Formosa IP to recruit nearly 3,000 foreign workers

The People’s Committee of central Ha Tinh province has authorisednine investors in the Formosa Industrial Park (IP) to employ 2,976 foreign workers.

With the Committee’s approval, a Chinese chemical company in the Formosa IP will recruit 276 foreigners, including 198 technicians. Another Chinese firm, MCC 20 Group, will employ 120 foreign workers.

Provincial authorities asked Chinese employers to strictly abide by Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs regulations regarding foreign worker employment and management in Vietnam.

HCMC establishes paediatric organ transplant centre

Children’s Hospital 2 Director Ha Manh Tuan on September 5 confirmed that as a result of the tremendous success of the hospital’s transplant surgeries over the past 10 years a specialty organ transplant centre is planned for the city.

Speaking at the 10th anniversary since the first liver graft surgery ten years ago, Tuan noted the hospital’s doctors have successfully conducted 12 kidney and 8 liver transplants.

Associate Professor Luong Ngoc Khue in turn confirmed 20 successful recent transplants have been encouraging, however he cautioned that children organ transplantation in Vietnam still faces difficulties and challenges.

In Vietnam, the first child liver graft surgery was jointly conducted by surgeons from the Military Medical Academy and Hospital 103 in 2003, subsequently the first kidney transplant was carried out in May 2004.

Children’s Hospital 2 conducted its first kidney transplant in June 2004 and first liver transplant in December 2005 with the support of Belgian experts.

Whirlwind destroys houses in Dong Thap

A whirlwind together with incessant rain blew the roofs of hundreds of houses in the Mekong Delta province Dong Thap on September 4.

Initial investigations show that 47 houses in Thap Muoi district collapsed entirely, while 180 other houses lost their roofs during the disaster.

Strong winds also knocked down a number of trees throughout the district.

In an immediate response, the People’s Committee of Thap Muoi district made 200 million VND (9,400 USD) available to assist the affected families, and mobilised additional resources from the locality to help local residents rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the storm.

Vietnamese-Lao bilingual school in Laos begin new academic year

The Nguyen Du Vietnamese-Lao Bilingual School in Vientiane, Laos, commenced the 2014 - 2015 school year with an official ceremony held on September 5.

Addressing the ceremony, the school’s head teacher Truong Van The said this school year a total of 1,920 students enrol at the school, which teach in both Vietnamese and Lao languages under an agreement between the governments of the two countries.

The school, run by the Association of Vietnamese in Vientiane , will continue to nurture in its students the love for their homeland and respect for the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, he added.

Formerly the Viet Kieu (Overseas Vietnamese) Nguyen Du School, the school is re-named the Nguyen Du Bilingual School this year. It has classes from preschool to senior high education levels.

APEC Education and Training 2014 Exhibition launched

The Ministry of Education and Training, in collaboration with APEC partners, held an opening ceremony for the APEC Education and Training 2014 Exhibition under the theme “Sharing knowledge and skills development for a dynamic and integrated APEC”.

The exhibition runs from September 5 – 6, and introduces new models of vocational training and university teaching, as well as new teaching equipment and technology. Most importantly, it provides Vietnamese students the opportunity to explore leading educational models in Vietnam and other countries.

Furthermore, the exhibition is a platform for all parties involved to showcase the quality of their resources and their contributions to APEC’s economy.

Some of APEC’s members are at the forefront of education and training, such as the US, Japan, Russia and the Republic of Korea, and they will be exhibiting their excellent training models and technologies, attracting learners and expanding their cooperation with Vietnamese partners.

The exhibition is also supported by Vietnam’s strategic partners, including Italy, the UK and Sweden.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training, along with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, introduced visitors to the latest models of higher education in Vietnam, including the Vietnam-Germany University and the Vietnam-France University.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Manh Hung stressed the importance of contributing highly skilled human resources to the APEC economy, and hoped the exhibition would strengthen Vietnam’s relations and cooperation with APEC member states and other countries in the field of education and vocational training.

APEC comprises 21 member economies, accounting for 54 percent of the world’s GDP and 44 percent of global trade.

Vietnam builds new headquarters for Cambodia military

A facility to house the headquarters of the Cambodian Air Defense Command, which was funded by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, was put into operation in Phnom Penh on September 5.

The two-storey facility has 10 rooms, spanning an area of 300 square metres and built at a cost of more than US$130,000.

Addressing the launch ceremony, General Mop Sarun, Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodia Army, emphasized the building is testimony to the growing ties between the two countries’ armies.

He also expressed his sincere thanks to Vietnam’s Party, Government and people for helping Cambodia escape the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime and rebuild the country.

Under a bilateral cooperation agreement between the two Defence Ministries, in 2014 the Vietnamese side has committed US$21.6 million in aid to the Royal Cambodia Army to purchase equipment, run training courses, and provide healthcare services.

VAVA calls for better care for AO victims

The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) has called for better care for people affected by the toxic chemical sprayed by the US troops during the war.

At a working session with Ha Thi Khiet, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, in Hanoi on September 5, VAVA President Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh suggested strengthening the Party leadership in addressing consequences of the chemical warfare in Vietnam .

Khiet took note of difficulties that the association has met while looking after the AO victims.

In the foreseeable future, the five-year implementation of Conclusion No.292-BT/TW on these issues will be reviewed, she said, adding that a review committee will be established later this month.

From 1961-1971, the US troops sprayed more than 80 million litres of herbicides - 44 million litres of which were AO that contained nearly 370kg of dioxin - over southern Vietnam.

As a result, around 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to the toxic chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases due to the chemical’s effects.

Vietnam has adopted a number of policies specifically designed for Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims, supporting them with vocational training and medical treatment.

However, supporting policies for the victims should be updated and improved regularly as only 300,000 out of the three million people affected by the toxic chemical benefit from the incentives.

Established in 2004, VAVA now has chapters in 59 cities and provinces with over 315,000 members. It has raised more than 800 billion VND (37.8 million USD) in and outside the country to repair and build houses, grant scholarships, and offer relief for AO victims and their families.

Kon Tum adds ethnic languages to curriculum

The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum will officially teach the Bahnar and Jrai languages for primary students of these ethnic minority groups from the 2014-2015 school year as part of its effort to preserve their cultural identities.

As many as 819 Bahnar students and 255 Jrai ones will learn their mother tongues during this academic year as these languages are added to the curriculum at primary schools in Kon Tum city and Kon Ray and Sa Thay districts.

With four lessons a week, native teachers will help them acquire listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

More than 14,000 students from nursery to high school education levels across Kon Tum have entered the new academic year with pleasure as the province recently inaugurated eight more schools, mostly in rural areas, bringing its total school number to 404.

For the 2014-2015 school year, the province sets to focus on improving education quality in ethnic minority communities while stepping up the teaching of Vietnamese for ethnic minority students besides their mother tongues.

According to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands, 1.4 million students throughout the region have registered for the new school year, with 461,000 belonging to ethnic minority groups.

The Central Highlands comprise the five provinces of Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Kon Tum.

Mekong Delta boosts climate change response efforts

A conference in An Giang province on September 4 examined how regional farming systems in the Mekong Delta can adapt to climate change.

Hosted by Can Tho University, the event aimed to review the implementation of the project “Climate Change Affecting Land Use in the Mekong Delta: Adaptation of Rice-based Cropping Systems” (CLUES) in the region.

Funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR- Australia), the 1.2 million AUD (1.1 million USD) project was carried out in the provinces of An Giang, Hau Giang and Bac Lieu, and Can Tho city from 2011-2014, focussing on developing new rice varieties for submerged and alkaline agricultural land, as well as areas affected by saltwater intrusion.

Experts and scientists analysed the impacts of climate change and sea level rises on the region’s rice production.

Le Van Hoa from Can Tho University highlighted the need to manage water resources and land for rice cultivation in ways adaptive to climate change, saying that this will contribute to increasing profits for farmers.

Participants said it is necessary to carefully tailor rice cultivation practices and crop varieties to each type of ecosystem, whilst also promoting biodiversity in the fields, which can prevent the spread of diseases. Overall, this approach will improve rice quality and output, they said.

Covering an area of 3.96 million hectares, the Mekong Delta has a population of approximately 22 million, most of whom live on farming.

Considered a granary of the country, the region usually suffers from floods, droughts and unusual weather patterns each year.

To counteract the impacts of climate change, the Mekong Delta is expected to refine its adaptation policies and plans, particularly with regard to sea level rises and saltwater intrusion.-

Japanese association protects street children in Vietnam

During the past 20 years, the Hue-based Japanese Association of Supporting Streetchildren (JASS) has increased its presence in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and in Vietnam as a whole, making it a reliable organisation for disadvantaged children to turn to.

Nguyen Nhien, Director of the Vietnam-Japan Centre in Hue City, said that since its inception, the non-governmental organisation has provided Japanese-language courses for 350 students and cared for 214 children, both at its establishments and in the community.

Many beneficiaries have since found work as Japanese-speaking tour guides, doctors, engineers, architects and teachers.

Additionally, JASS has worked with other Japanese organisations to donate 1,000 wheelchairs to people with disabilities in the central region. It has also helped encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Vietnam, and served as a bridge for Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture and Hue city.

JASS has approximately 1,400 members providing support for street children in Vietnam, particularly in Hue city.

Photos of ethnic minority children on display in Dak Nong

An exhibition showcasing photos of ethnic minority children opened in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on September 4.

With the title “Let me tell you a story”, the exhibition introduces 124 works taken by 49 ethnic minority students in Dak Nong, central Binh Thuan and northern Lao Cai provinces. Each photo tells a story of their daily lives, featuring their study and recreational activities.

This is one of the events to celebrate the new academic year of 2014-2015, giving students from ethnic minority groups an opportunity to show off their talent, increase confidence, and voice personal hopes and dreams.

It also helps children nationwide see the ordinary lives of their peers in remote and difficult areas.

The exhibition will last until September 7.

Vietnam, Poland enhance trade union cooperation

Vietnam and Poland will promote trade union cooperation through the exchange of delegations, information sharing and mutual support at international forums, said President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), Dang Ngoc Tung.

At a reception for a high-level delegation from the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) led by its president Jan Guzin Hanoi on September 5, Tung emphasised the visit will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ trade union organisations.

Vietnam’s trade union has around 8.3 million of members and 117,000 chapters at the grassroots level. In the context of the country’s international economic integration and the signing of free trade agreements, Vietnam faces challenges in protecting workers’ rights and interests, especially those in the non-state economic sector.

Therefore, Vietnam’s trade union should increase internal strength and learn experience from international trade union organisations, including the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ), said Tung.

For his part, Jan Guz said the main goal of the OPZZ is to get involved in making social policies for employees, and protect their rights so as to improve their living conditions.

He acknowledged VGCL’s efforts in protecting employees’ legitimate rights and expressed hope trade unions of both countries will tighten friendship and cooperation to build strong trade union organisations.

Tay Ninh fines firm for illegal wastewater discharge

The People's Committee of the southern Tay Ninh Province has fined Hai Duong Co Ltd VND227.5 million (US$10,700) for illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the Vam Co Dong River.

The company specialises in manufacturing paper and packing material. The local police's investigation found that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the river was 4.21 times more than the permitted level, while the biochemical oxygen demand during the five-day test (BOD5) was 5.98 times higher than the permitted level.

The committee also ordered the company to stop discharging untreated wastewater into the environment until it implements the wastewater treatment system as per the regulations.

Aqua Mekong’s new river expedition

Vietnam is enjoying a surge of interest by international travellers, which explains why leading luxury small ship cruise line operator Aqua Mekong has decided to launch a seven-night journey along the Mekong River.

“Vietnam – with its innately beautiful landscapes and hospitable people – is the starting point of the Southeast Asian journey along the Mekong River,” CEO and founder of Aqua Expeditions, Francesco Galli Zugaro announced at a launching ceremony for the expedition.

The expedition departs Ho Chi Minh City on September 30 and then meanders its way across the Cambodian border to the capital city of Phnom Penh, after which it continues on winding its way to its final destination, Siem Reap.

The cruise liners of Aqua Mekong were designed by a Saigon based architectural firm Noor Design and embody the aesthetic of a sophisticated five-star hotel, offering 20 outward facing suites, featuring floor to ceiling windows and decorated with artisanal touches of Asian culture made of locally sourced materials.

They also feature the utmost in comfort with an Observation Deck, a river facing pool on the Outdoor Lounge, a generous sized spa and fitness centre, library and screening room.  The cuisine on board is overseen by renowned Australian Chef, David Thompson,who won a Michelin star for his restaurant Nahm.

Workshop promotes conservation of President Ho Chi Minh relic site

Measures to conserve and fully capture the value of the President Ho Chi Minh relic site at the Presidential Palace were discussed during a workshop held in Hanoi on September 5.

As part of the celebrations organised for the 45 th anniversary of implementing the president’s testament, the event offered the chance for researchers, experts and scientists to share their experience in conservation work and present recent studies on the relic site.

Participants spoke highly of Ho Chi Minh’s outstanding morality and thoughts, as well as the significance of the objects displayed at the site. They proposed conservation plans and measures to promote the value of the site.

In addition, they also discussed the difficulties and challenges they faced in preserving the site.

Director of the site Nguyen Van Cong gave the event participants an overview of the site, where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked for 15 years (1954-1969).

He said that all the objects and parts of the site were historically valuable in various ways, and manifested the extraordinary thoughts, lifestyle, morality and spirit of the President’s tireless dedication to the national revolution and happiness of the people.

In this site, the President wrote his will, which brought together the late President’s historic, cultural and ideological values, and mapped out a course of action for Vietnam’s revolution, both for the present and the future.

Over the last 45 years, relic site staff has undertaken maximum efforts to preserve the exhibits displayed at the site, and has introduced Uncle Ho’s life and revolutionary career to friends all over the world.

The site welcomes millions of visitors every year.

Mother's liver saves 1-year old daughter

Doctors at Children Hospital No.2 in HCM City on Thursday successfully transplanted a liver from a mother into her one-year-old daughter.

The patient, from District 8, had cirrhosis with life-threatening complications, said Nguyen Cam Tu from the hospital's Digestive Diseases Unit.

The doctors, aided by doctors from Belgium's Saint-Luc University Clinic, began the surgery at 9:30 am using a 250-gramme liver section taken from the baby's 29-year-old mother.

The baby was later transferred to an intensive care unit for post-transplant care. The mother regained consciousness after nine-and-a-half-hours of surgery.

Doctors will monitor the baby's health for the next three months.

The operation was the eighth of its kind carried out at the hospital. The first was peformed in 2005.

Firm fined for dumping waste water

The People's Committee in southern Tay Ninh Province has fined Hai Duong Co Ltd VND227.5 million (US$10,700) for illegally discharging untreated waste water into Vam Co Dong River.

The company specialises in making paper and packing material. A police investigation found that the pollution in the river was 4.21 times higher than permitted.

The committee ordered the company to stop discharging untreated waste water into the environment until it implements a treatment system.

Prolonged heavy rains coupled with whirlwinds destroyed or unroofed hundreds of houses in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap's Thap Muoi District on Thursday.

An initial survey showed that 47 houses collapsed and 180 lost their roofs. The rains also destroyed crops. Damage is estimated at billions of dong.

Provincial authorities have set aside VND200 million (US$9,500) to help local residents.

Delta tackles climate change

A conference in An Giang province on Thursday reviewed a project to help farmers in the Mekong Delta adapt to climate change.

Hosted by Can Tho University, the gathering studied the implementation of a project called "Climate Change Affecting Land Use in the Mekong Delta: Adaptation of Rice-based Cropping Systems."

Funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the US$1.1 million project was carried out in the provinces of An Giang, Hau Giang and Bac Lieu, and Can Tho city from 2011-14.

It focused on developing new rice varieties for submerged and alkaline agricultural land, as well as areas affected by saltwater intrusion.

Experts and scientists analysed the impacts of climate change and sea level rises on the region's rice production.

Le Van Hoa from Can Tho University highlighted the need to manage water resources and land for rice cultivation in ways adaptive to climate change.

Participants said it was necessary to carefully tailor rice cultivation practices and crop varieties to each type of ecosystem, whilst also promoting biodiversity to check the spread of disease.

They agreed that this approach would improve rice quality and output.

Covering an area of almost four million hectares, the Mekong Delta has a population of about 22 million, most of whom live from farming.

A major granary for the country, the region suffered from floods, droughts and unusual weather patterns even before climate change.

To counteract the impacts of climate change, the Mekong Delta is expected to refine its adaptation policies and plans, particularly with regard to the rise of sea levels and saltwater intrusion.

Kien Giang rice fields to enjoy benefits of flooding

Many farmers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kien Giang have decided not to plant a third rice crop this year since it is not very profitable and is often hit by plant diseases. Instead, they plan to flood their fields during that period to benefit from the fertile silt brought by the flood waters.

In Tan Hiep District's Tan Hiep A Commune, for instance, the autumn-winter rice schedule got underway more than a month ago, but many farmers have not planted the crop.

No member of the 3A Canal Co-operative in Tan Hiep A, which together has 750ha of rice paddies, has planted their field.

Nguyen Van Kim, a member, said last year the co-operative planted the third crop and made profits, but some farmers suffered losses because of prolonged rains during the harvest.

Farmers did not want to plant the third crop because of the increase in production costs and disease outbreaks, he added.

Nguyen Thanh Hinh, head of 3A Canal Hamlet, said local farmers planned to grow five crops every two years rather than three a year so that their fields can be flooded.

A third crop caused the growth of lua coi (a kind of wild rice), which could not be eliminated, he added.

Many farmers in Hon Dat District too have not planted a third crop.

Giang Quang, deputy chairman of Hon Dat, said the district had originally planned to grow the third crop on 8,000ha this year, but farmers had planted only 3,000ha so far.

Unstable rice prices and demand were also causing farmers to stop growing the third crop, he said.

It costs VND15 -17 million (US$710 - 800) per hectare to grow the third crop, which has an average yield of five tonnes, according to the province's Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Centre.

Thus, if the price of the grain falls below VND5,000 a kilogramme, or VND5 million ($238) a tonne, farmers would earn little profit, the centre said.

The price of dried paddy in the delta is now VND5,600-5,700 a kilogramme.

Phu Khi Nguyen, deputy director of the centre, said if farmers grew three rice crops a year, the soil would constantly be submerged under water and, without air, several diseases would break out, including root rotting disease.

Rice fields should be ploughed and dried every two years, he said.

Thus growing five crops in two years was optimal since it reduced diseases, he added.

Ceremonies mark Vietnam’s National Day in Asia, Europe

The Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau (China) on September 5 celebrated the 69th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945) in the presence of local officials and the Vietnamese community.

Addressing the ceremony, Consul General Hoang Chi Trung said Vietnam has reaped a multitude of achievements in nearly three decades of the renewal process.

He noted relations between Vietnam and China in general and Hong Kong in particular have seen encouraging results, especially in economics – trade and culture – tourism.

By the end of June 2014, Hong Kong businesses poured over 13 billion USD in more than 800 projects in Vietnam, ranking sixth among countries and territories investing here, Trung added.

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun Wah congratulated Vietnam on its progress and said the country is currently the fourth largest ASEAN trade partner of Hong Kong, which in turn is also Vietnam’s fourth biggest trade partner in the world.

Over the past five years, two-way trade has grown at an annual pace of some 29 percent, he said, adding that Hong Kong is negotiating a free trade agreement with ASEAN, in which Vietnam is an important member.

Also on September 5, the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka held a meeting in Rathnapura province marking National Day.

General Secretary of the Sri Lankan Communist Party Dew Gunasekara, who is also the Minister of Human Resources, expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s attainments in the past as well as at present.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Phan Kieu Thu said there remain a lot of work to do to expand bilateral relations, particularly those regarding tourism, investment and trade.

She voiced her hope that the two sides’ relevant agencies will actively coordinate to remove bottlenecks in order to bring their ties to a new height.

The same day in Belgium’s capital of Brussels, the Vietnamese Embassy hosted a banquet in celebration of National Day.

BIDV to offer VND15 trillion loans to support fishery sector

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) on September 5 officially announced a credit package worth VND15 trillion (US$705 million) to fund fishery development programmes in 28 coastal provinces and cities across the country.

BIDV Deputy General Director, Pham Quang Tung said that an amount of VND12 trillion (US$564 million) will be implemented between 2014 and 2017 and the remaining VND3 trillion (US$141 million) will be disbursed from now on to the end of 2016 in response to the Government's Decree No.67 dated on July 7, 2014 on fishery development.

The package will provide fishermen with loans to upgrade and build offshore fishing boats, working capital loans to assist infish harvesting and logistical services for offshore fishing.

The capital will also be spent on developing the aquaculture sector, breeding production, seafood processing, tuna fishing and processing among others.

To make the credit package pay off, BIDV will work with fishing boat owners and local authorities before lending is finalised and the bank pledged to disburse to eligible clients within four days after receiving complete legal records.

Since early June, BIDV has provided working capital loans with an interest rate of 5% per year for seafood traders from Nghe An to Khanh Hoa, with a total disbursement of over VND110 billion (US$5.17 million). The bank has also received loan applications from other 98 fishermen and ship-building enterprises, with a total capital of over VND1.4 trillion (US$65.8 million).

Localities told to contain A/H5N6 bird flu spread

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat has sent an urgent message calling for localities nationwide to take drastic measures to prevent the spread of A/H5N6 bird flu virus.

The move follows the spread of the virus to five localities during the past month. The virus was detected for the first time in the country in central Ha Tinh, and northern Lang Son and Lao Cai provinces in mid-August. It was then found in the central provinces of Quang Ngai and Quang Tri two weeks later.

The virus has infected more than 2,000 birds, including chickens, ducks and pheasants, and has led to the culling of nearly 5,200 poultry.

Phat said recent investigations revealed that some areas found to be infected with the A/H5N6 virus were involved in the transport and sale of poultry from unidentified sources.

The spread has resulted in authorised agencies in the northern border provinces of Quang Ninh and Lang Son cracking down on border poultry and egg smuggling cases during the past months.

He stressed there was a high risk that new strains of the bird flu virus would enter the country in smuggled poultry products through northern border provinces.

Phat, who is also the Head of the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control, urged localities to urgently establish inspection teams and check points to prevent smuggling and punish lawbreakers.

Localities where the virus was found have been ordered to sterilise poultry farms and destroy infected poultry to prevent the spread.

The A/H5N6 virus showed a 99 per cent similarity to the bird flu virus that killed a man in China's Sichuan province in April, 2014. It has also been detected in poultry in Laos, Germany, Sweden and the US.

The virus is a highly pathogenic strain, but there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission yet, according to the World Health Organisation.

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