HCM City has been allowed to organise firework displays at one more location on New Year’s Eve.

The additional location is Saigon Hi-tech Park in District 9, which is aimed to mark the establishment of Thu Duc City. The city, which is the merger of districts 2, 9 and Thu Duc, will officially come into existence on March 1. 

The low-range fireworks will be held at the park.

HCM City was earlier permitted to organise high-range firework displays at the entrance of Thu Thiem Tunnel in District 2 and at the 81-floor Landmark 81, Vietnam's tallest building on New Year’s Eve.

The fireworks will begin at midnight and last for 15 minutes.

Public security force asked to make stronger efforts against corruption

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth, left) presents the first-class Feat Order to the Ministry of Public Security at the conference in Hanoi on December 30

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the people’s public security force to show better and more effective performance in the fight against corruption while attending a conference in Hanoi on December 30 reviewing the force’s anti-corruption efforts since 2013.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lt. Gen. Le Quy Vuong reported that the force has closely followed Party and State leaders’ directions, coordinated with all-level authorities and sectors, and capitalised on people’s support to fulfill its tasks in corruption prevention and control.

Since 2013, the force have handled 863 corruption-related denunciations within its jurisdiction and proposed legal action against 292 cases with 409 people involved, he said.

Vuong noted that investigation agencies have launched probes into 1,856 corruption cases involving 4,072 people and recovered nearly 19.5 trillion VND (844.7 million USD) and over 290,000 sq.m. of land. They have also proposed the prosecution of 1,718 cases with 4,768 people involved.

The force has investigated 120 out of 133 major corruption cases, accounting for 91 percent, which were monitored by the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption, he added.

The officer noted that the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has uncovered and strictly dealt with many serious and complex corruption cases in the spirit of “there are no off-limits zones”. Asset recovery has also been carried out in a more thorough and effective manner.

Applauding the public security force’s achievements, PM Phuc said the force should precisely identify its particularly important role in the corruption fight while steering clear of complacency but pushing ahead with the combat in a more effective manner and with higher resolve.

He ordered the MPS to work with relevant agencies to perfect legal regulations on anti-corruption and strictly deal with criminals so as to help create a healthy, transparent, and fair business climate and enhance trust in society.

The Government leader expressed his belief that the people’s public security force will always take the lead in the fight against corruption, negative phenomena, and wastefulness, asking its officers and soldiers to keep discipline, make utmost efforts, and maintain solidarity to fulfill their assigned tasks.

On this occasion, empowered by the State President, PM Phuc presented a first-class Feat Order to the MPS in recognition of the people's public security force's contributions to the fight against corruption./.

External information service contributes to national development, defence

The Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education has presented certificates of merit to 30 collectives, including the World News Department of the Vietnam News Agency, and 16 individuals for their outstanding performance in the external information service and communications about seas, islands, and land border.

The collectives and individuals were honoured at a national conference held in northern Quang Ninh province on December 30 to review the external information service and communications about seas, islands, border demarcation, border marker planting, and border management in 2020 and launch tasks for next year.

Highlighting the achievements in 2020, Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, said the external information service has reflected Vietnam as a friend, trustworthy partner, and responsible member of the international community and a safe destination in an objective, honest, sufficient, timely, and profound manner.

External information service contributes to national development, defence hinh anh 2
Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education Vo Van Thuong presents the certificate of merit to the World News Department of the Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA)
The communications about seas, islands, and land border have closely followed the reality and been carried out frequently and continually, helping to improve public awareness, winning over the international community’s support, and creating favourable conditions for the protection of Vietnam’s rights and legitimate interests in the East Sea.

During the Party’s 12th tenure since 2016, he added, the external information service and communications about seas, islands, and land border have helped promote the introduction of Vietnam and its culture and people to the world, fight against wrong and distorted arguments and viewpoints of hostile forces, and safeguard the country’s land border, as well as sea-related rights and legal and legitimate interests, thus contributing to national development and defence.

Thuong, who is also Secretary of the Party Central Committee, noted that there will remain both opportunities and challenges in the international and regional situation, including the East Sea issue, which could affect the country’s security and relations among regional nations in 2021. The 13th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels will also take place next year.

Given this, the forces in charge of the external information service and communications about seas, islands, and land border should keep reforming their mindset, improving their awareness, political mettle, and professional capacity, and diversifying communication methods.

They also need to boost the combined coverage of the Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy while optimising support of nations and friends around the world to continue promoting Vietnam’s stature in the international arena, the official added./.

Seminar reviews 70 years of Vietnam – Russia defence training cooperation

Lt. Gen. Pham Tuan (R) and Maj. Gen. Vichtor Gorbatco who together made a historical space flight in July 1980

A seminar reviewing 70 years of Vietnam – Russia defence training cooperation took place in Hanoi on December 30.

The event was part of a plan to build a set of documents on 70 years of bilateral defence collaboration commissioned by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry to honour effective contributions by leaders of the two countries and armies to building and consolidating the Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Participants discussed achievements and invaluable lessons learnt over the past seven decades, thereby affirming the great and effective contributions of training cooperation to the cause of national defence and development, especially the building of the Vietnam People’s Army.

Col. Doan Xuan Bo, Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Army newspaper, said Vietnamese leaders have affirmed that the Vietnam – Russia traditional friendship is an invaluable asset that they and the people are determined to preserve and uphold, thus laying a foundation to deepen bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

As the first Vietnamese and non-Soviet Asian person to fly to the space, Lt. Gen. Pham Tuan recalled Russia’s comprehensive and effective support to Vietnam, especially in the training of military pilots.

A highlight in recent years was the Russian army’s assistance to Vietnam during the International Army Games, thereby helping Vietnam win golds in Group 2.

Delegates affirmed that the development of comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia is a priority of top importance of Vietnam, in which defence cooperation is a pillar and training coordination a bright spot./.

Greetings to Indonesia on 65 anniversary of diplomatic ties

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan have sent their greetings to President of Indonesia Joko Widodo and Speaker of the People’s Representative Council Puan Maharani on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Vietnam – Indonesia diplomatic ties (December 30).

They said over the past 65 years, bilateral traditional friendship founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno and fostered by generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries has been growing effectively and substantially in various areas, becoming an invaluable common asset of the two nations.

On such a foundation, the Vietnam – Indonesia strategic partnership will keep growing strongly in the near future on the basis of sharing common vision and strategic interest, thus bringing practical benefits to the two nations, making positive contributions to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and the world, they said.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also cabled greetings to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia also inaugurated a website on activities marking the occasion at https://vnembassy-jakarta.mofa.gov.vn/vi-vn/65nam/Trang/default.aspx. The website featured basic information about bilateral relationship, speeches by leaders, a short film on bilateral diplomatic ties, a photo exhibition on bilateral relationship in Yogyakarta and Bali, a seminar on trade, investment and tourism, and a press briefing. Similar contents were also uploaded on the English-language website of the Indonesia - Vietnam Friendship Association at https://ivfa.or.id/./.

Top legislator attends ceremony marking 75 years of NA election

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended a ceremony in the southern province of Ben Tre on December 30 marking the 75th anniversary of the first election of the Vietnamese National Assembly (January 6).

In her speech, the leader said over the past 75 years with 14 tenures, the Vietnamese legislature has kept developing and effectively performing its function in line with the Constitution and law.

She asked the delegation of provincial deputies to continue further improving their operations, step up legislation activities on the country’s important issues, thus meeting requirements of socio-economic development, national defence-security, and external relations.

Head of the delegation Cao Van Trong said during the 2016-2021 tenure, the local lawmakers made active contributions to the legislature and fulfilled assigned tasks, including building annual action programmes and completing law building and inspection.

They held 180 meetings with over 33,000 voters and sent 815 of their opinions to competent agencies for consideration.

The same day, Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh also attended a similar ceremony in the southern province of Vinh Long.

She assigned the province to continue fighting the COVID-19 pandemic while successfully realising the resolution adopted by the 11th provincial Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure and targets for 2021./.

Vinh Long province detects another illegal immigrant

Relevant authorities of the southern province of Vinh Long recently detected another illegal immigrant who has now been quarantined and took his sample for SARS-CoV-2 test, Deputy Chairwoman of the province Nguyen Thi Quyen Thanh said on December 30.

The 24-year-old man, a resident of Trung Thanh Dong commune, Vung Lien district, illegally entered the country by sea and later moved to Vinh Long province where he was detected.

He was found to have spent the December 29 night at his house in Trung Thanh Dong commune. The following morning, he met a number of his family members

Authorities have conducted necessary measures to trace those who contacted with him and sterilise his house.

Earlier, local authorities had detected another illegal immigrant who is now Patient 1440./.

Can Tho, India to boost ties in education, healthcare, IT

A leader from the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and Indian Consul General in HCM City  have expressed a wish to boost bilateral ties across education, health care, and information technology.

During a local working session on December 30, Sethi said India and Vietnam have enjoyed fine diplomatic ties since the upgrade of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016. During their virtual summit on December 21, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi agreed to enhance trade promotion, limit technical barriers and trade defence measures not conducive to trade, improve the connectivity of production chains, and maintain the regional stability and global supply chains, thus laying a foundation to expand local and regional connectivity.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Tan Hien said Can Tho and India are carrying out effective cooperation projects, most notably the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, with India’s support in machinery and human resources.

In the field of culture, the Indian Consulate General and Can Tho city have jointly held a number of activities, in particular the annual International Day of Yoga since 2015.

He added that Can Tho wants to expand its cooperation with India in health care, specifically building modern hospitals. The city also expects to work with the country in education, with student exchange programmes, and building a concentrated information technology park and logistics centre in the Mekong Delta.

In high-tech agriculture, the city also looks to partner with India in projects to develop production of high-quality plants and aquatic products, rice cultivation, and high-tech agriculture, in combination with ecological tourism in Vinh Thanh district.

Despite COVID-19, Can Tho’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) still grew 6.97 percent in 2020. As of late December, it had 84 foreign-invested projects with a total registered capital of more than 752 million USD./.

Jakarta wants 10,000 electric buses by 2030

Jakarta-owned bus operator Transjakarta has an ambitious plan to expand its electric bus (e-bus) fleet to 10,000 units over the decade as the city tries to push for cleaner air.

Head of the Transjakarta facilities’ planning and standardisation office Candra Rakhmat said the company plans to kick off the expansion by adding 100 new electric buses in 2021, so that electric vehicles will comprise 3 percent of the total fleet.

The Jakarta Governor’s target is that, by 2025, at least 50 percent of all Transjakarta buses are electric and 100 percent by 2030.

The company’s presentation material shows more specifically that e-buses will contribute 83 percent of its fleet by 2030, or around 10,000 units. The remainder consists of the classic orange-coloured diesel buses and blue-coloured compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

The expansion of Transjakarta’s e-bus fleet is aimed at implementing the international C40 Green and Healthy Streets Declaration that Jakarta, along with 33 other cities, signed in September 2019.

The aim is to reduce Jakarta’s air pollution, which causes 5.5 million cases of illness and costs RP 6.8 trillion (482.2 million USD) in health costs each year, according to Governor Anies Baswedan./.

Thailand bans gatherings over COVID-19 fears

The Government of Thailand has banned all gatherings "posing risk of disease transmission", except for household meetings and government activities, effective immediately in COVID-19-hit areas.

Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said in COVID-19 "maximum control zones" and "control zones", gatherings and activities that would draw crowds are prohibited except for household gatherings and government activities.

Gatherings and activities in government-designated "close surveillance zones" and "surveillance zones" can take place if they receive prior approval from provincial governors. Household gatherings and government activities are again excepted.

Provincial governors are to declare which areas are designated maximum control, control, close surveillance and surveillance zones. They will also set their own policies on quarantine for arrivals, Taweesilp said.

Violators will face punishment under Section 18 of the Executive Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations. The section carries a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine of up to 40,000 baht (around 1,300 USD).

The move came after the latest COVID-19 outbreak was found to have spread to a majority of provinces across the country.

Thailand reported 250 new COVID-19 cases on December 30, raising the total number to 6,690, including 61 deaths. The new cases included 241 infections in the community, eight in quarantine establishments and one Myanmar person illegally entering the country.

The new COVID-19 outbreak has to date spread to 48 out of the country’s 77 provinces and cities./.

Camera systems installed to help detect illegal border trespassing

Camera systems have been installed along the border line to monitor and detect the illegal trespassing amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Major General Le Quang Dao, Vice Commander and Chief of Staff of the Border Guard High Command, has revealed.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Dao said the border guards have adopted a series of measures to intensify monitoring and inspections in border areas to prevent the illegal phenomenon which can cause an outbreak of the disease.

The force has performed the task of disease prevention well, thus contributing to containing the spread of the pandemic in the country, he said.

Inspection teams currently arranged at 1,600 stations along the border of the country have also coordinated with the border management and protection forces of other countries in the task.

The Ministry of Defence has directed the military-run Viettel Group to coordinate with the Border Guard High Command in installing the modern camera systems along border areas, which help reduce the number of personnel on duty, he noted./.

Book on first Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos released

The book on Le Van Hien, the first Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos

A 132-page book on Le Van Hien, the first Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, was introduced to the public at the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum in Vientiane on December 30.

Recording part of the diplomat’s activities in Laos in the 15 years from 1962 to 1976 something, the book contains a host of valuable materials, including Hien’s private notes, some of which have never been published previously. It also has comments on the ambassador from former Lao senior leaders, highlighting his contribution to the country’s revolution and to the Vietnam-Laos special relations.

Delivering a speech at the release, Singthong Singhapanya, former director of the museum, said the fact that President Ho Chi Minh assigned the veteran revolutionary and minister of finance as the first Vietnamese ambassador in Laos proves his capacity.

What the diplomat did during his term, meanwhile, proved the correctness of the decision, he added.

The publication of the book aims at helping Lao people know that its struggle for independence needs support from international friends, particularly Vietnam, and at encouraging the younger generation to better protect the two countries./.

Singapore begins COVID-19 vaccination for health workers

Senior staff nurse Sarah Lim has become the first person in Singapore to receive the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech.

This made Singapore among the first nations in Asia to roll out a vaccination programme against COVID-19.

The 46-year-old nurse working at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) is among 30 staff at the centre receiving the vaccination.

They will return for the second dose of the vaccine on January 20.

Singapore is the first country in Asia to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. It has also signed advance purchase agreements and made early down payments on several other vaccine candidates, including those being developed by US’s Moderna and China-based Sinovac.

It expects to have enough vaccine doses for all 5.7 million people by the third quarter of 2021.

Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong said he and his colleagues would be among the early recipients of the shots.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Sadikin said that the country will secure sufficient vaccine for 181.5 million people next year.

Indonesia has bought 125 million doses of vaccine developed by Sinovac and 130 million others by Novavax of the US.

In addition, it is under talks for the purchase of 100 million doses each of AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech.

The country is working to obtain up to 100 million doses via COVAX, a WHO-initiated global initiative aimed at providing countries worldwide equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, once they are licensed and approved./.

Vietnamese citizens in Thailand warned against returning to Vietnam by road

Passengers wearing masks at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand

The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand on December 29 warned Vietnamese citizens in the country against returning to Vietnam by road.

Vietnamese citizens who are living, studying, working or touring Thailand should follow COVID-19 prevention measures to protect themselves and the community, the embassy said given the surge in coronavirus cases in the host country over the past days.

The embassy also advised the citizens to avoid public places, big gatherings, and refrain from travelling between localities, especially to high-risk areas as warned by the Thai government.

Citizens needing help in case of emergency can contact the Vietnamese Embassy’s citizen protection hotlines ( 66) 898 966 653 or ( 66) 26 508 979.

The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand has spread to 45 of the 77 provinces. The country on December 29 recorded 155 new COVID-19 cases, including 134 local infections, 11 among migrant workers and 10 in quarantine facilities, raising the accumulated total in Thailand to 6,440. The national death toll rose by one to 61.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha the same day urged people to stay at home over the New Year holidays in light of the recent COVID-19 upsurge./.

Thailand adds eight special holidays in 2021 to stimulate domestic tourism

Thailand’s cabinet on December 29 approved eight special holidays for 2021 in a bid to boost local tourism.

According to deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul, February 12 will be a holiday for the Lunar New Year, which normally is not an official holiday.

Another special holidays included April 12 as another Songkran holiday and July 27 as a holiday in lieu of the Buddhist Lent day.

Some of the approved events combining with weekends create long holidays in February, April, July and October.

The newly planned holidays were aimed at stimulating tourism. Heads of government and private organisations could decide if they would use the special holidays or not, in the way that would not affect their operations, said Traisuree.

According to official data, Thailand hosted 3,065 foreign tourists in November, the second month of receiving long-stay visitors since a ban was imposed in April to keep COVID-19 infections under control.

The country recorded 155 more cases of COVID-19 on December 29, including 134 community infections./.

HCM City wins 2020 National Basketball Championships

Both the men’s and women’s teams from Ho Chi Minh City have emerged as victors at the 2020 National Basketball Championships which concluded in the south central province of Khanh Hoa on December 29.

Both the men’s and women’s teams from Ho Chi Minh City win their respective categories at the 2020 National Basketball Championships.
In the men’s category, the side from Ho Chi Minh City successfully lifted the trophy after recording a stellar 82-62 win over the Air Force team in the tournament’s final match.

Coming in just behind the champions were Soc Trang in second and Hanoi in third.

Furthermore, a total of six women’s teams competed in a round-robin format as part of the fight for the championship title. 

The women’s team from Ho Chi Minh City went on to win all five matches, thereby defending their championship title and marking the ninth consecutive time that the team has finished first in the tournament.

The runner-up title went to the team from Can Tho, whilst Quang Ninh and Hanoi came in joint third.

Webinar connects Vietnamese startups in Australia

A webinar with the theme of “Resources from Motherland” has taken place in an online format with the aim of connecting the Vietnamese start-up eco-system in Australia.

The event was co-organised by Startup Vietnam Frontier Australia (SVF-AU) and Hanoi Youth Union and received huge support from both Vietnamese Students in Australia (SVAU) and Vietnam-Australia Innovation Network (NIC-AU).

The purpose of the seminar was to share startup ideas whilst supporting and connecting Vietnamese overseas startups with resources from the country in an effort to promote sustainable development among the Vietnamese start-up eco-system in Australia.

The function also marked the beginning of the partnership to develop a startup and innovation network among the Hanoi Youth Union, venture capital funds, Vietnamese universities, along with student associations in the United States, the UK, France, and Australia.

During the 90-minute seminar, participants discussed a host of issues relating to resources and support policies and startup advice from the Vietnamese startup community both at home and abroad. In addition, strategies and plans for domestic investment funds with the Vietnamese startup community in Australia were also raised for discussion.

After being livestreamed on Facebook for one day, the video of the seminar attracted a total of 20,000 views and received 1,400 interactions, comments, and shares.

Hanoi pledges sufficient commodities for upcoming Tet

The capital is set to stockpile consumer goods worth VND39.4 trillion in order to put them on sale in the lead up to the New Year and the Lunar New Year, known locally as Tet, up roughly 5% in comparison with the scheduled plan.

According to Tran Thi Phuong Lan, deputy director of Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, Hanoi has issued guidelines to enterprises and retailers regarding stockpiling goods at reasonable levels and marketing them prior to Tet to prevent insufficient supplies.

At present, enterprises throughout the capital have developed plans to increase the number of essential commodities available such as dried bamboo shoots, mushrooms, pork, sticky rice and rice noodle.

The quantity of stockpiles has risen by between 7% and 22% compared to the same period from last year in an effort to meet consumer demand and to ensure goods are still available after Tet, Lan said.

Lan added that her department will also keep a close eye on market developments, along with those relating to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to regulate supply and demand. It will also promote control of smuggled, contraband and poor-quality goods, while targeting food hygiene and safety violations. 

Lào Cai keeps students warm during cold winter

A teacher uses blankets to keep students warm at the Nậm Chạc Kindergarten in Bát Xát District, Lào Cai Province. — Photo baolaocai.vn

Schools in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai are working hard to keep their students warm amid the chill of winter.

According to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, when the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, students should be off school. However, if this regulation was applied, there would be too many days off for kids in Lào Cai. Therefore, highland localities such as Bắc Hà, Sa Pa and Si Ma Cai districts have to flexibly apply this regulation depending on the weather and the facilities in schools.

On December 18, when the temperature in the area fluctuated between 5-8 degrees Celsius, only one school in Sa Pa Town had to let students stay off, which is Sa Pa Primary School with 35 classes and 1,229 students.

Đỗ Văn Tân, director of the Sa Pa Town Department of Education and Training, said giving students a cold break is done by schools on the basis of the actual weather situation.

"There are many sub-regions of different climates in Sa Pa, for example, Mường Hoa Commune is often warmer. Therefore, the town People's Committee has written instructions on days when the temperature drops below 6 degrees Celsius, school principals will decide on school leave", he said.

Tân added that some schools, despite the weather, maintain normal teaching and learning because they are equipped to beat the cold. Some students even find it warmer at school than at home.

On cold days in Sa Pa Town, the attendance rate of students in the lower secondary and primary grades has not decreased significantly, only about 0.3 per cent.

To do that, Tân said, the fight against the cold for students has received care from the Sa Pa Department of Education and Training since the beginning of the school year.

The department invested more than VNĐ10 billion (more than US$431,000) in maintaining and repairing classrooms such as windows, doors, roofing and buying basic items of schools and classes to prevent cold such as blankets, sheets, mattresses and pillows.

It directed schools not to allow students to go outdoors and to stay in the classroom.

In Sa Pa, the town education sector has upgraded the electrical infrastructure for schools, adding heating equipment for students, especially preschool students. Currently, all schools with grid electricity in Sa Pa Town are provided with heating in the classroom by the education department.

The same measures are taken in Si Ma Cai District.

Nguyễn Kiều Oanh, director of the district education department, said that on cold days, the attendance rate of the district's students is still high, including 97.5 per cent in kindergarten, primary school 99.3 per cent and junior secondary school 97.7 per cent.

The education department noted that based on the conditions of each region, schools can adjust the study time, not force students to wear uniforms if they are not warm enough and limit outdoor activities.

In addition, to ensure school safety in the winter, in a recent letter on preventing cold for students, Dương Bích Nguyệt, director of the Lào Cai Department of Education and Training, requested schools pay attention to the prevention of fire and explosions when using heating equipment for students.

Flood-affected school students get scholarships

School students from Quảng Ngãi Province receive scholarships from the Việt Nam Central Disaster Prevention Support Fund (QPT)'s 'Green Future' programme. A total of 220 students from Nghệ An to Bình Định were granted scholarships from the fund between November and December of 2020. Photo courtesy QPT

A total of 220 school students whose families were affected by floods and storms from Nghệ An to Quảng Ngãi provinces received scholarships worth VNĐ2.2 billion (US$95,000) from the Việt Nam Central Disaster Prevention Support Fund (QPT) for continuing their education.

QPT said each student was given aid from VNĐ2 million ($87) to VNĐ3 million ($130) for books and educational equipment damaged by floods and storms in the region from the Fund’s ‘Green Future’ programme.

Up to 431 scholarships have been given to students in 17 provinces nationwide through the programme since 2018.

The programme also donated VNĐ20 billion ($870,000) to help restart education at flood-damaged schools in the region between November and December.

According to QPT, VNĐ89 billion ($3.9 million) was raised from donors to help local people in the flood-affected provinces in the central region in 2020.

The fund helped build 71 swimming pools throughout the country between 2008-20, and built community flood shelters, provided life-jackets and implemented rescue education programmes in central provinces.

The fund helped a plant mangrove forest in Thanh Hóa and set up voluntary rescue teams in provinces from Thanh Hóa to Bình Thuận.

Four storms, including typhoons Molave and Goni, triggered floods and landslides that devastated central provinces in Việt Nam from October to December, with 249 people either killed or missing and 11,700 houses damaged or destroyed.

Digital transformation in the health sector to better serve people, says health minister

Digital transformation in the health sector aims to better serve people and help patients access more convenient and high-quality medical services, said Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long at the Ehealth Vietnam Summit 2020 on Wednesday in Hà Nội.

"Digital transformation in the medical sector includes the comprehensive application of information technology, with a special focus on modern digital technologies, leading to a positive change in all medical activities of the health sector. We do not set a target on quantity but the main goal is to better serve the people, to access more convenient and high-quality medical services," said Long.

Long said that despite having to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the health sector still has made efforts in digital transformation and has gained encouraging results in the past year.

In the administrative field, 100 per cent of procedures were provided with online public services at level 4, 100 per cent of documents at the health ministry have been processed online and applied digital signatures. The ministry will also operate an application for tracking the progress and handling bottlenecks in processing. This will be the driving force for units under the Ministry of Health to perform their duties, according to the report of the health ministry.

“In the future, we commit to cut 30 per cent of administrative procedures to create better conditions for people and businesses,” said Long.

In November, the Ministry of Health also launched the medical public portal that publicises all medical services provided by the health sector. At the moment, people can access and monitor over 62,000 pharmaceutical products, more than 17,000 pieces of medical equipment and materials, more than 93,000 bidding results and prices for medical services announced by more than 1,400 medical facilities.

In the near future, the health ministry will publicise all retail pharmaceuticals and supplement food prices, helping people easily look up drug prices and compare prices at stores for the most suitable choice.

In COVID-19 pandemic prevention, information technology has contributed greatly to help Việt Nam control the pandemic. Việt Nam is also one of the first countries to apply electronic medical declarations, Bluezone tracing applications and COVID-19 safety maps.

“Up to now, Việt Nam is one of the most successful countries in the fight against COVID-19 with the most economical and effective models," said the Minister of Health.

Việt Nam has launched a remote health examination and treatment network with more than 1,500 medical facilities, helping patients at lower levels access quality services by doctors of upper levels. By 2025, 100 per cent of the country’s medical facilities will participate in the network, including private health facilities.

With personal electronic health records, the Ministry of Health has cooperated with the Vietnam Social Insurance Agency to establish nearly 98 million health records with 42 professional specialties for outpatients. Electronic personal health records will be applied for all outpatients from July next year, according to the Minister of Health.

“The goal of the health sector is to build a smart health system. Health facilities spend time on medical examination and treatment, not for procedures and paperwork,” added Long.

Speaking at the event, Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tiến Dũng highlighted the health ministry as a pioneer in digital transformation and IT application in the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 2020, the Ministry of Health has actively implemented over 55,000 electronic documents, an increase of 1.5 times over the previous year. Over 95 per cent of documents have applied digital signatures,” said Dũng.

Dũng added that in the future, the Government Office will continue to promote digital transformation across the country. The health sector should pay special attention to data security because it is a matter of life and death in digital transformation.

Minister of Information and Communications Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng said that the ministry committed to accompany the Ministry of Health in the digital transformation journey.

“The Ministry of Health shall assign the Ministry of Information and Communications to direct Vietnamese digital technology businesses to bring digital technology into every corner of the health sector. Việt Nam has a strong force of digital technology businesses, with nearly 60,000 businesses and over 1 million employees, ready to solve most of the problems of the health sector. A five-year task can be done in a year,” said Hùng.

“Digital medicine can solve the problem of healthcare for everyone, anywhere, anytime. This is the greatest dream of mankind. Digital transformation in the health field can realise this dream,” added Hùng.

At the event, the Ministry of Health officially launched the V20 grassroots health information management platform and the Việt Nam health network.

The Vietnamese health network is like a social network connecting all physicians across the country. The Ministry of Health requires each upper-level doctor to make friends and support four doctors at the provincial level, four doctors at the district level and two health workers at the commune level.

The V20 application will create a comprehensive change for nearly 12,000 health clinics across the country. The application will replace paperwork that requires 50-70 per cent of time of medical staff to make reports by paper. From January 2021, it will be applied nationwide.

The summit aimed to make the most of advantages in information technology application, mobilise social resources and seek solutions to promote the rapid, timely and efficient implementation of digital transformation in the medical field in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Giang Province keen to set up agricultural co-operatives

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang plans to establish at least 200 new agricultural co-operatives within the next five years.

Of them, at least 25 per cent will link up with companies to guarantee steady demand for their products.

The province also targets increasing the average sales of the co-operatives from VNĐ4.5 billion (US$194,500) a year to VNĐ5.5 billion ($237,700) by 2025 and income from VNĐ270 million ($11,700) to VNĐ400 million ($17,300).

It hopes to develop more than 80 agricultural co-operative groups for later development into co-operatives. 

Under the 2012 Co-Operative Law, a co-operative should have at least seven members and a co-operative group, at least three.

The province now has 174 co-operatives and 789 co-operatives groups. 

The average income of a member of a co-operative group is VNĐ2.56 million a month, according to the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Nguyễn Sĩ Lâm, its director, said co-operatives and co-operative groups have grown in number and quality in recent years, operating efficiently, creating jobs and increasing members’ incomes.

Many co-operatives that grow vegetables have tied up with companies to guarantee outlets for their output.

The Kiến An Clean Agricultural Produce Co-operative in Chợ Mới District has, for instance, contracts with supermarkets, shops and traditional markets to supply 2 - 3.5 tonnes daily.

The district, which is well-known in the delta for growing vegetables, grows them on hundreds of hectares for domestic consumption and export to Cambodia.

Nguyễn Văn Minh Hùng, a member, uses organic fertilisers to grow green onions and mustard cabbage on his 5,000sq.m field in Kiến An Commune.

He grows one crop of green onions and three crops of mustard cabbage a year to earn VNĐ152 million ($6,600), he said.

The co-operative uses advanced farming techniques and its members have contracted outlets that purchase their vegetables at 20 per cent above the price paid by traders, he said.

But Lâm admitted most co-operatives and co-operative groups could not match other economic sectors for growth, and operate on a small scale and unsustainably.

Trần Anh Thư, deputy chairman of the province’s People’s Committee, said their operations should benefit farmers to attract members and they should have linkages among stakeholders, human resources, capital, and effective production plans. 

Da Nang: three venues approved for fireworks show on Lunar New Year Eve

Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh has signed a decision giving the greenlight to the organisation of fireworks display at three local venues on the upcoming 2021 Lunar New Year Eve.

The three places are located on the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge, at the Phuong Trang commercial high-rise complex, and at the Hoa Vang district administrative centre area.

Sponsored by the Vietnamese real estate developer Sun Group, the 15-minute show will take place at midnight on February 11, marking the beginning the first day of the Year of the Ox.

The 2021 Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam will last from February 10 to 16, according to the Prime Minister’s decision.

That means the holiday, also called Tet – the biggest traditional festival of Vietnamese people, will be from the 29th day in the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Rat to the fifth day of the Year of the Ox./.

Deputy Minister urged to repair damaged canal section in Thanh Hoa

Thousands hectares of cultivated land has been damaged after a canal section in Thanh Hoa Province broke.

Ngoc Lac District authorities reported that at 9.45 am on December 27, a 70-metre section of the Bac Song Chu-Nam Song Ma Canal suddenly broke. This canal is the waterway for tens of thousands of hectares of crops in Thanh Hoa. After a section of the canal broke, a mini flood occurred and damaged three hectares of cultivated lands and 0.5ha of fish farms and 200 chickens.

The canal is a part of the Cua Dat Reservoir Project which was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2011. The canal construction was started in September 2014 and completed in December 2016. It provides water for over 28,000 ha of crops and household water for many areas in Thanh Hoa.

A delegation led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep arrived at the scene on December 29. Initial investigation shows that since the canal is located on difficult terrain and the canal's structure was damaged.

Hiep asked related agencies to work overnight and quickly repair the canal within three days to save the crops in the area. They must also work with local authorities to assess the damage and compensate the farmers. In the long-term, managers and operators of the canals must reassess the construction to detect possible threats and avoid similar incidents.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR