The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will be open to the public on May 1, the Management Board of the site has announced.

Time for people to pay tribute will be from 7:30am to 11am.

President Ho Chi Minh passed away on September 2, 1969. His body was embalmed and placed in a glass coffin inside the granite mausoleum.

The mausoleum has become an important landmark of the capital city and is integral to the political and social history of Vietnam.

Surging accommodation prices in Hanoi force students into uncomfortable living arrangements

Many students in Hà Nội have found themselves searching for roommates to cope with an unexpected surge in accommodation prices.

To save money, students live with two or three roommates, sometimes even four. However, cohabitating with strangers has led to unanticipated challenges.

Hostel owners in Hà Nội have attributed the sudden price increase to a rise in demand from students and workers needing housing. Some landlords have taken advantage of the situation to raise prices.

Depending on location and room size, the monthly rent for a fully-furnished studio with a bed, wardrobe, kitchen, and air-conditioner ranges from VNĐ3 million (US$127) to VNĐ5 million ($211).

Accommodations located near major universities in areas such as Cầu Giấy, Hồ Tùng Mậu, Hoàng Quốc Việt, Đê La Thành, Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Chùa Láng, and Nguyễn Trãi command higher rents.

Students typically spend between VNĐ3 million and VNĐ4 million per month for a room with an area of ​​20sq.m to 25sq.m. Mini apartments range from VNĐ4 million to VNĐ6 million per month.

Because students cannot bear such a high monthly rent, they are forced to find strangers to share with.

Dương Mạnh Chiến, a student of Hà Nội University of Civil Engineering, was forced to find a roommate after finding a satisfactory room but with a rent of up to VNĐ4 million per month in Ba Đình District.

Through social networking sites, he became acquainted with another guy from the Hà Nội University who was also looking for a room to share.

However, conflicts occurred after living together for a few weeks because their lifestyles were opposite.

Phương Trinh, a student who rented a hostel in Đống Đa District with a rent of VNĐ3.8 million per month, was in a similar situation.

Trinh's roommate was a colleague from her part-time job shop, and conflicts in the workplace led to arguments in the hostel room. The climax was when Trinh discovered that her roommate secretly used her personal belongings.

The constant conflict made the two friends not want to spend any time with each other. They signed up to work at home at different times to avoid meeting at home. They didn't cook together, didn't communicate, and limit face-to-face contact at work and at home.

They are in a difficult situation because if they move to another place, they will lose the deposit and staying together is uncomfortable. Both are trying to stay to end the contract for a while, and then one of them will move to another place. 

HCM City to crack down on picking up, dropping off passengers illegally

The HCM City Department of Transport has asked Thủ Đức City authorities to enforce punishments for illegal picking up or dropping off passengers on the main road to the Rạch Chiếc Sports Complex.

The department has asked the HCM City Road Traffic Infrastructure Management Centre to install signs and banners prohibiting picking up and dropping off passengers illegally on the road (in both directions) in An Phú Ward.

The department has also proposed Thủ Đức City extract data via GPS from the Directorate of Roads to sanction illegal passenger pick-ups and drop-offs on the road.

The department said it was considering withdrawing the licence of any transport company if found to be in violation many times.

The department has asked the Thủ Đức City Police in collaboration with its inspectors to strengthen inspection and strictly handle the violations on this road.

The inspectors must report the results of the inspection to the department before March 10.

In a related move, since the middle of January, the department has banned sleeper buses from entering the city centre between 6am and 10pm to crack down on picking up and dropping off passengers illegally in the city centre.

Accordingly, sleeper buses are not allowed to enter the off-limits area within National Highway 1A, Nguyễn Văn Linh, Võ Chí Công, Nguyễn Thị Định, Đồng Văn Cống, Mai Chí Thọ and Hà Nội Highway during the time limitation mentioned above.

This area has been off limits for cargo trucks since 2018.

However, sleeper buses are allowed to travel on those roads without any time limitation on their way to the new Miền Đông (Eastern) Bus Station in Thủ Đức City and Miền Tây (Western) Bus Station in Bình Tân District on fixed routes regulated by the transport department.

Sleeper buses traveling to and from the city are only allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at five designated bus stations (An Sương Bus Station in Hóc Môn District, Ngã Tư Ga Bus Station in District 12, new Miền Đông Bus Station, old Miền Đông Bus Station in Bình Thạnh District and Miền Tây Bus Station).

But many sleeper buses have been discovered picking up and dropping off passengers at illegal locations.

The department’s traffic inspectors have identified nearly 80 locations across the city where passenger transport services often pick up or drop off passengers illegally, mostly in Thủ Đức City, and the districts of 5, 10, 12, Bình Tân and Tân Phú.

HCM City's ambitious plans to make fishing sustainable

HCM City plans to achieve sustainable fishing by properly managing fishing vessels and output and ending illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

It hopes to have 50 per cent of fishing boats using hi-tech fishing and preservation methods to retain seafood quality. 

It will encourage supply chain linkages and between fishing and eco-tourism and community tourism at traditional fishing villages.

Other targets include sustaining annual growth at 1.5 per cent, providing regular training to all boat captains and keeping them abreast of national and international fishing regulations and teaching fishermen fishing techniques and safety procedures.

To achieve the targets, the city has been developing seafood supply chains by helping set up cooperative groups and joint ventures and stimulating demand in domestic and foreign markets.

Besides, fishing activities are carefully managed with inspections and monitoring of vessels, and stringent sanctions on unregistered and unlicensed boats and all acts of IUU fishing.

The city has also identified marine aquaculture as an integral part of its agriculture, and aims to expand the farming of finfish, shellfish, molluscs, and other species.

It will identify new areas for marine aquaculture in Thủ Đức City and districts such as Nhà Bè and Cần Giờ, and solicit investment in infrastructure, farming services and fishing logistics. 

The city is also seeking to attract investment in mollusc farming areas to meet ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) or MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) quality standards. 

Singer Tuấn to fund TV programme helping find missing relatives

Singing sensation Hà Anh Tuấn, together with his family and the Viet Vision Advertising Company, will support the TV programme Như Chưa Hề Có Cuộc Chia Ly (Like There Was No Separation) with VNĐ4 billion (US$169,000).

The singer has revealed the information, according to Dân Việt newspaper.

The Like There Was No Separation programme, aired on Việt Nam Television (VTV) since 2007, aims to offer assistance free of charge to Vietnamese families across the country to find their missing relatives. Over the past 15 years, 1,800 families have been reunited thanks to the humanitarian programme.

Funding for its operation currently derives from community contributions and revenue from the YouTube channel. However, due to budget difficulties in recent years, the programmes would stop broadcasting after February.

The contribution from Tuấn and his friends will guarantee that the programme will continue for at least two years.

At his recent live show Chân Trời Rực Rỡ (The Glorious Horizon) on February 25, the singer and his inviting artist, rapper Đen Vâu, announced their donation of VNĐ500 million for the programme.

Members of his "FriendClub" have also raised VNĐ81 million and presented it to the host of the programme,  journalist Nguyễn Phạm Thu Uyên.

The Viet Vision Advertising Company and the singer said they did not expect Like There Was No Separation to be interrupted while tens of thousands of families looking for relatives have applied for the programme and longing for the reunion day.

This is the second time that the celebrated singer supported Like There Was No Separation financially. In 2020, at its most difficult time after 13 years of broadcasting, he donated VNĐ3 billion for its continuation.

Tuấn, a graduate of Technische Universitat Darmstadt in Hessen, Germany, rose to fame in the Sao Mai – Rendezvous TV singing contest in 2006.

He has released 14 albums, including Acous’84, a production of nine songs in R&B which helped the singer bring home the Golden Album of the Year presented by HCM City Television in 2010.

The winner of numerous awards like Cống Hiến (Devotion), Mai Vàng (Golden Ochna) and Bài Hát Việt (Vietnamese Songs) Awards, Tuấn has become a favourite Vietnamese singer on YouTube, with more than 970,000 subscribers. 

He is also the initiator of many community and charity projects like Chồi Việt Nam (Vietnamese Buds) which takes care of disadvantaged children's health and helps them to go to school, or Rừng Việt Nam (Vietnamese Forest) that aims plant new trees covering bare land.

Two local seaports nominated at 2023 World Travel Awards

Two Vietnamese ports have been named in the shortlist of the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA) 2023.

Ha Long International Cruise Port in Quang Ninh province and Phu My Port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province are the two local nominees up for the title of Asia’s Leading Cruise Port.

Vietnam has also been nominated for other awards, such as Asia’s Leading Heritage Destination, Asia’s Leading Nature Destination, Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination, Asia’s Leading Beach Destination, Asia’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, and Asia’s Leading Youth Travel Destination.

Most notably, Ho Chi Minh City is featured in the list of nominees for Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination award, whilst the Hanoi Department of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism are up for Asia’s Leading City Tourist Board, and Hanoi is in contention for Asia’s Leading City Break Destination.

Hoi An of Quang Nam province and Hue of Thua Thien - Hue province are both candidates for the title of Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination.

Meanwhile, Ha Giang province is among the nominees for the award of Asia’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination, whilst Moc Chau of Son La province is up for Asia’s Leading Regional Nature Destination.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is calling for votes for Vietnamese destinations in the 2023 World Travel Awards.

The voting will take place at www.worldtravelawards.com for the Asian and Oceania regions and will last through to July 23.

Ca Mau-Nam Du-Phu Quoc ferry service to resume this month

An express ferry service linking Ca Mau Province and Nam Du and Phu Quoc islands off Kien Giang Province will be re-launched on March 18 to meet the travel demand of tourists after a two-year hiatus induced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Phu Quoc Express JSC, the high-speed ferry service operator, said it would reoffer the service on a trial basis from March 18, the local media reported.

From March 28, ferry services on Ca Mau-Nam Du and Nam Du-Phu Quoc routes will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Meanwhile, those on the Phu Quoc-Nam Du and Nam Du-Ca Mau are scheduled for Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The company will offer the service every day starting from April 8.

The Ca Mau-Nam Du-Phu Quoc boat route was put into service in July 2020 and was expected to offer a new travel experience to tourists and help boost tourism in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau.

However, the Covid-19 outbreak then caused the service to stop.

Each trip on the Ca Mau-Nam Du-Phu Quoc route takes three hours and 15 minutes, using catamaran passenger ferries able to accommodate 600 passengers each.

French experts to help Vietnam's cities improve climate resilience

French experts promised to help Vietnam enhance the resistance and restoration of cities from the impact of climate change.

At the national workshop organized by the Central Economic Committee, the Ministry of Construction and the French Development Agency in Vietnam, experts from France pledged to support the Southeast country to increase its climate resilience. Moreover, French experts will help restore the ecosystem.

Seminar participants said that after 35 years of renovation and development, Vietnam has a high rate of urbanization, reaching 40 percent by 2022 compared to 30.5 percent in 2010. Urbanization is also correlated with the country’s economic development; already, 70 percent of the country’s GDP is generated in cities gradually improving inhabitants’ quality of life in urban areas.

However, the process of urbanization still reveals many limitations. Despite the rapid urban development speed, the country is lacking overall and sustainable strategy. Additionally, urban infrastructure is considered to be not synchronized with social development and environmental protection, wasting natural resources with existing shortcomings in land resources and management capacity.

Therefore, Vietnam is in need of building an overall urban planning strategy to ensure the harmony of issues aiming at the targets of green growth adapting to climate change and net emissions reducing to zero in the year 2050.

Speaking at the seminar, European Union Ambassador to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti said that the European Union always commits to strongly supporting the Vietnamese government in implementing sustainable development goals including the establishment of the Warm Fund for financing the preparation and implementation of strategic infrastructure investment projects to enhance the adaptability to climate change.

Ho Chi Minh City and France’s Lyon City have 20-year cooperation in the field of urban planning and management; thus, experts from Lyon talked about their experiences in sustainable urban development in Lyon that have been successfully applied.

Due to the natural geographical conditions located in the conformity area of the two rivers, the Rhone River and the Saone River, Lyon City, like many Vietnamese cities are facing serious flooding. Lyon City has applied many specific solutions to minimize vulnerability to environmental dangers and enhance climate recovery.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery affirmed that France is always ready to strengthen support for the Government of Vietnam in minimizing activities and adapting to climate change. Experienced French experts from Lyon will help Vietnam clear the issues arisen in the climate change strategy that the provinces and cities of Vietnam are facing.

HCMC’s outlying district plans pedestrian street

The HCMC Department of Industry and Trade has been told to work with Hoc Mon District and the relevant agencies over a proposal to set up a night market and a pedestrian street in this outlying district.

Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Phan Van Mai assigned this task to the department after the city’s government received the district’s proposal to develop the night market and the pedestrian street in the district center, the local media reported.

According to the proposal, the night market and the pedestrian street would be set up along a road running parallel to the National Highway 22 section passing through Hoc Mon, since this urban road has been lined with eateries for a long time, which are often crowded on the weekend.

The Hoc Mon government would coordinate with Grand Expo Co., Ltd. to organize these night-time activities, which would take place bimonthly and last 10 days each, starting this month.

The launch of the night market and the pedestrian street aims to promote the night-time economy and offer products at preferential prices to locals. Besides, the district looks to provide more products under the city’s commodity price stabilization program to consumers to encourage the consumption of domestically produced goods, said a representative of Hoc Mon.

HCMC wants to upgrade two bridges

The HCMC Department of Transport has proposed raising the vertical clearance of two bridges to seven meters.

If the plan receives the nod from the municipal government, the city would spend a combined VND245 billion on Binh Trieu 1 and Binh Phuoc 1 bridges.

Binh Trieu 1 bridge is expected to receive VND133 billion. Built before 1975 and expanded in 2010, the bridge has a vertical height of 5.5 meters, which is inconvenient for water transportation during high tide. It connects Thu Duc City with Binh Thanh District.

The remaining capital would go to Binh Phuoc 1 bridge, constructed in 2003 and connecting Thu Duc City with District 12.

It has a length of over 480 meters, a width of 11 meters, and a clearance height of around six meters. Last August, a vessel slammed into it, damaging the bridge.

The reconstruction is expected to finish in 2024. Once that is done, the ministry said it would propose raising the vertical clearance of other bridges.

Currently, HCMC has 218 bridges, of which 102 have low vertical heights.

Riverbank encroachment rampant in HCM City

Around 107 construction works in HCM City have illegally encroached on local riverbanks and canals, according to the city’s Department of Transport.

Among those, 30 cases were in Binh Chanh District, followed by Nha Be District with 25, Thu Duc City with 18, and District 7 with seven. The others are in Can Gio, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon and Binh Thanh districts.

The Department of Transport has urged districts to strictly deal with riverbank and canal encroachment. Localities have been asked to instruct the dismantlement of illegally-built works.

HCM City will take measures to protect 59 rivers and canals with a total length of 553 kilometres, including 72 kilometres of Saigon River, 60 kilometres of Soai Rap River, 32 kilometres of Long Tau River and seven kilometres of Dong Nai River.

HCM City Department of Transport had previously been urged to set up inspection teams to crack down on encroachment on the banks of Saigon River.

Construction works are endangering the banks of the Saigon, which supplies drinking water to the city. The encroachment of the safety corridors and banks had affected the flow of the river and posed a risk of collapse of the banks.

Cat Ba among 10 friendliest cities in Vietnam for 2023

Booking.com, the world's leading digital travel brand, has named Cat Ba town in the northern port city of Hai Phong among this year’s top 10 friendliest destinations in Vietnam.

The ranking is based on more than 240 million verified reviews from travelers who use Booking.com.

This is the first time that the northern town has been named in the list after surpassing Mui Ne in the south central province of Binh Thuan to win the title.

Specifically, when assessing satisfaction with accommodation facilities Vietnamese tourists gave the highest score for friendly staff of 8.9. This was followed by comfort at 8.7, cleanliness of 8.7, and location position at 8.7.

Rounding off the list of the top 10 friendliest cities and localities in Vietnam in 2023 include Phong Nha in Quang Binh, Ninh Binh and Hoi An in Quang Nam, Hue in Thua Thien - Hue, Mai Chau in Hoa Binh, Tuy Hoa in Phu Yen, Con Dao in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Hoi in Quang Binh, and Sa Pa in Lao Cai.

This year also saw the Traveller Review Awards honour 1.36 million accommodation service suppliers around the world in terms of hospitality level, including more than 10,000 in Vietnam.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau sets up checkpoints to prevent IUU fishing

Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province will establish three inter-disciplinary checkpoints to fight against IUU fishing at the sea gates of Sao Mai, Loc An and Binh Chau, authorized to inspect fishing boats, sailors and fishing licenses.

The Ba Ria-Vung Tau People’s Committee has decided to set up three inter-disciplinary checkpoints to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing during the peak fishing season in the provincial area this year, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Checkpoint No. 1 will be established at the Sao Mai sea gate, Vung Tau City, checkpoint No. 2 at the Loc An sea gate, Dat Do District, and checkpoint No. 3 at the Binh Chau sea gate, Xuyen Moc District.

These checkpoints will stop incoming and outgoing fishing boats in the area of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to inspect documents relating to sailors, fishing boats, registration numbers of fishing boats, equipment installed on the fishing boats and the fishing boat’s port records.

On March 3 the provincial People’s Committee issued an action plan to fight against IUU fishing activities. According to this, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development would coordinate with other relevant departments to complete registration, inspection, granting permits and installation of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) for all the fishing boats in the provincial area.

Statistics of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that till now, there had been around 2,631 fishing boats with a height of 15 meters installed with the VMS, accounting for 95% of the total, while the remaining 5% of fishing boats were inactive.

Deputy PM wants report on material shortage in expressway projects

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has urged ministries to report on the current shortage of construction materials in expressway projects in the central and southwest regions.

According to the Ministry of Transport, 10 components of the North-South expressway from Ha Tinh to Khanh Hoa provinces in central Vietnam will need 17.1 million cubic meters of rock, nearly nine million cubic meters of sand and 45.3 million cubic meters of soil.

However, the current quarrying capacity of companies licensed to supply building materials is not enough to meet the huge demand. The above components lack some 7.5 million cubic meters of rock, three million cubic meters of sand and 1.9 million cubic meters of soil.

Likewise, the Can Tho-Hau Giang and Hau Giang-Ca Mau sections of the North-South expressway will require 18.5 million cubic meters of sand.

The ministry said there were enough construction materials in reserve, but the Government should streamline procedures for exploiting new mines to enhance the quarrying capacity.

Auto testing center leader, staff detained on bribe-taking allegations

Doan Van Hieu, director of the 29-13D vehicle registration and inspection center in Hanoi City’s Dong Anh District, has been detained for allegedly accepting bribes.

The police of the district pressed the same charges against five others at the auto testing center today, March 10. They are the center’s deputy director Pham Van Tai and four technicians: Hoang Trung Khai, Nguyen Thanh Dat, Tran Thanh Dat, and Ngo Hoang Anh.

Three days ago, the police searched another auto testing center, 29-03V, in Lang Thuong Ward, Dong Da District in Hanoi.

The capital city has 31 auto testing centers but only eight remain operational and are overwhelmed by the huge demand for auto testing services.

In a related development, two auto testing centers in Hanoi, 29-03S in Nam Tu Liem District and 29-14D in the Thanh Oai industrial cluster, resumed operations this morning.

To date, the police in 33 cities and provinces have filed charges against nearly 380 individuals and searched 66 auto testing centers over charges of bribery and falsification of auto testing documents.

Institute works hard on improving specialty rice varieties

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta Rice Research Institute (CLRRI) is working on improving specialty rice varieties and developing specialised rice-growing areas with high commodity value, in association with building trademarks for rice products in regional localities.

CLRRI Director Tran Ngoc Thach said the institute has improved 6,000 ha of milky-colour variety (Tai nguyen Duc) - a rice variety for the summer-autumn crop in Soc Trang province, and built a certification mark for this type.

It will also research and improve the output and quality of other varieties such “nang Thom cho Dao” and “Nanh Chon”  which have been degraded because of unfavorable cultivation conditions, Thach said.

The institute also focuses on research of selected rice varieties, towards improving rice quality suitable for climate change in the region in accordance with a project to plant one million hectares of high-quality rice associated with green growth for the Mekong Delta region, he noted.

In addition, it will also research and evaluate the nutritional potential of rice varieties and develop high-value products from rice and by-products in rice production and processing; develop models rotating between rice and crops and aquaculture adapt to climate change, especially in drought and saltwater intrusion areas, in areas affected by salt water in coastal fish and shrimp farming zones, he added.

Implementing scientific research and technology transfer in the rice industry serving the socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta region, the institute was tasked with performing many relevant scientific and technological projects at national and ministerial levels.

It has also developed rice farming procedures for four ecological sub-regions, which are being widely applied in rice production in the Mekong Delta region; and built an organic rice farming process in the shrimp-rice farming system in coastal areas of the Mekong Delta.

HCMC urges capital allocation for cash-strapped Metro Line No. 1 company

The government of HCMC has requested the Ministry of Justice to help with the procedure to allocate capital for the cash-strapped HCMC Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited (HURC1), which will operate Metro Line No. 1.

According to the HCMC People’s Committee, the capital allocation is necessary for HURC1 to ensure employee compensation, personnel training, technology transfer and smooth takeover of the metro line which connects the landmark Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City.

The city proposed the Ministry of Justice urgently work with the Ministry of Finance to advise the Government to issue a resolution on increasing the charter capital of HURC1.

In October 2022, the city proposed the prime minister and the Ministry of Finance approve in principle the use of the city’s budget to supplement VND268 billion to the company’s charter capital.

The Ministry of Finance then forwarded the proposal to the prime minister for consideration before the city could take the next steps.

On February 24, the Government Office requested the minister of finance to work with the minister of justice and heads of relevant agencies to collect feedback and report it to the prime minister prior to March 8.

HURC1 was put into operation in 2019 to make necessary preparations for the management and operation of Metro Line No. 1 when it is completed.

Contractors have urged HURC1 to arrange human resources for technology transfer but the company has found it hard to hire staff due to its lack of capital.

The 10th southern traditional cake festival in Can Tho

The People’s Committee of Can Tho City has planned to organize the 10th Southern Traditional Cake Festival from April 28 to May 2 this year at the city’s Binh Thuy District Square.

Themed “Preserving and promoting the value of southern traditional cakes,” the festival is expected to have 250-300 booths making and serving various southern folk cakes, and regional specialties and dishes; showcasing machinery and accessories; and displaying and selling handicrafts, souvenirs and gifts of Can Tho and other localities.

The festival will also include the celebration of Hung Kings’ death anniversary on the 10th day of the third lunar month (April 29) at the Hung Kings Temple in Can Tho, traditional cake-making contest and show, folk games, art and variety shows, and tourism promotion and cooperation activities of participating localities.

There will be a program for students to meet folk cake-making artisans and learn how to make some cakes. This is a meaningful way to preserve and promote the value of southern folk cakes.

According to laodong.vn, the 9th Southern Traditional Cake Festival in Can Tho last year attracted the participation of some 200 cake-making artisans and welcomed nearly one million visitors.

High-rise building development can answer HCMC’s urban issues

HCMC is facing various urban challenges like traffic congestion, urban flooding, green space shortage. They could be alleviated if the city applies more drastic measures to minimize horizontal housing structures and boost vertical ones.

A close look at three typical districts representing the three development stages of Ho Chi Minh City (District 4 before Doi Moi (‘renovation’) period, Go Vap District in the 1990-2000 period, and Hoc Mon District in the last few years) reveals a series of inadequacies such as tightly packed houses, limited traffic space (mostly small alleys), extremely restrict land for public facilities.

This kind of urban structure only suits the use of two-wheel vehicles and low living standards. Even with the current policy to expand the width of alleys throughout the city, it is nearly impossible to tackle traffic congestion trouble and low-quality accommodation.

The future of HCMC then depends on the determination of the municipal authorities in introducing policies for more logical structure renovation and the cooperation of city dwellers in adopting them. If residents are still happy with the existing urban structure filled with hard-to-upgrade houses as to traffic facilities and common space, then the current situation will last much longer; alternatively, when opting for living in high-rise buildings with corresponding utilities, the city might see a brighter future.

For instance, instead of allocating one square kilometer for 11,000 houses in District 4, each of which has 2-3 floors, a vertical housing structure with 10 floors could save two-thirds of that surface area for traffic infrastructure and green space, common space. HCMC will then become more environmentally friendly and modern just like Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo.

Restructuring the urban development form of HCMC from private houses and traffic mostly for two-wheel vehicles to high-rise accommodation and public transport should be a focus of the city in preparing its master planning. otherwise, it is nearly impossible for HCMC to become a modern one with high living standards that can compete with its counterparts in the region.

It is worth learning from the experience of neighboring cities successful in transforming themselves to their better versions. Singapore during the 1960s introduced its accommodation strategy and a series of policies for private as well as apartment housing construction to ensure sufficient common and green space. The result is 80 percent of its population now staying in high-rise buildings with high-quality utilities. Other similar cases could be seen in the Republic of Korea or China, where most dwellers now happily live in apartments to save land for public facilities like traffic systems (public transport) and parks.

It seems that the current urban accommodation form will still exist for a long time. Without reasonable policies, the form could even spread to new urban areas as well. To minimize that inadequate form, the city should encourage its residents to choose apartment living and limit the growth of new private houses, especially in places where there is a risk of informal development.

Vietnam Railways to add more trains for upcoming national holidays

Vietnam Railways (VNR) will add more 52 trains to meet the increasing demand on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30) and International Labor Day.

Vietnam Railways will add more 52 trains on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30) and International Labor Day. (Photo: KK)

Additional trains will include routes of Hanoi – Thanh Hoa, Hanoi – Vinh, Hanoi- Dong Hoi, Hanoi – Da Nang, Hanoi – Hai Phong, Hanoi – Lao Cai, and HCMC- Da Nang/ Quang Ngai/ Dieu Tri/ Quy Nhon/ Nha Trang/ Phan Thiet.

In addition, VNR also plans to provide more Hanoi – HCMC trains numbered SE11/SE12.

The company will also offer discounted tickets to students and passengers under a preferential treatment policy, such as Vietnamese heroic mothers, children with disabilities, disabled people, war veterans, wounded soldiers, students and the elderly. Passengers who purchase return tickets will receive a discount of five percent.

Rare turtle species conserved

Seven species of turtles have been discovered at Xuan Lien Nature Reserve in the central province of Thanh Hoa as a result of the 2020-2023 project on conserving, rescuing and raising turtles at the facility.

Specially, forest rangers detected four box turtles (Cuora galbinifrons), two big-headed turtles (Platysternon megacephalum), two impressed tortoises (Manouria impressa), one black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri), one four-eyed turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata), one keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii), and softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis).

These species have been listed in the Vietnam Red Book and need to be conserved.

Pham Anh Tam, Director of the Xuan Lien Nature Reserve Management Board, said that in three years implementing the project, the board has conducted seven field investigations on 28 routes with a total length of more than 184 km, and placed 59 camera traps.

It has also handed leaflets to local people and schools, and organised training courses to raise public awareness of conserving turtle species.

Ca Mau resolutely combats IUU fishing

The People’s Committee of the southernmost province of Ca Mau recently issued a decree on continuing to intensify the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, requesting joint actions to contribute to having the European Commission (EC)’s ‘yellow card’ warning on Vietnamese seafood removed.

Accordingly, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is required to focus on examining, inspecting and guiding the implementation of this task at units and localities; seeking measures to address shortcomings and limitations; and duplicating effective projects and models in exploiting and protecting marine resources.

The provincial Border Guard High Command is asked to step up patrols and strictly control people and fishing vessels entering the port or going out to the sea, resolutely not allow vessels to go fishing when they do not meet the prescribed conditions, and promptly detect and strictly handle any acts of IUU fishing.

The provincial Department of Public Security must focus on investigating and handling organisations and individuals involving in bringing vessels to illegally fish in foreign waters, while local authorities must take more drastic measures to handle any ships whose registration certificates are overdue, and those that stay unconnected to cruise monitoring device.

The provincial People’s Committee also requires increased communications to raise the awareness by ship owners, captains and fishermen of abiding by legal regulations related to the fight against IUU fishing.

Ca Mau currently has over 4,300 fishing vessels which all have installed the vessel monitoring system.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes