Vietnam to build satellite hospitals to cut overload

Vietnam would invest more than VND1.7 trillion in a project in 2013-2020 to develop satellite hospitals in major cities to cope with the increasingly severe overload at the current leading hospitals.

According to the Ministry of Health, the State budget will cover VND712 billion of the total cost of the project, with the balance sourced from cities and provinces.

At a meeting on the satellite hospital project from 2013 to 2015 in Hanoi on Wednesday, Luong Ngoc Khue, director of the Department of Medical Service Administration, said the ministry by 2015 would set up a network of 48 satellite hospitals for 14 major hospitals specializing in tumor, external trauma, cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics.

These key hospitals are located in big cities that can establish and develop satellite facilities to help improve the quality of their health services. The 2013-2015 satellite hospital scheme is expected to reduce hospital overload and meet rising demand for healthcare at home, Khue said.

In fact, the project is now facing a personnel shortage at satellite hospitals while funding for medical equipment remains scant, said Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen. She said the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the World Bank would be providing aid for a couple of hospital and equipment procurement projects.

The health ministry has since 2005 piloted a satellite hospital project specializing in surgery and internal medicine to strengthen the quality of medical services at a number of satellite units of Bach Mai and Huu Nghi Viet Duc hospitals in Hanoi.

The new project centers on personnel training, technology transfer, medical equipment procurement and online medical consultation. The satellite facilities of Bach Mai and Huu Nghi Viet Duc have acquired lots of technologies, thus improving their medical examination and treatment capacity and decreasing the transfer of patients to bigger hospitals.

Two bombs unearthed in Quang Tri

Two bombs, weighing around 227kg each, measuring 1.5m in length, and nearly 0.3m in diameter have been discovered in Cua Tung town, Vinh Linh district central Quang Tri province.

They were identified as MK82 bombs that the US army most likely dropped during the past war.

The demining team under the Solidarity Service International (SODI) project in Quang Tri managed to defuse them safely on August 26.

Migrant workers seek better life in urbareas

As many as 80 percent of Vietnamese migrant workers are believed to move from rural to urban areas to earn a better income, according to statistics released at a workshop in Hanoi on August 26.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) said that up to 6.5 million people rushed to urban areas between 2004 and 2009. Eighty percent of them made their move for economic purposes.

Seventy percent of migrant workers are below the age of 30. Those flocking to industrial zones are primarily women with an average age of 23.

The ministry reported that 66 percent of migrant workers lack technical expertise and qualifications, and have to take dangerous and unstable jobs in a toxic environment.

Le Quang Trung, Deputy Head of the MoLISA’s Employment Department said his department will come up with measures to assist migrant workers.

In the future, they will know which and when any industrial park is up and running so that they can do vocational training before working there, he said.

In fact, support policies in localities have not been will in place and there is often social disorder caused by migrant group’s conflicts with local people.

Seminar highlights Vietnam-Japan medical cooperation

Vietnam–Japan cooperation in the health sector was highlighted at an international seminar in Hanoi on August 26.

This was the first seminar co-organised by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health.

In his speech, Deputy Health Minister Pham Le Tuan said Japan has helped Vietnam build three central hospitals, namely Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, Hue Hospital in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, and Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.

Japan’s aid has made it possible for the country to increase the number of regional and provincial hospitals, improve the quality of medical examination and treatment in local health stations and build modern factories to produce medical equipment, they added.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yasuaki Tanizaki spoke highly of the effective use of non-refundable aid and official development assistance (ODA) in Vietnam.

He said Japan is ready to help the Southeast Asian country tackle outstanding problems in the health sector.

Seminar on water solution application in Vietnam

An international seminar on the application of water-related solutions in Vietnam was held in Hanoi on August 26.

Co-sponsored held by the Israeli Embassy and the World Bank in Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the event aimed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-Israel diplomatic ties and the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation.

Addressing the event, MARD Deputy Minister Hoang Van Thang thanked the organizers, especially the World Bank (WB), for strongly supporting to Vietnam in implementing investment projects and improving institutional capacity.

The bank’s recent assistance is extremely important to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s water resources, he noted.

He expressed his wish to apply Israel’s advanced irrigation technology in the agricultural restructuring project.

To strengthen the quality of water and limit the negative impact of the environment on human beings, requires co-ordinated efforts to renovate technology, use water in a safe manner and pay attention to water use in households, Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Meirav Eilon Shahar said.

The diplomat said that over the past years, Israel has accumulated much experience in this field that can be shared with Vietnam.

WB Country Director in Vietnam Victoria KwaKwa suggested Vietnam should increase its capacity to resist the impact of climate change, and have a comprehensive system to manage water resources.

She said that Vietnam should work closely with other countries, especially those with expertise in water use and management, to learn about new ways to deal with current water-related difficulties and challenges.

During the seminar, participants discussed practical solutions to challenges that Vietnam is facing in water use in agricultural, urban and rural water in the context of rising demand for water resources, distribution and services.

They also shared experience in water solutions for agriculture, policy issues and climate change response measures based on the use of water in urban areas.

Vietnam, Egypt promote links in literature

An agreement on literature cooperation between Vietnam and Egypt was signed on August 26 at the conference of Asian and African writers, hosted in Hanoi and Ha Long city from August 25-30.

Representatives from fifty Asian and African nations gathered at the event for the first time since the Afro-Asian Writers' Association (AAWA) was set up in Cairo in December 2012.

The agreement is the first of its kind, and will last for four years with the aim of encouraging exchange visits of writers and promoting joint working in the fields of translation, copyright and publishing.

Accordingly, Vietnam will send a delegation of four to five writers to visit Egypt, and vice versa, each year. Training courses on language, history and culture of the two countries will also be held.

Vietnam Writers’ Association (VWA) Chairman Huu Thinh placed great value on the role of the Egypt Writers’ Association, and recognised efforts made by its chairman Mohamed Salmawy in boosting bilateral cooperation in literature.

Huu Thinh pledged to implement the agreement in the interests of the development of literature in each country. The VWA will do their best to strengthen mutual friendship and help Red River and Nile River civilisations to learn more from each other he added.

For his part, Mohamed Salmawy praised the agreement as a foundation for the two associations’ work in the future.

It will also create a better environment for writers from both countries to study and gain a better understanding of culture and literature in both Vietnam and Egypt, he stated.

Vietnamese, Korean journalists strengthen professional relations

The Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) delegation led by its President Park Chong Ryul is paying a week-long visit (August 21-27) to Vietnam to share experience with its Vietnamese partner.

At an August 21 meeting with the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) representatives, JAK and VJA presidents Park Chong Ryul and Thuan Huu acknowledged the fine cooperative ties between the two associations which have grown considerably over the past 20 years

Regular exchange visits between the two media agencies have helped promote mutual understanding, they affirmed.

The two sides have pledged to   boost cooperative ties and friendship and intensify the exchangeof experiences and professional skills.

During their stay in Vietnam, the JAK delegation visited Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and some media agencies in Hanoi, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City.

Competition winner’s chance to study in Canada

A new, fun, and exciting educational contest entitled, “Explore Canada from A to Z” was launched by the Embassy of Canada in Hanoi and the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City on August 26.

Running from August 27, 2013, until November 30, 2013, the competition is open to all Vietnamese high school students who want to learn about, explore, and experience Canada. The competition is part of this year’s celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Vietnam.

First prize for the winner of the competition is a scholarship to study in Canada for two weeks, including a cultural tour for the accompanying parent (either father or mother). It includes two return air tickets to Canada, tuition fees for the language program (English or French), accommodation, ground transportation, and living expenses during the two weeks.

The second prize winner will be awarded a Blackberry Bold Touch 9900, and the third prize winner will be awarded a Blackberry Curve 9320. In addition, 12 consolation prize winners will each receive a cool student kit.

Interested students are encouraged to learn more about the contest and register at: www.duhoc-canada.vn. This competition presents a fun and exciting learning opportunity for Vietnamese students to challenge themselves and improve their knowledge of the beauty and diversity of Canada.

Ha Noi police detain principal over fraud

Police in Ha Noi prosecuted and temporarily detained Truong Thi Hai Yen, CEO and deputy principal of the private Phuong Nam primary school in the city's Dinh Cong urban area on Saturday, for allegedly practising fraud to appropriate money.

51-year-old Truong Thi Kim Dung, Yen's sister, and 28-year-old Mai Huy Thanh, Yen's son, were also arrested. Police searched the three suspects' workplaces and houses on the same day.

The arrest followed claims from 18 individuals that Yen went insolvent after borrowing a total of VND268 billion (US$12.7 million) and 16 land-use right certificates from them to build the school.

The investigation continues.

2 more flyovers open to traffic in HCM City

Two more flyovers were opened to traffic in HCM City on Tuesday.

The city Transport Department inaugurated steel flyovers at the Nguyen Tri Phuong -  3/2 road - Ly Thai To intersection in District 10 and the Hoang Hoa Tham - Cong Hoa Intersection in Tan Binh District.

The former, a 284m long, 9.5m wide structure, was built by IDICO and the Construction Engineering Corp. at a cost of VND318.7 billion (US$15 million.

The other, a 268m long, 9.5m wide flyover costing VND246.7 billion (US$11.7 million), was built by Thanh Long JSC.

They bring the number of flyovers opened in the city to five, the others being at Thu Duc Intersection (in Thu Duc District), Hang Xanh Intersection (Binh Thanh District), and Lang Cha Ca Roundabout (Tan Binh District).

The flyovers, whose construction began on April 27 this year, have been opened to mark National Day, September 2.

They are part of a project to ease traffic congestion in the city by 2015.

Free screening clinic opens in Quang Binh

A free screening clinic for nearly 100 children and women suffering from heart diseases and uterus cancer was opened on Sunday in the central province of Quang Binh.

The programme was held by the provincial association for poor patients, VinaCapital, Da Nang general hospital and the provincial reproductive healthcare centre.

Mildly diseased patients were provided with medicine while the list of patients with severe diseases in line for free surgery will be soon announced. After the check ups, the sponsoring association gave poor patients advice on procedure and the treatment process.

My Dinh coach terminal to receive expansion

The US$2.6 million expansion plan for 1.3ha of My Dinh coach terminal will begin during the first quarter of next year, according to Decision No 5100/QD-UBND by the Ha Noi People's Committee.

The expansion is critically needed to meet increasing demand of passengers.

The Ha Noi Transport Services Corporation (Transerco) has been assigned as the main investor.

Dengue fever enters peak season in high-risk HCM City

The dengue fever outbreak has reached its peak period, with a dramatic growth in the number of patients contracting the mosquito-born disease in HCM City, doctors have warned.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, head of the infection control department at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said the number of infections this month has risen three-fold compared to other months this year.

Nearly 30 people are hospitalised every day with dengue, he said.

It has treated 3,000 dengue patients this year, with adults making up twice the number of children.

Nguyen Bao Nhi, a five-year-old girl from Long An Province, was diagnosed with dengue and transferred to the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases with severe complications, including liver and kidney failure.

She had high fever and was vomiting constantly, but her condition has stabilised after two weeks of intensive treatment at the hospital.

Doctors said the outbreak would last through the rainy season, which usually ends in November, warning city residents to take precautions against it. People should get themselves examined by doctors if high fever persists for more than two days, they said.

Nation's libraries urged to go digital

Public libraries and those at universities and research institutions should focus on digital materials, experts have urged.

Speaking at a conference in HCM City last Friday, Nguyen Minh Hiep, chairman of the Vietnamese Library Association of Southern Academic Libraries underlined the importance of digital materials for libraries.

Pham The Khang, chairman of the Viet Nam Library Association, said an important requirement was software to integrate the digital collections of all libraries to help readers easily access materials.

Associate Professor Doctor Vuong Toan, former deputy head of the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences, took that a step further, saying libraries should share their digital materials, something that has not been done on a large scale yet.

But there needed to be laws to avoid copyright violations because of sharing, he added.

A study by Associate Professor Doctor Tran Thi Quy of the Social Sciences and Humanities University in Ha Noi found there was no emphasis on copyright of digital materials by libraries.

Her research also found the need to provide more efficient and flexible tools to help library users, namely software to manage digital materials.

Dr Vu Duong Thuy Nga, deputy head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's library department, noted that open-source software such as Greenstone produced by the New Zealand Digital Library Project at the University of Waikato and developed and distributed in co-operation with UNESCO and the Human Infro NGO had been used by many digital libraries in Viet Nam.

The software helped reduce the cost of establishing digital libraries, considered the biggest challenge in turning traditional libraries into digital ones, she added.

Universities had begun co-operating with technology companies to find technologies and software needed for them to develop digital libraries, she said.

Quy said to develop digital libraries, librarians needed knowledge of IT and foreign languages.

Thus univesities' libraries should update their curricula and existing librarians should be facilitated to improve their qualification.

Nga told Viet Nam News that many libraries have attached importance to digital materials.

For instance, the National Library of Viet Nam had more than 3 million digital materials, she said.

The Viet Nam National University-Ha Noi has invested VND32 billion (US$1.5 million) in an e-book that could help digitise its materials.

HCM City projects ready for National Day

Construction of several major traffic projects in HCM City had been completed and were ready to open to traffic before the National Day (September 2), according to local officials.

The officials said the new projects will ease long-lasting, serious traffic congestion in some areas of the city.

Two steel flyovers at the Cong Hoa - Hoang Hoa Tham junction in Tan Binh District and the Ba Thang Hai - Nguyen Tri Phuong junction in District 10 will open to traffic today.

The 238-m flyover at the Cong Hoa – Hoang Hoa Tham intersection will be restricted to vehicles with less than nine seats.

Opening of the flyover at Cay Go Roundabout in District 6 could be delayed until the end of September as its construction needs "heavier tasks" than the other two, according to the HCM City People's Committee.

Construction of the three steel flyovers, estimated to cost US$47.6 billion, began in the last week of April.

Another two flyovers on National Highway 1A – Provincial Road 10 and National Highway 1A – Provincial Road 10B will open on August 30. These two structures have had a construction budget of VND700 billion.

Nearly five months ago, three steel flyovers had opened at Hang Xanh, Thu Duc and Lang Cha Ca roundabouts.

Construction of part of the Tan Son Nhat – Binh Loi outer belt road stretching from Gia Dinh Park to Binh Trieu Bridge has been completed and will open for traffic tomorrow.

The three bridges - Rach Lang, Binh Loi, Go Dua, as well as four pedestrian flyovers on the route have already been completed.

The municipal Department of Transport estimates that the Binh Loi Bridge over the Sai Gon River can share 40 percent of the traffic currently using the Binh Trieu 2 Bridge, helping reduce congestion at the city's northeastern gateway.

The 13.7km Tan Son Nhat – Binh Loi outer belt road begins at Truong Son Road near the Tan Son Nhat Airport in Tan Binh District and runs through Nguyen Thai Son Crossroads in Go Vap District.

The road then crosses the Sai Gon River via Binh Loi Bridge to reach Binh Trieu Crossroads in Thu Duc District.

The final section will run straight to the Linh Xuan Intersection in Thu Duc District and connect with National Highway 1A.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Belt Road, which stretches between Phu My and Rach Chiec Bridges, meanwhile, is expected to be the most beautiful inner road in the city.

When it opens to traffic completely, it will ease pressure on routes moving from the central part of the city to the east of the city.

Part of the Eastern Belt Road will open to traffic on August 31.

Tech firms offered development boost

The HCM City Department of Science and Technology has proposed giving enterprises full autonomy of their science and technology funds to boost competitiveness.

The funds began accumulating after Decision No 36/2007/QD-BTC from the Ministry of Finance took effect on July 1, 2007. The Decision offered enterprises the ability to set aside up to 10 per cent of their taxable income to establish funds for research and development (R&D).

Department Director Phan Minh Tan said businesses had become more interested in using the funds due to a need to invest in science and technology.

He stated that greater investment from businesses would result in widespread development for the city, adding the accumulated funds possibly exceeded the city's own investment budget for innovation.

However, difficulties in obtaining licences to use the fund for R&D projects had made businesses reluctant, he said.

The department leader urged government agencies to trust businesses and create accountability by auditing the results of invested funds and simplifying complicated procedures.

Many businesses also advocated for an increase in the level of taxable income set aside, to accelerate development in technology and innovation.

Nguyen Van Lam, Deputy Head of the Economics and Budget Committee under the City's Peoples Committee, said the funding mechanism was inflexible and discouraging enterprises from setting up the fund.

Mai The Binh, Deputy Director of the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development, said more incentives were needed to make investing in science and technology more attractive, adding that new mechanisms should be established to meet the needs of different enterprises.

He added that small and medium-sized enterprises should be entitled to pay a bigger percentage to the fund to save money for scientific research.

As of July 31, only 49 enterprises in the city had established development funds, with 26 businesses setting aside capital worth totally VND346.8 billion (US$16.5 million). Only 33.9 per cent of the funds have been used.

Schools asked to enhance traffic safety awareness

The Ministry of Education and Training has asked its departments; universities and colleges to step up on campaigns to raise awareness of traffic safety at the very beginning of the next academic year.

Schools should ask parents to sign a pledge not to let students less than 18 years of age to drive without a license and ensure students wear helmets while driving motorcycles.

Facilities should liaise with local administration to adopt measures to reduce traffic congestion in front of schools and to increase awareness of traffic regulation to both staff and students, while refraining from drunken driving at all times.

The ministry also asked departments to publicize the competition ‘Intellectual Traffic’ on the Internet in primary and junior high schools and also make clear to students’ regulations of waterway traffic laws, while teaching all on how to swim as well.

Vietnam-Japan to enhance medical cooperation

"In 2013, Japan has signed 200 billion Japanese yen from ODA capital funds to support health and education development in Vietnam" said Mr. Yasuaki Tanizaki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Vietnam at a workshop about the medical cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan.

Mr. Pham Le Tuan, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Health, said that in the last 40 years, Japan has invested in Vietnam in projects that are sustainable and comprehensive. In particular, Japan invested in three outstanding hospitals in Vietnam, including Bach Mai Hospital, Hue Central Hospital and Cho Ray Hospital.

Besides, Japan has also actively supported projects in preventive medicine, vaccination, prevention of SARS, bird flu, technology transfer for vaccine production, and building of three laboratories with the most modern equipment in Southeast Asia.

Mr Yasuaki Tanizaki also affirmed that Vietnam has tried to improve the life of people as well as healthcare services.

The workshop held in Ha Noi on August 26 by The Vietnam Ministry of Health in collaboration with Medical Excellence Japan and Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Health watchdogs to inspect units making moon cakes

From August 27, health watchdogs will conduct on-spot inspections of food safety and hygiene conditions at units producing moon cakes across the country, said Nguyen Thanh Phong, Deputy Head of Vietnam Food Safety Administration under the Ministry of Health.

Three inspection teams will be set up to oversee the task in nine provinces and cities including Ho Chi Minh City; the southern provinces of Binh Duong, Can Tho; the central provinces of Da Nang, Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue; Hanoi; and the northern provinces of Hai Duong, Hai Phong.

The inspection teams will pay unscheduled visits to processing units and stores. This inspection will last until September 25.

US diet pills not yet licensed in Vietnam

In response to a request of the US Food and Drug Administration to recall three weight loss pills, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) has confirmed that the three US-made medicines have not yet been licensed in Vietnam.

Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke

The Ministry of Health announced three medicine products of Bethel Nutritional Consulting, Inc., New York, including Bethel 30 green capsules, Quick Thin gold capsules, and Bethel Advance white capsules have not been allowed for import into the country.

The capsules tested positive for Sibutramine and Phenolphthalein. FDA advises that these products may pose a threat to consumers because Sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.

This product may also interact, in life-threatening ways, with other medications a consumer may be taking while Phenolphthalein may present health risks that could include potentially serious gastrointestinal disturbances, irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps, and cancer in cases of long term use.

In addition, Phenolphthalein is considered a banned medical substance in Vietnam. Vietnam had earlier issued a decision to suspend and recall all pharmaceutical products containing Sibutramine from the domestic market and had removed this medicine from list allowed to be circulated in Vietnam.

Recurrence of Dengue Fever poses challenges for medical sector

Vietnam has put in a lot of effort to fight dengue fever and has succeeded in reducing the numbers drastically over the years; however, the figure showed an increase recently after many people returned from foreign countries from sightseeing tours, business trips or expat laborers.

Medical workers are treating dengue fever in the Central Tropical Disease Hospital in Hanoi (Photo: SGGP)

Since the beginning of 2013, among the most infectious diseases in the country, figures in dengue fever had slumped, said Tran Dac Phu, Deputy Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health.

As of July 2013, the country had around 17,000 dengue fever patients including 42 suffering from acute fever and three reported fatalities.

The figure has dropped by nearly 3,000 cases against the same period last year but the numbers of deaths are the same.

Phu said despite decreased numbers, the disease had become more complex as more expat workers returned carrying the virus. For instance, many people returning home from Angola and Cameroon contracted the disease and 130 of them tested positive with one fatality.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Cap, Deputy Chief of Emergency at the Central Tropical Disease Hospital in Hanoi, said of nearly 40 cases of dengue fever, eight suffered from acute dengue fever, all of them being expat laborers from Africa and Laos.

As dengue virus is still circulating in the country, the outbreak of the disease is a real challenge to the medical sector. Experts warned that it can lead to drug resistance.

Dr. Tran Thanh Duong, Director of the National Institute of Malariology Parasitology and Entomology, said as some provinces have had no dengue fever cases for years, medical workers are unaware of treatment, especially medical clinics in districts.

For instance, medical workers in a clinic in Ung Hoa District in Hanoi diagnosed an expat patient returning from Angola with pneumonia.

After two weeks of treatment at the clinic, the patient’s condition worsened. Later he was transferred to a big hospital where he subsequently died due to late treatment.

One medical worker said that a patient contracting dengue fever will suffer tiredness, poor appetite and sometimes have sore throat, running nose and headache; consequently, they usually think they have a cold and self-medicate. When their condition worsens it is probably too late.

In addition, the rainy season is conducive to the outbreak of dengue fever. Accordingly, Dr. Duong warned expat laborers and travelers who returned from dengue fever infected zones to visit hospitals right after they experience fever for timely treatment.

Study conducted by the National Institute of Malariology Parasitology and Entomology showed that the central province of Quang Nam; Gia Lai and Dak Nong in the Central Highlands and Binh Phuoc in the South have a high number of dengue fever patients with drug resistance.

As a result, the institute has expanded prevention methods in 14 provinces in Vietnam.

Mekong Delta finds banned additives in food items

Rice noodle samples taken randomly from producers and traders tested positive for banned substances in some provinces in the Mekong Delta.

Dong Thap Province was leading with 19 out of 20 samples testing positive for Tinopal content, followed by Hau Giang with four samples, Can Tho with one and Kien Giang having rice noodles with both Tinopal and Oxalic acid.

The Department of Health in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho is now providing training in food safety and hygiene to food managers.

Tran Quang Trung, Head of Vietnam Food Administration, said they need to publicize and update food regulations to managers, producers, traders and consumers.

Tinopal intake can damage the liver, kidney and neurological system, and increase risk of cancer.

British Council to get in schools

The British Council in Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chu Van An High School in Hanoi on August 26, as part for its initiative to get in schools.

The aim is to create the most favourable conditions for Vietnamese students of Vietnam in general and Hanoi students in particular, to access international standard services of the Global British Council.

Under the MoU, the school will become the council’s official IELTS partner. It means that the school’s students can register to take the international test for English and enroll in the council’s courses right at their school.

The students can enjoy special preferences when attending English learning programmes and educational services at the council’s centres.

Furthermore, they can benefit from the British Council IELST scholarship programme, which will be implemented in the 2013-2014 academic year, and take part in community events introducing the UK’s education, thus helping them gain knowledge and soft skills about studying in the UK.

Private universities claim market is unfair

Many private universities in Vietnam are struggling enroll students and claim that they should get government funding as public schools do.

The result of the government's currently policy is that tuition at most private schools is much higher that those of public schools, making it more likely that potential students choose public universities.

Currently, tuition at private schools is around an average of four times higher than at that of public universities, as they are subsidised with around 70% of their budgets. Public schools are also exempt from corporate taxes.

This year 238,000 university applicants were not accepted at public schools, but are still provided with a second option for public university. Private universities would like to see this practice stop in order to bolster their numbers.

Nguyen Van Hung, principal of Luong The Vinh University said, "We've only received a few applicants even though we've tried to promote our programmes on radio and television. We really hope to attract more students this year."

Phuong Dong University regularly reaches around 70% of its enrollment quota, which is a very good track record compared to other private universities. But the administration is still worried about numbers.

Phan Trong Duc, Principal of Dai Nam University said, "It is vital that we increase our enrollment numbers. We've added two new training programmes in architecture and pharmacists."

In order to attract students, private universities are beginning to apply different incentive policies, including exemption for one month of tuition fees, providing scholarships to excellent students  and making tuition reductions of up to 50% for underprivileged students.

UNESCO supports Vietnam’s sustainable development education

A UNESCO education initiative for sustainable development was launched in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on August 24.

The project is part of UNESCO-Samsung Group global collaboration to improve education systems and help local communities cope with pressure of sustainable modernisation and industrialisation.

Vietnam is the first nation to benefit from the agreement.

UNESCO’s Head Representative in Vietnam Katherine Muller Marin said the project aims to cultivate a learning Vietnamese society capable of addressing repercussions from climate change, natural disasters, and the loss of bio-diversity.

Active and enthusiastic community and school involvement will determine the project’s success, she added.

The initiative encompasses online pedagogical training courses for teachers in five primary schools, preparing them for including sustainable growth concepts in their curricula.

It will also guide local authorities, parents, and school rectors on disaster risk evaluation and using satellite imagery in decision-making.

The techniques are also applicable to heritage site management, including Thua Thien-Hue province’s Royal Citadel.

Dau Tieng Reservoir upgrade proposed to prevent floods

The HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed the city government upgrade Dau Tieng Reservoir to prevent possible breaches that would flood the city and neighboring Binh Duong Province.

The proposal came on Wednesday at a meeting on contingency plans for coping with floods in case Dau Tieng Reservoir discharges floodwaters.

Irrigation experts earlier sought a slew of solutions to cushion the impact of flooding in Saigon River downstream areas, including increasing the height of Dau Tieng dam, strengthening dykes and sluices, dredging canals and building lakes. However, the total cost needed for such works is enormous, amounting to hundreds of trillions of Vietnamese dong.

According to the Southern Institute for Water Resources Planning, if Dau Tieng discharged over 500 cubic meters per second, the Saigon River levels at Thu Dau Mot and Phu An would exceed alarm level 4.

Meanwhile, if 2,800 cubic meters of water was drained from the reservoir to protect the dam), some 620,000 people and around 26,000 hectares of land in 111 communes and wards in HCMC and Binh Duong Province would be hit by floods.

If the dam was broken, around 34,000 hectares in 125 communes and wards with 650,000 inhabitants would suffer from floods.

To relieve the flooding pressure, relevant units have proposed increasing the height of the dam by one meter to revise up the water holding capacity of the reservoir to 395 million cubic meters at a cost of VND1.97 trillion.

HCMC and other areas along the Saigon River in Binh Duong Province have been affected by floods in the past when Dau Tieng discharged more water than normal.

With a discharge volume of 200 cubic meters per second lasting a couple of hours last October, 320 hectares in Dau Tieng District was heavily inundated.

Meanwhile, the An Tay-Phu An and Tan An Chanh My dykes built in 1995 have degraded, so overflows have been reported due to tides and water discharges from Dau Tieng.

According to the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, if water discharges from Dau Tieng and high tides happened at the same time, a previously proposed plan for diverting floodwaters from the Saigon River to the Vam Co River at Rach Cha is considered unworkable as the water drainage at this spot is not good.

The department has also proposed the city execute the second phase of the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe environmental sanitation project with an investment of US$500 million.

Hanoi helps perfect Lao school of politics

Hanoi will continue financing the construction of the Vientiane Politics – Public Administration School’s dormitory.

The pledge was made in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao and visiting Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee cum Vientiane Governor Soukanh Mahalath in Hanoi on August 26.

On the occasion, by authorisation of his Party and State leaders , Mahalath presented Lao State orders and medals to Thao and Hanoi’s experts for their assistance and contributions to Vientiane over the past time.

The Vientiane leader also expressed his deep gratitude to the practical assistance Hanoi’s officials and people have given to the Lao capital city over the years.

Hanoi and Vientiane have regularly exchanged delegations to share experience and bolster bilateral friendship and cooperation in business, culture, health and education.

The two capital cities successfully worked out many projects such as the Vientiane - Hanoi Friendship Vocational School in 2004 and the Vientiane Politics – Public Administration School in 2010, noted the Lao official.

Mahalath said he will continue to reinforce and strengthen the ties between the two cities.

For his part, Thao said his city will spare no effort to boost and expand the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in general and between Hanoi and Vientiane and other Lao localities in particular.

Disaster-proof school opens in Hue

Around 300 students in Quang Dien district, the central province of Thua Thien – Hue, will have a safe place to study even during floods and storms, which are prevalent in the locality, as a strongly-built school was put into service on August 26.

The two-storey school has six classrooms, a meeting-hall, and standardised toilet, with the total investment of 4.98 billion VND (237,000 USD).

The Central Vietnam Disaster Prevention Support Fund and ACE Life Vietnam insurer contributed 2.2 billion VND to the project, and the local budget shouldered the remainder.

The school, the fourth of its kind in the province and the 65th in the central region, will also serve as a storm shelter for local residents stormy days, said Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ngo Hoa.-

Vietnam, RoK journalists cement ties

The Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) and the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) have agreed to further cooperate and promote professional experience sharing, thus contributing to consolidating the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The consensus was reached during their talks in Hanoi on August 26 as part of a working visit to Vietnam by a JAK delegation led by its Chairman Park Chong Ryul from August 21-28.

VJA President Thuan Huu and Park Chong Ryul reviewed the fine development of the two associations over the last twenty years.

They said that annual visits made by leaders of the associations and the two nations’ news agencies have strengthened mutual understanding between the associations.

During their stay in Vietnam, the RoK journalists attended working sessions with Vietnam News Agency and a number of press agencies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Giang and Quang Ninh.-

Vietnam likely to face extreme weather

A recent conference on high resolution weather forecast in Hanoi has warned Vietnam is facing higher temperatures, lower summer rainfall totals, stronger storms, and rising sea levels from now until 2050.

The conference was jointly organised by the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, the University of Natural Sciences , and the Australian Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Experts predict that temperatures in northern Vietnam will rise by around 0.8­–3.4 degrees Celsius by 2050 and continue upwards during the late 21 st century. The surging frequency of hotter days is bound to affect agricultural production.

Summer rainfall will decline in most areas. However, the central region could buck this trend with summer rainfalls increasing instead.

East Sea storms may become rarer but more intense, threatening flash flooding and landslides in vulnerable northern mountainous, central and central highland provinces.

The high resolution forecasts suggest sea level rises of 100mm–400mm along the entire Vietnamese coast until the end of the 21st century, negatively impacting marine biology and coastal communities.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha reiterated the unpredictability of climate change and its potential to create a variety of dangerous extreme weather events.

To improve Vietnam ’s understanding of climate change’s possible outcomes, Ha urged relevant agencies to work together on devising worst-case scenario models and responses by 2015. He expressed his hope that international experts will help Vietnam cope with climate change’s challenges.