Ha Noi, Sam Son Town in northern Thanh Hoa Province, Cua Lo Town in central Nghe An Province and Dong Hoi City in central Quang Binh Province.

Deputy Minister Tho said that electric cars provided environmentally friendly transport and helped reduce pollution.

"An electric car that can carry seven passengers also helps reduce traffic congestion caused by motorbike taxis and xich lo ( cycle)," he said.

Tho said it was time to create regulations for the operation of electric cars, including the number allowed in each area, the routes they can run and those set aside for tourists.

"Regulations are needed because some provinces not included in the pilot programme, such as Da Nang and Lao Cai, began to use electric cars," he said. Tho said the number of electric cars in an area should be limited to 150.

Migrant workers get special support

The Vinh Phuc People's Committee has decided to support contract overseas workers from 2014-15.

Workers selected by a service company licensed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to work overseas; those who have signed a labour contract to work overseas with a foreign company; and those going to work on a contract under South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS) programme are among the beneficiaries.

The beneficiaries are divided into two groups. The first includes family members of people who rendered services to the Government during the war, people from ethnic groups and members of poor households. They will be given a subsidy of VND1 million (nearly US$50) to attend a short-term vocational training course, another VND3 million ($140) to take foreign language lessons and VND530,000 for further studies. They will also be given financial support to apply for passports and visas, to obtain health certificates and to obtain a legal background check.

In addition, these workers are eligible to apply for a loan equivalent to the total costs of going to work overseas stated in their labour contracts, and will not be charged any interest for the loan during the first 12 months.

Those who do not fall into the first group will be given a subsidy of VND700,000 million to attend short-term vocational training courses, and another VND2.1 million (nearly $100) to take foreign language lessons. The province will also offer financial support to cover 70 per cent of the costs involved in the application for a passport and visa, health tests and legal profiles.

These workers are eligible to apply for a loan of up to 80 per cent of the total costs of going to work overseas stated in their labour contract and will only be charged 70 per cent of the interest for the loan during the first 12 months.

Workers are required to have a permanent residency permit or proof of their having lived in the province for at least six months.

Funding to support the workers would be taken from the provincial budget, said deputy director of the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Van Hien.

"The policy is aimed at creating favourable conditions for local workers who move overseas, particularly those from disadvantaged households," he said.

"It is expected to help boost provincial labour exports which have been hindered by economic difficulties in recent years," he added.

Labour exports were an important channel for local people to find jobs, contributing to boosting provincial economic development and poverty reduction efforts, he said.

Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia were among the key markets for the province's labour export, he said.

The province is expected to send 1,000 labourers to work abroad this year.

Quang Ngai fishermen receive first steel fishing ship

A modern steel fishing vessel was handed over to fishermen in the central province of Quang Ngai on April 10, as part of efforts to promote offshore fishing and catch quality.

It was one of the first six ships of its kind built by the Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and also the first transferred to Quang Ngai fishermen, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Truong Tho said.

The 120-tonne vessel, coded Hoang Anh 01, was built at a cost of VND6.5 billion (US$309,500). It measures 25.21m long, 7.8m wide and 3.6m high, and can travel 10 nautical miles per hour.

Notably, Hoang Anh 01 is installed with a sonar machine which can detect fish within 3km, helping reduce expenses. It is able to operate non-stop for 2,000 nautical miles and store enough food and water for the crew to stay on board for 30 days.

Tho said in the coming time, the province will provide an additional 21 similar ships for its locals. The move is under a steel fishing vessel building programme approved by the Prime Minister with the aim of raising the capacity of Vietnam’s fishing fleets.

Project brings 500 young intellectuals to rural areas

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) held a conference in the central city of Hue on April 11 to launch a pilot project to select young intellectuals who volunteer to work in rural and mountainous areas in the 2013-2020 period.

Addressing the event, MoHA Deputy Minister Nguyen Tien Dinh said his ministry has set up a steering board overseeing the implementation of the project and issued guiding documents.

Based on its surveys conducted at 1,644 communes in 170 districts of 40 provinces facing socio-economic difficulties and localities’ needs, the ministry has decided to send 500 young intellectuals to 163 districts in 34 provinces, he said.

Under the project, adopted by the Prime Minister in last September, the selected are hoped to help local authorities and people in benefited areas in socio-economic development, poverty reduction and the building of new-style rural areas.

The project aims to recruit 300 young intellectuals, who are under 30, in 2014 and the remaining 200 in 2015.

Tribute paid to Vietnamese martyr in China

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee led by its Deputy Secretary Nguyen Thi Thu Ha on April 11 paid a floral tribute to martyr Pham Hong Thai at his grave in Huang Hua Gang Memorial Park in China’s Guangzhou city.

Ha recalled the revolutionary life of the martyr, who tried to assassinate the then French Governor-General Martial Merlin when he visited Guangzhou. The assassination failed but helped encourage the national liberation movement.

Pham Hong Thai was born on May 14, 1895 in Hung Nguyen district, the central province of Nghe An. After the unsuccessful assassination, he was wanted and then threw himself in the Pearl River on June 19, 1924.

Seventy two Chinese martyrs, who died during the 1911 Wuchang uprising, were buried in Huang Hua Gang Memorial Park. Thai is the only foreign soldier rested there.

Requiem for martyrs in Khe Sanh

A requiem was held in Khe Sanh township, Huong Hoa district in the central province of Quang Tri on April 11 with the participation of over 5,000 Buddhist monks, nuns, and war veterans nationwide.

As part of the activities to commemorate the Hung Kings and celebrate the National Liberation Day (April 30), the event included an incense offering ceremony, a music show to pay tributes to the deceased, and a prayer peace for the nation.

On the occasion, the organisation board presented 100 gifts worth 100 million VND (4,700 USD) to families of war invalids and martyrs who rendered great services to the nation, and medicine for local Agent Orange/dioxin victims.

Khe Sanh is the site of fierce battles during the American war, where many Vietnamese soldiers laid down their lives to protect the country.

More than 2,500 martyrs from across the country are resting in peace in the martyrs’ cemetery in Huong Hoa district.-

Hanoi to host int’l fair on environment and energy

The 6th International Exhibition Fair on Environment and Energy Technology (Entech Hanoi 2014) is set for May 21-23 in the capital city of Hanoi, aiming to bolster sustainable green growth.

The information was announced by Deputy Director of the Hanoi municipal Department for Industry and Trade Pham Duc Tien at a press briefing in Hanoi on April 14.

The event, themed “Energy Efficiency, Environment protection, Towards the Future”, creates a good chance for businesses to promote green growth, identify potential new growth areas and contacts for global cooperation, and get updated on the latest sustainable economy solutions.

Entech Hanoi 2014 will have 200 pavilions of over 150 businesses from many countries, including Sweden, Taiwan, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

They will showcase their latest products and services in construction technology, renewable energy, transport, oil and gas, coal, energy saving, industrial waste treatment, and environmental-related technology.

They will also introduce energy efficiency models that can be applied in such areas as industrial production, housing construction, agriculture, rural development, transportation, and environmental protection.

The fair will include a seminar on effective use of energy, a competition on green-tech products, exchange programmes, and ceremonies to sign contracts.

HCM City celebrates neighbouring countries’ traditional New Years

The Cambodian, Lao, Thai and Myanmar communities gathered at a festival in Ho Chi Minh City on April 11 to celebrate their traditional New Years - the Chol Chnam Thmay, Bunpimay, Thingyan and Songkran.

The event, jointly held by the municipal chapters of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations (VUFO) and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, drew the participation of leaders of the city and representatives of the General Consulates of Cambodia , Laos , Thailand and India in the city.

Participants had a chance to enjoy traditional festive activities and art performances of the countries.

On behalf of the Ho Chi Minh City people, Huynh Minh Tien, Vice President of the municipal VUFO chapter, extended best New Year wishes to the Cambodian, Lao, Thai and Myanmar friends.

He said he hopes through this cultural activity, the friendship and mutual understanding between Vietnam and neighbouring countries will be strengthened, thus further consolidating the sound relationship among them.-

Gov’t Inspectorate reviews Q1 performance

The Government Inspectorate announced the conclusion of eight economic inspections, detecting the misuse of over 1.173 trillion VND (55.7 million USD) and 401 ha of land in the first quarter of this year.

The information was revealed by Deputy Chief Inspector Tran Duc Luong at a press conference in Hanoi on April 11.

Also during the period, inspectors nationwide launched over 1,200 administrative inspections and completed 619 of them. Via inspections, they found the misuse of 2.676 trillion VND (127.4 million USD) and 38.9 ha of land and proposed punishments on 113 collectives and 354 individuals.

The sector detected three corruption cases involving six people, of which two cases and two individuals have been transferred to investigation agencies for criminal proceedings.

According to Luong, in the second quarter of 2014, the Government Inspectorate will inspect the implementation of the Government’s decrees and decisions at the Ministry of Education and Training, the Health Ministry and some localities.

It will also examine the obeservance of law and regulations at the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Education and Training, and Public Health as well as in Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, together with several companies.

At the same time, the sector will continue with efforts to better the reception of citizens and the handling of complaints and accusations, Deputy Chief Inspector Luong stressed.

Laos’ New Year festival celebrated in Hanoi

Vietnamese Party, State and Government officials joined staff of the Lao Embassy in Vietnam in a celebration of Laos’ traditional Bun Pi May New Year festival held in Hanoi on April 10.

Speaking at the ceremony, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong sent her best New Year wishes to Lao Party and State leaders and people, while congratulating the country on its great achievements reaped in recent years.

Phong affirmed that the traditional friendship between the two countries, which was developed by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane and nurtured by generations of leaders, become a common invaluable asset of both nations.

Vietnam vows to work to lift the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos to a higher level in the future, towards bringing practical benefits to their people, as well as contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, she stated.

Lao Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune expressed his gratitude to Vietnam’s senior officials for their participation at the event, which offered a good chance for participants to review cooperation results between the two countries in recent times.

He also wished Vietnamese people under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam will score more success in the national construction and defence.

Vietnam, Laos share environmental protection experience

Vietnamese environment officials and the Lao National Assembly (NA) representatives shared experience in natural resources management and environmental protection in Vientiane on April 10.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang briefed his hosts on the management of land, mineral and water resources and the environmental protection in Vietnam.

He also praised Vietnam’s outstanding achievements in these fields while pointing out challenges and lessons drawn from the reality so that the country can make timely polices and laws on natural resources management and environmental protection aiming to boost its socio-economic development on a right track.

As the two countries share similarities in natural conditions and socio-economic institution, Vietnam’s experience can help Laos in building policies in these fields, Quang said.

The minister also voiced his wish that the two countries will bolster cooperation and professional exchanges in State management as well as the management of natural resources.

The Lao representatives also greatly valued Vietnam’s valuable experience, expressing desire to receive the country’s continued assistance in these fields.

Wildlife protection contest launched for teenagers

A contest titled “Teenagers with wildlife protection” was launched in Hanoi on April 10 as part of activities marking International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22).

The contest aims to encourage young people to engage in wildlife conservation activities through creative approaches in combination with entertainment forms.

All youth union members, students and teenagers nationwide are entitled to take part in the competition, which focuses on raising awareness of the values of wildlife and the importance of wildlife and biodiversity protection.

Contestants are also encouraged to represent their viewpoints on wildlife preservation, call on the public to say no to products derived from wild animals, as well as build slogans, messages and actions on wildlife protection.

They can send their entries - songs, music performances, dances and dramas - recorded on CD or VCD, to the National Volunteer Centre at 64 Ba Trieu Street, Hanoi from April 10 to May 10.

An award ceremony for the winners is scheduled for May 22 in Hanoi.

Khmer people gather ahead of New Year festival

The southern provinces of Bac Lieu, SocTrang and TraVinh on April 10 held get-togethers for Khmer people ahead of their traditional Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) festival, which falls annually in mid-April.

In Soc Trang, home to about 400,000 Khmer people, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Vo Minh Chien wished all Khmer monks, heroic mothers and people a happy New Year.

He praised the Khmer ethnic minority community’s contributions to the province’s socio-economic development and political security maintenance.

The Khmer people said they are pleased with the Party and State’s investment in Khmer-inhabited areas that has helped improve their living standards and reduce poverty among them.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Southwestern Region Steering Committee and provincial authorities met with nearly 300 representatives of Khmer monks and people in Bac Lieu province.

In 2013, thanks to the Party and State’s policies, more than 800 Khmer households escaped from poverty.

In TraVinh province, more than 600 Khmer officials, monks and people also gathered to celebrate the festival.

In 2013 and the first quarter of this year, the province invested over VND314 billion (US$14.7 million) in building homes for 26,442 poor Khmer households.

On this occasion, authorities of the three provinces also visited and presented gifts to local Khmer people.

The CholChnamThmay festival is one of the most important festivals of the year for Khmer people. It is usually held at pagodas during which people wish and pray for a lucky new year.