Bustling market of orchids in Sin Suoi Ho, Lai Chau

When Tet comes to town, Sin Suối Hồ commune, a mountainous border commune of Phong Thổ district, Lai Châu province, which is known as the mecca of Cymbidium flowers, is busier than ever.

As Tet is approaching, the market for Tet is warming up, with orchid flowers in high demand. The flower is known for its durability and its beauty. Many businesses from the provinces as well as people in Lai Chau province have come to the market to sell flowers.

The atmosphere is bustling, crowded with buyers and sellers at Sin Suoi Ho village.

Located at an altitude of more than 1,500m above sea level, rich in moisture, suitable light and fertile soil have created good conditions for Cymbidiums to grow and along with skillful care and hard work of growers, the number of Cymbidiums in Sin Suoi Ho commune has been expanded.

There are more households growing Cymbidium so the price has not increased compared to the previous years, and at the rate of 150,000 to 200,000 VND per flower branch, a beautiful flower pot can cost you 1 to 2 million VND, more exquisite and gorgeous-looking, blossoming orchid flower pot can get tens of millions of VND.

Tet is approaching, the orchid pots at Sin Suoi Ho village in particular and the Cymbidium of Lai Chau province in general are being transported everywhere to bring good luck and health as well as a warm and happy new year. 

Da Nang anticipates 332,500 tourist arrivals during Tet

The central coastal city of Da Nang expects to welcome nearly 332,500 visitors during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year), a year-on-year increase of 11.9 percent.

As the Tet holiday makes for a busy tourism season for people from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the EU, and the US, as well as overseas Vietnamese, the city hopes the number of foreigner visitors will rise 23.1 percent to hit 162,600.

An array of cultural activities have been scheduled in the city for Tet, including a dazzling firework display to welcome in the New Year, an exhibition, as well as the presentation of gifts to the year’s first visitors to the city, among others.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, localities, travel agents, and tourism service firms have worked to ensure social order, environmental hygiene, food safety, and good quality services.

The city has set the target of welcoming 8.19 million visitors throughout 2019, a rise of 6.9 percent year-on-year, which includes 3.19 million foreigners, an increase of 11 percent. The tourism sector aims to gross 27.4 trillion VND (1.18 billion USD) in revenue, up 13.9 percent against the previous year.

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong Tran Thanh Huan (fifth from left) sees the sailors off. 

Nine sailors of Vietnamese oil tanker Aulac Fortune which caught fire off the coast of Hong Kong have returned home to welcome the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong Tran Thanh Huan arrived at Chek Lap Kok International Airport to see the sailors off.

Earlier, from January 25-27, the Aulac Joint Stock Company – the owner of the ship - completed procedures to take 13 sailors, and nine relatives of three other crewmen who died in the incident, home.

According to Huan, funeral services will be held for the deceased following DNA tests from Hong Kong authorities. The General Consulate will continue support in visa granting for relatives of the dead sailors so that they can settle related procedures.

On January 8, an explosion on the vessel caused it to catch on fire while the 17,500-tonne tanker was preparing to be refueled about a kilometre south of Lamma Island.

At that time, there were 27 people on board, including 25 Vietnamese and two of the Hong Kong fuel supply vessel. Twenty-four people were saved while one died and two others missing.

After the search and rescue mission finished, Hong Kong authorities confirmed that three crewmen died in the incident, namely Tran Hoang Phong (born in 1986, from Nghe An province), Nguyen Van Cong (born in 1984, from Ben Tre province) and Pham The Dung (born in 1961, from Ho Chi Minh City).

President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man presents gifts to disadvantaged households and policy beneficiary families in An Hoi ward. 

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man on February 2 visited and delivered 100 gifts to disadvantaged households and policy beneficiary families in An Hoi ward, Ninh Kieu district, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

On behalf of Party, State and VFF Central Committee leaders, Man wished the local leaders, impoverished households and policy beneficiaries a warm Tet and a new year with good health.

Although Can Tho is a centrally-run city, the number of unemployed workers is high and many people have difficult circumstances, he said, asking the local authorities and organisations to further their work to take care of the needy, helping them escape poverty and prevent social evils.

According to Man, the VFF mobilised some 900 billion VND (38.75 million USD) and presented nearly 700,000 Tet gifts to people across the nation.

Meanwhile, the trade unions at all levels set aside 1.2 trillion VND (51.67 million USD) for Tet gifts, and the red cross society at all levels spent  some 1 trillion VND (43 million USD) to ensure a warm Tet for the poor.

An art performance at the celebration in Prague 

A get-together was held in Canada on February 2 by the Canada-Vietnam Society (CVS) to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) of Vietnam.

The event drew a number of local officials, including Canadian Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion Mary Ng; Toronto’s Deputy Mayor Dezil Minnan-Wong and parliamentarian Julie Dzerowicz, along with foreign friends and Vietnamese community in Canada.

In a greeting message sent to the CVS, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recognized great contributions of the Vietnamese Canadian community and thanked the CVS for bringing Vietnamese culture closer to Canadian people.

At the event, Minister Mary Ng affirmed that through the preservation of the tradition of the Vietnamese Canadian community as well as the Vietnamese cultural identity, the Vietnamese community has become a key community in the country.

Trade, investment and education are outstanding cooperation areas between Vietnam and Canada over the years, she noted, adding that Vietnam has been the biggest trade partner of Canada among ASEAN countries.

Director of the CVS in Toronto Nguyen Dai Trang highlighted the fruitful results in trade and education partnership between the two sides, stressing that the number of Vietnamese students wishing to study in Canada has risen.

Participants at the event were feasted with Vietnamese traditional food, music and dances.

Meanwhile, on February 1-2, a Tet greeting programme and a Tet festival and carnival was held in Prague, the Czech Republic, gathering Czech officials and locals, and the Vietnamese community in the country.

This was one of the biggest events that the Vietnamese community has organised in a year, giving a chance for Vietnamese and Czech people to meet, exchange, and enjoy traditional dishes that Vietnamese people prepared for Tet, along with traditional art performances.

Not only in Prague, the Vietnamese community in other localities such as Plzen, Most, Usti and Ostrava also organized various activities to celebrate Tet and the Year of the Pig.

More than 520,000 impoverished people across the nation have received rice aid ahead of Tet.

The Government allocated some 7,800 tonnes of rice to more than 520,000 impoverished people across the nation ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

According to Le Van Thoi, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Finance’s General Department of State Reserves, the rice aid is expected to ensure a warm Tet for the poor in 14 provinces of Ninh Thuan, Tuyen Quang, Nghe An, Ha Giang, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Quang Binh, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Gia Lai, Hoa Binh, Dak Lak, Kon Tum and Thanh Hoa.

Each person received 15 kilos of rice in one month.

The General Department of State Reserves joined hands with relevant authorities to strictly examine rice quality and distribution, Thoi said, adding that it also worked with local media agencies to popularise the Government’s rice aid scheme.

The assistance is a source of great encouragement, helping the needy overcome difficulties and stabilise their lives, and contributing to the national socio-economic development, he said.

Hospitals in HCM City are ensuring quality health services during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday (Photo courtesy of thanhnien.vn)

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Health Department has asked directors of public and private hospitals to ensure sufficient amount of medicine, equipment and staff during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

The department has assigned the 115 Emergency Aid Centre to assist in medical emergency cases while the city’s Preventive Medical Centre and district-level health centres will be responsible for monitoring potential epidemics and collaborate with the HCM City Food Safety Management Board to assure food safety.

Dr Nguyen Duy Long, director of the 115 Emergency Aid Centre, said the centre would assign eight ambulance cars on New Year’s Eve and five emergency crews to be available around the clock.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Anh, director of Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, said that during Tet, the number of patients receiving general check-ups usually declines compared to the number of people admitted for serious or emergency cases.

Doctors should take good care of every patient and must not refuse or delay any cases, he said.

Doctors should also be ready for the increasing number of poisoning and stroke cases during this time of the year, Anh added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bui Vinh Quang, director of the Hanoi Oncology Hospital, said the hospital would offer free meals for certain patents who will be hospitalised during the Tet holiday period.

An Giang welcomes 200,000 visitors in January

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang served 200,000 visitors in January, up 33 percent from the previous month.

According to Vice Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Pham The Trieu, the number of foreign arrivals rose 20 percent month on month to 6,000.

The locality raked in some 350 billion VND (15.07 million USD) from tourism services in the month, a 75 percent jump from December, and making up of 6 percent of the amount set for the whole year.

Trieu said that Tra Su cajuput forest, Ta Pa field, Nui Sam tourism site, Nui Cam tourism site, and Chau Giang brocade village were the most attractive destinations.

As the busiest tourism season will take place after traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), the province expects to receive more tourists to its festivals, including the Ba Chua Xu (Lady Xu) festival.

This year, the province eyes to welcome 9.2 million visitors, expanding 8.24 percent from 2018. Revenue from tourism activities is reckoned at 5.5 trillion VND (236.8 million USD), a year-on-year surge of 14.58 percent.

In a bid to realise the set goal, the province will channel focus on mobilising capital for infrastructure development in Nui Sam national tourism site, promoting tourism linkages with localities in the vicinity like Can Tho, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang and Soc Trang, enhancing tourism promotion, and creating new tourism products.

As the tourism sector is envisioned to become a spearheaded economy of the locality, the province is striving for an average growth of 10 percent in tourist arrivals each year.

Former Politburo member Nguyen Duc Binh memorized at birthplace

A respect-paying ceremony for Nguyen Duc Binh was held on February 3 

A respect-paying ceremony for former Politburo member Nguyen Duc Binh, who was also former head of the Central Theoretical Council and former Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, was held on February 3 at his birthplace in Hong Linh town, the central province of Ha Tinh.

The ceremony saw the participation of leaders of central agencies and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Military Zone 4, Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces, and a large number of locals.

Addressing the event, Secretary of the Ha Tinh Party Committee Le Dinh Son reviewed milestones in the revolutionary life of Binh, underlining outstanding contributions that Binh made to the revolutionary career of the Party and people, especially in ideology, politics, culture, science and education.

He extended his deepest sympathy to the family of the late official over the great loss.

Nguyen Duc Binh was born on September 9, 1927 in the central province of Ha Tinh. He participated in revolutionary activities in August 1945 and became a member of the CPV in 1946. He was a member of the CPV Central Committee in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th tenures, and a member of the Politburo in the 7th and 8th tenures.

Binh passed away at 0:44am on January 31 at the Central Military Hospital 108 due to old age and serious illness. A State funeral was held for him on February 2.

At 8:00 of February 3, a burial service took place for the late official in Ru Nam cemetery in Trung Luong ward, Hong Linh town.

Free rides for workers in Hai Phong, Ha Nam to return home for Tet

Free rides home were given to workers at Nomura industrial park in An Duong district in the northern port city of Hai Phong on February 2 ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. 

The ride will take them to their hometowns in the northern province of Thai Binh, the central provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh. 

Earlier on February 1, the Labour Federation of Hai Phong city also offered free rides to workers at Tan Lien industrial park in Vinh Bao district. 

Chairman of the federation Tong Van Bang said the federation earmarked 1.5 billion VND (65,000 USD) from its trade union fund to present 1,000 gifts each worth 500,000 VND, 500 allowances each worth 1 million VND, 1,000 coach tickets worth 200,000 VND each and 30 rent coaches each cost 10 million VND. 

On the occasion, the city also offered 7,500 gifts worth 3 billion VND in total sourced from its local budget and free rides to workers. 

Hai Phong is now home to more than 12,000 workers in over 400 companies based in economic and industrial zones, half of them are from other cities and provinces. 

The same day, industrial zones in the northern province of Ha Nam also hired 30 coaches to take nearly 1,000 workers home for Tet.

The Hue Central Hospital for the first time deployed three 24-seater coaches carrying 64 patients and their family members to their hometowns on the occasion.

Culture ministry requires ensuring safety for festivals

A festival at Thang Long Imperial Citadel 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has ordered authorities of provinces and cities nationwide to intensify management of cultural festivals this year to ensure the safety of participants.

In a document signed by Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Ngoc Thuy in late January and sent to provincial and city People’s Committees, the ministry urged localities to strictly follow all government instructions about managing and holding festivals, particularly during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays.

All necessary measures should be taken to ensure cultural activities are joyful, safe and follow legal requirements. The ministry also asked authorities to focus on traffic safety.

In the document, the ministry said authorities should prevent actions that take advantage of festivals for personal gain or to serve group interests.

Local authorities should also focus on promoting public awareness of historical and cultural festivals to honour and preserve these valuable national traditions.

The ministry asked authorities to invest in upgrading historical relics and worshiping areas, ensuring convenience for people looking to participate in the festivals. They should strengthen inspections and examinations before, during and after festivals, and promptly handle violations.

The document also requested People’s Committees of provinces and cities direct departments, branches and localities to report on the implementation of Government Decree No. 110/2018 / ND-CP, dated August 29, 2018, on the management and organisation of festivals. Results should be sent to the ministry before March 15.

Last year, the ministry said progress had been made in managing and organising festivals nationwide. Most festivals were held solemnly, safely, economically and effectively. There were many cultural and folk games to help honour predecessors and historical figures who contributed to the country’s development. All of these activities promoted the cultural identity of Vietnam.

However, in some areas, festivals still suffered from robberies, illegal gambling and violations of environmental protection rules, the ministry said.

Agribank earmarks 40 billion VND to help poor people during Tet

The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) has decided to spend 40 billion VND (1.72 million USD) on its annual programme supporting the poor people on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays 

The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) has decided to spend 40 billion VND (1.72 million USD) on its annual programme supporting the poor people on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays.

The fund will be allocated to social welfare activities nationwide, in response to the campaign providing aid to the poor, ensuring that no one is left without Tet.

Agribank also joined a programme of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour designed to help poor workers return to their hometowns free of charge for the Tet festival, the occasion during which family reunion is a very important factor for most of the Vietnamese.

Accordingly, the bank granted 4,000 coach tickets to support needy workers in industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern province of Binh Duong.

For the last two years, Agribank has stayed in the list of the 20 largest contributors to the State budget.

Tet gifts reach staff on offshore platform

The Truong Sa 08 transport ships of Naval Zone 2 carries Tet gifts to staff on the DK1 Platform 

Various gifts have been presented to those manning the DK1 offshore platform ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Tonnes of goods and Tet gifts, including specialties across the nation and ornamental trees, were carried to all the 15 stations of the platform by the Truong Sa 08 and Truong Sa 19 transport ships of Naval Zone 2.

Handing over the gifts, Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Zone 2, Colonel Nguyen Quoc Van extended his best wishes to those carrying out their duties on the platform.

The gifts were hoped to help the soldiers have a warm Tet and encourage them to overcome challenges, ensuring the country’s sea and island sovereignty.

About 250 nautical miles from the shore, the platform is a group of economic, scientific and technological service stations of Vietnam in the East Sea. It plays a key role in the country’s marine economy and national construction and defence. 

DK1 was set up on July 5, 1989, on the continental shelf belonging to the Vung Tau-Con Dao Special Zone (now the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau) with the task of defending the country’s sovereignty over the waters in the southeastern region. 

It is a complex of structures of large steel pipes which strike roots deep into coral reefs. Covering these steel pipes is a living space for soldiers who guard the platform. 

To date, 14 out of the 15 stations have been improved and expanded. More than 100 solar battery panels have been installed on the platform.

Tet gifts reach hands of poor overseas Vietnamese, Cambodians

President of the Khmer-Vietnam Association Chau Van Chi (L) presents gifts to disadvantaged Vietnamese and Cambodians in Phnom Penh on February 1 

The Khmer-Vietnam Association, in collaboration with Metfone company – a subsidiary of military-run telecom group Viettel, presented 200 gifts to poor overseas Vietnamese and Cambodians in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on February 1, ahead of the lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

President of the Khmer-Vietnam Association Chau Van Chi showed his hope that the gift sets will help ease difficulties for those living in disadvantaged circumstances.

On behalf of Vietnamese Cambodians, he thanked for the support of Metfone company in particular and other Vietnamese businesses operating in Cambodia in general, and extended his new year wishes to them.

Every year, when Tet comes, the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese enterprises in Cambodia visit, and grant presents to the overseas Vietnamese community, thus encouraging them to unite with each other, overcome difficulties, and maintain solidarity between the two countries.

Earlier on January 21-22, Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Quang Minh led a delegation to visit over 1300 families of Vietnamese Cambodians living in the Tonle Sap Lake who are now temporarily relocated in Chong Kok village of Phsar Chhang district, Kampong Chhnang province.

Disadvantaged people assisted to return home for Tet

Coaches line up in early morning, ready to carry workers from Hanoi to their hometowns (Photo: congdoanhanoi.org.vn)

Businesses, industrial zones and hospitals nationwide have been getting into the Tet (Lunar New Year) spirit and providing free transport to allow workers and patients travel home to spend the holiday with their families.

The Labour Federation of southern Binh Duong province on January 31 arranged free-of-charge coaches to take 1,000 poor workers to their hometowns. They are among 5,000 workers to get free bus travel to their hometowns in the province.

Tran Van Nam, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, said the province is  populated by more than 2.3 million people, and more than a half of them were workers coming from other provinces.

“Thus provincial leaders always try our best so that all workers have better physical and mental lives,” said Nam.

Nguyen Thi My Thu, from the central province of Quang Binh, has worked in Binh Duong for eight years.

“When Tet holiday is coming, people living far from home like me want to go back home. Understanding our desire, the provincial labour federation supported us and also gave us meaningful presents,” she said.

Truong Thi Bich Hanh, chairwoman of the federation, said trade unions in the province also gave free meals for workers for their journeys home.

It is the 10th year the provincial labour sector has provided free coaches for workers for the Lunar New Year holidays. As many as 25,000 workers have benefited from the programme.

Also on January 31 morning, 20 free buses took more than 600 poor cancer patients from the K Hospital in Hanoi to their hometowns to enjoy the holiday.

The programme was organised by the K Hospital, in coordination with the Cancer Patient Support Fund, the Vietnam Young Doctors Association and other partners.

Pham Trung Tuyen, a patient, said that he used to be the bread winner in his family, but contracted stomach cancer. His family has struggled to make ends meet during his two years of treatment.

“The free bus and presents from hospital leaders make all of us happy,” he said.

Other hospitals including the National Burn Hospital, the National Paediatrics Hospital and Bach Mai Hospital have helped patients return home.

Earlier on January 30, the HCM City Labour Federation worked with trade unions of the municipal industrial zones to arrange 36 coaches to take more than 1,500 workers home.

Dang Thi Toan, went together with her small daughter from the Linh Trung 1 Export Processing Zone where she works to her home in the northern province of Thai Binh.

“I could not sleep during the previous night because I wanted to come home. The feeling is difficult to express,” said Toan.

Dinh Thi Thanh Tam, from the central province of Thanh Hoa, said she hadn’t been able to go home for four years.

“Thanks to the programme, I can go to my hometown. I’m really excited all the time,” she said.

Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, chairwoman of the city labour federation, said municipal leaders hoped all workers could go home safely, happily and would come back to work on time after the holiday.

Huynh Van Tuan, Chairman of the HCM City Industrial Zone and Processing Zone Trade Union, said the city would organise a total of 96 buses to take more than 4,000 workers to their hometowns.

On February 1, the Hanoi Federation of Labour also hired 36 coaches to carry 1,600 disadvantaged workers to their homes in central Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces to welcome Tet.

Nguyen Thi Tuyen, chairwoman of the Hanoi Federation of Labour, said the free-of-charge coach programme has been organised for 11 consecutive years so far. 

The programme has helped disadvantaged workers to save money and have a strong attachment to their companies, she added. 

The same day, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) arranged more than 100 coaches to take 5,000 workers home for Tet. The corporation will also send coaches to bring the workers back to work at the end of the holiday.

Trade unions at different levels across the capital together spent more than 30 billion VND (1.28 million USD) on supporting workers on Tet. Of the sum, the municipal labour federation contributed some 7.46 billion VND (320,000 USD). As a result, about 2,000 coaches brought more than 80,000 workers home, and over 65,000 gifts were presented to the targeted workers.

Reburial service for remains of fallen soldiers held in Kien Giang

At the memorial and reburial ceremony 

A memorial and reburial ceremony for 39 sets of remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers was held on February 1 in the southern province of Kien Giang.

During the resistance war, thousands of students registered to join the army, including secondary school students from the central radio post office. They were enrolled in Company 4, Battalion 20, Division 338.

When marching to the battlefield of the south west, the unit was renamed to T70 line of Military Region 9.

In May 1971, while moving to Kenh Xang area (also known as Tram Duong area) in My Lam commune, Hon Dat district, the unit was surrounded by the enemy and 39 soldiers laid down their lives.

While delivering the funeral oration, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Do Thanh Binh expressed his gratitude to the soldiers who scarified their lives for the nation’s independence and freedom.

Tet reunion programme brings warmth to poor workers

Thousands of gift packages and free coach tickets have been handed to poor workers throughout the country under a Lunar New Year (Tet) reunion programme launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL).

Chu Thi Hoi, a worker at Nisei Electric Vietnam Co., Ltd., said she was very happy to receive the gifts from the company’s trade union and leaders.  

The Tet reunion programme creates an opportunity for workers to express their aspirations to company leaders, she added.

Nguyen Van Minh, a worker at Canon Vietnam Co., Ltd., said he has been working here for four years. 

This is the first time he has been able to return home to enjoy Tet with his family thanks to the support of the company.

The Tet reunion programme was first held by the VGCL in 2015 in Hanoi’s Bac Thang Long Industrial Park, with the hope of bringing a warm Tet holiday to its more than 156,000 workers and trade unionists.

The VGCL has coordinated with the Mobifone Telecom Corporation and the Vietnam Railway Corporation to arrange two trains for 1,200 workers in southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces to come home to enjoy Tet with their families.

As of January 24, 2019, trade unions across the country presented Tet gifts worth around 1.8 trillion VND (77.3 million USD) to nearly 3 million members and employees.

Rare sea turtle sent back to ocean

The turtle returns to the sea (Photo: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn)

The Management Board of the Cham Islands Marine Protected Area has released a rare sea turtle that was accidently caught by a local fisherman back into its natural habitat.

Tran Thoi, from Cam Kim commune in Hoi An city, found the turtle, which is 43cm in length and 7.6kg in weight, in his net, while fishing on the Thu Bon river.

He handed over the animal to the management board on January 30.  

Known as the olive ridley sea turtle (scientifically called Lepidochelys olivacea), the turtle is included on the red book of threatened species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, indicating it is an endangered species.

Confirmed to be in a good health, it was released from Cua Dai beach the next day.

Encountering a sea turtle in the river mouth area is very rare. The animal may have gotten lost while foraging for food.

In recent years, the board has worked to increase public awareness of sea turtle conservation and develop a voluntary network for prompt reports of trapped turtles.

In the past two years, approximately 1,400 baby turtles have been hatched along the beaches of the Cham Islands. The eggs were brought from Con Dao Island, believed to be the largest nesting site for sea turtles in the country.

The Cham Islands, 20km off the coast of Hoi An city, are home to 1,500ha of tropical forests and 6,700ha of sea featuring a wide range of marine fauna and flora, including many endangered species. It also houses 1.26sq.km of coral reefs.