Vietnam to repatriate remains of 98 volunteer soldiers, experts from Laos

Remains of 98 volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos during the last war will be repatriated to their homeland in central Nghe An province on May 15, according to the provincial Military Command.

These sets of remains were discovered in Lao provinces of Xiang Khouang, Vientiane and Xaysomboun during the 2017-2018 dry season.

The Nghe An provincial Military Command’s remains collection team has successfully fulfilled the 2017-2018 dry season’s plan with the enthusiastic support from Lao relevant agencies and people, says Le Ngoc Hoa, vice chairman of Nghe An provincial People’s Committee.

90% of urban household wastewater dumped directly into environment

A recent report in Vietnam has shed light on a worrying finding that 90% of urban household wastewater in the country is dumped directly into the environment without receiving any treatment.

The report, compiled by the state-funded Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR), highlights the alarming state of water pollution across all 63 provinces and municipalities in the country.

The annual production of household wastewater, which makes up over 30% of all wastewater discharged into the environment in Vietnam, rises annually as a result of the country’s rapid urbanization.

“Ninety percent of urban household wastewater is dumped directly into the environment without undergoing treatment,” said CECR director Nguyen Ngoc Ly.

“The majority of wastewater only receives primary treatment in septic tanks [where solids and organics are reduced through settling and anaerobic processes] before it is discharged through the sewer system into the environment,” she added.

Household wastewater remains a primary cause of pollution in rivers, canals, and lakes within urban areas in Vietnam, destroying the landscape and deteriorating the quality of life for locals, Ly said.

According to CECR’s report, major cities in Vietnam including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang already have concentrated treatment plants, but their capacity has not met the actual volume of daily household wastewater being discharged into the environment.

Lackluster enforcement of environmental laws also adds to the problem, Ly said.

“Rich levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in household wastewater can lead to excessive growth of algae, which threatens other marine organisms,” said Dr. Ngo Phuong Quy, general director of Phu Dien estate company.

“Without proper and timely countermeasures to this threat, the water environment in big cities could be in grave danger,” he warned.

US travel site urges tourists to explore Vietnam's two most beautiful beaches

The New York-based travel site Thrillist has included Cat Co 2 on the northern Cat Ba Island and Thom Beach on the southern island of Phu Quoc on its list of the best seaside getaways in Vietnam.

If you're not by planning, there’s just enough time to add them to this year’s checklist before they are marred by over development.

Just 45km to the east of Hai Phong, Cat Ba boasts crystal-clear waters, jungles and ancient fishing villages. However, the island has managed to keep a relative low profile even though it is just to the south of the world-famous Ha Long Bay.

The travel site described Cat Co 2 as “the most relaxed of Cat Ba’s three beaches,” where travelers can take in a panoramic view of the amazing island surrounded by spectacular limestone mountains.

Thrillist also recommended holidaymakers to touch down on Thom Beach on the southern coast of Phu Quoc.

“Nestled in the forest that dominates this island, Thom Beach is too far off the beaten track for the coach tourists but brings in enough intrepid backpackers to sustain the local snack shacks and their surprisingly delicious homebrewed beer,” the site said.

The beach has avoided the tourist trap and retained its untouched beauty, so not many tourism services can be found there.

Take a trip down to the hidden pearl to experience the raw beauty, enjoy fresh seafood, and take a dive to look at the coral reef or simply swing in a hammock to listen to the sweet melody of the waves.

Like other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is struggling with overcrowding, coral damage and waste when it comes to beach tourism.

The country is already under threat from commercial tourism development, which has gradually crept into beach resorts, where shining beauty can easily be undermined by trash, crowds and construction.

Additional two districts recognised as new-style rural areas

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has recently signed a decision recognising Nam Dan district, the central province of Nghe An, and Duy Tien district, the northern province of Ha Nam as new-style rural areas. 

Nam Dan now records all of its 23 communes meeting new rural development criteria which have been recognised by the provincial People’s Committee. 

Average income per capita in the district hit 36 million VND (1,600 USD) in 2017, up 18.5 million VND compared to 2010. The rate of poor households in communes and the district was below 5 percent and 3.16 percent, respectively, down 11.44 percent from 2010. 

All 16 communes in Duy Tien district were also recognised as new-style rural areas. Average income per capital in the locality was 38 million VND while the rate of poor households in the district was 1.41 percent.

The national target programme on building new-style rural areas sets 20 criteria on socio-economic development, politics, defence, aiming to develop rural regions. 

The list of criteria includes the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacity, environmental protection and the promotion of cultural values.

Thua Thien-Hue reburies remains of 11 voluntary soldiers found in Laos

A military funeral was held by the authorities of central Thua Thien – Hue province on May 11 to rebury remains of 11 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who died on duty in Laos during the wartime.

The remains were found by the Search and Collection Team 192 of the Thua Thien – Hue provincial Military High Command in Salavan and Sekong provinces of Laos in the 2017 – 2018 dry season.

The funeral took place at the city’s martyr cemetery with representatives from the government of Vietnam, Military Region 4 of the Vietnam People’s Army, Salavan and Sekong provinces in attendance. Many local military officials and people also came to pay their last respect to the late soldiers.

They offered incenses and flowers to the deceased to show their gratitude towards the martyrs’ braveness and sacrifices.

Nearly 35,000 Vietnamese soldiers died in Laos in the wartime and 60,000 others returned home as war invalids.

USAID project helps Vietnam’s wildlife protection

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) launched the USAID Saving Species project in Hanoi on May 11.

The launched was attended by diplomats from embassies of the US, the United Kingdom, South Africa and more to Vietnam alongside international organisations and governmental stakeholders.

“USAID Saving Species is not just a commitment between the US and Vietnamese governments, it will also link to the efforts of other organisations, within Vietnam and beyond, who are committed to combating wildlife trafficking,” said US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink.

Elephant and rhino populations across the globe fell sharply and the situation of rhinos in Asia is even worse. The last rhino in Vietnam has died, he noted. “Only by working together can we solve this global issue.”

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said efforts to intensify the protection of endangered species like rhinos, elephants, tigers and pangolins do not only aim to aid the direct conservation of these animals but also have a symbolic meaning, motivating the protection of all other wildlife species. These efforts are significant to the prevention of natural disasters and the socio-economic development of a country and the world, he added.

To raise public awareness of the issue, the minister stressed the need for coordination between media agencies, the Ministry of Education and Training and foreign partners.

With a budget of approximately 10 million USD, USAID Saving Species supports the Government of Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking through three integrated and mutually reinforcing objectives: harmonizing and improving the legal framework for wildlife crime; strengthening and improving law enforcement and prosecution of wildlife crime; and reducing consumer demand for illegal wildlife products. 

The project’s focal species are rhinos, elephants, and pangolins. It also focuses geographically on major urban centers like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, where target species are consumed, as well as areas where target species are trafficked, including airports, seaports, and specific land borders.

The USAID Saving Species is implemented by Tetra Tech in partnership with Vietnam CITES Management Authority of the MARD. The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network in Vietnam (TRAFFIC Vietnam) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) are also project partners.

Workshop fosters Vietnam-Malaysia cooperation in tourism

A workshop took place in the southern province of Binh Duong on May 11 to promote tourism as a path to connect cultures between cities, provinces and communities in Vietnam and Malaysia.

It was co-hosted by Thu Dau Mot University (TDMU) in Binh Duong and the University of Science, Malaysia (USM) in Penang.

Addressing the event, TDMU rector Nguyen Van Hiep briefed participants on an overview of Binh Duong, which is located in the southern key economic area and becoming the fastest-growing locality in Southeastern region. 

Binh Duong is among the country’s key FDI magnets. However, the development of tourism has yet to reach the local potential as the province welcomed over 200,000 foreign visitors last year, Hiep said.

At the workshop, participants from both sides introduced tourism potential in Binh Duong and Penang, where the two universities base. Penang was honoured as a World Heritage City by UNESCO, which is home to a series of cultural, architectural heritage, craft villages, and recreation centres.

The participants got updates on foreign tourist arrivals from Muslim-majority countries. In 2017, Vietnam welcomed over 400,000 travellers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Middle East who mostly stayed in Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta provinces. Only a few of them travelled to Binh Duong though the province is just 30 km away from Ho Chi Minh City.

Via international tourism, mutual understanding in culture and tourism between the two countries will be enhanced, said Prof. Badaruddin Mohamed, Principal Researcher of Sustainable Tourism Research Cluster, School of Housing, Building and Planning, the USM.

At the end of the event, a cooperation programme was signed between the Tourism Development Study Institute at the TDMU and the Sustainable Tourism Research Cluster at the USM.

Stilt houses associated with President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities

The stilt house of late President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi 

A photo exhibition featuring the life and revolutionary career of late President Ho Chi Minh in stilt houses was held in Hanoi on May 11.

The event is part of activities to celebrate the 128th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890).

The exhibition was divided into three parts titled “President Ho Chi Minh and stilt houses in Viet Bac revolutionary base”, “Uncle Ho’s stilt house in Hanoi”, and “Uncle Ho’s stilt house – symbol of thought, morality, style, national solidarity spirit and international integration”.

A seminar was held the same day to promote the conservation of national relic sites recording the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh.

Participants shared stories about President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities associated with stilt houses.

President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in many places in Vietnam as well as the world when he was alive. There are nearly 700 relic sites across 35 cities and provinces relating to his life and revolutionary career.

Stilt houses had been attached to the President when he was in the Viet Bac revolutionary base and then returned to Hanoi capital. 

The houses have become a close image to Vietnamese people. The Presidential Palace’s relic site where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from late December 1954 to September 1969 is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign visitors with a stilt house, a fishing pond, and orchards. 

During his 11-year stay in the stilt house there from May 1958, President Ho Chi Minh along with Party and Government officials mapped out a lot of important strategies and policies leading to Vietnam’s victory. 

President Ho Chi Minh was born into a patriotic Confucian family 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.

Vietnamese students encouraged to study in India

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh has encouraged Vietnamese students to study in India to explore the South Asian country and contribute to enhancing the fruitful relations between Vietnam and India. 

He told the Vietnamese youths who came to India to attend the ASEAN-India student exchange programme in Delhi on May 10 that India has granted many scholarships to foreign students, especially those from ASEAN. 

Vietnam and India are important partners of each other, he said, describing the students as ambassadors helping promote the Vietnamese image to international friends, and maintain and develop the relationship between the two countries. 

The ASEAN-India student exchange programme, held by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the ASEAN Secretariat, took place from May 1-11. 

It aims to increase cultural understanding and economic links between the ASEAN and India. 

Twenty five Vietnamese students selected from educational institutions nationwide participated in the programme, during which they visited many factories, universities, research facilities and landscapes in India. 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.