Ministry puts $35bil price tag on transport needs

The Transport Ministry estimates that more than VND680 trillion (US$35 billion), will be needed to build transport infrastructure in the southern key economic zones between 2011-20.

The amount needed for roads will total VND326 trillion($16.7 billion); railways, VND88 trillion ($4.5 billion); domestic waterways, VND7 trillion ($360 million); and aviation VND91 trillion ($4.67 billion), it says in a report to the Government as part of a plan for infrastructure development.

The plan gives roads to reduce traffic jams and link transport routes priority.

The key road transport routes are identified as: HCM City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay; Trung Luong - My Thuan - Ben Luc - Nhon Trach - Long Thanh; and Dau Giay - Phan Thiet.

Highways would be of four to eight lanes. The plan also envisages the building of the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau; HCM City - Moc Bai; HCM City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh; and the Dau Giay - Da Lat highways in the next 10 years.

Beltway roads around HCM City and roads to ports would be built and existing highways upgraded.


Australia finances poverty reduction projects in Vietnam

Australian and Vietnamese experts will under take collaborative research on economic integration and poverty reduction via Australian Government science grants, which are provided through the Australian International Science Linkages-Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (ISL-HASS) Academies Programme.

Two Vietnamese projects are among 24 successful international applicants in the 2010 programme.
The Australian Embassy in Hanoi said in its November 24 media release that under the programme the Australian School of Taxation (University of New South Wales) will work with the Vietnam Development of and Policies Research Centre to research international economic integration, child poverty and transfer policy in Vietnam.

The second project will be carried out by the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies (Victoria University) and the Vietnam Institute for Trade (Ministry of Industry and Trade) and will consider global economic crisis, Australian-Vietnam trade, and regional integration.
“These grants will strengthen linkages between respected Australian and Vietnamese researchers on issues of mutual interest, including Australia-Vietnam trade integration and poverty reduction,” Australian Charge d’affaires Vanessa Wood said.

Chief Economist Nguyen Ngoc Anh from the Vietnam Development and Policies Research Centre said that he saw great potential to learn from Australian partners and hoped the this grant would allow the centre to sow an important seed for future and further research collaboration between Australia and Vietnam.


Hundreds of snakes freed into forest

The Forest Protection Division in southern Dong Nai Province's Xuan Loc District freed dozens of snakes weighing a total of 193 kilos into the Chua Chan Forest here on Tuesday.

Forest rangers in Tau May District allegedly found Nguyen Thi Xuan Huong, 23, from Xuan Loc District, trafficking the snakes to restaurants on Monday.

The snakes including 10 kilos of ran ho trau (ptyas mucosus), which is listed in Viet Nam's Red Book as an endangered species and totally protected.


Boat owner to pay for bridge damage

HCM City-based Road Management Unit 7 has asked the owner of the cargo that hit Cho Lach Bridge early this month to pay VND800 million (US$40,000) for repairs.

The oversized cargo, owned by Gemadept Co in HCM City, broke the bridge's iron frame on November 6, blocking traffic.

Cho Lach District People's Committee also asked the cargo owner to pay VND160 million ($8,000) to the local administration to ensure traffic flows smoothly until the bridge is fixed.


Blackmailer seized after death threats

Police in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta City of Can Tho on Tuesday allegedly caught a man red-handed accepting blackmail of VND5 million ($250) from a local woman.

The suspect, Huynh Van Han, 30, of southern Hau Giang Province, sent death threats to the woman's family in Ninh Kieu District and asked for VND10 million ($500)

Han admitted that he used to deliver goods to the family and was now out of work.


Schools told to stop student violence

The Education and Training Ministry has asked education departments throughout Viet Nam to adopt stronger measures to prevent fighting among students.

The departments were also urged to co-operate with relevant forces, including police, parents' associations and the Communist Youth Union to curb violence.


Small earthquakes hit Thanh Hoa

An earthquake registering three degrees on the Richter scale occurred in central Thanh Hoa Province's Quan Son District at 6.30pm on Tuesday.

The earthquake lasted only a few second and there was no report of damage or injury, said Lo Dinh Mui, chairman of Quan Son District People's Committee.


Green production and trade to increase income for the rural poor

About 4,800 poor farming households in Vietnam’s northern provinces of Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, Nghe An, and Phu Tho will receive aid worth more than US$4.1 million from the Spain’s fund for Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Vietnamese Government to increase incomes and employment opportunities.

The information was given at a press briefing to introduce the “Green Production and Trade to Increase Income and Employment Opportunities for the Rural Poor” programme on November 25.

The programme is aimed at increasing the sustainable incomes of raw materials growers and processors, and rural crafts and furniture producing households and enterprises, as well as improving policies and regulatory frameworks at the provincial and national levels for the pro-poor promotion of handicrafts and furniture production.

Scheduled to be implemented over the next three years (2010-2012), the programme is expected to contribute to the completion of the MDGs, the reduction of poverty, the implementation of gender equality, and the sustainable environmental development.


Vietnam-China Friendship Festival launched in Lao Cai

The Vietnam-China Friendship Festival was held in Lao Cai province on November 24 as part of activities in response to the Vietnam-China Friendship Year.

Attending the festival was delegates from the Vietnamese Government and the UNDP, representatives from ministries, sectors, cities and provinces along with other delegates from China’s Yunnan province.

More than 200 artists from four Vietnamese provinces of Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Ha Giang and Yunnan province gave performances featuring the traditional relations of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and China.

The festival will close on the evening of November 25 in Yunan province.


Vietnam, Cambodia cooperate in fighting malaria

Health services of the Vietnamese central highland province of Kon Tum and its neighbouring Cambodian province of Rattanakiri have agreed to enhance cooperation in fighting malaria along the common border.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed at the first border malaria fighting conference in Kon Tum province on November 24, both sides agreed to increase anti-malaria measures for local people along the border, to reduce the rates of infection and fatality of the disease and prevent malaria outbreaks.
They will also increase quarantine at their border gates and build a set of regulations on malaria-related information exchange.
At the first conference, delegates discussed a plan on cooperation and experience sharing on fighting malaria.
Border districts were urged to keep a close watch on the disease, increase education and train grassroots officials to detect and prevent outbreaks.
Sa Thay district in Kon Tum province has reported 202 malaria cases this year, up 10.38 percent over the same period last year.


VNN/VNS/VOV