Three people have died in a fire that burnt down a convenience store in the southern province of Dong Thap early Friday morning.

Police in Chau Thanh District reported that the fire occurred at Bay Tien Convenience Store in An Khanh Commune on the early morning of October 28 when six people were still sleeping. The owner of the store, Bui Thi Yen Suong, 33, her husband and son managed to get out of the building via a fire escape where they were rescued by the fire police.

However, her brother-in-law and two friends were stuck inside.

It took the police nearly three hours to bring the fire under control. They found three bodies inside the building.

The fire also caused an estimated VND 4 billion in damage. Dong Thap Police is further investigating the cause of the fire.

Two more prosecuted in bribery case at foreign ministry

Lieut. Gen. To An Xo, Chief of Office and spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, said on October 27 that as a result of further investigation into the bribery case that happened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the investigation agency has issued decisions to prosecute, arrest, and search the residences and workplaces of two more defendants.

One of them is Tao Duc Hiep, born in 1976, who was former Director of the Vietnam Railways Trade Union Tourist Co Ltd. Hiep was prosecuted for "giving bribes" under Article 364 of the Penal Code.

The other is Le Thi Ngoc Anh, born in 1984, a staff member at the section in charge of guest house under the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations. She is facing a charge of "fraud to appropriate property" as prescribed in Article 174 of the Penal Code.

This is a new development in the under-investigation case of giving and accepting bribes; abusing position and power while on official duty; and fraudulently appropriating property, which occurred at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Hanoi and other provinces and cities.

Several senior officials have been arrested and prosecuted in the case, including a deputy foreign minister, the head and deputy head of the Consular Department under the Foreign Ministry, and an assistant to the Standing Deputy Prime Minister.

Health Minister explains implementation of health insurance policy

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan explained several points related to the implementation of health insurance policy designed for residents in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, at the National Assembly on October 27, during the NA's ongoing fourth session in Hanoi.

The minister admitted that the Law on Health Insurance and Decree 146 contain inconsistent regulations, resulting in problems in paying health insurance benefits. 

As a result, many hospitals are owed by health insurance due to obstacles in payment, which posed great difficulties for them. The Government has assigned the Health Ministry to work with Vietnam Social Insurance and other relevant ministries, agencies to amend Decree 146. 

Lan said the Health Ministry had worked with ministries and agencies to amend the Decree which has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for evaluation before it is presented to the Government for consideration.

With the revised decree, difficulties in the implementation of health insurance policy are expected to be tackled, she said.

According to the minister, the Health Ministry had earlier drafted and submitted a resolution to the Government on ensuring medicines, medical equipment and payment of medical examination and treatment using health insurance to tackle difficulties in payment in 2021.

The ministry will coordinate with the Vietnam Social Insurance to come up with solutions to improving the management of medical examination and treatment costs, so as to limit the profiteering of health insurance fund, she said.

About health insurance for students, she said it will be considered when the Law on Health Insurance is revised, slated for 2023.

As regards measures to ensure medical human resources, Lan said the ministry has submitted  to the Government revisions to Decree 56 on allowances for medical workers at grassroots level and preventive medicine departments.

The Health Ministry will present further explanations on policies to improve the number and quality of medical staff at the coming Q&A session.

Winners of science-technology, innovation awards honoured

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended a ceremony in Hanoi on October 27 to honour winners of the science-technology innovation awards by the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) in 2021.

This year, the organising board presented four first, eight second, 14 third and 19 consolidate prizes to 45 projects.

Two of the four projects receiving the first prize were also honoured with certificates and the gold medals from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

At the ceremony, Hue presented the Prime Minister’s certificates of merit to award-winning authors and the first-class Labour Order to the VIFOTEC and its Permanent Vice President Le Xuan Hao.

At the ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat launched the VIFOTEC awards 2022, focusing on six major areas of mechanical automation technology; material technology; information technology- electronics and telecommunications; biotechnology for production and life; technology to respond to climate change, protect the environment and rationally use resources; and new energy saving and energy use technology.

Festival dedicated to Khmer culture to be held

Ethnic Khmer people living in the South will participate in a cultural and sport festival next month.

Scheduled to take place from November 6 to 8 in the city of Sóc Trăng in the Mekong Delta, the event will focus on the theme “Preserving and Promoting the Cultural Identity of Khmer Ethnics in the South – Equality, Solidarity, Integration and Development”.

One of the three largest annual festivals of the Khmer people, the Ok Om Bok, will also be celebrated during this occasion. Khmer folk artisans, artists, amateur athletes, and people from 12 cities and provinces in the Southern region, including Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu, Vĩnh Long, Trà Vinh, An Giang, Kiên Giang, Hậu Giang, Cà Mau, Tây Ninh, Bình Phước, Cần Thơ City, and HCM City, will participate in the festival.

The three-day event will feature a line-up of interesting activities such as sport games competitions, folk dance and music performances, and a presentation of Khmer gastronomy. A demonstration of Khmer traditional festivals and rituals will also presented.

A traditional long-boat race will also be included in the festival agenda.

Over 700 students in northern district get fever, one fatality

More than 700 students in Cho Don district in the northern province of Bac Kan have missed school because of a strong bout of fever which has seen one child die. 

Five other children have tested positive for influenza B and more than 100 are being treated in hospital.

The fatal case is an eight-year-old child, who was taken to the district’s Health Centre on October 24 morning with a high fever of 40.5 degrees Celsius.

Doctor Nong Van Quan, director of the district’s health centre, said as soon as they received information about the fever, the centre took samples and sent seven to the Hanoi-based National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for tests.

The initial results showed five samples were positive for influenza B, and two samples were negative, he said.

According to the World Health Organization, there are four types of seasonal influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D. Influenza A and B viruses circulate and cause seasonal epidemics of disease. Influenza B viruses are not classified into subtypes, but can be broken down into lineages. Currently, circulating influenza type B viruses belong to either B/Yamagata or B/Victoria lineage. The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination.

Construction Ministry implements project to develop cities in response to climate change

The Ministry of Construction is conducting a project on developing Vietnam’s cities in response to climate change for 2021-2030 toward a goal of sustainable development and risk mitigation.

The project consists of six programmes, including those on building a database and urban risk-warning map system; and on perfecting the regulations and standards of the construction industry and urban areas responding to natural disasters in the context of climate change and sea level rise.

It is set to integrate climate change content into regional, provincial and urban planning works; and to develop plans and technical manuals serving climate change response.

In addition, it will work with international organisations to implement pilot programmes and projects to apply new works, technologies and materials in order to develop green growth, smart cities, green architecture adapting to climate change.

Under the project, a national plan for climate change adaptation for the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2050, will be implemented.

The five centrally run cities prioritised for running the project are Hanoi and Hai Phong in the north, Da Nang in the central region, Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south.

Dong Thap faces increasing erosion

The Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap is facing increasing erosion along rivers and canals, affecting agricultural production and the lives of locals.

The province is in the rainy season and facing flooding caused by the rising level of the Mekong River, and this makes erosion become more severe.

In Thanh Binh district, the Tien River, a tributary of the Mekong River, has been eroded along a section 30 metres long and 22 metres wide, damaging two houses in Tan Quoi commune’s Thuong hamlet.

The hamlet’s local authorities have urgently relocated 17 households from the eroded area to safety.

According to Nguyen Van Minh, deputy chairman of the Tan Quoi People’s Committee, the commune has more than 9km of erosion-prone river banks, threatening the safety of 315 households.

Doctor receives APAO blindness prevention award

Doctor Nguyen Viet Giap, Director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Eye Hospital, has been honoured with the 2023 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Outstanding Service in Prevention of Blindness Award.

This is the most prestigious award in the field of ophthalmology of the Asia-Pacific region, which comprises more than 40 countries and regions.

Giap is the sixth member of the Vietnam Ophthalmological Society to receive the award since the association was set up 65 years ago.

In the nomination letter to the APAO Award Committee, Professor Ton Thi Kim Thanh, President of the Vietnam Ophthalmological Society, described Giap as a dedicated, highly skilled doctor with many creative ideas and great contributions to ophthalmological examination and treatment activities and blindness prevention in the community.

Along with directly giving check-up and treatment to tens of thousands of patients, Giap has actively engaged in training activities. He has organised more than 200 training courses to over 2,500 medical staff in localities and schools, along with more than 10,000 consultations events on eye protection in the community.

Particularly, he has given many initiatives in blindness prevention in the community, benefiting more than 114,000 old people. He also established five vision centres in the community, providing high quality glasses to 112,000 people.

Vietnam Institute of Dietary Supplements opened in Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park

The first phase of the Vietnam Institute of Dietary Supplements (VIDS) was officially opened at the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Tan Xa commune, Thach That district, Hanoi on October 27.

As a scientific and technology organisation under the Vietnam Association of Dietary Supplements, the institute operates in various fields, including research and application of science and technology; science and technology services; and producing and trading products as the result of the research process.

VIDS has three centres and one laboratory equipped with the most modern equipment in Vietnam. VIDS currently is the only institute in Vietnam that has a one-way designed laboratory for humans, tools, materials and samples meeting clean room standards following global regulations.

VIDS has also produced many types of good bacteria that are beneficial to human health, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Immunepath-ip, and Lactobacillus paracasei.

The institute will conduct research and technology transfers in manufacturing dietary supplements that are derived from natural and biotechnological ingredients. It will also connect scientists, organisations and companies in scientific and technology fields with a focus on producing products derived from nature that contribute to bringing valuable health care products to consumers.

Digital exhibition affirms Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea, islands

A digital exhibition named “Vietnam’s Hoang Sa, Truong Sa – Historical and Legal Evidence” opened at Bac Binh district high school in the southcentral province of Binh Thuan on October 27.

The event aims at popularising documents and evidence affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) to teachers and students, thus helping raise their awareness and responsibility of the national building and defence.

Legislators recommend due attention to income for public sector workers

Some legislators have pointed out the need to pay due attention to income and the working environment for civil servants and public employees amid a recent wave of worker resignations.

They mentioned this issue at a discussion on socio-economic and budgetary affairs on October 27, part of the ongoing fourth session of the 15th National Assembly (NA).

To Van Tam, an NA deputy of the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum, called for an appropriate and flexible pay scheme in which wages are paid basing on workers’ labour and knowledge values, sense of responsibility, and performance results.

He noted that from 2020 to June 2022, nearly 40,000 cadres, civil servants, and public employees resigned, especially in health and education sectors.

In fact, salary and income in the public sector are much lower than in others. Salary hikes in this sector are also conducted slowly since they are bound by legal regulations and dependent on the Government’s budget balance capacity, he added.

Tam added low salary and income are not the only cause of this issue, elaborating that many civil servants and public employees quit their jobs due to big work pressure or their wish for personal development instead of a steady job in the public sector. Besides, the public sector requires a high sense of responsibility towards not only their jobs but also the people.

Voicing his support for the Government’s solutions to this matter, the legislator asked for strongly reforming working styles, dealing with apparatus-related issues, overhauling mechanisms for task performance and personnel recruitment, and creating a fair and transparent environment for workers to dedicate and advance.

For his part, deputy Pham Hung Thang of northern Ha Nam province also recommended raising basic wages so that civil servants and public employees have more momentum to work.

The amendment of the land, bidding and price laws and some others to remove bottlenecks and fuel development needs to be carried out in tandem with promoting administrative and apparatus reforms, especially improving the quality of civil servants and public employees, he opined.

Vietnam promotes basic principles of international law

Vietnam highlighted basic principles of international law and the obligation of protecting the environment in relation to armed conflicts at a working session of the 77th United Nations General Assembly’s Sixth Committee (Legal) in New York on October 26.

Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said the seven basic principles of the UN Charter and the 1970 Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the UN Charter should be included in the list of mandatory norms.

Such norms must be accepted and recognised by the majority of countries representing regions, cultures, and legal systems with different development levels, he continued.

The Sixth Committee is the primary forum for the consideration of legal questions in the General Assembly. All of the UN Member States are entitled to representation on the Sixth Committee as one of the main committees of the General Assembly.

Vietnam Golden Ball Awards to be held early next year

The organising board of the 2022 Vietnamese Golden Ball Awards held a press conference on October 27 in Ho Chi Minh City to announce the return of the award and th time for holding the event.

The traditional award show will return following a two year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, the organising committee has decided to add three more categories for vote, namely "Excellent foreign player", "Best young male player", and "Excellent young female player".

The 2022 Vietnam Golden Ball Awards will therefore feature 12 categories: Golden, silver, and bronze balls for male players, Golden, silver, and bronze balls for female players, Golden, silver, and bronze balls for futsal players, Excellent foreign player, Best young male player, and Best young female player.

It is expected that in mid-November the organising committee will send voting invitations and a list of candidates to all voters, all of whom are football experts, coaches, and captains of V.League 1 clubs. Other voters include captains of local women's football teams, the national futsal team, and journalists from news agencies across the country.

Ballots will be distributed to voters by November 20 and the deadline for ballot collection will be January 18, two days after the finale of the AFF Cup 2022.

The 2022 Vietnam Golden Ball Awards ceremony is expected to take place in February 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thousands of HIV carriers benefit from PrEP programme

More than 60,200 people living with HIV nationwide have been provided with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) service over the last five years, helping to better control HIV infections in the community.

Phan Thị Thu Hương, head of the Việt Nam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC), said that at a workshop on reviewing the PrEP programme for HIV prevention held in HCM City on Wednesday.

Since 2017, providing PrEP service has been expanded in 29 provinces and cities across the country, with 206 PrEP service providers, of which 49 are private.

About 80 per cent of the people using PrEP in the country are men having sex with men (MSM). And 72 per cent of PrEP customers are young people aged 20-34.

They are also providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention services, especially to vulnerable and high-risk groups, contributing to the control goals outlined in the National Strategy to End AIDS by 2030, she said.

According to VAAC, the number of new HIV infections is increasing among MSM. Every year there are about 10,000 - 13,000 new HIV cases, mainly young people aged 20 to under 40.

Research results of Hà Nội Medical University showed that if there is no prevention measure, seven out of 100 people who are MSM will be infected with HIV each year. 

Painter invites visitors to his secluded garden

Painter Vũ Văn Tịch has introduced to the public 18 lacquer paintings depicting his tranquil and colourful garden with plenty of flowers in his first solo exhibition, Trong Vườn (Inside the Garden).

Held at Muse Art Space, 47 Tràng Tiền Street, Hà Nội, Inside the Garden is the result of Tịch’s 10 years of researching, exploring and experimenting on lacquer.

The painter, 33, graduated from Việt Nam Fine Arts University. Tịch often concerned himself with the creative directions of lacquer painting. He began by spending 10 years working on simple topics that stem from personal perspectives. The level of sophistication of Inside the Garden paintings is the direct result of Tịch’s efforts in the early days.

This lacquer painting series started in early 2019. Tịch once said that three years is the minimum period that he needs to prepare due to the intricacies required in lacquer techniques. Perfecting this artistic medium can be challenging, even with years of experience. The exhibition is made possible thanks to the perseverance driven by the passion and discipline of the artist.

By using fine silver powder, painting through multi-layer, combining three shades of red extracted from Cinabrio minerals, fusing artistic quirks such as inverting contrasting spaces, and employing symbolic language, the artist has constructed a vibrant and vivacious garden.

As a result, despite exploiting a familiar topic of plants and flowers, Tịch demonstrated his steady lacquer technique and personal research. Each of his paintings adopts a different technique.

Inside the Garden will run until November 15. 

91-kilo Tibetan bear in Son La rescued

A 91-kilo Tibetan bear in the northern province of Son La has been rescued and handed over to Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary.

The bear was earlier kept by a family in Co Noi Commune in Mai Son District. The family voluntarily gave up the animal after being advised by local authorities.

The provincial forest management board contacted Four Paws Viet Organisation to take the bear to Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary.

According to Vet Marc Gölkel of Four Paws Viet Organisation, the bear is in stable health, except for some dental problems.

Director of the Four Paws Viet Organisation, Ngo Thi Mai Huong, said that the voluntary handover of the bear underlined the partial improvement in public awareness about the need for wild animal protection. She hoped that more Tibetan bears would be rescued and later released into the wild in the coming time.

Da Nang welcomes first foreign passengers from Taipei after pandemic

The first flight of Starlux Airlines carrying 171 passengers from Taipei (China) landed at Da Nang International Airport on October 28 morning, resuming the route after over two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Representatives of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotion Centre, Da Nang International Airport, Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation JSC, and Starlux Airlines presented flowers and gifts to congratulate the passengers.

The airline plans to operate three weekly flights, each lasting 2 hours and 50 minutes. It is also expected to increase the flight frequency in December 2022 to meet travellers’ demands, said Roger Yen, Starlux Airlines Chief Representative in Vietnam.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre Mai Thi Thanh Hai said that the resumption of direct flights from Taipei to Da Nang is a good signal for the city’s tourism sector to increase the number of tourists in the future.

Vietnam highlights important role of International Court of Justice

Vietnam and other countries shared their view on the important role by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in handling international disputes peacefully, at a plenary session of the 77th United Nations General Assembly on October 27.

The court has significantly contributed to promoting the observance of the UN Charter and international law, as well as sustainable development, peace, security and stability in the world, they said.

Vietnam and some other countries, including Vanuatu, proposed the initiative of asking for the court’s consultancy regarding nations’ obligations in the climate change issue.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, stressed that climate change has remained a challenge to the international community and threatened lives of people in coastal countries and small island nations.

Many response measures have been taken, including commitments to net zero carbon emissions, yet climate change has still been developing complicatedly, he said.

The diplomat called for stronger actions in this regard, saying the responsibility and obligations of countries should be identified in accordance with relevant international conventions, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Lao Deputy PM receives Vietnam Red Cross Society President

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoun hosted a reception for President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) Central Committee Bui Thi Hoa in Vientiane on October 27.

Welcoming the VRC delegation’s visit, the Lao Deputy PM held that it will make important contributions to the celebration of the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022, the 60th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations and the 45 years of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries.

The visit will also help foster the cooperation and mutual support between the VRC and the Laos Red Cross Society, he said.

Khaykhamphithoun thanked the Government and people of Vietnam for supporting his country over the years, expressing his hope that the long-standing ties between the two countries will continue to thrive.

For her part, Hoa said that during the visit, the VRC and the Laos Red Cross Society will review their cooperation outcomes over the years and map out new collaboration plans for the future.

New Year 2023 Days off announced

Vietnam will enjoy three days off for the 2023 New Year, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has announced.

Because New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, people will be given another day off on Monday January 2, 2023.

This provides a long weekend holiday running from December 31, 2022 to January 2, 2023.

Vietnam currently has 11 days defined as public holidays. National Day (September 2) has seen an increased extra day off since last year.

Tet air tickets sharply increase in price

Ticket prices for many air routes have considerably increased three months before the Lunar New Year Tet Holiday.

The highest return ticket on the HCM City-Hanoi air route is currently being offered by Bamboo Airways for VND7.2 million (USD32.52) on the Tet holiday. They are followed by Vietnam Airlines at VND7.1 and VietJet Air at VND5.4 million.

For the Hanoi-Danang air route, a Vietnam Airlines return ticket is VND3.3 million and the price is VND3.4 million for Bamboo Airways and VND4.9 million for Pacific Airlines.

Ticket prices of many routes for Tet have doubled on-year.

A representative from Vietnam Airlines Group which operates Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and VASCO said the firm had announced plans to provide additional millions of seats during Tet 2023 Holiday which falls between January 6 to February 5 next year. The priority will be given to flights connecting Hanoi, Danang and HCM City and other localities nationwide as well as flights to Southeast Asia.

Bamboo Airways will also increase the number of available tickets by 15-20 percent, equal to around one million seats, this coming Tet, focusing on flights linking big cities and those to Germany, the UK, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Airlines in Vietnam started selling tickets for the 2023 Lunar New Year in mid-August.

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