Performance artists to be trained abroad

The Prime Minister has approved a project on training and improving high quality cultural performance human resources abroad towards 2030.

The initiative aims to strengthen and develop high quality human resources for the cultural sector, including  lecturers, teachers, researchers, experts and artists.

The project is expected to send nearly 900 people from the sector to foreign countries which have strengths in training in performance such as Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and China by 2030.

The project will prioritise training in music, fine arts, theatre, cinema, dance, circus, literary theory and practice.

To qualify for the project, applicants should prove an outstanding academic performance track record or have achievements and awards in the field both at home and abroad.

Fire destroys market in Gia Lai Province

A fire destroyed dozens of booths in a market in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai’s K’bang District yesterday, causing damage worth billions of đồng.

The blaze started in a booth in K’bang Market and quickly spread to about 50 booths nearby, as most of them contained inflammable items such as clothes, sandals and shoes.

On receiving the news, the province’s fire-fighting force sent three fire engines and 30 officers to the scene to co-ordinate with traders and local residents in extinguishing the fire.

However, it took six hours to douse the flames because of strong winds and dry weather.

No casualties were reported, but the fire destroyed an area of 800sq.m.

Võ Văn Phán, chairman of K’bang District People’s Committee, said a meeting was held by local authorities to set out measures to overcome the problems caused by the fire and help traders stabilise their lives. Accordingly, each affected household received an initial aid of VNĐ2 million (US$90).

Charity painting auction fetches VND10 billion

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has raised VND10 billion from a charity painting auction in HCMC for a fund designed to support national disaster victims in central Vietnam.

Six paintings with autographs of two former state presidents of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang, found buyers at the auction, including Berjaya Corporation with US$150,000, FPT Group with US$100,000, and Hoa Lam Corporation with US$60,000.

The money will be used to fund projects to support communities hit by natural disasters.

Phan Dien, president of the natural disaster prevention and support fund for central Vietnam, said: “Since late last year, many parts of the country have been hit hard by drought, especially in the southwestern region.”

Also at the event, Gia Thinh Co. donated VND12 billion to the HCMC young talent scholarship fund to support poor students with outstanding academic records in five years.

Hanoi steps up organised crime prevention efforts

Hanoi police should strengthen measures to prevent organised crime which is seeing complicated developments that pose grave dangers to society.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong made the request at a conference in Hanoi on July 19.

He recognised the capital police’s contributions over the past three years to curbing organised crime and ensuring social order and safety.

Despite the efforts, over 30 rings with 155 members are still active in the capital, he said, suggesting the capital police take more drastic measures to crack down on crime.

He warned that criminal activities, such as racketeering and property confiscation, have recently been launched by several disguised businesses and entrepreneurs.

He said the interdependence of economic, criminal, drug and environmental crimes for shared interests required the police to map out specific measures and closely work with the municipal People’s Committee and locals to put crimes under control.

From January 16, 2014 to June 15, 2016, the number of criminal cases in Hanoi reduced by 52.3 percent over the same period of 2010-2013.

The police razed 237 organised criminal groups involving 960 offenders.

A US$300,000 agreement has been signed for improving the hygiene and sanitary conditions of 15,000 women and girls in 7,500 poor and near-poor households in Việt Nam.

The project will be implemented in six drought-stricken districts in Central Highlands and Mekong Delta provinces.

Under the agreement signed by the government of the Republic of Korea and UN Women, the funds will be used to prevent the spread of diarrhoea, dysentery, hand, foot and mouth diseases, and dengue, besides skin diseases by donating supplies and raising awareness about the importance of sanitation and good nutrition for women. The grant will also support income-generating activities.

Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women country representative in Việt Nam, said, “This grant helps us deliver essential items such as soap and sanitary products to women in the drought-affected areas to maintain their hygiene and of their families. These supplies will prevent diseases and help women and their families stay healthy.”

South Korean ambassador to Việt Nam, Lee Hyuk, said, "In line with the government’s initiative for Better Life for Girls, we hope the support will have a meaningful impact in improving the sanitary conditions and hygiene of women and girls in the drought-affected areas and in reducing the risk of secondary effects such as disease outbreaks.”

South Korea would continue to support efforts to address climate change in Việt Nam, such as by sharing experiences and knowledge on sustainable environment and climate policies, he said.

As a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon, provinces in the central and the Central Highlands regions of the country have been experiencing severe drought since the beginning of 2016.

Two million people, including one million women and 520,000 children, face hardship in accessing water, lack sanitation and hygiene and require urgent humanitarian assistance, according to UN Women.

Lack of access to clean water and sanitation has increased health risks, particularly for women. Due to the impact of drought and saltwater intrusion, women spend an additional two to three hours collecting water for their families.

 In addition to the Korean grant, UN Women also received US$400,000 from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support 20,000 women and girls in the drought-affected provinces.

In March this year, the government of Việt Nam asked for assistance as 18 of its 63 provinces suffered from the worst drought in more than 60 years. The Mekong Delta, south-central and Central Highlands regions are the areas worst-affected by salt intrusion and water scarcity.

The government of Việt Nam, the United Nations and partners have appealed to the international community to support a US$48.5-million emergency plan to respond to the humanitarian situation.

Vietnam Airlines offers discount tickets on international flights

Vietnam Airlines has launched a promotion program with discount tickets on flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Southeast Asian and Northeast Asian regions.

Accordingly, economy class airfares will be US$19 from HCM City to Yangon (Myanmar), HCM City-Bangkok (US$39), HCM City-Singapore (US$50), HCM City-Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta (US$59), HCM City-Hong Kong (US$80) and HCM City-Seoul (US$170).

For business class, airfares will be US$309 from HCM City to Bangkok/Kuala Lumpur, HCM City –Singapore/ Yangon (US$429), HCM City-Hong Kong/Jakarta (US$409) and HCM City-Seoul (US$750).

Airfares exclude taxes and fees. They are available at Vietnam Airlines agents, booking offices and websites. Customers can contact (08) 38 320 320 or website www.vietnamairlines.com to find detailed information.

Summer is in the air and Hanoi has been chosen once again as the best destination worldwide for a cheap vacation, beating Mumbai and Bangkok.

The TripIndex 2016 report by the travel guide site TripAdvisor has named Vietnam’s capital city as the least expensive among 20 favorite cities surveyed, for the third year in a row.

The index was compiled with data from research firm TNS as it checks the cost of a three-night visit in a city, including for accommodation at a four-star hotel, a visit to three attractions, lunch, dinner and taxi transport.

Such a holiday for two in Hanoi is estimated to cost only US$494, which is nearly four times less than in New York, the most expensive travel destination according to the report.

Hanoi is affordable thanks to cheap hotels and transport, although meals can cost more than those in Mumbai and Cape Town.

Southeast Asian destinations Bali, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are also among the more affordable destinations, while Singapore is among the most expensive places, together with London, Paris and Tokyo.

Hanoi, a thousand-year-old city, has become a highly recommended travel destination lately.

The city was also named the cheapest destination in the TripIndex report in 2015 and 2014.

The visual social network Pinterest last October released a list of the most-pinned locations of all time.

Hanoi, with a plenty of sights for photo opportunities, is the third most popular destinations worldwide.

Lonely Planet last year also named Hanoi’s Old Quarter among places to see at least once in a lifetime.

Quang Nam customs official suspended in illegal timber investigation

Head of the Customs Office in a district of the central province of Quang Nam has just been suspended after a large amount of rare timber was found at his workplace.

On July 17, the forest management board of Nam Giang District found more than 100 long pieces of timber with the majority being Fujian Cypress, a rare kind of tree, at the campus of the local Customs Office.

This amount of wood is suspected to have been illegally logged at the border area adjacent to Laos. Authorities of Quang Nam province are investigating the case following a report from local residents on July 9.

According to the residents, they saw many piles of timber on Nam Giang District's border areas. So, provincial authorities decided to suspend Head of the local the Customs Office Le Trung Thiduring the investigation.

Trinh explained that the wood was collected from many different sources; including part of which allegedly given by Lao policemen and customs officers who apparently had generously donated the rare and valuable wood for the construction of a temporary office for Nam Giang District's customs staff.

At an urgent meeting this morning, July 20, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Province People's Committee Le Tri Thanh, said that the investigation has also discovered more piles of Fujian Cypress timber in the areas managed by Nam Giang District's border guard force. This may evidence of a major ring of illegal wood trading with the support of customs and border guard forces in border areas.

Hanoi grapples with land management issues

Land has been illegally allocated to businesses in Hanoi’s Thanh Tri Ward.

Dozens of processing facilities appeared on the land near Red River in Thanh Tri Ward. According to the locals, these facilities are unlicensed yet they have run for years. In one case, even though the licence of Da River Viet Duc Co., Ltd had expired, it has continued to operate.

In 2005, the authorities of Thanh Tri Ward allocated 17,000 square metres to Hong Anh Construction and Trading Investment Company to plant trees. In reality, Hong Anh Company leased 12,500 square metres to various other companies to build a driving training ground, offices and warehouses.

In 2013, Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment stated that ward authorities did not have authorisation to lease public land. But it proposed to let the firms which had already signed contracts with ward localities to continue renting the land and was approved.

Last year, the authorities of Hoang Mai District already worked with about 30 firms to legalise their leases but the process has been slow.

Vice chairman of Hanoi, Nguyen Quoc Hung, then asked agencies to quickly classify which firms meet requirements to have their leases legalised and which firms should be moved out. Chairman of Hoang Mai District Nguyen Quang Hieu agreed.

In the meantime, Hoang Mai District authorities are also proposing to set up a stone-processing village on the land by Red River. There are thousands of households living by the Red River but schools, hospitals and the infrastructure are lacking. They hope that the project will help improve the area's infrastructure.

Nearly 15,000 offshore fishing vessels covered by insurance

There are around 15,000 fishing vessels with nearly 146,000 crew members in 28 coastal localities across the country currently covered by insurance policies after almost two years of implementation of Decree No. 67/2014/NĐ-CP aimed at supporting offshore fishing vessels.

According to Nguyen Quang Huyen, Deputy Head of Insurance Management and Supervision Department under the Ministry of Finance, the insurance policy according to Decree No. 67 is voluntary; participation depends entirely on the will and needs of fishermen.

On another note, during the first 6 months of 2016, total premiums of offshore fishing vessels were estimated at VND128.3 billion, while total insurance liability in case of losses stood at VND12.5 trillion (97 times the total premium).

To date, insurers have handled compensation settlement for 1,267 cases (553 in 2015 and 714 during the first five months of 2016); there have been no cases of profiteering and insurance frauds discovered.

Fishermen have claimed compensation worth VND115.8 billion, insurers have settled insurance compensation with a total amount of VND33.7 billion, and the remaining is in appraisal.

In addition, there are 3,389 vessels that have opted for insurance for fishing equipment with total premiums of VND3.6 billion, with the insured amount in case of loss standing at VND449.8 billion (123.4 times than the premium).

For large losses, the Ministry of Finance has promptly directed participating insurers to urgently co-ordinate with relevant authorities to assess damage, define the scope of insurance protection and present compensation for fishermen.

The efforts and activeness of insurers in promptly paying compensation to ship owners have been appraised by the community, helping them to overcome difficulties to build new ships for offshore fishing activities and protect the country’s maritime sovereignty.

Memorial to Nam Dinh’s martyrs built at Road 9 National Cemetery

A ceremony was recently held by Nam Dinh provincial People’s Committee to begin construction of a monument to commemorate the province’s martyrs at the Road 9 National Martyrs’ Cemetery in Quang Tri province.

The event was part of activities to mark the 69th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 – 2016).

The 100 square metre project includes a stone memorial of Pho Minh Tower (a famous pagoda tower in Nam Dinh), steles commemorating war martyrs and other additional features.

The monument, which has a total cost of VND3.2 billion, is expected to be inaugurated on July 27.

Around 150 soldiers from Nam Dinh province fought and sacrificed their lives at Road 9 – southern Lao fronts during the resistance war against American imperialism.

On the occasion, a delegation of Nam Dinh leaders offered incense to martyrs at Truong Son and Road 9 National Martyrs’ Cemeteries in Quang Tri province.

Winners of photo contest on Vietnamese rivers honoured

The awards ceremony for the photography contest themed ‘Vietnamese Rivers’ was held in Hanoi on July 19.

Three months after launching, the contest’s organising board received nearly 2,470 photos and sets of photos by photographers from around the country.

At the awards ceremony, one first, two second, three third and 10 consolation prizes were presented to the best entries.

The first prize went to a photo entitled ‘Gianh River’ by Nguyen Minh Tan.

A total of the 130 most outstanding photos were selected to be displayed at an exhibition which officially kicked off at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on the same day.

The entries were divided into main themes: Vietnamese rivers with cultural history, Vietnamese rivers with the country's reform process and socio-economic development, and Vietnamese rivers facing challenges caused by global climate change.

Works submitted to the contest are unpublished photos reflecting both positive and negative impacts of the human to the river environment, and reflect the cultural beauty and traditional activities of people living near rivers in Vietnam, as well as the great potential in tourism, industry and trade.

The photo contest, held jointly by the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration; the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association; and the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists, aimed to promote the image and potential of rivers in Vietnam to people both at home and abroad.

Oil on canvas exhibit by Vietnamese artist

Artist Nguyễn Minh Châu, a member of the Việt Nam Fine Arts Association,  recently had his first solo oil on canvas exhibition at the Toong Coworking Space at 8 Tràng Thi Street.

The exhibition, entitled Who am I, was the first of a series of exhibits organised by Toong and by the website Daugia.Vn in July 2016 to fashion a fresh, creative and inspiring space for members.

The series is held once every two months and gathers respected painters of the contemporary arts foundation.

Fine arts lovers can see 19 of Châu’s oil on canvas works in the current exhibit.

The exhibition is a milestone marking the professional maturity of the painter and his dedication to the arts.

“When I look back at the bittersweet years and see glorious belief fading into the past, for me right now the most splendid path lies in painting and painting only. It makes me realise that the air we breathe together and love for human beings are the most important values of life," Châu said.

Through the exhibition, the painter also wishes to share with admirers his opinions about “the voice of love and life in our age”, in which the arts are a place to venture and challenge.

“By using my limited strength to seek out the endless beauty of the outside world, I will be able to navigate myself to a brighter, higher and larger space than what we used to love and believe,” the Hà Nội born painter said.

The exhibition lasts until September 10.

HCMC win four golds at swimming champs

HCM City won four more gold medals in the second day of competition at the National Junior Swimming Championships in HCM City yesterday.

Notably, Lê Hoàng Bảo Ngọc took a gold in the girls’ 12-13, 50m butterfly with a time of 31.73secs. Nguyễn Hoàng Dung of Bến Tre and Nguyễn Lê Phương Thảo were the runners-up with times of 31.93 secs and 32.19 secs, respectively.

Lê Hoàng Minh An bagged a gold medal in the boys’ 12-13, 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:10.88. An’s teammate, Ngô Đặng An got a silver medal with a time of 1:16.75 and the bronze medal belonged to Phan Duy Khang of National Defence Sports Centre 4 with a time of 1:17.53.

With a total of 10 golds, 13 silvers and 12 bronzes, HCM City temporarily took the lead out of 17 teams in the medal tally. The second and third places were unchanged. With 10 golds, three silvers and six bronzes, the National Defence Sports Centre 4 came in second, while the National Defence Sports Centre 5 were third with seven golds, six silvers and two bronzes.

The event will finish on Friday.

U17 players to be part of national championship

The National U17 Football Championship will see the largest number of participants who are expected to bring exciting matches for football lovers next month.

This year, 12 teams, four more than previously, who advanced from the qualifications, will take part in the final from August 2-18.

They are divided into two groups. Group A will compete at the Hòa Thành Stadium in Tây Ninh Province and Group B will play at the Thành Long Stadium in HCM City.

Teams will play in a round robin format in the group stage with the four best teams advancing to the semi-finals.

The winners will walk away with VNĐ50 million (US$2,300).

“The new mode of the tournament is designed to create more opportunities for the young players. They will absorb the experience in such events in preparation for their future,” said Lê Hoài Anh, Việt Nam Football Federation’s general secretary.

VFF officials would also watch the entire tournament with care to select talented players for the national team, who will compete at the coming ASEAN U16 Championship later this year, he said.

It is for the sixth year in a row that the Thái Sơn Nam Company has offered to be the main sponsor of the tournament.

Bình Dương face Quảng Ninh in National Cup semi

Becamex Bình Dương will play Quảng Ninh Coal in the first leg of the National Cup’s semi-final match today on their home turf Gò Đậu Stadium.

It will be a rematch for the two teams, which met last Saturday in the V.League, with Becamex Bình Dương winning 1-0 when Ivan Firer scored the only goal at the fourth minute.

Coach Phan Thanh Hùng is planning a revenge that will defeat the former king, Becamex Bình Dương. He said Quảng Ninh Coal were ready to take the title for the first time in history.

The match will be aired live on VTV.

The second semi-final match will see former winner Hà Nội T&T facing Quảng Nam at Tam Kỳ Stadium.

The second leg match will be on August 3.

120 players compete at ITF U18 tennis tournament

The ITF U18 junior tennis tournament began on July 18 in HCM City’s Phú Thọ tennis club.

About 120 players from 22 countries and territories such as Australia, China, Bangladesh and India, besides South Korea and the United States are participating in the tournament.

The players are competing in four events, which are the boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles matches.

The tournament ends on July 24.

Project protects Vietnamese guest workers’ rights

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and the Asia Foundation in Vietnam held a workshop in Hanoi on July 19 to launch a project on protecting the legitimate rights of Vietnamese guest workers.

VGCL Vice Chairman Mai Duc Chinh said that from 2007, 80,000 to 90,000 Vietnamese workers are sent to work abroad every year. It is estimated that they send over 2 billion USD to their families each year.

However, guest workers, particularly unskilled and poor ones, are facing a lot of risks due to the lack of information on access to labour services overseas. Some of them are cheated by brokers or are abused by employers, while many others lack information on jobs at home and cannot use the skills they learn abroad to work in Vietnam.

As such, the project’s objectives are to intensify the protection of the rights of Vietnamese people who are working abroad, increase access to jobs for those returning, and improve the awareness of policy-makers and relevant parties of the challenges facing labourers.

Chinh emphasised the need to increase the knowledge of local trade union officials on laws and policies and on safe migration so they can better support labourers.

The VGCL and the Asia Foundation in Vietnam will coordinate with job introduction centres in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai provinces to increase opportunities for those returning to find appropriate jobs, he added.

Governance in forming dynamic, resilient cities discussed

The role of governance in forming dynamic, open and resilient cities laid at the heart of a discussion held in Hanoi on July 19 by the Construction Ministry’s City Development Agency, the Belgian Embassy and the Asian Development Fund.

Director of the City Development Agency Nguyen Tuong Van said Vietnam is recording rapid urbanisation compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, as well as throughout Asia. There are some 790 cities across the nation, and they have become a growth engine of the economy.

However, Vietnam is facing an array of city development challenges such as a lack of control over cities’ functions and architecture, asynchronous infrastructure and climate change, he noted.

Professor Michael Douglass from Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy said as the population in Asian cities is forecast to rise by over 1 billion people in the near future, this region needs better resilience to urgent social and economic demands, especially increasingly frequent and acute environmental disasters.

Mismanagement will undermine cities’ long-term resilience, he noted, adding that a dynamic and open city must be built on such basic pillars as culture, natural environment, distribution justice and social harmony.

Meanwhile, Professor Myung Rae at the Republic of Korea’s Dankook University said people have been placed at the centre of urban management in his country’s capital city, Seoul.

In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has made considerable efforts in urban management over the past years. It has resettled residents living along canals, replaced dilapidated apartments with new ones, and upgraded infrastructure in residential areas. It has also worked hard to optimise public-private partnerships to better urban management.

Glimpses of Hà Nội through the lens

An exhibition entitled Hà Nội Impressions is displaying photos of beautiful landscapes and the tempo of development in the capital.

They portray the daily life of Hanoians, new constructions that reflect the capital’s development and cultural activities.

The photos were entries in a contest organised by the Việt Nam Association of Photographic Artists. It’s a part of an annual photo festival organised in eight regions of the country, comprising Hà Nội, the Red River Delta, the northern mountainous region, and the northern central region, as well as the Central Highlands, the southern region, HCM City and the Mekong Delta.

The contest’s organising board received more than 1,800 entries sent by 276 photographers from Hà Nội. Two silver medals, three bronze medals and five consolation prizes were awarded to the best entries. No photo met the criteria to receive the gold medal.

About 137 photos will be displayed till Sunday at the Exhibition House, 29 Hàng Bài Street, Hà Nội.

Exhibition on islands in East Sea opens in Dong Nai

An exhibition displaying maps and materials confirming “Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos belong to Vietnam – historic and legal evidence” kicked off in southern Dong Nai province on July 19.

The exhibition introduces nearly 100 maps, materials and images collected from various sources that have been published by researchers, and local and international scholars.

All materials, maps and images confirm Vietnam ’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos.

The main groups of materials in the exhibition are Chinese maps, Vietnamese nom-language maps and French versions issued by the Vietnamese feudal dynasties and French administrations in Indochina from the 17th to early 20th century, affirming the assertion, exercise and protection of Vietnam ’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos.

It also features copies of documents issued by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1975 and some materials and publications complied and published by Western countries from the 18th to 19th century as well as some documented images on the exercise and protection of Vietnam ’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos from 1930.

The exhibition also displays sets of stamps, documented images and research works by Vietnamese and foreign scholars.

Noteworthy materials include four atlases published by the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China government – one Atlas of the Chinese Empire (published in 1909), the Whole China Map (1917), and two books of Postal Atlas Maps in 1919 and in 1933.

These atlases are the products of the programme of building a Poastal map initiated by the Qing Dynasty in 1906 and was continued by the Republic of China government.

These maps show China’s southernmost point as Hainan island and do not mention Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands at all.

The exhibition also displays the atlas Universel, in six volumes, compiled by Philippe Vandermaelen (1759-1869), a Belgian cartographer in 1827. Volume II includes the map “Partie de la Cochinchine” showing the Paracels as belonging to Vietnam .

The exhibition is one of the important public communication campaigns to raise awareness, unity, the sense of responsibility of people, including overseas Vietnamese, particularly the young generation, in protecting and affirming Vietnam ’s sovereignty over Truong Sa and Hoang Sa.

The exhibition takes place until July 23, after which all maps and materials will be handed over to Dong Nai province.

Summer camp brings youth expats closer to Vietnam

The annual summer camp for youth expats and those living in Ho Chi Minh City is open from July 19-22 under the theme “I Love Vietnam”.

The camp was organised by the city’s Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to bring the youth living abroad closer to their home country with a host of activities held in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat city in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong.

The four-day event attracted about 60 Vietnamese teenagers and young adults living in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the US, Russia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and so on, alongside those from Ho Chi Minh City.

They will visit a number of beauty spots in the country and discover local unique cultures.

They will be offered a chance to experience daily life on a farm on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City and learn about the work of embroidery artists, the craft and tradition of Gong Culture, and how to grow and harvest strawberries in Da Lat city.

The camp has welcomed around 650 youths from 20 countries and territories worldwide over the past 11 years.

Charity walk invites donations for poor children in Binh Thuan

Thousands people joined a charity walk in Phan Thiet City, central Binh Thuan province in the morning of July 19 to raise funds for disadvantaged children in the province.

The event was organised by the National Fund for Vietnamese Children in partnership with the provincial People’s Committee and Bao Viet Life Corporation.

More than 1,200 employees of the Bao Viet Life Corporation together with a large crowd of local residents walked 1.6 kilometres along Nguyen Tat Thanh and Ton Duc Thang streets to invite donations for the fund “Gan ket yeu thuong – Vui buoc den truong” (Connecting love – Joyfully walking to school).

At the opening ceremony of the event, the Bao Viet Life Corporation presented bicycles and schoolbags to 50 underprivileged students with outstanding academic results as part of the firm’s scholarship programme, worth over 3 billion VND (134,520 USD), for studious children across the country.

It also donated 200 million VND (8,970 USD) to the Fund for Vietnamese Children’s Binh Thuan chapter, to support local children in need.

The event was among a series of charity walks for children held in Quang Ninh, Da Nang and Binh Thuan, said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan.

The National Fund for Vietnamese Children and its municipal and provincial chapters have raised more than 5 trillion VND (224.2 million USD) in financial support for over 30 million children from difficult backgrounds nationwide, over the past 24 years.

Ha Giang to host Mong ethnic cultural festival

The second Mong Ethnic Cultural Festival will be held in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang in mid-November.

The festival will be organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the provincial People’s Committee.

The event will honour the rich culture of the ethnic group, in order to preserve and promote their cultural identity within Vietnam’s unified and diverse culture, that counts 54 different ethnic groups, said Huynh Vinh Ai, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Fourteen provinces nationwide with a large number of Mong people will also participate in the festival.

Vietnam has about 800,000 Mong people, one of the country’s largest ethnic minorities. Most Mong live in mountainous areas at a height of 700 metres to 1,500 metres above sea level in the north.

HCM City strengthens communal-level health care facilities

Local patients now can receive high-quality health check-ups at the Binh Chieu ward medical station, thanks to a pilot project to strengthen communal-level medical facilities launched by the Thu Duc Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on July 20.

Local Nguyen Duc Huynh, 32, one of the 10 low-risk patients of chronic kidney failure selected to be treated at the Binh Chieu ward medical station said the service helps him save time and cost travelling to the district hospital three times a week.

Ngo Thi Kim Chi from Linh Trung ward said she feels secure with the services because of the advanced equipment and medical staff from the district hospital.

Director of the Thu Duc Hospital Nguyen Minh Quan said the hospital receives a colossal 200 patients of chronic kidney failure everyday, much more than the hospital’s capacity.

Therefore, they have requested the municipal Health Deparment to expand the service at local levels in a bid to help reduce traveling and treatment cost for patients and ease the load at the district level hospital, Quan said.

It has invested 600 million VND (27,000 USD) to equip local medical facilities with two kidney dialysis machines and water-treatment systems, according to Quan.

The hospital has conducted training of the local medical staff, Quan said, adding that a satellite emergency service has been deployed to the medical station to minimise the risk during the pilot period.

Under the project, as part of the Programme to ease hospital overload of the municipal Health Department, it is also carried out in 12 communal-level medical stations across the district.

The Binh Chieu ward medical station was among the facilities selected because it is located far from the hospital in an area with many industrial parks and residents, according to Quan.

Upon the pilot scheme showing positive results, the model will be replicated in the wards of Hiep Binh Chanh and Linh Trung, Quan said.

Deputy Director of the municipal Health Department Tang Chi Thuong hailed the effectiveness of the pilot project, saying that it will help raise the number of patients who use local medical services and ease hospital overload at higher levels.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE