Marine police seize 400,000 litres of illegal fuel at sea

Some 400,000 litres of smuggled fuel have been seized off Viet Nam's south-western coast yesterday, naval authorities said.

The commander of the Marine Police Zone 4 said that on July 24, in Viet Nam's exclusive economic zone, two Thai-flagged oil tankers were caught illegally pumping diesel into two Vietnamese fishing vessels.

A search of theses vessels found that one had some 100,000 litres of diesel fuel and the other, 300,000 litres.

The two Vietnamese vessels had 30,000.

None of the four vessels had invoices or other documents for the fuel.

But they admitted they frequently sold fuel to Vietnamese fishing vessels at sea.

All the vessels were taken to An Thoi Island in Phu Quoc Island District for further investigation.

Tay Ninh confiscates 113 logs of trac wood

The People's Committee of the southern province of Tay Ninh yesterday fined Pham Minh Hoa, 40, VND15 million (US$690) for illegally transporting trac wood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis).

The Hino truck, heading from Duong Minh Chau District to HCM City, was stopped in late May by the Anti-Smuggling Unit of Trang Bang District Police, who discovered it was carrying an illegal shipment of 113 trac wood logs. Both the truck and the logs were seized.

The logs were equivalent to nearly 1.5 cubic metres of trac wood.

The truck driver said he had been paid VND400,000 ($18) to take the logs from Tay Ninh Province to HCM City.

The confiscated trac wood was valued at VND147.8 million ($6,800).

The authorities of Tay Ninh Province have so far cracked dozens of cases in the area, confiscating some 200 cubic metres of rare, valuable wood this year.

Prime Minister endorses FAO-sponsored health project

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a 2.1-million USD project on controlling human health threats funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The one-year project aims to reduce risks and control human health threats from infectious diseases between humans and animals in Vietnam through value chains in interactions between humans, wild animals and the environment, and particularly to reduce pandemics in the country.

It will intensify cooperation between domestic agencies in implementing the United Nations “One Health” initiative and and reduce risks vertically along the value chain from farms to dining tables.

The project will also bolster monitoring capacity, trans-border cooperative activities and early detection and mitigate highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and other infectious diseases between humans and animals.

Da River pipeline's second phase to begin soon

The construction ministry (MoC) yesterday held a meeting to assess the second-phase technical design of the pipeline transporting the water from the Da River to Ha Noi.

This is an important step in the deployment process of the project to end water shortage in Ha Noi.

During the meeting, technical agencies of the MoC and representatives of the Ha Noi Construction Department listened as the investor, the Viet Nam Construction and Import-Export Co, JSC (Vinaconex), and design consultants spoke about the technical design.

The project was expected to start in the fourth quarter of this year and become operational in the second quarter of 2016 if approved, a representative of the investor said.

Deputy Construction Minister Le Quang Hung said the investor and relevant agencies should pay special attention to the quality of construction, design assessment, and the inspection of the building and acceptance process to avoid the technical shortcomings of the first pipeline.

The total investment for the second phase of BOO (build-own-operate) project is expected to be more than VND4.9 trillion (US$225.6 million).

After the second phase of the project, the entire capacity of the Da River water pipeline system would become 600,000cu.m per day, meeting the demands of Ha Noi residents and supporting the first pipeline in case of any trouble.

The first water pipeline broke several times, leaving more than 70,000 households in Ha Noi without access to clean water.

Growing greenhouse gas level requires workable solutions

Greenhouse emissions in Vietnam are expected to soar through 2020, as heard during a conference held in Hanoi on July 28 which reviewed the outcomes of the 2010-2015 national master plan in response to climate change.

According to Tran Van Luong, Deputy Head of the Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment Agency, Vietnam emitted 246.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2010, 53 percent of which came from the energy sector. Within the next ten years, the number is forecast to hit 466 million tonnes, with 381.1 million tonnes sent out by the energy sector.

The five-year plan was based on a public budget of 32 billion VND (1.47 million USD). Since 2010, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has carried out 11 relevant communications and training projects and 14 projects to evaluate the impacts of climate change and put forth solutions. A model designed to curb industrial greenhouse emissions has yet to be piloted.

A large number of conference participants pointed to the low budget which was only approximately 6 billion VND (276,498 USD) for an entire year.

Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of the Department of Chemicals, said only training and research activities were launched during the period as the result of weak coordination among different units under the ministry.

Luong continued suggesting that it is necessary to mobilise greater support from public funding and international aid as well as enhance information exchange and technology transfer with other countries.

Climate change response ought to be part of relevant programmes implemented nationwide on energy efficiency or environmental protection, among others, he noted.

MoIT Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong concluded the conference, saying with the limited budget, each unit should devise preferential policies for enterprises to encourage their involvement in combating climate change.

Whirlwinds, heavy rain damage trees in Binh Phuoc

Hundreds of hectares of rubber and cashew trees were damaged after heavy rainfall and whirlwinds swept through five communes of the southern Binh Phuoc Province last month.

Nguyen An Duong, head of Bu Gia Map District's department of agriculture and rural development, said more than 140ha of trees in Bu Nho, Phu Rieng, Long Tan and Long Ha, besides Phu Nghia communes were damaged during the past month.

Among them, 69ha of trees were rubber and the rest were cashew trees. About 17 fish ponds were filled up and eight houses were partly damaged.

The losses were estimated to be worth roughly VND700 million (US$32,000).

The department is co-operating with the provincial search, rescue and flood prevention steering committee to estimate the losses and support the affected households to resume their normal lives.

Taxi driver found dead in cab in HCM City

A taxi driver was found dead in his cab at around 6am today on Bo Bao Tan Thang Street in HCM City's Tan Phu District.

Witnesses said they found Dang Van Thanh dead behind the wheel after hearing an explosion from the Vinasun taxi which was parked at the Bo Bao Tan Thang – D3 Crossroads.

The body was taken for an autopsy and the Tan Phu District police are investigating.

Authorities strike at ‘turtle' buses

Many buses in the capital have been operating on routes for which they aren't registered, according to the Ha Noi Department of Transport.

Records from the Viet Nam Directorate of Roads' tracking system showed evidence of buses following the wrong routes. Residents call them "turtle buses." They move slowly through the streets looking for extra passengers. This causes more traffic jams and accidents, according to the department.

Three Ha Son Transport and Tourism buses registered to travel between Ha Noi's Nuoc Ngam Bus Station and the northern mountain province of Lao Cai were found operating on Tran Binh and Ton That Thuyet streets near the My Dinh Bus Station, halfway across the city from their registered route.

A Viet Nam Commerce and Communication Company bus was also found near My Dinh Bus Station, far from its route from Yen Nghia Bus Station to Y Yen in Hai Hau Province.

Nguyen Hoang Linh, deputy head of the Department of Transport, said there were a large number of buses in the city operating outside of their assigned routes, stopping and picking up passengers outside of designated zones.

The department has asked local authorities and the city's traffic police to look for buses that operated out of their assigned routes, the deputy head said. Transport inspectors who failed to perform their duties and allowed these buses to operate would also be held accountable.

In addition, he said bus companies that were found repeatedly in violation of their route assignments would risk having their operating licences revoked. Bus stations in the city were also ordered to refuse service to those companies.

Ministry takes quick action on road

News yesterday that a new road leading to Co Chien bridge in the Mekong delta had collapsed brought an immediate response from the Ministry of Transport.

It immediately sent an urgent document to the managing board of the bridge construction project asking it to make repairs to the road.

In an article on Tuesday, Viet Nam News reported that the 9km road connecting the Mekong Delta provinces of Ben Tre and Tra Vinh was falling apart just two months after it was opened. Many pot-holes appeared on the road and the sides started to collapse.

Started in 2011, the bridge was completed 15 months earlier than scheduled.

Yesterday, Nguyen Chung Khanh, general director of the project managing board, confirmed that parts of the road had subsided.

He blamed the situation on lorries weighing more than 10 tonnes that regularly use it. Regulations state that only vehicles weighing less than this can use the road.

Khanh said that to fix the road, up to 12cm of concrete mixture would be spread on damaged parts of the road.

However, he said it would take six months to complete the job.

Quang Ngai records slow poverty alleviation project pace

Implementation of the World Bank-funded Central Highlands Poverty Reduction Project in central Quang Ngai province has moved slowly, reviewed Le Quang Thich, Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, during a working session in Quang Ngai on July 28.

The project, worth 150 million USD, targets the 26 poorest districts in Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces. It aims to enhance livelihoods and opportunities for the impoverished in these districts, most of who are from various ethnic minority groups.

The project encompasses four components: village and commune infrastructure development; sustainable livelihood development; connective infrastructure development, capacity building and communications; and project management.

In Quang Ngai alone, more than 16 million USD is set to address extreme poverty in 15 communes across Ba To, Son Ha and Son Tay districts.

Since 2014, Quang Ngai has thus far approved five infrastructure sub-projects and another ten are pending. The sub-projects are scheduled to begin construction in September 2015 and become operational by the end of December.

The thirteen targeted communes have established 52 livelihood support groups in hybrid rice paddy cultivation benefiting 520 households and ten communes have set up 16 groups in cow farming, among others.

Quang Ngai disbursed 2.1 billion VND (96,774 USD) in funding in 2014. In 2015, the province approved a financial plan worth 72.7 billion VND (3.35 million USD), only 4.4 billion VND (202,765 USD) of which was disbursed by the end of the second quarter.

According to Deputy Chairman Thich, the slow pace is due largely to a high number of agencies participating in the project and the considerable risks involved.

He proposed including additional poor communes in the three districts as part of the project in 2016 even though they are not located in the Central Highlands’ neighbouring areas.

Acknowledging local efforts in carrying out the project, World Bank Country Director in Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa recommended Quang Ngai boost community engagement, especially from women.

Thua Thien-Hue improves disaster reduction skills at schools

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue is implementing a project to train teachers and students in risk reduction during disasters, according to Hoang Ngoc Khanh, Chief of Office of the provincial People’s Committee.

The 640-million VND (about 30,000 USD) project, funded by the Embassy of Germany in Vietnam and the Thua Thien-Hue Red Cross Society, will be deployed at four secondary schools in Quang Vinh, Quang Phuoc and Quang Loi communes and Sia town.

The activities will introduce “safe school” models and provide safe swimming and first aid skills for staff and teachers.

About 30 students in each school will also attend safe swimming classes and disaster reduction drills will be available to 30 percent of the students.

Another earlier disaster reduction project, funded by the German Red Cross Society, has provided thousands of people in targeted localities with training programmes and rescue rehearsals.-

Young overseas Vietnamese tour Ba Ria-Vung Tau

Vietnamese young expatriates taking part in the 2015 Vietnam Summer Camp landed in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and paid courtesy visits to provincial leaders on July 28.

Participants paid tribute to the memorial area honouring martyr Vo Thi Sau, a national heroine who fought against the French colonialists, and visited former revolutionary bases in the province.

Nguyen Phan Bao Linh, an 18-year-old expatriate in the Ukraine, said this was the first time she has visited the home of the martyr, adding that she is proud of and greatly admires the teenage heroine.

Linh also expressed her joy at witnessing the increasingly dynamic development of the homeland, saying she will collect information and documents on the country’s history and culture to introduce to her relatives and friends.

Meanwhile Le Thi Thuy Tien, a student studying architecture in Cambodia, shared that she plans to return Vietnam after graduating and join activities supporting Agent Orange victims in her homeland.

Luu Anh Vuong, a medical student from Russia, said he is touched to visit the memorial and hear moving stories about martyr Vo Thi Sau, a brave revolutionary symbol of patriotism.

“I hope to make contributions to Vietnam’s development in the future”, he stated.

The young expatriates were scheduled to attend a music exchange with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s chapter in Dat Do district later the same day.

The 2015 Vietnam Summer Camp, themed “Proud of Vietnam”, hosts youth aged between 16 and 25. It aims to affirm that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of Vietnam, a crucial resource and a bridge linking the country with the world.

The camp is being held from July 13-31 and will take participants to renowned destinations from the north to the south of the nation.

Ba Na Hills welcomes one millionth tourist in 2015

The Ba Na Hills Mountain Resort, one of the most popular destinations in central Da Nang city, on July 27 welcomed its one millionth tourist in 2015.

The event marked a significant growth in the number of tourists to Da Nang city and Ba Na Hills, as in 2014, the one millionth visitor came to the tourism site in November.

The lucky man is Nguyen Van Tuat from Ho Chi Minh City. Special gifts for him include a voucher worth 10 million VND (458 USD) which can be applied to all services in the resort and a one-year unlimited cable car use pass.

Ba Na Hills Director Do Thi Tuyet Hanh said with delight that the event reaffirmed Ba Na Hills as an attractive destination to both domestic and foreign holidaymakers. It is also a motivation for the site to improve its services and make it an ideal choice for visitors to Da Nang city.

In the near future, the tourism site will organise a wide range of activities such as collective weddings and Halloween and Christmas festivals.

As part of its Summer Festival 2015, a street music performance will be held at the resort every Saturday evening until August 15.

A band music contest will also take place from August 9-10 at the resort.

 Vietnam Coast Guard receives new high-speed patrol boat

The Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) of Zone 4 on July 27 was given a high-speed patrol boat, the fifth of its kind built by Hong Ha Shipbuilding Co., about one month after the vessel was handed over to the High Command of the Vietnam Coast Guard at the firm’s facility in the northern city of Hai Phong.

Vietnam Coast Guard receives two home-made modern vessels

The TT400-class vessel, numbered CSB 4035, was assigned to the VCG of Zone 4, which manages and protects the southern waters of Vietnam from Tra Vinh to Kien Giang Provinces and part of the Gulf of Thailand, in which Phu Quoc Island is located.

The VCG of Zone 4 is headquartered on Phu Quoc.

Vietnamese-built TT400-class vessels, tasked with conducting maritime border patrols, reconnaissance, and maritime surveillance operations, are armed with two 14.5 mm air-defense guns, one AK 176 76 mm automatic cannon, and one radar-guided, six-barreled 30 mm AK 630 close-in weapon system turret, defense news website IHS Jane's reported.

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships, the 420-tonne TT400 can reach a top speed of 34.5 knots and has a standard range of 2,500 nautical miles at 15 knots.

Each vessel, which can operate continuously for 30 days and nights in a row at sea, can carry a crew of 35.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Tien Chau, captain of coast guard force No. 401 under the VCG of Zone 4, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the new boat has joined many operations during a 20-day voyage from Hai Phong to Phu Quoc, including pushing away foreign vessels that entered Vietnamese waters without permission and catching a foreign ship red-handed illegally selling fuel to local fishing boats.

The Vietnamese coast guard vessel on July 24 detected two Thailand-flagged ships, TAKUZAN and another bearing no name, pumping diesel oil into two Vietnamese boats in Vietnam’s waters after many days of tracking them.

The two foreign ships, carrying about 400,000 liters of diesel oil without any documentation or legal bills, and the two Vietnamese boats were then detained for further investigation.

The VCG took delivery of its fourth TT400-class patrol boat, the HQ 275, from Hong Ha Shipbuilding Co. last September.

The vessel was the second TT400 patrol boat to be commissioned in 2014, following the launch of the third in May.

The first two ships of the same class, HQ 272 and HQ 273, were commissioned in January 2012 and August 2012 respectively, according to IHS Jane's.

Earlier this month, the Vietnam Coast Guard received two advanced ships, including a coast guard vessel with a helipad on board and a towing and rescuing boat from Song Thu Corporation, under the Ministry of Defense’s Industrial General Department.

The state-owned shipbuilder transferred the vessels, CSB 8002 and CBS 9004, to the High Command of the VCG during a ceremony at Song Thu Port in the central city of Da Nang on July 9.

The CSB 8004 would be assigned to the VCG of Zone 2, while the CSB 9004 would be added to the fleet of the VCG of Zone 1, said Major General Nguyen Quang Dam, commander of the VCG.

Police in central Vietnam have arrested a man for allegedly killing and robbing a 48-year-old Indian national earlier this month.

Truong Van Quang, 30, is under investigation on suspicion of murdering Nathu Singh Solanki, a technician at a quarry in Chau Tien Commune, Nghe An Province, on July 11, police officers said.

This is the latest official information released by provincial police about the case.

Solanki had worked for Wolkem India Ltd., which formed a joint venture with a Vietnamese company to mine white stone in the commune.

Locals discovered Solanki’s body on the evening of July 11 and reported it to police, who came to examine the scene, collect statements from witnesses and launch an investigation.

After his arrest, Quang told police about his crime.

At 7:00 pm on July 11, Quang was walking on a road in the commune when he saw Solanki stop his motorbike on the roadside and then start urinating.

The location is about 500 meters from the Chau Tien People’s Committee.

Quang approached Solanki, picked a fight and then pressed a knife to his throat.

The Indian ran away and Quang chased him, slashing his head and neck and stabbing him in the chest.

As Solanki fell to the ground, the Vietnamese man took from him a wallet containing VND10,000 (US$0.46) and a gold ring, and then escaped from the scene on the victim’s bike.

While getting away, Quang threw the knife into a stream and left the bike about 1km from the murder scene.

A day later, the suspect offered to sell the ring to many people but nobody bought it, so he threw it away.

He had hidden in a forest nearby until being arrested.

Police have recovered all of the victim’s property and the knife.

Quang has a previous conviction for stealing property, police said.

1,500 tourists stranded by heavy rains on Vietnam’s Co To Island

Around 1,500 tourists were stranded on Co To Island, off the northern Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh, as the popular tourist destination was lashed by what may have been the heaviest rainfall in more than four decades on Monday.

The vacationers, who arrived on the island for weekend holidays, were unable to return to shore as no boats were allowed to operate during the severe weather.

Co To, a district administered by Quang Ninh, suffered rough seas and strong winds.

The transportation of food from the mainland to the island was also disrupted by heavy downpours, forcing several stores and shops to close.

However, authorities on the island asserted that there is enough food in reserve for the 1,500 tourists to use for the next couple of days.

The power, water and communication systems on the island are also ensured.

Co To is among the favorite destinations of tourists in Quang Ninh, besides the iconic Ha Long Bay in its capital city of Ha Long.

Visitors usually stay for a few days on the island at either hotels or houses that supply homestay services.

Hung, who runs a homestay house, said he was still able to buy meat and vegetables at a local market as of Monday afternoon.

“But seafood products were scarce as fishermen could not go fishing due to the rough seas,” he said.

A female tourist said she had been stranded on Co To for three days and did not know when she would be allowed to return to shore.

However, the worried visitor said she feels sympathy for the boat operation ban, as it was enacted to ensure the safety of tourists.

The tourist added that some accommodation and restaurant services on the island have cut costs to help visitors.

Hoang Ba Nam, chairman of Co To District, said the local administration is encouraging hotels to cut room rates by 30 to 50 percent, while asking tourists not to go outside during the foul weather.

Some hotels have slashed prices by 30 percent, and even 100 percent, for their stranded guests.

The rainfall, which the local meteorology agency said is the heaviest in 40 years, damaged three main roads, shut down a clean water supply station on the island and destroyed a wide area of agriculture crops, according to the district chairman.

The total damage is estimated at VND3.5 billion (US$160,772).

All of Quang Ninh was hit by lashing rains on Sunday and Monday, causing floods in several localities.

Three people were killed as floodwaters engulfed their house in Cam Pha City, whereas total damage caused by the flooding was estimated at VND112 billion ($5.14 million), according to the province’s steering board for search and rescue during natural disasters.

More than 16,000 residents in HCMC beaten by mad animals

Just in the first six months of the year, up to 16,410 residents in Ho Chi Minh City were beaten by mad animals, said Le Xuan Hoa from the municipal Department of Preventive Medicine.

All victims arrived at medical facilities for vaccination against rabies. Most people are beaten by dogs with the rate of 83.4 percent, next are cats with 9.8 percent. People are usually beaten in their legs with 70.2 percent; in hands with 23.8 percent.

Around 7 percent of victims have wide wounds. All are health after vaccination.

As per the warning of the Department of Preventive Medicine, to limit the mortality rate due to being beaten by mad animals, people should not raise dogs and cats and must have them injected periodically. People should not let children play with animals especially when animals are eating.

If anyone is beaten by animals, they must go to nearby medical facilities for vaccination with enough shots as well as keep an eye on the animal later.

One million residents in HCM City use unsafe water

Around 358,350 households in HCM City, or nearly one million people, are still using unsafe water, said a local official.

At a recent meeting of the municipal party committee, Secretary Le Thanh Hai said that to date only 81% of city households had access to clean water.

"It has been 40 years since the country was reunified, but nearly 1 million residents in HCM City still lack safe water", Hai said.

For many years, households in Binh Chanh District have complained about water quality. Local Hoang Thi Mai said that over the past 10 years, her family has had to buy clean water at quite high prices.

“We have to pay VND1,500 (USD0.07) for a 30-litre bottle of water.  Every month, my family spends around VND1 million for buying water," Mai claimed.

Many poorer households have dug wells, but this water is obviously unsafe.

Tens of thousands of households in District 12 and the others districts of Binh Tan, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi and Thu Duc also face the same situation, and use rain and well water.

Rain and well water used by hundreds of thousands of households in HCM City has been tested as unsafe based on Ministry of Health standards, according to the HCM City Department of Preventive Health.

A recent test conducted by the centre on 1,400 spots in seven districts showed that just 3.21% of the water samples are safe for daily use.

Secretary Hai urged local agencies to ensure clean water for residents.

HCM City has set a target to provide clean water for all households by the end of this year. The city has planned to install 137,000 filters to treat well and rain water and build and upgrade 28 water supply stations as part of these efforts.

Fifteen collectives and individuals honoured at ‘Vietnam Glory’ programme

Fifteen collectives and individuals were honoured at the 2015 ‘Vietnam Glory’ programme which was held in Hanoi on July 28, for their enthusiasm, creativity and contributions made to national construction and defence.

The annual awards event is co-organised by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), the Central Emulation and Reward Board and the Lao Dong (Labour) Newspaper.

In his congratulatory message sent to the organising board, President Truong Tan Sang expressed his hope that the programme would continue to discover and praise more exemplary role models, thus boosting the development of patriotic emulation movements.

The award recipients were youngsters who have demonstrated their commitment to striving for success on international arenas, as well as outstanding workers, engineers and businesses and scientists who have contributed their intellect to improve the quality of life for all people throughout the country.

Recipients also included policemen who have dedicated themselves to fighting against cybercrime, as well as coast guards who have ceaselessly worked day and night to protect the country’s sovereignty over its seas and islands.

They also included ordinary people who have dedicated their time and efforts to help people around them, thus improving the quality of life for others with their good deeds.

Speaking at the event, VGCL President Dang Ngoc Tung said that throughout its 12 editions, the ‘Vietnam Glory’ programme has established itself as a prestigious social event a positive impact on society.

While congratulating the awardees, he encouraged them to further their leading roles in promoting emulation movements.

Australia supports Vietnam in implementing national qualification framework

A four-day Vietnam-Australia technical exchange on capacity-building for a national qualifications framework kicked off in Hanoi on July 28 in a bid to support the final stage of the development of Vietnam’s National Qualification Framework and its implementation.

The project is being funded under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) agreement as part of the Economic Cooperation Work Programme (ECWP) Capacity Building for National Qualifications Framework: Phase III projects.

This phase of capacity building for National Qualifications Frameworks is part of a series of activities aimed at enhancing the mobility of skilled labour through improved transparency of education systems to facilitate comparisons of education qualifications across ASEAN Member States.

At the exchange, experts from the Australian Government Department of Education and Training are providing technical support and hands-on policy and operational assistance to Vietnam on the development and implementation of its recently developed National Qualifications Framework.

The exchange involves representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), and the Australian government.

Participants will also make a site visit to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, a local vocational and training college and a local university to gain different perspectives on National Qualifications Framework implementation. Senior MOET and MOLISA officials will visit Australia later in the year to build on the positive technical exchange outcomes to date.

The Australian government first introduced the Australian Qualifications Framework in 1995 to ensure that qualifications across the country are consistent and represent the same high standards of education.

Mekong Delta to drum up sea and river tours

Tourism authorities have picked Kien Giang Province as the host of the national tourism year 2016 in the hopes that the event could help drum up sea and river tours in the Mekong Delta.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the steering committee for the national tourism year has agreed on tourism products including such tours for further promotion as well as plans to link localities to create more products for the region.

Apart from sea and river tours, the national tourism year will also focus on promoting tourism products of Phu Quoc Island off mainland Kien Giang Province.

The Mekong Delta has been zoned as one of the seven typical areas for tourists in Vietnam. However, the number of visitors to the region accounts for a fraction of the country’s total and travelers have gone to some destinations in Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Kien Giang and Can Tho.

Statistics of VNAT showed the Mekong Delta posted tourism revenue of nearly VND6.4 trillion and welcomed over 22.4 million tourists last year, including 1.83 million from abroad. International arrivals in the region were less than half of HCMC’s total.

Zoning plan for Ban Gioc Waterfall tourist area proposed

Ban Gioc waterfall tourist area in Cao Bang Province would cover around 1,000 hectares including 130 hectares in the central area as envisioned in a master zoning plan proposed by the Vietnam Institute for Urban and Rural Planning.

The institute has put forth the zoning plan of Ban Gioc Waterfall tourist area in the northern mountainous province plus a detailed plan for the site’s central area.

As suggested by the institute, the tourist area would be developed into a major area for sightseeing tours, resorts, adventures, and recreational and cultural activities, among others.

The institute proposed developing two key sites, with the administration part on the west side and the central area on the east side. In particular, the former would have administrative, political and technical infrastructure facilities as well as works for tourism services.

Meanwhile, the central part of the tourist area would house tourism infrastructure and service facilities and the operation center for the entire area.

Ban Gioc Waterfall is an attractive tourist spot of Cao Bang Province. However, tourism services and infrastructure are still underdeveloped and the road leading to the waterfall is not in good condition. This is the reason why tourism potential of the area has not been fully tapped.

The institute proposed the zoning plan with an aim to help make the most of potential and advantages of the tourist area and boost tourism development.

Saigon Water to spend big on water supply in Cu Chi

Saigon Water Infrastructure Corporation (Saigon Water) will execute a project worth nearly VND4.4 trillion (US$202 million) to provide clean water for all households in Cu Chi District, HCMC.

The company plans to develop the project between now and December 2019, according to a plan for water supply development and management in the outlying district in the 2015-2019 period.

In the first phase of the project, Saigon Water will construct a pipeline to transport clean water from Kenh Dong Water Plant to Cu Chi Town and 10 nearby communes.

Water purifying facilities and water meters would be installed at households while water tanks would be set up in the areas which do not have access to the water supply network.

The enterprise aims to distribute clean water to all families in the district by the year-end when phase one of the project is completed. This phase requires some VND2.1 trillion.

In the second phase from 2016 to the end of 2019, Saigon Water will complete construction of the water supply system at a cost of some VND2.3 trillion so that every household in Cu Chi would be able to get access to clean water and have water meters.

According to the HCMC government, payments for the irrigation fee and charges of transporting water to water tanks will be subsidized by the city budget.

Saigon Water pledges to provide clean water meeting quality requirements to households at retail prices set by the city government. Water prices are projected to be the same as those in innercity and outlying districts.  

Truong Khac Hoanh, general director of Saigon Water, told the Daily that preparations for the project have been progressing smoothly and the firm has been allowed to borrow an interest-free loan of VND600 billion from the city budget to develop the water supply system.

Hoanh said Saigon Water would recover investment capital from selling clean water to households. The company would calculate water retail prices for residents in the district and ensure these prices would be the same as in innercity districts.

Over 350,000 households in HCMC, mainly those in communes in Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi districts, have no access to clean water.

According to data of the city government, around 1.55 million households had had access to clean water supply as of the end of June, accounting for 83.08% of total families in HCMC.

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