Hanoi school students support Vietnam’s sovereignty over seas, islands

Students of Phan Huy Chu in Hanoi stand in S shape to show their support for the country’s sovereignty over its seas and islands (Photo: SGGP)

More than 1,200 students of Phan Huy Chu Senior High School in Hanoi’s Dong Da District stood in an S –shape representing the Vietnamese map to show their support for the country’s sovereignty over its seas and islands.

They took part in an extracurricular activity May 16 called “Island sovereignty and aspiration for peace”, creating the map prominently featuring the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.

Principal Nguyen Thi Nhiep said the management board discussed the idea of the human map on May 14 and teachers and students were eager to do it.

Central region heat wave shows no sign of relenting

The central region has been sizzling in the last few days with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees Celsius in Quang Tri, Quang Binh, and Ha Tinh Provinces, reaching 45-47 degrees in places.

The severe heat wave has upset daily life in many parts of Quang Binh Province.

Tran Van Thanh of Dong Hoi city said hot and dry westerly winds have worsened the heat.

Some 45,000 people face the threat of water shortage as reservoirs are depleting quickly, according to Minh Hoa District authorities.

Residents on 11 islets in the Gianh River are suffering from encroachment by saltwater.

Their fresh water supply has run out, forcing them to buy water at VND100,000 (US$5) per cubic meter.

Temperatures have been much higher than forecast in Ky Anh and Huong Khe Districts in Ha Tinh.

Meteorologists forecast a maximum of 39 degrees but the mercury soared to 42 degrees indoors and 47 degrees outdoors in recent days, Nguyen Van Hoa, a local man, said.

Rivers and springs are drying out in Huong Khe.

Several areas in Quang Tri Province face the threat of water shortages if the heat wave persists for a few more days.

Forestry departments in the three provinces are keeping a lookout for forest fires that might be triggered by the heat wave.

Exploring the universe on Space Day in Hanoi

Festival goers have the opportunity to participate in exciting and fascinating space activities at a festival that kicked off in Hanoi on May 17.

This year’s annual event is being held in celebration of Vietnam Science and Technology Day (May 18) and the 39th anniversary of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).

Dr Vu Anh Tuan, Director of the National Satellite Center (VNSC) said that right from early morning, the event attracted a huge number of Vietnamese scientists, students, and universe lovers keen to learn more about space-technology sector in the country.

They raised a lot of questions on Vietnamese-made micro satellite Pico Dragon, and the programmes and projects on space technology applications to serve community benefits.

The centre’s experts also introduced visitors to the universe technology in Vietnam and the VAST’s Space Technology Projects, Vietnam Space Center Project in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park (the largest science and technology project in Vietnam during the past 35 years), and  a  plan on satellite technology development and application in Vietnam in 2020.

Visitors also had chance to learn about opportunities to study and work in the field of space and satellite technology in Vietnam and Japan, exchange with staff involving  in space technology projects, and visit laboratories where micro and meteorological satellites are installed.

The festival is the result of a joint effort by VNSC and VAST.

National paediatrics conference convened in Hue

A two-day national conference on paediatrics in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, has reviewed the care for children in Vietnam and updated advances in the field.

The 21st event, opened on May 16, brought together over 200 scientists and doctors from Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong (China), Singapore, the US, Australia, and Sweden.

Three plenary sessions and 13 workshops were held, focusing on child-related nutrition, respiration, digestion, and immunity issues.

Foreign speakers presented latest technologies in paediatrics at the function.

Nguyen Cong Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Paediatrics Association said from now to 2020, the health sector strives to reduce the under-five mortality rate to below 16 per 1,000 live births.

It also aims to cut the proportion of children under five who suffer from obesity to below 5% in rural areas and below 10% in major cities.

Education ministry continues program to gift used textbooks to poor students

The Ministry of Education and Training has instructed its affiliated departments to continue a program to give old textbooks for free to poor students in disadvantaged areas.

With the 2014-15 academic year set to end soon, the ministry wants them and schools to collect textbooks for the program.

It has also exhorted teachers to persuade students to gift their used books to their junior colleagues.

It wants the program to be carried out before schools break for the summer vacation.

It has called for identifying venues where people can bring textbooks easily.

HCMC public hospitals set to hike fees

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health said facilities and treatment quality have been enhanced at public hospitals ahead of the increase in fees from June 1.

At a meeting with the People's Council’s Culture-Social Department on May 16, a health official said to justify the fee hike, the health sector has taken measures like increasing the number of examination rooms and doctors' working hours and issuing medical insurance cards with bar codes.

The fees went up at government hospitals nationwide on April 15 based on a central decision in 2012.

But because of the economic situation, HCMC authorities deferred the hikes by a few months.

The new fee schedule will take effect in the 378 public hospitals and clinics in HCMC, with those for examination and checks, the daily cost of a sickbed, tests, and many other services rising to 75 percent of the rates that will come into effect in 2016.

The fees for 1,519 operational services will increase by 65 percent.

On June 1 next year they will go up to 85 percent and 75 percent respectively, and a year later to 100 percent.

The health sector estimates that 63 percent of city residents are covered by medical insurance and the new rates will not have much impact on their lives.

They include low income families and children under six who are all covered.

The Department of Health has set up teams to monitor treatment quality at hospitals, an official said, adding they would start with Nguyen Trai, Gia Dinh, and Children’s Hospital No.1.

The inspectors would ensure that patients' rights are protected and verify if hospitals use 15 percent of their revenues to improve facilities and build new wards.

Campaign launched to improve hand-washing behaviour

The Ministry of Health, in co-operation with the Unilever Vietnam Fund and Unilever’s Lifebuoy soap brand, launched a national campaign today in Ho Chi Minh City on washing hands with soap in response to the patriotic hygiene movement.

Attendants at the launching ceremony included Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien; President of the Vietnam Women’s Union Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa; representatives from ministries, agencies, social organisations and international organisations; and over 2,500 teachers and pupils from schools across the city.

The campaign will be implemented from May to December in response to the prime minister's directive dated May 6 on strengthening the prevention and control of hand-foot-mouth (HFM) diseases and dengue fever.

According to Minister Tien, HFM diseases are running a high risk of increasing in Asian countries, including Vietnam, in the context of adverse climate, sub-standard environmental and personal hygiene conditions and lack of relevant medicines and preventive vaccines.

Statistics show that nearly 18,660 HFM cases throughout the country so far this year, with two fatalities. HCM City is among the localities with a greater HFM rate against the same period last year.

HFM, digestive and respiratory diseases could be prevented by ensuring personal and environmental hygiene, Tien noted, adding that ensuring that children wash their hands with soap and sterilising their toys and equipment is the best way to reduce the risks of HFM-related viral infections.

She urged cities and provincial leaders to take drastic HFM prevention and control measures, while appealing to parents and child caretakers to regularly apply hygienic methods of eating cooked foods, drinking boiled water and washing hands with soap.

After the launching ceremony, Health Minister Tien and Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long visited a kindergarten in District 3's commune 9 to inspect its hygiene and HFM prevention and control.

Coast Guard, Fisheries Surveillance continue to receive financial support

A delegation from the Ministry of Public Security, led by Lieutenant General Tran Van Nhuan, deputy head of the General Department for Building the People’s Police Force, visited and presented VND1 billion (US$47,000) to the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Fisheries Surveillance Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

On behalf of the delegation, Lieutenant General Tran Van Nhuan shared the difficulties and hardships of the force in the task of defending the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity over its sea and islands in recent days.

Lieutenant General Nhuan affirmed that the people's police force always express their support and respect for the high sense of responsibility, determination, and bravery of the marine police and fisheries surveillance forces.

In response, leaders of the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Fisheries Surveillance force thanked the Ministry of Public Security for its timely and practical gift, affirming that it would encourage the forces to continue working closely together to resolutely defend the nation's sovereignty over its sea and islands, living up to the trust given by the Party, State and people.

Army Corp 2 honoured with Ho Chi Minh Order

The High Command of the Army Corps 2 held a ceremony in the northern province of Bac Giang on May 17 to celebrate its 40th founding anniversary (May 17, 1974-2014) and to receive the Ho Chi Minh Order for the fourth time.

At the ceremony, Major General Pham Van Hung, commander of Army Corps 2, reviewed the glorious feats of arms the corps recorded during the resistance war against the US imperialists for national salvation.

The Army Corps 2 has been honoured with many noble awards by the Party and State, such as the Hero of the People's Armed Forces title, the Ho Chi Minh Order, the Military Exploit Order, as well as with awards presented by the states of Laos and Cambodia.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty hailed the efforts and outstanding achievements of Army Corps 2’s officers and soldiers. He also affirmed that the Party, the State and the Ministry of National Defence always pay great attention to building revolutionary, regular, elite and modern armed forces.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and Head of the CPVCC Commission for Communication and Education Dinh The Huynh, presented the Ho Chi Minh Order to the Army Corps 2.

Work begins on Hoa Lac–Hoa Binh route and National Highway 6 upgrades

The Ministry of Transport started work today on projects to build the Hoa Lac–Hoa Binh route and upgrade a 30.4km section of the National Highway 6 connecting Hanoi's Xuan Mai town to Hoa Binh city, both undertaken under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model.

The two projects, which are scheduled to be completed in December 2016, cover about 141.3 hectares and cost approximately VND3 trillion (US$141 million).

The Hoa Lac–Hoa Binh route, which will later be upgraded to an expressway, has a total length of 25.7km running from Km00+00 to Km32+367, with 6.4km in Hanoian territory and the remaining 19.3km belonging to Hoa Binh province.

The projects, once completed, will help shorten travel time between Hanoi and Hoa Binh province, facilitate transportation and trade between the capital city and northwestern localities, and serve the socio-economic development in Hanoi and Hoa Binh in particular and the Northwest region as a whole.

Two toll stations are to be built after the project is completed: one at Km21+160 on Hoa Lac-Hoa Binh route and another at Km38 or Km42 on National Highway 6, with a payback period of about 29 years.

Tuyen Quang inaugurates Kim Xuyen Bridge across Lo River

A ceremony was held in the northern province of Tuyen Quang on May 16 to inaugurate the Kim Xuyen Bridge across the Lo River, connecting Tuyen Quang's Son Duong district and Doan Hung district in Phu Tho province.

Construction on the facility started on September 2, 2010 with total investment capital of VND370 billion (US$17.4 million) sourced from government bonds.

The reinforced concrete bridge, located in Hong Lac commune, measures 11m wide and 638m long, excluding the roadways, and is equipped with traffic signals.

The completion of the bridge helps connect National Highways of 37, 2C, 2 and 70 among provinces of Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Thai Nguyen, contributing to facilitating goods transportation and boosting local socio-economic development.

OVs worldwide oppose China’s East Sea violation

China’s East Sea violation faces strong objection from Vietnamese people around the world.

Following a series of marches across the US in recent days, the Vietnamese community in Washington DC and adjacent areas will hold a demonstration condemning China’s provocation on May 18.

David Huy Ho, President of the Vietnamese Business Association in the US emphasized that they will continue to organize demonstrations until China withdraw the drilling rig from Vietnam’s territorial waters.

OVs in the US have also implemented a wide range of activities, forcing China to end violating Vietnam’s sovereignty.

Ho said they are collecting signatures of Vietnamese people and the world to submit to US Senate and House of Representatives, asking the US to take immediate action, for example considering China’s provocation. Under US law, if 100,000 signatures are collected, the US will consider the problem.

Earlier on May 16, the Vietnamese Youth and Students Association sent a letter to President Barack Obama and other high-ranking officials, showing their protest against China’s violation on Vietnam’s sovereignty.

The association is raising funds to support Vietnamese soldiers at Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands and taking part in marches in San Francisco, New York and Washington DC.

*** Together with Vietnamese people and foreign friends around the globe, Vietnamese people in Mexico strongly protested against China’s East Sea violation and displayed their willingness to protect the national sovereignty.

Ambassador to Mexico Le Thanh Tung launched a campaign as a fundraiser for soldiers who are protecting homeland. More than US$3,600 have been raised from 50 Vietnamese people in Mexico and will be sent to Vietnamese coast guard.

*** Asia Channel News reported that around 200 Filipino and Vietnamese people joined a march on May 16, opposing China’s illegal placement of   the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday observed abroad

The Association of Vietnamese Cambodians in Phnom Penh held a meeting on May 16 to mark the late President Ho Chi Minh’s 124th birthday, which falls on May 19.

The Association’s President Huynh Minh Phu said the late leader became a symbol of the great national unity.

He called on others to follow his teachings that encourage everyone to work together to overcome difficulties and challenges towards happiness and prosperity.

Phu thanked the Vietnamese Party and State for giving special care and adopting preferential treatments for the Overseas Vietnamese communities across the world.

On the same day, a contest on the late President was launched at Nguyen Du school in Vientiane, Laos.

President Ho Chi Minh and his Lao counterpart Kaysone Phomvihane laid the foundation for the special Vietnam-Laos relations that are growing strongly.-VNA

National flagpole built on Tho Chu island

Construction of a national flagpole on Tho Chu island in southern Kien Giang province began on May 17, aiming to raise nationwide students’ sense of responsibility to protect the country’s sea and island sovereignty.

The flagpole, worth more than one billion VND (47,000 USD), is 25 meters in height. It will carry a flag that is measured at 28 square meters.

This is the second work launched by the Vietnamese Students’ Association after the first flagpole was built in Thoi Loi mountain on Ly Son island, central Quang Ngai province.

Tho Chu island lies in Vietnam’s south-westernmost sea, which borders Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

On the occasion, delegates of the “Students towards the nation’s sea and islands 2014” programme presented gifts to islanders and 50 scholarships worth 500,000 VND (23 USD) each for local students, in addition to providing free medical check-ups and medicines for the locals.-

HCMC to help companies hit by violence resume operations

Ho Chi Minh City authorities will help businesses that suffered losses at the hands of rioters during recent anti-China protests resume operations at the earliest, people’s committee deputy chairman Le Manh Ha has said.

Immediately after hooligans damaged or destroyed five factories in the Binh Chieu Industrial Zone, city authorities instructed law enforcement agencies to protect people and properties from looters, fires, and other threats, the zone’s management said.

Vietnamese-owned Truong Loi Company is preparing to resume work, but expressed concern about suppliers who have been badly affected in the neighboring province of Binh Duong.

A spokesperson for a Taiwanese paint company said he was moved to see workers protecting the company’s properties when they were targeted by rioters.

City leaders should encourage Vietnamese workers to return to work, he said.

Businesses in the zone have asked authorities to react quickly in case of more violence and set up a hotline.

Taiwanese-owned Freetrend, whose plant suffered the most damage at the Linh Trung 2 Export Processing Zone, halted production for two days before reopening on May 16, its management said.

Many of its workers have come to help clean up the plant and decried the violence by the protestors, it said.

The presence of law enforcement authorities in the last few days has given them the confidence to return to work, it said.

Ha praised the company’s managers for remaining in the city and restarting work together with their workers.

City authorities have done their best to safeguard the lives and properties of foreigners as instructed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, he said.

The city police said they are continuing with measures to ensure the safety of companies.

Sixty five out of 71 businesses in the Linh Trung 1 and 2 Export Processing Zones have been working again since May 16, according to the HCMC Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority.