VND15 billion raised for children with heart disease

Nearly VND15 billion was raised for children with congenital heart disease through a charity programme in Hanoi on September 29, organized by the Vietnam Heart Fund under the Vietnam Television and Military Telecom Group (Viettel).

Four years after it was launched, the programme has provided free surgeries to nearly 1,500 poor children across the country with congenital heart disease and improved the capacity of doctors at seven hospitals in the field.

It has also served as a bridge between businesses, organisations, individuals, benefactors and poor families with disadvantaged children.

Viettel deputy director, Duong Van Tinh, said that the programme has received great attention from people in all walks of life and supported nearly 1,500 children with congenital heart disease.

Thousands take part as BBGV Fun Run raises $40,000 for charity

The 12th annual charity Fun Run at HCM City's Phu My Hung Urban Area was hailed as a roaring success yesterday, Sept 30.

The event, endorsed by the British Business Group Viet Nam, attracted roughly 7,800 people and raised a total of US$40,000 which will be used for charity activities in Viet Nam.

Since its launch in 2000, the event has raised a total of VND5.6 billion ($267,000) for worthy causes.

Workers return from shuttered Malaysia plant

Twenty-one Vietnamese workers returned home last Thursday after the Malaysian factory they'd be working at closed due to quality issues.

The workers, who were part of 41 Vietnamese operating at Topla Hitech Company, had been sub-contracted from the Viet Nam Forest Corporation (VINAFOR) and the Hydraulics Construction Labor Supply Services Joint Stock Company (Hycolasec).

Sixteen more workers flew back to Viet Nam on Saturday, while four have been allowed to keep their jobs.

Vehicle liability insurance to rise

The Ministry of Finance has changed liability insurance rates for vehicle accidents so that compensation for injuries and property damage will be increased by VND10-20 million ($500 to $1,000).

Insurance compensation for injuries and property damage will now be VND70 million (US$3,414) and VND40 million ($1,951), instead of the current level of VND50 million ($2,440) and VND30 million ($1,463).

The new rates will take effect from November 1.

Dangerous ferries remain only option for highlanders

Hundreds of students, teachers and residents are being put in daily danger as they have to cross the fast-flowing Dak R'mang River in rickety wooden ferries.

The ferries - which run from Quang Hoa Commune in Dak G'Long District of Central Highland Dak Nong Province to Da R'sal Commune of Dam Rong District in Lam Dong Province - mostly serve the residents' need to go tilling and childrens' need to go to school.

It operates from 6am to 6pm daily, crossing about 60m of river with a swift-flowing current.

Tran Van Dung, one of the ferry owners, said each ferry was only allowed to carry four persons and two vehicles. "We also provide life jackets and each resident only pays VND5,000 to cross the river, while it's free for students and teachers."

The ferries, however, carry about 400 people on a daily basis and some residents say they're often charged VND10,000 instead.

During rush hour, each ferry carries about five motorbikes and seven people with other belongings. According to Sung Van Dau, a resident in Quang Hoa Commune, most of the residents and students in his commune are forced to cross the river to Lam Dong Province. "We have no other way," he said.

Le Viet Sinh, chairman of the Quang Hoa People's Committee, said the commune was one of the far-flung areas of the Dak G'long District with mountainous terrain, making it extremely difficult to commute.

According to local authorities, they annually provide life jackets to residents crossing the river as a result of a recent accident, but most do not wear them.

In the rainy season and when flood waters rise, these ferries are banned from operating. However, some ignore this rule to due to the commuter demand.

Two years ago, the Dak R'Mang bridge was slated for operation in 2012 but construction has been delayed, meaning the ferries remain an inevitable choice for residents.

Delta evacuates residents from danger as waters rise

Provincial authorities in the Mekong Delta are focussing efforts on evacuating residents from areas prone to floods and landslides.

Officials in An Giang Province said they have moved nearly 1,000 households from areas in danger of landslides to flood-proof residential clusters in Long Xuyen City, Tan Chau Town and districts of An Phu, Chau Phu and Cho Moi.

Vinh Long Province has taken 200 families in areas afftected by landslides in Binh Minh District to flood-proof clusters, before flood water reach alarming levels in the province.

The Hau Giang People's Committee said they have moved some 200 households from landslide-prone areas in Nga Bay Town, as well as the districts of Phung Hiep and Chau Thanh, to safety in new resettlement areas.

Meanwhile, officials of Thanh Binh District in Dong Thap Province have spent VND1 billion (US$47,600) to consolidate embankments and protect some 150 metres of river bank in danger of erosion in Binh Thanh Commune, aiming to safeguard 394 households currently living in the area.

The Dong Thap People's Committee has also decided to spend over VND60 billion ($2.8 million) to build flood-proof clusters in Tan Binh Commune to house over 300 households.

However, thousands of other families in the Mekong Delta are still in danger because provincial authorities have not built enough flood-proof clusters for them as they are facing capital shortages.

An Giang Province has asked the central Government to allocate budgets for building 19 new flood-proof clusters to accommodate 5,500 households affected by landslides since the flooding season last year.

Dinh Xuan Hoang, deputy director of the Dong Thap Construction Department, said the province has asked the Government for funds to build five new flood-proof clusters.

Hoang said existing facilities in the provine can now admit only households who have to be evacuated immediately.
"We do not have enough flood-proof clusters to accommodate all families currently living in areas prone to landslides," Hoang said.

US charity program raises funds for disabled children

A charity program to raise funds for Vietnamese children with disabilities was organized by the Vietnamese embassy in the US and the Global Community Service Foundation (GCSF) at “Vietnam House” in Washington, D.C. on September 29.

The program, entitled “Charming Vietnam”, was attended by international friends and overseas Vietnamese living and working in the US.

Vietnamese ambassador to the US, Nguyen Quoc Cuong, thanked the benefactors and involved organisations for their kindness and support in co-organising the event. He said that children, in any circumstances, have the right to make their dreams come true.

Marcia Selva, a representative of the GCSF said the event will contribute to helping disadvantaged children gain access to better living conditions and educational opportunities.

Participants at the fundraiser enjoyed a fashion show of traditional Vietnamese costumes and art performance by representatives from the Vietnamese embassy and US organizations.

Costumes, artwork and souvenirs from Vietnam were auctioned during the event and around US$20,000 was raised for disabled children in Dong Ha district, Quang Tri province.

Two fires break out in Binh Phuoc Province

A fierce fire broke out yesterday morning at a cashew nut processing workshop in Minh Lap Commune, Chon Thanh District, southern Binh Phuoc Province.

It took two fire-engines and 14 firemen more than an hour to tackle the formidable blaze which caused around VND1 billion (US$47,600) worth of damage to the Long Son – Binh Phuoc Company's branch.

On the same day, fire also gutted a shoe shop at the Dong Soai Market in the province despite three fire-engines and 20 firemen dousing the flames within an hour.

No human loss was reported in either fire and authorities are investigating the respective causes.

One dead, three injured in coach crash

One person was killed and three others injured yesterday morning when a broken down lorry was hit by a coach on the National Highway 1A at Nui Thanh Town, central Quang Nam Province.

The lorry driver was pronounced dead at the scene, while three coach passengers were seriously injured.

The Nui Thanh District Traffic Police collaborated with relevant authorities to send the injured to hospital and examine the scene as part of the investigation.

Mother Goddess worship culture highlighted

Nearly 300 domestic and foreign researchers gathered in the northern province of Nam Dinh on September 29 to attend an international workshop on Mother Goddess worship culture in Vietnam and Asia.

Participants introduced the origin, formation, development, characteristics and significance of the Mother Goddess worship culture in Asia, especially in Vietnam.

The workshop will last until September 30, when the participants have the chance to experience the rituals of the worship of Mother Goddesses in Vietnam.

The Mother Goddesses worship is a folk belief that addresses the concern of daily life and desires for good health and good fortune.

VNN/VOV/VNS