Global partner helps Vietnam ensure traffic safety

Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) has pledged to assist Vietnam in a project on completing traffic safety laws.  

Accordingly, the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) will be helped to promote road safety through motorcyclist helmet wearing.

Addressing a ceremony in Hanoi on August 31, VRC Deputy Chairman Nguyen Huu Hong said the US$30,000 project will be carried out at central level from now to December 2012.

Similar projects have got off the ground in six other countries, including Cambodia.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.3 million people have been killed annually by traffic accidents, with total damages estimated at US$518 billion.

In Vietnam, there were more than 17,700 traffic accidents a year in the 2000-2011 period, claiming almost 16,1000 lives. On average, 36 traffic accidents took place a day, leaving 58 dead and injured. About 90 percent of dead victims in traffic accidents were medium and low-income earners.

Photographic exhibition on Spratly islands

A photographic exhibition on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago opened at the Museum of Cultures of Vietnam's Ethnic Groups in Thai Nguyen City on August 31.     

There are 100 photos of people living there and some important written documents confirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Paracel and Spratly) archipelagoes.

Also on show are 21 coral flagstones symbolizing 21 islands.

The exhibition will run through to the 83rd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on February 3, 2013.

Ho Chi Minh statue inaugurated in Buenos Aires

A statue of late President Ho Chi Minh has been inaugurated in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Present at the ceremony on August 30 were representatives of the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Argentina-Vietnam Cultural Institute, diplomatic corps and Vietnamese friends.

Minister of Environment and Public Space of the Buenos Aires City Diego Santilli expressed his admiration for late President Ho Chi Minh who had led Vietnamese people in the heroic struggle for national liberation.

He described the statue as a symbol of friendship between Vietnam and Argentina.

During his official visit to Argentina on April 16, 2010, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presided over a ceremony to start building the Ho Chi Minh statue.

The inauguration ceremony taking place in a park themed “the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” in District 12 of Buenos Aires was one of activities to mark Vietnam’s 67th National Day (September 2).

Earlier, on August 29, the Argentina-Vietnam Cultural Institute made its debut in Buenos Aires with the aim of introducing Vietnam’s culture to the South American country, and increasing mutual understanding between the two countries.  

Da Nang City offers support to fishermen for new boats

Van Huu Chien, chairman of the People’s Committee of the central city of Da Nang has announced a new policy by which fishermen will receive financial support to build new, bigger and better boats.
Van Huu Chien also gives personal buoy  to fishermen

On August 29, the People’s Committee of Da Nang announced a policy that will offer financial aid to fishermen from VND500-800 million to build new boats to replace their old boats.

Under the policy, fishermen with permanent residency in Da Nang will receive VND500 million (US$24,000) for building a boat between 400-600CV capacity; VND600 million ($28,776) for building a boat between 600-800CV capacity and VND800 million ($38,369) for boats of more than 800CV capacity.

Fishermen will have to commit that they will use the new boat within two years of receiving the fund. In case, they transfer the boat to another person, they will have to refund the support money back to the City.

Da Nang City has also offered free registration of the boats to the owners.

Vegetarian restaurants gain popularity during Vu Lan Festival    

Vegetarian food restaurants have seen a huge upswing in customers during the Vu Lan Festival that falls on the 15th of the seventh lunar month.

“I’m selling around 1,000 rice servings on average compared to just 500 on normal days. I have had to hire more staff to cover increased demand,” Truong Thi Thuy, owner of a vegetarian food restaurant on Hoa Binh Street, Tan Phu District, HCM City said.

The owner of Dinh Y vegetarian food restaurant on Cong Quynh Street, District 1, said, “The restaurant is busiest between 11.30 and 2.30pm.”

It’s no surprise these vegetarian restaurants are doing so well, with meals costing just VND6,000-8,000 (USD0.28-USD0.38) per dish at restaurants in the city centre like Thu Duc and Tan Phu districts. The price is higher at VND20,000-30,000 per serving in districts 1 and 3. A vegetarian hot pot will still set you back around VND120,000.

Many families also cook vegetarian food at home.