Thua Thien-Hue eyes sustainable forest development

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue plans to grow 13,000 hectares of large-timber forest by 2020, with 40 percent of which received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)’s certificate, ensuring that products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.

The province is housing 4,000 hectares of FSC-certificated forest, over 950 hectares of which are owned by 241 local households, and more than 3,000 hectares by state-owned Tien Phong Forestry One Member Limited Company.

It is targeting to plant some 2,000 hectares of large-timber forest granted the forest management certification.

Notably, the provincial Forest Management Department in collaboration with the Vietnam Administration of Forestry has carried out the cultivation of large-timber forest on an area of 55 hectares, drawing the participation of 34 households in three disadvantaged communes of Hong Ha and Huong Nguyen (A Luoi district), and Hong Tien (Huong Tra town), two mountainous communes of Binh Thanh and Binh Dien (Huong Tra town), and Huong Ho ward (Huong Tra town).

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Phuong, enhancing the planting of large-timber forest is in line with the nation’s socio-economic development in the context of global integration.

It creates a boost to processing sector and exports while enhancing economic efficiency of the forest land, he said, adding that relevant authorities should study to expand forest land and consumption market as well as draw measures to respond to abnormal weather.

In long term, the province is working out rational mechanisms and support policies to encourage locals to plant FSC forest, he said.

The province already set up the Forest Owners Sustainable Development Association (FOSDA) to protect legitimate rights and benefits of small forest household owners in sustainable forestry-related activities. Besides, the association is responsible for promoting sustainable forest management in accordance with FSC standards.

Local farmers and organisations are encouraged to apply advanced technologies to improve forest quality and productivity.

As seedling is a decisive factor to forest quality and productivity, tissue culture technique has been applied in the afforestation, said Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ho Sy Nguyen.

Various kinds of seedlings have been effectively used to ensure high-quality supply for sustainable forest planting of organisations, households, and individuals in the locality.

Thua Thien-Hue is now home to nearly 349,000 hectares of forest and forestry land, 212,172 hectares of which are natural forest, and 70,830 hectares are planted forest.

Tay Ninh: 175 billion VND for upgrade of power grid works

The Tay Ninh Power Company splashes out 175 billion VND (7.7 million USD) on the upgrade and repair of 45 local electricity grid works. (Photo: baotayninh.vn)

The Tay Ninh Power Company has splashed out 175 billion VND (7.7 million USD) on the upgrade and repair of 45 electricity grid works in key economic zones, as well as rural and border areas.

Of the total amount, 131.4 billion VND (5.8 million USD) has been invested in low- and medium-voltage transmission lines and transformation stations. The remainder has been used for the upgrade of medium-voltage transmission lines to ensure the safety of the national power grid.

Deputy Director of the Tay Ninh Power Company Tran Thanh Liem said that since the outset of the year, the provincial electricity sector has put into use 17 power grid works, including more than 90km of medium-voltage lines; 57km of low-voltage lines; and transformation stations with a combined capacity of over 8,000 kVA at industrial and economic zones, and border districts.

The firm has fulfilled 55.26 percent of the target set for the whole year, he noted.

In addition, repairs and upgrades were also made to various power works to ensure safety from potential floods during the rainy season.

Since April 2018, investments worth over 10 billion VND (440,000 USD) have been spent on equipment and human resources to improve customer services and reduce incidents of power outages.  

As of July 31, all communes, wards, and towns in the province were connected to the national grid. Some 292,710 households had access to electricity, accounting for 99.6 percent of the total number.

Young scientists introduce new technologies in aquaculture

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong from the Can Tho University speaks at the meeting on August 10 

Young Vietnamese scientists gathered in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on August 10 to introduce new technologies for aquaculture – a major industry generating export products of the country.

The 9th national meeting for young fishery scientists was held by Can Tho University and the Vifinet Working organization. It also attracted foreign researchers in the field.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong from the Can Tho University said global aquaculture is switching from small scale and rudimentary farming methods to large scale and super-intensive farming by applying scientific and technological advances. Aquatic products are also “usurping the throne” of traditional meat like pork, beef and chicken, Phuong stressed.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) forecast that the country will earn more than 8.5 billion USD from aquatic exports in 2018, up about 3 percent from last year. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s fishery sector has continually been in the leading positions in the world market. Vietnam ranks fourth in total aquatic product output and fifth in aquatic product exports.

The Mekong Delta generates three-fourths of Vietnam’s aquatic product output. Therefore, stepping up researches in this field is an encouraging sign and also an urgent task, Phuong said.

He added that the studies presented at this year’s event have applied new technologies and modern processes to produce the best feed for aquaculture while benefiting consumers’ health and protecting the environment. They have also created new varieties tolerant of climate change and new medicine made from herbal plants for aquaculture.

At the meeting, a group of scientists from Tien Giang University and Dong Thap University presented research findings on how to adjust temperature, salinity and light intensity of the farming environment to create shrimp and frog breeds with better resistance.

Other researchers from the Tien Giang University introduced medicine made from extract of tram bau (Combretum quadrangulare Kurz) plants that can prevent some pathogenic bacteria on bred species.

As part of the event, some fishery companies also showcased their products, offered career advice and introduced job vacancies to fishery students.

Cu Mong tunnel to be completed by year-end

Labourers, along with modern equipment and machinery, work hastirly at the construction site of Cu Mong Tunnel in order to complete the project three months ahead of schedule. 

The construction of the tunnel through the Cu Mong Mountain Pass connecting Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces is expected to be completed by the end of this year, three months ahead of schedule.

Construction on the project, with total investment of 3.92 trillion VND (172.7 million USD), began construction in September 2015. It has a total length of 6.6 kilometres, including the 2.6 kilometre approaching road with designed capacity of 80 kph. It also includes two parallel sides consisting of two lanes each.

Deo Ca Investment Joint Stock Company was the investor of the project. Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce traffic accidents and ensure traffic flow on the National Highway No 1, boosting the socio-economic development of Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces and surrounding areas. Currently, 80 percent of the project has been completed.

Nguyen Tan Dong, Deputy Director of the Deo Ca Investment Joint Stock Company and Director of the Cu Mong Tunnel Project Management Board, said the most difficult construction phase of the two ends of the tunnel has been completed since the beginning of this year. 

The project could be completed by the end of this year, and the tunnel could take in traffic in the first quarter of next year, he said.

According to Dong, the Cu Mong tunnel was located in a relatively weak geological area with many fault zones running along the tunnel. Therefore, during the construction process, engineers and geotechnical engineers must constantly monitor geological changes to establish the proper supporting structure and prevent the risk of destabilising the tunnel roof. 

Dong said alongside the construction progress, the investor has implemented measures to ensure labour safety and fire prevention and control to monitor and correct violations.

When using a large amount of explosives for the construction, the investor has instructed the contractors to build explosive storage facilities and coordinate with local authorities to regularly check the regulations on the use of explosive materials.

Vietnamese journalists make study tour of RoK

A 20-member delegation from Vietnam’s Academy of Journalism and Communication paid a study tour of the Republic of Korea (RoK) from July 29-August 12. 

The programme was under a project funded the by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented by the Korea University of the Republic of Korea, aiming to improve the Vietnamese academy’s ability to carry out Government policies. 

The delegation learnt about journalistic trends in the digital era; journalism and global trends in communication; the role and significance of public relations (PR); Government and public service PR; and the RoK Government’s PR campaigns. 

The tour also offered a chance for Vietnamese guests to learn about the RoK’s history and culture. 

The delegation also visited press agencies of the RoK and joined practice sessions on setting up communication-related action plans. 

The tour helped promote cooperation between the Academy of Journalism and Communication and the Korea University, contributing to strengthening the Vietnam-RoK friendship.

Hanoi works to conserve Co Loa relic site

A spring festival organised annually at Co Loa relic site. (Photo courtesy of the Thang Long – Hanoii Heritage Conservation Centre)

Hanoi will spend 60 billion VND (2.6 million USD) on preserving and promoting the value of the Co Loa relic site in Dong Anh district during the 2018-2020 period after the site is reported to be encroached seriously.

The move is part of a project on the management and conservation of the site for 2018-2020, with a vision to 2030, recently approved by Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.

The project will cover an area of 860.4ha, including the centre of the Co Loa Citadel and subordinate constructions at Co Loa, Duc Tu, Viet Hung and Uy No communes in the district.

Under the project, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre will serve as a focal agency that monitors the implementation of the plan in accordance with current regulations of the State and the city.

The centre is tasked with managing construction investment and restoration of the relic site; taking prime responsibility and coordinating with relevant agencies to research and implement archaeological excavations; collecting and displaying materials related to the relic site; strengthening communication on the site; building rules and regulations on managing and protecting the site as well as tourism activities in the area.

It will collaborate with the local departments of tourism, culture, and education to implement the project.

Accordingly, an exhibition centre will highlight the value and history of the site. More tours and visitor programmes will be established.

Tran Viet Anh, Director of the Thang Long – Hanoi Preservation Centre, said that last year, with support from the scientific research and consulting council for Hanoi’s Co Loa and ancient citadel preservation, the centre had fulfilled its mission to solve problems in researching and preserving the heritage.

He has asked the capital city’s cultural and historical management agencies to accelerate the preservation and restoration of Co Loa Citadel to ensure the original value of the city’s historical relics.

Co Loa Citadel was built during the end of the Hong Bang Dynasty (about 257 BC), about 20km to the north of today’s Hanoi.

It is a place of worship for King An Duong Vuong and Princess My Chau, who are mentioned in the legends that have been passed down many generations.

According to folklore, An Duong Vuong founded the ancient Vietnamese state of Au Lac and chose Co Loa as the capital city.

HCM City marks 25th anniversary of summer voluntary campaigns

The Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union along with the Vietnam Youth Federation and Vietnam National Union of Students in HCM City held a ceremony on August 12 to mark the 25 years of summer youth voluntary campaigns (1994-2018).

Vice Secretary of the HCM City Youth Union Nguyen Viet Que Son said voluntary youth movements have developed across the city over the past 25 years and expanded to other localities nationwide and internationally.

More than 2.1 million youth union members and youngsters in the city have helped eliminate illiteracy for 29,000 people, supported 580,000 students with learning and provided consultation for more than 2.3 million students.

Volunteers have also dredged more than 39,000 metres of canals, collected some 35,000 tonnes of construction waste and sediment, planted 3 million trees and introduced job opportunities to more than 18,000 youngsters.

They also helped young people access loans worth nearly 12.4 billion VND (528,779 USD) and presented more than 1,200 scholarships to students in fields like electronics, hairdressing, informatics, construction and vehicle repairing.

The volunteers provided free health check-ups and medicine to more than 2 million people and encouraged people to donate 109,611 units of blood in addition to upgrading 614,194km of roads, building and repairing 450 bridges, installing lighting systems for 30km of rural roads and building over 1,000 water filters.

Vice Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee Vo Thi Dung suggested the youngsters diversify voluntary campaigns and expand activities in south-eastern, south-western, Central Highlands and central regions, sea and island areas and Laos and Cambodia.

At the ceremony, the HCM City Youth Union received the President’s third-class Labour Order. Three collectives and one individual were honoured with the Prime Minister’s certificate of merit in recognition of their contributions to the city’s voluntary campaigns.

Earlier, the organising board held a walking programme to raise nearly 15 billion VND for the scholarship fund “accompanying students to school” and 10,000 notebooks for needy students in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Youths from 24 districts in the city organised activities to present scholarships, bicycles, textbooks and learning equipment to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and children of workers and soldiers in the sea, island and border regions.-VNA

Vietnamese students gather in sport festival in RoK

A football match in the framework of the festival 

The 11th Sport Festival for Vietnamese Students in Korea (SFVSAK11-2018) took place in Hannam University of the Republic of Korea on August 11-12. 

Hosted by the Association of Vietnamese Students in the RoK with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country, the event aims to celebrate 26 years of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties. 

SFVSAK11-2018 attracted 800 Vietnamese students studying in universities across the RoK, who competed in football, table tennis, badminton, tug of war, and chess and a sport beauty queen contest. 

The annual festival offers a playing field for students and promotes unity among Vietnamese students in the RoK, thus introducing Vietnamese students to Korean and international friends. 

Vietnamese chargé d’affaires in the RoK Tran Truong Thuy praised the Association of Vietnamese Students for its efforts in organising events of this kind over the last 11 years. 

On the occasion, representatives of donors presented scholarships and gifts to the event’s best performers, those with excellent study achievements and disadvantaged students.

Vietnam joins Army Games for the first time

The Vietnam team at the tank race event 

Vietnam participated in the annual Army Games for the first time this year from July 28 to August 11.

At the event, more than 5,000 military officers from 33 countries competed in 28 events across seven nations – Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan and China.

The Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) sent 50 military officers and soldiers to the event, headed by Phan Hai Long, deputy chief of the staff of the VPA’s tank and armour corps. 

According to Long, the Vietnamese delegation engaged in the tank racing, field kitchen and field medical support events.

As it was their first time competing, the team faced difficulties in terms of competition rules and access to modern army equipment. They therefore aimed to learn from their international peers instead of focusing on medals. 

The Army Games was initiated by Russia in 2015.

President Ho Chi Minh memorial site to become historical-tourism complex

The National Special National Relic Site Commemorating President Ho Chi Minh in his hometown of Kim Lien Village, Nam Dan District, the central province of Nghe An will be developed to become a destination for revolutionary education and a tourism complex under a master plan recently approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The plan aims to preserve, restore and promote the value of the site, and honour the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh.

It covers 278.86 hectares, comprising of Sen Village, Hoang Tru Village, Chung Mountain relic site, the tomb of Hoang Thi Loan (President Ho Chi Minh’s mother), surrounding agricultural land areas around Chung Mountain site and Lien Minh Village of Kim Lien Commune.

The farming area surrounding Chung Mountain was added to the master plan to preserve the local “huyet rong”  rice and traditional countryside architecture.

Per the plan, specialists will examine the technical facilities of the Memorial Site and other relic sites of Kim Lien and Nam Giang communes, examine local intangible cultural heritage and research the relationship of the local community to the relic site. They will also study tourism activities at the site.

Specialists will also forecast the development of the area including proportions of population, labour, visitors, social infrastructure, the urbanisation process, ratios for developing tourism, effects of climate change on the relic site and the environmental landscape at the site.

Experts will develop plans for preserving and developing the relic site. They hope to restore the site based on fundamental principles for organising natural landscapes and new buildings.

The master plan will be divided into project groups for restoration. The groups include constructions that were originally planned in 2003 and have not been implemented yet, infrastructure work, supporting constructions, intangible culture research and tourist development efforts.

Vinh Long seeks ways to increase labour export

Vietnamese guest workers in foreign countries have contributed to reducing poverty in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long but the number of workers abroad still remains low, according to the provincial People’s Committee.  

Speaking at a conference held last week, the committee’s Vice Chairman Lu Quang Ngoi said the province had 23 labour export enterprises and an abundant labour force, many of whom could work abroad.

He said there was no close cooperation between relevant agencies and labour export companies, or vocational training schools which offer workers training courses in foreign languages and skills that they could use when they work abroad.  

Ngoi said that the committee would issue preferential policies to enhance cooperation between enterprises, local agencies and schools.

According to a representative from New Technology Application and Tourism Co. Ltd, local people lack information about reliable addresses as well as necessary procedures as they seek work abroad.

Moreover, some local residents have consulted unreliable intermediary agencies that charged them a high fee.

Many people who want to work abroad are poor so they face financial problems fulfilling necessary procedures for working abroad.

Tran Van Khai, head of the Vinh Long Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that since last year loans worth more than 33.5 billion VND (1.4 million USD) have been provided to 447 people to work abroad.

The number of working-age people is rather high in the province, Khai said, adding that many people who returned after completing military service are unemployed.

Moreover, the province faces a high number of unemployed graduates, putting pressure on provincial authorities and relevant agencies.

Working abroad can improve workers’ professional skills and foreign languages, according to the labour department.

People who return after their labour contracts finish are high quality labour sources for the province.

In the first seven months of the year, 831 people from the province were working abroad, making up only 55.4 per cent of the province’s target.

Eighty percent of the province’s guest workers were in Japan, 13 percent in Taiwan, and 6 percent in the Republic of Korea and elsewhere.

Tran Quoc Dien, head of the labour division in Tra On district, said that most guest workers save 400 million VND to 600 million VND each while working abroad.

Last year, 215 people in the district worked abroad, Dien said.

Nguyen Xuan Lanh, Vice General Director of Esuahai Co.Ltd, which recruits workers for companies in Vietnam and Japan, and provides counselling for Japanese companies investing in Vietnam, said that local agencies should recruit people who want to study and further their skills.

Lanh said that workers should be trained in the laws of the countries where they would be sent to work, in addition to languages, cultures, labour regulations and customs.

When they return to their hometown, workers could use the skills they learn abroad and start their own businesses in the locality.

Nguyen Gia Liem, deputy head of the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, said that people who return after working abroad also helped others by providing information about life and work abroad.

Dong Nai shows strong performance in administrative reform

The southern province of Dong Nai has recorded impressive achievements in administrative reform, as demonstrated through its high ranking in the Public Administration Reform (PAR) Index through years.

Since 2014, the locality has been among the top five localities in PAR Index. In 2014, it ranked fourth among 63 cities and provinces in the field, third position in 2015, fourth in 2016 and third in 2017.

According to the provincial Party Committee, the high ranking is attributed to the province’s efforts in seeking new methods of strengthening administrative reform, including the establishment of a public administrative centre, the launching of a hotline, and the model of non-geographic administration.

Besides, the locality has promoted the application of information technology in processing administrative procedures, which helped Dong Nai improve its business environment, enhance competitiveness as well as the satisfaction of locals and enterprises.

Currently, the province has standardised administrative procedures of all sectors, with 1,689 procedures applied at three administrative levels, including 1,348 procedures at provincial level, 244 at district level and 97 at communal level. All of them have been made public on local authorities’ websites.

Since May 2017, Dong Nai has launched its public administrative centre, which has dealt with 117,000 dossiers in one first year, with on-time percentage reaching 96.6 percent. Surveys showed that 99.8 percent of locals were satisfied with public services.

Together with the PAR Index, Dong Nai’s provincial competitiveness index (PCI) has also been improved. In 2014, it only ranked 43rd out of 63 localities in the field, but it jumped to 37th position in 2015, 34th in 2016 and 26th in 2017.

Thanks to shorter time and cost for administrative procedures, the business environment of Dong Nai has become smoother and more transparent.

Tran Van Vinh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai said that in 2018 and following years, Dong Nai has defined administrative reform as a major task, aiming to create more favourable conditions for locals and enterprises.

Experience in attracting resources from foreign NGOs highlighted

Delegates to the 19th National Conference on External Affairs meet each other on the sidelines of the event (Photo: VNA)

Representatives from the Departments of External Affairs of localities nationwide have shared their experience in calling for resources from foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to serve local socio-economic development.

At the 19th National Conference on External Affairs hosted by Hanoi on August 12, Mai Thuc, Vice Chairman of the central province of Quang Tri said that the nature of NGOs’ assistance has changed from “giving-receiving” to development cooperation.

He said that Quang Tri, facing many difficulties and severe war aftermaths, has received support from NGOs, becoming one of the leading localities in the number of foreign NGO-funded projects. 

The province has set up partnership with more than 40 foreign NGOs. In 2016-2017, the province managed to call for 81 projects with total committed capital of 39 million USD.

Thuc held that relations with foreign NGOs need more attention, as their support provides an important resource for development. He suggested building full legal framework for the reception and management of the resources, thus creating favourable conditions for agencies and organisations to expand international cooperation.

NGOs should be seen as partners instead of sponsors, he said, pointing to the need for enhancing the role of locals in foreign NGOs-funded projects.

Thuc proposed that the Foreign Ministry coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment as well as other relevant agencies to complete the Government’s Decree 12 on the registration and management of foreign NGOs’ operations in Vietnam as well as Decree 93 on regulations of managing and using aids from foreign NGOs.

At the same time, Vietnamese representatives abroad should make foreign NGOs affairs one of their regular tasks, thus increasing the sharing and provision of information with foreign NGOs and supporting the NGOs to connect with localities at home.

At the conference, Nguyen Thuy Anh, Vice Director of Da Nang’s Department of External Affairs said in 2017, the city drew 134 billion VND in aid from foreign NGOs. One of the major projects funded by the organisations was the 3.8 million USD “One Sky Da Nang,” an international kindergarten for children of workers in local industrial parks invested by the US’s Half the Sky Foundation.

Anh said that the city’s leaders have sought ways to attract more support from business based in the city by calling for their corporate social responsibility.

Municipal agencies have also worked to approach NGOs and provide them with information of areas need supporting, she added.

Commenting on foreign NGO affairs over the past years, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Don Tuan Phong said that the national programme on mobilizing support from foreign NGOs has provided clear guidelines for foreign NGOs on priorities and needs of Vietnam’s ministries, sectors and localities.

In the 1996-2017 period, foreign NGOs provided Vietnam with over 4.1 billion USD in capital, helping the country cope with socio-economic difficulties, especially in poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Phong said that although Vietnam has become a low middle-income country, Vietnam has still faced many difficulties and challenges, including war consequences, diverse disadvantaged groups such as the poor, Agent Orange/dioxin victims, the disabled, and people from ethnic minority groups and remote areas, along with the development gaps among regions, climate change and cross-border changes.

The challenges show that the country continues to need support from foreign NGOs in the role of partners, stated Phong.

Anniversary of 11th world youth festival in Cuba marked

The Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association and other relevant organizations on August 11 held a ceremony in Hanoi to mark the 40th anniversary of the 11th world youth festival in Cuba.

Stressing that the special friendship and relations between Vietnam and Cuba are an invaluable treasure built and nurtured by generations of leaders, peoples and youths of the two countries, Pulitburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for Mass Mobilization Truong Thi Mai affirmed the two festivals held in Cuba left deep and good imprints on the minds of the young generations of Vietnam.

The official, who is also chairwoman of the association, asked ministries and authorities of the two countries to push up the exchange of delegations and organize more cultural programmes so as to further consolidate and strengthen the solidarity and closeness between the peoples and young generations of the two countries.

At the ceremony, Mai also handed 50,000 USD raised by former Vietnamese delegates to the 11th world youth festival in Cuba to a school named “Bac Ho” (Uncle Ho) in Cuba.

The 11th festival world youth festival was held in Cuba from July 28 – August 5, 1978 with the participation of over 20,000 delegates from 145 countries representing more than 2.000 youth organizations throughout the world. 

The Vietnamese delegation to the festival included many prominent figures who rendered considerable contributions to the country during the war and the national construction such as Le Hong Anh, Vo Thi Thang and Pham Tuan. Thang delivered the peace declaration of the world’s youth and students on the closing ceremony of the festival.-

People nationwide turn hearts to floods victims

The programme to raise funds for the benefit of flood victims through sending SMS has received 21,490 responses, each with a value of 20,000 VND (0.9 USD), according to the Vietnam Red Cross Association.

The programme, launched on July 8 by the association and the national humanitarian information portal and will last until September 4, aims to raise at least 1.5 billion VND to buy necessities, build and repair houses for the households hard hit by the recent floods and landslides in the northern mountainous areas, as well as help the victims find ways to earn their living.

On August 11 alone, the central committee of the association encouraged staff of 13 Lotte commercial centres throughout the country to join the programme. Volunteers also conducted activities to attract customers visiting the centres to the humanitarian campaign.

In order to mobilise resources for the programme, the committee called on all of the association’s chapters nationwide to encourage members, volunteers, organizations and people of all walks of life to join hands for the victims.

With the donations, the association has provided emergency relief worth over 1 billion VND to the victims. It also called for larger participation from all the organizations and individuals inside and outside the country.

Donations in cash or in kind should be addressed to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Association at No. 82 Nguyen Du Street, Hanoi, or the Representative Office of the Vietnam Red Cross Association at No. 201 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Money can be transferred to the account of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Association, account No. 124 0202 005348 at the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hoang Mai branch.

Thua Thien-Hue supports offshore fishing

Ships are being built in Thua Thien-Hue 

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue has decided to provide 3.5 billion VND (150,000 USD) to assist insurance premiums for owners of offshore fishing vessels following the Government’s Decree No.67 on several fishery development policies.

The money benefits 65 ships, mainly in Phu Loc and Phu Vang districts, and is used to buy insurance for ship hulls, equipment and fishing tools.

Over the past time, fishery development policies of Decree No.67 have proved effective. To date, 40 ship owners have received assistance to rebuild their ships with a total capital of over 280 billion VND (12 million USD). Of the total, there are four steel-coated vessels with a capacity of over 829CV, and the remaining are wooden ships which have capacities of 400-800CV.

According to the province’s sustainable agricultural development plan from now until 2020, the locality strives for the output of seafood caught in offshore fishing exceeding 70 percent of the total output caught at sea.

Along with disseminations on the decree, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will make proposals to the provincial People’s Committee to allocate the assistance appropriately to better develop the fishery sector, with the priority given to infrastructure projects that serve offshore fishing, and modern shipbuilding projects.

Japan commits to supporting Can Tho University

Rector of Can Tho University Ha Thanh Toan (R) presents a gift to visiting Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane 

Kazuyuki Nakane, visiting Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the country will support Can Tho University to upgrade itself via its two existing projects that aim to turn the facility into an international university by 2020.

At a meeting on August 11 with leaders of Can Tho University in the Mekong Delta city of the same name, Nakane expressed his confidence in the establishment’s growth and educational quality.

He said Japan will support Can Tho University in its two projects on upgrading itself and technical support. 

In the former project, the facility will receive training, scientific research, and technology transfer assistance in agriculture, fishery, and environment. The latter project will see support in forms of training capacity building in the three sectors; 19 training courses lectured by Japanese experts; and 18 slots for management training at top Japanese universities.

According to Pham Minh Duc, deputy head of the ODA management board at the university, the upgrading Can Tho University project consists of four units on human resources development, research, infrastructure building, and equipment purchase. 

Regarding the Japanese support, nine Japanese universities and research institutes will help Can Tho University train candidates of 63 doctorate degrees and nine master degrees, as well as offer 91 short-term training courses. Meanwhile, the Japanese Government will sponsor its purchase of teaching equipment.

Can Tho University now houses the highest number of students compared with other Vietnamese peers, at 55,000.      

In the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, Can Tho University was ranked third in Vietnam, 57th in Southeast Asia, 701st in Asia, and 2,704th in the world.

Vietnamese expatriates in Russia’s football championship launched

The Vietnamese community in Russia’s football championship was launched in Moscow on August 10 with the participation of 125 players in five teams.

At the opening ceremony, Tran Phu Thuan, Vice Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese in Russia and head of the organising board, said the championship takes place in the context of Russia’s successful organisation of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

The Vietnamese community wants to share the cheerful atmosphere with the host nation, he said, adding that the annual football championship and other sport activities have become a good tradition to strengthen solidarity in the community.

After the ceremony, the AFC Moscow and FC Song Lam Nghe An teams kicked off the first match. 

The entire championship lasts for about two weeks, with the final match slated for August 24.

Seminar launches activities for ASEAN women, children’s rights

A consultation seminar to launch activities of the ASEAN Commission on Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) took place in Ho Chi Minh City on August 10. 

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Vietnam Association for Protection of Children’s Rights in the city, the event aimed to introduce relevant activities held in Vietnam and discuss joint work to protect women and children’s rights in the near future. 

Over the past decade, the committee has actively fulfilled set targets, contributing to promoting social welfare as well as women and children’s involvement in the region. 

Between 2016 and 2020, ASEAN member states have fulfilled action plans on the back of the past achievements as well as devising new initiatives in line with the regional action plan on eliminating violence against women and children in the bloc. 

Speaking at the event, deputy head of the MoLISA’s Department of International Cooperation Ha Thi Minh Duc said during the 2016-2020 period, the committee will conduct three projects on the promotion of sustainable integration of the ASEAN Community by ensuring legal status of regional women and children; regional dialogues on children bully in Ho Chi Minh City at schools or online; and sexual child abuse: law and enforcement. 

Nguyen Thi Thanh, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Association for Protection of Children’s Rights lauded positive achievements in care services for children, adding that the number of children enjoying public services in health care, education and entertainment is increasing. 

The association has also launched a hotline 18009069, offered timely consultation and legal assistance in children-related issues. 

Grace Agcaoili, a UNICEF expert on children rights’ protection, looked into social issues directly impacting women and children, especially child abuse. The economic loss caused by child abuse in East Asia and the Pacific is estimated at 206 billion USD, or some 2 percent of the regional gross domestic product. 

She called for launching specific strategies to mitigate impact of violence against children and women.

Ha Giang repairs landslide roads due to heavy rain

The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang is urgently repairing several roads that have been severely damaged by landslides due to many days of heavy rain.

Ma Quoc Truong, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province, said the road from the district’s centre to some communes including Tat Nga, Nam Ban, Niem Son and Niem Tong has been blocked for days due to prolonged heavy rains causing soil and rock to fall down the road.

The most seriously damaged section of road passes through Tat Nga commune, where such a large amount of rocks slid onto the road that traffic came to a standstill.

Prolonged heavy rains in Xin Man in recent days caused the highway from Bac Quang district to Xin Man district, and the road from Coc Pai town to the Xin Man border gate to become seriously cracked due to landslides. It became nearly impossible for local people to travel along the roads.

In Bac Me district, heavy rains lasting from the night of August 7 through the whole day of August 8 caused water levels in rivers and streams to rise, seriously damaging homes, cops and State works.  

According to preliminary statistics, heavy rains damaged dozens of hectares of rice in Minh Ngoc commune. The spillway of Minh Ngoc commune to Thuong Tan commune, Bac Me district was partially washed away by the flood, causing the main road to Thuong Tan commune to become separately blocked.

According to Yen Bai province’s Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue, after the heavy floods in late July, the province has provided nearly 5 billion VND (215,000 USD) to the families of dead and missing persons and people whose homes completely collapsed.

The province also provided nearly 20 tonnes of rice, instant noodles and drinking water and six tonnes of dried food for flood victims.

PM attends inauguration of FPT University-Software Park in Can Tho

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other officials plant a tree at the complex 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 10 attended the inauguration of the FPT University and Software Park Complex (first phase) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Covering an area of 17 hectares, the complex was built at a cost of 2 trillion VND (around 88 million USD). As the fourth complex of the FPT Corporation in the country, it is expected to train 25,000 students within the next 10 years and create thousands of new jobs in the fields of software, IT services, tourism and hi-tech agriculture.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, PM Phuc highly evaluated the FPT Corporation’s strategy on human resource development, including the model of FPT University which has attracted a large number of domestic and foreign students.

The government has paid due attention to digital human resources to serve the building of an e-government, towards a digital economy and a digital society amidst the fourth industrial revolution, he said.

The PM held that the FPT University and Software Park Complex is an effective model for training new technologies, especially in the fourth industrial revolution, helping students to acquire skills and practical experiences and thereby satisfying the needs of recruiters.

He expected that the FPT University would have aspirations and visions to become a big university, a leading centre for training and scientific-technological research in Vietnam and a symbol of tertiary education reforms of the country.

The university should reach out to the region and the world and become a provider of human resources in the field of science and technology, particularly personnel for digital technology, for the Mekong Delta and the whole Mekong region, PM Phuc said.

The PM took this occasion to request leaders of ministries, sectors, localities and universities, including the FPT University, to effectively implement the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 29 on comprehensive education and training reforms.

He emphasized the need to build mechanisms and policies to realize the target of digital human resource development, striving to turn Vietnam into a training centre that is able to provide high-quality digital human resources for the region and the world as well.

Also on August 10, PM Phuc and his entourage visited and presented gifts to a number of revolutionary contributors, heroic Vietnamese mothers and veteran officials in Can Tho city

Draft revised Youth Law discussed with relevant demographic

At the event 

The Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and the United Nations in Vietnam held a workshop in Hanoi on August 10 with young people to discuss the draft revised Youth Law. 

Scheduled for consideration at the National Assembly’s eighth meeting, the bill will continue to fully institutionalise the Party’s guidelines on youth, particularly Resolution No.25-NQ/CP on strengthening Party leadership on youth work in the period of industrialisation and modernisation. 

Michael Croft, UNESCO’s Head of Office in Vietnam and Vice Chair of the Thematic Group on Adolescents and Youth of UN in Vietnam, said the involvement of young people in law-building is a practical way to ensure that their demands are met in the new regulations. 

He said that building youth consultation groups and discussions with the Government are important steps and a mechanism to ensure youth participation in the development process and in assessing youth-related projects. 

He said the One UN in Vietnam is committed to supporting the Vietnamese government and partners to ensure youths’ opportunities and rights. 

Vu Van An, a student from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, suggested the Youth Law stipulates the rights of young people to raise their voices and discuss political issues and socio-cultural policies. He proposed that the State should ensure a safe and open space for young people to discuss policies, laws, and other issues. 

The NA deputy delegations and Vietnam Fatherland Front need to ensure that young people from all walks of life can meet representatives of the legislature and People’s Councils, he said, adding that ministries and agencies should acquire youths’ opinions and discuss State and social management with them. 

Le Anh, a student from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said the rate of young people in legislature remains low, citing that legislators below 30 years old account for a mere 1.6 percent. 

He proposed that universities should offer education on political participation to youths and ensure their rights to political involvement. 

Chief of the Office of the National Committee on Youth Le Nam Huong said the PM has requested that Party units and local authorities hold dialogues with young people every March. Young people should grasp the opportunity to express their knowledge, experience, and viewpoints over key issues.

Religions promote role in environmental protection, humanitarian aid

At the training course (Source: hcmcpv.org.vn)

The Standing Board of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s (VFF) Central Committee and the Nordic Assistance to Vietnam- Norwegian Church Aid co-organised a training course in Ho Chi Minh City on August 10, focusing on the Humanitarian Charter and other criteria of humanitarian aid for religious dignitaries and followers. 

The participants came from HCM City, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, and the southern provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tay Ninh, Ben Tre, and Dong Thap. 

In his opening remarks, Vice President of the VFF Central Committee Ngo Sach Thuc said that in recent times, religious organisations nationwide have constructively and effectively participated in action programmes that work to protect the environment, cope with climate change, and provide humanitarian aid. 

The course offers an opportunity for representatives of various religions to exchange their experiences in implementing such programmes, he said, highlighting the role by religious institutions in raising public awareness of environmental protection.

The training course, which lasts until August 12, focuses on environmental protection amidst the effects of climate change in Vietnam, community-based natural disaster combat, and natural disaster relief. 

Vietnam recognises 41 religious institutions of 14 religions with over 25 million followers, accounting for 27 percent of the population; over 80,000 dignitaries; and nearly 26,000 religious practice facilities.

According to a survey that spanned 21 out of 41 religious institutions in Vietnam, nearly 80 percent of respondents said they had participated in protecting the environment and responding to climate change.

Over 618 tonnes of rice offered to Lai Chau province

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue on August 10 instructed the Ministry of Finance to provide more than 618 tonnes of rice to the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau

 

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue on August 10 instructed the Ministry of Finance to provide more than 618 tonnes of rice to the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau.

The rice, sourced from the national reserve, aims to support residents of the province victimised by natural disasters this year.

The provincial People’s Committee is responsible for the prompt distribution of the rice to beneficiaries in line with regulations.

Since late June, floods triggered by heavy rains in Lai Chau have damaged many houses, roads, as well as rice fields and crops during the harvest season in the districts of Tam Duong, Sin Ho, Than Uyen, and Phong Tho, causing losses worth tens of billions dong.

Organisations and individuals across the country have offered aid to help people in Lai Chau stabilise their lives and recover production.

Ceremony sees off Vietnamese sport delegation to Asian Games 2018

A ceremony to see off a Vietnamese sport delegation to the Asian Games 2018 (ASIAD 2018) took place in Hanoi on August 9. 

Deputy head of the Vietnam Sports Administration Tran Duc Phan, head of the delegation, said the delegation comprises 523 members, including 12 doctors, 24 experts, 81 coaches, six interpreters and 352 athletes. 

They will compete in track and field, shooting, weightlifting, karate, taekwondo, pencak silat, wushu, bicycling, fencing, archery, men and women’s football events. 

Speaking at the event, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien expressed his wish that the athletes will do their best to bring glory to the nation. 

The ASIAD 2018 will be held in the two major Indonesian cities - Jakarta and Palembang - from August 18 to September 2.

At the previous ASIAD in 2014, Vietnam won one gold, 10 silver and 25 bronze medals, ranking 21st in the overall medal tally.

Vietnam targets at least three gold medals at this year’s event.

Australia helps Vietnam with sustainable forest management

A forest in the north of Hai Van Pass 

The “Responsible Asia Forestry and Trade Partnership” project (RAFT3) funded by the Australian Government has provided technical support for three Vietnamese companies in sustainable forest management, heard a workshop in Tuy Hoa city, the central province of Phu Yen, on August 9. 

Two of the three companies have received licenses for the management of more than 3,000 hectares of forest by the Forest Stewardship Council, a global not-for-profit organization that sets the standards for what is a responsibly managed forest, both environmentally and socially. 

Besides, the project has set up a manual guiding how to indentify wood in the prohibited list, while helping businesses create a domestic market of forestry products. 

The project was initially scheduled to last from December 2016 to March 2018, and then was expanded to August 2018.

It was financed by the Australian Government via WWF-Vietnam, TRAFFIC and RECOFTC, with total funding of more than 188,000 AUD. 

Benjamin Rawson, a representative of RAFT3, said the project targets legal and responsible wood trade, and regular and sustainable management of planted forests in Vietnam in line with international standards by 2020.

Conference highlights young scholars’ role in Vietnam-India ties

Indian experts at a conference in New Delhi, India on August 9 stressed the important role by young scholars, as well as the need to step up cooperation between Vietnamese and Indian universities. 

The Young Scholars Conference was jointly held by the Centre for Vietnamese Studies (CVS) and the Vietnamese Embassy in India. It aims to help young scholars express their opinions on the India-Vietnam relations in different aspects, thus enriching their understanding about the time-honoured ties. 

Professor Sonu Trivedi, CVS Director, said cooperation between Vietnamese and Indian universities and institutes would help reinforce relations between people of the two countries. 

Dr. Ash Narain Roy, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences, suggested ways to help young scholars conduct research studies. 

Professor Darvesh Gopal from Indira Gandhi National Open University spoke highly of the deep cultural and historical ties between Vietnam and India, as well as sentiments of Indian people towards Vietnamese. 

There are huge opportunities for the two countries to forge their collaboration in many fields, especially via India’s “Act East” policy, he said. 

Vietnamese Deputy Ambassador Nguyen Le Thanh told young Vietnamese and Indian scholars how to contribute to the bilateral relationship founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and cultivated by generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries. 

She quoted Indian PM Narendra Modia as saying that Vietnam plays an important role in India’s “Act East” policy, and President Tran Dai Quang’s statement affirming India as one of Vietnam’s most important partners.

Cao Bang promotes values of global geopark

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark was recognised as a global geopark by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in Paris on April 12. 

The northern mountainous province of Cao Bang has fulfilled half of the requirements for infrastructure construction at the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark by the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), experts said on August 9.

At a working session with representatives of the provincial People’s Committee, UNESCO experts said Cao Bang has launched three tours in the geopark and paid attention to ensuring safety for tourists, while stepping up the information work in order to promote the image of the tourist site. 

However, they said, there remain limitations regarding the quality of notice boards, parking lots and management work.

Given this, they suggested the province plant more notice boards to attract holiday-makers, and the provincial People’s Committee and the geopark’s management board closely coordinate with localities and residents in the management work. 

The management board should be authorised to handle specific violations, they said, stressing the need to develop a staff of professional tour guides at the geopark. 

Cao Bang authorities called on UNESCO to soon set forth a master and detailed plan to deal with shortcomings in the development and protection of the geopark, and suggested UNESCO experts to help with measures to protect open-air fossils and promote values of heritage at the park.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark was recognised as a global geopark by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in Paris on April 12.

This is the second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, which was recognised in 2010.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang is about 300km from Hanoi capital city. It covers more than 3,000 sq.km. in the districts of Ha Quang, Tra Linh, Quang Uyen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang and Phuc Hoa and part of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh and Thach An districts. 

The geopark is home to fossils, ocean sediment, volcanic rocks, minerals, and especially karst landscapes, which can give researchers an insight into an over-500-million-year history of the Earth. It is also well known for rich biodiversity and many indigenous fauna and flora species.

Aside from natural values, it also contains a number of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, particularly revolutionary relic sites such as special national relic site of Pac Bo, where Nguyen Ai Quoc or President Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam in 1941 to lead the domestic revolution after spending over 30 years in other countries to seek ways to save the country.

The geopark is also home to special national relic site of Tran Hung Dao Forest, where then General Vo Nguyen Giap in 1944 established the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army today.

Another charge for Phan Van Anh Vu

Phan Van Anh Vu at the court 

The Ministry of Public Security announced on August 9 that its investigative agency has decided to launch criminal proceedings against Phan Van Anh Vu and four others on the charge of violating regulations on management and use of State assets, causing loss and wastefulness in the central city of Da Nang. 

The decision is in accordance with Article 219 of the Penal Code 2015. The agency is investigating the case under Decision No.16/QD-C44-P4 dated April 17, 2018. 

Other defendants include Nguyen Cong Lang, 64, former Director of Da Nang Housing Management Company; Phan Ngoc Thach, 57, former General Director of Da Nang Tourism JSC; Tran Phi, 63, former General Director of Da Nang Export-Import JSC; and Huynh Tan Loc, 66, General Director of Da Nang Trimexco Company. 

On August 8, the Supreme People’s Court approved the above criminal proceedings in line with the law. 

Earlier on July 30, the Hanoi People’s Court held a trial and sentenced Vu to nine years in prison for deliberately disclosing State secrets.

Phan Van Anh Vu, alias Vu nhom, is a 43-year-old resident in Hai Chau district, the central city of Da Nang.

Scholarships to be presented to poor Mekong Delta students

Disadvantaged students with outstanding academic results in the 2017-2018 academic year in the Mekong Delta will receive scholarships from the “Vietnamese Seeds Fund” by the Nhan dan (People’s) newspaper for the first time this year. 

Nguyen Hong Sam, head of the newspaper’s bureau in Can Tho city, told a press conference in the locality on August 13 that the scholarships will be funded by the Lien Viet Post JSC Commercial Bank. 

Established in 2012, the fund aims to step up the campaign for building a more educated society, which involves improving the quality of learning at secondary schools located in wards and communes nationwide.

The awards ceremony is due to take place at Can Tho University on August 18, honouring 1,300 students from primary, secondary, and high schools across 13 regional cities and provinces. 

Each scholarship will be worth 3 million VND (132 USD) which will granted to 100 students from each locality, at a total cost of 3.9 billion VND.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the rate of school dropouts in the Mekong Delta remains high compared to that in the Central Highlands and northwest, standing at 0.45 percent in elementary schools, 3.26 percent in secondary schools, and 3.94 percent in high schools. 

It is largely attributed to the poor living conditions of many households, forcing children to leave school and earn a living in order to cover simple daily needs. 

The scholarship programme looks to encourage their studies and support tens of thousands of poor students with excellent academic performances, thereby ensuring the welfare of society and nurturing young talent.