The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand on October 24 received two Vietnamese fishermen who had been rescued by fishermen and coast guards of Thailand’s southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The two, 51-year-old Lam Van Con, from the southern province of Kien Giang, and 53-year-old Duong Van Hai, from the southernmost province of Ca Mau, were among six fishermen on a squid-fishing boat that departed from Kien Giang province on August 22 and sunk due to storm on September 22.

The two men were saved by Thai fishermen after five days adrift at sea, and handed over to police in Pak Phanang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, three days later.

Meanwhile, there has been no information about the other four fishermen.

A representative of the Vietnamese Embassy said the embassy will continue to coordinate with competent Vietnamese and Thai agencies to complete procedures to bring the fishermen home in the next 8-10 days./.

Hà Nội orders probe into second grader’s death

The scene of the accident in Tuy Lai A Primary School. — Photo infonet.vn

 

 

Hà Nội’s Education and Training Department has ordered relevant agencies to investigate after a second grader was reportedly electrocuted at the Tuy Lai A Primary School in Mỹ Đức District on Thursday morning.

The department was asked to clarify the details of the student’s death.

The accident occurred when the student was playing outside the school. He was alleged to have stepped on a power line.

The department also told the district’s education and training office to visit and offer condolences to the student’s family.

Local police are investigating the case.

After the case, the city’s education sector asked all schools to check their electric system to ensure safety for students.

Forgery gang accused of conning banks

Two members of the gang arrested by the Tây Hồ Police. — Photo anninhthudo.vn

 

Three people have been arrested accused of using fake documents to steal cash from banks.

The trio are alleged to have used elaborate forgeries of identity cards, residency cards and even payslips in a bid to con the banks out of millions đồng.

Tây Hồ District Police in Hà Nội have arrested Phạm Văn Sáng, 28, who also used the name Bùi Tiến Trung, from the central province of Thanh Hóa, Vũ Thị Hải Ninh, 39 – often called Bùi Thị Dình – from Hà Nội and Nguyễn Hữu Hoàng, 27 – also known as Hoàng Anh – from Hà Nội.

On October 1, police received a letter from the Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) in Đống Đa District claiming that Ninh tried to appropriate money from the bank.

Sáng is also accused of using fake papers to take money from different banks and credit organisations since the beginning of this year.

Police say the amount stolen was more than VNĐ300 million (US$13,000).

If anyone believes they may be victims of bank fraud, they should call Tây Hồ Police on 0389332681.

Dengue fever spikes in Kon Tum Province

A patient with dengue fever receives treatment at Kon Tum Hospital. — Photo nongnghiep.vn

 

Cases of dengue fever have spiked in the Central Highlands’ province of Kon Tum, claiming one life.

As many as 44 new cases of dengue were recorded between October 14 and 20.

About 460 hotspots with more than 1,350 cases have been reported in the province as of October 20.

Districts with high numbers of cases include Kon Tum, Đắk Hà and Sa Thầy.

It is forecast that dengue fever will continue to spread as the province is at the peak of the epidemic.

The Centre for Disease Control under the provincial Department of Health said measures have been taken to cope with the disease.

The centre has asked health stations across the province to monitor the epidemic while deploying campaigns to clean up the environment and spray chemicals to kill mosquitoes and larva.

Meanwhile, one person has been reported as dead in Đắk Lắk province, raising the number of dengue fever-related deaths to four.

The patient, who lived in Ea Sup District, died despite receiving treatment at the local health centre for four days.

According to Đắk Lắk Province’s Centre for Disease Control, as soon as the latest dengue fever death was recorded, Ea Sup District mobilised forces near the location to carry out prevention and control activities.

Vietnam joins 19th meeting of ASEAN telecommunication chiefs

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 19th ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting (TELMIN 19) that opened in Vientiane on October 24.

Along with information and communications chiefs from 10 ASEAN member countries, the event also drew Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonesay Siphandone, ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi, and representatives from dialogue partners of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the US, as well as the European Commission and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The annual event aims to strengthen ICT cooperation among the ASEAN member countries as well as between the association and partners.

During the two-day event, the ministers will review their cooperation in the past year, while discussing their future partnership orientations, including cooperation initiatives and programmes to promote ASEAN digital transformation.

The ministers will hold separate working sessions with dialogue partners to discuss collaboration programmes and activities in 2020 as well as partnership in personnel training, innovation promotion, and the enhancing of capacity in coping with cyber-security risks.

Addressing the event, the Lao Deputy Prime Minister said that IT and digital transformation have become a major motivation for socio-economic development, causing great impact on people’s lifeand bringing about various opportunities.

Digital connection has created new forms of connectivity and partnership, allowing markets to become closer and generating new industries, he said.

Alongside, digital connectivity has helped improve public services, including education and health care, the official added.

He held that in order to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and enhancing cooperation in cyber-security, ASEAN member countries should work more closely together to upgrade quality of the human resources to liberalize people’s potential and cope with challenges ahead.

As scheduled, on the sidelines of TELMIN 19, Deputy Minister Hung will have bilateral meetings with ITU members to share information and discuss specific cooperation areas in the future./.

Project enhances education quality for ethnic minority students

 

A project to improve pre-school and primary education for ethnic minority children in northern and central regions has benefited more than 6,000 children and teachers in Sin Ho district in Lai Chau province and Kon Plong district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum over the past three years.

The figure was announced at a conference in Hanoi on October 23 to review the project, which was conducted by Plan International and local partners with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With total investment of 1.7 million USD, the project aims to improve the learning environment for children and ensure a smooth transition from kindergarten to primary school by training pre-school and primary school teachers as well as parents, along with upgrading infrastructure.

The project has also helped to enhance teachers and education managers’ awareness of the significance of a higher quality learning environment and student-cored teaching methods./.

Concert raises over 1.9 million USD for the poor in HCM City

A charity concert took place in Ho Chi Minh City on October 24, raising over 45 billion VND (1.93 million USD) for the municipal “Fund for the poor”.

The event, the 19th of its kind, was co-organised by the standing board of the city’s Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee and Ho Chi Minh City Television. The concert featured diverse performances as well as exchanges with outstanding philanthropists and those who have overcome poverty.

In her speech at the show, Chairwoman of the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee To Thi Bich Chau said the southern city considers caring for the people, particularly the needy, the responsibility and moral duty of local leaders and residents.

She took the occasion to express her gratitude toward organisations and individuals who have made great contributions to local social welfare work over the years.

Over the past 19 years, the municipal chapter of the VFF has raised over 2 trillion VND (86.02 million USD) for the local “Fund for the poor”, which targets poor and near-poor families, orphans, and elderly people living alone, among other disadvantaged groups.

In August this year alone, it raised 116 billion VND to build and repair charity shelters and presented scholarships and other gifts to the poor./.

Photo exhibition on Vietnam’s seas, islands held in HCM City

VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi speaks at the event

 

 

More than 100 photos on Vietnam’s sea and island beauty and maritime economic potential are on display at an exhibition which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 24.

The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Vietnam – Russia oil and gas joint venture Vietsovpetro.

The photos feature beautiful landscape and daily life of people in coastal areas and on islands, sea-based economic development and security and defence activities at sea.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi highlighted a strategic vision and consistent policy of the Party and State on maritime economic development and safeguarding national sea and island sovereignty.

The exhibition will last until October 27, and then be moved to junior high schools in the city./.

Workshop seeks to raise awareness of child protection

At the training workshop (Source: baohoabinh.com.vn)

 

 

The Ministry of Public Security, the EU and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) co-organised a training workshop in Hoa Binh province on October 24, aiming to raise public awareness of the prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking.

Nguyen Van Ha, deputy head of the ministry’s internal political security division, pointed out limitations in child protection, especially in remote, mountainous and ethnic minority-inhabited areas.

The main cause is the inadequate awareness of relevant agencies and organisations about their role and responsibility for child protection, he said, noting that child sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking are becoming complex, amidst the dominating influence of fast-growing information technology and the cyber space.

Nguyen Huu Duc, Deputy Director of Hoa Binh province’s Police Department, highlighted the increase in child sexual abuse cases, which, he said, requires competent agencies to step up their coordination in preventing and handling these crimes.

Delegates at the workshop focused their discussions on policies and laws towards children, mechanisms protecting children who are victims of sexual abuse, sexual abuse on cyber space and school violence, among others./. 

Firefighting drill held at Vietnam’s highest building

At the firefighting drill

 

Hundreds of people took part in a firefighting drill at Vietnam’s highest building, Landmark 81, in Binh Thanh district, Ho Chi Minh City, on October 24.

The drill was carried out based on a simulated situation that a blaze caused by an electrical short circuit at the seventh floor of the 461-m building spread to other floors, leaving many stranded.

Competent forces in the city coordinated to rescue stranded people, guide others to move out of the building and control the blaze. Health workers were also mobilised to provide first aid for victims.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Do Van Khang, deputy head of the firefighting and rescue bureau of HCM City’s Police, said the city will carry out larger-scale firefighting drills at the building in the future, with the participation of helicopters. /.

Smart city to boost sustainable growth and prosperity

A talk is held at the Smart City Summit Da Nang 2019. Smart city solutions will be a choice for Vietnam to boost its digital economy development in the next decade. (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang (VNA) - Smart city building is a crucial solution to boost economic growth and prosperity in Vietnam, while investing in ‘smart city’ projects is the best way for Vietnam to digitalise, an expert has said.

Chairman of the Vietnam Software and Information Technology Services Association (VINASA) Truong Gia Binh made the statement at the opening ceremony of the Smart City Summit in Da Nang city on October 23, stressing smart city development is crucial.

“It’s a must and very urgent. We have a good choice for catching the world of rapid digitalisation. The government should offer smooth conditions for businesses investing in big data, digital platforms and infrastructure as well as speeding up digital economy transformation in the next decade,” Binh said.

Binh also emphasised that people, businesses and local governments must be involved in building smart cities, and serving the people has to be a focus of the smart city.

He said local people have the right to ask their local government for social security, fresh water, clean air, smooth traffic, safe food, convenient health care and transparency, and smart cities will be a sustainable and cost-saving choice for Vietnam.

Nguyen Mung, solution manager of Phi Long Technology company, said it started building a smart traffic solution in Da Nang from 2017.

He said the system, which monitors 3,000 traffic cameras, has been operating at the city’s congested sites as well as tracking traffic violations.

Mung said face identification systems have been developing at shopping and trading centres, hotels and restaurants in seven provinces and cities in Vietnam.

Also on the occasion, the Ministry of Information and Communication and VINASA presented certificates to the top 50 leading IT businesses in Vietnam, and the top 10 businesses with capacity for the 4th Industrial Revolution.

In March, Da Nang won an ASOCIO Smart City Award for its outstanding initiatives of a smart city during the ASOCIO Smart City Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, and it is planning to become the first city in Vietnam to join the ASEAN smart city network by 2030./.

Vietnam-Australia seminar talks vocational training

A Vietnam – Australia seminar on vocational skills took place in Ho Chi Minh City on October 23, within the framework of the Australian Vocational Skills Week in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Truong Anh Dung said it is forecast that about 250 million young workers will be impacted by the demand for skilled workforce in the next decade.

As Vietnam is striving to build a start-up nation with competitiveness and gross domestic product growth, the country considers vocational training a key to propelling rapid and sustainable growth, he said.

He hoped that during the week and the seminar, Australia will share its experience in vocational training for enterprises.

Australian Education Counsellor Joanna Wood said her government has spent three decades on changing perception and developing vocational education. The nation has so far boasted the lowest unemployment rate in the world.

Jimmy Pham, founder of “Know one, teach one” model, suggested forming close links between vocational training centres, schools and universities, thus creating more job opportunities to students and meeting corporate demand.

Participants discussed cooperation models between Vietnamese and Australian schools, enterprises’ involvement in building vocational skills standards and assessing national vocational skills, and attracting women to vocational training./.

Vietnamese diplomats urged to adapt to digital era

Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga at the event

 

 

Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga asked Vietnamese diplomats to adapt to challenges and opportunities during the digital era at the 14th annual conference of deans and directors of ASEAN+3 diplomatic training institutes held in Hanoi on October 23.

Ambassador Nga, who is also Vice Chairwoman of the APEC Vision Group and Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, suggested that Vietnam should devise a specific strategy to train diplomats.

She added that curricula on diplomacy and external relations should adopt new approaches, including updating digital technology and equipment, and offering flexible and detailed contents.

According to her, foreign ministries worldwide are discussing policies on the formation of digital diplomacy, the use of Internet and new technologies to fulfill their assigned tasks.

However, she also urged diplomats to cope with negative impact of digital technology.

As Vietnam will assume the role of the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, she said diplomats must be aware that international cooperation demand during the digital era is different from that in the past, including security, socio-economic affairs, sustainable and inclusive development.

With the participation of international experts, professors, lecturers from the UK, Australia and ASEAN, the event will afford Vietnamese diplomats a chance to learn about how to respond to crisis, uncertainties and incidents during the digital era, she said./.

Young people contribute to success of rural development

Nguyen Van Phuc in his pigeon farm (Photo nongnghiep.vn)

 

 

Hanoi leads the country in implementing the national programme on agriculture development and new-style rural areas.

After 10 years, the capital city has successfully improved its rural areas and encouraged young people to implement innovative agricultural models.

A pigeon farm in outlying Soc Son district is one example.

The farm is owned by Nguyen Van Phuc, a resident of Hieu Chan village in Tan Hung commune, who was one of ten honoured as an outstanding youngster in Hanoi last year.

Every year, he earns billions of dong from breeding pigeons, the paper said.

“Ten years ago, I returned from Russia with a degree in informatics and easily found a job with a good salary in Hanoi,” said Phuc.

But he never felt happy working for someone else.

After getting married and having children, he wanted to do something that would help his young family.

He decided to quit his job in the city and return home to start his own business.

With a modest capital of 30 million VND (1,300 USD), he opened a pigeon farm, sparing two floors of his house for the birds.

The first attempt ended in failure. Hundreds of the birds died after a few months due to his lack of knowledge and experience. Only 20 pairs of pigeons survived.

But he was not discouraged. He bought another 30 pairs to breed.

Learning by himself and working hard, the flock started to grow bigger.

Overcoming the difficulties in breeding the birds, the next challenge for the IT engineer-turned-farmer was to find customers.

“I had to take every pigeon to restaurants in Hanoi to sell,” said Phuc.

“As an IT engineer, I set up a website and a fanpage to market my products,” he said.

“The number of clients started to increase, and sometimes I was unable to fill all the orders,” he said.

After 10 years, the small pigeon farm has turned into five in Hanoi’s Soc Son district and Thai Nguyen province, creating stable jobs for more than 10 employees.

The farms bring in monthly income of 250-300 million VND (11,000 -13,000 USD).

Like Phuc, Nguyen Van Ket in Soc Son district’s Bac Phu commune quit his job as an ad designer to return home and work as a farmer.

Ket started a frog breeding business in 2006 after watching an online clip. Initially, he worked part time.

He bred 5,000 frogs in his 50sq.m-garden. Every day, after fishing work in the office, he spent time with his frogs to watch their habits.

He found more information online.

Ket never used antibiotics with the animals, but fed them herbs and garlic.

“I wanted to supply the market with safe and clean products,” Ket said.

Gradually, the part-time job turned into a full time career. His farm expanded to 7,000 sq.m, which could earn 700-800 million VND (30,000-35,000 USD) per year.

In addition to being sold nationwide, his frogs were exported to many countries in Southeast Asia.

Phuc and Ket are young people who dared to work with a strong will of getting rich from their homes in rural areas.

They are pioneers for rural youngsters to make their home land better and better./.

Conference promotes building of peaceful Vietnam-Cambodia border

At the conference held by the Ministry of Information and Communications on October 23

 

 

Vietnam and Cambodia have joined hands to build a joint border of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development, heard a conference held by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on October 23.

The event aimed to improve communication skills about Cambodia for leaders and staff of the departments of information and communications in the southern localities sharing the border with the neighbouring country.

Highlighting the long-lasting relations between the two nations, a representative from the MIC said that both sides have set up a wide range of cooperation mechanisms to concretise their high-level agreements as well as carry out specific collaboration plans with a view to developing the ties in a more practical fashion.

They have coordinated closely at regional and international forums, particularly the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Greater Mekong Sub-region, so as to maintain regional peace and stability as well as consolidate solidarity in the area.

Since 2006, both nations have worked to demarcate 1,045 kilometres of land border, or 84 percent of the workload, and build 2,037 border markers at 1,553 points.

The representative affirmed the 2019 Supplementary Treaty to the 1985 and 2005 Treaties on the Delimitation of National Boundaries, inked between PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Hun Sen earlier this month, is a vivid illustration ò the two nations’ determination to build a peaceful borderline on the basis of respect to independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity of each nation, equality for mutual benefits and prosperity of the two peoples.

Next year, Vietnam’s communication and external activities with Cambodia will focus on boosting cooperation in the multilateral framework as Vietnam is playing the role of the ASEAN Chairmanship while Cambodia is organising the 13th ASEM, the representative added.

At the conference, the MIC also laid a stress on Vietnam’s foreign policy with Cambodia, and the nation’s policy to popularise its image as a dynamic country which is a trustworthy friend and partner of Cambodia and to consolidate the traditional friendship, special solidary and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia./.

Vietnam IT conference 2019 opens in HCM City

Businesses exchange their latest IT products on the sidelines of the conference.

 

 

Representatives from the world’s leading IT corporations are sharing advanced technology trends at the Vietnam IT Conference 2019, which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 24.

The event was jointly held by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC), Quang Trung Software City (QTSC), and the Vietnam Information Technology Outsourcing Alliance (VNITO Alliance) to tap the potential of the IT sector to the fullest extent.

At the opening ceremony, VNITO Alliance Honourary Chairman Nguyen Hai Long, who is also QTSC Director, said that many IT firms in Vietnam have caught up with the world’s development trend in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Blockchain and digital transformation, among others.

He said the event would provide good opportunities for Vietnam to make breakthrough in the IT sector, and become a leading innovation hub in Southeast Asia.

On the occasion, the organising board announced cooperation agreements between the VNITO Alliance and six international partners. The deals aim to boost collaboration and trade promotion in the IT sector between Vietnam and foreign partners.

On the sidelines of the conference, taking place on October 23-25, domestic and international enterprises are introducing their latest technology products and IT achievements so as to enhance cooperation and trade in the field./.

Seminar seeks measures to promote women’s economic empowerment

The Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the Australian Chamber of Commerce (AusCham) organised a seminar on October 22 to seek measures to enhance economic empowerment of women and promote gender equality.

Australian Consul General Julianne Cowley said the empowerment of women and girls is the Australian Government’s top priority and the main focus of economic ties between Vietnam and Australia.

Gender equality is crucial to reinforce Vietnam’s economic dynamism and ensure its future prosperity, she said.

The Consul General pointed out that in Vietnam, women earn, on average, 3 million VND (129 USD) less than men each year, and the promotion rate among women is half of men’s.

Cowley cited a study by McKinsey Global Institute as saying that equality for women would add some 40 billion USD to Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually by 2025.

Ton Nu Thi Ninh, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Peace and Development Foundation, highlighted Vietnamese women’s legal status, saying gender equality has been ensured in legal regulations in the country.

Decision-makers from the private sector said businesses that provide equal career opportunities for men and women create a sustainable corporate culture, improve employee satisfaction and performance and attract and retain talent.

Ha Thu Thanh, Chairperson of Deloitte Vietnam, said women experience many obstacles in career development due to pregnancy and responsibility for childcare and chores in the house.

Women should be ambitious and motivated and get promoted to senior leadership positions, she said.

Gender equality at work reflects in the mindset of leaders of businesses where gender equality is an integral part of their strategies, she stressed.

At her company, the proportion of men holding management and leadership positions is 68 percent, while among staff who have worked for one to three years, women account for 68 percent, she said.

Businesses need to develop policies to improve gender equality at the workplace by enhancing leadership and talent among women staff, she said, adding flexible working policies for women should be adopted as part of efforts to improve gender equality.

Huynh Buu Quang, CEO of Maritime Bank, said with women workers accounting for 60 percent of employees, gender parity is crucial to the operation and development of the company.

The development and implementation of gender parity policies at the workplace increases competitiveness and creates good corporate culture and attracts and retains talent, he said./.

Residents in outskirts of Hà Nội donate land to widen alley

Residents in Hà Nội's outskirts district of Hoài Đức have donated their land to widen an alley, making it a better place to live for all.

Thirty households among 60 households in Mộc Hoàn Đình Hamlet, Vân Côn Commune, dismantled parts of their houses so land was used to widen the alley from 2.7m to 4m.

The work started last October, said Phùng Văn Hải, a local man. After two months of construction, the road was put into operation early 2019.

Hải, 54, was the first person who called local residents to donate land to the widen alleys. He said the old alley of Mộc Hoàn Đình Hamlet was built in 1990.

“The alley was so narrow that if a car entered in the alley, vehicles had to move back to give way. The most extreme was on the rainy days and when the road was flooded, travel for local residents was very difficult,” he said.

“The smell of sewage stagnated in the grooves on both sides of the alley, forcing people to cover their nose when walking across.”

Hải donated about 8.5sq.m in front of the house he bought in 2010 where one square metre of land can cost VNĐ25 million (US$110). He also paid for the dismantlement of parts of his house and eventual repairs. It cost him several million đồng.

“Local residents hope this expansion would make travel more convenient for everyone,” Nguyễn Thị Hằng, a local woman said.

After a month of persuading, all households who owned land on the road agreed to donate property to expand the alley.

In the process of site clearance, several households volunteered to give more land when they saw it would make the road better.

An elected supervisor team with four members including Hải and three local residents has monitored site clearance, construction material purchasing and the construction process.

Hải said some families initially did not agree to donate land, but later were willing to do so after seeing the improvement in traffic flow.

Hải himself came to each family to talk about the benefits of a wider alley. He had to go with communal People’s Committee officials to persuade some families many times because these households had spent tens of millions of đồng on building gates. For other families, they were doing business at home and didn't want their income impacted.

“The wider alley creates favourable conditions for travelling, daily activities and environmental sanitation,” Hải said.

Money for buying construction materials and paying workers came from local residents. Each family offered VNĐ2 million.

Work including site clearance and construction was conducted at the same time. During the two months of constructing the road, Hải had to spend all his time supervising the work.

Hải was honoured to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Hà Nội City People's Committee this year for his efforts to widen the alley. 

Households, organisations protect 6,000ha of mangrove forests

Nearly 6,000ha of mangrove forests in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Trà Vinh are managed and protected by households that breed aquatic species in the forested areas.

 

Phạm Minh Truyền, director of the department, said the province has nearly 9,000ha of coastal protection forests, including more than 6,000ha of mangrove forests. Most of the households and organisations that protect forests and breed aquatic species do so to earn extra income.

In 2011, Nguyễn Văn Ngoan in Duyên Hải District’s Trường Long Hòa Commune was allocated 10ha of forestry land. Last year, he planted mangrove trees and bred black tiger shrimp, earning VNĐ170 million (US$7,360) from 300,000 black tiger shrimp.

Breeding black tiger shrimp in mangrove forests yields a lower income than industrial shrimp farming or intensive shrimp farming, but it is sustainable. “I have never suffered losses,” Ngoan said.

The shrimp are considered organic because they are bred in natural conditions and eat natural food.

Besides shrimp, households also breed fish, mud crabs, mud clams or other aquatic species in mangrove forests.

Nguyễn Văn Mười in Cầu Ngang’s Mỹ Long Nam Commune has bred mud clams in mangrove forests for four years. Such farming does require advanced techniques and high investment as Mười only needs clam spats and nets to surround the breeding area.

A mud clam crop lasts 10-12 months and offers a profit of VNĐ70-80 million ($3,000-3,470) per 1,000sq.m breeding area, he said.

In the coastal districts of Duyên Hải, Châu Thành and Cầu Ngang and Duyên Hải Town, local authorities have encouraged households to plant mangrove forests and breed aquatic species in the forests to have a stable income.

The allocation of mangrove forests to households and organisations has helped areas adapt to climate change, protected forests, prevented coastal erosion, and improved farmers' incomes.

Households can earn VNĐ80-100 million ($3,470-4,300) per hectare from forest–aquatic species farming a year, according to the districts’ Agriculture and Rural Development Bureaus.

Phạm Thị Hồng Diễm, deputy head of the Duyên Hải District Agriculture and Rural Development Bureau, said the district has more than 8,500ha of aquaculture, and of the area, 60 per cent are bred in mangrove forests.

Many households in the district that have not been allocated mangrove forests for protection have planted mangrove trees in their own shrimp farming land.

By the end of next year, Trà Vinh aims to complete allocation of all coastal protection forests to households and organisations. Most households allocated forests for protection are poor and near-poor. 

Employers should hire new staff based on their potential: report

A survey by recruiting firm Robert Walters Việt Nam found that 58 per cent of employers have hired employees based on their potential, and 94 per cent of them said their potential-based hires had become a valuable part of their teams. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

 

 

Hiring employees based on their potential will be important in the new economy, according to an annual whitepaper report published by Robert Walters, an international recruiting firm.

The report was based on a survey of 3,500 professionals including 1,200 hiring managers from six Southeast Asian companies in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Việt Nam.

The survey found that 58 per cent of employers had hired based on potential, and 94 per cent of them said their potential-based hires had become a valuable part of their teams.

Adrien Bizouard, country manager of Robert Walters Việt Nam, said: “High potential candidates are typically someone whose job descriptions and CVs sometimes don't match. But the person can do the job and can be successful in the job.”

“Hiring based on potential is highlighting an opportunity for employers and employees to learn from each other,” he said, adding that hiring would help employers save time and money.

More than 89 per cent of companies in Việt Nam take more than a month to find a candidate who is a close fit for the job description and salary. But 40 per cent of those hires do not work out, and most employees take a month to a year to leave the role due to mismatch in culture, attitude and ethics.

The survey found that 55 per cent of candidates with potential said they valued learning and growth opportunities more than salaries.

Linh Phạm, manager of Legal & HR services at Robert Walters Việt Nam, said: “High potential employees typically demonstrate more grit, loyalty and enthusiasm for having been given the opportunity.”

“The challenge of the unknown and the excitement of acquiring new skills keep them motivated and engaged and help retain them for longer,” she added.

While relevant experience is perceived to be a top priority, the ability to deliver satisfactory work, display a good work attitude and adapt to company culture are increasingly being valued in the workplace, according to the report.

Campaign searching for martyrs’ remains launched

The Gia Lai Military Headquarters give flowers and presents to soldiers taking part in the campaign.

 

The Gia Lai Province Military Headquarters on Tuesday launched a campaign to search for the remains of Vietnamese martyrs and experts who had passed away in Cambodia.

This is the 20th campaign launched by the province since 2001.

As many as 67 soldiers will take part. They will be divided into three teams to search for the martyrs’ remains in Preah Vihear, Stung Treng and Ratanakiri provinces.

In Preah Vihear Province, the work will focus on Kla Bia Village, Brin Thon Commune in Cham San District and Fu Bo Village in Chep District.

In Ratanakiri Province, the work will be in Pak Nhai Commune, Ozadao District.

In Stung Treng Province, the soldiers will work in Kam Phun Village, Kam Phun Commune in Sesan District, Sro Lao Village in An Lung Chray Commune, Tha La District and Tbeng Kring Village in Stung Treng City.

Information about the martyrs’ remains was supplied by Cambodian residents.

Speaking at the ceremony, Huỳnh Nữ Thu Hà, deputy chairwoman of the provincial people’s committee, said recently, the search for martyrs’ remains had faced many obstacles because of difficult terrain and the poor condition of the remains.

Since 2001, a total of 1,412 sets of martyrs’ remains have been collected and buried at the Đức Cơ District Martyrs’ Cemetery in Gia Lai Province. 

LIXILl Vietnam Corporation helps with more children’s heart surgeries

LIXIL Vietnam Corporation’s general director Masahiko Hiramoto hands over the donation to the Vietnamese Heart Fund’s deputy director Phạm Quốc Thắng at a ceremony in Hà Nội on Thursday.

 

About 30 poor and underprivileged children in Việt Nam will be receiving vital heart surgeries thanks to a generous donation of VNĐ1 billion (US$44,800) from LIXILl Vietnam Corporation.

The donation was made by LIXIL Vietnam Corporation’s sanitary brand INAX to support Việt Nam Television’s Tấm Lòng Việt (Vietnamese Heart) Fund’s heart operation programme in 2019 at a ceremony on Thursday.

The fund provides free surgeries for disadvantaged children with congenital heart defects. The donation will be used to perform 30 surgeries on children under-16 whose families are too poor to afford the operation.

The donation has brought the company’s total contribution to the fund to nearly VNĐ9.2 billion ($397,000), bringing the total number children helped by LIXIL Vietnam Corporation in the past nine years to more than 260.

“We always think that children are the future, the main force to create the future development of the nation. Therefore, sharing and motivating children in their lives for a brighter future is also goal that INAX wants to contribute to the community in Việt Nam," said LIXIL Vietnam Corporation’s general director Masahiko Hiramoto.

The Vietnamese Heart Fund’s deputy director Phạm Quốc Thắng praised the contribution of LIXIL Vietnam Corporation, which has helped bring new life to children with heart defects in Việt Nam over the past nine years.

Thắng said that the programme received donations from local and international enterprises, organisations, individuals and donors to help over 5,000 children with congenital heart defects over the past 10 years.

“We look forward to receiving more support from local and international donors, and the business community in the coming years," added Thắng.

At the event,LIXIL Vietnam Corporation also handed gifts to 50 disadvantaged children at the National Hospital of Paediatrics.

Initiated by the Vietnamese Heart Fund, Việt Nam Television and Viettel Group in 2008, the programme aims to provide heart surgeries to 3,000 needy children in Việt Nam by 2020.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health said 8,000-10,000 infants are born with congenital heart defects each year in Việt Nam and some 20,000 children in the country are still waiting for surgery. 

Scaffolding collapse injures 5 in Hải Dương

The scene of the accident in the northern province of Hải Dương on Tuesday night.

 

Five workers were injured on Tuesday evening after scaffolding collapsed on a construction site for the Xứ Đông Cultural Centre in Hải Tân Ward, the northern province of Hải Dương.

The victims were taken to Hải Dương Province’s General Hospital for treatment. They are currently in a stable condition.

Local police are investigating the cause of the accident.

The province’s Construction Investment Project Management Board has ordered a temporarily halt to construction while the investigation is ongoing.

The four-storey cultural centre covers an area of 4,500 sq.m, with a total investment of over VNĐ648 billion.

Workplace gender equality improves corporate culture: conference

Senior decision-makers from the private sector participate in the Gender Equality Conference held in HCM City on October 22 to promote women’s economic empowerment and gender equality.

Businesses that provide equal career opportunities for men and women create a sustainable corporate culture, improve employee satisfaction and performance and attract and retain talent, senior decision-makers from the private sector have said.

Hà Thu Thanh, chairperson of Deloitte Vietnam, said women experience many obstacles in career development due to pregnancy and responsibility for childcare and chores in the house.

Women should be ambitious and motivated and get promoted to senior leadership positions, she told the Gender Equality Conference held in HCM City on October 22.

“Gender equality at work reflects in the mindset of leaders of businesses where gender equality is an integral part of their strategies.”

At her company, the proportion of men holding management and leadership positions is 68 per cent, while among staff who have worked for one to three years, women account for 68 per cent, she said.

“Businesses need to develop policies to improve gender equality at the workplace by enhancing leadership and talent among women staff.

“Flexible working policies for women should be adopted as part of efforts to improve gender equality.”

Huỳnh Bửu Quang, CEO of Maritime Bank, said: “With women workers accounting for 60 per cent of employees, gender parity is crucial to the operation and development of the company.

“The development and implementation of gender parity policies at the workplace increases competitiveness and creates good corporate culture and attracts and retains talent.”

Vietnam Panel Pledge

Fifteen CEOs took the first step and signed on the Vietnam Panel Pledge in which business leaders commit to actively challenge the absence of female speakers at events, roundtable discussions and public conferences or forums.

Many high-profile conferences, events and taskforces lack gender balance despite the fact that there is often no shortage of qualified women to contribute.

The Australian ‘2019 Women for Media Report’ estimated that only 30 per cent of event speakers are women.

Việt Nam faces similar challenges.

The impact of these imbalances has consequences on the opportunities for women in leadership.

“By signing the Vietnam Panel Pledge, business leaders will take active steps to involve more women and women’s leadership in their organisations,” Australian consul-general Julianne Cowley said.

“Gender equality is crucial to reinforce Việt Nam’s economic dynamism and ensure its future prosperity.”

The McKinsey Global Institute estimated that equality for women could add US$40 billion to Việt Nam’s GDP annually by 2025.

“The empowerment of women and girls is a priority for the Australia Government, and a key focus of Australia’s economic partnership with Việt Nam,” Cowley said.

“Over the next three years, we intend to build momentum to embed everyday gender equality practices.”

HCM City’s annual I-Star Awards honour innovation, start-ups

The I-Star Awards being presented to start-ups with a new business model based on technology and capacity for rapid growth. — Photo Courtesy of the awards

 

The HCM City Department of Science and Technology has presented the I-Star Awards to 12 individuals, companies, a State office, and a school for outstanding solutions, products, and incubation activities related to starting up businesses and innovation.

The awards, each accompanied by a cash prize of VNĐ50 million (US$2,153), were divided into four categories: start-ups with a new business model based on technology and capacity for rapid growth, organisations and individuals with creative and innovative solutions, outstanding media stories that had a great impact on the start-up community, and incubators, investors and experts for assistance to start-ups.

In each category, there were three prizes chosen by a group of experts and online voters.

In the category of start-ups with a new business model base on technology and capacity of rapid growth, BusMap Co.Ltd, 689Cloud Joint Stock Company and TK25 Technology Company were the winners.

BusMap has a website and mobile application that provide vital information to commuters on bus routes in HCM City, Hà Nội and Đà Nẵng. As of August the app was the second most downloaded on Playstore and was seventh in Appstore.

The winners in the second category were Lê Quý Đôn Secondary School with a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) practice room with 3D printing machines and innovative devices for students to create practical products, KDI Education Joint Stock Company for services that contribute to education reform towards industry 4.0 and training students to take part in international robotic contests, and the District 3 People’s Committee’s economic division for its connectivity with the city Tax Department for issuing business and tax registration certificates.

A journalist from Chuyên trang Đổi mới Sáng Tạo and programmes on the Voice of HCM City and HCM City Television received the three prizes in the third category.

The prizes in the fourth category went to the Centre for Business Incubation of Agricultural High Technology, TOPICA Founder Institute and the Women’s Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship.

The awards had received 277 entries.

Vietnamese association in Czech Republic marks 20th anniversary

Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong (front, right) presents the second-class Order of Labour to the Vietnamese association in the Czech Republic

 

 

The Vietnamese association in the Czech Republic celebrated its 20th anniversary and received a second-class Order of Labour at a ceremony in Prague on October 22.

The ceremony were attended by Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, Deputy Foreign Minister and Head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Nguyen Quoc Cuong, and Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Phung Khanh Tai.

The event was also attended by Vojtěch Filip, Vice Chairman of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies and Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia.

Over the past two decades, the association has maintained and promoted long-standing relations between Vietnamese and Czech people. It has organised many activities to strengthen friendship between the two peoples and support the homeland.

The Vietnamese association in the Czech Republic is operated by an executive committee of 101 members and includes ten provincial chapters.

On behalf of President and General Secretary of the Party Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, Vuong presented the second-class Order of Labour to the association and Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe Hoang Dinh Thang in recognition of their efforts to unite and support Vietnamese people living overseas.

Earlier the same day, the association held its 6th congress which elected 98 new members to its executive committee. Dr. Nguyen Duy Nhien was re-elected as the new chairman for 2019 – 2024./.