Ha Noi to rein in street vendors

Ha Noi tourism authorities have asked district police to take action against street vendors following complaints of harassment and cheating of tourists.

The city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism wants authorities in Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, and Dong Da districts to tighten control over vendors at famous tourist sites, including Sword Lake, Temple of Literature, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Hawkers misconduct has hit Ha Noi's reputation and tourism environment, it said.

Vietnam, Cambodia youths boost exchange

500 Cambodian and Vietnamese youths participated in a friendship exchange programme within the framework of the Vietnam-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on August 23-24.

In his speech, Duong Van An, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union Central Committee, said the traditional solidarity is an invaluable asset for Vietnam and Cambodia, and younger generations of the two countries should join efforts to strengthen the relationship for the sake of peace and prosperity.

Men Kuon, President of the Cambodian Youth Association expressed his delight at visiting Vietnam during the time of the Vietnam-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship meeting.

He said the Cambodians are always grateful to Vietnam for having helped them escape from the Pol Pot genocidal regime and rebuild their country.

The exchange programme included a joint art performance by young artists from Vietnam and Cambodia, talks at Ho Chi Minh city hall and games at Stadium Military Zone No 7.

Tonnes of spoilt pig's intestines found in Bac Ninh

Police in northern Bac Ninh Province yesterday, Aug 23, found over 13 tonnes of spoiled frozen pig organs in the storehouses of two private food processing establishments – Hoang Hai and Dong Loan – in Tam Da Commune, Yen Phong District.

The establishments' owners admitted to police that the animal intestines were set to be processed and sold. They failed to show any food safety certificates and documents proving the origin of the organs.

Meanwhile, on the same day, police in Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong found nearly three tones of sweetened dried fruits of unidentified origin, but labelled in Chinese.

According to the police, tens of local producers imported these products illegally and then re-packed and labelled the goods as local specialities to sell to tourists.

President praises military workers' business acumen

President Truong Tan Sang has asked the military trade union to highlight more exemplary cases of its members who had gained achievements in business activities as a way to realise the Party and the State's target of "wealthy people, strong country".

Speaking at a meeting with 100 exemplary delegates from the military trade union in Ha Noi yesterday, Aug 23, Sang praised the union's initiative to launch the campaign and saw it as a solution to help enhance the living standards of all military staff in the context of the country's economic hardships.

He also asked the delegates to continue their co-operation with local authorities and people to create more support channels for their businesses.

The delegates reported to the President about their business experiences, especially in remote and mountainous areas. They also asked for information channels about the Party and the State's support policies to enhance production capacity.

The 63-year-old military trade union, which is a part of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour, has 17,000 members in more than 900 grassroots units. About 25 per cent of members operate in husbandry, 37 per cent in agriculture, and 26 per cent in services.

Vietnamese, Lao localities coordinate in border protection

The central province of Thanh Hoa and its Lao neighbouring province of Houaphan on August 23, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on jointly managing and protecting the national border line between the two localities.

The two sides agreed that they will continue educating local Vietnamese and Lao people and officers to strictly follow the agreement on border regulations as well as cooperation agreements signed by the two countries and provinces.

Under the MoU, Thanh Hoa and Houaphan provinces will further enhance patrols to protect the border line and markers, especially at border gates and paths, as well as exchanging information and preventing all criminal activities, including human trafficking and smuggling of drugs, weapons and explosives.

The two provinces share 192 kilometres of border line and have to date set up 89 of the 92 markers assigned in the project on enhancing the Vietnam-Laos national border marker system.

Lower train fares in September

Passengers are expected to enjoy a 13 per cent reduction in train fares in September under a promotion launched by the Viet Nam Railway corporation.

A ticket from Ha Noi to HCM City in an air-conditioned coach with soft sleepers on train SE 3/4 will cost just VND1.7 million (US$80).

On TN1/2 on the same route, the comparable fare will be around VND1.3 million ($65), down nearly 10 per cent from the current price of VND1.4 million ($70).

The old fares will revert after the end of the month.

Panasonic awards more scholarships

Panasonic Viet Nam Co.Ltd yesterday, Aug 23, awarded three scholarships each worth JPY7.87 million (US$100,000) to outstanding Vietnamese graduates to follow three-year masters courses in Japan.

The annual Panasonic Scholarship Programme, founded in 1998 and implemented in Viet Nam since 2003, aims to enhance co-operative relations between Japan and Asian countries.

So far, 22 Vietnamese graduates have received the scholarships, which cover full living costs and tuition fees during the duration of study.

St Paul Hospital to undergo upgrade

The Ha Noi Department of Health will recommence the upgrade and expansion of Saint Paul Hospital, one of the inner city's central hospitals, this month following one year of inactivity.

Director of the department Nguyen Khac Hien said that the state of the hospital had seriously deteriorated after 101 years of operation, threatening the safety of both staff and patients.

Australia helps Viet Nam cope with climate change

A US$15.8 million programme will be conducted to help Vietnamese communities to deal with the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over two and a half years, according to the Australian Embassy yesterday.

The project is a new partnership between Australia with six international organisations, including the Australian Red Cross Society, CARE Australia, the Environmental Defense Fund, Oxfam Australia, Save the Children Australia and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation.

Hugh Borrowman, Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam said: "Australia and our partners will reduce the risks from climate change-related natural disasters and threats to food and water security, helping some 500,000 vulnerable people."

Viet Nam is one of the most vulnerable countries susceptible to climate change, especially the coastal parts of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

The programme will enhance the capacity of officials and rice farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve rice production in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and Central Region.

The funding for Viet Nam comes from a total of $630 million Australia is spending from 2010 to 2013 to cope with global climate change.

VNN/VOV/VNS